Like a Kid Again

This Sunday was one of the best date days that Ryan and I have had in a while. We had so much fun!  First, we headed to Brookhaven for brunch. It was excellent, as always. They always have the greatest food. Fruit, oatmeal, grits, muffins, danishes, english muffins, fresh made belgian waffles, fresh made-to-order omlets, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon and more. Yum! Too bad with my healthy eating I cuold only have the fruit and an english muffin. Okay, so I had a danish. Oh and a sausages patty. Oh well!

Next up? A surprise Ryan planned for me. We went to Nickelrama which is a really cool nickel arcade in Garland. It cost $2.95/per person to enter, but then games were on average only 15 cents to play. We only played two types of games the entire time. Pinball, which I enjoy more than I'll ever let on to Ryan, and the Deal or No Deal game. My favorite pinball machine there was the Lord of the Rings pinball machine. Ryan liked the Indiana Jones one the best. It was a lot of fun. I was glad we went early, because towards the end of our time there, the place flooded with children's birthday parties. We will definitely have to go again soon!



Now, for something I have wanted to do for quite some time, a visit to Yogurtland! It is a frozen yogurt place where you can choose any fro yo flavors in any combination and then toppings galore. Then, you place your cup on the scale and pay by the ounce. I got Oatmeal Cookie, Red Velvet Cake and Toasted Coconut. No toppings. Ryan got Toasted Coconut, Pistachio and Madagascar Vanilla Bean. I would say we both enjoyed the Pistachio the most. I would for sure get that one next time. Anyway, YUM!

Here's to a fun, cheep, feel like a kid again date day!

Just Keep Running, Just Keep Running

So I decided to commit to running...again. I've had a love/hate relationship with running for quite some time now. I hated running when I was in high school. I remember that, every trimester, I had to run a mile under 10 minutes to earn a spot on the sports team of the season. I remember hating that day, running my guts out until I threw up, and worse. I was a horrible runner and a bit chunky in high school. I hated running in circles on the track for no reason. Now, put me on a basketball court, and I could run the entire game. (a) It didn't seem like running and (b) there was a point to it all.

When I went to college, it was "cool" to work out, but I never really did. I kick myself now because I didn't take advantage of the awesome "free" gym. I ran here and there. Mostly I played intramural basketball and tennis. Again, running seemed like a horrible past time to me. I have just never been successful at it.

That brings us to now. I am getting older and pounds fall upon me easier than they once did. I have steadily been eating healthier over the past 6 years, but it just wasn't cutting it anymore. so, I made a new promise to myself. No, the promise wasn't to run, per-say. The promise was to set no real specific goals, deadlines and the like. Just to get out and run more often. Not to necessarily be faster, run further, or run more often than the week before. Just to get out there, even if it is just walking for 30 minutes. I find myself jogging about 1.25 miles per day now between 6-7 times per week. My mile time has been decreasing as my stamina goes up. One day I would like to run a 5k in around 30 minutes, but whenever that happens, let it and if it doesn't, that's okay too. I just need to move.

I finally rewarded myself with a new pair of running shoes. Seeing as how I have chondromalacia (Chondromalacia patella is abnormal softening of the cartilage of the under the kneecap. Chondromalacia patella results from degeneration of cartilage due to poor alignment of the kneecap as it slides over the lower end of the thigh bone.) new shoes were probably a must if I was going to continue to run. I did the whole buy shoes at Run On thing, so I didn't so much get to pick the shoes. The staff there picked out 5 pairs that best fit my pronation and preferences when running and I got to choose from those. I ended up with these:

Now I wouldn't have gone straight up to these Emerald City shoes and talked about how awesome they look, but I also decided it wasn't about look it is about comfort and what is best for continued running stress. So, here's to me and my emerald shoes, may they take me where I need to go.

