...???

Have any ideas of things I should try?  Comment on this post and I may add it to my future plans.

...been so far behind on updating my blog

But that is because I haven't ever had a blog.  

Whenever I get behind on something, I have the tendency to let it build up to an overwhelming amount.  One of my old bosses said it was because I am a perfectionist.  I don't like to do things if I cannot do them with my best ability and so things sometimes go undone.  I'm an all or nothing kind of girl.  Obviously, this is something I need to work on.

SO, it is update time.  To minimize the amount of time needed to catch up on a few months of firsts, I will only be posting photos and perhaps a haiku or two.  Enjoy!

...seen 4th of July fireworks from Auditorium Shores

Fireworks are neat

The orchestra was cool too.

4th of July. Yay!

...met Harry Potter

Ok, well I didn't meet him but I did go to his Wizarding World in Orlando.

And I drank a Butterbeer.  It was delicious.

Also, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has inspired me to read the books.  Stay tuned.

...been kayaking

So, when I was planning kayaking back in April, I actually went canoeing.  This time I went kayaking and it was a lot more work but just as much fun.

...tried sushi

I knew when I decided to start this blog, that eating sushi was definitely on my To Do list. My best friends love sushi and it is ridiculous that when we are on trips they don't get to enjoy it because of my hesitations.

To give you a little background, I was an extremely picky eater growing up. Even now when I order something outrageous (read: guacamole or house salad or something with veggies as a key ingredient), my family immediately looks at me as though we didn't know each other at all. I even refused to eat macaroni and cheese until high school.

Last night, I had plans to join my friend Amy for a girl's night dinner. When she suggested we meet at Sushi Zushi in the domain, I was immediately nervous and then just decided that it was time for me to face my fear. My mantra for the evening was:  I am 26, not 16.

When I arrived, I let Amy in on my not so secret insecurities and gave her full permission to make all decisions for the evening. She was excited and eased me into my sushi experience. So, with a few glasses of wine on my side, by the time I left for home I had enjoyed the following:  California Rolls, Philadelphia Rolls, Spicy Tuna, Edamame, Soft Shell Crab and even a Rainbow Roll.

Overall, I am so proud that I was able to conquer this fear. Everything that I ate was delicious; however, I think it will take a few more tries until I begin to crave sushi and really decide what my favorites are.

A HUGE thank you to Amy for her guidance and incredible photography skills.

My very 1st bite.  Look at the fear in those eyes.

Our table full of sushi.

...been an Aunt

On April 22, my precious niece Kaedence Elizabeth was born.  She is absolutely perfect and I'm so excited to see what a beautiful young woman she'll become.

But for now, I'm just going to enjoy her tiny fingers and toes.  Here is a picture of the first time I held her and a picture of us at our very first slumber party.

...been so embarrassed of my own home

Keep in mind that my past "neighbors" have consisted of a pygmy goat named Ricky Bobby and a couple who had found/claimed an empty garage apartment and would often plug into my house's electricity or would offer to do yard work for us by appearing on top our two story roof.

I have loved my new house from the day we moved in, but recently our yard has revolted and has begun to take over.  For over a year and a half, our land lord has taken care of the yard work; however, recently this has not been the case because our yard team has been "lost".  We'd be happy to take care of the work if we had proper tools, but for now we will wait and take photos of the ridiculousness of it all.

These pictures are of my favorite weed in our yard.  It has grown almost as tall as Meg and has developed quite the personality.  Name suggestions are welcome!

...gone canoeing

This past weekend some friends and I headed out to the lake for an early morning canoe trip.  Originally, I had planned on using my 50% discount for a one-hour kayak rental that I had purchased from Living Social but we hadn't made reservations.  

Not to be discouraged, we headed over to Zilker Park Boat Rentals and went ahead with our plans.  It only cost $10 an hour per canoe which makes for a very affordable Austin activity.  Canoeing on Town/Lady Bird Lake was so much fun and I cannot wait to go again!

...made guacamole

But I did, and it was delicious.  The end.

...found such incredible parking

Although we were headed to West 6th to celebrate a friend coming into town, we found this incredible parking spot right in front of Logan's.  A spot like this, on 6th street, in Austin could not be passed up.  So, we had a photo shoot and let our parking karma lead us to celebrate at old college stomping grounds.

...attended SXSW

Of the eight years that I've lived in Austin, I've never really attempted South by Southwest.  But this year, I decided to brave the crowds and enjoy a 'practice' year so that next year I can do it right.

Since SXSW can be overwhelming, I only planned to attend the few concerts and events that I knew I wanted to see (aka. events that I had some connection to).  Other than that, I just rode the bus downtown and followed the crowds.  I ended up having a blast and got to see some great shows.

