{Spiel The Beans: Gig'em!}

Howdy!  Today I am linking up with The Queen in Between & The Queen of the Kings for Spiel the Beans with the Queens: Who ya rootin' for?!  If you don't know me & are new to my page, it probably wouldn't take you long to figure out that my blood runs maroon!  I am a proud fightin' Texas Aggie {class of 2001}.  

Throughout high school, my plan was to graduate, attend my community college for 2 years & then transfer to Sam Houston to become a teacher.  I stuck by that plan until I went to Huntsville to visit...and something about it just didn't feel right.  I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew that wasn't it.  Fast forward a few months and A&M seemed like the next logical choice since it was only 30 minutes away.  I was working part time at Blue Bell Creameries & loved my job...so why not get a business degree?!  I graduated from high school, attended Blinn & then transferred to A&M for my junior & senior year.  I lived close enough to commute so a friend & I did so every day for 2 years.  While it was great not to graduate college with lots of student loan debt, I feel like I missed out on so much not living there.  I am the first to admit that I did not embrace "being an Aggie" while in college.  It wasn't until after I graduated that I fully began to understand the whole "Aggie Spirit". 

While I love all the Aggie traditions & am most proud of my Aggie ring {I never leave home without it}, my true love is Aggie football.  Y'all, there is just nothing like game day in Aggieland.  I had a sports pass in college & attended a lot of games. Yes, we stood the entire game {gotta love those Aggie traditions!}.

 

After graduation, I didn't attend many games....football wasn't high on my priority list.  A friend gave me to tickets to a game a few years later & it was love all over again....I've been going every since. Unfortunately season tickets aren't in my budget right now, but I try to go to as many games as possible.

And y'all, we have the absolute BEST band.  We always win halftime.  Hands down.

 

 

The Johnny Era was definitely the best.  He might be going thru some tough times now, but he was so much fun to watch.

{yep, I took these...did I have awesome seats or what?!}

A&M's best decision ever was to make the move to the SEC.   It has been so much fun.  The road trips?  The SEC road trips are AWESOME!!  Way better than Waco, Austin or Lubbock.  A group of ladies & I decided that we would road trip to at least one game a year.  So far we have been to Ole Miss twice, Arkansas, Alabama, & LSU, and this year we are headed to Auburn.  We have an absolute blast.  We leave on Thursday & make a pit stop at a casino somewhere in Louisiana & then continue on our way on Friday.  We drink, picnic in gas station parking lots & meet some of the nicest people ever!  It's so fun to get to experience game day on all these other campuses. Unfortunately, more often than not, its rains & we lose...but it's so worth it!  You can read about all our road trips here:

Arkansas | LSU | Arkansas in Dallas | Alabama | Ole Miss

It might have taken a while to get flowing, but I can tell you my maroon blood runs deep now!  For the next 12 Saturdays, you will either find me at Kyle Field, in front of my TV or on the 17th - at Jordan Hare Stadium.  Don't get me wrong, being an Aggie fan isn't easy at times {ok, most of the time} because let's face it - we struggle.  We have such high hopes at the beginning of the season, only for it to end in disappointment once again.  But who knows, maybe THIS is our year. =)
Gig'em & Whoop!

 

{Let's Talk: FALL!}

Happy Monday!  Hope everyone had a great weekend.  Today I am linking up with Andrea & Erika cause they are chatting about something I love...FALL!  Yes!!  Give me all of this!!

September thru December is my absolute favorite time of the year...and here's why!

{Fall Decor}

I absolutely love decorating for the holidays & fall kicks it off.  I want to enjoy it as long as possible, so yes, I start decorating in August.  It's my house...I can do what I want! =)  So, slowly but surely - the pumpkins have been going up.  I haven't done anything outside yet, but that will change this weekend!

{Fall Candles/Scents}

This kinda goes along with fall decor, but I love all the smells of fall.  I have a Bath & Body works candle burning anytime I am home.  I am thinking about trying these two new ones.  

{Fall Food}

Hello soup, s'mores roasted on the fire pit & hot chocolate.   Don't hate me, but I just haven't jumped on board the pumpkin spice train.  I've tried, I just can't acquire a taste.  But, I'll give it a shot again this year...there are way too many fun things coming out {pumpkin spice Cheerios are on my list}.

{images via google}

{Fall Fashion}

My closet full of scarves is calling my name.  They so desperately want to be worn.  Just a few more weeks hopefully.  And while I love my flip flops & manicured toes, I am ready for jeans, boots & sweaters.  And sweatshirts.  All things comfy & cozy!

