Flower in the Flesh.: #TeamGardenZo

Mind + Soul + Body.

Hi guys, it's Music Monday! And yes, I'm back!

I haven't been in the zone to blog much (womp, I know), but I have like ten unfinished thoughts sitting in my drafts right now. It's just a matter of getting back into it right?

Anyway, if you didn't know, Lorenzo and I just celebrated three years of marriage. (whoo hoo!) And counting dating years, that totals to six years! We actually got married on the 3-year anniversary of our first date. It makes counting easy for us as a whole so why not right?! This year I wanted to give something that was more than a materialistic something. Not to say that meaningful tokens are not appreciated, but I just wanted to do something completely different... so I decided to write him a song. I've never written a love song before. Well, not like this anyway. (You'll know what I mean when you listen to it.) It's very... intimate and personal.

I started writing it back in June. Laying down the beat and the vibe are probably the hardest parts for me. That alone took a month. I wanted that chill-riding-with-the-waves type of vibe. Thanks to GarageBand on my trusty iPad, I'm learning how to do all to make beats and the music as I go. There was a lot of tweaking that happened before I could even come up with a line.

A month later, I started writing the lyrics. I had a verse and a portion of the chorus... for weeks. I was like oh no! writer's block! ...but really it was. Sooner or later it was August and I was like... I gotta get this donnneeeee. So I sat in the corner of my couch, headphones in course (why spoil the surprise?), and listened to the beat over and over. And still... nothing. Still determined, I got an idea... use a pen and paper versus your iPad to write. At first, I was just doodling. But doodles turn into words, words turned into phrases, and in less than half an hour I had the whole song. I let two people hear it (and that part is always nerve-wracking), but they gave me good advice, and helped make some adjustments. After a few more slight changes and finalizing the beats and the outro, I was officially done.

So here it is! I hope you guys like it. :) This is of course dedicated to my awesome husband. Thank you for always loving me no matter what. ❤️

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, by Gardenia Rose

#TeamGardenZo

Beauty in the Little Things.

Yesterday I posted this pretty flower on Instagram.

beauty in the little things. #GodsCreation #NoFilterNeeded by @gardeniarose via Instagram

I was going on a run in a residential area near my work and I saw this and just had stop and appreciate it for all its beauty. So small but yet so beautiful. The way the light accentuates the colors of the petals, it didn't need a filter. It was gorgeous all on its own. This flower reminded me to appreciate the little things. To always be grateful.

Last week I was in such a mental rut. My brain was just wired for negativity and it wasn't helping me be the best version I can be. I only worked out twice (which is not a lot) and was not eating healthy (which may have contributed to my negativity. ugh, the vicious cycle). I was just in a bad place.

Over the weekend, when I was alone, I had a huge breakdown. Monumental. I'll spare you the details because I can't even talk about how bad it really was. Let's just say... I didn't cry. I wailed. Yeah, that horrible.

Zo knew something was wrong and when I was ready to tell him, I told him everything that bothered me. And he listened. I love that about him. He listens and remembers. He's there for me to help me through my vulnerable moments.

After that, he went the extra mile to make and keep me happy, which was really sweet. This is why I tell him over and over that he's the best and that I love him so much. He does little things like bringing home things I'm craving when I tweet it just to make me smile.

Last night, I wasn't feeling well and I woke up at 3am and couldn't fall back asleep. He sensed I was uneasy and sleepingly turned to me and just cuddled me in his arms so I could fall back asleep. It took me 30 minutes or so, but he just kept rubbing my back (like a baby I know lol) until I was out. See... the little things.

So find beauty in the little things. Even if your day sucks, there's still beauty all around you. It's up to you to discover them. It's up to you to see it that way.

Gaining a positive perspective,

-Gardenia Rose

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, by Gardenia Rose

#TeamGardenZo

Throwback Thursday: Two Things Two Years Ago.

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, by Gardenia Rose

#TeamGardenZo

Busy Bee: Bridal Shower, Date Night, & SundayFunDay.

Oh wow! I've been out of touch for more than a week now! A lot has been happening and will be happening in the next couple months. (So many activities!) Well here's what I've been up to...

