#hiatus

I've gotten a couple of emails from you sweet cheeks out there in cyber space (and in real space). I'm taking a controlled/planned blog break.

I actually don't like it. I miss my little creative outlet. I feel alot like Dra-mona at times:

But, I'm in the midst of brainstorming some new ideas and getting my design totally redone, which makes me feel more like crazy-happy-eyes-amona:

Also, just to be honest, I've been absurdly and stupidly busy. Between work, trying to lose 234 pounds before a 6-week wedding-athon this fall and trying to stay in touch with friends, I've got some stuff on my plate. This sums that up:

...which doesn't help with the weight loss (FML).

So, hang tight. Trust me, I'm not turtle timing over here. Me iz bizzy.

Vacay Recap: Newport!

For the second leg of the journey (read about the first here), Ginger and I headed up to Newport, RI for a music fest. The sweet thing that he is, he gave me the tickets for my birthday back in April (!). I'd been excited about this jaunt for months.

One of the coolest parts was the house we got to stay in:

It belongs to a member of his family and was an amazing and impeccably maintained (and free) 1940's time machine. Semi-creepy at times, but mostly awesome.

Newport Folk Festival

Once we were all settled in, it was on to the festival. It was a really cool venue. It was held of a peninsula across the bay from the main part of town so we had to take a boat to get to it! So fun. Here's some shots from the fest...

1 - Water taxi to the fest. WTF?

2 - New delicious beer discovery: Newport Storm's Rhode Island Blueberry

3 - Standing in the back of the crowd with the ocean super close.

4 - At times the weather sucked. Bad weather = license to get totally silly and weird.

5 - The boats parked in the bay listening to the music. Totally the way to do it.

Cliff Walk

Just steps from our little house was the awesome Newport Cliff Walk. It's a 3-mile walking trail that goes around, you guessed it, the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It was stinking breathtaking:

If we lived there, the Prince and I would go every day.

The Mansions
The big nerd in me had to do at least one historical thing while we were there. We toured two of the historic mansions in Newport - Rosecliff and The Breakers. It was RIDICULOUSLY beautiful and even more interesting. It's pretty mindblowing how old they are. Also, you automatically feel like you're really fancy and in Downton Abbey the second you walk in...

I loved every single second of the trip. Can't wait to take another one!

Vacay Recap: NYC!

Last week I had a FABULOUS vacation up to New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. The trip was originally planned to see a music festival in Newport, but we tacked on a few days in the big city just for fun. Some highlights:

Sightseeing in NYC
Here are a few favorite stops. I apparently have a thing for parks/outdoor spaces. Wonder why NYC didn't turn out to be for me...?

1 - Peaches at Union Square Park Farmers' Market. I love this spot. It's so close to where I lived briefly in the city. Such a strange little farmy oasis. Tasty peaches, too.

2 - Grand Central Station. It never gets old to me. 

3 - The arc in Washington Square Park. When taking this picture I over heard some people speaking French who were all excited about this little didy. Don't they have this kind of crap everywhere over there? I like the pic.

4 - Mid afternoon snacks in Bryant Park. We fancy.

5 - Central Park. Heaven.

Baby Mason Theis

One of my best buddies (and one of the first in our little group) just had a beautiful baby boy. I was lucky enough to pay that little dude a visit and snap some photos....

I can't even talk about how swoon city that third one is.

Favorite friends in the City

Ginger and I both had some great buds to visit. One of my college besties hosted us all week and showed us around Williamsburg. We tried out fabulous bars and restaurants. Miss her lots. Brooklyn > Manhattan.

Travels to Rhode Island

I love train travel. I really do. It feels so romantic and old world. I was just waiting to see someone on the platform sprinting after the train to profess their love to someone. Our experience was truthfully a little stressful and early in the morning, but wonderful no less.

Once we got to Providence, we had to rent a car to get to Newport. Two Texans with iPhones do not experienced New England navigators make. That's all you need to know about that drive.

