Tag Archives: Holidays

Merry Christmas!

Tagged For Christmas!

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year! I was recently tagged by Heather from Terrell Family Fun to participate in this great activity to get to know some of us bloggers a little better. Here we go!

What is your first Christmas memory?
I have no idea. That’s probably pretty bad. I always remember snow days and winter vacations consisting of sledding until we were forced to go inside, building snow caves and snowmen. If I could only go back to all that it would be amazing!
What is the #1 item on your kid’s wish list?
Not applicable. My niece on the other hand is 1 1/2 and I’m pretty sure she is all about baby dolls right now! (The newest niece is about a month and a half and I’m pretty sure she is content with naps and food that I can’t provide.)
Were you scared / nervous of Santa as a kid or did you run right up to him?
I don’t know… I’m going to have to ask my mom. I’m sure I was a little nervous. I’ve never been one to go stand somewhere where it draws attention in front of a crowd.
Does Santa wrap his gifts or are they unwrapped and set up Christmas morning?
Santa wraps all his gifts. I’ve only heard about this unwrapped business recently!
Gift Bag or Wrapped Gifts?
Wrapped for sure all with a note saying “From Santa”.
What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Charlie Brown Christmas & The Family Stone
Does your family have an Elf on the Shelf?
Nope. We’re good all year long so we don’t have to worry about that!
What is your Christmas Eve tradition?
I’m going to be completely honest… I still leave “Santa” a beer or beverage of choice and some cookies. Yes, I’m 29. (My dad loves it.)
Do you stay home for Christmas or do have Christmas morning somewhere else?
I go to my parents and my brother and his family come over.
What is on your Christmas list this year?
This was pretty hard. A new camera lens, lift tickets to the local mountain, some good ole VT microbrews, yoga towel. I enjoy surprises. Really, I just want to see some lifelong friends and hang out with the family and meet my newest niece. The best gifts are the ones you can’t buy.

RULES:
* Answer the 10 questions the blogger who tagged you asked
* Ask 10 questions to the 5-10 bloggers you tag
* Go tag your 5-10 people
* Include a fun Christmas Photo
* Be sure to the link to your tag post to the blogger who tagged you’s comments {if I tagged you, leave the link in the comments of this post~if someone else tagged you, leave you link here, too and I’ll stop by}
* Have fun!

MY 10 QUESTIONS TO YOU:
1. Favorite Christmas memory.
2. Favorite Christmas baking item?
3. Real or fake tree?
4. Do you travel anywhere for Christmas?
5. Turkey or ham for dinner (or other)?
6. Favorite Christmas movie.
7. Any quirky traditions?
8. Stockings or no stockings?
9. Any particular gifts you are most excited about giving this year?
10. Do you have any special or favorite ornaments for the tree?

Tagging: Emily @ Dashboard Diary, Alyssa @ Ten Feet Off Beale, Sarah @ The Wanderblogger, Crystal @ Mason’s Mama and Becky @ The Java Mama!

Bill’s 30th in Austin

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Over the weekend of May 11th, I headed down to Austin to catch up with some friend’s and celebrate Bill’s 30th Birthday. Bill is a friend who I use to work with in Vermont, who moved to New Jersey after I moved to Texas. His friends from New Jersey moved to Austin last year and well here we all were reuniting! Seriously, some of the best people to hang out with!

In honor of Bill’s 30th, we enjoyed some of the best things to do in Texas!

This time in Texas is phenomenal. I’ve mentioned the wild flowers but photos do no justice. They lined highway 35 from Fort Worth to Austin. Also along the way, well everytime I travel down that way, I see this old farmstead off the highway. I actually took the access road this trip to make sure I got a picture. It reminds me of the farm in Second Hand Lions. (One of the best movies of all time!)

Stop Number 1: We floated tubes down the Guadalupe River, just south of New Braunfels and Gruene. Obviously, I didn’t take my camera. I wasn’t taking a chance with my clumsiness. The camera would’ve made it in the water before I would have. I will tell you, that it was one of the MOST scenic and beautiful places I have ever seen. As soon as our trip down the river was done, I was ready to do it again just for the view! Old, large trees were coming out of the water banks, beautiful homes lined the river and at one point there was a huge rock scale that went hundreds of feet up along the river bank.

Stop Number 2: Just down the road from the river is the small town of Gruene. One of my favorites and another place that I can check off the list for visiting twice (because once wasn’t enough). We had dinner at Cantina del Rio which is pretty much tucked away next to Gruene Hall. Fish tacos and a sangria margarita (voted best in the county) are the way to go! (And the prices were very reasonable!)

We then walked around town and checked out some local shops.

Donkey’s – they’re so cute!

I was beyond excited about these chairs. Dad – we’re going to make some!

Stop Number 3: It’s amazing we still had energy for this. Saturday night was spent out on 6th Street in Austin. Rooftop bars, closed off streets and we even got the birthday boy to ride a mechanical bull!