Showing posts with label the little things. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the little things. Show all posts
Monday, December 26, 2011
the christmas queen!
hope y'all had a marvelous holiday filled with friends, family, laughter and a whole lotta food! i must say that this christmas was exceptional in every sense of the word and i feel so blessed to be surrounded by such lovely people and given the gift of baby Jesus. isn't funny how as you get older spending time with the people you love and going home is all that you need for christmas? one of the reasons that i love coming home is that my mama works super hard to make sure all of us kids come home to the cozy house we know and love. for those of you who don't know my mama she is a firecracker and a little cRaZy, but i have always loved her zest for life. when it comes to christmas, this lady leaves every square inch of space covered, no detail overlooked, and the folks at hobby lobby are friends. this post is dedicated to my mother, who's style of warm, eclectic, homespun decor makes me as proud as a peacock! here's a little sampling:
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
i've missed you darlings...
dearly! i'm sorry i haven't blogged in so terribly long. i took some time off to get hitched, set up house and the like, and just didn't seem to have the inspiration to write. it's not that there wasn't anything noteworthy to document, it's just that i didn't have it in me to write about it. i have noticed that my blogging is an adequate picture of my life - ebbs and flows, anti-social and extrovert, fast lane and country pastures - so i let this little blog get away from me a bit and everytime i thought about returning, i would think thoughts such as, "no one reads that anyway!, you've lost your touch!, and God knows you have more pressing items on your to do list!" but the truth is, i like blogging, i really do. i like writing and it's as therapeutic for me as playing the guitar is for my husband. i like being apart of the "blogging community" and i love reading all of the witty dialogue that all of you bloggers come up with every day. so yes, i think i will officially sit a spell and reconvene shannan's southern comfort.
to get reacquainted, i thought we'd play a fun little game of Q & A so that i could put all inquires to rest and catch up on the last few months.
1. how was the wedding and how's married life?
it's hard to do the wedding justice, it was just beyond. i still plan to do a wedding post, and i wanted to do it sometime ago, but i was waiting to get my pics back. finally have those, so no more excuses. me being a reasonable gal, i tried to have some level of expectation management with the wedding because i didn't want to be let down when my big day was just lovely and not blockbuster, blow-your-mind life changing. the honest to God truth is that it was better than anything i could have ever imagined. i was just so proud of my mom for pulling the whole thing together and i was (and am still) overwhelmed at the amount of love that was assembled that night. to have all of your friends and family at the same place at the same time is just fantastic. i am only regretful that i couldn't spend more time with everyone. being mrs. pfeifer (still not used to that) ain't a bad gig either. ha. my husband is truly wonderful and marrying him was the best decision i ever made. i didn't settle and i took to heart what carrie bradshaw said, "maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. maybe they just need to run free til they find someone just as wild to run with them." i loved that quote because it meant so much to me. i met my match and now we are navigating through this adventure together.
are you still teaching? if not, why not? and what's your day job?
no, i am no longer teaching 2nd grade at el dorado. i had already accepted the job before i even met theron so there's no way i could have predicted what would happen. when we became serious, we discussed the fact that i would probably need to find a job more flexible so that when my husband is home we could actually spend time together. for those who don't know, my husband is a merchant marine and works offshore in the oil business. he works even time which means he's off for a month, but is gone to trinidad and tobago for a month, which means he's gone 6 months out of the year. at the time, we were also fairly certain that we would be relocating to s. america for his job. thus, we made a joint decision that i would not go back for the 2011-2012 school year. though i loved my children and co-workers dearly, i'm not sure that i had the nervous system to be an elementary teacher. for those of you in the biz, you know what i'm talking about. i may go back someday, but it would have to be under different circumstances. now i'm in a transitional period trying to figure out what my life's calling is all about. in addition to his shipping job, my husband is also a musician, so i'm his manager and i handle the merchandising, booking, and general business of the operation. i'm working on a market research project for a private home builder that is about to do some awesome things at baylor university. and i'm trying to break into the free lance writing world. i'm also volunteering with the texas book festival, communities in schools, and san antonio rodeo - three things of which i am EXTREMELY passionate!
what's buzzworthy on your radar right now?
