Siesta Time

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Summer is over. School is back in session. We are still tired, somehow. So, what did we do? We decided to book a relaxing small vacation to Sarasota, Florida! We found a great property on Siesta Key that is seaside with a private section leading to the beach. Our unit was literally a condo so we were able to cook in the kitchen and lounge as if it were our own home. We spent our mornings on the beach, or at the pool. Hot afternoons were reserved for shopping, dining, & exploring the towns of Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Sarasota, St Armand’s Circle, etc. In the evening, we were determined to be back at the beach to chase the sunsets which were absolutely glowingly glorious! Who knew that Florida had some of the most incredible sunsets?

Go Red For Women

Charity Event, Hotel, Uncategorized, , , , , ,

The American Heart Association just hosted a lovely luncheon on May 12, 2023 to raise much needed funds for their mission. I must say, the event did not disappoint. It was a sold out crowd and full of patrons in beautiful red. Red definitely looks good on most! My friends Anna Kaplan and Cortney Cole were hosts of the event. They helped fundraise thousands of dollars for the organization. Not only did I enjoy the event, support a cause, but I was also the auction winner of the beautiful diamond earrings, about 3 carats. The Post Oak Hotel was the perfect venue for the event. We are so lucky in Houston to have lovely venues and lovely philanthropists to keep these missions alive! Did I mention there was a special survivor/guest that happens to be a famous singer/songwriter? Amy Grant!!! She was lovely to listen to in talks with radio host Sarah Pepper from MIX 96.5. Let’s also mention, her unplugged performance live for her Go Red audience! What an event! For more information click this link www.goredforwomen.org .

Women Offshore Gala

Charity Event, Events, Uncategorized,

February 18, 2023 The Women Offshore Foundation hosted a Mardi Gras themed black-tie gala at The Petroleum Club in downtown Houston. I have several friends in the offshore business and purchased a table to support their event. What a night it was! I rounded up a group of wonderful friends and we had a ball. I even won a live auction item…..7 nights in a private cabin in Lake Tahoe! I look forward to that future adventure.

Just a bit about The Women Offshore Foundation. Established in 2017 by mariner Ally Cedeno, this 501(c)(3) organization propels women into meaningful careers through access to a worldwide community and professional development resources, while raising awareness amongst industry leaders and decision makers about issues affecting women on the water.

Their stories are real. Their ambitions are fearless. These women are our leaders at sea. It is such a privilege to support these strong and intelligent women who are shaping the waters around the globe! For more information to join the group or to offer support, please visit their site https://womenoffshore.org .

Houston’s Elite Garden Neighborhoods

Arts & Leisure, Fashion, Living, Million Dollar Listing, real estate, Shopping, ,

Linked by the ship channel, Houston Texas is an inland port city founded in 1836. For an investment less than ten thousand dollars, brothers and founders John Kirby Allen & Augustus Chapman Allen purchased over 6600 acres on the Buffalo Bayou banks. Which once struggled as a trading post and developed as a regional transportation hub, Houston is now the fourth largest city in nation!

Over the years this town has attracted many entrepreneurs, oil tycoons, and a wealth of supporting businessmen and women. Just imagine the real estate back then??? I had the opportunity to meet architectural historian and author Stephen Fox. In his latest book “The Architecture of Birsdsall P. Briscoe” he examines Briscoe’s work here in Houston from a span of 1876 to 1971. The country homes displayed in this book is not for the modest. Briscoe’s designs embodied taste, style, class identity, and during periods of economic expansion catering to the most wealthy families and for generations to come! Showcasing extraordinary architecture, see the creations in such historic neighborhoods as Courtlandt Place, Shadyside, Broadacres, and River Oaks. If you love architecture, beautiful homes, history, and Houston, then definitely add this book to your collection. Take a step back in time and just dream! What was once considered the countryside, is today in the heart of Houston. You can purchase a copy of this attractive coffee table book on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, and at most bookstores!

Houston Staycation

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Recharge and reset without leaving your hometown! My brokerage Sotheby’s recently hosted a “staycation” for top performing agents. In years past, it would be a trip to New York or Miami, for example. Thanks to the pandemic-life they switched gears and planned a whole weekend of fun for us in town, in our downtown Houston, and we truly felt like we were on vacation. The Marriott Marquis near Discovery Green and the Convention Center is home to a Texas-sized rooftop lazy river! The resort-like hotel offers plenty of outdoor fun, multiple bar and restaurant venues, not to mention their amazing walkability to sports venues and more.

Marriott Marquis Houston

While downtown, try to venture out and take a boat ride! We did a guided Buffalo Bayou boat tour along the muddy bayous through the heart of downtown past Allen’s Landing, the Sabine Promenade, etc. You will learn about our city’s history plus see historical and architectural sites. Truly fascinating. Not to mention, the view from down below! I was pleasantly surprised that we did not meet up with any critters. However, there are wild otters in our waters now! That would be a hoot to see! To book your 1.5 hour tour, visit www.buffalobayou.org .

