2010: A Pictorial Look Back

Well, it's the 1st day of a new year, Hello 2011! It's nice to meet you, I look forward to getting to know you over the next 365 days! :) As 2011 kicks off, I thought I'd take the time today to recap 2010 in pictures, by each month of course. So here goes:

January

me & Lake at the 2010 Alamo Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Michigan State

me, Catalina, Dawn, Wendy, Lauren & Bethany enjoying a Girls' Sushi Night Out....hope there are more of these in 2011!!!

my totally AWESOME Walt Disneyworld Half Marathon Bib Number!! One of the *best* & most accomplished weekends I've ever had. Not only did I complete my 2nd half marathon in a time 15 minutes faster than my first, I did it in ridiculously cold, rainy, sleety, icy weather. It was a fabulous experience & magical! ;)

Lake & I at Disney's Animal Kingdom our 1st day of the 1/2 Marathon Trip

Camp, Shaunda, Janine & I at Janine's Twilight Themed Birthday Party to celebrate her 24th birthday. In character: Camp=Victoria; Shaunda=Jane; Janine=Bella; me=Jessica Stanley

Rachel, Shaunda, Camp, me, Misty, Dawn, & Catalina enjoying dinner at Stonewerks after seeing 'When in Rome'.....this was also my first Sunday with Lake away for work in India

February

me, Rachel & Janine at our Sushi Making Class at Central Market

my little Valentine, Mare-Bear! Valentine's Day Weekend I went to Little Rock to visit my brother, sis-in-law & our god daughter. I babysat Maryn so that her parents could have a nice Valentine's Dinner out, it was fun evening with her! :)

me, Shaunda, Rachel, Camp, Janine & Michelle at Brasserie Pavil enjoying our Girls' Night Out Valentine's Dinner. With Lake out of the country for Valentine's Day, my friends & I got together for our own Valentine's Dinner. We had a great time & Michelle was introduced to the little circle of friends I have in SA.

me, Amy, Rachel & Cristina at the SA Rodeo for Jake Owen

me & Baby Lily hanging out at BellyView

Amy, me & Cristina at the Willie Nelson concert in the Valley

Mon, me & Cristina trying to stay warm downtown McAllen

March

Amy, me & Kelli at the Lady Antebellum/Tim McGraw Concert in Hidalgo. I attended lots of concerts during the Winter of 2010 as you can tell :)

Shaunda, Rachel, Michelle, me, Camp & Laura at our Oscar Night Party at The Bradley's. Our Night was complete with themed food for each of the Best Picture nominees, our own awards & a red carpet!

Laura, Rachel, Shaunda & I at Wildfish. My last dinner in the US before my trip around the world during Spring Break!

me & Lake at the Chennai Super Kings Cricket Match in Chennai, India. The game was so confusing & even included a dog running through the middle of the game, HILARIOUS!

me in my gorgeous authentic India Saree ready for Lake & I's dinner out at Fisherman's Wharf on The Bay of Bengal

me & Lake at The Traders Hotel Sky Bar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Amazing night, amazing city, great 2nd year anniversary

The Petronas Towers in KL at sunset. Our view from Sky Bar

Lake & I exploring Singapore our 1st day in the city. We are on the Boat Quay, which reminded me a little of the Riverwalk in SA. We found Mexican Food & MaRgArItAs!!! ;)

Lake & I on The Singapore Eye (world's largest ferris wheel)

Merlion Park at Night (Singapore). Our hotel, The Fullerton, is right behind the merlion

Rachel, Shaunda, Michelle, Janine, me, Laura & Dawn at Sol Luna celebrating Rachel's 29th birthday! We all went to see 'Remember Me' right after dinner......and then got depressed!

me, Laura, Rachel, Shaunda, Camp, Janine, Michelle & Whitney at The Gristmill in Gruene, TX celebrating Camp's 25th Birthday with shopping & lots of yummy food.

April

me, my dad & my mom on Easter Sunday in Mission. This was my first Easter in the Valley since 2005

me, Shaunda & Dawn at Alamo Heights Night on the campus of Incarnate Word. It was a fun night & kick off to Fiesta 2010!!

me, Malarie, Michelle, Janine & Erica at Oyster Bake

Rachel, Camp, Janine, me & Michelle at NIOSA (Night In Old San Antonio)

me, Camp, & Kristen at Beethoven's for Fiesta Gartenfest

Maryn & I in Houston downtown at Discovery Green

me & Lake at Biga on the Banks, the day after Lake arrived safely home from India :)

May

my 2010-2011 JLSA New Member Group (minus Kathryn)

