I think you have the wrong number....

A few weeks ago we celebrated my Grandpa's 90th birthday! My grandpa is such a positive man, he's always enjoyed life to the fullest. I talk with him every week on Sunday. So this Sunday I called him on the regular number and he didn't answer and there was no voicemail. I had a 2nd number saved on my cell phone. I called it. A man answered. "Hi Grandpa! It's Kate!" The man replies, "Kate, this is not your grandpa. I think you have the wrong number." Then we proceeded with the customary apology by me and explanation by him about why I might have dialed the wrong number. We probaby talked for about 5 minutes. What a nice man. I went through my phone numbers in my phone and deleted this wrong number. I decided to just wait and call Grandpa later. Maybe 3 hours later I went through my recent call list and pushed the redial for Grandpa. Oops! Somehow I called the SAME WRONG NUMBER! How did this happen since I deleted the number? Apparently it was deleted from the phone book but not the dialed number list. The man was so nice and we had another conversation which lasted a couple of minutes. I just felt so silly! After that I didn't want to risk any possibility of misdialing again, so I just waited until Grandpa called me later. Ha... has this ever happened to anyone else??

We did have a fun family party to celebrate Grandpa's 90th! I hope this is a year of blessings for him.

On Sunday - the same days as the wrong number conversations- we celebrated Ryan's grandmother' 80th birthday! Happy Birthday Mamaw! We drove down to Lindale, TX (hometown of Miranda Lambert :) ) for a rocking celebration at the retirement community. Here is Mamaw with Ryan and his siblings, Amanda and Greg.

The best part of any birthday celebration is playing with our cute nieces! We love Kiersi and Kayden!

Here is the birthday girl with the whole family. Ryan and I are so blessed to have wonderful grandparents who have always reminded us that family is so important!

Maybe next time I'll just keep driving...

{Photo Credit}

Last night I drove up to Denton to hang out with some friends. On the way up there I realized that I needed to stop and get gas for my car so I wouldn't have to do it on my way home in the dark. I immediately thought of how much I appreciate that if Ryan and I are in the car together he always pumps my gas. For some people that may seem silly or old fashioned, but I love it!

I also have to share honestly that the first time my mom ever made me put gas in our car after I got my permit, I cried. Yes. CRIED. I told her it was too embarrassing and that somebody might see me. Hahaha, I look back on that moment with shame that I was so young and spoiled.

I decided to get gas at the Racetrack that we usually went to. I got out of the car. Eww. It was the kind of hot day that immediately makes you sweat. I realized that instead of opening my gas pump I had opened my trunk. Oops. Easy mistake to fix. I swiped my card. I went through the series of yes/ no questions that each take 30 seconds to process. Finally the screen pops up with "transaction interrupted." So I went through the process again... still sweating... only to get the same results. I was tired of standing there so I got back in my car to drive down the street to Quick Trip. As I started driving I heard a clanking sound. I looked out the window and realized that I left my gas cap unscrewed and the little gas door open. I guess I could have pulled up into a parking spot, but no, I immediately just get out of my car. As I'm standing there fixing the cap situation I realize that I have created a traffic block in the gas station parking lot. Oh my gosh, this situation couldn't get any more awkward! Ahh... so I ended up getting gas later. It was much more uneventful.

Cooking with the Bradleys

Since my blog title is Breakfast with the Bradleys, I figure I should mention food every once in a while. Before moving to our new apartment, I did most of our grocery shopping at Super Target. I love Super Target! In my experience, it was always far superior to Walmart, though I know people who will point out that Walmart is cheaper. Maybe sometimes, but it was always more crowded, stinkier, dirtier, undecorated, and had fluorescent lighting. So I generally refused to go to Walmart.

After moving, Super Target is not really an option because it is too far away for a grocery trip. I have settled on this. I started shopping at Walmart but was proven right in thinking that even though its cheap, part of the cheapness is due to quality. Especially with fruit and vegetables. So yesterday Ryan and I took a date to Central Market! I was expecting it to be outrageously expensive and maybe it is depending on what you buy, but we purchased produce on sale for the same or cheaper prices than Walmart.

I know that Walmart is more practical for weekly use, but its nice to know that an occasional produce excursion to Central Market won't break the bank!

One fun thing we got at Central Market was filet mignon. Yes, it was a little pricey, but we actually got 4 small filets for a much cheaper price than going out to eat. We spent our Saturday night enjoying a fine home cooked meal of steak, potatoes, and golden glazed beets and carrots. It was amazing and way cheaper than it would cost us to go out to eat even at a cheaper place like Chili's. I was super happy with the way this meal turned out!

Another thing I made this week was sugar cookies that were shaped like cupcakes. I saw these cookie cutters at Crate and Barrel a few weeks ago and was super excited when my mom surprised me with them as a gift! I decorated them using Betty Crocker rainbow chip icing (so much better than Pillsbury's funfetti!) and made it so that a rainbow chip was always right on the top of the "cupcake"

I made the cookies because we had some church friends over that night. Okay, I actually made the cookies because they seemed cute and delicious, but it was fun to share them with other people! Since they looked like cupcakes I served them on my cupcake tier. They look awesome for about 1 hour in the afternoon. Sadly, they were too heavy (or not as crunchy as they could have been), and after a while they started drooping and falling apart. Oh well, they still tasted great!

And my last creation from last week was the "potato-tinis" that I made when my best friend Erica joined us for a Bacherlorette viewing. I made mashed potatoes and served them in a martini glass, topped with sour cream, cheese, and chives! I stole this idea from my friend Kathryn's wedding reception but it was very easy to recreate and entertaining to serve and eat!

