Sunsets, meatloaf, and a good book!

Hi friends, WOW, it's been too long! Well since our last blog, we've survived a night in San Antonio visiting my sister and her fiances new place and a trip to the beach. School has started up again for Adolfo, and Tay is back with us.

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I have off a couple of days for the next 2 weeks, a little bit of training, and then Adolfo and I get to celebrate our 2 year anniversary....more on that later!!!!!

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Last weekend we tried out the Oasis for one of Adolfo's friends birthday, it's one of those places that everyone went to for prom, it's just one of those places you try, more for the sunset than the food or drinks, in my opinion, but it was great hanging out with friends, and I'd never been so it was a sweet date!

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I love anytime I can get dressed up and take a picture with my cute, preppy hubby! I LOVE his new fishing cap, and don't you just love the family picture of Bob Marley still up in our living room, loL!

Picture 1Million with my hubby! Enjoying our sunset....we had a beautiful view, we even saw sailboats, I want one!

Celebrating Lupe's Birthday....


So we've just really laid low getting back into the swing of things. Work will pick up again for me at the end of September....so I am still running, and trying not to eat out as much. Which means, more cooking for me, not my favorite.

So I am happy to share, that I cooked 3 meals this past week...one night of leftovers, and then I got a dinner date tonight! So here is my meatloaf story....I have only tried to make this meal once in my life, in college, and I failed miserably. It took me so long, and it was horrible, I've felt intimated ever since! So finally, I said not again.....so I chose Sunday night to overcome my meatloaf fear!

TADA.....thanks to my Mom's great recipe, it came out wonderful! And now, my family too, can enjoy meatloaf night!


I am STILL debating if I want to get a Kindle with my promotion bonus, but I am torn...I love how compact it is, and that it holds so many books, and slides right in my purse....but, I also love browsing book stores, holding an old book, and turning the pages one by one.....see my dilema!

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So until I make a decision, here is what is on my nightstand at the moment, I LOVE IT! Each night I lay my head on my pillow, I feel so empowered as a women. I am only in the beginning, but it has been a really easy read so far....I'll let you know! And, seeing my cute little piggy bank I made makes me want to paint pottery again!

So that is it friends, nothing earth shatering, just our everyday living, lol! We have 3 whole days to our self, and still no plans, not going to lie, if feels wonderful! Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

With Love, The Castros!

A little bit of everything!

Well today has been nothing short of RELAXING, so I thought I'd share a few random pictures, and talk about what's happening in our life lately.

Last weekend Adolfo and I spent all Sunday together, so just when I thought we were going to call it a night, and get ready for Monday, he surprised me with a nice dinner and our first 3D movie experience.

The Castros getting ready!

I've been reading Eat, Pray, Love for awhile now here and there, and I thought that I'd get through it before the movie, but here we are.....Saturday, and the movie has been out for a day, and I'm not even through India, and Tay's DONE! So, I am going to move on, and watch the movie tomorrow with my Mom and sister, hopefully, I LOVE JULIA ROBERTS!

Adolfo has been encouraging me to take some type of vitamin for awhile now, so he's been researching, and we finally went last weekend and made a purchase. I LOVE them, I was nervous because sites were saying they taste bad, but I eat them with my breakfast, and I haven't had a problem with them. I must say it's a powerful little package.

I have started the C25K program, and successfully finished my week, only eight more to go, lol! I am really feeling so much better, and I don't know if it's the running/working out or my new vitamins. Whatever it is, it's working, and I look forward to my evening routine. I hope to finish the program and complete my first 5K at the end of October :)!

Adolfo spent the morning with his Mom, so I enjoyed a nice deluxe pedicure, and reading time (remember, I am only in India, lol!). I thought I'd be productive, and I bought groceries for our short week, and now we are both home, doing nothing, and just relaxing!

Thought I'd share my happy, "Ready to layout on the beach", nicely pedicured feet!

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend, and are all caught up with the Castros, this is it, nothing exciting, and new, just a little bit of everything :)!

C.

BE INSPIRED :)!

As I sat here tonight, will all the business of life running through my head, I felt it appropriate to slow down, relax, and be inspired!

Enjoy the little words of wisdom that are motivating my heart during this precious season of my life....

"Eventually I discovered for myself the utterly simple prescription for creativity: be intensely yourself. Don't try to be outstanding; don't try to be success; don't try to do pictures for others to look at - just please yourself" - Ralph Steiner

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections" - Unknown

"The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude." - Oprah Winfrey

"Happiness consists not in having much, but in being content with little." - Marguerite Gardiner

"The meaning of life is to find your gift, the purpose of life is to give it away." - Joy J Golliver

"Do everything with so much love in your heart that you would never want to do it any other way" - Yogi Desai

"There is always room in your life for thinking bigger, pushing limits and imagining the impossible." - Tony Robbins

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "Thank you", that would suffice" - Meister Eckhart

"The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take that away from you" - BB King

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible" - The 13th Dalai Lama

"When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your objective. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The more praise and celebration in your life, the more there is in life to celebrate" - Oprah Winfrey

"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world" - George Washington Carver

**** Alright, this one below made me stop, think, and I laughed out load, lol.....

"Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it" - Ellen Goodman

Hope you all enjoy your week, C.

