Vacation Time!

The giant and I rarely go on vacations. We enjoy the time away, but we both prefer spending our money on other things, or saving for our future. Since vacationing is a rare occurrence for us, we get REALLY excited when we get to go somewhere fun.

Last month, we went with the giant's parents to Fredericksburg, Texas. I have never been to that part of Texas, so I was really excited. The giant's parents graciously paid for our hotel room for the stay as a birthday gift to the two of us (our birthdays are one month apart). We were also able to carpool down there, saving on gas.

The Thursday before my birthday, the giant and I worked until noon. We decided to take off work early and get the driving out of the way (it was a 7 hour drive) so that we could have all day Friday to begin our vacation. The drive down was BORING. I took my iPad so I could read, but there were several times I was so anxious to get out of the car that I couldn't focus. When we FINALLY got to Fredericksburg, we dropped our things off at the hotel and went to a German restaurant for dinner. After we ate dinner, we walked around downtown Fredericksburg to scope out anything we wanted to do during our stay. Since our hotel wasn't far from downtown, Jeremy and I walked back to stretch our legs after the long ride.

Fredericksburg is in a part of Texas known as Texas Hill Country. People have discovered the soil in this area is excellent for growing vineyards. The giant's father had a goal to hit EVERY winery in the area before we came home. Luckily we were able to avoid that (we only hit ALMOST every winery).

Since I'm not a drinker, I mostly took pictures of the wineries. I got especially excited when a winery had animals for me to photograph/play with.

Cows next to the first winery we went to

Guineas

One of the most colorful roosters I have ever seen!

This poor girl got shaved, so she looked a little silly

It was hot, so the dogs were laying on the cement trying to cool off

The same rooster

Kitty that was napping on people that were sitting at the winery

Tiny little birds outside of Texas Hill Country Olive Company

Wild jackrabbit outside the last winery we went to (this was as close as I got)

We were able to meet up with some friends of the giant's parents that he has known most of his life. They live not far from the area, so we got to catch up with them and their families.

One set of friends took us to The Salt Lick on Sunday for lunch. This was genuinely the best barbecue I have ever tasted. If you are ever in the area, TRY IT! You won't regret it. The giant bought their cookbook so we can try to replicate some of their recipes.

We tried several other restaurants in the area, but The Salt Lick is the only one that was truly memorable for the taste of the food. There is a bat cave near Fredericksburg that we wanted to see, but it was too early for bats. So, we ate at the Alamo Springs Cafe on Friday. We were told the burgers were great and it wasn't far from the bat cave. The burgers turned out decent, but we got to see someone try the Jefe challenge - 6 beef patties, 6 slices of cheese, and a large order of fries, which must be consumed in 30 minutes or less, with a 15 minute wait period at the table after you finished. We didn't see him finish, but at the rate he was going, I doubt he did.

The thing I was most excited about, other than The Salt Lick, was Der Kuchen Laden. It was similar to Williams-Sonoma, but more affordable. And it was HUGE. The giant and I went in there while others were enjoying some beer at a brewery. We thought we were in there for 20 minutes, but it was closer to an hour. I found a cute olive oil bottle and a funny cat towel for the kitchen. I definitely could have spend $1,000 in there!

On Saturday, before we hit wineries, we went to the National Museum of the Pacific War. Outside of the museum is a courtyard covered with metal plaques that commemorate soldiers, ships, and planes that fought in the war. I found the plaque for the U.S.S. Oklahoma, so of course I took a picture.

"Veterans Walk of Honor - Admiral Nimitz Museum"

There were pillars honoring the ten consecutive presidents that served in World War II. I didn't get a picture of each pillar, but this is the sign telling what is being commemorated.

They also had some cool stuff sitting outside the museum.

Torpedo housing (way bigger than I thought it would be!)

 

There were too many words to read for my liking, but the giant really enjoyed it, and I got some cool pictures. 

Atomic bomb (I thought this thing would fill a huge room. Not so much.)

I even got lucky enough to drive through a sculpture garden and visit a gallery (I was honestly surprised anyone else was willing to do this). I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that enjoyed it.

What a view!

