Saturday in Dallas

Saturday morning we ate breakfast in the hotel, then Michael left for work for a few hours. Isabella had her morning nap, and when Michael got back we headed out to NorthPark mall. It is one of my favorite malls! So many great stores. We will have to go back again soon when we have more time.

There are also lots of neat design and flower displays. Isabella had fun checking things out.


This is one of my favorites. There is a fountain on one side, and then turtles and ducks swimming on the other.


And since Isabella wasn't eating solids last time, I had to introduce her to Sprinkles Cupcakes this time around.


I'd say she was a fan. (Have I mentioned I love the instagram app on my phone?!)


Waiting for our table at Babes Chicken Dinner House.
We had been hearing the legend of Babes leading up to this trip from Michael's coworkers, and it was definitely an experience to be had. No menus, you just pick which meat you want from the list the waitress recites then sides are brought to your table family style.


After dinner we hung out at the conference for a while then Isabella and I went back to the hotel for her to go to bed. And after a wild and long bed time, she *finally* went to sleep. And then I took a million pictures of her sleeping trying out different settings on my new camera. But this was just on my phone, again using instagram. Sleeping babies are so sweet, especially when you've had to work hard to get them that way!

It's good to be home. I'm ready to get our home organized and ready for a new week. We are gearing up for a busy, but good week for our family.

Weekend Delights and Progress toward 30 B4 30

I spent a good part of Saturday working around the house and on my 30 before 30 goal of purging our home of stuff we don't need.


Here is round one of "the purge". I would say I made good progress! We got rid of shoes, clothes, blankets, towels, some decor we don't use anymore, purses, and lots more! We took a load to Goodwill and the rest to our church for the garage sale we're having for Mexico missions.


My sister dropped by with this happy present for me. (Happy present is what my mom calls unexpected fun gifts at times that are not birthdays, Christmas, etc. The phrase "I've got a happy present for you" is always a good one in our family!) Cozy socks packaged like a cupcake! So cute! I hated to open them, but it would be silly not to.

Our friends asked us to trade a date night with them and we had ours this weekend.

Here we are: A couple of young, crazy kids; Me looking tired as usual...
We wanted to try a place we haven't been before. So we headed over to Big Truck Tacos.


Michael had the Thunder burrito and I had the chicken burrito and we ordered a side of queso. THE GOOD: The queso and chips were INCREDIBLE... some of the best we've had in long time. Both of our burritos were good, but the chicken in mine was a bit spicy for my taste. Michael's had ground bison meat in it which was a bit different, but he said the taste was good. It also had fried potatoes and he is a huge fan of potatoes in burritos so that was great for him. Michael, who is our resident salsa expert, also said the regular red salsa and the tomatillo salsa were both amazingly delicious. THE BAD: Portion sizes. Our burritos were WAY TOO BIG. Next time, we will probably try their tacos. Although the regular red salsa and the tomatillo were great, Michael tried a healthy glob of each of the other four salsas and we are lucky he has his taste buds today. I thought I was going to have to use a fire extinguisher at one point. THE CONCLUSION: The chips and queso were great. The burritos were good, though a bit big. The two milder salsas were legit and flavorful. Next time we'll get tacos or share a burrito and do not... I repeat DO NOT try the other salsas in large amounts... a single dab will do just fine for each.
YAY for our 2nd of 10 new restaurants!


Next on to Pinkitzel for dessert and good conversation.

Sunday was busy with church, naps, a men's ministry meeting for Michael, more church, grocery shopping...the usual. We capped off our night with trying this Frozen hot chocolate mix I got at Christmas.

It was delicious and tasted just like I remember at Serendipity.

I love a weekend full of productivity, relaxation, family time, staying in pajamas all day, and yummy food!

New to us

We have tried two new places in the last week that have been around, but are new to us.


My parents kept Isabella one night and we ran over to Cafe 7 for dinner. Their concept is open 7 days, 7 items in each category, food ready in 7 minutes, and everything is $7. We both got pizzas. They also have salads, sandwiches, and pasta. Our food was great and the food we saw other people eating looked great also. They also have a drive through if you want to order ahead and pick up. Very good! We will be back!

