I love this time of year!!!

I am so excited about this time of year! It makes me so incredibly giddy. Don't get me wrong, by the time summer rolls around I can't wait to wear summer dresses and drink fruity drinks by the pool, but right now, I am so over those things!

Now I am excited about cooler weather, tall boots, fall colors, pumpkin patches, Halloween, walks in the park with Tucker, and jackets!!! I live in Houston, so when I say cooler weather, it is still hot, but it is a little cool in the morning and then is actually bearable in the afternoon. You aren't drenched with sweat just from walking to your car.

Right now, I am sitting at a cafe waiting for my accounting study group to arrive. We are meeting at 1:30, but I got here early so I could scope out a good table and eat some lunch...I hate eating in front of strangers while trying to study at the same time! Any one else share this anxiety with me? My motivation for this study session is to get out soon so I can go enjoy this gorgeous day!

Yesterday, Jason and I finished decorating my apartment for the Halloween/Fall. It looks awesome! I will try and post pics later today. We decorated the living room and kitchen, but the best part is the balcony. I found some candy corn lights at Michael's that we outlined my window in. I out out a few candles and pumpkins on the balcony. The final touch comes from Jason. He just had to have this super-scary skeleton character that lights up. We found it at Walgreen's for only $9.99. So what we did was prop it up as if it is sitting on one of my porch chairs. It is REALLY cute at night because it lights up so it looks really festive, but I noticed that during the daytime it just looks scary. Just wait until you see it...Jason and I have to compromise on the Halloween decorating. I like the cutesy pumpkins, fall leaves, and black cats, while Jason likes the cemetery themed characters that really scare you! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE haunted houses and scary movies, but I just don't want to live in one for an entire month.

What I really want to do later today is organize my closet, put away from summery pieces and pulling out all of my winter pieces. This is probably really premature considering it will not get cold here until January, but I am getting antsy! Below is a list of things that I am most excited about for this season:

1. Trench Coats - great for any city! My fave is a classic khaki trench. Looks great with pants and especially jeans for a casual, but preppy look!

2. Tall Boots...since these can get expensive and money is TIGHT I will be enjoying my boots from last year...hopefully they are in good shape. Luckily I bought a pair with a classic look to them via Anne Klein.

3. Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Peppermint Mocha's from Starbucks

4. Driving with the windows rolled down and the sunroof open

5. Making Tucker wear sweaters (I know, I am evil, but he just looks so cute)

6. Turtlenecks...I am obsessed with turtlenecks! I think they look great on everyone and look so classy and put together. Jason just doesn't understand this obsession and makes fun of me every time I wear them. He doesn't understand how wearing something around your neck can be comfortable.

7. Scarves

8. Darker color lipsticks that you just can't get away with in the summer, likes plums and berry colors

9. Tights and leggings. I love, love, love wearing skirts and tights with cute boots or pumps!!! Plus, tights (if you buy them with a control top, can hold your fat tummy in!)

10. Uggs. I know these are not "in-style" anymore, but if you have ever put a pair of Ugg boots on your feet, you would wear them all winter too. Don't worry, I don't wear them to work or anything, but I have them on in the morning, directly after work and on the weekends. They just make me feel better after a bad day! I have had my pair since 2004 so they are a good investment. I really want a new pair this year that are taller!!! Just add those to my wish list of things that I can't afford!

Preppy Halloween Decorations

Target has the most adorable Halloween collection right now. I wanted to buy all of it, but couldn't afford it...it is the end of the month! I did buy the beverage napkins to put in my silver napkin holder.

Happy Feet :)

I just dicovered that Cole Haan partnered with Nike to create the Nike Air collection of shoes that are gorgeous with the comfort of your old running shoes! Trust me people, I put a pair on my size 8.5's and they are soooo comfy. I felt like I was walking on clouds. Did I say that they are stunning too...love it!

Tucker's Many Names...

(Click on image to view larger)

Squirrel Documentary - Conclusion!

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I am enjoying a day off since my employer still does not have power. Hopefully I will be back to work on Monday. Have a great weekend.

Squirrel Documentary - Part 1 of 3

The morning after Ike, I was looking out on my balcony to survey the damage. I heard a squeaking noise that I thought was a bird. After looking around, I realized that it was a baby squirrel that had fallen out of it's nest. Of course, I starting filming. And, yes, I know how dorky and cheesy I am...Jason keeps making fun of me for this! Enjoy...will post the conclusion of the dramatic rescue soon...

Report #2 from Jason

Jason reports yet again from Hurricane Ike...I think he should consider a career in journalism!

More Hurricane Ike Pics

This was a Jack in the Box sign, but it got blown out!
Yikes!
Shutter from the apartment blew off
Fence damage
If you look closly, you can see windowsd blown out!
Poor McDonald's

This church had trees fallen all around it!

Hurricane Ike Aftermath

My parent's backyard has major damage. A tree in the middle of the street!
I really need to zoom this picture in, but all of the restaurants have LINES of people just waiting to get inside.

Just about every intersection in Houston has downed lights, either off or dangling down.
That is a HUGE tree to be pulled out of the ground like that
An apartment complex caught on fire the day after the Hurricane and burned the whole building down. This is close to Jason's house.

Street signs down...it wasn't just this one, but pretty much ALL of them are Line at HEB grocery store just to get in! It wrapped around the entire store.

