All You Need Is Love

Run, run, run, run...Girl's gonna run

2012-01-06T13:25:00.000-06:00

So I know I said I would be writing about our trip way the hell up north to MN for NYE, but I also mentioned a certain goal I was working toward and kind of left it at that. Am I the only one who gets irritated when people mention stuff and say they'll tell you later, and then never do? Maybe I just have more nosy bones than your average bear in my body, but it drives me fucking bonkers! Even if the news isn't all that ground-breaking, you said you'd bring it back up, so BRING IT BACK UP.

With that, my news isn't super amazeballs or anything, but it's a huge deal for me and I know that putting it out on the blog will only motivate me further, so here goes...

I have officially signed up for my first half marathon!

{crickets}

Right. So I know it's a half, but good Lord, that's about 10 miles further than I had ever run (until last month), and I am pumped/terrified. I know I can do it. I have been training since Thanksgiving, although I will admit to using the term "training" pretty loosely up to this week. I really was just focusing on building my fitness up and figuring out what kind of pace I was really comfortable with.

FYI...

Comfy pace for CK = REALLY FUCKING SLOW

That's not entirely true, but I am rocking out comfortable 11 minute miles right now when I would really like to be closer to the 9 or 10 minute range, which I can do when running shorter distances, but it's all about finishing for me on this first one. It's about saying I did it. And it's about getting motivated to do more and eventually do a full marathon (I have my eye on the DisneyWorld Marathon in 2013 for my 30th...). I was hooked on 5Ks after running my first one in 2010 and I know that this is just the next step in continuing to build my love for running.

Also, I am hoping to repair some of the damage I've done to this body of mine over the last few years. If you've read a while, you might remember the "Think Thin Thursday" blogs. Those were used to keep me motivated to lose weight for a trip to Mexico and then in 2011 I straight up jumped off and then blew up that wagon. I've GOT to get my body back in the shape it's meant to be in...no more laziness for this chick.

I feel like it's important for me to emphasize that I'm not doing the half JUST to lose weight, though. I really want to knock this accomplishment off my list, and if I lose a few pounds while doing it, that would be awesome.

...I don't know why I felt that was so important to emphasize, but there ya go.

The race is March 3 (The Woodlands Marathon) and I have a few other friends running the full that day, but I am pretty much running the half on my own, which suits me just fine. I have been training alone so I am used to it. Any tips to offer? I am building my milage and tomorrow is my first 5 mile run. My training program takes me up to 10 miles, which kind of freaks me out because HELLO - there are still another 3 to finish (!!), but I did a lot of research before choosing this program. I still know literally nothing about GUs or sport beans or anything like that. My goal is to finish, and if that means I have to crawl my ragged ass across that finish line then damnit, that's what I'll do!

HELP!!!

2012?? Hope those crazy Mayans were wrong...

2012-01-05T14:47:00.000-06:00

It feels a little dumb to do a Christmas recap on January the 5th...clearly one of my resolutions was not to "be a better blogger." I don't actually ever really make resolutions, anyway. To me, they are just some lame goal I get inspired to keep up with for like 2 weeks (ok, 1...), and then by the middle of January I feel like an epic failure at life, so why put myself through that torture, right? I do, however, have a solid GOAL I am working towards - more on that later.

Christmas was fucking crazy this year, and I can hear people going, "crazier than last year? Because MY Christmas is always just a shit show!" and I have to say, usually our holiday season isn't that nuts. It's busy, sure, but it's generally the same routine year after year, with the occasional addition of a niece. This year, though, with Saul's dad being a full-on radiation/chemo cancer patient, things were a bit different.

First, he asked that all his siblings and their kids come into town to celebrate with us. He asked after Thanksgiving, so it was pretty late notice for some of them. His rationale for this was, simply stated, "I don't want the next time we all get together to be at my funeral," which, ok morbid, but makes complete sense.

Second, as of December 17, he was still in the hospital, and we weren't 100% sure when he would be getting out. He ended up actually being released that evening, but trying to make Christmas plans around hospital visiting hours really sucks the Christmas spirit out of everyone, y'know? He's now home and doing well, so Christmas was very merry.

Third, as we got closer to Christmas, shit on my side of the family starting blowing up like fucking fireworks. An uncle in the hospital, a cousin in serious trouble, my parents possibly leaving like, Christmas Eve to go to California, and my brother wasn't coming home - boo hoo.

But, as we've done through all the other shit 2011 has thrown at us, we forged ahead.

Saul's family being in town was something we were all totally looking forward to. His cousins stayed with us which was basically a 9-day party at our house (die liver, die!) , and seeing the aunts and uncles was awesome. It did wonderful things for my father-in-law's spirits, too. He requested we all go to church together on Christmas Eve, which Saul and I haven't done in years, so that was nice.

Christmas Eve church threw a few of my family's plans out of wack, though. Nothing that couldn't be shuffled around, but that was part of what made the holiday scheduling wonky. Every year on Christmas Eve, my mom makes a Japanese dinner. My g-ma has done it ever since I can remember and it's one of my favorite things about the holiday season. Sesame noodles, fried rice, sushi, tempura shrimp, and Gyoza - basically, Japanese tacos. YUM. It's also pretty much a giant drink-fest at my parent's house. We planned to do the big dinner on Dec 23, and we invited the cousins to come with.

The 22nd, I started to get super sad that little bro wasn't coming home. More sad at the thought of him spending the holiday ALONE in Oklahoma - seriously, are there worse places?? - than sad for myself, but sad nonetheless. I sent him some pretty bleak texts the morning of the 23rd and he reassured me that he was fine and was sad too, but that we'd be able to see each other soon and that we could Skype later that night. My dad got a call from him that evening and I pulled my laptop out to set up a Skype session. People had been coming over all day - our friends always drop in to say hi and eat - so when the door opened, I didn't think anything of it. It wasn't until I heard my dad yell, "NO WAY!" that I turned around.

LITTLE BROTHER WAS HOME!!!!

I immediately started bawling and was just a fucking mess for like 10 minutes. My mom had known he was sneaking in, but kept it a secret from everyone else. I was so, so, SO happy that he had made it for Christmas and beyond thrilled that he wouldn't be sitting in his apartment, totally alone on Christmas morning. My Christmas became amazing in that moment. And then we all got very drunk.

Christmas Eve church was great - there were 20 of us and we took up 4 pews. Early Christmas morning was spent at Saul's parent's house, watching the nieces open their mounds of gifts. The giant family gift exchange came next. At about 2, we took off to meet my parents and brother at our house, which was awesome because we've never done a big holiday at our house before. We opened gifts and drank A LOT of wine and ate chicken tacos, a new Christmas tradition. The cousins came back and we watched some Christmas movies (too toasted to remember which, at that point) and then passed out.

It was definitely an untraditional, but very merry Christmas ;)

Next up, NYE in the frozen tundra...

Life lately

2011-12-20T12:54:00.000-06:00

According to my iPhone...

Bella says HI!

The best part of waking up...

Cute blonde nieces love the mac 'n cheese

Foggy

Other cute nieces love ice cream and yoga

Absinthe and cheese? YES PLEASE.

Bagel Thin Hawaiian Pizza

So sad you won't be home for Christmas...

Christmas wishes

2011-12-07T10:32:00.000-06:00

Answering the "what do you want for Christmas" question is always hard for me. It didn't used to be - if you'd asked me 6 or 7 years ago, I'd have given you a laminated list. In recent years, though, I've realized that if I want something I can just go out and buy it myself - so let's be clear that it's not for lack of wanting things - I'm just pretty impatient that way. Come December, there isn't a whole lot on my wish list that I don't already have.

When in doubt, buy me alcohol.

Saul's mom asked me what I wanted this year, though, and told me I couldn't say NOTHING, so here are a few things I have seen that I wouldn't be angry about receiving...

Top row: Rhino Mount - ZGallerie. Sequin Top - Forever21. Magenta Dress - Lulus.com

Middle Row: Bedding - Anthropologie. Faux Leopard Coat - Lulus.com. Silk Sparrow Tank - Forever21.

Bottom Row: Dip Dye Sweatshirt - Urban Outfitters. Riding Boot - Urban Outfitters. Gold Dress - Lulus.com. Leopard Heels - Forever21.

Saul says he knows what he's getting me and I know what I'm getting him (even though he already knows...I'll have details soon), so Christmas this year will be fun ;)

Also, in the spirit of the day - a little story:

My dad is Japanese. My mother's family is not. My mom's dad would jokingly (well, kind of) not allow my dad in his house on December 6th - Pearl Harbor Day. Playful racism at it's finest, Ganddad!

Happy Hump Day!

Giblets have gristle?

2011-12-01T11:29:00.000-06:00

First - thank you so much for the comments and positive thoughts for my father-in-law. He's making progress (still in the hospital, though), and he knows there are tons of people out there rooting for him, so his spirits are up. Pancreatic cancer is a scary motherfucker to deal with, though, so keep the good vibes coming!

Needless to say, our Thanksgiving this year was a little, um...different? FIL was in the hospital, my brother didn't make it home, and my sister-in-law was having neurosurgery. Yeah - that would be surgery on HER BRAIN. She's fine - it was surgery to correct a severe facial twitch she's had for like, 7 years - but HOLY FUCKING CHRIST, you guys.

Also, since the normal chefs for the holiday were obviously out of commission, the cooking duties fell to those of us who had not recently been operated on. I had to cook Thanksgiving. I was officially freaking out for like 2 weeks.

We planned the menu and divided the food up. I was in charge of the stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and sweet potatoes - basically my husband's favorite part of Thanksgiving. No pressure. Also, he definitely didn't tell me a few thousand times before the 24th that if the potatoes and gravy were messed up, his turkey day would be ruined. FUCK.

So what did I do, you ask?
I did what any good leader does and delegated the shit out of that shit.

Hey Saul? Your favorite part of Thanksgiving is the mashed p's? Then YOU make them!

Oh, and make them he did...13 g'damn pounds of them. You think I'm joking. Yeah...I'm 100% serious. And they were delicious!

The gravy was awesome. The sweet potatoes were a hit. The stuffing...well...um...

Ok, so I am a pretty decent cook. I make stuff up on the fly. I can follow a recipe and tweak it if I need to omit/substitute something due to Saul's sometimes weirdly picky palette. I've never made stuffing before, so that was the dish I was sweating the most. I got my MIL's recipe and followed it word for word. The only part I thought was kind of odd was the line that specified "boiling the giblets and chopping them up very fine" to add to the dressing before baking, but I've obviously eaten the dressing she has made in years past and I loved it, so I did what it said.

Ok - I'd just like to again reiterate how I HAVE NEVER MADE DRESSING BEFORE. I've also never worked with giblets/gizzards/livers/other internal turkey grossness. We're clear on that, right? NEVER EVER.

Ok, continue reading...

So I boil the contents of the little bag of yuck and pull them out to chop them up. I was getting some help from a family friend who has done Thanksgiving cooking before, so I assumed she knew what the hell was going on. Assumption 1, wrong. As we are cutting them up, they just seem really tough. I'm like, dang - these suckers are kind of rubbery! And she's all, well, maybe they'll break down when they bake? And I'm all, the recipe says to do it, so we do it! We chopped them as small as we could get them and then added them to the pan. Bake away, giblets, bake away.

Everything smelled wonderful and the whole family loaded their plates to eat. We sat down and everyone commented on how great it all looked. I ate a bite of turkey (YUM!), a bite of mashed potatoes and gravy (DIVINE!), and then dove into the stuffing.

OH MY GOD, WHAT THE FUCK AM I CHEWING?!?

It felt like I was eating turkey gum. Turkey gum that never got softer, and never dissolved. Y'all - it was NASTY. I took a quick look around the table to see what everyone else's reaction was. Thankfully, no one at the table said anything - I am pretty sure I would have died of embarrassment - but I noticed people kind of pushing the stuffing around. I ate around the rubbery bits because the rest was legitimately good, but I was really disappointed that I had so fantastically fucked it up.

After dinner was over, I cornered my MIL and asked her what the hell I had done wrong. She laughed and was all, you didn't cut the gristle out! I was like, I did not know about the gristle. Your recipe did not specify.

She handed me a glass of wine and told me Thanksgiving is about learning something new each year and taking it forward with you to the next. I drank my whole glass in one gulp and told her I had learned that I am never ever EVER cooking the Thanksgiving meal again.

Well, hello...

2011-11-17T15:45:00.002-06:00

So obviously things have been busy since last time we met...

Halloween was a cluster - ask any of us that went out together that night if we actually remember coming home. That would be a resounding NO. Saul and I went towards the city, to the Washington area, to meet up with some friends.

**I'd like to make it clear that this is not an area of the city that we ever go to, except when I am out for a Bachelorette party. It's a fun strip in the afternoon, but come sundown, the creepers come a'crawlin'. Basically it's a giant meat-market - lots of muscled-up dudes, short-skirted chicks, and fake IDs. Not my scene.

Saul dressed as a yodeler, which was awesome for 2 reasons, the first being that HE WAS A FUCKING YODELER, and the second being that he actually already owned everything he wore, down to the feathered cap. And let me just tell you, that shit looked authentic.

I had no clue what to dress as, so I just took a bunch of crap down with me, and ended up with a crazy bronzed face, sweatband and track suit. Call me a Guido!

I found receipts from bars I had literally no recollection of going to, and vaguely remember eating a taco on the street in front of El Rey. The boys got kicked out of a bar, apparently.

We felt awesome the next day.

It was a good time, though, I'm sure.

2 days later, life imploded when we were presented with the news that Saul's dad has pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed Wednesday and was in surgery on Monday, undergoing the famed Whipple procedure to extract the tumor residing on his pancreas. The doctors have all been really optimistic, telling him that as far as pancreatic cancer diagnoses/prognoses go, this is pretty much a best case scenario. Needless to say, this rocked our world.

We've been going back and forth to the hospital each day to visit. He was completely sedated and on a ventilator to regulate his oxygen intake for 6 full days after the surgery. The breathing tube came out Monday morning and he is becoming more lucid and coherent each day. His lungs and heart are in excellent condition, which is great because he's got a hell of a road in front of him. He's still in ICU, being monitored, hopefully getting transferred to a room on a normal floor tonight or tomorrow. Once that happens we'll all find out more about his recovery and status of the cancer.

Maybe it seems strange to some that this doesn't get it's own post, but I couldn't bring myself to treat this news that way. To me, cancer is like someone who blows up a shopping mall just so they can get on TV. I won't give it that attention. Yes, it is a reality in our lives now. Yes, we do have to live with the possibilities and uncertainty it presents. It's scary and unfair and really fucking pisses me off.

I debated even writing about it all, but honestly, it's been what we've been living the last 2 weeks. Also because I know that while I am not known in the blogging world, I do have a few regular commenters and any good thoughts and positive vibes you all can put out there would be much appreciated. Maybe tell another friend or two. I don't pray much, but I don't discount the power of it.

xoxo

Crazy girl...

2011-10-18T12:27:00.000-05:00

Weekend before last, my baby cousin got married. She also turned 22. It was quite a celebration.

