Helpful Hint

{realsimple.com}

A friend of mine sent this to me, and I think it is brilliant. I never would have figured this out on my own.

Put your iphone or ipod in a bowl to amplify the sound. Brilliant! Now I don't have to spend $100 on that ihome... or do I?

Lots of Tex Mex in Texas

{the maxi cab margarita at Mi Cocina}

I love Mexican food a lot. It began in high school when I started taking Spanish classes, and going to local Mexican restaurants for practice. It grew in college when I was a waitress at a local Mexican restaurant, and it was solidified by living in Southern California for 11 years, and taking several trips to Mexico while I was there.

Now it's hard to find local places that really measure up to the real thing. Every time I have a chance to get to a big city, especially ones that have a large hispanic and Mexican population, I take every advantage to eat real, delicious comidas con sabor.

In Texas, they do it right with Tex Mex. We went to 4 restaurants over the weekend that served either Tex Mex or Mexican or both. The first was Mi Cocina in Highland Park. They serve a margarita called the Maxi Cab, that has a two drink MAXimum. Yikes! And the food was perfect. After a lousy plane ride, a marg and an authentic taco and enchilada really hit the spot. Muchas Gracias Tejas!

Daily Funnies

The Stars At Night

I'm on my way to Dallas for the weekend.

Check back next week for pics from the weekend and I promise I really will post pictures from my open house, but here's a little preview: mason jars, striped straws and owls!

Have a great weekend!

Christmas Open House

Last weekend I finally opened up my new apartment to my friends and family and had a Christmas Open House.

I live on the third floor in a great complex overlooking the lake and the trail that surrounds it.

I think having a body of water in daily view is very good for the soul. One of my favorite things to do is sit on my balcony and "porch sit". This is a necessary skill for a Midwesterner. We are good at it.

Check back tomorrow for more pictures from the party. : )

Photo courtesy of apartmentfinder.com