Oh hai! Let's ketchup.

So I haven't been around much as you can see, but things...life...has been very good. The Omaha trip was wonderful, fast paced craziness but I think next time we'll go the airplane route. There's just too much we want to do when we visit that wasting a whole day in the car isn't worth it! Instead of car-riding we'd like to sip an Irish Coffee @ Mr. Toad...get the creme brule at M's Pub...hit a few more antique shops...the list is endless! This is the only photo from Omaha... a silly picture of Pat (looking a little suspicious) and I at Slowdown before the Lady Gaga show...and as Gaga shows go..it's always too much, too fast.

Work is A-Ok (I got a new office!... with a window!)

A few weeks ago Living Social had a great deal: 20 pilates and yoga classes for $20! I snagged one and so did a few friends so twice a week I've been going to yoga! The first class I signed up for was called "Fundamental pilates"... I'm thinking... ok fundamental.. like.. beginners, right? hooollllyyyy crap..that class was NOT for beginners. I don't exercise regularly. I'm not proud of it, but I would make an effort.. maybe... twice a month. After years and years of gymnastics and cheerleading, I guess I was just over it. So I thought "ok... lets start slow.. ease into it with a little "fundamental" class. NOPE. The instructor was great, but she was going at like...fitness guru pace. She was Denise Austin on speed. She didn't really modify anything for someone who.. oh I don't know... hadn't worked out in a month and had never taken a pilates class in her life. By the end my body was shaking horribly...my muscles feeling like jello. For a split second I though "oh shit...I can't stand up"... and it freaked me out. So with focus... I got up..and walked very slowly to the door...then to the car where I proceeded to get into the drivers seat butt first and lift each leg...one by one.. into the car. It freaked me out and so until I they offer a beginner's pilates...I'm done with pilates.

Probably because I'm a spaz.

Yoga on the other hand... I liked! It was challenging...I learned that I don't know how to breathe which is funny...and that I'm about as flexible as a bread stick now. I have another class scheduled next week! Today I'm doing something called Shimmy Express...which I believe is something like belly dancing? Basically a gut focused work out which it something I am all for. So... I've been working on my fat ass fitness, trying to be  active at least 3 times a week. Swimsuit season y'all. It's still coming.

We went to the Bayou City Arts Fest last weekend which was fantastic! Made By One Girl was there again and I bought two more of her map love notes. I just love them!

Last weekend was also the first Braud family (minus Michelle+Dylan and Peter) crawfish boil of 2011... SO EXCITED FOR CRAWFISH!

{ryan's photo}

My brother's been living in Peru and visited Machu Picchu this last weekend- abso beautiful!:

{pete's photos}

Michelle and Dylan are still surrounded by snow in MN but it's getting better, right? RIGHT? IT HAS TO WARM UP. SRSLY.

This weekend the Final Four is in Houston. I loathe basketball...I hate the squeaking sound the sneakers make BUT...because of the final four there are tons of free things to do in Houston this weekend! (Free is good... the Mercury needed some repair work this week...VERY inconvenient). So Friday the Hold Steady is playing a free show and Saturday-- Kings of Leon! The shows are @ Discovery Green which is one light rail stop from our house! Free things we can walk to! Which means... first we walk to the pub... THEN to the park. It works out.

What else has been going on? Oh, I've just started season 2 of LOST. Y'all I know I'm all late to the party but that show....is so good.

Ryan and I watch an episode of X-Files every night before sleep. It's one of my favorite new traditions. The other night we made an X-Files fort...it lasted like.. 10 minutes before it got kind of annoying (we're not architects...I'm gonna have to look up how to properly build a blanket fort on the Internet)  but it was fun for those minutes.

I hope you've been well, happy, busy (good busy...not the "oh my God I'm going to die" kind of busy). I'll be around more. Getting back to blogging is on my to-do list along with losing 10 lbs, letting my hair grow, eating less crap-food and being a better person.

How every lunch break should be spent

outside in the sun with a cold beer.

Amazingness

I loveee these Nan Lawson (blog and etsy shop) illustrated save-the-date cards.

