Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Another poll

I don't know why I love these so much...

50 Things You Possibly Didn’t Know About Me

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now? For some reason, a stack of programs from wedding and funerals. Probably some almost-empty water bottles, too.

2. What’s your favorite curse word? Fuck.

3. Name 3 people who made you smile today? Michael, Buster (well, he's a cat), Donald.

4. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? In power yoga class.

5. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Eating a late dinner of leftovers, watching King of the Hill.

6. What will you be doing 3 hours from now? Sleeping I hope!

7. Have you ever been to a strip club? No.

8. What is the last thing you said aloud? "I'm not far behind you!" (in response to Michael going to bed.)

9. What is the best ice cream flavor? Phish Food.

10. What was the last thing you had to drink? Bud Light.

11. What are you wearing right now? Blue and white pajamas.

12. What was the last thing you ate? Triscuits and roasted garlic hummus.

13. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? Yes, a cute green peacoat and I also put some more stuff on hold. One of the dangers of my job, I'm constantly shopping.

14. When was the last time you ran? Saturday.

15. What’s the last sporting event you watched? I have absolutely no idea

16. Who is the last person you emailed? My friend about dinner tomorrow night.

17. Ever go camping? Yes

18. Do you have a tan? Nope, fishbelly white here.

19. Do you drink your soda from a straw? I don't drink soda, but I do like straws.

20 What did your last IM say? Don't have IM.

21. Are you someone’s best friend? Yes

23. Where is your mom right now? In Colorado at a spa...lucky.

24. Look to your left, what do you see? Side table with TV speaker, candles and lamp.

25. What color is your watch? The band is black faux leather.

26. What do you think of when you think of Australia? "He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich."

27. Would you consider plastic surgery? If someone else will pay for it!

28. What is your birthstone? Aquamarine

29. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive-thru? Inside, it's usually faster.

30. How many kids do you want? 0

31. Do you have a dog? not yet

32. Last person you talked to on the phone? Michael

33. Have you met anyone famous? yes

34. Any plans today? Today is almost over! How about... go to bed!

35. How many states have you lived in? 1

36. Ever go to college? Yes

37. Where are you right now? In an armchair in my living room.

38. Biggest annoyance in your life right now? Work.

39. Last song listened to? Black Hole Sun, I think?

40. Are you allergic to anything? Some plants, not sure which ones. Which doesn't seem to help me avoid them.

41. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? Kenneth Cole sneaker-style flats.

42. Are you jealous of anyone? Yes

43. Is anyone jealous of you? Doubt it!

44. What time is it? 12:51

45. Do any of your friends have children? some of them do. some of them don’t.

46. Do you eat healthy? I try to.

47. What do you usually do during the day? Work, or if I'm off it's usually boring stuff.

48. Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily? Yes.

49. How did you get your scars? One on my knee from falling on the playground in 2nd grade. One on my toe from stepping on a knife (thanks, Michael, the floor is a good place to keep a sharp knife). One on my forehead from chicken pox. That's all I can think of offhand.

50. How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 26.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

You did what?!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie. (Theater project, although I got a call-back audition for a movie once.)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Name That Movie!

Got this from Sarah...

RULES:

pick 10 of your favorite movies
go to IMDB to get a quote from each movie
post the quotes and wait for your friends to respond

1. Smokey, this is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules.

2. You hate people!
But I love gatherings. Isn't it ironic?

3. Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable.

4. Am I supposed to be a man, am I supposed to say, it's OK, I don't mind. I don't mind. Well I mind! I mind big time? And you know what the worst part is? I NEVER LEARNED TO READ.

5. It's giving life that counts. Until you're ready for it, all the rest is just a big fraud. All the crazy haircuts in the world won't keep it turning. Life isn't a love in, it's the dishes and the orthodontist and the shoe repairman and... ground round instead of roast beef. And I'll tell you something else: it isn't going to a bed with a man that proves you're in love with him; it's getting up in the morning and facing the drab, miserable, wonderful everyday world with him that counts.

6. Rob, thank you for that kind introduction. We're no longer called Sonic Death Monkey. We're on the verge of becoming Kathleen Turner Overdrive, but just for tonight, we are Barry Jive and his Uptown Five.

7. I would like to say this. Tardiness is not something you can do on your own. Many, many people contributed to my tardiness. I would like to thank my parents for never giving me a ride to school, the LA city bus driver who took a chance on an unknown kid and last but not least, the wonderful crew from McDonalds who spend hours making those egg McMuffins without which I'd never be tardy.

8. Well-well look. I already told you: I deal with the god damn customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?

9. Uh. I'm sorry. I just hallucinated.

10. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Top Unread Books

These are the top 106 books most often marked as "unread" by LibraryThing’s users. As in, they sit on the shelf to make you look smart or well-rounded. Bold the ones you've read, underline the ones you read for school, italicize the ones you started but didn't finish.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Anna Karenina
Crime and Punishment
Catch-22
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Wuthering Heights
The Silmarillion
Life of Pi
The Name of the Rose
Don Quixote
Moby Dick
Ulysses
Madame Bovary
The Odyssey
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Eyre
A Tale of Two Cities
The Brothers Karamazov
Guns, Germs, and Steel
War and Peace
Vanity Fair *(I'm sad to say I have never tried to read this, even though I was named after the main character.)
The Time Traveler's Wife
The Iliad
Emma
The Blind Assassin
Zatoichi
The Kite Runner
Mrs. Dalloway
Great Expectations
American Gods
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Atlas Shrugged
Reading Lolita in Tehran
Quicksilver Exposition
Wicked
The Canterbury Tales
The Historian
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Love in the Time of Cholera
Brave New World
The Fountainhead
Foucault's Pendulum
Middlemarch
Frankenstein
The Count of Monte Cristo
Dracula
A Clockwork Orange
Anansi Boys
The Once and Future King
The Grapes of Wrath
The Poisonwood Bible
1984
Angels & Demons
The Inferno
The Satanic Verses
Sense and Sensibility
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Mansfield Park
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
To the Lighthouse
Tess of the D’Urbervilles
Oliver Twist
Gulliver's Travels
Les Misérables
The Corrections
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Dune
The Prince
The Sound and the Fury
Angela's Ashes
The God of Small Things
A People’s History of the United States
Cryptonomicon
Neverwhere
A Confederacy of Dunces
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Dubliners
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Beloved
Slaughterhouse-five
The Scarlet Letter
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
The Mists of Avalon
Oryx and Crake
Collapse
Cloud Atlas
The Confusion
Lolita
Persuasion
Northanger Abbey
The Catcher in the Rye
On the Road
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Freakonomics
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
The Aeneid
Watership Down
Gravity's Rainbow
The Hobbit
In Cold Blood
White Teeth
Treasure Island
David Copperfield

