Closing Out 2014, Welcoming 2015

It's hard to believe it's 2015. Time seems to be flying by. I've made resolutions in the past...return voice mails, be a better friend, be more organized...it works great and well for a few weeks, maybe a couple of months, then I'm back to my old self. 

This year I'm forgoing any resolutions and will just make adjustments along the way. I need to be a better listener. I listen all the time at work and I think when I come home I kinda turn it off. I need to listen more at home than anything else. What can be more important than listening to your family, for issues big and small. 

That could be an entire post on it's own!

On Christmas Eve the girls and I went to Santa's Ranch. We had gone a few years earlier with a friend but hadn't been back, mostly due to time restrictions. We didn't think we would be getting out of the car so we wore pajamas and CC only had on fuzzy socks. Well, half way there Lena and I needed a potty break and we all wanted coffee or hot cocoa. 

So into Buc-ee's we went...pj's and all. I am so super opposed to people walking about in pajama's, and now I was among them! 

Then my eyes felt really dry and I rubbed them and Lena asked me, with a serious look on her face, "Mom, what's wrong with your eye?" I rubbed a contact out and it was folded, coming out the corner of my eye. Thankfully I found a bottle of solution and put it back in and we were on our way!

Santa's Ranch definitely expanded since we were last there. Here are a few of my favorites!

Stagecoach 

This lighted tunnel has been there since the first time we went. It's so pretty and magical to drive through. 

These photo's don't capture the whimsy and beauty of flickering lights. 

There was a new scene called "In the Beginning". 

It started with the sun, the planets, dinosaurs, Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark and so on. 

I loved Moses parting the waters of the Red Sea. 

I also loved the Ten Commandments.   

David and Goliath 

Jonah and the whale 

Another blue, twinkling light tunnel with trees on each side. 

It was so magical and pretty.

More light wrapped trees, a windmill and even a Go, Spurs, Go sign. 

On New Year's Eve we stayed in. CC worked late and it was cold. Emil and I stopped by the Russian store to pick up some bacon, drinks, cheese and wine. There is one Georgian wine I love but they were all out, as usual. It's a sweet red wine and there is nothing quite like it. 

We substituted this Armenia pomegranate wine. It was really good but really, really strong. One glass was MORE than enough for all of us!

Emil and I drove around talking about the plans and wishes we have. We made it home just in time to watch the local countdown to 2015 on TV. 

When the midnight hour strikes, they usually play oldies and do a major firework display. 

This year they played all new music and no close up of the fireworks. Lena was mad and wanted to drive around and look at fireworks. I had been up since 530 the previous morning and was in no way awake enough to take her. 

We have had some pretty cold weather lately. I've stocked up on different coffees to keep me warm. 

I even woke up to ice on my car a few times. 

Papa Bear bought me a Criminal Minds calendar. I was too excited to put it up at work. I get to look at my guys all day, then come home and watch at least two dvr'd shows in the evening. I can't get enough of Criminal Minds. Some nights I even dream of them...it's usually me and Rossi catching someone. Once I dreamed I was at a garage sale trying to find Hotchner a heart...because he never smiles. 

And I found this cutie on Instagram. I couldn't resist it! 

Two weeks ago Papa Bear and I were going to take a day trip but had to come home so I could pick up my pain medicine. Even trips in the car, other than running errands, causes my back and neck to hurt. 

Thankfully we back because as we were leaving we noticed the back fence was broken and both dogs escaped through our neighbors back yard, who hasn't put up his back fence yet.

They must have just gotten out because they weren't far down the street, but it's a very busy street. Emil and I pulled into the middle lane because we saw Luigi walking across the two north-bound lanes and get inches....inches...from getting hit by a car. It was like everything went in slow motion.

But where was Coco? 

At the same time I white suv pulled to the side of the road to our right and a truck behind that one. The two people in the white suv jumped out and looked down in the ditch. Emil ran over to the right of the road with them while I was getting Luigi from the left. 

I saw Emil look down the ditch and then rub the top of his head. 

I was so scared to see.

