Hello Again!

I didn't disappear, I swear. Only from the blog. Here is exactly what happened:
I got so busy living my life I just stopped taking the time to write about it. 

It's a good thing to have happen, really. A very good thing. But I've missed blogging. So here I am, trying to get back to it.

A few updates:

Being in your 30s is AWESOME! 

Seriously, it is. I love it. A switch really does flip in your brain and you care less- about looking perfect, acting perfect, living the perfect life. You sit back and just enjoy more. Sure, you want more. You still strive. But it's easier; more care free. I highly suggest skipping 29 and going straight to 30.

This is NOT old!

So not old. Not even a little bit. Everyone giggled at us when I first relocated to Texas and said we'd get used to having each other there all the time. Nope- not true. People are still giggling at us, but because we are still completely, ridiculously happy together and they just don't know what else to do. We still love going to the grocery together, we still love going for walks, we still talk at least 3 times a day regardless of whether or not we see each other, we still drive her husband crazy. It doesn't get old, people! Move to live with your best friend now.

This happened!

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a boyfriend! A real, live boyfriend. You never thought you'd see the day did you? Me either. But he just followed me home one night. Seriously. That's how it happened. His name is German (Her-Mon), he's Colombian (sexy, I know) and he's adorable. :)

This is gone...

No, I really am not OK. I'm better, but not OK. I miss her desperately! But her hip gave out completely and there was no chance of her walking again. So, as much as it killed me, I let her go. It was the right thing- but it was awful. It's been almost five months and I still cry, I still reach for her. She's buried at home in Florida under the same tree where my horse is buried. And yes, I buried her with a tennis ball. 

It's almost football season!

Not technically an update, but very pertinent information none the less! 39 days, people. 39 days until LSU kicks off the 2013 season. I...AM...READY!

Being an Aunt is still completely amazing!

It truly is. My friend Sally said to me the other day (about her nephew), "I never knew I could love someone so much." That explains it perfectly. I had no idea that my heart could contain so much love and joy surrounding four little people. Holy Moly- they are awesome! 

Dog Tattoo

I actually, honestly, thought I was the craziest dog owner I knew. I created a bedside table for Van on Saturday. Or maybe AC, she's almost as bad as I am.

Then I saw this:

Jennifer Aniston got her dead dog's name tattooed on her foot. That's a little extreme. I would not get Van's name tattooed on my body. I'm sure she's grieving- I will probably just go ahead and die with Van because I'll be inconsolable. I get the bereavement thing. My dog is family. But a tattoo? Hmm...

I am, however, considering getting Van this do for football season. Geaux Tigers! :)

Summer + Weekend Pics

So, who decides when summer officially starts? The sun? The calendar (Memorial Day)?
I'm gonna go ahead and say it was 2 to 3 weeks ago when we started having 100+ degree temps EVERY DAY! I don't care when the summer solstice is or when the sun's rays hit the equator directly - if it's 100 degrees in June, it's summer. End of discussion.

Speaking of summer, we had a rather summery weekend. We loaded up the kids and headed to Galveston on Saturday. (AC, don't judge) Let me just tell ya, Perdido Key it aint! I am accustomed to beautiful, white sandy beaches. Their sand is brown and their water is brown too and their water will turn you brown. I made the mistake of wearing my white bathing suit and it's still soaking in stain remover. I mean, it's not dirty in a trash in the water kind of way. Just in a silty water kind of way.

At any rate, we had a blast regardless. The bonus to Galveston over Perdido is that you can take your dog with you without the risk of a $500 fine. This goes a very long way in my book.

Cutest beach baby ever!

Van and I hitting the surf

We could hardly get Nathan to come out of the water. The same goes for van

Playing fetch with Van

Love her!

Most adorable best friend ever.

This is Van obliging me for about 5 seconds before trying, again, to figure out how to get off of the fishing pier and into the water. 

Most precious nephew

This would be me torturing Nate and Van by making them pose instead of play in the waves. 

All in all it was a great day and we'll head back again (wearing black bathing suits!!)

A Day of Blessings

Birthday Party, Take 1

So the deal is- for the past three years I have had to fly to Texas to spend my birthday with my best friend. This year I was already here! So Niki , the kids and I had a little party after work. It was a ball! There is nothing like celebrating with a three year old to make it really, REALLY feel like your birthday.

Best Friend Ever Reason #1: Niki sprayed Nate's hair with Lime green & glitter. It was completely and utterly awesome!

Purple & Lime Green cake. These are the colors of mine and Niki's room in the sorority house senior year. 

Being the amazing Auntie I am, I just let Nathan dig in.

Cake face!

There's not many things as cute as babies eating cake.

Best Friend Ever Reason #2: She took me to Coldstone to have ice cream for dinner.

Birthday Cake Remix

Birthday girl!!!

Best Friend Ever Reason #3: She also bought Coldstone ice cream for Van, as in her very OWN ice cream.

