Just old enough

A wise woman told me, you will always only be as old as you feel (Kathie Conway). As I get older I only find how much truth this simple statement really has. I think of this when I think of the tutus that I made and we wore for St. Patrick’s Day this year. Tutu’s are the new “it” wear for little girls. They are so cute, and come in such a variety and you will see these lil tots wearing them for every occasion. I used to smile and wish I could get away with such a thing.

I knew as soon as we decided we were going to make a day of the parade that I wanted to wear one. It was going to be this or Halloween that would provide me the opportunity to be able to wear something out of the norm for a 30 something year old. Weather is more permitting in March than October. Immediately I started looking on eBay, Etsy and on line in general. I wasn’t having much luck finding some for “big” girls to wear. When I did find one they would cost a little more than I really wanted to pay for some fun. I was so shocked when I told my girlfriends about my idea and how they responded with pure joy of wanting one for them to wear as all. The reaction made me smile. I bet there are a handful of “older” females having the same desire to wear a tutu. I often find that you may think you are the only one taking a nap in the bathroom stall during work, but in reality there are others doing  the same exact thing. The desire to wear a tutu at an adult age, not odd at all.

Jason suggested that I make the tutus. I laughed and instantly squashed the idea. I had no knowledge on how to do that or an idea where to begin. You must remember I am about as square as a box can get and creativity is not my forte. He then proceeded to remind me that I may not know how, but he was certain Pinterest would be able to show me. Oh yes there were a ton of ideas and he was so right. While I am on the subject of Pinterest, I also just recently learned that it is a great format to utilize in expanding your career portfolio. I made a point to go ahead and create me another board. Now when I read articles I have the option of adding them to my FB, Twitter and Pinterest account. Technology is pretty amazing and I was excited to see Pinterest getting so much rave.

Back to the topic on hand and moving right along. I got the supplies (with some extra help from Sam Mauldin), printed the how to off of Pinterest and went to being crafty. I was going to be making three of these creations of tulle.  They were so easy, quick to put together and probably cost about 10.00 a piece to make. If I may brag for just a moment they were beyond being just a hit. I have yet to ever get as many compliments as I did on this skirt. We had so much fun wearing them not to mention that fact I secretly got to full fill my wish of wanting to wear a tutu. Now when I see little girls in there bedazzled outskirts I just smile and think to myself how I now know how much fun they have prancing around in the fringe. I will share with you the pictures of my supplies and the girls that aren’t afraid to be only as old as they feel. Cheers to forever being a kid at heart. 

Killing a couple of birds with one stone

You may describe someone as a tree hugger, go green activist, recyclers, resourceful, humble, frugal or just down right smart. You may even have a better word to describe them based on certain actions. Whatever it may be you can certainly call me that. It was a few years back that I decided I could not trash my pickle jars. They just seem too durable of an item to use for something else. I was not sure what, but I was not going to discard them with items that suite the description of trash. I love pickles and think they go fabulous with every meal. There are so many different choices and I find that each brand that carry the same flavor has its own distinct touch as well.

I started off using them as drinking glasses. They clean easy and are hard to break. I wound up with more than enough drinking glasses, so I started to Google more uses for them. Pinterest was not so prevalent at this time. I did however find a few more around the house uses for them. I got to a point where I figured I had enough pickle jar accents floating around my 660 square foot den. I decided to just start stashing them away in the far back hard to reach cabinet area. They would come to use someday. Maybe I will host a party or give them as a gift. I was browsing Pinterest one day and came across a couple of ideas I decided to incorporate in one and finally get to utilize my jars. I think the pictures tell the story of how I got to use my pickle jars. I was able to give the girls in the office a gift for Valentine's Day. I got compliments and praise for them. I cleaned out my cabinet. I had fun and felt a little creative. This is a lot to get out of one project. 

My Favorite Things

I think it is important to make note of our favorite things. If I were Oprah and gave out my favorite things, some of these items would be what you would get. What are some of your favorite things?

