Life as a Musician...

Life as a musician is NOT always glamorous. Don't get me wrong. I have had many days filled with diamonds, designer clothes, people doting on my every move, private planes, and Penthouse Suites. All unnecessary. But for some of our gigs, that just the way we roll.

But this week, it's been crazy. Monday was full of school stuff. Lots of work, at the DOH, and the hospital. And a last minute flight to Sin City. Followed up with a long rehearsal. I needed to know the music, that I would be teaching. Everyone else had had 8 hours of rehearsal. Yup, I was just trying to keep up! My night didn't end there. Nope. It ended with 2 exams online. And 2 hours of sleep.

Tuesday and Wednesday were fun. I can't help but admit that. Lots of teaching. Spending some quality time with el Maestro. Learning from him, when we weren't teaching. And more rehearsals. But a little bit of the glamour did peek through...

When I wasn't teaching, or practicing, I was enjoying a little bit of Sin City. The amazing food, the glorious Penthouse Suite, and all of my amazing friends. Oh ya! Have I said this before? I get the largest room, and I travel by myself. All by myself. I've asked about this, but no one ever answers me. So I usually let the "Itty Bitties" sleep over. Yes, me and about 10 little girls. Watching cartoons early in the AM! Ordering Room Service full of yummy breakfast treats. Because it's all comped!

Thursday included 6 hours of teaching. Realizing I forgot my bridesmaid's dress. And a mad dash to catch our flight. Back home. Because we were scheduled to perform at 6PM. Rain had a different thing in mind for us. And the Tornado Warning, well that just postponed things too. But we celebrated Little M's 3rd birthday. Enjoyed some cake and ice cream, in one of the ballrooms. Because, we weren't allowed to leave the Convention Center. Not to worry! We could entertain ourselves. :)

Then we played. 2 hours. The rain came. We left. The entire group headed to A's house. About 10 minutes away. To relax. And take everything in. OK, it also included eating. And making fun of one of our friends. He's getting married on Sunday. And was in some major trouble with his mujer.

We headed back to downtown, and we played for about 5 hours. When? At 11:30PM. Because we had to play for El Grito. In the wee hours of the morning, I finally headed to the hospital. To do some work. A few hours later, I headed home. More than an hour away. To shower, grab my dress, and check on my house.

Friday morning, I tried to catch up on Facebook. I was ridiculously behind! I managed to pack my Bridesmaid dress. I even watered my flowers and lawn! Then I met A for breakfast, and we headed out to rehearsal. Oh ya, my car, I haven't driven it since Sunday. I have a sorta major oil leak... :(

Breakfast was extra yummy that day. IHOP. Seriously, I rarely eat there. But those Nutella Crepes, are just like heaven! Our rehearsal wasn't too bad. Or too long. La Senora Adriana was hilarious! As always. And I'm pretty sure she was eying A. Especially when we busted out our fancy dance moves. :)

Then I headed back to the hospital. More work. About 4 hours worth. Then, back to the concert. Where, my friends totally surprised me. With tickets to go see Santana! I LOVE me some Santana! So A and I rushed to his house, to change and head out. Yes, our Compadres bought us tickets, and dinner. As a little Gracias, for being good to their ninitos. :) We've got some incredible friends!

After a delish dinner at PF Changs, we headed off to the concert. Where, let me tell you, we had a BLAST! A and I happen to be, the hilarious 2 of the group. We LOVE to dance. And just have fun. And we did just that. For the entire concert. Santana has still got it!

As we were leaving, we got a call. From our friend and boss. Could we possibly head back to that concert, the one we were supposed to play? Senora Adriana wanted to know what happened to us. And you know, we worked so hard on that dance routine. Seriously?!?!?!

Luckily, we got changed, and to the venue. With about 2 minutes to spare. And the last 2 minutes of the show, some how became another 90 minutes! Have I told you? Los Mexicanos like to celebrate their independencia. But we all had such a great time. It was well worth it.

You'd think we were ready to pass out. Honestly, it sure felt like it. But everyone headed back to A's house. We all needed to get changed. And since he lives closest to the airport, that's where we went. Some of the guys grabbed some food on the way. And we all ate and changed. Their wives, girlfriends, and kiddos were all there too. Why? We were all headed to the airport...

At 3AM, we were ready to head out. Straight for Sin City. Pretty much, everyone on the plane slept. Except me. I had my laptop out. Doing homework, writing a paper, and trying to study. You do it when you can. Right? This is when I'm glad, that my professors rarely ever, have us go to class. Usually, I hate them because of this very thing. But this week, it's been nice to just to my work, and get to do my paying job too!

And that's where you find me. Somewhere high above the Earth. Doing homework, and blogging. While everybody sleeps. A is next to me, holding one of our Goddaughters. Both are out for the count! And I'm typing away. About HFCS and I's/O's. I also have to find time for 2 exams today. Wish me luck!