Lake with his sign for his Welcome Home Party at Mark & Kathleen's

me & Maryn wandering around downtown San Antonio during the Texas Dental Convention

Marshall, Laura, Joe, Pete, Vanessa, Janine, Michelle, Erica, me, Lake, Camp & Shaunda at Rosario's for Janine's Graduation Dinner Celebration

Janine, Rachel & I at the movies for Sex And The City 2

Lake, me, Kelly, Jessica, Dru, Lindy & Jason in Luckenbach, TX for some Texas Country Memorial Day Weekend

June

Leah, Demitri, Dad, Maryn, Mom & me right before my brother's 30th birthday Fiesta! Lake couldn't make it due to work

Girls Dinner at Tiago's

Laura & her hostesses for her baby shower :)

"Sister" Dinner: Audra, Amy, me, Leah, Nikki, & Olaya at dinner & then headed to see 'The Killers' (yay for sisters & cousins!)

Michelle, Janine, Shamu, me & Tanya at Seaworld after Michelle & Tanya finished their very first 1/2 Marathon

Michelle, Janine, me & Rachel at the movies for the midnight showing of Eclipse!!! :)

July

Anne, me, Misty, Mrs. Lewis, Jenn, & Cassie at Auden's Kitchen for Misty's Going Away Dinner

me, Bethany & Wendy at Coco for Wendy's 30th Birthday Party!!!

Michelle, Janine, Erica, me & Malarie celebrating Michelle's 26th Birthday

me, Maryn & Lake celebrating my 28th birthday :)

me, Laura, Shaunda, Janine, Michelle & Camp all "90's" out for my 28th Birthday Party

Lake & I at my 90's birthday party

me & Micah at Tao at The Venetian in Las Vegas

Kelley & I at our pool at Mandalay Bay

Kelley, Lake & I at the Bellagio Gardens

Mary, me, David, Kelley, Micah, Kris & Lake at Nine Fine Irishmen at New York New York in Vegas our last night out

August

Catalina, Dawn, Bethany, Erica, Janine, Kristen, me & Lauren at La Fonda on Main for our August Girls Dinner

me, Janine, Camp, Shaunda, Avery Grace, & Laura; Avery joined us on August 14th :)

Davy Crockett fans unite for his 224th Birthday! Remember the Alamo!!!

Jessica, me, Bethany, Dawn & Catalina all together to celebrate Jessica & Dru's impending nuptials. We celebrated with pedis, cupcakes, & martinis!!

little Maryn splish splashing during her 1st birthday party!!

September

Lake & I at The Marquardt Ranch in Boerne for Dru & Jessica's Wedding Labor Day Weekend

Shaunda with her baby shower hostesses. FIESTA themed!!!

Catalina, Dawn, me, Stephanie, Wendy, Marcy, Bethany, & Heather enjoying another fun Girls Sushi Night. This was also the night that Wendy let us know she was expecting her first child in April. We now know it'll be a BOY!!!

Camp, Janine, Rachel, me, Michelle & Shaunda at Janine & Michelle's Housewarming Party

at Paesano's celebrating Laura's 30th birthday

October

me, Dawn & Misty on Kilamanjaro's Safari at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Leah, Dad, Demitri, Lake & I after Mickey's Halloween 5K at The Magic Kingdom

Christy, Misty, Dawn & I before the Disney Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon Relay that we ran through Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, & finished at Epcot

me & Lake at Epcot enjoying the International Food & Wine Festival

Tanya, Michelle, Janine, Rachel, me & Malarie at Carrie Underwood Concert

Michelle, Camp, Laura, Avery, Janine & I celebrating Avery's Baptism

Lake, me & Baby Sophia; Sophia joined us on October 11th

Deanna, me, Stormie, Catalina, Dawn & Marcy trying out Kumori for our Sushi Night :)

Michelle, Janine & I at the JLSA 2010 Holiday Ole Marketplace

Jennifer, Cameron, Staci, Keith, Mary, Bo, Lake & I at The Wilson's Halloween Party

November

Michelle, Miguel, Tanya, Erica, me & Lake with our San Antonio 1/2 Marathon Numbers

Maryn walking, talking & drinking her sippy cup

Laura, Janine, me Shaunda & Michelle celebrating Shaunda's 30th Birthday

Janine, Michelle, me, Laura, Rachel & Shaunda together hosting our 2nd Annual Thanksgiving With Friends Dinner

me & Lake at Seaworld for the Holidays

December

Friends before The Nutcracker

Nancy, me, Cassie, Courtney, & Anne celebrating Anne's 30th Birthday downtown at VBar. Courtney was visiting from Italy, it was so great to see her!!

