Since the last post....

Since the last post there has definitely been a great deal of activity. My cousin Elizabeth got engaged and her wedding is in less than 3 months! So last Saturday we went and got her wedding dress and our bridesmaids dresses. Already, we have 3 family wedding this summer! and we thought it would slow down this year, ha!

The girls helping Elizabeth make a big decision...LOVE the head wrap Ashly...

After the decisions were made, we got hungry, imagine that, lol. So we all headed to Olive Garden and had a great time together.

That was about it for that weekend, other than me dragging Tay around to stock up on sewing material for all my many projects I want to complete.

I was under the weather the beginning of the week, and this crazy weather isn't helping, but I have had some time to recuperate and have actually had the time to read and get to bed pretty early, its the little things in life these days that just make me smile, and this is most definitely one of those.

Spanish class is going well. I brushed up on my greeting, alphabet and numbers, and I shocked myself with how much I actually remembered, I just never use it. I have come to realize the interaction and conversation is what is going to help me learn. So I am excited about the rest of the semester, it doesn't seem like work and I am really enjoying it!

So not much more than just relaxing happening with the Castro's, well I am off to Dinner with my little sister, until next time. Ces~

Prayers for Adolfo's father.....

Adolfo's father, Alex, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August of 2006. He is a very strong and tender hearted man, I see a lot of his ways in Adolfo.

As his cancer has developed over the past 2 and a half years, both the cancer and treatments have taken a tole on him. Monday, he will be staying at the hospital for an overnight Chemo treatment.

His father has such a peaceful spirit and is being so strong for our family during this time. I believe in the power of prayer. Please keep both Adolfo and I, his father, and all my new family in your prayers during this time.

Goodnight~Love, Ces.

Productivity...The art of being productive

Well this weekend has almost come and gone, but it was a really great one, if I must say so! I had all intentions of just relaxing at home and getting a great deal of work done. But sometimes, things change and we just have to run with it right?

Friday after work, I started my weekend off with Happy Hour with the firm. It is such a treat for me, in our line of work we don't always get to see everyone we work with all of the time, so I am all about any opportunity to get everyone in the office together, Accounting aside, to just hang out and catch up!

Project One: Relaxation, Done, lol.

Adolfo worked a little later on Friday, so I came home after the happy hour. We went out for dinner and then this is where the weekend plans started to change, lol. We went to Roadhouse, and on a side note, did you know that Willie Nelson owns a few chains of Texas Roadhouse? I knew he owned one around south Austin, but he is now in my neighborhood as well, so because I support him, I will now support our Texas Roadhouse, lol. Anyways, we decided that on Saturday morning we would get all the things on our "Hey Babe, we still haven't gotten these things done yet" list done. So we got up early Saturday morning and completed our Wedding registry shopping. We had a deadline by February, or else we would lose all our discounts. So we made our lists and headed out Saturday morning. It was work, and we love all our purchases!

One thing we decided to do was update our room for Spring, yes I know it is early, but when spring comes around, who knows if we will have time, so we took down all the Christmas Decor that was still up, lol, and re-arranged and here is our new Spring Quilt bedding, it is so fresh and relaxing, and all my prior pillows blended so well!

Just wanted to share the fun pattern, again! Project Two: Completing Target Registry, DONE!

Another project I have been trying to get out of the way has been organizing my shoes. I don't think I have too many shoes, I mean I LOVE shoe shopping, but I am too picky sometimes, but I felt that I needed to organize what I had. So I found this great shoe organizer at Target, and well now I am organized, I love it! This was my only responsibility since Adolfo had already organized the closet the weekend before, I love my Husband, lol, he is such a great help around the house!

Project Three: Organizing Celeste's Shoes, DONE.

So with my development bonus money burning a whole in my pocket there has been a great deal of discussion about what our hobbies are. I have been talking to Adolfo about learning how to sew, and learn to make pretty things. As my friends and family know, I have been researching, debating and deciding when I wanted to commit and finally purchase a sewing machine!

