College Girl Goes Pro

I was invited to watch the Dallas Cowboys game today in a company suite. I'm not much of a pro football fan...actually, I'm not a fan at all. BUT any live sports event is worth attending. And football in general just makes me happy.

It was my first time in the new stadium. One word to describe it? AWESOME. The suite was very cool with tons of food, drinks, comfy chairs, and a great view. The Jumbotron?? Everything it is cracked up to be AND THEN SOME. That behemoth alone is worth going to a game! It was a gorgeous day and I was in a fabulous mood.

College football is my passion...but this girl couldn't help but root for Da Boys! We lost (again) but what an amazing day!! I may have to tune in and watch those Cowboys next week. :)

I'm home now waiting for the Rangers game to start. GO TEXAS!!


Pictures from the game:

Heading into the stadium...

Very happy camper goofing off in the suite bathroom (fancier than mine at home!)

We got there pretty early and just enjoyed the food and the view...

JUMB-O-TRON, baby!!

Salad, veggies, shrimpies, sushi (and an adorable football-shaped wasabi!)

Beef tenderloin, macaroni and cheese with truffle oil, teriyaki chicken

The Goof, again...after 4 beers. :)

 

Oh, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Gigi

Pronounced "jee-jee"

Here is an interesting tidbit that even my dear mother most likely does not know about her dearest daughter.

Back in middle school (like, ages ago dude) I had 2 of the bestest friends in the world and we sat together at lunch everyday. Those pretty ladies are still my besties and every time we get together, we laugh just as much as we did back then (except this time there are copious amounts of alcohol involved). We cannot remember how it came to be, but the nickname "Gigi" materialized for me. It seemed hilarious at the time, yet it did not stick. Cut to 20 years later...somehow the name comes up in a Facebook conversation. And this time it sticks.

I think I like it...and I'll take it. Those girls mean everything to me and literally ANY nickname they give me is endearing (be it Pooterhead, Boogernose, or Loser). They love me and would do anything for me. And I don't know what I'd do without them in my life.

Here's to you, Katie and Karen...I luf you!!!

Vincent Remains

He is still the ultimate man in my honest opinion. I've seen all but 2 of his movies (only because they cannot be found on DVD). I haven't mentioned him in awhile on here...but be still my heart he is alive and well. If you can stand to watch Renee Zellweger, her squint, and her lips, the movie The Whole Wide World illustrates a brilliant actor known as Vincent D'Onofrio. Still one of the best movie kiss scenes of all time. Hands down.

Funky Fresh Friday

Thank God this is semi-healthy...give me a bag of tortilla chips and this dip and I'm a goner.

Creamy Mexican Dip
maybe 8 servings...if you don't eat it all yourself

1 c fat-free Greek yogurt
1/2 c salsa (Amy's is THE.BEST.)
1 avocado
2-3 T chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 c chopped red onion
1/2 t cumin
kosher salt to taste

I mixed it all up in my trusty blender until smooth. You could also make it the easy peasy way and use pico de gallo in lieu of salsa, onion, and cilantro.

Birthday Girl

 Happy birthday to me!!!

The last year has brought many changes to my life. I feel like I am right where I need to be.

Something tells me this year is going to be the best one yet...

Cheers!

Like mother, like daughter

I did some baking this afternoon...and obtained this:

 
A lovely monstrosity, this painful arm burn occurred while reaching inside the oven.

This incident is nothing new. For as long as I can remember, Mom has always had some kind of burn, scrape, or cut on her arms and hands. It is not a form of abuse...unless you can charge the oven with assault and battery. For some reason, Mom has always endured such war wounds while working in the kitchen. And now, I, too, have acquired this trait. I don't believe this is a fault, nor do I believe it stems from some kind of laziness or ineptness in the cooking realm. It's just something the Rush Women do. I like to think of them as badges of honor. We work hard in the kitchen...and have the scars to prove it.

Endless Love

Happy anniversary to the people I love most in this world...after 41+ years you still shine with a love that few are ever blessed to find in this world!!

