Double Dose Whipper Snapper

I'm in trouble now that there is a Hey Cupcake just down the street from where I live. Now how about setting up a Mighty Cone next door?

Friendship, Friendship, Just A Perfect Blendship

The past few weekends have been jam packed with get-togethers and dinners and barbecues. I absolutely love it, but the weekend just seems to fly by now. Patrick said, "Well, you said you wanted friends!"

When I moved back to Austin about a year after graduating from UT, I felt pretty isolated and lonely. The majority of my friends had left town to take jobs elsewhere and I hadn't yet found a niche here. I occasionally would hang out with people from the organization store I worked at but nothing really stuck, even though I still keep in touch with one of them. I started my current job, then Patrick and I started planning our wedding which took us on the road a lot, since the wedding was in Arlington. I liked a couple of the girls I worked with, but since Pat and I were out of town so much and I was a bit distracted with invitations, guest lists and flowers, I just didn't put in any real effort to forming new relationships. I mean, how many people were we already inviting to the wedding? We couldn't afford to add any more friends right now!

Well, those two girls at work became two of my really good friends (Hi Brandi and Tracy!) And they introduced us to a lot of their Chemical Engineering Doctorate friends. Think: extremely smart but fun, laid back group who like to play dominos, drink beer/wine and go bowling.

Then, one of our old friends pops back into our lives and moves to Austin with his girlfriend, then fiance, now wife. They introduced us to another couple who we really like and live near us, so another group is formed.

We find a church we absolutely love and start to become involved with a small group. While Patrick gets really busy at work, I'm getting to know a lot of them and growing pretty close to a few of them. I keep telling him I can't wait for him to meet them because I LOVE them. We finally go to lunch with one of the couples and he agrees that they are pretty awesome. We're now very excited to be planning to live in the same apartment complex, just a building or two away from them.

On top of all this, after a lot of prayers and now thanksgivings, Patrick's sister, brother-in-law, and their daughter move back to Austin. And like I've said a million times, so excited to have them here!

So, I guess it's my own fault we're so busy now, I asked for friends and Ask and Ye Shall Receive.
Now, if we can only get Brandi & Chris and Rachael & Hagan to Austin...

Personal Trainer?

I can still hear the voice echoing in my ear from last night: "Up! Down! Up! Down!" After doing a few sets of those in a row I tell her, "Now go find Uncle Patrick!"

So happy to have Laura, Eric & Sophie in Austin!

Today...

• our server and internet were both down for the first 3 hours of work this craptastic morning.
• one of my favorite New Yorkers comes to visit for a few days and I get to see her tonight! Looking forward to dinner and drinks with Em.
  
• and last but not least, Austin's population just got a little higher today, since Patrick's sister, our brother-in-law and their adorable little one are in the midst of moving back to the little blue oasis in Texas.
  

Wearing Uncle Patrick's boots

Re-Visit

Facebook seems to have replaced my blogging. But I miss writing, so I'm going to try to ramp up over here.

In February, we celebrated Patrick's last birthday of his twenties by sending him off with a couple of our guy friends to play some golf while I attended a baby shower. Lots of golf balls were lost and lots of onesies were unwrapped. We then headed down to New Braunfels for dinner at The Gristmill and a Bob Schneider show at the historic Gruene Hall. And as excited as I was to finally get to see a show there, I don't know if I'll ever go back. I guess I'm spoiled by Austin's no smoking laws.

Early in March, after hearing some horribly sad news about a friend, a couple friends and I decided to take a self defense course. I had always wanted to learn how to defend myself in case something should happen, but it wasn't until Sabrina's death that I finally took the step to doing so, she was my catalyst. I still can't imagine what her close friends, family and husband went through and are still dealing with. I didn't take the class just for myself, but also in her honor.

From R.A.D.

Because of some crazy coincedence, we got to spend the last two weekends in March with my sister and her boyfriend Hagan. They came down here for a wedding and then a few days later, we went up to New York to celebrate our niece's 2nd birthday. That's probably the most time I've spent with Rachael since I lived in Arlington! I really enjoyed it and I'm loving that our relationship has grown into friendship instead of just being familial.

We got a behind-the-scenes tour of Food Network courtesy of Rachael, watched our good friend Emily knock a plant over, spied on Guy Fieri preparing for a taping, and ate some of the best food at Tom Colicchio's Halfsteak at Craftsteak. Lots of wine, food and catching up seems to make up most of our time in The City.

