The Heat is On!

strolling the beach on Galveston island in TX, with a lone fisherman in the distance

As much as I would like to be one of those people that embrace the hot, sultry summer months here on the coast of Texas, sadly, it just doesn't happen for this girl.  And never has.  As a child and teen, while all my classmates were hoping for sunshine and warm weather for their weekend beach plans, I was silently praying for a cool, rainy weekend, so that I could curl up with a good book.

Once the heat and humidity really set in, I easily become physically ill.  Spending too much time in the hot outdoors leaves me feeling, exhausted, queasy, and like I might pass out at any moment.  Our first official day of over 90 degree Fahrenheit temperature was on the 8th of this month.  That is about the temperature that I notice I just can't take the heat anymore and have to spend most of my time indoors.  I become phantomlike, waiting for sunset, if at all possible, before venturing out to run errands.  Even then, the humidity can make my evening and nighttime outings as unbearable as during the heat of the day.

I have learned to wholeheartedly embrace the months that have temperatures that agree with me to the fullest, and that's just what I have been up to.

any day that leaves you, your dog, and your vehicle covered in sand from stem to stern, is a good day!

One of the things I did before the mercury hit the high 80's, is take a little day trip to my hometown of Galveston, Texas.  I explored my old stomping grounds, walked the beach and closed out the day with a late lunch, parked at Sonic, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.  While noshing, I was treated to the sight of birds, divebombing into the water to catch a little lunch of their own!  The weather was glorious, with light, sea salt scented breezes!  The high that day was 80°F.

a late lunch at Sonic enjoying the view

How is the weather where you are?

Thanks for stopping by!  I'm off to sit in front of a fan, lol!~ TJ

A Corpus Christi Graduation

{view from our hotel room}

Last Thursday, we headed out to Corpus to attend my younger brother's graduation from Del Mar after earning his degree in nursing. He is a busy man, juggling his work as a firefighter, EMT and of course having to study and attend classes for so long. I'm sure he is happy to have completed his studies and next up, he wants to study for the Captains test in regards to his firefighter position. I am so proud of him!
It has been a while since I've seen him but he is happy and in a relationship which he seems thrilled with. What more could you ask for?
When we first got into town Thursday night, after an uneventful but pleasant drive, the local weather was predicting heavy thunderstorms and we were in the area of town that was under a tornado watch. It rained heavily and the winds blew hard but after about a half hour, the skies dried up and all was fine, weather wise, for the rest of our weekend there.

We did a lot of relaxing, walked a bit along the shoreline (until we got uncomfortably hot!) attended the graduation and was able to visit for a while with family (my parents and sister and three of her kids also came). Saturday, we went to an indoor flea market which was fun looking around at all the vendors wares. Ari discovered a makeup line called iCandy and was able to meet the owner, who had a booth there. She ended up scoring five vibrant eye pigments and a primer to use with them, a kitty t-shirt, a Hello Kitty necklace and an ice cream cone! Mike & I just enjoyed the time by window shopping and Dollface was happy to stay in mama's arms. She did meet a chihuahua who wasn't thrilled to meet her back.

Sunday, Mother's Day, we headed back home and, even though we all enjoy getting away from time to time, we agreed that there is no place like home sweet home!

{replica of Christopher Columbus' Nina}

{Our last night there we indulged in soothing face masks!}

Today's green smoothie consisted of: spinach, carrot, ground flax seed, frozen apple cranberry juice cubes, frozen banana, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, frozen grapes, and wulong tea. Lip lickin' good!

Field Trip~Nature Center

For a while now I've been wanting to check out a fairly new nature center in our area. I was hoping to get the whole family there to experience it together but since that seems to not be happening, I figured I would take Dollface for a walk there to see what it was all about.


We ended up not going very far as she got hot and decided it was time to turn around & go home. She's like her mama and sooo not an outdoorsy kinda gal!
For the short time we were there, it was so peaceful just listening to the birds and enjoying the trees. A little slice of heaven in the suburbs that we will definitely be back to for more nature walks!

