IF I HAD A BALLER BOYFRIEND

...and wanted to spoil the shit out of him (provided I had the ca$h), I would so get him this! With a basketball, new J's, and clothes. Wouldn't that be love! Dream on. Haha

UNDFTD + Incase Ballistic Basketball Bag.

THE FLAVOR OF BLAND

.. is the flavor of healthy. It feels good to think that you're putting nutritious, healthy food into your body. Therefore that makes it taste better. lol

• yogurt
• tea
• oatmeal
• vegetables (broccoli and edamame)

But of course that is all in compensation for the sodium-filled Filipino food that I ate today (: Couldn't resist stopping by DJ Bibinkahan in Carson on my way home from Irvine.

I GOT MY MIND MADE UP

Now let's put it into action. Or in this case, lack thereof.

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

I think it's kind of beautiful how we spend 10 weeks in a quarter working at our own individual paces, attending to our different priorities, focusing at varying intensities. Yet during finals we are all finally on the same page with one same priority: school, doing the best that we can do on those finals. Everyone is studying, not sleeping, and stressing the-hell out. We seek each other as study buddies and, essentially, sympathetic companions through the common struggle. Together we try to conquer the material mandated by our professors' syllabi and prevent test anxiety during the exact hour we are prompted to recall what we've learned (or crammed), straight from the top of our domes. Anticipating the ultimate moment that we are all relieved of our academic worries & obligations. Then party hopefully the hardest we have all quarter, because we don't have another darn homework, reading assignment, midterm or final to stress about! .. until next quarter, of course. I know, it's weird that i'm already talking about this and i haven't even taken my first final, but gotta keep a goal in mind!

Good luck on finals, everyone! Don't forget to rest, and just do your best.

LIVE YOUR PRAYERS, DON'T JUST SAY THEM

Why do we pray? Is it just to help us through the tough times, repent for our sins, and ask for forgiveness? Let's pray most especially to guide us to being good people and living like Christ daily. Ideally, why not just live with morals and act with justice throughout the week, or at least try to, instead of relying on one day of Sabbath to be absolved of our sins?

Why was I disturbed by what happened during the study session tonight? I do admit getting involved and finding interest in it; but at the same time, I didn't agree with it. Unlike the rest, I tried to defend the poor girl and rationally assess the situation. It's one thing to make such an embarrassing error, and to already have it broadcast via the internet. But to take it further by spreading it (no pun intended) to irrelevant people, investigating it, and trying to place a name to the person.. strips the person of their dignity. Just for the sake of your own enjoyment and entertainment? It's much too wrong and unnecessary. Come on, think about it.. what if that was your sister or girlfriend, or even just someone who's important to a friend of your own? Laugh at it, then let it it be. Let it go. Let the girl live after a mere accident. At the end of the day, how do you feel about yourself? while your social dignity is just peachy, and you made someone else's even worse? I'm never wearing a skirt AND being drunk in public ever again!

On a brighter note: A family that gets wild together, gets things handled together too. This gives me hope for the true meaning of family again.

OMG, HOW DID YOU KNOW?

My sister singing "Melt My Heart to Stone" by Adele. My sister is beautiful, I know :) and she took the words right out of my heart, that I had never before formed but felt nonetheless.


I find myself repeating like a broken tune
And I'm forever excusing your intentions

I best tidy up my head I'm the only one in love

Each and every time I turn around to leave

But instead I fall back to my knees
As you tear your way right through me
I forgive you once again

WHENEVER I'M STANDING MY OWN GROUNND,
YOU BUILD ME UP, THEN LEAVE ME DEAD.

NEWS

lost my job: laid off? possibly, because of the economy. kinda saw it coming since we weren't getting much business and i didn't foresee much work required from me in the future. "2 years," they said, when they hired me. fired? not sure, though sometimes i think i deserve it. i mean i did do my job 75% of the time (the other 25% was sleeping, eating, homework, blogging, internetting), and i did my job well. i would catch myself being entranced by my productive rhythm and unable to tear myself away. i sometimes did even more than was asked of me. & was honest with my time sheet. albeit, i came in late and/or hungover all the time, took advantage of the drinking water supply, dressed like a bum, and was short & lightweight-hostile with my supervisor... but i didn't ever get reprimanded nor did i receive fair warning, if i was doing anything to compromise my employment status there. so, maybe i didn't get fired, but my bad karma came around? anyway, ironic thing is i lost my job the same day my mom started her new job.