Take Me Out

Saturday was the Interstate Batteries day at the Ranger's game and family was allowed to come! Interstate allowed employees to sign up for tickets. We got free tickets that were shaded seats, free all you could eat food (hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, nachos, popcorn, peanuts and sodas), and a parking pass and $5 to spend. It was awesome! Ryan and I each had two hot dogs and soda, shared nachos and popcorn, and he had peanuts. I used my $5 to get a small scoop of ice cream and Ryan got a beer. What a deal!  Even though the Rangers lost, just barely, to the A's, it was really a fun baseball Saturday!

Restaurant Week 2011

Restaurant Week, or restaurant couple of weeks, extended from the end of August to the first week of September this year. Ryan and I were able to go to our choice of restaurants for two of the three weekends it ran. The first week we were in Colorado so we weren't able to go anywhere.

Two weeks ago we went to Pappa's Bros. Steakhouse in Dallas. We had been there once before, although it has been about three years back. The service was excellent, but the restaurant was packed, so it was a bit noisy. I had the cesar salad, fillet and key lime pie. Ryan had the house salad, fillet and  chocolate peanut butter cake. We both had a glass of wine and Ryan ordered a desert wine. The desert wine was supposed to taste a lot like grape jelly which should, of course, go well with a peanut butter cake. It was simply disgusting. It tasted like cough syrup laden with granulated sugar. All in all, though, the food was 9/10, the service was 10/10 and the ambiance was 6/10. Last time, when it wasn't crazy busy Restaurant Week, Pappas would have gotten a 9/10 ambiance.

Yesterday, Ryan and I went to The Oceanaire, a seafood restaurant located in the Westin Hotel at the Galleria Mall. Neither of us had been before, but we were both impressed from start to finish. I had the Texas bibb salad, lemon butter sole and bread pudding. Ryan had the clam chowder, black and bleu redfish and bananas foster split. We also each had an oyster as an appetizer just to try. I had never had oysters before, so it was quite the experience for me. I like the oyster okay, but I guess I don't really get what all the hubbub is about. They also brought complimentary sourdough bread and fresh pickled veggies that included pickles, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, black olives, celery and banana peppers. I tried all of the veggies except for the peppers. Ryan said they were fairly spicy, so I wasn't interested. Overall it was one of my favorite restaurants I have been to in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. The food was a 10/10, the service was an 10/10 and the ambiance was a 9/10. The only reason ambiance didn't get a 10/10 was because of a slightly annoying family next to us that acted as though they had never been to a restaurant before. They spoke very loudly and constantly took pictures. Anyway, The Oceanaire is a place I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great seafood restaurant.

As you can see, we had a nice time in a cozy, romantic booth at The Oceanaire. We can't wait for Restaurant Week 2012!

Restaurant Review: Stan's Grill on the Parkway, Plano

Stan's Grill on the Parkway
http://stansontheparkway.com/
Category: American (New)
Address: 3645 Dallas Parkway, Plano, TX 75093
Star Review: 4/5

My family and I went to Stan's a few weeks back. The atmosphere was nice, open dining room, nice bar, TVs all around. The service was above average. The waiters were attentive and the owner came around a few times to check on us. At one point some red wine got spilled and our waitress was quick grab us a glass of club soda and a towel from the kitchen to see if it would help.

The food was definitely above average. We ordered guacamole dip and chips for an appetizer. They were great! Then at the table we had a burger, pulled pork sandwich, salad and a chicken and pasta dish. My husband said it was the best pasta and sauce he had ever had. The burger was one of the best I have ever had. The BBQ sauce was to die for. The salad looked okay, but was a little underwhelming. Overall the food was pretty good and the beer on tap was cold.

I would definitely visit Stan's again, if we were nearby.

He's Here!

Meet my new best friend! Isn't he the cutest darn baby you have ever seen? Meet baby Benjamin Lucas. This is my best friend Kelsey and her husband Adam's baby. He was born yesterday, September 1, 2011. He was born at 5:15pm, weighing 9 lbs, 5 oz and measuring 21 inches long. I am already in love and I haven't even gotten to meet him yet. He has tons of aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins to welcome him to a very large family. What a lucky little guy! I only pray I get to be a part of this little one's life for a very long time. Love you baby Ben!