Whew- what a busy week! Drove down to Nashville, stayed a couple days, flew to Houston, stayed a couple days, flew back to Nashville, stayed a couple days, then drove back to STL. Honestly, nothing is better than family...I visited my parents then we headed down to Texas for a much overdue visit to my aunt and uncle. It was a great trip and a great city!
TEXAS fun facts
The hamburger was created in Athens, Texas.
"You'all can go to hell. I am going to Texas." -- Davy Crockett after serving three terms as a Tennessee congressman. Davy Crockett died defending the Alamo
In Texas, it's illegal to put graffiti on someone else's cow.
Texas is the country's biggest producer of oil, cattle, sheep, minerals, cotton and wool.
Texas was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845. Texas is the only state to enter the United States by treaty instead of territorial annexation.
On his ranch in Crawford, Texas, President Bush keeps a longhorn cow named Ofelia. He named Ofelia after a staff member who worked with him when he was the governor of Texas.
Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period after the Dr in Dr Pepper.
Forty percent of the farm-grown catfish in the United States is consumed by Texans.
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Houston Galleria
They have every single possible store you could want.
I managed to sneak in a little trip to my all time fav store- Zara. Here are some cute finds!! |
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| holiday dress- check. Add black textured tights, red heels and you're off! |
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| wear this for holiday photos or family Christmas, I love a great suit. |
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| I am totally loving pencil skirts- wear this leather beauty to the office party!! |
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imagine this:
walking down a country, snow filled road with a white fur muff and this over your cocktail dress, all the while singing Christmas carols with your very handsome significant other. (mine would be my husband, of course!!) |
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| super, duper cozy. A hooded scarf with a spot for your hands- perfect Christmas gift!! |
As we were shopping a little lady at neiman marcus popped out and had a tray of the most delicious liqueur cake I have EVER tasted in my life. Maybe I was just really, really hungry but we did just eat lunch so now I'm thinking that wasn't the case.
Ladies- puulease make this for Thanksgiving/ Christmas. It is too yummy to pass. I'm going to make this for my girls 4th annual Thanksgiving dinner.
These are individual liqueur cakes from neiman...I highly suggest the vanilla brandy!!
Since I wasn't able to find the exact recipe (for obvious reasons), you can either order the cake or make it here: I usually don't use cake mix- but this cake is soo delicious I just didn't want to mess it up!! This calls for chocolate but you can easily substitute for vanilla cake mix and vanilla pudding.
Ingredients
- 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
- 1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup water
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup coffee flavored liqueur
- 1/4 cup vodka
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 2 tablespoons coffee flavored liqueur
- 2 tablespoons vodka
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, oil, 3/4 cup water, eggs, 1/4 cup coffee liqueur and 1/4 cup Vodka. Mix well, then pour into greased and floured Bundt pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Pour glaze over hot cake while still in pan. Let cake sit for 30 minutes.
- To make the glaze: in a small saucepan combine sugar, butter and 1/4 cup hot water. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur and 2 tablespoons vodka.
Quirky jewelry 101
I have always had a love for quirky little jewelry bits that just make you smile when you see them. I'm not really into jewels per say, but I do like a great, piece of jewelry that can last me a lifetime. Here are some that I have and some that I want!!
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| photo via etsy.com |
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| photo via pinterest.com |
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| photo via cutpasterepeat.blogspot.com |
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| photo via bario-neal.com |
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| photo via etsy.com |
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| photo via etsy.com |
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| photo via modcloth.com |
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| photo via modcloth.com |
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| photo via modcloth.com |
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| photo via urbanoutfitters.com |
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| photo via viveka bergstrom |
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| photo via jeanine payer |
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| photo via anthropologie.com |
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| photo via metals girl |
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| photo via etsy.com |
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| photo via etsy.com |
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| photo via the angry weather's shop |
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| photo via etsy.com |
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| photo via etsy.com |
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| photo via anthropologie.com |
I am well aware that this last necklace is quite hard to view but I had to add it to this list! It's a must and something I will be putting on my Christmas list for sure!!
View here!!
Now that you have the most amazing jewelry in the world, how are you going to store it?!?
We have moved many times in the past 5 years (we like to buy and redo homes) so it's always fun to see how things fit into another house. I was really getting sick of these jars so I found a new spot for them. And I might add- I love the new spot.
So there you have it, take a jar, any old jar (these are from pottery barn) and add your quirky little jewelry bits!!
Happy Thursday everyone! I'll be back in full force!!
Something so important to remember.
