Thursday, December 9, 2010

Crafty Moment

So, I'm up to my arse in items that I have to complete before Christmas, but I took a time out to do something that I've been wanting to do for the past couple of years for my own home. I had the standard "NOEL" stocking holders that you can find almost anywhere. The shiny silver stood out in all the wrong ways on my mantle. Not to mention my stockings are from dollar tree from a couple of years back. I've never wanted to embroider the stockings with our names because, let's be honest, the thread and time it would take cost more than the stockings themselves. So I decided to make a knock off of a stocking holder I saw on pottery barn's website a couple of years ago. It was really easy & cheap! I think to make over all 4 was about $15. Here are some before & after pics...P.S. Happy Thursday!:














Monday, November 29, 2010

I am thankful for...NO MORE TECH HOME GAMES!!!

For any of you who really know me, the last home game is usually a day of mourning and not of celebration, but since I took over the Jones stadium I have had one hell of a quarter at work. I am excited for a much needed break from organizing the food needs of the Tech chef who feeds a few thousand people every home game! Although, I will say that thanks to the Handley's we had club seats for the very last game of the season...I think I could get used to those seats pretty easily:)





I have still been crafting, but that is also about to take a hiatus. I have SOOO much stuff that I want to get done for my own home & for Christmas gifts that I am just going to have to say "No" for a while on craft requests! Consider it a vacation from my second job! I will try to post some of my goodwill finds that I have re-purposed in our "new house". I will eventually stop saying "new house" once we have been here at least a year and it is fully decorated. As of now, saying "new house" makes me feel just a little better that there are so many unfinished projects!

On a more "scroogie" note, I did the math on what Brian & I will need to spend in order to purchase all of the necessary Christmas gifts this year & I almost threw up! I am even making as many of the gifts as I can for the little ones in an attempt to save. Thank goodness I have been socking away money to my BEK credit union all year for just this reason. We draw names on both sides of our families for the adults, so that alone is $200. I guess I feel like some of the spirit of Christmas is lost when you get a call saying "I drew your name for a $50 gift this year, what do you want... where can I buy that?" What happened to putting thought & time into a gift? I'm not tooting my own horn but I try to make mental notes all year on what I can get people. From comments they make while window shopping to complaining about something that would make their life easier. I try my best to not ask out-right what someone wants for Christmas. If I draw your name and you draw mine & we tell each other exactly what we want and where to find it, why don't you go buy what you want for yourself & I will save $200 in our household. **I warned you, I was feeling a little Scrooge-esque** I am waiting to get my tree from my sister's apartment, once it's put up maybe my mood will change! *sigh* As for now I wish you a Happy Monday!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Another attempt at Blogging!

Well, I have had some nagging guilt in the back of my mind about not blogging in OVER A YEAR! YIKES!! Life just gets crazy, as we all know too well. So, now that I'm the busiest I've ever been, I've decide to add one more thing to my plate! I actually think that my entries on here help me keep perspective and relieve stress & Lord knows I need some of that right now! Brian & I are officially Lobos and have (somewhat) settled in to our new home in Levelland. We are literally 90 seconds from the country club and with really affordable memberships Brian is in golfer's heaven! I have been spending most of my down time (yeah right, what is that?) filling craft orders and working on getting the house together as I can. Work is going great for Brian. He is with Edward Jones investments (which prompted the move) and he has been a top 5 performer, in his category, every month but 1 since he started selling. I have been slammed with my job. I took over the national accounts position at Ben E. Keith and I work with restaurants from Colo. Springs to midland odessa and everywhere in between. Just a few I take care of: abuelos, hooters, pei wei, rudys, cotton patch, etc... I just took on the Jones football stadium at Texas Tech working with their head chef to provide food for the suites/press boxes & club levels. This has been the root of most of my stress as of late because it is such a huge undertaking. Enough for one person alone & I have about 30 other restaurants that I handle. My craft orders have been consistently growing, which is amazing, but I sometimes feel like I am burning the candle at both ends! I can't imagine how I would manage with little ones! Hopefully I can find some balance after football season! Well, I'm going to try to be more consistent with my posts! I love blogging and keeping up with everyone! Have a great Monday night & we will have more soon!

