Halloween -- Team Player

I am dressed today in my High School cheerleader uniform. Yes, the one I wore in High School. Probably not the exact skirt though…this one would have fallen right off of my 90 pound body back then.

Why do I even have it? Until just recently, my Mom worked many years at the school where we grew up. Last year they decided to sell off the old cheerleader uniforms to raise money for new ones. No Doubt....since some of the ones they sold were from before I was in High School! Mom found a few of the ones my sister and I wore and tried to find skirts that she thought might fit us now. When she brought them to my sister and me, we laughed at the memories as we tried all of them on. Most fit so we decided to keep them and use them as Halloween costumes (like today), or possibly to show our kids someday. Maybe they’ll even want to play dress up in them. What a funny thought!

It was very surreal getting ready this morning...it took me back several years when I felt like I was the coolest chick putting this thing on. I felt kinda goofy putting it on this morning. Honestly, I am not happy about wearing this thing today.....or any “costume” for that matter...

A little background.....

The company I work for would never be considered a “fun” place to work. There is no feeling of team or anything remotely close. Employees go straight to their desks in the morning, take their hour lunches, go back to their desk until 5. After 5 the office is a ghost town. There is very little socializing, rare Happy Hours, and when there are any at all, it is done within each department. The only time the entire company gets together away from work to socialize, and put faces with names, is the yearly Holiday Party in December.

That is until this year..........Just this week we received an email that the company decided to “restructure and scale down” the Holiday Party due to “these turbulent times.” Since my company directly correlates to the volatile banking industry….we are all wondering what the future holds. Even though their intentions were probably meant well in scaling the party back to a “cocktail reception,” it doesn’t do much to help the nerves of the company employees.

Last night on our way to dinner, I was debating whether or not I wanted to wear a costume at all, and the wisdom in wearing a cheerleader one at that. After some discussion, my sweet husband pretty much talked me into being a “team-player” and participating in the holiday stuff at work. (Ya never know when something will happen and it is always good to be thought of as a team player when heads are going to the chopping block.) I went with this reasoning and summoned my enthusiasm to be the cheerleader.

Of course, most days I ride up the elevator to my office alone...Not this day. My boss got on the elevator with me. He saw my outfit and gave me a funny look, so I asked him where his costume was. He grunted and said, “No Way...I hate Halloween.” Great. This team player can't even catch a break! I immediately wanted to go change into the “regular” clothes I brought with me. It was too late…I had already been seen by too many people. Changing clothes would have just drawn even more attention.

Only Consolation: there are about 5 people dressed up today in the office, so I am pretty much guaranteed a prize -- which are gift cards to places I plan to go this weekend. :-)

Needless to say, I WILL NEVER wear a costume to work on Halloween again. Bah Humbug!

In an effort to end this post on a positive note this Halloween day, I will share pictures of my cuties in their costumes….

Happy Halloween!

To Breed Or Not To Breed...

my ramblings...

Bobby and I had a quick, but thought provoking conversation over dinner last night. I am not even sure how it came up, but he absolutely pegged the feelings I was having. He shares my worry and anticipation.

I worry about being a Mom. Will I be a good one, or just completely terrible at it? I already feel too busy...never enough time to finish all the projects I've already started. Not to mention all the ones I want to start and haven't yet.

Am I too set in my ways to change my lifestyle as necessary for a child? I have been living my life for me (and screwing it up) for over 30 years, how do I start living my life for someone else (and not screw theirs up)?
I appreciate my quiet evenings at home surfing the net, or watching TV, or reading a book....that will be gone for many years. I appreciate my alone time with Bobby...how will that be affected with a new edition?
I love to shop and get a high buying new clothes or things for the house. There are still so many things I'd like to get for the house, and home-improvement projects that we've talked about doing for awhile. Will that all fall to the wayside? I know priorities shift, but those things are important to me too.

Will there ever be enough money, or will it be a constant struggle? I've seen the dollar amount they attach to the price of raising a child and it freaking scares me! How do people do it? We are fine financially, but I still get grounded from Target from time to time...and Bobby feels that we are never putting enough in savings.
And then there is this... I really want to give my child/children everything. Everything. My husband & I have already begun that battle. And it doesn't look good for my side.

Will I regret it? Will I always wonder how our lives would have been different if we had not fallen into the trap of thinking we had to pro-create?
Worse than that......Would I regret it even more if we don't have children?

