Food News.......Hungry For Change!

nourishment, sustenance, nutriment.....I wasn't sure I really wanted to see this movie.....I thought maybe I wouldn't want to eat ever again? Please go out and rent this movie or have Netflix deliver it to you.... it's worthwhile for you and for the generations that will follow! Happy Holidays.....consider this a present from me if you haven't already seen this movie!

Jaimie Muehlhausen Musician.....

Artist, Author and my nephew!



Some guy who knows about such things just called Jaimie "The King of Concert Flyer Makers"....

Everybody's Fine & Genghis Grill

Stephen and I didn't decorate the house this afternoon with holiday cheer like we should have, instead we found another reason to postpone.... @ Megan's insistence we went to see Everybody's Fine and to a new chain restaurant on Cherry Street!
Meg saw the movie last night with Handsome Tim Root and told me to make sure I had plenty of tissues! Stephen and I really loved the movie and yes....we both cried!



Everything eventually leads to that question of whether or not to trouble the ones we love with our bad news. Everybody's Fine is relatively taciturn with its conclusions but offers an important suggestion to consider the matter more closely in the audience's own lives. And isn't that what good art should do? This may not be the most uplifting film one could see this holiday season, but it is one of the more thoughtful ones. Between the simple effectiveness of De Niro's performance, the lovely cinematography of Henry Braham (it is sort of a road-trip movie) and the interesting questions it raises, Everybody's Fine is a terrific choice for those who want something more in-depth from their Xmas viewing than tinsel and tired sentimentality!
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Megan is" anti" chain restaurants and promptly informed me they had places like the Genghis Grill in every mall in America ... but since I don't frequent malls or eat @ malls, I was totally out of the loop! Genghis Grill was hip and cute and we enjoyed the experience very much! We'll be going back!



Genghis Grill-The Mongolian Stir Fry, is a build your own bowl, fast casual, Asian stir-fry
concept. The atmosphere is colorful, lively, and a lot of fun! It's actually not a cuisine, but an
INTERACTIVE style of exhibition cooking modeled after a centuries-old legend. According to
this legend, 12th century Mongol warriors, led by the mighty warrior GENGHIS KHAN, heated
their shields over open fires to grill food in the fields of battle!

It's Too Cold.....

To string lights out front.....


But a perfect day to decorate the inside with Christmas cheer!

I Love These Napkins....very much!

The golden crest in the middle makes them ever so eloquent!
Think about it? You go to an event or a party and there are always paper napkins to tidy up your food mishaps? Right? Tuck the napkin delicately on the two corners of your beautiful lips? Hold the napkin just so? Oops? Be tidy and indiscreet? It's a fabulous party! Napkins are a dress accent! I'm hoping these new napkins will serve well through the wonderful upcoming holiday season!

My Poor Mini Cooper :(

We woke up to what we think could be a BB gun assault on the back wind shield of our precious Mini Cooper?

Old School Bagel Cafe.... Tulsa's Best Bagel Hangout!

It's not a true New York bagel unless it's boiled.....try the "EVERYTHING BAGEL" to be in bagel heaven! The perfect way to start off this December chilly weekend! Now we are ready to string holiday lights out front .... tis the season!

Cre*a*tiv*ity

...the use of imagination, esp. in the production of an artistic endeavor!


I acclaim enthusiastically rubber cement & the universal shape of the "heart"!!!
I'm still having fun working on bridal shower invitations :D

Dillan Is Not Feeling Well?

Before I begin this story I must state that our adorable Dillan has NEVER been sick!!!! So Beau calls and says that he thinks she may have a fever? He rushes her over and we give her tylenol for babies....she's still her great spirited self but just a bit fussy? Like all of us she doesn't like feeling bad and she's lived a full year of pure happiness....the hardest thing in life is to see someone who has always been happy and delightful and then take their temperature & know she's not feeling up to par....she's fighting something off and we all want to fight with her....she's so little! Please say your prayers for our darling Dillan Grace!

Creating Shower Invitations On a Cold Day Is So Much Fun!

The temperature dropped into the 40's today and it was a good excuse to stay in my Nick & Nora's flannel PJ's and get out my glue gun, tulle & hot pink pearl flowers.....


