2010 Thankful List

**In no particular order**

• Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer


• Happy, healthy Chloe Annabelle Krackenberger

• My job


• My mom.....

• and my dad
  
  


• My brothers and sister...
• and, of course, my BIL
  


• Ava


• That Mama and Papa - and Nena - got to meet their great-grandbaby (even if they did forget how to hold a baby)

• New HUGE computer monitor at work
• Health insurance
• Great friends and fun times with them






• Leggings
• My house (even with the snakes)


• Great new church and small group

• Pho noodle soup
• Office Supplies
• Sharpie Markers
• My health and the health of my family
• Cowboy boots
• The dressing area in my room



• Magnified mirrors
• Sticky Notes
• …and much more
  
  **What are you thankful for??**
  
  
  
  
  

Nieces are Awesome

Well, Chloe, we met 10 weeks ago. You missed my birthday, but you’re the best belated birthday gift I’ve ever received! We have waited for you, prayed for you, laughed about you, poked you, pinched you, squeezed you, zerberted you, and praised God for you. You are absolutely the most beautiful and luckiest little girl in the world. Your mommy and daddy prayed for you, are blessed by you, and love you more than you will ever know. You are my niece and I love you more than life already. I cannot wait to watch you grow and learn and become the amazing woman God has put you on this earth to be.


My wishes for you are these :

• That you will love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind, and soul and realize that it is only through Him that your wildest dreams are possible.
• That you know how much you are loved, little one.
• That you have great friends – a close-knit support group for you to laugh with, cry with, rejoice with, and get in trouble with.
• That you never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.
• That you grow a quiet, strong, fearless, and independent spirit.
• That you love to learn and continue to do so as long as you live.
• That you listen to your parents…they do know what they’re talking about!
• That you make mistakes…..and learn from them.
• That you find what makes you happy and DO IT!
• That you find a husband one day who will love you the best way you can be loved.
• That you go to Texas Tech University.
• That, if you do not go to TTU, you root for them on game day.
• That you always find time, as you grow up, to come and visit me. (I’ll buy you anything you want!)
• That you’ll continue to be the little fashionista you already are!
• And, finally, that you'll be true to yourself...in everything you do!
  
  It’s a long list, CoCo. One that I hope you fulfill. One that will be added to as you live and grow, but take your time growing…you’ll have plenty of time to be a grown-up. Know that I love you. I’m ALWAYS here for you.
  
  Love, Aunt Sissy
  

  

I'm back...

March through June = one giant blur. It's like I floated through those 4 months. Where did they go?! Lots has happened - new job is fab, I've moved, and...

This little girl is getting presents tomorrow!!
*She still hasn't kicked me, though...whah whah...

Update and pics coming soon!

Best Kind of Friday

Nick sent me flowers today. More on Nick later, but these are fabulous and just what I needed to end the week on!!

Thanks, Nick!!

The card says, "Hope you're having a great day!". Well, now I am!!

Proper Protocol

1) When you can't get answers from a so-called "expert", it is perfectly acceptable to make up your own.

2) When there's a trip to Mexico being planned, it is mandatory to buy a romper.

3) When your friend calls and says she has free tickets to the Dallas Arts District Wine Stroll for this evening, always march in and tell your boss you will be leaving at 4:00 and spend the balance of the afternoon mapping out whose wine you'll sample first and the best route to make sure you make it to the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Meyerson, and the new AT&T Arts Center.

4) Finally, if you absolutely MUST put your breast pump nipple steam bag cleaner thing in the microwave in the break room, just wait for it to get done. Otherwise, some unsuspecting associate of yours will, undoubtedly, unwittingly remove said bag to warm up her coffee from this morning and proceed to spill said coffee when she realizes what it is she just removed from the microwave. *sick*

Have a great weekend!!!

Hi Sister!!

Party Like It's 1929

This weekend was my friend, Jo's 29th birthday party. It was '20s themed with The Great Gatsby in the background, '20s themed food (including pineapple upside down cake..yum) and a prohibition bar...fully stocked, of course :). I wore a flapper dress, broke out the fishnet stockings, and donned a feather headpiece. Quite fabulous, if I do say so myself. Happy birthday, my fabu friend!!!

