On It's Way!!

Almost every other day or so I tell Lulu that she has a surprise package on the way to her.  So imagine the buildup of excitement when I saw this email in my inbox today!

It's truly on it's way!!  Hurry, BarkBox, hurry!!

Halloween Candy Review: Cadbury Screme Eggs!

Welcome to a new segment on Crazy Cozads where I will unveil the awesomeness of the new Halloween candy for this season!  Here's the first one:

Friends!  I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was when I saw a post on our friend, Tally's facebook about the possibility of Cadbury Screme Eggs coming to the US for this Halloween season!  I love Cadbury Creme eggs!  Like love them!!  Also imagine my excitement when I rounded the corner at Target to see THIS:

I am fairly certain that a squeal escaped from my lips while I did a little jig in the middle of the aisle!  I of course followed that up with texts to both my Mom and Benjamin!  Then came the dilemma.  How many do I buy?  It wouldn't be right of me to buy the whole display, nope ...I needed to leave some for the other folks who would also be elated about this fall time candy debut!  So, I grabbed a handful and headed away from the display eager to get home to enjoy my first screme egg!

 Don't they look absolutely glorious in their fabulous purple and green wrapping?!  

So I unwrapped one and it looked the same as the original Cadbury Creme egg. 

Then the inside!  Instead of the normal yellow yoke filling, there was a bright green filling that oozed from the middle of the white center!  The creme had definitely gone GREEN!!  If you are a Cadbury Creme egg fan, then this treat is perfect for you!  So head to Target, grab yourself a handful... or two and celebrate the beginning of fall and the Halloween candy season!  If you need a good dentist after eating all of this year's candy...let me know, we can recommend a few good ones!

And just for kicks, if you have a Screme Egg sighting in your area, post a comment!  I'd love to see where they pop up at.

Confirmed sighting: Pearland, TX: Target

Ecclesia: New Home

Last week Ecclesia held it's first round of services in their new location at 1100 Elder!  When we first started attending Ecclesia, they were purchasing the building, land, street and parking lot with plans to start doing a ton of the remodeling by themselves as a way to cost effectively revamp the old paper warehouse into a collaborative worship environment.

Although there is still work to be done, the space is amazing: open and functional with massive blank walls for displaying artwork!  There are larger dedicated children's areas and Benjamin and I can't wait for Winston to enjoy it!  There are moving walls, concrete floors, and beautiful old windows.  

Since it was the first night, Smilebooth was set up for snapping photos and providing a cute take home for folks who participated.  

We have started attending the Saturday service because it's a little less crowded and we figured that it might be the best time to take WAC when he arrives, but that has yet to be seen!  This week, in helping us continue the celebration of what God has provided, David Crowder will be leading worship!

And yes, that is an armadillo on my arm...he's from Kate Spade and he has been one of my favorite accessories this summer!  He makes a very good conceal-carry purse, just saying.

Face Lift!

Hello Friends!

It's been a while since the astetics of our happy blog home have been updated and with the newbie on the way, our faithful first for a header was not going to cut it.  Therefore, Crazy Cozads is undergoing a face lift!

I had such a fun time, along with Hubby's help, designing our new header!  I am pleased as punch with the way that the little icons representing our family turned out.  More subtle changes will be coming in the next weeks or so, but I just couldn't wait to unveil the happy new header!

Please feel free to let me know what you think about our new look!

Sara

Give-a-way on Sadie + Stella

I don't know about you, but I always get a jolly out of the chance to win cute, funky accents for my home.  And that is exactly what is going down today over at Sadie + Stella!

Let's pause and take a moment to look at how cute the logo is!

Back to the give-a-way:  You get a chance to enter to win a fabulous Jonathan Adler vase that is called boy/girl and is absolutely precious PLUS a sweet elephant pillow!  It's quite simple to enter and I think that you should take a moment or two to do so.  Just click the link below and start entering for your chance at becoming a winner!

Link for Sadie and Stella give-a-way - Click Me!

I promise not to be bitter if you, friend, happen to win over me because of the sweet tip that I have provided you with this morning.  You're welcome.

sadie + stella image

GAPTAP: Training for a 5K

The people who know me best will tell you that I am quick to say the only way I would be caught running voluntarily is if I were being chased by a large ferocious animal.  I have never really been one for exercise or sticking to a workout routine.  Although I did participate dance all growing up (and loved it!) and played tennis in high school (and enjoyed it!), that doesn't make me overly athletic.  My mom and I have distinct memories of one of our family trips where we were hiking up the side of mountain and I stopped, plopped down against the rocks and loudly repeated over and over, "I'm tired!  I can't do this! I want to stop!  My feet hurt!  I'm just so tired!"  It's not that I can't do it - I mean, I've worked out before - it's just that it's not fun and I don't like it.  :)  

Well dearest reader, I am here to ask for your advice:  What program or app have you or someone you know used to get prepared to run a 5k?

Insert pause.

Yup.  

Now that you have picked yourselves up off the floor...here's the reason I'm asking:  Little Salem found a 5K fun run happening in December in Galveston that we have signed up for.  It's the Santa Hustle!  For registering we get a Santa shirt, beard and hat!!  Plus their will be carols and candy!!  And you best believe that Winston will be dressed up in some sort of outfit - whether that's a reindeer or an elf has yet to be decided!  All of us are going to participate and even though I know that walking it is an option, I'd still like to give running jogging a good effort. 

So again:  What program or app have you or someone you know used to get prepared to run a 5k?

Ready...set... go!

