The Newest Member

We had a baby!! Not really, but she might as well be. For so long, Jason and I have just been trying to take care of ourselves, and a couple rocks.

Our Pet Rocks

We finally graduated to a dog. ***Cheers, clapping, pomp & circumstance**

Her name is Ella, and she lives in Deep Ellum.

Ella and Her Amazing Ears

Ella wandered into the yard of our dog lover friends a few weeks ago, and she seemed to belong to no one. Until she met me and Jason.

Some say she looks like a baby kangaroo. Some say a dingo. She’s got the markings of a tiger and we think maybe she’s part dachshund, part chihuahua.  Some say pit. No matter where she came from, we love her and her amazing ears.

She is so incredibly calm and very well-behaved for still being around six months old. And she has the cutest little pink belly I've ever seen.

Ella sleeps with her feet in the air

Ella enjoys exploring the streets of Deep Ellum and meeting new dogs. She loves long walks and lots and lots of tummy scratches. She also loves sleeping on her back with her feet in the air, and she likes to hop. Kinda like a kangaroo.

Welcome to our super hip family, Ella!!

Why You Should Love Deep Ellum

As you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering if I will continue to post once every 6-8 months, or just when the fancy strikes me. I know, I know... I’m horrible sometimes about following through with certain side projects.

I will try my best to keep posting wonderful things for your reading pleasure... but I guess that artistic, creative side to me is what makes me kinda flaky sometimes.

For those of you that don’t know, Jason and I now live in the wonderful community of Deep Ellum. It’s still in Dallas, on the east side of downtown. We live in a very cool, very concrete, very small loft and we love it!! Jason would add that it’s very noisy, but don’t listen to him. :)

Our very concrete loft

Deep Ellum is rich with unique history, especially in music. For all of you wondering what kind of crazy name this community has, it actually is a corruption of the phrase “Deep Elm Street.” Check out this Wikipedia page for more history.

Since I am such a list maker-extraordinaire, here’s one for today, a list of Why we Love Deep Ellum so much. Enjoy--

1. The People

They’re creative. They’re weird. They like to have fun. Deep Ellum attracts these types of people. And everyone has that sense of good ol’ southern friendliness.  Forget the old reputation of being scary... everyone is looking out for each other. Even for the bums. And Creativity is the norm around here ... we have neighbors that make soap, another that makes hair barrettes, in addition to a smattering of artists, designers, and me of course... flower shop girl.

Being Brave at Recycle Revolution

2. The Sights 

Outdoor murals, tattoos, art, festivals, and the just plain weird....I once saw a baby goat being walked on a leash down Elm Street. But my favorite sight would have to be the downtown view from our rooftop terrace.

Rooftop View of Downtown

More Rooftop View

3. The Food

 My favorite taco stand {Santiago’s} is right around the corner, and if you go down a little further, you’ll find the best little folksy cafe with the best breakfast {The AllGood Cafe}...which has a very Austin-ish, quirky vibe to it. Or if you want Mexican, go to {Monica’s Aca y Alla}, which has a fun history itself. There’s even a couple places down here that have been featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

Yummy Poblano Chicken @ Monica's

4.The Music

 Deep Ellum has always been a hotspot for music. It started with jazz and blues around the 1930s, and in the 90s, it was a big punk rock scene. Now it’s a mixture of music genres including folk, jazz, metal, rock, and whatever else just happens to travel this way. In addition to the clubs and bars, almost every restaurant has nights where they feature live music. There’s nothing like walking around the neighborhood on a weekend and hearing all the sounds emanating from every corner.

Arts Festival

5. The Personality

Everything here is unique. There are no chains (except for the recent addition of a sandwich chain down the street. Boo). It’s all small business, and they all have personality and something special to present that you can't find just anywhere. The most recent addition would be {The SandBar Cantina}, a bar/restaurant with full-size volleyball courts to play on. The sand there is so nice and soft, you could sleep on it.

