2013

2013 has been the best year of my life. I don't know how anything will ever top this year- but I will be sure to try! As I do every year - I will re-cap the year with the answering of a few questions:


Where did you begin 2013? In Houston with B!

What was your status by Valentine's Day?  I was with B and we were less than 3 months from being married!

Were you in school this year? nope.

Did you have any encounters with the police? nope.

Where did you go on vacation? New Orleans, Austin, Thailand, Delray Beach, Duck Key and Cuba!

What did you purchase that was over $500? A lot!

Did you know anyone that got married? Yes - me!

Did you know anyone who passed away? Not this year.

Did you move anywhere? no

What sporting events did you attend? Texans, Longhorns

Where do you live?  Htown

What is the one thing you thought you would never do, but did, in 2013? Get married! Ok I thought it would happen - but wow. What an incredible feeling!

What has been your favorite moment? The moment I became B's wife.

What was something you learned about yourself? I learned that I love cooking!

Any new additions to your family? May of 2013 I gained an entires side of our family and I'm so thankful for all of them!

Get a new job? nope

How old did you turn this year?  31.


I truly feel so blessed to have such an amazing life!!!

Resolutions

 

Do you have your New Year's resolutions ready?

Christmas

 

 

May you not make the ugly face and may you have a Merry Christmas!

Family and Christmas time!

Christmas Lights

 

 

I hope your Christmas Decorating is going well ;)

always somebody

In Thanksgiving...and in jest...

 

I hope you and yours have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Parents

 

So very true.

Crazy fun life

The past few weeks have been crazy, but fun.

B and I went back to Austin 2 weekends ago. We went to the UT game and truly had a wonderful time being in the city where we first met. UT won, which made it all the better! We stayed with the best man in our wedding and his wife (and their 4 month old - who is so precious!!!) All in all - It was wonderful.

This year is flying by so quickly and there is so much happening in our lives.

We already have our next two trips planned out. Both are family trips. One with his parents and one with my family.

With his parents we are taking their boat from Delray Beach, Florida to Duck Key. We are staying in the Marina (on their boart) at Hawks Cay Resort.  I am looking foward to it. I love my in laws. They are truly such amazing people and I love that we all get along. I feel truly fortunate to have in laws that are so wonderful. I know quite a few people who are not as fortunate as I am. Hearing the horror stories makes me know how blessed I am. A week in the Florida keys sounds fabulous to me!

The other trip that is now finally planned is our trip to Cuba. This trip with my family is something that I have wanted to do ever since I was little. The last time my mom was in Cuba, she was 8 years old. This is a "homecoming" of sorts, and yet I know it will be incredibly hard on my grandfather. I think there will be ups and downs - but truly I want to see where my mom's family comes from - and I want to see it through his eyes.

There are so many things to look foward to - Thanksgiving, CHristmas, Parties, luncheons, dinners and everything in between.

This truly is the best time of the year!

Crayons

love

 

It has been over 4 years since our friendship was "set on fire".

Tickets booked!

The Travel Agent booked our flights to Cuba and we booked our flights to Miami.

OH MY GOSH

THIS IS HAPPENING!

4 Amazing incredible years

Today marks 4 years of B and I being together.

I know our anniversary has changed now that we are married. October 29 is no longer the date to "celebrate" as May 11 has taken that spot. But 4 years is incredible to me.

Incredible for so many things - because 4 years ago - I was not a wife, I was just becoming a girlfriend. I was in many ways finding myself and figuring out life - afterall this is what my entire blog is about right?

Figuring out this long road called life - trying to live and love life one day at a time.

I named my blog that so many years ago (February of 2008- wow I have been blogging on this blog for over 5 years...where did the time go?!)

The thing is - I still don't know about this life - I am STILL trying to live and love life one day at a time - but now - I am not doing it alone. I haven't done this alone in 4 years. B and I are figuring out this long road called life - TOGETHER and we are living and loving life one day at at time TOGETHER.

