We just wanted to send a special shout out to all those mothers we know out there. You’re awesome! We’d also like to say a very special thank you to our very own mothers for being so very amazing, and for loving us so very much! We wouldn’t be who we are today without your love and encouragement.
On a crafty note, read more
Oh Italy, how I love you! I do, I really really do. However I must admit that I mostly love you for your food. Yes your history, country side and culture are amazing… and lest not forget the wonderful people themselves, but truly I would want to know you always just for your food.
Hehe, so I get carried away with my love for food. Its something I learned from my family culture and flourished while I lived abroad. Now that I live in one of the most amazing cities in the US for food its hard to get rid of the passion I have found for simple, yet amazing, flavors in food.
So we had a bit too much milk on our hands the other day… what would any self respecting woman do… MAKE GELATO! We made lemon gelato, which actually ended up truer to the consistency of gelato, and chocolate hazelnut. Oh how I love hazelnuts! I would put them in every dessert and dish if I could. I even found hazelnut milk the other day and could resist. While it turned out well too, I think I did go a bit ‘nuts’ with the nuts and thus it froze a bit harder than traditional gelato. Oh well, good thing it still tastes good. Sean and Evan both happily approved. Sean also helped out. Here’s him doing double duty:
What a good man to help out in the kitchen. However I think his only real thoughts were, “when do I get to eat this? Two to four hours later! Why did I volunteer to help?” Of course the answer to that is because he loves his wife. And he very much loved the treat he got later when the tasting began.
On a side note, yes that is Harry Potter, book number six to be exact, on the island. Sean started reading them all a few months ago. It only took me five years to convince him it was way better than the movies. And he says I’m the hard one to convince. 
So one of the big things on my 30 before 30 is weight loss.
I’d really like to loose 40lbs over all, and preferably before I do a long cycling trip. Right now I weigh 210lbs! I know, I apparently carry it well. However my joints might tell you a different story. I have chronic back, neck, knee and ankle problems due to my weight. I also fear all the crazy health problems that I could eventually get from being overweight. Is this the largest I’ve ever been… no. I was up to 250lbs back in 2005. Scary to think about.
Anyway, I am working towards a more natural, healthful and fulfilling way of eating (no low fat diet here), as well as working on getting in my daily exercise. It will all take some time, but I hope by putting this out there that my friends and family will be able to be more understanding and supportive. Don’t be offended if I’d rather have coffee with you instead of going out for dinner, I’m just trying to be healthy (and watch my pocket book!). Don’t tell me that I look fine and don’t need to loose weight, I know I LOOK fine. I have very few self-esteem issues, as many of you well know! I want too FEEL fine too and reap the benefits of being healthier.
After seeing several family members suffer from issues associated with obesity, I would truly like to avoid those things myself and to put forward a new lifestyle for the family Sean and I hope to have some day. I appreciate your consideration and support. We are blessed to have you all in our lives!
So I turn 29 this summer and then next year is the big 30! I figured I should start working on all the things I wanted to accomplish in life! Here’s my list (in no particular order):
1) Long Cycling Trip w/Sean (example, MS150, Shiner 100 or similar)
2) Learn some more Spanish
3) Find another way to incorporate French into my daily life (so I keep learning it)
4)Visit a continent other than North America or Europe read more
Sorry no photos here! You know the whole ‘what happens where ever stays where ever!’ Well it stayed near Fredrickburg, TX at a winery near by! I will tell you that I am blessed with some truly amazing women in my life! Beth, Jennifer, Kim and I had a great time! I look forward to the next ladies weekend!
Well I’m pooped! I just pent four days with some good friends and their new baby. Adam and Jessica welcomed Pierce home only a few short weeks ago. I was so happy and fortunate to go stay and help out (and take photos!) for a few days. I’ll have a photo gallery up soon with approved photos from mom and dad to show you, but for now check out this cute bunch:
I can’t believe Duke and Daisy are already one year old. Time flew! They are still as cute and cuddly as the day we brought them home, even if they are more than four times the size they were when we brought them home last July! When I took them in for their check-up they came in at almost 90lbs! Here is their photo right before digging into their homemade, just for doggies, peanut butter cookies. I love my furkids!
I LOVE to craft! I keep planning on adding a section to our website for all the cool things I find and want to make or just for all the things that I make. I love cute projects, time saving projects, keep sake projects, sentimental projects…. well I love any kind of good crafty project. I also love sharing the wealth, so I tend to convince people to try taking up something new. Tonight I hit up the Stitch Lab and took a jewelry making class with Leslie. So much fun!!! I’d post a photo, but again I didn’t have my camera. I need to find a cute bag that I can take with me, that’s comfortable, that can hold other stuff, and that’s cute of course! 
Anyway, I’ve got some ideas up my sleeve, so I will post photos of my next projects!
So originally we were supposed to celebrate Allie turning 30 this past weekend, but instead it turned into a family project weekend at my mom’s. We helped redo her utility room. New floors, a pedestal for the washer and dryer, and some shelf rearranging and here’s what we ended up with:
Not too shabby for a days work! I think mom likes it! (PS – Sorry for the iPhone photos on the last couple of posts, my cards are full and I haven’t taken the time to download or delete. Also I’ve forgotten it a time or too, doh!)
So our household got a little fuller this week. Even’s here!
So in case we hadn’t mentioned it to any of you Sean’s younger brother Evan had been thinking about coming to Austin and search for jobs. Yes, we know the job market sucks everywhere, but we figured job, or no, it will give Sean, Julie and Evan (and me) some great bonding time. I mean the older we get the less chance we have to see each other and spend quality time together. He’s only been here a few days, but we’re glad to have him and so our Duke and Daisy.
Home