Life in Another City

LA Story - Day 1

2010-04-10T17:08:00.001-05:00

For the "real" part of Spring Break, I flew to sunny LA to visit my friend Ashley - she's lived there for over a year and this is the first time I've been able to go see her there! Another friend of ours, Katie, flew from Austin and we both landed on the west coast about the same time. Our first stop - a taping of American Idol!

exploring the lot:

I have to be honest, I've never watched an episode of this show, but it was so much fun to be on the set and see all the "behind the scenes" work that goes into the show. We had to check our cameras and cell phones before we went onto the set, but I snapped a quick pick of Katie right before. Here she is in front of the studio where they film Dancing with the Stars:

Dancing with the Stars didn't start until the next week, so we missed out on seeing the "stars" this trip!

We snapped another quick pic outside the American Idol studio before we left!

After the taping, we walked to The Grove - a gorgeous outdoor shopping center.

We went in and out of almost every store (and there were lots!) and enjoyed the amazing California weather!

Since we were on vacation, we decided to take a break and see a movie - one of our favorite things to do!

the fountains at The Grove:

That night, we met up with Ashley after work and headed to Calabasas - our home away from home for the next week!

NYC weekend

2010-04-07T17:04:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, I spent a long (5-day) weekend in New York City to take care of a little business - actually a lot of business - and a little pleasure too! I was there for a 4-day intense study seminar for my upcoming licensure exam (think: the bar exam for psychologists) that went from 8-7 every day at the Roosevelt Hotel. I spent the first two nights in the city, and got to spend some time catching up with Andria.

I got to check out Andria's darling apartment in the West Village, then we had a fabulous dinner at the Blind Pig down the street.

Check out our bill - it's for real:

After dinner, we walked around the village for a bit and stopped at a bar I've always wanted to visit - The Cowgirl Hall of Fame:

Take a closer look at the menu:

Obviously, we felt really connected to this place!

We had so much fun and I wish I could have stayed out much later, but the 8-7 class the next day made it impossible to have TOO much fun!

I'm so glad I got to spend some time with one of my oldest friends, especially because that was one of her last weekends in NYC before moving to Chicago. Luckily, that's one of my other favorite places so I know I'll see her often!

After my 2 nights in the city, I became a commuter and traveled back and forth from Manhattan to Long Beach where I stayed with Brian and Lacy (and Tank!). They have the most adorable house by the beach out on the island and I felt right at home. The night of daylight savings time, the power went out which was quite the adventure. After the last night of my class (and the next day), I got to spend some quality time with Lacy and Brian before flying back to Dallas. I loved getting to explore Long Beach and I cannot wait to go back and spend more time there. There are definitely a lot of perks to having friends who live in exciting places!

a little snippet

2010-04-05T14:24:00.000-05:00

I have downloaded all of my pictures from my trips, but can't remember the last time I used my computer at home! Seriously, the only time on any computer lately has been at work. I just got these pictures from Alison, though, and had to share a few of my favorites real quick!

at lunch in Beverly Hills:

shopping (and stopping in front of The Ivy):

on the beach in Santa Monica:

one of the coolest bathrooms ever:

on the beach in Malibu (as the fog rolled in):

I finally have a weekend at home coming up (first time since February!), so maybe I'll get more caught up!

much needed "break" - be back soon!

2010-03-19T12:13:00.002-05:00

I love, love, love that I still get a spring break every year, and this year I definitely made good use of my time. On Wednesday night, I flew to one of my favorie places:

I was there for an intense 4-day study seminar, but still made time to have some fun!

Andria and I went to dinner at the Blind Pig, then out at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame

Apparently the owner is from Waco! more pics to come . . .

I had a quick 12 hours at home before re-packing and heading to LA.

so far, we've been to see American Idol:

Alice in Wonderland at El Capitan, complete with costumes and props from the movie:

And been to the set of :

and SO much more!

Can't wait to load all my pictures . . .

quick visit

2010-02-23T21:40:00.000-06:00

Mom and I have season tickets to the Dallas Summer Musicals, and (believe it or not) the season has already started! Not long ago, we had tickets to see Phantom of the Opera, one of my all-time favorite musicals. By the way, one of my pet peeves is when people call them plays. Musicals are not plays, just as plays are not musicals - they are two totally different things.

Anyway, since Chance was in Dallas for the week, Dad decided to tag along with Mom for an afternoon/evening with the kids. It was great for the four of us to spend some time together, and of course I put the boys to work doing some things around my house (!) We had an amazing dinner at Mattito's before Mom and I headed to the show.

I've been really terrible about taking my camera with me lately, but luckily I have my phone to try and capture a few things. We had great seats for Phantom (first row balcony - my favorite place to sit) and I LOVE the chandelier as part of the show. I wish I could have captured it better, but it gives me chills every time I see it.

The show was amazing! Mom asked me at the beginning what my favorite song was, and I think I changed my mind about 5 times throughout the show. I still remember the first time I saw it - 1999 - with my BF Brooke in New York City. If you live in the Dallas area, you definitely need to take advantage of these shows. Wicked is coming in a few months, and I cannot wait!

chance visits!

2010-02-18T21:42:00.000-06:00

My brother recently got a fantastic new job that he had to learn how to do, so he ventured up to the big city for 3 long weeks of training. I know it was a tough 3 weeks for him, but I was so glad to have him close by that entire time!

We thought his temporary home was pretty fancy : )

Apparently, it looked a little different on the internet.

We had so much fun while he was here - shopping to stock his "kitchenette", going to nice (free) dinners, watching Baylor Basketball games, people-watching during all-star weekend, playing in the snow, pretending he was single (not really) so he could come to Tuesday night church with me, etc., etc. I even put him to work doing things for me like changing lightbulbs, hanging pictures, and anything that involved heavy lifting. He's really good at those things!

Chance was nice enough to let me hitch a ride to Waco with him one weekend, and this is the only picture I took:

For some reason, I had a huge craving for a DQ frozen treat, and I searched high and low to find one along I-35. Finally - success! in Italy, TX. I could not have been more excited.

Chance is done with his training and officially certified to do his new job - we're all so proud and excited for him, though it was a lot of fun to have him around. I had totally forgotten what it was like to have a family member living in the same town! Not that I have any desire to move to Waco any time soon : )

super bowl XLIV

2010-02-13T21:46:00.002-06:00

For Super Bowl Sunday this year, my friend Bethany and her bf Derek (pictured below) threw an amazing party! B is from Louisiana, has a lot of hometown pride for the Saints, and is an amazing party host. I am positive I spent 4 straight hours eating all the goodness, though I actually watched a lot of the game!

with Bethany:

I wore beads supporting both teams, just to be fair.

We bid on squares in the hopes of winning $50 at the end of each quarter. My only shot was with the 7 and 3 (I got SO close!), but no luck in the end. boo.

I love this pic of the cousins:

All in all, there was a great turnout, lots of fun, course amazing food. Derek's place is huge, and he had 4 different tv's set up. I should have taken more pictures, but I was having way too much fun socializing, eating (did I mention . . .) and watching the game (and the commercials!). Until next year!

the view from here . . .

2010-02-11T16:55:00.000-06:00

I knew we were "supposed" to get some snow today in Dallas, but I just assumed it would be like every other "snow day" we've had this year - a few nice little flurries, but nothing that really sticks for long. I snapped this picture from my front porch when I opened the door this morning:

It's so beautiful! Then, I remembered how disgusting melting snow can be when I took my first step outside and my feet got soaked. Apparently, moving to the south made me dumber and I totally forgot how to dress properly in this type of weather. oops.

By the time I got to my first appointment of the day, it was still coming down hard:

Now, work is over, I'm stuck inside, work is cancelled for tomorrow and the novelty has worn off, so I've stopped taking pictures.

Enjoy your "snow day" everyone!

worst weather?

2010-02-05T09:15:00.003-06:00

For some reason, these past few weeks in Dallas have been really rough weather-wise. It's been cold and rainy, and I feel like I haven't seen the sun in a long time (except for one day when it was in the 70s). It has been especially rough on me because I hate to wear jackets. I know it's weird, but it's just this "thing" I have.

Whenever the subject of weather comes up, people tend to make comments to me about Chicago winters and how they are the worst thing ever, how they would rather DIE than endure that weather, and how could you ever live there? etc. etc. Probably because I had to wear things like this UNDER my clothes when I went outside.

Interestingly enough, Forbes released the results of a study they did and determined the top 5 worst weather cities. Guess what city is not number one?

America's Top 5 Worst Weather Cities

1. Cleveland

Average Annual Temperature: 49.6°F

Average Precipitation: 38.7 inches

Average Snowfall: 58.9 inches

2. Boston

Average Annual Temperature: 51.6°F

Average Precipitation: 42.5 inches

Average Snowfall: 43.2 inches

3. New York City

Average Annual Temperature: 54.6°F

Average Precipitation: 49.7 inches

Average Snowfall: 28.9 inches

4. Milwaukee

Average Annual Temperature: 47.5°F

Average Precipitation: 34.8 inches

Average Snowfall: 47.5 inches

5. Chicago

Average Annual Temperature: 49.1°F

Average Precipitation: 36.2 inches

Average Snowfall: 38.2 inches

So, the next time you meet someone from Boston or New York (or Cleveland or Milwaukee), make sure you give them a really hard time about the terrible weather.

the finished product

2010-02-03T15:39:00.004-06:00

I got the offical piece of paper (dated September 2009) in December, but my amazing parents got it framed for me as soon as we got home. When Mom came to visit last week, she brought along the finished product and I think it looks amazing! I have no idea where to put it for now (since no one I work with has their diplomas in their office) but it WILL go on a wall eventually.

stream of consciousness

2010-01-29T12:39:00.003-06:00

I am the only person in my office today. You would think I am getting a LOT of work done, but I'm not. I tested a middle school boy this morning and that is probably the most productive thing I will do all day. My entire body is killing me from the work outs I did this week at the gym - Fridays are my favorite day because I take a day off from working out. Sad, but true. I really want to go see a movie tonight, but am not really excited about what's playing right now. Which means, I willwaste $10 on a movie that's not very good, but I'm okay with that. I should be studying for the EPPP, but I am not. Instead I am daydreaming about my trips to Mexico and L.A. coming up, and continuously checking to see if a dress I've been eyeing at Nordstrom has gone on sale yet. It's 30% off right now, but still more than I want to pay. I love wearing dresses. I'm anxious for the weather to change so I can wear dresses without tights and my legs won't get cold. Also, I decided I'm tired of paying for heat when I live in Texas, so I just turned it off and walk around the house in a sweatshirt and flannel pants. We'll see how long that lasts.

Some of my favorite new pictures:

Apparently I only take pictures when I'm around Shilah and Jenne. They must bring it out in me!

Mom for a day (and night)!

2010-01-27T10:07:00.008-06:00

In my past life, I made a pretty good living taking care of other people's kids. Even though I've have never been a parent, I feel like I know what I'm doing when it comes to child care. I have ventured across the state with someones kids, stayed with them over night, taken them on public transportation, called 911 when one of them had an allergic reaction, etc. However, I had no idea that the experience would be so much different with a little one who is related to me! It was like a whole new set of responsibilities!

