Love is in the Air

Happy Easter everyone! I apologize for my lack of blogging lately. Since Michael and I were in Kansas City last weekend, we were very busy this week. Okay, so here are updates for all of you:

-Michael and I were in Kansas City to attend the wedding of our dear friends, Kim and Angie. Kim has been one of my best friends since we attended Oklahoma State University together. The whole trip, festivities and wedding was such a fabulous time! As you can see, I have posted some of my favorite photographs from their day. Kim being the true OSU fan that she is, wanted the wedding colors to be orange and black. It looked beautiful and it is a bonus that Kim's birthday lands on Halloween. The ceremony was gorgeous as well and they had the most wonderful soloist I have ever heard at a wedding. The man sang so well, it almost sounded as if it was not live. Even though I am not fond of public speaking, I did a toast and managed to hold it together without crying (but almost did twice). It is just so amazing to be in the true presence of love and that day for Angie and Kim was a perfect representation of their love for one another.

-I just found out a couple of weeks ago that my brother Andrew and my sister-in-law Christy are pregnant! My brother is currently in Iraq, which provides a challenge, but I know that they are making the best of it. I am so happy for my little bro and Christy and I cannot wait to be an aunt! Speaking of aunts, I will actually be an auntie for the first time twice over this year since Andrew and Christy are expecting in October and Michael's brother David and our sister-in-law Amber are expecting in late July! They are having a girl and I am so excited that I will have a little niece to spoil!

-Easter has arrived and in true Oklahoma fashion, the weather is not cooperating and it is gray and raining outside. No worries, Michael and I are stuffed to the gills after a brunch of buttermilk pancakes, berries and mimosas. Later today we plan to make egg salad and have an Easter egg hunt for the boys inside. I cannot wait to see the sniffing of plastic eggs and trying to get the treat inside.

Love you all and have a wonderful week!

~Allison

Good Bye Winter, Hello Spring...kind of...

Happy Champagne Wednesday folks!

Last week I decided to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring in two different ways. As a nod toward the winter, I made a DELICIOUS beef stew from my new favorite cookbook. Michael and I enjoyed the stew with a delicious bottle of Jester shiraz (thank you Margo and Kyle!). In celebration of spring, I decided to go out and buy a dozen roses in one of my favorite colors, orange!

Well, it seems that in true Oklahoma spirit, the weather gods have decided to drive us crazy again! I cannot believe that it is almost April and this weekend it is supposed to be around 30 degrees and we are expected to get some snow. However, this does not surprise me since this is the same state I moved to when I was 13 years old in March of 1994 and there had just been a blizzard. I tell you, living in Oklahoma is quite the fashion quandry. One day I am wearing a skirt and peep-toe shoes and the next I am wearing lined pants and boots! This is one of the reasons I truly do not store my cold weather clothes.

I hope all you lovely friends and family have a fabulous rest of the week and weekend. I write to you as I am finishing up my last glass of bubbly with 'Will & Grace' in the background and as the hub begins to sleep off the ridiculously hot yellow curry dish that made him cry this evening.

Much love,

Allison

Eden Salon

I know, I know...you all must be thinking "2 blogs in one day...how much caffeine has Allison had?!". I just felt compelled to share something that I just found.

No wonder I love my new hair stylist and salon! I was just signing up on the Eden Salon website in order to receive coupons and updates, when I saw this picture. This is my stylist, Tiffany, with a certain famous someone...

I truly do love the Eden Salon! Everyone is so friendly and professional, and the quality of service I have received there has been excellent. I just got my hair colored and cut on Tuesday and it is probably the best color I have had yet. Also, for Valentine's Day the hub gave me a certificate for a one hour massage and I can sincerely say it was the best massage of my life!

If you are interested, here is the web address: http://www.edensalon.com/ Sweet dreams!

Make Me a Supermodel Darn It!

In honor of the new season of Bravo's 'Make Me a Supermodel', I have decided to post a blog that I wrote last year on MySpace. Happy Champagne Wednesday everyone!

