last week (thurs-fri) i trekked allllll the way to houston to see my best friend michelle! i hadn't had the chance to see her since she got engaged, and well, it was time! we spent the day catching up, oohing and aahing over wedding stuff (so fun!) and eating! we met up with all the girls (robin, april, margeaux, stephanie, mrs. maggie, ann, and marisol) at mccormick & schmicks' for happy hour food, some music, and a lot of pinot noir!

ran into kristen! love her blog All in My Twenties!

it was such a great night! everyone was in a festive mood, the weather was awesome, and i was even asked to be michelle's co-maid of honor! (with robin.. since i live in austin, shes going to pick up the slack when i can't get to houston!) i am so excited and honored to stand by her when she marries eddie!!

 

after happy "hour" (we were there for 3 or 4 haha) we headed out to Washington and continued having a good time.  a few more drinks, a lot of laughter, and some pork tacos later we called it a night. 

it was so fun and refreshing to take a quick trip home. the humidity didn't even get to me! i met up with my mom on my way out for some yummy lunch at grand lux (mmm!) and then headed back to the atx! i wasn't even gone long enough for CL to dirty up the house ;)

Christmas Cards from Shutterfly!

so the holidays are right around the corner! and if your like me, you've been scouring the 'net for the cutest (and most affordable) christmas cards.. and if you haven't checked out Shutterfly you definately need to!

CL and I ordered our  first christmas cards from shutterfly last year and they were super cute, extremely affordable and VERY easy to create and order! it was so fun for the two of us to put our heads together and pick out and send our first christmas cards as a couple! i think it took longer to pick out a photo than a card!

head over to www.shutterfly.com and check out their goods!! they have all sorts of styles.. traditional, contemporary, flat cards, folded cards.. you name it! they even have matching gift tags! so cute!
here is the link to the gift tags!
Shutterfly Christmas Gift Tags!

here is the direct link to their photo christmas cards!
Shutterfly Christmas Photo Cards!

they also have adorable photo books and calendars that are extremely easy to put together and affordable! plus they are great for personal use or gifts for any occasion!

here is the link to the Calendars!
Shutterfly Wall Calendars!

i can't wait to pick out the card we are going to send out this year! we have a few picked out as 'finalists' but no clear front runner yet! we are having some photos taken, and when we get them, i'll post a few and have everyone vote on their favorite!

here are a few of my favorite cards that they have this year!

totally something that i would send.. the black and white photo and the naughty or nice? LOVE it!

love the 3 photos! we used a 3 photo card last year.. one for CL and I, and one for each dog! and the black and white photos with the festive lettering.. totally getting in the holiday spirit!

totally loving the black cards this year! so chic!

this is the design our cards had last year, but it was portrait, and had 3 pictures!

love the non-traditional colors! this is so fun, and has room for one-three photos in case you can't choose just one!

which one will we choose?! you'll have to wait and see!

fo' real?

(viaweheartit)

the older i seem to be getting (2010 has FLOWN by) the more i realize that we (CL and I) are adults. while looking around our spotless house (mom- you'd be proud!) i noticed some things that made me giggle and go 'is this for real'. yes. this is real.

• our refrigerator. its full of V8, regular and lemon Perrier, and fruit. um what? where are the days of junk food and soda?
• we spent last saturday cleaning house. vacuuming, sweeping, showers & toilets, baseboards, and laundry. who are we? oh and then we brushed the dogs teeth. i mean really?
• we have a routine. 5:45 am alarm. CL work. me up- dogs out, dogs fed, shower, work, CL home, CL class on MW, gym, dinner and relaxation time. not every day does it go like this, but more than likely it is. and the weekends, WHOA. what out. we may sleep in til 9am.
• our fridge is covered in wedding invitations, baby shower invitations, save the dates, and wedding programs. um what?
• we have a seasonal closet with color coded, labeled bins. yup. go ahead. make fun. but we know exactly where all our holiday decorations are!

it's beginning to look a lot like the holidays!

now, i love the holidays- but i've just now gotten in to them.. i still haven't had a pumpkin spice latte, nor have i hit the peppermint mocha stage yet, but CL and i have started preparing for the holiday season and its getting me pumped for this cooler weather!

these are a few items that have gotten us in the fall/holiday spirit!

(via google images)

need i say more? we made silver dollar sized cookies (you know bite size!) with a little cream cheese icing.. delish! they are the perfect sweet snack.. especially after a long run!

(via google images)

a rosemary bush. now we have 2 outside our house, but this one makes the inside smell wonderful. it was an impulse buy (thanks CL) but its wonderful.. plus we can cook with it!

(via homedepot.com)

this guy. we are getting the decorating bug! CL has already mapped out a design for our christmas lights this year.. pics to come, i promise!

(via bathandbodyworks.com)

this gem of a candle my mom bought us. we haven't even lit it and it smells amazing. 

my wish list.

(via weheartit)

all i want for christmas is for something GOOD to happen to me.

now, im not selfish, but i've been really good this year- i've been patient, kind, comforting, understanding, forgiving, supportive-- you name it. and i deserve some sort of good-ness in my life. not anyone elses. everyone else seems to be having a great year (careers, engagements & weddings, babies, etc). me, not so much. its just been one trial and tribulation after the other. my heart and (emotional) well being has been worn thin and i could really use some rejuvenation in my life. for real.

so santa, God, anyone. if your listening. all i want is some good in my life.

"I hate to see you cry

Lying there in that position

There's things you need to hear

So turn off your tears and listen

Pain throws your heart to the ground

Love turns the whole thing around

No, it won't all go the way it should

But I know the heart of life is good

You know it's nothing new

Bad news never had good timing

Then the circle of your friends

Will defend the silver lining

Pain throws your heart to the ground

Love turns the whole thing around

No, it won't all go the way it should

But I know the heart of life is good

Pain throws your heart to the ground

Love turns the whole thing around

Fear is a friend who's misunderstood

But I know the heart of life is good

I know it's good"

~john mayer.