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Tuesday, 08 July 2008

Hello World!

I've decided to retire xanga and start a new blog on blogspot. I'm not sure how consistant I'll be in updating blogspot... but I felt that it was time for a change to say the least.

So here's the new link: http://kristineca.blogspot.com

Farewell Xanga!!!

Friday, 23 May 2008

Click here to view this photo book.

Thursday, 13 March 2008

A few weeks ago, we received the rest of our images from our Trash the Dress session in SoHo. I absolutely love Margaret and Jack's edgyness they captured! If anyone's looking for modern, edgy wedding photographers based in New York, check out Something In Blue!

So far, 2008 has been such a cCcRrAzZY exciting year!! January started off with my first car purchase under my name! I call her Sasha, a brand spankin new 2008 white BMW 335i. In February, Ron and I were flown out to New York City to perform our wedding first dance on the Rachael Ray show and appear on national TV! Professionally, I'm studying for my RNC and also a task force member for NANN helping address a position statement for Staff RN's and fatigue. This fall, I’ll be returning to the world of academia in UCLA’s graduate program (Go Bruins!). Ron, on the other hand will be starting the Nurse Anesthetist program! We've just been so blessed and we cant wait to see what the rest of the year entails for us!

Wednesday, 05 March 2008

Congratulations to my husband for getting accepted into Kaiser Permanente’s School of Nurses Anesthesia (at Cal State Fullerton)!!! I’m so incredibly proud of him! This has been such a dream of his, and I’m so happy he’s been given the opportunity to pursue his goal. It’s been a rigorous application process because they only select about 35 a year… but I knew all along he was a likely candidate. About 400 applicants from all over applied, and 75 were singled out in a first cut and selected for an interview. Last week was Ron’s interview, and today we received the letter welcoming him into the program. Woot Woot! He's one of the elite 35!.. one from 400 applications! He’s such a diamond in the rough!!!

On a different note, I just thought I’d pay respects to my Lolo Roding (my lolo’s brother) who passed away recently. It’s hard to imagine how quickly life can change within a blink of an eye. I've always believed that Lolo Roding and Lola Sion were physically stronger than my Lolo Erning and Lola Nene. Although he and Lola Sion came from the Philippines to attend my wedding, my most recent memory of him had to be last May 2007. Any time we visited the Philippines, it was tradition for Lolo Roding and Lola Sion to invite us “balikbayans” over for dinner. I remember him showcasing his speciality course, beef stew. And of course, just like any Filipino dinner, a variety of entrees were available for the picking. Out of respect, I ate his stew. But to my surprise, Lolo Roding made a comment that he had bought a whole plate of shrimp just for me!! And I didn’t even touch it! Woops! You see, a few days before that, we were all in Naic eating lunch. Apparently he had noticed that I stuffed my face with plates and plates of shrimp that day! “Lolo,” I said, “Your stew is too damn good. Better than shrimp!” haha! I'm sure the comment tickled him.

It’ll be different now… knowing that Lolo Roding isn’t around. But just like my dad said, it’s a part of life… that one day, the people you love will eventually pass away since none of us are immortal. I just hope Lola Sion is doing okay. I’m dreading the day when I’ll receive a phone call informing me that my own grandparents have passed away. I’ve been extremely blessed to have my Lolo Erning and Lola Nene alive and around and loving enough to fly across the world just to share our special moments with us. I know one day that won’t be possible. So for now, we need to cherish our time together. Rest In Peace Lolo Roding.

Tuesday, 19 February 2008

Many of you may or may not know... but during the last three weeks of November 2007, I scrambled to come up with a personal statement and three personal recommendations for graduate school. The decision to pursue graduate studies was intense and somewhat rash. Initially, I had made up my mind of never returning back to the world of academia... But as I proof read (err rewrote Ron's personal statement for the Nurse Anesthetist program, it became apparent that I too, wanted something more.

