To the end of this year and the beginning of the next one...

May next year be an even better year than this year. May your year be full of love and laughter!



Family Blessings

Happy 30th...to ME

As I turn to a new chapter in my life and enter into my 30s...here is what I have to say about my 20s:

So as I sit back and look at who I was when I turned 20 to who I am now - I am 60% a different person.
I say 60% because I think I have always been a kind, compassionate person.
I don't think I always stood up for myself - I learned my self worth and value in my 20s. I learned it is ok to not smile through everything, and I learned not to always have a wall up.
When I was 20 years old- the same women that are in my bridal party were in my life. I was blessed.
When I was 20 - I backpacked through Europe ALONE.

I've moved, made new friends, lost some friends, watched friends get married, watched friends have babies.

I've traveled, seen more of the world, met all kinds of people.

I've become me.

As I enter into my 30s - I will become a wife (May of 2013!) and hopefully, god willing, in my 30s, I will become a mother as well.

I look at this next chapter with so much joy.

Home

Roxy is home. She is resting and the vet said she will be better soon.

I already see her personality coming back.

She saw me and her tail wagged like crazy and she was licking our faces.


I missed this pup!

Roxy

She spent all day Wednesday at the Vet. She is still being fed through an IV, but we did add some can food to her diet.

It is so hard to see her like this. She is usually only 10.5pounds and right now she just feels like bones. So tiny. She has probably lost about 2 pounds, which is a lot when you are that small.

She slept at home last night again and seems to be slowly getting better.

All I want for Christmas is my puppy - healthy and happy.

Getting better

Roxy came home last night. She heads back to the vet this morning as they wanted to watch her one more day.

She wasn't 100% herself, but she is doing better.

I just love her so very much. B and I are so happy that she was home.

Wedding Wednesday

So the menu is set, the save the dates are out...and there is SO MUCH MORE to do.

This Sunday my mom and I are ordering our wedding invitations.

I am beyond excited.



It took a lot of time for me to figure out what I wanted - that didn't break the bank.

I want Thermography
I want gold lettering
I want simple, yet elegant.


Let's see if I can find something like this:

My Roxy puppy

Yesterday when I left for my lunch break to head home, B called me and said to hurry home.

Roxy had been throwing up all over the house. When I got there, she was so sick looking.

We packed her up and headed to the vet.

I held her wrapped up in a towel and petted her face telling her how much I love her.

The vet took one look at her, got her temperature and said they were going to run tests and get her an IV for fluids as she was dehydrated.

That was Noon yesterday.  The vet wanted to keep her overnight. So here I am playing the waiting game.

I miss my puppy. (I know at almost 5 she is not a puppy anymore, but she is my puppy - she is 10.5 pounds and full of energy - she bounces all over our house and makes us laugh constantly.)

I want her home. I want her ok.

Positive Thinking

 

 

I believe in the power of positive thinking.

Wedding Wednesday

Tomorrow is a day that I never thought would come!

Tomorrow I go with my mom to try on MY wedding dress. The Bridal salon called and said that it was in. I am so excited.


Coming from Spain - made with beautiful lace and amazing silk. I cannot wait to put it on. Mostly because THIS is what I will be wearing when B and I become husband and wife.

Forever Friends

Wedding Wednesday- Menu

We had our tasting a few weeks ago and our menu has been set. I am BEYOND excited and the food is out of this world!


For our cocktail hour, we are having passed Hors d’oeuvres:

Warm Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with Remoulade

Warm Grilled Colorado Lamb Chop, Rosemary-demi glace

Warm Feta Cheese and Sundried Tomatoes Wrapped in Phyllo

Shredded Hoisin Chicken Wrap on Asian Spoon - I dont have a picture


For our salad:
Mixed Sweet Lettuce, Oven Dried Strawberries, Granny Smith Apple, Feta Cheese, Toasted Walnuts, with Champagne Vinaigrette


The entrees are a choice of Roasted Gulf Snapper or a Steak.

 

 

And then the cakes - I am so excited about B's cake. We have not done my cake tasting yet, but that will be sometime in January.

The Four Agreements

in Thanksgiving

My brother lives in the same city as B's family. So this year for Thanksgiving, my family went to that city and we did Thanksgiving 3 times!

Thursday we went to a Latin Fusion restaurant with my parents, my grandfather, my brother and B's parents.  After eating we went to B's parents house and watched more football than ever before. Fun was had by everyone.

Friday, we went to a Pizza place with the same people as above but also including B's Dad's parents and B's dad's uncle. (B and B's dad are both only children.) Unfortunately, you can't see B's grandmother's face in the picture - but she is so lovely!



(Left side of the table front to back - my brother, B's grandfather, B's mom, B, my dad.

Right side of the table front to back- my grandfather, B's great uncle, B's dad, me, B's grandmother, my mom.)

Lastly - on Saturday we went to a Mexican restaurant with my family, B's parents and B's mom's side of the family. Everyone drank and ate way too much - but it was wonderful.


