Welcome Home, Mellie

Engagement Party!

2012-02-12T14:04:00.010-06:00

Last night, my dear friends, Jess and Ken threw Carl and me an engagement party!

I had such a blast (maybe a little too much fun) and woke up so grateful to have such great friends in Austin (and with a headache too).

Jess was my first friend in Austin and we've seen each other through a lot over the past 8 years. She's such a good friend I wouldn't know where to start to describe how much her friendship means to me. Last night was one example of how much energy and effort she puts into those she loves.

To start, we pulled up to their house and saw the illuminating heart! Not only was it lovely (and hopefully something we'll use at the wedding) but it was helpful in locating their house in the dark (as many others noted throughout the night - and I'm a big fan of practical gifts). There were fun activities, which included a box to leave words of wisdom or advice in for Carl and me and there was a Scrabble type board, where you had to come up with words that used letters from mine and Carl's first names (things like 'rascal', 'slime' and 'massacre' were big hits).

Additionally, one of their friends, made little paper hearts that were then hung from the ceiling via rope and paperclips and each had an individual fortune inside them. There were so many special touches and some of our favorite foods (chocolate chip cookies, cheese) and a specialty cocktail punch.

About 30 of our closest friends came and I think it was a huge success! It was a great opportunity for our friends to intermingle and to get to spend more time with each others groups of friends.

While in many ways I feel like we've been engaged for a long time already (it hasn't even been 2 months), I'm so glad we had an official way to celebrate and so lucky to have Jess and Ken in our lives. I know it's one of many celebrations to occur this year but the next ones have a lot to live up to.....

Playing House

2012-02-04T17:44:00.004-06:00

This week Carl and I stayed with and took care of Lucie and Audrey for two nights while Chris and Missy were out of town. I had a blast with them and they are such great kids to be around. I learned a few things while staying with them:

1. Don't get dressed in your work clothes until after you feed Audrey (especially when she eats yogurt).
2. Elmo and milk make everything better.
3. Buster and Carl are clearly Lucie's favorite visitors (in that order).
4. Audrey will agree to just about anything.
5. Lucie and Audrey love bacon just as much as their Tia Mellie.

Lucie's also so funny and talkative now. One night, while putting her to bed, the following conversation happened:

L: (pointing to my engagement ring) 'What's that for?'
M: 'Well, Carl gave it to me because we're going to get married'
L: 'I'm married'
M: 'You are?'
L: 'Yes and so are Mommy and Daddy and Audrey'

Yep, that sounds about right......

Until next time and more adorable niece snuggle time, I'll miss them.

Run Sue Run

2012-01-29T17:17:00.004-06:00

This morning, my friend, Sue, ran her first half marathon in a number of years. This was an important goal for her because not only did she recently turn 40 but she's been losing weight (and looks amazing!) and has suffered from exercise induced migraines.

She decided to run the 3M half marathon and did a great job training (despite some inconsistent running buddies).

She did a kick ass job today and not only am I so proud of her but it's good inspiration for me as I'm winding down my training for the next 3 weeks until my half marathon.

We went out to cheer for her today but despite our best intentions and planning, we missed her! I'm guessing by just seconds b/c we got to a great viewing point just as her husband told us she ran by. I know how much it would have meant for her to have seen us and I'm just bummed we didn't. Turns out, she was going much faster than we (or she) expected.

So we took this picture to send to her so we knew we were cheering her on!

Congrats to Sue on a very impressive run! I only hope I do as great at age 35 as you did at 40.

Two Years, Two Months and Twenty-Eight Days

2012-01-26T19:46:00.005-06:00

That's how long my dear friend, Devon, worked on accomplishing a goal - an unassisted pull up!

For those of you who had to do the Presidential Physical Fitness Test, you know that women and pull ups don't go hand in hand (flexed arm hang, please!).

Devon starting doing Crossfit over two years ago. Her commitment level is an inspiration. She gets up, two mornings per week, for a 5:15am work out. And these work outs are intense. I've done them a few times and am impressed by those who do them regularly.

Since she started doing Crossfit regularly, Devon's had some pretty amazing physical changes. She's lost weight, gained muscle and overall looks amazing. She's also put her mind to some goals - completing an unassisted pull up being one of them.

She and Kelsey (who do Crossfit together), go to our office gym every afternoon and practice. All working towards this impressive goal.

So the other day, she did it! She did her first unassisted pull up and her Crossfit coach caught it on film.

I'm always proud of Devon. She's a great friend, colleague and always so supportive of when I reach my goals. I can't wait to see what she does next.

Crashes

2012-01-18T20:07:00.005-06:00

While 2012 got off to a great start in many ways, it's been a rocky start for my car. About two weeks ago, at the end of a long work day, I walked out to my car and it had been hit. There was a note in the window from someone who witnessed the accident but not from the person who actually did it. There was a big dent in the bumper and a broken tail light (see picture 1). Sure, it was annoying, but it wasn' the end of the world.

Then aftef I finally dealt with the police and insurance companies and getting estimates, I set up an appointment for next Monday to get it fixed and pay my $250 deductible.

That same night I was driving to dinner to meet a friend and while sitting at a stop light, I was rear ended. A college student, not paying attention, slammed into the back of my car, pretty hard. I hit my face into the steering wheel but am overall ok. My car then hit the car in front of me and the police and EMS were quick to the scene. While the young girl was hysterically crying I was shaking my head that my poor car had now been hit twice, in the same spot. This time was much worse, however (see picture 2). My bumper is hanging on but the damage is more significant. I had to laugh when I called my insurance company about both my open and a new claim.

So while I'm still waiting to see what will happen with my car, I'm glad I'm ok. I just hope that whatever bad car karma I have right now has passed.

Lady Baby Anne

2012-01-16T16:59:00.005-06:00

For those of you who don't know my friend, Haley, she's the epitome of a lady. She was born and raised in Alabama and has the lingerings of a true southern accent. And she always knows how to be a lady - she blushes when people discuss sex, she calls her mother-in-law Mrs. Gladys, she likes sweet tea and she always looks put together (ok, to be honest, she knows how to lounge but even then she looks adorable).

I don't think any of us were surprised she was having a girl. And we have no doubt she'll be as much of a Lady as Haley is.

Yesterday we (Sue, Nicole, Devon, Jen and me) threw Haley a shower. We tried to stay true to her southern roots and had chicken and waffles, iced tea, ham sliders and monograms a plenty. I have to admit, baby showers may be one of my least favorite things to attend. It's not that I hate babies or my friends having them - that couldn't be further from the truth. But typically they are pretty stuffy and boring.

I may be biased, since I helped plan this one but it was one of the best ones I've ever been to. It may also be that we had booze at the shower, which always makes things more fun. The food was also delicious (I've already asked Devon to make some appetizers for mine and Carl's wedding), the company was great and the gift opening was fun with a game of bingo as incentive to pay attention.

Most importantly I think Haley had a good time. We wrote well wishes (and wise words) to her future daughter, Anne, and I got a little teary when she read them aloud. I can't wait to see her as a mom and can't wait to add another little girl to my list of nieces.

Save the Date!

2012-01-15T21:09:00.004-06:00

Carl and I went out to his land (also known as our future wedding venue) to take pictures for our Save the Date notifications. I didn't want to do engagement pictures (this is a regional tradition that I didn't grow up knowing on the east coast) but I wanted to do something cute for our Save the Dates and thought it would be fun to take some pictures at the wedding site.

So I guess, in some ways, we did engagement photos.

My friend (and fellow JMU Duke alum), Colleen, came over early to do my makeup. Is it strange that I'm 35 and have never had my make up done? I wish someone would do it for me every morning. She did a great job and I have no doubt some of the closer up pics will show her work.

My friend, Natalie (check out her blog, which is linked from mine) started doing photography a few years ago. She stated with mostly family photos and has worked her way up to weddings. She was kind enough to drive out to Dripping Springs and take photos of us (well over 400 I think). She sent us one as a sneak peak and I thought I'd share it. I don't know if this is the one we'll use but if they all look as great as this, it'll be hard to choose.

Carl was a great sport since I know this isn't his thing. I do think I win points for letting him still wear one of his graphic t-shirts (I mean, really, what else did I have to choose from) but I think it's best that the picture capture who we really are.

Impressive!

2012-01-09T18:36:00.004-06:00

My friend, Haley, is expecting her first baby on February 23rd. She's been a rock star throughout the entire pregnancy and continues to work out, doing crossfit up to 4x/week!

Devon went with her recently and took some pictures of her at crossfit that I just had to share.

It's a good inspiration when I want to slack off and miss a run!

Sileo Family Christmas

2012-01-08T16:52:00.006-06:00

My mom and Jack are in town this weekend to celebrate the holidays. We did this last year and it is pretty nice to have an extended holiday and way less stressful!

So far, we've ate and drank our way through the weekend. Starting with a holiday dinner at Chris and Missy's, where we opened gifts. The next morning, Carl and I had everyone over to our house for brunch. It was a beautiful day so the girls loved being outside. It was quite challenging to get a picture with the two of them in it and both looking at the camera so there are some cute ones of them separately.

Yesterday, my mom and I along with Missy and some friends, went to try on wedding dresses. It was my first time trying anything on and while I thought I knew what I wanted, it helped to confirm what I don't want. There are so many beautiful options out there, though that I have to try on more. It's also tons of fun!

Last night, we went out to dinner to celebrate mine and Carl's engagement and tonight I'm babysitting the girls with my Mom and Jack while Chris and Missy go out on a much deserved date. Carl left town for the week today and I already miss him. We've been together for the past 3 weeks and I certainly got used to him being around. Hopefully this week I'll get some more wedding planning done, though, as the clock is ticking.....

Big Sur

2012-01-08T16:40:00.007-06:00

While of course our engagement at Big Sur was the highlight of the trip, I thought I'd share a few photos of what we saw. We went a bit overboard with the number of pictures we took so I'll spare you all the repetition. It really was a beautiful place and, of course, will always remain a special place in my heart as the beginning of the next stage of our life together.

Of note, the first picture of the two of us on the beach was right after we got engaged. We celebrated with our picnic lunch of almond butter and jelly sandwiches, oranges and beef jerky!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T20:11:00.006-06:00

2011 was a pretty remarkable year. I look back on it with such gratitude - for my job, my friends, my family, my relationship with Carl. And 2012 is already giving me so much to look forward to. As I'm sure all of my adoring fans know by now, Carl proposed to me last week while we were in Big Sur.

Even prior to his proposal, we'd had a great trip. We enjoyed 4 days in San Francisco, staying at Jenn and Tom's house while they were out of town. We both loved walking to eat, going to the movies, driving to Napa, eating Chinese food and sleeping in. It was one of the most relaxing trips I've ever had.

Big Sur was, of course, beautiful and relaxing in its own way, too. We couldn't get enough pictures of the waves crashing on the enormous rocks. Of course the best part of the trip was our engagement. Carl surprised me after a hike one afternoon with a proposal and beautiful ring. While I had no doubt we'd get married it's great to officially call him my fiance and begin to plan our wedding and life together.

A Year Later....

2011-12-18T19:31:00.003-06:00

Carl and I celebrated our one year anniversary this past weekend. It's hard to believe that it's been one year since our first date - burgers at lunch on a cold Friday afternoon (yes, he was still wearing flip flops). But what a great year it's been!

We didn't do much to celebrate this weekend since we were with his family in Houston but that was just as important to me. I've met them all several times now but this was the first time to spend an entire weekend with them and to celebrate a holiday. His family is very different than mine - bigger and louder for sure - but also so loving and kind (that's not the part that's different from mine). I feel like a part of their family when I'm with them and so appreciate that.

I actually think that Stewart Family Christmas is much like Carroll Family Christmas, which is my mom's side of the family. She, too, is one of 5 children and there were 12 grandchildren (to the Stewart's current 7). I have such fond memories of my childhood holidays with all my aunts, uncles and cousins, that maybe that's why it all felt so comfortable and familiar.

I also now have a better idea of how my parents probably coped with the chaos - wine! I had enough to put me to bed (with the lights on) by 10pm. Feeling great the next morning, though, we headed back to Austin. I'm just grateful that I ran my 6 mile run before the wine drinking started.

I won't make this a sappy blog post about how great Carl is and how happy I am that he's in my life but suffice it to say we're in a great place and I look forward to many more years with him.

Traditions

2011-12-13T22:14:00.005-06:00

As previously described, I'm a big fan of traditions, especially around the holidays. Some traditions I have with my friends include volunteering with Coats for Kids. I try to find ways to regularly volunteer and this is one event that I really enjoy and look forward to giving my time to. Both Haley and Devon are in the Junior League, which puts on the event every year. It's a great chance to support those in the Austin community who may not have coats to keep their kids warm. I know, it's a bit ironic to worry about coats in Austin, but we have had a cold spell already and our blood is thin here! I need coats (at least 10...)

So Kelsey, Devon, Haley and I started our weekend with an early wake up call to volunteer. I'm already committed to next year and can't wait until Devon and Haley take over this committee and make tons of improvements!

The next tradition this weekend was watching the movie Love Actually. For the past several years, my girlfriends and I have gotten together to watch this movie, all while wearing comfy clothes and eating junk food. This year, we decided to make the event bigger and rented out the Alamo for a morning brunch event and invite other friends to join us. To make it more fun, we did a toy drive for Toys for Tots and had a bingo game to fundraise for Jen's half marathon. The whole event was a huge success and I hope we do it, again, next year!

The final (new) tradition this year was some crafting projects at Devon's house. This time we made some hot chocolate mix and mini gingerbread houses. It was tons of fun and I think our houses make a cute little village.

So it was a quite a busy weekend but full of fun things. This coming weekend I'm going with Carl to Houston to celebrate Christmas with his family. I'm looking forward to seeing what their traditions are!

Mindfulness Project - November Update

2011-12-05T20:29:00.003-06:00

During the month of November my goal was to work on relationships. Admittedly I didn't have a specific goal in mind but I did want to work on reaching out to friends that I don't talk to as much, seeing friends that I don't see as often, spending time with those I love and thinking about my relationships at work. Some of the things I did accomplish were:

1. Beginning to work with a leadership coach at work, which led to the completion of a 360 evaluation from my peers. This was a great way for me to learn what people think of me and put goals into place to continue to grow as a manager and leader.
2. Reaching out to friends, via email and phone, that I may not talk to as often.
3. Being purposeful in spending time with friends, family and loved ones and expressing my gratitude for that time.
4. As previously posted, spending Thanksgiving with Carl and honoring that relationship on our first Thanksgiving.

As always, I'm reminded how lucky I am to have such great relationships but I can always work to do more. I hope my family and friends know how much I appreciate them and the support they constantly provide to me.

Oh Christmas Tree....

2011-12-05T20:13:00.003-06:00

Last night, Carl and I put up our Christmas Tree. As you may recall, two years ago (at an amazing end-of-the-year sale) I got a fake tree. While I mourned the loss of real trees and real tree smells, I was reminded last night why I got a fake tree. It's a perfect little tree for my perfect little house.

Carl isn't much into traditions, which is something I'm working to accept but he loves me very much and supports my desire to have traditions. So while I was unpacking the ornaments, he put on some holiday music and hung the lights outside on the front porch.

Even though Carl and I started dating right before Christmas last year (our third date was on Christmas Eve) this is our first big holiday together. To kick it off, we already bought our Christmas gift to each other - a great new, 'fancy' SLR camera! I'm excited to take it on trips, especially our upcoming one to California.

Happy Homeversary!

2011-11-30T19:52:00.003-06:00

Today marks two years since I bought my house. I can't believe that it's been two years! That was such an exciting day and exciting time. I remember being so proud of my self and scared all at the same time.

It truly was one of the best decisions that I've made and I love my home. Learning to share it with Carl over the past 8 months has been a great experience, too. I look forward to many more great memories in this home and exciting house projects (next up: patio!)

Kelsey also reminded me that our friendship really began to grow when I bought my house b/c we became neighbors! She's been a great friend to me and a great dog sitter to Buster. As we start our half marathon training again I feel so lucky to have such a good friend and neighbor.

Hueco Tanks

2011-11-27T18:23:00.009-06:00

For Thanksgiving break Carl and I took a road trip to Hueco Tanks. Never heard of it? Neither had I until a few weeks ago. It's just outside of El Paso, Texas, and is a Texas state park and historic site. It's also got some great bouldering (version of rock climbing), which is what draws Carl and his friends to it. We took off on Wednesday for the 10 hour road trip. And, yes, I'm still in shock that we could drive 10 hours and still be in Texas. Sigh.

We've gotten pretty good at road trips - loading up on snacks and audiobooks. This time we also had Buster so the car was pretty packed with all our camping gear plus a small, cozy spot for little Buster.

We camped on some land of some friends of Carl's, along with about 15-20 other campers. We got in late on Wednesday and settled in and went to sleep in the tent. The temps were cool but perfect camping weather the first night. Buster seemed to adjust quite well, despite starting off nuzzled in my sleeping bag for the first part of the night.

We woke up on Thanksgiving morning (also Carl's birthday) bright and early. We had eggs, bacon, coffee (for him) and tea (for me) and enjoyed meeting the other campers and watching Buster play with their dogs. We then took off for the quick drive to Hueco Tanks to begin our day of bouldering. After a bit of a rough start for me (it's been months since I tried to climb) I finally got the hang of things a bit more and started enjoying myself. I mostly enjoyed watching Carl climb, though, because he's so good.

That night we had a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner with the other campers. It included some usual items like turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pie (tons of pie) but also ravioli (stuffed with traditional Thanksgiving sides), mac 'n cheese and hummus (our contribution). It was a very different holiday for me but I was so happy to be with Carl.

That night the rain began and it didn't stop until late the next day. It rained pretty heavy at times and even hailed. Since climbing was ruled out the next day we drove into El Paso to see a movie and then had some margaritas (ok, the biggest margarita ever) with our friends and some local El Paso mexican food (not nearly as good as Austin's mexican food in my opinion).