Janine, me, Shaunda, & Sophie at Seaworld

Lake & I ready for the Nau's Christmas Swap Christmas Party

Rachel, Dawn, Laura, Janine, Amy, Shaunda, Sophie & me at The Nau's Party

SCHOOL FRIENDS after our amazing glee performance at Faculty Follies. I'm so glad I have a group of work friends again! :)

Family on Christmas Eve at my parents house

PHEW & I'm done! What a year!! There were some memorable occasions, some full of joy & laughter, other filled with sadness & tears, but such is life! I'm blessed to have my wonderful loving husband with me through it all. God has truly blessed me.

Here's to 2011!! God Bless!

Merry December!

Today (well this past weekend) definitely got me into the Christmas spirit. It was a combo of things actually: 1. all the fun family time over the week/weekend; seaworld christmas; putting up the tree; ordering our christmas cards; doing some online shopping; hearing the gLee christmas album; TWO radio stations devoted solely to christmas music; counting down :)

i've been so bad about blogging lately, it really has been ages (well 2 months), but in blog time, i'd say that's "ages"

I'm happy to report that things are going just smooth as ever. Things on the home front/work front are just the norm & that's great by me! Looking forward to trekking down to the valley in 3 weeks for "Christmas in the Valley"....that's always good times! :) I just can't believe how quickly this school year is flying by. It really does feel like I was blogging about summer just a few days ago & here we are, starting off December. And what a wonderful month December is! For obvious reasons, the colder weather, the parties, the great movies/music, but also to celebrate the birth of Jesus. "O Holy Night" has always been one of my favorite carols & I love to hear every version of it! :)

May the joy & spirit of the season be with you now & throughout the entire year! God Bless! and Merry Christmas y'all!!! :)

A Trip Down Memory Lane: Disney Edition

2 weeks from today I'll be at the most magical place on Earth.......Disneyworld! I along with Lake, my brother's family, parents & some friends will be participating in Mickey's 5K Halloween Fun Run on Saturday Oct. 2nd (in the am) as well as the Inaugural Wine & Dine Half Marathon Relay on Oct. 2nd (in the pm). While this delights me beyond words (I'm a Disney fanatic!), I also came to the realization yesterday that this will be my TENTH trip to the magical world. :)

In honor of this momentous occasion, I was thinking back on all the trips & trying to pull my fondest memory from each:

1. 1990 (8 years old):

This was our 2nd big family trip, 2 years prior we had piled into our 1982 Bonneville & hit up the "Happiest Place on Earth" Disneyland, in Anaheim, CA. While Disneyland is great & I've been one other time, it lacks the luster that you can only find at the marshy swampy land in Florida. I remember we drove all the way from McAllen to Orlando. One thing from this trip that definitely sticks out in my mind is taking notice of the fact that Cinderella's castle (the focal point of The Magic Kingdom) was much much larger than Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland, I felt this was very unfair, who's to say Cinderella is more deserving than Aurora......I guess Mr. Disney thought she was.

2. 1997 (14 years old):

This trip was taken in February of '97. I was in my first year of high school & was not only a freshman cheerleader, but had also been selected to be 1 of 2 freshman on my high school's competitive cheerleading squad. We were a GOOD team that year & had won our Regional Competition & because of that had received a bid to compete at the National Competition which was a yearly event held at Disney's MGM Studios (now known as Hollywood Studios). One of the best things about this was that the other freshman on the squad was one of my best friends, Monica (she's still one of my best friends!). The flight over to Orlando was also my first flight, ever! I was nervous about it, but I was also so excited! Fondest memory from this trip was running around the parks with Mon & hanging out with the seniors. I loved my seniors, they were (in my eyes) the big sisters I never had, so I remember consciously telling myself, whenever you're a senior, remember how they treated you & treat the little freshmen that way. :)

3. 2000 (17 years old)

Senior year of high school my cheerleading squad was once again given the chance to compete on the national level at the UCA competition. I knew this was my last year to cheer so I had a great time on this trip. I made sure to spend more time with my parents b/c I knew I'd be going to college in just a few short months, so I was very glad they could come along. They had been on the trip my freshman year, but I think the older you get, the more you appreciate your parents, or at least that was my experience. Although we didn't compete well, we had a fall during preliminaries, it was a BAD fall, to this day, I'm still pretty convinced had that mistake not been made we would have made it into finals, we were the best squad I'd been on in my 4 years, but oh well! That year I remember the night before we competed we were at The Magic Kingdom & the park was about to close & our coach, Mr. Ramirez, made us stand in front of the castle & wait for the light on the castle to change to blue (our school colors were blue & gold). I swear we waited for that blue light for at least 20 minutes, haha, won't forget it though! :)

