The Wet Bandits

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Have you ever seen the movie Home Alone? If you answered "no", open a new browser window, sign up for a Netflix account, and rent it now. It's the best. The movie made Macaulay Culkin every 10-year-old boy's super hero. I'm sure parents around the world came home to booby traps planted around the house for months after that movie came out. I know Matthew's parents did. He was the king of pranks (just ask his siblings) and still is to this day!

Home Alone is played every year on Christmas at our family gatherings. Matthew can quote practically every line from that movie. I can't because I'm horrible at being funny, even if I'm saying someone else's lines.

Anyway, the villains in the movie are named Harry and Marv. Sound familiar? Yup! Our little bulldogs are named after the "Wet Bandits".

Harry, played by Joe Pesci in the movies, is the shorter and more stout of the two. He is also the boss and dictates what the duo will do next.

Marv, played by Daniel Stern, is the taller and more goofy one. He just does whatever Harry tells him to do.

I don't think their personalities match 100%, but I do think they resemble their namesake pretty well... What do you think?

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30 before 30 - The Beginning...

Ziplining in Kaua'i

Long before the Bucket List movie came out, I made a really simple site to list everything I wanted to do in life from the really easy (i.e. fly a kite) to the more challenging (i.e. be on a gameshow). Very slowly, I have been able to cross some things off and it felt really great to watch my list grow smaller... but as I reviewed the things I've already completed, I also found myself adding new things I wanted to do and experience.

I have been very blessed throughout the years and am super happy with everything I've accomplished in life so far, but sometimes life goes by so fast and I lose focus or forget the goals I have made for myself.

Thus, I've given myself a deadline - my 30th birthday.

Like many others have already done, I made a list of 30 things I want to do before I turn 30. This list will include the things on my old list that I never completed, plus a bunch of new things I want to do! I have a little over three years, which gives me plenty of time. I know it won't be easy, but I look forward to challenge.

I hope by doing this I will be a better, happier, and more fulfilled person by the age of 30. If not, at least I'll have done a bunch of cool things I can tell my future grandkids about!

I'll be sure to continuously post my progress here... If you have a 30 before 30 list of your own, I'd love to hear about it below!



[in no specific order]
1. Run a full marathon
2. Visit all of the other main Hawaiian islands (Oahu, Maui, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, Ni'ihau, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe)
3. Kid(s)!
4. Audition for musical/play/reality show Oops! I forgot I auditioned for American Idol back in 2004 New Goal: Learn to make French Macarons
5. Harry Potter World
6. Disneyworld
7. Master 3 Filipino dishes
8. Have an anniversary photoshoot (like an engagement photoshoot)
9. Learn how to sew
10. Learn how to really swim (I can make it from one end of a pool the other, but I don't think I can do laps and certainly cannot tread water for the life of me)
11. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
12. Fly a kite
13. Attend every type of professional sporting event: football, basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, horse racing, arena football, soccer, NASCAR
14. Watch the Lord of the Rings film trilogy
15. Teatro Zinani
16. Master 3 American dishes
17. Ride a bike further than around the block
18. Build a snowman
19. Go on an East Coast vacation with the hubs
20. Visit the Coca-cola factory
21. Finish painting all the rooms in the house
22. Visit a fortune teller
23. Learn how to solve the rubik's cube 8/15/10
24. Sing the national anthem at a baseball/hockey/football game
25. White water rafting (different from regular water rafting...)
26. Take ballroom dancing lessons with the hubs
27. Go on an Alaskan cruise
28. Cut my hair short (above the shoulder)
29. Have a full conversation (at least 10 exchanges) with my parents in Tagalog (no Tag-lish allowed)
30. Go on a Jelly Belly Factory tour

Genentech Gives Back

The hubs works at a great company - actually, a FANTASTIC company.

They've been on Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work list for 12 consecutive years and even made the #1 spot in 2006. Most importantly though, Genentech makes breakthrough medicines that has helped millions of patients worldwide. They truly care about helping people and appreciating the people and employees who have helped make Genentech the company they are today.

Hubs has been working at Genentech since he graduated college 5 years ago, so I have been very priviledged to reap the benefits of being his +1 at every event. They throw these awesome holiday parties every year complete with casinos, ice skating rink, ferris wheel, unlimited food and drinks, multiple live bands, and fantabulous themed decor... every year they seem to find ways to outdo themselves. If that isn't enough, from time to time, they throw concerts for employees and guests, to show their appreciation for the hard work they put in. Previous performers include: Sir Elton John, The Eagles, Mary J Blige, Matchbox 20, and Black Eyed Peas.

So, it was no surprise when Matthew told me about an upcoming concert Genentech was putting together, that we were in for another amazing time.

The concert was held at the home of the San Francisco Giants, AT&T Ballpark. The entire ballpark was shut down just for their company. When they have their holiday parties there, it's so awesome. Some people only dream about getting to walk on the field and hang out in the bullpen -- I've had the privilege of doing that 3 times!

This concert was no exception. There were free concessions everywhere!! Matthew and I felt like little kids in a candy store:

Yes, that's me with beer in my right hand, wine hanging from my mouth, cotton candy, licorice rope and a hot dog in my left hand! What can I say - I'm a lady. Hey, if they say something is FREE I am going to take advantage.