Quickly our last day arrived and we got up early to get some last minute bouldering in before hitting the road back to Austin. I twisted my ankle a bit so I just watched and helped Carl out (don't worry, Mom and Dad, my ankle is doing much better).

The trip back to Austin went by quickly thanks to more audiobooks. While it was admittedly a challenging trip for me I am so glad I went. While Carl's birthday may not mean a lot to him, it means a lot to me. It was our first birthday and first Thanksgiving and I didn't want to be with anyone else. And while I don't think that I'll ever live in El Paso, I can see why Hueco Tanks is a hot spot. It's beautiful and unexpected.

Per usual, I'm reminded on Thanksgiving of all the things I'm grateful for in my life. Of course my friends, family and job are on the list. But this year, at the top of the list, is Carl. I'm grateful for his love and patience as I know I wasn't the easiest person to be around on this trip.

Movember

2011-11-27T11:25:00.003-06:00

For those of you not familiar with Movember, it's the renamed month of November by a group of Australians who wanted to raise awareness (and funds) for men's health issues, specifically for cancers that affect men.

During this month, men are asked to grow mustaches and show their support for this movement. LIVESTRONG also happens to be one of the U.S. beneficiaries of their fundraising. So Carl decided to grow a mustache this year in support. Not only was this super thoughtful of him, it was a big decision considering he just started a new job not that long ago. But he figured he could use his mustache to launch a conversation about why he's doing it.

While mustaches aren't that rare (note: I have never seen my dad without one) they are a little less likely (without additional facial hair) in younger men. So it's been a fun month to see my colleagues and my boyfriend with facial hair that reminds me a bit of my dad, the past and overall of the fight against cancer.

Staycation

2011-11-21T17:57:00.003-06:00

I took this week off work to get caught up on my life in Austin. I've been traveling so much this Fall that I wanted to have a few days to run errands and pamper myself a bit. I've had a very successful few days so far and it's only Monday. I've done the following:

1. Cleaned kitchen cabinets
2. Purged items from most rooms in my house -for Goodwill or Clothing Swap
3. Cleaned make up brushes
4. Made bingo boards for a Love Actually viewing party
5. Got mine and Carl's oil changed
6. Replaced my stolen (from over a year ago) social security card
7. Ran the usual errands

And the fun stuff I've done so far:

1. Got a massage
2. Took a few walks with friends
3. Saw a movie with friends
4. Went to Lockhart and ate pie (yep, they're known for BBQ but pie was the big winner this time)
5. Cooked dinner (with 3 new recipes) for Carl, Jess and Ken

And the things that are still yet to come this week:

1. Facial
2. Hair cut and color
3. Lunch with an old friend
4. Dinner with Chris and Missy (and Lucie and Audrey)
5. Carl's birthday!

And, of course, Thanksgiving! This year, for the first time since 2004, I won't be in Austin for Thanksgiving. It's very strange to me b/c I have a number of traditions during Thanksgiving week. But leaving town is all for one very good reason - Carl. It's his birthday and I said he could choose what we did. So we're driving to El Paso and camping with some friends of his. Buster's coming with us, too (that may not have been his birthday wish) and we'll have some non-traditional turkey ravioli. I know we'll have a great time. Pictures and full report coming soon.....

Family Wedding

2011-11-08T20:49:00.007-06:00

Last Friday, Missy's sister, Becky, got married. Carl and I took a road trip to McAllen to attend the wedding. And while it was a lot of driving for one night (and an early wake up to fly to NYC), it was nice to be with Chris and the girls.

The wedding was very large (over 500 people) so I'm sure we wouldn't have been missed if we weren't there but we had a good time and I (not Carl) enjoyed getting dressed up for a night.

Lucie was the flower girl and Audrey got to wear the same adorable dress although neither were very good at posing for me.

NYC

2011-11-08T20:38:00.005-06:00

This past weekend, Devon, Haley, Nicole and I went to NY to cheer on Kelsey who was running her first marathon. I was actually there for work, to cheer on all Team LIVESTRONG runners, but it was extra special for me that I got to see Kelsey run, too.

She has trained so hard for this, during the roughest months in Austin. She's run at 4am, weekends, on treadmills and even 17 miles back and forth underneath the Mopac Bridge (1/3 mile each way) during a torrential (the one and only) rain storm last month.

So I had no doubt she could do it!

She'd entered into the NYC Marathon lottery for the past two years and this year she got in and raised money for LIVESTRONG. And she'd never been to NYC before! How perfect was this trip?

Not only did she finish it, she exceeded her goal, completing it in 4:46 - an amazing feat! It's always inspirational to watch marathoners, but even more so to watch a friend. She knew to look for us around mile 18 and the excitement on her face says it all. She felt great and looked great. Jim and I ran with her for about a mile to give her a pep talk and distraction. I like to think that really carried her through the finish.

So not only does Kelsey continue to inspire me, but all the marathoners do. I spoke the words aloud this weekend and I'll write them here. I will do a marathon before I'm 40. That gives me almost 5 years. While I don't think it'll be next year, I'll keep you posted on 2013.

Devon and I took an extra day in NYC to relax and shop. It was so relaxing (and clearly needed) that I had the following conversation following a pedicure:

Me: 'Devon, I'm sleepy but don't know why because I've gotten plenty of sleep.'

Devon: 'Are you just relaxed?'

Me: 'Huh?'

Devon: 'Have you forgotten how it feels to be relaxed?'

Me: 'It seems that way.'

So I now confusion relaxation and calmness with sleepiness. Clearly I need to find more ways to relax.....

Mindfulness Project - October Update

2011-10-30T17:40:00.004-05:00

Even though October isn't quite over, it's very close to ending and the next few days will be busy so I thought I'd take time while I could to provide an update on my October goals. This month was focused on health and wellness. Specifically for me it included:

1. Beginning to run again
2. Meeting with a nutritionist
3. Getting a physical
4. Getting my annual dental cleaning

And just overall a focus on my emotional and physical health.

I feel like this was one of the best month's ever. I was super busy with work (traveled each week) but it was good to have such a specific focus.

I did start running again, slowly. Literally I am very slow and having to walk a lot, which is so sad because it wasn't that long ago that I ran a half marathon. But you have to start somewhere and with the temperatures cooling off, this is my favorite time of year to run.

I also decided to meet with a nutritionist. I've been toying with this idea for a number of years (I even had an initial consultation with her a few years ago). But lately I just haven't been feeling great. I've had upset stomachs, headaches and I'm not sleeping well and my acne was getting bad again!

So I met with Carly from Nutritional Wisdom who a number of my colleagues have worked with. She's pretty intense but also very direct. After my initial meeting with her and a lengthy discussion, we both agreed that I'm in good health but that clearly something I'm eating isn't agreeing with me. So I completed a two week detox where I couldn't have dairy, grains, alcohol or caffeine. And while it was tough at times, especially when I was on the road, overall I felt great and sleeping better.

I'm now on a two week maintenance plan where I can introduce some grains, some dairy (goat and sheep's milk) and have some wine. Which, to be honest, were some of the things I've missed the most. I've been enjoying drinking herbal tea instead of coffee (which I never thought I'd say) and I haven't missed sweets at all.

Over the course of this maintenance plan we'll track what I'm eating and see how different things make me feel. It's obvious that if you eat crap, you'll feel like crap but sometimes I just need a reminder.

I also went for a routine physical, which I hadn't done in years. I got my cholesterol tested and everything was all in normal range. Getting my teeth cleaned wasn't hard for me, but since it happened to fall into this month I figure I should get credit for it.

So all in all I feel great about this month. Not only b/c I did things that felt good for me but they are also sustainable and helpful for more than just this month.

Onto November, where my focus is on relationships.

Pumpkins

2011-10-25T18:11:00.005-05:00

My mom visited last weekend and since I was out of town most of the weekend I only had one day to spend with her, Lucie and Audrey (and Carl). So Carl was the great boyfriend he always is and spent the day with the girls.

We went to a pumpkin patch (note: a church lawn with pumpkins) and then out to lunch. Lucie insisted on pulling Buster on his leash and I mean pulling! I think the poor dog has some whiplash but I think he still had fun.

Fall Breezes

2011-10-24T17:20:00.004-05:00

So Fall seems to be slowly working its way into Austin. The nights are so much cooler (50s and 60s) and tolerable. The days are still a bit hit or miss. Some days have been heavenly with highs in the 70s but most days still seem to get up to the 80s and even 90. Sigh.

In anticipation of Fall, though, Carl took on another home project - installing screens in all our windows!

For some reason, the only window in my house that has a screen is the tiny kitchen one above the sink. Not anymore - now they all do!

I literally left town for a work trip and came home to new screens in all the windows that Carl built and installed. Yep, I'm a pretty lucky girl......

LIVESTRONG Challenge

2011-10-18T20:54:00.003-05:00

Every year I participate in some capacity in our annual LIVESTRONG Challenge. It's our signature fundraising event and includes a run/walk and bike ride. I've been both a volunteer and participant. Each year I'm so impressed by my colleagues who put the event on and am honored to support them.

This year I both volunteered and ran the 5k (well, ran/walked it). It's a tradition that Devon and I do the 5k together (our runniversary) and I look forward to it every year. It's also the kick off to my training season each year. Specifically the LIVESTRONG half marathon in February.

It was also an especially poignant event for me as a colleague and friend of mine just lost her husband to cancer. He was only 37 and had been battling his disease for over 12 years. For some reason this loss hit me especially hard and I thought about them a lot during the event. Not only does participating in the Challenge make me so proud of where I work but it reminds me why I do the work I do.

Proud Auntie

2011-10-18T20:46:00.003-05:00

Last week I went over to see Lucie and Audrey after work. I hadn't seen them in over a month, since we were all at the beach. I think that's the longest that I've gone ever! It makes me so sad how busy I've been and that there hasn't been as much time for them. Good news is that my mom is coming in town this weekend to watch them while Chris and Missy go out of town. Bad news is I'm gone most of that time. But I'll have all day Sunday with them.

Lucie is growing into such a little girl - in most of the good ways! She's talkative and sweet and playful and still says Buster is her best friend. She's also mastering potty training! What a big girl!

Audrey just turned one and, like clockwork, started to walk. She's more and more confident each time she waddles across the room and is still a snuggle bug and an amazing sleeper.

I love both these girls so much, it makes my heart ache when I don't see them for awhile. Hopefully as work and my travel slow down, I'll have even more time for them.

Mindfulness Project - September Update

2011-10-03T20:13:00.004-05:00

Another month has flown by. While I'm so happy that the temperatures are finally cooling off and summer is looking to be behind us, I'm reminded of how fast time flies.

September's mindfulness goal was to focus on distractions. By this I mean, how I spend my time - at least in the ways that seem to be mindless, unnecessary or even unhealthy.

The things I think I do as distractions that I was looking to modify are:

1. constantly checking my phone - for emails, texts, phone calls, etc. While I don't text and drive, I do talk and drive and will text at red lights and both are unnecessary. Why are we so available all the time?
2. watch tv without purpose. I've done this less and less since starting to date Carl b/c he rarely watches tv but when he's out of town I fall back into my old habits.

To address the above two items I thought I'd try out the following things:
1. leave my phone in my purse or another room in the evenings, especially when Carl is home.
2. not talk on the phone when I'm driving.
3. not turn on the tv in the morning before work or after work, unless watching something I taped on my dvr.
4. turn on music instead of tv.

It was both a good and bad month to do this in b/c I had two vacations scheduled. My thought was that I'd be able to relax on those trips and not think about work. That didn't exactly work, especially on my first trip due to some unexpected deadlines. But working by the pool was still certainly much better than working at my desk.

During Sonoma I was able to disconnect. While I couldn't figure out how to turn email off on my phone, I practiced good will power and didn't work for 3 days.

I've done a good job with changing my tv habits, though (although I'm watching tv as I type this) but I no longer have it on (as background noise) in the mornings and have been listening to music instead when making dinner.

So while I didn't have any big goals for the month, I think I did ok. I'm glad that I am aware of what I use as distractions and will continue to monitor them and try to change them.

Fall Planting

2011-10-03T19:39:00.007-05:00

Austin is finally getting some Fall weather. Sadly, Fall around here still means 90s during the day but some cool overnight temps in the 60s. And because daylight hours are shortening, it's not hot for as long and you can actually eat dinner outside (which we did both nights this weekend). Apparently it also makes our garden happy!

For the past 3 weeks our garden has really taken on a rejuvenated life. We thought we were done. That the hot, hot summer had taken its toll on our little garden and we'd peaked in June. Turns out, we were wrong!

Over the course of the past 3 weeks, we've had a resurgence. We had only 2 eggplants all summer but now we have 10 in bloom! Our green peppers and jalapenos are also coming back to life. The herbs have never really suffered so those are still doing great. The biggest news is that our tomato plants have turned out over 30 new tomatoes and more are growing as I type this!

So while I have visions of future eggplant parmesan and pico de gallo, we're making the most of our tomato situation. Last week, we (mostly Carl) made tomato sauce with the tomatoes and herbs from our garden and we finally got around to eating it last night. It was delicious!

We're now planning our Fall garden, which will include beets, onions, lettuce and spinach. We're getting a little bit of a late start and using seeds so wish us luck!

Mindfulness Project Update

2011-09-22T18:03:00.003-05:00

Even though it's almost the end of September, I never gave an official update on how my August 'mindfulness' activities went. I was focused on time. Mostly I thought about how I spend and organize my time.

I'm sure most of you know that I'm a pretty organized person but I also tend to over commit myself. I see that I'm free one night so I make plans - rather than looking at the big picture of the entire week and realizing that was my one night free. While I love being busy and social, I equally love having some alone time and down time - when I can just be.

August was a great month to try out some of these new strategies since I was around most of the month. There was one entire week that I did nothing social after work, which is rare for me. Instead I tried to focus on getting things done around the house, which I'm not always great at during the week. I tend to save my chores and errands for weekends, when I have more time. I'm also so tired when I get home from work after a typical 10 hour work day that I just don't want to do anything. I may take a look at my never ending to-do list but immediately feel overwhelmed with how much there is to do and too tired to do any of it.

My friend, Jess, suggested that I just set up realistic goals for myself. That I pick one item on the list and just do that. Then I'll feel both accomplished and slowly chip at my to-do list so my weekend isn't busy with all that I need to get done.

In many ways, this goes against the sort of person I am. Not that I'm all or nothing but I do like to maximize my time and pride myself on being efficient. So, typically, if I'm not going to get 'a lot' done then I'll just put it off to when I can get 'a lot' done. Crazy, huh?

But I was willing to try it and I found that it was just as rewarding! I could get one thing done in a given night (laundry, iron, pay bills, blog) and then it was one less thing I 'had' to do over the weekend. I'm still trying to employ this strategy on a regular basis.

I also created a family calendar for Carl, me and Buster (yes, even Buster has things on the calendar). I use my work (Outlook) calendar for pretty much everything but I've also maintained a paper based calendar for largely just social events. But with a new addition to my family (Carl), who also happens to travel so much I wanted to find a way to put all of the social and travel items in one place.

So I created a Google calendar that we can both access and update. To be honest, I know I'll primarily update it but I'm ok with that as long as he uses it and references it when making plans - and he does! The first time he told me he looked at the calendar to make a plan, I was so happy! It's win-win. I still get to plan and he gets to reap those benefits. But we also have an easy way that references where we are and when. So far, I'm still using this and loving it.

So, while it wasn't as busy of a goal as my July financial month had been, I feel good about what I accomplished.

I'll report back on September soon. Sadly, I'm not too pleased with myself but there is still a week left. Wish me luck!

Sonoma

2011-09-18T12:26:00.008-05:00

My stretch of vacations and birthday celebrations has come to an end. While I'm sad to see them end, I'm also happy to get back to a normal life, with semi-regular work hours, not drinking every day and exercising regularly.

Sonoma was my final big trip for the year. It was planned months (maybe even years) ago with Jess to celebrate our respective birthdays. Not only was the trip amazing and beautiful, but it was so great to spend 4 days with Jess - something we've never done before!

After an early flight and a beautiful drive up the coast to West Sonoma where we were staying, we spent the next few days eating good food, drinking good wine, enjoying cool mornings, sitting by the pool, drinking more good wine and going to bed very early.

In many ways, the wine country was everything I thought it would be - beautiful, great temps and relaxing. We treated ourselves to massages one day and a driver one day so we could partake in all the wine tastings we want. Turns out, 5 in one day is more than enough for us. By the fifth place you can't really discern if you're drinking good wine anymore.

With over 300 wineries in the area we stayed in, we decided to focus on some of the smaller, more boutique-like wineries and vineyards. Big estate ones aren't really our speed and since we had a limited time, you just need to choose.

Luckily, Jess and I travel well together and had similar ideas of how to spend our days and nights - going to bed by 10 most nights, up around 7 and then a full day of activities. While I really hope I go back one day, I'll always remember this trip fondly. Now time for a detox......

Note: I'm having trouble uploading pictures but will try again later.

Continued Celebrations

2011-09-10T16:38:00.008-05:00

I'm lucky enough that I had multiple birthday celebrations. After the yummy dinner with Jen and Sue some friends and I got together for a happy hour on my birthday proper. After some failed attempts at bars (either closed or had private events going on), we ended up at Takoba, a local Mexican place. The drinks were tasty and the company was even better.

After drinks and apps, Carl and I went out to dinner, just the two of us to Green Pastures. It's a historic restaurant in Austin that I'd never been to before. They're mostly known for hosting weddings and for the peacocks that roam their land. The food was really good, too!

