Holiday Meme

Eggnog or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate for the most part but there was that one year I drank a ton of eggnog - then noticed my waist had expanded.

Plus, hot chocolate has chocolate. NEED I SAY MORE??

Does Santa wrap the presents or leave them open under the tree? When Santa starts to visit our house, I will have to say they will be unwrapped. That is how we always did it! Except for my poor dad, who left my stocking stuffers (those were santa too) by the chair and I was like "hey what's this?" and my dad was like "oh. s*$#! um... that was going to be Santa..." and THAT is how I heard there was no Santa. Love you Dad!

Colored lights on a tree, or white? WHITE. Many Many strands.

Do you hang mistletoe? I have a fake one for decoration. I try and place myself under it when I have time...

When do you put your decorations up? Thanksgiving after we eat. Ever heard of Thanksgiving Breakast? I think I will implement that soon...

What is your favorite holiday dish? Stuffing and Gravy

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Nope. But I LOVED the Modern Family episode where they have a tradition of opening a present that is PJ's and they have to wear them to bed and that way they have them on when you open presents the next day. Awesome.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Methodically. I am an designer. nuff said.

Snow: love it or hate it? Love it since it's so rare!

Can you ice skate? I have once.

What is your favorite holiday dessert? Um. Hmmm... I am a sweets person but not so much on the traditional 'holiday" desserts. Cherry pie?

What is your favorite holiday tradition? I have always loved stockings. I am making that our tradition to start this year so we can carry it on with a little one.
However, Lee got confused and bought a Le Crueset dutch oven. I don't think he gets it quite yet. BUT - if he figures out diamonds are small and fit into stockings, ok!

Candy canes: yum or yuck? Eh.

Favorite Christmas show? I know this is a little modern but Love Actually. Watch the end with the kid and the airport. Oh man. But I also stop in my tracks to watch Christmas Story and the Griswalds.

Tree and Presents and Stockings!

See Lee's stocking to the right on the entertainments center? I had to take it down and put it on the ledge because it was so heavy it pulled off the stocking holder!!
We are opening presents with Donald and Don tonight and Lee gave me one present early today - a Le Crueset dutch oven! HOLY COW! I love it and there is a pot roast in it right now!

Sunday No-Day

Usually we make Sunday "Funday." Football, food, getting ready for the week, etc.
Today it has been Sunday "no day." we haven't done anything. nothing. nada.

It is 1:45pm.
We have not brushed our teeth.
We had Whataburger Cheeseburgers - for breakfast.
I am in my robe and panties. Panties I wore all day yesterday.
We are gross no?
(yes. very)

I have decided that when you own dogs, they become little, furry versions of their pawrents.
Observe Teddy on the floor:
Observe Teddy and Lee on the sofa watching football:
Observe Lola in her "Hammock.":
See that computer? I have been on it reading blogs for about 4 hours now. There is a book on the chair calling my name.
The shower? not so much.

Dear ASPCA

We need haircuts! Call the authorities!

SNOW!

We Texans don't get much snow. In fact, the news said this is the 4th time in 20 years we have ever gotten it in Houston so you can see how we would freak out a little bit!
Lee - Throwing a snowball at me!
The yard
Puppies investigating!
It falling in front of our house
Yay snow day!

Thanksgiving squared

This year, we traveled to Palestine on Thanksgiving day and back in the same day - then had Thanksgiving again Friday evening at our house. It was nice to see everyone but also a little stressful as well.
After we ate on Thursday, it was time to put food into containers and get everything put away. Something we always make fun of grandma for is her constant accumulation of containers. She saves cool whip ones, butter, anything. I couldn't find her stash for a moment and then she said "look under the sink!" So when I did I found....
More containers than most people have. Ever. Also - don't think I am kidding when I tell you those measuring cups have been around since I was a child - and probably before...
Here are all the guys in the family. Lee looks thrilled to be taking a photo doesn't he?
From the left - Uncle Terry, Lee, Cody (friend of the family), Adam (Audrea's Husband), Josh (my cousin's half brother), Billy, Bryant, and PapaMe, Grandma, Sabre (Uncle Terry's wife) Justine (Bryan't girlfriend) Katelyn (Billy's kid) and Audrea. The girls are a little out numbered...
After picture taking, it was time to EAT!

