Did you kids happen to catch The Bachelor tonight? Not quite what I was expecting... I mean, I was expecting him to pick Emily, but did not expect the awkwardness of the ATFR show. Little Miss Emily sure didn't seem as perfect after the final rose... but I still have my hopes they might make it. I'm too pooped to stay up late and watch the big Jimmy Kimmel reveal of our new Bachelorette, but rumor has it the coveted title will be filled by Ashley H. Not sure how I feel about that, but I'm sure I will watch. What are your thoughts on tonight's Bachelor?
Shifting gears...Japan update! Continue to pray for my friends. Pray that fears are calmed and rest can finally be found between all of the aftershocks. Melanie was originally scheduled to come home at the end of the month... but maybe sooner if possible. Please keep the people of Japan in your thoughts. The images on CNN continue to amaze me and I can hardly imagine what is going through the minds of Japan's people. We are all reminded that homes have been destroyed, possessions have been lost, and families have been devastated. Even though we are oceans apart, we can all relate with the emotions of the human heart. My heart aches for all who have been affected, but I'm hopeful for relief and restoration. Stay tuned!
It seems a bit too selfish to post about my weekend when our world has been shaken. Thanks for keeping Melanie in your thoughts and prayers. She is such a special friend to me {I've known her most of my life and we were college roommates} and I just love her family. She's been in Japan with another sweet friend from ACU, Ally, for over a year teaching English in Sendai. It's moments like these past few weeks {with the NZ quakes and Japan events} that I am truly grateful for technology and the ability to stay connected. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes facebook itself is a blessing. We have been able to keep up with posts and emails from Mel or her family and find peace knowing our friends are safe in the midst of tragedy. While my heart aches for those who have lost family and friends, I pray that they have not lost hope. I know that my friends are there in Japan to bless those around them and be a source of courage during the unknown. Currently, they are safe at the air force base and hopefully finally resting after the countless aftershocks following the earthquake. Please continue to keep Melanie, Ally, their families, and the people of Japan in your thoughts and prayers.
{mel squared circa 2007}
The events in NZ & Japan these past few weeks have brought out my frustrations in American media. Maybe it's because these events are personal. Maybe it's because I have some vested interest in them. Maybe it's because I know someone who has been personally affected. Either way, it makes all of this hullabaloo of Charlie Sheen and the NFL lockout seem straight up ridiculous. Either way, it makes me think about what I do with my time and reminds me to be more thankful for the family and friends I am blessed to have in my life {to be continued in another post}. Thanks for hearing me out!
What can I say... besides TGIF?! So ready for the weekend and being able to put one more week behind me.
1) Tonight is a chill night w/ friends and the mister. Just what I need.
2) We are attending my niece's 3rd birthday party tomorrow. Looking forward to catching up with family!
3) If the weather is good, we will be hitting up Fireside Pies patio w/ my bff Steph. There's nothing quite like a big pitcher of prickly pear margaritas, great pizza, and good company.
4) I'm dreading the time change {although I am grateful for an extra hour of sunlight, I do despise losing an hour of precious slee}.
5) Can you believe all of the crazy events happening around the world right now? Please keep my dear friend Melanie in your thoughts and prayers. She is teaching English in Sendai, Japan and experienced the big earthquakes. There was one on Wednesday she blogged about here but that was before the biggest quake and tsunami yesterday {this AM - US time}. I'll keep you posted as I hear more...but keep her and her family in your thoughts!
Happy Freaking Friday, kids! So glad the weekend is just around the corner... this week has been exhausting. So, it's time for my five Friday Fun things!
1) This weather is Ahhh-mazing. I just want to sit outside all afternoon and drink margaritas. I have got to get out of this lovely conference room with no windows.
2) No plans tonight {as of now} and I am super excited. The mister is working hard for the money these days thanks to beloved busy season... so I'm a single lady tonight!
3) I'm helping one of my bffs with some volunteering tomorrow. We are working with Feed My Starving Children where we will be hand-packing meals for those who hunger across this world. Such a simple but necessary concept.
4) My other bff just bought a house! So, I will be cruising over to the new casa to help w/ moving and unpacking. I love unpacking and finding a home for everything.
5) I still have my b-day coupon for anthro...but am saving my cash. I think I'll just enjoy my new candle from Lee and soak up the divine smell of anthro. {Seriously, if anyone ever can't think of what to get me as a present... voluspa candles all the way. I love them all. They are truly divine.}
Happy weekend friends! Hope you have a fabulous one!