Monica's Bridal Shower

As you know (or maybe not lol), one of my dear friends is getting married in June! I attended her bridal shower and it was so much fun! I haven't been to a bridal shower in awhile, so it was such a joy to be there! It's nice to be in a room filled with people who all love one person so much, you know? Anyway, she has such a girly and yet vintage style, which worked to perfection with her rose garden theme. Everything was so cute! And I wish I took more pictures, but I was too into "being present" that it escaped me. This lady has such a knack for party planning and decor. All the details were so perfect. If you wanna see more of her cute bridal shower photos, follow her on Instagram: @monzii_ruiz!

SaturDate Night

Since it's been a week or so that we haven't gone out on a date with just two of us (we kinda like to order & stay in), we decided a casual date night was what the doctor ordered (or more like what I asked for... but you know, same difference. lol.). We went to our usual sushi spot near our house called Sushi@Sushi. It's nice and cozy, the people know us, and it's never extremely packed. We ordered rolls on rolls and talked. It was nice. :) I ended up getting a sweet tooth afterwards (don't I always) so I yelped around for a good dessert place. We ended up at a nitrogen (N2) infused creamery. GUYS... this stuff is SO good. It's like the richness of ice cream with the consistency of gelato. He got cookies & cream and I got snickerdoodle crunch and they were both deliciousssss. It's a must try forsure. We had such a fun night. I live for moment like this- when we roll in jeans & j's and pretend we're barely dating again. :)

Sunday FunDay: La Palma Dog Park

Well, hello there! A new dog park not too far from home! :) Believe or not, this was actually Lorenzo's idea. (Babe, don't kill me for outing you!) His co-worker doesn't live too far from us and they heard about this new park opening up and thought our dogs should meet. (It's weird, I know. I'm new to the whole "dog play date" thing, but talked to trainers, and they've said dog socialization is good for their health and mental well being... soooo dog play dates, here we come! hahaha.) It's been open for almost two weeks now, and it's pretty decent. There's a few cons about the place (I'm not gonna go into it but you can read it here), but as long as Lorenzo is with me, I'm fine with making this a Sunday FunDay thing.

So that's what I've been up to. Hopefully I didn't bore you. :)

Actually, this is just the beginning of the chaos, so I apologize in advance for the sparse posting. I don't have the best camera either (I have an iPhone 5s), but it's the memories that count right?

So take pictures, capture moments, and make it count. :)
-Gardenia Rose

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, by Gardenia Rose

#TeamGardenZo

5 Things I'm Currently Happy About.

In my effort to start the month on a positive note, I wanted to list the things I'm happy about right now. I need to take a step back and be thankful for the life I have. Hopefully this list will help me regain a positive perspective, because I don't have much of it as of the moment.

Number One: Being Married to My Husband. He's literally the best. I know you guys are probably tired of hearing it by now, but he honestly is. He listens to me and is there for me in every way that he can be. We're so different and yet he takes the time to understand (or at least try) and I love him so much for that. I can blatantly tell him anything and he won't judge or demean me for it. They say that the best kind of marriage is when you marry your best friend. And well, I did.

Number Two: My Relationship with My Sister. This girl. She's beautiful and smart and amazing. We're seven years apart so we weren't always this close. We use to share a room and hardly talk to each other. Now that we're both grown up and married, we can relate to each other more. I'm happy that now we can talk to each other about a lot of things that I wouldn't be able to talk to other people about. It kinda sucks that it took her moving to Texas for our relationship to be this close, (thank God for FaceTime) but I guess that's how life works. I'm just glad I have someone to lean on like her. (And if you're reading this and you have siblings, don't wait until they're away to be closer! Family is everything!)

Number Three: My Relationship with My Parents. This year I promised myself I'd spend more time with them. Do more things for them. Be there for them more often. Make more memories. I just want them smiling all the time. I want them happy. I just love spending time with them. So I bake them banana bread every now and then. (the picture below is their excitement because it's heart shaped. I did it for their pre-valentine's day lunch and they really got a kick out of it.) Lately we've been hanging out at my place and binge-watch shows on The Food Network like Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen. Sometimes I just go over their house after work to hang out. Even if I'm tired, and the drive home will suck, the smiles from their faces are worth it. And that's all I need.

Number Four: My Starbucks. I know I got all heartfelt and super sappy with the first three things, so I had to slip this one in. I really love my coffee. I took a long coffee break and now I'm back at it. My place is literally half a mile away from Starbucks so when I don't wake up in time (or get too lazy) to make my coffee, I just drive through and grab a venti dark roast with coconut milk, which literally makes my morning. You should see my smile at first sip. So yes, I'm happy about my Starbucks, the kind I make at home and the kind I order.

