The Christmas Shopping begins

So I started my Christmas shopping this weekend!! A friend and I shopped all day yesterday for decorations at TJ Maxx, Ross and Marshalls. I had the most luck at Marshalls and picked up some adorable things including 3 new reindeer figurines to add to the Reindeer Christmas 2008 decorating theme!! We had planned to go to Hobby Lobby but they were closed, so that is definetly on the agenda for later this week. Today I went shopping by myself for new winter clothes to take on my trip to Chicago next week. I did not find to much for the trip but I did get some goodies...A new sweater dress, a pair of wonderful work pants that I needed so badly, 2 pairs of shoes - a brown pair and a red gingham pair just for fun...total cost of the 2 pairs of shoes?? $28 at Rack Room Shoes!!, a beanie just like the one Elle Woods wore when she went with Paulette to get the dog back. I had seen the hat this weekend and put it down to think about it, a few minutes later I saw some lady had picked it up, I was so sad, but when I went back today it was there again :) so I snatched it up quick! I also got a pair of brown textured tights to wear with sweater dresses and another cute white button down with a skinny leopard print belt. So much fun stuff I cannot wait to wear!
Back to work tommorrow to finish everything up before the holiday. I work up until this Saturday and then am off for 9 days!!! I can't wait to go see my mom and stepdad in Chicago next week. And we are seeing the Radio City Christmas Spectacular!!!
I want to have my house in perfect order before I leave so that as soon as we get home we can start decorating. I will be doing laundry and organizing all week and then my fabulous Molly Maids come next Monday before we leave so that the house is ready for the Holiday overhaul the second our plane hits the ground back in Austin on Saturday! (Yeah right, we may be a little tired for that, but at least we can start Sunday morning...)

Hugs,
Linz

So I started blogging and got so into it and then had a crazy week at work and completely slacked on posting so I thought I would give a rundown of my rather uneventful yet relaxing weekend.

So it all starts with Halloween. For some reason I did NOT get in to it this year. I usually do because I love dressing up but this year I just never got too excited about it. So we just bought some candy to hand out and we stayed home. Ordinarily, I think I would be disapponted in myself and regret not going out but for some reason I am okay with my boring behavior....

On Saturday I had to work at the store from only 1:30-5:00. Me and Michelle, the store owner, have decided to start tag-teaming it on some Saturdays, so she worked in the morning and I came in to finished the day. I actually really liked it because I got to sleep in and then once I got there it went so fast because I was only there 3.5 hours.

After work I went to my friends birthday dinner at 219 West. This is one of my favorite places to go because they have 6 different menus based off of drinks. For example, they have the wine menu and one of the appitizers that goes with it is the cheese plate. Or on the tequilla menu they have telpaia nachos...it is really fun! There was 6 of us so we ordered 6 different things and all shared, so delicious! The food and drinks were great, but the game that was going on simultaniously was not. UT lost to Texas Tech. After dinner, we went to meet up with my boyfriend and his friends to watch the end of the game and of course everyone was so sad. I am staying positive though...Everyone said next year would be our season so this year is just practice, and they actually did pretty well! My whole family went to Tech so I don't even want to hear what they have to say...I always go for Tech except when they are playing Texas so I was pretty disapponted :(

Today I did what I have not done in years... I pretty much stayed in bed all day watching tv. I watched an amazing amount of Clean House and Who's Wedding is it Anyway? and was just lazy and lethargic in general. G watched football, we got takeout from Galaxy Cafe and I drank some wine tonight but I have been completely lazy all day. wonderful.

I do not work Mondays so tommorrow is house cleaning day. I did do one load of laundry today but I have alot more to do tommrrow plus just getting the whole house in order for the week. yay (can you sense my excitment...)

I am going to be better this week about FUN posts...On google reader I keep starring all of these fun things I want to cook/make/try so this week is going to be "Implement Fun Ideas from Blog Friends Week" . I will post the schedule tommorrow!

Coupon Giveaway

Kaybee has gotten her hands on a fabulous 30% off coupon for GAP/Old Navy/Bananna Republic and Piperlime.

Just leave her a comment and she will e-mail it over to you. I have not decided what I am getting yet but I can't wait to pick something fun!

To all the Lilly Lovers!

I received some VERY exciting news in the mail today!

