Welcome!

Follow me as I take you through a 20-something's life in San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country, and the "Great State" in general. I'll talk about all the adventures Texas has to offer, how I managed to gain 10+ pounds on deeeelicious Mexican food, and so much more! I don't ever sit still and it makes for some pretty interesting stories!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Where do I begin?

Hola blog followers! I hope this post finds you all healthy and well. I somehow managed to go the entire month of June without one blog post! (I know Robert, you've been reminding me for weeks!) Anyhoo, this post will either be the longest post ever, or I'll keep it short and sweet. I guess we'll just see how it goes. I'll start off simple and then go from there.

My Job: At the beginning of each month, since the beginning of June, I have reminded Chris how much I DO NOT hate my job! I absolutely love the environment, the people, and the work. I successfully passed my first review, and I couldn't be happier. I can already see the developing geek in me! :)

Our House: I believe that in my last post I mentioned that we were being overtaken by critters! You'll be happy to hear that we no longer have uninvited guests. You may be disappointed to know that our dogs are still spoiled, still ferocious (Bailey tried to bite the pool man again) and our yard is clinging to dear life since we haven't had rain in like 250 years! On a side note--WE GOT ENGAGED ON JUNE 2nd so my bathroom painting project is clearly on hold!

Our Engagement: This probably should've been at the top of the list but I figured I'd ease you into the wedding talk slowly. Chris proposed to me on top of the Stratosphere, in Las Vegas, during our vacation last month. The ring is absolutely unbelievable and I am proud to say that he chose it all by himself! We had a delicious dinner and then he took me to the observation deck where he got down on one knee and asked me the most important question of my life (or perhaps the most important question occurred 10 years ago on the tennis courts in Beeville when he asked me to go out with him!). Of course, I said yes! Our trip was amazing. We hung out at a few awesome pools, gambled (fairly unsuccessfully), and ate some delicious food. I enjoyed spending some time with his PA school friends who were also in Las Vegas for their conference. Overall, it was a trip I'll never forget...
Now for the Planning: So, planning a wedding is certainly a process, not to mention practically a full-time job! We spend 2-3 nights a week at meetings but we've definitely made progress. We knew we didn't want a long engagement, and I was desperate for a Fall wedding, so we chose December 3rd as our big day! It makes me so happy that my parents' wedding anniversary is December 4th. I think it's a nice way to ensure that we're starting our marriage in a very blessed way! So far, we've picked the venue--www.gardensofcranesburyview.com, the DJ, the invitations, and some of the decor. We've got meetings almost every day for the next two weeks, so hopefully we'll have a caterer, cake, and photographer by the end of the month. My amazingly talented cousin, Annmarie is going to do our engagement pictures. www.acessaphoto.com 

My aunts and cousins are busily planning my shower in Beeville, and our family's dear friend, Evelyn, is planning my San Antonio shower. These are some amazing ladies, let me tell you! I feel sure that my beautiful bridesmaids are busily planning my bachelorette party...I have no idea what they have planned, but I don't doubt it will be memorable! Pictures to come (maybe!). So, what has been the most difficult part of the planning so far? The bridesmaids dresses! I chose my dress at the 2nd store I visited. I still can't seem to choose the right bridesmaid dresses though. Nothing seems exactly right. The second most stressful thing...the darn guest book. Let me just say that if you don't want glittered hearts, gigantic bows, obnoxious birds, or some other cheesy design, its going to take quite a bit of effort to find a guest book. Luckily, after weeks of searching, I found the perfect book, with matching pen. And yes, you'll be glad to know that I found toasting flutes to match! ...I knew you'd be pleased! :)

Life other than the weddinig: I know its hard to believe, but yes, we have managed to have a life other than wedding planning. We were very fortunate to spend a fantastic day with Chris' family at the beginning of the month at a great family reunion in Odem, TX--www.cityofodemtx.com. It was great to see all the extended family that we haven't seen in so long. You'll also be intrigued (strong word, I know) to know that I rode a horse at this family reunion. Yes, it's true! I rode a horse...my inability to jump prevailed yet again. Thank goodness Chris has a cousin who could lift a car off a child if necessary, and was able to "throw" me onto the horse. After a frightening 3 minute ride, I was ready to get off. Chris' cousin, Mike, was leading my horse around the stable during my ride. He was making it zig zag and do all sorts of unnecessary movements. That saddle is slippery, let me tell you. Anyway, he stops our horses because my ride is over. He didn't grab hold of the reign, he didn't tie the horse up to the fence, nothing! He just expected me to jump down off of this gargantuan horse who wasn't tied to anything! I said, "shouldn't somebody hold this thing?" Of course, my knight in shining armor came to my rescue. We consider this the quote of the evening..."Mom, hold my beer. I've gotta get Lyndsey off the horse." Our mothers just about fell over with laughter. 

In addition to this family-filled, horse-riding fiesta, we have also enjoyed a trip to Schlitterbahn waterpark with Greg and Kierstin and attended a very nice 40th Anniversary vow-renewal for my Aunt Alyce and Uncle Wayne. Last weekend we went to Retama for a little live horse racing with Robert (shout out to Robert!). We sat at the very top where we had drinks and ate a nice buffet. The cupcakes were the size of my head and were oh so delicious! This weekend we are floating the river, for the first time this summer, with Chris' Aunt and Uncle, and then I'm going to spend a little time with the Linda. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Floating-the-River-ComalGuadalupe-New-Braunfels-Texas/87388620944

I think that's all the udpating I have for today. A few miscellaneous items to note:
Introducing my Bridesmaids: Annmarie Cessa-MOH, Kimberly Gertson, Amanda Wilson, Kalissa Tozzi, Stephanie Cardwell, and Kierstin Richer...love these girls!
Happy 25th Birthday Greg! I promise I'll try to be nice to you for one day. Please note I said, "try."
Happy belated birthday to the Linda (July 6th) and my Daddy (July 11th)!
Congratulations to my little cousin Emily for transitioning to her big girl bed! Your little brother will be very happy to have a crib to sleep in when he's born!