See You At The Zoo

Arts & Leisure, Recreation, Uncategorized, , ,

Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my!!! Have you ever explored the Houston Zoo? Despite the HOT summer days my friend Lindsay and I braved the heat and took our little toddler monkeys to the zoo for the ultimate playdate adventure. Tip #1 – show up early! Parking is free but spaces fill up fast. We hit the ground running right when the zoo opened. Tip #2 – if you have a wagon it is so much easier to tow kiddos and “stuff” around the park. Or, bring a stroller. Tip #3 – wear sunscreen and pack bug spray. Tip#4 – bring snacks and hydrate. The zoo does have concession areas and Moms they sell wine! Tip#5 – know your route. The zoo his huge and you might want to bypass some animals to get to your favorite attractions. Speaking of favorites, we loved seeing the baby elephants, sea otters, and the sea lions. The Houston Zoo has special exhibits and events every day so check the calendar! There is always something new to discover so if you if you really want to maximize your experience then buy the family pass for the year. It’s more than worth it. The Houston Zoo is located at 6200 Hermann Park Drive in Houston, Texas. It is right next to the Med Center, several museums within walking distance, The Miller Outdoor Theater. Definitely take the kiddos next door to Hermann Park to ride the Choo Choo train! All Aboard! For more information head to their website www.houstonzoo.org .

Pumpkin Patch Power

Living, Recreation, Uncategorized

IMG_0391It’s Fall Y’all! For Houstonians, this is the dream season.  Weather is picture perfect.  Even a pandemic cannot slow us down when it comes to enjoying this special time of year.

Our tradition usually leads us to the St Luke’s United Methodist Church pumpkin patch, but thanks to the COVID-19 times, they opted to not host this yearly event.  Another wonderful alternative, which is probably not an alternative to others but their primary, is the Memorial Drive Methodist Church pumpkin patch.  They were open for big business and we walked away with the biggest pumpkin we could find! Not only do they have an exciting variety of pumpkin options, but adorable phot-op backdrops for the kiddos, and the most expensive pumpkin you can buy is $25.  So, have fun picking both big and small! It was our perfect Sunday activity for today, followed up with brunch at Royal Oaks Country Club.

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Poutine Routine: “Canada Day In Houston”

Dining, , , , , , , , ,

tubs poutine 2020Happy Canada Day 2020! Since I met my husband, this is a newly celebrated birthday for me.  I love Canada Day because I love my Canadian husband.  It has become a tradition, since our discovery of the restaurant Tubs Poutine in Houston, that we actually come here once a year on this special day.

If you have not discovered poutine cousine, hopefully we can enlighten you. Imagine a tub of French fries, with gravy, then add in extras such as “anything” you love truly.  For example, I always order (once a year) the La Quebec. It is topped with tender rotisserie chicken and buttery sweat peas. My husband Jan went for the Classic Poutine this year. It is fresh-cut potatoes, topped with the oxtail & Hennessy cognac gravy and squeaky cheese curds.  Other options include pulled pork, lobster, brisket, and chicken-fried-chicken for example. The venue is located in an old dry cleaner. Small space but with character. Grab a Canadian beer too.  This is not the meal for the calorie counters!  And a pro tip, since I have been 3 times now in the past 3-years. If you come on Canada Day, wear a Canadian inspired shirt or bring your Canadian passport, and you will get around 15% off your oder!  You are welcome. “Je vous en prie”.

Tubs Poutine is located in Houston’s Energy Corridor at 13429 Briar Forest Drive in between Eldridge Parkway and Highway 6. Visit their site at www.tubspoutine.com .

Texas Road Trip During COVID-19

Arts & Leisure, Hotel, Recreation, Travel & Leisure, Uncategorized, , , ,

 

A TX road trip is never complete w/o a pit stop to Buc-ee's!
A TX road trip is never complete w/o a pit stop to Buc-ee’s!

Stay Safe. Wash Your Hands. Wear A Mask.  These are the most common words we hear this year.  Thanks to COVID-19 our lives will never be the same.  In my world, travel is a huge part of who we are in my family. We love adventure and experiences.  Plus, sometimes we just need a little break from every day life.  Since hopping on an airplane is not so fashionable, we are now opening our minds up to some convenient road trips. Honestly, since we have a toddler who cannot sit still, short road trips is truly the way to go for us anyway.

 

Hyatt Lazy River
Hyatt Lazy River

First stop this year we chose San Antonio. This is a place we can go to many times and have a different experience each time.  Since most large public places are closed such as Sea World and Fiesta Texas, we chose a hotel resort with some amenities to keep us occupied and safe.  We tried out the Hyatt Residence Club at Wild Oak Ranch.  In a perfect setting, this place has all you can offer to a family. They have a golf course, put put, fire pits, pools, slides, horseshoe games and corn hole, sand volleyball, restaurants, club house, and more.  But due to social distancing restrictions the only attractions open were the golf course and the lazy river.  We seriously went just for the lazy river!  It was awesome!

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Matchy Matchy Christmas!

Dining, Living, ,

xmas 2019The Christmas holiday season is full of fun traditions. What are some of yours?  In our abode, we are starting some new traditions and keeping some old for our little party of three! My husband and I married later in life, meaning, we were the single ones always traveling to another family member’s house for the holidays.  Now, we are  determined to spend Christmas Day at home so we can partake in our own festivities, our way.  I don’t know about you, but I love the matching Christmas pajamas I see on other families.  It is so funny to see what they picked out and it is very impressive when a group of 20+ people are all in the same pj’s!  This year, hubby and I opted for some comfy flannel from Land’s End.  Perhaps next year I  can plan better to get all three of us in the same outfit.  Our little Thor-Olav wore cute pajamas purchased from Nordstrom.

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