under the wire

I made it... in more ways than one! For the final day of November I posted just under the wire (even on the East Coast) and for the trek from Austin in Post-Thanksgiving traffic I made it to Rockwall! Lola and I were in bumper to bumper traffic for MANY hours longer than we would have liked to have been, because we decided that the best move would be to leave Austin at 2pm. Which was the precise time that everyone else visiting the heart of Texas decided to leave for home. Thankfully I had a friendly pit stop along the way to rest my weary traveling heart.

Justin and I are in separate cars for the first leg of our trip, and will reunite when we leave my family to head to Kentucky. Thank the Laud, because I am not the distance traveler I used to be! Lola and I got very bored of our trip... the music got old, there were no new blogs to read, and Texas got third in the BCS rankings... son of a. Well, at least it's not Tech. (like any of us thought that would happen).

Now we are all weary from our first leg of travel, Ok maybe not weary, because if we're weary now we're in for a long trip...but safe and happy in Rockwall. Check that... Little Miss Lola is not weary ~ she traveled sitting pretty like the princess she is.

winding down

Our hotel is a wreck today! I'll be honest, it's a wreck most days, because hours are long and work is hard and the space is small, so when one thing is out of place everything looks out of place. I had two tasks on my list today... 1. Call car dealership and be tough so they'd bring our tags to us and 2. Pack/clean hotel. We have the tags in hand, but I can not bring myself to pack. I can't decide what is worse ~ packing to leave for 4 months or packing to go home after 4 months. Gawd there is so much stuff!

Everything is winding down in the next couple of days... our time in Austin, NaBloPoMo, our first year of marriage and it all seems like I blinked and now it's over! Let's discuss...

1. Austin ~ it has been wonderful. I know that it's been wonderful, because it feels like we've been here for 2 weeks. However, I can not wait to step foot in our apartment and be home and surrounded by things that belong to me and my happy little family.

2. NaBloPoMo ~ it's been really fun and dare I say easy? The weekends were harder, because like all of you I was usually busy doing other things like napping, watching football or working, BUT I did it! Regular blogging is definitely something I'd like to do more of. Wonder if I can post everyday in December?

3. First year of marriage ~ Technically we got married a year ago this afternoon. It's not the actual date, but the actual weekend. I would prefer to spend an entire post on this, but much like NaBloPoMo it's been really fun and very easy. I consider myself among the lucky and blessed.

Off to pack my friends... wish me luck!

Time for new traditions?

Just wanted to give y'all a little peek at mine and justin's Thanksgiving feast! I think it's about the furthest from turkey and dressing you can get, but when in Austin... Tex Mex it is! Last year was the first time either of us had spent significant holiday's away from our families ~ Thanksgiving for Justin, Christmas for me. This year we were both away from our families and naturally entertained the idea of what it would be like to start a new tradition for ourselves and have mexican food for Thanksgiving. It seemed like an ok idea while we stuffed our faces with carne asada and quesadillas, but I was wracked with jealousy today when I asked our employees how their day was and they all went on and on about the food!

I missed all the pies and the stuffing and the green bean casserole so bad that I'm not sure if our traditions can change anytime soon. How many days until Christmas?

Happy Thanksgiving, My Sweet Friends!

It's Thanksgiving Day 2008, and Justin and I will not be celebrating with a traditional turkey meal with loved ones, so I figured we could just all pull up a chair around the old Blog Table and tell what we're thankful for.

Lesli: I am thankful for my path this year. Thankful that it has been flocked with friends who encourage me daily, support me in prayer and love me for me. Thankful to have job that allowed me to spend a significant amount of time in 7 different cities for work while accompanying my husband. Thankful that when I come home after any day or amount of time this tiny ball of fur knocks me down with love and kisses. Thankful that through the entire spectrum of the path I was arm in arm with my husband whom I never deserved, but thank God every day that he was hand picked just for me.

