Gobble gobble
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Our First Thanksgiving in Austin
First, Richie came home from work with a harvest bouquet for me and it just made my day! He has surprised me with flowers twice now since we have been here and it is such a surprise that I never have a vase for them. I am thinking of buying one to tuck away but no not want to jinx myself.
Then, on Thursday morning, I woke up and turned on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and then Rich woke up and we went out for a walk around downtown. We walked faaar and even ran into a man from Buffalo on our way to Whole Foods for coffee fuel. We found lots of cute homes – the one we really like is 1.8 million dollars! But it has a great view of the city! Please click here to see it. It is pretty fantastic (and rather inexpensive compared to Amelia Bullock’s other properties listed – just food for thought while you are looking).
So then we came home and made breakfast and then I got cooking and I must say, I make one heck of a Turkey Day dinner! I even made a turkey – I wasn’t going to (I was going to cheat and buy a rotisserie chicken or employ a prefab turkey from Boston Market) but Gus was just the perfect little turkey at a whopping 6.66 pounds! Rich got him out of the bag and got rid of all the “extras” and put him in the pan for me. We took turns basting him (when Rich “heard” the obnoxious, hard-to-miss-even-with-a-deaf-ear timer go off) and he turned out just sooo melt-in-your-mouth delicious! And it was so easy! There should be a national Semi-Annual Turkey Day celebration! We are almost out of leftovers. (Just a few bites of smashed baked potatoes left for Rich.)
We didn’t end up going shopping on Black Friday – Rich even said he would go with me but there wasn’t anything great worth going out. But, we did go out to see Blind Side and we really liked it! Then we went to Borders and Cavender’s (a cowboy boot store) and Central Market for dinner. I love Central Market – they have a little help yourself stand of beauty scrubs – I bought the Hibiscus Salt Scrub and it is wonderful! And they have my Stash licorice tea! (I still can’t find the Chocolate Mint one in stores.)
Today, we went to Mattress Firm to exchange our mattress. They have a 90-day comfort guarantee policy and today is day 88. So, since we do not like it, better late than never! We got a great deal though – we are getting the Cadillac of mattresses! Totally worth it so far. I can not wait until it is delivered on Tuesday. I think that I will buy new sheets and new pillows!!
Tonight we are going to sip on some Drank. What is Drank? It is a purple drink. Last week, while we were in Houston, Rich and his friends found it at Specs. They drank it and within about 20 minutes they were all fast asleep on the couch. So last night, we bought some melatonin and Valerian root but they did not seem to be as effective as the Drank. So today we stopped by Specs and picked some up.
The apartment is all decorated for Christmas! We bought a little tree and lights, wrapped the doors with paper and ribbon, put bows on the bar stools and hung tinsel garland everywhere! And guess what, at Michaels, they have Buffalo Snow! It is really called Buffalo Snow! (Rich asked if it is black and gritty.) Must have some!
Weekend waltz
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Rich and I decided to start some hobbies while we are down here in Austin. So this past weekend, we took a ballroom dance lesson and learned how to waltz! It was a lot of fun! Very fast-paced but we caught on quick. The only thing we didn’t like was having to switch partners the whole time. We are all about making friends, but I don’t think this is the way we want to do it (or even the place). And, I have to learn how to be a better follower…But beware, with practice, when we come home for the holidays, we will be waltzing circles around everyone in the snow!
Speaking of the holidays, I started putting out Christmas decorations. Tonight, we are going to buy a tree! One that is just big enough to fit all our ornaments. And stocking holders. Currently, our stockings are being held up by a couple pieces of Scotch tape. I think we can do better than that – Plus, I do not think that the tape will hold our stuffers.
On Sunday, we went to see the movie 2012. The movie was okay. I didn’t really have any feelings of wanting to go see it but after seeing it, I still have no feelings of being glad that I did. But the movie theatre – my goodness. People brought their babies to the show! Not toddlers – babies, with bottles! If anyone needs a babysitter so that they can see a matinee, I’ll do it! And, in our row was a family with two young children and the parents let the children leave at least a dozen times during the movie (which meant stepping over us a dozen times during the movie) which I did not understand. And then, that same family – the man’s cell phone rang and he ANSWERED it and started having a conversation during the movie. This did not really bother me so much since he was sitting on my left, but really? During a movie? And then he passed the phone to his wife to talk too! It was like the bat boat tour all over again, except this time I could not yell at the man because he was not my Dad.
Yesterday, I need a little pick me up, so I went shopping! Rich took me to the outlets this weekend and he found lots of goodies! He is going to look sooo dapper this winter (which is more like autumn down here). Yesterday was my turn and I came home with bags in my hands (the holiday merchandise bags too!) – very satisfied to say the least. I think that I will head out again today to finish buying a few things that are on my list: a pair of booties (no snow here, so I can don impractical pedi-wear without the troubles of salt) and a couple pairs of leggings (so that I can keep wearing my dresses without sticking out like a Northern thumb who is comfortable exposing her legs to 75 degree weather – people down here are so acclimated that they wear sweaters when it is in the 80s! It is brutal trying to fit in when I am used to pulling out sweaters when the temperature drops below 40.).
Today, it is going to be 68 degrees. I might need to put on a coat to go out and buy faux snow to decorate!
Fun Fun Fun
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This weekend, Rich and I were going to go to the Fair! We saw a posting for it in our elevator and it sounded like fun. So how was it? Well, the parking lot (which we paid $5 to see) was…empty and the fair was lifeless. It was seriously like something out of a scary movie. Needless to say, we did not pay the $15 per person to enter the local amusement fest which I can say (I can’t believe I am saying this) – the Eden Corn Festival was more lively (and they had corn – my favorite). Who would have thought that corn could out shine another festival. We took a few pictures from our parking spot view and then jetted off to find another adventure.
