The Davis Family

Breckenridge or Bust

2011-01-24T08:10:00.000-08:00

We spend the past few days in Breckenridge, Colorado ~~freezing~~ skiing our butts off! It was tons of fun, but oh so much work. What a great reminder of how out of shape we all were! We arrived in Denver early Thursday morning and got our rental car (they upgraded us to a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, which I have been eying as an upgrade to my current vehicle!), and after a nice Denny's breakfast, we were en route to Breck. It was actually a short and easy drive from Denver to Breckenridge -- flat, no twisty roads or scary uphill climbs. We were able to walk around the town a bit before meeting up with friends for lunch at the local Brewery -- great beer, not so great food...

We checked into the house a few hours later, met the rest of the crew, and ate a nice chicken enchilada dinner before playing a few games and breaking out the cards for a round of Spades. We spent the next two days skiing in deep powder, blizzard-like temperatures, and freezing gusts of wind. Awesome :) There is a great restaurant/bar on Peak 8 that we frequented when the conditions got bad or when we got hungry. It was a great atmosphere -- lots of yummy food, good music, nice people, and the best cocoa and Bailey's/Kaluha you could get your cold hands on!

We had such an awesome time and met some really great people. Needless to say, we are already thinking about trip #2 next year :) Here are some iPhone pics (more 'real' pics to come!).

Hanging out in Breckenridge on our first day

After a long day of skiing

Trevor and Troy - the original snow bunnies

It was so cold!

The town of Breckenridge

This is our blizzard shot :)

Look closely - you can see a snow sculpture of the word BRECK!

Snow bunines - Kristen, Jenna, Me, Natalee

Silhouette #4

2011-01-18T15:48:00.000-08:00

This cute blog is also giving away a Silhouette - I Heart Naptime!

Silhouette Giveaway #3

2011-01-18T15:15:00.000-08:00

And this wonderful blog is ALSO giving away the Silhouette!

(I am earning some serious Sister-in-law points here)

Silhouette Giveaway #2

2011-01-18T15:11:00.000-08:00

All Things Thrifty is giving away a Silhouette too!! Woohoo!!

(Lindsey -- I'm goin for gold!)

Because I am an Awesome Sister-In-Law...

2011-01-18T11:28:00.000-08:00

...I am doing my part to try to win this awesome Silhouette (which I too have been ooohing and ahhhing over for a while now) from Craftaholics Anonymous for my sister-in-law (because she is willing to give up a dye job to get it...wow) and because she lives minutes away and we can share it (maybe...please?). I figure lots of people will be entering, so why not add a few entries in ~~our~~ her favor?

So in the words of Lindsey, "Say a prayer and don't enter bc you further reduce my chance of winning. LOL."

If you choose the path that may lead you to the wrath of Lindsey, click here. Awesome blog. Awesome giveaway.

If you want to look at some cute photos instead, and avoid the wrath completely, click here. Hehe

Blame it on the Holidays

2011-01-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

Blame it on the ~~holidays~~ ~~birthdays~~ ~~new puppy~~ ~~work~~...bottom line is -- I totally failed at blogging ever since the holiday season began. It seemed like they moved at an abnormally fast pace this year, starting with Thanksgiving (which we hosted) and there were so many things to do. Between Christmas parties, out-of-town guests, mom's graduation, Troy's birthday, a new puppy, Christmas, New Years, and my bday, I barely found time to sleep, much less blog. And nevermind the fact that I launched a new business in the middle of all that, where I spent even more time building my portfolio, editing, designing, and working on a new website and blog. Whew. Wheeeeeew.

But things are getting back on track here at the Davis household and I am so grateful.

And.... here's the plug :)

I would love for anyone who reads our blog to consider checking out my new website and visiting the blog. I have a great promo that is still open through next week, and one that ends today (I am pushing it back a few more hours, just in case!). And don't forget to become a follower -- some future promos will be JUST for followers :)

Have a great and relaxing Sunday!

I Heart Faces - Pet Faces Photo Challenge

2010-12-13T19:49:00.000-08:00

It's been a little while since we posted something; tis the season for Christmas cards and photo sessions, and therefore I have been very busy, neglecting our little blog just a bit, BUT I saw over at I Heart Faces that they were having a pet photo challenge this week and I just had to post this pic of Miss Tess. It perfectly represents her 'look' -- that over-emphasized head tilt where she looks as if she's thinking, "You want me to do what?!" or worse -- "If you think I can understand you better when you talk to me in that horrible baby voice, you are seriously mistaken, mom."

Classic. Tess.

In Recovery

2010-11-19T11:08:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna cut right to the chase -- we had such a wonderful anniversary! On Friday, we hopped in our little rental car (by the way, Jettas can fly!) and headed out east, to the Big Easy. The drive was not too bad, surprisingly, and we kicked things off by stopping in Baton Rouge for lunch at The Chimes. In the spirit of our trip, we dug right into Cajun cuisine by ordering blackened gator, gumbo, and shrimp and corn chowder with made-from-scratch hush puppies. Delish!

Upon checking into our hotel, The International House, we were thrilled at the beautiful and modern decor, and to our surprise, an upgrade! That's right -- a suite for our anniversary :) That never happens to us (and trust me, we have tried). The room was really nice and I wish we could have stayed there longer!

We spent the weekend walking around the French Quarter, eating entirely too much (amazing) food, listening to street music and jazz bands, perusing galleries, and perhaps one of the best parts -- sleeping in! In the midst of all this, I tried to test out my camera knowledge from last weekend and snapped a bunch of pics (very few of us, needless to say).

I have to give my sweet hubby kudos too - he planned a perfectly romantic and sinfully delicious dinner at one of the oldest and most recognized restaurants, Commander's Palace. I can't believe how good the food was. Seriously. And they were so hospitable there; when we left, we got to go through the kitchen -- how cool is that?! :)

It was such a relaxing and much-needed weekend and I am looking forward to going back some time. I think we are still recovering a bit from all the fun and over-indulgence though. I really couldn't have asked for a better anniversary trip. Next year....Seattle? Maybe California!

Lucky in Love - 2 Years Together

2010-11-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

Two years ago today, I was putting on my white dress, getting ready to walk down the aisle and marry the man I always dreamed of. My mom hoped my sisters and I would end up with great guys, ones who treated us with love and respect, who would cook for us when we were sick, who got along with the family, and who never tried to change who we were. After some questionable characters, I believe my mom and I both got our wish when I brought Troy home from college. From the get-go, he had them in the palm of his hand! You think I'm kidding? I warned Troy the entire way home (4.5 hours), "My dad doesn't like any of the guys that come around so don't be intimidated if he doesn't seem to like you, or if he doesn't even talk to you." Troy assured me that he was good with parents, but have you met my dad?! Low and behold, he had my parents (both of them) laughing and sharing embarrassing stories and all but inviting him to move in before dinner was over! I often joke that it's gross how much they adore Troy, how sweet he is to me and how nice he is to them. "Yeah, yeah, yeah" I always reply. But the truth is that I really really am lucky. I have the most wonderful guy in the world (as my parents often remind me, and I suppose rightfully so). They know what things could have been like and haven't easily forgotten the broken road that let me to Troy, though I can't seem to remember life before him.

Two years ago today, I got my wish--the guy who is perfect for me chose me to be his wife. For better or worse, good times and bad, he chose me. And I love him more every day for that gift. To the man who always makes me smile, never goes to bed without saying "I Love You", and will always be the keeper of my heart -- these two years of marriage have been wonderful and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for us. I adore, admire, appreciate, and love you with all that I am. Infinity.

1 1 . 1 1

2010-11-11T05:03:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to our guardian angel.

Doing What We Love

2010-11-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

Happy November! I love this month...the cool air, warm colors, our anniversary (2 years next week!), and of course--Thanksgiving! Sweet November :)

I think Troy and I kicked this great month off right -- doing what we love. This past weekend, Troy took Tess and went with a friend deer hunting. We needed to stock our fridge with that yummy venison meat for chili, steaks, and sausage this 'winter'. I am happy to report that he did in fact shoot a doe, and we do in fact have a good selection of meat that is currently at the processor's! Yay for my hubby, bringing home the ~~bacon~~ venison. And the best part is that he is totally like a kid waiting for Christmas morning; he can't wait to get that deer meat back!

I did the complete opposite of deer hunting...

I went to DFW for my long-awaited photography workshop! It was everything I hoped it would be -- great instructors, valuable tips and tricks, fun photo shoots, and even some Photoshop how-to's. It was really great to be surrounded by people who love photography like I do; I only wish the class lasted longer! And the highlight of the day - I won a giveaway worth almost as much as the class itself! I couldn't believe it when they called my name. Seriously, I could barely even speak up when they read it from the piece of paper. I never win anything!

{Our Instructors}

After the 'classroom' portion of the workshop, I was itching to snap some photos. With our new knowledge in hand, the attendees and instructors headed out to shoot three different models for practice. Don't get my wrong--I love my dog, husband, and nephew, but it is really great when you get the opportunity to photograph new people, with new expressions, styles, and personalities. It was a {welcomed}challenge to photograph kids I don't know because I really had to get comfortable with them and try to make then feel comfortable so they could really shine in the photographs. I can definitely tell when people do those 'cheeeeeese' smiles, and can appreciate the difference when they warm up to you a bit so you capture a genuine grin, smile, or even a pout. Check out some of my shots:

Weren't the models just too perfect? I loved their different personalities and I hope that I captured them in the photos. Needless to say, we both had a great time doing what we love and were pooped when we got home Sunday. We are looking forward to New Orleans this weekend though, and I for one cannot wait to snap some more photos using what I learned at the I Heart Faces workshop!

Happy HOWL-o-Ween!

2010-11-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Troy participated in the Bechtel Managers Golf Tournament so I decided that (in honor of Halloween) I would take Tess out for a special treat. I went with my friend, Erin, and her black lab, Rotto, to the La Centerra HOWL-o-ween dog walk and charity event. It was so much fun, and there were a ton of cute doggies everywhere!

Rotto was dressed as a pumpkin and Tess went as a Red Raider - eye paint and all!

There were so many dogs dressed in the funniest of costumes, and some of their owners dressed up too. I think that the pups looked better though!

A ~~schnauzer~~ energizer bunny:

A ~~beagle~~ pumpkin (1 of many):

A ~~lab~~ bumble bee (Tess wore this last year!)

A ~~dachshund~~ fairy and another bee

A ~~great dane~~ Chick-fil-a Cow

We even saw a bed bug, a chicken, snoopy, angels, some cowboys, a hippie, a skunk, mermaid, and a few lady bugs. I think that one of the funniest costumes that day was the Chick-fil-a 'cow' though! There were lots of doggie vendors and we scored plenty of freebies, like ice cream (below). Tess loves her some Frosty Paws!

With her treat!

Another fellow Red Raider

Tess and her buddy (I think she has a crush on him!)

Two pooped pooches! Aren't they just adorable?

Lubbock or Leave It

2010-11-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

I am a little behind on posts, but there has been quite a bit going on! I will let pictures speak for themselves...mostly :)

We started our Lubbock adventure off at Chimy's for some margaritas and nachos!

Mesquites was offering .50 shots ~ so we kindly obliged :)

We did a ~~little bit~~ lot of shopping before heading to the rehearsal.

On Saturday, after a yummy lunch at Gardski's we did a bit more shopping and took photos on campus. The weather, by the way, was phenomenal!

Saturday night was the wedding -- a beautiful, fun, dance-filled night!

Before our flight left on Sunday, we drove around a bit to see the new addition to the Jones. It looks awesome! We have decided we are going to some games next year just so we can experience the 'new' stadium in person :)

Miss Tess even got a little gift while we were away - Wreck Em!

The Big D

2010-10-12T22:35:00.000-07:00

Well, we had two weeks off (and by 'off' I mean we stayed within 30 miles of Katy) and it was really nice, but we broke the trend for a quick trip to Dallas to watch our Red Raiders against Baylor, and to catch up with old friends. I swear, we should just look into renting an apartment up there or something (aka the spare bedroom at Rachel and Cliff's!). I keep telling myself that one of these days, we are going to be so consumed with soccer games, PTO meetings, piano lessons, doctor appointments, etc. that we will WISH our weekends were full of college football, weddings, parties, dinners, BBQs, and random vacays...(sigh)

Anyways...the weekend was so much fun! We got into Dallas Friday evening and met John, Allison, and Louise at John's 'apartment with a view' before going out for dinner and drinks in uptown. We got burgers at this amazing place called State & Allen and sipped wine on the patio before heading to Quarter Bar to meet up with more of our friends. It turned into quite the reunion and oh my gosh it was fun. Let me just tell you that Quarter Bar sells this amazing little drink, frozen whiskey and coke. It is seriously like an Icee for adults, sooo yummy! One was all I needed ;)

Saturday, after mimosas and muffns, we went to the Cotton Bowl for the football game. It was a beautiful day for college football and we pulled out quite a win (my heart rate was up most of the game). I was cheering on my team, had my guns up, and sang the fight song, BUT I definitely took advantage of this amazing opportunity to use my new camera. I tested out the telephoto lens, along with several others, and am SO happy with the photos I captured. Loving this camera! Sure, I probably annoyed my husband and friends by switching lenses every time our team had the ball, but it was worth it! Check em out:

Right before kickoff

Touchdown!!

I thought this pic was okay...until I saw the tumblers in mid-air! Awesome!

Because the State Fair of Texas is currently under way at the Cotton Bowl, we got tickets with our game tickets, and who are we to pass up an opportunity for fresh squeezed lemonade and a crisp corn dog?! Other than going to check out the car show, that is literally all we did at the fair -- eat. We had corn dogs, lemonade, shoestring onion rings, and funnel cake. We even sampled some of the featured fried food: fried grilled cheese and club salad wrap. Yes, I typed that last one correctly. And yes, I thought it was gross. In fact, I really wish I would have just ate my corndog and called it a day. The five of us left the fair feeling lethargic and a little gross.

