Brian's SMU Quilt

My mother makes phenomenal quilts! The more she makes, the more requests she gets. Matt has a Packer's quilt; Mark, Nathan and Shelby have LSU quilts; Amy has a quilt with all of her favorite shades of purple; she is making me a Fleur de Lis quilt; Randy has gotten a Saint's quilt (just to name a few) - and most recently Brian got an SMU quilt. 

It was hard to not steal this from him!

February Chef's Club: Mardi Gras Themed

We have officially started the second round of Too Many Chef's Club rotations! So exciting. Chuck and Tracey kicked off this rotation choosing February as their month of choice - and using the timing to celebrate with a Mardi Gras theme! I would say this was one of my fav meals yet! The bar continues to rise...

Adorable Menu

Tracey's table settings are unbelievable

Grillades & Grits!
So far this goes down as my favorite entree so far. And that says a lot because we have had some amazing entrees!

Look at the cute placecard!

Salad

King Cake FROM Louisiana.  Chuck's dad was in town - and it was really fun to have one of the grandfathers of Chef's Club join us. He and his wife have started a few TMCC's over the years - some lasting YEARS! I hope that is the case for our group!

Lucky gets to come to Aunt Tracey's house with us and play with her friends Jazzy and Bandit! She has come so far!

She Said Yes...

This past weekend my childhood friend of 18 years GOT ENGAGED! OMG I am so excited. Jamie's fiance Mark sent out pictures and the sweetest email of how he proposed! I COULD NOT be happier for these two! Mark just got himself two new best friends!

The plan:  trick my girlfriend Jamie into thinking we are doing one last day trip flight in my plane locally somewhere in TX before I ground my plane for 3-4mos and do a major retro fit of the avionics.  So she thought it was just another fun field trip. So I planned a day to Corpus Christi to a museum of her choosing, lunch at the bay and a walk on the beach/board walk.

The USS Lexington Museum and lunch in the bay went fine...see the pics...she didn't have a clue.

Then on to the beach.  After walking around a bit I found a nice little gazebo and popped the question.  She said YES!

Wake Up & Be Awesome

Matt made this for me and it is proudly hanging in our guest room!

XOXO

I kept the Valentine Day cards simple this year and all 8 for just about $5 - including postage!

Pack of 8 for $1 - Target Dollar Section - Holla!

I love matching stamps to the cards inside!

Another Target $1 section success!

And now Matt and I are off to enjoy the evening with a homemade surf n' turf dinner watching our new favorite show Elementary!

A (Little) Pep Talk

Just watched this video - and I'm not sure I could say it any better than this little guy. A perfect follow up to my book review!

What are you going to do to stop being boring!?!?!

3rd Annual Vday Party

Yesterday we hosted our 3rd annual Valentine's day party and it was a success!

Wine tends to be the theme at our Valentine shindigs. Last year we brought in a wine sommelier. This year we gave the reins to the guests to bring their favorite bottle of wine & a cheese paring.  Courtesy of the Dollar Store I bought a wine glass for each guest, put their name on the bottom, and used the glasses not just as the night's glass - but as the party favor (pinterest idea). 

Matt made some yummy heavy appetizers - and we ended the night with the inappropriate game "Cards Against Humanity." Hilarious!  

Instructions were to wear "Cupid's Colors" - Rob won with a pink shirt and pink pants. 

While I didn't make an official invitation...(I actually used an evite)...I did enjoy sending a reminder email in the form of a poem!

You very special few,

have all responded yes!

So come on down to Lundeland,

and bring your favorite guest!

 

Appetizers we will serve,

To fill you up, as you deserve!

The evening's activities have been decided,

They'll be a blast for all invited!

 

Please bring your favorite bottle of wine,

and don't forget some cheese,

and dress in "cupid's colors"

I beg you, pretty please!

 

The night starts at seven,

We are absolutely delighted.

Let's wine and dine this February nine,

It's time to get excited!

 

Please don't make fun of my rthyme,

For you know it's almost that time.

The party is getting closer,

and I love playing host..er?

 

Excited to see everyone! Wine, cheese and your date - we've got the rest!

