Little Sticky Notes

Namaste

2010-07-30T09:14:00.000-05:00

I am so sore today I can barely straighten my arms. Listen. If someone ever tells you that yoga isn't a good workout, they are wrong. Last night, on the quest to lose my newlywed weight, I decided to try a new class my yoga studio was offering: Vinyasa. I normally take Hatha or Ashtanga, so I decided to switch it up a bit. Boy, was I in for an experience. The room was set to a warmer temperature, I was sweating like crazy, my arms were shaking and I was definitely getting a cardio workout. Some of the folks in my class were really advanced and others were relatively new like me. I had to sit there and stare at some of the poses people were accomplishing in amazement. I kept saying to myself, "I want to be able to do that." It was tough...but afterward, I felt amazing!!

Back in college, I used to practice regularly. I went three times a week and I was pretty darn good. I even did headstands and inversions with ease. That was then. Fast forward to today and, six years later without practice, this girl can barely touch her toes.

I lived in Los Angeles for about 8 months (this was about 4 or 5 years ago) and my friend and I used to take a free yoga class offered each weekend in Runyon Canyon. It was outdoors, under the trees and the sunlight, and it was always a brilliant way to wind down a stressful week. My friend always told me that yoga was her "church" and, every time we would take that class, I would see a tear or two fall down her cheek toward the. Now THAT's a mind/body connection.

After last night, I have made a new commitment to go to a yoga class 2-3 times a week. I know it's a pretty lofty goal, but I was inspired. Especially now that I am walking around like a 90 year old woman today. This soreness feels good. I don't think I'll be going back to that particular class for a while (haha), but I will definitely make it through the poses in that class one day. For now, I think I'm going to give my body a break and head back to the studio on Saturday.

I'd love to hear some of your yoga experiences (good and bad)...anything cool to share?

(By the way: TGIF! I have a LOT of cleaning to do tonight. The family is coming in from out of town this weekend and they want to see our place. Eeek! It's a wreck right now. I'll be up late scrubbing the floors. Wish me luck!)

XOXO,

A Tribute to the 1960s

2010-07-29T14:36:00.001-05:00

I don't really watch that much television. I'm just not very good at keeping track of what shows comes on at what date and time, so I can never really get into a particular story line. But, thankfully, my husband loves to download past seasons of current shows. Because of that, I just recently got into the very popular show "Mad Men." In fact, I finished the first episode of the second season last night.

Wow. It is good. The writing, the acting, the FASHION...everything is really smart and entertaining. It also doesn't hurt that it takes place in my favorite decade: the 1960s. There is just something about that decade in history that is intriguing to me. It was a transitional time in America, with the fall or relaxation of social taboos such as sexuality and racism that occurred during that time period. Plus, it's gotta be a pretty awesome decade when we are introduced to President John F. Kennedy, Jackie O, Martin Luther King, Jr. , Hippies and Haight-Ashbury and the Civil Rights Act. The clothing was amazing and the music was great. Oh! And the first person step foot on the moon....unless you are one of those conspiracy theorists who say that that was a hoax. How cool is that?!

Anyhoo, let's raise our glasses of cognac on ice to the 1960s....

XOXO,

A celebratory and very busy weekend- RECAP!

2010-07-28T09:18:00.001-05:00

So, I really can't believe it's Wednesday already. My, how time flies. The past few days have been very busy for me at work and at play. :) So, let's recap the weekend's festivities:

FRIDAY- The hubs and I went to this wonderful Italian restaurant here in Austin called "Andiamo." We were there to celebrate a birthday of a friend of ours. I'd never even heard of the restaurant before and it was very unassuming from the outside. It was located in a strip center where half of the stores were shut down, but the food was really good! I had the seafood ravioli and it was just scrumptious. I'm glad to say I was pretty successful with the portion control as well. I only ate half of the plate and was completely satisfied. In the end, we had a really nice time. I love meeting new people, and there was some great conversation at the table.

SATURDAY- More celebrations. My friend Katie had a graduation party at a local Mexican restaurant. She had left school for 3 or 4 years to work and went back recently to get her degree. The group at the party was really fun and I had the chance to see some people I hadn't seen in a while. It's always nice catching up. Afterward, the hubs and I zoomed to the other side of town to visit some good friends of ours for another party. This time, a birthday. Their child just turned 2 and they were throwing a huge bash for her. Oh. my. gosh. The party was mayhem!! I swear there were about 20 kids running around, being chased by their parents. The hubs and I do not have kids yet and we are just not used to the craziness that comes along with them. Someone at the party even jokingly said to us, "this is good birth control, isn't it?" Yes. You're damn right it is. Not that we don't want kids, but we are totally not ready for them yet. ;) The party was a blast though, and the cupcakes were a hit! Needless to say, we were tired at the end of the day. But, there is something you must know about us. We hate being cooped up inside for too long. So, we decided to head to the movies. Angelina Jolie is one of the hubby's favorites, so we decided to check out SALT. I had heard mixed reviews, but I thought it was very entertaining. Sort of like the female version of the Bourne Identity. And you can't deny that Angelina is at her best in those "I'm an awesome chick, I'm going to kick your ass" type of roles. I'd definitely recommend you check it out if you like action thriller movies.

SUNDAY- One of my best friends from childhood came in town to visit and we spent the whole day together. We started the day with a 3.5 mile walk around Town Lake (still trying to kick that newlywed bulge) and had lunch at Whole Foods. Town Lake is one of my favorite spots in the City. I dedicated on of my past entries to it. It's right downtown but, when you're there, you kind of forget you're in the middle of a huge metro area. It's a great place to get away.

The original plan for the afternoon was to head to Barton Springs (a natural swimming hole here in Austin that is very popular in the summer) but then we started talking about our man Leonardo DiCaprio and how she had yet to see "Inception." So that's exactly what we did. It was the second time I've seen the movie and I think it was even better.

Anyhoo...that was a little long winded, but it was a really successful weekend and I just had to share. I want to also say hello to all of my new, super awesome followers!!! I hope you guys enjoy the ride and I look forward to getting to know you all a little better. :)

XOXO,

Battling the Newlywed Bulge

2010-07-23T09:21:00.000-05:00

I know I promised a review of my honeymoon, but that'll take some time and I have another issue to address. How many of you ladies out there gained weight after you got married? I hear it's pretty common to gain about 10 lbs. or so during the first year of matrimony. A few of my friends have complained about this issue as well. I even read a recent article about this problem a couple of days ago. So, it's definitely been on my mind.

When the hubby and I were on our honeymoon, we pretty much ate and drank whatever we wanted. But, we walked a lot (thankfully) and swam quite a bit...so we got a little exercise. Either way, I definitely did some damage. After we got home, I was busy getting back to work and organizing our apartment (we are quickly running out of space. eek!). It was so easy for the both of us to just grab a quick bite here and there. Also, since living togeter, I tend to eat almost as much as him. A big "no no" according my my Mother (thanks, Mom!). To top it all off, I wasn't able to get back into my fitness routine as quickly as I would have liked.

So here I am, and since May, I've probably gained about 5-7 lbs...depending on the day. It doesn't seem like a ton, but on my 5 ft. 2 inch frame, I can really feel the difference...especially in my clothes. Mireille Guiliano, author of one of my favorite boos, "French Women Don't Get Fat" calls this the "zipper syndrome." I've always prided myself on being athletic and fit, but I definitely fell off the wagon for a few months there. A few weeks ago, right after July 4th weekend (where I gorged myself on cookies, yummy adult beverages and bbq), I vowed to get back on track.

I'm proud to say that, for the past two weeks, I've been more diligent about my workout and diet routine. My goal is to exercise 5-6 days a week. Working out tends to be the easy part for me, though. Diet is another issue. It has gotten a lot better, but I really need to step it up. When I make dinner at home, I try not to serve myself as much food as the hubby. And when we are eating out, I try to stop when I am satisfied. Now THAT is a trained skill. Hopefully, in the next couple of months, I'll be back to my pre-wedding weight, but only time will tell! I'll make sure to keep all of you updated on my progress.

Do you guys have any tips on losing the newlywed bulge? Are some of you battling the same issue or have been through this dilemma? I'm curious to hear what you think.