Is it even fair to bring a child into this world? Is it completely selfish not to?

My feelings about this are pretty much on a non-stop roller coaster and they have been for awhile. The highs and lows are not daily or weekly...each turn of my feelings lasts much longer than that. Usually something gets in my head to cause the change in direction.
Obviously I am currently in the questioning phase... It just so happens that I will be spending some time with a friend and her 6 month old this weekend. I wonder if that will change my direction again....or put me deeper in my current phase...

I think if Bobby was super excited and completely sold on the idea of having kids then that would most likely sway my feelings. Problem is, he is not. He has the same worries and questions I do, and he goes through his own phases with this.

Since we are now both in the same phase, maybe we are making the right decision by going to church on Sunday. It might be best to take this to a higher source.
~~~

10 Things That Will Get Me Through Until Spring

Undoubtedly my favorite season is SUMMER! But I will admit that there are a few good things about Fall and Winter....

1. Nice, Cool Walks with my Husband and our dogs
2. Casseroles, Soup, and Slow Cooked Meals
3. No A/C or Heater...just open windows for awhile
4. Sweaters and Boots
5. Making plans for Thanksgiving with my family
6. Christmas with Bobby's family....a 1st for us this year
7. Smells of Pumpkin & Cinnamon
8. Cuddling on the couch with my honey under a blanket
9. Crackling Fireplace
10. Upcoming Holiday Festivities
~~~

Saloon Girls??? WHERE???

Weekend in Review...

Friday night our girls group split in a few different directions. 2 went to the Jason Mraz concert, 2 went to the Brad Paisley charity event, 1 was moving from north to south Austin (about time!) and the rest of us hung with our honeys.

Bobby and I went to dinner with the couple that sealed the deal for our Costa Rica trip. We meet them a couple of months ago at a party and talked to them for hours about having kids, scuba diving, traveling, and their wedding-moon in Costa Rica 1 year ago. After talking to them we decided if we wanted to do an eco-adventure trip like Costa Rica, we should do it before we have have kids. Apparently everything changes when you have kids to drag along, and you start taking your vacations to Six Flags and Disney World.

Saturday was all about Halloween Party! We headed out to Spicewood early to prep for the party and for a pre-party. :-) We spent hours getting all dolled up with lots of dark makeup, faux lashes, lace, feathers, and fishnets. The time we spent getting ready was almost as much fun as the party itself!

One of my girlfriends summed up the party best in an email to the rest of us this morning:
Good times on Saturday night, not wild and crazy like last year (I personally think it's because Anna Nicole didn't make an appearance!!!), but still lots of fun and made some good memories! All you saloon girls ;) looked super hot (yeah, I was jealous!), T's cape rocked, and L worked that witch costume!!!! Props to the boys and their costumes too...watch out for those gold running shorts to make an appearance at Town Lake someday, hehe.

Ummm.....BTW K, we were NOT Saloon Girls! Geeezzz! There weren't any saloon girls at that party at all, I checked!!! We were Moulin Rouge Hotties -- get it straight!
just kidding K, I know you were not the one that had it sooo wrong! ;-)
There were lots of great costumes, but Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf took home the prize! Even with some minor drama, the party was a huge success! Our hosts did a fantastic job!

Sunday morning most of us made it out for breakfast at the lake. It was great to reconvene and laugh about the previous nights events. After breakfast I am sure that most did as I did....camped out on the couch for the rest of the day. Of course there are the troopers who made the most of the beautiful day for shopping, hiking, unpacking....

