Another holiday, another party

In case you haven't noticed, Mr. Right and I love to throw parties. Like, we are hosting FIVE different parties at our house this month. Maybe we're a little crazy, but it's one of our very favorite things to do together.

When I first met him, he was hosting a monthly dinner at his house that would easily draw 20+ people. And, well, it was nothing for me to have 30+ people at my house for Easter, or church functions, or well... I didn't really need an excuse. We both plan events as part of our job, so for us, it's a match made in heaven.

It doesn't matter that we have a little house, we love nothing more than to fill it to the gills with friends, good food, and lot's of laughter. Plus now we have a system - he cooks, I decorate and occasionally help with the side dishes. And socialize.

This week was no different. We decided to throw a little July 4th party, thinking we might convince 10 people to come. We had 40. 

It was so much fun I didn't take any pictures. Well, I took a few as folks were leaving together to  watch the fireworks at the lake a few blocks from our house... so all of the pictures are of folks' hineys as they're scooting out the door. Between you and me, there were no blog-worthy pictures.

Our party involved a hotdog cookout, and our friends brought sides and desserts. Most of our friends went Pinterest-nuts that day and brought several dishes each, so we had PLENTY of food, much of it was red, white and blue and covered in sprinkles. I had a little of everything and let me assure you, I declared the day a Paleo-free holiday.

But for now, here's a few of my little projects I literally whipped up the day of the party. Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute, huh?

This frame will soon be a chalkboard, but until we get around to taking it to the framer to be redone, I decided to hot glue burlap to the back and then I pinned the patriotic bunting I made with scraps leftover from my nephew's quilt. Total cost - $0.

I hung bunting like this in several places around the house - with our red curtains in the living room it made the whole house look patriotic. (For those who have asked, my sister made the picture above our mantle, which we used as a decoration at our wedding reception - I adore it.)

I will never be too old, or too sophisticated, to eat marshmallows. Admit it, you love them too. I call these my Star-Spangled skewers.

I am thankful for friends, for days off, for air conditioning in this blazing Texas heat, and for all the men and women who have fought so hard to give me freedom. Happy Independence Day.

A White Christmas... and years past

Today was Dallas' first white Christmas in 87 years. I could have sworn it happened one time back in high school, but my memory must be failing me. I hear that happens with old age.

We had an amazingly lazy Christmas Eve. I learned how to play Rummy Cube (and won two of three games), watched a couple of Christmas movies, knitted on my latest blanket, and ate a humongous dinner. Oh, and we played in the snow. My how beautiful it is.

But Christmas always makes me wax sentimental, so here are some memories from past Christmas blog posts:

Who could forget last Christmas, when I set my hair on fire at the candlelight service at church? (a personal favorite)

Also, a little Christmas video I threw together from last year.

There was Christmas of 2007, the year that I decorated cookies again. and again. and again. It turned out to be one of my all-time favorite Christmas memories, and yet... I also realized that I do not have a future as a professional cookie decorator. Man, it's hard.

There was the Tacky Sweater Christmas of 2005. The one where we didn't tell our extended family our plan, just showed up in tacky sweaters and never said anything about them. It was wonderfully awkward, the elephant in the room where nobody wanted to ask us about our tacky sweaters, for fear they were legit. I think this is one of the greatest things about my family--they're not afraid to look stupid.

As I lie here in my old bedroom at my parents' house, I'm recounting the many ways God has blessed me in 2009. I hope you and your family also experience, recognize, and give thanks to God for his blessings this Christmas season. He really is good, isn't he?

Almost Christmas and other stream-of-consciousness

It's almost Christmas and there's so much I still haven't done. I haven't wrapped ANY presents yet. That's right, not a one. I haven't driven around to look at Christmas lights. I haven't decorated Christmas cookies. I haven't watched very many Christmas movies. I haven't worn all my red sweaters. I haven't even eaten a single candy cane! (although I've got one swimming around the bottom of my purse, waiting for a weak moment when I will cave and devour it, most likely right before supper, thus ruining my appetite and yet making me quite content).

But I'm not that worried about it. The gifts will be wrapped... soon. The cookies will be made... although it might be January. The lights may not get seen. But I decided that this year, I'm not going to stress out about what needs to be done for Christmas. I'm just going to enjoy spending time with my family, continue to catch up on sleep, and relish the fact that life will go on if I don't check every item off my to-do list.