I then left the next morning for the next 11 days. First, I had some work travel, where Carl flew to meet me. We then drove to Corolla, NC to meet my family for a week's vacation. I wish I had taken more pictures but these were the only ones worthy of posting. It was a relaxing time with my family and great for Carl to get to know them better. Despite the fact that I worked more than I'd like on on vacation, I got in plenty of pool and some beach time, ate great seafood and enjoyed loving on my nieces.

Later this week, for my final birthday celebration (now this just sounds silly), Jess and I are going to Sonoma, CA for 4 days. While I'm very excited to be home now, I'm equally as excited for that trip!

35 Years Young

2011-08-27T08:27:00.007-05:00

So I'm turning 35 on Tuesday. While it's hard to believe and I'm not sure what I thought I'd feel or expect overall I'm very grateful. I have a life that I love and great people to share it with.

Last night was the first of several upcoming birthday celebrations. Sadly, I had a stomach flu earlier this week so this was my first venture out with real food in days. I both wanted to enjoy my meal and not push my luck.

So, Jen, Sue and I went to Parkside - a place I've been wanting to try for a long time. For the past 4 years, Sue, Jen, Haley, Devon and I get together once a month for what we affectionately call 'MGD' (Monthly Girls Dinner). It's a way for us to try to ensure we see each other on a regular basis and get to try new restaurants - some of our favorite things. It's always the last Friday of the month - sometimes all of us make it and sometimes it's just a few of us. But no matter what it's always a great time.

If your birthday happens to fall in that month (and, surprisingly our birthdays are all in different months) then you get to pick the restaurant.

So thanks to Sue and Jen for kicking off my birthday celebrations this year! Today I am especially grateful for the wonderful friends I have - near and far.

All Grown Up

2011-08-25T19:50:00.006-05:00

This past weekend my mom was in town to watch Lucie and Audrey while Chris and Missy went on a much deserved vacation together.

It's hard to believe that Lucie is 2 1/2 now and Audrey is 10 months! Time sure flies by.....

While I spend a lot of time with the girls, I often spend more with Lucie - taking her places, playing with her, etc. Audrey is growing and discovering so much right now, though, that it was great to get so much quality time with her. She's such a chill baby and so easy going. She's this close to walking, too - taking up to 5 steps on her own.

Carl was also an amazing boyfriend throughout the weekend and spent much of his free time with us - playing with Lucie, cooking for my mom, going out to lunch with the 'girls. In case I wasn't certain before, I am now - he's a great guy and I plan to keep him around.

For your enjoyment, here are some pictures. Some of the best parts of the weekend were realizing that, in this exact order, who Lucie loves the most is Buster, Carl then Tia Mellie. Ah well, at least I'm on the list. Buster is her best friend after all.

Thanks to my mom for coming in town. It's always great to see her and get to spend quality time with her. I'm glad she got to know Carl better, too. Next up - family vacation at the beach. Assuming Hurricane Irene doesn't ruin that.

Also, I'll soon have an update on my August 'mindfulness project' goals - so stick around. I promise it won't be 3 more weeks without an update.

My Mindfulness Project

2011-07-31T17:23:00.004-05:00

I recently read The Happiness Project. For those who have read 'Eat, Pray, Love' - it's like that but for normal people. A woman is on a quest to optimize her happiness so for an entire year she focuses on one aspect of her life per month and seeks to increase her happiness.

Now I love a project and goal setting and while I didn't love everything about this book, I can relate to wanting to improve things in your life. But I feel happy. In fact I think I'm the happiest I've ever been and can't imagine what could make me happier.

But I do think I could learn to focus on and improve a few areas of my life. So I'm coining this my 'mindfulness project'. Where I focus on one topic area in my life each month that I want to pay extra attention to. There is no failing - it's simply that I focus on creating opportunities for improvement.

And by telling you all (my 4 adoring fans) it holds me accountable to them.

So for the last 6 months of 2011, I'll focus on the following:

July - finances
August - time/calendar
September - distractions
October - health/wellness
November - relationships
December - traditions

At the end of each month, I'll let you all know how things went. So, since it's the last day of July, and my last day to focus on finances, I'm happy (mindful?) to report that I had a successful month!

For the first time in my life, I feel good financially. I've spent many, many years living paycheck to paycheck and sometimes even beyond my means. Between a few promotions and raises and sharing expenses with someone, I'm doing quite well.

So how do I ensure that I'm saving appropriately, in the right places and for the right things.

Carl is very good with money and has a lot more knowledge about things like money markets and IRAs. He was so helpful in guiding me into some good decisions that not only made me feel good about what I'm doing with my money day-to-day but also what I'm doing to plan for our future and retirement.

So, here's the recap:

1. Opened a money market account
2. Opened a Roth IRA
3. Got a new credit card (that will actually reward me with something)
4. Began storing documents on Carl's computer, which we will now share
5. Created a monthly budget
6. Update my will

Ok, so #6 hasn't been done yet but I'm working on it tonight. I created a will in 2006 and needed to update it but the software I created it with wouldn't work so I bought new software. It's sitting next to me right now, just waiting.....

And since this project isn't about failures, I'll be happy when I get it done, no matter when that is (but hopefully tonight).

So while I'm not seeking increased happiness, I will say that it made me pretty happy to make these changes. It was an investment in mine and Carl's future as well and it was great to have a month to actively focus on that.

Next up is time and calendars - specifically how I best manage my time outside of work ensuring I make time for Carl, myself, friends, family and Buster. I'll let you know how it goes.....

Heat Wave

2011-07-25T21:04:00.003-05:00

Austin is (once again) having record heat this summer. Every year I either forget or I'm in denial about how hot it gets here - and for how long. Summer came upon us super quickly this year. Last I checked, we've had over 40 days above 100 degrees so far. And the sad thing is that we have at least 2 more months of summer left.

Some of the only things that keep you cool in the Austin summers are cold drinks (margaritas please!), swimming and air conditioning......

And mine broke. Again. For the third time in less than 2 years my AC broke. I came home from babysitting Lucie and Audrey one night last week to a warmer house. I slept in it that night (it was tolerable) but that couldn't last.

Luckily I have Carl and a warranty. Carl tried to fix it but couldn't. So I called my warranty company and they came out on Saturday morning. Turns out, it was all part of a bigger problem. Luckily, it could be fixed and I didn't have to pay a dime. Unluckily, a part had to be ordered and it wasn't going to be fixed until today. Luckily, Carl just bought a condo!

So we moved to the condo for the weekend. It's close to downtown (and my work) and where I think we'll live in the next couple of years. For now, we're renting it out (to a fellow colleague) but no one has moved in yet so we got to camp out there for a few days. While we didn't have all of our home amenities, it was fun! I'd wanted to do this at some point anyway.

So while I'm happy to be back at home doing laundry and sitting on my couch (yes, I look forward to super lame things), I enjoyed our weekend at the condo and it made me excited to live there one day.

So while the hot, hot summer continues I am grateful for air conditioning, pools and margaritas, of course!

Details, Details....

2011-07-14T20:07:00.004-05:00

Several of you have mentioned to me (several times) that I needed to update the description of my blog because I describe myself as a 'single girl'.

Of course this isn't true anymore but it was true when I started this blog. So while I wasn't resistant to change this (love you, Carl....) it was part of the establishment of my blog.

I've gotten over that and made a simple update that will hopefully appease my adoring fans.

DIY: Haircut

2011-07-14T19:52:00.007-05:00

Not for me but for Buster.

Buster has hair; not fur. And he doesn't shed, which is glorious. But it means his hair gets long and wiry and matted and he has to get it cut every 6 weeks or so - even more often in the hot Texas summers.

For the past two years I've been paying someone to cut it but in Carl's infinite ability to try anything, he suggested we start cutting it on our own. Sure. Why not?

I bought some clippers (still cheaper than the cost of one haircut) and we gave him a bath and cut away. Turns out, Buster has a lot of hair!

So, on his worst days, especially after spending time with Carl at his land (swimming, rubbing his face in dirt, more swimming...) he looks like this:

After a lovely haircut:

He now looks like this:

Vacation #2

2011-07-10T09:29:00.012-05:00

This year I'm scheduled to take more vacation than I've ever taken in a year - almost 4 weeks! We have a flexible vacation policy (note: none) but in general we're expected not to take more than 4 weeks. Granted, I've traveled for work on weekends and worked at night so I'm certain I'm still not taking a full 4 weeks. But it still makes me feel guilty, which is ridiculous.

This vacation was to Puerto Rico. A friend of Carl's from college was getting married there so we decided to make a vacation of it since neither of us had been before. One adorable anecdote is that Carl asked me to go to this wedding after we'd only been dating for 3 weeks. I was, of course, thrilled, but at the time July seemed so far away. Crazy how time flies.....

Suffice it to say that Puerto Rico wasn't really on my short list of places to travel too. I was still excited to go but I didn't have super high expectations that the food, culture or weather would astound me. And while yes, none of those things were super amazing, we had a great time. It was a relaxing trip to say the least and I managed to sleep in until after 10 one morning!

The first day was mostly spent traveling there. It's much further away then you'd think and nothing is easy to get to from Austin. That night we met some of his friends for drinks and dinner and even went dancing. Yes, Carl danced....and seemed to enjoy himself. It was a the first in a series of late nights.

Day 2 was July 4 and the rehearsal dinner. We had breakfast at the hotel, sitting on the beach and then hit the road to check out Old San Juan. We didn't make it far because it was a holiday and many of the roads were closed into town due to parades and fireworks. So we turned around and spent the afternoon at the beach and pool until the rehearsal dinner.

Day 3 was the wedding day but not until 7pm. We hit the road, again, for Old San Juan and had more success this time. We had breakfast, went to the Bacardi Factory, checked out the town, including a fort and cemetery ate more and came back to the hotel. The Bacardi Factory was an interesting experience though. The best part about it was that the tour was free and you got two free drinks as well. The worst is that it took forever and was kind of lame. But I'm glad we did it.

The wedding was that night and a lot of fun. Up until this point, we'd been less than impressed with the food we ate - a lot of meat and cheese and seafood but all overcooked and flavorless. This all changed at the reception. This might have been some of the best food I've ever had at a wedding - lamp chops and prosciutto wrapped sea bass - and a coffee bar and cookies for dessert options. And the reception was a blast - lots of dancing (yes, Carl danced again - in fact all of the men were dancing sans shirts for most of the night because it was so hot).

Day 4 was ultra lazy day. We slept in, ate a late breakfast, took a nap, sat by the pool, rested some more and went out to dinner just the two of us. Up until this point we'd been with friends most of the time. It was nice to go on a date and we had a delicious meal downtown. Easily some of the best food I've ever had. Good to know that Puerto Rico has it in them. It just isn't a guarantee. Despite sleeping in, we were asleep early in order to get up early the next morning.

Day 5 took us to Vieques Island - a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico. After several hours of being delayed due to rain, we took a small (8 passenger) plane to the island. Carl and me along with 5 other couples rented a house there for 2 days. The house was super nice, with lots of amenities and was in walking distance to a market and restaurants. We did rent cars, though, and on the first day we drove to the other side of the island and had lunch at this amazing hotel. This was by far the rainiest day we had but it was nice to sit and watch the storms roll in while we were safely protected in the hotel. The weather cleared up and we went to one of the many small beaches on the island. After refueling on pizza we went on a night time kayaking tour of Mosquito Bay, which is known for the bioluminescent species that live there. We swam in the water for awhile, watching the bioluminescence appear around us, moving with our own body movements. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done and I know my description doesn't give it justice.

The tour itself was interesting. The tour guide was about 18 and the whole experience was pretty hilarious - nothing like if you'd go on a tour in the States. No waivers were signed, we road in the back of pick up trucks, we swam without life vests. Again, nothing that would ever happen in the States but it was fun, made for some good laughs and certainly was pretty laid back.

Our last full day arrives. We all decided to spend the day at the house because it's so amazing. After a big breakfast, we spent all day in the pool - reading, playing dominoes (my latest obsession), eating and drinking (rum and coke of course). We did make it out for dinner and promptly all came back for more pool and dominoes games.

And then it was time to go. Another early start and a long travel day brought us home last night - to a happy dog, tremendous heat, a garden waiting for us and one more day off before going back to work.

I had a great time on another vacation with Carl and loved meeting and spending time with his friends. As always, there were some memorable things from the trip (and PR) that I'd like to share:

1. Puerto Rico appears to be stuck in 1982 - between the rat tail haircuts and clothing they are a bit behind in trends and fashion

2. The weather - well, despite it being only 86 degrees every day it felt hotter than Austin. The humidity was gross and it rained (or looked like it was going to rain) every day. Such is the life on a Caribbean island I suppose

3. Rum, rum, and more rum. Clearly with the Bacardi Factory on the island, they love their rum. But they also love their 'Gasolina' drinks - picture a capri sun container with red bull and other disgusting concoctions

Even though Puerto Rico wasn't my most favorite place to visit (I mean I do live only a few hours from Mexico) I'll miss the vacation life style. But don't worry, in two more months I'll have another one.

Garden Updates

2011-06-28T21:16:00.006-05:00

On Sunday we made the most of our garden and made the following meal:

Eggplant and chicken parmesan: eggplant, basil and oregano from our garden

Bruschetta: tomatoes from our garden

Pesto: basil from our garden

Mojitos: mint from our garden

It's so fun to use items that we've grown to make food! Our lone potato is starting to grow and the swiss chard seems to still be holding on. Our peppers may be stunted at their current size and we have another 10 tomatoes ready to be eaten. All in all, not bad for a small garden like ours!

My Buster, Your Buster

2011-06-28T21:06:00.006-05:00

I babysat Lucie and Audrey the other night. When I walked up to their house, Missy told me that Lucie was so excited to see I brought Buster with me. She LOVES Buster (who she used to call 'tee tee'). I think he reminds her of one of her stuffed animals. In fact, I know that's what he reminds her of....

As I walked in the house, she promptly shows me her small, white stuffed animal that she has named 'my Buster'. She pointed to Buster and said, 'your Buster' and then to her stuffed animal and said, 'my Buster'.

So adorable.......

Since Buster recently became a dog with only 3 teeth (yes, 3 teeth), the fact that Lucie loves him unconditionally makes my heart melt.

Shed Complete (I think?)

2011-06-25T15:47:00.004-05:00

Today I (finally) finished painting the shed. Turns out, it was a much bigger under taking than I imagined.

Kelsey helped me get started a few weeks ago, I did some work on my own and then Jess helped me with the finishing touches today. Needless to say, this would have taken twice as long without their help and I'm not sure I could have survived that. Between the heat and hand cramps, I feel like such a wimp but painting is hard work!

I'm proud of how it turned out although I had hoped the green would be a little darker. It's a little mintier than I wanted but there is no way I'm doing a second coat.

So what's next? Well, we'll continue to eat the fruits (er, veggies) of our garden and begin to work on building out a patio area near the shed.

We (er, Carl) also bought a condo that we'll lease out. At least for now. It's really close to my work (literally I can walk to work) but our current plan is to stay in my house and eventually move into this condo and then build a house out in Dripping Springs on the land he has out there.

Owning multiple homes wasn't necessarily part of where I thought my life would head. But that's probably because there's no way I could afford to do that alone.

It's fun to have a cool, modern condo and think about what it will be like (one day) for us to live in there.

In the meantime, we'll enjoy our mint green shed:

Livin' Off The Land

2011-06-07T20:30:00.005-05:00

Ok, we're not really living off our garden now BUT we are getting creative with what we do.

We have so much basil and mint (anybody need any?) that we had to do something with it.

So we made pesto and mint syrup (thanks to Ken's idea) this past weekend. I plan to freeze some of the mint syrup in ice cube trays so you have ready to drink mojitos (just add rum and club soda) and the pesto we're going to eat this Friday with some gnocchi, fresh mozzarella and some of our tomatoes.

I'm guessing our eggplants will be ready to eat next week so I'm sure we'll grill them and/or make some eggplant parm. And our green peppers are coming along nicely.

Road Trip

2011-06-04T09:46:00.015-05:00

Carl and I took our first vacation together this past week. While we were in Marfa a couple of months ago we decided to take a week long road trip to New Mexico. Both because I'd never been and he's been a lot and wanted to show me some of his favorite spots.

Neither of us had been to Taos, though, so we decided to start the trip there and then head south to some of Carl's favorite camping and climbing spots.

I took notes during the trip so I wouldn't forget the details but there is no way this blog will live up to the actual experience. So many of the details won't be as amusing to others but Carl and I crack ourselves up so we had a great time.

Brace yourself. This post is a doozie.

Day 1 started with a 13 hour drive to Taos. I (of course) brought along many hours of car ride entertainment - audio books, crosswords, book of questions and snacks aplenty. Miraculously the long drive went by quickly. We got to Taos around dinner time and got food from a local restaurant that Kelsey and her parents recommended.

Day 2 was spent being lazy in the morning - sleeping in, making breakfast and planning our day. We decided to hike up Taos ski valley and picked a short 7.5 mile round trip hike. This may be the most intense hike I've ever done. Not only because we started at 9000 feet elevation (and climbed over 2500 more) and my breath was harder to catch but it was steep and windy.

It was a beautiful hike and Carl was very patient with my need to take many breaks. I almost stopped about 50 feet short of the top because I was just so tired but I pushed through (mostly because Carl was going to go with or without me) and I'm so glad I did. The hike took us over 4 hours and we were pretty worn out that night. We went out for a nice dinner and were asleep by 10ish (a theme throughout most of the trip).

Day 3 led us out of Taos after stopping in town for some coffee. We drove through Santa Fe and made a quick stop in Albuquerque at REI and Whole Foods to stock up on camping, climbing and food supplies.

We got to The Enchanted Tower around 6pm and set up camp. Now I've been camping before. In fact I lived in a tent for almost 2 months in Americorps but we had bathrooms and showers accessible. This was a bit more primitive. We had to pump and filter our own water from a cow trough, shower outdoors by letting the water heat up in a sun shower and there were no bathrooms to speak of. I was prepared for this so it didn't bother me. What I wasn't prepared for was the mass amounts of flies and wannabees (our names for the flies who look like bees but are really just more annoying flies).

