Grab your date....

because I have a great date night planned for you!!! I have recently received news of two great deals for two great restaurants and thought that I would share! (maybe I should have gone into advertising!!!) One is for a great cause and one is well, a great treat to partake in! So on Wednesday night, July 30th grab your date (co-workers and friends are great) and go have dinner at Joe's Crab Shack and then follow it up with dessert at the Cheesecake Factory!!!

Reason:

Joe's Crab Shack
From 4:00pm-close they will be donating 10% of their proceeds to the First Candle organization. All you have to do is take THIS flyer and present it to your waiter at the time you pay. Now you are probably wondering, who is First Candle, Mandy? Well this is actually an organization that became very important to Sam and I this year. First Candle is recognized as one of the top fifteen children's charities in America. They are working to increase public participation and support in the fight against infant mortality, including SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and other areas, including stillbirth and miscarriage. They are apart of the SIDS Alliance which have a single focus of funding cutting-edge research projects to understand and reduce SIDS. Most of you know that my niece, Lilly, passed away due to SIDS about 5 months ago and we never want to see another person go through what her parents and the rest of my family had to face. So if you don't want to fix dinner one night this week and want to help out a great cause, I would ask that you go enjoy some Joe's Crab Shack! If you just don't have time to go eat, you can always go to the First Candle website and read and donate directly there.

The Cheesecake Factory
Now for dessert! Honestly I have no direct reason to tell you about this other than to help you satisfy your sweet tooth, but I heard through the grapevine that Wednesday, July 30th was National Cheesecake day!!! I went directly to the source and confirmed that on Wednesday you can go to the Cheesecake Factory and have ANY of the cheesecakes for only $1.25!!! I just couldn't keep this to myself!!!

So hopefully I have helped make your week a little more exciting!!! Enjoy and don't eat too much!!!

Hawaii meets Dallas

I feel like I have been a horrible blogger. Hardly any writing, no recipes, no thoughts, nothing! I promise things will come back alive in me! In the mean time I had some pictures to share from last weekend. Sam's sister Stephanie came to visit! Stephanie lives in Honolulu, Hawaii; I know, must be a tough life! We haven't seen her in like TWO years, so it was a much needed visit. It definitely did not last long enough, but it was so good to see her. She felt really weird being in the metroplex and just could not get over how different our two worlds are. It was so great getting to hear all about the simple "island" life. Steph works her booty off just to be able to live there and take advantage of beauty of Hawaii. I am not sure how long she will end up staying, but for now, she is living the "dream"!!!

It is always a ton of laughs when Sam and Steph get together! Most of the time I do not get their jokes, but its fun to see them laugh (I guess I just don't have that particular humor part of my brain!) When someone asks me what Sam's sister is like I always just say, Sam in the girl form. No they don't look all that much alike (they do have the Sessler blue eyes and walk alike), but their brains think so much alike! I just love it when the two of them are together! It was also great getting to see my in-laws again. Sam and I are so blessed with such great families and we cherish each moment we get together!

I also made some cookies for a baby shower. I have made ones that are very similar to these, but I still thought I would share. Just to make sure you knew I was still baking away!! Also, Sam sent me to a cookie class last weekend for my birthday and can I just say I HAD SO MUCH FUN!!! I learned some new recipes and techniques that I can't wait to use. Thank honey; you really know the way to my heart...food and baking!!!

fore!!!

One of Sam's closest friends, Ryan, came in town last weekend to hang out with us. He dropped his wife, Brittyne, off at the airport on Friday morning to go study abroad for the rest of the summer, so he decided to stay for the weekend. I took some shots of the guys when we went to play golf on Saturday, so I thought I would share. (Yes, I played. No, there are no shots of me while swinging. I personally think I look ridiculous with a large booty when I play! Sorry folks, no flash photography!)

Sam and Ryan on the 1st tee box

He taught me everything I know!

We made Ryan walk, while we rode inthe cart!

I know this picture is blurry b/c they were moving and I dont' have the best camera, but it's still cool.

Ryan in his sweet "golfers" hat!

We had a fun weekend Ryan. Thanks for coming to hang out!

PS. If you want to read about how Ralph Pedigo is doing check out Meagn's blog! Thanks for the prayers, I know they were felt by the Pedigo family!

So Proud...

Today was an "iphone" holiday in my husband's world. That's right, out of the house at the crack of dawn to go get his new iphone with his iphone shirt on and coffee in hand! He was #51 in line and only 50 phones were available at the store he went to....somehow he still got one. I am so proud!!!

