U-S-H-E-R R-A-Y-M-O-N-D Now baby tell me what you wanna do...

While at lunch today at Village Burger Bar, my friend told me to download the newest Usher track off the Raymond v Raymond album which hit stores today.


Hello gorgeous!

The song is called "OMG" ft. will.i.am.  Check it out!

Just Dance

Whenever I'm having a bad day, or I'm in a mood or some d-bag gets me all amped up... yes I'm talking to you, Jesse James, (who, btw is going to rehab to 'deal with his personal issues...'  really!?)... I look through old pictures to make me laugh.

I pulled a few from the past few years:

There is nothing cute about this photo... well except Jilly.  Who let me get my hair this blonde??  Remember when it was cool to be blonde with orange skin and to eat cheese fries at Crossroads at 3am?!  747 for life baby!

Probably one of my favorite trips.  Senior year we went to the river.  I don't remember which river, I just remember it was a complete sh*t show.  And we got to roll in the sweet Lexus SUV courtesy of LC's pops.

Ah, Jill's bachelorette party in San Antonio.  We were serious tourists and took a sweet boat ride along the lovely riverwalk.  Whoever edited this pic... can I get a pink bow up in my hair or something?

Nachos on the beach in Miami.  Best hangover cure ever.

Ahh, a classy photo!  Sara's bday party.  Hey, can I borrow that dress?

Thank goodness I got over my blonde phase... same to you HD.  Long live the King of Pop!

Yogurt & Weezy

I don't like dessert.  I never have and probably never will.  I won't eat cake at weddings and I think all these cupcake boutiques are contributing to the demise of America's youth.  I do however like frozen yogurt and unless you've been living under a rock (or hanging with the Turtle Creek creeper for too long) you've noticed that there are about 10 million new yogurts shops in Dallas.

Pinkberry is one of my fav chains of yogurt shops, which also includes, Yogalicious, Natsumi, Orange Cup, I Heart Yogurt and Red Mango, who recently moved their headquarters to Dallas. 

Many of these shops were launched in the fall and winter of 2009.  Now that spring is finally here to stay it seems, Sunday Funday now includes a trip to the yogurt shop.

In fact, Heylee and I went to Pinkberry in West Village to have a refreshing, healthy snack on their Blackburn St. facing patio to do some quality people watching. 

My Pinkberry was a compbination of Coconut and Chocoate yogurt with strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, coconut, chocolate shavings and granola.  YUM!  Heylee had Passionfruit yogurt with an array of toppings including cheesecake bites.  Fancy!

For an inexpensive, good for you, not to sweet treat, visit your local yogurt shop.  You won't have to drive far, they pracitically come up and bite you in Uptown.

Kate's                                                                   

Heylee's

Even Lil Wayne loves Pinkberry!

I wake up every morning feelin like P Diddy

I'll admit it.  I LOVE Ke$ha.  I love her whiny voice, her obnoxious lyrics and her 'I don't give a F' attitude.  Did you all know she's the girl on Flo Rider's "Right Round" track??  And, she got no props (money) for the number #1 track from 2009!?

No worries tho, her 1st album "Animal" debuted at #1 on the US charts in early 2010.  My favorite song is "Blah Blah Blah" 



I can sing every rap/pop lyric of this song and I dare anyone to challenge me.  I guarantee I'll smoke you.

In fact, I think I'm going to be Ke$ha for Halloween this year.  I just need some wild blonde hair and I could totally pull off this look!

My girl Ke$ha

Losers of the Day

Cheater:

Put your arms down, I can smell the sin from here.



Dirtbag:

Really... you were lookin for action on Craigslist?



Tool:

Get a job.  No one likes you. You are not a productive member of society.

Bringing Back 1993!

So I've put my iPod in my car on shuffle the past few days and can't stop laughing at some of my music.  From Counting Crows Live, to Rent, to JoJo, to Snoop Dogg and Buena Vista Social Club, it's a wide mix of super random tunes. 

It got me to thinking about my very first CD, that went along with my very first CD player... which was huge of course.  My first CD was janet. by Janet Jackson from 1993.  My fav tracks are "If" and "This Time."

See video below for "If"  Warning- not appropriate for 10 year olds... I must have been watching late night MTV growing up a lot, back in the day when they used to actually play videos.  Ahh, memories.

Janet is such a badass btw!



What was your first CD?

Killer Kitties

This made me laugh so hard I was crying at my desk

How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you:

http://www.catswhothrowupgrass.com/kill.php

I'll have what she's having

One of my favorite warm weather spots to eat in Dallas is Zoe's Kitchen.  There are a few location in Dallas, but I frequent the Lovers Lane spot just west of the Tollway.  Zoe's is a quick service restaurant that serves vegetables, chicken, olive oil and feta cheese, all parts of a Mediterranean diet.  There is a great patio where you can watch all the Park Cities mad moms in minivans (or Escalades,) a casual inside dining area (hello Uggs and side ponies) or you can take your food to go (free drinks after 5pm with take-out orders!)

If you are a fan of chicken salad like I am... in fact I have yet to meet a chicken salad I didn't like, then Zoe's is your place.  Check out pics below from my last visit!

Counter and fun Greek-inspired menu

Free Drinks!

                  
                                       Zoe's Chicken Salad Sampler 

Nail Color o' the Week

This week's nail color is OPI Purple with a Purpose.  Pretty huh?  And it matches my new iPhone case.

Pets and Saved by the Bell

I'm not crazy about all animals.  Yes, they are cute and fluffy and I love animal jokes and pics, but a lot of them kind of freak me out.  I don't like anything that jumps on me or licks me.  Big dogs freak me out too.  I had a bad experience as a 10 year old in a windsuit when a 200 lb beast of a dog (ok maybe not that much) charged me.  I think my life of Pogs, Slap Bracelets and those little clippy things you would stuff your oversized tshirt in to give it that 'gathered at the hip' look flashed before my eyes.