As we were strolling Target, with our many shopping carts, on our way to pick up our favorite new ironing board, I passed the sewing machines. Well Adolfo is the one person who has had to hear the story over and over again, so as we passed the sewing machine he said, just get it! It was the one I wanted, for beginners and they even had a cute storage case. I have already watched the video, and even Adolfo is a little excited.

I am really excited to learn, especially about Alterations! I am short, and as a short person, we pay a great deal of money for someone to fix all our slacks, dresses, everything, so I will take baby steps, but I am going to eventually cut alterations as a line item in our budget, lol! Wish me good luck and happy sewing!

In addition to sewing, we thought we might take up camping, as well all know Adolfo's hobby is Fishing, and as a supportive wife, I am always trying to think of ways I can be a part of it with him. So, I decided that with my money, I would try to put it towards the both of us, so with the additional money, we purchased a camping tent! Yes, I will be joining Adolfo in his adventures as the weather gets a little warmer, and I am kind of excited, it is definitely something new for me. I will let you know how it goes!

Project Four: Buying the Equipment needed to start our new hobbies, DONE.

Adolfo's big project was to find and put together a shelf for our TV we moved into the bedroom. He found a great deal on this cute shelf that we can use as a TV stand for now, and then one day as a great accent piece for a new house maybe, lol. As we were moving everything around we kind of messed up our u-verse box, but after this morning, it is fixed now, Thank you AT&T weekend repair guy!

Project Five: Stand for the TV in our room, and getting U-verse fixed, DONE.

So yeah, that was Saturday, what a day! Adolfo is spending time with his Mom and Dad at the ranch and I am going to finish up some things for work on Monday, and we are ready for a new week! Hope everyone enjoyed there weekend, as much as we did!

Bye for now, and to come, stories about our first week back to school!

TGIF....

So I am finally winding down for the night, and a new day begins! I am so happy the weekend is here. Last night Adolfo and I spent a couple of hours in the emergency room. Adolfo and I have both been feeling a little under the weather this week, but knew to much needed to get done to be sick. Well last night, it all caught up to him. He developed an ear infection, and he has REALLY sensitive ears. So much that he has to sit still, no laying down or moving around for him. We thought is might be something that he could handle for the night and see a doctor after work, but at around 10pm he couldn't take it anymore!

I drove my helpless, and sweet hubby to the emergency room, it sucks when someone you love is hurting and in so much pain and there is nothing you can do about it! We were there for an hour and a half and I think we only saw a doctor/nurse a total of 20 minutes, but we got a prescription and were on our way, thank God for 24hr Walgreens.

I picked up his medicine and some juices, and got him to bed finally around 12:30. What a night! He stayed home and feels a whole lot better!

I came home and he had done ALL of the laundry and packed up our computer that has been broke for awhile. It is a treat because now we can re-arrange our room, finally when we have time!

Well, I am tired now, and have a busy day and weekend ahead of me, so Goodnight, sweet dreams and I hope you enjoy your Friday as much as I will. Love, Ces.

Lately....

So, lately Adolfo and I have really been trying to live by our motto, simplify, and it has been great! We are always on the road and have a list of things to do. Well this weekend we just chilled at home, for the most part. Baby steps right? Friday night we had our us time, and we went to dinner and a movie. If you haven't seen the new Clint Eastwood movie, Gran Torino, go see it, I can't remember the last time I just laughed so hard in a movie. Saturday, I headed back home to JC for the morning because by baby cousin, Kris', fiance had her Wedding Shower. It was so much fun, and relaxing all in the same. I am so happy for these two, and I can't wait till the big day. So many details so little time! Only pic for the weekend, the Bride-to-be patiently waiting to open presents....

