Dry Ice Is Fun!

Yesterday, a pretty excellent delivery arrived in the form of massive amounts of meat from Omaha Steaks.  This is pretty much like Christmas for Evan- steaks, pork chops, hamburgers, hot dogs, potatoes gratin and apple tartlets all packaged in convenient little boxes nestled in dry ice. 

I'm excited that I won't be shopping for meat anytime soon.  What was he most excited about?

Getting things going

This continued on for a few hours.

He denies this was for a few hours.. but he got lost in time

And you know what?  Dry ice IS fun!

Weeeeee!

Thanks for thinking of us, Nana and Pop pop!

A Warm Butnik Welcome

This weekend we welcomed two new additions to the Butnik (soon to be Boyer!) household.  First, please welcome Dyson to our carpeted floors.  We are all very excited to have him, especially since he’s red and easy to maneuver.

They look confused but they're actually just fascinated

Evan can’t stop vacuuming and repeating lines from the commercial in an English accent.  A special thanks to Nana and Pop Pop for the amazing engagement gift, I can’t wait for you to see our meticulously vacuumed floors in person one day!

Secondly, Evan and my Dad made a Texas discovery this weekend- Shiner.  There are many varieties, as shown here in the family pack that we conveniently stumbled upon at Super Target.  All brewed in Texas, most delicious. 

Love this packaging

Not surprisingly, the overwhelming favorite was actually Shiner on tap.  Guess we need to register for kegerator.

The Adventure, Part Deux

On Saturday we took the old trolley downtown to the West End to do some good old sightseeing.

Enjoying the trolley ride instead of my driving

We visited the JFK Museum (The Sixth Floor) and Fort Worth, again.  My Dad is a pretty serious JFK aficionado so visiting The Sixth Floor was a really special experience for him.

Matching purple shirts and sweet headsets

The audio tour, the artifacts and the videos were pretty unbelievable.  It’s also crazy to think that Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK from the building we were in.  They have the window set up like it was when the assignation occurred and the street is marked with Xs where the shots hit JFK during the motorcade.  If you’re ever in Dallas without me and you’re wondering what to do, this is definitely a must-see.

Dad on one of the Xs in Dealey Plaza

For dinner we ventured to Fort Worth to show my parents what I’m sure they expected Dallas to look like.  I think the cowboys and the longhorns fascinated them and they certainly found the Texas-size steaks they had been looking forward to.

It was riscky all right

We also found a strange item on the menu that I had never seen before- calf fries.  I won’t go into detail here, but I'll let you in on a little secret- they're not like the fries we're used to.

 

Mom fits right in with that belt

When Jeff & Sue Visit Dallas- Part 1

Last Thursday my parents landed in Dallas!  Rather, they arrived in my car that they drove down from CT.  Lucky them and lucky me!  I was so thrilled to have them come see our new home and experience the Big D.  I think it's safe to say they were pleasantly surprised!

Welcome back CC!  I missed you.. but I don't miss the cold CT weather

To kick off their visit on Thursday, Ev and I brought them for their first Tex-mex experience at our favorite Taco Diner then Friday they spent the day at the pool.  Rough life, huh?  

Luckily, I was able to join them for an afternoon in the sun followed by pizza- yay for summer Fridays at the new job!  I know it seems odd that we would drag them to get pizza in Texas when they’re both from NY but when we saw Troy Aikman and the own of the Dallas Cowboys there it made the trip well worth it.

Pizza + Troy Aikman = Happiness

Seriously though, Troy Aikman, the Dallas institution, was eating at the same restaurant we were at AND the pizza was really delicious.  That’s a winning start to our weekend o’ fun.  

So is this.

Skutniks just can't help but look good in aviators

What Happens in Texas...

Stays in Dallas.

More to come...

Mom & Dad Need A Blog

My parents are (graciously) driving my car to TX from CT this week!  I can't wait to get my CC and give Evan his Chrysler 300 back- driving that boat of a car has been tough on these crazy highways.  

Anyways, they decided to turn the trip into a mini vacation and they have been sending some pretty funny pictures along the way.  I guess I know where I get the urge to share the my new experience in TX from.  

These are my two favorites so far.  Strange collection of store fronts in this VA strip mall...

What's wrong with the store fronts here?

This is one of those things that you have to read carefully, and most likely, twice.  These were the directions for making breakfast.  Hilarious.