Day 4 started after a great night of sleeping in the tent with a cool breeze. We slept in and got up to make coffee, bacon and eggs. This is when the flies and wannabees swarmed in. There were so many it got to be comical - watching Carl and I use our flip flops to swat them away. During this time I managed to spill hot coffee on myself (twice) and get stung by a bee. I was pretty close to tears of frustration but was really trying to stay positive.

We packed up our stuff and began our hike up to the climbing spots. I'm still trying to stay positive and focus on making the most of the day. The fact that there were less flies at the higher altitude of climbing helped my mood but it still took me awhile to bounce back.

I've only climbed a few other times and still have a lot to learn. There's so much about climbing that's mental. Clearly you need physical strength too but you need to understand how it works and get past your own fears. Carl was (as usual) very patient with me - even when I wouldn't even look him in the eyes because I was trying to (not very successfully) fight back tears.

I managed to bounce back from my sour mood (which I think Carl was most appreciative of) and got a good last climb in, improved my skills in belaying him so he could have a few good climbs and had another early night to bed after hot dogs, apple sauce and cookies for dinner (yep, we ate like 5 year olds).

Day 5 started much better - less flies due to our much earlier wake up. We both love leisurely mornings with many cups of coffee and good breakfasts. So mornings have always been a great time for us to spend together.

We decided, since we were having an early start to our day, that we'd leave this camp spot a day early after an afternoon of more climbing. This day of climbing was so much better! I did two climbs right away without the hesitation, fear and insecurities I had from the day before. I was so proud of myself and loved how proud Carl was of me. He then, once again, had an amazing climb. He is so confident and skilled in climbing that I love watching him do it - everything from the process of how he'll do it to watching him actually succeed. His dedication is pretty inspirational.

So we hit the road in the early afternoon with the plan of driving about 5 hours to the next camp site in Sitting Bull Falls in Lincoln National Park.

Unfortunately we didn't make it. We knew there had been a terrible fire in the park in late April and was temporarily closed. It remains closed 6 weeks later so we tried to come up with an alternate plan. Then the lightning and heavy rain set in. At this point, we're near Carlsbad, NM and it's 10pm. We can either stay in a hotel or persevere and drive through the night. After a quick meal at Sonic (and a jump start from a local) we decided to drive straight home - an approximately 8 hour drive.

Carl did most of the driving but thanks to an audio book, some delirium and good music, we got home safely at 7:30am. We crashed out for a few hours and now get an entire weekend in Austin before going back to work on Monday.

While the day by day recap gives you all the details of what we did, where we went and how far we drove (almost 1900 miles), it wouldn't be me if I didn't summarize the most memorable parts of the trip with a list:

1.our first food stop in Lampasas and being served by a woman wearing blue glitter eye shadow (at 8am)

2. playing the longest game of trival pursuit (90s edition) EVER

3. drinking the smallest espresso ever at a restaurant in Taos

4. going to bed before sunset

5. hearing a bear (and later having nightmares that I heard many other animals)

6. stopping at Camel Rock outside of Taos (trust me - it's not worth the stop)

7. the names of the towns we passed (I can't write them without offending someone)

8. the morning that I spilled coffee, was stung by a bee and surrounded by flies - all within 5 minutes of waking up

9. car games that included 'listography: your life in lists', which was a gift from Jess. My love of lists actualized. Carl may have rolled his eyes but he willingly participated.

10. eating sea salt and vinegar chips - a staple in mine and Carl's diet, especially on road trips

After spending almost an entire week together with some days where we had no contact with any other people, I think it's safe to say we not only got along, but we didn't get sick of each other. But I think we're both happy to be home, out of the car for a bit and using plumbing again.
Our next vacation is only 4 weeks away, though, so I can't complain too much about going back to work. Maybe just a little.....

Grillin' and Growin'

2011-06-03T17:50:00.011-05:00

Carl and I just got back from our New Mexico road trip and I'm working on a blog (in my head) that will cover that adventure, including lots of pictures.

But, before we get side tracked on that excitement, I've been meaning to share an update on our garden. It's a good thing I waited to update after our trip because we came home to (not only a carefully watered garden by my dad) but 46 total tomatoes in various sizes, 3 budding eggplants, 2 more peppers and growing chard and basil!

We've also started composting in the backyard and are doing our best to manage that.

And, one final bit of exciting news is that we got a gas grill! It was actually an early (yes, very early) birthday gift to me from Carl.

I've wanted one for years and with the addition of the shed (which is done and only needs to be painted....I'll still take volunteers to help...). We had Jim, Kelsey, Devon and Nicole over last week to celebrate Jim's college completion and christened the grill with stuffed-to-order burgers inspired by Your Mom's (the site of mine and Carl's first date).

So food is plentiful in the Sileo/Stewart household. Clearly we're very proud of ourselves!

Family Time

2011-05-18T19:49:00.005-05:00

Last weekend my Mom and Jack were in town to help Chris take care of Lucie and Audrey while Missy was away on a girls weekend (in Vegas! hard to believe that it was a year ago that I was there for Haley's bachelorette party!)

As always it was great to see them and I'm glad she got to spend some more time with Carl and get to know him better.

We had everyone over to our house for brunch on Saturday. With two little girls, who aren't on the same nap schedule, there's about a 2 hour window (during normal hours) where they can leave the house together.

Carl did most of the cooking and the meal turned out great - eggs benedict, hasbrowns, fruit, cinnamon rolls and mimosas.

Lucie and Audrey made themselves at home - Lucie climbing into chairs and drawing pictures and Audrey crawling all over the place, including getting herself stuck in the coffee table.

I'm reminded how lucky I am to live near them and get to see them so often. They are wonderful, adorable little girls and I can't imagine not enjoying the kisses and snuggles they (luckily) are so willing to give.

The rest of the weekend was great, too, with a clothing swap, trip to the park and more food!

Irish Roots (literally)

2011-05-15T21:34:00.007-05:00

This past week was the annual community service day for LIVESTRONG. For the past few years, we've spent half of a day doing volunteer work in the Austin community the rest of the day at our annual picnic. Both are nice events, and a good break from work and our normal routines.

This year we decided to only volunteer at East Austin based organizations as a way to show our support of our local community and neighbors. As the head of our Sustainability Committee at work (note: Sustainability in the green/eco/environmental sense) I was asked to organize one of the activities and contacted our local farmers at Johnson's Backyard Garden (JBG).

They deliver our CSA (community supported agriculture) to work each week and it felt like a great place to give back to. After organizing 20 of my colleagues, we hit the road to JBG on Thursday morning for some potato harvesting. Yep, potatoes.

In true Texas style, we had some crazy weather for a few hours that managed to impact our work; but not our spirit (yes, that's cheesy - but true!)

After about an hour of potato harvesting, which includes shoving your hand (nope, I didn't bring gloves) into some dirt, scooping out a potato plant, pulling off the viable potatoes and tossing the greens, the weather started to change.

The sky was getting very dark, the temperature dropped at least 20 degrees and lightning could be seen in the distance.

The rain began - light and refreshing at first. Within an hour it turned into torrential downpours and hail. We quickly took to shelter and realized our farming was going to be cut short.

Despite my extremely muddy shoes, soaked clothes and dirty hands and nails, I had a great time. I learned something new and felt proud to work side by side with my colleagues who never complained about the hard (and dirty) work.

Updates

2011-05-11T20:28:00.001-05:00

I'm sorry that I've been remiss lately in providing updates. I've spent more of my time lately out of town then in town. New York, Boston and St. Louis for work. One more work trip this month and then Carl and I are going on vacation for a week - a road trip to Taos, with stops on the way back across New Mexico and West Texas.

Taos has been on my short list of places to visit for years and since I'm not much of a skiier I'm psyched to go in the summer. Thanks to Kelsey and her parents (who are providing us a place to stay) for all of the great recommendations. I'll definitely blog about our trip when we get back.

I've actually got quite a few vacations lined up this year - more than I've had in many years past, cumulatively.

After New Mexico, we head to Puerto Rico for a wedding and we're spending almost a week there. In September I'm going to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with my family for a week at the beach and then Jess and I are taking our much awaited birthday trip together. In our 7 years of friendship we've never traveled together, which is crazy to me because traveling is so much a part of my life.

So we're heading to Sonoma for a few days to relax, drink wine and explore. Another place that's been on my short list to visit for awhile.

In the meantime, the housing projects are coming along. The shed is so close to being done - only doors are left. I helped Carl some this past weekend to put up the siding. I'm also in charge of painting it. Any takers to help me? Thoughts on color?

The garden is coming along - slowly but surely. After two tomatoes were sadly attacked by some unknown animals we've learned our lesson to pick them a little sooner. We have our first jalapeno as well as tons of herbs and swiss chard sprouting.

So while we can't quite live off our land yet, I'm still pretty excited!

Extra Storage Space

2011-04-25T21:05:00.009-05:00

For the past few weeks Carl (with a little help from me) has been working on our next housing project. It's something that I've wanted to do since I moved in but out of necessity it's happening now - building a shed.

Despite the fact that Carl is pretty much a minimalist and doesn't have a lot of stuff, he does have a lot of tools and bikes and our house is pretty full already. There was limited storage for even just me so having some extra space will be helpful for both of us.

Carl keeps commenting on how slowly he's completing this project, but I'm more than impressed. Considering he's been traveling every work week, he's made the most of his time on weekends building an 8x12 shed.

There are a few more steps before it's complete but I thought I'd show some progression in the past few weeks.

Otherwise, life continues to be pretty hectic and great. In addition to Carl's busy travel schedule, mine has increased a bit. We went about 10 days without seeing each other, minus a few hours here and there we overlapped. We're apart again now for a week. We both do a really good job of staying in touch and making sure our time together is great. Considering how independent we both are, it works for us. I'm just very grateful that for the first few months we were dating it wasn't like this. I think it certainly would have changed our progression and since I'm so happy where we are now, it's hard to imagine things being any different.

Suffice it to say, living together continues to be great. Growing a garden and growing our love - one tomato (or five so far!) and weekend (well, most of them) at a time.

And, finally, just for fun, here's Lucie celebrating Easter:

Zoo Playdate

2011-04-13T21:14:00.005-05:00

Last weekend Missy was out of town so Chris asked for some help with the girls. It was super fun to spend so much time with Lucie and Audrey. Audrey just turned 6 months and is getting so close to crawling. I may or may not have tried to tempt her to crawl by holding a toy at arms length to see if she would go for it....

On Sunday I took the two girls to Mayfield Park (otherwise known to me as 'Peacock Park') where they could check out the peacocks and peahens. Sadly, I didn't get pictures of that. I think the most important thing to capture was me trying to maneuver a double stroller down the hills of Balcones and trying to hold two small children in my arms who were both a bit scared of the peacock noises.

But I did get pictures from Saturday when I took Lucie to the Austin Zoo along with Jen, Larkin and Layne. The zoo in Austin is more of a wildlife rescue center. It's one circle with 1 bear, 4 lions, 4 tigers, a few monkeys, 4 wolves (one of which has 3 legs) and a bunch of goats. But the girls had a blast!

Between the train ('choo choo') that pretty much drives you around some statues and the feeding pens (again, more goats), the kids were in heaven! It was a great activity to do with the girls and it was one more special way I could spend time with Lucie.

I look forward to more special bonding moments with Audrey as she gets older (and more mobile) but will continue to enjoy the special one-on-one time Tia Mellie and Lucie get to have.

West Texas

2011-04-05T20:14:00.012-05:00

For those of you not from Texas, you have to understand how large this state is. It's been a real adjustment for me since I come from a state where you can drive to 3 or 4 different states in less than half a day. Despite the fact that Texas is bordered by some water (the gulf only sort of counts) I feel pretty land locked at times.

In the 7 years I've lived here, I've hit the major cities - Dallas, San Antonio, Houston - but have never driven more than an hour west of Austin (which is fairly central in the state).

Until this past weekend....

There's a small town in West Texas (note: small is a population of 2000 people) called Marfa. Since I've been in Austin, I've heard about this cool, hip town that is about 7 hours west of Austin. Where there are great restaurants and cool art museums.

So Carl and I decided to check it out. It was 2 months out that we had to book our place at El Cosmico, a cool 'hotel' of restored vintage trailers.

So Carl, Buster and I hit the road early last Friday morning and spent the weekend in Marfa. I'll admit I was a bit underwhelmed when we pulled into the town. While I knew it would be small I thought it would a little more exciting looking.

But once we spent some time there I can see the charm. The food we ate was great, especially on Friday night at Cochineal and overall it was a very relaxing weekend. We slept great, enjoyed leisurely mornings with coffee, the nights staring at stars in an amazing black sky and hit the road back East on Sunday morning. Not before a swim in a cold springs just outside of town.

While I don't think I need to go back to Marfa (since we did pretty much everything there was to do) I'm so glad we went. It was also the first trip Carl and I have taken just the two of us. It was great to know we can spend so much time together and not get sick of each other. In fact, it makes me love him even more, knowing how easy he is to be around whether we're silent or joking around. So even if Marfa wasn't quite what I imagined, I'll remember it for so many other reasons.

Veggie (and Herb) Love

2011-04-05T19:59:00.006-05:00

We have a garden! A real garden!

It's something I've always hoped to have. To be able to pick tomatoes and squash from plants I've grown sounds quite divine. But I didn't know much about how to get started.

We had a garden as kids growing up but my brother did most of the work. So I thought I'd start small with some herbs.

But Carl is ambitious and doesn't let a challenge get the best of him. So he built us a garden and we planted tomatoes, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, jalapenos, rosemary, basil, mint, thyme and oregano.

So far, so good. I think the biggest challenge will be keeping the neighborhood wildlife (a.k.a. feral cats) out of our garden bed. I'll be sure to send regular updates of how things are growing.

Welcome Home, Carl

2011-03-21T16:22:00.005-05:00

It's been less than a year and a half since I started this blog - all due to a big change in my life - buying my first home!

Well, now I'm having another first - living with Carl (really living with any boy).

Carl has officially moved in and I couldn't be happier. After only a little more than 3 months of dating (we like to round up to a year) we've made this big decision. And it couldn't feel more natural.

Just like everything else in our relationship, it feels completely right.

We started talking about moving in together after only 6 weeks. I had trouble wrapping my head around it because it felt so soon. I quickly realized that ‘soon’ was relative and that while we hadn’t been dating that long, we had spent a lot of time together, got along great and communicated so well that time didn’t feel normal. I was caught up in what people would think and how they would react.

And, to be honest, if any of my friends said they were moving in with someone after this short period of time, I may question it. So I expect that and I get it. But that doesn’t change my mind. And I had to get past my own concerns of what others would think and choose what I think is right for me. For us.

And this just feels right. More right than I ever thought something could feel. I now get it. I get how a relationship can and should feel when you’re both mature, open, loving people. So, I’m making room in my 670 square foot house for him. For us.

So while the origin of my blog was about a single gal, living in her first home it’s now evolved. It’s now about two people in love, sharing a (tiny) home. The good news is that we’ll have even more projects to blog about including a soon to be planted garden.

I do, periodically, have flashbacks to the Friends episode when Monica and Chandler decide to move in together and she whines, “I live with a boy!”…..yep, I can relate. Living with a boy is far different than living with a girl. But so far, it’s way better.

Lent

2011-03-18T13:11:00.003-05:00

Every year I give something up for Lent. While I'm not a (practicing) Catholic, I was raised that way and have given something up every year. Mostly because I like a challenge and goals so it's right in line with my own personal religion, which is mostly focused on results.

This year I've given up one of my favorite things:

Ever since I did the 21 day food challenge earlier this year, I've been trying to limit some unnecessary sugars. Chocolate chip cookies, sadly, are one of them. I just don't feel great after eating that amount of sugar. But I've fallen off the wagon lately and have been eating more and more cookies. So I figured I needed another boost. This doesn't mean I'll never eat another chocolate chip cookie. But maybe I'll save that for the really good ones.....

I also decided to add something to my life during Lent - flossing. I'm not a consistent flosser, although I don't mind it and like how it makes my teeth feel. But recently going to the dentist, I was reminded how much of a difference it can make.

So my goal is to floss everyday for the 40 days of Lent, with the hope that it forms into a habit. So far, I missed one day. I doubled up the next day and flossed twice and have been on track since. It's hard at night, when you're tired and just want to get in bed. But it's less than 2 minutes of my life that I know is worth it.

Ruffin' It

2011-03-15T20:29:00.006-05:00

It's been a busy few weeks. I've been out of town for the past three weekends and several more are on the horizon. Three weekends ago I was in Orlando, Florida for work. Needless to say, I don't love Florida. I was there for as long as I needed to for the conference and did enjoy some time by the pool but it was mostly work.

Two weekends ago Carl, Buster and I went camping out at Carl's land in Dripping Springs. It was my first time camping with him and, to be honest, my first time camping in years. I like to camp. In fact, I love it. I really enjoy being removed from the hectic world and sitting by a campfire.

This camping trip was extra fun, though, because it was with Carl. He's so comfortable camping that it makes me feel completely at ease. Leading up to our camping trip, we stopped off for a little introductory rock climbing. My mom does not want to know that I'm trying rock climbing so I'll spare all the details but I really had fun! I'm not afraid of heights so that didn't worry me. We did some pretty easy climbs to teach me the ropes (literally). I completely trust Carl and since climbing is such a big part of his life, I want it to be part of mine (albeit on a much smaller scale right now).

We then headed out to the land, Buster and some food in tow and built a fire (well, Carl built, I watched...but I did later have to build my own fire and remembered everything he had done). It ended up getting quite chilly that night (below freezing). Little Buster was shivering until I snuggled him inside my jacket.