As my family likes to say... "good enough."

I am quite excited about my other Christmas tradition though--using my time off from work to lie around my house and breeze through novel after novel, catching up on the wonderful stack of books that have been calling my name for months. I'm a good ways into Wuthering Heights, and I love it, but I've got a Pat Conroy novel waiting in the wings, and a Barnes & Noble gift card burning a hole in my pocket.

I should save that candy cane for one of my leisurely reading afternoons.

In other news...

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The number one question I get, now that I'm finished with grad school, is "Now what?" Apparently the proper thing to do after one finishes a masters degree is to change jobs. Nobody wants to hear my answer: "I don't know. I sure do love my job. I love my boss. I find my work to be incredibly interesting. I love the enormous amount of vacation time I get. I love that I get to help people. And I love that my commute is super easy. So yes, someday I may change, but I'm quite content where I am today." I've decided that I'm extremely A.D.D. when it comes to hobbies/projects/after-school activities, and yet when it comes to my job and my church, I am loyal and enjoy the stability that comes with staying in the same place for several years (6 years at one, 5.5 at the other). I'm not sure what that means... the psychoanalzation will have to continue for a bit longer. But I do wish folks would stop asking me the "now what." That, and the "What do you want to be when you grow up" question. Because I honestly don't know. I have some inklings, but telling someone you want to stay home and write novels while sitting on your back porch in your pajamas, drinking coffee out of a giant thermos, sort of sounds frivolous.

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I had a blind date tonight. I really shouldn't go on these, as they never turn out, but blind dates are a gold mine for funny stories that I can tell for years to come. Tonight's was disappointingly uneventful--other than a giant pimple that popped up on my forehead about three fateful hours before the date, there was no drama, no tragedy, no humiliation. It was simply a nice dinner, some pleasant conversation, and the quick realization that there would be no need for a second date. But I did have the most AMAZING flour-less chocolate cake for dessert. So totally worth it.

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I am officially in half marathon training mode. I squeezed in a run tonight between work and the date. I should know by now that even after I finish running, my face will continue to look like a red, sweaty tomato for several more hours. Yet I so easily forget this minor detail, so I was still a tad red/sweaty for the date. I'm clinging to the hope that my redness was mistaken for a tan... and not some horrible disease. I guess in either case, it really doesn't matter. Oh... but did I mention that chocolate cake? (sigh)

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I've got a month off from teaching Sunday School, so I have time to study something that's just for me. I've decided to hang out in Hosea for awhile, and let me tell you, my Bible Commentary is definitely my friend. This book's a challenge, but challenges are good.

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Off to bed... Christmas Eve launches in just a few hours, and I have some wrapping to do! Merry Christmas, and God bless.

Fourth of July

On this beautiful 4th of July day, I am thankful to my soldier friends who have taught me just how costly and wonderful my freedom is. Thank you for your sacrifice, for your bravery, for your sense of humor, and for your willingness to put everything on the line so that silly girls like me can live a life free of oppression.

Here's to fireworks and ice cream and hot summer days in the pool with good friends and family. God bless America.

The Luncheon

Today I had 17 people over for Easter lunch. It was a blast! One of my joys in life is throwing parties. It's right up there with Christmas and getting a tax refund.

I did my best to decorate in Martha Stewart style... check out the floral centerpieces... I made them myself (total cost for four of them... less than $20)...

Everybody brought a dish... I've never seen so much food in one place. It was a regular feast.

It was such a good day... I am so blessed to have the best family in the whole world, and some pretty cool friends that sometimes feel like they're part of my family. 


Happy Easter, and praise Jesus for all that this day means. 

2008 In Review

This may become a New Year tradition… I started this a year ago. Boy how things have changed! (and some things haven’t changed at all!)

Here’s a look back at 2008. It was a doozie.

Where did you begin 2008? I hosted an impromptu New Years party at my house. I think we decided to throw the party around 6pm that night. This year, I’m throwing one with a bit more planning. Disco ball, strobe lights, Dance Dance Revolution, and all.

