Welcome back!  I’ve had another great weekend and can’t wait to share it with you.  As some of you saw, T and I kind of started the weekend off on Thursday.  Thirsty Thursday anyone?  We went to this new wine and cheese bar, called The Cheese Bar, and had a fantastic sparkling rosé from Gouguenheim Winery, accompanied by cheese, cheese, and more cheese (goat, gouda, and redneck cheddar!)

We have fallen back into the routine of not doing much on Fridays since I have a 5 am wake up call to run on Saturday mornings.  This week, I only ran 7 miles, and just took my time, enjoying the beautiful scenery all around me and listening to all the critters and birds just chatting away before most of the city was even awake.  It was still early enough once I got home that it wasn’t too terribly hot {yet} so I thought it would be a good idea to continue sweating.  I worked in the back yard pulling weeds, sweeping the porch, and raking the flower beds.  We have some beautiful azaleas along our back fence line that bloom so perfectly.  It’s too bad they only bloom for a month or so in the early spring.

After the yard work, I had plans to meet up with a dear friend of mine.  Cassie and I have been great friends going back to our college days when we lived in the same apartment complex – Crossing Place!  She has been super busy traveling for work so we were able to squeeze in a brunch at this cute little restaurant called Alice Blue in The Heights.  It was so great to catch up with her.  One thing I can’t stress enough is the importance of having good friends that you can talk to.  I know, I know, we are all super busy, but it is so important for our health and sanity to keep in touch with friends!  I am working on a piece right now discussing ways to “de-stress” and this happens to be one of them.

dress: Sage   handbag: Hermes   shoes: Gianni Bini   sunnies: Quay

Sunday morning was all about reflection.  I woke up early and went outside to the back porch.  The fountain was not turned on yet in the lake behind our house, and the neighborhood was QUIET.  Tex was outside with me, and he was even quiet.  I sat outside and just thought back on this past week, things that I enjoyed, things that could have gone differently, and my goals for the upcoming week.  I did some journaling and after about 45 minutes, T woke up and joined me.  We then discussed our individual goals as well as our combined goals for the future.  It is such a great feeling knowing that I can openly discuss my goals with my husband and I know he will take me seriously.  He doesn’t laugh at me, he doesn’t poke fun at me.  He is 100% supportive of {almost} everything I do.  We were discussing an upcoming Fall Fashion post I am also working on, and I Just feel so lucky to have a guy like him who will support me and talk to me and not run away when a “girly” topic comes up.  He truly is a blessing in my life.

A new restaurant opened in Houston this week called a’Bouzy.  I made reservations earlier in the week to go to brunch there on Sunday, and we sure were glad we did!  There are over 150 kinds of champagne, and who doesn’t love a nice glass of champagne?  I had the egg white crab omelette, and he had the baby back ribs – both delicious.  After brunch, we came home and just chilled out.  We are currently really into the Marvel’s movies and TV shows.  I found a timeline online of how to watch all the Marvel’s movies in order and we are about halfway through.  I think Shield Agent Phil Coulson is my favorite character and I can’t wait to see where the story leads us!

top: J. Crew   skirt: Gap (I can’t find the actual skirt I’m wearing online, but similar style here and here)   shoes: Stuart Weitzman   clutch: Louis Vuitton (similar style)

Well, that is all for now.  Check back in later this week because I’m working on some good stuff right now that I think everyone might find helpful.

Enjoy your week!

Cheers – MP