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Blog Update:

Have you ever tried to "Follow" my blog by email?  Like, in the area on my blog page that says "Follow by Email"?  And after you typed in your email address, did you NEVER receive an email?

Well, I was just playing around with my site and realized an error with that feature!  If you ever put your email address in there, it was signing you up for another blog that I never post too. 

So, I just fixed it!  If you want to follow my blog by email, go ahead, enter your email address.  I promise it will work this time!

And, I promise to bring more posts on my Italy Trip.  I am just holding off until the New Year!

I hope you all have an amazing New Year!  Don't forget to eat your black eye peas!

Speaking of black eyed peas, every year, I make Black Eyed Pea Salsa.  It's the perfect dish to snack on while you try to cure your hangover.  You can make it a day in advance, so all you have to do on New Year's day is warm it up in the microwave!  I've included the recipe below, so try it out and let me what you think!



Black Eyed Pea Salsa

Ingredients:

·      1 cup rice

·      2 cans black eyed peas (drained)

·      1 can rotel tomatoes

·      1 tsp cumin

·      Cilantro

·      Lime juice

A word to the wise, I've tried making this recipe with spicy rotel, and it was not good......I love love love spicy food, but save yourself the trouble and go with regular rotel!

Directions:

1.      Cook rice according to instructions.  (I use my rice cooker!)

2.      Combine black eyed peas, rotel and cumin with rice in a saucepan and heat throughout.

3.      Add cilantro and lime juice.  Serve warm.

ARE YOU READY?

Hell, yes! Damn Right!
Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty
Who the hell are we, Hey!
Flim Flam, Bim Bam
OLE MISS BY DAMN!

Opps, normally, when we go to an OLE MISS football game, I cheer their school chant as loud as I can.  "Ole Miss by Damn". 

But, this year when we head to Oxford, MS, I will NOT be cheering on Ole Miss.  I'll be YELLING for my Aggies!  You see, A&M left the Big 12 Conference for the SEC, which makes the Hubs and me rivals.  I am super excited for next season and will pray every day until then that the Aggies get it together.

Dear Ags,
Please don't embarrass me this year.  Please beat some SEC teams so that all the "haters in Haterville" (thank you NeNe Leaks for that quote) will stop talking about how we are going to get stomped next year.

Also, I will be at the Bowl Game on Saturday.  Please beat Northwestern.  Pretty Please?!

Love,
Me

2012 Texas A&M Football Schedule
Date	Opponent	Location	Time
Sat, Sep 01	McNeese State	College Station	TBA
Sat, Sep 08	Florida *	College Station	TBA
Sat, Sep 15	SMU	Dallas, TX	TBA
Sat, Sep 22	Either open date or non-conference opponent
Sat, Sep 29	Arkansas *	TBA	TBA
Sat, Oct 06	Ole Miss *	Oxford, MS	TBA
Sat, Oct 13	Either open date or non-conference opponent
Sat, Oct 20	LSU *	College Station	TBA
Sat, Oct 27	Auburn *	Auburn, AL	TBA
Sat, Nov 03	Mississippi State *	Starkville, MS	TBA
Sat, Nov 10	Alabama *	Tuscaloosa, AL	TBA
Sat, Nov 17	Either open date or non-conference opponent
Sat, Nov 24	Missouri *	College Station	TBA
*Conference Games

Italia, The ALPS

So, for the first part of our Italian vacation, we flew from Houston to Newark and then Newark to Munich, Germany.  From there, we rented a van and drove 3 hours South, into the Italian Alps, to San Vigilio for a night's stay at the beautiful Hotel Condor.  You see, my father-in-law's mother (my husband's grandmother "OMA"), was born in this small village and lived there until she married OPA and moved to the USA. 

Because the Alps had not yet received any snow, they were
busy making fake snow in order to be ready for the upcoming ski season.

My FIL's aunts and cousins still live there and own the Hotel Condor, which is a ski lodge.  When we arrived, the hotel had not yet opened for the season, so we were the ONLY ones staying there!  It was super cool and scary all at the same time!  The hallways were all dark and cold, but our room was nice and toasty.  The first thing I did was take a bath--which I needed after our long journey to Italy! 

San Vigilio is an incredibly charming town!  In this village, they speak German, Italian, and Ladinish.  (Ladinish is only spoken by about 30,000 people in just a few Northern Italian villages.)  So, when the hubs and I went to the local pub for a glass of vino, we used a lot of hand signs.