Were you in school this year? I took four graduate classes this year… School was really tough, but I was also blessed to earn FREE tuition, plus a stipend (aka—Cruise Money), plus a trip to Miami! With five classes left (I’ve taken seven), I should finish this masters in December 2009 or May 2010. Praise the Lord. Oh, and I spoke to a bunch of junior high classes about the importance of going to college, choosing a career in advertising, yaddah, yaddah, yaddah. And I serve on a board for the school district, which technically is sort of school-related.

Where did you go on vacation? My sister and I jaunted over to NYC for a mini-trip smack full of Yankee games, pedicures, shopping, and Broadway. It was absolutely fantastic. I am super excited about my Mediterranean Cruise in summer 2009!

Favorite Books from 2008? I devoured Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Definitely the best book of my year, every girl should read that book. I also read three or four Anita Shreve novels (I want to write like her someday). And a book on hearing God speak, which turned into a whole Sunday School series. There were others, I just don’t remember the titles. I wish I could have read more, but I also read about 10 million journal articles for school, which tend to suck the life out of me. And, I read 52 issues of TIME Magazine cover-to-cover. Okay, and 52 issues of US Weekly, but that doesn’t make me sound nearly as sophisticated.

Did you know anybody who got married? Jim and Tiffany, Scott and Cassandra, Jason and Ginger… I’m sure I’m forgetting a few. And my sister Lindsay got engaged!

 Did you move anywhere? Oh thank goodness, no.

 What sporting events did you attend? About a million Rangers games, a couple of Stars games (including a playoff game), the Mavs home opener, a Yankee game in New York, two marathon events, and a minor league hockey game. Plus, I played a little tennis, golf, flag football, sand volleyball, and played on my church softball team. I spent most of my free time this year outside playing sports.

Describe your birthday: I had a retro roller skating party with about 25 friends from church. I felt like a kid again, which is exactly how a girl should feel on her 28^th birthday. I loved that night.

What's something you learned about yourself? I was reminded once again that my family is the greatest ever. They are such a blessing, I am so thankful to have a family that is supportive, fun, entertaining, unconditionally loving, and willing to do anything to take care of each other. Plus, they’re all very strong Christians. My family rocks.

I learned how important it is to care for others when they’re hurting. Watching my sister recover from major surgery this fall showed me how important it is to not only rally around someone when they have surgery (or a death, or another traumatic experience), but to stick around and continue to check on them in the weeks following. People tend to step up in the immediate, but later tend to forget about the person who is hurting. I think people just don’t know what to do.

I learned that God keeps his promises… and I learned that scripture is very clear about that if you’ll just pay attention. All year long I wrote these promises down in my prayer journal and meditated on them… it got me through a lot of tough times. I am constantly reminded of just how fantastic my God really is.

Any new additions to your family? I’ll be getting a new brother-in-law next June. It will be so weird to have a BOY in our family full of girls! Luckily he’s really cool, so he’ll fit right in. I’m really excited for my sister.

Made new friends? My prayer this year was for God to bring me some more girlfriends… and he delivered! Don’t you love it when God answers your prayers? 

Favorite Night out? Some of my favorite nights were when I got to sit on my porch, relax, and look at the stars. This year was so absurdly busy with school and work that those nights were a rare treat. I also loved all the afternoons/evenings when my friends would play outside… softball, tennis, flag football, sand volleyball… I have developed a real craving for the outdoors.

Something else I loved this year was having close friends live in my neighborhood. Just last weekend, two called me up and invited me to take our dogs for a walk. Once a month my neighborhood friends organize a dinner party. I absolutely love being two minutes away from a friend, being able to carpool to a party or have an impromptu dinner together. My parents have kept in touch with some of their church and neighborhood friends from back when they were my age… and it makes me wonder if some of these friends will turn out to be those same kinds of life-long friends. I sure hope so.

What do you want to change in 2009? I had three break-ups in the first six months of 2008 (is that some sort of record?), so I’m going to vote for none in 2009. Or less than three. I think that’s achievable. Or maybe I should at least spread them out in different zip codes or something.

What would you change about 2008? I don’t think I would have changed much. Parts of this year were really fantastic… professionally it was one of my best years ever. Even the parts that weren’t very fun helped me to grow and mature, and I learned a lot about myself and what I want to do with my life.

What random cool things happened in 2008? (New Question This Year!)