 

Not a sculpture, but this tree was really cool

 

The drum actually worked!

The only picture of the art inside the gallery I got

Photo from The Scuplture Ranch and Galleries Facebook page

While the rest of the gang recovered from tasting wine all day, the giant's mom and I walked through some shops downtown. There was a wide variety of stores, and they covered a wide variety of prices. We went into an art gallery that had a painting for sale for $20,000! Needless to say we walked out of there pretty fast. We did find a candy store that had chocolate covered bacon, chocolate covered jalapenos, and tons of fudge. We got 6 pieces of fudge to share, and got the guys the jalapeno and bacon. No one was a fan of the jalapeno or the bacon, but the fudge was excellent.

On Sunday, we went to Twisted X Brewery. I got some pictures of a cool tree they have outside that has different carvings in it. This is the only place I got a picture of the giant and me.

I don't remember what day we went here, but the Fat Ass Ranch and Winery was definitely the most interesting winery we went to. I liked it enough to get a magnet.

"Put Your Butts Right Here"

 

 

It was so nice to get to go somewhere fun, and we really enjoyed getting to see friends we don't see very often. We came back on Monday, the day before my birthday, so we got a full three days of vacation time in.

Here are some random pictures I took on the trip:

Cacti everywhere!

Baby grapes!

Huge agave plant

Baby peaches!

Lavender farm

Lavender farm

Autism Awareness

For those of you who didn't know, April is Autism Awareness Month. I know today is the last day of the month, but it's important to me that Autism Awareness spreads through the whole year, not just the month of April.

Did you know that Autism affects 1 in 68 children?

Or that Autism costs a family an average of $60,000 a year?

Or that boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have Autism?

Or that vaccinations DO NOT cause Autism?

Or that early intervention can help an individual with Autism cope with the diagnosis and the challenges that come with it?

According to Autism Speaks:

"Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by social-interaction difficulties, communication challenges and a tendency to engage in repetitive behaviors. However, symptoms and their severity vary widely across these three core areas. Taken together, they may result in relatively mild challenges for someone on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum. For others, symptoms may be more severe, as when repetitive behaviors and lack of spoken language interfere with everyday life.

(...) The basic symptoms of autism are often accompanied other medical conditions and challenges. These, too, can vary widely in severity.

While autism is usually a life-long condition, all children and adults benefit from interventions, or therapies, that can reduce symptoms and increase skills and abilities. Although it is best to begin intervention as soon as possible, the benefits of therapy can continue throughout life."

Autism isn't a diagnosis that just affects children. More than 3.5 million Americans live with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (Buescher et al, 2014, courtesy of Autism Society). Adults need help adjusting to society as much, if not more, than children do.

An individual with Autism struggles with the diagnosis every day. Many do not seek employment or post-graduate education after high school. Some require full-time care throughout their lives.

This month kicked off with World Autism Awareness Day on April 2nd. The theme of the day is "Light It Up Blue" for Autism Awareness. Millions of people participate, and tons of iconic buildings and landmarks worldwide "Light It Up Blue".

Niagara Falls; Photo Courtesy of Autism Speaks

The Great Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Giza; Photo Courtesy of Autism Speaks

Of course the giant and I had to participate, too.

Autism Awareness is something I hold deep in my heart. My sweet nephew was diagnosed with Autism a couple years ago. He is funny, smart, creative, and loving. He melts my heart all the time. He has a hilarious quirkiness that makes him just a little bit different. But don't we all?

I have also had the privilege of teaching several kids with Autism when I worked at the Oklahoma State University Child Development Laboratory. Those kids have forever touched my heart, and have taught me how to love unconditionally. Their parents have also inspired me in how much they are willing to fight for what is good for their kids.

Autism doesn't mean less. It means different.

I encourage you to help raise awareness for Autism. Look into some of the facts about Autism. If you can, donate to help Autism research. More funds means more research, and more research means more answers for families and individuals.

Favorite Finds

This is a Favorite Find that I found years ago through a hair stylist. The first time she ever put this product in my hair, it transformed my hair from dry and brittle to soft and shiny - and it did this without making my hair seem oily. What product is it?

