4 weeks away

holy toledo. our wedding is 4 weeks away. :) i think it just hit me!

keep austin weird #2

Found this on YOU TUBE one day.....

Giving Money away isn't easy! Peter Nevland wanted to see what would happen with $200 on a busy street corner in Austin, TX. Jacob Cantu did all the camera work and film editing

keep austin weird #1

another find from youtube that made me smile

My Valentine

it has been a long week at work and valentine's day was the last thing on my mind after being in Atlanta all week for a work convention. i came home to a bucket of xxbeer, a cezar salad and this homemade heart shaped pizza. i felt loved, honey. thanks.

xo

best birthday wish ever

From my dear friend angy beck who used to have a peroxide mullet and i love her so./ She is a part of the A team! and she now coaches MY original 7th grade b team at STA.

"CROW--Widespread, and obvious, Allison CROW is know by most people. What is less well know is how complex her life really is. Young crow remain with their parents until they can find a home of their own, and individual relationships may last years.

In some areas, ALLISON Crow has a double life. She maintains a territory year-round in which all members of its extended family live and forage together. But during much of the year, individual crow leave the home territory periodically staying with other crows.

Despite being a common exploiter of roadkill, the allison Crow is not specialized to be a scavenger, and carrion is only a very small part of her diet. Her stout bill is not strong enough to break through the skin of even a gray squirrel. It must wait for something else to open a carcass or for the carcass to decompose and become tender enough to eat
Happy Birthday you sure are FLY."

this place in my heart

My brother introduced me to Tulum in 2003...he has been there working on a project and some other real estate deals for some time.
I've been there 3 times. First was with Hot Magma in 2003 just before the big D and I don't mean Dallas. I fell in love with the laid back low budget style of this once secret little spot.

The next visit was in Feb 04. I went to spend my birthday with Cameron and Ioulia. It was bittersweet...I was wanting to share Tulum with someone I loved.

The last time I was there was in January of 06, just days before I met Bill. I went for Maggie and Todd's wedding, and my heart friends Jack and Malia joined me. I was there for 2 glorious weeks surrounded by friends.

This time I get to introduce Bill to this place in my heart. Were booked at this little spot at the tip of the yucatan near the Sian Kann Bioreserve called La Zebra Tulum.

Tulum is no longer a secret. They bring bus loads of folks down to crawl like ants over the Tulum Ruins and my once favorite beach spot El Paraiso. It isn't the cheap place it used to be...it has been discovered. I will keep going back. And this time, I get to take my honey....next time we will bring the kids. See you on the beach.

Hope at Trudys,
Joy at 4510 Bull Creek,
Cherish at DWR,
and Love along with a proposal

on the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge

on a beautiful, sunny Austin day.

Birthday Weasels

my list for today

1. the women in my family and our time together.


2. my cozy cuddly dogs who love my without condition


3. prosperity that comes my way through hard work and effort, and some with ease


4. my honda and the good gas mileage it gets


5. a good pair of jeans and the way i feel when i wear them


6. bubble baths


7. a warm cup of coffee in the morning


8. that my computer works


9. my sweet bill and his love


10. blythe carlin and her smile

pile on more dogs

colorado

macaroni and cheese

this is my all time favorite food. i had more of it than water as a child, and i to this day consume my fair share. no, i don't think you understand how much i love macaroni and cheese. while i had a marriage that didn't make it 3 years, i did, in 2001, have an amazing wedding....and on the menu-- macaroni and cheese. there i was in a poofy white wedding gown with a huge plate of mac and cheese and a glass of champagne. i may have lost the marriage but i still have the china and the affinity for the cheesiest, creamy dish.


i did, one time, try to make it from scratch. i researched and finally decided on a recipe from OPRAH thinking surely hers would be delish. long story short-- i don't try to cook it any more. i just taste the mac that others have prepared.


i consider myself a connoisseur of the delicious golden cheesy pasta and try it any time it is on the menu where i am dining. some of my favorite places that serve it are moonshine grill, boston market, and my neighbor down the street makes a pretty good bowl of homemade mac and cheese. but all this is to say, that yesterday, i found what i think may be the pinnacle of mac and cheese goodness at this place.

yes....quality seafood market in north austin now has my favorite bowl of macaroni and cheese. guess who else loves mac and cheese? manthie girl.....i think i will take her to the pot of gold at the end of the macaroni rainbow this weekend! peace out and may you find an endless supply of your favorite comfort food.

haulin' buns

seen at IH35 and Ben White

school nights smell

tomorrow is the first day of school. summer break is over and bill and the kids have to go back now. i really have no change in my routine, except that won't be the only one up early in the morning for the next 9 months.

i love school nights. there is something about the early shut down, the end of day organization and prep for tomorrow...reminds me of something in my childhood. after a bath that would wash away the excitement of a small girls day, i would pajama-up and then meet mom in the kitchen. she had a towel laid out on the counter and another to couch my head and neck. then she would wash my hair gently in the kitchen sink. of course the shampoo was followed by a "set." there in front of her tv, while we watched some show, she would dipdy-do and pin curl my long, long, blonde hair.
i can smell the clean. i can smell the evening time. i can see the green gel and feel the soft touch of my mothers hands in my hair....and somewhere else in the room, 3 other clean and pajamaed siblings.
as an adult, with so much to do, think about, & with all the media bombardment and over-stimulation, i'm thankful for a little moment that brings me back to the smell of school nights.