My Sunshine

Loved this picture that Jake took of Lusia tonight in her nightshirt. Her cousin Sekope left it here years ago and it never made its' way back to Connecticut...Sorry Ema :( Is she cute or what?

Happy

Just a quick post from me. Thinking about my BFF and her sweet little babies tonight. Aren't they cute as a button? Love you Rachelle and Eugene! So happy for your sweet little family.

I know y'all were sick of my last playlist!

We've been watching Princess and the Frog NON-STOP at our house this week. (I'm sure a lot of you have been as well) Here's our new favorite from the movie.

Indulgences

It's friday night and I've got the munchies with no chance of making a midnight run since my sweet little monkey is fast asleep in her bed. Food is on the brain so while I'm still have awake, let me share a few of my favorite indulgences of late. You can consider this a to do list of "gastronomic" proportions. Eat up (drink up) and enjoy. Here's a few of my favorites:

Seattle's Best - Cocoa Trio

Stupid Starbucks with their nasty hot chocolate had to go and take over the world and make it impossible for us non coffee drinkers to get a rockin' cup of non-joe. Luckily I can still find pure bliss at my local Borders. This stuff is so addictive and I can drink it just as easily when it's the weather is 105 as it is when it's 25. It's oh so yummy and delicious. This is the piece de resistance when it comes to hot chocolate. They top off this milk chocolate cup of ecstasy with REAL whipping cream along with white chocolate shavings and a bar of dark chocolate. Kill me now. I've died and gone to heaven.




Hey Cupcake - Austin's ultimate cupcake mecca

Why the @#%$ did I have to find out about this place? Hey Cupcake! You're killin me! Pure bliss in the palm of my hand with cream cheese icing and sprinkles on top. I recommend the "Michael Jackson". It's chocolate cake with chocolate chips and cream cheese icing with chocolate sprinkles on top served in a silver liner. They are closed on Mondays and open the the other 6 days a week until they sell out for the day. And they DO SELL OUT. It's that good. Go to heycupcake.com and print out your buy one get one free coupon. You'll thank me for it.




Z Tejas - Apple Mint Spritzer
This fauxito combo of apple juice, fresh mint leaves and soda water is sooooo good. The only way to make them better would be to be drinking them pool side.


La Margarita - CAMPECHANA COCKTAIL

A cocktail of freshly shucked Gulf Oysters and/or Gulf Shrimp (I like it shrimp only) combined with Cocktail Sauce and Pico de Gallo, made with tomatoes, diced onions, jalapeño peppers, cilantro and avocados. There's only one place to get this and that's at La Margarita in the Market Square in downtown San Antonio. Pair it with a frozen drink (I love their virgin pina colada's) and you're all set.



Flip Happy Crepes - Austin, Texas

This little airstream trailer is tucked away off Barton Springs. It's definitely a must if you're ever in town. They have both sweet and savory crepes. My favorite is the Nutella and bananas. They're close on Mondays and Tuesdays.



Last but not least on the brain...

Round Rock Donuts

If you've been, you know. These buttery yellow donuts make Krispy Kreme taste like a very distant memory. This place is always on the list of the top donut shops in the country. While they sell them in the airport, get the full experience and have a hot fresh one right at the original bakery in Round Rock. It's worth the drive.



Bon appétit!

SICK

This was my weekend. Any questions?

4 years old!

Where did the time go? I can't believe what a big girl she is. We're about a month behind schedule on the pics. But check out her 4 year old pictures that we had done yesterday:

Out of Towners

This past weekend my brother John and nephew Dallas came down to visit from SLC. We had a GREAT time! The weekend went by way too quick. We had a great dinner at The Salt Lick and spent alot of time just hanging out. Thanks to John for fixing the kitchen drawer and a few vehicle repairs. As always, you rock! Lusia is totally attached to her cousin Dallas. She was sad to see them go. Come back soon y'all!

Our New Addition

We are pleased to announce the addition of three new members of our family....




We are so NOT pet people but it's a relatively low maintenance adventure so we'll see where it takes us.

Lusia has named them all "Light". We tried to convince her to give them all different names but she insists that they all have the same name. Maybe that means they will be more replaceable when the first one takes the final ride down the porcelain express? Keep your fingers crossed.

Happy Halloween!

Jake, Lusia, and I had a GREAT time TRICK OR TREATING last night. We all wore costumes: Jake was Mr T, Lusia was Violet from the Incredibles, and I was Ugly Betty. Lusia scored BIG TIME on the candy! The funniest part was all the people commenting on Jake's costume. People would yell out "I PITY THE FOOL!" from across the street.... it was hilarious. One guy even asked to take a picture with him. I was cracking up. It was a fun night. We even got a chance to take a picture with Lusia's very first friend since birth, Carson B. who stopped by to trick or treat. We're all slipping into a sugar coma now. Gotta go take a nap.....