We had a pretty chill rest of the weekend and headed home Sunday morning. I never realized how much I miss Dallas until this trip, and I am really looking forward to visiting again soon when I attend my photography workshop in a few weeks. Thanks, John, for being such a wonderful host!!!

The calendar is filling up in our house and we are all but booked into the new year. You think I'm kidding. But we are actually looking forward to the things on our calendar that round out the last quarter of 2010:

** Patrick and Erin's wedding in LUBBOCK!! (Hub City, oh how I've missed you!)
** Halloweeeeeeeeen :) I kinda want to make Tess a spider costume!
** Attending my first ever photography workshop! Can I please tell you how giddy I am over this?!
** New Orleans for our anniversary. Nuff said :)
** My first photo sessions!
** Trip to Tyler
** Hosting (yea, us) Thanksgiving at our house this year!
** Black Friday shopping with my mom and sis
** Christmas Tree Farm with the in-laws
** Our Christmas Party
** Troy's birthday
** Mom's graduation -- She will finally be a DOCTOR!! Specifically a PhD, but still, Dr. Hughes!
** 4 Christmases, the last year (for a while) that we will do this.

On the agenda for this weekend: spending most of my time on the computer working on design projects. Sounds boring, but I am ecstatic to be staying home this weekend :)

Cliff and Rachel

2010-10-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

I have been procrastinating on this post because I could write a novel about Cliff and Rachel's wedding, posting a thousand pics, but I will spare you because 1. I am feeling under the weather and am not up for it, 2. most of the people who read our blog were at the wedding, and 3. because, well, I'm nice like that! (hehe). Here is a little glimpse:

my beautiful bouquet

the lovely couple

the other lovely couple (hehe)

is this cake not stunning?

loving the groom's three-tier monogram cake

piano player (from Pete's!) sings along with the guys,

"You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin"

best friends doing a montage to the village people + rastafarian dude?

mr. and mrs. higgs

It was a gorgeous wedding of our two best friends and we are so very happy we got to be part of their special day. Welcome to the old married peoples' club, Cliff and Rach!!

PS: We changed the blog up a bit, yes, even though our optimistic season of Tech football has sadly taken a turn for the worse, BUT nevertheless, we love us some Red Raider football and stay true to our team. Wreck Em!

Oh Snap!

2010-09-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we finally have a weekend at HOME! Yay!! But...what happens when ~~you~~ I stay home? I shop. Bad Chelsea. I can't help it though, I come from a family of retail therapy ~~needers~~ choosers. I have been fervently eyeing all of the trends this year and LOVE what I am seeing--from sweaters to jackets to boots and scarves. There is just something about being cozy in a great cowl neck sweater or shuffling through the snow (Houston?!) in a warm pair of Uggs. But I won't heat up the peppermint mochas just yet. It's still 87 degrees in Houston and that means my new wonderful winter wardrobe will just have to wait. Although I haven't indulged in fall fashion just yet, I have been passionately indulging in all things photography! I am really excited and thought I would share :)

{Why would you care? Because Troy is still at work, Tess doesn't understand me, and I will go crazy if I don't express my immense happiness/gratitude and POST it out in cyberspace!}

A few weeks ago, my bff--who is currently on her honeymoon, lounging on the beaches of Saint Lucia with her *new* husband, soaking up the sun, sipping mimosas, and sleeping...for hours (jealous)--got me this beautiful, functional, spacious, and oh so Red Raider-esque camera bag for my matron of honor gift (does she rock or what?!):

Isn't it lovely?! Now I don't have to haul my masculine boxy bag around everywhere like a dork, nor do I have to throw my nice camera into that black ebyss I call a purse, only to have it scratched up by random inhabitants of said ebyss. I am thrilled :) Can't you tell? And the best part is, I can fit everything into this bag. My wallet, all of my lenses, my phone--it's perfect! You should get one :)

So I have been carrying my camera around in this cute bag for a few weeks, all the while itching for something equally amazing to put inside of this terrific tote. Friends and family (aka Mr. Jackson), hold on to your hats! If you thought I was snap crazy before, then hide your faces because VIOLA!! This puppy is the newest addition to our family :) It is my early anniversary present and I am in LOVE. Canon's top dog is the 7D and I am not spending that much on a camera (yet), so I went a few notches down from there and picked out the 40D. It is amazing in all of its capabilities and features. I cannot wait to get my paws on it and snap away, paparazzi style! It will create nice, sharp images, allow me to click even faster, and really capture detailed shots of everything I love. Watch out, I may be calling you for a practice shoot! :) Thanks Troy!!!

Now of course I am googling new, cool lenses to buy, great new photo editing software, shutter control remotes, flashes, and filters for the new camera. Troy is probably having a heart attack just thinking of it all. But no worries, this will satisfy my urges (for now). A few weeks ago, I enrolled in a photography workshop in Dallas on Nov. 6th and am really looking forward to testing out the new camera. I plan on learning a ton, asking a million questions, improving my photo editing skills, and getting some real hands-on experience from real (good) photographers. So excited (eek)! And don't worry about Troy in the midst of all this; it probably makes him very happy that I am so immersed, because it is hunting season you know :)

Aside from that, I am working frantically to edit some pics from Tess' party and Cliff and Rachel's beautiful wedding last weekend. I will post about that soon! We have no major plans this weekend (except for a birthday outing for my gal Allison on Saturday night), so I should have plenty of time to post pics and maybe give this blog a little makeover............................

Have a great weekend!!

Hectic Trifecta

2010-09-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

I just realized how long it had been between our posts. I literally said to myself "surely that much time hasn't already passed us by!!" Geez. This is a whole new kind of busy for us...a numb kind of busy. I feel like an ant colony, just going going going, doing what you have to do and not really thinking twice about it...

Well, over the past couple of weeks, I hosted a successful bachelorette party for my bestie Rach, Troy organized one heck of a man trip for Cliff and his buddies, Tech beat SMU (and New Mexico!!), I attended a wonderful bridal luncheon, and we celebrated Troy's step-sister's marriage to a wonderful guy! Whew! Here are some quick details...

While the boys were away on a kayaking trip down the Colorado River, the girls played in Austin for Rachel's bachelorette party. We rented a house in historic Travis Park in Austin, right off of South Congress. It was perfect and lovely and oh so chic! I highly recommend renting a house as opposed to a hotel (if you have multiple people staying, and for at least two nights). We got into town on Saturday, checked things out, and then got ready for dinner and a night on the town. Nuff said ;) Sunday was awesome -- after a delicious Italian lunch at the first location, we did a wine tour of some beautiful Texas wineries. We finished the day at the house with a catered dinner, sinful cake, and lingerie shower for the bride-to-be. SO FUN!!

Rachel's aunt Vickie hosted a lovely brunch for Rachel and her maids the Saturday before her wedding. I thought it was so sweet, and a good opportunity for everyone to get together one last time and celebrate before the big day. The food was delish, the decor was so charming, and the company was the best. Nothing better than a room full of gals!

That Saturday night (9/11/10), we went to celebrate the marriage of Troy's step-sis Becca and her new hubby, Ryan. Can I just say that I LOVE LOVE LOVEd her color palette!? I don't even know that I got a good shot representing the gorgeous depth of color, but (gasp) it was stunning! When I mentioned it to Becca, she just told me that she asked her florist to do purples--all shades, go nuts! What a good bride :) It turned out beautiful. The food was great (notice a trend here?) and the dancing was one of the best. We really had a great time cuttin' a rug! The best part was probably the photo booth though. I love that idea (we wanted one at our wedding, but funds did not permit--weep, weep); I just wish we got a few more runs in! Two just wasn't enough (haha).

Since I am just now getting around to posting the past three-four weeks, I will stop here for now. Next up: Tess' first birthday celebration and a marriage of two best friends (our best friends!).

Tess Turns One

2010-09-15T00:20:00.000-07:00

Today, Miss Tess is 1! I can't believe it! I know, I am a dork because I celebrate my dog's birthday. Yes--it is on the calendar in our pantry, yes--we bought her some presents for her special day, and yes--there will be cake (for humans and dogs alike). What can I say? I just love that pup. Unless you own a dog, it is hard to really describe what she means to us. That sideways head-cocking somewhat-grinning face always makes my day! We are probably a little over-the-top with Tess, I confess, but she is a good dog; well-behaved, smart, sweet, friendly, obedient. I couldn't ask for more in a canine companion! So we thought we would reward her by celebrating her b-day :) Why not?

I remember when the kennel emailed us pictures a few days after her litter of pups was born. Aren't they so friggin cute!?

We got to watch the pups as they grew, via online photos (although we didn't actually know which of the girls was ours yet; we still had to go to the kennel and pick one out). Here is her 6-weeks picture:

This is what Tess looked like not long before we picked her up to introduce her to her new home:

And here she is more recently, all 75lbs of her! She is just the greatest joy and we love her so!

Troy and I took her to get her nails clipped and filed down, her ears cleaned, and to pick out some new toys at PetSmart. It was her first trip and she was so good! I am going to be taking her there more often :) We are having a few of her pup friends over for games, dinner, and doggie cake later tonight. I think it is safe to say that Tess is pretty pumped! Should be a good time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TESS BUG!

Let's Get Ready to Rumble!!

2010-09-03T23:13:00.000-07:00

...although that is pretty much how I feel about Rachel's bachelorette party this weekend, I am actually referring to COLLEGE FOOTBALL!!!! It officially kicked off this week and the adrenaline/trash-talking/guns are already in the air (get your guns up)!

I am bummed that I can't watch Tech's season opener (with a new coach and in a newly renovated stadium) but we have a great girls weekend planned. I actually think I will be sipping wine in the hills of Texas as kickoff begins, but I have all the faith in the world in our Red Raiders and I am so excited for this season.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, fun, and safe Labor Day weekend full of LOTS of football!

Wreck Em TECH!

Gift the Groom

2010-08-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

I know I am about a week behind but things have been (as usual) chaotic around here so I haven't had a chance to post. Last weekend, we co-hosted Cliff (and Rachel's) Gift the Groom shower. We rented out a shooting facility in Dallas, and after some yummy snacks and cold drinks, we headed for the woods! To say it was fun is quite the understatement. I can't believe how awesome that event was. Everything turned out great (minus a few hiccups in the beginning) and I think Cliff got a pretty good showering of man gifts.

I took a ton of pics but here are a few that sum up the day:

{From Top: The happy couple; the cake; clay pigeon cookies I made for the special event;

Rachel's gift to Cliff; most of the guests; shooting shenanigans; the hosts with the bride and groom}

All in all, it was a ~~hot~~ great weekend. Our team finished second, behind Rachel's dad, brother, his friend, and her sis-in-law Mary. Three teams finished behind us (yay) so I would say we did pretty freaking good! As usual, Cliff and Rach were wonderful hosts and we are looking forward to our next visit...

Just Truckin' Right Along...

2010-08-20T09:53:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note from the Davis family....

There was nothing too exciting going on last weekend; we just got some things done around the house that we were putting off, and hung out a bit. We have had a busy week though, as expected. Troy has been working pretty late (dang those conference calls with Australia!) so I tried to be productive around the house. Oh, and I decided spur-of-the-moment to go surprise Rachel on Wednesday for her bridal portraits. I am her Matron of Honor and haven’t gotten to do any of that one-on-one stuff with her really, because of the two hundred miles between us, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity for a surprise. Rachel’s mom and I schemed and plotted and the plan was a success! I met them at her aunt’s house where she was getting her hair done, and just rang the doorbell. Molly opened it and there was Rach! She was so surprised! I love surprises! It was really special to go with her to get her portraits done, to see the ceremony and reception location, and just spend some time with my BFF. I was planning to leave around 430 to make it back to Houston at a decent hour, but who the heck was I kidding?! I didn't get home until midnight and I was exhausted. BUT, it was so much fun that if I didn’t have to go to work the next day, or have cookies to make, or a million things to do, I would have totally stayed the rest of the week! She's the bestest and I am so excited for their wedding in a few weeks.

Did I mention we are going back up to DFW today? Ya, that’s right… we are hosting Cliff and Rachel’s ‘Gift the Groom’ shower with Brandon this weekend. I made some sugar cookies for the event, which turned out really cute; they look like little sporting clays. We are driving up today—in a about an hour or so actually—so I will be sure to post some snapshots of our fun weekend.

On a side note, tomorrow, Troy and I ‘officially’ unofficially celebrate 5 years together. I can’t believe it has already been five years. It doesn’t feel like it at all, and yet I can’t really remember too much of life before him. It seems like just yesterday we were telling ourselves that we were ‘just friends’ and denying the painfully obvious. He is still my very best friend, the person who knows the most about me (and likes me in spite of it all!), and the one person I could do anything with, any time, any place. I love ya Fred!! Happy five years love.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!! On the road again...

Stock the Bar

2010-08-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we hosted a Stock the Bar party with our friend Allison, in honor of Patrick and Erin. Patrick was a groomsman in our wedding and we have known him for quite a while :) Erin is his bubbly, thoughtful, funny other-half, and we were so excited to throw this party for them.

(Disclaimer: I spent hours editing these pics all pretty-like, only to have my computer die before I hit that beloved Ctrl+S. So you will have to deal with mediocre-quality pics. Sorry Charlie!)

We went with a 'college' theme for the event, since we are all friends from the good ol' college days. That meant a simple (but yummy) nacho bar, cold beer, and of course, jell-o shots!!

After gifts, we played a really great game that Allison came up with, kind of like The Newlyweds game, but better! We made a list of questions that both Patrick and Erin had to answer by holding up a sign with either his name or her name. For example, "Who wants to have kids first" or "Who's mother-in-law is the best cook?" If they said the same answer, we drank. If they didn't...uh oh! :) It was really fun!