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Larry's Big Adventure

Monday night: I got home from work late (almost 1am) and had gotten in a minor traffic accident on the way home. I was freaked out and in a bad mood about having to be back at work at 8am. In addition, our apartment was burning up because the heat was on but it was warm out. Michael had opened the windows and patio to get some breeze going. When I got in bed, I realized I hadn't seen Larry but didn't make much of it.

Tuesday morning: Larry didn't come for breakfast and I got worried. I searched the apartment (it is not unusual for him to get accidentally shut in a closet) but he was nowhere to be found. I got Michael up and we looked outside. I got ready and left for work. When Larry had still not turned up by about noon, I left work. Michael had made up some fliers and talked to our neighbors. I walked the complex with food and catnip. No sign of him.

Wednesday: More searching, more fliers. Still no sign of Larry. Michael and I picked up three new collars and I cried in Wal-Mart because what if we didn't need the third one?

Thursday: I took a quick walk around the back part of the complex, then to the office. The complex employees asked if we had found him yet and told us that the maintenance workers were on the lookout. My mom offered to take me out for the day to cheer me up. We decided to head to the DMA for lunch and the King Tut exhibit. Not long after we entered the exhibit, my mom was digging through her purse and said she couldn't find her wallet. We were retracing our steps as she pulled stuff out of her bag. She looked at her phone and she had a text from Michael: "Tell Becca I found Larry!"
Michael heard meowing and went outside to investigate. Larry was hiding under our downstairs neighbor's grill. Who knows where he had been because he was filthy and scared. Now he is bathed, fed and sleeping in my lap. :)

Note: My mom's wallet turned up in her purse.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Monday, December 1, 2008

Marriage Survey

Stolen from Chris and Kristin!

How long have you been married?
2 years 8 months.

Is this your first marriage?
First and last!

Is it how you imagined it would be?
Pretty much, except we drove around in a van solving mysteries.

What would you change?
I wish we were able to spend more time together.

Are you married to your soulmate?
I don't know about soulmates, but I am definitely married to my best friend.

What do you argue about the most?
Whose turn it is to do the litter box!

What do you see eye to eye on the most?
I agree with Kristin and Todd, that is a pretty deep question!

Where did you meet your spouse?
Long story short...church.

Where was your first date?
We went to see A.I. which was terrible.

Where were you when you became engaged?
Actually, there was no official proposal. We had been talking about getting married for quite a while and one day he emailed me a picture of his grandmother's wedding band and asked if I'd like to go ahead and have it. Romantic, huh?

Did you live together before marriage?
Yes.

What was your wedding song?
Our first dance was to "The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra.

Who was in your wedding party?
Bridesmaids: My sister Tori (MOH), Michael's sister Emily, my good friend Victoria, my good friend Amanda.
Groomsmen: Michael's best friend Judson (BM), his brother David, his brother-in-law Russ, and his good friend Elliot.


Do you get along with the in-laws?
Yes, I love my in-laws!

Whats your view on children?
Still on the fence...leaning towards none right now.

Does your spouse feel the same way?
See above.

Are you a 2 peas in a pod or opposites attract couple?
We are alike in some ways, opposites in others. We're probably more alike than we are opposite though.

Do you go out without your spouse?
Yes, but I prefer for us to be together.

How long are you away from your spouse before you start to miss him/her?
I miss him all the time!

Have you ever compared your spouse to someone you have dated in the past?
Not really.

Do you trust your Spouse?
Yes.

Does your Spouse trust you?
I hope so!

How well does your spouse know your favorites?
I think he knows them pretty well.

Do you get along with your spouses friends?
Yes.

Does your spouse get along with your friends?
Yes, mostly.

Did you go on a honeymoon?
Yes, we took a belated honeymoon to Las Vegas after we'd been married about 3 months.

Do you watch the same TV shows?
Mostly, like the Simpsons and Family Guy.

Can you agree on Pizza toppings?
Sort of, I prefer veggies and I think he usually likes plain cheese.

Who takes out the trash?
Him more than me.

Who does laundry??
We do our own laundry.

Who cooks dinner?
Me, or we fend for ourselves. (We aren't usually home to eat at the same time.)

Do you have any traditions?
Not of our own.

Do you know your spouses passwords/pins?
Some of them.

Does your spouse know your social security number?
Probably not memorized.

Do you ever nag your spouse?
Um, he would tell you yes. I would say no. :)

Do you admit wrong doing?
Yes, if I'm in the wrong.

Does your spouse?
Yes, if he's in the wrong.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day!
We had a great day visiting with friends and family. We started off the day by sleeping in (always a treat!), then made our way to the Bakers' house to visit. Then we headed off to Blair and Amy's house, where they were hosting Thanksgiving dinner for my family (the Sharpes) and Blair's family (the Brennans). The Sharpes and Brennans go way back, the kids grew up together and we used to meet up in Austin for Thanksgiving every year until the Brennans moved to Virginia. Now they are back in Texas so we started up the tradition again. We had some new additions this year, Blair and I have both gotten married since we last had Thanksgiving together; Amy's best friend Travis also joined us; and my grandfather Faulk drove up from Jacksonville. Jennye and Chad are amazing cooks, we left stuffed!
Here are some pictures:
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Have you heard about the bird?

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

And of course the best part about Thanksgiving is the food! This year I made sweet potato casserole as well as spinach artichoke dip. (However, the spinach artichoke dip was so delicious it didn't quite make it to Thanksgiving dinner.) I also made a chocolate pecan pie; Monika (of sushiandchocolate.com) gave me the recipe a few years ago and it has become a favorite.