4. 2001 (19 years old)

This was our 2nd family trip to Disneyworld, but this time we flew, yay!! This was also the last time I've been on a vacation with my parents & brother all together. It rained A LOT this trip & I can remember splashing around the parks in our bright yellow Mickey Mouse ponchos just loving it all! It was so fun! My parents also made the purchase of their time share this trip, which then began the every-other year trips to Disneyworld

5. 2003 (21 years old)

I turned 21 the day we left for Disneyworld, just me & my parents. I didn't party hard, I had one "real" drink that night. We ate at Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney & didn't actually get to sit down to eat until midnight, the day after my birthday! I had a great time with just me & my parents. I can remember ordering a Mai Tai at dinner & after taking a few sips my mom asked me if I was feeling dizzy, haha.

6. 2005 (23 years old)

This trip was a truly memorable trip because my dad's little sister & her family came with us to stay at the condo. So it was me, my parents, my aunt, her husband, & her kids, Jacob, Joaquin, & little Clara. (ages 5, 4, & 2). This was the first time I had ever been to Disneyworld with little kids. It was so great to see the park through their eyes, little things, colors, smells, pictures that I'd never noticed, they were pointing out. Poor things got so scared on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. I loved that Clara & I got to celebrate our birthdays at Chef Mickey's on my actual birthday (her bday was 2 weeks before that). Talking to them about it now, Jacob says he remembers everything & Clara does too, I doubt that though. I love that I was apart of such a great experience for them though, even if they just have the memories in their pictures.

7. 2007 (25 years old)

Just me & my parents again. Lake & I were engaged at this point, but we weren't getting married until March of 2008. My parents had invited Lake but he told me that he thought it was important that my parents have one last trip with their little girl. So that's what we did. I had so much fun with them, again. My mom & I discovered just how much we LOVE Epcot. World Showcase is incredibly fun, I'm still not quite sure why, but for some reason, during this trip the parks were surprisingly empty, relatively speaking. This made for a great time, we were able to enjoy the usual stuff, but we also had a great time trying new things out that we'd never done before, that made it so fun!! We had some character dining time at The Crystal Palace & I remember my dad got so upset that Piglet had skipped our table, so he insisted that we were going to stay until he came all the way around. My dad is so silly. One of the other things that I took away from this trip was my Disney wedding stuff. I knew that I couldn't have an all out "Disney" themed wedding, but I did want to tie it in somehow. So I bought all my bridesmaids sparkly Minnie Mouse ears, bought a bride Minnie & groom Mickey salt & pepper shaker to use as our cake topper, & of course my Bride Minnie ears/veil & Lake's Groom Mickey top hat with ears! This pictures from the wedding made it so much fun!!!! :)

8. 2009 (27 years old)

This trip consisted of Lake & I and my parents. Our first day in the parks was my actual 27th birthday & I'm not sure I've ever felt more special or gotten more birthday wishes. Since it was my birthday I got a $75 gift card & a button that I wore all day. All of the cast members told me Happy Birthday (I think they have to) but it was so fun to have random people tell me happy birthday & then see other people with birthday buttons on & tell them happy birthday!!! I also loved this trip b/c it was the first time that I got to go with Lake & he got to see why I love it so much. Sure he's not as hard core as I am about it, but he definitely got the idea. :) We'd gone to Disneyland in Paris during our honeymoon & it was great, but there really is just something different about Disneyworld.

9. 2010 (27 years old)

And now the 9th trip. I went on this trip to run in the Walt Disneyworld Half Marathon. The run starts off in the parking lot of Epcot, runs over to The Magic Kingdom & then back through a little bit of Epcot, back out to the parking lot. It was AMAZING! The weather was awful & it snowed right before the start, but it was still the best run I've ever been in! They make you feel so special!! The run was fun & there were characters along the way you could take pictures with, running through the actual parks was so cool & they had a special party the day after the 1/2 Marathon just for the runners & their families at Hollywood Studios. It all ended with fireworks display just for us! I'll have to admit that the party was soooooo cold, I'm pretty sure it was in the upper 20's, but I could have stayed all night. Everyone that had run in the race was wearing their medals & everyone was congratulating you, it was so cool!!!! I also got to ride on the Tower of Terror like 3 times in one night!

Now the next trip is less than 2 weeks away!!! :) I can't wait. I really think I just have so many happy memories tied to Disneyworld, that's why I'm so crazy about it. Plain & simple.......I'm apart of a "disney" family ;)

Take Time To....

Pick our your outfits.....

I've found something very therapeutic & almost relaxing to do every evening at some point.