Let the summer fun and wedding planning continue!

Friday, May 27, 2011

My Favorite Mexican Food Places in SA

My new co-worker (shout out to Kayse) recently requested that I dish out my favorite place for queso in SA, after reading my blog about Firewater Grille. I've decided to take it one step further and detail all my favorite places to eat Mexican food!

For Queso:  This one is a toss up for me. I love love love Alamo Cafe's queso with flour tortillas (they have the best tortillas too). I could eat it as a meal (and often do). However, the rest of the food is marginal at best (except the fajitas). I do enjoy their drinks and patio. I also love Cielito Lindo's queso. They also have fantastic nachos (I recommend the shrimp or bean & cheese).


For Enchiladas: There is nowhere in the city where you can get cheese enchiladas as good as Salsalito's! They are melt in your mouth amazing. Their rice and beans are also great...I always get an extra flour tortilla to wipe up the cheesy deliciousness that might seep out of the enchiladas.


For Tacos: Right in our neighborhood (Timberwood Park) is a little gem of a taco place. It's called Taqueria Aguascalientes...a mouthful, I know! They truly have the BEST Tacos Al Pastor. I also love their queso! Chris is a huge fan of their Carne Asada too.
For Drinks (esp Margaritas): This one is a toss up too. First, I love the bar at Cielito Lindo...especially the curly-haired bartender. He's so good to us (and cute)! They make a mean sangria. Second, I love the mango margaritas at La Hacienda. La Hacienda is also my vote for an overall delicious Mexican restaurant. They also have THE best patio. They have live music on Wednesday nights, big fans when its hot, and heaters when its cool. WARNING: This place is known for car thefts so lock your car up tight!!


Last but not least, my favorite Touristy places: Hands-down, the best two places to take someone from out of town while they're visiting SA are Casa Rio on the Riverwalk and Mi Tierra downtown. Casa Rio is dirt-cheap and delicious but the wait is always horrendous on the weekends. Mi Tierra has amazing food and a one-of-a-kind bakery. You just can't go eat at Mi Tierra and not get something sweet to go. I recommend the empanadas and the Tres Leches.It's also a short walk from The Market Square...a great place to shop for unique things!

You can't miss Casa Rio's colorful umbrellas!


So, these are just my opinions. Post a comment to let me know if you think differently or if there's a new place you think I should try. Enjoy!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Every emotion rolled into one!

So, as the new song goes, I'm an emotional mess 
(In mostly good ways)!!!!!!!!!

First, I find myself delighted with my new job! It's so refreshing not to feel that sense of dread every morning when the alarm clock goes off! Of course, I'd love to keep my eyes closed until at least 7 am, but duty calls...and I love it! What an awesome approach to management--treat your employees well and they'll treat the customers well. I've never worked with people who care so so much about the customers and their jobs. I can't wait until I'm fully trained (because I'm tired of Googling and Wikipedia-ing everything!) so that I too can fully immerse myself in all things Racker-related!

Next, I find myself disappointed and irritated at my former employer. Not only did I not receive a severance package, but they only paid me for accrued vacation! Not an ounce of compassion...I have no idea why I expected anything different, but oh well! My time there is done!!

Third, I have mixed emotions over Annmarie (cousin) and Aunty Franny's visit to Texas. I am so happy that they have come to visit us, but so sad that they leave Wednesday!
Here's what our time together has amounted to:
     Lots of delicious meals--in and out! We cooked an amazing dinner Friday night at my house: Annmarie made macaroni and cheese that was music to my mouth; Chris cooked the juiciest steaks and BBQ chicken; my aunt made a great cauliflower casserole, the Linda bought the groceries! Ha! I made the guacamole! :) We also took them to a great Mexican food restaurant-La Hacienda, a good burrito place-Chipotle (my fave), and of course our neighborhood haunt-Firewater Grille.
     Annmarie and I had a fair amount of success at the outlet mall on Saturday. Then we treated ourselves to a trip to the Dry Comal Creek Vineyard and did a wine tasting. We ended our day with a great meal at Z-Tejas!
     Lest I forget the time we've spent in the sun, enjoying my pool...so far the pool man has gotten it right this year! This leads me to a perplexing story about my dog (the little white one). Apparently he has some pent up emotion and likes to take out his anger on unsuspecting visitors to my backyard. The most recent occurrence: he chased my pool man through the backyard and forced him to jump the fence in order to maintain his safety. Note: Bailey weighs 23 lbs and is a poodle...he is frightening!
     Currently Annmarie and my Aunt are cruising the beach with the Linda! I am jealous! They'll be back tomorrow night for one last hurrah before they leave Wednesday. I plan to abuse my talented cousin's photography abilities and have her take local pictures for a design theme I have for my living room. Nothing like a good freebie if you ask me! Just a little shout out: www.acessaphoto.com.

My next emotion is...drum roll please...proud! Greg Watson graduated from Texas State on Thursday with his MBA! It's not often that I say nice things about Greg in public (we give each other such a hard time!) but I am proud of his accomplishment and would like to publicly salute him!

My last emotion for this post is...excitement! I'm so looking forward to the summer, my vacation in June, putting the final coat of paint on my bathroom walls (red is the hardest color in the world to paint),  and a few other things that I will have to wait to post on until they occur (everyone needs a few secrets!).


