N.Y.C-You there!

I should be more concerned with planning Cody’s 30^th birthday {but I have already purchased the majority of his decoration and I will be posting about all of that VERY soon}; but we’re super UBER stoked, about our trip to NYC!
 

We were originally going to drive and bring the doggies {you know how I have separation anxiety when away from them… plus, I think everything is more fun & cute when they’re there} but the places to rent with an actual outdoor space {which I was able to find quite a few in the city, believe it or not} were a tad more $Cha-Ching$, so this trip shall be an airplane ride away and my first experience with the X-ray machine, which I’ve decided is my arch nemesis!

*Side Note: I had to use spell check to correct the word “experience” but not “nemesis”… I wonder what that says about me since I think I’ve said, let alone spelt, that word MAYBE 100 times in my life.

This post is similar to what I did for our California trip; it’s all the pre-planning preparations, sharing our tools in the hopes of helping someone {which is the purpose of a blog, right?}.  Recently I started using Google Airfare and it is AMAZING!  If you read our blog you know that I’m in a relationship with Google {he just gets me}, so I was shocked that I’d hadn’t used this nifty tool before.  Basically, if you think, “I’m going to go to {insert destination here} on these dates!” but then wonder if you left a day earlier or later it possibly could’ve been cheaper?  Well, this Google function eliminates that wondering… BEHOLD the best way to see flight fares!!!

First put in the date range you’re looking to travel within, then click the bar graph icon to see when the lowest fare is:

Here you can see if you left the 6^th or 7^th OR the 12^th-24^th {instead of the 11^th} your fare would go from $288 to $258

Then you’d just click on the price you like, at the time you want it, and you can either book from Google or the airline’s website {the fares are the same price, that’s where Google is pulling it from}.

*Side Note: I know there are a lot of Expedia, Travelocity, etc… people out there BUT they don’t discount the flight cost, you only get a deal on hotel rooms if you book together*

Since we like to stay where the locals do versus the tourist areas {even though we participate in those activities}, we don’t recommend hotels due to them either being SUPER expensive since they are in a sought after location or there aren’t any to be found in our desired area.  {Sometimes I’ve noticed it’s actually cheaper to rent through Home Away or VRBO since you can “haggle” on the price or sometimes they give you a deal.  We originally were only going for 3 nights but the owner gave us the 4^th night for only $50 since there was a day gap between reservations!

Our flights were only $210 per person & our accommodations, for 4 nights, in the Meatpacking District {which is where the cool kids are going these days} for $150 a night.  I am aware that we possibly could’ve found a hotel for cheaper BUT it wouldn’t have been located near Greenwich Village {which is my favorite area}.  This is where we’ll be staying: http://www.vacationrentals.com/reviews/listReviews.htm?listingId=71415

And yes… I have a spreadsheet itinerary, price list, etc… but I barrowed a few books from a friend & I have friends going in July so I’m waiting to get feedback before posting that.

Christmas Card: Squeaken noise

We take extreme pride in our Christmas cards, it became a tradition in 2007 when we first moved in together and accidently took a photo that cracked me up {it was for an ugly Christmas sweater party} & it inspired me to take the time to make 100 cards.  That was the birth of our obsession.  We gradually got more gun-ho and creative throughout the years, excluding 2008, that’s the year we were planning our wedding and we moved in with my parents to save for our house; with our time spread thin, I opted out, there was no way I’d send out a skimpy card… people would’ve been disappointed!

2007

2009

2010

 2011

 2012

 

Cody is OBSESSED with Christmas Vacation, actually, his entire family is, we start watching it on thanksgiving… I know, it’s crazy.  It was even the theme of his parent’s Christmas party and you came dressed as a character.  This Card was inspired by our favorite scene.  Here are our outtakes

 

Aunt Bethany & Uncle Lewis

 

Figuring out how to make Lashes/Squirrel look like she was jumping out of the tree

 

Trial and error to have the effect of Diesel chasing Lashes

Our Group shots that didn’t make the cut

And just some cute photos of the kids

*Side Note: we colored Diesel’s hair black… but we ran out of dye so we were only able to do his back… good thing you only see his belly, right?  Oh well

DiY Candy Post

For Christmas this year, our neighborhood held its first contest, “Best Christmas Decorations.”  No, we didn’t win and no, I don’t know who did, but I bet it was someone on the HOA committee… Suburb politics, try making me put up my trashcans now! 

