Imax then Dinner!

My boyfriend and I went to the movie Alice In Wonderland at the 3D Imax. I wanted to see it. I doubt he wanted to see it as badly as I wanted to but he was sweet enough to take me to it. I thought the movie was great. I took a few film classes in college so I find it interesting to see the costumes, make-up, and set design. For me, some movies are not completely about the storyline. If you can appreciate unique make-up and costumes along with dramatic set design then Alice in Wonderland is definitely worth seeing. Afterwards we went to a restaurant called Benihana. What an experience!

It's a Japanese hibachi restaurant. I'm not sure if there are any hibachi restaurants in Phx? If there are I have yet to know of one. Each table has 8 chairs that surround a hibachi grill. Each table gets their own chef that prepares every item you order right there in front of you. Now there are 8 chairs per table so you do sit with people you don't know unless of course you have a party of 8 to fill the table.

This former AZ girl that has had an extremely limited exposure to seafood played it safe when ordering...I went with a dish that had chicken and noodles. Shrimp also came with the meal so I enjoyed only my second time of having shrimp ever. My boyfriend ordered lobster tail so I was able to sample lobster for the very first time.

I couldn't stop glancing around at the decor. Definitely had a zen Japanese garden inspiration going on for the style. I couldn't take my eyes off the beautiful glass that featured a vivid Oriental lily on it, perfectly placed in each section of the restaurant. Great pops of color but not an explosion of color. The lighting was somewhat dim and romantic. In a restaurant like that I found that the decor really added extra flare to the dining experience. Since I love to cook I totally enjoyed watching the chef prepare all 8 meals for our table.

From a great movie to a unique dining experience that included my first taste of lobster the entire evening was memorable. I felt so special being out with my boyfriend. He has a way of surprising me with new experiences...which I love! To my Sweetness....I appreciate you! You are awesome!

60 Day Notice!

Well, I'm happy to report that the weather is back to spring-like temps! Although I truly didn't mind the cold snap. I'm feeling a bit puny today. Maybe it's due to me not making the wisest choices and walking the boys when it was only 34 degrees out on Saturday and Sunday.

Yesterday I gave my 60 day notice to move. This has been a decent apartment for the first year in Dallas but myself and the boys are ready for something a little different....slightly bigger. The rooms and bathroom are perfect size but the living and dining rooms(mainly the living room) are too small. When I first moved here I had to get rid of my coffee table because there was no way it would fit. I'm also looking forward to being in an apartment complex that has lots of things nearby to offer.

I have no clue where myself and the boys are going at this point. I'm completely not used to giving notice 60 days in advance. Phx and Vegas has 30 day notice, whereas Seattle has 28 day notice. Since I rented this apartment sight-unseen it will be kind of nice to be able to go look at some apartments in various locations before moving in. My checklist of things the new apartment/new area must offer is growing.

Snow and Double Stacked Pugs!

The forecast called for snow flurries and snow showers yesterday and today. I had no clue the snow would actually stick! Boy, was I surprised when I had to spend quite some time scraping snow off my windshield and windows before attempting the drive to church.

My boyfriend and I did enjoy a fire in the fireplace last night and I baked some cornbread as I said I planned on doing. I'm focusing on the beauty of the snow that has fallen this weekend but yet hoping this is winter's farewell to Dallas. Bring on spring!!! I must say I deserve a pat on the back...this former AZ girl has dealt with this winter very well! Honestly dealing with the snow has been a piece of cake. I haven't minded the super cold icy days one bit! But then again so much careful thought went into my decision to move to Dallas, from day one of arriving here I was completely ready for whatever Dallas had to offer!

Well as with the other snowstorms Dallas has been blessed with, I have taken pics of this one too. Only the first pic was taken at my complex the rest I took at a nearby park, the one I walk the boys up to each day(weather permitting that is). The last pic is of the boys spending their Sunday afternoon cuddling! I think it's funny when half the dog bed is unused. Double stacked pugs!

First day of Spring?