XOXO,

Well, hello Mrs. B. ;)

2010-07-22T09:27:00.000-05:00

Okay blog world. I'm BACK. Gosh I apologize for the 3 month hiatus. But, I've been quite the busy person lately. I had a bridal shower, ran around like a chicken with her head cut off for a month while planning a wedding, got married (yay!), went on a honeymoon and unpacked all of my gifts. I had completely forgotten about my followers. And I apologize.

Anyhoo...things have been really great. Life is slowly returning to normal, but I still have to work on those damn "thank you" notes. Seriously, I need to get them done by the end of the month. Two months is about all I'm allowed before my thank yous become irrelevant, right? :)

I'm going to spend the next few blog posts catching you guys up to speed on what's been going on in my world. So, let's get started.

I guess the biggest thing is that I am now a married woman. Yay! On May 29, 2010, I married the love of my life and could not be happier. Here are some highlights from the day:

I'm really happy with how everything went. I don't know how many of you out there have been through the wedding planning process, but it's quite the experience! For a whole year, I had this vision of how I wanted everything to turn out. All of the details, the flowers, the order of the day...and it's amazing to see it all happen right in front of you! There weren't any big "woopsie" moments, thankfully, and I attribute all of that to the fact that I had a wedding coordinator. Ladies, seriously, get a wedding coordinator if you can. Even if it's for the day of (which is what I did). It will really put your mind at ease and it will relieve some of the pressure from your family and friends. If any of you "brides to be" need advice or words of encouragement, let me know!

I'm really happy to be back in the blogging world. Next up...the honeymoon!!!

XOXO,

It's my party...and I'll cry if I want to...

2010-04-17T08:18:00.000-05:00

It's pretty early to be up on a Saturday morning (8 a.m. to be exact), but I couldn't sleep because I'm so excited about the day. Today is my bridal shower and my closest friends and family are coming into town to celebrate. I have to admit I'm a little nervous since all of the attention is going to be on me. I'm definitely not used to that! But it'll be a blast.

The party theme is "wine and cheese chic." And, as you know, I'm wearing a white dress. Maybe I should take a bib with me so I don't spill wine all over myself! I don't want to jinx myself. ;) Anyway, I'll be back later with more details...

FRIDAY FAVORITES: Actors

2010-04-16T21:50:00.004-05:00

I'm running a little late posting my Friday Favorites entry, but I'm glad I made it! This weekend is my "bridal shower" weekend, so I've been busy prepping for the next couple of days. Tomorrow is the big family and friends shower, and some ladies from work are throwing me a mini- shower on Sunday. Should be awesome! I'll be bringing you guys updates soon, I'm sure. So, while I'm waiting for a couple of friends of mine to arrive (they are running about two hours late. haha), let's have a look at some of my favorite, sexy, talented actors! Let me know what you think. YUM.

Robert Downey Jr.

Johnny Depp

Adrien Brody

Leonardo DiCaprio

Ralph Fiennes

Gael Garcia Bernal

Sheesh. After scanning these pics, I realize I have a very particular type. Don't I? The brooding, emotional, I'm so sensitive type. I'm happy to say that my fiance more than fits the bill. ;)

XOXO,

A Shoe Find!

2010-04-15T13:39:00.003-05:00

Oh, how I love having an hour for my lunch break. I can accomplish SO much! Remember that pretty white dress I bought last week for my bridal shower this Saturday? Well, I found some gorgeous, classy shoes to go with it!

(I found a picture of them in a goldish color, but mine are more of a taupe shade with a gold buckle.) Super excited!! Now I just need to find a long, gold necklace....

XOXO,

I have a confession to make...

2010-04-15T09:20:00.003-05:00

Prior to yesterday, I had not been to the dentist in a long time.

A really, REALLY long time.

How long you ask? I'm sort of embarrassed to say. But, here are my excuses, which are kind of lame: After graduating from college, I had no dental insurance. Combine that with moving to Key West, FL...then Austin, TX...then to Los Angeles, CA...then back to Austin, TX....and a bonified dental phobia and YEAH. It's been a while.

5 years to be exact.

And, no I'm not 10 years old. I'm 26. I don't know how my fear of the dentist got its start. I think it has something to do with a few bad experiences as a child. I already have 5 fillings and my bottom teeth are quite crowded, so my dentist thought it would be a good idea to pull all four of my bottom baby teeth out at the same time. Ever since then, I have been horrified.

Mind you, I take very good care of myself. I eat healthy, exercise regularly and go to all of my other health check-ups. So I knew in the back of my mind that I needed to make this dentist thing a regular part of my health routine.

So I made an appointment last week. I was already pretty freaked out. Mainly because I figured, since I hadn't been to the dentist in 5 years, that I was going to need to a get a LOT of work done. Anyway, I reluctantly trudged into the dental office yesterday afternoon. I'm pretty sure the dental assistant could tell I was really nervous. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the fact that my blood pressure read 140/85. haha. She looked at me with a stern look after that and said, "Now, I know that's not how it normally measures." I just kinda smiled.

But, here's the best part: the doctor came in, asked a few questions (including one about how long its been since I was in the dentist's chair), and did a thorough cleaning and exam. Guess what: NO cavities. Great gums. The X-rays showed nothing. He said my teeth are in good health! Uhhhhh....what?!? Excuse me? Maybe I have great teeth genetics?? Who knows. Either way. I'm not questioning it.

I do admit that I feel better now and my fiance can stop lecturing me every day about it. ;) And I PROMISE you, I'm going for my regular 6 month cleanings. No excuses. ;)

XOXO,

The Best Meal of My Life

2010-04-13T09:03:00.005-05:00

Hello. My name is Jessica, and I am a self- proclaimed "foodie."

I love going out to eat at new and unusual places. I really enjoy trying new foods and food combinations. The possibilities of food are endless and there are so many things in this world that I haven't tasted yet. I guess that is part of the excitement of the culinary world. I haven't always been that way, though. In fact, all the way through college, I was a very picky eater. Some of my friends still tease me that I would never eat vegetables...which is true. I don't know what happened when I left college and entered the working world. Maybe my taste buds got bored? Or maybe I just finally mustered up the courage to try new things. I even remember the first time I tried sushi back in 2006. It was amazing and sushi is now one of my favorite foods. I can't live without it.

I'm always looking for new places in Austin to eat a great meal. This past weekend, I found an amazing place...and it is now number one on my personal list of best restaurants in Austin.. The fiance and I went to WINK on Saturday night. I had been reading great reviews about the place for the past few months and I had been dying to try it! Unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to drop the amount of $$$ necessary to make the trip worth it. Either way, I bit the bullet and we went.

Oh. My. Goodness. It was amazing. We decided on the "5 Course Tasting Menu," which is basically small plates of their most popular dishes. This is what we had:

grassfed beef tartare with purple potato salad, herb aioli and arugula

dayboat scallops with orange confit, alba mushrooms and miner's lettuce

duck breast with asian greens and pear, snow peas, and sweet 'n sour garlic

cervena venison on toasted barley with swiss chard, shiitake mushrooms, and cider-thyme butter

french cheese plate

I also want to mention that we polished off a full bottle of wine. haha. No, we didn't chug the stuff. WINK is a proponent of the "slow food movement," meaning they use fresh ingredients from local farms and they make their food from scratch in the kitchen. We were there for two and a half hours...so we had time to savor the bottle. ;) My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If any of you live near the Austin area, you must try this place. Just be prepared for a hefty price tag. I promise it's worth it.

In other food news, "Top Chef Masters" is back on TV! I love all of the Top Chef shows and I hear that a new edition, Top Chef Masters: Desserts, will be premiering soon. I wonder if there is a way that I can go online and apply to be one of their "guest judges." Wouldn't that be an amazing experience? Especially on the Masters...getting to meet all of those famous chefs would be quite the accomplishment. I've only seen the first episode so far, so I'm not sure who I will be rooting for in the final round, but I will keep you guys updated. I'm just disappointed that Hubert Keller didn't return this year! His "Burger Bar" in Las Vegas is among the best.

Bon Appétit!!

I wanna be just like Dara Torres...

2010-04-12T09:04:00.004-05:00

Well, okay, sort of...haha.

