The past couple of years we have started doing fun anniversary outings and “stay cations”. In other words, we find some fancy Dallas hotel and act like “out-of-towners”, which usually includes finding a delicious restaurant or two and spending 24 hours or so like we did prior to our favorite little people. As much as I treasure these little getaways with my hubby and feeling footloose and fancy free, I certainly wouldn’t trade my life of chicken nuggets and games of candy land.

     This anniversary was our 11th, time really does fly! November 10th, 2012 was such a special anniversary to us and Charlie certainly pulled out all the stops to plan – I had no idea what an amazing weekend we had ahead of us.

     We stayed at the chic, Joule hotel in downtown Dallas, just next door to my old office. We had an incredible dinner at Charlie Palmer’s steakhouse and I ate brussel sprouts for the first time in about 20+ years (the ONLY vegetable I have ever refused to eat). The jalapeno stuffed quail legs were to die for. I had salmon, lobster mac-n-cheese and Charlie had a blue cheese encrusted filet seared to perfection with polenta and a wonderful salad. My mouth is watering as I type. Incredible food and impeccable service with hand rolled dessert sampler as the finale! We will go back and hopefully much sooner than a year from now! Usually, when we eat at five star restaurants the tiny portions leave me starving moments later, not the case this time. We had a corner suite and the contemporary style and design was simply stunning. No detail was left out in that hotel. We spent some time that night staring at the stars at the rooftop pool patio. We slept in the next morning and went to a leisurely brunch at one of my favorites, Breadwinners in uptown. Next time you happen to pop in to Breadwinners, I highly suggest their traditional breakfast with cheese grits, and jalapeno bacon and be sure to get their delicious spice chai latte. We headed back home to our two littles and felt renewed and refreshed.