Another 101 in 1001 Update!

I want to thank everyone for their emails, tweets, and texts regarding my last post (click here). I'm doing a little better. I've been working at getting things better for myself (it's hard for me to put myself first, but I'm learning that I have to do that sometime). This has included making some changes in my life, but they are for the best. I really do appreciate all the concern and prayers, they mean the world to me. XOXO.

I decided to give another update to my 101 in 1001 list (since my last update was three months ago).

5. Visit three Presidential Libraries that I've never seen before (1/3)

I can finally add to this goal. I went to Kansas City last week and while I was there I forced bribed begged asked my friend that I went with if he wouldn't mind going to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library while we were in town. He was very sweet and agreed that we could go. It was very interesting. I learned a lot about Truman, it was fascinating. I'm now in the process of reading a biography about him. 

The biography that I'm currently reading. It's interesting so far! The author was very thorough. 

Just a few pictures I took at the museum (we won't mention how many I took in total- it's a lot)

A replica of what the Oval Office looked like when Truman was president. Truman was still alive when the library was built, so there is a recording of him speaking to you when you enter this room. I thought that was kinda cool.

Outside the museum 

9. Visit five states I've never been to before (5/5)

I'm now done with this one! My trip to Kansas City took me to Missouri, which was my first trip there. I went to Kansas City to see my friend Brian, we went to the Monday Night Football game between the Chiefs and the Patriots (yes, I flew hundreds of miles to see a football game that wasn't even being played by my team, don't judge me). I have to say, I'll be a Cowboys fan until I die, but Chiefs fans were amazing. They were energetic, friendly, and very loud. We stood the entire game. It was awesome.

Our view

A Dolphins fan and a Cowboys fan cheering for the Chiefs

49. Learn to cook ten new meals (2/10)

I tried a recipe for roasted cauliflower that was AMAZING. I never had cauliflower before, I now love it. For those wondering, I basically used the same recipe as the roasted broccoli I posted about in July, I just substituted cauliflower. Oh, and I only cook it about 13 minutes instead of 15. I noticed 15 minutes was a little too long. Click here for the recipe. 

50. Try out ten restaurants that I've never been to before (6/10)

Last Saturday some friends and I went to The Social House in Uptown (making new restaurant number six for my challenge). It was really good and the prices weren't outrageous (I've been to places in Uptown that were a little pricey). The atmosphere was really nice too. And there were TVs showing college football games (which my friend Aaron and I enjoyed). We saw Ole Miss take down Alabama and TCU take down OU. It was awesome. :) Except for the OU fan at the table next to ours, he didn't appreciate me getting really excited when TCU won. :)

Birthday dinner at The Social House for my friend Mel

68. Spend the day at the Dallas Art Museum

I did that this past Saturday (my friends and I did that before we went to dinner).   

I don't get modern art (the top two pictures), but I did like the bottom two pieces, especially the Van Gogh (bottom right). He is my favorite artist. :)

No joke, this was a piece of art at the museum. I was like, this is the part of the horror movie where the museum pieces come to life and kill everyone. We quickly walked away from this exhibit.

76. Make a monetary donation twice a year to a charity (doesn't have to be same charity) (1/6)

I did this back in August towards a friend's charity. I plan to make another donation before the end of the year to another one.

91. Buy myself a nice gift twice a year (1/6)

Last month I finally broke down and bought myself an iPad. I love it. 

I use my iPad a lot for the Kindle app and social media. BUT I also use it to multi-task and watch a football game while I'm recording multiple movies on my DVR. :)

98. Decide about getting an iPad.

I think we just covered that one! :)

That's all for now!! Thanks for keeping up with me! :)
XOXO!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm loving...

Life. I'm sad that I've been so busy that I've fallen behind on my blog updating and blog posts reading, but I can't honestly say I'm sad that I've been too busy to blog because I've been out doing things. Don't get me wrong, I love all of you and I miss reading your posts. I promise to catch up one of these days! Don't give up on me!!

I thought I would post some pictures of what I've been up to while I've been M.I.A. from the blogging world.

A friend of mine got me a blu-ray player for my birthday (no, I didn't have one before that, I'm behind on technology). This player allows you to stream Netflix, HuluPlus, YouTube and Pandora radio on your TV. I may never leave my room again! :)

My friends Robert and Brandon came over Friday to go to dinner and help me hook up the blu-ray player to my internet router. Brandon also bought me my first blu-rays, To Kill A Mockingbird and West Side Story!

Saturday I went to the Rangers game with some friends. Casting Crowns held a concert before the game- they are awesome!

Me and the lovely Laura. I know, we are adorable in our matching caps.

Trish also looks adorable in her Rangers cap!

Our view of the stage.

Ran into my friend Matt at the game.

Me and the BFF Brandy. Her birthday was a few days before mine, we always try and go to a game around our birthdays. The Rangers were out of town on our actual birthdays, so we had to wait until they got back.