Stay tuned for lots more soon on the Newport leg of the trip!

Photo a Day July: 16-31

Hey-o! Just in case you aren't stalking my Instagrams (@caseylhenry), here's my run down of the end of Fat Mum Slim's July Photo a Day Challenge. Enjoy!

16 - Sign. The Prince's vet clinic is a real jokester.

17 - Your Addiction. Buy this. Now. You won't be sorry.

18 - Plate. Typical work day lunch... turkey roll ups and avacado.

19 - Animal/Insect/Pet. Obviously.
20 - Eyes. Me and the ginger. His are bluer.
21 - 9 O'Clock. Favorite friends' band.

22 - Upside Down. Poodle no likey.
23 - Mirror. Desk mirror with one of my favorite t-shirts in the reflection.
24 - Stranger. NYC Subway. Strangers galore.

25 - Heart. Part of my tattoo.
26 - Sunshine. Central Park. Slice of heaven.
27 - On the Road. Look at me traveling all New England style.

28 - Cup. New favorite beer discovery. Newport Storm's Rhode Island Blueberry.

29 - Last Thing You Bought. Festival souvenir!

30 - Calm. Newport, RI Cliff Walk.

31 - Toothbrush. Purple brush. Purple flosser. 

I love doing this. Join me for August's challenge here!

Vacay Recap: Newport!

Sunshine Award Random Musings

Happy Thursday morning friends! Today I'm happy to be rocking a new award post! Thanks so much to Jenn at Going the Distance for thinking of me!! Go check out her blog, its faboo and definitely in my regular blog reading rotation!

The rules are that I've got to answer some questions about myself and pass on to other fave bloggy friends. Get excited for a total Poodleist randomness...

1. What would you most like to change about yourself?
I wish I could chill out more. I analyze things. I second guess myself. I like to make and stick to plans. I always am wishing for more in myself in life. I've got to cool it down and just be more mellow. Go with the flow more, ya know?

2. What is your theme song?

IDK, thats a hard one. Currently (like the rest of the damn country), I can't get enough of Call Me Maybe. It's just so infectious. Summer theme song is definitely Call Me Maybe. That's way too hard of a question for me to answer for my whole life. WAY TOO HARD.

3. One part of your life, a memory, action, etc. that you wish you could surgically remove from your brain?

Hands down, when as I worked as a Legal Assistant. For some idiot reason, I thought I wanted to go to law school, so I deferred my admissions and worked for a small firm for a year. Worst. Idea. Ever. It was so boring, one of the lawyers was so mean and the cases were so ludicrous. It was a dark time.

4. What generation do you wish you had been a part of?
I wish I'd been a part of 1950's Mad Men-ish era. 

I love the outfits, the hair... all of it. I think my body type would thrive in the longer skirt with a cinched waist silhouette. It feels so American glam to me. Also, the men aren't too shabby either.

5. What was your favorite childhood toy?

My little ponies. Thy were so magical. The had bright and beautiful manes and tails and they smelled like strawberries.

I still have around 10 of them on a shelf in my room (including the one above). I recently encountered a strawberry-scented car freshener thingy that smelled exactly like it. I wish I'd stolen the one I came across, I've yet to locate one similar...

6. What is your favorite housecleaning chore?
Favorite? Hmmm, I'd have to say washing/changing my sheets. Though the actual chore is a huge pain, I love the feeling of clean, fresh, crisp sheets more than most people. I look forward to it more than is probably normal.

7. Do you Twitter?
Eh. Sometimes. I'm kind of not that into it. Follow me at @Poodleistcasey. I'm much, much more into Instagram (@caseylhenry)

8. Any goals?

Right now I'm really focused on a health/fitness campaign. I'm kind of in a workout plateau and feel like I'm not really getting anywhere. Part of me just thinks its just time to accept my hereditary obstacles gifts, but I'm not there yet. Must press on. Spin bike and I have been BFFs these days. I've got to do better on the diet too. Wine and cheesey things beckon me and indulging is a nasty little habit of mine.

