things to inspire

Iv'e got my eyes on you (no Jessica Simpson reference intended)...


If money were no option: Tesla Model S
Last weekend, I attended a real estate continuing education class called "Prospering with Trends and Strategies." After 6 hours of Legal and Ethics, we spent the remaining 9 hours of the class searching youtube, discussing trends such as electric cars and GREEN. All great stuff, but I get a little antsy sitting at a desk listening to a bunch of realtors talk about how they are tweeting and using facebook and youtube to further their career. This was a bit irritating because 1: I am young and pretty in the know, so yes, I am well aware of how social media can change your life. 2. It is hard for me to listen to ME MONSTERS jab about how well informed they are. But alas, I was turned on to THIS, and frankly I think it is great and interesting and yea, GO GREEN!

Pie Pops - More DIY How To Projects
yummy treats on a stick...pie pops are the perfect fit! I will be making these delectables this season for sure.

Attention close friends. As you may recall, I had been trying to find a particular piece of art that I saw somewhere in another time that was just a bunch of circles. Some of you suggested that it sounded easy enough, just paint it yourself. The only problem was, I didn't have a picture to go by. Well, the day has come. Bless you etsy.com. I found what I was looking for and it has inspired me to pick up a paint brush.
Find "happiness on a saturday morning" here

In and Out Burger
Hi my name is Laura and I love a good hamburger. Why oh why can't this snobby hamburger chain expand east? I think if I had the opportunity to buy into any franchise, this would be IT. I have only tasted this hamburger perfection on two occasions, and this may be why it reigns supreme in my mind: it's untouchable.

In 43 days I will be here. We are packing up all the gear and traveling to my favorite spot on earth, Grand Cayman. My family has been visiting Cayman since I was a little girl. It is beautiful, quaint (atleast last time I checked), and extremely nostalgic. The last time I was there, I was engaged. It will be neat being there again sipping a Pina Colada on the beach with my husband AND child less than 3 years later.

thankful

In an attempt to establish a routine blogging time for myself, this week I am going to keep each days entry short and sweet. I am a list maker by nature, so I figured what better motivation than that . So, every day I will post a list of things on my mind, favorites, what have you... I haven't thought past today, so let's get started.
In preparation for Thanksgiving, here is a list of things I am thankful for.

1. I am thankful for God's love and what he teaches me about this perfect love everyday. "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND."
2. I am thankful for my husband who makes daily sacrifices so I can stay at home with Ben. I admire his devotion to his family, his knack for getting the perfect gift, and his humility.
3. I am thankful for my Ben. I am thankful that he is healthy and beautiful and happy. He is a gift.
4. I am thankful for my mom. She is the most generous, selfless, fun, easy-going gal (not to mention a handy babysitter).
5. I am thankful for my friends new and old. I love getting calls from far away friends and talking like we see each other every day. I am excited about my new friends who keep me busy and involved.
6. I am thankful for the "holiday season." Everything about this time of year makes me think of, well, things I am thankful for.
7. I am thankful for baby food and diapers. Sounds silly, but can you imagine life without those conveniences?
8. I am thankful for our ranch, a happy place to go and enjoy by ourselves or with friends.
9. I am thankful for Tom's. They keep these mobile feet very comfortable.
10. I am thankful for the inspiration one website, one conversation, one picture, can have on me.
11. I am thankful for our puppies. They are the best examples of forgiveness and loyalty.
12. I am thankful we have learned to live far from the "if only I had this, I'll be happy" attitude.

Speaking of thankfulness...
About a month ago, we took a trip to the ranch with our dear friends and here are some pictures that our "personal photographer" captured from the weekend. We will be there next weekend and the weekend after that, and this makes me happy.

ben laughing at georgi

Halloween has come and gone. My baby boy was a little puppy for the occasion. We had a great time. We started the evening with some homemade chili and corn bread at Lola's house, and ended up back in our little cul-de-sac to greet the trick or treaters and stroll around with some friends.




