Turning 29

Tomorrow is my birthday. My 29th Birthday. I cannot believe how quickly the years have gone by. Although- some years didn't go by fast enough and some WAY TOO QUICKLY.

I look at my life and think about all of the amazing things I have done, seen, people I've met, loved and lost.

I wake up living my little fairytale every single day. How did this happen? Sure, it seems I have a somewhat simple life compared to others but I wake up knowing I'm loved. Sure I have my wants and other stupid things that I think I need, etc but - I wake up knowing I am surrounded by so many wonderful people who make me want to be a better person EVERY SINGLE DAY.

As I turn the corner and enter my 29th year of living - I am so happy. I love my life. I love the people in it. I'm truly blessed beyond words.

Time flies

Time has FLOWN by. I wish I could say I was off traveling or something equally as amazing...but life - it is so wonderful these days that I haven't had time to blog.

I went to FLorida for Thanksgiving with my family. We held memorial services for all of my family members that passed this year. It was sad, but good to be with family.

It was nice to see everyone and enjoy time together. Sometimes though, I wish I had a female cousin. I'm the only female in my generation and it makes me feel left out at times - but I love reading so I guess that helps while the boys beat each other up in the pool or play poole together.

So now it is onto the holiday season!

Fill in the blank Friday

It is Fill in the Blank Friday time...


1. When I was a kid I wanted to be a neurosurgeon    when I grew up.  (Yeah...and now blood makes me want to faint!)


2. As an adult, my dream job would be   hmmm, I have no idea!



3. W hen I was younger I wanted to be just like my mom .

4. The childhood Halloween costume that I remember most was when I was    a clown. My grandmother made the costume.

5. My favorite childhood toy were  all of my dolls!

 
6. The time I got into the biggest amount of trouble when I was a kid was when I would talk back to my parents other than that - I was a pretty good kid.



7. I get daily inspiration from    pinterest!

2 years

On Saturday it will be 2 "official" years with B. I can hardly believe it. Time has flown. Granted we have known each other almost 10 years...but 2 of them were of US. Our life, our love.

As far as gifts go - I got him this cooler he has been wanting. I know it sounds lame - but when he has talked about it for almost 2 years, I decided to get it. We will use it all of the time and our ice won't melt.
He got me beautiful roses. Then asked me what I would be wearing for dinner that night. I stated that I was thinking just one of my simple dresses. He then surprised me with beautiful Akoya Pearl stud earrings. Months ago he and I were talking and over dinner I had said that I was looking for real pearls to replace the fake ones that I wore often. I remember the conversation, but I just couldn't "pull the trigger" on getting myself such an expensive find. I was shocked 1) that he remembered and 2) that he would go out and find such a wonderful pair - not too big not too small - just exactly right.

We went to a place I have been wanting to try - it was delicious. Then we went to Tasting Room - as we always do at any big occasion. It was wonderful. I feel so blessed and so loved. We talked about how crazy it is to be where we are. How lucky we are and truly how amazing our love is.


Truly every single day I wake up thinking that I am so incredibly blessed to have the life I have.

The Hard Stuff...

I talked a little bit about what was going on in my life - my personal, I am a girl and yearly things are not fun life - here

And I continued on the story here


For the first time in over 2 years - going in for tests every 2-3 months, having a few operations - I got the news...for the first time everything came back normal. To say I am hopeful, optimistic and very happy is an understatement. I have undergone quite a few treatments, lots of blood work and just a lot of heartache to be told that I am ok. I have to re-do the tests every 3 months for a year before I can be truly cleared...but this was hurdle number 1. I got a "normal" result.

Truth is -Cancer scares me. I've been terrified for the past 2 years. The cancerous cells scare me. I feel that no matter how happy I appear I know inside I have been so sad. So slowly I hope this is recovery. I hope this is where I can let go of the fear and have the knowledge that I will be ok - because for 2 years I've prayed, hoped and willed it to go away. I don't know which procedure worked or which didn't. I just know it was all worth it. I was told that so far I shouldn't have any problems having children as long as it stays away. That we "got it early". So I am happy. More deliriously happy than I truly think I have ever been..but on that 1 year mark - in 1 year I hope to be even happier. I hope I can say it is truly gone and out of my life.


