Galveston Club Paradise: Just Appreciate the Sunset

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“One of the most satisfying experiences I know is fully to appreciate an individual in the same way I appreciate a sunset. When I look at a sunset…I don’t find myself saying, ‘Soften the orange a little more on the right hand corner, and put a bit more purple along the base, and use a little more pink in the cloud color…’ I don’t try to control a sunset. I watch it with awe as it unfolds.” –Carl R. Rogers
Filed Under: Galveston, Galveston Club Paradise, My Favorite Things, My Happy Life, Things I Love

Mardi Gras, Tyson Crispy Strips, Football, and Moving…It’s All About Priorities!

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Mardi Gras, Tyson Crispy Strips, Football, and moving. What in the world could any of these things have in common? If you lived in my house, you’d get it. We’ve recently moved and it’s been crazy hectic to say the least. When I say moved, I mean we’re still moving. I’d like to say this has been an organized moved, but I can’t. I’d like to complain about the moving process, but I can’t. 
You see, B has been working basically 7 days a week, 10 hours a day so this has been rough. He’s still working in The Woodlands while we’re living on the island, so he picks up loads here and there and is gradually bringing all of our stuff home to us. And his priorities crack.me.up. We don’t even have all of the essentials. I don’t have all of my lovely family photos. But you better believe we have the Dallas Cowboys official helmet and some shot glasses here. It’s all about priorities! I think he actually grabbed these in the initial round when we rented a trailer but don’t quote me on that. 
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Let me tie in all of the above. We’re in Galveston so Mardi Gras is inevitable this weekend. There will be parades, and parties that we won’t attend because of the babies, and there are beads and masks everywhere, even in our house, because although the kitchen isn’t completely together yet, I had to decorate for Mardi Gras. Priorities! And there’s this huge football game this weekend that I’m sure you are all looking forward to where the 49’ers and the Ravens will fight it out (or whatever it is you do in football) for the pennant or something. We’re still in the midst of moving, but I need party foods for the big game. So how was I going to pull all of this off in the middle of a move? It’s simple really because things usually fall in to place for me and for that I am thankful. 
My husband is raising a football fan…a Cowboys fan he hopes, but he’ll settle for the Texans. Neither one of these teams is playing this weekend so I had to figure out how to make it fun. The babies and I will attend parades on Saturday morning while B is at work but how do I get them all riled up for the big game on Sunday when neither one of “their” teams are playing? This is where karma played its role. 
My friends at Tyson asked if I wanted to visit one of 10 local Sam’s Clubs in Texas hosting a demo for their Crispy Chicken Strips, KC Materpiece BBQ Sauce, and Coke. I’m in…but wait…there’s more! At the events, there will be NFL stars, signing autographs and posing for photos with the general public. Oh my stars…my weekend is complete. My family will personally be hob-knobbing with Ray Childress who was a Gridiron standout and Texas A&M All-American. He was known as ‘a one man wrecking crew’. Ray (because after Sunday, we’ll be on a first name basis) was a first round pick by the Houston Oilers in the 1985 NFL draft. This five-time All-Pro lineman dominated at both defensive end and defensive tackle. If I understood football, I’m sure I’d be impressed. But I do understand philanthropy and this man, along with his wife and 4 children have made a difference in the life of so many, I can’t help but be excited to meet him. The boys can talk football, I just want to know how I can help with his local efforts!
So with all of this said, my weekend is full and I couldn’t be happier. B is actually off this Sunday…YAY…so he’ll get to watch the game! I’ll be unpacking all weekend, I’ll be attending a parade with my babies, and then on Saturday afternoon, we’ll head off of the island to meet a football great, pick up some awesome food and drinks that I will bring home and prepare so we can all sit around our new pad together enjoying super snacks, family time, and what will hopefully be a great game! Does life get any better than that?
Well it does for you if you are in the Houston, Austin, or Dallas areas yourself! You too can rub elbows with a football great. Check the schedule below to see if there is a meet and greet in your own area and go check it out:
Ray Childress: 
  • Friday, 02/01/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4721, 7950 FM 1960 W, Houston, TX. 
  • Saturday, 02/02/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4702, 155 W El Dorado Blvd, Friendswood, TX (you can meet me there too).

