Thursday, June 30, 2011

NKOTBSB, Baby

If you had told me when I was in 6th grade, that I would be going to a New Kids on the Block concert when I was *mumble* years old, I would have said 'Duh, because I am going to be married to Donnie and be on tour with the whole group!'. Then if you had told me when I was a Junior in college, that I would be going to a Backstreet Boys concert when I was *cough* years old, I would have said 'Duh, because I am going to married to Nick and will on tour with them year round!'. As you can see I have grown and matured a lot over the years. :)

When Sterling, Brooke, Amanda and myself went to see BSB in college, we made shirts to wear, because that is what you do if you are totally cool, right? So we figured since two of the four were going again, it was only appropriate to recreate said cool t-shirts. Luckily, the two new people coming with us are just as awesome as us, so of course they immediately agreed to the idea. Here we are in all our awesome t-shirt glory...


The concert was, in one word, seriously freaking awesome. I am not kidding. It has to be one of the best times I have had in a long time. I was honestly never a big New Kids fan. I remember friends of mine literally crying about them when I was in the 6th grade, and I knew the songs, but I never had a picture of Donnie hanging (tough?) in my locker. I actually knew girls who had the New Kids bed sheets. Weird. But I SO enjoyed seeing them. It was still a huge dose of nostalgia and they still sound pretty good! Some have aged better than others, but overall the entire show was great.

They basically took turns singing their own songs, brought people on stage, went in the audience, rose up in the air on platforms and pretty much just rocked it. They performed for 2 and 1/2 hours, sang all the popular songs, and even some that weren't singles that only the TRUE fans would know. :)

Anyway, I won't keep going on, but I would suggest if NKOTBSB comes to a city near you, that you get a seat near the stage so that you can be one of the lucky ones selected to be serenaded.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Welcome to my NEW World

Greetings everyone. Notice anything different? I have finally joined the world of people who actually try to make their blogs look presentable. My genius friend Tamra helped me (ok she basically just did it for me) put together a beautiful new blog! If you are like me, you read your blogs in Google Reader and you never see what people's blogs actually look like. If you are not, then you may have been avoiding my eye sore of a blog. Well, now you have some catching up to do! =)

I am doing my darndest to actually write in my blog more, and keep your eyes out for a new blog announcement! What is it you ask? Well, you will just have to stay tuned. And NO I am not pregnant. It is blog related.

Anyway, hope everyone likes the new updated blog!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Destin

At the end of May, me and some of my best girlfriends took a trip down to the beach house in Destin. These are the girls who I worked with at TXU, some of whom I knew in college, and we all went to A&M, so we have a lot in common, except that we are all pretty different! I love these girls and I thought I would take a minute to introduce them before getting to the details of the trip.

Here is a group shot of them. This was the first night we got there. By the time we got in and got settled, it was too late to go to the beach, but we did take a quick walk just to check things out.

Private note to my girls: I promise to try not to show a bunch of pictures of us in our bathing suits, but it is, after all, a beach trip, so there may be a little skin showing. I promise I have only included shots that were flattering.

Here is the cast of our trip. First up, KC. KC lives in Lake Highlands, obviously the cool place to be, and was friends with Courtney in college, but I did not meet her until TXU.

Courtney - Sorry, Court, I realize this is a full body shot, but I just think it is a cute picture and wouldn't put it in here if you didn't look awesome! Court and I worked at Bath and Body Works together in college, and she also worked with my roommate at Old Navy. She was a busy girl. =)

Shawna I have known the longest, since Freshman year at A&M. We had some good times cruising College Station in the Camaro...

Lacey - Also did not meet her or Tamra until I worked at TXU, but now we have regular playdates with her two daughters Kiley and Presley, Bella and Tamra's daughter Caitlin. She is also one of my "Blogs I Love" if you would like to know more about her. :)

Tamra - Obviously likes to party as evidenced by the double-fisting below. ;) Ok, I think she was actually holding my drink, but it looks funny. Tamra is mother of Caitlin, and also one of the "Blogs I Love", as well as the executive producer of my blog (ie - she took it from totally geek to totally sheik - if anyone gets that reference, you are my new best friend).

The first night we went out to eat at one of my favorite places, The Back Porch. I think we go here almost every year. And every year I order crab legs and make a mess eating them and I love it! Here is a pic of me and T down on the beach after procuring some drinks.

All the girls while waiting (and waiting and waiting) for our table...

Pretty much most of the trip we just spent all day at the beach. Laying on the beach with a good book, a good drink, soaking up the sun is about my idea of heaven.


Shawna and Lacey boogie boarded...


The other place we went to eat while we were there is in the town of Seaside (most famous for being the location that The Truman Show was filmed) at a place called Bud and Alley's. It was a great bar/restaurant right on the beach, with an upstairs bar so you have a great view. Here we are in the square...


Having a toast on the balcony...


Another shot of the group enjoying our beverages...


After a couple of days we were pretty crispy so some of the girls went shopping at Baytowne Wharf. It is a little place in the Sandestin community that has cute little shops and restaurants. I just think this picture is really cute...


So that is pretty much it. No major stories, just had a blast with some of my favorite people. I honestly can't believe that in the 10 years we have all been friends that we have never done a girls only trip with all of us!


Monday, June 13, 2011

Science and Nature Museum

Isabella and I have made some friends recently at Little Gym. Our new friends Kyli and Caroline invited us to go to the Science and Nature museum recently. I had been once a long time ago, but Isabella really wasn't old enough to enjoy it at that time. This time around, it was a blast. If you have not been here with your kiddo - or even yourself, there were some awesome displays for adults as well - I would highly recommend it. There are all different sections that teach about science while also being really fun for the kids.

I took some pictures with my crummy iPhone camera, but most of the time they were blurry since the kids were running around the whole time. Here are a few of the better ones...

Isabella and Caroline 'took turns' (meaning Bella kept grabbing the magnet wands from Caroline) playing with the magnet wall.


There is also a water section that the girls loved. I think we spent more time in this room than anywhere.

Bella giving Caroline a hug at the water table.

This is in the farm section. Bella is once again channeling her inner farm girl.

Caroline riding on the tractor.


Thanks Kyli and Caroline for inviting us to go with you. We had a blast!

Driving Up to Mount Cook

After a wonderful and too short time in Wellington, the next morning we boarded a plane to Queenstown.  Now, the whole time we had either be...