Thursday, April 29, 2010

I wanna wear a hat...

With the Kentucky Derby this weekend "hats" have been quite the topic of conversation on TV, magazines, blogs etc.

I find myself DYING to wear a hat. Every time I go to New York to visit my sister, I try on 10 different fedoras and come SO close to buying one and I find myself walking away because I can't see myself actually wearing it. I don't know why but I think I can't pull it off or it just doesn't look right in Dallas...

Then there's the Derby style hats that I find myself drooling over because they are just so fun, southern, and glamorous. I think my obsession comes from growing up on My Fair Lady...





and GiGi (my all time favorite movie)





Gah...I guess I will have to wait for my glamorous hat debut until I actually attend the Kentucky Derby or have a derby themed party or something...

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

May Cooking Challenge




Have you seen the movie Julie & Julia? I just saw it for the first time a couple weeks ago and I am still thinking about how cute it was. I think it's more my admiration for people who cook and cook well.


David and I have been cooking a lot lately. Mostly because we have all these new kitchen gadgets/pans and want to know what it's like to make a meal with something that was not purchased in the 40's...and also because it saves money...


But now we are just enjoying the act of cooking. It is so fun to start with all the ingredients, put it all together and enjoy the result...So far we have been relatively safe with our cooking. We have used family recipes that we know are good and that we have a "help line" if we have a question.


So all this being said, we have decided to challenge ourselves for the month of May. We are going to try and not eat out the entire month of May. More of a mini version of Julie Powell's challenge where she cooked 524 recipes in 365 days.


We obviously have to work during the week so we will have to make lunches or eat leftovers but we are going to try and not eat out the entire month of May and try all sorts of new recipes.


I will try to blog about each dinner/meal we cook (I'll skip the turkey sandwiches for lunch)...


We will probably make old recipes, new recipes, borrowed recipes, and bought recipes...but we will cook our way through May.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

More pictures from the DBJ breakfast

The DBJ photographer just put these pictures up from the breakfast...they are a little better than the other pictures...

So here you go momma :)


With Lisa Bormaster, Publisher of the DBJ and Jerry Holder, Chairman of the board of the Frisco Economic Development Council.





Haha love this one...Caption:"I'm crazy ya know"

Monday, April 26, 2010

The new bed

I can't put up any pictures of our new bed because we don't have a digital camera right now (mine broke) so here is the bed we bought from the manufacturers website...we love the high headboard.



We didn't get the nightstands in this picture because they were SO pricey...but we love the bed! the dresser will be delivered in a couple weeks...

Click HERE to see a better picture of the details

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Hate Tooting My Horn...

But all my family lives far away from me so this is for the family to see pictures...

I received an award that is a huge honor in the Dallas Real Estate industry. Each year the Dallas Business journal selects what they call Heavy Hitters...it is based on the number of deals you have completed in a single year, and the total value of these deals.

I was selected as the Rookie of the Year for 2009. And this morning I was presented with the award at a breakfast (had to get up at 5:45am to make it to the 7:00am breakfast)

It is a huge honor as I said but more than that it is an opportunity for me to give God all the thanks and glory for this blessing.

Here are some pictures from the event this morning.





With my supportive husband :)


With some folks from the office...from the left- John Conger my boss and owner of the company, Malcolm Ross head of leasing, me, Lorrie Engel office manager, friend and the glue that holds our office together, and Mike Pierre my partner in crime- my mentor and team member on most of the buildings I lease


You can see the article in the DBJ publication coming out tomorrow (4/23) or you can just call my husband bc he is happily sending it to anyone who cares :)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Need Some Comic Relief? Meet my husband.

So I love cuddling with David. I would much rather lean on his chest or his arm than a pillow any day. The problem? The man can not sit still. It's science. He has an aversion to sitting still. As soon as I get comfortable...he starts adjusting his shirt, itching his foot or face with the arm I'm leaning on...so sad.

So David has just sent me a solution to our problem.



And he's caption was "I bet he doesn't fidget." I think I may have to get me one of these...although he found it on a list titled "25 inventions I will never buy"

Monday, April 19, 2010

I Dump, You Dump, we all hate The Dump

So I have to vent right now about The Dump furniture store. David and I are on a very strict budget but nonetheless would like to buy a Queen bedroom set. I have never had a complete set of furniture. I have always had mixed matched pieces that looked beautiful but now that I'm married- I want a new, matching set...

SO we have been hunting all the furniture clearance stores and found a beautiful bed at The Dump on Sunday. It looked a lot like this one from Pottery Barn.



So we asked one of the 10 sales people who approached us and asked "Can I help you with something" ...do you think they work off commission!! anywho we asked this person- does that dresser and that nightstand go with this bed? Because we are interested in buying a set.

After she checked the computer she says "yes!" and here's the price...We LOVED the price and said ok we'll take it.

SO we loaded up as much as we could in David's car and headed home. We were in a hurry to get the other pieces so David literally dropped Dad and I off with the first load and took off again to go back to The Dump.

So we started opening the boxes to clear room...and found that all 4 of the posts were broken.

Then David brought the second load home and we thought- let's open all these before David has to go back AGAIN to return the bed posts to be sure everything else is good.

Well we were missed 3 of the knobs for the night stands...weird.

So after David went to the Dump a total of 3 times. We put the headboard up and put a nightstand next to it...they are NOT the same color at all...in fact they are not even the same manufacturer..

hmm.
Not a happy camper. So we are returning the whole set...which will take another 2 trips...unless you want to lend us your pick up truck?

And we will be going to Weirs. Period. They are trustworthy and will do it right.
Thanks for letting me vent...

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Dress up your Cheese Pizza

So I love pizza. Just ask my husband. I am ALWAYS in the mood for pizza. I love thin crust, thick crust, plain cheese, veggie, salami (from Campisi's), you name it...as long as it isn't spicy or has anchovies- I love it.

