Miss Macie Blue Kelley turns THREE :)

I find it hard now to think back before Miss Macie came into our lives...before I knew the joy she'd bring...before I realized how a sweet puppy could soften the heart just by looking into her eyes.  Truthfully, I didn't think I was "ready" for her.  I tried to find every excuse I could think of, to NOT get her.  I was afraid of the time and dedication it was going to take to train a dog... the potential disruption to our lives that might come from introducing a dog into our little world of two.  And then one Sunday afternoon, on our way home from brunch almost three years ago, something came over me and I told Chad that maybe we should take a detour to Operation Kindness.  You should've seen the look of surprise on Chad's face...it was classic :)...but he'd didn't dare object and we were there in minutes.  Literally, what felt like two seconds later, I fell in love.  She looked so scared. Helpless.  In a room of over-stimulated, BARKING-at-the-top-of their-lungs dogs... she just sat there patiently...waiting... for us (well for ME) to notice the love in her eyes.

Three years later, she's still the sweetest, most lovable puppy you'd ever meet.  We're honored to be her parents..we couldn't have chosen a better addition to our lives.  :) 

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl...

Mommy and Daddy LOVE YOU!!

Heading to the park to play with her doggie friends for her birthday!  :)

Vetro Masterpieces - Reveal

Because I know many of you have been waiting ever so patiently for our… (pause …wait for it… wait for it… both arms raised to the sky and said in a loud, much more magnanamus voice)… and I know magnanamus is a made up word… just go with it…  ;)…...... GRAND REVEAL!  I’ve decided to no longer keep you in suspense… 

Seen here… for the first time.. since, well… we received them….

Our MINI MASTERPIECES… (cue the dorky arms raised bit again… just for fun.  ;)

Yvette's Flower with Swirly Stem... (as if you couldn't figure that out already ;) 

And now Mr. Kelley's Mini Work of Art... (Aren't they so pretty?!)  We done good. ;)

Welcome to Texas, IN-N-OUTies ;)

In-N-Out in Allen, Tx - Let the feeding frenzy commence..

Opening Day - May 11, 2011

I don't remember the last time I've ever heard so much talk about something...or someone even, coming to Dallas.  I swear it's as if the President was moving here.. well hell, even when George W. actually MOVED HERE, he didn't get this much press or publicity!  I have to be honest and say, as any true Texan probably would, that I kinda feel bad for our beloved Whataburger for all the hooplah and hype In-N-Out is getting as it makes its way to Texas.  Granted, In-N-Out's burgers are pretty damn good, but part of me, a HUGE part of me...the part of me that still longs for diet-cheat-days to actually HAVE a Whataburger... is still devoted to what I grew up knowing and loving so much.  It's funny that our house is so divided on the subject now.  In-N-Out vs. Whataburger... it could go on forever and I don't think neither Chad or I would ever change sides.  :)  A Southern California boy true and true, In-N-Out is what Chad knows, it's what he remembers so well, it's where his first job was, it's what he is literally drawn to the moment we step off the plane in California when we visit his family.  You can't fault him for that...and for that reason alone, I'm excited to have this little piece of California here for him.  So Welcome to Texas, In-N-Out....now Chad and I will BOTH be happy about our diet cheat days.  ;) 

Weekend O' Fun with the Mister

It's funny how Chad and I will give ourselves reasons to celebrate anytime Chad gets a Friday or Saturday off from the restaurant.  It's unusual, as you can probably guess...so anytime he has a weekend off, we try to pack it all in.  ;)  On this Saturday O' Fun, Chad and I had a plethora (oooo... big word ;) of fun activities planned...and luckily with Mother's Day on Sunday, Dallas wasn't short on fun things for us to do! 

Our first stop of the day, after a tasty breakfast at our usual weekend brunch stop - Cafe Brazil, was Vetro Glassblowers in Grapevine, Texas. 

Part of Vetro's event schedule was helping the glassblowers create our very own glass flower or glass bowl.  We even got to choose our own colors.  :)  I helped make a multi-colored flower with a swirly stem and Chad chose a blue wavy edged bowl.  We can't wait to see how they turn out! We'll have more pictures to share once we pick them up from the studio on Wednesday.  :)

After I helped heat the glass to a liquid/molten state, and integrated the colored glass chips...the Vetro guy took over finishing out my mini masterpiece.  :)

Chad's turn to work his magic

His was a bit more involved than my flower was...

From ball to bowl...

And wa-la!

Next stop:  A Historic Home Tour down Swiss Ave. in Dallas. 

Munger Place Church.  First stop on the tour

Built in the 1920's, the restoration kept much of the original doors, windows, fixtures and church pews. 

This guy doesn't look very friendly... :/

Definitely our favorite home on the tour...

Modern with vintage elements..

LOVED this exposed arch which was obviously the point of an expansion in the house.

It was warm and inviting with clean modern lines, no fuss, no frills... LOVED. IT.

Although we weren't huge fans of the giant glass table with the super manly/ super sleek modern chairs.. I appreciated the use of space.  

Loved the kitchen.  The clean look of the cabinets, the huge island in the middle, the large wall of doors and windows, the teeny tiny floor tiles, the industrial equipment, loved it all.  I'll take it.  ;)

Greeting us at the top of the stairs was this cute little sitting area...very well dressed.  :)

Wanted those cute little elephants to come home with me.. Guess we'll just have to move in instead.  ;)

One of the guest rooms.. Again, very well dressed.  :)  Definitely my style..

Not overly one style or theme.. not overly feminine, not overly masculine, not overly vintage...just simply classic. 

There was a total of seven houses on this tour, both off and on Swiss Ave.. By the time we actually made it to Swiss Ave. though, throngs of people started to gather at the entrances where Docents gave us information on the history of each house.  It was interesting to hear but HOT AS HELL on this May day... so I was all but eager to rush through the remaining homes just to get back in the air conditioned car.  :)  It was awesome though...thankfully Chad and I are both equally interested in architecture enough to appreciate activities like these.  :) 

Next Up:  Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees :)

Sea of red, white and blue.. 49,000 fans in attendance

Uh oh... Caught in a pickle..

Rangers WIN!  Rangers 7, Yankees 5