Want your own? The process is really easy... you simply send her a few photos of you and your sweetie, describe what clothing you'd like to be wearing in the drawing, and Voilà, you will receive a custom 8 X 10 illustration, plus a digital copy (to use however you like) for around $50!

The save-the-date cards and thank you notes above were created by Make Merry from south Florida.

I finally finished stitchy us! I need to iron and find a permanent hoop for it. but it's all done! YIPEE!

I started stitchy us about... oh.... 3 months ago and just left it in my craft box... I'm happy I dug it out again. I love the way a freshly completed project feels :)

We're mostly back stitch, Ryan's "stubble" is french knots!

WIP Wednesday: haaayyy stitchy boooyyfriend!

Today is WIP WEDNESDAY! So here's what I'm werkin' on:

so basically.... it's a stitchy cartoon of Ryan. It's a WIP because I'm out of black DMC floss and my office is too far for me to run to Hobby Lobby (or Joann's...or Michael's..) on my lunch break. Actually it's been so long since I've been to a Hobby Lobby I've forgotten what they smell like..(I'm sure they're already playing Christmas music though).

See? Lookit. "I am here"...and there are all the hobby lobbys.

WHY HOBBY LOBBY. WHY can't you be close to me???  Sigh. Bad luck I suppose. But maybe it's good luck because if there was one close, I'd be poor...

What are youuuu guys workin' on?



Give Thanks!

Fresh in the shop today! A festive little Thanksgiving-time note card, only ONE in existence!

OHSORARE!

You don't even have to mail it! HECK! Stick it in a little frame and hang it on a wall. SHAZZAM. Instant Turkey-day decor.

Give Thanks Embroidered Note Card

Stitch on Paper

Today I'm trying my hand at stitch on paper! I stitched up a little Halloween card to mail to my sister and bro-in-law in St. Paul. I like it! I spaced the dots out far so it had a spooky feel. I may try thicker card stock so it's a bit sturdier. I'll need more practice for sure but I enjoyed this!

What are you working on this week?

Happy Thursday! I'll find a good tutorial for later today.

long story short

8 years ago today I flew into this city [Omaha Nebraska), went to a party with my friend Shannon and met a boy.

We played a little air hockey
...listened to a little Chevelle (The Red, to be specific..to really date this situation)

and he became the love of my life.

!!!!!!!!

Happiest Birthday to the most wonderful boy in the world! I'm so happy you were born.

[dino photo via weheartit]

oooohhhh exciting!

BIG GOOGLE MAPZ!

Spring (forward)

[source]

You know that feeling when you're about thisclose to jumping out of your skin? You're so damn excited about something or you're feeling so inspired and anxious to get movin' but for whatever reason (i.e. your desk job) you can't... and you have to just sit and wait? And you're bouncing up and down in your chair sort of squealing (audibly)? I have that right now for so many reasons. I have so many ideas and want to leave (desk job work) so I can get to (fun) work and the sky is blue and its warm out. I'm dreaming of outdoor grilling (the smell... oooohhh the smell of charcoal...) and working on new projects and decorating Easter eggs and I have so much energy I'm about to go run laps around the big oak tree outside of my building (but I won't because that would be weird..I'm wearing heels for pete's sake..). This time next week I'll be getting on a plane bound for Omaha to steal a boy and I CAN'T WAIT. We're driving from Omaha to Houston and that road trip alone makes me super excited. There's so much happening, so much to do and look forward to.

Lets get this show on the road.

Lollipie Success!

Made the little lollipies last night- took about an hour, wasn't too difficult, and came out pretty cute (and tasty)! The only hard part was making sure my pie crust circles were big enough to allow room for side crimps. The first attempts were fails because the pie filling gushed out everywhere. Mess. I tried two different sizes of the heart shaped cookie cutters, but eventually settled for the less-than-festive circles for practical reasons. I used a 1/4 measuring cup

First, gather your ingredients- Craft/popsicle sticks(these were more study than little sucker sticks), flour for your countertop, pie filling of your choice, 2 ready-made pie crusts aand a greased cookie sheet.