That being said, thank you blog followers for your messages and for reading my posts! I know its been quite some time since I last wrote, and I plan to get better at that! I promise that I'll post a few pictures and the final bathroom pics next week.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

It's time to catch up!

Hello blog followers! I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post! A lot has happened since then, and I'm ready to share!

Let's see, I'll start with an unemployment re-cap: I am officially on my second full week of unemployment. What does that mean? I'm not getting $$ yet (boo!) but I'm staying home and loving it! So far, here's what I've accomplished:

1. A trip to Reno! It was fantastic, except for my 24 hour stomach virus...it was awful! I felt terrible for the housekeeping staff assigned to our room. One week later Chris, Robert, and Greg all got it too. I'm only taking 50% of the blame for passing the bug as I feel sure they were around when I caught it! Chris and the team (Robert, Greg, and the Watson parentals) bowled in the national bowling tournament, at the National Bowling Stadium. They did well, and it was great to watch them in such a HUGE place! 

Another treat on this trip was seeing our friend Shaun and his sweet family. His son Aiden turned 3 while we were there and we got to go to his bowling birthday party!

2. Other than vacationing, my time on unemployment has given me the opportunity to catch up with a few friends, have several delicious lunches with great people, go to Beeville (in the middle of the week!) and do all my projects around the house. So far, I have planted my garden, cleaned my car, caught up on housework, spruced up the backyard, and gone to the gym! Pictures of the garden to come. On a sour, unpleasant note: Rats have taken up residence at our residence! This is unacceptable and I hope those little rodents find their way into the poison that Bob Jenkins Pest Control set out today. Big shout out to Randy for starting the eradication process! Rats: if you're reading this, know that you ARE NOT WELCOME here!
3. Now, all that's left to do is: paint the bathroom, clean the carpets upstairs, organize the garage, stain and seal the deck, and paint the fireplace...whew! I think I work harder now than I did when I was working full-time! 

The job hunt continues daily...it gets tiring when there aren't any new jobs posted online and very irritating when I have to go across town to the unemployment office! My "re-employment officer" wasn't much help yesterday but at least my one-on-one is over! Now, I'll keep Googling, Monstering, and Indeeding until I find the perfect job! If you see anything that you think I need to know about, send it my way please. So, until I find full-time work (away from home) I'm going to continue to enjoy this time off, get my house fixed up, and visit with family and friends! Life is good, and I appreciate all of the support you all have given me so far. 

Last, but not least: Happy Easter! This Sunday let's celebrate with family and friends the sacrifice the Lord made for us!! We are blessed...enjoy the day!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Food Food Food!

It's time for a follow-up! Last night Chris and I re-visited Fire Water Grille, our new neighborhood restaurant. If you recall, I did my first (and only, so far) restaurant review of Fire Water Grille. The conclusion--the food was pretty good and the service was fair. So, what did we think this time? The food was wonderful, the presentation was outstanding, and the service was great! The atmosphere was calm and relaxing, and they've implemented their happy hour specials. The patio is open now and there's a big screen which I assume is for sporting events, etc. We ate in the "cocktail" area. We shared crab cakes--yum!! For dinner, Chris had Salmon with an orange-balsamic glaze and polenta, and I had a Cobb salad with fresh shaved turkey and roast beef on top. The veggies were so fresh! We completed our meal with bananas foster cheesecake--out of this world! I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to all SA locals, and those visiting from out of town. It's a bit out of the way if you're not familiar with the area but its worth the drive out 281! I'm looking forward to happy hour appetizers and cocktails on the patio this summer!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Happy Saturday Blog Followers!

Good afternoon blog followers! I'm writing to you from my permanent position on my sofa! As I sit here for what seems like the millionth day in a row watching basketball, I realized its been quite some time since I've written. So, here's a re-cap:

1. We had a fantastic anniversary weekend! We exchanged sweet gifts, (love my new Anne Klein watch) had a couples massage (big thanks to Mary and Yvonne at Massage Heights), and enjoyed a fantastic dinner with amazing Pinot Noir (Stemmari) at Trattoria Lisina in Dripping Springs. We were going to go out of town, but decided at the last minute that we didn't want to brave the Spring Break phenomenon that was taking place...oh how the times have changed! lol
2. Last night we celebrated a very sweet little boy's 3rd birthday--complete with a Mickey Mouse cake, a red tricycle, and pizza and burgers! Thanks Robert for including us! It's almost time for our other favorite little boy's first birthday--I can't believe the Conner-man will be 1 soon! We have amazing friends and are blessed to be a part of their lives and their childrens' lives. Oddly enough--all of our friends have boys!! I told Chris we'll be the ones to have all the girls for these cuties to chase after...a long, long time from now, of course!
3. On a less happy note, I am still going to be unemployed soon. When, you ask? I wish I knew! The lack of communication is beyond frustrating! I keep asking and getting no response--I'm ready to start my projects at home and am anxiously awaiting a visit from Annmarie! I've decided to paint the bathroom downstairs brick red and do a sponge treatment over it in khaki. We'll see how it turns out! A full painting blog to follow (I know, super-exciting stuff!).