Coco was hit by the white suv but the driver said she just tapped her. We wrapped her up, got her out and went straight to the Animal ER. Her breathing was labored.

She had a bruised lung and bleeding around it and she fractured her left back paw in two places.

She had to stay in the hospital until the net day in an oxygen tank.

She had to have a cast put on, take pain pills, anti-inflammatory pills and an antibiotic.

But she was alive!

And two weeks later she chewed off her cast and decided it was time to start tormenting our cats again. I said either the vet showed me another dog's x-rays or this is a bionic girl! 

Lena and I wanted a warm-me-up, so we stopped by Local Coffee one evening. I had forgotten how delicious it is. It has the charm and ambiance of a quaint, cozy coffeehouse where patrons aren't just paying customers, they're friends. 

On this evening Lena opted for a Mexican Chocolate Cappuccino.

It was delicious! 

And last night, after meeting my friend Deana for coffee and cake, I took Lena back to Local Coffee to try their Affogato. It's two shots of espresso poured over vanilla ice cream.

I never tried anything like it. 

And CC picked me up from work last week with the sweetest surprise!

A teddy bear with a note and a penguin pen. I love, love my sweet girl! 

Birchbox Favorites Review

One of my favorite things I do is subscribe to Birchbox. 

It's like a present in the mail every month.

I have had very few boxes that were really nothing I liked/used.

Very few. Like maybe 3 in over a year.

What is so neat about Birchbox is that you are sent samples of products that you may have never known about otherwise. Several of these items are now my must-have favorites.

You earn points for leaving honest feedback on your products and those points can be applied towards items on Birchbox.com

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So....some of my favorites from the past few months.

AMIKA PERK UP DRY SHAMPOO

What I love about this dry shampoo is how easily it applies and how great my hair looks. I am used to shampooing everyday...I know it's not good for my hair but I feel nasty and dirty if I don't. But, I see that when I use this dry shampoo my hair actually looks and styles so much better!

And the smell...oh, my, the smell. 

My husband asked me what perfume I used that morning because it smelled so good! He actually encouraged me to buy this!

It doesn't leave a film or make you hair feel weighed down or heavy. 

I absolutely LOVE it!

I'm usually not a fan of the body washes they send me. I am pretty stuck on my Bath and Body Works favorites but this particular one certainly caught my attention.

The Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Body Wash was something else!
It didn't have a huge amount of lather and I was worried it would leave a film on my skin and make me feel tacky.

It didn't. 

My skin was so soft and felt so refreshed and the scent is out of this world. I was so very impressed. 

I can certainly see myself rotating this in my shower routine! 

When I first saw that I was getting the Dr. Lipp Original Lip Balm I was not too thrilled. I really didn't want to put it on my lips. 

I'm so glad I did!

A tiny dab goes a long way. It spreads easily, do not feel oily at all and lasts all day. 

I purchased the full size immediately! 

It is perfect for when the weather turns cool and crisp. Your lips stay moisturized all day! 

This too was one product I didn't think I would use, the Toni & Guy Classic Shine Gloss Serum. Again, I couldn't have been more wrong. I use this almost every single day and will be purchasing the full size when my sample runs out. It is simply amazing.

The serum doesn't carry much scent but my hair looks so shiny and nice! It is not heavy at all. It tames the fly-aways and split ends and truly makes my hair shiny and glossy. I am a new forever fan and this favorite will be on my bathroom counter permanently! 

Oh, Tocca...you have stolen my heart again. I am in love with the perfumes. The compilation of scents create a classic, subtle, chic and so very feminine fragrance. This Crema da Mano Luxe - Hand Cream is honestly the best hand cream I have ever used. I will be purchasing the full size once my sample is empty. It can also be purchased at Sephora.  

I am not a big bronzer fan but when this one from ModelCo came in my Birchbox my heart skipped a beat. The ModelCo bronzer is so wonderful. It gives my skin a very sun-kissed look in just the right places without leaving me looking orange and streaky.

It's great for contouring and yet soft enough to use alone for a natural look. My sample was BIG... I think it may be full size, so it will last me a while. When it's used I will purchase a full size and this too will be a staple in my makeup drawer! 

