It's the most wonderful time of the year!

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ARE FOR SALE!!!!!



Andy surprised with a box of Samoas (I'm old school- none of this Carmel Delight business)a few nights ago and well, would it be sad if I said that was the best part of my week? Cause it totally was. The Samoas are gone and last night we annihilated a box on Thin Mints and Lemonades. We did have a little help from some friends. Just know if you come over to my house for dinner the next couple of months we will be having GS cookies for dessert- cause I'm fancy like that ;)

MIA

So I haven't blogged in a while because, well, I have zero to blog about. Just wanted to check in and say I've been one lazy little lady the past couple of weeks. It has been cold and rainy and perfect laying on the couch and watching movies kind of weather. Now, I will ignore the fact that I am pretty lazy and enjoying laying around no matter what the weather, but if I can use icky weather to justify my sloth-like behavior- sweet!

I am actually getting tired of doing nothing and am really ready for Spring. Ready for the sunshine and going for walks everyday (poor Molly is pretty wound up with our lack of walk), working outside, going on picnics, hiking, and lots of home projects of course!

Spring to do list:
*New fence
*Put in limestone pavers around flower bed
*Attempt to make our flower beds not look terrible- I'm okay with them not looking great, just not terrible as they currently do
*Reseed the front yard (not even messing with the back, we are going to sod the whole thing next fall)
* *fingers crossed* scrape popcorn off living room ceiling
*Finish up master bathroom (recently painted walls and cabinets and replaced light fixtures)- need to replace faucets and little accessory stuff/art/shower curtain
*Redo curtains in the kitchen- add more fabric to them, they look more like fabric panels just hanging there, i don't like it...
*Attempt to make some art with some beautiful old crusty wood we left outside for like a year
* Sew some "spring-y" pillows for the living room

Whew! Just writing that was exhausting. I'm looking forward to it all though. I'm trying to find more projects that I can do completely on my own (which is tough since I'm kind of a weenie) because Andy is in NOVA-mode lately, working on his car a lot.
I will have to post a picture later cause it is looking crazy! This morning he asked me if I would help him with it tonight, to which I returned with a lip snarl that could only mean "um, no thanks." But then he told me what he was doing tonight- busting out the front windshield! YES! Lip snarl be gone! I think busting up that car will be the cathartic activity I need to say "Hey Nova, I know my man spends a lot of time with you, but you's be nothing but a car so boo-ya" I asked if I could throw a brick through the front window, he said no it could mess with the rest of the car. But if you've seen the rest of the car you would know that isn't much of an excuse. So here's to hoping I get to throw a brick through a windshield tonight!

If only I could teach Molly.....

2011 Resolution

Okay, so my challenge to myself for this year is to not buy anything new. I am way excited. I've been researching what is called The Compact, where you vow not to buy anything new. Simple enough. I think this is the perfect challenge, because as I mentioned a few months back I've been reading lots about minimalism and just love. Now I love entertaining, crafts, decorating, TV, etc too much to strip down my possessions to the bare essentials. I've definitely been flushing out as much as I am able. But what I like the most about minimalism is the idea of getting rid of the junk to make room for what is really important. I am hoping that is part of what this challenge will be for me. In the spirit of full disclosure I am also really cheap and this is another way to justify and embrace my cheapo ways. I copied the reasons below from the original compact group, they started a few years back in San Francisco and are still going strong...

Reasons for the Compact:
1) to go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of U.S. consumer culture, to resist global corporatism, and to support local businesses, farms, etc;
2) to reduce clutter and waste in our homes
3) to simplify our lives

So yeah, it is further proof on my ever evolving hippie ways but whatever. I am excited to challenge myself to be resourceful and focus less on consuming. I want to not just make this about buying stuff 2nd hand, but trying to buy as little as possible in general (ie: not go crazy buying stuff at thrift store just cause I can).

Okay, now I feel the need for this disclaimer. I don't want anything I say or anything about this little challenge of mine to insinuate buying stuff is bad. It is not. Heck, Target is my happy place. This is not about how buying stuff is wrong. It's not about that at all. It's just a challenge that appeals to me on a bunch of different levels but I definitely understand why not many people choose to do it.

