Top 2 Tuesday

Top 2 Things You've Learned About Friendship

First, I can't believe I'm posting a Top 2 Tuesday on a Tuesday afternoon! I'm so behind!

1. They aren't all meant to last forever...

Sometimes people out grow us, and sometimes we out grow them. Sometimes someone moves away or you just drift apart. Sometimes you find out you didn't know each other as well as you thought you did. That does not mean they were less important or special at the time, it just isn't all meant to be forever.

2. Distance doesn't always matter

My two bestest best friends live 2 1/2 and 5 hours away. Both have full, busy lives. I don't get to talk to them as much as I"d like, and I sure don't get to see them as much as I like. But when I do, it's like no time has passed and they are always there when it counts.

Here's the part where I post a couple of pictures of me and my friends. If I've left you out, it's just b/c I only have 5 more minutes and still have another post to do...;-)



So, Have I Mentioned I Had a Birthday?

Since you all OBVIOUSLY haven't heard enough about my birthday yet, I celebrated again this weekend. Twice!

First, I had dinner with my Texas Mom (Geri) and my great friend Robin at my favorite lil restaurant on the Harbor. Delicious! And so much fun! Totally not following my rules, they brought gifts. But they were fabulous gifts, so all is forgiven:) Geri got me this great koozi that says birthday girl on it and has a pink and black feather boa wrapped around it - I DIE! Made the waiter put my drinks in a glass that fits the koozie;=) Robin got me some super cute Yellow Box shoes and a wine stopper that looks like a giant pink diamond. How they know me well!

Geri is NOT a picture taker (though we did get a nice shot of her giving the waiter her "take a picture of the hand" pose, haha), but here is one of the Ultra Fabulous Robin and I.

So Saturday morning was UIL. I coached Ready Writing (yup, coached a writing team. that's as atheltic as I get). My kids rocked. I had 3 competitors and one alternate on my team. We got First and Fourth. I know, you're jealous.

Saturday night was official girls night bday dinner. We went to my favorite local Italian place. Bill cooked at home for the guys and was sweet enough to foot the bill for the girls. Because we had a larger group, they put us in the wine room, which totally hurt my feelings, lol. But there were a few people eating at the bar. One was an elderly gentleman who had a very distinct sounding voice. More accurately, he sounded just like Froggy. Lots of entertainment from that. Here are some shots, though I am sad to say that Stacie and Katie had to leave quickly and I missed getting them in a group shot or Stacie at all:(

Predinner at the maison.

Wine room (I know, Captain Obvious!)

Bday cake.

Okay, funny story about the cake. Stacie's birthday is less than 2 weeks after mine (ie, this week) and her party is Friday. She is completely obsessed with t-shirts. NO JOKE, SHE HAS MILLIONS! Anyway, she asked me what I wanted for my bday and I said a tiara (see earlier post, she got it! haha!) and I asked her what she wanted and she said a tshirt. Later she amended it to a tshirt that said Birthday B**** in rhinestones. Well, you can't just go to the mall and buy that! But I found a site that let's you design your own. So I gave it to her at dinner from Jacque, Gracie and I so she would have it for her celebration next weekend. Waitress thought we were out for her birthday and got real upset when she left before she could bring her the cake! LOL. But I told her she was fine, it was my birthday, so she felt better. Haha. Anyway, the B part is in turquoise and didn't show up well, but here is Stacie in her much-love t-shirt, haha.

Tammy adhered to my no gift rule - sort of. She made me a cake. She said I could get by without a birthday gift, but not without a birthday cake. Well, it was freakingfantabulous! Chocolate truffle torte something or other - idk. Alls I know is, it was good. Jacque cheated, too. Thanks to her I'm getting a pedicure next week;-)

Well, tomorrow is church and study group, so I'm pretty sure I won't be celebrating my birthday anymore. I do have a picture of the buffet my mom and dad gave me to share. BFF Court helped with decorating it. One of her gifts is the metal magnet bored and magnets in the center.

Also, filed under the category It's Not All About Holly, Jacque and Matt welcomed Annmarie home a couple weeks ago. She is healthy and beautiful! Here's her first shot with Auntie Holly!! (Okay, it is a little about me! Haha!)

I also made an adorable stationary find today, so be expecting ultra-cute thank you cards. Hope you all have a great weekend!! We did!

Free Signature Generator

Tacky Christmas and Weekend Recap

The weekend started off well enough - Bill had his poker night at the house on Friday night while I had a shopping trip with Julie and dinner and a Christmas light tour with Geri, Rodney and Glenda. Saturday was a fairly lazy day and then we went to Second Baptist's Saturday night service to hear our neighbor, Carlee, sing in the Kid's Choir - and missed her performance by about 90 seconds! We were so disappointed:( But, the Second worship team did an AMAZING service and Carlee got to sit with us, so that was nice. We did a little Christmas shopping and had dinner after.

Sunday was our first annual Tacky Christmas Party! It was so much fun! We had fun group, some from work and some from church. Everyone seemed to really enjoy seeing and/or meeting each other and everyone ate way too much! I think I over did it on appetizers and Bill definitely over did it on dinner! But it was all so good! So here are the long awaited Tacky Christmas pictures. We had quite a variety of get-ups!

Troy and Greta went for "cheesy" in their matching sweaters;=)

Noah's t-shirt was light-up! VERY tacky!

Regina and Kevin went for a slightly more "cheesy" theme also.

Julie and David went all-out bling! 3 light up pins on David's tie and Julie's necklace and earring blinked!

Bill's tie lights up and sings - an old birthday gift from Grandma Betty. It's a classic!

Jacque, Matt (the mistletoe inspector!) and AnnMarie (hiding in Jacque's belly)

The kids! Reese and Noah

Noah and me in my full ensemble - rhinestones on my shirt? check! sequence on my skirt? check!

Tammy and Eric (1987 Bill Cosby tacky!)

All in all it was a great weekend - with the exception of the monster cold I woke up with this morning! My husband was nice enough to go to the store for some Nyquil, Kleenex and bread (just b/c we were out and I need some for tomorrow). But he came back with Kleenex brand dinner napkins!! LOL! Oh, well! 2 out 3 ain't bad, right??? Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and I can't wait to hear about everyone's holiday!

...And Drown Me in Love

Every so often I look through the pictures on my computer. It just makes me happy to remember some of the things I've done. And today is just one of those days when I'm feeling a little melancholy and want some cheering up. Well, my picture stash is limited (my computer is still at Aaron and Cel's waiting for me to come get it), but I found some great reminders of great times with my friends. Yesterday my devotional was all about how God created us to need each other. It was about being an encouragement for those around you. Relationships are tough. They require us to sacrifice, forgive and be selfless. These are not easy tasks. And being someone's friend often means putting what's best for them above your own desires. These are just a few of those people who do that for me, and I hope I do that for them, too. I know there are countless people not listed, but I am missing 80% of my photos:) I'm very blessed to be surrounded by such loving and fun people. I am thankful, too.

Dusty and Court with us at Chimichurri's on one of their Houston weekends.
Julie, Cathy, Jacque, Gracie, Stacie, Katie and I at Chuy's for Stacie's birthday.

Me, Cathy, Gracie, Julie, Jacque and Stacie for Pie in the Face day at school.

Nicole, Lindsey, Tara, me, Mandi and Halley in NYC.

Amy, Stacie, Court and I at L'auberge.