Le Lloyds

Moving Out!

2010-08-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

My blogger has been doing some funky things

and since I cannot figure out what is making it sick

I have decided to jump ship.

I have jumped over here if you wanna keep with

Le Lloyds.

toodles!

Guess Who Doesn't Have a Case of the Mondays?

2010-08-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

We don't!!

Our Thriving Ivory concert was oh so

awesome.

Here's the list of upcoming artists to play at the Warehouse.

I must admit "Screeching Weasel" caught my eye.

And what luck!

They had a tour poster inside!

Yours Truly thought her gum could pass as a cigi...

Seriously, that weasel reminds me of something...and I just remembered!!

The sloth from Ice Age...phew! I love it when that happens :-)

I had been trying to place him since highway 59 downtown.

Here are the fellers we went to see doin' what they do best.

It was a small concert so we could get super close to the gents.

How can downtown Houston be scary when you've got

your hunny with you?

As we were walking to our car I saw Paul and John hanging out back

so I gave them a wave and yelled " I love ya'll and you rocked!!".

They waved us over and we got to shoot the breeze for a while.

They were so nice!!

Charlie laughed about this picture saying it is very "rock star"...

Tattoos, cigarettes, no shirts; they definitely fit the bill.

They put on a great show and I do not remember any profanity: done and done!

It was just a good time with great music!

Not bad for mixing up a mundane Monday.

Thriving Ivory

2010-08-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

Charlie is forever finiding new bands and making plans

for us to see them perform.

Tonight's venture is Thriving Ivory.

I think their drummer looks just like Zach Galifianakis (far right)

maybe it's just his facial hair and the color...

Such a simple soul, he makes me smile.

I shall do my best to be enthusiastic since we didn't

get back from College Station until after midnight last night.

It was a very productive weekend of painting

a rent house for Charlie's parents.

I am feeling very confident and geared up to

start painting our townhouse!

Have a fun night!

{via, via}

Young Me, Now Me

2010-08-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hope you are having a super sweet start to your week!

Charlie says this is one of his favorite baby pictures of me...

....so much so that he had me try and reenact this moment

from 24 years ago at our favorite generic restaurant, Casa Ole!

I think it's funny that his nickname for me is "Ducky"

and there are little ducks on my little girl swimsuit.

Is it a bad thing...

2010-08-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

that I'm jealous for this little girl's purse?

but seriously she is the cutest!

{via}

Victorian Refuge Enchantment

2010-08-13T06:57:00.000-07:00

I am completely head-over-heels for little Victorian cottage in the Catskills.

Never mind that my tall husband would have to be

folded in fourths to fit inside...

this former old hunting cabin, has been transformed into a shabby chic cottage

full of charm but lacking a lavitory.

The owners, Sandra and Todd Foster, live in a 1971 trailer across a nearby stream.

In my humble opinion it looks like fairies

could happily inhabit the sweet little abode!

Ms. Foster renovated the 9 by 14 foot cottage on a $3,000 budget

all by herself decorating with pieces from

flea markets and salvage shops.

I can just picture myself

curled up with a lovely book and napping in the

little upper room.

Ms. Foster appropriately calls the place her “refuge.”

{via}

Feelin' Thrifty

2010-08-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

All the blogging about good deals

made me think about my other household

treasures I have found/bough/bartered for along the way.

These two beautes were found on Antelope Lane

when I lived in good 'ol C.Stat.

The 5 drawer tower was a pretty exciting "street find".

The bamboo covers over the drawers

match our laundry basket from the Bamboo Company

from Charlie's mom.

Charlie helped me haul Goldie

in from off the street curb

one night.

This funky girl is a little worn on the arm rests

but I love her punchy color and surprising comfort.

This is my favorite spot in our tiny closet kitchen.

I bought the painting above the stove in Jefferson, Texas

with one of my best friends Kati...she's good luck you know!

I fell in love with the bold frame and the whimsical brush strokes

Then the little marble butter/cheese cover on the stove

was another Blue Bird find.

And finally the sunny daisy tray behind our yellow Fiesta Ware canisters

is from the Charity Guild.

The date on the back of the tray says 1969...bonafide vintage!

Now, the Flying Dali wasn't exactly a steal but we were meant for each other.

On a Charity Guild run I saw her and immediately thought

of one of my favorite movies Up Town Girls

with Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning.

Brittany's character has a little Dali in her beautiful New York Apartment.

They are suppose to keep your home safe and ward off demons.

But since I do not believe in 'luck charms" etc. she's just a funny little reminder

of a favorite movie and a wonderful actress.

We inherited this silver tray with our townhouse.

Actually it was just left in the attic and I dusted it off.

Charlie and I like to write sweet sayings to each other :-D

Finally, the $10 stain glass lamp was a super exciting find.

I just love filling my home with meaningful and unique items.

They may not all be functional but they sure make me smile.

And who doesn't love a good rummage through other people's street trash...

Our guest bedroom is almost ready for it's big reveal!

I am so happy that I no longer dread going into our second bedroom.

Tuesday Surprises

2010-08-10T22:23:00.000-07:00

The hubs and I decided to try out a Belgium restaurant downtown.

The art was inspiring and I can wait to pull out

my canvases and try to paint this meadow.

This sweet little country cottage was one of my favorites

and I love how the colors of the house reflects in the lake...

there's something very impressionistic about the pictures.

I could almost see myself picking flurs in the field and then walking

back to my cottage by the lake to read by the window...

Next Charlie took me to a beautiful building downtown

but he was very taken with this Nitrogen cooling thingy.

If you look on the top left you can see a little snow cone

of ice/vapor coming out of the container.

In our wanderings downtown we came across the famous

(at least in Houston terms)

Angelika theater. They play lots of foreign and Independent movies

here and we had never been before.

When I heard they were showing "The Girl Who Played with Fire"

I knew we had to make this a movie night.

Surprisingly, Charlie enjoyed the movie despite not having

seen or read the first move/book.

I loved the vintage movie posters on display

and the crystal chandelier wasn't too shabby either!

It's great when life throws in the unexpected excursion

on what would be a regularly ordinary evening.

I dream of Steph

2010-08-10T21:51:00.000-07:00

Surprise friend visits are the best!

Steph came over for breakfast Sunday morning!

I whipped up some pancakes and french toast

with mimosas to wash it down.

It was a short and sweet visit so we popped a squat

for a picture...

Charlie pointed out we looked goofy and "one legged"

in our picture pose...

so here we are confirming our "double leggedness".

YAY for childhood friends...

who were once cheerleaders together

who were once roommates

who are now A&M graduates

who are now little wifes to great guys

who are still best friends since 3rd grade!

Fun Blue Bird and Goodwill Finds

2010-08-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

I had such a blast with my family and friends

at Blue Bird Circle and Goodwill last weekend!

Just disclaimer if you are ever in Houston on a Saturday morning

and you don't to be haul you off to a thrift store

come and see me after 3 (they are usually closed by then).

Check out my fun treasures...

Aaawwww, yeah for a vintage yeller purse

and I have been on the hunt for a smallish white leather purse too!

Score!

And I am saving the very best for last.

You may notice the flippin' Anthropology price tag

is still on the grey and white skirt.

I got this baby for just 30 bones (down from $148.00) and have already

worn it 5 times since it became mine.

Charlie pointed out how different our philosophies are

on wearing our favorite ensembles.

Charlie takes the "save it for the perfect moment" approach

as opposed to my

"wear that sucker out" or "wear it until people think it's your self proclaimed uniform".

The only time I have ever applied Charlie's motto to my life was on our wedding day for my dress.

And even then I would wear my wedding gown around our duplex in college

when my roommates were out of town...I'm a little wacko I know.

Garden of Love

2010-08-06T21:29:00.000-07:00

After making sure Ms. Barbara was all set to go

Charlie and I zoomed off to his wonderful colleague's wedding.

