In Search of Cider Mills.

I hate the cold.  Dread its arrival each year with a piece of me so deep in my core I can't believe I've only ever lived in Michigan and Chicago my entire life and not fled to warmer climates sooner.  Surprisingly, this year I'm happily welcoming this cooler fall weather, maybe from homesickness or the love of a good oversized sweater/boot combination.  My only issue now, and it's become a major one, is that no one in this city knows what a cider mill is.  What planet am I on??  I'm having a hard time imagining a fall where I won't get an opportunity to throw on said oversized sweater/boots and crunch across the grounds of a gorgeous apple orchard, slowly sipping on some freshly pressed cider and eating a warm, cinnamon sugar donut.  The search is on to satisfy this need.  Cider mills in Texas:  come out wherever you are!

Scarf:  H&M

Boots:  Clarks

Jacket:  Quinn, Francesca's

Jacket and sweater:  Loft

Leggings:  H&M

Shoes:  Sperry

Sweater:  Forever 21

Vest:  Meijer (A Midwestern staple - I miss Meijer terribly)

Biggby chai latte gone wrong.  

Visit Shelley, the owner at the Biggby location in Allen, TX, to get a little taste of Michigan goodness.  The beverage options are amazing if you love coffee and tea (chai latte all the way!) and Shelley and her family are absolutely lovely.  If I can't find a cider mill, I'll settle for a trip to Biggby for a chaider and some talk of home  :)

Date Night

When I moved into my apartment, my 5-year-old nephew informed me that he would grace me with his presence for "one sleep," as he put it, so last night I finally had a night off for him to do just that.  He had his little wheely suitcase all packed up with a couple of his favorite stuffies (Captain Cuddly the polar bear and Buckey, the tiny beaver in a red sweater), and his backpack all set for school today.  I was excited to have a small house guest for the evening!

Our night's adventuring began at Klyde Warren Park because I saw online that they had a "Children's Park," but I think we went at an off time (Wednesday evening, around 6PM).  I didn't see anything kid-related to really do, besides jump in some sprinklers/fountains, an activity in which we sadly could not partake because we had to go to dinner and didn't bring changes of clothes (good planning, Aunt Amy).  We ended up strolling around and commenting on the lack of fun kids' activities, raced on the grass a bit, then went on our merry way to dinner.  Next time I would bring a ball to kick/throw around on the grass or go when there was a scheduled activity.  The park is definitely lovely and in a fantastic location, nestled between the downtown skyscrapers, but it's a little bit of a letdown for a nephew who likes to climb on things and play with toys.

I resorted to Googling a good place to take Carson to eat and stumbled upon an article from the Dallas Observer, which recommended The LOT in East Dallas as one of Nine of Dallas' Best Places to Eat With Your Kids.  A bit more rundown than the pictures in the article made me think and a little lacking on the service side of things (I had to go to the hostess stand to ask for a server to come by), the sand off the patio was a nice area for Carson to play and meet other kids while we waited for our food.  He loved his grilled cheese, fries, and lemonade and my chicken salad on a croissant was decent, though it could have used a bit more stuffing to even out the salad to croissant ration.  I highly recommend the waffle fries!  I would go back again to sample their beer selection and other food offerings, but I'd make sure to sit far away from the sandbox and crying children if I was sans-nephew.

Continuing our theme of driving all across the city in rush hour traffic, we went to Dish in Preston Hollow for a dessert of vanilla ice cream and warm chocolate chip cookies.  Orange juice was also requested by Carson, which made for a slightly off-putting palate combination, if you were to take his face as an indication of the state of things.  Had we been feeling entirely lazy we could have gotten delivery from the wildly delicious Tiff's Treats, which has amazing cookies and an ice cream cookie sandwiche that I would eat my weight in if given the opportunity.

Our evening ended in pj's and bed, with a few episodes of Curious George to round things out.  We woke up early this morning (hearing, "Aunt Amy, where did Captain Cuddly go?" at 6:30 this morning was a cute way to start the day), got clothes on for picture day, and headed off to Denny's for breakfast.

The apartment seems overly quiet now, after spending such a great afternoon and evening with Carson.  His non-stop chatter about everything we saw and his vivid imagination make me glad to be close enough to spend time with him like this.  I'd consider our first "one sleep" a raving success, and to liven up the apartment, I'll now be playing our evening's theme song on a loop ("Aunt Amy, can you please turn this up??").   :)

Signs of Bravery

I recently watched the documentary Girl Rising, and a line from one of the girl's stories really struck me:

In a breath we can decide between what we wish to be true and what we can make happen. 

