Honeymoon planned...

Our honeymoon is BOOKED....


We will start our honeymoon on one of these...actually on 3 of them...for a total of 25 hours...including layovers...

Then we are here for 8 days:



Then we are here for 4 days:

During this time we will be doing all kinds of activities and seeing places we have never seen. Some of these are:

ANY guesses on where are we headed to start married life?

I guess I should STOP daydreaming and go back to wedding planning!

Fill in the blank Friday

I didn't mean to take a blog break - it just happened. Life has been crazy and at some point I will write about it I guess.

So here goes with Fill in the Blank Firday - join in with Lauren over here....

1. I am a very tired and grumpy lady today and all this week - no a/c in our offices is really ticking me off - it is broken at the moment and we are on the top floor of an office building in Houston....it stinks.

2. I have always  loved Starbucks frappuccinos.

3. I hope to one day be a mother if that is what is in the cards for me.

4. I can get a lot more accomplished if I am listening to music. Especially housework!

5. I dream of  our honeymoon - I will have to do a post on where we are going. I AM BEYOND excited.

6. The way to my heart is to be B. Just kidding...but not really!

7. I am passionate about - at this moment, sleep. In life - making sure people aren't drinking and driving. I had a friend killed by a drunk driver when I was in high school and then I worked for MADD (Mothers against drunk driving) in high school as their secretary and it just became a passion - take a cab, call a friend - nothing is worth getting behind that wheel.

Fill in The Blank Friday

Join Lauren over here -- for Fill in the Blank Friday Fun!


"If I could get away for the day I would go...."


If I could get away today - I would go to the beach - layout, read and enjoy some sun.



A post on London will come at some point - once I load our pictures and everything. We had a blast - and we are now planning our next big vacation - OUR HONEYMOON!!!! And thoughts, ideas etc of places we should go? We want a relaxing beach honeymoon....any ideas are welcome!

Happy 4th of July

May you have fun with your families and remember how lucky we are to live where we do. Thank a soldier, thank a friend and truly fill your heart with love and freedom.

Sometimes life is hard...

There are days that I think this....

Today LUCKILY was NOT one of those days! But this makes me smile every time I see it!

Friday Five Favorites

Things that are my favorites today:

1. SUNSCREEN SPRAY - I live in Texas...I am pale. Hence - this is needed:

2. Lands End tank tops. They are stretchy, cheap and I live in the in the summer. THESE I DO wear to work - usually under a blazer or a cardigan - I live in Texas - if it is blazing hot OUTSIDE...it is generally 65 inside - a sweater is needed.

3. Restoration Hardware "No crack super hand cream" in lemongrass - my hands are always dry. This stuff IS AMAZING.

4. Looking at my ring. I just love looking at it. I love what it represents, what it promises and what it means for our future together - yep I'm a sap. I'm ok with it.

5.  My Dr. Jart BB Cream - this stuff, especially in the summer - does it all for my face - I dont wear it daily (I am blessed with easy skin, but when I need some coverage, it is great!)

Fill in the Blank Friday

It is Fill in the Blank Friday at Laurens...click here to join in the fun!

Today's prompt is one word:

SUMMER

Write whatever you want about it.....

I live in Houston - Summer means REALLY hot days, hot nights and lots of margaritas. It means being in the lake, at the beach or in a pool - it means SUNSCREEN, laughter and ice cold beverages (mostly margaritas.)

This Summer - I head to LONDON. I am beyond excited. 



Words of wisdom

Wedding Colors

I think I figured out the colors for our wedding, inspired by this:

Friday Five Favorites

Five things I cannot live without at the moment:

1. My Sam Edelman Gigi sandals (I LIVE in them during the summer and over the past 3 or 4 years I have a small collection of 6 pairs.)  These are my favorite pair:

2. Apple, Goat Cheese and Pecan Pizza.  IT IS SO GOOD.  The recipe is found HERE 

3. Easy to wear dresses - I have them from all kinds of stores (Target, Anthro, Lilly Pulitzer, Gap, Banana Republic, Loft).  Dresses, when paired with Gigi sandals are my summer "look" No I do not wear GiGi sandals at work - I do however have a pair in my car to change into after work!