Alright according to the calendar today is the official 1st day of spring. However, here in Dallas it feels more like the official 1st day of winter. The current temp outside is 37 degrees with and icy wind. Snow flurries are expected tonight and snow showers are expected tomorrow. By Monday the temps go back up into the 60's. The weather has been gorgeous for many days so this cold snap I'm determined to enjoy. Maybe have a fire in the fireplace and bake some cornbread to go with tonight's dinner. After all the variety of weather that Dallas has is definitely one of my favorite things about this city!

Well a first has occurred for Cody and I. He peed on me! I was calm about the whole thing! I was busy watching Simon as he was doing his business. While I was preparing to clean up after Simon I heard kind of an odd noise, I looked down a millisecond later and saw Cody peeing on my shoe. The odd noise was the sound of his pee hitting my shoe. You just have to know Cody to be able to understand why I wouldn't get irritated about it. He certainly did not mean to do it. He was likely disoriented thanks to the cold temps! Lol!!!

Perhaps a little off subject but I love tulips which I posted about a few blogs ago. I've been curious to see if tulips grow in Dallas. I'm happy to say they do! I took these pics a few days ago when the sun was shining and no trace of winter was around! In the second pic the little fury section in the bottom right corner is Simon...he was likely trying to decide which tulip to pee on while I snapped photos.

Howling Daycamp Pugs!

The boys go to doggie daycamp every Thursday. I get up early to feed them and walk them. Then it's off to daycamp. This particular Thursday morning it was slightly difficult getting Simon up out of bed. Since time change the light of day doesn't start happening until 7:30am-ish. Yes, that is extremely late compared to Phx. The city where the sun is shining through your bedroom window at 5:30am. My boys have always seemed reluctant to get up until it's completely light outside.

When I take them to daycamp we stop at the registration counter where I fill out an evaluation sheet for each one of them. On certain days we have to wait in line. Which makes things interesting as owners attempt to control their dogs. Getting a dog to understand that we must wait in line is not easy especially when you have 2! After filling out their evaluation sheets, I hand over their leashes to a handler that takes them to the back where their real collars are swapped out for temporary ones. Males get blue collars and females get pink ones. Very appropriate!

This Thursday I had the idea to take a couple pics of them at daycamp. I took the pics when I returned to pick them up in the afternoon. The first pic is of Cody when he first spotted me coming around the corner to the look-in glass(notice the look on the face of the black and white dog next to him). The other pic is them howling and jumping up as they realize I'm there and it's time to go home. Until they started going to daycamp I never once heard either of them howl. But each time I go to pick them up from daycamp this jumping on the glass and howling scene takes place. Aww, my two little coyotes!

Side note: The coyotes in AZ used to freak me out. There were a few in our neighborhood. Coyotes snatching one of the boys was always a concern of mine. Now it appears the boys picked up a little habit from the AZ coyotes and brought it all the way to Dallas! Silly puggies!

Simon's Birthday!

On Sunday little Simon celebrated his 8th birthday. He finally caught up to his brother whom has been 8 for the last 3 months. The boys enjoyed a special birthday treat. Which in the 2nd to last pic below of Cody there is a tiny bit of evidence of that treat on his face.

It may seem crazy that I wrap toys up for my dogs. But they love tearing off the paper. So just to please them I spend time wrapping their stuff. My favorite pic is the last one with both boys in it. Cody is continuing to play while Simon looks on. That pic sums up both of their personalities. Cody is happy and content for long periods of time with little action around him. He entertains himself well! Simon is happy for shorter periods of time. He is also constantly looking to move on to the next thing. Or should I say, the next treat/meal time!

Wow how time flies...both boys are now 8! So far all new toys are intact. No repeat of the incident on Cody's birthday when there was a stuffed reindeer massacre! Lol!