I just try not to think about this stuff, which is why I rarely write about it. But today - today is a great day.

Weekend Wrapup

 

B and I worked on his house this weekend. His fireplace was a GOLD BRASS. IT WAS UGLY. (See Above)

Via Pinterest, I saw someone transform their ugly one into a pretty matte black one. So we took it off the fireplace and taped it up outside (so as not to get paint on the windows) and used a high heat spray paint (meant for grills) and painted it. I LOVE IT. (see below)

Another reason why I love Pinterest!


We watched the longhorns lose (again...boo!) and the Cowboys lose (again...boo!) and the RANGERS WIN! :)

We went out with some friends to a bar where you can bring your dogs and it was nice to just get out...and Roxy - she was FILTHY at the end of the night - a sign she had a great time in the bark park.

All in all - great weekend. We spend most of Sunday at Lowes, Home Depot and Target - we are fixing up B's house slowly - he needs new blinds, paint on the walls - and as you see above a nicer fireplace. Slowly but surely.

Weekend Wrapup

UT lost - it was sad. I got over it.

I saw my brother - shortly, but still saw him. He looks good and I just hope hope hope he gets a job in TEXAS...preferrably Houston...but at this point - I will be ok with Dallas or Austin (not SA...I just don't like SA.) (Sorry SA peeps!)

Things are going well - just crazy. Is it Nov 1 yet? I am ready for FALL.


It rained all weekend. ALL WEEKEND. (ok Saturday afternoon-now)

I'm tired...and it is Monday...is it Friday yet?

Crazy life

This has been one crazy week for me. Well the past 2 weeks actually.

Work is Just CRAZY.

My brother is coming home on Friday and I am so incredibly excited to see him. He is only in town for the weekend - but something is better than nothing. I just miss him more than I can describe.

This weekend is also the Red River Rivalry between Texas and ou. HOOK EM HORNS!

And...that is about it.

Fill in the Blank Friday

It is Fill in the Blank Friday....

1. My current obsession is my nails. I've been trying to stop biting them and they are truly getting LONG!



2. Friends make me happy. (I copied Lauren...but it is true!)

3. My greatest strength is my ability let work stay at work and not bring the "work" mode home with me.

4. Chocolate is my greatest weakness.

5. My life is more than I ever thought it would be. I truly wake up every morning knowing how blessed I am.
6. In high school I was very hard on myself. I look at pictures from back then and I think "wow" I have no idea why I was so hard on myself!

7. When I'm super tired I can fall asleep ANYWHERE.

Day 30: Share a picture you love

I talked about why I love this place right here....

Bridesmaid

My friend L recently got engaged. We have a girl's dinner once a month - there are 4 of us. I love girls dinner. What is funny is that all 4 of us were in the same sorority but we were not close when I was in college. I actually only knew their names. That changed over 2.5 years ago. We started our sushi dinner monthly outings and I have to say it helped me tremendously.

Last night L asked us all to be bridesmaids and I was so touched and thrilled.

It made me think of all of the other times I have been asked - A LOT OF TIMES- I lost count at having 7 bridesmaid dresses in my closet at one time. Yes - 7. Those have since been donated.

What I thought about was how lucky I am to have so many people who think of me so dear to them to want me to be part of their wedding party. It truly makes me feel so blessed to have such dear friends.

Some we are no longer as close and others - I am just as close if not closer. I also know that I will be a bridesmaid at least 2 more times.

 Sometimes I think I take these amazing friendships for granted - especially when I think "i have no friends" because we all know that is not the case.

So- next October when L is saying her vows I will be up there with her, with all the girls, happy and in whatever dress she wants me to be in.