Well, I think that's about it for  me today. I'd like to wish my beautiful cousin Paige a very happy 11th birthday! She is a wonderful daughter, niece, granddaughter, cousin, and friend and I hope she gets everything she wants today! 
Have a great weekend everyone!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Unemployment, Part 1

Good morning blog followers! As I'm sure some of you  have already heard, I'm being laid-off. Which is code for "we're closing your office and because we're not smart enough to realize your potential, we're not making a spot for you anywhere else." I've gone through all the stages--crying, yelling, laughing, spite, bitterness, and now I've moved on to----MOVING ON! I'm ready for this new chapter in my life. I'm ready for a career, not just a job. I'm ready for responsibility, challenges, and excitement! So, what are my plans you ask? Well, I  intend to power wash, sand, and repaint our deck, paint our guest bathroom, attempt to groom our dog (to save some $$),  and learn to cook more challenging meals. In between, I plan on applying for every job that seems remotely interesting in hopes that I'll find my niche. While I'm not happy about the prospect of taking my rear down to the unemployment office (which I'm thinking will be very similar to waiting in line at the DMV) I realize that with a little perseverance, a lot of faith, and a little spunk I'll soon find my place in the career world! I'll keep you posted on my journey to finding a job in this great city of San Antonio!

On a personal note: this Sunday Chris and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary! What am I going to get him as a gift you ask??? I HAVE NO IDEA! Really, he's a man who requires NOTHING material and it gets harder every year to shop for him! Suggestions are more than welcomed!

Have a wonderful weekend! I'll write on Monday with details of our anniversary weekend! I see wine and yummy food in my future! 

Monday, February 28, 2011

5 little known gems

Good morning blog followers! I'm writing this post after a fun-filled weekend in Houston with Chris. He went for a bowling tournament, but planned some fun stuff around it. Here are a few details... We started the weekend with a 2.5 hour drive to Houston. There really wasn't much traffic, thank goodness, and we arrived at our hotel in plenty of time to change for dinner. I enjoyed a delightful meal of wine, wild mushroom mac n cheese, and pecan-crusted chicken at this amazing little restaurant, located in a River Oaks neighborhood. This was the first "gem" of the weekend. The next day, we got up ridiculously early and headed to Webster for the tournament. 8 games later, we left the bowling alley and ate lunch at a great cafe. Chris didn't make the semi-finals, so we went back to Houston for a nap...6am came very early and I was VERY tired! I am an old-lady after all, and I need my beauty rest! After a nap, we went to this great little place, Dessert Gallery and had cupcakes and cookies...delish, and our second little gem! We ate our treats in the car as we drove back to the bowling alley to watch Robert bowl in the semi-finals. Although he bowled well, he didn't make it to the finals so we headed to the Kemah Boardwalk and had some awesome seafood at The Aquarium. We dined on the patio and enjoyed the Houston humidity and a few drinks. It was a great end to a great day, and the third gem of the weekend.
Now here's a man who needs a date! lol

And here's a man whose girlfriend can talk him into almost anything! lol
Sunday we slept in, ate in Chinatown, and then walked through Rice. There was this great bulldog, Mr. B who comes to Rice every weekend to play in the fountain. Adorable, and the fourth little gem...
After a nice walk, we started home. As we traveled south on IH 10 from Houston to San Antonio, I began to see these crazy clever signs for Buc-ees. I asked Chris what this was all about and he explained that its basically a super-sized convenient store. I was, of course, intrigued! Who wouldn't be excited by a sign that says "Eat here, get gas"? As I walked in, I was met with the following: homemade jellies and jams, homemade sausage, kolaches, sweet treats, home decor, clothing, and huge BBQ pits. It was insane! $30 later, we were on our way home enjoying jalapeno sausage and cheese kolaches from the last little known gem of the weekend! We ended the day with a challenging game of tennis with Greg and Kierstin. I'm sad to report that we lost, but I feel sure that we're going to turn it around for the next match!

Last, but not least--a big shout out to Uncle Vito! Happy 70th Birthday!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Word of mouth advertising...there's nothing quite like it!

Where would this world be without Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Myspace, etc? These sites create a backdrop for fierce word of mouth advertising as we constantly see our friends post links to their favorite places, foods, websites, etc. The options in this world are endless, so its nice to know that someone else has tried something that you might like to try and enjoyed it. So, today my blog followers, I'm posting some links to a few things I think you'll appreciate.
1. My Herbalife Store--I've already posted this link once, but they're constantly adding things to their menu, updating their offerings, and starting new weight loss challenges, etc.  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Dont-Overlook-Nutrition/121964691191628
2. Next, is a computer GENIUS who has come through for me several times. He's fixed two computers for me, and in addition to his repair shop, he also does Web Hosting at a VERY affordable rate! Check out his website for details and monthly specials! Beevillians--Phil is located in Mathis, so computer repair isn't far away! http://www.bestlittlehosthouse.com/
3. Following the computer guru is his wonderfully talented wife, Myrna. CORRECTION ADDED 2/21 10:56 AM: MYRNA IS PHIL'S SISTER-IN-LAW! SORRY! She can make a cake like no one else! Her cakes are not only beautiful and creative, but so moist and tasty! Visit her website and look at the cake gallery. http://myrnasyummycakes.com/
4.Speaking of creative, I know the perfect person to call the next time you're looking for someone to do embroidery work, make a plain t-shirt something special, or create one-of-a-kind gifts! Cheri is so talented and her work is completely original! Visit her Facebook page and look at the photo gallery...she can truly make anything you want! I had her make a rhinestone fitted t-shirt for my cousin's business and it turned out beautifully. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=2361831622#!/pages/CB-Original/119708918087291?v=wall
5. Moving on to my familia...my cousin Annmarie is an AMAZING photographer, located in Boston. Her work speaks for itself, so check out her website:  http://www.acessaphoto.com/
6. If you're in San Antonio or the surrounding areas, check out the website for Oak Hills Church. My cousin, Daniel, is the Production Arts Director, and let me tell you, this church has got it together! Max Lucado is an amazing pastor and his website offers downloads of his articles and other writings, as well as podcasts! http://oakhillschurch.com/
7. If you're looking for an up-and-coming photographer in the SA area, visit Kimmy's Facebook page and look through her pictures. They get cuter every day! http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Kimberly-Marie-Photography/136037103096775
8. Okay, my blog wouldn't be complete without a little plug for myself...visit my lia sophia website and contact me if you want to purchase something, or host your own show! Lifetime Replacement Guarantee and awesome monthly specials! www.liasophia.com/lyndseyhutchins

On to a new topic...
As I wandered through the Rodeo this weekend, I realized how blessed San Antonio is to be the host for multiple Air Force and Army bases. It's awesome to see so many men and women in uniform attending events like this with their families and friends. A big shout out to our Military members. Thank you for all that you do to protect us and our freedom!  
My amazing cousin, Bo, at the airport with his mom waiting to deploy to Afghanistan!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Oh my darlin' Valentine!