Ok, I do not select food or snacks as an option for my Birchbox because I have a few snacks that I like and I really don't deviate from them. And I just think it's gross to have snacks sent through the mail. It's me. I'm weird. And because Birchbox sends you some things that you have never heard of before I wasn't sure if these Justin's Chocolate Almond Butter Squeeze Pack was something for my face or something to eat. So I googled it.

....Oh...My...Word...

The BEST snack EVER!!!!!!!

There are no words. No words indeed. It was something like I never tasted before. Smooth. Rich. Sweet but not at all over powering.

Flavorful. Addicting.

I need to find them at Target but I haven't been able to. If I have no luck there I will just purchase on line. 

These are a MUST-TRY. 

But I'm warning you.... you will not be able to put the squeeze pack down or share it or stop until it's empty. 

Goodness, it's delicious!

Justin's created something dangerous!

Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

Weekends are the only time I really have to cook as much as I would like. Most nights after work I prepare us a home cooked meal...but on weekends it's certainly not as rushed.

I had taken a cornish hen out to defrost and knew we were going to have stuffing with it, but I also wanted to include something green. I immediately thought about bacon wrapped asparagus, but not everyone in the family likes asparagus.

We've been on a fresh green bean kick lately, so I thought..."Hey, if you can wrap asparagus in bacon, you surely can wrap green beans in bacon...."

And so I did.

First I rinsed and boiled a large bag of fresh green beans for about 10-15 minutes. 

I added salt, pepper and garlic powder to the water. 

In a side pan I lightly cooked long strips of bacon. I literally just let each side lightly brown before removing it. I would say each piece was left no more than one minute on each side. 

In a small sauce pan I combined:

4 tsps of butter

1/2 tsp of soy sauce

1/3 cup brown sugar

dash of salt

Stir until melted and combined. 

I love Reyonld's non+stick foil and use it all the time. I think it's the best invention ever. It makes cleaning a snap!!

So, I lined my pan with my non-stick foil. 

I spread out each slice of bacon and placed around 15 green beans in it. I brushed my above mixture on the green beans and wrapped up my bundle. 

I also sprinkled a little sea salt over each bundle. 

I popped these babies in the over for about 20 minutes on 350 degrees. 

Oh  my goodness....

There are no words...seriously no words.

It was the best part of our dinner. 

Everyone loved them! 

Lena told me I better hide what's left or she's going to finish them. Papa Bear loved the smokey taste. They were just plain delicious!!

October 2014

 Do I even remember how to blog anymore?

I used to look so forward to documenting my girls and the normal, boring things we did together and then posting them here as a way for me to look back and smile, remembering things I may have otherwise forgotten.

When the weather gets cooler/cold or rainy, my neck/shoulder area literally stop me in my tracks. The surgery certainly stopped the 24/7 headache I lived with for almost a year and a half but when the weather changes, I feel it...days in advance...and it knocks me down.

...Anyway....

When we first moved here there was a Half Price Books close to where we lived. Mom and I would go often and just browse the aisles and aisles of books. I love being around books. I've been an avid reader as long as I can remember. I "travel" through the books I read. 

I love the feel, smell and sight of a good book. I'm just not into ebooks or any sort of online version. I want the book in my hand. I want to pick a bookmark for my book. 

My Papa Bear was on the look for a certain type of book and we had searched Barnes and Noble and couldn't find it, looked online and couldn't find it, so I suggested going to Half Price Books. They didn't have the book he was looking for, but they have something....

....my attention....

I fell in love with Half Price Books all over again. I selected a book by my favorite author, John Saul, and had that baby read in three days. 

I've gone back a few times and took my girls with me and am now reading the Coffeehouse Mysteries series.

Needless to say, I see many more visits in our future!

My sweet CC also surprised me one night by showing up after work with the new Keurig. If you've read my blog at any time in the past, you know I am a fool for coffee and in love with my Keurig. My favorite feature about this Keurig 2.0 is the carafe. I love that I can cook breakfast, sit at the table as a family and a delicious smelling, sinful tasting, fresh carafe of coffee with us. She certainly picked the right machine for us!! I loved my Keurig Vue, but this one is not as noisy and has really neat options for the display screen... and it has a carafe!! 

