Monday, February 28, 2011

A Day Trip Down Memory Lane


David and I have decided that since we are waiting to start our family, it would be best to try to do all of the things that we have wanted to do before we even start trying. One of the things that David has wanted to do, ever since we got married, was to visit Huntsville and see his childhood. David has shared with me so many memories of him growing up in Huntsville and all the trouble he would get into. He would describe the house he grew up in and the ditches he used to crawl into and tell me how he would get in trouble after being caught. He told me about his Dad’s music shop, but for some reason I thought that was it to Huntsville.

We have been waiting for a weekend available to go and visit and after talking about it on a Thursday; we decided we would go to Huntsville with last minute planning. We stayed out pretty late on a Friday, but woke up at a reasonable time and hit the road. We were about an hour behind our schedule, but I am sure David planned it out that way since I am always running an hour behind. So we packed a bottle water and made some tracks. The drive was really nice, getting to see the Texas view all the way out. We saw some plantations and some small towns and just breezed all the way to Huntsville. We got into town and the first place we saw was the house he grew up in. It was a quaint little house that from David’s stories sounds like it was more trouble than it was worth to his family because it was an older house. But it was cute, something you could see David growing up in. He pointed to the windows of his bedroom and told me of memories sharing his room. He brought up memories of his childhood friends that he would get in trouble with. We walked me down the sidewalk where his brother dragged him on a skateboard and he jumped into a cactus like plant. He even walked me around the block to show me the little backyard jungle he would walk around in. It was so amazing to go back to my husband’s childhood and see how clearly he remembered everything.

After the house, we got to the park in the middle of town. He was telling me how he would save up and buy little things from the park’s gift shop. We bought some bluebonnet seeds and an Indian Hat. David yelled at me when I tried to do a Rain Dance in the parking lot. It didn’t even work, anyway! We walked around the park, holding hands, talking about his memories and then we saw the geese. When my husband was a child he was attacked by the geese. And wouldn’t you know it, they were trying to attack us again. One b-lined it straight for David and he kicked it in the head. I don’t blame it, you didn’t see it. The goose was overly aggressive. Then we drove out to his Dad’s music shop next. It was so great to pull up to it and have him tell me about how his dad has set it up and what he remembered growing up. Again, it was like I got to see my husband like he was when he was a little kid and that more than anything want to have a little kid with him one day. We walked around the town square and noticed that this town shuts down at 5 or 6 on a Saturday. We walked around and found an antique shop. We saw some play dolls that reminded us of how racist the south can be sometimes. I bought David a new knife and he bought me a ring. We tried to go see a pub that his dad used to play at but their sign said they opened at 5 and the bar keeper said they opened at 6. I informed them that I am sorry we misunderstood the situation but “Where we come from, in the city, we don’t lie.”

After all that walking and getting pretty hungry, we decided it was time for dinner. We went to El Chico, David’s favorite Mexican restaurant as a child. It was ok, but I totally understand the taste of nostalgia. It’s worth everything great in my mind and I know in his. We went all out and left there super stuffed. We drove home that night and had some more conversation and ended up finding enough energy to go out to play some poker. I lost my money but David won $2! Winner, winner- Chicken Dinner!

A day trip to Huntsville is exactly what the doctor ordered and I am so glad that we were able to do that trip before we decided to try for a family. It really showed me how David grew up and why he has so much admiration for his father and will always continue to. That day, I was able to be a little girl when my husband was a little kid, and even then when we were our childish selves, he was still my best friend.

Is that a Coach?



Please forgive me for taking such a long time to get back to this Blog. It really isn’t an excuse, but I am teaching a new class and I am finding myself spending the day teaching, after work – working out with David and then dinner then sleepy time. And sometimes I have to fit sleepy time in later to get more work done. So please do forgive me that I have ignored you for so long.

