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2012-11-15

Thankful for those Texans! #BullsOnParade

When I was a little girl, my Grandpa would sit in front of the TV screen and yell. It was the 90s and he was a Houston Oilers fan. I never understood his obsession with needing to see every hit and down of the game…

…until now.

Last fall (2011) I was still living with my folks and every Sunday after church we’d all eat lunch and end up watching the Houston Texans play all afternoon. Not every game was pretty or a win… but every game was clean, played honorably. Over time it became commonplace, as in “We can’t go out for lunch after church…the Texans play at noon.” My mom’s birthday gift was a Texans sweatshirt, see below:

Needless to say, we were hooked. My brother would come over, we’d watch the Texans fight hard on the field and then we’d all go biking together.

ms150 — This was one of our short rides in April called the MS150 🙂

The Texans, who entered the league in 2002, had never made the playoffs in our nine season history. But in 2011 we made history after clinching the South Division title and qualifying as the AFC’s third seed. We beat the Bengals, but lost to the Ravens. We were all extremely proud of our team and what they accomplished that year.

The 2012 season has been another season for making records. We are 8-1 for the first time in franchise history. My love for them has only grown. I do have a special love for a few key defensive players: Brian Cushing & JJ Watt. The only reason I need to give is: watch them play, you’ll understand. Unfortunately, Brian Cushing hurt his ACL during the Jets game earlier this season (a curse on the Jets for eternity…) and he will be out the rest of this season. He’s had a great attitude about it and supports his team through this tough time.

…Can we all take a moment of silence for Brian’s ACL.

Two Sunday’s ago I had the distinct honor and privilege to attend my first Texans game. Big thanks to Jennie Lane 🙂

I am thankful to the Texans for giving my family something to enjoy together, giving our city something to support together and giving me a better understanding of “overcoming adversity.” (Except for Aaron Rodgers, because he plays football like Jesus.)

Enjoy these little tidbits of joy from my favorite players!

He’s very… confident.

It’s probably true…

Our defense really is something special. Bulls on Parade!

2012-11-14

30 Days of Thanks: Siblings

Jane Austen once said, ‘What strange creatures brothers are!â€

Well, she was right.

My brother, Andre Ricardo, was born on October 3, 1993 in Denver, Colorado. I remember the first time I laid eyes on him. He was a little red baby with a bunch of brown hair and all wrapped up in a blanket.

We didn’t get along for the first few years of our lives as siblings. Andre was probably the most annoying little brother on the planet. It was terrible to sit in the car next to him, and it was even worse to sit next to him on a plane. I remember one time, my cousin, my brother, and I were in the back seat of a car. My cousin and I were huddled on one seat as my brother was holding a booger he had just picked from his nose, threatening to wipe it on us.

When Andre was 12 and I was 17, we went to a sailing camp for three weeks. He was on a different program, so I barely saw him. He spent the summer doing water sports and snorkeling, and I spent the summer learning how to scuba dive. When we both got home, we had so many experiences that we could relate on, that I remember thinking, ‘So my brother is actually kind of a cool person.â€ We could finally bond, and it helped strengthen our relationship as brother and sister.

My brother has been not only my sibling, but also my friend. He is a source of endless entertainment and good old-fashioned unconditional sibling love.

As a big sister, I naturally want the best for my little bro, because he is truly one of the most extraordinary people I’ve ever had the chance to meet, and for that I am thankful.

2012-11-12

30 Days of Thanks – Boston Terriers

For 90% of my life, I have been a self-proclaimed “cat person”. However, on July 25, 2011 everything changed when my boyfriend and I spied a little Boston Terrier puppy (Franklin!) all alone in a little dog carrier. From that day forward, I went to the dark side and transitioned into the dog person I am today. Purchasing dog costumes, researching about potty training, learning the lingo, mapping out the dog-friendly restaurants, and instagramming like crazy – I’ve done it all. I’m so thankful for the lessons this tiny dog has taught me over the past year, and can share with you some of my favorite Franklinisms here:
	“When things get difficult, just keep your head up and keep paddling.”
	“Always stay classy.”
	“Haters gonna hate.”
	“Nothing lasts forever. Especially chew toys.”
	“You can be friends with others who might seem a little different from you.”
	“Be a patron of the arts & experience new things.”
	“It’s sometimes hard to try to stand out be different from the crowd.”
	“Don’t be fooled! Superheros come in all shapes and sizes.”
	“Good hygiene is CRUCIAL. Especially when fleas are involved.”
	“Always dress your best.”
	“You won’t get along with everyone. Just agree to disagree.”
	“The world isn’t in black and white.”
	“Facial hair doesn’t look good on EVERYONE.”
	“Sometimes the best adventures are right outside your backyard.”
	“Mornings aren’t always easy.”
	“It’s fine to dork out. Don’t let anyone judge you for being a little geeky.”
	…and like you can see, I dork out on Boston Terriers… A LOT!
All in all, looking back I’m so thankful for Franklin, Boston Terriers, and just pets in general because of the love they show us and the lessons they teach us everyday.