SO I love this new idea my sister, Shawna gave to me. You order in a cheese pizza, heat up a frozen one, or if your feeling brave-make one from scratch.

Then in a separate bowl mix together:

prosciutto- any amount you want we bought 1/3 lb. and chopped it up
2 cups of Arugula
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
2 tablespoons of olive oil
and salt and peper to taste...

After mixing it together just sprinkle on top of the cheese pizza and enjoy!

It is a perfect and inexpensive way to dress up a cheap, boring cheese pizza!!

We did this last night and it was delicious. I agree with Shawna though- serve with wine :)

ps- sorry no pictures...I didn't know I was going to like it so much...

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Some of my favorite things...

This weekend I enjoyed some of my favorite things...

1. A yummy brunch both Saturday and Sunday morning. This is my FAVORITE meal hands down. I love eating out for brunch- but this weekend I cooked David and I some yummy things...and I love my new table set up :)

This picture shows our brunch from Saturday morning- we had a delicious "Mexican Brunch Pie" and some mixed fruit.


2. Sleeping in! I have not slept in past 7:30am in SO long. Even on our honeymoon I couldn't sleep in- my "work" clock has messed me up...but this weekend I slept in until 10:30am!! So wonderful and so needed. It was actually a mistake...but I'll take it nonetheless...

3. Eating outside. We have recently bought an outdoor seating set and have already enjoyed it almost everyday since! this pairs with my number 4. Seeing spring blooms. We are blessed with beautiful landscaping at our rental house- and this weekend we really noticed our beautiful wall of cascading blooms...just look at this!





and 5. Spent quality time with David. :) It was truly a wonderful weekend...

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Barbecue Shrimp Enchiladas-YUMMY

A while back, David and I went with our dear friends-Mel and Jdub- to taste the food for their rehearsal dinner at Reata in Ft. Worth. Honestly, it was some of the best food and flavors I have ever put in my mouth. They call their food "Texas cuisine" meaning all the yummy Texas flavors you love but in mixed together in a completely new way.

SO- after we finished eating all this yummy food we went to the gift shop and bought the cook book with recipes! We have made a few things and last night we decided to cook the Barbecue Shrimp Enchiladas.

We loved them so- I thought I'd pass it along and save you the $35 on the cook book.

Barbecue Shrimp Enchiladas
(12) 8 in. flour tortillas
4 c of the Barbecue Enchilada Sauce (separate recipe)
3-4 c Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 1/2 lbs. Sauteed Shrimp (separate recipe)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat the bottom of a large baking dish with about 1/2 of the BBQ Enchilada Sauce.

Cut 1/2 inch strip of each flour tortilla and discard. Pour about 1 tablespoon of BBQ sauce in a straight line, through the center of the Tortilla.


Place about 4 or 5 of the cooked shrimp on the top of the sauce.


Sprinkle 2 heaping tablespoons of the shredded cheese on the cooked shrimp.


Roll the tortilla tightly (like a small burrito) and place in baking dish that has been coated with the sauce.

Nestle the 12 assembled enchiladas side by side in the coated baking dish.


Pour the remaining 1 1/2 cups of BBQ sauce over the enchiladas. Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 to 1 cup of shredding cheese over the sauce. Cover loosely with aluminum foil so the cheese doesn't stick to the foil. Bake for 15 min. or until cheese topping begins to bubble and the eddges of the enchiladas turn a little crusty.

Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 min before serving. Serves 6


Sauteed Shrimp
1/4 cup oil
2 tablespoons fresh garlic, minced
1 1/2 lbs. (sized 41-50 per pound) fresh shrimp- raw, peeled, deveined, and deheaded
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Coat a large saute pan with oil and heat over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute until garlic is toasted to rich brown color. Add shrimp to the saute pan. Immediately dust the entire pan with salt and pepper to lightly coat the shrimp. Saute the shrimp for about 3-4 min, stirring often. (The goal is for the shrimp to be cooked to a medium temperature when assembled in the enchiladas. Baking the enchiladas will cook the shrimp a little more.)

Barbecue Enchilada Sauce
3 cups ketchup
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons Tobasco sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup yellow onion, diced
1 dried bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon ground expresso beans
1 cup heavy cream

Place all ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a rapid boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool thoroughly. Allowing it to thicken will make assembling the enchiladas easier.

**David and I halved these recipes since we were cooking for 2 not 6. We also agreed we would use less brown sugar in the bbq sauce and a little more salt. But overall AMAZING**

We served with refried beans...or you could do some rice and beans..

ENJOY!

Friday, April 9, 2010

A sweet little note

In my packed lunch just brightened my day. I think I have a pretty sweet husband :)

More Wedding Pictures!

A dear friend from work took these pictures from the wedding...there are so many I made a slideshow...enjoy!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Facebook Pictures!

Since I didn't have my own personal camera at the wedding (it broke that week)...I am limited to the pictures on facebook to show you all the wedding...but here are some good ones posted online...

David and I ready for our rehearsal


My fancy boots :)




The group


With My Siblings


With my maids




Sister and nice also known as Matron of Honor and Flower Girl


David escorting his mom to her seat She looked SO beautiful


Groomsmen all lined up and ready for their bridesmaid partner


Dad bringing me down the aisle






Our personal time of prayer


The Kiss



Mr. and Mrs. Thompson!!






First Dance


The Cake


Cutting the Cake




Flower Arrangement


My shoes


Dancing with our "Steph and Captain" sunglasses...


Bouquet Toss


Garter Toss


All my Kappa sisters at the wedding


Send off to sparklers :)


we had a BLAST...I will most definitely be posting pictures as I get them...this is afterall our wedding...gotta share all the photos!!