But the good part about that is it had given me so much more to talk to you about. The first part of this story is that I bought myself a Coach purse. I know for some people that might not be such a big thing, and let me just say ‘Good for You’. But when I was growing up, spending more than $20 on a piece of clothing was ridiculous to my parent’s, so I got dealt with what I could find on sale. Then I started growing up and finding more about makeup and clothes and what not. Then I met David…

Yes I know I have talked about David with such a big starry eyed voice, but I can honestly say, he just makes everything better in my life. Everything I want, he gets me. I want a new car *poof* New Car! I want a big beautiful house *poof* Big Beautiful New House! And then stuff to fill in the house… you get the point. Well, one day came along where David propositioned me to tell me that we had been doing so well in our budget and in saving money, that there was a certain amount of money left over. The option was to save it or go spend it. We talked about both options, and since we are fine with bills, savings and extra savings, we decided to spend it. I went and bought everything that I wanted. And then after I spent all my money I realized, I wanted a Coach purse. I have had one before, but I have never had one that I got to by all by myself, with my money, from my hard work. So I told David I wanted to buy a Coach. He said I couldn’t do it without waiting, which made me sad, but I said I would wait.

(Sorry about the picture, only I could find online of the exact purse. I love it so much!)

Well don’t you know it, I totally forgot that I wanted a Coach purse (obviously, I really needed one) and David reminded me that I would have the chance to go buy one. He was really smart the way he approached it too. He said that I have a certain amount in my “Beauty Fund” and that I could buy a purse, but it was up to me to make sure there was enough in there for me to get my hair done next week, and if there wasn’t enough money, then I couldn’t get my hair done. That really made me think twice, but the Coach God’s were shining down on me for sure. Why you ask? Because when I walked into the Coach Outlet in San Marcos, everything was 30% off. I was in Coach Heaven. So instead of with me just buying 1 purse, I got a beautiful purse that I adore so much. A simple Coach Card holder and a Coach over the shoulder bag. Supercute!! I came home and was just jumping up and down how much I loved my Coach and how I thanked my husband for helping me make it happen. We had to go to a friend’s birthday party so I decided I would bring my smaller bag. I couldn’t stop laughing because now David will say “I’m sorry, is that a Coach.” It cracks me up each time and he just says it at the most perfect time. I guess I like it because he is acknowledging how amazing my taste in purses has become.

I have also noticed that there is just something about buy a purse like that for yourself. A friend of mine, Pata, always buys Dooney & Bourke. I was always jealous that she got to do this, but now I get it. If you save up and have the determination or a really great husband and saving money, you can easily get a purse like mine! :D

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Ten On Tuesday!

Work got crazy busy so I am doing Ten On Tuesday, just for something. I promise I will catch you up.

1. What are your thoughts on Valentine’s Day. Do you love it? Hate it?
Funny how you bring that up, I wrote a blog post about how awesome Balentine's Day is. It is so awesome and I love to love it!

2. What is your favorite romantic comedy?
How can you just ask of just one? I couldn't answer so I asked David. This is how it went.

E: What's your favorite romantic comedy?

D: I don't really have one.

E: It's okay, you can tell me.

D: No, because you're going to blog about it.

E: No I wont.

D: Yes you will. You are blogging right now.

E: No I'm not. (I really was blogging when I talked to him.)

3. Meg Ryan & John Mellencamp: what’s your first reaction?
Meg Ryan should have given up after City of Angels and she should have never gotten her face plumped with cow fat and John Melloncamp..... Scarecrow.

4. All time favorite poem or quote?

Nothing Gold Can Stay - Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Stay Golden Ponyboy- Outsiders

5. What’s the longest amount of time you’ve gone without sleep? (like consecutive hours).
I know of over 24 hours that I have stayed up for, but yea- not sure of the exact amount.

6. What color ink do you prefer to use?
Blue. It looks different and classy.

7. Share with us a blog that you recently found and fell in love with (and link us!)
Mila's Daydreams. It makes me smile and I love the fact that a mom can keep her creativity with a brand new baby.

8. If you could be on a reality TV show which one would you choose?
If I was 20, I would love to be on The Real World. I know I could rock it. Now... an awesome decorating show where they show up and make my living room bomb diggity!??

9. Mountains or Beach?

I like the beach. David likes the mountains.