Me, Phaedra, Elliot

Me and Lauren (her dress & hat were true '20s vintage) Me and the birthday girl

I'm not sure what I was so focused on, but you can see my sequin / feather headpiece

...and one to leave you with :)

Some Days Are a Total Waste of Make Up

• It took me a good 20 minutes to back out of my parking space this morning. Snow cramps my style.
• I flinch and close my eyes when the car in front of me splashes water or chunks of slushy snow on my windshield as if it’s going to smack me right in the face.
• However, when a little black Ford Fusion driven by a blonde girl texting on her iPhone cuts you off and you have to slam on your breaks and the snow from the roof of your car falls onto your windshield and blocks the entire thing and you have to stop your car in the middle of MacArthur Blvd, during lunch hour, and get out and scrape it off, the danger of that slush actually making contact with your face is VERY real. Take my word for it.
• Contradiction : When a Taho is barreling toward my back end at lightening speed, I yell “Get off my a**…this is TEXAS. We don’t know how to drive in this crap!!” On the other hand, I yell “Oh My GAAAWWWW!!!! MOOOOOOVVVEEEEE!” to the car driving 10 mph in front of me.
• I had a lovely conversation with a lady at the post office regarding my sequined Converse sneakers. She asked if I had made them as an art project. Lady, I’m incapable of cutting paper in a straight line. I would have slit my wrists before I sat down and stitched sequins on not one, but two size 8 sneakers.
• I need to buy stamps. The only ones available for purchase at the post office had a picture of 2 gold wedding bands tied together on a white satin ribbon. GAG. Thanks, but I’ll wait until you’re back in stock on the Bart Simpson ones.
• I ordered a flapper dress online. That’s right…I’ll be donning a black and gold fringed frock for a ‘20s themed birthday party next weekend.
• It’s annual review time here in the land of arts and crafts. I spend 2 days cataloging all of my awesome accomplishments from the fiscal year 2009 and quantifying contributions to a multi-million dollar business only to look forward to having someone tell me what I need to work on. *sigh*
• I think I figured out why I’m fat. When you throw away a McDonalds cup in the trash can while waiting in the drive through line at Chic-fil-a, there might be a problem.
• I saw an African American woman driving a PT Cruiser with an African American antenna head on it. The head had on a ‘do rag and sunglasses. I wonder if she has any white friends.
• A tree broke from the weight of the snow last night. It was right outside my window. A woman screamed. I laughed.
• That’s all. Happy Friday. Go to Michaels and have something framed.

Ava's First Snow Day

This little girl had her first experience with this white, fluffy, cold stuff last night. Did she :

A) Sniff, a little curious, but generally enjoying herself

B) Hop through it like a cute little rabbit

C) Run with her nose down to the ground and throwing snow up and catching it

OR

D) Stand there and look at me like I was punishing her, growl when I tried to grab her interest by throwing snow in her face, run through my legs, and pee in the breezeway

Yep, you guessed it. She was mad at me for the better part of the night. She HATED the snow. I can't imagine where her diva complex comes from!!

It's Fabulous!!

This thing looks beautiful! The picture doesn't even do it justice!! Long way from under my bed, still in the FedEx envelope it was mailed in!!

A little detail shot...

It's Official

I have gray hair. I can't even find them all to pull them out anymore. It shows, no matter where my hair is parted. It's impossible to hide anymore. I'm not ready. I'm not ready to budget in hair coloring once a month. I'm not ready to be seen as "that lady" instead of "that girl". I already feel a little weird thinking "those kids", Tim Teebow and Graham Harrell are cute.
Does this mean I'm a real grown up?
Crap.

In other news, I spilled coffee creamer (hazelnut) on my finger this morning. I gagged. The maintenance man laughed at me. It wasn't funny.

Things I Love About My New Gig

I got a new job (for those of you who don't know). I'm working for a company that my company owns, doing Business Development. Well, a week into my new role, my new boss quit. I'm flying solo, but finding it a lot more challenging - which is exactly what I needed!!!

