I’ve only mowed a lawn twice in my life. The first time I was about 14 and living in Wyoming. The lawn at the farm is about 10,000 square feet and we had a riding mower. When I was done my dad said it looked like a drunken sailor mowed it. I never had to [...]

Categories: Home Sweet Home · Jef · The Fam

Jef’s mom sent us some whole, flavored coffee beans from Tom’s in Binghamton (my favorite store I’ve never been to) and a coffee grinder for Christmas this year. I’m a part-time coffee drinker, so I only started to grind and brew these in the past month. What a difference. I’m hooked.

Categories: Home Sweet Home · The Fam

When my sister and I were growing up my mom used to make a huge deal about our birthdays. It was more than cake and singing, it was a holiday. It started with mom waking us up at the hour we were born, mine was 6 AM. I remember she’d sit beside me on the [...]

Categories: The Fam

One of my sister’s New Year’s “Indulgences” is making people feel good about themselves and staying in touch with the long distance people in her life by sending random cards and letters throughout the year. I got mine yesterday and every time I see the envelope on the counter I smile.

Categories: The Fam

I hope you all had a warm, fuzzy Christmas morning that continues into a lazy, indulgent Christmas Day.
Walls for the wind,
And a roof for the rain,
And drinks beside the fire
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire
- Irish Blessing

Categories: Friend-ish · The Fam

I made Christmas (Eve) dinner today. I’m not sure if it’s a tradition with Jef’s family, but mine usually cooks something so we can have leftovers for Christmas Day. Since Jef didn’t have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and I don’t think it’s fair stuffing only comes once a year, I made very Thanksgiving-y holiday food. [...]

Categories: Home Sweet Home · Jef · The Fam

I know it’s only a few days after Thanksgiving, but I can’t help being a little giddy about Christmas . My friend, Lisa, posted a picture while I was in Pennsylvania of them hanging Christmas lights in 80 degree weather. It made me laugh. It IS harder to get in the spirit in Austin, but [...]

Categories: Jef · The Fam

Whenever I’m around my family I become Jen-Kris and my sister is Kris-Jen. My mom will look right at us, and inevitably say the wrong sister’s name.

Mom: I don’t know why I do that.
Jen: It’s understandable.
Mom: But I clearly know both your names.
Jen: What happens is there’s a list in your head of your [...]

Categories: The Fam