well...bravo tv is where it's at! i'm not sure there's another network that can compete in my world. hook-hook-hooked on all those brain zapping "real housewife" debacles. never quite succumbed to dc, miami, or atlanta but if beverly hills, orange county, ny, or new jersey is on, i'm there! i'm not proud of my taste in television. it is certainly not thought provoking, chic, or moving. it's trash! my husband abhors that i watch this stuff (i think he's frightened that in our dave ramsey household, i will start to covet houses in the hamptons and $25G sunglasses) but i have tried to explain to him the beauty of escapism. i'm also addicted to "most eligible dallas" which should aptly be named "most vapid reason i don't live in dallas." haha all in good fun dallas friends! but seriously, can you believe that finale? back to RH, anyone in the greater san antonio area who would like to join me for the new jersey reunion, come on over! i make special cocktails and themed food based on the show! in the literary world, i am subscribing to town+country, vanity fair, cowboys&indians and garden&gun currently. i am also reading "outliers" by malcom gladwell and "women food and God" by geneen roth. i am loving shopping for great deals at homegoods, nordstrom rack, and never paying full price for anything! i am having fun trying out new restaurants in my city and spending time with good girlfriends over a margarita! and i am cooking every conceivable recipe from my pioneer woman cookbook!
what are your goals for the future?
right now i'm dreaming of renovating my old 1800's farmhouse on my 20 acres of rolling hill country land. brushing a pretty palomino and running my fingers through his hair. chasing my raggedy, muddy children around in the yard. becoming a pretty
amazing cook. checking off my travel list. writing a book. meeting the authors i really admire. paying off all our debt and becoming financially solid. doing something good in this world, even if no one ever hears about it.
to get reacquainted, i thought we'd play a fun little game of Q & A so that i could put all inquires to rest and catch up on the last few months.
1. how was the wedding and how's married life?
it's hard to do the wedding justice, it was just beyond. i still plan to do a wedding post, and i wanted to do it sometime ago, but i was waiting to get my pics back. finally have those, so no more excuses. me being a reasonable gal, i tried to have some level of expectation management with the wedding because i didn't want to be let down when my big day was just lovely and not blockbuster, blow-your-mind life changing. the honest to God truth is that it was better than anything i could have ever imagined. i was just so proud of my mom for pulling the whole thing together and i was (and am still) overwhelmed at the amount of love that was assembled that night. to have all of your friends and family at the same place at the same time is just fantastic. i am only regretful that i couldn't spend more time with everyone. being mrs. pfeifer (still not used to that) ain't a bad gig either. ha. my husband is truly wonderful and marrying him was the best decision i ever made. i didn't settle and i took to heart what carrie bradshaw said, "maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. maybe they just need to run free til they find someone just as wild to run with them." i loved that quote because it meant so much to me. i met my match and now we are navigating through this adventure together.
are you still teaching? if not, why not? and what's your day job?
no, i am no longer teaching 2nd grade at el dorado. i had already accepted the job before i even met theron so there's no way i could have predicted what would happen. when we became serious, we discussed the fact that i would probably need to find a job more flexible so that when my husband is home we could actually spend time together. for those who don't know, my husband is a merchant marine and works offshore in the oil business. he works even time which means he's off for a month, but is gone to trinidad and tobago for a month, which means he's gone 6 months out of the year. at the time, we were also fairly certain that we would be relocating to s. america for his job. thus, we made a joint decision that i would not go back for the 2011-2012 school year. though i loved my children and co-workers dearly, i'm not sure that i had the nervous system to be an elementary teacher. for those of you in the biz, you know what i'm talking about. i may go back someday, but it would have to be under different circumstances. now i'm in a transitional period trying to figure out what my life's calling is all about. in addition to his shipping job, my husband is also a musician, so i'm his manager and i handle the merchandising, booking, and general business of the operation. i'm working on a market research project for a private home builder that is about to do some awesome things at baylor university. and i'm trying to break into the free lance writing world. i'm also volunteering with the texas book festival, communities in schools, and san antonio rodeo - three things of which i am EXTREMELY passionate!
what's buzzworthy on your radar right now?
well...bravo tv is where it's at! i'm not sure there's another network that can compete in my world. hook-hook-hooked on all those brain zapping "real housewife" debacles. never quite succumbed to dc, miami, or atlanta but if beverly hills, orange county, ny, or new jersey is on, i'm there! i'm not proud of my taste in television. it is certainly not thought provoking, chic, or moving. it's trash! my husband abhors that i watch this stuff (i think he's frightened that in our dave ramsey household, i will start to covet houses in the hamptons and $25G sunglasses) but i have tried to explain to him the beauty of escapism. i'm also addicted to "most eligible dallas" which should aptly be named "most vapid reason i don't live in dallas." haha all in good fun dallas friends! but seriously, can you believe that finale? back to RH, anyone in the greater san antonio area who would like to join me for the new jersey reunion, come on over! i make special cocktails and themed food based on the show! in the literary world, i am subscribing to town+country, vanity fair, cowboys&indians and garden&gun currently. i am also reading "outliers" by malcom gladwell and "women food and God" by geneen roth. i am loving shopping for great deals at homegoods, nordstrom rack, and never paying full price for anything! i am having fun trying out new restaurants in my city and spending time with good girlfriends over a margarita! and i am cooking every conceivable recipe from my pioneer woman cookbook!
