Sunday, June 01, 2014

Austin Street Art Photography Tour

Austin Street Art Photography Tour
Photos by Mer and my little Panasonic Lumix
May 31, 2014
#nostalgia #movingbacktoCali

Northwest corner of South 1st and Annie:


Northwest corner of 21st and Guadalupe:


South Congress and James Street:


699 Waller Street Austin, TX 78702:


Pedestrian Bridge over Lady Bird Lake - just north of Barton Springs and Lamar:


South Congress and Elizabeth Street:


2000 E. MLK Blvd, East Austin:


South Congress and Elizabeth Street:


I-35 feeder and 7th:





Last but not least, my alma mater. Hook 'em! 







Monday, August 19, 2013

Monday, July 15, 2013

Beet Brownies?!

I always see beets at the farmers market, and never know what to do with them. I do now!! One of my friends on Facebook made up this recipe and posted photos with a review - looks fab! Do you dare?





Beet Brownies

2 medium local, organic beets

Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownie mix
Cayenne pepper
Cinnamon

Peel, steam and puree beats
Add to the brownie mix, substituting for water, oil and egg; stir well to combine
Sprinkle with cayenne and cinnamon to taste
Bake for regular amount of time, according to package and voila!

Let me know if you try it and how it turns out!

Love, Mer 


Saturday, May 11, 2013

¡Margaritas!





Want the recipe for the best margarita ever? You're welcome!

Makes 2 margaritas

3 oz fresh lime juice
3 oz good tequila
2 oz Grand Marnier or triple sec
2 teaspoons agave nectar
Optional: splash of orange juice

Shake well and serve over ice. If you're feeling fancy, garnish with lime and a salt rim. Enjoy!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Buttercup Creek,Cedar Park,United States

Monday, March 11, 2013

Darbys Do Austin, Part II

Gosh darn it, I love these people!

Here are some highlights of our weekend. I don't know how people with 4 kids do it... LOL I love these lunatics though!






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Yum

Since it's passé to post what you ate for dinner, I'll put it on my blog instead. Cuz it was good and I feel like sharing!

Cilantro chicken - http://www.artsy-foodie.com/2008/09/wonderful-tasting-chicken-breast-recipe.html?m=1

Paleo "mashed potatoes" - http://andloveittoo.com/twice-baked-potatoes-paleo-style/




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Future Olympic Gymnast




Update

Well, I'm delinquent once again on updating my blog, so here are some very grossly overdue updates. :) I'd like to start doing better (for real this time) because this blog is on my online scrapbook. I've really resorted to Facebook to document my goings-on these days, but I still want to provide more thoughtful... thoughts? here than I do on Facebook. So standby for really deep thoughts, Mer Show Style.

So this is what I've neglected to post the last few months:

1. We built a pool, which was a dream come true for both Sheridan and me. Both of us have wanted one since we were kids, and we finally made it happen for ourselves. We traveled to San Diego in February for Katie's baptism and the kids were so horrible on the plane that we agreed not to vacation with them for a very long time. The pool broke ground immediately after. :) It's our staycation for a long time to come!! All we do is swim on the weekends - hosting friends and their families for swim days and/ or just spending quality time with each other every hot summer weekend day... like today! We've had 2 family swim sessions today. :) Here is the collection of photos from throughout the project - it started in February and finished in May and was a very time-consuming project.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21262441@N03/sets/72157630702776298/

2. Speaking of Katie's baptism in February in San Diego, we had an awesome visit (minus the plane rides there and back - those were awful)! Here are the pics from that:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21262441@N03/sets/72157629106812746/

3. In June, I met up with some friends that I competed with in gymnastics as a kid for the Olympics trials in San Jose, CA. It was an amazing experience! The gymnastics was phenomenal and my old friends and I picked up right where we left off - we had a blast together. We saw Mary Lou Retton, the Karolyis, and got to witness Nastia Liukin's last routine, not to mention the selection of the men's and women's Olympics teams. It was incredible! Pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21262441@N03/sets/72157630695042794/

4. Headed to Sheridan's 20th high school reunion in San Jose soon and Maui in several weeks. We're super excited about both of those and can't wait to share more details about both. Standby!

So that's it. Hope you're all doing great! Love, Mer xo

Summer Lunch is Served






Turkey Burgers, adapted from Rachel Ray's Cranberry Bog Burgers recipe

1 1/3 pounds (the average weight of one package from meat case) ground turkey breast
1 small McIntosh apple, finely chopped
1 small white onion, chopped
1 rib celery from heart of the stalk, finely chopped
1 rounded teaspoon poultry seasoning
Salt and pepper
Vegetable oil, for drizzling
4 sandwich size sourdough English muffins
8 leaves Bibb lettuce, cleaned

Combine turkey, apple, onion, celery, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a bowl and form into 4 large patties. Preheat a large skillet or a grill pan to medium high heat. Drizzle skillet or brush grill with vegetable oil and cook patties 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Serve with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, on the muffins. I serve the corn below with it, as well.