Deep Ellum Tunnel Artwork

6.The Church

 This one is the curveball. Wait a minute... church?? in Deep Ellum??? Yep. I said it. It’s so unexpected, but since moving to Deep Ellum, Jason and I have grown so much in our faith because of a wonderful place called {Life in Deep Ellum}. A place to worship, find community, drink coffee, view art, listen to music, or just hang out. It’s a little more alternative than your traditional church... people can wear whatever they want or don’t want. I have seen many bare feet during a Sunday service. If you’re tattooed or pierced... well, you’ll fit right in. It’s a small church with amazing pastors (a young husband and wife team), amazing musical talent, and messages that are relate to real life and will grab you through to the core. Not to mention that these people also put great support into the community and local businesses/artists. LIDE has been probably the best thing to happen to us since moving here.

My Blues Singin' Man

So, the next time you find yourself in the midst of Dallas, just travel a little southeast and come see us. We’ll show you why you should love Deep Ellum too.

When you go down on Deep Ellum,

Put your money in your socks

'Cause them Women on Deep Ellum

Sho' will throw you on the rocks. (chorus)

Oh, sweet mama, your daddy's got them Deep Ellum Blues.

Oh, sweet mama, your daddy's got them Deep Ellum Blues

 (from a song called Deep Ellum Blues)

Angie & Co.

Hello again!! 

I know, I know. It’s been WAY too long since I’ve posted anything. Many apologies, things have been kinda crazy for the past few months with job switching, losing our modes of transportation, etc. But overall, things are going swimmingly in the Big D, and we are happy as a couple larks.

We actually just had a fun little family weekend. (Hopefully I'll get some pictures posted on here soon.)Jason’s sister came down to visit with all four kids in tow. Yep, count em. Four. This was my first time hanging out with the girls, and I have to say... I was a little nervous. I don’t have siblings myself, I haven’t been around kids much, and I grew up mostly being the baby of the family. So, I wasn’t sure if I would know how to act, or if they would like me, or what would happen. But just like the rest of Jason’s family, they accepted me immediately.... greeting me with hugs, immediately calling me “B,” and making themselves right at home. Awesome.

It was such a different experience for Jason and I to hang out with kids all weekend, but we had lots of fun. We cooked for them, took them to see Downtown, went to {Central Market}, played at {the park}, and ate seafood at {Aw Shucks Oyster Bar!}.

After they drove off on Sunday night, I was reflecting on the weekend’s events, and I realized the lessons I learned (or forgot and relearned):

1. Kids are messy. 

They spill tea, get chocolate on the carpet, run through the fountains at {the park}, roll in the grass. But it’s okay because they don’t mean to mess stuff up, and if they get wet or dirty or snotty or smelly.... well it’s okay. They’ll clean up.
 
2.Kids ask a LOT of questions. A LOT.
 
B, whats your favorite color?..... B, can I help pick out your clothes?....What are you putting on your face?....What’s that mean?.....How do elephants have babies?... and on and on and on.

I forgot that as a kid, you’re constantly learning and absorbing the world around you. It’s fun to teach them, and it’s interesting to watch them take in their environment, through all their senses. Not only do they learn by listening to the answers of their endless questions, but also by watching how you act, listening to how you speak, and feeling how you care for them.

3.One of the best things is making kids laugh. 

As soon as they walked through the door, "Uncle J" was cracking them up and it was so cool to hear them all laugh out loud. By the end of the weekend I was singing and dancing around just to get a giggle or two. And it’s really worth the effort.

4.Kids love easily. (Especially these ones). 

They don’t guard their hearts, because they haven’t been broken. They can sense happiness and goodness, they feed off of it, and they give it back. One of the coolest things was how easily they accepted me as one of their own... the first day they were hanging onto me, holding my hand, and giving me hugs. It’s a shame we all have to grow up and get hurt and end up losing that childlike abandon of loving each other so innocently and sweetly.

5.It takes ENERGY to be around kids, because they have lots of it. 

I commend all of my family and friends who have children.... especially if you have more than one!! Hats off to Angie for raising four of them. By the end of the first day, I looked at her and said, 

“You do this every day?”

“Do what?”

“Kids.”

I was W.O.R.E.  O.U.T!!!

6.Kids say really funny things too.

“We’re from Oklahoma... We like to take pictures of buildings!!”
“Look at that pitbull!!” (It was actually a Westie)

“There’s two guys. There’s a Range Rover. There’s a Mustang. There’s a Camaro.”