"Your invited
to share in the celebration of
our new product line!
LILLY PULITZER
Sataionery & Gifts
January 2009

Lifeguard Press is thrilled to announce our much anticipated partnership with the iconic Lilly Pulitzer brand! We've rolled out the pink carpet by creating and extensive line of Stationery and Gift items available January 2009. Lilly Pulitzer's bright patterns, sophisticated fashion and fun-loving attitude will certainly be the talk of the town in many social circles!

With renowned quality and the disticntive style you have come to expect from Lifeguard Press, the line will include catagories you already know and love along with some fun new catagories including Tableware & Party, Gift Wrap and Bags, and Custom Invitations. "

It goes on but here is the website you can go to to sign up for updates:
www.lifeguardpress.com/lillypulitzer

I CAN'T wait!!! We are already clearing out space in the store to bring Lilly in!

So exciting!!

So I got my first award today and I could not be happier!! Thank you so much Southern Belle for the Kreativ Blogger Award! Here are my six things that make me happy:

1) Anything with a Chihuahua on it. I have had my sweet baby for 16 years. I loved chihuahuas before the Taco Bell dog, before Bruiser Woods (though Prance looks alot like him) and of course before Beverly Hills Chihuahua (I did see it on opening day though!) Today I found some stationery with a chihuahua on roller skates...Can't wait to show it off when it arrives!

2) Pajamas!! I have a serious problem...the second I can settle into a cute pair I could not be happier. My money should really be spent elsewhere but I cannot pass up a cute and comfy pair of p.j.'s

3) Mimosas...my hands down favorite day is Sunday. I follow church with brunch with friends and mimosas....Jesus turned water to wine so I see nothing wrong with indulging a little on a Sunday. (not that mimosas cannot be enjoyed on any other day as well)

4) DisneyWorld...need I say more???

5) July 4th. Fireworks, cooking out and playing in the water. This is my favorite holiday that I look forward to all year.

6) And do I need to say it?? My wonderful family...especially my boyfriend that I have been with for 6 years and completes my life. I could not do it with out him.

I pass this award on to:

Kiss My Pink Tiara

Preppy Pettit

The Preppy Pearl

Vinyard Vouge

kaybee

The Dirty Martini Diaries

Kaybee tagged me too!

1. Link to the person that tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
6. Let your tagger know when your entry is UP

1) I am a huge night owl...see why I am up right now playing on my blog? No matter how hard I work to correct myself (I want to be a morning person so badly), I still stay up way to late at least a couple days a week and have trouble waking up at a decent hour.

2) I saw a picture in Pottery Barn a couple years ago of the narrow shelves holding up cookbooks in a dining room and fell in love. I have sense been collecting skinny cookbooks with pretty covers so I can recreate the look (Does anyone else remember this picture?)

3) Kathy Griffin is my favorite comedian. I cannot get enough of her making fun of the celebrities.

4) I LOVE Britney Spears but have never been to a concert. I once had tickets but it was the year she cancled for a "knee injury" (I know she was hurt but really , was it that serious??). That was the year she left the tour to run around with and eventually marry Kevin. I will never forget the day that those tickets went on sale: I was working at Clinique, it was during Gift with Purchase....we literally had a line down to the Juniors department (quite a way). at about 9:50 (the tix went on sale at 10:00) all but one of us halled it up the escalators to the cumtomer service area where the tickets went on sale. A couple weeks later we all had to go to the same place to return them :(

5) I screen most of my phone calls. I really hate talking on the phone except to make plans. I am really not sure how I survived before texting.

6) Even though I hate talking on the phone, I cannot stand to drive without a phone in my lap. It gives me terrible anxiety to not have it while driving. I know alot of people have anxiety about not having a phone next to them all the time...It really does not bother me except in the car...Scares me to death...I REALLY do not know how people drove around before cell phones...so scary!

I now tag:

Buzzings of a Queen Bee

My Life In Pink and Green

preppy little dress

Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S.

Tickled Pink and Green

{Nina's Blog}

Thank you so much to my new friend kaybee who introduced me in her blog. please go check hers out too! She has been so sweet and I cannot wait to read more!

So I found this on kb's blog and it looks like fun so here goes...Girls, if you have time fill it out and pass it around!

