Furry Foto Friday: Squirrels & Deer & Ducks, Oh My!

What’s better than seeing game animals🐿 in taxidermy on a wall?

👓Seeing them live, of course!

In spirit of 🎍Texas Independence🎋 this week plus with 💐spring🍀 and 🐇Easter🍳 around the corner to celebrate new 🕊life, I’m sharing a few of my favorite sightings as a tribute to ☝🏽️GOD’s creation of our 🌠Great Lone Star State’s creatures!

 

• 🌰Squirrels🐿 in the 🌳backyard🌲
• 🎅🏽Deer🎄 prancing at 🐂Perini Ranch🐎
• 🐣Ducks🐥 quacking at 🇺🇸Pendleton Park🌴

Speaking of animals…

Happy Early 10th 🎈Birthday🎁 to my 🦁ASIA🐅 on Holy Thursday!

& speaking of birthdays…

Happy 106th Birthday to my 👵🏽Lola Rosa🌹 mañana!

Beauty Tuesday: Tacky Sweaters Still in Season

Happy Three Kings tomorrow! / ¡Feliz Tres Reyes mañana!

Since CHRISTmas still is in session, I still

• watch HOLYday movies
• keep the halls decked
• turn on the festive lights
• sport those “ugly sweaters“

Showing HOLYday and school spirit! CHEERS =D

How do you spread the cheer this New Year?

CATch of the New Year: Sweet Annie lights up the room!

Floral Friday: Fall Flowers

Although autumn‘s been around for a couple of weeks …

While we’re trying to be festive for fall by welcoming it early, we’ve had ☼summer☼-like weather … ’til now!

We haven’t officially experienced fall climate until this week!

These flowers still are in full bloom ~ including these petals in suitable season shade!

Meanwhile, I’m enjoying GOD‘s lush greenery while it still lasts!

♪Raindrops on roses & whiskers on kittens♫ … Julie Andrews‘ ♪Favorite Things♪ from ♫The Sound of Music♫ is on the brain

Foodie & Floral + Fitness Friday: PSL & OLG, Lucky Me!

As Bruno Mars sings

♪Baby Squirrel, you’s a $3×7 … ♫

My first fun run♥ ♥heartburn-free this week to be greeted on his home turf! #HomeOfTheAbilenePrairieDogs

I treasure

☼ Our Lady of Guadalupe † ♥

To view close-ups of some of these beautiful petals from ☼floral showers☼ surrounding ♥Our Lady♥ who I visit after my †Adoration† Hour, then please check out Bishop Mike‘s OLG medal & Pope Francis‘ coin!

and my fave fall flave:

PSL is back! I hit up *$ after my park jog specifically for this & was grateful that it made a grand return ~ following the succulent ☼summer☼ flavors! #KickingOffFall +Added *BONUS*: while I was at Market Street, I took time to smell the roses ~ great stress-relief therapy in the midst of this dissertation preparation!

Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Double the Pumpkin = 1 Delighted Munchkin #PumpkinSpiceLatte #PumpkinScone

 Please make it sweet & spiced + iced …

Spice … Ice … Nice … Is this a vice?

& to top it off to make it all nice:

Pair with a Pumpkin Scone

Can’t go wrong with FREE samples … Because even if it’s a YOLO, the portion’s so low! #DISPObustAFlow

To Knock 2 Birds with 1 Stone!

#DISPObustAFlow  ✌

Beauty Tuesday: Fine Online

Special delivery: Introducing the Sweet Pea (I ♥love♥ the name ~ same as my *True Blue Pit Bull* may she ✌R.I.P.) satchel from the MARKKIT BelindaSelene Collection …

As a birthday treat to myself

I absolutely ♥adore♥ the sleek shine of the patent blush & smooth texture of the taupe suede … all in vegan leather #GoodForTheEnvironment (I also dig the packaging & tags in Tiffany blue + complimentary candy ~ pleasant sweet surprises ~ to add to my desk)

I added to my wardrobe from my YouTube gurus’ collections:

The gold handle hardware matches up w/my gold wristlets complete w/satin polka dotted lining w/a large zipped pocket in the inside back + handy-dandy compartments to store keys, lipstick, etc. Carries well w/the adjustable crossbody & double snaps above zipper closure ~ what appealed to me the most initially was the bowling bag shape! This’d go great with the CK colorblock dress from my Nanay!

