I Swear I'm Cool

Well, slap my hand and call me a bad blogger. I am not a single picture from what was a great weekend. I'm cool, I swear....
This weekend le guy's brother and sister in law came to visit. They had been planning a visit for a while, so it was nice to finally get to have them here. After an hour and fifteen minute commute home, where I saw 4 accidents and missed my exist twice... I got home just in time to change and hit up dinner at Bird Cafe in Sundance Square. There was wine and small plates and the best cinnamon, caramel, bacon ice cream of my life.
Saturday we had a Mexican brunch then some popsicles a la Steel City Pops. Next we hit up a local beer bar for a while so that others could get in some brews. I had my water and watched some ridic old movie on the TV. Next we went for burgers and more brews at Rodeo Goat. Yum! Its just so good!
Then the old farts, yes we are old, headed home and plopped on the coach to wine and a little The Other Women. I had been wanting to see the Cameron Diaz chick flick for a while, so I am so excited Holly did too! It was cute. I mean totally implausible, but it did the trick, love, laughter, a cheating mean getting his just desserts... I  mean what more can you want from a movie?
Sunday am I got up for a glorious 4 mile run. It was so nice outside. It rained the night before so it was cool, windy and perfect way to begin my Sunday.
When the rest of the crew finally got up, I made some egg muffins and we lounged around til they had to head out.
I'd say the rest of Sunday was awesome, but I don't count Sam's club and Target awesome. I did however, totally crave some chinese for dinner and ordered Pei Wei. Oh well, sometimes a girl just  needs some chinese food.
So that is my pictureless weekend. I am starting my first fill week of the new job, wish my luck as I am still trying to figure it all out. 

One Last Day

It's Monday, the last day of  my lil vacation before I start my new job. And... I have jury duty. Yup, the lawyer has jury duty. 
But, as you know I was in Miami last week. Yes, Wednesday through Sunday in the Emerald State! My sister from another mister lives in Miami so off I went for sun, sea and sand.
I arrived Wednesday afternoon and we headed for food at a lil Cuban place. The conversation was wonderful, the food yummy, and the mojitos--powerful. I had one too many and well.... Let's just say I rallied later and it was a good night.
Thursday we headed down to South Beach, walked around and grabbed some noodles. I also grabbed about 4 pairs of new flip flops! Ash may work at Haivainas....
Friday and Saturday were beach days. The sand was the best feeling between my toes and the water perfect. My skin was dying for a golden kiss and it got it. Saturday we headed to a beach for Dogs on Dunes. We let Dallas, Ash's pup, frolic in the waves and roll in the sand. It was awesome to see all the puppies loving the beach and sea. I missed my babies so much.

If only I had not missed my 8 am flight... Yes it took me an hour to get through security on a Sunday morning. Ran ummm 32 gates and watched the lady close the door.

I finally made it home and it was so good to see the pups and le guy. Now, its off to do my civic duty!

Monday Musings & Some News!

Happy Monday ya'll!! Hope you had a great weekend. Mine was pretty boring as I sat around, slept and binge watched seasons 1 & 2 of Mad Men. I feel like this could be the law, instead of an ad agency any day of the week. So.. I am enjoying some time off before I start the new gig. But I also want to introduce you to something new you will see on the ole bloggy blog... As you know health and fitness is kinda one of my big life things. I have blogged on Wednesday about workouts and such, but now I am teaming up with my BOFF and new friend Carolyn to bring you all a monthly health & fitness link up!

Being healthy is such an important part of our lives, but the craziness of life often gets in the way! The three of us wanted to come up with a way to hold ourselves accountable and help motivate others (and ourselves)…

Which is how “Monthly Motivation – a health and fitness linkup” was born!

<div align="center"><a href="http://illlegallyblonde.blogspot.com" title="Illegally Blonde"><img src="http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t472/lmalex13/monthlymotivation.jpg" alt="Illegally Blonde" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

This link up is about motivating yourself and others through fitness and healthy eating. Feel free to share your week's workouts, your favorite healthy recipes or if you want, your failures of the week. We're all here to cheer each other on and hold each other accountable, so we can collectively reach our goals.
We will have this link up just once a month and will occur on the last Tuesday of the Month! So grab your button and get motivated! You have all month. We will see you back here on Tuesday August 26th!!

