Just a quick pop-in. Lots going on around here… (and more to come!)
*the crawfish boil was a success; here was last years’*
[image source]
My life is full of change right now. When I stumbled across the image above, I identified with it. Here is a little homemade green house with lots happening on the inside, and it looks like it’s kind of messy. But good things are happening in there.
I don’t know why I feel compelled to explain my absence from this space in the coming weeks; but maybe it’s for the record. I’ll look back and wonder… why did I back off of regular posting for a while? Well, to answer my future self’s question here’s why:
Graduation is upon us… family and friends are headed our way; I’m moving to Houston full-time in two weeks; therefore, I’m in the process of wrapping up my final two weeks at a job that I love and has been the perfect solution to our time while B was in school; I’m planning a vacation (and having a subsequent meltdown about said vacation); I’m starting my own business soon; I leave in two weeks for certification for said business; oh, and it’ll be the first time the hubs and I have lived together full-time (just the two of us) in nearly 4 years!
It’s a lot to process and to take in… and I’d like to be present for it. So… something’s got to give… and this space may be it. I may just post pictures… or just words… I’m not sure. But I know that by June 16, my life should be back to “normal,” albeit, completely new.
I couldn’t quite get it together to look through my weekend pics last night. It was our first weekend sans school pressure in nearly three years and so we made the most of our time together. But interestingly we weren’t quite in sync (yet). Our sleep schedule has been off for some time and so when we actually went to bed at the same time, it kind of threw me off. Neither one of us slept all that well; especially with our little kitty waking us up periodically too. It was a funky weekend weather wise too. It rained and rained on Saturday and didn’t quit until early Sunday morning. I love spring storms though; the lightening and thunder were strangely comforting.
We did start off great though. Thursday evening we went for a nice long walk to the grocery store, and the hubs literally stopped to smell all the roses in bloom. Plus, we got cake to celebrate our new freedom. Friday night we finally used a coupon for Alamo Drafthouse. So fun. Dinner and a movie in one place; the food was pretty good, but better yet, I had wine with my flick. And the servers really were discrete and didn’t disturb the movie at all.
Saturday I had to mentally prepare myself to go to… the mall. I am looking for the perfect walk-all-day-in-the-city-shoe. No luck yet. (More on that later, I’m sure.) While we were inside it’s started pouring and didn’t let up. It rained so much that we ended up having to cancel dinner plans with friends; so instead we watched a movie and cooked at home…all while it stormed. All that rain made for a beautiful sunrise/moon-set on Sunday morning. And then we finally made our way to the hubs’ studio to clean out his space… for good! It still feels surreal.
This new life is going to take some getting used to for sure.
Well since I’m in the business of sharing good news, I thought I would finally share some of the Brooklyn wedding we attended just two weeks ago (really, ‘cuz it’s feeling more like a year ago!). We had a wonderful rehersal lunch at Lodge. Brad was pumped that he could order breakfast at 3 in the afternoon and I was glad they had an ice cream brownie! Seriously though, the food was delicious and the place was full of panache. The wedding itself was at a very unique venue called reBar. There was a bridal suite with plenty of room to chill before the ceremony; the food was delish, and it quickly converted into a great dance space. All three are important priorities.
Right after the ceremony we walked a few blocks to snap some photos under the Manhattan Bridge and then onto a little park with the best view of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. You might not know it from the photos but we were FREEZING. It was a beautiful, sunny 48 degrees!!! But yeowzer, my little dress did NOT provide any warmth…. but I sure like it. That little pink number is a dress that B picked out for me all by himself whilst traveling across Europe last summer! He’s the best…
He did it!!!!! The hubs has completed his FINAL architectural project for school! Graduation is a mere 18 days away and a bit of a formality at this point….because it’s over!
My reaction: 
His Reaction: 
Someone was so kind as to snap a photo of him in action. Brad said that this was his best final jury. (Mind you that doesn’t mean it was a great review… it was just better than the last two years’!) But he said that it felt good to go out on a high note, because there was no redeeming this project once it was complete. Maybe I should finally post one of his projects in this space. For now he is celebrating by getting up and going to a paying job and not school! A great day indeed…
Perspiration, sunshine, and patience…. so many wonderful things. Oh, and the hubs should finish today!
Once the dust settles around here (mid-June) we are going to do a major overhaul of our little space. And one of the first things we’re going to do is re-do our art situation. We’ve got many ideas brewing and we were both tickled at the idea below. I’ve had the George Washington painting (on the left) on my computer for as long as I can remember and then last week or so I came across the Oliver Jeffers painting (on the right). A mini-trend about to bloom? I can see the DIY-ers taking this one to the bank. And I might just have to join in…that is, if I can find just the right painting to edit.