She did things a bit backwards (had a baby, got engaged, got married), but that's how she rolls and I couldn't be happier for her. She and her husband - ohmygod - are finishing school and are living with my aunt and uncle to save money. Sad thing - they live in Virginia, so I don't get to see them near as often as I'd like. They were in town the whole week before the wedding, so lots of wine was consumed (a few glasses broken), and we hung out a lot. Oh, and I was in the wedding, so there's that.

Her wedding was held at a private residence, and there were probably about 100 people there. They were married in the front yard, overlooking a pond.

Here comes the bride

All we are are bridesmaids dresses and veils in the wind...

You may kiss the bride

Keep it PG for the kiddos...

Cute kiss from the brother

Sweet family photo op

Baby girl, directing traffic after mommy and daddy tied the knot

The wedding was really pretty and really intimate, with just good friends and family there. We all had a great time, and even though it rained (poured, really) half-way through the reception, dances were still danced, toasts were made, and drinks were consumed.

A few too many drinks for one individual in particular, if you ask me... I'm all for boozing it up - hell, that's half the reason I go to weddings! FREE DRINKS! (just kidding...kinda) But one of my cousins bridesmaids was so tanked BEFORE the ceremony, that the 2 girls on either side of her literally held her wasted ass up during the vows. She stumbled back down the aisle after the bride and groom exited, and proceeded to fall flat on her face before pictures were taken. Needless to say, homegirl wasn't in any of the bridal party shots after the wedding. She was so drunk, it wasn't even funny to watch. I was pretty embarrassed to be in the same color dress as her. Tacky, tacky.

Moral of the story, folks - a glass of champagne (or 2...lets be honest) before the ceremony is no big thing, but a BOTTLE is a completely different story. Basically - if you're in someone else's wedding, KEEP YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. At least until the bride starts doing keg stands, right? I mean, really...keep it classy.

Happy Tuesday!

So deep in my daydreams, but it's just a sweet, sweet fantasy baby

2011-10-11T16:45:00.000-05:00

I'm not what you would consider a "girly-girl." I don't like pink (much), I have little to no interest in trying to keep my nail polish chip-free, and while I have branched out and I wear more dresses than I used to, it's mostly because it's hot as fucking HADES in Houston and shit needs to breathe, ifyaknowwhatimean...

TMI?

Go read something else, then!

I've always been into sports and I love me some football and occasionally, I get really into it and even yell at the TV. However, never have I ever been interested in playing Fantasy Football.

Until this year.

FML.

I didn't understand Fantasy Football - so, what? You make a FAKE (fantasy...dur) team out of players from all the different teams and then track them to get points? I just didn't see the point. I'll just watch teams I like, thanks. I don't give a shit about what that random running back, playing in the game I'm not watching, is doing right now.

Except now I totally do. I got suckered into joining a league with some of our friends and, not gonna lie, I'm pretty into it. I downloaded an app so I can track my player's stats and keep up with my team all weekend. I get really excited when my guys (they are totally myyyy guys now) score points. I can actually speak intelligently about players on other teams besides the ones I normally watch. The flip side of that, though, is that I have become a heartless monster who gets pissed before feeling any compassion towards players on my team that get hurt. Arian Foster has a hamstring issue? GET YOUR ASS OF MY BENCH AND SCORE ME SOME POINTS!

Yikes.

So far I'm 2-3 in the league...not terrible, but not awesome considering my brother-in-law drafted his whole team based on players who had double E's in their names, and he is 1-4. That win was not against me, though, thank God.

I'm curious - any other ladies out there gettin' down with the FF? If you are, got any super awesome sleeper picks that can up my win quotient?!

See? I CAN'T TURN IT OFF.

When you scan the radio I hope this song will guide you home...

2011-10-03T16:24:00.000-05:00

So this past weekend was full of all kinds of fun events, which I of course have no photos of because even with a sweet new camera I am picture-challanged. Saul is just beyond thrilled to have spent that money on me and my fickle habit, I'm sure...

Friday night was spent with the madre, going out for early drinks and appetizers downtown, followed by "Giselle," at the Wortham theater. I love the ballet. I danced when I was younger and while I was never close to prima-ballerina status, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I really enjoy watching stuff (sports, dance, competitions) that we all know is just crazy hard, but the performers/contestants make it look stupid simple. Ballet is so physically demanding, but they all just make it look as easy as breathing. We had killer seats and had a really good time. We have tickets to 3 more ballets over the next 8 months, and I am pretty stoked. So is Saul, because one of the 3 ballets is the Nutcracker, and since I am going with my mom, he knows he won't get roped into going this year.

Saturday was kicked off with an early morning 5K. Bestie Chandra and I ran for boobies! Each year I run in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, supporting Breast Cancer. It's a great run - pretty course, good cause, and TONS of people. My grandmother and aunt are both breast cancer survivors, so I run in celebration of them, and with the hope that someday, some brilliant person will find a cure for this shitty disease. There were some really funny t-shirts displaying team names (May the Cure be with you, Bad Mammary Jammas, Save a Titty - Run the City!), but my favorite shirt just said "FUCK CANCER." It was super inappropriate, as the run is totally advertised as family-friendly, but i really just wanted to go high-five the dude.

The race was followed by breakfast at Onion Creek. I seriously love that place so much. I had the breakfast flatbread pizza, which was flatbread covered with pesto, mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, bacon and an over-easy egg. YUM. Everything is amazing, but the frozen mimosas are really what seal the deal. I could drink those bad boys all day long.

Sadly, I could not, as I had to book it back up to the north side to get ready for baby cousin's bridal shower! She's getting married on Saturday (her 22nd bday, incidentally) and I am a bridesmaid. I am the oldest bridesmaid by like, almost 7 years, since pretty much all her friends are still in college. Womp womp. It's kind of refreshing, though, to see her wedding through the eyes of a bunch of girls who have never been in one before, seeing as how I have been in like, 10, not counting MY OWN. They're all so excited (not to say, I'm not...I just approach these things as a veteran, y'know?), and I try not to laugh at the questions they ask me - "Does she need a corsage at her shower? The websites all say she needs a corsage at her shower!!" - and I am doing what I can to guide her Maid of Honor through planning the pre-events without steam-rolling her because I could basically do all this shit with my hands tied behind my back at this point. The wedding will be beautiful and I can't wait to see my little cousin in a wedding dress. I changed the chick's diapers, I've held her hair back, and now I'll stand with her at her wedding. How very circle-of-life-ish ;)

Family starts getting into town on Wednesday, and we'll have a full house this weekend, so yesterday was spent cleaning. Also, I made banana bread with the suuuuper ripe (read - almost black) bananas in the fruit bowl and I am going to brag for a minute and tell you all that that shit was FUCKING PHENOMENAL. I don't bake. I don't have the patience for it - all the measuring and following the recipe...I much prefer to wing it in the kitchen and adjust based on personal preference. But follow a recipe I did, and for my first ever loaf of bread, it was a winner.

What was an epic FAIL, however, was leaving the loaf of bread on the counter within reach of my asshole, banana bread-loving dog.

Bella ate the shit out of that bread, y'all.

Glad someone enjoyed it.

Happy Monday!

It's October already? WTF.

He does dress better than I do...what would I bring to the relationship?

2011-09-27T14:03:00.001-05:00

So it's officially Fall blah blah blah... Kiss my ass, people with seasons - it's still 100 degrees here. The thought of a hot pumpkin ANYTHING causes me to break out in a sweat. It won't be cold enough to drink that shizz until at least January.

The big fires are out in our area - FEMA just showed up in the Waller area (good job guys...), and little ones are still popping up all over the place because the whole state is just crispy as shit.

I don't know why I still live in Texas.

In other news, I have become obsessed with Pinterest (actually, I've been into it for a while now, but I haven't blogged, so you wouldn't know that unless you've found me on there) and finding cute outfits for the cooler weather. Here are some of my favorites:

Are we noticing a trend, here? Basically, stock my closet up with white shirts, flat shoes, and cardigans of various colors and I am good to go! The accessories make the outfits different, dangit!

Whatever...give me a pair of jeans and call it a day.

Happy Tuesday!

Deep in the Heart of Texas...

2011-09-08T14:16:00.000-05:00

If you pray, please say a prayer for all those effected by the wildfires burning through Texas.

The fire burning in Bastrop hasn't yet been contained, and the fires burning outside of Houston just keep eating more and more acres of land. We still haven't had any rain, nor is there any in the forecast. It smells like a bbq pit outside.

Thankfully, our house isn't threatened. Saul's sister's house is further west, and is right in the path of the plume of smoke, but she says the fire is still about 15 miles away, which is too fucking close for comfort for me.

We have some friends who have had to evacuate. There are people all over the area that had minutes notice to pack what they could and leave. Because the fire is effecting a heavily-wooded area, with lots of pastures and fields, people are desperate to move their animals out harm's way.

THIS is why we couldn't light fireworks on the 4th
of July.

all photos via chron.com

Seriously - don't flash.

2011-08-12T16:44:00.001-05:00

While in California, I took lots of pictures with my new camera. As in, over 600. That's more than I took in all of 2010. HOLY FUCK.

**Yeeeeeee!!!! I got a new camera!! It's a Nikon D3100 and I am currently just using the lens that came with it, but I have big plans for many more in the future ;) Also, a camera bag...I want one!

As with all of our vacation photos, I am only in like, 3 of the California pictures, but I don't mind...I don't need to see a picture of myself to remember that I was there. I would like more pictures with me and Saul at cool places we've visited, but until I can actually remember to ask someone to take one of us, not gonna happen. I strive to be better in 2012.

Here are a few of our time in the Marina del Rey area - like I mentioned before, we just roamed aimlessly up and down the coast, stopping into restaurants when we got hungry, and stopping random places to get out and walk around. It was awesome and relaxing and I got to see little pockets of my home state that I had never visited. I was such a nerdy tourist, and I loved it.

Pretty sure this was somewhere near Redondo Beach...?

I hate solo pictures, but there was no one around to take one of both of us...boo.

Pretty boardwalk

Where we ended up each night...right next door to our hotel.

Yummy martinis!

This one isn't on the menu anymore, but the bartender made it special for me - Chocolate Truffle Raspberry Martini.

Delish.

Saul likes 'em straight up and dirty

Our bartender friend, Jason. He was a transplant from Missouri.

Our other bartender friend, Holly. She wasn't from California, either. In fact, most of the people we met there weren't originally from the state...

26 Beach. The only place where I thought to take a picture of the awesome food we ate.

Saul was so embarrassed that I was taking pictures in the restaurant.

The post title comes from him asking me, in a hushed tone, to please not make my flash go off!

Chef Katsu's Original California Roll Burger - Angus beef, snow crab salad, avocado, pickled ginger, baby mix lettuce, tomato, nori & shoyu-wasabi-aioli

Seriously...the most amazing burger EVER.

Also, I had to use the flash. Sorry, Saul, but the blogging world needs to know about this burger.

It was 1/2 off wine night when we went in. Basically, buy one bottle, get the other free!

Yes, please.

Venice Beach

*I am still working on figuring out my camera, so the settings were all f'ed up this day. These are crazy over-exposed, but I still like 'em.

Beer Wine Food

VENICE

Even graffiti in CA is better than TX...

pout

This way to the Polar Bear Park

They see me rollin'...

We stopped at the skatepark and watched for a while

Gnarly, bro.

Oh Venice Beach - you are so full of weirdos.

Ain't no shame in their game.

Homeboy with the beer at 10am, I like your style.

Have a good weekend!!

Californian?

2011-08-11T16:51:00.000-05:00

Our trip to California has come and gone and all I want to do is go back IMMEDIATELY. I was so sad to leave. Usually after a vacation I am ok with heading home - looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, seeing Bella, cooking, and all that jazz. Leaving California, though, brings out such different emotions in me. For some reason, I always panic a little at the thought that this might be my last trip to the state (why? no clue), and I get super bummed about heading home. Seriously, had we been able to get Bella out to us last week, I might not have ever come back to Texas.

Is it weird/pathetic that I still kind of consider myself a Californian? I lived there for 15 years. I've been in Texas for 13, so I've been here almost as long as I was there. Considering I had only planned to be here to finish high school, the fact that it's been 13 freaking years is kind of unsettling. I wonder if I will never get back there. Saul is down to relocate, but there is the ever-present issue of work and housing and since I am not too keen on the idea of living in a box under the highway, we'll probably stay in Texas for a while longer. SIGH of all sighs...

Anyway, our trip to Los Angeles was awesome. The weather was gorgeous the whole time we were there, we got to see a bunch of family, and we spent a lot of time just the two of us. Going to California, while always amazing, tends to be more about seeing family and doing planned activities and less about taking an actual vacation and just relaxing. This trip we made sure to carve out a few days for just us and do whatever we wanted and oh my god, was it awesome.

First, we rented a convertible.
!!!!!!!!
It was completely unnecessary and I really was kind of resistant when Saul initially suggested it, but HOLY SMOKES am I glad we did it. It was a blast!! Cruising up and down the coast, top down, sun shining, with the wing blowing through my hair...bliss, I tell you. PURE FUCKING BLISS.

We stayed in Marina del Rey for the first 2 days of the trip and ate and drank our way up and down Washington Street. We ventured over to Venice Beach one morning and did some of the best/most insane people-watching of our lives. Mostly, though, we spent our days just driving around aimlessly, dreaming of what our lives would be like if we moved to the beach.

Granted, that dream looked a lot like homelessness, but really - if you're going to be homeless, be homeless in Manhattan Beach!

Now for some photos...

Objects in mirror might seem colder than they appear.
The 70 degree temps totally eff'd me up.

Hello, convertible driver - take me for a ride?

Headed up the coast to Malibu.
No plans, no timelines...not a care in the world.

I miss cliffy coastline...

Paradise Cove, in Malibu. Found this place completely by accident.

First beers of the trip - at 11:30am! Why not?
Lobster approves.

Avoid the calamari tacos at all costs...

Depending how motivated I feel later on, you might get to see more pictures. Maybe. We all know I am awful at recapping. It's just how I roll, yo.

Happy Thursday ;)

Home is wherever I'm with you...

2011-07-19T10:01:00.001-05:00

Clearly it's been a while. So let's catch up, shall we?

The weekend of the 4th was kind of anti-climactic. Texas issued a burn-ban for the weekend, so there were no fireworks here, save for a few professional shows downtown, but driving for an hour, standing in a crowd of thousands of people for a few hours, and then driving home (in traffic) sounded like my idea of torture, so we stayed home. Also? It was a no-refusal weekend here, so we definitely stayed wherever we drank.

We mostly spent the weekend in a pool - sometimes ours, sometimes not - and drank a lot of beer and lots of yummy frozen SeaBreezes (vodka, cranberry, grapefruit). We ate a lot of BBQ and saw a lot of friends, so all in all, it was a successful 3-day weekend.