*Did you all know that Michael and I have been taking part in Bravo's new hit show, Make Me a Supermodel? We have been keeping it top secret and the commute to NYC has been killing us. However, they have transformed us into quite the supermodel...just check out these before and after shots!*

10 Things True About Myself

Jess, this is all your fault! How can I be expected to show my true self on this blog?! (jk) So here it goes...10 Honest Things about myself:

1. I can be very much like a child when it comes to sugary snacks. Give me anything...sour patch kids, gummy bears, skittles, Twizzlers, jelly beans, Gushers, candy corn, Lucky Charms, Froot Loops...I HEART it all!

2. I never thought I would be one of those "little dog people". Growing up I always had golden retrievers and had a strong preference for bigger dogs. I would make fun of the toy group while watching dog shows and scoff at people who would put clothes on their dogs. Once Michael and I got married we decided we really wanted to get a dog, but it would be unfair to have a large dog in a condo with no true yard. We decided on the pug...once little Oscar came home with us, that was it for me. I will forever be a little dog and a big dog person...who occasionally puts little sweaters on her pugs :)

3. I miss my Oma so much. On February 28th she passed away 3 years ago, but I know and feel that her spirit is constantly with me.

4. I strongly dislike knock-off designer purses (for me, not for others). I would rather hold out for the real thing.

5. I think that there is a strong correlation between Austrian women and their social staying power at parties/outings/events.

6. I absoloutely love things that have to do with paper...stationery, greeting cards, thank you notes, wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift bags, bows (okay, so that's not paper). I have boxes and boxes of it and I am very particular about my choices. Can you tell my "love" language is gifting?

7. My sign is Leo and I live up to many characteristics of my sign, but not to the typical Leo extreme (i.e. pride). However since I am right at the beginning of the Leo dates I am more of a Leo Lite, or maybe a lion cub...

8. I used to play competitive tennis and was pretty decent at it. I always preferred singles opposed to doubles (I only wanted to be responsible for myself). However, at 18 years old I got burnt out and quit cold turkey. I have not picked up a raquet in 8 years and I miss it now.

9. I love visiting modern art museums. As silly as it sounds, looking at all the amazing and cooky art somehow feeds my soul.

10. My husband is my best friend...no matter how much he annoys me by reading over my shoulder (this just happened).

Monday is almost over. Yippee!

Mama Bear is out of Hibernation

Hello dear friends and family! Do not worry, I did not fall off the edge of the earth :-) February is an odd month for me. It is by far my busiest month at work and the Oklahoma February weather has never agreed with me. As a result, I often hibernate a.k.a. watching lots of Bravo television (even reruns) in my pajamas in the evenings and on weekends, and enjoying the occasional glass of sangria. During February my brain is often like cottage cheese when I come home, so that the last thing I want to do is be on the computer. I usually just want to chat with the "hub" and cuddle with the puglets.

Good news is that I am out of the hibernation cave and ready for Spring to bring it on! Sunny and warm weather often energizes me and places an inexplicable smile on my face. In fun news, Michael and I are redoing our guest room/office! I will keep everyone posted on the great changes for the room (furniture is supposed to be arriving this week).

~Al

Champagne Wednesday's

Every Wednesday at the Bahrenburg household, Michael and I have "Champagne Wednesday's". Through my love of the movie 'Failure to Launch' and our mutual love of cheap Andre champagne, our version of Hump Day was born. At about 8:45 every Wednesday one of us takes the puglets out for their last walk and we then pop open a bottle of delicious bubbly and watch one of our favorite shows, Bravo's wonderful 'Top Chef'!!!

As we were watching this evening's episode of TC (so upset Jamie got eliminated by the way), I discovered I had a new dream. My new dream is that one day we will be able to dine at Le Bernardin in Manhattan. Not only is it my dream that we will dine there, but that Eric Ripert himself will come chat with us in his adorable French accent in all of his Silver Fox glory. As we watched his food on TC, I swear Michael and I were salivating at the thought of just having one bite of one of his dishes. If I had to choose, I would have chosen his Red Snapper.

Champagne wishes and red snapper dreams to you all!