Celia Brews It Over

Good morning! Happy FriYay!!! Things have been getting pretty deep on this blog of mine! Whoo! I promised, I would talk about the hard stuff. We've been talking about it!

How about we lighten things up today? Five on Friday is back! It's been a while, right?!

I've been good, more than good. But I've had my head down, working hard towards my goals, and finally coming up for a breathe of air. I've had most people support me, and only one that took issue with me needing to retreat to work towards my goals. Good riddance. Keep your tribe tight and full of those who fully support you.

Let's get this thang started.

One. 


This guy. I couldn't be more lucky to have him in my life. It's like all those things I threw out into the Universe that I wanted in a guy compiled into this amazing human. When I thought I'd had enough the Universe was like "wait! found him!" We had our first real vacation together earlier this month. I'll cover it in its own post. I loved exploring a new city with him. We learned I'm great at figuring out where we need to go, and he's great at actually navigating us there. Team work!

Two. 


For this trip I couldn't take my little furnugget with us. I was so anxious over this. Who was going to watch him? Could my Mom spend a week with him? What about another family member?
The last time someone offered to watch him they were super inconsistent. & I partially wonder looking back now if they did it on purpose. Which makes me really sad.
From what I've been reading Angel and I are really closely bonded FurMomma+FurBaby. & sometimes cats that are extremely bonded to their owners get separation anxiety. So when they have a sitter they need to be really consistent so they know they haven't been abandoned.
With Angel being 18 I always worry that something is going to upset him and then I am going to lose him. I know he's getting up there and I know the time is coming, but I want to extend that little life of his as much as I can.
I was chatting with a girlfriend of mine that has both dogs and cats and I know she loves her animals just as much as I love my little furnugget. She was telling me about PetSitter apps and I think I actually downloaded the wrong one but I found the most amazing sitter!
This girl was so punctual! The moment the clock struck 730, my phone was ringing for me to open the gates for her. She not only fed and cleaned his litter box, she swept the hard floors, we ended up having some ants and she took it upon herself to clean the area with vinegar and water and by the time I got home we were ant free! She took him out on the balcony and although I paid her for 30min visits. Most of the time she spent about 45mins with him. She gave me detailed reports of his food consumption, litterbox use and overall mood. He got upset a couple times and threw up, and she cleaned the areas. I couldn't even tell he threw up! Her last visit we both showed up at the same time and he greeted us both. He loved his sitter!

Three. 


This Month's Personal Development book is The Miracle Morning. Y'all it is so so good! I'm not waking up every day as early as I should, but I'm learning new things to incorporate into my morning to ensure I have the best days. I can't wait to finish and share with you my favorite pieces of the book.

Four. 


My Life Coach had her very first public workshop and y'all it sold out! I was so honored that she asked me to speak on The Benefits of Personal Development and my own personal testimonial working with her. I'll have blog posts on each here soon(ish) and I'll link them back here. Talk about out of my comfort zone though! Whew!

Five. 


Since the time that I took off to San Antonio back in February and rang up my friend Tori to see if the invitation was still open to crash at her pad we have grown closer. We both have that drive to grow grow grow, to work our asses off towards our dreams and to serve others. We recently learned that we both want to launch our own podcasts! How crazy is that?! Neither of us knew that the other even remotely thought of that!


& that's it for today!

Just counting down the hours until me and the Novio get to see each other!

Our University of Houston Tailgating group, the Code Red Tailgaters, got together this summer for a much needed meetup! Our sponsors Nine Banded Whiskey came out as well and had our signature drink available for us.



Pinkerton's, an establishment owned by a University of Texas alum, hosted us. I have to say each time I've been here the hospitality has been nothing short of amazing & the food is delish as well!

Two. 


I've been introduced to Jenga & y'all I'm obsessed. I want to play it over and over. I feel like a 3 year old saying again again!

Three. 


I took #Spurs around my hometown area and he loved it. What made my heart so warm was to see him perk up when he saw water. The water has (almost) always been my calm, so to see him enjoy it so much makes me happy.

