Choo-choo!

Yesterday morning we had a great family adventure on the Cedar Rock Railroad. It was a picture perfect morning. In the 70s, sunny and as a Sunday, not crowded at all.

Cade got to ride the train, not once, but twice! The second time I'm sure was the best because Jon, Rowan, Carys and Kiki (Jon's mom) surprised us there so the kids got to ride together. Yay friends!






In the spirit of transparency and honesty, while the morning was a beautiful train ride together, the afternoon was a little bit of a trainwreck. Short nap, exploding diaper and sassy toward the lovely babysitter we were interviewing. But hey - that's life with a toddler. Up, down and choo-choo all around.

Big D Birthday

Well it has been many moons since I blogged here but we have been busy! On Black Friday we decorated and then Nikki and Brittany came over for a slumber party. The next Friday we had another slumber party - in Dallas for Nikki's 30th birthday! This slumber party though started with champagne, included dinner at one of the fanciest schmanciest places in Dallas and ended at a bar & lounge, also on the fancy Dallas list.





In between slumber parties we've had work, a double ear-infection (Cade), a dentist appointment (me) and all kinds of other normal every day things. So really, with those few sentences, you are totally up to speed!

But because I know you love baby pictures, I'll leave you with this one of the little boy playing on his water table (a very summertime activity) despite that it is the holidays and as you can see our Christmas tree is up and decorated.

Thankful XXX

Friends.

I've been blessed by having some of the best friends a girl could ever wish for. There's the Deltas, my old high school friends, new-ish Austin friends and the occasional plus one from different spots along the way. Between us there's babies, spouses, new chapters in life, a slew of career choices and different adventures every day. I love not only having the support and goodwill of my friends, but being a part of whatever chapter they are experiencing.

I couldn't be happier to call them all my friends. So thank you friends, for being you.

Smattering of fun friend photos


 

Oprah & Gayle

Back from Kevin's US Navy training graduation (more on that in a couple days when I get pics from Mom but it was GREAT), I'm catching up in my Google Reader. And as you probably know, Delta blogs are my favorite. It's blogging and TriDeltas combined, what's not to love. I just finished reading Jess's blog about the Oprah show ending and while I can't say I had the relationship with Oprah that she did, it did remind me of one of my favorite relationships of all time: Oprah & Gayle.

As you probably also know (also, as in, in addition to my love for Delta blogs), my BFF Melissa and me have been BFFs for a million years. I think the official tally is 18 years (HOLY COW WE'RE OLD) but a million more or less sums it up.

Some time ago, we decided we were like Oprah and Gayle, BFFs taking on the world. When we call at unacceptable hours for a frivolous meltdown we say things like "...and I just had to call and tell you about it because you are my Gayle" or when we're trying to explain some other people's relationships we'll say "it's like he's his Gayle."

My Gayle and Me

Other things you should know about Oprah and Gayle as they relate to Melissa and me: whoever is Oprah is the person who is requiring attention at the moment, the person to needing to be the star (not because we think Oprah is needy or anything but because let's face it, she is the star of the show). The supporting BFF is always played by Gayle. On my wedding day for example, I got to be Oprah and she was an awesome Gayle.

I DVRed and watched the last five episodes of Oprah, mostly because it was the TV event of the year and I was not about to be left out. I just watched the last one today actually because when it was live, I was quickly finishing up my work day to, how appropriate, drive to Houston to visit my Gayle before going to see lil bro's graduation.

Anyways, that's all. I love having my own Gayle...or Oprah if that's what the moment calls for. And I hope you too have a Gayle and that you are able to let each other play Oprah whenever necessary.

Best Plan Ever

View from our potential PCH adventure

Tonight I ran into Brittany at the gym and we concocted the best plan ever.

Next April I have a conference in San Francisco. I told her she should go with me because that would be super fun. We could visit Napa and drink wine. Excellent.

Then we concocted an even better plan. We should fly to San Diego, see Kev, rent a car and drive all the way up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco. GENIUS.

So we're saving our pennies. I sure do hope we're serious about this because that sounds STELLAR.

PS That would make two Cheryl-only trips in 2012 which on top of the Cheryl & Ross Greek Weeks is fantastic.

PPS I know that's a full year away and no I am not getting ahead of myself. I'm quite excited about starting my Pensacola trip tomorrow night, about seeing Meg D. this weekend in Austin (that's right y'all!)and about my August trips to the northern corners.

My date with Clay Walker

And by "date" I mean concert I saw where he was the performer.

Last night I took my first adventure to the Austin Rodeo. So different than the Houston Rodeo. It had the same basic elements: carnival, livestock show, rodeo events, concert, junk food. But the Houston Rodeo is easily 5 times bigger. It is held at Reliant Stadium for goodness sake! The Austin Rodeo feels like its held at a county fairground. (I'm not really sure what you'd call the place but that's the best comparison I've got.) However, because it was smaller, every seat in the house was a good seat. The prices for concessions were less outrageous and the lines for the bathroom were shorter. All really good things in my mind.

Clay Walker was awesome. He did a great show and I loved singing along with him. Verdict: Win.

(But I think I'll still make the trip out to Houston for the rodeo every couple of years. Every once in a while you have to go big.)

Off to work! Have a stellar day!

Go Crazy

Tonight was one of my three days to go crazy on what I ate. I mostly did. I had Mexican food for lunch and dinner. Delicious. OMG so delicious.

The downfall to having healthy friends is if you decide to go crazy you either a) eat all the shrimp queso by yourself which is rarely a good idea or you b) don't eat shrimp queso. I went for the less destructive option of not eating shrimp queso.

However despite the lack of shrimp queso, I had a great night out. Nichole, Brittany and I celebrated the beginning of Nic's vaca. I cannot tell you how jealous I am of Nichole and her hubby's week vaca to Jamaica. I wanna go to Jamaica. They are snorkeling, hiking through waterfalls, getting massages and having a private four course beach dinner.

Tell me you don't want to do those things. I dare you. Liar. You want to do them all. Just like I do. I hope Nic and hubby have an excellent time. They deserve a good vacation after all the hard work they've put into making this dream trip a reality. We should all be so lucky as to work so hard and honestly and be rewarded so wonderfully.

Here's to Nic and her Jamaica vacation!

Girls Night In

Sometime in the next hour, a few of my girlfriends will show up for an evening of dinner, wine, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. Really - what's not to love about that?

I'm just about to start fixing dinner: chicken and artichoke in white wine sauce over pasta with salad and garlic bread. I'm stealing the recipe from Alison at eattolivelivetoeat.blogspot.com.  It looks like it will be delicious.

Chicken and Artichokes with White Wine Sauce


adapted from Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book


1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp dried sage or Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
1 fresh sliced button mushrooms
1 6 oz jar artichoke hearts, roughly chopped
1 tbsp butter
1/3 cup dry white wine (I used a white cooking wine)
1/3 chicken broth
1/8 tsp salt
2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese


In a shallow dish, stir together flour, sage or Italian seasoning, the 1/4 tsp salt, and pepper; reserve 1 tbsp of the flour mixture and set aside. Dredge the chicken breasts with the flour mixture, and cook chicken in hot oil over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink inside, turning once. Remove chicken from skillet, cover with foil. In the same skillet, cook mushrooms and artichoke hearts in hot butter over medium heat for 3 minutes or until artichoke hearts are tender.

In a small bowl stir together the reserved 1 tbsp flour mixture, wine, broth, and 1/8 tsp salt until smooth. Add wine mixture to skillet, cook and stir until thickened and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes. Pour sauce over chicken, sprinkle with cheese, and serve.