Cari and Ricky came to Dallas a few weeks ago to celebrate their anniversary, and baby Mase stayed with me so his mom and dad could get some R&R.

The last time he was here, he was 3 months old. I don't think he remembered it.
After his mom and dad left, he had a quick snack and I was very impressed at his bottle-holding skills. This was new to me. Of course I took iphone pics and sent them to Cari and Ricky because they were missing their baby like crazy!

The weather was a little treacherous, but when it started to snow I took Mase outside to check it out. He has already been to Chicago and Ohio and seen his share of snow, but it's totally different when it happens in Texas. Too bad you can't see it in the picture, but it's really there!!

We had lots of fun play time together:

Mase slept like a champ, but my sleep was a different story. I kept looking at the video monitor, making sure he was still breathing. And every time he rolled over I had to check it again - seriously neurotic, I know.

The next morning we had some play time in my room before we got ready for the day.

We played a lot more, got dressed and went to meet Mom and Dad at Breadwinner's for brunch and they were SO ready to see their baby again!

Mase and I had so much fun together, but I have no idea how the single parents of the world do this every day. I was pretty tired and we didn't even go anywhere! Mase, I promise to get it together next time you come and show you more of the big city. xoxo

A perfect gift!!

2010-01-24T17:49:00.004-06:00

With my birthday, graduation and Christmas falling within less than 2 weeks of each other, I opened quite a few gifts in a short period of time. This weekend, I got a belated birthday gift from Shilah and Mica (because hosting my birthday party wasn't enough??) that I absolutely love. . .

A closer look:
" I was never meant to fly Coach"

Could it be more perfect?
And, to top it off, they gave me a darling brown and pink suede tote bag filled with Mary Kay goodies. I'm in heaven!

Luckily, Shilah caught the moment I realized my boots were falling down . . . lovely.

Thank you friends for all the amazing gifts!!!

Reality Crossover

2010-01-19T12:46:00.001-06:00

I don't watch a TON of reality television, but I love, love, love the Amazing Race. The new season starts in February and CBS released the names/bios of this season's contestants today on their website. Among the teams are these cuties from another CBS reality show -Big Brother.

I really hate to admit I watch that awful show every once in awhile (it's usually the ONLY semi-entertaining show on TV in the summer), but I am a psychologist after all, and I love watching the houseguests get crazier and crazier the longer they've been cut off from the rest of the world.

Anyway, I'm geeked out about this season of the Amazing Race and I've already got my eye on the pair of real-live cowboys from Oklahoma. One of them even said the best place he's ever visited is TEXAS. Sounds like my kind of guy. Time to set those DVR's!

L.A. Bound!

2010-01-13T14:35:00.004-06:00

I am so thankful for a job that I love, where I still get to take advantage of Spring Break. Two years ago I had 10 days in Hawaii with Shelly. Last year, I jetted to Chicago for 9 days and spent 8-5 each day in an office typing away on my dissertation - so it was part work/part fun. This year, I bought a ticket to L.A. to spend the week with my good friend Ashley who has lived there over a year! It's pretty terrible I haven't been to visit yet, but that's what happens when your friends live ALL over the country!!

Ashley lives in the guest house of a gorgeous estate in Calabasas, and I'm praying for lots of sunshine and pool time plus tons of shopping, outdoor meals, and lots of girl time. Let the countdown begin! T - 59 days!!

my favorite things. . .

2010-01-07T11:36:00.002-06:00

Around my birthday and Christmastime, I always start thinking about my "wish list" and if there is anything that I need. The answer is always no, but it gets me to thinking about all of my very favorite things that I could not possibly live without. right.

First things first. Ugg boots.

I was first introduced to Uggs when I saw a photo in PEOPLE magazine of the characters from SATC wearing these boots in between shooting their scenes (in 5 inch heels). This was back in 2004, and I snatched up the first pair I could find in Nordstrom. Soon after, they became a very hot item and were incredibly hard to find. I'll never forget going to NYC that Christmas and having people walk up to me constantly asking where I was able to find Uggs. I felt very hip in the big city. Then, Cari brought me a pink pair from L.A. and I became even cooler. After moving to the Windy City, I discovered the functionality of Uggs (who knew!) and my collection increased. My new favorites are the Bailey Button (mine are grey), and even though they aren't as functional in the Great State, I wear them ALL the time.

Thorlo walking socks

I don't know what it is about these socks but they are just so darn comfortable! They fit like a glove and offer a LOT of cushion. I've never had to worry about blisters or any foot problems during my workouts when I wear these socks. Unfortunately, they are a little more than I like to pay, so they are perpetually on my Christmas list.

Mary Kay Subtle Tanning Lotion

Several months ago, I (like a lot of people) stopped visiting the tanning salon, not just because of the health risks (which should have been enough to deter me) but also because I wanted to spend that money on a gym membership instead. Once my (awesome) summer tan started to fade, I asked my sister for something that would give me some color and she introduced me to MK subtle tanning lotion. I love it! It has no smell, doesn't stain my hands or clothes, absorbs just like regular body lotion, and gives me a great natural, bronze glow. I even put it on my face sometimes and it works wonders!

Signature Cafe Soup from Tom Thumb

I love, love, love soup, and could eat some every day. I think I got turned on to soup after spending so many hours studying and writing my dissertation at Panera. I am way too impatient to make soup as often as I'd like - luckily, Tom Thumb (my local grocery store) makes delicious soups that taste homemade (because soup out of a can just isn't the same). I stay away from the cream-based soups and stick to the broth based or black bean soups which are fantastic. Of course, the sodium is a little higher than I'd like, but they still make for a great meal once in awhile.

Scentsy flameless candles

My friend Natalie turned me on to these candles last year and I've been hooked ever since! I love candles anyway, but these are a much better alternative due to the fact that they are flameless, therefore it is much more difficult to burn your house down because you forget to blow out the flame. They have a wide variety of scents you can change as often as you like, and the wax is heated by a small lightbulb! I currently have the giraffe print and a small black warmer that plugs directly into an outlet in my bedroom.

The Nail Bar

Oh, the Nail Bar. My home away from home - I love this place! I went here for the first time in Chicago with my friend Ashley and loved sitting up at the bar next to her as we got manicures and chatted while enjoying a beverage. Then, I loved it even more when my manicure lasted DAYS longer than at other places. You can't imagine how excited I was when I found out there was a location in Dallas very close to my house. Seriously, the only two cities that have a Nail Bar are Chicago and Dallas - what are the chances? My friend Brooke goes for weekly manicures and I try to tag along - not as often, but every once in awhile. There's also an Orange Cup right around the corner, so it's like hitting two birds with one stone.

Juicy Couture velour jogging suits

If you're going to wear a jogging suit, this is probably the only acceptable one. And who doesn't love jogging suits? They are SO comfortable. I love having these suits because you can actually wear them outside the house and not be embarrassed to be in "sweats". I got my first JC jogging suit back in 2004 and I still wear it all the time. It's in great shape, and the style hasn't changed at all in 5+ years. Even though I have to get the pants hemmed, the pieces fit me well (though I buy mine a size bigger to avoid the bare belly like the above picture). I've even been lucky enough to snag a few at Nordstrom Rack for half the price.

Pureology Shampoo & Conditioner

I was introduced to Pureology by my hair stylist and was first intrigued because of how good it smells. Then I loved how it made my hair feel. Now I love how healthy my hair is AND this stuff lasts forever! I think it took me about 5-6 months to go through a small bottle.

Clarisonic PRO skin care system

I think I've written about this thing before and how awesome it is. It pretty much feels like getting a facial every time you wash your face! Apparently it was one of Oprah's favorite things a few years ago (though I must have missed that show), then I started seeing them at Bloomingdales and Saks, then my friend Dana got one and raved about it, then I kept hearing more about it and finally caved and bought one (after doing some research, of course). The company claims that you remove 6x more makeup when you use the Clarisonic, which sounds good to me! The way it makes my skin feel after using it was enough to get me hooked!

I might have to make a 2nd edition of this post one day, because there are so many things that I love.

NYE - happy 2010!

2010-01-03T21:56:00.001-06:00

I was lucky enough to spend the last moments of 2009 with some of my favorite people, who also happen to be tons of fun!

Shilah, Mica, Jenne and I met and drove to Ft. Worth to meet up with the rest of the crew. We started the celebration at Nick and Jodi's gorgeous house before heading out:

prepping for the toast:

Here's to 2010!

already pulling double duty. this could be a long night . . .

Shilah, the organized one, made reservations for all of us at Cattlemen's and we had a great last meal of 2009.

With my girl Jenne, before the cardigans came off.

After dinner, we walked over to Billy Bob's and took our seats for the Kevin Fowler concert (after doing some people-watching of course).

The happy couple on the 1-year anniversary of their engagement!

After a little while, Jenne and I did some exploring and danced with some cowboys of course.

our boys really got into the atmosphere. they're so country.

Our after picture! We all made it out with all of our things AND got a taxi back to the house (a NYC miracle).

The morning after: we all love this picture because Jenne and Coach Mike look like brother and sister. The next day recap is always loads of fun:

After packing up, we finally made it to lunch at the place I've been hearing about for almost a year! Let me tell you - it did NOT disappoint!

Happy New Year everyone! I made one big resolution and have already started on it - it should take almost a year, so hopefully I'll be done before the next NYE!

weekend in the windy city

2009-12-22T21:15:00.002-06:00

Back in the Spring of 2009 (or maybe earlier), my super-organized sister booked flights and hotels for the entire family for a long weekend in Chicago in anticipation of my upcoming graduation. Little did she know, that was the motivation I needed to finish my dissertation and get that diploma!

The day before graduation, Dad, Chance and Paige picked me up at my house to go to the airport. Mom, Cari and Mase came up in another car and met us at DFW.

The kids were left to entertain the baby while Cari parked the car. It's not hard to entertain him. He was very excited about flying I'm sure.

We killed some time in the Admiral's Club before our flight:

Mase's first flight was a huge success. I think he's going to be a seasoned traveler like his mother. You should have seen her juggling her baby, her lunch AND her beverage. I tried to help, but Dad made a rule that anyone who had more than one cocktail was not allowed to hold the baby.

I was so excited the same Christmas decorations were still up at O'Hare. I loved them every year! Mase loved them too:

We got our luggage really fast and Mase & I waited in the cold while his mom installed the carseat.

We clearly needed every INCH of that limo to get all of us and our "stuff" to the hotel.

Mase loves his new winter clothes. We got all bundled up after landing and made the quick walk from our hotel to Gino's for Chicago style pizza.

Luckily, Dana wasn't leaving for Georgia until the next day, so she got to meet us for dinner! I miss her!

On Friday morning, Cari and I decided to get some exercise, so we suited up in a few layers and walked/jogged from our hotel to Benefit Cosmetics to visit the brow bar for a little grooming. We picked up lunch for the family at CBA, and headed back to the hotel to get ready for the big event!

After graduation, Tabatha and I stopped by the Tillman's condo down in condo world so I could visit the kiddos and we could have a few drinks before dinner. Check out that view!

After our awesome dinner, we went out for a little more celebration, though I think we were all fading fast!

Saturday morning, we covered a LOT of ground, mostly shopping and sight-seeing, even though the weather was a little blah. Ricky made it in late on Friday night, so it was nice to get him in a few pictures!