fight club: the book, loved it. tried watching the movie a long time ago but didn't understand it. had to read the book for a psychology "book report" (remember that term from, like, 4th grade?) and it knocked my socks off. i don't consider myself a leisure reader but, from forcing myself to read all my textbooks and articles this quarter, i was able to focus enough to finish it in like 5 hours total. or maybe it's just an easy read because it's that good! read it! read anything! just read.

vegetable & cream cheese sandwiches: take two slices of wheat bread. toast them lightly. spread philadelphia "light garden vegetable" cream cheese (the one with 1/3 less fat) on both slices. place spinach leaves, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers in between slices. it's a sandwich. eat it! sooooo yummy & nutritious! (copyright AmandaLee 2008)

GOOD THING OR BAD THING?

indecision
on the fence
last minute actions
spontaneity
no solid plans
not sticking to the schedule
changes of heart back&forth
contradicting myself
never really sure anymore

GIVE THANKS & BE HAPPY FOR WHAT IS RIGHT IN YOUR LIFE

Not just today, but every day, I think how lucky I am. Wait, actually it's more than luck -- I am blessed. I'm so thankful to have my mom & dad (together, happy, healthy, rational) & sister (role model, beautiful, caring, best friend). I always think about how reckless I live my life sometimes with the drinking & drugs, or how sometimes I bitch about stupid, trivial matters. All I need to keep in mind is my family, education, health, home, talents, friends, experiences.. and not take them for granted. It is so easy to make one false move and lose something or everything important to me, yet I've made it this far despite my often careless actions. So i know there is a God, watching over me.. not some streak of luck that has yet to run out.

GARDEN OF TEMPTATION

The evil snake is trying to tempt me with forbidden fruit. Except I'm not having a hard time resisting. I know that this is an integrity test; I'm supposed to stay strong to defend and prove my good, sincere intentions. Yeah, sure I may have less fun or not as much fun as I could be, because I hold myself back from things that even officially single people have the right to do. But at least I won't get a bad (or worse?) reputation and I'll be able to live with myself knowing that I made good decisions in the face of temptation. It's called self-respect. Anyway, what's with these ruthless Chow Mein noodles?! Fuck ya'll.

THOUGHTS GONE WILD

Thoughts! Thoughts! Thoughts! Anything goes! Real, Uncensored, Wild!

So I almost forgot how much I love drinking. Last night broke my "sobriety streak" which i thought was a month-long, but was only 3 weeks long. The only thing I dislike about the next day is that my thoughts run wild and it's hard to turn them off. I'm just so infused with creativity and love and words... oh, it feels good.

Alcohol loves me & I love YOU! muah <3

QUOTES

Too much of anything... Leads to none of it at all.



Would you want to know the truth if even it would hurt? The most beautiful pain is that of unrequited love & the damn awful truth.

A FEW RANDOM TIDBITS

- KOCE Orange County's educational channel is the best & only television I've watched in a while. Dorking out to the max, I know.

- I usually do better in school during my senior year. I really feel like a good student now who does reading and homework regularly, not procrastinating.

- What's the difference between a big forehead & a receding hairline? riiight?!

DON'T WORRY

I will soon get out of this funk and start blogging about normal things like a happy child. I've got a new soft robe, a body pillow, and a something else to get me through the nights. I don't need anyone (i want someone), but really I just need me. School's fine, I actually tend to cuddle up with my textbooks or eat dinner with them. I love seeing good friends on campus and taking notes in my supercute notebooks; sleeping & doodling during class has been kept to an all-time low. I'm able to focus during work without surfing the internet or instant messaging too much. The workouts are still regular and endorphin-releasing. The people at the ARC are gorgeous in their sweat-shine, gym attire and hands that smell of free-weight metal -- oh so motivating. Annika says I run fast... and hopefully I'm running far far far away from you.