I am so thankful for our wonderful family and friends!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Language dreams

My French professor told us one time that you know you are fluent in a language when you dream in it. So what does it mean when I dreamed that I was fluent in Spanish? I carried on a whole conversation with someone in my dream, with only occasionally getting lost for words and having to use English to explain what I needed to say.

I have been around Spanish a lot, but I took French in high school and Italian in college. I even tried to recite a series of numbers to one of our Spanish-speaking janitors at work the other day and she just kind of laughed at me.

Oddly enough, this made me remember when I was in Italy with my class (at the Vatican in fact) and a British nun/nurse thought I spoke Italian fluently and kept insisting that I translate for an Italian man suffering stomach pains. I kept trying to tell her that my Italian was limited to my phrase book, but she just didn't believe me.

Stuff White People Like

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Crazy Eights

Stolen from Kristin!

8 TV Shows I Love to Watch:

1. Top Chef
2. Project Runway
3. America's Next Top Model
4. The Simpsons
5. King of the Hill
6. Family Guy
7. Futurama
8. Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List

8 Favorite Restaraunts:

1. PF Chang's
2. Fernando's
3. Chili's
4. Shady Grove (Austin)
5. Maggiano's
6. uhh
7. We rarely eat out
8. So I really don't know.

8 Things that Happened Today:

1. I woke up at 3am because my alarm went off (whoops).
2. I got up earlier than I thought I would (8am).
3. I worked out at the Y.
4. I went to the grocery store.
5. Our friend Elliot came over so Michael could help him with his computer.
6. I took a nap with Buster.
7. I talked to my mom on the phone.
8. I made feta stuffed chicken, roasted garlic pasta and sauteed veggies for dinner.

8 Things I Look Forward To:

1. Thanksgiving here in town with good family friends.
2. This weekend, I am off work and plan on not doing much of anything.
3. Finishing the book I'm currently reading (The Joy Luck Club) and starting something new.
4. Decorating the apartment for Christmas.
5. Seeing my grandad when he comes up Thanksgiving weekend.
6. Holiday shopping.
7. Making tacos this weekend (ah, the little pleasures in life).
8. Christmas brunch.

8 Things on My Wishlist:

1. Bicycle
2. A house with a real-sized kitchen
3. New shoes for work
4. New clothing
5. Enough rest and relaxation over the holidays
6. A pedicure
7. A personal trainer
8. Clean & organized house

Consider yourself tagged!

Quick update

Sorry we haven't posted in a while but there is not a whole lot going on at the Baker household. Michael is still plugging away at school and I am already in my crazy time at work, which means long days and lots of them.

I have only been able to make it to boot camp once since the beginning of October, unfortunately. With me being sick, then my surgery and my crazy work schedule I just haven't been able to fit it in. I will try to go as much as I can over the holidays, but I also bought some new running shoes and have been running in the neighborhood as often as I can. I always feel guilty when I skimp on my workouts, but the truth is that all the running around I do at work probably makes up for it!

In other news, the holidays are just around the corner! I am already starting to think about gifts, music and we are making our plans with the families. We are staying in Dallas for Thanksgiving, probably eating with my parents and good family friends. Amy and Blair, who just got married last month, are hosting at their home. We will also plan on stopping by Michael's family's house because most of his extended family will be in town. And of course, we are already looking forward to Christmas brunch at the Four Seasons!

I hope everyone is well and is enjoying the beautiful weather! It's a great time to be outside.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Mama June

In Loving Memory
Peggy June Landrum
6/4/1937 -10/28/2008

Mrs. Landrum passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2008 in Jacksonville.

She was born June 4, 1937 in Quitman, TX. to Arthur Adkins King and Lila May Gilbreath King.

Mrs. Landrum was a member of First United Methodist Church, Jacksonville where she attended Seeker’s Sunday School and United Methodist Women, where she was a former president, directed Methodist children’s camps and worked with MYF. She and her husband were foster parents to more than ten children, hosted many foreign and exchange students in their home, and was one of the founding members of the Women’s Crisis Center in Jacksonville.

She is preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Lila King and her sister Joy Hinton.

Survivors include husband Rev. Dr. Faulk Landrum of Jacksonville; daughter Beverly Landrum Sharpe and husband Michael of Dallas; sons David Arthur Landrum and wife Quigley of Portland, OR. and Daniel Faulk Landrum of Chappell Hill, TX.; brother Dr. Joe Mac King and wife Louise of Dallas; and 2 granddaughters Lila Rebecca Baker and husband Michael of Dallas and Mary Victoria Sharpe of Austin.

Pallbearers will be Rev. Jack Albright, Rev. Fred Lang, Rev. Jimmie Reese, Rev. Tom Holcomb, Rev. Don Post, Bob Buckingham, Jimmy Going and Casey Beach.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 30, 2008 at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.

Friday, October 17, 2008

I survived!

The surgery went quickly, even more quickly than originally planned. The anesthesia wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, I felt like I had just closed my eyes for a few seconds.
My cheeks are swollen and it definitely hurts to chew, but I should be feeling better by the time I go back to work on Monday. I think it actually worked out better to reschedule the surgery, since I have an extra couple of days off this way.
I have already read a stack of magazines, finished The Other Boleyn Girl (great book!), started Blink (by the same author of The Tipping Point) and watched The Pursuit of Happyness. I also started the movie version of The Other Boleyn Girl but it seems to deviate a lot from the book so I'm having a hard time getting into it.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Not in the plan...

When my dentist told me I would have to get my wisdom teeth removed, I went into planning mode. I set the surgery date several weeks out (Wed. Oct 8) and made the necessary arrangements to take off of work. I filled the DVR with movies and had a stack of magazines and a book at the ready. I made sure to go to the store and get plenty of soup and ice cream. Michael and my mom were both on alert in case I needed anything.
What did I not plan for? Waking up Tuesday morning with a stuffed up head, then waking up Wednesday morning running a fever. Of course, the surgeon's office said I could not go under as sick as I was.
Well, at least I will be comfortable and not have to worry about work while I am recovering!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Great weekend!

