I hope you all had a very warm and lovely Christmas this year, and that the berrrrrryyyyyyy chilly weather (for the U.S.-ers) didn’t keep you from enjoying the end of 2012 last night.
After going back and forth on how we should ring in 2013, Greg and I decided to freeze our buttocks at Downtown Disney–not that we didn’t have fun, because we certainly did.
But before that took place, we called Baci di Firenze Trattoria and within a flash we got ourselves a reservation at 6pm!
[Excuse me ahead of time for the butchered photos—the lighting is too orange, but the world doesn’t revolved around food bloggers]
Now that’s what I call a diamond in the rough. Everywhere else was packed and too loud for my liking anyway, so we were more than excited to dine at this super romantic, cute, authentic Italian restaurant. What’s even cooler is the fact that the people who work here are true Italians themselves! They look Italian, sound Italian, and dress in super spiffy attire…I couldn’t help but think of all the restaurants in Argentina as I saw many similarities in Baci, and of course that made me miss my motherland quite a bit last night! 
Our meal started off with some hot bread and a mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Then we moved on to the Baci Salad which was delicious due to the green colored Italian dressing. It was my first time trying that kind of dressing, but I loved the slightly tangy and creamy yet not overpowering taste so I could enjoy the fresh veggies in the salad.
Since Greg and I believe that Italian food should be judged by their tomato based pastas, he went with his all time favorite lasagna dish. This one had no ground meat and instead featured some delicious Italian sausages. It was like love at first bite because the sauce was to DIE for! It tasted just like the pasta sauce I grew up with and try so hard to remake at home, but without any success.
Although I’m not the biggest fan of creamy sauce, I figured that I could share the lasagna with Greg and try their Rigatoni Del Papa. I really liked it because it was loaded with mushrooms and artichokes, but the lasagna was clearly the star of the show. 
To end our meal we ordered dessert and went with the ice cream truffle. We enjoyed it and cleaned up the plate, but it wasn’t something to rave about. Perhaps it’s because we originally wanted the Tiramisu, but since it contained a good amount of Kahlua that was uncooked we figured that it wasn’t worth the risk for the sake of the baby.
We highly recommend Baci di Firenze Trattoria for anyone who is around the area of Anaheim. The food, the service, and the amazing atmosphere is truly worth checking out!
I have also been meeting up with girlfriends pretty much every night for the past 4 days.
I’m glad I did though because it is very much needed in my life right now.
A Quick Look at 2012
As I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs, I realized that I’m not the only one in the world who thinks that New Years Resolutions are much too over hyped. This way of thinking is something that has stuck with me since my early years of childhood, and I have always been a firm believer that in order to change things about ourselves, we need to take small reasonable steps. And what’s even more important is that there are things that we just cannot do on our own strength. Some things just require more…Holy Spirit power, simply put.
Now I sit here in front of my laptop thinking back on the small and big changes that I’ve gone through the year of 2012, and let me tell you that there have been TONS of changes for me! The only things that come to mind is how grateful I am for all the good times and the hard times that I’ve faced this year.
In order to “celebrate” that (if you’re interested at all) I am copying Kat’s idea and compiled some of my favorite posts. 
Joyful Memories
Preparing for the upcoming wedding
Some pictures from our engagement photo shoot
Bachelorette trip to San Francisco
A day with the Santa Ana kids at Knott’s Berry Farm
Life long prayer is being answered
The day we found out we’re pregnant
Thought Provoking
Learn how to dance in the rain
Semi-healthy living counts too
Everything (or most things) in moderation
Best Recipes
Honey roasted dill spiced nuts
Red velvet cupcakes with yam frosting
Kauai’s pulled chicken quesadilla
Best ever guacamole (Like Chipotle)
Hazelnut cookiewich with mocha cream cheese filling
Gluten free peachy millet pancakes
Salmon with sweet rosemary sauce
Vegan and gluten free hazelnut cappuccino bread
Best Workouts
Strong and Lean Circuit [Video]
Fire up Your Legs and Glutes [Video]
Stay in Shape While Pregnant Circuit
Okay so that was a really long list, sorry….
Have a great day and talk to you soon!
What aspect of your character do you want to grow this year?
-I want to grow in confidence! Confidence at work, studies, becoming a momma, whoa.
Share about some “miracles” that happened to you this year!
-For me it was seeing God answer my life long prayer for my family.
The best thing you’ve eaten recently?
-Peruvian and Italian.
Love,
Ellie <33
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy New Year, Ellie ssi! I’m so blessed by our friendship and thank the Lord for bringing us together
. Wowza! 2012 sure was an eventful and memorable year for you! I can’t wait for to see what God has in store for you this year! You’re going to be a mother!! Aja Aja Aja! Fighting!! I’m always hoping to gain confidence as well. I need to learn to believe in myself more. If I have God, I have everything. I have nothing to be afraid of..and I can do anything if the Lord is by my side!
I’m so blessed too Unnie! thank you for always lifting me up with your peppy and sweet personality, you really make my day! And you’re right. today I read “my utmost for his highest” by oswald chambers and it said at the end, “nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.”
You have definitely had a full 2012! I hope your 2013 brings much joy; I am sure it will bring much excitement and love as you transition to motherhood.
you too Kari! You got married!!!!!
Ellie, you have had such an amazing year. I am so excited for you & your husband to welcome your little one in just a few short months <3 May 2013 bring you all happiness, love, and good health.
awwww thanks Jessie! God bless you and your husband, and I hope the desires of your heart become granted as well.
what a great meal, as you said, italian food reminds us Argentina, I can’t agree more!
2012 was an amazon year for me, the miracle was to give birth to the most precious person in the world. The surprise? how wonderful is to be a mom! looking forward to 2013, I want to be more patient!
happy new year!
If we lived close to each other I think we’d have a blast visiting yummy places and going on an Argentinean quest.
And patience is def. a must when you have a baby! I think you’re doing a GREAT job as a mother and it gives me motivation to be a good one too.
Drooooools, I haven’t had Italian food in quite a while! I mean… I had spaghetti on New Years Day but it was filipino style so that doesn’t count.
Thank you for sharing your posts from 2012, my favorite was your wedding day… it made me reminisce about my wedding day as well! *happy sigh* 
I’m so excited to hear more about your new journey together into parenthood!
What aspect of your character do you want to grow this year?
Patience, patience, patience!
Share about some “miracles” that happened to you this year!
Seeing God’s will and purpose even while going through stormy seasons.
The best thing you’ve eaten recently?
At our Christmas Eve dinner, a relative who flew in from Hawaii made roast beef with mushroom sauce (that apparently had carrots mixed into the sauce, i couldn’t tell… it was genius), it sounds so simple but it was the best roast beef i’ve ever had!
ahh good to hear about your victories and thoughts on the new year Kym! Omgsh that roast beef sounds reallllllly good! And by Filipino spaghetti do you mean the sweet and slightly creamy one? That one’s yummy too! But nothing beats authentic Italian.
Yum! That place looks amazing! I really just want to grow my spiritual life this year… that’s my main goal
Amen to that! There’s nothing better than growing in our faith. When that one thing is in the right place, everything ELSE falls in the right place! Well, at least our attitudes.
That food looks delish! It has been super cold here in Chicago :/ but that hasn’t held me back from having fun
Looks like a great meal! I judge an Italian restaurant by the gnocci.
You read my mind Matt! I too see gnocci as an important dish to go by because in my opinion it’s RARE to have a REALLY good gnocci dish at restaurants. So far I’ve only seen a few.
What a wonderful year you’ve had, but just think how amazing the next one will be for you!!
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