Our friends, Sandeep and Crystal, rented a campfire site at the Hondo Corn Maize. They also invited some of their other friends and everyone brought something to share. 

Man, oh man...we had s'mores, s'mores with Reeces Peanut Butter Cups, s'mores with Giradelli chocolates...you name it! There were hot dogs, sausage links, spicy sausages, chips, drinks...it was so fun! We met some sweet people, connected with old friends and had a really great time.

I think the best part was how good our clothes smelled on the way home. I've always loved the smell of a wood burning campfire. It reminds me of my childhood, visiting my sister Lisa and taking in deep, long smells of her jackets.  

So, Lena and I being the creative types...(definite sarcasm) took to Pinterest and found a table top "campfire" for toasting marshmallows. It was fun and easy to set up..

1 sm Terra Cotta planter

Line it w/foil

Place a piece of Match-Light Charcoal inside 

and go....

Sorta.

The fire didn't stay lit for very long. Out of about 12 pieces of charcoal, maybe 3 burned long enough to toast a few marshmallows.

We ended up giving up and just using a candle....

CC pointed out that probably wasn't the smartest thing to do. 

Probably not, but we had fun! 

I've spent a lot of time snuggling with these boys. 

The cooler weather has them in snuggly moods and I love that.

We've been "cat" people as long as I can remember. They have such unique personalities and likes and dislikes. They really aren't just pets but family members. You know when they're in a bad mood or playful mood or sleepy. I love snuggling with them on my recliner and watching Criminal Minds. We get in at least 1-2 episodes a day! 

We were invited to Hospitality for the Sunday speaker and had lunch with the congregation at Blanco BBQ. This may not be the best picture, but it has Brother Montelongo and Brother Cash. I love these two men dearly.

I can't even begin to tell you how important they are to me. I couldn't love a biological father more than I love these two. They always have time to talk, listen and give honest, Bible based advice. Never once do the judge or put you down. They giving loving advice and genuinely want to see you do well. 

My Aggies didn't do their best this season but I wore an Aggie shirt every Friday to work. I love them no matter what. And, I love this shirt...my Papa Bear came home from work with it one day and surprised me.

Those are the best kind of gifts...the "just because" ones! 

In October CC also confirmed what a baby she is...I came out of the dressing room to find this. I have no idea how she got in there, but I should have recorded her trying to get out...it was hilarious! 

Lena and I kept the tradition going...Nightmare on Grayson has moved and is now in a new location (an old warehouse)and is now called "Fearesta"! Let me just say, I had no voice.

I think it's just as good...if not better in some areas than Nightmare on Grayson in it's old location. I mean, there was some rooms where my heart was pounding and I felt nauseated and I had to keep reminding myself it wasn't real...I was going to make it out and these were just actors. 

My goodness...it was AWESOME!!! 

There was an old-style magician there. He was pretty good... can't complain. And it was nice to see Brothers of the Flame there as well. It's never a dull show with them! 

During the month of October, Lena and I enjoyed some delicious hot cocoa at Le Madeleine. I love these moments with my sweet girl. She is growing up so fast and really becoming a young lady. She is so smart and quick to the punch and truly just a joy to be around. I love our conversations and I love every moment we get to spend together. I know that as she gets older, spending time drinking hot cocoa with her mama won't be at the top of her list of things to do, so I'm trying to soak it in as much as possible while I can! 

And apparently she's a sneaky little photographer as well... 

It's hard to believe how fast this year has gone by. It's hard to believe that as I type this, there are only 10 days left of 2014. I remember how nervous I was when it was 1999 and we were going out of town to Dallas to spend New Years with Emil's brother. I was hugging and kissing my mom good-bye, we were both crying thinking it was the end of the world as we wouldn't see each other again...lol...

Now here we are 15 years later..still going, still making it day by day. I'm doing it without my mama, but I'm doing it. 

Worst Blogger in History? I think so...

Where did the time go? I think this is the longest I have ever gone with out blogging. 

