giving thanks to birthdays and traditions...

I don't know about you, but I feel like I am still recovering from the smorgasbord that was Thanksgiving. With a 2:30 Hudson meal and a 5:30 Tison meal, T and I jokingly went on an all almond diet this week. I am grateful to our mothers that made such amazing meals, as well as the side items Laur and Les made. Tison and I literally just had to show up and grab a fork.

This year Thanksgiving fell on Lauren's 25th birthday. A. It feels like I was just 25 and B. It feels like we were just carving the turkey last year. I have heard that as you get older time goes faster and I believe it to be true.

(Look at Leslie's full face- ha!)

Do you ever feel like time is rolling by so quickly and you don't know how to pump the breaks? As Christmas time approaches I am going to make it my concerned effort to stop and appreciate the little things, take deep breaths, look away from the computer to rest my eyes, practice my favorite sun salutations, say "no" to going out and "yes" to cozying up with my puppies, make a gift list and go
shopping BEFORE December 24th, go to church every Sunday, and listen to my White Christmas Pandora station non-stop! Do you stress during the holidays? If so, how do you "let your heart be light" as the Christmas song says?

Highland Jazz & Blues Festival...

Is there anything that brings people together like food and music?!

les boutique de noel...

Here's a snapshot of me with some of the ZeltaMae girls at the Les Boutique de Noel Preview Party. I love going to this event! I typically go every year with my mom and we browse the venders together, which inevitably gets us into the holiday spirit. It is such a special event and I highly encourage everyone to get out in this finally-feels-like-winter weather :) Tomorrow is the last day of the event. It is located at the Bossier Civic Center from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. I will also be attending the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival with some friends tomorrow and possibly the House Concert Series on Sunday.  Don't you love an artsy weekend?!

breaking danh...

No, I have not misspelled the Twilight Saga that opens tonight! Lauren, Katie and I went to Danh's Garden recently because we were craving their chicken pad thai with peanut sauce. I love this dish SO much! It hits my favorite flavor notes - sweet and savory - and the peanut sauce?! I could drink this stuff through a straw! Although the building looks questionable, the food more than makes up for the lackluster location.

Tison's favorite dish is B6- Stir Fry Lemon Grass Beef Noodle Salad. He was so mad I went without him. Hehe! Until we meet again Danh...

Hudson-sitting...

I have to say I am not your typical girl that goo's and gahh's over babies. Yes, babies are cute, sweet, and innocent. Yes, I think little baby clothes are precious, but when I start thinking about being responsible for a little person FOREVER... I get a little freaked out. I mean the feeding, the cleaning diapers, making sure they have everything they need-WOW, moms out there, I mean wow. I can barely keep myself together!

I am so impressed with my sis, Lauren, who handles mommyhood with such grace and ease. Some might consider me the more dramatic sister {stop laughing mom} and maybe I am, but I catch myself starring at Lauren with Hudson and asking, "How do you DO it? How did you know that's what would make him stop crying? You are so good at this mommy stuff!" Honestly, I am so proud of her. Last week when David and Lauren wanted an evening out they asked me to babysit. Oh, no big deal to most of you, right? Well, I was more-than-concerned about him choking on something when I looked away, or falling and hitting his head, or god forbid having a dirty diaper!!! When I showed up, to my surprise (and delight) Leslie, was there to help out. As a team we conquered Hudson-sitting like pros.

 The highlight of the night for me was feeding Hudson his bottle and rocking him to sleep. He is such an active baby. He always wants to be moving, so having him "cuddle" with me for 30 minutes was bonding - even emotional. I swear he gets cuter ever time I see him. As we rocked back and forth, I watched his little baby face relax, those eyes settle into a slumber and a wave of peace fell over me. "I can do this," I said to myself kissing Hudson's forehead, "I can do this."

saturday morning breakfast rocks!

Hearing "Hey, Linz- wanna grab breakfast at Strawns?" is just about the best way to start a weekend. It is pretty rare that Tison doesn't have to work on Saturday mornings or that I don't have some errands to run. This Saturday was the glorious exception. I was beside-myself-excited to have all day together. We started the day at Strawns Eat Shop...

...Unfortunately I didn't save any room for their strawberry pie featured in Southern Living. It's the best (and is also my dad's favorite dessert)...After breakfast, we walked to King's Antique Mall to look around. We toured Centenary's Meadows Museum of Art and then hit up Max's Pawn Shop. When that wasn't enough browsing we drove to Top Dollar Pawn aka "the King Kong of Pawn." Tison passes it on the way to work everyday and has been dying to know what treasures are held inside. This place is HUGE, but I didn't buy anything. I was surprised by all the power tools and get this- saddles- they were selling! I guess, since I bailed out on our Friday date night to be lazy on the couch, this made up for it :)

daydreaming...