The week following was for recovery and hydrating, since the weekend of the 9th we had a bunch of friends in town and went to a wedding shower Friday night and helped host the bachelorette party on Saturday. Saul went downtown with the guys and I went with my girlfriends to the Woodlands to celebrate. The wedding is this weekend/next week in Mexico and one of my very best friends from TLU is the groom, but sadly we can't go. Boo.

The Mexico trip runs into a trip we have planned to go to California to celebrate Saul's g-ma's 90th bday. We're using it as an excuse to have a family reunion, which I am so stoked about. I love Saul's cousins and aunts and uncles, and also - WE GET TO GO TO DISNEYLAND!!!! Seriously, y'all...I am dying over here.

We are going to Dallas this weekend to see some friends and their (5 month old) baby we haven't met yet, which is just dick on our part as friends, but we're fixing it this weekend! A weekend of hanging out and drinking some beer/wine to celebrate their new(ish) baby. Yay us.

We leave for CA on Tuesday, for A WEEK, which I am so so so pumped about. I can't wait to turn off my email alerts and just relax for a week. Bliss...

Happy Tuesday!!

The RHYTHM of the night...

2011-06-30T13:00:00.002-05:00

So remember that time I was in a spelling bee? No, not the one I was in when I was 9 and in 4th grade (which I WON, by the way)... the one I was in a few weeks ago when I was 28.

You guys, seriously - you all need to go out and host drunk spelling bees. It was seriously one of the most fun parties I have been to in a while. Never mind the fact that I drank a whole bottle of wine by myself (I am so awesome), or that I didn't make it to the final round, or that pretty much only Saul and I were wearing the required black and yellow - it was a BLAST.

Saul made it to the final 4, but lost to some chick that bought back in, which is a weird rule at a spelling bee, but whatevs. He was pretty peeved he didn't win the whole thing (first place got an iPod Shuffle and a sweet trophy), but I was proud that at least one of us represented.

The word I went out on? Rhythm. How did I spell it? Rythm. Fuck.

In my defense, I was more than 3/4's of a bottle of wine and like, 7 shots, deep at the time of said misspelling. I thought about the word in my head and declared there to be too many "h's," so I (not so) cleverly dismissed one and thought I was the shit. Bummer.

The setup was super official with microphones and a stool for the speller and name tags. Best moment of the night? While I was up spelling one of the words I got right (booyah!), I see a cop stroll through the party and stand behind the host, who was giving us the words. I froze. Really? A cop at a spelling bee? BAHAHAHAHA!!!! The cop said someone in the building had complained about the noise (we were on an outdoor terrace and really weren't being really loud), so he asked us to be a bit less rowdy or he was going to have to shut the party down. I don't know about you, but "rowdy" and "spelling bee" have never really been in the same ballpark to me... live and learn! Also? It was like 9pm.

The same douche came back a few hours later and booted everyone out, so obvs he was serious. Or bored. Or banging the wretched bitch that called in the noise complaint in the first place. Whatevs.

As is my MO this week, here are photos (iPhone...not the greatest) of the night - or what I was sober enough to capture, anyway.

No talking on the roof. Outside. At 9. On a Friday.

Twinkle lights and coolers full of magic deliciousness called beer...

45 people at the mother f'ing spelling bee.

Note the sweet Hawaiian shirt. Homeboy was in it to win it.

The spelling stool. Also, where you went to go to take the house shot... it tasted like vodka-spiked V8 fruit juice. Barf-tastic, but healthy!

Clearly, I am getting tipsy here. Note the complete lack of focus or specific subject.

Blue Moon in the AM - it will cure all that ails you

Anyone else been to any seemingly dorky, but surprisingly badass theme parties lately?

My drive home

2011-06-29T13:00:00.001-05:00

I commute 30 miles each way, every day. Occasionally, I have to travel within Texas to meet a client or help with a job, so really, I drive all the fucking time.

Also? I have TERRIBLE road rage. Like, it's awful. And by awful, I mean that I use words in the car that, normally, I am uncomfortable even reading silently, to myself. So you can imagine how pleasant my car rides can be...

Here are a few snaps from my front seat (can you tell I am totally trying to clean out my iPhone photos? an abundance in my "pictures" file just drives me nuts).

The scenic route

My dream home...if only because every time I drive by, I am reminded of California. I think it's the stucco and palm trees.

Rain is coming...

I can deal with traffic on pretty tree-lined roads.

Oh yes...that definitely says 106 degrees. Mother fucking Texas.

Crazy storm last week...it only rained on the west side of the highway. It looked like a bad dream.

Driving to Killeen, TX at 6am. On a Sunday. FML.

Happy hump day!!

San Diego Photo Dump

2011-06-28T10:30:00.001-05:00

I was in the Mission Valley area of San Diego a few weeks ago for work, which would have been amazing had it been sunny at all (it wasn't), nice and warm (it wasn't), and I didn't have to actually work (I did).

Full 11-hour work days coupled with dinner with clients each night meant I didn't get a chance to see any friends, which is always a bummer, but I was traveling with one of my co-workers that I've known since high school, so we had a good time.

We didn't get to do much sight-seeing, but we DID go to In-n-Out the first night we got into town - I'd been craving a double-double for a solid month...pretty much since I found out I was going to California.

Because I have been just spectacularly lazy the last month or so, here are photos and not many words...

The mothership

Animal Style...the only way to go.

The view from our dinner at George's in La Jolla

La Jolla

Walking along the harbor

Harbor Island

Wish the sky was blue...

Ocean Beach. Hello, lovely.

Hope all has been well in your neck of the woods!

Can you use it in a sentence?

2011-06-03T11:32:00.003-05:00

I am sooooooo (my iPhone corrects that to "spooking" FYI) tired of getting to Friday and saying, "oh my god - work whooped my ass this week!" BUT HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, work fucking whooped my ass this week.

So, in an effort to unwind, I'm doing the most relaxing thing you can imagine doing on a Friday night...

I'm participating in a mother fuckin' SPELLING BEE.

Oh, you heard me.

SPELLING BEE, bitches.

If you just read that and went, what the fuuuuu...? you're in good company because that's exactly what I did when Saul read me the eVite. Will we be judging it? Will kids be spelling? I don't get it.

Turns out, this is a legit spelling bee, hosted by some of our super-smart doctor friends (no medical terms allowed, we've been assured), and we're actually going to have to spell words.

Also, we are to dress in yellow and black.

Oh - and we have to take a shot before each round of spelling.

I am guessing I will last 2 rounds.

Tomorrow, we're going to see our new niece (born 6/1!!), little Miss Henley - or "Pope Henley" as Saul calls her, since she was born with quite the little cone-head.

We're also hosting a birthday party for one of my good friends from high school, so we'll probably have about 15 people in the pool at some point on Saturday afternoon. I'd be super pumped about it, but really I am just super jealous, because SOMEONE has to travel to San Antonio for work on Sunday, so SOMEONE can't party all night with friends.

And by travel to San Antonio for work on Sunday, I mean I have to literally work on Sunday in San Antonio. Balls.

Besides that small blip in an otherwise awesome-sounding weekend, it should be good times all around!

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

4 days til San Diego...woooo hoooo!!!

So...it's June?!

2011-06-02T08:36:00.002-05:00

First, let's start with a list of things I had in my mind to accomplish in May 2011:

1. Finally fully recap the wedding. Um yeah...the one that took place in 2010.
2. Run at least 4 times a week
3. Get wedding pictures up (yep...from the one that took place in 2010)
4. Start cooking again on the regular

Not a huge list, right? Totally accomplishable (is that a word?).

Wanna recap what I actually DID in May 2011?

1. Wrote 2 posts about the wedding, and then kind of left y'all hanging. They did highlight my excellent keg-stand sensibilities, though.
2. I ran 5 times in May. 5 times in 31 days. 13 total miles. PATHETIC.
However, 2 of those times were 5Ks, bringing my 5K total for the year to 4.
3. There actually are a few wedding photos up in our house (hooray!), BUT they are because my best friend took pity on me and framed them for me for my bday.
Newlywed fail.
4. Pretty sure we went out to eat (or ate like complete shit) AT LEAST 3 times a week for the whole month.

Mother eff...

What I have been doing is a) losing my mind at work, b) losing my mind on Pinterest, and c) losing all motivation to blog.

It's getting hot as hell in Texas, so I am going to San Diego next week for work (yaaaaaayyyyyy!!!). Hopefully I'll get to see some old friends, and I will be in a gorgeous place, so maybe that will bring my blogging mojo back (not that I had a ton to begin with...let's be honest, here).

With that, I leave you with a few items from Pinterest that I am obsessed with - seriously, y'all, I could disappear for hours into that website.

Enjoy!

pinned by

pinned by

pinned by

pinned by

pinned by

Wedding Recap - Ceremony and Reception

2011-05-13T13:51:00.005-05:00

Really, the whole time we were planning the wedding (I say 'whole time' like we planned forever...), I think Saul and I maybe had 1 conversation about the actual ceremony. We pretty much just wanted someone to say, "do you? do you? MAKE OUT." Aaaaand then we wanted to go party balls with our friends.

Saul's dad is a Lutheran Pastor and has presided over the weddings of both Saul's brother and sister. Saul decided immediately that he didn't want his dad to marry us - "I want him to just be able to hang out and not do any work at one of kid's weddings," was the reasoning. So we had Saul's dad's friend marry us instead. He didn't make us do any pre-wedding counseling, no weird handouts to fill out, no uncomfortable meetings. He did ask that we get together at least once to go over our vows, and when we arrived at his house he immediately offered us wine. Awesome.

We talked about the normal stuff, and it went pretty quickly since both Saul and I knew we wanted a super short ceremony. The only thing I had an opinion on was that I didn't want a unity candle, nor did I want the word "obey" used in our vows. Other than that, though, we told him to do his thing.

Oh, and DO HIS THING, he did...

Let's just say that he spoke of poop, and near-death experiences, and oh yeah - did I mention the poop?? Yeah. Poop was brought up at my wedding. BY THE GUY MARRYING US. Bizarre doesn't even come close to describing it, but by the time he wrapped it up (surprisingly neatly) and pronounced Saul and I husband and wife, we were cracking the hell up. One year later, and people STILL talk to us about our actual wedding ceremony, which is not something I can say for every wedding I've attended.

We sent our guests off to go get beer and food while we took a few pictures, and then we were introduced for the first time. As "Sal and Cheryl Kxxxx!" Yeah - SAL. Sigh... All of Saul's fraternity brothers gave him shit for the rest of the night - "hey SAL - go get me a beer!"

The reception was a blast - we danced, we played flip-cup and beer pong, and I even got so classy as to do a keg stand ;) Really, it was the best party Saul and I have ever thrown.

He wore a Hawaiian shirt and spoke of messy things...

Mr. and Mrs.

SAL and Cheryl!

I should have kissed the bride...

And that, as they say, is what friends are for!

Up next...the music!

Recap 1

*I know this is taking me forever to get done, but it's my wedding and I will savor it for as long as I'd like, ya hear?!

**Also, F you, Blogger.

Wedding Recap - Planning

2011-05-03T11:48:00.006-05:00

We got engaged on December 30th, 2009. We got married on May 1, 2010. For you Matheletes, that means we were engaged for approximately 4 months. I planned a wedding for over 300 people and pulled it off in 121 days.

Because I am a badass.
And no, NOT because I was pregnant*.

We planned quickly because basically at any moment last year my brother could have been deployed, and the thought of him not being at my wedding because I waited too long to have it was just tragic. It put some additional pressure on us, yes, but it was 100% worth it. To be honest, though, I don't think I would have done it any differently anyway.

I love planning parties, but I've never looked forward to planning a wedding. Frankly, all the detail that goes into wedding planning (flowers, colors, favors, decorations, etc.) is stuff I don't really care about, and pretty much just overwhelms the shit out of me. Why can't someone else just do everything for my wedding and simply tell me when and where to show up? OH, that's right - people like that DO exist, but they cost buckets of cash! And buckets of cash, I sadly did not have.

It was nice to have some time alone with Saul (in Jamaica, no less!) right after he asked me to marry him so we could really talk openly about what our "ideal" wedding would entail. Trust that this wasn't our first wedding convo, though, folks - homeboy and I had lived together for almost 3 years at that point, and we often had small conversations that started with, "well if we ever get married..." Still, it was nice to have each other's undivided attention for a few days.

Since we had started talking about a possible wedding in the years before, I thought I knew what I did and didn't want - I didn't think I wanted to wear a white dress, I didn't think I wanted bridesmaids, I didn't think I wanted speeches. I found out Saul wanted some of the more traditional aspects, so there was a lot of compromising on both sides.

Compromises we made...

I agreed to bridesmaids (but we didn't have an even number of guys/girls on each side...also, my girls wore white - controversial, fo sho.)
I agreed to a white dress (but I told him I wouldn't promise it would be long)
He agreed to no cake-cutting (we had cupcakes)
He agreed to no speeches
I agreed to the bouquet/garter toss (shocked the HELL out of me that Saul wanted to do that!)

We decided on the date, and that we wanted an outdoor wedding (which honestly became the biggest freaking stressor of the whole effing process since the weather in Texas in May can be um...temperamental), which we figured would require only some white lights and minimal decorations. Flowers could be minimal as well, we reasoned. I can't tell you how many weddings I have been in where the bride has had her budget blown to shit because of flowers. That died the next day. To each their own, but I would rather my budget stretch further in different areas.

Which brought us to budget - we knew we wanted to make this as painless as possible for all involved and take on as much as we could ourselves. We also both knew didn't want to be in crazy debt after the wedding. We wanted good food, good drinks, good music, and we really just wanted it to feel like a bbq in our backyard. For like, 300 people.

Yeah - our guest list was insane. Saul and I both went to the same college, but 4 years apart. Our friends overlap, and coming from a school of 1,200, we're still good friends with many of them. Also, since we live in the area where we both went to high school, we're still friends with a lot of those people. And the rule they say to go by while planning a wedding? The one that states about only 70% of your guests will show? UM, NO. That rule did not apply at ours. Just about everyone on the list RSVP'd yes, which was awesome, but HOLY SHIT - we had to feed a ton of people.

So here is where we got lucky:

We got married at the school where my mom works. It's an ABA therapy center for children with Autism (Spectrum of Hope), and it holds a special place in my family's heart, so it wasn't just a FREE venue, but it meant a lot to be able to be married there. The yard in the back is huge and my dad and brother spent a few days before the wedding hanging twinkling white lights through all the giant oak trees. It felt like being in a fairy tale.

One of my best friend's mom does flowers for weddings. They're silk, which I didn't give 2 shits about because they look freaking awesome, and she volunteered to do them for us as a wedding gift. FREE FLOWERS, y'all. Fucking right.

Saul's uncle is a photographer at DisneyWorld. Not only is THAT in itself just the coolest thing ever, but he volunteered to do all of our photos as a wedding gift. FREE PHOTOS! I know...

Saul's best friend owns liquor stores around the city. No, no...we didn't get all of our booze for FREE, but we got about half of it (we had 9 kegs + wine) free and the rest at cost. Oh, also? We drank it all ;)

My hair and makeup were also FREE - a wedding gift from my mom's long-time hairstylist.