Thankful Heart!

This past week I have been a little MIA. I had EIC Training in Illinios for a week, so I knew I'd be adding a couple of days to catch up with my sweet college friend JJ, and FINALLY get to meet Baby B.

I am always so appreciative when my work provides these opportunities for me. I mean I never in my wildest dreams expected to be an Auditor, have my college friend live in Illinios, and the ONLY place they offer my annual trainings are less than an hour away from JJ. Really, God is good!

So pardon, my gross "Been on an airplane all morning look, lol" but here we are enjoying lunch, at Jimmy Johns! My friends name is JJ, so after we'd come in, ate, talked alot, and were getting ready to head out, my internal light came on! Jimmy Johns-JJ-my friend JJ-PICTURE! I know I got really excited, but what better way to document my trip! So I am so grateful the staff at JJ's played along, by the time we left and completed our photo op, everyone was saying by to JJ, lol! Here's the shot....

What type of weekend would it be if we didn't wind up at Starbucks! My first starbucks experience was with JJ. See both her and I met Freshman year at ACU, we both were in long distance relationships, and we understood what each other was going through! So, every Friday, we'd meet for coffee, catch up, spend a little time on the phones talking to our "Boyfriends" and then catching up some more! Who'd ever know, these wonderful boyfriends would turn into our wonderful husbands!!!!

So as our lives change, stories change, and families grow....these moment's just grow more and more special! Thank you Carmel Machiatos and White Chocolate Mochas, lol! I LOVE being Auntie C! Baby B is AMAZINGLY great! She never cried the whole time I was there! She let us eat, shop, hall her all around the world, and enjoy late night coffee talk. She's a trooper! I LOVED getting to just watch her, and experience the joy she is bringing into JJ and Currey's life.....Funny how God works, and my heart is so happy for her because she doesn't even know how much she is loved, and what a WONDERFUL family she's been born into!

I mean, look at that sweet, yet serious and grown up pose!

Not lieing, this is how she was most of the time, except when she was drunk off milk and passed out, lol! What a cutie!
And what trip would be complete without a picture of Baby B and Auntie C.

Yes, training went well, and I met alot of wonderfully friendly people who were so sweet in letting me hang out for lunch, dinners, and happy hours.....but the best part of the whole trip definitely had to be my 2 extra days with the Blandfords!

I am never let down by the greatness of God! Just thinking about how He gives us all such precious gifts (My friendship with JJ, incase you didn't know), and after you graduate and move apart you think it will be impossible to get together, living in cities that feel a millions of miles apart....but He knows what He is doing, like putting little things like training in our lives, to bring us together, not once but twice!

C.

The way I see it, Today....

Anyone wonder what happened to the "The Way I See It's" on the Starbucks cups, I LOVED them and they are gone! So it got me googling, because I have had some great ones, and I wanted to see if I could find them!

This one describes perfectly where my head and heart have been lately.....

I've been doing a great deal of reflecting and goal setting. I have a tad bit of a problem of over extending and stressing myself out, and it's just not the way I need to be. I've stopped my "I wishing", and I am moving forward, focusing on the things that are truly important for both Adolfo and I.

I want to de-stress, and find my good place in life, work, love, family....you know the balance we all strive for!

This time has definitely been a time of new beginnings. With my new promotion and the our move into a new office building, I kind of feel like I am getting a new chance to start over, all things new! Adolfo and I sat down a few weeks ago and mapped out his academic plan and he has one more part time year, and he can transfer! I can't explain how proud I am of him, my husband doesn't give up, he is going to set such a positive example for our kids one day...there are no excuses, if you want something bad enough, work till you get it!

This past weekend we spent time with my Grandparent's, they are doing wonderful! Their business is great, she won best Mexican Food and Fajita's in the Marble Fall's Reader's Choice Awards for 2010! This is big because she has taken on huge responsibilities this past year, in the operations of her restaurant, and she is doing wonderful things! She has a great team, and God continues to protect and bless her and my Grandpa! I couldn't be more proud. Their house is finally going up, we got to see the foundation, and talk with the builder, and I am so excited for it to be completed....my Grandparent's home has always been our sweet escape.

Life is good, and we are at a really good place.....it's kind of like the calm before the storm you know, lol, a little slow down before the hustle and bustle of the new school year, Tay coming back, and busy season.

This is it for now, a little random, but that's the way I see it, Today. C.

Out and About....

There are certain moments in life where we all just get to slow down, appreciate and relax! This past weekend, Adolfo and I were pretty caught up on the busyness of life, although he still has his summer class, he still let me be excited about a weekend all to our selves, lol, or so we thought!

Friday night we had a coupon for Chipolte, so I got my weekend to-do list done Friday evening, and then we headed to dinner.....I felt like college kids all over again, dressed in our work-out best, lol, no make up and out the door, it was such a nice, relaxing, low-key dinner! I told him I wanted to take him somewhere special on Saturday.....it was somewhere I'd been trying to take him for awhile, it just never worked out.

