The Big 3-0!

  Hellooooooo from Chicago!! Well...technically I am in a suburb of Chicago at the moment, but, close enough.    Well...I turned 30 yesterday!!! Eeeek! Unfortunately I spent half the day 30,000 feet in the air and the other half working, and a few hours in the evening shopping at a really awesome mall that I stumbled upon near my hotel.  So, it wasn't too bad ;)  But I thought I would share a little recap of the weekend celebrations-   Friday night hubs went to meet the new coach of Texas A&M at an event in the Galleria so I took advantage of a free afternoon and did some shopping.  Got a new dress for my birthday and a new dress for our weekend in Chicago.  

Saturday morning we had to get some repairs done to one of our cars so while it was getting fixed I test drove a new car!! We are not ready to get a new car right now...but hopefully in the next several months. We are looking at getting me a crossover...I really like the Ford Edge, GMC Acadia, Chevy Traverse and a few others.  So, we will see.  We are just starting the process of looking now.  I test drove a 2012 fully loaded Chevy Traverse and fell in love with it.   

We sat down with a salesman to talk numbers even though we are not ready to buy and sure enough he tried to rip us off, but little did he know I worked in the car business for 6 years so I knew all of his little tricks.    I got my birthday present from my hubby on Saturday too!! He did so good...  

My TB obsession is a frequent conversation around our house but he actually was looking at my blog a couple months ago and saw that I posted a picture of some similar TB's that I wanted so he got these for me! LOVE them!! On top of that, he took my black ones and got them reconditioned for me last week...they look brand new!   Saturday night we went out to dinner with some friends for my birthday, at Tommy Bahama! They had a red velvet cake for me, pictures in a frame and 2 potted orchids for me to take home.  Such a fun night!  

Sunday we had sushi with my family for lunch then dinner at Flemmings with my FIL and I spent the time between packing for my trip. 

It was a perfect weekend and I feel so blessed to have such a great husband, family and friends. 

Yesterday morning at the airport the TSA agent who checked my drivers license even sang happy birthday to me, IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!! She was so sweet and it really made my morning :) 

Hope y'all had a fun weekend too!!

xoxo

     

Friday Ramblings

I can't believe it is here but this is my last weekend in my 20's! I will be 30 years old on Monday...wow, how did THAT happen?!?!  I have been very "anti-birthdays" the past couple of years.  I don't do the whole "birthday month" celebrations like I used to and when people ask what I want I say "nothing."  Or, when I get asked if I want a party or do I want to get a table and bottle service at a bar, this answer is "No, let's just go to dinner with a small group of friends then go home."   Such a grandma, I know....  But, my last weekend in my 20's has started out nice...my co-worker gave me a pretty little picture frame and a couple of my girlfriends took me to lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, Maggiano's. 

 Tomorrow night we are going out to another one of my favorite restaurants, Tommy Bahama, with a small-ish group of friends then maybe stopping by a wine bar for a drink.  Perfect night! Sunday we will have lunch with my family and dinner with my FIL.  Then Monday I head to Chicago for 7 days.  Yep, I will be flying and alone on my 30th birthday.  I have a friend from college and 2 friends from high school that live in Chicago so I have dinner plans with them.  So, that will be fun :)  Then Thursday my hubby will fly up to Chicago to meet me for a mini-weekend vacation for my birthday!  Should be a fun 9 days ahead!  Now for a few random things.... - I started reading The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand and am loving it so far! So, in case you are in need of a new book to read, check this one out!  

- I have 3 new hair products to share with you.  If you are a blonde or just have blonde highlights this shampoo and conditioner will change your life.

Paul Mitchell's Forever Blonde

 It is the best smelling shampoo ever.  Recently I had more blonde highlights added to my hair and I have been on a "sulfate free" kick lately so my stylist recommended this to me.  She promised I would not regret it and I would love the smell of it and the way it made my hair feel. Boy, was she right!  Best.shampoo/conditioner.ever.  (if you are a blonde).  So, splurge a little and buy this.  You won't regret it.  Paul Mitchell's Awapuhi Hydrocream Whip in Wild Ginger  

 I don't know how I ever lived without this stuff.  I use it while my hair is still damp and right before I blow dry it.  First of all, it smells heavenly.  I literally smell my hair all day long and my husband loves it too.  It leaves my hair soft and manageable and helps control my hair in this crazy Texas heat.  I would buy it for the smell alone. It is that good.   - On my first week of WW, I have to say these little ice cream bars have saved me from caving in, driving to Crave or Sprinkles and buying a dozen cupcakes.  These are the WW Ice Cream Candy Bars.  It tastes like a frozen snickers. YUM!  And they are only 4 pts each!! A heck of a lot less than a cupcake I am sure!  So, even if you are not doing WW, you should stock up on these for a healthier sweet option.   

Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend!!

   

{Etsy Love}

If I need of a gift for a friend who is getting married, having a baby or a birthday or if I want something personalized, Etsy is always my first stop.  So, today I am here to tell you a little about a brand new Etsy shop, Cici Sews, that just opened this week and it just so happens to be owned by my sister-in-law,  Staci!She is the queen of cute DIY projects (just this week she made her own laundry detergent, opened an etsy shop and made window treatments and a pillow for her master bedroom...and she is the mommy to the cutest 20 month old in the world) and she has become quite the seamstress.   These are some personalized burlap pillows she made my husband and I for Christmas last year: 

  **She is not currently taking orders for these pillows...but maybe one day :)** Her shop is brand new and she is planning on adding more to it but right now she is selling bunting banners, little boy bow ties, no-slip kitchen towels, 12 month onesies for boys and girls and a couple other items.  These are a few of her latest designs-  

   And just because he is adorable and I miss him, here is a picture of my nephew wearing one of her bow ties-  

 So, if you are looking for a gift or just something cute for yourself and family you should head over to her shop and check out all of her cute designs! Also, head over to her blog to see more of her DIY projects, yummy recipes and life as a military wife!   

Pinterest Wednesday!

 Head over to Michelle's blog to link up for Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday! Here are a few of my favorites this week: 

 LOVE this dress and necklace!



Love this sparkly skirt!

Whenever I have time I plan on making a gallery wall in our house very similar to this.

Love the old shutters and window pane!

Cute jewelry from Style Love Living.  I ordered the cross wrap and got it yesterday and plan on ordering a few other of my favorite pieces as soon as they have them in stock again.

I need a porch like this!

Got a deal at Groop Dealz for this necklace, just have to order it now!

Have you checked out Groop Dealz yet?  If not, you should. 

I have been looking for an antique chalkboard lately but not having a lot of luck.  But it seems easy enough to just make my own!

So cute for Spring & Summer!

Yummmm!    



Weekend + Bachelorette + WW Update

Our weekend was filled with a whole lot of nothing and it was perfect! I need more weekends like that. 

 

Friday-

 I made a new yummy recipe, skinny chicken Parmesan and it was delish! It was only 6 pts although it certainly seemed like more.  

 

 We watched American Reunion and went to sleep early. The American Pie movies came out back when I was in high school so it was funny to see it 10 years later when they are getting ready for their high school reunions, having babies, getting married and trying to find that work/life balance...exactly what me and so many people I know are going thru.  Definitely corny, inappropriate in some parts but hilarious!  Saturday-We slept in until 8!! This is late for us, people! I ran some errands, laid out in the pool and did a few things around the house.  

 My husband and his brother golfed that afternoon so I made dinner for them when they got back.  My friend Sam posted this recipe on her blog last week and it looked awesome so I made it.  And it was soooo good!  I added scallops to mine because I was craving them.  YUM!  

Sunday-

Church, lunch at Black Walnut Cafe, watched 21 Jump Street, did P90X, steaks for dinner and watched 3 whole hours of The Bachelorette!

By the way....21 Jump Street is a must see.  I already want to see it again.  Funniest movie since The Hangover and of course Channing Tatum is in it :)

  So, today is my 4th day on WW.  I think I have finally found the "diet" for me! I do not even feel like I am dieting.  I had pasta this weekend, tons of fruit, bacon, seafood and more.  The reason why this plan works is mainly because it is all about portion control.  I bought a kitchen scale and I have started to weigh just about every thing I put in my mouth.  If I had not weighed my steak last night I would have eaten 9 whole oz.  After seeing that and seeing that would equal about 18 points, I was able to cut the steak in half, cut off all the fat and save myself those points.  I am much more aware of my portions now.  I do not feel hungry or deprived and already feel less tired and bloated.  I can eat pretty much whatever I want (within reason) but just much, much smaller portions of it all.  I get 29 points a day, 49 extra points a week to use however I want and when I exercise I get extra points to use.  For example...I did the Cardio X P90X dvd last night and just doing that gave me 15 extra points!  My goal is to not use the points unless I really need to during the week...I am going to try to save them for the weekends and even then, try not to use all of them.  I have our fridge stocked up with tons of lean meats, fish and organic produce.  Besides portion control, the key is to plan ahead.  I am definitely learning that today.  Around 11 AM I was stumped on what to do for lunch.  I am not a big salad eater unfortunately so I was looking up other options...a turkey and cheese sandwich was going to be 8 pts, a bowl of soup was going to be 9 pts.  Luckily I have a Randall's next door to my office so I walked over and got a few of the Smart Ones WW meals and had one of those.  But, I am not a big fan of those processed frozen meals.  So, I am going to try to only eat one of those a couple times a week.  I need to start making lunches at home and bringing them with me to work.  If you have done WW before, what did you eat for lunch?  I have my first week weigh in on Thursday night and I feel good about it so far!  I found this picture over the weekend and am using this as my goal.  This was taken around 2004 I think and it is about 45 lbs less than where I am now.  Eeek. 