Growing up, I was a HUGE swimmer. I loved being in the water as much as possible. I even joined my local swim team and was involved in that for two or three years. I was really good too! My Mom still teases me that, at the swim meets, I used to "smoke" all of the boys back in the day. :)

I'm not sure why I quit the team, but I wish I wouldn't have. I think I could have gotten pretty far in the sport, but I was in middle school, and things were very fleeting and confusing during that time (big shocker)...so I won't question it.

But, on a related note, I've definitely been slacking a little in the exercise department and I feel like I really need to "step it up." So, I've decided that, on two or three mornings per week, I'm going to go for a 30-45 minute swim. This is in addition to my three afternoon workouts. Crazy I know. But, I keep thinking of those beaches in Greece this June!

I have a racing suit, a swim cap and access to a great lap pool but, until yesterday, my goggles were old and worn and I needed new ones. Plus, buying something fun and new always makes me want to use it more! So, I went over to Dick's Sporting Goods and picked up some running socks, weight gloves and THESE awesome goggles!! Say hello to the Speedo Vanquisher!!

I can not wait to try these out. My fiance was looking at me weird yesterday because I was wearing them around the apartment in anticipation. I'm really hoping this new swimming routine will stick. It's an excellent workout! Plus, I can always think of Dara Torres for inspiration to keep going. Look at this woman. She is 43 years old! She won Olympics medals at 41! And it's a combination of swimming, weight training, dieting and a LOT of hard work that has kept her in amazing shape throughout the years. And did I mention she has kids? Now, I definitely don't have the time or the resources to get THIS fit, but if she can do it, I can at least get my butt out of bed an hour earlier a few mornings a week to exercise a little more. Right?

I'll keep you guys updated on my progress. I'm going to start my routine tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!

XOXO,

Ladies Night!!

2010-04-10T10:24:00.006-05:00

It's a beautiful Saturday morning in Austin, Texas and the weekend has already gotten off to a great start. Last night was "ladies night"! Somehow, I managed to round up four of my other best girlfriends for a night out on the town...well, nothing crazy...just dinner and a movie. But, it is still a ton of fun when we can all manage to get together! So I was pumped.

All of us met for dinner at Trudy's for some great tex-mex and their very famous margaritas! I had two of those babies and they really hit the spot. :) We were there for two hours and it went by SO fast. I could literally sit there and chat with this girls all night.

Once we realized that the time had flown by, we had to rush to the movie theater. We decided to see "Date Night" with Steve Carrell and Tina Fey. Both of those comedians are among my favorites.

Some parts of the story were a little slow but, in general, I thought it was funny and a lighthearted movie to watch while out with friends. Plus, it doesn't hurt that thirty minutes of the movie included Mark Wahlberg without his shirt on. haha.

While I was driving home afterward, I really took a moment to be thankful for the amazing friends that I have. I am truly blessed. I really don't know how I lucked out in the friendship department. With our crazy lives right now, the moments where we can all get together are few and far between but, when we manage to gather for some quality bonding time, it. is. awesome.

The rest of the weekend is going to be a blast. I have a lot of fun planned...and also a little wedding planning thrown in there. More updates later....

XOXO,

FRIDAY FAVORITES: Actresses

2010-04-09T09:17:00.003-05:00

TGIF! Since I'm relatively new to the blogging world, I thought I would let you guys learn a little more about who I am through weekly installments called "Friday Favorites." Each Friday, I will list some of my favorite things for all of my readers to enjoy. If some of my fellow bloggers out there want to join in the fun, please feel free!

As some of you may know, I graduated from college with a film degree. Yup. I was a film student and I loved every minute of it. Ever since I can remember, I've had a fascination with filmmaking and Hollywood. I even did a relatively short stint in Los Angeles...trying out the industry and seeing if I could "make it" in that world. Unfortanely, it didn't work out and my brief time working in television and film taught me that I am much happier when I'm enjoying and loving the art form than actually creating it.

My first "Friday Favorites" installment is dedicated to my favorite actresses. All of them are under 40 and absolutely fabulous. I had to narrow the pool down somehow, so I decided to pick a certain age group. Though I do love me some Meryl Streep. ;)

So let's admire some of these gorgeous, talented women who exemplify how I think women should portray themselves. I know I definitely look up to each of these women as great role models....what do you guys think? Here are my girl crushes of the moment:

KATE WINSLET

My favorite film with Kate: Little Children (and Titanic, of course)
Why I love her: She's a classy lady. I've never seen her in a public setting where she has not held herself with confidence and respect. She doesn't live the typical "hollywood" life, she's not obsessed about her weight or how she looks and she's a GREAT actress!

ANNE HATHAWAY

My favorite film with Anne: Rachel Getting Married

Why I love her: She reminds me so much of Audrey Hepburn sometimes, it's scary. She's the kind of girl that I want to go up to and say "will you be my bff?" She can play the girl next door as well as the sex kitten.

And every time she changes her hair, I want that same cut! hahaha.

MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL

My favorite film with Maggie: Secretary

Why I love her: I dare someone to say that she is not the most likeable actress out there. She's got great versatility in both her looks and her acting skills. I find her to be kind of mysterious as well. A really interesting person...plus, it doesn't hurt that her brother is Jake Gyllenhaal. Yums.

CAREY MULLIGAN

My favorite film with Carey: An Education
Why I love her: She's the new kid on the block. She hasn't been in many films but, when I saw her last year in "An Education" I thought, this chick is awesome! She seems a bit reserved, but very kind. Plus, shes' starring in the uncoming remake of "My Fair Lady." Can't wait to see that.

ZOOEY DESCHANEL

My favorite film with Zooey: (500) Days of Summer

Why I love her: Oh Zooey. My neverending girl crush. Can I just sit down for a nice vegan dinner (she's vegan, I'm not, but who cares?!) and chat with you? Can I also root through your closet and take everything that you own? haha.The girl acts, sings (her band is "She and He" and it's sooo good) and cooks. Her quirkiness is super awesome.

EMILY BLUNT

My favorite film with Emily: Young Victoria

Why I love her: Can you say, "The most beautiful woman in the world."?? Oh my gosh. She sure had some luck in the gene pool when she was born. haha. Plus, she's got a great personality and her movies are always really entertaining. Like Kate Winslet, she's good in those "period pieces" but I also loved her in "The Devil Wears Prada"! It's also pretty awesome that she's marrying John Krasinski from The Office. They are going to have some gorgeous kids.

So what do you think of my list? Do you disagree with any of my choices? I hope everyone is having an awesome Friday! :)

XOXO,

The "Other" White Dress

2010-04-08T08:58:00.011-05:00

My bridal shower is coming up next weekend and I'm getting really excited about it. About fifteen of my closest friends and family members will be there and we are going to have a blast. My matron of honor recently told me that the hostesses/bridesmaids want me to wear white. The minute I heard this I thought: shopping spree!! haha. Any excuse to shop, I'm there.

I've recently started to shop for the basics. You know, the classic items that will last me a very long time. I used to try and purchase the trendy items that were "in" at the moment, and I still do ocassionally, but I'm very selective about what I choose. I'm in my upper-twenties and I am trying to transition to a more classic, tailored wardrobe. It's been harder than I thought it would be...mainly on my wallet. When buying classic pieces, it's always better to splurge on higher quality items. At least that's what I've been told. And with quality, comes cost.

I figured a white shift dress would be a perfect addition to my collection and would also be fitting for the shower. So, last night, my search began...and ended!! haha. I tend to have a lot of luck at Banana Republic and, sure enough, I found the most beautiful dress there. (See below)

O.M.G. It is gorgeous...and very flattering. I was suprised I found something so quickly and I snatched this thing up before you could say "credit card." I'm excited to wear it and I hope to use it for years to come. :) Any tips on other items in your closet that have taken you the distance? I think my next purchase will be a couple nice, classic cardigans...

XOXO,

Gardening at Work

2010-04-07T19:18:00.005-05:00

For those of you who know me...I mean REALLY know me...you have probably learned that I am not the "outdoorsy" type. Yes, I like spending time outside jogging, hiking, swimming, etc., but only if I can come back home to a nice, clean, air conditioned bedroom and a full glass of wine. I don't remember the last time I went camping. It must have been maybe ten years ago? If you were to place me in the middle of forest with nothing but a backpack, I would panic. I mean, if that isn't enough, the fiance and I decided to "opt out" of a balcony on our apartment so we can get more indoor space. haha. So, it's really no surprise that I am not much of a gardener either. Many women in my family enjoy this very popular hobby. My aunt, for instance, has a ginormous garden in her backyard and she spends many hours a week making sure her flowers, herbs, veggies, and roots are happy and healthy and, most importantly, ready to eat! (yum.)