Megan and I are hosting a wedding shower for Morgan two days after Christmas! My niece & Megan's favorite cousin! She's getting married the first week of March to Jarret, the nicest guy! The family is very excited! Megan & I put our creative heads together over the Thanksgiving weekend and assembled all the makings of a fabulous invite! This is just a preview of what's to come!
P.S. Glue guns and newly polished fingernails do NOT work out well!!!! Meg & I shared a "mani & pedi" together on Monday morning before she went back to LA and my Hot Red nail polish looks pretty pathetic now!

God has given us memories that we may have roses in December......

Missing Grandma Taylor....... Two years ago we lost the most important person in our life! We love you Grandma ....so definitely up in Heaven!

Stepping Out For Mexican Cuisine!

Last Friday, while the sun was setting and the moon was rising .... the family met up @ El Rio Verde (our favorite hole in the wall mexican restaurant) ....the perfect place to bring a baby!


Megan & Dillan share a magical moment....so sweet!


It was so nice having Megan with us over the Thanksgiving Holiday! She'll be back for Christmas so there were no tears when she departed for Los Angeles yesterday!

# 1 On My Santa's Wish List....

We are lucky to have a Saks Fifth Ave in Fashionable Utica Square that sells hats made by famed milliner, Eric Javets!!!!
I absolutely love this winter hat and I'm hoping Santa will not forget that I have been very good this year?


P.S. The exclusive Miss Jackson's in Fashionable Utica Square also sell hats by Eric Javets!!!!!

F A M I L Y

Not long after we moved here, a PF Changs opened up in Fashionable Utica Square .... Grandma Taylor especially loved to gather all the family here for a good time! Beau reconnected with a friend from California @ PF Changs (Kim) who later became his wife and the mother of our darling grand daughter, Dillan! We still love to gather the "family" at PF Changs!
Beau had to work & cousin Max had already headed back to the University Of Arkansas... but the rest of us had a festive feast!


We took a few serious photos but I like this "fun" one the best!
Kim is standing behind Stephen who is holding baby Dillan who is sitting next to his brother Pete & sister in law Kathie who is sitting in front of Morgan and her fiance Jarret who is standing next to our crazy fun Megan who is next to me.....


Where's your NOSE? Abuelo knows, Dillan knows & Uncle Pete knows!


Stephen and I couldn't have been happier.... to be with Megan and the rest of the family!

Look Who Just Discovered "Photo Booth" On My Mac!

I love when I hang out with Megan....she always will show me the latest and coolest, even if it's been sitting in my MAC computer for months on end! We also did some ichatting on the computer.....so cool! Give APPLE stock this holiday.....a gift that just keeps giving back!

BUBBLE BATHS ARE RELAXING, CALMING AND WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRITS....

THE CHILD

IN ALL OF


US


WOULD ENJOY


A BUBBLE BATH!
SUCH FUN!

Black Friday......Who Cares?

We all met up with Aunt Kathie @ Starbucks to discuss Cousin Morgan's upcoming wedding plans! Then Megan headed over to the exclusive Miss Jackson's for some highlights in the beauty salon!


Meg kinda looks like a Christmas tree?


The Nutcracker Suite!


I'm so happy that Megan is here with us!

It's Official.....Lights On @ Fashionable Utica Square!

Kim & Dillan were delighted, the crowd was boisterous & festive!


We all strolled up for the flip of the switch......100,000 lights came on! The holiday season has begun!!! Abuelo ordered an Elmo Live for Dillan! (Don't tell!!) Ho Ho Ho!

Scottish Terrier "Sadie" Wins National Dog Show Today!

This is Walter, Megan & Tim's scotty dog!


This is Petuka, our scotty dog!


This is Sadie, the Best Of Show scotty that won today!


Best Of All Breeds!
On Thanksgiving, it is important to remember our smaller friends as well. They add something to our lives each and every day, and some even say that pet owners add years onto their lives just by having a pet. We don't own them. They most definitely own us.

A Serious Man

Guess who's going to the movie show this Thanksgiving afternoon?

Tim's Feeding The Homeless Today!