10. With the Oscars around the corner, what’s your pick for best picture?
King's Speech. Hands down the best movie out there.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Ten on Tuesday

Thanks to Chelsea over on Roots and Rings! for Ten On Tuesday.

1. Any vacations you are looking forward to this summer?
As a matter of fact, there are things and vacations that we are looking forward too. David and I will be taking a motorcycle class soon and then once I’m ok with riding on a bike, we are going to the “Island” We’ve gone before and had such a great time, it’s only right we go again!

2. What is your favorite article of summer clothing (shoes are included)?
Flip Flops and Sandals!! They are the best thing ever. Everyone always loves Sun Dresses, they are cute but not always needed.

3. What is your favorite summer drink (alcoholic or non)?
Alcoholic, Vodka and Raspberry Lemonade / Non- Some good all Sun Brewed Sweet Tea!

4. Do you tan or burn?
I Tan for a slight second and then I go into full burn mode.

5. Any goals you are working toward this summer?
My goal for this summer is to get more things done in the sunny weather. Summer comes and goes and I always wonder where it went. This year, I am going to try to take advantage of it.

6. What is your favorite summertime food?
There is this fruit salad I love to make, and it tastes best in summer. Watermelon and Cantaloupe in a yummy mint vinaigrette syrup.

7. What song most says “summer” to you?

Beach Boys. Wouldn't it be Nice.

I Included a link on that song in case you want to hear it and smile.

8. Any home improvement goals planned for this summer?
I am still trying to convince myself I can change the color on the wall. It’s weird that I own this house, it makes a decision like wall color like such a huge, big deal.

9. What is one thing you hate to see at the beach?
Undertow. It scares the crap out of me. And that gross feeling when you get sand stuck somewhere it shouldn’t be.

10. Did you ever go to a summer camp?
I went to one. It was a girl scout camp. I got bit by 100 fire ants and in the bathroom stalls they had a sign that said “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.” I never went to camp after that.

Monday, February 14, 2011

HAPPY BALENTINE'S DAY!


Yes, I wait around all year for this one day where my name rhymes with a Holiday so I can change it to remind people how amazingly awesome I am. And, yes, I am the same person who hated Valentine's Day. But let me tell you this amazing story how one grows in love for a day like Valentine's Day.
... a long time ago (really, about 5 years) I was the type of person that was completely 100% against Valentine's Day. I wasn't bitter towards it for not being in a relationship or dissapointed in a desperate longing for a romantic love, I was just an upiddity young person of society that was against big corporations and being told what to do. So of course, with Valentine's Day being created for the only reason being to make money off of a society that has found itself in immense poverty, I found it ridiculous that an American would spend an average of $120 for this one day. In total, American's spend an average of $13 Million just for a made-up holiday. Facts like these would make the 20 year old Elizabeth so frustrated, she would scream. She would boycott Valentine's Day and look in disgust at people that would celebrate with a smile. And then Elizabeth met a man named David...
Yes it was years after she was 20, but when Elizabeth met a man name David whose last name just so happen to rhyme with the word Valentine, she thought of it as a cute little thing. And then when that man named David asked Elizabeth if she would like to share his last name, well that is when the Valentine Cupid hit her with the biggest arrow he could find. There was so much to do with the last name Balentine. Elizabeth realized that there were the same amount of letters in her first name as in her last name. That there were endless ways to have a signature and that more than anything, her name 'Elizabeth Balentine' resembled a name that could only be found in a romantic novel from centuries past.
So the name was one thing, then came the actual holiday. This man named David would spoil Elizabeth with some of the most romantic dinners, most beautiful flowers and really a day completely surrounding Elizabeth. So how could she not be excited for a day like this!? And just so happens that today is Balentine's Day, and Elizabeth has already received 2 dozen of the most beautiful long stem roses and will be taken out to an amazing Brazilian Steakhouse for dinner. Most likely, some cuddling on the couch and a cute old musical will be shown afterwards while she falls asleep on his shoulder since she is used to being in bed at 9. But, really... There is only 1 way to celebrate Valentine's Day right, and it's obvious that the Balentine's know how to do it.