ACROPHOBIA: FEAR OF HEIGHTS

Not sure if I really like smoking. When I'm high,

• I feel like people think I'm stupid.
• I think that guys are making sexual puns when they're actually not.
• I laugh uncontrollably.
• I get emo and super thinkish.
• I get stuck in a restricted frame of motions for long periods of time.
• I'm not very perceptive to what I am doing or who's talking to who.
• I hear people talking and pay attention, but I don't actually listen.
• I feel obnoxious.
• there are more awkward moments, where people just miss each other in understanding, and there is just bad timing for things.
• my nose feels tingly & at the same time sipon-y.
• I attempt to talk about something deep & profound but then realize it's nothing.
• I start to realize how much I don't like some people, or that I don't like them as much as I thought I did. Or maybe it's just cuz they're high too.
• I'd rather be on methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

FALL CLEANING

Out with the old, in with the warmth... blankets, jackets, socks, leg warmers, boots, beanies, gloves, and scarves. Fall came down on us hard. One day it was summer and we were complaining about the heat. The next thing you know, wind and cold and sickness smacked us in the face like a defensive comeback. Put away the shorts and sandals. Although they served us well in the past, it's time to move on.

WIND free associations: santa anas, gone with the, boreas nortus zephyr & eurus, huff & puff & blow your house down, beneath my wings, chimes, mills

THE DOCTOR IS IN

Lucy: You're not very much of a person
Charlie Brown: That's certain
Lucy: And yet there's a reason for hope
Charlie Brown: There's hope?

NO HOPE FOR YOU, blockhead.

but in a world of acceptance, forgiveness, and maturity.. things would end like this..

Lucy: Yes- it's amazingly true,
For whatever it's worth, Charlie Brown,
You're you.
Charlie Brown: Gosh, Lucy you know something.
I'm beginning to feel better already.
You're a true friend, Lucy, a true friend.
Lucy: That'll be five cents, please.

BITTERSWEET

.. you're gonna be the death of me
i don't want this, but i need this
i love it and hate it at the very same time.

Still under this damn spell, and everyone can see it so there's no point in hiding it anymore. You may see me doing this & that, being here & there, with whoever him & her... being who I am, and no one else but myself. But there is something deeper deeper in my heart that isn't being represented. That's one thing that isn't easily seen, because actually I feel helpless.. that there isn't much I can do about it. So I wait and wait and wait for those once in a blue moon chances. And like a sucker, I fall hard for it everytime, right away, putting everything aside and thinking what if it's the last time. Because I know even though I'm always up for it, it's not a mutual reciprocity.

ihateyou:(*punch*

SPANISH, SUBLIMATION & ENCRYPTION

Friends have duly noted my casual & sporadic use of Spanish in the midst of English conversation. Friends have also remarked about my being cryptic in some of the art and doodling I do. I love puzzles, I love making people guess, I love challenges and imperfections. Which explains why I am still stuck on certain things to this day, and reject other things that often come my way.

The use of Spanish and encryption have aided in giving off subliminal messages to the world. Whether it be in an away message or in conversation. And it has, in general, led to a very creative side of me. Initially these habits formed because I was too shy or scared to show/say how I really thought and felt. So in a way, I still got my message out but without really saying it.

I am still very cryptic in a sense to this day but it's nothing I am ashamed of. It fuels my creativity and I find it very entertaining. Ha Ha. However, I am working on just telling it how it is, straight up. Less hiding, less games. I surprise myself at how much more and more I am opening up and the things that come out of my mouth sometimes. It's like so much easier to just be yourself instead of putting in all that effort to cover up. But it's always nice to maintain some privacy and have your own little world to yourself.

idkne+
i'm a shoe, without my other half to complete the pair.
eye one chew.

PLACEMAT

Perhaps we make new friends all the time, and hang out with certain ones more than others. But that doesn't mean anyone gets replaced or forgotten. You are still to me irreplacable for whatever you're worth. And no one else can do what you do to me. A placemat is not just for decoration, or for holding one's place, or for making clean-up easier. It also reminds us of future opportunities. There is a fighting chance.. that when we're ready to eat, we will be supported and welcomed and there is always a place in time that we belong.

VERITAS INLUSTRAT

"The Truth Enlightens" (Latin)

It feels good to be yourself and know that people will accept you for who you are. It's so much easier when you don't have to pretend or put up a front. There are some things you may have tried to hide before but when it all comes out eventually, just roll with the punches. If people are really true friends, they won't judge you based upon what you do or who you associate with or who you love. They take the effort to see who you are as you alone, who you are deep down inside despite all the social and physical clutter of the world. People will excuse your mistakes, some of the things that you may accidentally say, and look beyond your clumsiest times. All that matters in the end is that you laugh at yourself and you know who you are. If your heart is in the right place and you have good intentions then live it out, but don't be afraid to fall or make mistakes cuz that's how you learn and appreciate.