This is where I get my sense of humor from

They arrive tomorrow and I can’t wait to see them and show them around Dallas.  The next few days should be a doozy, hope they’re ready for the heat and this amazing city!

A Rocket To Six Flags

On Saturday, Evan and I went to Six Flags to see his friend Cook’s band play in the Starburst Summer Concert Series.  We last saw A Rocket To The Moon in Hartford and it was such a funny experience.  

A Rocket To The Moon!

The band’s fan base is pretty young so we ended up unintentionally standing with their parents during the show.  Afterwards we went backstage and someone was “giving tattoos”.  I also felt completely obese because all of his band mates are suuuuper skinny.

Woo hooooo!

So this time I was ready for the teeny boppers and the tattoos, ready for the tight pants and a solid sing along (since I now know some of their songs).  We went backstage again but there were no tattoos this time, just an air conditioned room (heaven!) and we got the chance to watch the opening band from the stage. 

This angle makes is look like no one was there.. but people were there!

I’ll pretend like this wasn’t exciting at all but it was amazing to watch a live show from the wings.  It was kind of incredible to be in Texas and see so many of Cook’s fans singing along to their music.  It’s crazy to think that they just came back from a tour in Europe and the UK and they’ll be traveling the US for the rest of the summer.  Is it lame to say that's so rock and roll?

Cook on the drums!

Two Steppin' in Texas

From what I’ve seen so far, Fort Worth epitomizes what I thought a typical Texas town would be like.  Tons of cowboy hats and cowboy boots, horses, live music, and brick-lined roads.  Although it’s only about 45 minutes from Dallas, it felt like a world away.

We started off at a bar where there were cowboy saddles on the barstools and stuffed animals everywhere.  Including a huge buffalo hide.

Buffalo Butts

After that we stopped at the Love Shack for the most amazing onion rings I’ve ever had (even better than the massive ones from a few weeks ago).  While there, we watched some live music, took in the 95 degree heat and people watched.  Although we couldn’t understand anything the lead singer said, his singing and guitar playing was perfectly country.

So country

Finally, we ended up at our final destination- Billy Bob’s, the biggest honky-tonk in the world. Texans from every walk of life were there; there was a gift shop, slot machines, pool tables, a restaurant, multiple bars, a large auditorium for live concerts, two dance floors and tons of people. 

Cowboy Uggs

Personally, I loved seeing the disco-ball saddle that hung above the dance floors.  And below them, instead of sweaty fist pumping – which I’m used to in the North – everyone was two-stepping.  And by everyone, I mean the entire dance floor was packed with people all doing the same exact dance that I had no idea how to do.

Saturday Night Fever... Texas style

Evan doesn’t know it yet, but I will be learning the two-step soon (thanks YouTube) so he and I can actually dance next time we go out in Texas.

Ridin’ Dirty

The trend here in the West Village is to drive expensive cars and carry handbags that you can’t really afford.  I see all sorts of gorgeous cars on the daily - Bentley, Maserati, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, etc - most of them driven by losers who can’t attract women with anything other than their deep pockets. 

Despite this trend, there are a few vehicles that I’ve seen outside of our lovely neighborhood that display a true appreciation for Texan culture rooted in something other than materialism.

On the way to work, I was behind this gentleman at the stoplight around the corner from my office.

If you look closely, you can see the sign for my office to the left

And last night, while visiting downtown Fort Worth for the first time (more on that later), we saw this gem parked on the street.

Too bad Evan doesn't drive one of those puppies

Unfortunately, there were no horses “parked” on the street but in the town of Fort Worth I would not have been surprised to see one.  As you'll soon see, our experience in this part of Texas was a true Texan experience, unlike the "metropolitan" vibe we've got going on here in the big D.  

Lessons Learned at Lowe's

As mentioned, we spent a good amount of time at Lowe’s this weekend.  One item that we (read: Evan) were on the hunt for was a plant.  Although Evan has killed his fair share of them, he is really looking forward to having a live plant here in Dallas.  There weren’t a ton of options at the sweltering outdoor garden center at Lowe’s but I did locate these gems on “clearence”:

Not a good situation 

Lesson learned.  The clearance rack is not a place to shop for plants… unless you like the look of dying greenery.