4 years is a big one for the two of us - we now are in our longest relationships ever. Both of us came with baggage- both of us had "previous lives" and previous relationships that lasted over 3 years...but never 4.

So here we are - jumping into something new - and yet - we already made the leap we are husband and wife - and all of this is new - and yet- he and I - we aren't new - we are just us on this journey together.

This journey that has been the largest blessing in my life (and his I am sure) than I ever thought possible. I cannot believe how much life can change in 4 years.


B- Thank you for the last 4 years. You are my heart, my love and truly the greatest person I've ever known. I am in awe of our life together - I am so blessed to be on this journey in life with you.


2013 has been the best year of my life so far - but I know it is just getting started.

Halloween!

 

 

Happy Halloween :)

Vacations

It is no secret that B and I love to travel. He travels all of the time for work - I do not. I love to see new things and experience new cultures.

I am 50% Cuban. My mom is 100% Cuban and grew up in the states.

We are planning to go to CUBA. You see, my grandparents are from Cuba, and my mom while being 100% Cuban was born in the states. She spent her childhood summers and holidays in Cuba - but it has been 50 years since she has set foot on the island.

All my life I have been curious to see where I am "from". Most people and visit where their family is from - obviously as an American I have yet to go to Cuba to see where hald of me is from. I have asked my grandfather numerous times if he would ever want to go back and up until now the answer was a resounding NO.

After our wedding he told us that he wanted to go see family. I think our wedding really hit home about family to him. He wanted to bring his grandchildren to see our history and to meet his family that still lives there. Aunts, uncles and cousins. My great grandparents both lived in the states until their death. My grandmother passed away when I was 14.

He is our link to our past. We are in the process of getting family visas or whatever they are called - so that we can visit family and see Cuba not as a tour group but as a family seeing our history. There are two kinds of Visas and the one we want is the one that allows us to be there NOT as a tour group. These are harder to get and we have to prove that family lives there.

I am excited, nervous and thrilled that this may actually happen.

Never in my life did I think that I would be able to see Cuba through my grandfather's eyes.

So this trip is in the baby stages, but I cannot wait!

Head, Heels and Standards

Hug

storms

Better

Difficult People

Friday Five

{ONE}
B comes home tonight. B has been traveling like crazy for work - in fact it is the 20th of the month and he has slept in his own bed only 2 nights this month. I am so ready for my husband to be home for a while.


{TWO}
Girls night. Tonight is our monthly girls night and I am so ready to catch up with my girlfriends. We are all sorority sisters and were in the sorority during the same years, but we didn't all become friends until a few years after graduation when we all lived in the same city. It is really fun to meet up with the girls and catch up on life.

{THREE}
The downstairs is almost completely painted. My dad and I have been working hard on it this month. I hope by early October it is completed and then B and I can start on the furnishings! (Like I said, we are doing this very slowly - which is why it is taking some time.

{FOUR}
Rain. It has been raining like crazy and I love it. I sleep so much better in the rain!

{FIVE}
Date night is Saturday or Sunday brunch, we haven't decided.  See number one and you will see why I am so excited about a date with my husband! I'm a lover of brunch- he is a lover of sleeping in and I also know he really wants a home cooked meal- good thing I've already planned the next week of our meals as I know he wants nothing to do with restaurants!

Pretty, Witty, Gracious

Friday Favorites

I have a few favorites this week:


1. I have a TON of hair products. I ran out of one and just started using another one and I love it. I have really curly, really thick hair. I like wearing it curly. I got this as a sample I think in a birchbox or something and this stuff is amazing! And I know I am not the demographic this product is aimed towards- but I do not care. THIS STUFF IS AWESOME.

2. We went to Tony's Mexican Restaurant last night and they have the very best Chicken Tortilla Soup - $6. SO GOOD.

3.  Labello Fruity Shine. I found this in the bottom of my makeup drawer (I am slowly trying to actually use all of my makeup). It is the perfect color and shine for my lips.

4. Hanging out with my best friend. We met up for dinner last week and I just love her to pieces. She gets me. Everyone needs a friend like that. 