Tim is an amazing person ... he couldn't go home to Minnesota or come to Tulsa with Megan this Thanksgiving ... giving of one's self is the greatest gift of all!

By volunteering, you are part of the solution for homelessness and urban poverty. Be a part of something bigger than yourself – join us at the Los Angeles Mission and help bring hope and opportunity to destitute men, women and children of Los Angeles’ Skid Row community.
We value your gifts… talents… commitment… service… time. They are truly priceless.
Our hats are off to you Tim!

Have A Heavenly Thanksgiving Day!

We spent an afternoon @ the park with Dillan on her birthday!


Family, friends, turkey & pie....so much to give "Thanks" for today!

Sooooooooo Cool & Comfy!

Petuka's favorite perch is new and fresh & looks so good!


This really great designed fabric is stuffed with down feathers .....what a great chair to sit and read my Kindle 2!
We love it!

Today, November 25th Is Dillan's Birthday! Yeah!

One year ago today a little angel came into our family!



Happy the child that has for a friend two old, sympathetic, encouraging minds, who are eager to develop, slow to rebuke or discourage....(Abuelo & Grandma Tay Tay)! We are in HEAVEN every time you come over Dillan! We'll be celebrating your birthday all day long!!!!!

Guess Who's Coming For Thanksgiving Dinner?

Our sweet dearest daughter, Megan Meredith Taylor is coming for a long and fun filled weekend! Yeah!


Thank you Handsome Tim Root!!!!!

Dillan's Birthday Party Cookies.......

So Yummy!!!!!
I had Dillan's picture put on all of her birthday cookies! Most bakeries can do this.... they put the image on sheets of frosting! You can do cakes too! Always a hit at any party or event!

Grandma Tay Tay's Soup Was A Big Hit!!!!!

Abuelo & I served a giant pot of chicken tortilla soup to the guests @ Dillan's birthday party!! After slaving over a pot of soup all day, it's always such a compliment when the outcome is much appreciated! I didn't charge 5 cents but at least 10 soup lovers begged for the recipe!!!


GMA TAY TAY'S SOUP
3 16 oz cans of chicken broth
3 cups of chopped chicken (raw)
1 cup of chopped onion
celery salt
15 oz can of black or pinto beans
1/2 cup of uncooked rice
1 can of mexicorn
1 can of diced tomatoes or Rotel
1 can of diced green chilies
1 small can of diced black olives
couple of cloves of garlic chopped
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 teaspoon of salt
16 oz package of Velveeta
diced avocado & sliced limes

Combine all ingredients except cheese & Lime & avocado
Simmer on the stove for 45 minutes to an hour
Cube cheese and add to soup....
Once in serving bowls, add avocado... squeeze some lime juice & sprinkle some tortilla chips on top!

FOR ALL YOU SOUP LOVERS OUT THERE....ENJOY!

Dillan's 1st Birthday Cake!

Dillan is as sweet and yummy as her pink polka dot cake!

Megan & Mia @ The Baby Shower....

Best friend Mia's baby is due on Christmas Eve!

Birthday Balloon Mania!!!!!

Zillions of birthday balloons were everywhere!


Suddenly Dillan noticed....


Balloons are dancing and bouncing off the ceiling.....


They are so pretty and colorful.....


The birthday girl likes balloons! She's off to a good start!

A Year In The Life Of Dillan Grace Taylor.......

The Swinging Rakes Garden Club.....

I belong to a garden club called "The Swinging Rakes"!!!! We meet the 3rd Thursday of every month. We always have a guest speaker....this month we met @ Southwoods Nursery and were schooled on how to make fabulous indoor floral arrangements! We do good things for the community like.... donating benches to Woodward Park....money to various garden projects in the city and we even give money for scholarships to young and up & coming horticulturists!
Mostly we are a group of creative women of nature who enjoy each other!

Dahlia Creations By Megan!

Megan's BF (best friend) is expecting a bundle of joy soon....all of Mia's buddies have been busy getting ready for the baby shower!



Megan has been busy making "dahlia corsages" for Mia's upcoming baby shower this weekend! Mia & Gavin are expecting a sweet little baby girl and have named her Dahlia! Meg will head down to the flower mart in LA to buy oodles of dahlia flowers to fill up some cute fabric vases she has made for the event!
Sooooooooo Exciting!