4. Fun lipstick - Guerlain is still my favorite - it is smooth and creamy and I LOVE the packaging.

5. Ok this is NOT a thing. These are people:

 The women that I have asked to be my bridesmaids. (I wanted to ask them in person so it will take a little bit, unfortunately one had to be asked not in person as she lives FAR away.) I have one more to ask, tonight when we are at dinner. I am truly lucky to have them in my life and I cannot imagine life without them. They came into my life at varying times and they are ALL incredibly different from each other. 

Fill in the Blank Friday

Please join in the fun over here and link up at Lauren's site!

Today's prompt:

If I were to host a dinner party:





1. I would invite - my friends and family

2. The theme would be - beach chic

3. I would host it at - Since this is imaginary - it would be in Santorini:

4.  We would eat - GREEK FOOD!

5.  It would look like this:

Just remember that....

Fill in the blank Friday

A new twist that Lauren has placed on Fill in the blank Friday - instead of multiple questions, there is only one.


Why do you blog?

I blog because:

I grew up always having a diary.
I like to keep track of my life.
I like to look back and see what I was doing exactly 1, 2, 3 years ago. 
(3 years ago I was in a COMPLETELY different life. It is amazing to me to how much can change in a short period of time.)

I blog because I live. I exist. I matter. To me.

Even if no one reads it - I blog for me. I don't have this notion that someone really cares about my embarassing moment, and if y'all do - I love ya for it - but that isn't why I write it down. I like seeing myself change, grow and enjoy my life. I love to look back and see where I've changed and where I haven't.

As for blogging about B - I blog about him because I never knew this could be my life. I never knew I could be so in love, so happy and truly "have it all". My parents did - I just didn't know in this day and age that people still "loved each other, didn't cheat, wanted to settle down and be together forever".

I also blog about him because he is the single most important person in my life.  My life and my relationship with him are the most important aspects of my life. We have our own "family". We are creating a life together. I want to look back on that life at see it as a life full of love but a life well lived.

That is why I blog.


PLease link up here and let us all know why you blog!

Friday Five

1. That we chose a venue...a beautiful venue. It has everything and is everything I could dream of for our wedding.

2. That I will be here soon: (for 9 days!!!)

3. Mascara that my Future Mother in Law bought me - because she loved it so much "she had to get it for me too"  I am now in love with it also. (B is an only child, so I am the only female in the family and she is a girly person, so I love spending time with her. )

4.  Peonies

5.  I'm getting MARRIED!!!!!!

Words to live by

I truly try to remember this - I think it is such a good quote.

I just knew

Things on the wedding planning front are in full swing. We decided on a date and a venue. I am so excited! I am just waiting for the venue to call me back so that we can SAVE THE DATE.


Truly- I look at my life in awe and with such thankfulness. I am so incredibly thankful to be RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

Growing up I never thought about my wedding (I wasn't one of those girls who planned out her wedding when I was young) but I did think about who I would marry. My parents are best friends, lovers, confidants and know that no one else in the world wants more for each of them than they do. I loved growing up as one of their children in a house full of love.  A house full of laughter and a house where my parents showed me what a real partnership is. I just always wondered if I could replicate that in my own life.

You see, for my parents very first date my dad drove from Birmingham, AL to Miami, FL to take my mom out. He asked her out in Birmingham (where she was for college and where he was working) and she dismissed him and said "if you really want to go out on date, I am going home for a few weeks, here is my address in Miami"  - MY DAD DROVE TO MIAMI TO TAKE HER OUT.

I grew up hearing that message - to let someone chase you, don't do the chasing. My dad always said, when the right one comes into your life, they will never want to let you go.

I get it now. For almost 10 years B has been in my life. At 21 he asked me on our first date. We went out and I had a lovely time. I just didn't have that "click" with him. So for years we hung out ALL of the time - going out for drinks, playing poker, getting coffee and having long LONG talks. I moved away from Austin and we lost touch for a while. Then we started hanging out again - I would go into Austin and we would have fun going through the hill country, talking, getting coffee and having fun together. He didn't want long distance and so we went our separate ways. Then 2.5 years after that (and both going through long term relationships that weren't right for us) we reconnected and for me, I just knew. I knew he was my partner for life. I knew God had a bigger plan for us than I knew when I was 21.