I made the pumpkin pie and Sabre made a cherry pecan crumble and a pecan pie. Somehow, after eating, we managed to drive home without falling asleep!
For the second thanksgiving story - check out the foodie portion of my blog - here.

New Monopoly

Last night, after a yummy dinner, we played the new Monopoly City Streets. I had heard it had cooler buildings, but it was a pretty different game overall!You have totally different buildings, but the money is different (there is a 5million dollar bill rather than 500). In fact, instead of $1's, you get $10k. So it just makes it feel different. The pieces are different, the names on the board and general look of the board is different too.
Don won. but it was pretty close between him and Lee. Donald and I just scraped by with the ending time! Otherwise, unless someone landed on that one property you own that would put you back in the game.. we were toast!

Here is what the board looked like when we were done.And here is a birds eye view.
It's really fun and I highly suggest this for game night with your friends! As usual, you start to run out of pieces for buildings, but i am sure that could be worked out...

Ooooh Pretty Shiney!

Lee got a new car on Saturday. Mainly because the Jetta was having lots of little (and one major) issues and we are still paying on it. No bueno!

So he now has a 2009 Acura TL - we got a manager demo at a GREAT price.

And it's black.
New car smell.
NICE.

I am next, in May, since my Mini is leased. I am really excited and ready to get into something bigger that will take us a long time (with uno bambino)

Nutcracker Market

Today was annual (2nd annual) Nutcracker Market day. This is something that just about every woman in Houston likes to go to. It is a madhouse shopping experience for Christmas decor and gifts that comes every year. The layout is like this:
It is aisle's that you basically walk up and down looking both ways and getting bumped into over and over. I grabbed a few things that I went there for specifically. First, at the Round Top booth, I grabbed another popcorn garland, because I only got one last year and I love it.the cranberries are bells! It is made from metal and painted and has a little glitter for sparkle. I love it.
Then on to the Nutcracker booth. Last year I got a peppermint nutcracker, and there are 4 in the "set" so I got another this year. Next year, I might have to splurge and get the one with the cupcakes on his head!I got this exact one!
After wandering around awhile, I found the booth I got a sweater dress at last year. I didn't like the dresses they had this year but found an adorable 3-button wrap in a muted red. Could it get cold around here already so I can wear this ASAP?It basically has one button hole so the way you button it changes the style of wrap it is!
I had tried this amaretto-pecan-honey butter last year and that was on my list of "must have!"
I went ahead and grabbed a jar and I hope to serve it in the morning with breakfast.
Otherwise, I got a cute wreath hanger that has bells on it.

I am looking forward to decorating this year for sure! I got a lot more little stuff last year, and that might be my focus next year. I want to get there right when it opens next year because it was just TOO crowded at times.

All in all we had a great day shopping and now I am anxiously awaiting Lee to get on a plane and get HOME!
I better go fold that laundry...

Winter Hibernation

I seriously think that it is ingrained in us as human beings to eat more in the fall/winter as a way to stay warmer. Nevermind that it's Texas and we don't really get "cold" here. Maybe for 1 week.
Nevertheless, we eat like we have a 6 month cold snap, blizzards, and blackouts.

I am trying to counter-act this feeling of "oooooh FOOD!" by trying to have either a smoothie or soup for lunch every day, and then a small, well rounded dinner. yesterday I got the "Lean Body" medium smoothie at Smoothie King and I couldn't even really finish it. By dinner I was pretty hungry but I recognized that around 3 I should have snacked.

Today was soup and 1/2 sandwich.

Tonight is French Onion Soup which I made on Sunday for me to eat a few nights this week while Lee is in NY.

Speaking of - I am working on planning an office for FlightAware, a company I have not heard of previously. They not only have a great iPhone app for tracking flights, their website tracks ALL flights, no matter the carrier, and you get to see that nifty map to see where the plane is! So I got to watch Lee's flight progress along today!

www.flightaware.com

Goalie?

Recently, talk of babies has entered the Nash household. Or, rather, I should say "baby" - because we don't want more than one child.
Anyway - after talking with all our friends - we have found we are the ONLY ones not either trying or have "pulled the goalie" to see what happens.

