what sixty degrees looks like

Oh, joy :) the time has come--winter is walking into spring, again.

twenty bucks more fun

Yesterday, I received an email: "Congratulations, you completed all qualifying transactions on your Card... Thank you for dining out three or more times during NYC Restaurant Week, now enjoy your $20 statement credit..." I can't even tell you how happy it made me. I'm obviously easily thrilled.

This past Restaurant Week (Winter 2012), American Express partnered with the city to offer a twenty dollar incentive to diners. It's true, I didn't have to participate; I could have very easily avoided dining out at the limited number of participating restaurants (like this one and this one), but I like free money as much as anyone... and it's tough to resist a three-course dinner for $35, sometimes with a signature cocktail included, at eateries that are otherwise out of my budget.

On Friday, February 10th, the very last day and meal of Restaurant Week, my roommate and I met a friend for a celebratory dinner at Maya. This modern Mexican cuisine & tequila bar is accurately self-described as "carefully crafted, yet bold flavored." To start, Catherine had a margarita, I had a glass of Syrah, Walter had a beer. Then, we ordered another round (margarita for me) and feasted:

[Entradas: Guacamole, Ensalada de Papaya, Empañada de Camarón]

[Entradas: Tostadas de Atún]

[Platos Fuertes: Crepas de Huitlacoche]

[Entrada as Puerto Fuerte: Tacos de Entraña]

[Postres: Churros (above), Chocoflan (below)]

Yes, it was quite the meal. And even though we didn't all abide by the Restaurant Week guidelines, it was still delicious and not at all astronomically expensive. Every now and again, splurges (both financially and nutritionally) are worth it. Especially when you walk away a month later with a whole twenty bucks ;).

oklahoma!

If, five years ago, you'd asked me why someone would visit Oklahoma, I wouldn't have been able to answer. I'd probably have pictured the entire state like this, too:

Unless that someone were seeking wide open spaces in middle America, I never knew why anyone would want to go to Oklahoma. That is, until I went to college.

    

As I've told you many times before, K (Karen) and I met freshman year when we lived down the hall from each other. We've been best friends ever since. Her, C, and I made a magical little trio, and we soon invited the wonderful J into the mix.

She is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. One reason (of many) being that we love travel and adventure in the same way: In 2006, we sake bombed in Philadelphia. In 2009, her and C met me in London, and once I was back in the states, we celebrated Applefest in Ithaca. In 2010, we went to Montreal, and Niagara Falls, and Toronto. In 2011, we tried our joint luck in Atlantic City.

She has also visited C and I many, many times in New York, whereas I have only flown to Oklahoma once. I visited her hometown of Tulsa in the summer of 2007. It was amazing to meet her childhood friends, dine at her favorite restaurants, eat her mom's peach cobbler, shop, and "float the river." But to think, had I not met the ever-fabulous K, I wouldn't know what I'd been missing in Oklahoma.

I'm one lucky girl to be able to call her my friend. That's why I made it a point to stop in Oklahoma City on my road trip. Still, she was new to the area then and had just started medical school; we only explored and mingled as best we could. I have a feeling the experience is going to be a whole lot different this time around.

Yes, my dears, I will be Oklahoma-bound soon. In just 10 days, K and I will be embarking on a glorious plan of events, including a phenomenal concert, a celebration with her residency-bound sister, a night on the town with med school friends, lots of good food, a possible St. Patty's Day party in Dallas, and as always, quality time with my best friend. I can hardly contain my excitement..!