IKEA.  Maker of Swedish, flat packed furniture (of which most designs I am unable to pronounce) and retailer of meatballs and lingonberry jam.  Stores are laid out in a “one-way” path of little kitchens, bedrooms, storage and more.  I believe they have even figured out a way to squeeze all the housing necessities into 372 square feet of living space…..amazing and clown car like.  It’s ummmm…descent…quality stuff I guess.  I mean I can wipe is down with a wet paper towel and turn around and buy another $10 Lack (one which I can pronounce) Series end table when my Westie gnaws her way through one of the legs….yeah….it’s that kind of quality.

Either way…I love the stuff and would rather spend my hard earned money traveling and on shoes than a fancy coffee table that more than likely cause me to skin poor pup if she even looked at a leg of it the wrong way.  That being said….I would consider myself a seasoned veteran when it comes to the “rules” of shopping at IKEA.  Well let me assure you….I’ve never been to an IKEA like the one in Frisco.

First of all…there are no “rules” when it comes to shopping at IKEA.  It’s basically a free or all of screaming children, hippies that would fist fight you for the last flower printed duvet cover, staff that I swear runs the other way when they see a customer and oh…the worst…don’t EVEN THINK about going the wrong way in their “one-way” layout…hence the title…proceed with caution.

However….the one in Frisco….located just off the tollway on….wait for….yes….IKEA Drive was a rather pleasant surprise.  After a slight parking lot incident involving a truck that was much, much larger than my little Honda Fit (I know it’s typical….Fit at IKEA…I just can’t afford the Lexus yet guys)…the trip was rather relaxing.  It could have the fact that I pulled into the parking lot 37 seconds before they were scheduled to open, but a minor detail we won’t concern ourselves with.  I would have to say it was one of the best IKEA experiences…it was clean, quite, orderly, other customers were generally accommodating and one of the kitchen designers even greeting me with something that sounded like “good morning.”  I did my shopping; colander, placemats, coat rack and a few other assorted items and was able to fly right through the checkout…IKEA Frisco…A+.

I guess the moral of the story is enjoy IKEA Frisco on Sunday morning when they about to put the key in to open the doors while everyone is sleeping, don’t ask for any customer assistance unless absolutely necessary and let the large F-250 take the parking spot!!

Happy Friday!!

As I rang in 2010….I began to do a lot of thinking as I lay in bed that night about resolutions.  First thing out of the gate, I really wanted to get back into shape and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.  Any one who knows me well knows I have a tendency to charge into things with “ramming speed” and tend to live life as one knee jerk reaction.   This reaction however, was perhaps one of the DUMBEST things I’ve committed to doing in a very, very long time (second only to my commitment  to participate in a fundraising event that involved climbing over 1,000 stairs without first investigating the implications of “Climb” in the event’s name). 

As background….and if you’re in a rush….please feel free to skip to the next paragraph.  I am one of those women who have been blessed (and I use this term loosely….beauty and heath is in interrupted by each person differently and I’m not implying that scrawny is where it’s at) with a petite figure and have weighted around 115 lbs for the majority of my post-pubescent life (minus the infamous Freshman Fifteen).  I can also generally, much to my chagrin be found sitting at a happy hour drinking and eating bar food (hence my burger banter) after work which is why this was the first thing I wanted to tackle.

A few weeks ago I made the commitment to join the Frisco Athletic Center…..and wow….was I shocked by the sheer size of the place and the extent of the services they offered!  Racquetball, walleyball, an aquatic center, dressing rooms which rival the décor of my bathroom at home (the towels however…are a little scratchy), something like 22,000 square feet of gym equipment and machines, a plethora of group exercise options, Café Frisco and personal trainers there to whip your behind into shape….literally! 

Now that I’m able to once again walk with out wincing, sneeze without crying and perform the all so basic task of dressing myself without pain….I’m pleased to suggest that anyone who is looking to lose weight or just get back into shape check out the center.  Membership for Frisco residents is VERY reasonable and family rates are offered!!

