It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We got our tree up the day after Thanksgiving, but since then I caught a doozy of a cold and barely had the energy to get up in the morning. But we did get our Christmas pictures taken a few weeks ago  and I haven't posted them anywhere yet because I wanted them to be a surprise. But i thought I would give you an exclusive sneak peak ;) (It makes me feel like a hollywood celebrity to say that!)

This is the one we chose for Cards!

Merry Christmas Garland- World Market

A few Thanksgiving pictures for good cheer :) This year Hubby's parents came down from PA. We took them to the FortWorth Stockyards and stopped by the North Park mall for my bi-annual Anthropologie shopping trip. We detoured through SantaLand (our first time) on our way home. It was really cute but when we went they played the entire Alvin and the Chipmunks sound track and I nearly lost it by the end. Personally, I think the Christmas train at Jefferson was its equal and I really enjoyed the atmosphere there

 The next day we saw Spectre- which was really fun. I'd love to go back and watch some of the prequels to refresh my memory, but it's pretty easy to track even if you've never seen any other James Bond movies. 

Thanksgiving day we had quite the feast! I was a little worried how to plan everything out, but it went well.

We cooked the turkey and stuffing first (10lbs)

Then I made the buns and Hubs made the mashed potatoes(next time do those toward the end)

While those cooked I prepped the green bean and yam casseroles

We used a gravy mix, frozen corn and cranberry jelly in a jar (I had to take a couple shortcuts!)

After our feast we joined friends for dessert. (Which was a good thing because my cake didn't turn out)

As we set up for Christmas I started telling Hubs all my memories with each ornament. He paused Friends -"Oh, is this like a thing?" Me:"um, yeah, I guess so" Hubs: "Okay, let me go make some Keurig hot chocolate" I think we've become obsessed with that little machine :) Seriously though, it makes the BEST hot chocolate.

He makes that mad face every time we try putting the hat on. 

New fuzzy socks, Anthro mug, Christmas tree, just enough of a cold to justify watching Christmas movies all day.

And Hubs brought me In-N-Out!

He looks so angelic when he sleeps. The ornaments strewn across the floor in the mornings testify otherwise.

Omaha

Knock knock Penny. Knock knock Penny. Knock knock Penny.
That is about all that comes to my head when I hear of Omaha, Nebraska. We were only there one night so I wasn't expecting to see a whole lot but once again I was pleasantly surprised. For lunch on Friday we checked out Upstream Brewing Company where apparently Harrison Ford eats when he's in town for Warren Buffets millionaire conference. (It took me longer than it should've to realize that he is in fact, not the singer of Margaritaville - I still have to think twice when I hear the name) Their pretzels with Gouda dip were heavenly though, and the salmon salad was delicious. We didn't think we'd be hungry for dinner but sitting in a hotel all afternoon takes a lot out of you! So we went down to Dudleys Pizza for dinner which was also quite tasty. The next day we walked down to Voodoos tacos (👍🏻👍🏻) We weren't supposed to leave till later that night so I drove down to the Old Market on Howard Street to walk around. It was full of eclectic shops and street performers- definitely a fun little area to check out. I heard Omaha compared to Austin before the influx of non Texans, and Howard street had a similar feel to S. Congress Street. When I got back we found out the passengers wanted to leave early so we packed up and headed home.

The Guest Room/ Office

Most of our apartment is an eclectic mix of new and old, gifts and hand me downs, thrift shops and splurges but I think it works perfect for us. But the most eclectic room of all is our guest room :) it's where anything that doesn't belong in the rest of the house ends up! I spent a little time this week trying to pull it together a little better. Here are the results!

disclaimer- that is no longer our PW. So if any neighbors are reading this you're out of luck :P

I didn't know where to put a Keurig coffee maker that was given to us till my sister suggested the guest room. I love having a little coffee station for our guests to enjoy their cuppa at their leisure :) we also have a basket of stolen free hotel shampoos, conditioners and soaps.

Our wall map with pins to every airport hubs and I have flown to (as a crew member)

My pins are yellow, his are blue, both are green

The blue shelf was flea market find. Spray painted it blue. ( I spray paint everything because I am lazy!- one of these days when we don't live in an apartment I'll learn to sand, prime and paint..)

I took a cork board and painted the frame white, then pinned fabric over it. 

Garage sale find! - It was a pink and speckled white frame. Spray paint and chalkboard paint do wonders.

Our airplane shrine on top of the book case...

Aniversario número dos

What an amazing week. I don't even have words. I like the idea of fun anniversary trips because all my favorite days ever are on one convenient date!

Sweetie got a trip to Orlando from Sunday through Wednesday. We immediately began scheming to get me out there for a little getaway. It worked out great because he could take my bag so we worked the system and booked me a cheap ticket on Spirit and I didn't have to pay any of the extra fees! It's a great airline for quick trips like these although the non reclining seats were a bit stiff...

When I got on the shuttle in Dallas (feeling extra cute in a new outfit and my hot pink lipstick) another lady passenger asked if people told me I looked like Anne Hathaway and that she had to do a double take. Confidence soaring I happily thought this was a great start to the trip. It only got better when the TSA lady commented on how pretty my wedding ring was and said it was sparkling across the room! I was feeling so spoiled. All the flights went perfectly and Sweetie was waiting to pick me up. (Did I mention the sunset that night was amazing? Hubs got a great pic. I'll upload it later.)

