Saturday, December 31, 2011

Project 52 - End of the Year

Bear with me as the last 10 weeks of the year unfold before your eyes....
I did not take any photos this week, but Benjamin did.  Above are shots of his co-residents and doctors in the clinic.  This was in preparation of interviews for the 2012 class!  As a side note, interviews went super well and our sweet friend Kenner clinched a spot in Houston!  We are thrilled to have him join the UT Ortho family.
Halloween.  Nerds.  Our sweet Sheep.
My Mom's birthday celebration.  There was steak, gifts, and cookie cake.
Mom, Salem and I hosted a Style Your Sole party.  We invited gal pals to come over and spend the afternoon snacking on food and decorating Toms!
In clockwise order: the Christmas wreath that I made with the help of Benjamin.  Breakfast overload from The Empire Cafe - our favorite after church place to eat.  Our family on Thanksgiving weekend.  This sign is located in the MFAHouston the last sentence says, "An ancient myth tells that when God created and named all things, he was accompanied by a monkey."
A gift from the boss.  He knows to keep the three gals who keep the department together shortbread.
Outtakes from the parents Christmas card shoot.
Crazy Cozads Christmas Celebration!
Dexter spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with us.  He and Lulu are sweet on each other!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Cozads!

Another goal successfully completed!!  I so enjoyed putting these together and being cognitive to take photos every week.  I haven't yet decided if I'll do it again in 2012, posting every week... but in a nice way it was a fun thing to do to wrap up the week.  It allowed for great conversation between Benjamin and me.  It also has really allowed me to take time to realize how fortunate and blessed I am - in the big things and in the little things that I get to observe daily.  Nothing is too small to be thankful for it.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Book Countdown Complete!

Folks,
I did it!  I completed my goal of reading 24 books in the Year 2011!  For a little bit there I was beginning to doubt that I would successfully complete the task I had laid out before myself... but alas, when the last page of the book was digested, I celebrated with a hoppy, skippy dance!

The last four books I read are as follows:
Lisey's Story was my first Stephen King novel and I was pleasantly surprised.  At first it was a bit tricky following the writing style but once I caught on, it was an interesting read with twists and turns that stretches the imagination!

Now, some may say that reading the Wayside Series is cheating, however I disagree... I distinctly remember reading these books when I was younger.  Adored them then, adore them now.  I mean, who doesn't love the wacky going-ons on the 30th floor?  Pig-tails, gravity, apples, stolen voices to name a few!  Benjamin gifted them to me over a year ago and I simply had not taken the time to read time since owning them.  

Looking back over this year's list of books, I'm quite satisfied with the array of styles, authors, and genres.  The only book I gave up on was Jane Eyre.  I haven't committed to giving her another try...just might have to watch the movie on that one!  My Reading Wish List for 2012 is shaping up quite nicely with seven books already on the list:

Have you started your reading list yet?  What is on it?

via via

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Project 52: Week 41 + 42

Rainbow after a much needed down pour!  Shnazzy shoes that the sales man told me would give me bad ankles.  Mom said they look like a Mexican blanket.  Someday they'll be mine.  Benjamin's Ortho bat in honor of Halloween!
Breast Cancer Awareness rally in Discovery Green.  Looked out my office window one morning and there was this huge inflatable pair of boobs.  Of course, an after lunch field trip ensued!

Benjamin's Top 10 Creepiest Things List

I decided that it was time to clean out my drafts folder and I came across this list...

1.  The Snuggle Bear
2.  Demons
3.  VooDoo
4.  Gingivitis
5.  Crazy voices
6.  Loud noises that wake him up from a dead sleep.
7.  The Rat King from The Nutcracker.
8.
9.
10.

So, really this post should be named "Benjamin's Top 6 Creepiest Things List."

**This post was amended after I received an email from the MIL stating that she remembers Benjamin being creeped out by the Rat King after seeing The Nutcracker in elementary.  He confirmed that enthusiastically!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas!

On this day of wonder, joy and pondering on the Miracle that we celebrate,

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Project 52: Week 38, 39 + 40

Sweet Dexter came to visit us for the first time.  He and Lulu got along well and are now old friends.
This was the week that I started my new job, we found a bat half alive in the backyard that Benjamin pummeled with a shovel, I learned to spell my last name correctly and we were there when David Crowder Band's amp caught fire.
So the Oil Company has Starbuck's coffee for cheap.  Real cheap.  I get a medium latte of my choosing and a muffin for $2.00 every morning.  Every morning.  Benjamin and I went to hear our friend's high school band play the halftime show at The Rig in Pearland.  Celebrated my hubby's 27th birthday!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Project 52: Week 37

Another sampling of Pittsburgh pictures for you to enjoy!  The ladies all dressed up from Wicked!  Potatoes always deserve a thumbs up!  Photos out and about Heinz field.  Chillin' on the farm.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Catch up!

