dallas, smu and a sprinkle

Daniel and I headed to Dallas last week before my 30th birthday. It was our first time to be in Dallas and at SMU without the girls since before they were born - total treat! We stayed in a hotel across from SMU and enjoyed feasting at Cafe Brazil and Half Shells - two of our old favorite places to eat while at college. We had gone to SMU on Thursday night to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Hunt Scholarship... Daniel, being the smarty he is, was a Hunt Scholar at SMU and was a part of the planning committee. We got to see lots of SMU friends and hear from President Turner all of the wonderful happenings around SMU. It definitely made us leave feeling proud of our alma mater and made me ready to commit Emma and Claire to the class of 2032! Afterward we went with friends to Gloria's for drinks, chips and queso - we had so much fun laughing and catching up. Crazy to think we are all parents now. 

Friday we spent the entire day walking around SMU. We stopped by Jenny's store - Uptown Country Home - and bought the cutest dresser for Henry's room. (Side note - everything in there is adorable and I would have cleaned shop if Daniel would have let me!) We spent about an hour with Jenny and it made us wish we lived closer to her and Loren. After some shopping, we headed over to the Bush Library. Wow. If you live in Dallas or are visiting soon - you have to check it out! Politics aside, everyone should go. It's amazing... it's beautifully built, the grounds are gorgeous and the 9-11 exhibit is gut-wrenching. Truly powerful and incredible to think it's on SMU's campus. We ended up eating a late lunch at Cafe 43, the cafe there at the Bush Library. Ummmm... SO GOOD. I would definitely recommend that as well! Order Laura's famous cowboy cookies with W's favorite homemade banana-pecan ice cream for dessert. Trust me, it's the best thing ever. 

SMU continues to be beautiful and amaze us how it grows and gets better. The new basketball stadium is so cool - we are totally making it up for a game next season. The new residential quad will blow you away. We walked over to Boaz Hall, went into all of our old classroom buildings, student center, etc... it was definitely a walk down 'memory lane' and really a perfect day. Daniel and I had the pleasure of talking with several high school seniors and we kept saying "you will not regret it!" and "we would come back and do it again!" ... all of them said after being on the campus, they felt SMU was the right place for them! 

That night we headed to Fort Worth and Saturday my mom and Laura hosted a little sprinkle for Henry and me. It was perfect - there were just eight of us there and it was a perfect balance of conversation, delicious food and presents! Henry is set when it comes to clothes. Laura brought a ton of stuff that was CJ's and my cousin Erin already sent me a big box of stuff from Caden. We got books, burp clothes, blankets, art work and more clothes... Daniel and I kept saying "well this sure does make everything more real!" Amazing to think that Henry will be here in just 8 weeks! 

Overall, the weekend was just wonderful (beside the atrocious traffic coming back into Houston) and I am thankful for grandparents and godparents who kept Emma and Claire so Daniel and I could kick off my 30th the best way possible!

Bring on the March Madness

SMU Basketball via Bleacher Report

Daniel and I are very big sports enthusiast. We love SMU football. We love Duke Basketball. We love the Olympics. But SMU basketball? I actually did attend one SMU basketball game with friends and my RA my freshman year of college. I think we were four of about 20 students at the game. SMU has had a rough go with sports. Death penalty = nothing great for over 25 years. Our football team has had some glimmers of hope the past few years but nothing looks as good as SMU basketball right now. 

We are ranked. Ranked! Top 25 team in the country. We have beaten three top-25 teams so far this year. SMU has played to five sold-out crowds at home since opening the improved stadium. I actually get more excited about SMU basketball then Duke. Hard to believe, but it's true! I'm so proud of my school - for the way the students, alumni and community have stepped in and supported this great time. Bravo Coach Brown for turning the team around in just a couple of years. I say bring on March Madness! Daniel is having a total identity crisis on basketball game days with Duke and SMU playing so well (and sharing the same record). Can you imagine what it will be like if they actually play each other in March? Duke won the national title in 2010 when I was pregnant with the girls. They about sent me into pre-terms labor in that final game against Butler. Who knows, maybe baby Henry will bring good luck like his sisters did this year! 

american idol :: one to watch

Last night was one of those moments where you just feel the upmost joy for someone you've known... Daniel and I are huge American Idol fans (love this season so far - Harry Connick, Jr. is everything! - you must watch!!) and while watching with the girls we see Bryan Watt on the television!! Daniel screams "It's Bryan Watt!" - and I, in a fit of pregnant hormonal emotion, just began to cry.

I knew Bryan from SMU - Daniel, Bryan and I led worship together with others for the Wesley Foundation every Wednesday night. He was only at SMU his freshman year before transferring to Baylor. Bryan actually won SMU's American Idol competition! He had a great audition last night, but let me tell you - this guy can sing... he held back last night but he has a booming voice. The best part?! He is the kindest, gentle, sweetest person you will ever meet. Daniel and I loved working with him... he loves the Lord so much and will be such a great witness on Idol (I hope he goes far!). Even though I only knew Bryan for that one year, he left an impression on us - clearly by the way we freaked out when we saw him last night on TV. I can't think of anyone more deserving. Tune in and watch Bryan on Idol - and if he makes it to the top 12 then you better vote for him! :)

favorite things :: september

It's that time again - favorite things! I think my most favorite thing about September so far is the cooler breeze blowing through Houston. The mornings are actually pleasant and the afternoons are not  unbearable anymore. (All I need now is to find a place that doesn't have mosquitos!) With cooler temps comes football, fall clothing and all of those pretty accessories. See below for my faves...

