An Antique Show? {Yes. Seriously.}

I do not know what has gotten into me lately.

Burlap.

Seasonal wreaths.

Repurposing.

ANTIQUES.

Ugh. I hope this is not a phase I look back on and think "what was I thinking?" because I'm kindof in love with the whole old-is-new thing. (Even if its not a new concept.)

Check this out:

The Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top, Texas (pop. 90 - just in case you didn't know).

It's apparently the holy grail of antiquing and completely new to me! I applied to be a "VIB" or Very Important Blogger - on a whim - and got a nice email that I indeed was a VIB. How fun is that?

I have no place in my home for this - but how amazing would it be in a kitchen? (Plus I'm sure its so beyond my means - but I can look, right?)

I'm so in love with this chair -- I can imagine so many fabulous photo shoots in this chair!

These letters are so stinkin' cool - I'd love to do a wall of "G's" in the house somewhere. (Or is that a little over the top?)

Zero explanation needed for my love of this one, right?

Sah-woon. I'll take one of each, please!!!

(All of the images are from the facebook page I liked to above!)

I'm excited to experience the goodness myself ... I'll be saving my pennies in hopes I can score a faboo find in my bidget. What exactly? I have no idea. But I"m sure there will be something I can't live without! 

Meet Bob.

This is Bob. He has amazing limey-turquoisey eyes and he drools when he's happy. 

Bob has white paws that he makes a week's worth of biscuits with. 

Bob enjoys a vigorous groom with his pink comb. He likes it even more when its on the kitchen table.

Bob also likes when there is Louis on the table. Bob has good taste. 

Bob likes his treats, too. Bob talks with his mouth full and tells you how much he likes his treats.

Bob is fantastic at supervising plant watering. 

Bob has a cat door that he uses when he has to. He much prefers for the human door to be opened for him though. And he'll make sure everyone knows about it.

Bob likes his mouse. Bob also has a very obvious "I'm done now" look. This is it. 

(Thanks for letting me Bob-sit MSS! He's a precious precious boy!) 

He said I was a firework

We spent the Fourth in Port Aransas - and the firework show at Robert's Point Park was nothing short of amazing this year. (It's actually amazing every year.) The park is right on the water about 50 yards from the ferry boats and the fireworks are set off about 20 yards from where we set up our chairs. Being so close means that the booms are louder, the bursts brighter and the experience thrilling.

(GAR and I couldn't resist a "sword fight" with our glowy sticks. I'm glad some things never change.)

Hope your Fourth of July was awesome. 

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Thanks for the curls (and eyebrows... haha).

Thanks for being a perfect example of what a man, father and husband should be.

Thanks for the encouragement, your wise words, for sharing your competitive gene, and your sense of adventure.

You're pretty damn awesome.

And Happy Father's Day to my awesome father-in-law! You're the best FIL a girl could ask for. Thanks for getting my jokes (or at least pretending to!), always having vodka and limes, and slowing the family down when my short legs can't keep up. Love you, IAG!

{scroll down to sing happy birthday to jojo!}

It's Jojo's Day!

{This was supposed to auto-post yesterday. Thanks for making me look awesome, auto-post.}

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Biiiiiiiiiiirthdaaaaay dear Jojo...
Happy Birthday to you!
(... and many moooooore!}

I could fill a library with books professing how important you are to all of us. 


You're wonderful, Momma. 


xx

A West Coast Wedding

{Are you still there? Are you still checking in with me? I've not abandoned you. Promise!}

FMG and I ran off to San Diego for a family wedding last weekend and it was utterly divine! I took a million and five pictures (of course) while trying not to get in the way of the actual-hired-and-paid-photographer who always seemed to show up just where I was headed. :) Go figure!

This is Amy and Robert... and bear with me through all of these pictures that focus on Amy's incredible dress!

The couple was married in a full mass at an Italian style church in Little Italy. It was cozy and intimate.

The birdcage veil, tiny bow detail on her waist and sweetheart neckline just about did me in.

Robert looked great, too. But I was totally smitten with the bridal styling!

Thank you Miss Videographer for providing the excellent back lighting! It was a wonderful weekend full of family and a georgeous wedding celebration full of love. More pictures later!

Happy Easter!

