Monday, February 29, 2016

{Spring Has Sprung}

Happy Monday & Happy Leap Day!  Well, as much as I hate to admit it - it looks like the groundhog was right...spring is coming sooner than later!  Spring I don't mind so much, it's the 100+ temps that I know will soon follow. This weekend was gorgeous so I took full advantage of it.  

But first - Friday night I finished up the week-long birthday celebration with dinner & drinks with my bff's. Starting out & ending the week with margaritas & Mexican food is my find of week!
Saturday & Sunday was hard core yard work all.day.long.  I cut back plants, put out 15 bags of mulch & built a new 16 foot flowerbed along my back fence.  And mowed.  Needless to say, by the time I crawled into bed last night, I wasn't sure if I would be able to get back out of it this morning.  One bonus?  I put in over 20,000 steps each day!
 
I know it doesn't look like a lot, but hopefully once everything grows & fills in, it will provide a focal point for the back yard.  Unfortunately everything that happened last year derailed my plans; slowly but surely I will get there...it will just take a little longer than expected.  It will definitely be a work in progress for the next few years.
Sunday morning our church moved back into our sanctuary after a 14 month renovation.  Our fellowship hall served us well, but it just wasn't quite the same.  It was so good to be back "home". And it looks fabulous!
In addition to all the yard work, Nola & I spent lots of time on the walking trails every evening.  It is the highlight of her day {& a great way to burn off all her extra energy}...and she has a new-found love for the creek! =)
Hope you have a fabulous week!

Friday, February 26, 2016

{Friday Favorites}


Happy Friday!! Today I am linking up with Andrea, Erika & Narci and sharing some of my favorites from this week!

{ONE}
One of my new favorite "holidays"?  National Margarita Day!!  It was Monday & no holiday must go uncelebrated! =)  A friend and I hit up a local Mexican food restaurant & enjoyed a jumbo amaretto margarita {if you haven't had one - do it!!  I promise you will love it.}, nachos & a few hours of girl talk.  Does it get any better than that?!
{TWO}
I am going to say my new favorite age is 37.  I celebrated my birthday on Tuesday & I am determined to make this year the best one yet.  So far, it's going great!  I celebrated on Tuesday with breakfast at work, presents, flowers & a pedicure that evening. I celebrated again on Wednesday with dinner with my entire family & tonight I am celebrating with friends.
 
{THREE}
Ya'll - have you checked out the Easter/Spring Dollar Spot at Target?  Seriously, that little part of the store is my favorite.  They have really knocked it out of the park this year with their holiday decor starting with Christmas.  And for under $3 bucks...you can't beat it!  I'm loving my new finds for my Easter mantel.{and it's not from Target, but check out my cute Homegoods Rae Dunn find!}

{FOUR}  
Unfortunately it looks like spring has sprung.  This winter was definitely NOT my favorite.  What a let down.  I'm fairly certain I only wore a coat twice & even then it really wasn't necessary.  But, I guess if I can't change the weather, I might as well embrace it so I planted a few flowers on the front porch to brighten it up.  And can we talk about this awesome lantern I got from Ikea for less than $15 bucks?!  It's about 18" tall & 10" wide.  I see a trip there for a few more of these in my future.
{FIVE}  
 I finally joined the Fitbit craze....I got one for my birthday & I am kinda already obsessed.  I put it on yesterday after lunch & ended with over 13,000 steps!  Not bad for my first day.

{SIX}
What would a Friday Favorites be without my favorite puppy in the whole wide world.  Y'all - just look at this?  Melt my heart.
It's supposed to be sunny & in the 70's this weekend so here's to a few days of yard work & flower bed building!  I hope your weekend is just as exciting! =)

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

{37}



Today I turn 37.
3 years from 40. 
1 year from my 20 year high school reunion.
7 months from my 20 year anniversary at my Blue Bell {that’s over ½ my life!!}.

When I was 17, I never really thought about “where I wanted to be in 20 years”.  At the time, I was having the time of my life & didn’t look ahead to the future.  My high school years were the best.  I lived in the moment.  

Then before I knew it, I was 22 & graduating from college.  I blinked & I was 30.  I had built my first house & was finally living on my own…I was a “real” grownup. A few years passed & I sold my first house and built my second.  Not too shabby for a single girl if I do say so myself. 

And then I blinked again & I'm 3 years from 40.  But hey - 40 is the new 30, right?!
If I would have “guessed” at 17, or even 27, what my life would be like at 37 – I probably would have told you that I would still be living in Brenham, working at Blue Bell.  I am a creature of habit & don’t like change – so that part was easy.  I would have guessed married with 2 or 3 kids.  

Well, I was half right.  Do I want to get married & have kids?  Absolutely.  It's my greatest wish.  But, I'm not going to stop living life because it hasn't happened yet.  Yes, I admit - in my early 30's, panic set in & I  freaked.out because I wasn't married yet.  But, a few years ago, something changed & I was at peace with it.  I am a firm believer in God's timing is perfect in everything & when the time is right - it will happen.  I don't go around begging my friends to set me up {&that's not what this is about, so don't even think about it =)} & it's not something I go around making the topic of every conversation.  It's a part of me, but it doesn't define me. 
Regardless of where the next 37 years {and hopefully more!!} of my life take me, single or married, I want to enjoy life. I want to continue to travel, spend time with my family & friends, be a mommy to Nola, volunteer & be on committees, be the person others can depend on & who knows - maybe build a 3rd house! =)  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it should be all sunshine & roses.  Difficulties & tough times help shape who I am.  Last year is proof of that.  And I know more of those will come along as well....and I will deal with them & they will change me & make a different person just like they were meant to do.  