The Start of Something New

Happy Monday ya'll! Notice something new around here? Yup, ye ole blog got a facelift! And speaking of new things... I promised you news Friday. Drum roll please...
I have accepted a position with a new firm. After about three years with my current firm, I am sad to leave as I have learned so much and made some amazing friends. However, its time for me to move on. This is a great opportunity for me and my professional goals. Downside and the created of much agony? The job is in downtown Dallas. Oh, did I mention I live in Fort Worth? Yeah.... so I'll be adding a rather crappy commute to my life. Oh the things we do for our careers. My last day is the end of the week and then I will begin my new adventure in August!
So much newness around here!
As for the weekend? Well, it was a mix of celebration and resting. As in I celebrated and the pups rested.

Dinner at Lily's

Cocktails at ProPer

lazy puppy....

I also baked some muffins, tried my hand at a steak salad (recipe to come) and had some great chats with friends! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and here's to a great last week of work for me.

Fireworks!

[Insert fabulous photo of said fireworks here]

Yes, this was an epic picture fail weekend. I promise I did something fun. I mean I went to a party that included a giant slip & slide. Yes, you heard me, giant, inflatable slip & slide + adults = crazy fun. However, no pictures. Nope. This is all I snapped.

Yup, this is it. And a photobomber in the back...

And Saturday, when I saw my BFF from childhood, who I see about once a year at her parent's 4th of July party. Nope, not a picture in sight. Nor a picture of the patriotic cookie cake I made from scratch and decorated. I was a blogger fail.

Sunday, well Sunday was not worth nothing as I was splayed out on the couch with an epic migraine and body aches. I am feeling a tad better today, but nonetheless, not a photo, not even of the cute puppy nurses who would not leave my side.

But, now its Monday and its July and the summer is half way over and I have nothing to show for it other than this one photo. On another note, I started to watch Downton Abbey and  I am hooked. Season 1 in the books.

Happy July all, hope you had a fun and safe 4th!

36 is the new 21

Happy Monday everyone! It's a short week here and I cannot wait for 4th of July!!! Someone turned 36 er 21 this weekend, and we celebrated in style.

Friday night we headed out to The Local, literally a local bar in the West 7th area of town. We also celebrated Brad's 32nd birthday, so it was party all around!

Steve on the left, Steve on the right!

Party Boys

Saturday I was up early for a run and cake baking! I made a double layer, oreo cookie cake. Its super easy, super yummy, and well, just yummy!

I also made him a HUGE omelette and toast, its what he wanted! Oh and I bought a french press for coffee. We are obsessed with press pots at dinner, so I researched the heck out of them, and went with the Espro one by Williams Sonoma. It's stainless steel and just makes coffee better.

For dinner, to was a treat! I made reservations for The Capital Grille. A steakhouse in downtown. OMG, talk about delicious. First, his brother and sister-in-law had a bottle of wine sent to the table. It was complete with a card.

Then, we started with prosciutto wrapped mozzarella. Yup, bacon wrapped cheese people. No pics, sorry, we ate it too quickly. Then, a warm spinach salad. For the main course, steak oscar for the guy, and sea bass in a broth for me. Sides of au gratin potatoes and haricot verts.

Followed, by dessert.... cheesecake and a flour less chocolate cake. Yummo

And that my friends, was a wrap! Someone was passed out about 9pm, we will blame the bottle of wine he consumed single-handedly.

parson the awkward fat arm in this pic...

Sunday everyone recuperated from the weekend, even the pups.

rough like she leads

Hope your weekend was as wonderful, as mine, and promise the cake recipe will  be up tomorrow!

