Guru Vandana Utsava

Don't worry, I can't pronounce it either!

One of our students, Nikitha, invited Krissy and I to a Guru Vandana Utsava ceremony this year. It is a part of the Hindu Education Foundation and it honors teachers as people who provide the light of knowledge for their children. It was a really cool thing to be a part of since American society doesn't exactly regard the teaching profession as an honorable job very often. Teachers are extremely important in the Hindu culture and they treated us as such. We got to watch the kids sing and dance between getting our names called to go up on stage to be honored. Afterward we had a traditional Indian dinner (delish) and Nikitha read our nomination letters that she had written to her Sunday school teachers about us. Too cute!

Nikitha looked adorable!

Her two favorite teachers! (Why do I look so dang tall?! I'm only 5'6"!!)



Animals, animals, animals!!!

I am not a needy or clingy person. Hugs are reserved for specials people and special occasions.

How in the world did I end up with not one, but two, NEEDY pets. Maybe someone is trying to teach me some sort of lesson... or punish me. :)

Tonight, I decided to share a few pictures of how I 'relax' and watch TV when I'm here with the furry beasts all by myself:

Mat, the slug, who's approach the cuddling is laying on top of you with all of his weight. Goober.

Blanca is a little more refined. She lays next to you and pretends not to care that she really wants to be next to you. She took his place as soon as Mat hopped off to stretch. Love her!

 Goodnight!!



Crap! I look like an idiot!!

So I signed up for an interval training class through USAFit Galveston a while back. It's a 12 week class that meets every Monday and Wednesday to run hills (aka the parking garage) and intervals designed to increase your overall speed. We're on week 9 and I'm seeing results! I want to sign up for the summer program as well. Anyway, tonight was Crazy Sock night. It's got rescheduled from last Monday when there was too much lightening to run. I have quite the collection of 'crazy' socks from all of the sock days we have at school. I decided to wear my argyle Halloween ones since they are the tallest and I LOVE argyle. I looked like this...

and paired my lovely socks with my running skirt and new bright orange top from Old Navy. (Side note: these tops are awesome for "fat"days. Just sayin'.)

Long story short, I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN CRAZY SOCKS! Figures everyone would forget but me. I looked like an idiot compared to everyone else. Good thing I don't really care and had a great hill run anyway. :) The socks were comfy and didn't rub any blisters thank goodness! 

All of the "crazy" days at school have prepared me to go out in public looking odd. Like going to Target and HEB after Crazy Hair Day - frizzed out all over and about three different colors!

Hopping Back on the Blog Wagon

Hey! I haven't blogged in a LONG time. Life gets busy once you get married, buy a house, have two pets, increase your commute from 10 min. a day to 90 min a day, and start taking running classes! (The sad part is that there are millions of people - mainly those with kids - that do WAY more than this everyday and still manage to survive. I need way to much personal time and sleep!

On to more interesting things... Pinterest Projects! Pinterest is the only website that makes me want to bake, binge eat, be crafty, and go on a diet all at the same time! Gee wiz!

I found this crazy brownie concoction and knew I HAD to make it for the girls at school last Friday. Here are some pics and the basic directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.

Get some break apart chocolate chip cookie dough and put 1-2 in the bottom of each muffin cup.

(If you put the dough - in the cup - in the oven for about a minute, it's easier to smoosh into the bottom of each cup.)

Next, put an Oreo, Reeses cup, Snickers, Almond Joy, etc. on top of the cookie dough. You can use any candy that you like. I think that the Oreos and Reeses are the best!

Finally, use boxed brownie mix (yes, mix it up like normal brownies) and put it on the top.

Bake for 18 - 20 minutes depending on your oven. They will look like normal brownies on the top.

Suggestions based on what I did:

-use a brownie mix without chocolate chips in it (too hard to make it spread out on top before baking)

 - use foil liners (much easier to get out of the pan after baking)

- it's ok that they will deflate afterward (the candy on the inside is smooshy)

THEY ARE AMAZING! The perfect thing when you need a sugar fix, one is enough!! No need to sit around eating an entire bag of cookies!

I'm Back!!

To keep it short, I haven't blogged in a REALLY long time and there's a lot to catch up on. I'll go back in the next few blogs to break it up and not make them so boring. :) Bring on 2012!!

Bridal Portraits

I took bridal portraits yesterday! It was so much fun! We went to Rice University to take the traditional pictures that would make my parents happy. This wasn't the first time I'd had my nails or hair done but I treated myself to getting my makeup done for the portaits and wedding. I went on the referral of my venue and went with My Makeup Rocks. Teresa did an amazing job! You can't see much of the hair in the pics but I'm sure you will in the bridals when I'm allowed to share those. (No, I'm not sharing any in case Nathan decides to check the blog.)

Here's the before...

...and the after! I wish I looked this flawless everyday! (Sorry about the flash!)

Creepy Uncle Moe

I got to pick up my wedding dress today! SO EXCITING! If you had your dress altared at Sew-It-Seams then you've met Ana. She cracks me up! I was told that after I put on my dress today that I would get some dress ettiquite lessons. Do-what?! I'm going to share a few of my favorites. :)

(She also thought Krissy was my younger sister! LMAO! I didn't have the heart to correct her!)

~

"Everyone thinks its funny when the guy drinks too much and ends up in the bed of a truck, drunk. Girls don't look good drunk and no one thinks it funny, so don't do it."

"There's always a creepy Uncle Moe who wants to cop a feel. Hold onto your wine glass for dear life to block him."

"You're going to need to pee at some point during the night. You'll need to get a plastic bag and a shower curtain."

"You'll need to be potty trained."

"You're boobs will be in your throat if I do that."

"I have made your butt look fantastic. Wow, I'm good."

"It's going to be tight. Beauty hurts."

~

I spent the whole time laughing. 36 days and counting! CRAZY!