happy monday! [final week]

Phew. Ya'll. I am finished with my #100happydays challenge!
Some of ya'll are probably thinking, "ohmuhguh, finally". Some of ya'll might be kinda bummed out.
I sympathize with both sides, ha.
Ultimately, I enjoyed see if I could find the small things to be thankful for every day. Some days it was a bit tedious, but most of the time I appreciated the way I was challenged to see something beautiful in the simple everyday.
For alllll the other weeks, click here.
Now read on for the final 3 days of the challenge!

 Day 98 - Okay, this is something I cannot wait for. Restaurant Week in DFW actually spans 3 weeks during which several (usually pretty expensive) restaurants offer a fixed 3 to 4-course menu at a certain price - either $35 or $45. Proceeds go towards North Texas Food Bank and those who participate get to stuff their faces with gourmet food for much cheaper than they normally would. We already have plans to go to Tei-An and Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse and I. Am. Stoked.

 Day 99 - I snapped this beautiful sunrise as I headed home one Sunday morning from work. It's never fun to work Saturday night, but there's something so refreshing about driving home the next morning when no one else is on the road. It also helped that lately it's been 70* when I get off work. In July! Get outta here.

Day 100 - This day was particularly special because I finished 2 major important events. One, obviously, was the challenge. But the other was Merge - something I regard as incredibly important in today's divorce-obsessed world. I highly recommend this class if you plan to get married anytime soon or think that could be in the plans for you and your significant other. It made us bring up hard topics and, yeah, sometimes it brought up arguments, but these conversations were so important to have before we get married and they only served to make us stronger as a couple.

Okay. Off my soapbox.

Happy days, y'all. I hope you're having a fabby one.

-e.

happy mondays! [week 14]

Oooh, so much goodness from this week.
For more from the challenge, click here.

 Day 91 - My favorite photo from my sweet White Rock date with Peter. Whee!

 Day 92 - Ahhh! Ya'll! It's finally happening! My roommate and I are taking Europe by storm beginning August 28th. Get ready, Amsterdam, London, Paris, Barcelona, and Rome! We are MORE than ready.

 Day 93 - There's something so refreshing about late night chips and queso with a side of girl talk (okay, and maybe a margarita, too) with a sweet girlfriend.

 Day 94 - I just love bringing sweet treats to work. Simple joys.

 Day 95 - Oh. My. Word. You guys. I have the absolute sweetest wedding photographer ever. I am so so glad to have found her and could not be more excited to work with her. This welcome package came from her in the mail and completely made my week. Kate Spade gift card?? What!

 Day 96 - Have ya'll tried the s'mores calzone at Il Cane Rosso? Eeek. Guilty pleasure, ya'll.

Day 97 - I would blame it a bit on night shift, but there's really no excuse. I haven't gone to church or the Porch nearly as much as I would like lately. Yesterday really hit the spot and really spoke into my life to wake me up. Thank you, Lord! He knows exactly what we need.

3 days left! What!

-e.

happy mondays! [week 13]

I can't believe I've made it so close to the end of my #100happydays challenge and have legitimately not forgotten to do a single day! What!

Check out other weeks here.

 Day 84 - I finally got to check out The Wild Detectives, a new coffee shop that recently opened in the Bishop Arts District. It was cute and quaint and you can expect a post about it soon. ;)

 Day 85 - the weather has been so mild this summer and my pup and I have really been enjoying our evening walks as a result. I love stopping to chat with neighbors in my sweet neighborhood!

 Day 86 - Yes, yes, I'm 26 and still chew my nails. Hopefully this gel manicure (so sparkly!) will help once and for all to break the habit.

 Day 87 - few things make me happier than bing cherry season.

 Day 88 - Ohhh, you guys. I've just discovered the beauty of small-batch cookie recipes. What's better than only making 4 cookies at a time?? That way I don't have to feel guilty when I eat them all!

 Day 89 - can you tell how excited I am that we're having such a mild summer?? *knock on wood* It makes getting off work so much nicer.

Day 90 - Delicious soppressata garlic knots from Zoli's. 'Nuff said.

Any suggestions about what I should do when I reach the end?

-e.

happy monday! [week 12]

Y'all. My birthweek was one of the best I've had. So much good stuff going on.
I am one happy and utterly blessed girl. Thanks to all who made this week amazing and who celebrated me.

 Day 77 - Efficiency is key when mailing Save the Dates. I felt pretty silly standing in the post office like this, but it sure made things happen faster!

 Day 78 - I am totally the dog mom who takes her pup to doggy daycare. And they are great because they send me pictures of Penny having a good time during the day. Love!

 Day 79 - I made this cake batter puppy chow to take to Merge and - full disclosure - it went stale immediately, which is why there was no blog post with the recipe. It tasted awesome and seriously just like birthday cake, but the butter in the recipe caused it to get almost soggy. Gross!

 Day 80 - Have ya'll been to the FOE pool yet? You need to go. This day was perfect for sunbathing. Also, it was my actual birthday! Hurray!

 Day 81 - Every year for our family's birthdays, my mom makes whatever meal we want. I almost always choose this homemade pizza. It's juuust the best.

 Day 82 - Some friends and I went to Mesa for my birthday dinner on Saturday night. I got this drink made with horchata and we had a seriously great time. The executive chef came out and serenaded us with Spanish ballads! Definitely an unforgettable birthday.

Day 83 - This dessert was part of the birthday dinner my mom made for me. I requested "anything funfetti" because I am a child and I love sprinkles. She did not disappoint with these sugar cookie cheesecake bars! Sooo yummy.

