Good Hours: June 2012

I stopped by Whole Foods last week to pick something up and noticed the cutest succulents display out front. They had signs labeling where the plants were from around Texas and the littlest ones were only 2 for $5.

I brought Kris back with me on the weekend and we picked out the most adorable ones to take home. Then we went to Target to find a cheap glass display vase. The ones we picked out were actually candle holders, but work perfectly as vases. We got one big one and one small one, but as I was getting it out of the car the big one smashed :( So we still need to find a permanent home for some of the little ones.

Small vase that didn't break

Aren't they adorable??

My little succulents

We also picked up some gorgeous soft pink peonies. Or 'ponies' as Kris calls them.

Peonies

Peonies :)

Here are the bigger succulents Kris and I picked out.

If you look closely, it looks like the big one is flowering.

I just love this one!

These are the little guys that need a home. For now they are on a pretty bronze tray we also found at Target.

My favorite is the second from the left.

We also finally bought some candles to go in our new Pottery Barn candle holders, so now I can show you!

I had a PB rewards coupon I used to get these, cause they're not cheap. But I think they're so beautiful framing the tv in the living room, don't you?

If we had an entryway wall into the living room, I think I would have put them there, or on either side of a fireplace. I also considered putting them on either sides of the bed, but we'll see them more out here.

I put some fake battery powered candles in them, and they work pretty well. I need to get some AAAs for them and turn them on at night.

Langford Market is my new favorite store. The first time I went in one it was in Austin, when I was waiting outside to get into Taverna on 2nd street, my favorite Italian place in Austin.

I couldn't get Kris to be dragged in there, so I went myself, and tried on every dress in the place. It's so affordable! It's the perfect, cute, affordable clothes for someone my age, and it's the only store I know of that offers something like that.

I was very happy to find they have a store in Rice Village in Houston, and I've been twice already.

This is the dress I bought in Austin. I love the detailing on the front.

I bought this top right before we went to the Houston Beer Fest downtown. I wanted something really flowy and cool because we were going to be outside in the June heat. This was the perfect top for the occasion!

This dress I almost passed over, but the super nice sales lady suggested I try it because she liked it so much. I did, and she was right, it looks great on! I really like the slit in the front that opens to the waist, with a light lining underneath.

I love love this jacket. Partly because it is just my style, slightly sailor-y with the gold double breasted buttons, but also because it was half the price something like that would have been at any of the other stores I shop at.

I'm a sucker for lace. I wore this out last night to Brasserie 19, an amazingly good french restaurant on West Gray that apparently attracts the Houston elite and their trophy wives. Interesting place to eat.

I can't wait to go back to Langford. I need to pace myself or they're going to end up owning a large portion of my paycheck.

June started out by sipping kumkwat mojitos...

One of Kris' beautiful mojitos

We had to celebrate father's day early because Ainsley will be at summer camp for 2 weeks.
She picked out his favorite flowers and a card. He also got a wonderful surprise performance of L.O.V.E., which he loved. She's such a great singer.

Kris' father's day gifts

My favorite thing on the weekend is to have a new cooking project. Kris really loves Starbucks' banana bread, so I decided to make it. I've already made it twice it's so good.

Borrowed from Food.com.

Starbucks Banana Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1 1/8 cups sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 ripe medium-large bananas, mashed

You can also add 1/2 cup walnuts, but we left those out.

Preheat oven to 325. Grease a 9x5x3 loaf pan and dust with flour.

2. Blend the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

3. Mix the egg, sugar, and vegetable oil until combined.

4. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and when blended, add the buttermilk, vanilla, and mashed bananas; mix well.

5. Bake for 45-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

I baked it for about 50 minutes and then tested it with a knife. It was still very gooey. I ended up cooking it for about 1hr 20 minutes total before it was cooked through.