A coworker of mine loves to garden. Every Monday, she comes to work and tells us about her weekend adventures in the dirt. When this past Christmas came around, I decided to buy her an amaryllis bulb and a pot as a gift. We have this perfect window sill here at the office, so she decided to grow it there. I have to admit, it was quite fun watching the plant grow a little each day. After a few months, it bloomed beautifully. I regret not having taken a picture of it back then. Well, I guess the office has caught the "gardening bug." We now have another pot full of little poppy seedlings. They are just starting to sprout and it has caused a wealth of excitement among my fellow employees. (Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but whatever.) Here is a shot of our "Work Garden" in action:

So this got me thinking that, when I get a house, I might try and find out what this gardening thing is all about. Though it may take me away from this new blog hobby of mine! Decisions, decisions...

A Wine Discovery!

2010-04-07T08:48:00.004-05:00

Things have been really busy at work so far this week and, after being out of town during the weekend, I was out of groceries and really needed to do some laundry. You know how it goes! I went to the grocery store really late on Monday night and I knew that I should probably pick up a bottle of wine as I had a feeling it's going to be a stressful week. hahaha. Nothing beats a nice, glass of wine after a hard day's work.

I have this horrible habit of opening up a bottle of wine and then only drinking half of it. Plus, I don't like the taste of wine if it's been sitting out for over a day. I guess you could call me a wine snob.

But, my heart almost stopped when I discovered the Red Truck 3 Liter Mini Wine Barrel!!!

This fun little invention provides you with four bottles of wine in one! AND, the best part about it is that it stays fresh for almost a month. The website even states "The Mini-Barrel by Red Truck is far more environmentally friendly than glass. Less and lighter packaging means significantly less landfill waste and greenhouse gases in the production and transport." I mean, I just couldn't resist. I had to buy it.

So last night, I decided I would try it out. I thought it probably wouldn't taste that great since I got it at the grocery store and it is available in bulk. But, I was quite surprised! It was very yummy. I sound like an advertisement, but I have a feeling this thing would also be a great thing to have at parties and outdoor barbeques. The little spout is very efficient and it doesn't drip at all. Anyway, I highly recommend it. :)

Easter Weekend in San Antonio

2010-04-05T08:39:00.008-05:00

How is the weekend over already?!? I'm confused. The fiance and I went down to San Antonio over Easter weekend to spend the holiday with "both" of my families. Having divorced parents makes for a very interesting holiday. We both love going down to San Antonio. Not only because we get to see the family, but because it's a great change in scenery and it's a beautiful city.

We always try to stop and grab some lunch on the way into town and the fiance came up with a great idea! I don't know if you are familiar with the show "Man V. Food" with Adam Richman, but he travels around the United States taking on food challenges. In one episode, he went to San Antonio and tried to conquer the "4 Horsemen" burger at Chunky's Burger's. So, we decided to go to Chunky's to see if he would try and attempt the challenge. I took a picture of the exterior of Chunky's as we were walking up...

Here I am, excited that I will get to watch some people writhe in pain as they try to eat a ridiculously spicy burger:

Once we arrived there, we knew the burger was bad news. Every person who orders the burger must sign a waiver stating that it's not the restaurants fault if you become ill or have to go to the hospital, etc. To give you an idea of just how spicy this burger is, let me list off the four, deadly toppings: jalapeno peppers, serrano peppers, habanero sauce and THE GHOST PEPPER. The ghost pepper is the spiciest pepper known to man. It is 400 times spicier than a jalapeno pepper. According to Wikipedia, "In 2009, scientists at India's Defence Research and Development Organisation announced plans to use the chillies in hand grenades, as a non lethal way to flush out terrorists from their hideouts and to control rioters. It will also be developed into pepper spray as a self defense product specially for women."

This made us nervous.

The fiance decided to pass on the 4 Horsemen and ordered the "Ghost Burger" instead, which is ranked right below the 4 Horsemen in terms of spice. It still has ghosts peppers on it, but not all of the other crazy toppings. While we waited for the ghost burger to be delivered to our table, we got to enjoy the comedy of watching a few other poor folks try to eat the 4 Horsemen. One girl was screaming, crying and throwing up after just one bite. The other two men were sweating profusely and had swollen, red faces. It was ridiculous!

I was pretty scared once our burger arrived. The fiance finished it, though. I was shocked. I could tell he was struggling after certain bites, and he was shaking a bit, but I was quite proud of how well he did. The only bad part about it is he actually thinks he can upgrade to the 4 Horsemen next time and make it through tje challenge. I keep telling him that, after over 1,000 attempts, only 90 have succeeded. Mainly because I don't want to have to take care of him afterward! Either way, I still think he's going to try it the next time we are in SA. Wish us luck!

After that adventure, we went over to my aunt's house and spent some time with the fam. That evening, we all went out to eat at Macaroni Grill for my Mom's birthday. Out of all the delicious places to eat in SA, she chooses Macaroni Grill. haha. We had a nice time, though.

Easter Sunday was hectic, but fun, and I had a TON of food. Everyone seemed to be in a great mood and it was really nice seeing everyone. My family is awesome. And I was quite proud of the artistry I put into my Easter cupcakes! So proud, in fact, that I took a picture of them to share with my readers. Check it out!

Well, now it's back to the daily grind. Not looking forward to another full week of work and I have a TON of things to do for the wedding. Less than two months to go!

Paradise

2010-04-02T09:25:00.044-05:00

I had a little bit of a moment yesterday when I realized that it's April and I'm getting married next month! haha. Granted, not until the very end of next month, but still. Time has gone by so quickly. Even though the wedding plans are running at maximum speed right now, we are also thinking a lot about our honeymoon.

Choosing a location for the honeymoon was a very daunting task. The fiance and I love, love, love to travel and it was pretty difficult to choose the perfect location to spend our first few days of newlywed bliss. (ok. I know that was a bit cheesy, but whatever.) At first, our minds were set on Phuket, Thailand. He and I love asian culture and the beaches there are supposed to be amazing. It is also important to note that we needed to find a place that had both beautiful beaches AND cultural significance (museums, historical sites, etc). My significant other does not know how to swim. So, we couldn't exactly sit on a cruise ship for a week or go scuba diving in the bahamas or cabo san lucas for 8 days. He would be bored out of his mind. Phuket slowly went out the window, though, as we started to hear about political unrest and assaults and robberies on british tourists. The fiance's family is from England and he looks very British at times. haha. The paranoia in us started to come out. So we scratched Phuket off the list.

After much deliberation, we finally decided on GREECE. We will be there for a total of ten full days (not counting travel days to and from the states) and we are SO excited!!

First, we are spending two days in the great City of ATHENS.

We will be spending whatever time we have there exploring the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, walking around Plaka and other surrounding neighborhoods and enjoying time at the National Archaeological Museum. Not to mention eating some great food along the way. Did you know that Athens is one of the world's oldest cities? It's recorded history spans about 3,400 years. wow.

Next stop will be three full days in MYKONOS.

Most of our time in Mykonos will be spent on one of the sixteen beaches. I'm hoping to enjoy quite a few "fruity beverages" and even more naps under my umbrella. I hear there are many wonderful shops, cafes and restaurants along the walkways and throughout Mykonos Town. Not to mention the partying and night clubs where people live it up until 6 a.m. It should be a crazy fun time!

I have a feeling we will be exhausted after the late nights in Mykonos, so we decided to end our trip with 4 days on the relaxing island of SANTORINI.

Can you say WINE? Santorini has some of the best wineries in Greece and we will definitely be taking advantage of that. :) I'm also quite excited about watching the sunset over the caldera every evening. I'm sure we will also spend time visiting Ancient Thira and some of the beautiful churches and cathedrals on the island as well. Some quality time by the hotel pool is also in order.

