Tyler Rocks!

My sweet nephew, Tyler, is turning 10 in a couple of weeks.  Did you hear me? 10. Double digits. Almost a teenager. What?!?  When did this happen?

While I was out of town, I found the perfect birthday gift for him, a Star Wars apron and cookie cutters.  The boy LOVES Star Wars so when I saw the apron and cookies cutters I knew he'd love them. Turns out he did just that: LOVE! THEM!

His actual birthday isn't until August 5th but being the push-over that I am, I not only let him have his present yesterday (July 21st) but I also let him talk me in to letting him spend the night with me.  Normally, I'm more than happy to have him over any time he'd like but yesterday was the first day back from my whirlwind summer tour 2010 (vacation) and I was a little more than tired.  However, I couldn't say no to that cute face of his.  So, we went swimming, rented movies and took his new apron and cookie cutters for a test drive, forgetting all about exhaustion and work that needed to be done.  The best decision I've made in a long time. Sweet memories were made. The kind I won't forget any time soon and am sure that my adorable boogie won't either.

May the cookies force be with you!!

What's for Dinner?

An amazing Asian Fusion restaurant, Kuta, on the lower east side of Manhattan, that's what!!!

4 courses! Each one more delish than the one before.

Water or Vodka for dinner?  You decide! :)

Come on people, it's just water!!!!

Good food.  Good company. Good times.

Oklahoma, Take 2. (BFF & Charlie)

Can I tell you how much I love my BFF?  Actually, I can't.  I can't because there are no words to adequately express how wonderful she is and how much I adore her.  She and I met our freshman year in college (10 years ago!) and have been inseperable ever since. Now, don't misunderstand me, she and I have had our share of disagreements, arguments and straight-up ridiculousness and truth be told still do at times. However, this amazing friendship that we share has endured all the drama and all the life-changes and continues to be one of the sweetest blessings in my life. 

Cassie and I live 6 hours apart and, well, it stinks!!  So I am thrilled anytime I have the opportunity to spend time with her.  This time was no different.

How did we spend our time together you might ask.  Well, this is how...

taking silly pictures. note: you might recall some of the poses from your high school yearbook :)

playing with charlie, cassie's sweet little boy

shopping (finding super cute matching aprons)

baking cupcakes

taking charlie to the bootleg bartlesville kidde park

and tons of talking and buckets of laughter.

In my opinion, everyone needs a best friend. However, I'm fairly ceratin that no one has a best friend quite as amazing as mine.

Flight(s) from HELL!!

This morning I woke up at 3:45am to get ready and head for the airport to visit my fantastical big brother in NYC.  I was a little too chipper for 3:45 am but was super excited about gettng to New York to visit my Herk and figured the lack of sleep and long wait through security would most definitley be worth it once I reached my final destination. So, happiness was reigning abundant.

The flight was booked a month and a half ago and plans were made for my brother to greet me at the airport once I arrived.  I was to fly from Tulsa to New York with a connecting flight in Memphis, which I was excited about because I believe the Memphis airport is the best smellig airport in the country.  Can anyone say, BBQ 24/7?  And, let's face it, who doesnt want to swing by the ELVIS shop for some "love me tender" breath mints on the way to their gate whilst smelling BBQ the entire way?

I was at my gate in Tulsa, boarded the plane on time and was excited things were off to a great start!  Well, excited until I sat in the hot plane for 45 minutes, anxiously awaiting to leave, and then heard the dreaded announcement:  ALL PLANES IN AND OUT OF MEMPHIS ARE GROUNDED DUE TO SERVE THUNDER STORMS AND A TORNADO!  What??  No flight!?! No BBQ!?! No Elvis!?!

I waited around for a little bit and then heard my name called at the service desk.  The very disgruntled Delta Airlines employee informed me that she could re-route my connecting flight to Minneapolis and have me in Laguardia by 3pm.  It was a little later than my original arrival time but I didn't want to take any chances on getting stuck in Tulsa, so, I emphatically told her to BOOK IT!!  So, I hopped on the flight to Minneapolis and it was smooth sailing all the way.  I had plenty of time once I arrived to find my gate, eat breakfast and read a little.  Every time I looked at the board above the service desk and saw the words flash "on time", I swooned a little.  Life was good.

Then it happened. The announcement was made..... THE FLIGHT TO LAGUARDIA HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO SOME MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS.  Now, I don't know aout you, but I never want to hear "maintenance problems" used when speaking about the airplane I am about to take a ride on.  So, this lovely piece of news coupled with the news that the flight was delayed had me in a bit of a tizzy. At this point, just a little panic set-in.  Who knew it was about to get worse.

45 minutes later, another announcement was made: THE FLIGHT TO LAGUARDIA HAS BEEN CANCELLED!  PLEASE GO TO THE KIOSK ACROSS FROM G9 TO RE-BOOK YOUR FLIGHT.  AGAIN, THE FLIGHT TO LAGUARDIA HAS BEEN CANCELLED!  I'm super annoyed by this point and my only thought at the moment was...... REALLY?  Do you really need to repeat the fact that the flight has been cancelled?  I heard it the first time, lady!  By the way, I will stand by my belief that the announcer enjoyed the look of utter dread on all the passengers faces. Honest.  The work of the devil, I tell you!

