Deep In The Heart of Texas

Last week I ventured down to the one and only Dallas, TX for the Mended Little Hearts national convention. Travelling sans baby and husband was much easier, but it also made for a looooonnngggg flight. I'm pretty sure it took about 19 hours to get to Fort Worth International from SFO (ok so it was only 4). Anyways, I was quite nervous to leave my guys for four days, but once I got to Dallas and realized how busy we were going to be over the next few days (and nights), I was able to relax and focus on all the awesome new people I was going to meet and of course lots of leadership training for MLH.

The training was great. I learned so much about the organization, and about Congenital Heart Defects. Did you know that more children die each year from a CHD, than from all forms of childhood cancers combined? And about 1 in 110 babies are born with a CHD? Pretty scary stuff. As sad as these facts are, it is so great to be a part of a group that is working so hard to spread awareness, advocacy and support for this extremely worthy cause. 

It was kind of surreal for me to be among so many "heart moms". Being a CHD survivor myself, I loved hearing everyone's stories, and being able to tell mine. Some stories were happy, some were heartbreaking, but all were powerful and inspiring. 

It wasn't all business though. Remember, most of the participants of the convention are busy moms and wives, and being away from home/husbands/kids meant it was time to blow off some steam and let a little loose! After the meetings were done each day it was time to hit the town, Dallas style! We enjoyed delicious BBQ at Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse, went (mechanical) bull riding at Trophy Room, experienced some real cowboy line dancing at Cowboys Red River, and somewhere along the way we were able to get our own limo driver for the weekend! xxoo

Our Mended Hearts logo in the lobby of the Hyatt, Dallas                                                                                                                                                                                              

Me and our Silicon Valley lead coordinator, Andrea

That's a nice pair of hooters! - Outside of Hooters in Dallas      

Just a few of the awesome ladies I met. I'm already excited to see them all again  next year!

With our limo driver, Coley and the stretch Hummer limo!

In Recovery

I think I'm getting sick right now :( I woke up an HOUR late for work this morning (as in, I'm supposed to be in at 8 and I woke up at 9)... Then when I got here I realized I'm not feeling well.. Not sure if I'm coming down with something, or it's just Vegas and everything else catching up to me, but either way I'm not feelin so hot today... Speaking of Vegas, I am going to be posting a blog dedicated to our trip very soon, I promise. I'm just waiting to get some more pics. For now I will just say that I am loosing my voice, I am exhausted, achy, and probably still a little hungover.... And I had a GREAT time... "Totally worth it"!! Hehehe

Well, the wedding is only about 10 days away. I can't believe it. In a weird way, I don't want it to come, because then I won't be a bride anymore! Haha... But I am very excited. I'm stressed out, but there aren't many things I actually have to DO at this point. Last night I made a cute box for people to put cards in for us... I bought a round card board box that looks like a hat box, and painted it navy blue and then decorated the top with these really cute pearls. It turned out pretty good! I love being crafty :)

Tomorrow night we're heading to Berkeley for a meeting at the Berkeley City Club (reception hall), and on Thursday we have a meeting with the photographer. Thursday is also Jose's 28th birthday!!! Watch for a special blog dedicated to him... I've got something very cute up my sleeve ♥

XOXO,
Nikki