• Skittles
• Clarisonic Mia
• Soniccare toothbrush
• Grapefruit body wash and shampoo from Origins
• Napoleon lipstick (Olympia)
• Edamame
• Silver hoop earrings (James Avery)
• Calvin Klein black pumps
• V8 Berry Splash
• Pistachios nuts
• Hot rollers
• Plastic white hangers
• Cookies and Cream 
• Brita water pitcher
• Funky Socks
• Stride Spark with B+6 B+12 Kinetic Fruit
• Niven Morgan Gold hand cream
• InStyler

Travel with the Family

Jason's family was kind enough to extend me an invite to join them on this family trip to San Francisco, CA. My first thought was how incredibly sweet of them. Second, can Jason and I even go. Third, was my love for this city. I had the good fortune of visiting ole San Fran, with my child hood best friend back in 2005. I was there for two weeks for work, she came up to visit me and we made a vacation out of it. I had fallen in love and could not wait to go back. 

Can you guess the picture that was taken in 2005 and then again 2012? Negh, I did not think so. Ha, it was great to be back. 

We flew Virgin America and that airline has certainly grasped the new age of flying. They have purple LED lights throughout the plane. There is a digital flat screen on the back of each seat, just a few touches and you have order placed, and delivered. They were having a special promotion and we got to have free Wi-Fi and use the Google chrome notebook they were handing out. I found humor in watching the hesitation and caution in people at the terminal to go check one of the computers out when they used the "it is free" to promote. We learn quickly in life that nothing is ever free, but this really was. Everyone was settled on the aircraft, seats were comfy and a flawless flight to start the trip off with. Jason's nieces were 100% set with all this to keep them busy for the next three hours. Every parent wants air transportation like this when traveling with the little ones. We were good to go. 

It always amazes me when you visit a city again and again and you did as much as you possible could the first time, but you go back to almost the exact same area and see how much you missed and get an entire new experience. This is the beauty in travel. I usually scan over my pictures and or credit card charges to figure out where all I went on a trip, however one of the biggest lessons I learned from this trip is that when you travel with family you are not exactly as in control as you may normally be. I know I do not have every place listed that we ate and visited, but this is the majority of the for a first time for sure.

• Caffe Puccini - Little Italy -sidewalk with heaters, J was kind enough to take an hour to pick out for our last lunch, I wanted just the "right" place
• Ghirardelli We went twice, once for shopping and looking - Second to get some sweets
• Cellar 360 -Wine tasting in Ghirardelli square
• Fishermen's Grotto #9 -Lunch with a view
• California Academy of Science -Amazing
• @ Far East Cafe -China Town 
• Buena Vista - Irish coffee's and delish lunch
• Jacks Pub - making friends with fellow travelers
• Fisherman's Warf - Finally got to see the famous Sea Lions
• Alioto's waterside cafe - Our first stop for some much needed lunch and seafood 
• Trolley - got passes and rode them all over the city

The weather was beautiful definitely a lot cooler/windier than it was in October when my first visit occurred. I got a little glimpse of what family travel can be like. There is one thing you are guaranteed when traveling with Jason's family. That is that you will have some yummy food and that we did for sure. I am more in love with this place than I was before and cannot wait to go back and do more new things. 

2011 was like Heaven

I don’t think I have ever felt as much peace with myself as I did chiming in to 2011. It truly was magical.  Jason and I packed our bags left the city and headed to the lake house. We planned on spending the next 4 days, cooking, being lazy, putting a puzzle together, taking some walks, popping some fireworks and just have fun being together. This is exactly what we did. It was wonderful.

I read over my blog from 2010 before I started writing this one. I noted that my hopes for 2011 were to get a permanent job, to be more physically fit, to have that last little debt paid off, to be more involved in church (or at least going more regularly), to be active in my sorority alumnae group and to take a vacation like I never have.

I was overwhelmed with happiness when I realized how well I did. I got a permanent job; my first day was October 31^st with Worldwide Express. Jason and I joined a gym and work out at least 3 times a week if not 4. It was just this past Sunday that we walked 2.1 miles to get to Harry’s and 2.1 miles to get back home. It was great fun. I did not get that last bit of debt paid off, but that is only because I took a vacation like I never have and I am okay with this. At least I did not accrue more debt and have almost got the other paid off and will for sure have it gone in 2012. Jason and I did go to Church a lot more, we have been I guess you would say Church shopping.  Looking for one that we both enjoy has been a bit of a challenge since we would prefer to just have one and go. Finding different ones that are close in distance, but represent our religion beliefs is important. We did however get a couple Angel’s off the tree this year and I was very happy about that. Not only was I more active in my sorority I was on a committee for Cookies and Castles at Scottish rite’s Children Hospital. I also joined a book club with the alumnae group. Costa Rica for the vacation was more than I could have ever imagined for. 2011 you were really good to me and I am so thankful for it.