Justin: I am thankful for the country in which we live and the freedoms we enjoy because of it. I am thankful for family and friends who are just a phone call away. I am thankful for the little addition to our family and the way she welcomes us home after a long day of work. I am thankful for a job that has allowed us to visit several different parts of the country, even if some of those parts were not very glamorous. Finally I am thankful for my other half whom I love with all my heart and who I can't imagine life without

Lola: I am thankful for my treats, for my toys, for the hairdryer, for the bunnies, birds and butterflies I chase outside and of course my mommy and daddy.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

one day after the other

This day last year was one of the worst days of my life. It was bad being in the day, but the repercussions of the events from that day still haunt me in my days and my nightmares. Isn't it weird how one day, one event can infiltrate your thoughts for years longer than it takes to unfold in real time? Justin and I have a had rough week... maybe longer than a week, but I've lost count. We've both felt weary and silenced and self conscious and disrespected. It's made us look for small mercies and blessing in every nook and cranny this week. It's amazing what you can see when you open your eyes and look around. It's also made me very thankful that in these events he's my partner and truly my better half.

I woke up the other night at 3am. The burdens in our personal life and professional life were too much to let my mind sleep. I wrestled with the idea of moving to the couch, or working out and I settled on praying. Let me rephrase... I complained the Lord's ear off! Did you know you're allowed to do that? Give it a try... I'm sure the Lord is open to hearing other complaints. I begged for confidence and encouragement and blessings. I wondered about direction and plans and the future.

Then I was drawn to this passage in Isaiah that I feel I have to share with you, my friends.

Isaiah 55
1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money,come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.

2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples.

5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor."

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."

Some people do arts and crafts...I wish I was one of 'em!

I've had a major creative itch that I haven't been able to scratch lately and it's killing me! At this point I'd even take writing pretty quotes with my nice pen if I had it! Last time I was home it was warm enough to sit outside and sand down old furniture and then I'd repaint it. I think I still have one old chest of drawers to do, so you can bet that I'll be bundling my hiney up and heading outside immediately and get to crafting.

Next on my list of projects is to recreate this piece of art seen on DearDaisyCottage.

How darling and colorful, right? When I'm at Gram's next week I'm going to go on a treasure hunt for old jewels to add to the tree! I have the perfect frame for this that's much heavier and ornate than the frame above, but still beautifully old and junky. Since I only have 2 ~ Yes, 2 Christmas decorations TOTAL I hope to be through before Christmas Eve! Well, 4 now if you count the stockings I purchased for us today.

After that project I have decided to learn to sew. I was further encouraged on this notion when I found out Saturday night that Ryan sews and she did her own curtains! I found this gorgeous fabric at Hobby Lobby the other day and thought that's my cue... I have to learn! It's not perfectly matchy match, because it a little muted from our main bedroom colors, but I think it will be nice accent. So, Ryan want to come to Kentucky in a few weeks? I'll meet you at the gate with wine!

Thankfully, Mom is graciously giving me her old sewing machine if I can find room for it in the car. My plan is to get really good at curtains and hems. The curtains would bring new life to my house and learning to hem would bring new life for my 5 foot 1 self and all my pants! AHHHHHHHH~ 7 more days until arts and crafts bliss!

My Face on Facebook

After a year and a half stint of being off the Facebook wagon I decided 2 weeks ago that I'd give it another shot. It just got so nosey with the live news feed and all. I know, I'm the girl that tells stories about my life and my husband on my blog for the whole wide world to read, but why don't we all get real honest ~ the WHOLE WIDE WORLD is not reading my blog. Plus, I don't think creepy stalkers read blogs, just people like me and you, so I have no problem with someone I never met seeing the new shoes I bought or critiquing my make up. It just bugged me that people I actually knew could log in and see who I was having dinner with. What? I'm weird.

Since I've been gone apparently EVERYONE has gotten on Facebook. You're on Facebook, right?

Now I'm back, privacy restrictions in place with only a handful of friends, and much to my husband's disdain I've found one more thing to keep me attached at the hip with the laptop after I've read all the blogs and then all the blog friend's blogs. Much to my iPhone's disdain I've found a new way to quickly drain the battery. Truth be told, the main reason I got back on was because of the Facebook application... oh and I got sick of saying NO when people asked if I was on!

Featured Blogs ~ 4th week of November

Now it's time for the last installment of the run down of my blog roll! I've been hesitant this month to add new people to the list for fear of getting the reviews out of order, so if you're feelings are hurt that you are my friend and I comment on your blog, but you're not on my list, that's why. Check back after this week and perhaps you'll be added.

We start with...

