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4.26.2013

Happy Friday.


This morning I got a text from my dad with this picture attached.  He just said he saw this yard and he knew I would like it.  I'd say he knows me well :)  Tulips and purple and gold?  What's more to like!  Now, if only my yard looked that pretty :)

Happy Friday!

4.25.2013

Dancing Tulips

I guess I am borderline obsessing over tulips these days.  Were you ever a fan of Alice in Wonderland?  It was definitely one of my favorites.

I bought some tulips at the store on Monday.  When I first bought them, they were all tightly bunched together in the vase.  But by yesterday, they were totally different.  The way their stems intertwine, and they way they reeeeeeach really far out of the vase.  I feel like they are talking to me.  Just like the flowers in Alice in Wonderland!



Isn't this video so cool!

I feel like my tulips really have something to say!







4.24.2013

The Best Part


Is it just me, or is it nearly impossible for you, too, to throw away that delicious, crispy, salty, perfectly greasy, bad for you...chicken skin?

I baked chicken today for a chicken salad I am making.  The recipe says to discard the skin, and I think I laughed out loud!  Please tell me you would indulge in at least ONE bite of this terrible goodness!

P.S. - I think I have a stomach ache ://

4.23.2013

Busy Busy!

Setting the scene from last week: 

We got back from Arkansas on Tuesday.  On Wednesday, we were on a mission to find SP the perfect fitting suit for our Gala event on Friday!

1.  We walked into Banana and found the perfect fitting suit!  I mean, this thing fits him like a glove.  And did I mention it didn't even need to be tailored?  And did I mention our event was on Friday and there was really no way we would have gotten a suit ready for him on such short notice?  And did I mention WE GOT LUCKY! We found the suit, the belt, and shoes.  Only, the shoes did not fit.  So I called around to some other stores and found his size.  YAY!

2.  Thursday morning we drove to Highland Village to get his shoes!  I love these shoes, don't you? :)

Me being silly :)

He bought them in both black and brown!  We also found a tie for him.  And I found a belt and bracelet to match my black dress and yellow purse :)  FINALLY!  Our outfits were both complete, yay!  

Belt not pictured.  But it was a tiny gold leather belt.

3.  After going overboard at Banana, we were driving home and stumbled upon this tiny italian bistro.  We decided to try it out.  We were the only people in the restaurant.  We were ok with this and it suddenly took us both back to our travels through Europe (solo trips before we ever met).  Now I'm going to reminisce for a bit.  In Europe, you don't have all the chain places you have in the states.  I can remember strolling along with friends and getting hungry and just randomly stopping off into small cafés and bistros.  Not having a clue what we were in for.  These tiny places have turned into some of the best memories.  The servers usually don't speak English, so you are having to order something you THINK, is something  that it probably isn't.  Anyway.  We enjoyed our lunch very much :)  

Eggplant Parm and Baked Ziti

4.  Thursday evening a friend that SP works with texted him asking if we would like to go to Bronson Rock to hear a Stevie Ray Vaughn cover band.  It was a cold night and we about froze out there!  But it was fun and the band was really good!

Sorry for the blurry pic

Whisky is my WINTER drink...yes, it's APRIL!

Texas Flood - the band

5.  Friday night was the Keller ISD Inspirational Gala.  Sean's work sponsored a table at the event and his boss invited SP and I as one of her 4 couple guests :)

Another blurry pic :(  Must be time for a new phone (hint hint, SP!)


This is SP's boss, Carolyn and her husband Barney.
They are so much fun!

I wanted a picture infront of this sign :)

And SP wanted me to take a picture with this sign, haha!

6.  On Saturday, I met my good friend Melanie in Flower Mound for lunch.  Mel and I haven't seen each other in so long.  


We stayed at Anamia's for 4.5 hours!!!  Ha!  Who knew we could talk that much (joke!).  We drank margaritas, ate yummy table side guacamole, and talked and talked like good friends do.  We eventually got around to ordering lunch.  I think our waitress gave up on us trying to order b/c we kept telling her we weren't ready yet!


