Gone away, missing you

B travels for work - not too much, just enough so I can miss him. He is usually gone about one week a month. This past week he was in Wyoming and Utah.

When he is gone I have girls night with friends - usually a sushi night or something of the like.

This time when he was gone - I just missed him. No real reason more than usual, but I did. I think it is so healthy to spend time away, just for the fact of knowing that when we are together, it really is so special - so I don't take it for granted.

It is so nice to have him back in town!

Is it Vacation time yet?

Strange world.

My brother is in law school at E.Mory. As of right now he is in another country doing an internship. A lot of his friends are interning this summer in different countries.

He got disturbing news this morning that one of his classmates had been detained in Egypt.

Read here

Obviously we don't know the entire story, but I cannot imagine what his family and close friends are going through.

Away

I've been away for a few weeks.

Memorial Day weekend was amazing.

B and I headed to Lake Travis with some of our friends. We camped for the entire weekend. Truly great to getaway from it all. Plus...I love Austin. It was was wonderful.

The following week I had another procedure for the same thing as I still have cancerous cells. WE took some more precautions and I have another check up next month AFTER I get back from the BAHAMAS.

Have I mentioned that? I'm going to the Bahamas for 10 days this Summer! I'm excited.

as the days go by

The reason that I started my 101 in 1001 was because I found myself not truly LIVING. I was going through the motions of life, but not enjoying it. Daily now I live. Sure, I spent last night on the couch with B watching the Mavs play - but that is where I wanted to be.

I truly remind myself to live each day - to enjoy each day as it was your last. So I live and I love. I truly love my life.

What I love so much is that I truly have found a partner - for life, in life. We explore, travel and see so many things. Soon we are going to the middle of nowhere with some friends. A middle of nowhere beach to camp and just be in a beautiful place. He has helped me see that I love doing things like this. While I complain at times (I mean there are NO restrooms in the middle of nowhere) it is wonderful to TRULY get away from it all. He does indulge me at times - we did stay at a beautiful 4 diamond hotel while in La Jolla, California 2 weeks ago. We do it all. Later this summer we will be boating from Florida to the Bahamas for 10 days. Like I said - we do it all. From camping to 4 diamond hotels to boating. Last year was a big mountain year - with Colorado and all of the offroad adventures - this year seems to be our beach year.

I love traveling alone - but I love traveling with him more. I've never felt that way.

San Diego

B and I went to San Diego last weekend and it was wonderful - so wonderful that in fact no pictures were taken.

It was relaxing, fun to walk around, and truly just nice to be together.

We went to the desert and on some jeep roads, saw the seals, went to a farmers market where I bought the BEST oranges that I've ever tasted! Truly it was wonderful.

It was a nice quick little trip to kick off our vacations for the summer...

We are going to the BAHAMAS for 9 days later this summer...and I cannot wait! :)

Life changes

Blogs are funny. Sometimes you write a post and then other people's blogs posted at similar times as yours have similar 'takeaways'. Here is what I was working on when I read about another person's whose life is changing -linked below.

My life is changing...has changed and is constantly evolving. I look back on the past years and see ME..but I also see parts of me I don't ever want to see again. I realized in years past that I was living in the "what will be" and not the "what is". I was looking towards my future and not at my present. It all changed summer of 2009- my life changed. I was at rock bottom. I was not anywhere near who I am now. I was a shell. I was broken.

I decided in July that my life would be everything that I ever dreamed. So I started right then, over July 4th weekend learning to be myself. To love myself.
Through my 101 in a 1001 challenge, meeting new friends, setting up a new life, moving, catching up with B and starting our life together- me, the person I am today...emerged.



A blog buddy...Al, has gone through and is going through life changes...and is moving to TURKEY. All I have to say is that it makes me so happy. :)

So..one of my favorite blogs is doing a giveaway:
Houston's Weekly Chic



Grand Prize Winner

(will receive the following plus whatever else we decide to throw in:)

hanging shoe organizer

hanging sweater organizer

floor shoe rack

leather pda/cell phone/ipod charging caddy

square corner shelf

alphabetical binder dividers

Avery mailing labels

2 under-the-shelf baskets for the kitchen

**bonus** - the first 3 issues of Life+Dog Magazine


2nd place - a Purseket and Real Simple Grocery Checklist

3rd place - Post-it Pockets





So how do you enter?

