Christmas 2011

December was filled with a jam-packed schedule, but I would not have had it any other way. Currently I work at Groupon, and Matt and I decided to attend the annual holiday party. This was NOT your typical holiday party, it felt much more like a concert. There must have been 1500 people there! Seriously, it was one of the more...no MOST, intense holiday parties I have ever been to. If there is one thing I have learned while working at Groupon, it is that they really like to party.


We also decided to celebrate Matt being done with his first semester at business school by going to dinner at Spiaggia. It was really nice just to sit down and talk, because I literally did not see him for 2 weeks because he was studying so much. I know that school has been really hard for him and it is easy for him to doubt himself, but I just have to remind him that this is God's plan for us and that it will pay off in the long run.


On the 21st, we made the 14 and a half hour drive to Dallas from Chicago. We wanted to bring both of our dogs, but since our Lab cannot fly due to the temperatures on the ground, we had to drive. It really is not that bad at all. It was SO nice being home for that long. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at my husband's house and then went to Sugar Land that night. We were so blessed with many gifts this year, but honestly just being at home was the biggest blessing this year! This year was also really special because my parents just finished building their house and we ALL slept their that night and had our first Christmas together in the new house. During our stay, I got to see some of my best girls friends in Dallas, see two new sweet additions (Aubrey and Barrett - both babies were just precious) and see Emily before she becomes Mrs. Davis. On the 1st, we headed back to Chicago. It was sad to go, but I will be back in 2 weeks for my sister's bid day at SMU, so I can't really complain.

Matt and I on Christmas Eve. Since, we were at his parents, so someone had to carry on the tradition of Christmas Pjs since we were not in Sugar Land.

Birthday Celebration

Happy New Year! I cannot believe it is 2012. Wow, it seems like just yesterday I was in high school;) Time sure does fly. Actually, if you told me I would be living in Chicago 10 years from now, I would have told you you were crazy. But nevertheless, we are here and it is 2012!! I have not decided on any resolutions, but I am sure that I could name at least 20 things that I would like to work on;)


On Dec. 20th, I turned 28 and my husband made sure it was extra special. Since we drove back to Dallas on the the 21st, we (he) decided we would celebrate the Saturday before. He had the whole day planned. I woke up to him making a southern style breakfast (chicken and waffles). Later, he took me to a place called Q. It is the equivalent to Tillman's, if you are from Dallas (an upscale bbq place). He was really trying to get the whole southern theme going since we no longer live in the south. After dinner, he took me to Second City. This is an old improv club that has found people like Jim Belushi, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Steve Carroll and many more! It was HILARIOUS!!! If you are ever traveling this way, you must go!


On my actual birthday, I had to work, but came home to a dinner (my fav. salad from N9ne), presents and some cupcakes (from Magnolia Bakery; the place that is on Sex and The City). He really did spoil me this year, which was not needed, but obviously very appreciated! Thanks Matt for such an awesome birthday!!

Merry Christmas

We are all packed up and making our drive back to Texas tomorrow! It is going to be a long drive, but I am sure we will make it fun:) But, before we leave and hit the road, we wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. To my sweet family and friends who will be in Dallas or Houston, I can't wait to see you all soon!

XOXO,

Tiff

Thanksgiving and Christmas Happenings

I am obviously not very good at blogging...but you know, I try:) Over Thanksgiving, we flew back to Houston and it was the first time we ever flew with a dog. Honestly, I thought it was going to be much worse, but Bentlie Belle was a perfect little angel! Let me back up, I thought it was going to be a disaster because a week before we flew out, she ate 15 multi-vitamins. Seriously, you would think we don't feed the dog! But seriously, she pulled a tote down from a chair and chewed threw the bottle and then ate 15 vitamins...they do not even taste good. So, we had to go to the emergency vet - where we sat for 4 hours and she threw up all over Matt and the entire waiting room (he was thrilled, especially since he had to get up in 4 hours for a case competition!). So with that prior episode in the back of our minds, we were not really looking forward to the airplane ride. However, before the ride, we gave her a little Benadryl and she was good to go! She only whined for less that two minutes right when we put her under the seat and the rest of the ride she was as quiet as a mouse!

Bentlie Belle waiting in the airport
Bentlie Belle about to get zipped in! *Look at the the fear in her face*
She made it!!

Our trip to Houston was great! We got to spend time at Matt's grandmother's house. They have been doing Thanksgiving there for many many years, so it is always nice to see everyone! Later, we had Thanksgiving with my immediate family. As many of you are aware, my parents are building a house and trying to sell theirs, so my mom was not so keen on cooking. Instead, we had a catered Thanksgiving dinner and it was actually quite nice! Hopefully, we will be in the new house for Christmas...but you just never know. No one is holding their breath:)

When we go back to Chicago, we got our Christmas decorations and put them up (well we delayed a couple days, but you catch my drift). I really did not want to too many decorations because we are driving back to Dallas on the 21st or 22nd and we will not be back until the 2nd! So, I just elected to do a tree and a few things. This year, I FINALLY made a decent top! I was actually impressed with myself! It is really nice to get into the holiday spirit and have a tree up in our condo.