I'm taking about 5 minutes to pick out my "work" outfit for the next day. As trivial & almost superficial as this may sound, I have found that it relaxes me, helps me sleep better, allows me to move at a more leisurely pace in the morning & over all, feel more confident at work because I know that I actually thought about what I'd be wearing, instead of hazily picking it out at 6:50 in the morning while I'm trying to scarf down a Special K bar & not forget the keys to my classroom!

I came to this epiphany last Sunday (Aug 29th to be exact). During the 1st week of school, I traditionally take the time to pick out my outfits, fix my hair (straighten it), put on makeup (eyeshadow in particular), etc....after about the first week slowly but surely all this meticulous preparation for work each day starts to dwindle, it's sad but true. I trade in the time I would be picking out my outfit, with just 5 more minutes talking to Lake, watching "my" shows, or on Facebook. This year, I decided I'd make a small change in my daily routine & continue to take the time to put my outfit together for work the next day (past the 1st week of school). I know, I do realize again, that this does sound rather superficial, but shouldn't you put your best face forward everyday, or at least, the best thing that you feel like putting together the night before?

I've had lots of fun with it so far. Today for example, I found myself wearing an "oldie" but "goodie" Ann Taylor Loft dress that I actually wore to my college graduation party that my parents threw for me back in August of 2004. There were 2 things that elated me about putting this dress on:

1. That it still fit me 6 years later (guess running really does work!)

2. That (in my opinion) it was still relevant.

I simply placed a cashmere tan/camel colored 3/4 sleeve sweater over my sleeveless shoulders, add some pearls & I have a perfectly suitable outfit for school. I actually got compliments today, I LOVE THAT!

Think what you may, but I throughly believe that if you leave the house loving the outfit you're wearing, it'll be a spectacular day! :)

my "oldie" but "goodie" dress back in '04

Summer's End

Well well well, as of right now I have 1 more week of summer left! Going back to school next Monday (August 16th) for our inservice week. I plan on heading up to my campus a couple of times this week to help with "Prep Days" (essentially our school's pre-registration). I may also head up to my room next Saturday to get my room ready, I say ready, but let's be real, I teach high school, so there's not much when it comes to decorating....which I like! :)

Things have been pretty hectic lately, we went to Vegas last week & got back last Sunday night, I fell like I've used this entire last week trying to catch up on my sleep. It was really fun though & we got some great pool time in, of course that also brought with it some dreaded sunburn, on my scalp! ugh, that's terrible! Oh well, speaking of my hair, or head, I got a haircut on Friday, always fun. I re-did my highlights & went one shade darker than the last time, I love the color, it's really dark, but I guess it's just b/c my hair had gotten so light w/ the original batch of highlights I got Memorial Day. I also cut my hair about a 1/2 inch, which isn't much, but it needed to be done.

Anyway, we're using this week to just relax. This next weekend is the only free weekend we'll have for 1 month! The weekend of the 21st we'll be in Houston for a wedding reception, 28th we'll be in Little Rock for Maryn's 1st birthday party, Labor Day weekend we'll be here, but we'll be going to a wedding in Boerne, & the weekend of the 11th we'll be hosting a couples baby shower for our friend Shaunda, phew. We have a few weekends off, then we head to Disneyworld on Sept. 30th for the Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon at Epcot, ugh, I can't wait!!! :)

Other than preparing for school, we've just been running & hopefully getting more serious about it, we've been pretty lazy this summer, or at least I have. Well, there's not much to say than that, have a great week & teachers....enjoy your last week of Summer 2010!!!

Kelley (SIL) & I at Moorea Beach. The 21 & up pool at Mandalay Bay

Lake & I before dinner our 3rd night

our group at Todd English's P.U.B. for dinner our 3rd night

at Madame Tussauds, good times!

Lake & I (me w/ the new do) at The Witte

"whatever"

the 90's party was a success if I do say so myself! we had a great turn out & it was lots of fun. i'm way to old to "party" that way, but hey, if you're going do it, do it big! :)

I really don't have too much to post, the pictures speak for themselves. I'll post just a few.

my gifts, so great! love them all

me & my besties :)

my Lakey & I :)

yay cupcakes!!

so 90's ;)

Who's the IDIOT....apparently it's me!

so I'm in Houston this week, well till tomorrow, for a technology conference. All day today I've been in a Photoshop training class & there is a certification exam that is to be taken at the end of the exam. The class has been interesting, to say the least. A gathering of teachers, especially technology teachers, is always interesting, so yeah.

After lunch, we did a bit more of a review & I was all set & ready for the exam, well, I guess I rushed through the set up & instead of marking the Photoshop Exam I accidentally marked Adobe Flash.....DANG IT!