Shanti ~ 20 Something Living
Shanti is a fellow bloggy friend like Ryan that I met through this blog. She moved from Chicago right when I moved too Chicago, and we both had a love affair with the same little area of Lincoln Park. Shanti is a fantastic writer, and lucky for all of us, is participating in NaBloPoMo, so you can get your daily dose of her for one more week. Shanti sent me a facebook message about sweet leaf tea the other day, and I get very excited about the possibility of she and I sipping tea and eating cupcakes together in February. There's a small chance, but I'm keeping up the faith! Her's is truly a coming of age blog about her life from being a party girl in the city to moving back to California to truly find her solid ground.

Sharla ~ Sharla's World
Sharla is the twin sister to one of my good friends who became my friend when I lived in Austin. Did you follow that? Sharla just recently started back up with her blog and it couldn't have come at a better time! In a week she is moving from Austin, Texas to Cincinnati, Ohio! Can we say big ole weather change? I can't wait to read about her new midwest life in the weather and life under one roof with her man! The bonus for me is that I will finally have a familiar friend within 100 miles of me! It's selfish I know, but I was once in her shoes and would have given anything to have an old friend so close.

Katy ~ Simply Yummy Goodness
Katy is a friend of Sharla and Shawna's and if I leave Austin without sharing a meal with her I will be very disappointed! Katy loves food like I love food and lucky for me she reviews Austin restaurants about once or twice a week. She always picks fantastic local places and it's my way of getting my Austin food fix when I'm stuck off in Kentucky or anywhere else but here. If you've never heard me say it before... Austin has the best food in the world. Katy also shares her own recipes, and there was a recipe on there last week about spinach artichoke dip that I can not get out of my head! I believe it will be making it's debut at a party with us on Thursday.

Stephanie ~ Greek Tragedy
Stephanie is a friend I met when she moved to Austin a few years ago. Unfortunately, she moved here, we became friends, and then I moved shortly there after. We keep up through the email, but I did get to celebrate her birthday with her this year, and it was such a treat. Most of you read Stephanie's blog already, but if you don't, you should really start. Hers is one of the first blogs I ever read, and the material is always fantastically raw and amusing. Of course her pictures are beautiful, too. Is that a pre-requisite for being a great blogger? You have to be a good photographer too?

Tiffany ~ Life is... Glamorous & Fabulous!
Tiffany is an old Austin friend, as well. I am so glad that she started a blog, because she has the best stories to tell and great ideas to share. One of my favorite things about her blog is that she does a Fabulous Friday Finds post every friday and shares some of her favorite finds according to topic. A few weeks ago she did a post about candles, and I took her advice and it paid off. This past friday she did a post about fabulous cocktail dresses, and I'll be derned if she didn't post the dress that my bridesmaids wore in my wedding! Clearly she has very good taste.

And that my friend is my blog roll and how I know them and why I love their blogs. I'm wondering... have any of you found new blogs to read through this post?

you be the judge

I have been trying for a LONG time to perfect dark smokey eyes. And for the longest time I could NOT get it right. It always looked too blue or too clownish. I can remember getting ready for a wedding back in my single days and applying the smokey eyes and my date walking in and busting a gut laughing. Thank gawd for make up remover!

I saw a pictorial how to the other day and thought I'd give it another shot. I thought the trick was to incorporate SILVER as your lighter shade to black, but the secret ingredient is BROWNISH GOLD!

Now you be the judge ~ are my smokey eyes exotic and mysterious or do I look like I'm a month late to the halloween party?

please ignore my eyebrows... my sister will take care of them when I return to Kentucky

straight on shot

all smiles

It's very important that you get back to me, because I'm thinking these are the eyes I'll be sporting in our upcoming anniversary photo shoot! More info on that to come!

being the change

The following post is a tad more serious than most of my posts on ALifeLesOrdinary, but it is something that has been on my heart and my mind for the past week and this is my honest attempt to put it into words. My hope is that it will challenge and inspire you.
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Christina and I sat in her kitchen last January sipping peppermint hot chocolate and discussing our views on life. You see, Christina and I are good at this, and in a matter of hours we can solve many of the worlds problems with a few great debates. We sit respectfully on opposite sides of the political fence, but on this night could see eye to eye on one thing. We decided that we did not want to raise our children in the world in which we were raised and with that thought in mind adopted a motto between the two of us. "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi


We want our children to be raised in a place where people of different colors and race are NOT viewed negatively or less than anyone else. True racial equality and meeting in the middle. In my opinion, the civil rights movement happened close to 50 years ago, and while most public places are integrated, little has come by the way of attitude and vision of seeing all as equally human. As the year has played out I've thought about that conversation and our motto on many occasions. It has helped shape my thoughts, my behavior, my language and my attitude.


