Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Suess

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Inspired...

Summer fashion always inspires me and makes me want to lead a different life. I can only imagine where they are and what their life is like...A sandy beach off the coast of Spain, a historic hill town on Italy's coast, or a deserted island hidden in the Pacific Ocean...

Where to go next? For the last few years emmy lou and I have wrangled up our adventurous side and have travelled somewhere new and exciting... where will it be this year? Currently on the table: Johannesburg, South Africa. I would also gladly put out there Provencana Italy, Warsaw Poland and Sydney Australia. What will it be?

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Hooping!

Last night emmy lou and I experienced our very first hooping class. Quiet a work out and a great way to make yourself feel like a moron. I am the first to admit that I have absolutely no rhythm.  Hooping just confirmed that for me. I am really surprised I make it through the day without tripping more. While I will most likely go back for another round of torture I don't think I will ever be as good as the Blue Tornado.

One can only dream to be this good. Who knew that this was an actual "sport" that people pursued. I am officially impressed. And I know what you are thinking. Did we hoop outside in a river? The answer to that my friend is not yet. 

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Tiny Boxwood's

One of Houston's best hidden treasures, Tiny Boxwood's. If you have not yet experience the best latte of your life stop everything and go to Tiny's. Delicious food and great atmosphere. It's as though you are in a small cafe in Paris.


If you need a place to relax or people watch this is the place to go! Sit out on the patio with you glass of wine, watch the kids play or walk through the Thompson and Hanson nursery. You can't go wrong.




Pretty Bird...

Everyone knows I am NOT a big fan of birds. Houston bound and within 24 hours of leaving Austin I had three traumatic incidents and now loathe ALL birds. 

First question: Why are they so mean? 
Second question: Why are they so dumb? Really, Really DUMB? 

Incident One: On my way out our back door I was literally dive bombed by a blue jay. According to Wikipedia they are very territorial/highly aggressive toward humans, but only if they come close to their nest. Apparently, this devil bird is raising it's devil spawn somewhere near our back door. When I get home I will remedy that! 

Incident Two: Upon arrival to Kiki's house I got to acquire what I will categorize as one of my top 5 most traumatic experiences (that maybe a little bit of an exaggeration, but...).  The door opens to Kiki having a panic attack because there is a bird trapped in the house. First step: open the back door and hope the bird flies out on it's own accord. It is wide open and the dodo-bird continues to fly into the window not realizing that the door is literally eight inches to the right. Both of us in a panic, worried that our eyes are going to be pecked out we brainstorm. 
  • Attempt One: Call Steve (Kiki's dad) thinking that he will come to the rescue. Instead we get "get a broom and shoo it out yourself."  FAIL.
Back to square one we go in for the kill, broom in hand.  
  • Attempt Two: Push the broom toward the bird too which it flies behind the piano. FAIL.  
  • Attempt Three: I pull the piano away from the wall while Kiki vigorously shakes the drapes. The ding dong flies out from behind the piano and right into the window. FAIL. 
  • Attempt Four: Push the piano against the wall, shove the broom toward the bird while Kiki claps and yells expletives. The dumb a** flies into the kitchen. EPIC FAIL
  • Attempt Five: The bird is now trapped in the kitchen and sitting on the dryer next to the back door. I go around the back, open it and nothing. ULTIMATE FAIL
  • Attempt Six: An hour into the shenanigans and very frustrated I decided it would be a great idea to toss a roll of packing tape toward the bird and hope it flies out. Kiki, a little hesitant at my suggestion gives me the go. Let just say it "slipped" out of my hands and I nailed it! At last, SUCCESS!!! Bird gone! Mission Accomplished! 
Incident Three: On my way to work I get a call from Kiki. While backing out of the drive way. PUFFFFFFFF!!!!!! An explosion of feathers! 


Needless to say I hope I have never have to deal with a bird ever again!!!! Gustav, who Kiki acquired in the move is good enough for me!