what are your goals for the future?
right now i'm dreaming of renovating my old 1800's farmhouse on my 20 acres of rolling hill country land. brushing a pretty palomino and running my fingers through his hair. chasing my raggedy, muddy children around in the yard. becoming a pretty
amazing cook. checking off my travel list. writing a book. meeting the authors i really admire. paying off all our debt and becoming financially solid. doing something good in this world, even if no one ever hears about it.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
speaking of flowers...
my AWESOME boyfriend just sent me a bouquet of tiger lillies (which happened to be one of my nicknames as a kid.) hate to brag, but he's really endearingly perfect. (and oh so handsome to boot!)
Monday, July 19, 2010
roses...
just because. dang, theron pfeifer, you are good.
sorry, i do profusely apologize...like i said, usually these things make me roll my eyes and say, "oh please...girlfriend, get over yourself." all these professions of love and everything coming up roses...YAK! but me, oh my...i'm the worst hypocrite EVER!!! i LOOOOOOVE love...and i love being insanely sentimental and doting on my manfriend - i prefer this over the colloquial boyfriend - because after all, he is a man. a damn good man...and i'm so lucky...on that note i'll leave you with a little vid and you have my full permission to relentlessly make fun of me.
sorry, i do profusely apologize...like i said, usually these things make me roll my eyes and say, "oh please...girlfriend, get over yourself." all these professions of love and everything coming up roses...YAK! but me, oh my...i'm the worst hypocrite EVER!!! i LOOOOOOVE love...and i love being insanely sentimental and doting on my manfriend - i prefer this over the colloquial boyfriend - because after all, he is a man. a damn good man...and i'm so lucky...on that note i'll leave you with a little vid and you have my full permission to relentlessly make fun of me.
Monday, May 31, 2010
God bless America!
memorial day weekend was just great. simple. family-oriented. patriotic. a hint of the promising summer that will soon commence. hope you enjoyed the weekend as much as i did!
locked my keys in my car. LAME. but i did get to have lunch w/ lauren @ the bluebonnet cafe and then she waited with me and we ate cherry pie on the back of her tailgate! love you lots!
cousins brought their ipad to the lake and now i'm convinced that i need one...although i really can't tell you the difference between the ipad and the iphone?!
i just adore cajun shrimp and crab boils. it's a very unrefined way of eating, but you can't beat it!
met this little guy at the llano texas proud festival...i wanted to take him home with me so very badly.
all day long on the boat!!!!! simply the best.
THANK YOU TO ALL U.S. MILITARY MEMBERS (BOTH PAST AND PRESENT) WHO SERVE THIS COUNTRY. I AM SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN AND I OWE IT ALL TO YOU! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
locked my keys in my car. LAME. but i did get to have lunch w/ lauren @ the bluebonnet cafe and then she waited with me and we ate cherry pie on the back of her tailgate! love you lots!
cousins brought their ipad to the lake and now i'm convinced that i need one...although i really can't tell you the difference between the ipad and the iphone?!
i just adore cajun shrimp and crab boils. it's a very unrefined way of eating, but you can't beat it!
met this little guy at the llano texas proud festival...i wanted to take him home with me so very badly.
all day long on the boat!!!!! simply the best.
THANK YOU TO ALL U.S. MILITARY MEMBERS (BOTH PAST AND PRESENT) WHO SERVE THIS COUNTRY. I AM SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN AND I OWE IT ALL TO YOU! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
Monday, April 19, 2010
unbelievable
in reference to my previous post about the kindness of strangers and life's little things, i had to share this because i just think it's too cool. through a business card left with our check at las palapas, tabitha was able to contact the doers of goodwill and properly thank them. she received this response via email:
By the way,....I'd totally forgotten about that,.....If you hadn't of mentioned it in your Honestly Sincere & Respectful E-Mail containing the Thank You "Greeting" or "Heading",.....My Late Mother taught me to do things for strangers and never expect anything back. That's The Way That The Lord Worked His Wonderful Blessings,....Not that I'm even remotely considering myself "Christ-Like",....In any Way, Shape, Form or Manner,...But we Sinners can Aspire or rather, Commit To Being Better Human Beings (But still,...Sinners),.....Everyday.
rich
promise, i copied and pasted directly from the email. once again, it's not anything miraculous, but i'm so blown away by this unintentional concept of paying it forward. humanity is so good. God is even better.
pretty awesome day for a monday.