I stumbled upon an article the other day about the racial happenings surrounding the presidential election and couldn't help but read to see what's being going on. I will go on the record right here and now to say that I never intended to vote for Barack Obama and I did not vote for Barack Obama due to my own political convictions not aligning with his, but as a fellow human being I respect him and the office he will soon hold. For the record, I've really enjoyed his interviews and press conferences post election ~ he's funny & charming! I wasn't surprised that there were incidents around the country, but one that shocked me was one that happened at my alma mater ~ Baylor University.


The day after the election there was a noose found tied to a tree in the middle of campus.


This horrific act of ignorance turned my stomach and made me feel ashamed and embarrassed to be associated by degree to that university. And ignorant it is, because while racial equality is something yet to be grasped, I believe there isn't a soul in my generation that can truly wrap our brains around the hatred and torture that embodied our land many years ago. The thing is, I think it's easy to point a finger at Baylor and say how dare you allow such ridiculousness?

And I did that for a few days until I it dawned on me. If I MUST be the change that I wish to see in the world my attitude had to go. It's about forgiveness and me. I can not force people around me or even people of other races to be different, think different or act different, and while I believe their actions are punishable by dismissal I can only be me. I can act out and think out and live out how I want that world to be and my hope is that soon many others will follow my lead.

Oil of Olay Regenerating Serum

Tomorrow I will be back regular posts in the morning, but for today you'll have to deal with 2 posts, sort of.

I was talking with Christina tonight and we were talking about how she usually takes my recommendations ~ case & point ~ she went out on Monday and bought those UGG Sweater Boots! If anyone deserves them, she does, because she lives in a Chicago where it is winter 53 weeks out of the year! Yes, winter is so long there that it adds another week to the calendar.

It reminded me that I have a new moisturizer that I am in LOVE with and y'all will be too once you try it out. I have been using the Oil of Olay daily cleanser and regular Olay moisturizer for the past year with good results. The regular moisturizer isn't heavy and didn't break me out, but I didn't feel like it was really correcting anything. i.e- making my skin smoother, lightening sun spots, diminishing wrinkles, etc.

So, I bit the bullet the other day and upgraded my lotion with the Oil of Olay Daily Regenerating Serum.

In about 2 weeks time I have noticed the greatest difference. My face feels smooth and hydrated! Girls ~ If you live in a northern climate this is a MUST! I hate that I didn't know about it in Chicago! I've been using it twice daily and can tell a noticeable difference in the appearance of my sun spots that I acquired from my 10 years that I practically slept in a tanning bed. And, you know, there wasn't a rough getting used to you period, because if I was going to break out, I certainly would have this week.

The best part though, is that I think it's a fantastic make up primer! My powder goes on smoothly and evenly and lasts up to 12 hours if I don't touch my face. Now, on your way home from work today stop by the CVS and pick this up! You can thank me later.

Not today

Raise your hand if you thought I wasn't going to post today and all that bragging I did at the halfway point about the NaBloPoMo updating being so easy was just a big ole lie? Well, I'm here and under the wire, so it counts in my book and NaBloPoMo's book... whoever NaBloPoMo is.

My mean old husband has been making me work too hard! Can you even believe the nerve of him? I kid... he's definitely the best boss I've ever had and the perks aren't half bad either if you know what I mean.

Speaking of that other half of mine we had our first pregnancy scare this month and found out today that there's nothing to be scared of if you catch my drift. For the last two weeks I've been having this emotional battle with my brain and my heart about the possibility of this being a reality. As a christian I believe that God has a perfect plan for my life and if that meant having a baby right now then it would mean we'd be parents. The selfish human side of me kept thinking we are so not ready because we're poor and we aren't settled and love our two~some life.

Those are silly reasons though, and admittedly selfish, but I was a little relieved this morning that this was not in our cards for right now as my period came this morning like clockwork. Then I was knocked over by cramps and overwhelming urge to rip the head off of every person I came in contact with, so I made a command decision to have cookies and ice cream for dinner.

