Texas Pinball Festival 2012

This year was our second year in a row to head to the Texas Pinball Festival (TPF) with Mike and Amanda. They invited us last year and we had an awesome time, so of course we went back this year. It was another fun time. We got to play quite a few pins, especially as the crowds thinned out later in the night. I really enjoyed playing the Twister and the Star Trek pins. But, as always, my favorite part was people watching. There are quite a variety of people who attend this event. It is cute to see the fathers playing pinball with their kids. There were even families who lugged around stepping stools so that their smaller children could play the machines. Then there were the uber geeks who were totally excited to play all the newest pins. Finally, as always, it was mostly guys at this event, so Amanda and I got quite a few stares. Ryan and I were so glad Mike and Amanda were able to come back in town from Austin for this event and we can't wait for TPF 2013!

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!

A Great Day Spent with Friends

So Ryan and I started off the day having lunch with my favoritist roommate of all time, Kelsey+1 and her husband Adam.  I am calling her Kelsey+1 now since she just announced she is pregnant!  I cannot wait for little baby Casburn to arrive.  OTB was great as I got to eat my favorite Southwest Chicken Tacos and I got to see Kelsey, whom I haven't seen in way too long.  Both her and her husband are doing well, so that is always good to hear.  Seems like everyone is in baby mode!

Next up was meeting Mike, Amanda and Henry at the 2011 Texas Pinball Festival.  I wasn't too sure about this event, but Mike and Amanda went together last year, and insisted it was awesome.  They were right! For a $15 entry fee you could go and play as many of the machines as you liked for as long as you liked.  It was pretty rad, and yes, rad is the right word as they were blaring 80s music the entire time.  Anyway, it was all a little much for Henry, so we just stayed around an hour before heading to BJs.

Here are a couple of pics from the Festival:

Lucky for us it was porch weather, so we all hung out on the patio, drank beers (except Henry, of course) and had a couple of small plates.  Mike and Amanda had Crispy Artichokes and Ryan and I had Ahi Tuna Bites.  Yum!  After a couple of hours of hanging out, Amanda and Henry decided to head back to Southlake to spend time with Amanda's sister for the rest of the day.  This meant that Mike, Ryan and I could head back to the Pinball Festival!  We ended up playing a lot of the machines on 3 player.  Mike won most every time, Ryan was usually the runner up and I won a couple of the games.  After a couple more hours of playing, it was time for dinner.

Here is a pic of Henry and Ryan at BJs:

By 9pm we had arrived at Johnny B's Burgers and Shakes in Southlake.  I wasn't too keen on heading in to this place and the prices seemed a little steep, but the burgers were to die for!  Thin patties with perfectly melted cheese, lettuce, onions and thousand island dressing.  The homemade fries weren't too bad either.  I would for sure go back there!

We dropped Mike back off at Amanda's sister's house at around 9:30pm and called it a day.  And what a day it was!  I can't wait to see all our friends again soon!