Belated Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year...

So I never got to finish my Favorite Things this year. I headed of to the land of no internet (the country) so I couldn't post anymore. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and santa brought you everything you wanted....I know he did for me. Well, almost everything. The one thing he didn't bring he has absolutely no control over...oh well.

We have had a crazy, busy time since I last posted. We've not spent more than 24 hours at home in the last week!! Wednesday I went to Mustang and visited with my hard-working friends who where actually working on Christmas Eve. Poor suckers :) just kidding. It was great getting to see all of you and even better going to lunch with y'all. We went to Los Cucos...yumm Tacos Mariachi...

After I left there, I headed on to my in-laws house in Sublime. It's always such a relaxing environment there! This year we had everyone there for Christmas...my brother & sister-in-law always rotate Christmas & Thanksgiving between us and her family. It was nice having the whole family together. And, surprisingly NO ONE took any photos...who knows what we were thinking :)

Gene headed home on Christmas night. Austin & Katy left on Friday and I didn't leave there till Saturday. It was difficult leaving...I always feel so at peace there...plus, watching the deer is so therapeutic. I got home unpacked and repacked to head to Bremond. We went to my grandma's and visited with her and my dad...Sunday we went to my mom's and visited for a few. We got my sister (who is with us now) and headed towards H-town. Only, we weren't coming home just yet. My aunt and cousins who live in South Carolina were in town visiting with her family and I couldn't not see her. Sam was always there for me in ways others couldn't when growing up! She and my uncle got together, when I was I think in 3rd or 4th grade. I just know I use to steal her clothes :)

We went to find a place to eat in Calvert, which I must say I am impressed that they actually have restaurants there. We went to one first CocoModo (I think) that was beautiful, but we weren't ready to spend $25 a plate on lunch :) So we went to this other place on main street that had some yummy veggies...yumm. We left and went to Sam's grandma's and sat and visited with them for almost 2 hours...time flew so fast, we thought we had only been there a few minutes!! I love those visits.

We finally got home Sunday evening and then had to go to another obligation we couldn't get out of...I am just ready for a nice relaxing day at home, though I'm still not sure when that is going to happen. I'm working now and then tomorrow we have to do something to fix my sister's hair...if you have seen it you know what I'm talking about...I might post a before/after!

New Years, we are heading to Hearne to have Christmas with my mom & my uncle & cousins. It's our first Christmas without Nana...I don't know how it's going to go, but I know we'll make the best of it. Nana always tried to have something for all the grandkids...2 years ago she did our crocheted blankets, I'll post a pic of mine later. Last year was a classic Christmas for her...She wasn't able to be at our actual event since she was in the nursing home after she "fell" (my family knows why it's in quotation marks). She gave everyone things that she had around the house including a book I had given to her a year before to give to my brother :) So classic...

Anyway, I'll leave with the below picture. This was in a neighborhood around ours. Gene saw it last Saturday when he was delivering packages. If you can't tell...all the "people" in the picture are maniquins...(notice the one putting up lights on the roof)

Favorite Things...Songs

So two days from Christmas and I'm on my 3rd favorite thing about Christmas...the Music. I love that Sunny 99.1 starts Christmas music on Thanksgiving day. It's a great distraction from the mundane day-to-day drivel that is life! It's a wonderful thing to switch it over to the station and it just puts me into the Christmas mood.

My favorite songs this time of year range from the classical to the more modern/contemporary. Here are a few of my favorite songs that I enjoy...

• Do You Hear What I Hear, Carrie Underwood. I have to say she has the most beautiful voice and I am really bummed that she hasn't released a full Christmas album. Apparently she released 5 songs as an addition to her last album, Carnival ride, but you can only purchase it at Walmart (and since I usually ban Walmart I'm out of luck).
• Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Andy Williams
• Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Brenda Lee
• Baby, Its Cold Outside, Dean Martin. There's nothing like this edition...so great...plus they sing it in one of my favorite movies, Elf, even better!
• Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, Elmo & Patsy. I don't even know how to explain this one except that my inner redneck makes me love this song :)
• I'll Be Home for Christmas, Elvis & Carrie Underwood. Again, Carrie's voice is AMAZING and I normally am not an Elvis fan, but this is great!
• It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Harry Connick, Jr. It's Harry baby, just great big band style Christmas song...amazing.
• Winter Wonderland, Tony Bennet. Ditto on above.
• All I Want for Christmas is You, Mariah Carey. Great voice, likes to showboat, but the song is really good.

