Argan Oil - liquid gold?

It seems like Argan Oil is becoming quite a phenomenon in the beauty world. Of course, I have to indulge in a beauty phenomenon. I'm quite addicted to beauty products and skin care. Being this amazing requires work.

Argan Oil comes from the Argan tree, which is typically found in Morocco. The oil is very high in nutrients like Vitamin E, Phenols (natural disinfectant), Carotenes (found also in carrots), Squalene (natural moisturizer that is absorbed well by skin), Essential Fatty Acids (can help reduce wrinkles, acne, and dry skin). Argan Oil is also apparently more resistant to oxidation than other oils, so it keeps a long time.

Argan Oil is used as a multi-purpose moisturizer on hair, skin and nails. It's been called "liquid gold" because women love it and the economy in parts of Morocco has become more stable.

I had to try this. There are a lot of choices at very different price points, which can be overwhelming at first. So what really makes a good Argan Oil? Bottom line: it needs to be 100% organic and pure. I don't think the method in which it is pressed matters as much as you're getting the pure product. Read the ingredients!

Do not fall into the hype of designer brands *coughcoughOVERPRICEDcoughcough*, but be careful and make sure there are not any added ingredients. This popular one contains added silicones!

So how do I like it? Why, thank you for asking!
I know you wanted me to go in detail about my personal opinion.


I think it's a great product to have on hand. After my research, I bought this Argan Oil off of amazon.com:

O.'s Thoughts on Argan Oil

(Note: I have fair pinkish acne-prone combination/oily skin, hardly ever is dry, normal-fine hair with bits of color damage due to highlighting, dry cuticles)

PROS:

- Great moisture. I love it as my night time moisturizer.

- A little goes a long way

- You can add drops of the oil to other beauty products (I three drops of it to my daytime sunscreen moisturizer in the morning)

- The price is very good, especially with how long it's lasting me

- It can be used on hair, skin, and nails. 

- I feel that when I use it on my cuticles, they do not get as dried out. I have terrible cuticles so this is a major plus.

- This does not make acne-prone/oily skin break out.

CONS:

- Sometimes the moisture is a bit too heavy for my hair and it can weigh it down. I didn't realize this the first time I used it and man did it grease my hair up and I had to wash it again! Remember, a little goes a long long way!

- It can also be a bit heavy for my face, so I use it by itself at night and mix it during the day.

- I've heard that blondes who use it constantly might get a little "orangey" stain to their hair. I haven't experienced this, but I don't use it every day. When I use it, I use very little and I use it with other products.

Sooooo..... basically.....

Try it. It's worth it, especially since you can add this to other products (I haven't tried adding it to shampoo, but I will soon). I think people with extremely dry skin/hair/nails will benefit from this.

Here's some more linkies to look at if you want to buy. I've done the research for you.

Makeup Artist's Choice
 Moroccanoil.com
100% Pure by Slice of Nature
Moroccanoil 

AAA Shea Butter

Anyone else use this with benefits? Tell me about it! I hope those that are on the fence about it will try it!

Recipe for Spanokopita- Spinach & Feta in Phyllo

I haven't posted a recipe in a while! It's about darn time I do!

This one is for Spanakopita, which is a Spinach and Feta pie in Phyllo dough. I've had this in restaurants and thought it would be very difficult to make, but it is actually pretty easy! Another lovely Mediterranean recipe for my handsome Mediterranean husband!

---

O.'s Spanokopita

A pretty picture of Spanokopita, via

My Spanokopita. Just as good. I promise.