Predictably enough, there was a significant section of the garden center located in the sun dedicated to cactus plants.  This may end up being our only option with the temps hitting the upper 90s and tipping into the 100s this week! 

Evan also tried to campaign for a couple of these Texas-themed garden items but seriously, what are we going to do with a boot this big?

I don't think these boots were made for walking

Sugar Coating

Yesterday these Americana-themed cupcakes showed up at the office for a presentation.  How gorgeous is this cupcake?? 

God Bless America

First off, edible glitter?  Genius.

Normally I don’t have anything good to say about cupcakes this pretty.  Usually they’re dry and the frosting has too much confectioner’s sugar in it aka it's a total waste of calories.  But this little number?  I had to toss it mid-cupcake because I almost ate the entire thing at record speed.

This office is going to be a problem if little treats like this keep showing up.

We Did It (Ourselves)!

Yesterday, Evan and I made a headboard ourselves!  I was inspired by a great DIY blog I’ve been following and convinced Evan this was a good idea.  After two trips to Lowe’s and Ikea we spent our afternoon working towards the finished product.   And here it is!

New headboard!

I’m not sure when Evan will agree to do a project like this again but it was very rewarding once we were done.  As for the in-between?  DIY is hard!  And it’s not made any easier by the fact that we’re in an apt and not a house with a garage or driveway to work in.  

Maybe I’ll stick to framing projects and reorganizing the shelves…

A Neighborhood Market

Every Saturday there is a farmer’s market the sets up in the West Village.  Since it began in May, there are new vendors every week that join the usual line up. 

West Village Farmer's Market

It’s great to see a lot of local produce being sold along with products from small local companies.  Naturally, Evan gravitated towards this chipotle bacon dip mix (just add sour cream!) which was actually pretty delicious. 

Yummmm

We also picked up some brownie mix and contemplated purchasing a basil-infused olive oil that was delicious.  Maybe we’ll cave later this summer, but I don’t think we need to have any yummy oil lying around that just begs for some crispy bread to be dipped into it.

Only in Texas

We have LivingSocial to thank for this gem of a deal.

Love her hair

I wonder if this offer ran in the Northeast as well... I don't think so.

Bandwagon Fans

Last night the city of Dallas was all abuzz with excitement about the Mavs game. Evan and I have been acting like fans since the series started as an excuse to participate in the social ritual of rooting for our new hometown team.

Since the AAC (is that right, Bill?) is just off the Katy Trail and about 1.5 miles from our apartment, I convinced Evan it would be a good idea to walk there and check out the pregame excitement. 

Evan caught me

The people watching was amazing.  For example, the lady who sold us our drinks had the biggest butt I have EVER seen.  Seriously.  Massive.  There was also the standard collection of fans that had painted themselves blue, including the obligatory fat guy without a shirt on, and some shady scalpers of selling counterfeit tickets.

The kid looks scared of me... as he should be

Once the game started we walked back to town and had to stop at three bars before we could even find a place to sit.  Rookie move on our part to wait so long to find a spot to post up, but it was inspiring to see how excited everyone is that the Mavs are now leading the series!

Dirk = Wirk

Seeing Double

Here’s another short story for today.

I can’t remember the last time this happened to me.  I was wearing the same exact dress as another woman in my department today.  And, it’s four years old- what are the chances?  It's also not one of those subtle dresses where you might be able to pretend that the two dresses just look alike.

Subtle print

With over 1,000 employees in my office, I wouldn’t be surprised if I bumped into someone (preferably a woman) wearing the same dress as me, but my department?  Just a row over?

Yeah, that was awkward.

One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other

Yay for sushi!  I found this beautiful lunch at Whole Foods yesterday.  Can any of you pinpoint what’s weird here?

A fish rainbow!

The lemon!  I’ve never seen this before.  I wonder if sushi and lemon is a southern thing, a Texas thing or a Whole Foods thing that I conveniently never noticed in CT.  Maybe it's a nod to the lovely combination or lemon and seafood.  Either way, the sushi was amazing. 

Sushi is one of those things that Evan won’t eat so I usually snag it for lunch when I can.  I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that there’s a Whole Foods three miles from the office…

Southern Pasta Stinks

One thing I’ve had trouble getting over when shopping for carbs in the Texas is the poor, poor selection of dried pastas.  Not only is the variety lacking – penne should not have been hard to find! – but there are products like this on the shelf:

Whhaaaaaat?!