Go to Houston's Weekly Chic and read all about it!

God Bless America

I had a post that I wanted to write - all about the Royal Wedding...but now - it just seems so frivolous.

So instead -  God Bless America. I am not one to rejoice in someone elses death, but I am one to rejoice that someone who caused terror in Americans lives and lives abroad was brought down.

As former President Bush said, "Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al-Qaida network that attacked America on September 11, 2001. I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude. This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."




Thank you to our military for keeping us safe.

Easter Weekend wrapup

B and I headed to Dallas to spend Friday and Saturday with his family. It was a lot of fun. Friday night we went to dinner with his parents and some of their friends...at their usual place- Mi Cocina. They go every Friday.
Saturday was a whirlwind of family. We went to B's great-grandmother's house (mother's side)  for lunch along with the entire family. It was an enjoyable afternoon - flying kites, catching up and meeting members of his family I didn't know. Saturday evening we went to his grandparent's house (father's side) and went out for Sushi. It was really neat to see his grandparents eating sushi, hearing about different stories about B and his family.
SAturday night we went to my godparents house to drink wine and catch up.

Sunday we headed back to Htown - with a stop at my parents house for their Easter party. Margaritas, ham, and all the delicious things my mom makes.

By the time we unloaded the car...we were exhausted. We needed a break from our break!

Tuesday night I scored Astros tickets from work - club level - and I caught a foul ball...not too shabby...


and THE ROYAL WEDDING is coming up...have you heard? ;)

Top 2 Tuesday - Collections

It is TOP 2 TUESDAY again...

This week it is COLLECTIONS


1. I collect shoes...mainly this kind...

Sam Edelman's "Gigi" sandal. I have 7 pairs. I get new ones every year and continue to buy more - none are the same. I live in them during the summer - and I can wear them to work on Fridays. It's a win win! I have those two colors, a hot pink, a teal, a cork, a black and a zebra. I am coveting the leopard and the plain brown leather for this season.


2. I collect beauty products? I mean I have a ton - so much so that I have some at B's place, for touchups etc. Most at mine. I also have some at my parents house, my desk at work, my car and my purse. It is a bit ridiculous - but I LOVE makeup and everything to do with it. Yeah....

Weekend Wrapup

This was what I call a lazy weekend. I loved it. I read, gave myself a pedicure and a facial. I went to the farmer's market, drank starbucks and truly just slowed down. B and I went out for crawfish and enjoyed the outside! Sunday I had an alum brunch - DELISH! Who can go wrong with Brenner's. mmm...and then I did nothing the rest of the day. It was lovely...and I think I just needed some time to just be.

Blood taken

My doctor - on top of what will be happening Wednesday also wanted to have a full bloodwork up done on me. I obliged. I fasted for 12 hours and went in this morning...warning...this is a bit gross/has to do with blood.

I have to say, I was a little bit annoyed at the nurse. She pulled the needle out of my arm and didn't put pressure on it immediately and therefore blood started spewing. I felt faint. Granted, in the end it was all ok and I only got a little bit of blood on me - but after 5 vials taken, I just wasn't feeling hot to begin with and then to see more jolt out of my body...not cool. Whenever I have my blood taken I get a little light headed - today was way worse...at least I got myself starbucks afterwards...I mean that was a great excuse!

All in all...I am ok. I just get REALLY moody about all of this. I just want it to be over and done with. I want to know what is going on with my body and to know what to do next.

Allergies/pollen

Is anyone else having allergy issues?
Is anyone else's car yellow/green due to pollen?


Just wondering :)

RELAX

With B out of town this weekend for work..I did something I haven't done in ages...I relaxed all weekend long.

Went to the Original Ninfa's for dinner with friends on Friday night. I'd never been...SO GOOD.

Saturday I went grocery shopping and then took the pup to the dog park...she loved it. Then we went on a 2 mile walk. She loved that too...this is what she looked like afterwards...yeah she was tired. I just love how HUGE her tongue is when she's exhausted!

I spent the rest of Saturday reading, enjoying a glass of wine and truly just relaxing.

