Happy One Year!!! xo, mrs. frenchy

one year. so much can change in a year.

I met him, 1 year later we were engaged, 5 months later married... and now our 1 year wedding anniversary! The whole wedding stuff...it seems like a dream- did it really happen? Did that one day change our lives forever? Um, Yes!!! It went by so fast, and at times the stress got in the way of really savoring the process and special moments... but I look back at our pictures often and smile...it was a perfect day.

It started off with me crying b/c I didn't get enough sleep + ugly, rainy weather and you calmed me down at 7am hoping to God that I wasn't getting cold feet haha.... by 10am and a few mimosas in, I was bouncing around and the blue skies were out...not a care in the world even when my wedding shoes went missing and showed up quite literaly 30 seconds before I walked down the aisle. I LOVED our wedding ceremomy- I love how meaningful it was to us- I love that we incorporated French into the ceremony and that the ending prayer was the same prayer your mom wrote when your parents were married almost 40 years ago... Oh that we would be so lucky to have that many happy years together. I loved our reception and how that barrel room was so... US. The night was romantic and whimsical- great food + wine- and just an overall FUN evening of dancing and hanging out with our top 250 favorite people on this planet. I loved our Notebook-worthly getaway car and spending a week without cell phones, Facebook, or To Do lists in paradise with my favorite Frenchman in the world.

Logan- thank you for being you. I love that you sing in the shower or on my voicemails or to be cheesey around the house (and not songs typically... you sing sentences like you are talking but its a song) I love the way you laugh at the TV when you think something is hilarious... its a laugh I often make fun of, but its endearing and unlike your normal laugh. I love that when you watch the Rangers you have to have seeds to chew the entire game. I love how when you get home every day you check the mail and come find me to give me a big bear hug and tell me (almost daily) that you like my outfit and I look pretty...and if you dont, I usually give you the look until you figure it out ;) I love that after I cook you always do the dishes, even if it takes a few days. I love that you have stepped up to the plate to take care of our finances and be a leader in that way. I love that you love me unconditionally - during my mood swings, bad days, and pouty days. I love that you are such a good and loyal friend and would do anything for anyone that needed help- no matter what. I love that we have found a church that has changed us for the better each week we go... I love you to the moon and back for picking me to be your bride. You are my best friend.

Here's to MANY happy years ahead. Happy Anniversary.

Je t'aimerai pour toujours.

Now lets go explore BOSTON!

xo, mrs. frenchy

Adventures in Cooking #3

Okay- so this one SEEMED intimidating due to the ingredient list...but it has turned out to be SO EASY and probably one of my new staples!!!

TACO SOUP (perfect for Fall weather and WORLD SERIES RANGER GAME NIGHTS!!!)

From the kitchen of the lovely, Erin Misegades (thank you!!!)

Ready, go!



Ingredients:
1 pound (aka roll) of ground beef
1 small onion, chopped (optional- Logan doesn't like onions)
2 cloves of chopped garlic (tedious but worth it for the flavor)
2 T olive oil
1 t chili powder
1 cup salsa (any kind- don't get something funky like black bean, get a standard flavor)
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 15 oz can black beans, drained
1 cup chicken broth
1 15 oz can tomato sauce

Toppings:
Tortilla chips
Shredded cheddar cheese


1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sautee for a couple of minutes. Add garlic; sautee 2-3 minutes.



2. Add ground beef to the skillet. Break into 1/2"-1" chunks. Sprinkle chili powder over beef; mix well. Cover and brown beef. Drain fats and liquids (optional)




3. In a separate, medium pot (at least 3.5 quarts) combine remaining ingredients. (pictured above) Bring to a slow boil.





4. Add (drained) beef mixture to the pot. Return to a slow boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.



5. Simmer until ready to eat!



6. Top with tortilla chips and shredded cheese!!!

***Serves 4 people: We had 2 friends over and lets just say we SCRAPED the bowl dry!!! Double the above recipe if you are expecting a few hearty friends :)

SO EASY!!!

______________________

Randomness:

• So this time, last year... was my last day of work before our big WEDDING! I had my family shower at the Steele's and it was the first time my Dads family, Moms family, Logans family all 3 got to be in the same place together and mix and mingle... what a sweet time that was... it definitely does not happen very often, AT ALL!

• We leave for Boston on Friday to celebrate our 1 year Anniversary and we have the most jam packed F-U-N trip planned! I cannot wait to tell you all about it :) The forecast is in the 50's during the day and 40's at night... like REAL LIFE FALL!!! yay scarves and boots!

• SHOUT OUT TO MY BESTIE ANNIE HOUSTON WHO IS HAVING A BABY GIRL LOLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am flipping excited :)

Fab Fall Fair

My Hipstamatic-filled day at the FAIR!!! One of my all time favorites things about FALL and living in Dallas :) (PS- we BOTH got in for FREE b/c we test drove a Ford Focus... it took awhile to wait for our turn, but we saved $30!!)


