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{Friday Favorites} July Catch-Up!

Since I've been a little MIA with Friday Favorites the past few weeks, I have some catching up to do.

Starting with one of my favorite people who came to visit me: Kara! We had planned this trip for her several months ago and I'm so glad she was able to come. It's just important for your people to see where you live, you know?

Kara is a tea drinker like me. In fact, she's the person who taught me how to drink tea like I like it: with milk and sugar. 


My kids adore Aunt Kara. They were so excited about her visit, even though they wished Uncle Dan and Hattie could have come too! We went and ate at Mellow Mushroom with our small group and I'm so glad she was able to meet them!


One of our favorites was on TV that night (WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO ROMCOM MOVIES???!!!)... they don't make them like this anymore.  


The next day, we went drove through downtown and we went to see the Battleship and walk around to see the planes and tanks.




She recommended this book to me which I am now currently reading. (In case you didn't see my facebook post, I have completely deviated from my Summer Reading list. And that's ok, because I'M A GROWN UP! I MAKE MY OWN RULES!)


AND my FAVORITE part of her visit was having a girl's dinner out to eat at one of my FAVORITE restaurants here: OK Bicycle Shop.  


Also, happening earlier this month, my nephews Jackson and Jonah were staying with my parents while Joel and Ashley were leading a youth mission trip in New Orleans! I got a lot of good nephew time and if you didn't know this about me, I'm crazy about my nephews! They're some of my FAVORITE people.

They came over a couple of the days to play while my parents worked. I loved getting to have them here and my kids LOVED having cousin time. We SO missed Cason and Cohen though.


My dad and I took the kids to the Estuarium and had such a fun time! My kids love aquariums and I love them too. It's so great for all ages. I love watching babies see the tanks full of fish and I love seeing my bigger kids explore and learn. And I like learning more too. What was neat about this place was that it was all native fish and animals to our area. Since we are still newbies here, there was a lot to learn and see! 




















At the beginning of the month, it was our turn to host our Dinner Party group and Kyle and I decided on a Texas menu! Kyle woke up crazy early to smoke a brisket all day long, and OH MY WORD was it amazing. Brisket is my favorite. (Brisket breakfast tacos are really my FAVORITE). Our dinner party has become one of my FAVORITE things ever right now.... we all look forward to it every month! This month, we served Texas caviar, brisket, salad, mac n cheese casserole, bacon wrapped green beans, and blackberry cobbler baked in mason jars with a scoop of bluebell on top. We also introduced our friends to Big Red. Having friends around my table is my FAVORITE. (PS, I have never in my life laughed as much or as hard as I did on this night. Ever. I can't really tell you why. But really. All the laugh-crying. ALL OF IT).




(sorry for the awkward picture guys)

And finally, this past week we celebrated MY BIRTHDAY. That's right, I turned 32 this past week! I had so many fun surprises and thoroughly enjoyed celebrating. I decided I didn't want a big party this year since we are having such a busy Summer, but that ended up meaning I had several small celebrations all week long! 

One of the gifts Kyle got me was this teapot I had mentioned falling in love with when we were at Disney Springs! Isn't it adorable?!


We went to lunch on Sunday to celebrate and my mom brought me a cake. She knows how much the little things matter to me!! My uncle treated us all to lunch! 


Jen sent me this awesome official Olympics T-shirt and she signed the accompanying note from Michael Phelps. ha!


Cassie sent me this vintage-style Gilmore Girls poster and I'm IN LOVE with it. It's my new favorite for sure! This poster is from one of my favorite Gilmore episodes: You Jump I Jump Jack. I jung it up on the messenger board in our entryway. 


Kyle took me on a date to one of our favorite restaurants downtown. Well, first went went to the causeway to a different restaurant but the wait was AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES! No maam, we will not be dining with you this evening. We switched our plans and still had a great night! Everytime we got through the tunnel, Kyle and I hold our breath like we are 5.... makes me giggle.


If you have stuck with this whole post, congratulations.... you win a MEDAL OF HONOR for being the best blog reader ever... so to both of you... YOU'RE THE BEST! 





I'm linking up with MomfessionalsGrace and Love Blog, and Little Bit of Everything Blog for Friday Favorites! Join Us! 

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