2012-11-09

30 Days of Thanks: Mmm…Queso

I’m thankful for a lot of things like my family, my health, my friends, etc. On the other hand I’m also thankful for really trivial things such as kittens, nail polish, Chick-Fil-A Sauce…Oh, and QUESO.

Queso is pretty much amazing, but white queso in particular is where my heart lies.
There are a lot of magical qualities about queso. In my opinion, it’s the ultimate comfort food. If you’re having a long day, end it with a bowl of white queso. While you’re at it, order a margarita because they go great with queso and who doesn’t like margaritas? As a Texan, it gives us something to brag about. Where else can you find better queso?

I’ve eaten a lot of queso. And let me tell you, not all queso is created equal. Want to know the best places to get queso?

Here’s a list of my top picks:

1. Pappasitos‘ Don’t let the ‘chain stigmaâ€ fool you. Their queso is legit. My boyfriend swears they put some sort of magical ingredient in the queso (Crack, maybe? Kidding!). Be sure to order the ‘flamingâ€ white queso because there are 2 queso options on the menu. They literally light it on fire, no seriously.

2. Original Ninfa’s on Navigation‘ If you live in Houston you have to go here at some point in your life. It’s in a shady part of town, but it is so worth it. The queso isn’t white, but it’s pretty amazing nonetheless.

3. El Tiempo‘ Again, the queso here isn’t white, but it’s pretty great. It also helps that their entrees are incredible.

4. Del Pueblo‘ This is a Cypress, TX gem. They also serve killer fried avocados. Mmmmâ€¦melted cheese and fried stuff.

5. Berryhill‘ This is where I go when I need a queso ‘fix.â€ You know, those times when you need queso now! It’s quick, cheap and white.

Not into restaurants? That’s cool. You can make great queso at home. I hear the secret ingredient is Mexican crema.

Queso con Rajas Recipe

Ingredients:

1 1/2 large sweet bell peppers, roasted, peeled, cored and seeded
2 large poblano chiles, roasted, peeled, cored and seeded
3 jalapenos, roasted and seeded
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 small onion, diced
2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 teaspoon Mexican oregano
pinch of salt
3/4 cup Mexican crema, or sour cream
8 ounces grated queso Oaxaca or Chihuahua cheese
1 1 /2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Roast the peppers on a grill or on a grilling pan until they are nice and charred on the outside and then peel and deseed them. Cut the roasted peppers into 1/4-inch thick strips and set them aside.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and sautÃ© the onion until translucent, around 3 minutes. Decrease the heat to low, add the bell pepper and chile strips, then stir in the cilantro, oregano, salt, crema, queso, and grated Parmesan. Cook everything over a low heat, stirring continuously until the queso melts, about 5 minutes. Don’t let the mixture brown or scorch. If the queso is a bit too thick, add some more crema until you get the desired texture and thickness.

Remove the queso from the heat and serve immediately with warm tortillas or chips.

Recipe Credit: Foodsessed

2012-11-07

30 Days of Thanks: Thankful for – Body of Work

I am thankful for so many small things this year. Small acts, added together can make a much larger impact over the individual contributions. Being reminded of this, has allowed me to understand the random and planned acts of kindness, charity, faith, forgiveness and brilliance can change someone’s life. Sometimes it even changes a lot of lives.

