Cowboys vs Giants

Also on Halloween Weekend: My first Dallas Cowboys football game.

I know, I know. Big things. 

It was my second time to this crazy stadium affectionately referred to by Texans as Jerry World. First time was to see Taylor. So that doesn't count. Because wowza, this game was some kind of production. So many lights. So many dancing girls. A little bit of football. 

While the Cowboys didn't come through for us this time, it turned out to be a pretty good game. Better for the Giants of course. And my super awesome iPhone5 got some great pics. Check out the panoramic situation. Worth the upgrade? I think yes.

And I tried to get a good shot of the platforms above our seats. Where there were spirit dancers and drummers for our entertainment. Because the game wasn't enough? Hah!

What a good Sunday.

The State Fair of Texas

October in Texas

State Fair season!

I went twice this year. For the first time, at night. With some friends. Who have all the good pics on their phones.

Here's one I swiped from Julie's instagram. :)

And for the first time, I rode the giant ferris wheel. 

Please excuse the blurriness. I never thought I had a thing with heights. 

But once we were suspended so high above ground in a swinging cage...

Apparently then I had a suddenly had a thing with heights. Eeeks.

During fair weekend, I also got to see Kayla for some Longhorn football watching...while her husband, brother and dad were at the fair watching the Longhorns in action. 

(or lack of action? it's been 3 weeks and I still can't talk about that awful day at the Cotton Bowl.)

Sunday back to the fair on a beautiful sunshiney day with mom and dad.

Little known fact: I love the dog show. It's so fun!

Then we found these guys and their munchkins. 

Good thing we got one last pic with Big Tex. Because in just 5 short days, he would no longer be standing. Sad.

This is dad. Catching a fish. At kid fish. Hmmmm.

And for our last stop, Blue Bell ice cream nutty bars. So so yummy. 

I love October in Texas. And the State Fair.

Until next year!

Just Being Real

Can we be real for a minute here? Only a minute. And only because I think it's necessary to be really real sometimes.

So just for a minute, I need to be real about New York City. And Texas. And me.

I have not lived in New York for a full year now. Translation: I have now lived in Texas again for a full year. One year. An eternity - like I never left at all. But at the same time, only a second - like I keep waiting to wake up and head back to life in NYC.

It feels like a lifetime and a different girl ago. Is that a thing?

Leaving New York was tough. Like heart-hurting, breaking-up, am-I-making-the-biggest-mistake-of-my-life tough. I love that city. With my whole heart. I loved my five years living there. Every minute (even the hard ones). I am the girl I am today because of that city. As much as Texas made me, New York City shaped me.

I am completely confident that it was my time to leave New York when I did and head back home to the south. I wasn't prepared for how hard it would be. Or the amount of time it would take me to fully adjust. In some ways, I still haven't.

But then there's Dallas. And oh Dallas has quite grown on me. I love my apartment with BFF, Lindsey. I love my very own bathroom. And my crazy big closet that fits all seasons of clothes and all my shoes at once. It is magical. I love lounging by our pool on any given lazy weekend. I love all of the new friends I have made here. And by some blessing of the Lord, I have made more than a few.

I love that I see my family as often as I like...which quite honestly is sometimes once a week. And usually so daddy can make me weekend breakfast. I love that I can meet my sister for lunch or take a day off work to go antiquey treasure hunting with mom. I love that I can hang out with my brother and his cutie family any time I feel like swinging by their place. I love that my niece looks forward to our girly play dates and that I'm not watching my nephew grow up through pictures. I especially love that I have been here through every step of my sister's pregnancy. It's different when it's your sister. It just is.

I am happy in Texas. I very much love it here. And I loved Texas before I loved New York. Maybe I loved it even more when I was still in New York - just out of principle.

So all this to say....sometimes I have moments when I miss New York and my old life so terribly that it hurts. But those moments are fewer and fewer the longer I am gone. I worry that I will forget. And that New York City will forget me.