So I rushed to beat the December 1, 2007 deadline for Fall 2008 admission into UCLA's Nursing Masters Program.

I don’t know what it was about UCLA's program that intrigued me the most... the prestigious name or the dedication to evidence based practice. I didn’t know how I felt about getting accepted and what this could mean for Ron and I. Besides, how could two married people pursue graduate school while maintaining a mortgage payment? Furthermore, would I be good enough? Did I look good on paper to impress the admissions committee??

I didn’t have the perfect grades nor the extracurricular activities to show off. But what I did possess and believe to be apparent was without a doubt, my passion. My passion to produce a personal personal statement. I knew that's what I had going for me...

And so today...
While I took my normal driving route to work at UCI Medical Center, I get a phone call from Ron who informs me that a yellow envelope from UCLA has arrived in the mail.

I didn’t want him to open it, for fear of rejection and the awkwardness that comes with it. But he talked me into it anyways.

And well...

lets just say... I'm officially a candidate to become a UCLA BRUIN!!! =)
(i just need to submit my statement of intent to register.. yay!)

PS this may have a lot of typo errors. I apologize… I gotta clock in at work in 5 minutes!

Thursday, 14 February 2008

Hearts All Over the World Tonight!!

Our wedding has created so many special memories for me and my husband! I still cant believe that although four months have already passed, the magic of it all has still managed to keep us on cloud 9! We especially can’t forget our friends and family who have been a part of it all…

On this Valentine’s Day our “20 minutes of fame” aired on the Rachael Ray talk show and I was just so overwhelmed by everyone who tuned in and the outpour of texts, phone calls, and emails I received all through out the day!

Now, we have even more to share.... our videographer has made us a “wedding highlights” music video that we’ve uploaded on YouTube. It was so much fun to look back at these moments and relive the night when “our hearts were all over the world!"

In addition, Ron and I did a TRASH THE DRESS session while in New York. Thanks to Jack and Margaret from Something in Blue for unique session and also for, the mini tour of SoHo!

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

Watch Ron and I perform our Wedding First Dance
on Rachael Ray's talk show!
*go to her website for a sneak peek clip!
Valentine's Day on CBS (check your local listings!)
California is at 0900!

Sunday, 20 January 2008

In that position….

The other night while driving home and stopping by El Pollo Loco (yes, really healthy huh? Hehe) Ron and I had a conversation pertaining to my new classes I had signed up for through the community of La Habra. Finally after years and years of camera upgrades with the Canon family (from a 2.0 megapixel in 2002, to a 4.0 megapixel in 2004, to a 7.0 megapixed power shot in 2006), I had finally purchased myself a Canon Rebel. Yet, I had no idea how to function its capability beyond the basic buttons. Therefore I signed up for a Digital Photography class. At the same time however, since I had my guitar collecting dust at my parents’ house, I decided to sign up for guitar lessons as well.

It then dawned on me… perhaps my husband thinks I’m a bit awkward and weird for jumping into so many hobbies at once. But no… being the good husband he is, of course he wouldn’t think such a thing J Instead… we took a moment to appreciate the fact that I… err We… were “in that position” Throughout nursing school we strived and worked hard for this exact moment… to be “in that position.” This position was a long time coming, and now we’re living it. We both have careers were extremely passionate about. Because hey, anybody can go to nursing school… but only a few can truly say that they’ve “never worked a day in their life.” The job security is there, the schedule flexibility is there, the financial aspect is there, the passion is there… what more can you ask for?

So here I am… in that position… and in that freedom to do pretty much whatever I want to do. You gotta love it.

In a world sadly ran by the green Benjamins, I feel so blessed to be able to hold my ground while having a roof over my head and food on the table. Sure, I have some left over wedding debt at the moment. But luckily I’m also in a career field where there’s no such thing as “fixed income.”