Spring Break, Louisiana & Life

This past week, my daughter and son were out of school for spring break. After a whirlwind-just-us-girls-road trip to Covington, Louisiana (so whirlwind I don't believe I took one picture!!! Arrrghhh!) to visit my youngest son, explore, shop & eat. We didn't do much relaxing since we left home early Tuesday morning and got back home Wednesday evening. A seven hour drive both ways. But we had a great time.

One "attraction" Ari wanted to see was the K-Mart store since we don't have one around were we live. I don't think she was impressed. And no offense to K-Mart but, after that refresher course, I found I don't miss them. And one of the highlights of my little makeup maven's trip (ok...and mine) was visiting the brand new, three day old baby Ulta. Fresh, clean, and filled with makeup, skin care and fragrance testers that no one had yet touched. Heaven!

{Brand new Ulta}

We rode down narrow streets in the historic part of town, passing a cemetery that reminded me of the movie, "Midnight In the Garden of Good and Evil". We delighted in the regional accents of the folks that lived there that varied wildly from mild to thick. And after forcing ourselves to face the fact that we needed to hit the road, vowing that we would come back and visit the places we hadn't had time for this trip, we grabbed a few beignets at the legendary Cafe Du Monde, frappucinos from Starbucks and headed west.

In my own personal beauty department, last night I tried the "accent nail" while giving my nails some much needed attention. I !LoVe!!!! it! I used Revlon's "Opulent Pink" and China Glaze's "Material Girl" on the ring fingers. I think it's so pretty and feminine!

{bracelet from Forever 21}

I have so much other stuff I wanna share and will as time allows. Family comes first though...

Thanks for stopping by!

Austin, TX Getaway

The Omni was nice but we'll be staying here next time!

Beginning the week of Thanksgiving, we took a little trip to Austin. Capitol of Texas. I'd never been there before. I'd heard it was "weird". And it was. A little. But I'm a little weird. So I fit right in.

Rain was predicted for those days but it only rained during times that we weren't going to be out & about. (TYF) It rained just as we arrived but cleared up by that evening when we ventured out for dinner. We had our doghter in tow so we had to find places that were puppy friendly. That wasn't a problem at all. Austin is very dog friendly. We ate at a little place called Maudie's, al fresco of course, and they brought a doggy dish of water when they delivered our drinks. (Actually all the restaurants we ate at had the same practice~serving out girl water when we arrived!). Yummy Mexican food! (Our FaVoRiTe!) We drove around to check out the sights before heading back to the hotel. The nightlife is hoppin' there!

It rained while we slept that night and the temperatures cooled so the next day was beautiful! We spent the day eating and shopping and strolling and eating some more. The grande finale of the day was watching the bats take their flight at dusk to find their dinner. Awe-mazing! TYF

Sadly, we never made it to check out 6th Street. NEXT TIME!!!

Here's just a few pictures of our fun times:

DF having a drink at The Snack Bar (a must if you like fresh, fab food!)

exploring the town on her own terms

Dollface asked me " mama, what's a yard dog?" (okaaayyy not really)



cool shop with all kindza costumez~or so I heard from Ari (DF & I were busy people watching. Verrry interesting.)

Parking in Austin? Well that's another story.

Sunday Mornin'

I'm sitting here in the quiet of the sweetest time of day looking out my upstairs office window, watching a squirrel hunt and gather his delectable breakfast beneath the pines with their gently blowing boughs. I hear the doves call and savor the complete peace and tranquility that envelopes our neighborhood before the families begin to stir and ready themselves for church. Before the children begin to play and call out with pure delight and abandon.

And something about it all takes my thoughts back to our weekend at Mom & Dad's just a few short weeks ago...

Just as we arrived, a soft sprinkling of snow was falling...

We were giddy...(until panic struck when I thought I might have locked the keys in the monster! I didn't...whew!)

Ari & Grandpa...

The place where midnight campfires happen and tales are told...

Wishing well...

A lone bird fly high above the treetops...

The road to Gram's and a favorite walking path...

Father & son time...

One last quick hug before we part ways...

And time for me to get ready for church...I hear hubby stirring. Have a wonderful Sunday y'all!