start and finish

Pic from here

Y'all I just got back form an epic trip to Dallas.
My goodness it was so fun and just flew by!
A catch up post will come but first I wanted to give you the juicy gossip of how I started and finished my trip in a similar manner. 

• What I thought would be a smooth trip became...

A nail in the side wall of my tire and an emergency car switcheroo with my parents to catch my flight (on the way there).
My expected 4.5 hour journey became 8.5 hours due to some kind of border delay ridiculousness (on the way back).

• I was hungover BADLY on the way there and back.

On the way there because I had dinner with MrTrader and a bottle of wine and beverages at a bar later (the Friday night on the way there).

I went to Weber's in Ann Arbor and met up with Will and his crew who were out.  My flight landed at 10:45pm and I thought it better to stay at Will's for the night instead of driving home (on the way back).

In the interests of being honest I suppose I can tell you also...

On the way there those late night drinks with MrTrader turned into a sleepover of the randy sort.  Only y'all I so was not prepared for all that to go down.  I'm talking I wore black tights in lieu of shaving my legs etc unprepared.  I'm talking first day of my period unprepared.  I'm talking probably worst way to ever ummm "start" things off.  I literally thought I would not hear from him again but we exchanged a few texts during the week when I was in Texas AND we have date #4 on the calendar for tomorrow.  Maybe he was just as drunk as I was?!

On the way back...well everyone in grad school assumed Will and I hooked up...so that happened after one too many drinks and before I knew it things...happened.  But don't worry I made things sufficiently awkward in the morning when I was shy and embarrassed and naked didn't know how to handle the situation.  Will called me out for being awkward.  

So I oddly started and finished my trip in an awkward, slutty, hungover and very embarrassed fashion.

Celebrate Good Times

Did you notice the new ticker at the top.
That's right I booked my trip to see Taylor in Dallas!
Can not wait to see meet her baby for the first time!
And keeping up the tradition of seeing each other since I (now regrettably) moved away from Dallas.
2008 was an epic Vegas trip 
2009 was the Lake Tahoe trip
2010 was Singapore and Thailand
2011 was Toronto 
2012 was twice as nice because we did both Toronto and Dallas. 
And now in 2013 Dallas here I come.
When we turn 40 I think I'm going to have to try and convince her to do something major like Paris together lol
The countdown is on!

Just another random Wednesday...

It's just another random Wednesday here.
As the fun from the holidays settle and the winter blahs start to creep in here in Canada.
I LOATHE January-March here.

So with that I set about day dreaming of trips this year that I'm trying to do...
Remember this post last year???
How funny looking back on it now?!

I ended up in Florida over Easter and Christmas in 2012.
Over the long weekend in May Brooke and Jane came to Toronto but that meant I spent July long weekend in Kingston.  I ended up in Ottawa for Winterlude.
The July trip to Chicago (to see a certain handsome sailor aka Taylor's brother) ended up missing him due to getting food poisoning while on the most random 24 trip ever to Chicago with MrDentalSurgeon.
September 2012 in Dallas was BLISS!
And it was a September (versus October) in Ann Arbor where I got to meet the gorgeous and fun SoMidwestern (despite meeting her tipsy and then hung over lol...I hope to be much more fun the next time I'm in Ann Arbor!)
So what could be in store for 2013...well here are some possibilities...

Perhaps a trip to Hartford, Connecticut for a conference with Laurel...

Pic from here

That we may parlay into a trip to Boston, MA (I've never been to either!)

Pic from here

Perhaps another fun fling to Miami??? (a girl can only fantasize hope lol)

Pic from here

Dallas is a promise...I've got an adorably beautiful niece (I'm forever going to refer to her as my niece because Taylor is the sister I always wanted lol) to hold and rock!

Pic from here

Hopefully another trip to Ann Arbor for a game...if Will will have me lol.
He is in a new relationship so has fallen quiet the last little while (which usually happens).
But if I'm making the call...he's marrying this one.
So UM for a game hopefully!

Seriously their campus is like the movies!!! Pic from here

I would like to get out of North America as well...
So any low cost budget friendly ideas??? or how about a travel partner or two???
Just putting it out there lol...

Dallas Trip ~ Tuesday (Day Six)

Today was all set for another big shopping day.
With that we first headed to Cavender's to find me some boots!

