What I’ve Been Up To Lately Vol 3

 As always, I have my bad blogger hat and t-shirt on to write this post.  Besides my birthday post, I haven’t written anything since March!  Tsk tsk.  Sorry about that!  :) Here’s what I’ve been up to in random order:

Easter 2015

As usual, we spent Easter at my parents’ house.  My parents heated the pool and all of the kids got to swim. I also made this year’s bunny cake!  If you aren’t aware, it is a family tradition that me and my sister make a bunny cake.  My sister refuses to help anymore, so I was “forced” to make one by myself.  It's a hard life. :)

SCBWI Houston Conference

I have tried to attend the Houston SCBWI conference for a few years now, but I always miss it.  In 2013 I had just missed the Houston conference but went to Los Angeles one instead.  Last year, the Driving Jacks 5K was happening so I couldn’t make it.  This year, I got an email about the LA conference again but can’t go since it is too expensive and thought about the Houston conference.  I said “I wish I could go to that one, but it’s always in April” and then thought “Wait, it IS April!” and proceeded to google when the 2015 conference would be.  As luck would have it, it was the next day!  Haha.  I almost missed it for a 3^rd year in a row.  I have since been involved in the local chapter and being the event planner and over achiever I am, I offered to help coordinate the 2016 conference. 

Astros Suite Tickets

My work gave us Astros Suite tickets for doing a great job on the events!  I have always wanted to go to a sporting event and sit in the suites.  Bucket list item!!!!!!  The seats were great, the fajita bar was tasty, and the wine was delicious.  It was a fun night!  I took my friend Tracie to the game and we had a blast.

Jamberry Nails

Ignore the fact that I need a real manicure

My sister introduced me to Jamberry Nails a few weeks ago and I have been obsessed ever since.  I started off with 1 set of nail stickers but have now hoarded my way to 12 sets. Oh goodness.  Luckily, my mom and sister also have several sheets and we all trade.  My toes and fingers have never looked so cute.  I am always debating what color to get when I get a pedicure, now I can have fun stickers that stay for a long time.  (Seriously, my pedicure ones stayed for just over a month and my fingernails stayed for 2 weeks).

Children’s Museum of the Woodland’s

I took Kali to the Children’s Museum in the Woodlands and at first she didn’t know what was happening.  She likes to sit back and observe for a while before jumping into the action.  Once she felt secure enough, so started to play and there was no stopping her.  She played dress up, ‘drove’ a car, slid down the slide, got soaking wet in the water play section (she was having fun, I couldn’t stop the fun!), and built lots of tall buildings.

Baseball player signing

My work hosts an annual Astros Day where they have 3 players come out and sign sports stuff for everyone.  I don’t need more clutter in my life and don’t collect any sports stuff.  I called my dad to see if he would want something signed and he said a baseball.  Jose Altuve, Marwin Gonzalez, and Luis Valbuena were all there to sign items for us! 

Royal Caribbean Cruise

I went on a cruise in May with my friend Clarissa!  We went to Cozumel, Belize, and Roatan.  I had a blast and fell in love with cruising.  I can’t wait to do another one.  Somewhere between Belize and Roatan (where I got in the water) I got a SUPER bad ear infection that still hasn’t 100% healed.  I think it was when we went cave tubing in Belize.  I should really write an entire post about just my cruise…let me get back to you on that.

Fondue Restaurant 

For my birthday my friend Terrie took me out to a fondue restaurant.   Bucket list item!!!!  I have always wanted to go to a fondue place but it’s kind of expensive just to do for no reason.  We went to The Melting Pot off Westheimer and it just happened to have a review that said it was the most romantic place to take a date. LOL. As you may or may not know, I am a self-proclaimed marshmallow freak and when the dessert fondue came out, I was so excited.   Yum!  They even gave me a signed birthday card when we were leaving.

 Cole Turns 4!

 Cole turned 4 at the end of April and they hosted a fish fry for him.  He requested a cake with m&m's on it and that is what he got.  

I think that’s all for now!!  I will be back with a post about the cruise, my birthday, and my trip to Venezuela where I met a real life Willy Wonka!!!

Family Event at the Astros for $25

I love all Houston sports teams, I am a fan whether they win or lose.  I have gone to a few Astros games this year and recently went to a game for only $3!  I wanted to share how you can get those tickets cheap too!.

So, in order to get some more Houston Astros fans to come to the games, I am going to tell you all about how a family of 5 can go to the Astros game for about $25!  Score!  It is a perfect family night.

Take me out to a ball game! Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks.  (Tell me you didn't just sing the rest of the lyrics in your head)

(This scenario is a TUESDAY night deal only)

Here's how you can do it:
Tickets: $3/ticket x 5 people= $15* (see below on how to get $3 tickets)
Parking:  $10 per car (ish, some parking spots are cheaper/more expensive-just drive around a bit)
Drinks:  On the first floor, near the side with the movable homerun train, you can get two free sodas if you sign up to be a designated driver.  Yep, anyone (I believe it's 16 and over) who is a DD for their group, gets two free vouchers (see pic below) for small sodas.  Share (or bring sealed bottled water with you) the drinks!
Food:  Bring it from home!  Yes, did you know you can bring a ziplock bag full of food (sealed) in with you? Or just eat before the game.
Souvenirs:  Tell your kids no, it won't hurt them! Or bring a glove and try and catch a foul ball.
Total:  $25

*Just add $3 per additional person over your 5 person family

Designated drivers get free drinks!  Ignore my fingers that need nail polish and a manicure! :)

OK, so how did we get $3 tickets?  We brought a PowerAde or Coca Cola product to the actual ticket counter (not online).  I would suggest purchasing the tickets earlier in the week to make sure you can get the tickets.  You wouldn't want your kids to be disappointed if you came to late to get that deal.

Where are the seats?  Up high, but honestly kids won't notice and/or you can just go down to a lower level during a later inning.  There aren't too many seats that are filled unfortunately (sorry 'stros, but it's true).

Other fun stuff:
Did you know the Astros have fireworks at every Friday night home game?!  Did you know they give out free promotional items at various games?  View the promotional calendar and some additional promotions going on this season!

Play ball!

****The Astros did not pay me (or give me anything) to write this post. I just really want to share a good deal with everyone and gets some fans out to Minute Maid Park!