this cold weather has me thrown – i had no warning [although completely my fault, since i don’t check the weather enough. clearly], and this morning, i stepped outside, gasped, and stepped right back in. totally unexpected. i brought my cacti inside this afternoon because it might freeze tonight. FREEZE. in mid-april, in texas. if this is what “real” spring weather feels like, we want our texas spring back! we normally love this time of year and its breezy, warm, sunshiny days, but i think everyone is a bit shell-shocked by the dramatic temperature fluctuations, especially the low dips. i hate to complain because i know how stifling the heat of texas summer can be, but maybe we could settle somewhere nicely in between here and there? is that too much to ask?
these are some photos from last summer that i’ve been meaning to post for quite a while. so right now we’ll just bask in them. i can taste those sweet peaches and feel that toasty sun on my back already.
{an accidental heart-shaped bite of plum! and yummy cherries!}
{before i moved out of my old apartment – new coffeemaker + new ipad!}
{tasting spinach-artichoke dip and watermelon beer at work! i had never tried watermelon beer before and it was SO. GOOD.}
{some wines that i acquired through work, and more tasting: this time margaritas! have i mentioned that i love my job?}
{friday dinner at mimi’s: chicken salad + lots of fruit and a reminder of why i love summer. and there’s always a silver lining…}
{in my new [at the time] condo: windowpanes. plus a sunrise, a new rug, and a sweet little brown dog.}
{ashley and guido hosted a small group of us for dinner. such fun!}
{these things made me happy: a canoe in a parking spot of our garage, and the deep ellum brewing company‘s dallas blonde ale. since i may or may not be a dallas blonde!} ;)
{we had a little college roommate reunion and it was glorious! love these ladies and can’t wait to do it again soon!}
{my family was lucky to have much to celebrate last summer.}
{we threw a little party for dad’s [ahem, kaptain krunch’s] promotion, and i took some photos on my dslr that i haven’t posted yet, but these were unfortunately the only ones i took on my phone. i do love this sweet brother of mine, though.}
{studying at chipotle before a culinary school exam. and a random selfie.}
{oh tomatoes, how i love thee. that second photo is my mexican version of caprese: tomatoes, avocados, corn, queso fresco, cilantro, lime juice, salt & pepper. it was awesome.}
{a quick but pretty dessert that mom assembled for us one evening: vanilla ice cream and peaches with chocolate cinnamon swirl cookies on top that i made in culinary school. and me, just making a mess as usual!}
{the baby, panting in the back seat on the way home from the park, and chilling at home on the porch}
{laying out at ashley and guide’s. and my lunch was this lobster roll and fruit, eaten poolside. i was in heaven. cafe express, please bring those yummy lobster rolls back again this summer!}
{a new outfit + a date with ashley and guido to mi cocina}
{the dallas skyline}
{i love it when i’m in the test kitchen and the chefs “force” me to eat sausage and biscuits fresh out of the oven. the biscuits are chef david’s mama’s recipe, so you know they’re good. and likewise, when your boss’s boss tells you to try one of the fresh-baked rolls in the kitchen, by golly you do it! #twistmyarm}
{i always sleep with a thousand pillows on my bed. and breakfast that includes peaches always gets a thumbs up.}
{colorful home details}
{an authentic italian meal made by guido’s parents when they came to visit!}
{and i made a german chocolate cake that we all ate for dessert!}
{working from home, trying to finish up a scientific review of produce washes. yep, i’m a nerd.}
{a crab stack and a shortcake at our favorite, bistro n at nordstrom.}
{treats at bread winners. and dad got this tiny little electric guitar to bring on his layovers [he sent me this pic of it sitting next to his acoustic for size reference]. isn’t it adorable?}
{some swell summer lunches at whole foods and central market…}
{…and some delicious summer dinners, one made by me and one picked up from eatzi’s!}
{profile. and beloved instagrams printed from the social print studio. if you ever want to print some grams, i HIGHLY recommend doing it here.}
{more peaches! and some cocoa dry roasted almonds for the win}
{and i’ll finish it off with some sunset photos, because that seems like an appropriate way to end it, right? these are not in order, but they were all from the same evening. the cloud-color combinations were stunning.}
xoxo