Next we tried Pinkitzel

They have cupcakes, candy, and some gifts. This is a perfect place for us as Michael would rather have candy and I would rather have a cupcake!

Beautiful presentation! The cupcakes are wrapped in bella cupcake couture wrappers- a blog I have been reading for a while. But a con for this place is the cupcakes are the size of a cuppies and joe cupcake but at 3.50 each cost more than the price a Sara Sara cupcake. I got the peanut butter cup cupcake. It was DELICIOUS! Light, fresh cake with excellent frosting. They also have party areas to have parties. You should check out the pictures on their website. I would definitely go back!

Still here...

We spent the first weekend of September in Dallas. Michael had been waiting for the first OU game of the season for weeks!


Inside the new Dallas stadium


Bob on the jumbotron


In the lobby on of our hotel. Happy Birthday Michael!


Tailgating at the OU/Tulsa game


Crislyn and me at the tailgate


Boomer Sooner cupcakes!


My dad brought by some flowers to my work that he grew. It was a nice surprise on a hard day.


We spent this last weekend at Grand Lake with Heather and David. It was the first and only non-OU football weekend for a while. We had a great time sleeping, reading, and hanging out. It was the relaxing break I have been needing.
We've also been to the State Fair, celebrated birthdays, and we are planning a trip to NYC for October.
Happy Fall! One of my favorite times of year.

Happy Easter!

Although the crazy Oklahoma weather today was not very Spring-like we had a great Easter weekend.


We dyed eggs with the boys


My mom got me this cupcake stand for Easter. I love it! I made chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese icing and vanilla with coconut icing.


Michael and I at my parents house after lunch.
We ran in the fun run at OC yesterday, and Michael went to OU's Red and White spring game.
We also saw the movie Duplicity and ate at the Saturn Grill this weekend. Saturn Grill has become one of our favorites. The movie was alright, but I had a hard time following some of it. Happy Easter everyone!

Up for something new

Last night Michael and I went to two new places. For dinner we went to Mama Rojo. It is the new restaurant on Lake Hefner where Bahama Breeze used to be. We ordered queso and shared the chicken and steak fajitas. The service was good and super fast. The chips and salsa were excellent. All in all, it was a high quality Tex-Mex dining experience. I think the highlight for Michael was the big bowl of hot tamales (complete with a self-serve scoop) that was at the hostess stand on the way out. We sat in the area that used to be where they had live music when it was Bahama Breeze. They have converted that room into a really cool area overlooking Lake Hefner. All of the walls are glass panels and they can be raised up creating a neat open-air atmosphere. We'll have to go back in the spring or early fall when the weather is nicer and check it out.

For dessert we went to Sara Sara... the other cupcake place in town. I will give it another shot, but for now I would say Cuppies and Joe is the way to go. The cupcakes at Sara Sara are bigger than C&J, but also $1.50 more, and not as good. Sara Sara is also in an old converted house (like C&J) but Sara Sara definitely wins the prize for having the coolest atmosphere. They've got a chic "everything is completely white" motif going on. I think the only actual color in the place is the hot pink gerbera daisies. While the cupcakes are probably better at C&J, the atmosphere alone at Sara Sara makes it worth checking out.

Goodbye 26

I had a great birthday this year. I wanted to go to Turquoise cafe for breakfast, but they were closed for the holidays, so Michael made my favorite dish there.


Oatmeal brûlée. We got to use my brulee torch I got for Christmas!

Then we got ready and did some shopping.


Then we met Heather and David and went ice skating downtown.


It was cold, but lots of fun!


Then we warmed up at a new place that just opened: cuppies and joe
This is a really cute place that has cupcakes and drinks. They have big train chai tea (which is the best), free wifi, yummy cupcakes, a reading nook...


Then we went to shoguns for my birthday dinner


The flaming onion tower!




Then back to my house for cake and ice cream (love my black and white dishes, a Christmas present from Michael)


Heather, mom, dad and me


Celebrating at Cheesecake factory


Emily, Michelle, and me


My cards and roses from Michael
It was a great birthday and I am excited about what my 27th year will hold!