Carnival Night was a success....

I have been an active member of Young Women's Alliance for about 6 months. The Young Women’s Alliance is a professional organization of women facilitating opportunities to lead, educate, network and serve. Our vision is to empower professional women to discover their potential, develop connections and create work-life balance.

Specifically I have become interested in taking an active role with the Community Service Committee. This committee is responsible for coordinating service efforts, helping promote and encourage membership participation in community events, and acts as a liaison to Austin organizations aligned with YWA.

I have had the opportunity to meet alot of young professional women who are so motivated, encouraging, and inspired to give back to our community. I had been looking for a way to get involved in our community here in Austin, but it is a little overwhelming, because there is so much to do! I was told about this organization by a guy in my office who is in the Young Men's Business League, and after my first meeting, I knew this was where I needed to be.

This summer I have helped organize the volunteer sign-ups for Carnival Night at the Austin Sunshine Camp, a couple of Mondays out of the week. Just a little info: The Camps serves over 850 high-potential, low-income youth every summer and provide an overnight summer camp experience at no cost to the children's families. The Camp seeks to teach life skills, self confidence, trust and teamwork, and provide outdoor fun through traditional activities like hiking, swimming, canoeing, and sports.


Carnival Night is the first night of each new session. Can I just share with you what a rewarding experience this has been for me! These children touched my heart, and they don't even know it. It is so humbling to be around them and see how grateful they are to experience this opportunity. It touched my heart every time I saw their sweet smiles because they loved their face painting, or their big hugs and thank you's because they loved their prizes, or we hooked them up with a token. These children are so appreciative of the simple things in life, and it breaks my heart I can't do more for them.

Tonight was my last Carnival Night for the summer, and I am already looking forward to next year! I feel very blessed to work for a company that supports both my career choices my passion for service.

C.

Camping with the Castros - 2009

This weekend we had our 1st Annual Barrientes Cousin Camping trip. It was a blast, but I bet we will be paying for it next week, lol! We are burnt, tired, but so re-energized. We rented two camp sights at Inks, and we "roughed it" for two nights. So, no more stories, and lets just enjoy the pictures....

Mr. & Mrs. Inks 2009

Our home away from home....

Our first night, enjoying Sidney's awesome spicy combination....

Our Fishermen preparing for next day activities....

The Tent Crew...

The Twins....

The Rent tent troop....

All Adolfo needed at his tree....

Kelsey found TRUE love, lol....

Where we spent ALL Saturday, It was COLD and relaxing, Sid jumped off the top of the rock and Kelso, Lawson and Sarah were jumping from where all the other people were standing, crazies I tell ya!

Representing our roots...

Cousins....

Game night full of dominoes, catch phrase, and volleyball night....

Heather showed me new setting on my camera, I've had it for 4 years, and I am learning new things everyday....thanks Heather!


Heather took this one, love it, but with my new settings, lol....


Dominoes, me vs the boys, I won and this proves it!

The Shumake Family....


The views were so pretty, and this is where we picked up Adolfo and Gerald, not much luck, nothing caught to take home, but it was fun being out there, right guys, lol? Loved the sign though....

We had so much fun just hanging out, getting to catch up, and playing "Remember When", lol. The camp sight was so beautiful, the views were gorgeous, and I love having all my family in one place, even if it was 100+ degrees outside. This was Adolfo and my 1st camping trip together, and I consider it a success, we roughed it as much as we ever will, and had alot of fun! We missed all our cousins that couldn't join us, and can't wait to start planning next year's cousin trip, who knows where it will take us!

Family is such a precious gift, and we are so grateful to have such close and encouraging cousins to spend share life. Always know we are here for yall the way yall have all been here for us!

Much love and camped out! The Castros.

If you need us, we will be on the water!

We were testing out our new camera disk, after 4 years of pictures on our other SD disk, we are FINALLY out of space, that is right four years of photos, and it was only a 1GB. Now we updated to an 8GB, we will have this way past our early 30's, lol...get ready guys, because there are more photos to be had!

