Hard 8 BBQ & Sprinkles Cupcakes

If you want to take people to the best BBQ in Dallas, THIS is the place to go.  It is delicious.  Unlike some of the other places in Dallas that use a lot of smoke, they use open pit-indirect heat.  Ordering a steak at a bbq place seems silly, but it is one of the best steaks I have had in a while.  Just another reason to venture to Coppell, TX...that and there is a Dairy Queen there.  You can't do both in one visit though...you would explode!
The other fun thing to do when out and about with guests is to be close to Sprinkles for the whisper of the day.  Today was "sweet cause" for a S' Mores cupcake.  D-Lish!  If I don't do these things with you when you come to visit....take it as a sign that I don't love you very much.

Poetry in Nature

Our guide, Julie, read this poem which was written by a woman who had run the river with ARR.  It really is a perfect reflection on the experience.  One of the great surprises of the trip was enjoying the readings and poetry about the Canyon that our guides shared with us.  There were some not so flattering stories about Powell but the style of his writings from the late 1800's is amazing.  Just the attempt to describe the Canyon and the river in mere words is amazing.

Back to Civilization

So, I’m back in the city

And my friends all exclaim,

“So, you had a good time…

well, you look ‘in pain’

“Your lips are cracked,

and your hair’s like straw!

“Your legs are bruised,

and your knees are raw!

“Your nails are broken,

you’ve gained weight,

“How can you say

that your trip was great?

“Your sunburn’s peeling…

it sure is a “beaut’

“It looks like you’re wearing

a camouflage suit!

“So, you had a good time…

well, you ‘tell me’

“You look like you just came

through World War Three!”

“Listen,my friend said, carefully,

and I will tell you what this all means to me.”

“My bruises will fade,

and my bones will heal”

“My skin will be soft

underneath the peel”

“My hair will recover, and so will my lips”

“And I’ll get those 10 pounds off my hips”

“But the memories I’ve stored,

will not fade away”

“They will be with me,

to my dying day”

“The whitewater thrills,

and the red canyon walls”

“The Indian ruins,

and pure waterfalls”

“The fun with new friends,

and boatman tall tales:

“Boatman great cooking

and whitewater wails”

“Yes, the memories I’ve made will

not fade away”

“They will be with me,

to my dying day.”

Goin' to the Lodge....

If you've ever been to Great Wolf, you know how that song gets in your head!
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We had a great time starting of the celebration of Trevor's "birth-week" with Grandma-ma. I always feel a little fleeced when I leave the place but he had a great time and as importantly, we didn't just sit in the house the whole time Grandma was here or used her for a free baby sitter to go see a movie! Unfortunately, this time around, Trevor was not interested in the water slides AT ALL. We spent a lot of time in the wading pool on the jet ski's, spraying water. I love how sweet his little face looks when he is all wet. I couldn't bring myself to brave the humidity and water for the Nikon....so, we are back to a bunch of blurry pictures of Trevor being cute...but, still cute!

Trevor's first Fall in New England

Click HERE for photos from our trip to Boston

Labor Day 2009- Mexico Vacation

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Not your Grandma's Vegas

Going to Vegas for a non Elvis wedding and mini vacation takes on a whole different flavor, literally. This Vegas had amazing food, outlet shopping and a day at the Mandalay Bay Pool with the best Cabana Host in Vegas! It costs considerably more, but being able to say that you didn't eat at ONE buffet the whole time is worth it :) This picture is at the bar at Bouchon, a French restaurant in the Venetian. It was one of the best French meals I have had, even compared to France itself. Dining in Vegas has taken on a whole new meaning if you want to drop the cash and want a meal that doesn't involve standing in line for peel and eat shrimp.

My two Vegas Men!

8 days in France- For less than $600

Rick Steves- eat your baguette out!  Ok, so maybe you would need fabulously adventurous friends (Brook, Marissa & Max) to move to France and a husband who travels all the time to do it!  But, it can be done using frequent flyer miles, crashing at your friends house and a bit of restraint on the shopping day in Paris.  I even got to drive while I was there and luckily it was late enough at night that I had the round about to myself!

Click HERE for pictures from my trip