--------------------

Grilled Corn with Coconut Flakes and Sriracha Mayo
Recipe by Angelo Sosa from Top Chef, posted in People Magazine, July 2012
Serves 4

4 ears corn, shucked
4 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp. Sriracha
1½ tsp. kosher salt
¼ cup sweetened coconut flakes

1. Preheat grill to medium-high. Add corn, butter and thyme to a pot of water over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil; reduce and simmer until corn is tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.

2. Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together mayo, Sriracha and salt until smooth. In a skillet, toast coconut over medium heat, stirring, 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Grill corn, turning, until charred, about 10 minutes. Cover with spicy mayo and coconut.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Thoughts On Parenting A Son

My beautiful son, Patrick, makes me want to throw him out the window some days. :) He's so sensitive, emotional, high strung, and seems to find it hard to process all the noise. When he falls down and hurts himself, he wants his Daddy; sometimes he even puts his hand in my face and tells me "Not you, Mommy!" and this week he kicked me square in the eyeball, which hurt like a #(*&%*^@#! The tantrums have been really intense now since he was 13 months old, and he's now 3 and 2 months. I keep wondering when they will stop... and keep wondering... and keep wondering...

But I tell you, that makes it 100 TIMES MORE REWARDING when he has tender moments with me and tells me he loves me SO much, or the times when he actually does call for his mama after a bad dream. No matter how much trouble he causes, how many eyeball injuries he dons on me, wet underwear from potty training accidents, how many times he rips toys out of his sister's hands and makes her cry, how much whining in the carseat... I still love the kid more than life itself. He has taught me what true, unselfish love means - that's for sure.

That's it. I'm done with the deep thoughts for the day.  :)  Mer



Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Need A Photo


I had to link a professional photo to a webpage, so I uploaded this here for that purpose.  Don't mind this post - just ignore. :)

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Updates

So all is well in the Mer Show household.  I'm currently on a medical leave after having finally having the hysterectomy that's been on the horizon for the last four years!  I've been dreading this darn surgery for years now, but now it's finally over with!  I'm a little sore and it's been hard to get rest with 2 little monsters running around, but I'm gonna live.

For those of you wondering why on earth I had a hysterectomy at 36, it's because I was diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinoma in situ, stage zero (non-invasive cervical cancer), in 2007.  The oncologist wanted to remove my cervix back then, but I talked him into doing a lumpectomy to keep me healthy long enough to pop out a couple of babies. Thank heaven it all worked out ok!!!  I have 2 perfect (ahem), healthy little babies and am so grateful that I got the opportunity to have a family. Now that I don't need my baby maker any more, it was time to yank that sucker out.  Done and done!

People keep asking me how I feel about having the surgery, and I have a feeling that they want me to say that I feel sad about the loss of fertility.  Honestly, that bothers me none. More than anything, I'm just annoyed that I have to take time during the holidays to convalesce - I really don't have time for this!!  I worked my tail off to get work and home prepared for a 2.5 week break from my job, get all my Christmas shopping done by the 14th, get the house ready for visitors, etc. etc. etc. and I did pretty well, but there are indeed a few things that didn't get done. In the last few years, I've thankfully learned to let some things go.  :)  Right now none of my Christmas gifts are wrapped, but I have faith that it'll happen in time.  LOL  I almost didn't do Christmas cards, but threw one together quickly at hallmark.com - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that they address, stamp and send cards for you.  <3 you Hallmark!

I've watched quite a few movies over the last few days, which is highly unusual for me. With that, allow me to jot down some reviews:

Country Strong - pretty good, I give it a B. Who's the guy that plays Beau??
12 Dates of Christmas - typical ABC Family fare, I was amused
Karate Kid (with Jaden Smith) - surprisingly entertaining
Dear John - cried, dangit
Eat Pray Love - why didn't I do that after my divorce? And I really have a hankering for homemade pasta right now!

In other news, Katie just started taking some steps!!



So those are the most important updates for now. I'll try to log back on soon with more.

Meanwhile, merry Christmas to all of you and your families and friends!

Love, Mer

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, KATIE!!

It's my sweet angel's first birthday. Where on earth did the time go?