Bump It: 35 Weeks

We are on the cusp of week 35 folks!  35 weeks down and five to go.  More than ever we are realizing how fast time flies...and how much Winston is growing inside!  We have our final sonogram on Friday to get his latest measurements and do all the checking that need to be done.  This will be the last time we "see" him until he makes his debut into the world!  Then start the weekly doctor's appointments.  I have a feeling that going to those appointments are when the reality of how close Winston's birth day really is will set in.

Thanks to the awesome advice given from the first GAPTAP on hospital bags, Benjamin and I feel like we are ready to tackle making that list this week.  We will also be attending our Parent Readiness class at The Pavilion.  We are getting psyched up to be able to conquer swaddling!

Benjamin continues to work diligently on the rocking chair, which I am proud to report is in it's finishing stages!  He has done a fantastic job creating this special piece without any official blueprints.  It can hold the weight of a person and yes, it even rocks!  He has poured hours of love into this chair and I can't wait to see the first time he and Winston rock in it together.  Such sweet milestones to look forward to!

I continue to sleep very soundly at night only getting up to use the restroom and then I plop successfully back to sleep.  I am thankful for this rare blessing.  I continue to find myself napping for a little while when I get home from work to rejuvenate me for the rest of the evening.  My left foot continues to look puffy on most days except for when I have it elevated or have been snuggled up under the covers on on the couch resting.  There are some days when I feel like a bruise has resided over the entire surface of my body from the aching that I'll feel in my muscles.  Even on those days, I try to be thankful for the little human that is growing, bouncing, hiccuping, and I'd like to think, dancing inside!  

We continue to be in awe of the love and support that we receive from those around us in the anticipation of Winston's arrival.  It's hard to imagine what life will be like with him, and yet I'm trying to take mental snapshots along the way, treasuring the quiet moments.  For five years, Benjamin and I have been making memories and going on adventures as the two of us.  Then we added Lulu and she joined our crazy little family.  Now that Winston is on the way, we are ready for the new adventures that we will be going on!  Our prayers are that we can be molded into parents who will raise a Winston who is comfortable in his own skin, pursuing the passions that God places inside of him as well as seeking after Him and desiring to know Him fully. 

How excited we are getting to meet our little WAC!

Houston Restaurant Week 2012

My dad has said before that you could eat out every day in Houston and never eat at the same restaurant twice.  True fact.  There are over 5,000 options in Houston covering every genre of food known to man.  One thing that my parents taught my brother and I was an appreciation for trying new places to eat and types of food as well.  

That's what I love about Houston Restaurant Weeks.  It's a great way to try new places and give back to the community because $5 of each dinner sold is donated to the Houston Food Bank.  Plus you get to eat some yummy grub in the meantime!  If you didn't get a chance to participate this year, make sure to mark your calendars for next August!!  If you live in the Dallas area - they also have this same opportunity benefiting the North Texas Food Bank.

We tried quite a few new places this year.

Del Frisco's is located in the Galleria mall by Cheesecake Factory.  For as many times as I have been to the Galleria, I had really never noticed Del Frisco's being there.  But thanks to the Bailey's and HRW, we ventured someplace new and found it delicious!  I love a good steak.  And yes, I love my steak well done.  I know, I know - somewhere someone is reading this and gasped a little bit thinking, "For shame."  My philosophy is that if a place can cook my steak well done without burning it - then it's a worthwhile place.  And Del Frisco's made that cut!  We also tried their jalepeno bacon macaroni and cheese - delicious!  It's one of the things that they are "known" for and it did not disappoint!  Together with the company, the whole dining experience was delightful!

Since Benjamin and I had never been to Pappas Brothers Steakhouse, we decided to give it a go.  While the steak was again, cooked to my liking and very flavorful with the mushroom glaze on the top, Benjamin and I both agreed that it wasn't a place that would likely replace any of our other favorite steakhouse establishments as there wasn't anything overly "wowing" about the atmosphere or the food. Still, a good evening with friends!  

Our executive pastor at The Heights in Dallas always talked about how Prego in Houston was his favorite Italian restaurant of all time.  Seeing it on the HRW list as an option, we decided to go for it and Benjamin's parents joined us for the experience.  The ambiance was delightful with live music and an intimate setting.  The food was indeed delectable as I ate the Pollo Parmigiano and it was hands down the best chicken parmesan I have ever eaten!  And for Benjamin to agree - that's saying something!  The sides were just as amazing and their tiramisu was heavenly!  Definitely a place to return to!

Last year at HRW, Salem asked me to go try a new place with her and agreeing, we ventured out to Haven.  This year, we went back as a sister tradition and enjoyed yet another delicious menu from the chefs at Haven.  Their salads have never disappointed as the flavors they put together are quite robust.  Salem ordered the soup and was quite pleased with it as well.  Our main dishes were also quite yummy and so I anticipate our going back next year for Round 3!

For Benjamin and I, going out to eat and trying new restaurants is just as much about having a fun night out to spend with the people we love as it is trying new dishes and seeing if there are new places that we might want to call a favorite.  For us it's about the conversations had and the memories made.  

Did you participate in Restaurant Week?  And if so, where did you go and what did you think?

ErgoErgo

I'm not sure about you, but I've always been fascinated with the exercise balls that folks would bring into the office to sit on.  I know that they are supposed to promote a strong core, but seriously... it's just because sometimes it's nice as a grown up to have an excuse to bounce on a ball!

As an alternative to the balls, how fun are these ErgoErgo seats?  For only $100 they also rock and bounce to promote an ergonomic alternative to boring office chairs.  

Go ahead and indulge your inner child... add some bounce to your day!