What's Hot - What's Not Hot

Decided to join in on a meme I stumbled on: What's Hot/What's Not Hot Wednesdays (even though technically it's not Wednessday anymore.)

HOT

A trip to Austin with no kids...first trip we've taken without any children since our oldest was born. And might I mention that Austin is the most un-Texan city I've been too. It's sort of like the artsier places in California...without as much of the Hollywood fake glam.

HOT

My husband, for various reasons!

HOT

My in-laws for taking the kids. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

HOT

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It's GORGEOUS! Check out the picture my husband took below.




HOT

Stumbling on the same little Mexican restaurant we had eaten at but forgotten the name of during our last trip to Austin (Curras Grill), and feasting on unique food the kids would have turned their nose up at.

NOT

The parking at Curras. They really need more parking...though I suppose it does keep the place from getting overcrowded.

HOT

Google maps on I-phone. Saved us from much mis-direction, traffic jams, and other frustration.

HOT BECAUSE IT'S NOT HOT

The weather! It's been wonderfully NOT HOT and NOT COLD! It's been gorgeous!

NOT

My living room, bedroom, bathroom, etc. They're a disaster. No, you can not see pictures.

NOT

The quantity of posts on this blog...sorry I've been slacking here. It's because I've been not slacking other places. Check out my Art Blog (and yeah...I did the hot/not hot meme there too, with a few changes).

Chick-File

Don't you love Chick File? It was one of my great Texas dining discoveries. I love the food, their fun advertising, and how they support the community. I love the fun educational kids toys that come with their meals (unlike other places where I've avoided buying a kids meal so I wouldn't have to take home another piece of junk to clutter my kids room). Mostly I love how they let you come in and order a lemonade on a hot day while you watch your kids play in their clean well-kept playground.

And I just learned that they are now in California too! Rock on!

California Bans Trans Fat

In yet another food related story (honestly, this blog isn't really about food), last week the California legislature made it illegal for restaurants and bakeries to use trans fats. I have big time mixed feelings about this. Sure, I'd like us all to eat healthier, and would love to see trans-fat disappear from the menus of my favorite places to eat...but isn't this encroaching a bit on our freedom? I mean, it's our bodies...and no one is breathing our "second hand fat" or being killed by drivers under the influence of trans-fat laden pastries. Still, I know that obesity problems take a tole on our healthcare systems, especially when hospitals are forced to pay for emergency care for the un-insured. But I don't think the answer is to make anything un-healthy illegal.

Comments?

BAD Tomatoes (HEB/Whole Foods)

Just thought I'd spread the news: There has been a salmonella outbreak connected to tomatoes sold through HEB and Whole Foods in Texas...so if you bought any tomatoes there throw them out!

More details here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/06/02/daily31.html


(UPDATE: They've narrowed the source of the bad tomatoes so the ones you get from HEB and Whole Foods now should be safe).

Eating in the Inland Empire

If you happen to live in or travel through the Inland Empire, check out my friend's new blog Eating I.E. In it he shares his experience eating out with his family at various dining establishments in Riverside and surrounding areas. Good stuff!