What I'm Loving Thursday

I'm loving...

That I'm trying to improve on my 5K time. After participating in my first 5K last year, I've decided to actually train for my next one. Last time I did it "cold turkey". I downloaded an app called Couch to 5K and I really enjoy it. 

I'm loving...

That I got to see my BFF Mandy last weekend while I was in Austin. We are going on 30 years of friendship this year!

I'm loving...

That two non-beer drinkers made a 45 minutes drive to a beer brewery just to support one of our favorite actors. Mandy and I love the show Supernatural and one of the stars (Jensen Ackles) just opened a brewery last week. We decided to show his business some support and went out there on Saturday. It's an awesome place (even if you are a non-drinker)- it's in Dripping Springs (just outside of Austin) and it is beautiful out there. They have a lot of seating (inside and outside) and there is a food truck available. They have a gated playground for kids and have a lot of areas for people to bring their dogs (on a leash, of course). We went out there on Saturday afternoon, and I really didn't expect Jensen to be there, but after sitting down for a few minutes, he walked by us. We didn't say anything the first time he walked by, but the second time he walked by, I stopped him and told him how much we enjoyed the atmosphere and that the place looked great. He stopped and chatted with us and expressed his appreciation that we were there checking it out. And he agreed to take a photo (Mandy's daughter was super excited to meet "Dean"). This was much cheaper than the time Mandy and I paid to get a photo with him at a Supernatural convention. Lol.

They also serve non-alcoholic drinks

I'm loving...

That I got to hang out with old friends this past weekend. My friend Thomas turned 40 and I went to his birthday party (I've known him since college). Another college friend Kris was there, it was great catching up with them and reminiscing on old memories. I also got to meet up with my friend Justin while I was in town, we went to high school together and hadn't seen each other in 20 plus years. 

I'm loving...

That I got to stay with my "summer mom" while I was in Austin. During the summer of 1998 I lived with this wonderful lady and her family. She has been calling me her "summer daughter" for 20 years now. :)

I'm loving...

That I got to visit the church I grew up in, I hadn't been by in about 13 years. This church will always be very dear to me. Sadly there aren't many members left from my time there, but there was one lady who remembered me. She kept saying "I can't believe you are little Rachel." :) I attended that church from age 5 to age 18.

Ms. Pat

I'm loving...

That I got to hear author Mike Cox speak on his book Legends & Lore of the Texas Capitol. Mandy and I went to hear him speak on Sunday (last thing I did before I left Austin). I can't wait to read the book- I'm a history nerd (especially Texas history) so I look forward to it.

I'm loving...

The cold weather. HA. Just kidding. Going to work when temperatures are in the single digits is not for me. I live in Texas for a reason (well, many reasons, but not having to deal with freezing temperatures in a main one). Lol.

I'm loving...

That I got to have lunch with my amazing friend Devin. You should just be jealous (even if you don't know him). :)

I'm loving...

That I got to attend a farewell dinner for my (now former) manager. When I interviewed at my place of employment ten years ago, she was the second person I interviewed with and she has been nothing but 1000% supportive of my career from the beginning. She retired last week and is going to sail the Caribbean with her husband. I'm going to miss my daily chats with her (and the never-ending supply of chocolate candy in her office). Lol.

What are YOU loving today??

XOXO!

Thursday 13: 13 Things I Wish I Were Doing

I wish I were...

1. Reading a book. It's BEAUTIFUL outside, the perfect weather to be on my balcony reading, but alas, I'm stuck inside.

2. Working on my novel. I haven't written anything in a while, I need to find something to snap me out of my writer's block. 

3. Watching the Rangers play baseball. Sadly our postseason run ended earlier than I wanted it to, but hey, at least the Blue Jays are now out of it (suck it Jose Bautista). 

4. Having a Supernatural marathon with my bestie Mandy. She lives in Austin and sadly we don't get to see each other as often as we would like. BUT, we do text daily (in fact she just sent me a text as soon as I started writing this- it's like she knew I was talking about her!) :) We love the show Supernatural and we sometimes watch episodes over the phone together (don't judge us). But it would be nice to have a marathon with her in person. 

Me and Mandy with the stars of Supernatural, Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki (yes, I'll use any excuse to post this picture again). :)

5. Going to my great-nephew E's birthday party this weekend. Sadly I am unable to get out of town to celebrate his 7th birthday. :(

Aunt Rachel's sweet boy

6. In better shape so my High Intensity Interval Training workouts weren't kicking my butt. I'm determined to stick with them though, my goal is to be in shape for my cruise in January. 

7. Better at updating my blog. I seem to update on average once a week, sometimes twice if you are I am lucky. I need motivation and a purpose to keep up with it. I did change my header last night though (did you notice??)

