Springtime in Denver

I've been traveling a lot these last few weeks, and it's certainly easy to feel burnt out and just plain tired.  However, it's in those moments that I remind myself -- you can always catch up on sleep... But you can't catch up on moments. So, carry on I will.

The last weekend in March we headed up to Denver for a quick visit with Evan's family.  As proud a Texan as I am... Colorado is a serious contender for 2nd place.  I took the below photo from behind the driver's seat leaving Evan's neighborhood. Not the ideal photo op, but I can't get over the fact that you're driving around in suburbia -- and this is the view.  #notinkansasDallasanymore

Hi Christy and Colin.

After a walk through Wash Park, we stopped to have ice cream for lunch... again, idyllic.

The trip was pretty low-key, and honestly -- we wouldn't have it any other way. We got to catch up with some of Evan's friends from high school, the in-laws, and even golf found it's way in for a few hours.  Good people, good times.

Gordon and his kiddos. (And grand-kiddo.)

At the airport on our way back to Lubbock, Evan pointed out a key player in one of my guiltiest pleasure TV shows... Chris Franjola! From Chelsea Lately!  I hate to admit I geeked out, even awkwardly asking him to shake his hand. (?????) But he humored me enough to take a pic and my day was made. Yessss.

Basically, we're BFF now.

Still high on my run-in with a favorite comedian, we were headed back to Lubbock.  As much as I adore Colorado, I can't deny the happy feeling I always get touching back down on Texas soil.  And finishing the weekend like this: patio, tacos, and Lone Star beer.

Cheers, Texas.

Right now I'm feeling really grateful for this busy travel season -- for the fact that we're able to do so,  for the people we're able to see, and for the memories we're making.  I'll sleep when I'm dead... although, I'm still not above a good nap now and then. :)

NOLA Shenanigans

After a crazy year of weddings in 2013, it's kind of nice to have only one so far in 2014.  That wedding, being for our dear friends Cody and Melissa Failinger-to-be! I met Melissa back in 4th grade in REACH.  That's right, fellow RISD-ers... we were smart little cookies.  (I wonder what went wrong?!) (Kidding.)

Anyway, we celebrated our bride in March with a weekend getaway to trouble New Orleans. It was such a whirlwind weekend -- my flight left Lubbock at 6:45am Friday and returned at 6:45am Sunday morning -- but it was totally worth the lack of sleep.   I know the rule is what happens at the Bachelorette party, stays at the Bachelorette party... which is why I will simply skim this weekend. There was just too much fun had not to share SOME pictures of what we got ourselves into.  Here's a snapshot of an amazing few days with a few of my favorite girls!

Adorable cups that made sure everyone knew what we were doing. (As if we needed cups for that. ha!)

Signature girl pic in the elevator.

Ready for our first night out!

First stop, hurricanes at Pat O's. 

Tri Delt's reunited... you just kinda have to. Don't judge us. 

For the record, that white cup is water.

Saturday's early view from the the hotel. Good morning, NOLA! 

Some Berkner Rams posing in front of the steamboat cruise. (Which was so much fun, btw.)

Saturday night with the girls... and LA Hard Bodies. 

Like I said, this post is slim for obvious reasons... some bachelorette stories are best left untold. Ha! However, I will always think of this weekend when I hear "Happy" "Let It Go" or even "We can't stop." Also, I'll never look at a "Hurricane" the same way again. Can't wait to party again in June! (Just maybe, on a little lesser scale. I can't hang like I used to!)

Love you, Mel!

Catching up on 2014

I really have no other reason for this post, other than to share some photos of our year so far.  Although much less exciting compared to this time last year (wedding planning, anyone?) we've stayed entertained!

First up, the Super Bowl.  My Denver-raised husband loves him some Broncos, so obviously we couldn't pass up a chance to host a party at the Denver Bronco Headquarters of Lubbock.  

Here's a look at the spread. I used this party as an excuse to join Costco... #worthit

I made two pots of chili (one w/beans, one without.) And had some hot dogs for the extra hungry!