Happy Balentine's Day!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Being sick can really wear you out.

So the last time I wrote on here was Tuesday and I have been trying really hard to keep up. But I have been sick. And it's not like a flu sick, it's just a uncomfortable sick. I told you on Monday I started my bootcamp and Tuesday left me too much in pain to get out of bed to go. Well Wednesday came and in case you are not from Austin, we got early morning sleet. So when I woke up at 4:30 in the morning, there was ice everywhere and I wasn't really in the mood for working out on ice while I was still couching and sneezing. Thursday happened and I did it! I finally woke up and got out of bed and headed over to my boot camp. So I showed up a few minutes early, no big deal. But then no one showed up at all. I was 8:35 and I finally drove around the parking lot to see if I missed the location and no one was there. Turns out they canceled it due to weather and forgot to tell me about it. So I went to the gym to go pump some iron. That brings us to Friday. I woke up at 4:30 and then went right back to bed. But body was too tired to wake up and I didn't want to argue with it and ended up waking up at 6. I got to work early and even found time to buy donuts for everyone from the grocery store.
So now I am at work and even though this week has flown by with everything there was to do, this day can not move fast enough. I decided to update my blog during my break and for some reason today I feel like I am taking Crazy Pills. That everyone I am interacting with today is playing dumb and asking the most pointless dumbest questions. So maybe I might have the case of the grumpies or maybe I have lost patience to be able to handle anyone right now, but I thought it would be fair warning to stay away from my bad side until my weekend starts and I am out of here! I hope Next week will work better in my favor, I think I am excited that I get a weekend with my husband and that is all I can look forward to right now, as long as he doesn't ask me any dumb questions.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Ten on Tuesday

Before I start on the Ten on Tuesday, I want to apologize for not writing in my blog for the past couple of days. Friday, I got snowed in and it was horrible. My neighborhood looked like a winter snow fest but when I tried to leave for work, the ice would not melt even after 45 minutes of the car on with the defrost on full blast. I believe I lost a quarter of a tank trying to warm that car up. It became more of a situation because my boss couldn't understand that I lived out in the hill country and that the snow had turned to ice and I was unable to be mobile.
Then Saturday, I went to San Antonio since my family was celebrating my grandfather's birthday. He passed away in July and was not able to celebrate his 80th, but we did it right, I even got a hat for his birthday. I think it would have made him laugh.
Then Sunday was Superbowl. For those of you who aren't aware of how amazing my life is, I just so happened to be married to the guy who designed the wi-fi network for Cowboys Stadium, so he got to go to the game (for free!). But I went to a fantastic Super Bowl party and I made the 'Pena Appitizer' that makes anyone want to be your friend.
Take the Shrimp. Butterfly it and place in a peppered cheese and slice of serrano pepper. Wrap in bacon and grill it.
Then came Monday and David came home and I had my first day of bootcamp at 5:30 in the morning. I was very sore when I came home after work. And now, Tuesday, I am sick.
So with achy muscles from bootcamp and achy-ness from being sick, I am not feeling my best. But it has already been planned that when I go home, I am going to get in the hot tub and get rid of my achy muscles, take some more medicine and have some homemade soup. Ohhh Yea!

Now for some Ten on Tuesday.. Thanks to Roots and Rings for this weeks questions!

1. What’s your favorite kind of donut?
There is this donut from HEB that I adore. Its the Zebra donut. It has white chocolate icing and black chocolate icing drizzled on top. But since I can no longer eat those things called donuts, I will stare longingly and then eat my fruit cup.

2. Do you use the snooze button?
Yes I do. I used it all morning today. I was suppose to wake up at 4:30, but wit my sick achy body I just hit the snooze button about 18 times so I would wake up at 7.

3. Do you write in cursive, print, or a combination of the two?
All of the above? It really is just a mixture of everything. I have grown to like my handwriting, took me a while to get it and now i realize I write a lot like my mom. I can still forge her signature if necessary. I don't think that is a wise thing to put here since she will read it, but it will give her a reason to text me later. Love you Mom!