The party really got going when the beer pong tournament began! It was so fun; a good throwback to the college days. Unfortunately, I learned that I am not quite as good as I used to be :(

We all had a really good time -- good food, good drinks, good weather, good friends, and a great stocking of Pat and Erin's bar! Now if only that wedding weekend in Lubbock would hurry up and get here...!

Oh, and I almost forgot...kudos to Allison for making and frosting these yummy chocolate and white cupcakes with homemade icing. I am very proud of her baking skills! All I helped with was piping the letter 'P' for Patrick and 'E' for Erin. Didn't they turn out so cute??

We Are In Business!!

2010-08-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

This was a very exciting week in the Davis household. I have been working almost non-stop to officially launch Chelsea Davis Designs. I guess I started the 'business' or 'hobby' a little over a year ago, but as orders increased in size, complexity, and frequency, I quickly realized (with the polite urging of Troy) that I need to make this thing legit. And why not? I work on it enough to call it my second job! So yesterday, we headed down to the Fort Bent County Clerk's office to officially file as a business owner. Chelsea Davis Designs is IN BUSINESS!!

As many of you know, I have been posting my designs on my CDD blog, but it just didn't serve my new business needs. I wanted something that was more "official" and user friendly, so I launched chelseadavisdesigns.com yesterday afternoon! I love the website -- the layout, the galleries, the contact page (isn't it so savvy?!?). I am really happy with it and although it will probably get a few makeovers over the months, I think it is a great representation of my business and where I am trying to go with it.

{chelseadavisdesigns.com homepage}

{my design portfolio}

{my custom cookie designs also have a place on the site!}

I am beyond excited about this BIG step, and am eager to see where I go from here. I have gotten so many amazing supportive responses to the website and congrats on the business, which make me feel so blessed to get to share this with my friends and family. I have to say a very big Thank You to everyone who trusted me to design and create for you thus far. Without you, I would have never been able to learn, grow, and become confident in my designs. And Troy, you are everything to me; the motivation behind this endeavor and my source of constant support and encouragement. You have stayed up with me until 2 am tying ribbons, printing invitations, and spell-checking my work. You have taken me to buy the laptop and a few printers in my chaotic last-minute frenzies, helped me decorate dozens of cookies, and have settled with many a night falling asleep alone while I worked away on my designs until the wee hours of the morning. I could not--would not--do this without your support. I love you, Fred.

Thanks everyone :) I hope you enjoy the site. Let the designing officially begin!

Project Restoration

2010-08-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

I blogged the other day about Troy refinishing a piece of furniture for me :) Well, it's done!!! I am so happy with the result too; it is perfect for our house. I found this piece on Craigslist (my new favorite obsession) for a steal. Seriously...I still can't believe how much of a bargain we got. We have been searching for so long to find an entry piece but everything we like is either too big, too small, or too expensive! So when I came across this piece, I thought it had a ton of potential (and storage!).

Troy and I drove all the way to League City to pick this buffet up, but it was completely worth it. After almost two weeks of stripping, sanding, sanding some more, staining, sanding again, staining again, and a few clear coat finishes, it is finally done! We put it in its place tonight and stocked it full of goodies that needed a home. Don't judge me on the finishing touches (or lack thereof); we are in the process of purchasing some frames and stuff to put on and around the buffet. These random objects just showed up in the reorganization process.

What do you think? Beautiful, huh?! I wanted it to look a little rustic and mission-esque and I think Troy was spot-on. I have to say a huge THANK YOU to my wonderfully patient, diligent, and talented hubby for willingly making this piece of furniture come to life for me. I am so happy with it and am so grateful for Troy's hard work. What a guy! :)

On the Road Again

2010-08-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

Boy oh boy did we have a good weekend! We went up to my parents' house to spend some time with them and have a relaxing couple of days. Troy and my dad woke up super early to take the boat out and go fishing Saturday morning. They caught a bunch of fish and no cell phones were lost (which seems to be a trend with our guys), so I'd say the trip was a success. While the guys were out on the water, mom and I went to grab breakfast, get pedicures, and do some shopping. I love time with my mom and I am so happy we got to spend the day together.

We drove over to Corinth on Saturday evening for Cliff and Rachel's shower, which was a blast! They were showered with lots of love and some amazing gifts and we cannot wait for their wedding in only 6 weeks!! Those two are so great, and so great together. We have us some wonderful friends :)

On Sunday, we got an early start back to Houston and stopped at Troy's grandparents' house on our way. They generously donated shoes for our Soles4Souls shoe drive (thanks!!) so we picked them up and got to catch up with them a bit. Troy's aunt and uncle were visiting from Connecticut so it was a nice surprise to see them. And speaking of Soles4Souls, I will be posting the amazing results of our shoe drive soon, as well as some very exciting news, so check back soon :)

Okay, I think that sums it up for now. Have a great week!!

Chaotically crazy...

Lots of Love

2010-07-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend was eventful, but it was eventful around the house! We have decided that we need to finally liven the 'new' house up and do those finishing touches that we seemed to put on the backburner for the past 15 months. So, we headed over to Sherwin Williams…uh oh! We painted our bedroom Friday night; Grassland is the color and it looks beautiful (in my humble opinion). I don’t know why our bedroom was the last room in the house that we decided to decorate but ah, finally – a styled, complete bedroom that we love to be in! I cannot wait to buy the finishing touches for it. I’m thinking a chair, some throw pillows, linen curtains, and a few photos/pieces of art for the walls. We splurged and got new bedding last weekend from Pottery Barn that has yet to make it on to the bed, being that it is made of linen...and we have two pets...furry pets...who love to sleep with us. Hmm.

Better and more pics to come soon!

My sister and her boyfriend came over on Saturday to help us with phase 2 of our painting project -- the kitchen (Nomadic Desert) and living room (Kilim Beige). Lindsey and James made painting so much fun! They don’t take life too seriously and are always laughing at each other. It was a blast! We got a lot accomplished and really appreciate their help.

That night, we went to a wedding in Conroe. Friends of mine from high school got married in one of the best weddings I have ever been to. It is easy to focus on the glitz and glam when you plan a wedding but Kim and Brent planned their event perfectly. The things that needed to be extravagant were, and the things that didn’t need to be, weren’t. It was so ‘them’ and you could tell that the whole event was focused on love and sharing in that love. I think that is exactly what it is supposed to be like and it was really refreshing. We had an absolute BLAST though, eating good BBQ, drinking delicious margaritas, and dancing the night away with (my) old friends.

Sunday was consumed with painting and touch-ups, a bit of yard work, a visit with our ~~neighbors~~ newest friends, and complete exhaustion. But, the house is painted and we love it! Troy is actually working on a special project to go with all of our 'livening up.' We bought a used buffet/entry way piece last week to go in the nook by the front door/stairway. It is really pretty and will be gorgeous once Troy finishes stripping, sanding, and staining that beast. I have been waiting for an entry piece for over a year and am so excited to finally have one. Now the house will really feel warm and decorated, instead of new-house sterile and empty! I will be sure to post pics of the before and after as soon as he is done.

Yay for sweet husbands who don't mind doing manual labor to make you happy!

It's another busy week in the Davis household - hosting dinner with the Johnstons and my sis and James tonight, completing a huge cookie order (pirate-themed!), and invitations galore to work on. We head to DFW for Cliff and Rachel's couples' shower this weekend and we are really excited about seeing everyone. Good times :)

Have a great week, everyone!

Troy's Trip to Germany and Spain

2010-07-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

So i figured that I would give this "blogging" thing a chance...Also it would not be fair for me to make Chels compose a blog about a businees trip that I took to Trostberg, Germany and Barcelona and Tarragona, Spain. So since I am such a nice husband...I will save her the pain of asking me about about the details and then typing about them, to just typing about them myself. Hear it goes...

Church outside the hotel in Trostberg (beautiful but kept me up ALL night with the chiming)

Hotel street

Hotel in Trostberg...over 400 years old

River that ran through Trostberg

Side of an old Trostberg fire truck

House in Trostberg

Hotel street with the church in the distance

Drink of choice while in Germany...BEER

Hotel street

Lake in Germay with the Alps in the distance

King Ludwig II palace. Modeled after the Palace of Versailles

Looking out the front of the Palace towards the Lake

Hotel near the lake

View of the Alps

Little chapel in Barcelona

Spanish Post Office

Marina in Barcelona

All of the businessmen out to dinner

Tarragona Spain (view from the hotel room)

Cathedral in Barcelona getting some work done

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

2010-07-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

It has been a quiet 24+ hours at the Davis house...

There has been a bit of moping around...

A few glares here and there...

And attempts at having some fun...

Usually fall short...

We catch each other sitting...

Waiting...

Wishing 'dad' would come home.

________________________________________________

Ya, we are having a first class pitty party here at Casa de Davis. Troy left yesterday morning for his work trip to Germany and then on to Spain, and us girls miss him somethin fierce! I know he is going to have a great time (especially since Espana is now the futbol WORLD champions!), and the trip will probably go by very fast for him...but time feels like it has stopped over at our house...and Friday can't get here soon enough.

Tess keeps checking the back door, waking up with a jolt every time she hears a noise, and sits patiently with her tennis ball, waiting for dad to throw it for her.

Lucy seems to be taking it pretty bad too, which is odd. She has camped out by the back door, lays in Troy's sink, and sleeps on his pillow.

And me? Well I am just a royal mess myself :) I miss that guy a whole bunch and forget how comfortable I get in his presence.

We I have scheduled a few things to help us through the week (dinner with the Johnstons, happy hr with some friends, and some quality movie-watching sessions) but I don't think we will be ourselves until the man of the house is safely home. But hell, it's our pitty party and we'll ~~mope~~ ~~be grumpy~~ ~~sulk~~ ~~feel sorry for ourselves~~ cry if we want to!

Fantastic Fourth

2010-07-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

We went down to Port Aransas for the Fourth of July and it was arguably the best trip yet. We got to see everyone, relax, eat good food, celebrate a little, and watch some great fireworks. It was all in all a great and uneventful weekend... except for our last night there. We got quite an exciting show! A swarm of teenagers/twenty-somethings literally jumped the walls of the property as about half of the residents/families were watching fireworks from their balconies. Cases of beer in hand, many of those idiots were really rude, thus prompting some of the owners to call the cops. We were being oober nosey and decided to check out the action once the cops arrived :) Overall, the police issued over 20 MIPs! It ended up being quite a show and I think it is safe to say that those kids made our night -- especially the ones who had to be picked up by their parents! What's sad is that made us feel old...very OLD.

Here are some pics from the fun weekend:

Jackson in the Car

Celebrating Lindsey's Birthday

All the Girls

Old Glory

Linds and James

Jackson and the Pinata

Matt and Jo

Me and My Hubby

Fireworks

We hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Some Incentive

2010-07-01T17:57:00.001-07:00

We have collected so many shoes over the past few weeks that I just can't believe it! I stopped counting since the last *box* we received this week. I am happy to say that by the time our shoe drive is over (July 24), we should have some wonderful shoes to send to Soles4Souls. But, I am sad to say that we are only receiving shoes from our wonderful co-workers (exception - my sis; thanks Linds!). So come on family! Get it together, friends! We need your help more than anything, and are just asking for one pair of shoes to go toward a really great cause. You know you have a pair (or two) just sitting in your closet collecting dust...

To offer a bit of incentive, I am offering to design a set of 2 custom Chelsea Davis Designs notepads to the first friend/family member to give us 5 pairs of shoes for our shoe drive! That's right - any way you want them: Honey-do list, Notes from the Bride to Be, The 'Smith' Family -- you name it! Just get us the shoes and the cute and custom notepads are all yours!

Today feels like Friday to me because I am off of work for the next four days - YIPPEE! Troy has to work, unfortunately, but that leaves a full day for me to do the million things I need to do. First, I am going to go over to a gem of a paper store -- a haven -- to spend hours looking at all of the wonderful products they have, then I am going to the newly-opened Paper Source for more paper perusing, then it's lunch with Troy at one of my faves - Grand Lux Cafe. After that, I have a haircut, pedicure, and some shopping to do before we meet some family for dinner and then head out for a movie date :) It sounds like a lot (cuz it is) but doesn't it all sound so fun?! I am really looking forward to the day, so much so that I will be at the paper store by 8am! :)

We head to the coast on Saturday morning (weather permitting) for some time on the Texas coast, sipping adult beverages and lazily passing the time. We wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend!! Somewhere in between the BBQ and the fireworks, take a moment to give thanks for our freedoms, our independence, and the men and women who have, continue to, and will one day serve to protect those freedoms.

Image from WeHeartIt

I Heart Faces - Pet Photo Challenge

2010-06-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

This week's photo challenge at I Heart Faces is all about pets, so how could I not post a picture of my sweet Tess? This is one of our favorites of her, from a hot day in Houston, as she "cools off" chasing the water hose.

Best Friends, Birthdays, and Baseball

2010-06-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

The trip to DFW was a good {hot} one, but we had so much fun. We got in late on Friday night, but that didn't stop Rach and I from uncorking some vino and chatting until the wee hours of the night while the guys crashed out on the couches!

Saturday was a whirlwind. I met up with my friend Kim for lunch while Troy lounged at Casa de Rachel. I grew up with Kim and have known her since kindergarten. We were the best of friends and grew apart a bit when I moved to the 'big city' for high school. I haven't seen her in almost five years, so you can only imagine how long we sat there catching up. I brought my trusty camera, but we didn't take a breath to snap a photo :( Next time!

