It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

It’s that time again! Houston Restaurant Week (or 3) is back! This year it will be held August 1st –August 21st, and they have a record number of restaurants participating.

Additionally, they are offering a lunch option for $20/pp and 2 courses, if you don’t want to shell out the $35/pp for the 3-4 course dinner options. Also $5 from every participant is donated to the Houston Food Bank, so you can feel good about stuffing your face at a fancy restaurant.

Check out the participating restaurants and their menus here:

Buyer’s Remorse

You may have heard about West Elm’s awesome makeover if you are a regular on design blogs.  I went to see their new stuff over the weekend, and I’m in love.  Their collections include mostly neutral colors, in natural materials and everything is clean and streamlined.  Think yoga studio.

I came home with a tray for my coffee table, and avoided purchasing a $30 “stick” to put in one of my vases.  (Instead Pottery Barn had curly willow (why does that sound really weird?) on sale for $5 a bundle.) 

I’m particularly drawn to their new ikat patterns, similar to the pillow cases you can find on fabricadbra.  I purchased the orange pillow case, and it makes me happy every time I look at it. 

Using that ikat love, I finally (after 2.5 years in our apartment) splurged on some decent curtains.  The only thing is now that I look at them, I’m not in love.  Are they too much?  The pattern is literally hurting my eyes.  What have I done?  They won’t arrive for another month (um – why? I don’t understand) but I’m hoping my feelings change before then.

Here are some of my other faves:

Green Ceramic vases only $9/each!

 

Profile Pillow

Zigzag rug

Peeves.

What drives you bananas?

These days I find myself grimacing and grinding my teeth over the darndest thing. Here is a list of things that make me want to rip my eyeballs out.

1. Smacking - I inherited this from my mom who didn’t even like us chewing gum. It’s gross. Food should be enjoyed quietly. With wine.
2. Facebook couples – Let me be clear. I don’t mean if you are in a relationship, but if you actually share an account and indicate it in your profile name like, ‘Jane and Bob Smith’. I mean, you can still be married and have separate profiles. I don’t get this.
3. Cheesy tag lines on reality shows – it’s like, yeah Chris Harrison, we know it’s the final rose. You don’t need to interrupt and tell us that after we’ve seen 234,545 rose ceremonies.
4. Grocery shopping on Sunday – apparently I’ve never gotten the memo, but our local store seems to have everyone and all their relatives shopping on Sunday afternoons. I think it’s the free samples. This makes running in for the essentials (hummus, cheese, triscuits, cereal and wine) a real challenge.
5. Visible dirt / cat hair / dust – I’m a clean freak and living with a 27 year-old male and 3 year old overweight male cat does not always make for the most clean environment. Yesterday I found a cat hair in my cereal. NOT OKAY. It’s not uncommon to catch me running around the apt with a dust buster or vacuum – sometimes both at once.

Thanks for letting me vent. What are your peeves?

Tee Hee.

Unfortunately, I have the sense of humor of a 9 year old boy, and things that are gross make me giggle. I especially have a weak spot for bathroom humor. Therefore, when I saw this article today, I almost lost it in a fit of giggles.

What will “they” think of next?

The picture below is kind of random but the home made knit plush, made me giggle too, and it comes from one of my favorite bloggers.

Ah – laughter is nice.

Picture via A Cup of Joe

Yum!

Houston summers are awful. I know it’s hot all of over the country right now, and we should be grateful that we have our big SUVs and A/C is pretty much a guarantee. However, that hasn’t kept me from wanting to strip down to a tank top / shorts and lay in a dark room every evening after work.

Last night, I thought Caprese Salad sounded refreshing, and it didn’t disappoint. Here’s the recipe I used.

Here are five reasons to love a caprese salad:

1. It looks pretty. The colors are appealing, and I like things that are small and come stacked.
2. A monkey could make it. Seriously, it’s so easy.
3. It’s refreshing – the basil totally makes it. I love the smell, but some may find it odd – in fact, when I opened the packet, Lee asked me if I smelled cat urine?!
4. It’s healthy. Use mozzarella from skim milk and don’t go nutzo with the olive oil and salt.
5. It’s super cheap. You probably have olive oil in your pantry and large, heirloom tomatoes are in season right now. The mozzarella can be a little pricey, but compared to other cheeses, it’s reasonable.

