Behind every successful woman....is a fabulous handbag

This is a quote I live by. Don't most girls?

Shoes and purses...shoes and purses...and I guess Bud Light fits in there somewhere. It always does....like having a cold one ready for my husband after I come home with NEW shoes and purses...

A few months ago, the bridesmaids and closest friends of my sisters ventured to Greune, Texas to float the river. That was what she wanted to do for her bachlorette party and we had a fabulous time! Low key, live music, and cold beer- what more could a girl ask for? Well, besides shoes and purses....

I was coveting over a fabulous bag, my sister's friend Tess was carrying. Turns out they make them. Turns out by hand. Each. One. By. Hand. See, Tess and her family manage 2 different ranches in Colorado. Their story is here. Zapata Ranch.

Her husband had the idea to create the Mercantile business - bringing the beautiful bison and leather from the land into our homes.

Now this was something that got my attention. I happen to love custom too. Shoes, purses. bud light, and custom made. Simple girl, right?

All the girls wanted the whole story and were mesmerized by it- the way the Ranchlands Mercantile came about, the love they put into each piece, and they business behind it all. A real, life ranch story. It's pretty cool. The motto this family lives by is

" Working together to live with the land"

Tess and her family are amazing- all working together as a team to keep the Colorado Ranch moving at all times. Whether its entertaining guests who want the real, ranch experience, herding cattle, or making leather goods by hand, they do it all.

When I saw the bag I knew I had to have it- its gorgeous, durable, practical, authentic, custom made, and has that fresh leather smell.

John concurred.

This was something I had to have.

I waited 6 weeks for my custom bag- something that was not easy for this impatient girl. But the wait was worth it.

They say that a bag speaks about the person- and this bag says that I like the finer things- but love the custom ones, that I like a brand- but love an experience, and that I like a bag- but love the way a bag makes me feel. And this one takes the cake.

My bag...isn't it pretty?

What's inside your bag? Mines pretty boring. Love those Pockets!!

Bison Beer Koozie??!? What!?! I need this!

Gorgeous Ipad case...Christmas presents anyone?

Another view of this gorgeous tote

Warm beer and an open heart

Warm beer. I hate those words...but where I stand now feels like a warm beer...sitting, waiting for it to get cold, and wishing it would be sooner.

A blog...what is a blog? A story? A journal? Recipes? Advice?

It started as a hunt for cold beer....that will never end- but grew to a place where I could talk about our travels and life experiences- always keeping it light and fun.

I love and adore my husband. He's the best ever and most importantly- the best for me. We have been married 5 years. Woohoo! And it flew by. I love our marriage and I love our life. But something has been missing for quite some time. A. Long. Time.

A family. A unit. A dream I have had my whole life. A child.

I have dreamed of all of the ways I would share the news with family and friends- through the blog, through champagne, a name, a picture. I have dreamed these dreams a million times.

And I will keep dreaming. We are moving forward exploring ourselves and learning our chances of a family that we can create naturally. I dream of being pregnant, carrying a child, and experiencing the miracle of life. But we welcome learning about another culture and being moved beyond belief.

I wish everyone who has ever asked, "when", "why" "who" and "what" remembers these words... We are waiting, dreaming, and hoping for a little miracle to complete our family- and we aren't in charge. But we want it. And we wait. And we hope. And we dream. And we pray. And we share.

And of course, we drink cold beer.

Bud Light Discount

Let me start this post by saying I NEVER thought I would write these words...

Bud. Light. Discount.

That just seems silly. But, it happened. For all those haters out there who make fun of a bud light drinkin girl, it finally happened. I got a discount.

This year my whole family went to Steamboat to go skiing. This marks the 5th year in a row John and I have gone and we decided that we are serious about the commitment to go every year. So, that led to me finally buying my own ski boots. (Of course, John got his skis and boots years ago- but I waited it out). Since we went in March, towards the end of the ski season, all the boots were on sale- still pricey though.

The worst thing about buying the boots- isn't the cost- its the time. It takes a while to get the right boot- and its super important for safety and comfort.

***Its really like buying jeans. I HATE buying jeans***

So, in my discussions with the "boot guy", I shared with him how all I wanted to be doing my first day in Steamboat was have a beer and look at the mountain- not sit in a ski shop and try and walk and sit and walk and try again. That led to a discussion, and a free beer from the ski shop fridge, about our favorite beer.

"Boot guy" has some great taste- his favorite beer- you guessed it. Bud Light.

So, when we went to the register to close the sale, he told the guy at the counter the sale price, stopped for a minute, and said,

"Take another $20.00 off. Its the Bud Light Discount."

And there you have it, saving money left and right- just by drinking Bud Light.

Rome wasn't built in a day- but a kitchen remodel was

Ok, maybe not a day- but it was 2 days, And what a whirlwind it was!

