Zellner Kids Visit Dallas: Shopping Saturday!

This weekend my sister-in-laws and boyfriend visited our home in Dallas. It was a very special trip, filled with lots of laughs, lots of fun, and lots of firsts!

Our Saturday started early with a morning of cookies and mimosas on the patio. The morning was very chilly, so we gathered sweat shirts, blankets, and of course fuzzy slippers. It was a fun way to start our day with the ladies. Toby of course was trying to find any way possible to sneak a cookie. He may or may not have licked a few.

After a coffee run, the ladies went inside to make some breakfast. Our menu included eggs, bacon, biscuits, and fruit.

After a great breakfast and much conversation, we decided to get ready as the plan was to visit Waters Creek in Allen for a shopping excursion. But before we made our way out, Becky had to take some time to smell the roses.

Upon entering into the Waters Creek shopping center, we decided that we might want to grab a little late lunch at Grimaldi's Pizzeria. We all decided to split a pepperoni and italian sausage pizza and a bottle of house white.

 Becky and Todd

Rachel, Ray, and I at Grimaldi's

After Grimaldi's, the ladies enjoyed a great shopping excursion while the boys played pool at the Londoner and made a few stops as well. I for sure went a little crazy, but all worth it. We went to Francesca's, The Loft, Victoria Secret, and Charming Charlies. It was sure a successful shopping trip! Plus I saw one of my Kinder moms that I absolutely adore:)



 Lady Fun in Francesca's!

Around 7PM, we called our excursion to a close, and met back up with the boys. We ventured over to Cru Wine Bar for some drinks and entertainment.



We had a great time at Cru. It was a fun little night out as we enjoyed wine on the patio. They also had live music and fun family entertainment.

 Our crew at Cru:)

 Delicious fig bruscheta at Cru

While the appetizers and wine were delicious, it was definitely time to have dinner. As we were heading out, we decided to take some fun fall family photos. I sure love this cute little fall backdrop.

Our night included delicious enchiladas, a pj party, and some rest and relaxation. Tomorrow we would venture out to the State Fair of Texas.

Family

Families are like fudge, mostly sweet with a few nuts:)
I sure love my family. I have really been blessed with some very amazing people in my life as well as family that I married into. Here are a few fun pictures of our Alabama Zellner family through picture mail. I have loved keeping up with everyone even though we are so far away. It is sure the next best thing.

Our Nephew Jake

The Beast!

Olivia's Kinder Pumpkin Patch

 My beautiful sister and niece! What a fun fall field trip:)

Best Part of My Day!

With preparation for conference, and a full afternoon of meeting with the parents, I will have to say that this is definitely the best part of my day. The afternoons have been absolutely beautiful here in North Dallas. Both Toby and even our little lady have enjoyed spending time outside. While our hound dog is eagerly searching for bunnies, our Mattie Mae is a snuggler... even if that means coming in between Mama and Daddy on the couch.

Lately at the Zellner home things have been really busy. I feel so badly about neglecting friends and family. I feel I am constantly on the go... which is good, but I really do enjoy "unplugging" myself from the world and coming here. It's been a good way for us to reconnect on our day while getting some good outside patio time. We do look forward to the moments that we can share this time with our own kiddos but again that's definitely a day at a time sort of thing here. I'm reminded that God has sure provided me with my number one and really do enjoy the moments that everything else is just a blur. So here is to those few moments, far and in between as they may be... but here is to my best part of my day!

Favorite Worship Song

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

My Soul cries out to You
My Soul cries out to You
to You, to You

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out.

October Zellner Cafe and Pumpkin Carving

Today, Ray and I hosted our October Zellner Cafe and Pumpkin Carving Party.

Our menu included an assortment of Mexican food, mini taco salads with rice and beans, watermelon and jicama salad, chips, queso, and fresh salsa. It was really good and any time you add queso to a meal, it's a party! Here are some pictures of the party.

My plate:)

 Aunt Steph and Bryson Fun:) 

 We found a Bryson in our ottoman

 Dustin and Paige

 Uncle Brandon and balloon fun with Mr. B

 The Ladies with three little additions:)

 Steph and Jenn (and baby Ellie)

Dustin and Paige representing our Ags 

 The hubby and I with our free handhand pumpkins 

 The Fant boys:)

 The men:)

 Paige and I

What a perfect fall activity with our friends. We enjoyed another delicious and successful Zellner Cafe! I truly love these fun opportunities with friends and look forward to the next month. We will be celebrating our Thanksgiving friendship feast. Boy time sure flies when you're having fun!

ABF Fried Food Fair Inspired Cook Off

Last Saturday, a sweet friend from our ABF and I hosted our first ABF Fried Food Cook Off. From pinterest and fair inspired decor, salty and sweet fried food options, and fun family photo opts, it was an absolute blast! Enjoy pictures from our evening together. 

  

 My handmade signs 

 fall decor

 tasty nacho cheese popcorn

 photo booth fun (I love great dollar store finds!)

 My fabulous husband and I

delicious eats

 

 The Hanks making fried squash and fried green beans

 Our friends at the fry stations
and Michelle, my fabulous co-hostess:)

 Fried Avacado and homemade dip- Tom

 Fried Green Beans- Amy and Colin

 Fried Strawberry Cake Balls- Zellners

  Fried bananas- Hutchisons

 Fried Jalapeno Thingies- Links

 Fried Onion Rings- Goodings

 Denise and Chase

 Joel and baby Landry 

 Carissa, her little man Landry, and Jenny 

Fun with Pearson

 Joel won ring toss... twice :) 

 Jenny and Tim Hare- Fried Peanut Butter Cups 

After a few hours of great conversation and frying delicious creations, it was time to officially taste test.

 Colin and Amy

 Katy sampling the onion rings

After taste testing all of our great creations, we were able to select one salty and one sweet food. While all the food was really good, the salty choice was fried avacados and homemade dip. The dip was a mix of salsa and cream cheese. YUM! The sweet option came down to a tie between fried strawberry cake pops and fried peanut butter cups. A ring toss duel between the men went into effect. When the score was still tied, it went down to paper, rock, scissors. Tim Hare and his fried peanut butter cups were victorious.

 Tim and Ray battle it out in a ring toss.

 Salty v. Sweet Winners and their prizes.

Part of our night involved pinterest inspired photo booth fun. Here are our guests at our fried food cook off.

The Links and Mr. Pearson

 The Goodings 

 The Howards and baby Landry

 The Hares

 The Hutchisons and little Parker (expected Nov)
My co-host for our party:)

 Our beautiful ABF Ladies

Our fried food fun began to come to a close, but not without a win from our Aggies. 

 Some of my sweet Aggie ABF ladies

What an amazing night of fried food and ABF fun!  I am so excited for all of our fall fun actibvities this year. Look forward to many more posts to come.