What a glorious weekend! We ate most all of our meals outside, found any excuse to walk anywhere, and I saw fit to make all my hobbies compatible with the pleasant weather. We don’t get many days like this here, so we have to soak them in while we can.
We are in the final stages around here of B’s schoolwork. I’ve got one more weekend of looking at the top of his head and listening to the click of his mouse… and then he will be DONE! Seven more days now….
Well one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made was to take a risk on seemingly unorthodox accommodations and, well, it paid off big time! We stayed at the wonderfully curious 3B Bed and Breakfast | The Downtown Brooklyn Bed and Breakfast. Succinctly put: location, charm, & price.
The staff was genuinely warm and hospitable, allowing us to drop our bags for a very early (11am) check-in. Although our cab driver questioned the address because it is a primarily commercial street, I knew I was in the right place when one of the owners answered the door in his socks.
The 3rd floor walk-up was a wonderful home away from home while we were busy coming and going (i.e. changing clothes) for all wedding festivities. I really did feel like I was staying in someone’s home. This is not five-star luxury, but rather the thoughtful curation of a few clever late 20/early 30 somethings to meet the needs of the world-weary gadabout. (Including the most delicious locally sourced chocolates for your room.)
[Click below for the full post.]
Wow, wow, wow. I’m still processing such a FUN weekend and I’ve got lots of photos to cull through while I simultaneously have the busiest week of the year at work. But I’ll manage.
[original photo here]
My plate is full. It won’t be for long.
[wood & cement photos, mine | marble photo here]
This weekend while out and about I spotted a repeating pattern. I used to not be a big fan of herringbone, but as of recently I find myself drawn to it. I was particularly impressed with the new exterior facade of our anthropologie. The brass looks like it’s the exact size and shape of the thing you put on a commercial door to push it open. (I’m sure there is a technical name for it, but “flat brass push thingy” will have to work!) A clever combo indeed. The interior of the store had a space with cement floor in said pattern and again I was surprised how much I liked it. I then remembered that I had recently pinned and image of marble herringbone and my conclusion is that in the right space, with the right material, this is a sophisticated pattern that works!
There wasn’t a lot of photo-snapping this weekend, but there was plenty of activity. Granted, much of that activity involved watching the hubs continue to click, click, click (just 22 more days now… but who’s counting?!) But it was of course the marathon of church events this weekend and each was lovely and special and its own way. We were gifted (again) more beautiful weather and finally a little rain shower Sunday evening. Now we just need to each buckle-down, focus our efforts and press on through the next couple of weeks!
Sometimes, everything really is bigger in Texas. The beautiful oak trees of Houston are one of my favorite things in the world… and I get to run through them any time I want.
Ok, so we’re not farmer’s in the conventional sense of the word — or really any sense of it — but we are proving to have more green than black in our thumbs! So far our little experiment is successful….
Packed! We didn’t stop from Thursday evening until early this morning. And because of a cold snap that came through, waking up to an apartment that was 62 degrees was not conducive to an expedient morning routine this morning! The hubs is in I’m-finishing-my-thesis-in-30-days-crisis mode, but he still managed to squeeze in some time for me. Part of that included spending four hours Friday night (starting at 9pm!) rearranging our place. After we moved it all, I concluded that we had already found the best possible solution… so we moved it all back! Ugh-o.
We gabbed with my sis over brunch on Saturday and then stayed indoors due to the gloomy-ish weather. But not for long. We were invited to take a dinner break for some free BBQ (and really, who can pass that up?!) and then B returned to staring at his computer screen for another 8 hours while I did who knows what. (Read, surfed the interwebs, enjoyed staring at my clean house… you know, the usual.)
Then on Sunday we had a beautiful Palm Sunday service then shared lunch with some friends. And since I could again only see the top of B’s head and hear the faint “click, click, click” of his mouse, I treated myself to a little photo-walk in my neighborhood. The sky was clear and cool by Sunday evening and so decided to think/act like a tourist and practice my picture taking. I still need to sort through those, edit, etc., but I’m sure they’ll turn up here soon.
Another wonderful weekend for the books….
saturday brunch || amazing azaleas || somebody got a haircut!
[Original Image]
The weather was simply marvelous today. Although I’ve been crunching numbers for the majority of my waking hours, I kicked off a little early today to make my trip to the track count. I was even inspired to run the stands with the warm sun on my face and cool north wind blowing my hair. I have said it a thousand times, but there really is nothing quite like Texas in the spring.