Cut out your pie crust shapes, two each for each lollipie. Lay your stick with the top in the center, spoon a little filling onto the stick in the center of the pie crust circle. Don't spread around too much, you need to be able to have crimp space.

Lay your second pie crust circle on top and gently press the edges. With a fork, make your crimps.

Place on cookie sheet and bake @ 350 for about 10-15 minuntes. Keep an eye on them.

When cool, wrap in a little sandwich bag, tie with ribbon (I used jute because I love it and have way way too much), attach a little note and shazzam! A cute, tasty treat!

Best enjoyed warm with cold milk !

Love Story #6: Nora

[Nora] "I guess you could say that I’ve never really looked at this holiday as a “holiday for lovers”. My Valentine’s gifts generally came from my parents and I was, and still am, a-okay with that. It’s always just been another day – maybe with just a little more affection than others.

Unfortunately many have fallen into the commercial “romantic” aspect of the day. There are maaaanymanymanymany gals – and a few dudes - that take this day way too seriously. I don’t think I’ve ever been like that...I’m not breaking down screaming “Why me?!” while shaking my fists to the heavens because I don’t have a date to take me PF Changs or a Prix Fix meal on this holiest of days. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about that....it can be just taking a moment to really appreciate love itself.

I know I was asked to focus on a particular love, but I just couldn’t. There are a million tiny things in my life that I love and that make me who I am, so here it goes...

I love my hilarious friends (srsly. comedic gold if I do say so myself). I love my neighborhood and my short commute and, not counting this past month, Houston weather. I love being so close to my parents and to my brother and I really love that he’s a chef. I love limes and sunglasses and good books and a stiff drink. I love funny voices and movie quotes and jokes that drag on for 30 minutes. I love graphic design and macs and being a font-snob. I love music beyond words – I loved that my parents forced me to take piano lessons and that I played to oboe (and played it damn well too) for many years and that I obsessively check about 24 rss feeds of music blogs every morning. I love being a Mexican American– I feel so lucky to have such strong ties to a culture that is so rich in tradition. I love that my parents recently celebrated their 30th anniversary and that they have been the perfect role models for a lasting marriage. I even love the fact that I haven’t fallen into the pessimistic I’m-going-to-be-single-forever-rut, because I know I won’t.

That said, I will participate in a couple of “anti-valentines” parties because who am I to turn down an invitation? I’ll be cynical and cursing my horrible luck with men on the outside, but you will know that deep-down I’m optimistic and that I’m perfectly happy getting flowers and chocolates from my dad.

To quote the cinematic legend Mr. Hugh Grant, “If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.”

PS – I love Dixie and the Fuzz too."

Love Story #5: My Brother!

[me] I met this guy on October 27th, 1986. I was 5, and he was... well, he was nothing really. Tiny and sleeping is what he was- my first and only little brother. Michelle and I were pretty excited.. (I think).. Like I said, I was 5, Michelle was 3.

He was pretty fun(ny) and still is. We had this little bunny teeth with a nose/whiskers costume thing you'd secure to your head with an elastic band.. We'd put it on his face, he'd chew the little plastic teeth, we'd laugh. That photo still kills me. He'd play-fight, kick and swing his arms at me while singing the teenage mutant ninja turtle theme song. I'm not sure if he'd really want me sticking all of this on the internet, but these are the some of the things I remember from when we were kids that still make me giggle a little.

When I moved to San Marcos in 1999, Peter was 12, so I sort of missed those pretty important 12-18 years. I never once saw him play a high school soccer game, which I think I'll always regret.

Over the past 4 years we've become pretty close, sharing music, going to the same college, books, going to shows and bars together...He's become a really good guy- a really hard worker, so smart, a good cook...and I have to say I'm pretty proud of him.

Cheers, Pete!

Love Story #4: Lindsay and Eric

[Lindsay] "Eric and I met at a Van Halen concert... we were both offered free tickets through a mutual contact. Instantly, I was very comfortable around him, thought he was cute, loved that we were the same age, and he made me laugh! However, he assumed I was a player (based on one little joke I made when he asked if I was seeing anyone... I replied, "No, but I have a few batters on deck.") so he didn't pursue me--at first.

