Sweet Home

2011

2011-12-31T22:35:00.000-08:00

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

- Robert Burns, 1788

Christmas Carol Ornaments

2011-12-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

I made these ornaments as Christmas present for my mom.
Porcelain ornaments are from Michael's. Design is by me with paint pens!

Away in a Manger

2011-12-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

"And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn."
Luke 2:7

Believe

2011-12-24T07:38:00.000-08:00

"Are you still willing to believe that LOVE is the strongest thing in the world - stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death - and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas."
Henry Van Dyke

Mustard Seed Ornament

2011-12-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

These were our teacher gifts this year along with Brennan's Molasses Sugar Cookies. Otherwise, known as the best ginger snap you will ever eat!

The scripture is Matthew 17:20, "Truly I say to you, if you have FAITH as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

These are super easy to make: Mustard seeds from grocery store, Glass Ornaments, and Paint Pens!

TOMS and Beach Pic

2011-12-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

This summer I couldn't resist buying Lucy hand painted Toms! Then, I wanted to monogram mine. However, I could not find a place to do it. (The issue being that I wanted it to be really small.) I painted my monogram on them myself. And, we were ready to go for our beach photos with the whole family in our TOMS!

This is the best shot we got of our footwear!

Love painting

2011-12-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

I painted this watercolor of my brother and sister-in-law's engagement at LOVE Park in Philadelphia. We had it matted and all the guests signed the matt at the wedding! What a fun keepsake!

I had to combine 2 photos to get the scale of the fountain. Above are the 2 images I used!

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-05T12:40:00.000-08:00

Back to School

2011-08-30T10:50:00.000-07:00

Lucy started back to Mother's Day Out School today! She said, "Bye Mama" when I dropped her off. Sniff. Sniff. However, I am thrilled that she was happy to attend!

the site is up!

2011-08-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled to have our website up and running for www.jangeorgeinteriors.com.

We are still working on pulling all our project images together but our splash page is up!

Also, we are always accepting new clients!

30 days of creativity

2011-06-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to participate in this! Although everyday is a creative one for me, still, there are many unfinished projects I have going and this was a good incentive to finish them up.

You have to forgive the dark I-phone quality pics here. No, I did not illustrate this book, but I did doctor it up a bit!

If you recognize the book, it came from a Cheerios cereal box. It is called JUMP by Scott M. Fischer. Lucy loved this book when she was a baby. In fact, she loved it so much she ripped out pages and chewed the paper corners. I could not bear to throw it away.

I took a little trip to FedEx Kinko's with tattered book in hand and had it laminated. Then, I punched holes and bound it with 1" album rings. Lastly, I rounded the edges with scissors and tied bright colored ribbons on the round clips. It looks cuter than the original; good as new!

If it gets a little juice on it now or gets chewed on again, I think it will survive!

The heat is here.

2011-06-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

Summer is finally here! Hooray! Despite the heat (B-town has already hit 102 degrees), I adore summer. I love the sun setting past 9 pm, kids in our neighborhood riding bikes celebrating the bliss that school is out, watering my begonias, the gentle lullaby of the cicadas as they ease the heat of the day into the night. I could go on and on.

So, I am spending lazy summer days wearing these poolside.

Watching L. discover the fabulousness of an ice cold otterpop!

And kicking off my summer reading list with an oldie but goodie!

Kate Spade at BBB

2011-05-25T21:35:00.001-07:00

Say what you will about big name American designers doing collaborations with big box chain stores. This deal seeker is all about it. The Vera Wang collection at Kohl's has fashionably propelled me to a few soirees! So, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered the new Kate Spade items at Bed, Bath, and Beyond!

I love all things Kate Spade. The preppiness and the bright colors make me so very happy!

Now, I can get my "As Seen on TV" items and my Kate Spade all in one place. Can a girl ask for more?

Happy Shopping, mi amigas!

Go check it out yourself here.

Austin

2011-05-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

As a Registered Interior Designer (RID) with the State of Texas, we are required to obtain 8 CEU (Continuing Education Unit) classes a year.

I enjoy taking my courses in Austin and spending time with my good friend and fellow Registered Interior Designer, Jennifer Burggraaf, owner of Count and Castle Designs. Jennifer and I had every design class at Baylor together. Our friendship has continued and now we enjoy sharing our professional experiences together as well!

This year the classes were held at NEST in Austin! It was a gorgeous day to be in Austin at a beautiful store! This was the furniture display outside of NEST! Isn't that throne-type chair fabulous?

Easter

2011-04-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

The baskets decorated this time for Easter!

Support the Artists

2011-04-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

I am happy to say that the photo is showcasing 2 of my friends' creative talents. The first is the architectural genius of Jonathan Card of Urbanist Design. This is a photo of his home which is going to be featured on HGTV. Read about it here.

The painting of the blue jars is also by my friend, Carri Jobe, of Knoxville, TN. Please go discover her talent here.

Also, my talented friend Mitch McGee of Bison Design Studio is working on a few paintings for an art show at the end of April in Houston. He is also a fantastic graphic designer. Find out more about his creative endeavors here.

photo credit bison-design.com / carrijobe.com

According to Bono

2011-03-18T09:56:00.001-07:00

"It's a mind blowing concept that the God of the universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people. I'm holding out for grace. I'm holding out that Jesus took my sins to the cross, because I know who I am and I hope I don't have to depend on my own religiosity." lead singer of U2, Bono via thepoachedegg.net

An Irish Blessing

2011-03-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back.

The sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields, And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

In loving memory of my Marnee

Martha Gaskins Reimers

February 8, 1920- March 14, 2011

Wild about Color!

2011-03-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

I am loving this wildly hued fabric from Mod Green Pod! There are a few reupholstering projects that we need to do around the casa and I am dreaming of this fabric for my garden table and chairs.

Find more about Mod Green Pod fabrics here. They are fabulous green company based out of Austin!

Spring Inspiration

2011-03-14T08:23:00.001-07:00

It's about time for an interior design post! I am loving bright colors for Spring.

How about apple green cabinets and a matching gingham ceiling?

Or an aqua blue door and frame with matching millwork details?

I am loving this baby pink with accents of red in the rug and the pendant light.

