WORK HARD, PARTY HARD

I love my job, I really do. For so many reasons. But I think I can honestly say (and I've probably said before) that aside from being close to family, my job is the number one reason I've stayed in the north for so long instead of going back to Austin (which was my original plan a year and a half ago).

Now the little family that we've all become is coming to an end, but not without something to celebrate; And how else would Ception celebrate? 

With a huge Blowout Barbecue Party of course!

The delicious canoe of seafood

Fresh veggies, dips, and homemade potato chips never looked so pretty!

Memorabilia table

One of my bosses 

(the only coworker I remembered to take a picture with all night!)

Hoppin' dance floor

And of course my hot date! (The Mom)

And not to brag, but I'm so excited about our "party favor":

Drum roll please...

An iPad!!!

This group of people is truly one of a kind and I've been so spoiled to work for such a wonderful company so early in my career, but truly thankful for the experience.

ANTHRO ADDICT

I don't have time to blog, but I have time to shop! Well, window shop because I can't resist browsing through Anthropologie online yet I also know that I cannot afford it.


I think I will blame this on Mel. I never really even knew about this addictive store until Mel used to wear all these cute dresses to Longhorn Singers and they always seemed to be from Anthropologie. I decided to check the shop out one day and the rest is history. She doesn't know this, but now everytime I browse Anthro I think of cute little Mel and all of her cute little dresses.


I am currently loving this Rising Battenberg dress; it would just look darling with some cork wedges for a summer day trip to the art museum.

IT'S FRIDAY, OH YES IT IS

1.  One song that always takes me back to my youth is     "100% Pure Love" by Crystal Waters.  We made up many a dance to this song in elementary school   .

2.  My first concert ever was     I think Blink 182; I can hardly remember! .

3.  If I could create my dream music festival I'd want these bands to be there:      Hanson, Lit, Fugees, Beatles, Silverchair, Mat kearney, Rihanna (are they considered bands?), topped off with some David Crowder Band    .

4.  The best make-out/"boot knocking" song ever is      I hmmm Bon Iver? not a song, but I imagine I'd enjoy kissing my future hubby with some Bon Iver serenading in the background    .

5.  The best concert I've ever been to was     Oh boy there have been quite a few; I can never pick a best one, every live show I go to is always 'my favorite'!     .

6.  A memorable musical moment for me was        singing "Send in the Clowns" from A Little Night Music dressed up as a clown in my 6th grade talent show. Oh yeah I was cool   .

7.  The song on my iPod that's getting the most play these days is      Rihanna's "Te Amo" (althought I just found out what she wrote the song about and it doesn't sound the same anymore...     . 

Don't forget: play along and link up!

I WOKE UP TO THIS IN MY INBOX

My handsome nephew

It's going to be a good day :)

ZUCCHINI BREAD TO DIE FOR

(I forgot to photo-document the baking process, so I stole this cute picture from this fun food blog)

Zucchini: Good.

Bread: Delicious.

Zucchini Bread: The bomb.

Especially this recipe. I've passed over it multiple times in my Joy of Vegan Baking cookbook, but zucchini isn't usually something I just have on hand. When I saw it at the store last weekend, though, it looked so fresh and green and that zucchini bread recipe that I've been so rudely avoiding was calling my name.

My recipe made 3 mini loaves. I left half a loaf with the Mom and Dad for tasting and took the other 2 and a half loaves into work at 9 a.m. monday morning. Literally, I kid you not, all traces of zucchini bread were devoured by 10 a.m. I don't say this to brag, but rather to prove how good this recipe really is...and easy! My Mom makes the best Zucchini Bread I've ever had (maybe the only kind I've ever had, but still the best) and I'd go as far as to say that this recipe gives the Mom's a good run for its' money! (sorry mom...)

Zucchini Bread
Makes 2 standard loaves.

(or 4 minis)

Ingredients:

3T ground flaxseed

1/2c water

1c canola oil (I used 1/2c oil and 1/2c unsweetened applesauce)

1T white distilled vinegar

2c granulated sugar (so sweet; I used 1 1/2c)

2c grated zucchini

2t vanilla extract

3c unbleached all-purpose or whole wheat pastry flour

2t ground cinnamon

1/2t nutmeg

1t baking soda

1/4t baking powder

1t salt

1/2c chopped walnuts (optional)

1/2c raisins (optional)

 

Preheat oven to 325F (170C). Lightly grease two 8x4x2 inch loaf pans (or 4 mini-loaf pans).