Hello blog world! Today I come to you high on Valentine's Day excitement. We had a great day yesterday, preceded by an excellent weekend, so I thought I'd share.

First and foremost, a big shout out to Chris for the dozen long-stemmed red roses he sent me on V Day, even though he doesn't really read my blog (I say that with a sarcastic smile on my face as I shake my head a little).  I'm an inexperienced flower trimmer, so I may have cut them a bit short...
 He followed that little surprise with a delightful, buttery dinner at Ruth's Chris steakhouse. Let me tell you, I feel sure that I washed butter out of my pores this morning! We enjoyed stuffed mushrooms, Caesar Salad, Filet Mignon, Au Gratin Potatoes, and Creamed Spinach. They sealed the deal with a trio of chocolatey desserts. Delish! I wanted to take pictures of the food but Chris wouldn't let me. It's not exactly your neighborhood bar and grille, and for some strange reason he thought it might be inappropriate! Ha!

So, this weekend consisted of several things worth mentioning. First, we enjoyed a fantastic dinner with great friends on Friday night. We pigged out at Tiago's at the RIM with James and Misty. Chips, queso, guacamole, fajitas, and great conversation...what more could a girl ask for? On Saturday, we made the journey to the SA Stock Show and Rodeo. If you've never been, shame on you! It's a blast!

Of course we found the wine tasting tent right away and enjoyed several "shots" of wine as Chris called them.
Robert, Lauren, Chris and Me at the Wine Tent!
Then we had a glass of wine, some delicious, but sort of nasty, carnival food and watched grown men wrestle with calves. I mean really, I'd like to see a grown man wrestle a full-size cow...now that's what I call entertainment! My fellow spectators didn't seem to appreciate my cheering for the calves, as opposed to the Cowboys. I love it when they get away! Haha! We sealed the evening with a performance by Clay Walker. He was fantastic! Sunday, I made the drive to Beeville to see my Mamacita and Meme. Of course, I had to wait until Meme returned from her Sunday luncheon in Sweeney Switch before she could fit me into her busy schedule! What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than to sit at the kitchen table with my two favorite ladies and drink coffee and eat cookies? I finished the weekend with a game of Golden Tee with Chris and Robert...talk about competitive. They give each other handicap! Overall, it was a great weekend! I vote that we adopt a more liberal work schedule and work 2 days and be off 5 days each week! Who's with me?

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Who do I think I am?!

This morning, as I was wading through the junk mail in my inbox, I stumbled across a Living Social Escapes email. It detailed a 5 day, 4 night stay in the Bahamas for "the unheard of price of $589 per person!" Of course my fingers itched to press the "buy" button. So instead, I forwarded the email to Chris and told him, "we should go here this summer!" Looking back, I wonder just exactly who I think I am? I'm 25 years old with an astronomical student loan payment, a big, beautiful house that has a nice mortgage accompanying it, and only 10 days of vacation per year. Why would I even consider going on an extended vacay knowing all of this? Because that's how my generation rolls! We don't like to be told no, we work hard and play hard. We think we deserve corner offices at 25 and don't care how we get them. We feel we know more than our bosses who have been in business for 30 years, and we don't hesitate to tell people exactly what we think. That being said, I move that my generation take a step back, learn from our elders (perhaps find mentors) and put ourselves in our place, before someone else does! Good things come to those who wait, and pray, and think things through, and have patience. So,that's exactly what I'm going to do!

On a side note: I've recently realized that I stopped praying for about a month. I don't know why. I don't have a specific reason. I just know that for that month, I felt something was missing. Looking back, I know that its because I stopped asking for guidance, wisdom, and strength from the Man himself...not a good idea! Again I say to myself, who do I think I am? I can't travel this road alone! So, I began my daily discussions with the Lord again, started praying, and poof! my life immediately felt more peaceful and directed. I encourage everyone, regardless of your strength of faith, to take one week and pray every single day. I promise you'll see major differences! The Lord wants to help us and guide us, we just have to ask. May God bless you blog followers! Have a wonderful and safe weekend and I'll blog again when something interesting comes to mind!

Monday, February 7, 2011

What has this world come to? and My Weekend!