So just to keep you up to speed - we didn't pay for our venue, our flowers, our photographer, or my hair/makeup. And we got our alcohol at a crazy low price. For any of you who have planned a wedding, feel free to hate me right now.

My dress was less than $200, thanks to a crazy sale. My shoes were flip flops. The DJ was a friend of a friend who gave us a great deal. The food was from a local BBQ joint and soooo good. We did splurge on a charter bus to take us and all of our friends home at the end of the night - in my opinion, that was the best purchase of the day!

Also? We had beer pong. Oh, and did I mention the epic Flip-Cup tournament?

Next up...the ceremony/reception....

xoxo

Hahaha...I just noticed that I only wrote 11 posts last year regarding wedding stuff, and 5 of them were AFTER the wedding. I am such a shitty blogger ;)

If you want to see my bling, go HERE
If you care to read our proposal story, go HERE

*Yeah, I'm still not pregnant, nor do I want to be so FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PEOPLE, quit asking when I am going to pop out a kid!

(Yester)Day I Will Marry My Friend

2011-05-02T10:15:00.003-05:00

1 year ago yesterday, I stood up in front of all of my family and friends and promised to love Saul until the day I died.

365 days later, we're still doing great.

I love you, Husband. You're my favorite.

*This week will be dedicated to wedding recaps...since I never did it last year. If you don't care about that kind of shizz, see you next week! Of course, I'd love if you all indulged me, though ;)

Me Talk Pretty One day

2011-04-19T11:30:00.004-05:00

If you've never read anything by David Sedaris, I suggest you go do so immediately. He's hilarious! He's called a "humorist," which I guess is the comedic stand-up equivalent of a writer (?), but whatever the title, dude is mother effing funny.

I've read a bunch of his books:

He's going to be at Jones Hall downtown tonight, reading some of his new stuff. Saul bought tickets for my birthday, so we're headed out after work.

I've never been to a reading before, but in my mind it's similar to story-time in kindergarten, which I totally dug, but with wine. Yay!

In other news, yes, yes - my birthday is just 11 days away. April 30th, baby! I can't believe I've forgotten to mention that before now. It's been a crazy month.

Happy Tuesday!

Huggin and a kissin, dancin and a lovin, wearin next to nothinn, cause it's hot as an oven!

2011-04-08T11:55:00.000-05:00

The Houston suburbs are so, well...suburby, it's hard to find unique places to eat outside of the downtown area, so when we hear about one, we GO. Fast.

Although it's about 45 minutes from us, the drive was well worth it - the Love Shack is AWESOME. It's super tiny inside, but has a huge outdoor patio and a beer garden which are both really pretty and full of trees and strands of lights. The menu is small, but it's so nuts that the 15 or so items on it more than make up for it's slight size.

Sign says "stay away fools!" Cause love rules at the Love Shack

The burgers are the stars, and oh my god, mine was the best burger I have EVER had.

The 5 Napkin Burger...pure eggstacy...(heh)

Saul's burger was called "The Grease and Weasel" and instead of burger buns, there were honey buns anchoring each end of the meat. And by honey buns, I mean the kind you find in a pastry shop. THEY WERE GLAZED. Heart attack on a plate, right there. His head almost exploded, he was so filled with glee*.

Sit here and wait for inevitable food coma.

Go to the Love Shack! Seriously, it was incredible. I can't wait to go back and hang out with a cold beer and listen to some local live music.

Bring it, Summer.

It's Friiiiiday!!! Fun weekend plans?

*When does Glee come back? I am going through major withdrawals. Fo real.

Weekend adventures

2011-04-07T11:48:00.004-05:00

Because apparently I'm 5, all I've wanted to do for the last few weeks is take a Saturday and go to the damn zoo. I honestly don't know what sparked this little flame deep within, but seriously y'all - I have been straight up pouting little kid-style when something has happened to F up my zoo day plans!

Finally, last Saturday, we made it downtown and I got my lion/rhino/motherf'ing HUGE longhorn fix.

And it was glorious.

Some photos, for your vicarious zoo day enjoyment...

Jellies!

I like turtles.

These suckers smelled like fish...it was pretty gross.

Most hilarious moment of the day...everyone who walked by thought homeboy wasn't just napping, but straight up dead. It wasn't until we all watched his tiny chest rise and fall, that people started cracking up and the "must've been a long night!" jokes started flying.
I thought he looked quite like Saul when he passes out at home...

This rhino was on crack. Dude was racing around his little area, messing with the giant antelope things that were unfortunate enough to be cohabiting. It was awesome, and I got some video, but apparently when taking video on an iPhone, one must turn the camera sideways to get it to arrange itself correctly in iMovie...? Watching the video with a tilted head is not fun.

Grubbin' on cherry tomatoes.

Meow.

Baby giraffe!!! I wish I had gotten a good picture of this guy standing next to another giraffe because it is really impossible to express just how small and fragile he looked compared to the others. Adorable.

Another baby animal. Oh my god, I about died. I literally squealed, "a baby elephaaaant!!!" when we got to them. I was embarrassed for 2.5 seconds and then got over myself and seriously could have sat in front of this little guy all day long, watching him, and been totally happy. Baby animals kill me. I want to take them all home.

The only disappointment that day was realizing the Houston zoo doesn't have penguins. Really, Houston? Really? What kind of a zoo doesn't have penguins?!? Grumble.

If you live in Houston and haven't been to the zoo, I totally recommend it. It was really pretty and the animals were awesome and, other than the parking which is seriously insane (I mean like, worse than the Galleria at Christmas...no joke), it was a great way to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon.

Also, Herman Park? Gorg. Why do we not go down there more often??

Happy Thursday, all!

Tutti Frutti!

2011-03-31T06:48:00.004-05:00

So I don't usually take photos of my food. I don't really have a good reason except that when I am out to eat somewhere, I am either too busy talking to remember to snap a picture, or I am so effing hungry when the food hits the table that by the time I even think of bringing my camera out, my plate looks like a wild animal attacked it. Or the food is gone.

I am trying to remember to take more pictures when I go out, though. I love looking at pictures. LOOOOOVE it. My dream is to have the walls of our house covered in tons of framed photos of our adventures and our friends and major moments in our life.

**Here is where you excuse me for not having a SINGLE wedding picture up in my house yet. It's only been a year...**

So in the spirit of taking more pictures, here are a few from last weekend! Saul and I went to a little frozen yogurt place near our house on Sunday evening and I can say with 100% certainty that we will be going back. I'm not the hugest dessert person, and since we've cut a lot of crap out of our diet over the last year or so, we don't often have ice cream in the house. Frozen yogurt is supposed to be better for you, though, right? Yeah, well, even if it's not, this shit was soooo good.

Tutti Frutti, oh Rudy...

There were instructions for us Fro-Yo novices

An entire wrap-around wall full of flavors! And ooohhh...those tiles...

The cheesecake was NON-FAT! I died right then and there.
And then filled myself a cup.

So many toppings!
The fact that the yogurt was fat free cancels out the chocolate chips, right?

Frutti...

I spy with my little eye...sour Gummi worms!

"You have been weighed, you have been measured, and you have been found (not) wanting."
Name that movie and I will love you forever.

Happy Thursday! It's almost Friday!!

Because sometimes standing is hard

2011-03-28T13:31:00.002-05:00

Baby girl is screwed when she has to nail 5th position.

via

Love you like family

2011-03-25T14:48:00.006-05:00

Other things may change us, but we start and end with family

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

The love of a family is life's greatest blessing

If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.

Treat your family like friends and your friends like family.

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future.

The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other.

If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.

A happy family is but an earlier heaven.

all photos via & all quotes via

I have been sucked in

2011-03-03T14:12:00.003-06:00

Wondering where I've been lately? Possibly missin' you a little daily Cheryl internet action?

(Ok, that sounded dirty and I really didn't mean for it to....)

Well kids, fret not - I am definitely still alive. We went out to dinner for Saul's birthday, I've been running, going to work...the usual.

I have, however, become one of THOSE PEOPLE. You guys, I never thought I would be this person, but I soooo am...

...I am officially addicted to my iPhone.

(God, that sounds so frickin queer)

I am obsessed. Saul and I bought the 4's for each other in January, when he was ready to throw his iPhone 3 out the window because it was running so dang slow. He ran a software update and lots of other boring tecchie stuff later his phone had just about had it. As in, it was taking somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 minutes to send a text message and his head pretty much exploded every time he tried to open an app.

I'd held out on the iPhone thing for a long time because, I reasoned, I sit at a computer all day, and then have my laptop at home at night. I couldn't imagine situations where I would need to kill time playing a game.

Yeah...um...and then I played the games.

I found myself regularly stealing Saul's phone in the evenings and playing DoodleJump or PocketGod. He would sigh, shake his head, and tell me to get my own damn phone before snatching it away from me. I would tell him I just wanted to play for a few minutes...I didn't need my own phone for that - I could just use his.

When I started asking him to download apps for me, he kind of drew the line. He downloaded a few when I asked, and he even downloaded a Twilight game without me asking because he knew I would like it (the game sucked, FYI - got deleted the next day), but when I started making lists of stuff I wanted to play, he shut me down.

So now I have my own iPhone and oh my god, I get it. It's awesome. I loooove the camera. I use it all the time. And the games....ooooohhh....I love the games!

A few favorites...

Angry Birds.
Duh - this is like, a standard. I also bought Angry Birds Seasons, because I just needed more.

Mega Jump.
This is like DoodleJump, but brighter and more insane. I love it.

Tiny Wings.
My newest game. I have played this for like, 2 hours already.

Robot Unicorn Attack!
This is originally from Adult Swim...? It's ridiculous. Also, the soundtrack is heavy metal, which is just even MORE ridiculous.

If you don't have an iPhone, you don't understand. I know. I used to be one of you. But now, I am converted and will forever be a faithful follower.

iPhone, I love you!

32 looks so good on you!

2011-03-01T10:46:00.003-06:00

Happy birthday, Saul!

You truly are the best thing that's ever happened to me.

I love you!

The weekend, in pictures

2011-02-16T09:05:00.009-06:00

Friday nights, while Saul is out in the city somewhere, coaching his soccer team to inevitable victory (durr - he is the greatest coach ever), I am usually hanging out with friends or enjoying the evening in. With wine, of course.

Also, this chick.

Saturday, I gave myself a mani/pedi.
I hate salons. I hate other people touching my feet. Also, the leg massages? They don't feel that awesome to me. More like torture, really.

We met up with some friends downtown at the Flying Saucer and had some delicious beer and food.

They have like, over 300 beers available at this place, and you can become part of the UFO Club by drinking 200 of them. You get your name on a saucer which goes on the wall, if you complete the challenge.

There are a shit ton of saucers on the walls.

Mmmm....Alaskan smoked salmon sandwich with jalapeno pesto-cream cheese, red onion, tomato, Swiss cheese, capers and lettuce on marble rye. With a pickle!

Saul and I bid the friends adieu and then it was off to Lucky Strike for some post-dinner, pre-concert cocktails.

And then on to House of Blues for Amos Lee!!! When we first started dating, Saul introduced me to his music and I was instantly in love. We used to hang out, drink, and listen to his album over and over. This was the second time we've seen him live and the concert was amazing.

Sunday, I got to take pretty pictures of one of my favorite families EVER.

This little stinker is seriously one of my favorite kids on the planet. And if you know me, I really only say that about family members, but I'm pretty sure me and his mom were meant to be related, so it works.

Hope your weekends were great, your V-Days were full of love (and champagne, like mine...hehe), and your Hump Day is FAST!

The last First Date

2011-02-09T11:37:00.005-06:00

5 years ago today I was sitting in my office, checking the clock every few minutes, willing it to go faster and at the same time, cussing it for moving so quickly. I was wearing a blue shirt, jeans and heels. My hair was blown out and I was wearing make up (gasp!).

Saul and I were going on a date.

Saul and I had only met up with mutual friends before this. Tonight, we'd be on our own. I was an excited, anxious, mess.

5 years later, he put a ring on it ;)

Even though we have a wedding anniversary to celebrate now, I think it's important to remember how we started. How we got to that sweet wedding. How lucky we were to find each other.

Most girls say their wedding day is the best or most important day of their lives and while our wedding day was a blast, I have to say I completely disagree...

...the best day of mine was February 9th, 2006 - the night of my very last First Date.

Ice, ice baby!

2011-02-04T09:11:00.007-06:00

If you've watched the news at all this week, you know there is some freaky shit happening in the southern US - namely, we're all freezing our freaking asses off.

The city pretty much started shutting down yesterday afternoon, even though nothing had happened yet. Overnight rain, sleet and snow swept through the area and we all woke up to rather frosty conditions.

No snow in our area, but everything is covered in a layer of ice. The roads are a mess, and the big toll road that loops around the city is completely shut down.

I am at home, working in my living room, watching the news and sitting in front of the fireplace. If you're out in this nasty stuff today, stay warm and drive safely.

I can't freaking wait until summer.

Saul's car, covered in ice

Not grilling anything tonight!

Temperature is below freezing...

I almost bit it, trying to walk on the deck to get this picture.

The whole left side of that tree is covered in ice

Lazy weekend

2011-01-31T09:01:00.004-06:00

This weekend was all about relaxation and being lazy. I was supposed to clean up the 2nd guest room, which has pretty much been a war zone since the wedding - first housing wedding stuff, then gifts, then boxes from the gifts, and now it's just become this deep, dark pit of a room where all our JUNK goes to die.

Um...yeah...I didn't clean the room.

I did, however, pull some stuff out of the closet to donate to Goodwill, and I also found our snow clothes to take to BFF Chandra for her upcoming ski trip, AND I did the dishes.

I call that progress.

We were invited to a couples baby shower on Saturday, which we made an appearance at ONLY because a "couples shower" implies booze. I mean, really - you're not going to expect dudes to show up at a baby shower without beer, right?

**Personally, I wouldn't expect ANYONE to show up at a shower without beer, but that's just me.

Anyway, the shower wasn't too painful, considering we stuck with the 3 other people we knew and hung out in a corner and ate the amaaaaazing potatoes and pork loin they had set out. Holy crap, that food was awesome.

After the shower - which was on the other side of town, wtf - Saul and I headed to Brix Wine Cellars for a drink and dessert.

The place was nice, but so so so loud. I don't know if the all-brick interior was just bouncing the sounds off all over the place, or if people were just super hammered and yelling, but Saul and I only stayed for 1 drink each and got the hell out of there.

Mmmm...Prosecco. Like biting into a juicy green apple!

Not before eating this, though...

White pizza with cheddar cream, Chipotle pesto, shrimp, mozzarella, bacon, arugula, fried egg & truffle oil

Oh my dear Jesus, I would eat this every day if it wouldn't cause me to gain 700 lbs. I was in the mood for something more dessert-like until Saul pointed this out on the menu. It was INSANE. Definitely going back for that bad boy.

It's Monday (boo) and the weather is supposed to get freeze-yer-tits-off-cold in this part of the country within the next 48 hours (super boo). Stay warm, wherever you are!