Ingredients:
1 tsp Olive Oil
1/2 cup Olive Oil 
10-12 stalks green onion, chopped
1-1/2 bags of baby leaf spinach
5 eggs, beaten
12 oz. block/crumbled feta cheese
2 Tbsp melted butter (I used smart balance and it worked great)
12 Phyllo sheets (can be found in the frozen section of the grocery store, near the pie crusts)

Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a skillet, heat the teaspoon of olive oil. Add the onions. Saute until tender.
- Meanwhile, wash, stem, and chop the spinach. Put it in a large bowl.
- Add the sauteed onions to the bowl. Add the eggs and feta to the bowl.
- In a small bowl, combine the 1/2 cup of olive oil and the melted butter.
- Brush the sides of a 9" x 13" baking dish with the oil/butter mixture.
- Lay a piece of phyllo pastry in the pan. Brush it with the oil/butter. Repeat until 6 pieces of phyllo are laid.
- Spread the spinach mixture over the top.
- Layer 6 more sheets of phyllo over the spinach, brushing each sheet with the oil/butter mixture, as before.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool a bit and cut into squares to serve.

---

One little fun tip:

If you have leftovers, cut into little squares, wrap each piece in plastic wrap, put in a plastic bag and freeze. Any time you need a little appetizer or something to bring to a party, pop these babies in the oven to reheat and they're just as great!

Store for future appetizers!

Awards Galore Installation #2

Yay! It's Friday! I survived the first week of school with no major disasters! It's going to be a fun, but challenging year. I feel like I've hit my stride with teaching, as I've been doing this for four years. Yeah, I'm still kind of "fresh" compared to other teachers, but I feel very accomplished. I am still learning and growing and challenging myself, and that is what makes it all worth it!

Sooo..... aaaaaannnnyyyywaaaayyyyyy...

As you might have read, I've gotten some awards lately that I'd like to gloat about. I mean, I know you all think I'm incredible, but this goes even further to prove it!

This award I got is from Dana at Eclectic Prep. She's a Texas gal, like myself, and has an adorable blog! She posts on all things lovely - I really enjoy reading her blog. I might add, she pretty much has the most gorgeous family. I've got secret envy. Thank you so much, Dana for my:

"Versatile Blogger" Award

I'm supposed to share seven things about myself and pass this onto fifteen blogs. 

Sooooo.... about that....

On my other award post, I shared some random things about myself. I can't possibly think of anything else to top my seagull impersonation, just like I possibly can't choose which cupcake to eat first when I visit Sprinkles.

There are really tough decisions in life when it comes to the wonder that is cupcakes.

So... I'm supposed to pass this award onto 15 people, but I am going to do 10. It's because these 10 are super duper awesome. Many of these blogs I started reading recently-- I am really enjoying them! Therefore, I pass this along and want to hear their facts about themselves! You should most definitely visit these blogs, if you haven't done so already.

 The Nerdy Katie

Lovely Life of Leah

 Serenity and Style

My Life and How it's Going

The Survival Guide for the Young, Fabulous, and Newlywed
Red Pen
Between You and Me and the Kat's Whiskers
Missed Periods and Other Grammar Scares
The Diary of a Dreamer
Stacy Says

Happy Friday, my darlings! 

Enjoy your weekends and read my blog recommendations!

Fantastically Focused and Hipster Yoga

So, I've made it halfway through the first week of school! Things are going very well. It's a crazy week and I've got huge classes, but I am having a blast so far.

I was even able to get to yoga this week. I felt so focused and determined, even though I was incredibly exhausted. I've been getting into yoga more lately, and it's really helped me in a lot of different ways, particularly my flexibility, focus, strength, and posture! I also sleep better at night. But the best thing about yoga this week is I was able to do Tree Pose and Eagle Pose without losing balance at all! It was awesome.

 Tree

 Eagle

I'm totally loving yoga.

But I think I found another style I'm interested in....

(Click on the picture. Go take a gander.)

Something from their homepage that I think I might try to incorporate into my practice tonight:

I have a feeling it'll really help me get through the rest of the school year.

Happy First Day of School to Me!

Last Official Day of Summer

Today marks my absolute last official day of summer, as the kids come back tomorrow. (I don't count inservice days because it makes me feel like I get more time off. Haha.)

In 24 hours, I'll have completed my first day and probably be exhausted.

