Hello! My name is… Imelda Bettinger

Wife, Mom, Computer Geek, Wannabe Photographer

2009 LEGO City Advent Calendar

Posted on | December 24, 2009 | 3 Comments

Mason and his Lego Advent Calendar

This Christmas we are going to do a 2009 LEGO City Advent Calendar. Mason has started to like Legos and thought this would be a fun way to teach him about Christmas.

Will post a photo daily.

Well the post daily didn’t happen, because life happens but here is the completed set!

2009 LEGO City Advent Calendar Mosaic


Mason LOVED this way of working up to Christmas! Thanks to all who enjoyed playing along with us. Merry Christmas!

Category: Close to Home, Photos
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Merry Christmas from Mason and Santa

Posted on | December 21, 2009 | No Comments

Merry Christmas from Mason and Santa

Merry Christmas from Mason and Santa, originally uploaded by .imelda.


Category: This and That

Best of 2009: New Food

Posted on | December 12, 2009 | No Comments

Jake's Onion Rings

My best food find of 2009? Easy, the onion rings from Jake’s Grill in Pearland, Texas. Even if you don’t like onion rings, try them.

I was never a fan of onion rings but would steal one of Matt’s here or there. This year, not sure if it was me being pregnant, but something came over me and I fell in love with these onion rings. I ate them more than I want to admit.

When my mother-in-law told me that these were the best onion rings she had eaten in 30 years, that kind of made me realize how good they must be. I didn’t have anything to compare them to.

I did try onion rings at a place I don’t want to name, and they were horrible. Take me back across the street to Jake’s and fast!

If you are in the Houston area, I totally recommend a quick trip down 288 to Pearland to try them for yourself.

Category: Best of...
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LEGO House 6754

Posted on | December 11, 2009 | No Comments

LEGO House 6754

Who says only dads get to have fun with LEGOs and their sons? Not me!

We took Mason to the LEGO store for the first time Wednesday night and we had a blast. We were up so late that night, he stayed home from school the next day. All we did Thursday was play LEGOs while staying in our pajamas. Here’s the finished project.

If you view the photo set on Flickr, you might think Mason wasn’t involved and that I did this all by myself. He did help but I am that much of a LEGO geek that I would totally play LEGOs all on my own. :)

Can’t wait to build more. I hear Santa is bringing us more LEGOs!


Category: This and That
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Best of 2009: Place

Posted on | December 11, 2009 | No Comments

I am participating in Gwen Bell’s The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge. December 10th, Gwen asks what was the best place of 2009? A coffee shop? A pub? A retreat center? A cubicle? A nook?

The best place I visited in 2009? Was it Estes Park, CO? I was there for the first time this past July and it was just beautiful. The whole Rocky Mountain National Park, and Colorado for that matter, just moved me. But no, that wasn’t it.

Aerial Tram in Estes Park


Was it one of my favorite local hangouts, Coffee Groundz? JR Cohen sure makes this coffee shop & full service bar inviting to the entire Houston tech community and beyond. I first discovered the shop soon after relocating my office to downtown Houston. I began following them on twitter in August 2008 and did my best to help spread the word about this fantastic place that even sells gelato! I can go anytime and run into a friend or meet a new one; its the closest thing to Cheers I’ve found. But no, that’s not it either.

Coffee Groundz on Twitter & Facebook



My best place of 2009 was the Women’s Hospital of Texas! Yep! It sure was! They serve excellent catfish, but its my top choice for 2009 because that’s where I met my son, Jack! Welcome to the family buddy!

Imelda and Jack


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