Because when we land, well get a few minutes, to head back to our rooms at the casino. Get cleaned up. And then, we've got some rehearsals and sound checks. It will be the only rehearsal time, with the performers, that we're backing up tonight. We'll quickly go through a few of our numbers. Then off to a fancy lunch. With the "High Rollers" in Sin City.

Later, we'll have a "Fancy Pants" dinner. And of course our show. Which we're all excited about! I just hope, that I don't fall asleep, during any of this. Oh, and our amigos are getting married tomorrow afternoon. The Mariachi is in the wedding, and playing for it! Can you say...BUSY WEEKEND! But I'll finally get to see this guy again! He's back from Spain. Happy Saturday! ♫

Friday Fill In #37

Could it already be Friday? I can't believe it! But then again, this has been a crazy week! Including a trip to Sin City, a couple of days of teaching, a trip back home, a long night of playing, and a crazy weekend ahead. And very little sleep! Yes, this is just one of those busy weeks. So I better get this week's Friday Fill-Ins done. Before I have to get back to work...or I fall asleep! Happy Friday!

1. Why do I always feel so tired and hungry.

2. They always want us to stay.

3. By far the most important part of life, is the people we LOVE.

4. I've ALWAYS been a PROUD American. ALWAYS!

5. But when life gets hard, I really find out what I'm made of.

6. I've wanted to make my home feel and look like "Home" for the longest time.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to playing the concert with la Senora Adriana, tomorrow my plans include playing the "Big Show" in Sin City and Sunday, I want to enjoy mis amigos wedding! ♫

Que Viva Mexico!

Today is Mexico's Independence Day. Yes, it is! And all the bad weather last night, well that didn't bother our celebration. No way! We played well into the wee hours of the morning. Yes, it was a good night. Celebrating El Grito!

I'm very proud of my heritage. And the fact that I get to share the gift of music with so many people. To be a part of something fun, uplifting, and enjoyable...well it feels good. Because lately, there has been so many "Debbie Downer Moments" in life. It's nice to forget our problems, even for a few hours, and celebrate an important day.

The celebrating hasn't stopped. And by the looks of our schedules, we'll be playing all weekend. But that is definitely part of the fun. We're Mariachis after all! Now I'm going to go eat something yummy, try to finish up some work stuff, and figure out how to catch a few minutes of sleep...before the celebrations continue. Oh ya, and we'll be doing a heck of a lot of this....



all weekend long! ♫

Rosemary Chicken & Tomatoes

So hear Fall is just around the corner. Around here, you'd never know. We're still reaching triple digits. And I'm done with all of that! So I've decided to start cooking "Fall Inspired" foods. You know, comfort foods. Especially soups and stews. But this week's Gooseberry Patch Recipe of the Week, really caught my eye. Something I want to make. If only my schedule would slow down a bit...


Rosemary Chicken & Tomatoes

1 T. oil
2 lbs. skinless chicken thighs
2/3 c. chicken broth
1/4 c. white wine or
chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
6 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 green peppers, cut into strips
1-1/2 c. sliced mushrooms
2 T. cornstarch
2 T. cold water
2 t. fresh rosemary, snipped
cooked egg noodles or rice

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté chicken until golden, about 5 minutes. Drain. Add broth, wine or broth, garlic, salt and pepper to skillet; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Add tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms. Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Transfer chicken to a serving dish; cover to keep warm. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, water and rosemary; stir into vegetable mixture. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly; cook for an additional 2 minutes. Serve chicken over noodles or rice; spoon sauce over chicken. Serves 5.


Doesn't that sound yummy? Next week, when I'm back from my gigs, I'm making this. I don't care if it's 110 degrees outside! It just sounds too yummy to pass up! ♫

What's in a Name?

In the spirit of Mi Rosita, and the Baby Shower that we're having today, to celebrate her, I'm going to blog about her. Yes, Mi Rosita has been on every one's mind lately. Her mommy gave us all a big scare, earlier this week. When we thought she was going into labor. Before her Baby Shower! I know. That's our fault. As in, our group of friends. The summer has been a busy one, for all of us! And we just kept postponing this thing.

But today, as I get the last minute details together, I can't help but think about Mi Rosita. And all that she's going to be. The simple task, of coming up with her middle name, is a tough one. One that A and I are struggling with.



For all, but one of my Goddaughters, I've been asked to come up with a middle name. I've been part of the 2 man crew, whose job is to pick the perfect name. A name that goes well with her first name, that her padres picked out. But a name that means something. That symbolizes something we, as Godparents, want to instill in our Goddaughter. A name that will describe our love.

This is not A and I's first time either. We've been a part of this rodeo, a time or two. Something that we're familiar to. But not completely at ease with. Our Compadres A, haven't made it too easy either. They're still debating on a few names. And A and I, we've narrowed down our list. It's tough. This little princess is going to have this name for life. It's got to be perfect!