Just 6 days til the Superbowl!

**I just got an iPhone, so the photos are courtesy of that guy. How the hell do I make them bigger??

Inspired

2011-01-25T09:29:00.005-06:00

I have a good friend who, in a weirdly fortunate turn of events with her employer, is now going into business for herself. She's terrified and overwhelmed, but determined and hopeful. I know she will be successful (she doesn't really know how to fail), because she is awesome and dur - I'm not friends with losers.

Watching her take a hobby and turn it into a business is totally inspiring and I am so thrilled for her that she gets to do something she truly, truly loves each day. It makes me want to turn my little hobby into a full-time job...maybe someday ;)

Taking the steps to announce on my blog that I was actively trying to get in shape was a bit scary for me. As anyone who browses my site can see, I don't have a ton of traffic over here, but I do know that a few people each day read, and to make the declaration that I would lose weight is kind of a big deal to me. I don't often try things I think I am going to suck at, because a) why? and b) clearly I am just not too adventurous. As I mentioned above, I do have a project I am quietly working on, on the side, but it hasn't gained much ground and I am hesitant to make a big bold statement about it because what if it flops? I'll get over that fear eventually, I am sure, but I am not there yet. So in the wings, there I'll be, until I am brave enough or inspired enough to do big things with my little hobby.

If you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true
~ Cinderella ~

Listen with your heart, you will understand
~ Pocahontas ~

Nothing's impossible
~ Alice in Wonderland ~

Even miracles take a little time
~ Fairy Godmother ~

Always let your conscience be your guide
~ Jiminy Cricket ~

They say if you dream a thing more than once, it's bound to come true
~ Briar Rose ~

Reach for the sky!
~ Woody ~

photos via

Think Thin Thursday

2011-01-20T10:01:00.002-06:00

Grab the button!
**If I keep thinking that this will catch on and spread to other blogs beside my own, surely it will, right? RIGHT!**

There have been 2 factors that have been really instrumental in keeping me motivated this time around - music and the internet.

Music is kind of a no-brainer, right? I mean, really, who runs without music? I have done it before, but I thought I was going to go insane with only my footfalls on the concrete to listen to. I generally prefer to listen to stuff that's got a fast beat, but I put my iPod on shuffle the other day and found that running to Ben Harper or Gomez was just as awesome.

Just a few songs on my "Running" playlist...

Raise Your Glass - P!nk
Only Girl - Rihanna
Like I Love You - Justin Timberlake
Best of You - Foo Fighters
Seven Nation Army - White Stripes
For the Girl - The Fratellis
All Mixed Up - 311
Walk this Way - Aerosmith
Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss - Built to Spill

I have one of the classic iPods - normal size, fits in one of the arm bands, etc. etc. Turns out, I hate the arm band. My solution? Well since you asked...

I have to wear 2 sports bras, being that I have been...um...blessed? in the upper torso region. Instead of velcro-ing the annoying arm band on and heading out, I would just shove my iPod in between the 2 bras. TMI? Oh well. It stayed safe and was out of my way. The only time anyone else could ever tell there was an iPod lodged down in there was when I would want to skip a song, so I would poke at my chest for a few seconds before finally locating the right place on the iPod wheel, and then I would look like Iron Man for a minute or so, until the light in my chest went out.

It was awesome!

Saul took pity on me and bought me a cute little green iPod Shuffle last week. Its so amazing! Its so light I forget I have it on, and it just clips to my jacket. No embarrassing boob-light shows anymore!

As for the internet helping to get me off my butt, I found a website called MapMyRun. It lets me chart out different paths through my neighborhood, without having to drive them in my car to find out the mileage. It helps keep track of my workouts and tracks overall miles run, and even gives an estimate of calories burned. I love it! I highly recommend it for people who need a little push to get going, and who want to be able to have a record of their progress.

It's raining here today, but should be done by this evening. The pain in my shins is subsiding and I was able to run 2 miles last night with minimal pain. Here's to a productive week!

Happy Thursday, friends!

The time I finally cooked a successful meal for Saul's family

2011-01-19T13:50:00.003-06:00

**Not to be confused with the time I unsuccessfully cooked spaghetti and almost ruined Mother's Day dinner for Saul's family**

Monday was Sue's (Saul's mom) birthday, so the family got together on Sunday for lunch. Usually when we do Sunday lunches or dinners, we grill something - brisket, hamburgers, brats. Also, I use the term "we" veeeeery loosely.

Meaning, usually I do nothing to help.

Actually, that's not true. Sometimes Saul and I go buy potato salad and bring it over in all of it's plastic-tub glory.

I'd like to make it known that I ALWAYS help with the dishes, though.

Anyway... I talked to both my sisters-in-law and we decided that we'd like to try something different for Sunday lunch. Something not grilled. So I suggested enchiladas. I'd made some pretty bomb-ass enchiladas the week before and I thought they'd be super easy to recreate and a definite crowd-pleaser. I mean, who DOESN'T like enchiladas??

Aside from the fact that I had a dream that I only made 8 enchiladas (there are 8 adults in the family, 10 people all day, but the little girls prefer pb&j to chilis and beans), everything went great and the food was awesome. I didn't take any pictures because I NEVER TAKE ANY PICTURES - fml - but just imagine, if you will, 30 enchiladas with all their cheesy goodness, and a big ass batch of refried black beans with bacon and onions.

YUM.

Just in case you'd like to try them...

Turkey and Black Bean Enchiladas

Corn tortillas
1 lb ground turkey
1 onion (diced)
2 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 can of diced tomatoes w/chilis
1 can of black beans (drained)
Cumin (to taste)
Chili powder (to taste)
Enchilada sauce
Shredded cheese

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Brown the turkey. Drain off any excess fat, and then add the onions and garlic to the same pan. Once the onions are translucent, add in the cumin and chili powder and mix.
Pour in the tomatoes and chilis, and the black beans.
Let that all cook down a bit to get rid of some of the liquid from the tomatoes, and re-season, if necessary.
Heat the tortillas so they are pliable.
Spoon a bit of the turkey mixture into a tortilla and roll it up.
Place it in a baking dish, seam side down.
Repeat until dish is full.
Cover all the filled tortillas with enchilada sauce and shredded cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove foil at 20 minute mark, and bake uncovered for another 5 minutes.
Serve with a dollop of greek yogurt and avocado!

Creamy Black Refried Beans

1 can of black beans
1 small onion
Bacon strips
1/4 cup of plain greek yogurt

Dice the onion and cook until translucent.
Cut up a few strips of bacon and cook the pieces until crisp.
Set bacon and onion to the side.
Pour beans (undrained) into a food processor.
Add greek yogurt and blend, until smooth.
Pour beans back into pan used to cook onions and bacon, and cook over medium heat.
Once beans are warmed through, add in cooked onion and bacon bits.
Sprinkle with cojita cheese and enjoy!

Think Thin Thursday

2011-01-14T10:03:00.003-06:00

Um, more like Think SHIN Thursday.

Shin splints can kiss my ass.

How do I get rid of them? They are painful as shit.

Advice needed, STAT.

Think Thin Thursday...it's back!!

2011-01-06T11:30:00.003-06:00

Is it just me, or does looking at your workout plan for the week on Monday just exhaust the hell out of you? Checking in on Thursday to see how I've done and look back on the last 3 days and see the progress I've made and the goals I've stuck to is much more satisfying, and actually helps me keep up the good habits through the weekend (sometimes).

Think Thin Thursday went away for a while...my bad. Saul and I had really specific goals to reach by November of 2010, and when we reached them (well, almost...but I was super happy with what I had achieved), we fell off the wagon. Like, hard.

Basically, I LEAPED the fuck off that bad boy, gave it the finger and then scarfed down 35 Twinkies.

So I am picking back up on the running, going for at least 2 miles per day, which might not sound like a lot, but to go from nothing for a few months to 2 miles everyday is kind of a big deal for me. Also, I am focusing more on bringing my mile time down - my immediate goal is a 10-minute mile. Baby steps, guys. Baby steps.

Y'all, I am NOT a runner. I am a person who runs. Primarily, so I don't end up weighing 372 lbs. I don't particularly like it, although I don't hate it (like I hate Spinning...I loathe that shit). I think I could grow to really enjoy it, but I haven't really stuck with it long enough to make it a consistent part of my life. I run a few times a week, then get bored with it and throw in some 30-Day Shred action, and then sometimes don't do anything for weeks at a time. I'm working on running correctly - I lean forward like WOAH - and breathing right. Mostly though, I am working on just MAKING IT HAPPEN daily.

I am the Queen of Excuses. Seriously - if ever you need to justify why you shouldn't do something, come to me. I can come up with an excuse for anything. It's hot. It's cold. It's kind of foggy. It's scary in the dark. It's too humid. My ear hurts. I really should catch up on my correspondence. I need to research Bali in case I ever want to go there someday.

I am a machine.

To curb this annoying tendency, I have found that writing down how much I plan to run in my planner (all hail the planner!) before I run makes me more motivated to actually do it. Saul and I have a calendar in our room that we use to chart what we did for the day. We would each write on it before we went to sleep - "S: P90X Shoulders/Back...C: 30-Day Shred" - so that we could keep track of what we'd done for the month. It was easy to skip a day if he skipped a day. It was really easy to skip a day and just leave it blank, and then tell myself I would make it up later. Writing down "Run 2.13 miles," which is the length of the course I run in the neighborhood, at 9am causes me to think about it and prepare for it all day. It's always on my mind, and I get kind of psyched up, sometimes even writing down new songs I want to download when I get home to run to that night. Also, it makes it feel super shameful to cross out that little note in my planner when I don't follow through. There are no lies in the planner, people. It tells the truth!

I think I am on the right track, for now. I am focused and have been feeling good. I am confident that I can keep it up, and while this isn't a New Year Resolution per se, having a solid fitness goal for myself is really motivating.

Excuses, exshmuses!

Maybe just a little OCD about planning

2011-01-05T09:38:00.005-06:00

Ahhhh....a new year. New goals, new travels, new experiences. I'm excited about it all, but what I am most thrilled about every single January is one very simple thing. One very simple, but one VERY necessary thing...

...a new planner!!!

Um, no...I'm not kidding.

Seriously, you guys, I would be lost without my planner. I keep EVERYTHING in it and it's how I stay (semi) organized.

I know, I know...there are a bunch of way more high-tech ways to stay organized and keep dates in check, but really, this is what works for me and I love it! I love filling it up with our fun plans, keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries, and being able to look at my life, a month or a week at a time.

I am a freak like that, and I'm ok with it.

I am such a plan-maker. It used to blow Saul's mind that when asked in March, I could rattle off plans I'd already made for September. Seriously - his eyes used to bug out of his head. Now, he just rolls his eyes and laughs when someone asks him what our plans are for any given weekend, and then he directs them to me ;).

Right now the planner has birthdays, some anniversaries, and a few weddings, but that's it! So many open weekends to fill. So many vacations to chart out. So many possibilities.

Bring it on 2011...I'm ready!

Auld lang syne...

2010-12-30T08:38:00.002-06:00

It's funny, the cycles of blog posts throughout the internet. There are the obligatory holiday posts, showing off decor and food while listing favorite things about the particular season. These are followed by the "favorite moments of the year" posts, which are then followed by New Year's Resolutions posts.

If I blogged more consistently and didn't feel such pressure to cram entire MONTHS into one freaking post, I might do that too.

But, since I don't post but once every great while, it's a little overwhelming to try and recap everything that's happened in the last 2 weeks, much less try and compile a list of my "favorite posts of 2010." The archives are there for ya, if you're that interested, I suppose.

2010 was a good year. I got married, which was awesome (partly because it was something I really thought I would never be interested in doing), we got a new niece, my brother was deployed and came home safely, and my epic love affair with wine continued on.

We also took a ton of vacations. We started the year in Jamaica, then went to Cancun twice, as well as California, Alabama (which doesn't SOUND like an awesome vacation locale, but trust me, it was a blast) and a bunch of weekend trips to Austin and Dallas. I feel so fortunate to be able to travel the way we do and 2011 has a whole bunch of new destinations in store for us.

To me, that's what makes a successful year - counting how many times we got out of the state or country. There are still so many places we want to see, and the more we get to travel, the happier I am.

Next year starts on Saturday (holy shit). I've got no resolutions to try and keep because I always break them almost immediately - if you don't and are able to keep them, what the hell is your secret?? We're going out to dinner tonight to celebrate the greatest day of Saul's life - he asked me to marry him one year ago tonight and I said yes, lucky sucker (bahahahaha!) - and then will spend tomorrow night celebrating the end of the decade with great friends at our house.

What are your New Year's Eve plans?

Hope 2011 brings you all much happiness and fun travels!! See you folks again in the new year.

xoxo

Deck 'em

2010-12-22T14:55:00.007-06:00

And finally, since I know you've all been anxiously awaiting this post (heh)... how I decked the shit out of the house.

Otherwise titled:
"Welcome to our crib. Don't knock my decor, bitches."

Le cafe table
(that's Francois for coffee table, dur)

The mantle.
Also, our giant TV.

Fireplace.
Hello, Knight. Aren't we festive!

A random corner.
The green stuff smells FAB.

Other side of the fireplace.
SANTA!

Entry way table.
Look - it's the picture I painted while drunk!

Yeah, I totally embroidered our names on our stockings last year.
I got mad skills with a big ass needle and thick thread!

Sparkly dudes hanging from the kitchen chandelier.
SANTA!!

Last, since I don't have a picture of the living room tree, here is our tree in the front room. It fits perfectly in the bay window. It's fake and colorful and I love it. It's the first tree Saul and I bought together and I am fairly certain it is going to go out any day now, considering we leave it on all day and night. Fire hazard, what?

OMG 3 days!

It wouldn't be the Christmas shopping season if the stores were any less hooter than they - HOTTER than they are...

2010-12-21T15:08:00.010-06:00

I know it's like 4 days 'til Christmas (HOLY BALLS - 4 days!!!), but even though it's late and the tree's been up for like 3 weeks, wanna see it now anyway?

Thought so ;)

Be warned...our tree doesn't match.

THE HORROR!

My family has never had a matchy tree. Nothing against them, we've just always had colored lights and a mish-mash of all kinds of weird and sentimental ornaments, most of which my brother and I made. Now, me and Saul's tree has a buttload of ornaments our parents saved for us, combined with ornaments we've purchased together from various vacations, and yes...some ornaments that I made. Like, last year.

Shut up - I was feeling crafty.

Without further adieu (and also without a full picture of the thing because I am soooo smart sometimes), I give you our Christmas tree...

I feel as though the voo-doo doll at the top of the tree, blasphemous as it might be, is canceled out by the angelic little Winnie the Pooh, hanging just below it.

Also, the voo-doo doll looks pretty awesome up there, no?

4 days!

The last 3 weeks...

2010-12-16T15:09:00.007-06:00

...in more pictures than words.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, we went to a wedding...

...and saw lots of good friends...

...and I got a little violent.

