things i love, lately - october 2014.

Happy October!
The month in which Texas thinks Fall is supposed to begin. That's okay, cooler weather is (sporadically) here, so I can't stay mad! Plus, this month has been a gooooood one.

I have officially participated in my first ever link-up! Sweet Ember Grey hosts a #gratefulheart link-up every Monday, and I felt like this post fit right in.

I'm thankful this month for so. much. face time with this sweet boy.

For gigantic, bechamel-slathered egg sammies with my love.

For seeing this sweet, dear friend of mine get married.

For surprise upright bass concerts at ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

 Check these guys out. They're The Gypsy Playboys and were such a pleasant surprise.

This blog which is both hilarious and seriously spot-on when it comes to being an adult.

Brunch is for jerks. Let's take it back.

OMG, online cooking school. FOR FREE.

A handful of eye-opening interviews about race with, well, white people.
Called The Whiteness Project.

THE MOST CLEVER ETSY SHOP EVER.


And for the most amazing friends who threw me the co-ed bridal shower of the century.
Pete and I have got some pretty stellar friends, y'all.

What was your favorite part of October?
Can you believe it's almost November??
-e.

things i love, lately - september 2014.

Lots of things to be thankful for lately.
The month marked the majority of a whirlwind trip to Europe and the beginning of Fall. Not sure which one I was more excited about. ;)

Lately I'm loving -

Early mornings spent here with quiet time and the perfect cappuccino.

Great friends, good company, and matching outfits.

This simple truth from She in the Making.

 Trying new places with the man who's always up for an adventure with me.

Last minute tickets bought on Craigslist to see a band that speaks to my heart.

Selfies, photobombers, and the friends we make from them.

And finally, this essay about women and eating and just put the brownie in your mouth, already.
I dig that.
-e.

things i love, lately - august 2014.

What a fantastically hot, coffee-filled, night shiftin' month August has been.
Here's what made it so great.

Time spent with this sweet boy who turns ONE at the end of this month!
When did that happen??
Also, his first ever selfie (sort of). Best.

This study in this coffee shop.

Snuggle time and face licks from this sweet girl.

Early morning breakfasts that look as good as they taste.

Vegan power cookies and vanilla lattes from here.

Nights that start with guac, end with fajitas, and have friends everywhere in between.

Needed to share, very briefly: I finally got a (very) little blurb published in the Dallas Observer's online food blog, City of Ate! Super excited about this, ya'll.
If I could make my eyes turn into hearts like my favorite emoji, that's what I would look like right now.

See the story here, then gogogo to Perini Ranch because YUM.

I like food, can you tell?

Hope your August was a good one. Here's to a fast-approaching Fall!

-e.

things i love, lately - july 2014.

What an excellent month July has been! The weather has been practically perfect by Texas standards and so many other happy things happened!
Take a look at all the things that have made me appreciate life this month.

I adore cherry season. Purple fingers and lips.

These sweet friends that I've known since 4th grade (!!!) and how we still make an effort to catch up with one another.

 This city I call home and all it's beauty and adventure.

Bishop Arts on the left - swoon - and driving home from work on the right with excellent sun company.

That I have a man willing to go antiquing with me. My excuse? It's for the wedding!

Candid photos at crowded pools.

 An excellent new cookie recipe that yields 4 cookies as big as your palm.

And a quick snow cone date with my dad from the only place you should be getting your snow cones.

This gorgeous sunset that I was treated to every night this past week. There will be a CA post later this week!

I'm ready for fall now! Who's with me?

-e.

things i love, lately - june 2014.

June was such a great month!
Thanks to all my sweet friends who supported me while I was in the hospital, celebrated me during my golden birthday, and just generally made me realize how blessed I am! I don't deserve ya'll, but I am so glad to have ya'll.

Oh, mushy mushy. On to the best things about last month - I realize I'm a day late in posting!

Yes, this was technically the last day of May, but my sweet friend, Alethea, got married! Could not be happier for her. Just watching her stare googly-eyed at Alan makes me happy.

This art exhibit at The Public Trust in Deep Ellum. It was eye-opening and saddening, but rich.

 These delightful cinnamon roll puffs. Sometimes breakfast deserves a little more time than cereal and milk.

Squeeeezing in extra time to see friends who are visiting.

Now for BIRTHWEEK festivities which deserves an extra-special section because it was seriously so extra-special this year. The week leading up to it mostly just consisted of doing all of my favorite things in Dallas. Can't go wrong there!

 To start things off, the weekend before, Peter took me to get my favorite drink from HG Sply Co. And they had a frozen version! What!? Also, adore their sweet rooftop garden.

 On my actual birthday, we enjoyed coffee and breakfast (including but not limited to red velvet pancakes) at Oddfellows, followed by a breezy walk around Bishop Arts and an afternoon poolside at FOE.

We finished the day off at Gemma - a new restaurant on Henderson Ave that I'd been dying to try. Ya'll, get there now. It was excellent. I got pappardelle with braised rabbit and Peter got the flat iron steak. Oh my word, I can't wait to go back. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere fresh and light.

Saturday, I got together with some friends for dinner and a show, hah. We went to Mesa where we danced, cheered, had a great time and got a round of shots from the chef. We followed dinner up with a burlesque show at Texas Theater. It was ridiculous and hysterical.

Lobster enchiladas(!!!)

What would you do on your birthday if you got to do all your favorite things? Of course mine would revolve around eating...
-e.

things i love lately - may 2014

This month has been one of the best, like, ever.
I didn't really make a huge hubbub about my engagement on my happy Monday post, so I thought I'd kind of brag on my man here. He is, after all, the reason it's been such a fabby month!

So, without further ado, my engagement story:
--Peter and I were about to head to a friend's birthday party when he said he needed to get a gift for me out of his car. He'd told me he was waiting on a package and that he'd gotten me something earlier in the week. I jokingly asked, "is it a ring?" because I was so sure it wasn't. Clearly he caught me completely off guard! When he came back, he handed me a study Bible I'd been wanting. It was one of those things I'd mentioned off-hand and was surprised he even knew it was something I wanted. So, I was gushing about it, thanking him, and he told me to open the box to see if it was the one I actually wanted. My name was engraved on the front...with his last name. I was shocked to see that -- he wasn't allowed to call me that yet! Then I looked up and he had the ring out and asked me to marry him! I cried and "omgomgomgomg'd", then of course finally said "YES!" It was so thoughtful and so great that it was just us to share that moment. I always kind of thought I'd want family and friends there, but this couldn't have been more perfect.--

Now let's all say a collective "awwww" and check out what else has made this month awesome!

The hard-fought playoff series between my Mavs and those icky guys, the Spurs.

Southern comfort meals from eagerly anticipated date nights.

 Days off work spent pretending we're tourists in our own city.

Super spicy meals and the red-faced giggles that accompany them.

Much needed rainfall quenching the city's thirst.

Quiet walks at dusk through our favorite neighborhoods with ice cream in our hands.

This. Because sometimes I get embarrassed over how excited/upset/amazed/generally just emotional I get about things, but sometimes it's okay to just wear that emotion out in the open.

This booger, of course.

And these two boogers together, of course.

Not to mention: we started Merge last night and are v v excited about it. And I get to see my favorite college professor tomorrow. So, pretty darn good month!

-e.