Moroccanoil

Seriously, this stuff is AMAZING! I absolutely hate putting product in my hair, then feeling like I have to re-wash my hair once I dry it. I've gotten better about this when I curl my hair (it's almost impossible to curl your hair without hairspray and expect it to stay), but I still despise the feeling when my hair is straight. This amazing elixir fixes all of that.

I use the Moroccanoil Treatment - Original. I'll admit that this stuff is extremely pricey. But there is good news! I have had my bottle 3.4 oz bottle for close to 3 years. And I use this at least once a week. And it's just over half empty. So for $43.00, I am getting product I can use for at least three years. I'll take that kind of price for quality hair product any day!

How have I gotten away with having the same bottle for close to 3 years? You literally use a teeny-tiny amount of the stuff. Like, a dime size. Rub it between your hands, and comb it through damp hair. I'll admit - I used way more than a dime size one time, and my hair did feel pretty gross. But a dime size is more than enough to cover my whole head of hair (my hair is about mid-shoulder blade). And I only use the stuff once a week (twice if my hair is feeling particularly unhealthy).

I have also used the Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo and Hydrating Conditioner. I never had any problem with using these every day. I never got the feeling that my hair was being weighed down, and it made my hair incredibly soft and shiny, and it felt healthy. I actually had strangers asking me what I used in my hair to make it look so great.

If you have naturally oily hair, I would try the Moroccanoil Treatment - Light. It's geared toward hair that is fine or light-colored, which means it's less likely to make your hair feel oily. They also have Oily Scalp Treatment and Dry Scalp Treatment (I haven't used those, but I assume they are just as awesome as the products I have tried).

I honestly had no idea how many products Moroccanoil had until I decided to write this post. I'll have to do some more testing to see how awesome their other products are. But really, you at least need to try their oil treatment.  I plan on trying the Root Boost, Extra Volume Shampoo, and Extra Volume Conditioner once I run out of the stuff I'm using now. I'm also interested in trying their Heat Styling Protection for the days I curl or flat iron my hair. If you try any of their products, please let me know! I seriously LOVE their stuff!

Favorite Finds

I am obsessed with pizza. I could eat pizza every day and be perfectly fine with it (though my waistline wouldn't be). And I don't need fancy pizza to keep me happy - I love plain old pepperoni pizza. Sometimes I get crazy and go for Canadian bacon, green pepper, mushroom, and onions. It also doesn't take great pizza to make me happy. If you bring me some Little Caesar's pepperoni, and ask them to Crazy Crust the whole pizza (if you don't know what this is, go to Little Caesar's, right now, and ask them to do this for you), and some of their breadsticks, I am super happy.

All of that being said, I am obsessed with Falcone's pizza. At least twice a month I'm begging the husband to let me go pick some up. I order their large pepperoni pizza, and it's a little over $20. And it is SO GOOD.

This pizza is the best greasy New York style pizza I have ever had. The crust is slightly crunchy, the sauce is super flavorful, and they definitely don't skimp on the pepperoni. 

Occasionally the husband is in the mood for a stromboli. That is the only time we change our order (and I don't give up my pepperoni pizza, we just add the stromboli to our order). It has several meats and veggies, and is a nice switch from the regular pepperoni pizza.

Another great thing about Falcone's is that they remember us every time we come in. They also have an amazing glass box that showcases their desserts. I have had their chocolate cake - it is DELICIOUS!

If you haven't tried Falcone's, you need to. Like, right now. Just writing this post has my mouth watering, and I just ate it this past weekend!

International Epilepsy Day

Did you know that today is the first every International Epilepsy Day?

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder. Seizures are caused by electrical disturbances in the brain. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, "Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages". There are several different types of epilepsy, and several different types of seizures. You can find out about some of the Epilepsy Syndromes here.

Another aspect of epilepsy is SUDEP - Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. SUDEP occurs when an otherwise healthy individual dies during or right after a seizure.

According to the International Bureau for Epilepsy, "On average, one person in every 100 has epilepsy. In developing countries the incidence is significantly higher." Chances are high that someone you know, or someone you love, has epilepsy.

