More Brunch Pictures

Attendees (darn-I didn’t get a group picture) Anna, Sarah, Donatella, Mom, Grandma, Faith, Leah, Sarah G, Marjorie, Jenny, Amy, Debbie, Jen (Nille-you were REALLY missed). The spread.->


(My mom-I LOVE her!!!) Here are some more pictures of the brunch. Our little town home was full and happy-it was wonderful. We finished off the day with a craft, making Christmas coasters which turned out beautifully. (I need to take some pictures of mine.)

Christmas Brunch.

Myles is the most amazing tree lighter. Several people asked if we had a pre-lite tree. BLAHH. I love real trees. The way they smell and the trip out to find the perfect one. Its like a tresure hunt. And this year-Myles and I hit the golden ornement. After going to the local nursury we realized that while out of college (yes) Paying > $100 for a tree is still above the McCormack price threshold (no). (Gosh-what is it about the Park Cities and price gouging). So we headed to ole faithful-Home Depot. Unlike the aforementioned posh nursery where the trees were all neatly displaced in orderly lines-branches out getting watered in organic cans-the trees at Home Depot were not even out of their twine. Myles and I wondered up and down looking and feeling a bit lost before I, in typical sanguine fashion, made friends with the cashier who let me borrow her clippers. Towards the back of an unceremonious pile of bound trees my eyes hit on one that didn't look like it was already dead. And I said: "well, lets try it". we unbound the tree and after a few very hard shakes to get the branches down we both looked at each other. PERFECT! And honestly. It was the best bit of luck because it is the most beautiful real tree I have ever seen. Its perfect!!!!
I still feel like kid at Christmas when decorating and putting everything out. There is just something so pure and so fun about the festive way the house looks after its done or the soft glow of the tree. In any case-we had everything up by Saturday night. YEAH.

My First-Commence the Season Holiday Brunch.
I got it into my head that I wanted to do a Christmas brunch somewhere between watching a Giada show where she had a Bellini bar to finding the perfect recipe for a Mediterranean tart.

It was a lot of fun. More pictures later.

Marjorie's Married!!!

Marjorie had a beautiful wedding. It was wonderful and crazy to see her walk down the aisle, my amazing friend since diapers. I could not have been happier for her. Kelley came in town from Boston and Ronni flew in from LA. It was wonderful to see them and laugh and be together. Its amazing how even though we don't see each other as much as we used to-the instant we are together there is that blanket of comfort...of knowing you are around a close old friend.

Life Snapped

Because a picture is worth a thousand words.....(and I've been a little crazy lately).

Myles and I at the Gala Grand Opening of the Joule. WOW. It was bar-none the most amazing event I have ever been to. (We later found out that those not on the VIP list paid $1,000 to get in that night.) Favorite Hotel: Joule Dallas. Favorite Lounge: PM (Joule hotel.) I won't bore you with the lavish decadence that was flaunted on each different level (Kobe beef slider anyone?) however, I will say that when we made it to the penthouse, there was a grand spread of the most delectable deserts I have ever eaten, or seen accompanied by none other that tall glasses of sparkling champagne. I almost took some of the little chocolate truffles and stuffed them into my handbag, however I did remember myself just in time. (Thankfully).

Sister night in Dallas. (Yes roof top bar. Amazing.)

Flowers from my man. He is wonderful. (And sometimes works until 2am).

Welcome back to TEXAS Scott and Paula!!!

Lucy's Married

My honey is the most handsome man-I love him!

It was beautiful!

Recent Events

Dan and Sarah came to stay with me while Myles was traveling. It was a ton of fun. Dan is thanking me for taking him to Chuy's.

Myles and I headed down to the hill county for our 1 year anniversary. It was so much fun! I really feel like I feel-in-love with him all over again, and yet more than before. It made me realize just how important it is to take time off to just be together.

I totally dropped the ball on taking pictures-but we both really enjoyed hiking around Enchanted Rock, and then having an amazing lunch at the famous Coopers in Llano.

I love traveling. Next year...Buenos Aires. Anyone in?

FUN WEEKEND!!!!

