This post very well might go down in creepy blogger/overshare history, but here it goes.
Thursday night/Friday morning, I had a dream. And you were there. And you were there. And you were there if I've been following your blog and you've been following mine for the last 6 months or so. Yep, I had a dream about a bloggy get together. We were playing kickball in a park and everyone had a dog. I don't have a dog; Mr. H and I are in the midst of discussing whether we're ready to become puppy parents. I can't tell if this dream is telling me:
a) it's time for another bloggy get together,
b) it's time to just sack up and get a dog,
c) I feel guilty that it has been an entire week since I've shared anything with you and unlike some weeks I actually have good stuff to share!, or
d) I am the most ridiculous person ever for not only having a dream about my internet friends, but then sharing said dream for all the internet world to know.
Commence voting.
Stay tuned for a recap of last weekend's East Side Pub Crawl and to learn why my hubs said, "She was pretty cute... for a blue chick."
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
100 Ramblings
How have I managed to come up with 100 blog posts about my life? Well, it's been 10 months (really 8 if you don't count the 2 month bloggy sabbatical I took) of wedding planning, newlywed-dom, and cocktail recaps.
This post reminds me of the last time I quantified what the number 100 means. No, it wasn't on Dec. 24, the day Mr. H and I had been married 100 days. Ok, it was, but that is way less interesting than the 100th day of first grade. Each student in my class had to bring in 100 somethings - pennies, beans, candy bars, jelly beans, buttons, etc. I have no idea what I brought in on 100 Day, but I do remember it fondly. Each student walked around the classroom and put 1 item on each student's desk until all 100 items ran out. Each student ended up with 100 somethings (well, unless the 100th piece was supposed to go to the person who sat right next to your best friend and you wanted to give her the last something you had - I DO remember that part of 100 Day).
I thought briefly about telling you 100 things that you don't know about me, but that's a mighty long list that would be both boring to read and tiresome to create. Then what would I have to write about in the future?
So instead, I give you 10 things you should know about me that don't deserve individual posts:
1. I had a fan-tabulous time at the get together last night with Ex-Yankee, Dezzy Lou, Tobin, and Amelia. We had a small crew, but a great time. I'm glad I got to meet and get to know 4 new lady bloggers in one night!
2. I'm kind of a beer snob. When I met Mr. H, I admitted to him that the nicest beer I'd ever had was a Corona. Hey - I was a poor college student! I think I truly discovered how delicious beer could be while in New Zealand. I wonder if it is really as delicious as I remember. I guess I'll just have to go back and find out! I'll drink a cheap domestic beer, but when given the choice I'll go for an American craft brew any day. Which kind depends on the season.
3. We have a homebrewery. Shortly after we moved to Austin, Mr. H started brewing his own beer. He hasn't made a bad one yet. He even brewed two different kinds of beer for our wedding! This is both the result of and the source for #2.
4. We're members of the Home Brewers Association. Yep. It was a wedding gift. Supposedly we get discounts at bars across the country, though the list is quite short. We're really pumped that membership gets us access to special members only events at Great American Beer Fest in Denver in September. We'll celebrate our anniversary by tasting 2 oz samples of craft beers from around the world.
5. I've had 2 friends for 20 years. My kindergarten class had 7 girls and 23 boys. I can still name every girl that was in that class. Two of them are my still my best friends and bridesmaids. They are like sisters to me. We're taking a 20th Anniversary trip this summer to celebrate our years of friendship and have a good old fashioned girls weekend. Any suggestions?
6. I love my hairstylist. This is particularly appropriate because I got my hair cut today. If you are looking for a new stylist, I highly recommend Frenchy's Beauty Parlor in the heart of South Austin. The stylists are super friendly, they give you wine, and they are reasonably priced for a fantastic haircut.
