texas: gun date?

so the texas stories just keep coming!

mainly because i forget that i have not told you any!

oh my gosh, so much happens in a life!

okay, so my family likes to shoot guns.

my dad, my bros, my boyfriend.

they all like guns.

AND they all shoot them safely.

i, however, have not really shot guns A LOT.

i have, some, and i have a gun, but when people start asking me questions about it, all i can say is "i got it when i was young and it goes bang *kick.*"

i just don't shoot that often.

but aaron shoots,

and my fam shoots,

so when aaron was visiting my fam with me,

it only made sense that we would all go out together.

and, also, honestly, i never go gun shooting.

but i like aaron so much!

that i went when he asked if i would come, because he thought it would be a lot of fun.

also--you'll notice that even though my little sister took A LOT of photos of us shooting,

there were only a select TWO that made it to a facebook-tag, mainly because aaron also proves to be a very effective decoy for what i like to call booty-call photos.

like this one, obvs.

see.

junk in da trunk.

there's a reason that photo is small.

ANYWAY.

we went gun shooting.

it was cloudy and we shot pumpkins and aaron taught me thinks about handguns

and i shot at least three or four different guns.

and i still do not like them that much

because i still don't actually really understand something that powerful in the way i would want to before i felt comfortable with it.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

of course you do, it's a gun, gosh darnit.

p.s. i like that we accidentally match all the time.

like. aaron's hat is green. my sweater is green.

aaron's jacket is orange. those silly sunglasses are orange.

ya know.

and the third note, i needz internet

i've been dying to blog about texas,

mainly because i've got such great photos,

namely

this one:

this one:

and this one:

but have yet to bloggety blog blog

because i have yet to obtain internet-y internet internet.

i attempted to make a pact with any one of my five new neighbors to split their already-established internet,

but it turns out that perhaps these aren't the kind of people to share a password-protected network. 

i mean, i told them i'd pay and enter into a written agreement and everything! 

alas. 

ANyway, le internet is probably two weeks forward in my le future,

and then i'll blog till my little heart's content.

that's the great thing about having an apartment: 

i actually have a home.

and when i'm home, i'm doing whatever i want,

which is often usually blogging.

or dancing. or acting. or bathing. or making some tasty quiche. yeah yeaaaah!

ye olde front porch steps

We take family portraits every year on Christmas.

and i love it.

we all pile onto our porch steps

and start goofing around.

last year, i wore a cat hat

and someone is always making faces or grabbing private parts or sticking feet in someone else's face.

and then mom does a great job of taking "couple photos."

duane and his wife.

jared and cara.

and this year, me and aaron.

of course the sibs in the background always have a lovely time with Couple Photos.

as documented here, obvs, when chester and stephanie stole a little face-time in the back of my adorable pic with aaron.

How to Have a Great Trip To Texas

How to Have a Great Drive to Texas

Lessons Learned from an Experienced Traveler

1. Clean your car.
Vaccuum it, most importantly.

Nothing says "fourteen hours of comfort" like dropping ketchup or coffee onto a clean palate.

2. Pack the trunk the days leading up to Launch-time.
Makes those hurried, pressed, last minutes so, so much more breathable.

3. Day-of? Give yourself a special, relaxing breakfast.

Taking this time for yourself
will set you up for whatever may come.

4. Most importantly: wear those freaking comfortable underwear.
You know what I mean.
Nobody is happy with wedgies and raw buttocks for fourteen hours.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

Ten Things to do in Texas

Things I want to do in Texas

1. Drink mimosas and Shiner Christmas Cheer every day. Not together, mind you, and mostly because a) i love champagne, and b) Shiner in texas is better than Shiner anywhere else.

Nothing says "I'M ON VACATION" like a morning full of champagne.

2. Make loads of Christmas treats with Chester and make a fancypants dessert table for my family to lose their minds over. "WHAT IS THIS CLASSINESS?!"

3. Make Gingerbread houses. Family tradition. Coincidentally, also get sick on candy and start fighting with everyone because gingerbread houses take focheva to make and we all get grumpy and upset and then the houses fall apart anyway. Gingerbread slums.

