some good decisions

I feel like I have been on a roll lately. I was in a slump for a while (hello blogging break) and couldn't get out of it, but when I started my new job it's like a switch was flipped and everything is happy and sunny again. It's amazing what happens when you actually change out of your pajamas in the morning and go somewhere.

The decision to get a new job in an actual office was just the start. I decided to make a list (they're all the rage right now, right, Buzzfeed?) of some other good (and silly) decisions I have made lately.

1. Buying this champagne. Kroger (THERE IS NO S AT THE END, A) has a clearance bin when you first walk in, and this just so happened to be in there.

Tell me - how could you pass that up? YOU CAN'T. Especially when it's only $8.99. It was really good, too. Not too sweet and not too bitter, just perfect. An added bonus? The winery just so happens to be south of Houston! I've already made plans to take Ashley and Alexa when they come to Houston in (OMG!!!!) less than 60 days. 

2. Buying the nest. Yep, we gave in. The A/C company allowed us to return the cheap-o one we bought from them, so we upgraded to the nest. I haven't gotten to play with it much, but it's just so fancy and adorable (can an electronic device be called that?) and can be controlled from my phone! Yes, I am nerding out over this and I am not ashamed. 

3. Finding this blog. You are welcome and I apologize personally to your boss because you won't get any work done after clicking over to this gem. Just TRY and stop reading after one post, I dare you.

4. Buying this skirt. 

The pattern is just so Christmassy and I feel like a Catholic school girl every time I wear it. Four for you, J.Crew Factory. You go J.Crew Factory!

5. Spending time with my little Reid man. Okay, so this isn't exactly a recent new decision per say, but I always leave a little happier and with a big smile on my face, so I guess each time I choose to go over (or in last night's case, am asked ever so nicely to come help because my BIL lost his keys at the hospital and my sister was at a work dinner and the nanny had to go home…phew!) is a good decision. I mean, just look at him! So what if right when I walked in he took one look at me and said NO KIKI! GO HOME KIKI!

6. Starting an ISPY membership. 

Oh, and getting the world's cutest coffee mug from Starbuck's. I am no make-up girl. I don't really even know how to put it on…or what products to buy. But I do know that Ipsy is the greatest thing to happen to mail and that I will FOR SURE use every product in the bag, and I actually needed new bronzer so it's pretty perfect I would say.

7. Buying Bowden this "tom brady" sweater. So what if it means he hates me? 

8. Last but not least because it's actually my favorite thing I've done in a while…hiring a maid. It's not that I hate cleaning (ok maybe it is), I hate DEEP cleaning. I would rather do soooo many other things than devote an entire Saturday to cleaning our house. I can keep up day to day, but let's face it…Norma is way better than I am at deep cleaning. I walked in our house Monday and couldn't take the smile off my face for hours. Yes, I know it's a luxury. Yes, I know one day we might need to devote the money we're spending for her to come once a month so something else. But gosh darn, I'm going to enjoy it while we can have this luxury. And it's really not that bad since she's only coming once a month, right?

at least we aren't the marlins

This weekend was all sorts of fabulous. Mainly because we woke up on Friday with the news that we were moving to Houston. And so I did a happy dance all weekend long. And got home to this text from my sister. (I probably annoy you all with how much I talk about her. She just needs to get her own blog. When she becomes a stay at home mom I will make her.)

Reid gives the sweetest kisses.



After we got the good news (oh and thanks to you all for the congrats and good wishes! we are so excited) we decided we needed to celebrate.

We met my friend Haylie and her boytoy (that sounds more fun than boyfriend) at BJs. We hadn't been in a while and it's always fun to get a pizookie!

Above:

1. Mac and cheese. At Jus Mac. Lifechanging, people. Go to the heights and get some, like yesterday.

2. Started my Chi-O t-shirt quilt! It's taking way longer than I thought but I am so excited :)

3. Hands down the BEST skinny-rita I have ever had in my entire life. Who knew? At BJs! Seriously - I could have had 10. A would have loved that, tequila makes me insane. Ha.

4. Said pizookie. Oreo. GIMMIE.

On Saturday we drove around Houston to see where we wanted to buy. As soon as we drove out to the burbs we knocked that off the list. We will for sure move out there once we have kids, but it's just too far right now. So inside the loop we will go! Wish us luck through this process, I hear it's no fun. When we finished that, we decided to be super aunt and uncle and make super bubbles with Reid - the kid is obsessed. Unfortunately they didn't work out...but Reid still had a BLAST. We got back from the park and he smelled so fresh and clean from all the soap. next time we will achieve greatness! I promise.

And then it was time for the much anticipated blate! But it is no lobger a blate, it's just a fun time out with a great friend :) Right, Ashley?

We may have left the game early while we were down 19-6...but we had TOO MUCH FUN.

