What did I do on my birthday weekend? On Saturday Dave took me to a special advanced screening of Beauty & the Beast 3D. Another fun fact? It is my favorite Disney movie ever. Can you believe it is over 20 years old? Yeah, me either. It was fun to see it on the big screen again, even though I think 3D movies are overrated. I may have even teared up during the dance scene. Quite a few parents even brought their daughters dressed as Belle. If I had a daughter I would have done that too. Afterward we went to La Madeleine and lunched like we were at a Paris cafe. The tables were so close together (just like in France) that we were practically touching our neighbor’s chairs. Parisians certain like to pack in the people. It was a very Ooh La La day if I do say so myself. And I do!

On Sunday we brunched with friends at Blue Mesa and did some shopping in the afternoon. Yet another fun fact? I was born on a Sunday around 3:30 PM. Dave made my birthday dinner reservations at Craft. It is my favorite restaurant in Dallas, and it didn’t disappoint again this year. I almost always get braised beef or pork, and it is always amazing.

Yes, it looks a little like baby food, but trust me it is the best food ever even if Chef Tom didn’t cook it this time. We had: braised pork belly and pineapples , swordfish, braised beef short ribs, butternut squash puree, yukon gold mashed potato puree, sticky toffee pudding, and chocolate cake.

They always serve several amuse bouches also. We had a sweet potato and pecan soup, as well as fresh pears and caramel. They also served a trio of cookies. I was disappointed that caramel corn wasn’t on the menu that night, but they brought me a special bag to take home anyway. I have never been so full, ever.

I took Monday off to renew my drivers license, and we wasted 3 hours standing out in the rain and in a waiting room. Not the most glamorous ending to a long birthday weekend, but we munched on caramel corn while we waited and caramel corn makes everything better. What is even better? Having an awesome husband who took me to do all of the above, not to mention all the fabulous gifts including new Coach sunglasses and perfume plus more charms for my new Pandora bracelet. Spoiled. xoxo

xoxo,
Laurie

I don’t know if you heard, but we had another ice/snow storm here in the Dallas area. I was snowed in and couldn’t go to work for four days. One of those days we had no power, another of those days I spun out on the way to the grocery store and got a flat tire. Another day I discovered I actually had a nail in my tire (causing the flat), and yet another day that I tried to go to work I spun out again. I officially hate sleet, snow and ice. It sure is pretty though.

On Valentine’s Day we both took the day off and hung out together at home, and then went out for a delicious five course fondue dinner. It’s hard to believe you can get full off of little bites like that, but I always walk out of there feeling so uncomfortably full.

We’re also planning a trip to Paris this Spring, and I am so excited. I’ve bought some study guides to refresh my memory, and I’m practicing in my car everyday at lunch. Even Dave is practicing. Oui, oui! I would love recommendations if you have been for places to stay and things we absolutely can’t miss. I am keeping a list and will no doubt be rambling about this until the plane takes off. I hope you are all having a great month so far! À bientôt!

I’m sure you’ve heard the commercials for the company, and actually I’ve been to a few of their “parties” hosted by friends in the past few years. It is really fun to get together with a group of women and enjoy a girl’s afternoon (or night) discussing the products and educating women about their bodies. It is even more fun if you have a mixture of different kinds of people, some who are really comfortable with sharing their experiences and others who are hesitant at first. Everyone really lets loose eventually and has a great time.

I am a huge fan of Coochy. I feel a little dirty saying that, but it’s true. It is the most fantastic shaving cream EVER. It is seriously LIFE CHANGING. You will never ever ever want to use any other product again. Why? It is a rash-preventing cream that relaxes the hair follicle which gives you a clean, smooth shave. It helps eliminate red bumps from shaving (for both men and women), and can even be used as a hair conditioner. It is FAB-U-LOUS. I cannot say it enough. I have bought it many times back in the day when it only came in Original and Pear Berry. It now comes in Green Tea, Grapefruit and Pomegranate too. I have loved getting to try the new scents, and love that these are travel size.

The other products are pretty great too. I love the smell and taste of both Ex-T-Cee and Dust Me Pink, and the lubes and toys are good quality too. They have a huge assortment of products, and are allowing me to share the love this Valentine’s Day with you!

