Mexico!

Alexander and I just barely escaped the freak snow that happened in Austin last Thursday night on a quick trip to Mexico. Our flight left at 7 a.m. and by 2 p.m. we were bathing in the hot Mexican Riviera sun. Yeehaw! While we are not resort people, we decided to try it out since we did not have much time to plan. We stayed at Excellence Resort's Playa Mujeres location. Wow! Disneyland for adults. The food was not spectacular but was fresh and healthy enough for a 4-day, 3-night trip. There was also a bed waiting for you everywhere you went - the pool, the beach, your hotel room balcony! And every room is equipped with it's own hot tub. The resort's spa was such a sight to see and the experience was wonderful. The alcohol was all top shelf and they were not stingy. I am ready to go back now. More pics coming soon...

Girl's Weekend

I headed to Houston this weekend with one of my besties for some culture and to celebrate the birthday of one of my lonftime girlfriends. We started off the day with a trip to the Menil Collection. I love a couple rooms in the Cy Twombly Gallery (one pictured to the left) and always the Surrealist room in the main building.

We also visted Angora for a glass of wine, had great sushi and finished off the night at Houston's oldest bar (right photo). Overall a fabulous weekend!

Golden Globes Best Dressed

has to be Anne Hathaway. Love her! She is my thinspiration - not too skinny and just enough curve.

Photo courtesy Who What Wear

Catching Up

So much as happened since my last post. Let's see...I picked up Oliver on Nov. 7 and he has been an instant and fabulous member of our family. I would say he is the smartest and cutest puppy ever but you wouldn't believe me since I am his mom. You'll have to come see Ollie for yourself. As you can see below, he is quite the life of the party.

I turned 30 on Nov. 27 and spent the day in my PJs in Rockport with Alexander, Ollie and my mom. It was a great day and I can't wait to see what my 30's bring. I have to give Alexander credit for the best birthday ever. The Saturday before he threw a fiesta for six of my best girlfriends and their significant others. There were fajitas, a pinata and much to my surprise a mariachi band that played under the twinkle of our light covered oak tree as my best friends gathered around a fire. It was a magic night and he topped it off with jewelry - what more could a girl ask for?! Thanksgiving also was super special in Rockport with my Mom's side of the family as well, including the amazing Kate, my 10-year-old cousin who I love dearly.

As a side note, I have become quite the real estate agent, leasing out our home on Sinclair. It is what I have been dedicated to for the past two months and really think all the hard work will pay off in the long run.

Running has also been a huge part of my life. I signed up for the Austin Half Marathon on Feb. 20 and have been running like a mad woman since then, covering up to 11 miles on Saturday mornings with the lovely Julia. We are going to kick butt come February!

In the first of December, I had the honor of meeting Hunter William Cullen, son of my fabulous friend Cara. I can say without hesitation he is one of the cutest babies I have laid eyes on and for the sure the happiest baby I have ever met. He could not stop smiling. It was amazing to see one of my oldest friends in such a special place - even if it was only for a few hours.

Additionally two weeks ago, Alexander and I went to visit my aunt Maureen at her ranch in Blanco County. We spent the day with Kate feeding goats and donkeys, playing with dogs and eating burgers. It was a super day in the Texas Hill Country.

This Christmas we are staying put and the Bibighaus clan is coming to us. I am really looking forward to this special time. Check out the preview to our Texas Christmas!

I am so behind on the pics and hope to get more up soon. When I go back and write about my life I can't help but notice how much love surrounds me and reminds me to let the stress go and enjoy each moment. Merry Christmas, everyone!

20 things...

It's no secret I love Oprah. Here is one of my favorites from her...

20 Things Oprah knows for sure:

1. What you put out comes back all the time, no matter what. (This is my creed.)

2. You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script.

3. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power.

4. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. (A lesson from Maya Angelou.)

5. Worrying is wasted time. Use the same energy for doing something about whatever worries you.

6. What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.

7. If the only prayer you ever say is thank you, that will be enough. (From the German theologian and humanist Meister Eckhart.)

8. The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.

9. Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.

10. If you make a choice that goes against what everyone else thinks, the world will not fall apart.

11. Trust your instincts. Intuition doesn't lie.

12. Love yourself and then learn to extend that love to others in every encounter.

13. Let passion drive your profession.

14. Find a way to get paid for doing what you love. Then every paycheck will be a bonus.

15. Love doesn't hurt. It feels really good.

16. Every day brings a chance to start over.

17. Being a mother is the hardest job on earth. Women everywhere must declare it so.

18. Doubt means don't. Don't move. Don't answer. Don't rush forward.

19. When you don't know what to do, get still. The answer will come.

20. "Trouble don't last always." (A line from a Negro spiritual, which calls to mind another favorite: This, too, shall pass.)

Falling In Love With Food Again

In the midst of panicking about the 8 additional pounds (I'm 5'2" and it is totally noticeable!) I am carrying around, I totally forgot that I love food. I used to make love to my over easy eggs, dipping the bread oh so carefully in the spiced yolk. Lately, after a seeing a nutritionist, I am stuffing chicken breasts and salad down my throat in hopes of sticking to a meal plan that is all about deprivation rather than decadence.

Well, the meal plan can shove it (a nutritionist is not for me). I am going back to my basic food beliefs, eating like a "French woman," savoring each bite like it is my last, and proving all the fun-sucking diets out there that you can be fit and eat fabulous.

When I was pondering ditching the diet this morning, I found this great article that summed up exactly what I was thinking (I love when that happens). The author believes we eat the way we live and our relationship to food is an exact reflection of our deeply held beliefs about ourselves and the amount of joy, abundance, pain and scarcity we believe we have (or are allowed) to have in our lives. Well said!

Oliver at 3 weeks

New pics! He is always yawning - too cute!