Ladies and Gentleman, For Your Entertainment...

I received 2 videos of Jordyn this week. I love getting pics and videos of my girls so I can see what they are up to in their daily life.

This first video is Jordyn singing "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi. She adds some pretty sweet dance moves to make it her own.

Now, this video is a little different. Bryan titled this email, "The Joy of Parenthood." We all feel this way sometimes, Jordy. 

*Disclaimer: No child was hurt during the filming of this :)

Great Deal

I posted about statement pieces the other day. I went to my Pinterest, as I do periodically, to see if anything I have pinned is on sale. And I hit the jackpot today.

I scored this:

Silver/Black Collar Necklace

Here is the deal I got:

Regular Price: $28.50
Sale Price: $19.97
50% off: 9.98
Extra 15%: 8.48 (Code # 68537)
Tax
Free Shipping
Grand Total: $9.20

Can't beat that!

There is also a code for $10 off an order but I didn't spend enough (Code # 39964)

29 Years Young

On Sunday, Jan 22 I turned 29 years old. I spent the weekend celebrating myself. Friday night, Kyle and I had a delicious home cooked steak dinner, followed by watching The Firm (new favorite TV show) and then I baked my birthday cake. And I even wore a cute pink polka dot apron. Real Betty Crocker right here! 

Sat morning started early and cold with a trip to the dog park, then lunch at Charleston's with the girls, shopping, and coffee. We had such a great day, and we all got to love on Elaina and Amanda who came in from OKC. We browsed at Must Stash on Brookside. Cute little store with great prices! We sat at Starbuck's and had coffee and chatted about how we wish we could do this on a Tuesday in our yoga pants and not have real jobs. 

Sat night kicked off with dinner at Mi Cocina with my parents. P.S.- They don't take reservations so get there early if you don't want to wait. Kyle wouldn't allow me to take my birthday cake to the restaurant ( he was appalled that I would even consider that) so they didn't get to taste the delish treat I baked.

We headed home to prepare for another birthday house party. I did the same thing last year and really enjoyed just getting to party at the house instead of taking a huge crowd of people out somewhere. 

I got some really adorable, great birthday gifts and had one of the best days I have had in a long time. Sunday I lounged all day. Took a 2.5 hr nap and ate all the carbs I wanted. It was glorious. My present from Kyle was finally completed last night with a trip to the Apple store and getting the new iPhone 4S. Siri is awesome, if you are thinking of getting her. 

Kyle's 30th is on Feb 2nd and I am wracking my brain on what to get him and what to plan. He, b/c he is a boy, doesn't think we really need to celebrate. Well, too bad cause we are going to celebrate. I just don't know how or when. He gets to go to Florida this weekend to see his family, and love on little Henry.

Mission Impossible

This post is about why I should have been a secret agent. It all came to me last night in the middle of seeing Mission Impossible with Kyle. I quickly began telling Kyle several reasons why I should have been some type of secret agent. Here they are:

1. I can rock a cocktail dress.

The female agent always gets the job of seducing some type of rich foreign guy. She must go to a fancy party, wear a beautiful dress, lure him away from the crowd, pull out a gun that is strapped to her thigh and make him give her important information.

2. I can be aggressive.

The female agent always gets into fights. Sometimes with other attractive females. And her hair is usually down and she has on a short dress or form fitting clothing and she can kick the crap out of someone twice her size.

3. I can run.

Agents always have to run. I run a lot on the treadmill and do sprints and incline so I would be great when it came time to run down the terrorist.

4. I can use my gymnastics moves.

I couldn't find a picture to describe this but you all know when there comes a time when the best possible move is to do a somersault, usually behind a couch, with gun in hand.

5. I can swim.

Cars always crash into the water.

Those are my top five reasons. There are also several reasons why I would not be a great female agent, but those don't really need to be addressed right now. And honestly, I really just want to be cast as a female agent along side my long time love Tom Cruise.

Alright, alright. I'll stop with the pictures. But he is just so cute. Say what you want about him, but I have loved him for as long as I can remember. And no one, I mean no one, can run like he does in movies. I heard he was filming a movie in Pittsburgh recently and you shouldn't be surprised that I tried to convince Kyle we should take a weekend trip there so I could stalk him.

Christmas in Dallas

This past weekend we celebrated Christmas down in big D town. Even if I wasn't getting late Christmas and early birthday presents, I would still have loved this weekend b/c we just get to spend great time all together. 

My cousin's son, Conrad, celebrated his 6th birthday at his dad's new art gallery and since we were all in town, we took the girls and headed out for some birthday fun. 

Wearing her new jacket and my new birthday scarf from Katie

Saturday evening we opened presents and then relaxed by playing the original Mario Brothers on Nintendo and playing Bezzerwizzer. 

I got home in time on Sunday to make a soup to have for lunch this week. I was too lazy to take a picture but here is the recipe below if you would like to try it: 

Chicken and Black Bean Soup

1/2 rotisserie chicken

3 cans chicken broth

2 cans black beans- not drained 

1 can petite diced tomatoes- not drained 

1 small onion diced 

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin 

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoon olive oil

celery- optional 

Limes

1 cup salsa of choice- I used Pace Medium 

Cilantro- optional (although I can't fathom why you wouldn't use this!) 