Here are the highlights in pictures:

The Groupon Recovery Breakfast to kick off the week and San Francisco's Stone Foxes

Andrew's film is screened with the Texas Film's and I'm on the big screen!

From hipsters to cowboys, I even made it to the Austin Rodeo to see my oldest friend, Jessica.

Flush at Guero's to end the weekend.

...been to Spencer's Corner

Last time I was in Cowtown, I headed over to Spencer's Corner with a friend.  To set the stage, Spencer's Corner is in a building that used to be called Coconuts Night Club.  To say the least, I didn't have high expectations but was willing to try it out because my friend was insistent.

To say the least, I was pleasantly surprised by this live music venue.  It was the closest thing I've found in Fort Worth that begins to compare to my favorite places in Austin.  There was live music, dancing, billiards, air hockey, shuffleboard and even a photo booth.  If there had been an outdoor area and if Fort Worth had the indoor smoking ban that Austin has adopted, the night would have been perfect.

Overall, we had a great time, ran into some old friends and I'm definitely looking forward to my next visit to Spencer's Corner.

...been to a sing-along at the Alamo Drafthouse

Every time the previews play before a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse, I will turn to my friends and ask if we can go to the next Sing-Along.  Whether it is Ladies of the 80s or Love Bites: The Power Ballad Sing-Along, I have always wanted to attend one of these signature events.

So, we finally made our move and hit up Jiggy Crunk:  The 90s Pop-Rap Sing-Along.  The night was complete with costumes, dancing on stage, MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, glow necklaces, a smoke machine and oh yea, Andy Roddick was there.

Finally, here is a little treat for you.  A video of MC Hammer's - Hammer Time Dance

...had such a delicious Frito Pie

To celebrate a new addition to our office, we decided to meet for lunch at the Texas Chili Parlor to welcome our newest coworker.  

For years, I've had friends recommend the Texas Chili Parlor, but I've never made it over to this Austin institution.

I must say that having lunch here was one of the best ideas we've ever had and I'm disappointed that it took me so long to make it here.  The atmosphere was typically Texas and the lunch time clientele was heavy with Texas Capitol employees; however, the food was excellent.

So, after enjoying the most delicious Frito Pie I've ever eaten, I'm looking forward to bringing future Austin guests to enjoy the Texas Chili Parlor.

...entered a contest like this

Last night I turned in my application to Live Off Groupon for one year. I have always talked about entering contests like this one, but Live Off Groupon is the first one to inspire me to actually apply. When chosen, the Groupon Groupawn will give up all of their possessions to live solely off of Groupons for one full year. If they succeed, there is a $100,000 prize at the end. To start, the Groupawn is given a phone, gps, camera, computer and a paper suit made of Groupons. After that, they will travel across America using nothing but Groupons.

To apply I had to submit two videos, a blog and an essay about why I would make a great candidate to Live Off Groupon. For one video, I had to interview a Groupon business so that they can see what kind of work I could do over the next year.

I decided to interview Cornucopia. When I got to the store, I realized that I needed an introduction to my Live Off Groupon interview. So, I found a steady place to set my camera and started talking to myself. Now, grumbling to yourself in public about a bad day/item left at home/something you forgot = not a difficult task. However, to be animated and loud enough for the camera to pick you up = much tougher than I had originally thought.

It took a few takes, but soon I decided to embrace the awkward stares from passerbys and just went with it.

Overall, I had a great time applying to Live Off Groupon and now I just have to wait and see if my efforts will pay off. The finalists will be announced March 8th so I'll keep you all updated on my status!

Check out my application videos:

Introduction Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wppYd4IeBEY

Interview with Nadia from Cornucopia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3F8a_dHJCY

...eaten at Polvo's

Last night my friends and I had planned on grabbing dinner together but had no real plans in place.  So, I took the opportunity to visit another Austin staple that I haven't yet had the chance to try.

Polvo's is a delicious Mexican restaurant on South 1st.  Usually there is a really long wait so we showed up at 6:30 pm to beat the dinner crowd.  The fajitas were okay and the service adequate but the margaritas are what will keep me coming back to Polvo's.

...been to a Punchline stand-up comedy show

Last weekend I had an old friend in town and I was introducing her to all that Austin has to offer.

On Friday night, we decided to go watch on of my fellow AmeriCorps members in a stand-up comedy show.  The show, Punchline, is hosted each Friday night at ColdTowne Theater.  It is an open-mic night and features 10 amateur comics who get four minutes each.  ColdTowne Theater offers a lot of free shows, but at only $5, Punchline is a great option for affordable entertainment.

