Road Tripping and Wine Sipping: Fourth of July

^^Jon and I missed the memo about going all out in red, white, and blue attire...^^

I love America, and I love three days weekends.

I kicked off the weekend by surprising my parents to join them (and Uncle Craig and Jager too!) for fireworks in Coppell.  It's always fun to just unlock the front door and waltz in when they aren't expecting me- surprises are the best! Coppell put on an awesome fireworks show, complete with live music.

Jon and I set off on a little road trip bright and early on the 4th.  I always enjoy road tripping- good music, open road, lots to take in, and just time to think- and it was made even better by being with him for our very first road trip together! : )

We met up with fun friends from church- some we've known for a while and some we just met this weekend- in Fredericksburg/Hye, Texas, for a wine tour with Cellar Rat Wine Tours.  Our friend Lauren did a great job coordinating everything, and we loaded in a 12-passenger van and headed to three vineyards in the area- Pedernales Cellars, William Chris Vineyard, and Hye Meadow Winery. Having our own wine tour with Clint was the perfect experience, and we enjoyed all three places for different reasons!  We sampled all kinds of delicious wines- I wish I could remember my favorites! But take my word for it that all three places are worth visiting.

^^at Pedernales. As much as I love being near a big city, it's nice to be out where you don't hear cars driving by or airplanes overhead- just silence.^^

William Chris was closed for the holiday, but we got special access because of Clint.  We learned all kinds of things thanks to him-- the anatomy of a grapevine, how to determine which is your "dominant nostril," and what in the world "wine legs"  and a "wine thief" are.  Clearly we were very mature adults the entire day...

The tour ended at the Hye Market, where they let us sample all sorts of yummy bread with oils and seasonings, beer, moonshine, etc.  I brought back a souvenir for dad that I think will be right up his alley... ; )

Jon and I spent Saturday soaking up the beauty of the Texas Hill Country (why don't we have better scenery in Dallas??) and had a yummy lunch at The Oasis on Lake Travis with this incredible view before we made our way back to DFW for dinner with friends. 

Cheers to a fabulous weekend of road tripping and wine sipping, celebrating our great nation!

Falling Into Fall

I have no idea where October has gone, but I have stayed busy with work and play!

New Beginnings
My roomie of four years, Caroline, moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams. She's going to be a production assistant for CBS Films, and I am so proud of her!
We threw her a going-away party before she headed for the West Coast:

Me, Caroline, Jenna....roomies forever!

Rachel, Kayla, Caroline, Callie...plus a photo bomber!
Never forget your roots!

Care and Alaina


State Fair
I went to the State Fair of Texas for the first time in many years with a few good friends. When we were leaving, we ran into one of my best friends from TCU who I had been thinking about just the night before, and who Caroline had really wanted to see before she left for LA. God is so amazing!

Me with Jessica!

Jessica and Caroline
The photographer was supposed to get Big Tex in this too, but oh well!

Homecoming
Last weekend was TCU Homecoming. This is my second homecoming as an alum and the first one where it didn't feel strange to not be a student anymore...guess that means I'm growing up! The weekend turned out to be a blast- I spent time with some of my favorite people and there wasn't a dull moment! My little Ashley came into town and ended staying with me for the whole weekend, which was so fun. We headed to campus Friday night for the parade and pep rally, then had delicious tex mex and margaritas at Yucatan Taco Stand, one of my faves. Saturday was the TBS alumni reception and the game, where we beat New Mexico 69-0...GO FROGS! After the game, Ashley and I had sushi at another Fort Worth favorite, Edohana, explored Charming Charlie's, and then met the rest of our TBS Pink family for dessert.

Sarah, Hannah, Me, Kim, Ashley O., Kimmy, Ashley L.

Allison and I....love this pic of us!

My Little and I, cheering on the Frogs like old times!
Meridith, me, Ashley, Kayla, Callie, Audrey

Frogs for the Cure
I got to enjoy more Frog football on Friday night with Morgan at the Frogs for the Cure TCU vs. BYU game at Cowboys Stadium! We beat the Cougars 38-28 and it was fun to hang with Morgan--I'm so glad she's back in Dallas!

Morg and I!


I have lots of specific things to blog about, so stayed tuned! : ) Happy almost Halloween to all!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas... In Texas, That Is

My mom used to read this story to us every Christmas Eve! 

‘Twas the night before Christmas

In Texas you know,

Way out on the prairie

Without any snow.

Asleep in their cabin

Were Buddy and Sue

A-dream’ of Christmas

Like me and like you.

Not stockings, but boots

At the foot of their bed,

For this was in Texas,

What more need be said?

When all of a sudden

From out the still night,

There came such a ruckus

It gave me a fright!

And I saw ‘cross the prairie

Like a shot from a gun,

A loaded-up buckboard

Come on at a run.

The driver was ‘Geein’,

And ‘hawin’, with a will.

The hosses (not reindeer)

He drove with such skill.

“Come on there Buck, Pancho,

And Prince, to the right!

There’ll be plenty of travelin’

For you-all tonight.”

The driver in Levi’s

And shirt that was red,

Had a ten-gallon Stetson

On top of his head.

As he stepped from the buckboard

He was really a sight,

With his beard and moustaches

So curly and white.

As he burst in the cabin

The children awoke,

And both so astonished

That neither one spoke.

And he filled up their boots

With such presents galore

That neither could think

Of a single thing more.

When Buddy recovered

The use of his jaws,

He asked, in a whisper,

“Are you Santa Claus?”

“Am I the REAL Santa?

Well, what do you think?”

And he smiled as he gave

A mysterious wink.

Then he lept in his buckboard,

And called back, in his drawl,

“To all children of TEXAS,

MERRY CHRISTMAS, you-all!”