We knew we wanted to put candy canes in our yard but they were too expensive to buy in the masses, so we decided to make them.  Hence this DiY post. 

Here is what you’ll need

 

*Side Note: The peppermints are PAPER PLATES folks and before you start dissing them, they held up and are still holding up in our attic. Their second night outside we had a HUGE rain storm, it rained for 3 days and I don’t mean a little drizzle, I’m talking about trees bending over, streets flooding, animals being flung onto roof tops…but not our plates, they stood their ground, strong & proud.

 

First Step: Cutting PVC Pipes 

We were able to create 3 per pipe {Note, my dogs weren’t in the garage when I made the actual cuts, this photo is staged for your pleasure}

 

Step 2: Attach the Peppermint

We attached them using Hot glue and reinforced it with scotch tape

 

 

Step 3: Plastic Wrap

We opted to use clear plastic, but Hobby Lobby {or your local craft store} has tons of options. 

*Tip: We used zip ties to secure the plastic before adding the ribbon

 

Step 4: Add Hooks

Since we wanted to string lights we screwed in these hooks {you can find them at your local hardware store}

 

Step 5: Marvel at Your Work

 

Step 6: Put in Yard

We spaced them evenly apart and strung lights to give them even more of a "wow factor."

Voilà! Candy Cane Wonderland

November 2012

In the spirit of trying to catch up to present day, I’m going to be doing Month Recaps, hitting the “big” events that occurred.  First up, My last birthday in my 20’s.  Yep, I’m owning my age… 30 doesn’t have to be scary right?  Eh, I’m not there yet {focus Jeannie}.  Looking back on this day, I laugh, because my first memory is, “I’m hulking out of my clothes!”  Apparently I ripped my dress’ lining when hoisting myself into Cody’s truck which caused the hem line to creep up & the exposure of my panties, strike 1 and 2; strike 3 came after lunch while sitting at my desk, all I could feel were sharp pains in my left boob {Chimmi}, then I realized what was happening, my right boob {Chonga} decided to push the underwire of my bra out and stab Chimmi, it was horrible.  We had a big happy hour planned that night, and I was literally tearing out of all my clothes, so after work, I hobbled across the street to the Galleria and headed straight to Agaci for an outfit & Intimacy Boutique for a bra, this outfit easily became one of my favorites

To celebrate with my family we went bowling… oh I love bowling; then back to the house for my mom’s cheesecake and gifts

On my actual birthday I woke up to presents & breakfast, and this is when I met My 3^rd Kate Spade… isn’t she pretty?

Lashes approved as well.

Next on the November agenda, Thanksgiving!  We love thanksgiving, the gathering of friends, foods, family, food, laughs, food, did I mention food?

And in true tradition, the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, is dedicated to buying our Christmas tree & getting it set up and ready to decorate

And this isn’t a big event, just something incredibly cute that I needed to share

We bought this tutu for Lashes, but of course, Diesel wanted to try it on as well.  Once I took it off her he started getting excited and jumping, and barking, and then jutted his head out as if to say, “Mom, my turn!”  He’s so my dog.  And the bottom picture makes me laugh every time; In true Lashes form, the camera must always be facing her, so she naturally photo bombed Diesel

3 Pumpkin & A Spirit

The first year in our home we conducted a pumpkin carving contest, and ever since then it’s become an annual event.  Our first ones were quite impressive

{Yes, that is David Hasselhoff, courtesy of Cody, and I did the pumpkin of us}

This year, I wanted to carve our family, “how hard could it be?”