Congratulations AMY! Great party and fun times seeing my college roomies and ACU friends! Looking forward to Lucy's nuptials and getting to hang out more-(I love laughing with you all). You never looked better girls!

Concert in the Gardens for my mom's birthday-it was wonderful!!!



I love my hubby and my family!!!!

What are You Doing at 6:15 am on Saturday?

Beep beep…beep beep…beep BEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!. The alarm goes off and I awake in disbelief that morning has come so quickly. As I lean over to kiss Myles on the shoulder, and hear his incoherent “good luck” the thought hits me as it always does on Saturday mornings: “Am I insane”? Honestly, who in their right mind willing gets up early on a Saturday to push their body to the limit in a race leaving their groggy and oh-so-sexy husband asleep in a warm cosy bed? I push the thought aside, and stumble like a drunk to the kitchen and the smell of fresh coffee lifts my spirits instantly. (Shout out to the inventor of the programmable coffee maker.) After my first cup of coffee and ½ a banana I’ve almost forgot my insanity. I get ready with my sister in a running outfit laid out the night before, we grab our ipods, and a bottle of water and hit the door. In typical sister form we are running late to the race, and after a near collision and scramble to find a parking place we start jogging towards the start, and ½ way there we hear the gun go off. “HURRY” I yell to Anna, adrenaline pumping as I make a split second decision to run as a bandit and forgo my timed entry rather than start the race late. We pick up with the pack less than 2/10 of a mile from the start and we’re off. Despite the fact that we are late, and we had hopped to make a pit stop before the start, I’m feeling great. Amazing in fact, and quickly realize I’m going to run a fast race. I fly down the first stretch of the 5 miler barely stopped to throw back some water, and at the turn around I still feel strong, picking up speed the cool morning air giving me wings. I finished the race with a PR-it was wonderful. And then there is was, that feeling crossing the finish line, the euphoric sense of accomplishment-the sense of winning. No I didn’t win, the race, didn’t come in first in my age group, and was passed towards the end by a lean man pushing a stroller. However, I won for myself; my 8:20 split was my fasted 5 mile pace ever. I won against myself. Anna soon joined me and we headed to the refreshment tables. We found a sunny stop to sit in the warm grass, and enjoy our bounty: egg and potato filled taquitos, pizza, fruit, and beer. Yes, low calorie ice cold beer. I’m quite sure I’ve never had beer and pizza at 9am and its never tasted so good. A personal best, a beautiful day, the drug like endorphins cursing through my body, and a profound feeling of camaraderie with the 2k+ runners. Then I remember. This is why I keep coming back. This is why I run.

What does the Smell of Warm Concrete Mean to You?

Can a smell truly conjure up a memory? Is it possible to long for a place like you long for a person? What is the essence of an emotion? What does missing something truly mean? Am I living for a past that will never again be? Or hoping for a possible future and a reality that is different than my memory?

Walking downtown a few days ago to pick up my lunch the warm sun was beating down on the concrete of downtown. It smelled like New York in the summer. And a wave of nostalgia rolled over me and I wanted to cry from the passion of it. Cry with missing a life that I adored and a love affair I was involved in with a city. Cry from the jagged way I had to break up with my city just at a point when we had come to an understanding and supreme appreciation for each other. Cry because I didn't get to see another New York fall, didn't get to run the NYC Marathon as a New Yorker, cry because I never have that feeling walking home from work, that this is my dream and I'm living it.

Perhaps if I had spent a few more awful winters in the city my memories would be tainted with bleak thoughts of dirty snow, and cold so sharp it hurts your teeth when you smile and the short days and long dark nights. Perhaps if I had a few more years of making a good salary and yet feeling poor from the effects of living on the money sucking island, transporting myself back and forth from The City to Texas and and living where opportunities abound to do and see and shop I would long for the sunny Texas sky and ease of life here. But I didn't. And I don’t. And now I must life with the ache.