I can't believe in less than a year, we will be married. I am truly blessed and more thankful than I could ever imagine.

Just remember....

Have a Happy Memorial Day!

Have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day...

In case you didn't know already:

Cape cods are my drink...

Traveling...but not me....not yet anyway

B travels for work - not all of the time, just some of the time but usually a lot at the same time. I know that sentence makes no sense!

Basically when it is great to be outside - he is traveling. He is a geologist. He likes rocks...I like rocks too...


His kind:

My kind:

Technically I like gems and minerals...but you get the drift.


Anyway - he has been traveling.... A LOT lately - as in for the first 25 days of May - I saw him for exactly 30 minutes one day (his flight came in and my flight was leaving, so we met for coffee half way between the airport)  and 12 hours another (my flight returned and he left the next day) - for 25 days I saw him for 12.5 hours.


This weekend we will be together camping. I cannot wait to be by the lake, soaking in some sun, reading, eating and drinking....but most of all I cannot wait to see him.

I couldn't say it better

Cooking

Whenever B is out of town I find that I don't really cook anything...Meaning - maybe a baked potato, but mostly it's either frozen veggies I zap

( I LOVE GREEN BEANS!)

or I eat cereal:

Do anyone have easy 1 person meals that they like preparing? B travels often and I would like to not just eat green beans or cereal....or a microwave dinner thing...

Fill in the blank Friday

Link up  HERE

1. Something that is very near and dear to my heart is  my relationship with B. I cannot wait for our wedding day, I cannot wait to see what the future holds - but today, and every single day - I wake up knowing I'm loved, cared for and most of all that we are in this together.

2.   My little brother graduating  is a good cause to celebrate!

3. The most fun I ever had was  backpacking through Europe...I cannot wait for London this year!!

4. True friends are hard to come by - but truly they help make my world go round!

5. Something that makes me terribly happy is  planning my wedding - I KNOW I KNOW- I so didn't want to be one of those girls, but it is so fun...for now anyway.

6. A good way to spend a sunny day is  by the pool, in the ocean or with a drink in hand OR ALL of the above.

7. My favorite celebratory food is popcorn or ICE CREAM.

Heading to the ATL

My little brother graduates from Emory law school this Monday. I am so excited for him. (I know he is more excited...but you get the drift!) I cannot wait because this means that in about 2 weeks he is BACK IN TEXAS. He went to undergrad in Nebraska, worked in Texas for a year and then headed to Atlanta for law school.....I cannot wait for us to be only 200ish miles apart. I have hated that we were at least a days drive away from one another. Yes we talk often on the phone and catch up and try to see each other as much as possible...but it isn't the same. So I am excited for him, and I am happy he will be a Texan once again.

Fill in the Blank Friday

It is FILL IN THE BLANK FRIDAY....link up at Lauren's blog ... HERE

1. My bedtime routine includes - shower, wash face, brush teeth, pick Roxy up and put her on the bed and then fall into bed.  Yeah...not having kids makes bedtime a breeze.

2. I am -  ready to find a place that I want to hold my wedding at! SAturday my mom and I are going to look at a few places.

3. I can't stand TOMATOS because I think they are gross.

4. My idea of relaxation would be massage and a facial followed by sitting in a sauna.

5. If I had an extra $50 I would  probably go buy a pair of work pants...I need some new pairs.

6. The best thing about a bloggy friend is it is fun to meet new people that you would otherwise have never met.

7. A recipe I have been dying to try is  Ina's sour cream cake! MMMM.

Wedding Rant

I think weddings are crazy expensive. I think the moment you tell a vendor it is for a wedding - the amount doubles...or more....ok I am done.

Fill in the Blank Friday

OK it is Fill in the Blank Friday again ...go here to link up with Lauren's blog at "the little things we do"

Ok here goes:

1. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is : go to the bathroom. I know...I KNOW...but it is true, that's what I do.

2. I can hardly wait for: this Sunday! We are visiting our first VENUE!

3. The quickest way to my heart is ice cream because  I LOVE IT and it makes me smile - blue bell homemade vanilla please.

4. A little known fact about me is  I wasn't one of those girls dreaming about their wedding growing up so I AM CLUELESS as to what I want or do not want..I just wasn't girly. 

