Weekend (and more) Recap

Wow!  Life has been a little crazy here so I have been letting the dogs blog for me for almost 6 weeks.  That's a long time.  Here's what I have been up to...

The husband and I road tripped to Hattiesburg, MS.

As you might know, we have family that lives there.  This trip was special because this beautiful girl was taking her first communion.

 

That's our niece/God daughter Chelsie, isn't she a cutie?

 Trixie helped her dad barbecue for Memorial Day weekend.

We had friends over to enjoy all the delicious food.

It was a great time.

The next weekend Dave and Rachel got married.

You might remember them from David and Aerin's wedding post, that's where I got this great picture of the happy couple.

My sister and nieces came to visit.  I love seeing them as often as possible, so I always love when they come visit.  We had lots of fun that included a trip to the Downtown Aquarium.

I hadn't been to the aquarium in a long time and I had never been on the train that takes you through the shark tank.

Definitely a very cool perspective.

I also didn't know there was a white tiger at the aquarium.  Seemed a little out of place to me, but what a gorgeous animal.

I was happy to see her, but at the same time I felt a little sad for her.  The more I work with animal rescue the more I think about animal rights and welfare.  I thought she looked a little sad and lonely hanging out with everyone looking at her.  I am sure she is well taken care of, I just can't get over the feeling that a wild animal in captivity isn't happy.

This fiber glass version of her seemed just fine.

Chelsie was the only one on board with acting scared.  I love her scared face.

Around the house there has been lots of snuggling,

a little photo-bombing,

and lots of playing.

Sammy and Bauer are completely in love.  We couldn't be happier with having Bauer home with us.  I can't imagine not having him here.  He's dear.

I have been busy at home as well.  I have some new chairs and this awesome print from Sammy and Bauer's session with Mary Pasicatan Photography. 

I have some little projects to share...

...and some big ones.

I am looking forward to sharing it all with you soon!

Weekend Recap

We had a fantastic relaxed boring weekend!  It was perfect!  It started with a Houston snow day on Friday.  We didn't see any snow at our house, but it sure was icy out there.  I know everyone around the country that is well versed in winter weather makes fun of us for shutting down because of a little ice and that's just fine with me.  I was happy to stay home in my PJ pants with the husband and the fur kids.  Much better than being out and about.

Speaking of the fur kids...my girls love them some makeup.

It would be a weird day of getting out the makeup box without feline or canine supervision.

My girly girls.

Saturday brought lovely weather back up in the 60s so we ran errands and lunched at Mandola's Deli.  Delicious Italian po-boys!  And we got stuffed artichokes to take home and had those for dinner.  Yummy.

Sunday we had a play date with Wags!

Wags and her mom!

Sammy was so excited to see her BFF.  It was awesome to see Wags and the other dogs in her neighborhood.  She is in the perfect home for her and it warms my heart!!

Now tomorrow it is supposed to be cold and icy again!!  Our weather is indecisive!  I thought my desk calendar at the office was perfect for today.

For another day off tomorrow!

I don't think I can remember a winter where we had two days that we were closed due to weather.  Fingers crossed.  :)

I hope you had a great weekend!

Weekend Recap

It was a nice relaxing weekend.

Sammy and me - relaxing.

We finished Christmas shopping, we had some yummy food and we met these guys.

You might remember William and Daniel from these posts:

Weekend Recap - January 14
Wonderful Wednesday
Weekend Recap - November 6

I shamelessly stole this picture from their mom's Facebook page.  I was too busy snuggling and playing to take my own pictures.  Kind of a blogger fail, but snuggling and playing are great excuses I think. 

I am happy to report that I am finished working for the year.  I am not sure I have ever been so excited to say that before.  The last couple of months in the office have been very busy and a little stressful.  I am happy for the break.

What have a I been doing with my time?

The furry children are so happy you asked.

"Seriously mom?"

I am surprised the husband didn't lose an eye in this situation.

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

Insta-Friday

Who is happy that Friday has finally arrived?  This gal is!!  I thought for a minute that it would never get here!  I am worn out!