The classroom is ready.

So excited to fill the seats with kids! And fill the brick wall with their "Me" Pages (collages they get to make about themselves and post)! And laugh! And do theatre!

I absolutely loved my kids last year -- hope this next bunch is just as wonderful! Teaching gets so much more fun as the years pass. I'm definitely less stressed after four years.

My outfit for tomorrow:

(Yes, I always plan my first day of school outfit. Don't you!?!? I know you think I'm awesome!)

And a cardigan--- should I do teal, magenta (matches the shoes), white, light pink, black, or nude? Yes, I have a lot of cardigans... I'm a teacher! What do you expect?? Also accessorizing with a tiered pearl/gold necklace and gold watch.

Think happy thoughts for me! At least I'll look cute if all else fails!

According to Andrea - Butt Crack

If you missed my first post on Andrea, check it out. Andrea's facebook is a plethora of funny. I will continue to post her glorious statuses.

This week, Andrea comments on what she saw while watching a basketball game on TV.

I adore all things according to Andrea.

I hate to be a Negative Nancy....

I know I am going to get a lot of *GASPS!* here.....

But I am not buying all of this Eat. Pray. Love. stuff. I bought the book about a year ago and I couldn't get through it. It just seemed so self-indulgent.

I get it where she was trying to go with it, but I just wasn't buying it.

I know she goes through a really rough divorce and she wants to find herself again, but honestly.... who in the REAL WORLD has all that money and time to say, "I am going away to eat, pray, and love"? In the real life, we have to learn how to be ourselves again through our every day struggles. We have to learn how to "Eat. Pray. Love." while working a 9-5 job, taking care of kids, and other responsibilities. Most women don't have the luxury to just drop everything to go away like Elizabeth Gilbert.

Oh, but she learns a lot of stuff! Yeah, that's true. And it's very good 'stuff', too. However, most people end up learning lessons the hard way - oh, you know....living an every day life! By making ends meet. By making mistakes and living through them. There are tons of women around us every day, who learn how to empower themselves through lessons of every day life. There are tons of novels that share this same ideal, too. I'd rather read that.

I'm sure Julia Roberts is a pretty face to look at and I'll probably put the film in my Netflix Queue when it gets released on DVD, just to at least say I saw it. While we're on that subject.....

... I know I am going to get more *GASPS!!!* with this, but I've never thought Julia Roberts was the most amazing actress ever. She's always consistent with her acting, but I've never been completely moved by any of her performances. I just watched Sleeping with the Enemy the other night and it was a good movie, but I still wanted a little more from her. She actually seemed a little awkward at times. Anybody can give the deer in the headlights look.

Does anyone look this emotionless when about to shoot a creepy abusing stalking husband?

They should have hired me. I am even acting this amazingly without any makeup on. Unfortunately, my hair doesn't curl/fro like JuRo, so you get the tousled look. Honestly, I think it's way more marketable.

Oh! Here's an idea to "Eat. Pray. Love." I really think this will help you find yourself.

1. EAT. Get the double down sandwich from KFC.  Eat about four of them in one sitting.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

2. PRAY. Go to church and pray a lot. Repent of your gluttonous sins, especially after eating those four double downs.

3. LOVE. Look around and notice you're still alive. Thank God for it and start thinking about other people. Do something nice for someone else. If that doesn't work, take some prozac and get over yourself.




Don't hate me.

Awards Galore Installation #1

Some amazingly amazing bloggers have given me some awards the past couple of weeks, and I am finally getting around to posting about them!! SO SUPER EXCITING! Man, sometimes a blog is hard work, especially when you're awesome.

So, my first award was given to me by the super hottie-a-licious JoJo, at One Sassy Vixen! JoJo seriously has one of the funniest blogs and I literally cannot wait to read her posts. She never fails to entertain! Not to mention, she is a super sweet girl and she also has a pretty good looking husband! So, thank you, JoJo for my:

"One Lovely Blog Award"

I'm supposed to list seven things about myself and pass it on to nine other bloggers. I am going to list random crap because that is fun!