The bride and groom were married on the beach (by the tallest man alive), and my handsome husband stood by one of his best friends on his special day.

Also, Billy Ray Cyrus was there to strum a few tunes.

Contrary to the look on his face in this photo, the reception was a blast.

The groom was pretty stoked to be there.

We got progressively MORE stoked as the night went on...and the booze kept flowin'.

About a week after that, I painted a picture.

This was the finished product. This creation came about with the help of a lot of wine.
Painting With a Twist... look it up!

Last weekend, a few of my favorite people came into town.

We busted a flow with some random dudes at the bar.

And Saul photobombed the shit out of some pictures.

I thought Phil's purple purse was pretty sweet.

And we fell in love all over again.

Drinking the next morning sounded like a fabulous idea!

As did washers in the backyard.
The sky seriously looks like something out of The Simpsons.
Gorgeous day.

This is my last photo from that day. I don't remember taking it. It was at 4:32. We were up until at least 10pm.

Bad news.

**Also, Saul doesn't sag his pants like that. I did not marry a douchey poser.

Coming soon - Christmas decor!

Give thanks and be grateful

2010-11-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.
- Cicero

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
- Oprah Winfrey

Gratitude is something of which none of us can give too much. For on the smiles, the thanks we give, our little gestures of appreciation, our neighbors build their philosophy of life.
- A. J. Cronin

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
-- Melody Beattie

Every time we remember to say "thank you", we experience nothing less than heaven on earth.
- Sarah Ban Breathnach

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.
- Meister Eckhardt

It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.
- Author Unknown

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.
- Buddha

So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done.
- Marian Wright Edelman

If you haven’t all the things you want, be grateful for the things you don’t have that you wouldn’t want.
- Author Unknown

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.
- Willie Nelson

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.
- Author Unknown

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

xo

photos via weheartit

It's Turkey tiiiiiime....

2010-11-23T08:39:00.007-06:00

- sung to the tune of "T-shirt time" courtesy of our friends at the Jersey Shore -

This is my 3rd blog post in November. It's the 23rd.
BAHAHAHAHA!

Guess life got in the way this month.

Or I am lazy.

Considering I haven't unpacked from Cancun yet (we got home over a week ago), you could probably put yer money on lazy...

I will unpack tonight, though, seeing as how we leave AGAIN later this week, so I will need to repack that suitcase for yet another wedding - our final one of 2010.

A ton of our friends got married this year, which has been a blast. Our college was so small (1,200 kids) that we all were really close and when we all graduated and spread out through Texas and other states, it was really sad not to see each other all the time. Getting together for all the weddings has been so fun, and while I am exhausted from traveling and weekend obligations, I will be disappointed when the weddings slow down and we don't all have excuses to get together every month.

So that's what I am thankful for today, as we get closer to Thanksgiving - friends I love like family. Cheers to many, many more good times!

They all look fancy...I didn't get the memo...

Some of my favorite boys in the world...also, some of my favorite photo-bombers

I have no idea what this shot was, but it was phenomenal

Heeyyyyy guys!!! He makes me laugh. A lot.

Tequila shots before 8am? Yes, please!
Note Saul's face...priceless.

Quite possibly the best photo of the trip!

Pretty bridesmaids!

Masonic BOOM, gettin' down. Er, or UP...

Nice balloon hat, Richard.

Dinner our last night there. Easily the best meal of the trip. Amazing sushi.

The bff

If I can't get my shit together and get back here within the next few days, have a very happy Thanksgiving!

xo

Whatcha know 'bout that Mango Tango?

2010-11-17T08:43:00.005-06:00

So we're back to the real world after 5 blissful days in paradise. HOLY SHIT, what a vacation. My liver is officially on strike until Christmas (or until next week when we boycott Thanksgiving and head to New Orleans/Gulf Shores for our last wedding of 2010).

The trip was amazing - the resort was gorgeous, the weather was incredible, and being there with such good friends seriously made it perfect. We all have been lucky enough to see each other a ton over the past year and a half due to showers and weddings, but by the middle of next year all of that will have calmed down a bit, so it was really nice to have one huge blow-out where we all spent literally almost every waking moment together.

I took a ton of pictures (none of the actual ceremony, though - wtf), but I haven't uploaded/edited them yet, so I jacked a few from the girls who have already put them on FB.

Enjoy ;)

The gorgeous bride on our first night there

The view from our rooms

First full day - guys getting down on the Dos XX

Turn around, and what's that? Ladies with their Mango Tangos!

Later that evening at the rehearsal dinner. Not gonna lie - it got a little out of control.

The bride and groom

Happy Hump Day, all!

Unmotivated

2010-11-09T10:55:00.005-06:00

I've been gone a while due to being 100% unmotivated to blog.

That might be due in part to the fact that we depart to MEXICO in just 2 days.

No big deal, it's just that while you suckers are sitting at your desks, I'll be in Cancun...

...with 40 of my friends from college...

...drinking it up...

and eating like a queen.

(What? There's fruit in those)

It is going to be INSANE.

My liver is already planning a coup.
Let me just tell you how quickly I will shut that shit down.

All I can think about is getting on that plane and sipping on my first drink of the trip.
Actually, let's be honest - that first drink will likely happen in the airport bar before boarding.

I start packing tonight, which is going to be a debacle, because I ALWAYS over pack for Mexico. I bring waaaaayyy too many pairs of shoes, which is totally unnecessary seeing as how I really only need 2 - one for the beach and one for dinner. I pack a bazillion dresses/shorts/shirts combos, which again, stupid because by the time dinner rolls around this girl is usually too sauced to make a decision, so I just grab the first thing I see. I also bring pretty much every bathing suit I own, which actually, is justifiable in my eyes. Choices are welcomed when I am sober enough to make them (ie - 8am).

Time to wrap some stuff at work, go on some last-minute runs, and drink water like my life depends on it. Because really, it does.

See you dudes next week!

The pain passes, but the beauty remains

2010-10-27T13:04:00.003-05:00

Let me be the first to say I hate vague blog posts. I feel the writer posts them so that they will get a bunch of sympathy comments in return. I shouldn't judge, because I am sure that's not always the case. I read your blogs because I think you're funny, you're real, and I feel like, even though we're not friends in real life, we connect on some level and if you lived in Houston we might actually hang out. I don't read your blogs to be confused by posts that leave me wondering if you're teetering on the edge of something major or if I need to worried about your sanity.

That being said, I'm sorry for my last post.

I got some news last night from a dear friend - a friend I honestly can't remember my life without - and it rocked the shit out of my world. I won't divulge the details, as they are not mine to give away, but the call left me speechless and I hung up the phone, finished my drive home, walked into my empty house, sat on my couch in silence/darkness for 5 minutes, then went on my insane run (seriously...I was hauling ass) before absolutely falling apart in the privacy of my shower. I was just numb before the water hit me, and then I lost it. I haven't cried like that since...

...well, to be honest, I don't know that I have ever cried like that.

My friend doesn't read my blog. Doesn't even know I have one. Really, not many of my friends do. I find it's easier for me to write whatever I want knowing no one I see daily will ask me about it. I needed to get those feelings out last night, though. I just didn't know how to feel. My friend is ok physically, and there is some solace in that, but knowing how broken emotionally they are right now is just way more than I was prepared to deal with last night.

I don't live a perfect life. None of my friends do, either. However, as far as lives go, we've all led pretty charmed ones. We've dealt with our share of issues and heartbreak, but nothing that we haven't been able to talk about and work through. I don't know if that makes me a more insensitive person - I've never dealt with anything HUGE, so I am not sure how to react when one of my friends has to. Not that any of my friends really has had to, yet...

...until now.

I know full well this is not about me. I didn't want the last post to sound like I was trying to garner any sort of pity for MY situation. I wrote it because, for some reason, yesterday on the phone I couldn't say it.

I appreciate the concern. It amazes me how kind internet friends can be. How kind strangers can be. I am completely fine. The only thing about my life that is going to change from last night's discussion will be my phone bill - that sucker is likely going to increase exponentially.

I considered taking the post down this morning, but I think it needs to stay up. Maybe someday, when all is right with their world again, I will show it to my friend. Show them that even though I didn't have the words on the phone, I was able to get it down in writing. And I doubt they will be the least bit surprised. They know I've always been better on paper, anyway.

If you pray, please say a little prayer for my friend. I know they would be grateful.

Apologies for the ambiguity.

Here's to healing.

Because they will. They will heal. Of that, I am certain. Nothing ambiguous about that.

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.
Lance Armstrong

a phone call...

2010-10-26T20:12:00.008-05:00

...can take your breath away.

I sat on the other end of the phone, speechless.

Worthless.

Not paying attention to the traffic surrounding me.

I had nothing to offer you. Nothing to say.

I love you so much.

I hope you know that. I told you, but I hope you really know.

Our friendship spans decades.

So much history, so much laughter. So few sad moments.

I know you don't know this exists. You'll never read this.

Maybe that's why I'm writing it.

You'll be happy to know that when I got off the phone and was unable to just be in the house, I went for a run and ran my best 2 mile time. Ever. My legs felt great.

Then I sobbed for 10 minutes in the shower. I couldn't catch my breath. My chest felt like it was closing in.

I wanted to rage.

Against the ones that didn't call me sooner.

Against the demons you're fighting off.

Against you, for choosing this path.

I am angry. Confused. Sad that you didn't reach out sooner, but I guess I understand why it would be tough.

I hope you call me often. I hope you answer when I call you. Because I will. Maybe daily.

I know this might sound like I am making this about me. I don't mean for it to.

I really don't know how to deal with the information you've given me.

I hope you learn how to deal with it.

I miss you.

Please get better. For everyone that loves you. For yourself.

Please.

Please.

Runner runner

2010-10-26T10:21:00.002-05:00

(Speed Racer, Messi in a tutu, Batman in a tutu, Bright Blue in a tutu, and Ace Ventura)

Apologies for the shitty photo - result of a camera phone.

I had big plans for the costume, including an eye mask and possibly a cape, but when I woke up on Saturday morning and realized it was 80 degrees at 6am with 90% humidity, I 86'd that shiz.

Like the tutus? Totally homemade.
Also, possibly my new side project...

Time improved from last race, but I am still working it down. My issue is that when I run during the week at home, I only run a 2-mile course in my neighborhood. Upon showing up to a 5K, I am totally unprepared for the 3rd mile. Go me, I know. I am so smart it hurts, sometimes.

The week is already busy, which hopefully means Friday will get here sooner than later!

**A Texas team made it to the World Series! I heart Josh Hamilton, big time. Go Rangers!

I don't wanna...

2010-10-22T13:49:00.007-05:00

Ever have those days where it's all just no good, very bad, terrible, make you wanna rage against everything and punch someone in the face?

Yeeeaaah...it's been one of those weeks.

I have no energy, which is AWESOME, considering I am running tomorrow, so today I am not leaving you with much except these few things...

- In Thin news, I am down a total of 10lbs since the wedding! Where the hell was this motivation before I put on that white dress and stood up in front of basically everyone I know? Eh, whatevs. It's here now, and it's here to stay!

- Tomorrow's 5K and I are already not friends and I am so going to whoop it's ass, it's not even funny.

- Stupid people really piss me the hell off.

- Driving to work in the dark blows big time. Arriving home when it's almost dark also sucks balls and makes me feel sort of like a vampire, since I am stuck indoors during every freaking daylight hour. On the plus side, I do get to drive home watching some pretty wicked sunsets.

For your viewing pleasure, from our faves here...

Happy weekending, all!

I've had 2 mochaccinos today, I totally feel like ralphing

2010-10-19T09:05:00.004-05:00

Saul decided that since, as a wedding gift, we received a coffee maker with an automatic starter thingy on it, we should start making the java in the mornings. You guys, I was 2 cups deep before 8am. My heart feels like it's going to explode out of my chest and I am literally holding onto my desk so I don't shoot out of my chair and through my office ceiling. Me and coffee? Not friends.

The weekend was one of friends and food and fun (not as many photos as I'd like, since the camera ran out of batteries and I kept forgetting to load it up before I left the house, so pretty much every time I turned it on to snap a picture, it shut right back down. FML.). Friday night we went to the bar that's within walking distance of our casa (I'd be lying if I said it wasn't something we were TOTALLY stoked about when we bought the house) and had a celebratory (legal) beer with my newly 21 year-old cousin. I've been drinking with the girl since she was 18, but it was nice to actually be out with her, knowing she wasn't going to get busted for sippin' on a Coors Light. We also might have bought her some shots. Maybe.

Saturday was lazy. Watched a lot of football and laid around on the couch, still sneezing my head off from dang allergies. Saul had work to do, so I finally ventured out that evening to go share a bottle or 2 of wine with the bff, Chandra. We watched a few hours of Jersey Shore, laughed a lot and finally, when my eyes were so itchy and red they were swelling shut on me, I called it a night.

Sunday, I took Bella out to Saul's soccer game where I spent more time keeping an eye on her, making sure the little kids petting her didn't do anything to make her go crazy and start barking at them or something, than I did watching the game. I don't know why I get nervous - maybe because she is just so big - but she is great with kids. She just sits or lays there and lets them play with her ears, pet her face, and poke at her eyes. She never tries to walk away, never growls, never gets agitated. I guess I am just paranoid. Clearly I need to me more dominant and more of a pack leader. I also watched a lot of Dog Whisperer this weekend.

Sunday night we went to the other bff, Sarah's house for burgers and beer. Her husband made the BEST inside-out cheeseburgers. Seriously, they were amazing. Also, they fried pickles, jalapenos, and green beans. Fried pickles are always wonderful, the fried pickled jalapenos were the shit, and the fried green beans tasted - no joke - like french fries. I was in a straight-up food coma that night. Also, I ran my ass off yesterday to make up for it.

4 days til my next 5K. We're working on getting costumes together for this weekend. This is my inspiration:

Photos coming next week.

Happy Tuesday!

You kissed me like a shark that's sniffing on a snack

2010-10-15T13:03:00.004-05:00

I guess because I was sick last week and only worked 2 and a half days, this week has felt sooooo long. Like it would never end. Like I would be stuck behind my desk forever. Torture! But, now it's Friday and I am happy again.

I'm planning on busting out the camera and taking lots of photos this weekend. Not of anything in particular, but I need to sharpen up my skillz - oh, I got 'em - because it's about to be holiday season and ya know I gotsta get my picture on!

I so love Santana Lopez.

Because I am lazy today and would rather be reading YOUR blogs than writing on my own, here are some old posts for you to peruse. A "get to know me," if you will. And I suggest you do.

;)

Sometimes, my cars spontaneously combust
I am incapable of slowing down
I am one of THOSE people who is sort of obsessed with my dog
Sometimes though, I use her purely for my own amusement
The youth of today worries me
I write poetry
Welcome to our humble abode
Pretty much I've always been a badass
I'm already thinking about Christmas. Don't judge me.
I am big fan of this guy
How I spend some of my free time
He leaves for Saudi Arabia tomorrow - I'm gonna miss him
The best party we've ever thrown

Have a great weekend! I start drinking beer at 5.