5. The best part of my job is I get to go to awesome events like YESTERDAY I got to see Condoleezza Rice speak...yeah it was awesome. Yes I am from Texas...so you can probably figure out my political views.

6. Something I just couldn't live without is  mascara - I have like zero eyelashes.

7.  Something useful that I wish I knew how to do is be crafty. I suck at it.

How it happened

I realized I never fully told the story of how we became ENGAGED:

I got off of work early on Thursday, April 5. As B's birthday is the 7th we had planned to go out that night and celebrate just the two of us. I should have known something was up when he showed up at 4 in the afternoon. We decided to go get cocktails before dinner so I started getting ready much quicker.

As I went towards the front door there he was with my ring in his hands. I was stunned. He asked me to marry him and I said "are you kidding me, are you serious" and then I just started jumping up and down saying yes. It was sweet and very much us. Roxy was running around looking at me like I was crazy. It was hands down the best day of my life.

Afterwards I called EVERYONE- but first my parents (neither answered) then my brother - he was the very first person I told. I then retried calling my parents (mom answered) and she said "congrats, it's beautiful isn't it?" - That's when I knew he had showed my ring to my parents - they knew it was going to happen before I did. I love that he asked. FINALLY my dad called me back. I knew how happy my family was for this day to come.

We went to his dad's office (his dad has an office in Htown and in Dtown and was just by chance in Htown that night) and showed him. Everyone was very excited for us. His dad's office had a party going on and we had our pictures taken, I hope to get a hold of one of those.

Afterwards we headed to dinner at Haven (AMAZING!) and then to The Tasting Room to open a bottle of champagne and just be together.

Fill in the blank friday

It is Fill in the Blank Friday again...please link up with Lauren over here-

1. Today is a great day because - I am headed to the ATX to see my best friend!

2. Tomorrow I will - be at a spa. I CANNOT wait. The bestie and I are going to a spa weekend.

3. My favorite time of day is the afternoon because it is usually a lot less hectic than the morning.

4. Sometimes you just have to - say to heck with this and pour a glass of wine and enjoy the afternoon.

5. A song that I just can't get enough of lately is - I don't really have one at the moment. I listen to books on CD in my car these days.

6. My favorite accessory is - MY ENGAGEMENT RING....sorry, 2 weeks in, it still makes me smile EVERY time I look down. I hope I feel this way in 35 years as well.

7. My favorite thing about this week was - starting wedding planning. I have a love hate relationship with it.

Weekend roundup

B and I spent the weekend in D-Town again. His cousin gets married last month and his mom was putting on a shower for them. It was fun and as always great to see everyone.

Sunday we went to my parents house to start the wedding planning process. Apparently it is daunting...too many ideas, too much to think about. :) But...all wonderful.

Fill in the Blank Friday!

It is Fill in the Blank Friday again ... please link up here.



1. Today is a good day because - I am completely overjoyed and happy. I am living my own fairytale. I love it. I AM GOING TO BE A WIFE TO B!!!!!

2. The best thing I did all week was- Smile non stop. Sorry..there aren't many times in life that I will have this glow. I think smiling all week non stop is a great thing!

3. The current weather is - SUNNY and it makes me feel HAPPY.

4. The best thing about spring is LOVE IS IN THE AIR...ok really it is just sunny and lovely out. You can be OUTSIDE which in Htown doesn't happen without sweating buckets!

5. A fashion trend that I'm dying to try out for spring is  CORAL. I just bought a new coral dress and can't wait to wear it out.

6. A person who made me smile this week was B! I mean really...

7. The most delicious thing I ate all week was Snapper on Saturday night celebrating B's 30th bday and our engagement.


I promise NOT everything will be about how in love I am and how we are getting married...but I'm a week into this engagement thing and I am so overjoyed and excited. It will calm down eventually. ;)

I'm....

ENGAGED!

On April 5, 2012 the love of my life proposed. I am 100% thrilled, overjoyed and in shock. I am truly living my own fairytale.  

I'm going to be a WIFE...and not to just anyone...to my B!

I never would have imagined back when we were 21 and friends that years later we would start dating and now we are engaged. I cannot wait to be his wife.

Fill in the Blank Friday

It is that time of the week....