I WANNA BRUSH MY TEETH ALREADY

Never thought the day would come but my wisdom teeth finally started blooming. And within 2 weeks, they got booted from my mouth as per the dentist's urgent recommendation. The extraction was quick and painless; they shot me up with a bunch of numb-ers but didn't put me completely to sleep. The worst parts about being numb but conscious were the sound of my teeth being cracked, the metal drilling against my teeth, and seeing the stitches being tied. Nonetheless, I survived tear-free and with a giggling curiosity. Like "WTF just happened in there!?"

Thank you for consoling me in my time of oral disability!

So I spent a whole day (and weekend) eating mushy foods that babies & old people eat -- apple sauce, yogurt, pudding, and mashed potatoes. By the end of the day I was ready to play & go out. That's cranberry & sprite on the rocks, FYI! The Grand Star in Chinatown offered a very mixed and urban crowd with raw jazzy hip hop music, all of which cannot be found in Irvine. And we left with aspirations of house dancing. So so so so sick.

The days following were not so pleasant, as the pain meds had me on lock-down, unsafe to drive anywhere. I missed a lot, but it's just the first week of the quarter! Much more fun to be had later!

INSPIRED BY RANDOM DOODLING

/\/\/\||||O\/\/

EMO ASS LYRICS

No matter what the people say, I'm gonna love you anyway
You are my life, I can't let go
Even if we fuss or fight, try til we get it right
You are my life, I can't let go
Even if we disagree, you can put it all on me
You are my life, I can't let go
I can't, I can't let you go

["Can't Let Go" - Anthony Hamilton]

You always have my unspoken passion
Althought I might not seem to care

["Just the Way You Are" - Billy Joel]

But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don't know the truth
My heart's crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding

["Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis]

DISNEYLAND

I didn't get to go on any trips this summer, but the closest to a trip was Disneyland! And I am now an annual pass holder! Hella fun spending money on whatevers and not having to wait in lines so we rode a lot of rides. && first time being slightly drunk at a themepark! Muahaha.

Lunch at Pacific Wharf with beer (:


Riding the monorail back to Disneyland after an intoxicating deviation at ESPN bar.

THE TALK OF THE TOWN

This memo is two and a half months overdue, but still applicable to the present and future.

No one ever knows all the facts or the whole story except for me. I may tell people different parts of the same story depending on what I can trust them with or what is relevant to them. OR, people may witness some parts of an occurence but not all. So if you will please keep my name out of your big mouth. Shit gets twisted around and starts drama because you're all just secondary sources. Once you get one piece of juicy information you jump all over it.. exaggerate, lie, create bias. And people get butt hurt right away. Wanna know something? Fuckin ask me. And just because I'm around you all the time, doesn't make you my friend.. also even if you are my friend, doesn't give you the right to herald all my news. Find something else more substantial, intellectual, and profound to talk about!

It seems like I've had more dramatic and emotional episodes with others.. ever since --hate to say it, but-- tdb. I mean, it's not that bad as others' drama but I used to keep my shit private. The more people you know, the more people know about you. One thing's for sure though.. I won't be going down that route again. It was my first, last, and only shot. Other than that, I like to consider my record pretty clean.

FROM THE OTHER SIDE

I've gained a better perspective on what it's like to be a parent. A parent in such a way that you give someone (your child) guidance, trust, memories, money, etc. You send them off into the world and let them do their own thing but you expect that they keep you in consideration, make you proud, come back to you with loyalty, gratitude, and stories to tell. You pray they aren't wreckless and that they don't take for granted what's been given to them selflessly. Well, your "children" are bound to act selfishly, and take their freedom and run with it. Only to leave you thinking damn, that's what I let them do? That's what they did with their freedom & money? I don't even get respect in return? Because I've learned that "parents".. they never want you to pay them back in money.. they want your respect, gratitude, and loyalty in return. They don't necessarily care to be out there having the fun you're having and doing what you're doing.. they just want you to be making smart choices and carrying yourself with dignity and making them proud.

Hurt me fucking good.

TO LACE THE NECK

You will rarely see me wearing jewelry -- earrings at most. But here are some of my favorite pieces.

