We'll be here...

    tomorrow!! 

I am so excited to go to Paradise Island in the Bahamas with my hubby! We are staying at the Atlantis Cove. I always love getting away with Derek and look forward to just being together.  I also look forward to leisurely, delicious meals, relaxing by the water, soaking up the sun, going to the spa and just hanging out with Derek.  

And, I am so proud of Derek.  He won this trip through work. He earned it by being a top seller in 2009.  Derek is a really hard worker.  He stives to do his best at his job and sometimes he is really stressed out about work situations.  And, he really tries to balance his work and our family life, and I appreciate that! Derek works hard and is a man of character and integrity both at work and home.  I am proud to be married to a man that I respect and think alot of.  He rocks!! 

See you next week!

Some faves for spring...

Capri Blue Candle-in-a-Jar- I love how this candle smells! It fills the whole house with a wonderful scent! I got mine at Anthropologie and like that it comes in a cute jar. I got the Aloha Orchid scent, but they have a few options to choose from. Awesome!

I am liking the new trend of purple nail polish for spring.  I think this would be so fun and a nice change from the usual to put on my toes.

Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick- I got this lipstick at Sephora a while back and love it. It makes my lips feel so soft! I got it in the Rocket Pop shade.

I picked up these sandals at Strut during their First Thursday Sale last month(The sale is awesome, by the way, 40% off everything, the first Thursday of each month at all of their locations).  I live in flip flops in the summer, but are a nice way to mix it up and make my spring sundresses a little more dressy. I like that they are flat, comfy and different.

Bananagrams- We are loving this game!  I ordered it on Amazon a while back thinking it would be fun to play, while helping Barrett with spelling words. We don't really follow the rules suggested, we usually all play on one team and work together to make words.  But, it is fun and Barrett is getting good at making different words and he doesn't even realize he is learning.  You can make the game as long or as short as you want, which is nice too. 

Dried Unsweetened Cherrries- I love these!  They are great for a snack and also really good on salads.

I bought this a few months ago and it really keeps me organized.  It is about the size of a wallet and I picked it up at either Target or Michael's, I can't remember. I use cash for most everything and this has lots of dividers so I can sort out my cash into many different spots.  I also like that it has a notepad to jot down my list for the day(and I do like making lists) or to write notes and have them in a place that I will be able to find and not lose in the bottom of my purse.

Sushi in Austin

Derek and I love sushi!  And our hands down fave for sushi here in Austin is Uchi.  We love going there for date night. Sushi is a fun dining experience, whether with your significant other or friends.  Uchi is in a cute little house, has a quaint feel to it and the waitstaff is very knowlegeable. There is a bar where you can eat and watch th sushi being prepared, but we always eat at a table.  There is a variety of raw sushi/sashimi and some hot and cold  tastings.  We have only gotten the cool(not cooked) tastings, which is raw fish combined with sauces and other foods for a very flavorful dish..  Our faves are the crudo, maguro sashimi and goat cheese and hama chili.  We also like the zero sen and spicy tuna rolls.  As for the sushi- we usually get the chef's selections, so it is always a surprise of what we get.  I love to eat the  I always like a little bubbly with my sushi, but they have Japanese beer, as well as other wines  The waitstaff is so helpful and knowlegeable.  Our first time, we asked so many questions, and they really were patient and helpful, so there is no need to feel intimidated about sushi if you've never tried it before.

Now, Uchi can be pretty pricy!  Which is fine for every once in a while or for a special time, but we are also on the lookout for other sushi options that are not as expensive. 
SO, we tried Mizu, off 620.  Derek has been there a several times with work people and said it was good.  And it was really good.  As with Uchi, the staff was knowlegeable and helpful.  Our food was great!  Mizu also has a spectacular view.  But, we spent quite a lot of money, even more than at Uchi. So, we will keep this place for a special treat.  But, it is worth checking out.

We also tried Pirhana Killer Sushi with some friends.  Pirhana is a chain that started in Arlington, and recently opened here in Austin. We all tried sake- which was very different, but a fun thing to try. We tried a variety of foods and liked them all.  They have a great happy hour with half price appetizers. We had a great time relaxing with friends and enjoying dinner in a fun, cool location and its not too pricy.

Derek ate at Yanaghi, on William Canon, by Golds Gym, last week.  He said it was pretty good and definitely wants to go back again.  It think it is reasonably priced as well.  So, we plan to try it out soon and I'll let you know how it is.
Any sushi places you like to go to?

A recent coversation...

A Between Brooklyn & me:

I asked Brooklyn the other night how I looked as I was finishing getting ready to go out. Brooklyn: Bad
Me: Why? Whats wrong with this?
Brooklyn: Well, you look fine, but its bad because of your heels. You need to get other ones!" Sigh! I'm not sure about asking her for fashion advice anymore!

Some strawberry picking...almost

We love going to Sweet Berry Farms in Marble Falls.  Its strawberry time out there, so Andrea and I thought it would be great fun to go pick us some strawberries with the kids.  We headed out to get us some fresh strawberries on Wednesday(yes, I took Barrett of school).We pulled up a little before 10 a.m. and there wasn't a car is sight and the gate was locked. Hmmm, we must be early.  Then we spotted the sign- Closed- Wednesdays!  Neither of us looked into the days they were open when we planned this day to gp.  So, what to do.?We were all looking forward to this activity.  Luckily Andrea had her iphone and we got in touch with the chamber of commerce and found out some other things to do. 
We headed to Johnson Park in Marble Falls.  It was an awesome park.  The kids
played on the playground, sang on stage at the amphitheater, climbed a tree(with lessons from Andrea and me), fed the ducks, and we all ate a picnic lunch.  It was a great time. And a gorgeous day to be outside!
Then we headed to Johnson City to the Exotic Zoo there.  It was great!  We rode in this trailer and the animals came right up to us.  Andrea was by far the bravest and had all sorts of animals eating out of her hand. There was also a petting zoo and tke kids had fun petting the animals, mostly deer.
It was a day that totally went NOT as planned, but we rolled with it and had a fabulous day.  The kids were troopers and just enjoyed being together and doing whatever. And so did we!  This is one of those days we will always remember!