So, I haul it over to G9 where I scan my boarding pass to find out I've been booked on another flight to Laguardia. Lovely. Wait! What!?!  My lovely flight to Laguardia leaves tomorrow. TOMORROW!  Really, people?  Tomorrow?

At this point, I had no other choice but to experience the pleasure of waiting in line for over an hour with a host of disgruntled passengers all trying to make it to their destinations....... TODAY not TOMORROW.  I finally made it to the Delta Airlines service desk to speak with the lady re-booking flights.  The lady was helpful but in a very "I-guess-I'll-help-you-but-I-really-don't-want-to-help-you" kind of way and mananged to get me on a flight to Newark.  I was so thankful until I realized the flight left in 20 minutes.  My "I can do this!" attitude helped me to suck it up and attempt to truck it on over  to terminal F.  Which as luck would have it, was located, you guessed it, on the complete opposite side of the airport.  I made it.  BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I made it.  I made it panting, with blisters forming on my feet from my flip flops and my shoulder and back about to break from the weight of my carry-on bags.  But, I made it!  I made it just in time to find out the flight to Newark had been dealyed.  REALLY?  Notice how the word really has become the theme of the day thus far.

So, I waited for the flight to Newark, praying to the Jesus Taco and the real one, hoping that it would actually take off and land in the place it was expected to.  And, it did.

I'm actually writing this from the plane using the $10.00 internet that I had to pay for.  And once again am asking myself....REALLY?

Oklahoma O.K.!!!!

Thanks be to the Jesus Taco (and Caddo Parish School Board) for allowing me time off in the summer to do the things that I love:  take long naps, stay in my pajamas all day, practice making new cupcakes and frostings, spend huge amounts of time doing nothing with family and friends and travel. Lucky for me, my summer has included all of these lovely things.

This past Wednesday, I packed my bags, hopped in the car and headed for the first stop on what I like to call "SUMMER TOUR 2010".  This magnificent tour includes (but is not limited to) Oklahoma City, Tulsa and NYC!!  First stop:  Oklahoma City!

I visited my sweet friend, Lisa, and met her husband and new baby for the first time.  I haven't seen Lisa in, get this, 4 ridiculous years.  Crazy, huh?  I'm still a little baffled as to where exactly all that time went. 

I had a long time to think on my drive to Oklahoma (a solid six hour drive), due mostly in part to my iPod deciding to die a painful death right before I left.  And, one of the many thoughts I had on the way is that since the last time I saw Lisa, she has gotten engaged, married, beat a brain tumor and  had a baby.  A lot can happen in 4 years, people!  The most lovely thing though, is that even with all of the changes and expereinces in both of our lives over the last 4 years, everything was exactly the same as we had left it.  Our friendship is so easy and effortless and special. 

It was so great to catch up with Lisa and love on her sweet new baby, Layla, who is six weeks old and a whopping 7lbs.  What a great way to start my summer roadtrip!!

After my fabulous time with Lisa & Layla, I headed over to the Duke's house.  The Dukes pastored at the church I grew up in when I was in junior high and high school and then retired in Oklahoma when I was in college at SNU.  They were so kind to me when I was a teenager and in college, they served as spiritual guides, surrogate parents, mentors and friends.  They are by far, the sweetest most amazing people on the planet.  I had a wondeful time visiting with them and even had the opportunity to take them to dinner, which was really a nice expereince for me, considering how many times they took me out to eat when I was in high school and in college especially. However, dinner is not nearly enough to say thank-you to two people who have been so influential in my life.  People who have prayed for me, encouraged me and loved me unconditionally.  Whoa!  I am so incredibly blessed!

Next, I was lucky enough to meet up with my fantastic friends, Ryan and Ashley Gage, who live in Florida but just so happened to be in Oklahoma visiting their families.  DIVINE INTERVENTION, anyone?

I met Lisa & Layla early to run some errands and get some more Q.T. in before heading to Ted's for lunch with the Gage family.  Ted's happens to be everyones favorite restaurant in OKC and just the thought of the place conjures up tons of fun memories from college.

Ryan and Ashley are two of my dearest friends from college.  Every time I'm with them, laughter is sure to be heard.  I mean the kind of laughter that hurts your stomach or makes your pee your pants a little. Honest. So, it's no surprise that together they made the most adorable and hilarious little boy, Keller, who I was very pleased to meet for the first time and sit next to at lunch.  Keller kept us all laughing with his "knock, knock" jokes and quick wit.  He is so precious and perfect.  Then, as if they didn't bring enough fabulousness into the world, they created the most beautiful little girl, Kerrington.  She is so delish!  It was sheer delight laughing and reminiscing with them again.

My last stop in Oklahoma City was to visit with one of my favorite families, the Lytles.  I used to babysit their girls, Lydia and Sally, when I was in college at SNU.  Lydia was 1 1/2 and Sally was a newborn when I started babysitting.  It was so fun to be able to see how much they have changed and grown..  Sally is 6 1/2 now and Lydia is 8!  What?  When did that happen??  They are still the most adorable, charming children ever and will forever be my favorites!!  I was so happy I got a chance to visit with the girls and their fabulous mom, Suzy, and dad, Jeff.  What a perfect way to end my stay in OKC.

The truth is, I'm not sure what I did to deserve such wonderful people in my life....but, i'll take it!!