Unlimited alcohol, chicken fingers, garlic fries, pizza, hot dogs, ice cream sandwiches, and anything else you can think of. I was too busy chowing down, I almost forgot there were actual performances scheduled...

First up: Natasha Beddingfield:


She was great and super beautiful in person.

It got way too crowded standing in the front. People kept pusing and shoving to get closer to the stage, so we moved to a more spacious location for The Fray and The Counting Crows:

We had a fab time that day... Thanks, Genentech!

Happy 4th of July

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Happy Birthday, America - the greatest country in the world.

Hope you are all having a fun and safe holiday!

Friday Foto: Raider Nation

RRRRRRRRRaiders!!!!

This picture was taken at a tailgating party of the last Oakland Raider game Matthew and I attended last season. We lost that game, of course. The past few years haven't been kind to our team, but we still support them no matter how many times the Raiders disappoint or how scary the other fans are. Seriously. You should see the parking lot after the games -- totally looks like a scene from Armageddon.

Matthew has been a loyal Raider fan since the day he was born and has literally gone to 100+ games (including Super Bowl XXXVII). You would be hard pressed to find a more dedicated and knowledgeable fan. Our whole downstairs family room/bar area is decked out in Silver and Black paraphernalia -- even the walls are painted with the official Oakland Raider grey. He gifted his groomsmen personalized Raider jerseys at our wedding. He's a super hardcore member of the Raider Nation.

I, too, have always loved the Raiders and can recite the entire roster since 1979 by heart.

OK.

You got me.

I never cared about football until Matthew came along. I had no idea what a "down" meant and was totally baffled by the scoring system - if they kick the ball through the funny looking yellow thing field goal posts it can either equal 3 points or 1?! Too confusing. I used to only watch the Super Bowl with my parents because they had money on a pool and needed the teams to score a certain number to win. That used to be my only exposure to the game.

Not long after we started dating though, Matthew took me to my first sporting event, and I fell in love with the sport. Well, not quite, but I did have a really good time. The energy at the Oakland Coliseum is unmatchable and you can't help but be fully invested in the game. Since then, I became a Raider fan and excitedly await for football Sundays every fall. Sometimes, I'll even turn the TV on to ESPN even though Matthew isn't in the room. One day, I plan to be knowledgeable enough to join their Fantasy Football league... my hubs and his friends are super passionate about that, it makes me a bit envious that I can't get in on the fun!

Did you learn to like something only after your significant other introduced you to it?

Thursday Mashup!

Every week, I will share a few posts about food, shopping, celebrities, babies, parties, crafts, or random news, that I find noteworthy. It's a mashup of all things I love.

Random Finds:

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Did you know that dogs cannot sweat*? You did?! You must be smart. I just found out this week when I came across these dandy Kool Collars. You just pop these babies in the freezer and voila - instant cooling collar. These collars are definitely useful for the hot summer days and are only $16/each, so I'll definitely be making a couple purchases for H&M.

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Hahahahaha!! Now THAT is how I want to use the treadmill... On those rare occasions that I do use our running machine, H&M like to watch me pant and curse at my reflection in the mirror. Sometimes they try to join me and it is quite a funny site...

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Isn't this such a great unintentionally funny picture?! Buzzfeed is my favorite source for laughs.

Watch this short video and you will never listen to "My Heart Will Go On" the same way again... Wait. Does anyone still listen to that song?! Didn't think so...

Home:

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Isn't that wall decal just pretty!?! Matthew and I are still in the process of painting our walls, so I probably won't be getting one until we finish. He's not a huge fan of them, but I am (and that's all that matters, right?). I put up a "Happy Holidays" decal in our living room last winter and was afraid it wouldn't come off very easily, but it did! I felt like that particular decal was a waste of $$ since I had to take it down after a few months, so the next time I get a decal, it will definitely be something more permanent, like the one above. It would be cool if I could find a company that would allow me to upload my own design... let me know if you know of any!

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Etsy is awesome. I am totally swooning over that pillow.

Parties:

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Lastly, here's a beautiful inspiration board from Tiny Prints! If I were throwing a 4th of July party this year, I would definitely incorporate a lot of those cute ideas! Aren't those parfait thingies to die for?!

Feel free to share any other cool finds of the week below!

*Apparently, dogs DO have sweat glands. They have two types. The first kind of glands are located on their foot pads which function to help cool the animal (but not by much - panting is how they primarily cool down). The other type of glands are located on the rest of their body and their purpose is to release pheromones.

My Boys

The other night after a lovely dinner (Burmese food is the bomb!) with equally lovely girlfriends, I came home to this:

That's Matthew and Marv taking a little snooze while waiting for me to get home.

Harry was on the other side of the room sleeping, as well... He doesn't like to cuddle. I think it makes him too hot. Or maybe he thinks Matthew stinks. Ha.

I didn't like that Harry was left out of the picture, so I woke the hubs up and made him and Marv move to Harry's location for a photo op:

Ahhh.. much better.

Check out Marv's pose... makes him look like an alligator, no? He's funny and likes to sleep like that sometimes.

Aren't they cute?