Angie & Logan's Wedding

We spent this past Saturday celebrating Angie & Logan. It was a perfect day.

I've been friends with Angie since, well, ever since I can remember.
And there's just something so special about seeing a childhood friend get married.
Being able to look back and remember everything that has brought her to this day.
Noticing the sweet smiles she gives her groom
and knowing that your friend has found her 'person', her soul mate.
It's a beautiful thing.

From the moment we drove up until we left that evening, I kept saying "This is so Angie!"
Everything from the outdoor ceremony to the country chic decor at the reception,
it seemed so her.
It was perfect.

The judge who performed the ceremony was a close friend of Logan's family.
To say he did an amazing job would be an understatement.
He talked about how marriages go through seasons and that they require constant commitment.
He said that a wife can't expect her husband to wear a halo,
and that the husband shouldn't expect his wife to wear wings.
His words were so true, and something every husband and wife should remember.

Later that evening we sat down for a bar-b-que dinner followed by cupcakes.
Again, so Angie.

After the sweet toasts given by both of their families,
the grand march, and first dances I finally got to hug the bride.

Angie,
I'm so happy for you!
I hope your wedding day was everything you dreamed it would be.
You looked so beautiful.
And so happy.

Logan,

You hit the jackpot in the wife department,

and the fact that you have Angie cooking for you for the rest of your life is just one reason.

But seriously, I'm so glad you and Angie found each other.

I wish you guys nothing but the best!

10 Week YOU Challenge: Week 7

I don't know what I'm going to do when this link-up is over!

Can we just start back at 10 and do it again??

{via}

This week we're talking about books.

I've never been a big reader, but there are a few books that have had an impact on my life.

Bible

I admit that I haven't spent nearly as much time reading the Bible as I should. But over the past month or so I've made it part of my daily routine. At a time in life when a few things seemed unclear I learned that picking up my Bible didn't give me all of the answers, but it did give me a sense of peace.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

When I started running last year I knew I needed help getting motivated, so I bought Born to Run. This book completely changed my outlook on running. Before starting the C25k program I had never run more than a few laps around the grassy field at St. Joseph's School. Because of my inexperience I was questioning whether or not I'd even be able to run. Born to Run taught me that not only was I able to, but I was born to. This book really gave me the confidence I needed to not only start running, but to keep running and not look back.

See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar

I had a {competitive} cheer coach in high school who read an excerpt from See You at the Top before every practice. I loved this part of practice, and each week I looked forward to what Zig would teach me. I eventually borrowed the book from my coach and read the whole thing. It is the best motivational book I've ever read.

Welcome to my Kitchen by Grandma Wenzel

First of all, Grandma Wenzel is my friend Courtney's grandma, but our families are so close that I claim her as my grandma, too. Grandma Wenzel is an amazing cook and one of the most organized people I know. She put together a cookbook of all her recipes for her kids and grand kids. I remember seeing Courtney's copy and thinking 'Man, I wish I could have one.' ...Fast forward a few months to one of my bridal showers... I had been opening one preselected-registry-gift after another, saying my usual 'thank-yous', when I came across Grandma Wenzel's gift. It was her cookbook. My very own copy. My eyes immediately filled with tears as I leaned over and hugged her. She was sitting right beside me, right where my own MaMaw or Grandma would have been sitting had they been there. This moment was so special, one I will never forget. Since then I have made so many meals and deserts from her cookbook. Of course, they are always delicious!

As Requested {INVINCIBLE Update}

I wasn't going to do fantasy football updates {because I figured no one cared}, but someone approached me at a wedding yesterday and said, "Emily, I've been checking your blog to see how fantasy football is going! How is it?!"