FILL IN THE BLANK FRIDAY!!!  PLease join in!


My greatest strength is - being happy. I know that no matter what life throws at me, I can take it.

My greastest weakness is - I am really hard on myself.

People always compliment me on - my smile.

If you found me procrastinating you'd probably find me - drinking wine and reading.

The most cozy place in all the world is - at my parents house, upstairs under one other their blankets.

Something new that I tried recently was - slushies with alcohol - K had them at her wedding rehearsal dinner- AMAZING!

This weekend I would like to - see friends and relax!

Baby K turned one

I kow there are better pictures floating around somewhere...but here is the one I have so far...

It was almost nap time....

Baby K turns 1!

This weekend one of my very best friends in the entire world's little girl turns 1. 1!! I am so excited. B and I are going to the ATX to celebrate!

I cannot believe a YEAR has flown by so quickly.

Of course she is getting spoiled by "Aunty A" :)

So far:
A cute outfit
Crayon holder embroidered with her name
2 coloring books
3 reading books
New plates (mom stated that baby K needed new plates since she is feeding herself these days)
Balls (mom said she was really into rollowing balls around)

She also has her presents tied up with beautiful ribbon that has her name on it that I got from Royal Ribbons  (I bought Ribbon a while ago and used some for Christmas and the rest now). I would take a picture...but it has her full name on them. The ribbon truly makes it even better! It turned out perfectly!

My life

Sometimes I wake up and think "is this really my life?" I truly wake up every single morning feeling so blessed to be where I am.

I work at a job that I love. (Most of the time...everyone has bad days at work!)

I have the most supportive family who I love dearly. (I don't see my brother nearly enough, but cell phones are wonderful so we can keep in touch!)

I have friends who truly are the lifeline to my soul - they just GET me.


And I have a love. I have what I always wanted - a love - a great never ending love.

Somtimes I just have to check myself to remind myself that life is beautiful - wonderful and truly I am blessed. Sometimes the pettiness in wants, people and the media make me think that I don't have this incredible life - but I do.

No, I am not bragging, I am reminding myself to let go of the negatives because I have such an amazing life.

The Rodeo

I'm from Texas...in Texas we have Rodeo. I know other states do too. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a BIG deal here.

B and I went with some friends to the BBQ Championship two weekends ago - Free GREAT food, free booze and Free live music - what isn't to love? (Free because we had tickets through work.)

Last night we went to the Rodeo and saw The Eli Young Band. It was fantastic - and free - Thanks work! :)

It's FRIDAY

It is FILL IN THE BLANK FRIDAY...go here to participate!

1. THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK WAS....dinner with one of my longest friends - we caught up, drank cocktails and it is just nice to see we are each happy.

2. IF I HAD TO CLASSIFY MY INTERIOR DESIGN AESTHETIC IT WOULD BE... I am learning what I like and what I don't and I am in the midst of doing something about it!

3. MY FIRST VEHICLE WAS... A 1998 Forrest Green Explorer...I LOVED it...and so did my brother who got it when I left for college.

4. AN ITEM I NEED TO HAVE IN MY DAY IN ORDER TO FUNCTION IS... coffee

5. MY FAVORITE WAY TO WASTE TIME IS... read...but I like to read whether or not I want to waste time.

6.RIGHT NOW I COULD REALLY GO FOR... Is it 5 o'clock yet?...I need a nap.

7. THIS WEEKEND I WILL BE BUSY... eating crawfish.

Leap Year...

Today is a special day for my parents.

My parents were engaged on February 29, 1976.

Their engagement is only celebrated every 4 years. Actually, they only remind one another about their engagement and laugh about how it was the perfect day.

My dad's birthday is the day before so my mom didn't expect a thing. They also hadn't dated too terribly long.

I have to say - February 29, 1976 is special to me as it was the day that my parents decided that indeed they would get married and on November 27 of that same year they did. And...lived MOSTLY happily ever after.


:) So yes, I love leap year day or whatever you want to call it. It is special to me.

Happy Birthday Dad!

This is my family in 2005 at my UT Graduation

Happy Birthday Dad. I am truly blessed to be your daughter. There are no words that could tell you how much I love you. Thank you for showing both me and my brother how to love, how to be a good person and mostly, thank you for being an amazing leader in our family.