7. I've never been snow skiing. I still can't decide if I want to try. I'm sure it would be quite a thrill, but I had a rather traumatic sledding accident when I was 11 and haven't gone down a snowy hill since. I'm willing to go on a ski trip and try it out, but let's be real - I'll probably end up spending my time in the lounge drinking a hotty toddy. There are lounges by the slopes, right? I hope so because that's where I've always pictured myself hanging out.
8. I don't play team sports. I just don't. I grew up a dancer, tennis player, and swimmer, though I use most of those terms loosely. In high school I was a cheerleader and on the dance team. I all but hid in the corner during P.E. when we had to play volleyball, dodgeball, basketball, but would proudly strut my stuff on square dancing week. Yes, we learn to square dance in elementary school P.E.
9. I love playing games. Mr. H and I love busting out a game in the evening. Currently, we like Banana Grams (very similar to Scrabble, but based on speed instead of points). We also play Dominos, Phase 10, Rummikub, and board games. We actually played dominos for a bit on our engagement picnic in Mayfield Park.
10. I want to learn how to sew so I can make myself Betty Draper-esque dresses. My feelings about Mad Men are for another post (maybe), but I am loving the cute printed dresses that Betty Draper wears on the show.
There you have it! Happy 100 posts to me!
This post reminds me of the last time I quantified what the number 100 means. No, it wasn't on Dec. 24, the day Mr. H and I had been married 100 days. Ok, it was, but that is way less interesting than the 100th day of first grade. Each student in my class had to bring in 100 somethings - pennies, beans, candy bars, jelly beans, buttons, etc. I have no idea what I brought in on 100 Day, but I do remember it fondly. Each student walked around the classroom and put 1 item on each student's desk until all 100 items ran out. Each student ended up with 100 somethings (well, unless the 100th piece was supposed to go to the person who sat right next to your best friend and you wanted to give her the last something you had - I DO remember that part of 100 Day).
I thought briefly about telling you 100 things that you don't know about me, but that's a mighty long list that would be both boring to read and tiresome to create. Then what would I have to write about in the future?
So instead, I give you 10 things you should know about me that don't deserve individual posts:
1. I had a fan-tabulous time at the get together last night with Ex-Yankee, Dezzy Lou, Tobin, and Amelia. We had a small crew, but a great time. I'm glad I got to meet and get to know 4 new lady bloggers in one night!
2. I'm kind of a beer snob. When I met Mr. H, I admitted to him that the nicest beer I'd ever had was a Corona. Hey - I was a poor college student! I think I truly discovered how delicious beer could be while in New Zealand. I wonder if it is really as delicious as I remember. I guess I'll just have to go back and find out! I'll drink a cheap domestic beer, but when given the choice I'll go for an American craft brew any day. Which kind depends on the season.
3. We have a homebrewery. Shortly after we moved to Austin, Mr. H started brewing his own beer. He hasn't made a bad one yet. He even brewed two different kinds of beer for our wedding! This is both the result of and the source for #2.
4. We're members of the Home Brewers Association. Yep. It was a wedding gift. Supposedly we get discounts at bars across the country, though the list is quite short. We're really pumped that membership gets us access to special members only events at Great American Beer Fest in Denver in September. We'll celebrate our anniversary by tasting 2 oz samples of craft beers from around the world.
5. I've had 2 friends for 20 years. My kindergarten class had 7 girls and 23 boys. I can still name every girl that was in that class. Two of them are my still my best friends and bridesmaids. They are like sisters to me. We're taking a 20th Anniversary trip this summer to celebrate our years of friendship and have a good old fashioned girls weekend. Any suggestions?
6. I love my hairstylist. This is particularly appropriate because I got my hair cut today. If you are looking for a new stylist, I highly recommend Frenchy's Beauty Parlor in the heart of South Austin. The stylists are super friendly, they give you wine, and they are reasonably priced for a fantastic haircut.
