Thursday, January 28, 2016

{Goodbye January}

Make it slow down.  Seriously.  The first month of 2016 is almost over & that is C-R-A-Z-Y!!  At this rate, I will be decorating again for fall before you know it.  I kid!  I kid! =)

Here's a quick recap of how I spent the last week of January!

Nola had a vet appointment Saturday morning & seriously - the dog nearly has a nervous breakdown.  She HATES riding in the car so I have to chase her down & carry her to the car.  Not easy since she now weighs almost 75 pounds!  But we both survived, she got her rabies shot & a clean bill of health!
A year ago this week, I took off work at lunch one day & drove to one of the scariest parts of Houston I have ever been to to see #409 in person.  It was love at first sight!  Unfortunately I had to leave her that day & it would be another week before I actually got to bring her home {look for a post next week as we celebrate her adoption day!}.  But wow!  What a difference a year makes.  
Sunday afternoon Nola & I went for a walk and came home with Morgan!  She spent the afternoon with us & Nola was in heaven because her BFF was there to play {& share gummy bears with}. 
 

Monday morning I went for blood work...which I hate!  Seriously - it's worse than the dentist or the going to the doctor.  They always have a hard time finding a vein & I bleed super slow.  I got my results back a few days later...and back to the doctor I go next week for elevated thyroid levels & low vitamin d levels...it's hell getting old!
After work, some ladies from work and I made a trip over to College Station for supper {@ Cheddars...YUM!} and shopping.  Good times with great friends...ending a Monday like that doesn't get much better!
Tuesday evening was spent watching Mason play basketball at St. Paul's.  
I started doing a few workout videos at home {unfortunately the gym doesn't fit in the budget right now} & I had to crack up at Nola.  She was laying on the bed watching & about 5 minutes into it - I looked back & saw this...lazy dog!! =)
This weekend we are having a combined party for my dad {who turned 70 in December} & my brother {who turned 40 last week}.  Temps are supposed to be back near 80 & next week kicks off my birthday month!  And mark your calendars people...it's almost National Margarita Day!!

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

{Margaritas & Wine Weekend}

Man, do the weekends fly by or what?!  Unfortunately it wasn't a 3 day weekend for me, but it was a fun one for sure!  Sorry this post is a day late, but I was a little preoccupied last night.  Someone decided to eat something on our walk that didn't set well with her tummy.  She immediately started throwing up & acting so strange.  After a call to the vet & keeping a close eye on her all night - she seems to be doing fine. But talk about scaring this doggy mommy to death! Needless to say, she got a little extra TLC last night...can you say spoiled?!
Back to the weekend.  Friday evening was margaritas at Mariachi's with some ladies from work to celebrate a coworker's birthday followed by margaritas at Los Cabos with the JCPenney girls.  What better way to end the week & start the weekend?! =)
Saturday afternoon was the Uptown Swirl in downtown Brenham.  I look forward to this every year...we have a blast!  It was rainy & nasty most of the morning, but shortly before 3:00 - the rain stopped & the sun came out and it ended up being a beautiful evening.  
Most of the downtown merchants participate & you walk from store to store, sampling wine.  There is live music and some of the stores offer discounts so it's fun to shop as well.  What's better than shopping & drinking wine...at the same time?!
 
 
 
 
 
We ended the night with dinner & margaritas at Marichi's.  I LOVE that our group grows & changes every year.  We started out with just a few & are now up to 13!  We are friends, friends of friends, cousins, sister in laws, sister in laws of friends...just a whole mix of us.  But we all bond over wine & have a fabulous time. Here's to a great start to 2016! 

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

{My Boring Weekend}

Couldn't think of a title for my post & well - that pretty much sums it up.  It was a no stress, super chill weekend...and it was perfect!  It was nice to have nothing planned & no where to be.  Friday evening, Nola & I did this:
That dog LOVES to walk.  Rain {as you can see it was in this pic} or shine, day or night - we have to walk every single day.  You say the word WALK & she's at the door waiting to go.  

Saturday, mom & I headed to College Station to do a little shopping.  I thought in this house that I wanted less "stuff", but now that I have less "stuff" - it looks empty...especially after having it decorated for fall since August & Christmas since November.  I never spend much on anything - TJ Maxx, Target, Kohls, Hobby Lobby, Homegoods...definitely my favorite places to shop for home decor.  I didn't get a lot, but did pick up a few little things.  PSA: the Valentine's stuff in the dollar spot at Target is super cute!!  There was a gorgeous sunset on the way home.
We finally got a little taste of winter on Saturday so Sunday morning was quite chilly.  I decided to skip church, stay in my pj's by the fireplace & watch The Pioneer Woman on tv.  And that was ok.  I did finally get dressed, went to the grocery store, and then Nola & I went on a 5 mile walk...it ended up being a beautiful day!
There you have it, my super exciting weekend.  Ha!  Told you it was boring.  This weekend is the Wine Swirl & I can't wait!!  

Thursday, January 7, 2016

{Word of the Year: Courage}

I have never been one to sit down & make a list of new year's resolutions.  Because let's face it - rarely does anyone actually stick with them.  I have seen several blog posts & instagram posts where people pick a "word of the year"...one that will guide them through the upcoming year.  And I LOVE that idea!

