FORTY

 My oldest cousin turned the big four-oh a few weeks ago guys. What a privilege it is to make it to forty! But it's an even bigger privilege to be able to join in that celebration. As it goes in Mexican culture, there was a live band, tons of drinks, dancing, maybe a few tears of joy and of course food. I got to document the event as well so of course I had to post a few pictures. Cheers to 40 years of being loved cousin! And cheers to many many many more! 

Talk Soon!
Bree

 

 

 

 

26 LESSONS LEARNED

I turned 26 today y'all. I'm not sure when I'm supposed to feel the effect of officially being in my late twenties but I'm alright not feeling them for now. The past three days have been spent eating too much,I'd say drinking but my stomach lining just can't handle that anymore. Family dinner and beautiful colorful cake with its' own little rave on top from mom. Carrot cake not pictured from the office. A breezy lunch spent on top of the roof with an alright (actually fantastic) view of our city, and boozy beverages at Julep, also not pictured. I'll continue last years tradition of listing lessons learned, you'll see that huge ass list below.

(1) Disney channel movies that came out while I was younger still rock, I watched The Lizzie McGuire Movie while sick last week and it still makes me laugh with all the awkwardness

(2) Shorter hair just works better for me

(3) You can climb as many stairs as you wish, but you never feel healthier than when you pee clear

(4) Dating has proven to not be one of my strengths, I suck at conscious coupling.

(5) I can be painfully awkward under the worst circumstances, divorces, funerals, memorials...no clue what to ever say

(6) I love my dog more than I love myself. Health insurance for myself? Let me keep researching…health insurance for my dog, uh yes, sign me up yesterday!

(7) I prefer being behind the camera than in front of it

(8) I love planning things for others, not so much for myself

(9) Heart burn and hangovers are a thing, a horrible, horrible thing

(10) Everything my parents ever said or did really was for my best. Please don’t tell them though, I’m still holding out on the who’s right thing

(11) Anxiety, the frenemy I can’t get rid of but am dealing with much better than at 24 & most definitely better than at 25, so yay for that!

(12) Hot Cheetos with real lime juice…game changer!

(13) I have a habit of not letting my friends eat before me taking multiple pictures if their food looks great. Sorry Mel! I know I mainly do that to you, but girl you have great taste! Lol

(14) Whiskey is to be had neat and anything else is a disservice to it. I hardly ever have it neat, but I did learn that’s the way it should be, I still prefer a bit of ice

(15) Writing letters and notes is a dying art, that’s why I do it, saving stationery lives

(16) You can get mad at family, fight, disagree, but they’re still family, they’re not going anywhere. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet....keeding

(17) Friends can become family too, most of mine have

(18) Classical music is highly under rated and shouldn’t be kept solely in elevators

(19) I’m an old soul. I really think I am. That’s the most reasonable explanation behind my being

(20) People that call you boring for visiting museums are people you don’t need anyhow. Believe me, I don’t always find nightclubs all that riveting

(21) Mom was wrong, you don’t always get a cold because you’re walking around barefoot

(22) My aunt was also wrong, aloe vera doesn’t cure everything, just buy the meds

(23) Bitches do get shit done…I’ve worked in places where the majority is women, I’ve seen it firsthand. We get it done.

(24) There’s no better feeling than being able to do something alone. Really seals the deal on adulating correctly

(25) Life is not what I expected when imagining it at 10-15 years old and that’s not a bad thing. Although, I used to want to eat ice cream whenever I wished and now I can and do, so some things do turn out as expected.

(26) No matter how old I get, a cake with light up candles is still THE BEST!

Talk soon!
Bree

8th WONDER, 25th BIRTHDAY

My dear friend Jordy turned the big two - five! Drinks were had, pizza was eaten, and songs were danced to.

I only took out my camera briefly, and the first thing I caught...a dog with a man bun. A man bun y'all! lol it was adorable. I don't have much to say about the night, it was just a good night with friends. But I'll just post some pictures from it.

It wasn't our first time visiting, but we were looking for something relaxing with a few beers. Bonus points if you know who that is up there!!!

I realize that picture is blurry but I was mad staring at that beautiful pup.

Happy Birthday you beautiful soul! 

