Don't Mess with Texas

What can I say... our trip was short but definitely sweet. One thing my friends learned is that everything is always BIGGER in Texas, including our waistlines which expanded exponentially over the course of a weekend. We ate and did as much as we could, but didn't have enough time to do everything. What a perfect excuse to come back again next year right?

Authentic Texas Backyard BBQ @ Rudy's

Don't mss with Texas yo

want bread? They'll give you a loaf


Trudy's Mexican Margaritas- This is enough to make you all kinds of loco



@ Trudy's

The injured travelers.


cupcakes from an airstream trailer @ Hey Cupcake

Yummy Amy's Ice Cream

Jo's coffee will make you feel like a cool hipster

This mom was super chic- pushing a stroller dressed to kill


Marco and Mabel happy finishers!

Kjersti and Greg ran together the whole way =) that's love!

The injured with all the champs


Real Southern Cooking @ Hoover's with Chef Hoover himself. What a sweetheart.

This is what I'm talking about. I can feel my arteries clogging and heart swelling with love.

Enjoying Home

Houston's Discovery Green- the city's first "all green" park. Everything used in the park is environmentally safe and friendly =) Hopefully other cities will catch on!

{the dancing recycled water fountain}

{faces of the nation}

{holiday ice skating}

{up up and away on Houston's helium passenger balloon}

Ever since I stepped foot onto Texas soil, I've been in full vacation mode. Did all the important things this weekend: slept in everyday, ate good food, and spent time with my family and dearest friends. It's so good to be home =)

Giving Back

{Homemade holiday treats- Oreo truffles and pumpkin bread}

{Derby and Burger wanted to help wrap gifts too}

{Santa's little elves. Ignore my gigantic feet LOL}

{finally home! This is my Dad's dog Lucy who is Burger's sister. She is my new cuddle buddy for the next couple weeks}

Wow, it's so nice to be blogging again! I took a little break to get my self together before heading home to Texas for the holidays, and now that I'm here I can finally just relax!

Before I took off, my friend Martha invited Derek and I to help sponsor a less fortunate family and help make their Christmas a little brighter this year. After shopping for all the gifts, I invited the girls to come over for a wrapping party. We had a great time drinking hot cocoa and listening to Christmas music as we took on the roles of Santa's elves that evening. I had such an amazing feeling in my heart throughout the whole process. It was exactly what I needed to help get me back into the Holiday spirit. Whoever said "To give is better than to receive" was right. I'm definitely planning on making this a yearly Christmas tradition =)

Now that I'm back in Texas, I'm sure I'll have a ton of fun stuff to blog about. Especially since they do everything BIG here! Have an amazing weekend everyone =)

Home is where the heart is

{our red brick house}

{the backyard fountain designed by my mother}

{entrance to the kitchen. Mom would write the day's menu on this board. I miss her cooking and the way she used to sing along to " The Carpenters" while she worked her magic in there.}

{Lucy bear, Burger's sister and the lady of the house}

{the red brick pathway to the garden}

{the patio area. perfect for sitting down and enjoying a cup of joe (if the weather is under the usual sweltering 95 degrees that is)}

{deep in the Heart of Texas}

{vintage wrought iron bicycle/flower holder}

Last night I came across these photos I took last year of my childhood home in Sugar Land, Texas. Yes, Sugar Land is a real city and is just as whimsical as it sounds. It is a place where kids can still go outside and play till dusk and neighbors borrow eggs and sugar. Our family is so blessed to have been surrounded by such wonderful people who have become some of our closest friends. This house holds so many of my fondest memories (especially of my mom), and is something I hope to keep in the family forever.