A. Attached or Single? attached
B. Best Friend? Emily and Keli
C. Cake or pie? Not a huge seet eater but I do love pumpkin pie
D. Day of choice? Sunday
E. Essential item? camera
F. Favorite color? pink
G. Gummy bears or worms? bears, but only when they are a couple days old and hard...am I alone here?
H. Home town? San Angelo, Texas
I. Favorite indulgence? Lilly and a good glass of wine
J. January or July? July! it is my birthday month and the birthday of our country, July 4th is my favorite holiday.
K. Kids? not yet but I want 2 or 3.
L. Life isn’t complete without? God
M. Marriage date? Hopefully May of 2010
N. Number of brothers and sisters? I am an only child. But I have 3 step sisters 25/22/17
O. Oranges or Apples? apples
P. Phobias? car accidents
Q. Quotes? don't even get me started...here is one for today though: "Powerful is like being a lady, if you have to say you are, you're not."
R. Reasons to smile? Life is hard, we all have hard days, but at the end of the day I have an amazing family, great friends, and the Jesus with me every step of the way. I am truly blessed.
S. Season of choice? I cant choose just one! Fall- football, pumpkins and thanksgiving, Winter- Christmas and the rare cold weather in Texas, Spring- flowers, beatiful days and Easter, Summer - If I had to choose this is my favorite...I can go on and on but I think you all know the magic of summer.
T. Team of Choice? Hook 'em Horns!!
U. Unknown fact about me? It took me 6 years to graduate from college! I guess I was just having too much fun! In fact, I happily would have spent another couple of years there.
V. Vegetable? I love any raw veggies with dip.
W. Worst habit? twisting my hair
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? I am confused on this one...I guess whatver the dr. recommends...
Y. Your favorite food? seafood!
Z. Zodiac sign? cancer
(Another) Z. Which zoo animal is your favorite? I love all animals, so I can't pick. But I was watching Samantha Brown at Disney World earlier and saw a giraffe at Animal Kingdom and said "I have not seen a girrafe in a while, I really want to see one" So for today, it is the giraffe.

The Anniversary Party - Part 1

Hello again! I am back home from a weekend in San Antonio celebrating my grandparents 50th anniversary. I could not have asked for more, everything turned out perfect! The picture on the left above is grandmother on her wedding day, I did not take a single picture during the event because we had a photographer, my mom's cousins wife running arround doing that. She did a GREAT job, I got to see the pictures this morning and they came out amazing. We should have them in a couple days and I will post highlights.

I want to share some of the party with you all so I thought I would start with the invitations! So I guess this calls for a little background. I manage a local stationery store where about half of our business is custom stationery for events (mostly weddings) that I design. So naturally I did all the paper for this party. Here is the final product of the invitaiton. We used the gold obviously for the golden anniversary and the tiffany blue because this was my grandparents wedding color when they got married in 1958! I was really happy with the way the invitations came out and we even have it displayed in the store, I also did a coordinating save the date with the same papers, but for some reason can't find it right now to take a picture. Obviously that is a must find so I will add a pic when I locate it!

Here is my mom during set up just when we got back with the flowers. Of course she is on the phone, I am sure directing someone as to what they need to be doing :)

Part 2 to come as soon as I recieve some more pictures!

50 Years

I am headed to San Antonio right after work today for the weekend to celebrate my grandparents 50th anniversary! Tonight we are going to the horse races at Retama Park - wish me luck!!! Then tommorrow we will be up bright and early to set up for the party. It is at my mom's cousins house outside the city. It is a beautiful home perfect for an outdoor soiree! We are going to make the centerpieces and get everything set up all day and then guests will arrive at 6:00. We invited everyone in the family and it will be Fabulous!!!! I am most excited about the champagne fountain and the slide show of pictures of my grandparents over the years. I do have to give a toast and am soooo nervous. I have not written anything yet...I guess I better get started on that.

Today I got a wrap-a-latte from It's a Wrap. We sell them in the store that I manage and I had just never gotten one. I guess all the pumpkin spice lattes lately finally motivated me to grab one for myself! This is the exact pettern I got - it is not my favorite, I really love the one that is green and white zebra with a pink monogram, but we did not have that one with an L on it, so I thought this one was really cute too!

Everyone have a great day!!

I no longer feel like a criminal!!

My blog is finally not under review for being a "spam blog"!! I dont know why they thought that but it was hurting my feelings. I had to request a review and the lock-down on mmy posts has finally been lifted!!
K now I will start bosting everyday!

Update: I meant Posting everyday, not bosting (or boasting). I am not be here to talk highly of myself daily! No such luck yet to posting everyday, although I think it is a habit I will be easing my way into.

