The New Aranda Family

So Happy Together

Michael's finally back!!! It's wonderful being together again, especially without the stupid Bar hanging over our heads. :) Now we wait until Nov. to find out the results, so keep praying! I did finally start packing on Fri. night and now our walls are mostly barren, sad! But we're moving in less than 2 weeks so it's ok!!! Hooray! Yesterday we went to the city pound--not to get a dog--just to see what cuties they had. We saw a little Yorkie who was adorable and he could jump incredibly high from a dead standstill. Cutie pie! I gave him some treats. Then we went to the new art museum on UT's campus, the Blanton. It was fun and pretty cheap and the gallery is beautiful. We got some dinner (mmm, Jersey Mike's) and played Smash Bros.--I even won--twice!

In very exciting news, my friend Jeremy and his new wife Molly (they got married last Oct.) had their twins!! Both are boys: Jacob James and Joseph Powers (Molly's maiden name). They were born pretty prematurely (i.e. supposed to be due in Aug./Sept. and Molly's been on full bed rest for 3 or 4 weeks now) and only weighed in at about 3-4 lbs. each, both have tubes up their tiny noses and down their throats and Joseph has an IV in his head. Both were in NICU as of 5 days ago so please keep this new family in your thoughts and prayers.

Love to all!

The Bar Exam

The Bar Exam is finally upon us. Michael leaves for Houston tomorrow and then is taking The Bar this upcoming Tues.-Thurs., that's the 25th-27th. Almost surprisingly, we haven't killed each other yet. These past few weeks, well, few days, really, have taught me that there's stress and then there's stress. Michael was so nervous today that he made me nervous! Fluttery, clenching stomach, the whole nine yards. Just in the last 2 weeks, we've had to deal with, "my time of the month", studying, finding a mover, studying, me being sick and then more studying. If we haven't killed each other yet then I'm guessing we never will!! Now we just want this whole ordeal behind us so that we can move, go to Ireland and start our new lives in Dallas. He'll have the computer for a week so this will probably be my last blog for a while.

Say some prayers, please, that Michael passes with flying colors.

'Za

Cheese Pizza

Traditional and comforting. You focus on living a quality life. You're not easily impressed with novelty. Yet, you easily impress others.

What's Your Pizza Personality?

I Hate Being Sick

It all started about 2 days ago...suddenly, I started sneezing and sneezing. Then my sinuses started hurting and the coughing began. Now I have a full-blown mini sinus infection: sinus pressure, headache, coughing, cracked nose and lips and I'm alternating between having a stuffy nose and a runny nose. So today I've been drinking my tea and going through old magazines, which is productive since I've been wanting to do this for a while and continue on my de-cluttering process. Unfortunately, it always takes me a week to get over these, no matter how poorly I feel. Sad. Oh well, it could be worse--I could feel this way in 2 weeks when the moving insanity really begins! There's my silver lining.

SO HOT

Today is one of those days where you just feel like you can't cool down at all. I have to say that I'm surprised that it took this long to feel this way. It is already the middle of July, after all. Today it's supposed to be a heat index of 106. Last night, at 10pm, it was still 95; now that's hot! This makes me more and more glad that we've hired movers to do all the sweating and schlepping. Speaking of which, here's my desperate plea for money: if you have any just laying around, that you happen to not need for whatever reason, feel free to send it to us! I don't really expect anyone to respond to this, it's just my way of slowly going crazy.

And what have I decided to do this hottest of all hot days? You know, the usual: lug boxes in 3 or 4 trips from WS to my steaming car and do all of the laundry--not in the air conditioned paradise of my apt., of course, but meandering my way across the parking lot multiple times.

Enjoy your day and I hope that wherever you are, you're cool!

Yarrrr!!!

Your Pirate Name Is...

Dirty Jenny of the High Seas

What's Your Pirate Name?

I actually had a few but this one was my favorite!

Everyone Should Take This Test!!

You Are Likely a First Born

At your darkest moments, you feel guilty. At work and school, you do best when you're researching. When you love someone, you tend to agree with them often. In friendship, you are considerate and compromising. Your ideal careers are: business, research, counseling, promotion, and speaking. You will leave your mark on the world with discoveries, new information, and teaching people to dream.

The Birth Order Predictor

I Think I'm Officially Addicted to These Things

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

Cookie

You Are a Black and White Cookie

You're often conflicted in life, and you feel pulled in two opposite directions. When you're good, you're sweet as sugar. And when you're bad, you're wicked!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

Totally True

You Are a Frappacino

At your best, you are: fun loving, sweet, and modern At your worst, you are: childish and over indulgent You drink coffee when: you're craving something sweet Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

My Fave!