When I was 12, my father suffered a massive heart attack in December of 1995 and wasn't supposed to live. Each and every year since then, I am reminded how lucky I am to still have him in my life. 

Death of a friendship

Has anyone else been there? In that place where you realize that someone isn't who you thought they were? That the "friendship" isn't balanced?

I recently have realized this about someone I had in my close circle, at least she was in my close circle, I was not in hers, but I realized she isn't who I thought she was. We don't share the same values. It is rough.

So I am mourning the death of a friendship. It is a lot tougher than I thought it would be. Any advice?

Washington, D.C.

Pictures will come when I am not lazy and upload them!

I spent the last three days in DC with B. He's never been and it was so much fun!
We got in late on Friday night.

On Saturday we met my cousin for brunch at Beacon Bar and Grill where we proceeded to indulge in the Saturday 3 course brunch with unlimited mimosas. IT WAS GREAT!!

From there we went to the Air and Space museum, saw the White House, walked the mall, and just enjoyed being outside. Truly it was wonderful walking around (ok my feet hurt and I was tired at the end of the day FOR SURE!)  

For dinner we went to Siroc - hands down one of the best meals B and I have ever had together. The service was excellent, the meal DIVINE and it was romantic. :) For after dinner drinks we went to the Hay Adams --the Dark and Stormy did me in!

Sunday brought more site seeing - AND COLD WEATHER. We saw the monuments, the  Natural History museum and lots of tourist watching. :)   Lunch was had at Le Pain Quotidien and dinner...well that was a story!

We had reservations at Brasserie Beck - and went. My friend E had said "try the mussels they are the best" - um they were out of mussels...so then he said "try the steak frites" ...they were out of them...so we ordered anyway and I ordered the cassoulet...they were out of it. So I ended up with the trout. It was delicious ...as was the cheese course, B's pork belly and B's dish...and the wine and beer superb. I was just dissapointed...but the service WAS AMAZING. And then at the end we get our bill and the manager had taken off everything except the cheese plate and our drinks. Talk about a surprise. He felt bad that what we ordered was out and took care of it all. Everything we ate was delicious. I would still recommend it. They didn't have to do that, but they did anyway - I mean I made our reservation 2 weeks before we came - they just had a ridiculously busy weekend and never would have thought they would have sold out of most things!


Monday we say the American History museum, walked the mall and then headed home...

Overall it was wonderful - great to get away, see the sites and just be together AND to see my Cousin...as it was a little over a year to the day when his father passed away so it was nice for both of us to spend time together.

Downton Abbey

For anyone that loves Downton Abbey as much as I do....

Fill in the Blank Friday

 TO play along go here


1. The love of my life is .... B!

2. Falling in love is ... easy when you meet the right person. I never understood that until now.

3. Marriage is ...something I look forward to, but I am trying to enjoy each moment as they come and not live in the future...this is hard for me!

4. The longest relationship I ever had was...one that stayed together the whole time...this relationship with B. In college I dated someone for 2 years we took a break and then dated almost another year. He is still such an amazing person and I am truly grateful that we dated but most importantly that we are still friends and truly support one another.

5. The key to a good relationship is ...communication, love and respect.

6. I feel loved when....i feel loved all of the time. That is something I learned a long time ago. Yes, I love people to think of me, call me, remember my birthday etc, but I truly feel loved EVERY day ALL day. Feeling liked...that a whole other thing ;)

7. My favorite quote about love is ... "If you live the life of love, you will love the life you live." I don't know who said it, but it has been my motto since I was about 12.  

What is your favorite love quote?

Valentines

So I am not one that wants everything on Valentine's day to be perfect. I don't care about flowers, food etc - I just want to be with my love.

We were talking last night as we went to our favorite Sushi place - not a romantic place nor expensive - just our little place and I said how different this year was.

No $300 meal, no crazy expensive gifts, no flowers - just us doing things we normally do. FOr this year, it was perfect. Sure we are about to go on our trip (that was our Valentines gift to one another) and  so for this year - I loved just being. No pictures, no extras. Just he and I, enjoying a good cocktail and fresh fish. I loved it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to the love of my life!

This has been going around and I decided to link up on this about us meme.

