Tattoo Panda-monium

Our good friends Charlie and Andrea Mertz are a unique couple. Josh has known them since high school and they really haven't changed. Charlie is a CPA, Aggie grad and Andrea, a Longhorn, is about to start her pediatric residency. A smart, respectable pair, contributing alot to society. They are fun, quirky and perfect for each other.

It started as a regular BBQ at our house (go house parties!) when, after a few beers, the guys starting teasing Charlie that he would never get a tattoo. It came up because Josh's little brother Cody has a bunch of them. The guys were going back and forth, egging him on...us girls were oblivious! We had no idea they were discussing Charlie's future tattoo! We started to catch wind when Charlie sketched Andrea riding a pony, holding a flag that said "Mertz." Hilarious, I thought, but they can't be serious.

Finally, I heard Josh and Brian, another Katy guy, say they would PAY for the tattoo if Charlie went through with it. Well...next thing I knew we were in a car headed to Montrose to find Cody's tattoo place. Each side calling the other's bluff...this was crazy. I kept asking Andrea, really?? Are you going to let this happen?! She laughed and said it was his body. True, but what! Charlie and her were looking through clip art on his iPhone for the perfect PANDA, that was the new idea.

He decided the pandas would be back to back like this.

The best was Charlie explaining what he wanted to the tattoo guy. 'I want two pandas. One feeding the other and holding a flag that says Mertz." The guy looked skeptically and explained that would have to be REALLY big. The guys set the price limit to $120 and Charlie said, "ok, I want $120 worth of these pandas."

It was literally around 2 am when it was finally Charlie's turn. All the while I never believed he'd do it. I mean...the accountant with 2 panda's on his back? Noo.......oh but yes. Here's how I documented the night....

The peanut gallery.

Yep, he said it hurt. Andrea had to cover her eyes!

Aaannnddd...the final product!!!

We texted all their friends and they were shocked, but not TOO shocked. I mean, it's Charlie! He and Andrea had replica bobbleheads made of each other for their wedding cake topper! Now THAT's just complete Panda-monium.

Goodies in the Mail

I LOVE getting stuff in the mail. I'm all for Evites on alot of things, but there's nothing like getting a wedding invitation, baby announcement or something from Amazon. We've signed onto Amazon Prime where you pay a fee for a year and get free shipping. Well, our friend Brian paid for the year, and added me as a user for free...thanks Brian!!

I got 2 goodies from Amazon today, and you know your life is dull when you get pumped for these two doozies!

First prize: The FURminator. Yes, that's the name. I found it at Target and Josh's mom swears by it for her dogs. Apparently it's the best de-shedder on the market. It's $65 for a Large at Target, but my Amazon Prime said $15! Great deal. Always shop online.

You HAVE to see the ridiculous picture on the box. It says all that hair is from one sitting with the FURminator. I laugh everytime...that's like from 8 dogs.

I introduced Shelby to her new friend...she wasn't as excited as me.

My second prize was a self-inking stamp. I have seen some friend's letters with these and HAD to get one!

So much fun...I wanna stamp things. Lots of things. I'll probably stamp Shelby, then FURminator it away.

2010: Year of the House Parties

Well, I'll go ahead and say it. I'm in my LATE twenties now. LATE. No longer MID. We had a great couple years there in the mid-twenties. Stumbling home from bars, listening to drunk twenty-somethings play music all night long in our very nice, but very crazy mid-town apartment. For those in Houston who are familiar, it was a great ride. No parking, no taxis, no vallet.

We're all moved into our townhouse in Cottage Grove, just west of The Heights. it's a quiet corner full of young couples with no kids, who have outgrown their mid-town lofts. It's the next step you know? That's why our friends and I have declared 2010: Year of the House Parties! We're so grown up!! =)

Here are a few pics of New Years, TWO house parties. First, at the Chenoweths:

We then ventured to the Amy's "Fancy Mustache Party" Most of the guys took that as...let's go buy a funny mustache at Party Boy. My wonderful husband went ahead and spent a week or so growning out this fine display.

Here is Ashley and Me, sans mustache, just for the pic though

We had a great time! I was glad it was over though, so Josh would shave that porn 'stache.

Right after the New Year was my 27th Birthday. It was a WILD party! A great way to say HELLO Late twenties!! It was definitely something I would do only once or twice a year. My friend Sam and I have close Bdays, so we ate at Taco Milagro and she set up a party bus to take us up and down Washington road. Open container bus and all! This was definitely frat party style, and DEF a rare night. But, hey, it's my birthday right??

Here's some of the party goers! Andrea, Jillian, Kalin, Me, Jill, Lizzy and Karen!

Shelby had to stay at home!

Here's us at Pearl Bar! Emily, my sister, put up my name on the video board!

Here's Josh and I on the bus...

