Week 3 - Pull off the 3 Pointer at the buzzer on TGIF

Happy Friday, the Texas Princess needs a little love after a hard week. Take her lunch from her favorite spot, go a little further and grab flowers and a balloon. Start the weekend off with her in a good mood, you'll be happy you did. Short, simple but it shows you do care.

Extra Points: Three pointer at the end of the week buzzer, off the HEB, around the Arby's, through the drive through, nuthing but love with the drop off at her work... Allow the front desk to call her down for the surprise.

Summary Tip Week#3: Bring her Lunch, Flowers and a Balloon on Friday! (The Texas Trifecta - A safe bet)

"Well I went down to the Hays County Auction
Where I saw something I just had to have
My mind told me I should proceed with caution
But my heart said, "Go ahead an' make a bid on that!"

An' I said, hey, pretty lady, won'cha gi'me a sign
I'd give anything to make you mine all mine
I'll do your biddin' an' be at your beckon call
Yeah, I never seen anyone lookin' so fine
Man, I gotta have her, she's a one-of-a-kind
I'm goin' once, goin' twice,
I'm sold! On the lady in the third grade row
She's an eight, she's a nine, she's a ten, I know
She's got ruby red lips, brown/pink hair, brown eyes
An' I'm about to bid my heart good-bye!"

Dont be scared....

Reward: I almost forgot, one of my favorites, New Belgium - Ranger IPA

How to keep a Texas Princess. Week 2 - She needs a Closet!

Every Texas Princess needs a place to get away, put clothes, makeup, hair, and the works. Find an area of the house your not using (typically storage) send her and the kids on a trip back home or to see relatives for 4 days and let the master plan unfold. I have seen enough Extreme Home Makeover and painfully forced to watch Housewives of Crazy Counties to know that Pink, Black, and Zebra just might work. This one get's major points and when orchestrated such that Amazon.com can deliver all the items within the 4 day trip window and be installed. It should be a complete suprise, down to the new door handle and pink key and lock. No contractors, 100% DIY. She won't know what hit her.

Extra Points: This is another one of those go big or go home challenges. Your extra points are that the early morning hair dryer and light in the master bedroom/bathroom area are no longer used prior to 6am. Ah, a little extra sleep.

Summary Tip Week#2: Give her a worldclass closet that knocks her socks off.

This also has a video tour to help better show the results.




We'll be moving to weekly posts starting this week to allow real life to exist.

How to keep a Texas Princess.... Day 7 - What is "Birthday Month"?

So March is a "Special" month for all, It's the Princess' Birthday Month. This year somehow it went from Birthday Week to Month... I think I created Birthday week sometime over the last 14 years... I remember one year where I delivered roses in increasing increments over a full week... Ok, so I did it. I'll fess up.

This is the celebration of her birthday. For some, a day is good, for us it's takes a full moon cycle to suffice, but she's worth it 100%. Guys go the extra mile. This year we did a happy hour at the house with the whole crew but with a few surprises.

Make her something that's unique and only for her.
Custom made wine (Note: this is a 3 month ahead of time planning event)
Austin Homebrew has some great easy to DIY white wine packages. Go for it or get Water to Wine to help you.

White Mezza Luna - Ginger Raz 40

Step it up, and make the party memorable with a Say Cheese - Photo Booth

Extra Points: for going big or going home. I added a small amount of red food coloring and put this wine on Tap at 30PSI in a mini 3 gallon homebrew keg, Yes! Pink Sparkling Wine, Oh yes, I did. This was her 2nd anniversery of her 20th birthday... more on that later.

Summary Tip #7: Give her a Birthday Month rather than a single day...










Another Big Reward: Build yourself a kegerator, maybe with two taps like this...

How to keep a Texas Princess.... Day 6 - The Dreaded Dishes Discussion

No, Say it isn't so!!! Nobody wants to want to do dishes.
It is with great certianty the worst job on the planet. It's threatening and against every ounce of my man being that I even suggesting such an act. Think only of the smile she will have, rather than the reward... (Or if you must a little of both.)

Extra Points: for actaully adding dish soap and starting the dish washer rather than just putting them in that damn thing.

Summary Tip #6: Do the dishes before she gets home...

Before:

After:

click here - Soundgarden:

"Black hole sun
Won't you come
And wash away the" PAIN!