Right before we drove in to their venue I had to pause and give this

regal statue due diligence

Perhaps I could bring Mr. Tobias Funke here for his birthday?

I loved the twinkly lights all over the room and the

stain glass window hangs made for a lovely background.

The radiant bride...swoon!

Her veil/head piece was so classic and reminded me of the glamorous

brides from the 40's and 50's.

Scrumptious cakes!

Katie's dress was beautiful and her new hubby was so proud of his bride!

Be still my heart....they are so sweet!

This picture reminds me of a new quote I found

"One of the best things about marriage is that it gets young people to bed at a decent hour."

~M.M. Musselman

I couldn't help snagging a photo opt with the beautiful bride!

Charlie and I snapped a snuggle moment with all

the love in the air.

Mail Box go BOOM!

2010-08-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

This was the sight that greeted me when I drove into my

garage this afternoon after work.

My sweet German neighbor Ms. Barbara said her foot

slipped off the brake as she was driving to get her mail today.

When I ran over to see if she was alright

she kept asking me if anything like this had ever happened to me before.

I told her I had been in accidents before and it's a good thing she has insurance.

It's kind of funny but with the same token it's a blessing

no one was getting their mail right at that moment.

This was the opposite side of the little mail box house

where our mail slot is located.

...and this is the demolition side.

Thankfully the only thing worse for the wear

was the mail box hut.

Schmucky Dinner

2010-08-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

Last night Charlie took me out for a lovely dinner

to Outback just to celebrate a good day.

My traditional meal at that particular restaurant

is the lobster tail and sweet potato fries.

M-M-M-M-Good!

Then we headed to The Fountains' Lowes theater

to see Dinner For Schmucks. We had been holding out

to see the movie since it hasn't gotten the best reviews.

But we were pleasantly surprised!

Of course it was SUPER silly at points

but so are we!
I straight up laughed out loud and clapped my hands multiple times.
I'm a very interactive movie goer.

The main character, Paul Rudd, is invited to a dinner with his executive colleagues where

the goal is to bring the most entertaining i.e. idiotic guest with you to dinner.

Steve Carell is Paul Rudd's guest and plays his character

in a charming and painful way.

I picked up some Dumb and Dumber vibes...

{via}

The movie is a spin off of the French film

The Dinner Game (1998) and it sounds similar

"There is a game coupled with the meal: each one of them has to bring an 'idiot'.

The game consists in making the idiots talk about their

ideas and passions so the hosts can have a good laugh.

At the end they will choose the 'idiot of the evening'.

The idiot tries to help the main character, Pierre, all the time,

and naturally does everything wrong and aggravates every situation."

Pretty Hilarious!

And Jermaine from Flight of the Concords also has

a sweet little role too!

So if you're a silly gal or gent and enjoy watching

silly, not dirty, films, I would recommend this movie to you.

FACTS

Sweet sweetness

2010-08-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

mmmmmm......

Woo to the Hoo for FRIDAY!

{via}

Quote of the Day

2010-08-05T14:07:00.000-07:00

“I loved fencing and dancing

and elocution.”

~ Vivien Leigh

I have to admit I needed to google 'elocution'.

If you already knew what that word meant then you

are too smart to be reading this blog

and for everyone else who needs to learn something new today...

- Elocution -

1 : a style of speaking especially in public

2 : the art of effective public speaking

{via}

{picture via}

Goodness, I love the water

2010-08-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

For sure the number one thing I love about summer is spending a whole day by the pool.

Charlie can't understand how I like to spend hours outside but I just love it!

I love swimming.

I love tanning.

I love Italian Icees.

And now I love this poem my wonderful mother

left as a comment on an earlier post...

Maggie and Milly and Molly and May

maggie and millie and molly and may

went down to the beach

(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,

and milly discovered a stranded star whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing which raced sideways while blowing bubbles;

and may came home with a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose

(like a you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find at the sea

--e.e. cummings

loverly, just loverly

image via weheartit

Pucker you your lips like diz...

2010-08-04T13:51:00.000-07:00

I can't think of anything more fabulous than being a mermaid

If I could be anything else, I would want to be a mer-lady. Hands down.

{via}

They are graceful AND get to live underwater...

Which taps into my childhood dream of being a marine biologist
***sigh***
in my best Ariel impersonation.

I wish I could still wear my Ariel suit Uncle Linda made for me...

I told Uncle Linda that I only had one issue with my wonderful new fin suit

"It doesn't have purple breasts holder-uppers!"

I mean, I couldn't be a proper Ariel doppelganger without "purple breast holder-uppers!

But I quickly "got over myself" as she is famous for saying

I wore the elastic outta that thing out.

If I could have walked in it I would have worn it on the weekends and after school.

When I couldn't wear it in the pool...I would wear it in the tub.

Even more evidence of my mom's ubber coolness

for putting up with this at bath time...I'm sure most of my bath water

ended up on the bathroom floor.

But anything to get the job done, right?

Silence Dogood

2010-08-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some beautiful ladies who inspire me everyday.

We all met to celebrate a new marriage and a new baby!

They are all so precious to me and amazing friends.

Their faith, hope and wisdom are something I can look forward to every week.

This quote reminds me of them:

“When love is lost, do not bow your head in sadness; instead, keep your head up high and gaze at the stars because that is where your broken heart has been sent to heal, and remember, we gather strength from sadness and from pain. Each time we die, we learn to live again.”

-unknown.

My lovely retreat weekend at the Cenacle pretty much looked like this...

I was either in this hammock, eating on the porch with the peacocks or dozing in my little room.

Almost a year ago I came to the Cenacle for a retreat and read

The Shack and Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila.

Eat, Pray, Love and The Shack are perfect examples of where I was in my life

at the time of each retreat.

You can imagine how FLOORED I was when Elizabeth Gordon from Eat, Pray, Love referenced the

amazing Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila.

God is so good!

The Cenacle is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been.

I stayed in the St. Therese dorm.

I thought it was funny how the garden near my hammock

is called "Charlie's Garden"

This sweet mama and her baby strolled through the grounds.

When she would run her baby would run with her...

When she would peck at the ground her baby would mimic her...

It was so sweet to see them walk together every day.

During the morning when I would eat my breakfast they

would come over and say hello to start my day.

This little guy was very curious...I started calling him whiskers...

Cause he was curious, like a cat!

(A nod to Harry Caray from SNL for all yawl who think I'm bonkers right aboot now)

Actually he probably just wanted my Cherrios.

I wonder if anyone else reverts back to SNL skits on their silent retreats...

I loved this flower and it seemed like nearly every morning

there were new blossoms

It's a Lonestar Texas Hibiscus.

This silent retreat weekend was the perfect mini-sabbatical.

Spending time in silence is completely counter to my nature

and that is probably the reason why I need

to be intentional about setting aside that time.

It's easy for me to get burnt out and dependent on

all the distractions around me.

I am so thankful for the quiet time and a sacred place to recenter.

Another new quote I'm diggin' for its great significance to this weekend is:

"I believe in sleeping in.

I believe in giving 100% when you only have 80.

I believe in kisses on the forehead.

I believe in long kisses, smiling till your cheeks hurt, and laughing until you have tears in your eyes.

I believe in having someone tell you that you’re beautiful.

I believe in having someone play with your hair.

I believe in sitting on swings and running in the rain.

I believe in miracles and random acts of kindness.

I believe in saying hello to anyone and everyone.

I believe in second chances.

And most of all, I believe in love."

{via}

SHARK WEEK!!

2010-08-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

Who's ready for Shark Week on the Discovery Chanel?

I know I sure am!!

My Fine Tea Cup Friend

2010-07-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

I'd sure like a tiny teacup fish that lectures me.

Por Favor.