{one} I am a lefty. Left-handed people are the coolest people ever. Just sayin'. 

{two} I live three stop lights down from NASA's Mission Control.

{three} When I was a little kid, I had a stuffed monkey named Monkey #1. Yes, I know, my naming skills are very original. Monkey #1 disappeared when we were moving. I was sad.

{four} I really hate the way unfinished wood (i.e. Popsicle sticks, steak knifes, etc.) feels on my hands/mouth. It creeps me out, and I feel like I am going to get 4393433029483 splinters.

{five} I have circus freak elbows. Proof:

elbow in circus freak state and elbow in normal state

{six} I can do a seagull impression. It's true. I have proof. This video is from about three summers ago, but I can still do this. I know you are amazed.







{seven} Geez, how can I top that seagull impersonation? Sorry, that's all I got.

And here are the lovely nine bloggers I'd love to pass this "One Lovely Blog" Award onto!

Katie at The Nerdy Katie (how could I NOT pass this onto my BFF IRL?!)

Nikki at a single girl in the city...

Serena at I Left My Heart in London

 Jess at It is a big deal, it is to me!

Michele at Minnesota Meets California

Ashley at Ramblings and Photos

Chelsea at Chelsea's Psycho Babble

Jen at Freckle on the Nose of Life's Complexion

Amy at Life's Journey with a Smile

Be sure to check these ladies out! Tell 'em I sent ya! They are some lovely reads, FO SHO!

Currently in My Makeup Drawer

Here are a few things in my makeup drawer I'm currently loving. Please note, I research the heck out of makeup before I buy and I am very particular! I wouldn't recommend these things if I didn't think it was worth it!

Here are some things I've currently purchased that are going into my makeup hall of fame. You can click on any picture and it'll take you to a new page where you can purchase it and look at other reviews (if you're on sephora.com, that is).

Makeup For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation

I've noticed that this stuff is starting to be a cult favorite. I tried this on in the store when I had a 'bad face day'. (Yes, there are bad face days and they deserve their own special recognition.) My face was peeling like crazy from using Retin-A and I had an acne flare up. This was a few months ago when I was trying to clear up my cystic/hormonal acne. This foundation actually made me look good when I previously looked like crap! The thing I love about this is I only use one pump (or 1 & 2 pumps on a bad face day) for full coverage, which justifies the steep price tag. I've had it since May and I have tons left. If you don't like a full coverage foundation, this isn't for you (although it is not a cake-y and fake looking full coverage). However, I've noticed that if you use it with a makeup sponge, you can achieve a light-medium coverage. Other things I've noticed is this stuff really stays on! You pretty much have to use makeup remover with this, as it doesn't come off with just washing your face.

Cover Girl Lash Blast Fusion

I saw this in a few different magazines and on a blog somewhere, all with raving reviews! I even heard it compared to the likes of Dior. I'm never going to spend that much money on freaking mascara, so I happily picked this up at the drug store. The results? Best drugstore mascara I've ever tried. Top five best mascaras I've ever tried, actually. Again, I don't like to spend a lot of money on mascara since I have pretty long lashes and they look great when I use a curler and any mascara. I found this for under $5 on sale at the grocery store today!

NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo

Best blush in the world meets the best bronzer in the world. How much better can life get? I adore both of the pigments in these products. I think these shades are universally flattering, but I love how they look on my pink-ish, fair skin tone. The key is to not overdo it. Apply the bronzer sparingly on places your face would naturally hit the sun (temple, cheekbone, and chin, like a 3 down the side of your face, along with a little on your nose) and the blush to the apples of your cheeks. Perfection!!!

MAC Select Sheer Pressed Powder

I keep this in my purse and I am love love loving it. I used to wear only MAC (I was really really snobby about it) up until a few years ago. I went back to this powder, and I remember why. Simple goodness for touch ups.