BIRDIE'S BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

As we wrap up the summer, birthday celebrations are rolling in and this weekend was by far one of my favorite. Syl and I made our way to Austin to begin our friend Birdie's birthday weekend. And if anything set the perfect mood for the days that were to follow, it was the sunset we saw on our way. Friday night, we were welcomed with warm hugs, cold drinks, yummy snacks, and guys, the most beautiful smelling apartment I think I've ever walked into. Mind you, it was Birdie's weekend, but she truly made it feel as if it was all our weekend as well.

 

The next morning we made our way to coffee and started the ride to Johnson City to visit Lyndon B. Johnson's White House. What can I say, this girl likes her history tours. We saw his old school, his cattle (don't forget we're in Texas), and his beautiful home. The entire property made me want to kick off my shoes, sit out on the porch in my prairie dress, and sip on some sweet iced tea.

Walking/driving around really made us hungry which could only be satisfied by the schnitzel's we had in Fredericksburg. We didn't do a lot of shopping, but y'all, I cannot stress enough how hot it can get in Texas (103 degrees as I type). So what better way to fix that than to go for a wine tasting. We stopped at Becker Vineyards on our way back to Austin and it was everything I'd imagined. A beautiful venue, large fields, and a load of wines that I knew nothing about but felt very compelled to taste...all of them. I wanted to taste all of them.

 

But I didn't! Because we still had dinner plans and I live on a budget. A lovely dinner followed and then later more drinks. I know, it sounds like I was probably shitfaced by this point. But I promise you I wasn't, hydration is key here!

All good things come to and end though so we said our goodbyes Sunday after brunch and drove back to our sweet city of Houston were I was greeted with all the humidity and a strange man waaaaay too close for my taste on the road. Seriously y'all, had my window been open, I'm certain I would've smelled his breath. But Houston, I love you!

Talk soon!
B

QUARTER BIRTHDAY

 

I turned twenty - five years young Saturday y'all and I have never felt as loved as I have in the past 14 days. I had a lovely dinner a week before my birthday with friends, another dinner this past Friday with another close friend followed by drinks on the rooftop, and finally on Saturday I had family over for dinner and cake. It was all just sooooo amazing and delicious and fun. So a big thank you to those who spent time with me and for your well wishes whether they were through texts, email, calls, or wall posts, I really appreciate you taking the time. Any whom, because I love a good list. Here are twenty five things I've learned in 25 years. Looking forward to 26 already!

Talk soon!
Bree

(one) my twenty -five year old body can't handle liquor like it did at twenty - one… I apparently keep trying though.

(two) bobby pins do go with the wavy part towards your scalp

(three) if you like things done correctly, just do them yourself…I'm a control freak, what can I say.

(four) no one will ever love you as much as your dog. EVER. E V E R !

(five) your mother will forever be the place of comfort. 

(six) surround yourself with a great support system, meaning, choose friends wisely.

(seven) invest in a good base coat and top coat for your nails.

(eight) expensive candles are worth it!

(nine) the body doesn't metabolize the way it did at 16. haven't let that stop me from late night Whataburger after a few drinks though.

(ten) if you can read, you can cook. don't sweat it.

(eleven) life costs money! bills, bills, bills….to pay.

(twelve) don't hold grudges, learn to forgive. people change, same way you do.

(thirteen) genuinely supporting other people in their endeavors feels great!

(fourteen) not all kids are the worst…except that one that peed in the fitting room when I worked retail…THAT kid was the absolute worst!

(fifteen) buying furniture and home decor can be surprisingly exciting

(sixteen) if you have nothing nice to say and are older than five, stay quiet.

(seventeen) heating up hot pockets or fish in the office kitchen is just mean to everyone! I don't care if it's delicious…it's smells like ass to the rest. that being said i apologize to my co-workers for the times i've heated up any hot pockets.

(eighteen) Starbucks is overpriced. i've accepted, dealt with, but will continue to buy it.

(nineteen) when trimming flowers, you should cut at an angle

(twenty) if it rains, houston floods

(twenty-one) you don't always have to like what you love

(twenty-two) relationships take commitment and hard work, both must usually be done at the same time.

(twenty-three) don't spend on bullshit things like the latest trends, spend on experiences instead

(twenty-four) there are some things that I will just never understand why they are. I'm speaking of the terrorist attacks in Paris.

(twenty-five) turning 25 actually feels great. getting older is definitely a privilege, NOT a right!