Number Five: My Dog. To say that he drives me nuts would be an understatement. Chewing up everything. Peeing on everything. But when I hold him and he looks up at me with that face, I can't help but be happy. His cuteness momentarily takes the negativity away. When Lorenzo goes on work trips, it's just me and him at the house so he keeps me company. Sometimes when he knows I'm sad, he'll just chill right next to me or he'll let me cuddle him. So I'm happy to have him around, my little furball of mine.

It might be march madness, but I have to find peace and see the blessing in everything.

Stay positive.

-Gardenia Rose

(Thanks for this, Sam!)

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, by Gardenia Rose

#TeamGardenZo

Throwback Thursday: "You're the best."

I wrote this four years ago. We were six months into dating, two months being officially boyfriend and girlfriend, and madly crazy in love. I told him all the time, "you're the best." (and I still do!) Before I was ready to tell him those three intense words (you know which ones), that was my three-worded phrase of affection.

you're the best.

i know i tell you this a lot… but i mean it.

you take care of me when i’m sick. you like the crazy me, the weird me, and even the vulnerable me. you remember the things even i don’t. you actually listen. you don’t care what other people think. you understand the things i have to do. you make me do my homework even if i don’t want to. you call me to tell me you miss me. you make sure i follow through with doctor’s appointments. you tell me that everything is going to be okay. you drive for me. you cook when i’m lazy. you let me sleep in your arms when i’m tired. you stay up with me just so i can finish homework. you give me massages. you let me vent and say things i can’t say to anyone else, and you don’t get crazy or judge me for it. you don’t get mad when i fall asleep on you when we’re watching a movie. you call just to say hi and tell me how much you care…

…and of course the list can go on.

honestly, i didn’t expect this. at all. i thought it would be some end of summer thing that was just gonna be fun because i was in the happy-go-lucky moment. but it’s almost spring now, and you’re still here. you’re still the same sweet guy that fearlessly put his arm around me, even if i rejected it a few times. i’m so glad i caved in and listen to my heart.

to the cookies and cream of my life…

you’re amazing.

and baby, you da best. ;)

...and he still is. From the little things like filling up my gas tank, to the big things like holding me when I cry. He's the absolute best. I'm so blessed we found each other at an early age and God has blessed us with more time to spend forever together. I could not picture life without him. He's amazing.

Forever in love.
-Gardenia Rose

t o b e c o n t i n u e d ...

Lorenzo & I on May 2011.

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, by Gardenia Rose

#TeamGardenZo

Throwback Thursday: The Beginning of #TeamGardenZo.

That's what they call us. I think Jea or Cea (Camille), the clever e-sisters, were the ones who coined the term. I decided to write this now because i'm on an extreme high... off of love, that is. Some might say that's cheesy, sappy, gross, and whatever else they can think of, but I really am.

I am so madly in love with my husband.

I truly am. He's such an amazing man and I can't believe he's mine. He's not perfect and neither am I, but he's really awesome. He provides for our little family and does his best to keep me happy. (happy wife, happy life right?)

Now, some people say, "Ohh, that must be that newlywed thing" or something along those lines, but honestly, we're just like this. I'm an overly affectionate person and I like to show it. No, we're not going to make out in front of you, but you are gonna know we're in love. We're cuddly. We're close. We love and we love hard.

We both have fierce personalities. He's like fire and so am I... but that's nothing new. It's been like that since day one.

Our first date was at Downtown Disney. We watched a comedy because it was the most light-hearted thing out at the time. It wasn't the greatest movie, but we both didn't mind. We just laughed through the whole thing. After the movie, we just walked around, talked, and ended up hanging out there for awhile. We caught up talking about everything that we didn't even realize it was midnight.

He tried his smooth moves on me. He leaned forward. I leaned back. I said no. He said okay. I told him I couldn't kiss him. I had a horrible habit of going too fast and I just couldn't do it again. Mycah also told me that no matter how hot he is, don't kiss him. At all cost. So, I didn't and he didn't push the issue. (Later on he actually told me that not kissing him on the first date made him see that I wasn't just another girl. He knew I was different. He also told me that me being hesitant and taking things slow let him know that I've been hurt before and he was understanding about that.)