As we prepare for our 1st Annual Barrientes Cousin Camping trip, we realize in all our almost 6 years together, this is the 1st time we have ever been camping, crazy! So we are ready to head out, and since the final packing is all on Adolfo because I will be in SA tomorrow for training, here is our catch all list, to test out the camera, and so we don't forget anything!

Happy Weekend, The Castros...

Preparation: The art of getting ready for good times ahead...

Not much to share other than we are still getting things organized for this weekend! I wish it was here already....

Some of our stuff I am piling up to organize and pack...

All our snacks Adolfo and I prepared, cause we love our snacks!

Looking at these picks just makes me laugh, cause camping is supposed to be easy, lol. Well it looks like by the time we are done, we will have our whole house in our little honda. Can you imagine? lol, we don't even have kids yet!

Happy Prepping, A & C.

RANDOM, to say the least....

~ Thankful my test and presentation got moved to the end of next week ~ Ready for Book Club manana, Chapter 9 already, WOW ~ Excited about girl’s Bible study on Thursday ~ Enjoyed my lunch date with a sweet friend, when it comes to real food, she just gets me, lol ~ Preparing laundry for the weekend ~ Preparing Budgets and Lists for the weekend ~ Trip to Academy ~ Trip to Wal-Mart ~ Snacks ~ Buying batteries, swim shoes and a fan ~ Going over locations with Heather ~ Checking out our AWESOME camp shirts ~ Getting excited ~ Buying rafts to tan and relax ALL day ~ packing TONS of water ~ cleaning the ice chest ~ Making arrangements for Adolfo’s boat (Thanks Gerald and Heather) ~ Calling my sister, Calling my other sister, and trying not to forget anything ~ LOVING my new camo shirt I got today! ~

Thought I would share all the RANDOMNESS that is going on with the Castro’s at the moment, Just woke up cause the dryer went off, so I thought I might as well get this all out of my head and unload the dryer….

I love the smell of laundry out of the dryer, Night, C.

10 minute meals, that's my kind of dinner!

For those who know me this is no major surprise, for those who don't, well lets just say I won't win the the Housewife of the Year solely based on my kitchen skills, lol!

As life begins to pick up speed, I am always looking for SIMPLE and QUICK meals for my little family. My mom suggested I try Bertolli, and well I enjoyed it! Nothing out of this world, but I will be making it again. I am sure for all you kitchen diva's this would be pretty simple for you to prepare from scratch, as for me, this works just fine.

All I had to do was get my pan, cut open the bag, let it cook for 10 minutes, and it was done. We tried the bow tie noodles with Chicken and Spinach. This will definitely be going on my "Busy Season" Menu. Thanks Mom and Tay for the idea.

The portion size was enough for a serving for me and Adolfo, no leftovers. It ran us about $6. So not bad at all on the budget.

If anyone ever has a wonderful quick and simple recipe for me to try, send it my way, we can't have Adolfo starving!

Back to the books, well at least with a full stomach - C.

It's a Monday...

Nothing major to report today, it's just a regular Monday. I have a pretty busy week, again. I have a possible paper, presentation and test all this week. I say possible because our schedule has shifted a bit, and I just need to pull it out. I am finishing my paper after this post.

I am feeling all "Sex in the Cityish" as I sit here blogging at my desk, pull back the curtains and watch the wind pick up and traffic in the distance pass by, it looks like it is going to rain,lol! But this is the environment I have to set up for myself to get any work done, lamp light only.

I guess I will leave yall with a little story, not much, but it made me laugh a little bit on the inside on my way to the elevator. Today I just took a quick lunch and grabbed a sandwich in our office building. There is nothing different about that, but the person right next to me finished his order the exact time as I did and we had the EXACT same thing, what are the odds, same place, same time, same thing. I guess I am not that strange of an eater, lol. #11 on french bread, cut the tomatoes, lol.....

Well it just made me laugh a little on the inside, paper time and enjoy the weather!

Love, C.

Enjoying celebrations and old friends....

Adolfo and I had a wonderful weekend catching up with old friends at Klay and Lisa's wedding in Marble Falls on the Lake. It was such a beautiful ceremony, I cried the whole time, lol. We are so happy for the both of them. If you have ever met them you know they have such beautiful, servant hearts and we are so grateful for their friendship.

