J & J

Jenn & Jacob. 

My sister-in-law and her fiance. 

Fiance?! YUP! Jenn & Jacob are ENGAGED! The entire Mann family is absolutely thrilled to welcome Jacob into the family! 

Jenn & Jacob have had quite the journey so far! From meeting online (her in Dallas, him in NYC), dating long distance (across the world from each other at times!) as he finished his MBA program, living together in Dallas, to recently sending Jacob off to law school in Florida, this couple is truly meant to be together.

Jer and I were able to celebrate with them last night with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, The Porch. We even remembered to take a few photos! (which is rare for us - ha!)

Just look at them - beaming like a newly engaged couple should :) 

Jenn & Jacob - we are SO incredibly happy for the two of you and wish you all the love and happiness this world has to offer. We cannot wait for all the festivities ahead, including a fabulous wedding in Mexico!

A Laid Back Weekend

We had a very laid back weekend and I loved every second of it. 

A few highlights include...

An early morning tee time for Jer to try and beat the scorching afternoon heat 

(even in the 90 degree morning heat, I still think he's nuts!)

A"sip & see" for our good friends Lindsay and Tyler Bloomer. 

Their little baby Jack is only 2 months old and so tiny! 

Saturday night date night

Dinner @ one of our favorite pizza places where we shared a delicious salad and wood-fired pizza, washed down with ice cold beers (for him) and raspberry/orange sangria (for her). We decided to skip the ever so tempting dessert menu and grab a healthier sweet treat next to the movie theater. Jer was even able to get the same flavor of frozen yogurt of the dessert we resited from the restaurant - Pecan & Praline!

Then caught a 10pm showing of Friends with Benefits at what I like to call one of the best "adult" theaters in Dallas. This theater has a total old-school feel, starting with the marquee on the outside, and allows you to bring drinks from the downstairs bar into the movie with you. Nothing like watching the big screen with a glass of red wine in a big compfy leather chair :)

On Sunday, we headed north to the burbs to enjoy an afternoon at Jeff & Jody's pool with Jenn, Jacob and Josh before we went over to Nana & Papa's for a pizza party!

The weekend wouldn't be complete without the Sunday night HBO line-up, including True Blood and Entourage. If you don't remember, Jer and I actually went as Sookie & Bill for Halloween 2 years ago - ah the memories :)

Birthdays

I have always loved birthdays. Not only my own, but other peoples too! It is the best excuse to celebrate those family and friends you love so much.

Today is my birthday and already I am feeling the love!! Between facebook, email, texts and calls, I am already overwhelmed by how many wonderful people I have in my life :) It's not even noon and I have already received...

...flowers from the VP of our group (he gives every girl on his team of over 100 people flowers on their bday - so sweet, right?!)...

...this amazing "card" made by one of my creative team members and signed by all my old Quaker teammates! Read the headlines carefully - pretty hilarious!!

...and I JUST received this enormous, beautiful bouquet from my parents!!!! I am one lucky girl! 

Even better, I have birthday dinner plans to look forward to tonight! Jer is grilling my favorite meal - turkey burgers! Nothing like celebrating with a home-cooked meal, a bottle of wine, and my sweet hubby :)

Then tomorrow, we head up to Lake Texoma with 10 close friends to continue the celebration, which will include cruisin' on the boat and endless games of flip cup and beer pong. Cannot wait!!

She's back...!

Thanks to my dear friend Melanie, I will be celebrating my bday a few days early at Britney's Femme Fatale concert tonight! Well, I pretty much demanded that she take me to the concert if she got tickets from her vendor, so I guess I can really thank her for saying yes :)

Here is where we will be sitting - section 120. Amazing, right?!

I can already tell you that tomorrow morning is going to be a cloudy one. Mel already plans to "work from home"!

More details to come tomorrow, but I can tell you right now, my dancing shoes will be ON!

Here is a little preview into what I have had streaming into my headphones most of the morning so far...

Penny

As of a week ago last Saturday, I became an Auntie again! This time to something a little more hairy :) Yup, I am talking about an adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Penny! 

Katie & Eric are proud new parents of this lovable, 6 month old puppy...

Day 1 with her new Mommy :)

Just look at that face! I cannot wait to meet her in August!!! 

I have to admit, this new addition to the Jaax family definitely has me thinking about getting a puppy again!!! And after spending a weekend with the Bocktings & soon to be Dewey's, both loving parents of Frenchies (aka French Bulldogs), I am now back online, non-stop looking up & researching puppies :)

"Storm" Chasers...

...more like firework chasers!

After an amazing holiday weekend in San Diego celebrating our newly married friends Tiffany & Troy, and Jer's 29th bday,  we landed back in Dallas JUST IN TIME to actually see some 4th of July fire works. We were crusin' down the highway and felt lucky enough to witness a fireworks show from a distance. It was already 9:30pm so we thought this was going to be the best we were going to get. Knowing how much I love watching fireworks on the 4th of July, Jer actually slowed down and cruised at 55mph. Ha! Even though I wasn't able to hear them (which in my opinion is half the fun of watching fireworks!), I felt that my holiday weekend was complete.

Until we saw ANOTHER fireworks show in the distance, this one closer to home! At that moment, Jer floored it, screeching around curvy neighborhood streets until there was a clearing good enough for us to see AND hear the Highland Park fireworks show. We were laughing so hard because we honestly felt like we were storm chasers aka firework chasers! Ha!

We pulled the car to the side of the road and perched ourselves out of the windows just in time to catch the grand finale!

A perfect ending to a perfect weekend :)

Birthday Dinner Date Night

Last night, Jer and I celebrated his birthday a few days early since we will be out of town for the actual day. The birthday dinner date night has kind of become a little tradition we have - the birthday boy/girl gets to choose the night and restaurant they want to celebrate at, and usually always ends with a bottle of wine and presents at home after.

This year, I suggested a new restaurant for us to try, and Jer willingly accepted. And I have to say, The Cedars Social was definitely worth the venture down to South Dallas!

The atmosphere and vibe was very retro/70's, complete with a prohibition theme. The drink menu was actually handed to us in a file folder...very cool.

Dinner consisted of sharing a few "small plates", including deviled eggs, short-rib sliders, scallops, & mac & cheese. At the birthday boys request, we ended the meal by splitting a burger with shoe-string fries. All in all, it was delish! 

And of course, the night ended with a bottle of wine & presents at home...

 ...plus a little Bachelorette action :)