Aaron Glenn:

  • Friday, 02/01/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4764, 20424 Katy Fwy, Katy, TX.
  • Saturday, 02/02/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4763, 351 Hwy # 6, Sugarland, TX.

Lester Jean:

  • Saturday, 02/02/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4713, 19091 Interstate 45 S, Shenandoah, TX .

Jordan Shipley:

  • Saturday, 02/02/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4720, 4970 W Hwy 290, Austin, TX.

Rocket Ismail:

  • Friday, 02/01/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4743, 1200 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX.
  • Saturday, 02/02/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4743, 1200 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, TX.

Bucky Richardson:

  • Saturday, 02/02/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4769, 5310 S Rice Ave, Houston (West Park), TX.

Everson Wells:

  • Saturday, 02/02/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 4783, 5150 N Garland Ave, Garland, TX.

Tony Casillas:

  • Saturday, 02/02/13, between 1:00 and 4:00 pm at Sam’s Club 8299, 301 Coit Rd, Plano, TX.

If you want to find out any information about any of the players listed, be sure to check out their full bios. 

Are you as excited about this weekend as I am? It’s going to be a great one for sure. I’ll be back to share my experience with you here from the event as well as to share our family time enjoying parades and yummy foods at our big game celebration. I hope you get to attend one of these events, but if not, be sure to let me know how your weekend went and share any of your fabulous game day recipes with me here.
Be sure to check out the sponsor of this event, and my weekend, Tyson. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Tyson. All opinions, ideas, excitement, and photos are entirely my own! #cbias #SocialFabric #MealsTogether
Filed Under: Family, Family Meals, My Happy Life, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

They Can Take Her Flair, But They Can’t Dull That Smile!

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My Bug, as you might have guessed by now, has a pretty mean fashion sense. She’s quite sparkly in fact. She’s not a brand slave (doesn’t care at all actually) but her clothes always show her fashion sense…and her sparkle!
The ONLY good thing about The Woods was that Bug was able to wear whatever she wanted to school. She was high on Hello Kitty attire and everything was full of color and fun. She might have even been known as “glitter girl” at that school. 
But here on the island, it’s a different story. You see, there is quite an unlevel household income here. You have the “haves” and “have nots”. It’s a fact of life everywhere but on an island, as you can imagine, it’s more apparent. So our schools have uniforms. It’s a way of leveling things out. The even-ing factor as I like to call it. If a UTMB doctor’s kid gets all of their clothes from A&F and the single mom that works at McDonald’s can only afford thrift stores and Walmart, is that fair to the kids? Both of the kid’s parents work. One kid just so happens to have nicer clothing making him appear to be a better person. And I swear…do NOT go all political on me here…in this scenario, these are both working parents from different socio-economic walks of life and both are doing the best that they can by their children. 
So in an effort to even the playing field (this crazy thing that we call a society), the city of Galveston requires all children to wear uniforms. Khaki bottoms, red or white button down tops. Simple. The only reason I take issue in this is because this crap is hard to find. For real…especially in size string bean!
But Bug takes issue for another reason. How will she stand out? How will she be different? Who wears the same outfit day after day (for the record…she does not…they all look the same but she has multiples and I wash them regularly)? And so to her, I pointed out the obvious. ‘Baby, they can take away your sparkles (only on your clothes), they can take away your colors (only on your clothes), but they can never take away your flair and there is no way they can touch that smile!’. 
She shines. And she just so happens to look good in khaki…and anything else she puts on. And she’s flourishing in her new school. She’s making a gazillion friends and not bothering to know their names. This is what Kindergarteners do and it’s a beautiful thing. 
Sparkles come from within. Clothing is superficial. I don’t care what you wear, I care who you are! Show me your heart, your inner soul, and not another thing in this world matters!
Smile and sparkle on! Welcome to the party…khakis and colors welcome! Just be sure to smile. 🙂    
Filed Under: Bugisms, Island Living, Life, Moms, My Happy Life, Parenting