Well, we survived Ike, but there is a lot to do to get things back to normal. After the first night of Ike on Saturday, J and I moved our camp over to this house which had power. We were without water for one day but we made it because Jason made a hurricane survival kit months prior. Today is Monday and my apartment is still without power! I can't believe it. Also, there are several sewers in front of my apartment complex that leaked and overflowed so the area smells awful and there is literally waste all over the streets. I think I will stay camped at Jason's for awhile. We are so lucky to have it!

Jason now has power, water, cable and Internet...I do realize how lucky we are. You can't imagine the damage that Ike has caused. Galveston is said to be without power for weeks and is just demolished. Houston was hit hard too. Jason and I have been driving around looking at the damage. There are incredibly long lines for food, gas, ice, and groceries. There are long lines wrapped around the sides of Wal-mart and HEB just to get inside. The gas pumps have miles of cars trying to get gas; most of the gas stations are closed because they ran out. I made fun of Jason for what I thought was being overly prepared, but I am counting my blessings now (and eating my words) because we have been doing so well.

I took pictures and video to show everyone and will be posting these over the next few days. I am off work today because we don't have power and there was a lot of damage to the office. My office is filled with water! I am extremely nervous and anxious to get back to work. Now that I have Internet I feel like I should be working, but this is hard to do when the server is down and you don't know the plans. Jason can't work today either. His server is down and his office is without power too. I have not been able to talk to many people because the phone lines are all tied up...this one of the most frustrating aspects.

Our prayers are with everyone affected by the storms, especially those who have it much worse than we do. I will keep posting pics and updates as I can.


P.S. Tucker is doing great! He was very scared during the wind and rain but is back to normal now.

Another Ike Update

It is 11:15 pm on Friday in Houston. Jason and I have watched 2 movies and lots of news! The power went out once, but quickly came back on. I have updates from friends that Katy and Missouri City have power still too. Tucker is VERY anxious but we are doing everything we can to keep him calm...like giving him a greenie his favorite!

As of now, we have really hard wind, but still no rain. The estimated Ike landfall is 1:30 am. We expect to get rain soon. My very-prepared boyfriend already filled the bathtub with water in case we lose water. We also made an awesome pallet in my big closet to sleep..like I could sleep right now! As my bff, Page said, this is not a tornado! I know, but the only place in the apartment without a huge window is the closet:

Be safe everyone! Talk to you soon-

Chelsea, Jason, and Tucker

Ike Update

Well it is 6:30 pm on Friday in Houston and so far all Jason and I have seen are lots of clouds rolling in and wind. We just took Tucker for a walk and many of our neighbors were doing the same thing. We are now in for the night and many of the officials in different cities are beginning curfews. I just heard on the news that there has been one fatality.

Jason and I have not seen any rain yet, but we have watched on the news that many areas are flooded without having any rain...it is all from the storm surge. Be safe everyone. I will post updates as long as we are able. Certain areas have already lost power. Our prayers are with those who are in areas worse than ours.

You can tell that Tucker is very worried...

Hunkering Down for Hurricane Ike

Jason and I are locked in my apartment ready for Ike! So far this has been really fun. I was able to leave work Thursday at 3:30 and we closed all day Friday. Ike is expected to hit sometime after midnight Saturday morning and we are ready!

Jason went into survival mode for us and boarded and taped the windows, bought us enough food and water for weeks, and stocked us up on DVD's and games! Tucker is acting a little anxious, but probably just because we have been running around getting things ready. The doors are now locked up and we are excited! Jason even bought us enough water to bathe in, in case of a water outage.

We will post pictures as we take them. Bring it on Ike!

Cool picture of Galveston, Texas. Courtesy of http://www.click2houston.com/, NBC

View of clouds forming outside the apartment.

Antique-Inspired Engagement Rings

Yes, I am your typical girl and love to look at engagement rings, well always! Insert, Jason-eye roll. I am and have always been obsessed with antique looking jewelry and engagement rings. These are very different from your normal solitaire with diamond wedding band look. Not everyone can pull them off or would like the idea, but for those who do, enjoy!

I love Jennifer Love Hewitt! She is engaged to a Scottish-Actor hottie and was given an actual antique engagement ring that was in her fiance's family for over 100 years!

Victoria Beckham's New Pixie Cut

This just in:
The verdict: I love you Victoria and you can pull off any cut, but I will not be copying this "Victoria" do! I think it looks major on you though!

An Early Halloween

While planning Tucker's Halloween costume for this year, Jason and I stumbled across a Bumble Bee dog costume in an XS at Target for only $9.99. Jason and I just couldn't resist. We bought it and immediately dressed Tucker in it when we got home...yes on September 6. So without further ado, here is Tucker as a Bumble Bee (he wasn't so keen on the idea, but was a good sport):

Living the Life in Matagorda, TX

Jason and I spent Labor Day Weekend with at my parent's house. During the weekend we:

Spotted some jellyfish off the dock right after we got out of the water!

Played cards...do you like my poker face? Jason needs to work on his:Jason did a lot of fishing, but it was worth it! We ate some awesome trout last night.We had a visitor in the house...Mr. Wolf Spider was not my friend:I was trying to get my last amounts of sun before the summer is over:Jason and I spotted some stray cats at the River Bend Hamburger Joint:

Then the trip ended by our boat sinking...just kidding! This boat has been there for years. We did spot some huge gators in the water, so I would have been scared to death if our boat sank!