But it was an amazing night. The stars outside a city skyline are breathtaking and I loved enjoying this with Carl. We stayed in his Airstream Trailer that night. And while it kept us from the elements it didn't have heat. Once I nestled into my sleeping bag, I began to feel my toes again and I slept great!

I think the morning time is my favorite. Making coffee over the fire, watching the sun creep up across the sky and seeing the world wake up, is pretty cool.

We then spent the day on his land, with his friends. They climbed, I watched (this time) and we then cooked out on the fire again (the one I built). All in all it was a great weekend. Not only because I had a great time - because I did - but because it was so important to Carl. He loves his land and I'm growing to more and more every time I'm out there. So is Buster.....

Go Duke Dogs!

2011-03-01T19:38:00.004-06:00

It's a rare treat to meet someone outside the states of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and New Jersey that have heard of James Madison University.

If they have, they think I'm talking about GMU (George Mason University), which I'm quick to correct them b/c GMU is in the same town I grew up in and I would not have gone there (no offense). And then they quickly ask, 'is that a private school'?

Nope. A great Virginia state school with over 15,000 people. It just draws from such a regional area and doesn't have any great sports teams - although that's quickly changing - and is known more for it's marching band and field hockey team.

But for those of you who have heard of it or know someone who went there, you know we're all very proud. We love our royal Duke Dog that wears a crown, and the fact that we only had 3 bars in town due to the large Mennonite population, and that we were so close to Skyline Drive.

So it's a real treat to meet people in Texas who not only have heard of it but went there!

Turns out, there are 3 of us who work at LIVESTRONG (staff of 85 total) that went to JMU! Crazy, huh? We didn't know each other in school (although 2 of us were only a year apart) but it's an instant bond that we love to remind people of. This year, when JMU beat Virginia Tech in a football game, we wore purple to work the next day (not to be confused with TCU, a Texas school that people often confuse our affinity to purple with) and tweeted our picture, which then got published in the Madisonian (our prestigious alumni magazine).

We were also interviewed by the Madisonian (along with a LIVESTRONG intern who was from JMU) and are awaiting the article.

So, if anyone wants our autographs, or wants Colleen to sing our fight song for them, you know where to find us.....

Except after the half marathon, when both Colleen and Ashley made it to the post-event party and I didn't. It's so nice to be missed.....

Take That, 13.1 Miles

2011-02-23T20:52:00.006-06:00

This past weekend was the first LIVESTRONG marathon. LIVESTRONG is the title sponsor of this annual event for 3 years and so, of course, I wanted to run.

I've been training for months and actually felt stronger than ever. But the day was tough.....

It was a bit windy, humid and warmer than I'd like for a run. And while it may not have been my best time (it wasn't my worst), I felt so inspired the whole time. Here's a list of what inspired me:

1. My running partner, Kelsey, and her constant positive attitude

2. The LIVESTRONG water stop and yellow mile

3. Along with that....my committed colleagues and friends who cheered

4. Seeing my family, including my adorable nieces, cheering me on

5. Carl riding his bike next to Kelsey and me playing Katy Perry at my request

6. Finishing at the same time as the first woman marathon finisher (ah, the cheers...)

7. Seeing my childhood friend, Laura, who came from Connecticut to run the marathon

8. Hearing Eye of the Tiger as we were about to take on (and conquer) our biggest hill

9. Seeing my two friends, Jen and Haley, finish their first half marathon

10. Receiving the Celebratory Haiku from Devon upon our finish:

Thirteen point one miles
Clear eyes, full hearts, could not lose
Wow, you ran Austin!

Kelsey and I officially renamed the 'half marathon' to the 'full half marathon'. We felt like saying we're doing 'just the half' was happening too often. We're not doing 'half' of anything. We're doing our full training plan.

It was an amazing event and I'm honored that LIVESTRONG was a part of it. We went from 50 runners last year to over 500 this year and raised more than 300,000 dollars.

So, I've officially postponed my retirement for at least 2 more years. How can I not do the next two years?

Until then, I'll take some time off running and maybe start rock climbing....

Audrey's Baptism

2011-02-19T18:14:00.008-06:00

Last weekend was a big week in the Sileo family. Not only did Lucie turn two (and get to celebrate it for many, many days), Audrey was baptized.

Missy's parents and her two siblings along with their significant others came into town as did my parents.

The weather was amazing all weekend and we even got a chance to take my parents out to Dripping Springs to see Carl's land and new Airstream Trailer. My parents aren't super outdoorsy but I think they appreciated how pretty it is out there and enjoyed getting out of town for a few hours. Now hopefully the weather will also be great for my half marathon tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!

Birthday Girl

2011-02-10T20:02:00.005-06:00

Yesterday Lucie turned two! It's hard to believe that she's already two. Two years ago, when she was born, there was so much happening. This year was all about her.

She still doesn't seem too much into birthdays. She enjoys pulling open the wrapping paper and eating the sprinkles (jimmies) off her cupcakes but was easily persuaded to take a bath and get ready for bed. Just like her every night routine.

She continues to be adorable and one of my favorite people.

This weekend, my family descends upon Austin for Audrey's baptism and Lucie's bday. I'm just glad that the weather is supposed to warm up. We've had an albeit delayed, but chilly, winter. We even had snow last week.

2011 So Far....

2011-01-29T09:38:00.004-06:00

This year has been pretty great so far. I can't believe it's February in a few days and Spring is (and feels) right around the corner.

Between a budding romance, a great job (and in a few short weeks finally getting paid the right amount for this great job), wonderful friends and family, I'm feeling like a pretty lucky girl.

I know I'm worth it and I know that this exact feeling won't last forever but I'm going to enjoy this happiness for as long as I can. There was an Oprah episode this week on happiness and there was a quiz you could take.

There are some obvious happiness factors but some not so obvious - like how much tv you watch, if you know your neighbors, how far you live from work. Turns out, I'm pretty happy!

I'm reminded of the Sex and the City movie (the first one) when the girls are sitting around discussing happiness with their significant others. Charlotte says she feels happy all the time. Maybe not every minute of every day but she's happy. And that's how I feel.

Is it wrong to question this though? To feel guilty that I am this happy? Even if it is, I'm not going to stop this for as long as possible.

For those of you who wanted an updated on my 21 day challenge - I'm done! It was a huge success - I feel completely unaddicted to sugar, slept great and had consistent energy throughout the day. I even felt like my running improved.

So while I'm back to some of my old habits (mostly wine) I'm still minimizing my carbs and sleeping great!

Work/Life Balance

2011-01-18T20:49:00.003-06:00

I've always been a hard worker and don't like to see projects incomplete or a to-do list with empty check boxes (my signature to-do list style). But over the past year I've been busier and busier at work and have started to accomodate my expectations of myself. I don't want to say I've lowered them b/c I'm certainly working as hard as ever but I've come to accept what's realistic in a given work day, even if I'm there for 10 or more hours.

Last week, LIVESTRONG hosted a recognition dinner for those of us who have been there for 5 or more years. It was such a nice event with tons of personal touches and kind words. It was nice to be honored and even nicer to be reminded that I, too, feel honored to work there.

But I still want to make sure that work isn't my life.

One thing that's helped with that in the past month is that I'm dating someone and pretty excited about it. I got his permission to out him on my blog but since my parents and co-workers read this, it'll keep it pretty tame.

Suffice it to say that Carl has certainly given me even more reasons to not let work become my life. Sadly, I think that it's easy when you're single to put yourself aside for work and/or be asked to do so. It's not something I'm proud to admit but I also know I may have been given some of the chances I have/had at work b/c I don't have some of the time constraints others do. But that doesn't mean I want that pattern to stay that way.

Carl is such a balanced person that it's infectious to want to follow those same habits. And, of course, when you first meet someone you want to spend a lot of time with him. Luckily, for me, he feels the same way.

So I think many people are grateful that Carl came into my life but most of all, I am.

On a less sappy note, I'm on day 16 of my 21 day food challenge. It's been amazing! While I miss wine the most I've gotten past my sugar cravings and have really enjoyed experimenting with new foods. My sleep has improved and overall I feel great all day long. So while I'm sure I'll make some changes when Day 22 roles around, for now I'm pretty happy with the results!

Holidaze

2011-01-03T08:31:00.003-06:00

How are the holidays already over? This happens every year so I shouldn't be surprised.....

I didn't travel this year to see my family. While I've stayed in Austin for Christmas before, this was the first time I wasn't with family. While of course I missed them, I also really appreciated not traveling and having over a week of time in Austin to get caught up on some things and just enjoy the life I have here.

I may not have been as productive as I wanted over the break but I ran a lot, saw a lot of friends, a few movies and hosted some people at my house on Christmas Eve. Christmas day was spent with Jess, Ken, Kelsey and Jim at Jess and Ken's house. Buster also got to join in this year's festivities, which was extra great for me.

I feel pretty great about how 2010 ended (really about how the whole year went for me) and even better about how 2011 has started so far. I'm not one for superstition (I'm just a 'little stitious') but I did manage to eat some black eyed peas on New Year's Day. There's no need to tempt fate or push my luck.

Now it's (almost) back to work. I decided after the Thanksgiving holiday that the best day to take off work is the day where everyone else is returning. So, I've got one more day at home. My big goals today are to walk Buster (poor little guy is quite neglected during training season) and get my car's oil changed. Besides that I've got some cooking to do.....

I signed up for a 21 day food challenge. To clarify - this is not a diet! I am not interested in losing weight but I am interested in feeling better overall and seeing if the food I put into my body impacts my energy levels.

Two of my friends, Devon and Kelsey, did this program in November and had great results! After their discussion of how well they were sleeping, I was sold! I haven't been a great sleeper since I was a child. I fall asleep just fine but wake up a lot throughout the night.

The 21 days to food freedom focuses on eating vegetables, proteins and fats and eliminating the unnecessary things - like dairy, processed foods and alcohol - for 21 days to see how you feel.

Everyone's goals are different but mine is to really see how what I eat impacts how I feel. I'll certainly keep you all posted. While it may be difficult to not drink for 21 days I know I can do it. After the holiday craziness of eating and drinking a lot, I'm ready for a break.

Remembering

2010-12-24T08:06:00.004-06:00

The first Lucy in my life (besides the Peanut's character) was Lucy Sather, Jess's dog. She was an adorable creature that I fell in love with shortly after I met Jess in 2004 when I moved to Austin.

Sadly, last week, Lucy suddenly got sick and after many tests it was determined she had suffered from some strokes and had bleeding on her brain.

Jess and Ken got to bring her home for a few days but eventually made the tough decision to say goodbye, knowing her quality of life wasn't the same.

I know how hard the loss of a pet is. It's one of the hardest things I've been through but it's also a true reflection of the impact they have on your life. The pain and sadness is all worth it (although believe me it doesn't feel that way at the time) because it just means you loved them so much.

I am aware that Buster's little life will be over before mine and it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. But it also makes me aware of how much I should take advantage of every moment we have together.

I'm honored that I got to be such a big part of Lucy's life. I will always remember what a great singer she was, her licking mine and Jess's legs after long runs (mmmm....salt) and her beautiful eyes. Lucy also inspired me to get my own dog. After knowing her for a year I decided to get Max. I am forever grateful that she led me to that path.

I already miss Lucy and wish I could take the sadness away from Jess and Ken's life. But I do know it will get easier and that we're all lucky to have known her.

Updates

2010-12-08T19:27:00.018-06:00

I've had a lot going on but not much time to catch everyone up so this is just going to be one of those blog posts where I try to catch you all up. So I apologize for the lack of humor and creativity - I'm just sticking to the facts.

It's that time of year when life gets busy and stressful but I have to admit, I love it. I love the temperature change, the smells, the music and food and the overall sense of festiveness.

So let's begin in Mexico. One of my 2010 goals was to take an actual vacation. Sure, I've taken time off from work this year and in year's past but it's usually for an event for one of my beloved friends or when I tag on extra days of a work trip to travel or see friends.

So Devon and I decided to book a trip to Mexico and invite our friends. Turns out they all (well, almost all) wanted to go. There were 6 of us, divided into two rooms (hence the pictures). My room was known as 'Team Half Marathon' as we're all in training mode right now. But we quickly coined ourselves as 'Team Sensitive' b/c we are also the girls who cry easily and get hurt feelings. But it's only b/c we care so much! The other room was 'Team Sorority Girl' b/c they were all in sororities in college.

It was the most relaxing 5 days I've had in years. I turned my blackberry off and didn't read emails for the entire trip - it was so worth it to completely disconnect. Suffice it to say, I'd like to make this a regular occurrence.

Next up was Thanksgiving and Door Busting. My dad came in town for Thanksgiving and despite a nasty stomach bug that he (and many others) caught, we had a great week together and he got to meet Audrey for the first time. I then went with Devon and Kelsey for our second annual 'Door Busting' black Friday experience. We shopped from 1 - 5am and had some good successes. It was the coldest night of the year thus far, though, as you can see in the pics (note: if I'm ever lost, you can return me to LIVESTRONG).

I then got to enjoy a 'fancy' night with co workers at our annual holiday party. This year it was at the club level of the Austonian - the tallest building in downtown Austin. The view was amazing - you literally forget you're in Austin. It was tons of fun but I'm not cut out for 2am nights anymore. It takes me all day to recover. Here I am with the rest of the 'Navigation' Team:

But what better way is there to recover from a late night by eating delicious food and watching holiday movies. Haley hosted our third annual 'Love Actually' viewing party and potluck. As you can see, we love to eat. And the company was great, too:

I woke up refreshed and ready to spend the next day with Lucie. We walked to a park near Chris and Missy's house (after Lance passed us on his bike) and checked out the peacocks and peahens. Lucie could have stayed for hours. But we decided to go to lunch and met Jen, Larkin and Layne at Phil's Ice House, where she promptly wanted to sit on a cow:

Last but certainly not least. I got a new TV. I have officially entered the 21st century and have a flat screen HDTV. I don't know how I went this long without one. No picture for this but suffice it to say it's pretty magical.

Happy Home-iversary To Me!

2010-11-30T21:22:00.005-06:00

One year ago today I closed on my house.

It's been a great year and hard to believe how quickly it's gone by. This blog also started about a year ago (as you may recall after a few drinks by Devon and Haley) to chronicle my home ownership. It's certainly turned into a chronicle of other aspects of my life but I still try to share all the details of home ownership. Something excited that happened this past weekend is that I fixed my back door that was had a sticky lock. Guess how? Good old WD-40. Oh sure, I've learned that WD-40 and duct tape can work wonders.

I still love coming home everyday, especially this time of year now that I have a Christmas tree up. Thanks to my Dad for helping me decorate it last night. I'm still a bit in denial that it's my first 'non-real' tree but I'll get used to it.

I know I'm way behind on blogs and I promise to catch up but I had to post on this special 1 year day.

Party Success

2010-11-14T19:48:00.003-06:00

Last year, Jess and I co-hosted a clothing swap at her house. It was such a huge success, we decided to do it again this year and it was my turn to host at my house!

I've had a few events at my house in the year I've lived here (can you believe it's almost been 1 year!) but I always get excited to have people over. Not only is it a good excuse to clean it's fun to share my house love with others.

For those of you who don't know what a clothing swap is, essentially we invite all of our girlfriends to clean out their closets. Whatever you find that you don't want, need or doesn't fit anymore, you bring to the swap. This could include clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry and scarves. Among the group of women, there are most likely 1 or 2 people who are similar sized to you and then it's a free for all! We organize the items in categories and then you just take what you want.

After we're all done taking what we want, we show each other what we picked out and discuss the items. Then we bag up the leftovers (of which there are usually a lot). This year we donated items to Dress For Success and Goodwill. Despite the fact that many of us got a lot of items, there were still 7 bags of items left to donate.

I've found that I'm more likely to bring an item to a swap than just donate to Goodwill directly (even though it may end up there eventually). Somethings that I may be reluctant to let go of, I like the idea of knowing that they may go to someone else's home. Truly, one person's junk is another person's treasure.

Best of all, it's like going shopping without spending any money!

While the clothing swap part if fun, it was also nice to have people over. I really enjoy entertaining and I think last night was a big success.

So same time next year, back to Jess's house? I hope so!

Family Bonding

2010-11-07T07:45:00.006-06:00

Last night I babysat Lucie and Audrey (as well as a 15 month old baby of Chris and Missy's friend). The 'older' kids were asleep by 7:30 and that left Audrey and me.

It was the first time I felt like I was really starting to bond with her. I fed her a couple of times, changed her diaper and overall just enjoyed snuggling with her. At four weeks old, she's pretty alert and quite adorable - making all the cute baby noises, stretching in odd positions and nuzzling into my arms - and it made my heart swell for her.

I was also relieved.

I hadn't felt that bond with Audrey yet. Most of the four weeks of her life, when I've been with Chris and Missy, it's to help with Lucie. So tonight it was much more about Audrey and I was so happy.

I give my friend, Jen, a hard time on behalf of second/younger children around the world. While I'm largely joking, it is different. Your first child and everything they do is special and exciting and scary (I imagine) at times. As a second child, I felt it was my duty to make sure parents (especially those who were older children) understand that we're just as important.

But of course we are. And of course it's different. It can't possibly be the same. But it doesn't mean it's better or worse.

I know that Lucie will always be my first niece and hold a special place in my heart. But holding Audrey last night and getting some time with just her is exactly what I needed to know I will also hold a special (but different) place in my heart for her.

Meanwhile, Lucie woke up several times while I was there and needed some extra nurturing to fall back asleep. It made me feel good to know I could do that for her, while still love on Audrey. As always, I continue to be in awe of all mothers and how they do it.

Katie Gets Married!

2010-10-31T16:56:00.006-05:00

I've been in Greenville, SC for the past 4 days for Katie's wedding.