4. Go to historic downtown Mckinney, Texas to visit the magic shop, the cowboy boot shop, the Loco Cowpoke, and Mom and Popcorn.

5. Maybe go see a movie with the fam, or all go to JumpCity (only 8 bucks!), or maybe I can get everyone to put on a no-talent show....

6. VISIT MY FRIENDS and VISIT WITH MY FAMILY.

7. Celebrate Bday style with the Twins. They're having their 18th birthday party at Southern Junction the day I get into town. aaaawwwweeesssooooommmmmee

The website calls it a "night club and steak house," which, honestly, it is neither. It's a honky tonk dance hall, and that is all. :D

8. Nothing.

It's Farmersville, what do you expect?

9. Sing country music VERY loudly and just watch Aaron suffer. Muahahaha. You can't escape it in Texas. You're welcome.

10. Eat donuts with the fam. They're better here.

a squealable outfit

this is exactly what i would want to wear today.

and maybe with a coat.

but i'm actually pretending that i'm at home in texas

and i'm about to do something very big-sisterly

like take chester downtown for lunch

and if i was doing that! in the summer time! this is what i would wear.

so fun! squeal!

trash talkin'

i just learned

that my dad

the mayor of farmersville, texas

and

the mayor

who i don't even care to know his name

of farmersville's number one rival,

princeton, texas

have entered into a duel.

of sorts.

TODAY.

friday.

is THE big rival game

between the Farmersville Farmers and the Princeton Panthers (or, more affectionately known, The Princeton Sucks-and-Who-Cares-What-They-Are-Anyway-Meow-Meow)

and the loser-mayor

of whatever team loses

(OH GOD NOT FARMERSVILLE NOT FARMERSVILLE PLEASE NOT FARMERSVILLE)

has to disgrace himself by wearing a jersey of the other town's team.

and it's only a disgrace, of course, if my father has to don a princeton jersey

 in honor of his word.

which, in that case, actually, dad, you don't actually have to do this.

just run.

if we lose,

 just run, far, FAR away

and never return.

it would be undoubtedly better than putting on a Princeton Meow-Meow jersey.

ode to a momma

I'm waking up in a good mood lately. :)

when i was a very young girl growing up in farmersville, texas, i had a happy childhood.

we lived in a great, big, old victorian style house, all the grace, of course, which was lost entirely on my brothers and me.

it was big.

and cavernous.

and echo-y.

and often, and by "often," i do mean perhaps, "every single morning," my mom walked through this rickety old house singing this song at the top of her lungs.

it pleased her to wake us up so joyously.

of course, the joy was lost on entirely on my brothers and myself.

we preferred to groan ansd scream and yell at her to leave our lights turned out.

but what a good mom i have!

our surly attitudes, out in full force, were no match for her love of gene kelly/her love for annoying us all so much!

did your mom ever do something like this?

 i imagine most moms being particularly chipper in the face of early-morning grogginess.

home is where texas is

man oh man

man oh man

am i lucky to be surrounded by such amazing family.

<3

Mom and Popcorn

Remember when I was singing the praises (as they should be sung) of Loco Cowpoke a few weeks back?

Well this store, the Mom and Popcorn Co., are almost on equal par.

The aforementioned Kristen and I were sitting outside the Loco, waiting for the Madre to pick us up. It was hot, and we needed some respite.

I quickly scanned the street, looking for a shop that would annoy me the least.

Lo and behold! A cute sign! And a cute name! Mom and Popcorn, makers of gourment popcorn. Duh. Too cool.

We sauntered over, sauntering really the only thing one can do in Texas. The heat will immediately render you unable to lift your feet at all really, and so you end up just kind of sauntering everywhere, trying not to let your thighs touch.

Was that TMI? hmm...maybe.

Point being, we ended up inside a DELIGHTFUL candy store, totally adorable. One wall was lined with glass candy jars, a second of barrels full of nostalgic candy (oh so fun!,) and the counter was immediately facing the doors. The Counter, was beautiful. They absolutely do specialize in gourment popcorn, and they show it off well. Oh so beautiful, at least twenty flavors, all varieties (including my favorite "Texas White Trash,) :) and too many things for one to look at.