Sean had a client appointment in Flower Mound at 1.  He was just finishing up around 3:30, so he ended up coming by for a beer and lunch, shocked we were still there!  Ryan was super jealous that he got stuck home with their kiddos, whoops!

7.  So...SP and I didn't get home until 5.  Did I mention we had plans to meet Cole and Shemele at 5:30 to head downtown?  I'm sure you can guess what happened next....

Umm, husband...we need to get ready....ummm, HELLO??

It only went downhill from there....

Passed out.  

I ended up leaving him at home while I went to dinner with The Hodges.  We ate at Fred's Texas Cafe and then walked across the street to Capital Bar for a friends surprise 30th birthday!  SP woke up and met us just in time for the surprise :) YAY!

It just sounded good :)

Jon's wife (the bday boy), Autumn, had planned on a bar crawl!  So after Capital, we walked to Bar Louie.  They have an awesome rooftop!  I want to go back there!


Terrible picture!  But we were photo bombed by our server, haha!

8.  So since SP slept through dinner, by the time we left the last bar (Reservoir) he was hungry.  I did what any good wife would do and suggested we go to his favorite anytime late night place...Waffle House, people!


He has started ordering my dad's special.  If anyone knows Waffle House and their menu, it is my father.  So SP got his hash browns smothered, covered, diced, chopped, peppered...and whatever else they can do to them that I'm leaving out!  I got my usual... hash browns and a ham and cheese omelet (since I apparently needed to eat again!).

9.  Sunday we didn't do much.  He had to work a little.  It was a gorgeous day so later in the afternoon we got outside and did some much needed yard work!

Birdie hanging out in our tree ;)

SP surprised me with a plant for this pot that we brought home with us from my dad's barn last weekend!  I love them both so much.


So that's that.  We were busy busy!

Last night we went to a yoga class, which was long overdue!  We both thoroughly enjoyed it.

My final picture is of my dad last Friday.  After getting some good news from the Dr., they went to his favorite sushi place in a gas station.  That's right.  They even have chopsticks with his name on them he's been eating there for so long.


Hope your Tuesday is going fabulous.  Unfortunately, my parents are heading to see Dr. Bradford again right now, unexpectedly,  for some issues my dad is having. Please keep us in your prayers, folks.

4.21.2013

God's Beautiful Creation






These are pictures I took when SP and I went to Hawaii last year.  They truly show God's presence.  I can almost hear the waves crashing.

I hope you are all enjoying this glorious day.  This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

4.19.2013

Never Give Up


I am reminded of this today.

We had a bit of a scare yesterday with my dad and woke anxious this morning when he went in for an ultrasound.  I sat on pins and needles waiting for my mom to give me the news we needed to hear.  It is so easy sometimes when things get scary or don't go as planned to give up.  Or lose hope, faith, courage, strength, and your will to carry on.  I am here now reminding myself, and you, that giving up is not an option.

As I began to watch the clock, I started to get that pit in my stomach.  I had the feeling I had when I was waiting on the news just 3 weeks ago when my mom and dad were at MDA wondering if he would be having surgery or not.  It's not a good feeling.  It's a helpless feeling, really.  That day we did not hear what we wanted.  We have moved on with a different plan and have set new goals for small miracles along the way.

Today was one of those days.  We accomplished a small miracle by getting good news.  And that one small miracle is all we needed to keep on going.  And fighting.  And staying hopeful.  And prayerful.  And remaining strong.  And confident.  And hopeful.

Sometimes it's not always the big picture.  It's the small, daily miracles that keep us moving forward.

And with that.  I take a deep breath...and breathe.

Never give up on anybody, miracles happen every day.
Amen.

4.18.2013

Mountain Time!