I am getting in the mood for the holidays. Ben and I met some friends at the Celebrations Christmas Market today and picked up some Christmas goodies to decorate our house. My favorite purchase was a little 'gingerbread boy' stake for the yard. I am going to write Ben Levi on it before I put it out.
Ben, today you discovered one of mommy's breakables, which means it's time to baby proof the house. You are reaching and grabbing and rolling. The next time I blink, you will be crawling. I love the way you reach for me when you are ready for bed. I love it when you laugh hysterically at Georgi when he brings you his toy to throw. I love listening to you play in your crib in the morning. I love when you smile for the camera as if you know it's time to take a picture. I love when you tinker with your toys. I love you I love you I love you!

octoberfest

Let's play catch-up, shall we?
The last weeks have been very eventful for Ben and I. So much so that I have not thought about the blog. Ben has been hustling and bustling around town meeting new friends and seeing some old ones too! We now go to swim class at Houston Swim Club every Monday morning. Ben likes the water and all the activities they have for him, until it's time to leave mommy and go under water with the instructor. I can see the good in doing this activity, but I feel like at such a young age, the main goal should be FUN. I am planning on suggesting a little adaptation from their end for next week.
We also go to The Little Gym every Wednesday morning for some tumbling, stretching, dancing, and moving. I LOVE THE LITTLE GYM!!

instructors are super great with Ben, and I love getting to know the other mommies in the class. They have a lot of equipment that helps babies learn to crawl or pull or walk (whatever stage they find themselves). I am also very excited to find out that they have a babysitting service once your kid is potty trained with gym activities, crafts, snacks, and a movie...what fun!
Two weekends ago, I traveled to Austin for a girls' weekend while Will stayed back with Ben. He did such a fantastic job. I may just plan me another trip sooner than I thought. The occasion was to celebrate two of my very best friends birthdays, Gina and Julie. We were supposed to be having a roommate weekend at our ranch the 16th-18th, but Evan picked up the swine flu and we were not comfortable with Ben being around him. So, we were going to just have the girls up to the ranch instead. Well, I got on the horn with Evan, and he suggested that we just come up to Austin for a girls' shopping extravaganza. Will had already said he would be willing to babysit, so I got really pumped by the idea. We had a fabulous dinner at a winery in Driftwood beforehand. Drank some wine, had some good conversation, and and ate a fabulous dinner at the restaurant. Will's mom was so generous and allowed us to stay at her condo downtown. The next day all the girls rendezvoused for breakfast at SOCO Cafe, one of our favorite Austin hot spots, and started a most successful day of shopping and sunshine.This weekend, we got to see Julie and Evan again! Only, they came our way to the ranch. I am afraid I am spoiling myself with all the Julie- time I have been getting lately. I fear, once it ends, I may go through withdrawals. :) I am so blessed to have these two in our life! We had an uber-relaxing Saturday. I tried my hand at some Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. They had a great flavor, but the meat was too tough in my opinion, and not exactly what I had envisioned this "perfect sandwich" to be. But, my friends ate every bite. We continued the evening with some beer, wine, and spades,in which we lost to the boys because they had been cheating the whole time. Sunday comprised of fishing, riding around, football, taco soup, beer, more football, and naps! They brought their dog, Molly, and I think seeing her happiness with the bounty of bugs to catch, land to roam, cattle to herd, and rays to bask in, made my day! Evan and Julie were also excited for her to meet Haley, Joe's black mouth cur, and the reason they decided on that particular breed. To our dismay, Haley had been trained up and shipped out to some home in South Texas. We did get to meet three of his other curs, but none were as beautiful as Molly Bear. Time with the Prothro's is always a good time, and I can't wait until we see them again. Ben was WORN OUT from all the fun. He slept the the whole way home.