9. Do you really drink margaritas all the time?
Though I find this one odd, the answer is yes. In fact, more of an emphatic "hell yes." As a Texan, I get my fill (and much more) of margaritas and tacos. I love them. I've recently been exploring the various skinny margarita options around town because, lets just face it, these hips only have one direction to go -- wider.

10. What is the ugliest car you've ever driven and were embarrassed to be seen in?

I really don't have an "ugly" one per se. My car needed tons of work a couple of years ago and I got stuck with a rental Kia Rio for SIX WEEKS. The thing rattled, didn't have power windows and was generally terrible. It wasn't ugly, but it sucked. I wanted to key it and blame a random stranger. This was also during the law firm era, so there could be some other unhappiness factors at work...

Anyway, on to happier topics... here are the bloggy pals I'd love to hand this over to. All of them brighten my day with their posts full of jokes, ideas, photos and thoughts. Check 'em out, yall!

Brunch with Amber
O is Me
Northwest Betty
Christina's Pop Life
If I Must Say So

Life of Meg
Perfectly Imperfect
Fabulous But Evil

Simple Little Joys

Thanks again, Jenn! I really appreciate it!

What I'm LOVING

How about a little linked up miscellany today? I think yes.

This Wednesday, I'm LOVING...

Pretty Shoes

I'm a HUGE wiener about wearing heels/tall shoes. I finally found a pair I don't hate. These. I'm addicted. Go buy them here. I think I want them in black too.

Summery Nail Polishes

I can't quit wearing this one. Essie's Mojito Madgess. Love.

Hydration

This summer I've consumed no fewer than 39438940357 Topo Chicos. Can't get enough.

Jef. Just Jef.

Honestly, he's the best. THE. BEST. If Emily doesn't pick him, she'd dumb. That's it.

Domestic Bliss

I've recently encountered all kinds of drama with roommates, living situations, moving, etc. in other friends' worlds. I'm LOVING that I have a wonderful roommate that might by my lady soulmate. 

The Ginger

He makes sure I almost always have fresh flowers on my desk. #luckiestgirlever

VACATION

NEXT WEEKEND I'm going to Newport, RI. I haven't told you guys about it yet, but I'm getting freaking psyched!

Photo a Day July: 1-15

This month I'm doing Fat Mum Slim's Photo a Day challenge again. I love this little creative task. It really keeps my juices flowing for some reason. Here's a little update on July to date:

1 - Self Portrait. I'm sorry you have to see that.
2 - Busy. Work papers are boring.
3 - Best Part of My Day. East Side Show Room with my favorite ginger

4 - Fun. Holiday pool time!

5 - On the Floor. Resident stack of besdide "quality" reading

6 - Chair. Sillyputty owns that spot.

7 - Garden. Herman Park in Houston

8 - Lunch. Ballpark necessity

9 - Big. Really big woman on the roof of a neighborhood taco shop

10 - Favorite Color. Purple, duh.

11 - Letter. It's the most glorious 'W' around.

12 - Texture. Rocks

13 - Open. Neighborhood boot shop
14- Building. The view of downtown Austin from the roof of the ginger's office building
15 - Finger. Mine and the Prince's

Love it! Follow me on Instagram (@caseylhenry) for daily uploads!

Please, help, need a designer!

"Yo, want a little stripper wisdom?"

This week I went with the girls to see Magic Mike and that was by far the best line. BY FAR.  I love the plot device that is strippers/prostitutes having infinite wisdom and maturity deep down. It's probably one of my favorite movie themes. Just to set the stage: this happens in the first 5 mins of the flick:

Overall I liked it. But I have a couple of questions/knocks...