...seen a Cine Las Americas film

At the beginning of last week, I had no plan for what new things I could experience.  Luckily I was presented with three fantastic options before the week end.

On Wednesday, a friend asked if I wanted to join him for a free screening of a Cine Las Americas film at the Mexican American Culture Center (MACC).  Since films and free are two of my favorite words, I eagerly accepted the invitation.  This week's screening was Flor Silvestre, and it is the first in a series of five films that will be shown each Wednesday at the MACC.  Even though it was made in 1943, Flor Silvestre held my attention and had me laughing, crying and secretly wishing that all films ended with a happy ending (like most do these days).  To top it all off, the MACC even had hot chocolate available to keep us warm on one of the coldest evenings of the year.

All in all it was a fantastic evening and I'm looking forward to coming back next Wednesday.

...mingled with singles

On Thursday, a college friend and I decided to attend The Bobby Bones Show Singles Mingle benefiting Safe Place.  Never have I ever considered going to this type of event but we decided to throw caution to the wind and jump in feet first.

When we walked in, we were handed a name tag bearing the name of one half of a famous couple.  We chose Cher and Kelly Kapowski and headed straight to the bar.  Not two minutes later, "Tiger" came up to us and started making his move.  Let's just say Tiger looked like he was about 15, but for kicks we wanted to see what he had to offer and quickly double checked that he was sporting an over 21 wristband.  Here is a quick highlight from our conversation.

Tiger - "So, how do you guys know each other?"
Us - "Well, we were in the same sorority in college"
Tiger - "Oh really?  Which one?"
Us - "Chi O"
Tiger - "Cool, well I'm a Sigma Chi"
Us - "Like...right now?"
Tiger - "Well yea. (Blank/disapproving stares from us)  What?!?  When did you guys graduate?"
Us - "2006"
Tiger - "Ohhhh, so you're like cougars."

As you can imagine, our conversation quickly ended and we enjoyed watching Tiger pounce on every other lady in the bar for the rest of the evening.

I've always been curious about who would attend a singles mixer and in true Austin fashion, every type of person was definitely represented.  There were about 30 girls for every guy and the clothing ranged from people who came straight from work to those gals who got their hair and make up done and pulled out their bedazzled cocktail dress.

I think next time I'm going all out complete with glitter eye shadow, an up-do and my high school prom dress.

...had a breakfast taco from Bomb Tacos

Last week on my way to work, I stopped by Bomb Tacos to grab breakfast.

Newly opened on the corner of Dean Keeton and Guadalupe, Bomb Tacos offers a wide selection of tacos for breakfast and lunch.  I was hoping for a bacon, egg and cheese taco to start my day, but I got there too early and the bacon wasn't ready.  So, I settled for a potato, egg and cheese and had enough food for two.

...visited Boulder, Colorado

Before I begin, let me just state that I love Austin.  That being said, after spending last weekend with two of my best friends in Boulder, I could definitely see myself moving there one day.

Since there were so many new things I did this weekend, I'll just post the top 5 highlights from my trip.

1. The University of Colorado at Boulder - When I travel to new cities, I like to visit the university there.  So, on Thursday, we caught the bus to campus and walked around for a few hours.  Upon arriving, we ate lunch in the University Memorial Center and listened to live music by some students in the cafeteria.  Afterward, we explored the beautiful campus and visited the heritage center and accidently broke into the stadium.
2. Walnut Brewery - One day we ate lunch at the Walnut Brewery. This was one of the best meals we had and we only got nachos, a pretzel and some local beer.  Oh, and did I mention we ran into Vince Vaughn?
3. The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse - For my birthday we ate at the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.  The Teahouse was a gift from Mayor Maksud Ikramov of Dushanbe, and was given to Boulder to celebrate the establishment of sister city ties between the two cities.  The building was built in Tajikistan and then shipped to Boulder.  The restaurant was exquisite and the food was even better.
4. St. Julien Hotel and Spa - We only stopped by the St. Julien hotel for happy hour before dinner; however, it was a really neat place.  The unique lobby is a great spot for a quick drink before heading out to Pearl Street.  Next time I'm in Boulder, I hope to go back for a longer stay.
5. Chautauqua Park - If Austin has Town (Lady Bird) Lake, Boulder has mountains.  One afternoon we headed out to Chautauqua Park for some sightseeing.  A lot of the locals like to come up to Chautauqua and the other surrounding trails to hike, bike or just spend a day with nature.  The view of Boulder is unmatched and is definitely a place I'd like to visit again.

