Painting With a Twist!

UGHHHHHHHH is all I can muster about the wedding planning process right now. Don't get me wrong, everything is going swimmingly in regards to timelines, tasks, and to-dos, it's the never-ending list of to-dos that's dragging me down! But there is an end in sight, and (WARNING: Sap alert!!) a wonderful new beginning at the end of this whole process. Faithful reading of A Practical Wedding has been keeping me from curling up in the fetal position rocking back and forth and shouting "WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!" So in the interest of something fun, new, exciting, and possibly stress reducing I decided to check out this new place called Painting With A Twist with a couple girlfriends. 

It was everything I hoped it to be and MORE!! Here is the run down of what this shin-dig is all about:

The Set Up

PWAT provides you everything you need, canvas, brushes, paint etc and you bring a beverage of choice. K-dawg brought her aerator because that's just how we roll. 

The ladies and gents at PWAT walk you through the entire process from start to finish of painting your masterpiece, and at the end you get to take your painting home!

My inspiration for this piece: the Dirty Martini Fridays that occur weekly at mi casa.

Now I am seriously no artist but I thought this turned out almost wall-worthy! With a little more practice I could be decorating our house in no time! 

Happy Painting! 

-Claire

Snuggalicious

After a day of dealing with some seriously crazy parents at work today (I mean, for real, it was a few clowns short of a circus in there), I would really like to forget today ever happened and reminisce about last weekend. I would love to go into dirty details of the events that unfolded today but unfortunately, due to privacy laws, I'm forbidden. Lets just say there was BRIGHT pink eye shadow, enough plastic and rhinestone jewelry that even the staff at Sam Moon would stare, and a temper tantrum... an adult temper tantrum (AND no, it was not me).

MOVING ON!

Last weekend was great! O and I started our weekend off with some lychee cocktails and sushi at Yutaka Sushi Bistro and I'd say it was a slam dunk. The sushi was fresh and traditional (in a good way) and I even found a sake that I enjoyed, which has been a struggle for me in the past. It was called Yuri Masamune- yea say that three times fast, and it was delightful! None of that, "it feels like I'm drinking nail polish remover" taste with this sake.

Our Saturday was spent like this:

Yep, those are snuggies. It was the 2nd annual Dallas Snuggie pub crawl on McKinney Ave and it was AWESOME folks. I was warm, I was comfy, and I was snuggly. It was so fantastic, I might wear my Snuggie out again this weekend!


Sunday, we went to a friends to watch the Super Bowl and the well deserved GB Packers won! Yea! Go Cheeseheads! I also made some kick ass (yet horribly bad for your thighs) sausage cheese dip that was the hit of the hungover party. It was great. Have I drove that point home yet? The weekend was awesome, and I'm ready for the next one. Bring it Friday.


-Claire

Snow in Texas Y'all

It snowed like eight freakin' inches yesterday, in Dallas, Texas... Adding to the sheet of ice that already covered the road. The local news casters perseverated on the worsening driving conditions and the difficulty the snow was posing to the all important Super Bowl visitors. Jerry Jones probably had to pop a few uppers after this.  The general consensus around DFW is that this will go down in history as the WORST Super Bowl weekend in history. 

I, on the other hand decided to enjoy the snow while it lasted:

Who knows, maybe she'll watch over the Packers tomorrow.

GO PACK GO!!

Happy snow week!

-Claire

We're snowed in...

Or rather, we're iced in. The roads are a solid sheet of ice, it's 10 degrees outside, and while attempting to walk to the apartment gym I almost fell flat on my bum. I can't even get to a Starbucks to enjoy my favorite caffeinated beverage (peppermint mocha!). So what's a girl to do?

Make spiked hot chocolate of course!!

Recipe for "Perfectly Chocolate" spiked peppermint hot cocoa:


Makes one cup (if you need to make this cocoa virgin, this recipe is just as delish without the liqueur, it's just half the fun!)

• 2 Tbsp. Sugar
• 2 Tbsp. Unsweetened Powdered Cocoa
• 1 Cup Milk
• 1/4 tsp. Vanilla extract
• 1 oz. Creme de Menthe Liqueur
• Dash Salt
• Marshmallows

Fresh Whipped Cream Topping

• 1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1/2 Tbsp. Sugar

1. Mix sugar, cocoa, and salt in a large mug.

2. Heat milk in the microwave at High for 1 minute 30 seconds. While milk is heating, combine heavy cream and sugar and beat until thick and delectably delicious!

3. Gradually add milk to cocoa mixture and stir well.

4. Add Creme de Menthe, vanilla and stir well.

5. Top with marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, and a sprinkle of the cocoa powder. 

6. Enjoy yourself a warmcreamychocolateypepperminty winter treat!! 




Happy Snow/ICE day everyone!!

-Claire

Snow Day Eye Candy

On my daily perusing of Style Me Pretty I came across this wedding that blew me away. I've always been an avid fan of NYC and there's just something about the grit and grime of the city combined with the romance and ruffles of a beautiful wedding that makes me catch my breath in awe. Here are a few of my favorite images:

Source

Isn't that gown stunning?! Thank you J. Mendel and Style Me Pretty for making my snow day!

-Claire