It's Monday again. Feels like the weekends are just way too short these days. Had a fabulous weekend full of some super special people. Friday night dinner at Jasper's w/ the mister was great - the pork loin and corn was pretty amazing. On Saturday, I cruised to Main Street Bakery for lunch w/ mom and dad. I just love that they live so close and I get to see them all the time. Saturday night I painted w/ the bffs. Let's just say this painting might be hanging in the garage where no one sees it! Ha! I'll post a pic later. On Sunday, we had brunch w/ the Stringer side of the family at Cafe Brazil - delish. I scored some pretty great b-day pressies, but nothing was as good as spending so much time with good people. Love it.
I did have to treat myself to a few fun finds on Sunday. I hit up Nordy's Rack again and found these awesome DVF jellies for super cheap.
It's V-Day. The mister and I never really celebrate it since it's super close to my b-day {and neither of us are mushy}. What are you doing for the big V-day? Anything special???
Holy moly it is finally Friday. What a day. More like, what a week. I am so wiped out... but have a pretty decent wekend ahead of me, so let's get started with my five Friday fun things!
1) I celebrated another year on this earth... in Langhorne, PA. Not the most exciting adventure, but oh well. My co-workers and I did venture to a pretty fabulous restaurant Wednesday night in Philly {executive chef is Iron Chef - Jose Garces}. We indulged in the smoked pecans {soaked in maple and bacon}, fondue {w/ vidalia onions}, suckling pig, wild boar rack {w/ maple grits}, sugar pumpkin croquettes, and beignets {w/ makers mark chocolate sauce}. Amazing.
2) This week was absolutely crazy town at work. A lot to do and always feeling like there are not enough hours in the day! {I can't even count how many Red Bulls I downed this week}. Yesterday we had a 6 am flight home... meaning I was up at 3:30am central and put in a full day of work upon arrival. Needless to say, I just want to sleep in this weekend!
3) I have a jam-packed weekend of birthday bashes. The mister and I are celebrating my bday tonight at Jasper's. I've never been, so I'm pretty excited. On Saturday, I have lunch plans w/ my rents - always a good time. {The mister has to work thanks to blasted busy season.} Saturday night is girls night out w/ the bffs! We are going to Gnosh, like I mentioned recently. Super excited for another fun painting night and just hanging out. We have family lunch w/ the mister's side of the fam on Sunday. Not sure where we are dining yet...but I'm always up for something good!
4) Between the mix of all the birthday activities, hoping I can finally catch up on laundry and housework. Ugh! {doesn't really fit into my 'fun' things Friday... but oh well!}
5) I got the best birthday voicemail in the world from my favorite friend in New Zealand. It's been almost 6 years since I was there and I still feel like part of my heart has never returned {the mister and I are still scoping out possibilities to move to NZ someday}. Because of the 17 hour time-difference, we have scheduled our chat for this weekend. I can't wait to catch up!
I'll leave you kids with some clear pictures of why I love NZ so much... Happy weekend!
{Uncle Leon... words cannot describe him. Love him and his family so much! Can't wait to catch up soon!}
And of course, If I am going to mention NZ, I have to shout out to my girl Brooke. I seriously listen to her almost every day. And never grow tired of hearing her crooning. This is her first song I ever discovered... and my heart has been full ever since. Enjoy!
I am obsessed with yarn wreaths. I have made so many since this one {here is the tutorial}. Over Christmas break, I made one of these beauties for pretty much anyone I had to get a gift for... and made a few extras for myself including these below.
{happy v-day!}
{office french doors - love the color scheme - thanks LP for the idea!}
On Saturday, I attended the Star Wars watching party I mentioned with my WM friends... and brought some crafts to keep me busy {just in case}. My friend Amber and I made wreaths... of course hers is purple and gold {geaux tigers!}
{it turned out great!}
{sorry, dull lighting - but it's super cute!}
The rest of the weekend was good {but super quick}. I made some brownies and cupcakes for my parent's Super Bowl party - still waiting on the official results from Mama Landry if they were a hit. The Star Wars bash was pretty fun and I actually enjoyed the movies {didn't think I would}. I wish I had taken pics of the party because the St. Clairs went all out with decorations and a royal red carpet outside. Loved it! Then I headed to the airport Sunday morning {and missed all of the crazy Super Bowl madness in the Big D} for my trip to Langhorne, PA. We ventured to a local tavern in small town america {Yardley} to enjoy the big game and rather lame commercials. I was pretty disappointed - the only really good commercial was the Darth Vader kid... so I will leave you with that! Happy Monday, kids!