Kris and PJ, thanks for letting us be a part of this beautiful time in your relationship together, enjoy every moment! On Sunday, Adolfo and I just stayed home! We stayed in our PJ's all day long, I caught up on work and Adolfo just relaxed, so I must say we are on the right track in making this a more laid back 2009.

It is also our last week of just working and being home, since classes start up again next week. Tonight I finally enrolled in my Spanish class, looks like it is a language for me. I am so excited because I know this is something I need to learn, and I finally have the chance to put some time into it. Maybe I can finally use those 1,000 word Spanish flash cards my mom got me a long time ago. We both got a nice break with the wedding, but it is now time to get serious and get school out of the way so we can move on to bigger and better days together!

Well, as I said in previous blogs our Domino night is back, and night 1 I beat Adolfo, this is rare, and I am enjoying everyday of it until we play again, I am just going to hold on to being the winner a little longer. Hope everyone has a great hump day. Love, Ces.

Kirby Lane Cafe, our new favorite place in 2009!

As long as we have been in Austin, we still had not tried Kerby Lane Cafe. We never remembered to check it out and we would always pass by it on our way to other places. So finally a couple of weeks ago, we decided to try it out.

Not knowing anything about it we tried it out, and we were amazed at both the prices and variety of the menu. We wanted everything! They had Dinner, Breakfast, Desert, you name it is was their. We were like kids in a candy store.

Not paying attention to anyone around us, we order Dinner, lol. So as we started to look around we noted everyone had breakfast, who knew they have won Best Breakfast in Austin 4 years in a row, lol, not us! So we enjoyed our first trip, but now we have to come back and try it again!

So last night we checked it out, and it was amazing! I had the best biscuits and gravy and sausage! Adolfo ate well too, we tried the pancakes, YUM! It is making me hungry just thinking about it. So we will definitely be showing our faces again. We haven't even touched the desert menu yet!

So if you live under a rock like Adolfo and I and are in the area, give us a call and lets all go check it out together, it will soon be your favorite place too!

lol, oh yeah and this couple sitting in the booth next to us were regulars, they knew everyone, maybe that will be us one day.

Hope you all have had a great week. I am going to go now and watch the best part of the BCS game with Adolfo, the 4th quarter. Have a great Friday! love, Ces.

2009: Mission Simplicity

Welcome 2009! The holiday season has come and gone and I so thankful for the time spent with our families. This time of year is so special because it's our time to be still and appreciate all that has happened in our lives this past year.

We have a great deal to be thankful for in our lives, and are blessed beyond what we deserve.

A great deal happened in 2008. We planned a wedding, finished up our semesters for the year, got a promotion, got a new car, and that is just to name a few! My husband became quite the outdoorsmen. He is now the owner of a john boat, 3 fishing poles, a riffle and camo! It is so fun to hear his stories and see how excited he gets about his great excursions. Now that hunting season is done, he is counting down the days until he gets to go out on the water!

I am very grateful for my husband who inspires me, my family who keeps me grounded and loves me unconditionally, and my friends who encourage me. It is so important to be surrounded by people who keep you true. True to who you are and true to all that is important to life.

So what lessons from 2008 will I bring into the new year? Here they are short and sweet....

• Be thankful, everyday, for all of God's blessings.


• Take pride in all your accomplishments.


• Treasure time.


• Love unconditionally.


• Be grateful and appreciate your family.

Now for 2009, our resolution...

Each year people pack on a list of things they hope to achieve, well we are not doing that this year. We are very optimistic for 2009, we have each other and trust no matter what life brings, God is with us and will provide us with the strength needed to get through it!

Our resolution this year is to simplify, slowdown and appreciate life. 2009 is about going back to the basics and focusing on all the little things in our lives that bring us joy!

So Adolfo and I are welcoming 2009 with open arms and first thing first: We are bringing back, Domino Nights!

And just to keep the laughter in our lives, here is Tay being Tay in my parent's stockings, lol...

Until next time, Ces.