My family has always teased me because I regularly speak in superlatives. I have been known to utter (on more than one occasion) things like, “That was THE MOST INCREDIBLE restaurant I have EVER tried!” or “I think that is my FAVORITE movie of ALL TIME!” or another old standby, “This is the MOST BEAUTIFUL place I have EVER BEEN!” which is usually followed by “I want to move here!” When they give me a hard time, I tell them that I think it’s a pretty great way to live my life. I like living in the present– and enjoying it to its fullest. There is one exception… when I…
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What’s Next? Try Chicken Shawarma!
Have you ever tried shawarma? There’s a shawarma joint about two blocks from here. I don’t know what it is, but I wanna try it.” If you’ve been binging Marvel movies at your house recently as we have, you may know the great post-credit scene from 2012’s The Avengers. After the battle of New York, Iron Man suggests they take the day off and hit a local restaurant. Alas, they were not quite finished saving the world at that point, but they eventually do get their shawarma! Chicken Shawarma is super easy to make, and it’s a delicious weeknight dinner that pleases everyone with its bright Mediterranean flavors. So what…
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It’s Been a While…
How do you blog about living your best life when you are self-isolating during a global pandemic?
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A Weekend in LA (without Kids!)
If you’re trying to start a travel blog, and family members ask for some recommendations for their upcoming trip to Los Angeles… OF COURSE, you oblige! Luckily, I was just there in the spring, so I definitely have some suggestions. When my husband mentioned he would be attending a conference in California, there was no question that he would have a stow-away! A weekend in sunny LA with no kids? Yes, please! Home Base The location was set — Scott’s meeting was at the LA Convention Center. So that immediately eliminated a big portion of my usual planning. DTLA (downtown LA) would be the home base for our fun in…
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Favorite Summer Supper
We have been stuck inside for the last few days because of Tropical Storm Imelda and her remnants. Fortunately, Galveston Island was spared any major threats, but streets are flooded and school is canceled. We have had a house full of kids, so we’ve been eating lots of grilled cheese sandwiches, BBQ from Pennie’s and a huge pot of potato soup that Scott made the other night. Now that the rain has finally subsided, I am hoping Scott will fire up the grill to fix a favorite summer supper: Coriander-rubbed Flank Steak and Sauteed Corn with Cilantro Pesto. One of my favorite go-to recipe books is Bon Appetit’s Outdoor Entertaining.…
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A Day Trip to Wonderful Whistler, BC
Whether it’s a day trip from Vancouver, or you’re looking for a mountain getaway — at the end of the gorgeous Sea to Sky Highway, you will find the wonderful Whistler Village. (For more on the scenic drive from Vancouver, check out my recent post!) We were only there for about six hours, but we certainly made the most of our day trip to Whistler! Pulling into town, we followed the signs for Whistler Village and parked in Day Lot #2 which (along with Day Lot #3) seemed to be most centrally located. You must pay for parking in the summer between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm,…
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The Sea to Sky Highway in Beautiful BC
One of the highlights of our time in the Pacific Northwest was the day we spent on the Sea to Sky Highway. During my research, I read over and over that it is one of the most beautiful drives in all of North America. Perfect for Living Superlatively! After two days galavanting around Vancouver, we broke up our time in the city with a day trip to Whistler, BC on Highway 99. Most of our transportation on this trip consisted of the ferry system, but we did rent a car for this one day. It was a simple process — we had reserved ahead of time through Avis, and Scott…
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Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!
Oh. My. Word. I just have to write a quick blog post to share a recipe. I made an amazing chicken dish last night that the family declared was a winner winner, chicken dinner! There is so much to blog about our trip to the Pacific Northwest, and it is taking longer than I would like to edit. So in the meantime…. you need this recipe in your life! I mentioned in my very first post that I try new recipes all of the time. One of my main resources is The New York Times. I’m telling you, I cook whatever Sam Sifton, Melissa Clark, and friends tell me to…
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Weekend in Washington County
Two years ago, my brother and sister-in-law bought a piece of Texas history. Since then, they have spent every spare moment lovingly and meticulously restoring The Seward Plantation in Independence, Texas. My husband is especially thrilled with their purchase because he loves a good project. It has been so much fun to be a part of the transformation, and our family often spends the weekend in Washington County enjoying all it has to offer. A little bit of Texas history Washington County is considered the birthplace of Texas. On March 2, 1836, fifty-nine delegates met along the Brazos River to declare independence from Mexico and draft the constitution of the…
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The best… Gin & Tonic
As I wrote in my first blog post, I tend to speak in superlatives. So I will often share with you my latest (and GREATEST!) finds for dishes, restaurants, cocktails, hotels, etc. Recently, I had this amazing cocktail at River Oaks District‘s great new tapas restaurant, MADHouston. They have an entire section of the bar menu for their “Gin Revolution.” In Spain, a gin and tonic is no simple affair. Typically served in balloon wine glasses, the G&T is only the base — citrus, berries, herbs, and/or spices are also added. Gin has always been my go-to spirit, so maybe not a revolution for me, but the Pimiento (Gin Mare,…
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Less than 24 Hours in Austin
Lucky us! My husband had a meeting at the mothership (UT Austin) and had decided to drive this time. So Annie and I decided to jump in the car and give him some company. Although we would not spend even 24 hours in Austin, OF COURSE I had to log on to the computer to see if there was anything new and exciting in the Austin hotel scene to check out. My goal was to find a place where we could have a great dinner, watch the bats (see below), and sit by the pool while Scott worked the next day. Although technically not new (it opened last summer), The…