I feel truly blessed that the blending of our family has happened so easily. With B being an only child, my brother is our only sibling and I couldn't be more blessed to have him and B get along so well.  We are so blessed to have our amazing family!

Save the dates

 

 

We sent out our save the dates last week. This is feeling more and more real than ever before.

 

 Obviously the one below has a few things removed (names, website, day and location).

 

But here is what our Christmas Card/Save the date looked like:  

 

 

 

Rich

 

 

So very true.

A Weekend breakdown

This past weekend B went hunting and I was home.

I had a breakdown.

I look at my life and I am surrounded by love. I love my life - so please don't take this the wrong way when I say that this past weekend I just broke down.

You see - while there are MANY amazing things happening in my life - there are some unsavory ones.

I was at the 9 month mark of having this all behind me - and then I got the news. It came back.

Like I said - I have so many things to be thankful for and I am a truly optimistic person - but I think I had too much time on my hands this past weekend - and I lost it.

I am just sad that hasn't gone away - and sad really isn't the correct emotion. I am upset, angry, sad and scared. I love my life right now - I ABSOLUTELY LOVE planning my wedding - to my dream guy. I never in a million years could have dreamed the love we have. I never in a million years thought my life could be what it is.

This is the most joyous time in my life - and yet I am fearful. I shouldn't be - but I am.

I go back in January for the next appointment to see if it has progressed or retreated.

So, while most days are about flowers and cakes and pretty dresses - SOME days - I am anxious and scared. 

All of this is part of life - and through all of this - a different kind of love has been shown to me. How B cares and loves for me through my ups and downs - through the great news and the devastating news - the way he loves - it is the way I need to be loved. For this I am the most thankful for during this Thanksgiving.

Amazing moments in life

via

 

 

 

Sometimes, I have to remind myself of amazing moments - moments that make me stop and think -

 

Life is good.

Fill in the blank Friday

My best quality is my loyalty.

One of my less flattering qualities is my temper.

I'd rather be  READING.

Something I have been challenged with lately is  losing weight. BUT I WILL GET THERE.

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving with my entire family - old and new!

A super random factoid about me is I love to travel!

I want to do a lot of reading this weekend!

Wedding Wednesday

BRIDESMAID DRESSES


So I picked out the Bridesmaid Dress.

 

I wanted something that was Chiffon and light weight. I also wanted a light green.

I also wanted it to not be crazy expensive.

I loved this one the most of all of the dresses we tried.

 

The girls will be strapless, and my junior bridesmaid will have spaghetti straps.

 

Sunsets

Together

 

Right now we are in the "we want to go everywhere together phase".

Fill in the Blank Friday

Link up with Lauren at The Little Things we Do to play along


1. Something I swore I'd never do, but ended up doing anyways is I have no idea - but I have a feeling whenever i become a mom I will do all of those things!

2. Something I have always wanted to do is go to Thailand!!!

3. Something I have no desire to ever do is  I am copying Lauren, but skydive - seriously jumping out of a perfectly normal plane? I will pass.

4. The best thing I ever did was meet up with B. Seriously, hands down the best thing I ever did was say "yes" when he asked if I wanted to get together for drinks and catch up. We caught up, and pretty much saw each other every single day afterwards.

5. When it comes to trying new things I am ALL FOR IT. I love to try new things.

6. One thing I have never done is hmm, I've never eaten a full tomato. I HATE THEM.  

7. My favorite thing to do is READ.

Wedding Wednesday

Not your typical Wedding Wednesday.


As this week we celebrated 3 years of dating (and in May when we get married we will be celebrating 10 years of friendship!) I wanted to go with Marriage advice -


So give me your best marriage advice (or if you are not married - advice you have heard through your friends etc.)


From my parents -  "Love deeply and say I'm sorry."  "Laugh every single day."

From my best friend "When fighting, be careful what your words are as what you feel about him and say about him are the most important words to him - make sure you are aware of this, even if it is the 500th time he forgot to take out the trash."

From my grandfather "Mama Connie (my grandmother) was always right. Even when I didn't want her to be."

3 amazing incredible years

Tpyically I post a pinterest post on Monday...but not this Monday.

This Monday is different. 3 years ago today, B and I started dating..for real this time. In the past we had gone on a few dates here and there, but we never actually had a relationship. We were friends.

Everything changed on October 29, 2009. We had been hanging out, going on a few dates and just genuinely enjoying each others company - little did we know we were starting a relationship.

We traveled, went to weddings, hung out with friends, partied, got to know each of other's families:

This time we were both in it, for real. 2 and half years later, on April 5, 2012  this happened:

And now, on October 29, 2012 - 3 years from the date we started dating - I cannot believe we are getting married in a few months.

I don't normally do this, but here goes:

B,

From the moment we became friends in college, I knew you were different. I did NOT know you would one day become my fiance and my soon to be husband. I knew you were kind, generous, always down for some fun, and that you smiled constantly. I knew you were passionate about life, cars and having a cold beer. I did not know you were also passionate about me. I knew you were a wonderful friend and I knew we could talk for hours - our bank statements probably agree since we drank so much starbucks in college together. I did not know we would be sharing those long talks and endless starbucks together years later. I knew we were friends, I never thought we would one day be husband and wife.

