Egg Hunting + Easter Experiments

Easter weekend with the fam... 

Look how cute this one is with his Easter basket! This is my cousin Ashley's little boy, Colton. He's very sporty. Swings his bat left handed, runs his "bases" like a champ. And he was very good at hunting his Easter eggs at his Nana's house. :)

And because this makes me laugh...these fools below are my Dad and his youngest brother. (Can't see the resemblance, can you?) They're not helping or hunting. Juuuust watching. Suppose they know their place.

Sunday lunch at my parent's house was inspired by the Pioneer Woman. Now that I have introduced Mom and Dad to the ohsofantastic PW via Saturday mornings on Food Network, seems they are now big fans as well. We wanted to try out a few recipes on Easter, nothing fancy.

And then it was mentioned to an aunt, and then another, and then our silly lil themed lunch turned into something a bit bigger. Leslee's in-laws joined too. It was quite the affair.

Mom and I were just slightly concerned that we would mess up PW's fail-proof recipes. Lucky for us, all turned out perfectly. Lunch was delightful. Family was full. Jesus was celebrated. Hearts were happy.

My Green Bean Casserole. Made with real bacon. And freshly blanched green beans. Yum.

Mom's Potatoes au Gratin. Super cheesy, super tasty. And also yum.

And our personal favorite?
Flat Apple Pie. A joint effort. With pretty perfect crust. Easy caramel sauce. And a little Blue Bell ice cream on the side. More please?

Pioneer Woman Easter was a great success.

And from now on - themed family get-togethers?
Feel like south-of-the-border Sunday is probably appropriate.

Daddy's Girl

While I was in New York, my car was left with my parents for safekeeping.

Halfway through my trip, I received the following text from Dad...

I've wanted to darken the windows on my lil Accord since last summer. But I'm not so great at car things. Since Dad was so graciously offering to take care of this for me while I was gone, I was more than happy to authorize the $200 price tag and hand off the responsibility.

Upon returning home...

LJ: Dad! Thanks for taking care of my car! Am I all set with darker windows?

Daddy: No problem, it looks good. You'll like it.

Mom: Yes...and he might have spent a bit more than you authorized....

LJ: Haha, ohhhh, is that right? What's the damage Dad? Pretty sure I only authorized $200...

Daddy:  Well...I mean, they were going to use the cheap stuff and the one I picked is about 10x more heat resistant, I tried it under the heat lamp...

LJ: ...and?

Daddy: It was only $244...

LJ: Hmm, I see. Soooo...is that $44 going to be your gift to me?

HAH! Kidding, kidding. (kind of?)

I am most thankful to have these darker windows. And that I have Dad to take care of car things like this for me. 

Otherwise, who knows when I actually would have gotten around to it. I'm such a girl. No shame.

Dad also hooked me up with a new key to his house while I was gone. 

Such a good man. Who knows me well. :)

Thanks for taking care of me Daddy!

On Returning to New York City

Let's be honest. I could easily write a million and a half words on the four days I just spent in Manhattan.

But I'll spare you and I both the time. And I'll just say it all in one single phrase -

Overwhelming happiness - like coming home, hanging on, letting go - all at once. 

And the rest I will say with photos.  :)

Oh hello New York. I have missed you!

 I also miss working with these two. 

Good to see not much has changed since I've been gone.

#professionalism

Fancy steakhouse dinner with these girls. 

Maybe we are bad at fancy.

But we are good at silly.

 And LT has new sparkle! She and Matty are getting maaaarrieeeed. :)

Obligatory "cheers-ing" photo.

Who needs cake when you can have "caketails"?

The only way for one to drink a "caketail"

Mockingjay?? In Tribeca??

A sunny New York Friday. UWS love.

Freshly pink toes...meet boots + plastic wrap. Just in cases. 

We're not awkward. Ever.

Catching up with Krista at Grey Dog. 

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose. 

xoxo

 A West Village Friday night with friends. 

And hopeful Mega Millions tickets.

Smile Sam!

Chilly Saturday morning brunching at Sara Beth's.

With Mrs. Denniston! Love.

It was chilly. And misty raining. Thanks for the welcoming weather NY.

B: Weeeere you going to think about wearing boots today?

LJ: Ummm, no? Flats today!

B: Weeeeell. Maybe you might think about boots...It's 45 degrees and rainy. Did you live here?!

:)

A lil UWS stroll to Levain for a treat. 

Saturday night in Times Square. 

Maybe I even miss the crazy? Oh but I do.

Once on Broadway.

So so so good. See it. It's wonderful. 

Sunday brunching at Tipsy Parson. Delightful as always.

And these girls are just the best brunch crew. 

 This was necessary. 

Kate's first outing!

Followed by a brisk walk through Central Park. 

Where we ran into Morgan...who was on a run with her boyfriend. 

Things I love about this city, always running into people I know. Quite literally.

And my last date of the weekend - catch up coffee with Lindsay Ann.

And then it was time to say good-bye! 

What a whirlwind weekend. Loved every minute of it.

And then I stood in the pouring down rain trying to hail a cab for 20 minutes.
Thanks Linds for waiting with me...good things come to those who wait for cabs in the rain with their friends.

And thanks NYC, for the reminder that some things never change. 

Until next time New York!

celebrating with these two

gosh i love it when a lil bit of my new york comes to texas. 

you remember these two?
andrea - longhorn, new yorker, sarcastic, awesome.

brian - friend at very first job in nyc, new yorker, sarcastic, also awesome.

i like to take just a liiiil bit of credit for the two of them.

ok, maybe it was shared responsibilities between me and LC, another former co-worker / fixed up as andrea's first nyc roomie. you're welcome for both A.

i think it went something like this - 

A: you can't just set me up with a guy at work because i am jewish and he is jewish!

LJ: why not? you are jewish and cute and sarcastic and fun and you are my friend. brian is also cute and sarcastic and fun and he is my work friend - who just happens to be jewish too! it's perfect.

A: eye roll

LJ: what? it doesn't work like that?

and that was the spring of 2007. the rest is history.

guess that first nyc job was good for more than my career, hah.

anyway, these two are getting married! hooray!

they were engaged last december (there was a giggly phone call that i won't recount for you because A and B are so NOT giggly - good thing i am), but this was their first trip back to dallas and celebrating was ohsonecessary.

andrea grew up in richardson where they had the engagement party. mama tina's house was full of family, friends, home baked treats of course, and decorated with these napkins that made me giggle. (take note B!)

so so fun to see my new york friends in texas. and to see andrea's new sparkles.

 they should all visit more often! or better yet - hey B, there's a job for you at my office! i'll even split the finder fee with you. come to teeeeexaaaaas.

(just my obligatory "move here please" plea)   :)

love y'all!