 Answer… HARD!  Cody whittled Diesel & I was in charge of us & Lashes

We had a lot of fun doing it

Final results:

When all the lights were off so I could take this shot, I jokingly said that mine were better, and then made the comment, “Anyone here will vote for mine!”  Then I saw a weird film in my view finder… I brought my camera down from my eye… nothing.  I put my camera back up to my eye, and there it was again… moving, slooooooowly up, almost like gliding, so I snapped a few photos, and who ever this lovely spirit was, it voted for Cody too… so fine, I suppose if those from the beyond are weighing in as well, I can admit Cody won!

Regardless of whose was better *cough, mine* they all looked cute outside on Halloween night.

Plus, their seeds were delicious once we baked them!

Grool Bye Party

Our dear friend Bridger, aka B&E, was relocated to Australia for work, and since his departure took place around Halloween his friends threw him a costume going away party {& you know we love a good themed party, we take dressing up very seriously}.  Originally we had  planned on going as Anchorman’s Veronica Corningstone & Ron Burgundy but finding a maroon blazer turned out to be a harder feat than we thought, so a week before the party we decided to go as Roy Lichtenstein’s Pop Art.

We already possessed the clothes, we just needed a little face paint; both costumes were achieved for under $20

You know we had to involve the dogs in some way, so we decided to give them a voice

We took a party bus around Houston, only stopping at Little/Big Woodrows {Bridger's favorite bar}.  I think we stopped at a total of five!  It was a lot of fun

My Split Apart

While at work this past Thursday I received a phone call from the front desk, I wasn’t able to answer, so the call was ignored.  A few minutes later, I receive an Instant message from Cody asking me if I had a call from the lobby, confused at how he knew this, I answered and he gently forced me to go down to the 1st floor to check it out. 
I’m so happy I did, because these beauties where there waiting for me!!

After showing them off I responded to Cody via IM:

My above reference to “Split Apart,” was due to the card attached which read,

“I just want you to know how much I love you Booba.  You truly are my Split Apart.” 

My eyes got a tad watery, I’ll admit it.  The first night Cody & I met we spoke on the phone for over 6 hours, so we covered a lot of ground.  One of the conversations we had was about relationships, soul mates, etc… and I told him about Plato’s “Split Aparts,” which is why I’m obsessed with belly buttons. 

I remember after explaining it, he was very quiet and sweetly said, “You don’t really believe this, do you?”  I laughed, because I knew it sounded crazy, I reassured him I did not, but I thought it was a romantic synopsis. 

We haven’t really spoken of it for at least 6 years, so that was a sweet surprise to see it on the card.

If you’re curious about split aparts, I’ll do my best to break down

Aristophanes’ Speech from Plato’s Symposium:

Humans were once round and half male & half female.  They had four arms, feet, & ears, with one head that had two faces {they looked in opposite directions}.  They could still walk upright like humans today, but they could also roll around using their multiple hands & feet to move faster.

After a while, the humans started trying to take over the Heavens, so the Gods grew scared.  They contemplated exterminating them, like they did the giants, but then there wouldn’t be anyone left to worship them, and what good is being a God if you’re not being worshiped?  So they had to think of a plan.

Zeus ultimately came up with the winning solution.  Zeus sliced the humans in half which made us weaker but it also increased our numbers so there were more worshipers,  but we looked really odd after being split into two, so Apollo healed our wounds and sculpted our bodies.  He then pulled what is like a purse’s draw string very tight, so our arms and legs fell into place, and tied a knot to secure it.  We still have evidence of this scar, our belly buttons. {Why I like belly buttons J}

Since there were more of us, they still had to worry about humans trying to take over, so the Gods casted one half of each of us to the ends of the earth so we’d spend our time searching for our other half, our split apart, instead of trying to take over the kingdom.

You can understand Cody’s concern now, but I still love this story, no matter how outlandish it is!