And that decision alone, my friends, made my whole day.

victory is mine!

Let it be stated for the record that on this day, November 18th, 2008, I fought my Feed and won. Ok, we didn't fight, but since March of 2007 it has said that I have not updated a single word on this blog. Finally, finally I was able to figure out the lingo and get it done myself!

All that said to say ~ if you read blogs in Google Reader (like me) or if you organize your blog roll by most recent updated I will no longer be banished to the bottom with that silly old post about cruising around Chicago on a yacht.

Now all of you friends that say, "Oh I wish my list would tell me when you updated" have NO excuse not to comment! I'm kidding... you can be happy for me in your heart.

12 days of Austin

I can not believe that we have 12 days left in Austin, Texas. Where has the time gone? Ryan said it best when she said that Norman seemed to drag on and Austin has FLOWN by! I've found myself day dreaming about my kitchen lately. I've been searching recipes, so I can have a menu planned for the evening I arrive. Nevermind that the only thing left in my fridge will be ice in the ice bin!

What I'm needing is a good refried bean recipe, because sure I can get them out of a can, but what's the fun in opening a can when I could be refrying beans in my very own kitchen?

It's when I start to think about the refried beans and the tex~mex, that's when I start to get a little teary eyed, because I know Lexington thinks they have good mex, actually many places do, but really there's no place like home. It's all a little bittersweet, you know?

We're 9 deep in our Tex~Mex tour which leaves us with one, but I think I know which restaurant is going to make the cut, because Justin put in a special request for a follow up visit.

In the next 12 days I need to accomplish the following... let me know if you'd like to join ~

~ Moonshine for dinner

~ Pictures in front of sign above with Justin

~ Flip Happy with Andy

~ Pictures at Friday Night Lights landmarks

~ Lunch or dinner at Zen

It's a short list, but if the past is any indicator of the future, we will be on our merry way all too soon. Either way, I can't wait!

Christmas List

My mother-in-law asked me for a Christmas list for me and Justin on Saturday, and I was like HALLELUJAH! The only thing I hate as much as wasting money is getting presents that I didn't ask for. I know that's not the Christmas spirit, and it's the thought that counts, but what about the gifts that there was no thought put into and now you're stuck? A Christmas List would have solved all of those problems and curbed much disappointment. And a list can still have an element of surprise... make it long enough and vary the prices and you'll have no idea what you're going to get!

Here are the things on my list. Mom, don't worry ~ I'll be emailing you the real thing.

1. Mercury Glass - I just love the look of mercury glass, and I put it on my list last year and didn't get one cingular piece. It's at the top of this years list, so here's hoping. I'm not picky either, I'd like ornaments, vases, candle sticks, any and all pieces will be welcome in my home.

2. Black sequined fit flops - I've been singing the praises of the Fit Flop since I made my first Fit flop purchase back in April. I know I'll only spend $9 on my dress flats and $50 on flip flops, but I have worn those shoes every day since purchase. If that's not $50 worth of use I don't know what is. The problem I face is I wore my black ones to paint in and they look ratty, so I need the sequined ones to look NICE.

3. Black Sweater Boots - Of course I am not asking for the UGG version of these, and for all of you who were surprised to know that Wal*Mart has cute shoes, you should see these too. I think these are so cute, and for all intents and purposes I would be perfectly happy to have the $23.99 Wal*Mart version. However, that's just too much to pay for them on a regular old day.

4. iTunes Gift Card - I've said it before, and I'll say it again ~ gift cards are way underrated gifts! Christina got me a Wal*Mart gift card for my birthday and her husband thought it was soooooooooooo BeJanky, and I thought it was so thoughtful. I have mentioned Wal*Mart twice in this post... y'all are probably starting to think I am a redneck. I digress...I would definitely use this for all the sweet APPS and new songs for the ole iPhone that I always feel bad spending a whole dollar on. {but I have an iPhone...yeah, I hear ya on the irony thing...}

5. Stemware - Justin and I received all of our dishes and silverware, but didn't get a lick of stemware for wedding gifts! Fortunately, he has a pretty set of regular glasses, but I want the pretty stemware I picked out. I can already picture my beautiful table set with my dishes and stemware and mercury glass! I want to go home!

