April: Defensiveness

Houston Chronicle

April things really started picking up at the Caroline Collective, a coworking space in Houston that I was asked to help open with Matthew Wettergreen and Ned Dodington. The media really started pick up on what we were doing, so lots of photo shoots, interviews, and tours went on in April. Matt and I stayed up all night customizing a WordPress template, which eventually turned into the current Caroline site. I understand now how programmers can work for hours and hours at a time. Addicting! Taught myself some CSS in the process. Now I’m hooked. :-)

April was also the month that Matthew defended his 7 year long thesis at Rice University. I was glad to be there to share in this moment with him, and to celebrate this awesome accomplishment.  Afterward, he, Ned, Michelle and I headed for the Son Volt show at The Continental Club, a spectacular set by those guys, a perfect end to a great day.

Guy Kawasaki at HTC

Web 2.0 guru Guy Kawasaki also visitied Houston in April. After meeting some super talented H-town ladies at SXSW, he couldn’t keep himself from finding out what was in the water in Houston. He shared many principles of success, one that particularly stood out for me: Don’t Be Afraid to Polorize People. With success, will come negative and positive attitudes. A lesson I learned a lot about this year.

May: Mergers & Misunderstandings

Migs + John Volunteering at the Art Car Parade

As summer approached, May was filled with parties:  Art Car Parade, my first Derby Party (thanks to Bill and Angela Green!), and my very first introduction to Sarah Gabbart and her crafting lounge, Sew Crafty Houston. | full Sew Crafty Set.

I also learned in May that my company was being acquired by Halliburton. A shock to us all, but a change that has so far worked out wonderfully in my favor. I’m excited about the new role I hold there, and am looking forward to help take Halliburton into the world of Web 2.0!

May was a tough month emotionally, as the opening of Caroline grew closer, as did stress surrounding the opening party, balancing personal and professional lives, and strained friendships. I ONLY got though that month because of the awesome support of ma peeps and this awesome community in Houston. And to that I am ever thankful to you all.

Sew crafty, originally uploaded by CosmoPolitician.

Last night, to celebrate Tiff’s bday, we headed to Sew Crafty Houston, a new boutique craft lounge in the Heights. We had a blast learning to embroider and sipping crafty cocktails.

After the lesson, we headed back to Tiff and Jason’s where Jason had friends and family surprise TIffany for her birthday. It was a magical night, with some of my most favorite people!

Happy Bday Tiff!!

Check out all of Sew Crafty’s awesome classes here: www.sewcraftyhouston.com

They are located at 3210 6th/White Oak, just near Onion Creek.

Sara is awesome! I’m looking forward to going back to purchase some skirt and dress patterns.

More pics from the adorable preggers Kim Lange (inkoluv) here: www.flickr.com/photos/inkoluv/sets/72157605223653045/