From New York Trip - Food Network

Our good friends Brandi and Chris, trekked down to the Big Apple with their one year old in tow to meet us while we were on their side of the country. Pizza, subway rides, bagels and dinosaurs later, we had to bid farewell. It was so good to see them and I'm hoping that another two years don't pass before it happens again.

From New York Trip - Brandi, Chris & Austin

The last day we were in New York, we got to dancey dance with our niece Sophie, a few of her best two year old friends and a bunch of their respective adults. We ate sweet-and-salty cupcakes that I am still craving and laughed at the the adorableness that are two year olds.

From New York Trip - Sophie's Birthday

I hope that I get to see more of our New York families and friends in the near future. Patrick and I do have a 5-10 year plan to have everyone living here in Austin. Just so you know!

Community

Over the past month and a half Patrick and I started going to a new church that meets in a high school gym. I was a little skeptical at first, but after hearing 4 different people talk about this church and how incredible the pastor is, I really wanted to check it out. It seemed that Patrick and I had been in a rut as far as churches go. We got frustrated with the one that we had been attending, because half of the congregation would leave before the benediction, I'm guessing so that they could beat the traffic out and arrive that much earlier at Chili's. We've checked out a few other churches in the area, but they seem to either be "cotton candy" religion, have horrible music, have no one our age or even under the age of 65, or we just plain felt out of place.

So after a friend from high school, a friend from college, a friend of another friend, and a local photographer all have mentioned attending this church and how amazing it was, I knew that something was happening there and I wanted to find out what that was.

After that first Sunday visiting The Stone, I knew I had found a home. But since Patrick is Catholic and I am Protestant, we don't always seem to agree on these types of things. But this church is different and it's calling us both to build a community here.

They have been renting a meeting space at Austin High for a few years now, but they recently bought a piece of land in a community that is a stone's throw away from Patrick's office. This is a neighborhood that is in desperate need of hope, love, shelter, and a place that could help them get back up on their feet. It's a rough neighborhood, plain and simple, but The Stone is wanting to turn that around and be a church for this city and for this community in particular.

I've never been a part of a church that has their heart broken for people like this. It has always just been a safe, easy place to go on Sundays. But this, this is a whole 'nother animal. And I am completely loving it.

Ike

I have started to write so many times about the horror that is the destruction from Hurricane Ike, and each time, I cannot come up with the words to fully describe my shock, hurt, and sympathy for all those who have been affected. From what I have heard from people who have been to the Gulf Coast and to the Golden Triangle area, things are worse than the media is portraying. Entire communities leveled, some with only the slab of concrete left to mark where their homes once were, others not even that.

Patrick's parents still do not have power, and while that is completely inconvenient and frustrating, they are doing OK. I'm so glad they were safe and were not located closer to downtown Houston, or worse, Galveston. Utilities are being worked on around the clock and slowly, lights are coming on and stores are opening up.

I was at Costco yesterday picking up groceries and tears welled up in my eyes when I saw the pile of donations located at the entrance. Peanut butter, water, tuna, diapers, granola bars, canned goods. Around the store, at least every other person had an least one of those items in their cart, and I'm sure that not all of the people buying diapers had a baby waiting for them at home.

On Saturday, a lot of Austin (including me) was annoyed that we didn't get any of the rain that was supposed to come our way. The UT game was postponed which was unfortunate for people flying in from out of town. And people were cursing the blue, sunny, skies. But I would not have traded any of our annoyances for the horrible things that people elsewhere are dealing with. I am so thankful for the roof over my head, the food in my working refrigerator, the job I still have, and my family and friends that are safe.

Chair of My Heritage

After finding out about a little resale shop called Homegirls in Apartment Therapy, Patrick and I spent a Saturday afternoon browsing different shops down Burnet. But we just couldn't stop thinking/talking/lusting after this little "mid-century modern, Danish" chair. We even put it on hold to dream about it for the night. But we knew (Patrick convinced me) that it belonged in our home. And I think the kitties are quite convinced as well.

Chair with back cushion

Chair without back cushion

The Bell Pepper

While waiting in line on opening weekend to see The Dark Knight (which I highly recommend), some friends joined Patrick and I in entering a contest for the FN Dish where you were supposed to send in a picture of an impersonation of the Iron Chef Chairman. Someone you know did end up winning, just check out the end of the slide show and this results page!

