February 2014

in an effort to keep things somewhat current on this blog, i’m posting pictures from the month of…drumroll…*january.* i figure that rather than always trying to catch up [which – let’s face it, guys – will NEVER happen], i should at least post what’s going on in the now as much as possible, and then i can fill in what i missed as i’m able. all of us who are familiar with this blog are used to seeing bunnies and eggs in the fall and pumpkins in the spring around these parts, but it’s so much more fun when i’m able to celebrate the season that is now. i can’t promise that i will always make this happen, but i’m going to try my best from now on. deal?

so, january. overall, it was pretty low-key, minus a spontaneous ski trip with my family that i’ll post about later, and as i mentioned here, i spent most of my time this month [when i wasn’t at work] in hibernation mode, if i’m being honest. fires in the fireplace, hot tea, and pj’s for days, people. a pretty perfect january, if you ask me. and it also turned out to be a real soul-searching time for me in a strange and rejuvenating way. this quote that i saw the other day on sincerely, kinsey really embodied the way i felt about this month: “you have to be happy in those quiet moments when you remember that you are alive; not in those noisy moments when you forget.” – g.k. chesterton. truth. i appreciated the hush of winter and took advantage of the time to myself more than ever, and i really and truly discovered some things about me that i didn’t know before. which feels kind of crazy to me. you mean that i’ve been on this earth for 24 years and am still learning stuff about myself?! pretty rad.

{some stragglers from christmas – me posing in front of swigwam beach bar in st. petersburg [see pictures from our trip here] and some yummy cookies from a co-worker. plus a snap from the beach!}

Fireplace & Hot Cocoa

{as i’d mentioned: fires in the fireplace. like every day. and the creamiest, marshmallowy-est hot chocolate i think there ever was.}

{my new years resolution was to stop stressing and worrying about things that i can’t change. i still have my moments, but i think i really have improved in this area a lot.}

{loving the new shelving unit that nama gave me. i filled it with some of my art supplies and i like the way it came out.}

{silly little dog.}

{the outfit that i wore to go to tea. i thrifted the shirt – it’s nieman’s for target – and i’m quite proud of myself for it. #notashamed}

{i got this awesome sign from my parents for christmas.}

{my friend angelica got engaged over christmas [!!!!!], so we had a little get-together to celebrate when we all got back from the break. we had tapas at cafe madrid, then came back to my place for some champagne. the funniest thing was that literally right after we popped open the bottle and toasted angelica, fireworks started going off in front of my house, as if we had planned it. totally a good sign for the engagement, i’d say!}

{the rest of the evening was spent catching up, talking about weddings, and pretending it was still christmas thanks to my decorations which were STILL out.}

{these decorations were almost the death of me, i swear.}

{there were definitely some work days in january in which i just hoped to make it out alive. also, culinary school started up again, but this semester, i’m taking a lecture class and a wine class! it’s kind of a nice little break.}

{ashley, guido, and i tried out this new place called barter that’s right across from my house. they have this thing called bartender’s choice where they ask you some questions and then make you a custom cocktail. our bartender was awesome and made us the most amazing drinks with unique ingredients and creative combinations, and of course they were very pretty to look at. we loved it.}

{my drinks – that second one has a sprig of thyme sticking out of the top!}

{ashley’s drinks – apparently we looked like girls who would like pink drinks. i’d say we are.} ;)

{guido’s drinks were a bit more manly than ours, but still very nicely presented. that second one has a sphere of ice in it!}

{sunsetttttt. and isn’t this shoe cabinet cool? it’s an ikea find, and my dad put it together for me. it takes up so little space in my closet and holds at least eight pairs of shoes.}

{my role changed a bit at work and my new boss took me and her other direct report to lunch at neighborhood services, a popular restaurant in dallas right now. it was super! i had shrimp and grits finished with a yummy latte.}

{b&w selfies, just for fun}

{game night with the fort worth crowd. we played battle of the sexes and things. both were hilarious, and the night was a blast.}

{because i can never take too many pictures of the luckydog. although you guys might disagree.} ;)

{margherita pizza from our favorite pizza place in dallas, cane rosso.}

{the weather during MLK weekend was perfect, so noelle and i had a little sunday funday action at katy trail icehouse.}

{i went to mass at the cathedral of the virgin of guadalupe one sunday [see that little church amidst the skyscrapers and construction sites?] and it was pretty neat. and this salad from hattie’s in the bishop arts district was divine. hattie’s carolina crab cake salad with field greens, roasted red pepper remoulade, and sliced avocado.}

{a lunch date with my co-workers at chili’s. i must admit, that fresh mex is pretty tasty.}

and for your monthly dose of snaps [a.k.a. stupid photos of jessica making silly faces taken only on days that i’m having a decent hair day, with a short and boring caption, because i’m lame like that]:

Tired