1. Roof open. The perfect weather!

2. We were on the big screen and didn't realize because we were so caught up in conversation! It was really depressing. Next time we will document this!!

3. Home run train! Odd that we got to see this twice for such a crappy game.

4. Orbit! But I miss the rabit.

5. No, YOU ate that foot long hot dog...

6. The MOST awkward proposal I have ever seen in my entire life. He put the ring on the wrong hand...that poor girl.

7. Passed out pat! He sat there for the entire game like that. And the little kid behind him kept trying to wake him up.

8. I lied when I said the whole game. He woke up! ALSO - it was nighttime, AKA no sunglasses needed you idiot.

9. I don't like the clear one so I am showing you the blurry one. :) We had SO much fun and I am so happy that I will be super close to her now. Yay Houston!!

Sunday we had lunch at my parent's house for my dad's birthday and my sister and brother's birthday. (twins!) Reid had to blow out everyone's cupcakes himself. And then light my dad's five more times and blow it out again. And then he had a mini-meltdown because he's approaching two and that's what they do at that age. Good thing he's adorable! And ADD. He can be crying but if you ask him what sound a rooster makes he will laugh and say "cockadooooo!" Oh how I love that kid!

Now I'm going back online to continue my house search. I might be a TAD obsessed.

perfection

Monday mornings already rough. Throw in a computer that doesn't work and a 10AM meeting and that makes for a late post. Seriously, this stupid PC makes me want to run home and hug my Mac.

I wrote those three lines above at 11AM and now it's noon. So yea, Monday morning has NOT been perfection. But this weekend? OH, this weekend was.

A and I got into Houston on Wednesday night and talked to my mom a bit before heading to bed. Thursday night we cooked my parents dinner and drank a lot of champagne. Try it, your Thursday night will thank you. Your Friday headache will not.

Friday:
Our offices closed a bit early due to St. Patty's day celebrating so A and I headed over to my sister's house with my mom. We were at the park from 4 until 7. It was PERFECT weather and running around with Reid was a blast. That little guy is not afraid of anything at the moment and it makes for a lot of fun.

Reid "blowing" bubbles - dinner time! - branching out with new outfit choices. Hey guys! Go to Gap, the shorts are adorbs.

One of my sister's friends from high school and his wife met us and we headed to dinner at Coppa near their house. It was DELICIOUS. And the drinks were out of this world. Combine that with hilarious dinner conversations and it was the perfect night.

Moscow Mule - Bellini. Hello heaven.

Saturday:
I woke up bright and early and SO READY for lunch with Ashley! My sister (can you tell I like her a lot?) told me about the cutest place ever, Tiny Boxwoods, near the galleria so we met there. And to prove that she really is the sweetest person EVER, Ashley drove an hour (each way!) to meet me there! We talked for almost THREE hours - and it was just like I was chatting away with a friend I'd known my whole life. How lucky did I get on my first blate?! We already know for sure that we will be meeting up the next time I'm in town (and our pups, too!) and I can't wait for that day. psssssst Alexa, join us on that one!! pweeeeeeese!

How cute are we? - Buffalo burger + white wine mojito. It was the best burger I have EVER had. - The beautiful Tiny Boxwoods! Anyone want to come join us on the next date?

And I have to mention again how sweet she is because she brought me gifts! with bows on them! I seriously can't believe how lucky I am to have found such amazing friends through this blog. I may have also started a box of fun goodies to send to her soon :)

I'm wearing the gold bracelet right now and immediately put the keychain on. Love it!!

Saturday night we laid low and had dinner at my best friend's house, she's in town with her fiance' for their spring break. YES - I am jealous.

Sunday:

We packed up and headed out to my sister's house (again, are you senseing a theme?) to drop off Bowden before heading to brunch for my BIL's birthday. It was the perfect day to eat outside - how nice of it to go along with my weekend of perfection.

Reid smiles, sleepy man after lunch - The kid is OBSESSED with water!

lunch yummies - brunch for me and a hot dog for A

And now I will do like Bowden and take a nap, that was one crazy weekend!

another one bites the dust

The weekends just seem to go by faster when you are older. I am not OK with this, and something needs to be done about it. I vote that we make it mandatory for work to end at noon on Friday and we start the work week on Tuesday. I really think this would make everyone a much happier person. Unless you are one of those crazy lucky OMG I HATE YOU person that loves your job.

Anywaysss, I got a little bored with my layout so I went a little crazy with photoshop on Friday. I really like how it all turned out, so I think this one will stay for longer than 2 months. And The Bow Blog Designs doesn't really exist, it just sounded so much more fun and professional. Hey, maybe one day it WILL exist! Probably the day I figure out how to make the domain I purchased work. I no speako your languageo computero!