So, I have recently decided that this world is full of inpatient, mouthy people who have a great need to comment on all things that displease them. I thought we lived in the South! I thought people here were supposed to be demure, sweet, and patient. I thought we didn't comment on displeasing things and people, in order to create content and peace. That is DEFINITELY not the case! The other day, as I patiently waited in line to cross the railroad tracks on my way home from work, this man decided that he didn't like my waiting behind the white safety line in front of the tracks. He wanted to turn right, dangit!, and he wasn't going to let me stop him. He blew his horn twice and then peeled out to go around me. He then proceeded to honk at me the entire way down the street. Isn't it my right to observe warning signs and lines so my car doesn't get crushed by the automatic arm that comes down when a train is coming!? Jerk! My next encounter, though equally as frustrating, is not an uncommon occurrence. As I was driving home the other night, I realized my right headlight was out. I was in the left lane, on a highway where the left lane is not reserved just for passing, and a man in a huge truck (the kind that has humongous tires on it to compensate for the driver's lack of gifts in other places, I assume) got right behind me and started shining his brights on me, so I would move over. Obviously, I did just the opposite. I was going the speed limit, but trying to be cautious so I didn't attract attention to me and my malfunctioning headlight. I held my ground and made him wait for the perfect time to go around me. My last reference to why I feel this frustration toward my SA peers is as follows: Chris and I were leaving the grocery store on Friday. Chris walked OUT the ENTRANCE...dum dum dum! This older gentleman felt the need to comment to his wife, "that guy just walked out the entrance." It caused the couple to have to wait approximately 5 seconds before entering the grocery store. His wife proceeded to give him an approving nod, and Chris a disapproving one. Really!? Does that really warrant comment?

So blog followers, today I offer this advice. It is as much for the peace and content of our world, as it is for my mental health. Please show patience, kindness, and respect for your fellow man/woman! Before you blow your gasket over something petty, think about the severity of the situation. Does it really warrant comment, insults, yelling, or rudeness? Probably not!

On a lighter note--I truly enjoyed my long weekend!! Here are a few notes:
1. Big shout out to Chris, and his friend Richard, for placing in the local SABA bowling tournament at Bandera Super Bowl!
2. I found the Superbowl commercials very disappointing--except for the Volkswagen commercial with the kid dressed like Darth Vader (sp)! Hilarious! Please don't even get me started on the disaster that was The Black Eyed Peas or Christina A...Ridiculous!
3. Thank goodness the South Texas sunshine came back! It was getting a bit depressing around these parts!
Our house with snow!!

4. I highly recommend Chacho's chicken breast quesadilla on their whole grain tortillas. Delicious and very filling!
5. For some ungracious reason, I woke up at 5:45 am on Sunday morning. Though an early morning gym workout was great, I especially enjoyed the trip to Target for fake lemons, and my pancakes, that followed!
Okay, so now that you're updated on my life over the last few days, I'm calling my blog for the day COMPLETE!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

My cold weather family!

In the spirit of this brutally cold weather, I thought I would take a moment to introduce my big, Italian family. They live in Massachusetts, and somehow manage to brave this crazy, cold weather year after year. They do things like jumping into the Atlantic Ocean the day after Thanksgiving (Paul & Stephen), rooting for teams like the Celtics and Patriots (Go Spurs Go!), and say things like "Paaaahk the caaah in the yaad." So, for your viewing pleasure, here they are:

Here are a few funny stories and facts you should know:
1. Annmarie is my only girl cousin (besides my beautiful cousins-in-law and sweet Paige) on this side, and because she is amazing, she is my best friend! However, she is still very bitter that when I was two, I ate her lipstick!
2. Stephen and Lauren's turtle, Myrtle, is featured on their annual Christmas card, and is 23 years old (approximately).
3. Chris is currently my favorite cousin because he is the only one who has come to visit me in the last four years!
4. Paige is beautiful and so sweet! She is a fantastic dancer and has awesome parents!
5. Emily is super-smart, crazy cute, and also has great parents! She likes to sing "Grease Lightning" and wear bandannas and sunglasses.
6. I love my Aunts and Uncles! Uncle Vito used to take me for Chocolate Milk and donuts on Saturday mornings, when we lived in their basement apartment...thank you UV for making me an overweight child! :) I enjoyed every bite!
I could go on and on about the great memories I have, but that would make for a VERY long blog post. I miss these faces like crazy, and I cannot wait to visit them soon! Just remember, planes fly in both directions! AND, it will probably be warmer here than there...probably!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Cold Weather and Texans DO NOT Mix!!

Here's what cold weather does to Texans:
1. As soon as the temperature drops below 60 degrees we turn into whiny, inconsolable children who can't talk about anything except how cold it is.
2. Our skin gets all scaly and dry because we're not used to cold air, or the heater! Our noses get dry and we continue with #1 on the list.
3. If we get any moisture, combined with cold temperatures, and there is ANY ice or snow, we immediately shut down businesses, schools, etc, and stay inside like we're awaiting the Apocalypse!
4. We CANNOT drive! There will be at least a 30 minute delay driving to work because of wrecks and malfunctioning traffic lights.
5.The power companies conduct mandatory rolling blackouts because our generators can't handle the cold weather and heat required to keep the Texans from turning into icicles!
4. It makes us appreciate our 100 degree summers!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Weigh-In Day! Dum dum dummmm!

On January 4th, I started a weight loss competition at my local nutrition store. The ladies who own the store, and their helpers/employees are amazingly motivating people who truly care about their customers' health. I saw the advertisement for the challenge, and decided I wanted to participate. Knowing that I am such a cheapskate, I figured paying money to be a part of the challenge, then being forced to pay a dollar for every pound gained during the challenge, I would probably stick with it. So far, the first week I gained 1.5 lbs (my birthday week), then I lost 4 lbs, and promptly gained 2 lbs back. This week, I lost .5 lbs. So, where am I going with this? Today, I'd like to talk about the dreaded "Weigh-In Day!" Each week, I know its coming. I am fully aware that every Tuesday morning before work, I'm going to trot on over to the store and weigh-in. So how do I prepare for this excruciating task each week? I eat very well M-F, and not so great on Saturday and Sunday. Then, I drink TONS of water on Monday, hoping to flush away all the fat I consumed over the weekend! It usually doesn't work. Case in point--eating a bowl of chips and queso (with only some assistance from Chris) does not promote fat loss! Additionally, the Stromboli I made for dinner last night, although delicious, also does not promote fat loss. Therefore, each week I DREAD weigh-in day. If I could just figure out how to quit putting food in my mouth, I'd be all set! So, this week I am re-commiting to my challenge! I have 28 days left, and I want to win some $$$$! The store I go to for my nutritional guidance is called Don't Overlook Nutrition. It is located on Overlook Parkway, off of Hwy 281. As I mentioned the staff is fantastic, the shakes and supplements are very reasonably priced, and its nice to have a support system right down the street. I highly recommend that you stop in and try one of their shakes...Elvis and Orange Julius are my favorites! Visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dont-Overlook-Nutrition/121964691191628?v=wall&filter=1
Okay, wish me luck! Here's to a week of not stuffing my FACE and putting my REAR in gear!