Favorite Things...TV Christmas Episodes

This goes pretty well with the last post on movies. Debi thinks we should watch Scrooged so I'm definitely going to check it out. I love that this time of year all my favorite shows have Christmas episodes. Some are a hit and some are a miss and just don't seem to fit at all. Some of my favorite Christmas themed episodes are:

• Big Bang Theory - Granted the name of the show doesn't do much for it, however this is one of my favorite comedies of all time. This past week they had a special Christmas episode where Penny asked Sheldon if they had a Christmas tree...Well that started a long speil about where the idea of Christmas trees came from and how Sheldon doesn't do gifts because they have to have the same amount of thought in them that the one given has. Well she walked out and he went to a store similar to Bath & Body Works to find her a gift. After much pondering he bought gift baskets of many sizes so he can choose after seeing her gift which would be most appropriate to reciprocate with. Well, her gift wound up blowing him away and he gave her all of the baskets and a hug. Now I'm sure most of you have never seen this show, but the episode fit in easily with the character arcs and storylines without feeling like it's a forced Christmas episode. That's how Christmas episodes are done!

• The Office - This year was not the best episode they had, however it was still nicely done. My favorite Office Christmas was in season 2 where Michael made them do a Dirty Santa/White Elephant after the gift he got from his Secret Santa did not live up to his expectations. After all, for a $20 limit he bought his secret santa a 40 gig iPod. Cause you know, those are $20! So their gift exchanged turned into a White Elephant with people getting customized name plates that where meant for someone else...all the while, Michael is feeling good about himself since everyone keeps stealing the iPod. The show proves that any party with 12 bottles of vodka for 20 people can turn into a grand ole time!

• Top Chef - The last two seasons they have had a special holiday themed episodes. This year fell pretty flat considering the chefs aren't really bringing their A games for some unknown reason. Last year was more of a hit considering they had to cater a huge Christmas party (no matter that this was filmed in the summer) where one teams menu would have made any Christmas party a smashing success. This show is always great for any holiday menu items and it gets you hungry and ready for that turkey dinner on Christmas day!

Favorite Things...Movies

I was thinking of starting a blog-a-day until Christmas to talk about my favorite things this time of year. I am going to kick it off with a must have...Christmas movies. Gene and I differ on the ones that we want to watch every year. So I'll put both of our Christmas movie lists.

Mine:

• A Christmas Story - as from my previous post, it's a great family movie. From the amazingly cool leg lamp, to the kid getting his tongue stuck to the light pole, to the hilarious duck dinner at the Chinese food restaurant after the neighbor dogs destroyed their meal.
  
• A Very Brady Christmas - I know, I know, its the most corny movie ever! Growing up loving The Brady Bunch led me to enjoy watching this gem of a movie every year. With lines like "Don't be sorry, be Wally", how can you go wrong? It's a thriller of a movie down to the last minute...will Mike make it out of the wreckage? Will the kids overcome their issues? How will everyone react to the news?
  
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas - this is a fun movie that both of us actually agree on. We watch the cartoon version every year and this year we finally got to see the Jim Carey version which was a laugh riot. There's something about that grinch that always puts me in the Christmas mood.
• Elf - Such a funny movie and a good message. I think Will Ferrell plays the perfect elf and his mannerisms make the movie. My favorite is spaghetti with syrup for every meal :)
  

Gene:

• It's a Wonderful Life - A great movie that the end makes you all warm and toasty inside. I had never seen it till Gene & I got together and I must agree this is a great Christmas movie.
  
• Miracle on 34th Street (0riginal version) - I have never liked this movie, I just couldn't get into it. He enjoys it and I sit through it whenever he wants to watch it...
• A Christmas Carol (original version). I've never seen this one, but I have enjoyed the play versions.
  

If you haven't seen one of these, we hope you will watch or TIVO them the next time they are on. If we are missing a movie that you think we would enjoy let us know...

Christmas Story...

My favorite Christmas movie of all times is A Christmas Story. I have watched it religiously every year, sometimes many, many times. I love the movie, Gene, not so much. However, being the most wonderful husband in the world, agreed to go with me to the a play that was being produced at the Texas Repertory Theatre.

The play was absolutely amazing. The whole cast was unbelievable, well, minus the young Ralphie. I think he would have been good if the rest of the cast wasn't so amazing. The dad (aka "The Old Man") really made the show...his mannerisms and demenour was so true to the real movie, yet he added something special to it that made it so believable.

They are playing it through the 28th, I highly recommend that you all go to it!!

Marketing Mondays - Chili's

So I want to start a new feature on my blog for Marketing Mondays. I figured why not include something on here that is related to what I do and what I will eventually get my degree in. Marketing Monday is just a forum to talk about commercials, ads, or just anything that amuses me or annoys me that I see related to marketing.