“Ooooh, I like those rims!” (coming from the eight year old)

Just a few of the many weird funny things they said this weekend. They’re so entertaining!!

So thanks to Angie and the fam for making a trip to the Big D!! We had a blast and hope to see you again soon!!

Stupid Things to Do in Dallas

Happen to be in Dallas and don’t want to do the usual fun stuff?? C’mon, concerts and cool restaurants are overrated! The Big D has plenty to offer if you are new to the area. All you need is a little imagination, appreciation for the small things, and a dash of craziness (or a gallon, in our case).

Here is a list of some fun, stupid things to do while visiting the city. Some of these things might get you in trouble, so always keep an eye out for authorities. And remember to keep your happy adventure pants on... these things aren’t for the grumpy hearted!


1. Eating Challenge #1: Buffalo Wild Wings Hot Wing Challenge... Eat a dozen of their hottest wings in six minutes. Beware... these babies are pure fire!! Jason couldn’t even last the full six minutes. (For a video of Jason's Eating Challenge, refer to my Facebook)

2. Dance with a saxophone player outside the the Dallas Aquarium, as if nobody’s watching. We happened to find one here on our first Sunday in the Big D.

3. I don’t know what this building is called, but you can find it Downtown. There are beautiful fountains surrounding its ground floor, which light up at night. Go inside (watch out for security!), and travel to the highest floor the elevator will take you to. Peer out the slanted windows into the amazing view of Downtown.

4. Riding the DART bus or train is relatively cheap. Hop on the train for a ride through Downtown, West End, and Deep Ellum (or even further, if you so desire). Get off wherever you like and walk around to take silly pictures.

5. Give some love to robots and birds in Deep Ellum.

6. Hang off of the giant, red, wonky cross sculpture in front of the Dallas Museum of Art. Watch out for security guards... you’re actually not allowed to touch this thing.

7. Find one of the many outdoor water features in Downtown. They will be tucked between skyscrapers or adjacent to outdoor sculpture gardens. Take off your shoes and socks and stand in the water, even if it’s cold outside.

8. Go to the outdoor sculpture garden and lay out on these rocks. (We got in trouble for this one. Apparently these rocks are sacred.)

9. Make friends with the locals.

10. Go to “The Square” in Denton... The Courthouse and all the little restaurants and shops surrounding it. Especially enjoyable on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, when people are picnicking and live musicians are playing outside the courthouse.

 

11. Find the fancy shopping center of Stanley Korshak and walk around. I know you can’t afford anything, but just walk around and take in this little marvel. The courtyard is a lovely example of classic symmetry.

 

12. Watch TV on the multiple, gy-hugeant screens in the courtyard area just outside of the American Airlines center.

 13. Go skateboarding downtown.... DO NOT attempt to skateboard down a busy street in 5 o’clock traffic.
 

Happy Explorations!!

Why We Can Never Return to B's Buffet

This post is dedicated to all my friends and family that are or ever have been in the military, including my Air Force/Army/Marine wife friends that I know.

Yesterday afternoon, Jason came through the door with one of those awkward looks on his face, like a child who just got in trouble. You know something is wrong, but they don't want to admit it. He handed me a tall coffee that he had promised, and when I inquired about what was going on, he said everything was fine. Hmmm... I didn’t think so, but I knew it would come out eventually. He apologized for not bringing me lunch... Was that the reason for his guilt-stricken face?? I explained that was fine because I wasn’t expecting any lunch and wasn’t hungry... Finally it started to spill from his mouth.

“I got kicked out of B’s Buffet.”

“Whaaat?? Why??”  I couldn’t imagine what in the world he would have been doing to get kicked out of a dinky Chinese restaurant. Did he eat too many eggrolls? Complain about their poor decorating skills? Weeeellll.... apparently he got into an argument with one of the other patrons. Jason is not one of those people that start fights or arguments with just anybody, so I was very surprised and ready to hear his explanation.