I had to rush out of lunch to pick up Troy because we were meeting my whole family at the Rangers' game that afternoon to celebrate a late Father's Day, my mom's birthday, and my sis Shannon's birthday. It was great to be with the whole family, but oh.my.gosh. it was so stinkin hot! Thank the good Lord mom bought tickets in the shaded section because full-on sun would have sent me over the edge! We did get sweet relief in the form of yummy food and drinks in an air-conditioned buffet area full of the ballpark staples: hot dogs, popcorn, lemonade, and peanuts! It was a good thing everything was included with our tickets because I think we both drank about a gallon of cold beverages to keep from passing out of heatstroke!

Saturday night was Cliff's pre-birthday celebration at Rachel's house. That girl knows how to throw a party! They made venison burgers, had about five different desserts (including a funfetti cake!), and the drink I always look forward to when visiting my bff - SANGRIA! We got to relax and joke around with some good friends, old and new, and like always, we drove home on Sunday with full hearts (and tummies!).

It was but another busy weekend, of the dozens that have taken over our schedule for the next few months, but it was really good to see everyone (you gotta love getting face time with 11 people in 24 hours!).

I will end by wishing my mom a very happy birthday today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADRE!! We could not imagine our crazy life without you to bring us back to 'center'. We love you lots and hope you have a wonderful birthday week in Mexico :)

"¡Arriba! ¡Arriba! ¡Andale! ¡Andale!"

2010-06-23T19:51:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on things, which by the way are C-R-A-Z-Y loco. We moved my sis here last weekend -- ya, that's right, my nature-loving, kayaking, music-loving, South Congress-frequenting social butterfly of an Austinite has officially become a traffic-hating, fast-paced, lives-thirty-minutes-away-though-we-live-in-the-same-city grade A Houstonian with the best of us ;) It was a good, quick move and I am very proud of my little sis for being so organized and ready to go when Troy and I showed up with the truck on Friday for a suicide trip there and back. I am also proud of her for taking a leap of faith. Being an older sister usually means that you worry more than you're 'supposed' to, can never quite let loose because you are the 'responsible' one, and can usually be expected to throw out a lecture or two when things get sticky. So I would naturally wonder why in the world would Linds willingly move closer to me?! But, I think it was a great move and that it will be great for both of us. And let's be realistic - I feel so much better knowing that she is close and that Troy and I can be there in a second if we need to. Ya, I know...mama bird syndrome.

Anyways, we are gearing up for yet another fast-paced, busy weekend, this time to DFW to celebrate (get ready) my mom's birthday, father's day, my step-sister's birthday, and Troy's BFF's birthday. Whew! I am exhausted (and broke) just thinking about it! I am particularly excited because I am going to meet up with two of my oldest friends, Kim and Jenna. We went to kindergarten together, played softball together, and grew up together in Commerce until I moved to Keller my freshman year of high school. I haven't seen them in way too long (Jenna has a 15 month old and another on the way!) and am very excited to meet them for lunch on Saturday. Troy and I will hightail it out to the Ballpark at Arlington for the 2:15 (heat of the day) Ranger's game with the fam after my 'girls' lunch. Mom did good too, we are in the all-you-can-eat/drink, air-conditioning provided section (thank God). That's grass fed beef in those hot dogs, right Mom? ;)

We will finish up our Saturday with a bday celebration for Mr. Cliff Higgs, then rush back to Houston for a client meeting about invitations. Tired yet? We stay that way.

Speaking of invitations, I have posted some recent works on my blog and have some more coming soon. Spread the word if anyone needs custom paper products - I am really trying to better my business and am working super hard to offer even better designs and high quality products. I am very excited about a service/style new to CDD - letterpress! Affordable Letterpress! Very exciting, I must say :) I am also working on a number of thermographers for future orders as well, so I guess you can say 'business is booming!'. Never a dull moment...

Last little tidbit: Thanks to those of you who have donated shoes. We seriously have about 70 pairs and WANT MORE, so clean out your closet (you know you need to), and give me your shoes people :) Incentive to be announced soon...

Have a great rest of the week -- oh, and GO SPAIN! OLE!!

Show Us Your Life - The Proposal

2010-06-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

Today at Kelly's Korner, Show Us Your Life is all about proposal stories, so I thought I would share ours!

And an added tidbit of info: according to our old wedding website, we have been married 580 days today. How does that make ya feel, hunny? Haha.

It was our two-year anniversary and Troy had made reservations for dinner. After work, I rushed home to get ready, and Troy arrived soon after. He immediately suggested that we exchange anniversary gifts (I was still in front of the mirror getting ready!). So, I closed my eyes as Troy instructed, and he put a necklace around my neck (keep in mind that I had politely hinted at a certain necklace for our anniversary). I opened my eyes and saw a simple silver chain. Confused as I was, I followed Troy's further instruction to close my eyes again. I felt his hands start to shake and a small object fell onto the chain. I immediately thought that it was the necklace I requested, but when I opened my eyes to face the mirror, I was shocked to find a beautiful ring hanging from the chain.

Troy took the ring and got down on one knee, and after a quite convincing speech, asked me to be his wife. With tears in my eyes, I most definitely said YES!

I am happier today than 580 days ago and can't believe that I am married to such a wonderful, loving, patient husband. We don't have a photo of our engagement, but have many many more since then. I guess it will be a memory I always keep in my heart.

XOXO

LaLaLa Leakey!

2010-06-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we piled in the ‘burb (thanks, Rick) and headed out to Leakey with some of our closest friends – Linds, James, Allison, and Louise, and Tess of course! Patrick and Erin and Lori and Whit met us out there that night.

See, Troy and I have been together almost FIVE years and I had yet to see this place they call ‘the river’, so I was thrilled when Troy suggested that we go. I was even more thrilled when Troy’s cousin Jove offered their “cabin” to us for the weekend! It is beautiful and spacious, with so many balconies and places to hang out. We loved it there! Friday night was a chill night; we ate in town with Uncle Mark and got in some good Miller time just sittin’ around being silly. We went out to the river crossing Saturday morning and spend the entire day out there! Aunt Sherry and her sister even stopped by for a bit.

Tess LOVED the water. She ran up and down and up and down the river, from person to person, sniffing and licking and splashing around. She was seriously in heaven; we all were. The weather was perfect, and I bet that was declared about two dozen times between the ten of us – overcast enough to not be scorching, but sunny enough to get some sun and enjoy being outside. We lounged in the water all day; I was surprised that we didn’t end up wrinkly! Thankful for Troy’s Sirius boom box and a cooler full of adult beverages, we did absolutely nothing for hours upon hours, and it was just what we needed.

Troy and I took Tess to stroll around the property (really, I just wanted to take pics). It is so interesting out there; the prettiest ‘flowers’ are really weeds, and allow for the best pictures. I am seriously considering letting our lawn go for a few months just for a photo opportunity like that again …Ok, moment gone. Troy – mow the yard!

That night, we grilled out, ate potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob and fruit salad for dinner out on the porch. Mmmm, I love BBQ :) We played cards and a half game of Balderdash before we got an itch for something sweet and decided to break for s’mores, which anyone would love! Gooey chocolatey messiness!

That night was a semi-early night for us all (most of us called it a night by midnight); a day in the sun (with a few cold ones) will do that to ya. I really see why my husband likes it out there, and why he has so many fond memories at that place. He even brought me under the dining room table in Uncle Mark’s cabin to show me where he, Matt, and his Dad carved their names in it after building that thing board by board. I’m not kidding – I was laying on the floor with my camera! Look closely for the 'Rick, TC and Matt' markings! :)

We look forward to visiting soon, and are so grateful for Uncle Mark’s hospitality, the beautiful accommodations (best beds EVER, by the way), good food (thanks, Troy), and time with friends.

Good times…

I Heart Faces Photography - All About Babies

2010-06-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

I usually peruse all of the great photos in the I Heart Faces photo challenge each week, but thought I would participate this go around, since the theme is 'All About Babies' and I have such a cute little guy in my life to photograph...

This is one of my absolute favorites (all together now...AAAAAWWWWWW) :

Sole Searching

2010-06-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

(image via weheartit)

Growing up, we didn't have a lot. My mom was a single parent and times weren't always great. But I never knew that. My mom did so much to make sure we had everything we needed (and often, what we wanted), that we always had something fun to do (making homemade dinners, riding bikes around the neighborhood, doing crafts), and that we could always look back on our childhood with a smile, and a boatload of happy memories. Some of my favorite memories were times where my mom would take us to volunteer. I remember donating our old clothes several times a year, making Christmas cookies for needy neighbors, and working at many a soup kitchen. As we got older, my family volunteered for Meals on Wheels, hosted Christmases for families in need, and we have been avid supporters and volunteers for Special Olympics for years. I was always filled with such joy, such humility in helping others. Because we could relate to people in tough times, and because many times we were the ones on the receiving end of others' acts of kindness, I think it really stuck with me.

When I started college, I knew 'greek life' wasn't for me. It just seemed too " " for me. I had no intention of joining a sorority, not because I thought negatively about them, but because it just wasn't me. Or so I thought... 5 months after starting my first semester at Tech, I rushed Miller Girls, one of the only service organizations at Tech. Ya, it was pretty much a sorority, without the greek ties. But you know what I loved the most about it? The service. I built playgrounds for Habitat for Humanity, I cooked dinners for families at the Ronald McDonald House, I cleaned highways, volunteered at pet shelters, read to children, called bingo for senior citizens... the list goes on and on. And I loved it. Of course, on an early Saturday morning after a night out, hammering nails or cleaning up trash wasn't my idea of fun, but I got so much out of serving--service to the community, and to others. And I didn't think I would say this after my college days were over, but I miss it terribly.

I have been talking with Troy for quite a while now, about how to get involved and give back again. We do the usual - pick an angel or two off of the Angel tree at Christmas, donate our clothes, participate in charity events at work, etc. I even contacted Habitat for Humanity a while back, but sadly, with no response. But I guess I have just been going through the days, hoping something will really jump out at me, something I can be passionate about. Today, it happened.

I was reading a photography blog that I love -- i heart faces -- and they were featuring an organization called Soles4Souls. Once I read more, it hit me that this is not only the perfect charity for me to get involved with (shoes!), but it is one that touches so many people, every single day.

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based nonprofit that distributes shoes to people in need throughout the world. Soles4Souls has given away over 5.5 million pairs of shoes since 2005—that’s one pair every nine seconds! The idea for Soles4Souls was formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when Wayne Elsey, a footwear executive at the time, collaborated with his friends and colleagues in the industry to send over 1 million pairs of shoes to victims of the disaster. He admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout, and the response left him wondering, “Why not start a non-profit and do this all the time?” One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created. "I'm happy to be able to help people with such a simple mission," Elsey said. "The growth of this organization has been rapid and I am excited to get involved on a daily basis so that I can devote more time to a cause that makes a difference in people's lives.”

So, how am I going to get involved? Well that is something that I am very excited about! Soles4Souls accepts all types of shoes: athletic, running, dress, sandals, pumps, heels, work boots, cleats, dance, flip flops, just as long as they are new or gently worn (and donations, of course!), and then distributes shoes to people who are very much in need of them. My tiny part in this amazing initiative comes in the form of a shoe drive. I will be volunteering to collect as many shoes as possible over the next eight weeks, and will ship them to the Soles4Souls warehouse once the shoe drive is complete. I am also asking for $1 per pair to help with shipping costs, if you can. If not, I will gladly take care of that part. I would rather have your help sole searching!

I know that we have dozens of shoes we do not wear, or have barely worn, and that will serve a better purpose on the feet of a teenager in Haiti, a mother in Zambia, or a man here in Texas in trying to find work. That's the great thing about Soles4Souls - they send shoes to people all over the world.

We are on a mission! I am going to start soliciting at work, in my circle of friends and family, at Troy's work, through our community, my blog, facebook, local shoe stores -- whatever we can do to collect as many shoes as possible, and get them to people who need them. I hope that you will too!! We will also host a 'drop-off' party at the end of the drive, to collect all of the shoes, box them up, and hopefully celebrate our contribution to such a great organization. Get ready for the Evites, fliers, and texts! I am very excited about this, and if all goes well, we may even host another shoe drive toward the end of the year. So please, if you are reading this and want to start donating, I will gladly start collecting. Talk to your friends, neighbors, family members, or co-workers and let's do something amazing. I will post progress here on our blog, and maybe even a few incentives to get the ball rolling :)

Thanks!!!

Puerto Vallarta - Dia Tres, Quatro, y Cinco

2010-06-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

Puerto Vallarta just kept getting better as the days went on. Sunday, we did our P90X workout then headed to the infinity pool to reserve some chairs, then it was off to breakfast. I don't know where it came from, but I LOVE salmon for breakfast - smoked salmon with cream cheese on some sort of carb. I sure as heck wasn't raised on the stuff (closest I got was a can of vienna sausages!) but I absolutely love it. And I ate it...a lot...like every morning. Okay, I may have refrained on the last day, but seriously, I couldn't get enough. I should have snapped a pic of that goodness... Anyways, we spent the day lounging at the pool and getting some sun, breaking only for a tequila tasting by the pool ;) We were planning on going into town to check out the cathedral and the market, but Troy got sick, so we opted to stay in. Everyone went for a nap and I snuck away to the secluded pool to finish my Chelsea Handler book, Are You There ,Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. Which is freaking hilarious, might I add. Not for the weak of heart, or proper of mouths, or proper of anything really. Just dang funny. I plan to read Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang next :)

That night, we went to dinner off of the resort, to a place called El Set. Troy's dad and Carolyn recommended it, saying that they ate there on their honeymoon and it was the best food and best view around. They weren't lyin'!

The view was beyond breathtaking and the food was delish, especially the margaritas. We celebrated Amy's birthday while we were there too, which was too fun. We had a blast, and believe it or not, we were the only customers in the entire restaurant...the entire night!! I know, that doesn't speak too highly of the place, but we got there super early, and there weren't a lot of tourists on Sunday anyways, and well, I don't know why they weren't busy...maybe this has something to do with my stomach bug/parasite/virus...interesting...

