365 Challenge - Week 3

So, it's only week #3 and I'm already running late on posting this weekly post! This is my mentally kicking myself into gear to get week #4 posted on time.

January 17 - On Sunday, I drove down to The Woodlands to spend some time with my family. One of the positives about living in College Station is having my family so close by. Catherine and I met up for dinner at our favorite Mexican food place - Escalantes (you should have seen the excitement when they opened their Woodlands location!). We enjoyed margaritas and caught up on the past few weeks.

January 18 - I had Monday off of work because it was Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Tucker and I got to relax and spent time with my parents. He whole heatedly thinks that he rules the roost at my parents house, which he likes to show us by sitting in my dad's recliner.

January 19 - On Tuesday, a friend invited me to go to the Aggie men's basketball game vs LSU. It was supposed to be a BIG game and it was the first day of classes for the spring semester, so students came out in force! I haven't seen that many students at a basketball game in a LONG time! There were more students than there were seats, so there were hundreds of them standing. It was loud! Thankfully, the Aggies beat LSU handily!

January 20 - When I started this project I told myself that I needed to limit myself to 1 photo of Tucker per week max. It looks like it was a Tucker-heavy week this go-round. This is just a reminder that I need to take more photos throughout the day. Anyways, check out this little snuggle bug. He likes to lay in my lap as I watch TV and look out the blinds to spy on the neighbor pups.

January 21 - Thursday was Kellie's birthday! I was  happy to be able to celebrate with her, her mother, and some friends with dinner at Cafe Eccell. Clearly I didn't take this one (I guess that's technically cheating), but it was a great pic, so I chose it.

January 22 - I was a slacker on Friday and didn't take a single photo! We celebrated Kellie's birthday at work and I made mini cupcakes that were yellow cake with chocolate frosting. So... just imagine a photo of that below. :)

January 23 -  I'm making up for my lack of pictures on Friday by including two for Saturday. I got to spend time with two of my favorite people - my mom and my best friend since 2nd grade, Kristin. In the morning, my mom accompanied me to the Apple store to get my computer checked out (technology hates me). After 2 hours of computer talk, I told my mom I was in dire need of a mimosa, so we grabbed brunch at Fielding's Wood Grill. We indulged in flights of mimosas and had a delicious meal. I always love spending time with my mom, so it was a great morning.

After brunch, I met up with Kristin to go check out the venue she'd chosen for her wedding. We tasted some cakes and appetizers from the caterer and enjoyed a glass of wine (it really was a good day!). The venue was stunning and I can't wait to see it all done up for the wedding in October. I also got a sneak peak of the beautiful bride in her wedding dress, but for obvious reasons I can't share that photo. You'll all  have to wait to see until October.

365 Challenge - Week 2

January 10 - I kicked off the second week of 2016 in Trinity, TX where I was serving as a namesake for Howdy Camp 2016! It was a wonderful weekend and I loved getting to know the student leaders and my campers throughout the weekend.

January 11 - The three days of Howdy Camp went by so quickly! I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. I loved getting to know my counselors and campers better. I took this pretty awesome selfie right before I left.

January 12 - Tuesday was a nice quiet evening in with Tucker. The past year he's really taken to curling up in my lap, especially when I'm trying to get work done on my computer. It's a big change from a few years ago when he couldn't cuddle even if you forced him.

January 13 - Wednesday evening, Kellie and I worked Vet Camp, where we got to welcome new Aggie veterans to the Aggie family. While there, I got to visit with two of my Howdy Camp students that are also Aggie veterans!

January 14 - The beginning of the semester always means tabling for different student groups. There's always so much excitement at the beginning of the semester with new students. It's pretty fun!

January 15 - On Friday, Kellie and I enjoyed the beautiful weather while headed to some meetings on campus. It was a great Friday. Unfortunately, the good weather didn't last very long.

January 16 - On Saturday morning Brooke, Kellie, and I had brunch at Cafe Eccell and enjoyed their mimosa bar! It was delish and a great start to the weekend.

Week 2 was a pretty great one! I'm looking forward to the ones still to come! :) 

365 Challenge - Week 1

It's here... 2016! A week has already passed and I'm still in disbelief that 2015 is over. Each year just seems to go by faster and faster. 2015 was a fun and exciting year and I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for me, my friends, and my family. To help document this upcoming year and treasure memories I'm going to do a 365 day photo challenge. I'll take a photo every day of the year and share them here so I'll be able to look back at all the reasons I have to be thankful come December 31, 2016!

So, here goes... Week #1 (technically longer than a week since I included January 1-9)...


January 1 - I had the pleasure of spending New Years Eve with this beautiful girl the past two years. She is beautiful inside and out and is a wonderful mother. I am thankful for Nicole and her genuine friendship. I look forward to her guidance and advice when I have children in the future.

January 2 - About two years ago I started gathering shirts from my years in Fish Camp to have a t-shirt quilt made. I've been procrastinating and procrastinating, but at the urging of my mother (I'm so thankful she puts up with me) I finally drug out all of my t-shirts to get them ready for quilt making. These shirts mean so much to be because they symbolize the wonderful times I had in Fish Camp, how much I developed, and how many wonderful people I met. I'll be dropping them off soon and cannot wait to see the finished product!

January 3 - On Sunday, I spent the evening at Kellie's house. After finishing our chicken enchiladas (yay for new recipes!), we FINALLY broke into the macarons that we purchased in New York. Thankfully they freeze well. We thoroughly enjoyed them, however, the "Cheeto" flavored one was a little odd! I don't know if we'll be recreating that concoction.

January 4 - The first Monday of the new year and back to work! Thankfully I had the motivation to clean up my desk before I left for the holiday break so I came back to a nice, clean working area to settle back into. 2016, here we go!

January 5 - On Tuesday, Kellie , her mother, and I went to see Sherlock: The Abominable Bride. While the show typically plays on TV, it was a special and it was really great! Now Sherlock fans just have to wait another two or so year until the next 3-episode season comes out. Boo!

January 6 - On Wednesday, I'd made it to the half-way mark through the first week of work. It won't get too crazy in College Station until students return for classes on January 19. Best part about that means that roads and restaurants are generally empty. After work, I had a glass of wine while baking goodies for work's January birthday celebration. I even got to break out these two cookbooks that I purchased on my trip to New York in October. I made 'Blondies with Cream Cheese Swirl and Pecans' from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook and 'Triple Chocolate Brownies' from the Fat Witch Brownies cookbook.

January 7 - On Thursday, I stopped by to see the Camp Smith counselors during their prep for Howdy Camp. I enjoyed watching them practice some of their skits that they'll perform for the transfer students to help explain resources at Texas A&M. The skit pictured below was called "singing mouths," where the counselors taped eyes to their chins and sang animatedly. It was hilarious!

January 8 - So, this one is kind of cheating since I didn't take it myself. After 2 and a half years I asked our staff photographer (who does an AMAZING job!) to retake my headshot. In exchange I'll be taking him baked goods next week.

January 9 -  On Saturday morning, I woke up bright and early for Howdy Camp send-off. In addition to working with the extended orientation program through my role at work, this year I was selected to serve as a namesake for one of the two camps. I am so looking forward to getting to know these students over the next three days and welcome them to the Aggie Network!

Fingers crossed week #2 of 2016 is just eventful as week #1!