Overall it was an awesome weekend and some of us are already planning our costumes for next year's bash!
~~~

Halloween Party Weekend!

--- TGIF! ---
I am so glad it's finally FRIDAY! I am especially excited because this is the weekend of our big Halloween party! This is the 3rd annual and it has really become our group's big event of the year. It's one of the few events that everyone shows up for because no one wants to miss it. Something good always happens, and someone....or several someones get completely obliterated. Last year I happened to be one of those someones...so that made for a short night for those who rode out there with me. Not This Year! I have a plan this time so I will be the one laughing at the drunk people....not one of them! ;-) oh well, it happens to all of us!
This year a few of the girls and I are dressing in Moulin Rouge costumes. A couple of weeks ago we had a little costume party of our own...we all tried on our costumes and helped each other with final touches. We all had so much fun that night...kinda felt like I was in high school again! We intrigued our men by telling them that it was the kinda party guys fantasize about: lots of wine & bubbly, sexy costumes, naked chicks, hot tub...more bubbly. We didn't even have to mention the pillow fight! ;-) Just kidding, we are saving that one for next time! And now that I've seen the other girls costumes, there is no doubt that we are all gonna be some hot-ass chicks! Or maybe we'll be the cold-ass ones since there really isn't much to our outfits. ;-)

I have been studying the Lady Marmalade video with Christina Aguilera, Pink, Lil' Kim, & Mya.....for make-up tips and tricks. Doing makeup on others is one of my little-known passions. I love to play with shadow colors on eyes. Of course I don't do it daily, or even weekly....just usually for special occasions, but I do love it! In fact, my most favorite job in my life was working for Lancome as a "Beauty Advisor." I also did a stint for a while as a "Featured Make-Up Artist" at other Lancome counters in Texas. Those were my good 'ol days.

Since some of us girls decided to do our own theme, that left the guys to their own devices....I am interested to see what they come up with!

CHEERS to the Party of the Year!


Enjoy the Lady Marmalade video for yourself. It's a classic! :-)



~~~

Movie Night

Last night some friends and I did girls movie night. We met at CPK where had yummy hummus and salads, then we did some quick window shopping before the movie.
The movie we saw was The Duchess. A friend informed me that the movie was based on a true story and the main character Georgiana was great(?)-aunt of Lady Diana.
Now since I love all things Diana, this tidbit made me more intrigued in the movie.
I thought the movie was a little slow in parts, but I loved the story line and Keira Knightley played the character flawlessly. Afterwards, all the girls said they loved the movie.

This is what Wikipedia says about the Georgiana of Devonshire:

Georgiana was a celebrated beauty and a socialite who gathered around her a large circle of literary and political figures—a salon. She was also an active political campaigner in an age when women's suffrage was still over a century away. Both the Spencers and the Cavendishes were Whigs. Georgiana campaigned for the Whigs—particularly for a distant cousin, Charles James Fox—at a time when the King (George III) and his Ministers had more direct influence over the House of Commons, principally through their power of patronage. During the 1784 general election, the Duchess was rumored to have traded kisses for votes in favor of Fox and was satirised by Thomas Rowlandson in his print "THE DEVONSHIRE, or Most Approved Method of Securing Votes".

Famously, when she was stepping out of her carriage one day, an Irish dustman exclaimed: "Love and bless you, my lady, let me light my pipe in your eyes!", a compliment which she often recalled whenever others complimented her by retorting, "After the dustman's compliment, all others are insipid." [1] [2]

Georgiana married the incumbent Duke of Devonshire on June 6, 1774, one day before her seventeenth birthday. The marriage was a brilliant but unhappy one, with the couple mismatched by temperament. (The Cavendishes' marriage was satirised in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play, School for Scandal, where a young wife from the country, Lady Teazle, is beguiled by fashionable people.) The young Duchess's early childlessness was also a matter of concern when aristocratic wives were valued as much for their fertility as for their dowries and connections. She had numerous miscarriages before finally giving birth to two daughters, before the much-awaited heir (and only son) was born. This son William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790–1858) died unmarried. Her daughters were Georgiana Cavendish (1783–1858), who married George Howard, 6th Earl of Carlisle (1773–1844), and Harriet Cavendish (1785–1862), who married Granville Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Granville.

It was Georgiana who introduced the Duke to his mistress and second wife-to-be, Lady Elizabeth Foster. "Bess" was Georgiana's best friend, and she tolerated the ménage à trois for many years. Georgiana herself formed a relationship with Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, by whom she had a daughter in 1792, Eliza Courtney. (See the entry on Eliza Courtney for two poems attributed to Georgiana.)

Lady Elizabeth Foster had two children by the Duke—a son and daughter. When the Duchess died, her husband married Bess Foster. At his death, his son by his first wife Georgiana became 6th Duke but died unmarried. He was succeeded by a first cousin once removed William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire (1808–1891), who was widower of the 6th Duke's niece and Georgiana's granddaughter Lady Blanche Howard.