Think Thin Thursday

2010-10-14T10:19:00.004-05:00

Go HERE to find out how it all started

How is it that Thursday comes around so quickly each week? The week seems to trudge along slowly at first and then BLAM! I'm listening to Roula and Ryan's Roses at 7am. Does anyone else listen to that? Any Houston people out there? It's 100% a guilty pleasure, and I feel like a big jackass for even supporting the segment, but my god people are stupid.

Anyway...in Thin news, I broke up with my gym yesterday. Basically it boiled down to the fact that they arbitrarily started billing my member fees to another CC number - one that I didn't own - and the charge was declined. They called me asking for the "late payment" which was actually just my September payment, which I happily made. I asked about the billing change and they said they didn't know how it happened, but that I must have requested it. Even though I clearly did not ask for the change to be made, I was willing to let that slide, considering I like the gym.

Then they bitch-slapped me with over $40 in "processing fees." I was all, "oh heeeeell NO!" I tried being polite to the girl on the phone - I am pretty sure she didn't have anything against me personally - but when she said they couldn't remove the fees, I got all Bunquisha on her ass. You guys, I am not cheap. $40 isn't going to break my bank, but really, by this point it was more about principle for me.

"So you're telling me that because of a change I didn't authorize, I am being penalized an additional $40?"

"Yes ma'am. I do apologize, but we can't remove the charge."

"I need to talk to someone in member services about canceling my membership."

"Oh no, ma'am! We at (name withheld*) gym really do care about your fitness. Is there anything we can do to keep you as a member?"

"Were you even on the phone 20 seconds ago? You can remove the fees."

"I'm sorry ma'am, but we can't do that."

"Then I need to talk to someone about canceling."

"Well we are definitely concerned with your fitness - is there any other reason you'd be quitting the gym? Service issues?"

"Other than THIS ONE?"

"Oh..."

"Look, I just want to talk to someone about quitting. If you can't do that, I need someone else. I know you're allegedly concerned with my fitness, but clearly it doesn't mean more than $40 to you, does it?"

"Ma'am, that's a processing fee we can't remove."

"Right - you've said that like 3 times now. You also just said you were really concerned with my personal fitness level, so what is it? $40 or my fitness?"

"Let me connect you with someone in member cancellations..."

"So the $40 then. Thought so."

Guess I'll be running outside from now on...

xoxo

*Not really sure why I am withholding the name of the gym, but I guess I feel like I reached my bitch threshold for the day. Whatevs.

Chopped

2010-10-12T10:44:00.005-05:00

So while the weather has been lovely and everything outside is still green and flourishing (in Texas, anyway), I spent most of last week cocooned inside my house, wrapped in blankets, thinking I was surely dying. I haven't been that sick in a long time. Actually, I can't even remember a time I was THAT sick - body aches, insanely high fever, sinus passages rebelling against their purpose and refusing to let air in...it was miserable. I missed 2 and a half days of work, which for me, is unheard of. I have taken maybe 2 sick days in the 5 years I've worked at my job, so to take 2 and a half in a week was kind of crazy for me.

I'm happy to report that I'm feeling much better now, although I still kind of sound like a dude on the phone thanks to the lingering mess of crap in my chest. Big props to Saul for basically doing everything for me last week, short of wiping my feverish butt. He cooked, he cleaned (THAT'S not weird...he always cleans), he fed me Aspirin, and he let me commandeer the remote. If that's not love, I don't know what is.

Also, he bought me Beauty and the Beast yesterday! I am so pumped to watch Mrs. Potts and Chip in all their crisp blu-ray-ness. Be our guest, indeed.

Since I was officially an invalid last week, I didn't get to show y'all my new 'do. For my whole life I've had long hair. There was that one unfortunate cut my sophomore year of college, but even that "short" hair wasn't thaaat short - still hung below my shoulders. My hair has always been boob-length or longer. Up until a couple years ago, it was usually all one length, but then I discovered layers and how they made my hair swing, so the last few years my hair has been long with long layers, occasionally with swoopy bangs. Well folks, I was officially tired of the long hair.

My bff Chandra's sister cuts hair, and when I went to her house last week and told her what I wanted, she sucked a bunch of air in and looked at me very seriously. "Are you SURE?" I nodded and told her to start cutting. 30 minutes later, my head felt considerably lighter and I heard her 2 year-old daughter gasp and say, "Woah Mom, that's a lot of hair!" Sho'nuff, I looked at the ground and there was about 8 inches of my hair piled on the ground. I looked in the mirror and had the weirdest feeling - it was like the short-haired reflection looking back at me had always been there. Is that weird? I don't know how else to describe it, except to say that it was just very familiar.

I am SO happy with my new short hair. It's still ponytail-able, but it's healthy and bouncy and so much fun to DO. I've found myself dressing cuter and actually putting on makeup to go to work. It got two enthusiastic thumbs up from Saul, too. I've had long hair my whole life, but it was time for a change.

Before:

After:

*The face reflects my attitude toward my location, not my hair.

Happy Tuesday, lovahs!

Bring on the cowbell

2010-10-08T07:57:00.002-05:00

I have been sick. Like, 104 fever sick. I've been laid up on the couch for the last few days, coughing my lungs out, watching terrible daytime tv, and sleeping. I'm not 100% yet, but I'm on a Z-Pack, so hopefully by Monday I'll be right again.

Have a great weekend, guys!
xoxo

Pretty sure I just died and went to heaven...

2010-10-04T15:01:00.008-05:00

...because seriously, Texas weather??? I mean, SERIOUSLY?

It is STILL gorgeous here.

I'm trying to be cool and not totally lose my shit over this, but you guys, yesterday we hung out all day long with the windows and doors open. ALL DAY LONG.

Excuse the caps. Clearly, I am 100% totally losing my shit over this.

I don't even know what this means (what does this mean?<--Where's my double rainbow guy?!). You know how when summer is crazy long and people are all, 'Oh, maybe this means we'll have an insanely long winter,' or something like that? Being gifted with this California-like weather for a solid 2 weeks in a row either means that FINALLY the people upstairs have taken a shine to our little LoneStar state and decided to only be total assholes with the climate for 11.5 months out of the year, or that we're being teased with this ridiculously beautiful weather only to be beaten back into submission with some wicked natural disaster. Or something. Running in this on Saturday morning made me so happy and I was actually able to run the whole 5K. My 5K time is going backward with each race I run, which makes no sense at all, but this is the first 5K that I have run with no walking breaks start to finish. Granted, my pace was pretty slow, but I will claim until the death that it was due to 35,000 people running down Allen Parkway at the same time. Yeah - 35 THOUSAND people. It was a cluster-f* for sure, but it was so awesome to see so many people out running for the boobies. After the run we went to Cafe Brasil on Westheimer and Dunlavy and I had the best huevos rancheros ever. Sarah and I met up with Heather, another girlfriend from TLU, and sat out on the patio and sipped ice tea while the day warmed up. Normally, my liquor-lovin' self would have been drinking mimosas, but it was only the beginning of what was going to be a very long day, so I held back.

Sarah and I hauled ass up to our side of town and did a quick wardrobe change (also, showers, because...ew) before heading to The Woodlands to meet up with our girl Lindsey to celebrate her bachelorette night. Our group stayed at the Avia Woodlands and OH MY GOD, this hotel was ridiculous. We were in the Presidential Suite which looked like this...

Pretty sweet, right? We hung out there for a while then went to dinner and out to the bars where we danced our asses off and proceeded to get nice and sloshy. We crawled (like, seriously...the bachelorette literally crawled out of the elevator) back to the suite around 4am. The next morning the suite looked like a scene out of The Hangover, but with less tigers and babies, and this time with more wheelchair. Yeeeeah, one of the girls was in a wheelchair the night before as a result of a pretty major surgery she had on Thursday. She is the sister of the groom though, so she was a trooper and showed up and sipped coffee all night. We were quite the group!

Sunday Saul and I grilled and sat out on the deck with some beers. The weather was amazing again and we listened to the Raiders lose to the Texans (ugh). Minus the Texans' win it was a great weekend!

Have a great week, everyone!

xo

Think Thin Thursday

2010-09-30T19:49:00.000-05:00

Join in!
Let's fight the fatness together.

T-minus 48 hours until the Race for the Cure 5K. I am already getting excited/jittery and sending big requests up to the Heavens that the adrenaline will carry me through like it has in the past because DEAR JESUS this girl should have trained way better for this.

Marathoners - I 100% idolize you. You're absolutely insane, but man, you all are incredible.

Tomorrow night we're supposed to meet up with a friend for her bday where they will be eating yummy mexican food and margaritas will be flowin'. I am debating whether or not I could have juuuuuust 1 marg...

...too bad I know that 1 will inevitably turn into 3 or 4 and then I will be hurting and cursing the Tequila gods come Saturday morning.

Why don't I lose weight like I want to?

Oh riiiight...because I drink like a fish.

On the upside, if you run next to me while I'm sweating it out after a night of drinking you could lean over and lick my face and immediately achieve a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit. For free.

See? I do it for my friends.

One more sleep 'til Friday!!!

*I totally understand that this edition of TTT really wasn't that healthy.
Get over it.

During dinner...

2010-09-30T11:30:00.005-05:00

Saul
You know, the whole time I was in school, I never had detention or anything.

Me
Seriously? I had lunch detention all the f'ing time.

Saul
Well ok, I did have lunch detention. Once. In 7th grade.

Me
Rebel. For?

Saul
Some of my friends and I got some paper plates and during lunch we wrote numbers, 1 through 10, on them. Then we rated all the girls who walked by by flashing our numbered plates.

Me
No. You. Didn't.

Saul
Actually, we even had a 'DOH!' plate, y'know, like from Homer Simpson?

Me
(FYI - not a Simpsons fan, here)
Was 'DOH!' really good or really bad?

Saul
Below 1.

Me
SAUL!! You do realize that you probably embarrassed the shit out of those little girls that day, right? That they probably all remember their numbers?! That's so terrible! I can't believe you would be that cruel!

Saul
It wasn't that bad.

Me
You don't know that!! Poor 1's...I bet those girls hated you guys.

Saul
C'mon baby, it was really funny at the time. We were 13. Also, you totally would have been a 10.

Me
(smiling)
Aw, really??

Saul
Haha! BUSTED! Hypocrite!!!

Daaaaaangit...

Finn can fly?

2010-09-29T08:56:00.005-05:00

Not going to lie - I wasn't the biggest Britney fan when she was super popular. I knew all the songs of course, but I wasn't obsessed. I watched her public disintegration, then put her out of my mind. Really, I couldn't care less about her now. When I heard last night's Glee was going to be all Britney I was intrigued, but kinda "meh" about it. I figured Quinn would be all over it (don't freak, I do love me some Quinn...just, expected) and was NOT looking forward to anyone's rendition of "Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman."

HOLY SHIT BALLS.

The episode was uh-mazing!

Brittany S. Pierce is officially my new favorite character in the cast. Not that she wasn't already sliding into that role after last weeks "Coach Beiste didn't touch my boobs. Actually I want to touch her boobs," but this just totally solidified it.

Why does this outfit make everyone who wears it look like they have a GINORMOUS head?

"I don't brush my teeth. I rinse my mouth out with soda after I eat. I was pretty sure Dr. Pepper was a dentist."

"This room looks like that room on that spaceship when I got probed."

Anyone else think it was totally lame that the actual B Spears got a line in the credits and appeared for like, .5 seconds in Rachel's fantasy? C'mon Glee.

In other news, I woke up this morning fully thinking it was Thursday, which - FAIL, so here's to hoping that WEDNESDAY goes by smoothly. I have a feeling that just by letting myself want that, the exact opposite will actually happen.

Happy Hump Day to all!

all photos via Google

Fall Resolve

2010-09-28T12:19:00.006-05:00

Things everyone in the world loves about fall - pumpkins, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin spice potpourri, pumpkin spice kitty litter...

I mean, I all for a sweet carved gourd, but GOOD GOD, I GET IT!

Fall to me usually means 1 thing, and 1 thing only:

Houston weather is a finicky-ass bitch.

This is The Week in Houston. The week when, even though it was 97 degrees and humid as a swamp all last week, the temperature drops to 80 during the day, 50 at night, and the humidity disappears. The week when you remember what your neighbors look like because all of a sudden, everyone is taking walks again. The week when windows are thrown open and it's actually too cold outside to sit comfortably in the pool.

It's a blissful week.

The weather people swear it will last. Make cheap promises of it looking like it will stretch into "the next few weeks," and make punk statements like, "Well Houston, seems like Autumn is upon us! Turn off those AC units and enjoy the crisp air!"

Truth: The Week is just that - a WEEK.

I'm 100% distrustful of The Week. I am the wasteful jerk that continues to run my air day and night, lest I get caught with the windows open the night the humidity returns. And believe me, it will return. It will come back in full-force and the temperature will jump back up to 98 for another month or so. I've been The Week's bitch once before and you can bet yer ass I've never let it happen again.

This fall I am going to try and lead a more fashionable existence and take advantage of the opportunity to wear cuter clothes. My job allows for me to wear jeans, tshirts and flip-flops as my uniform, so generally when autumn rolls around I add a hoodie to my totally stylish ensemble and call it a day. Let it be known that in Fall of 2010, I resolve to not look like the homeless kid in the office. I don't guess that I will venture too far from something like this, though:

Or this

Pretty sure my mom had a sweater like this in the 80's...I'd rock it

And I love this jacket

and this one...good job, Old Navy

Speaking of Old Navy, how cute are these boots? (sing along...)

Happy Tuesday, y'all. Hope wherever you are, Mother Nature is being kind and that she won't flip the switch on you next week like I know she will to us.

What a hoe.

- clothes from F21 & Old Navy -

Thinking Thin...now with recipes!

2010-09-24T09:38:00.004-05:00

Grab the button and join in!

For me and Saul, one of the hardest parts of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is eating right. I typically work 55-hour weeks, and combined with his insane coaching schedule, it's pretty safe to say that we don't always eat dinner together at 6pm each night. I love cooking when both of us are home early enough to eat, which happens maybe 2 times a week, but I am decidedly less motivated to make a whole meal for myself on nights when Saul is with one of his teams until 10pm.

This leads to me heating something up, or making a sad little sandwich, or just picking something up on my way home. This, my friends I am convinced, is where my THIGHS came from.

Last night could have easily turned into one of those nights, but I decided to be good and make something healthy. So what if it was cold when Saul finally got home? We DO have a microwave. I didn't let the old excuses stop me.

It wasn't the best meal I've ever made, but it was light and included vegetables, protein and whole-wheat pasta, so I feel like it was fairly balanced. I am a sucker for pasta - have I mentioned that? LOOOOOVE it. I didn't take any photos because for some reason my head and my camera are just REALLY not connecting right now, meaning I completely forget to take my camera anywhere and I never take any pictures anymore. Sad, because the dish was actually kind of pretty.

Here's the recipe, if you're interested. I kind of just made it up as I went along, and I really never measure anything, so these are all total estimates...