I have been going back & forth between several words for awhile now.  At first I thought about CHANGE.  But that didn't quite feel right so then I thought about BELIEVE.  Again, it just didn't seem right.  I thought I had finally decided on JOY & then Sunday during the sermon at church, our pastor mentioned COURAGE...and I knew that my was word.  
Courage: the ability to do something that frightens one.  In a way, it's one word that involves all of the other ones I considered: change, believe, & joy.
I am the first to admit - I do not like CHANGE. I am a creature of habit.  I do not like to step outside of my bubble. Yes, I know the saying "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." I am fully aware that it's true.  But it's HARD.  I like a routine & have a huge fear of the unknown.  My goal is to step out a little more this year...just need a little COURAGE.
I have a quote on my desk that says "You are capable of more than you know".  I will also admit that I don't give myself enough credit, I have a hard time BELIEVING in myself.  I am not by any means saying I am smarter than anyone else or know more than anyone else.  Quite the opposite actually.  I always worry that I'm not. I hope to change that this year...again, just need a little COURAGE.  
And finally, I want the COURAGE to pursue the things that bring me JOY & the COURAGE to get rid of the people & things that steal it.   Simple as that.

All the events of 2015 put a lot of things in perspective for me.  It changed me without me even realizing it at that time.  Guess change would have have been a pretty fitting word for last year! 

Bring it 2016.  I have a good feeling about you.

Monday, January 4, 2016

{2015: Year in Review}

I'm not one to normally want to rush time, but I was so ready for 2015 to be over & done with.  It definitely was not one of my favorites & I wasn't sad to see it go.  But despite the bad, there was definitely LOTS of good.  I am blessed beyond belief.  Here is a recap of 2015!

In January, a group of us enjoyed the Wine Swirl in downtown Brenham.  They started this a few years ago & I look forward to it every year.  And each year our group has grown which I love!  Nothing beats a few hours of wine drinking while shopping with friends!  We also had our first "Ralston Creek Ladies Night"...love that I am surrounded by such great neighbors who have now all become great friends!
 
In February, my quiet, calm life turned upside down when I adopted #409...aka Nola!  I have questioned my decision a time or two because I have to keep an eye on her 24/7 & my house is ALWAYS covered in dog hair, but she is seriously the best thing to happen to me this year.  God's timing of me finding her was PERFECT!  You can read more of her adoption story here. I also celebrated my 36th birthday...dang I'm getting old!
 
March started out as a relatively calm month...the calm before the storm you could say.  We were informed back in February that there was an issue with linking listeria to some of our product.  We didn't hear much more about it until March 13th when Blue Bell issued it's first recall.  At the time, we didn't think it was that big of a deal...we would recall some product, do a thorough cleaning & move on.  10 days later, we issued another recall.  On April 3rd, we closed down the Broken Arrow production facility.  It snowballed after that.  We issued another recall & then ultimately on April 20th - issued a complete recall of all products & shut down all of our production facilities. The snowballing continued into May & on May 15th, things hit rock bottom with a massive layoff.  It was most definitely the absolute worst day of the year.  There were lots of Sonic drink runs, lots of wine & margaritas & lots of sleepless nights during that time.  Quite honestly, those months felt like such a blur. You can read more here.
Slowly but surely, things started looking up in June.  The highlight of the month was when Colby & Jodie got married!  You can read about it & see lots of pictures here.
A majority of July was filled with baseball, baseball & more baseball!  Mason's All Stars team made it all the way to state undefeated & WON!!  
Good things come to those who wait & on August 31st - we FINALLY started selling ice cream again.  It was an awesome day & one we had all been looking forward to for months.  We were at work at 3am to make breakfast for our drivers & cheered on the first truck as it pulled out to start making deliveries.  That first bite of homemade vanilla never tasted so good!  You can read all about our comeback here.
September was the start of my favorite time of year! Football, fall decor, the fair, {somewhat} cooler weather...
October was a great, BUSY month!  Amy, Carol, Kelly & I went to an A&M game, my church celebrated it's 125th anniversary,  I hosted National Night Out & a shower for my best friend Carol, & we road tripped to the A&M/Ole Miss game!  You can read all about it here, here & here!
 
 
November was another crazy, busy month. The Washington County Relay for Life was held the first weekend & we headed to San Antonio on the 21st to celebrate Carol's bachelorette party.  Of course there was Thanksgiving & a little Black Friday Shopping.  
 
 
I kicked off December with the Christmas stroll downtown Brenham {and a visit with Santa}, followed by the Blue Bell Christmas party on December 8th.  I also celebrated Nola's first birthday & hosted my first cookie exchange party for the neighborhood ladies!  We celebrated my dad's birthday, attended candlelight Christmas Eve service {my absolute favorite of the year}, Christmas & one of my best friend's New Year's Eve wedding!  You can read all about that here.  Fun times for sure & all reasons why this is the most wonderful time of the year!
 
 
 
 
 
 
And there you have it - 2015!  It will definitely be one that I never forgot.  It had LOTS of downs, but all the UPS definitely made up for it.  Recalling them all certainly makes me remember how blessed I am.  Life is good.  Crazy Good.  And I have a feeling 2016 is going to be a GREAT year.  I feel it.  =)

The best is yet to come.
Happy New Year!!