Don't be afraid of color! My advice is to select the color you love and either use it as an accent or fully embrace it and use it liberally! Happy Spring!

All images are housebeautiful.com.

Book Worm

2011-02-15T17:21:00.001-08:00

Most of my friends who read this blog know that I LOVE to read! From time to time, I like to do a post about what I've been reading.

Recently, I have completed reading two classic novels, Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.

I'll refrain from giving my review on these books other than to say that I thoroughly enjoyed both of them!

If you are a fellow book worm, give these 2 a try. It will be worth your time.

I Heart Valentines Day

2011-02-14T18:33:00.000-08:00

It is looking like a Happy Valentines Day at our house.

These are my sifting baskets that I have posted about before. They make the perfect ledge for seasonal decorating. I made the V-Day banners.

I worked at Claybar Floral over the weekend and made these 2 arrangements! I had a blast getting a behind the scenes look at Valentines Day at a flower shop!

And here is my little Valentine!

Hope your Heart Day is happy!

A Fish Tale

2011-01-19T20:37:00.000-08:00

While in San Antonio over the holidays, we visited the F.I.S.H. art installation by Donald Lipski. It is located under the I-35 bridge on the historic San Antonio River Walk.

The fish are suspended under I-35 which brings a whimsical beauty to a typically ignored location. Really, how often do you look up at the underpass? We were fascinated by them!

Below are my photos of the fiberglass and resin fish but you can see more images, including the photos of how they are lit at night, here.

2 Fabulous Photographers

2011-01-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

We had the privilege of working this past fall with 2 awesome photographers! You need to friend them on FB and hire them!

This is Lucy posing for her 1st birthday pictures with Skylar Reeves of Skylar Reeves Photography.

A quick note about our session: We went to a photo party at a friend's house here in Beaumont. Skylar does a 15 minute shoot with each person and you are under no obligation to buy the photos. However, trust me, you will want to purchase! These were taken on a white backdrop and Skylar provided many different toys/props to interest Lucy. Thank you Skylar!

At the risk of seeming excessive, we also did a session with Kelly of Kelly Meche Photography in Beaumont. This was a family session for Christmas pictures. We met Kelly at Collier's Ferry Park on the Neches River in Beaumont. You would not know it from the pics but it was a cold day and the mosquitoes were swarming! Kelly was very accommodating and we were able to shoot in many different locations in the park. These pics are special because the Neches River is a sentimental location to me. Kelly captured its southern, autumn beauty perfectly!

Thanks ladies for making our memories special!

A Wild Hair

2010-12-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

I have been talking for 3 years about growing my hair and cutting it to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths which makes wigs for cancer patients.

I finally took the plunge this month. To be honest, it was a little scary to say goodbye to years of long hair. But, I like change and hair grows back! So, I went for it!

This is a pic of Tanya cutting my 8" ponytail!

Before

After (holding up the ponytail!)

In case you are wondering, you have to mail in the ponytail yourself. I sent it off in an envelope to El Paso, Texas of all places! If you click on the Beautiful Lengths link above all the instructions are on their website.

Overalls

2010-11-18T17:43:00.001-08:00

I painted Lucy's overalls for her first Baylor Homecoming! I bought the OshKosh overalls at Kohls. And then traced the bear face in a Sharpie marker. Then I used fabric paint from Hobby Lobby for the bear face and the "Sic' Em Bears." Finally, I tied green and gold grosgrain ribbons around the shoulder straps! An easy and cute way to show some BU pride!

A better view of the legs with the "Sic' Em!"

Lucy is one!

2010-11-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Lucy turned one and we had a little family party! She devoured her birthday cake! As you can see we let her eat it outside so cake could fly anywhere!

Here is Lucy exploring her PotteryBarn Anywhere Lounger chair.

I just went ahead and purchased the chair that folds out into a bed anticipating Saturday morning lounging in pajamas and watching cartoons in the future!

Lucy's personal cake! (Kroger, $3.99) - what a deal right?

Of interest: I went to this fancy bakery to get L. a cake and the lady working there suggested I try Kroger because she knew it would be less. Isn't that so nice?

Cheers to my little ladybug!

Learning to Sew

2010-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

I mentioned before that my mother-in-law taught me how to sew this past weekend. Here was our project. Curtains! Notice the ruffle at the bottom! So cute!

I cannot take all the credit for this work as she primarily did the sewing on the ruffle part and got me started on all the hems. But, I at least know how to sew a ruffle if I so desire.

PS: An interesting fact about this fabric. This used to be a sink skirt in our old house and we were able to recycle it into curtains to hide this very hideous window in our guest bathroom. In the biz, we call it "adaptive reuse."

mi casita

2010-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Thought you might like to see 2 decorative groupings from our new casa.

The "G"s.

RH gives me one every year for our anniversary.

Love em'!

Flower paintings.

I discovered when we moved that I have many paintings of flowers. I decided to group them all together. This is only a few of them. Believe it or not I actually have more that I just have not framed or hung yet. I'll snap more pics as I add to my flower wall.

More vignettes from mi casa soon.

Dexter

2010-10-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

Meet Dexter. The Jack Russell Terrier who scratched on our front door at 9:00 pm on a Thursday night. When we opened the door to see what the ruckus was, he came inside did about 20 laps around the living room and sniffed every inch of our house. Then he cozied up to me on the sofa (nevermind the rules about no doggies on the furniture). Oh man, was he the cutest four-legged little thing ever!

Sadly, Dex had to go home with his owners. We called them from the number on his collar.

Two lessons from this experience:

1.) If you own a dog, make sure your number/address is on its collar.

2.) It is always nice to help a wandering dog out because somewhere there is an owner who is missing him.

PS: Isn't it sweet that he pawed our front door? Rob had gone out to get something off the porch. We guess Dexter saw him and came over! We like to think that he said "Oh, those people look nice and I bet they love dogs!"

banner

2010-10-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

I made another little banner for my friend, Jessica and her baby Margo! Here is a photo of the "G", "I", and "R" in "girl."

The little background images of flowers and girly things like kittens and bows have a vintage look to them. They were notecards that I scored at B&N. I cut the card part off and pasted the front design part to the pink cardstock. Then, I pasted the letters and tied the ribbons. It turned out pretty cute, I think!

