A walk not to be forgotten...

Yesterday, Eric and I proudly participated in the Houston Alzheimer's Association Walk in honor of "Pop" Pickett, Eric's Grandfather who is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and in memory of my Great-Aunt "Auntie" Cole.   Thank you to all of you who donated to support our cause, we are so grateful for your support.   

We formed a team of 9 and walked a 3-mile loop around downtown.  There were over 4,000 participants marching proudly.    We are able to accept donations until December 1.  Please message me if you would like to contribute.

Afterwards we hit the farmer's market with our team and then Backstreet Cafe for brunch, clad in our purple participant shirts and let me say, we had so many people asking us when the walk was, how they could be a part of it and their story of a family member's struggle with this devastating disease.   For more information on Alzheimer's Disease and how you can help visit alz.org

Eric and Pop this summer

 Team Yankees...Pop's favorite!

Our team

 Jen & Mark, me and Eric, Thuyvi and Andy, Shannon, Jessie and Brielle...thank you so much everyone!

Our team posing as the 1st place team :)

Thanks again Team Yankees for walking with us!  Until next year!

Fall fun in Houston

I really do love the fall (well, I like Indian summers)...it can be an amazing time of year.  I've found that I especially love the fall here in Houston because it's more like summer in NY, love!  It's not that I don't enjoy the fall in NY, because, believe me, I do..and I'd love to be there experiencing the fall foliage this year (and every year), but it's really what comes after the fall that I don't like.  Sure, the snow is pretty but after months of the cold, well, it's just too much for me.  Enough of that, back to the fall in Houston...80s, sunny and a bit of a breeze each day = a very happy Jennie!    

We've got our house decorated a bit with pumpkins and "fall" smells and it's just a fun time and comforting feeling.  I made a yummy apple crisp last night (it was so yummy, I forgot to take a pic, sorry!) and soon come in the pumpkin carving and pumpkin pie...yummy!!

amazing smelling candles and fall potpourri

 Two weeks ago we went to the Greek Festival with our friends Jen and Greg.  Let me tell you, this was one of the most awesome Greek Festivals I've attended.  There was a huge crowd, a variety of delicious Greek food (one of my faves), Greek music, warm evening temps and all around a good time.  

The next week we found out there was an Italian festival that weekend...booo yah!  I was pumped!  Italian and Greek festivals in one week?!  I was in heaven.  Well, we ended up at the Italian festival with our Doha friends Jackie and Mark only to be supremely disappointed by basically everything.  I'm sorry Italians in Houston, this event was not very, well, Italian.  The food was mediocre, there was a band (always a plus) but big no-no, it was playing American music, and it just didn't have an "Italian" vibe..sorry, but it was a big disappointment. 

Football season is also officially upon us as well so Eric is very happy now that we're back in the US and have access to the NFL channel each and every Sunday.   J-E-T-S!!! J-E-T-S!!! J-E-T-S!!!

Here's to more fall fun!

Xindi + Arturo Get Married

This weekend we had the pleasure of going to the wedding of two friends Eric met through work.  

Eric met Xindi and Arturo in 2008 while they were all in Houston for a 3-month long training...which is how Xindi and Arturo met.  After the training, Eric moved back to NY for work and Danny (Eric's brother) ended up becoming Arturo's roommate.   We were so honored to receive an invite for this wedding.  Xindi is originally from China and Arturo is originally from Peru.  It was such an international event with their respective families from China and Peru,  including a wedding and reception-long skype call with Xindi's grandparents in China, friends from all over the US and world, complete with a special drink from Peru and traditional tea ceremony (dress and all).  

It couldn't have been a more perfect day up at Lake Conroe.  There was a slight breeze and the temperature was perfect for the evening ceremony. 

Views..

 Flower girl all the way from Peru

 Loved, loved, loved her dress!!  The back was gorgeous!!!

 It was really so sweet the way the bride and groom looked at eachother...so heartfelt.

 Gli sposi!  Mr. & Mrs!

 Brothers

Danny had the honor of being an usher as well as the MC announcing the wedding party as well as explaining the tea ceremony.  He's got a great voice....a side-career for the future perhaps?

 Meg & Dan

 The four of us

 First dance

 Danny MCing, nice job, Dan!

 Arturo's parents were the cutest.  They handed out such great favors, shot glasses from Peru with their names on it.  His parents were distributing them to everyone so proudly.

 Danny caught the garter!

 Something very funny

 Great shot

The grand exit!  

Congratulations on your wedding Xindi and Arturo!  We are so happy to have been a part of such a joyous occasion!!  Here's to many years of happiness!!!

Kemah

The day before my mom left, we took a day and went to Kemah, TX which is about an hour away.  It's basically a boardwalk (one of the cleanest we've ever seen) with rides, restaurants and shops.   We spent a really lovely day walking around, shopping and getting a bite to eat.  It was perfect weather (beginning of October and high 80s, you know I'll take it!) and a great way to spend part of our day.  

 My mom was frightened by the wooden roller coaster.  

 Behind bars

 Biggest pumpkin....you had to try to guess the weight.  

 The square

My mom loved this ride...not because it was a police car, because of the model.  

It was way too short of a visit from Mom M.  She was so helpful in our house and just great company for the little time she was here.  Already looking forward to your next visit!

Mom M comes for a visit and bowling tournament

As you probably know by now, my mom is really good about coming to visit us :)  She's a pro at looking at flights and when she finds a good one, she jumps on it .  A few weeks ago she booked a ticked for a 4 day trip.  It happened to fall on one of the days that Eric was hosting a tournament through his job to raise money for a well-known charity.  The event took place on a Friday afternoon at a near-by bowling alley.  The theme was "Hollywood" and each team was to dress up as a something having to do with the theme.  Our team decided to dress up like the Pink Ladies and the Thunderbirds.  Knowing me and my mom, we don't take dressing up lightly, we need to go all out.  So, my mom found these awesome jackets at the Halloween store in NY and brought them down.  We raided a store for some cool props including our scarves, shades and fake eyelashes!  We had a great time dressing up.  Our team even won best dressed! 

 My mom, Eric, me

 The host and greaser!

 Lol she found a cigarette to pretend to smoke

 Best dressed team!

 These ladies took the cake...but weren't in the contest..they definitely would have beat us!

 Some of the prizes

 The centerpieces

 They really went all out on the entrance way

It was a well-attended event and they ended up raising a good amount of money for charity...way to go!