I love that I have more time to cook in the summer!

I'm going to PUMP me up!

Before my story begins, make sure you have read the title of this post in an authentic Arnold Schwarzenegger voice. Good. So today I went to check out the gym at our new apartment. I'll admit that I haven't been in a gym since I graduated college. Our old apartment had a "work out" facility but it was really just a treadmill. My goal had been to start working out as soon as we were moved and home from vacation because I want to be a hot wife. I guess I want to be healthy too.

I wish that I was one of those people who loves to work out. But I'm not. I don't like sweating. I don't ever know what to wear. It takes up time I could be doing something else. I get bored easily. You have to shower afterwards. However, I would like to become someone who enjoys working out so I'm trying to change.

I decided that today was the day to become someone who works out. (Ok, so yesterday was supposed to be the day but I got busy applying for jobs and decorating our guest room......). I walked over to the gym. I went up to the side door. I pulled on it. I pulled on it some more. It wouldn't open, though it was obviously unlocked. So, knowing that the people inside the gym can see me through the windows, I casually gave up and walked through the pool area, into the office, down the hallway and went in through the back way.

The first thing I was excited about in the gym was the elliptical machine. I used to enjoy using the ones at UNT (well, as much as you can enjoy sweating on a machine). I climbed on. Squeak. What is that? Squeak. Oh, I think this machine is a little rusty. SQUEAK! Oh my goodness- this machine is so awkwardly loud! I can't possibly pretend that this is okay. After about 10 seconds of hard working out, I hopped off. I'm sure everyone in the room was laughing at me in their head. I got on a different elliptical. I put in a tough 5 minutes and burned about 50 calories before I was ready for something else.

I noticed there were 2 TVs in the gym. I love watching TV while I work out! It keeps me distracted from watching the clock. But, I didn't see the remote and since I was already feeling like a schmo I decided not to attempt a massive remote search.

Instead I attempt to use the weight machines. Other people are using them so easily, I'm sure I can figure it out! I think every machine I walked up to had complicated instructions for changing the seat height or weight or angle of the bars. I can't help it that I'm short and not as strong as these other fitness pros!

After giving up on the weight machines, I got on the bike. That was hard. So I got on the treadmill to walk. With no TV, the time passed pretty slow....

In the end, I cut my workout short because everything was so awkward. I decided that I need to go back tomorrow at a time when Ryan can go with me. Working out is hard enough, I don't need to feel like a nerd just walking into the gym. :)

2 Years and Still in Love!

Yesterday was our 2 year anniversary. Wow. Its crazy to think that its been 2 years. In some ways, it seems like our wedding wasn't that long ago. But at the same time I feel like we've been married for a long time because we already have so many fun memories. Being married to Ryan is so much fun and I love the way he makes me laugh all the time! Of course we've had our share of difficult moments but when I look back over our 2 years I feel so blessed.

We celebrated our anniversary by going to eat at Saltgrass. We both got really good filet mignon. I think Saltgrass is quickly becoming one of my new favorite special occasion restaurants. We were so funny sitting at our table, each time we took a bite we talked about how good our steaks were!

Ryan also brought me home a beautiful bouquet of white rose! It made me feel like a bride all over again! On to year 3.....

Home Sweet Home

We are all moved in to our new apartment. We stayed up past midnight getting the final things packed on Friday night. Wow. We ended up with WAY too many boxes. It's shocking how many boxes it takes to pack stuff. Bright and early Saturday morning we packed up and headed out to our new apartment. We were so thankful to have the help of Bruce and Cindy (Ryan's parents), Brian and Amanda (my sister and brother in-law), and Erica ( my best friend!). Without them moving day would have been alot longer. True friends are the ones that help you move.

Since arriving Saturday morning we've been busy unpacking and setting up our new home. It is much more fun to unpack than to pack! I'd rather figure out where to put all of our decor than have to worry about packing it so it doesn't break. One of my favorite things about our new apartment is our view. We have a big window in our living room and sliding glass doors that open up to our patio area. Its so pretty when the sunlight shines through. .

The very 1st thing I set up was my pink kitchen! Cindy and Erica helped me quickly get everything out of boxes and nestled in.
On Sunday we went to Royse City to celebrate the 4th of July. We ate some good cooking at Ryan's parents and played card games. I won!!!!!

Cosby didn't quite understand fireworks. He mostly stared at us, looking away from the fireworks.

Amanda and Brian watched fireworks with us!

Tomorrow we are leaving for VanCouver, Canada for a great vacation with my family. I will share all about it when we return!

Happily Ever After... Mr. and Mrs. Cox

This posting is dedicated to my high school best friend, Kathryn. Kathryn and I became best friends in high school. We both loved theatre and musicals. We were jokingly the co-presidents of the Kool Kat Kate and Kathryn Klub (taken from the original Kool Kat Kate Klub, but that's another story...). In college we roomed together for our 1st 2 years. I have happy memories of how excited we were to decorate our very first dorm room together! So many trips to the Container Store, Super Target, and Bed, Bath, and Beyond! But we're both grown up now and this past Saturday night she became Mrs. Kathryn Cox! Her wedding was so beautiful!

Walking down the aisle with her dad. What a diva!
Up at the altar

The big kiss!

Mr. and Mrs. Cox!

Walking into the reception ballroom

Gorgeous bridal portrait

With our other high school best friend, Sarah... We're all wives now!

With my own handsome husband!

I hope Kathryn and her husband Jon have happy marriage. The wedding was perfect, but that's only the beginning. You have the rest of your lives to love each other.