We stopped in Macy's to do some shopping and check out the 2-story tall Christmas tree.

Saturday night, we headed out for another great dinner, this time at Frontera Grill. This place is one of my favorite restuarants, and I was so excited when Rick Bayless won Top Chef Masters this season. I actually saw him walking through the restaurant a few times, but he looked so busy I didn't want to stop him. This is my 2nd time to do that - I'm such a wimp.

Sunday morning, Cari and Ricky (& Mase) got up early to catch a plane to Ohio and the rest of us slept in. We took our time getting ready, and snapped a few pictures from M & D's room to capture the amazing view. The building right behind my head is Trump Tower, which is so tall, you couldn't see the entire thing through this window!

We went out for a leisurely brunch before heading to the airport. . .

This time, we got the true Chicago experience and rode the el to the airport. For some reason, Chance went in a different door than the rest of us, so he made some new friends.

Even though our flight was delayed a little while, we had an amazing trip back to Dallas.

Paige really had a good time with her seat!!

We arrived safely back in Dallas in plenty of time to get ready for Christmas! Luckily, I still had 2 weeks off, our long weekend in Chicago was the perfect way to kick off Christmas vacation!

the best thing I did in 2009

2009-12-21T21:04:00.001-06:00

The weekend before Christmas, I finally got to celebrate the end of 10+ years of extremely hard work, frustration, studying, tears, sleepless nights, chronic migraines, and hours spent in the 24-hour Starbucks:

flashback to my first time on those gorgeous stairs:

I officially finished graduate school in September, but the ceremony in Chicago was December 18th. My entire family traveled to the Windy City to celebrate with me, which was very, very special!

I had to be at the ceremony early, so Chance, Paige and Dad went with me and saved seats while I got ready. We posed for pictures under the el/outside of school before the auditorium opened:

My first picture in front of the school - almost 5 years ago:

With some of the gals, getting dressed and ready!

The ceremony took place in the gorgeous Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt. When I interviewed at Roosevelt back in February 2005, I fell in love with the theatre and knew I would walk across that stage one day - though it seems like it took forever!!

My dissertation chair and advisor, Dr. McBride, gave me my official hood:

and, of course, I had to fix my hair. . .

and then I had to stand there for what felt like FOREVER (actually a few seconds) while one of the Deans spoke about my dissertation.

The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. She read my dissertation (bless her heart)!

Shaking hands with the president of the university. He seemed really proud of all of us and told us one at a time how awesome we are.

After the ceremony, the department had a reception for all 10 of us - the biggest graduating class they've ever had!

with Chance and Paige:

with my 2 super-supporters:

and my tiniest supporter:

Mase is really interested in diplomas, so I'm glad his mom and dad are already saving!

Wearing my favorite outfit! Seriously, this must be what most girls feel like when they put on their wedding dress. I wish I could wear it every day!

After graduation, we headed to one of my favorite restaurants to continue the celebration. Josh and Tabatha joined us and we had one of the best meals I've had in a long time!

The martini crew:

and the other side of the table with their waters:

All in all, the day was such a special celebration. I look back on my time in Chicago with such great memories, and this was the best way I could ever think to bring closure to the whole experience. Of course, I could not have made it through the last few years without my amazing family and friends. Thanks so much for putting up with me through the high highs and the low lows. It feels amazing - the light at the end of the tunnel . . .

Another year older

2009-12-14T15:21:00.004-06:00

This past weekend I celebrated another birthday, and I'm clearly not getting any smarter. According to this picture, I turned 92. Oops . . .

My friend Mica has a birthday the day after mine, so we decided to throw a joint birthday extravaganza with an ugly Christmas sweater theme. Mica and Shilah closed on their new house the week of Thanksgiving and were very generous in opening it up for the celebration.

I had to take at least one photo before wearing an ugly sweater the entire night. Since it was my birthday, I figured I could get away with trying to be a little less ugly.

(I finally got a chance to wear my very special shoes!)

A shot of the bar in M & S's house. The rest of the "bar" was set up in the kitchen and out by the pool.

Jenne!

Taking turns under the mistletoe . . .

Getting the party started:

The birthday serenade:

with some of my favorite gals!

Elizabeth was one of my favorites -

Jenne took a quick cat nap (or maybe she was testing the love sack to see if it might be a good place to sleep eventually) before the dance party really picked up . . .

After the dancing started, I didn't take any more pictures - until this one . . .

Luckily, Mica thought ahead and covered the dining table in plywood - he's obviously thrown a few parties before. I have no idea what time I headed to bed, but I know that my latest birthday celebration was one I'll never forget!

Finally!

2009-12-02T15:05:00.002-06:00

The Saturday after Thanksgiving I finally got to take in a game at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington. I had heard people talk about how amazing! huge! awesome! unbelieveable! the stadium was for months, but didn't get a chance to check it out for myself until Baylor played Tech in their last football game of the season.

We had awesome seats (thanks Dad!) and the atmosphere throughout the entire game was a totally new experience for me and football. Our bears almost pulled out a win, but it was an exciting game overall!

Luckily I got to do some tailgating with some of my favorite sisters.

AND Todd & Brad!

and, of course, the best part of any day my sweet nephew is around is spending time with him. He totally loves football too.

the big apple . . . day 4

2009-11-25T14:51:00.003-06:00

Though we didn't have an entire Sunday in NYC (our flights were at 5:30 pm), I definitely feel like I made the most of the day!

While Tabatha and Josh headed to ground zero and the NYSE, I ventured toward 5th avenue to check out the Waldorf-Astoria (I had learned the history of the hotel the night before during the Titanic exhibit):

I also HAD to check out the hotel from one of my favorite TV shows!

I did some shopping, then headed north about 20+ blocks to take one last stroll through Central Park

Central Park on a Sunday afternoon is FULL of people, which made for some great entertainment. After my leisurely walk, I got to meet up with my high school friend Andria for lunch at an adorable Central Park restuarant. Andria has lived in NYC on and off since college, and I always love spending time with her. I feel like she leads a very exciting life, so I get to live vicariously for a few hours each time we're together!

The best decision I made all day was to stop in the 5th avenue H&M to check out the Jimmy Choo line of clothes, shoes and accessories that debuted the day before. I had decided it was not worth it to deal with the packed stores on opening day, but there didn't seem to be much of a commotion on Sunday. My decision paid off, and I walked away with a fabulous pair of shoes! (and a scarf)

After meeting up wtih J and T, we hopped in a cab and headed to the airport. It was touch and go for awhile as to whether or not we would get there in time, but we eventually made it with time to spare. We said goodbye to each other and NYC and headed back to the real world, which is always the worst part of any trip. Luckily, I get to see my friends again in a few short weeks, but I had forgotten how much I love visiting New York. Hopefully it won't be another 5 years before I visit again!

the big apple . . . day 3

2009-11-23T14:33:00.002-06:00

I took this picture of Tabatha on Saturday morning in NYC because I thought she looked very "New York" with her scarf, designer bag, and coffee. I love it!

We headed out Saturday morning to the meatpacking district for a fabulous brunch at one of my favorite places, Pastis. It was amazing - Tabatha had the eggs benedict, while I was very adventurous and ordered eggs a la basquaise. I don't speak French, so I have no idea what that means, but it was very good! Plus, on the way there, we saw Tate Donovan jog by - I loved him as Rachel's boyfriend Joshua on Friends and as Jimmy Cooper on the O.C. He's the only "celebrity" we saw during our trip but I'll take it!

After brunch, we took some time to walk through the meatpacking district, the village and soho and stopped at one of my favorite sites in new york - the building from "Friends"

Even though it was raining and gross outside, we didn't let it slow us down! We stopped into lots of stores like marc jacobs, christian louboutin, h&m, and topshop. I refrained from making any purchases which was TOUGH!

After walking what felt like most of manhattan in the drizzle and fog, we headed back towards midtown to take a tour of SATC sites. I took this same tour several years ago - back when it was about 20 people on a bus and lasted a couple of hours. Now, it's at least 3 packed charter buses, lasts almost 4 hours, and is FULL of sites from the series and the movie. Some of our favorites:

cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery. No one appreciates my love for cupcakes like Tabatha!

Drinks at Aidan and Steve's bar:

After looking at these pictures, I realize it is true what they say about horizontal stripes.

and the restaurant where Carrie and Big had their rehearsal dinner:

the rehearsal dinner table:

the site of Carrie's "last single girl kiss"

After the amazing SATC tour, we met up with Josh for some New York pizza and rested our legs for a little bit. Once dinner was over, I headed down the street to the Titanic Artifacts Exhibit, which was open late. I think I spent about 2 hours walking through the exhibit, reading about all the artifacts, building and cost of the ship, voyage, and a little bit more about some of the passengers. There were even portions of the ship that had been recreated, PLUS there was a giant iceberg to give you an idea of just how cold the water was that night. The last part of the tour was a list of each passenger, which class they were in, and whether they lived or died the night the Titanic sank. It was such an informative exhibt in addition to being very emotional.

I met up with T and J afterward at an Irish Pub for a drink and we did one last thing Saturday before the end of the night:

It was totally worth it!

the big apple . . . day 2

2009-11-19T14:04:00.001-06:00

Friday in NYC was fantastic! We slept in and made our way over to Rockefeller Plaza to catch the end of the Today show, check out the ice skating rink, and check the progress of the giant tree set-up. Along the way, we snapped a picture at one of Bobby Flay's restaurants.

We walked from 30 Rock over to Serendipity for an awesome lunch. The best part about it (other than the frozen hot chocolate, of course) was sitting next to the bright pink Christmas tree. I've got to get one of those for my house next year!

I bought the frozen hot chocolate mix so I can make some at home. Do you think this is as good if you don't use whole milk? I doubt it. . .

Because we couldn't get enough at Serendipity, we stopped into Dylan's Candy Bar for some more treats -

We took a walk through Central Park 1). because it's beautiful and 2.) to work off some of the sugar. The fall leaves were amazing!

Next we stopped into the Plaza for a drink - after we posed for a picture at the fountain.

We also hopped into FAO Schwartz so Josh could play on the BIG piano and I could snatch up a gift for my nephew. I apologize to the rest of the family that none of you got gifts from this trip!

From there, we headed down to Canal street/Chinatown to check out the scene. I have to say, I'm so thankful Josh was there with us! Here we are waiting on the street to make some maybe illegal purchases . . .

After we headed back to our hotel to get ready for dinner, we stopped in Times Square for another photo op. The weather was not so kind to our hair this trip!

Friday night, we had a date with Bobby Flay at Mesa Grill. Not really with Bobby, but with his amazing food (and drinks!)

After we ate as much as we could, we stopped at Lillie's for a few drinks before heading back home.

Full, happy and tired! We packed so much into Friday, but it was the perfect day!

the big apple . . . day 1

2009-11-16T20:30:00.001-06:00

After a couple of short delays, I finally landed in NYC on Thursday afternoon and was welcomed by some (not so) wonderful weather.

I really didn't care much about the weather, I was just so excited to finally see my friends! I met up with the Greenes in baggage claim (we were very fortunate our planes landed about 5 minutes apart) and we were off to explore the city!