I compiled this “Things to Do Before I Die” list back in late 2004. Some are materialistic yes (what can I say, I can be a material girl J) and some were just things I wanted to do! Its funny to see how much my life has changed since then and because of nursing. Again, you gotta love it!

my TO DO LIST

- Have a career I’m passionate about and be independent by the age of 21 (accomplished July 2005)

- Obtain a BSN (accomplished May 2007)

- Obtain a Masters Degree

- Own a home (accomplished May 2006)

- Own a 6 bedroom house like my parents

- Own my first car as a brand new BMW (accomplished Jan 2008, Twin Turbo 335i baby!)

- Learn how to belly dance (accomplished October 2004)

- Become a mom (pending 2009 – 2011)

- See a musical on Broadway (accomplished Dec 2007 “Little Mermaid”)

- Be on National TV (pending Rachael Ray daytime talk show Feb 2008)

- Learn to knit

- Learn to sew

- Learn to play guitar (currently working on it)

- Learn to speak Spanish to my patients

- Run a marathon

- swim with dolphins (accomplished June 2007)

- Visit Europe (accomplished June 2004)

- Visit New York City in the winter (accomplished Dec 2007)

- Scrapbook (accomplished Sept 2007)

- Throw a perfect dinner party

- Ride a hot air balloon (accomplished Sept 2006)

- Go white water rafting

- Road trip with my husband

- Have a full spa day (done one too many times)

- Visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras

- Visit a waterfall (I guess climbing a water fall counts too! Oct 2007)

- Take a girls only trip to Vegas (accomplished June 2006 and my Bachelorette Party Aug 2007)

- Live debt free (working on it, pending July 2008)

- Buy a professional camera and learn to use it (got it, and currently I’m taking digital photography classes!)

- Have my fantasy fairytale BIG WEDDING – (accomplished Oct 2007)

- Go Zip Lining (accomplished in Jamaica Oct 2007)

- Learn how to surf (accomplished in Hawaii Feb 2007)

- Learn to Snowboard and CARVE (accomplished Winter 2003)

Wednesday, 16 January 2008

Why is it do you think that people get married?

"Because we need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet. What does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything; the good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things. All of it, all the time, every day. You're saying, "Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed because I will be your witness."

So the most popular wedding aftermath question would have to be this: "How’s marriage life treating you?” Initially I’d comment that not much has changed besides our marital status, last name (which I’m slowly getting to), and taxes. But really, there’s so much more to it…

“You and me together, through the days and nights

I don’t worry cause, everything’s gonna be alright

People keep talking, they can say what they like

But all I know is everything’s gonna be alright

No one, no one, no one

Can get in the way in what I feel for you”

Alicia Keys

And this lyric pretty much sums it up. I’m glowing… walking on water… and I know you could see it… and feel it in our presence. And for the first time ever, no one can rain on this, NO ONE. That’s probably the most important gift… and most important CHANGE that came with this marriage. Because despite bad apples, hard times, or any type of drama infliction…. It just doesn’t matter. I can go on and brush my shoulders off. Sure, maybe a part of it is because I’ve realized that I’m just too old for high school games. But it surprises even myself that I can “let go” of so many things without even thinking twice. Whereas before, I would dwell for days upon end on how to fix all the wrongs within my perfect world. But I’ve learned, sometimes just you can’t fix broken, and sometimes you don’t need too. I have my husband, my best friend… whom I can rely on for ANYTHING. And yet, I’m not restrained. He allows me to cater and hold on to the independence that I’ve fruitfully ripened over the years. I’m not told who I can and can’t talk too. Where I need to be… or how I need to dress. Yet in that same respect, I am told when I do f*ck up and when I am out of line. And I do appreciate that… stripping away the candy coats from the sinful sweets. Because let’s face it, sometimes truth hurts. But I rather he not egg on my madness and stupidity in a situation where I’m in the wrong to begin with. His whole being has inflicted me with assurance that no matter what, truly everything’s going to be okay in the end… as long as we have each other.

