Bag Envy...

I have been in love with Kelly Moore Clark's camera bags for a while. And like the good Dave Ramsey follower that I am (and the fact that my husband would kill me...) I hadn't just blown my wad and ordered on for myself. Instead, I had it on my Christmas list.

I had made my list and checked it twice. The only question was which color I was going to get. And then, a few weeks ago Kelly did a Twitter give away. I annoyed my handful of followers with the maximum 5 tweets of her fabulous giveaway knowing full well it was a lost cause. Do you know how many Pioneer Woman giveaways I have entered?? Don't you think you would know if I had one by now?? Exactly.

So I twittered my little heart away and then...the next day, a little after noon, my heart beat right out of my chest. I received an e-mail that said, "Direct Message from Kelly Moore Clark: CONGRATULATIONS Tiffany! You won a Kelly Moore Bag!"

"Well, color me happy! There's a sofa in here for two!"

I had a tough time choosing because they are all gorgeous, but I finally made my decision. And look what came yesterday....I LOVE IT! This picture doesn't even do it justice because I took it with my iphone. So add one to your Christmas list! You can't go wrong! The JuJu bag...I Die.

Thank you, Kelly!!

Coming Home...

I have no words. Except...You have to. 6 minutes well worth your time.

My other 2 words are thank you. Thank you to the women and men that serve our great country and their families for a service and sacrifice that I simply cannot comprehend. But know that I do appreciate it. I'm so thankful.

I can't make this any bigger, so if you want to see it bigger click here.

Coming Home from Ryan Southwell on Vimeo.

These Streets Will Make You Feel Brand New...Big Lights Will Inspire You...

Let's hear it for NEW YORK!

Dave and I just got back from a fabulous trip to New York City. Dave's sister lives in the City and he had never been so we decided a fall trip was in order. I hadn't been back to the city since my sister moved a year and a half ago and I had been going through serious withdrawals! I was so excited to visit my sister in law, Kate, and show Dave all that NYC had to offer. This post is a complete photo overload but it's my blog :) so I want to document it while I can still remember it! ha!

On our tourist trip we: ate great food, saw Promises, Promises on Broadway, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, went to Wall Street, Ground Zero, St. Paul's Chapel, went on a sunset cruise on the Hudson, went to Yankee Stadium and spread Texas Ranger good karma, Grand Central Station, Central Park, Magnolia Bakery, NYU, Top of the Rock, the Flat Iron Building....I can't even think of it all right now. Basically everything touristy you can think of. Dave has now been to NYC! And I even got to do things I hadn't done before. It was fabulous, fabulous and here is a little glimpse into our vacation....

This is the Gramercy area near Kate's apartment...I loved the Farmer's Markets! (This FM was in Union Square)

I could have spent all day reading the notes and drawings sent to the firefighters after 9/11. I loved how they were displayed in St. Paul's Chapel

We had perfect weather! I had never walked the Brooklyn Bridge before so that was fun!

We saved Central Park for Sunday because it was forecasted to be a beautiful day. Boy were they right! It was close to 70 and sunny. No jackets needed. That's the first time that has EVER happened to me in NYC. I loved going this time of year.

We decided to take a few pictures in the Park and when I asked Dave to sit down he thought he was super funny man. Little did he know Kate was taking pictures of his antics.

We heard about his desire for a "street dog" for 2 days so thankfully he finally got his wish!

Ahhh..Magnolia. It was decorated so cute for Halloween! And they had cupcakes for Breast Cancer Awareness month!

Probably my favorite activity was our booze cruise sunset sail on the Hudson. Gorgeous views, great company, fantastic weather and generous pours of champagne!
We spent our last day in Rockefeller Center and going to the "Top of the Rock" to see the city. I love you New York! Can't wait to come back!

Kate, thank you for being an amazing hostess and tour guide! Love you!

Live From New York...

Have a great weekend!

How Could I Allow This?

How on earth have I allowed myself to get to day 13 of Breast Cancer Awareness month without you all hearing so much as a peep out of me? It's unlike me and frankly, it's unacceptable! But good news....I have 18 days to make up for it! :)

I kid...kind of. I have been going for my nightly walks and enjoying this gorgeous weather we are having and I have been really reflecting on the 3-Day walk I did last year. Man it was a commitment. Weekends spent walking 36 miles, weeknights spent fitting in 5-6 mile walks when I got home from work and then willing my legs to go 60 miles November 6-8th, 2010.

Boy am I glad I did! It is still the most rewarding experience of my life. Crossing that finish line alongside my mother, who only 4 years before that finish line was in the middle of chemotherapy and. Wow. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. I was able to be on the end of that blessing and experience that joy and honor with her, my sister and her best friend Coleen. I'm so thankful! So I have spent some of walks praying for those currently battling breast cancer. Their families who are broken hearted watching their mother, sister, daughter, friend, grandmother...fight. Keep fighting....I promise I'll keep walking!

Before the 3-Day we had always participated in the Austin Race For the Cure...and we're back!! We are always so blessed and humbled by the friends and family that come walk with us. This was our team of over FIFTY people in 2008! All walking and raising funds to find a cure.


I've said it before but I could NEVER say it enough....Thank you. Thank you for continually supporting my mother, our family, and the many (too many) women (and men) who are fighting this disease. SO, join us on Sunday, November 7th, 2010 in Austin, TX to Race for the Cure!! Team Zsa Zsa would LOVE to have you. :)

O Happy Day!