Anyway, can you tell that I'm excited?!? hahaha. Sorry about the diatribe, I just couldn't help myself. I will make sure to update everyone on the trip once we return...but that is still a while away. Sadly.

HIIT is the only way to go!

2010-04-01T09:24:00.005-05:00

Back in September, I received a random e-mail entitled "Campaign to Change 200 Lives." I was intrigued so I opened it up and started to read about this new, innovative gym and fitness center in Austin called HIT Center. They were trying to find two hundred people who wanted to sign up for their program and improve their fitness. I had been going to the usual gym chains such as 24 Hour Fitness for YEARS and I was definitely bored of the same old routine. (Totally not dissing 24 Hour, it's still a great place) So, on a whim, I decided to try it out. And I LOVE it!!
Here is a shot of the inside of my gym:

The "HIT" in HIT Center stands for "High Intensity Training." The main type of exercise they have us do is known in the fitness world as HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). HIIT, as defined on Wikipedia, is "an exercise strategy that is intended to improve performance with short training sessions. HIIT is a form of cardio which is beneficial to burning fat in a short and intense workout. Usual HIIT sessions may vary from 15–30 minutes. Most HIIT sessions have a 2:1 ratio in terms of time. For example, for running, a HIIT session may be 30 seconds of sprinting alternating with 60 seconds of jogging." You can read more about it here: HIIT on Wikipedia.

Another cool thing about this place is that they test my body fat composition using what's called a "BodPod." See below for a picture:

Sort of looks like a spaceship! You sit in that thing for a few minutes while air pressure is pumped onto your body. Like underwater fat testing, this accurately measures your body composition (fat vs. muscle). It's super awesome.

My VO2 Max is also tested and scored at the gym. This test measures my physical fitness level and shows the trainers exactly what level of exercise I need to do in order to work at my maximum ability. It's a pretty strange experience. They hook you up to this head gear that measures your oxygen intake during exercise. See below:

Every time I go to the gym, they have a personalized folder with my stats and the exercises that I should accomplish during each session. It's pretty specific to my needs. This type of cardio and weight program has competely changed the way I think about working out. I used to go to the gym 5 or 6 times a week for an hour and a half each session. I would do an hour of cardio, followed by 30 minutes of resistance training. With that type of schedule, you can burn out FAST. And I did. Now, using HIIT, I can be more productive in a shorter amount of time. I only do 1 hour sessions now on a 4 times a week schedule and I'm at the same level of fitness (if not better) than I was before. I'll throw in a couple of steady state cardio sessions (30-45 minutes on the elliptical or bike) when I can, but it's not necessary.

Anyway, I'll get off of my soapbox now. I hope more people will discover this type of training. It's so effective and efficient. They'll be able to stay fit and have more time to enjoy life and not spend countless hours in the gym. :)

OH!! And, if you're in Austin and want to try this out, I can take you to do a couple sessions for free!!! Just let me know.

Vegas, Baby, VEGAS!!!!

2010-03-31T08:29:00.008-05:00

About two weeks ago, I celebrated my bachelorette party Las Vegas style! A group of eight of us girls met up for a very very fun four day weekend. We arrived on Thursday and spent the weekend touring around the strip, seeing shows and hitting up the clubs. It was a blast, but you better believe I was exhausted by the time Sunday rolled around.

A couple of friends and I decided to fly to Vegas together and the flight was quite memorable. The flight attendant even announced that "there was a bachelorette on the plane" and the entire plane proceeded to sing "Going to the Chapel" for me. It was hilarious and a great way to start the trip. A gentleman in row 5 even bought me a drink.

Some other highlights of the trip included:

A FREE four course meal and first round of drink at "FIRST Food and Bar" in the Venetian. Totally random. Thank Goodness it was ladies night!
Singing karoake at 2:00 a.m. My song of choice was Montell Jordan's "This is How We Do it" I was a HIT. My raps skills are awesome!
The Shows: Cirque Du Soleil's KA and Peepshow with Holly Madison were really great! I'm glad we got to see a cirque show as well as a burlesque Vegas-style production.
A trip to KiKi De Montparnasse at City Center. Won't explain what that store is, but if you're curious, check out their site. http://www.kikidm.com/
Touring around all of the casinos. I loooove just being able to walk around the Strip all day and explore.
Dancing all night at LAVO...followed by some late night sushi at SushiSamba
Breakfast at Bouchon on Sunday morning before our flight home. BEST croissants EVER...well, at least ones available in the US.
Lingerie shower! I got some really amazing things that I think the fiance will love. :)

Here's a picture of our group after Holly Madison's Peepshow. Notice my long veil. Got a lot of attention that night! Love these ladies.

I absolutely LOVE Las Vegas. I think the best part is, if you don't have a plan, don't worry! You don't need one! :) Just show up a have a blast.

Cut, Paste, Stamp, Send. PHEW!

2010-03-30T13:25:00.004-05:00

Holy crap. I'm getting married in two months and I have SO much to do. And let me tell you, for the past few months, I have been deeply immersed in the world of "wedding planning." Though I've never been the type to dream of my wedding, it is quite easy (and almost unavoidable) to get sucked into the crazy culture of cakes, DJs, flowers, favors, linens, photography...you name it! I find myself watching the variety of wedding planning shows on BRAVO and, yes, even WE Channel over my lunch hour.

I just mailed my wedding invitations yesterday and it was a great feeling!! A few months ago, a good friend of mine and I went to a local stationary store in Austin called Paper Place. After perusing the shelves and touching all kinds of glorious paper, we came up with this excellent idea for the most amazing wedding invitations ever! Now, we had a VERY vague idea of how we were going to execute those babies, but the final vision of what I wanted them to look like convinced me to ignore the fact that I hadn't the slightest idea of where to start.

A few mishaps with a printer, one full weekend of driving around to EVERY Kinko's in Austin (6 locations in fact), screaming at random Kinko's employees (my first real "bridezilla" moment), more than enough glasses of wine and a few tears later, they are finished. And they are beautiful. I really couldn't be happier. I just hope my guests feel the same way I do about them! I guess we'll find out....

An Ode to College Football:

2009-09-04T08:42:00.006-05:00

Are you ready for this, people?!?! Though some college teams have already played their first game of the season, for me College Football doesn't OFFICIALLY start until my alma-mater, the Texas Longhorns, take the field. HOOK 'EM!

The Horns' first game is this Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe. Now, I have NEVER heard of that school before, but it doesn't matter. I'm sure it'll be a blowout. But, the Longhorns could be playing my high school and I'd still watch.

On the same note, I read this interesting op-ed in "Austinist" yesterday about how Texas always schedules their non-conference games against some of the easiest-to-beat teams. It's not like people stop buying tickets to the games to protest a disappointing schedule. The stadium is completely packed for every single home game. So it makes sense that Texas doesn't want to risk losing and, therefore, it schedules easier teams.

On the other hand, the article made a good point by mentioning how OU (OU SUCKS!) schedules

much higher ranked teams during the season. They say, "There's a good chance that OU will win all four of those games, probably even as high as 90 percent. There's a 99 percent chance that Texas will win its four non-conference games. But for an extra 9 percent of the risk, the Sooners gain much more in national respect and strength-of-schedule ratings, which figure into BCS rankings. "

It's definitely an interesting thought. You can read the rest of the article here: http://austinist.com/2009/09/03/weak_teams_on_schedule_have_texas_o.php

Either way, the Longhorns are ranked #2 and I am itching to see them win the National Championship this year. Come on, Colt McCoy!! You've gotta make this happen for us! TEXAS FIGHT!!

I Heart Austin Happy Hours

2009-09-03T08:19:00.006-05:00

I was supposed to head to the gym right after work yesterday but, instead, decided on a better option: HAPPY HOUR.

This has been a recurring trend as of late. Mainly, because I have discovered quite a few awesome places for some appetizers, wine and cocktails after work. I mean, who doesn't need that kind of thing after a long, hard day at the office?! I have also recently discovered that this notion of a "Reverse Happy Hour" is unusual to some. I looove the idea. There are many nights where you can find me eating past 9pm (a big no-no in the diet world) and I don't think a thing about it. I'm sure that the fact my fiance lives at The Domain doesn't hurt either. Maybe I should have grown up in Spain, where dinner at 9 or 10 is not unusual.

