Houston Ballet

This morning I checked my e-mail and the Houston Ballet has sent their upcoming events for 2010. In the line up is La Bayadere!!! I can't wait!!! La Bayadere is a Russian ballet. I'm not sure why but I'm always drawn to Russian things. I love the language, ballet, symphony, opera and art. And I'm extremely intrigued by Russian history such as the Romanov's. I've always wanted to visit the Pushkin museum of art in Moscow and see an opera at the Mussorgsky (aka: Mikhailovsky theatre) Opera house in St. Petersburg. Perhaps one day.....

The music/dancing in La Bayadere is absolutely beautiful. It also has an amazing wardrobe. The plot is filled with jealousy, envy, affairs, murder, and a haunting. It's a great ballet to see and will be a fantastic way to start off 2010.

Oh Baby!

I just received a text that my BFF back in Austin just had her baby. YAY! I'm so excited to see him. I'm looking forward to snuggling that baby boy. This is going to be a fun Christmas.

Day After Thanksgiving

One of my favorite days out of the entire year is the day after Thanksgiving. Not because it's "BLACK FRIDAY" no I'm not interested in participating in that mess at all. You will never see me out there fighting the crowds, sitting in traffic, or going without sleep for a department store sale. I would rather go without. I don't like being around chaos and I see crowds as just that (completely unpredictable). It really makes me anxious and frustrated when I'm around that environment. I'm a very orderly and proper individual so chaos drives me mad. I believe people are too arrogant and selfish to be safe shoppers. I hardly see social etiquettes demonstrated these days. That's why I don't really care much for city living.

To tell you the truth I've been longing for a country estate. I wish I had that English cottage or Southern planation style home. With acres of nothingness surrounding me. I could actually hear myself think. My ideal lot would be nothing less than 7-10 acres. Awww, that sounds wonderful. Perhaps I'll ask Papa Noel this year, LOL! He could leave the deed in my stocking (along with keys to the Mercedes SUV I've had my eye on).

Ok, back to the purpose of this post. The reason why I adore the day after Thanksgiving so much is that I get to pull out all my Christmas decorations. I truly love decorating the house for the holidays. The ribbons, lights, and crystal ornaments are all more the reason I'm enchanted with this season. I'm looking forward to a day of decorating and full of Christmas music. Papa Noel left an amazing New Orleans Christmas jazz cd in my husband's stocking last year. I believe I'll pull it out and put it on. Hope you are off to a fantastic holiday season and that y'all didn't eat too much turkey yesterday, LOL!

Happy Thanksgiving!

O God, when I have food,

help me remember the hungry;

When I have work,

help me remember the jobless;

When I have a home,

help me remember those who don't have a home at all;

When I am without pain;

help me remember those who suffer;

And remembering,

help me to destroy my complacency;

bestir my compassion,

and be concerned enough to help;

By word and deed,

those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Amen.

- Samuel F. Pugh

This Thanksgiving holiday is going to be extremely difficult on many American families. Across this great nation are those who have experienced job loss, foreclosures, bankruptcy, divorces, health issues, and many other heartbreaking tragedies. As Christmas begins to approach I'm sure guilt stricken parents will feel depressed and broken as they will not have the means to provide a financial blessing upon those they cherish most (their children). Perhaps some are feeling completely broken for they have lost their homes in the massive foreclosures that swept our country. There will be no gifts, Christmas tree, or holiday dinner. If you are one of these Americans I want to express that I will not forget you this Thanksgiving. You will be in my prayers as I pray for this nation.

I also want to send a word of encouragement. I say, to those who are in the midst of a dark storm, look forward. You have a future and even though you are struggling now don't give up. Don't let that dark day, dark month, dark year, or dark decade define your future and who you are. America was not built on financial wealth but faith. Faith in the true living God. Our focus has been selfish greed for many years as we concentrated on gaining possessions and wealth. But God and relationships are truly what makes a poor man rich. God gives hope to the hopeless and sends people in our lives to shower us with love. If you are feeling lost and helpless I can offer you the truth. You can have the BEST holiday season in your life if you are willing to cry out to God. Ask him for future and thank him for all he has done for you. Then love on those around you. No amount of money will provide the happiness and joy you will experience when you make your holiday about God and relationships.

"Give thanks to the Lord; for he is good; his loves endures forever." - Psalm 107:1

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and blessed Thanksgiving!

Peeptoe Pumps & Pearls

Jill over at http://peeptoepumpsandpearls.blogspot.com/ has recently posted a "give away" at an opportunity to win a bottle of Perricone MD cold plasma (retail $150). I couldn't be more excited about this offer. I didn't realize that we had something HUGE in common, skincare!!! Yes, I'm obsessed with skincare. Not only am I obsessed with my own skin but my husbands too. I'm constantly chasing him around the house trying to lather skin products/sunscreen to his beautiful skin (he hates it). I will probably be one of those insane mother's that has my babies in hats, sunglasses, and tons of sunscreen.

Where did this obsession begin? When I was in high school I worked for a Dermatologist. The horrible stories I would hear scared me enough to stay out of the sun. I wear lots of hats and light weight cotton shirts during the summer. I try to avoid certain hours to be out of the direct sunlight. And I'm constantly applying lotions/oils to my face when I'm home. I try to not apply make-up on the days I know I won't be running around. And I wash my face twice a day no matter how exhausted I am. You wouldn't believe how many women do not wash their make up off!!! I also believe that a healthy diet is important too. However, the best skincare tip I've learned over the years is a healthy lifestyle.

If you get an opportunity please stop by to see Jill. You'll absolutely love her blog.

Holiday Decor

Our little Gayanne

I just went outside and got the mail. I'm so excited because I received a very important letter. I would like to share with y'all photo's of someone who has completely melted our hearts in the past two years. This is our little princess, Gayanne. Gayanne lives in Armenia with her loving family. We sponsor Gayanne by paying for her medical/education. We like to send packages filled with little goodies (mostly toys & candy) as you can see in the pictures. Isn't she adorable? Love those pigtails.

Her grandmother writes us the cutest letters and always sends updated pictures. We get excited when we get one in the mail. Gayanne's father is a truck driver. We learned last year that her mother wanted to attend a vocational school so we decided to surprise them and pay her tuition. She is now working in a hospital. Gayanne has a little sister who just turned two. We want to sponsor her education too when it's time. We feel so privilege and humbled to be able to make a difference in their lives. I can't tell you how much these letters mean to us. I love to see Gayanne grow and I hope that we will one day be able to meet her face to face.