We went to a fabulous wedding this past weekend. Our friends Will and Courtney got married in Ft. Worth at the Beth El Congregation and had an amazing reception afterwards at the Modern Art Museum. You know it's a good party when 1) you get to drink champagne in the temple before the service and 2) the reception venue runs out of Blue Moon. No joke, I snagged the last two.
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Landes!

Gorgeous flowers; the color scheme was purple.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

See, we can clean up pretty nice!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Sadly, I didn't get many pictures of the bride and groom together. Here they are cutting the cake.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind...
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Mom *loved* the tiny milkshake bar.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

I love this picture of Courtney, looking "smoking hot" in her Oscar gown!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

2008 Edition of Me

Stolen from Jessica. :)
1. What time did you get up this morning? Around 7am
2. Diamonds or pearls? I like both, but with any jewelry the simpler the better!
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Either Sex and the City or Get Smart.
4. What is your favorite TV show? Of all time? Probably the Simpsons. Right now? Project Runway.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Coffee, more coffee, and either cereal or a granola bar (Kashi or Odwalla).
6. What is your middle name? Rebecca :)
7. What food do you dislike? Mayo...bleh!
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? I can't remember the last CD I listened to, I really only listen to my Zune or the radio!
9. What kind of car do you drive? Mustang.
10. Favorite sandwich? Toasted turkey and cheese.
11. What characteristic do you despise? Laziness.
12. Favorite item of clothing? Blue jeans.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? France.
14. Are you an organized person? In my own way. :)
15. What was one of your most memorable birthdays? My 18th stands out.
16. What are you going to do when you finish this? Go to bed!
17. Furthest place you are sending this? What?
18. Person you expect to send it back first. Tag, you're it! :)
19. When is your birthday? March 27
20. Morning person or a night person? Night WITHOUT a doubt! (It's 1am as I'm typing this!)
21. What is your shoe size? 6
22. Pets? Three sweet kitties.
23. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Not unless you count that I'm having surgery to remove my wisdom teeth in a couple weeks. Yuck.
24. What did you want to be when you were little? Artist
25. How are you today? A little down...
26. What is your favorite flower? Hydrangea or roses.
27. What are you listening to right now? The tv (Family Guy specifically)
28. What was the last thing you ate? Leftover spinach and tomato pizza. Yum!
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? 10/4 - We're going to a wedding in Ft. Worth and we are making a weekend out of it and staying in a hotel.
30. Do you wish on stars? Nope
31. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Blue
32. How is the weather right now? Dark...
33. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Michael
34. Favorite soft drink? I don't drink soft drinks...does iced tea count?
35. Favorite restaurant? Depends on my mood...
36. Hair color? Blonde
37. What was your favorite toy as a child? DOLLS! I loved My Little Pony.
38. Summer or Winter? Summer
39. Chocolate or Vanilla? Swirl!
40. Coffee or tea? Coffee
41. Do you want your friends to email you back? Why not?
42. When was the last time you cried? A couple days ago.
43. What is under your bed? The shotgun.
44. What did you do last night? Made dinner, read, watched TV.
45. What are you afraid of? Losing someone I love.
46. Salty or sweet? Depends on my mood...
47. How many keys on your key ring? Four: car, apartment, mail box, parents' house. Now my work keychain is a while other story, I feel like an old-timey prison warden with that thing.
48. How many years at your current job? 2.5
49. Favorite day of the week? Wednesday
50. Do you make friends easily? Not really.
51. How many people will you send this to? However many people read my blog! So...two.
52. How many will respond? Who knows.
53. Who do you miss? My wookie!
54. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? I do!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Happy birthday, Treyson!

Phil and Erika's son turned two this weekend. Here are some pics from the party at his grandad's house. Michael had to work so I was the designated picture-taker.

The birthday boy with his dad.



With Uncle Elliot.



Treyson loves the turtle.







Prost!






Some pictures from Addison Oktoberfest. We had a blast with Charles and Judson!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

The Vegetarian's Hundred

A few friends have The Omnivore's Hundred listed on their blogs. I tried to do one of my own, but because I don't eat beef or pork it was a little difficult. So even though I'm not a full-on vegetarian, I completed the Vegetarian's Hundred.
If it's in bold, I've eaten it.

1. Real macaroni and cheese, made from scratch and baked
2. Tabouleh
3. Freshly baked bread, straight from the oven (preferably with homemade strawberry jam)
4. Fresh figs
5. Fresh pomegranate
6. Indian dal of any sort
7. Imam bayildi
8. Pressed spiced Chinese tofu
9. Freshly made hummus
10. Tahini
11. Kimchi
12. Miso
13. Falafel
14. Potato and pea filled samosas
15. Homemade yogurt
16. Muhammara
17. Brie en croute
18. Spanikopita
19. Fresh, vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes
20. Insalata caprese
21. Stir-fried greens (gai lan, bok choi, pea shoots, kale, chard or collards)
22. Freshly made salsa
23. Freshly made guacamole
24. Creme brulee
25. Fava beans
26. Chinese cold sesame peanut noodles
27. Fattoush
28. New potatoes
29. Coleslaw
30. Ratatouille
31. Baba ganoush
32. Winter squash
33. Roasted beets
34. Baked sweet potatoes
35. Plantains
36. Chocolate truffles
37. Garlic mashed potatoes
38. Fresh water chestnuts
39. Steel cut oats
40. Quinoa
41. Grilled portabello mushrooms
42. Chipotle en adobo
43. Stone ground whole grain cornmeal
44. Freshly made corn or wheat tortillas
45. Frittata
46. Basil pesto
47. Roasted garlic
48. Raita of any type
49. Mango lassi
50. Jasmine rice (white or brown)
51. Thai vegetarian coconut milk curry
52. Pumpkin in any form other than pie
53. Fresh apple pear or plum gallette
54. Quince in any form
55. Escarole, endive or arugula
56. Sprouts other than mung bean
57. Naturally brewed soy sauce
58. Dried shiitake mushrooms
59. Unusually colored vegetables (purple cauliflower, blue potatoes, chocolate bell peppers…)
60. Fresh peach ice cream
61. Chevre
62. Medjool dates
63. Kheer
64. Flourless chocolate cake
65. Grilled corn on the cob
66. Black bean (or any other bean) vegetarian chili
67. Tempeh
68. Seitan or wheat gluten
69. Gorgonzola or any other blue veined cheese
70. Sweet potato fries
71. Homemade au gratin potatoes
72. Cream of asparagus soup
73. Artichoke-Parmesan dip
74. Mushroom risotto
75. Fermented black beans
76. Garlic scapes
77. Fresh new baby peas
78. Kalamata olives
79. Preserved lemons
80. Fried green tomatoes
81. Chinese scallion pancakes
82. Cheese souffle
83. Fried apples
84. Homemade frijoles refritos
85. Pasta fagiole
86. Macadamia nuts in any form
87. Paw paw in any form
88. Grilled cheese sandwich of any kind
89. Paneer cheese
90. Ma Po Tofu (vegetarian style–no pork!)
91. Fresh pasta in any form
92. Grilled leeks, scallions or ramps
93. Green papaya salad
94. Baked grain and vegetable stuffed tomatoes
95. Pickled ginger
96. Methi greens
97. Aloo paratha
98. Kedgeree (the original Indian version without the smoked fish, not the British version with fish)
99. Okra
100. Roasted brussels sprouts