Overall the week has been slow and uneventful.  Here are the thrilling high lights...

I got my pretty birthday ring exchanged for a good size and wore it all week.

I wore my new favorite shoes to the office.  I love these.

The fur babies had a great week.  Trixie got new kitty treats and Sammy's BarkBox arrived.  The husband and I were wondering if PurrPackages were in the works...or maybe MeowMail.  Ha!

A couple of the nieces managed to get a spring swim in even though they don't have spring temperatures yet.  Thank goodness for indoor pools.  These gals love to swim.

This weekend will consist of a short road trip.  Shorter for me than the husband.  He is riding in the MS150 and will be riding his bike from Houston to Austin.

The BP MS 150 allows riders to raise money for the MS Society.  The husband has wanted to participate in this ride for a long time and this year he is making it a reality.  I am proud of him.  I will not be pedaling to Austin, I will be driving up to cheer my guy across the finish line and drive him back home.

I hope you have great weekend plans.  I have family and friends up in Austin so I will be well entertained and taken care of.  I am excited.



Enjoy your weekend!!!

Weekend Recap

You might know that the first part of my weekend was spent in the hospital.  If you have ever had a hospital stay of any kind you probably already know this, but if you have never had to spend any time in the hospital let me tell you...nurses are awesome.  Doctors get all the glory, but the nurses...they really take care of you and deserve more credit.

I had the pleasure of being pushed by several different fabulous ladies...and getting in trouble with a few (like the recovery room nurse who didn't want me straining myself trying to look around while I was waking up).  Each of them were awesome in their own way (even the one I didn't think I liked very much), but Esme was my favorite of them all.  She worked part of two of the day shifts I was in the hospital for and she was awesome.  She was encouraging and comforting at the same time.  I wanted to walk my hospital laps for her.  If you see a nurse today, tell them they are fantastic.

Thank you fabulous ladies, you rock.  Keep up the good work.

And then there's this guy.

What a great view, right?

This guy is pretty awesome too.  The husband was there for me whenever I needed him and he was also a pretty good cheerleader...he thinks I am kind of strong where all this surgery stuff is concerned.  I think he is sweet.

The award for the most excited animal to see me come home goes to...

Sammy!!!  Shocker, I know.  Trixie was happy too...in her own special kitten way.

I have to say that I felt the love and the prayers that were sent my way in the past week.  It has been really touching.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Liebster Award

Maria over at Keeping It Stepford nominated me for a Liebster award!  What is that you ask?  Well, that's what I thought when Maria told me about it.  I thought for sure someone had hacked her account and left me a crazy comment.  But guess what...it wasn't spam...it's a networking tool for new bloggers with less than 200 followers.

So much fun!  Here's how it works...

1. Answer the 11 questions the blogger who nominated you asked.
2. Give 11 random facts about yourself
3. Nominate 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers
4. Create 11 questions for your nominees to answer

Here are the 11 questions Maria asked me:

Do you have any pets?

I do!  A pup named Sammy and a cat named Trixie.  I NEVER put pictures of them on the blog.

They are also not spoiled...at all.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Right now it is totally Fleming's.  The husband and I love to have special date nights there when we are celebrating birthdays or anniversaries.  It is yummy.  And the service is great and the lighting romantic.

Looking back, when you were growing up did you think you would be in the place you are now?

No way!!  As a kiddo I thought I would be married by 25 and a mom two years later (since that's what my mom did).  As a young adult I thought I would be a reporter living in New York or somewhere.  It is interesting how your life's path changes and somehow you end up right where you are supposed to be.

Has anyone ever said you look like someone famous?

It's funny I mentioned being a reporter in my last answer.  I was once mistaken in the grocery store for one of the local Houston reporters.  But no one more famous than a local celebrity.

What is one goal you would like to achieve within the next 3 years?

This is kind of a boring answer, but I would like the husband and I to have our retirement plans and investment strategy in order.  We have plans and savings and all that, but I want it to be more organized and I would like us to see a financial planner. 