AFI DALLAS International Film Festival

My sisters and I got tickets to the Dallas Film Festival last week to see Then She Found Me. A delightful, albeit bitter sweet saga of family relationships, lost love, and soul-mates discovered. (You see, we all three harbor secret crushes on Colin Firth the films leading man, or perhaps its just his rendition of Mark Darcy in both the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice and the modernized Bridget Jones Diary portrayal of that oh so delish character). It was really by chance that we were there on the opening night gala event. As we walked up to the stately Majestic theater, and saw the press crowd hovering and the red carpet entrances of Mickey Rooney, Josh Brolin, Bill Paxton, Lucile Bacall, Sydney Pottier, and the honoree Helen Hunt. (Not to name drop or anything). We were thrilled to the very core of our closet movie star obsessions. We all looked cute I'd say, but seeing the fashionable entrances of the stars and fellow Dallas socialites, we resolved that next year we will come dressed to the nines and pretend we are some aspiring soon-to-be-discovered actresses or song wrights. (Pictures to come later ANNA SEND THEM TO ME!)

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/mar/28/afi-dallas-2008-opening-night-gala/

Dream Cafe

Myles and I love to take advantage of "meal deals" in our area. It gives me a reason not to cook and we don't have the inevitable "guilt pangs" for spending money and eating out on a “School night”. (Not that I don't like to cook-I do actually, but come on girls, after a 9-10 hour day who feels like doing ANYTHING in the kitchen.)

Best Deals:
All Good Cafe: Buy-one-get-one-free entree--Tuesday nights (BEST chicken fried chicken EVER)
Sonic: Buy-one-get-one-free burger--Tuesdays
Steel: Free Sushi Buffet--Wednesday night from 5-7
Campisies: Pizza Buffet--Weeknights 5-7
And our all time favourite:
Dream Cafe:50% off entrees--Monday and Tuesday all night.
We patronized this lovely eclectic establishment last night and with great choices like stuffed squash,Greek pitas, John's Veggie burger, tofu salad, and (my favourite so far) grilled chicken breast sandwich with melted brie, bacon, on a toasted baguette its simply delightful! I was eating this very sandwich yesterday-enjoying the lovely evening and being outside with my honey (feeling like a Euro :). As I polished off the last of said sandwich our Latin waiter walked up and looking down at my plate with something like shock and dismay he exclaim “oh-I thoughta for sure I was going to haf to bring you a to do box.” Silence. How does one respond to that exactly? Joy that he thinks I’m small and couldn’t finish it? Embarrassment that he thinks I eat like a pig…..? I replied with “yes, it was yummy and I guess I'm a healthy eater” deciding that humor was needed and after he walked away Myles and I had a pretty good laugh about it….after all, if you can’t laugh at yourself well....

Jenny's Married

Jen’s wedding was absolutely GORGEOUS! From the brilliant flowers and creative center pieces, to the fresh green archways, to grandmother’s antique tea kettles, the general atmosphere was just lovely-thoughtful, graceful and charming.
Dancing is one of my favorite things-I am married to a wonderful man. (Thank you Lord!)
It is fun to be a bridesmaid, around for every moment of the event- every emotion that is displayed. I liked being a part the wedding-liked being there for Jen on her big day. I guess its partly because my wedding is till so fresh in my mind, and it was one of the most amazing days...and getting to experience that first hand for someone else rocks.
Ronni and Hubby Kyle stayed with Myles and me-having them was great and made me think what fun times we have ahead of us.

Afterwards a few of us headed over to the ZA-ZA to toast the newly married couple-brilliant! It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day. (WARNING: Za Za martinis are VERY strong.)
1 down 3 more to go. Loving every min.

Weekend Update

First of all shout out to LUCY!!!! She's gettin married folks! Ahhh, I loved being engaged, its such a sweet fun time in life.
Saturday went to Jen's bridesmaids luncheon which was just so lovely and thoughtful in every way. I hope that our generation will be able to continue with elegance in a truly southern way.

All else was pretty low-key, and because I don't have anything hugely excited to say I'll recount a story that my very best New York friend told me Sunday in our phone chat.