Thus we began as friends saw each other again a week later for a group dinner party (as luck would have it, we sat next to each other and again were captivated by our conversation and ease of being next to one another)... after that 2nd encounter, we simply kept in touch via email & text as friends.

Then a month or two pass and all we've done is email here and there... when I invite the handsome Eric to my birthday gathering at Gigi's Asian Bistro where I was meeting with 12 other friends for dinner. Eric arrived and gave me the BIGGEST hug, and as luck would have it he somehow ended up sitting right next to me again at the dinner table. He acted silly and made me laugh with his genuine personality. That night, he invites me to a lake-party he's hosting up at Lake Conroe and I accept!

So that very next weekend I went up to his "estate on the lake" and again we had a blast together... we had so much fun in the sun that day and even though we were just friends, something started to pull-us closer & more drawn to each other. We flirted and splashed around in the water... I knew that he was exactly the type of true and genuine man I'd been looking for and I could start to see in his eyes that he might want to be more than friends as well.

That was May, 2007 and only a short time after that did he & I finally cross over "The Friend Zone" and kiss for the first time. I knew that dating him would be "the real-deal" b/c of the way he looked at me and the way I was so drawn to him throughout our friendship (like two planetoids orbiting around the same gravitational force)... this would not be just a fling nor a hook-up... but something tried & true!

Here we are almost 2yrs later and absolutely love the fact that I keep falling more and more in love with him with every passing day!

Here's to starting out as friends and letting the laws of attraction take their course!"

Love Story #3: Michelle & Dylan

[Michelle] "We landed in the same German for Foreigners class while studying at the University of Freiburg on March 8, 2006. It was love at first sight ... just kidding.

We spent the next 6 months traveling, kind of studying, and falling in love. Across the Atlantic, we continued our interest in each other, and New Year 2007 in Hamburg was a wonderful reunion.

Since February 07, we have followed each other around the world to stay together; our journeys introduced us to cowboys, kangaroos, and croissants.

We were engaged on November 5, 2007 on Montmartre in Paris and married on August 30th 2008 in Plantersville, Texas, USA."

Love Story #2: Kenny and Fran (Mom & Dad)

[Fran/Mom] "I remember very clearly the first time that I saw Daddy. I had a friend that I had been sharing an apartment with in the French Quarter. After Eldie had her car towed for about the 8th time we decided to look for a place out in Metairie. We moved into a two bedroom townhouse in the Casa del Sol Apartment complex on Houma Blvd. on July 3, 1974. I was 22 years old.

I met a lot of fellow apt. dwellers the day we moved in and we were invited to a 4th of July cook-out the complex was sponsoring the next day. Our townhouse faced the pool and the BBQ was set up next to our apt. There were a LOT of guys and girls out & about that summer day. Across the pool were the balconies of other town homes. I noticed this great looking guy talking down from the end balcony to friends near the pool. Lots of joking around. Then out of his sliding glass doors walked a really cute girl with a grey poodle in her arms. Hmmmm.....I thought. That's too bad.


Well, the party progressed and then it came time to line up for the BBQ! As it turned out I got in line right behind this gorgeous, out-going man with the cool mustache <=0.
There I was...holding a plate in my hands, when one of the guys serving the burgers calls out to this man in front of me..."Hey Bro... a bunch of us are going tomorrow night to hear Steve's band play at the Mark Twain." "Sounds good" he answered.......THEN TURNS AROUND AND SAYS TO ME..."Wanna go?" I thought...He didn't even know who was standing behind him....But...."Sure" I said!


So it was, that on July 5, 1974 Ken Braud, at age 27 and I had our first date! We've been going steady ever since and have loved every moment of it! He swears to this day that he DID know who was standing behind him.....and that cute girl and her poodle? Well....that was another person I have loved a long time, too. His sister, Cyndi."

Love Story #1: Tatiana & Carlos

[Tatiana] "I first met his roommate because he liked my friend Isabel and I met Carlos one day at his apartment but I didn’t really talk to him or anything…I didn't even know what his name was. One day I was meeting my friend at their apartment because we were all riding together to go to this party…. He was getting ready and when he came out of his room he said hi to me, and he called me by my name and that shocked me!