Some Fro Yo!

We LOVE Yogurt Planet! We love this local Austin frozen yogurt shop. We discovered this place last summer and have been enjoying it ever since. We usually go to the Hill Country Galleria location, but there are 2 other locations in town- The Triangle and The Domain. It is great because it is all self serve you pay for how much you get. They have many kinds of frozen yogurt to choose from.  And then there is the toppings bar.  It is self serve as well and they have a huge variety of fruits, candy, sprinkles, nuts and even cereal. Then there area variety of  sauces/syrups to top it off with.

This is what a typical visit looks like for us.

Here is Brooklyns cup-2 kinds of yogurt-strawberry and chocolate and a variety of toppings-sprinkles, chocolate chips, and Fruity Pebbles

        Here is Barrett's cup- He got strawberry, chocolate, cookies-n-cream and topped it with sour gummies, brownie bits, m&ms, and sprinkles

Here is my cup- I got the dulce de leche this time and topped it with chocolate caramels and chocolate syrup. It was delicious!  I have a new favorite!

Here are the kids enjoying their treat!

We usually eat out at the tables across the street. Its nice and relaxing to be outside, especially on a pretty warm day.  And, the kids can run around after the sugar rush hits from their treat!

B taking a giant bite!

 

Brooklyn eating her yummy creation!

And, this how my bowl looked(and usually looks ) when I was finished!  SO GOOD!

You must try some fro yo at Yogurt Planet if you haven't already!

Happy Earth Day!

So pretty! 

On another note.  My sweet friend Julie's sister, Carol, is donating her kidney today. She is giving one of her kidneys to her husband, Jimmy. Please keep them in your prayers today and as they recover.  God is already being glorified through their story.

Rainy Day Fun

We've been having lots of rain this April.  The other day, the kids just played and played out there and had a blast. And no worries, no one got sick from being outside in the rain.

Parenthood

I am loving the new show, Parenthood, on NBC. There aren't many shows that Derek and I both like, but we both enjoy this one, so it is something we can watch together.
It is a sweet show! I love shows that you really get to know the characters and like them right away. I love that this one is about a huge family. It shows the flaws and strengths of the family members, how they mess up and how family is always there. It has alot of famous stars- Lauren Graham, Craig T. Nelson, Peter Krause, Dax Shepard, to name a few. The family all live in the same town and expereriences an array of ups and downs. There are several teenagers on the show and all I can say is that is going to be a whole new world for me when my kids get there!
I often get sucked into shows that don't last too long- October Road, Dirty Sexy Money- to name a few.I guess I am the only one that likes them. SO, I hope that this show stays on tv. I think it is having good reviews, so maybe it will. Check it out if you are wanting to add something into your tv rotation! Its on Tuesdays at 9 on NBC- after the Biggest Loser- another fave of mine!

Whats that smell?

Barrett inhereited a very keen sense of smell from his GrandBob and from Derek.  They all are very sensitive to smells and are always sniffing things(like new shoes, a new car, etc).  Anyways, the other day I was making dinner in the slow cooker and Barrett just was so annoyed by the smell.  He wanted to have a bowl of cereal for a snack and when I came into the kitchen while he was eating, this is what he looked like...

He had gotten a spoon to cover his nose from the smell of the food and was trying to eat and cover his nose. And, you know he did NOT eat any of the food that he found so disgusting smelling.

Walton's Fancy & Staple

Walton's is another place thats here in Austin and you must check out, if you haven't already. I have been wanting to try this place for a while and finally got to last week. I met my favorite person for lunch while the kiddos were in school.  Derek and I really try to get together for lunch when we can while the kids are both at school. We always have a fun time talking and enjoying a relaxing meal together.
Walton's is a cute little deli/bakery/cafe located on 6th St.  It is in an old brick building that has lots of quaint charm.  The restaurant is also a floral shop, so there are lots of beautiful flowers and gardening supplies. You can also shop for gifts and even get a picnic basket filled with yummy goodies. You order at the counter, where you can chose from hot and cold sandwiches, salads, and pastries, desserts and coffee.
I ordered The Garden Party- veggies and cheese on rye.  Derek ordered the Monte Cristo and some chips.  We both liked our choice.  We enjoyed a leisurely lunch and then I headed back to the counter to get some dessert.  I got a lemon bar that was divine! D was full and usually wants chocolate, so I took advantage and got something just for me.  And, I ate the whole thing too!  It was a fun lunch date and I highly recommend checking out Walton Fancy & Staple.  It would be fine with kids, for a girls lunch or for breakfast  too.

Emergency Fruit Crostatas from the Pastry Queen

I love the Pastry Queen(aka Rebecca Rather)! Everything I have made of hers is delicious.  Most of her recipes are pretty involved and all made from scratch, so they can be time consuming.  But, I made these the other night for dessert.  And, they were so yummy! And, the best part is that they are SUPER easy!!  You made some dough, add some fruit(I used blackberries) and sugar and TADA-you have a suberb dessert! I have a few of her cookbooks and want to visit her bakery sometime soon.  Anyways, I hope you enjoy this easy and delicious dessert!