Everyone Is Getting Ready......

To celebrate a very special 1st Birthday....


Little Dillan Grace!

See Ya on Sunday the 22nd @ 4:00!!!!

Famous People From Tulsa.....

Reba grew up not too far from Tulsa! Riding and roping the horses! And singing.....


Garth Brooks lives just outside of Tulsa on a fabulous ranch with Trisha Yearwood!

Carrie Underwook.... a great singer! Really!



This guy lives around the corner in a really beautiful mansion ...Roy Clark! Anyone remember him?


Jeanne Tripplehorn from one of our favorite shows ... Big Love! She's adorable!


Broadway star, movie star & TV star....Kristen Chenoweth! An amazing person with such talent!



Bill Hader ... One of the best SNL players EVER from The private school a few blocks from our humble home! HE IS SO GOOD!


Creativity can be inspired from ANYWHERE in the this country!
Tulsa might be a "Fly Over" city ...but we can cultivate some STARS!

Foofa!

Foofa is Dillan's favorite character on Yo Gabba Gabba!
I ordered a lifesize Foofa for her birthday party next Sunday!


Our plan is to have all the guests have their picture taken with Dillan & Foofa! Yo Gabba Gabba!

Falling In Love @ The Coffee Shoppe.....

We walked up to Starbucks with Dillan and hung out in the courtyard sipping our Vanilla mocha and passion tea!! It was such a pleasant outing!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANDSOME TIM ROOT!!!!!!!

A man of many talents and pursuits!


What a great day today is......a wonderful, loving young man named Tim was born today! November 13th!
Love and Kisses Always from "The Taylors"......
Have a very, very special day!

Oysters & Little Pearl Caviar Tonight!

Spoonbill Paddlefish is prized by traditional caviar lovers for its unique taste and texture and offers a gentle introduction for new customers. This is one of our most popular caviars because it may be enjoyed by all, alone or as a garnish. Also, try Spoonbill caviar on raw oysters. An even more decadent combination is caviar on camembert, like Old Chatham's Sheep's milk cheese.

Spoonbill Paddlefish is farmed, as well as sustainably wild caught in rivers of Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, and even Montana. These fisheries are sustainable, but researchers have learned to breed and culture the ancient filter feeders. If you find yourself on the river, you may see the paddlefish swimming upside down and feeding on small shrimp near the surface.
STEPHEN WILL BE IN HEAVEN!

Having Fun With My New IPhone App ...Faces Wild!!!!!

One of nicest moments this past weekend in California was when Stephen, Megan and I were laying out on striped beach towels, the waves crashing along the shoreline just a few feet away..... the three of us just playing with our IPhones and exchanging apps!

The Men Who Stare At Goats......

Stephen and I went for a movie date yesterday! We really tried to like this movie, we really tried to laugh a bit ...BUT .... we immediately thought of a thousand other things we could have done during the two hours that we viewed this movie!

Oh, Look @ Me Winning!

Mine you what you don't know? .... I am sporting my Erik Javets hat and my Hermes scarf that Stephen bought me in Paris France! I am the happiest person that I know how to be! Hanging out with Megan & Tim and my beloved Stephen! I love my life!
Who cares that I'm only a two dollar show better?
I still won!

Get Straight Smooth Sexy!

It's called Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy! Have you ever wished that your hair was more manageable? Softer? Smoother? Had more shine? I certainly did something about it!!!
This revolutionary smoothing system infuses Keratin deep into the hair cuticle, eliminating up to ninety-five percent of frizz and curl, leaving the hair smooth, shiny and luxurious! Megan was so desperate to see my new "do" and so I had Stephen take a picture....just wish I had put some make up on etc....


Well, I can't wash my hair for over three days and if I get any "kinks" when I wake up the next three mornings I must straighten my hair again with a iron......but so far it was worth the relaxing few hours @ the salon this afternoon! My hair feels so marvelous! It is such the RAGE in LA and I just had to jump on the band wagon!
And I must add....Stephen said, with a twinkle in his eyes, that he liked the new straight hair!

A Racehorse Sent From Heaven!