Here's a few things that we have been up to that I was a little behind on writing about:


We celebrated Thanksgiving with the families and enjoyed having a long weekend to ponder all that we are thankful for this year.

Book Countdown...

When I looked back at the last time I updated my book reading list, I discovered that the last post was back in July.  JULY!  I have taken a break from the reading, but felt the need to get inspired to push through finish strong!

Completed so far - 20 books!

  • The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
  • The First Born Series
  • Incendiary
  • From High Heels to Tractor Wheels
  • The Hunger Games Trilogy
  • Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
  • The Girl Who Fell From the Sky
  • Deception Point
  • Interview with a Vampire
  • The Lost Symbol
  • The Sunrise Series
To finish my goal, I have to read four more books by the end of 2011.  My sweet husband says, "You can do it!  One a week!"  sigh.  

Any suggestions on books you've read recently?

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Project 52: Week 34, 35 + 36

Today Benjamin asked me if I was ever going to update my blog again.  My response was a very mature one as I stuck my tongue out at him.  Then he asked if I had given up on Project 52.  No, no I have not given up on Project 52 - I've just been otherwise occupied, ya know making money and being a wife.
All of the photos from Week 34 revolved around our trip to San Antonio.  Benjamin was such a champ finishing off that cinnamon roll!  Funny story about the McDonald's run after Lulu's.  You should ask Benjamin about it.  Or Luke or Kala - they tell a very funny version of it!
Benjamin working on a retainer for a patient.  My official offer letter from The Oil Company arrived!  Jingle Jangle and Lulu chilling out on the Kermit rug.  That rug is one of Lulu's favorite places to be.
Jingle wanted to take a ride home with me to Pearland.  Next time, sweet pup!  Kala + Kate and I at Tabletop Friends.  Shawna makes these awesome covered strawberries and she brought them to girls night!  Benjamin snapped this photo of Casey and Luke.  I side with Luke, donuts are better than celery!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Travels: Girls to Pittsburgh

One of the many things I was able to do in my season of transition was to go on a girls trip with my Mom and Salem to Pittsburgh.  My parents had purchased Wicked tickets for their moms as a Mother's Day gift this year as well as a block of tickets for the women in our families to join in on.  Two years ago, Mom and I took a similar trip to see The Rockettes with the ladies.  This year was special because Salem was able to join us and it was her first trip to Pittsburgh!

The first day we arrived, we went down Grill 36 and to see Heinz field.  I particularly wanted to see the Mr. Roger's memorial.  The last time we were in the city it was still under construction.
Jerome Bettis' Grill 36 is one of my favorite places to eat in Pittsburgh.  Yes, it is a touristy thing to do, but it's right by the stadium and the rivers and they have delicious pierogies + homemade pretzels.
YUMTOWN.
The next morning we headed to the Andy Warhol museum.  Salem is fan of Andy's and it was on her list of things to see while we were in town.  How great would this wall paper look in a kitchen?  Must find where I can get some...
The three of us girls loaded up into the car and headed to Kittanning so that Salem could see where Mom and Dad grew up.  Fun fact about Kittanning:  Mothman Prophecies and the new Katherine Heigal film, One for the Money was filmed there.  Across the river is Ford City, home of Ford City Bakery where they make the best maple rolls and you can buy half a dozen for three dollars.  It's also were we stopped to see my Aunt Deborah.
Good genes run in the family.
Next stop was Grandma and Grandpa Bowser's house where Salem got a grand tour of the farm, dug potatoes, pet a baby chick and collect eggs!
We also swung by Grandma Ruby and Papa Jim's as well for some fantastic pie and pie crust.  I could eat myself sick on Grandma's pie crust.  
The third day in Pittsburgh was dedicated to Wicked! and dinner with all of the ladies.  The show was absolutely delightful and met every one of my expectations...even the fourth time around!  Mom had reservations at Walnut Grove in Fox Chapel after the show.  The three of us arrived first which worked out perfectly.  It gave me time to set out the dinner favors.
Yes dear reader, the favors were favor size apples from the  California Carmel Company!  They shipped from California to Houston and then I carried them in a cooler from Houston to Pittsburgh.  Through security.  In which I got singled out and they had to do a search of my apple bag.  Thanks to Mr. Security Man, I was able to take my cooler of apples with me and share their delicious goodness with the ladies of my family!  These ladies:
Cousins, aunts, sisters, grandmothers, daughters.  The whole gamut.  Family is good for the soul.
Our last day in Pittsburgh, the three of us rode the incline and then went to brunch at The Grand Concourse.  It was a fabulous way to end the weekend!
Love these ladies!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Halloween Party

Benjamin and I have never been a couple to go over the top for Halloween, however this year with our commitment to host events for the ortho department and my excitement of the costume I had found for us we threw ourselves into hosting a Halloween shindig!