This past weekend Matt and I went on a date and we decided to stop through Millennium Park. We have lived in Chicago for 4 months now and have yet to see the bean! So, we took some pictures of it and sipped on hot chocolate while watching people ice skate in the park.


Now I am off to do some Christmas shopping!

IPO and City Life

On Friday, Groupon went public. While I have no stock in the company, it was a pretty cool experience to be apart of a company that went public. They kicked off the morning bright and early with champagne and cake to celebrate the day!


Needless to say after champagne and cake, productivity around the office on Friday diminished quickly. So, why not bring in Donatello's hands from The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...!!! WHAT! Apparently, our COO of North America was Donatello from TMNT. I don't know about y'all, but I was a huge fan of that movie! Check out those hands...they have a presidential seal too (although I am not sure why?)!


So, a while ago we had a little taste of Texas in Chicago. We went to Pat Green at Joe's and I finally got to bust out my boots in Chi town. They might be a little aggressive for Chicago...but who cares...I am a Texas girl and I love them!

We also finally went to Navy Pier...it was not the experience I was looking for...but at least we went. We did not ride any rides, nor did we play any games or buy anything...BUT, we can now say that we have been to Navy Pier; I guess...

Lastly, I just had to throw these in here. We obviously LOVE our dogs, but the other evening they were both sleeping in the most awkward positions.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Good Night Y'all!

Tiff

Updates - too many for one title

It has been quite a while since I have last posted a blog, but to be quite honest I have been rather busy with my new job and schedule. However, I have still managed to have some fun. About a month ago, I went to Houston to celebrate my one of my best friends Lauren Drapp and her sweet baby Aubrey at her baby shower! I had so much fun getting to catch up with her and ask her about her pregnancy. Check out all of her fun pics here.

The very next weekend, I had a quite a change of pace and went to celebrate another of my dear friends, Emily Holland, for her bachelorette party in New Orleans. We had the best time! While I got there really late on Friday night and had missed all of the daytime fun, we stayed up late chit chatting and catching up! Saturday night we went out and partied with the soon to be Mrs. Tim Davis. The whole trip was awesome...the only thing that could have made it better was a stop at Cafe Du Monde!

October came and went fast but we did finish off the month with decorating some pumpkins for Halloween!

Bentlie Belle also participated in Halloween with some booows. She is not one for costumes!

These pumpkins lead perfectly into my next update...SMU Homecoming. This year was our 5 year reunion. We flew in to Dallas last weekend and did not rest until Sunday night. Friday night, we went to our friend Leo's new house for his birthda, and then I left to go have some dinner with girlfriends at Javiers. If you are ever in Dallas, you must GO! I love Javiers! It was so great getting to see all of my Dallas friends. I have really missed all of my friends and living in Dallas so much. Later that night, like usual, everyone was re-living the glory days at the local SMU hangouts Barley House and Home Bar. It is so fun to act like a college kid again!

Saturday, was the day of the game. Although, SMU football does not get that many fans in the game (which is something that drives me crazy!) they ALWAYS get tons of people on the boulevard. The boulevard is very similar to The Grove at Ole Miss, if you are not sure what it is. As students, and as residents of Dallas, we always went to tailgate, so this Saturday was no different....except, that my little sister Maddi is now an SMU cheerleader - following in her big sister's foot steps:) I loved getting to watch her walk in the parade and cheer. It was also great to see some of my family that day as well! To top off the weekend though was LSU beating bama. Wow, what a game, and and even more awesome ending! Geaux Tigers! Enjoy some pics from the weekend.

Tailgate

Maddi walking the boulevard



Lauren, Julie, Me

So good to see Jen!


The Fam

Have a great week!
Tiff

First Days - Pony Up!

In the Slataper household these past two weeks have been filled with "first days." As you know, Matt started University of Chicago Booth business school (which I am very proud of, it has been ranked the #1 business school in the country two times in the past five years...toot toot;) two and a half weeks ago, but his first day of school was not until last Monday. So far, he is LOVING his classes. He is really being challenged by his peers and his professors and I know that was something that he had been looking forward to for a while. So before his first day I, of course, took his picture. Here is my handsome hubby on his first day! He is just too cute!

So, after Matt had a successful first day, it was now on to my first day at my new job. Today, I started a new position with Groupon. I am sure you are all well aware of what Groupon is, but if you are not you should definitely check it out! I started a position that is titled merchant services training associate...I finally found out what my title would be today! I had training today and met in the front office, which is pictured below. It was very vibrant!
I think that this new position is going to be a lot of fun and since the company is still a "start-up" there is plenty of room to shape the position and make it my own. It is completely different from teaching, but I guess the position does entail all of my prior positions. I will be in a coaching role (using my counseling degree), training (using my teaching background), and developing some communications pieces (using my former marketing job at Match.com and my prior English teacher skills). Now that we are both getting settled into our new roles, it is definitely making Chicago feel a little more permanent and more like home.


OH, and OF COURSE before I forget. Last weekend was a great weekend for the SMU Mustangs! I could not be more proud of our team for beating the horned frogs in overtime! I must say that June Jones is worth every penny those boosters are giving him:) I am so proud to be an SMU alum and I am even prouder that my little sis is a freshman there too! Pony up!


XO,
Tiff