• Belinda Selene‘s Markkit Sweet Pea satchel (blush patent vegan leather handbag)

Special Delivery today … Oh, snap as I call my stats a wrap! Stats Cat wants to get in on the pacatge wrap!

• Anna Akana‘s *Ghost & Stars* Taylor Swift midi dress (navy gingham)

This navy blue & white number would pair well with the Sakroots crossbody that Mami Aya gave me for my bday!

I must’ve scored the last 1 because it no longer stayed in stock the day after!

Soon-to-be Bday Grrrl Sweet Annie‘s easy to please: w/her squirrel tail & her likewise squirrel tail toy + dress packaging!

♪ #WeNeverGoOutOfSTYLE ♫

Speaking of ♫T-Swift, here’s her rendition of Friends‘ Phoebe’s ♫Smelly Cat♪ ^– check it –^

Floral Friday: Hilltop Home & Garden

During my bday vacay last week, I visited a home that is among my fondest memories:

my beloved soon-to-be (in 2½ weeks) Birthday Girl aunt’s estate!

Not only am I a fan, but apparently and rightfully so, her community also is as well because both

• Her award-winning garden was featured

• Her interior received generous press

in ☼The Baltimore Sun☼ 

The highlight of my stay was when I sat in my Tita Fe‘s gourmet kitchen with Mami Aya, her siblings and their spouses ~ during which my MD aunts and uncles, who included

• Tita Fe & Tito Rudy (my mom’s oldest sister and her husband)
• Tito Robert & Tita Yollie (my mom’s youngest brother & his wife)

each endorsed me for my PhD ~ providing their sound advice that I’ll take with me as I progress toward my doctoral dissertation defense.

 4:44 ~ make a Bday/BTS wish!!! ✌

Beauty Tuesday: HBD My Blue-eyed Girl

♣GOOD LUCK♣ = Green + Elephant

Happy BiG *NINE* to my Fine ♥Valentine♥ Feline Asia Felina Catalina!!!

1 ♣Lucky♣ Kitty

Happy ♣St. P’s♣ 1 week ago today from my Green-eyed Girl Sweet Annie!!!

This is how *DALLAS COWBOYS* feline fans spoon!

Asia & Annie have my ♥heart♥

So when we’re apart

Big Girl & Baby Sis are who I miss …

But when I give Asge a kiss

She retorts with a hiss

As she lets out a growl

& a hint of a howl!

Annie does purr

As I stroke her fur

Vocal Anne may have sharp claws

Yet she does biscuits with her paws

& blinks at me with ♥love♥

Sent from ☼Heaven☼ above!

They both can be sweet

So going home to them is a treat.

Caught pink-pawed in the pantry!

†PTL† = Pray Through LENT * Praise the †LORD†

†Easter† ✌Bunny✌ Cat right here!

Happy Early ☼Easter☼!

Soul Saturday: ¡Viva Selena!

Honoring Selena almost 20 years since her death (following my initial visit shortly after this shrine was built)

The end of this ♣March♣ marks two decades since our ☼Mother Earth☼ lost the late great ♥Selena Quintanilla-Pérez♥ …

Selena‘s spirit graces the shores of Corpus Christi, Texas

Yet this †legend† lives on as she leads her ✌legacy✌ through her ♪song♫!