Anyway, I was expecting a quick little dinner before we head to the hotel but hubs wanted to check out Down Town Disney. Yes please! So we meandered down there and found a cute sea food restaurant. They only had patio seating on the lake. "Bummer". We had a beautiful candle lit dinner, and then the fireworks went off! You don't understand. We are not exactly what you call romantic. If we tried to plan a romantic night it wouldn't have gone half as well. So for everything to just work out like this was bliss.

That night we were talking and hubs was thinking it would be so fun to go to Epcot. I agreed. He asked should we? I said yes! So the next morning off we went to Epcot! It was such a gorgeous day and we loved spending time together roaming the grounds. We went through it fairly quick and had a few hours to spare before the show so we rode the monorails a and explored some of the hotels. We discovered little ferries went back and forth between the resorts and the park so we rode around on those too. Which were completely empty that time of day so we got our own personal little boat rides. We found a little Italian restaurant outside the park to eat. It was nice to get a little break from all the hustle and bustle- then headed back for the show. Did I mention that the food and wine festival was going on at Epcot as well. We didn't participate much because $ but we did hunt down some creme brûlée in France (served by real French servers. I think I've decided- if I could have any accent it would be a French one.) then we settled down to watch the show. It was spectacular. And so ended our second anniversary.

I still can't believe it has been 2 years already! In some ways it feels like we've been married forever. I can't imagine not being his wife and I don't even like thinking about it! But in other ways it still feels like we're the babies that got married yesterday. (Not to say we still aren't- but at least we're toddlers now ;) ) over the few days we had fun conversations about our memories and good talks about our future and hopes. All instigated by me of course :) but he was a great sport.

The next day we headed back down to down town Disney for lunch at the Rainforest Cafe. (We love Disney okay?) then we took a helicopter tour so hubs could get his annual helicopter fix. We really need to get that boy his license. Someday. Then back to downtown Disney to walk through all the shops.

We headed to Pirates Cove for mini golf where I was the closest I have ever been to winning. It was a great course. For dinner we went to Dave and Busters and then played a few games. We only had enough tickets for some candy so we gave them to some cute kids. And so ended our second day.

Fall is in the air!

Ever since I graduated I have loved fall. The other day I saw a quote "fall is a second spring, where every leaf is a flower." Yes! The weather is finally bearable again (dare I say it's even nice!) the light comes through at a new angle and cozy days and chai lattes are on the horizon. But last year I got too excited too quick and I spent an agonizing month before the thermostat finally dipped below 90. This year I promised myself would be different haha. I think I lasted about a week longer before the caramel corn was in the candy dish, the caramel pumpkin candle bought and my Pinterest board flooded with fall pins. Maybe next year... ? 

(Ps. We still aren't out of the 90s here in east Tx. Come on- it's October!!!!)

We reorganized our spice and pantry collection- what do you think? I'm channeling my inner farm girl. ( I almost bought a chick at Atwoods feed store the other day. No kidding... If we had a house....I think it's the first time Sweetie has been glad we don't)

If you can't tell I started running out of room for Thanks. (Is that a life lesson there?)

The sun coming through with fall in the air. And we finally got curtains up- yay!

Cute free printable- link to come!

My current coffee table set up. Loving the new old readers digest books AM generously gave me.

And the succulents I steal from my moms garden every time I visit seem to be happy in their TX home. 

The rest of August and September 2015

After the Cayman Islands I had a day trip to Jacksonhole, Wy and the following day Destin, Fl. I didn't see much of either place although I've been to both before.

The following weekend I had a trip to Colorado Springs. The group was too big so they took two airplanes and Sweetie ended up flying the rest of the group which meant we got a weekend together! It was time to upgrade our phones and mine wouldn't even turn on at that point so we got our upgrades and then explored the city. We ate at the Airplane Restaurant, Marigolds and Mimis (because...Mimis! I was so excited). We walked all through Garden of the Gods and drove through the Navigators castle next door. The last night we went to this adorable place in Manitou Springs called the Cliff House where we ate on the patio as the sun set.

The Airplane Restaurant 

Sweetie in the cockpit

Garden of the Gods

VW meet up at GotG

<3

After that trip I went to Chicago but we stayed in the suburbs and I didn't have access to the car so I mostly stayed in and studied. I did use the tennis buddy app to find someone to play with at the local park which was fun.

The weekend after that we took the Duck Commander guys up to Spokane, Wa. We only spent one night there but we did go to Anthony's Home Port Restaurant and sat outside watching the Spokane river and falls. The food was delicious- especially the locally grown fresh peach cobbler! (Yeah, that was not in my Paleo diet...)

The next week I had an overnight in Austin. We were staying right next door to the outlet mall and since I needed new slacks and shirts for flying I popped on over- and came back with a lot more than that :) We went to the Salt Grass Steak House for dinner and then went back to the hotel. I stayed up till 2 finishing my book - Byzantium which I just could not put down!! The next day we went down town and had an amazing lunch- but I forgot the name of the place so I need to find that out. It was lamb meatballs and risotto with strips of naan. We had some really good flights and I felt really excited after the whole trip.

Somewhere in all that we had our annual check rides which always stresses me out to no end. But they went really well and it was a huge relief to be done.

This last week we have been focusing on my CFI. Sweetie took me up on a few flights as my instructor. We do pretty well together ;) he's a great teacher, since we've been dating he has been my lab partner and he really helped me study to get my A&P (maintenance license). He is brilliant, sweet and patient so it's not hard to learn from him.

I've been wanting to get my Flight Instructor rating for sometime. I know it will make me a better pilot, but I also want options to stay current when we have a family down the road and I am desperately trying to get enough hours to take my ATP before my written expires next summer.