I have been struggling a lot lately with working too much, not taking care of myself properly, not seeing my family, and just being generally overwhelmed.  I've been bogged down and slipping into a state of mind that I don't like getting into - I've been working this past year on thinking more positively, stepping back from situations, and looking at the bigger picture.  That's been a challenge for me recently.

I have to remind myself that it took a lot for me to do this.  I've only been in Texas three months.  I immediately began working, and now I'm working two jobs.  But, I'm in my own place.  I am here.  I took that first step.  It's not bravery that will change the world, but this decision will lead to more for me.  Something beautiful and good is going to come from this.

I can sit and wish and hope that my situation here will change.  That I'll get my dream job.  That I'll have more regular hours and can see my family more often.  That I can have time off to explore the city and the money with which to do so.  But wishing and doing are two very different things.  A very dear friend and I had a really great talk the other day, and she reminded me of my strengths.  She also told me, "Great things are going to happen to you and I want to know you when they do."  These are the reminders I need and these are the reasons I am so thankful to be surrounded by so many wonderful people who bring out the best in me.

For me, this is just the beginning.

Front of the Pack

During Tamra's visit, I finally got to do a few things around the city I've been meaning to do for a long time.  First on that list was paying a proper visit to the Front Room Tavern inside Hotel Lumen. My brother-in-law is F&B director for the hotel, so my standards for the trip were high and I was pleasantly surprised when those standards were surpassed.  The restaurant is gorgeous (as evidenced below), cozy and intimate with a real feeling of warmth.  Tamra and I were the first to arrive for breakfast (she had an early flight to catch),  but more guests were soon to join us, which added to a nice ambiance.  Tamra got their large french pressed coffee and I sipped on a delicious green tea from Kai Organics, which was replenished with hot water a few times by our attentive server (my addiction to tea is very real).  The breakfast sandwich was phenomenal, as were the breakfast potatoes it came with.  I was doubly excited when my plate arrived with not one but two English muffins, packed with eggs, cheese, bacon, and tomato, because I had leftovers for the next day. Tamra ordered the biscuits and gravy (when in the south, eat southern!), which was a large portion, served with made-to-order eggs and breakfast potatoes.  She was a big fan.  The gravy wasn't too heavy and the biscuits weren't too plentiful that she felt overwhelmed and couldn't eat it all, leaving her with the issue of feeling guilty at having to leave anything behind (since planes and leftovers don't usually mix well, and Tamra hates wasting food).  Front Room's location on Hillcrest Road right across from SMU's campus also made for good people-watching during our meal, with students walking to and from class and luxury cars (given the neighborhood) whizzing past.  All in all, family connection notwithstanding, I would recommend Front Room for breakfast or brunch to anyone!  Our service was great, the food was delicious, the tea was plentiful, and our surroundings were more than pleasing to look at.  Now, I just need to have some time off again to get some Front Room dinner experience!

First Thing's First

When a friend comes to town, naturally the first thing to do is pop a lovely, gifted bottle of sparkling rosé (my newest obsession), get a little dolled up, and hit the town!  

Luc Belaire Rosé

In a pinch, a mustache glass en lieu of a champagne flute will always work.

I got to wear, by far, one of my favorite outfits that I now own (thanks to an impromptu shopping trip with my friend Johnny), and hang out with two lovely ladies for the evening, which cannot be beaten.  Also, I will most likely be living in this top for the foreseeable future (flowy, soft, adorable - all I ever need).

Necklace:  H&M

Sandals:  Mossimo

Skirt:  Silence + Noise

Top:  Urban Outfitters Project Social T

Outfits in action

Lauren's top:  Loft

Shoes:  Michael Kors

Photo courtesy of the ever-patient brother-in-law, Josh

My Heart is Full

I've been feeling a bit worn down lately, working a lot without much time for myself, let alone any time to see my sister and the boys.  Lauren called the other day and said, "Remember when you moved to Dallas and I never saw you again?"  And it's true!  I've been going non-stop and I've needed a break.  Cue a lovely message in the mail and a visit from Tamra, just in the nick of time.  

Miranda and I have been friends ever since I wooed her with my humor in third grade.  We can go weeks without talking, then pick up right where we left off.  She can obviously sense when I need her, because I got this lovely, handmade card in the mail last week with a note in it that brought tears to my eyes.  To have such good people in my life is what keeps me going.