Sour cream for topping

In a large heavy soup pot, saute onions in olive oil 3-5 minutes, until soft but not browned.  Add the ground cumin, chile powder, and garlic and saute about 2 minutes more.

Add the chicken stock, tomatoes, and salsa, and simmer 10 minutes.  Add black beans and chicken and simmer 15-20 minutes more.  While the soup simmer, wash, dry and chop enough fresh cilantro to make 1 cup chopped cilantro. and squeeze enough limes to make 3 T juice.

After 15-20 minutes, add the chopped cilantro and simmer 5 minutes, then add lime juice and cook 2-3 minutes more. Serve hot with fresh limes to squeeze into the soup, with sour cream and additional chopped cilantro to sprinkle on top if desired.

(I know this text is different and I can't figure out why and it won't change so just deal with it.) 

On Sunday, I turn 29. I am entering the last year of my twenties. I have mixed feelings about it. So in order to deal with those feelings (or not deal with them), I plan on drinking peach bellinis and making cake. My own birthday cake. And I am not ashamed of it because I like strawberry cake and I want to use my new cake pans and mixer. Paula Deen has a strawberry cake recipe that is sure to deliver. (Sorry about your diabetes diagnosis, Paula!) And I am going to make birthday popcorn. Sounds weird, but just take a look at it. 

So, happy birthday week to me! Lunch and shopping with my girlfriends Sat, taking Sophie and Jackson to the doggie park, dinner with my mom and dad and Kyle at Mi Cocina (Mambo Taxi, here I come!).

Statement Pieces

Over a year ago, I purchased a Vera Wang statement necklace from Kohl's. I got it on sale, big time. I think it cost me about $16 and I got free shipping (you know I love me some free shipping!).

Here is my beloved statement necklace, working its magic:

Every since I bought that necklace, I have been in love with it. It brings some bling bling to a regular outfit. I only have 1 other necklace that I would call "semi-statement" and I wear it often as well.

Here is my "semi-statement" necklace, bringing color into a basic outfit:

While I do wear color often, I also love good neutrals but want to jazz them up a bit. Below are some "statement pieces" that I would love to have in my closet:

Leopard flats: Kohl's $14.97

Leopard sandal: Payless $19.99

Black collar necklace: Christopher and Banks $28.50

Green ring: Mango $11.99

Bamboleo Necklace: Stella and Dot $228.00

Ok, ok that last necklace is way way way over my price limit but it's always nice to have dreams in life.

Gauguin Strands: Bauble Bar $82.00

There are hundreds of other pieces I could include, but I will stop myself here.

Going to see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo tonight and I cannot wait. Kyle and I both read the book (I just started the last one in the series) and we loved it. It is 2 hrs and 40 min and I usually fall asleep in movies but I have a feeling this one will keep me wide awake.

Happy Humpday, readers!

Best Pictures of 2011

I did this same post for my favorite pics of 2010. So, without further adieu, here are my favorite pics from 2011:

January 2011: Sammi helping me celebrate my 28th birthday

February 2011: Old roomies celebrating Elaina's birthday

March 2011: Candid shot of Kyle wearing a tutu at Allison's birthday party

April 2011: All of my girls after Lauren's birthday dinner

May 2011: Lauren and Allison at their triathlon

June 2011: Katie and (not pictured Kristin b/c I didn't get one of us 3 ) came to visit me in Tulsa

July 2011: All the girls at Elaina's going away party

August 2011: Heather and Kyle at a wedding in Edwards, CO

 

September 2011: Jordyn's pure bliss while playing at Lauren's soccer game

October 2011: Allison's self-portrait that I discovered on my camera

November 2011: All the ladies at Joe's awesome retirement party 

December 2011: In Pittsburgh, ready for the rehearsal dinner

A New Year: 2012

Well, here we are 5 days into a new year and everyone is posting blogs, Facebook, tweets and whatnot about what they plan to accomplish in 2012. I have never really been much of one to write down my goals unless my boss asks me to do so before a review. And then those are strictly work-related. Kyle and I took a trip over NYE and I had lots of time to think of the things I wish to improve on, and the things I would like to accomplish.

Here goes:

1. Try a new restaurant every month.
2. Work out at least one day of the weekend and/or get up early for the gym one day a  week.
3. Iron/steam work clothes so I can actually wear that button up that is hanging in the back of my closet.
4. Utilize the dry cleaner more to keep favorite clothes in good condition.
5. Use my new weekly/monthly planner to stay more organized.
6. Stop letting the petty things bother me at work.
7. Buy new running shoes.
8. Use my $100 Southwest voucher before it expires in July.
9. Learn to utilize more clothes in my closet.
10. Relax, and let life happen.
11. Take Sophie for a walk more often.
12. Figure out a breakfast routine for work mornings.
13. Buy a new cell phone.
14. Grocery shop once a week.
15. Pay off my credit card. (Just when I got close, Christmas hit)
16. Rent or to go a movie once a month.
17. Use my crockpot more.
18. Try a cardio class at the gym.
19. Deep clean my house.
20. Hang pictures from Paris that I printed in 2008. Yes, 2008.
21. Learn to play tennis and golf.
22. Replace my windshield.