Tabatha and Josh had never been to NYC, and I had not visited since 2004, so we were all VERY excited to be there. Once we checked into the hotel, Josh had a meeting, so T and I set off to do some exploring. . .

We stayed in tourist central - aka, Times Square, so we had to check out all the excitement in the area. This was actually the first time in my life I had someone tell me "no" when I asked if they would take a picture for me. Luckily, the next person I asked said yes!

We walked around, found a cafe and stopped in for a snack and glass of wine, and then headed back to the hotel to meet up with Josh. On the way there, we bought a bottle of wine, then realized we didn't have a cork screw. Luckily, the Sheraton had plenty of corkscrews and sent one up:

That was, of course, before we realized that our not-so-cheap bottle of wine was actually a screw top! Gotta love NYC prices. . .

We drank our overpriced wine out of plastic cups in the lobby while waiting for Josh

We successfully navigated the NYC subway system and met up with one of my favorite gals, Lacy, and her husband Brian for dinner at Mad for Chicken- some of the best chicken I've ever had. I overheard someone say they fry the chicken twice, so that may have had something to do with it.

We also went a little Mad for Beer and got one of these cool contraptions for the table. Josh was excited.

After dinner, we headed around the corner to a bar called Stout for more together time. We had to say goodbye to Brian and Lacy shortly after so they could catch the train back to Long Beach. Little did Lacy know she would be headed to Puerto Rico the next day to celebrate her birthday!

braved the subway again (well after midnight) to get back to our hotel.

apparently, we were some of the only ones to ride it that late. . .

We stopped at CVS to get Josh something to take care of his heartburn. Apparently that chicken didn't agree with him as well as it did with me. Along the way, we stopped for some photo op's.

And Tabatha complained about all the trash on the streets.

weekend getaway!

2009-11-11T20:37:00.000-06:00

In just a few short hours, I'll be jumping on a plane to meet one of my favorite travel partners . . .

in one of my favorite cities:

the BIG apple!

Shilah's birthday!!

2009-11-08T20:23:00.000-06:00

Shilah had another birthday recently, and to celebrate we had dinner at primo's followed by a funfilled night on the town! Jenne and I started by giving S her gift this year . . . .

the girls - Cayce, Jenne, Shilah and Laura

with Jenne

28!

birthday drinks . . .

with the birthday girl!

we're all very excited that jenne is back on orange juice. it's been a long road back!

the boys!

the girls!

jenne and shilah - best night ever.

after our night out, we had a nightcap at todd's place before having a giant slumber party at my place. we love our aero beds!

2009-11-04T14:03:00.002-06:00

I don't remember when I met Melissa, but it feels like I've known her my whole life. We went to different schools, but became fast friends and saw each other every Wednesday and Sunday at church. Then, in 6th grade, the greatest thing in the world happened - Melissa moved into my school district! We had several classes together and became even better friends, spent the night at each others' houses all the time, and I went home with her from school every Wednesday. During Christmas break in 6th and 7th grade, we took ski trips to Creede, CO where we stayed in her family cabin.

(If you click on these pictures, you can see where we signed the guestbook in '92 and '93!)

It was a very sad day in 9th grade when Melissa and her mom decided to move to Colorado for good! I have no idea how we did it back then with no cell phones, internet, skype, or frequent flyer miles (we must have written letters!!), but Mel and I stayed in touch.

Finally, 15 years after my last trip to Creede, I got on a plane last year and saw where my oldest friend had been living all this time . . .

So, when Mel called and said she would be in Waco for a weekend to visit family I figured out a way to get there ASAP. We had a magical night of George's, Rollo's and karaoke - and it was like she never left!

Halloween!!

2009-11-02T20:24:00.000-06:00

On my way to Austin over Halloween weekend, I stopped in Waco and was greeted by this little pumpkin:

On Saturday morning we had a breakfast tailgate (or 2) and headed to the Baylor game. . .

and it got a little sunny

but I did get to stick around long enough to see my sweet nephew in his costume. I have a feeling if he was able to tell us what he wanted to dress up as, this is exactly what he would have picked:

tradition

2009-10-29T09:24:00.000-05:00

Baylor Homecoming this year did not disappoint (well, except for the score of the football game) and it was so much fun to introduce some of my favorite people to the traditions I have come to know and love over the years.

We started the weekend at the pep rally and bonfire . . .

and as soon as Shilah, Mica and Jenne made it from Dallas, we headed to George's, of course:

notice that Shilah has to use 2 hands to hold her big O - that's how awesome they are.

Jenne loves George's too!

experiencing the Waco nightlife:

We got up bright and early to make it to the largest collegiate homecoming parade:

and I got to snuggle with my favorite tiny Baylor fan!

We even did a little tailgating - Baylor style - which means concealing your beverages and watching football games on TV that are much more exciting that your own!

Shannon and Ryan drove up from Houston, and this is the only picture I got!

We had another fun night out on Saturday, but sadly I did not get any pictures. We only lasted until about midnight due to our advancing age and lack of sleep the night before, but it was a good effort!

All in all, it was an awesome weekend - though, the highlight of the trip down to Waco had to be witnessing Jenne's first trip to an outdoor restroom:

Homecoming!!

2009-10-23T11:49:00.006-05:00

In honor of one of my favorite weekends each year, I decided to go through the photo archives and pull out some homecoming memories!

2003 - my first homecoming after graduation:

2005 - 3 months after moving to Chicago:

2006 - the weekend we stuffed a million wedding invitations:

2007 - the same 3 girls, one year later:

2008 - first homecoming since moving back to Texas:

I have so many amazing Baylor Homecoming memories, and I'm so excited to share this weekend with several friends who have NEVER been to Waco. I can't stop thinking about all the things we HAVE do in one short weekend! Regardless, I'm sure I'll have plenty to photos to add to my collection . . .

home sweet home!

2009-10-18T18:18:00.006-05:00

I finally finished unpacking my new home and took some pictures for all of my friends who haven't been able to see it in person yet.

Master bedroom:

Top of the stairs/bathroom/laundry:

Guest room/office:

Dining room:

Living Room:

Kitchen:

I am so lucky to have found such a great place to live in a perfect location! Come visit!

more miami pictures

2009-10-13T14:28:00.001-05:00

my good friend Kristen, looking out over the streets of Miami, thinking about what a disappointment the DASH Miami boutique turned out to be . . .

I had to talk her out of buying this shirt . . .

the BEACH!

vacation - had to get away

2009-10-06T16:01:00.000-05:00

I can't decide if I'm fortunate or cursed to have some of my greatest friends spread out all over the country - but for now I'm going with blessed! This past weekend I got to escape the Texas rain and travel to beautiful Miami, FL to visit Kristen at her temporary home-away-from-home. We also celebrated her -1 year anniversary, which means it is now officially less than one year until she becomes Mrs. A!

My trip to Miami was everything I wanted it to be - relaxing, sun-filled, good food, and quality time with my fantastic friend! We explored Miami, Coral Gables, South Beach, Miami Beach, Star Isle and even spent some time by the pool. Of course we also did some serious shopping, and checked out the DASH boutique, which was a big disappointment. In Kristen's words, "it smelled bad and they only had clothes for infants." I would like to add that the clothes they did have were hideous and nothing anyone I know would ever wear. Also, while we were eating lunch on Saturday in South Beach, I ran into several people I know! 2 gals from Waco and 2 of my XO sisters - I love the small world we live in!

I'm already thinking about when I can head back and enjoy the Florida sunshine - and the great company, of course!

the sun will come out tomorrow

2009-10-01T13:33:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow I'm getting on a plane to go visit one of my favorite people!! I'm so ready to get out of this rain and humidity and go to . . . Miami! So, it's probably more humid there, but I don't care because I get to spend the weekend with K-10.

I obviously think she's one of the funniest people in the world . . .

my favorite baylor bear

2009-09-29T22:19:00.001-05:00

The past couple of weekends have been so much fun for the entire family - we've all been able to go to the Baylor football games together, even sweet baby Mase. He lasted the entire first game and even took a short nap during halftime.

Luckily there are plenty of laps for him to sit in during the games!

oktoberfest and Jenne's birthday

2009-09-23T09:25:00.006-05:00

I don't know a lot about the actual Oktoberfest other than it takes place in Germany for at least 2 weeks at the end of September every year. Dallas holds it's very own version of Oktoberfest every year, so Jenne, Shilah, Mica and myself decided to brave the rain and mud in order to enjoy some true German culture and to celebrate Jenne's birthday!

After tasting some beers of the world, we moved the celebration indoors and across the street. Lucy and Will came from Austin to celebrate with the birthday girl:

and Mica entertained himself by becoming our photographer:

we don't know this guy, but he really wanted to be in a picture with us . . .

this picture is so funny to me. and it's also pretty funny that this is what happens to your hair when it rains for 2 straight weeks and is still 100 degrees outside.

some of my favorite psychs:

and some of my favorite newlyweds:

partying like it's 1999

2009-09-16T10:36:00.001-05:00

This month, I traveled to Waco (again!) to celebrate my 10-year high school reunion. I know not everyone looks forward to their high school reunions, but I was so excited to see everyone. I love that I went from kindergarten through 12th grade with most of these people, and we have SO many memories together!

Friday night we started the pre-reunion party at George's, of course!

Kristen, Alison and I not only went to school together, but started playing soccer on the same team when we were in elementary school. I have memories with both of these gals that go back as far as I can remember! Road trips, rain outs, plane rides, weekend tournaments, the list goes on . . .

With Lacy's husband, Brian. Love him!

I've also known Lacy and Natalie since elementary school. Lacy and I actually lived on the same street from kindergarten through 5th grade and we used to ride our bikes to school together. Natalie has always been the tallest girl I know, and she's also the bravest! She has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and has already started fighting to beat it. I am SO glad she was able to come spend the weekend with us!

With Kimberly, Deanna and Lacy in the hallway where we spent TONS of time in our teenage years doing really important things like complimenting each others overalls. Kimberly and Lacy lived next door to each other for as long as I can remember and it was THE BEST NEWS EVER when they both got swimming pools in their backyards. Deanna and I became really close in high school and she is still one of the funniest people I know. I'm still bitter about the Texas ice storm that kept me away from her wedding day!

While we toured the "new" high school (which opened right after we graduated) Deanna and Andria did cheers in the arena.

All the girls in the choir room - our home away from home in high school. There was so much fun and drama that happened during choir and I look back on that time with the most fond memories!

Some of the greatest memories are from our choir trip to Canada in 1997 - we had so much fun looking through these pictures and reliving that long weekend:

Saturday night we had the reunion at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, complete with 90's music, a slide show of our yearbook, and those embarrassing name tags with our senior pictures on them!

Brooke was on the planning committee and did an amazing job! She and I became best friends in 6th grade and have been ever since! Brooke is even busier than I am, so it's tough to find quality time together, though going to her wedding in Italy was one of my favorite trips ever!

September 2005 - Torino, Italy

With Brooke's awesome Italian husband, Ale.

We had a lot of fun getting our girlfriends together to try and recreate my favorite picture from our senior trip to Cancun.

Summer of 1999

group photo:

Deanna's first trip to Waco in MANY years. Hopefully I can visit her in Nashville very soon!

Kristi and I became friends in junior high and then lived together freshman year at Baylor. We pledged the same sorority and have had lots of fun times together over the past 16 years.