Have and Have Not

Taken from Heather!

Bold = I’ve done it

Regular = I haven’t done it

Strikethrough = I won’t do it

Italics = I would love to do it

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103 Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Prepared a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz and polka.
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter (???)

Tag, you’re it!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Tag, you're it!

Stolen from Meg!

What bill do you hate paying the most?
My car payment...too freaking much money!


Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
A what? I'm trying to remember the last time we ate dinner together period. :)

If you could go back and change one thing what would it be?
I wouldn't have dropped out of rush in college, I think I could have made some good friends that way.

Name of your first grade teacher?

Mrs. Seymour

What do you really want to be doing right now?
Watching the Project Runway episodes Michael just downloaded for me. Nothing's stopping me, I guess!


What did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist. I also went through a phase where I wanted to be a waitress, wtf?


How many colleges did you attend?
1. UT Austin (fresh and soph years)
2. UT Dallas (got my degree)
3. Brookhaven (just a mini-mester)


Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
Because it goes with my new workout pants!

What are your thoughts on gas prices?
I wish I didn't have to commute so far to work! And I wish Dallas had a better public transportation system.

First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Didn't set my alarm, but I was glad to see that I was awake in enough time to drink some coffee before boot camp.

Last thought before going to sleep last night?
My head hurts.

Do you miss being a child?
Not really.

What errand/chore do you despise?
Cleaning the bathroom.

Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in!!!


What is your favorite cartoon character?
Hello Kitty

Favorite thing to do at night with a girl/guy?
Cook dinner, hang out and drink beers.

Have you found real love yet?
absolutely

When did you first start feeling old?
When I didn't get carded buying beer.

Favorite lunch meat?
Turkey

What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
Rarely go to Wal-Mart, but when I do I usually buy facewash since that seems to be the only place I can find the kind I like.


beach or lake?
Either one!

Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
Of course not

Do you own property?
No. :(


Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
Grandma's Boy. Seriously, that movie is a riot.

What's your drink?
Beer! Budweiser especially.

Cowboys or Indians?
COWBOYS

Cops or Robbers?
cops

Who from high school would you like to run in to?
Haha, very few people.

Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
Don't watch either.

Grey's or 'The Office?
Don't watch either.

Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
I don't think I've made too many mistakes.

Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work
Yes, she's fine. Even though we are very rarely at our desks at the same time.

Indoors or Outdoors?
I love being outside.

Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
No (knock on wood).

Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?
no

Last book you read?
Last book I finished was Deception Point by Dan Brown. Currently reading Best American Mystery Stories.

Do you have a teddy bear?
No.

Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
In a desert with no running water.

Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
San Francisco.

Do you go to church?
Not often.

At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
Career

How old are you?
25

Did you buy your tickets?

To the gun show?!
Well, I stuck with boot camp all summer and today I could really tell the difference. I was paired up with two new bootcampers during one exercise and they both commented that they thought I was very strong!
My original goal was to just do boot camp through the summer and I was able to do that and only missed a few classes. I am definitely going to continue through the fall and possibly train with some others to do the Turkey Trot. (That's a big maybe, as we all know running is not my forte!)
Sorry for the lack of blog updates, my work schedule has been wacky with the back-to-school craziness but it is now somewhat back to normal. Michael started classes last week and is already in the swing of work and school. Not much else exciting is happening around here.
Well, I'm off to find a needle and thread...because I'm ripped!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

The end of an era...

Sorry it's been a while since I updated! Sadly, I think I'm spending more time at work than at home.

There has been a rash of unsettling news from my old stomping grounds. Cremona Bistro was a favorite hangout for my group of friends, and not just because of all the wine and bellinis consumed there. The owners and staff were so friendly and the food was delicious. So you can imagine how sad I was to see that the loveley restaurant had been destroyed by a fire.

Here's another sad tale. Ball's Hamburgers in Snider Plaza has been an institution for over 20 years and it is now being replaced by a Dunkin' Donuts.

Don't get me wrong, I love Dunkin' Donuts, especially their coffee. But I have too many memories of eating at Ball's post-soccer game and feeding quarters into the pinball machine. Besides, Mustang Donuts is just down the street! The good news is that Ball's will be reopening just up the road.

Next, I received an email from my good friend Victoria (currently serving our country in Iraq) that another one of our hangouts was closing its doors. Metro Diner in Preston Center was one of the best places for a greasy breakfast and good conversation.

The saddest part of this is that three of us girls are trying to get together for one last breakfast at Metro before they close their doors on the 23rd. But because of our busy schedules, we may not be able to fit it in. Life goes on, but I will always have special memories of each of these places. More importantly, I have memories of the people who were there with me. I love you, girls!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

The nightmares are starting...