Here are some of my favorites haunts for both regular (and reverse) HH:

Kona Grill (5pm-7pm and 9pm-11pm)
McCormick and Schmicks (5pm-7pm and 9pm-11pm)
Cru Wine Bar (3pm-6pm)
Sushi Nini (3pm-6pm and 8pm-10pm)
Daily Grill (5pm- close)
Sullivan's Steakhouse (not quite sure of the exact hours..."happy hour" time?)
Joe Dimaggio's (3pm-6pm)

Bachelorette Party Fun

2009-09-02T15:59:00.004-05:00

My Mother and I had an eye-opening conversation on the phone last night. I was talking to her about the dates that my bridesmaids and I have set for the "bachelorette party weekend." I told her we were thinking about going to Vegas. Needless to say, she was beyond excited for me. She loves Vegas. Her and my Step-father proceeded to yell "travel tips" to me over the phone simultaneously. It was hilarious. At some point, I completely forgot what was going on.

Anyway, I don't know how the conversation got to this point, but her final sentence pretty much came out like this:

"You know. I could care less if you get drunk, are hungover or go to a strip club or something like that. The only thing I ask is that you do NOT leave your drink at the bar unattended, that you do not take Ecstasy (uh. seriously?!) and I definitely do not want to receive a phone call saying that you are in jail."

She then proceeded to tell me about the trip she took to New Orleans for her sister's bachelorette party. haha. She's great. It's so funny because she constantly surprises me. Now that I am older, she is open to sharing a lot of things with me that she never used to when I was younger (for good reason, I suppose). At some point, our parents and even grandparents become REAL PEOPLE. It's an interesting experience, isn't it?

An Intimacy Sandwich

2009-08-31T08:56:00.004-05:00

Well, THAT was an eventful weekend! Sorry I've been a little lacking in the blog department these past few days.

The fiance and I had our "wedding preparation class" with the Catholic Church this past Saturday. It was from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Yes. THAT long. I kept telling myself that it would go by quickly but, I promise you, it did not. Unfortunately, I didn't really learn anything new. Wait. I lied. I DID learn that Intimacy is like a Sandwich. I am not even going to try and explain this to you. Just know I zoned out about halfway through the discussion. I'm pretty sure those type of classes are made for couples who want to get married 6 months after they meet...not 4 years like us!

The only thing really exciting about the day was when a guy (let's call him Joe) burned down the trashcan outside of the church. Yes. No joke. Joe is attending these sessions alone, as his future wife is over in Vietnam. He would go outside at every break and smoke a cigarette or two. Well, wouldn't you know...one of those cigarettes lit a huge trashcan on fire! The flames were pretty out of control. The Fire Department was called in to spray the thing down. Meanwhile, the ball of flame was melting the front of the instructor's car. How she stayed calm the rest of the day is beyond me. Anyway, this Joe guy didn't even say a word! We can't assume it was his fault but, come on, he was the only one throwing lit cigarettes into the trashcan. Anyway, we have three more classes over the next few Thursday nights. I have a feeling it will be mildly entertaining...

Well, these past few days have been crazy busy at work, so I'm going to let off some steam and do one of my favorite things to do in Austin: A run (mostly walk) around Lady Bird Lake:

It's such a great place to go in the evening after a long day at work. Half the time I forget I'm exercising!! After that, I think I'll head over to Whole Foods and grab some sushi or a salad. You will probably see me there at least two or three times a week. I'm a bit obsessed.

Funny Dreams

2009-08-28T08:35:00.005-05:00

I woke up this morning after a wonderful snooze and here was the first thing out of my fiance's mouth:

Fiance: "Do you know you laugh in your sleep?"

Me: "uh. What?"

I've heard of talking in one's sleep or grinding teeth, but laughing?!? He told me I have done it several times before. I was surprised this is the first time he mentioned it. Well, this is just great. Now I'm going to have some sort of complex about staying over at people's homes...I don't want to freak them out with my creepy-ness!!

I wish I could remember what my dreams were, though. Especially if they are making me laugh subconsciously. I'm definitely not a superbly funny person, so maybe my dreams could give me a couple of tips. hehe.

In other news, TGIF!!!!! This week went by fast, but I am looking forward to a break. On the schedule for tonight: "500 Days of Summer" at the Alamo Drafthouse. I went on Rotten Tomatoes yesterday and saw that the movie is rated 87% FRESH. Which, for people who don't read Rotten Tomatoes, is a great rating! I looove the female lead in the movie: Zooey Deschanel. I think she is beyond beautiful. And her style is to die for. I'm also doubly excited because the fiance and I are going with another couple we love dearly. Good news all around.

And while we are on the topic of Alamo Drafthouse, can I just mention how much I love that place? Food, beer, wine, dessert and a movie all at once?! The best. PLUS, the place doesn't take sh** from anyone. Take a look at the warnings they show at the beginning of each film. It makes my heart melt every time.

Fall is in the Air...Sort Of.

2009-08-27T08:45:00.011-05:00

Every year, around this time, I start itching for the Fall season. I have endured nearly two and a half months of temperatures reaching over 100 degrees and I am ready to wear a sweater, damnit! Fall has always been my favorite time of the year...

My top 5 reasons why I LOVE the Fall Season:

1. Fall Fashion. I love the trench coats, cute sweaters, and hats. Even the new boots are always beauiful! I actually went to Banana Republic yesterday and picked up the most adorable cashmere sweater! (see below) Banana Republic has so many adorable things...I'm heading back next week for some skinny jeans...or pencil skirt...or a blouse?? Oh gosh, don't tempt me.

2. Wine Season. I had the opportunity to go to Napa, California a few years ago at the height of wine season in September. The grapes were ripe, the air cool, and wine aficionados were out in full force. I am pretty sure that trip started my love affair with wine. I very much appreciate the wine making process, the complexity of its taste, and the way a glass of wine can enhance both the taste of the food on your plate as well as the conversation around you. It's a beautiful thing.

3. Anything and everything PUMPKIN. Have I ever told you how much I love the flavor of pumpkin? Pumpkin loaves, pumpkin pies, roasted pumpkin seeds. Even the smell of freshly cut pumpkin while I'm making a Jack-O-Lantern. Well, wouldn't you know...I walked into Starbucks this morning and saw a huge sign that said, "Pumpkin Spice Lattes are coming in 6 Days!" Yeah. That made my morning. MMMmmm. Can't wait.

4. Halloween. It's my favorite holiday. Strange, I know. It's sort of natural for someone who grew up in a household that loved horror films and vampires and witches. haha. It's so kitchy and awesome. My mother and I used to decorate the house every year at the beginning of October. We got a little carried away every time. Black lights, spiderwebs, witches brew with dry ice, scary music, etc. Some of the little kids in the neighborhood would cry every time they came to the door. We considered that a success.

5. Good movies. As a film student, I always looked forward to the Fall when all of the Oscar contendors started popping up in the theater. A lot of film festivals start putting on a show in October and November. I've already got my badge to the Austin Film Festival! Can't wait.

Do you have any other reasons why you love the Fall? I'd love to hear about them, because I am soooo ready to celebrate the Season. Hurry up, Labor Day. Let's get you over with. I'm ready for the leaves to drop.

I am a big shot

2009-08-26T13:20:00.005-05:00

Hello from the working world!

I have officially hired my new assistant. She begins on September 8th. Some of her tasks will include: taking my car in for service, taking my laundry to be dry cleaned, ordering my lunch everyday and picking the tomatoes off of my sandwiches, cleaning up the coffee I spill right in front of her each morning and driving me wherever I want, whenever I want.

Okay. That's a total lie. But those are some of the things I was put through when I was an Assistant in Los Angeles. Hell on Earth and I would NEVER put anyone through that torture.

But, seriously, I am so excited about her arrival. I definitely need the help and I think we'll work well together and have fun while we're at it! Looking forward to it all. :)

I was in San Antonio last weekend visiting some old friends from high school. One of my good friends is moving to D.C. and we all wanted to wish her a safe trip East! I also got to spend some time with my dear friends Samantha and Amy. I used to run around the neighborhood when I was 5 with those women. It's always a joy to see them.