We said "Hello" to Big TEX

We watched a fun Pirates of the Carribbean diving show- they dove from 80 foot platforms into a tiny pool of water less than 10 ft deep... it was so awesome!



People watched and walked around enjoying the nice weather :)



Hit up the car show... how cool is the below pool table!?!?



THE REAL reason we went to the fair was for the FOOD... my favorite randomly ended up being the FRIED OREOS... call me a fatty...it almost tasted just like a warm cookie + I got mine w/ ice cream on top :)






We ended our afternoon in the Texas Wine Gardens and did several tastings ranging from the Hill Country, to Lubbock, to Grapevine... Delaney wasn't offering tastings, but they for sure got a shout out! (Delaney Vineyards is where we got married IF you didnt remember! haha)




On another note: GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!

And ANOTHER note: in 9 days we are going to BOSTON to celebrate our 1 year anniversary!

Jayney-McCabey :)

So FINALLY Bobbi and Mike posted Jayne's wedding on their blog!!! Check out more photos of amazingness over there... These are just a few of my faves... they belong in Martha Stewart Weddings. I mean its on my list (before I die) to be in a magazine...so Jayne, send these in!!! They are totally worthy of MS :)



Our table assignments were nailed to these vintage doors w/ keys and tags... the "key" theme ran through their entire wedding, which was so cute! On the back, it said "The key to a happy marriage is..." we filled them out and gave them back as their version of a Guest book!

Priceless. Gorgeous church, nicest pastor I have ever met, and first Catholic wedding I have ever been to. Loved it!

Okay now onto MY wonderfully professional photos opps from the weekend... we were in Jayne's hometown of Richmond, Indiana and I honestly had no idea what to expect! It was a quaint and adorable little town and I found the people to be so genuine, charming, and down to earth.. no wonder we love Jayne so much!!! In the 5 years I have known her she FAILED to mention that she lived in the most gorgeous house EVER!!! (see below... yes that is her house! no wonder she wanted to have her reception in her back yard... mine would have backed up to Abrams haha)

We took a ton of pre-wedding pics in their gorgeous yard... the Dickmans don't really have neighbors, they just have awesome trees and land... and it was a perfect 70 degree day!

The below is a pic of the "Abbys" and "Rachels" in Jayne's life... her high school BFF's and her post college Dallas BFFS :)

Abby, Abby, Jayne, Rachel, Rachel

Don't you just want to pinch her? Laney was the cutest flower girl EVER... and had hip style all weekend long :) (Like if they made some of her outfits in my size, I would copy her... I guess thats what you get w/ Leslee McCabe as your mom! )

Its all in the details...

THESE made for a fun evening... Jayne and DAC-quiri

The cocktail hour was out by their pool...that caterer right there... he is carrying mini martinia glasses w/ tomato basil soup and GRILLED CHEESES in them!!! yum.

The awesome burlap table cloths and our personally stamped Fossil tins w/ cookies inside as favors... they met and fell in love at Fossil so it was quite fitting... and Jayne- I am going to need those cookies every time you come home from Richmond from here on out...

The napkins said... "Fun with Dac and Jayne"... she is so creative!

My favorite part of her dress...

Katie's speech was amazing!!! She had signs of Jayne and Dac-isms and every time Sam flashed it to the audience, we all had to say it out loud in unison...she made it into a very cute story!

My handsome date... what a trooper... up at 4am Friday AND Sunday in order to play the standby game...



These were so fun! We took lots of pics in these :)

Congrats to Dac & Jayne McCabe... we loved your town (jayne), we love you guys as a couple and as our friends, and we LOVED your wedding...it was perfectly, well... Jayne and Dac :) Thanks for letting us be a part of such a big day!

October Favorites

Confession:

I had never tried the pumpkin spice latte before last week. I apologize to everyone I made fun of a few weeks ago for going to get one the day they came out (even though it was still summer temps in Dallas). The only redeeming point to my story is that at least I waited until the weather changed to crisp fall! But anywhoo- I apologize for judging you :)

What I love about OCTOBER... the 2010 edition.

PUMPKINS

MY 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO THIS HOT MAN!

GOING TO BOSTON TO CELEBRATE OUR 1 YEAR! (more on that to come...)

CRISP WEATHER

JEANS, BOOTS, and SCARVES

HALLOWEEN- although we are missing it 2nd year in a row! haha

FOOTBALL SEASON (and apparently RANGERS IN THE PLAYOFFS!!)

HOT CHOCOLATE (and I guess Pumpkin Spice Lattes? I am such a bandwagon girl now)

I hope you are having a fantastic FALL so far...doesn't it just make you in a better mood? It does me... except I am not very productive b/c I am so seduced by the outdoors that all I want is to do anything involving outside (except maybe running...ha!)

Anywhoo- Frenchy's FIL is here and staying w/ us this week so its been GREAT catching up and visiting with him... I am cooking for everyone tonight -eek? No pressure!

PS I cannot wait to blog about Jayne's wedding in Indiana...it is in my top 3 favorite weddings I have ever attended and probably the MOST creative :) Details to come...