That night, Troy got sick again (bad) so he went to bed early and Blake, Amy, and I went down to the beach for a bonfire and concert. We sang along to Brown-eyed Girl, Sweet Caroline, and a few ACDC songs before calling it a night. We were ziplining in the morning, and we wanted to be very well-rested :)

7:30 bright and early, we cabbed over to the local Quickie Mart (okay, it was an OXXO, but you get the point) and waited for our transportation to the mountains. We waited for freaking ever, but they finally came and we loaded into a crowded military-style bus for a 45-minute ride from hell. Oh, I'm sorry; do you sense my frustration? Ya...I was frustrated, and I am just getting started! :) We got to the top of the mountain, changed into appropriate gear, said farewell to our belongings, much to my fury; you know me - I wanted to take pics, yes while zipling, yes while repelling down a waterfall, yes while riding donkeys with 30 lbs of gear on. I am hard core with my photography madness. But the dudes made us leave all of our stuff behind, so I angrily mounted my donkey and rode up the trail to the first platform. Ya, that's right - I rode a donkey, named Pimienta. There are no photos of that...

We completed about 13 zip lines, some at 45 degree angles, some over completely treacherous valleys, others down waterfalls, into springs, and even one completely crazy vertical repel. On the last line, Troy and I got to go together and race...he was ahead for the majority of the race but I decided to not break until the last possible moment (remember, hard core.) and so I beat him in the end :) We had a good time and it was crazy watching everyone fling their bodies over cliffs, down rocks, and into open nothingness.

I noted a few very important things for our next zipline and hence, the reason we did not purchase but one photo out of the 100+ that they took of us:

Do not wear shorts. Unless you are anorexic. Frist - the girls have cameltoes and the boys look like they are seriously in pain. I don't think the guys can avoid the awkwardness that comes with a harness around their noonads though. Plus, the harness shoves your shorts up the entire time, and you sit into the harness while ziplining in manner that smashes your thighs down into flat pancake-ness. Not flattering...at all...regardless of your size. Next time, I will be wearing Nike pants in blackest black, regardless of the heat index.

Do not wear a t-shirt, especially a white one. Ya, I was wearing a swimsuit (see #3), but t-shirts just stretch out when wet and white doesn't look good wet on anyone, unless you are Brooklyn Decker or something.

Do not wear swimsuit bottoms. Ow. Reason one - stradling a donkey. Reason two - harness. Reason three - wet swimsuit + rock climbing = bad situation. Just sayin'

Consider wearing a sports bra, or you will constantly be making sure your tatas do not jump out of your top and reveal themselves through your wet white t-shirt, especially on the ride back on the monster truck sans shocks.

Okay, I know, I am complaining, but it was pretty fun :) Next time, massage! On the way back, the driver must have sensed my angst. He stopped at a family-owned tequila farm (?) and we all sampled tequila straight from agave. Yummm. We bought a chocolatey coffee version of the sinful stuff, which was amazing. I plan to make cheesecake with that bad boy very soon.

We enjoyed a nice lunch when we got back, then lounged on the beach for a bit. I got bored and wanted to snap some pics of 'real Mexico' so Troy and I went off to the market while Blake and Amy sat poolside. It was interesting, and not exactly what I thought it would be, but we got to do some walking around and mingling with the locals, which we love (more 'local' pics soon).

We headed to dinner that night for a final hoo-rah, at a nice little place Troy had been eyeing since we got to the resort (they were only open for dinner). We walked in and immediately took tequila shots. That was a sign of the night we had in store...The waitor made us all wear sombreros, kept bringing us tequila shots, served us the strongest margarita I have had in a while, and we indulged on the best authentic Mexican food we'd had in a while. A few hours later, and a lot less people around us (hehe), we left the restaurant and headed to our little hangout spot for drinks. After a few rounds of 'would you rather' and quite a few more drinks, we called it a night.

We left that next afternoon, after a walk on the beach, more photo-taking, and one last mixed drink. It was a great trip (minus the illnesses) and we really want to go back again. Kudos to the Dreams Resort PV - beautiful, fun, and a great place to relax!

Puerto Vallarta - Dia Uno y Dos

2010-06-02T10:27:00.000-07:00

Llegamos a Mexico a las once por la manana y el hotel era muy linda - las vistas son magnificos y los cuartos - grandes y muy limpios. Nuestra vista - perfecto!

The View from our room:

Despues de llegamos al hotel, nosotros fuimos a la playa, y despues, a la piscina para bebidos. Nos encontramos dos personas de Chicago - Mercedes y Ed, y charlamos y bebimos a la piscina.

Por la noche, fuimos a un festival de Mexico al hotel, con musica, bailes, y comida de Mexico. Habia mucho tequila tambien! Era muy divertido - una que gran manera de pasar la primera noche en Mexico.

(Okay, back to English!) On Saturday morning, we woke up and had a wonderful breakfast overlooking the beach and kicked the day off with mimosas. Afterward, we headed straight to the beach to lay under these little tiki-type huts and occasionally get some sun. We swam in the ocean, jumped on a water trampoline, and then went to a secluded pool for some shade, all the while sipping on a mango tango, Mexican flag, or Jack and Sprite (the guys).

Dinner that night was pretty awesome; we ate at a seafood restaurant called Oceana, with menus that were carved into large wooden pieces. The food was to die for, and we had such a fun time laughing and joking around. Later, we went to bar Rendezvous to have some cocktails and listen to music, and the guys smoked authentic hand-rolled cigars.

As you can see, the first few days in Puerto Vallarta were amazing, and there are many more photos to post. I decided to spare you (a little) this go-around but will follow up with another set within the next day or so. We are still recovering from the trip, well, I am still recovering...let me just say that there is truth in not drinking the water in Mexico...or the ice...or anything frozen...(boo).

Hallelujah

2010-05-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

Can I get a hallelujah for a relaxing weekend?! It was very much needed to get things ready for sending Tess of to the kennel for the first time (tear), our trip south of the border, and a busy work week ahead.

We were really happy to have found out a little while back that a friend from high school (rare - I keep in touch with maybe a handful of people from my days at KHS) and her husband, who are also Red Raiders, moved to Katy a few months ago. We have been trying to get together for a while and finally had dinner last weekend at our beloved La Finca. Erin and Chase met up with us again on Friday for a little cookout at the house, and we were joined later that evening by Troy's fraternity brother and his wife, also named Erin; we just found out that they have lived right behind us for over a year -- and we had no idea! I am really glad to have friends (old and new) that live so close to us, and am especially grateful that my husband now has two guys that he can talk 'huntin' and 'fishin' with. I do fear that I will not see him much this fall though... Either way, it was a nice Friday night, catching up and sitting on the back porch, enjoying the beautiful weather that Texas has been blessed with these past few weeks.

We met Allison for a day at the pool on Saturday and I played it stupid - no sunscreen (except on my face, of course, which always gets a healthy dose of SPF). I swear, there is something about taking a shower after sunbathing that really brings out the tan--ehem, burn--lines. Ya, I looked like a lobster when it was all said and done. After some serious aloe-lathering, I am much better, and thanks to my partial Italian genes, this redness should (hopefully) turn to a nice brown and all should be well for Mexico. Hopefully...

We are so excited about our trip by the way :) Can ya tell?? I can't believe we live a hop skip and jump away from Mexico and have never been. But this vacay couldn't have come sooner. We are looking forward to sleeping in, yummy food and margaritas (all included, might I add!!), ziplining, snorkeling, and sitting by the beach... ahh Mexico.

Let the countdown begin!

Never a Dull Moment

2010-05-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

I am fighting through the pain taking over my body from P90X to sit here and write this post (yes, my abdominals hurt that much, and my arms ache at any slight muscle flex), but we had such a wonderful weekend that I have to post pics! Must...fight through...the pain...

I was so glad to have a relaxing weekend at home, and by home I mean in the Houston area. We still had so much to do, including getting ready for our trip to MEXICO next week!! I can't believe it is finally here :) Maybe next week's blog posts will be in Spanish!...Troy was off of work Friday so when I got home (around noon), we went out to Katy Mills to shop for some beachy attire, and other things required for our trip. We made out like bandits before heading home -- in a torrential downpour might I add--to watch Friday Night Lights and Forest Gump, and hit the hay early. We tried to keep it simple around here last weekend - mostly for Tess :) She was spayed on Thursday morning and was quite groggy! Plus, we had to keep a close eye on her to make sure she didn't scratch or lick her wounds. She was such a mess when I picked her up - so loopy!

It was a quiet Saturdaythough...until Saturday night! We went to Troy's co-worker's house for a birthday BBQ, then ducked out after a few drinks to head down the road to Whitney's second annual Martinpalooza. There were yummy snacks, smoked chicken wings, and boiled crawfish -- true Loozianne style! We played beer pong and chatted it up all night. Nothing beats a good night with good friends (and good food)!

The hostess!

The grub

Troy with a money shot!

What?! I needed that drink...

Anne and Loo - True Beer Pong CHAMPS!

Sarah and Matt got engaged last month and we celebrated with their families at an engagement party on Sunday. It was truly the most unique, and one of the best engagement parties we have ever been to! The food was awesome - Indian cuisine, with a beautiful cake and good company. We are so excited for Sarah and Matt and cannot wait for the big day...whenever that may be :)

Erin, Allison, Sarah, Me

Celebrate Good Times - Come On!

2010-05-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

Is it already Thursday?! My how the week has flown... I guess it is just an after-effect of our whirlwind weekend back 'home' in DFW. We went up originally to see my mom for Mother's Day, but we ended up cramming a lot of {fun} stuff in the weekend as well.

We drove up late on Friday and hung out with my mom a bit, then took her and my dad to an early Mother's Day breakfast at this great place just down the road from their house. It was a simple and very nice morning with my mom, I just wish I could spend more time there. It always feels like we are in and out {except for the holidays, where we stay put and don't leave the house for days!}. I couldn't sleep that morning so I went for a walk to the lake at about 7am to let Tess free for a bit and snap some photos. I have way too many to post, so I will spare you all and just post this one of some great red roses growing in my parent's flowerbed.

It wasn't long until we were off to stop #2 - My grandma's house for a secret event. Yes, secret. My sis, Mandy, got all of us girls over there for a surprise get-together to ask us all to be her bridesmaids/maid of honor/flower girl, etc. It was a really nice party and I cannot believe she pulled it off without us finding out! I haven't seen my sis since she got engaged back in February so it was good to hang out and talk 'weddings' with her. I am excited to say that she and Brian are getting married next spring -- end of April, I think -- in east Texas, at a beautiful location. Mandy will be a stunning bride and I am honored to be with her on the big day!

On to stop #3, our final destination! Saturday evening we gathered with friends old and new to celebrate Cliff and Rachel's engagement. It was a wonderful party at Rachel's parents' house, with yummy Mexican food, tasty sangria, and chocolate-covered strawberries - yum! It was great to see a lot of the people we love and don't get to see too often, and chat about all the festivities that are sure to come during the next 4 months. I was also happy to meet the rest of Rachel's bridesmaids and start planning her bachelorette party :) This is a great group of gals and we are going to rock the socks off of Austin/the Texas hill country.

Whitney, Amanda, Rach, Brit, Mary, Me (missing - Elizabeth)

Saturday was also very special for another reason - RACHEL'S BIRTHDAY! Well, technically, her bday was Sunday, but since everyone was busy with Mother's Day, we celebrated after the engagement party with a surprise cupcake-and-presents party at Rachel's house and a night out at Pete's Piano Bar!

Pete's was an absolute hoot. We had so much fun singing and dancing, and we even got Rach up on the stage. I haven't seen that girl laugh so much - ever! She was such a good sport too...better than I would have been :) The best part was {of course} the school fight song showdown. Surprisingly {and I know many of you will be shocked}, the battle was not between A&M and UT, it was TEXAS TECH and Arkansas battling it out for their song to reign supreme. We put our guns up so much my arm hurt, but it was awesome to hear our fight song played over and over and over again. Troy even threw down a few big ones {$4 I think}. The pot got up to a few hundred bucks before it was all said and done! The Aggies had a few bucks in the mix, as well as Baylor, but there was absolutely no representation from UT and that made my night {and much to Cliff's disappointment}. We really had too much fun and I cannot wait to do it all again.

I seriously wish we were back in DFW sometimes, but that day will come :) Until then, we enjoy getting together with family and friends to celebrate some really special moments. I have a feeling this is just the first of many, many weekends of chaotic bliss...

We headed home early on Sunday morning, ready to be back home. Just as we were winding through some back roads, approaching a stop sign, I noticed the most peculiar thing - a peacock, sittin' on a fence post. I guess it is not so much peculiar as it was surprising, so what did I do? I took advantage of that gorgeous blue-and-green guy by snapping some photos of him like a paparazzo. Seriously...I changed lenses...three times... :) Troy made me! I love these pics though:

This weekend is a home-base one, but we are kinda busy nonetheless - date night Friday, a BBQ Saturday, and Martinpalooza (summer party at Whitney's house) Saturday night - complete with all the yummy goodness we have come to expect from this seemingly annual event. We also have Sarah and Matt's engagement party on Sunday, which we are so looking forward to! Have a great rest of the week!!

Painting with Pinot

2010-05-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a night out, just me and the girls - Allison, Sarah, and Erin to be exact. We made the decision a while back to sign up for a unique event: a painting class. But this class wasn't your typical painting class, oh no, it was special. How special? Special enough that there was wine involved, and you can't get better than that! There is a place here in Houston called Pinot's Palette (formerly called Pinot and Picasso). You sign up for a class based on the featured painting and show up with your wine and snacks in tow. You get to mingle a bit as you enjoy your treats, then you get started on recreating the featured painting. It was so much fun!

