One line a day journal

I saw this at Paper-Source in Austin a few months back. I didn't buy it, because I didn't think I needed it. 

Available on Amazon.com for $11.53

I've decided I not only want this, but it's become a need. It's inexplicable really. But Justin did so well with my list last time that maybe I'll find this in my stocking during the holiday season this year. 

Justin, if you are listening-

Happy Fourth of July!

The pool is ready, the meat is marinating and the patriotic funfetti cupcakes courtesy of my friend Amy are ready to be eaten.

So far it's been a awesome long weekend!  Hope everyone has a great Day, with or without the fireworks!

And if you want some fun here's the link to all the NPR reporter reading the Declaration of Independence.

What are you doing to celebrate?

Seven hours...

Seven hours is about the length of the work day for most people. Seven hours also happened to be the difference in time zones between San Antonio, TX and Rome, Italy.  Which is where we were two weeks ago today.

This week my friend pointed out to me that I hadn't posted anything since the spring forward time change. Honestly, the time change felt like it was less than two weeks ago and for me it kinda was since we were traveling.

The week or so leading up to our trip was a little bit crazy. I planned a surprise party for Justin's 30th birthday and it was awesome and actually surprised him, despite my constant paranoia about it.

Here's the cake in all its Gator Orange and Blue glory.

Back to our trip- we went to Paris and Rome and had quite an amazing time with a fine balance between the stuff you're supposed to see and the stuff we wanted to do (eat/drink/people watch).

We might not have seen it all, but we saw a ton. I will actually post more later. I pinky swear.

And it made us re-appreciate spending time together.  Now, Justin thinks a nice evening is drinking an awesome bottle of wine friends brought over to a past shindig and watching something fun on t.v.  Tonight's movie is Role Models on FX.  Tonight's wine is Saxon Brown's 2007 Semillon from Cricket Creek Vineyards in Alexander Valley.

If anyone wants to buy us a real a real flexible ice pack that would be fantastic. Tonight we went a little Whiskey Tango and used my eye mask that was in the freezer.

Here's hoping everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!  We enjoyed lunch with our moms and Justin's Grandma, Sister and Brother-in-Law with a lunch at El Chaparral in Boerne.  And our awesome neighbor brought over some delicious homemade cheesecake with homemade crust and some homemade chocolate cakes.

And what could top an awesome day like today?

Tomorrow I have jury duty.

Can I bring bottle of white wine there? It's not metal, it should make it through the metal detectors, right?

South Central Texas Snow Day

Those I know that blog and blogged about the snow day did it yesterday (here and here). I managed to post some pictures on Facebook and that was about it.  So I am going to talk about it now.

We woke up at about 7:15 (about 30 minutes earlier than we normally do) and from the bed could see the snow.  Justin got out of bed, grabbed the nice camera and Wookie! and went out.  I grabbed my phone camera and plopped down on a chair in the living room that offers a good view of the backyard (I did not feel the need to go out in it- I lived in Ohio until I was 8 and have done the whole walking to school in the snow thing). 

Wookie!'s excitement was really unbelievable.  He loved it out there with the snow. He tried to eat some, but mostly was interested in playing and running around. Here are some of the best shots of Friday morning.

Our backyard after the snow and before Wookie! hit it.

I LOVE THIS STUFF!!! (In my head Wookie! speaks in all caps like 99% of the time)

MY STICK FRIEND!

IT GOES EVERYWHERE WITH ME!

I"M COMING TO GET YOU!

First I must sniff this.

Oh yeah, I was COMING TO GET YOU!

Oh wait, what's this?

I'M A BLURRY BALL OF ENERGY!!!

The view from our front door.

The house from the street. Don't judge the Christmas lights. We do what we can.

We went to the dog park later in the day and we were not the only people who thought it might be good to finally get out there and let the animals run free.  Along the way though we did see enough abandoned cars to tell us what might have been had we tried to go to the office earlier in the day.  Yeah- we only got at most a 1/2" of snow, but what lay beneath was likely some ice that was way more treacherous.  I think our bosses made the right call in letting us stay home that day.

My Santa Baby....

My husband is awesome.  I tentatively asked him to play Santa for the kids at my JLSA Volunteer activity and he said yes.  Four months ago.

Time comes to actually play Santa and he delivers.  With gusto.  His "ho, ho, ho"s were superb and when asked where his reindeer were, "Magic!" was his go-to answer. 

My awesome hubby and me.

Also, this is a 21st century Santa who gave fist bumps and read The Night Before Christmas off an iPad.

He helped us volunteers rock it out and helped make this holiday extra special for some very special families at Family Endeavors Fairweather Family Lodge.

Some of the awesome ladies who make it happen every week!

Pumpkin Carving…

This is a Halloween tradition that is not for the weak or timid.  It takes precision, patience, and persistence. The use of opposable thumbs. It takes a basic understanding of shapes and an awareness that the end product might look like it was art directed by a youngster learning shapes.

Behold Cyclops Vampire

We'll call him Cy.

Cy is what I did for my office’s pumpkin carving contest.  This is a contest in which you vote for the pumpkin you think is best. I entered my pumpkin because I figured I would help fill out the field.  There had been a rumor going around that not a lot of people were going to enter pumpkins because they were too busy at work.  Needless to say given the field of entries mine wasn’t the best.

So, my “cannot-tell-a-lie-with-a-single-bone-in-my-body” self did not vote for Cy. Poor Cy.

Here were the winners:

Third:

Uncarved

Second:

PacMan going for the Ghost.

First:

Tiffany Lamp

This wasn’t the only round of carving this year.  We went over to a friend’s place Saturday night and everyone brought pizza and pumpkins.  We all carved a pumpkin and ate the toasted seeds (which reminds me I have seeds that still need toasting).

Here’s the family photo:

Top row left to right: Dan's Life and Times of Time Character, My Scaredy Goofball, Lisa's Traditional

Bottom row left to right: Carrie's Owl, My Justin's Silly Guy, Sara's Voldemort, Carrie's Justin's Angry Baby Pumpkin, Jamie's Snarky Guy

Fun was had by all, though it was decided that pumpkin carving is some ridiculously hard work and it’s a good thing people are only expected to do it once a year.

You don't have to be a butter artist...

To have turkey shaped butter on your Thanksgiving table. You just have to head to the Alon HEB to stock up. Cause it is for sale right now.

 
It was so amazing I snapped this picture with my cell phone. I wish I made this stuff up. They make lamb and Christmas tree shaped butter too.