Happy Fridizzle!

a real meep via pinterest

Off to Austin for the weekend! If I'm really good then I might treat myself to my first sno cone of the year. So excited for the Myers/Grant nuptials although I can't say I'm excited for the I35 traffic, but hey, let's stay positive!

Hope you all have a wonderfully green weekend. Can someone please tell this humidity to move on out? The hair officially can't take it (read: half pony mess).

xo

A Very Good Year: 2010 Edition

It's hard to count your blessings with a year full of trips, weddings, baby announcements, birthday parties, reunions, holidays, new relationships, sporting events, concerts and everything else in between. Last year I took a look through my photos and realized that things had been good to me. Fast forward to another year recap and you'll find me thinking the same thing. God is good in all things and I never want to underestimate that. Praises for 2010 and all the hope for a joyful 2011.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

love,

Kristen

Merry Christmas Week!

I hope that wherever you are you're gearing up for a wonderful holiday full of family, food, and the birth of Christ Jesus. Whether you're sitting on a patio enjoying this Indian Summer or ice scraping your way our of your driveway, I wish you the merriest.

dreamy holiday decor at The Ritz-Carlton Dallas

Bucket List

I cannot tell you how eventful this past week has been. For one, I turned 26. It finally happened, I hit the ripe old age of 2-6 and it feels good. In all of my days, I have never felt so loved. My friends, co-workers, family and boyfriend spared nothing in making me feel like the most blessed girl ever and I cannot get over how thankful I am to have each of them in my life. Anyway, I will save all of those special celebrations for another post... but for now, I want to share with you the biggest news of my 26th year (so far) and that is my completion of the MetroPCS 2010 Dallas White Rock 1/2 marathon. For those of you that know me well...yes, I am serious.

You heard me – I completed, ran every step, finished, a 13.1-mile course. Because, hey, nothing says "26" like running half of your age...

This, coming from the girl that as of June 1st could not successfully run one mile without stopping and/or whining. My two crazy friends and I started training in the earlier part of September and have wrestled with training fatigue, ailing bodies and all-around frustration. We have each held each other up when the other didn’t want to be prodded along and have let other “helpers” encourage us along the way. I, personally, sought special treatment from a certain someone (read: Brad) that slowed down their pace by 3 minutes per mile, listened to me complain (specifically, "I hate this.") and continued to feed me positive encouragement in spite of it. I mean, I wouldn’t even deal with myself!

All of this to say, the three of us embraced the "race culture," worked through the cold and ran home to victory. I think we all felt a sense of accomplishment that was bigger than imagined and agreed that it was well worth it. I've never taken the chance to push myself to a point where I could actually take pride in it and yesterday, when I laid my head on my pillow, I felt like I had earned it. I had earned a small bit of affirmation and an even larger belief in the fact that I can really do anything if I set my mind to it. So much of this goal was a mental hurdle and it feels good to have scaled it. To those of you that helped, cheered, and encouraged – thank you! I couldn’t have done this without any of you and my heart swells when I think of yesterday and all of your sweetness...

And so here we are - a few pics* to prove it!

The ladies of the O Chorral - Alyssa, me, Amy and Rebecca

The best of our amazing cheering section!

(Dave, Brad, Michelle, Bailey, Katie, Kate, Leah** & Sidney** - we love you!)

(such a great sign)

*Please note, this will be the last (and only) time that I am featured in Spandex on this site. That is all.
**Not pictured.

Lake Days - pt. 2

This past weekend at Ali's lake cabin was a complete success. If I can measure my level of enjoyment on the soreness of my muscles, then it was the best ever. I just can't say it enough, lounging around a lake with the sun beaming overhead always happens to sum up the better part of Texas. When I think of fond memories from my childhood (or adulthood, for that matter), I directly correlate them with a Summer day on the water. Here are a few pics of the "cabin" - when what I really wish I would have captured is the outdoor shower that someone took advantage of. That, and pictures of people...and by people, I mean cute Hank (the Labradoodle).

Americana

Other notables:

I'm dying a little inside to make these. I had my first-ever toasted marshmallow shake at Stand during my NYC trip and have been dreaming about it since.

Great Summery tune in the husband and wife duo from Denver, Tennis. Download "Marathon" and bop around.

Also, this couldn't be more genius.

New babies and lake days

Here we go for the belated 4th of July post. Happy birthday, America! My holiday weekend (although it seems so long ago now...) was full of baby surprises, family lake time and fireworks - only the best. It all started with a cute new addition to the world and then the rest just fell into place.

I have been going to the same lake house of our dear family friends for the better part of my entire life. There have been a few "lost" years along the way, but when and if we can get together - we will. My parents are lucky to know their closest friends since childhood and blaze the trail of life (marriage, kids, college, etc.) together. Some of my earliest memories involve sparklers at the lake, Gun Barrel City flea markets, mass quantities of grilled burgers, and jumping off the dock. I'm not sure I'll ever grow tired of the slanted yard, haphazard sleeping quarters or amateur fireworks show...it's what makes it so charming.

Here are a few snippets from the weekend, enjoy!

Buddies! (I wanted to steal this fella...)

(These are not sequential...lil' London came first.)

Uncle Brad!

Great Days

{a few scenes from yesterday's afternoon walk through my neighborhood}

Goin' Country

I'm headed East this weekend - East Texas, that is! The Bible study girls and I will be heading to the country (c/o of sweet Kate) in an attempt to get some together time before the Summer craziness really takes over (hasn't it already?). It's not every weekend you get the pleasure of hanging out with a fun group of easy-going gals just looking for a good time. So in an attempt to channel my inner-Texas, I have blasted the country tunes all day in anticipation of what I predict to be a really memorable weekend.

I can't wait to eat what I assume to be large amounts of baked goods and really catch up on the lives of some of my dearest. There is a lot going on for everyone, so it's nice to just take some time and laugh a little. Seeing as how it is 4PM and I have yet to pack* for this little venture, I better get moving...

hope you have a wonderful weekend!

*In an earlier conversation with Miss Bailey I was informed that she managed to pack her essentials - cowgirl boots and denim shorts. Looks like someone took the country theme a little too literally. Love that girl...

Memorial Day Scenes

Texas forever.
Pa on the lake. Lovin' life.
Kabob army.
This dog will pose with anything - it's unreal.


Texas tip: If you ever get the chance to hit up Mt. Bonnell on Lake Austin and catch the tail end of a Texas sunset, do it. Even if you're moderate-to-highly afraid of heights - it's so worth it.