For more good stuff, check it out here.
-e.

happy monday! [week 11]

I am so excited about this coming week -- my BIRTHWEEK, ya'll.
It will be all happy, all week! In fact, Peter ensured that my birthday celebrations started a bit early by taking me on a hot date this past weekend. So glad I have a man that understands that birthweeks are a thing. YES.

On to this past week! (And previous weeks, here!)

Day 70 - My Save the Dates came in! Eeeep! So excited to get things rolling, ya'll.

Day 71 - Hah, sometimes I struggle on days I work to come up with happy things. Sometimes all it takes to make me happy is coffee. And hospital coffee at that!

 

Day 72 - Wednesday nights are quickly becoming my favorite night of the week because they mean a) Merge!, and b) I get to see my man on night I normally wouldn't get to. Awesome. Side note: if you're engaged or seriously dating, I could not recommend Merge more. It has been awesome for our relationship. 

Day 73 - For some reason, I was hell-bent on having a rubber stamp for my Save the Dates. Turns out Deep Ellum has a custom stamp shop because OF COURSE they do. Loved supporting such a cute local business.

 

Day 74 - My sweet friend Rachel came into town and we squeeeezed in some time before I went to work to have a (very) early dinner. We are grannies.

Day 75 - Happy Summer Solstice! We used the longest day of the year to eat on a patio and drink on a rooftop. Not a bad way to spend the first day of summer! I've mentioned it before, but this is (so far) my favorite drink in Dallas. It may lose that title after I eat at Gemma on Thursday. I hear their blood orange margarita is to die for.

Day 76 - Sometimes I take making lunch at home very seriously. Got this flank steak with chimichurri sauce recipe from Epicurious. So quick, so easy, so impressive.

So excited for festivities to commence! To keep track, follow me on instagram - @em_andthecity!

-e.

happy monday! [week 10]

My favorite part of the #100happydays are the moments that you want to capture because they would totally fit into the challenge, but they're simply not captureable: the neck snuggles my pup gives me, waking up in the morning to a dark room and the sound of a steady rain outside, the warm spot left behind on my bed by my Penny girl, the smell of smoke and grills as I walk the neighborhood during the summer.
The project has certainly made me appreciate much more around me.

 Day 63 - I will never find better nighttime driving music. Ya'll. Try it.

 Day 64 - sometimes when you get home from the hospital, all you want is Trix cereal and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Sometimes your fiance goes to the grocery store to get precisely those things.

 Day 65 - hah, this was the weirdest thing. I went to get my oil changed and my car inspected and I made an immediate best friend. She would not lay off. Here, she's kneading my stomach. Oof.

 Day 66 - ohhh my word, I finally got back on my yoga game after about a month away. Sometimes you just need to work out. That was definitely this. It kicked my tail in the best way possible.

 Day 67 - everytime I get this snugglebug groomed, she comes back with more and more speckles. It kills me. Her little cow spots make me happy. 

Day 68 - this is my true happy place: butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla. Nothing makes me happier.

Day 69 - my dad is simply the best. Nuff said.

For more from this challenge, look here.
-e.

happy monday! [week 9}

I'll admit, this week was a little tougher than most. I spent 3 and a half days in the hospital and - believe it or not - it's not exactly the happiest of places. My friends and family were totally incredible, though. I did not at all mind the stream of visitors and well-wishes. You guys love me so well. Thank you!

 Day 56 - new shoe debut! These sweet sandals are from a great little boutique in Bishop Arts called Strut.

Day 57 - I spent almost all day in bed this day with what I thought was food poisoning. So, you know, content for my #100happydays was a bit limited. I'd been trying to beat this game forever, though, haha.

 Day 58 - woke up in unbelievable pain. Headed for the ER and was admitted to a suite (!!!) since I'm a nurse at UTSW. Pretty sweet digs.

 Day 59 - this poor, sweet man has now learned more about my sickly body than he probably ever needed to know, yet he still stayed the night by my side. He's a keeper.

 Day 60 - my friend, Maggie, so thoughtfully brought me excellent reading material. This was actually from the night before, but I hadn't had a chance to look at it until this day. I sat in the bed grinning stupidly. Some things just really make your day. This was one of them.

 Day 61 - finally home bound with no definitive diagnosis except maybe just severe gastritis/food poisoning. Such a strange hospital stay. Huge puffy clouds on the ride home made it that much better.

Day 62 - the 2nd season of this Netflix show was released during my hospital stay. It's so nice to be able to lay low and binge-watch as I finish recuperating.

I hope you're having a fabulous start to your week!

-e.

happy monday! [week 8]

Whew! You guys! I'm over halfway done with the challenge and still going strong. One night this week I posted a 11 pm, but it totally still counts.

I'm still enjoying the project and still loving how I can find joy in even brussels sprouts (see below). Hah!
Click here for more weeks of happy.

 Day 49 - homemade brunch from some sweet friends. Can't be beat!

 Day 50 - Ya'll. My brain is about to explode from all the wedding info that's been shoved into it in the last 3 weeks. Yikes!

 Day 51 - Pete and I started Merge! It's already been a great blessing to us. So excited to see what else is in store over the next 7 weeks!

 Day 52 - sometimes roasted veggies just really hit the spot. I had these brussels sprouts 3 days in a row, hah.

 Day 53 - Indian noms (we never get anything else) with my dear friend and former professor, Cole Bennett. He's pretty great, ya'll.

 Day 54 - Oh my word! What a joy to see this sweet friend get married to the man who is truly the love of her life. Their love and joy was infectious. Le sigh.

Day 55 - BISHOP CIDER CO is open! They have been waiting on this day for a long time and so have I! Currently they have 47 different cider selections to choose from (HUGE) and will start brewing their own 3 within the next week. I will be frequenting this place often, so if you want to check it out, HOLLER!

Follow me on instagram @em_andthecity for my progress in real time!

-e.