Sephora Brand Mattifying Compact Foundation

This was on sale online for cheap so I grabbed it, not expecting it to be the next miracle, but I needed a setting powder. I actually really love it. I use it with a big powder brush and dust it lightly to set my foundation and concealer.

Sephora Brand Eyeshadow in Aspen Summit no23

I got this in a free birthday gift from Sephora and I very much love it. I think it's great as a highlighter for underneath brows and can also be worn by itself lightly if you don't want to wear a dark eyeshadow but want to brighten up your eyes. Great stuff for free.

Maybelline Cover Stick Corrector Concealer in Yellow

 I picked this up on a whim while I was at the drugstore grabbing the Cover Girl mascara. I thought to myself, "Yellow neutralizes purple because they're opposites on the color wheel." (Yes, I am that awesome to think about Color Theory on a daily basis.) It was on sale and I felt I had nothing to lose. I was pleasantly surprised upon application. I have used some pretty expensive concealers lately (I'm talking $30 for a tiny freaking little bottle) and they haven't come close to neutralizing the discoloration around my eyes. Sometimes I'll add a little of my other spot concealer to it for some extra coverage, which looks great. (Yes, you sometimes need a separate under eye concealer and a spot concealer if the under eye concealer is too thick for acne/oily skin. I'm still looking for my Holy Grail spot concealer. I'm dying to try the $85 Cle de Peu. Any suggestions?) Anyway, the key with this yellow stuff is to absolutely make sure you're wearing a nice moisturizing eye cream and that you set this with your setting powder. This will prevent creasing and/or settling into fine lines.

I'll do another post with my 'Holy Grail' beauty products that I have loved for years. But for now...

What are your current beauty favorites?  I love discovering new things and I love suggestions!

Ronroneando

That's the Spanish word for "purring."

My stepmother is from Colombia. We were over at my dad's house. We were talking about Dexter, one of my absolute favorite subjects to talk about. I was saying something about how much he purrs all the time. She didn't understand the word "purring" so we were acting it out, purring ourselves. And she was like,

"Ah! Ronroneando!"

We all go, "WHAT?!"


That's the craziest word I've ever heard, in any language.

Men Don't Understand Toilet Paper

Greg has this thing with taking toilet paper from the hotel rooms we stay in. He's like "Hey, it's free toilet paper!"

 And I'm like, "Hey, I don't like cardboard on my booty."

He always stuffs as many rolls as he can find in his suitcase to take home. It's like he's never seen toilet paper before and has to stock up. It's like the apocalypse.

Men don't understand. Greg doesn't understand the necessity of cushy fluffy paper against my nether regions. I use more toilet paper than he does.

Cheap toilet paper sucks.

He knows I hate it, and I guess he's finally getting it.

Recently, he put the cheap stuff in the guest bathroom. He's a good husband. While he may not understand my demands, he continues to buy me the good stuff. I love that guy.

And while we're on the subject of toilet paper, is it just me or do the commercials with the bears wiping their butts on trees creep you the eff out???

"Mom! I found this weird white stuff in the forest! Let's wipe our butts on it! Mmmm... soft!"

Happy Friday, my darlings!

According to Andrea - Back to School

My 11-year-old cousin (well, Greg's cousin), Andrea, is probably the funniest person I know. Too bad she lives in Tennessee. She has a secret hideaway in the basement at her grandmother's house and there were rules posted on the door that you had to abide by in order to hang out in her special room. Some of her rules were: Knock before entering, no weapons (really?), ring the bell and she will bring you food or drink from the menu (she made a menu of everything listed in the fridge). She was very insistent on her rules. You MUST obey them.

Andrea has a Facebook. Yes, it's true. She posts the most hilarious statuses. I'm talking screen shot worthy. 

Since my last blog post was about going back to school, I'll share with you some of her statuses on the topic. Andrea started middle school this week.

I enjoy all things According to Andrea.