Adolfo thought it was time we went canoeing, we go every summer, and we hadn't been, so he said we should get up early and head to the park! One thing I love about my husband is he doesn't wait a moment, mornings are BEAUTIFUL, but I am the worst at getting myself up and out of bed, I blame it on the fact that I can't see when I open my eyes, so I'd rather stay in bed, lol. But I was so excited, and ready for a fun day ahead!

Saturday, we woke up early and headed downtown! It amazes me how many people had already started their day, at that hour, it got me energized!!! Don't you just love our beautiful city?

Haha, this picture was taken at the end of our trip, but It is the only one I had of us together canoeing, aren't the colors pretty?

Castro Canoe Trip 2010~
What we've learned from the past 2 years, Adolfo sits in the back of the boat, me in the front. I am horrible at steering the canoe, and it doesn't make for a pleasant trip, lol, so I sit in the front and enjoy, take pictures, lol, and forget that I too need to paddle,....but the turtles, fish, people watching is so distracting for me, lol, I think Adolfo had to re-focus me a hundred times....

His approach, splashing me with freezing cold water! See he looks so sweet, and innocent, but he's really using the paddle to splash water on me, don't let his sweet face fool you!

I LOVE our morning canoe rides, it is so quiet, and peaceful! No stress, no traffic, no worries, just us, the sunshine, and dreaming with my husband....you know, me: Babe, look at that house, it's BEAUTIFUL, ah...one day! Adolfo: Those windows must be horrible to clean, so many bugs, lol.....oh, let a girl wish!

After our 2 hours on the water, we needed to be refreshed, so Adolfo and I walked around the park, and we found a little cafe with Snow cones, YUM! Note: All fun events downtown at the park require cash only, don't come without cash, parking, canoeing, and snow cones, lol....

So we decided to have a morning snow cone, I mean we are adults, we can do that, lol! Adolfo's was way better than mine, so he shared.... I loved the bright yellow color and the wonderful pineapple flavor, we will definitely be going back!


After we sat in the park for awhile we decided it was lunch time. If you know my husband, you know his love for Pizza, over a $$$$ Dinner anyday.....one day during work I was introduced to this little pizza place on SOCO, after I tried it I was convinced I would get a World's Greatest Wife hug and kiss if I took him there, so FINALLY I got to treat him to a surprise lunch at Homeslice on SOCO.....they have awesome New York style pizza, oops or "Pies"!

Adolfo's first Homeslice pie 2010, and that my friend's is a medium!

It was so fun, we watched them make all the pies, dough flying in the air, great bar tender who helped us capture this wonderful moment in a picture, lol!

I think by this time, Adolfo was like Babe, enough with the camera, lol, but I quickly reminded him that in 50 years, when we are sitting together, with all our beautiful little grand-babies and looking at old photos, they too can enjoy your first Homeslice experience....haha, you can thank me then!

Adolfo had plans to spend the rest of the weekend studying, so I decided to make a trip home just to hang out with my Mom. When busy season comes around I miss not getting to just go to my parents and relax, so yes, I went last weekend, but I you never can get enough of home! My Mom and I relaxed and watched movies.

After church, we spent the afternoon window shopping on main street in Fredericksburg. We ended it with a nice ice cream at the bakery, and just resting our feet, lol! It was so nice to get a special day with my Mom. We ended our trip visiting my Grandma, she had surgery this past week, so we stopped by to check on her, surprise her with some pretty pink roses, and just visit.

These are the weekends, we live for, filled with all the things that matter the most!

C.

Celebrating life's little excitements....

As I am slowing down for the evening, and reflecting on my day, I can't help but smile. This week seems to have taken so long, as did last week. I felt it necessary to have no pictures, and just celebrate a couple of events that are happening in our lives that really making us smile at the moment.....

1. I can FINALLY share my promotion to Supervising Senior!!!! I am super excited to see what God has in store for me on this new and challenging journey, say a prayer for me!

2. Adolfo is doing great in his summer classes (as always, lol), but in all honesty I am so proud of all his hard work. I am so amazed how easy he makes it look with work as first priority, school second, and still makes time for me and our family! I am so blessed that God's given me such a stronger other half, because when there are days I feel so burnt out, I just look at him, he motivates me!

3. Since we didn't make plans this summer for a big summer trip, Adolfo and I have taken random days off here and there through September! Not alot of them together, lol, but it's just some down time for each of us, to do as our little hearts please! So as his days come to an end, and mine begin....we are so grateful for jobs that give us this opportunity!

4. Our firm is moving locations, still in Austin just south of the lake. I am so excited for the move, and we are walking distance from Town Lake, which means I can change at work and walk/run the lake when ever I am in the office! So, our firm has auctioned off alot of furniture in our office....and the bidding deadline was this afternoon, so I am waiting for official results, but I think I got the kitchen table I bid on and I am SUPER excited.....new project ahead (more to come later!!!)

5. Adolfo and I get a whole weekend to ourselves!!!!! No plans, no working/assignments/no bad weather - fingers crossed! Fun to be had!

Well that's enough for tonight, Random, but informative, well kind of, lol.

C.