Friday! Yay!

For a short week, it's been long! I have about an hour left in the day and it has been a busy day. Man, I think at one point I just had to walk away from my desk because there was too much. This job is funny that way. One day it is boring and the next day, I can't breathe. I like the "can't breathe days" but sometimes I end up feeling beat up. At least I feel useful and productive. Can't stand the days where I feel like an idiot. And next week will be busy too -- open enrollment, opening the mentor program, and preparing my presentation for the Training Conference the week after. I can't wait for that -- it's in Denver. Woo hoo!!! I love Denver and I get to see Michelle too. The meeting ends at 4:30 each day, so there is plenty of time to explore and have fun.

Okay, back to it. I want to get some stuff out of the way so I don't have to worry about it Monday. Usually Friday afternoons are spent watching the construction across the street :). You know they love having OSHA right there watching all they do...... :)

Quick Weekend

The weekend went by very fast, but it was a great one. I channeled my inner social butterfly and was out late each night (except last night. I was in bed by 9!). It was a lot of fun. Saturday night I ended up in Frisco with my friend Dawn and that group of people. We were out pretty late but I had planned to stay in Frisco so I was prepared. We went to sleep around 3 am and were up and bright eyed at 9 am for a class at LA Fitness. It was a body work and ab class -- since I had planned to do weights Sunday anyway, I figured why not. It was tough but I made it though :). However, I have never done that many squats in one setting ever. Still kind of sore! I just kept thinking "swimsuit booty!!!". It got me thru the pain.....

This week holds nothing too special. I think all my excitement was concentrated over the last 3 days anyway. I am really okay with that. My big thing will be going to the grocery store and CVS tonight :).

Everyone have a great Tuesday!

The Weekend!

Man, Sunday night and the weekend went too fast. Dang it!

I had a wonderful time at the wedding last night. It was at a little Bed and Breakfast in McKinney called the Bingham House. I am not sure how old it is but it is pretty old. It was absolutely gorgeous. They were planning an outdoor wedding but it rained all day so they moved it is inside. Worked out perfectly though. They just had to kick us out at the end of the ceremony to pull the tables out for the reception. The weather did clear up by the time the ceremony started and it was perfect.

The ceremony was very simple. A Dallas County Judge performed the ceremony so there was no extra fufu stuff -- just sweet and to the point. But that worked, especially for what I know already about the bride. She looked stunning too. I got teary eyed. :)

Now for the food (specifically the CAKE!!!). She had a buffet that was pretty darn good. On the appetizer buffet, there were spoonfuls of MAC and CHEESE. And it was yummy...... The cake was perfect. And she had a regular three tier cake, smaller individual cakes and cake balls! Woo hoo. The cake balls were yummy and easily eaten. I did like the "traditional" wedding cake a tad better though. It might have been because there was lots of frosting. But, I kept my promise.... I ate lots of cake. I worked it all off today though -- it was totally worth it!!! :) I did forget about the woman who stepped on my foot until mid day today. That's when I kept wondering where the heck the bruise on my foot came from. She was totally apologetic and really, it was a total accident and she didn't break my foot. It's all okay :).

It was so perfect for her and I am happy that it was. If there were any big issues, they weren't apparent (and I am friends with the MOH so I probably would have heard of the big stuff). The flower girls ran down the aisle instead of dropping the roses, but hey, that's to be expected from 3 year olds. I can totally see Chloe doing that :). Considering I have only known the bride about 3 weeks, it is pretty cool. :)

Later!

TGIF!

Why are all weeks so dang long lately! Argh! Anyway, its Friday and I am very happy. Survived it all :). Tuesday, Taylor and I played trivia at the Tipp -- we didn't win, however we didn't get Pez either. So so sad. It was fun though. Surprise, surprise... the question I got right was a TV question. Shocking, I know :).

Okay, the weirdest thing happened on Wednesday. I ended up staying late at work which meant I caught a later train. I ended up getting to Mockingbird station about 30 minutes later than I normally would. Then I decided to go to the Kroger by the train station instead of going to Tom Thumb. Once there, I went down an aisle I hadn't initially thought to go down. Down this aisle was an old friend I hadn't seen in YEARS, Amy. Seriously, it has to have been at least 2 or 3 years since we even talked. It was pretty darn cool. I need to give her a call so we can go to dinner. Of course that whole thing gets me thinking about all the turns and places we go everyday. It's all very deep and probably should be saved for another blog when I am not rambling :).

Last night, I went to a dinner held in honor of the bride (new friend Jen who is getting married this weekend). It was held at Fuse in Downtown Dallas. It was the first time I had ever been there -- I actually had to circle the block a couple of times because I wasn't sure where exactly it was! I had the right area, but the door is just kind of hidden. I found it because I spotted the valet stand! The food was very yummy and they had a watermelon mojito that was seriously awesome. I am not sure what the other items were on the menu because we did a limited menu type thing (they had set it up for her bacherlette dinner. I guess it was just easier and cheaper to do it that way). I ended up with the red curry dish. Even the edamame was great. It had this spice on it that made it different than any edamame I had before. They went to an Irish pub in Frisco but since it was getting late and I was turning into a pumpkin, I bailed. I told them I would be in full party mode on Saturday. I just had to work today and as it was, I was seriously dragging!!! Still kind of am, but I am getting over it.