The Shirt

The Line

(Apple Store is the grey one to the right)

Rocky Mountian High - Colorado

We spent last week in Colorado and it was fabulous! The mountains are one of our most favorite places to be and where we have some of our best memories (it might also be the place this relationship started over 6 years ago). The 9 hour drive to Durango was exhausting (and I was just riding), but well worth it. We stayed at the ski resort, but also spent a lot of time in Durango and Silverton. I am not much for camping out, but love living up the outdoors during the day! (that's my kind of camping...hotel, showers, hot food, and a warm bed at night, and nature during the day!) Sam and his dad spent a good portion of the trip fly fishing. They had a tough start, but by the end were catching a lot! Sam just loves the time he gets to spend with his dad out in the middle of no were trying to find the "best" spot on the river! I don't join in on these trips much (usually b/c somehow I end up catching more fish...here's my technique - cast, then sit in a chair and read my book until I feel the pole move, then yell at Sam to come over b/c there is NO way I am touching a fish and getting the hook out of its mouth...now that's fishing!) Anyways, besides fishing we mountain biked (I might have had to walk some due to the fact that this was the steepest, rockiest trail I have EVER been on, plus I was using a boy bike!), went jeeping in Silverton, rode the Alpine slides (so fun!), shopped in the fun shops, and watched the best firework show I have ever experienced. I would totally recommend going to the mountains at least once on the 4th. Watching them in the valley and having the sound echo around the mountain was a really neat experience!
The whole reason we went to CO was to celebrate Sam's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary. We got some bad news before we went though and found out that nan and gramps were not going to be able to go due to health reasons. We were all very saddened, but even though they were not able to go, we did get to spend some time with Sam's family from AZ. This included 7 kids under the age of 8 and three more on the way!!! Needless to say we had a great time with the kids and got to experience lift with lots of kids! The second day we were there we got some more bad news that Sam's aunt had to leave early due to health reasons and the pain she was in! Even though we were missing some people, we still had a great time. I really hope we do it again one day. Here is a glimpse of our fun (there's a lot - sorry):

The View from the top

Before we went mountain biking

Sam getting ready to do the slides

The Alpine Slides (so fun!)

Rob and Reed racing Sam

Little Reed

Melissa and Amy
Sam & Rob on the Jeep trail

A View on the Jeep trail
Sam and I in front a mini waterfall (red,white, and blue)

Greg & April before the fireworks

Melissa, Logan, and Sam and I ready for the fireworks
The fireworks - not the best pic, but you can see the mountains behind them
I would also ask for your prayers once again. Awhile back I mentioned that my friend, Megan's, dad was on the list for a kidney transplant. He did not end up receiving that kidney, but I found out today that he will finally being receiving a kidney TODAY. So please pray this afternoon that the surgery would go well and that the Lord would bless Ralph with this new kidney. Please also pray for Megan and her family as they travel to Dallas to be with Ralph. Thanks much!

Happy 4th of July

Thanks to my mom I had fun stuff to make 4th of July cookies and I just couldn't pass that up! I hope everyone has a fun, safe holiday! I promise I will blog more after a much needed vacation! Peace!

Amarillo By Morning

We took a long weekend this past weekend to go home and enjoy some time in Amarillo. We had the best weekend! We got to see our families, grandparents, and friends. It was full of golf, tubing, sunbathing on the boat, biking, shopping, and yes, another birthday party! We absolutely love the time that we get to spend in Amarillo. Its funny how when we tell people that we are from Amarillo they give some sly joke about there being nothing there or talk about how boring it must have been there, but its home to us and some of the most important people in our lives are there. So usually we just laugh those remarks off and remember the great memories we have. I guess we were having too much fun to take many pictures (so unlike my family), but I do have some good ones from my birthday party. Since it was the big 25, my parents decided to do a big cookout with all our family and friends at their new lake house. It was so much fun having everyone together. That night as I was in bed going to sleep all I could think about is how blessed I am with the people the Lord has placed in my life. He truly showered his love over me that evening. We had games, lots of food, presents (I was too spoiled by EVERYONE), and cake!

Gotta Love Girl Time (Ashley, Jennifer, Me, Megan)

The boys hitting golf balls into the canyon (Sam, Dad, Brad, Jacob)

A Big Thanks!

I wanted to give a big thanks to everyone who made my 25th birthday so special with birthday wishes, cards, gifts, texts, and phone calls. I am way too blessed with such amazing people in my life! I have now officially made the turn to 30! Do I seem older????