Sunday - went to Church, took Roxy out again and then enjoyed dinner with a friend. A nice relaxing weekend.

sad

Back in January 2009 I wrote about something somewhat personal. You can read about it here.

So I've had to go every 6 months to have this checked out...but this time it came back worse and now they will be doing another prodecure as it showed cancerous cells. As my doctor has said, I am very lucky that I don't have any STDs (um thanks? thanks for that Doc!) but apparently STDs (mainly HPV) could make this situation even worse. So that's the highlight I guess- yay no STDs! (not that I was worried at all)-  I guess she was just trying to make me feel like everything could be worse? I'm not sure.

But anyway, later this month I will be seeing the oncologist and have a few other tests done. I was trying to explain my emotions but really the only word I can come up with is sad. I feel like my body is failing me - I didn't do anything wrong and yet this is happening. It just makes me sad. I have been trying to just think of the positives of life, how if it is bad, we caught it quickly, so that is always a good thing. How it could be nothing, but mostly - I just try to not think of it - which is nearly impossible.

Anyway...since I do use this as my "journal"...I just wanted to write it all down. It somehow helps.

Rut

I'm in a rut. With a bum shoulder - oh I didn't ever write about that...I have a slightly torn rotator cuff - which means im in physical therapy, which also means I feel so incredibly weak and my shoulder is sore ALL OF THE TIME. I will say it has gotten so much better...SO MUCH BETTER...but I have my days. Soon hopefully it will all be a distant memory!

As for all the rest of it - im in a rut. A cooking rut, an after work routine rut and just in general feeling blah. So...I'm trying to get out of it. I want to try new things- I love Cooking light magazine and I'm going to try to pull a few new recipes to try, I'm going to try to actually get things done after work instead of being lazy - but sometimes after work I'm not gonna lie - I only want to get dinner cooked and have a cocktail...cuz I'm classy like that. ;)

2011 Vacations!

As I mentioned last year - We went to La Jolla.
B travels a lot for work. He gets to go to really fun and awesome places and sometimes I get to meet him for a long weekend in those fun places.We went to California and Colorado last year...and this year he is going back to La Jolla.

I am meeting him at the end of the week...I couldn't be more excited.

We are staying at the Grande Colonial Inn. I fell in love with this hotel last year and cannot wait to go back.

So we have now started planning the trips of 2011...so far - we have Padre Island (for camping), La Jolla, Florida and the Bahamas and who knows what else. I must say...2011 is looking to be wonderful!

DayZero Project

I've received a TON of emails about the DayZero project - and truly it is a wonderful concept.

The real point of this project - to me is this - to stop waiting for this or that. To really plan out all of the things I want to buy, do, say, etc. It really helped me connect more with myself. I've always wanted to try some new things but I never got around to it - so I challenged myself - and gave myself a reasonable time to get them done. Sure I didn't get 100% done, but I did do a lot of things, that I hadn't done. Tried new things, planned out trips and truly enjoyed every one of them.

I've heard of 30 before 30 or 40 before 40 - all WONDERFUL ideas...just make sure you aren't 39.5 and only give yourself 6 months to do things that may not be reasonable - for example (don't put on there a trip to china, a trip to the bahamas, backpacking Machu Picchu and save $5k in our savings) as that would be incredibly difficult to accomplish (depending on your finances...I know it would not be feasable to me) but all the trips I put in mine - I have 2.5 years to plan, save and know that's where I want my money to go - not on a new pair of shoes - if that makes sense.

Truly - It was an amazing experience for me. Mostly though, through a rough period in my life, it helped me have goals, stay positive and enjoy life. :)

101 in 1001...

Back on August 1, 2008 I started the DayZero project. Basically I set 101 goals, challenges and other things to do to accomplish by April 29, 2011.  It is 2.5 years later...while it isn't April 29, 2011...the next month is packed so I don't believe I will have time to get anymore of the goals done. Out of the 101 goals...only 9 were left undone. This makes me happy. While it wasn't 100% I am so happy with the results. So...as of May 1 I will be doing another one. I am will post the new goals on a tab sometime in the next few days and I am so excited.

As for the one B and I are doing together - I think it is going wonderfully.

Life is good.

Life

I feel that life is flying by and I am not taking the time to enjoy it...so this week I am going to try to "stop and smell the roses"...