The Weekend of Food

You know its a good weekend when it begins and ends with good food. That was mine. I had been craving food from a local restaurant all week, so off we went to Bird Cafe. They have set up shop in one of the oldest buildings in Fort Worth and have a great patio to view the new Sundance Square. Oh, did I mention they have awesome food. Farm to table, local vendors and food artisans, and a great wine selection. It was just what the doctor ordered for my week end.

Saturday I was pretty down and out for the count all day. Stomach issues and exhaustion. However, we did make it out to Joe T. Garcia's for a friend Fort Worth wedding reception. They bride and groom arrived in a horse-drawn carriage and it was a fun evening to celebrate the newlyweds and eat Mexican food.

Sunday I had the urge to bake and bake I did. I made sweet biscuits for breakfast and then chocolate chip cookies. I mean USA was on, and what is more American than chocolate chip cookies? I ended with a garlic parmesan salmon with roasted cauliflower.

Now I am trying to get through the rainy day still plagued with stomach stuff.

Sun Kissed Shoulders

OK, so they may be a tad more lobsteresque than sun kissed, but nonetheless its the souvenir from a wonderful weekend!

Today I am traveling for work, and I wish it was someplace a tad more sexy than Odessa Texas, but alas, I am headed west to take some depose. But first, the weekend wrap-up!

I had a dozy of a week. Between stress, family "stuff" and the summer hum drums, I was ready for Friday. I was actually, hankering for some middle eastern faire, so off for some Egyptian food! Fort Worth has this great little place on Magnolia called King Tut. Nom nom nom... there was hummus, naan, dolmas and chicken/beef combo schwarma! Oh love me some schwarma. A heaping plate of grilled chicken and beef in a light sauce with some garlic and this too-die for rice. I was in schwarma heaven.

Then we headed down the street so le guy could have his "dessert." The Bearded Lady is a local brew house with local craft beer on tap and people watching for days. He grabbed a brew or 2 or 3 and I took in the locals and bike night. I also may have had a little bit of a firkin that was tapped from Revolver Brewery in Granbury, Texas. It was some sort of wine, chocolate stout thing that was so thick I coulda ate it with spoon. One shot glass full and I was good.

Then it was on to Melt. Melt is a local ice creamery that use local ingredients to churn out the most relic ice cream. I went with the Avoca Mocha and LG had Nuts for Rosie. I would show you a picture, but I scarfed it down before I remembered I was a blogger and take photos of everything I eat.

Saturday was a typical day. Workout, work, small nap. But I did venture out to see some friends, have some a drink, and had my butt in bed by 11:30pm.

Sunday, I was up for a run and then we headed to the pool to celebrate Father's Day with my fam. Have I mentioned the amazing man that D is? I don't mean to brag, but he is one pretty amazing person. I am honored to have some great men in my life that have been stand in fathers, grandfathers and one super brother who is one awesome dad himself.

So, we ate, drank, got some sun, watched the Frogs kick some Red Raider tail and ended it with Chipotle. I mean, what more could a girl want? Oh, and we may have caught some Word Cup in between. Chloe is honing her skills and is ready to play for the home team tomorrow night!

Hope your weekend was great and again, thanks to all the men who had stepped into other's lives and been the father figure. God has truly blessed me with these men along the way. Hug a dad today.

Not So Noteworthy Weekend

Every have one of this weekends where ya didn't do anything exciting? I mean I think I am the only person in the DFW area who did not go see King George's last concert. I also did not watch the Frogs epic win and loss in the Super Regional. I skipped Miss USA and the Tony Awards, people, me skipped a pageant! So, what did I do this weekend?

Made a wonderful cumin spiced pork tenderloin, and a chocolate chip banana muffins. The girls and I took a trip the dog park. Chloe was not a fan per se.... she is kinda "too cool for doggie school" and Sophie, well she was that kid who wants to be everyone's friend.

She bee-bopped to every dog in the yard, sniffed their butt and then immediately laid down, belly up in her submissive pose. But, it did tire them out and they slept all afternoon. We also made a trip to Sam's Club, Yup, bulk TP, Kleenex, water, tea, trash bags, and that random bag of trail mix I threw in at the end.