People inside the store: She's feeding her dog her ice cream!

Niki" Oh no, that's HER OWN ice cream! 

It was a completely great day! I am so completely in my bliss here. 

Tonight Jade is keeping the kids and Niki and I are hitting the town for tapas! Then Monday is indoor bouncy castle fun. Can't wait!

Biggest Dog Ever!!

OK, maybe not EVER. But almost ever.

Meet June Bug Hamlin:

Giving me kisses

On the farm with Van

Visiting Gran and Paw in the retirement home (why yes, she IS taller than the table!!)

Hanging out with Van.

June just boarded her flight in Guam headed home to Van and I! She's a 120 some-odd pound Great Dane and an official world traveler. She's been in Guam for almost 3 years now living with Katie and she's headed home- followed shortly by Kae herself. Van raised her from puppy-hood, so I'm excited to see how they reunite!

Niki, Nathan and I will be retrieving her from the airport this weekend. Pictures to follow!

Veggies, Recipe Hit & Miss + Egg Salad

I did more cooking over the long weekend. I love me some Kickel, but that fam is not into my normal veggie-heavy diet. Jade threatened to revolt if Niki and I tried a vegetarian meal. :) I'm a vegetarian by no means- I had a nice steak at Saltgrass Friday night! But I am certainly happy eating just veggies, or mostly veggies, a lot of the time. So, while my Kickel clan was out of town for Easter I veggied it up.

Thursday Night I tried out the Cooking Light Pappardelle with Baby Spinach, Herbs and Ricotta. Do yourself a favor and don't try it. It's so, so bland! And I love light pastas, so that's saying a lot. I even added extra herbs to no avail.

Saturday I went to a farmer's market and got fresh green beans, local goat cheese and some teeny potatoes. I did the green beans in a cast iron skillet with a little sausage, roasted the potatoes and made the Fusilli with Carmelized Spring Onions and White Wine and it was great. Cooking Light saved itself here. Now, I'll warn you that it's not a huge kick of flavor. And I sprinkled a little fresh shredded Parmesan cheese to it. No much, but who has ever heard of pasta without cheese? It was a great side for a meal with flavor and I really enjoyed it. Warning: it does not reheat well. So eat it the first time around.

Sunday I was up for some baking. I was catching up on cleaning (mostly the kitchen I destroyed over the weekend) and laundry and I like to have something baking while I'm putzing. So I whipped out my all-time fave Banana Bread recipes (old post about that here). This list of recipes for Banana Breads are amazing- they are all delish! I went for the peanut butter ones yesterday. Better for you than old-school banana bread and more moist. Don't leave out the flax seed!

About egg salad, you probably have a ton of Easter Eggs around. This is great for me because I am a lover of egg salad. Pinch My Salt put up a great basic recipe today and I tend to agree with her comment: the simpler the better. The only think I do different here is add a little fresh chopped onion. But go without of you don't like them.

That about covers it. Van and I spent the majority of our time relaxing, enjoying the weather and sleeping!

Using my fave black mud peel off mask. No clue why I thought it would be a good idea to take a pic, but here ya go. 

Van resting after a swim and a bath. I love the face!!

Yes I'm Am!

Nathan says, "Yes I'm am," all the time. As in, "Yes I'm am a robot, Auntie." Or, "Yes, I'm AM your nephew!!" I think it's just so damn cute.

I decided I'm make a Yes I'm Am list today.

Yes I'm Am...

An Auntie! This seems like a logical place to start seeing as I stole the topic of this post from the 3 year old nephew. And I can prove this by my membership at SavvyAuntie.com!

A dog spoiler. I can't help it- look at that face! I was scolding myself for my lack of will power against Van's pleas last night. I almost always lose. And Katie has already submitted a list of no-nos for when I keep June Bug (It may be my fault she sleeps on furniture...)

A wine drinker! If you're reading this blog, I doubt I need to explain this.

An LSU Football fan! I'm also of the crazy, over the top variety.

A horseback rider! I grew up doing it and have not done much since I lost my horse a few years ago. But I want to get back into it. And I live in the land of the cowboys now, so surely this can't be too hard.

A pirate... three hundred years too late...

If you missed the Jimmy Buffet reference here you are fired from reading my blog. Also, I'm not really a pirate. I am just playing one in this picture because AC is a pirate.

A fisherwoman. I freaking love fishing! And I will kick your ass any day.

A sister! There's no better job.

A Mama's girl

Still a child. I sleep with my rabbit every night.

Also a major Daddy's girl!

Refer back to dog spoiler...

A reader! I always have a book with me. If there's no book in my bag, it's probably not me.

A new resident of The Woodlands, Texas and loving it!

A lover of all things margarita!

A massive T Swift fan

And a Jennifer Nettles (but no so much Rhianna) stalker.

Quite possibly certifiable insane. At the very least completely crazy!

OK, that was fun! what "am" you??