We started out at my favorite breakfast place ever in life, the Sunflower Bakery, in Galveston. As always the food did not disappoint. This place has about a half hour wait, and that was the case this time as well. 


We strolled the Strand, drove along the Seawall and then headed back up towards my hometown of Kemah. I showed him my family's property and then we headed to lunch. We were both starved!


#Spurs is pizza obsessed, so much so he has Professional Pizza Eater listed under his IG bio. Haha! I was conflicted if I should take him to a tourist spot or a hometown spot. Given how hot it was, I opted for Boondoggles, the hometown spot, since I knew it would allow us to sit indoors. This place has a wide array of foods and they're all delish + they have a good selection of craft beers and a full bar. If you're not into craft beers they also have your regular selections.

After this we went to the Boardwalk & hopped aboard the Boardwalk Beast. It had been a while since I had ridden this and I was hoping we wouldn't lose our lunch! Luckily we just got pretty soaked and all food remained in our tummies.



Four. 


Doing the long distance thing can be a little hard, emotionally. I remember one time when #Spurs left I felt super sad. & I hated the way I felt because I told myself I wouldn't feel that way. I knew he lived in San Antonio and I lived in Houston. So basically I had a suck it up, Buttercup talk with myself & I didn't like that my tough love talk with myself didn't work.

When #Spurs came in town the last time it was the greatest thing ever to see Angel acknowledge him to the point that he was talking to him and following him around my apartment like a dog!

One thing I learned in dating was to ask guys if they liked cats, almost immediately. Thankfully #Spurs likes cats, most importantly my Cat, and spoils him as if he is his own.

When #Spurs left, Angel ended up cuddling up with the blanket #Spurs had lounged on my couch with that day. I guess he missed him too.

Five.


SnapChat! I still use it! Mainly because the filters are fun and I like to make the bitmjoi mini movies with my friends. Above is my new handle. Since they don't allow you to edit your handle I had to create a whole new one. Rumor has it someone has my old phone number and they're in a dark place in their life. So if you've been seeing that, you're following the wrong account. Mine has mainly been about food and my waistline is yelling at me for it! Ha!

Chat with ya soon! XO,
Cel

This was my weekend to drive into San Antonio and imagine my suprise when I walked in to see #Spurs' house decorated for my furbabe's birthday. Heart melting!


This is probably the sweetest and most thoughtful thing anyone has done for the two of us.


Unfortunately, Angel was less than thrilled and let us know the rest of the night.

Two. 


Hi. It's me. Sitting atop Enchanted Rock.

I love being outside and I love going on hikes. #Spurs surprised me by taking me to Enchanted Rock. I learned real quick that hikes in Houston/NASA are merely walks. My thighs were on fire!

What you don't see behind this photo is #Spurs encouraging me each step along the way and not complaining when I stopped 10 million times on the way up. Ha! I also learned if you walk up backwards that helps too!

Is this shirt not amazing?!?!


I can't wait to go on more adventures like this. I also need to get my bootay in the gym to prep for more adventures like this.

Three. 

Do you remember the pretty rug I posted in my new apartment post, here? It was my dream rug! Well. I'm having to get rid of it. I had a suspicion that Angel didn't like it. He jumped onto the ottoman and walked across it to get on or off the couch & he always walked all the way around the living room to go anywhere else in our casita.
I woke up one day and there was healthy poop on the carpet, so I watched him. He wasn't having any issues. In fact he'd poop in his litter box, and then choose to finish up on the carpet.
Then one day shortly after I got out of the shower the rug was wet and I thought it was just from my feet. Then another time it was wet and I knew it wasn't from me. I figure out Angel is peeing on my pretty rug! Ugh.
So this past weekend when #Spurs was over he helped me roll up the rug. Now Angel thinks that it is his scratching post. Sigh.

Four. 