And I'm not even the one going back to school!
Michael is officially enrolled at Brookhaven, he starts classes on August 25. Yay for Michael going back to school, I am so proud of him.
I guess the combination of thinking about school and the end of my relaxing vacation made my brain start going crazy. I dreamt that I was back in school and could not figure out my schedule! When I was in school, I always kept a copy of my schedule somewhere in my backpack just in case, but I was digging through every notebook and every pocket in my backpack and it was nowhere to be found! I knew I was in the wrong classroom and the professor was talking to me, but all I could do was frantically dig through my stuff trying to figure out where the heck I was supposed to be.
Next thing you know, I'll be in my underwear in front of the class!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Escape from Dallas

My mom and I both had a few days off at the same time and we decided that a trip was in order. We decided to spend one night at a fairly new resort in Lost Pines, TX (near Bastrop). So Sunday morning we hit the road!
Lost Pines Resort
The resort was really nice, it was very family oriented. We took a yoga class, visited the gardens, ate at two of the restaurants and spent lots of time by the pool. We were only able to spend one night, though, because there was a huge corporate group coming in the next day.
Unfortuately, here is when we hit a little hiccup. My mom's car hadn't been running quite right on the drive down and Monday morning it wouldn't start. We ended up having it towed into Bastrop and getting a rental car.
And on we went to the Barton Creek Resort and Spa. It was beautiful and we had a great room with a terrace- what a great view of the hills! Great fitness center and spa, too. One of the best massages I've ever had!
Our original plan was to head out Tuesday morning, but we decided to stay close to Bastrop for one more day to see about the car. So onward we went to the Prime Outlet Mall in San Marcos. I am not normally an outlet mall shopper, but this shopping center is worth a trip: Coach, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn just to name a few of the stores.
Then it was on to Gruene and of course, our first stop was the Grist Mill. What trip to Gruene would be complete without a beer next to Gruene Hall followed by the Grist Mill's famous round cut fries? Okay, so I behaved and got a grilled chicken salad, no fries. We spent the night at the Gruene Apple Bed and Breakfast. What a nice B&B, there was a delicious breakfast, library, player piano and even a game room with Pac Man. The rooms have themes, we stayed in the Vineyard room. Of course, my favorite part were the two cats that live there. One named Sam was especially friendly.
Well, it's back to reality now!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Tag, you're it!

I like these. :)

1. Who was your first prom date?

Stewart Mers

2. Do you still talk to your first love?

I pretty much consider Michael my first real love, so yes.

3. What was your first alcoholic drink?

Probably champagne, I know my parents used to let me have a little glass at weddings.

4. What was your first job?

Contempo Casuals

5. What was your first car?

The first car that was all mine was/is my Mustang.

6. Who was the first person to text you today?

Nobody, I don't really text.

7. Who is the first person you thought of this morning?

Michael, or the insurance guy who's supposed to be coming to look at my car this morning. (My car got vandalized last week.)

8. Who was your first grade teacher?

Mrs. Seymour

9. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?

I know my mom said she took me on a trip in a plane when I was a toddler, I think we were going to visit family in New Mexico but I'm not sure.

10. Who was your first best friend, and are you still friends with him/her?

Probably Rebecca Mason, yes we still keep in touch.

11. What was your first sport played?

Soccer, but I was never any good at it!

12. Where was your first sleepover?

My classmate Amanda's house.

13. Who was the first person you talked to today?

Michael

14. Whose wedding were you in the first time?

Cousin Jill's, I was a flower girl.

15. What was the first thing you did this morning?

Hit snooze, petted Buster.

16. What was the first concert you ever went to?

Garth Brooks

17. What was your first tattoo or piercing?

Ears pierced when I was 8 (I think?), first tattoo at 18.

18. What was the first foreign country you went to?

Mexico in high school with my church group.

19. What was your first run-in with the law?

Speeding ticket in high school. I was late for my after school job.

20. When was your first detention?

My first and only was in the seventh grade for being tardy to math class.

21. What was the first state you lived in?

Texas - first, only

22. Who was the first person to break your heart?

Not sure.

23. Who was your first roommate?

Kari freshman year of college.

24. Where did you go on your first limo ride?

I honestly don't remember.

Now You're It. Go.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Yummy (and easy!) chicken recipe

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com a couple weeks ago while searching for something easy to make for dinner. It turned out really good, so I decided to make it again. But this time I got a little more creative with it.
I've been growing basil and rosemary on our little patio, so I added both of those, then topped with the tomato slices. When the chicken was about 15 minutes from being done, I added some mozzarella to the top.
Mmm, it turned out delicious! Kind of like a caprese salad on top of chicken. Caprese chicken, perhaps?

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

My apologies in advance

If you run into me today, you will be blinded by my pasty white legs. But it is too darn hot to wear jeans, so I brought out my cute khaki skirt to wear while running errands. Fish-belly whiteness aside, my legs are getting into pretty good shape so it's not all bad.

Speaking of which, a quick boot camp update. Today was an odd boot camp day. Normally there are around 8-10 boot campers, but today it was just me, one new lady and the instructor! I guess everyone is on vacation! It was actually kind of nice, it felt like we had a personal trainer. I found out today that I have been doing pushups wrong. Well, not wrong, but I do them to where my hands are just under my shoulders which apparently only works your triceps. Once the instructor showed me how wide to put my hands apart, I felt a huge difference in my shoulders and chest. (Of course, the good news is that my triceps are very strong!)

So as we're going the new lady was keeping up really well, you could tell she was in good shape. I still felt good because we were about on the same level, as opposed to me being way behind everyone else. Then about halfway through class she told the instructor she'd had major surgery just a couple of weeks ago...to remove cancer. So yeah, I'm still the most out of shape person in the class. But Sarah was really an inspiration, she could have taken the opportunity to be as lazy as she felt like but she was very determined to get back into top shape. Way to go, Sarah!

Summer movie review time! We went to the Studio Movie Grill to see Get Smart and it was hilarious! I used to love the original TV show when I was a kid and they did a great job of updating it. The food at the SMG was good, too, and thumbs up for getting to drink at the movies!
Next up on our summer to-see list: The Dark Knight! Can't wait!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Another meme...

Stolen from Heather (aka the Lazy Wife).

What was I doing ten years ago?

It was the summer between my freshman and sophomore year in high school. I remember doing lots of stuff with my church that summer: choir tour, mission trip, etc. Lots of time with my BFF's at that time.

What are five (non-work) things on my to-do list for today?