By the way,....I'd totally forgotten about that,.....If you hadn't of mentioned it in your Honestly Sincere & Respectful E-Mail containing the Thank You "Greeting" or "Heading",.....My Late Mother taught me to do things for strangers and never expect anything back. That's The Way That The Lord Worked His Wonderful Blessings,....Not that I'm even remotely considering myself "Christ-Like",....In any Way, Shape, Form or Manner,...But we Sinners can Aspire or rather, Commit To Being Better Human Beings (But still,...Sinners),.....Everyday.
rich
promise, i copied and pasted directly from the email. once again, it's not anything miraculous, but i'm so blown away by this unintentional concept of paying it forward. humanity is so good. God is even better.
pretty awesome day for a monday.
it's the little things in life...
i am convinced they matter most. sometimes it's just a matter of noticing the little things. if you don't stop and consciously look around, you could miss it...and that would be a tragic thing.
i, for one, woke up this morning just as happy as a clam on cloud nine because i had a weekend comprised of these little things i'm referring to. to give you some idea of what i'm talking about, i'll give you an attempt at a consolidated run down:
friday night, my friend tabitha and i saw the new tyler perry film (which was great) and then we spontaneously decided to go to bodean's place to do some boot scooting (have i mentioned how much i love to dance? when i'm spinning around a dance floor, it's like nothing else in the world matters.) tab and i were famished after hours of dancing so we headed to las palapas for some greasy late night mexican food. we talked and talked and ate enough chips and salsa to feed a small country, but guess what happened when we asked for the check? our waitress announced that the people in the booth behind us had already taken care of it! when we turned around to graciously thank our philanthropists, the mysterious strangers had vanished. i don't know if this has ever happened to you, but wow, it's small, but so profound.
saturday morning i woke up to a symphonic thunderstorm and declared that this was a morning better spent under the covers. i had a wonderful morning sleeping in and waking in my perfect REM cycle (never underestimate this!) a few moments after waking up, i got an unexpected call asking to have lunch with my bud tyler. we went and had burgers @ momak's (home of texas monthly's #19 best burger!) and had the best conversation! at the end of lunch, tyler says, "miss sowder, i know you loooooooove them sad country songs, but i've been thinkin...we have GOT to break you of your keith whitley-gary stewart maudlin episodes." for the record, it is NOT that bad. tyler continued, "i have devised a list of songs for you that are going to do you a world of good." i went home with tyler's bent up index card and downloaded all the tracks and he was right - dierks & patty griffin's "beautiful world" and tenth avenue north's "by your side" are full of the best encouragement. tyler, you're a good friend...and it is always a pleasure to spend an afternoon with an aggie boy whose mama raised him right!
i spent saturday night with some great company tracing the path along the river walk and having the most excellent dinner at the iron cactus! if you haven't been, you need to check it out! remember, i never endorse anything unless i totally believe in it. i'm willing to put money down that this place has the best margarita on the river. after dinner, we went to see the critically acclaimed san antonio rose live at the historic aztec theatre. this show traces country music from the 1920s to the 1980s and while the whole thing screams branson and we were about 40 years younger than every single person in the audience, i LOVED every minute of it! what is not to love about a whole cast of characters wearing scully shirts and singing conway, tammy, george, hank, merle, and lefty? i admit, not everyone's idea of a rip roaring good time, but i was in hog heaven! i'm bound and determined to get my grandmother frances down here for this spectacle.
sunday, i woke up and went to my life group and service at the best church in the world (ok that's presumptuous)! i say "best church in the world" because this church has meant so much to me personally and it has really changed my life. i NEVER thought i would go to a mega church and the thought of attending the biggest church in san antonio frankly scared the hell out of me (is it ok to say "hell" when talking about church? well, sometimes i'm not PC, but i'm real and i think God knows my heart.) the point is, going to a church that looks like a small college campus can be quite daunting, but CBC is just the opposite. the people i have met here are the warmest, kindest, most joyful souls i have ever known. this sunday was just great because the legendary dennis jernigan recorded a live CD and chris' message on romans and the inseparability from the love of God was just what i needed. if you ever want to come to church with me, please let me know!!!
i capped off the weekend with an afternoon barbecue, visiting my old college room mate alexis, watching the acm's, and finding out that one of my best friends got engaged - CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSICA & BRANDON! we'll be getting ready for a big, beautiful wedding in st. louis, missouri!
