Eureka Springs

My dude and I went to Eureka Springs for our 1 year anniversary.  It was such a relaxing trip (even though it was freezing!)  We still got out and saw some very cool things despite the cold temps.

We stayed at The Inn at Rose Hall.  I highly recommend this B&B.  The owner and innkeeper are very nice.  The breakfast is very good and the rooms are very comfy.  We definitely took advantage of the giant jacuzzi tub a time or two (with a little champagne nearby).

One of my favorite places was Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.  You can read more about the awesome work these people do to care for "Big Cats" that have been found and/or surrendered by their owners.  (Seriously people, why would you think a Tiger would be a good pet?  FYI - they're not - don't be an idiot and get a regular cat).  If helping animals is your thing, consider donating to this organization.

Another cool spot was a store called Fresh Harvest.  This place is a tasting room for olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  They have the standard oil and vinegar but also infuse the oils with things like Basil, Blood Orange and Cayenne (just to name a few).  We had a great time checking out the different flavors and I think I found a secret weapon for the State Fair Chili Cook-Off.  I took home a bunch of stuff from this place.

My favorite restaurants were Local Flavor Cafe and Ermilio's (the waitress at Ermilio's asked me if I was old enough to drink the wine and then asked hubby for my age to confirm.  heehee)  Highly recommend both! 

And, Finally, Here are a few pics:

When hubby was born, his hippie parents lived next to this artist.  Apparently he's in the Louvre and NYC Modern Art Museum.  From the hills of Arkansas to NYC - who knew? 

Cool little amphitheater

I love Irises - there are lots in this area.

The Crescent Hotel is supposedly haunted.  We didn't see any ghosts.

Thorncrown Chapel - Beautiful and Peaceful -  http://www.thorncrown.com/

Cheers to 1 year of marriage!

Our beautiful anniversary cake from Frosted Art Bakery in Dallas, TX.

Me and my man.  He's a cutie.

A little gift from hubby...he did good!

If you have a long weekend, Eureka Springs is definitely worth a visit!

I think a change, would do you good...

Well this year has flown by!  In the spirit of ushering in the new I decided to update the blog with a simpler look.  I would wait until closer to the end of the month, but if the Mayans have their way we won't be here come December 21st ( or 22nd?  I'm not exactly certain if the world ends at midnight or what).  Rather than deprive my two subscribers everyone of the exciting changes, I decided to update now just in case.  Also, its that time of the afternoon where I need a little break from my regular work.

If we all happen to make it past the Mayan doomsday, my friends and I have decided to do this NYE up proper.  We are usually the group that says things like, "It's too crowded to go out on New Year's" and "Everything is so expensive for that one night."  You know, the boring, old type.  Not this year my friends!

Here is how you do it up right:

1) Wear sequins.  Although sequins are not exactly out of place in Dallas,  I'm not usually a sequin type of gal so this is a big step.

2) Find the most over-the-top, outrageously expensive party to attend; Something that costs a bazillion dollars a ticket. Pay the bazillion dollars.  Don't flinch when you fork over the money.

3) Never be seen without a glass of bubbly in your hand.  (Arrange a cab ride in advance to complete this step effectively)

4) Take lots of pics but do NOT, for the love of God, post them to facebook, instagram, or any other social media until you have had a chance to review and edit when sober.

5) Kiss someone at midnight.  If married, be sure its your spouse or risk a very nasty fight and possible divorce in 2013.  No one wants that.

That's pretty much it.  I plan on completing all of these steps to ring in 2013.  13 is my lucky number so I have a feeling its going to be a fabulous year!  Who else has exciting plans for the holidays? 

Erath Pinot Noir

I love a good wine that's also a good value.

Check out this post from D Magazine on Erath Pinot Noir.  And then go get yourself a bottle (or two) and have your own wine tasting.  I think this will definitely be on my weekend agenda!

Cheers!

State Fair Chili Cook-off Part 3: Lets Cook Some MF-ing Chili!