7. I've never been snow skiing. I still can't decide if I want to try. I'm sure it would be quite a thrill, but I had a rather traumatic sledding accident when I was 11 and haven't gone down a snowy hill since. I'm willing to go on a ski trip and try it out, but let's be real - I'll probably end up spending my time in the lounge drinking a hotty toddy. There are lounges by the slopes, right? I hope so because that's where I've always pictured myself hanging out.
8. I don't play team sports. I just don't. I grew up a dancer, tennis player, and swimmer, though I use most of those terms loosely. In high school I was a cheerleader and on the dance team. I all but hid in the corner during P.E. when we had to play volleyball, dodgeball, basketball, but would proudly strut my stuff on square dancing week. Yes, we learn to square dance in elementary school P.E.
9. I love playing games. Mr. H and I love busting out a game in the evening. Currently, we like Banana Grams (very similar to Scrabble, but based on speed instead of points). We also play Dominos, Phase 10, Rummikub, and board games. We actually played dominos for a bit on our engagement picnic in Mayfield Park.
10. I want to learn how to sew so I can make myself Betty Draper-esque dresses. My feelings about Mad Men are for another post (maybe), but I am loving the cute printed dresses that Betty Draper wears on the show.
There you have it! Happy 100 posts to me!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
excitement.
Is it just me or is there far too much excitement packed into a few days?
-Valentine's Day -despite rant below, still consumes energy
-Presidents' Day - sadly no day off work, but at least I got to enjoy Trudy's Monday happy hour of $5 Mexican Martinis (yes plural)
-Mardi Gras - think I'll spend it relaxing while watching...
-Winter Olympics! It took me 3 whole days to figure out why I didn't recall a single thing from the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino. I was in Australia watching Aussie coverage. They won their very first winter gold that year and that is all they talked about for 10 days. Ok, that and the fact I was in freaking Australia and had better things to do than watch TV!
So much excitement, yet surprisingly nothing to blog about.
-Valentine's Day -despite rant below, still consumes energy
-Presidents' Day - sadly no day off work, but at least I got to enjoy Trudy's Monday happy hour of $5 Mexican Martinis (yes plural)
-Mardi Gras - think I'll spend it relaxing while watching...
-Winter Olympics! It took me 3 whole days to figure out why I didn't recall a single thing from the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino. I was in Australia watching Aussie coverage. They won their very first winter gold that year and that is all they talked about for 10 days. Ok, that and the fact I was in freaking Australia and had better things to do than watch TV!
So much excitement, yet surprisingly nothing to blog about.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Why I Hate Valentine's Day
My hatred of Valentine's Day started somewhere around 9th grade. I guess that's the time we stopped having afternoon holiday parties where sending meaningless Mickey Mouse/Barbie/Looney Toons valentines ended and the showmanship began. Parents sent their daughters bouquets at school creating such a disruption that the library had to be closed to create a holding room for the gifts. Why not just give that special some one a gift in private? Valentine's Day is about outdoing everyone else in an attempt to "prove" that you love your significant other (of perhaps only a few days) more than everyone else loves their special some one.
Many blamed my hatred on the holiday on the fact that I was eternally single (until I met Mr. H). Maybe I was a tad jealous of the flowers, date nights, and loser boyfriends simply because I didn't have them, but more than that I was nauseated. Why on earth do we exchange the same gifts that everyone exchanges on that day? Who decided that a dozen red roses, a Whitman's sampler, and a tiny white teddy bear proclaiming "I wuv you" was the key to a lady's heart?
Four years ago, Mr. H and I had been dating about 3 weeks when Valentine's Day rolled around. In an earlier group conversation, I mentioned my hatred of the holiday, defended my reasoning, and actually had a few people admit that they felt the same way. So on our first Valentine's Day together sometime between "classes" and studying, we walked to the corner Tip Top store to buy Scrumpy. Mr. H said, "I know you don't like Valentine's Day, but 'Happy Valentine's Day' anyway." And our Feb. 14s have been about the same ever since. No gifts. No fancy dinners out. Just another day together to enjoy our love for one another as every day should be.