I could still cry as I type this b/c it was such an amazing experience - lovely weather, adorable town, wonderful events, beautiful bride, great friends - need I say more?

Katie moved to England over a year and a half ago and shortly thereafter met and fell in love with Rob, her now husband. This may have been the first time I was in a wedding and hadn't me the groom first. But I've known Katie for most of my life and completely trust her and had no doubt Rob was the one for her. Turns out, she was right. He clearly loves and adores her and she deserves nothing less.

I've been to a lot of weddings and been in a lot of weddings but there was something extra special about this one for me. I don't know if I just got caught up in the amazing weather and days of festivities but when a childhood friend gets married you can't help but reflect on how long you've known each other and all the things you've been through.

I'm so lucky that I'm so close with so many friends from high school. Jenn, Steph, Katie and I may go months or years without seeing each other but it's so easy and comfortable to be around them. It had been years since we'd all been together but it felt like yesterday. I guess that's the beauty of people knowing you maybe better than you know yourself sometimes.

I could go on and on about all the mushy details but suffice it to say it was a wonderful weekend. I laughed, cried, ate and drank my way through Greenville. Katie's parents and sister and her family were fantastic hosts.

Here are a few shots from the weekend:

Katie, me, Jenn and Steph out for 'ladies night'

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dunn - just moments after their 'I dos'

The four of us, again, on the last night eating east coast bbq (which still wins my vote any day over Texas bbq)

I can't thank Katie enough for including me in such a wonderful event and my oldest and dearest friends for making me laugh so much this weekend. I already miss you!

Like Riding a Bike?

2010-10-23T15:21:00.003-05:00

They say that you never forget how to ride a bike. That it comes right back to you as soon as you get on one again. I've actually found this to be true. I got a bike as an adult and quickly felt comfortable on it, remembering fond times on my purple Schwinn 10 speed I had a kid.

So why doesn't running feel this way? I mean I know I don't forget how to run but after only a few short weeks not running, it does feel like you have to start from square one (or at least two or three) again. But maybe that's just me?

I ran 3 miles today for the first time since the half marathon from three weeks ago. I've purposely been taking time off from running b/c I'll start training for the next half marathon in a few weeks. But boy did 3 miles feel tough. Admittedly it was hilly and we did walk some but geez.

But the most important thing about the run was why I was there. It was LIVESTRONG's annual Austin Challenge. What started as annual bike event in Austin to raise money for LIVESTRONG, turned into an entire weekend affair, 5k and all, several years ago.

I've participated in this event for the past few years - as staff, volunteer and runner - and am always so impressed with it. I'm also reminded of what a great job I have and how lucky I am to work for an organization that has such a powerful mission and dedicated employees.

And boy did I need that reminder. Lately, work has felt tough. To be honest, it's felt tough for about 6 months but I've had a bit of a bad attitude lately and I needed this. I needed to be reminded why I do the work I do and while little things may still annoy me that they are nothing compared to the amazing feeling I get truly impacting people's lives.

So thank you to the LIVESTRONG Challenge for that reminder and to my running and volunteering buddy, Devon, for making me laugh so much this weekend and trying to redirect me from walking in vomit.

Tia Mellie x2

2010-10-10T08:16:00.005-05:00

Baby Sileo #2 was born bright and early on Saturday morning. She's adorable and healthy and, compared to tiny Lucie, she's enormous! Okay so she's 6lbs, 12 oz, 19 inches but that seems huge compared to 5lb Baby Lucie.

It all started with a phone call at midnight on Friday night/Saturday morning from Missy. I had just gone to bed and saw her number on my phone and knew it was go-time. I packed up some things for Buster and me and got over to their house around 12:30. Once Missy was pretty certain she was in labor, she and Chris headed to the hospital (around 2am). They continued to provide me text updates as I tried to get some sleep and await Lucie's morning routine.

While Lucie was eating her breakfast, her little sister was born! The name hasn't been decided on yet although they promise she'll have one before they leave the hospital.

My main job during all this was to take care of Lucie. We had such a fun day together - going to the park with Jen, Larkin and Layne, playing in the backyard with Bailey and Buster, coloring and playing with play-doh and reading 'I'm a Big Sister' that Jen gave us. I'm not sure she quite understood it but she did ask me to read it to her twice and sat in my lap while I read it, which she doesn't do that much anymore.

All in all, it was a great day with her. Despite how tired I was and how anxious I was to meet my new niece, it was so special to me that I got to spend this time with her - before there are two all the time. Lucie and I have always had a special bond (at least I think so). It's hard to know if that's b/c she's the first or because of the circumstances she was born under or if it's just simply her personality. But I look forward to creating a unique bond with her little sister, too!

So far, so good:

Half Full Tri

2010-10-04T22:03:00.005-05:00

I know it's been a long time since I've posted. I wish I had a good excuse but life's just been busy. I've been traveling almost every week for work and when I have been home I've had a million things to do, including waiting for my new niece to be born! While I still can't imagine how I'll love her as much as I love Lucie, I know I will and I'm very excited to meet her - two weeks or less and counting!

In the meantime, this past weekend, I participated in my last triathlon (relay) this season and my second half marathon this year. I'll be honest, it was a doozie.

As you may recall, I trained pretty hard for the Austin half marathon in February. Kelsey and I ran 5 days a week and followed our training plan almost exactly. This time, I trained by myself. I missed a number of long runs, mostly ran on a treadmill b/c it was too hot outside and the furthest I ran was 9 miles and that was almost 3 weeks ago. This course was tough. While the weather was ideal (cloudy and 60s) there were more hills than I expected.

All this to say that I didn't perform quite as well as I did in February but I'm still very proud of myself - crossing the finish line at 2 and a half hours - granted the first 7 miles I felt like a rock star and the last 6 I thought I wanted to die. But it was for a good cause I'm so happy to have participated in this event.

Devon and Colleen were the other legs of our team and did a great job. Considering the cold water (and outdoor) temps, Devon was a champ - wetsuit and all. Colleen had the hilliest riding course ever but still managed to remain true to why we were there - to support the thousands of young adults diagnosed with cancer each year - and helped a cancer survivor on the side of the road who had a flat.

Not only did I enjoy the event, my parents got to see me finish a race for the first time! It was so great to see them at the finish line and know how proud they were of me.

All in all, a great day, a great team and a great performance. I'm a bit sore but will recover soon and plan to run, what may be my last half marathon, next February for the Austin (LIVESTRONG) marathon. Until Thanksgiving, though, I can take some time off from running and spend that extra time with my niece(s).

Here we are. The big winners in the category for 'All Female Relay Team Who Traveled the Farthest':

Visitors Welcome!

2010-09-04T19:21:00.006-05:00

So when I moved into my house I decided to make my second room more of an office than a guest room. This was largely because I didn't have a second bed but also because I felt that it was more important to have a room that was functional to me most of the time rather than my (periodic) guests (no offense).

So I set up my desk and sewing machine in there and organized my books on various book shelves. Eventually the room also became Buster's to a certain extent. I'd find his toys in there and him rolling around on the rug just for fun.

I've thought about this second room a lot and fantasized about what I'd do to make this room better. I just didn't like how hodgepodge it was and realized that I wasn't using the room very often; if ever.

Then Chris and Missy got pregnant. And one of their guest rooms will turn into Baby Sileo #2's room. Insert guest room.

They were generous enough to provide me their guest bed and linens and after some help from friends transporting and rebuilding it, my guest room is coming together.

I gave my desk to Kelsey (I was happy to know it was going to a good home) and made a trip to Ikea where I got a new rug, curtains, a matching blanket and some other pieces to pull this room together.

It still needs some work but I'm really enjoying it and I'm not even the one who will use it! I like knowing, for the first time ever, I can adequately host people. I don't have to pull out the air mattress or sleep on my couch or give up my bedroom. So, come one, come all (well only a few of you) to Casa Sileo for a visit. The only thing you should be aware of is that Buster still thinks it's his room and you may have to share the bed with him.

And this is just because she's so adorable!!

Happy Birthday To Me

2010-08-30T21:56:00.006-05:00

I'm hopeful that anyone that reads this blog also knows that today is my birthday. If not, then it may creep me out a little that a stranger is reading this. Either way, I'm officially 34. I've been rounding up for awhile so I'm used to the number. The thing that's odd is that I'm actually in my 35th year. It is weird to think that I'm in my mid-30s.

Please know that what follows is by no means a pity party - I'm actually quite happy with my life and have a lot of great things going for me. But I know that many people (including myself) may not have pictured that in my mid-30s I'd still be single and not have kids or any other societal expectation placed on a woman my age.

I remember in high school, that a friend of mine (in fact a few) guessed that I'd be the last one to get married. Turns out they were right. What was it about me, even back then, that meant I'd be likely to marry later in life?

I'll be honest, though, I've often worn this as a badge of honor - something that meant I wasn't going to settle easily (not that I think my friends have settled....). And, don't get me wrong, I'm still happy that I didn't marry any of the exes of my past. But, believe it or not, I do wish for some of those things. I don't like feeling like the odd one - who hasn't followed the traditional path of getting married or having kids. But if I'm ok with it, I sure hope those that love me are as well.

I've had a lot of great things happen in my life in the past year or so - I've become an aunt, a homeowner, a dog owner (again), promoted at work and all in all continue to have a great life. So, despite the soliloquy above, I promise I am happy. To all my friends who may be concerned or want me to 'hurry up and have kids', just know that I'm very happy. I feel so lucky to have such great friends, family and a job that challenges me every day.

So I welcome my 35th year wholeheartedly. How can I not after the lovely, spontaneous poem my friends wrote for me at dinner tonight:

For translation:

Mellie, we love you

This is a day good for flan

Love her like Anthro

Wow, the way she looks tonight

Good night sweet Mellie

I Heart Organizing

2010-08-15T19:00:00.006-05:00

If being organized was an addiction, I would totally have it. Wait, I guess it is? It's just that it's not a bad addiction? Or is it? I'll admit, sometimes I get paralyzed from moving forward until I've organized things. Sometimes I can't even think straight unless I have a to-do list. So maybe I am addicted? Oh well, I'm ok with that.

This weekend's project was about organizing my utility/laundry room. Exciting, huh?

Since I moved in, it's just been used as storage, hodgepodge and other such things. I have some leftover shelves from my closet build out so I went back to the Container Store and cut them to size and asked Ken to come over and hang them (I still don't own a drill).

This project also forced me to get rid of some things. Even though I'm organized, I tend to hold onto things too long - for good and bad reasons. One thing that I've had for more than half my life is a bookshelf that my brother built for me. I was on vacation with a girlfriend for my 16th birthday and came home to a newly constructed bookshelf that was built to fit my stereo I'd also gotten for my birthday.

It's held so much sentimental value and has been one of the few items that has moved with me the most - to Boston, back to DC and finally to Austin (and multiple moves here). But it's time to let it go. Not because I don't love it anymore but because it simply doesn't fit - both physically and emotionally into my life anymore. It represents my past and I'll always love and appreciate the fact that my brother made it for me. But my future is clearly in Elfa shelves. I'm such a grown up!

Needless to say this bookshelf was in my utility room. Ken helped me move it to my curb (not only b/c people will take anything in my neighborhood but also b/c tomorrow is bulk pick-up day). After he successfully hung the shelves, I got to organize them and the rest of the small (but important) space in there.

So while it may not look exciting to you I'm thrilled. Now I can put my recycling in there and get my suitcases without injuring myself.

Thanks, Ken!

Triathlon Season

2010-08-10T19:39:00.003-05:00

That's right, it's triathlon season. Why this season occurs during the hottest months is Texas is beyond me but I suppose we're not the only participants. For the past few years, I've been participating in triathlons, as the relay running leg, with different friends. Devon is always the swimming leg and I'm always the running leg (no pun intended) but we have various friends who (when not participating in a full triathlon by themselves) are our biking leg. This summer, we're off to a bit of a slower start but I'm gearing up for a busy fall of events.

I haven't run much since the half marathon in February. I tend to take time off from running after training so much and as it got hotter out, my desire to run dramatically decreased. So I've been swimming and taking pilates and still feel in pretty good shape. But, the time was coming. Training time.

For some crazy reason, I decided to do two more half marathons this year. Does participating in 3 half marathons in one year mean I've run a marathon and a half? Probably not.

The Ulman Cancer Fund (founded and named after LIVESTRONG's CEO, Doug Ulman, who is a 3 time cancer survivor) is hosting the Half Full Tri on October 3 in Columbia, MD. Devon, Haley and I are competing as a relay team and the running leg this time is a half marathon. This is the furthest relay event we'll have all competed in together and I'm excited! But, I'm also nervous. I started running last week and had a really hard time.

First, because it's so hot out that even if I run first thing in the morning it's usually already 80 degrees and, second, b/c I've been battling horrible allergies for weeks. I haven't been sleeping well, I'm congested, coughing and this past weekend my ears started to hurt. Knowing I'm getting on an airplane in a few days I finally sucked it up and went to the doctor yesterday.

Turns out, I have an ear infection. So I'm now on tons of meds and already sleeping a little better. And it was worth it. Today I went for a 3 mile run and felt great. While it was slow and I'm already a little sore, I did it and I felt really good the whole time. It gave me hope that I can get through these events.

So for those friends who live close to Columbia, MD, come on out and cheer us on in October! I can't promise I'll be as well trained or 'fast' as I was in February but I'll be there. Until then, I'll be looking for ways to train in Texas somehow avoiding the heat.

Warranties

2010-08-08T19:50:00.004-05:00

How does everyone out there feel about warranties? I mean you can get a 'warranty' or 'guarantee' for just about anything out there. For most of my life, I've been too cheap (or poor) to invest the extra money in warranties and just opted to take my chances. But now things are different. I'm not just investing in a camera or DVD player. I'm now responsible for a home and all of the expensive appliances (that will inevitably break) in them.

Since my home was a newly built home, the appliances are all new and, therefore, under a manufacturer's warranty for various time frames. Additionally, I have a home warranty that came with my closing. I'd never even heard of a 'home warranty' before. As far as I'm concerned is not named very well. I mean my 'home' isn't under warranty. If I decide I don't like it or it's not living up to my expectations, no one is going to fix that but all of my appliances and major pieces of equipment are covered under this warranty.

It's paid for through the end of this year and so far I've used it twice - first for my hot water heater several months ago and then this week when my AC stopped working. I looked up the cost to renew it next year and it's really not that much money and I can pay monthly. So I'm thinking this is a pretty good deal. All I do is pay a $75 service fee each time they have to come out to my home, which seems like nothing compared to the hundreds (I imagine) I'd spend if I paid for actual labor and parts.

But this week I felt like the warranty worked against me so I don't know what to do. Here's the scoop.

My AC has been working great. But I noticed an odd noise out of it a few weeks ago. The outside unit is right outside of my bedroom window and I would hear the blower going on and off quickly as I lay in bed going to sleep but the AC was still on in the house and keeping me cool. I didn't know if these sounds were unusual so I did what most of us do when we don't want to believe something is wrong - I ignored it.

Then one night, after babysitting Lucie, I came home to an 80 degree house. Thank goodness Buster was with me but clearly my AC was no longer working. It was too late to call anyone so we went to bed. It progressively got hotter over night and poor Buster and I (he was panting and I was tossing and turning) didn't get much sleep as it got up to 86 and the sun hadn't even come out yet.

I made an early phone call to my home warranty company and they came out to fix it by lunchtime. Of course there was a bigger need than the quick fix they were able to provide but I had AC, again, and was happy (and cool). The additional work required the repairman to call the warranty company to see if they would approve it. Shockingly, they said 'no', under the pretense that the issue was due to installation and, therefore, not their problem.

First of all, how do they possibly know this? Were they here when it was installed? Second of all, who cares? I've been living here for 9 months and the problem is now! But they didn't care and it would cost me hundreds of dollars to fix.

Thankfully, I know someone in the AC business and I called and talked to him. He assured me that it wasn't necessary to fix this issue (honestly it's too complicated to explain but it involves a valve that's stuck). Apparently this valve isn't necessary and he told me not to pay anyone to fix it and he would come take a look in a few weeks when things calmed down (AC companies are very busy in Austin in the summer).

So while I'm frustrated with my warrant company I'm happy to have connections that can help me make these big decisions.

So, my next (hopefully) big decision is if I want to keep the home warranty in 2011. As I've gotten older I'm much more in the mentally of 'being prepared' rather than 'taking chances' that I was before. But being prepared still costs money. Thoughts?

In the meantime, I feel like my AC is working better than ever. And with our 100+ degree temperatures I'm very grateful for that.

What I've Been Up To

2010-08-01T18:50:00.006-05:00

My mom visited about a week ago. She tries to come to Austin every few months to see my niece, which works out well for me. We gave Chris and Missy some time off and babysat my niece, took her shopping and watched her play. I'm pretty sure she's cooler than me.....

Then I left for a five day trip to San Francisco. I was going there for work but added on a day to my trip to see one of my closest friends, Jenn, her husband and two kids. Jenn and I have known each other since we were kids and her husband, Tom, also went to high school with us. Being with them is like being with family - in all the good ways. It's easy and you feel right at home. It reminds me how lucky I am to have such great friends across the world and from all different parts of my life.

She has two adorable boys - Jack and Ben - and we made the most of being outside. The temps were in the 50s but I was thrilled! It's over 100 in Texas now so anything below 80 feels good to me.

Sadly, it took me a long time to get back to Austin. I had some lengthy flight delays and arrived home at 2am today. I'm so grateful today was a Sunday so I'd have one day to recover and get ready for a full work week. My next trip takes me to NYC. So I can't complain too much - work does take me to cool places. But nothing beats coming home (note: this awning doesn't actually exist above my home but we saw it in San Francisco and couldn't resist taking a picture).

Motherly Duties

2010-07-14T19:50:00.005-05:00

Since Sunday I've been staying at my brother's house, taking care of Lucie. Both Chris and Missy had work trips out of town and asked me to help out. How could I say no?