8. Better at expressing my emotions. Sometimes I just keep things bottled up because it's easier than talking about them (I know, that's not healthy). My therapist would not be pleased hearing me say that.

9. Going to the Billy Joel concert in San Antonio in December. I saw him last year in Dallas and it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. I would love to see him again. I just would want him to sing SOMETHING from his An Innocent Man album (it's my favorite). Last time he didn't sing one song from it. :(

10. Having a girls night out with my bestie Brandy (I CAN HAVE MORE THAN ONE BESTIE- STOP JUDGING ME). We had one last month and it was a lot of fun. We have plans to get together next month, but it's literally a month away. Sigh.

11. A better cook. I'm trying, I really am. My spiritual gift is not cooking though. But if you want some form of chicken or pasta or cauliflower rice, I got those recipes down pat. Lol.

12. Out of debt (I know, everyone wishes that). One day I will be, one day!

13. Going on vacation. I need a vacation. Even if it's just a stay-cation. I just need time for me. I've been so busy lately.

XOXO!

Check out other's Thursday 13 posts here!

It's OK Thursday....

It's OK...

...that the Rangers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Okay, it's NOT okay, but I'm trying to be okay with it. I still had fun this season going out to the Ballpark and meeting up with my Rangers family. Through wins and losses, I will never EVER quit being a Rangers fan.

... that I feel like saying this to all the people who have frustrated me this week: (but I won't, because I'm a nice person)

... that I'm SO FAR behind on my book challenge this year. I guess I could read 23 books before December 31 if I put my mind to it. We shall see. 

... that I'm too lazy to make a new fall wreath, so I'm using one from three years ago.

I saw my neighbor on Monday and she was like, I assume since you changed from your baseball wreath, that means the Rangers are out of the playoffs? **SOBBING**

... that I'm missing the season premiere of Supernatural tonight because I will be at a hockey game. I will not confirm or deny that I will go online when I get home to see if I can find it (I no longer have a DVR since I got rid of cable).

Yes, I just wanted to use a Jensen Ackles gif on my page, don't judge me

What's OK with you?

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm loving...

That I got to spend time with my BFF Mandy last weekend! After five months of talking about it, we finally took our trip to Houston for the Supernatural convention. Even though the convention was fun, just being able to spend alone time with the BFF was worth the trip (she has two little kids, alone time never happens for her). :)

Her husband had roses delivered to our hotel. He also convinced the hotel to upgrade us to a suite room at no extra cost (he did this while we were driving to Houston, we didn't know until we checked in that he did that). He was very understanding seeing that she was spending Valentine's Day with her best friend and two actors instead of him. :)

This sign in the hotel lobby made us laugh. I wonder if the good folks of Miracle House of Prayer knew that the Supernatural convention was for a TV show, and not actual supernatural stuff. :)

First celebrity sighting of the convention was the Impala. I'm not sure if this is a car actually used on the show, but they had it all decked out as if the Winchester really drove it

We were able to hear Jim Beaver's (Bobby) panel. Since he's not a regular on the show anymore, he doesn't go to all the conventions, so it was cool to hear him speak

Rob Benedict (Chuck) ran down the aisles and went right by our seats

So the only main reason we went to the convention was to get a picture with Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki. Do not ask what we paid for this trip- we will lie because we don't want to be judged. It was worth it though. Even though the whole photo op process took less than 20 seconds, BUT, I did shake their hands, Jared acknowledged that he liked my shirt (it is one of his Always Keep Fighting campaign shirts), and the picture turned out better than I expected. (I was convinced for the four hours that it took for them to print out all the pictures that I had closed my eyes). Lol.

It really was a golden ticket! Lol

Waiting for our number to be called for the photo op 

We were both kinda wondering if the convention was worth it, until we saw how well our picture turned out. :) We also heard them speak during their panel. The guys are super nice and really seem to appreciate their fans.  

I'm loving...

That I got to meet up with one of my fav Twitter peeps last week. He owns the location that was hosting a Dallas Stars watching party so I stopped by. 

One of my fav Twitter peeps- Jerry! :)

That night two former Stars players were signing autographs so while I was there, I decided to get pictures and autographs with the two hockey players (I didn't want to be rude). :) Okay maybe that was the main reason I went by in the first place. :)

Former Stars goalie Marty Turco

Former Stars captain, Brenden Morrow

Slowly adding to my hockey memorabilia. Yes, I once convinced an usher to give me the "STOP" sign that they use at games while the puck is in play. :)

I'm loving...

That Lucy Holliday, the author of the book I reviewed here yesterday, replied to my post on Twitter. If you missed my review, check it out here. She retweeted it and her publishing company also responded.

What are you loving today?

XOXO!