Reminds me of my favorite Dr. Seuss movie

{via}

Underarmour Is Like Bare Skin

2010-07-27T18:18:00.000-07:00

OUCH!!! (and some other words)

So after I got home from my run I decided to make Charlie some rice crispy treats

to take on his guys weekend to Corpus Christi.

I wasn't being very careful and I bumped my side on the pot as I mixed

the rice crispies in with the melted marshmallows.

It felt nor so good!

she & him

2010-07-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

because just when you thought zooey deschanel couldn't possibly be any more fabulous...you find out that she is the singer for she & him

Pleated Green Skirt

2010-07-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

{via}

because i'm a girl with glasses too!

2010-07-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

I Am A Girl - The Girls With Glasses Theme Song from The Girls With Glasses on Vimeo.

This video just made my day!

and I love Pocahontas

words for thought on this Monday

2010-07-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

“If I had my life to live over, I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I’m one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.”

- Nadine Stair, 85 years old. via.

All Smiles and Dated

2010-07-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

Fun Facts about Smiling
happy Saturday!

1. When someone smiles it is universally known as an expression of happiness which is recognized by almost all cultures.

2. When a person studies laughter they are known as a ‘gelotologist’.
3. There are over 18 different types of smiles that are used in a variety of social situations. For instance, people can use a smile to say a hello, and they can also use a different type of smile to show their understanding of a particular situation.

4. A frown uses more muscles to contract and expand then a smile does.
5. A smile is one of the most used human facial expressions. Smiles can use between 5 to all 53 muscles.

6. Smiling releases endorphins and makes us feel better, even when you fake a smile you can feel better.
7. A person that smiles more is deemed to be more pleasant, sincere, attractive and more sociable then a non-smiling person.

8. We are born with the ability to smile, it is not something that we copy. For instance, even blind babies are able to smile.
9. Humans are able to differentiate between a real smile and a fake smile by seeing the difference in a persons eyes when they smile.

10. Newborns tend to have more preference for a person with a smile then a person that is not smiling.

"You're never fully dressed without a smile."
- Martin Charnin

"There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness."
- Maria Mitchell

....and if you just need a reson so smile
check out this cutie patootie

{via}
So that's exactly what I'm gonna do today.

I love my husband.
I love my puppy.
I love my outfit.
I love my friends.
I love my car.
I love my life.
I love everything!
Let's see if this works...

Coming up for air

2010-07-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

YAY for Fridays*

*at home

Charlie and I realized we have been gone

for 6 of the past 7 weekends.

This is good because we have had so much fun together

but also a little draining.

I'm happy to be in one place this weekend.

I have a few non-important or essential plans to carry out:

Figure out what all the True Blood hype is about.

Try a new recipe.

Fruiti drinks with the girls.

A long stroll with Charlie

Finally get back to my book (How the Light gets In)

Clean this pigpen of an townhouse. Not so fun.

Relax with some vino and a bubble bath

Pray for sun.

Et tu, readers?

Toby Lovin'

2010-07-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

Just a little lovin' from Toby to brighten your Thursday!

10 Reasons Why Toby's got the Lovin'

01. He is a great cuddle buddy

02. He takes naps with me and sleeps right by my side

03. He lets me sleep in most mornings

04. He gives sweet pink kisses

05. He'll go running with me

06. He's always in a good mood

07. He eats just about anything

08. I have never met an animal with more personality

09. He sneezes when he gets excited about something

10. He makes valiant efforts to befriend new animal and people friends

i am in love!

thanks Mairsy for sending the pictures!

Amen

2010-07-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

"You can pay for school, but you can’t buy class."

Swagga Like Us

~ Jay Z, T.I, Kanye West, Lil Wayne

Things that make me OH so happy

2010-07-21T11:39:00.000-07:00

01. Glee!
02. cuddling with Mr. Toby.
03. when husband gets off work early.
04. antique finds.
05. watching the run rise on a long run.
06. reading a book in the sun.
07. finally hearing a band that you love perform love.
08. seeing movies at the movie theater.
09. taking photos.
10. clipping roses from my rose bush.
11. making a good meal from a cookbook alone.
12. Office marathons with my husband.
13. wearing hats.
14. eating rice crispy treats
15. cupcakes & tea.
16. long, hot baths with magazines & candles.
17. road trips.
18. meeting interesting people.
19. seeing new places.
20. twinkle lights.
21. laying by the pool.
22. sushi.
23. camping & bonfires.
24. Paperback Exchange.
25. we heart it.
26. my sunroof.
27. my family & friends.
28. wearing dresses.
29. potted plants.

For my Main Squeeze...

2010-07-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

Back to the 'ol abode

2010-07-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

We made it back from our Colorado adventures

happy and exhausted!

But that didn't stop us from going to see

Inception tonight at Edward's.

The movie was like nothing I have ever seen before.
I actually cried and I'm not a big crier in movies
Here is Mr. Leo in his recent apperance on Rolling Stone mag

On growing up famous: "I was essentially a dwarf with the biggest mouth in the world. I would talk back to anyone and be up for any fight, and when you tell a kid that's three years older than you to shove it, you're going to get your ass beat . . . I was a real punk, there's no question about it."

On partying before there was less privacy: "I got to be wild and nuts, and I didn't suffer as much as people do now, where they have to play it so safe that they ruin their credibility. I didn't care what anyone thought . . . It was also about avoiding the tornado of chaos, of potential downfall. It was, 'Wow, how lucky are we to not have hung out with that crowd or done those things?' My two main competitors in the beginning, the blond-haired kids I went to audition with, one hung himself and the other died of a heroin overdose . . . I was never into drugs at all. There aren't stories of me in a pool of my own vomit in a hotel room on the Hollywood Strip."

On dating: "I had better success meeting girls before Titanic. My interactions with them didn't have all the stigma behind it, not to mention there wasn’t a perception of her talking to me for only one reason."

{via}

These pictures make me laugh because I am reminded

of my "Boy Binder" I had in middle school filled with photos

of all the gents I had crushes on
i.e. Devon Sawa, Andrew Kurtzman and of course King Leo.

Looking back I am further convinced that my

husband is surpassingly more hot than any of those guys!

14er - Torrey's Peak

2010-07-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Our last and biggest activity in Colorado

was to climb our first 14er, Mt. Torrey.

The centerpieces of the Colorado Rockies are the 54 peaks over 14,000 feet, or “Fourteeners,” as they are affectionately referred to by climbers.

Length: Approx. 8.5 miles roundtrip

Highlights: 14,000' summits, wildlife, amazing views!

Difficulty Rating: Advanced

Elevation Gain: Approx. 3,000 ft.

{via}

The Andersons and their sweet friend Tori

made the ascent with us.

I must say it was pretty cool to stand on snow

in the middle of July.

Thank goodness for their encouraging words

that spurred us on!

Here we are crossing over on the Gray's-Torrey's saddle

Aaahhh, so nice to sit and take a load off and

enjoy our reward...a breathtaking view!

We finally made it to the top in a little of 3 hours.

Their sweet pooch Kona pretty much ran the whole hike.

It was so funny to see the little dogs with their owners

making the climb.

I couldn't help but wonder if Mr. Toby had what it takes

to reach the top!

The weather at the top was so nice that we all

stopped and finished off our snacks.

20 minutes later we were back on the trail and

so glad to be getting to lower altitude.

Despite a touch of altitude sickness for Charlie

the climb was an amazing experience.

But I won't even play....

it nearly killed us!

We are wanderers

2010-07-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I gradually made our way to Colorado's state capital

and had the pleasure of walking around their Art Museum.

There are two buildings – one a fortress-like structure from Italian architect Gio Ponti, the other, a structure that resembles a titanium crystal with peaks and shards designed by Daniel Libeskind.

{via}

Big Sweep, Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado, 2007

A 35-foot high sculpture of a broom and dustpan made of painted metal greets visitors at the base of the “prow” of the new addition to Denver’s Art Museum.

The work, by artists Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg, offers a double incongruity.