-----------------------
Now for the reasoning behind my infatuation with Diana...
I went to a small high school in West Texas. We had a two types of 4 year English programs for high school students: English and Honors English. After four years of Honors English the students took a trip to England during Spring Break of the senior year. (YES, I attended a very rich school.) For four years of high school English we focused a majority of our studies on Old English, history and current events of England.
During these four years, there was a huge spotlight on Prince Charles and Princess Diana. In fact, by my senior year, the royal couple had formally separated and rumors were rampant of Charles affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles.
Most of the "current events" out of England centered around this royal scandal. My 9 classmates and I were completely intrigued, and thus began my infatuation with Diana, Princess of Wales.
No need to describe my devastation upon her death August 31 1997 (the day before my birthday).
~~~

Countdown to Costa Rica! II

46 more days.....and counting.
I am getting really excited about my upcoming trip to Costa Rica! It is going to be more of a "roughing it" trip than I usually prefer. But I feel that as long as I go into it prepped both physically and mentally, I will be able to enjoy it for what it is. I am not talking about backpacking, camping, and cooking outdoors kind of of roughing it. I am talking about how this trip will be more of an eco-adventure than my typical preferred vacation of sipping fruity drinks on a beach and only taking a break from the sun to do a little shopping...that's how I normally prefer to get some local "culture." Don't get me wrong, I have definitely saved some time to hit the beach and do some shopping!

After long hours reading the reviews on Trip Advisor I finally finished booking our 3 hotels, which has helped as I finalize our itinerary of 3 distinct areas of Costa Rica.

We will fly into San Jose, but immediately drive ~3 hours to La Fortuna/Arenal area. In this area we will rappel down waterfalls, hike around an active volcano and into the rainforest, and zip line on the fastest and highest lines in Costa Rica.
First 2 Nights Hotel: Arenal Observatory Lodge this hotel is known for being the closest to the active Volcan Arenal, and having the best views of both the Volcano and the Lake below...especially at night. The beds in the rooms face the huge picture windows so you can fall asleep while watching the hot lava flow.

Next we will drive ~5 hours to the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area on the Pacific Ocean. I don't have any set plans for us in this area, but it sounds like there will be plenty to choose from. We will visit the famous Manuel Antonio National Park (rainforest). Here we will also do more hiking and canopy tours, and possibly an ATV tour and horseback riding.
This is also where I will get my beach time :-) This area of Costa Rica is known to be one of the most beautiful. That is probably why 2 couples we know chose this tropical paradise for the most important day of their lives - their weddings.
Second 2 Nights Hotel: Hotel Costa Verde this hotel is close proximity to both the beach and the national park. We will be staying in the adults-only area of the hotel...to enjoy the quiet while we still can.

After a couple of days in the Manuel Antonio area, we will drive ~3 hours to our final destination - the Heredia/San Jose area. I don't have anything planned for us in this area because I am doubtful that we will even leave the hotel.....would you???
Last 3 Nights Hotel: The Peace Lodge - this hotel is amazing, and surprisingly not ridiculous expensive. The crazy thing is it is the hotel's policy to limit the number of nights visitors stay to a maximum of 4. That is so visitors will go explore other areas of Costa Rica. Amazing.

That's what I have so far. I am already starting to think about what I am going to pack!
~~~

Macgyver Dog

Friday Funnies

a screen saver for everyone:
(look at all of them by clicking on the links at the top)
http://www.planetdan.net/pics/misc/palin.htm

a great way to waste 15 minutes of your time:
(Make sure to click all around the room....don't forget the diplomas on the wall, or desk drawers...)
http://www.palinaspresident.us/

disturbing...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV8uEzGuvfc
If the link does not work, Google: La Pequeña Sarah Palin
-

possibly a vanity project?!?

This is funny... this Dodge truck commercial was pulled the first day it aired. Go figure!?

....and there are hungry people all over the world

CLEARFIELD, Pa. - It took Brad Sciullo 4 hours and 39 minutes to finish a marathon. A meat marathon, that is.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound western Pennsylvania chef is the first person to eat a monstrosity called the Beer Barrel Belly Bruiser: a 15-pound burger with toppings and a bun that brought the total weight to 20.2 pounds. The mountain of beef is the product of Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub, about 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in Clearfield.

Sciullo, 21, of Uniontown, said he was surprised he finished the sandwich Monday. “About three hours into it, things got tough,” he said.

When asked what possessed him to eat a burger that big, Sciullo said: “I wanted to see if I could.”

The burger included a bun, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, mild banana peppers and a cup each of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and relish, pub owner Dennis Liegey said.

