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Good Bye 2014: End of Year Review

2014 went by extremely fast. I remember bringing in the year and now we are 1 day from bring in 2015!
I was adamant about being on top of my blogs. Yes, more than one, because I started an art blog too. I really really tried, insert a really sad face here. As much as I tried to juggle school, homework, work and life all together it was impossible to give my all. I was stretched too thin. 

Living a Happy & Blessed Life

©Leslie Guzman
Image from the Blood Moon

It's been a tough few months. So much going on in both of our lives and not to mention that we did not get away this summer for a much needed vacation. Which only means no time to relax and regroup. So yes these past few months have been lets say kind of brutal. 

I'm going to blame it on Mars retrograde. This year there were three! We are still experiencing the last one and it is almost over. 

The End is Near & Adulthood is Almost Here

Let's go back 3 months...



I was excited when I managed to get the summer completely off, meaning no summer school for me. I thought, wow I have 101 days off, yes I counted! I figured that I had so much time to do the many things I wanted to do and never have time to do. At first it all seemed true and it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! 

Two Week Backpacking Italy Itinerary

©Leslie Guzman
Taking a selfie with our backpacks in Venezia

A year ago today Hubby and I were arriving back to Houston after a long sleepless flight from Italy. It was sad to say goodbye to Europe but I was more than ready to see my little munchkin, Mochito. I missed my comfy bed, my makeup and straigtner. I know it sounds vain but when you backpack for vacation you give up a few little things. 

Birthday Week: Travel & Reflexion

I feel that birthdays are like Valentine's day, people give you gifts, chocolates, stuffed animals etc.. I rather get that attention, a gift for no reason, a call on any given day than only on my birthday. I got so many texts this birthday, some from people I hardly talk to. It was weird texting back to thank them because we never talk. I almost said that in my text. But I'm trying to be a nicer person. Same thing with social media, of course Facebook reminds all your "friends" that its your birthday. What if Facebook took away that feature? hmmm...

I'm seriously fine with not really celebrating my birthday but I do get excited about birthday gifts from those who love me and aim to surprise me. I guess when I say celebration, I mean a party or a big gathering. I'm a person who doesn't care to be around tons of people especially if I'm not close to them.

New Orleans Mini Vacation with Friends, Food & Fun

We haven't gotten away since February's Valentine quick vacation. A lot has happened that we needed to recharge. Our best friends haven't seen much of us and what better way to spend time with them, than New Orleans! Who doesn't love NOLA? Exactly! Beautiful architecture, amazing restaurants, fun night life and great outlet shopping...

Texas Valentine's Day Romantic Getaway at Canyon of the Eagles

©Leslie Guzmán 
Drive to Canyon of The Eagles Resort, I love winding roads.

We have had such a hectic life since this year started. Then wonderful Hubby surprised me with a Valentines day Weekend getaway I almost left without packing a bag! I know I'm a tiny bit late to write about it, (3 months) but when I say hectic I mean crazy HECTIC.

We left early Friday morning, my gorgeous Betsy Johnson over night bag nice and full, it was a joke about not packing, of course I did pack. With our overly excited Mochito in hand because the place welcomes the pooches. We are travel addicts, any kind of traveling is OK by the Andersons. Hubby knew that I needed to get more inspiration for artwork, so he picked a gorgeous place that I could both relax and snap pictures at.

Creativity Runs in the Family

With the artist Leon

For years I have been attracted to art, only a few years ago I started getting my hands dirty and actually started to make it. My sisters and I all have a creative side. My sister moved to California a few years ago in pursuit of her own creative dream of acting and her passion of the theater is paying off.  She has been busy auditioning, being in several plays a made television appearances and now she has her first film opportunity, Dark Consequences. (Everyone should go like their page and watch the preview) <<< Especially because she is my sister.

New Year Resolutions and Life Changes

Photo Credit

Good Riddance 2013!!!!

OK so 2013 was not all bad but it was not the best and it was so stressful. Between taking on a new job and adjusting to it and school I hardly ever saw the hubby. The husband always the hard worker took on the challenge of starting his own business while still having a full time job.

We strayed away from all our past years resolutions and any social life all together. This New Year that we BOTH claim to be our year we are focusing on new changes and sticking to them. I know everyone says that every new year but in our case we have big plans and in order to make those a reality we have to first do the small steps. So we set out to make our own and joint goals for 2014.

Celebrating Dia de los Muertos

Elle sporting her Day of the Dead make up

Check out her blog beautythe-elleway

I'm thrilled our new generation is exploring Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead and learning more about this long time tradition. This year I saw so many people with their faces made up in the traditions that normally you only see in other countries that take this celebration seriously. 