View from our seats.

Texas Legends race- Sam Houston won.

Brandy had to leave after the 6th inning, so I moved over to sit by Trish and Laura in the new center field seats.

The new seats are also right by the Rangers bullpen.

During the 10th we moved a little closer to sit with friends of Trish. Sadly my phone died in the top of the 13th so I missed getting a picture of Josh Hamilton's walk off home run in the bottom of the 13th.

I had lunch with a friend on Sunday at this Italian place in Fort Worth called Patrizio. I had never been there before- it was really good!! I highly recommend it!

I know you won't believe it, but I was back at the Ballpark on Monday. :) I sat in the Lexus Club level, they were great seats! I got the tickets thanks to my Twitter addiction and DriversSelect.com. :)

Boomstick. A Nelson Cruz home run!

Enjoying a Rangers win!

I was able to meet my Twitter friend Crystal after the game! Love meeting my Twitter peeps!

Last night I was SO FORTUNATE to have tickets to see Dick Van Dyke and The Vantastix. I have now seen him act, sing, and dance live and in person. As you know, he's my FAVORITE actor!

A view from our seats.

Me and my buddy Aaron before the show

Yes, I was giddy. I know, I'm a nerd.

Sadly I couldn't get pictures during the show, but here is a video I found on YouTube of the group singing the theme song to The Dick Van Dyke Show (yes, the intro song had words, they just weren't sung on the show). :)

I really enjoyed the concert, I even bought their CD!! :)

Thanks for sticking with my long recap. Hoping to be back to my usual updating/reading soon!

XOXO!

I'm Alive!

I'm alive...barely. I can't even begin to describe how busy I was last week (all work related). I promise to catch up on all of your blog posts at some point this week (although it's looking like this week is going to be just as busy). :/ I just wanted to post something real quick so you knew I was alive!

Here is a recap in pictures on what I've been up to when I'm not screaming obscenities crying into a pint of Blue Bell pulling my hair out at my office.

Bought some new Rangers sweat pants (well, they are sweat capris actually).

After a Twitter post on Monday that I was on the verge of crying, my friend Monica sent me a text with this picture of my "god-bird" Kappy. She's a sweet bird, except when she jumps on Aunt Rachel's head. This picture did make me smile though!

Even though work was awful, I still managed to workout when I got home. I couldn't find a pair of socks one day, so I pulled out my gym socks from junior high. Yes, I still have them, and yes, I can still wear them. Sad I know. But I was looking pretty cute sporting the high socks!

My friend Laura and I went to a Dallas Baptist University baseball game last week. It was fun! The best part was when the sprinklers came on during the middle of the game.

Went to Chick Fil-A on Friday with my friend Aimee. The sunset was so pretty that I had to take a pic!

Some friends and I went to the Kimbell Art Museum and the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth on Saturday. This statue is outside the Kimbell and Aaron and I were trying to figure out what it was. We all loved the Impressionism exhibit that was inside! It's here through June- I recommend going to see it! No cameras are allowed in the Kimbell so sadly I didn't get any pictures. But I was excited to see some Monet and Renoir pieces live and in person!

I can't say that we appreciated the Fort Worth Modern Art Museum as much as the Kimbell (but the Modern was a museum in DFW I had never been to, so I can update my 101 in 1001 list with that!) This was one of the pieces of art in the modern museum. It looks like something my 2 year old nephew E could do.

Here Aaron and I are trying to figure out what we are looking at (it was a ladder that went from the ground to the ceiling.) I think we missed what the meaning of the piece was. I personally think the artist wasn't hugged enough as a child, but that is just my opinion.

Every time a bell rings, an angel gets her wings...

Now Andy Warhol I can appreciate. At least I know I'm looking at a painting of Marilyn Monroe.

There was a sign that said not to take a picture of this piece, so of course, I found that as a challenge (I know, I know, I'm a rebel). I was sneaky in how I was holding my phone so I could snap a picture. There were museum employees everywhere watching our every move (I'm honestly surprised we didn't get kicked out!)

No, a light fixture didn't fall. this is art. I'm serious. A light plugged into a wall socket is art. I don't get. I just don't get it.

We ate a late lunch at the Love Shack, they have awesome burgers. And it was a restaurant I had never been to before so that is another thing I can update my 101 in 1001 list with!

We ended our fun-filled day by seeing The Avengers. AWESOME movie. I highly recommend it! I may go see it again!

For you ladies who don't like action/comic book movies, maybe this will help persuade you to see the movie: Captain America and Thor. But I honestly would have liked it even if these guys weren't in it! :)

Me and my buddies! Mel was so busy taking pictures I think this is one of the few that she's actually in. We had reserved tickets for the movie (at the Studio Movie Grill), so we didn't have to stand in the long line. We just waited until they called us up. I must say, that is the way to go on Opening Weekend of a popular movie!

I hope everyone is doing well and again, I will be reading your blog posts soon! I promise!

XOXO!