Relaxing with the Castros...

We had a really full weekend, Saturday we celebrated one of my cousin's graduation with good food, great company and alot of dancing. Today I got up really early to volunteer for a couple of hours at the American Diabetes Association 2009 Tour de Cure. It was really inspiring at the finish line cheering everyone on and being there to serve any way I could. They were so appreciative to us for our cheering and water stand, and all I could tell them was, hey, I got the easy job!

Adolfo and I decided to relax the rest of the day at Best Buy and the the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. They were showing Night at the Museum 2 at the IMAX Theatre. How fun we thought, a movie about about a museum in a museum, we had to do it! It was my first time there, and Adolfo's 1st time to go to an IMAX Theatre. It really made the movie fun for us and we enjoyed it!

Now we are just at home relaxing and sitting here sharing our blog. I am taking a mini 3 day vacation to just relax, and catch up on life. We both start class this week, so a little down time is welcomed. My vacation starts off with a morning at the Spa! It was my Christmas present from my sweet husband, and I am finally getting to enjoy it, after that errands all day, pool in the afternoons, and shopping on Wednesday with my mom! I am super excited about the week ahead!!

Wishing yall a week of relaxation as well! Love, The Castros.

Can we say domestic diva?

If you know Adolfo and I, then you know how crazy, maybe a little obsessed, we are about ironing. I was always attracted to how well he pressed his dress shirts, better than the cleaners I must say. He does an AMAZING job on my capris. We are vary particular about our ironing boards, irons and you will always find an abundance of premium starch in our laundry room. We never leave home without our own bottle: Work trips, home to JC (just in case mom runs out), honeymoon, EVERYWHERE!

This being said, you now will understand why I am so excited about my memorial day purchase. This weekend the only thing I bought was a new cover for our ironing board, and I couldn't wait to get home and use it. I love a clean house but cleaning isn't my most favorite past time....anything that makes my around the house to-do list a little more enjoyable seems like a great investment to me!

Before...Boring...

After!

Doesn't it just make you want to iron all your wrinkled clothes? Adolfo just laughed at me, he thinks it's too girly. I told him to think about how much happier I will be now ironing all his shirts. Happy ironing, The Castros.

Status: Refreshed and Accomplished :)!

I am done working out, I am done with my shower, and I have picked up the house, all in all what a nice evening. I really had to make myself work out tonight, I was unmotivated, so I felt it that much more important to get to the gym, and now I feel so relaxed and refreshed!

I have been meaning to post this since last week, I just never got a chance. PSCO - Austin was awarded one of the Top 20 Best Places to Work in Austin in the small business category! The award is voted by the employees and you have to go through an extensive survey and review process by the Austin Business Journal. It is an honor to receive this award because thousands of companies compete and there are only a total of 50 companies overall that receive anything. You are notified when you are a finalist and again if you have won, but they do not tell you your ranking until the award luncheon. Last year was our first year and we placed 19 out of 20.

Part of our audit Family at the awards luncheon....

After the luncheon, we got 10 out of 20 this year!

I really do appreciate everyone I work with, we have such a good time together in and out of the office, sometimes what we do is stressful, but it is such a blessing to have a place and a support system that you know will motivate you and push you to be your best.

Lots of Love, Ces. (Adolfo's still working out, lol!)

Memorial Day Weekend....

Saturday morning we woke up early and met some of my family for an all day adventure at Sea World! When we got there the weather was so pretty and clear, but halfway into all our our shows it changed. There is something to say about Kelsey and Tay being there on the same day that shakes up the weather, 2 out of 2 girls! But the slight change in weather did not mess up our day, with a little patience, we were able to do it all, enjoy the pics....

Trouble!

Memorial Day Weekend 2009, Mr. and Mrs.

Tay, Chica, Mom....See there excitement!
First item on the agenda, Chica needed Dip-n-dots....

We started the day with shows... Cool Vibrations...

Shamu, of course!

Adolfo Believes, as he anxiously awaits Shamu!

Shamu....

Feeding the Dolphins, they are so sweet...but won't give you the time of day unless you have food....

After Sea World, we were able to meet up with Claudia for dinner! It was so relaxing just catching up and being together. All in all it was a fun trip to SA. Adolfo and I now have season passes to Sea World so if anyone ever wants to make a trip let us know!

Saturday night we spent the night at the ranch with Adolfo's parents, and early Sunday we relieved them of baby feeding duties, the new baby deer....

We had a great time on Sunday with Adolfo's parents, he helped his Dad work on the ranch jeep and I spent the day shopping with my MIL and Sunday night we had his sister and our niece and nephew spend the night for movies and root beer floats, yum!