Ok well I know all of my readers have been waiting with bated breath to learn the results of the chili cook off. In case you're busy and don't want to read this whole post I'll tell you straight off: we didn't win. But that doesn't mean my chili wasn't BADASS. Apparently I was in violation of a few "rules" that will be discussed in detail below.

We finally decided on a Team Name and I finished the shirts the night before:







I loaded up my Jeep and headed over to pick up my friend Jennifer.  Our team was downsized considerably when people were told that we had to be out there at 8:00 am.  It was just as well because the Jeep was full!








 

We drove around Fair Park lost for about 20 minutes.  For those of you unfamiliar with the Fair Park area (like myself), it can be quite confusing.  There are street names inside the park but not any "official/legal" street names that will show up on the handy dandy iPhone (not that it isn't a stellar product - RIP Steve Jobs).  We spotted some golf carts and figured this was where we needed to be. (The rules said officials would be driving around in golf carts to check on us periodically).  I snapped a picture of one such cart.  Honestly I'm not quite sure what these ladies were thinking.  I guess they got tired of crocheting scarves and decided to keep their golf cart warm???

Anyway, we found a spot and it was set up time!  My friend bought this huge umbrella type thing to shield us from the sun.  Problem one:  It calls for stakes to be put in the ground to hold it down.  We were in a parking lot.  No going to work...

 This was my bright idea - Throwing it on the back of the Jeep!





This was her bright idea - Tying 1000 knots to hold it down.  This became problematic when it was time to break everything down and after 6+ beers...





I can't complain too much because her knots did the job.  The guys next to us were pretty cool.  They let me borrow their automatic lighter, like 10 times.  My dumbass brought matches and the wind was not cooperating.  They also shared a margarita with me at some point during the day.  It was pretty good.







My competition...






OK so the deal with the Chili: I was trying to make CASI Chili.  CASI stands for Chili Appreciation Society International, Inc.  One of the rules is no fillers.  Specifically it says:  "NO FILLERS IN CHILI - Beans, macaroni, rice, hominy, or other similar ingredients are not permitted."  So in reading this rule, I assume that things like onion and tomato are alright and had such items in my ingredient list.   I put the onions in my pot first thing to get them cooking.  This chick comes over, takes one look at my pot and the following conversation takes place:

Chick:   "I guess you're not making CASI chili."
Me:       "Actually, I am."
Chick:   "You can't have those onions in there..."
Me:       "I read the rules and it said no beans or macaroni.  I didn't see anything about onions."
Chick:    "Well, let me get one of the other officials to take a look and we'll just see..."

She goes to get one of the other officials who proceeds to tell me that although I don't have anything "illegal" in my pot, the onions must be rendered down to no bigger than my meat or else I won't score very high.  The chick gives me a smug look.  I thought to myself, OK, its like that.  I see how you people are. 

A neighbor two tents down tells me (after my chili is done, of course) that to win at CASI chili you have to have only meat, tomato sauce and spices.  That's NOT how I read the rulebook but whatever....

So this was the final product - my friend and I thought it was pretty tasty.  Do you see any MF-ing onions in there???





Another guy came over during the cooking process to ask me why I thought my chili was a winner.  My response:  "Because I'm BADASS, that's why."  I stand behind this statement and my chili.  Although next year, I'll play by THEIR rules and leave the onions out. 

Anyway, we had fun and drank a lot so that's all that mattered.  Here's my friend and our neighbors before they announced the results.  These guys named their team for a buddy of theirs who had passed away.  Very nice.





The Judging area.  Looks very official with that table lying on the ground, huh?  (I swear I'm not bitter.)






So at the end of the day we walked away with a Participation Ribbon, Two tickets to the Fair, a Parking Pass and some badass chili cooked by yours truly.  Not bad if you ask me.  Plus, there's always next year!