5. I'm going to a craft fair tomorrow and I cannot wait to see what they have!

4 Months....MARRIED that is.

As of yesterday, B and I have been married 4 months.

Time is flying by, but I wanted to reflect on how wonderful the last 4 months have been.

I never grew up thinking about the wedding I would have - I grew up wondering what kind of person my future husband would be. Lucky for me he is better than anything I ever imagined.

B's been traveling a lot lately and it really makes me miss him. Usually it isn't so back to back but for the next month or so he is only in town a few days at a time. It's ok though, we pack a lot into those few days!

I wake up every morning in disbelief that I am a wife! I love the feeling of knowing he is my husband. While in my heart I already felt like he was the one - saying the vows and making it real - it changed something.

I simply adore my husband.

I was out to dinner with friends who were talking about having to fix this or that around their house because their husbands or boyfriends weren't handy and they looked at me and I smiled. I knew that was not an issue with us. I also let it be known as I always have that I don't think we should talk about the negative things about the ones we love. I think we should build them up. I think they understood what I was getting at.

B can fix anything. We have two jet skis and an extra car that proves that! :) The extra car was bought recently as a project for him. It has been nice seeing him doing something he really loves. Not that he needs more projects- but cars are his hobby/passion outside of geology.  He has also fixed our garage opener, our dryer, our overhead vent and countless of other things in the time we have been together. I have learned quite a bit from him!

I feel lucky. Lucky that we've had such a wonderful 4 months, lucky that in October we will have been together 4 years and lucky that back when I was 21 years old, I met a guy who grew into a man who I had no idea would one day be my husband. I'm so grateful for our friendship but I am so blessed by his love.

Rules for a better life

5 on Friday

 

{One}
I am loving the fall starbucks drinks being out. Granted it is 100+ degrees out, so I have only indulged in a Salted Caramel Frappucino

 

{Two}
Müller Greek Corner Honeyed Apricot - this stuff is so good!

 

{Three}
That tomorrow is game day.

 

{Four}
That our downstairs is almost completely painted. We decided to DIY it as it would cost over $1500 to paint it not including supplies and B, my dad and I said "we can do it". Yes it has taken 10000% longer, but in the end that gives us $1500 more towards something else!

{Five}
I get to spend time with the parents this weekend.

Project 333

In the past few months, I have been reading a lot about minimalism and simplifying. I came across project 333 - it is called project 333 because you choose 33 items to wear in your wardrobe for 3 months. I have decided to do a "modified" or "cheating" version of this.

The real rules are here:

Project 333 GETTING STARTED

I have modified it for myself - I chose 33 clothing items (this doesn't include jewelry, shoes, accessories or tights) and I am starting there.

Over the 3 days weekend I went through my closet and chose 33 items for me to wear from 1 September - 30 November. I also am not including my winter coat (as I live in Texas and I will probably only need it a handful of times.)

I know some people will call this cheating - but for me- I am doing this more for myself to come up with outfits within my closet. I am also making Polyvore sets of each day so that I can look back and see how many different outfits I can make with these options.

Part of this exercise is also about simplifying my life. I hope to every Sunday pick out all of my outfits (head to toe including underpinnings and jewelry and shoes) for each day so that my morning routine is easy. So far- 3 days in - I love it.


Here are my outfits for the past 3 days:

 

_______________________________________________

 

_______________________________________________

___________________________________________________

 

 

While this is by no means a "fashion blog" - obviously I am very boring with my fashion- I am using it as a place to document this journey - and all of my other ones.

 

 

 

IN the process of this entire undertaking - I donated 2 bags of clothing - clothes that I do not wear and know someone else needs.  B and I also did this in our kitchen as well - we don't need various sets of plates, silverware etc. Slowly I am trying to get our "stuff" under control and make life more about living instead of cleaning and organizing! 

Football

Mom

 

Today is my mother's birthday. It is a "big" birthday - but if I put the age of her online she would kill me. I remember her reading Dr. Seuss to me all of the time when I was little.