Random Thoughts Part 4

I guess I've fallen behind with the blog this week. What can I say? I got quite busy! Lets see..what's been going on here? At this present moment it is lunch time in the big D. I just opened a bag of blue corn chips and some brand new salsa. A type of salsa I've never tried until now. All I have to say is that Tostito's is not receiving a passing grade for this type of salsa from this former Zonie! I'm currently waiting on my cheese quesadilla to be perfectly browned. As I roam from the spare/computer room out to the kitchen I notice Cody is working on getting in some serious trouble. It's the second time in a short few minutes I've caught him in the chair. Cody loves natural light! The sun is shining thru the window on the chair so Cody feels the need to get his daily dose of vitamin d in by sitting in the sunny chair. The boys are not allowed on furniture other than their ottoman!

During this morning's walk Simon thought his birthday came a day early. I pile of pecans was in the middle of the walking path at the park. He grabbed one and ate it as we walked by the first time then he attempted to grab 2 on the return trip. I tell you he is the dog version of the Hungry, Hungry Hippo game for sure! Such a little foodie!

I had my first taste of crab last night while out to dinner with my boyfriend. It was very good. Typically crab should not be considered that rare I suppose but when you come from AZ it is. Certainly not a type of food that is plentiful in the southwest. Yes, AZ does have seafood restaurants but I think those that frequent them are likely snowbirds, I doubt there are that many natives flocking there. LOL!!!!

Looking Forward to Spring!

The weather has been beautiful but today is a rainy one. The temps are warmer lately, it seems spring is on it's way! I sometimes think of rainy days as good days to bake or cook a large meal. However, I did some baking yesterday. I made my milk chocolate and peanut butter chip brownies, a type of brownie that I typically give away without tasting. I do most of my brownie baking for my cousins whom prefer brownies over cake for their birthdays. Yesterday I made the brownies for a small get-together my boyfriend and I were having with his brother's family. I would also like to report that for the VERY FIRST TIME I WON AT SCENE IT! A great come from behind victory I might add!! Yes, I'm a dork to be reporting that on my blog! LOL!!!

I'm looking forward to spring. I've started seeing advertisements for a new exhibit at the Dallas Botanical Gardens which opened this weekend. I will possibly go check it out this week, mainly so that I can see my favorite flower which is tulips. I've loved tulips since I was a small child. I remember getting bored sometimes in school and I would start doodling away at designing a few tulips. My second favorite would be a lily. Growing up I used to talk my mom into getting an Easter lily each year. Many times we would get one for my grandma.

Not only do I want to go see some flowers but I want to plant flowers. Both of my grandmothers loved flowers. And one tradition that my grandma Pete started with me was planting flowers each spring. I used to love going shopping with her for the flowers we would plant. So in the coming weeks I will likely plant some flowers in some easy to move plant boxes. Tulips can't survive in Phx for very long if at all. But I'm incredibly curious if tulips can survive in Dallas!

Random Thoughts Pt. 3

Well as of today the boys and I have been in Dallas for 10 months. We are certainly closing in on that one year mark! The boys are celebrating by enjoying the day at doggie daycamp. And tomorrow the boys get groomed. Yes, the pugs schedule is a little busy for the remainder of the week. They plan on doing nothing come this weekend! Lol!

The weather is great! Sunny! I handled February better than I thought I would. I didn't get frustrated with the weather once! I was well prepared that February in Dallas is still winter! Coming from Phx, one could consider February as a transition month! It's beginning to transition into warmer temps as the month wears on. There's typically a rainstorm at the end of February because March likes to come in with a bang!

Here's a story to end with....The other day I was in the kitchen, I had the refrigerator door open as I was getting different things out I left the door open while I put things on the counter. My sous-chef(aka Simon) was nearby peeking around the corner at the open fridge. Now I know what you are thinking since the fridge was open Simon finally had a free for all at the food. Lol! Instead a somewhat freaky noise like a can was getting ready to blow up was heard. I turned to look realizing the crisper drawer was open and was pushing against the whipped cream nozzle. Simon was staring at the whole scene with eager anticipation of cleaning up the whipped cream mess! He was only slightly disappointed when I fixed the problem.