Here's just a short list of things I'm liking...so far :

• Hazlenut creamer for coffee in the break room


• My cute new coffee mug from Anthropologie


• HUGE desk


• My "other" boss is awesome


• Mistakes are viewed as "Lessons Learned"


• Great collaborative team


• People laugh, smile, and go out to lunch


• People leave at 5:00 pm (actually 4:59, but I'm not the clock police)

........and the best perk yet????

This little guy is getting a make over :

Oh Christmas Tree!

Won't be making a live appearance this year due to a long...i mean awesome...trip to Alabama. *Love you, Sissy.

So, it will have to suffice to put it up electronically. So.....happy decorating! :)

Show Us Your Life.....PETS

Kelly, over at Kelly's Korner, does a series every Friday called "Show Us Your Life". Since I don't have a house, a husband, kids, or really awesome fall decorations, I haven't been able to participate........until now. It's "Show Us Your Pets" and I just so happen to have a little Shih Tzu named Ava. I know the suspense is killing you...So, without further adieu, I give you AVA.

This little princess came to me when she was 12 weeks old...4 pounds of fluff, a lazy eye, and an underbite. The vet wanted to put braces on her, but I decided, if I survived without them, so could she. Her eyes have straightened out, so she doesn't look in 2 different directions anymore. I'm a little obsessed, but what "mommy" isn't??? She's my girl!

She loves going to Doggie Day Care and her "teachers" love her!!!

Her favorite accessories are hair bows and her Coach collar. She even has a Juicy Couture charm and a blinged Hello Kitty charm to hang from it on special occasions.

I live in her house, I sleep in her bed, I eat from her fridge, and I sit on her sofa. It's okay because she's my little pumpkin...my 9.5 pounds of love...my snotting-spitting-lazy-snuggly-turd-bucket and I wouldn't trade her for the world!!!

10 Years!!

Quite enough said....
The reunion was too much fun! Some people look exactly the same...some people were unrecognizable. I just got a few pics and mostly of the same people, but I'll share. Here's to another 10!!
The group that's been intact since the nineties all joined up and went together to both nights of the reunion. Friday was at the Hotel Palomar and Saturday at the City Club downtown (the green building).

Having dinner before drinks at the Hotel Palomar.

Eva, KC, me, Dan, Stephanie (Dan's fiance)

Hotel Palomar...

Andy, Alex, Ashley, Ty, me

Saturday night...Dallas City Club

Dan, KC, Me (I've known these kids since Jr High!)

Tiffany and me
I'm so glad she made it all the way from CA!

Jon Mark and me (and Kristen snuck in the back:))

Proper...JM, me, Kristen

KC and me. (my Jr. year Homecoming date!)

JM, KC, Ty, Peter (sitting). Nice cardigan!

Another group shot...

Peter, KC, Kristen, me, Tiffany, JM, Ty, Patrick

Wreck 'Em Tech

Texas A&M hasn’t won at Texas Tech since 1993, or about a year before Aggies pass rusher Von Miller started kindergarten. Brent Zwerneman takes an 21 Tech (5-2, 2-1 Big 12) has owned A.elementary glance back at how No.&M (3-3, 0-2) on the South Plains, with the teams set to mix it up again 6 p.m. Saturday in Lubbock:

1995 - Tech 14, A&M 7: Linebacker Zach Thomas shook off Corey Pullig interception for a touchdown with8a 103-degree fever to return a 30 seconds remaining in the Red Raiders’ victory. Tech snapped a 29-game Southwest Conference unbeaten streak by the No. 8 Aggies and wiped out their chances of a national title.

1997 - Tech 16, A&M: 13: Tony Rogers knocked a 47-yard field goal off the left upright with 19 seconds remaining to ice the Red Raiders’ victory over No. 20 A&M. “We had a tough stretch in October,” Aggies coach R.C. Slocum said afterward. “It will be a real challenge to see if we can come back.” A&M rebounded to win its next four and the Big 12 South title.