-I was quoted in USA Today, my local newspaper (plus papers in Florida, Oklahoma, New Mexico), interviewed by multiple radio stations (one in-studio with the DJs!), and did some on-camera interviews for our local news. Plus, I worked behind-the-scenes on dozens of stories for all sorts of media outlets. It was a fun year at work.

-I taught classes on media buying, advertising, and corporate communications at TCU and UTA… I rediscovered how much I love teaching.

-I ran a half marathon! Who would have thought that the lazy girl with asthma who hated running would ever accomplish that?!

-I revived my passion for teaching Sunday School. I have always enjoyed it, but this year I became hungrier than ever before to teach, and to show my girls the difference between a limiting faith filled with “no’s” and rules and an empowering faith filled with grace and freedom. I realized this concept several years ago, and I have never been the same.

Other than home, where did you spend most of your time? I spent a lot of time running at the park, preparing for my half marathon. I really do love running at the park… it’s a nice balance to a stressful day. I was never an outdoor runner until this year, but now a treadmill seems so boring… I need a trail through the woods or by a lake.

Do you have a New Year's resolution? Yes, but I won’t tell until next week.

Do anything embarrassing? This is me we’re talking about… life wouldn’t be fun if it weren’t filled with wonderfully embarrassing moments! In the last week I set my hair on fire at the Christmas Eve candlelight service, and I knocked over a candle (because I knocked over the table it was sitting on) in Sunday School and almost burned the place down. And that was only the last week of December.

What was your favorite purchase? I really like my new MacBook, filled with all my Adobe programs and my newly discovered iMovie. So many fun toys to play with. And I'm super excited about the curtains and rug I just bought for my living room and dining room. I shopped for TWO YEARS before making the purchase. They'll be delivered next week!, and my windows will no longer be naked!

Did you get sick this year? I was extremely healthy all year. What a blessing.

Start a new hobby? I learned how to quilt! Oh, and all that running.

Are you happy to see 2008 go? Oh my goodness, yes. Goodbye, and good riddance, my friend! I plan to kick some major bootie in 2009. Hold on to your seats, folks.

What are you wishing for in 2009? Lot’s of good memories, a fabulous trip to Europe, a fun wedding for my sister, and possibly a graduation from grad school! And I look forward to all sorts of unplanned adventures… welcome 2009!

Now, my blogging friends, it’s your turn. Tell me about your year in review… I can’t wait to read it!

Why my family is the coolest

In case you haven't laughed today...

Weekend Wrap-Up

I've had such a good weekend. Friday night I got a pedicure with my sister and another friend, and then the three of us, plus one more, met up for a quiet dinner. It was so nice... just laid back, lot's of laughing, comfortable shoes... I love nights like that. The pedicure place used a chocolate exfoliator thing on my legs... you haven't lived until you've had a stranger rub chocolate on your legs as you sit in a massage chair sipping a cappuccino. Hmmm... that sounds a bit racier than it really was. After the pedicure, I felt like a new woman. A new woman with dark purple toenails... again. The edginess is back. And maybe here to stay.

Then Saturday I spent the whole day cooking and cleaning to prepare for a shower I hosted tonight for sister Lindsay (the one getting married). I absolutely love the preparation that goes into throwing a party. I like the cleaning up afterward part a lot less. Saturday night I turned my iPod on "shuffle" (yes, the iPod magically works again), and cooked for hours. I cooked for the party, and also made Christmas goodies for some of my favorite coworkers. Since they put up with me for another year (almost five, actually), I figure they deserve some baked goods.

I did such a good job of preparing yesterday that today I was able to sneak in a quick nap after church. A nap on a party day is so very rare, and it was just the thing I needed to keep me going through the party. The party went fantastically well, many of my sister's bridesmaids, old roommates, and friends from childhood came by, along with some of her new family members. It's weird to see that my sister is going to have NEW family members... new sisters-in-law. Part of me finds the whole situation a bit strange, but I'm thankful that these new family members seem to be strong Christian women who treat her well, so I guess it's okay to share her a little.

So it was a good weekend. I got to spend quality time with friends and family, got rubbed down with chocolate, danced in my kitchen and ate large quantities of cake. Yes, it was a very good weekend.

Thankful

In honor of Thanksgiving, here is a list of things I'm thankful for:

• My savior, Jesus, who loves me when I don't deserve it, and who is more powerful that I will ever be able to understand.
  