Moving on to last night's Bachelorette finale.  I was on Team Arie throughout this whole season until the past couple of weeks.  I.love.Jef.  and I love Jef & Emily together.  They are adorable and she seems so happy.  Her white bathing suit that she wore in the very beginning of the first hour was so cute...anyone know where that is from? 

Anyways, I sure hope they make it!  

TGIF!!

Does anything look different around here?? :)

My little blog got a much needed makeover and I absolutely LOVE it! 

Thank you again, Kristen! 

You should definitely check our her cute blog and if you are in need of a design makeover, contact her!  She is the best :)

 

 

I woke up this morning to the news about the shootings in Aurora, CO. 

So incredibly sad and heartbreaking.  Praying for the friends and family that lost loved ones and for those that were in theater.

 

 

In some happier news....My Mom and I have officially joined Weight Watchers.  We signed up and went to our first meeting last night.  Today is the first day actually eating by the points.  I know it has been less than 24 hours but so far I love this program and have a good feeling about it.  Everyone I know, young and old, have had great success with it when they stuck with it.  The short term diets and cleanses do not work for me I have finally realized.  I love all food way too much and I don't have that much self control.  So, this allows me to still eat what I want but in much smaller portions and only a couple times a week.  I have the app on my phone and my Mom and I will be going to weekly meetings so I think we have the tools we need to make this work!  Have any of you had success with WW? I want to hear about it!

 

 

  Have a fun weekend!!   

     

[WILW & Kalon News]

I am linking up with Jaime for What I'm Loving Wednesday! Head on over to her cute blog and link up =)

- The Chick-Fil-A peach milkshake is back! I look forward to this all year long and when it finally comes around, I consume entirely too many milkshakes in the limited time that it is offered.  It is the best milkshake out there.  If you have not tried it, do yourself a favor and find a Chick-Fil-A today! 

- Yesterday my husband and I signed up for The Color Run that is finally coming to Houston in November!! I can not wait for this race.  It has been a long time since I ran a 5k and this one definitely looks like a lot of fun. Plus I am so excited to run it with so many other Houston bloggers! =)

-Instagram.  At first I was not a big fan but now I love it.  I may actually like it better than Facebook. 

- I am getting a fabulous new blog design thanks to fellow Houston blogger, Kristen!  We have been working together the past few days and I am so excited about what she is putting together.  If you are in need of a new blog design, you should definitely contact her.  Can't wait to reveal the new design soon!

- In less than 2 weeks I will be in Chicago for 7 days and I could not be more excited!  I will be there for 4 days for work then my husband is flying up to meet me and we will spend 3 fun days in the city celebrating my 30th birthday.  I managed to get a reservation at Bill & Guiliana Rancic's restaurant, RPM Italian and we plan on doing a lot of sight seeing and eating yummy food.  I have a couple friends from high school and college that live there so I will hopefully get to see then and I am even going to get to meet Kayln from one of my favorite blogs.  If any of you have restaurant, bar or sight seeing recommendations, please let me know! =)

On a random side note... let's talk about Kalon from The Bachelorette. 

 He is pretty awful on the show and I love how Emily put him in his place during the season and on Monday night.  Since he is from Houston (why do all the most annoying, unlikeable bachelors come from here?! The Weatherman, Helicopter boy...) he makes it on the news and in local magazines quite a bit.  Here are a few things you probably did not know about him....

- He is one of the biggest supporters for Citizens For Animal Protection (CAPS) in Houston.  He has been raising funds for this charity since he was 13. 

- His family started Texas State Optical and they do own a helicopter, although the one he made his entrance in on the show was rented from ABC apparently. 

- He is quite the Houston socialite...making appearances at fashion shows and other events around town. 

- He helped open a very exclusive members-only club in Houston called Dorsia.  Just to be a basic member of this club would cost you $2000 per year.  Needless to say, the club is closed now. 

- He has his own Team KJRM (Kalon Joseph Reid McMahon) website and they sell these shirts-

If you saw Monday's Men Tell All episode you will know what this is all about.  Kinda funny but still awful...

Just thought I would share with you a little about The Bachelorette's most hated villain (according to all the websites).  ;)

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!