On a day that racing will cherish for a long time, a historic moment....Zenyatta beat the boys!!!! Oh my, did she! She won the male domain for all of its previous 25 years! She beat the boys by a length! The thousands of signs scattered about the crowd--Girl Power, they bounced up and down in a sea of unrestrained joy! (Megan @ I were one of those sign wavers) Zenyatta not only won one for the underdogs, but did wonders for female pride! In the paddock she did a few little steps before letting Mike Smith (the jockey) climb aboard and then she headed off to stomp some testosterone!
Megan and I were with our handsome male counter parts (Tim & Stephen) who had betted on 2nd place Gio Ponti....they were not as excited because they lost.....But hey, she beat who ever showed up!

Our Perfect Vacation Begins.....

Our plane touched down in Los Angeles & we headed straight to In-N-Out!!! It was delicious! Think double, double animal style with the best fries!


Bright and early our darling Megan showed up for a fun filled day! While Stephen was basking on the beach, studying the Racing Form.... Meg was getting her hair cut by the world famous Cat....a recovering Heroin Addict who just happens to be a wizard with the scissors!


Next stop was El Sombrero on Manhattan Beach Ave! A long time favorite....sadly, the restaurant had burned down but to our delight ....it has risen from the ashes! Fish tacos & chile rellenos , old fashion root beer!


On the corner of Manhattan Beach Blvd & Manhattan Beach Ave .....Father & Daughter pose with our beloved Pacific Ocean in the background!


Stephen headed back to the beach and of course Megan and I went shopping! We did a little Christmas shopping even! Megan got THE cutest jeans ever and I got a flashy fun scarf that I'll be sporting through the coming years!

Meg runs home and picks up Tim for our evening @ the beach!...................

Tim gets an early birthday present when we meet for Sushi Friday evening! OU Football hoodies are in big demand in LA!



Blood Orange cocktails with jalapeno???? Delicious! We had the most enjoyable evening and little did we know .... it was just the beginning of the most WONDERFUL weekend ever!


Let's go home & or back to our luxury hotel and get a good nights sleep so we'll be fresh for the BREEDER'S CUP CLASSIC!
Dreaming of turf races and mile & 6 furlong races? Cornbeef sandwiches and Zenyatta!

Strolling Along The Boulevard....Oh How Sweet!

Birthday " Invites" Have Been Mailed!

Didn't Kim do the most fabulous job with the invitations and these are the cutest pictures of Dillan! Kim & Beau are having fun planning Dillan's first birthday party! We can't wait..... there is so much to be thankful for this year!



Dillan will celebrate her 1st birthday on November 25th, the night before Thanksgiving! We are celebrating here at Abuelo and Grandma Tay Tay's on the Sunday prior @ 4:00 in the afternoon! If you don't get an invite for some reason and want to come, just let us know!! The more the merrier!

The Bees Were Buzzing & Clowns Were......

Clowning around! What a great Halloween The Taylors Experienced!



Aaaaaah! There's some really scary ghost & goblins out here! But Dillan wasn't scared one bit.... just very curious!


To bee or not to bee? This sweet little Taylor family decided to BEE!!!!


Stephen loves Halloween!


While our Halloween was winding down, Megan's was revving up out in California! She went as Little Edie Bouvier Beale from the movie, Grey Gardens! Halloween parties in Los Feliz rock! Tim carved this cool pumpkin!


Mommy Bee & Baby Bee!


Dillan and Grandma Tay.... awaiting the Boo Ha Ha Brookside Parade!


Happy Halloween 2009!


We started out with over 300 pieces of candy and gave out one per goblin! It's so popular to trick or treat in Fashionable Utica Square neighborhoods!

Meg Taylor and Beau Taylor are now friends.

I received a notice today that my two children are friends now! Can you imagine how SHOCKED I was to hear this bit of news? I thought or maybe just assumed, that they were friends when they were little, in elementary school, Junior & high school, through the college years and their 20's....I guess they were just sister and brother, siblings? It's so comforting to know they are now friends!!! And to think this "great news" came to me through an Internet social network! Thank you Facebook for creating a friendship between my children!

Where Is Love?

I found it with my friends last week! With Lynne, Kerri, Brooke and baby Matine! What a fun day!