Next up, Lucy's Happy Birthday Banner. Then Christmas! Yay!

Update

2010-10-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

So, it turns out moving and getting settled in really does take over a month. We are officially in Beaumont now. Home sweet Home. Being here is very familiar and causes waves of nostalgia, particularly as I drive around town. This especially occurs when a song that was popular during my tenure in high school comes on the radio. Oh, the memories. Blind Melon, to name one. "All I can say is that my life is pretty plain. I like watching the puddles gather rain."

I digress.

My goal was to be completely out of boxes in a month. Mission accomplished. Other goings-on have been that Lucy is about to be 1 year old! I am working on her little birthday party.

I learned how to sew thanks to the patience and tutelage of my Mother-in-law. (pics of projects to follow in another post.)

We took Lucy to her first Baylor football game. Go Bears!

I had a birthday and thereby had an excellent mail month.

Thank you Anthropologie for 20% off and a cool candle necklace.

Menu Planner

2010-08-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

My friend from Waco, and now St. Louis, Diane, authored this post which inspired me to get creative for some going-away presents.

This is a menu planner from Ollibird.com. Isn't it so cute?

I followed Diane's how-to instructions. It was really simple.

Supplies: photo 8x10, Velcro, dry erase marker, frame, ribbon.

Instructions: Download from Ollibird.com. Print photo at HEB. Purchase supplies. Insert photo into frame with glass. Wrap Velcro around dry erase marker. Place other side of Velcro directly on the side of the frame. Tie a ribbon onto the marker. Voila!

I think the end product turned out great! It was a hit!

PS: The one I am going to make for myself is going to be with a magnet so I can put it on my fridge. It required lamination at Kinko's. I'll let you know how that turns out too!

Also, please go visit Diane's blog and view all of her projects! She is one talented lady!

Before and After: Herman Miller Chairs

2010-08-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

Last year, I bought these Herman Miller chairs for a steal at Round Top. They are fiberglass and to say they are gently used is an understatement! I finally got around to giving them a new life with a fresh coat of white spray paint!

Some furniture purists might say this is blasphemous. How could I dream of painting an iconic mid-century furniture masterpiece? But, these were in no condition to be used in my home without some TLC. Trust me!

The photo quality isn't doing these justice here but they really do look so much better!

If you are going to do a weekend project of painting furniture, be sure and get the right kind of spray paint for your project! The paint adheres differently to various surfaces. On these chairs, I used Rustoleum for plastic. It took 2 coats per chair and then I hit it with a glossy enamel.

Also, I thought I would try the hammered spray paint for the legs. How they get it to dispense with the granuels is a mystery to me, but it looks great! The legs have a nice shiny, hammered finish now.

I cannot wait to see where these beauties end up in the our new casa!

Boxes, Boxes Everywhere

2010-08-13T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hola Blog Friends! We are on the eight day count down until we move to B-town. Lucy and I are knee-deep in boxes around casita blanca. By day we play, by night we pack while L. sleeps.

We are also in the process of saying our goodbyes. It is the hardest part of moving. The picture is of us saying good bye to my co-workers in Harlingen at Valley Designs.

We are most sad about saying bye to Lucy's first friend, Jackson Farley. For me, his mommy Sarah, has been a life saver this year! There are just so many questions that you have when you become a new parent and we have been each other's go-to for baby questions! The pic. is of Lucy and Jackson at the pool. Can you tell they are both teething? They are 2 days apart and we constantly get asked if they are twins when we go places together! It is adorable.

My how we will miss them.

Sweet Home H.O.T turns 3

2010-07-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

This little blog o' mine turned 3 years old on July 3 this year! At the time I began this writing venture, I was in the throes of a major design project for Baylor, my alma mater. I was majorly stressed out if it was going to be accomplished in time for 620 students to move in! For example, I was worrying whether over 2400 pieces of dorm furniture would arrive in time for student move in! This blog was a good outlet for my job related frustrations!

My, oh my, how my life has changed.

3 years later, I am still loving design, but now I am concerned more about the feeding and sleeping schedules of a 9 month old.

Thanks for sticking with me my blog friends! I hope to do more design related posts in the future!

By the way, the project, Brooks Village and Residential College, turned out beautifully! It was worth all the hard work! Check out the link above for the finished photos! Or better yet, stop by Baylor on your way through Waco and take a tour!

Gone Baby Gone

2010-07-19T07:27:00.000-07:00

My iphone was stolen out of my car last week! Boo. I ran into a store for 10 minutes to pick up Lucy's dress for her baptism. I did not lock the car. When I came out the phone was gone.

I had heard that thieves like to target iphones and in particular to watch out at the grocery store and to not leave it in the cart exposed while you shop. I was not thinking it would get lifted in a small parking lot of a little retail store.

However, at&t was fabulous to work with during this process and I had a brand new phone in less than 24 hours!

For all you iphone users, be aware!

Hackers

2010-07-03T16:36:00.001-07:00

I have an old hotmail account that I have had for almost 10 years and it got hacked yesterday. If you received an email from me, I am fine and not in London as it says.

We are back in McAllen and our little casa weathered Hurricane Alex superbly. Our neighbor said we did not even lose power. Crazy.

Hope you are celebrating America's birthday with watermelon, apple pie, fireworks, and flying the red, white and blue!

safe in S.A.

2010-06-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

We made it to San Antonio last night! There was not a drop of rain on the way up. We've been texting with friends who stayed in McA. and everything seems to be fine there. It sounds like there has been a lot of rain today but not a lot of high winds.

Tomorrow, we'll check in with our neighbors to see how our little casa blanca fared during the storm. I pray it did well.

The big tree in front of the house is the one I hope stays in the ground tonight! There is not a more sickening feeling than driving around the corner and seeing a tree toppled over and realizing your house is under it. (ref. previous post about Hurricane Rita)

This is a pic of our little casita pre-Hurricane.

Evacuating

2010-06-29T12:35:00.000-07:00

This is a photo of what Hurricane Rita in 2005 did to my parent's house in Beaumont. If you look closely, you can see my Dad on the roof chainsawing a tree that fell on the house and pierced the ceiling in my former bedroom. (See below) This was among other damage that was done as well.