Tony and Tiffani - Trying
Carlin and Damon - Trying
Bethany and Bo - No goalie (and they haven't even been married a month!)
Kansas and Frankie - 3 kids. Yeah - they never had a goalie

Lee and I have discussed waiting at least another year to get our finances in order and finish stuff around the house. He knows I will need spending money on that nursery. It's a given.

I just don't know how to feel. Is it a "Why are we waiting?" thing?? Is it a "we still just aren't ready so another year or 2 is fine?"

Just the fact that Lee and I are even thinking about it is a huge step. We have always been "Anti-Kid!"

We'll see what happens!

Looky what I got!

*squeals like a child*
I am not off to make her Guacamole.
Toodles!

Aplologies

I realize I have not updated in awhile, but there isn't alot to say...
I really enjoy my Fridays off. It helps offset the less-money issue. I get stuff done like groceries, laundry, dusting, vet appointments, hair appointments - all this that helps make our weekends less stress!

We had enough trick or treaters to empty our candy bowl last night, so that's good! Here is our Vampire pumpkin!
I do want to note that I have always enjoyed movies/books with vampires and the like, way before it was this fad we have now. Just saying!

Alot happened this week...

Getting back from Mexico and being home was refreshing.
Getting to work on Monday to a salary/hour cut was not.
Getting to work on Tuesday to a cell-phone cut was not as well.

So - less money plus a cell phone bill? Nice.

I decided, pretty quick but after research, that the iPhone would be my drug of choice. I thought about my blackberry and how much I do enjoy it. I looked up the price to keep it and stay on Verizon and was shocked that the iphone (even with the mandatory data package) was less per month. Mainly because my mom is on AT&T so that means I can get less minutes and just max out my txt and data.
I have had the phone 24 hours and have not made a single phone call but have been all over the internet, app store, and txt/IM.

First APP i downloaded? The Sherwin Williams Color Match. Basically you can take a picture of a wall (note - need good lighting) and it will tell you the closest color in the SW family. Pretty freakin cool!

Let's hope I at least have a job over the next few months eh?

My Best Friend

Bunny. Donald. Donnie.
This Guy:
Last night we had my birthday dinner (since we were out of town on my actual bday). I walked in and saw this:Donald and Don had made this for me!
But when I got home... there was this on my dining tableDonald (the guy so honorable mentioned above) has been cross stitching this for almost a year. Can you believe this? It is the most thoughtful gift!
Love you Bunny!

Oooooh Mexico

We are back from Vaca! Mexico was GORGEOUS.

There isn't much to tell other than:

• We met some awesome couples. We never meet anyone on vacations so this was fun!
  
• One couple lives in our neighborhood.
• One lives close to Reliant park.
• One lives in South Carolina. We are petitioning for them to move here.
• It was so much fun.
• I didn't get as roasted as I did in Hawaii.
• I miss the private pool...
  
• I turned 29!

Photos:With us are Bethany and Bo. This is the couple that lives in our neighborhood. They are quite alot of fun!This was our private pool off the deck in our room.A view of the other casitas and the lazy river that connected us to a bigger pool with a bar. in case you just can't bring yourself to walk over the little bridge.
Us at dinner the first night. That shirt doesn't look so red in person...
All in all, we had a great time but it sure is good to be home and to what wonderful fall weather too!

Pumpkin Invasion!

I LOVE FALL! My favorite time of the year!

Pumpkins (and Punkins in the window)

Pumpkins in the flower bed
My wreath (made by Jimmy!) I need a hook!
Pumpkins on the entertainment center (and the coffee and end table!)
And the cornucopia and the one "halloween" decoration I own.
I love pumpkins! :)

Texans Game

Lee got tickets from his boss for the Texan's game on Sunday. I had never been to a professional game before so I was pretty excited.

First, the Cheerleaders came out and dance a little...

Then they started the football player introductions:
It was also ESPN's Breast Cancer Awareness day so there was a little deal out on the field for that. We had a really great time and the Texan's kicked butt!

Done, not let's move on!

Friday and Saturday were the Exam. I am now done.

Done studying all the damn time.
Done missing out on get togethers and fun things.
Done getting cranky because I am missing all these things.
Done cramming shit in my head that I really won't use again.

I learned a lot, I really did. I am not feeling very good about the exam and at this point, I just hope I met the MINIMUM it takes to pass. Based on what I have been through the last 2 days, I don't think that how you did on the exam reflects directly on your skills as a professional. This exam is all about trick questions and finding minute details in one sentence that can change the outcome of your answer.

