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Good morning, everyone!

Just wanted to tell you about one of my favorite blogs I read EVERY DAY! www.smartandsassywithsprinkles.blogspot.com

Allison is a fabulous blogger and is currently on her own journey - just moved from Texas2Chicago. I have enjoyed keeping up with her as she's moved and is now exploring the Windy City.

She's hosting a giveaway on her blog so check it out and REGISTER!

Currently Reading

The A/C is broken at work this morning... so in my self-inflicted pools of sweat I am choosing to take a quick blog break...

I am currently reading this book--

It's so, so good. Are you a woman? If the answer is yes, then you should read it too. Next up on my list is this:

I don't classify myself as Bush-lovers (or Bush-haters for that matter) I just think they're an interesting family, especially since they grew up in Midland (shout out!) My home town. In reading the description of the book, it says "Midland's Old Maid marries Midland's Most Eligible Bachelor." And it gives details on her tragic accident that ended in the death of a high school classmate, as well as living in the White House during 9/11 and other tumultous times. Stories are more interesting when told by the person who lived through them, am I right?

Sounds like the A/C might be kicking on...in the gosh darn nick of time...

Quote of the Day

image: lovely & true, via la dolce vita

Flying to Nashville for a job interview...be back late Tuesday!

Good Times with the Girls

Last weekend I met up with my college friends in Austin, and we all went down to Fredricksburg together. This is how we started the day, a group pic outside Lauren's parents' house in Fredricksburg. We stopped there to drop off her puppy, Dolly, so she could stay the day with the doggy grandparents. Will we ever get tired of taking group pics of ourselves? Doubtful.

First stop: Rather Sweet Bakery for lunch. Where the cookies were about the size of my face. Literally.

Filing in for home-cooked goodness.

I might mention here that in the past year-ish (collectively) we've been through grad school, family divorces and struggles, moving cross-state and (now we're moving cross-country) babies and weddings. So yeah, we've been through everything with one another, we're allowed to just get a little goofy every now and then.

These wine glasses say "Go Texan." Love it! Pinot Noir is my fave. :)

After lunch we went to Wildseed Farms - above is a pic of their sunflower fields. Below, some of the many, many wildflower seeds.

Taste-testing at Becker Vineyards.

Outside at the vineyards. At this point, it's quite possible I am sitting in a puddle of my own sweat.

Just ya know, hanging around. This was during one of our many shopping excursions on Main St.

We take ourselves very seriously.

Singing Glee!!

Bucket List

There are a couple of things Doug and I want to do before we leave Dallas - most of them involving different restaurants we need to hit up before we go. My top "must eat again" restaurant is Lumi Kitchen -- if you're in the McKinney/Uptown Dallas area run don't walk to Lumi Kitchen. Your tastebuds will be glad you did.

One of the other things we had on our "must-do" list was to visit the Sixth Floor Museum. This is the place memorializing where JFK was parading through Dallas, and ultimately shot and killed. Neither of us had ever been, and it would be a shame to leave Dallas without having ever visited the spot. So I printed out online coupons from the trusty Dallas Visitor's Guide and off we went.

They don't let you take pictures inside the museum, but here's a few shots around the outside of the museum. I was struck by many things, but one thing that I could not get over was how dignified, respectful and classy Jackie was. You could pluck her out of those photos from the 60's and put her in society today and she would totally fit right in, style-wise. I am sure she was a fabulous lady.

Anyway, a few pics:

The Dallas Newspaper's headline behind me reads, "Mourning Nation Bids Chief Farewell"

Infamous grassy knoll!

Update

Okay, I know I've been negligent in my posting, and I know you don't really care are holding your breath waiting to hear what I've been up to lately!

First, an update on the butter rum pound cake I told you about here. On Doug's birthday right before serving the cake I whipped up the bananas foster sauce and had a blast torching it right before serving. It turned out fabulously so I really recommend you try it sometime! I mean, if it weren't for Doug's birthday I could have let myself eat the whole thing. But that's not socially acceptable nor is it healthy! Anyways.


Doug had a fabulous birthday - he got a netbook (teeny tiny laptop) he had been eyeing for a long time. It will be great for him to tote to and from classes at Vandy and is really light and easy to carry.

That weekend we headed to Austin so I could go to my friend Lisa's bachelorette party, and Doug and I squeezed in some hang out time: lunch on the lake and then swimming at the freezing Barton Springs pool in Austin. I seriously love the hippy weird-ness that is Austin and will miss that when we move!

Lunch at Abel's on the Lake -- Lake Travis

They called this South Padre Tea- I called it delicious

Lisa -- who's getting married July 30!

Barton Springs, the water is 68 degrees and it feels like it's about 32.

Keep Austin Weird!

What I did in Fredricksburg

These videos speak for themselves...

Can you tell we had a great time!?