Enjoy!

Good Bye Paradise…

So after five days of bathing in the sun, and having to face decisions limited to Chi Chi or Margarita? it’s back to reality.  Cabo San Lucas is absolutely gorgeous, and we had such a great time.  It was wonderful to hang out with 7 wonderful ladies and enjoy a mix of adventure (aggressive banana boating, zip lining, booze cruise) and relaxation (3 hour dinners, daily Happy Hours, and personal hot tub.)

Here are a few pics from the trip.  I can’t wait to go back and enjoy the beauty and perfection that is Cabo.

View from Room #1 and our crazy large balcony.

All three of us reading Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang! I love her.  She’s crazy bananas.

 

Awkward self-timed pose.

Best.Dinner.Ever – Alcaravea – so delish!

The Arc.  I’m obsessed. 

Last night out with our custom koozies (Thanks Megan and Mere!)

Have a great week.  I’ll be dreaming about white sand and green water.

Weekend Preview…

Don’t you love the weekend? Even though it was a short week, I’m ready for a couple of days off. I have a lot to do!

What do you have planned? We’re going to a Happy Hour at the delicious Block 7 Wine Bar to celebrate my co-worker (and dear friend) who will be staying at home as a Full Time mom to her adorable son, and celebrating another friend’s b-day afterwards. Hope all the celebrating doesn’t hurt tomorrow at Define, because I’ve been slacking big time, and my jeans are not happy.

Tomorrow, the Brecks’ are coming to visit, and I imagine we’ll have some pool time, and if we’re lucky - Breckaritas – only the most delicious cocktail ever made with limeade, corona, tequila and love.

Sunday, I’m packing and getting ready for CABO! Cannot wait to sit on the beach/near the pool for 5 days straight. I’m bringing Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (which I’ve already started and is of course hilarious) and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (which if anything like the first two, will be a chilling page turner.) What are you reading this summer?

Cabo sunset, 2007

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and if you haven’t seen it yet, check out this hilarious video making it’s way around the Internet – thanks for sending Melis!

That’s Genius:: Sunday Suppers

I just stumbled on a fabulous business idea that has been launched in Brooklyn. It combines several of my favorite things: food, photography, and friends! (Katie Trahan if you’re reading this – you should go and report back!) Basically you gather together in a loft (let’s face it; that’s cool as is) and learn to make an amazing meal with your friends, all while having the moments captured on camera. Check out this great idea and wonderful website here.

I love how they incorporate locally grown, organic food and focus on seasonal dishes brining in chefs from various restaurants to teach you how to make an amazing meal. Read more at Martha Stewart Living.

Here are some images from their classes… I’m drooling already:

Knowing how much us Houstonians enjoy eating and socializing, I think this would do so well here. Any entrepreneurs out there listening?!?

Images via http://sunday-suppers.com/ and A Cup of Jo.

Does anyone else…

Get a little bit sad on Sunday (or in this case Mondays) when you realize it’s almost time to go back to work?

I don’t know what it is about the weather…

If you live in Houston or the surrounding area, you know the weather has been completely miz the last few days – very rainy and wet.  Sometimes I kind of love the rain, but it makes me want to do curl up for a long nap…Not so great for productivity or getting motivated to go work out.

 

 

Happy Almost Birthday America!

So, I can’t believe it’s already July! Where did the other half of the year go? Literally when I checked my phone this morning (actually to snooze my alarm – a bad habit I’ve recently developed,) I couldn’t believe it was July 1. Yikes!

We are celebrating with my family in the Big D – as in Dallas. Not too much going on up there, but I’m picturing lazy time in the pool, family poker tournaments (you know what they say – the family that gambles together – stays together??) and delicious food and drinks. Preferably in festive colors, as shown below.

Kitty, unfortunately, will not be coming with us, because he behaves very badly when he’s out of his comfort zone (aka, our apartment) and he has not learned to socialize well.

What are you doing for the fourth? I hope it involves relaxing and hopefully some sunshine!