Dad & Mom

Love,
Your Little Girl

Fat Talk Free Week 2010

Check out this website for information on the Fat Talk campaign. Here is the actual pledge:

Today I promise to eliminate Fat Talk from conversations with my friends, my family and myself.

Starting now, I will strive for a healthy ideal, which I know looks different for every woman, and focuses on health, not weight or size.

I will celebrate the things about myself and the women in my life that have nothing to do with how we look.

I decide to end Fat Talk NOW!

The 2008 video had a profound effect on me. I love this movement and the idea behind it. Here is last year's video...

This year, the Tri Delts launched a video contest to get more and more school campuses involved in spreading the word. You go, girls

800

↑ That's how many calories I burned at the gym last night.

Mike the Trainer was sick and we didn't have our scheduled session. So I decided to kick my own ass instead.

45 minutes on the elliptical
5K on the treadmill
core/abs on the mat

It was glorious to know I had a major calorie deficit for the day! Especially since I decided to buy some candy for my desk. AND it's the good stuff!

Guess what? Aforementioned desk is now in my brand spankin' new office! The view makes me very happy indeed.

Happy Humpday! New recipe coming later...

 

The last few weeks in sentences (i.e. to explain the pictures)

I flew to Oklahoma for Grandma's memorial service.

The whole family went out for lunch to celebrate her life.

The Sooners beat the Longhorns in Red Rivalry tradition.

I tried sushi for the first time (and loved it).

I met my cousin Kari and her hubby Rodney for dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant.

I drank too many margaritas.

We ended the night at a pub where I proceeded to drink too many beers.

Other than making myself a homemade "hangover" pizza, I stayed on the couch the next day.

My mom sent me an adorable picture of her baby, Buddy Buddington.

I tried some nifty new recipes.

The End.

The last few weeks in pictures (i.e. a "wordless" post)

Speaking of...

Have I ever mentioned how much I love getting my hair blow dried? Maybe it's the heat, the droning of the dryer, or the slight tugging at my hair, but I almost always close my eyes and drift off.

Speaking of hair...I found a new salon in the Dallas Galleria and got my hair did last night.

Speaking of getting my hair did...I had 2 people working on it. One person does the cut and and another person does the coloring. This was new to me but very cool.

Speaking of coloring...I had my first ever gay male stylist. He was a hoot and a half and told me he was going to dress up as a "Slutty Eskimo" for Halloween. Don't ask.

Speaking of Halloween...I've been mulling over the idea of going as the BP oil spill. Maybe I'll wear a blue shirt and put brown or black felt patches on it, and make a rig headband.

Speaking of oil...I'm still rocking my new gig. I love it here and this company is the BEST.

Speaking of the company...our CFO "dabbles" in investing and owns a huge liquor store chain here in Tejas. This means that all employees here at corporate get a "preferred member" discount card on all purchases. Jackpot!

Speaking of liquor...one of my favorite beverages of all time is Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante. Regardless of the alcohol content, I could/can drink an entire bottle in one sitting.

Speaking of Asti...I think my love for this glorious nectar stems from the holidays growing up when my parents would let us have a little glass at dinner (during which I usually got silly and was once even asked by Mom to leave the table because I mentioned the word "poop"--Mom does NOT like bathroom humor at any time).

Speaking of holidays...this year marks the first time I will ever host Thanksgiving dinner for the family.

Speaking of Thanksgiving...it will also be the first one without Grandma.

Speaking of Grandma...she called me "Dollbaby" from about the first week I was born until the last time I saw her. And she was the only one in the family to call me that.

Speaking of family...I'm flying out to OKC on Thursday to attend Grandma's memorial service and celebrate her long, beautiful life.

Speaking of flying...I'm headed to the library today to pick out a good book for the airport/plane.

Speaking of good books...I started The Time Traveler's Wife on Saturday afternoon and didn't put it down until I finished it at 2:30 am. [Review coming soon but let's just say it was EPIC]

Speaking of Saturday...I was so engrossed in the book that I missed most of the football games on TV. That means the book had to be THAT good.