Bear loves hosting parties. He stood by the door, waiting for our guests to arrive!

If you're a Jimmy Kimmel Live fan, you'll know he was in Austin this last week for SXSW.  So in February, his people invited Texas ABC affiliates down for interviews ahead of the trip, and my station sent me. ("Eeek!" moment!)

Me and the funnyman post interview.

Interviewing Jimmy (I think he thinks I'm funny?)

Shooting promos... I'm looking a little longingly at him here, but I promise -- totally professional. Ha!

That's the Lubbock crew: my news director, our photographer and Jimmy. (How adorable is it that they are matching?!)

Here's a link to the story I put together, if you're interested.

Enough about me... I have to brag on Evan some, too. He recently did a story about two Lubbock twins who rocked the basketball court in an inspiring way.  CBS picked it up, and it didn't take long to blow up the internet.  Such an awesome story, and even more awesome that Evan got to tell it.

Had to document the "most shared" section.  It's been shared now, more than 3k times!

You can watch that story, too! Click here.

Moving on to Valentine's Day, I hope all of you had a wonderful time with your loved ones!  I'm not a huge fan of this "holiday" -- I think girls often expect ridiculous things to happen/be given and it's just obnoxious. However, I will say that I do see value in the day as one that allows you to set aside time to show your significant other / kids how much they mean to you. 

Okay, off my soapbox.

Regardless, I had to share the card my darling husband brought home.

I didn't marry him for his attention to detail. (Notice anything about that card?)

(He says he didn't realize it either, until he brought it home.)

Here's my other Valentine.  So photogenic.

Even Bear got spoiled this Valentine's Day! I got him a "pupcake" from a local bakery.

 And now, to round out this post, some pics from the Make A Wish Gala. Allison was a "celebrity" dancer so we all got to go and support her as she transformed into a "Barbie Girl" for a good cause!  So much fun, and even better when it's for such an amazing organization.  Love those Wish Kids!

Pre-gala champagne selfie for our star dancer!

My date cleans up reallll nice.

Up next: a month full of travel and celebrations. Can't wait!

A lesson in Christmas snooping.

I mentioned previously that I wanted to discuss Evan's Christmas present in a separate post. So, here we are.

To make a long story short... I ordered Evan an Xbox One. This should've been an enormous surprise, considering we'd discussed before how it would not be a purchase in the immediate future for our household.

But then, Best Buy delivered the darn thing amazingly fast... and it just so happened to be on a Friday in which he had the day off. He saw the box.  And then the texts to his COD buddies began.

My husband suddenly turned into an 8-year-old child, texting pictures and creating gifs of his new "box" that he just KNEW contained his heart's biggest desire.  I refused to let him be right.

So Plan B lead me back to Best Buy, where I shopped the store for the last thing Evan could possibly want... that was also the same size as an Xbox One so I could swap it out in the box.  I came home with a bluetooth, neon-lighted karaoke machine. It was perfect.  Here he is opening his awesome gift:

He's smiling on the outside, but crying on the inside.

To his credit, Evan truly did put up a good front... thanking me, smiling, even taking it out of the box to set it up and play with it.  I couldn't look him in the eye because I would've started laughing... and at the same time I was annoyed he set it up because I needed to take that thing back!

I let this go for a good 30 minutes, before I couldn't take it any longer.  I just knew he was miserable, and I couldn't contain my laughter anymore.  So, may I present you: the big reveal.  (And I apologize for my super annoying voice in the video... I was near tears myself, because this was the greatest gig of acting I've ever done in my life.)

Evan sees his Xbox One for the first time:

And that, my friends, is my very favorite Christmas memory thus far in our relationship.  The lesson here -- don't snoop on your presents.  You might end up with a karaoke machine.

PS -- The yellow pants seem to be a highlight for many in this video. Evan liked them online, I liked them in theory, but alas... they shared the same fate as the karaoke machine and went back to the store. 

