color combo crush

There's something so delightful about mint and coral... makes me feel all freshy fresh.

gender reveal

First of all my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, family members, and responders of the Oklahoma tornados. CNN is on in the background as I write this and seeing the devastation just hits you to the core. Prayers for comfort and peace. 

I could not help myself and had to put on a little gender reveal party for the family. What a great excuse to bring out all the china, right??  Hmm, maybe not your typical gender reveal. I think it was exceptionally special because I used a lot of the items I have recently acquired from my grandparent's estate. Being able to use them made me feel their presence {gpa from the big El Fenix in the sky and gma from her hospice bed}. 

the big day

Today is the big day! Hopefully baby will cooperate and we will be finding out the gender in about an hour (yes I have been counting down). We will announce boy/girl on Sunday.


So is it... BOY

1 // 2 // 3 

or GIRL??

1 // 2 // 3

Either way...

{source}

Eeeeek, Yippeeeeee!!!

NYC on business

I had intended this post for Monday/Tuesday but with my Gpa's passing on Thursday the El Fenix post seemed more appropriate. Thank you to all of you who took the time to read his story. What a wonderful blessing that you would take the time to celebrate his life/metamorphosis with me. *big hugs* 

Most of last week I was in NYC on biznesss honey with two other jewelry designer friends (Kristin with Sensibly Selfish Jewelry and April with Ferocity Jewelry Designs). Sounds glamorous right? 

El Fenix - a love story

I have a bittersweet Notebook-esque story to tell you. My grandfather passed away on Thursday morning and this is his love story.

Growing up my grandparents on my mom's side didn't have the best relationship. I can remember as a child sitting at the Thanksgiving table to which there would be one if not two other family members sitting between the two of them as they referenced each other in third person and never really made eye contact. Strange to me but bearable. She had her life attending Mavs games, watching Oprah, and reading the newspaper while he had his charting genealogy, watching documentaries about space, and tending to his tiff green lawn. Separate rooms, separate lives.

Getting older started taking a toll on both of them. Grandma was catching a case of dementia and grandpa seemed more wobbly than usual (probably because of the numbness in his hands and feet brought on by diabetes). As their ailments got stronger, their dependence on each other got stronger. He needed her to button his shirts and she needed him for the answers to who/what/when/where/why. They literally needed each other whether they liked it or not.

I'm not sure how the tradition started but apparently about four years ago they started going to El Fenix every Wednesday. Same time (3:30 - I always struggled with this. Am I eating a late lunch or an early dinner?) same waiter, Ramon, and same dish - chimichanga and a #7. About a year and a half ago I started accompanying them to what we now call "El Fenix Wednesdays".  I started taking their picture every time we went adding the hashtag #elfenixwednesdays on my instagram account.

We began to notice more and more communication between the two of them which then turned to affection as time went on. The evidence...

When gma would not recognize him (oh, dementia) he would say "64 years honey" to remind her of their relations. They began holding hands, wiping the queso from each other's mouths, kissing, and saying I love you. Truly incredible to watch. My mom and I always wondered if it took them losing their minds to fall in love but maybe it was just letting go or literally forgetting life's bitterness that allowed love to settle in. In the last year of his life my grandfather became a more animated and compassionate man. Many "I love yous" were exchanged and although he is not with us anymore I am so grateful to have spent so many El Fenix Wednesdays together witnessing two people re-fall in love. Those days were his last but I'd say they were his best. 

I know he will be looking down from the big El Fenix in the sky this Wednesday. We love you and miss you. 

drinks on me

1. Spicy grapefruit margaritas 2. Peach lemonade cooler 3. Spice pineapple cocktail 4. Mango jalapeño margaritas 5. Blackberry margarita 6. Monogram swizzle sticks (50 for $44)

Cinco de Mayo (or Drinko de Mayo for some) is this weekend and seeing as I am almost 4 months pregnant (what, what?) I will not be indulging all of these beautiful scrumptious life changing cocktails that I have been hoarding on my pinterest board drinks on me for months. BUT it doesn't mean I need to hold out on you guys! If I were drinking these little beauties would be on my list. I always love a twist on a classic cocktail. Enjoy!

P.S. I have gotten into the habit of "sniffing" my husband's drinks. Am I crazy? I'm sorry smelling a bold red wine is almost as good as drinking it. :) So please let me know if you try any of these drinks. I am drinking vicariously.

Cheers.

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celebrate life

Well, there has been a lot going on around here to say the least. I've been in the studio for the past couple of days prepping for my trunk show with One Posh Place in Grapevine (this Saturday from 10:30 - 8:00) and also dealing with some emotional hurdles as well.