So, we are not waiting around here in Mission/McAllen area to see what Hurricane Alex will do. We know the power and fury of hurricane winds first hand. We are taking our little family including the doggies up to San Antonio tonight!

Pray that the damage here in South Texas will be minimal and pray for those not evacuating.

Summer

2010-06-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

Summer is my favorite season! I know it is H-O-T but I have such strong childhood memories of summer. Fireflies. Chlorine. Pruny fingers and toes from swimming. Ice Cream. Shirley Temples. Sticky skin from sweating and then goosebumps from walking into an ice cold room. Beach hair. Salt water.

It brings out the kid in me. So, this summer I am looking forward to:

Haagen Dazs' new flavor of ice cream, Bananas Foster! Yum! We served the delicious Bananas Foster dessert at our wedding and just the smell of it brings back memories.

Swimming: This is not my dog or my pool but I would love to be doing this every day!

Library: This is our local library that I can walk to from our house. Their kid's section is amazing and their air conditioning is muy bueno after the walk over! Summer reading is also the best! I have a long list of books to get through.

And last up is packing and boxes. Yes, we are moving in August. How many times have I moved in this month? Too many. Remember college move ins, anyone?

It is the worst month to move in Texas because it is so dang HOT but alas, we are on the move again for Rob's job. This time it is to Beaumont, my hometown. At least I will have lots of helpers there to unload the truck!

Moving looks a little different with an extra family member this time around. Pack-n-play, exer-saucer, baby toys, crib. All must go!

Happy summer to all!

More France

2010-05-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

We were touring the town of Cluny, home of a 1100 year old Abbey. It was gorgeous!

The fountains at Versailles!

Lucy on the L'Open Bus Tour.

Home from France

2010-05-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

We are home from France now. Lucy and I have been a little jet-lagged and have had some lazy days around the house. But, we had a ball on our trip!

We spent 3 days in Mercurey in Bourdeaux, wine country, visiting Rob's cousin and her kiddos! It was gorgeous!

Then, the next 4 days touring Paris! Lucy was an absolute trooper and loved being in the baby bjorn (a lifesaver). We also took the stroller for her to take naps and that worked well too.

The pic is of us at the Eiffel Tower before going up to the top. Actually, Rob and Scott went to the top and Lucy and I stayed on the second level because she was crying. It is okay because I have seen it twice before!

I'll probably post more pics later but we survived an overseas trip with a 6 month old!

Bon Voyage Postponed!

2010-05-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

I am supposed to be sitting on airplane right now high above the Atlantic Ocean dreaming of eating macaroons at a Parisian cafe. However, the Iceland Eyjafjallajokull volcano had other plans for us today.

We went all the way to the airport, 6 bags and a 6 month old in tow, which is no small feat, let me assure you, only to get a "flight cancelled" at check-in. No flights to Paris due to volcanic ash.

So, we are home now and going to go eat some Mexican food and hope for clear skies tomorrow!

image courtesy of boston.com

Goings On

2010-05-06T21:46:00.001-07:00

In dos dias, as we say in the Valley, we'll be heading across the pond for a little vacay and touring of France! Yes, we are taking our 6 month old. Yes, we are crazy, brave, or __________(insert your own adjective). We have heard it all in regards to doing this.

In other happenings, little miss Lucy is becoming little miss independent. She sat in a high chair for the first time and I cried! I am in for the long haul of tears and emotions if I am crying at her asserting her independence at only 6 months. While the high chair sit is freeing so I can actually eat at a restaurant without having to have one hand on a child at all times, it is bitter sweet because she doesn't need mommy for support any more. How much more am I going to feel this when she is driving, going on dates, attending college, etc... I am in for it.

On the upside, at least I know this about myself now, right? It is all in the mental preparation.

If you heart TCBY...

2010-05-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

Please go to the TCBY website and vote for our friends Ryan and Jen for them to win their very own franchise! They met at a TCBY for cryin' out loud! How cute is that?

Here is their video:
http://tcby.com/giveaway/videos/co

This is a pic from their awesome wedding in Colorado last August!

Go vote!

The Banner for John William

2010-04-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

I made this banner for John William Welstead.

The pictures are from a vintage book, Five Beds for Bitsy, which I ordered off of Etsy,

I carefully cut the pages out and those became the banner! Next, I assembled the papers and glued on the chipboard letters. Lastly, I punched holes in the corners and assembled with ribbon. It looks deceptively easy to make! But, it was an absolute joy to make this for my friend!

This is the "i" in William.

Shower the people you love with love!

2010-04-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

My friend Emmalie is preggers with little John William. So, a few of hosted a shower in Waco! I just had to post some of the pics from the shower. Unfortunately, I failed to get one of all of hostesses but here is one of me and Emmalie from RoundTop!

We did vintage decor and a puppy dog theme! The invitations had little doggies on them and the food theme was a vintage sweet shop!

The entry table!

Matt and Emmalie's baby photos. Cut out dogs for people to leave a little note on for John!

The food presentation!

Vintage candy in jars (via Cracker Barrel)

Cake

Pretzels with dipping sauces

Coke in bottles

Doggie Cookies (they matched the puppy on the invite)

Lollipops in a jar of Hershey kisses!

Coke in bottles!

The party favors: doggie cookies!

The mantel! A framed photo of a See John poster from a vintage Dick and Jane reader. A banner that I made from a vintage book called Five Beds for Bitsy. Each card is a letter in John's name!

Sic' Em Bears!

2010-04-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

Some might say we are crazy for taking a 5 month old to the Elite Eight to see our Bears play! But, it was awesome and so worth the 7 hour drive to get there. Lucy got to wear her cheerleader uniform making her Baylor-fanatical grandparents very happy.

My mom used to say a variation on the scripture Prov. 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go - to Baylor!"

Guess we need to start saving some dough!

There are no words.

2010-03-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

...to explain some of the odd things I see in the Valley.

Yes, it is an El Camino with a golf cart in the back.

Marnee is 90!

2010-03-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

My grandmother, Marnee (her actual name is Martie), turned 90 on February 8th. All the Reimers-Bennett girls threw her a bash! The picture is of all of the girls in the family! We all hosted the party! Even Lucy and Ella made it!

We served a down-home southern breakfast with cheese grits, egg strata, biscuits with mayhaw jelly, cinnamon rolls and birthday cake!

