Backyard Pergola

For as long as I can remember my mom has wanted to do something in our backyard. This summer...a pergola!


It all started one day when Jorge asked if he could take out an old tree that has been dead for a while, and so it began!


Tearing out roots, pulling weeds, and watering plants. In the corner has been some grape vines that never blossomed because of the old tree, but now with that gone it's grown so much! With the pergola almost completed before Summer is in full effect we have a few more decorative designs to add, but can't wait for the finished product and summer nights hanging around a bonfire beneath the grape vines!

Starting to blog...

Our Wedding (August 14, 2010 St. John Vianney Catholic Church)

Starting to blog!


After ten years together, we have so many great memories and I would love to share events that are important to us!  I'll try and keep things updated as much as possible, here's a short entry to get things started :)


Where we met: Technically online, but met in High School our Sophmore year (2002)
First date: Sadies 2002
Married: August 14, 2010
Honeymoon: We spend a week in Orlando and visited the tourist spots such as Downtown Disney (where we discovered Earl of Sandwich, AMAZING!) and I was very excited to go to Universal Studios and see the Harry Potter attraction they had just opened.  Even though it felt like it was over 100 degrees that day, it was worth it!  After our week in Orlando we went on a week long cruise on the Carnival Dream which stopped in Costa Maya, Belieze, Isla Roatan (Honduras), and Cozumel.  It was a much needed vacation after over a year of planning our perfect wedding!
First apartment: In the parking lot of Angel Stadium!  We had a great first year together living in a beautiful apartment in Anaheim.  It had a movie theater, fitness center, rooftop pool, game room, and fire pit.  But all good things must come to an end (or at least sometimes they do) and in our case we wanted to save up more money to buy a house.  In July we moved out and are currently saving!
Current events:  Jorge is now employed with the City of Santa Monica as a Fire Inspector!  We are so proud of him and know that he's worked incredibly hard to get where he is today.  I am currently working with Jorge's dad, and i'm also owner of Paparazzi Photobooths, and have gradually become more and more busy which I am very happy about.  I would really like to thank all of our friends and family for passing along our information by word-of-mouth and finding us business!
What's next:  Living one day at a time.  Right now we're saving for a generous down payment for a house we won't be settling on.  We're in no rush to get out on our own again, but know we obviously can't overstay our welcome ;)  When the time comes, we look forward to start looking for houses that we can make a home and raise a family of our own...til then, we're Ortiz: happy family of two!