I think I am being naive, but I really don't think it is going to be that hard. I've got so much stinkin stuff, even after many many trips to Goodwill. I don't say that in a braggart sort of way, I'm just saying that I have been blessed and have more than enough things to keep me away from retail for at least a year- here's my closet to prove it.



So, that's my resolution for the new year! I also want to learn to cook with tofu, karaoke once, go to the beach, spend one whole day in the garage with Andy (he's always begging me to and I'm a toot and tell him no cause I'm not the biggest fan of the Nova), run a 5k, make soap, and read more books. I'm pretty excited about this year and have high hopes. What about you guys? Any resolutions or goals you want to try for this year?

Fredericksburg

Okay, so obviously from my last post I am kinda weird about having all sorts of goals and things to do in a new year. Since we moved to Austin three years ago I've wanted to go Fredericksburg. Last minute we decided we would go new year's day.

Such a cute little town!




Day one of my no buy pact proved to be difficult when we found this vintage sign shop, I love old signs and there was some really cool ones.


We drove to Enchanted rock for an afternoon hike. It was so beautiful and surprisingly difficult little hike to the top.




Once we made it to the top we hung out and rested for a bit


On the way home we stopped at Tractor supply so Andy could get some bolts (if my happy place is Target then his is the bulk bolt section at Tractor supply, his favorite store). We also found his dream house. For some reason there was a house like 20 feet from this Tractor supply in the middle of nowhere.

Adios 2010!

What a year. For real. I don't think I've had a year with so many up's and down's. I am thankful for all the blessings that have poured down on us for another year but I am ready to see what 2011 has in store for us as well! My resolution for this year was balance. I have a wonderful life but I wanted to be able to enjoy my blessings instead of living a life that will filled with worry, guilt, and lots of anxiety. I have a long way to go but feel like I have made some steps in the right direction. I really tried to focus on quality not quantity of friendships. I've always had a pretty big circle of friends but I want to focus on loving my true blue, always going to be there friendships. What a difference that has made. What else? Just trying to stop being so spazzy. Now I will always be way spazzy, but I want to be spazzy about things that make me happy and not freaking out that the house isn't perfect (or anywhere close to), not saying the exact right thing to a friend, or anything else that I know is a waste of energy but I do it anyways.

Here's what I want to remember about this year...

January- Andy's amazing optimistic view on this "steal" of "awesome condition" of a car he bought. If you've seen the car you know the importance of those quotation marks.


March-Going camping with our awesome church group at Inks Lake


April- Experiencing the way-cooler-than-the-pictures show Austin Kite Festival


April- Going back to Norman and walking around and remembering our first year of marriage

May- Getting to be a bridesmaid in one of my best friend's super awesome wedding


May- Our amazing vacation to San Francisco


May- Experiencing Barton Springs for the first time!

June- Celebrating our 4th anniversary at Fogo de Chao and going into meat como afterwards


July- Touring the ACL studio and stand on that famous stage! Very cool!


August-My dad getting Gillian Beret syndrome and his very scary six weeks in the hospital. I want to remember this because I had suspected my dad was the strongest man alive, my mom and dad are a relationship rock, my family is amazing, and well, this I knew, but that God is good, but after this experience I KNEW for sure all of those things.


August- My wonderful 27th birthday that was just so much fun and I felt so very loved that night by all my friends that came.


October- Driving up to Dallas and going through the world's longest haunted house with Andy's sister!


November- Our first Aggie game, well actually it was Andy's first college football game ever. OU lost terribly but we went with the nicest couple ever- Ryan and Elana, so they didn't shame us too much ;)



November- Hosting our first Thanksgiving with Andy roasting the turkey (and doing a fabulous job at it)


December- Great Christmas with my quirky, loving, funny family


All year long- lots and lots of fabulous GIRL TIME!
My amazingly awesome friend Dinah

Sara's Austin girl's weekend when a couple of the girls got sick so we just laid in a huge bed in the living room and watched movies

Picking strawberries with my gal pals from church

Spending lots of time with one of the best people I know, my sweet friend Kim


Lots of good memories for sure but I am ready for a new year! I am excited about my 2011 resolution and getting started on it, I will try to post about that soon!
Okay 2011- BRING IT!