For completing the challenge in the under-five-hour time limit, Sciullo won $400, three T-shirts, a certificate “and a burger hangover, as I call it,” Liegey said.

~~~

Condo-Warming & Champagne lesson

Last night some friends and I "warmed-up" a friend's new condo with good talk, a nice spread of food, good wine, and good champagne...sorry, sparkling wine.
One of the girls taught the rest of us something new.....that it is only called Champagne if it comes from Champagne, France. Otherwise it should technically be called sparkling wine. The bottle we drank last night said Champagne on the label, but it was from California.

She was exactly right...here is what Wikipedia has to say about it:

Champagne is a sparkling wine produced by inducing the in-bottle secondary fermentation of wine to effect carbonation. It is produced exclusively within the Champagne region of France, from which it takes its name. While the term "champagne" is used by some makers of sparkling wine in other parts of the world, numerous countries limit the use of the term to only those wines that come from the Champagne appellation. In Europe, this principle is enshrined in the European Union by Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. Other countries, such as the United States, have recognized the exclusive nature of this name, yet maintain a legal structure that allows longtime domestic producers of sparkling wine to continue to use the term "Champagne" under specific circumstances.

Overall the condo-warming party was nice get-together among friends and a perfect way to spend a rainy Wednesday evening. It is amazing how we all recognize and appreciate the great bonds of friendship that are growing and strengthening right before our eyes.

~~~

the long and short of it

aaaakkkkkk!!!!! My hair is shooooooooooort!
I haven't had my hair this short in about 10 years!
I went to my hair appointment yesterday afternoon unsure about what I wanted to have done, but not happy with my current mid-length 'do. I told my hair guy that the only thing I was sure of is that I wanted some darker low lights....as far as the cut I didn't know if I wanted to just trim it to grow it out, or cut it short.
I picked through the salon's magazines for reading material as my highlights set. The only "hair" magazine they had was a short hairstyle one. While looking through that magazine something hit me. It is a reality that I have known for a long time, but never really allowed myself to believe...
I will NEVER be the chic with the long beautiful wavy hair. My hair is not meant to be long & flowing. I have tried and tried to fight it, but when my hair gets to about shoulder length it stops growing and just gets stringy and frizzy....I know that doesn't even sound possible, but that is what it does. Not Cute.
So right then and there I decided to "own it"....to own my hair and learn to love a short style. My hair guy was happy and agreed with my decision. Upon completion I looked in the mirror and was pleased. My hair looked much healthier, shinier, and smoother.
Now.....all I wanted was validation from my hubby. Earlier in the week, I had been talking about my upcoming hair appointment and I had asked his opinion on the length. He first said he didn't really care, but after further pushing by me he said he thought he liked my hair longer. Is this something that is ingrained in men's brains from birth? Long Hair = Hot Chic? Bobby also told me that he was unsure how short hair would look on my round face. Good point.
I walked in the house a little nervous about his response, and of course he noticed immediately. He turned all the lights on to get a good look. He smiled and said that he really liked it. Whew....relief.
Even later that evening while we were sitting on the couch watching some TV, he must have been further evaluating my haircut. Out of nowhere he said "good call on the hair cut". Being a girl, instead of just leaving it at that I questioned him further. He told me that if he hated it he would probably not tell me he hated it; rather he would just try to avoid the topic. I believe him when he says he likes it. He is right, he wouldn't lie...he would avoid. Same thing on the "does this make me look fat" question. ;-)
~~~

bring on the cuteness!!!

~~~

M&H and Chihuahuas

WOW!!! Everyone should have great friends who give you a gift certificate for your birthday for a facial at Milk & Honey!!!! It was such a wonderful experience... I'm already trying to figure out how and when I can go back for more.
I definitely recommend it....ask for Britney!

This is what I got:
m + h Facial This is our most popular facial. And it's no wonder: you'll leave milk + honey with glowing, healthy skin that will be the envy of all of your friends. Our multi step process is carefully customized to your skin type and skin care needs. Includes cleansing, masques, extractions, toning, and intense moisture.
----------------------------------------------------------------

I also went to see the Chihuahua movie this weekend. I met some friends there...1 was Madison who has a Chihuahua of her own......and 2 friends who brought their kids. I am pretty sure M & I enjoyed the movie more than anyone else in the theater....including our friend's kids. In fact, at the end of the movie one of the kid's only comment was "That was silly."
So there you have it.....you have to be a chihuahua owner to appreciate this movie full of dead-on chihuahua personalities. My friends without chihuahuas were only slightly amused....at least they didn't hate it!
I went home and told Bobby that we are sooooo buying that movie. He can hardly wait. ;-)
~~~

when pumpkins drink....

In honor of Friday...and the Halloween season up on us.....

When pumpkins drink....................too much....

Halloween is just 3 weeks away!!!
~~~

Do You Really Know Your Partner?

