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!

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!