Last Wednesday SP and I decided it was time to head to the mountain (aka...The Escarpment...aka...my parent's house)!  We weren't able to leave until Saturday. We woke up bright and early thinking we would be on the road early.  I don't know what it is, but we never get out on time!  It was almost 10 before we were headed out of town.  It was a bea-u-ti-ful day for a road trip!  6 hours in the car went by really fast.  We put Willie Nelson on pandora and drove along through the roads of TX, OK, and AR.  I always make SP listen to country when we are driving in the country :)  Seems fitting, right?


It was race weekend at TX Motor Speedway, so SP was smart when he quickly remembered this and took us an alternate route from 35.  Too bad the alternate route was probably worse!  We sat on Southlake Blvd for nearly 25 minutes while they merged all traffic into one lane trying to get onto 114.  SHEESH!
 
We were starving before we even made it out of TX!

I love these roads.  They make you remember what things look like without big concrete buildings piled up everywhere.


We drove up the drive around 4 o'clock!

The Escarpment

Upon arrival, SP and I scoped out everything because we always like to see what all has changed since our last visit.  They got new carpet and a chair recovered!  My moms tulips were all opened up, too!

That old washtub will soon be full of something beautiful trailing out of it :)


  
My mom planned on mahi lettuce wraps with pineapple and mango salsa for dinner.  My dad requested some sweet potato fries to go along with it.  And we also made a blue cheese slaw.  Now, I realize these flavors might sound a little strange together, but when you have someone who needs lots of variety due to taste buds being fouled up, you do what you gotta do!  And we all loved it :)  The best part was that we sat outside on their side deck :)  Weather and company couldn't have been better!


Finally, we made it to the sofa for some much needed r and r :)


My mom brought out warm cookies and coffee for dessert :)

The next morning, we made english muffins with poached eggs and canadian bacon, cooked in the cast iron of course :)


Later on we ventured out to Lowe's (my dads favorite place on earth I think!) to buy some plants.  Visited with some friends that stopped by the house.   We quickly FaceTimed with Yasha.  We moved some furniture around.  We sat around watching the masters.  

Well, I thought THEY were watching the masters :)

Around 6 we headed to the Reynold's for dinner.  Jim and Deb always have SP and I over when we are in town to cook fried shrimp and steak!  Jim knows I love fried shrimp and always insists on me eating way more than I need to, & I never turn it down :)

Fried shrimp and wine out of a vintage wine glass :)

Deb is an artist.  An amazing one at that!  Her house is full of french antiques and she is constantly rearranging it!  



This is over their dining table.  It is so big and heavy they had to get
their house reinforced to hold it!

Unfortunately before dinner, my dad started to not feel very well and my parents decided it would be a good idea if they went home.  We all totally understood and decided SP and I would stay for dinner and Jim would drive us home after.  My mom said when they got home, my dad was already feeling better and hand a big handful of strawberries :)  This made us all very happy :)  SP and I took my mom a plate of leftovers that she enjoyed!

Love their patio!
This is the music they had playing while we sat around eating shrimp and drinking wine.
I loved this CD so much, that I took a picture to remember it :)
 
Jim doesn't know he is in the picture, whoops!
But the table was too pretty to not snap a photo!
Deb made coconut and banana pies!

These are their dogs!  Sally and Johnny be Good.  I couldn't get a picture of him b/c food was out.  He wouldn't lift his head for fear he might miss a crumb on the floor!


Monday my mom and I got out and did a little shopping while we left the boys at home working in the yard.  It was so nice driving up the driveway and seeing those two together outside doing what they both love best!

He was so happy sitting outside behind his barn :)

It was a great day.  They even got my mom and I out helping!  We moved all his plants out of the greenhouse for the season :)  I ran errands for them, my mom went into work for an hour, then we came home and relaxed before dinner.  We cooked turkey breast wrapped in bacon, salad, and french bread.  I for some reason didn't get a picture :(  We all love The Voice, so we enjoyed watching that during dinner.

Tuesday morning SP and I headed back home.  We love it up there so much, I know we will be back soon!


Some other pretty pictures I took.  These are just down the street from my parents house :)



And last but not least...here is a picture of SP freezing!

I covered him up with pillows :)
I'm such a good wife, haha!