Dried gnocchi!  I’ve never seen such a thing. 

How can this possibly hold a candle to the freshly made, luscious potato pasta I’ve come to love and adore?  Impossible, there’s no way.  But is it wrong that I’m curious? 

I’ll let you know if I ever take the plunge but right now, it just doesn’t feel right.

Can You Really Salt Everything? And, Should You?

Another brilliant find in the aisle of my local grocer.  Beer salt.  Is this like margarita salt?  Do self-respecting men who enjoy a good brew really use this down here?  

Lemon lime, ew.

There seem to be a lot of philosophies online as to why one would put salt in their beer.  The reasoning ranges from ‘it helps it to go down easier’ to, my personal favorite, ‘it prevents gas later’.  I don’t even know what else to say about this.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Look. At. What. I. Found!!

I almost picked this up.   That would have been dirty.

Maybe it’s a little weird that I stopped to take a picture of this on my walk today but this isn’t something you see every day.

A ketchup packet from In-N-Out!?  Or a ketchup packet near dried blood.  I’m choosing to believe it’s the former. 

That means it must be close, very close.  Or someone keeps In-N-Out ketchup packets on hand for use in the Subway strip mall parking lot.  It’s possible.

Oh somewhat secret Secret Menu, I promise that you are in my very near future…

Pink Lipstick Gives You Wings

The long and short of how we ended up at a fashion show after-party last night is unimportant, but what is important is that we went out for the first time in downtown Dallas.

I have only been to two places downtown- the first being an office building and the second being the hotel that I met Erica at for brunch.  I’ll give you two guesses as to where this party was (clue: not in the office building).  Such a coincidence!

First attempt

Unfortunately, the security guard didn’t focus this one, but I guess the fuzzy effect is appropriate. Have I mentioned that the drinks are stronger in Texas?  None of this equal parts soda and vodka, oh no.  Not here in Dallas.  Or maybe it’s a downtown thing.

Either way, it was a Red Bull sponsored event so these girls showed up.  One of them had wings on, all of them were slutty.  Evan insisted I take multiple pictures of them to “make sure I was capturing the moment”. 

That guy

And since this was a “fashion” event, I convinced Evan that wearing bright pink lipstick was appropriate.  Normally he thinks I look like a crazy old cat lady in make-up like this but not last night.  Point for me!

Those red lasers were less weird in person

Is There A Dr In The House?

I received two special surprises in the mail yesterday.  Mom and Dad sent an adorable ‘congratulations’ package to get me ready for my job that starts on Monday.  Aw, what a bunch of sweeties!  I promise to take a picture when Evan and I put our gifts on together so the whole world can see how passionate we are about the brands my new company owns.

Later in the afternoon, a couriered package arrived from my new (work) team:

Corporate America, here I come

T-shirts, koozies, fleeces, sweatpants and a blanket (don’t worry Mom and Dad, I liked yours better).  Plus, Evan can’t fit into the women’s-sized clothing that arrived in the second shipment.  He tried, and it was hilarious.

Now off to find some clothing that’s acceptable for a corporate environment…

An Experiment in Cured Meats

To round out the weekend, quite literally, Evan and I walked to our neighborhood gelato place. Yes, it’s a problem that this is walking distance from our apartment. At least we walked?

Once there we found the most interesting flavor that I was positive Evan would order.

Organic maple caramelized bacon gelato!


For those of you who don’t know, Evan loves bacon and maple syrup. I can vividly remember a time when we first started dating and I met up with Evan after leaving my parent’s house. Maple bacon had been cooking at the Skutnik residence and when I saw Evan he told that I had never smelled better. Because I smelled like bacon and maple syrup.


Now I make sure to dab on a little maple syrup before we go out and I carry bacon bits in my bag. Kidding! But that’s not a bad idea.


Anyways, I think the guy behind the counter was a bit heavy-handed with our samples, going out of his way to make sure we got some of that crumbled topping. The gelato tasted like it was covered in bacon bits… because I think it was. Maybe if there was less of the crunchy stuff in our sample spoons Evan’s order would have been a sure thing. What a disappointment!


You know what wasn’t a disappointment? The hazelnut gelato I got. I LOVE hazelnut flavored things. Nutella… hazelnut gelato… bueno bars… my hand covered in Nutella... you get the picture.