Speaking of football...this weekend brings the ever-so-crucial game between Texas and Oklahoma. The Sooners need to pull out a win this year.

On that note, BOOMER SOONER and have a nice day!

Yours Truly

Grandma Ruby's Tribute

Ruby Lawhorn Hopkins died on September 19, 2010, at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma, at the age of 98. Burial will be Wednesday, September 22, at 10:00 a.m., at Bixby Cemetery in Bixby, Oklahoma, with a memorial service scheduled for Friday, October 1, 2010, at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

Ruby was born in Pryor, Oklahoma on July 31, 1912 to Sam and Lula Mae Mitchell. Following her mother’s death when Ruby was a baby, she was raised by her Aunt Elzada and Uncle Dan Mitchell on a farm in Hartville, Missouri. Upon graduation from Hartville High School, she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse. On a trip to Oklahoma she met the love of her life, Everet Lawhorn, whom she married in 1935.

Ruby and Everet raised two sons and one daughter in Bixby, Oklahoma, and they were active in Bixby United Methodist Church. In her role as president of Women’s Society of Christian Service (now United Methodist Women) she took part in ground-breaking ceremonies for the new sanctuary in 1955. She loved to visit “shut-ins” and the elderly and often baked cakes and cookies to give them when she visited.

When Everet died, she moved to Texas to be near family, and a few years later Ruby married her childhood sweetheart Woodrow “Woody” Hopkins. With Woody, Ruby enjoyed a new life and family in California and was active in a United Methodist Church there before going to live with her daughter following the death of Woody. Until illness forced her to slow down, Ruby remained active and enjoyed life with her beloved family. Ruby was a lady of great faith, compassion, and humor who cared deeply about others and touched the lives of everyone who knew her.

Ruby was preceded in death by her two husbands, her two sons, Danny Lawhorn and Jerry Lawhorn, and is survived by her daughter, Linda Rush, son-in-law, Randy Rush, daughters-in-law, Jo Lawhorn of Sand Springs and Judy Lawhorn of Denton, TX; five grandchildren – Gary Lawhorn and wife Shelli of Sand Springs, Debbie Lawhorn of Klamath Falls, OR, Tommy Lawhorn and wife Wendy of Bixby, Jeff Rush and wife Susan of The Woodlands, TX, and Jenni Rush of Dallas; and 10 great-grandchildren – Kari Smith of Anna, TX, Tyler Lawhorn of Bixby, Cory Lawhorn and Hannah Lawhorn of Sand Springs, Brandon Lawhorn of AZ, Emily Lawhorn and Hunter Lawhorn of Bixby, and Brandon Rush, Sydney Rush, and Samantha Rush of The Woodlands and her niece, Judy Moore of Southaven, MS.

Arrangements are with Corbett Funeral Service in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ruby’s name to Lifecare Foundation, c/o Lifecare Oklahoma Hospice, 226 W Gray, Suite 200, Norman, OK 73069.

Fly away home...

Ruby Maude Mitchell Lawhorn Hopkins

7.31.1912 ~ 9.19.2010

Running Humor

I'll be hitting up a new trail tonight for an easy 3-miler. Actually, it's not a NEW trail but I'll be running a different leg. I've mostly stayed within the Valley View/Park Central area but tonight I'm driving to a spot further south for some new scenery. I think the entire trail is about 7 miles. That would be a great distance but it's basically impossible to run the whole thing (if I park my car up north then run to White Rock Lake, how will I get back????). Maybe someday I'll be able to run 14 miles :)

I had a 5:30 training session this morning...it's only 9:00 now and I am already tired! But I'm enjoying a cup of Tazo Awake tea and it's yummy.

Tomorrow will bring another 5:30 am session...it's certainly tough for me to get up early but the gym is practically deserted and quiet so it's nice. Plus, I've found that I eat more mindfully on days I work out early. AND it leaves plenty of room for evening runs, especially as Fall weather heads this way!