Freedom is fading away...

So, guess what?

I officially go back to work on Friday.

Yep. The summer is almost officially over. I'm not complaining because I definitely had a great summer with a lot of relaxation time on my hands.

I went to L.A, Austin, and Dallas.

Bro, Sis, Mom, and Me at the infamous Roscoe's in LA

I played Betty Friggin Crocker and cooked up some delish dishes! 

My Slow Cooker Paella cookin' up!

I cleared up mah face.

Yeah! Clear skin!

 

I got an amazing kitty who is the love of my life (don't tell Greg).

Our first family photo on the ride home from the breeder

I re-vamped my blog. 

I ate a ridiculous amount of Sprinkles cupcakes. I can't even count that high. 

In case you missed it - I'm obsessed.

I celebrated a one year anniversary with my ridiculously good looking husband.

Anniversary dinner!

I got to spend time with my friends.

Katie loves Sprinkles just as much as I do.

I spent some... okay, a lot... of money at Sephora. I like makeup. A lot.

Okay, not that much. But you get the point.

AND!
I witnessed my first ultrasound in real life. Not my own, sillies. My gal pal's!
I slept a lot.
I went to a lot of plays.
I got a massage.
I started Real Estate Licensing courses (extra cash on the side - my family owns a real estate company).
I taught Dexter how to fetch.
I bought Dexter a leash.
I stayed up really late.
I inherited an iPhone for free (my mom got the iPhone 4 and I got her old 3G).
I watched a lot of Real Housewives of New Jersey.
I kissed Greg every day.
I did a lot of yoga.
I wore shorts without being self-conscious.

It was a pretty good summer.

I'm totally okay with this new year starting. I think the stress and busy-ness of it all will keep me sane. I like to keep busy because I become more productive when I have a lot to do. The only thing that this busy school year will hinder is my time on my blog. I'm gonna post as much as I can and catch up and read my favorite blogs as much as I can. So, bear with me and know I'm supporting you, even if I don't leave a comment on every post.

It's sad to see summer go, but happy to think about what fun things lie ahead! For me, that includes 80 degree weather instead of 143820432843908 degrees!

Hope everyone had a great summer, too!

Fancied-Up Tabouli

So, if you read my recipe last week for fattoush, you probably know that I'm totally loving all things Mediterranean and new ways to do salad.

Here's an EVEN EASIER way to have a fantastic salad! TABOULI!

For those who don't know what tabouli is, it's basically a salad consisting of bulghur (wheat), parsley, onion, and spices. It's usually served as a side, and I love eating it with pita bread.

I honestly didn't know where to start with making my own tabouli since I have no idea how to cook bulghur (we'll experiment with that one later). So I Sandra Lee'd it and came up with a "Semi Homemade" version of my own. (By the way, I think Ms. Sandra is really annoying.)

O.'s Fancied-Up Tabouli

Find a packaged Tabouli Mix. I use this one:

I like to rock the Casbah.

But this box by itself is no bueno. It needs help with fresh herbs and ingredients.

Prepare the tabouli per the instructions on the box. Add in fresh flat leaf parsley, more tomatoes (I like the cherry/grape kind because they're pretty), green onion, and some lemon juice. You could even fancy it up with some fresh mint, s'il vou plait! Let it sit in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving.

Add in the herbs you like at the amounts you like. When you order tabouli at a Mediterranean restaurant, most places will serve it with tons of parsley and it is chock full of lemon juice, so do not be shy with those ingredients!

Enjoy! Your tabouli will be deeeeeeeeelicious!

My Summer Theatre Buddy

You all know I'm like, super artsy-fartsy. And I *heart* theatre. I'm a super duper theatre nerd.

Greg is not.

His theatre quota for the year is going to see the productions I direct. I like to go see plays, he likes to go see football games. You know, it's cool, because we balance each other out. Our different interests make us more interesting! Sometimes he wonders what the heck I'm doing when I read so many different plays and I wonder what the heck they're talking about on ESPN. (Granted, I've learned quite a bit but I still don't understand a lot of it.) But it keeps life interesting. And we both have learned to appreciate things we didn't know we could!

