Wedding Bells and Dresses

   The wedding dress gods have spoken! My friend +Shawntee DesaRay Goff found her wedding  dress, Saturday October 18 and it couldn't be more perfect for her. Her family and I watched while a young woman was transformed into a princess with the help of the perfect dress and a sparkly veil. I couldn't help but think back to when I first met +Shawntee DesaRay Goff in an undergrad pysch class. At first I was insanely jealous of her gorgeous hair but with time I was able to look beyond the beautiful dark curls and see the equally beautiful woman within. This fabulous chick is a jeans and hoodie kind of gal who can rock a dress when asked. And yet when she stepped out in the first dress I was simply overcome by how utterly demure and elegant she looked. I cried like Kim Kardashian when she lost her $75,000 earring in the ocean.

   I am so thankful I was able to be a part of her special day. We saw +Shawntee DesaRay Goff in so many gorgeous gowns but the best was saved for last. I kept waiting for her to cry or have "the moment" but it took a very special dress with just enough sparkle and magic. I saw tears form in her eyes and I of course morphed back into Kim Kardashian. Right then it hit me that in a few short months she would be someone's wife and her last name would change. However, she will always be the sweet girl I met in psych class with the killer smile. Congratulations babe for finding The Dress and The Guy! Cheers!

Haters going to hate. 

XOXO 

Restaurant Review: The Settles Hotel

   It is a Johnson family tradition to never celebrate a birthday or holiday on time. My mom is a pediatric nurse, my brother Nathan is an ER nurse, my oldest brother Zach is a homicide detective, and my dad oversees the blood bank. Basically everyone can be called to an emergency at the drop of a hat. So we all celebrated my birthday last night at an historic hotel in Big Spring, Texas called the Settles hotel. It is a swanky place that was originally built in the 1930's. We started with an appetizer of roasted meatballs in a marinara sauce that wasn't very appetizing. I love meatballs in a smoky sauce but I found these to be lacking. I am pretty sure I could have made a better product in my own kitchen.

  Along with the meatballs I ordered a minted lemonade which was Divine! This drink was so splendidly good I ordered two.

   Thankfully, dinner more than made up for the appetizer. Steven and I both ordered the New York strip steak with garlic mashed potatoes and bourbon onions. I added mac & cheese onto my meal because I can be a glutton at my birthday dinner. The meat was cooked just right and the potatoes were a succulent mash of loveliness. The mac & cheese was very decadent and creamy.  I ate everything on my plate. No shame in my game!

   Happy Birthday dinner to me!!! The food, and company was just what I wanted after a long week of working two jobs and busting my ass in school. Hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Waiting for the family at the entrance to the hotel. 

Me and my daddy before our food coma. 

Happy New Year

    Oh sweet baby Jesus it is 2014! A new year brings new possibilities and new adventures for me and my darling husband. Our new year's eve was pretty tame compared to some of my wild and crazy friends. Yesterday was my brother in law Mark's 21st birthday or as I called it Happy Drinking Way Too Much Day. Dinner, alcohol, cake, more alcohol, movie time, and of course a drink to toast the new year. I learned last night that I'm the only person in my extended family that drinks scotch. This means that either I look fantastic for being 65 years old or that I'm simply more awesome than most people. It was a great night with family, food, and of course alcohol. Happy New Year Everyone!!

Scotch Scotchy Scotch

Gin and Tonic to ring in the New Year

Mark and his demon dog Rodney...kidding he is sweet :)

Happy Birthday Mark!

Happy Drinking Too Much Day lol