Leap Year

Today is February 29th 2012. Leap year never meant too much to me, until a really important one changed my life. Exactly four years ago I asked my very best friend, "Are we dating?" and the course of our relationship changed in a direction that set me on my way to 'real life'

Going back a little in time....
I was not in a good relationship for a long time. I was young and didn't question things I should have and should have pushed harder on the things that were really important to me... hindsight is 20/20. I tried to keep busy with things that would better my life; school and work. Well, the pharmacy where I was a tech and going full time to school weren't taking up enough of my time, so I decided to get another job. I didn't want to be a crazy salesperson all up in your face and I wanted to work in a nice environment so I decided the best place would be a jewelry store... people would be coming to me to buy things, I would get to dress up, and I got to play with all of the shiny things that I got to sell, perfect right? So I got a job at Fred Meyer Jewelers.
Armando got hired just a few weeks before I did and so we were both new and learning the ropes together, we became friends. We both had similar views on life and were both in not-so-healthy relationships at the time so we could give each other advice. As the years went on, he and his girlfriend broke up and then my boyfriend and I broke up too. I found myself single and sad... very depressing and nobody likes the sad girl so I stayed in.... a lot. My friends were great support, one of those friends happened to be Armando and he noticed that I didn't go out as much, he started taking me out every Sunday to the movies and dinner... as friends. It got to the point when people started asking us if we were dating, "No, we are just friends" we would say.
A friend and I went to Vegas and headed out to Wendover on the way back to meet up with my sister and her friend to watch Armando play at one of the casinos, he had invited me to come watch his band. Well as the night went on, everyone went on up to bed or out to play the tables and Armando and I ended up just the two of us in the cafe all night.

Becky and I on that Wendover trip

The next day my sister asked me yet again, "Are you guys dating?" and I said "No, we are just friends" and the sneaky little wench that she is said, "Well why don't you hook him up with your single friends?" My first thought was, Oh helllllllllllllll no! At that moment I realized I didn't think of him as my friend anymore, and started wondering where this was headed.

Now flash forward back to Feb 29th 2008... I'm out with my best friend Diana and she is talking to me about how I am 'dating' Mondo, and with a few drinks in me, it really just makes sense, We ARE dating. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god...

So with my liquid courage I ask, "Are we dating?" and after some hesitation he says that he doesn't know but that he would like to be and after I regained my stomach up off of the floor I tell him I would like to be dating too.

Engagement at the beach in Mexico October 2010

So, this is our first 'anniversary', four years later and times have changed. We are living happily ever after with each other and I thank God every day for bringing such a great man into my life when I needed him the most.

La Buena Vida

So this is going to be my grown up diary...
I struggled trying to name this blog, I finally came up with La Vida Buena...because no matter how hard things get sometimes, my life is always good. I am trying to be more positive about life and what it throws at me. I know there are a lot of things that I can't change, but I always have control over my attitude and that can make a big difference. 

A little background for those skimming the blog site... 

I am 26 years old and live in Utah (No I am not Mormon). I am the youngest of three girls and my sisters are my best friends. We have gone from pigtails to being wives and moms and I couldn't ask for any better- I don't know where I would be without my crazy sisters.
My parents are still together after 30+ years of marriage. They don't have the perfect marriage but they have shown me that it is ultimately up to the two people in the marriage to make it work. I've learned so much from my parents and the older I get the more I see that they sacrificed for my sisters and myself. I am so grateful to have a family that I love and can depend on to support me.
I have recently married a wonderful man who loves me dearly and is the perfect complement to my crazy ass. He is more laid back to my constant running around and between the two of us we have reached a very happy medium. I strongly believe that a marriage should be a partnership, holding each other up and stepping in where your partner needs you. I believe I have met my match and I have years and years of excitement ahead of us.

This is what love looks like

I have a wonderful 'son' named Randall Pantalones... no, I am not a horrible mother, he is a dog. A mini-dachshund and he is my little man, giving me loves every time I walk in the door. I wish there were more hours in the day to take him walking and just appreciate that he loves me anyway.

Randy Pants

I am currently trying to complete my RN, without going crazy... so far we are somewhat successful. I work as an LPN at a transitional rehab. This is a transitional rehab... not the Lindsay Lohan type of rehab :) I didn't think I was going to enjoy working as a nurse but now I can't imagine being anything differently. I love my patients and being able to make a difference in someone's life. Getting a thank you note from a patient is so reaffirming that my life is headed in the right direction. 

I want this to be a platform for my crazy life, crafts, recipes and sharing my experiences. No negativity allowed! Hope you get a bit o'entertainment from my random ramblings.