But....
I've been wanting to go see plays. Badly.

Luckily, I have a buddy. She's my official "Theatre Buddy." She and I have similar opinions and tastes in theatre, so it works out really well!! We've seen four plays this summer alone and I'm looking forward to more with her! And we've gotten some free tickets to some of them due to her connections at the Alley Theatre. It has been a great theatre-filled summer!

Our theatre outings include:

Intelligence-Slave at the Alley Theatre

Boeing Boeing at the Alley Theatre

Jewtopia at Stages Repertory Theatre

The Mousetrap at the Alley Theatre

I know most of you aren't theatre nerds like me, so I won't bore you with my extensive opinions and reviews. But if you want a recommendation or want to know about any of these, let me know and I'll gush! I'm soooooooooo happy Houston has a fantastic theatre district, especially at the Alley!

The main point is:

I have a theatre buddy!

f you've never been to professional live theatre, please, by all means go. It's a completely different experience than the movie theatre. Support your local arts scene. It'd make a great date night. And not all live theatre is expensive. You'd be so happy you went. I promise.

Way Back Wednesday - First Date

This edition of "Way Back Wednesday" is FIRST DATE!

I think my first date was Homecoming my freshman year of high school.  Not suuuuper exciting, but fun nonetheless! (By the way, I'm very glad that we moved out of our storage unit because all of my scrapbooks were in there. I am able to scan and share old pictures!!!)

 I got set up by my mom. One of her best friends was hosting an Italian foreign exchange student, Marco. Yeah, girls were jealous. Everyone thought he was hot. Honestly, though, he was really boring and shy! I think that might have been because he was in a foreign place and he was still adjusting. But we went with a group of people, so that was fun. My hair looks amazing, by the way. And gotta love Marco's frosted tips.

We kept in touch with Marco over the years and we actually visited him when we were in Rome about four summers ago. He was living, literally, outside the Vatican Wall in this neat apartment! He comes from a pretty rich Italian family and was able to show us around and we had a great time! He was a lot more fun than he was Homecoming my freshman year!

---

My most meaningful first date is with my dear hubby, Mr. Greg O. Yeah, it's not "way back" because it was only three years ago, but whatever!

Greg and I met at a mutual friend's wedding in his home town in the great state of Massachusetts. At the time, he was living in Dallas, me in Houston. We eyed each other quite a bit at the wedding and started facebooking when we got home.

Turns out Greg had a business trip to Houston a few weeks later. Our facebook messages over the matter turned from "we should all get together" to "we should get together." We started talking on the phone, and we set a date! We planned on going to dinner that evening after his business meeting.

After a series of quite fortunate events (he missed his flight that was supposed to take him into a different airport, putting him at the airport close to where I lived, so I offered to pick him up...hence us spending more time together), and a long-running business meeting, we finally went to dinner together.

We dined at this amazing restaurant, Americas. It's a South American inspired restaurant, complete with banana chips, fried plantains, and tres leches! But on an amazingly sophisticated level.

Our first date was probably the best date in the history of first dates. I'm not just saying that. It really was. There was never an awkward moment. We had plenty to talk about and we instantly clicked. The food was amazing. I even remember what I ate: Chilean Sea Bass, Greg had some kind of white fish - I think Tilapia. For dessert - tres leches (aka heaven on a plate)! I knew Greg was something pretty special after this first date. He gave me major butterflies!! Like the biggest butterflies I've ever had!!

Photos from our first date! 

Yes, I take pictures of food.

The rest is basically history.

The short version is:

We traveled (flew) back and forth from Dallas to Houston pretty much every weekend. We racked up a ton of Southwest Airlines credits and were A-List Members. Greg moved to Houston. He proposed. We got married. We aren't on the A-List any more.