Invest in your friends that invest in you. Sally is the wifey of one of my college buddies. We've been friends on Facebook for a while. It was when I would begin my own dark journey that I saw she was killing it with her first book. I don't know what it was but something told me to reach out to her, to let her know that I was watching, cheering her on and so so proud of the work she was doing. That would spark our friendship, eventually lead her to being my life coach, and then now sometimes we'll chat and I'll end up giving her little nuggets of advice about her biz. Sally is a super woman. She's a wifey, momma, office manager, best-selling author, life coach, public speaker & a stand up comic. I don't know how she does it all and then still manages to put herself together and have all the pretties.

Follow her on Instagram to watch her grow. She'll have you laughing almost daily!

Five. 


Today is National Sushi Day! & I'm really wanting sushi for dinner.

Where is your favorite place to grab sushi?

I signed up to be a Tupperware consultant & I have been having a blast with it. This is not your grandma's Tupperware but it does have the same quality and all the amazing warranty policies!

If you don't already have a consultant :
Shop Online Here,
Be a part of my private FB group here where I share special deals you can't find anywhere else.

I've already hosted two parties and helped others gain lots of freebies and half price items & I currently have two parties running.

I'm hoping that this side hustle is just what I've been looking for. I'm no stranger to MLMs but this one feels like home. 

If you need anything please let me know. I do all the work for you, whether you're ordering or you're hosting a party.

Until next time, XO
Cel

My parents graduated last week from the Dickinson Police Department Citizen's Police Academy (DCPA) and I couldn't be more proud. I loved seeing their friends show up and support them. This was a big deal. They're well known in their community and I'm happy to see them become a bigger more engaged part of it. They even joined the alumni organization!

Of course, everyone is asking when I'm going to do it, but that's about a 50mi + commute for me to attend a class mid-week! We will see. Maybe I'll join one that is local to my current community.

Two. 


You've been hearing about #Spurs lately, and now you finally get to see him. ;) Next week you'll get to "meet" him. This guy had the best weekend planned for us. I really wish I would have taken more photos. Since we will be spending more time in each other's cities I was thinking about doing little series covering the places that we pick to explore and show off our cities...

Friday evening he took me to Hotel Emma which is stunning! They have a beautiful library inside along with a gorgeous bar, which has a large whiskey selection. If you like the glam industrial vibe, you need to visit.

Afterwards we went to La Gloria for margaritas, I mean dinner... & I'm pretty sure I stopped listening after margaritas but the outdoor area was so pretty. Like heart eyes pretty & the evening wasn't too humid. The food was delish & I needed a friend to come help me finish my margarita!

Three. 


I'm a sucker for graffiti/colorful walls and the next place he took me to has the famous I love you tacos so much wall!!!!! Eep!

Four. 


Saturday we went to the Japanese Gardens, which is so so so pretty! Then we headed off to the San Antonio Botanical Garden where they had a whole area of nothing but cacti and an entire walking trail of cacti. I was in heaven! I'm pretty sure we explored every trail they had, we almost died of allergies in one area and we were so exhausted by the end of the day.

Five. 


On Wednesday I was surprised with a special delivery to my office. I've never received just because flowers before. They're so pretty and smell amazing! I also had chocolates and bath stuff. I'm becoming so spoiled!

One last thing! I'm hosting an online Tupperware party. I lurve containers and all things kitchen, so I thought I would share with my friends too. If you're interested in joining, click here. The group is private so nothing will show up in your timeline. :) 

See y'all next week! Enjoy the long weekend!

xo,
Cel

I sat down one evening this past week and gave myself an at home mani/pedi. It was so relaxing. I recently got into watching How To Get Away With Murder, oh my goodness that show is crazy! I love it! So I had a little girls night in for one! I'm in love with Jamberry's Lacquers, this one went on super thick and smooth. Sometimes with white polishes I've needed three coats and I only needed two here. Yippee! Link to this color here.

Two. 


I've been in a little funk lately, so an empty gym this past week was exactly what I needed! The only thing my gym is missing is a bike. I can't stand treadmills or ellipticals.

Three. 


I visited my parents last weekend, #Spurs came with & so far he's passed the parental test. I came back home with a dozen eggs from their chickens and I only have two left! Eep! If you're local to my hometown area and want fresh farm eggs let me know and I'll get you in contact with my Mom.

