Is This My Chance?

To finally become...Elle Woods?!! This would be so much easier than going to law school!

(They would do a dub for the singing parts for me, right?)

Tribute?

My dad took this video of my brother "Tebowing" onstage at his SMU graduation. The video begins as he's just approaching the stage. Pony Pride. 

Pony Graduation 2011

He did it! Lil Bro graduated from SMU last weekend and it was quite a celebration! Both sides of the family made it out to Dallas for the festivities and Dad and BestMomEver were wonderful hosts.

Friday night we had dinner at Sevy's with the whole family and a few special friends...including, Party Paulette's greatest idea EVER.

Yes, those are GIANT cutouts of my brother's face, posted on sticks. And yes, we took them into the actual graduation ceremony. (We're that family, it's totally fine.)

Dad gave a rousing, heartfelt toast

Which Lil Bro, of course, thoroughly enjoyed

And then we took a lot of pictures, because, we are a [cue Zoolander voice] really really ridiculously good looking family

Saturday was the actual ceremony at Moody Coliseum. It is AMAZING how much the campus has changed in the short (gulp) three and half years since I had my graduation there. 

We were seated slightly to the left of and behind the stage, so all of Lil Bro's fellow graduates (and the faculty....) had a full view of his...uh...face(s).

Pony Up!

Tender

 Me, with the three Russells

We're all so proud of you Bubba, congratulations!!

The Weight of It All

A new study conclusively shows that obese individuals, women in particular, make thousands of dollars less each year, than their normal weight counterparts. 

http://health.msn.com/healthy-living/obesity-linked-to-lower-paychecks-3

How many more studies, how much more evidence, how much more INCONVENIENCE is it going to take for Americans to realize they need to get up, get moving, and stop shoveling food into their mouths?!

Month of Mom

BestMomEver has pretty much claimed the month of December: the 3rd is her and my dad's wedding anniversary, the 7th is her birthday (times two because of the twin thing) and of course, Christmas rounds out the month. You may think she would get the short end of the stick with all the "combined" presents....um, no. 

However, now that I live just a few short miles from BME, I get to enjoy certain perks that go along with her month-long domination!

As expected, we started her bday with a 6:30am plyometrics class; I told the instructor it was BME's bday, so we did everything in a set of 50 (no, BME isn't 50, but the class would've never ended if we did reps for her REAL age! haha)

she really likes the "sorority arm" pose

Then I went to work while mi madre spent the afternoon eating, drinking, and chatting with friends at her tennis luncheon at the Park Hyatt #roughlife

But the grand finale was still to come. Daddy treated us to a wonderful afternoon at the Resort Spa....a massage, champagne, and other treats? Yes, please!!

so.freaking.good

And to top it all off, I presented BME with her final birthday/pre-Christmas present from the family:

The children (me, Lil Bro, and our two cousins) are taking the Twins to Disney's California Adventure for their birthdays/Christmas.

You have no idea how excited they are.

After Turkey Day, But Before Christmas...

...Comes Nordstom's 10 points per dollar event! I know this sounds dumb, but, it seriously is another holiday for me. Last night, BestMomEver and I brought Grandma to Nordy's UTC and basically got her entire Christmas list done for her, all while racking up some serious points that will manifest themselves as Nordy Notes in the near future :).

On my Wish List was....

(norstrom.com)  

 

 Marc Jacobs original scent...I've been out of perfume for a month and finally found a new favorite!

(norstrom.com)  

 

 Mixed Media Gold Bangles...I've been really into mixing and stacking lately, but I'm one big set away from really pulling off the look that I want...ta da!

And then I picked up a few things for myself, so I could get points too!

(norstrom.com)  

 

 Laura Mercier Face Portfolio....it has great neutrals AND comes with brushes, for UNDER $100!

(norstrom.com)  

 

I have this Bellatrix blouse in white so when I found it on sale for $39 in the floral, I promptly snatched it up!

And these beauties are still on my "Lust" list...they didn't have my size (but they had BME's size, so she bought them, darn our different sized feet!) so I have a very nice Nordy's sales person hunting them down for me :).

Tory Burch "Blaire" Boot

(norstrom.com)

It was a nice break in the week: a little vino, some yummy appetizers, and lots of fun new things to take home!

Thankful.

So I'm a little bit past Thanksgiving, and I missed documenting most of the Fall, but here's a fun photo montage that shows just a few of the many reasons I consider myself so blessed!

 Finding friends in San Diego that share my love for pumpkin carving (and the Chargers!)

 A mother who lets me turn her kitchen upside down for these fabulous cupcakes (and a patient puppy who just wants to be part of it all!)

A healthy body that I can push to the limit at Turkey Day bootcamp 

(2 HOURS!!)

 

Funny family members that make the holidays that much more enjoyable

And maybe most of all....the beauty of a California sunset!

Perfectly Proposed

There aren't many words that can explain or express all of the joy and excitement behind the engagement of my very best friend....these two trace their relationship back to high school, over 10 years ago! It's been quite a journey, but I think most people who know them would agree the question has been "when" not "if" these two would end up together. I love them both so much and cannot wait for the fun festivities to get under way!

The sign the groom's mother had made

Showing off the bling after the best "run" they will probably ever have!

 

Realizing the house is full of family and friends! 

The bride-to-be with her mom

Listening to Craig's Dad's toast

High school friends reunited to celebrate!

The Power of Decisions

Oops!

Maybe if Corso had picked SMU and not thrown the megaphone, he wouldn't have committed his little "Faux-paus"

\

But, SMU was on College Gameday!!!

Crave.

Sometimes, you just have to indulge.

Country Wedding

"Mom, I gotta go, we're at the wedding."....."Yes, there is a barn, I TOLD you there would be."

I expected nothing less for the nuptials of this dear pledge sister; I flew to Texas for my second trip in October to see her be married to her wonderful fiance, and to have an amazing reunion with some of my most favorite people in the world. The bride was stunning, the scenery was breathtaking, and the dance floor was hoppin'....and it all went down in a barn!

The barn.

The transportation.

The "restrooms".

Mr. & Mrs.

(Part of) The crew.

 The scenery.

The result of trying to take pictures without me.

The decor.

The jist.

Lone Star Lovin'

I moved, right? This month, it really didn't feel like it, considering I'll have spent about two weeks in Texas by the end of October. But don't worry, I'm definitely not complaining. Time with family & friends, a rousing SMU win, free champagne courtesy of friends in high places, and brisket enchiladas make me a very happy girl. 

But my last visit got even better when I met the new love of my life:

This adorable little man is going to be quite the heart breaker one day....

And while I was at smoo I picked up a little something to help me rep the ponies while in Cali...

And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't UBER excited to jump on a plane back to Dtown tomorrow.

Bubbly + besties + partying in a barn = best.wedding.ever?

I'll let you know!

Motivation