Very Americana looking!
I was so super excited! 

There were clearly so so many options.

Good thing I had the most amazing shopping partner EVER in Taylor.
I really am not usually a big shopping person but with Taylor I have SO much fun!!!
We also had the sweetest man helping us named Kirk.
When I settled on a pair I asked to take a picture with him and he happily obliged.

The brand is Lucchese.
And I love them!!!

To me they are the classic cowboy boot.  They already look worn in and they are super comfy.

Did you know that these boots are all made by hand???
I had no idea.
So you have to match them up by sticker underneath the sole.
So each and every pair is a little bit unique and not the exact same!

After that we went to Lilly Pulitzer in SouthLake.

Pic from here.

And they were in the process of redecorating and painting the walls by hand.
This was the day we were there.

Pics from their FB page.

Obviously obsessed with the wall and how they show the Lilly colours!

They call this their Texas toile

Not sure how I feel about this star mirror though.

Their super cute bathroom.  Love the Aquanet Hair Spray cans on the ceiling.

This is what we saw and it was done so perfectly it looked like wallpaper.

I love Lilly!
Here is what I scored from Lilly.
My first drink cup this style (obviously in our sorority print).

Pic from here.

My fabulous new phone case.

Pic from here.

And a planner for 2013.  I'm seriously obsessed with planners.

Pic from here.  Monthly agenda in Dirty Shirley print.

Then we headed to the Cheesecake Factor for some food before heading to a meeting she had.
Then it was off to bed for us two girls.
I was heartbroken at having to leave the next day.
I cannot believe how quickly this trip flew by!

Dallas Trip ~ Monday (Day Five)

We woke up early and were sad to see PinkSundrops head home.
I gave her a HUGE hug and realized just how much I miss this beautiful girl!
Taylor and I lazed around and slowly got ready for a shopping day.

We headed to North Park (our old stomping grounds for shopping).
First stop Kate Spade.
And Taylor and I were instantly in love.
However, knowing the first rule is to never start shopping right away we knew to explore the mall.

After walking around the mall we came back to Kate Spade to try things on.
And here is where I got into trouble.
And ended up coming home with ...

Suzette Coat...seriously this picture does not do it justice...this coat is GORGEOUS!

Clearly my bow obsessed self was OBSESSED with the bow collar!

From the back!  Love how the collar from this angle too.

And then this dress.

The Charlie dress...obviously y'all know what I love!

I love Kate Spade jewelry too.
So these classic earrings soon found their way into my shopping bag!

Add caption

And I wanted to get something for my bestie...how about matching "friendship bracelets" actually it is Kate Spade's Bridesmaid Idiom Bracelet... the inside says best friend ever and the outside is engraved with "birds of a feather, two of a kind, perfect pair, partners in crime, peas in a pod, sidekicks."   

I love how the jewelry came in perfect little hat boxes.

And the way I totally justified these crazy extravagant purchases???
They had a labor day sale so for spending $1000 you saved $250!
I mean yes I may be eating Ramen the rest of September but these are "investment" pieces.
And Kate Spade hardly EVER has sales....that's at least how I justified it.
My first Kate Spade purchases ever!!!

It was so fun we had to take a picture to commemorate this fun time.
Look how cute Taylor's baby bump looks.
She is definitely one of those beautiful pregnant girls that is all belly.

Grrrr can't figure out how to rotate the pic!  I was able to rotate it in paint and it saves that way but when I upload it it is not right side up!
Sorry that it is annoying posted this way.
You can check Taylor's blog for an upright pic!

We made perfect timing because we went from there to have dinner with Taylor's husband, Melody and her husband and our friend David.
I haven't seen David since my Thanksgiving 2008 trip to Dallas so that was awesome.
We all went to iFratelli.
Originally we wanted to go to another restaurant but it was closed due to Labor Day.
So we went here instead.

Pic from here.

 
So after some yummy food we just headed home and hung out.
And these are the things I miss most.
Being able to hang out with my best friend.
Another perfect vacation day!!!

Dallas Trip ~ Sunday (Day Four)

That morning we had a secret to keep.

We had planned for the last couple of weeks. 

A super secret baby shower for Taylor.

Foiled by the failed attempt the night before to sneak out of the house.

