“Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called "walking."” - George W. Bush



Happy Independence Day TEXAS!!

Lone Star Weekend

Last Friday after worked I hopped a plane to Dallas and was greeted by my wonderful friend Stephanie who I first lived with in Dallas. We both moved from Lubbock to Dallas and were roomies for the first few years. I. Just. Love. Her. She stood beside me on my wedding day - friends don't get any better than that! Steph was just getting off her night shift at the hospital in Plano when she picked me up and we had a 45 minute "speed date" while she drove me to my brother's apartment downtown.

We didn't take any pictures so I am posting this one - this was us having breakfast the morning of the day I got engaged! Anywho, then I stayed with my brother one night and the next morning I got up super early and went for a run down Greenville Avenue. I laughed to myself counting the number of amazing Tex Mex restaurants I ran by in just a 5 mile span... there was a lot. Good Tex Mex is hard to find in Nashville for obvious reasons! Randy and I met up with his girlfriend Janice for breakfast at Cafe Brazil (one of my personal favorite breakfast spots). She is super sweet and it was great meeting her!

Then I hopped back on a Southwest plane this time headed to Midland. I was greeted at the airport by my parents (fresh off their own plane from Hawaii) with a orchid lei straight from Maui. These things seriously smell amazing. The first thing we did when I got in the car was drive straight to Rosa's Cafe (West Texas peeps, you know what I'm talking about! It's the BEST Mexican food!)

It was good being home, which consisted of a lot of good home cooked food, waaay overdue mani/pedis, watching lots of Iron Chef, wine, and playing with Duke, our tiny little chihuahua! Saturday night one of my dearest friends from high school had an couples shower. It was like a mini high school reunion all in itself. I was actually quite suprised at just how many people in our class have moved back to Midland. Anwyay, it was a blast to see everyone and I could not be more thrilled for Amy and Ryan to get married, they've met and started dating junior year of high school! Their wedding will be in San Antonio in March and I'm super excited for another upcoming mini vacay in Texas. I didn't take many pics at the party because there was a photographer snapping tons of shots everywhere, but I did snag Amy for a photo!

Sunday was going to my parents church and again seeing tons of people - mostly my friends' parents which is also fun! Then Amy had a bridal shower that afternoon. Another fun time!

Monday was a little bit of shopping, a dentist appt (courtsey of dear old dad) and lunch with my mom. Then I headed back east - had my plane been ANY later I would have been grounded due to all the crazy weather the nation's been facing. Luckily, my flights were perfectly fine and I even was on the same plane as Ben Stein!! (I resisted making any jokes about winning his money. Although I seriously had to bite my tongue.)

All in all the weekend gets two thumbs up!!

Quick Weekend Recap/

This should be more accurately titled, "a smattering of my thoughts in no particular order."

I am currently consumed (only slightly) with jealousy because Doug hopped a flight today back to Austin. He and a team from the biz school are competing in a real estate competition hosted at UT. (University of Texas, not Tennessee.) He called and said he introduced his buddies to Hula Hut for lunch today (yum). So I am a single gal for a few days. Why yes, I am currently watching coverage of William and Kate. :)

To recap the past few days: my long weekend staycation was soo needed! It was great to be with my girls. We hit up many of the tourist-y things Nashville has to offer: Pancake Pantry, Belle Meade Plantation, took line dancing lessons at the Wildhorse Saloon, laughed at the wanna-be stars doing karaoke downtown, shopped in Franklin, saw Morning Glory, and went to the Gaylord Opryland the day it re-opened after the floods. It was fabulous, every last second. I am a terrible blogger because I literally took 3 pictures the entire weekend. One of the gals Rach is a professional photographer so I will post hers when I get them back! We took about a zillion photos.

In the meantime as soon as the girlies left town it's like Nashville decided it was winter. I am so glad I bought those rain boots because they have come in handy this week. Doug surprised me for my birthday with the London Fog cheetah rain coat that I had been eyeing. There is nothing that makes gray cold days more bearable than fabulous winter accessories.


