Insta-Friday

Happy Friday!  Today starts our summer schedule at the office so we close early on Fridays.  Yay!  I am off at noon.  I just wish I was feeling better, I am a little congested...I think there may be a nap in my future.

Let's celebrate Friday by taking a look at my week through my phone.

We had a Mardi Gras staff appreciation luncheon at UST.  It was jazzy.  I wore fun heels and a mask.  I made a wreath for my office door with the photo booth pictures.  It was fun.

My friend Roberta had a birthday.  There was a happy hour with homemade party hats and a birthday girl crown.

Sammy napped a lot.

We have tiny jalapenos on our plants.  I have already picked our first tomatoes.

I took some bored morning selfies.

Exciting week, right?  LOL.




Have a fantastic weekend!!!

Feeling Appreciated

Yesterday was our staff appreciation luncheon at the University of St. Thomas.

It was a lot of fun this year (and I am not just saying that because I was part of the planning committee).  We had a Mardi Gras/New Orleans Jazz theme, complete with beads, masks and Cajun food from Treebeards.

2012-2013 Staff Awards and Recognition Committee

Oh, right...Funky Monkey Photobooth was also at the party...more on that in a minute.

Our event, called Hats Off to Staff was a glitter filled event, with hats and masks covering the tables.  Treebeards set us up with two buffet lines serving up red beans and rice, shrimp etouffee, and  lots of salad.  The brownies and buttercake were totally worth the calories.

We handed out "years of service" awards for milestone years.  One of our awards was for 55 years of service!!  Impressive.

Our staff gifts were hats (get it, hats off to staff?) and padfolios.

All of this was served up with a side of photobooth fun.

Everyone was lining up to have a turn in the booth.  Even Dr. Ivany, UST's president took a turn.  I like it.

Photo booths make everything more fun.

 Even staffers you wouldn't expect to hop in the booth got in on the action.

 
We rocked our UST hats in the booth.

Hats Off to Us (or technically on in this case)

I totally stole this picture from Karen.  Thanks Karen.

I think everyone had a great time at the appreciation luncheon this year.  Who says you can't have fun at work?

There were definitely photo bombs committed during the photo fun.

Blogs and Birthdays

Happy Wednesday friends!  Now that I am back at full speed after 6 weeks of surgery recovery and then a fabulous Italian vacation I am ready to concentrate back on my goals of getting in shape and being healthy.  I am back in the gym and my food choices are back on track!

The extra fabulous news is that the husband wants to join me on this journey and possibly do a little blogging of his own.  So, we decided to launch a new blog, Wells Live Well.

We are still under construction on the new site, but I will update you when we are live!  All of my recipes and weight loss posts will migrate over to that site and Ema's Grand Ideas will be my spot for crafts, decorating, and style.

As I have been working on the new blog site I have been contemplating lots of fun motivational quotes that I have seen out and about in social media.  The one that has taken up wallpapering my phone is this one.

I. Love. It.

And finally Happy Birthday to my dear friend Roberta...

Have a lovely Wednesday friends!!

Update

First, thank you so much for the prayers and good thoughts you are sending toward my friend Arianne. 

Arianne, Erin, Me and Stacy at our friend Kasey's wedding.

Although she is still sedated she is squeezing the nurse's hand when asked and shakes her head when asked if her name is Smith (which it is not).  These are such wonderful updates.  She still has a very long road ahead of her, so please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Prayers

My mind and heart are heavy today.

Today I have in my thoughts and prayers all those in Oklahoma who were effected by the terrible tornadoes.

I am also thinking and praying for this beautiful woman, Arianne (on the left below), who suffered a brain aneurysm and is fighting her battle in ICU here in Houston.

Photo: Funky Monkey Photobooth

Weekend Recap

We are back from Italy and mostly back in the swing of everyday life.  It is good to be home...I missed you guys!

My weekend was fairly boring, a lot of around the house stuff, so instead of boring you with that I thought I would bombard you with vacation pictures...my fave ones captured by my phone.  The pictures from the actual camera are not edited and ready, but will be coming soon along with reviews of our hotels and tours.

And now...phone pictures!

Venice

Florence

 

Volterra

Pisa

The Vatican

Rome

It is possible that it was a mistake to do this post on a Monday because now I really wish I was still on vacation!

I hope you have a fantastic Monday and your week ahead treats you well.

Italian Adventures

Our adventures continue in Volterra today.

Florence...

...is amazing.