Turns out there's people who actually read this thing!

~~~

Week 1 for INVINCIBLE was not fun. We played RyDawgs {B's ten year old cousin}, and we lost. By 18 points. I was not happy.

So I told B, "If my guys don't step it up in week 2, then they're all getting traded."

B laughed and said, "Oh yeah! Who are you going to pick up? Because the players who are available are not any better than the ones you have!"

My players must have heard me, because in week 2 INVINCIBLE looked like a completely different team.

Not only did we win, but we earned the highest score in the league. The highest score in the league! Now that is an accomplishment!

{Did I mention that we played Old Timers? Aka Brandon's Parents!}

I decided that this may never happen again, so in my head I'm pretending it was the championship.

I even slept in my 'Fantasy Football Legend' shirt on Monday night.

Gardening Lesson #3

Since PaPaw lives too far away to come see my garden as often as I'd like {the ride in the car would be hard on his back}, I've been mailing him pictures of my tomato plants each week.

He called me right after he received the first set of pictures...

"That's a fine lookin' garden you got there, young lady!"

"Thanks, PaPaw! I guess you got the pictures..."

"Now Emily, you got some of my cages, right?"

"Yes, PaPaw."

"Now when you put them cages up you're gonna have to get some stakes and tie 'em down. If you don't that wind'll knock 'em right over! Just go to the store and get you some stakes. You'll need two stakes for each cage. And don't get the metal ones, they'll be too high {pricey}."

"Okay, PaPaw."

"And Emily, you'll need to get you some of that Seven Dust. That'll keep the bugs from eatin' up your garden."

"Okay, I'll go get some."

"And make sure you're usin' that Miracle Grow."

{three weeks in the ground}

{First blooms!!}

Stakes, Seven Dust, and Miracle Grow...

"Thanks, PaPaw!"

10 Week YOU Challenge: Week 6

Hello, Friends! I can't believe it's already Tuesday again!

This week is all about food. 

I love food.

Choosing only five foods is going to be tough.



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Five Foods

1. MaMaw's Homemade Rolls

Best. Food. Ever.

I'd give anything to have her make me just one more batch.

2. Mom's Roast

I could seriously eat the whole thing.

I don't know what my favorite part is... the carrots, the actual roast, or the gravy.

The best combination ever would be MaMaw's rolls with Mom's roast.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

3. Chuy's #5{?}

Chuy's is my favorite,

and this is my favorite thing to order.

I can never decide which part is better...

the deluxe chicken enchilada or the chicken chalupa.

Yum!

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4. Ice Cream

Homemade {vanilla}

Marble Slab {birthday cake}

Cold Stone {cake batter}

DQ blizzards {butterfinger}

Blue Bell {cotton candy}

 

1 / 2 / 3

5. California Pizza Kitchen

I love going with someone who will share a pizza and a salad with me.



{via}



I wish I wasn't writing this post at eleven o'clock at night,

because now I'm hungry.

**Maudie's should probably be on this list, but I haven't had it in so long that I forgot what it tasted like.**

{Michelle, I'm counting on you to fix this when I come visit.}

Gardening Lesson #2

The day after I planted my garden I went grocery shopping. As I walked through the produce I grabbed a few tomatoes and thought, "Oh, I bet these will be the last ones I buy this year!"

Silly me.

I called my dad after a week or so of watering, fertilizing, and watching my tomato plants grow.

"How much longer until I have tomatoes to eat?"

"Oh, it's going to be a while. Probably around twelve weeks."

"Twelve weeks?! That's like three months!"

I was shocked.

{After two weeks in the ground}

I guess I'll be going back to the store for more tomatoes.

Now I can say I've eaten it.

Crawfish, that is.

A few weeks ago Brandon and I drove to Rockport and ate at The Boiling Pot. I had never eaten crawfish before and had been dying to try it.

As we sat down the waitress explained "Everything here is spicy, and you peel it all yourself."

Okay, I like spicy.

She then covered the table with butcher paper, gave us a cup of crayons, and tied a bib around each of our necks. The kid in me wanted to color on the paper so badly. But when B said that we were going to be eating off of that paper, I decided against it. I don't like tasting crayon in my food.

