Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Retro Snowflake Bursts Christmas

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

5 years ago today....

I went on the best first date of my life with now hubby, Michael Pennington!!

He treated me like a princess and has ever since! Thanks babe! Love you!

3 years!?!?!

Yesterday, Michael and I celebrated our anniversary!! I cannot believe it's been 3 years! Time really flies when you're having fun!

I'm looking forward to many many more years with this guy. Love you babe!

An Ode to Kent

Believe it or not....I CAN keep a secret!!! In case there are any of you out there who were questioning this. :) I was allowed to tell a few select close friends but that was it.

And today is the big day that I can break the HUGE news to everyone about my brother Kent!!!

Drumroll please.....

Kent is an official medical student at Texas A&M Health Science Center's College of Medicine. What what???!!!!

Congrats bro!! You are living your dream and going to be able to make a living doing what you are passionate about. I am excited to watch you as you begin this journey.....and soaking up time with you before you start studying like a crazy man while enjoying the fact that you are in Dallas for a little bit longer.

So here it is...a little ode to Kent...in pictures...the cutest kid and best brother ever...other than Carter of course. :)

Kent's smile is so adorable here - we had so much fun together as bro and sis back then!


Gotta love these outfits!


Loved having Kent in HS with me - here we are at his first Homecoming


Kent would always appease me by being my dance partner when there was no one else....


Proud sis!


The Aggie sibs (look at that turtle neck! haha)


Singing at my wedding


My favorite picture of my bros and me - such classic expressions on our faces - this is so us!


Kent and his sweet wife Nicki - congrats to her too!! They have worked so hard for this!!


Congrats Doctor!! Love you lots!

Avenue Q on Good Morning Texas

Avenue Q was on Good Morning Texas today. Check it out below!

Performance


Interview


P.S. Opening night yesterday was incredible!!

On the Road With Kerri: Dallasites - Set Your DVRs to Record

My broadway star cousin, Kerri Brackin, has finally made her way to Dallas! To say I'm excited is such an understatement!!

I got to see the show in St. Louis about a month ago and now I'm getting to see it more than three times in a span of two weeks. It is truly fantastic!! The cast is incredible.



Set your DVR to record Good Morning Texas on Wednesday morning. The show is on ABC (channel 8) at 9:00 a.m.

Also, if you want to go see Avenue Q at the new AT&T Performing Arts Center's Winspear Opera House in Dallas, click here to find tickets. They are here until June 6th.

About the show:
AVENUE Q is Broadway's smash-hit 2004 Tony Award® winner for BEST MUSICAL, BEST SCORE and BEST BOOK. A hilarious show full of heart and hummable tunes, AVENUE Q is about trying to make it in New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. AVENUE Q features a cast of people and puppets who tell the story in a smart, risque and downright entertaining way.

Entertainment Weekly raves, "One of the FUNNIEST shows you're ever likely to see."

Which, may I please add is so true: One of the cast members said she could hear my laugh a.k.a. cackle from behind the set! ha!

And one of many rave reviews for Kerri (this one from Steady Style Chicago in their May Theatre Review):

"A special word for the beautiful and versatile Kerri Brackin" ... "[her] smile practically lights up the stage and [her] skills in puppetry keep a number of plates and puppets spinning simultaneously. Brackin is a real standout here..."

Color Career Counselor

Thanks Julie for blogging about the Color Career Counselor! Too cool! I took the quick quiz, and I think my results are definitely accurate:

Best Occupational Category
You're a CREATOR

KEYWORDS
Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional
These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

CREATOR WORKPLACES
Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.
Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.

2nd Best Occupational Category
You're a PERSUADER

KEYWORDS:
Witty, Competitive, Sociable, Talkative, Ambitious, Argumentative, and Aggressive
These enterprising types sell, persuade, and lead others. Positions of leadership, power, and status are usually their ultimate goal. Persuasive people like to take financial and interpersonal risks and to participate in competitive activities. They enjoy working with others inside organizations to accomplish goals and achieve economic success.

Not that I'm interested in changing my career at this point but I do think I may have missed my calling and should have been a lawyer as many people like to tell me but I'm so done with school!! :)

Take the quiz (it's like 30 seconds) and share your results! I think it's pretty accurate!

Don't Make Me Sing!

I pretty sure Kristen Wiig's character was inspired by me (though I was not given due credit)!

According to many friends (especially at karaoke parties), I've been told this is how I come across....okay, it's true...it's how I am! :)



Don't make me sing, dance or give me the spotlight in any way. ;)

I Hear Ya Loud and Clear!

I just got the following message in my gmail inbox from my adorable husband:

Sat night = DATE night

No distractions
No parties
Limited kitties - this is what we call our dogs - strange, I know
Go in or stay out; doesn’t matter
You, me, and Dupree (jk) - this is an inside joke :)

Just give me a budget and I’ll do the rest

LONG overdue

This just makes me laugh out loud!! I usually send him emails throughout the day regarding the plans I make so he has no excuse to say "What?!?! You didn't tell me that ____________ was happening tonight?!?!!". No, honey, but I emailed you about it three times. This is my CYA move to avoid fights. I do admit things have been kinda crazy lately. Both of us are working long hours, our Saturday mornings used to be our favorite time of the week and they are now booked through May due to church commitments and I've been filling our (already little) downtime with plans and tasks. I'm slightly task-oriented. :) :) Oh, and Michael's trying to study for the GMAT which he is taking in one month (that we cannot afford to reschedule AGAIN).

But this is to say: I get it, honey. I understand. I'm all yours Saturday...and forever. I wish I could say we had a budget for a date, but all I can offer you is a Darden's or Carrabba's or AMC gift card. :) But hey, at least we've got that!!















P.S. To all of my loyal blog followers (laugh), blogging more often was obviously not one of my New Year's Resolutions. :) But with my blogiversary coming up this March, I may try to get my blogging back on track. One thing at a time....I've finally figured out Twitter!! :) So follow me!