new year!

well we're well into 2010, but i wanted to wish each and every one of you a happy new year!

i had the most amazing 2009 (another post coming on that)...and can't wait to what this next year brings...


also, i think this is the official time to put those self-improvement resolutions out there for the world to see (in an attempt to hold oneself accountable), and so, without further ado...

* be more healthy (obviously...this always seems to make it onto everyone's resolution list, but its a good one, nonetheless)
...this includes less salt, more water, more fruit and veggies, less (but not no) chips and queso, etc...

* stay organized

* let go of the little things

* make more time for the people that i care about

* less TV watching

* go to the dentist!

* have more date nights with the husband



there...now you are all in charge of making sure i keep those resolutions!

have an amazing 2010...

feliz

happy happy happy christmas!!!

celebrating with my new husband and mother-in-law today with brunch at south congress cafe, wrapping gifts, eggnog, and midnight mass...


then tomorrow my father-in-law arrives (he's a fireman and had to work today) and its homemade cinnamon rolls and omlettes and PRESENTS!!...


then j and i fly to california to join my parents and brother - who are at my grandparents house - for christmas dinner...


then the next day (also known as amy's birthday!) we get to witness and celebrate my uncle marrying the most amazing woman!!  happiness always, tim and marta!


whew!  its already shaping up to be one of the best christmases ever!!!


hope yours is just as amazing...

new look!

i'm not totally set on the new background, but i'm loving my heading picture!  i might keep looking through the free backgrounds available...


what do you think??

UPDATE: still working on the background.  and trying to learn how to add a column on the left side...

healing energy

...would you all send your best healing powers and holiday cheer out into the universe for my granny, please??


she fell and has broken her pelvis in, not one, but 2 places...


she is 89 and has a list of ailments longer than my sunday grocery shopping list (and that sucker is long)...so she is doing as well as can be expected, but she is in a lot of pain...and will likely have to be in the hospital over christmas (so sad.)

thanks internet (and real life) friends!!!

girls night and a resturant review

last night i met some of my best friends (girls i've known for 15 years!) at a new place called Little Deli & Pizzeria for a large (okay, there may have been 2 larges) margarita pizza and BYOW (bring your own wine, duh) pinot noir and chardonnay. 

we giggled, we scarfed, we sipped (and sipped and sipped), and had one of my favorite nights in a long time!


if you live in the austin area, you MUST check out this little deli!  Y.U.M.  its in a tiny little shopping center, and only has a few tables, but it has some of the most delicious pizza i have ever eaten.  and the owner is so very sweet.  and its BYOW (with no corking fee!)

pretty bird

these might be my favorite part of the whole tree...

(from crate and barrel)

oh, and i also really want these...

also from crate and barrel

its beginning to look a lot like...

...christmas!


gingerbread lattes and peppermint mochas...gold glittered ornaments...a chill in the air...christmas carols (yes, this especially means the jessica simpson christmas album on repeat)...ice skating atop whole foods...holiday soirees with coworkers, friends, family...


and decorating our newlywed abode!   oh my!



see?

 

 

 

what does your house look like for the holidays??

delicious food.

my thanksgiving plate.

beautiful.  delicious.  (and i've heard calories don't count if you blog about them...)

overwhelmed...and turkey. in no particular order...

i still feel like i have so much to share and catch you up on that it's become overwhelming...

but i decided i have to start somewhere...and as i don't yet have the hard copies of my gorgeous wedding pictures...

...i now present for your viewing pleasure:

thanksgiving...a day in pictures

first, we took our own "turkey trot" through the neighborhood (newlyweds with jason's parents)

homemade spinach quiche...yum!

the official thanksgiving flag (been around since i was born)

my mommy arrived to help me not ruin the turkey

with the sage and rosemary infused turkey roasting away in the oven, we headed out on our thanksgiving photo scavenger hunt...this one was "group dancing in the street!"

my brother jumps high

the newlyweds serving thanksgiving brunch** (complete with fresh fruit, homemade quiche and zucchini muffins, turkey bacon, and mimosas)

**this was actually before the scavenger hunt, but i'm tired of wrestling blogger to re-order my pics...

pre-thanksgiving meal "warm up"

adorable niece licks the beater...whilst adorable mother wears my anthro apron in the background as she makes homemade whipped cream

new wedding dishes...love.  (albeit prettier without the card table addition...)

mi familia at the end of an amazing day...happy thanksgiving and hook em horns!!

hope your turkey day was just as lovely...

ciao!!

thanksgiving in the newlywed nest...

jason and i are hosting thanksgiving this year...


here's what it will look like:


using new dishes (delightful!)

+

trying not to ruin the turkey (horrifying!)

+

9 adults, 1 four-year-old, and 1 infant (love!)

+

1200sqft townhome (cozy!)

+

what seems like the entire crate and barrel living room accessory page (oh yes!)

+
amelia's homemade zucchini bread, spinach quiche, and blackberry cobbler (delish!)

+

whatever everyone else brings (somanycalories!)

+

leftover wedding wine (and beer, and tequila, and vodka...oh my!)

=

HAPPY THANKSGIVING at the Penoli's Newlywed Nest!!!

ciao!!