Hi, my name is Jamie, and I'm a read-aholic.
I've always known that I've had a slight addiction to reading, ever since I was a child. I never had any problem completing the required reading lists (and enjoyed it). I rocked at Accelerated Reader. True story: the Librarian in elementary school gave me a special award at the end of 6th grade for how much I read. Yes, I fully embrace my nerd status.
I started out on the good stuff, the stuff it was okay to read all of the time... the classics. As an adult, I've slipped into the stronger, not so good for you stuff: chick lit. It's not something I'm necessarily proud of, but I guess that's the way addiction is.
It wasn't until this summer that I really noticed that the problem might be getting out of hand. Like when I read all 7 Harry Potter books in less than three weeks. And then last night when I finished The Help in less than 24 hours. I read some at work (it's really, really slow right now), then I started reading when I got home from work and only stopped to talk to the fiance on the phone for half an hour, and finished around midnight. I couldn't put it down! I was hoping to spread the book out over a few days... maybe even through the weekend, but no such luck.
I wonder if there's a cure for this? Or maybe I should embrace this addiction and use it for good?
Friday, August 19, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Chocolate Cupcake Martini
I spent this past weekend in Bastrop at the Lowe-asis (my friend Zia's house) for our DAR Texas Junior Membership Committee planning weekend. It was such a fun and productive weekend with some of my favorite ladies! Everyone came with their great ideas for Junior Membership and their recipes for cupcake martinis. The cupcake is the symbol for the National committee since we are celebrating 75 years of Junior Membership this year... so cupcake martinis were of course, the drink of choice.
Here's how you make a cupcake martini:
2 oz. cake flavored vodka
2 oz. chocolate liqueur
.5 oz. Bailey's
Combine in a shaker, shake and pour. Top with alcohol-infused chocolate whipped cream. We also dipped the martini glass rims in frosting and pink sprinkles.
It's very sweet and you could definitely drink your dessert with this creation!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
What a weekend...
This past weekend I did a very brave thing. My precious niece Madelyn came to visit for the weekend! This was the first time for me to have her 1) overnight and 2) for three days. I'm still recovering from her visit!
On Friday afternoon, I drove to Waco to meet Lindsey, Madelyn and Jace since that's about the half-way point between Austin and Dallas. From Waco, Mady and I went to Navasota for the C.A.R. State Workshop. This was her third trip to C.A.R. Workshop, and she always has a blast, but it was the first time for us to stay overnight. I'm pretty sure she didn't stop talking from the moment we got in the car at 3 until she finally fell asleep at 11:30. We went to McDonald's for dinner, played on the playground, swam at the hotel pool, and played with her friends while the big kids had skit practice that night.
The next morning we headed to Washington-on-the-Brazos state park for the actual Workshop. I was the Workshop chairman, so I had actual work to do besides watching a rambunctious 4 year old. Madelyn is always sweet to help out and she passed out stickers to everyone who registered and then helped with handing out the boxed lunches. Besides that, she did a whole lot of running and playing. One of these days she'll actually pay attention to the meeting...
After the workshop we headed back to Austin to Uncle Steven's for a slumber party. I figured it would be best to give my cats some peace and quiet the weekend before their big de-claw surgery on Monday. For dinner we headed to Dave and Buster's. It's amazing how much you can get the girl to eat when you're bribing her with video games afterwards! After lots of video game playing we left and stopped for ice cream on the way home. Uncle Steven is a huge sucker and not only let Mady have a blizzard, but bought her a second round of ice cream before we left.
Madelyn had said all day that she wanted to stay up all night long. She made quite a valiant effort in doing this, we watched Shrek and Shrek Ever After and she finally dozed off around midnight. I had to be sneaky with my sleeping on the couch because anytime she noticed my eyes were closed she'd wake me up! We enjoyed donuts for breakfast and a nice bubble bath (Steven has a huge garden tub with jacuzzi jets) before heading back to Waco to meet Lindsey and Jace for lunch and give back sweet Mady.
It was a wonderful but exhausting weekend with sweet Madelyn, and I look forward to many more visits with her... I'll just make sure to get plenty of rest in the few days prior to her coming.