Art elevates a commonplace household task to monumental civic status here.

{via}

“The Yearling” by Donald Lipski

The red chair is 21 feet tall and ten feet wide, and the pinto pony is six feet tall at the ears.

The scale of this work is meant to recall that time in life when even everyday objects seemed monumental.

The “earth” without “art” is just “eh”.

We got to see the state capitol which stands exactly 5,280 feet above sea level (one mile high!)

on the west steps.
I love days like this.
Wandering aimlessly is underrated, especially when traveling in new cities.
Throw the plans out the rental car window and just see where the day leads,
You never know where you will end up or what adventure you will find.

Luckily we got to go white water rafting twice during our time

in Colorado and our great friend Andrew got to share

the exciting experience with us.

Here we are all geared up for the river.

Aren't we two fine specimens of Texas tourists?

The wet suits were SO hot but we were eventually thankful

for them once we got into the river.

The water was super cold and a few of the boats on our

trip got tipped over on one of the rapids.

We had an all star rowing team and non of us went swimming that day!

On our way back to Summer and Andrew's house

we stopped by Red Rocks.

It a geologically formed, open-air Amphitheatre

consisting of two, three hundred-foot monoliths

(Ship Rock and Creation Rock)

The scene is truly incredible and attending a concert

has quickly been added to our bucket list.

I feel like such a I am a very fortunate soul!

Rock Monkies

2010-07-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I left Breckenridge

for Vail, CO.

Of course we had to give a little love to

our friend Smokey.

Vail was simply gorgeous!

The petunas were overflowing out of the window boxes....

and Charlie had lots of little shops

around Lion's Head.

We enjoyed taking in the beautiful sites

We made a trip to see where my favorite Sleepy Time tea is brewed

and got to sample lots of yummy teas.

Les met us after she got off of work and took us

for our first outdoor climb!

I finally mastered the "figure 8" knot

We all had fun scrambling up the mountain

It may not look very high but after we hiked for a while

and locked in at 30 feet the view was amazing!

We were all famished after the day's activities

and enjoyed some good grub at Vine Street pub.

I was lucky to sample lots of great teas and beers that day!

As you can see, our weekend was filled with sunny skies and time for walking around.

Yay for good friends and Colorado!

The River and Mista Moose

2010-07-15T23:30:00.000-07:00

What a gorgeous day we had!

Charlie and his grandpa chewed the fat after breakfast...

Then we started the day with

a sweet family pic near the condo

Everyone looked so radiant!

I guess it's hard not to look your best

in such beautiful surroundings.

The activity for the day was white water rafting

about an hour and a half drive from Breckenridge to Buena Vista, CO.

You can double click on any of the pictures to see a bigger version.

We stopped for another fun pic. on the

Continental divide.

Here is a glamour shot of our lovely rental car!

These were all the families getting ready to go rafting.

Aunt Evelyn, Charlie and I are smack dab in the center of all the hubbub

and here are the action shots!

We had a super fun time floating the Arkansas river.

It was a 10 mile float and took about two hours through Brown's Canyon.

Once we got back to the condo we decided the fun for the day couldn't be over

and hiked our way through a few trails/ski slopes.

Along the way, we were surprised by this large fellow.

Mista Moose Mista Moose

(a nod to Beth Moore's blog)

was HUGE and the pictures just do not do him justice.

His antlers were massive and very velvety.

No the encouted did not end like a clip form "Extreme Animal Attacks"

but I had my get away planned just in case!

I topped the night off with a hot tub soak

and a new book I bought for the trip.

It's "How The Light Gets In" and hopefully it will tide me over

until I can get "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest"...sigh

Ah, well, I am feeling very blessed and thankful for the superb weather

and breath-taking sights!

I am small...

2010-07-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

That is all I can think of after driving from Denver to Breckenridge.

That and the fact that my God is HUGE!

It's always amazes me how nature

puts me in my place.

Everything from the mountains to the stars

leaves me awe struck.

I feel so childlike looking up at the mountains

and thinking,

"Wow, God MADE that thing...He's bigger than

these enormous rocks."

I mean, of course He's bigger than a mountain.

But thinking that in Houston and then seeing it right beside me

just blows me away.
I am a fragile creature who depends on her Creater for every breath.
It wouldn't take much to snuff me out from this life.
I am just flooded with thankfullness this evening for my Father in Heaven
and the fact that He loves me more than I'll ever know.

Praises, for a safe flight from Houston

and drive in to Breckenridge from Denver.

The condo is so sweet and cozy!

There's even a hot tub on the back porch.

Charlie and I just got back from a 'lil midnight stroll

to soak up the 56 degree weather.

It feels great!

Charlie's Aunt Evelyn greeted us with some

cool water and sweet cherries when we arrived around 11 pm.

Tomorrow we're gonna take in some of the sights around the town

and then go out on our first rafting excursion!

I can't wait to take more pictures during the day light tomorrow of this beautiful state.

So I will leave you with a quote from one of the artists

whom we own the most records:

"And the Colorado rocky mountain high

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply

Rocky mountain high"

~ Mr. Denver

Life is great and God is good!

Gettin' Nosey

2010-07-13T10:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is how my puppy sleeps.

I know, I know...

My dad told me a funny story

about Mr. Toby when he was in his favorite sleep spot.

Before my dad went to bed

he noticed one of Toby's eyes looked bigger than the other.

Being the concerned grandparent of this grandpuppy

he went over to check out what could be wrong.

As he got closer he noticed

the "enlarged eye" was acutally Toby's nose!

Here are a few cutier

less bizzar sleeping pics.

and yes that is my favorite little mermiad pillow below...

don't worry Charlie took these pics of us napping...

"My little dog -

a heartbeat at my feet."

~ Edith Wharton

Giraffe Manor

2010-07-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

These pictures look like they are

from an escaped animal documentary...

But they are actually part of

an East African Safari just outside

Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

The 1932 ivy-covered lodge shares the grounds with a herd of giraffes.

The friendly giants often peek in the windows to nod their hellos.

Visitors are allowed to pet and feed the

animals as they come and go.

With my luck Charlie and I would go on vacation here

and I would be hauled off by some

crazed psycho-giraffe.

But it does look like an fun experience!

{via}

Snow White's Apple

2010-07-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

very clever

{via}

Cross my heart and kiss my elbows

2010-07-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

where have these been all my life?

{via}

Something New on the Daily

2010-07-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

I love a good factoid

as much as the next person

and this website certainly is interesting!

{via}

Oh my goodness

2010-07-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

As you all know

I just ADORE my nephews.

they are coolest kids

I have ever been lucky enough to love.

This past weekend Luke

had his first haircut.

He sure looks handsome

with or without his golden locks!

I love his little

elfy Fontenot ears

that have an endearing way of sticking out

those shoulders are pretty scrumptious too!

Hibachi Hoodlums

2010-07-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

We topped the weekend off

with a visit to Aggieland!

It is pretty much heaven on earth

and we love the people we get to see there.

We had a delicious dinner at Atami

and as you can see the staff was very friendly

They even let Colby bang on the birthday drum

after he strutted his stuff

doing the Michal Jackson moon walk.

"happy girls are pretty girls"

~ audrey hepburn

ooohhh, tough stuff!

I didn't get the memo though

I just love College Station in the Summer time.

We pretty much had the whole hibachi to ourselves

too bad no one else could enjoy

Colby's mad M.J. skills

a lovely night on the town

with wonderful company!

and lots of smiles!!

You gotta love Summa Time!

Tea-Sip Kuntry

2010-07-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I rose with the sun on Saturday

to hit the road for Austin.

Well, it wasn't really at dawn but anything before

9 on a Saturday might as well be!

We helped a few of our friendly Austin neighbors

clean up Lady Bird Johnson park.

We made a few new friends

like the loverly fellow above, Mr. Stinko.