4. Tell us a joke.

Most of the jokes that I know are offensive. So I asked David if he knew any jokes and he sent me this one.

"So there's this bit of rope. He walks into a bar, tells the bartender to get him a drink. Bartender says piss off, we don't serve your kind in here. So the rope leaves, comes back the next day and tries again. again the bartender tells him to go away. Next day, again, he tries. this time the bartender picks him up and throws him out. he hits a car, gets wound up in the axle and falls out. he's all sorts of twisted up and his hair is totally messed up.

Goes back to the bar, bartender says "don't i know you?:
Rope says "nope, i'm afraid not (a frayed knot)"

I love my husband.

5. How many languages do you speak?
1 language. And that language is called American!

6. Why did you start blogging?
I was bored and David was out of town. So I needed something to kill time. Also it helps out since I live in Austin and family, friends or blood related people can find out how I am doing.

7. Do you use bar soap or liquid body wash?
I used Dove bar soap forever, then I started getting a reaction to it. On Saturday I went to Bath and Body works and bought 5 new bottles of body wash. Why 5? They had a sale of buy 3 get 2 free. I figured since I was already going to by 2, might as well get 3. It made sense at the time.

8. Do you buy bottled water?
Yes, and lots of it. I have been trying to prepare out house for "In Case of Emergency" back up. So now we have enough water to take care of us for a week in needed.

9. What did you think of the Super Bowl Half Time Show?
I thought it was horrible and un American. The shows used to be so amazingly good and now whoever puts them together has no idea what is 'hot' in America right now. They should hire me and I would have the greatest Half Time Show Ever!! There would be fireworks. And goats. And awesomeness everywhere.

10. How do you feel about Steve Carell leaving The Office?
I prefer not to think about that at this time. I adore the Office and it took a very long time for me to come around. I feel in love with the BBC version and refused to give the American version a chance. But the endearing part of the American version is that Michael Scott will always find a way to win your heart back at the end of the show. This will make it very hard for me to continue to watch. So there is your answer, I think it will be hard for me, but I will still watch.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Why can't today be Friday?

I thought that if I treated the whole day as if it was Friday, then it would actually come true and then I would be given this magically unnamed day to just sit around the house and enjoy the warmth while I relax in pajamas. But I don't think it worked very well.
This morning when I woke up, I actually convinced myself it was Friday so I would get up and go to the gym. When I was driving to the gym, I kept ignoring that I knew it was Thursday, but kept saying what a great Friday it was. At the gym, I laughed at any news stations talking about the weather that would come in tomorrow (Friday) and continued working on my arms. (By the way, I almost threw up from my workout this morning and I am super proud because that means I was pumping the iron hard. Haven't gotten that good of a workout in months!)
When I got ready for work at the gym, that's when I started losing my dream that today is Friday. Not because it is in fact, Thursday, but because it can't be Friday...
Let me explain. I would love tomorrow to be a 'Snow Day', it would be fantastic. I would still wake up early, but that would just mean that I would get to work from home and be in my pajamas. I don't want to drive anywhere in the snow. I want to sit on the couch and watch Disney Movies while I get my long list of work taken care of. But if I have to wake up and go to work tomorrow, then that means I have to go work out before work tomorrow. And if I have to go work out tomorrow morning, then that means I have to be in bed at 9pm tonight, and that is the truth behind it all. I am so tired of going to bed at 9.
When I was a kid, I thought "When I grow up, I am going to stay up as late as I want and do whatever I want!" But that isn't true. You don't get to do whatever you want, if you want to own whatever you want. So that means I have to go to bed at a reasonable hour and yes that means I have to go to bed at 9. It makes me sad, but my activities are based on how long it should take and what I am allowed to do before 9. Going out with friends to Happy Hour is no more and even though it makes me happy, there are times where I miss the socialization.
But it's just part of getting older. I am going to 2 parties this weekend, and I have mentally prepared myself to not drink at all so I won't be tempted to want to smoke. I know my friends will all assume that I am pregnant, and of course I am not, but just trying to be responsible. It is the best thing for me right now to focus on being as healthy as I can be.
So going to bed at 9 and not drinking or smoking is really where I need to be at right now. Working out in the morning at 6 is how I live my life at the moment, and even though the 8 year old me would try to convince myself to not go into work tomorrow to work from home and stay up all night with my friends, the me that wants to do whatever I want will choose the early bedtime and a glass of fruit juice.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

What's the point?