Katie is currently wearing a size 3 shoe, and about to grow into a 4, and she wears size 12 months clothes.  She looks adorable in hair bows, but she ends up pulling them out and chewing on them... so no hairbows for more than like 20 seconds! She says dada, uh oh, doggie, and hi... and I just know that she's practicing on mama whenever I'm not around.  :)  Katie's not a big eater, like her big brother, but she does like Cheerios, cheese, oatmeal and fruit!  She's not quite walking yet, but cruises on EVERYTHING and is dying to run around with her big brother (who loves her very much).

We had one birthday party for her in NM over Thanksgiving with all her dad's family, tonight we're having an intimate family birthday, and this weekend we'll be heading to Houston to celebrate with my family in Kingwood. Her birthday will be properly celebrated!!

To my precious, sweet angelpie, Miss Katiebug, Sissybear... happy first birthday!  I love you so much.

Mommy


Monday, September 26, 2011

Thomas the Train

This past weekend we took K and P to Burnet to ride Thomas the Train!  The actual steam train came to Central TX and toddlers from all over the area brought their parents for a fun day in the 102 degree heat.  YAY!  ;)  P loved all the activities, music, and most of all - the choo choo.  How cute is my little conductor in his overalls and conductor hat?  As for Katie - she loved all the people watching...  I'm excited that baby girl is old enough that we can start doing this stuff as a family now.  I can't wait to take them to a football game someday!  It'll be a little longer... but soonish.







Summer 2011

Well, I wish I could say summer was really OVER, but the 100+ temperatures are still lingering, even though it's almost October.  I'm pretty sure this is the most brutal summer I've ever experienced in TX.  I mean, they're all brutal, but it's been like a frying pan for 5 full months now.  Fall - please hurry!!!!!

Meanwhile, we sure had some fun this summer.  Check out some of my favorite shots of our family time - http://www.flickr.com/photos/21262441@N03/sets/72157627638243473/

Enjoy!

Love, Mer

P Got a New Bed!

So after the chin gashing experience/ first stitches experience, the first thing Sheridan said was "so... new big boy bed for P"?  Ohhhhh, little did he know how much this would cost him.  ;)

New mattress - $400
New bed frame - $150
Slats and hardware for new frame - $50
New bedding (he got off lucky here; we found Cars bedding at Target) - $40
New decals and posters to match the new Cars 2 theme - $100
-----------------------------------
Little kid who LOVES his new double bed and Cars room AND sleeps later  and better these days... PRICELESS!!!



July 4th in Indy

Highlights include celebrating Fred's 70th, Matt's 40th, meeting baby Shannon (who's not so much of a baby anymore) and introducing our little princess to all her aunts/ uncles/cousins/ grandparents.  Carolyn's family has a sweet and historic cottage on Bass Lake, IN and we spent time there, and at Matt and Carolyn's new house in Indianapolis.  Awesome times!!!  I wish all my siblings in law lived closer...

Next stop: Edgewood, NM to see Sheridan's mom and stepdad's new place at Thanksgiving.  We can't wait to see the crew again and celebrate the holiday (and Katie's first birthday) together!

There are way too many great pics to post on this blog, so here's the Flickr link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21262441@N03/sets/72157627149565280/

Enjoy!  Mer

Darbys Do Austin

OK, so I'm super behind on my blogging, so I'm going to paraphrase for the next few posts.  :)

We're super excited that the Darbys came to Austin to come us.  It was such a mad house with 4 little kiddos in the house, but so much fun.  Sweet Finn loved Baci and gave him TONS of attention; I loved getting the opportunity to get to know Griffin better - he is such a special little dude - so funny and playful!!  And P loved having the Darby boys in the house to play with, but Katie particularly loved all the attention... well, maybe not ALL the attention (see pic below).  LOL







Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Boys Will Be Boys

Is there a boy in the world that doesn't have a scar on his chin?  (Come to think of it, I have one too... from stitches).  SOMEONE (ahem) was playing on his bed before 'lights out' and when I was heading to the dresser to grab his sippy cup of water, I heard a plop/bam, and then.... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!  And then the blood started gushing.  My poor baby boy fell and hit his face on the siderail of his bed, which is made of wood.

I had hesitation about buying the P'kolino Toddler Bed (http://www.pkolino.com/Toddler-Bed-Orange-p/pkffborg.htm) because it was made of wood, but bought it because it's just so darn cute!  It turns out that this bed is very dangerous, and not only did he bump his head on the wooden side rails as he was learning to sleep in it, he has now gashed open his chin.  And very deeply, as well.  FIVE stitches!  I really regret buying this bed and look forward to buying him a new big boy bed pronto that doesn't include death defying features.  :(

Anyway, any kid's first trip to the ER for stitches seems like a momentous moment, so why not document it here?  (I can't wait to show my kids these pages someday!)