Little is Goin' to the Chapel....

And she's getting MARRIED! Last night we got to celebrate the engagement of my Chi-O Little Sis. Good food, great friends, it was an awesome way to spend a Wednesday night! Little and her fiance (still so weird to say!) have known each other since they were 17, they even have a prom picture together! I am so excited for them and this journey they are about to start, I can't wait for all the festivities!! Love you Little!

Chi-O Sistas celebrating at Malai in Dallas

Little and her fiance, on the day he proposed!

Time of Your Life

Chills

For the last couple of years, the California Board of Tourism has been running these clever little ads encouraging people to visit, in hopes of more economic stimulation. 

For the last couple of years, I've hated these ads and felt like Rob Lowe, Jason Mraz and the Schwarzeneggers were personally taunting me with views of the beach and the wine country.

Tonight, I got chills. This next 30 days is going to go so fast; 

I really don't know what to do with myself. 

Must Do

This month, D Magazine made a list of all the things you "must do" to consider yourself a Dallas local. While I don't plan to get fake boobs or hire a day laborer, I'm rather impressed with myself at the amount of things on the list I HAVE accomplished in my 6 1/2 years in the LoneStar State!

- Ride a bull: Rode the mechanical one at Gilley's while my mother and other friends' parents looked on during a sorority weekend. Classy.

-Party at the Byron Nelson Pavillion: Last summer, thanks for the invite Wild Bill!

-Get pulled over in Highland Park: Junior year of college, for rolling a stop sign (that was a YIELD sign the week before!!!)

-Eat chicken fried steak at Babe's in Roanoke: Ok, so I've had fried chicken at Bubba's/Babe's in HP. Close enough.

-Join the St. Patty's Day crowd on Greenville: This year! Helped MTrizzle's little sis celebrate her 21st with lots of green!

-Tour the Sixth Floor Museum: Did that senior year of college; I also drive by it daily.

-Eat a Neiman Marcus popover: Does it count if I had one at the NM in San Diego?

-Cheer yourself with Christmas spirit: I've done many drives through HP to look at lights and walked by the windows at Neiman Marcus a bunch this year.

-Mix & mingle at Primo's patio on a Tuesday night: Only a couple times, it's too crowded!!

-Lobster shooters at Abacus: L-Dawg's 21st birthday!! Thanks Pappa H!

-Hit the Boulevard on SMU gameday: Duh.

-Shop: Duh.

-Spot Troy Aikman at Mi Cocina: At least twice. Along with J. & Stephen Jones, that one weekend they were following my family. (Seriously, not joking)

-Attend a wedding at the Arboretum: Ok, haven't been to a wedding, but the day I went, there were 2 going on so....

-Mix it up at Sam Moon: Check!

-Cede the popularity of Oak Cliff: I really really wish I'd spent more time in Oak Cliff/Bishop Arts while I was here, I feel like I just really discovered such an amazing place, and now I'm leaving :(

-State Fair of Texas: Finally "went" last year, although I pretty much went straight to the game, but we walked through the fair

Still on my list:

-Arts District: Winspear Opera, Nasher Sculpture Center, Meyerson Symphony Center. I probably won't hit all three, but at least one while I'm still here!

-Tacos from Fuel City: I should do this next week, it's on my way home and I do need a car wash.

-Frozen margarita at Mariano's: Supposedly, he invented the frozen margarita. So, that's a must for sure.

-Enjoy the view: I went up in Reunion Tower when I was visiting SMU, but that was so long ago. I really want to get drinks at 560.

So, while I may not officially be "a local", I'm a really really good resident.

I Go Back

I've started the slow process of cleaning out things/organizing to get ready for the big move. BestMomEver arrives a week from Thursday to try to get a big push of packing done, so I sat down last night and went through some things....whoa memories. I had this song stuck in my head almost the whole time.

SXSW

This past weekend I hit Hwy 35 southbound to experience my first music festival, SXSW. Unlike ACL or Cochella, SXSW spans a few weeks and incorporates music, film and Internet. One person told me that basically its a giant tradeshow for the industries. Well, that was the most fun I've ever had at a tradeshow! I arrived Friday and met up with my cousin. She dropped me at the Four Seasons so I could meet Lawyer Guy for drinks (we met last weekend when he was in Dallas for St Pattys Day) then she picked me up later so we could head to Mellow Mushroom to see Helen Earth Band. They're from Encinitas; two of the members, Matt & Trevor, have been friends of mine for years. I told Matt before they went on that I hadn't seen him play since highschool when he was with Three Times Lucky! The guys had a great set, people were singing along with my personal favorite of their songs, (We All) Talk With Knives.