Needless to say (and obviously) the date went really well. I left with butterflies and this funny nervous feeling. Like the oh-my-gosh-am-I-really-doing-this feeling. (I was 21 and he was 18 and fresh out of high school that summer. sooooo yeah.) Ten days following our date, I wrote this rhyming thought on my tumblr.

i'm jumping in and I don't care what people say.

if this doesn't work out, i hope i'll be okay.

but something tells me I have to try,

because i can't go on and let you and life pass me by.

And that's exactly what I did. I asked him if we can exclusively date and see where this can go. :)

t o b e c o n t i n u e d...

This weekend we're celebrating our 2nd "halfsaversary"! :) If you're wondering what that is, it's the halfway mark of our wedding anniversary. Now I know that sounds horrendously cheesy, but we figured it's better to celebrate Valentine's Day a week earlier and add a deeper meaning to it. So we go out to dinner the week before, hang out, and celebrate. Then on Valentine's Day, we stay in, order food, play video games, watch movies, and pretty much be teenagers again... young & in love.

Lorenzo & I on March 2011.

Still young & in love,

-Gardenia Rose

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, by Gardenia Rose

#TeamGardenZo

Throwback Thursday: Before #TeamGardenZo.

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, by Gardenia Rose

#TeamGardenZo

Weekly Obsessions Wednesday: 2014 Edition.

Being that this'll be the last #WOW of the year, I wanted to highlight some lovely personal moments in 2014!

I got my my first dog.

Our first day with our little furbucket.

All my life, I've never understood the love people had for their pets, until I got my little furball. He's my little lovebug and I wouldn't know life without him! He drives me absolutely nuts sometimes because he's a little rascal and loves to get into tons of trouble, but I love him.

I celebrated my first year anniversary.

Balboa Beach: where he asked me to be his girlfriend, where we got married, and where we celebrated our anniversary.

They say the first year is the hardest year... and they were right. It wasn't easy. There was a lot of communication and trust that goes into making a marriage work, but I'm so happy to be facing the world head on with my rock (almost literally. lol.) by my side. He's so amazing and I love him so much. Till death do us part. To infinity and beyond. #teamgardenzo

I gained a forever kind of friend.

At Monica's 29th Birthday at the Santa Anita Race Tracks.

I met Monica in 2011 through work, but our friendship didn't start blossoming until late 2012. As the years went by, we've gotten closer and more transparent with one another. When we talk, there's no walls and no hesitation. We don't have to be anything else, but our unfiltered selves, and that's hard to come by. I'm grateful to God for her, and I'm so happy to have her in my life.

I had a mini reunion with my cousins.

A quarter of my cousins from my mom's side of the family.

My cousin got married in Austin and there was a mini reunion; some of my cousins I haven't seen since I was 13. Granted it was only a quarter of the whole gang of "apos" (it means grandchildren in Tagalog), but I was so happy to see them. Being the youngest of fifteen cousins, it was crazy to be all grown up and join the older crowd, but being together with my family was literally everything.

I started my fitness journey all over again.

My super weird sweaty selfie.

Thanks to inspirational people in life like Sam and my sister, I started diligently working out again. It started with a small challenge in October and I'm still on that kick. In October, I started running, well more like wogging, walking with Simba, and weight lifting a little bit. In November, I did kickboxing at 5:30am three days a week. In December, I've been mixing it up. With help from apps, workout videos, and circuit calendars, I'm making it through. So far, I've lost 12 pounds and can now run a (almost) 10 minute-mile, which is a major improvement from my 16 minutes. I'm not bragging (well maybe a little lol), but this is a true testament that anyone can do it. I'm still foodie at heart and love my sweets, but I'm doing my best to keep a balanced and healthy life.

I'm grateful for the year that God has given me and feel truly blessed.

Here's to another awesome year!

-Gardenia Rose

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, by Gardenia Rose

Pages

Mind + Soul + Body.

Beauty in the Little Things.

Throwback Thursday: Two Things Two Years Ago.

Busy Bee: Bridal Shower, Date Night, & SundayFunDay.

5 Things I'm Currently Happy About.

Throwback Thursday: "You're the best."

Throwback Thursday: The Beginning of #TeamGardenZo.

Throwback Thursday: Before #TeamGardenZo.

Weekly Obsessions Wednesday: 2014 Edition.

Follow Me! @gardeniarose

My Furball! @TheSimbaDiaries

Foodie Life: @OCEatsAndSweets

My Songs :)

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