So I know there is no real way to be able to verify who and how many people are checking my site, but from what it seems the only person that I think reads this is my Mom. And the only reason I know that she is the only one who reads this is because she sends me a text message about how much she enjoyed reading whatever I wrote the day before.
I'd like to think I have enough family members that might be interested in our lives in Austin, and it really is so hard to be able to catch up with everyone. Maybe I could have a secret stalker and they could be planning out my next moves from what I write in my blog, but no one cares, only my mother. So what am I suppose to do with this... Do I start spicing my blog up and post false rumors about celebrities to get some traffic this way? Should I maybe start advertising, pay my little brother to stand on a corner spinning a sign to check out my blog? Maybe if I had something to give away for free, but I don't think I want to become famous with this blog. I enjoy it because I am able to write about what I am going through or what I am feeling and hope that maybe one day it would be able to help someone out there going through the same thing.
But I know what I have to write isn't interesting and I can only assume my stories are random, but maybe someone out there might enjoy reading my blog. So if you are out there, reader and you are not my mother, you don't have to declare yourself just spread the word about my blog. That is all I ask. I want to know that I am not just wasting space or my thoughts out into the world and that someone (besides my mother) is actually interested in what I have to say.
If you do not want to speak up, do not worry, I will continue my blog. And I will let you know of all my fancy shenanigans that I get into.

Oh! And Happy Black History Month!
Did you know.... In 1897, African-American inventor Alfred Cralle patented the first ice cream scoop. His original design remains in wide use, even today!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Ten on Tuesday

Thanks to Roots and Rings for posting the Ten On Tuesday! Hope you enjoy my Ten for Today!

1. What is your favorite childhood memory?
That is really hard. I was lucky enough to have such a great childhood there are so many memories that are considered favorites. I think it's just the memory of getting to go shopping with my mom and my grandmother. Every Saturday, there just wasn't anything as special as hanging out with her. And she would take me to Luby's... that was always a bonus!

2. What is your favorite quality about yourself?
I love with my whole heart. I honestly want to like everyone and love everyone, but I can't. So when I love, I love with my whole heart and for a very, very long time.

3. What is your favorite thing that your child does?
How is that a fair question? Well I don't have a human child, but I do have 3 beautiful dog children. They are fantastic! My favorite thing about Copeland is that he is loyal, even if he could run away he never would. Johnny is his dancing. That dog loves to dance with me or by himself. Ella is how beautiful she knows she can be. She is so snobby and so sweet.

4. What is your favorite thing to do to relax?
Laying on the couch and watching a movie with David while he touches my back as I lay my head on his lap. We like to cuddle a lot. I have no problem with that at all.

5. What is your favorite restaurant? And what is your favorite thing on the menu?
Right now is a new place called Zorba's in South Park Meadows. I have their number in my phone for pick up. It's greek food and it is so amazingly wonderfully good!!

6. What is your favorite piece of jewelry (besides your wedding ring)?
My pearls. David bought me pearls for Christmas, I love them so much.

7. What is your favorite night of the week M-TH? And why?
Wednesday. It's hump day, if you can get through Wednesday than it's smooth sailing after that.

8. What is your favorite dessert?
Tiramisu!! Yum Yum Yum I have had a love affair with tiramisu since I was 16.

9. What is your favorite item in your make-up bag?
Benefits Eye Bright. Do you have dark circles under those eyes? Don't want to inject cow fat in your face? Get some Eye Bright! Will light up the dark and make those eyes sparkle!

10. What is your favorite smell?
It used to be David's armpits, but he changed deodorant. So now it's this little space on his neck when he gets out of the shower. I love smelling David. Oh, and my wallflowers from Bath and Body Works. I counted and I have 8. Yes, 8 wall flowers. I think I have a problem.