That night after a few drinks, he started saying that I was rude because every time I went to his apartment I wouldn't say hi to him. It really surprised me that he would care whether I said hi to him or not... But that was it for that night.

Two weeks after that, me and my friend went with him to watch Harry Potter. I’m an HP fan, and he was too, so that was kinda neat. That night he asked me for my number and we started talking over the phone. He had to travel a lot for work so we didn't see each other for a week, and then he picked me up for dinner at Lupe Tortillas. That night we kissed and started dating......

We’ve been together for 4 years and almost 3 months."

"If we cannot do great things on this Earth, do only small things with great love.”

In honor of St. Valentine's day, I've asked friends and family to contribute small stories about love.. all kinds. Romantic love, love of a city, love of music, a piece of art or love between friends. I'll be posting them here over the next few days.

So much emphasis is put on romantic love on Valentine's; it's all over the grocery stores and TV commercials. Boys giving girls diamonds, husbands and wives on a romantic dinners for two... they neglect to recognize some of the most important kinds of love in the world; love between families, friends and even pets.

As kids, we always got such a big kick out of Valentines. Everyone brought treats to school, passed out little paper cards featuring whatever registered character was popular that year, and we consumed more sugar than our little bodies could handle.

In high school, it started to get a little awkward. My school had this flower-gram program where someone could buy a carnation, send it to a recipient with a little note, and it would be delivered during class. Some girls received so many flowers, and some received none. Most received none. Around this time is when I think we started to become a little more wary of the holiday and some maybe, secretly, started to dread it, feeling like as we get older, Valentine's is only for people in relationships, for people "in love" and if you weren't "in love", you were left out.

I don't believe in that.

Growing up in our house, we would emerge from our bedrooms on Valentine's morning to find a mylar balloon tied to our breakfast chairs, a little box of assorted chocolates at our place setting, and a card...kind of like a cupid-Santa. We loved it. Our parents always told us they loved us, but on this day.. we got balloons and candy!

I've kept that mentality with me through the years on Valentines.. single or not, home or away, it has nothing to do with one significant other in your life, but all of your significant others, all of the amazing people and things you love that make your life better, brighter and happier.

So bake some heart shaped cookies for your friends, get some flowers for your kitchen table, scribble some notes telling the people you love that you do, in fact, love them.

St. Valentine would want you to.

A Laissez les bon temps rouler and Who dat! weekend

It's still a little early, as Mardi Gras day isn't until next Tuesday, but we were so lucky to catch the Krewe Of Aquarius Mardi Gras parade (be careful if you click that link at work... there's a pretty loud muzak version of "When the Saints go Marching in" on the home page!) in Galveston when Ryan was here this weekend. It was his first Mardi Gras parade, but definitely not his last. Even luckier that Saturday happened to be the most beautiful day we've had in about 2 weeks (sunscreen would have come in handy though, as Ryan left Houston with a little more color than when he arrived). We drove into Galveston a little before noon, watched the hour-long parade (caught so many beads, proof below!), sat poolside in the sun, walked along the seawall, enjoyed a few beers and had an awesome super-fresh seafood lunch. Such a good day and a great visit this month.

Ryan left early yesterday, around 3, but was home in time to catch the Superbowl, which was absolutely fantastic; history was made! I went to a party with Nora for the 1st half, where I proceeded to stuff my face with all things unhealthy and met up with Megan at a pub for the second half. Needless to say, the voice is a little hoarse this morning and this week is fruit and veggie. I'm absolutely exhausted, but a good-exhausted.

I'm sure my parents had a difficult time peeling their faces off their pillows this morning, just like I'm sure the city of New Orleans hasn't gone to bed yet...

Hope your weekends were beautiful and relaxing!

beads!

HUGE oysters on the half shell for lunch on the beach!

Galveston Seawall

Sitting by the pool/ beach bar, relaxing in the sun and waiting for the parade to start.

Floats! It was a great parade; so long and so much fun! Nothing like dancing in the street on a perfect Saturday, collecting plastic necklaces with thousands of your closest friend-strangers.

Video of a local Galveston high school marching band!