 

To my mom - I love you. I am the person I am today because of you and Dad. I am so proud to be your daughter.  You bring so much love and joy into my life. There truly are no words to say how fortunate I am to have you as my mom. I was raised in such a loving home and truly as the years go by, I know how lucky I am to have you. I love you more than you will ever know and yet probably less than you love me.

 

You truly have given me the world. From our trips to Paris, truly your favorite city in the world- to encouraging me to become myself. I know we differ on so many things, but the big things - you taught me. You instilled adventure, love, generosity, and selflessness in me.  I learned these traits from watching you and seeing the kind of person you are- because as much at my little brother and I give you a hard time - you truly are the very best person we know. I love that you taught our family that being together is truly a gift - that you instilled in my brother and I that we are to be friends, not just siblings - and that family comes above anyone else.

 

You love with your full heart. You have a sense of adventure that probably could have gotten you killed a few times and you are such an incredibly hard worker. You taught my brother and myself how to LIVE. You give of yourself tirelessly so that your "babies" have such wonderful lives. Truly- because of you- B and I's wedding day was our perfect day. Without you it wouldn't have happened.

 

So - as you turn a milestone today- know that your son and I are so blessed to have a mom like you.

 

I love you.

Couches

B and I are in the midst of painting and redoing our living room (ok our entire downstairs, but one project at time.)

So in the midst of redoing our living room - I want to start furnishing it better.

We currently have a black leather chair and black leather couch (these are from our pre-us days) and we haven't gotten around to getting something nicer. We also have a glass top coffee table and end table.

We were gifted a pottery barn rug (pictured below) from our registry and I want to build the remaining living room around it.

Now B wants a leather couch - the thought being once we have children it can go into a game room and/or not be ruined if something spilled on it. I am ok with that - but I don't want black leather (it screams Bachelor pad to me). 


So currently - I am in the market to find new living room furniture that isn't too crazy expensive!

Any ideas of places to look for couches and other living room furniture?

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Wedding Wednesday- 10 things I would do again

With the wedding behind us and life starting, I was thinking about our wedding day and there are a few things in a heartbeat I would tell people to do.

These are the things that REALLY worked for us. Everyone is different.


1. Receiving Line.  We had 143 guests. The line took a little under 20 minutes. In 20 minutes we said hello to everyone and truly got to just party at our reception. We were standing at the doors to the ballroom right before the cocktail hour ended. They opened the ballroom doors, and started to lead people towards us from the cocktail hour area. It was perfect- everyone got to say hello to us and our parents. We got to thank everyone for coming, and it was over with in 20 minutes. We got to hug everyone. It was more of a "hugging" line than a receiving line and it was perfect. For us. The rest of the night I didn't feel obligated to go by each table- I just met people out on the dance floor. I also got to sit next to my husband during our dinner, instead of walking around.

2.  I am 30 and my husband (eek I still love calling him that!) is 31. We skipped the bouquet and the garter. I am glad we did.

3. Once everyone was through the receiving line - they closed the ballroom doors. Everyone took their seats. Then they reopened the doors and announced us. It was still special and we went straight into our first dance.

4. Our wedding was the day before mother's day. We made sure to have our flowers go to good use- to moms that lived in the Houston area, my dad went to their hotel rooms and gave them flowers- our florist did a great job in making the centerpieces really easy to give away in little bouquets. Hearing one of the people tell my mother in law that I am the most thoughtful person - that was obviously really nice - and the rest of the flowers went to a nursing home. We felt that flowers were a big part of our budget (I LOVE FLOWERS) and we wanted them to be enjoyed as much as possible.

5. Getting cake to those in our family that couldn't attend. The hotel was great at putting some slices of cake into to-go containers in their refrigerator after the wedding. (We requested this.) B's great grandmother and her sister could not attend, so his Aunt dropped off some cake to them on Sunday. It was wonderful to hear how much they enjoyed it!