I am so not perfect. I don't have a perfect life, a perfect marriage, a perfect dog, the perfect body. I am so, so thankful that for some reason, a few of you read this blog everyday. I have this tiny, minuscule portion of the Internet that I've devoted to rambling about my life as if any of you really care. My friends talked me into this blog as a place for storytelling and a 3 minute diversion from their workday so I obliged. I never really dreamed anyone other than my close friends and family might stumble upon it.

I've had a few "Debbie Downer" moments but for the most part, I put my best foot forward. If David and I have an argument there really is no reason to bring you all into it. In fact, there is no reason to. It's between us and God and that's the way it will stay. But, I also never intend to put on the perception that my life is perfect. I have struggles, I have insecurities and I have bad days. But the reality is that I am saved, I'm forgiven, and I have a LOT to be thankful for!

This weekend I was driving and I just got this smile on my face and the urge to praise God! I hadn't had anything amazing happen to me (well, I really have, just not amazing on the World's scale of amazing) and I got to thinking about all of the wonderful blessings I receive each day. And how good life really is. It's the little things, everyday that make me so very blessed and so thankful. SO, I wanted to share a few of my everyday blessings and praises. And I would LOVE to hear about some of the things you are thankful for, blessed by, and reasons you are praising God today! Here are just a few of the things God brought to the forefront of my mind this weekend....

My mom was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer FIVE years ago at the end of September...praise God she is cancer free today!

I won a Kelly Moore Bag from her twitter giveaway! I never win anything!

Dave, Rookie and I took our little family pictures this weekend. I want kids. I want a growing family, but I just had to stop and look at how blessed I am by these 2. I'm so thankful that God has given us this time together to grow in our marriage and our love for one another.

I got to spend 2.5 hours talking and watching baseball with my nana and papa yesterday. What a gift it is to have them living so close. I love them more than anything!

I get to meet my favorite babies and baby-mamma's for a patio lunch today!

THE WEATHER! Oh my word...can this season stay forever?

Jesus. I never have to do any of this life on my own.

My cutie dog who gets his hair cut and thinks he's the cat's meow!

My home. I hate to clean, I hate to spend my Friday night's at home waiting on a "siding guy" to come give us a quote on replacing some of our wood siding and I hate spending vacation money on new A/C units. But oh how I love my home. Thank you, God that you've allowed us this home to keep up.

A free weekend. The joy of a weekend with no traveling. It is so freeing to actually do laundry, do housework, paint my nails and toe nails, watch football and baseball (even if the Rangers lost....TWICE.) and just be.

My family. I am eternally grateful for the love, support and friendship I have in my family. Not sure how I was the lucky nut that landed with these squirrels, but I'll take it!

These are just a few of my many blessings....I'd love to hear a few of yours!

"Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name." ~ 2 Samuel 22:50

In the Words of Rachel Zoe.....I.DIE.

Breathe...

That's what Dave always tells me when I'm talking on the phone. I guess he thinks I'm long-winded or something! :) I got long-winded in this post last week because I was so excited to tell you about the Storehouse and their ministry. I wanted you to understand what they do and why they do it and that they are in financial need, but I'm afraid some of you may have missed the fun photo opp I threw in at the end!

My very talented friend, Jamie, has offered her time and fabulous talent and is offering mini photo sessions with ALL of the money going to the Storehouse! She has a few spots left, so whether you need to update your facebook photo, need engagement pictures or are ready to get your family Christmas card photo, Jamie can help!

Here's the 411:

• $100 for a 30-45 minute session (ALL $100 will go to the Storehouse!)
• Saturday, October 9th in Austin, TX- exact location TBD
• You will get a DVD of your images
• You may change clothes, bring your dog, whatever you think you can do in your 30-45 minutes
• You will make a check payable to The Storehouse so it will be tax deductible, or you can *pay by credit card directly to their website (*Please contact Jamie first so you guys can set up that payment transaction)
• Sessions can be booked directly through Jamie by e-mailing her: jamie@belovedphotography.net
• You can check her out on her website and her blog: lifephotographylove.blogspot.com

Here are a few of her amazing pictures!

Melt my heart! Are you even kidding me??

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me...'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25: 35-40

First, You Roast the Mallow....

This time last year I was getting ready to go to Tennessee. I was so excited about wearing a sweater (I'm a Texas girl, remember), seeing the leaves turning, seeing Dave's grandad of course, and eating at fun new places. What I didn't anticipate was falling in love with the Nashville Farmer's Market! Everything was gorgeous and my mother in law may or may not have carried a pumpkin on the plane to bring back home.

Now that fall is here I'm dreaming of the Nashville Farmer's Market and wishing....

I decorated my house for fall last week but hadn't bought any real pumpkins....until this weekend! We had a glorious weekend here in Texas! It was 55 at night and in the morning but a sunny 85 during the days. It was truly wonderful! I took full advantage and added a little fall to our front porch!

Mom and dad invited us over last night for hot tubbing and our first fall fire! There's a nothing a good roasted marshmallow and a s'more can't cure! (Well, except for that Longhorn loss to ou this weekend. BOO!)

We aren't going to TN this year but we are very much looking forward to seeing this girl in this city in a couple of weeks! I LOVE NYC and it's been a year and a half since I've been back! I'm dreaming of cool New York afternoons, a stroll through Central Park with my favorite people, a trip to the Shake Shack, and a Magnolia Cupcake of course. :)

What are you dreaming of this fall?