When they say: "Go out with your friends. Have a blast."
What she means: I could really use a night alone to wax my upper lip, watch Monk and eat that bag of Chips Ahoy I've got hidden in the pantry.
What he means: Next time I want to go for beers with Kyle, remember what a flexible guy I am.

When they say: "Those girls/guys are totally checking you out."
What she means: What she means is: If you look back I'll scratch your eyes out.
What he means: You'd never cheat on me, right?

When they say: "I don't want to talk about it now."
What she means: I'll blind side you later when you think I've forgotten all about it. Then we'll talk it to death.
What he means: I don't want to talk about it....ever.

When they say: "What was your ex like?"
What she means: Was she prettier than me?
What he means: Was he better than me in bed and how much money did he make?

When they say: "Did you pick up the dry-cleaning?"
What she means: Do I have to do everything around here?
What he means: What do you do all day, anyway?

When they say: "I really missed you."
What she means: Did you miss me?
What he means: I realized how much I really like you.

When they say: "I'm not looking to get into a long-term relationship right now."
What she means: I don't think you're the one so prepare yourself to get dumped.
What he means: I'm only available for casual sex.

When they say: "Are you close to your family?"
What she means: I'm available to meet them this weekend.
What he means: Have you talked about me yet?

When they say: "I just don't know if we have chemistry."
What she means: I'm not attracted to you. Never have been, never will be.
What he means: Let's see what happens if you lay off the Ben & Jerry's for a few months.

When they say: "I only have a cell phone number."
What she means: You can't have my home number because I might screen you.
What he means: You can't have my home number because I'm married.

When they say: "Do you want a mint?"
What she means: Your breath stinks.
What he means: Do you want a mint?

When they say: "Let's split the bill."
What she means: I don't like you and I don't want to owe you anything.
What he means: This definitely isn't going to work out if you order an appetizer and dessert every time we go out.

When they say: "nothing" is wrong.
What she means: I need to punish you a bit longer with the silent treatment before letting you have it.
What he means: The sound of your voice is giving me hives. Can you PLEASE just let me watch TV in peace?

When they say: "I meant to call but it got too late."
What she means: I wanted to watch Oprah and you're boring on the phone.
What he means: I was having such a good time I didn't even think about you.

When they say: "Call me after the party."
What she means: I want to make sure you're home, sober and alone.
What he means: I want to make sure you're alone.

When they say: "We need to talk."
What she means: You're failing me again. Let's discuss.
What he means: It's over.

When they say: "I really want a small wedding."
What she means: Just the family and 160 of my closest friends.
What he means: Let's fly to Vegas.

When they say: "Do you like camping?"
What she means: Do I have to pretend I like sleeping in a tent?
What he means: Are you low maintenance?

When they say: "I don't want anything for my birthday."
What she means: This is a test of your creativity, thoughtfulness and commitment to our relationship. If you do not get me a birthday present, you will never be forgiven.
What he means: I'm feeling old and a little sorry for myself.

When they say: "What's with all the shopping bags?"
What she means: Are they for me?
What he means: I'm not made of money.

When they say: "I never got your message."
What she means: Just admit you forgot to call me back.
What he means: I forgot to call you back.

When they say: "I'll just have the salad."
What she means: I'm on a diet again.
What he means: I was too hungry to wait so I grabbed a burger after work with the guys.

When they say: "I don't cook."
What she means: Expect nothing from me on the domestic front.
What he means: My mom is a great cook. I hope you are too.

emailed to me from USA Network.....go figure.