Thats my Great Grandfather, GWR with the suit on in the back, and my Aunts and Uncle. I know the date says November... but I love this picture and it could totally be an Easter Sunday!

I borrowed my friend Dave's Quote of the Day from Facebook:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.


- Francis of Assisi, 1182 - 1226

Happy New Year- Chinese Style!

Chinese New Year was on February 3 this year - and its the year of the Rabbit. The rabbit year promises to bring quiet and peaceful rest after the tiger year that just ended.

We went to CCT's family's Chinese New Year party and indulged in some amazing, home cooked, authentic Chinese food prepared by CCT's father (with help from the entire T family).

I didn't know what to expect... but one thing was abundantly clear... It was ALL about the food!

I can't even begin to explain the scrumptionsness of each dish. The highlight for me were the dumplings and "secret sauce" that Mr. T makes. I die. 

CCT and GAR both took turns manning the dumplings. My mouth is watering thinking about the delicate wrapper and succulent filling. Seriously. I die. (Again.)

Jojo and I took brownies with red sprinkles and rabbit toppers to share. Red for good luck, chocolate for comfort, and the rabbit to symbolize how calm I'm going to be (was) when I woke up the next morning and realized I was still full.

Thanks CCT and family for inviting us!

He's so O-L-D

Even though he's younger than me by four years I still feel like GAR is getting old. Which means I'm probably getting old.

Happy Birthday, Valentine baby! You're the best "little" brother a girl could ask for!

xoxo

We could totally be the next Modern Family. If I know you in real life, you'd have to agree. We've literally got all of the elements. (And we're a pretty good looking bunch, too.)

It's A Very Special Day!

It's a very special day at the Casa.

A day that must be observed with reverence, honor, and cake.

Today is Brie's birthday!

It's hard to believe that this sweet girl is already a year old! I can only imagine that if this year flew by so fast with our puppy that it seems doubly fast with a human baby!

Brie really, truly is a great girl. She has a ready "hug" and lick for anyone who wants it. The girl has never met a stranger.

She's a champion cuddler. Invite her onto the couch and she's in your lap. Yes. All 90 pounds of her! She loves her cats, even if she can't resist standing on her back legs to "check on" them in the cat tree. She can't help it if she's got long legs and out grew a huge kennel and needs a giant sized kennel.

She loves her Jojo and Paco and will get her leash on command to "Go to Jojo's House".  She never turns down a car ride and loves going to day care (where they all greet her by name as she makes her rounds). I love coming home to this sweet face.

I never wanted a German Shepherd, but I couldn't ask for a better doghter!

Love you Sweet Brie! Happy First Birthday!

Cotton Bowl in the Jerrydome

I went to the Cotton Bowl.

It wasn't IN the Cotton Bowl.

Tell me , if you name a bowl game after the location it is played in and then change its location, shouldn't the name of the bowl game also change? It's just not right to play in the Cotton Bowl game at Cowboy's Stadium.

It's also just not right that the Aggies lost. (Hello, turnovers. Hello, psych out. Hello, intimidation factor.)

 It was an adventure though! It was FMG and my first visit to the Death Star. It is HUUUUUUUUUGE! KJC had been to a few Cowboy's games and a tour - and I'm so glad! We would have been lost at sea without her.

The tickets this year were legit. I'm talking 4.5 inches wide and about 8 inches tall and thick plastic! You felt like you need a neck lanyard with a pouch to put it in and wear it.

(Oh wait, we saw those for sale. For $15. Seriously.)

The famous Corny Dog stand from the State Fair was on the grounds. Can you tell I was slightly (just the tiniest bit) excited!?

No. We didn't leave the stadium. This is the bar. In the football stadium. For real. Also - there are double the number of women's restrooms than men's. I ran off to find it and expecting that I would take forever FMG and KJC prepared themselves to wait. But alas! I almost beat the bartender. 

My awesome cousins were there with us... Four of those five are related. The other one might as well be.

More family! We were loud. It's genetic! That's what happens when everyone in your family (with the notable exception of Jojo's first few years) goes to the same school. Football games become mini family reunions. 

So, the Ags might not have one the game but - as we like to remind ourselves season after season, heartbreak after heartbreak - we sure as hell won half time!

After the game was over we decided to drown our sorrows in delicious Cafe Brazil - a Dallas gem of an all night restaurant. Pancakes make everything better.