6. Having a few minutes before the ceremony with just my immediate family. I love my friends, I love my bridesmaids. I loved that everyone wanted to have time with me. I also love that I could say- I want only my immediate family in the room. Right before the procession started- it was my dad, my mom and my brother and me. Our last moments as a family of 4.  I'm so glad I got that.

7. Not doing a first look. I know this is controversial- but I didn't want it. Plus - we wouldn't have had time anyway!

8.  Writing a card to each other. We didn't do wedding gifts- we wrote each other wedding cards to read right before walking down the aisle. I love my card. I keep it next to my bed.

9. Having a "game plan" with B- before the wedding. We knew what we both wanted from the wedding. He knew I wanted to dance and party, I knew he wanted to have some time on the porch (our reception room had an outdoor part of it) to smoke a cigar with his buddies and he wanted a few minutes with just me - as well as time to party. We both got what we wanted. He also knew I didn't want cake smashed into my face!

10. Since our reception was in a hotel, we were downstairs around 10AM. A lot of people (at least 60% of the people) came from out of town. We wanted to be downstairs in the lobby to thank them one more time for coming. I'm glad we did. Then we had our game plan- we wanted to have brunch as a married couple - by ourselves - with our puppy. So we headed to get our dog and then we headed to have brunch as a new family. It was perfect.

I truly believe a wedding day is just one day. It is a very important day, but it is one day. Our wedding day was perfect for us - but being married and starting our lives together, those are the moments I love. I love being on "this side" of married. :)

Calvin

Painting

So B and I are about to embark on a very large painting task. We are going to paint the entire bottom floor of our townhouse.

This includes- the kitchen, breakfast room, entryway, living room, master bath, master bedroom, closet and up the stairs.

The big issue is - all of those areas, except our kitchen, closet and bathroom - have 2 story walls and ceilings.

So this will be a very long project.  The project also includes repainting all doors, floorboards and putting up board and batten in the breakfast area. Right night everything is white. Well kind of white. White that has yellowed over time.


So....we have our final color for our main living areas. The kitchen, entry, breakfast room and living room are all somewhat connected - so they need to be the same color.

The color for those rooms is this:

It is a brown/grey color. We have natural stone on our fireplace and travertine tile floors - so I believe this color works perfectly.

The big question I have is - WHAT color WHITE should we use? I want a BRIGHT white for the baseboards, windowsills and doors. There are just so many options.  Any ideas?

Lipstick

101 in 1001

I've done the Day Zero project in the past and B and I were working on one as well. With the wedding and everything - for a year we did nothing on them.

So I restarted.

B and I's started the day we got married. (See the page at the top to see what adventures we have in store) and I will start a new one for myself on January 1, 2014.  I will try to do more on the one I have still listed (Dayzero project #2) but if I fail, I am ok with it. There was a lot going on in the past 2 years of my life. Plus, the lovely thing about the project is that it truly just gets us DOING things, enjoying life and getting things done. I cannot complain about that!

Mothers and Daughters

 

I think THIS is what mothers need to work on with their Daughters. I am so glad my mom taught me these lessons.

Worry

worry

Five on Friday

As I used to do the Friday Favorites, I think this is a great way to get into it again!

So link up and join!


1. My new favorite BB cream. AND IT IS A DRUGSTORE ONE!

L'OREAL Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream - I am in the light shade.

This stuff is amazing. It comes out of the tube white and then makes my skin look perfect!

 

2. In keeping with the whole makeup theme- I bought a new makeup brush from Ulta. I have seen it featured on a lot of blogs and finally decided I need it.

Real Techniques - Exper Face Brush

This brush is about $10 and amazing.

 

 

3.   A Cape Cod.  This is my favorite drink. Vodka, Cranberry and Lime juice.

 

 

4.   My new favorite blog. The Daily Connoisseur - Check it out!

 

5.   Heading to the the Big D!  B and I are headed to Dallas today to see his family.

 If you are the praying type, please keep his great grandmother in your prayers as she had a stroke recently.

keeping your mouth shut

Our Wedding

May 11, 2013 was by far the very best day in my life - and I know in B's life as well.

We went to bed that night saying that our wedding day was truly perfect.