Lacy and Brian won the prize for living the farthest from Midway High School - New York, NY. They also had an amazing wedding in Mexico a few months ago and won the prize for the most recently married.

At the after party:

Andria and I became really good friends in junior high, and I spent many weekends traveling the state to watch her compete in beauty pageants. She even won Miss Teen Texas when we were in high school! She also lives in NYC and I can't wait to visit her soon! Maybe we'll dance with Beyonce again just like the last time . . .

With Deanna, Kristi, Lindsey and Brooke.

with Kristi, Brooke, Deanna, Kimberly and Natalie

with Andria, Kimberly, Lindsay, Lindsey and Lacy. Lindsay and I were actually in the same class in kindergarten and became BFF immediately!

At the after, after-party with Andria, Kristen, Lindsay and Rachael

The weekend was so much fun and I loved seeing so many of my childhood/lifelong friends! The monsoon of a rainstorm was a little bit of a damper, but we didn't let it phase us. I am so lucky to have grown up surrounded by such amazing people and their families, and to still be so close with many of them today!

sweet baby G

2009-09-12T10:34:00.001-05:00

During one of my MANY trips to Waco this month, I was able to stop by and see one of my old college roommates and meet her darling new baby boy Gunner.

I'm sure Stacy loves that I took her picture while she was sleep deprived and overall exhausted, but she looks SO full of joy here! I lived with Stacy the year she met her now husband, and it has been so amazing to watch them go from dating to marriage to a family of three! Baby Gunner was so precious at less than a week old and of course incredibly tiny. That little boy is so lucky to have such amazing parents and I cannot wait to watch him grow up into an awesome person!

labor day weekend road trip!

2009-09-08T20:13:00.003-05:00

I love college football so much that I couldn't stand to be away from the action this weekend - even if I wasn't watching MY team (who won!). So, I ventured up to Stillwater with Mica and Shilah to watch the OSU Cowboys beat the Georgia Bulldogs.

We woke up early on Saturday morning to drive up in time to do plenty of tailgating before the 2:30 kickoff. There were SO many people - I love school spirit!

I don't really know what this thing is called, but apparently it's really cool - and Mica and Shilah really want one.

in the sold out stadium and sweating buckets!

the newlyweds back at their old stoping grounds:

we had to take a break after the game to rest up and shower after all the hotness. then . . . we headed out to the place where Mica and Shilah first met!

with our fantastic weekend hostess, Stacy:

On Sunday, I got a fantastic tour of Stillwater and the campus, which included:

who knew the country's first Sonic was in Stillwater, OK?!

All in all, it was the perfect 36-hour road trip - but the best part was driving back on Sunday night know we did not have to get up for work the next day! I spent all of labor day by the pool with friends, which was just what I needed. I'll clean my house another day . . .

weekend in waco

2009-09-03T19:50:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I made my way down to Waco for a couple of important events - 1) to get my hair done - very important!!
and 2) for baby Mase's dedication at church (much more important)

He looked so handsome in his little outfit and was absolutely precious of course!

the family:

the dedication:

after church, the entire family was able to get together for lunch - every day we get to spend with our grandparents is such a blessing!

my favorite picture I snapped:

my sweet baby nephew is getting so big! every time I go down there to visit he's grown and changed so much - I just hope he stays cuddly for a while longer

Moving day!

2009-08-31T13:20:00.002-05:00

Last weekend was incredibly busy with all of the packing, moving, and unpacking/getting organized that took place within 48 hours. However, I had the most amazing helpers - including this little guy!

I hope Mase makes lots of visits to my new place in the future!

After some last-minute packing Friday night, the movers came on Saturday morning (and so did Ashley and Jonathan! to move the remainder of their things into storage). Within 3 hours or so, the moving truck was loaded and then unloaded at the new place. We all worked incredibly hard, and I'm amazed at how settled I felt at the end of Sunday. Of course there are still a few odds and ends left to do, but I'm hoping to post pictures of my new home very soon!

Eli Young Band at the North Texas State Fair

2009-08-28T13:37:00.003-05:00

Last night, Jenne, Shilah, Mica and I ventured to Denton to the North Texas State Fair & Rodeo for the Eli Young Band concert. The NT State Fair reminded me so much of the HOT Fair where I spent lots of time growing up, plus it made for some excellent people watching. As an added bonus, we also collected several free koozies . . .

Mica and Jenne with corn dogs and beer - the essentials

with Shilah and Jenne - and the band in the back

the group!

and the Lymans - some of my favorite newlyweds

the concert was great, though we left a few minutes early to avoid getting caught in a downpour. thanks to Jenne for organizing - it was definitely worth the drive!

officially official!

2009-08-26T13:28:00.000-05:00

My friend Brooke sold Ashley and Jonathan's house (where I was living this past year while A & J are in California) and it became official on Monday! We were all pretty shocked by how fast it happened - the house went on the market on a Wednesday and there was an active contract by Saturday morning!

This past weekend, Ashley and Jonathan flew in from L.A. to close on the house and move out the rest of their furniture, etc. It was great to see them, but what an exhausting weekend! I know selling the house was emotional for Ash - she bought it before she got married and it will always be her first house. I lived there 3 different times - twice with Ash and once by myself, and grew to love the house almost as much as she did!

Definitely lots of memories here - especially before they got rid of the ping pong table!

take me out to the ball game . . .

2009-08-25T13:20:00.001-05:00

Last weekend, Jenne and I met Meredith in Arlington to watch the Rangers beat the Red Sox!

It was so much fun! One of my absolute favorite things to do is sit in a stadium, drink a cold beverage and watch baseball - there's not much that makes me happier!

I was having so much fun that I forgot to take pictures inside the stadium, but we got one on the way out.

Unfortunately, it is still insanely hot in August at night (which explains our glowing faces), but we recovered!

Fun in Ft. Worth

2009-08-23T13:09:00.001-05:00

A couple weeks ago, my friend Jaimie came to visit the lone star state. She's been an Arkansas resident for awhile (changed her license and everything!), so it's always nice when she's able to squeeze in a visit. Now that she's started law school I don't know how much free time she'll have!

While she was in town, Jaimie wanted to do all of my favorite things, which worked out perfectly - lunch and shopping, lots of pool time, and of course - dinner at Joe T's -

I love this picture of Jaimie - so cute!

of course, the time went by way too fast, but we hope she'll be back for another visit soon!

Bob Schneider at the Granada

2009-08-22T12:58:00.000-05:00

Indoor concerts are the best - especially when you live in a place where it's still triple digit heat long after the sun goes down. A few weeks ago, my friend Brad got a big group together to see Bob Schneider in concert at the Granada, which was the perfect way to wind down the summer.

I invited my friends Brooke, Tamara and Jenne and we had way too much fun! Of course we started the night with dinner at Blue Goose, then headed to the concert.

Bob was great and played non-stop for over 2 hours - I was very impressed . .

with my good friend, Brooke. we went to jr. high, high school and college together, and are becoming even better friends now that we're neighbors!

Even though the concert was inside, I still got really hot and sweaty - though everyone else managed to stay looking fab.

with my sweet friend, Liz. we spent every free weekend out by the pool together this summer and had lots of great times!

We're all really excited Bob is coming back to the Granada next month and plan to do it all over again!

packing, moving, moving, packing

2009-08-19T09:58:00.000-05:00

I hate moving. It is one of my least favorite things to do and I try to avoid it at all costs. I hate that I'm moving out of my adorable house that has been my home for the last 13 months! However, I can no longer commute almost an hour to/from work each day. Seriously - I did it for 2 weeks and was a mess.

I found an adorable townhome exactly 7 miles from my office (the closest I have EVER lived to my job), and I'm hopeful that I will live there for awhile.

Over the past few weeks I have been taking my time with the packing (because I hate it!), but I'm almost done.

Guess what is in ALL of these boxes??

I may have a bit of an addiction . . .

My new office!

2009-08-14T14:50:00.004-05:00

I have recently joined the working world "officially" and had to share a picture of my new office! It's not complete yet - I need to frame my licenses and bring them in, and hopefully I'll have a diploma very soon to put somewhere!

I have a row of cabinets and drawers along the wall to the left, and the entrance to the office is to the right of the blue bookcase. There is a wall of windows directly behind my desk. The sun never shines in them directly, so I don't have to worry about a glare or the heat. The room itself is actually pretty big, which is great because I tend to work best when I'm sitting on the floor surrounded by piles of papers.

The psychologists' offices are unique in that we are in a building separate from everyone else, so no one really comes into our offices except for us! So, I'm working hard to make it a comfortable/pleasing work environment for me. I might need to get another plant or something. I'm still on the lookout for the perfect picture of Chicago . . .

Countdown to NYC

2009-08-10T13:32:00.002-05:00

Today it became official - I'll be heading to NYC in less than 3 months with one of my favorite traveling partners!

Tabatha's husband, Josh, is attending a conference in the big apple and suggested she bring a friend to hang out with while he's busy doing whatever lawyers do at conferences.

I see a lot of shopping and cupcake eating in our future!!

The last time I was in NYC I was dancing in a club next to Beyonce and Jay-Z. It will be interesting to see how this trip compares - especially now that I'm so much older and wiser . . .

Going where I've never gone before - NoDak!

2009-08-06T23:23:00.010-05:00

When I met Shilah last year, it was the first time I'd ever met someone from North Dakota - and now I've been there! Not only have I been there, but I loved it. What I saw of the state is gorgeous - so green, rolling hills, lots of farmland - plus I got to celebrate with Shilah and Mica at their wedding.

I flew into Minneapolis, met up there with Jenne, and drove the 3.5 hours to Fargo. We got there just in time to check into the hotel and head to the rehearsal dinner, at the Fargo Air Museum.

with Linda and Jenne

Linda and her husband Ryan - we're so excited they finally get to live in the same city after one LONG year apart!

with Jenne at the air museum

the bride and groom at the rehearsal dinner

the beginning of the after-party/downtown Fargo

with the groom/the 7th intern

with the brother of the bride - we just wanted to listen to him talk

my North Dakota friend!

We all (other than the bride) stayed out WAY too late and slept in the day of the wedding. We walked around a bit and had lunch in Fargo, then got ready for the party bus to pick us up and take us out to the Scherweit farm for the wedding

on the party bus with Jenne

interns and dates

we were so excited to finally be at the farm we had been hearing about all year - it did not disappoint

I wish I had taken more pictures at the farm, but I love this one of Jenne and Linda in the garden

we got really excited at our table when they brought out our favorite champagne - I think we hoarded it a bit

the group I affectionately call the "A" team. there is nothing like the bonding that happens through internship.

with Jenne and my new BFF/roommate Shannon

our other new friend James. he reminded us that mixing pain killers and alcohol is a terrible idea

bride and groom with her brother & sister

with the brother of the bride and greg's hand

with Jenne and greg's hand

the bride and groom. love them.

the boys and the DJ

the last party bus picked us up from the farm around 2:30am, which meant it was another late night - but totally worth it!

the next morning we said goodbye to Linda, who headed back to TN

and the rest of us headed out to the lakehouse. it took us awhile to rally and get our second wind, but we were good to go around sunset

the girls getting ready for the boat ride - it was chilly!

the groom got this shirt as a wedding gift. seriously. but the sunset was fantastic

finally on the boat!

best sunset cruise ever. oh there's greg's hand again.