Jason went to the Chinese buffet around the corner from us, intending to eat and bring a box of food for me. However, his lunch got cut short when the large man at the booth next to his started badmouthing the United States military. I don’t know the details of what was said, but he did not have anything good to say about our nation’s men and women that are fighting for us overseas. Jason is not hardcore into politics or anything, but he believes you should support those who are in our military. We may not agree with why the President sends them to dangerous places to fight for various reasons, but those brave men and women are risking their lives for our country!  Apparently, the man at the buffet did not see it this way, so Jason stood up and said something to him. And dropped the F bomb. Therefore, he is now banished from B’s Buffet.

Jason apologized for his behavior and what it had resulted in, but after giving it some thought, I decided it was perfectly okay. While he did something that I would never have the guts to do, I was proud of him for standing up for something that he believed in, and something I believe in as well. I made light of the subject and even drew a little cartoon (Please excuse all the eraser marks, I only had a crappy pencil on me).

My Draftsmanship Talents

I know that there is a lot of turmoil and bad stuff going on with our country that people don’t agree with. I’m not here to talk about the politics about it. I just want to say THANK YOU to all of those who are in the military, defending our country. They are doing a job. A dangerous and controversial one that they must do whether they agree with it or not. And we should all be supportive and thankful.  

I have lots of friends whose husbands are on active duty, and I know that being a military wife is a difficult job in itself. So cheers to you all and THANK YOU!!

Much Love, 

Bianca Faye

We Heart Addison Circle Park!

As I was hanging up clothes one day at Anthropologie, a fellow co-worker asked, “Did you watch the Grammys last night?”
To which I responded, “No, I don’t have a TV.”
Another girl chimed in, “You don’t have a TV?? That’s so refreshing! What do you do?”
“Well, I read, we watch movies sometimes... we go to the park a lot and just hang out.”
“That’s so inspiring! It makes me want to throw out all my televisons!”

People are always surprised when ***GASP!!*** We don’t have a television. No, we don’t live in a cave. The truth is, we gave up nearly everything to move to Dallas. However, back in OKC, we weren’t big TV watchers then. Jason had one with cable, but we rarely ever watched it. We are much more active people... we like to explore and go places and do things. One of our favorite pastimes in OKC was to sit on the floor and just hang out... talking, taking turns picking out music, looking out the windows at the craziness of Western Avenue and the bar across the street, Cock o’ the Walk.

In our new Dallas apartment, we don’t have a view into Cock O’the Walk, so we’ve had to discover new sources of entertainment... which leads to the introduction of Addison Circle Park. 

Tree hugging in Addison Circle

Addison Circle is a medium size community of apartments, retail, and restaurants that makes you feel as if you’re in the middle of downtown, but without all the traffic and noise and bums because Addison itself is more suburban. Brick paved sidewalks, loft apartments with bay windows, little fountains and gardens tucked in corners or apartment atriums, trees, dog parks... and everybody outside, enjoying every bit of it. It’s a cozy little community that we have dreamed of living in.

Fountain and Theater Seating

On the edge of this wonderful little place is a huge park called Addison Circle Park. To get to it, you drive in a roundabout that centers on a monstrous, cobalt blue sculpture. The metal fixture consists of different grid sections with different shapes and line configurations that represent different parts of Addison’s history.  Then you pull up to the park.

Addison Circle Sculpture

Addison Circle Park is a huge expanse of grass and winding trails, dotted with trees. The upper level, adjacent to the street, has multiple fountains and mini waterfalls that flow into rectangular pools of water. It’s hard to describe the simple beauty and sense of calm that permeates your mind when you enter this outdoor environment. It is one of those places you can only truly appreciate in person. 

View towards apartments

This is our favorite spot to go to... whether its for alone time, a picnic, or just walking around. Over our past few months in Dallas, we’ve trekked all over this park and every corner of Addison Circle. We have yet to see the inside of any of the apartments (they’re guarded with special keys), but the park is always our retreat... morning, noon, or night.

Addison Sunset! <3

 
I’m sure we won’t always be celibate from television. We are human, and every once in awhile I just feel like laying down and doing something mindless. But in the meantime, it’s fun to live life instead of watching others live theirs in a box.

Fry It Up With Some Love!!

“Cooking is like Love, It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” ~Nigella Lanson

Prep for Beef Stew... So Yummy on a Winter Day!

