First 3 months of the year

I can't believe April is here already, then it'll be May and the summer...oh my!

I've been trying to spend as much time as I can with my girls before I get bogged down with work and disappear again. :(

I'm happy to report that even though I haven't been blogging much, I have been keeping busy outside of work, making extra sure to have a life, whether I was getting everything I needed together for my cousin's baby shower, going to the mall by myself or grabbing something to eat out in the valley or Hollywood.

• Jan 1 - Took my girls to see "Bedtime Stories" and then dinner at Applebees. It was a cute movie.
• Jan 2 - Went to my Godmother's house and hung out with the family.
• Jan 3 - Dinner at The Cheesecake Factory for my brother's birthday.
• Jan 9 - Took my girls to Barnes & Noble and then dinner at Fuddruckers.
• Jan 10 - Spent the day in Santa Monica with Uni. Lunch at Bubba Gump's and then saw "Bride Wars."
• Jan 16 - Hung out at my cousin's house with my girls.
• Jan 17 - Took my girls to former bosses' memorial fundraiser screening of "Hotel for Dogs" at The Bridge. It was better than I thought it would be and actually cried. Afterwards we went to lunch at Bubba Gump's in Santa Monica and we hung out at the pier.
• Jan 21 - Hung out at Westside Pavilion with Uni.
• Jan 23 - Saw "The Reader" at The Landmark with my sister. 
• Jan 24 - Hung out at my cousin's house.
• Jan 25 - Had lunch on the westside with a friend visiting from MD. Hadn't seen him since he moved back to MD years ago. Uni's older brother died.
• Jan 30 - Saw "Gran Torino" with my sister.
• Jan 31 - Lunch at Islands with Tiny in Long Beach; shopping at Target and hanging out at her place watching movies with her boyfriend.
• Feb 6 - Saw "Valkyrie" with my sister at the Beverly Center.
• Feb 7 - Went to memorial service for Uni's brother in Westwood. Had dinner at Red Lobster with my girls and took them bowling.
• Feb 12 - Had dinner with Uni.
• Feb 14 - Got my hair done. Shopping and dinner with my cousin Monica. Hung out at my Godmother and cousin's houses.
• Feb 15 - Got my nails done and went to Target with my cousin Monica.
• Feb 18 - Dinner with Uni.
• Feb 20 - Hollywood! Saw "The International" at the Arclight. Sushi for dinner and then dessert at a cafe down the street. Great evening spent drinking and talking with a friend. Out in Hollywood so late I had to take a cab home. Great night!
• Feb 21 - Evening at Dave & Busters for Tiny's birthday.
• Feb 24 - Young Variety Annual Pool Tournament in Hollywood.
• Feb 25 - Dinner with Mari and then we saw "Taken."
• Feb 26 - Dinner with Uni. M & C-los got engaged!
• Feb 28 - Met an old high school friend for lunch at Toast. Took my girls to Build-A-Bear Workshop at Del Amo mall and then dinner at the Macaroni Grill.
• Mar 1 - Brunch at The Cheesecake Factory in Huntington Beach for Tiny's birthday and then we saw "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail."
• Mar 6 - Dinner at Applebees with my girls.
• Mar 7 - Dinner at my Godmother's house for her birthday.
• Mar 14 - Baby Shower at my Godmother's house for my cousin. Somehow we managed to pull it off. Spent a fortune, though. Long day. So tired. 
• Mar 16 - Dinner with Mari and then we saw "The Last House on the Left."
• Mar 19 - Variety's Day at the Races in Santa Anita.
• Mar 20 - Barnes & Noble and The Corner Bakery with Uni.
• Mar 21 - I found him on Facebook. Took my girls to The Grove to see "Race to Witch Mountain."
• Mar 22 - Got my nails done.
• Mar 24 - Ran into N on the train and we had dinner at Lucky Boy in South Pasadena.
• Mar 25 - Dinner at Porto's with Uni. Met him for coffee to catch up.

Other tidbits of information:

• I gave up buying clothes and shoes for Lent. I really don't know how I've been able to do it. I keep getting catalogs, e-mails, coupons....you name it. Arg, so many cute shoes and outfits. {just two more weeks, just two more weeks}
• I submitted an application for the Young Variety Board. I'll find out in early April, after Showest I'm presuming. 
• I've read 6 books so far this year, inspired by my cousin's interest in reading. (You can see which books in the left column.)

My April is already filling up: Gem & Jewelry Show in Santa Monica, New Kids on the Block concert at Hollywood Palladium, various movies for my girls and cousins, possible volunteer event, my niece's 7th birthday, jury duty, and of course, work, work, work.