• If his dream was to be a furniture builder, why didn't we ever see a shirtless Channing Tatum wielding a hammer? #majordisappointment

• Why did his love interest have a sourpuss face on the whole movie?

I think she had plenty to smile about.

If you ignore the whole "lack of exciting plot twists" thing, there's a lot to love...

• There's plenty of this:

And this:

• Every SINGLE male stripper cliche was represented: cops, sailors, firemen, jungle guys, "its raining men", soldiers, doctors... ALL OF IT. I appreciated that bit of thoroughness. 

• My favorite element by far was Matthew McConaughey:

I have a feeling this movie was his professional dream. Not only did he get to take his clothes off and talk slow throughout it, he actually PLAYED THE BONGOS in his little stripper panties. He also said his famous "Alright, Alright, Alright" line a few times. I think he might be peaking.

Generally, Magic Mike was a really good use of my time. That's it and that's all.

For the love of fry nuggets

So this is a thing that happened:

If you can't read it, the letter says this:

To who rounds the chickens at the "fil a"-

I visited your I-35/Ben White location in Austin, TX today for a nice Spicy Cool Wrap combo with Spicy dressing. I was excited, frankly I'm getting excited talking about it right now. I returned to my office about 10 minutes away to unpack the contents of my bag and find no dressing included. I was heartbroken. The Spicy dressing really compliments the flavor of the wrap.

I made a substitution of a light Balsamic with some Sirachi sauce to capture the spicy flavor of the normal dressing & the creamy texture that I've grown to love in the Spicy dressing. It wasn't the same, I felt empty.

The food was very enjoyable as always, but the lack of dressing dropped my joy level like an Anvil in an old Looney Tunes episode. I'll be back, but I'm going to be honest my mouth is watering right now thinking of that dressing. A feeling that I will not be able to satisfy today.

Thank you for the rest of my meal, the only other knock was the abundance of "fry nuggets" as I call them instead of whole waffle fries which I have grown accustom to while visiting your establishments.

Yours truly,

Sam XXXXXX

It was written by the person I'm dating. Loveable, yet completely and totally ridiculous at once. A sauce lover like myself. #soulmates

Happy Birthday Nugget!

Today my precious little nugget of a sister turns 21! Yahooo! She's waited patiently (mostly) and a long time for this day. She's the last one of her friends and is oh-so-ready to be able to join her 21-year-old buddies out on the town.

I'm sad to be missing the celebrations today... I mean come on, look at this face:

I'm still waiting for my homemade hat, btw.

Not only is she cute, but she's been known to be the life of the party....

And now that she's 21, I'm hoping for lots more sisters hijinks...which typically look like this:

She's the actual best. Happy Birthday Nugget! xoxoxoox

Calling all Blog Designers!!

Houston Weekend Recap

Happy Happy Monday friends! This weekend I had a whirlwind trip around the fair city of Houston, TX, my hometown. I brought my favorite ginger along, who'd never seen any of the Bayou City's splendors. A little look at what we did...

Houston Museum of Natural Science

We went to see a traveling Titanic exhibit, which was cool, but we had a lot more fun in the newly-upgraded Paleontology Hall...

Hobbit Hole Cafe

Lord of the Rings-themed lunch locale. Nerd city. Someone was dorking out in there with his Houstony beer...

Obviously, absurd Dragon and Gandolf t-shirts were bought... 

Wabash Feed Store

A random drop in to my favorite and strange mid-city country store. PUPPIES.

Water Wall Park

No iPhone photos taken, just real ones on the fancy camera... this is what it looks like:

It really is such a random thing. 

McGonigels Mucky Duck to see Hayes Carll

This was actually a Father's Day gift to my dad, but lucky ginger got to tag along. We got AMAZING seats right up front. The music was great and the place was cool. Best part of the weekend...

Astros Game

Hot dogs at Minute Maid park on a rainy Sunday afternoon...

It was a great weekend! And, it was so nice to take in some hometown sights... I'm lucky to have all that to call home.