...for every you

Rather then being good and attending our regular Wednesday class at the gym after work yesterday, my friend S & I opted for something way more fun....SHOPPING of course.
Starting at DSW... S found some shoes to finish out her Halloween costume and I found some "work" shoes on the sale rack for $17...of course I had to get them.
We stopped at Babies R Us for a gift, and Jamba Juice...S & I love our Jamba Juice! ;-)
Amazingly, the highlight of the shopping trip was not the yummy berry JJ.....it was discovering a new store that will be taking lots of my $$$$$ in the future....and I promise it will be taking yours too!
After being in this awesome new place about 5 minutes, S & I decided that this store will be the death of our friend Madison. M- we want to be there to see your eyes light up when you walk in this place!!!
Ok, so I know you are waiting anxiously for me to tell you the name of this place........

CHARMING CHARLIE

Located in Sunset Valley at Brodie & Hwy 290. S said that she has been to one in Houston, but this is the 1st one in the Austin Area...and I promise you are going to love it!
They have an amazing selection of Jewelry, Handbags, cute & flirty Tops & Dresses, and fun & funky shoes. They also have some really fun girly stuff. Best of all....the prices are surprisingly affordable!
I considered keeping this one a secret so that only S & I would have this place to find our secret Christmas gifts....but I decided to share this hidden gem with my best girlfriends. It wouldn't be fair to not let the rest of the girls in on this with the Christmas shopping season now upon us.
GO FORTH AND SHOP MY FRIENDS...... enjoy!
~~~

my new favorite mexican food place

We tried a new restaurant this past weekend on recommendation from several friends: Verde's on Hamilton Pool Road.
We called early that afternoon to see if they took reservations...no, but they do take "call aheads" to get your name on the waiting list. That evening I called when we left our house, they asked if we preferred indoor or outdoor seating....1.5 hour wait for outdoor seating & 30 minute wait for indoor...I opted for first available. It took us about 25 minutes to get there.
After arriving we had a few more minutes to wait...just long enough to order a couple of drinks at the bar. I had a Mexican Martini....it was a really good one, but I am not sure it was $12 good.
Dinner was excellent! For appetizers we had the stuffed jalapenos, and for dinner I had the chili relleno and Bobby had the chipotle pork chop. Everything was a little spicy and completely delicious....even the sides. Our waiter was the best we have had in awhile. (Bobby is really picky since he grew up in the restaurant industry.)
After dinner we walked to the back outdoor dining area to check it out. It was beautiful....and packed full of parents whose kids were all running around the fenced in metal petting zoo area (large metal animal statues). I could see how this location would be appealing for parents to sit, drink, dine and let their kiddos run loose. But after seeing this, I was glad for our inside dining experience.
Overall we had a wonderful dinner for our date night, and I highly recommend you try this place yourself! If you go, Call Me....we'll be happy to meet you there! :-)

I didn't find a website for this fairly new restaurant, but I did find their menu online...well, most of it. I also found some good online reviews.
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30th place.....

The top 25 teams in each city qualify for The Great Urban Race Championships in Las Vegas. Every team had the option to skip 1 of the 12 challenges, but we kept saving our skip one....and ended up doing them all! Over Achievers. If we would have skipped the challenge that involved the Bob Bullock Museum (30 extra minutes out of the way) we would have TOTALLY been in the top TEN!!!! Kinda Frustrating. Too bad we didn't get extra credit for completing them all.

We were in teams of 2...our group of four placed 29th & 30th out of approximately 100 teams....maybe less. That was our first attempt at anything like that and NOW WE KNOW!!! We plan to be fierce competitors next year! All in all, we got some serious exercise, had a great time with my sister & brother-in-law, and did pretty well as a team.
We did learn that good communication is absolutely necessary.....as in life.

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love those Chihuahuas!

I don't care how bad the critcs rip this movie.....I still want to see it!!!
In theaters today - Oct 3!

Of course my wanting to see this movie has nothing to do with having 2 chihuahuas of my own.... But in having my own little princesses, I do know that chihuahuas absolutely have quite the personalities. I think this movie is really going to make me laugh! It just so happens that my friend Madison is just a crazy about her own chihuahua as I am about mine. So we will be laughing our heads off (hopefully) through this movie together. I wish we could take our chihuahua girls along.....

For those people who don't like chihuahuas, well...you have never had one of your own! In fact...the husband is proof of that. He never really cared much for small dogs...that is evident by his choice in his own 2 dogs: Red Nose Pit mix and Australian Cattle dog.
