A day to catch up

The best thing about using days off from work and NOT traveling is that you actually get to CATCH UP ON LIFE!  Yesterday Bo and I spent the day together and celebrated July 4.  We only had one priority yesterday - pool time.  The weather was great, but when we showed up at the pool around noon it was absolutely packed.  We didn't feel like messing with chairs and stuff so decided to just hop on to the bikes for the day.  That way we could enjoy the gorgeous weather (a little hot, but not too bad) and cruise around town.  This picture isn't from yesterday, but it's funny... so I'm putting it up here.  Bo called me his "special lady friend."

We cruised and visited a couple bars around heights and Washington area.  I ate lunch at Liberty Kitchen - and by lunch I mean German Chocolate Cake.  Yummm.  Then we met Mr. Hagen at Porch Swing and then cruised over to the new J Black's that just opened.  It was a pretty cool place!  I enjoyed acting as DJ for the place via an iPhone app where you can request songs.  We were there at happy hour so we got a train of half-priced appetizers, including hot wings, BBQ wings, grilled cheese, sliders, and pigs-in-blankets.  It was a lot of food!  If you live in the area, I definitely recommend you check out J Blacks!

Bo and I cruised home after that and had every intention to get ready to go somewhere to watch the fireworks.  But after being in the sun all day we were not feeling it.  So we cooked (well, Bo cooked) some stir-fry and we set up to watch the downtown fireworks from his apartment which had a great view.  It was so much fun watching the fireworks and then subsequently watching all the cars attempt to exit the poorly-designed Target parking lot.  It was a good hour of entertainment.   Happy 4th~

Bo left today to go to Denver with some buddies for man-weekend.  I wanted to go visit Rae in Pittsburg, but forgot that all the dog-boarders would be full for the holiday weekend.  Bummer.  So I'm here for the weekend with Denali in Houston.  Denali had a vet appointment this morning and I figured I'd get my pooltime after that - only to be disappointed that Bo's apartment pool was "Closed for Maintenance" - a.k.a. some drunk person broke something the night before.  Therefore my plans changed, and I ended up tidying up Bo's apartment instead - ya know the stuff guys forget, like dusting and washing the sheets. 

The brief cleaning session at Bo's place motivated me to come back to the house and do some more.  My first task was to clean all the junk out of my car.  And to my surprise, I found this under the passenger car seat:

MY PLANNERRRR!!! OH HAPPY DAY!!! It's been lost since April!  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love my planner.  It makes me feel complete to write things down and make lists and schedule life - thus, some structure to the spontaneity.  I've tried to get used to the calendar on the iPhone, but it just wasn't the same.  There's just something about being able to mark things off and color-code and decorate.  I think I like it because I'm a visual and kinesthetic learner... who knows.  But it made my day and I've spent the last few hours updating and getting ready for the next few months!!  Until later :).

Welcome Laurel to the House

While in Scottsdale Bo and I really like the pervasive smell of lavender at the hotel we stayed at.  It was so pleasent and we talked about how we should get a lavender tree for the house. 

Well, Bo (being the sneaky boyfriend he is) spent almost the entire week leading up to our anniversary hunting down the tree that we had encountered in Scottsdale.  He hit a dead end on the lavender tree... because lavender grows on bushes apparently.  So he talked to several places around town and found out the tree he was looking for is called a Texas Mountain Laurel.  And  he finally found a place in Houston that sells them.  He surprised me a few days before our anniversary with Laurel (the tree's name) and I was super excited.  Maryam pointed out several sweet similarities between Laurel and myself.

1.  Laurel smells good... so do I.
2.  Laurel only has to be watered about once a month... and I'm pretty low maintenance (most of the time).
3.  Laurel is native of Texas... and so am I.
4.  Laurel blooms purple blooms... and my favorite color is purple.
5.  Laurel likes to sunbathe... me too!
6.  And like Bo's and my relationship, Laurel will continue to grow :).

Bo and I planted Laurel in the backyard where hopefully she will grow and flourish!

One Year Together

The end of March marked the end of me and Bo's first year as a couple.  It was nothing short of amazing and incredible.  I spent quite a bit of time just looking at all the pictures we had taken over the year.  My favorite thing about photos is that they not only remind you of the moment, but also about the feelings you felt.  We've had our ups and downs, good times and bad times - but some how we've made it to this point.  We both openly admit that in the beginning we didn't forsee this growing into a lasting, forever relationship.  But here we are!  We've still got more growing to do, but that's what time, love, and patience are for.

Below are a few of my favorite pics from the past year!  I love my Wesley....