1. How long have you two been together? 2.5 years or so.

We went on a few dates back when I was 21 and we were in college and decided we should just be friends. 4 years later we went out a few times and still decided to be friends. Then 2.5 years after that we decided to give it a go and it was perfect...perfect for us. I've known him for almost 10 years and during college he was one of my best friends.

2. Do you have any nicknames you call each other? I call him hun. Usually I just use his real name...which isn't "B" ha.

3. Name three things you love most about him.

 He's adventurous, he's incredibly loving and he makes me laugh constantly. Oh and he can fix EVERYTHING...it is a great thing !

4. Tell us how he proposed...Not quite there yet...BUT when it does happen you will be told...probably more than once!

5. Is he a flowers and teddy bears kind of guy or a strawberries, champagne and rose petals kind of guy for valentine's day?  I get flowers and champagne and we go to dinner.

6. Are you a sunset on the beach kind of girl or a pop a movie and relax kinda girl? Both.

7. Tell us one thing you would like to do with your significant other some day? Travel more. I know we travel often but the world is large and I want to see it all!

8. What are your Valentine's Day plans? We are keeping it low key as we are going on a trip soon - but we are going to our favorite sushi place!

9. Are you asking for anything for Valentine's DAy? Nope. Our trip soon is my Valentine's Day present!

10. One piece of advice to keep a relationship strong?  Laugh together often. More often than not.

Fill in the Blank Friday....

Apparently I had nothing to say between last Friday and this Friday....which isn't true - but I am hopeful that I will post a weekend wrapup on Monday!

To Join up click here....


1. I started my blog because .....  I have always kept a journal. I use it to remember my life and look back on. If other people are interested, great, if not, that's ok too.

2. One thing I love seeing on other blogs.... is the reality of life. I love to hear stories and feel like I "KNOW" the person...even if only through blogs.

3. Something I love about blogging....I love knowing that I am not alone. Meaning - when I feel something - someone out there has been through it. It is a great community.

4. A favorite blog post of mine is... oh I have no clue. I love reading about my and B's relationship and how it has grown. I also love reading about all of our trips.

5. Something my real life friends know about me that I have never mentioned on the blog ...   my dad had a heart attack when I was 12 years old. He was healthy and an avid runner. It was the worst time in my life, truly. He was given a 10% chance of making it. Every December we celebrate another year of him with us. I think of that as a birthday present all on its own because that year he came home from the hospital around my 13th birthday. He truly is an amazing dad - I'm told often how lucky I am to have such great parents and I 100% believe I am so incredibly lucky.

6. My favorite blogs to read are... Traffic Jelly, Sweet Caroline in the City, and the others listed on my reader- hello I have 80!

7. Some things I avoid doing on my blog are...I try to be real. I want to be honest and open without revealing TOO much.

Fill in the Blank Friday

It is Fill in the Blank Friday again....link up here

1. If money wasn't an issue, the first thing I'd cross of my life list is      traveling the world for one year.

2.    Escargot and pate  are two things I like that other people think is weird.

3. If my life were a movie right now, the title would be     - hmm have to think about that one.




4. Three things I am looking forward to this month are      picking up my coop orders, going to DC and going to Dallas!

5. My favorite song to sing in the shower is I don't sing in the shower.

6. If I found out that the production of      Reese's    was ending this month, I'd go out and buy as much as I could tomorrow.

7. One thing I'll never grow tired of is     being with B.

TAG! You are it!

So while Beantown Prepster didn't exactly tag me - she tagged her "lurkers" and I was one - so I decided to play.

The Rules:
1. Post the rules
2. Write 11 fun facts about yourself
3. Answer the 11 questions the tagger set for you and create 11 new questions to ask people you tag.
4. Tag 11 people and link them to your post.
5. Let them know you tagged them.



11 FUN FACTS ABOUT MYSELF:

1. I recently joined a coop - I LOVE IT. I think B thinks I am crazy because I talk about it non stop. After reading about Running for Perseverance's coop, I found my own in Htown and LOVE IT. All of the veggies and fruits make me so happy.

2.  I, just like Beantown prepster, cannot function without earrings. My grandmother used to tell me that a lady doesn't walk outside without her earrings and her lipstick. While I wear gloss mostly- I still adhere to this.