Biggest Reward to date: Sign up for the Beer T-Shirt of the Month Club - http://www.beertshirtclub.com/

Sample T-Shirt I got in the mail today

Day 5 - Adventures to the Kitchen, Time to make dinner...

Dinner Time! Guys jump into that far off foriegn location in your own house called the kitchen. Where I grew up, if you wanted to eat, many times you had to fix your own food. My family was non-stop active, my brother and I played sports, my mom played softball, soccer and tennis, and Dad coached. It was a means of survival that we had to learn to cook. Treat your princess to a cook free Sunday night, so she can get her things together for the big week ahead.

It's so much easier now, as there are many easy to fix recipes and ideas on TV and great websites. Here are a few:

-Texas Cooking
-Austin Farm to Table
-AllRecipes (Texas)
-Texas Montly Food
-Edible Austin Recipes
-Texas BBQ King

Extra Points: You get instant bonus points for attempting this one. Bring your family together, ask over her sister, the grandparents (if they are close), or the neighbors; start a new Sunday dinner tradition that will last for years to come. Start your own Chopped challenge.

Summary Tip #5: It's guys night to make family dinner...

Tonight we're making Tex Mex chicken stuffed pobano peppers.

Ingredient List:
-Couple of Chicken breasts, (cut small)
-Olive Oil
-Poblano Peppers (one for each person)
-Colby Jack or Moterrey Jack Cheese (shredded)
-Lemon & Lime Juice
-Garlic (Chopped)
-Can of Corn or Homony
-Onion white and some green ones
-Some Sour Cream
-Spices (Cumin, Salt, Pepper, Smoked Paprika, Cayenne)

Cut Chicken add some Limon juice (just a tad or Limon Zest)

Assemble Homony, Onions (White and Green)

Cut and clean out the Poblano Peppers

NOTE: When adding Cayenne, do not touch finger to eye - Like i just did! Ouch...

Cook Chicken then remove from pan, cook all the veggies, add chicken back in with spices (dash of this and that), add the cheese until it's a big gooey mess! Stuff those Poblano Peppers with the mess, pop into a pan and over at 375 degrees for 25-30 mins.

Add some rice, dress it up a little bit and Eat with the whole family!

The much needed reward: Craft Jalapeno Pilsner - Oh so good!

Day 4 - Knowing when to just listen...

This is by far the toughest task to date and one I still struggle with. Men and women are wired differently. Guys are by nature trouble shooters (and sometimes trouble makers) and "fixers". We see something broken or in need of fixing and we try to fix it.

-a burnt out light bulb, new light bulb screw it in
-a broken toy, superglue and move on
-a flat tire, replace with spare an drive on
-a screw loose, tighten it (yes, we have lots of these)

Simple right? No, what I have learned girls aren't like that. Sometimes they just want you to listen to their situation, be understanding, not speak; yet just allow them to vent. I know, I fail at this often, but am really trying harder. Knowing when this time arises is the hardest part. So guys, when she comes home flustered, upset, and red faced... slow it down and just hear her out.... nod your head yes in agreement and dont try to "fix" anything.

Extra Points: As she's coming down off the episode, begin pouring her a glass of her favorite wine, or tell her that today, you'll finish the dishes and go turn on Housewives of some far off County; let her unwind a bit, it will help you in the long run.

Summary Tip #4: Listen and don't try to fix it....

Big Reward for this one:

A growler of your favorite local craft brew - today's recomdenation 512 Brewing Co. - Black IPA, found at the Whip In just south of downtown Austin TX on I-35, well done....

Day 3 - She's running late, It starts early with a quick breakfast...

WHAT IT'S 7AM !!!
It's a kid scramble, lunches, shoes, socks, keys, purse, a real Texas Tornado...   move it. move it. She's got no time for breakfast....  Light blub!   Make her a quick Olive oil, Egg White and Ham lil breakfast samwich, and out the door......  

My daughter stops for a second "Daddy it's raining backpacks - April Fools" - what a stinker.

Extra Points:  Comment on how the extra time on the hair today really turned out sexy; and those jeans are curving in all the right ways, TGIF....

Summary Tip #2:   Make her a quick breakfast when she's running late....

Hot pan, little olive oil (no popeye), thrown in the ham, couple egg whites,
3 min's with a toasted bun and your done

Have a great Friday....