A whole lot of nothing

Our last two weekends have been so different from every other weekend since we moved to Fort Worth. For the first two months that we lived here we were BUSY. Friends coming to visit weekend after weekend, trips to Austin, and just exploring the new city we live in kept our weekends full. It has been SO nice these past two weekends when our biggest event was a trip to Ikea-where we got nothing that we needed but plenty of things we didn't. We've had lunch with our parents, checked out some antique stores, cleaned the apartment, did some laundry, gone to the store, watched some movies and done a little bit of sewing. I never thought I could enjoy weekends of nothing so much, but sometimes it is so nice to just recharge after a long week. This weekend we're planning a trip to the Dallas Arboretum thanks to my brother and sister for our March date and I'm so excited and hoping the weather cooperates so we don't have to reschedule. Our weekends of nothing are coming to an end in April but I'm excited for our plans and am ready to get busy again! My moms birthday and Ross's birthday are both in early April and I'm sure we'll find something fun to do for both of those, then it's Easter, and then my very best friend and her husband are coming to visit and I'm SO excited to see them! Until then, I plan on enjoying our last low key weekend, and maybe even finishing up the latest sewing project I've been working on! Here's a little sneak peak! I know 2 little babies who will look quite adorable in these Easter onesies when they're done.

That time we went to 6 grocery stores to make dinner

Typically on Sunday nights we will plan out dinner for the week and go to the grocery store to get stuff for the week. I had found a recipe for shrimp coconut curry and was super excited to try it Monday night. I've made quite a few things from the website and they've all been delicious. We went to albertsons and got everything that we needed except for fish sauce. It wasn't a big deal, I could stop by a different store on my way home from work and pick it up. I had to go to Target on Monday anyway to pick up a few things and figured I'd just pick some up there-NOPE. No big deal, there was a World Market right next door so I could just run in there and get it. I was sure they would have it-after all it's called WORLD market and fish sauce is one of the most common Thai cooking ingredients. Again-NOPE. Now don't get me wrong-I know fish sauce isn't exactly a household staple, but as far as Asian ingredients go, it's a relatively common one that I have used before and Ross had atleast heard of it and I did not at all expect this many issues trying to find it. I decided to try Walmart where this conversation happened

And just incase you're in the market for some disgusting giant snail shells-walmart is your place! Who knew?!

Also, take note of two things from this conversation: 1- Ross is the best. Clearly I was very much over this cooking dinner thing, so he suggests I pick up Chinese food. Winner. 2- I was so desperate/stubborn that I was willing to buy fish sauce from AMAZON. We are now at a total of 4 grocery stores and I am not willing to admit defeat by this point. Ross looked around online and it looked like Trader Joes carried it, so it was perfect! He could pick it up on his way home on Tuesday, the curry was saved! Well fast forward to Tuesday when I get the dreaded text that Trader Joes had let us down-words I never thought I'd say. Fortunately there was a Central Market right around the corner who I called before sending my husband to another grocery store. And although I tried not to get too excited based on our past experiences, they said they carried it. I was half way home from work and hadn't heard from him yet when this happened

I never thought I'd be so excited about fish sauce. But I was. And the curry was delicious. And because it only took two teaspoons of the GIANT bottle, we shouldn't be having a repeat of the Fish Sauce Hunt of 2014 anytime soon. This is the recipe we used and I would absolutely recommend it, just make sure to place your amazon order for fish sauce ahead of time. 

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/03/thai-coconut-curry-shrimp.html?m=1

12 Dates a Year-February

The main reason we first planned the trip to Austin was the celebrate our second date that my brother and sister put together for us! I cannot put into words how excited I was on February 1st when I opened that envelope to see we were going to Austin for the night for a wonderful dinner and to watch Wicked! I LOVE Wizard of Oz and was so excited for Wicked. Ross was just as excited for our weekend away, but is not quite the Wizard of Oz enthusiast that I am. We changed that, by watching it Wednesday night to get ready. We were so excited for our date and took a hotel mirror pic to kick it off!

Then we had a delicious dinner at Olive & June, which I would absolutely recommend to anyone in Austin. 

Bucatini Amatriciana

Green Garlic Risotto

I sent a picture of the dessert menu to my siblings to help me make the hardest decision of the night.

Ross went with the milk chocolate peanut butter semifreddo

And I went with the cinnamon "bimbo-limbo" as my brother called it

We headed over to Wicked after that

Where the usher took his job VERY seriously so we don't have any pictures of us at the show, but we did take a quick one before we headed in! 

It also happened to be our 4 month anniversary this weekend, and although it's only been a few months, there is absolutely no one else I'd rather be doing life with! Thankful for every minute we spend together and all the memories we're making. 

Before we headed back home the next morning, we stopped at Gourdough's for what was without a doubt the most amazing donuts we've ever had-why yes, that is bacon on a maple glazed donut!

And a donut with chicken and honey-butter. Austin food, yall.

Then someone surprised me with a detour to Starbucks on the way home, where he was also a little surprised by the 30 degree temperature drop.

His Hawaiian shirt and frappacino weren't exactly keeping him warm. 

Thank you again to my wonderful brother and sister for the most generous gift ever. We've had so much fun with the first two and look forward to them every month!! 

If you do something twice...

There's a saying at A&M that once you do something twice, it becomes a tradition. This past weekend we headed to Austin and met up with some of our best friends from college. We made this trip last year for the first time, and although all 10 of us didn't fit into one hotel room this time around, I think this year was even better than the first one. Great friends, so much laughter, and memories I know I won't forget! So thankful that these wonderful people who keep me laughing. I'm also pretty thankful there was someone else to initiate this year. Can't wait for round 3 next year!