It smells like fall..

One of my favorite things about the beginning of fall is that I get to bring back my signature fall scent:

Burberry Brit:

a green oriental fragrance that features a surprising mix of sugar and spice.
heart notes: sugared almond and white peony.
dry down notes: amber, mahoganywood, tonka beans and vanilla

I love it. I have been wearing this fragrance every fall and winter sense I discovered it about 4 years ago. Just the smell of it makes me want to slip on a cashmere sweater, wrap up in beautiful scarf, grab a pumpkin spice latte and go to a good football game. Unfortunately it is in the upper 80's today and although I smell like fall, I might as well put a bathing suit and go work on my tan...Oh the joy of living in Texas...Oh well, hopefully just about 6 more weeks and it will really start to cool off.

Already in the holiday spirit!

Today I decided to get a jump start on the holidays and get my Christmas cards ordered. I have known all year which ones I wanted, I found these last year but had already ordered different ones, so I made a decision right then and there that this would be the card for 2008!
http://www.simplyputbyashleywoodman.com/product/view/635

I am not usually in to the photo cards sense I do not have kids yet, so I am using a picture of Prancer from earlier this year.

I decided that it will be a deer themed Chirstmas this year. for many reasons...One being the Chirstmas card and another being this funky pink deer statue I found a couple months ago. You can find it at CSPost:

I guess I have a thing for deer sense my Chihuahua is named Prancer after Santa's reindeer. Prancer was a Chirstmas gift when I was in 4th grade and he kind of looks like a baby deer.

I am having trouble finding deer address lables, so I think I will order this stamp from Three Designing Women (the deer one obviously, not the train):

I can't wait for the cards to come in - I am off to work on my address list for the cards and then I will focus on the present - I am going to winner with G and his dad tonight and then coming home and putting out more fall decorations!!

Happy Brithday to G

My boyfrind (G) turned 28 today. It is crazy to think that when we started dating I was 18 and he was just 21. Now I am 25 and he is 28! I do not feel old at all, but boy am I ready to marry this man. He shows me so much love everyday and I could not be happier with our relationship. Unfortunately, we both come from broken homes which is something that we are not happy about, but has taught us both so many lessons about marriage, and how to do it right. That is why we have waited so long, but I finally feel ready and I think he does to. So hopefully soon I can start actuley booking things for the wedding I am already planning in my head!

To celebrate G's birthday we went and had dinner at his favorite Italian restaraunt and then went downtown with a couple friends for drinks. It was great to see some old friends I had not seen in a while. We went to 3 different places over the course of the night and had a great time. My friend CH introduced us to his girlfrind who just moved here from Chicago. She is just a doll and I loved visiting with her. I hope I can see more of her and CH in the near future. I think I will invite them for brunch in a couple weeks. (the next 2 weekends are filled with a friends wedding, my mother coming in from Chicago and my Grandparents 50th Anniversary Party). I also ran in to 2 old high school friends that I have not seen in years. I love that I live in a relativly large city but have lived all over it for 10 years. I have lived North, South and Downtown, so any given night I can go out and run into random people from different places in my life.

On a sadder note, my dad's dad (Gramps) was diagnosed with lung cancer just 2 weeks ago. He has his first round of chemo last week but it was just to buy him a little more time (my Dad did not let on to the severety of this but he told my mom who let me know). Gramps never smoked a day in his life which just scares me so badly. Cancer is such a terrible disease that unfortunatly we all deal with in some way or fashion at some point in our lives. I was still in denial about the seriousness of his condition until my mom called yesterday and offered to take me out to West Texas to visit him as soon as she gets here on Monday. (My mom is flying to Texas from Chicago on Thursday and will be in Houston for my stepsisters confirmation all weekend and then is driving to Austin on Monday.) At first I told her I did not want to go because we have alot to do here before the party and it is a 4 hour drive from here to San Angelo (after she is already driving 2.5 hours from Houston), but as soon as I hung up the phone it hit me...if she is offering to do this, it must be really bad. So I talked to G and he told me about when his grandmother was sick and how important it was that he got to see her before she passed. So I am going to see Gramps for what might be the last time. I have not lost a grandparent yet and do not really know how to deal with it. I dont know what to say to my Grandma and especially to him. Of course it comforts me to know that no matter what happens, the Good Lord is there. He is there for Gramps and he is there for our family as we move forward.