Happy Little Trees

I moved! Basically just a few miles down the road, but it's a pretty big life change for me.

I am very blessed to have had many helping hands throughout the process. I even basically had my own project manager directing traffic and keeping me on task! It was a hard and exhausting weekend, but good.

This was probably the most "grown-up" move I've ever had. I hired movers and had real furniture (okay, "real" from IKEA). I used to just move in the back of my Jeep.

All that I have left to unpack are some random items and some glasses. Nothing was broken in the process. Miracle!

The new place is one level and very open. The only door is on the bathroom. The old place had multi-levels and defined rooms. My body is so confused. I no longer go up and down stairs looking for things, but I do more of a wandering-type motion.

It feels quieter, too. In the old place, I basically spent every morning in the bathroom along with my neighbors. I often wondered if I should answer them back when I heard them talking. And I woke up throughout the night with their toddler. So far, it's pretty quiet in the new place. I'm finding myself on high alert for signs of noise.

I'll be missing my Whole Foods boyfriend and my gangsta barista on the other side of town, but I know that the new side of town will bring new friends and some familiar friends as neighbors. I do feel a bit like a new kid on the block.



[note: For address information, unless we are on a Christmas card basis, or I owe you money...that info will stay unpublished. HELLO! Stranger danger!!]

Four year olds are some of my favorite people. They are full of imagination and vocabulary which creates interesting dialogue. And the best part is, they can be so cute.

Queen Victoria is now the sweet age of four. On Mother's Day, she and I reflected back on her birth.

Me: I remember that we waited and waited forever for you to be born.

Victoria: (while swinging) Oh, yes, I was living in my mommy's heart and my daddy's heart.

Me: (watching her swing) Uh...yes.

Victoria: (continuing to swing) Yes, I was just a twinkle in my mommy's eye!

I could see this birth story was beyond me. She had it all figured out.

At the beginning of the week, I had the verse "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" at the forefront of my mind. It must be a key verse for the world this week, because I keep seeing it pop up.

I've also been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and came across a passage about this: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." [Jeremiah 1:5]

I heard about this website via a friend, and if you are a decorating junkie, you just might love it. Click here.

Central Market has a new theme this month. It's all about France . I stopped by the market today to pick up some lunch to-go, and I was lured by all the French offerings.

There were special labels of all products from France. I forgot to check the French fries, but there were other cool products like yogurts, butters, cheeses...all my favorite high-cal French ambassadors.

On the way out, I grabbed some pre-made crepes with chicken. And I also got a quiche. Maybe it's all those years of high school French and my three day tour of France, but I cannot say crepes like an American anymore (crapes -- like grapes). I must say, "creptz." I feel like a weirdo when I say it, but I can't help it!

So, my desire to retour the land across the pond might not be a reality any time soon, but all the parts of France I love are pretty much at my back door now, without all the "fume."

Joie de vivre!

I love food. My father loved food. My mother loves food. It's in my genes (or overflows from my jeans--hee-hee!).

Here's some food that I love from places I love:

1) Old Hickory Bar-B-Que - I know that I've blogged about this before--but you really need to go visit Owensboro, Kentucky, (the birthplace of myself and Johnny Depp) and try a chopped mutton sandwich. Also, get some burgoo. It is sweet, savory, with just enough pepper. I love this stuff! But I'm glad I only partake in it on visits home--otherwise, I would need a coronary bypass since I'm past 35.

2) Lupe Tortilla's - Houston has amazing fajitas all around--each place has something that makes it special. Lupe's offers an amazingly delicious marinated fajita beef. Soooooo good! It's always sad when the skillet is empty and my belly is full, because I want to relive the moment again!

3) Onion Creek - For some reason, I'm addicted to their hummus wrap. I love hummus. And this wrap hides in vegetables that I eat without even realizing it! It is dee-lish and makes me think I'm healthy.

4) Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria - Speaking of hummus, Barley's in Asheville has some awesome black bean hummus. This was probably the first hummus I ever ate. I love their pizza slices and the hummus is always great to share.

5) Laughing Seed Cafe - This is another Asheville spot I miss. I absolutely loved the Low Country Roll-Ups from the Laughing Seed. It's basically like Sloppy Joe tofu in a whole wheat wrap--this was the first time I ever knew that tofu could taste like something else besides styrofoam.

6) Catalina Coffee - You will find a beautiful latte. I searched for a pretty latte all over Houston and this place has excellent coffee and will make you a pretty latte.

7) Niko Nikos - Since I've been in Houston, I've seen this restaurant expand (and possibly myself). It is one delicious place. I can eat a gyro, a chicken barbeque pita, a chicken parmesan pita, or pretty much anything I want. But my deepest love for this place is the fact is has an amazing lemon chicken soup (avgolemono). It is what I want the most when I feel sick. The lemon is healing. The chicken broth hot. And it is the comfort of all comfort foods when you have a cold. It's a beautiful thing.

I've lived in Houston for many years now and figured out that there a few ways I've changed since I've been here. A few friends from my hometown county have journeyed down this way, so if anyone else decides to do the same, here's how you become a Houstonian.

1) I know what the loop is. And I try to stay in it.
2) I need a jacket for 60 degree weather--also, I also have an emergency cardigan.
3) I prefer corn tortillas for enchiladas; I only like flour for fajitas--and that is if they are homemade or prepared in the restaurant.
4) I don't watch the news because it's too scary.
5) I avoid Wal-Mart (for the same reason as above).
6) I don't pump gas at night.
7) Going to the super market is like an event.
8) Continuing with the statement above, I shop at HEB, but love, love, love Central Market.
9) I can move over seven lanes of traffic in one sweep and survive.
10) I have cowboy boots and treasure them.
11) My heart warms at the site of the skyline at night.
12) Crowds don't intimidate me, but lines annoy me.
13) I am a breakfast taco aficionado.
14) I can two-step.
15) I know the hand signs for all the major Texas universities.

I love to work out. I live very close to a YMCA, so I can just pop across the street and get my workout groove on. I normally use the same types of machines at the Y. I really like using the new elliptical/space machine (not the official name). But it makes my feet go a bit numb. I'm not sure why.  But it's a bit more challenging than your run-of-the-treadmill elliptical. And--it makes me feel like I'm running on the moon.

When I do a workout, I feel so much better. My body needs it. My body craves it. But sometimes, the busy bee and couch potato that live inside of me just refuse to work out. I wish I could get those two in gear! Then, I would be like Miss Universe or something.