nothing terribly exciting of course, but i've found a lot of happiness in the intricacy of the smallest things. i know you could care less about what i did for the weekend and you're right, it doesn't really matter. i'm just an ordinary girl trying to live life the best way that i know how, but i do know that life is full of goodness and it's too short to be wasted. i know it sounds incredibly delusional and like i must be popping prozac at an alarming rate, but my message is genuine: do not let your heart become embittered, resentful, scarred, or held captive because not only can you be set free from that, but quite frankly, why would you want to live like that anyway?
i, for one, woke up this morning just as happy as a clam on cloud nine because i had a weekend comprised of these little things i'm referring to. to give you some idea of what i'm talking about, i'll give you an attempt at a consolidated run down:
friday night, my friend tabitha and i saw the new tyler perry film (which was great) and then we spontaneously decided to go to bodean's place to do some boot scooting (have i mentioned how much i love to dance? when i'm spinning around a dance floor, it's like nothing else in the world matters.) tab and i were famished after hours of dancing so we headed to las palapas for some greasy late night mexican food. we talked and talked and ate enough chips and salsa to feed a small country, but guess what happened when we asked for the check? our waitress announced that the people in the booth behind us had already taken care of it! when we turned around to graciously thank our philanthropists, the mysterious strangers had vanished. i don't know if this has ever happened to you, but wow, it's small, but so profound.
saturday morning i woke up to a symphonic thunderstorm and declared that this was a morning better spent under the covers. i had a wonderful morning sleeping in and waking in my perfect REM cycle (never underestimate this!) a few moments after waking up, i got an unexpected call asking to have lunch with my bud tyler. we went and had burgers @ momak's (home of texas monthly's #19 best burger!) and had the best conversation! at the end of lunch, tyler says, "miss sowder, i know you loooooooove them sad country songs, but i've been thinkin...we have GOT to break you of your keith whitley-gary stewart maudlin episodes." for the record, it is NOT that bad. tyler continued, "i have devised a list of songs for you that are going to do you a world of good." i went home with tyler's bent up index card and downloaded all the tracks and he was right - dierks & patty griffin's "beautiful world" and tenth avenue north's "by your side" are full of the best encouragement. tyler, you're a good friend...and it is always a pleasure to spend an afternoon with an aggie boy whose mama raised him right!
i spent saturday night with some great company tracing the path along the river walk and having the most excellent dinner at the iron cactus! if you haven't been, you need to check it out! remember, i never endorse anything unless i totally believe in it. i'm willing to put money down that this place has the best margarita on the river. after dinner, we went to see the critically acclaimed san antonio rose live at the historic aztec theatre. this show traces country music from the 1920s to the 1980s and while the whole thing screams branson and we were about 40 years younger than every single person in the audience, i LOVED every minute of it! what is not to love about a whole cast of characters wearing scully shirts and singing conway, tammy, george, hank, merle, and lefty? i admit, not everyone's idea of a rip roaring good time, but i was in hog heaven! i'm bound and determined to get my grandmother frances down here for this spectacle.
sunday, i woke up and went to my life group and service at the best church in the world (ok that's presumptuous)! i say "best church in the world" because this church has meant so much to me personally and it has really changed my life. i NEVER thought i would go to a mega church and the thought of attending the biggest church in san antonio frankly scared the hell out of me (is it ok to say "hell" when talking about church? well, sometimes i'm not PC, but i'm real and i think God knows my heart.) the point is, going to a church that looks like a small college campus can be quite daunting, but CBC is just the opposite. the people i have met here are the warmest, kindest, most joyful souls i have ever known. this sunday was just great because the legendary dennis jernigan recorded a live CD and chris' message on romans and the inseparability from the love of God was just what i needed. if you ever want to come to church with me, please let me know!!!
i capped off the weekend with an afternoon barbecue, visiting my old college room mate alexis, watching the acm's, and finding out that one of my best friends got engaged - CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSICA & BRANDON! we'll be getting ready for a big, beautiful wedding in st. louis, missouri!
nothing terribly exciting of course, but i've found a lot of happiness in the intricacy of the smallest things. i know you could care less about what i did for the weekend and you're right, it doesn't really matter. i'm just an ordinary girl trying to live life the best way that i know how, but i do know that life is full of goodness and it's too short to be wasted. i know it sounds incredibly delusional and like i must be popping prozac at an alarming rate, but my message is genuine: do not let your heart become embittered, resentful, scarred, or held captive because not only can you be set free from that, but quite frankly, why would you want to live like that anyway?
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