An Artist’s Body of Work is made up a collection of pieces developed over time and often in a series of repetitive themes. I had a great Architecture professor, fellow professor, friend and fishing buddy that was also an artist. We lost Richard Ferrier to cancer way too early in his life. At his memorial, countless students, friends and colleagues commented on the special moment or gift that Richard (RB) left with them. There were stories of a kind act at one of the Universities we taught at, a personal reference to some needed help, or even an encouraging pep talk. He provided behind the scenes help and encouragement to several generations of artists and Architects. As I heard one story after the other, it was clear that no one person really knew ALL the good deeds RB had provided.

Thankful for a Theme of Art and Kindness

Driving home from that weekend, the stories began to overlap and the theme was clear. There was a recurring study in kindness that characterized his true ‘Body of Work.â€ Sure, there was a legacy of paintings, awards and even archives in the Library of Congress to preserve his artistic work. But, small uncelebrated acts of humanity and friendship were the real collection. He had influenced and changed more people than we ever expected. Richards work was changing people’s lives.

I am thankful the ability to appreciate good design, to spell Winsor Newton watercolour with a ‘u’, to catch a trout in the cold tailwaters of New Mexico, to see someone fly in a WWII fighter plane. I am thankful for the lesson – To change the world, all it takes is small acts in recurring themes.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

Slowly creating my Body of Work.

2012-11-062014-11-02

Thankful for You Houston.

I have so much to be thankful for. I’ve written here in the past about how I’m thankful for LOLCats, Aggieland, and my mom’s wise advice to always stay positive. Today in particular I am thankful for the democratic process, my rights as an American, and those who serve to protect our freedom. And Twitter. I am definitely thankful for Twitter.

Thank You Houston!

This year for my 30 Days of Thanks post I want to take a moment to personally thank you – the people and the city of Houston, for all you have done for me over the last four years.

It was January 3, 2009 when I moved to Houston. In the years since then you have welcomed me and supported me every step of the way.

Houston is a unique place – the most diverse city in the country, a town that fosters business and supports the arts – and earlier this year topped Forbes’ list of America’s Coolest Cities. I have tried my best to take in as much of it as possible – taking in museums and restaurants and festivals and trying to keep up with everything Houston has to offer. Honestly, I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface.

The Big D will always be my hometown (don’t hate), but I have been incredibly blessed to find a great home here. And I cannot be grateful enough.

A Few of My Favorite Things about Houston:

1. A Full Events Calendar – In a city as big as Houston, there is always something going on!

I am privileged to get to go out and support fantastic clients like Miller Outdoor Theatre, Susan G. Komen Houston, and The Art Car Parade. Some of my other favorite events have been Comicpalooza Comic Convention, Free Press Summerfest, and the Rodeo!

Left to Right: Houston Rodeo, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Free Press Summer Fest, Houston Beer Festival, Comicpalooza

2. The Food! – I often tell people the best part of moving to Houston is the food. The diversity of backgrounds and cultures in Houston meld into a mixing pot of delicious opportunities to explore. My latest obsessions are El Gran Malo, Benjy’s, and Petrol Station. (And I am always open to suggestions!)

Houston Food Truck Fest 2011

3. The Schipulites – I work with some of the most talented, hardest working people I have ever met. I learn from you every single day. I have great mentors here and a great team. I couldn’t ask for more.

Thank You!

I have to thank you to all of you in Houston for welcoming me with open arms. Here’s to many more Houstoniversaries to come!

2012-11-05

30 Days of Thanks: Having a huge extended family

All my life, I have always moved around. I’ve lived in different parts of Mexico, I’ve lived in the UK, in France, in 3 different states in the U.S and have been happy doing that: A constant cycle of packing and moving, adapting and finally feeling at home.

I’ve come to have so many friends that have become extended family to me. These people went from being complete strangers, to friends, to people I can count on. No matter how far they are or how long it’s been since I’ve seen them, they in some way show me that they are still here with me as I am with them.

My friends — Still like a second family, even from a distance.

I am the only person in my family to be living in Texas, and sometimes it can be hard especially when you are going through tougher times. I’ve come to realize that when you are on your own, and these times emerge your sense of fight or flight kicks in. Suddenly you just want to go back to your home – your root home, and just embrace the old familiar.
I think everyone goes through that, and in all honesty if I had moved back home it would have been okay- there is nothing wrong with that really. But I stuck around and plan on staying in Texas, a place that I now happen to love and call home.

With that said, the people you work with are a huge part of your life in general. I mean, You spend more than half your week with these people! You could be doing what you love the most, but without a good team your job would for a lack of a better word – suck.