The CAts had their declaw surgery on Monday. All went well, minus Smokey biting a technician. She had quite the reputation at the vet, when I went to pick them up I had to get her out of their cage and into her cat carrier... she had scared everyone else with her hissing! They seem to be doing okay with the recovery, very much like their normal selves, just a little slower and a little lazier. And let me tell you, I'm very glad that they don't have claws, otherwise there's no way I'd get them to take their pain medications without some serious damage to myself.
On Friday afternoon, I drove to Waco to meet Lindsey, Madelyn and Jace since that's about the half-way point between Austin and Dallas. From Waco, Mady and I went to Navasota for the C.A.R. State Workshop. This was her third trip to C.A.R. Workshop, and she always has a blast, but it was the first time for us to stay overnight. I'm pretty sure she didn't stop talking from the moment we got in the car at 3 until she finally fell asleep at 11:30. We went to McDonald's for dinner, played on the playground, swam at the hotel pool, and played with her friends while the big kids had skit practice that night.
The next morning we headed to Washington-on-the-Brazos state park for the actual Workshop. I was the Workshop chairman, so I had actual work to do besides watching a rambunctious 4 year old. Madelyn is always sweet to help out and she passed out stickers to everyone who registered and then helped with handing out the boxed lunches. Besides that, she did a whole lot of running and playing. One of these days she'll actually pay attention to the meeting...
After the workshop we headed back to Austin to Uncle Steven's for a slumber party. I figured it would be best to give my cats some peace and quiet the weekend before their big de-claw surgery on Monday. For dinner we headed to Dave and Buster's. It's amazing how much you can get the girl to eat when you're bribing her with video games afterwards! After lots of video game playing we left and stopped for ice cream on the way home. Uncle Steven is a huge sucker and not only let Mady have a blizzard, but bought her a second round of ice cream before we left.
Madelyn had said all day that she wanted to stay up all night long. She made quite a valiant effort in doing this, we watched Shrek and Shrek Ever After and she finally dozed off around midnight. I had to be sneaky with my sleeping on the couch because anytime she noticed my eyes were closed she'd wake me up! We enjoyed donuts for breakfast and a nice bubble bath (Steven has a huge garden tub with jacuzzi jets) before heading back to Waco to meet Lindsey and Jace for lunch and give back sweet Mady.
It was a wonderful but exhausting weekend with sweet Madelyn, and I look forward to many more visits with her... I'll just make sure to get plenty of rest in the few days prior to her coming.
The CAts had their declaw surgery on Monday. All went well, minus Smokey biting a technician. She had quite the reputation at the vet, when I went to pick them up I had to get her out of their cage and into her cat carrier... she had scared everyone else with her hissing! They seem to be doing okay with the recovery, very much like their normal selves, just a little slower and a little lazier. And let me tell you, I'm very glad that they don't have claws, otherwise there's no way I'd get them to take their pain medications without some serious damage to myself.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
A very special birthday...
Just thought I'd give a quick shout-out to two very special birthday gals. See, I'm not quite sure when their birthday is, but I know it's about this time of year. And this year they turn 5. That's right, Happy Birthday Smokey and Giada!
For their birthday, I'm getting them declawed on Monday (don't judge me). I think Smokey knows she's about to lose them because she's been using them quite a bit the last few days. I have cuts on my finger and wrist to show for it. I'm hoping that the lack of claws will not only save my furniture (and Steven's once we move in), but will also keep Smokey from wanting to knock everything over all of the time. She either really hates the sight of my family or feels the need to try to sharpen her claws on picture frames. I'm not completely convinced it's the second one.
Monday, August 1, 2011
One month
I promise not to become one of those wedding-obsessed people, but I just have to relish, if only for a moment.
One month ago today I said YES! One month ago my life took THAT step to forever. Everything changed while staying the same. I'm so excited for the journey I am on and so fortunate to be blessed with this journey.
I reminded the fiancé today about what he was doing one month ago. He said it was the best day of his life to date. I can't wait to spend and discover the ever after together. Cheesiness done.
One month ago today I said YES! One month ago my life took THAT step to forever. Everything changed while staying the same. I'm so excited for the journey I am on and so fortunate to be blessed with this journey.
I reminded the fiancé today about what he was doing one month ago. He said it was the best day of his life to date. I can't wait to spend and discover the ever after together. Cheesiness done.
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