We thought our only chance was to have PinkSundrops sneak out of the house by herself.

We made up an excuse that she went to CVS because of eye pain and then had a boyscout emergency to deal with over the phone.

We were trying to make up any plausible excuse.

And we were STRESSED.

I even tried to change breakfast places because I was so worried we would be so late.

But not to do so in an obvious way.

So we headed to BreadWinners a fav of ours Uptown.

The wait time was over an hour (I was in a PANIC about it).

But we were able to sit outside (in the shade) and be seated immediately.

Thank goodness.

We all ordered different Scrambles which was AMAZING!

My fav symbol is the Fleur de Lis so I obviously noticed this one on the menu.

Mimosa!

My Scramble...it was DELISH!!!  And a glass of ice water because it was H O T!

So as we finished up breakfast I leaned over to PinkSundrops showing her a "photo" on my phone.

However it was a typed note saying... "Melody's car better break down soon!!!"

And magically she texted Taylor that her car broke down and if we could help.

Only this was waiting...

The AMAZING spread...

Didn't PinkSundrops and Melody do an AMAZING job with the decor?!?!?!?!  

It was a book theme so this is how we displayed the "menu".

Book garland.  And you can see the AMAZINGNESS that are PinkSundrops legs....seriously I am so super jealous.  She had the cutest dress on with lace peeking out.  And y'all her legs...I wish I could have legs like these.  I have the prettiest girlfriends.  

The wedding favours were OPI in the shade "It's a Girl!" rather appropriate don't you think.?

So y'all we pulled it off!
I couldn't believe it.
And I think she was happy with it.
Gah I can't believe she is going to have a baby in a few weeks.
This little girl is super lucky...her mom is an amazing, smart and beautiful woman.
And we all can't wait to meet her.

The day flew by.
Taylor, PinkSundrops and I returned to Taylor's house.
We munched on leftovers and just chilled.
And I had another fabulously blissful day of vacation!

Dallas Trip ~ Saturday (Day Three)

So Saturday morning we woke up and got ready to be spoiled.

Seriously Taylor is the BEST.

I cannot even begin to describe the day we had.

She spoiled me the ENTIRE trip.

First we headed to the Four Seasons for Manicures and Pedicures.

And y'all remember me complaining about what a crappy experience I JUST had getting mani/pedis.

Well this was 100% the COMPLETE opposite and most incredible blissful experience ever.

The estheticians were personable, professional and just a lot of fun.

Taylor thinks of everything.

And before I knew it I had a strawberry smoothie AND a glass of champagne by my side.

Did y'all know the Four Seasons is actually a Canadian company:

From that most perfect spa day we headed to lunch at Cafe on the Green.
It was just the perfect environment and atmosphere.
I was so completely blissed out with happiness.
A girl could get used to this!

We both ordered the same thing for lunch.

And it was perfect.

We wanted something light yet filling and this fit the bill perfectly!

We headed home afterwards and chatted on the couch for awhile.
And then the doorbell rang...and it was PinkSundrops from Austin!!!
And I had to pretend to be all surprised.
(I totally knew she was coming because we had been scheming ourselves for tomorrows big reveal).

One of my FAVOURITE things when I'm hanging out with Taylor is the simple act of getting ready.
Seriously it is my FAV.
Gossiping, drinking, applying makeup and doing hair.
And y'all Taylor's bathroom is the BEST place to get ready.  
So much better than my pseudo pillows on the floor in front of the hall mirror.
It seriously rivals my fav bathrooms found at the Wynn in Vegas.

It was fun giggling and having some quality girl time.
AND PinkSundrops and I whispering every chance we had about tomorrow's plans!All three of us then headed to meet Melody for dinner at Carraba's.
A fav of ours from my graduate school days.
The yummo bread and olive oil/9 spice blend.

And we ordered what we usually did. 
The Pollo Rosa Maria with a side of pasts.
This dish is so big (two full chicken breasts) that Taylor and I were able to order one meal and just an extra salad and we were stuffed!

The rich delicious food was amazing.
And it was just the best night ever being with my close girlfriends and all having a chat.
It was seriously just so SO much fun!

After dinner we tried to sneak out afterwards but we were worried of raising Taylor's suspicions.
So we all "went to bed" and PinkSundrops and I plotted on how to pull off the next day...