I told B I wanted to have the whole experience, so we ordered a little of everything. After we finished our appetizer of beans and rice the waitress came and dumped a large pot of food on the table. We had crawfish, shrimp, crab, sausage, lobster, corn and potatoes.

Brandon said he was impressed that I ate it, since the seafood still had the eyes and tentacles. I just had to completely block it out of my mind, or it would have grossed me out.

The food was pretty good, and I'm glad I had the experience. But if I never get to eat it again?

That's okay with me.

10 Week YOU Challenge: Week 5

Happy Tuesday!

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Six Places

Each of these places has played a big part in my life,
but the people and experiences that I encountered in each place
are what make each one special.
  

Austin
My all-time favorite place to live.
The first place we lived when we got married.

Yoakum
Our hometown.

Georgia
Home of my Aunt Betty and Uncle Robert.
My all-time favorite summer vacation spot.

The Forty Acres
Read more here.

Red Rock / Rockne
Home of my grandparents,
and the place that holds my favorite childhood memories.

Corpus Christi
Our current city.
Although it's not my favorite place to live,
I'm sure I'll look back one day and appreciate everything this city has taught me.

Gardening Lesson #1

Before planting my garden I talked with my dad about the best way to get the soil ready. After several conversations I had a step-by-step plan, and Brandon agreed to help me.

We came home from church on Sunday {several weeks ago}, and Brandon went outside and got started.

I glanced out the window and noticed he was not doing it according to the plan. I rushed outside to stop him...

"B, my dad said that the first thing we need to do is..."

"Emily, what I'm going to do is just take off this top layer..."

"But B, my dad said that we should..."

"Emily, just trust me. This will work too."

And it did.



{After one week in the ground}



I am slowly learning that my dad's way isn't the only way.

Pivo Draft

Now that the league has officially started, let me introduce you to my team!


...Drum roll, please...

 

 

*INVINCIBLE*

{Get it? inVINCEable? As in Vince Young, VY,  the guy I explained my love for here?}

{Team Logo}

{Now I know that VY hasn't exactly lived up to the above definition in the past few years, but I choose to focus on the positive moments in his football career. I hope that when people think of me they, too, choose to focus on everything I've accomplished, instead of my failures.} Okay, moving on...

 

Since I already had the best team name and logo in the league, when draft week came I could focus all my time and energy on getting the best players {because some people think that's what matters}.

 

I decided I was going to do "research" while Brandon was gone last week. When he got home on Friday I showed him my "notes".

{Page one. I had six pages of "notes"}

 

He took one look, laughed and said, "What website did you copy this from? Because I know you didn't come up with this on your own."

 

Well...so what if I copied it down. The truth was I didn't know that much about the NFL. I've usually based a player's status on three things:

 

1. Have I ever heard of him? {If I have heard a player's name enough to remember it, then he must be good.}

2. Who did he play for in college? {Former Longhorns rank higher than anyone else.}

3. Is the player attractive? {This one is self-explanatory.}

 

Even though I had a lack of experience with the NFL I still wanted INVINCIBLE to be successful. But I soon realized that no matter how many articles I read or how many fantasy rankings I studied, I was never going to feel prepared.

 

 

As the countdown expired I began to panic. I was sitting on the couch with my computer in my lap and my "notes" spread out around me. Oh yeah, and I was wearing this shirt:

{Mom bought this shirt for B several years ago, when he was on a championship winning streak.
I just knew it would bring me luck!]

I glanced down at my "notes" and realized I had no clue what I was doing.

 

"B, I'm so nervous! I have no idea who to pick! I don't know anything about any of these people!"

 

"Emily, calm down! You have the third pick. You know Arian Foster is going to go first. Next will be either Ray Rice or LeSean McCoy, and you'll take whichever one is left."

"Ok, but who do I pick after that???"

 

"You'll have time to figure it out..."

 

{Let me remind you that while Brandon was guiding me through this process he was picking his own team, as well.}

 

I got Ray Rice for my first pick. And I don't remember the order of my picks after that.

 

