Masquerade & recent goodness

Last Friday, the girls and I went to a Masquerade Ball and since we are super cool, we dressed up in old prom dressses, bought 5 dollar masks at walgreens (yes! walgreens, cool huh?) and got dolled up for the Ball. It was SO much fun!! We were missing Marinda & Heather though :( . At the "ball" we saw a lot of friends and had a blast dancing around. And by dancing around, i mean being ugly dancers and not caring how ugly we look because we're just that awesome :)





picture number 1) regular smiling picture
...but okay this one is more us...

We stopped by Ashley's so that she could change into a dress that better matched her mask, so while waiting we took beautiful pictures.

No need to tell us we're purrty,...we know :)

This is my friend Sirel-his aunt owns the house where the masquerade took place. It made my night when the girls and i showed up and Sirel said "My princesses are here!"...he's a sweetheart!

So when we got there we were dancing around and i saw a guy in a mask (refer to picture below) looking over in my direction. I didnt think much of it, until i realized he kept staring & i got "scared" cuz i had no idea who he was. He the proceeded to stand up and approach me, greet me and start dancing...THEN i knew who he was...haha Trevor!! Through the mask it was hard to recognize him but u gotta admit it's a sweet looking mask from Mexico :) Do u like the intensity of his face? haha!!

As we continued to make our way, we found "the boys" and not gonna lie, Taylors mask has to be the best one of the night. HAHAHA painted black...he would!!

Michelle & Tori are my partners in crime especially when it comes to dance parties. We spent the rest of the night dancing and dancing and dancing. towards the very end, i got SUPER tired and sat down with Trevor* & chatted it up with him haha. The girls continued to dance oh so purrty and i was so proud cause they were the best dancers in the entire place!

Afterwards, we continued with a tradition we seem to have started lately...I-HOP!!! gotta love frrrrench toast!! i seriously crave it!! it's yummmay!!!

Michelle: Cough cough...im sick..

me: boo you whore!!

name that movie!!! hahaha!!

Recent Goodness

....all is going well :) School is school and it's...going. haha i love it-dont get me wrong. But last night i only got 3 hours of sleep due to my obsessed studying for an exam today. I feel GREAT about the exam though so it pays off to study tons. CDC is going amazing! i love the dances so so much and i cannot wait for concert time :) especially for when we perform at the

temple!! I love this time of year!!...right now I'm super excited for Thanksgiving-i have my reasons ;) . But i'll be in Cali for it, so im hoping to get to be home for atleast a few days.

okay that is all for now. hasta luego!

Peru Peru Peru !!

Oh mi querido y adorado,Peru!!

I MISS IT!! I guess I forget how freaking amazingly wonderful it is that I AM FROM PERU! i was born in a 3rd world country where my family struggled but gained so much! A country that's poor, humble and with a corrupt government...but none the less...a country whose people have strong family values, traditions, standards, where people are humble but always sharing what little they have. Neighbors and friends who one is so close to that your children call them "tia" or "tio". i have several "tia" and "tio" 's in Peru haha :) . I love my culture!! growing up in the states, i do have a more dominating American Culture....but ohhh baby my Peruvian culture is a part of me and will forever be a part of me! I haven't gone back since 2008, but we plan to go in early 2010. I miss it SO much! my family, the people, the food, the environment...everything! Sure, after 2 weeks i start to selfeshly miss my comfort which is a huge bed, cell phone, car, etc....but it's so nice to spend weeks in a country where technology doesn't rule. Where you have to find a taxi to get to places and where you have to hurry on the phone so it doesn't charge you a lot. hehe. Having been born there and seeing the poverty level helps me to always remember who i am and where i want to go. I have the amazing opportunity to go to college!! to drive!! to have a cell phone!! things teens in Peru would never get the chance to have-such as an education, a car or phone privileges. I understand the value of a dollar-though of course i can sometimes be greedy and spend more than i have. Part of why i am SO educationally driven is because my cousins, brothers, parents, aunts and uncles in Peru never had the opportunity i have to go to college & get a degree. I WANT to go to school,...i GET to go to school. i dont HAVE to...i GET TO! what a BLESSING :) im rambling...this post makes no sense right now. haha but i LOVE PERU! i love where i came from, my traditions, my foods and my people. I am so fortunate to be an American Citizen and have the privilege to fly to Peru as much as i want. With each visit, my family and i do so much for the community and family. I couldn't begin to tell you all that we do-it's incredible how much we get done with the help of our Lord who guides and blesses us to be able to do what we do. When my family and i walk down the streets of our neighborhood in Peru, we LITERALLY get stopped every second by someone who knows or kenw my parents way back when! It's SO NICE to go to Peru and know that my community is more like a huge family. Everyone willing to give a lending hand at any given second, everyone willing to share what little they have and always ALWAYS sharing a smile and a hug. I give thanks for my unique life & blessing to be Peruvian-American and be able to do SO MUCH in both Peru & here. I cannot wait to go back and do more good work. Share the Gospel. Visit family. and more than anything....EAT EAT EAT...the food is AMAZING!!! oh con todo mi corazon, amo a mi Peru!

This would be my house in Peru :) homes in Lima are connected wall-to-wall and mines the corner one. it's actually 4 stories-you just can't see the other side. This is the home where little me took mah first steps and would dance around on the marble floors. I love it! I love having a home in Peru where i have my own room, pictures, radio, etc. It's wonderful-such a blessing!! I say it- I'M FROM PERU, I GO BACK OFTEN AND HAVE A HOUSE IN LIMA- but it doesn't hit me. It's a hard concept to grasp-I have a home and a life in South America where my family is, where i have neighbors and friends all 100% my original culture-WOW! it's wonderful to me!! i am tremendously blessed to be culturally competent and live both cultures :)

This is the presidential palace-im with my cousins.

My grandpa, Poli, and i at church. What a beautiful feeling to attend an LDS church in a country that not too long ago was lacking the Gospel. What a blessing to see that church absolutely full -past its capacity!! what JOY!!!





My ice cream buddy-8 years old working selling ice cream. I bought from him every day and prayed for him. I encouraged him to never EVER give up school and to always pray.To have dreams and to always go for his goals in life. He cried the day i left Peru, but i am sure he will remember my advice :) [[or so i hope]]

At a private navy port with my cousins!

Navy port with my papa!! He was in the Peruvian Air Force-he was top knotch. Everywhere we go he is greeted by all the uniformed guys...kinda dang cool!!

If anyone read this-wow you're amazing! it was long and all over the place :)