2 Weeks to Go! - Tracy Anderson Method

So I have exactly two weeks to go on the Tracy Anderson Method.  I just finished my beets (blah, blah, blah) but overall, I'm feeling pretty good.  I think I can see some definition in my arms which is pretty cool.  Jacob keeps saying my butt is little.  He is boarderline obsessed with the fact that my butt is small.  The butt has never been my problem anyway.  I have always been a tummy girl.  I get it from my dad's side of the family.  Thank God I got my mother's long legs or I would have really been in trouble. 

But even the tummy is smaller.  Not perfect but its getting there.  I think I need to suck it up and do more cardio.  I average about 40 min a day but I think I need to increase to an hour for these last two weeks.  It is tough to devote the time to working out with my job being so demanding but I'm muddling through. 

Not drinking was the hardest part of this whole thing but even that has gotten better.  Lots of the other attorneys that I know drink.  Hell, I drink.  I enjoy going out with them to drink.   But now I've been MIA from the drinking/social scene.  One attorney told me a bartender at one of the places we visit regularly was asking what happened to me.  I just got a text from one of my friends that said "I'm drinking at TABC if you want to come.. Oh wait.."   I called her a bitch (I meant it in a friendly way).

But two weeks to go and I'll be done!  I'm trying to decide if I even want to go back to drinking alcohol - It really hasn't been that hard to drink water only.  Maybe I'll stick with water and then have a drink occasionally.  That would probably be best. 

So Its Friday, 5:00 and I am looking forward to going home and working out for 2 1/2 hours.  Yea. 
After that I am going to sleep.  I should change my bio from semi-reformed party girl to reformed party girl.  Or maybe I should just say I'm a total bore. 
((sigh))

Self Torture

Why did I decide to quit drinking at one of the most stressful times in my life?  This is the question I keep asking myself.  You could say I like a good challenge.  Or you could say I'm a glutton for punishment.  Either works. 

I started the Tracy Anderson 30 day method 10 days ago.  I stopped drinking to do the method.  In fact, all I'm drinking is water.  No caffeine, no alcohol...just plain ol' h20.  The first two days I thought my head was going to explode from the massive headache I had.  But it went away.  Last Saturday I wanted to drink in a bad way but talked myself out of it.  The Conversation in my head went something like this:

Devil:  Just one glass of wine won't hurt.  You've been so good all week.
Angel: No.  You made a commitment to 30 days - no alcohol.
Devil:  Meh...its been, like, 8 days already.  One drink won't hurt. 
Angel: There are a lot of other things to do besides drink.
Devil: Anything you want to do would be so much better with a glass of wine.
Angel: Wine is just extra calories. You don't want extra calories do you?
Devil: Ok, scrap the wine and have some vodka. 
Angel: Vodka is just as bad. 
Devil: Vodka is practically like drinking water.  Its clear.
Angel: Vodka is NOT like water and you know it!

Long story short, the Angel on my shoulder won.  Mainly because I couldn't fathom doing my 2 hour workout hungover.

The Tracy Anderson Method is good.  I like the work outs.  The most challenging thing is the food.  You have to prepare EVERYTHING from scratch.  I have probably eaten more fresh fruit and fish in the last 10 days than I did all last year.  This diet is not for the poor either.  I think they know me by first name at whole foods. My former drinking money is now going to purchase things like leeks, beets, shallots, cod, salmon, etc...

My friend had a birthday Tuesday so I stopped off to get her some Sprinkles cupcakes. (further evidence that I am into self torture)  It crossed my mind to eat the whole box as I drove to work but I restrained myself.  To make it worse I didn't go out to celebrate with her because I'm not drinking.  I thought to myself, this is the worst, most terrible idea I have ever come up with.  On Tuesday, I dreamt about cupcakes and vodka (in no particular order).

On top of all of this, I'm trying to buy a house before the end of the year and keep my job from spinning out of control.  Just pile it on...

But now its Thursday...and the two week mark is in sight.  I have a feeling if I can make it to Sunday I will have won the battle for the most part.  I'm tired but I feel like my body is getting a much needed break from my bad habits.  I woke up yesterday morning and my liver had written me a thank you note.  Ok not really but I feel like it would if it could.