GP + JCrew = Perfection!! Bird print (love!!) blouse, skinny jeans and structured bag...
Fall 2012 Collection // via goop

          

Plum and Neutral nail polish // Essie Fall Collection 2012

Whimsical print blouses like the JCrew one on GP or this one from Zara...
The one from JCrew is $128 while this one is $49 // Zara

This is the BEST serum... my skin looks tight and glowing after
just one month // Mary Kay Serum+C

Ridiculously excited about Tory Burch Spring 2013 :: NY Fashion Week // Tory Burch

This cute little top is for Emma and Claire!
Again, whimsical is in // Nordstrom

Thank goodness for football. Go Ponies // SMU

I have LIVED in these jeans the past month... my new favorites!
Destroyed Always Skinny // Gap

Pumpkin Spice Lattes // Starbucks

This new product "Style Prep" by Aveda is amazing and I'm obsessed - use on damp hair to add volume
or spritz into dirty hair to revamp and restyle // Aveda

red & blue for SMU

It's the middle of August which means school is starting and college football will be upon us very soon - YAY! In September, Daniel and I will have been together for 10 years... we met the first week of school. He was the cute RA and I was in love immediately. I think I knew I wanted to marry him in five minutes... and I think Daniel realized he had met his match in about five minutes. Ha! 

I love SMU. I loved my professors, the friends I made, the organizations, the tailgating... by the way, Chi O is getting a new house - woo hoo! Also, our football team gets better and better. I'm so excited for my school and am proud to be a part of the mustang family. When I did recruiting for SMU for local Houston high schools, I always said "SMU helped me to become the better version of myself" - I really believe that! I would love for Emma and Claire to go to SMU... they would be numbers 12 and 13 to go, unless their older cousins end up going! Amazing! 

To celebrate the upcoming school year, here are my favorite pictures for The Boulevard. If you don't know anything about the SMU tailgating scene, you should google or Pinterest it. It's pretty amazing to see how everyone dresses. I wish the students would wear more red and blue... but I've noticed more red and blue each year since I've been in homecoming - I'm sure it's related to the success of the football team!

picture sources: pinterest // j.crew // old navy // smu 

SMU Homecoming

We just got back from DALLAS yesterday and we had such a wonderful trip! It was a very fun trip as I got to see lots of family and friends for SMU Homecoming. My Dad and Susie celebrated 35 years, Uncle Bill celebrated 40 and I celebrated 5 years. I honestly got to see (almost) all of the people I wanted to and the girls did so well... even though they both got sick toward the end of the trip.

Highlights include: Seeing family, lunch with Ashley and Liam, shopping at Uptown Country, Celebrating Laura's Bday with Erin, Cade, Lindsey, Amanda and Mom, Chi O Dinner Friday Night, Tailgating, The Game - we WON!, Twisted Root - Spicy Goat Burger (goat cheese and bacon? yes, please!) with friends watching Bama vs. LSU, and catching up with friends... and the type of friends where you just pick up where you left off last time...

But... the BEST part? Coming home and knowing Daniel was arriving on Sunday night. We are all here and have had a great Monday here at the house together. The girls were SO happy to see him this morning when they woke up. Here are some of my favorite pics from the trip:

Emma, Claire and me at Uptown Country. I had to share because 1) they were obsessed with the xmas ornaments and 2) we are all rocking jeggins and boots (I mean, how cute are Baby Uggs?!)

Chi Omega House!

Emma, Me, Claire and Emily

Claire and Meg watching the SMU Homecoming Parade

Chi Omega float - so cute!

Dad, Emma, Susie and Claire

Family Shot!

BF Kirby!

Claire and Emma had to go see EVERY dog on the boulevard

We wish more of our family could have been with us - we had so much fun!

Super Saturday

We finished off our Saturday by attending Preston's first birthday party. We love the Kummers and are so thankful for their friendship! Amy (Mama-bear) planned the most adorable first birthday party :: Teddy Bear Picnic. Amy pays such attention to detail that I knew before we went that it was going to be perfect and it was! There was a bear, teddy bear music, paw prints leading up to the party and the cutest bear ears you ever did see! When we got there we put the ears on the girls and Preston and they actually stood there for five minutes and let everyone take pictures. I don't think there is anything more cute than that! Emma and Claire were obsessed with the bear - we had to keep going back to give him high-fives. Happy Birthday, Preston! 

Once we got home we caught up on the SMU vs. TCU game... we had paused at halftime and actually made it through the party (1/4 in attendance had gone to TCU!) without anyone telling us the score. What an awesome game!! We were back live by the time we got to the beginning of OT. And who would have thought - SMU WINS at TCU!! WOO HOO!!!! Daniel grabbed our SMU flag and ran around the courtyard in celebration! Ha!