Our painting was Winter Twilight and it was a fun one to recreate. It got my painting itch going so I have already started thinking about what to paint next...

It was a perfect night with the gals and we are hoping to do it again very soon. If you live in Houston and would love to do something like this, I highly recommend it!

DISCLAIMER: Do not store your new creation in the back of your SUV, then let your dog out when you get home and go to unload said painting. Dog will assume she is going 'bye-bye' and jump into your SUV, standing proudly atop your new masterpiece. Furthermore, do not yank her out of the car in horror because that will likely cause her to dig her claws into your masterpiece and rip a nice hole in its canvas... just sayin....

Celebrating One Fine Year

2010-05-01T14:11:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, we celebrated the one year anniversary of buying in our very first house! We went to Perry's Steakhouse for a sinful lunch (why not?) and reminisced about the past year.

I cannot believe that a year ago today we were directing a team of movers, freaking out about denting the walls, and determining that we would be doing a lot of work to make the house ours - funny, because it was brand new!). I realize that we have done a lot when I look back to how the house was when we first moved in...

A lot has happened since we bought this house and we have had so many wonderful memories here - and it has only been a year! We are still in the process of making our house a home, but we have come a long way. Next on the list - painting! And boy do I mean PAINTING! We are hiring painters to do the two-story walls in the entry and living room, and we are painting the kitchen and our bedroom, and possibly the two rooms upstairs. Whew! We are also planning on ripping out the carpet on the first floor soon and installing hardwoods. THAT is something I can get excited about! Especially since...get ready for it...we are considering getting another pup! I love my girl Tess so so much but we want her to have a playmate. We had a BBQ last night with our friends to celebrate our 'house anniversary' and two of new 'friends' came over to play with Tess. She absolutely loved having dogs at the house to completely go bonkers with. It was awesome, and she slept ALL NIGHT! :) SO... we are planning on rescuing a black or yellow lab some time this summer (can you tell we love labs?). I think when it is all said and done, we will be happy with three doggies, but for now I will be content with two!

Wouldn't another one of these cute pups be just awesome?!

Viva Las Vegas!!

2010-04-26T19:43:00.001-07:00

I will post a lot more pics once I sort through them, so consider this Vegas post #1!

I arrived Tuesday evening after what seemed like a short flight and headed to the hotel, Flamingo, where our conference was being held. I checked in and after a quick room change {and upgrade, ehem}, I decided to order room service for dinner, shower, and hit the hay early...ya, that didn't happen. I stayed up watching Biggest Loser until 11 :) I had three long days of training, training training. I met a lot of great people, got to chat with the need-to-knows of my profession, and even managed to learn a few things {a lot of things}.

I will tell ya, those people sure do know how to throw a training session. We went to Treasure Island to see Mystere by Cirque Du Soleil on Wednesday and then ate at a traditional Vegas buffet, compliments of Jacobs. Both were awesome. Thursday night, we went as a group to eat at Le Provencal inside the Paris hotel. That place is so cool; the Eiffel Tower bursts right through the ceiling and there are cobblestone streets and every sign is in French. It was great! We walked around Vegas that night to take in some of the sights and then call it a night.

Friday couldn't come fast enough. Troy met me at our hotel, Aria, and we hit the ground running. Let me start by saying that our hotel room was the shiz. We upgraded for a 'strip view' and it was worth it! The whole hotel is very modern {which equals very clean in my eyes} and is perfect for a young crowd, without that drunken college student feel of the Palms or something. Everything about our room rocked, especially the giant remote that controlled everything from the lights to the curtains, TV, music, alarm clock, privacy 'sign' on the door, and even check out! Needless to say, we will be staying there again.

We ate at a restaurant we saw on an episode of Top Chef, Aureole, inside Mandalay Bay. It was beautiful and the food was devine. The best part was the wine 'cellar' which towered over the restaurant. Two 'wine angels' traverse the cellar on bungee cords to get the wine bottles and it was so cool to watch. After dinner, we headed to the MGM to see Cirque du Soleil's KA. IT. WAS. AWESOME. Absolutely wonderful. We loved it! We were eight rows back and had an amazing view of the hollywood-esque stage. You seriously must see KA if you get the chance.

We walked around the Strip toward the Bellagio, taking in the sights {snapping photos - me} on our way to meet Troy's cousin Jovefor drinks. It was great to chat with her and kick back a little bit before heading back to Aria for some much needed Zzzzzz. While at the Bellagio, we checked out the wonderfully designed and sinfully aromatic botanical garden, and stood under the Chihuly glass sculpture mosaic as hotel-goers and gamblers buzzed by us.

Those who know us know that we never seem to travel in a relaxation mode. No matter where we are, with the exception of our honeymoon of course, we always seem to form a strict agenda and end up running ourselves completely out of energy by the time it is all said and done. We started at New York New York on Saturday after a yummy Spanish lunch. We rode the rollercoaster there and had some food from the famous Nathan's {as in Nathan's Famous Hotdogs}. We spent the rest of the day checking out every casino from the MGM to Paris, The Venetian, Bellagio, Mirage and everything in between.

One of the coolest things we did that day was see the *free* lion exhibit at the MGM. The lions were humongous - one male and one female! Their exhibit was awesome and they played around just like house cats, batting around balls weighing dozens of pounds and encouraging the pats of their handlers. It was so cool watching them lounge, climb the rocks in their habitat, and eat meat chunks off of the glass wall so we could see their giant teeth!

After shopping around and walking for what seemed like miles {and probably was}, we went back to Aria to wash up, take a power nap, and head down to the casino for a bit of gambling. After a very successful {in my eyes} stint at the roulette tables {I bet and landed on 00!}, we cashed out and headed toward the slots, where Troy seems to kick major butt. As we traded chips for cash, one of the pit bosses for the craps floor came over to us. "Are you guys together? What do you have going on tonight? Nothing? Well I have two floor seat tickets to the Eagles concert tonight at the MGM. My wife won't be able to make it and we don't want them to go to waste. Hurry up and finish your drinks and head to the taxi line. Tell the cabbie to rush and drop you off right out front. The concert starts in five minutes!" With much surprise, and a bit of confusion, we did as the man said and hopped in a taxi to the MGM. The pit boss came through - those seats were killer! Talk about luck! We were like 20 rows back, center stage. The music was awesome but the fans were even better. I don't think any were unde the age of 30 but they had the best energy. It was hilarious!

After over three hours at the concert, we ducked out and headed back to Aria for another run at roulette {ya, I know...we tested our luck...}. We weren't as fortunate the second go around and decided to call it a night at about 2 {our flight left at 630 the next morning!}. All in all, Vegas was great, a trip of a lifetime. I really enjoyed it, and we will definitely be going back.

Rub a Dub Dub

2010-04-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

While babysitting our precious nephew last night, I decided to snap some pics during bath time (you know, in order to horribly embarrass him one day at his graduation party, rehearsal dinner, or something equally important). But, some of the photos turned out so good, he should be happy - no, positively DELIGHTED at how cute and angelic he looks. At least I think so, and somehow, I feel that his momma will agree!

My absolute favorite...

Lots of Love (and Sugar)

2010-04-11T14:13:00.001-07:00

There aren't moments every day that warm my heart, but this weekend, my heart burned with happiness. I know, it sounds cheesy, but it's true. It was such a good weekend.

On Thursday night, while making Jackson's birthday cookies (more on that subject in a bit) I got a very happy (and not at all unexpected) phone call. My best friend is engaged to marry my husband's best friend! Waaahoooooo! We are so excited for Rachel and Cliff and cannot think of a couple more deserving of the unique and unconditional love that marriage brings. Their wedding will be a beautiful display of happiness, family, and grace, and we cannot wait for the big day (whenever that may be). Did I mention that I was excited? Happy? ECSTATIC?!!? I am so lucky that they were already planning to come to Houston to stay with us this weekend, before leaving on their family cruise, so Rachel and I could talk weddings and get the wheels turnin'.

Friday morning went by quickly. I left work at noon and when I got home from work, I started decorating the cookies I made for Jackson's first birthday party the next day. They turned out SO CUTE, if I do say so myself. I did royal-iced sugar cookies, using the sugar cookie recipe I posted on SSH, which I absolutely swear by. I made tigers, lions, giraffes, hippos, rhinos, elephants, and monkeys for the safari-themed event, and although they required a lot of time (sugar) and concentration, they were totally worth it. Check em out for yourself:

Later that evening, we met Lindsey, Taylor, and Jackson for the little guy's actual birthday dinner and then we headed home to finish the cookies and wait for Cliff and Rachel to get into town. Once they got there, the wedding talk began (of course) and we chatted in the kitchen till the wee hours of the morning as I frosted cookies and the guys watched the movie Star Trek. It was so relaxing, so much fun, so us :) I missed our friends and I wish we could have had more time with them.

Saturday was a BIG day. Jackson was having his very first birthday and there was a lot to do! Matt and Jordan flew in from Florida and met us at the house that morning so the guys could get some golf in and us girls could get mani-pedis and catch up. We headed over to the Johnston's (a little later than planned, hehe) to celebrate Jackson's big day and spend time with family and friends. Big animal tracks led us to the front door where we stepped into the best little safari-themed birthday party ever! Lindsey completely outdid herself. The food, decorations, games, cake, party favors - it was perfect. Absolutely perfect. And Jackson had a blast; we all did. His party was without a doubt the best first birthday party I have ever been to (or Googled, or read about in Martha Stewart Living, or skimmed through on Blogspot).

It was great to celebrate such a wonderful day with our family and friends, and to see people that we don't get to visit with often. Matt, Jordan, Cliff and Rachel stayed with us Saturday night, and you know what that means - fajitas and drinks at the house, playing Balderdash, telling jokes and laughing until our stomachs hurt. We use to do those things, and much more (wakeboarding, camping, Joe T Garcia's...), all of the time, and have really come to cherish the times that we do get together now, since we are all so far apart. It was another late night and good-byes came too soon the next morning, but we were left with full hearts and so much happiness for getting to spend some much-needed quality time with our good friends.

Needless to say, we are completely exhausted now and all but conked out on the couch, watching the Masters and nibbling on leftover cookies. We wish all the best for Cliff and Rach as they begin the wedding planning process (God have mercy on them), hope little Jackson is recovered from his mind-blowing birthday party, and that all of our friends and family have safe travels as they return home...or head out to sea (Cliff and Rach). Have a great week y'all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACKSON!

2010-04-09T05:58:00.000-07:00

You're cute, you're cuddly

You're such a hoot

With those rosy cheeks

And smile so cute!

We remember the day

You entered our lives

And looked up at us

With those bright blue eyes

You melted our heart

When you smiled our way

And right there we knew

We'd love you always

12 Months later

And Oh how you've grown

And we can't believe

That today you are ONE!

Cake and balloons,

And presents galore

We hope that you know

Just how special you are

So today as we sing

Happy Birthday with joy,

Just remember Jack Jack

We love you, sweet boy!

Happy birthday, to our nephew, who brings more joy and more love to our lives than we ever thought possible. You are such a joy and we cannot wait to celebrate with you.

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

2010-04-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

Well, my first week back to work was a successful one. I am learning a lot since, not only am I in a brand new position, I am also working for a completely different Jacobs line of business - infrastructure. The clients are different {no more BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil or Shell}, the jobs are obviously very different {roads, bridges, trains, planes and the like} and I therefore have to learn everything from scratch :) Well, at least I am very familiar with the Jacobs business culture and practices as a whole, which translate seamlessly. It is a lot of work but I am already loving the change!

We went and played bingo Thursday night with friends and it was so much fun. It was in the Heights at this musty lodge {kind of like the Lions' Club} but there were hundreds of twenty-somethings there, and with good reason. Bingo nights mean $6 pitchers - Shiner, Miller, you name it - and lots of snacks. It is BYOB/food too, which is amazing for those of us who don't want hot dogs, nachos, or other concession-stand food {though I hear their burgers are good...I wouldn't know}. Sarah was the only one who won, but she had to split her winnings with like 6 people {bummer}. But hey - she won, and we had a great time!

Saturday was our annual trip to the Shell Houston Open!

We headed out to Redstone Saturday morning after our farmer's market run and immediately grabbed some yummy lunch at the skybox on 18. After a cold beer, Troy and I headed out to walk the grounds, something that I really didn't do much of at my previous Open visits. It was beautiful weather and we got to see several golfers - Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, Y.E. Yang, Bubba Watson, Justin Leonard. I really enjoyed how calming it was to watch them concentrate and play. It is much better than watching golf on TV! After the sun started to get the best of us, we headed back to the skybox for some snacks and more cold beverages, and to meet up with my sister and James. We spent the rest of the tournament on 18, sipping, eating, watching, laughing. It was really a great time. Little did we know, the best was yet to come. Last year, we had tickets to the after-event, but didn't end up going because we were exhausted. This year, we decided to try it out, and Oh My Gosh! It was a blast. It reminded me of college all over again. Roger Creager was the musical guest, and we sat front and center, sipping our beer/margaritas, eating yummy food, dancing and singing along to the music. I cannot tell you how much fun we had, but we did snap some pictures:

Lindsey, Roger Creager, Me

Can you tell how much fun we had? Thanks Rick!!

Today is Easter Sunday, and as I type this post, I sit lazily on the couch, belly full of Easter lunch, grateful for such a wonderfully simple day. We went to Rick and Carolyn's for lunch and to watch Jackson hunt for eggs. It was so cute. He really did spot and capture the eggs, hidden conspicuously around the house. It was hilarious watching him scoot to each one, grinning ear to ear. I tried to snap some photos here and there.

It was a great Easter, though we missed the family that could not be with us, and look forward to spending the next one surrounded again by those we love. We will get to see everyone next weekend for Jackson's First Birthday though!!! I cannot believe that little monkey will be one year old next week. Time really has flown by...

