God Bless America

Seriously, I am so thankful for America and Texas where you can pull into a whataburger and casually wait in line behind a man in spurs. Oh the little things. I'm also thankful for wifi and the 3G network making these plane layovers and 2 hour drive home not miserable.
Obviously it was an epic failure on updating you daily with a picture, and frankly it was a fail on the pictures in general. I didn't get so artsy fartsy as I had originally dreamed and ended up just documenting my trip like a normal tourista. But have no fear I will let you see them some day soon, not tonight though, I'm exaughsted and want nothing more than a puring cat, my cozy bed, drinking tap water, and seeing the people I love. (besides my parents we are all good on the family time haha).
Anyways I wanted to point out to everyone something that's absolutely obvious but that is so easy to ignored. BE THANKFUL. By getting out of my little bubble of a community, and the country I was put into seeing some of the wealthiest people I've ever seen, and some of the absolute poorest. FACT: in Mexico the average wage is $5 a DAY not an hour, a day a whole 24 hours of scrubbing floors, serving people, driving taxis etc for 5 dollars (or 55 pesos). I will be the first to admit I'm one of the most simple minded people ever, I'm spoiled, I'm an only child and can't wrap my head around not getting my way, I've been given everything I've ever needed in life and then some, and most importantly I have absolutely no idea what the value of the dollar is because to some people that's hours worth of work. It's a terrifying realization, but I think its supposed to be because with out being scared silly we would never be grateful. So give thanks, even though it's not the holidays, or some other important time it should be a daily occurrence for all of us.
Over & Out
Pictures to come

Please fasten your seat belts

Blog nation,
I am boarding my flight to the one, the only Cabo San Lucas, Mex. I have taken on the task of at taking a picture a day that will make your head spin. Hopefully I get some wifi down there so I can do this, I love you all pray for my safety because let's be honest Mexico is getting more & more sketchy these days.
Adios!

Secrets Secrets Are No Fun

So, I've been keeping to myself about something in my life that's been sucking up a lot of my time lately. I've been wanting to tell you all about it blognation & share my kick a** photos with you but the thing is it's top secret. Ok now I get you are thinking I'm acting like I'm a 5 year old little girl with her "no boys allowed" talk, but really, it is. Anyways what I can tell you is this: in April I will be in Coronation in Corpus Christi, TX (aka my hood). Yeah, you don't know what that is, but have no fear because I am giving you this link that kind of explains it (seriously it's really hard to explain yet again 5 year old girl thing) 
http://www.caller.com/news/2008/apr/27/right-there/
and here are some pictures since they are worth 1,000 words 
http://www.caller.com/photos/galleries/2009/apr/30/backstage-coronation/

Ok, so now that you are filled in on that whole thing (hopefully) I went to a "tea" the other day. A tea. I realize you probably don't know me very much but I am NOT a tea kind of girl, like, at all. So I was not too thrilled to come back from my days at the ranch all for a "TEA", but thank god I brought my camera because the house made me melt. Hey, they didn't say "high society" for nothin'. 

 it's winter people I'm sorry, but CC can't be pretty all the time

 the tea was for coronation & they had some old crowns & things there

and the poodle just looked to regal to pass up

AND the owner of the house was jewish. I'm Christian and couldn't really tell you anything about the religion, but I thought it was cool and refreshing to actually see a house without a Christmas tree and see how they celebrate. Her decorations were AMAZING

 I hope you all had a very magical New Years. I've never really done anything all too exciting on New Years Eve but this year Nick & I went to a debutant party. It was so fun and over the top I absolutely loved every minute of it & felt FANTASTIC the next day.

Coming Up Next: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico! 

Catching Up

Okay blognation I hope you all had a very merry christmas "holiday" if you don't celebrate. I sure did & wanted to let you in on my festivities
On Christmas Eve we always go over to my Grandma's and spend time with dad's side of the family. With his two brothers & their kids & their kid's kids it gets a little crazy, but I love it!
Meet Merik (not really positive that's the correct spelling): My cousins Courtney's second child and let me tell ya I could take pictures of him ALL DAY. This boy knows how to work it.

these pictures were taken back to back he's hilarious! 