1. Boot-camp (check!)

2. Shower (check!)

3. Buy new day planner

4. Put away clean laundry

5. Finish my book

Five snacks I enjoy:

1. Microwave popcorn (light butter)

2. Triscuits and hummus

3. Popsicles

4. Odwalla bars, especially the chewy peanut ones

5. Pretzels

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

1. Pay off debt

2. Buy a house

3. Travel a LOT

4. Give a lot to charities

5. Quit my job

Places I’ve lived:

1. East Dallas, TX

2. Austin, TX

3. North Dallas, TX

4. Highland Park, TX

5. Umm, that's all

Jobs I’ve had:

1. Sales manager for JC Penney

2. Sales associate at Neiman Marcus

3. Sales associate/assistant manager at jewelry boutique

4. Sales associate at Express

5. Cashier/server at Mexican food restaurant

If you're reading this, consider yourself tagged!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Music Meme

You’ve been tagged.

List the seven songs that you most closely tie to a specific memory. These songs do not have to represent your happiest memories, good memories, or even strongest memories…

The connection between the memory and the song is what you should use to determine what fits the list.

These songs, when you hear them, ABSOLUTELY force you to recall a specific person, time, or event.

GO!

_______

1. Take a Picture- Filter

2. Rehab- Amy Winehouse

3. The Warmth- Incubus

4. Hey Ya- Outkast

5. Three Libras- A Perfect Circle

6. Lose My Breath- Destiny's Child

7. Hands Clean- Alanis Morisette

___________________

Now tag 7 friends to carry the torch:

1. Heather
2. Penny
3. Chris
4. Kristen
5. Meg
6. Michael
7. Candice

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

A swift kick...

So in the last year or so I've gotten a little lazy with my workouts. I've always been pretty active, on the swim team in high school and a regular at the YMCA over the years. My years without a car gave me ample opportunity to work my legs and working in retail has kept me moving pretty constantly. But lately work and my commute have left me drained, with not much extra energy.
So I decided to check out a boot camp class at the Y. When I showed up, it was all soccer moms and they assured me it wasn't too hard. Since I was the only newbie, the instructor asked me if I like to run. In my head, I thought, "I hate it" but out loud I said, "It's fine."
"Good, as long as you don't hate it, you'll be fine!"
Dammit.
Sure enough, on our "warm-up" run I was gasping for air as the other participants breezily chatted about what their kids were doing for the summer. The instructor tried to stay with me and chit-chat but I couldn't even speak.
Then it was on to calesthenics: lunges, squat thrusts, tricep dips and some other stuff, I think I blacked out. I had to take more breaks than the others, but I stuck it out until the end! The class was definitely a wake-up call, my butt needs to get back in shape. So my goal is to go to the class every week (assuming Wednesdays continue to be my day off, which I don't forsee changing anytime soon), at least for the summer.
Wish me luck!
As my reward for sticking through the class, I took myself to see the Sex and the City movie. It was great!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

If you can't take the heat...

...get out of Texas!
It is extremely hot out, in case none of you have noticed. This morning I slept later than I'd planned and didn't get out of the house for my run until almost noon. Big mistake! I didn't make it too far before I had to turn around and come back home. I know some people say that women don't sweat, they glow, but I was glowing like a horse! Then I needed to get out and pick up some supplies for my patio garden, but I think I will have to wait until the sun goes down to get everything planted.
I can't complain too much, though. My good friend Victoria is serving our country in Iraq right now. I got an email from her a couple weeks ago, she reported that the daily high is 120 degrees! Poor thing.
Well, I'm cooling off with Popsicles and a new copy of Cooking Light. Stay cool this summer!

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Knife Skills

My mom and I took a class at Central Market where we learned basic knife skills. We had a lot of fun at the class, it was hands-on and thankfully nobody lost a finger. We learned the proper way to hold a knife, different cuts and all of our hard work went into a delicious dinner.
I know you all know that Michael and I are really into Top Chef-- we never miss an episode! Tre, a cheftestant from season 3 and a Dallas native, is teaching a few classes this summer. I do have a bit of a crush on him and I'm thinking about signing up for one of his classes. To learn some recipes, of course. ;)
Mmm...yummy.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Monday, May 26, 2008

Poll: Join in the fun!

All the Cool kids are doing it. ;)

Accent: I like to think I don't have one but I'm sure people can tell I'm from Texas.

Book that I like: Just one?! About a Boy by Nick Hornby comes to mind since the movie was just on TV.

Chore I don’t care for: cleaning the bathroom.

Dog or Cat: We are the crazy cat people, we're up to three of the little beasts.

Essential Electronics: laptop, Zune

Favorite Cologne: Don't like cologne or perfume, it gives me headaches

Gold or Silver: Silver

Handbag I carry most often: I have been carrying a pretty basic black leather bag. I got it on clearance at JCP, duh.

Insomnia: It's 2am as I type this.

Job Title: Sales and Merchandising Manager

Kids: Just the furry ones who eat off the floor.

Living Arrangements: 2/2 apartment

Most Admirable Trait: I'm a hard worker and loyal friend

Naughtiest Childhood Behavior: Torturing my sister

Overnight hospital stays: None so far (knock on wood)

Phobias: Chalk

Quote: “I've learned that life is one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead.”

Religion: Methodist

Siblings: 1 sister

Time I wake up: Depends on the day, but always earlier than I want to.

Unusual Talent or Skill: Nothing unusual

Vegetable I Refuse to Eat: I think I like all vegetables

Worst Habit: Setting my expectations too high

X-rays: Never (again, knock on wood)

Yummy Stuff: Cheese, chocolate

Zoo Animal I Like Most: Giraffe

Monday, May 19, 2008

Happy Feet!

After a rough week at work and the dread of a rougher week ahead, I decided to take full advantage of my weekend off. Sunday I treated myself to a girly day out. Some girlfriends and I went out to lunch at Cafe Express (www.cafe-express.com) and then pedicures at the Zen Salon (www.zensalons.com). I haven't had a pedicure in several months and I had such a great experience at Zen. It was so relaxing, the techs give you heat wraps for your neck/shoulders and you get a hand massage while your toes dry. I will definitely go back for another pedicure and possibly a massage. I also noticed that they do acupuncture and cupping, both of which I have thought about trying for my sinus and migraine problems.
Well, back to the grind today!

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Plan B...

