His Valentine's Surprise

So I got to plan Valentine's Day this year. I decided to have Josh do something he never did before! Before we left on the adventure we made some yummy chocolate-covered strawberries!

We stopped at Bubba's to get our bison burgers to go (yes, romantic...but OH so good). So we headed down 59, he had no idea where we were going and I was so pumped! We came to our stop, "Painting with a Twist" and he laughed. Yep! We're couple's painting!

We were the first people there, so we got to eat and get mentally prepared/drink our booze before class started. It's basically a BYOB with a painting instructor.

I think Josh liked it and was happy to do something other than going out to dinner. I was glad that it was a couple's night, so there were alot of other guys there in the same boat. Our paintings were called "Key to My Heart."

Josh getting really into it...yes he drew that heart free hand!!

And here's our final product!! We had the tag say "N" for Nowak. I can't wait to go back, it was a great night!!

I got some cheap frames at Hobby Lobby and our creations are up in our study! Have a great weekend!! I get to go home to San Antonio and eat some nummy num Mexy food.

I CAN be crafty

So, for some reason I really wanted to make a gift for my friend Jill's baby shower. I could have gone to Target and got some cute little baby things, but my college friends are probably the most thoughtful bunch on the planet and I wanted it to be more special. I sneakily asked her the colors of the nursery and got to craftin'.

I got on You Tube and looked up "How to make a French Board" and got started! The cutest little old lady at Hobby Lobby helped pick out the material (she was really happy when I stopped by to show her my final product).

Here's a little step by step to make your own French/ Memory board! Super easy!!

Here's the supplies you need: a canvas, batting, material, ribbon and buttons. The tools SHOULD be a staple gun, but I used nails and hot glue!

Wrap the batting and staple it tight....

Wrap and nail/staple the material. Make it nice and tight and cut away the access.

After you tack the ribbon at even parallels you weave it through the other way. Make it tight!

I hot glue these little buttons and also a "C" for Caraline. There's so many ways to do it!

There's alot of girls I know having babies...I think this will be my "thing" to make pregs girls! I got Karen in on the gig as well...we made some more for Nikki and Kate...

Jill and Kate loved their gifts and I'm so happy to have found a fun craft to do! I'll post the baby shower pics soon!

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!!