We had tons of fun and I really enjoyed the quality time, especially in the morning, I had with her. I know I'm biased but she is truly the sweetest thing alive. How she makes monkey noises, waves goodbye to me when she's in her crib and ready to go to sleep, how much she loves Buster and the special kisses she gives to her Tia Mellie (that's me!).

And while I have no idea if I'll ever be a mom, it all feels very comfortable to me to be around her - to feed her, change her diapers, snuggle with her while she drinks her juice before bed. I'm so lucky to live near her and get to be such an active part of her life. I know that I'll love Baby Sileo #2 just as much but that's hard to imagine right now.

Last night, Devon, Jen and her two girls, Larkin and Layne, came over for a play date after work. Larkin and Lucie are 6 months apart and we threw on their bathing suits, lathered them up with sunscreen and bug spray and placed them in the 4 inch deep baby wading pool. They basically ignored each other but it was fun to have them together and have time with my friends. All while drinking a beer.

We were wondering if all moms relax with cocktails once the kids are safe in bed or playing with other kids? Did my mom do that? Was she enjoying a beer while I enjoyed my juice? I mean I totally understand why. Being a mom is exhausting and I have so much respect for my friends that do it full time.

So from one maternal home to another, I'm back at my house with Buster. This time, instead of changing diapers, I'm killing a fly. Buster (and I) hate flies. They are so annoying and he, literally, hides under the bed. So I feel that it's my duty as his dog-mom to make this problem go away. And, as it did with Lucie, it feels great to know that I can take care of those I love.

For My Fans

2010-07-10T09:59:00.004-05:00

Thanks to my fan (yes, just one - Amber), I'm going to blog about something a little different - fashion.

Many of you may know how much I love clothes - looking at them, buying them, watching them be made. Some of you may even know that I was the President of DECA (Distributive Educational Clubs of America - honestly I still don't know what that means) when I was in high school. To me, it meant that all the Fashion and Marketing classes I took in high school fit into this and in order to do some of the things I wanted to do in school I had to be in this club. And, per usual, I'm not very good at sitting back and watching someone else lead. So I became President and immediately introduced the idea of fashion shows at school. We did several - around different seasons and events. Yes, I even competed in 'buyer' events across the state of Virginia. It was so much fun and what led me to declare my first major at school as Fashion Merchandising with a Marketing minor.

This major lastly exactly one semester. I took economics and realized that I didn't really want to understand all the rationale behind clothes making, I just wanted to own and wear the clothes. So I went into social work. Which, ironically, never really affords me the type of money I want to buy all the clothes I want.

So therein lies my history for loving fashion. I continue to still love clothing, watching Project Runway and What Not To Wear, reading InStyle (the only magazine I subscribe to) and shopping. I'm also very organized, so how my clothes look in my closet and in my drawers is very important to me - some may say it's anal - but I just think they're jealous.

First, you must know I have two very small closets. Both are packed with my clothes. The first thing I did before I moved into my house, was construct the closet organizing. That should tell you something. I didn't have cable, a washer and dryer or an alarm system but I had closets (you may refer back to one of my first blog postings for this).

I organized my clothes by style and color. So within each style, there are multiple colors. For example, the short sleeved shirts are arranged by color as well as the long sleeve shirts. The dresses, however, are mostly just organized by style (would I wear this to work or not?)

I also have been working on transitioning all of my hangers to nice, wooden hangers. It's amazing how much nicer this makes your closet look. Sure, it takes up a bit more room but that allows your clothes to breathe and not get too wrinkled. You can get great wooden hangers from Ikea and make your closet look like your very own boutique.

I know that I'm not always the most avant garde dresser or perfect accessorizer and I know that I still have a lot to learn but I do have some general rules I follow that I'll pass on:

1. Don't match too much. It's okay for things to 'go together' but you don't need to dress like small children do.
2. You can mix and match patters and textures - in fact, I love how this looks.
3. It's ok to wear black with blue or brown or a combo of the above.
4. Know your body type and dress to accentuate that.
5. Limit wearing crew neck shirts. A v-neck or scoop neck shirt is always going to look better.
6. Find what works for you. Yes, being comfortable is important but is that just taking the easy way out? Dressing up doesn't have to be uncomfortable (yes, that's for you Kelsey!)

So those are my words of wisdom. Most of them have been stolen directly from other fashion icons - like Stacey London and Tim Gunn. And, believe me (and Devon who has cleaned my closet with me many times), I make mistakes For awhile I had a problem with owning too many graphic t-shirts. Why a woman in her 30s needs shirts with pandas, owls and birds on it is beyond me but I'm strangely attracted to that.

Now if only I could figure out how to buy more clothes without spending more money. It may be time for another clothing swap - anyone interested?

Ideas Please!

2010-07-08T20:03:00.009-05:00

So tonight I got an email from my mom asking where my blog was and telling me she missed reading it. I was both touched and saddened. I've been so busy with work lately - literally working 12 hour days - that blogging seems like the last thing I've had time to do. But that's the part that makes me sad. Because while I love my job, I don't want it to be my life. In full disclosure, work has been overwhelming lately. I'm feeling more stressed out and inadequate than I ever have but I know I'll get through it. I'm grateful to have such great learning opportunities.

But enough about work (as if I don't think about it enough already....)

I wanted to prove to you all that I have done things besides work in the past few weeks. Here are some pictures of my Austin friends and me in Alabama at Haley's wedding. It was such a great event. I truly can't believe after attending (and being a bridesmaid in) the number of weddings I have that I haven't grown tired of them. I love weddings and will be well versed in them once my own rolls around.

So if you all have anything you're dying to hear from me about - updates, thoughts, musings, suggestions, etc. - do tell! Because my creative juices are running low right now.

Colored pictures looked great when we first got to the wedding reception:

And then we started to sweat a bit so Black and White photos worked better:

If she does say so herself, she 'sure is a pretty bride':

Checking In

2010-06-27T19:14:00.005-05:00

To all my friends, family and loyal blog-followers, I'm sorry that I've been neglectful of regularly posting blog updates.

My travel has slowed down a bit and I'm in town for a full month! July is going to be great and while summer is my least favorite time in Austin, I'm going to embrace it - Barton Springs, swimming, beer drinking and early morning walks will get me through the heat.

This weekend I was in Alabama for my friend Haley's wedding. The wedding was amazing and she looked beautiful. I had tons of fun with my friends and there are some amazing stories and pictures to share but I don't think my interpretation of the adventures will do the weekend justice. Plus, they won't be very funny to anyone who may not have been there, or who has never been to Alabama. Needless to say, Alabama was much prettier than I thought but did live up to my food expectations - I don't think I had one vegetable (unless you count fried sweet potatoes) since getting there on Friday.

I did get some more insight into my neighbor's frisky middle finger activity. Apparently, he hits the bottle a little bit too much sometimes. Sadly, this makes me feel better for me - that I didn't do something to upset him. It makes me sad for him, but what can you do? I mean even I drink to get through this heat.....

I got back in town tonight and picked up Buster and Murphy (Haley's dog who I'm watching for some of her honeymoon). They are beyond tired after spending four days at the boarders and have spent most of the afternoon sleeping - it's quite amazing. But they are such best friends and follow each other around so much, that I had to share this picture of them looking out my front window, together. They are working hard to keep me safe from all the random noises they hear outside.

In conclusion, the only exciting thing that's happened around my house was last week I had to hire a tree trimmer to cut down some large limbs that had cracked off my tree and fallen into a neighbor's yard. They were pretty big branches and it's unclear what caused them to fall but luckily they didn't hurt anyone or anything except my check book. Geez, cutting down branches is pricey! So the life of a homeowner continues to be interesting. And hopefully I'll have more to share with you soon.

Ah, East Austin....

2010-06-15T20:28:00.003-05:00

Tonight I got home from work and let Buster out, fed him, played for a bit and then hit the road again to go to the grocery store.

As I'm pulling out of my driveway and safely looking back to the right toward the street behind me, I see my neighbor two doors up kneeling in his front driveway.

I craned my neck a bit to see what he was doing. Apparently he wasn't happy with that.

Suddenly he stands up and gives me the finger. Emphatically. Over and over again.

I decided not to get out of my car and ask why, but as I drove away, I could see him flipping me off in my rear view mirror.

Why? I have no idea. None. Zip. Zilch. Zero.

I have never talked to him. Never interacted with him. And, that I know of, never offended him.

But I also never drive up that part of the street so who knows what's going on with him.

Once I got over the shock I was cracking up in my car. Welcome to the diversity of east Austin.

Still no major housing updates although I met with my colleague's husband this past weekend to get a quote for my patio build out. As the summer gets hotter and hotter, I'm mostly avoiding being outside, but I am pleasantly surprised with how much shade my yard and house get and how green my grass still is. This is virtually unheard of in Austin. It makes for higher lawn maintenance bills but it looks darn good. I even have some flowers blooming that were planted last year before I moved in. So, despite my lack of attention to my yard (or knowledge for that matter) it's looking pretty.

I'm happy that I'll be able to enjoy it for a few weeks. Sadly, I had to cancel my upcoming trip to DC. I was planning to see friends and family but work has been so hectic lately and I've been traveling so much that I made the decision to cancel my trip. I am bummed not to see people I love but it was the right decision for now.

On that note, check out Parade magazine this weekend. There's an article on Lance, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and an ad directing people to call the program I manage (LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare) - hence (one of) the reasons I'm not leaving town now.

My (first) Summer Vacation

2010-06-06T17:30:00.006-05:00

Last night I got back from a trip to San Diego with Chris, Missy and Lucie. They rented a house in Del Mar and were gracious enough to ask me to join them. I couldn't pass up spending time with my adorable niece or taking advantage of the one week that I actually wasn't traveling for work during the month of June. So I took the entire week off of work and enjoyed 4 days in Austin getting caught up on life - oil change, inspection, Buster's vet check up, etc.

And then I took off to (not so) sunny San Diego. Apparently 'June Gloom' is legit. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all! The temps were perfect and it was so nice not to sweat except when running. The house they rented was beautiful and had an amazing view of the beach. We were a 1/2 mile walk from town and I took advantage of walking everywhere. I was also pleased to find that the sun rose at 5am! This is a dream come true for me. Many of you know I think that Austin is too far west in the Central Time Zone. I hate that the sun never rises very early, even on the longest day of the year. So the early sunrise made for an early wake up for all of us.

I enjoyed sitting on the patio drinking coffee each morning, playing Scrabble (and winning our 'Scrabble off") with Chris, watching Lucie point to birds and airplanes as they flew by, taking long walks, pushing Lucie on the swings in the park, eating fresh seafood, drinking great local wines and running on the beach.

All in all it was a pretty ideal vacation. As always, I'm happy to come home and was glad to have one more day off in Austin before heading back to work (and California again) this week.

Suffice it to say I've done nothing new around the house. But I am meeting with a colleague's husband later this week to start plans for my dream patio (crushed granite, fence lined native plants, new deck steps) so maybe that will be next.

But for now I'll continue to smile when looking at pictures of Lucie petting goats, playing on the beach and the most adorable panda bear cub who was literally hanging over a tree limb when we were at the San Diego zoo.

Long Time, No Post

2010-05-26T20:56:00.003-05:00

Well I don't have much to report on my house. It's still great and I love coming home to it but I haven't done anything in weeks. I'm afraid this may be the first month I don't get a housing project done but since there were some months were I got more than one done, we're just going to call it even.

I have been focused on trying to keep my grass green. And when I say 'I', I mean the guy that I'm paying to take care of my yard. So far, so good. It's still green and getting mowed regularly so I think of that as a success. Until I get my water bill and decide that it isn't worth it.

Tonight was a big night for me, though. I got in the pool for the first time since last Fall. It was both exhausting and exciting! I was happy to see that I didn't forget how to swim and still love it but certainly got tired much sooner than I used to. So I've definitely got to build up my endurance again while I focus on not running for the next few months.

So that's about it for me. I'm honored that so many people have told me that they miss my blog. I wish I had something more creative or exciting to report on. Perhaps after my vacation next week to San Diego with Lucie (and Chris and Missy of course, too). At the very least I'll have some adorable pictures to share.

Where in the world is Mellie?

2010-05-13T18:42:00.007-05:00

Here I am!

Where is that you may ask?

Well, right now I'm sitting in a hotel room in Phoenix, Arizona.

Doing what you may ask?

Attending a social work conference and presenting on the work I do at LAF.

Where else has Mellie been and where is she going next? Well, this should be fun.....

So, last weekend I was in Vegas for Haley's bachelorette party. Look, here we are. All dolled up and ready for another (very late) night on the town. I had such a great time but spent more money than I ever want to speak of and got less sleep than I normally do in one night. But I wouldn't change that for the world.

I was home for a mere 30 hours and am now, as previously stated, back to the desert. My poor sleep and skin can't take the time changes and dry air. I look forward to getting back to Austin tomorrow. My mom is in town for the weekend and then, next Wednesday, I leave again.

Suffice it to say in the next two months I'll be in Tampa, NYC, San Diego, L.A., D.C, Alabama and San Francisco. All great places to go but I'm tired just thinking about it.

So I've had no time to do anything around my house, much less clean it or sleep in my own bed. I'm not complaining, though, just letting you know why I have been a remiss blogger lately.

Letter To An Old Friend

2010-05-04T19:18:00.003-05:00

Dear Acne,

Here you are. Again. Why? I thought we broke things off for good last time? We never saw eye to eye. You never understand my feelings and were insensitive and only put your needs first. Your timing was always the worst. Yet, you've come back. Again.

How is it that you know me so well to push my buttons? To arrive just before a vacation? Or when I'm about to go on a first date (no, mom, I'm not going on a first date this week). But I've had it. It's time we went our separate ways. For good.

I know plenty of young teens who would tolerate you. Who would think it was just part of growing up. But I know better. And I don't have to take your abuse anymore. So while I know we've known each other for a long time and maybe you think this is heartless and cruel, it's time for both of us to move on. Forever.

xoxo
Mellie

Getting Things Done

2010-05-02T09:39:00.004-05:00

It's true what they say. You are never finished with home projects. I'm lucky that most of mine are by choice. Despite the occasional washing machine issue, most of my 'projects' are by choice; for decoration.

But there are some days when I feel like my list is only getting longer. I love a to-do list but it's also disappointing when I look and see that nothing got checked off. Lately, life has felt particularly busy and I get nothing else done but work and sleep. So maybe I need to manage my expectations a bit and modified my list during these busy times.

So here's what I propose when I'm feeling busy and not getting the 'extra' stuff done:

1. Go to work - check
2. Keep Buster alive - check
3. Shower - check
4. Laundry - check

Sound good?

Coffee, Water, Computer, Remote Table

2010-04-26T21:50:00.006-05:00

I'm sure I can assume why coffee tables are called coffee tables but, to be honest, they are so much more to me than that.

I haven't had one for a few months. Well, I actually just moved the one I was using (a borrowed white-clothed ottoman from Devon) into my bedroom. But it's been such a big decision to buy one.

What did I want it to look like? Wood? Glass?

What shape did I want it to be? Round? Square? Oval?

After many stores, online views and discussions with friends, I bought one yesterday at West Elm.

So I'm thrilled to have my coffee table, which will not only hold my coffee on Saturday mornings, my wine on Monday nights with Jess, my computer on many a night when I'm catching up on work, my remote controls, my magazines and last, but not least, my feet.

Welcome to the family:

And, just to keep you up to date, Haley and Matt's shower was a huge success at my house! Thanks to mother nature making one of the most beautiful days and nights in Austin, we were able to really make the most of my backyard. I'll post pictures soon but suffice it to say it was so much fun to host at my home and I look forward to another party sometime soon. I mean, really, anytime someone wants to come by, I've got plenty of beer and wine for awhile.....

And, last but certainly not least.....this past weekend I participated in my first Girls on the Run event. My first board meeting is next Monday but they asked all of the new board members (there are 3 of us) to participate in this event to see what it was all about. Kelsey agreed to go with me and despite only 4 hours of sleep, we hit the road bright and early at 6am to drive to Leander (40 minutes away).

It was a beautiful morning and a great event. Kelsey and I were both 'running buddies', which means that we were assigned to run with one of the 8-10 year old girls who had just completed the Girls on the Run training program at their school. I ran with Marie, who was both sweet and sassy. At one point she grabbed her friend, who was walking and said 'this isn't Girls on the Walk'. I was cracking up.

Meanwhile, we ran, walked, meandered, looked at trees, picked up rocks and 50 minutes later finished our 3 mile run. But, about half way through, Marie grabbed my hand and didn't say a word. She didn't need to. It was all worth it at that moment.

Backyard Bench

2010-04-18T17:14:00.006-05:00

This weekend I went to Ikea (again) and bought some outdoor furniture. I decided to go with something that reminded me of my childhood - a picnic bench - instead of the more common wrought iron furniture. Plus, the two pieces I bought are part of a set that I can continue to add to so as I go back to Ikea I can add more and more.

What appealed to me about this table was that it can expand to hold a lot of people and eventually has the capability of an umbrella going in the middle of it.

I wasn't in love with any of their seat cushions so I'll keep looking for those. In the meantime, I have one long table, one smallish bench and two chairs (not pictured) that are on my deck.

This was surprisingly easy to build. I mean I certainly couldn't have done it without Kelsey but I also thought it would take hours. I'm quickly learning the things that I didn't expect to take long (cabinet pulls and knobs) take much longer and the things that I anticipate taking hours of my time are done in less than an hour. Is that some sort of Murphy's Law of home ownership?

While this won't seat the 30+ people that will be here next weekend for Haley and Matt's shower, it's a start. At least it makes the backyard start to feel more manageable. The gravel project has been delayed b/c of the busyness this time of year but I think the table and bench will look even better with gravel underneath. One day.....