I think he fits his name pretty well!

He is a Griffon Bruxellois (or Brussels griffon)and was rockin' a pretty sweet beard!

In return for our hard labor (30 min of picking up candy wrappers)

we got access to a private party with one of our favorite

artists, Eric Hutchinson at Malverde.

The Omni Austin downtown
was lovely and within walking distance

of everything we wanted to do.

I actually prefer walking to driving

especially when there are cool sights to see

and picture to capture along the way!

Here's a photo opt. with the man of the hour

Mr. Hutchinson!

The venue was hosted by barefoot wines

in a super rad venue!

just as a side note....ain't my man dreamy...hubba, hubba!!

This was Eric's play list.

He made my weekend by playing a little ditty

combining 'My Girl' and 'Ignition'.

It was such a fun concert and the cherry on top was

that friends who recently moved to Austin

got to meet up with us for the partya!

After the show we walked over

to Stubbs where Charlie and I saw our first concert together.

We actually went to the Hoobastank concert here

before we were even dating!

Here we are reenacting the pic

we took that fateful evening almost 7 years ago!

After a yummy dinner of Stubb's bar-b-q

Charlie took me to the vintage Paramount theatre

to see a showing of the 1939 movie

Wuthering Heights!

This was such a treat for me

because I LOVE ol' timey theatres

and Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite books too!

The theater was huge and even had

opera boxes.

A lil back history:

The theater was built in 1910

The premiere of the first Batman movie in 1966 was at this theatre.

Even the ceilings were glamorous!

No wonder people got so dressed up to

go to the movies way-back-when.

We had a beautiful time

with good music, fun friends, and sweet memories!

Gotta love the weekends!

Hallo!

2010-07-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

A bit of...

2010-07-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness I thought Friday would NEVER get here!

Is it just me, or do the short weeks seem to drag out longer?

Hope you're all gearing up for a

restful and relaxing weekend

full of fun in the sun!!

Charlie and I are headed to our lovely state's capital

for an Eric Hutchinson concert

and hopefully an adventure or two!

Here are a few reasons to be happy today!

-in no specific order-

1. morning workouts.

2. the fact that the week over.

3. text messages from long distance friends.

4. the sun is finally shinning.

5. 8 hours of sleep.

6. old photos from 18 years ago.

7. homemade smoothies.

8. writing thank you notes.

9. my husband's silliness.

10. kisses.

{image}

Old School Movies

2010-07-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

Harriet the Spy came on ShowTime the other night

and Charlie was giving me grief about recording it...

but I truly loved that movie back in the day and even had the sound track!

It got me to thinking about the other movies I would watch over and over

as a little girl circa 1996:

The Cutting Edge

Camp Nowhere

(as a side note, I was IN LOVE with Devon Sawa from this movie

and I didn't even realize Jessica Alba was in this too...go figure!)

The Babysitters Club

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

The Night Train to Kathmandu

(yes, that's right...it sure is Milla Jovoich

she also sings pretty well too. Her album came out in 1994

The Divine Comedy)

Mazel, Mazel! Good things!

Um...Awesome!

2010-07-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

I think I kind of need these

fabulous mugs!

I had a wonderful professor

at A&M, Dr. Hodges who sported an

impressive handelbar stache.

He is pretty much an amazing character!

I would acutally look forward to

dubing one of these beauties as my Monday mug.

Frowns would be turned upside down for sure!

{via}

Happy Hump Day!

2010-07-07T14:08:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling very...

1. Glad Wednesday is pretty much over and done with

2. Happy the week is going by so quickly (thank you 3 day weekend)

3. Thankful it's almost the weekend again!

{via}

Bring out the Ladies

2010-07-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

These pics are from last year when Glamour magazine celebrated their 70th anniversary

by honored strong women throughout the years.

I think my favorite is

Emma Roberts as Audrey Hepburn. She looks perfect!

Alexis Bledel as Rosie the Riviter

Emma Roberts as Audrey Hepburn

Camilla Belle as Mary Tyler Moore (lovin' the Kate Spade coat)

Lindsey Lohan as Madonna

Elisha Cubert as Brandi Chastain

Emma Stone as Carrie Bradshaw

SO Romantical...

2010-07-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I are a "couple" of episodes behind

on our Offices.

But we FINALLY saw Pam and Jim's wedding!

(never mind we saw the baby episode before the actually wedding)

"Four years ago I was just a guy who had a crush on a girl who had a boyfriend.

And I had to do the hardest thing I've ever had to do, which is just wait.

Don't get me wrong, I flirted with her.

Pam, I will now admit in front of friends and family that I do know how to make a photocopy,

I didn't need your help that many times.

And do you remember how long it took you to teach me how to drive a stick?

I've been driving stick since high school, so...

For a really long time thats all I had, little moments with a girl who just saw me as a friend.

A lot of people told me I was crazy to wait this long for a date with a girl that I worked with,

but I think even then I knew that I was waiting for my wife"

-Jim Halpert

aahh, tear ;-)

Quiet Time

2010-07-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

Safety is not found in the absence of danger but in the presence of God.

We want God to change our circumstances, but God wants to use our circumstances to change us.

Christians are supposed to be the light of the world, but you can't be a light if you are not plugged in.

{from here}

Wov, twu Wov

2010-07-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

These cards are great!

Totally captures the little

nuances of love...

and true to life

you can snag a few of your very own

at this etsy shop.

Thanks Babe!

2010-07-06T09:20:00.000-07:00

Good Monday morning!

I sent my sweet hubby an e-mail

and he responded with a "Buster" from Arrested Development.

I can't help but grin when I see this geeky little guy!

The show is about a pseudo-wealthy, dysfunctional family.

Charlie and I have loved watching this wacky show.

Unfortunalty, the hilarity was short lived with only 3 seasons

but we sure do treasure those episodes!

A perfect day for...

2010-07-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

lounging with a good book.

This is the perfect scene except for the milk.

I've never been a fan of the white juice;

infact I will even drain it out of my spoon while eating ceral.

But when I saw Haley Mills heat up a glass of milk

to comfort her prissy cousin

in Summer Magic, I decided I could give it a go.

Well, the milk got wasted because I had to throw it out

and my opinion was not improved...

and now you know the rest of the story.

{image from here and here}

Long (fun) Weekend

2010-07-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

mmmm...I can't wait for this lovely

three day weekend!

Charlie and I are hitting up C.STAT

for some family time and cheap movies.

This little pic just cracked me up

even if I'm not crazy about the website as a whole

Delete Yourself

"Think about it…if people didn’t litter, hilarity like this wouldn’t exist."

i laff!

Henrique Oliveira - breathing walls

2010-07-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

This artist collects recycled wood from around his hometown of Sãn Paulo,

Brazil and creates wood sculptures.

His work looks like living moving objects.

I would love to be able to make something beautiful

out of the things I see every day that others may perceive as ugly.

I think I am in love!

Lil' Blue Grass

2010-06-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

I have listened to Nickle Creek

since my St. Agnes High school days

and I have never out grown them.

They are a longstanding trio of Chris Thile on mandolin,

Sara Watkins on violin and Sean Watkins, her older brother, on guitar

They are definitely worth a listen...

Like Cool...

2010-06-29T10:44:00.000-07:00

Found this funny/odd website

where you can purchase the following

if they strike your fancy....

This guy looks like he's about

to rob a bank..

wouldn't these be perfect

for a Midsummer's Night Dream play?

As part of the cast of course

Check out the other surprising items available on the world wide web.

Tagging!

2010-06-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

A few blogs out there say 'tag' you're it,

and send you a list of questions, here goes!