Combine flaxseed meal and water; whip in a blender until thick and creamy. Add oil (oil/applesauce blend), vinegar and sugar - mix well. Add zucchini and vanilla, mix well. In a separate bowl, sift together all dry ingredients. Stir in walnuts and raisins if using. Stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture until just combined; do not over mix.

Divide the batter evenly into the loaf pans and bake for 60 to 70 minutes for large loaf pans or 35-45 minutes for mini loaf pans.

Now go try it and let me know how you like it!

TGIF, FOR REAL

1.  The first thing I do in the morning is     stretch; it just feels so good   .

2.  Every night before bed  I     pee. With the amount of water that I drink most days, if I don't I'll wake up a 3a.m. .

3.  My favorite thing to do when I'm having a bad day is      enjoy a glass of wine in lounge shorts and a t-shirt curled up on the couch (or preferably the porch when it's warm and sunny)    .

4.  Something that makes me cringe is     the smell of really bad body odor...Peeeee Uuuuuu  !

5.  Social situations    wear me out. I like them, but boy they wear me out   .

6.  I like to collect      nothing. Well, nothing now, but when I was little I had a pretty fun eraser collection, stamp collection (I think) and an awesome sticker collection passed down from my sister.    .

7.  Weekends are for      fun and relaxation; whatever that looks like to you, DO IT    .

Now play along and link up with Lauren at the little things we do!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

The past week, as depicted by Clipart:

 

Addicted to MadMen.

And want all of Betty's clothes.

Summer shoe shopping.

but instead found a bunch of winter shoes on super clearance.

Car back in the shop.

Fingers crossed this time's for good.

Taxes done.

All by myself for the first time ever; why do I have a bad feeling they may be coming after me for filling my forms out wrong...

 

RIVERPALOOZA

Music, friends, beer and sunshine. Glorious.

  

Got the mop cut. Or I should say trimmed; I'm not too adventurous.

Caught up on some much-needed ZzzzZZzzzzZz's

The End.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

 (or in this case, Me). 

 

I've been reading this blog, MannLand5, for some time now (it's really cute, go check it out) and feel like I can legitimately follow it and join in on Keely's fun little game.

It's called Getting to Know You and the rules are simple:

Every Sunday just copy the questions, answer them, post them, then go link up on Keely's blog.

The questions..

1. Showers or baths?

Showers if I'm dirty, baths if I'm clean. I don't like the idea of laying around in my own body dirt.

2. Do you have any crazy urges?

I get crazy urges to go to Europe. Maybe to visit, Maybe to live. I'm sure all countries have their moments, but some[times] days the U.S. overwhelms me. (Mel, I couldn't resist...)

3. What is one thing we don't know about you?

 I'd rather use a spoon than a fork. No matter what I'm eating.

4. Exercise..love it or hate it?

Love it....most days.

5. Do you think you have a good body image?

Sometimes

6. Flour or corn tortillas?

Now that depends...crispy or soft? Think I'll go with crispy corn over flour any day.

7. How do you celebrate Easter? 

Not like we used to, it used to be an Easter Egg hunt, church and big Easter dinner; these days it's just church, sans Egg hunt and Easter dinner.

8. Hard boiled Easter eggs or plastic eggs?

Plastic. Filled with jelly beans. 

Now play along and link up here; I would LOVE to know more about you!

EMERICK FAMILY

For you, Kelly and Scott; I love this picture of your cute little family...

(thought you might like to steal it from here)

HAPPY EASTER

He is not here, for he has risen.

Matthew 28:6

Hallelujah!

THE GIRL TURNS 1

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY MACKENZIE!

My niece turns 1 on Monday, so along with Easter this weekend, we also celebrated her. Her Mom and Dad threw her a sweet Easter-theme birthday party for all her family and friends. So cute.

Easter Egg Hunt

Little Ryan gets in on the hunt (with some help from Mom)

Checkin out the goods

Swing time with Uncle Scott

The professional cake that Steph made! Very impressed.

Cake time!

Mmmmmmm

And some sandbox/pool time to top it all off. 

This got real messy real fast...

Cute cousins

The Birthday Girl

All tuckered out after a long day of partying :)