A few weeks before Halloween, I turned our dining room table into a painting studio as I crafted our costumes.  After hours, I was proud of the way they turned out!
 We were Nerds!!
My side was the exact verbiage on the back of a box and Benjamin's back was the nutritional facts.  And yes, Benjamin is wearing tights and his hair is purple.  No, I did not have to coerce him into this either.  I can't take complete credit for the idea.  We did see it on pinterest.  Just love that site.

Here are the cast of characters that graced our home:
Part of the party was a pumpkin carving competition.  We covered our back yard in drop cloths and set up the work lights.  One couple even came armed with a dremel and canned air!
Thanks to everyone who came out and contributed to the fun times!!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Still Alive and Kicking

I feel like it's been months since I sat down to write about life + other things going on in our world.  And it quite practically has been!  I sat down this morning to check up on the world around me and my Reader has reached the 1000+ mark in posts to read!!  

One one hand, I'm okay with that.  Work has been great, life has been active and I haven't had the time to give.  Could going to bed at 9 pm have something to do with that?  Truth, no lie.  On the other hand, dang! I have some major reading to do!  

Not to mention all the things I have to share with you, dear reader!  I could list them all, but in the time it would take to do that, I quite possibly could have another post written.  :)

For now, I will leave you with this little gem to get you into the mood of the Halloween weekend:
This little guy is sitting on Benjamin's work area in the clinic.  He too is undergoing some orthodontic work! 

Sunday, October 16, 2011

A Dog Named Matt

Three years ago or so I came across the cutest doormat that was made in the shape of a dachshund.  It was adorable.  And it was also 70 euros.  No way was I going to pay over $100 for a doormat no matter how stinking cute it was.  I sent the link to Benjamin anyway.  He's really good about filing things like that away for "just in case" purposes.

There have been quite a few times over the years that we have talked about that doormat and really, how it would be perfect for us, especially now that we have a Lulu.

Inspired by the surge of crafty energy that has been filling our house as of late, we set out to make one of our own.
It turned out better than we expected!  Lulu loved it so much, she asked us to make some for her friends, Jingle and Dexter.
So we did!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Brought to you by the Letter A.

Happy Fall, Dearest Reader!  

I'm not sure about where you are, but here in The Great State of Texas, fall has arrived!!  This week and part of the last we have been experiencing days of high 80's/low 90s and nights as cool as low 60s!  LOVE fall weather!

This change in weather has also brought about a change in me... a crafty change!  I have been re-inspired and now have dreams of grandeur for creating, repurposing and decorating things for others and our house.  After seeing an adorable idea for a Halloween wreath online and then again on my sister-in-law's front door, I decided to make one too.

It was quite easy to assemble.  Instead of glueing the tulle to the craft wreath, I simplified it a bit and tied the tulle around the wreath.  Once it was all said and done, I proudly showed Benjamin who then helped me hang it on the front door.

Here is my finished product:
Adorable, right?! And because I was so excited about it, I took this picture detailing my awesome handiwork...
I even texted it to my Mom to show her that yes, I can still be crafty too!  So there my wreath hung on my door excitedly waiting to greet visitors stating that indeed, the Cozad's lived here.  

Our first set of visitors arrived that very evening as we had a small gathering of folks over to play Rock Band in celebration of Benjamin's birthday.  The door bell rings and I hear laughter outside.  I think to myself, they must think my wreath is adorable too!  We open the door to the Bailey's who ask if I made the wreath myself.  "Yes, I did!," I proudly exclaimed.  
"Where's the 'a'?"
"What?"
"The 'a'.  Your last name has an 'a' in it.  Where is it?"

Oh.My.Stars... I MISSPELLED MY LAST NAME!  My wreath was proclaiming not that the Cozad's lived here, but the COZD's did.  Who are the Cozd's?!  How do you even say that?!  In a fit of laughter with encouragement from the group now crowding around my front door, I decided the best thing to do would be to insert an impromptu 'a' in-between the 'z' and 'd'.  Cause that's where it goes.  That is where the 'a' should have been.  Well, in doing that the paint plopped out and it was just a disaster. A disaster!!  I could not believe that I had misspelled my last name, although to be fair, it's only been my last name for 4 years.  I even wrote it out in pencil before painting it on and thought, yup...that looks right.  Benjamin on the other hand didn't catch it either and it's been his last name for 28 years!! 

Thankfully, Benjamin has a garage full of tools a wood shop and he was able to sand off the first attempt so that I could erase the disaster and re-create.

TADA!
Thank the Lord for friends who can spell and the high grade sanding tool that gave this girl another chance to add the 'a'.
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