 

{images via google, jane.com}

{Football}

My absolute favorite part about fall is FOOTBALL!!  From high school football on Friday night to college football on Saturday to professional on Sunday...I love it all.  Of course there is absolutely nothing like game day in Aggieland...only 5 more days!!  Gig'em Aggies!!

Now excuse me while I go home, put on my sweatshirt & scarf, light my pumpkin candle, cook some taco soup & patiently wait for the return of football. =)

{SUYL Home Tour: Backyards}

Howdy y'all!  It's the last week of Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life Home Tour & this week it's backyards! 

My last house had a large backyard by city standards & I swore that my next yard would be much smaller.  Fast forward a few years & this yard is over 4,000 square feet LARGER!!  What the heck was I thinking?!  I was pretty set on having a lot where the sun set in the front yard & where I didn't have neighbors behind me.  The only lots that fit that criteria were larger...and therefore larger I got!

It's been raining  A LOT in Texas lately {which I'm not complaining...check out this green grass in AUGUST!}.  But, needless to say - it's been nearly impossible to get pictures of the yard on a pretty sunny day.  So rain soaked it is!

Here's the front:

And here's the back:

Right now, it's a large, blank space & one day I hope to be able to landscape it, have a nice patio with a firepit...oh & a pool would be great too. Ha! =)  Until then, I will continue adding my clearance trees from Lowe's one by one....and I'll get there one day!!

One thing I did add during the building process was a deck & I absolutely LOVE it!  Best decision ever.  It really turns the tiny covered patio into a usable space.  Nola says welcome!

Last spring, I added this firepit.  It's perfect for cool, fall evenings & making s'mores! I hope to put a patio of some sort around it in the future & string patio lights.

That's it!  Nothing fancy, but it's perfect for me.  Thanks for stopping by! 
You can see the rest of my home tour here:
Living Room | Dining Room | Kitchen | Master Bedroom | Guest Bedroom | Home Office | Laundry Room
You can also follow me on Instagram!

{Life Lately}

Hey y'all!  It's August 16th & the high today is 82.  In Texas.  I mean - check out this forecast!!  I have gotten over 6" of rain the past few days & it's predicted to rain for the next week.  Don't get me wrong, I am ready to see a little sunshine, but hallelujah to not having to water for a week or two! 

So, here's a little of what's been going on in my life lately...

I may or may not have started decorating for fall.  What?!  If you know me, you know this is actually 2 weeks later than last year.  August = start of fall for me.  Don't worry, I won't decorate outside until after Labor Day. I don't want my neighbors to think I have completely lost it. =)

Only 18 more days til the start of Aggie football.  Whoop!  I cannot wait.  Another reason why fall is my absolute favorite time of year.  We met last week & planned our football road trip as well...hurry up September 15th!  We are headed to Auburn this year.

I got to spend the weekend with this cutie!  Her mom was away on a trip & her dad was at the deer lease so we got to have a girl's night!  Saturday we headed to College Station to do a little shopping with my mom & met up with  my cousin & her little girl for lunch.  

Can you tell that Nola is in absolute Heaven when Morgan's at the house?!

 

Sunday morning we decided to skip church, stay in our pj's & make homemade donuts!  So much fun {& oh so delicious}.

Needless to say, but Sunday night - I had one tired puppy.  She was out by 9:00.

That's been life lately!  Nothing too exciting happening the next few weeks.  Not to rush my life away but bring it on...

{SUYL Home Tour: Kitchens}

Howdy y'all!  I am sad that the home tours at Kelly's Korner are about to come to an end.   What am I going to blog about now?! Ha!  =)

Today's link up is all about kitchens!  The kitchen is definitely the heart of the home & where I spend a lot of my time.  I love that mine is open to the living room & breakfast room so everyone is in on the action.

When I built my house, I really wanted white cabinets, but unfortunately the builder did not have a true white option.  They were cream {almost yellow} & I knew I would end up hating them.  So I went the complete opposite & picked black!  I picked a travertine back splash, stainless steel appliances & added under cabinet lights so I think it helps lighten it up some.  {one day I will get my custom kitchen...gives me something to work towards}

Definitely the most used space in the entire house is the island.  The original plan had a 2 tiered island.  I opted to make it a large, flat solid surface & that was THE BEST DECISION EVER!  I absolutely love it.  

 

 

There is also a little desk space to the right of the pantry.  Basically, it's my catch all & a junk collector {you don't even want to see the large pile of stuff sitting on the chair in the living room that I had to remove before I could take the picture. Ha!}

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Come back next week for a peek into my backyard. 
The rest of my Home Tour:
Living Room | Dining Room |  Master Bedroom | Guest Bedroom | Home Office | Laundry Room
You can also follow me on Instagram!