Happy 4th of July! (a week later)

Our 4th of July consisted of Big Love, Californication, lots of walking to Auditorium Shores, throwing some bones with friends, eating fried chicken, lusting after all the puppies in the park, watching fireworks while listening to the Austin Symphony play 1812, and laughing at Patrick returning to the group with a large pink plastic coconut drink. Yay for days off of work!

Back in the ATX

Had lots of fun in L.A. but always good to come home to an amazing husband and two cuddly kitties. Will post a summary of the trip along with some visuals soon, but in the meantime wanted to share some exciting news....

Noooooo....not that.

Tiff's Treats will soon be in North Austin and available to deliver in the area!!! This makes me way too happy. And very reminiscent.

Absence, Update & A Plug

I guess I had a lot to say in February and the beginning of March. But I feel like I've been incredibly busy over the past three weeks and haven't had much time to write. So, since I last wrote:

• Patrick and I have become obsessed/addicted to trying new wines and finding local vendors that sell our favorite Texas wines, thanks to the Hill Country Wine Trail. And now looking foward to the Austin Wine Festival!
• I traveled up to DFW metro to have some much needed girl time with both Amy and Courtney. And got to see Courtney's great-niece!
  
• Easter came and went and for the first time since I was a kid, Patrick and I dyed eggs!
• Our little niece Sophie turned the ripe old age of 1 year old, and apparently has grown teeth and visited the White House.
• The kitties became very interested in our storage closet that holds our water heater. Later, I found out we had a "visitor." After waiting a day in hopes that it would find it's own way out with no luck, I had to extract the scared little bat.

***And a plug for my sister: please visit and comment often on the FN Dish. She's the associate producer and we want her to keep that position! If you check out last week's video, you get to see Mr. Tony Bourdain rant on the Food Network - love that clip!

Zebras!

Over the course of two weekends, and driving all over the Hill Country tasting wine, Patrick and I got to see a lot of different wildlife, beautiful plants but most notably, animals you don’t normally see in urban Austin. I see a number of deer driving around the hills of west Austin, but it seems that parts of the Hill Country can pass for Africa. Yes, there are cows, calfs, and Beefmasters but we also saw havalinas, llamas, ostriches, sheep, antelope, and at one point, even zebras. As we were driving around a bend, I looked to my left, across Patrick driving, and noticed some rather large elk-like animals and the only thing I could come up within the two seconds before they went out of sight was, “Stuff over there!” Between the long day of driving and all the wine, I guess my mind was pretty useless at that point.

Make Your Vote Count Twice!

This is the first time in my short voting history where I have felt excited that my vote might actually count for something. For a moderate-liberal who usually votes democrat, living in a "red state" usually means that my vote gets thrown aside and forgotten about. And by the time the democratic primaries have made it to Texas, the candidate has already been chosen.

For the first time, I am seeing potential presidential candidates in TV commercials, visiting Texas, and even debating in my town, at my alma mater! Yes, I'm sure this will get old after awhile, but it's nice to finally be considered.

I have never voted in a primary and when I found out that Texas has a "two-step" process, that confused me even more. For those of you in the same boat as I am, check out the below information:

If you want to make sure your vote really counts (in effect, counts twice) for your candidate of choice, you do in fact need to do two things.

What to do:

1. Cast your vote in the usual way, either by Early Voting or on March 4th
2. At 7:15 PM on March 4th, after the primaries close, head (back) to your polling place. There, you sign a form that indicates your support for your candidate of choice. You can leave then, or you can stick around and help appoint delegates to the State Senate seat convention.

Special note for Austinites: Our State Senate district, represented by Kirk Watson, is the most powerful Democratic district in the state of Texas; we get eight additional delegates in the caucus portion. That's why it's extra-special important that if you feel very, very strongly about your candidate of choice, you need to get your arse to the caucus, stat. You don't have to for your primary vote to count, but if you want more than just party insiders to do the voting at the caucus, go!

For a more lengthy explanation of the delegate choosing process, go here.

Lunar Eclipse

I remember sitting on the porch at the Blanton Dormitory my freshman year watching the lunar eclipse with Patrick and some other friends. I was so amazed at the brightness and richness of color that the moon cast off.

Just after 9 pm CST tonight, the moon, the earth and the sun will line up so perfectly that the full moon will turn a gorgeous shade of orangey-red for the last total lunar eclipse until 2010. So, if your somewhere it is not cloudy (unlike Austin), enjoy the view! It's an amazing experience. I'm sad that we won't be able to drag Patrick's telescope out to see it this time.