Today's post is from this weekend (more of which I will elaborate on in my next post). We went to Chili's to eat on Saturday night. I don't even remember the last time we ate at a Chili's, but I can tell you we weren't missing much. I digress though. The marketing piece I want to mention is this:


The piece is a table placard that is on every table. I don't mind the placard idea, but usually they get moved since there is usually not enough room on the table. The main issue I have with this is the actual slogan...Holiday shopping is best done with a margarita. Umm, really? They (meaning Chili's Bar & Grill) wants to promote drinking and driving? I can't imagine that is on any company's marketing plan. Nothing about this ad makes me A) want a margarita, B) go shopping or C) ever eat at Chili's again. I really can't imagine that this ad passed through the company's leagal department.

People, next ad you are working on...please don't encourage illegal advertising! Maybe Chili's New Years ads should be Rock in the new year with some crack.

Snow...

All I can say is I'm so marveled by God & his sense of humor! Yesterday I was lounging around in shorts, today there is snow. Wow.  I'm so excited that this winter is much colder than years past, I just hope it stays this cold on Christmas. It's hard to feel Christmasy in 80 degree weather! 

Anyway, things are good. My school semester is finally winding down (thank goodness). I still have quite a few things to do before its over though, so I will probably be pretty stressed until its over next week.

Enjoy the snow :) Bundle up folks. (by the way the picture is of my side mirror and huge snowflakes on it!)

Party season is here...

and boy am I not a party person!! Last night we had the marketing Christmas party at my bosses house. I rather enjoyed it, but I really am just not a party person. I hate mingling (yes even with people I know) and I would much rather be at home cozy on the couch, snuggling with my cute hubby and watching a Christmas movie.

I have to say I haven't spent much time in the Spring Branch area, but I'm really liking a lot of the revitalization that's going on there. My boss lives over there and the street he lives on is pretty amazing. I like the fact that the lots are HUGE and there is actually people who are fixing up the old houses instead of tearing it down to build a monstrosity. Yes, there are some of those on the street, but most seem to have character.

The party was fun, I found 2 new cookies that I'm now obsessed with! One is just called the Best Cookie in the World and I must agree. The other is called Laceys. They had them at the party and I ran across them at Whole Foods when we went grocery shopping this morning. They are almond & dark chocolate cookies. I have to say when I first tried them last night I thought it was toffee! Oh well, I've never been a good judge of ingredients!

Friday night I went with Paula & Liz to Grotto. Can I say YUM?!?! I had never been there before but the other 2 had. It was so great. We all got their salmon special that was so mouthwateringly amazing. Then there was desert which was also so super great and we all had coffee with baileys. I can't tell you when the last time I had a cup of coffee! I was up for hours! :)

Today we went to the grocery store this morning and I am working on school work. I'll be glad for a break soon. The end of the semester is always rough, but this one seems like everything has piled on at once! I think Ike threw my whole school semester off. I have 2 papers, a design project and finals to start studying for. Thankfully it'll all be over soon.

On another note, I hope all of you guys caught the moon the other night! It was the moon, Venus & Jupiter all together. It was one of the most amazing sites. Yes, I know my picture doesn't do it justice. You can read up about it here - http://stargazing.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_night_sky_for_december_2008.

Fun Times...

We had a super-fun Thanksgiving with my in-laws. Their place is so relaxing all we want to do is nap when we are there :) Gene got us up super early, sometime around 5 am...ugh, I'm so not a morning person. So when we got on the road, I'm glad he wasn't annoyed that I napped on the way there! We spent all day there and got home about an hour after dark and just enjoyed what was left of our Thanksgiving together.

Gene had to work on Friday, so I got up a little later than normal and went to spend the whole day with my step-sister-in-law (I guess thats what it is) Angie. I was on the way there and stopped by Walgreens...I scored a 64 count Crayola crayons & 2 tins of the shortbread cookies for well under $5. I spent all day with Angie & her beautiful little girl Taiya. She is so precious & so much fun! We decided to hit up Old Navy & Osh Kosh in the Fountains...there weren't any good sales though. Last year when I bought my sister clothes from Old Navy, there were much better sales, I'm hoping that there will be better deals closer to Christmas. I stopped at Kirkland's on my way home and knocked out a lot more of my shopping, plus a little treat for me. I love their stuff, so classic and fun.

On Saturday I had a massage that I had been desperately needing...afterwards, Camila & I went and had yummy pho :) Afterwards, I just went home and lounged...When Gene got home we went and ran a couple errands and took it easy. That night we decided to put together a gingerbread house. I had been seeing them for years in sales papers and always wanted to do one. I found one for $9.99 and we decided that we are going to make it an annual event in our house.

We started it around 8 pm on Saturday night, well we didn't read the directions fully before we started, so after Gene mixed the frosting I saw where it takes 2-3 hours for the walls to dry before you can even attach the roof! So we put together the walls & around 11 we put on the roof. Sunday we finished it, though I have to say, its rather funny. Gene laughed & said ours belongs in the gingerbread projects. We laughed and said we would have to pay someone to live in it!! :)