Adolfo had to work today, so I spent the day cleaning and just catching up around the house. Lakers are currently playing so we all know were my husband is, but after the game I am patiently waiting to watch all my shows on our DVR.

Who's excited about Keeping up with the Kardashians and Jon & Kate plus 8? I am!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend, and I know we are all ready for Tuesday

morning! But hey, let's me optimistic this week, it is only a 4 day work week!

Sweet Dreams, The Castros.

The Best Things in Life are FREE!

Adolfo's sister got us free Round Rock Express Tickets tonight, and we do love baseball! We thought it would be such an appropriate way to begin our Memorial Day Weekend. It's been our first time to the park this season, and we will definitely be going back.

Mr. and Mrs.

Relaxing on our cute pic-nic blanket and enjoying our dinner ....


I enjoyed kicking my shoes off, getting some sun, and what game is complete without the traditional beer and hotdog? That was my dinner, lol....

The Express really do try hard to entertain the crowd, If you were the designated driver you got a free Budlight Cap, Hotdog and Coke, Adolfo sporting all his DD gear, lol.....


Adolfo also won the Texas Lotto game, way to go babe, it was definitely his night....

Us again, the game is about to begin.....

Tonight was Firework Friday, so at the end of each game the stadium is blacked out and there is a firework show, it was so pretty and relaxing, and such a great way to begin our time off together! Day 1 of 4 was fabulous! Hope everyone enjoys your Memorial Day weekend as much as we are, be safe and relax!!

Until Next Time, The Castros.

Let the games begin!

I really do enjoy watching and playing, or attempting to play, all types of sports. Our television and DVR has been full with the NBA playoffs. I really don't watch basketball throughout the season, unless it is supposed to be a really good game, and Adolfo wants to watch it. I enjoy a good game and I can talk the language.

My most favorite time are Playoffs! We are finally down to the great of the great, and every game is exciting because no one wants their season to be over. I get pretty excited around this time of year! My perfect husband's one flaw is that he is a Laker's fan.

I remember when we first started dating, I might have even already shared this story with the blog world, but here we go again, we invited him to come on over and watch a Spurs vs. Lakers game, we just assume hey your Mexican, love basketball, live close to SA, you must love the spurs, right? Wrong, that night I found my future husband's one flaw, he is a HUGE Laker's fan. I guess we all have to make sacrifices sometimes for true love and happiness, lol.

So we all know who Adolfo wants to continue in the playoffs, but here is how I want it to play out.
Lakers will beat the Nuggets, Cavs will beat Orlando. 2009 Finals between Lakers and Cavs! Adolfo can support Kobe and I will put my energy behind LeBron James, the old vs. the new, game on!

We get so competitive, but it makes for a more exciting playoff season, so let the games begin!

Happy Playoffs, The Castros.

Prayer's for Kendalyn...

Without going into many details just yet here in the blog world, our little cousin was taken to Dell's Children's hospital yesterday evening, and has been transferred to a specialty hospital in San Antonio. She is really sick, and has a long road ahead of her. Please keep her and her family in your prayers at this very challenging time.

Thanks, Adolfo and Celeste.

Lovin' the rainy day!

Friday was a pretty happy day. Biggest Loser update: Friday was our first weigh in and I lost 1.8lbs. I know it is not much, it put me in the middle of the group. I was really happy because Mother's Day weekend was horrible and I really did not work out, so I was pleasantly surprised I had a loss at all! I am getting back into my running/walking in our gym, maybe even going back to curves, baby steps!

Last night I got out of class early, and we decided to take the night off, no studying, there was plenty of time for that all weekend. We went for dinner and caught Angels & Demons, it was really good and kept us entertained! It just made me want to go to Italy and Vatican City even more .....

This morning I woke up pretty early, and decided to go get service on my car for my check engine light finally. Adolfo postponed his fishing weekend, due to the weather, and decided to go get his oil changed with me. We are a Honda family, so I love going to get our maintenance and services together, funny I know, but its our special time, lol.

This morning, we walked across the street while we were waiting and tried out a new coffee house to pass the time. We had breakfast penini's, OJ and were able to review 1/3 of my Spanish chapters, it was so relaxing and now we have a new little breakfast jive to wait at during our AM Honda dates!

Know we're just being lazy, we came home and it's raining, so Adolfo and I took a little nap, but now its studying for me and relaxing for him, I love rainy days because there is no place else I'd rather be then home, on my couch, with my blanket & cup of joe (Yes I am drinking it again, I can't stay away)! And my notes of course!