Yes, her presents are finished. Perfectly wrapped. And all the decorations are sitting neatly in my car. Food is ready. And we have a little bit of preparation left to do, closer to "party time." But we're ready.

Mi Rosita's name, not so much. But the 4 of us are hard at work. I'm pretty sure, the minute we see this sweet little girl, her name will just speak to us. We'll have found the perfect name for her. The name that was meant for her, and her alone.

Yes, we take this whole Godparent, naming, loving thing seriously around here. Because it's the only way to do it! Mi Rosita, we love you so much. And can't wait to meet you. Just a few days left. But today, we're going to have some fun. And later, finish up your nursery! ♫

Gala Design

I recently found the Etsy shop, Gala Design. Oh my goodness! They have some of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry. I've never wanted every single item from an Etsy Shop before. But this shop, well, can I have one of each? PLEASE!

Here are some of my favorites. They're just gorgeous. And I'm already trying to figure out, just how to save all of my pennies. The pieces aren't ridiculously expensive. But for me, I'm going to have to do some saving up.



The Olivia Earrings. Perfect for casual days. Something I can throw on any old day. And still feel "put together."



The Rosalie Earrings are a fun set. With a nice "pop" of color. And the perfect amount of femininity.



Talk about fun! These Dandelion Earrings just make me smile. From the name, to the design, they're just fun!



The Ella Earrings, are simple and gorgeous! Who wouldn't want a pair of these? They also happen to remind me of my birthstone. Total bonus!



The last piece, well it's my favorite! The Harper Necklace. I'd treasure this piece. I just love the beautiful, and simple design. Something fun, and timeless.

What do you think? Aren't they just amazing? Maybe if I'm good, I'll get my favorite piece for Christmas. That doesn't seem too bad. Right? Oh, I'm off to go stare at the Shop page some more! ♫

Friday Fill In #32

This has been an interesting week. It started out bumpy, but has turned out to be a good week. A busy week. But a good week! Now I'm in overdrive. Trying to get everything done, for this weekend. I'm sure it will get done. One way or another. But I needed to take a break, and do my Friday Fill-Ins. Happy Friday!

1. The only question is, how in the world, am I going to get, to where I want to be.

2. I wish I could clean my yard in one day.

3. Three things on my desk: a vase of pink roses, a cup of pens, and a glass of pineapple juice.

4. Deciding on a final internship, for this semester, is the one thing I HAVE to do today!

5. I love playing with my Goddaughters.

6. Horrible cologne/perfume overwhelms the senses.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a long night of hard work in the PICU, tomorrow my plans include finishing up some gifts and baking, and Sunday, I want to have fun with my friends! ♫

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

I'm in a very good mood today. It might have something to do with, watching my favorite Marilyn Monroe movie, last night. That's right, Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend. So I want to share the love...



I hope everyone has a great Friday! I'll be singing this song all day long. With a BIG smile on my face. I just love when something so simple, puts me in such a great mood! ♫

Friday Fill In #31

Why has this felt like the longest week ever? I seriously want to crawl into bed and stay there for a week. It's just been a tough week. And I'm more than happy, that it's over! But I can't kick off the weekend, without my Friday Fill-Ins. :)

1. How can I possibly get through all of this?

2. You'd never find me smoking weed, I LOVE my brain too much!

3. My hair needs some serious help.

4. This year was my High School 10 year reunion, and I didn't go.

5. My favorite summer fruits are berries and peaches.

6. Boom...what was that?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to some rest, tomorrow my plans include yard work and Sunday, I want to enjoy a little bit of life! ♫

Choo Choo, All Aboard

Today, my parents and I went on a fun adventure. On that train. Yes, from 8AM to 5PM, we just enjoyed a little bit of life. A slow and fun trip, on the train. Seeing some of the most beautiful landscape that you can imagine!

It's something that mis padres, have talked about for anos and anos. Since I was a ninita. They've always wanted to go. And after a long road trip, much longer than we expected, a little investigating, a questionable hotel, and a fair dinner, we made it to the train. Honestly, I would not trade today for anything. We had that much fun!

Our trip included a tour, bus ride, up the mountain. Crossing the state line at least 11 times on the way back. The return trip was on the train. And halfway back, we stopped for lunch. It was really a fun ride. We met new people. Had great conversations! And it ended with a sprinkling of rain, and getting to see a family of deer. :)

When we got back, we did some shopping. Yes, in that little tiny town. And got a few souvenirs. Nothing crazy or odd. Just some cute things. My Mom bought a hummingbird sign, for her yard. My Dad bought a train for his collection. And I got a pin and some earrings.

Then we made the trip home. Well, we didn't get there. We made it to the state capital. We managed a small dinner, before hunting down a hotel. A better hotel. And we've pretty much collapsed. In pure exhaustion! It was such a great day. A fun trip. And now, I'm ready for some sleep! ♫