But his perception about small dogs has completely changed since the girls and I moved into his world. Even his dogs seem to like having the 3 of us around. Many times I have caught the husband loving on one of the chihuahuas. His favorite is Fancy...the old one (13).

In fact...that leads me to a story about when the husband & I were first dating....
....Hang on.....I am tired of calling my husband "the husband" so let's give him a name. Hmmmm, I think we will call him Bobby from now on.
Yep, Bobby it is.

So back to the story.....
Before Bobby came over to my apartment for the first time I felt compelled to "warn" him about my dogs. This is what I told him...
I have 2 chihuahuas, Fancy & Penny. Penny is the younger one and a little heart stealer....she is super friendly and loves everyone. All you have to do to have her love forever is throw her carrot and purse and maybe rub her tummy a little. Fancy is completely the opposite....she is old and set in her ways. She will come out to see who you are and possibly get close enough to sniff you a little. Once Fancy decides that you are not an enemy she will go back to her bed and you probably won't see her again for the night. IF by chance she is unsure about you she might growl or possibly bark for a bit and will act timid around you. I tell you this just so you won't get your feelings hurt when Fancy does not warm right up to you. I am sorry, but that is how she acts around all new people.
As I suspected, as soon as Bobby walked in the door Penny wanted to be his best friend. But to my complete surprise, Fancy came out smelled him and stayed at his side for most of the evening. She took to him immediately! I promise....She has NEVER done that to anyone but me - the first time I met her.
I think that is when I knew...Bobby was the man for me. :-)
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Circle of Friends

All of us girls

Old and young

Near and far

Hold special memories of good times we've shared.

We've had our share of hard times and our

friends were there to make us feel better.

We've shared

our hearts

our time

our secrets

our fears

our hopes

and

our dreams.

Alone they might be washed away, but together they stand strong.

Thank you each for holding my hand somewhere along the way when I was facing a wave of my own. I hope you will reach for my hand when your own wave threatens.

author unknown

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Countdown to Costa Rica!

We will be in Costa Rica Dec 7-14....which is only about 9 weeks away!

After weeks of talking about it, we decided to get in one more great vacation before the next phase of our life begins. So last night we booked the flights and the 1st of 3 hotels. The husband used his credit card rewards and booked our 1st class flights to Costa Rica. Sweeeeet! I have NEVER flown anything but coach so I am totally stoked!

Some of our friends did their wedding-moons there last year. They gave us good advice on where to stay and things to do. Of course, I went right out and bought the Costa Rica travel guide as well. The first thing I learned is that it is currently "low season" there now until Dec 15, so the prices are much less than they will be after Dec 15. Being the month of December it is inevitable that some social events will have to be sacrificed for our eco-adventure. Therefore, this year we will not be attending the husband's company holiday party. (Oh well, he's been to 10 already.)

On the recommendation of some couple friends we booked the hotel where we will end our vacation before we booked anything else...just to make sure we got the dates we want. This is a fabulous hotel and I cannot wait to see this place in person. It's called Peace Lodge - check it out!

The plan is to rent a car and see 3 different areas of Costa Rica.
~ La Fortuna / Arenal Volcano
~ Manuel Antonio This is the beach part of the trip....also where 2 couples we know got married.
~ San Jose / La Paz River Valley: Peace Lodge

Some must-do items on our Eco-Adventure Agenda are a few Zip-Lines, Waterfall Rappelling, Hiking around the Volcano, White Water Rafting, Swimming in the Pacific, and last but certainly not least...a visit to the Spa. :-)

I will keep you updated as I book hotels & adventures on our itinerary.

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The Great Urban Race - Oct 5

My sister almost has me & my husband talked into doing
The Great Urban Race with her & her husband this Sunday 10/5.
Shape Magazine describes it as "a one day version of The Amazing Race."
This actually appeals to me because in my life before the husband, I watched The Amazing Race among other reality shows such as Survivor, Big Brother, The Bachelor. However, since the husband hates reality shows, our Tivo only records the SciFi channel. great.

If you have ever watched The Amazing Race then you have an idea what the Great Urban Race is about...it's just a scaled down, 1 city version of The Amazing Race (which is world-wide).
At $60/person it does seem a little pricey....but it is approximately 4 hours worth of entertainment and the memories made from will most likely be priceless.
You have to sign up in 2 person teams, but they allow teams to work together. Teams can use any means available to them to solve puzzles, do challenges, and complete the race....laptops, blackberries, GPS, etc.
Check out the website and let me know if you are interested in joining in the adventure!
http://www.greaturbanrace.com/
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