Happy Studying, Ces.

Tonight's an "Oatmeal for Dinner" kind of night!

Do you ever just have those days where you feel like your head is stuck in a cloud? Well today is mine! There are TONS of things I should be doing and I can't seem to pull it together and just get it all done, lol. I have an internal audit assignment at work that I am currently working on, that I need to have completed by tomorrow, I am STILL working on my Spanish workbook that is due tomorrow, that will keep me up all night, lol, and look at what I am doing, blogging. Sometimes we just need a break!

I have enjoyed getting to be at a client's this week that is literally 10 min from my house, this is the life, I can still leave later in the evenings and get home to workout! I have worked out for 45 min the past two nights, and I have still had dinner and a shower before 7, this is rare in our world! I'm lovin' it!

So this evening I made me some oatmeal and a nice glass of ice cold water, and now I am hitting it hard, well after this blog of course.

Adolfo has taken all his finals and is at his final Aikido class, and then it is his summer for 2 weeks and then back to the books! I on the other hand have my last class tomorrow and then my final on Sunday, little does Adolfo know he will be prepping and quizzing me all weekend ;)!

The Castros are moving right along these days, but it is back to work for me now, have a beautiful evening! Love, Ces.

Weekends go by too fast!

Too, too fast when you are having fun with the ones you love! Saturday we went with Adolfo's family to one of the best Quinceneras I have ever been to here in Austin. We hung out with family and caught up since it had been awhile since I had seen everyone. Sunday morning for Mother's Day we met my Mom, Curt and Tay at the Olive Garden for an early lunch and to exchange presents. I love spoiling and trying to surprise my Mom! Although I must say, Adolfo out did me a little, he scored points for creativity and thoughtfulness. My mom LOVES the Yankees, but she never had a T-Shirt. She has always made comments about how she loves the navy shirts with the Big NY logo on it, but we never thought to get her one. Well, Adolfo did, and he surprised her and she loved it! We had such a great time, and you know how nice dinners are with Curt, lol, he orders everything on the menu and then expects us to eat it all, we tried alot of new things and definitely found some new favorites! We enjoyed getting to catch up and spend time with the family. My mother had a beautiful day, and she deserved every second of it.

Adolfo, my mom and me...After Olive Garden, we headed to the Ranch to spend the afternoon with Adolfo's mom and hang out with the family and BBQ, all I can say is we NEVER are short on food and this was no exception...It was a beautiful day to be outside and we just enjoyed it!

Aurora, my MIL, opening her gifts....

Daniel, Alex and Adolfo preparing the grill for all our food...I guess when you party as much as we do, everyone needs a kitchen outside! They have this awesome 3 burner grill, a large deep fryer, along with the smoker pits, if we can't make it with these guy toys, then they say we don't need it, lol....Dinner was awesome, needless to say I am not going to do so hot at our Biggest Loser weigh in #1!

Yes, I helped make these! They love the Stuffed Jalapenos, we did SOOO many and I don't even eat them. They are pretty simple to make, but man they make you cough, cry, and don't make the mistake of rubbing your eyes!!!!

Adolfo relaxing in our favorite chairs!

As you all know, there is never a dull moment out at the Ranch, and Aurora loves roosters and animals. This is her newest rooster she got from one of her grandsons.....his color is so pretty!

And this is her second addition that they rescued from the side of the highway. Isn't he precious. When Adolfo and I started dating they had a deer named Bambi that we helped raise from the same age, but as she grew older she became a little more wild and eventually took off, but now we have a new baby. They really do raise them like a pet dog, we play with them they come up and lay by your feet and walk around the yard with you, they are so sweet.

Sunday evening we watched Adolfo'a brother play co-ed baseball, it reminded me of how much I LOVE baseball, and could just hang out at the ball park all weekend! Hopefully eventually we can be active on a league once life slows down a little, one day! Lol, some of my best childhood memories are at the ballpark watching my Dad's league team play! We had a very eventful weekend and got to spend a great deal of time with our families, even better.

This week is going by quickly, it is our final week so there is a great deal of studying going on at the Castro's and then we get a small break! Speaking of, I have to hit the books!

Have a great week, Love Ces.

Wow, what a LONG couple of days....

After my last post things got a little eventful for the Castros! After class on Friday, Adolfo met me at one of our little favorite Mexican restaurants for Dinner and then we caught a movie, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. It was definitely one you could wait to see at home, but we had a great date night doing what we love best, I don't think our date nights will ever get old!