• Love wire
• gold handcuffs
• military "dog tag"
• kissing couple silhouette
• gold bow
• Old English script A
  

A TASTE OF HOME

I get really homesick sometimes even though my homehome is less than an hour away and I have awesome friends down here that are like family. This homesickness is not just a yearning for the physical house that I grew up in, the familiar streets of Los Angeles, or the company of my mother, father & sister. I miss the times of back in the day. Being cooked for all the time, depending on my parents for everything that requires money, eating dinner with the family around the dining table which is begun by saying grace.

A major symptom of this homesickness is my ever frequent cravings for Filipino food. Eating Filipino food can connect me to my childhood, family life, and home, instantly warming my heart & tummy. My favorites are halo-halo, beef caldaretta, palabok, sinigang, kare-kare, and pinakbet.

Well, at first I was pretty discouraged when I realized there was no Filipino restaurant within the official boundaries of Irvine. However, there is one only 2 exits north of me off of the 5 freeway.

It's called Manila Groove, in Tustin. The neatest thing about this place is that is has an online menu that is updated daily. I find this very helpful because with a point-point-joint that has a small selection, you can't rely on a fixed menu. I've been going there regularly lately. They don't make their palabok the way I like it - sauce is baked on and dry, not puddly. The caldaretta is bomb (not as bomb as my mom's) but $3.49 for a scoop which contains about 5 pieces of beef. 50 cents per scoop of rice, but it is to-die-for mushy & melty-in-your-mouthy. OH GEEZ, and they serve breakfast all day! I had longsilog the other day for the first time in my life! :) Okay, the end.

WWW.MANILAGROOVE.COM

DIE HARD

And it's been this long because I'm always thinking that next time will be better.. but nothing's changed & everything's changed. Sadly, I know I will still be here/there when no one else is left. There's this side of you that has yet to come out, or that at least I have yet to see for myself. It's a side of you that I know exists or can exist. And everyone has lost hope in it except for me. And I feel that of all people, I deserve to see it.. after all the time, heart, and effort I've put forth.

NICKELS & DIMES

At the beginning of this summer, I was financially screwed. I had been unemployed for almost 3 months, was applying to jobs, and wasn't landing anything. Then I got hit with some financial obligations I had neglected to consider - rent, Tiffany's bridesmaid stuff, and all the fun that summer brings! I hate to depend on my parents for money if it's not for school or survival, even when my options aren't looking too bright. I was so desperate that I almost resorted to selling my clothes, helping my "lil brother" sell goods in Irvine, taking paid online surveys, working at Panda Express again. Haha..

Well, with persistence and patience, sometimes you get what you want & need in the right way. I got a job with a random company in Irvine but the position is legit. No bitchwork. I love my bossboss, but I am annnnnnoyyyyeeed with my higher-up. Pay is good, work environment is relaxed and autonomous. Balancing work & school is the toughest part, though, because I have to wake up at 7am and most people have known me as a morning monster... meaning I am grumpy and unpleasant before the sun rises to its highest. I drive about 25 miles a day to work, school, & home, so that's killer on my gas. But you can bet I get a good night's sleep and I sure as hell appreciate every minute of it!

This was a small struggle I overcame, in trying to maintain a sense of independence from my parents and feel like I have a purpose in life. "Work hard, party hard(er)" is a cliche that never gets old. After all that, go to the dollar theatre and pay with your jar of coins that is mostly pennies! Make them count that! Just never forget where you came up from.....

FINALLY

"It's not always rainbows & butterflies,
It's compromise,
That moves us along."
-Maroon5

CATS

I have always had a stigma about cats. Throughout my childhood, I had dogs for pets. Our next door neighbor had so many cats all over the place, I bet she had no idea how many there actually were. Well, they'd wander into our yard and poo so much that my dad decided to have this ugly chain-link fence built around our property. Associating cats with this eyesore to our otherwise cute family abode, made me hate cats even more. Once in a while I'd also see cats laying dead in the middle of the street, or my dad and uncles would just straight pop them with a BB in the backyard.

Two people in my life that I specifically remember having indoor cats were my seamstress and my cousin. Everytime I'd go to their houses, my eyes would immediately start watering up and I'd sneeze incessantly. So I decided I was allergic to cats, but maybe also because I just hated them so much.