Since we landed in San Vigilio on Saturday night, we were able to go to Mass Sunday morning.  I was in awe of the beauty of the town's Chapel.  The service was delivered in Ladinish, so us Americans just spend our time trying not to look lost or fall asleep.  I wish I'd taken pictures of the church, but I decided against it....out of respect for God I guess.

After church, we went back to the Hotel Condor and enjoyed amazing lasagna while we visited with the family.  The family spoke in German (my FIL would translate for us), so I spent a lot of time drinking my wine and talking to the Hubs....and trying to figure out what everyone else was talking about.  I could say I spend 95% of the time doing this since English isn't widely spoken where we were.

My FIL and his cousin Conrad.
Conrad owns the Hotel Condor and will probably
answer the phone when you call!

After church and a quick lunch, we set off on our adventure to TUSCANY!  (Tomorrow, I will tell you all about our drive....it's quite the story!)

Out Sick

I had every intention of beginning to share my Italy trip with you today, but currently, I lool like this:

And I feel like I should be doing this:



But I'm at work, running some essential reports.  As soon as I'm done with these puppies, I plan on leaving and going home, to do this:

All I Want for Christmas

So, the Hubs keeps asking me what I want for Christmas.  Up until today, I didn't really have a list.  But in an effort to give the Mister a break and some solid direction, I've compiled a few of my wants this year! 

1. An Hermes Blanket, because I'm always cold.

2. Tory Burch brown riding boots, because I already have a black pair.

3. A Shoshanna Dress, because I love Shoshanna, it's be perfect for work, and it's on sale! (size 4)

4. A Spoon holder, because I'm tired of having to wipe food off the stove top.

5. A day at the Riviera Spa, because I could use a nice, relaxing break.  (Riviera Spa Escape Package)

6. This fabulous Coat from Cole Hahn, because I've had my eye on it forever--and it's on sale! (size small)

Dear Santa, I promise I've been EXTRA good this year!

Happy Happy Birthday Sky!

Today is my sister Sky's 8th birthday!  I remember the day you were born--you were my little monkey! 

You are beautiful, talented, and intelligent!  My favorite memory of you was the year you were a leopard for Halloween. You were only 2 and you'd run around going "Rahhhh" to everyone....even after Halloween was over.  And, I'll never forget that you are a "life-time member of the TIME OUT club". 

My Little K

Since I'm on the topic of birthdays, I want to say Happy Happy Birthday to my youngest sister, K!  1 week ago, she turned 6, and since I was in Italy, I was unable to blog.

This little girl brings so much joy to my life.  She's funny, smart, and a hoot to be around. One of my favorite memories of her was the first time she met my dog.  She looked at me and said, "What's your puppy's name?" to which I replied, "Sweden".  Then she said, "Oh, then I will call her Sweetie Pie."

Happy Birthday BFF

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Two days ago, my best friend turned 26.  Sorry for being a bad friend and not blogging on your actual day!  We've been friends for a very long time, and as I reflect on all the memories made, I must say that I'm so glad you are my friend!  20 years is a long time to know someone. 

We've done a lot of stupid things (remember when we ditched our frat dates on Bourbon Street, or the time we agreed to be on that tv show, or the time the cops showed up to that party and we all just turned out the lights and stood there still while they banged on the door, our fakes from Arkansas), had a lot of great times (hello Tabb, San Francisco Rose, Wing Dingers, and that time we ditched our frat dates on Bourbon Street), and have done a lot of living!

Summer time at the Rose

"Sarah, if you don't make this throw, we are no
longer friends."  She made it!

Before FIGI Island at UT

 

The Loon

My MOH--at the Rehersal Dinner

I'm so glad to call you my BFF.  Here's to another 20 + years!

Catching UP

Ciao Sweet Friends!  I am so sorry I've not blogged lately.  I've actually just returned from a 2 week trip in the Tuscany region of Italy!

It was wonderful and beautiful!  I can't wait to share all about it with you. 

This weekend, while the Hubs is on a Quail Hunt with the guys, I plan on decorating for Christmas. (That means I'll spend a large amount of time in Michaels buying more decor!)  Have you already decorated?  I feel like I'm a week behind!

While I catch up on work (and sleep and decorating), I wanted to leave you with these amazing images to help you get through the day! 

Source: google.com via Sharon on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Brandi on Pinterest

Source: camillaathome.blogspot.com via Lorinda on Pinterest

Source: luxeandlillies.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Happy Friday and Happy Holidays!