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.

ROOOAADD TRIPPPP!

I'm 90% sure we're going to Omaha in two weeks and since plane tickets are 400$ a pop (DUMBBB!) we're gonna fill the tires with air, get the oil changed and hit the great American road...(but we can only stop for bathroom breaks....we're on a time crunch!)

KIND OF EXCITED.

Cooler will be packed full of Red Bull and Starbucks espresso shots. It will definitely be a challenge, but we can do it!!

You'll have a good time... "I ga-ron-tee" - Justin Wilson

OH HAY!

Ryan and I finally made our way over to the Crescent City for the long labor day weekend. It was Ryan's first visit so of course I made a list of things he had to see/do/eat. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the trip and I still have a few more to upload. Just so happened to be the 36th annual Southern Decadence festival and the French Quarter was buzzing at all hours. We stayed up late and woke up early so we wouldn't miss anything... and I'm not quite sure I'm fully recovered 4 days later.

Napoleon House- oldest bar in the Quarter!

Behind St. Louis Cathedral at night

Bourbon Street

Jax Brewery

Streetlamps

The Dome! (Where the Saints beat the Vikings last night! YUS!)

Where the levees broke, the source of much devastation in the city.

9th Ward. I don't even know...

Sal's snoballs in Metairie!

St. Louis Cathedral

Gift shop silliness.

Cafe du Monde!

(real pretty, me. yeesh...)

We had such an amazing trip, saw so much and walked everywhere and still have some "must-sees" on the list to save for next time. So wonderful to visit with some family, too! The weather was perfection, we ate, drank, strolled and relaxed. You can't not love this city.

Beachins

Here are a handful of shots from our beachy weekend- We had such a great time with fam and new friends and as always, can't wait for next year's trip.

Since we can't seem to stay in one place for very long, there's another trip in the works... to New Orleans! WOOO! Ryan's never been and it's been about 5+ years since I spent a weekend in the French Quarter. I've been scheming so hard, making lists of landmarks places to eat and bars to sip tasty things in. I'm so excited! More on that later.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Passion Pit show in Austin, Tx!

This weekend was fantastico! Friday after work Ryan and I hopped in the car and headed to Austin! We got in town around 9 and met Katy, Keenan and my brother for a few beers. Katy and Keenan were so nice to let us stay with them in their beautiful house, we were so comfortable. We slept in on Saturday morning and went down to my brother's sandwich shop on the UT campus for some late lunch. Ryan and I headed downtown for the show and Wow- they were so good live. The first time I heard Passion Pit was a little over a year ago while I was visiting my friend Amy in NYC and it was insta-love. I'm so happy I finally got to see them this weekend.

Sunday we drove straight to Mom and Dad's for a little Father's day celebration. Mom made twice baked potatoes, Dad grilled up corn, ribs, sausage and steak...so many wonderful things to eat! We all missed Michelle and Dylan of course (They're in Rome!)

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Hey, today is the longest day of the year! What will you do today? I plan on taking full advantage!

New Mades!

I guess I was busy this week? Finished a few projects and am ready for more! This is Dad's little fish- I'm going to swing by Gander Mountain this afternoon and snag a gift card for him too, let him pick out something he needs.

For my friend's Tati's birthday (Happy birthday Tat! Hope you have the best weekend!) I made her this little (and my first ever) tote bag. It turned out pretty good and I think it will hold up as long as it's not filled with... like.. textbooks. I can't wait to make more!

Also found these cute little fabric button brads in the scrapbooking section of Hobby Lobby this week. I clipped off the metal brad part and stuck some jewelry blanks on them to make a little set!

The lighting in my bathroom is horrible. Sorry for the crap-photos.

So yeah! I guess it was a crafty and busy week. Heading to Austin tonight for Ryan's Birthday Extravaganza Part Deux. So excited to visit with an old friend and see a great show...maybe thrift a bit, go swimming, eat some BBQ. Heading to the parents on Sunday for some Dad-celebrating. Should be a fantastic weekend- hope yours is the same!

Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?

This weekend was all about celebrating the achievements of this guy right here:

We drove up to San Marcos at 6am on Friday morning, the commencement ceremony was @ 10 am during a terrible rainstorm, but that didn't put a damper on anyone's spirits. It was so great to be with the fam and watch Peter cross the stage, shake the hand of the university president and become a Texas State alum.

After the ceremony, we drove into Lockhart, about 15 minutes from San Marcos, to get some world famous BBQ. The photo below is a side shot of the Caldwell County courthouse, built in 1894.

Peter chose Smitty's for lunch.

The pit is indoors so as soon as you walk in the building you're overcome with the amazing smell of meat on a fire. It's smoky, warm and so so good. Dad, Mom, Pete, Min, Ryan and I shared all of this, and even took home a very tiny box. the brisket was thick cut, so juicy, the ribs were tender and the sausage was spicy perfection. I'm getting hungry for BBQ all over again and it's 7:30 am on Monday. When is it not a good time for this awesomeness?

After Lockhart, we drove back to San Marcos to have a beer with Pete at his favorite spot, Showdown, which is home of the best bloody mary in the hill country, but after stuffing our faces with BBQ, a bloody seemed a little heavy. Outside the bar across the street is a woodcut of a bobcat on the side of an old building, showing it's age. His little hat says SWTSU, Southwest Texas State University. I don't even know how old it is. appears to be from the 50s or 60s...but I've always liked it. When I was in school he had his while body, but sadly, it looks like he's disappearing.

At Showdown below:

The next day was Pete's graduation party and Mom and Dad's in Cypress. Dad boiled 2 sacks of crawfish, Pete had some friends over and we hung out on the deck all afternoon and ate. If it's not obvious from this post, this is what we do to celebrate. We eat.

Min' s ready to dig into some corn and potatoes with her own bottle of squeeze butter.

Crawfish love! I know... you shouldn't play with your food.

Cookie, our 15 year old cat, is a lap molester. It doesn't matter if you don't want a cat on you, if you're sitting down and you look comfortable, you're a potential victim. This time, Ryan was chosen. We had such a great time on Saturday visiting with friends and family but were officially tuckered on Saturday night.

Sunday morning was rainy and warm, we had a bit of a crawfish, corn and potato hangover and figured breakfast tacos were in order. Ryan and I went to the always amazing Taqueria Laredo on Washington where, as soon as we walked in the door, we were greeted by this little shrine to Mary.

We had spicy sausage, chorizo, bacon and egg tacos. I seriously haven't had better b-fast tacos in this city. If you know of better, please let me know.

Sunday was spent doing a little shopping and a little relaxing, some cooking, and trying to recuperate from such a busy few days. I'm still a little weary, but am ready to get into this week, finish an older project and start on a new one.

Here are a few W.I.P shots of the stag head. I don't think I'll do another project made of french knots only..I know you learn best by practice and repetition, and I think I've got these knots down.

How was your weekend? Anything exciting planned for this week? I'd like to get a trivia night in sometime this week, I want to go back out to Mandell park, start a new book (after finishing Time Traveler's Wife last night) make a Shepherds pie for dinner one night... nothing too thrilling but comfortable for sure. It's supposed be a pretty week. Happy Monday!