1999 - Tech 21, A&M 19: Sammy Morris ran for 170 yards against the nation’s No. 1 rush defense to lead Tech to an upset of No. 5 A&M — again squashing the Aggies’ national title hopes. A&M’s offense failed to score a TD.

2001 - Tech 12, A&M 0: Tech fans shoved a goal post into the A&M fan section following the Red Raiders’ shutout victory, touching off a brief melee in which Gov. Rick Perry’s chief of staff, Mike McKinney, was bloodied by another Aggies fan in the confusion. McKinney, father of Aggies center Seth McKinney and now A&M chancellor, said afterward, “It was like the Alamo. They were coming up over the walls.”

2003 - Tech 59, A&M 28: B.J. Symons threw a Big 12 record eight touchdowns in the Red Raiders’ rout. “This being my only time I’ve stepped on the field against A&M,” the senior Symons said, “I think I made up for lost time.”

2005 - Tech 56, A&M 17: A frustrated A&M defensive tackle Bryce Reed wadded up the tape from his wrists and fired it at a Tech fan afterward — meaning an Aggie had finally hit his target. Tech led only 14-10 at halftime.

2007 - Tech 35, A&M 7: A&M fullback Jorvorskie Lane guaranteed a victory. He was more than four touchdowns off in the Red Raiders’ triumph. Tech’s Mike Crabtree collected 170 receiving yards, as the Red Raiders won their third consecutive blowout over the staggered Aggies in Lubbock.

Let's do it again, Tech!!! Wreck 'Em!!!

Jerry-Land

I've been 3 times for 3 different events and I've yet to blog about any of them! So, here goes nothing!!

1) Pre-Season Cowboys game.

I can't remember who they played (it was that long ago), but it was only the 2nd game ever played in the new stadium. All the bathrooms were still nice and clean!! I went with my friend, Hollie and we had so much fun!

The pictures of us sucked (Sorry, Hollie), so I'll leave you with the view from our seats...note, these have NOT been zoomed in!!

2) A&M vs. Arkansas

It was UGLY!! I was an honorary Aggie for the day...don't tell the Raiders! I had gotten tickets and since I'm not an Aggie, but I know lots of them, I invited a few of my peeps to go enjoy the festivities. Their lapse in judgement when choosing a college has been forgiven. At least they loved the stadium...like kids at a theme park!!

After we learned there's no "easy way" to "cut through the stadium" to go from one end zone to another (our adventures include various security breeches, being locked in a stairwell, and more escalator rides than we care to count!), we finally found some buddies to tailgate with!

Tailgaiting : Mary and Me

The Group : (L to R) Grant, Ty, Mary, Me, Jack

Then we finally made it to our seats!! Mary, Me, Jack, Grant's nose, and Ty

Mary, Me, and Jack's lovely face...

...and I think you know who these guys are....

(Ash, I was trying to text you a pic of this, but I wasn't able to get a text out :(...)

3) U2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The concert was AWESOME!!! I saw it from a suite directly under the suite where Jason Whitten, Tony Romo, and Tiger Woods were watching! I got to go because my friend, Nick was inside the practice bubble when it collapsed last year (but not hurt, thank God), and Jerry gave anyone who was in there suite tickets to see U2. Not worth the horrible fear and pain of that day, but a generous offer by Jerry, I thought. The pictures I took didn't come out very clear, but cross your eyes and pretend to enjoy them!

Oh, and Bono gave a shout out to RICHARDSON!!! WOOT WOOT!

Just walked in....still setting up

The SUITE!!!! Best mac & cheese in the world. Period.

Nick and me before the show

Bono is on the bottom center in the black with the microphone!!

Show's over :( Wave goodbye to U2 and ... the mass exodus

This is Jerome, our waiter. He was fabulous and let us wait out the crowd in our suite for an hour after the show!

Still one more Cowboys game to go to...Nov. 1 with Sara. Can't wait!!!

Nick gets credit for all of my visits to the stadium. Nice trade for puppy sitting the best dog in the world (next to Ava, of course)!!

***Peace***