Making it to 90 is no small feat these days! I can hope to be so lucky!

Who's the Big Winner?

2010-03-05T07:32:00.000-08:00

I entered a little contest on the local newspaper's website in order to try and win free tickets to see the Broadway musical, Cabaret! And, I won! I am so excited! So we have a date on Tuesday night!

Additionally, this must be my lucky year because I also have won a free lunch at my Junior League meeting and a pack of the baby socks, Cheeriotoes at my yoga class.

Now, I am off to play the lotto!

Texas Citrus Festival

2010-02-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

In case you don't know, the Rio Grande Valley is known for its citrus production, namely grapefruit and oranges. Naturally, there would be a big festival to celebrate it! Below are some of the activities!

Yes, I am holding a spiraled potato or a grande french fry! Otherwise, known as a Spiropapa! It was delicious!

The Vaquero Cook-Off.

That is a real bean pot over coals and wood!

Lucy is watching the parade and thinking about being Queen Citriana!

What is a festival in the Valley without Winter Texans performing a line dance complete with costumes of top hats and canes!

The Grand Marshall of the Festival - Texas Citrus!

Books

2010-01-28T07:59:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, our family usually exchanges books as gifts! These are 3 that were given to me!

Bound South is an easy read and a southern story set in Atlanta. It follows the lives of Louise, Caroline, and Missy and how their lives are intertwined.

I had to read Sippy Cups are not for Chardonnay because it looked hilarious. I did not find it as funny as it was hyped to be. However, it helped me see mommy-hood in a more relaxed way!

And saving the best for last, I love Cecilia Ahern and all her books! The Gift is a Christmas story and was a signature Cecilia writing! She typically pens a story that is fantastical and requires you to use your suspend disbelief. This story is no exception!

Winter Texans = Entertainment

2010-01-22T08:18:00.000-08:00

Sighting #1: A man riding his bike. When cycling by a yard that was flying the American flag, he saluted it! (A large number of winter Texans are retired military.)

Sighting #2: A woman wearing a golf sweater set. And by golf, I mean actual golf symbols such as clubs, tees, and flag pins printed on the sweater! Where does one purchase such a thing? A pro shop?

Sighting #3: Blocking the entire entry into the grocery store because they bumped into their fellow Nebraskans! They must not live in the same RV park?

Yes, I am the mom who...

2010-01-17T21:24:00.000-08:00

Posts about her kid.

Cannot help it.

Loving this child more than you can imagine...

Over the past month Lucy has had some more "firsts" worth noting! There is nothing like the first time you take your child to experience a new activity! And yes, I know she is too young to remember any of this but it is still the thought that counts!

First trip to the beach, first Christmas, first art museum tour, first ride on a train (well, it was a tram really), first zoo visit, first shopping trip in Boerne, first time to meet her great grandparents, cousins, and most importantly Uncle Jeff! She also has recently started laughing and grabbing at toys and her socks!

We three Georges!

Put me in the Zoo

2010-01-17T21:09:00.000-08:00

1 curious bird

1 lazy gorilla

2 adorable bear cubs

and 1 precious baby giraffe! (notice the outfit!)

All these were the great sightings at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville!

PS: The title of this post is a reference to one of my favorite children's books! Click here.

White Elephant

2010-01-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

Over the Christmas Holidays we attended a White Elephant gift exchange. Apparently the Snuggie (for adults) is a very popular gift to give because no fewer than 3 of them were exchanged at the party.

However, one lucky person was able to go home with the fabulous and adorable Snuggie for doggies, courtesy of the Georges!

We made it home with beer! Not bad. Next year, apparently liquor and lotto tickets are the thing to bring. However, who knows what type of snuggie they might come out with next?

Magnum P.I.

2010-01-06T14:23:00.001-08:00

So, I am driving in my neighborhood yesterday and what do my wondering eyes behold but a helicopter on a trailer! I did not know Magnum P.I. moved here from Hawaii!

The culprit? I am guessing only a winter Texan would lug his helicopter all the way down south!

Amazing!

99 to 09 Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T21:31:00.001-08:00

Do you remember where you were when Y2K happened? Hard to believe it is 10 years later!
Here's to a happy 2010 and another great decade!
Cheers!

Peace!

2009-12-31T21:14:00.000-08:00

After 5 glorious years of driving "Sweetness" or "Sweetdawg" we are bidding her a fond farewell! Mommy and Daddy had to move into an SUV, dontcha know!

A big thanks to Mema and Loren for helping us out with Sweetness when we really needed it! I bet they had no idea their car would receive such a fabulous moniker!

She's been a good gal but it is time to go to someone who really appreciates her style and beauty!

Do let us know if you desire to drive this fine piece of machinery!

The Nursery Completed

2009-12-19T09:20:00.000-08:00

It has only taken 8 weeks for me to post these pics of Lucy's nursery!

I had a giraffe theme on the bedding because I fell head over heels for the green and white giraffe print. The bedding is by Jacquelyn Reese Baby. Vanessa was a pleasure to work with on this project! If you are in the market for baby bedding, please give her a chance to help you!

The original idea was to have the alphabet cards above the crib run "A-F" and then have the "G" be monogrammed on the back bumper standing for "George" and "Giraffe." However, once Lucy arrived, I quickly changed courses and had her name monogrammed on the back bumper!

Now we have to get our little gal sleeping in her lovely room!

Rock and Roll all night

2009-12-16T07:10:00.000-08:00

And party every day!

Here are the before and after photos of the rocker for Lucy's nursery.

The cushions were custom made by Jacquelyn Reese Baby. You can work with Vanessa to select your fabrics and she can make it for you!

Thanks Jaime F. for letting me know about Jacquelyn Reese Baby and thank you Vanessa for helping this old rocker get a makeover!

Queso

2009-12-15T07:18:00.001-08:00

Yes, that is a picture of queso served over coals to keep it warm! YUM! It came to the table in this mini fireplace (for lack of a better term). The queso is in a tray and the coals are underneath to keep it nice and melty!

It took 12 months but we finally found a good Mexican food restaurant down here! You would think living so close to the border it would be easy to find - but not so!

I finally found a substitute for my Ninfa's cravings!