Stay tuned for more details of my crazy (somewhat embarrassing) gym experiences as I try new machines, meet new folks and class instructors and get ready to “pump…<clap, clap>…you up!”  Joke, joke….I’m lucky if I can get the lid off the pepper jar when I’m making a sandwich!

http://www.friscofun.org/fac/Pages/default.aspx

I can still remember as a child the horror that I felt when my mother mentioned those two words…fast forward 20+ years to this morning. The Dentist…horror struck me again, only this time, not because I am still terrified to go (I would like to trick myself into believing that I have conquered that fear), but because I was taking my 2 year old son for the first time. Those of you who have a 2 year old child, know very well that taking that child into public can quickly lead into a Top 10 most embarrassing moment. One that leads you to feeling like the most inept parent on the face of this earth. Well, that is what I was expecting as we headed up to Twins (our dentist). I did all of the usual bribbing, you know, stickers, SpongeBob toothpaste, even candy (felt a little bad about this one after a good teeth cleaning, but hey what the heck) if the visit went well. We were off, and off to a good start, getting in the car, check; driving to the dentist, check; the waiting room, check; going to the chair, not quite a check. My little one was refusing to get in the chair, thing quick, pray, and figure out how to keep this quiet defiance from turning into a loud war…but then it happened, the hygenist at the office took over. She got my spunky little man into the chair, got him to give a big ol’ alligator smile, sparkled up those tiny little teeth, and even made an agreement with little man to let the Dr. count his teeth. It worked, crisis averted (this time at least). What a great day. After it was over, I let little man smudge up his pearly whites with a little Hersheys, and we both went home happy to live another day in the land of feeling like I might be a doing a good job raising these little ones up (at least for today).

Before I get to the “juicy” details of these amazing burgers, here’s a little history on how I stumbled upon the home of these mean eats!  When I first moved to Texas, I was living in the Addison area when one Friday night I had a real hankering for some red meat…..yes, I know.  I pulled into a shopping plaza off of Belt Line, parked my car and proceeded to follow the smell hickory smoke into a small restaurant, Kenny’s Wood Fired Grill.  After my meaty meal and making small talk with the bartender, he (I use “he” as remembering a name has never been my forte) suggested I sample Kenny’s Burger Joint….and the rest is history.

 Kenny’s Burger Joint is a cholesterol-laden burger haven where the only thing bigger than the flavor are the portions!  Located on Legacy Drive in Frisco, this joint is well worth the drive from anywhere in the DFW area.

 Once again, my Kenny’s experience began in the parking lot where I was met with the all too familiar smell of hickory smoke and the finest brand of beef cooking over it.  Walking in the staff was friendly, the place was clean and more than anything….it was PACKED with everyone from families to 20-somethings! (All of these elements in combination tend to speak volumes for an establishment).

 And the food….oh….the food….holy ½ ton tasty portions!  I started with the Loaded Cheese Fries with aged Vermont cheddar cheese and finished it off with the Black and Blue Burger that was what seemed like in that moment sent from the heavens for my tasting pleasure.  Everything cooked to perfection with flavors that blend perfectly in your mouth. 

 Kenny’s Burger Joint is a must for anyone in Frisco or heck….anywhere in the DFW area.  With great food, drinks and fun for families and singles a like.  Make 2010 your year to try your own little slice to heaven (in the form of a burger of course) at Kenny’s Burger Joint!!!

It is still January, so I can still talk about resolutions, so here it is. I have never actually made and kept a New Year’s Resolution. That is until this year. January 1st came around, and I made my list; a short list of items that I swore would be accomplished by the time that the clock strikes midnight to ring in 2011. You see, I tend to be a dreamer more than a doer, but that is all going to change, and 2010 is the year to change it. I have always wanted to keep a blog, I love to write and life is hilarious, so resolution #1, here I come. I am a typical Frisco mom with 3 kids, 2 dogs and a mini-van, and I like to find the humor in pretty much any situation. So, if you need a good laugh, this is place to be; from soccer field scandals to Days of Our Lives on the block, to the crazy Texas weather. You don’t want to miss it!