My 90's Idol
Kelly Kapowski

Say it with me... 'I'm so excited, I'm so excited, I'm so... scared!'



Ok, back to pets!  I just learned about the pet adoption world here in Dallas about a year and a half ago.  Petfinder.com is where I started when I decided after years of begging that I would adpot a kitty.  When I was little I used to always ask my parents for a cat (they are dog people) and until I was about 18 or 19 I believed them when they said we couldn't because my dad was allergic.  They made it up, unbelievable!  

There are literally hundreds and hundred of animals available for adoption through various shelters and rescue groups.  You can narrow your search by location and animal type.  Yes, even reptiles, horses and 'small & furry.'  ...I'm not even going to make a joke there, it's too easy.

And we're back on track.  Heylee volunteers for Paws in the City.  I joined her once at an adoption event.  I got to walk some cute pups on that chilly rainy day.  They also have a lot of great fundraising events throughout the year.  Margaritas for Mutts?  Yes please!!

I adopted my kitty from A Different Breed just over a year ago.  Most of you know that I looooove my cat.  I'm so thankful to have such a great kitty and so excited that she's stuck with me until I'm in my 40's.  Wait, that sounds OLD!  I won't gush on here about how smart and cute and playful and snuggly she is.  Basically if I were a cat, I'd be just like Piper, ha!

                                   Look at that face!!

If you are interested in adopting a pet go check out Petfinder.  It's a great place to start if you want a new pal, even and small and furry one!

Green Things

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I've never been up to Chicago during St. Patty's Day, I'm always there in the dead of winter or in the summertime.  My mom's maiden name is McNamara and I used to have a sweet McNamara tshirt when I was little... wonder where that went.... Anyways, so that makes me prob 1/64th Irish since I'm such a mutt.

Every year in Chicago the Chicago River is dyed green, how cool is that!?  (Rableman and Pattymac met in the IBM building on the Chicago River 37 years ago!) 

Also check out The Most Ridiculous Things Dyed Green for St. Patrick's Day.

Chicago River

I know pizza...

Last night I had a fabulous dinner at Coal Vines right by my apartment.  A glass of Pinot Grigio, the Baby Spinach Salad split (have I said yet how much I love spinach!?) and a large White Special Pizza with pepperoni.  Half of it was taken home. 

Soooo yum!  See below!

Coal Vines pizza

Bling

Dear Nordstrom,

Please bring me this, I've been a good girl!

Love,
Your fav customer Kate

Michael Kors 'Jet Set Sport - Crystal Set' Chronograph Watch

All Hail Gaga

So I am OBSESSED with Lady Gaga.  I think I want to be her when I grow up.  I stayed up late last Thursday night to watch the premiere of her new video Telephone feat. Beyonce.  It premiered on E! News at 11:30 p.m.  Unfortunately it was 11:30 p.m. eastern time.  In any case, I watched it at TDMN the next day.  It's just amazing. 


The video picks up from where the Paparazzi video ends.  Gaga is in jail (making friends, dancing on tables, wearing caution tape) and Beyonce comes to bail her out. Shot in a Tarantino-inspired style, the video was the vision of director Jonas Akerlund. 


In other Gaga news, the US summer dates for The Monster Ball Tour were released today!  See you at the July 22nd Dallas show!


Video below:

Salads!!

I love salads.  I love big salads with diverse ingredients and strong flavors.

There are a lot of great salads at Dallas restaurants.  Some of my favs are listed below:

Houston's - Club Salad - excellent with the Mustard-Honey dressing (not to be confused with honey mustard)

Taco Diner - Los Cabos Salad - excellent with a fresh Mango Margarita or a Mambo Taxi

Coal Vines - Spinach Salad -  I love love love spinach.  This salad has lots of walnuts and blue cheese chunks that add some serious crunch

Bread Winners - San Francisco Cobb - chunks of avocado and blue cheese, mmm!

Louie's - Caesar Salad - tho this pizza joint (started by 2 Chicago brothers) has exceptional pizza, this classic salad has an amazing tangy dressing

Cheesecake Factory - Barbeque Ranch Chicken Salad - this salad is topped with onion rings... enough said

Ocean Prime - Chop Chop Salad - Salami & Mozzarella are both in this great salad at OP, my new fav walking-distance spot

Campisi's - House Salad - I haven't met anyone that hasn't loved this simple salad with a pepperoncini pepper on top

Barbeque Ranch Chicken Salad

Los Cabos Salad

Wrapped in Leather

At this past Ableman/Manson Chrismukkah Extravaganza, Judy gave me a black Cara Couture leather wrap bracelet.  I didn't wear it for a few weeks because I wasn't sure I liked the look.  Once I figured out how I wanted to wear it, I became obsessed!  I love the edgy material, thickness and metal hook clasp.  I have added a white and also a yellow bracelet to my collection and I rarely go a day now without wearing one or two.  Bracelets available at Nordstrom.

Art by Pattymac

I'm still yet to figure out what this talent wasn't passed down to me.  Pattymac is such a fantastic artist!  See some of her work, now on display at #3052 below:

Nail Color 'o the Week

Welcome to my new blog full of useless info, random trivia and things I like.  First up... my nail color o' the week!

I have been on a dark nail polish kick.  This week's color is OPI Over the Taupe.  This shiny mix of brown, gray and violet is a great spring look if you want a dark tone without looking too 'gothic girl.'

OPI is based in North Hollywood, CA.  This family-owned company's start-up began in 1981 and now boasts over 200 shades. 

OPI has yet to let me down and my nails are always happy and fashion-forward... well according to me at least!