Imperfect Christmas

2009-12-10T08:40:00.000-08:00

When the Christmas tree crashed this week, I was reminded of a good idea I heard about last year - The Imperfect Christmas Party! The idea is that your guests come to the party and bring an item (in my case of photo of the leaning Christmas tree or the 2 broken ornaments) and after the mingling and good party food - everyone gets to tell their imperfect Christmas story!

You could also do a funny spin on this party with tacky Christmas decorations and bad Christmas sweaters!

The party I heard about had a spiritual approach and ended with a focus on the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ!

Here's to an Imperfect Christmas!

Leaning Tower of Tannenbaum

2009-12-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

While eating lunch the other day, I heard a very loud crash in the living room. To my horror, the Christmas tree was laying sideways on top of the chairs! It had taken a little tumble!

I was able to prop it against the wall until reinforcements/husband arrived to help put it back up! I am happy to say it is standing upright again and looks much better. There were only 2 ornament casualties in the crash which is a miracle!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how lovely are your crushed branches!

Design Tip for Christmas Decorating: Collections!

2009-12-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

Another great tip for Holiday Decorating is to collect a holiday item! Every year you can add to your collection and it will be fun to display them and have a memory associated with your item.

My mom and I collect nativities! I also collect items that have the word Noel!

Some others I have seen and heard of are Snowmen, Santas, Nutcrackers, and Holiday Villages.

Happy Collecting!

Design Tips for Christmas Decorating

2009-12-05T22:04:00.000-08:00

As an Interior Designer, you can imagine that I love to decorate our house for Christmas. Since I am in the spirit of Christmas now that our house is very merry, I thought I would blog some of my favorite design tips for Holiday Decorating!

Design Tip for decorating your tree:

In addition to twinkle lights, don't forget to use filler items such as ribbons and garland! This helps to give the tree some visual dimension. It is a great idea if you do not have many ornaments! Another good filler is faux flowers that have long stems.

Since we have mostly vintage ornaments, I like to use my mom's red beaded garland and gold wired ribbon. Hint - if you use ribbon, you want the wired type because it will bend and mold to the branches!

More tips at a later date! Happy Decorating!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2009-12-01T07:34:00.000-08:00

The tree is up! Trimming the tree is my favorite thing to do to decorate for Christmas! Opening the ornament box it is a trip down memory lane.

Our ornaments are all my childhood ornaments and Rob's as well. It is fun to look at the ballet slipper ornaments that I received in ballet classes every year as a child. Also, we have an abundance of wooden bells and soldiers that both Rob and I had to sell for fundraisers for school as children. I guess they were not hot sellers!

My absolute favorites are the ones my Mom let us pick out every year. My brother and I were allowed to pick one special ornament each year for the tree. When decorating every year I pull these out and I can recall why it was selected and why as a child I thought it was special! Of course, there are the classic 80's ones like Strawberry Shortcake!

One of my favorites is a clothes pin with mice on it that was purchased at a craft fair. It is made with those little puff balls of cotton and is smashed down so you can barely tell what it is! I still adore it!

I could gush on and on! So, what is your favorite ornament?

Firsts

2009-11-30T07:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Belated Thanksgiving Friends! We are ever so thankful this year for God's precious gift of life in little Lucy! This girl is an absolute treasure and we are blessed beyond words!

We are marking life in firsts right now. Just a few that I can think of are: Lucy's first Thanksgiving, first bath, first doctor appointment, first Christmas tree, and our first Christmas in the Valley, first real cold front of the fall (low of 55 degrees) and so many more!

Sure, I am missing some of the Holiday traditions we had in Waco like going to the Baylor Chamber Singers, Christmas Shopping at Spice, decorating our house with twinkle lights, and walking around campus admiring its beauty at Christmas! But, we are seeing life through new eyes this year!

I am loving this verse for this time of year.

Philippians 4:6

"Do not be anxious for anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. "

Define Winter Texan

2009-11-17T19:20:00.000-08:00

Click the link for a definition of Winter Texan.

And here is an image of what one might be VERY likely to see here in Valley!

Blue Christmas

2009-11-17T19:15:00.000-08:00

Tonight I saw the first twinkling Christmas lights on the outside of a house.

They were blue and on a mobile home.

Welcome back to the Valley, Winter Texans.

3 Rebeccas

2009-11-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to be able to pass down the name Rebecca to our precious baby girl! There are only 3 of us gals in the Reimers clan now but we can all claim the name Rebecca. Here is a pic of us below!

Rebecca Jan
Lucy Rebecca
Rebecca Jean (my Mom, who goes by Becky)

One Confused Puppy

2009-11-04T15:23:00.000-08:00

This is me and Buddy the day I went to the hospital. Look at Buddy smiling at the camera! So cute! He had no idea we were going to be bringing home an infant the next day - neither did we!

He has been hilarious over these past 3 weeks. At first, he could not figure out who Lucy was and what she was doing with all the crying. One of the first evenings, he came to sleep by my bedside and next to the bassinet. He heard Lucy crying, and promptly got up and went into the guest room.

He has slowly warmed up to her and realized she is here to stay! Now, we are just trying to keep him from licking her!

It's a whole new world!

2009-11-04T15:06:00.001-08:00

Last night while rocking Lucy during the 2 a.m. feeding, I found myself sitting in the total darkness of our living room and coming up with a list of things that needed to be completed in the room. It turns out the early morning is a good time to notice all the things you want to modify! Also, when you are held hostage/captive audience - whichever term you want to use - while your child gets nourishment, you have to do something to stay awake!

Here was my list:

1.) Rehang the curtains.

2.) Remove old curtain hardware

3.) Remove old nail protruding from wood molding.

4.) Attempt removal of random hook in ceiling. Break the hook off. Leave for husband to try!

5.) Buy felt pads for rocker so it will quit "walking" on the carpet!

6.) Where will the Christmas tree go?

7.) Should I rearrange the sofa and the chairs? If I do, can you see the TV from the new sofa position?

8.) Maybe I just need a new sofa?

I actually was able to accomplish 1-5 today! Hooray.

Perhaps tonight, I will rock the baby in the another room and see what can be done in there!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

2009-11-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

I just noticed today that Christmas commercials are already on tv. Yay! I love that they are on so early! It always seems to me that December goes by way to quickly so if the advertisers want to get it started early, I am all for it!