Since my family is traveling for Christmas (nothing says Merry Christmas like Mickey and Minnie at Disney World) we are going minimalist on the presents this year. I was browsing for different things to add to my wish list. I've been looking for several months now for the perfect faux fur vest and lo and behold today I found it!

Don't get too attached, Gap made this vest for babies and this adorable dress that would be perfect for New Year's was made for girls! Boo, Gap. The search continues...


While it's cold out in case you were already thinking ahead to spring, the color gurus at Pantone released their hottest shades for 2011 during New York's fashion week. Here they are in their glory:
Love them all. Happy evening everyone!

Eat, Drink, and Be Married

Location: Bongo Java Coffeehouse, Nashville
Listening to: "Dave Barnes, What We Want, What We Get"
Feeling: Sore, because I started P90X workouts this week. It's the good kind of sore, but my calves sure do hurt!

Our internet was supposed to be connected this weekend. Alas! We keep running into issues...I blame AT&T! Anyway, sooner or later it will get ironed out. In the meantime, here I am at Bongo Java!

This is just a quick photo recap of the wedding last weekend in Dallas!

The rehearsal dinner was at Viking Culinary School on McKinney Avenue in Dallas. It was SO FUN because before dinner they held a cooking competition. We were broken into 4 teams and each team had to use the following ingredients: poblano pepper, shrimp, feta and rice. Other than that, it was up to us. They had a whole kitchen and pantry at our disposal. It was SO FUN! Luckily, we weren't eating our creations for dinner.


Me, Weslee and Lauren before the competition was underway.


The head chef was explaining ground rules.




We had 40 minutes to make something awesome! We were judged on teamwork, cleanliness, taste and presentation.

Jessi and Justin (bride and groom) and the head chef were the judges.

Ours looked pretty on the plate, but I'm pretty sure it tasted awful. Too many cooks spoil the pot!

Wedding day prep!

Weslee sang during the ceremony, and it was beautiful!


Midland friends!

My friends and their sweet babies, Evie and Shiloh.


The reception was at The Joule Hotel and it was beautiful!


Great night!

Last Few Dallas Days...Part 3

*I am writing this while the movers are at our place. I'm so thankful it's not me carrying our stuff down our 3-story condo! When we moved in we enlisted family and friends, and I basically cussed the entire way. Doug and I promised we'd pay people the next go-round. And now that day has arrived, 18 months later. They had to remove our banisters as they carry the big furniture down the stairs. It's a looong way down and I'm currently a basket case!*

Now back to the topic at hand:

Tuesday
After a fabulous Monday off, I went back to the office for my last 4 days of work. As I rounded the corner from the elevator this is the first thing I saw:

this sign --

and as I continued down the hall--


getting closer to my department's area--


So fun!


An homage to Texas Tech and Vandy--


Can't forget about food--


And my desk! People came by all week to visit and get a "goodbye kiss."

Thanks George Strait...

...for making me cry on my way to work this morning! And thanks Lauren for making me a fabulous CD!!! I had a fun-filled weekend with friends and I can't wait to share. Until I upload pics, here's the lyrics to the song:

There wouldn't be no Alamo
No Cowboys in the Superbowl
No "Lonesome Dove"
no "Yellow Rose"
If it wasn't for Texas.

I wouldn't be a Willie fan
Nobody'd swim the Rio Grande
I wouldn't be an American
If it wasn't for Texas

Fort Worth would never cross my mind
And there'd be no Austin City limits sign
No Lonestar of any kind
If it wasn't for Texas

I'd never've gone to Tennessee
To sing my songs an' chase my dreams
Only Heaven knows just where I'd be
If it wasn't for Texas

It made me the man I am
Thank God for my old stompin' ground
I wouldn't be standin' right here, right now
If it wasn't for Texas