Jenne and I stayed at the lake until after midnight, and then started our 3+ hour journey back to Minneapolis. Not the smartest, but we had to get up early the next morning to go to . . .

the Mall of America!

it was so much fun, but would have probably been better after more sleep. however, there was no sales tax, which helped.

I had no idea what to expect from my weekend in ND, and all in all, the trip exceeded my expectations by 1,000%. And the best part - Shilah and Mica live in Dallas, so I get to see them all the time!

Top Chef Masters

2009-07-30T13:41:00.005-05:00

Summer is pretty much the worst time for television, but there are several shows on right now that I'm loving - one of them is Top Chef Masters

I don't consider myself a foodie at all, and I don't really like to cook - though I love watching these types of shows. The food network is one of my favorite channels, and I've recognized a lot of the chefs on Top Chef Masters this season.

I'm especially loving the finals because 2 of the top 5 chefs have restaurants in Chicago that are on my "must eat at" list every time I visit.

Art Smith is the chef/owner at Table 52 and was Oprah's chef for 10 years.

My first time to eat there was with mom and Cari when they came to visit in Feb. 2008. I'll never forget it - deviled eggs, goat cheese biscuits, cornmeal crusted catfish, okra, cheese grits, collard greens, hummingbird cake . . .

I've been back a few times and even got to go on a Sunday - the only day the fried chicken is served. Definitely worth it.

Rick Bayless is the chef/owner of Frontera Grill/Topolobampo, where they serve the famous Sopa Azteca - I could eat it every day!

I'm definitely pulling for one of these chefs to win! Hooray for good summer television . . .

Chicago: in pictures

2009-07-29T12:32:00.004-05:00

I was so fortunate to be able to spend over a week in Chicago after my dissertation defense. Looking back, I wish I had taken more pictures, but in many ways it just felt like being at home again!

Mom flew from Waco to Dallas and we met at DFW for the flight to Chicago:

after dinner at Hub 51 we had dessert at our hotel, the Hyatt Regency:

the Hyatt is also home to the BIG bar, which I first saw on the Food Network and became obsessed with:

the view from our room:

at the bus stop on Michigan Ave:

after the successful defense meeting - with my chair:

finally celebrating at the BIG bar:

and with dinner at Table 52 with my gal Maria:

Mom and I spent all of Thursday shopping and had dinner at Food Life in Watertower. We had sushi at Toro on Friday before mom had to head to the airport for her flight back to Waco. Friday night, I met up with some of my favorite people:

Katy

and Bridget:

Over the weekend I met up wtih Tabatha and Josh, and we took a road trip with their niece, Anna:

we went to Michigan in back in just a few hours!

Tabatha and I did tons of shopping in the suburbs, and Maria met us one night for dinner and drinks on the patio - the weather was AMAZING!

While I was in Chicago, the historic SEARS tower changed its name:

I got to visit my favorite little places for eyebrows, nails, etc. and got to eat at all the best places! I met with Audrey and with Ashley, got to see my friend Elizabeth and her 2 kiddos, Aree and Matt AND ended my trip with the best thing -

Ann Sather cinnamon rolls:

All in all, a magical trip! I'm scheduled to go back in December, but I don't know if I can make it that long without some time in the Windy City!!

Totally worth it . . .

2009-07-27T15:21:00.004-05:00

The past few days I have realized that all of that hard work these past few years to make it through graduate school was totally worth it - especially because I get to enjoy these amazing treats!

My sweet baby nephew (and his parents) sent me this darling cookie bouquet:

and I received this edible fruit arrangement this morning from my aunt and uncle:

I love these very thoughtful, generous and useful gifts! Perfect timing, too, since I've been out of town for so long and had no groceries. . .

4th of July

2009-07-26T15:01:00.000-05:00

4th of July is one of my favorite holidays, though I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's more acceptable to eat hotdogs, or just the patriotic-ness of it all - I love fireworks, apple pie, and I get teary every time the veterans stand up in church on Sunday morning.

This year, I went to Kaboomtown in Addison for the first time and it was fantastic! It wasn't the same as fireworks in Grant Park during Taste of Chicago (or watching them from a rooftop hot tub nearby), but it was an amazing show choreographed to music - very impressive.

Bethanny and I met up with some friends before . . .

and Shilah and Mica met us there too. How they found us in a crowd of 100,000+ I'll never know!

The next day, I drove down to Waco and began my week long staycation in central texas. I got to spend a lot of quality time with family which is what I love most about living only 100 miles away!

I got to be there for Mase's first fireworks and I think he really liked them!!

I also got to be there for Mase's first trip to the Galleria - I had to introduce him to my 2nd home. Wouldn't have missed it for the world! He didn't quite take to it as I had hoped, but he has plenty of time. For now, I'm happy to do all of his shopping for him . . .

I love a good party . . .

2009-07-25T14:43:00.000-05:00

I always love a good social event, and had a lot of fun recently hosting a few showers. Just before the end of internship, Linda and I threw a bridal shower for our friend Shilah, who is getting married August 1st! We had so much fun putting it together and celebrating with Shilah, and it was nice to have something fun to do those last few days of "work"! I'm so excited to venture to NORTH DAKOTA for the wedding, and to celebrate with Shilah and Mica (who was basically the 7th intern this year).

the bride and hostesses:

the interns:

A couple weeks later, Mom, Nanny, Paige and I threw a Sip-and-See for Cari and baby Mase. He was a total rockstar baby the entire time, looking around, smiling, and flirting (In my opinion) with all the ladies.

modeling one of his gifts:

pictures I stole from Paige:

another year, another job

2009-07-20T14:25:00.000-05:00

When you do what I do, you go through LOTS of training. In fact, every year brings with it a new job. In all - I've had 3 years of practicum training + 1 year of internship, meaning every year I work with a totally different group of people. While that's definitely been one of the perks of my training and I've met some of my very best friends, it's always sad to end a year and say goodbye to those who are moving and moving on.

July 1st, we celebrated our last day of being interns! Looking back, the year totally flew by, though there were times we thought we'd never finish. Witness - the countdown chain:

The night before, I flew in from Mexico and headed straight to the "last night" celebration/goodbye party.

We got up bright and early the next day to come to work, turn in our computers, and cut the last link off of our countdown chain.

When I interviewed back in January 2008, I knew I loved the place, though I had no idea what God had in store for me. I ended the year with so many amazing friends and memories and I will NEVER forget everything we went through this year - most of it totally unrelated to work!!

dunzo

2009-07-16T22:26:00.000-05:00

After about a million years in school, I defended my dissertation and am officially done. done. done. After a fantastic defense meeting that was a LONG time coming, I celebrated/relieved some stress with the world's largest cosmo (or atleast the largest I've ever seen).

Mom had started the celebration the night before with a gigantic mudslide.

The celebration has continued - including amazing times with some of my favorite people, and stops at:

- Hub 51

- Frontera/Topolobampo

- Table 52

- Sushi Toro

- Food Life

- Pops for Champagne

- Jr's

- Berry Chill

and more!

life changes...

2009-07-14T11:54:00.001-05:00

As I type, I am sitting in the Admirals Club at DFW waiting for mom's flight from Waco so we can head to Chicago. After about 18 months of work, I am finally ready to defend my dissertation, and hopefully fulfill all of the requirements for my doctoral degree. I cannot describe what I am feeling right now - other than anxiety - but I know I am ready for this to be over!

Yesterday, I signed a contract for my new job that starts in August, and also signed a lease for a new place to live. Talk about a crazy week! To say I'm excited about the future is an understatement! Thank you so much for all the prayers, love, and encouragement you have sent my way over the past few months - and years! Hopefully I will have good news very soon!

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-08T11:59:00.002-05:00

In between my fabulous Mexico vacation and leaving for Chicago next week, I took a few days "off" to travel to Waco and play with this little lovebug. I can't get enough!!

Back from Mexico!!

2009-07-01T23:48:00.003-05:00

After a fantastic 5-day trip to Mexico for Lacy and Brian's wedding, I landed last night and returned to the real world today. Lots more pictures and stories to come - for now, I've got to catch up on some much-needed sleep.

weekend in the windy city

2009-06-19T16:57:00.008-05:00

I was incredibly lucky to make it on the last flight out to Chicago Thursday night. Tabatha picked me up at O'Hare and we headed straight to the store for weekend snacks before settling into the condo for a late-night gab session while enjoying the awesome city view!

On Friday afternoon, I was able to share in the excitement and celebration of several good friends officially becoming doctors!

I spent all of last year working with these girls day-in and day-out at Cook County Hospital (hospital that inspired the show ER) and we became very close throughout all of our crazy experiences!

with Dana - Holly - Vivianna

and with my girl Dana, who has been a great friend since we worked together at Hartgrove Hospital, and shared in two awesome trips to Vegas (2008 and 2009)

After the graduation celebration, I headed to Citizen (site of my going-away part this time last year) to have a mini-reunion with the Hartgrove Hospital crew. We had so much fun catching up and reminiscing - and hope to catch up again at Melissa's wedding in Mexico next year! Every single one of these girls (other than me!) is headed to internship in the next few weeks (everywhere from California to New York) and I'm so proud of them!!

Josh finally joined us from the suburbs and we had late-night dinner and drinks in the Greene's old 'hood.

I love this picture in the condo lobby. I wonder if I can get one for my house . . .

Saturday we had lunch at Sushi Toro of course!! A trip to Chicago is never complete without it!

We braved the crazy weather (it's June and we're wearing jackets!) for the Wells Street Art Festival

and Kristi flew in from Houston to hang out for a bit!

(on the balcony at my old apartment. miss that building like crazy)

Saturday night we ordered in and enjoyed an amazing view of the city from the rooftop hot tub. Sunday morning I met Kristen for breakfast at Nookies. Poor Kristen had been packing and moving out of her apartment ALL weekend and was exhausted!

Saying goodbye to the EDGE apartment - going to miss this place like crazy!

I can't believe the next time I see hre she'll be living in Miami!

All in all, it was another perfect weekend in Chicago - AND I get to go back in a month and stay for 9 days. My home away from home . . .

fantastic coincidence

2009-06-15T19:53:00.002-05:00

My flight to Chicago was supposed to leave on Thursday evening at 6:30. When I got in from lunch, I checked the flight status and saw that it had been cancelled - along with most of the flights out of DFW that day - so I headed to the airport to see what I could do. I got on the standby list (along with 150 other people) for one of 2 flights going to Chicago that night, and headed to the Admiral's Club to relax and have a cocktail.

I was trying really hard to relax and think positively about getting to O'Hare that night, and also tried to convince myself the world would not end if I could not go. While walking through the club, I ran into the perfect person to see in that moment -

my friend Bethany!

Bless her heart, she had been at DFW since 5:30 that morning trying to get to Boston, and I ran into her at 4pm! It was so great to see her and we spent the rest of our wait laughing, talking and drinking wine, which definitely helped us to relax!

I still can't believe we ran into each other in the HUGE DFW airport. It made the evening so much more bearable - actually it was pretty fun!