So there you have. The Top 5 things I want for Christmas, and really that's about all I can think of right now. Mom said and I quote, "All I want is for you and Justin to be here." I'm trying to figure out a way to wrap us up and put us under the tree. Be careful what you ask for!

Now I need to know... what are the top 5 things on YOUR list?

Featured Blogs ~ 3rd week of November

For the past 3 Sundays in November I've been going through the list of blogs on the right that I enjoy for my blog reading pleasure and writing out a little overview of why these specific blogs make my list. So off we go to this weeks part of the list beginning with...

Meg ~ The Running Watwoods
Meg is one of my former college roommates. She's one of those people that I have on my list of most hilarious people I've ever known. Most of my funniest memories from college {that don't include alcohol} involve Meg in some way. I've told some of them on this blog before, and this is about her blog, which doesn't disappoint. Her blog details her life with hubby Shane and their darling little girl Sophie. Shane and Meg are avid marathoners! Not just runners... MAR-A-THON-ERS! Check out their life in Waco, TX on the run!

Megan ~ In This Wonderful Life
Megan is from my hometown and also besties with Katie, who was featured last week! Megan and her husband Brent are newlyweds in Tulsa, OK. They have a sweet fur-kid named Elton who also dressed as a bumble bee this year for Halloween. Apparently all the cool animals did it. Megan's blog is fantastic for this reason, she updates a lot ~ with pertinent content, I might add and always has lots of pictures! The more I read her blog the more I wish she and Brent were going to somehow magically get transferred to Lexington, KY, because I think she and I could have a lot of fun together in real life! This is a blog you will not want to miss for the holidays, because I know she's going to have some pretty fabulous decorations on display.

Mrs. Tongg ~ Hi, Friend!
Amanda is my very good friend who lives out in Cali. The funny thing is is that I absolutely count her among my very good friends, and we've only seen each other 3 times in our life. It's one of those connections, I suppose, because we talk a few times a month and pick up just like we're talking over coffee. She and her hubby started dating about a month or two before me and Justin and got married 3 weeks after us. Her blog is a nice document of her life with her Hawaiian hunk, Mikey and their crazy life! They just bought their first house and have been very busy turning it into their California Dream Home.

Rena ~ Have you had your latin kiss today?
Sirena and I both went to the same college, but didn't meet until after we moved to Austin ~ she's a friend of a friend=) Right now is the perfect time to start reading Rena's blog, because she's 2 weeks away from getting married and about 6 weeks away from moving to the Middle East. How's that for a good read? I'm excited to see how the changes of being a newlywed and being new to a foreign country translate into her blog!

Ryan ~ Ryan's Pearl
Ryan is my bloggy friend that I met through THIS blog! She started her own blog not long ago and hit the ground running! I'm always jealous of people who just start their blog and are good about updating everyday! I want your self discipline! I want the marathoner's above self discipline too, but you can't always get what you want. For all of you friends who wish you could see more recipes here, head over to Ryan's blog, because she always has some fantastic Florida seafood on her green egg grill. Just wait until me, Ryan and Allie get together...the kitchen will never be the same!

Halfway point

I have nothing to say about football this Saturday...don't fall out of your chair! I can't believe I'm already to the halfway point of NaBloPoMo! I imagined that it would be much harder than this, and I hope by saying that I didn't just jinx myself out of a creative thought for 15 days straight.

I have my favorite Saturday routine playing out, but it's coming to an end all too soon. Snuggled up on the couch... browsing the blogs I've missed this week... turkey cooking up on the TV ~ food network is finally working... Lola playing in the floor with her toys {read - her crate}. It's a brisk 48 outside and I'm holding tight to my coffee.

Some thoughts today...
~I can't believe in 2 weeks I'll be celebrating 1 year of marriage
~I'm so happy I'm not planning a wedding
~I might cry when I get back in my own kitchen
~I'm really going to miss all the Tex-Mex
~Will we ever have lazy weekends with no work
~Am I ready for my NEW new years resolution
~I need to get in the shower so I can go to work on a Saturday

Settle in my friends, 15 more days of posting. Thanks for following the journey this far.

Welcome to the Lipstick Jungle..oh wait.

So, how many of you ladies are fans of Lipstick Jungle? I am such a fan that I've watched this entire season on my laptop with a skittish Internet connection. Which is more than I can say for Grey's Anatomy.