 

I cannot tell you how amazing it is to see us grow - grow up, become adults, see each other through rough times and great times - but mostly to have you by my side. I am lucky, I am blessed.

Thank you for the countless times we met at the starbucks on Far West, the many rides home in college after a great night at Cain and Abels, fun poker nights, going to the shooting range, long talks about love and life, telling me I shouldn't do something (only to still do it and you be right!),  all of the adventure, the camping, the trips, making me try things out of my comfort zone but mostly...

 thank you for taking the bold move of getting in contact with me after a few years had gone by with no communication between us. Without that - we wouldn't have built this amazing life together. 

I never thought in a million years that long ago from our very first date back in 2003, to becoming friends for years, to losing touch and meeting up again in 2009 that we would be here in our life together.  I cannot wait for us to be married.

I love you with all of my heart,

A



500

This is my 500th post.

This blog has been around since February 20, 2008.

A LOT has happened since 2/20/2008.


I love that I can look back and see where I was, who I was, what I thought about, what I dreamed for and what I was doing over 4 years ago.

Some posts make me sad for myself - for where I was, what I was going through. Some are hard to read.

Most just show me that the road in life is a road that goes up and down, left and right. This is my life. I choose to share it and I choose to love it.

Thank you for being on the journey with me. For watching the ups and the downs and the ups again.


Some of you have been amazing cheerleaders for me, beacons of hope, providing laughter and light hearted comments. Thank you for your friendship!

Mostly - I am just glad I have a place to write.  Here is to another 500, may there be more laughter and less tears.  May there be love. A lot of Love.

Wedding Wednesday

Our tasting is coming up in a few weeks and I am excited - I mean we get to eat! (Ok and figure out what our guests will be eating!

On the menu as some things to taste for our Cocktail hour:

Mini beef wellington

 

 

Grilled Colorado Lamb Chop

 

 

Crab Cakes

Mini Lobster Rolls

 

Salmon Tartare

 

 

 

This is making me hungry!!!

 

 

Jet Skiing

So B bought 2 jet skis this summer. 1 from his cousin and the other needed some work.

I confess that I wasn't exactly thrilled about these jet skis. I hated the first one he bought - It wasn't stable and it is more of a "racing" type  - perfect for him...not for me. Which then got him thinking about buying another one for me - "so we can jet ski together"

This past weekend we went jet skiing - IN OCTOBER - because it is still in the 80s here.

I confess that I had a lot of fun. I love "my" jet ski.

So now they are winterized and after we are married we will take them out on the lake - because after our honeymoon that is pretty much the only thing we will be able to afford to do - and I cannot wait!

That special someone

 

This is so true. So incredibly true.

Friday Favorite Five - food edition

1. COFFEE-MATE Pumpkin Spice Sugar Free Creamer.

When I cannot afford or choose not to afford a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte - this does the trick in my regular coffee.


2.  Mini Babybel Light Cheese

I love opening the wax covering and eating them. These were a "treat" in our lunch box at times as kids and I loved them!


3. Butternut Squash and Crab bisque soup

Whole Foods carries this in the Winter time here and I love it. It is an indulgence - but I partake in it every once in a while. SO GOOD!!!

4. Celery

I love celery - crunchy and watery. I LOVE IT!

5. Tzatziki Sauce

Use with celery and pita. MMMM MMMM MMMM

Fill in the Blank Friday

Join Lauren and link up here for Fill in the Blank Friday!

1. One thing I plan on doing to relax this weekend is  watch the UT Football game - although if it is anything like the last TWO games...it isn't really relaxing...


2. A big pet peeve of mine is people who talk to hear themselves talk AND people who are CONSTANTLY negative. I GET SO ANNOYED AT NEGATIVE PEOPLE!

3. I am really loving  that when I woke up this morning the air was crisp - I know it will be 80 degrees by noon - but it is SLOWLY feeling like Fall!

4. The rain is very soothing for me. I love to curl up and read a book when it rains.

5. My favorite girly indulgence is any kid of makeup product or skin care. My Vanity is overflowing - hence my spend freeze until at least the wedding on makeup and skin care products (unless I need it FOR the wedding!)

6. A song I always get stuck in my head is "Call Me Maybe" whenever it is on the radio and ANY Adele song.

7. The best cure for stress is SLEEP! :)

Engagement sneak peek

I came home and looked into my inbox and there was one photo from last night...the last picture of the evening...and I love it.  I will get all of the pictures in a few weeks.

For now, this one is my favorite.

Wedding Wednesday

Today we take out Engagement pictures...I'm nervous - I am also VERY excited!

It has been rainy all week and today the blue skies are out - fingers crossed it stays that way!

Festival des métiers

What is this a picture of?  It is a picture of an Hermes scarf in the making.

Hermes' Festival des métiers came to Houston and they showed us how their scarves, jewelry, purses and glassware are made.

It was amazing it watch the process.

Now I want another scarf!