You Are Mexican Food

Spicy yet dependable. You pull punches, but people still love you.

What Kind of Food Are You?

Allison Blevins

Isn't she a cutie pie??

I'm Home!

Well, I'm back in hot (but not humid like my last day in StL) Austin! I've been reunited with Michael and Sam and all is right with my world again! Michael is studying furiously for the Bar (he takes it July 25th-27th for those who want to know--prayers are greatly appreciated) and I'm trying to get everything in order and organized for the upcoming move. Not all in one day, of course.

I had a great time in St. Louis, spending it with my family, and can now post my fireworks pictures!! These were taken literally in our front yard--Mom can attest to this! Enjoy!

Addendum

Unfortunately, I did NOT get to eat Ted Drewes. This is very sad news, I know.

However, I DID: shop 'til I almost literally dropped, went to the Art Museum and Zoo with my family and saw Pirates 2. Yarrrr!!

I Think I Am Slowly Eating My Way Through St. Louis

I have had so much good food here in the past week, it's unreal. Here are the places I can remember and what I had to eat:

St. Louis Bread Co. (aka Panera) -- turkey sandwich
Einstein's Bagels -- 1/2 turkey sanwich and salad
Sweet Tomatoes (similar to Fresh Choice) -- 'nuff said, I ate 'til I popped!
Zapata's -- cheese enchiladas and lots of margaritas! (I'm still surprised I didn't have even the smallest hangover the next morning...)
Lewis and Clark's in St. Charles (I think they tout it as "An American Restaurant and Public House") -- turkey sandwich and fries!
Cecil Whittaker's -- possibly some of the best pizza in the world!! Thin crust and made with provel cheese (a mix of cheddar, swiss and provolone, perhaps with some mozzerella as well, for you non-St. Louisans), reminds me of my childhood. I had bacon and green pepper 'za.

Today we're having MOM'S DELI for lunch!!!! I'm so excited! I always get the Mom's Special on french bread with everything except tomatoes. And sometimes no gravy. Always eat it hot, when possible. If you live in or near St. Louis and you haven't been there yet, go now! It's in South County/City at 4412 Jamieson Ave. Look how easy I just made it for you!

Hopefully, we're also having Ted Drewes today. Drewes is known for their frozen custard and concretes. A StL fave and right around the corner from Mom's Deli, a major plus! I usually get The Big Apple--a concrete with vanilla ice cream and a slice of real apple pie mixed in. Topped with whipped cream and a cherry, of course. On summer nights, the place is packed and people open their trunks to sit, chat and eat Drewes.

The only place left to hit on my list of StL faves is Pasta House. I need their amazing salad and lasagna. I can never eat it all. Maybe I should make sure to go there tomorrow for lunch and then I can have the leftovers before I leave on Tues....

Weight Watchers is going to hate me.

SURPRISE!!!

Surprise, I'm in St. Louis! I flew in yesterday to surprise my mom for her birthday, which is tomorrow. Only my uncle and my grandma knew that I was coming in (well, my dad, knew but not specifics). Anyway, Uncle John picked me up and we drove home, where mom was standing in the driveway (there was a suspicious-looking pest control truck outside), aand I just peeked out the window and waved "HI!". She was so surprised, it was GREAT! Then she hugged me and cried and hugged me some more....now that's a good surprise! So, I'm here for a week and I'll try to blog as much as I can but I can't promise anything!

Happy 4th of July everyone, be safe!

Knit One, Purl Two

I've decided to start knitting, once again. I say, "once again" because I have actually knitted before...shocking, I know! My best friend Kristy taught me how to do this at one point in my life. I wanted to pick it up again but could not seem to find all of my knitting paraphenalia (i.e. yarn, needles...well, that's pretty much it) in the depths of my parents' house. So, I have started anew.

Luckily, my friend Katy from WS loves to knit and proceeded to come over and get me started last night. I have this wonderful new yarn that bright fuschia, purple, turquoise, green and blue (it's really not garish, I promise) and will look excellent as a scarf. That's what I'm currently creating, a scarf. I also got some soft yellow yarn today to make my Grandma B. a scarf for Christmas. I'm crossing my fingers that: 1. she would like a yellow scarf and 2. I don't lose momentum and creative energy to get this done before Christmas.

It's actually kind of relaxing, once you get the hang of it.