State Fair of Texas 2010 (aka Fried Food Capital of Texas)

Nothing says "Fall" like the State Fair of Texas.  I've been going for as long as I can remember plus a couple years I was too young to remember.  Since college, it's become a tradition to go for the TX/OU football game.  It's also become a tradition to go try all the crazy new fried creations the Fair concessionaires (did you know that was a word?) come up with.  So eat we did.

There were eight finalists this year - Fernie's Fried Club Salad, Deep Fried S'mores Pop-Tart, Fried Lemonade, Texas Fried Caviar, Texas Fried Frito Pie, Deep Fried Frozen Margarita, Fried Beer, and Fried Chocolate.

I love fried food but I can only eat so much and some didn't sound appetizing to me so I narrowed down the choices and then off I went.

First up, Fried Beer which won "Most Creative."

Josh was really excited about this one.  It did sound interesting... but it turned out to be a flop.  The beer (which I successfully identified as Guinness!) was lukewarm, the pretzel dough never got crispy and just tasted undercooked, and then adding a cheese sauce just didn't make sense to me.

Second up, Deep Fried S'mores Pop-Tart.

This was delicious.  DELICIOUS.  It's a pop tart, battered in Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate cereal, fried, and then topped with cream, chocolate syrup, and chocolate sprinkles.  Mmm... DELICIOUS.

Next, Texas Fried Frito Pie which won for "Best Taste."

This did taste good but it wasn't all that creative or difficult in my opinion.  It's beef and cheese chili battered with corn chips.  Exactly what a Frito pie is but now a finger food - yum!

And lastly, Fried Chocolate.

I went into this one with no expectations.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The chocolate remains a smooth texture - not liquid nor solid - and has little chocolate chips mixed in with a cherry in the middle.  Nothing fancy or crazy but the familiar is tasty.

In addition to these fried foods, add in 3 cooking demonstrations worth of food, free samples of quesadillas, a Fletcher's corn dog, strawberry milk, strawberry iced tea, and a strawberry chill.  Thankfully this was split between 2 separate trips to the fair but still... I've been eating a ton of vegetables this week to make up for this!

Appreciated

I showed up this morning to work to find a thank you card from a staff.  It really touched me.  It made it all worthwhile to know that someone appreciates that I take the time to teach and mentor rather than just dictate the right answers.  It made it all worthwhile to know that someone appreciates how flexible I am about when we work and how we work.  That there's more to life than just this job and that it's important to be flexible so that we can all have the outside-of-work things that are important to us - friends, family, religion, downtime, etc.

Such a simple gesture to renew my spirits and remind me why exactly I do my job the way I do it.

Grateful

I'm back!  It's been a crazy couple weeks trying to get through my 9/15 busy season deadline but I made it and this marks my first full weekend off in a while.  And even though I'm sick with some crazy infection/inflammation thing, I'm still having a fantastic weekend thus far and just want to reflect on the things that I'm grateful for this weekend.

- My new Martha Stewart "french oven" (enameled cast iron casserole pot) from Macy's.  It's not Le Creuset but it'll do for now.  One day I'll splurge for the real deal but for now I will remain the bargain shopper because closeout prices rock.

- New shoes!  I just keep finding super cute ones on sale/clearance and I just can't resist.  The latest craze is BRIGHT colors - pink, blue, green - I'm sold!  And boots for fall because at some point I do realize I'll have to pack away the flip flops for at least a couple months.

- A new electric griddle because pancakes are just so much more perfect when made on a griddle.  (Also on sale at Macy's!)

- New stainless steel pots and pans to replace the nasty nonstick ones we currently have.  Yay Brother for agreeing we needed new pots and pans!  (On sale at JCPenney's!)

- New bright and colorful shirts!  I know it's about to be fall and the fashion police would say I should start wearing more fall/darker colors but I don't care.  I need the hot pinks and yellows in my wardrobe to brighten up my day.  

- Spending time just pampering myself and creating a spa day at home.  Mmmm smooth skin that glows!

- Relaxing with Zoey.  I love my dog.

- About to watch The Blind Side.

- Hanging out with friends tonight to watch UT Football!!!

- And lastly, the most important: my family, friends, and Josh who have been so supportive during busy season and taking care of me now when I'm sick.

(No pictures this post.  I'm sick, give me a break.)

Leap Year (movie)

I watched Leap Year the other night.

Boyfriend thinks "chick flicks" have killed romance.  That they create unrealistic expectations and now women are unable to find the "perfect guy" because he no longer exists.