Here is the mantel from last year! Sadly this year, in the new casa, there is no fireplace mantel. I will have to exercise some creativity in placing Christmas Decor!

welcome home sign

2009-10-31T13:59:00.000-07:00

This was the Pickles and Ice Cream sign of which I previously posted. My intention was to take it to the hospital and announce either "It is a Girl" or "It is a Boy" and have both little signs ready to go and tape it on there.

Since Lucy arrived 10 days early, I did not get a chance to take it to the hospital. But, I was able to personalize it this week with Lucy's name and birthday to hang in our entry!

Thank you, dear Karen, for such a great sign! We are loving it!

Reading Cards on Display

2009-10-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

I received these vintage reading cards at our shower in Waco. They are from an old Golden Book. I could not resist displaying them in the nursery!

The nursery also has a reading/alphabet theme to it! We received so many baby books at the shower because RH and I both love to read and we plan to get LRG started early as well. Her Mimi has already started reading to her! She loves it!

The wicker woven display mounts I have had in various rooms over the years. They were a find on a shopping excursion in Dallas and when turned over make a perfect nook for stuffed animals!

This is a wide view above the guest bed which is also in the nursery. I still have to hang a little banner between the 2 wicker displays. Will post that when it is completed!

Here She Is!

2009-10-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite pic of LRG less than 24 hours old! So cute!
We are captivated by this little gal!

Changing Table - Before and Afters!

2009-10-27T10:07:00.000-07:00

To accompany the vintage bassinet, there was also a wicker changing table found in the attic of Rob's parent's house. It needed some major TLC but after a few coats of white paint and some trimming of errant wicker pieces, it turned out nicely, I think!

AFTER - ready for changing diapers!

Image 1: Before paint, 30 years in the attic

Image 2: After paint and a really good scrubbing!

Thought you might want to see a close up of the wall decor above the changing table. These are my brother's baby clothes and a horsey lamp that hung in his room! I put them on white canvases and attached them with white pearl corsage straight pins. I now have to change these to my pink baby dresses! I was convinced we were having a boy so I pinned the boy clothes up!

More pics of the remainder of the vintage inspired nursery to follow soon!

It's a Girl!

2009-10-25T16:23:00.001-07:00

We were suprised on Thursday evening to welcome our precious baby girl into the world at 12:45 a.m. Lucy Rebecca was born about 2 weeks early and is doing wonderfully! She was 7lbs and.05 oz and 19 1/2" long! We brought her home yesterday and now are adjusting to life as parents! God is good! His miracle of life is a gift!

We will be posting photos soon!

Hostess with the Mostest!

2009-10-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

If you love exploring other ideas for entertaining, here is a blog I very much enjoy reading and seeing the awesome ideas that people have used for parties!
http://www.hostessblog.com/

Happy Hosting!

Center Piece Fabulosity!

2009-10-18T13:08:00.001-07:00

We have some really creative friends who have blessed us with baby showers over the course of these 9 months! Because I love entertaining and decorating, I could not resist posting the centerpieces from these parties!

These are the vintage baby treasures from the Waco party! How cute are the little alphabet cards in the jumbo paperclips?! The nursery has an alphabet theme and a vintage theme so these were perfect!

This eye-popping idea is from our friends in San Antonio! I love the fall mums and the vintage stuffed animals which were from our nurseries as babies! Our moms sneakily brought them to the shower and put them in the baskets!

And here we are, the proud parents-to-be! Do we look bewildered? We are! But, we are blessed by so many people who have loved us and will love on this little one too!

This is at Rob's office party! We had a yummy cake, mint punch, and Rudy's BBQ - a favorite!

Poet and Boudain

2009-10-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

My Mom and I hosted a Sip n' See the Bride party for my cousin this past weekend prior to her wedding. Lindsay and Steve have 2 black Labradors, Poet and Boudain. Since, they could not attend the wedding festivities, we had a table centerpiece in there honor.

The 2 red tiles with labs on them are kitchen trivets. They are surrounded by the engagement photos Lindsay and Steve took with "the girls." The little signs with their names on them are made with some scrapping materials!

The little poem in the center is from Poet and Boudain to Linds on her wedding day. It reads:

Dear Lindsay,

You are going to be a beautiful bride!

And since today we cannot be by your side,

We send a reminder of us precious two,

We'll be waiting at home for Steve and you!

Love, Poet and Boudain

Here is the brunch table! Homemade Cinnamon Rolls - a Reimers/Bennett family favorite! And Chocolate Chip, Strawberry and Cinnamon/Sugar muffins! Yum!

Baby Bassinet Debut! - Before and After

2009-10-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

Here is the baby's bassinet - a vintage find from Rob's parent's attic! With a little white paint and some Ikea fabric, it is has a new updated twist and is ready to go for little baby George! Rob's mom graciously sewed the little bumper and skirt! Great job, Taddy!

Before paint and washing!

Ikea fabric!

fashion secret

2009-09-19T17:29:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it. I am over 30 and I shop at Forever 21. There it is for all to read. Seriously though, their line twelve by twelve is feminine and has some perfect sweaters for fall! Best of all, their prices are a steal for this thrifty shopper!

Welcome Fall!

Pickles and Ice Cream

2009-09-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

We had a little baby shower and my creative friend, Karen, went all out with the precious themed decorations!

This is the Pickles and Ice Cream sign she made that was hanging by the entry door! I am going to re-use it in the hospital to announce the birth of this little one! How can an Interior Designer go to the hospital without some sort of decoration, right? This sign will be perfect!

Precious little petit fours with baby shoes!

Custom made frames by Karen with our baby photos and the baby's sono!

And a matching diaper cake! So cute!

Thank you Karen, Janet, and Bracken for making this day so special!

We love NOLA!

2009-09-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

We went to New Orleans to celebrate 5 fabulous years of marriage! When you are 32 weeks preggers, you basically eat your way around the city since partying on Bourbon Street is not too appealing and not good for baby! For this cajun foodie, we stocked up on some major yummy seafood! It is hard to come by down here in the Valley, so we must eat it when we can and while it is fresh!