** Luckily, Bethany made it on a 7:15 flight to Boston, and I got on the 8:20 to Chicago! More to come . . .

Hall of Fame

2009-06-11T10:13:00.004-05:00

In my previous life, I kind of used to be somewhat of an athlete. I played several sports for as long as I can remember, but softball is the one I stuck with through high school. My junior year, our high school softball team won the Texas 4A State Championship, and we were recently inducted into the Midway High School athletic hall of fame.

The ceremony took place in the "new" high school (built after I graduated) and was fantastic! It was so much fun to see everyone - and their families - that I spent so much time with throughout my younger years.

Ricky, Cari, Mase, Mom and Dad all came -

and I had the cutest date there!!

really, he is just that cute!

Since he's so cute, I had to include one more picture of my favorite nephew:

countdown to Mexico

2009-06-07T21:00:00.002-05:00

This weekend, we celebrated the upcoming wedding of Lacy and Brian with a couples' shower by the pool. The happy couple is getting married in Mexico at the end of the month, so this weekend was just a little preview of things to come - complete with plenty of margaritas.

It was so much fun to catch up with friends I don't get to see that often, and reminiscing is always fun. Lacy's MOH put together an amazing slide show that included pictures I had not seen since middle school. Luckily, we've changed a bit since then!

After the shower, we all headed to Loft 610 for VIP service and an all-night dance party.

(please excuse the sweat - it's hot in Texas. even inside.)

We had so much fun, and I cannot even imagine 5 whole days of this in a few weeks. The countdown to Mexico is ON!

My favorite season - wedding season

2009-06-03T09:58:00.005-05:00

In the midst of all the excitement surrounding baby Mase's arrival, I had the pleasure of attending a fantastic wedding! Keri and Greg were married on May 16 and pulled out all the stops for one of the most fun wedding receptions I've ever attended (pictures from the photo booth at the reception will remain unposted for now). I've known Greg since Baylor, and the happy couple recently purchased a house right around the corner - so, I hope I see them a lot more in the near future! One of the best parts of the wedding weekend was getting to spend more time with my gal Jaimie, who made the 5 hour trek from Arkansas to spend a couple nights in the great state!

With Jaimie and Elizabeth, feeling very short (and you know I was wearing my big girl shoes):

With the bride!

With the best man:

Fun wedding friends:

Keri had a bucket of flip-flops next to the dance floor for all the ladies to change into when the party picked up - genious idea!!

So, Jaimie and I met some awesome girls who just graduated from college and happened to be XO sisters. Of course we had to take the obligatory pic:

The perfect wedding and reception were topped off with the most elaborate hospitality suite/after-party I've ever seen. Everyone in this picture lasted until 4:30 am except for the one in the purple dress. Not even close. . .

Cheers to wedding season! Next up - Lacy and Brian in Mexico!!

Guess what I got?

2009-05-28T14:19:00.002-05:00

My very own "swimming" pool!

Since I now have a fantastic backyard and live in a part of the country where it is 100 degrees in the middle of the night, I invested ($30) in an inflatable pool. I have 3-day weekends starting next week and then - summer vacation!! Hopefully I'll get my money's worth . . .

The Best Day

2009-05-17T14:15:00.004-05:00

I have been a very delinquent blogger between our school district's swine flu break, TAKS testing, and the greatest day the Connell family has had in a long time. Meet the newest member of our family:

MASEN ALLEN EDISON (Mase)
5-11-2009
7:47 p.m. 6lbs. 15oz.
19.25 inches

I am obviously very behind due to 2 trips back and for the Waco in one week, and just now uploaded pictures from Cari's baby showers, so please check out Paige's blog for a full recap!

I have been reminded countless times this week just how amazing God is. He brought Cari and Ricky (and the rest of us) the perfect baby at the perfect time, and it has been such a blessing to watch Cari and Ricky become a family of three! We're definitely looking forward to tons more memories in the near future!

Bottomless Brunch

2009-05-03T14:29:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Bethany and I started off with a fantastic 3-hour brunch that consisted of scrumptious food, fabulous company and conversation, great people-watching, and the cherry on the top: bottomless beverages.

We definitely took advantage:

I'm looking forward to making this a weekend tradition!

Vegas Days 3 and 4

2009-04-30T09:27:00.010-05:00

I've finally posted the rest of my pictures (actually just some highlights)!

We started off Saturday at the pool - as soon as we woke up - which is a good thing, because TAO beach gets super-crowded by noon. There were people laying out on the concrete almost on top of each other because there was no space. Luckily, we had plenty of room on our own huge daybed!

I think Megan lasted about 2 hours (the fairest one of all), and Dana was itching to get back to the spa not long after that . . .

Bethany and I braved the sun until it disappeared behind all of the buildings - we couldn't get enough! Hopefully that was just a preview into our summer in Dallas. I see lots of pooltime in our future.

The funniest thing about TAO beach is that it's pretty much just an ouside club where people wear swimsuits, full makeup, high heels and have their hair done perfectly. I'm pretty sure we were the only gals there who were more interested in swimming and getting some sun than in dancing on tables, though it made for some excellent people watching!

We recharged and got ready to explore the strip before our last night out. This very interesting bench was right outside of our room, and made for fantastic pictures the entire weekend:

We did some shopping and had dinner in Caesar's, where all of the shops stay open until Midnight (a fantastic idea)!

this is always funny to me - no idea why . . .

and we took this picture for Tabatha!

Finally - heading out for our last night!

our amazing hotel. my favorite.

always our favorite part of TAO - though this time the girls in the tub had already gone home!

the end of our last night in Vegas:

Our last day! Enjoying the room for one last time . . .

Megan's flight was at 6:30 a.m., so she was gone by the time we woke up! The rest of has had brunch in our hotel and headed to the airport . . .

Until next year! Can't wait!

Workin' for the Weekend

2009-04-27T22:40:00.003-05:00

I realize it has been a month since I went to Las Vegas, and I intend on posting the rest of the pictures, but lately my free time (read: weekends) have been insanely busy. Example - My weekends from March 14th through present:

- 2 in Chicago
- Las Vegas
- 3 guests all weekend for Cari's Dallas baby shower
- Easter weekend in Waco
- Cari's Waco baby shower

So, this past weekend I was finally in Dallas and had an incredible time!! I spent Friday after work doing the happy hour hop with my work girlfriends, followed by a sleepover. Of course I was wiped and fell asleep by 11, so I was wide awake by 5:30 a.m. - gotta love the "real world"!

I spent Saturday lunching and shopping with my friend Brooke, then met Bethany for dinner at Hully and Mo's, a play (Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Nile") at Theatre 3, drinks at Nick & Sam's, and late-night socializing in Uptown.

On Sunday I was definitely thankful for evening church, and so glad I was finally able to make it! I went to a friend's house afterward for h'orderves, wine and girl talk. It was a fabulous night to sit outside and the company was perfect.

In addition to all the fantastic friend time, I also cleaned my entire house, ran lots of errands, made a photobook, downloaded 4 audiobooks and TURNED IN A DRAFT OF MY DISSERTATION.

THAT is why I need my weekends. Love 'em!

Vegas Day 3 Preview

2009-04-16T21:46:00.004-05:00

Our Saturday in Las Vegas consisted of about 8 hours of this:

We got to the grand opening of TAO Beach about 11 a.m. and stayed until the sun disappeared. TAO Beach is basically an outdoor club where you wear your swimsuit, and the 4 of us were definitely the only gals out there who weren't in full makeup and perfect hair. We had a fantastic place to lay out, soaked up the sun, enjoyed some overpriced cocktails, had tons of girl time, and loved the awesome people-watching. I think I want to turn my back yard into TAO Beach. Or at least get a little plastic pool. . .

Las Vegas 2009: Day 2

2009-04-12T22:47:00.009-05:00

Our first full day in Vegas was indescribable, though I'm going to give it my best shot. We slept in and made our way through our maze of a hotel until we finally reached the Canyon Ranch Spa, where we spent the next 7 hours.

Canyon Ranch was hands-down the best spa experience I've ever had. The first couple of hours we did massages, facials and pedicures - then we explored the rest of the spa. There must have been at least 15 different things to try including a salt grotto, wave room, thermal spa cabins, Caribbean rain storms, the igloo room, and Aquavana (not to mention the requisite steam room, sauna, whirlpools, etc.) We had lunch in the Canyon Ranch Cafe in the midst of all the relaxing. I think all 3 of us felt like limp rags the rest of the day - I cannot remember the last time I was so relaxed!

We headed to the pool for about an hour - what was left of daylight - before I headed in to get ready and have a drink with a friend of mine who lives in Vegas. Apparently Dana and Bethany fell asleep by the pool, but we met back in our room a couple hours later!

While Dana was getting ready . . .

Bethany and I took some photos around the room:

When we were ready, we headed to Caesar's where I always love to take a picture at this place:

and then headed to one of my favorite restaurants!!

We got to Mesa Grill, one of Bobby Flay's restaurants, for dinner which started with the Maitre D' bringing over a goat cheese queso fundito appetizer - probably my favorite thing on the menu! I don't remember what everyone else had, but my salmon was melt-in-your-mouth amazing.

After our amazing dinner, the Maitre D' came back over to escort us directly into PURE - the nightclub at Caesar's Palace . . .

where we walked right into a performance by the Pussycat Dolls! I'm not sure what it is that they do exactly, but those girls are so much fun to watch! After about 5 minutes, we all decided we wanted to be one. Stay tuned for photos of our practice session. A few action shots. . .

After a little bit of dancing -

Megan showed up! yay! She was delayed a little in Phoenix and had to wait in a LONG taxi line, but the bouncers let her right in to meet us. (though I still think they take their job a little too seriously)

After the show:

P.S. - it took a lot of guts to stand next to this girl for a picture.

In true Vegas fashion, we stayed up way too late. Even though it was the wee hours of the morning and our feet were killing us from all the dancing, we had to wander around for at least one more picture.

Until day 3 . . .

my tax refund at work

2009-04-09T17:24:00.001-05:00

I make it a point every year to put my tax refund directly into my savings account - it's the smart thing to do, and I'm definitely at an age and point in my life where I need to start thinking about "the future". This year was no exception, however there is one thing I have had my eye on for almost TWO years. If you know me at all, you know that is a long time for me to wait. I first saw the Clarisonic at Bloomingdale's in Chicago back in 2007, and didn't really give it a second thought. Then it showed up on Oprah's favorite things, and I started hearing more about it. A few of my friends bought one and began raving about it, so I started doing some research and got hooked. After all, I love my Sonicare tooth brush, and it's basically like having one of those for your face. Finally, this week, I found a fantastic deal on Amazon (my favorite online shopping site) and my refund arrived, which gave me the extra push to pull the trigger.

It arrives tomorrow. I'll keep you posted. . .

Las Vegas: Day 1

2009-04-05T20:29:00.009-05:00

We packed so much into our 4-day Vegas weekend that I have to break it up into separate posts just to cover it all! I arrived before the other gals, checked us in, and explored our suite before climbing into one of the plush beds for a quick nap.

the view from our room - one of the MANY pool areas . . .

Dana arrived next and we had a great time lounging and chatting/catching up before Bethany made it to the hotel. We all rallied, started getting ready, and had a champagne toast to kick off the weekend!