Happy Monday, peeps! Hope you had a fabulous weekend... mine was crazy busy even though I felt we didn't have that much planned.
Yesterday, I had my painting class at Gnosh that I mentioned last week. It was so much fun! I went with two girls from my small group and we had a blast.
Here is what the painting was supposed to look like:
I think they turned out great and look so cool because they are all so different. I can't wait to go back with my bffs for my bday celebration in a few weeks. We will be recreating this painting:
Hope you have a happy Monday and good start to the week! I'm counting down the hours until The Bachelor tonight - I've been on pins and needles for this week's drama to unflold. Love it!
Ahh, another work week has come and gone. This week felt super long and I am so ready for the weekend! Time for my five Friday fun things...
1) The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend {high of 70}... so maybe I will get outdoors and do something fun. I am so ready for patio weather.
2) I've a got a girls night tonight w/ my WM gals. Looking forward to some good conversation and a fun night.
3) I bought ingredients to expand my brownie-baking skills. I took a stab at a new batch last night: dark chocolate and red wine brownies with a raspberry zinfandel frosting. I'm not sold on the these brownies yet {still working out the kinks}. So, may do some more baking this weekend to try and perfect the recipe! We shall see. I promise to take pics this time {if I can find my camera charger}...but I'll never expose my baking secrets! Ha!
4) I'm taking a painting class on Sunday at Gnosh with 2 of my WM gals. Super excited. We got a great deal through Groupon {which I seriously love}. I'll post pics next week of the final product.
5) The mister is still working like a mad man. He's such a trooper. Busy season is tough for us, but we survive. And I feed him and his audit team brownies. A little bit of sugar sure does help!
*clarification - I blogged about the amazing Silhouette last week... but I don't own one {although I might be tempted to purchase someday}. My friend Shelbi has one, but I'm still waiting for her reviews. Check out all the fun things this machine can do here!
2) You Lie {The Band Perry}: They have an amazing sound.
3) You are the Best Thing {Ray Lamontagne}: Ahhh, another fabulous tune to jam out to with windows down on breezy summer day. It's also my Monday song and gets me through the day.
*I worked on a project once that was purely awful and I was just in the dumps about it. My co-worker would crank this tune super loud and sing to me. Love it!
On a side note... The Bachelor was once again crazy town last night. Love the drama. Surprised he kept some of the girls he did {like who is Lisa??}. Sad to see my Plano girl leave {although she got hardly any air time - which is a true indicator of who will make it to the end}, but proud to see her leave in style. Way to represent! My top runner is Emily...but I kind of think she just might be too good for Brad. The girl is leaps and bounds ahead of the pack. Can't wait for the drama of next week based on the previews!
If you are a Bachelor fan... must read blogs are here and here. I die. Hilarious.
Shout out to my bff Mares - Happy Birthday darling! Hope you have a fabulous day! Thanks for being born!
Ahh, it's Monday again...hope my little blogger friends are well rested and ready for another CRAZY week!
This weekend, I focused on resolution #3. I'm recently obsessed with crock pot enchiladas. My MIL Lee has made these before but I finally buckled down and gave it a whirl these past 2 weekends. I jazzed it up a bit because I love my food with a little kick and it was a hit for friends and family. Basically, we just layered tortillas, frozen chicken, green enchilada sauce, cream of chicken soup, tomatoes, and peppers - then cook on low for 10+ hours and you have a masterpiece.
I also dabbled in some brownie-making on Sunday and whipped up 3 batches {sorry no pics - camera is dead} including chocolate peanut butter, dark chocolate raspberry, and dark chocolate orange. I got rave reviews from my small group gals.
Which, let me just brag about this group of women. They are incredible. They keep me going when life gets tough. They encourage me daily. They are real and authentic...they don't skirt around tough issues and always challenge me to be a better friend, wife, co-worker, sister, daughter, and self. We are so blessed to be part of something so wonderful and so much bigger than ourselves.
Hope you have a great Monday and start to another week!