3.  I'm left handed.

4. I always have a book on CD going in the car. Library is where it is at! Sometimes I have the hardcover book and the book on CD checked out of the library at the same time. Just to read it faster!

5. I laugh at the most unopportune time. Like when a mom is scolding her child for running around all crazy at the grocery store - I am that person that has to go an aisle over to laugh. I can't help it - I think it is because I just feel awkward so I laugh.

6. Starbucks is my favorite coffee place - B and I used to meet there all of the time in college - at the Starbucks off of Far West in Austin.

7. B and I went on our first date when I was 20. Afterwards I said I just thought of him as a friend. Then when I was like 24 or 25 we went on another date - to which he said we should just be friends. Then...almost 2.5 years ago we gave it another shot. This time it was perfect. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if we would have been together all of this time. I think life between 20 and now has made me appreciate him so much more than I would have at 20. Either way - I am one lucky gal.

8.  I like to cook - I enjoy it - I just don't think I am that great at it. I'm learning. Does anyone have a good recipe for Kale or Bok Choy? Those apparently I cannot cook!

9.  I detest tomatoes. Unless they are cooked, in ketchup or a sauce - I don't like them.

10. I also detest mustard. Just the smell makes me nauseous.  I don't mind a sauce made with it as long as it isn't TOO mustardy.

11. I smile ALL OF THE TIME. If I am not smiling - run. ;)



11 Questions from Beantown Prepster:

1. If you could have a theme song to play when you walk down the street what would it be? Beautiful from Carole King.

2. If you could only watch one TV show for the rest of your life, what would you pick? Right now? Downton Abbey. I love it.

3. French Fries: Skinny and Crispy or big and mushy? Skinny and crispy!

4. What is your guilty pleasure outfit?  This is embarrassing - I have a pair of Red old Abercrombie running pants from college that I wear paired with an old Texas long sleeve shirt, hair in a bun and socks. I feel so comfy in it - but I would NEVER wear it out of the house.

5. Soda: Fountain, bottle or can?  Fountain is my favorite - but it just depends on where I am going and such - if I am in my own car - bottle- can't have drinks spilling in my car!

6. Favorite thing to do at the gym? Sauna...oh you meant activity - I like intervals on the treadmill.

7. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why? I always say somewhere in Europe (preferably the Italian coast) but I think that would be too far from my parents and my brother - but I would love to for a little while!

8.  What was your first animal and do you remember its name? Around my parents 1st wedding anniversary they opened their front door and a beautiful Irish Setter puppy was lurking around. They raised her - Chi Chi - and when I was born she was my first pet. I loved her. She was beautiful, so sweet and protected me and let me use her as a pillow. She lived with my parents for 17 years. We were devastated when she passed away.

9. What is the one thing you carry in your purse that you absolutely cannot live without? Hand cream. My hands are SO dry.

10. What is your most embarrassing habit? I bite my nails. I know---I KNOW!.

11. If you could meet and be BFFs in real life with a blogger that you follow, who would it be and why? I think it would be Al (Traffic Jelly). She was the first blogger (That I didn't know IRL) that I connected with and got to know. I just think she is amazing and wonderful and SO INCREDIBLY STRONG.  Plus she loved Guac and Wine....need I say more?


The people I tag are:
1.Traffic Jelly
2. MmmApron
3.The Happy Dash
4.Greetings from Texas
5.Her Highness of Cute
6. Hungry Meets Healthy
7. Reasonably Swanky
8. Leggings are Not Pants
9. Baby Steps with Catalina
10. Running with Perseverance
11. I'm leaving 11 open to people I also don't hear from that read :)


The 11 Questions I have for you are:

1. How do you begin your day? (What is your morning routine?)

2. What is the one beauty product you couldn't live without?

3. Are you a coffee or tea person?

4. What is your favorite board or card game?

5. What is your favorite spice to cook with?

6.  I'm always curious if I take longer than the average woman to get ready - from shower to out the door, how long does it take you?

7. Of all the places you have travelled to, where would you recommend others go?

8. What is your favorite alcoholic drink?

9. What is your favorite book?

10. What is your favorite movie?

11.  What is your favorite indulgence?

Thank you for playing! Please comment back if you do!