Her wedding is Saturday and I am looking forward to it. She is having wedding cake balls at the reception. Pretty much anything can be made of wedding cake and it is awesome. I am really looking forward to them :). I plan to really push is Saturday in the work out so I can enjoy these cake balls guilt free.

So, that is it for now. I need to get some things done this afternoon. Man, Friday afternoon -- and it is kind of pretty outside. I'd rather be running around the lake. In time, I know. :) Later!

RIP - The Tipp :(

The Tipp is closing its doors on May 16th due to the downturn in the economy. It's a sad, sad day :(. Taylor and I are going to do trivia tomorrow night and wish the place a fond farewell (and possibly win Pez for the last time ever). I have to say, I have some good memories of that place. I do wonder what is going to happen to their faithful Poker night players (that was Wednesday night). I am sure they will find another home, but it won't be the same. Good bye Tipperary Inn...........

Happy Mother's Day!

Shoot out to my mom and all the mom's in the world! Happy Mother's Day :).

Saturday!

The week was great. I just got back from working out with Ryan -- we are still boxing and it is still the most wonderful workout ever! Plus, I get practical skills -- I am learning some moves that can be used if I ever need to defend myself. Calories burned and defense moves... what else can a girl ask for :). However my arms really hurt right now. Now I am just chilling, watching some old episodes of "Chuck". I actually need to go vote so I probably should get dressed and out the door. I also need to run to Target. Luckily they are both within a block of each other.

Mom and I are going to see "Rent" tonight. I am looking forward to it. I love "Rent" and seeing it live is a blast. I am making dinner for before hand -- I love my new crock pot. Well, to be honest, it isn't actually new. Jim gave it to me before we broke up -- and he isn't getting it back. So, I am enjoying the joys of the slow cooker :). And I appreciate Jen answering all sorts of dumb questions regarding crock pot cooking. I can come up with some doozies.... he he. Thanks girl! (And, while I am thinking about, shout out to Jen and the awesome work she is doing in the gym. I am so happy for you and you are truly an inspiration!!! Keep it up!).

Austin Re-Cap

Okay, Austin was WONDERFUL. I didn't want to leave. I have more pictures that I will post but I thought I'd give people a taste of some of it here. I went down for a bacherlorette party --- I just met the bride last weekend (the weekend before Austin). I know the Maid of Honor and she asked me to go along. So, along I went. There were only 4 of us -- the bride, Jen; Dawn (the MOH); Barry (yep, a guy at a b-party) and me. The bride had the veil and Dawn is the one obviously not me or a guy :).

(I hope these pictures aren't too dark!)

This one was taken at a tapas restaurant we had dinner at Saturday night. It was incredible. They had a fried goat cheese that rocked my world. Everything else was just super yummy too!

This picture was Halycon. It has the most awesome desserts and apparently great Chocolate Martinis. I took this time though to enjoy Smores and suck up as much water as I could. My cousin KaRyn went here when she was in Austin and told me all about it. So, so yummy! It was also a coffee bar and cigar bar. All these things in a cute, hip place.

We then went to about 4 different places to dance. We went non-stop from 10 -2 AM. One place of note was a club called Qua on 4th Street. There was a dance floor over a shark tank. Yes, a shark tank!!! It got so hot in there though -- I ended the night hanging out by the vent and trying to keep cool :). We also saw two bands (at two different clubs) who were singing the old 80's - 90's metal (think Poison....). With all the dancing, my legs were killing me the next day!!! I sat down for about 10 minutes. Bad move. Once I tried to stand back up, my feet pretty much revolted and said no. And it wasn't a great idea to walk around Austin barefoot. So, while they caught the cab back to the hotel, I sat on the bench at the corner.

It was a short trip and we were on our way back home Sunday around 1:00 (stopped for lunch at Z Southwestern Grille, another great food place). When I got home Sunday night, I pretty much just played with the cats and went to bed. I was still hurting Monday morning! My legs feel a lot better now :). I think all the dancing was good though -- we had a Cinco De Mayo lunch today and I probably ate more than I should have. I didn't get stuffed, but man, I don't think I can eat for a little bit longer.

More pictures to come though! Be on the look out :). (And based on the preview I just did of this blog, I might have to repost the two I did already!!!)

Saturday morning

Yes, I am going to Austin today! No, I am not worried about H1N1 (the official, not fun name for that new flu). I am healthy and wash my hands often. And really, I know what a sick person looks like, so I can stay away from them! I cough often which is annoying, but a side effect of my dang allergies. So, I am sure I will scare a few people in Austin :). There was no more anti- bacterial stuff at CVS but I had some in my car so I will just take that with me today too. Just have good hygiene, stay home when sick and just be vigilant. It is the same advice given during a regular flu outbreak. Just don't freak out! (By the way, www.cdc.gov has very good information about the new flu virus and other issues as well. I trust it way more than information on Yahoo or CNN. Although, I really do like Dr. Gupta.... but that is another blog post for another time :)).

I am just waiting for my friend to pick me up. We will be leaving around 11:30 or 12. So I gotta run and make sure I have everything. I just remembered I need to pack that camera!!! Have a great weekend :).