Bring On the Patio Parties!

2010-03-28T17:19:00.001-07:00

It has been a busy week in the Davis household! We decided after last summer that we wanted to expand our tiny 10'x10' patio to allow for much needed space - to entertain, wash the pup, grill, etc. etc. So, we had a contractor come out on Tuesday and boy did they get to work!! Demo of the old patio was done Tuesday, the form and concrete were done Wednesday, supports were removed Thursday, and irrigation was redone on Friday. Then, viola! A brand new patio! We are so happy about it! Here are some pics I snapped with my iPhone while the workers did their thing:

Tuesday

Wednesday

Friday

After the workers left, there was A LOT left for us to do - buy some plants and flowers, soil and mulch, and do a lot of cleaning! We worked hard on the yard all day Saturday, but we think the result was totally worth it :) {Disclaimer - pardon the mess here and there!}

We are really happy with how it turned out, our little lima-bean-shaped patio, and we cannot wait to entertain on it. There is still a bit left to do before it is completely finished {put down some more sod, trench the flower beds, blah blah blah} but we did sort of 'christen' it on Friday by cooking out and having dinner on the patio with Taylor and Lindsey, Jackson, and Diana. It was a little chilly but it was a great time. We can see many meals out on that patio of ours.

Aside from all of the construction, we did sneak away Saturday night for Erin's birthday dinner, which was a lot of fun. Afterwards, we met up with friends to celebrate Blake and Whitney's birthdays. It was a pretty good weekend {aside from me being sick today}, but I am actually looking forward to starting this week; I begin my new job tomorrow and I am pumped! I am really ready for a change, after three and a half years of the same 'ole gig, and I will be sure to let you know how it goes.

Have a great week, everyone!

Another lazy weekend...

2010-03-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

Troy was off Friday, so we did some cleaning and organizing of our new bedroom furniture (yea!) and ran some errands. We went out to the outlet mall for a bit of shopping, grabbed some lunch, then hit the gym. Nothing exciting, but very very relaxing.

We went to the farmer's market again on Saturday and loaded up! We bought so many yummy fruits and veggies, breads and eggs. The weather was yucky though, so we went home and stayed there the rest of the day :) We worked on getting a lot of the rooms in the house put together now that all the furniture is where it is supposed to be. We actually got three rooms done - FINISHED - (minus paint and curtains) almost a year after moving into the house. We got all the beds done, furniture in place, pictures put out, things hung. Finally, the rooms don't just look like a sterile storage space! Check out some of the pics:

{Bedroom 2}

{Bedroom 3 - A Place for Troy's Hunting Stuff ;) }

{Upstairs Bathroom}

{I love this ruffled shower curtain}

Sunday was gorgeous, but it was made even better by a little boy Troy likes to call Jack Jack.

We headed over to Lindsey and Taylor's house to watch our nephew while they worked in the yard (something that is difficult to really do when you have an almost-one-year-old movin' and scootin' around!). It is always so easy to babysit Jackson; he is so good! I got him up from his nap and he was all grins, shy grins. Then, our little buddy ate some lunch and watched his parents work through the window. We played and played with him the rest of the afternoon, and I am so impressed with how much he has grown in the past year. He is talking a bit, dancing, waving, and I even caught him taking a few solo steps. It is amazing to watch him :) He loves his uncle Troy too. Just look at this grin as he holds on to Troy's leg as he washes some dishes:

And these just have to be my favorites - Troy gave Jackson his favorite hat to try on, but it was just a little too big. What a sport though, he was hilarious taking the hat off of Troy's head and putting it on his own head. I could have watched him do that all day!

Oh, and in other news... I am starting a new job on Monday! I will still be at Jacobs, but I will be moving to a new division and am very excited about it. We are also excited about the weekend as Troy's mom will be staying with us on Friday night. I foresee lots of yummy food, flavorful wine, and good conversation while she is in town :)

Farmers Markets & Furniture

2010-03-14T19:06:00.000-07:00

we.HAD.the.BEST.weekend.EVER.

Okay, that may have been an overstatement. But we did have an awesomely-amazing, relaxing, productive, and somewhat-exciting weekend :) Friday, Troy took a half day so we did nothing all afternoon. I read Eating Animals and he took a long nap. That was it :) My sister was in town for a wedding so we hung out for a bit before she went to the rehearsal dinner, then we had some dinner and watched Precious and Up in the Air. I was a very relaxing day. Nothing exciting.

Saturday, however, well Saturday was great. We woke up early and met Sarah and Matt in town to go to a farmer's market -- two, actually. Of course, I was excited to go because who wouldn't love a farmer's market on a perfect Saturday morning? But ya, mostly because of what has stemmed from my progress in reading Foer's book. I wanted to see what was out there, how much we would break the bank if we decided to change our food eating and buying habits, and how that farm freshness tasted. Well, pictures are worth a thousand words:

I am hooked. The farmer's market was not only a sea of healthy, fresh food, it was also very lively and entertaining, with music, made-to-order breakfasts, helpful farmers willing to share the ways of their trade, and samples galore. It was great. Thank you, Sarah, for being our market crawl guide!!

The rest of the weekend included breakfast on the patio, playing fetch with Tess, a little yard work and...furniture shopping {thank you, Uncle Sam}!! After a very short trip, we decided on a bedroom set {goodbye, Queen bed!} and breakfast table and chairs. God bless our salesman though {he sold us our living room furniture} - we are that couple who brings in a Pottery Barn catalog but wants an Ikea pricetag! Haha. He was great though and we are thrilled with our purchases. I will post pics when I get it all jazzed up, but here is a queen sample of the collection we picked {we wanted lots of storage but not a lot of furniture}:

After almost 11 months in the house, we are finally starting to feel it all come together :) I love getting new furniture, more than I love shopping for clothes, shoes - anything. I don't know why, but I suppose it is because we don't get to do it very often, and because we are finally starting to get our own collection, trading on our Ikea bits and hand-me-down pieces for some grown-up stuff!

I hope you all had a chance to take advantage of this marvelous weather and have a great week!!

Taking Chances

2010-03-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months since taking my leave, I have tried to be very open to new possibilities and new challenges--whatever comes our way. Not many people get the opportunity to do something like this and I am so grateful. I have learned and done things that I didn't think would be possible a few months ago {10k!}. This growth period hasn't just been limited to work, creativity and all that stuff though. It has carried over into something bigger and has started impacting several areas of our lives. Funny how that happens...

I won't bore you with all of the details, but I have had some health stuff come up, some issues more recent than others, and it has really jerked me into reality that we are not getting any younger {ya, I know, 25 is sooooo old} and that our bodies {my body} doesn't respond the way it used to. I can work out like crazy, and not see much change. We can eat salad for a week...no change. I get sick more often and don't have as much energy as I used to. Troy has a history of various health issues in his family and we are both more aware that the decisions we make now will affect our lives in the future. Of course, everyone {and I mean everyone} seems to have an opinion and what to do, what to eat/not eat, how much to work out, etc. etc. etc. I started doing some research on my own though and found out some very interesting things about food and what we put into our bodies. So we have made some changes, and are really happy with them.

Then on Tuesday, when we were at the rodeo with Lindsey and Taylor {told ya, the rodeo has taken over!} Lindsey was telling me about someone we know who read a particular book about food and it changed her life. I remember thinking "whoa, changed her life? Some book." She also said that the reader was expecting the book to be just another one of those finger-pointers--you know, those Vegetarian/Vegan-boosting, carnivore-bashing, McDonald's-dissing pieces that catch my attention but usually make me roll my eyes. But, apparently it was TOTALLY different than she expected. It peaked my interest but it wasn't like I was going to go out and buy the book or anything. Or so I thought...

Last night I was watching a recorded episode of Ellen {love her!} and author Jonathan Safran Foer was on talking about his book Eating Animals. That was the book Lindsey was telling me about! Here is a description of the book from eatinganimals.com, which I feel sums the book up best:

Like many others, Jonathan Safran Foer spent his teenage and college years oscillating between omnivore and vegetarian. But on the brink of fatherhood—facing the prospect of having to make dietary choices on a child’s behalf—his casual questioning took on an urgency. This quest ultimately required him to visit factory farms in the middle of the night, dissect the emotional ingredients of meals from his childhood, and probe some of his most primal instincts about right and wrong.

This book is what he found. Brilliantly synthesizing philosophy, literature, science, memoir, and his own detective work, Eating Animals explores the many stories we use to justify our eating habits—folklore and pop culture, family traditions and national myth, apparent facts and inherent fictions—and how such tales can lull us into a brutal forgetting.

Marked by Foer’s moral ferocity and unvarying generosity, as well as the humor and style that made his previous books, Everything Is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, widely loved, Foer’s latest tour de force informs and delights, challenging us to explore what is too often conveniently brushed aside. A celebration and a reckoning, Eating Animals is a story about the stories we’ve told—and the stories we now need to tell.

Ellen also had letters from and discussions with viewers {of ALL ages} whose lives were changed by this book. I like to consider all sides, listen to several opinions before jumping into something like this. I thought that these people had a realistic view of this controversial issue though and it was refreshing. The author himself even said something along the lines of "I am a human and I am not perfect. But I must try do my part." He talked about people preaching about being green, and then getting on an airplane, which is the single most detrimental thing you can do to our planet. But it just proves that WE ARE HUMAN, and sometimes convenience or finances or desire rule our decisions. Jonathan Safran Foer isn't asking us to become vegetarians {though many probably will now}, he is just asking that we look at the facts and make an informed, positive step in the right direction. Will everyone who reads the book cut out meat all together? Probably not. Let's be realistic. Several readers said the same thing, which was encouraging. They found it hard to go 'cold turkey' - no pun intended - but they are starting to make changes.

I am all about signs lately and I just thought this couldn't be a coincidence. And if it was, well, I am going to try to see it as something more. So I have decided {with the unexpected blessing of my hunt-and-kill-BBQ-master-burger-loving husband} to read Eating Animals, and incur whatever guilt, eye-opening, disgust, or irritation that may {or may not} come along with it.

Wish me luck... I'm off to the bookstore.

Can't Get Enough

2010-03-07T22:06:00.000-08:00

The Houston Rodeo has taken over our lives.

It seems like that's all the excitement we have going on here :) and it is obviously the only thing I have really been blogging about lately. The truth of the matter is that we are simply hanging out, going through our normal day-to-day, and the rodeo seems to be the biggest thing stirring up our normalcy. We love the rodeo though, so we don't complain too much!

On a separate note {and because I will definitely be writing about the rodeo a little later in this post}, Troy started a new project last week and is now working on a very large job, site being Queensland, Australia. Of course he is still stationed here in the Houston office, but it looks like Troy will get some opportunities to make some shop/supplier visits over the course of the project, which means he {we} will hopefully get to visit Germany and Australia some time in the near future. A girl can get excited about that, right?! All in all, the transition went great and he is enjoying the newness of it all - bigger orders, more responsibility. I won't say too much here, but I am very proud of my hard-working hubby. He is really making a name for himself at Bechtel and has earned a lot of people's respect. I know that only the best is to come for him...

In the meantime, Troy has directed a lot of free time toward training Tess to retrieve for the next hunting season. We went out on Friday to practice with her {I just snapped photos} and she is learning a lot. She loves running around, fetching the dummies. I think it probably wouldn't matter though if she retrieved anything more than a stick the first time they actually 'hunt' together; Troy will just be happy to have here there, for the whole experience of it. Tess is definitely a daddy's girl though, what can I say? He did set it sights on her the second we stepped out of the car at the breeder's!

Other than some Tess-training, we did a lot of movie-watching this weekend -- we saw Crazy Heart, The Hurt Locker, and Alice in Wonderland in 3D, and they were all amazing. We highly recommend you see them all.

Ok...I warned you - here it comes, the rodeo part of this post...

Saturday afternoon Troy went to play golf with Patrick and us girls went to {where else?} the rodeo to sample some award-winning wines, eat some not-so-healthy carnival food, and check out some of the exhibits and whatnot. It was a lot of fun -- beautiful weather -- and as always, there were many, many laughs.

The Oscars wrapped up our nice weekend and we look forward to another eventful week: concert on Tuesday, a visit from my sister this weekend, and a few shenanigans to get into I'm sure. Have a great week everyone!

Rodeo Run & Cook-off Fun

2010-03-01T11:04:00.001-08:00

Well, WE DID IT! We successfully completed our 10k - that's 6.2 miles - and we beat our expected time! We have never {seriously} done a race like this and our training results made us think that we would likely finish the race in about 80 minutes {especially when we found out that we had to run up and down a large hill, aka overpass, two times during the race}. But...we did our race without stopping and finished in 72 minutes! We are pretty excited about it and are already looking to plan our next race.

Here are some pics from after the run, wonderful quality via my lovely iPhone:

We did it!

We went to the cook-off Saturday night, which was a lot of fun. No Patron tent, but satisfactory BBQ and music (and drinks) nonetheless. I tried to snag a few photos; the rodeo events actually make for some cool pics -- lots of lights and people. Anyways, here is what tempted my lens...

Our first weekend at the rodeo was a lot of fun. We have a Texas Tech Alumni event at the rodeo on Saturday, and us gals are going to the wine tasting that afternoon. It should be another great weekend at the rodeo!

Yee Haw, Y'all!