Then Saturday I met up with some college friends and went to see Kingsley at the Chuggin' Monkey on 6th street. (For you Bachelor fans, the Chuggin' Monkey is owned by Brad Womack. Thankfully, he wasn't there). Kingsley is one of my new favorite bands, their set was great! They're based in LA so I'm hoping I'll get to see more of them when I make the move out West. They did an awesome cover of "Zombie" by The Cranberries and also played some of their newer stuff, The Game is my favorite.

Saturday night we got into the Red Bull party, thanks MMM, where they had different DJs, including DJ Jazzy Jeff!! (Yes, from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air...).

Overall, my first experience with a music festival was a success. It was a really fun group, the weather was great, definitely a great first "spring" weekend. I'm so sick of being pale!!!

Gourmet Frat Food?

Of course SMU, and my brother's fraternity house Phi Gamma Delta, are on the forefront of this trend. I'm sure the food is good, but I still say nothing beats the cooking of Miss Joy, Miss Angela and Miss Blanca!

The Lenten Season

My boss asked me yesterday what I was doing to observe Ash Wednesday...I had to tell her "uh, nothing...". I haven't been great about getting involved in a church or small group post-college. Part of the reason is that I'm so attached to my church family back home that I've had a hard time going anywhere else. I grew up in my church, I know practically everyone, and its small size always made me feel very comfortable. Like so many other things here in Texas, bigger is better when it comes to church and I always got a little intimidated trying to sit in these cathedrals with hundreds of other people. Excuses, excuses.

Anyway, I do still try to stay connected and (relatively) observant, so I took some time to think about what I was going to give up for Lent. Of course, the first thing that popped into my head was some sort of food; but honestly, other than my morning latte, I don't really have any food habits that would be a great "sacrifice" or challenge to give up.

In the midst of a very busy time at work and preparing for some major life changes, I've decided to try to "give up" two of my worst habits: procrastinating and sweating the small stuff. Both of those things will only contribute more stress to an already stressful time, so I'm really going to make an effort not to allow them to keep me from completing the tasks I need to, both at work and at home.

At work, it's the Internet. It's so easy to slide on over to MSN and check out what's going on in the world or click on a friend's blog, then a blog she has on her site and then....so, in fairness to myself and my co-workers, I'm really going to make a conscious effort to keep my browsing (and my blogging...) to my lunch hour.

At home, it's the TV. BestMomEver will be the first to tell you that, given the opportunity, I'd spend an entire day watching Law & Order from the couch. At night, I've started to do the same thing. I get home at 6:30, have some dinner, put on the TV and boom! All of a sudden it's 9:30 and my plans to starting making boxes or clean the kitchen are out the window. As my move date gets closer and closer, I really don't have hours to spend watching The Real Housewives of Miami (as crazy and entertaining as they are!)

So blog world, for the next 40 days, it's "do it now, not later" and "take a deep breath, is this really the end of the world?".

God willing, maybe I'll be a better person on the other side!

Overdue Recap

So I'm a little overdue on my recap from JetSet's visit last weekend. We had an absolute blast the entire time, especially Saturday. We hit Cibus for brunch, followed by Milo's for some pool and video games, then out to the Slipper Club Gala with an awesome group! I think this is the only picture taken all night, thanks MTrizzle!

Some of our group, on a rare break from the dancefloor!

PS - I won a bunch of people a lot of fake money rolling the dice in craps, someone take me to Vegas!!

When Parents Text

Me: Dad, it's Justin Bieber's birthday today too!

Dad: Sweet.

Me: Do you even know who that is?

Dad: Of course dating some chick named gomez phenom kid singer!!!

I can't make this stuff up.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

My Daddy is turning...well...another year older today! I wish was there to celebrate with you!

(Is BestMomEver making German chocolate cake as usual?? YUM!)

Dad, thanks for always being there for us and for teaching LittleBro and me that if we only expect the best from ourselves, then that is what we will achieve! Get excited, because what I want for my birthday is more golf lessons from YOU! (It'll be kind of like me learning to drive again...remember how much fun THAT was?!)

I cheated a little bit and got my dad the same present two years in a row...another anniversary at my job! Which means he isn't paying my billz...until I move home next month that is :).

Do the terrible twos apply to jobs as well? I hope not! I'm so grateful to be gainfully employed at a growing company, with co-workers I actually enjoy being around!

And let's make it an odd three of things today....we're officially at 60 days until I return to the Golden State and take residence in America's Finest City. So much to do, so bittersweet, I can't believe it's only two months away!!