Some friends and family helped me celebrate on my birthday by going to dinner; we got a few pictures! Thanks to all of your for taking time to come to my "birthday party"!

Rob, Melissa and Reed had to leave before this picture, but they were there too!!!

My newest cupcake "model"; is there a better advertisement than this???

Thanks Reed from bringing your Cars toys and letting me play with them!

Love-filled weekend

From the celebration of our 2nd anniversary, to a wedding, to wedding cookies and cupcakes this weekend was filled with LOVE!! My incredibly, amazing, loving husband planned a special anniversary for us this past weekend. He is so good at surprises and making things so special. We went to eat at a wonderful restaurant in Uptown called Avanti Ristorante (delicious) and then spent the evening at the W Hotel. We were so spoiled!!!

Then Saturday morning he surprised me by taking me to Frosted Art which is Bronwen Weber's bakery in Dallas. She has competed in several Food Network Challenges and has even won a few times. I am always amazed by her work and even more amazed that my sweet husband found this place to take me (I knew it was here, but I would have never thought he would know). I did not get to take my picture with Bronwen nor any pictures of her work, but here is the outside of her shop! I was like a little girl in a candy shop (but this time a bakery) and on cloud nine in there!

Since Frosted Art was just about looking, after we ate lunch Sam took me to Sprinkles! I honestly can't get enough of this place. If you have not taken the time to go get a cupcake at Sprinkles, get up right now and drive to Preston Center (if you are in the DFW area that is), this is a MUST!! We decided on a Strawberry cupcake and a Banana Dark Chocolate cupcake. We split them each and in about .5 seconds they were GONE!!!

Just before we attacked!

All gone. Thank you honey for such a special weekend. A time to just concentrate on each other and a little mini vacation. You are an amazing man and made just for me. The Lord is so good to me through you, and I am blessed each day.

Then Saturday evening I went to a college girlfriend's wedding while Sam went to watch his good friend Chance Douglass pitch at Dr. Pepper stadium. Congratulations Jeremy and Katie! She was a gorgeous bride. Hopefully I will have pictures to come once I get them from the girls who were clicking away (hint, hint).

I was also asked to make some cookies and cupcakes for a wedding shower! I had so much fun making wedding cookies. I decided on bridal gowns and wedding cakes. The wedding colors are going to be green and salmon, so I did my best to match the colors. For this reason I decided to make strawberry cupcakes with Sprinkles strawberry icing (yes, this is why I had to try a strawberry cupcake, and yes my icing really did taste just like it) and lime cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing with a hint of lime. I thought they all turned out really cute!! I don't have too many pictures, but here is a little sample! Enjoy!!

A Celebration of Love

Our anniversary is approaching and we are finding ourselves reflecting on the people that taught us how to have a loving, devoted marriage - our parents. As my parents celebrated their 34Th anniversary last week, and as Sam's parents get ready to celebrate their 37Th in July we are reminded of what amazing marriages they each have and all they we can learn from them. We are both so lucky to have such amazing families and cherish them each so much. We also found some fun pictures that show us how it all began!!! (Its funny how we sit here and laugh about what our parents looked like and what they wore when they were our age; when I stop to think though, its not so funny b/c our kids will be doing the exact thing someday!!!)

Thomas - June 8Th - 34 years

Mom and Dad, you have taught me what it means to have a devoted marriage. It is apparent how you are constantly thinking of the other person in all situations. I also love how you do everything together and still live such a fun, active life. You have taught us that no matter how long you have been married that you can still have a blast with your best friend. I only hope that when we are married for 34 years that we are having as much fun together as you are!!! I love you both so very much and thank you for teaching me how to be a loving wife....we're only 32 years behind you guys!!!

THEN

NOW

Sessler - July 24Th - 37 years

Mom and Dad, fresh 60's pic. Ha Ha! What an awesome marriage you both have had. An early congrats goes out to you for having such a model marriage and doing such a fine job with your family. You taught us all how to love one another. Thank you for the wonderful childhood memories, and the memories in the making! Love you both!

THEN

NOW

We would also like to take the time to congratulate Nan and Gramps Sessler on 60 years of marriage!!! They just celebrated their 60Th year on June 1st!! You are a living testimony of how to love your spouse! It has been fun to see you too around each other and see how much you love each other. Even after 60 years, you both still adore each other, and it is easy to see! We respect you both so much as you are an example to all of us. We love you!

THEN

(Do you see Sam in that face??)

NOW