Kristen and I didn't spend as much time in there as I'd like. Well, we did spend SOME time, but it was the kind of time where's there's a lot of people in a boutique shop and so you all kind of ebb and flow your way along the walkways, not really getting to indulge in any of it. But we did make it out of there with a few treasures: two gigantic jawbreakers for my brother and cousin, nostalgic mint tins for the twins, candy cigarettes with Texas cowboys, a bag of White Chocolate covered Caramel Popcorn for Mom, and authentic Taffy strips for a friend.

My only hang-up was the staff, a little bit. I explained to them what I'd like in terms of the items they already carried on their popcorn menu, and they were unwilling to combine my order into one bag, saying simply that they didn't have a way to ring it up. Hello? I'm a customer, and I want to buy something special that you carry. I don't actually care if you charge me a little bit more for it, I just want it done. Period. The end. I'm sure you have a little misc. button somewhere, let's use that one.

Know what else is Better in Texas? Cowboy Boots

Srsly.

Was there every any doubt?

That Texas Flag pair at the top should belong to me....but of course, they're $335, and therefore do not. :P

And the Sunflowers? OH so beautiful. I should be lucky to even touch them.

Loco Cowpoke

It's no secret that there's at least twenty million things I love in Texas. TWENTY MILLION.

Honestly, and let's all be quite frank, what's not to love? :P

Am I right? Right????

But seriously, you've never been to Heaven (I don't care if you've died and had dinner with Jesus) until you've been to the Loco Cowpoke in Downtown Historic McKinney, Texas.

There's a couple alas-es to add to this post.

Alas! I did not take any photos while I was there today with Kristen (who also lost her mind in it!) (HELLO GOOGLE IMAGES!)

Alas! They do have a website, but it does not even do justice to Loco Cowpoke at all (believe me, it's okay, the walk-in journey alone will change your life.)

and Alas! I did not get to sample more than twelve Texas-based salsas, butters, mustards, bbq sauces, jellies, jams, foods, or peanut butters while I was there. No more than twelve, probably, sad face. ;)

So here's the rundown: I stumbled into this store ohhh, about a year ago, looking for quality Texas-Proud gifts. I googled "quality Texas items," and BAM, Loco Cowpoke appeared. Luckily, McKinney, TX is literally a hop, skip, and a jump away from my parent's place, and I was on the road in no time.

The store is snug as a bug on McKinney's E. Louisiana St, "snug" meaning it has a tiny door and is narrow throughout, but you don't really mind unless there's a couple eating all the peach-mango salsa at the salsa station.

**NOTE** Loco Cowpoke is expanding! Horray!

The owner is a real swell guy. I asked him his business the first time I was in and learned very openly that this guy specialized in horticulture, decided he wasn't spending enough time with his kids and not having as much fun as he thought he needed to (considering how hard he worked,) so he saved some money, made an investment, and BAM, his baby, the Loco Cowpoke, was born. This guy LOOOOVVVEEESSS Texas. Maybe even as much as me (maybe.) He deals with vendors and craftsman all over the wide state of Texas, bringing items into his shop that will certainly make any meal into a much more savory one. I cannot resist buying at least two jars every time I'm in there (very reasonably priced.) I've often touted a bbq sauce home for my dad (this time Caribbean Jerk,) and often make it home with the Fredericksburg Stoneground Mustard. OH! Also, the tastings and samples this guy puts out in his shop are the REAL sellers when it comes to merchandising. Honestly, nobody wants to be a pig, and this guy totally understands that--he lets you sample anything. SERIOUSLY. It's AMAZING. That is why I'm always buying things--because I taste them, they're 100% delightful, and they're suddenly going home with me to be sent as amazing gifts and presents to the people I love. So incredible.

My Loco Cowpoke Favorites:

Jalapeno Peanut Butter

Margarita Jelly

Fredericksburg Stoneground Peppercorn Mustard

Cinnamon Honey Butter

Please go! You'll love it!

Better yet, let me come with you! I love the Loco Cowpoke!

Texas