I also made a new header for my sister-in-law's blog, The Domestic Dog Mom. Go on and check her out while you're at it, she just started the blogging adventure and already has two really yummy recipes posted! And cute puppies, everyone loves cute puppies. 

Now onto a weekend update of sorts. On Friday night A and I met up with my sister and her husband and little Reid man at a new restaurant in the Heights, Cottonwood. It was perfect for the warm weather Houston is having and for Reid to run around and be wild. It had only been three weeks since we'd seen him, but good gosh, in those three weeks he changed so much! I hate that I can't see him every day but am so thankful I am able to see him as often as I am. He knows exactly who I am now and says KiKi like a champ. He tries to say Andre' but it comes out as "de", it's still adorable. 

Then we went to Beaver's to meet some friends for drinks. I was a bad blogger and didn't take any pictures. BUT I did learn about these insane bars in Houston, referred to as "bathhouses." It pretty much blew my mind (and still does!) that it's allowed for a place to exist that, when you walk in, hands you a towel and a comdom and lets you have at it. Glory holes everywhere. And then A told me that crazier things were out there than that, so I'm choosing to remain naive about it and pretend that it's all rainbows and butterflies in the world. 

Saturday morning we played a bit with Bowden and Reid and then A dropped me off at Brickhouse Bridal where my best friend FOUND THE DRESS! It was actually the first dress she tried on. It is beyond perfect and I am so honored to stand by her side in seven months! 

Saturday night we went to Blackfinn in Midtown for dinner with my three best friends from high school. The drinks were really good but we waited over an hour for our food, so I don't think I would go back. And I'm still wondering why there was part of a Christmas tree in my drink.

Annnnd I finally told people I know in real life (besides A and my sister-in-law) about this little ol' blog! I was talking about it but refused to tell them what it was called, but I'm easily convinced so I gave in. I really don't know why I am so embarrassed when it comes to that, but oh well, they know about it now! 

Sunday we met up with the whole family (Minus my little sister, apparently her boyfriend is much cooler than we all are. HA.) for my birthday lunch. We went to Grimaldi's in The Woodlands and YOU GUYSSS, my mouth is still watering. Their pizza is amazing, and I am really picky about pizza! (A has in fact referred to me as a pizza snob. Not my fault Lafayette doesn't have any good pizza!)

Little man was so tuckered out from all of the fun. He's just so precious when he sleeps. And I'm going to need him to give me his eyelashes! 

That's about all that went on in my neck of the woods. Now hurry up next weekend! I'm ready for ya!

Go link up so I can read about your fun weekend :)

the sweetest thing

I'm pretty positive that the sweetest thing in the world is seeing your husband play with babies. 

Every time A plays with Reid I get even more excited to have little ones of our own. 

Today we've been relaxing at the table with Reid while Uncle Dre reads him books. (The love this child has for reading rivals my own. It's pretty awesome.) I wish I could take a week off work every month and hang out with Reid.

We probably have a couple years before we're ready to have a little bambino of our own, so having Reid to kidnap babysit makes my baby cravings go away for a little bit. Then they come back when I look at what a great daddy A is going to be!

christmas 2012 - a recap

Only 364 days until Christmas 2013!

But seriously, Christmas 2012 was amazing. Spending time with family is my favorite part of this holiday. That and seeing everyone's faces when they open gifts! I LOVE when I get it right and immediately see the joy on their face.

Christmas was extra special this year because it was the first year my nephew really got it. 

Viewing Christmas through a child's eyes makes it even better. I can't wait to have little ones of my own and start our own traditions with them.

Until we have little ones, I'll just have to settle for Mr. Bowden. It was his first Christmas and as you can see, he had a great time. Pooped out around 5pm.

My first Christmas Eve away from home was this year. It was definitely harder than I expected. We spent Christmas Eve and the morning with A's parent's in Lafayette and then drove to Houston to get in around 2pm. I am SO blessed that I get to spend the day with two amazing families, but it's bittersweet. 

I spend 23 Christmas Eve nights with my siblings and parents. Church around 7, then home to open one present. Santa would come and we would wake up to cinnamon rolls in the morning. Not a huge shebang, but 23 years of doing the same thing makes it pretty special.

This year we spent Christmas Eve at A's parent's house. Mass at 4 and then home to eat and play board games. I made everyone Lasagna Soup and then we enjoyed some Apples to Apples and Taboo. A fun night for sure!

So, this is our new tradition for now. We're having fun thinking of we would like OUR tradition to be. Merging his and hers and making it ours and only ours. I'm pretty excited about that.

I'll leave you with a few more scenes from last night - can you tell that I'm having fun with our new iMac? Also, I got the Creative Suite and I'm having too much fun playing around with Photoshop again. I used it daily in college, but haven't much since. It's like riding a bike...but harder. Might take me a while to get the finished products looking good!