please, no more airports!

We arrived home safely on Monday after a very, very, VERY long day (and a half) of traveling.  We should have been back Sunday night, but our flight from NY to DFW was cancelled due to a storm.  All domestic flights flying out of the JFK Airport were cancelled, and there were no rooms available in any of the hotels nearby.  So we slept at the airport for the night, took a taxi to Laguardia Airport the next morning to wait on standby, then finally got on a plane at 3:15pm.  We were so happy to see Bailey, our house and to sleep on our own bed!  Monday was supposed to be my recovery day, but now here we are trying to fight off a bit of jet lag, fatigue, and getting back into the swing of things.  I haven't uploaded any of my pictures from my camera, but here are a few teasers from my instagram.

It was exhausting but we had a blast!  These pictures actually sums up our trip pretty well, but I'll try and break it down for you in the next few weeks.  As much as I'd hate to step foot in an airport again, we're heading to Missouri this weekend for my sister's white coat ceremony.  So until next week, I hope you all have a good one!

lately on instagram

{This one is obviously not from Instagram}

On Thursday, we celebrated Paul's birthday.  My sister baked him a delicious carrot cake, as requested, although he had no idea my sister was making him something.  We ordered chinese to go and had a quiet dinner at home.  We're wild!  There's Bailey eyeing my fortune cookie. 

We had sort of a last Girls' Night Out on Friday for our friend Nicole, who will be leaving us for sunny San Diego.  She just graduated from medical school and will be doing her residency there.  So sad that she's leaving us, but happy that we have a nice place to visit!  Good luck Nicole!  See you at your wedding!

{also not instagrammed}

We continued Paul's birthday celebration at La Duni on Saturday.  He ordered the Carne Asada Arrachera (pictured above), which is a 10 oz steak, and it was orgasmic!  I had their Flautas De Pollo Con Ensalada, which came with 4 flautas,  their roasted salsas and avocado for dipping and a salad.  For an appetizer, we ordered their famous Queso Verde.  It was stringy and melts in your mouth, the perfect consistency. 

My grid frames are finally up!  More on this on my next post. 

weekend wrap-up

Thursday night, we celebrated my sister's birthday at Chuy's.  Her boyfriend surprised her with a Nutella Cake from La Duni.  All I heard was nutella + cake, and I started having heart palpitations.  I felt like it was MY birthday!  This cake is out of this world!  Another highlight of the night was my Mom asking what HBD was...smh...

On Friday, we went the the Rangers game.  It's been almost 3 years (maybe 4) since the last time we actually went to a game.  I'm part of the Social Club at work, and every year, we try and do a sporting event.  We had some pretty good seats, and we each had $15 vouchers to spend for food and drinks.  Even though we lost, it was still a good time!

We went to a friend's baby shower on Saturday night.  She is having a baby girl this May, and her theme is purple, and monkeys, hence the banana!

I'm going to Jacksonville, Florida this weekend to visit my Mom's side of the family.  Haven't been there since 2009.  It's a very short visit, but I hope we can make a quick trip to the beach. 

Have a good week everyone!

m + j | the belmont

The Best Man at our wedding got married to the love of his life on Saturday.  They compliment each other in every way.  He caught the garter at our wedding, and they used the same garter for their garter toss.  Paul also served as his Best Man - tear!  We're so happy for them, and wish them all the best.  (PS.  He writes for a food blog too.  Check out some of his work here)

The weather was perfect for an outdoor wedding.  Looove outdoor weddings.  If I were to redo ours, or renew our vows, I'd so do it outside.  It was held at the Belmont Hotel in Dallas.
  

The hotel is up on a hilltop and the wedding was set up in the pool area, which had an awesome view of downtown Dallas.  It has a vintage/retro/hipster feel, and of course, I took pictures. 

The decorations in our room was very simple, but stayed with the retro theme.

Here is the lobby, which leads to the bar and patio.  We need to go back and try their drinks, and apparently, the food at their Smoke Restaurant is pretty good too. 

Sorry for the picture overload!  We had a blast, and it's always a good time catching up with old friends.

As if this post isn't long enough, I wanted to wish my cousin/bff (and her Dad) a very Happy Birthday today!  Can't wait for her dream wedding in Ireland this August! 

Tincy and I at her Engagement Party 7.31.11

lately on instagram

We got a sweet bottle of Port as a gift from my brother-in-law and family.  It was delicious!  Might have to add it to our weekend rounds.

I sported some pink and cream for Valentine's Day. We dined at Gordon Biersch, and it was really good. We've tried their food before but have never actually eaten at any of their restaurants. Their drinks were yummy and there was a good variety in their made-from-scratch menu. We're definitely going back.


I bought this drawing of two frogs on a lily pad for Paul.  Here's a little background story:  In 2006, before we started going out, a group of us went out for Valentine's Day dinner.  Paul was such a gentleman and bought all the girls cards and chocolates - although I like to leave this story out as if I was the only one who got a card and chocolates.  It makes for a better story.  He did say he picked out my card though.  Anyway, mine had two frogs and it read, "my pad or yours?"  So since then, every Valentine's Day, we'd get each other something with a frog on it.  My only request was Lindor chocolates, no flowers.  I got my wish!


Last Saturday, my family and I participated in the Fight For Air Climb.  We climbed 53 flights of stairs up the Renaissance Tower in downtown Dallas, in honor of my Dad, and for those who suffered/are suffering from lung disease.  It was rough, and by the 10th floor, we were all like, "OMG, we're only on the 10th floor?"  It took me 14:27 minutes to climb the whole thing, and it felt great crossing the finish line.  Afterwards, we ate at Cafe Brazil for brunch to celebrate my Mom's birthday.

I haven't really been posting much on Instagram lately.  There are just so many things to keep up with nowadays.  Oh, not pictured, but I did see The Vow Wednesday night and it was so cute.  It was like The Notebook and Dear John combined.  I had plans for a Channing Tatum marathon Saturday night, but that fell through.  Darn! 

How was your weekend?