I beg to differ.  (No surprise there.)


I mean really - it's not as if the "perfect guy" exists to begin with.  So I'm not going to watch a movie and then be like - yes!  X, Y, and Z absolutely must be done/present or he's not acceptable.  I watch them because I *need* a happy ending sometimes.  I *need* to know everything will work out somehow by the end.  It's not like "chick flicks" are happy and perfect the entire 2 hours.  No way.  There is always pain, heartache, struggles, and tears followed by a happy ending somewhere down the road.  Call it a silly faith boost but I just like being reminded that life will work out somehow.  It will require work and it won't be easy but it'll be happy if I work towards making it happy.


And what's not to love about sexy accents and good looking men.  If men get Megan Fox and Jessica Alba, we women deserve equality!  :o)


Ok, I'm off that soapbox.  Back to the reason of this post.  Leap Year had one of the very best quotes I have heard in a long time.

May you never steal, lie, or cheat,

But if you must steal,

Then steal away my sorrows,

And if you must lie, 

Lie with me all the nights of my life,

And if you must cheat,
Then please cheat death because I couldn't live a day without you.

I need more luck in my life...

Someone backed into my truck while it was parked at DART.

sigh...

Meet Mollie Ann (and see Zoey)

As some of you know, I volunteer with Richardson Humane Society (RHS).  I used to just help with the Adopt-A-Pet (AAP) events where people could come and meet the dogs and apply to adopt them.  But then I felt compelled to start fostering too.  (Every dog is fostered personally in an individual's home instead of in a kennel/shelter.  This allows dogs to learn better behaviors, be housebroken, be socialized with people/other pets, etc.  It requires a lot more love and patience but it's really great for the dogs and the dogs' future owners.)

I don't think Zoey cares at all for the foster dogs (and that's putting it nicely) but I'd like to think since she is a rescue dog, she understands and wants these dogs to get a good loving home just like she did.  If nothing else, it gives her someone to assert her dominance over and what's not more fun for a dog than barking "who's the boss.".  Zoey would note that belly rubs and people food are better but she'll enjoy her cake and eat it too since she gets all of that already.

Anyway, meet Mollie Ann, our current foster.

Brother just finished putting this swing chair set together yesterday and Mollie loves it.

Isn't she a cute dog?  She's a standard dachshund mixed with something.  Roughly 12 pounds, young adult.  She's spayed, disease-free, and micro-chipped.  She's SUPER playful and loves tennis balls.  She can really run fast!  She also really loves belly rubs and people time in general. Do you know of anyone interested in adopting Mollie?

Zoey enjoys the chairs too.

 

I kept saying "Colorado" in order to get Zoey to perk up her ears.

I just love when she does this.

Dog Day at the Grand Prairie AirHogs Baseball Game

My family is a baseball family.  Yes, games can get boring sometimes.  Yes, it's ridiculously hot in Texas and sitting outside in the sun can get miserable.  But, we still go to the games and we enjoy ourselves.  This summer we've tried out every "big" team in the Dallas/Fort Worth area - Texas Rangers, Frisco RoughRiders, and now the Grand Prairie AirHogs!

I was easily won over because it was DOG DAY!  There's nothing better than getting to bring Zoey with me!

Isn't that a beautiful smile?

I was so proud of Zoey - minimal barking at the other dogs!  She just sat on my lap or sat/laid on the floor.

It was super hot but I'm positive Zoey was happier to be in the heat with the family than sleeping alone in the house.  She was definitely hot and exhausted by the end of it though.

The stadium is small but in an intimate way.  For only $9 you can sit right behind home plate!  (We used a Groupon so it was only $3 - even better!)

This stadium also has a pool in the outfield that you can rent just like the Frisco RoughRiders.

It was also $1 hot dog and $1 soda day.

Did Zoey eat her very own hot dog?  Of course not!  How dare you insinuate that!

Oh wait, sorry.  I mean yes.  Duh.  This dog is SPOILED.

And to further prove that point...

It was just the ice after my dad drank his lemonade.  But still.

And then I couldn't resist this photo op.

I'd be a little freaked out if I ever met a baseball player who had a dog face and a strange arm/leg/paw growing out of his neck.

Note: I tried to take a better picture but Zoey didn't really like the cardboard cutout.  She started pushing at it to get away.  We apologized with a hot dog.

All in all, it was a great game.  They won!

Grand Prairie AirHogs 11 - El Paso Diablos 9

And everyone left happy.