Oyster shells from Acme Oyster House! Yummo! (Mommy-t0-be reluctantly had to pass on the raw ones though. DANG!)

Beignets and Cafe au Lait from Cafe Du Monde. A trip to NOLA is not complete without a stop at this famous cafe!

The streetcar making its way down St. Charles!

Other favorites from the trip were Luke, one of Chef John Besh's restaurants and Parasols. Delish!

What is wrong with this photo?

2009-07-27T20:58:00.000-07:00

Take a hard look. Is it the dogs? The car? Oh wait. Could it be the illicit bumper sticker that we found stuck on our car at the beach? Yeah - it is an advertisement for a strip club - Valley Girls. Nice.

We got the car stuck in the sand and these nice people, or so we thought, pulled us out. Apparently, they also found our car to be a good advertisement for their strip club business. Wouldn't it have been funny to go to church with this on the back? Hilarious!

Time

2009-07-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

"Not only are we harried by time, we seem unable, despite a thousand generations, even to get used to it. We are always amazed at it - how fast it goes, how slowly it goes, how much of it is gone. Where, we cry, has the time gone? We aren't adapted to it, not at home in it. If that is so, it may appear as proof, or at least a powerful suggestion, that eternity exists and is our home."

- Sheldon Van Auken
A Severe Mercy

A Severe Mercy

2009-07-22T21:00:00.001-07:00

Typically I refrain from posting about the books I have read other than what is in the side column. However, I cannot resist recommending A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Van Auken. An author in modern times could not write a better love story than the one Van Auken tells. The best part about it is that it is autobiographical. The deep love with which he writes about his wife is so very moving. I am not a book reviewer so I will leave it at that, but do yourself a favor. Go to the library, find Van Auken, blow the dust off this classic and dig in for a good read!

Hey Cous!

2009-07-18T14:51:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we celebrated my cousin, Lindsay, by throwing her a bachelorette weekend in Austin! She is getting married in October in the Hill Country.

We had some delicious meals and a big night out on the town! Lindsay wore all white and all the other girls wore black! I am sure we were quite a scene. If you are frequent visitor to Austin, I recommend Malaga, the Spanish tapas and wine bar. The lamb and meatballs were to die for!

This is a pic of the cousins (molly, lindsay, megan and me!) I did not get the tall genes in the family.

Matters of the Heart

2009-07-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

My dad had an angioplasty today. This is a simple procedure where the Dr. goes in through the femoral artery and places a stint inside to open it up and increase the blood flow to the heart. The procedure was successful and my Dad is resting comfortably now. We are so thankful that the Dr. found the blockage on the angiogram today!

Modern medicine is simply amazing. Both my grandads died of heart attacks before they were 57 years old. If only, there were angioplasty surgeries back then!

Thanks to Dr. Colgan in Beaumont for taking care of Dr. John!

Hotter than a...

2009-07-09T21:13:00.001-07:00

For the record, the temp. gauge on the car today read 108 degrees.
Seriously. Hot.

Your tax dollars at work

2009-07-02T16:26:00.001-07:00

Yes, this is a photo of the border wall. It is real and massive and it is being constructed on the banks of the Rio Grande. You can get an idea of the scale and size of it based on the giant tractor parked next to it. It is concrete at the base and fence on the top.

There are very mixed reviews regarding the construction of the border fence in this part of the state. By in large, most people are against it. It is not difficult to understand their position, not the least of which is that the wall is obtrusive and has zero aesthetic appeal. It seems like a giant magnet for graffiti (probably the least of the government's worries).

I cannot help but wonder if in 20, 30 or 50 years, we'll all watch in amazement as Mexicans and Americans chip away at this wall much like we watched the wall come down in Germany in the 89?

Border Patrol

2009-07-02T16:12:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took our out-of-town friends to the border of Mexico and Texas. A 50 cent toll is all it takes to walk onto the bridge. Since we did not have our passports with us, we did not walk over into Mexico but stayed stateside! This was on the Reynosa bridge about 10 miles from our house. Unbelievable isn't it?

This photo is the boundary sign on the bridge directly above the middle of the Rio Grande River.

Here is a view of the river. Texas is on the right. Mexico is on the left. And, it is as simple as walking across, valid paperwork in hand, of course!

Texas our Texas

2009-07-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

What is not to love and adore about a book that glamorizes our awesome state? First published in 1967, This is Texas, by M. Sasek is making a comeback! Check out all the author's other books as well, here. These make great gift ideas for when an ordinary gift just won't do!

Sand Storm

2009-06-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

Speaking of visiting West Texas, I experienced my first sand storm. My mom grew up seeing these powerful storms blow through her home town on the border of Texas and New Mexico. I have heard so much about how the sky turns pinkish brown and you can watch the sand roll just like you see storm clouds blow through the sky. Sure enough, that is how it happens! This was the view from my Grandmother's front porch!

Seconds later, this was the sky. No rain, just sand and dirt blowing like mad. I've seen hurricanes in Beaumont, tornadoes in Waco, and now a sand storm in Lubbock.

Soap Box

2009-06-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

While visiting West Texas this past week, we stumbled on this amazing boutique, The Lemon Tree. Who knew that shopping in Lubbock could be so trendy? Swing by in person or online to see what great finds and style Elizabeth brings to her little slice of Texas!

I loved these little soaps! Not that I would ever actually wash my hands with it because the dog is just too cute!

Calling all Chi Omegas - wouldn't this be a cute gift! Hoot Hoot! Visit here for all the other animals available.

Welcome Summer!

2009-06-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

The summer heat is giving us a big, wet, humid kiss down here in the Valley! But I love it! It is by far my favorite time of year!

Goings on in Valley life for us:

We had the honor of attending our friends' wedding at the island. Otherwise known as South Padre to non-locals! It was a quaint ceremony on the beach and it was beyond perfect! Cheers to Becky and Lane!

I started a little part time gig in Harlingen. For the first time I am working with all women and it is so fun! I did not know what I was missing. There is many a discussion about delicious meals, fabulous jewelry, and cute clothes. All those years of working in offices that were predominately male and having to suppress my girly side can finally be released! Hooray!

We are excited about having a summer to do whatever we want for the first time in 3 years! Law school has dominated our past summers. Hope you are planning a festive vacation and some time off as well!