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Ingredients:
Whole-wheat thin spaghetti
About 2 tbs Olive Oil
1 large Lemon
1 small Yellow Onion
3 Garlic cloves
1/2 bag Baby Spinach (I would have used more, but this is all I had left)
About 1 lb Shrimp, peeled, tailed and deveined
White wine (you could use chicken broth for this, but I was drinking some wine, so I poured some in...heh)

Boil water for the pasta
While water is boiling, heat olive oil in a pan on medium
Dice up onion and garlic and throw it into the olive oil
- this creates one of my favorite smells in the world, fyi -
When onions are cooked through, pour in some wine or chicken broth, as well as the juice from the lemon
Let this reduce a bit
Water should be boiling by now, so drop in the pasta
Put the shrimp into the onion/garlic pan and cook it until it's opaque all the way through
When shrimp is about done, put spinach into the pan and let it wilt down
- I squeezed more lemon over the spinach to help it wilt and also because I really love lemon -
Drain pasta then pour shrimp/spinach pan over it
Toss to combine - there really shouldn't be any liquid left at this point
I zested the lemon over the top of my bowl, but fresh parmesan cheese would have been amazing on this, too.

Enjoy!

I'm late on this again, but whatever. I was too busy yesterday to post and then clearly I was doing amazing things in the kitchen last night.

Tonight we are going to a football game at the high school where Saul teaches. He has a bunch of the football players in one of his classes this year and they've been hassling him to come to a game. If you don't know about Texas high school football, just go watch Varsity Blues - I swear to God, it's pretty much exactly like that. I hope one of the players brings beer.

Happy Friday!!

Grey day

2010-09-22T15:55:00.005-05:00

In my dreams, this is what our master bedroom looks like:

Also, in my dreams, I never get grey hair, but guess what I saw peeking out from the dark brown mop atop my head today?

I am 27 years old. WTF.

I am 100% freaking out.

Eventful

2010-09-21T10:22:00.003-05:00

So, about "The Event."

I am so, so doomed. Just 1 episode in and I have no f'ing clue what is going on. The episode ended with a really weird twist that actually was 100% LOST-esque, and I am already getting annoyed by how much I am comparing the 2 shows. I am intrigued, but I think I might drive myself crazy looking for similarities and trying to get ahead of the plot by assuming that since I watched all 6 seasons of one show, I am totally going to figure this one out.

That's a lot for my brain to process on a Tuesday morning.

In other news, I was asleep by 9:20 last night, which makes me feel very old, but also really responsible because I was able to spring right out of bed this morning (even though it was raining...y'all know how nice it is to sleep through a storm) and meet Sarah at the gym at 5:30 to run for a while so we're ready for the 5K, which is in like 12 days or something - OMG.

Also, I am so ashamed to admit I watched some of Dancing with the Stars last night. I was not totally engaged, as I was on my Mac Googling the shit out of "why is my Blackberry so slow?" and "why does my BB Bold suck ass?" because pretty much every time I try to use my phone for the past day or two it freaks out on me and freezes and all I get is the sad little clock face, ticking away at me for like, 10 minutes. I've reset it, I've run updates on it, I've shaken the shit out of it...all to no avail. So, while I was desperately searching for a fix, I forgot to change the channel and the show came on.
A few things:

1. Audrina Patridge has dead eyes. I mean, seriously - she is gorgeous and has a smokin hot body, but her eyes...looks like she belongs in an alien abduction flick.

2. I'd completely forgotten how ridiculously hot Rick Fox was. Good lord, that man is beautiful.

3. I was laughing my ass off at Margaret Cho. I believe the tumble at the end was staged, but her insane Madame Butterfly demonstration in the middle when she got tangled up? I was dying.

4. The smallish Italian(?) judge? What a freaking nut-bag.

Enjoy the 1-viewer boost in ratings last night, ABC...you shan't get that from me ever again.

Enjoy your Tuesday!
At least it's not Monday anymore, right?

Totally gleeking out

2010-09-20T16:35:00.003-05:00

I get really bored with TV shows easily. It's true that Saul and I have recorded entire seasons of a show only to get 3 episodes in and I lose all interest and the show just sits on our DVR, to be erased when we need to make room for the next new show that catches our eye. I'm talking to you, V and Parenthood.

I am really looking forward to a few new shows this season, and we started recording the first of that set last night...

A show with Steve Buschemi as a mob boss? Um, yes please. I remember him best for his role as the wacky guy who asks, "you have a gun in SPACE??" in Armageddon, so to see him as a seriously calculating and manipulative dude orchestrating booze-trafficking during prohibition makes me all kinds of excited.

This show seems to be trying to make vague promises to fill the void in my life left by LOST, but I don't know if i should try and hold it to that standard to start off.

I will likely be left disappointed (because really, nothing can replace my LOST fix), but I am really stoked to see just what "The Event" is. Also, I would 100% love to live in a world Presidented by Blair Underwood. For you True Blood fans, you'll recognize the Magister in this character line-up...not sure what role he plays in this cast, but if I get to hear him shout things like, "I WILL BE REPORTING THIS TO THE AUTHORITY!" I might pee myself tonight. Crossing my fingers...

This one is only new to me, but I am excited about the second season premier on Tuesday.

I watched the season 1 finale last week while it was being replayed on TV and recorded it for Saul to watch, too. He agreed that it was an OK show (I can see myself being REALLY obsessed with this one) so it got the stamp of approval and will be taking up space on the DVR. I will set this disclaimer, though - I was drinking wine while I watched it, so this might all be for nothing...a mere result of an inebriated lapse in judgment. I do looove me some Jane Lynch, though.

Favorite shows? Anyone else into the ones I like?

The sport for white men dressed like black pimps

2010-09-20T13:51:00.006-05:00

Why do weekends never feel long enough? I don't think I have ever come back to work on a Monday thinking, "wow - I am so incredibly satisfied with that short respite from my daily routine...I definitely don't need another day." Newsflash, folks - I can ALWAYS use another day.

Friday night, we kicked the weekend off right with some junk food and beer at Buffalo Wild Wings with bff Sarah and her husband, Dustin. One of our biggest complaints about the area where we live is that so few of the restaurants have patios. Granted, it's pretty uncomfortable outside in Houston for a few months out of the year and you can bet you'll not find me anywhere not totally chilly via strong strong AC during the month of August, but now that it's started to get a little cooler at night, a patio with a drink and some friends is the place to be. The B'dubs by the house just unveiled their - wait for it.... - brand new patio!, so up to sit on it we went. Saul had to coach a CC meet Saturday morning, so we were home and passed out before midnight.

Saturday while Saul coached, I watched a lot of really terrible TV, and it was fantastic. I cleaned up the house a bit and when Saul got home, we met up with other bff Chandra and her man, Kevin, at the driving range. Y'all, I hit golf balls! And hoo-boy, am I feeling it. I basically did a squat and then rotated the entire top half of my body over and over again for a half an hour. I am totally hooked. I'd never swung a golf club, save for on the putt-putt course and oh my god, I get it now. I never understood the appeal of golf, but connecting and smacking the shit out of that tiny-ass ball and then watching it fly is sooo satisfying. And both Saul and I are competitive as hell, so I am curious to see where my new-found love for this hobby of his takes us...

Yesterday I went and was the supportive wife, sitting on the sidelines of Saul's club soccer game. He and a friend put together a team (The Kickmasters...heh) that includes a lot of guys they've played with since they were in high school. The team is really good - for a bunch of (usually hungover) 30-somethings - and I love to watch him play. When he scores goals he says they're dedicated to me and I get all school-girl giddy and ask him if I can wear his letter jacket ;)

After the game we went to my parent's house and had steaks with a parmesan cheese and the best balsamic vinegar topping EVER, and listened as they talked about their recent Italy trip. I am so happy that my parents are able to take trips like that - even though it makes me crazy envious to hear about them - and the fact that they bring home wine and legit olive oil and balsamic vinegar (from the Tuscany region of the country, no less) for us as gifts makes it that much sweeter.

We also drank A LOT of wine with my mom and dad yesterday, so my Monday morning sucked major balls. I am drinking water like crazy and still don't feel 100%.

Damn you, lazy Sundays.

**Title of post is from a quote by Tiger Woods. He might be a cheaty-cheater, and usually I would prefer to watch ice melt over him giving an interview, but this made me chuckle.

Think Thin Thursday...a little late

2010-09-17T08:20:00.004-05:00

Yeah yeah yeah, I am a liiittle late in posting this, but y'know - sometimes life is just too busy/fun/crazy to blog. I haven't fallen off the wagon. Yet.

I am running two 5K's in October. Two. Some of you might be all, pssshhhh...sack up you weenie! (oh yeah, I just said weenie) But y'all, I am not a runner. I run occasionally. And by occasionally, I mean like, EXTREMELY OCCASIONALLY. I always have these grand plans to wake up bright and early at 5am every morning and put on my shoes, leash Bella up and go for an invigorating run. Pretty much every morning I hit my alarm and roll back over in my comfy bed and think, "I'll really get up tomorrow." Um, right...

I've run two 5K's this year, so the two in October will put my tally at four, so yay me. The first one I ran was in Austin for the 2010 Texas Round-Up. It was the morning of one of my best friend's bachelorette parties so another bff and I ran with the bride while she wore a HUGE sash and veil. It was a blast and the weather couldn't have been better. Thing was, it was in Austin and if you don't know what that means for runners, think small-scale San Fransisco. FREAKING HILLS EVERYWHERE. I thought I might die, but with the help of the besties, finished in 34 minutes. Not bad for a non-runner, I think.

The second one was in California. My whole family was in Lompoc, visiting the rest of our extended family, for the annual Lompoc Valley Flower Festival. My brother, aunt and uncle and Saul ran with me, and I cut 3 minutes off my time, which admittedly I was pretty disappointed with considering it was like, 65 degrees out and the course was completely flat. But, I improved, so woo hoo.

The first one I am running in October is the Race for the Cure and I am taking this one a little more seriously. I know I can finish a 5K in a half an hour, but my goal this time is to run the whole thing - no wimpy walking breaks. I don't walk for long when I walk, but I am determined to cut out the breaks entirely. I CAN run 3.2 miles. I know I can.

The 4th for the year is the Run for Your Life the week before Halloween. Costumes are encouraged. I am running with the bff again and we want to be seen. Ideas??

Also, any tips from you runners out there? I hydrate like WOAH the day before the race and eat a banana or something like that the morning of. I think my issue is that I always start off waaaay too fast. The adrenaline gets to me and I just blow it all out the first mile and a half. I am dying by about mile 2 and consciously slowing down my pace, but I think I am just too wasted at that point. Help help help!

Happy Friday! Pretend this was up yesterday, k?

STFU

2010-09-14T08:26:00.002-05:00

No f'ing way.

These kids are tha bomb.

PS22 Chorus covers Landslide, by Fleetwood Mac.

Check out their website - there are a ton of other videos to watch. I just scrolled through the pages for like, an hour, mouth hanging open. Talk about a productive Tuesday morning.

Via

Think Thin Thursday

2010-09-09T20:20:00.003-05:00

In thin news, I've lost 7 lbs since the first time I weighed myself, which was about 4 weeks ago, so yay! I think it might have something to do with my weird food schedule (read: no time to eat) because of work, but hey - I'll take it where I can get it. I promise I am being healthy, I just am eating way less than normal, which is something I needed to work on anyway - it's called portion control, and I was not a fan. I'm all about it now, though, and I'm eating slower and actually snacking during the day, so I never really feel hungry.

7 pounds. Fuck yes.

Aaaaaand in not-so-thin news, it's the first night of football and Saul (his name is Saul!) and I are eating pizza and drinking beer watching the Saints wreck on the Vikings.

Pizza and beer...yum.

It's light beer. And veggie pizza. Hey - LAY OFF I'M STARVING!

And don't lose your mind and call me a band-wagon fan; the Saints are not my dudes. I will always and forever, no matter how far I get from my old stompin' grounds, be a Raiders fan. I loved them when we were both in LA, so THERE. Thing is, I am so over Brett Favre, it's ridiculous, so I am just always FOR the team he's AGAINST. I get that he's done what no player has ever done, but gawd, if I have to watch one more "will he? won't he?" press conference, I will shoot myself in the face.

Also, if whoever is announcing this game pronounces it "New Or-lee-anns" one more time, my ears might start bleeding.

Possible eating disorder and shootings - that's a hell of a blog post, right there!

Happy Thursday

Friday, I'm in love...

2010-09-03T08:25:00.005-05:00

Go here to join!

It's finally Friiiiday and does anyone else feel like this week just punched them in the face? Like, repeatedly?

I am so looking forward to the 3-day weekend, mostly because of it's 3-day quality, but also because the little bro is coming home! It's been a few months since I've seen him and he just got his first deployment orders (I don't have any clue if I am using the correct terminology here...just go with it) so he decided to take advantage of the holiday and come see the fam. Sometime in October (we think) he will be deploying to Saudi Arabia for 30 days. He's going over there to work on jets or something. All I know is it's not a combat mission, so really, I couldn't be more thrilled about it. Break out the Coors Light...the Wittmann kids are together again!

Also, this makes me really, really happy...

via

Happy Friday!! Have a great Labor Day!

Think Thin Thursday

2010-09-02T08:10:00.004-05:00

Welcome to week 2 of Think Thin Thursday - my desperate attempt at staying motivated to keep up a healthy lifestyle. Join in, if you'd like...the more the merrier!

So, about hot yoga. Anyone out there tried it?

I have.

It's yoga. And it's HOLY SHIT hot.

I am not a yoga person. I'm not zen. I'm not calm. I have issues with quiet.
I work out best when someone is yelling at me, not speaking softly. I need fast-paced music pumping through my iPod. Sounds of water trickling tranquilly down a faux rock wall? Um, no.

And then I went to the Bikram Yoga studio in The Woodlands. Can we say "ass kicking?"

ASS KICKING.

Seriously, y'all, I have never worked harder. There were moments during that 50 minute session that I literally thought I was going to pass out. For all you yoga enthusiasts out there, hear me when I say this - FUCK you, Camel.

I was sweating more than I ever have in my life, and I am SUCH a sweater (TMI?). Did you know your shins can sweat? If you've never done it before, you are sure to think this next sentence is a complete exaggeration, but you guys it looked like someone was just pouring a continual stream of water over my head, there was that much sweat running off me. And yeah - everyone else looked exactly the same.

I've done it a few times since and OMG I love it. Like I said, I'm not quiet. This forces me to be. I am concentrating so hard on making my body contort to the poses, I can't think or worry about anything else. Shitty work day? Problems with money? Car trouble? For 50 minutes, it's all gone. It's wonderful.

I feel stronger after the class. I am sore in such weird places the next day, but it is such a fulfilling soreness. I know I worked for it and I know my body is better for it.

Try hot yoga! Come back and tell me what you thought. I bet you cuss me for the first few minutes, but trust me - it's worth it.

Happy Thursday, loves.
To anyone on the East Coast, prayers to you through the next few days while the hurricanes blow through!

photos via