Trying to find a decent local sushi joint in the neighborhood has been like shooting fish in a tank (hit or miss) until we happened upon Sake Toro. It’s a very small corner restaurant in Frisco Square. The first thing you notice about the restaurant is it’s tank of jelly fish behind the hostess stand. That’s just cool…maybe I just found it to be way cooler than it really us since I hit a happy hour on the way to dinner!  Either who, the staff is extremely friendly and eager to please.  A nice feeling you don’t get too often anymore….often I feel like I’m putting someone out when I ask for a refill of drink or a lemon for my water.

I ordered the Karai which really, really caught me off guard, but was probably my favorite dish of the entire night. I expected a roll but they brought out a bowl filled to the brim with chunks of yellow tail, halibut and ahi mixed with squash, zucchini, fresh jalapeno and red onion all mixed in a light sauce and special blend of the chef’s “special” spices. I’m always a little scared when I hear the word special…it generally consists of things that are more than likely on their last leg in the freshness department, but I was very much blown away with how fresh it tasted (and I didn’t get sick so winner, winner).  I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if their back kitchen area consisted of nothing but a monster fish tank….which goes back to the shooting fish in a tank deal…

All and all a good place and a great atmosphere and service.  What’s even better is ladies night on Thursday when you can get $4.00 martinis made with your favorite blend of fruits and sake!

When I moved to Texas a few years back I was 23 years old…just graduated college and ready to take on the big city life!  I already had friends living here and asked them for suggestions on places where to live…and of course…their response….Uptown.

Needless to say….I didn’t choose Uptown…A.) Because I couldn’t afford a rat hole and wasn’t willing to put my car payment, water bill and cell phone bill on my credit card, B.) My office was in faaaaar North Plano and finally…just really wasn’t sure if it was the place for me to be….so Frisco it was

Hands down…the best decision that I’ve made since….well I made the decision to move to Texas.  Keep in mind I’ve made lots of bad ones…the Big D Climb…getting a personal trainer…tattooing a butterfly on my back (I didn’t do it…a professional tattoo artist did, but you get the point).

Anyways….there is a point to this rambling…I was down in Uptown (that just sounds silly…down in uptown) last night and my goodness…it’s a mess!!  I have a friend who is living in the heart of uptown with 577 square feet, no balcony and an not all that great apartment for $970/month!!!  Not only that…it’s crowded, packed and miserable to maneuver through the packed bars with all the $30,000 millionaires.  No don’t get me wrong…if I could afford to do it right I totally would…a nice one bedroom at the 1900 McKinney for a cool $2,500/month and I’m there!!

Moral of the story….Frisco can not be beat when it comes to affordable living!  I love, love, love my brand new built apartment and how close things are like restaurants, bars and shopping.  My advice….checkout some new places here in Frisco if you are burying yourself in debt living in Uptown!!

http://www.rent.com/rentals/texas/dallas-fort-worth-and-vicinity/frisco/

So my parents came into town to visit this past week/weekend…and while I miss them a great deal since they live 1,200 miles away and while I was sooo excited that they came to visit….I can’t express in words how happy that I am to see them go back home. 

But this isn’t about my mother asking me why I stock my pantry the way that I do and why I only write the month and year, and not the month, day and year on meat when I freeze it or even her making fun of my dog…who, by the way is super cute and smart.  You see…my parents are from a VERY small town (animals outnumber people) and anything that isn’t white collar midwest is yuppie….but like I said….whatever….this is more about my dad (whom I like MUCH better and was sad to see go) and his review about the hotel I put them up in.

The Westin Stonebriar Report was where they called home for a few days.  According to my dad…whom I fondly refer to as Cheech….my mother couldn’t even find anything to complain about in the hotel. 

Checking in they got fresh bottled water at the desk…the room had a great selection of coffees, teas and fruit.  The room was clean and smelled great and the staff was excellent.  And honestly…to have a review like that from my parents who spend a lot of time traveling EVERY year, from cruising the Caribbean to taking off to the west coast and seeing wine country to ski trips….this was a major score for me since a recommended it!  Thank you Westin….thank you for making the past few days in my Frisco household, a little more enjoyable!