Tonight we were supposed to go to an event at the Dallas Museum of Art with my UTD Alumni group. (I decided I need to be more active, it is a good networking source.) However, parking was more of a nightmare than usual downtown. We spent way too much time driving around trying to decide where to park because the garage was full. We finally decided to just abandon the DMA and go out to eat.
The weather is beautiful right now! Today was in the 80's and sunny. So we decided a meal on a patio was in order. So we decided on a Dallas institution, Ozona Grill and Bar (www.ozonagrill.com). Neither of us had been in a few years and the outdoor area has been remodeled and is much bigger than before. We enjoyed some beer (Widmer for Michael, Blue Moon for me) and people watched. I ordered the Turkey Wrap (which was great) and Michael got a double cheeseburger (which was huge!). It was pretty crowded, Thursday nights are a popular night to go out on Greenville.

Happy early Mothers' Day to all you moms!

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Girls' Night Out!

A bunch of my married friends and I left the husbands and kids at home and threw ourselves a "second chance bachelorette party." Thanks to Jess and Keeli for putting all of this together!
We had dinner at Victory Tavern downtown. (www.victorytavern.com) I got the hummus to start and ordered the chicken chop for my entree- chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and Anaheim chiles with spring vegetables. Everything was good, but several of us commented that we didn't think it was worth the high price. The atmosphere of the restaurant was really cool, very laid back and Victory Park is a newly revitalized area of downtown. However, I found it a little odd that for a Saturday night the place was pretty empty.
After dinner we headed to the Rose Room for the drag show! It was a blast, then we went dancing downstairs at Station 4.
(http://caven.com/rose_roomdallas.htm)

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Poor us :(

It's been a rough week in the Baker household. First I got sick. I thought it was just allergies, because mine usually are pretty bad around this time of year. (I know I shouldn't spend so much time outside, but it's been too darn pretty to stay inside!) But then it got worse, it must have been a bad cold.
This weekend Michael and I were supposed to go out to a ranch party. I ended up deciding to stay home at the last minute because I still wasn't feeling too great. Michael left Saturday afternoon looking forward to shooting skeet and hanging out with the guys.
Early Sunday morning Michael called saying he wasn't feeling well, he'd been up all night throwing up and was having bad stomach cramps. Elliot drove him home and I took him to the hospital to get him checked out. Luckily, it wasn't anything serious, the doctor said it was probably a virus and then he just got really dehydrated. He got some IV fluids, anti-nausea medicine and a little morphine. He felt *much* better after that.
Well, we are going to rest up!
Happy early birthday to Michael, his 27th is this Thursday!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Photo meme

Rules:
1. Go to photobucket.com
2. Type in your answer for each question into the Photobucket search bar.
3. Only use the first two pages. Choose your favorite photo to represent your answer.
4. Copy the html and paste it here.
5. You can only answer in picture form.


What is your name?
rebecca

When is your birthday?
Haha, it's March 27 but some weird pictures popped up when I typed that into the search. This one's my fave. Klassy!
Reception 21

What kind of car do you drive?
mustang

Where did you go to school?
Attending the University of Texas at Dallas

What is your favorite season?
Spring

What is your favorite type of shoe?
No Boundries Metallic Wedge Sandals

What is your status?
Married in 2006

What's your favorite movie?
The Big Lebowski

What's your favorite song?
Having walked quite a bit, it\'s time for the first stop. Put the Hoya IR filter on and take this handheld picture as fast as you can!

(It's "Take a Picture" by Filter)

What's your favorite Disney character?
Sleeping Beauty

What is your favorite vacation destination?
THAT

What is your favorite dessert?
PIECE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE

What is your favorite drink?
Buuuuddddweiser

What are you most afraid of?
death

What's your favorite TV show?
The Simpsons

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Time to celebrate!

Last week was my birthday, I turned the big 2-5! I feel old... :)
My actual birthday was pretty low-key, we did go out to dinner with the parentals (both sets) the day after, which was fun! Since the weather had been nice, I wanted to go to Patrizio to sit on the patio. However, the night we went was cool and drizzly so we ended up cramped inside. Oh well, dinner was great as usual!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

And of course right after my birthday is our anniversary! I can't believe it's been two years already. I couldn't get out of working late that night, but Michael had a gift waiting for me when I got home. Champagne and flowers- what more could a girl want?

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

And just to reminisce:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

P.S: To follow up on my last post, I got the sideswipe as a birthday gift, yay!!!!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

I want!

I am a Baker, after all! I really want this blade for my stand mixer.
www.sideswipeblade.com

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Baby, it's cold outside!

It has actually felt like winter outside lately! DFW even got a little bit of snow this week.
Michael and I decided to go out for some comfort food the other night, and what's more comforting than really good Mexican food? Michael's parents took us to Fernando's a while back and it quickly became a favorite for us.

www.fernandosmexicancuisine.com


We started with margaritas and chips with a variety of salsas. I got the Mario platter with spinach and chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce-- yum!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Holy Cow!

I can't believe it's been October since I've posted!
Well, our holidays are never terribly exciting, working in retail I spend most of the Christmas season at work! We did get together with family on Christmas Day for brunch at the Four Seasons. Here is a picture of us with Michael's sister Emily and her husband Russ.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Brunch at the Four Seasons has become a holiday tradition for both of our families. I believe it was started by Michael's grandparents (Paul and Mary) but was continued by Michael's parents. They invited my family along and my family never misses out on a chance to eat a fancy meal at a fancy hotel! Last year my mom and I were terribly sick and didn't really get to enjoy it. This year we more than made up for not enjoying last year!
We also had a book exchange at Paul and Mary's home. What a great idea for a Christmas gift exchange! I got The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge. I love anything related to brain science and this book is extremely interesting. The human brain is an amazing thing. :)
In other news, my grandmother spent Christmas in the hospital, she was in the hospital for about a month. For those of you who don't know, Martha Ann is battling cancer for the second time and is not reacting too well to the chemotherapy. But thankfully she is back at home and feeling better.
In pampering news, my mom and I visited the Bliss spa at the W hotel in downtown Dallas as part of my Christmas gift. What a great experience, I will definitely be back!
And my very favorite gift...
An 80GB Zune! I'm beyond obsessed!