As we are always looking for ways to save and get us into our 1st home, we decided maybe we should start doing date mornings, how fun! No one has to get dressed, we can stay in our PJ's, early bird movies are super cheap, and breakfast is my favorite meal of the day! Why haven't we thought of this sooner?

Sunday morning I had class, and Adolfo decided to go to his parent's ranch and spend the day with them. Aurora and Alex, my MIL and FIL, LOVE being outside working on the yard, and when they finally built there home, Alex built Aurora this sweet little green house, just for her plants, flowers, and a cute little table so she could sit and watch her pretty flowers grow. Well she also has TONS of plants and rose bushes outside. Since the weather was so nice on Sunday, Adolfo helped her pull out all her pots and get the green house all ready for the summer! After class, Tay and I layed out by the pool and just read, relaxed and got a little sun.

Well, once he got home his back was not feeling so great, I gave him something for the pain and put icy hot on his back to see if it would help, it did for a little bit, but the pain got worse as the night progressed. He had to sit up really straight, and if he laid down he had trouble getting up. I felt HORRIBLE, I couldn't do anything to make it better and I couldn't help him get up without hurting him. I got upset because I didn't know what to do to make it better, he wanted to just stay in one spot, but I knew if he didn't move it would only make him stiff. So we finally started putting a hot towel on his back to relax his muscles and it seemed to help, but it was already midnight, I think we were getting up every 30 minutes to reheat, re-adjust or walk so he didn't get tight, he finally felt good enough to lay down around 6am. It was a LONG helpless night! We could not get into the doctor until 4pm this afternoon, so we just took it slow. We found a new doctor close to our house that will definitely be our new family doctor, this is exciting because I hate finding new doctors! He was great, told us we didn't have anything to worry about and gave Adolfo some medication that would help make it all better.

I said enough with the hot towels so we got his prescription and a new heating pad this evening. Now as we are supposed to be watching the Lakers together, but 24 hours later my sweet husband FINALLY fell asleep here next to me with is new hot-pad. I guess I will stay up and watch the game since it is the last quarter, and the Lakers are losing! Wouldn't that be the best ending to our crazy night, we for me at least, not so much for Adolfo.

Well, now that the mood is back to calm with the Castro's, I hope everyone has sweet dreams and a great week!

Happy Early Cinco de Mayo, The Castros.

I love the weekends!

Since it has been awhile since our last post, let's play catch up! Sugarland was AMAZING, and quite entertaining. I love going to concerts and knowing all the songs and I love that they sounded exactly like they do on the radio. Our presents were bubbles and a light stick, pretty original, so if you get the chance, check them out because Tay and I had a great time.

I am finally getting back into the swing of things with my Spanish class, I am kind of burnt out and ready for it to be over already, but I have one more test and a presentation next week and then I am done, well, till my summer class, but it should be a lighter load, fingers crossed.

Since both our schedules are pretty busy we are trying to squeeze in a little vacation, even if it is only a few weekend trips to just get away and enjoy being together and doing the things we enjoy, more on that later!

A big event started this week! We started a new competition at work this week, Lester's Losers, our own version of The Biggest Loser. It is pretty exciting because I seem to add extra pounds during busy season, and well it is time to do something! Everyone at work seems really motivated and the reward isn't to shabby either. For me it started on Thursday, and it will last for three months, so I will also be letting you in on the journey. So far I my focus is just to monitor my diet, and add more activity in my life. I will definitely be going back to Curves 3X a week again!

Our house needed cleaning so I incorporated my mopping, dusting and cleaning chores into my routine, you can really get a work out. Adolfo and I also went on a walk yesterday for about an hour, and with all the hills it kicked my bottom, but we felt great after it. I love walks because I we just got to enjoy being together and catching up on things! So yeah for Lester's Losers and the changes it is going to make in our lives for the better! Any tips are greatly appreciated, I have to start our steady or else I will get burnt out too quickly.

Other than that we just hung out at home, we started our mother's day shopping, Adolfo BBQ'd and we watched movies. There was a Godfather marathon on TV last night, and well to my knowledge I never remember watching them. Well, Adolfo couldn't believe it so we missed 1, We watched 2 and recorded 3 and I must say I really enjoyed it! Partially because when I was little I always was discussing with my Mom how cool would it be if our family was in the Mob, I always thought it would be neat to be picked up from school in a black limo with men in suits and sunglasses, and have all my brothers protect me, well I never had brothers and it never happened, lol. Aside from all the violence, I thought it was cool, lol, what was wrong with me?

Well know it is almost class time, but I just wanted say hello and clue you in on the Castros, not much more.

Love, Ces.