For 2 days I hunched over a tiny desk racking my brain for information.
Yesterday I was expected to hand draft on a desk that barely held my 11 x 17 paper, much less all my pencils, pens, templates, tracing paper, pencil sharpener, etc... All of us felt that after spending nearly $1,000 to take this damn thing, couldn't we have been given a bit nicer of a facility?

So now it is time to conquer what I have been ignoring.
Laundry.
Dishes.
Groceries.


We are going to the Texans game today at Noon. I will take my camera and I will get better about blogging, i swear!

10 Days

There are 10 days until my exam.
I am in panic mode.

What if i fail? Everyone would be so dissapointed in me. I mean, here i am spending all this money, taking all this time out from friends and family, and then.. nothing to show for it.

I like my plan B - open a coffee/book/video gaming cafe with the D's. I could handle it. Like Central Perk with big screens and video games.

Let's see how that works instead.

Random Saturday Ramblings

I don't have alot to write about other than the TEST (13 days away) so I thought I would blog about random stuff that is having a party in my brain.

*What if I fail this test?

*I think about re-doing our bedroom constantly. This is causing me to dislike the paint/bedding we have alot.

*A LOT.

*Tired of spending money on this money pit house. I know it's worth it but still...

*I feel very uninteresting. Know me for 5 minutes and you know me.

*I have frenimies at work and that makes me feel fake. But its easier to just play along than to be fighting all the time.

* I love my job but hate going to work.

*I want to be a professional stay-at-home-wife.

*To have a kid or not to have a kid. I can't answer that the same way twice. What does that mean?

*I want money. Because I want things. Which makes me materialistic.

*I didn't used to be materialistic, but the city changes you.

*I want money so I can own everything in Sur La Table.

*I feel very selfish these days.

*I love my friends, even if I don't always tell them or show it.

*I wish I could see my family more.

*I feel like I am different than everyone else in my family. That makes it hard to go home.

*This post ended up being depressing. Oops.

My Weekend

Fun huh?
Study Study Study.

Hurricane Ike

I am not a huge sentimental person when it comes to dates (other than our anniversary). But this being the 1 year of Hurricane Ike hitting Galveston/Houston, I thought I would share.
As long as I live, I will never ever forget hiding in the hallway with our pets for over 4 hours listening to the radio as the hurricane came over our house. The windows were bending/vibrating and I was sure at any moment they were going to pop and throw glass all in our front room. Thank goodness they didn't. I listened on the radio as a Houston Restaurant Icon, Brennan's, burned down - finding out later an employee died in that fire.
Finally, at 6:30am, we felt the worst had passed and gathered everyone (us, the pets) into the bedroom and got back into bed. I text'd the family that all was well so that we could get some rest.

Thankfully, our house didn't have any damage at all to it. We are getting new windows next week, but I doubt we would ever stay again! Anything over a Cat 1 and I am out of here!

Here is a link to some great photos from the aftermath of this gigantic storm, which did damage all way up into Canada. Ike Photos

We went 17 days without power. I witnessed people sitting all over the Galleria with laptops an cell phones plugged into outlets, soaking up the A/C.
Today - it is sunny and warm, fall is on the way.. there are still buildings here and there with plywood over a few windows. I think that is crazy!
It took me along time to ever want grilled food again, I will tell you that!

Also, looking back, here is my post from a few days later (when I was at work probably, soaking up internet!) 1 year ago

Cook's Illustrated

I feel I am ignoring this blog so I am going to write about a technically-food-related item here.
And you will just get past it right?

If you like to cook, grab this magazine whenever you see it, because it is phenomenal.
They have several recipes a magazine and each recipe has a story in it that tells you everything they went through to make this recipe to ensure it is the best. Plus it has little illustrations for certain things that you may not have come across doing before.So naturally, when I saw they had a cookbook - I jumped on it.
It also has stories for each recipe plus illustrations here and there. LOVE IT!
Only $20!
Go!

Doggy Park

In the big park by our house, they installed some gates and made us a little dog park! The dogs usually don't like dog parks, but this one was empty so they got to run around and explore. Dave showed up with Tashi and in the end, I think we were all more excited than the dogs were...
However, I got some fun photos!
I hope they had a good time!