Day 29: 3 things you cannot live without

Since you said THINGS and I am keeping this light hearted - And because I feel creative...here we go:

A - apple iphone
B- MY B! :)
C- the letter that begins my brother's name
D - the letter that begins my father's name
E -the English language - I love it!
F - flowers
G - girlfriends
H -hair straightener
I - the letter that begins my mother's name
J - Jesus!
K - king size pillows..so snuggly!
L - lipgloss
M - mascara
N - nature
O - opinions - I have lots!
P - popcorn
Q - the Queen...ie all Royalty things - I'm just fascinated!
R - Roxy
S -strawberry jelly
T- trust
U -umbrella - especially the cute one I own!
V - VINO
W - Water...for after all of that VINO ;)
X - Xi - reminds me of my sorority sisters since Xi is one of our letters
Y - the color Yellow - it makes me happy!
Z - the Zoo...I love the Zoo


That was fun.

Day 28: Favorite books

I have WAY too many favorite books. I was an English major in college and I got to read so many wonderful books...here are SOME of my favorites:

Mansfield Park
Eat, Pray, Love
The Glass Castle
Catcher in the Rye
The Tipping Point
Brideshead Revisited

and my all time favorite - The Giving Tree

Day 27: 3 wishes

Any 3 wishes?

The big stuff:

1. World peace
2. End of World Hunger
3. That everyone could come from a loving and nurturing family.

Sure there are other things...but are they more important than those probably not.

I mean for insignificant wishes?

1. UT to up their football game and get into the top 10.
2. A cute pair of cognac boots
3. An engagement ring....I know it is coming we have talked about it...but I am not patient. :)

Day 26: Best concert you have been to

I've been to A LOT of concerts...and A LOT that I loved- some were great performances and some were great just to listen to...you can figure out which is which...

My Top ones are:

Britney Spears
Roger Creager
Aerosmith
Jimmy Buffet
Madonna


There are tons more...

Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle and share the first 10 songs

This actually came up with a lot of songs I love - very strange mix though with lots of new and a few old ones.

1. Adele - Rumour Has It
2. Jay Z- Empire State of Mind
3. Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger
4. Chicago - Will you Still Love Me
5. Colbie Caillat- Brighter than the Sun
6. Bryan Adams - Everything I do, I do it for you
7. Jason Aldean - Dirt Road Anthem
8. The Beatles - I want to Hold your Hand
9. Eli Young Band - Crazy Girl
10. Adele- Someone like you

Day 24: Favorite places to shop

I like to shop a lot...but my favorites are:

Lands End (online)

Nordstrom (online and in store)

Sephora (love going to the store!)

Anthropologie - love the store!

TJ MAXX - such interesting finds!

Marshalls - same as TJ Maxx

Fill in the blank Friday

It is Fill in the Blank Friday....

1. The best thing I did all week was lady lunch with V. We have lunch together at least once a week, and I love it. It helps break up the work day. Today I am having lunch with Bea (she is like a sister to me) and her son (whom I call my nephew).  

2.    Being able to sleep in       makes me super happy.

3. Pets are   the best. They love you and snuggle with you. This morning I woke up to Roxy cuddled right next to me. I love it!   .

4. My family and friends   are the best thing about my life.

5. With the cooler weather I am looking forward to    non iced pumpkin spiced lattes .

6. Something that's on my "wish list" right now is   a pair of boots - congnac color.

7. This weekend I am going to    be at a 1st birthday party for one of my friend's children. I am really excited about it  .

Day 23: Favorite blog hop that you participate in

I used to participate in Taylor's  Top 2 Tuesday - but she has since gone private and it makes me sad as I miss her! I just hope she is doing well!

I also used to participate in Lauren's fill in the blank Friday's and I think I am going to start to do that more often:

Crazy google reader

Did anyone else's Google Reader become crazy today? I follow about 60 blogs...right now it shows I follow 10. Anyone else have this problem? Also - how do I fix this?????

UPDATE- after a few hours I, I think Christina was right - my google reader was drunk. Google reader has now sobered up and I have all of the lovely blogs I read back at my fingertips. THANK GOODNESS!