It really was.  The funny part is - we are not really PDA kind of people, but apparently we were kissing all night as you can see in our pictures!

Some detail shots:

My Bouquet 

Roses, hydrangea, ranunculus, peonies and freesia.

There is a dragonfly pin that was my late grandmothers pinned to it.

 

 

 Centerpieces/Table settings:

We had 2 different centerpieces for our 15 tables. The tall ones and the short ones.

Each place setting had a menu made specifically for that person as well as the place card which was held up by a wine cork that we got from friends and family - my dad made them stand up and cut them so the place card could fit.

 

 

My dress

 It had a lace bodice and a silk bottom.  The center "sash area" was blank when the dress came in. Our seamstress was amazing and  she made the embroidered center area with swarovski crystals.

 

My shoes

They were Gold Glittery shoes and they were comfortable!

 

 

My engagement ring

 I wish we had one with my wedding band and his wedding band and my engagement ring, but this picture puts a smile on my face as I took piano lessons for 14 years.

 

 

Our Cards

Before the wedding we sent each other cards. I sent him the one you see him reading and he sent me the one with the red convertible. Our getaway car was his parents 1966 Red Mustang Convertible. The sentiments in his card to this day make me want to cry and smile at the same time. I hope to frame both of those cards together.

 

B's Grooms Cake

We are both Longhorns. It is a "red velvet" cake, but instead of dyeing it red, they dyed it "Burnt Orange".  The beers are real. We go camping a lot and B loves his Yeti cooler. We also gave out burnt orange koozies.

  

 

My cake

All of the bouquets are surrounding it. The cake is on my great grandmother's table cloth. My grandmother used this table cloth as the tablecloth for her cake table and my mom did as well. I wanted to keep the tradition alive.

The cake was a traditional wedding white cake. Everyone commented on how delicious it was. It really was to die for! The cake came out even better than I could imagine.

The lace on the top of each layer looked like the lace from my dress.

 

 

 

 CEREMONY:

 

My dad and I as we entered the room.

 

 

Top picture- the look on Bryan's face when I walked down the aisle, the bottom picture, me walking with my dad.

 

 

 

 

 

My dad giving me away.

 

 

 The Kiss!

 

 

 

 Bridal Party Pictures:

 

All of our bridesmaids and groomsmen.

 

 My bridesmaids

L-R:

S- I've known her since I was 6 years old and her family moved on to our street.

B- I've known her my entire life. Her son was our ring bearer.

B- I babysat her when she was first born. She is 15 NOW!

K- My matron of honor and best friend. Her daughter was our flower girl and she is 6 months pregnant with her son in that picture!

S- We met in college and could not be more different and yet she keeps me sane!   

 

B's Groomsmen

L-R:

D- He lives in Brazil and was a foreign exchange student and lived with B's family in high school

E- Married to S (my bridesmaid that I have known since I was 6)

M- good friend from college and fellow geologist

M- B's best friend. They met in college.

Lastly, C- My brother. Our only sibling!

 

  

Our Ring Bearer and Flower Girl

 

 

 

PARTY TIME:

  

Our First Dance.

It was to "It Had to be You" - the Harry Connick Jr version from the movie

 "When Harry Met Sally"

The movie When Harry Met Sally truly is our story, except we met in college not after college.

  

Our first dance- you can see his wedding ring and you can see the ring I wore on my left hand - "my something blue" - it is a sapphire that was my late grandmother's- she bought it when my grandparents lived in Thailand. My mom gave it to me on our wedding day. I love it.

 

 

B's dance with his mom. They danced to Rascal Flatt's "My Wish"

 

 

 

My dance with my dad. We danced to Heartland's "I loved her First"

 

 

Cake cutting!

  

My brother and My mom really getting down!

My grandfather and I.

  

My little brother and I.

 Our Bubbles Exit

Getaway car

  

 One last kiss before we headed off into married life

Pictures of just us:

  

Lastly I leave you with my favorite picture of our wedding day. I love how happy we look and how truly in love we are.