There I said it, I haven't really watched much of Grey's Anatomy. What? I think it's kind of lame this year, and now that I've said it out loud you can feel ok about admitting it to yourself. Justin and I started at the beginning of the season and thought, well maybe they just seem lame because we're not watching in the moment, but then they never seemed to get better.

However, my Lipstick Jungle girls were thriving! Every episode was rich in dialogue and suspenseful drama that made me long for more, not to mention all those sexy men and the beautiful clothes! Then I heard the news ~ CANCELLED.

It's hard enough when one of your favorite shows decides for themselves that it's going to end, ie ~ Sex and the City, but I'm so sick of good shows getting cancelled. Or like my beloved Friday Night Lights that always right on the fringe of being cancelled.

Then you have 57 versions of Law & Order or CSI, and I'll admit that I don't mind watching some of these from time to time, but can't there just be one? Or shows like the one starring the acclaimed superstar from the underwear ads AND I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Ghost Whisperer. How does THAT stay on the air and I have to say goodbye to my sistas in the Jungle. Get to writing Candace, we're all going to need a new show here pretty soon.

The Get-Me-By Shoes

When you leave your house in July and plan to return the first of October you don’t pack your closed toed shoes. Well at least I didn’t. I planned on being home before fall set in, so in my bag went my flip flops and my strappy sandals.

Now it’s the latter part of November and we’re not home, but fall has arrived. While it’s not cold in Austin, strappy sandals seem a little silly for a November dinner and it does get more fall~ish after the sun sets. I went to Wal*Mart the other day in search of a get-me-by pair of closed toed shoes until I could get back home. I have plenty of closed toed shoes boxed up individually patiently waiting for me at home, so I didn’t need anything super nice. And let’s get real here… my super nice pair of shoes in my closet were $75 dollars and a gift from my mother in law… black suede stiletto boots with rabbit fur trim around the cuff. Forgive me, I'm cheap. Those shoes are fabulous though and I will definitely show them to you when I get home.

What typically happens to me is I usually look for my get-me-by shoes, find them and proceed to love them like an everyday shoe and wear them to death. These shoes MIGHT just take the cake.

Black and White Satin Zebra Flats*

On Sunday a darling little waiter at Moonshine stopped me and said, "Ok girl you HAVE to tell me the story of those shoes!" Story? What do you mean story? "You know, where did you get them, how much?" Oh. Wal*Mart - $9.

I MUST come up with a better story before we make our next trip out of the house!

*picture doesn't come close to doing these shoes justice AND you'll be happy to know that they are comfy too!

the AMAZING race

Are any of you watching The Amazing Race? {FYI ~ remember a while back...some of you wanted to know the show? this is the one... for google purposes I will not link back} Justin and I are watching this season, and I must say I watch this with a completely different set of eyes as a married person than I did as a single woman.

As a single woman I watched the couples race around the world and take on adventures that few will experience in their lifetime and think this would be so fun and romantic to do with my future other half. I'd watch those girls take a serious attitude with their man and then I'd see those guys say hideous things to their girls...each berating and belittling a little more with each new leg of the race. And the judgment began to flow. How could ANYONE want to be in a relationship with ANYONE who acted like him/her? I would NEVER treat MY other half like that no matter HOW stressful or HOW competitive things got. Truly, it's an amazing race... it's amazing that the couples make it through entact.

Then I got married. While I don't stand for tolerating abuse in your relationship when I watch now I totally get it. For better or worse most couples are opposites and if for no other reason than they are MAN and WOMAN which means they operate on totally different playing fields.

Justin is a planner. He wants to know where he's going, to look at a map and see his route and know exactly what to expect when he arrives. I don't think that being a planner is a male trait, because many women are planners, but I am not. Lesli is spontaneous. Let's just go, we can pick a direction and the rest will fall into place. We'll figure it out on the way.

Nothing makes me crazier than sitting in a parking lot trying to figure out where to go for a meal, likewise, nothing makes Justin crazier than aimless driving. This is just in random parking lots... can you even imagine how this would play out in a race around the world for $1,000,000?

All this said to say, I watch with new eyes and I no longer judge people for the way they treat their partner in the heat of exhausting and stressful competition. I do know that Justin and I will not be racing around the world being followed by cameras for any amount of money.