Speaking of good people. . .  my adorable nephews who make my heart hurt from loving them so much  ;)

To keep the good vibes going, Tamra came on Saturday for a four-day trip and I finally got to introduce her to the boys, though it feels like she met them and Lauren years ago.  I basically spent Friday telling everyone who would listen (and even those who tried not to listen) that Tamra was coming and I was so excited that I'd get to see the boys Saturday and have a girls' night with my Tam and Lauren. The excitement could not be contained!  Having a great friend in town and getting to spend time with her and explore the city was a huge gift that I am so thankful for.  Now, with the day off and only working one job the next few days, I'll finally be able to get some more posts up and highlight all the fun Dallas things Tam and I got to do together!  Prepare for an unreasonable amount of pictures to follow.

Busy Days

It's been about two weeks since I've had a day off and I cannot wait for this weekend!  My beautiful friend Tamra is coming to town so I'll get 4 whole days off and get to explore the city and spend time with a wonderful friend  :)  I need a mental and physical break, ASAP!  Luckily, I got to surprise Lauren and the boys the other day with a quick visit, which always revives me and makes my heart happy.

Took a little stroll down memory lane. . .  baby Amy and teenage Lauren!

Working so much is proving tough (I usually need at least 8 hours of sleep to be a functioning human being), but at least I'm in a beautiful city, working around some great views  :)

Note the pegasus theme going on. . . symbol of the city!

Hopefully I'll get to the point soon where I can strike a better balance and get some time to take better care of myself and really appreciate being in this exciting new place.  More blog posts to come - slowly but surely!

Room to Breathe

Sometimes, you move into your own place, get a second job, get scheduled doubles at your first job, and just plain don't have much time for the little things.  That's why I'm so lucky to be close to my amazingly-talented-at-hanging-things family who comes over and helps put some finishing touches on my apartment  :)  There are still a few things that need acquiring (shelves so that all of my lovely books will have a proper home; an ottoman or coffee table; and some bar stools for seating!) but it's certainly coming together thanks to the group effort that's been happening.

Planning stages

Mirrors, mirrors everywhere!

I'm calling this the white gallery wall (in my head, of course)

The wine rack/wood gallery wall (please note the adorable wedding picture of my grandparents)

You can't have a new place and not throw a housewarming party, so that's just what I did on Monday. I've never actually thrown a party before, and I suppose one might not call what happened on Monday a party per-say, more of a gathering of coworkers/new Dallas friends, but I got a new top and some snacks and made a night out of it nonetheless! 

Bralette and tanktop:  Target

Lotus bracelet:  Alex and Ani

Bangles:  Loft

Necklace:  FreshyFig

Jeans:  Pacsun

Being in a uniform all day, I get excited when I find clothes for my time off that can show off my tattoo a bit without being super revealing.

Bought a new curling iron after two months (mine got hairspray all over it during the move when the bottle I had decided to explode everywhere) so I got to get a little fancier in the hair department than I have been as of late

Should have sent the invite out to read "BYOC (bring your own chair)"

The possibilities of this city and my new life are really making me hopeful and excited about the future  :)

Mugs Not Drugs

Can a girl ever really have too much tea in her life?  I don't think so.  I am not a coffee drinker and have always loved tea (Meijer brand jasmine green tea is my go-to in a rush), and I got more serious about loose leaf tea a few years ago.  Now I'm a bit of a maniac.  I was gifted some Teavana and their ingenious tea steeper a few years ago by my lovely roommates (Eureka shout out!).  The aroma of the Maharaja Chai Oolong and Samurai Chai Mate blend relaxes the heck out of me and puts me in a very happy place.  

My other tea obsession, Joseph Wesley Black Tea out of Detroit, makes me a proud Michigander. Joe is bringing knowledge and craft back to tea and the result is some amazing, pure, delicious drinking. I have and love the Darjeeling, Assam, and Keemun Congfu (sourced from India and China).  The tea comes out light and flavorful, with wonderfully complex notes.  The packaging and information provided with each tea is awesome - I love to learn about what I'm eating and drinking, and they make sure you are an informed consumer.   Be sure to check out the beautiful website and blog and get yourself some goodies while you're there!

Current state of my kitchen cupboard.  Clearly there's room for more tea.

As if I didn't have enough mugs (and bottles of wine, apparently), here are some more mugs I'm currently pining for. . .  because Etsy is a dangerous place for me.

 

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