indulgence

This week marked the beginning of one of my favorite times of the year in Houston..... The Rodeo! The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is basically three weeks of good food (smoked turkey legs, barbecue, funnel cake, pizza, sausage on a stick, shrimp on a stick.. etc. etc.) concerts (with some of the most popular country stars, tejano bands, John Legend for black heritage night & many more) animals, bull riding, barrel racing, cowboys & carnival rides.... It's also how I know that Spring is near, and the winter season is coming to the end in our city.

This year one of my friends got tickets to the World Championship Barbecue Cook-off for my boyfriend and I. This was our first time going to the actual cook-off and we had so much fun! The cookoff takes place the weekend before the actual rodeo begins.. It's basically hundreds of tents, sponsored by various teams participating in the cookoff, where you go to eat, drink and be merry... We ate entirely too much, drank entirely too much and pretty much decided that we want to become rodeo volunteers next year and try to work on one of the committees...and that we want to go to the cook-off every year from now on!

With the weather being so inconsistent the past couple of days (from 80 degrees, to monsoon rain, to sunshine, to freezing temps, back to 60 degrees) I unfortunately am starting to feel sick again, but hopefully I can get over it today. My work week was pretty productive, which is always a good thing.... I also had the opportunity to judge a round of moot court at my law school....

I'm hoping that my Sunday will be fairly tame... after church I plan to get my eyebrows done & a much needed pedicure..... and possibly go to the mall so I can use the Victoria's Secret giftcard that was one of my Valentine's Day gifts...... or hide out in my pajamas until tomorrow.....

In other news... ever since December I have been coveting the red Elliot Lucca handbag my sister "got" from my grandma. I searched high and low for another red bag... and finally I found one that I loved. I stopped by the Houston Premiere Outlets the other day and found not one, but two handbags at the Coach store....

I've been apprehensive to go shopping lately, especially since I've been trying to stick to a strict budget and eliminate debt.... but I have no buyer's remorse with this purchase whatsoever.... I've been good lately and definitely felt the need to reward myself ♥

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful”
(John 15:2, NIV)

...etc. etc.

"No news is good news...."

...has been the recurring theme of my life lately, and I definitely have no complaints about that. As February slowly comes to an end, I have been highly anticipating the return of Spring & all that it has to offer...warmer weather, brighter colors, the rodeo and a long weekend off..... The past week of my life was filled with work, spending time with my love & family, reading, relaxing, food & moscato(& margaritas), church and more work..... Probably boring to some, but I loved every single moment of it.

I also discovered my new lastest obsession......





..the lastest download on the iphone definitely kept me entertained the past couple of days. and in lieu of seeming more and more odd with each word I type, I will return to my newest nook book........ (Blues Dancing..... (trying to finish it before my book club meeting on Saturday & so I can start reading Heaven is for Real, which I have been super excited to start))

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

♥ the weekends

This weekend was pretty amazing, despite the untimely demise of music legend Whitney Houston. The weather was extremely chilly, which means I got to finally dress for the season and wear boots & my nice coats... My mother cooked us a pre- Valentine's Day dinner of gumbo, fried fish & shrimp...delicious... and I got to spend time doing the things I love... quality time with my honey, enjoying my family, reading (I downloaded two new books on my nook over the weekend)and relaxing...

On Friday night we went to the Ensemble Theater and saw a play entitled the Ballad of Emmett Till.

Then Saturday, I spent the day running errands with my mother & sister....we got henna tattoos and walked around the mall and Target...Later that evening, we ended up at my aunt's house glued to the TV watching CNN, in shock from the news of Whitney Houston's death... I fell asleep reading, with her music playing in the background on my television..

Finally I ended my weekend with a wonderful church service this morning, and an impromptu outing with my boyfriend tonight(although I lost one of my favorite earrings)....

The weekends always seem to go by so fast, but I am always glad when I get the opportunity to make them memorable.....

love.

sometimes and always...

Sometimes and Always is a fun link-up over at Mackey Madness, and since I have a few moments before my day begins today I decided to join in......

Sometimes ---I wish I didn't have to work so hard during the week...

Always ---I have to remind myself to stop complaining & to thank God for blessing me with the ability to follow (one of) my dreams...

Sometimes ----I feel envious when I see so many great things happening for other people...

Always ----I have to remind myself that I'm exactly where God wants me to be, at this exact moment in time....

Sometimes ---I want to buy every single Living Social, Groupon and Dealery deal/coupon that comes to my email every morning...

Always ---I tell myself "no" because I have yet to use all the deals I have already purchased.......but I do plan to use some of them soon...

Sometimes ---I can't believe just how great God is...

Always ----I am mesmerized by His favor.....

Its Okay.....

Its okay to disappear from blog land for days at a time.....

and be overwhelmed by all the things that have been going on in your absence...

Its okay to plan your dream wedding, house, wardrobe and all the foods you want to cook in dream land on pinterest...

and to get all of your friends addicted to the site & planning their dream lives too...

Its okay to read inspirational literature....

..especially when the books come from someone you love...

Its okay to take moments out of your day to just thank God....

Its okay that despite it all, there are so many things, situations & people to be grateful for........

To join in on the Its Okay fun....click here..........