Where did we end up? Lake Travis. We had lunch at the Oasis (a much wiser decision – both fiscally and nutritionally – and a much more scenic view). And what did the Oasis have besides a waaay overpriced “picture with a real live longhorn” souvenir? A metal spaceship just sitting there! So Rich and I took our pictures in that.
Then, we did some driving (Rich loved it – very hilly – the Civie got it’s exercise) and while we were cruising around I spotted something and thought I was surely seeing things because in the two months we have been here we have not seen ONE nor has one popped up when we searched for locations within a 50 mile radius. What is this wonderment that had me blinking twice and gasping excitedly? DUNKIN DONUTS! Yes – I shouted, “Dunkin Donuts” and the Civie quickly came to a halt and U-ied back down the highway. If we do not find another one soon (closer), we might just have to open up a franchise!
Sunday, it was rainy, rainy, rainy and the Bills had a BYE week. So Rich and I went to the mall. I wanted to see if the Hallmark store had an open house (because my mom was going to an open house) but it did not appear that there was one going on here. P.S. Mom – I want Rhonda too. I loved walking around – the stores are starting to decorate and there was even Santa sitting in the food court ready to listen to the gimmies! While were were there, we went into Williams-Sonoma and they were sampling Thanksgiving dinner! Yummy! I had a taste of everything and if turkeys didn’t gross me out (I mean, if they can make bacon out of turkey then I think that they can make a turkey without the – oh my goodness, I did not know what to call all the junk that gets pulled out of the turkey’s bottom so I googled it and, oh my gosh! – neck and giblets?! I need a moment…
Okay, moving on. Rich and I saw a picture of an Asian model and she had really big wide eyes. At first we wondered how it was possible and then I realized, “It is possible! She had the surgery!” What surgery? Well, it is called “Double Eyelid Blepharoplasty” and I had first heard about it on Oprah years ago and really really wanted it done. However, the thought of cutting my eyelids gives me the creepies. So until I get over that…there is eyelid glue! And tape! (Yes, Rich was intrigued so we googled the procedure and found products) However, Richie will not buy either for me, so…if you need a holiday gift idea, I want glue for my eyelids! (Make sure it comes with the poker so that I can get them to stick reeeal good!)
Onto a more serious note (not that double eyelid blepharoplasty is not serious) – Rich and I saw a few movies that we would like to review (0 = awful, 10 = amazing):
- New York I Love You – my idea. Our combined scores give the movie a 5. I did not mind all of the story lines or the “unfinished business” aspect of each of them but each individual plot somehow leaves you wondering if you missed some greater intellectual concept. I heard that Paris Je T’aime is better, so maybe we will rent that one.
- The Brothers Bloom – Richie’s idea. We give it a 7! We had never even heard of it before but I guess it came out months ago and had a really great cast! It kept you wondering what was going to happen, had funny moments and was very endearing.
- Bee Movie – HBO’s idea. We give it a B+! It was unBEElieveably cute. Might even take the cake for Finding Nemo (one of my favorites). So yes, the best movie of the week was a talking cartoon honey bee.
P.S. I burned my hand on the oven rack. Ouch. Again, please do not drop everything you are doing to rush down here. But as always, get well gratuities (or a full sleeve oven mitt) will be accepted.
It was the best of times…
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It was the WURST of times…which is a good thing! This past weekend, my parents came to visit us. We took them to New Braunfels for Wurstfest! It was like a celebration of silly hats, lederhosen, yummy food (Rich with a Wurst-ka-Bob and me with a turkey leg) and accordion music.
And then we went to the most beautiful land of outlets in San Marcos. It was so magical, I would not be surprised if people got married there!
The first night my parents were here, we went out to dinner at Bess Bistro and I loved everything about it. I had been wanting to try it – I was told it was owned by Sandra Bullock! I had a delicious chopped cobb salad and…SPAETZEL! (which I say with an additional “ie” on the end) Rich can take me there anytime he wants to.
On Hallowe’en, my mom made us a mini Thanksgiving dinner with a chicken because Randalls (still my favorite grocery mart) did not have a lil turkey – gobble! Then, we went on a boat ride at dusk to watch the bats fly out from under the bridge – can you see them? Underneath the South Congress bridge is the biggest urban bat colony! And every night they fly away to go huntin for bugs. It was a very cool sight and there were so many of them that it looked like smoke in the night sky.
Oh, and my mom brought down some St. Nick’s day presents for me and Rich! They are sitting in the coat closet…a very trusting move for someone who knows what a peeker I am.
Speaking of Christmas. I have submitted my first draft of my list. Rich is still working on his…
Thanks for coming to visit! We had lots of fun! xoxo
Nestlette
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What? There is a Rich behind Rich & Elizabeth? You betcha! Okay so the Rich in “Rich & Elizabeth” has been fairly absent from this blog, but trust me that’s OK. Beth is a much better blogger than me anyway.
However, she has failed to mention her latest endeavor – Nestlette. Unlike me who shamelessly promotes my websites every chance I get (Radium, Sparkups and the T Shirt Galleries) – Beth is not one to toot her own horn. So that leaves me with no choice but to mention it for her.
So just what exactly is a Nestlette?
A reinvention of the housewife – so much more than cooking & cleaning. She may be a wife, a mommy, even a bachelorette. Intelligent and charming, she is a Nestlette!
The multi-author site covers a range of topics of interest to the modern woman including fashion, recipes, products and a hysterical must read list of rules all women should live by.
So I encourage you to check out the site, share it with your friends and congratulate Bethie for launching another great blog.