Selena Immortalized

Her eternal beauty and sweet ♫voice♪ plus warm ♥heart♥ have gone immortal …

Selena, although short-lived on Earth, made her mark in ♪music♫ history

Selena‘s iconic style has inspired:

• dark lip color to accentuate smile ~ *besos*
• white crop tops for bare midriffs
• denim vests or leather motos for layered looks
• high-waist jeans and spandex to appear slim and trim
• halter dresses to show off shoulders

Selena‘s single, ♪I Could Fall in Love♫, among other soulful tracks, drew countless crowds to fall in ♥love♥ with her as she reigns from †Heaven†

¡Siempre Selena! ~ Selena always will hold a special place in our ♥hearts♥ ~ she definitely is ♪A Million to 1♫

R.I.P., Selena (April 16, 1971-March 31, 1995)

Beauty Tuesday: ♥Sweetheart♥ Ball

Happy 106th Birthday, LOLO TICO!!!

Bold Gold as the accent nail

Last Saturday, when I got ready for the ♥Valentine’s♥ dinner dance,  I still stayed productive by hitting the park to dry my nails during a fun run & quickie workout

Many Shades of Pink

followed by a study session at Starbucks, + ♥Adoration♥ at the †Chapel† and Vigil †Mass† before spending the evening at the Country Club!

Walking uphill in these platforms is a workout in itself! No pole or 18 hole!

LMFAO‘s ♪Party Rock Anthem♫ & ♫Sexy & I Know It♪ come to my mind!

¿Tienes agua? My campaign for H2O + my attempt for this DISPO @ the Baby Grand Piano to pull a Cassey Ho #DISPObustAFlow

Despite insoles to alleviate the platform pain, I must admit that I suffered through shuffling (i.e., ♫Cupid Shuffle♪) + salsa y bailando en general yet still managed to have a blast!

Taking a break from dancing & photographing … Here’s how I did my hair (when it held up): I kept it braided all day ’til I got ready, then separated into 2 sections ~ teased the top & put into a braid to wrap around the bottom, which I curled.

Thirsty Thursday: Think like JESUS

And DO like JESUS!

Wouldn’t life be so much more peaceful, pleasant and positive if we lead our lives like Him?

I admit that I’ve watched and enjoyed the movie Think Like a Man and the recent episode of The Mindy Project entitled Think Like Peter, and on top of that have taken those approaches to value: accomplishment, success and pride. Now instead of being self-serving, I’ve realized that I have much less stress when I concern myself less with success and more with serving the LORD, following His will and His way.

So how about we live our lives for Him and be happier by being holy? Just consider the popular acronym: WWJD ~ not because it was trending, but because we’ll be closer to the LORD if we put this into practice.

Here are words that we can add to our vocabulary and actions that we can apply to our daily lives:

Faith • Hope • Love • Patience • Kind • Merciful • Righteousness • Just

Challenge: next time you feel like someone is crossing you, instead of reacting with retaliation, forgive. When JESUS was condemned to the cross, He forgave all who scrutinized Him.

Lately, I’ve appreciated and celebrated, rather than hated (I do my best not to hate anyway). The reason why I’ve found a greater appreciation for my blessings is because I celebrate GOD first and foremost. Thanks to Him, I’ve had the most positive experience in my new job, where my leaders and teammates have exerted positive energy, praise and encouragement that motivate me to embrace and enhance my photography and people skills even more. The other day, my GODdaughter’s mother/Prima Monalisa moved my heart by calling me selfless. Last night, my former student McAwesome Ruben thanked me for believing in him.

Most of all, I give glory to GOD for my gifts to serve Him, including my Adoration Hour this morning and every Thursday, as well as anytime I visit the Blessed Sacrament, in addition to my ministry as lector doing the readings and as commentator soon leading the Mass. On Monday, my church celebrated our 83rd anniversary, when I proclaimed the word of GOD:

* Revelation 21
* Hebrews 12

This weekend, I’m preparing to deliver from the following Bible books and verses:

* Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 22-33
* Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 (11a)
* 1 Peter 1:17-21

May GOD bless and keep y’all!!!

3:33 ~ make a wish, actually a prayer to fulfill GOD’s wish!!!