What is your current obsession? Sprint Mint nail polish

What is your weirdest obsession? blogging

What are you wearing today? flowery dress, turquoise jacket, silver Tahari flats

What's for dinner? I'm feelin' pizza

What would you eat for your last meal? chocolate covered strawberries, champagne, lobster with butter, - yep, that might kill me, and all together it sounds kinda gross, hmmm;)

What's the last thing you bought? gasolina

What are you listening to right now? Tonic

What is your favorite ice-cream flavor? Lemon

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be? Paris

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Forks, Oregon; always wanted to go since Twiligt and if I only have an hour, I think I could see everything there is to see in that time frame.

Which language do you want to learn? Spanish

What's your favorite quote (today)? Lover's keep on the road you're on, runners until the race is won...Coldplay

What is your favorite color? this year it's purple

What is your dream job? Too many things...mother, traveler, photographer, party planner

What's your favorite magazine? a mix of gossip, health, fashion, outdoors and interior design mags

If you had $1000 now, what would you spend it on? house decorating

Do you admire any one's style? Reese Witherspoon

What are you going to do after this? Make a July playlist

What are your favorite movies? Gone with the Wind, Royal Tennanbaums, Garden State, Little Miss Sunshine, The Hangover, A Room with a View

What's your favorite fruit? plumbs

What is your favorite pastime? Hanging out with friends & family, having dinner parties, being outdoors
What inspires you? People, places, things, music

What is on the walls in your bedroom? right now just curtains

Your favorite book? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Do you collect something? Letters from friends

Sea Shore

2010-06-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I had a most lovely time

visiting with my sister and her family

at the beach this weekend!

We only stayed one night but got to take in the

peaceful sea breeze and sunset.

Lots of silly faces were made...

...and a good time was had by all!

Charlie and I were laughing about the

restaurant sign below.

I said, "Only in America would we see those foods come together"

and Charlie responded,

"Only in Galveston or Mount Pleasant."

It wouldn't be out of the ordinary to see

a re-purposed Sonic Restaurant selling

donuts and Chinese food.

An Oxymoron

2010-06-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

...a great philosophy for life!

Flight of the Conchords

2010-06-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

These guys are flipin' hilarious

my fav song: Business Time

Updates from Mairzy

2010-06-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

Since I do not get to see Mr. Toby everyday

my mom has been great about sending me picture updates of my fur baby....

...He sure loves him some Pup-Peroni...

...no doubt he is the grand-puppy

...

A quick note on how my mom's grandmother name evolved from Mere into Mairzy...

Kelley sings a song with the boys called

"Mares Eat Oats - Mairzy Doats -"

I had heard them sing it together a couple of times

and one day I finally asked,

"Are ya'll singing in Polish?"

(Travis' grandma sometimes sings polish lullabies to the kids)

Trip and Nate busted out laughing with,

"NO, Aunt Fuzzy! It's just how a baby would sing the song".

...

"Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey

If the words sound queer and funny to your ear, a little bit jumbled and jivey

Sing "Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy"

I'm glad they told me or I would have been

showing off my newly found knowledge of the Polish language.

Just a Reminder...

2010-06-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

image from here

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2010-06-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Last night Kelley and I went to see

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo at River Oaks Theater.

Why is it that only the expensive theathers show the foreign films...

But the movie was totally worth the $9 dollar ticket!

I thought the movie would be difficult to follow

considering it was in Swedish

but I was able to pick up the general idea of what they were saying.

I kidd...

here definitely were English subtitles.

Considering this is a European film

and the book does have its graphic moments

I was preparing myself for anything over-the-top.

But the movie was done so well and it is probably my favorite "book to movie"

movie I have ever seen.

Not to gush...but they really did an amazing job on the movie.

images from here, here and here

Summer Lovin'

2010-06-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

Some pics from last weekend...

who knew Houston could be so green!

Charlie took this on top of our friend's apartment garage.

It wouldn't be a bad spot to watch some fireworks either!

Charlie and I got up early on Saturday morning

and headed out to Missouri City, Houston for some church softball.

All the little wife-ies basked/fried/sweltered in the sun...

and we weren't even playing!

Those boys are competitive...eeerr...devoted to their sports.

It was hotter than blazes and I never pass up a chance to soak up the vitamin D.

Luckily I had a handy umbrella in my car

but not luckily it was leopard print which did not complement my snake patterned dress.

It was a wild combo but at least I was in the shade!

Later that day we cooled off with my favorite guys in the world...

and he's going....

going....

GONE!

Uncle Charlie is having as much fun as they are!

Lukie-of-pookiness doing what he does best...

being the cutest 2 year old known to mankind!

I just want to squeeze him!

Cultivating Good Habits

2010-06-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been wanting to get more disciplined

in my daily routine.

For the most part I'm a easy going, fly by the seat of my jeans

kinda gal but for the important stuff

like having quite time and exercising I just can't compromise those biggies.
I find that if I can at least start the day with these two things, I am ready for anything

If I can get both of those wonderful things in early in the morning

then it's already a good day.

So I decided I needed a plan to keep me on task...a vision board, if you will.

6am: quite time

7:30 - 8:30am: run

8-9am: shower; get ready for work

12pm: lunch

12:30-5(ish)pm: Work

5pm: make dinner

6pm: eat dinner with Charlie

7pm: relax for the evening (take a bath, go for a walk, watch a movie)

So how do I get started on this new and better schedule that will hopefully keep me from sinking into the depths of despair? I guess there are a few steps I can take...

step 1: pray for discipline

step 2: lay out running clothes, watch, shoes/socks, etc. before bed

step 3: set alarm for the morning

step 4: get to bed early

It's going to be a tough regiment

but I'm up for the challenge considering the

spiritual and physical benefits!

images from here

Concerts Galore

2010-06-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

I realized Charlie and I have a long list of

musical conquests during our relationship.

This year we have been to see:

Tyrone Wells in Houston at the House of Blues

My fav tune: Sea Breeze

Brooks and Dunn at the Houston Rodeo

My fav tune: 'Ain't Nothing 'Bout You

Five for Fighting in San Antonio

My fav tune: Slice

and most recently...

Lovedrug at Mangos Cafe

My fav tune: We were Owls

Up next on the queue will be:

Green River Ordinance, Switchfoot and Goo Goo Dolls!!!

I am so jazzed to see this group of artists perform together.

So much of their music are tied to high school and college memories.

I can't wait for August to get here!

Give some of these songs a listen if you get a chance!

images from here, here, here, here, and here

Slimey...but not so Satisfying

2010-06-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

Well there is a first for everything...

and today at work I tried Escargot.

Our wonderful Executive Chef brought a few ramekins

full of the little guys for my co-worker who enjoys them.

All I can say about that "delicacy" is they are very gummy
and I do not care to try them again....

athankya

image from here

Monday Inspiration

2010-06-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

hello!

welcome back from

what i hope was

a most wonderful weekend!

Yesterday our pastor said something that has stuck with me,

"If you aren't thinking it, you won't believe it".

This could apply to both positive and negative thoughts.

These past few weeks have been wonderful and busy,

filled with family, friends and fun.

It reminds me to go out there and live live to the fullest.

it's harder to do than it should be sometimes

because distractions and negative thinking and being plain 'ol tired

get in the way,

but i hope that as the month of July approaches

i can remember to do something every day that ministers to others.

"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." ~ Frank Outlaw ~

I love the bible also gives similar direction:

"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,

because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

4perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Romans 5:2-4

image from here.

The Saga Begins

2010-06-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

On our way to drop off Trip and Nate with their parents,

Charlie put on some new tunes.

Anyone remember, Weird Al Yankovic from hits such as

Amish Paradise (spin off of Ganster's Paradise)

and

Pretty Fly for a Rabbi (spin off Pretty Fly for a White Guy)?

Well, he also has a song called The Saga Begins

that details all Star Wars' history.

It's sung to the American Pie melody

and the lyrics are amazing.

It is truly impressive how A.Y. can take a such a well loved song,

apply a completely different subject and still have original lyrics.

Trip and Nate are huge Star War fans even though they've only seen a few of the movies.