Four. 


I'm still enjoying the heck out of my balcony time. Now that the weather has warmed up I've noticed a couple ladies have been pool side reading when I get home. I thought about joining them, but the introvert in me likes the solitude I get from my balcony! Ha!

Five. 


My parents gifted me a cow last weekend, Oreo. Then before I even got to meet her traded her for a more valuable cow. *Sigh* That's the cattle biz I guess.

I'm headed off to San Antonio for the weekend & #Spurs has surprise plans for the weekend! He's told me what to wear and to leave the rest up to him. If you know me and how much I plan, then you'll know that this is actually kinda nice, and I could get a little spoiled with him planning things!

Have a wonderful weekend & I'll see ya here next week!

xo,
Cel

My tailgating crew is planning a summer get-together for next month and I'm sooo excited! This group has stuck by my side over the last 18 months and gave me an outlet to just be! If you're in Houston, a fan of the University of Houston Cougars & looking for a group to have a good time with let me know, we would love to have you come tailgate with us this next season!

Two. 


When I moved into my new place I didn't realize with taller ceilings you would need things like longer shower curtains. My old ones were hilarious to try to shower with. I'm surprised I didn't have a puddle of water on the ground each day. Oh well, it gave me a reason to order a cacti shower curtain and I'm SO in love with it! I'm obsessed with cacti and I'm trying real hard not to order all the cacti things for my place.


Three.

I'm currently reading The Nice Girl Syndrome by Beverly Engle. This book was recommended to me by my therapist after learning all the details of my marriage/divorce, my "relationship" with #CarGuy and my dating adventures with #DrummerBoy.

To be honest, I never considered myself a nice girl. My ex-husband used to always call me a b*tch anytime I spoke up for myself, other women, or expressed a different view point. So, eventually I believed it.

At the beginning of this book she has a list of about 20 questions to see if this book is for you. I answered yes to nearly all of them. Heartbreaking.

This has been a slow read for me because there are some chapters that it seems as if she is talking directly to me. The description of the person or the situation was horrifyingly similar.

Working on myself has been wonderful and I will continue to do it for the rest of my life, but boy oh boy I tell ya sometimes it is hard to stare the things you need to work on straight in the face!

Four. 



I snagged these shoes at Five Below to wear on a date with #Spurs to Six Flags San Antonio. (You first heard about him here.) Let me tell ya, these shoes were a hit! I had so many people stop to ask me where I got my shoes! & to think I almost didn't snag them because I really wanted cacti shoes! Now I want all the pineapple things too!

Five. 


2017 was a year I laid low. I allowed myself to heal, and slowly rediscover myself. One thing that never changed was my desire to travel. Last November I decided I was done waiting to experience life with someone and I was going to live life for myself. I contacted my girls who live in Jersey and NY, looked at Southwest's low fares calendar and booked myself a vacation to go to the city I dreamed of visiting since I was a little girl! I'll have a full post coming up about my experience next week!

Cheers to the weekend, I'm counting down the hours until #Spurs gets into town tonight!

xo,
Cel

Happy Happy Friday!

Well, I meant to finish up a couple blog posts this week but that didn't happen. I need to work on managing my personal time better. But some days I really do just love laying on my floor, listening to music and cuddling my furbabe!

I did get this post together so we will call it a blogging win!





Torchy's, girl talk, and a little retail therapy solves everything. Ok, maybe it doesn't solve everything but it definitely calms the nerves. If you don't know about the Mad Cow taco from Torchy's secret menu, order it next time you're there! SO good and of course you need The Lorena to wash it all down.

Monday was a day. From someone I was dating suddenly popping back up thinking everything was the same as before after not speaking to me for weeks, to the ATT installation technician being creepy AF and texting me his personal number at the end of the visit after telling me all about his fiance and their upcoming wedding.