Monday, June 15, 2009

No Doubt & Ruidoso

I just wanted to post some pictures & thoughts about my latest trips! I headed to Dallas for a girls trip to see No Doubt! Ashley & I rode down together & Elvira met us on Saturday. Stephanie Holloway lives there and met up with us. We stayed at Trevor's house (B's bestie) and my good friend J. Blessing met up with us. I have been a no doubt fan since I saw them at the fairpark in 8th grade with the Goo Goo Dolls & Bush! I was front row, down & dirty as Gwen stood & sang on a speaker above me! It was awesome! This time being 10(ish)years older I knew the experience wouldn't be quite the same but it was definitely a blast! We were really late getting to the concert which I regret in hindsight but I still had so much fun! Beers were $12!! After the concert we met up with our guy friends at barcadia & played life-sized jenga... a definite first. B stayed home to help his uncle tile his kitchen, but it was still a fun trip. I wish I had some pics from the actual concert :(. Then, the weekend before my birthday (June 5-7) B took me to Ruidoso. We stayed at the Ellis' cabin, which was awesome! We went to the horseraces... I was up about $5 until the last race when I bet on a long shot to win & it did! I bet $2 and it paid $42... not a bad return. Then that night we cooked out at the cabin avoiding our $100+ birthday dinner reservations. I told B that I would rather spend it at the casino :). I have gambled a few times before, I like blackjack & craps but this weekend I learned roulette! It was fun & I won about $90. It was such a relaxing & much needed trip! The booth is going pretty good. I have acquired outside interest and have been asked to paint some canvases on consignment for a woman that has a holiday happening booth & I painted a canvas for a local photographer's studio. She also has some of my baby clothes on hand for her clients! It's only been 3 weeks so I can't complain! I am going to post some pictures, then off to bed! Goodnight!





Some moments at the Gingerman before the concert.....




LIFE-SIZED JENGA! (excuse some of the graffiti)





A couple of horses at the track



Some pictures of the cabin! So cute!







on the way to the casino

Friday, May 29, 2009

The Quirky BIrd




Well, once again I have not posted in awhile... I have been busy filling up my 20 square foot booth. My mom came up this past weekend and helped and B's mom helped me get my booth covered in fabric. What great ladies :)! My small booth is officially open at KK's. Right now it is primarily baby girl items, but I hope to expand soon & do more home decor items. My website is www.thequirkybird.etsy.com if you want to check it out or forward it along to someone who might be interested! Hopefully someday I can transition out of corporate & into something that allows me to be my own boss! For now I will post a few picture of the booth!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

w...o...w....WOW!

I have not posted in FOREVER! First thing's first. I am attaching a picture of my catch in beautiful Guatemala! We went to Puerto San Jose, in all honesty, it was very poverty stricken with the exception of the beautiful lodge that we stayed at. People would walk to streets with machine guns! Our lodge was very secure and the staff was wonderful! I wish I had the time and space on here to post everything. We visited Antigua (not the island) before we left & it was AMAZING! Nothing in the city has changed in 500 years...the streets, the buildings, monasteries...VOLCANOES! It was definitely a life experience that I will keep with me forever! Let's see...Since then we have been busy with baby showers, bachelor/ette parties, weddings, etc.... One of my high school best friends is having a baby at the end of this month! I am so excited for the arrival of baby Sophie! Other than that we have been pretty low key since my last post. I have been painting....the most recent is a family name canvas 12x24....email me or call me if you are interested...I'll post a picture at the bottom. I am going to try to keep my blog updated! As for now, I am starting a movie with my wonderful hubby & our pups!


outdoor bar in guatemala...at noon on a monday

our lodge







The Marina

My Pole!

My fish! An 80 pounder...we also caught a 450 lb. Marlin! (I only have video of it)









Volcano in Antigua



An old monastery they made into a hotel/restaurant







The lovely mom to be & her hostesses

Shannon's Loot

my canvas

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Off to Guatemala!

Well friends I am leaving in about 5 hours to start my long trip to Guatemala! I am excited and anxious just because I don't know what to expect...that's why I love to travel! It is going to be so nice to just turn my cell phone off and be customer-free for a week. I haven't had that luxury since the honeymoon. I will miss my hubby & my puppies so much! I will post pictures as soon as I get back!