Merry, Thankful Holidays 2013

It's well into the new year, but never too late to rehash another wonderful holiday season with both of our families.  It was busy, exhausting, and crazy -- but I wouldn't have it any other way.  Here are some  highlights:

Thanksgiving in Lubbock

My family came to Lubbock for Thanksgiving, with dogs in tow. This was the first holiday Evan and I had ever hosted, so we weren't sure what to expect. No turkeys caught fire and no children were lost, so I guess we did okay.

We took P & M to the Science Spectrum, and picked up another cutie for the ride (Evie).  They loved the "news station" set-up... I think we have some future newscasters on our hands. Although sharing the mic wasn't really an option.

After the kids newscast, Evan and I went to work on our newscast.  Pretty much the same show, really.

I love this picture. Like aunt, like niece.

Parker's face is made for... radio.

This is Parker "hiding" under the desk for Evan's newscast. Hilarious.

Parker made an appearance during the goodbye. Desk ornament!

A moment of calm on Thanksgiving day... savoring the bloody mary's.

My brother fried two turkeys, one regular and one spicy. Both amazing.

This is our front yard post turkey frying. A little frat house, a little day care center.

Delirious entertainment at night... scaring the dogs through the window.

Since we'd be spending Christmas with Evan's family in Denver this year, we celebrated Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  Any excuse for more presents, #amiright?

My mom got us these awesome matching jammies. You're jealous.

So, maybe a little out of order... but after the Musgraves left, it was time to get our tree up.  The first official "Onstot" tree... rather than Musgrave/Onstot.  We celebrate the little things around here.

I should've taken a better photo, but I was being lazy and then forgot about doing another angle. It's fine.

I love this photo so much.  Evan and I spent a Sunday making Christmas treats... here he is mixing up Peanut Butter cookies -- his favorite. #blackmail

An ornament given to us this year -- it's our wedding invitation cut up and put inside the ball. Love!

And another ornament. You just can't have enough.

So then it was time for our Christmas. It's actually one of my favorite stories, so I'm going to save that for another blog post, all it's own.  Stay tuned. 

Christmas in Denver

We've arrived to our time in Denver, with Evan's family.  Being from Texas, I love this so much -- because the snow and cold makes it feel so... storybook Christmas.

I have to show off Evan's parent's tree. It's amazing. Colin and Christy went out to the (real!) forest and cut this baby down.  Evan's mom describes it as "the tree you can hug, and it will hug back." 

All trees need love.

Continuing a Christmas tradition out at the Denver Botanical Gardens, looking at the lights.

Evan and I posing under the "Love Tree." Duh.

Mary & Gordon, under same said "Love Tree."

Christmas morning started with two of my favorite things: coffee and mimosas. And of course, this hot piece of bacon.

The Onstots, 2013. Our first Christmas to actually say that!

New Year's Eve
Not really too much to report here, but just wanted to share this photo from NYE. Evan and I both worked, so after the 10pm we did a quick change then hustled over to meet up with friends to dance our way into 2014!

Cotton Bowl in Dallas

To round out our busy holiday travels, we headed to Dallas to watch Mizzou in the Cotton Bowl.

Onstot Family Portrait.

We went to a Mizzou alumni bar hop the night before the game.  I was the lone Sooner in a sea of Tigers.

Don't worry, I made sure to show some pride.  I also watched the OU/Alabama game from this event, and IT WAS AWESOME.  Seriously, watching my Big 12 beat the SEC in a room full of SEC was... awesome. Just awesome. Boomer!

And here's a few pics from game day.  

Parking doesn't get more clutch than this.

Our seats were also defined as "clutch."

Post game celebrations.

He was so, so happy.

Saturday night, we met up with my girlfriends for a little Josh Abbott action at Billy Bob's.  And surprise! Pat Green showed up. Um, amazing.

Okay, I'm exhausted just from writing this post.  But hey, it's all documented! Finally.

Until the next time -- Merry, happy 2014!