If there are any guys reading this:

• If you're engaged or in a serious relationship, it is not okay for you to give some chick your number because you want to hang out with her. This has nothing to do with jealousy, it's respect. 
• If you're interested in/dating a girl, let it be known, don't go silent for weeks at a time. It is not our job to chase you. Call me old fashioned, but this girl & my single girls don't chase.

Two. 


I think I am getting used to this hair and growing into it. I still don't recognize my own reflection though. I put on makeup for the second time this past week since December! Eyelash extensions make me feel completely put together and my skincare routine using my Lush products usually keeps my skin blemish free, soft and glowy.

Three. 



I did my first TruShine Gel manicure at home over the weekend & I lurve it! I'm excited to be saving money from not going to the salon as much. It was $100 (with tip) each time I visited and manicures lasted between 2-3wks. If you'd like to order your own chat with me first, I can help you get 15% off your orders!

Four. 


I've worked out 9 days straight and y'all I feel great! I think I'm back on my own workout wagon! & I'm doing it all straight from my living room, unless I want to be a little social and then I hit the gym. But most days I just love being in my own home. Let me know if you'd like to join me. I like a little motivation or friendly challenge!

Five. 


Be on the lookout for some financial, money saving/money earning tips coming soon! I'm definitely no expert, but I've rebuilt my life from the ground up twice now & I want to share a couple things with you that cost you no time or money to earn little bucks here and there. :)

xo,
Cel

I chopped my hair. Again. I can't decide if I like it or not. I will tell  you that whom ever said short hair was less maintenance lied. When I had extra long hair I could pull off a messy look in about two seconds. If you have any tips for styling short hair, send them my way. This girl is lost. This is the shortest I've ever had my hair.

All I needed was an inch or so chopped because I burned my hair while listening to a podcast. I mean, I wasn't expecting the woman to say "It's like when a man respects you too much, the sex is boring. DON'T RESPECT ME IN THE BEDROOM!" ... it was a podcast about creativity! I'm lucky I didn't have coffee in my mouth. That would have been sprayed everywhere. Anyway, I asked my friends for their opinion on my hair cut and then while sitting in the chair figured we would go a little wild and just chop it all off!

I can't see myself keeping my hair short, but only time will tell!

Two. 


I received my Unity Bracelet in that I ordered from my friend and I love it so much! It's so dainty and pairs well with my Apple Watch + pretty much anything that I wear. The best part about this bracelet is that all net proceeds will be donated to the HollyRod foundation, a foundation dedicated to providing care and research for those living with Autism and their families. If you want to order one for yourself the direct link is here. My friend has a goal to sell 50 & they're only $19! 

Three. 



I went on a first date this weekend & had an amazing time. With a guy. Who drove in from San Antonio to meet me. Bought us tickets to the Astros vs Rangers game. Took me out for pizza after. Stayed sober & stayed up until 4am chatting away with me. He also came with a gift that he made for me that's 100% me! 



I have a blog post brewing on what will land you a 0.01% chance of getting a first date with me. I seriously can't even with some men.

Four. 



Now that I'm all settled in to my place and I don't have anymore sickies I've been managing to head down to my parent's place at least once a week! It's been refreshing and feels like a little get-away from the city. I love catching up with them. I've noticed, not only have I grown over the last 18 months, they have too. Both as a couple, parents and individuals. 

Five. 


Since moving my friends have asked me if I have checked out the local night life. The answer is no. I'm only about 15mins from my office and everything I need is within 20mins of me. I've really been enjoying being home & not being completely exhausted from my day because of my ridiculous commute. I've been able to nest, cook, clean, and do my laundry at my leisure AND have down time in the evenings whether it is sitting out on my balcony or cuddled up with my furbabe watching a TV show before getting some rest.

I've also been able to spend time with my work family some evenings, so I guess I have explored a little night life. 


In selecting my apartment, I made sure I got everything I could possibly want. I knew I wanted to spend a lot of time just being home. Once I have a few more things on the walls, and a couple more pieces of furniture I'll do a little home tour for you. For now you can follow me on IG stories or SnapChat (Cel.Ybarra) to get glimpses.


xo,
Cel