As I posted a few months again…I’ve been working hard to get myself in shape for the summer flip flop, sun dress and tank top weather at the Frisco Athletic Center.  While I have mixed emotions about the place, mainly because I have to drag myself there a few times a week knowing that it’s going to be harder to get out of bed the next morning than it was the previous one….

But how cute is this?  I was finishing up my workout and getting ready to leave and I saw a flyer on the board for the 2^nd Annual Aqua Egg Hunt at the Frisco Athletic Center.  Let me just say that I’m a holiday junkie…I don’t have any kids or nieces and nephews…and my house is still decked out in decorations for just able every holiday…Easter being no exception!  So, needless to say…I was really excited to rush home and make my phone calls to my friends with little kids and beg them to let me take them!!

The event takes places on Saturday, March 27^th at the Frisco Athletic Center from 11 to noon and is open for children ages 3 to 10.  The Bunny will be filling the indoor pools with eggs stuffed with goodies and providing all the children with an all day swim pass.  Admission for the event is $12 per person.  Additional details on the event can be found at http://friscofun.org/aquatic/Pages/default.aspx

Dr. Weinstein and Dr. Branning of  Texas OB-GYN are excited to announce they have a new web site. In fact they are so excited that there web people called me to try to get the word out. I know both of the doctors, the are both Frisco OB-GYN specialist and their office is at Baylor Medical Center in Frisco.

Some of the highlights about the Texas OB-GYN office that sets them apart for some of the other doctors in town. Besides being great people they also have office hours designed to be flexible. They see patients during lunch hours and one day a month they have Saturday office hours. (hello, why does no-one else think of us working women).

Dr. Branning also specializes in minimally invasive surgery using the da Vinci Surgery system. This system is a marvel for hysterectomies and this type of surgery typically will have shorter recovery time. (I read that in a brochure- you might want to check with doctors on that one)

Dr. Weinstein has one of the lowest c-section rates in N. Dallas. In fact Dr. Weinstein is one of only a handful of doctors, (the only one in Frisco) who will allow patients to have a Vaginal Birth after Caesarean (VBAC).

For first rate OB-GN care in Frisco we are proud to recommend Texas OB-GYN

I was never much of a big meat eater until I moved to Texas.  But just about every night, weather I am dining or cooking dinner at home with my friends or boyfriend, there’s always some cut of critter that seems to make it’s way to the plate. 

But since moving to Texas and discovering my meat palette, I’ve noticed that there’s not a whole lot of places to buy a good cut of steak, or kielbasa (my last name ends in “ski”…I’m very Polish) or just a good chop to throw on the grill or stuff with blue cheese and bacon…yum!  So, my grill master friends and I, tired of the lame meats we were finding at Tom Thumb or Albertsons (or paying out the nose at Whole Foods) set out to find the butcher shop of all butcher shops.   After a few days of searching the internet and word of mouth….SUCCESS!!!

Hirsch’s Meat Market is the place to be for the freshest and most affordable cuts of meat and sausage in Frisco…or heck…the DFW area!  This chop joint has everything you need….expect the grill or stove. 

The customer service is fantastic…the guys behind the counter…which we have affectingly dubbed the man’s man of the meat market, knows everything about the products and will take as much time as needed to ensure you find just that right piece (sheesh…it’s your flippin’ dinner, not an engagement ring I find myself thinking at times) to suit your needs and fancy.  Not only that…but then they will cut whatever, however your little meat lovin’ heart desires.  It’s a nifty joint.

And the good….oh the goods are great!  I’ve had what I believe they call the Cowboy sirloin, the sausage and the burger patties.  OMG (I never text talk but this deserves it) they are all amazing.  The freshest quality and reasonable prices…and it doesn’t hurt the stuff melts the second it passes your grill…I mean teeth!  You will walk past the “butchers block” at your local grocery store and turn your nose up like a Dallas wannabe socialite once you’ve stepped into the light and sampled some of the yummy meat fare.