• I have the most awesome family. Ever. You may think your family is cool, but I'm convinced that mine may be better. They're just really wonderful. And they make me laugh.
• I have a job that I love. It allows me to help people when they're sick and hurting. I get paid to work with local charities. I get to be creative and think outside the box every day. Every once in awhile I get to be on TV or in the paper. And I have fantastic bosses and coworkers. I'm so thankful for this, since it's where I spend most of my time.
• I got free tuition for grad school this semester. In fact, they even paid me a stipend. That's spending money that I wasn't expecting, not to mention that I saved about $6,000 in tuition this fall. That's huge.
• I have a really great church. They don't just talk a good game, the folks there are mission-minded, outward-focused, and passionate about people. They're not preachy, yet they've got such an obvious faith. I'm so proud to serve with them.
• I got to make some new friends this year. Some came from unexpected places. Funny how that works.
• I'm really healthy. So healthy that I get to run a half-marathon in two weeks. A lot of folks don't have the opportunity to do that.
• I have a home. One that I built, so it's exactly the way I want it. Even though I've only lived here two years, I already have a lot of good memories here.
• I get to travel a lot. This year I went to New York. Next year I'm going to Europe, and possibly Miami. I've gotten to see a lot of neat places since I got out of school.
• I'm debt free. That's a huge blessing.
• I have a really cool dog.
• I live in America, which means I have the freedom to do just about anything I want to do. I realize that freedom didn't come without a cost. I'm thankful for that.

And I'm thankful that I have a warm bed waiting for me. Goodnight!

Fa la la la la

It may be a week before Thanksgiving, but it's never too early to decorate for Christmas. I lit a fire in the fire place, cranked up the Christmas music, baked a home-made molten chocolate cake, and tackled those decorations. 

We found Harley the Wonder Schnoodle's Santa costume when we were unpacking decorations. He absolutely hates this outfit... I suspect because it's made from cheap polyester, which probably doesn't feel good on his skin. But when I put it on him, he cowers, sulks, pouts, and gives me mean, hateful looks until I take it off of him. I should probably be more sympathetic, but it's hilarious to watch, so we pulled out the camera to document his disgust. I don't know if you can tell from his body language, but my roommate was trying to get him to look at her while she took the photo, and he stubbornly refused. This is Harley's "I hate you both" look. Isn't it adorable?

Happy Easter

I hosted my second annual family Easter lunch at my new house today. It was a lot of fun, and now I'm absolutely stuffed. I think I ate five times my body weight, but it was worthy every pound that may go straight to my rear end.

Here's a run-down of what I served

1. brisket
2. honey baked ham (mom brought both meats... thanks mom!)
3. potato casserole (my favorite!)
4. stuffed mushrooms
5. vegetable casserole
6. fruit salad (an ex-boyfriend's mom's recipe... that recipe long outlasted the boy)
7. corn casserole
8. devilled eggs
9. bread
10. pecan pie
11. apple crisp pie (both pies made by sister Lindsay FROM SCRATCH! and they were FABULOUS!)

Tomorrow I'll hit the gym to make up for eating all that food. But not before I indulge in left-over pecan pie for breakfast.

Painting party

My ever-growing home-improvement project continues. Yesterday two very sweet guys came over and helped me paint 64 feet of dental crown molding. The "dental" part of the crown molding meant we had to paint the intricate pieces with a TINY paint brush. It added about three hours to an otherwise simple project, but doing it with other people made it fun (and I learned all sorts of interesting "guy opinions" on various topics). As a thank-you, I treated them to Sonic milk shakes and a home-cooked dinner. I figure I came out ahead.

This afternoon I'm changing gears and will become a lean, mean cooking machine. I'm hosting our family's Easter Lunch tomorrow after church, and I'm very excited. I had to resist the urge to go buy more dishes and decorations for my 10 guests (because all of my money has gone toward stone and crown molding), but I think it will still be nice with what I have. I'll crank up my music, put on my cute-and-frilly apron (hand-made by sister Sarah!) and cook for the next few hours. I'll feel just like Martha Stuart (except the vegetables for my vegetable casserole came from the frozen section of Target instead of from my organic beet farm in the backyard). Okay, maybe I'm more like Rachel Ray. Whatever. It will still be fun!