Monday, April 18, 2011

Aggieland

Emmy Lou and I decided to take a road trip, as this past weekend was parent's weekend/ring weekend at A&M. I have decided that the easiest way to make yourself feel old is to visit
Trey '11, Emmy Lou '06, FOB '78
your alma mater. BUT on the bright side it never fails to take you back and help you remember all the crazy memories you made. Pretty much every sentence began with, "remember when..." or "he looks just like...". It never got old... 

If you went to A&M you know what a big deal ring weekend is and if you didn't then you probably think that we are all crazy. Personally, I think it is one of the best traditions A&M has. I cannot tell you how many times I have bee somewhere and someone has noticed my aggie ring. It is a great conversation starter.

Our plan: sneak into college station and surprise Trey (emmy lou's younger brother), who was finally getting his aggie ring. Of course that was a giant FAIL..surprise wise. But overall the day was a success. Never a dull moment...I don't think I have laughed that hard in a very long time. 

A not so quick run-down of the shenanigans...First stop the Green. Trey is a member of the Parson's Mounted Cavalry...so the seniors got to show off their mad horse riding skills and how they could BTHO of a watermelon on horseback. It was pretty sweet. Next stop, Wehner for his outfit presentation, where Reville barked the entire time. Use to be when she barked class was dismissed... Side note: I took accounting freshman year, first semester in this exact room...I will never forget some moron trying to cheat off me. So dumb he didn't realize my test was pink and his was green. Good job, idiot.



Now that is was 215 and we had not been fed we decided that we had to go to Sonic, just for a snack. First order: two cranberry lime slushes (medium), one lime slush (Route 44), one sweet tea (large), one un-sweet tea (medium), two pickle-o's aka pick-a-nose, and one order mozzarella sticks...Ten minutes later order number two: two orders popcorn chicken and one order pickle-o's. Good thing you can just push a button. Five minutes later: FOB "my tea was not very big" Emmy Lou "order number three?". Next stop, cajun dinner? I think so. Reville VII's keeper invited the entire outfit and all their family over for food and fun. 


After an eventful auction and great food we headed out to Honey and Alvin's. While sitting on the back porch emmy lou was "attacked" by a tiny field mouse and FOB had to pay a nickel a chip... What a great day! Thanks family for letting me be a part of the day!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Make Your Own Path

In need of a little inspiration today??

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice, it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." ~ Willam Jennings Bryan

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life: something to do, something to hope for and something to love." ~Joseph Addison

"Many things I have ever done that have been worth while initially scared me to death." ~Betty Bender

"If you never try, you will never know." ~Coldplay

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" ~Unknown

"Faith is being sure of what is hoped for and certain of what we do not see." ~Hebrews 11:1

Today I am going to take the advice of one of my favorite stationary companies, Keep Calm Gallery. (How creative are these postcards? Hand letterpressed on vintage maps...)
AND know that sometimes it is okay to get LOST... 


"Life is a daring adventure, or nothing." ~ Helen Keller

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Ray Lamontagne and Damien Rice "To Love Sombody"

Ray will be at RedRocks Friday June 17th! I am dying to go! The last time I saw him was in Vegas for Kiki's 30th birthday. He was incredible! Every time I see him live I think he gets better and better. Is that even possible? Yes is the answer!

Monday, April 11, 2011

The New Digs

I have always wanted to live in Austin. A few months ago I decided to take the plunge. Why not? I am young, right? Well at least that is what everyone keeps telling me... I have officially settled in and I am in love with the new house. 



Can you blame me? It was built in 1925 and it could not be more quaint. I sat on the front porch almost the entire afternoon. I figure I better enjoy the good weather and peace/quiet while I can. 

I live with the author of MyGreatBigCanvas. I don't know if you have heard of it but I hear it's kind of a big deal...Emmy Lou also happens to be my travel buddy. I mean if we can rough it in Costa Rica with no electricity I think we can manage living on the grid. Since I don't have a full time job I have been tasked with making the house "look like a magazine". I don't know if that will happen but I do know everything will be organized and I will drive her crazy walking around taking photos and talking about my mustache blog all day long... 


On top of keeping the house in order I am in the process of creating a long list of things to do. There are so many things to do and see. So let the shenanigans begin... First on my list of things to do: iron all of the roomie's button downs for a nickel a piece.