Quick Post

2010-04-15T20:48:00.004-05:00

Just a quick check in to let you all know I'm alive. I know it hasn't been that long since I posted but it feels like forever. It's been one heck of a week at work - mostly good. In fact, mostly great. I was promoted this week, unexpectedly. I'll mostly be doing the same job I've been doing for the past year and a half (and loving) but taking on some additional responsibilities and managing more staff.

Coincidentally, this week has also had me working some long days - sometimes up to 15 hours. But it will pass and I'll be back to my 'normal' 10 hour work days, again, soon.

I'm heading back to Ikea this weekend to, hopefully, purchase some outdoor furniture and will provide pictures soon. Next weekend I'm hosting Haley's bridal shower (couple's shower with burgers and beer) at my house. Fingers crossed that it's sunny b/c I'm hoping most people will be outside, where there's more room.

Until then, I've got nothing new to report. I've mostly been at home to sleep. Buster has even been neglected this week (by me; not by Kelsey, who has been like his mom). So, as the clock is about to turn to 9 and tomorrow I'm once again waking up at 5:45, I don't think I can stay awake a minute longer. So, yes, while I'm alive. I'm exhausted.

Quarterly Check-In

2010-04-11T12:29:00.003-05:00

I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by and that it's mid-April. I thought it was about time to check in on the 2010 resolutions and see what my progress is:

So what about 2010? Here's what I came up with:
1. Complete 1 housing project/month - I've done a great job with this one. Between gutters and curtains and new furniture and art work and planting a tree, this one seems easy to get motivated for.
2. Get pet insurance for Buster (once I have it I probably won't need it but better safe then sorry) - I've done some initial research and talked to the vet techs I volunteer with at the Animal Trustees of Austin and some friends who have it for their dogs but I'm still torn. I hear mixed messages and mixed reviews. So I'm going to keep researching and will decide by the end of the year.
3. Actively pursue long-term, healthy relationships with men (I clarify the gender b/c I'm pretty successful in my female friendships) - Again, I'm researching and trying. It's been a few months since I went on a date but I have been trying to create more opportunities. I even went to a professional lacrosse game this weekend in hopes of meeting someone and I have practiced flirting with men. All in all this continues to be a work in progress.

And life continues to be good for 2010. I was just asked to serve on a board of non-profit, work is very busy but great, I've got some upcoming personal travel planned and I'm still out of credit card debt. I hope Q2 continues to be as good as Q1 was.

Day 'Off'

2010-04-05T21:23:00.007-05:00

I took today off work but I still found myself very busy. I woke up bright and early to a call from Best Buy at 7:45 telling me they'd be by to look at my washing machine between 8:30 and 10:30. Luckily, they were here at 8:45 so I didn't have to sit around too long. Turns out that a air/water alternate valve has been missing from my washer this entire time I've had it. So they added that and showed me how to clean my filter.

First of all, I'm so grateful it was under warranty. Second of all, who knew a washing machine had a filer? And that you had to clean it? Every 3 months!!! How do people learn these things? So, after he left, I followed his instructions and cleaned mine. After dealing with the murky water, I found that it wasn't very dirty but I feel empowered to take better care of my washer now. Between learning how to re-power my tankless hot water heater and this, I feel pretty proud of myself.

Speaking of pride. My curtains are hung. Today, I took a few trips to The Home Depot and Bed, Bath and Beyond. Mostly b/c I wanted to find just the right curtain clips. I was both overwhelmed and shocked with the variety and choices. First I couldn't remember if I had a brushed or regular nickel curtain rod and then I had no idea what the width size of the curtain rod was. So I took a few choices home and one worked. So, back to the stores I went to return and exchange. Once the curtains were hung, I had to make some slight alterations in length. But thank goodness I could take length off. Adding length would have been hard and my curtains would have looked like capri pants. The light is shinging behind the curtains so they were hard to capture on film, especially without Devon to help me adjust for the light but you'll get the idea.

So I realize they still need to be ironed but I'm really happy with them. And they were hung just in time. Summer is quickly approaching Austin and my french doors are the recipients of tons of afternoon sun. So my curtains will provide both privacy and sun protection.

In addition to the above, I also went to Target, the bank, ordered some things online I needed and went to pilates and spent time with both Jen and Jess today. All in all, a great day 'off'.

The second best thing about having a three day weekend is having a four day week.

Sew Happy!

2010-04-04T19:14:00.005-05:00

Finally! I've sewn my curtains. The funny thing is that I took tomorrow off work b/c I felt like I never had time during the weekends to get this project done. But clearly I was just procrastinating. I guess all I had to do was plan a day off and the night before (today) I'd get motivated. The logic in that is lost on me so I'm certain it won't make sense to any of you.

But I think I worked myself up so much that this project would be so hard and I'd screw it up that I was afraid to start it. While the curtains are by no means perfectly straight, they look good and I'm really happy with the pattern. The ones for the french doors are just hanging over the rod right now b/c I need to buy curtain clips tomorrow but I've hung the one in the kitchen window for a sneak peak. In case you can't tell, it's little birdies in green and white, on green leaves and black branches - to match my black cabinets and green knobs.

And, the best part of all is that I had fun doing this. It took about 3 hours of measuring, pinning, ironing, sewing, re-measuring, unpinning, trouble shooting a sewing machine error, re-threading the bobbin and needle but I loved it all. I was reminded today why I love sewing. It has such a soothing effect when you're doing it and you can be lulled by the sewing machine noise. And you walk away with a tangible product.

So what will I do tomorrow now? Besides waiting for Best Buy to come check out my leaking washing machine. I told myself I wouldn't (couldn't) run errands but since places were closed today I think my timing got flip-flopped. Today ended up being sewing day and tomorrow is errand and rest day.

As an end note, please enjoy Buster watching the horse in my next door neighbors yard. He came for a visit and all the grandchildren took turns riding him in circles.

Anniversaries

2010-04-03T22:45:00.003-05:00

While I'd like to see myself as a free spirit, that's not really true as often as I'd wish it was. I love knowing what to expect and planning and traditions and anniversaries. They bring me comfort. On my way home tonight I remembered that it was one year ago today that I took Buster home for a trial run from the rescue group where I'd found him. He was already being placed for adoption but that didn't work out and one Friday afternoon I got a call asking if I wanted to come the next day to pick him up and 'see how it goes'. So I did.

I remember being both nervous and excited. I was already planning to meet Devon for a run at town lake so I called her, with a slight alteration in our plan and Buster (then Bruno) and I joined her. He and I have had a whirlwind year together for sure. But I think we're in a good place now and I truly can't imagine my life without him. I think Max would be proud of me and grateful that another dog gets the luxuries his life had.

In the theme of anniversaries, I also realized that it was 6 months ago this week when I first started talking to my mom about buying a house. As my first blog post recapped, it was a mere 6 weeks later that I closed on this house and I still feel like this has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. But oh how times have changed. The things that I think about and know (and spend money on) now vs. 6 months ago are quite different. To name a few:

1. Staring at people's houses when walking Buster, deciding what I want to do next on my house.
2. Watching House Hunters
3. Knowing the average costs for blinds, appliances and tankless hot water heaters
4. Tuning in when real estate topics are discussed on the news
5. Quoting interest rates and APRs
6. Convincing my renting friends that buying a home is a 'great investment'
7. Watering my yard and getting annoyed when I see some dog poop in my front yard that is certainly not Buster's
8. Wondering what my next blog post will be about (the fact that I blog still feels surreal)

And I'm sure there are many other things my friends and family would say that I do and say that I never did before. But that's ok. I like Homeowner Mellie. Next she'll deal with my leaking washing machine.

Busy Days

2010-03-31T22:15:00.003-05:00

In general, I feel pretty busy lately. But I always prefer being busy to bored. As long as I don't feel burnt out. In order to avoid that, I told myself I'd take off one day/month from work. I didn't do this in January but it had been so soon since our holiday vacation that it didn't feel necessary. February I took off the day after the half marathon but I did go into work for an hour for a meeting. March I took off a day that my mom was in town and enjoyed some shopping. And next Monday I'm taking my April day. And doing nothing. Or at least very little. Except sewing my stupid curtain. Yes, you heard me. I will sew my curtains on Monday!

Until then, I'm tired. Today was another busy day. I've been getting to work earlier and earlier for the past few months. I'm usually there between 7:30 and 7:45 and today was no exception. Then, at 10, our entire staff did a community service project where we cleaned up parts of the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail. Devon and I opted to get some exercise, too, and canoed the lake while picking up trash. Then it was our annual all staff/volunteers/interns picnic. Buster joined us for this and really enjoyed meeting other dogs, chasing Frisbees and eating scraps of food on the ground.

And, believe it or not, the day didn't end there for me. I hosted our monthly book club at my house tonight. I was super excited because it was my first role as 'host' in my house. And there were 10 of us! It felt a bit crowded (how will I possibly fit 30+ for a shower at the end of the month?) but not too bad and I think it was a success. Buster seemed a bit overwhelmed and is now worn out. And I can relate. I think we'll both sleep well after this long (but fun and successful) day.

Rain, Rain, Come Again

2010-03-30T20:05:00.003-05:00

Gutters have arrived! It may be the most money I've ever spent on something so boring and anti-climatic but I will smile every time it rains knowing I've invested in gutters, my foundation and the longevity of my home.

I also went to our lovely Department of Public Safety today and got a new driver's license. The oddest thing about Texas is that while they take your picture on site, they provide you with a temporary sheet of paper that serves as your license until your new one is mailed to you in four weeks. Four weeks!!?? I remember thinking this was odd when I moved here. In Virginia, they did it all on site and you walked out with your freshly laminated, sealed license.

Ah, Texas......

Rebuilding

2010-03-29T20:01:00.003-05:00

Since my loss last weekend (purse, camera, wallet, credit cards, ID, etc.) I've been slowly rebuilding. I dug an old purse out of my closet and one of the many cosmetic bags I've gotten for free during 'bonus time' at Macy's and loaded that up with the usual suspects - band aids, lip gloss, aspirin, etc. Due to my unexpected cost to replace my window, I told myself that while I wasn't allowed to buy a new purse (yet), I was allowed to buy a new wallet. I mean I didn't have a back-up wallet so I really needed one.

My new wallet arrived on Friday afternoon along with several replacement credit cards. Today, my insurance card and ATM card arrived.

But the best rebuilding of all is thanks to Devon. Last year one of her friends accidentally dropped her camera and the lens broke. The camera still works but it looks pretty beat up. She treated herself to a new camera and this weekend was kind enough to offer me her old camera until I get a new one. I was so excited to be reunited with a Canon again. And while I may not have any pictures to post tonight, rest assured that new(ish) Canon will be used a lot.

So while my purse still feels a little bit light and empty, I'm thrilled to have a camera be part of my life again. Next up is my driver's license. Wish me luck braving the DPS in the morning.

Musings

2010-03-28T09:20:00.004-05:00

Being out of credit card debt has created a whole new freedom for me. But it's also creating new responsibilities. I really, really, really don't want to get in debt again. My financial situation is more secure than it has been before and I've actually got money in savings to pull from if emergencies happen.

I've been thinking about this a lot for the past few days, though, and trying to come up with a realistic budget that both pays all my bills and still allows me to have fun and buy new things periodically. Obviously I can't do it all at once, but it will be great to know that the extra several hundred dollars I was putting toward Citibank can now be used for something immediate.

Credit card debt is a tricky thing, though. For the most part, it was probably due to things I wanted but couldn't afford (I know that seems obvious but stick with me....). Things like clothes, plane tickets, etc.

But I'm certain a lot of it was also due to things I needed to do - like fix my car, unexpected dental work or, in my case the biggest chunk of my debt, Max's vet bills.

I've said this several times, but I have no regrets spending the thousands of dollars that I did to keep Max alive for a few extra days. But right before that happened last year, I was less than a thousand dollars away from paying off my credit card debt. Then it shot right back up. I didn't have money in savings to pay off some or all of the vet bills and wasn't making the same salary I am now.

So while I am really looking forward to living a better financial life, I also promise to keep perspective on what life can throw you. Emergencies and unexpected costs due occur but I'm better prepared for them now.

And while I know it seems strange to say this but paying off my credit card last month, which was largely the vet bills from last year, was amazing it also felt bittersweet. I think it was my last tangible connection to Max. Since his death, I've gotten a new dog, I've moved, I've gotten new furniture and a new car. There is little around me now that was part of his life. I know the debt wasn't my last memory of him but it is odd to know that something so great (paying it off) can have one small tug at my heartstrings.

Grow, Little Tree, Grow

2010-03-27T12:26:00.004-05:00

This morning has been a productive morning in the Sileo household. Besides my usual Saturday morning activities, Chris and Lucie came over for a visit. While I fed her some banana and cheerios and she chased after Buster, Chris hung my curtain rod in my kitchen above my french doors.

I've been talking about this curtain rod for months now. I bought the fabric for the curtains at Ikea in January and now I have no excuse not to sew. I'm hoping the empty curtain rod staring at me will motivate me. So far that hasn't worked. But it's only been 2 hours.

Despite hitting a wire and having to remember where my circuit breaker was to reset a fuse, it went quite smoothly. But that's easy for me to say when all I did was play with Lucie.

Then Kelsey came over for what's turning into our usual Saturday morning walks with Buster and we finally planted my tree!

The city of Austin is piloting a program in certain parts of town (note: transitional) by donating one tree to each household. It's our responsibility to plant and grow it. Mine arrived several weeks ago and despite the fact that I should have planted it right away, I think it's doing quite well. It's certainly been getting watered with all the rain we've had.

Thanks to Kelsey's surprisingly good use of a shovel, the tree is planted, mulched and watered! We also (finally!) broke down a large box that's been sitting in my back yard since, oh, December. For such an independent person, I sure do need people to motivate me to get the littlest things done.

So while I'm temporarily sans camera, I did take a picture of the newly planted tree with my blackberry. I've named her Rosie and I've promised to take good care of her.

Next up, gutters and a new, crushed granite patio. Stay tuned.....

Feeling Like A Homeowner

2010-03-23T08:22:00.003-05:00

So, it's official. I feel like a homeowner now. Between dealing with my hot water heater last week and the number of estimates I'm getting for improvements right now, it's true, I am a homeowner. But it feels good.

Although it's easy to 'feel good' about it when I currently have the means to deal with home ownership. Thanks to my hefty tax return, I'm investing in some areas of my home that, hopefully, in the future, will end up saving me money in the long run (not buying a couch of course but that's just fun!).

Monday morning around my house was hectic. I felt a little like that scene in Mr. Mom when Michael Keaton is running around, trying to deal with laundry overflowing, screaming children and delivery people. My situation wasn't nearly as hectic but it sure did require a lot of time management and Buster control. Luckily, my dad was there to help me and Kelsey jumped in at the last minute to take me to the airport because my car window hadn't been repaired yet. Apparently Subaru windows are trickier than normal ones b/c they don't have frames the same way other cars do and they have extra, internal screws. Who knew?

Now it just needs to be tinted to match the rest of the windows.

The rest of the morning was spent getting estimates for gutter installations and some pest control around the house. Once I get back from my trip, I'll review the estimates and make my decisions but I'm pretty certain I'm going to move forward with both of them. Then there's still a little left to begin some yard renovations. Not as much as I originally thought. The expenses to get my car window replaced, a new wallet and my impromptu decision to get a mattress box spring, decreased the funds available but those are all decisions that I'm happy with.

Sadly, until I get a new camera, this blog will remain picture free. You'll have to use your imagination. If I was any good at drawing, I would do that and scan pictures. But I can barely draw stick figures.

Ups and Downs

2010-03-21T20:48:00.003-05:00

There has been so much going on lately I need a vacation. As I mentioned in my most recent blog posting, I was already exhausted from last week's activities and then today happened.

Kelsey and I went to town lake with Buster. We found yet another excuse not to run - the cold and wind - and decided to go on a 3 mile walk. We drove to our usual east side spot near our offices and hit the trail.

It sure was windy but it felt good to be outside. Until we got back to my car. Back to the scene of the crime.

Kelsey noticed it first and then I shouted some obscenities (apparently, many obscenities). My car had been broken into. The back passenger side window had been smashed in and my purse was stolen. So annoying.

Yes, in retrospect, I guess I shouldn't have left my purse in the car but it was locked, my windows are tinted and it was 10am on a sunny day in parking lot with other cars and people milling about. How no one noticed this happening is beyond me.

While losing my purse and all its contents (wallet, camera, checkbook) sucks, I'm grateful for so many things. Kelsey and I make a good crime thwarting team. Within minutes we had talked to the police and had a plan in place. We drove to her house to get her computer and then to mine where we tag teamed making calls and looking things up on the Internet.

If this wasn't for such a sad reason, I would have enjoyed myself. Making plans, lists and then checking them off as they get done is one of my favorite things. But not this time.

At 8pm tonight I think I've done all I can for now. I have a new blackberry, have cancelled all my credit cards, changed all my passwords and set up a time tomorrow morning to get my car window replaced. There are plenty more things I need to do (new driver's license for one) but they'll have to wait until I'm back from Atlanta.

So off I go tomorrow with an empty replacement purse. All I have are a few checks, my passport and a pen. But it could be worse. So much worse. I'm glad no one was hurt, that Kelsey's purse wasn't also stolen, that my house keys were with me and that I'm an organized person and had all the information I needed to remedy this situation.

I can't thank Kelsey enough for all of her help today. She may not have had a choice as I considered her a victim of this crime, too, and I know she had some 'purse survivor's guilt' but she was amazing and I couldn't have gotten through this without her (or anyone else who called and expressed offers to help).

But it's exhausting dealing with crime. I'm just hopeful for days ahead that just feel normal. I'm ok with normal and welcome it. Come on in and join me for awhile. Take a seat on Cafe Noir and put up your feet.