All in all, we had an awesome time in Boulder and I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

...been to Zoës Kitchen

Last week my friends and I headed over to Zoës Kitchen to celebrate Abi's engagement to Paul! Turned out to be a great option for a quick, easy and affordable meal.

...sung karaokee at Ego's

Sunday night we headed down to Ego's for a wild night of karaoke. This very well may be my new favorite bar in Austin.

Everyone at Ego's is there to have a good time and although there are some heavy hitters on the mic, the crowd welcomes everyone to the stage. Regardless of ability.

...used a washateria

So, something I didn't tell you in the post about my car's first tow is that when I got home from the auto place, the pipes had burst in my garage leaving us waterless.

No car. No water. Awesome. Days like that really make you appreciate every day conveniences.

So, this weekend, thinking everything was fixed, I attempted to wash my clothes. The washer was able to spit out just enough water to soak everything (including the garage) and then gave up.

Thus, another accidental first. I threw my clothes into a trash bag and headed over to the SpinCycle Washateria.

Don't let the broken sign deter you. It was actually quite nice. There were lots of machines and I didn't have to wait at all. Also, free Wi-Fi. Need I say more?

...been thrown a Surprise Unbirthday Party

I have the best friends in the world and they proved it again last night by throwing me my very first surprise unbirthday party.

We enjoyed some delicious pizza and sangria at The Red House Pizzeria and Meg and Sarah made sure that we had some delicious dessert.

...had my car towed

So, last Saturday my car decided to give up and break down in the parking lot of Chevron. This led to an accidental first: my car's first tow. So even though the day didn't go as planned, at least I can count it as a first!

My three heroes: Jeremy (AAA extraordinaire), Dave (the one who knows a thing or two about cars) and Pete (who cleaned out my car while we waited?!?). Thanks so much for braving the cold to help me out!


My car being towed for the very first time by my new friend, Jason, who was finishing his very busy day.

...had lunch at Cherrywood Coffeehouse

My coworkers and I headed over to the Cherrywood Coffeehouse for lunch this week. I have driven past the place a hundred times and had no idea what I was missing.

Located on 38th street, just east of IH 35, this charming spot offers a variety of breakfast/lunch foods as well as delicious smoothies. In addition, they have nine beers on tap, red and white wines and this Coffeehouse stays open until midnight.

Being the classic lady that I am, I enjoyed the Classic Smoothie (Strawberry, Banana, Apple Juice) and the Classic Taco (Potato, Egg, Cheese and Bacon). Both were delicious.

Thanks Emily for a great recommendation. Here's hoping that I become a regular!

...played adult dodgeball

My first new experience for 2010 is adult dodgeball.

After walking out of the gym on the last day of 6th grade, I thought the days of being pummeled with small plastic dodgeballs by boys who were trying to prove themselves were over.  Alas, when asked to join a dodgeball team with Austin Sports and Social, I just couldn't say no.

I must say, adult dodgeball is serious business.  Last night was our first game of the season and I think there were more cheaters there than were playing in the old Rock Gym in 1996.  Also, I'm super embarrassed to admit that my arm and back are super sore from the 5 or 6 balls I actually got to throw.  Pathetic.

Look forward for some sweet dodgeball photos to be posted soon.

New Year's Resolutions

Well, it's that time of year again and the gyms are packed with people who have resolved to lose weight.  Everyone you meet wishes you a Happy New Year and asks what YOU have resolved to do this year.

This year I have had trouble making a resolution because 2009 was such an incredible year and it will be extremely tough to beat.  Here are my top 10 favorite memories from 2009:

1.  Ran my first Half Marathon
2.  Celebrated the weddings of some of my closest friends including an incredible weekend in Fredericksburg with my oldest (and first) friend, Jessica, for her bachelorette party
3.  Spent a week visiting an old friend in LA
4.  Took a Quarter Life Crisis girls trip to the Dominican Republic
5.  Started a new job that allowed me to return to work for my Alma Mater, The University of Texas at Austin
6.  Traveled to New York (twice) - once for a visit and once to accompany my friend who competed on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"
7.  Saw U2 live
8.  Completed a fried food marathon at the State Fair of Texas
9.  Got to see my Office hero, John Krasinski, live at the Alamo Drafthouse
10.  Last, but certainly not least, I got to see my high school win the Football State Championship title in my university's stadium


There is so much more, but how will 2010 ever be able to live up to the high expectations set by 2009?  My plan is to attempt to try something new for every week of 2010.  This will include events I've never attended, places I've never been and even foods I've never tried.

In the past, it has been the new adventures that have had the most positive effects on my life.

So here we go.  I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store.