But then I read things like this subway poster on the un-ordinary-ness of New York. Words that so fully embody the spirit of the City that I'm overwhelmed with nostalgia. I can almost feel the woosh of the train on the subway platform, hear the taxi horns on the streets, see the city lights out my window.

Can't argue, New York City is no ordinary city. And I'm reminded that for five years, it was mine.

Even though I've adjusted to being a full time Texan again, I was a New Yorker for a season. And sometimes I miss it.

So that's just me. Being real.

Dallas! {the premiere party}

By some weird stroke of events at work, I ended up with 2 tickets to the TNT premiere of Dallas a few weeks ago. Like, the red carpet and celebrities premiere. Like, ball gowns and photographers and sparkles premiere.

At 4pm, I grabbed co-worker April - we had been talking about this alleged premiere earlier in the day - talked her into joining me for a necessary night-o-fun, and we were off to the opera house with the rest of Dallas' film crowd.

Some things I learned about Dallas {that I maybe should have already known?}

• When in doubt, shoulda made time to throw on a cocktail dress after work...
• ...And the highest heels I own
• ...And probably tons more make-up
• Meep?
• A red carpet in Dallas is 20x more friendly than a red carpet in NYC - someone was even nice enough to take our picture while making their way through the crowd
• The Windspear Opera House is surprisingly super classy with a great view of the city
• The stars of the original Dallas are like hometown heros around here
• Dallas-ites are all kinds of over the top in love with Dallas-y things
• Confession: so am I

If you haven't started watching the new Dallas yet, I highly recommend. And not just because I live here. Or because I went to the premiere. Or because Josh Henderson and Jesse Metcalfe are so pretty. Well. Maybe because they are pretty...

But seriously, it's my new summer favorite. I'm kinda considering watching the original from the beginning. That's how hooked I am.   :)

Well done TNT! You threw quite the premiere party, Dallas style.

Mother's Day at the Ballpark

{note: i did not confuse my parental celebration days. i am aware that yesterday was Father's Day, not Mother's Day. i am also a very behind blogger. so. today you get Mother's Day.}

Last Christmas, Uncle Jay got the whole Johnson family tickets to go see a Ranger game in May. A game that so happened to fall on Mother's Day Sunday.

Totally ok with us. We like baseball. And the Johnson's. And our mother's.

I know there was a lot of funny happening throughout the evening. But I cannot remember all of it. I just remember my sister warning between giggles - "be careful what you say...it will end up on Lauren's blog!"

But I mean, they should know these things by now though, right? :)

It was also Lil Les' first "almost-a-mommy" day. So I got her these baby proof Kendra Scott earrings. No dangles. Just sparkles. 

It was a lovely Texas afternoon for a ball game. And the Rangers pretty much murdered the Los Angeles Angels. 

Some Johnson's...

And the Marcom's. With their ice cream...

"See? It's true! People are nicer to you when you are pregnant. She definitely loaded mine up with more scoops." 


Les spent the game grabbing my hand to feel her belly. (please note that this "feel that?!" game is both creepy and magical at the same time. seriously.) From his game-time activity, think it's safe to say Baby M will be a baseball superstar like his daddy. High expectations, you know.

:)

Happy Mother's Day from the Ballpark in Arlington
Love!

Bests!

Just a lil brunching in the Bishop Arts District with my most favorite Atlanta Peach and Pretty Pink New Yorker. 

Nothing makes me happier than catching up with my very best friends. In my new city. With iced coffee and red velvet pancakes and hours of non-stop giggles.

Oh! And Jayson too! 

Such a trooper for putting up with our brunchy girly talk. 

And that's when you know you're perfectly comfortable around the man your friend is going to marry. Approve.  :)

The future Mr. & Mrs. Teagle!

I'm so very thankful for these pretty girls. And loved having them both in Dallas! 

Even if it was just for a short time.

Next up for us...Jamie + Jayson's Atlanta wedding in a few short months! 

OhSoExcited!