I had the privilege of working with a little girl that was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome. No matter how many seizures she had in a day (some days they were non-stop), she was always such a happy girl, and always willing to learn. This little girl and her family have been through so many struggles in her life: difficult medical decisions, uprooting their lives to seek better medical care, and the every day fear of losing their little girl. The medical expenses are unbelievable due to uncovered medications, trips to the emergency room, and all the special equipment this little girl needs (you can make a donation towards their medical expenses and learn more about her here).

Can you imagine having to watch someone you love suffer through one seizure, let alone multiple seizures? Please spread the word on epilepsy. Become aware of the types of seizures that exist and what you can do to help so that you can help someone if the occasion ever arises. I have included several links in this blog post - I highly encourage you to visit them and learn about the tragedy of epilepsy.

Why I'm the Luckiest Woman Alive

Just a forewarning - this post is pretty mushy, and lengthy. It could be because Valentine's Day is around the corner, or that our 2nd anniversary is in March, or maybe it's because I love my husband so incredibly much. Whatever the reason, I felt the need to share this with all of you.

For those that don't know our history, my husband and I met when I was a senior in high school (I was 17) and he was a sophomore in college (he was 19). I was working at Rib Crib, and made a best friend, Jamie. At the time we met, Jeremy's brother was living next door to Jamie. Jamie and I spent a lot of time together, so it was inevitable that Jeremy and I would meet. He came over one night to play pool at Jamie's, and I was thoroughly annoyed with him. I couldn't stand him! He couldn't leave fast enough. As time went on, however, he grew on me. We spent a lot of time together since we were both friends with Jamie. It wasn't long before I grew to like him as more than a friend - but I knew he wasn't looking for a relationship. So, we stayed friends.

I dated a few other guys, and he dated a couple of other girls over the course of the next couple of years. We lost touch a couple of times, but somehow always managed to find each other again. Jeremy was there when I went through a couple of bad relationships, and he saw the struggles I was going through in depth. He was going through struggles of his own - with school. He took a couple of years off to work while he got his priorities straight.

After a particularly bad relationship and break up, Jeremy and I got in contact again. He helped me through a very rough patch with that break up, and that was the first time I really saw how much I cared about him. We spent almost every night together, and most of our days (when I wasn't in class and he wasn't working).

It wasn't long before we were in that limbo of being more than friends, but not considering ourselves in a relationship yet. We talked a lot about our feelings for each other, so there was no doubt in my mind when I brought a bunch of clothes, shoes, and toiletries and took over a closet and the bathroom in his house without asking his permission (he still gives me a hard time about that, but I know he wouldn't have it any other way).

Photo courtesy of David Holbrook

Now that you have a background of our relationship history, maybe this next part won't seem so mushy and newlywed-like.

Sometimes it hits me just how lucky I am to have found my soulmate. Most people go through their whole life and never experience the strength of love we share. I can honestly say he is my best friend, and I often feel like 24 hours a day of being together isn't enough. A lot of people think it's because our relationship is still relatively new, but most don't realize it's the love we feel for each other. We have known each other almost 7 years, in ways other than just being together. And we have been through a lot of trials throughout our relationship - both individually, and as a couple.

Little things make my heart swell with love for my husband, and they are almost always random. Here are some of my favorites that ALWAYS make me feel that way:

1. When our wedding song comes on the radio, or I get the urge to pull it up and listen to it on YouTube.
2. Getting a whiff of amazing smelling cologne. It doesn't have to be his, which is my favorite. Any great smelling cologne makes me think of how it would smell if he wore it.
3. Seeing an older couple walking down the street and holding hands.
4. Reading a book where the main characters describe their love and how deep it runs.
5. Seeing an old picture of us.
6. Cuddling on the couch in our PJs.
7. The way he laughs at a stupid joke I tell, or dance like a fool, or do something incredibly embarrassing.

I could probably name hundreds of other things that make my heart swell with love, but I don't want to bog you down with too much mushy-gushy-ness.

So for all of you who are waiting for that fairy-tale love, know it's out there. It isn't as glamorous as in the movies and books, with expensive gifts and no fights and 24/7 passion, but the feeling is the same. Pure, unconditional love and adoration.

Photo courtesy of David Holbrook