As you can see they take their lightsabers with them wherever they go!

Here aere his well crafted lyrics:

A long long time ago

In a galaxy far away
Naboo was under an attack

And I thought me and Qui Gon Jin
Could talk the federation into maybe cutting them a little Slack
But their response, it didn't thrill us
They locked the doors and tried to kill us
We escaped from that gas
And met Jar Jar in Bosnas
We took a bongo from the scene
And went to Theed to see the Queen
We all wound up on Tatooine
That's where we found this boy

Oh my, my this here Annakin guy
Maybe Vader someday later
Now he's just a small fry
And he left his home and kissed his mummy goodbye
Saying "Soon, I'm gonna be a Jedi"
"Soon I'm gonna be a Jedi."

images from here, here and ME

Acie says you have some dough for me…

2010-06-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

Kevin McCallister: This house is so full of people it makes me sick.

When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone.

Last night Trip and Nate watched Home Alone

for the first time.

As you can tell they rather enjoyed it...

I was laughing just watching them laugh.

The above quote cracked me up especially.

The whole idea of Kevin getting married

just to live alone is such a 8 year old mentality.

Charlie and I love having them spend the night because that means

we have an excuse to do fun and random stuff i.e.

throw my fitness orb up and down the stairs

set up our camping tent in our bedroom

eat cinnamon rolls in the morning

Spending random time with the people I love makes for a great weekend!

...one more great quote...

Mitch Murphy: Hi, I'm Mitch Murphy.

I live across the street.

You guys going out of town?

We're going to Orlando, Florida.

Well, actually, first we're going to Missouri to pick up my grandma.

Did you know the McCallisters are going to France?

Do you know if it's cold there?

Do these vans get good gas mileage?

Airport Driver: Gee, kid, I don't know. Hit the road.

i believe in marriage

2010-06-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary, Kelley and Travis!

My wonderful sister and brother-in-law celebrated

their 11th year of marriage

yesterday!

I admire them so much and look to them as role models for my own marriage.

I love how they respect each other.

I love how they parent their boys.

I love how they always put their relationship first.

Charlie and I have been blessed by their example.

"there is no greater risk than matrimony.

but there is nothing happier than a happy marriage."

--benjamin disraeli, 1870

in a letter to queen victoria's daughter louise,

congratulating her on her engagement.

via the book committed by elizabeth gilbert

Fridays (when you have the day off) are for...

2010-06-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

...waking up slowly

...lounging by the pool before lunch

...meeting a friend at Panera Bread for lunch

...hanging out and watching the world cup with friends

...and a fun concert

even though it's not a rock concert this picture was just too cute not to post!

i hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

images from here

The Cirque Continued

2010-06-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

So we seriously considered running away with the cirque

last night.

The show was beautiful, incredible, and kind of painful.

Charlie said watching the contortionists made his back hurt.

and I can't really blame him either!

There were many interesting comments from the peanut gallery

a.k.a. Charles Ashley Lloyd last night

One of my favorites was,"Anyone can do that with the right pair of shoes."

I don't think I could balance like those performers if I had suction cups on my feet.

The music was beautiful and I can't wait to download a few tunes.

Obviously this picture was not taken in Cypress, Texas

but it shows off their gorgeous costumes since we couldn't bring our camera into the show.

Maybe it's just me but I totally think the little lady to the right and I could swap places.

It would be great...

I'll paint my face, don the bedazzled swim cap

and she'd have the night off.

I've always thought I'd look b-e-a-utiful in blue feathers!

images are from here, here, here and here

Cirque de Soleil - Alegria

2010-06-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight Charlie and I are going to the circus...

on steriods!

It's Cirque de Soleil!

I'm not too sure what to expect but

I know that I am excited.

The costumes alone look beautiful.

I wonder what Alegria means...

I hope it has nothing to do with allergies (i.e. Allegra)

maybe I should work on my French...

The circus is actually a compromise for Charlie and I.

We had the opportunity to see Wicked during their tour through Houston in July.

Not surprisingly, Charlie was not excited about seeing the broadway musical.

The tickets were expensive and I didn't want to go by my-lonesome.

Then these Cirque de Soleil tickets presented themselves and I have always wanted to go see them perform.

So it was decided we'd spend the money on something we could both enjoy.

I'll try and take some fun pictures

and I will let you know how it goes tomorrow!

image from here

What does a paperback book cost you?

2010-06-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

For me:

•about three tall peppermint white chocolate mochas from Starbucks

•a Sierra turkey sandwich from Panera Bread

•half a tank of gas

•one DVD from Target

•a pair of ballet flats from TJ Maxx

•a nail polish change at the salon

•eye shadow from Clinique

•one and a half movie tickets

This is a picture from my 20th birthday with the family.

Kelley gave me a great book, The Dive From Clausen's Pier.

I read this book on the way to meet Charlie in Amsterdam and on the train rides through Europe.

I have very fond memories of books I've read on special occasions.

I'm a werido I know...

but it gets worse!

Before I go on a big trip,

I specifically pick out my perfume and book that I will wear/read during that time

because I know I can always look back and, for certain, remember those two things.

For instance:

Europe Trip

Perfume: Magnolia Blossom (bath and body works)

Book: The Dive From Clausen's Pier

Honeymoon

Perfume: Wings

Book: The House of Spirits

Jamaica

Perfume: Coco Chanel Mademoiselle

Book: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society

What does a paperback cost you?

Nephew-isms

2010-06-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

"1-2-3-4 GHOST BUSTERS"

~ Lukie of Pookieness

"LUKE, you almost made me fall and break my coconut head!"

~ Nate the Great

In case you're wondering about the coconut reference...

when the boys were babies they had perfectly round little heads

with just a bit of brown hair...hence the term "coconut"

Happy Birthday Dad!

2010-06-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Today is my wonderful father's birthday!

From telling boudreaux jokes to hunting and fishing he is one great Cajun guy.
I use to love going hunting with him early in the morning
when I was in middle school.
Other times when I was little and I would wake up before my mom and sister,
he would read the "funnies" to me from the newspaper
and then we would go to McDonald's and share a pancake breakfast.

These are such special memories for me

and I love remembering them.

My dad is also an amazing artist.

This is a picture he drew during his early years of college in Louisiana.

Happy Birday Dad!

I love you and am so proud of you!

Joie de Vivre

2010-06-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

Today I got off of work at 12:30

and headed to the galleria area to pick up my sweet hubby for lunch.

It was a such a nice treat since we do not get to eat together very often any more!

I love him ALOT and me makes me feel like this...

After lunch I was thinking of all the things I am thankful for

and decided it was time for another Joie de Vivre:

1. Finally seeing results after hard work

2. Old post cards

3. How excited Toby (see below) gets to see me

4. Lunch dates with my husband
5. Dinner with my parents
6. Long runs in interesting places
7. Giving someone a gift they were really looking forward to getting
8. Crawfish boils
9. Spending time with the girls: just talking, manicure/pedicures, laying out, etc.
10. Spending time with my man: riding bikes, throwing the foxtail, cuddling, watching a movie, etc.

This is a fun picture of my fur-baby Toby that I love!

images from weheartit

XL

2010-06-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

As a little girl I always wondered what it would be like

when the first guy would ask me for my phone number.
It seemed like such a grown-up thing to ask...

I wanted to be ready for when that time came to have the perfect answer

and I thought I had the perfect phone number to remember as it ended in 1234.

I planned to tell the guy after he asked for my number,

"Well, can you count? Good, because it's 'XXX-1234'".

Completely silly, I know.

For some reason I thought of this scenario the other day and shared it with Charlie.

He of course thought it was hilarious that I would have planned out what to say for that particular moment.

He also pointed out my poor attempt at flirting sounded more like an insult.

Today Charlie surprised me with an e-mail at work with the subject line "Baby".

If our first child is a boy he wants to name him Xavier so his initials would be "XL".