Sunday, I was over at Katie's place having a True Blood marathon. Oh how I love that show. It is based on Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels and I'm already on book two. If you have not seen this show yet, rent season One or get HBO...it's worth it!!!

As for tonight, I'm heading to CRU with Haley for some wine, cheese, and appetizers. God knows I need the wine. Yesterday was a doozy at work. They have the best selection around and it changes continuously. It's a national chain so, if you are a wino like me, you should see if there is one near you!! Super yummy.

Ah yes...the wedding madness begins

2009-08-07T10:47:00.002-05:00

I've been slacking in the wedding planning department, lately. Big time. I have been so busy with work and other random stuff, that I haven't really had time to think about it.

But really...I've gotten a lot done without even trying. haha.

Here is what I can check off of my to do list:
Ceremony site
Reception site
Food
Alcohol
Florist
Baker -- cake tasting this Sunday!!

Pretty good, eh?

This weekend, I begin the wedding gown search. I am not sure what to expect out of the whole process and I don't know what kind of dress I want...so I'm sure the first couple of appointments will be a bit of an experiment. I'm taking my Mother in round one...then the MOH in round two. We'll see what comes of it! I'm sure I'll find something super awesome.

I've also met with three photographers and I hope to put my deposit down with one of them in the next week or two. I really need to start thinking about engagement photos and save-the-dates.

Anyway, I'll keep you guys updated as more things unfold....

(Disclaimer: I apologize to all of my male friends who had to read this post. I know it's not the most exciting thing for you guys...at least I updated my blog, right?!?)

I left my heart in San Francisco...

2009-06-27T22:17:00.002-05:00

Well, folks. Tomorrow is the start to a very overdue vacation. My flight leaves at 6 a.m. (ugh) which makes for a 4 a.m. wake up call. I might as well not even sleep! But, I will try to get some few and prepare for an eventful few days in San Francisco. I'll update everyone on the adventure when I return.

xoxo

A Trailer Park Dinner

2009-06-26T22:24:00.007-05:00

Tonight was a good night. My old college roommate, fellow European traveler, and good friend Stephanie was in town from Las Vegas. She moved there after College with her husband. It's always nice to see her when she visits Austin. A group of us went to a place that I had never been to before:

The South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery.

Yes. Trailer Park. You heard me. It's the type of place that SCREAMS Austin...and I love it. I always love discovering new and exciting places in town and this is definitely up on my list. Here are some pictures:

Basically, the place is made up of five or six trailers, each with a different offering of scrumptiousness. I had a great set of sliders from "Shuggies"...but there is also "Torchy's Tacos" as well as a couple of places with great desserts. They also have fire pits where you can roast flavored marshmallows and make S'mores....I'm guessing this would be a great thing to do during the Fall. Oh! and it's BYOB. Anyway, I'm definitely going back. If you live in Austin and have not been there yet, it's a great casual place to stop for a great meal...especially if you are in a big group.

I had a wonderful time!

Pho Adventure

2009-06-25T19:17:00.004-05:00

I have been spending a lot of time lately reading "Frommers San Francisco" in preparation for my upcoming trip. One of the highly recommended restaurants is "Slanted Door," a Vietnamese place in the Ferry Building by the Bay. I thought, 'I must go there.' So I added it to my list.

Well, there was one big problem: I had never had Pho before! So, tonight was my very first Pho experience (see picture to the right) and it was YUMMY. I was a little scared because some of the dishes included miscellaneous cow parts, but I kept thinking to myself "Menudo Menudo Menudo"...since Menudo has tripe and I love it. I'm so glad that I convinced myself to take a bite! I can't wait to try "Slanted Door" now. I'm sure it's going to be delicious.

P.S. The only negative about the dinner was it was a hot soup...and it's 105 degrees in Austin, Texas today. Oh well. A little brow sweat doesn't hurt.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T18:59:00.004-05:00

I remember when I was 10 or so I was OBSESSED with Michael Jackson. I would listen to him non-stop in my room. I had both of his "HIStory" Greatest Hits albums and it was like I had struck gold. His songs always remind me of different moments in my life. No matter what kind of music you listen to, you can't deny the influence of MJ. His talent will be missed.

Here is my favorite Michael Jackson video: "Remember the Time" ENJOY!

Okay. A ridiculously overdue update.

2009-06-25T15:47:00.004-05:00

Hey, folks.

I know. I know. I'm a slacker. It's been what...6 months since I last updated?! I've definitely been getting some comments here and there from friends telling me that I suck at blogging. Well, I promise I have a legitimate reason...or two....or three....here are some of the highlights:

My last post talked about Jamieson and I heading to San Antonio for a romantic Christmas getaway. Little did I know that we were to get ENGAGED at that getaway! That's right! Jamieson totally surprised me with a proposal in front of the Alamo. It was very sweet, very romantic, and I'm totally not going to bore you with all of the mushy gushy stuff. We have been together for 3 1/2 years now and we are so excited about our future together. Our wedding date is set and I will be a "Mrs." on May 29, 2010.
In other news, my boss retired on December 31st and left me all alone in my Department. For three months, I worked my ass off trying to get used to handling double the work and double the responsibility. On March 13th, I was officially promoted to her position: City Secretary. Sounds fancy, eh? So, needless to say, work has been all consuming. I've finally started to get a hold on balancing my work and life. Now I just need to hire an awesome assistant...

Now it's the end of June and Jamieson and I are heading off to San Francisco on Sunday! I've never been and I really look forward to the cooler weather (it 104 degrees here, people!) and water and seafood! haha. I'll make sure to take some pictures and share them when I return.

I do not know how the time got away from me, but I promise to keep you updated on the goings on...Stay tuned.

Who in this car is from the US? Canada? England?!

2008-12-16T08:49:00.011-06:00

Oh my gosh. It is so cold in Austin right now!! I absolutely love it...it actually feels like winter! I despise when it's Christmas Day and people are wearing shorts to their family gatherings. That's just not right. Unless that person lives in Australia. Then I'll accept it.

I got a little shopping done over the weekend. I'm done with my boyfriend Jamieson's family. They are always the hardest to shop for, so I'm glad I got them over and done with...like ripping off a bandaid. I am very happy with my choices too. I think they will love what I got them. Now, I just have to figure out how I'm going to transport it all to Canada on the 27th. Yes, I am heading to the land of maple syrup, poutine (look it up), hockey, and Tim Horton's double double coffees. It's the one time of the year where I can play in the snow and know that it won't melt the next day. I love waking up in the morning, having a hot cup of tea and some toast, and looking outside to see WHITE. All WHITE. It's so beautiful. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Jamieson's mom stuffs me full of homemade British and Italian food. yum.
His family lives in Windsor, Ontario(see above)...which is across the Great Lakes from Detroit. It's actually SOUTH of Detroit, which is interesting. I usually fly into Detroit, because it's cheaper that way. Jamieson and his parents pick me up and drive me over the border.

It's always a hilarious experience crossing the border. Me, with my US Passport...Jamieson with his Canadian Passport...and his parents, with their British Passports (They're British citizens...accents and all.) Inevitably, the guard looks at us with a very confused look on his or her face. The most interesting response we ever got went something like this.

Guard: "Hello..um...so where are you guys traveling from again?"
Jamie's parents: "We live in Windsor and we are picking up Jessica, who is a US Citizen. My wife and I are British citizens living in Canada. This is our son Jamie (points to the back seat) , who is a Canadian citizen working in the US."

Guard: "okay......um.."

Jamie: "Jessica and I live in Austin, Texas and I flew over earlier in the week. We are just picking her up."

Guard: HOOK 'EM HORNS.

And he waved us through...I was laughing so hard.

Texas pride all the way in Detroit. Gotta love it.

Feliz Navidad, ya'll

2008-12-13T08:39:00.004-06:00

My boyfriend and I have a yearly tradition where we go down to San Antonio during the holidays. We love spending the day on the Riverwalk...shopping, people watching, drinking martinis, and eating some really good food. This time of the year is so festive down there...with all of the Christmas lights along the river. Hanging out on the Riverwalk is one of the few "touristy" things that he and I enjoy doing. We made a reservation at a hotel, we have our lunch location planned out, and I already know it's going to be a great day.