The things that stand out to me the most about 2011 have been captured in a blog I am certain. I kind of figured out that I like to share monumental moments for me with everyone else. Therapeutic I think. However, if I did not read back and just went over the year in my head my highlights over all verses specific would be that we are always looking for new things to try, places to go and foods to eat. I am so happy we do this. I created a dining out club that we eat out some place new the first Friday of every month. I have built of a nice clientele of babysitting clients, enjoy it and think it will only grow to as much as I want it to. Donating 14 inches of my hair was a good deed for sure, but I hate it being short and I am not sure I would ever do it again. I do not regret doing it. Being more involved for Christmas. It was not bad at all. I got a Clarisonic for my face for my birthday and I am in love with it. I think every girl should have one.

On a personal note I have realized that my wants for happiness have changed a bit over the past year. I think it may have something to do with the beauty of that thing called age. Finding my best friend in Jason caused a lot less hardships on the friend o meter this year. Rather it was him or growing older I do not care I am just happy the drama is out of my life. I have a close and secure net of friends. I love them dearly and know how lucky I am to have them.  There have been some friends from the past that have become better friends and that is exciting, but over all I have a happy medium and that makes me feel blessed.

For 2012 I pray to get that debt paid off, be in better shape, and have fewer vices, yard sale, to have found a church (or going to ONE more regularly) and to do a little more with my apartment. I always want for good health and love in my relationship as well. If 2012 gets any better than 2011 I cannot possible imagine what it must feel like. I smile with anticipation.

 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Meant to be

I love the fact rice krispey treats are yummy and easy to make. I saw this book that is full of nothing, but themed treats. I went to half price books to see if they had it and score for me. I was looking through it and thought these footballs would be cute to take to an SMU game sometime. After leaving half price books we went in to Central Market to get some groceries and as soon as we walked in the store to start our shopping I came across this football trey. It was meant to be. I had to make those snacks for the next game. The kiddos loved them and they were so easy to make. I did not use the peanut butter per the instructions. I was not sure how well it would really taste. I was proud of them and can not wait to make more things out of this book. 

http://www.ricekrispies.com/#/Default

"GFBF"

“Wine is part of the food chain it makes meals”

We had our first dinner club meeting and I think it went really well. It was Friday December 2, 2011 at The Egyptian Campisis in Dallas on Mockingbird Lane. The idea just kind of hit me out of nowhere one Sunday afternoon. I remember one of my friends telling me about something she is part of that is similar to this. Everyone had such a great time all hanging out at a concert we went to a few months back and kept on commenting about all getting together more often. It just so happen Jason and I were trying to get a dinner date on the calendar to go out with some friends that had never been to Campisis.  Then we thought of other friends that we should invite because we had not seem them in awhile and well one thought led to another and here we are.

It is the First Friday of every month; we will go to different cities and invite everyone. Jason came up with the club name GFBF “Good Friends Better Food”.  I thought it had a jingle and was witty enough. I felt a little corny calling it a club, but it is easy and that is what I wanted this to be. I originally emailed all my girl friends and said three strikes and you are kicked out. This means if you RSVP yes and then do not show up you will get a strike. It is so third grade and I love it. I do not want to make reservations for 10 and only have 3 show up. There is an evite that goes out that I use to inform everyone of our next location which I take from suggestions. I also use the invite to figure out how many people will attend, so I can make a proper reservation.

The next dinner is already on the calendar and everyone is looking forward to it. There will be some returning and some new faces. It will be interesting to see the success rate as time goes on. I hope people keep coming and inviting more. I think it is a great way to network.  I found great joy in seeing people exchange numbers and becoming new face book friends.

Next outing will be to one of my all time favorite places in Arlington. Campo Verde this was Kyle’s idea and I think everyone is going to be pleasantly surprise with the atmosphere. This place rocks!

http://www.campoverde.us/

I will keep you posted on the progress. Please let me know if you are involved in something like this. I would love to hear suggestions and other ideas.