And if someone asks him what size of shirt he wears, he would answer
“do you know the alphabet? Cuz I wear my initials, XL”

His other favorite baby names are:
John Denver Lloyd
Andrew McMahon Lloyd
Dirk Nowitzki Lloyd
Uncle Jesse Lloyd

I love my random husband...he cracks me up daily!

I look like Davy Crockett

2010-06-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

I love spending time with my nephews.

They always say things that surprise me and make me smile.

Trip (8) and Nate (4) came with me to cheer Charlie on during his softball game on Saturday.
(they won 18 to 0!)

We were listening to KSBJ, the Christian radio station, and Nate said,

"this sounds like Uncle Charlie singing".

The song was Matt Redman, You Never Let Go.

One of my favorite songs and I have certainly never made the comparison Nate just realized.

So we were talking about God and how He never lets go of his children

and out of no where Nate pipes up with,

"Aunt Kristin, you look like Davey Crockett."

I peaked at him in my rear view mirror and asked what he meant.

"You wear your ponytail over your shoulder like Davey wears his coonskin cap"

A smile spread across my face as I confirmed his sweet reference.

They are the funniest kids in the world and I am so jazzed to be able to spend time with them.

Have a Wonderful Weekend

2010-06-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

What are your plans for this weekend?
mine include some:
relaxation

good books (or blogs)

maybe an adventure or two

and

spending time with sweet people...

The Twardowskis and the Smiths

came over for a pool party at our house.
The sun was shining
and there was much basking!

The sweet babies had fun moving the cooler around the concrete

...while the big boys dominated "Twardowski Island"

Trip revealed a hidden talent...

...standing on water...we'll leave the walking to the Pro!

I love these little faces!

I hope you had a lovely weekend and enjoyed as much sun as we did!

Lob vs. Crab

2010-06-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd came in town for a quick Houston visit and took Charlie and I out to dinner.

They took us to Trulucks and it is probably one of my favorite places to eat in h-town.

During dinner we looked over at the tank where all the lobster and crabs

hang out waiting to become someones dinner

...sad...

and a lobster and crab were duking it out!

The crab was on it's back holding the lobster with its legs.

A manager came over and pried them apart with this long stick thing and said the crabs are really mean to the lobsters which broke my heart because they have to live together all of the time.

He said the crabs will actually kill the lobsters because the lobsters do not have a way to defend themselves.

Why not give them separate tanks?

It made me think of how people treat each other just in general.

As a society we have so much pent up anger and hostility that it comes out in crazy ways

i.e. road rage, yelling at a grocery clerk, etc.

the facts are we aren't crabs and lobsters

and we can't just live in separately.

What I try and remember when someone gets-my-goat is

"I never know what battle that person is fighting"

...and if they don't cool it they're gonna battle with me...

(i kidd...errr kind of)

but I do try to give them the benefit of the doubt.

There's far too little mercy and grace in our world and I want to do my part to change that.

Happy as the Sun

2010-06-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

I still can’t believe how we managed to squeeze in so much food and traveling over memorial day weekend. The weather couldn’t have been better and we made lots of fun memories!

Charlie and I have an active weekend ahead of us full of softball games.
Our church softball league has a few make up games rescheduled from all the rain last week.
The make-ups plus the regularly scheduled games will total 6 games this weekend alone!
It's going to be crazy but fun

The song that decribes best how I am feeling right now is...

Whenever this world gets the best of me
And it all goes wrong
I Count down the hours till we meet
And I move along
'cause I know that when I see you I will be
Chorus:
Happy as the sun, lighter than a feather
Walking on the clouds when we are together
Every day with just keeps getting better
The world's as it should be, when are you here with me
Whenever you leave, my heart skips a beat
Unless you are here, I am incomplete
Like an undone song
Only you inspire the melody in me
Chorus:
How could I go wrong
When you are here with me
How could I be anything but smiling
Chorus:
The worlds as it should be
When you are here, when you are here
When you are here with me

Weekend at Boerne

2010-06-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I headed out of Eldorado but we had to stop to bring you a picture of these bows...

They caught my eye and Charlie described them perfectly,

"They look like butts.

Actually they don't look like anything.

But if they look like something, it's butts."

...

Making our way across Texas we pulled over to try our hand at hiking up a rock face.

Apparently an irresistible urge for Charlie!

luckily we didn't happen uppon any hobos or sneaky snakes but the evidence they were once up there was obvious...beer cans, ciggy butts, etc.

We saw a really cool creature on our way to eat lunch in Boerne.

Can you spy him?

He had really long toes too!

Who can resist a photo opt with a live watermil?

We sure can't!

Never underestimate local live entertainment.

Okay, underestimate it but not in Boerne.

Rachel sang a few songs by Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks, Dixie Chicks and some original tunes.

Then we got to feed some lovely lemur/duck/bird things...

Here's a quick pic of the room where we stayed the night.

It was simply perfect and I loved the cool wooden bed frame.

It kind of felt like sleeping in a tree but more comfortable.

It was a wonderful weekend in Boerne and we can't wait to go back soon!

Today's Joie de Vivre

2010-06-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

1. Taking a long nap on Sunday afternoon
2. Going for a long post-rain run in the park
3. Eating dinner with my bestest friend in the whole world, my sweetheart.
4. A late night swim.
5. Listening to music with the windows and sunroof down while cruising down the freeway.
6. Going without make-up. Rockin' nothing on my face but a tan and a smile.
7. Picking up a book and falling in love from the first page.
8. Early morning cuddle sessions.
9. Watching some you love overcome personal difficulties.
10. Knowing unconditional love and being humbled by it every day.

A Piece of Me in June

2010-06-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

i like...

fun music that reminds me of summer

my sweet puppy that makes coming home a celebration

cruising around in my new ride

i don't like...

when people talk too loudy on their cellphones

throwing away old birthday/thinking of you/graduation cards, even if there's no room to keep them

the fake "f" Texas shirts that aggies wear...if you're gonna say it, just say it!

i want you to know...

I am so happy to have the love and support of family and friends.

i've planned...

wonderfully nothing this month!

except for the unexpected road trip or dinner with friends

i want to say to someone special...

the wonderful women in my family; thank you for helping me become the strong person I am today.

You are all so amazing and an inspiration for me.

I love hearing your stories and spending time with you!

Happy Weekend!

2010-06-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for this weekend...

I just found out my wonderful cousins from Louisiana will be coming to see us tonight.

We always have a blast when we hang out together.

Lets just say its one of my joie de vivre (joy of livings)

1. God's blessings

2. A night spent laughing with family and friends

3. Acting like a kid

4. Kisses from my puppy

5. Eating a good meal

6.Being at my sister's house

7. My husband, my true best friend.

8. Worshiping. It's only in His will that I am truly free

9. Hugs from my nephews

10. A cool shower after a long run

Roll with the Punches

2010-06-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

My little fur baby is back to spend the week with his parentals!

My own sweet 'rents are headed for the swamp land for my dad's Ex-Punchies reunion.

That's right my father, Charles Leland Fontenot, was a boxer!

He has quite a track record:

- Spent 4 years sailing around the world with the US Navy

- Went back to college to reach his goal of becoming an architect

- Married the prettiest girl in Louisiana

- Owner of the Lighthouse night club in Lake Charles

- Owned his own architecture firm in Lake Charles

- Accomplished hunter and fisherman

- Made and kept in touch with life long friends

I am very proud of my dad and am so blessed to have him in my life!

Kadie's Graduation

2010-05-31T15:48:00.000-07:00

Charlie and I had a lovely time visiting with his family in west Texas!

This was where his mom, Liz Lloyd, grew up and went to high school.

Kadie is the pretty blond in the middle.

After the ceremony all the cousins got together to play some late night basketball.
Conley was a flower girl in our wedding and she is growing up so fast!

Family time is the greatest!