Well, this year I am rooming with a girl who has a cat named Nemo. It is a Tabby cat with short hair & orange stripes. As far as appearance, I like that its stripes look like wood grain and its eyes change color throughout the day. I am not allergic to it, thank God. And surprisingly, I think I kinda like it. It doesn't make noise, isn't violent, and it seems to be very attentive and smart. Like the other day, Nemo kept staring at me so I gave it the middle finger, upon which he widened his eyes and looked so shocked like he knew it was a bad thing. He also likes to fucking watch me in the shower through the glass door, like he is amazed by the human anatomy... but shit, what a pervert!

NEWTON'S FIRST LAW

The Law of Motion, or the Law of Inertia, says that bodies in motion tend to stay in motion, and bodies at rest tend to stay at rest.

Whether bored or busy
Whether alone or in company
Whether single or seeing someone
Whether with or without you
Whether drunk or sober
Whether far or near
Whether past or present
Whether none or several in between
still.

YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING RIGHT ALL AT ONCE

I'm a fatass today, double time, because I skipped my usual Step Aerobics class & Abs/Thighs class. That's actually Annika's fault because she's usually my workout buddy but ditched me for Disneyland. To make it worse, I ate 4 bad things from America's favorite golden arches because it was fast & cheap, which caters to my currently busy & broke lifestyle.

To make myself feel better after such a guilty consumption, I usually drink a cup or two of hot herbal tea. Vanilla Chai black tea is my new favorite.

This week is gonna be a little bitch, thanks to Child Clinical Psychology class. Ughh.. Now I shall study at the dining table of my new house which has recently been flea bombed, steam cleaned, and organized. My roommates are cool :)

SUMMER 2008

My first summer down here in Irvine can thus far be summed up in a perfect alliteration:

Bug Bites.
Beach Bum.
Busy Bee.

and most especially,

Beer Belly.




(hover over pictures to see captions)


BOTTOMS freakin UP! But now I shall take a *shot* at sobriety. At least from recreational drinking, permitting only celebratory drinking!

MORNING ROAD RAGE

I guess I subconsciously have an internal radar for your car, knowing that we work in the same area and take the same way to work. And I thought I'd be excited if I ever happened to see you on the road. Well yeah, cutting you off on the 5 South this morning was the highlight of my day!

Followed by a paycheck and a nice, sweaty Step Aerobics class at the ARC.

FOR THE RECORD

I still love my "besteezy." We will always be awesome and have that undescribable bond! I'm here for you! That's one thing that won't change.

SO NOT OVER IT

One of my favorite/happiest/best moments of 2007 STILL:

Jota Angelina

Kababayan's 28th Annual Pilipino Cultural Night

May 5, 2007
taught by: Amanda Dueñas & Rohmel Reynoso
choreographed by: Barbara Ele

composed by: Nitoy Gonzales

I can't say that I have worked hard for everything I've gotten lately.. but Maria Clara is a great effort of mine that I can never forget or discredit. Growing up with Kayamanan Ng Lahi, I had always seen the "big kids" do this dance and never thought I'd get the chance to be in their dancing shoes. It was one of my childhood fantasies, like those of little boys aspiring to be fire fighters, NBA players, or doctors. I just wanted that moment to shine and feel so empowered.. by one dance, for just five minutes, in a costume.

When I first went back to my directors and dance coords at KNL to learn the choreography, I was so intimidated. I could barely keep up with the choreography, and I was forced to learn it in one session. But I went back home and mastered it on my own, rewinding videos until the remote control button was nearly worn down. Next obstacle that I had to face was teaching it to 9 other people! Well, luckily I wasn't alone. What made the biggest impression on me during this process, was everyone's will power and individual inputs. They felt how much this meant to me, and made it a group effort. Jota Angelina is a special dance that had to be done right. You have to be able to smoothly transition from happy energetic, to somber dramatic, and to make all your movements big and distinct. To see all of it come together in the end - 5 months of rehearsal, for 5 minutes on stage - was like a dream I still can't believe was real. Every kick of the dress, stomp of the foot, click of the castanet, twirl of the manton, emotion portrayed through facials, body language, and tempo.. was absolutely perfect.

This is what you get when you mix yelling, sleepless nights, cramped feet, phenomenal teamwork and dedication into a parking-structure-shaped bowl. Line the pan with sweat and tears. Bake for 5 months. Sprinkle with love and smiles. A sweet sensation that lasts longer than any red velvet cupcake that Sprinkles or Team Dylan&Amanda can make.


I LOVE all of MariaClara!