We have a guy....I'm telling you having a guy is really not all that its cracked up to be. Why? Because it ends up being a money pit. Once you find a guy you can trust who is cheap and can do anything- your mind wanders and the sky is the limit. Hence, the new kitchen in a weekend.

Here are the after pictures- we are super happy with the transformation and I love, love the new sink! Dishes are a breath of fresh air.

There have been many a night already at the island where dreams are made and long days are discussed. And of course, a glass of wine is enjoyed!

 What do you guys think?!?!

Before

Before- sink

Before

Demo- night one

Demo- night one

Granite installation

Granite installation

Another view of granite

Granite again

Complete with backsplash

Finished!

Finished

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bottoms Up!

There are so many studies that are constantly coming out about the health benefits of beer.

There are also many friends and family that make fun of me for only drinking Bud Light.

However, this article sums up how I feel- I'm getting the most bang for my buck. Most people in this article are complaining- I however, think its greatness.

The great taste of beer with less alcohol and more water!

Now, that's my kind of beer!

Happy Bud Light drinkin

http://money.msn.com/buhttp://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?date=20130226&feed=AP&id=16168855#scptidsiness-news/article.aspx?date=20130226&feed=AP&id=16168855#scptid

Wining and Dining my Man

Kitchen "Before"

This is a very important thing. I love doing it and he deserves it.

However, this weekend he really deserves a special 6 pack of beer- must remember to get!!

We had a faulty disposal. Like really faulty. It started leaking and the we realized we had a problem. However, when the house started to smell we realized we had a BIG problem.

But, the disposal led to another conversation- the sink. We hate the sink that we have. Its an 80/20 sectional sink with the 20 percent side having the disposal and being the "washing side". I have been cleaning plates vertical for years now and I am over it! So, that led to sink ideas....

Uh-oh.

The sink we have now is over-mounted on top of our solid surface counter top. I really don't care for this look- but if we stick with our budget of a new disposal and possible new sink plus installation- what choice did we have...well, there are always options and this girl can dream BIG!

We have been back and forth on granite since we moved in the house. The solid surface is fine- and the question- do we really want to put more $ into the house. Will we stay here long term? We will get the $$ out? Do we have the $$? Are we willing to give up a trip? You know- all those questions that have always led us to NO. But- at this crossroads with a new sink in the horizon- we decided to take the plunge.

So, from a faulty disposal 2 and a half weeks ago to a new disposal, new under mount sink ( I wanted farmhouse- but it wouldn't fit), new granite counter tops, and a new back splash.

Yep, he definitely deserves that 6 pack. And heck, I may need one of my own!

Pictures to come!

Here is how it looks now

Counter tops

Walking in

Hate This sink

A lifetime is never long enough...to love

I needed an outlet. Yes, this is supposed to be about cold beer and finding cold beer and sometimes about my unique experiences - but today is about something different.

Today is about a man.

I am blessed.  Many days I am ungrateful and feel like God has handed me a raw deal- there are things that are hard, things that I want- and obstacles that sometimes seem too much to bear.

But- when I come to a week or a month like this- I feel like my cup runeth over.

Once upon a time there was a poor paper boy who fell in love with a star pupil in Chicago. They went to a party after a minstrel show and the rest is history. They fell in love, got married, had 2 children and lived happily ever after. 76 year dating, and 71 years married! Woo-hoo!

However, there are things to note about this special couple. This man went to war and came back wounded- very wounded. He was in the hospital for weeks. His story is below- and its quite a tale. I mention this esp because this is the ONLY time he has been in the hospital in his entire life- until now.

A GI's WWII Experience


They worked very hard- both coming from poor families, no college degrees, and his wife never worked or drove a car.

I have memories beyond memories of these two. Quite a pair- they never, ever stopped giving.

Favorite quotes:

"Many hands make light work"

"Give it with a warm hand"

"Cur non" - "Why Not"

Its never about the money. I don't care about money- its just a thing- but my grandparents changed WORLDS with their generous hands- and the most generous part is that they never had it themselves.

They paid for my college. Part of my sister's college. They contributed towards our wedding. And the most giving thing of all- random love notes filled with a 20 or a 10 or a 100 to let us know he cared.

I've wanted to share for a LONG time (well, 3 years) the most moving thing he has ever done. Well, never mind- he moves me everyday- but something for the books.

Their 90th birthday party. he had it all figured out. He booked the hotel, restaurant, the band, everything for the best party in 90 years. And let me tell you- it was! We had a blast! At the end he passed out each family- 12 envelopes total and said there was a check inside that he wanted us to spend. But we could open the envelope till Tuesday (it was Saturday night) and he would know if we did. But first, we had to write what we would do with it- and send it back to him that Monday. No saving- just spending!

And- of course- he matched the church


I wont tell you what was in it- but it changed all of our lives.

That's just what they do. Its just what He does.


I love him, I honor him, I cherish him. He's still here tonight and I pray one day I will have a son to honor him for my lifetime.

****forgive me for a rambling post about an amazing man I am not quite ready to lose to heaven****