Here in Houston we had the opportunity to see a play named Nuestras Vidas (Our Lives) by Manuel Nava Leal. I have to say that it was a play worth watching. It is playing all weekend at Talento Bilingue de Houston located near Downtown Houston. 

We attended yesterday on opening night which fell on the 1st day of the celebration of Día de los Muertos. I do not want to say anything about the play (you should watch it yourself) but I will say that the plot falls perfectly with Day of the dead. Leal put together a very interesting story line. I'm looking forward to any new projects he may have. 

New Film by Baldemar Rodriguez, "In Search of the American Dream" Premiers Today September 20th

                                                                      

Leslie's thoughts:

Hubby gets to meet everyone in town due to his line of work. He is a fancy banker, I find his job a little boring but he loves it and that is all that matters. Either way he gets to go to all these events, play golf and most important meet interesting people. One of these fabulous persons was actor and director Baldemar Rodriguez.

He invited my Hubby to a special screening of his new movie, In Search of the American Dream. So my honey took me and his parents along for this captivating film. The special screening was at the newly renovated Viva Cinema.

Labor Day Lonestar Texas Roadtrip

Beautiful Texas country side

A three day weekend put to good use...

When we were spending our second honeymoon in gorgeous Italy we realized that we were being so adventurous seeing so much of this amazing country. Yet we did not take that much time to see our own backyard, Texas. 

Sure we have done the few cross country road trips like to the Grand Canyon and back in 4 days, I know crazy. To New York to visit family and not wanting to leave our precious Mochito (our maltipoo) with other people. I have driven to California 2 times with my sister. To Kansas Missouri to pick up our 2.5 pound little bundle of joy Mochito. As you can see nothing there is in Texas only driving by to leave the state.

Back from Italy, Home Sweet Home

©L. Guzmán
View of Duomo from the Bell Tower
 Florence, Italy

BUONGIORNO everyone!

Finally I am back in my home, in my comfortable plushy bed and with my Mochito. Sure it is was a few days ago but I was suffering from a bit of jet lag. My study abroad trip to Italy was amazing and life changing yet, I missed home so much. No  matter how beautiful and exotic the country you are visiting is, home is home.

Almost time for the ARTIS Italy Trip

Image Credit

I know it has been a long time since I have jotted down my thoughts. I have a really good excuse. Life in our household has been utterly crazy. Trying to get our house ready to sell (many small home repairs), school and philanthropy sorority life it is all chaos. There seems to be time for nothing.

Adventure to Santo Domingo, DR

Spring semester let out and we took off on our honeymoon to Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. It was two long months after our beautiful wedding. It was hard to wait, but I had to finish my semester, plus I found us a better deal that way.

An Example of Christmas Spirit

I am sure I am not the only person that loves Christmas. I love this holiday for the real meaning of Christmas. Not the gifts, the parties or any material item that money can buy. I believe this is a holiday that should be full of love, with your family or people that you care for.It is not a day to be fake, angry or holding grudges. If there were no gifts it would still be Christmas and it should still be just as special.

                             

An example of the meaning of Christmas to me...

Our Sugar Land Magazine Summer

#21. Painting with a Twist... Ready to paint

A few weeks ago I posted the link to the 101 things to do this summer that Sugar Land Magazine put out. My summer was so short because I had summer school, and by the time that was over, I was enrolling to transfer to Houston Baptist University. I did make an attempt at that list; sadly there was no way to complete it all. The attempt was made, and that is what is important. Being newly weds we try to go on a date every chance we get, and Sugar Land had several romantic places for us.



Small Talk with Houston's Victoria Negrete

Victoria Negrete

We all take a small break out of our very busy days, some people nap, others shop and a few blog (like me). Sweet Houston's own Victoria Negrete answers questions for me. We should support her in her pursuit in making her dreams come true in Hollywood. A few things you might already know of her if you follow her on Twitter or on her fan page on Facebook:

Perfectly Fine to be REAL

I know I’ve talked about this before and there are thousands of posts on other blogs about this but I had to get this off my chest. There is this horrible obsession that society has to dictate that being incredibly sickly thin is attractive. Healthy slim is one thing, but when it's so thin that you look sick, it's not right in any way. It’s not attractive in a female or in men. Not even for gay men! Real women have curves, hips, breasts etc.

Real women with real bodies,
 yet considered plus size models



I know someone special not just beautiful outside but with a great heart. This is not just my opinion because I know this person. Too many people will have to be wrong.

No names will be used. If they choose to express who they are, they will.