Monday, January 31, 2011

I have a name Lyndsey!

On Saturday, at 2:30 pm, as I walked aimlessly through downtown SA looking for my car, I received an irritated phone call from Chris' brother, Greg. He announced that he "couldn't believe" that I hadn't talked about him yet in my blog, and that I called him "Chris' brother," on the one mention I did make of him. He actually said, "I have a name Lyndsey!" So, blog followers, today I introduce you to Greg, my oldest friend in the world (so I probably SHOULD have mentioned him by now), Chris' brother, boyfriend to Kierstin, MBA student at Texas State, and new SA resident!
Okay, so here are the top 10 things you need to know about Greg:

1. We've known each other for 12 years! We met in the 7th Grade in Life Management Skills. He was about 4 feet tall (slight exaggeration) and wore Carpenter Jeans from Old Navy, a braided belt, and plaid short sleeve shirts.
2. We went to Homecoming together our Freshman year of high school. After that, I had a crush on him for about 10 minutes...and then I met his brother! 
3. I take full credit for his #18 (I think) rank in high school, as he cheated off of me in every class we were in together, except math--I'm terrible at math. I also signed his mother's name on all of his progress reports, report cards, etc.
4.  He has a deviated septum (sp) so he's constantly blowing his nose and sounds like he has a cold. 
5. He's too lazy to cook, so he's skinny. I often find him at my house around dinner time...
6. He likes all sports, but LOVES basketball. There is no doubt that he'll have 5 kids, just enough for a basketball team.
7. He's afraid of heights. He knows that I HATE when people touch my neck, so he tries to, often!
8. Our family doesn't often like to take us out in public together, as we tend to embarrass each other and them!
9. He loves to watch movies, even chick-flicks.
10. He's a great friend, excellent boyfriend, stellar brother, wonderful son...I'm really trying to make up for my not mentioning him before this post. Can you tell?
And, as of this moment, he is on notice: anything you do going forward, is potentially blog-worthy material!! Be careful what you wish for Greggie!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Sleep 'til you're hungry, eat 'til you're sleepy. ~Author Unknown

Here it is blogosphere--my very first restaurant review! I've learned quite a bit tonight about being a food critic, and I'm so FULL!
1. Don't LOOK like a food critic. I kept catching the waiters'/waitresses' eyes all night and it made them all tense and nervous...and they kept calling me ma'am! Really!?
2. Don't try to review a restaurant before its' grand opening, regardless of  the fact that they've been open "informally" for 3weeks! They just use it as an excuse when something goes wrong, i.e. no appetizer plates and only 1 menu for 2 people.
3. Don't EVER be in a hurry at a new restaurant. Even if your appetizers arrive on-time, your food will take FOREVER!

So that leads me into my full discussion of our meal. At 6:30 pm, with our stomachs growling, Chris and I made the long 2 mile journey from our casa to the new hot spot in town. As we entered we were greeted warmly. The crowd was mostly 20 and 30 somethings. The hostess asked if we would be okay with sitting "in the cocktail area," which we agreed to because the place was packed. Upon seating us, she informed us that they were short on menus, so could we share? Of course we said yes, but come on, really? It took our waitress, who doubled as a bartendress, about 5 minutes to come to our table and offer us drinks. She brought us our water quickly, and re-filled it often. We started our meal with Shiner Bock Battered Onion Rings.
The onion rings were salty and delightful...the sauce that accompanied them was way too rich when combined with the onion rings. We opted for plain ole ketchup instead.

For our meals, Chris ordered the Jalapeno Cheeseburger, and I opted for the Monte Cristo--made with cornflake encrusted French toast, not deep fried, and served with raspberry preserves. Deeelish! We were very pleased with the taste and presentation of the food, though it took almost 30 minutes for them to deliver it. The only true disappointment was that they served my meal with these weird fry/chip things, and Chris' with more onion rings because they ran out of French fries. Again, the waitress pointed out that they weren't "officially" open for business yet...though they've been serving customers for 3-4 weeks now? On a side note, I caught a glimpse of several of their salads and they looked amazing.
Jalapeno Cheeseburger
Monte Cristo
Last, no meal (for us anyway) is complete without dessert! I let Chris pick this one because I knew he would LOVE the Pineapple Upside Down Cake...and he did! As did I. It was decadent and fantastic. It was served warm with ice cream, and came to our table very quickly. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this dish!
Pineapple Upside Down Cake (with a few bites missing!)


 So, what is the overall conclusion of this long-winded attempt at sounding like a sophisticated foodie? The food was delicious, the service was fair, and we will definitely go back...in about 2 months after they've worked out the kinks. We were told that the grand opening is February 4th, they'll start happy hour specials the week after, and they have plans for special drinks, etc. for Valentine's Day. We're looking forward to sitting out on their beautiful patio this summer and enjoying the weather.The owner says they have plans for live music and drink specials.
We give it 3 Stars! (Out of 5)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

First on my list...