I was born and raised in San Antonio. I still tend to consider it my "hometown"....even though I've been in Austin off and on for the past 7 years. Wow. How time flies. There is just something about San Antonio that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside...as cheesy as that sounds. I miss the Mexican culture: the food, music, and margaritas!! It is very rich and warm...and my grandmother has shared that with my family and I throughout our whole lives. I am very blessed to be a part of a diverse, inter-racial family and there will definitely be something missing when she is gone.

One of our favorite places to go on the Riverwalk is the martini bar "Swig." They have the largest selection of martinis that I've ever seen...and they are all really unique. I will usually have two and I'm good to go for a while. If you know what I mean. haha. I heard they opened up a second one in North San Antonio. I'll have to check it out the next time I go and visit my family. I am hoping to get some Christmas shopping taken care of while I'm there. I have not done ONE BIT of shopping yet. This happens every year...I wait until the last minute....

I hope your weekend is an enjoyable and relaxing one....

A Georgetown Christmas

2008-12-12T09:26:00.005-06:00

Today is the Annual "Employee Recognition Luncheon" here at work. It's basically our version of a Christmas party...but we can't call it a Christmas party. You know, the whole separation of church and State thing.

It is probably my favorite day on the job, though. The directors are in charge of the whole thing, so they leave around 9am, and everyone else trades gifts and goofs off until 10:30 or 11.

The City of Georgetown, population 50,000, is really beautiful during the holidays. Even though the City is growing like crazy, it still has that "small town feel." It's nice to work in such a relaxing place every day. Driving from Round Rock/Austin every morning...once I get to a certain point on the highway...it's almost like I'm entering another world. A slower, calmer world... It's pretty cool. Don't get me wrong, I prefer the City life, but this is a nice place to settle during the weekday.

I will try to take pictures at the Luncheon today but, for now, here are some shots of Downtown Georgetown at Christmastime.

No. My name is NOT Jennifer.

2008-12-11T19:19:00.005-06:00

So I have been going to the same 24 Hour Fitness for about two years now. I go about 5 or 6 times a week, unless I'm on vacation or sick...and I'm proud to say that I have become quite the fitness enthusiast. As some of you know, my favorite activity at the gym is to take spin classes. I try to go three times a week. For those of you who are not familiar with spinning, or indoor cycling, let me explain.

Elements of spinning include:

a bike with foot straps and the power to control resistance

music with a lot of bass (prefereably rap, club music, techno, and some rock)

a loud, obnoxious, i'm going to kick your ass instructor

a low-lit room (I know...I thought that was weird at first for me

a lot of sweat

WATER

I basically thought I was going to die the first time I took the class. It gets better as time goes on and as your body gets used to the bike. It's a really awesome workout.

A few months ago, I introduced myself to one of the spin instructors. He teaches on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Somehow, ever since then, he has called me Jennifer. I don't know how he went from Jessica to Jennifer, but I can see how it could be an easy mistake. It never really bothered me much, as we would just say hello in passing. "Hello, Jennifer"..."How's it going Jennifer?" I always thought, ah well...whatever. He's just being nice. I was comfortable being Jennifer to this guy who is basically a stranger.

Well, that all ended Tuesday night...

There comes a time during the hour long class (for me it's around minute 40) where you hit a wall. I'm tired, I'm sweating all over myself, and I keep looking at the clock every minute or two. This past Tuesday, while I was in that exact shoot-me-now-I-want-to-stop moment, the instructor yells "Good job guys! You are all STRONGER than you think you are!!! (pause)Jennifer!! Keep moving!!"

I snapped. It was probably the timing of it all, but I seriously was about to lose it. Here I am, almost anaerobic, barely breathing, and working my ass off, and all I wanted to do was get off of my bike, rip the microphone off of his head and yell, "It's JESSICA, damnit!"

After the class finished, I walked up to the front of the room to grab a paper towel and disinfecting spray to wipe off my bike. As I was squirting the 409 on my towel, the instructor says "What's up Jennifer? Good class right?" I don't know what came over me but I slowly set the spray on the counter, looked at him and said, "My name....is....JESSICA." And I walked away.

I am sure he will never forget my name again. Poor guy. I'm sort of regretting the rudeness, but I just couldn't help myself.

And It Begins...Awards Season Mayhem

2008-12-11T10:59:00.003-06:00

The Golden Globe Nominations were announced this morning.

Click here to see the list:
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b72803_complete_list_of_nominations_2009.html

Needless to say, I just added 8 films to my "Must See Before All of the Awards Shows Air" list. I have my work cut out for me...

Totally pumped that Heath Ledger received a nomination. R.I.P.

Suck it!....my blood, that is.

2008-12-11T08:33:00.023-06:00

For most of my life, I have had a love for all things vampire. A little strange, I know. I definitely have my mother to thank for that. She is a crazy woman who loves all things horror. She will literally go onto weird, underground, horror websites and buy 50s, 60s, 70s exploitation films that no one has ever heard of. She loves all of the modern horror flicks as well. I love her for it.

When I was about 12 or 13, Mom showed me the 1960 movie "Brides of Dracula."

She kept telling me that, after she saw it when she was young, she had nightmares for a month. Maybe I was out of my mind at the time, but I asked to see it. So I watched it...again and again and again. There was just something about the combination of fear and sensuality, which is so characteristic of the typical vampire, that really drew me in....am I a weirdo or what?

I am sure most of you are quite tired of hearing about vampires, though...especially now that the "Twilight" craze is in full effect. Yeah...I'm definitely part of that craze. I have no shame in admitting that fact. I am a huge fan of the books, which may be an understatement. They are light and fluffy, and it is not the best writing in the world, but all four novels could very well be defined as literary crack.

I definitely stood in line to see a midnight showing of the Twilight movie (I've seen the damn film 4 times already) and, yes, I am going to the Twilight Convention in July...I hope I'm not losing too much of your respect right now. But, hey! I'm not alone. I found three other friends to come with me, and we are ALL over the age of 23.

Last night, Katie and I went and saw the Swedish film "Let the Right One In." It is also a vampire movie and it was really good. Very beautifully shot and so eery. The horror aspect of the film was quite subtle...yes there was blood, but it wasn't spewing everywhere with crazy string music playing in the background like a lot of the current American "slasher" films. I never thought a 12 year old could be so freaky.

I hear the movie is receiving a ton of awards, nominations, and accolades. I would recommend it to pretty much anyone who isn't easily scared by films. Oh, and it's subtitled...so, if you're not into that, you may want to skip it.

Mass Exodus

2008-12-10T11:32:00.000-06:00

There have been a lot of "going away"/retirements parties at work this month. One of my coworkers' last day is this Friday. Then...here's a biggie...my boss is retiring at the end of the year. Her last day is December 31st. I promise to save my freak out session about that for later.

Lately though, I feel like my professional life has been plucked straight out of an episode of "The Office." Yesterday, a group of us went to a going away lunch at a Catfish restaurant for the guy who is leaving on Friday. It is always an interesting experience leaving the office and being with coworkers in a non-professional environment. Well, it is for me at least.

Then, today, we had the same guy's "Adios!" reception...meaning cake, punch, gifts, a huge banner with a Mexican theme, a sombrero, and maracas. Yeah. Don't ask...he's not even Mexican. I was seriously waiting for Michael Scott to waltz in the room with some sort of awkward, witty banter. But, alas, that did not happen.

A New Beginning

2008-12-09T22:18:00.000-06:00

Hello readers, friends, and...strangers?

After a three or four year hiatus, I am hopping back on the "blog bandwagon!" I hope this is a good way for those of you whom I do not speak to regularly to keep up with the goings on and happenings of my life.

I decided to title my blog "little sticky notes." Every day at work, I probably go through 20 or 30 of those trusty Post-Its, and if I were to collect all of them and save them over a certain period of time, you'd probably get a good gist of my career progression. I'm telling you, my desk is just covered in those things!

So, this blog is just a collection of my own, personal, little sticky notes. (Note: this is me trying to be clever)

I will more than likely cover a wide range of topics but, if I were a betting woman, I would say this blog will mostly be about my friends, family, boyfriend, movies, food, wine, and fitness. Mainly, the things that keep me busy, happy, and healthy day in and day out.

So...welcome. Leave comments. Laugh, scream, and cry with me. Enjoy the ride, k?