So this is marriage… a whole new experience… Completely on a different level than being a love. The ones who’ve made it work weren’t kidding when they said it takes a lot of sacrifice and compromise.

God’s Will has done me good…and I don’t take it for granted, I don’t…

Sunday, 16 December 2007

Ron and I are going to be on National Television!

the front page of the Serendipity menu

So how did it happen? Well from the beginning….

On the morning of December 12, 2007, Ron and I were preparing to leave our hotel room located in the heart of Broadway and Times Square. Our next “NY to do” mission? Grab lunch at Serendipity! Before departing however, my iPhone alerted me to an email from a YouTube member. The message simply stated that a national daytime television show was very much interested in our Wedding First Dance (taped by Chel!) and was wanting to get in contact with us. It seemed kind of fishy that I was contacted through You Tube, and even moreso, that “Amy” didn’t mention which TV show exactly.

Ron suggested that I just email her back my cell phone number and leave it at that.

We then made our way on board a subway train, got off Lexington Avenue, and headed towards 225 E. 60^th street.

We had just placed our orders for lunch and the infamous Frozen Hot Chocolate when I began reading the beautifully designed menu of Serendipity. The front page had a history section dedicated to the restaurant and a definition of the word “serendipity.”

“Serendipity… the art of finding the unusual or pleasantly unexpected by chance or sagacity.”

As soon as I finished that sentence, my iphone started ringing. The numbers looked unfamiliar, but my phone displayed that the number was coming from New York. So… I let it go to voicemail.

The voicemail was from Amy, a producer from the Rachael Ray show. She had restated her interest in our wedding first dance and wanted me to call her right back. So, I did!

I stepped outside onto the chilly sidewalk of E. 60^th Street and called her right back. She was genuinely excited, expressed amazement, and wanted to know more about our first dance. We talked about our video, how we chose the song, and came up with the routine. She then asked if I’d be able to submit a copy of it, plus send her a picture of Ron and I. “Yeah I can do that, but not until tomorrow when we leave from New York.” She was surprised at my comment, “You’re in New York?! The studio is based in New York!” I just replied, “Yup, my husband and I are having lunch at Serendipity…” hehe…

frozen hot chocolate

When we arrived home Thursday night around 8pm, I checked the attachments she had sent me with her most recent emails. Just consents and release forms for the video/picture materials. I emailed her back an engagement picture of Ron and I and submitted the “story” of our first dance. I then crashed into bed because I had work the very next day at Kaiser Riverside.

Work was work, I was sharing my stories with coworkers about New York and the unusual contact from Rachael Ray’s producer. Then…. At 1000 am pacific time (lol) my phone started vibrating in my pocket. I had just missed a call and received a voicemail from Amy yet again. Her voicemail stated that she wanted to bring us out to New York to be on the show!

WOW!

I called Ron first to tell him to the awesome news and he was all for it!

I then called Amy back, and the next thing I knew, she was telling me “You’re coming back to New York!!” We were confirmed calendar dates for an all expense paid trip back to New York on January 9, and then taping on the 10^th! She wanted us to perform our DANCE on National TV on the Rachael Ray daytime talk show! I was so excited, I was speechless! Therefore I didn’t ask too many question such as “when will it air?” etc. But we’ll be in contact over the new few days to finalize everything and go through details!

I then informed my coworkers, "Guess what! She just called and we're going back to NY!" It was funny because they all knew of Rachael Ray and their expressions were like "DID YOU JUST TALK TO RACHAEL RAY?" haha, i didnt but thats okay cause i'll be meeting her!

I was telling my dad that the best part of all this was that we didn’t even do anything! We didn’t apply for this or submit for a contest, yet I feel like I just won a contest!
Ahh yes... the art of finding the unusual or pleasantly unexpected by chance or sagacity

Wow, just thinking that my phone rang after reading that definition in Serendipity tickles my soul! I just hope that now that she’s got us all excited, nothing changes! Haha!

We’ll keep everyone updated as to when they expect it to air and so forth! =)