I truly think that my calling in life is to be a food critic. I mean, if I'm going to be overweight because I love food so much, I might as well get some $$ and notoriety out of it, right? So, I've decided to use this blog as my beginner's guide to becoming a food critic...or really just an excuse to go out to eat and talk about it! I've identified my first victim (Firewater Grille), gathered my war party (Chris), and am going in for the kill (code for going for dinner) tomorrow night! Bahahahaha!

The first restaurant on my list is a new place just north of Stone Oak on Overlook Parkway, Firewater Grille. I've been inside once before. The ambiance is fantastic and the decorations are beautiful. Their main decorative feature is a water wall that changes colors. They have a great outdoor space and the owner and manager were extremely nice. Though we just stopped in for a quick drink before a Spurs game, we were pleased. But now comes the hard part, the deciding factor, the FOOD! Firewater Grille hasn't yet had their formal Grand Opening, so I'm bringing you this feature piece before anyone else! Stay tuned for the details...

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

These are a few of my favorite things!

So, let's make this quick and dirty! There are a few things in this world, besides Chris and The Linda, that I cannot live without. I'm sure I'll write about these things more than once!

Here's the list, in no particular order:

Chips and Queso! Once, I ate chips and queso for dinner 3 nights in a row! I know, I know...now YOU know why I gained 10 lbs when I moved to SA. I promise, this won't be the last time you have to read about food--particularly Mexican food. Yum!
Disclaimer: if you know me well, you know that I'm always on some kind of diet, usually unsuccessfully, because I love food and I love to EAT!


My girlfriends! Love these ladies! Again, I promise this won't be the last time you hear about them either!

Kalissa (UT Friend), Steph (High School and UT Friend)
Kierstin (High School & SA Friend--also dates Chris' brother)

Amanda (Grad School Friend and my voice of reason!)
 

 Books!!! Feel free to reply with anything you think I should read. I'm super-excited about the new book club I just joined. This month we're reading a book called "The Last Block in Harlem" and the author has agreed to do a book-chat via Skype with us in March!


Shopping! San Antonio has some world-class shopping like La Cantera Mall, Northstar Mall, home of the world's largest pair of cowboy boots, Fredericksburg, a charming town filled with great finds and delicious wine, and the San Marcos Outlets.

My New Blog! Follow me if you can, or just add me to your bookmarks if you can't follow (you have to have a certain account to be a follower). I can't wait to expand on my favorite things, my SA adventures, and just life in general!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The BF (Boyfriend and Best Friend!)

Good morning blog followers (so exciting to have "followers")! Today I'm continuing with my introductions. I present to you my boyfriend, Chris--Mox to my MA family, and Bruce or Watson to his friends. For almost ten years, I've been looking at this face, and I wouldn't have it any other way! Two years ago we moved to San Antonio, and about a year and a half ago, we bought our very own house. It was a big, blank canvas, but we're making it our own. Together we have two children (he hates it when I call them that!):
Peachy (Left) turns two in February, and Bailey (Right) turns five in February! My babies are getting so big! Peachy, actually is huge and she slobbers on everything. The picture was taken on Christmas Eve. She sat in the backseat and drooled all over Chris' brother's gift the whole way home! (Ha!) Bailey has more attitude than a teenager...sometimes I swear he's a cat! His Aunty lovingly refers to him as Bailey Bullet because he's as fast as a bullet. Okay, back to Chris...Although I hate to admit it (to his face) Chris is way smarter than me, and proves it everyday by his great work, his knowledge of crazy tax-related, governmental, political things, and his endless desire to continue learning. He spoils me every chance he gets, and I love it!! We met in high school. We were on the tennis team together. One day, we were playing tennis and all of a sudden, he made his friend leave the court. Ok, that's weird. Then, we sat down and he looked into my eyes (maybe a slight over-exaggeration) and asked me out. I promptly replied that I had to ask my mom! We'll be together 10 years in March, thanks Mom! We consider ourselves a yin and yang. I'm high-strung and a worrier. He's laid back and calm. Together, we work!

Monday, January 24, 2011

The Linda!

First on my list of introductions is my Mamacita! I chose to put her on my blog as my first "guest" for two reasons. First, she's my mother and she gave birth to me, so I felt it only right that I give her a big shout-out. I lovingly refer to her as "The Linda," much to her chagrin! Second, she's the only one who answered the phone when I called to ask permission to post her picture on my blog! :) My mother, a Massachusetts native, moved to Texas in 1983, after she married my Dad--Hutch, in a cold snowy wedding ceremony in MA. Three years later, there I was! We lived in South Texas my entire life, and I have fond memories of the flat landscape, large bugs, and humidity that made up my childhood. The Linda still lives in Beeville, works for the State, and takes care of my beautiful grandmother--Meme. More on Meme to come. Five years ago, my dad died of a rare blood disorder called A plastic Anemia. My mother was, and is, a rock for our family! She is a beautiful woman, with a funny accent, a great sense of humor, and she can cook like a pro. She can turn any conversation into a "why aren't you married yet" guilt trip...but secretly I love it! She's the type of mom who shows up at my house with a grocery bag full of stuff to make us dinner, still tries to give me gas money (even though I've been gainfully employed for 2.5 years now), and babysits my dog for 3 weeks at a time!

Welcome to Lyndsey's world!

Welcome to my first-ever blog post! I recently realized that I am WAY behind the times when it comes to social media, so today I created my very own blog and Twitter accounts...I know, I'm so darn modern its scary! Anyway, I thought I'd take the next few posts and introduce you to my life, the people, places, and things that are important to me. I'm glad you stopped by and I hope you enjoy what I have to say.