music for your saturday

This is just wonderful.

life is good

Busy week.

Plus still sick.

Some amazing work stuff makes the busy, sick week worth it.

Today's blessings:

• my amazing job
• food on the table
• clean water to drink
• my beautiful sister

Happy Weekend!

PS I've been watching the heartbreaking scenes unfolding in Haiti, it's hard to handle. Please find a way to help - no matter what it is, even prayers!

Visit Angelisms to see more of my sweet friend Jessica's work

trip down memory lane

I read my past blog posts today and it was the weirdest thing. I felt all the feelings I felt at the time I was writing each post. Most of the posts were during the time I was unemployed, so it was this dichotomy of emotions - what I felt when I was endlessly and sometimes desperately job searching and the bliss I feel now that I have the most amazing job doing exactly what I want to be doing. I'm amazed still that this blessing came at a time when I was very close to losing it as well as at the end of my unemployment funds (I refused to ask for an extension).

What a journey it has been! I think this blog will evolve from here on out. I'd like it to be more of a journal than a list of things I want. What better way to chronicle the ups and downs and side to sides of my life than online - where it will never be lost? OK, that's a bit daunting.

I'm off to enjoy the weekend - it's been a long week and I can't wait to spend some "reconnection" time with J.

Have a great weekend!

My blessings of today:

• An amazing job
• A car that runs
• A computer to blog on

PS The photo has no correlation to the post, it's just so stinkin' cute!

i could have danced all night

I felt like Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady when she sang about not wanting the night to end. I felt the same way this past weekend. We had the most amazing first wedding anniversary celebration. Here's a photo journey through it all.

Paper gift: A paper trail through our wedding day. I made clues on extra RSVP and Reception cards from leftover invitations leading him to the church where we re-said our vows, to our reception site, Hickory Street Annex, where we re-danced our first dance and to the Stoneleigh Hotel where we stayed on the night of our wedding.

Other gift: Le Tigre kicks

esposo

thank you Michelle and Jennifer

wedding-day flower by Myra

hickory street amor

wedding-day champagne and flutes

hola guapisimo

amor

blissful brunch

i look forward to many, many, many more sweet celebrations with you, J.

project thankful

I stumbled upon project :: thankful byMarta via Cari's Little City, Happy Life blog. I lurve the idea of expressing what we are thankful for. I know sometimes, when life gets a little rough and tough, I forget all of the amazing things that I am blessed with.

So, right this minute, on this day, I am thankful for

• The person in my office that brought some candy for giving me my chocolate fix for the day
• My husband and our first year of marriage together
• My sister, who lives in Dallas and to whom I've grown much closer in the past year
• The lovely ladies whose blogs I read - your creativity, honesty and the ability to capture and share is amazing
• The health and safety of my friends and family
• Myra's gorgeous hair pieces - one of which I was lukcy enough to procure for my wedding day

Happy Weekend!

drooged out

Even though I blogged about our Halloween costumes (here) with much time to get them together, in true Erica form, I waited until the week before - specifically until four days before -to start the hunt for white shirts and jeans for me and J.

Who would have known that white jeans would be so hard to find? The first pair I bought J were women's jeans from Wal-Mart. He scoffed at wearing them and went on his own adventure to eventually find a pair that suited his needs. I admittedly hate digging for clothes in racks, so I stay away from the Rosses and Marshalls, but hit the jackpot at one of those for my pants! Top it off with a thermal I already owned, a bowler hat and cane from the Halloween Spirit store, some black nails, a fake eyelash and red lips and bam, you've got yourself a droog.

I was excited that we got qutie a few, "Ohhhh, Clockwork Orange, very cool," comments.

Here are a few pics of the night's festivities!

The final product

Kitty and Droog at Fashion Industry Gallery Fright Fete

We found a cronie!

Red River Rivalry 2009

This weekend is craaaaaaaazy in Dallas as we play host to the Big 12 Red River Rivalry. UT and OU duke it out for rights to something. Traffic is already redonk and while I kind of would like to participate in the festivities, I also don't want to deal with the cluster. I'll stick to staying home and getting my guns up.

We are having friends over to watch the game tomorrow during the day and then another set of friends over for dinner. For desert at dinner we are baking TWO, yes DOS, pies! I can't wait! Most of all, I am looking forward to two days of uninterrupted time with my love! I hope your wedding plans are faboosh!

Photos via here and Lpomme Etsy shop

Amigos

Our lovely friends Bonnie and Joel had us over for a wonderful dinner on Friday night. Homemade sangria, delicious pizza from scratch and a beautiful patio setting all made for a perfect evening!

Dinner is so much better when shared with friends!

Flower arrangement by Bonnie - one of the most creative people I know! I'll be posting info about her interior design company soon!

Joel made absolutely scrumptious pizza with dough from scratch, fresh mozzarella and fresh herbs.

Happy weekend!

My friday wishes for you!

• Laughs and smiles with friends
• Delicious Saturday-morning breakfast
• Just enough lounging to recharge you for Monday!

Photo via Ffffound

Friday

Have a great weekend!

Photo via Deviant Art

fin de semana

This weekend is the last one that my little brother will be spending here with us. We are planning a trip to the Ft. Worth Stockyards and dinner at his favorite, Texas Roadhouse. Other than that, I plan to enjoy the time with him - I know I'll miss him when he's gone!

I hope your weekend plans include some relaxation time, fun and time with the people you love!

Photo via Ffffound

my adventure book

The latest Disney/Pixar creation was just what I needed after a week of unemployment-related stress. In the first 15 minutes I was laughing, crying and letting myself form a bond with the charming characters of Up. The swell of emotion in my heart made me want to reach over to my husband and squeeze him with all my might (we were separated by my sister and brother, le sigh). In addition to bravery, friendship, loyalty and good vs evil, there was an underlying story of love, a love that propelled the movie's main character, Carl, to take an journey on a house kept in the air by helium balloons (btw, how cute were Ellie's clothes in the movie?).

Not only did the movie make my heart swell thinking of how lucky I am to have married the love of my life, it gave me inspiration for two projects:

a. Keep my own adventure journal filled with the footprints of my journey through life.

b. It's time to frame some of the wedding photos and put them up in the house. I have been hesitant because I couldn't decide where to put them, but I'm sure I can find somewhere to display photos of one of the most beautiful days of my life!

If you haven't seen Up yet, please go! And start your very own adventure book too!

up, up and away!

Happy Friday and wishes for a wonderful weekend! I am going to see Up in 3-D with my brother, sister and husband tonight. Dinner with friends tomorrow and brunch on Sunday. Catch you later gator!

This week went by pretty quickly! I was talking to a friend yesterday and thought it was Tuesday. What a sweet surprise when I realized it was already Thursday!

Have a great weekend!

Photo via ffffound

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! I wish you rest, good food, friends, sun and lots of laughs!

A huge, huge thank you to all of the people who fought and lost their lives for the freedoms we have today!

Photos via Ffffound and Flickr