Top 10

It's officially been a year since Paul and I made Dallas our home. As I reflect on the full, busy year we've had accustoming ourselves to our new surroundings I just wanted to tell y'all about a few things I miss about being a Michigander :-)

1. The soft grass between my toes, (we've got crab grass here, not so soft!)
2. Wearing a cozy sweatshirt in October
3. Tailgating with the Omo's at the Western games
4. Watching the nephews T-ball games
5. Going to the beach (period!)
6. Driving without traffic or tolls
7. Walking downtown Holland with my mom
8. Tulip Time!
9. Running into my brother during a night out in GR
10. Being near friends and family!



Notice how I don't miss the snow? Lol!

I know several of us have moved away (or simply out of our parents homes!) But what do you miss about the familiar?

So what's new in the big D?

It's been pretty much the same here for us...

Paul spent last week in Keystone, Colorado at a CLE, (continued legal education conference) a.k.a. "lots of golf, drinking, and boring legal jargon... while I stayed here. Milo and I had a few adventures though, -- like the air conditioning going out ( with the 100 degree heat!) and Milo getting into the wrapping paper, (needless to say that was a HUGE mess)... Why does this stuff have to happen when Paul is gone?

But with the extra free time I was able to attend more classes and try kickboxing which I realized I L-O-V-E!! And, I went to happy hour a few nights at Houlihans. I realized the friends we've made down here truly are great - they took such good care of me while Paul was gone!


I just had to post this picture of the cake Kara made for Matt's birthday. She makes cakes for everyone's birthday's and gets sooooo creative. I mean, that's pretty impressive!!!

Chicago Concert

Paul and I went to the Chicago/Doobie Brothers concert on Sunday at Superpages. I would say we probably brought the age median down a bit, but it was a fantastic concert! Who wouldn't love hearing, You're my Inspiration live!




We want to go back for Forienger and Bryan Adams next month but I think we have a conflict -- Damn!

Sunny Summer Days...

Saturday Paul and I spent the day by Addison Circle pool with a 12-pk of beer and after waaay too much sun we called it a day. After a power nap (with Milo) we re-hydrated and headed off to Blue Fish for Faryn's birthday party. Paul, Derek and I noshed on sushi & sake and helped Faryn celebrate her big 28th. She's a neighbor of ours and has been filling me in on the fitness/personal training industry so we've become close.

Nap Time! Even Milo crashed for awhile!

Here we all are at Blue Fish!

The death of our feather duster...

In case you were wondering, Milo has been just as mischievous as ever! Today I came home from Target to find that he completely shredded our feather duster! (I thought I had put that away after cleaning??) -- Somehow he can always find my weaknesses... things I leave out or doors I leave open! But I just love the little guy dearly :-)

He looks a little ashamed...maybe?

The feathers are completely off the wand -- he did a number on it!

I go to discipline him and he just rolls on his back waiting for a belly rub!

Saturday at the TRACK!

This weekend Paul and I went with Derek, Adrienne and Zeke to the horse races in Grand Prairie. It was excellent people watching, (to say the least!) and it's always good to have an excuse to crack open a beer at noon, right? Although, none of us really did all that well... My betting strategy of picking horses with the cutest names just didn't pan out, (damn that horse named Bridesmaid!) But our friend Zeke won $130 before we arrived. So, we saw first-hand it is possible to win at the tracks!

Welcome to the track!

As you can tell, it was just a little windy!

Paul and Zeke choosing their horses!

Derek and Adrienne

Running against the wind

I started running with a local jogging group and I think I had the toughest run of my life last night, (well at least the last two miles...)

I was cocky and upbeat as I stared with the 40 mph winds behind me pushing my mile average down at least a minute! My girlfriend and I were chatting - not out of breath at all! But as I winded around the trail...

I felt it. Yes, the wind pushing me back slightly with each glide forward -- (I felt like I wasn't moving) I could no longer hear the nature around me, just the whistling of the wind in my ears -- boy was it loud! My hair was no longer falling in my face, but it was blowing strait back past my shoulders. I fixated on the water tower in the distance where I knew the last two miles against the wind would end...but it didn't get any closer! FINALLY, somewhere between ducking down, (to be aerodynamic and dreaming of chugging Gatorade I finished.

I hope Sundays run is easier. It's gotta be!

Who's seen it?

Wednesday I went with a group of girlfriends to see the long anticipated SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE!!! Oh, and was it G-O-O-D ladies. Get out to the Theater and see it Asap :-)

The best part was we saw it at the Studio Movie Grill where everyone was eating and drinking during the entire movie. Let's just say there was some extra "audio" from several drunk women towards the end of the movie -- made for some extra laughs!

Good times !

Out in the country past the city limit signs...

This weekend Paul and I went to the country! We went to a BBQ out at my friend Lauren's brother place out in BFE -- but had a blast. Her brother is a "balloonist" and flys hot air balloons as a hobby. It was a little windy Saturday but we still got a little taste of it all. Below are a few pics -- we were in awe!

Ashley & John Visit

This week my good friend Ashley and her boyfriend John came to visit. We spent a lot of time enjoying Dallas cuisine, drinking fruity refreshing cocktails and spent a lot of time cooling off at the pool with the 95 degree heat! I sent them home with some serious sun burn, (especially John) but I think they still had a good time.
Their first night we hung out in Addison and went to Houlihans and Black Finn and the second night we drug them to a Dallas Young Lawyers mingling event at FUSE downtown. Afterwards we all had dinner, (and more drinks) at "The Porch" and headed home for a late night swim! :-) Their last night we had some more tex mex at Mi Cocina before they headed to the airport were they proceeded to be delayed for 2 more hours -- Did I mention when they flew down they didn't get here till 1am? Yeah, gotta love flying these days!

Here's Ash and I at Glorias enjoying some Tex Mex outside for lunch before hitting the pool!

Here's John and Ashley at the Galleria -- they were amazed at the ice skating rink in the middle of the mall!

Here's all of us at "The Porch" grabbing cocktails before dinner... okay, we had shots too...

Okay, so we got a little sun...nuff said! Here we are at Mi Cocina enjoying their famous Mambo Taxi Margarita!

Poor Paulie worked all week and still came out and partied with us -- what a trooper!