Better pictures to come from TAYLORlynn Photography. Free plug.

sing. sing a song. make it simple to last your whole life long

In response to the beloved Austin City Limits Festival making its fall appearance this past weekend, I thought it may be appropriate to talk music. I am a lover I assure you of all kinds of music. But this past year or so, I have literally fallen off the BAND-wagon. It was after college that 'being in the know' just wasn't a priority. I still listen to a lot of great music that was hip and happening like 6 years ago, but I am oblivious to any underground or upcoming artist. But wait, with itunes, youtube, and all the more connectivity we have, is anything really underground anymore? The search has become too easy. We have become apart of a technological advance that connects everyone to everything so swiftly that my once passion to seek out the unfamiliar wouldn't be as exciting of a venture nowadays.
So, as an ode to the good ole days, here are a few songs that I will forever love, each has a memory or two to go with it.

Al Green-Let's Stay Together
Badly Drawn Boy- Silent Sigh
Tori Amos- A Sorta Fairytale
Imogen Heap- Headlock
-Colorado and my phone ring for a while
Frou Frou- Let Go
-ping pong at Will's, and dancing (well, flailing mystically) with Julie
Weepies- Take it From Me
-driving in the fall. beautiful song, beautiful feelings.
Weepies- Gotta Have You
Nickel Creek- When You Come Back Down
Amos Lee- Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight
-Every time I hear this song it takes me back to 1615 Park Place, and my bestest friends in life.
Human League- Don't You Want Me
-My Aunt and Uncle sang this and recorded it on a tape. Every time I went over to my grandparents when I was little, I would make them play it while I danced along. For a lot of my childhood I thought they were famous)
Obadiah Parker- Hey Ya
-Being silly with Will
John Mayer- 3x5, and basically every song he ever wrote
-great sing along music
Oasis- Wonderwall
-Oh man, this takes me back to junior high one summer. I smoked my first cigarette and started becoming a little too interested in boys. Luckily, this song made a memorable comeback when I was a counselor at TBARM in 2005. This was the longest time apart that I had ever been away from Will, and I wasnt even able to use a cell phone. Before I left, I wrote him a letter for him to open everyday that I would be gone. I knew I wouldn't be able to write him everyday while I was there, so this was a great way for him to hear from me daily. Well, I got a letter from him everyday as well, and on one of the letters, he may have quoted some of this song.
Kelly Clarkson- Breakaway
-AVA
Michael Jackson- The Way You Make Me Feel
-Our awesome Wedding reception
Peter Gabriel- In Your Eyes
-high school...just a very reflective song
Neil Diamond- O Holy Night
-Will's favorite Christmas song, and I love that
Mercy Me- Finally Home
-brings me such peace and reminds me of Will and our home
Addison Road- What Do I Know of Holy

just a few favorites.

have a great day!
love.

adaptation

Mr. Mess learned how to hold his own spoon and put it in his mouth. It was wonderful to watch him try to navigate his spoon to his mouth. Even though there were more carrots on his hands and mouth than in his tummy, it was worth it because he wanted to hold his spoon today. He was ready, I was set, so we were go for a mess. I believe in truly listening to your baby's cues and signals to help me parent. At this age, he will let me know what he needs, and I will follow. It is working gloriously. You have to go at your child's pace, and adapt to them, or else you are in for stress. I bought Ben a potty today. Sounds early, I know. But wait, hear me out. I think it is a neat idea to introduce a potty to a baby at around Ben's age, to get him used to the feel and to start introducing the language that I will use when the formal potty training will begin. Who knows, it may make the whole thing a lot easier. But, I am not going to subject Ben or I to the added stress of going diaperless at this age because it is fringe or said to be better in the long-run. There is a whole group of mom's who use this method, called EC (elimination communication) to potty train their children. I am going to adapt this far-fetched idea to suite our family. I will start saying "sss" when he goes pee-pee and say "poop" when he has a bowel movement. I like this idea a lot. We'll see if it works for Ben.