I wish I could say that it was because I was off doing wonderful, fabulous, fun and exciting things...

That wouldn't be true. I've gone through some of the hardest most trying months yet.

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This summer brought about the blossoming of my favorite crepe myrtles. I've always wanted to have one or a few of my own..I attempted a few times, but the squirrel in my back yard decided it just wasn't going to happen. 

We have a new member of the family, Koko. She's supposed to be CC's puppy but CC works so much she has zero time for her. Poor Lena has become Koko's mom.

Koko is obsessed with Luigi and drives him crazy. I'm sure on some level Luigi is pissed at us for bringing her home. I like to think she keeps him young! 

Though college football season hadn't yet started, I couldn't resist wearing my Texas A&M shirt. I literally had a count down timer on my phone down to the minute of kick off.

One might call me obsessed... I call it a way of life! 

And I saw this watch at Charming Charlies...gosh, I loved it! 

I also found the pretty necklaces. I would love, love, love to be able to wear necklaces again. I just feel like it would draw too much attention to the scar on my neck.

Now if my scar came about some really cool, story worthy way, I'd totally not be ashamed...but it didn't. I just took my family on a vacation.... 

This summer I also enjoyed grilling some food.

I love to grill. It's just too hot here to do much of anything outside. 

My sister gave me an owl Scentsy warmer shortly after Mom died two years ago. She gave one to me and our other sister, Lisa.

I finally opened mine and set it up. 

I love it. 

I know that it is something Mom would have loved and that makes me sad sometimes. I still have missing Mama days.  

I love how it looks on my side of the bed. I just wish all those stupid wires didn't show. 

I've enjoyed more than a fair share of Starbucks drinks at work. My pants and shrinking checks do not thank me! 

I thought this was the cutest...and the truest!! 

When I first started at my company, my first manager was Marty. She was the sweetest, kindest, most helpful, wonderful mentor, manager and friend ever.

She retired after 25 years with the company. 

Our old team has since moved on to different departments and different teams, but we all got together at Grimaldi's pizza to give Marty a sweet send off.

I really do miss her!

Marty wasn't the only one leaving the company. 

Erin and I went through training together and became friends fast.

This girl can make you laugh when all you want to do is cry. 

She has given me some of the best advise, words I will remember and keep in my heart through out life.

Sometimes it's so hard to see what you don't want to see or you refuse to believe and it takes a real friend to break it down and slap you with the ugly truth. If you have a friend like that, keep her...I'd rather have the ugly truth than sweet lies that will end up causing me pain.

Erin's husband was sent to Alabama for military training. 

My Lena and I had a girls date to the book store. That seems to be one of our favorite places to go. 

I purchased this book, which seems like it's going to be pretty good...if I can find the time to read it! 

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Emil and I also had dinner with friends and this cutie and I took a played and played. 

And my Papa Bear surprised me with an A&M charm bracelet. 

I am a HUGE Aggie fan and for me, this IS the most wonderful time of the year!

Everyday Saturday finds me planted to my couch or recliner soaking in every single glorious minute of SEC football!!! 

On a more serious note, this surgery has had some really terrible trickle down effects on my marriage. For the past five months I have been unable to sleep in the bed next to my husband. I have to sleep in my recliner. This has wrecked havoc on my marriage. Just missing that closeness. Having those last moments of the day to talk with each other, hold each other, listen to each other. We've missed all of that. 

I've had to learn how exist on my own with out him. 

He had to try to get used to living with a wife but not necessarily having a wife.

Our communication died. 

Our one-on-one time died.

Our time apart increased.

We almost divorced.

It's been hell. 

What seemed like an answer to all the physical pain I was experiencing resulted in an emotion and mental pain I'm not quite sure I was expecting or equipped for.

We are trying desperately to mend what's been broken.
After 20 years together, you really don't want to just throw in the towel.

We've identified what a big part of the problem was and we are working to fix it.

It will take time. We didn't get here over night...over months, yes...over night, no.

As a re-commitment to each other, he made me my dream ring. 

Just knowing his fingers made this, makes my heart swell.