Pumpkin Party

I've got too many pictures today so I'll have to make two posts....

We started out our Halloween celebrating with a Pumpkin Party at our friends house. Jake was working the game so Sia and I went and had a BLAST!

They decorated the outside of their house to look like a giant pirate ship. It was outta control! Then they had different stations set up for the kids to dig for buried treasure, walk the plank, sword fight, decorate pumpkins,etc. Plus BBQ. It was a blast! Thanks Tracey, Norma, and Steph!

Craving....

It's 11:30 and I've got the munchies. I have half a mind to go into the kitchen and start making the rockin recipe for Milk Chocolate Pecan Pound Cake that I found but I better resist since 20 minutes from now I am going to be dead tired and at the point of no return with the recipe so I'll resist for now. I'm also feening pumpkin waffles with apple cider syrup that a friend posted to her blog earlier this week. I am ALL over that in the morning!! Looks WAY too good! Thanks Tifani! Looking forward to a GREAT Halloween! Going to a pumpkin party/bbq at a friends with Sia tomorrow afternoon and then going Trick or Treating tomorrow night. Should be a blast! I'll post photos.

Tonight Sia and I carved a Sleeping Beauty pumpkin. They make it look SO EASY with their little instruction and the tools but don't let that fool you. It's ridiculously challenging. But mission accomplished, I have been staring at those freakin pumpkins for two weeks. Off to watch Ugly Betty on DVR... Stay tuned for Halloween pics in the next few days.

Making a list and checking it twice

DID YOU KNOW THAT CHRISTMAS IS 75 DAYS AWAY! HOLY FREAKIN CRAP!

So much to do, so little time. I am determined to be on top of things this year, unlike in years past. Our Christmas should be pretty chill since we will be laying low at home for the holidays. I will miss the snow and Christmas in Idaho in ways I don't even want to talk about... but that was the sacrifice for the Disney trip. So, we will be at home for the holidays. I am determined to make it a good one. We have a tradition in my family of having a BIG party on Christmas eve. We sing carols, we tell the Christmas story and have the kids dress up and play the parts while an adult narrates, and we eat ALOT. The evening is always topped off with a pinata. The kids take turn from youngest to oldest until it cracks and the candy comes spilling out. Don't ask me how this got started or why we do it but every year since I was 11 and we moved to Idaho it's something we always do.

I am starting to work on my Christmas list as we speak. I have already purchased what I like to call the Mr. Potato kit on steroids from costco and the Disney Potato head pieces on our recent trip. But there is still alot to do... Here's what's on the table for consideration:







Wish me luck!

Confession

I confess. I am not the uber-talented blogista that many of my amazingly talented friends and family are. Most of you are linked into my blog and so YOU, I am talking about YOU! All these amazing works of original art known as blogs and I have my lame-o template blog. But what can I say? I have nine years worth of photos waiting to scrapbook. I haven't scrapped a single photo from our wedding six and a half years ago or a single item from the life of my already three and a half year old child so I will confess... blogging just makes me feel guilty for not scrapping. It's a vicious cycle. LOL.

But none the less, for the dedicated friends who read my sporadic and often non aesthetically pleasing tid bits, this ones for you. The truly talented blog divas in my life. I love y'all. I stand in awe at your virtual greatness.

Little Known Stephanie Obsession #2

I LOVE the Pacific Northwest. If you know me well, you know I LOVE the rain, I love green, I love overcast weather, I love Seafood. I could live in the English Countryside but since that's a little too far from most of my family (other than my family in England --Love Y'all!) my dream has got to be the pacific northwest. If money was no object, I would live there in a minute. I mean what's not to love? It is SO beautiful.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Have I mentioned my fascination with Koi and Goldfish? I go nuts for Koi ponds and am waiting to make my millions and buy a big spread in the Pacific Northwest complete with lily pads and Koi. The goldfish obsession came from a painting at one of my designers showrooms. Something about the bright oranges and the big eyes that look almost cartoon like. Love it. Y'all already knew I was weird.

My Mom

This is my mom Edna Lou:



She is the best grandma in the whole world!



She won't admit it. But I am her favorite. (I'm the youngest! The rest of y'all can suck it! hee hee)



My mom is self-sacrificing, kind, enthusiastic, loving, supportive, thoughtful, a great listener, and most importantly a blast to hang out with. I love her to pieces. She is a GREAT mom and a ROCKSTAR Grandma. We love her SO much!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!