I could go on and on for hours and what to try and and what to buy, but it’s just something that you have to experience for yourself.  This place is the whole package.

http://www.hirschsmeats.com/

Let’s face it….the green movement isn’t something that we all think about everyday…despite it being chucked at us from every direction from anyone from politicians to the hippie friend that we all have.  Come on…you know the one…the Earth Shoes and patch works purses, the smell of the bottom of a lawn mover from the petroli perfume…the one that fishes your beer or soda can out of the trash at home to recycle…

But I digress on the hippie friends and think we need to begin all working to be more proactive about the preservation of our planet.  I mean…with this global warming and everything…you know…not like we didn’t get 18 inches of snow this winter.  Despite the truth and accuracy of global warming statements and studies, we can all do our small part to eliminate…well reduce…the effects of our actions not only on our planet, but also on our bodies.

Friscogreenliving.com is a great source for all things green.  This is your sole site for the most popular trends from eating organic and shopping farmers markets and recycling old items for community garage sales.  You can also find ways to get your children involved and active by locating parks and trails and activities to instill in them a healthy and proactive life style.

Yep….of course I (and my Honda Fit) was singing the commercial when I typed in that title.  But there’s sooo much to sing about!! 

Since moving away from my parents I’ve always been terrified to go to the car dealer to get any work done.  Mainly because I had to pay for it myself, but there were other reasons.  My father owns a chain of full service automotive centers and always took care of everything from oil changes, to tires and replacing ball joints and I trusted him with everything.

The service department at David McDavid Honda is amazing!!  New, clean, friendly and professional.  My car happened to be one of the ones that was scheduled for a recall because of the window motor having the tendency to catch fire…yeah…scary.  But not only they were they great to work with, reassuming and professional, they also took the time to explain to me what repairs needed to be done and why and also the breakdown of the costs.  The event talked to my dad up in Ohio and explained what they were going to be working on.

I can not say enough about the service team!  Living in the Frisco area I would high recommend that all my fellow Honda owners not only head that way for repair work (and God forbid, recalls) but also regularly scheduled maintenance!

http://www.davidmcdavidhondaoffrisco.com/

my iPod touch digitizer was not digitizing

My iPod Touch recently started acting strange, when I say strange I really mean the thing just didn’t work. It would turn on, the screen was nice and pretty, it looked hunky dory… But when I touched the screen expecting it to jump into action my iPod did not respond. So like any sophisticated techie I TOUCHED it again, this time a little harder. Still Nothing. So I took it to the next level and started doing the finger to the chest TOUCH, but nothing.

After a little research I found this is not uncommon. There is a little piece of technology that converts the touch of your finger into input for the iPod touch. It is called the Digitizer. (kind of cute, turns signals from your digits, i.e. fingers for my friends at UT, into digital input on the iPod. Well my Digitizer had stopped digitizing and Apple was of no help so I did a little Googling and I found this great little company right here in DFW that fixes iPod Digitizers. So I sent my little iPod Touch (it is Gen 1) off to Global Repair Solutions in Fort Worth, and guess what… My digits and my digitizer are now working in perfect harmony. The post office delivered my iPod on Saturday (they still do that) and I am as happy and one of those little digits with a smiley face on it.

We just rolled back the clocks and it’s finally time for spring…and that means…spring cleaning!  Time to scrub down the windows, clean up the dog’s yard and shampoo those carpets from a winter of mud and mess.  Best of all…it’s time to bring out the summer clothes and put the winter ones away and maybe even clean out the attic, basement or garage while you’re at it. 

But what to do with all your “trash?”  Why not make it someone else’s treasure and take your items to the Frisco Human Society’s 3^rd Annual Yard Sale.  Advantage Storage on Legacy and Warren has been the home of the Yard Sale for the past two years.

Mark your calendars now! Just in time for a good spring clean!! The 2010 Yard Sale will be held on Friday, May 7th and Saturday, May 8th.

March 1st thru May 3rd, please start taking your unwanted items to Advantage Storage (on the corner of Legacy and Warren). The telephone number for Advantage Storage is (972) 334-9190 – just give them a call if you have any questions about what can be donated.