For special occasions like Valentine’s Day, most couples (and singles) like to go out and eat, or perhaps cook a romantic meal at home. However, this is like any other day at The Daily Texlahoman, as Jason and I are both obsessed with food--shopping for it, preaparing it, and consuming it. In honor of our mutual hobby, here is a tribute to something we love, COOKING!

It’s a wonder we are not great tubs of lard with how much we like to cook, eat out, and try new foods. I tend to be more of a health fanatic than Jason, but that will not stop me from having a cookie or making a heaping pot of shrimp fettucine alfredo. My theory? Try to eat healthy, but still enjoy some modest treats, and exercise to make up for it (Thank you Zumba!). 

Jason's Deviled Eggs

As we enter our sixth month of Dallas-hood, out of all things we have explored, grocery stores tops the list. Texas has a lot more variety when it comes to food shopping (Sorry, OK Homeland). You could even consider us experts on where to go for the lowest prices, top notch produce, mouthwatering meats, and most unique selection. Down here, we’ve been to Tom Thumb (who hasn’t?? they’re on every corner!), Kroger, Albertson’s, and Central Market, in addition to tiny specialty places like Farmer’s Market, and Vietnamese and Mexican markets (bring your translator).

Attention Okies!!  You’ve got to hustle over to a Central Market!! Based upon the growing trend of organic, healthy, natural living, they truly have everything, and their style of display and marketing makes for a truly unique shopping experience! Plus, some of their prices really aren’t too bad for being “all natural” and the high level of quality you receive. Meat counters with shrimp as big as your hand... Foods you’ve only heard of in cookbooks or on television... Fruits and veggies that look like they were fresh picked... Aisles of coffee beans, spices, nuts, and beans that are poured from dispensers as if they were candy... free samples at every turn. It’s the IKEA of grocery shopping!

“Good painting is like good cooking; It can be tasted, but not explained.” ~Maurice de Vlaminck (side note-- de Vlaminck is a Fauvist painter I did a project on once)

Aside from my love affair with Central Market, we both like to cook, but Jason is the primary chef in the apartment. Cooking is one of those things that gets him stirred up and happy, making him grin ear to ear like a little boy. My personal favorites are his salsa and tortellini soup. As an instinctive chef, he throws ingredients together and creates dishes off the top of his head, without using exact measurements or recipes or books. He just knows how to do it, and he loves to present it artfully on a plate. He makes everyday home cooking fun to eat. I’ll never understand how he does it, but I won’t complain.

Simple Yet Beautiful and Delicious!

“I liked the energy of cooking, the action, the camaraderie. I often compare the kitchen to sports and compare the chef to a coach. There are a lot of similarities to it.” ~Todd English

On the contrary, I am more of a recipe following, timer setting, measuring kind of cook (Surprise!). But I love to make homemade things from scratch, especially if it is something passed down from my grandmother. Red beans and rice without Zatarain’s? No prob. Fettucine alfredo with homestyle sauce? You got it! Stew meat Chili that could win an award? Definitely! However, my time at the stove is limited because Jason tends to be a kitchen hog. The first time I tried to cook him spaghetti and Italian sausage meatballs, I asked for a little help and he ended up cooking the entire meal! And the other day, I had to post this sign above the range:

My Sweet Love Note :)

Since he wouldn’t let me do anything on the actual day of, I wanted to cook him something special for his birthday. I set out to make salmon patties, herb roasted potatoes, and green beans (from a couple recipes, of course). If he wasn’t peering over the countertop to coach me, he was at the kitchen’s edge, asking if he could help. Pushing him out, threatening him with a potato peeler, and even barricading the walkway did not prevent him from wanting to join the action. It was all in good fun though, and he ate every morsel of his birthday dinner.

Beef Stew!

“There is no spectacle on Earth more appealing than that of a beautiful woman in the act of cooking dinner for someone she loves.” ~Tom Wolfe (side note--one of my fave authors)

Nonetheless, cooking and food is a shared passion for us and has created some fun memories so far. After all, if you’re gonna eat, you might as well enjoy it, right?

In future posts, we hope to share some of our favorite meals and recipes. But for now, enjoy Valentine’s Day and whether it’s breakfast in bed, a sack lunch, or a candlelit dinner...be fearlessly creative and whip up something special for your love (even if it’s for your dog)!

Bon Appetit!!

<3 Bianca Faye