Cheap Date: Black Tie Style!

This past weekend, we were able to attend the HTM Black Tie Dinner. Since we went for work, we didn't have to pay for the tickets, so we figured that we would take advantage of the free dinner to enjoy another installment of our Cheap Date! Series. We haven't been too good about our cheap dates lately, but this was a fantastic one! We enjoyed getting all dressed up and eating some unique and new (to us) foods.

Here is a picture of us. Unfortunately, we forgot our camera at home, so Wendi sent me a few pictures. (Thanks, Wendi!) I would have taken pictures of Josh drinking lots and lots...and lots of wine, champagne, more wine, more champagne. Oh, the wine was a-flowin'! I drove that night, so I enjoyed some fabulous NOjitos! They were delicious non-alcoholic mojitos! Sooo delicious!

This is a picture of a giant shrimp with frozen gazpacho. It was very interesting. VERY spicy! At least mine was. The theme for the night was Chilean food, as we have a new chef in the department who is from Chile.
My favorite course of the night was this delicious soup. It was a squash soup served with two types of salsa on the spoon. You dipped the spoon in the soup and swirled it around to get the best tasting soup ever!!

Here is a picture of Wendi, Denise and I.

And here is a picture of me with Ali, the BTD President from last year, and Carter, the BTD President from this year (and hopefully next year, too)! I get to work with them on seating and invitations. SUCH a great group of students. They work for 8 months and the event is comprised of over 400 students. They learn every aspect of the service of a synchornized service dinner. It's such a neat experience. This year's guest speaker was Gale Gand. She has been on several Food Network shows as well as Top Chef. She did a book signing after the event and we all got a copy of her newest cookbook, "Brunches." Funny story: when Josh and I were getting our book signed, I told her she could make it out to Josh since he does all of the cooking in our house. She was impressed with this and said she hoped I did the dishes (ummm....). Then she complimented me on my necklace and was just such a sweet and personable lady. But when we looked at where she signed it, she made it out to John. We laughed.

Overall, it was a fabulous event and we had a great time. Best of all, it was a great date night with my handsome hubby!

snail mail

You know what will really brighten your day?
I'll tell you!

A few weeks ago I checked the mail and found this sweet letter in there from Griffin. He told Shell that he wanted to send me a letter, so he wrote it all out on the back of a colored picture that he had done at school.

He's such a sweetheart. Just the thing to brighten any day!!