Happy weekend, friends! I don't know about you... but this week has been long and exhausting! Time for my five Friday fun things...
1) The weather has been such a downer this week - all I want to do is stay in bed. And catch up on my DVR. Current DVR options include re-runs of Rachel Zoe {my latest obsession - I die}, Top Chef All-Stars {yay for Restaurant Week} and Top Chef Las Vegas {because I never saw it the first time around}.
2) We're celebrating one of my bff's bdays this weekend. I love birthday parties - espescially because I know there will be cake!
3) The mister has been getting busier by the day with beloved busy season. They keep saying that someday this whole experience will be worth it... we are just trying to hang in there.
4) Because of his crazy schedule, I am a single lady most nights. This week I have already worked on a few of my resolutions {specifically numbers 2 and 11}. I enjoyed my weekly viewing of the trainwreck we all know as The Bachelor with my bffs {and bffs mom - truly the best part!}. I also indulged in my weekly Taco Tuesday with a dear friend from ACU {I would link to you Brooke if you hadn't deleted your blog!}.
5) I'm really intrigued by the Silhoutte. Have you seen this amazing machine?? It's almost like it can do anything you want! But, I'm kind of slow when it comes to fancy computer devices. If it's not excel, outlook, or visio, I am not your girl. And yes, I am a Visio pro. Be jealous. I can flowchart like no one's business!
Today I am thankful for my best friends... specifically these two:
I met Mares in second grade and we have been good friends from the beginning (that makes us friends for about 18 years). We became bff during middle/high school and I am so grateful for her. She is a wonderful friend who is authentic and such a joy to be around. She loves to have fun and is a great person to call when I want to induldge in some chocolate or a cookie monster. Mares always makes an effort to stay in touch and our friendship has really grown throughout college and during the first few years in the real world. I am so grateful she lives nearby and married such a fun husband. We love being around them - it is a guaranteed good time!
If I had to pick one picture that describes our friendship it's this one:
Mares is a princess {and knows it! jk!}. She loves the fine things in life but has a good head on her shoulders and is completely content in the blessings she has. She is a true encourager and always wants to know what is going on and if there is anything she can do to help {that might be the counselor side coming out}.
I met Steph in high school through mutual friends. We had a class together in 10th grade and became good friends right away. I have been beyond blessed to have this girl in my life the past 10 years. She is a true friend who is real in all aspects. She has such a love for life and travel and is always up for trying anything new. Steph is always a great listener and gives people the benefit of the doubt. I am so grateful she took a job here in town a few years ago and I have the blessing to hang out with her pretty often.
If I had to pick one picture that describes our friendship it's this one:
Steph is not afraid to get soaked in the rain for a good concert. She loves to have a good time and makes anything a fun event. Her laugh is contagious and her spirits are always high. She has a true joy for life that can only be found beyond all circumstances. Steph sees the good in all situations.
To my wonderful bffs - thank you so much for the joy you bring to my life. Thanks for being my support system... for always listening to me and encouraging me. Thanks for always wanting to have fun together and being the best friends a girl could ask for. I can't wait to see where the next 10 years take us! CHEERS!
Today I am thankful for my education. I know a lot of people take it for granted {and I'm sure I do as well a lot of the time} but it is an incredible blessing. I keep going back to the site with statistics on what our world would like if it were condensed to 100 people and the information just blows me away. Essentially, one person (1%) has a college education. It's crazy how caught up we can get by comparing ourselves to millionaires and celebrities, but simply having my college degree means I am pretty privileged.
I am grateful for my family who worked hard to support my siblings and me to ensure we had a good education. My parents pushed us to earn good grades to help us go to college. These good grades paid off and relieved some of the financial burden from my parents based on generous scholarship donors who believed in the importance and value of a quality education. I was incredibly fortunate to attend ACU where I have been equipped to perform well in the marketplace. I have so many wonderful memories from college between the lifelong friends I made and the husband I married. I love the ACU culture... where everyone really does kind of know everyone else. It was much more than a college - it was my community. I learned a lot about myself during college and I know I wouldn't be who I am or where I am without the friends and professors who challenged me during those four years. I met people who were real and authentic... who didn't care what the world thought about them... who knew without a doubt that this life is not the end and there is hope. I met people who encouraged me... who believed in me... who knew the life lessons learned would carry me forward.