It was a good Christmas Eve. 

My Uncle got these lazer show things, my Aunt got a pearl pistol, Riley got this frog outfit. (and these gifts seriously are right up my crazy family's alley!)

Then I fell fast asleep & it was Christmas! Favorite presents: new vera bradley wallet with a print not even in stores yet, i pad case, photojojo things, post secret book, camera strap with my monogrammed name in it, glee season 1, greys seasons 1 & 2, custom reeboks, & my uggs of course.
My kitties came & joined in the fun, little did they know I had gotten them a Christmas outfit for the event *insert two very unhappy gatos here.*

No cats were harmed during our Christmas fun. 

Then we got down to it and tore into paper, fought ribbons and wrappings, and cut up taped boxes. My daddy got his Kindle & a lot of clothes that he was determined all went together nicely (they didn't) and mom's favorite present was her new gold watch band. She's had her watch for as long as I've been alive (hint: 20 years) and so I guess you could say it was a little worn down since she wears it every day & night. 

It was the best Christmas to date I think. 

(but I think I say that every year)

Then it was off to the ranch for the day. My Uncle Ricky & cousin Mauri were there to get their hunt on and they sure did! Driving in we saw this awesome hawk, I pulled an illegal U to go back take a picture

Photo credit to Nick Fordyce, Driving credit to me. 

Then Dad Nick & I drove around the ranch being careful not to "scare away the deer" and we came upon mister armadillo! Dad tried to catch him, not as easy as it sounds. Then the boys checked out a feeder & decided it was only the best plan to set it off and they probably could have caused some serious injury to themselves but they thought it was hilarious after it finished shooting corn at them. 

Also my cousin was successful in the hunting department! **If you are the faint of heart or you are some animal activist against swatting flys I apologize please skip over this texas nonsense* 

I absolutely love being home & everywhere in between. I can't get enough of cozying up to a fire and filling my head with nonsense tv shows on DVD. Hope you all are doing the same. 

On the night before Christmas [eve]

I can not believe it is almost the most wonderful time of year yet again, and as I have now officially finished up my final Christmas shopping with Nick & his little sister Linsey I must heave a huge sigh of relief to getting all that Christmas shopping out of the way. Now it's time to smile & sit by the Christmas tree, put ridiculous bows on my cats, bake some sort of Christmas sweet & enjoy the holiday magic! 
Tomorrow I will be off to my Grandma's to celebrate with dad's side of the family of awkwardness, dogs, cousins & kids. I love it all, the terrible food, the 'back in the good old days stories', the way to small ugly sweater gift, bring it on! Can't wait for everything, but for now I think I just want to say:

Merry Christmas 

(Nick & my super cheesy Christmas picture)

(She looks terrified, but it's love I swear) 

Home Sweet Home

I'm Finally Home!! 

I drove home from San Antonio this morning and could not have stumbled upon the prettiest day to come back home to. The second I got home I grabbed my camera & nothing else to take pictures of my arrival. 

First I was greeted by my one and only, Flo. 

She is the absolute best & I've missed her A LOT. She was not very happy to see me because one, I abandoned her and two, she was out of food, and as you will see later my kitty is all about the food. 

Then I had to smile because the whole house was done up in none other than my mom's over the top Christmas decor. 

After that I couldn't wait any longer I had to go outside because it was just such a darn good day! I might complain about how ghetto Corpus is and that my high school wasn't all that great, but my home, now that's a different story. 

and Flo came out & joined me & we watched boats motor by because I missed boats, I missed water, I missed the sunshine, and I missed all the smells! 

 I'm so glad to be home :) I'm now laying on the couch watching all the TV I want with my christmas tree (it should be our main christmas tree I swear it's the best one).

Until next time Blog Nation