~~~

INVINCIBLE

Eli Manning

Quarterback, New York Giants

Julio Jones

Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons

Hakeem Nicks

Wide Receiver, New York Giants

DeSean Jackson

Wide Receiver, Philadelphia Eagles

Ray Rice

Running Back, Baltimore Ravens

Michael Turner

Running Back, Atlanta Falcons

Jermichael Finley

Tight End, Green Bay Packers

Reggie Bush

Running Back, Miami Dolphins

{I almost didn't take him, because he goes against my whole team motto. He won the Heisman in 2005, instead of VY. And he had to give it back a few years ago, so VY should have won in the first place.}

Antonio Brown

Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers

Peyton Hillis

Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs

Jason Witten

Tight End, Dallas Cowboys

Jay Cutler

Quarterback, Chicago Bears

Greg Little

Wide Receiver, Cleveland Browns

Justin Tucker

Kicker, Baltimore Ravens

{Any Texas kicker who kicks the game winning forty-yard field goal in the final seconds of the final game against Texas A&M deserves to kick for INVINCIBLE.}

Vince Young

Honorary Quarterback, INVINCIBLE

{Yes, I know he got dropped from his team.}

 

And I have to pick up a defense

{It's all part of my strategy.}

~~~

So there you have it... The 2012 Pivo League Champs! {Ha, I wish!}

Our season starts tonight! I'll be watching the Cowboys vs. Giants game, cheering on Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks. Hakeem better get over his foot problem fast! {Jason Witten is only a back-up for INVINCIBLE, and he's currently injured.} 

Alright, INVINCIBLE...Don't let me down! 

 

  

10 Week YOU Challenge: Week 4

{via}

I have a confession to make.

I have been dreading this week's challenge.

You see, I have always struggled with asking people for things.

{Although, I don't have a problem asking B for anything. Hmm..That's funny...} 

I feel guilty asking people to buy me stuff.

I have no trouble making a birthday or Christmas list in my head.

Actually, I have quite a long list in my head, but when it comes down to telling someone,

actually handing that list over,

I can't do it.

So the thought of making a list of seven wants and sharing it with the rest of the blog world...

It scares me.

I've been working on it for several weeks, and I have at least seven wants.

But when I go back and re-read my list I start thinking,

"Oh I don't really need that,"

"I can live without that,"

"Wow, how can I say I want ______

when there's people in the world who don't even have _____?"

See? I drive myself crazy!

I don't want to be like this.

I know that it's perfectly okay to want something,

and to admit it.

So I'm going to take this week's challenge.

I'm going to become completely vulnerable and put myself put there.

I think it will be good for me.

Seven Wants

1. I'd love a cute cross body purse.

{I have in my head what I want, but I haven't found it yet.}

2. I want a new yoga mat.

{Mine was $12 at Ross, and my hands and feet slip.

And I'm getting a lot better at yoga, so I feel like I've earned one.}

3. One day when I have kids I want a DSLR camera,

 so I can have amazing photos like Becky and Laura.

{I do know that this also requires talent, which I'm going to work on.}

4. I'd also like Adobe Photoshop to help with #3.

5. I like the idea of having a nice watch,

but I don't wear one regularly, so I'm not sure if that would be a smart choice.

6. I want my garden to hurry up and make tomatoes.

7. I want {and will soon need} new running shoes.

Whew! I did it. 

Those are my seven wants.

I think it will be fun to look back one day and see what my wants/interests were at this point in my life!

Thanks so much to Tiffany and Lauren for hosting this weekly challenge.

I have learned so much about myself throughout this process.

And thanks for reading, friends!

Weekend Update

This weekend was one of my favorite weekends! Brandon came home Friday after being out of town all of last week, which already made Princess and I happy. Add in a few college football games, good food, the Texas Longhorns, and my first ever fantasy draft...

...Now that's what you call a good weekend.

1: Chili dog, 2: Princess's football season collar, 3: Longhorns taking the field,
4: Princess {and B in the background} in their game day attire, 5: Our first Longhorn Network experience



The first weekend of college football for Brandon is huge. I knew this. And I wanted to make sure that we made the most of it. I knew our weekend would be spent in front of the TV watching football, and the one way I knew I could make it even better was by planning our menu.

I decided to carry on my parents tradition of having 'game food'. All weekend. I went to the store on Friday and bought everything we needed for nachos, burgers, and hot dogs. Oh, the hot dogs.

When I was younger my family ate the same thing during almost every Texas football game. Mom would make a pot of chili, Dad grilled hot dogs, and when everything was ready Dad would say, "The concession stand is open!" If we got hungry again in the fourth quarter? That's when they'd bring out the nachos. It was their little way of bringing a bit of DKR right into our living room.

So... On Saturday I was really looking forward to the hot dogs. Like I almost made them for breakfast.

After spending the morning watching Game Day and eating way too much we showered and got ready for our game. The Texas game. Russel {Brandon's friend from work who is also a Texas Ex and loves Longhorn football just as much as we do} came over, and we headed to the Texas Exes watch party.

Me, Brandon, Russel

The party was held at a local bar, and if I couldn't be at the game then this was definitely the next best place to be. We were in a huge room full of fellow Longhorns, watching the game on a giant screen, singing 'The Eyes of Texas' in a crowd of burnt orange.

We. Were. Loving it.

After the game, which Texas won, we started making plans to go back next week. It was just such a good feeling to be in a room full of people who understand, who get it, who know what it's like to yell Texas Fight  at the top of your lungs in a crowd of 100,000+. For the first time since we've lived here, I felt 'at home'.

And let me tell you, that is a good feeling.

Sunday morning after church we we started focusing on our draft for The Pivo League.

I wonder what this could be??

Come back Wednesday to meet my first ever fantasy football team...