So Molly, and are I constantly deciding to live our lives, and do crazy things, and travel etc, except last weekend she decided to actually DO IT. After finding a ticket to Barcelona for $350, her and a friend decided to trek across the ocean for a quick weekend trip to Europe. Incidentally it happened to be the weekend of the Barcelona marathon. Perfect, muses Molly, I can run 18 miles of it as a training run (b/c she is planning to run the Boston Marathon in April.) At the expo the excitement of the moment hits and in perfect and wonderful Molly fashion she says.."What the h$ll, when am I ever going to be in Barcelona"...and proceeds to sign up, and RUN THE ENTIRE RACE. GOSH I LOVE IT! You rock girl!

Vote?

I voted. Its a right, a privilege, and an obligation.

From a colleague of mine who understands better than I.

"As a Combat Veteran... I just wanted to take a moment to remind and encourage you to get out and cast a ballot today if physically possible. It's up to you to decide who to vote on, this is not a partisan solicitation in any way, shape or form; just a reminder of your civic duty and the fact that millions of your countrymen and women have paid the ultimate sacrifice for you to have that right - even this very day soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines stand watch across the globe, from the Demilitarized Zone of Korea, to a traffic control point in Baquba, to a ship off the Horn of Africa to the Tomb of the Unknowns in our nation's capital. They do this quietly and without asking for anything in return. I just ask of you as citizens of the United States and the Great State of Texas, to do right by them and vote!

Dave"


Did you?

Update

Just a quick update. I haven't felt very inspired lately with any deep thought to share (As my former roomie always used to ask.) But here goes.

Amy's wedding was beautiful and seeing an old high school friend so happily united was lovely. Daniel gives the best kisses. Family rocks.
Jen's last bridal shower was amazing. It was uplifting to hear the years of advise and wisdom from the godly women in her family and church. She was beautiful and was blessed with some awesome stuff for her new home.
On Sunday we went to see Anna's wedding venue and she picked her table-she's going to use red instead of green, but its so gorgeous and fun-her 50's themed wedding is so unique already.

Valentines Party

Last weekend we celebrated the day of love by hosting a Valentines Day Fajita Dinner Party. If was a ton of fun and you can see in the pictures that a pre-requistie for entrance was to ware RED. (Sisters are the BEST!!!!) My cousin Leah who is an amazing party planner, hosted with me and helped cover our "tondo" in red! Balloons, plates, candy; it was all red with hearts and love roses creating a festive atmosphere. We played "blow a bubble", "Love Themed" Pictonay (most difficult phrase: Saint Valentine) and Sing. Great times. Highlights of the evening:
Belting Out "You are Loved" (Sing a song with the word.....) The spontaneous dance party at the end of the evening, my sisters Sangria (not for the faint of heart) and just talking with my sisters, Jeremy and Myles after the party was over.

Houston

Myles and I headed down to Houston on Saturday to celebrate his dad's 70th birthday and I've decided that while a rather ugly drive, it’s a great little road trip. Ever since we got the Audi we seem to make the journey in record time, even to the point of being compelled to stretch the truth a tad about just how fast we drive. I feel Ebby (my car) was created to fly down the German autobahn. She is brilliant-get her going about 85-90 MPH and she's simply hums in seeming bliss-like she's a Grey Hound that's finally let out to really run..... Anyway I digress.
The birthday was fun and low key and I think the highlight was getting to play with Jack and Molly. After my hiatus to New York, my budding relationship and plans to be the "favourite aunt" were developing slowly at best but over the holidays I feel we really bonded and it’s been so much fun! Molly is into being a princess, which couldn't delight me more, and she loves to paly "en character". My play name is Princess Sophia. :) There is something so cute about her flitting around the house saying" Princess Sophia would like some water...Princess Sophia...did you get lost in the forest?". I love it! Being an Aunt is a gift.

Myles and Me

This one is for LUCY!!!! I love my hubby and being married ROCKS. Honestly, I'm not just saying that because it’s what I'm supposed to say...or how I'm supposed to feel. I love it. Being with your best friend and your lover all the time is brilliant and wonderful. That day might come when I get the itch to oh, make some dramatic change like move to New York or Dubai with a month’s notice, and realize that my life is irrevocably tied to someone else. But tied in a beautiful godly way-in a lasting way that makes my life richer-and makes me better-(and after all who’s to say he won’t want to go as well…LOL)