Mr. and Mrs...

and no the yellow was not planned, just what we had sent to the cleaners, but I loved it, it was so cheery....

Old friends together again, celebrating Lisa and Klay.... you can tell we had been dancing all night, look at our natural glows, lol...

Adolfo taking Mrs. L for a spin on the dance floor....

We had a wonderful weekend, and are done with weddings for a little while, until October. Other than that we are just enjoying our Sunday. We went to Church and had brunch with the gang, and then me, my mom and Tay hung out at my parents while Curt and Adolfo went put feed out at my Uncle Charlie's lease, they are already preparing for November, can you believe it is that time already? But Adolfo is really excited about hunting season, so I am excited too. My mother made us a great home cooked dinner tonight, and now we are just enjoying the Hallmark channel. Cheesy I know, but it is our life, and we love it!

Hope everyone enjoyed yalls weekend as much as we did. Now we are just busy preparing for our big camping trip this weekend!!!! I have already made my list, we are ready.

Enjoying our day of rest, A & C.

Summer Art Class....

This evening my Art History class took a little trip to AMOA downtown. I have only been there one other time with Adolfo, and I really do enjoy this museum, each exhibit I have seen has been pretty entertaining, and it only cost $1!

Not to mention it has the cutest gift shop, I always look never buy, but the creative juices are definitely flowing.

I arrived a little bit early so I had time to hang out at The Hideout, enjoy a nice cool iced mocha, and get ahead on my reading for book club. It was so nice to just enjoy some quiet time. Then it was off to the museum....

On view May 30 - August, 9, 2009

I must say I was pretty entertained, and our guide "Gus" was a very sweet and entertaining old man. I wish I could say I was half as creative as the artists displayed, but I won't say much because I don't want to spoil anything, but go check it out.

I thought it was pretty cool, they had a potluck at the museum, one dish = free admission, and then you get to be social and have a free meal before your tour...we didn't do it, but what a great idea!

Getting ready for bed, cause we have an early morning ahead of us! C. PS Adolfo says Hello.

Year One: Paper

Nothing life changing from the Castros. Adolfo got a call yesterday that his car was ready, it was only the battery, weird, but we are very thankful it wasn't anything bigger or costlier. He couldn't pick it up until today, so we carpooled this AM, which meant another early rise-n-shine for me. We decided to get up really early and go out for breakfast before work, it was so nice starting the day off together like that, I almost which we could carpool together every day, it sure made drive time go by super fast! Now his car is home safe and sound and we are back to being a 2 Honda household.....

Adolfo and I will be married a year in September, time is going by so fast! I would consider us to have pretty traditional personalities, and we always talked about following the traditional anniversary Gift by year list, we decided in addition to our suprise gifts to eachother we would do a joint gift that we both love, and try to be a little creative also.

Year One: PAPER

Adolfo LOVES Brad Paisley, and we missed him when he was in Austin. We looked up his concerts and found out he would be in Dallas the weekend after our anniversary. So we decided perfect, tickets = paper, year one was a breeze! We purchased them as soon as they were available, and did a 3 day delivery....well day 7 came around and still NOTHING! We (I) got worried, so Adolfo looked them up on UPS, didn't know we could, and realized they had been sitting at the front desk for 5 days, with no call from the front desk telling us they had a delivery for us, perfect...

So, FINALLY, they are here and our weekend get-a-away is all set!

Super excited, we already bought the new CD, nerdy I know, but I like to know all the latest and greatest songs when I go to a concert.....it's pretty good.....

Now we just get to look at them, but we can't wait till September!

Anxiously waiting, The Castros.

Training...

This sums up my week in one word. I have training 3 days this week 2 of them being in SA again, one down and one to go. Other than that not much else but school and trying to get Adolfo's car situation corrected. Our grown up life is pretty entertaining, full of laundry and cleaning, but if I would get off of here and do my list I can get it all done tonight, and then it is smooth sailing for the rest of the week. We have to get our energy up for our last wedding until October, and I am trying to put a secret date night together for Adolfo this weekend, hope he doesn't read this, I'll let you know how that goes also.

Tired and ready to relax, C.

"Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people...." Colossians 3:23

Nothing short than eventful!

Friday I was EXHAUSTED from spending a couple of days in SA for training! I love getting to spend time with my SIS and just catching up. Friday I got home and FINALLY cut my hair, yeah it has been almost a year, and it just wasn't healthy and driving me nuts. So I swung by my stylist and she said she could squeeze me in, Love her!!!

If you remember originally, I was growing my hair to donate, well come to find out, Adolfo is loving my hair long. So I made a deal, I wait on donating my hair and play with it for awhile for him to enjoy, but when we start having babies, I am chopping it OFF, and then I can donate it!

Saturday we hung out at home and then drove into JC for Caroline & Nick's Wedding. Can you believe I took no pictures, lol. It was so sweet and such a special day. All I can say is serving cake was hard work!!!!! But it was fun seeing all our family, lil cousins, and old friends, so excited we are repeating it all this weekend in MF for Lisa and Klay's wedding.

Sunday we drove back into Austin to catch the late Mass and welcome our niece home from her ACTS retreat. We are so proud of her and the beautiful young lady she is becoming....

After that Adolfo and I just wanted to spend our afternoon doing anything together. We took a break to B&N and I found my 2010 Agenda. Super excited because I am very picky about my calendars and every year it is an obstacle, but I found an 18th month calendar, its perfectly a deep red. Then Adolfo surprised me with an ice-cream date at the Marble Slab Creamery. I never understood the name and had never been there, but now it all sense, but I am not going to spoil it for you, go check it out!


We had to run by the mall, for nothing at all, but when we were trying to leave our car freaked out, nothing wrong with it at all, but the lights and speedometer went nuts. It was all an electrical problem but we couldn't get it to start, PROBLEM! But we got it to the dealership and our Aunt came and got us, we weren't going to let this ruin our day, we just jammed to Brad Paisley until they came and got our car, his new CD is great.

Now we are in our PJ's and on our way to we The Proposal, what a great way to finish off a ever so eventful weekend.

Nothing but eventful, The Castros.

Thankful and Thinking.....

About a month ago I was invited to join a ladies Bible study, and all I can be is grateful and thankful God has brought these wonderful ladies into my life. I have always grown up in the Church and my relationship with God has always been an important part of my life.

To be honest, there are times were I pull away. It seems like I just make life too busy, and push out all the things most important to me, which leads to much frustration. During these times I forget I am not the boss, I am not in-charge, and I don’t ALWAYS have to know the answer. I forget to trust God. Through our Bible study I have really been able to take a good look at myself and I feel like things are really working inside me and stirring in my heart.

What good is a blog about us, if we can’t truly share what is going on inside us? I love and trust everyone who reads, so I thought I would share some of the questions I have been asking myself.

What are the intentions of my heart?
Why is it so easy to make time for everything else, yet so challenging for the one thing that is the most important in my life?
Am I truly listening and being obedient to all the great plans God has for my life?
Am I being the best wife, sister, daughter (you get the picture) that I can be?

Things are definitely stirring in my heart at the moment, and to be honest, it is sometimes a little overwhelming, but I truly have a blessed life and am grateful for all the wonderful opportunities given to me, but the big question I am meditating on is how am I using my life and gifts I have been blessed with to truly leave this world a little bit better?

Hhmmmmm……Well obviously I don’t have the answer but I am working on it.

Thinking, C.

Enjoying my little getaway....

This past three days I have been here in San Antonio at a work level training. I LOVE coming to SA for trainings because I always get to hang out with my sister, just doing the fun things together we would do if we lived in the same town. I have been lost plenty of times, but after I take the wrong way once I learn another little piece of SA.

Yesterday we went shopping for dresses for our cousin's wedding, and we both found exactly what we were looking for, super excited we both found our dresses and of course for the wedding this weekend. We also booked our condo for our final summer trip with the Family to Port A. at the end of the summer before schedules get busy again.

I am so tired, but I always fight my sleep when I am out of town and not with Adolfo. I am so glad training is over tomorrow, cause I miss my husband and our home, my own bed!!!!