Crested Butte Winter 2013

The first week of February Matt and I had the privilege of flying out to Crested Butte, CO to see my grandmother (Oma). It is hard to believe it has been almost been a year since my grandfather's death (2-14-12).  It is important to Matt and I that (at least I) make the trip to see Oma as often as possible (Crested Butte is not the easiest or cheapest place to get to).  This past trip it worked out for us both to fly out and see her, as well as other family. Oma's health is great in some ways, and declining in others - which is always tough. She doesn't have the stamina for visitors that she once did. Oftentimes 15-20 minutes wears her out. But Oma and I have always had a special relationship - and so even as she continues to age, she and I can still be on the same page. I think she knows that I "get" her - and while I can't understand, I can empathize with the frustration and depression of getting older. I didn't know what to expect from my time with her this go-around - but I tell you what - it could not have been any better. Matt and I got a great 30 minutes with her Friday. On Saturday I went in the AM with my Aunt Teresa and then I drove out again by myself that afternoon. The two of us literally hung out for over 2 hours. Some of the time I just sat next to her reading, and when she felt like it she would engage in a question or two of conversation, and then close her eyes again. It was a really special time. On Sunday Oma told stories for 45 minutes straight! It was SO much fun. I was devastated to leave her because I knew she wanted us to stay longer. On the flight home I just felt greatful. Grateful of such quality time with Oma, and grateful that she and I can still relate and have good conversations. 

In addition to seeing Oma, Matt and I got to spend time with aunts, uncles and cousins - and Matt even got in a day of skiing! What a lucky guy!

Chef's Club at Lundeland

January, the Lundes hosted Too Many Chefs Club. As per the rules, we were in charge of the recipes and ingredients, cooking something we have never cooked before! As most of you know - I LOVE hosting, so the table may or may not have been set two days in advance!

Mustache "wine charms" - LOVE

Yes I made laminated name tags 

I went with a rustic theme

Matt gave all of the boys aprons - So ADORABLE - just missing Rob

Appetizer: Bacon wrapped shrimp and pineapple

The ladies of TMCC - doing what we do best!

Entree: Homemade flatbread with balsamic chicken and grilled peaches

Salad was a homemade dressing with sauteed almonds and pears

Such a fun group

The idea was to have oreos for dessert - so we made homemade icecream with crushed oreos! 

No Lost Cause: Book Review

Holy Moly! When I tell you I just read the greatest book EVER, you should take me seriously. No Lost Cause, the story of the former President of Colombia, was such an inspirational book that a) I want to scream it from the top of a mountain and have everyone I know read it b) I feel slightly inadequate as a person contributing to the good of our country and c) I need to catch up on foreign news/politics.

A work colleague was reading this book on a recent business trip, and for some reason just looking at the cover, I felt pulled to read it. When they were finished I was given two weeks (before they had to pass it on to the next person they had already committed it to). I didn't need half that time because I couldn't put it down! I will probably re-read it before the month is over. I realize due to personal circumstances, this book may have spoken to me more than it will to others, but regardless - the story of never giving up, striving for continuous improvement in the face of adversity, and believing in change for the better - those things will speak to everyone.

We defnitely have some problems and issues facing our country - our world - and society right now. Five minutes of watching the news can tell you that. But at the same time we have miracles that happen every day, we have people still carrying hope, and we live in a world with brilliant minds, selfless hearts and hidden leadership. It was fun to read a book that demonstrates success, and a country that wanted to reach its potential. That being said, no person, country or society is perfect - but we can always do something to help make the world a better place. As cliche as that sounds - at the end of the day you just have to believe it and ask yourself what you are doing to help.

"Perseverance conquers waht desire does not achieve." - Alvaro Uribe Velez's mother

*Disclaimer: I'm not a political expert - so I have some continued research to do Uribe and the country of Colombia. This book was obviously one perspective - and I realize that. Even if Uribe isn't the perfect person - I believe no one is - but results speak for themselves. And not to get on a tangent, but maybe we could all focus on the strength of our leaders - and not spend so much time airing every tiny mistake they made when they were younger, or prior to being in office. We don't want unethical people leading our country, but we will lose good political candidates that can make a difference and care, if every political campaign continues to spend millions finding the little mistakes or secrets that all of us have in some form or fashion. Let's focus on now!

"Working" on the Golf Course

I had the priviledge of attending the Waste Management Phoenix Open - as a work event. We had morning meetings, followed by lunch and the afternoon on 18! VIP tent passes, front row seats for hole 16, and the chance to see Phil (almost) break his record. We went on a Thursday, which is the same day I went to the Byron Nelson last year - and that is all I need. The size of the crowd is perfect and everyone is fresh and excited to be outside! The weather was perfect and we ended our day watching the sunset over the mountains with live music in the background. Not too shabby!



 



The 16th hole - LOVE IT!