spending some time in Katy...

 After an evening spent on the patio at Molly's Pub following the Astros game, we picked our lunch spot- BB's cafe. I am currently on a pretty strict wedding regimen and was extremely nervous about blowing it in Houston, but everywhere I went I found delicious salads on the menu. Have these always been here and I just went straight to the more meaty options? Either way, my waistline was appreciative, even if everyone's sandwiches looked divine.

Although Emily and Richard are looking to move around the Heights area in Houston, TX, the suburb of Katy did alright by me! Before heading to their home in Katy, we stopped at HEB's to pick up crawfish for dinner... maybe it was the med's I was on, but wow was I overwhelmed in this place! It was a Super Target on steroids. Tison even said, "This is why the rest of the world hates us!" There were towers of food as far as the eye could see. People were in line hand selecting their crawfish, one by one, and putting them into grocery bags. Oh, you Texans. What are you doing? They must have thought we were nuts when an employee brought out two huge sacks - 70 pounds- of crawfish and put them into our buggy.

As Tison told our little helper Thomas, "You can't be in a hurry when you're making crawfish." The keg of Saint Arnold Lawnmower from Spec's helped pass the time...

Thanks to Mr. Robert's recipe, Emily and Richard's generosity, and Tison's cooking patience - we all enjoyed crawfish for hours!

a couple of beers and a baseball game...

Upon arriving at The Sam Houston Hotel, we met up with Emily and Richard before walking to The Flying Saucer, officially making it a Houston tradition to go to grab a few beers there and attend an Astros baseball game. My friend Erica and Sarah, who live in Houston now, met us at the game - yay! Even though I had been feeling sick all week, I just couldn't miss out on this trip. Bottles of medicine in tow- I made it through and even snapped a few pictures! Here is our Friday afternoon-evening in Houston:

{The game went into the 11th inning and ended in a tie- Everyone wins!! Thanks Tiffany for letting me use some of your iphone pictures of the game!}

easter pastels...

Is everyone ready for the long weekend ahead? I have been looking forward to it for weeks. Tison just got back from a work conference in New Orleans, just in time to wash clothes and pack back up again to hit the road early tomorrow morning for Houston, Texas. That's right- we are having a FrEaster (Friends- Easter) weekend with Emily and Richard!

We haven't been to Houston since 2011 and another visit has been long over due. Our days will be spent watching baseball games, lunching with friends, and enjoying the sunshine. I hope your Easter weekend is filled with as many happy pastels as these found on M.E.'s head and Russell's beard!

Happy Easter everybody!

{see previous Easter celebrations here!}

purple pom poms and pretty people!

Yesterday afternoon I found myself surrounded by women that I have known for years. Women that have supported me almost my entire life; they have prayed for me, loved me, and laughed with me. To consider myself blessed is an understatement. I am honored to know them and lucky to have them in my corner. My mother has shown me the importance of friendship, not only through her words, but through her actions. She has friends she has known since she was a little girl, friends from her first job as a nurse, other mothers she has met through schools, church, or her zillion other craft groups and activities. Without her kind nature and loving heart that she shares with others everyday, I would never have known such kindness. These wonderful friends have reached out to offer their time and efforts to me to help celebrate our marriage. Thank you, Mom for always being an example of how to be a woman, a mother, and a friend. I love you.

Thanks Mrs. Gerry for taking pictures at the shower! And thanks Aunt Susan for traveling in from Texas for the shower. To those that couldn't make it, you were with us in spirit! -xoxo-

lately through the linz...

life according to my iphone:

{past looks through the linz}

follow me on instagram for a more "instant" update :) @focusedlinz

^^ xo^^

the hands of time...

As little as 2 years ago I wouldn't have imagined that my St. Patrick's Day (really any day) would be spent along side my dearest friends with their respective child or in some cases children! Looking around at Russell's 30th birthday party, where green was the most popular color of the day, I was struck with the realization that most of my friends have produced an offspring! I can't wait to see Easter egg hunts this time next year when these newborns have learned how to use their legs! :) I don't know what kind of time table I live in, but it is very unrealistic and I'm okay with it. I just graduated from high school....riiiight?!

 In other news, does anyone remember Darby O'Gill and the Little People from when they were younger?!? I didn't realize it until now, but the main character is Sean Connery! Nothing like St. Patrick's Day to put you in the mood to watch this Disney classic.

bride brain...

Hey there.
My name is Lindsey and I've got bride brain.
Symptoms include: feeling overwhelmed, highly emotional and sensitive, forgetful, selfish at times, excited, and craving anything chocolate or any movie involving a bride storyline.

I've been engaged for 8 months. I have about 500 lists of ideas and things to do for the wedding in different notebooks scattered around me at all times.

This week's tasks involved coordinating with the calligrapher for my invitations, ordering stamps online and forgetting to do the math*, finishing the wedding list and the bridesmaid luncheon list, ordering pages for my wedding guest book, making an appointment in Dallas to pick out a veil and shoes - later cancelling that appointment because I got sick, calling hair and makeup for a bridal session, speaking with photographer about ideas for bridal session (which reminds me that I need to call the florist about a bouquet) and finally making an appointment with Aly B's about the wedding cake....

My two wedding mantras are "Is this the hill I want to die on?" (per Fr. Gallagher) and the ever faithful Serenity Prayer.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

 These two mantras, plus this little meme my fiance just sent me, remind me that it's all worth it- that love is in the details and I'm about to marry my best friend.

*I went to zazzle.com because I didn't like the USPS stamps they were offering...I found a pretty colorful bouquet that I liked and thinking that zazzle would be the same price as USPS for stamps- I didn't do the math. Later though, when I realized I was paying 65% more than I should have on something that everyone throws away- I was having trouble breathing. How could I have not worked this out in my head? What was I thinking? Guys, I've got bride brain.