"Step it up" conference/my mother-in-law is awesome dot com

perhaps you remember last year,
as i was getting to know my future mom-in-law...

she put on this mini-conference.

we giggled and talked about possible decor
because we weren't yet engaged, but getting there.

this year,
she outdid herself.

the decor was essentially my wedding
(plus the "foot fotos)

the program and classes and food were great too...

this food right here,
may or may not have been the demise of my diet endeavors last week...

good news: men will help with anything when food is involved...

kelly's classroom.
she taught about motivating children to learn.
that is a creative passionate teacher.

darlene + posse

what a day.
i felt inspired.

we could also talk about how that day jayme's car was broken into
and bombed/torched,
or how aunt linda got a lung (after waiting 2 years)...

the Big Guy who is ever watching,
yet again,
reminds me I am so blessed.

things that make me happy....

this may be one of our favorite gifts so far
(no worries. we haven't been able to use many.
what you gave us is surely our first favorite.)

yummy granny wheat recipe. mmm

thanks cc for reminding me that these exist.
artichokes are only 70 cals a piece and high in fiber...
that hollandaise isn't though...

these non-stick pans might be our other favorites.
fajitas on wheat tortillas, little oil, and tapatio. mmm

salsa we made with my brothers on sunday all from my mom's salsa garden.
grilled tomato and chilli and garlic...
where would we all be without my mexican brother to teach us these tricks...??

and lastly, whilst on our sibling spree
(no parents allowed, but we will use you while you are gone for your food and kitchen...)
mac made us some "sparkling watermelon"

that may or may not be all over the ceiling and floor still....
(click on this one for a laugh)

we love food.



good news is, i am back down to wedding weight!
(yes, i weighed in on my wedding day....)
still goin though,
dragging my husband to the gym as we speak...

today is the day!!!

we will see what happens to the poo team... keep voting.
i will close the polls just before the show!
(so far the mass public is all over that tara machine
...we shall see!)

and today is the day that my dress should be here!!!
(i will rave more about the fabulous designer in a minute)

today is the day that announcements will be sent out all over the country....
to many people who wont be able to come to the fabulous party to be held on the 23rd.
i wont even tell you how many.
its sick.

and today is the day of the Mexican army's unlikely defeat of
French forces at the Battle of Puebla.
(i know, you thought it was their independence day. its not. wikipedia)
mmm.
for you and i that means that it is cheap taco day at filibertos.
enjoy!


and, today is the day prior to my 24 years on this earth.
i almost forgot all about it amid all the other stuff.
18 days left
and i could care less how old i am!

Sometimes you may wonder...

What exactly do people do with time when they have it?
I will tell you.

They play hide and seek with adorable nieces...

Jacie (4): (Running out of the hallway) Where is Granpa?
Her Dad: Jace, do you get how the whole "Hide-n-seek" thing works?

Maddi (17): Ok Jace, I'm gonna count now.
Jacie (4): Ok, but count slowlier so I can run upstairs and hide!
(Where exactly?)

They finish books that apparently have a fear of being read...

Every time I had attempted to finish the 7th Harry Potter this year, I was thwarted! I would curl up with a blanket and then realize I had wretched amounts of homework or something lame like that. Even the second I pulled it out last week- on my brake- while at home- I found myself cursed. A loud car alarm went off outside and I hear "So long, farewell, blah blah blah blah Good buh-eye....." from the other room. Lets face it kids-- who can read with that all that "Sound o Music" crap happening?! But I finished it. Loved it. And I have to say that J.K. makes me happy inside for resolving the chord.
I hate unresolved chords.

They do awesome things with cute friends that they haven't seen in forever like chick Christmas parties or Crepe nights.

They go to lunch twice with some favorite and most adorable people...
And maybe go to that favorite restaurant (Gecko) no less than 4 times.

My driving buddy and I are back on the road today... and off to have a few more adventures- in Vegas- and then to the P-town. One real semester left. Hyzah!

Thank you family for the fun and the food and the bonding and the laughing and the love and comfort and hugs and breaks and swigs and shopping and laughing and game-playing and cuddling and movie-watching. and baby-waiting... and all that stuff that makes me homesick for you when you are not around. I love you all.

If everybody had an ocean...

Last weekend I went on a mini vaycay-within-a-vaycay with the now small family to San Diego. Going to Cali always reminds me of how much I love my family. I love the long hilarious drives we used to have, and the long days on the beach, and the long nights of ab-killing laughter as we played games and what not.


I haven't been to the beach in a while, but the basics are always the same:

Cute little cousins that just love to roll in the sand,(Kate Thomas,7)

Adorable dad who gets in "vacation mode" and packs a cooler, usually with Fresca, Diet Coke, (DDP of course), and a soggy box of wheat thins,

and eating at a hole-in-the-wall burrito joint that is TDF and close enough to the border to be good Mexican, and just off of the beach...


Long story short, I have been needing some good famtime and some good I-am-just-going-to-sit-on-my-A-and-do-absolutely-nothing time. I didn't do much reading even, but I finally finished Harry Potter... SIX- so I can read SEVEN while I am not in school for 2 seconds. Between finals and rehearsals and work it has been almost impossible. I guess I was so in need of a relaxing vacation that I just basked in the not-so-perfect beach weather and loved every second of the breeze and the sound... and didn't do much more than that!

Speakin of sound- dad's "vacation mode" usually includes a few cycles through all of the James Taylor that we have (which I love). I did have to put some JT on my shuffle to listen to at the beach because my dad has trained me to need it-- mostly at the beach and the lake and on long drives where, of course, he is present.