I had so many wonderful opportunities in college from Siggies to study abroad to a summer in New Zealand. I am so grateful for all of these blessings and for the education gained during each experience. Through club, I learned to see others as they were. I learned just how much we can truly accomplish when we come together. I learned the importance of strong friendships. Through study abroad, I learned how to navigate foreign countries. I learned how to put our heads together as a team and provide companies with valuable recommendations. I learned that though this world is huge, we are all people who hunger for something more. Through my summer in New Zealand, I learned how to drive on the left side of the road. I learned to stop and appreciate my surroundings. I learned the importance of mentors. I learned that there are people just like me halfway across the globe ready to make a difference.
I learned a lot in class as well. I can say I enjoyed probably 80-90% of my courses - not only because of the content, but often because of the professor. I don't know a lot of people outside of ACU who can say they knew their professors on a personal level... that they attended dinners at their houses or met them for coffee. My professors were key mentors during my time in college and weren't afraid to be honest about the 'real world'. I knew when I graduated that I had earned a wonderful education and was equipped to start my career successfully. But my professors taught me so much more than what was written in the textbooks. They gave me an education full of perspective... that I am not 'owed' anything and will have to continue to work hard at whatever I do with all of my heart. They taught me that life isn't always fair and that there will be tough days at work or difficult situations. They taught me that it's not about the money or the job title but it's about what you make a priority. They taught me to always act with integrity and above all to show love to others.
{sweet Siggies}
{NZ countryside}
{precious study abroad friends}
I am truly grateful for my education in and out of the classroom. To the friends I have made along the way - thanks for challenging and growing with me! I wouldn't be who I am today without you!
The Mr. and I struggled a bit trying to find our place in Dallas after getting married. We both love people and really wanted to make friends who could relate to us when it came to our core beliefs and goals in life. We have been immensely blessed to find community with six other families. I have made friends of a lifetime who challenge me to be a better person and pursue the things that matter most in this life. This group has become the friends I run to when I have a rough day, struggle with my purpose, or just need a good dose of humility and reminder of who I am in the big world.
It's crazy to think we have only known everyone for a little over a year... it feels so much longer that I really can't believe we waited so long to find community. I am always amazed by our group. We have many different personalities and everyone brings a different strength and perspective to the table. I'm so grateful for the memories we have made this year:
-white elephant christmas party
-camping trip {i survived my first camping trip!}
-countless games of nertz {you can always count on the Stringers for an easy win}
I can't wait to see what this coming year has in store for us. Life is tough and has it's difficult moments. I am so richly blessed to walk through this life with wonderful friends who constantly offer up encouragement and advice grounded in true wisdom. Here's a shout out to my foundation group - thank you for being a blessing in my life. Thanks for challenging me to be a better daughter, sister, wife, co-worker, and example.
I am beyond thankful for the friendships I have developed during the first few years of my career. I was a bit intimidated when I first started my job 3 and half years ago fresh out of college. I moved to the big city with a big girl job at a big 4 firm... talk about BIG changes. I took the job not really knowing what to expect and unsure if I made the right decision.
My work is not very glamorous. I'm not saving lives every day with my well-documented bank reconciliations, flow charts, or spreadsheets. But, I am constantly making and developing relationships. I love people and I love this part of my job. I interact with my project team and different clients every day. {Don't get me wrong, sometimes this part of the job is not so fun}. It's the people I work with who get me through the really tough days. It's the friends at work who can relate to me the best on my day-in / day-out frustrations and successes. It's the people I work with who make my day by getting me a kitty cat cookie cake for my birthday and embracing my love for cats!
It's the people I travel with and get to know really well because there is nothing else to do in some of these fine locations {take for example: secaucus (nj), erlanger (ky), amarillo (tx), sandy (ut), etc}. It's the people who take the time to get to know me beyond my working knowledge... and still choose to include me at happy hours. Ha! It's the friends who plan the much-needed happy hours, parties, and other shindigs not because we all need to vent about work occassionally, but because we really are friends and enjoy each other's company. It's the friends who get real with you and let you know what's really on their hearts and minds.
I am so richly blessed to have found these friends. I know many people who leave this job for various reasons, but still remain friends... and they all seem to say the biggest thing they miss about the firm is the people. To all my work friends out there reading this... thanks for being a blessing in my life. I couldn't do this job without great friends!