Trail of Lights

We went to the Zilker Trail of Lights on Sunday with some friends. Patrick made his famous hot chocolate and we froze our butts off.

Enjoy the pictures!

A Better Bag

I normally bring my own bags to grocery stores and try to refuse bags when I can just carry the item in my hands. Every once in awhile, I'll forget to bring the bags in, or buy too many groceries to fit into the bags I do bring in, or just plain forget to say "Thanks, but I don't need a bag."

As of today, Whole Foods here in Austin has discontinued offering plastic bags at checkout (they'll still offer 100% recycled paper bags.) And to kick off their campaign, I got a free reusable bag from them! Now, every time I use the bag below, or any other bag I bring in, they discount 10 cents for each bag - which is double what they used to pay!

only 99 cents after today

Hopefully some other grocery stores will follow suit (ahem....HEB, Walmart, Target....) But I think these other places are still just getting used to the idea of people bringing in their own bags. I don't know how many times I've asked the bagger to not bag things in plastic before putting the items in my own canvas bag or "No, I'm not buying that green bag, it doesn't need to go in a plastic bag."

Being a typical 12 year old kid (and because everything they do embarrasses you), I remember getting embarrassed at my mom bringing in her own bags. Now, I'm glad she did that and instilled that into my head. Now I always keep one of those fold-up bags in my purse, just in case.

Is Fall Here?

Austin, TX
71°F
Cloudy

Right now it is currently 71 degrees here in Austin, Texas. This is the second day in a row where I have walked outside and felt a bit chilled. I love this weather! Actually, yesterday was even better because it wasn't overcast but gorgeous outside. It's so nice walking out to my car and not sweating!

Now, can we please just put away the Christmas decorations and enjoy fall first?

How It All Started

Eight years ago today, Patrick pulled me aside in a 1942 house on Peck Avenue and spoke those words that I will forever remember as bringing us together: "Would you like to go see a movie?" He later told me that after much contemplation and thought of how to go about asking me out, all the plans and clever words went out the window at the last moment.

The movie would have to be put off till the following week, as I was heading up to attend the TX/ou game in Dallas that weekend. And he was going up to Dallas as well, but to see one of his best friends sing. I stayed with a bunch of friends Friday night and went to the game the next day, where he picked me up and promptly told me that I stunk. I had just spent the better part of 3-4 hours in the heat surrounded by other sweaty Texas fans, what do you expect??

We didn't end up seeing Mike sing that night. We got lost and finally showed up right as they were walking out of the building. I couldn't have even imagined that night that almost 8 years later, his friend whom I just met, would be singing at our wedding reception.

I mentioned to Patrick that I was going to be meeting my parents for brunch the next morning, so I'd need to go get my car from my friend's house fairly early. He responded, "Oh, I get to meet your parents?" So, only 4 days after he asked me to the movies, Patrick and I ate blueberry pancakes with my parents and my very talkative sister who probably helped relieve any anxiety or nervousness of meeting my parents for the first time. All a little unorthodox, but hey, we got it out of the way.

So, here we are: two Austinites who have been together for eight years, married for two, living with two neurotic cats in a "little place near Lake Travis," as Patrick likes to put it.

Happy Eight Years Honey!

Live at the Lake

We hopped up onto a half-wall overlooking the three infinity pools that blend into Lake Travis. Expensive cheap beers in hand and people watching. Laughing at the young drunk girls that keep slapping older men on the bums and stumbling into people because their not paying attention to where their feet are taking them.

The couple next to us has their 4 month old girl with them and are talking to another couple with their baby boy. The little girl seems so tiny, so tiny for four months. My niece seemed so much bigger than her, even at two months. I hope we do these things when we have kids, Patrick says we have to. We will have to get out of the house with the kids if we want to stay sane.

Waiting for the music to start, we stroll into some of the surrounding pools. Patrick teases me because I'm not fond of treading water in the deep end. We feel we could get used to this: Lakeway Resort pools, overlooking Lake Travis, with good music playing into the night. We go back to our perch on the wall for a bit and joke about the women decked out in way too much makeup and non-appropriate dresses for the poolside. Some of the music starts but it's no one I've heard of.

Finally, Bob starts to play, but he's doing a mellow set and only by the time we're ready to leave he starts to pick it up. We stay for a few more songs, then get out of there before all the drunk people leave and we decide we'll catch him at Antone's or Saxon another time. On our way home, a fire truck blares past us followed by an ambulance. Thank God we left when we did.