Since someecards says it best, I give you the sentiments that I can't fully express on my own.
Many blamed my hatred on the holiday on the fact that I was eternally single (until I met Mr. H). Maybe I was a tad jealous of the flowers, date nights, and loser boyfriends simply because I didn't have them, but more than that I was nauseated. Why on earth do we exchange the same gifts that everyone exchanges on that day? Who decided that a dozen red roses, a Whitman's sampler, and a tiny white teddy bear proclaiming "I wuv you" was the key to a lady's heart?
Four years ago, Mr. H and I had been dating about 3 weeks when Valentine's Day rolled around. In an earlier group conversation, I mentioned my hatred of the holiday, defended my reasoning, and actually had a few people admit that they felt the same way. So on our first Valentine's Day together sometime between "classes" and studying, we walked to the corner Tip Top store to buy Scrumpy. Mr. H said, "I know you don't like Valentine's Day, but 'Happy Valentine's Day' anyway." And our Feb. 14s have been about the same ever since. No gifts. No fancy dinners out. Just another day together to enjoy our love for one another as every day should be.
Since someecards says it best, I give you the sentiments that I can't fully express on my own.
Run Girls, Run!
Congrats to all my blog friends who I'm sure by now have completed the Austin Half Marathon! I admire your dedication to running and motivation to run great distances. Last night I got to chow down on brie, hummus, crackers, veggies, meatball subs, and Texas sheet cake with a crew of real life friends in honor of two who are running in the race.
I am not a runner and probably never will be. Perhaps one of these days I'll run another 5K. Until then, it's BodyAttack and yoga for this girl. And carbo loading with my runner friends.
I am not a runner and probably never will be. Perhaps one of these days I'll run another 5K. Until then, it's BodyAttack and yoga for this girl. And carbo loading with my runner friends.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Month-a-versaries
I don't celebrate Valentine's Day. I hate the holiday. More on that later. Or not. Haven't decided yet if I want to acknowledge such a forced holiday's existence since it isn't really worth my time.
However, Mr. H and I celebrate our month wedding anniversaries. We're using the 12th of each month to try an Austin restaurant that we've never been to before. This has been a lot of fun and we've discovered a few new favorites! It also turns an ordinary day into an unexpected date night.
So here's what we have so far:
October: South Congress Cafe
I'd technically been here before for a work lunch, but Mr. H wanted to try it and I'd never been for dinner. Food is excellent. I had a pasta with jalapeno olive oil, loads of veggies, and shrimp. Deee-lightful. Highly recommend. They also have a fairly lengthy cocktail list, including the Austin-famous Trudy's Mexican Martini (owned by the same people). We've been back again and had an equally fantastic (maybe even better?) meal. Definitely intend on taking visiting friends here in the future.
November: Sao Paulo's Restaurante
I'd been here before as well, but only for their a-maz-ing happy hour. The food was quite good (I had paella), but it probably won't make it in to our usual rotation. Definitely check out the happy hour. Really cheap margs, really cheap chips and queso. Perhaps a future get together spot?
December: Asti Trattoria
This was probably the most expensive restaurant we've gone to for an anniversary meal (South Congress Cafe is a close second) and definitely has the decor of a modern fine dining establishment. However, I was highly disappointed by my meal. I ordered a saffron seafood risotto with a "spicy" tomato sauce. The sauce was not only not spicy, but I would go so far as to say bland. The meal was saved by the bottle of wine we split, delicious bread and appetizers, and the Quack's cupcake I got across the street before heading home.