All in all, I had a great birthday with tons of great friends. We've really found our niche here in Houston and I'm so thankful that I have Josh, girlfriends, AND a sister all within a few miles of each other. See you later, midtown, we'll stop by a time or two, but HELLO House Parties!!

Quick Preview

Our new living room furniture! The ottoman has drawers on the side, perfect for blankets and remotes! Shelby already feels at home.

We're trying to move in today...but as of now, it's raining and nasty. I hope we don't have to wait, but I also don't want a muddy mess, it was JUST cleaned yesterday. Ok, back to packing....

Happy Birthday Jesus, and Josh!

Love love Christmas time....this year was extra good, I think because Christmas was on a Friday. Josh had tons of time off to use and we got to spend almost 4 days in San Antonio! Here is a family photo at the Price house!

My parents were so cool to let the dogs stay there. Here's all the girls! Emily has her pup "Happy," Shelby's cousin.We had a great dinner at La Posada Del Rey...though the service was EHH. My grandpa is neighbors with the owner, so I think he cut them some slack. They under-estimated people's need for Mexican food on Christmas Eve!! Afterwards, we came home and opened gifts. If my mom is doing all the cooking, we sometimes open them all at night (Santa must come during dinner ha). Here's Emily opening her gifts and then me, pretending to be upset at my gift from Josh (honey-glazed pecans!). We didn't do big Christmas gifts this year....uhh we bought a HOUSE!Josh's mom bought Shelby a Christmas outfit! Isn't she perfect?

After we ate Christmas lunch in San Antonio with family, we headed to Katy for our 2nd Christmas! We even had a family white elephant exchange....that was interesting. We took it as a gag gift thing...Ryan, Josh's bro...actually bought good things. He was not impressed with the keychain flashlight he got. On the other hand, we're thrilled to get his hand steamer! It cracked me up...I suggested that Josh give it back to Ryan, but he said he didn't condone pouting. Love family times =)

Josh's birthday!! The big 2-7!

I thought I had it rough, a birthday 2 weeks after Christmas...try the DAY after! Usually, he gets the obligatory "It's for your birthday AND Xmas!" Luckily, he doesn't mind that when he got a new gas grill from my parents. He was so excited! Then his family went in on a tool set and chest/drawers. He made out like a bandit this year.

He had a fun party in Houston. Beer pong, queso and kareoke! Great night!!

Real Parrot Heads!

We took a quick trip to New Orleans last weekend. This was my 7th trip to that shining city in a bowl. It was 3 couples, Matt/Melissa Coker-Lewis, James and Karen Chenoweth and the Nowaks. Karen's birthday was celebrated and also our 1 year anniversary.

We LOVE those hand gernades. They are deadly, but so good and will last you hours.

My college friends will appreciate my stop at the Tropical Isle bar. We've taken so many of these parrot pictures, it's actually kinda sad. But you HAVE to if you go...it's a New Orlean's must.

Where the New Orleans bowl description comes into play was when the MONSOON hit. The streets flooded so quickly!! WE were "trapped" in a bar on Bourbon St. We are somewhere in that angry red spot.

We didn't mind though. It only affected what we wore to dinner: a nice dinner at Bourbon House. Karen didn't get to change from this sexy number....

Trip HIGH-lights:

-Laughing (after many drinks) about canoeing to and from bars.

-The DJ telling us to "Fist Pump like a Champ" an awesome reference to MTV's Jersey Shore

-Josh accidentally punching in a window at a bar...where they kept cats. Odd.

-Josh sneaking off to buy street beer (cheaper) then popping back in our bar

-James and Matt eating WAY too many oysters

-Bourbon St. cops grabbing Josh, insisting he peed in the street...obviously did NOT, they let him go, handed him his beer and said " Don't let us catch you back here again"...in Louisiana?? New Orleans? Stupid!!

-NEVER stop at LA border town bathrooms....wait til you get to Beaumont. Trust me.

Shelby puppy stayed with Ashlee and Jill. They are awesome, we missed our baby pup. Can't wait for Christmas!! So close!

New House, New Pup, New Blog!

Hello Bloggosphere! I'm finally hopping on the band wagon thanks to a couple of friends who have become quite good at this. I guess now is as good a time as any! ALOT has gone on this past month, it's cRaZy!


A. Bought our first house!!!

B. We bought our puppy, Shelby!!

C. We had our 1 year anniversary; wonderful meal at Taste of Texas. We later ventured to New Orleans, pics to come.

I would love to post more pics and have better editing, but I am new and having to drag them from the top all the way to bottom. Would love some blogging advice! Why can't I upload them where I want them??

Anyways! We're working on the house for a bit; painting, carpet cleaning, a sink fix here and there. We got a great deal on a pre-foreclosure so there is alot of work to be done before the apartment kicks us out Jan. 10th! Oh yeah, there's Christmas and New Years in between there too! I hope Pedro and the crew we hired are good and efficient!