Dana's favorite spot to get ready:

We quickly figured out how to set up the camera and pose in the entryway so we could get a group shot. The first of many!

For our first night, we decided to stay in our hotel and have dinner and go dancing at LAVO, the restaurant/nightclub in the Palazzo. A shot from the gorgeous Palazzo lobby at night.

LAVO was the perfect spot for our first night in Vegas. It was not nearly as crowded as some of the other Vegas hotspots and there was plenty of room to move around. We were the first people to start dancing, and pretty soon the entire place was up on their feet!

This was probably one of the more interesting restrooms I've ever seen, and the water for the sinks came out of the ceiling!

After dancing our little feet off, we finally decided to wander back to the room, and ended up having a little trouble finding our way . . .

The best part of roaming around a Vegas hotel after staying up half the night . . .

back to life, back to reality

2009-03-30T19:09:00.003-05:00

Back from Vegas (best weekend ever) and brought a sinus infection and laryngitis with me! I felt it coming on before I left, but was able to fight it for a few days. As soon as GG is over, I'm off to bed, but had to post a few of my favorite pics.
More to come!
xoxo

this is what happens when you walk back to your room in the wee hours of the morning. where are we?

the essentials:

Sin City!

2009-03-26T19:33:00.000-05:00

I'm posting for the first time ever from my phone so I hope it goes well! I just arrived at our enormous hotel room in Vegas and am waiting for the other gals to get here. I can't wait! Lots of pics and stories to come!

the rest of the story . . .

2009-03-24T17:36:00.000-05:00

The rest of my time in Chicago was filled with people I love, fabulous restaurants, productivity, and lots of fun!

Some of the trip in pictures . . .

lunch at Sopraffina with Ashley (right before she headed to the Bahamas):

2 nights in THE condo:

pre-dinner martinis at Dunlay's and sushi at Toro with Kristen, Dana . . :

Tabatha, Bridget, Maria (and Kelly on the phone!):

WE LOVE THIS PLACE!!

and dessert afterward at Molly's cupcakes:

the awesomeness:

wine night at Bin 36:

McKay's birthday celebration at Lucky Lady:

(with the Texas/Baylor crowd)

with Dana:

with Katie:

brunch at Yolk with Katie (no pictures!), and then the Field Museum for the "Real Pirates" exhibit (awesome!):

I spent the rest of the weekend at Kristen and Craig's apartment and had a fabulous meeting on Monday at school! My 9 days in Chicago was just what the Dr. ordered and I came back home feeling totally revived!

SPRING BREAK! (so far)

2009-03-18T12:12:00.003-05:00

So far, the trip to Chicago has been a huge success, and I still have 5 days to go! I got to check out Tabatha's (and Josh's) new apartment:

and of course we went to Sonic - one of our favorite things to do together:

We hit up the outlet mall in Aurora and braved the craziness that happens when the weather in Chicago is nice and EVERYONE is outside!

Here's a shot of the fabulous office where I'm working on my dissertation like my life depends on it (which it does):

and last night, I got to spend some time with my favorite ex-next door neighbor who is getting bigger by the minute!

I've been here since Sunday and already stayed with 3 different friends, met a different person for lunch every day, done LOTS of window shopping, written a good chunck of my dissertation, visited my favorite nail salon/spa, been to my old apartment and soaked up tons of gorgeous weather. Here's to 5 more spectacular days!

Wonderful Wednesday

2009-03-12T20:17:00.002-05:00

I had been looking forward to this Wednesday for a very long time and (in spite of the awful weather) it did NOT disappoint! I left work a little early and met mom at the Galleria for a couple of intense hours of shopping. It's funny how our shopping habits have totally changed lately to where we don't even look for anything for ourselves - it's all about baby Mase! We spent some time in a fabulous children's clothing store, sent several cell phone pics to Cari, and walked out with an adorable "coming home" outfit for the little man. With that task checked off our list, we put our Christmas giftcards to use and had a very indulgent dinner which included . . .

Then headed to The Majestic Theatre to see . . .

It was all in all the perfect afternoon/evening and I'm so glad Mom braved the storm and made the trip to Dallas!

Weekend in Houston

2009-03-08T19:22:00.002-05:00

Last weekend I flew to Houston to finally see Kristi and Lasater's new home, visit friends and family, and watch BU play in the Houston College Classic at Minute Maid Park. There was a moment during the game on Saturday when I was sitting there watching the Bears play and drinking a huge adult beverage when I thought to myself "life doesn't get much better than this!"

A couple of pics from the game:
with Kristi -

and with Cari (and baby Mase) -

Saturday night I went with the Millers(!) to the Houston Rodeo cookoff and we had tons of fun hopping from tent to tent eating, drinking and dancing.

While we were in the tent, a cold front came in. We had to bundle up to go outside.

these aren't ours - apparently people beyond college age think this is funny:

my favorite picture from the night, you know, because it's their last name . . .

My favorite thing about being back in Texas is definitely being a lot closer to family and old friends. I love fun weekends like this!!

Back to where it all began. . .

2009-03-04T23:21:00.006-06:00

Lately I've been missing Chicago more and more. I have no idea what kinds of things make me miss it so much, but I've been thinking about it more and more these days. My plan all along has been to work really hard and find a good job that starts in the fall, so that I will have plenty of time this summer to spend in Chicago before entering the "real world" for good.

Another part of my plan has been to spend all of Spring Break locked in a room at the library working on my dissertation (barf), which just plain has to get done. There is no more time to put it off.

So, back to missing Chicago more and more . . . after giving it a lot of thought and weighing the pros and cons (there actually are a couple) I decided to fly to Chicago for Spring Break this year and spend the week working on my dissertation at the place where it all began. . .

The first time I ever saw my school, my first ever trip to Chicago, and the trip where I decided I could definitely move to "the city" (March 2005):

Cari's first time to visit me (March 2006) and get a glimpse of the school that brought me to Midwest:

The Best Show on Television

2009-02-26T22:56:00.000-06:00

If you're not watching Friday Night Lights, you're missing out - on some of the best writing and acting on television . . .

and now good ol' boy Jesse Plemons (Landry) has his own Friday Night Lights blog . . .

Check it out!

ps - Thanks, Paige, for the tip.

VALENTINE'S Wedding Weekend

2009-02-18T20:54:00.004-06:00

This past weekend it was finally time to celebrate the marriage of Jaimie and Steve. I say finally because these two dated for several years before getting engaged - and I have thought of them as a married couple for so long!

After the rehearsal on Friday evening, we celebrated with the most fantastic rehearsal dinner ever at Joe T. Garcia's in Fort Worth.

With the bride:

With the groom:

glamorous picture right? I was out until 3 a.m. with the entire Moss family. It was awesome!

Valentine's Day/Bridesmaids brunch, complete with appropriate V-Day attire

With Jaimie on her wedding day!!

I went straight from the brunch to the MAC counter with Meredith to supervise her make-up appointment, which turned out AWESOME:

Gorgeous MOH!

Fabulous bridesmaids:

With my gals - Elizabeth and Meredith:

At the reception with Mom and Dad:

And of course, the most elegant bride you've ever seen:

More pictures coming soon. Congratulations Jaimie and Steve! I'm trying hard not to be jealous of your fabulous Mexican vacation!!!

Let the Countdown Begin . . .

2009-02-09T19:59:00.004-06:00

I'm beyond excited because I'll soon be spending a long weekend with some of my favorite people in Las Vegas! We booked a HUGE suite at my favorite hotel, the Venetia/Palazzo, are spending an entire day at the Canyon Ranch Spa, are going to relax by the pool and live it up at night. And I'm sure there will be a little shopping in there too! Just for fun, I thought I'd post some of my favorite pictures from past Las Vegas trips . . .

2005:

2006:

2007:

2008:

2009: COMING SOON!!

Double-Take

2009-02-06T20:15:00.000-06:00

Last year, my friend Stephanie came to visit me in Chicago and we spent the entire weekend shopping for the PERFECT dress for her to wear to a beach wedding in the Bahamas. After searching for days, we found the most amazing yellow dress - and then we both spotted it on the big screen in The Dark Knight a few months later.

Fast forward to last week when I was watching New in Town at the theatre and Renee Zellweger walked across the screen wearing my FAVORITE new coat.

I wonder if she wears it in real life.
I don't know why I think this is interesting - I guess it's more bizarre than anything else.

Weather update

2009-01-31T12:58:00.003-06:00

After having crazy weather this week (see previous post) and missing work on Tuesday AND Wednesday due to ice, the DFW metroplex is now enjoying temperatures in the 70s. Life is good again.

In other news, Chance and Paige are in town to visit her family, and while Paige was at the spa, Chance treated his older sister to a fabulous breakfast at Cafe Brazil.

Chance and I had a fantastic time chatting all about everything he's learned from Paige's subscription to Entertainment Weekly - from which girls on "The Bachelor" are the fan favorites to who is going to star in the new "Twilight" movie. Plus, he was very excited to tell me all about the shirts he got on sale this week - thanks, Paige, for giving me and Chance lots of great things to talk about!!

inclement weather days

2009-01-28T09:56:00.002-06:00

One thing I'm having to readjust to now that I live in Texas again, is the fact that everything shuts down when there is a little precipitation and the temperature falls below freezing. I'm going on my second day at home (don't be jealous - we now have NO Easter break in April . . .) and if you know me at all, you know that I'm practically tearing my hair out because I'm so bored.

That's not snow in the pictures, it's sleet. I couldn't get a good picture of the streets, but they are a solid sheet of ice - too dangerous for driving (or walking).

What I've done so far:

- watched all episodes of "The Bachelor" this season (so far)

- had 3 naps

- vacuumed and mopped my entire house

- watched "Revolutionary Road" - how depressing!

- thoroughly cleaned both bathrooms

- 3 loads of laundry

- did the splits in the middle of the street when I went out to get the mail (wearing my slippers)

- watched "The Reader" - had no idea what I was getting into

- made rice krispy treats - and threw in a hershey's bar for good measure

- completed all the assignments for my online class this week

- unpacked my suitcase from Christmas (don't judge)

- made Tortilla Cheese Soup

- watched the CSI:NY marathon that's on every morning - who knew?!

. . . and I have all of today to go. Maybe I'll write some reports or work on that pesky dissertation.

Jaimie's Bachelorette

2009-01-25T13:54:00.005-06:00

Last weekend I flew down to Austin to celebrate Jaimie's last few weeks as a single gal! She and Steve are getting married on Valentine's day, and a weekend in Austin was the perfect bachelorette party for Jaimie. I hooked up with Jaimie at DFW for the Dallas - Austin leg of her flight, and it was so nice to get some time to catch up. We landed around 9, dropped off our things at the hotel and headed to J. Black's for drinks, lots of dancing and a little food!

On Saturday, we slept in, had lunch at Maudie's in Westlake and did some shopping on S. Congress, where I totally broke the spending freeze I had put myself on for the month of January. There were just too many cute shoes!!

Elizabeth hosted all of us at her house for cocktails, appetizers, and to get the real party started.

We had a fantastic dinner at Maria Maria and spent the rest of the night on 6th street acting like 22-year-olds. It was the perfect weekend for Jaimie and I cannot wait to hang out with all of these girls again in a few weeks at the wedding!!