2010-02-26T10:17:00.001-08:00

Well, there hasn't been a lot going on in the Davis house, at least not much to blog about. Mainly, we have just been prepping for the 10k Rodeo Run tomorrow. We are running the 6 miles with Sarah and Blake {though not literally, because I am sure they will both dart past us!}, and Lindsey, Allison, and Patrick are doing the Fun Run 5k. Needless to say, there will be a lot of people there and we are excited about it. Troy's mom is coming into town too, so we will hopefully have some much-needed cheering as we finish :)

The Rodeo Run kicks of the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo - maybe the biggest thing in Houston aside from hurricanes. We love everything about the rodeo: seeing concerts {we have tickets to Lady Antibellum and Darius Rucker this year}, eating at the cook-off, listening to live music, watching the rodeo events, and my favorite - the calf scramble and MUTTON BUSTIN! Here are a few pics I found online {sooo funny in person!}:

We have a jam-packed weekend - dinner with friends tonight, run tomorrow at 9:30, lunch, shower and rest, then head back to the rodeo for the cook-off that night. Then, we are planning to head to the Woodlands on Sunday for dinner with family. I am looking forward to March though, when things start to slow down a little bit and the weather {hopefully} starts to warm up. All of the back-and-forth forecasts are making me dizzy...and sick {which should make for an interesting run - sniffle sniffle}!

I will end with a recent pic of Tess; she has grown so much and I realized that I haven't posted any photos of her in a while :( Have a great weekend y'all!

I Hear Wedding Bells!

2010-02-23T11:36:00.000-08:00

So, I get up with Troy this morning (okay, I didn't 'get up' per say; I just woke up and lounged in bed) and notice that I have a few text messages. I go to my inbox and notice that there is one from my sister, Mandy, at like 1:45am. It says:

"Brian asked me to marry him tonight. Holy Moly, I can't believe it. I said Yes!! Just wanted to let you know that. OMG love u"

I freaked out, jumped out of bed and ran into the kitchen where Troy was eating breakfast, balling my eyes out. "Mandy and Brian are engaged!" I yelled. Troy looked at me like I was crazy. I am sooooo happy, words cannot describe. Mandy is the most sincere, beautiful person and she has grown so much with Brian. They have been through a lot and I cannot think of a better person to join our family and to be Mandy's partner for life. We are, of course, excited about the wedding festivities - cannot wait!! And, if I know Mandy, I am betting that she will be getting hitched on some white sandy beach, which makes me even more excited :) Yay!!

Congratulations Mandy & Brian!

I'm Giving Up...

2010-02-18T20:11:00.001-08:00

I was reading some blogs tonight and noticed a common thread - Lent. Lots of people, from different religious backgrounds, are participating in one of the more widely-practiced traditions of Lent - giving something up, something that will be hard to give up. So Troy asked me earlier this week what we should choose. Giving up vegetables or running, now that would be easy! But that would also defeat the whole purpose :) So we sat and tried to be realistic while still picking something that we would have to be dedicated to avoiding. So.... I settled on sweets and he settled on fried food. Not so easy for a girl with a sweet tooth and a guy raised on TexMex.

Usually, it is very difficult for us to be on different pages when one of us is attempting to change a habit, i.e. it isn't so easy to go for a run while your significant other sits on the couch eating queso and watching that episode of Grey's Anatomy that you missed last week. It is also hard to go to dinner and eat a house salad, hold the cheese, light dressing on the side, while your significant other orders a bacon cheeseburger with extra bacon. You get the point. So essentially, we are BOTH giving up fried food, and we are BOTH giving up sweets. Bye-bye Chick-fil-A chicken minis for breakfast. See ya later tortilla chips and flautas at any one of our favorite TexMex locations. Adios birthday cake tasting from any of the dozen birthdays we have coming up in the next 40 days. And those 4 BOXES of Girl Scout cookies that just arrived...ciao! Oh well though :) It is all in good spirit and we are actually looking forward to it. We have the 10k Rodeo Run next weekend (6 miles) so I am sure that the healthier eating habits will benefit us :)

I wonder what everyone else gave up for Lent...alcohol? Caffeine? Watching the Real Housewives?

Sassy Southern Housewife is Here!

2010-02-16T10:48:00.001-08:00

It's Here! I have finally launched the blog I have been talking about for a while now - Sassy Southern Housewife! Beacuse I have refrained from posting anything on our family blog that Troy would cringe at, Sassy Southern Housewife is a place for me to discover and discuss great buys, recipes, finds, fads, and anything in between. We can chat, share, comment...

I suppose it is really just an outlet for me, but it should be fun :) I will have a special section for recipe archives and photography tips and tricks (since I am still familiarizing myself with my camera and all its wonderful bells and whistles).

So please check it out, maybe add me to your blog list, and perhaps I will post something you find relevant :) Today's post - a recipe for yummy sugar cookies and royal icing.

Love Actually is All Around

2010-02-14T15:34:00.001-08:00

"General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around."

~Love Actually

Happy Valentine's Day, ya'll! We celebrated the day of love today by going to Home Depot (twice) to pick out paint for the dining room and bedroom, and new light fixtures for our bathroom...long overdue. We just sat down after a whirlwind of a weekend and we are exhausted to say the least. My sister came into town on Friday so we could celebrate her birthday, and my bestie from high school - Natalee - came in as well, with her husband Trevor, whose birthday is also the same day as Lindseys! So the 5 of us went out for fajitas and 'ritas at our beloved La Finca. It was a blast. They had to wear sombreros and got whipped-creamed by the waitors! Ha! Later, we celebrated with cake for 'Snow Bunny' (Trevor) and Nonney (Linds) and watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Thursday, I decided to make some sugar cookies I saw online. I went with a Valentine's theme (of course) so Troy could take some to work. I think they turned out really well so I will be posting the recipe for the cookies and the royal icing on my new blog tomorrow when I launch it (along with some fabulous finds to assist with the recipe)!

Since my sister was coming into town for her bday, I decided to make her some special cookies too. She LOVES butterflies so I tried to get creative with them. I have bigger plans for the next batch, but I think they turned out pretty cute :)

Saturday, I went to Sarah's Valentine luncheon and it was a blast. She made some delicious food and I got to spend some time with good friends. I forgot my camera in the rush out the door, but I am sure that Sarah will post some great shots of the food and festivities as soon as she sorts through them. We went with Linds and friends to a few bars Saturday night to celebrate Louise and her birthday in style. We danced the night away and although I took many pics, I will leave you with the first pic of the night. Posting others would just be embarassing :)

So as this day comes to an end and couples are heading out for nice dinners, we sit here at home, with the dog and the cat, watching NASCAR (what?!) and looking back on one of the best weekends we have had in a long time. I am going to pry myself off of the couch now to go whip up an alfredo sauce for our 'chicken fettucine alfredo' Valentine's dinner, so from our humble abode - Happy Valentine's Day!

"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart...Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived." ~Meet Joe Black

Show Us Your Life - Valentine's Dates or Ideas

2010-02-12T08:42:00.000-08:00

Over at Kelly's Korner she is doing a 'Show Us Your Life' about Valentine's dates or ideas, and I thought I would partake.

Troy and I used to really celebrate Valentine's Day when we were dating because it was something exciting, romantic, and well, an opportunity to go all out. So when we got married about a year and a half ago, we vowed to stop going nuts and just cook at home or do something simple. Well, that hasn't happened yet! Last year, we went skiing in Santa Fe for Valentine's Day and it was so much fun!

Unfortunately, we cannot go skiing for Valentine's this year, but we are still trying to fit a trip in before the snow melts away. Our plans consist of me going to a girls' luncheon at my friend and fellow-blogger Sarah's house, then going for drinks for my friend Louise's birthday. But, Troy and I are going to celebrate by going to a Valentine's lunch at Truluck's (or The Grand Lux Cafe - my fave!). Dinner will be at home; I am hoping to whip up something yummy...

As with several of the gift-giving holidays since our marriage began, we are skipping the element of surprise for our gift exchange, told eachother exactly what we would like for a 'valentine', went online and purchased. Unromantic, you say? Thoughtless? Uninspired? Well, we figure that when you have everything you can possibly need (are on a tight budget and happen to be saving up for a pricey camera lens and a trip), sometimes it is the thought that counts. So my Valentine is getting a box of conversation hearts (that's what he asked for) and some dog training stuff for Tess. I am getting this camera strap, and couldn't be happier!

So happy Valentine's Day, everyone! I hope you all have a love-filled day, and don't forget the spirit of Valentine's - to buy a bunch of commencial crap last-minute and go to an over-priced, over-crowded dinner. Hehe, just kidding. Love those that are in your life, and tell them as often as you can....oh, and eat lots of chocolate :)

Action Jackson - A Prototype of Sorts

2010-02-10T16:58:00.001-08:00

So I am working on an invitation with a super hero/comic theme so I tested some editing on a pic of Jackson so that I could see if I could get the right effect. What do you think? Is it comic book-worthy?

I will be working on some more, and may post them for your critique later :)

Another Busy Weekend - But Too Fun To Boot!

2010-02-08T20:19:00.000-08:00

First thing's first - I have GOT to post these cute pics I took when babysitting Jackson last Thursday. I swear, this kid just makes my job so easy!

We went to Coppell last weekend for a long-overdue visit with Cliff and Rachel. They took us to a *phenomenal* dinner to celebrate our birthdays at a place called Ferrari's. Brandon and Tiffani met us there, and can I tell you that this place was amazing? We ordered everything from filets and pasta, salmon covered in a creamy vodka sauce, and my personal favorite, sea bass. Dessert was just as mouth-watering. We ended the night on an equally high note - a game of Cranium! And, the girls won :) We went out to Cliff's parents' house Saturday and I got to snap a few pics of this and that.

We kept game night alive on Saturday by partaking in a hilarious game of Balderdash (I won!):

Now...How 'Bout them Saints?! Who Dat! We had all [most] of our bests over for a Super Bowl party on Sunday once we got back into town. What a game?! The commercials were pretty good (faves include the E*Trade baby "Milk-a-whaaaat?!", the Google commercial, Snickers, and Bud Light with T-Pain) but the game was even better. We had a few Colts in the room (ehem Patrick and Allison) but us Saints fans prevailed and we all had a really great time.

We have a few birthdays to celebrate this week, and with Valentine's Day creeping up, there is much to look forward to. And speaking of birthdays, a big shout-out to Jackson who is 10 months old!! Love you little buddy :)

Birthdays & A Little Bit of Art

2010-02-01T09:41:00.000-08:00

Hello Monday - the start of a new week! Last week was absolutely crazy so I am glad to be here at home, back to the grind.

I drove to DFW on Thursday morning and came back Friday afternoon, braving the dreary rainy weather. That was all made better though with margaritas and Mexican food for Carolyn's birthday Friday night. Never underestimate the power of a good margarita! Speaking of good {stiff} drinks, Saturday night was an absolute BLAST. Blake, Allison, Troy and I did something completely new and right up my alley - ARTOPIA. Artopia is an event thrown by the Houston Press celebrating "culture, fashion, food, art, and music". We wound in and out of curvy warehouse hallways looking at art, sipping our drinks, listening to good music, and catching glimpses of a fashion show, band, or bellydancing/flamenco performance. We sampled good food, got some great freebies, and I snapped as many photos as I could:

Blake's brother Brian painted the main mural for the event!

At Blake's casa - Allison with Boomer

Sunday was a great end to the weekend. We went to the Woodlands to celebrate Troy's gma's birthday with family and as always, we ate good food, had good conversation, and even got a Wii game or two in. I got to snap some more pics (of course!), mostly of the birthday girl with Mr. Jackson:

We are looking forward to this weekend - visiting Cliff & Rachel and Brandon & Tiffani! We have a full weekend in store, going to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, cooking out, maybe a concert or two, and of course Joe Ts! Can't Wait! Here's to a speedy week...

New Look!

2010-01-25T12:13:00.000-08:00

So, what I have I been up to lately? LEARNING, CREATING, DESIGNING - a lot! It has been such a wonderful experience to get to do what interests me, and I am just overflowing with joy. I cannot tell you (unless you have done it) how truly satisfying and oh-so-rewarding it as been for me to spend hours and hours and hours doing the things that I love to do (all of the thanks going to my wonderfully supportive husband, of course). I am studying, learning, and testing the heck out of Photoshop CS4 to enhance my photos and my designs (I am humbly working on THREE wedding invitations!), learning [gradually] CSS and HTML so that I can make our blog uber cute :) and begin to tackle my very first real website, and dabbling in digital scrapbooking. I'm tellin' ya - this gal isn't sleeping in until noon and shopping all day, oh no, I am working my tail off and loving it all the way...

So I hope you noticed some of my new tricks turned into reality via our new blog look. I love how much more personal it is and am very excited about it. I am sure it will change a bit more as I learn more cool features to add. If you want a new blog look, let me know! I am still in the eager stages of this endeavor and hope to maybe get into the biz, making cute headings, backgrounds, etc. for small change - so hit me up soon! I will offer my services temporarily as I learn :)

I am also getting to really explore another one of my passions, and perhaps the greatest of all my passions - Photography! I got a new lens (as you can see in the previous post) and LOVE it. Really, truly LOVE it! Problem - I have been researching other photo-takers' sites and seeing what equipment they use for their beautiful shots and it is making me yearn for bigger, better [more expensive] lenses. But, there is time for that...eventually...hopefully. Start saving my nickels!

My next endeavor is jazzing up my Chelsea Davis Designs blog and working on a new one for all that girlie stuff [recipes, fab finds, and more] that I am sure Troy doesn't exactly want his name tagged to :) I will let you guys know when they are complete!

Let's Park It!

2010-01-22T21:28:00.000-08:00

I usually try not to post too frequently, mostly because I dont have too much going on to blog about, but we went to the park today with Troy's sister and her friend Maranda so that I could test out my new lens. It probably wasn't the best time of day for snapping photographs since the sun was bright and often in Jackson's eyes, but I think that I got some good test runs in with the new lens, if I do say so myself, and I just had to post them (since I promised Linds and Maranda that I would). These boys are just too freaking cute!

I just had to sneak one in here of my guy. He can kid around with the best of 'em!