 So, Happy 37th Birthday to me! The best is yet to come...that I am certain of.



Monday, February 15, 2016

{Happy ♥ Day!}

Hope everyone had a happy {heart} day!  Obviously the florist lost my flowers because I didn't get them yesterday.  Darn the luck! ;)  This was my Valentine & personally, I think she's the cutest ever!
I decided last week that I was in desperate need of a "me" day so I took off Friday & spent the day shopping.  Of course my cute little alarm clock {that doesn't have a snooze button} woke me up at 5:59am so I was up, dressed & in Houston by 8:15.  
I spent the entire day shopping.  I didn't buy a lot, but I went to all of my favorite stores: Target, Hobby Lobby, PetsMart, Kohl's, Kendra Scott {where I bought my own Valentine/birthday gift}, Ikea, Homegoods & had lunch at Chick-fil-a!  I also had a haircut & color back in Brenham at 4:30.  Seriously - does it get any better?!  It was much needed & definitely enjoyed!
Saturday evening, I went with some friends for a girl's night to watch Sleepless in Seattle at our restored 1920's Simon Theatre.  You can read all about its restoration here. They had a champagne & dessert reception before the movie started...we had so much fun & the place is so pretty!  We are very fortunate to have this is our little town. I can't wait to go back.
 
Nola & I hung around the house on Sunday; I treated myself to my free birthday cupcake from Gigi's that I picked up on Friday and Nola got a new collar & cookie.  Down came the Valentine's decor & up went the bunnies!  {pics to come soon!}
We ended the day with a walk & this gorgeous {very fitting for the day} sunset. 
Happy Valentine's Day!

Monday, February 8, 2016

{Super Bowl 50 Par-tay!}

Y'all know I love to throw a good party so when I was "volunteered" to host a Super Bowl party, I was kinda excited!  I don't have people over near enough & that's one of my goals in 2016.  So what better way to start the new year?!  

Wanna know what I love most about hosting a party?  It forces me to clean my entire house: every room, top to bottom.  Although it's always a mad dash at the end {& I have been known to still be vacuuming the floors when the first guest arrives} - there is nothing more rewarding than walking thru the house one last time & having every bed made, every floor swept/mopped/vacuumed, every bathroom cleaned, candles burning.  Such a "ahhh..." moment.  So, I figured even if no one showed up - at least I had a clean house! =)
Shortly before kickoff - everyone arrived & we ended up having the perfect amount of people.  Of course there was lots of great food & plenty of beverages. 
 
There was a little {intense} game watching...
{& how disappointing were the commercials this year?!}
Some marshmallow roasting & s'more making in the fireplace...
A little halftime dancin'....
A round {or 2} of Fireball shots...
But most importantly, a room full of some of the best friends a  girl could ask for!  
 

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

{Happy Adoption Day, Nola!}

 
A little over a year ago, I decided that it was time to get a dog!  We have had dogs all my life so I am definitely a dog person {sorry cat people}.  "My" last dog was a Siberian Husky - Dakota - who I loved dearly.  When I moved into my first house in 2008, she stayed at my parent's house because it was what she had known all her life.  She had a mind of her own & didn't like change.  I visited on weekends & then in July 2013, I had to make the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep.  She was diagnosed with cancer & was very, very sick.  The last thing I wanted was for her to suffer.  

I moved into my current house in August 2014 & once I was settled, the search began.  My initial thought was that I would adopt a dog that was 2-3 years old.  The last thing I wanted to do was go through the "puppy stage" in a new house.  I really wanted a yellow lab & within a few days, the opportunity presented itself for me to be gifted a 3 year old, full-blooded yellow lab named Cheyenne.  A couple was supposed to temporarily watch her for a friend who couldn't have her in his new apartment.  "Temporary" turned into over 2 years.  Unfortunately the older their dog got, the less she liked Cheyenne so they all agreed it was in her best interest to find her a new home.  I went out & met her and she was a beautiful dog with LOTS of energy.  She loved to run on their farm & swim in their pond & ultimately, that's the reason why I decided she wasn't a match for me.  It would not have been fair to her to take her from that to a small yard in town.  I also really wanted an inside dog & that she was not.  

A few weeks later I came across another 3 year old yellow lab mix on the True Blue Rescue website & inquired about her.  I passed the adoption screening process, but  there was miscommunication between True Blue & the boarder she was staying at and ultimately - that did not work out.  

Clearly none of those were meant to be because a few weeks later, I came across this adorable little PUPPY!  You can read all about her adoption story here
 
 
Yesterday was her 1 year adoption day anniversary!  She got to spend the day at doggy daycare {her first time!} and she LOVED it!! When we got home, we celebrated with a cupcake {yes, I know she isn't supposed to have people food} & new toys.  Clearly playing all day wore her out because she was in bed by 7:30...too bad I can't afford it every day! =)
 
To say she is spoiled is an understatement.  She really is very sweet & often forgets she is a dog. =)
She's predominately outside during the day & inside when I am home.  She doesn't mind her kennel or her crate, and if you ask her to go in - 9 out of 10 times she will go in without a problem.  She LOVES to go for walks, sleep in my bed & beg for people food. 
Don't get me wrong, she tests my patience on a daily basis.  She has started the bad habit of jumping on people {which we HAVE to work on}, the only command she kinda knows is sit {and that's only if you have treat}, she drinks out of the toilet & chews up every toy I buy her {&shoe she can find} and she sheds like crazy.
But, I can't imagine my life with out her.
Happy Adoption Day, Nola!