January: The Grove Wine Bar
This place is a little off the beaten path for us (360 and Bee Cave). We first saw it over a year ago when we were searching for wedding venues and visited a couple in the area. This meal left me smiling and wanting more more more. It is definitely a new favorite. Awesome wine list as you would expect from a Wine Bar. The menu has something for everyone - pizza, salad, paninis, pasta. We opted to split an order of bruschetta (they serve three toasts open face with your choice of 3 toppings.We went for traditional fresh mozzerella, basil, garlic and olive oil; sausage, roasted peppers and goat cheese; and figs, brie and apples). Then we split a pizza. The Chicken Little (chicken, loads of garlic, caramelized onions, gorgonzola, and rosemary) was divine. I wanted to go back the next day and get another one. And I like variety in my meals. We topped the meal off with a flourless chocolate tort that was worth every single one of its 1,500 calories.
February: Woodland
We spend a decent bit of time on South Congress and have thought about dining here many times. This was the perfect choice for a cold February evening. I was craving comfort food, and comfort food I got. The interior looks like a cabin straight out of 1960. They have a fun and interesting cocktail list and a somewhat limited menu (not a bad thing for me). I got shrimp and grits with bacon in a spicy creole sauce. I've had a lot of shrimp and grits in my day and these were definitely in the top 3. The service was so-so. I think we got there right at the beginning of their dinner rush when every single server in the place was double seated. The servers were also all wearing vintage clothing, but I got the impression that was just the way they are, not that it was a Woodland-enforced dress code. Restaurants like this are among the many reasons I love Austin.
What restaurants do you recommend?
Friday, February 12, 2010
Friday Funnies
These two videos may have gotten me through the second half of this week. I'm probably way late to the party on the first one, but I think y'all are going to want to see the second.
It's the blanket that moves with you!
Enjoy and Happy Weekend!
It's the blanket that moves with you!
Enjoy and Happy Weekend!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Come Baccarat Soon!
Here's a look at Vegas week in pictures.
Dinner at Bouchon - Amazing!
Waiting for the Bellagio Fountain show. Love the lights!
The H's
Mr. H admiring the fountain
Jumping at the Beatles' LOVE Cirque du Soliel sign
We got half price tickets because we were staying at the Mirage!
Serious air
Waiting for another Bellagio fountain show. This one never started. Please forgive my fashion faux pas of athletic shoes with jeans. I had some serious blisters on my feet.
Old Town Vegas
Any Arrested Development fans out there? From the front this genie lamp looked like a chicken.Or maybe that was the football full of liquor...
Watching the Fremont St. Experience.
Dolphins at the Mirage
Leopards
Lions
Sigfried and Roy's white tigers
Sleepy wait in the airport
Thursday, February 4, 2010
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Chipper
* Vegas recap coming soon!*
You know how in my last post I hoped I would have no stories reminiscent of The Hangover? Well, I don't. Not really at least.
Except for this:
That's an exaggeration to say the least. But at some point in the not so distant past, I chipped the front outside corner of my back molar (those are technical terms, ya know). I discovered this yesterday after lunch when I thought I had food stuck in my teeth. No, no. I'm just missing part of my tooth. Gross.
I'm going to the dentist next Monday and have no clue what he's going to tell me. I've never had anything like this happen before. I've never even had a cavity (knock on wood). Hopefully since it is a back tooth and it doesn't hurt that means it will be an inexpensive and painless fix. Hopefully this is a unique incident and my teeth aren't going to start chipping away at age 24. Right? Right? Please tell me I'm right.
You know how in my last post I hoped I would have no stories reminiscent of The Hangover? Well, I don't. Not really at least.
Except for this:
That's an exaggeration to say the least. But at some point in the not so distant past, I chipped the front outside corner of my back molar (those are technical terms, ya know). I discovered this yesterday after lunch when I thought I had food stuck in my teeth. No, no. I'm just missing part of my tooth. Gross.
I'm going to the dentist next Monday and have no clue what he's going to tell me. I've never had anything like this happen before. I've never even had a cavity (knock on wood). Hopefully since it is a back tooth and it doesn't hurt that means it will be an inexpensive and painless fix. Hopefully this is a unique incident and my teeth aren't going to start chipping away at age 24. Right? Right? Please tell me I'm right.
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