I have yet to work in a place where I do not like/love the people I work with. These people define(d) my day, they make it better and shift my attitude to a positive whenever it’s at a low. And if I were to go down the list of everyone I am thankful for, it would be a really long massive list.

I’ve met some of my best friends at work (this includes my very awesome boyfriend) which are now family. There have been so many times where I wasn’t able to fly home for the holidays and my friends pretty much took me in as an extension of their own family.

The people in my life just make me feel insanely lucky, and I don’t care if it sounds cheesy. They say actions speak louder than words, and it genuinely is something else to have someone show you they are there for you.
It’s little things like when I’ve been sick and gotten chicken soup, stuffed toys and sticker books (a Frankenweenie sticker book, to be exact) to cheer me up. There’s times where I have been devastated, like when I lost my dog Benito and my friends from all over pulled me back together some way. For example they all changed their Facebook profile pictures to their favorite Benito picture to remember him, and remind me that they were there for me any way they could.

Nito-Turtle — One of my many friends that changed their profile pictures to cheer me up.

I could not have better people in my life that have become an addition to my already truly amazing family. So that is my “30 days of Thanks” Thankful post, I am thankful for all of you, because you just make me feel lucky and extremely loved, and I hope you guys know how much you are loved in return. Thank you.

2012-11-032014-11-02

30 Days of Thanks: Sincerely iPhone apps

My best friend moved to Azerbaijan about a year ago, leaving me with lots of new methods of communication to be thankful for. We lean on FaceTime and email for quick catch-ups and day-to-day stuff, and I don’t know what kind of mess I’d be without those. But even in 2012, it takes a month to send mail from Baku to Houston. Enter Postagram, an iPhone app owned by Sincerely.

Postagram lets Matt take a picture with his iPhone, upload it to the app, add a message and send a custom postcard to my address in Houston. It arrives in a couple days. And when I receive it, I can scan a QR code in the app to let Matt know I received the postcard and post to social media (yes, a useful application of the QR code). The minimalist in me also loves that the picture is perforated and repeats the message and date on the back, so I can pop it out of the postcard and throw away the rest of it. There’s also an Android app or a web interface for sending postcards, if you’re into that. Here are some postcards Matt sent me earlier this year:

Getting hooked on Postagram eventually turned me on to the rest of Sincerely’s suite of apps. I’ve set my photos free from my phone by having prints of my pictures mailed to me through Dotti, which kind of turns your phone into an old disposable camera. Popbooth is the easy winner in the photobooth app game — it lets you email or post your photo strips or (obvs) have them mailed to you. And even as a person who’s not really into “stuff” and thinks greeting cards are almost universally tacky, Sincerely Ink has won me over with some well-designed cards.

I really enjoy Sincerely’s knack for making old communication mediums fun with very pretty and fun to use apps. And it’s the best kind of surprise to get a message from someone halfway across the world without having to deal with timezone math, so it’s easy to be thankful for Postagram and the rest of Sincerely’s apps.

2012-11-01

30 Days of thanks 2012 – Day 1

Since I work at a web marketing / technology company the first thing you might expect me to be thankful for might be my iPhone, wireless internet EVERYWHERE, downloading 10 megs of data in less than a minute (as opposed to over an hour when I was a kid) and stuff like that. I’m taking a different approach.

I’m a blessed guy. I know this, and I’m very thankful for it. I wake up every day, my legs work, I can breathe without pain, I can see clearly, I have food to eat whenever I want (so says my scale), I’m employed, married to a gorgeous woman who is WAY out of my league and a nerd to boot, and so much more.

I realize that much of the world doesn’t enjoy the simple luxuries I take for granted. It’s a wonderful and fragile thing. That’s another thing I’m thankful for: the life I live and the things I enjoy are so accessible to me remain so. I’m thankful I was raised by and around people who instilled values in me that have helped me make the best decisions I can so that I am where I am today.

I have a Pastor friend who says “Anyone is capable of anything at anytime.” I like to keep this thought in the front of my mind because it helps me remember that I’m just a few bad decisions away from losing everything important to me. Which brings me to the one thing I’m most thankful for: Even though I don’t deserve it I’m thankful I’ve been given mercy and grace in my life so that I can try to be the best person I can and love people the best I know how.