Seeing Dallas on the Cheap {Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center}

After celebrating our 1st anniversary at a Ben Folds concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, I can't help but rave about this gorgeous venue! And they offer some amazing tour options. Not only are all their private and public tours free. But they also offer a free monthly organ recital. Be sure to check out their website for schedule information :)

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Home Palette Thursdays

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Seeing Dallas on the Cheap {The M-Line}

Want to act like a tourist for a day? Well the M-Line Trolley offers free old-fashioned transportation through Dallas' Uptown neighborhood.
Check out some of the stops on the route:
West Village
Magnolia Theatre
Hotel ZaZa
Th Meyerson Symphony Center
Dallas Museum of Art
American Airlines Center
Dallas World Aquarium

Home Palette Thursdays

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Vintage Wedding Dress Refashion: The Finish

So it's done! All in all it only took 1 day (an evening and the following afternoon) to refashion the vintage wedding dress I found. 

Seeing Dallas on the Cheap {Bryan Street Tavern}

Bryan Street Tavern not only scores 94% likes on Urban Spoon for their pizza but they also offer free pool table use and all day Happy Hour on Sundays. Sounds like a fun night out with friends to me :)

Home Palette Thursdays

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Aww the magic of fotoshop!

Fellow blogger Alma shared this amazing video and I just had to repost it here too :)

Vintage Wedding Dress Refashion: The hunt

So as soon as I came across this gorgeous refashioned dress on Where Did U Get That, I knew I wanted something  like it!
The most mentioned that the dress was originally an 80's wedding dress with puff sleeves. I've totally seen that kind of dress a million times at thrift stores so I thought it would be an easy find.

Seeing Dallas on the Cheap {La Buena Vida Vineyards}

Last week we talked about budget-friendly wine tastings. This week I wanted to share a cool look into the process of making wine :) La Buena Vida Vineyards in Grapevine offers free self-guided tours of their half-acre vineyard that features beautiful landscaping, patio areas, and water fountains. Saturday afternoons from 2 to 5 p.m.  you can enjoy free live music from local bands in the climate-controlled Mediterranean pavilion on site. You can call ahead at 817-481-9463.


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Weekly Intentions: January 8

I rocked last week's intentions hardcore by accomplishing every single item I listed. Booyah! I really think I should rename these lists to "A weekly 7 things to a more productive and creative person." So here is my list for this week:

• Start querying one of my current non-fiction projects :)
• Research redesign ideas for my blog template. (inspiration)
• Find an 80's wedding dress to refashion into a cute dress for our cruise. (inspiration)

• Get started on those chandeliers I want to make. (inspiration)

• Spend $25 or less on groceries.
• Work on the invitations for my Hot Cocoa Party. (inspiration)

• Make a case for my e-reader. (inspiration)

The Best Cake Ever

Now I am sorry there are no pictures of this cake because we totally devoured it but it is seriously the most amazing tasting cake I have ever made. Rich and Creamy! And super easy!

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

Yellow Cake Mix

1/4 C Butter (melted)

1-1/2 C Vanilla Yogurt

2 Eggs

1 Tbs Vanilla (I use the good dark Mexican pure vanilla)

Rich & Creamy Milk Chocolate Fristing from the tub

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix the first 5 ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

3. Pour into a greased pan.

4. Bake for 30 mins or until a tooth pick comes out clean when poked in the center.

5. Let cool.

6. Frost and enjoy!

365 Outtake 1.6.12

I am quite proud of myself that I have kept this project up all week. Todays photo is a totally out of place castle we came across in service today.

Seriously, 2012!

So the last 2 weeks have been pretty rough for us...
First we were robbed on the 24th.
Then we got a flat tire in my parent's car on the 28th and the spare was flat too so we had to wait for assistance from AAA.
The irony was almost too much when exactly one week later on the 4th when we got a flat too! And I didn't have a 4-way with me so we also had to wait for assistance.
But the real cherry was what happened today....

Home Palette Thursdays

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365 Outtake 01.03.12

Day 1 of Meals for a Year was a success! I made the Vegetable Wraps with a twist. They spelt and tasted so yummy! We made them non-vegetarian friendly by serving them with lunch meat. Plus we topped them with mozzarella cheese and spicy ranch dressing. Muy Delicioso :)

Corgi Tuesdays

“I’m curious about the whereabouts of my breakfast.”

365 Outtake 1.2.12

My precious Coco Puff. I can't believe she is almost 12 now!

Luke's nunchuck sausage at Smitty's Market in Lockhart, TX. Yummiest BBQ ever! nom nom nom!!!

Seeing Dallas on the Cheap {Landon Winery}

So here is a great place a little out of Dallas. With 2 locations (McKinney & Greenville) Landon Winery is offers yummy food while specializing in local Texas wine. And to top it off they have a great taste-testing deal of 5 glasses of wine for $5. Don't forget their delicious bruschetta and you have a wonderful cheap date night! :)

365 Outtake 1.1.12

Family game night and Luke's first time of ever playing Life... This was insane to my family because we played it all the time when I was growing up. Mom ended up winning and I had 5 kids O_O

Twenty Eleven in Review

I can't be another year has gone by! In the same fashion as last year I want to review my year via blog posts...

January

• I continued menu planning into the new year.
• I was super excited for Sarah Dessen's next book.
• I watched the Flipped movie with a friend and loved it!
• I discovered what a Teacup Yorkie was.

February

• I shared my color picks for summer and fall weddings for 2011.
• I analyzed the differences between being a hipster and alternative.

March

• I started a mini-series sharing my favorite internet tools and sites.
• I launched my new blog template.
• I made a list of the books I want to read before turning 22. And I only have a couple left to finish :)
• I also shared some delicious cookie recipes.
• I found some serious craft room inspiration via Pinterest.

April

• I joined Dishing for Dana.
• And updated my online portfolios.
• I finished our wedding album and started our living growing family scrapbook.

May

• I finished our wedding video which I love and still need to burn on DVD.
• I did a whirlwind life recap in a brief post that included our move to Greenville.

June

• I was able to scratch off one of my 30 before 30 items.
• And reblogged about my great-grandparents.

July

• I finally cleaned out my closet.
• And decided to change our bedding.

August

• I fell in love with a illustrated Beatles music video.
• Luke quit his job to join me in full-time service.
• I participated in the Pinterest Challenge.
• I shared my mom's and my reupholstery project.
• I made fauxboutins!
• I started sharing my monthly intentions and reflections.
• My friend Jessica shared her experience with the Montessori child bed.
• I designed Feeding the Soil's new blog header.
• We went on our first wine tasting.

September

• Luke joined me in regular pioneering.
• I started Corgi Tuesdays in honor of my childhood dog, Coco.
• My aunt Syn and I made Luke a Nudie jacket.
• I started Home Palette Thursdays.

October

• I made a Volume twenty-five inspired poster.
• I stumbled across a little girl that is what we think our daughter will look like.

November

• I made another Chronicle Books wish list.
• I shared some of my favorite things.
• I analyzed my views on changing your last name.

December

• I opened up about my anxiety with a 2nd.MD specialist.
• I also opened up about losing my blog voice and feeling bleh about life.
• We were robbed on Christmas Eve.

So that was my year! I definitely want to share more personal and creative posts this year. And we are seriously hoping to travel more too! :)

Weekly Intentions: January 1

Since I haven't done a totally great job of fulfilling my intentions each month, I have decided to try something new with 2012. Instead of having a monthly list, I want to create weekly to do lists with both practical and creative intentions each week. So here's what I want to start with for the new year...