Tonight I had a nice dinner with my sister, and an evening of jewelry shopping. I love shopping with Claudia because we look for specific items, not just anything and everything, which I tend to do, lol. So I got a cute necklace to complete my wedding outfit, still super excited, if you can't tell.

Story of the dress:
I saw the dress I bought in Austin about a month ago, and I almost got it for Caroline's shower, but I thought no I am not going to spend that much, and I found my cute yellow dress. Well I really wanted it, but I didn't NEED it. Well we were in Macy's here flipping through dresses and there it was, only one in my size, so I took it. Claudia loved it, and I knew i wasn't letting it go. I carried it through out the store and kept saying that I wished I could magically get a discount at the counter, because after 2mo still no sale. Well as my luck would have it, I got to the register, and the lady told me if I donated $3 I could get $10 off! Lucky huh? Well I was able to use the coupon 2 times, so I saved a net of $14. Which put me exactly in my budget range for a dress! What a day!

So that is will it has been a day, and I am still super excited. Its the small things. I was able to donate to a great cause, and still treat myself with a good deal.

Smiling, Ces. PS. Miss you A, can't wait to see you tomorrow!!!!!

Up way too late....

But what a great day! I had my review today, and another good year has come and gone. I always get so nervous this time of year, I don't know why. Even with constant reassurance that all is well, I still feel it in the pit of my stomach. But it's done, I can't believe I have had a professional career for almost 4 years! Where does the time go?

Class was class, but I was completely unable to focus. I am a week behind schedule and I wrote down the wrong date for my art presentation. Thank goodness my professor is so forgiving that she just let me pick a new topic and move my date, almost bad situation turned good!

Not much happening in the Castro casa. Just laundry, packing, walmart trip and watching The Cleaner, lol, we are kind of addicted. Adolfo started recording it, and we always have 2-3 episodes to catch up one.

I am headed to SA for the rest of the week for training and then it is wedding festivities for the weekend, still no dress, but we will see. Adolfo will be enjoying home without me, lol, I am sure he is a little excited! Well I must get back to getting ready and then to bed....

Sweet Dreams, C.

Small Town USA....

Hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July as much as we did! We had a great time relaxing and hanging out with family. Friday night we spent the night at the ranch with our GMA and GPA, followed by a beautiful sunrise on their porch with a strong cup of coffee. I guess that's what happens when you stay up too late watching novellas, lol, but so peaceful. We spent the rest our morning getting brunch at my GMA's restaurant and antique shopping. Then it was off to JC to hang with the family, and the song begins...

A lot of people called it prison when I was growin up ......

These are my roots and this is what I love ....

Cause everybody knows me and I know them ....


And I believe that's the way we were supposed to live ....

Wouldn't trade one single day in small town USA ....

Give me a Saturday night my baby by my side ....

A little Hank Jr. and a six pack of lights ....

Old dirt road and I'll be just fine...


Give me a Sunday morning that full of grace....

A simple life and I'll be okay.....


Here in small town USA.....

Love, A & C.

Loving my Dishes, so I thought I'd share.....

As I am blogging, and my sister's on speaker phone, lol, I thought it was time for me to share one of my sweet gifts from my hubby! I had been looking FOREVER for cute plastic everyday plates, and when it rains it pours. A few weekends ago we were out and about and I saw these, I wanted them, but I didn't NEED them, so I put them back. Well I guess my hubby saw the twinkle in my eye, and they are mine, lol.

I LOVE them, I call them my Longhorn dishes, I can't wait for football season to start, they are also in honor of Tay, our little longhorn, moving in with us next semester....

I have been wanting to start a collection, and I don't know if I want plates or Tea pots, or maybe both, lol....my GMA bought my sister and I some of the most precious plates, I LOVE this one also: Share Faith, Offer Hope, Gather Prayer.....I just need a stand...

This is my first plate, Claudia got it for me on my last birthday....

Tomorrow is my Friday, and we have no plans yet, that won't last for long! This week has been crazy for us, so we are taking it easy tonight and tomorrow. Hope everyone is enjoying their week, but for now, I am going to be a good lil' wifie and go make a quick dinner for Adolfo, BBQ sandwiches, YUM!

Hugs and Kisses, C.