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas!  Hands down.  I work at a university and we are closed for a week at Christmas time and it is so wonderful to be able to have built in vacation at that time and really get to kick back and enjoy my family.

If you could hang out with any celebrity who would it be?

Ann Curry.  I think she would have so many interesting stories to share.

Snow Bunny or Sun Worshipper?

Sun Worshipper.  With sunscreen.  Period.  I do not like cold toes.

What is your favorite band or singer?

This is a tough one.   I like a wide range of music and I am terrible with knowing artists' and bands' names.  I will go with Ingrid Michaelson...love her song Be OK.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

The one thing I struggle with is weight and eating the right portions so I suppose I would have to say I would change my relationship with food. 

What is a book you recommend?

The Help.  Read it.  It is awesome. 

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I watch Friends re-runs daily.  Every night while I am falling asleep and in the middle of the night if I need my mind to stop racing.  I own all the seasons on DVD and watch them in order over and over.  The husband loves it.  If he says he doesn't, he is lying.
2. I met the husband playing darts.  We were both in the Houston dart league (don't play us for money).  The first thing he ever said to me is, "I'm not losing to the likes of you."  He lost (at least that game of darts).
3. I am having surgery on Thursday morning.  I am not looking forward to it.  I am ready to be on the recovery side of this process.
4.  I love to shop...one of my favorite stores is Pier 1.
5. I am both handed.  I do random things with random hands...like write with my right, eat with my left, use scissors with my right, brush my teeth with my left.  For some things I am completely ambidextrous.
6. My dog sleeps in the bed with us, usually in the middle and sometimes with her head on the pillows like a person.  I let her do it and find it cute and sweet.  Some people think it is not cute and kind of gross.  I am okay with that.
7. My friend John nicknamed me Ema in college.  I decided it needed to only have one m in it since it was short for Emily and Emily only has one m.  John spelled it with two m's and he probably still would.
8. I have a terrible singing voice, but I love to sing.  I try to only do it in private so no one's ears will begin to bleed.  I am a considerate singer.  It sounds good to me.  My dad used to tell me I was a lovely singer...under water.
9. I was a complete daddy's girl when I younger.  He was awesome dad and I still miss him everyday.
10. I wish I could make braids and do cool things with my hair.  I can't...I am terrible at all hairstyles except straight, curled with a curling iron or a flat boring pony tail.
11.  I have only been out of the country 3 times and two of those times I went to Mexico.  I am VERY excited about our trip to Italy later in the spring.

My 11 Nominees:

Dash of Sunshine
Gourmet and Gamer
Katy Louise
Life in the Moment
My Haunted Attic
No. 631  
Team Bowen
The Tuckers
The Whimsy One
Trailerhood Aristocrats

Questions for my nominees to answer:

1. What's your favorite childhood memory?
2. Where would you vacation right now if money was no object?
3. What is your dream job?
4. What's your favorite season?
5. Chocolate or vanilla?
6. How do you pamper yourself?
7. What is something you know now that you wish you had known when you were younger?
8. What is your favorite sport or hobby?
9. Friday night out or Friday night in?
10. It's a rainy day...are you watching a movie or reading a book?
11. What is your favorite board or card game?

Have fun networking!

Insta-Friday #12

Happy Friday everyone!  I am happy the weekend is here!  It has been a busy, but pretty great week.  Let's take a look...

I hosted a girls' night out in.  Clockwise from the top left: festive cocktail napkins; our healthy eats spread (sauteed shrimp, brown rice, hummus & pita chips, and Caesar salad); my gorgeous friend Stacey; fire in the fire pit; Mmmm...craft beer; Sammy and her chicken enjoying girls' night in.

Our cat Trixie loves our newly finished dining room...she is always in there.  She got a fancy meal at the table.  LOL.

I did a little shopping at Style Cycle, a super cute vintage store in the Houston Heights.  Clockwise from top left: awesome art glass bowl I purchased; beautiful art glass bowl still at the shop waiting for a lucky shopper; some cool glasses with old school cars on them (I personally think they would make great outdoor candle holders); happy shopper receiving their goodies.



I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!