Yup, one exciting weekend. But I guess sometimes, you need those weekends.

Food for Thought

Its Monday. The start of a new week and a new month. Summer has officially arrived in Texas and well, here comes the summer crud. I spent most of Sunday on le couch, with lord only knows what ailing me. My head was icky, my tummy was icky and I still feel, well icky. But, I digress..... My weekend was a tad dull to some, but just what I needed after a full-packed April-May.

Friday, after a hellacious day, I had a wonderful date night with le guy. I was a tad grumbly when I got home, as I had been struggling for the last two weeks with so much on my mind and heart. It was not made any better by the load at work. Its good to be busy, but sometimes it can just be all too much. I was having one of those days, where nothing seems to go right and everything is weighing heavy on heart and mind. I finally decided to confide and man, it felt so much better. Amazing what the healing power of words and virtual hug can do from you BOFF.

Again, digressed. We headed to a newer place on West 7th: AF+B (American Food + Beverage). It prides itself in American food, wine and spirits. And it did not disappoint.

We started with the Chorizo Scotch Eggs. Yes, fried hard-boiled eggs with chorizo. TO.DIE.FOR. Then I had the pork chop and he dined in the salmon. We finished it off with chocolate peanut butter icebox pie. Heaven on multiple plates.

Saturday I went for a much-needed run and then collapsed. I was just tired. I finally dragged myself off the couch for a little much-needed trip to the mall. I was out of makeup. As in, could not even scrap the bottom of the bottle, out. I decided it was time for a little re-do in the make up department. When in doubt, head to the Neiman's make up counters. I have heard great things about Armani's foundation, so I decided to just give it a try. I will let you know how I like it after a week. I admit, it was super nice to just sit down and be pampered from brow to lip. Too  bad I had no big plans that night, but I did look fab for the hopping crowd at Happy Bowl 2!

Sunday I dragged myself out of bed and into church. Ever have that feeling that sometimes you drag your butt out because He knows you need to hear the message? It also sets my tone for the week.I just wish I had felt better. But alas, I got back home and the dizziness and tummy started again. I was down and out for the better part of the day.

I did get to see my favorite baby girl yesterday! I made dinner for my good friend K and her hubs and new baby girl! That sweet face just melts my heart and ruffles on her little baby booty? I could just eat her up. That was pretty much it. I was in bed a la 9:30 and still feel less than stellar. URGH!

Hoping this thing clears out soon!

See, Food

So, I may be a day late and dollar short, but here is my weekend wrap-up, Tuesday-edition. So, le guy's parents came in this weekend to visit. Yup, le parents.

They finally landed Thursday evening, after the epic storm finally stopped here in DFW. I made a delightful dinner of roasted red pepper, and prosciutto stuffed chicken (that I reheated because we already ate). It was a hit!

Friday I worked a half day so I could hang out with them. We showed them all things new in Fort Worth and even took a trip to my house to show it off! Oh, did I mention they brought presents for the puppies? Oh yes they did! (spoiled furbabies).

Friday night we headed to Waters for dinner. Its a superb seafood restaurant owned by a Texas and Fort Worth legend, John Bonnell. Check it out if you are in the area. It was helping upon helping of delicious morsels from the sea, surrounded by wine and dessert! Nom Nom Nom. tummy still full!

Saturday we headed out to Granbury, Texas, a cute small town about 45 minutes south. Dropped the boys off at Revolver Brewery and then went shopping in the square. I had a great lunch with his mom and we just yacked the entire time!

Sunday I was up and at 'em. I made a breakfast casserole before they headed off to the airport! Short but good visit. I know the puppies are missing them already.

Hope all my mama friends had a wonderful Mother's day! xoxo

Texas Sheet Cake Cookies

stuffed chicken anyone?

Le guy's sweet le mom

Chloe thinks she owns the bed

Friday dinner

See, food....

gumbo

we shared the " I can't decide" trio

frozen lemon cheesecake

breadpudding

lounging in Granbury getting some tan on those legs

Sunday brunch!

That wraps up my weekend! Anyone hungry?