Would you like to win a Mini Nights of Passion variety pack that includes all of Pure Romance’s most popular products in one convenient collection including a bottle of Aura, Ex-T-Cee, Excape, Sensations and Sweet Seduction?

Tell me who what you are doing for Valentines day and which Pure Romance product you’d most like to help spice it up (mandatory). You can be as vague or detailed as you’d like, and please check out their site. To receive extra entries:

1) Follow me, @laurie_pooh on Twitter and send the following message:

I entered to win a Mini Nights of Passion variety pack from @laurie_pooh and @pure_romance: http://tinyurl.com/PRVDAY

2) Follow my blog using the Google Connect in my sidebar to the right.
3) Subscribe to my blog in a reader.

U.S only, please. The winner will be selected randomly from all valid entries on or around February 17. You must leave a comment letting me know which product you’d like to spice up your life, as well as additional comments letting me know what else you have done to earn extra entries. Please also use your real first name and leave a valid way for me to contact you should you be selected as the winner. You will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before another winner is selected. Good Luck!

Disclosure: While Pure Romance sponsored this review, the opinions I’ve expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. I did not receive monetary compensation, however I did receive the complementary products listed above from the sponsor and Global Influence.

I’ve been stuck at home due to the ice/snow storm for FOUR days. When FedEx came knocking (literally because our power was out for over 10 hours on Wednesday and the doorbell didn’t work), it was like a care package from above. I felt guilty that the poor delivery people were out in the freezing cold and driving on dangerous roads with the crazies, but I got over that really fast when I open the box and the familiar scent of chocolate filled my nostrils.

The party the night before provided lots of tips and recipes. The problem with that is with ice on the roads, I couldn’t venture out to get extra ingredients required to make some of the fancier drinks. Impatient, I decided to try a small shot of the raspberry infused vodka, and paired it with what else? A Double Raspberry Truffle. If you know me, you know raspberry is my favorite flavor. I am not exaggerating when I say this was the best thing I have consumed all week.

I searched the freezer for anything else I could use to make a cocktail. I found some frozen raspberries, a Diet Dr. Pepper and crushed ice. Voila: Chocolate Raspberry Martini! It was delish if I do say so myself.

Rachel of A Southern Fairy Tale offered this recipe suggestion, which I plan to try as soon as I can safely get to the grocery store for some produce!

There are more drink recipes available at http://drinkgodiva.com, but here is my personal favorite drink recipe Godiva provided which would be perfect for a Valentine’s Day spent at home with your sweetie or a night with the girls (paired with a truffle of course)!

Sealed With a Kiss
Ingredients:

1 ounce Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Infused Vodka

1/2 ounce Crème de Cassis

Champagne

Preparation:
1. Combine Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Infused Vodka and Crème de Cassis into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a champagne flute.
3. Top off with chilled champagne.
Ideal Serving Glass:

Champagne flute

Yield:
1 drink

If you have a favorite drink recipe, let me know!

Disclosure: I was not monetarily compensated for this post, however I was sent the pictured tasting kit and press information from the PR firm representing Godiva Chocolatier.

Actually Dave and I have agreed to tone down the gift-giving this year and just exchange cards and go to dinner. Which is perfect. Why? One of my favorite websites, Tiny Prints, offers a huge selection of Valentine’s Day cards for everyone from your husband to your kids. They are awesome. I promise. Plus you can personalize them. Me? I like this one. Duh.

Love is a crazy force that makes us do things that are sometimes out of character. What have you done or would you do for love?

When Dave and I were dating, I had plans to meet up with him and some other friends at a restaurant. It was raining hard, but I was determined to not miss it or be late. I left my apartment and headed toward my destination, but the rain started coming down harder and harder and eventually turned to hail. I could barely see the road in front of me, so I decided to turn around and go back. I did a u-turn in a busy intersection, and my Mustang ended up spinning 360 degrees onto a bridge. Luckily I wasn’t hurt and didn’t hit the median, but I was shaken up. When I got back home I rushed out of my car in such a hurry that left my car running with my keys inside. Luckily I had my phone in my hand, so I was able to call my parents to bring over my spare key.

So I guess I can say I was willing to risk my life for love. I totally could have died. Luckily for Dave I didn’t. You’re welcome, dear.

What would you do/have you done for love?

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints via Global Influence. I have been a customer of theirs several times in the past. I was not monetarily compensated, however I will receive complementary products from the sponsor. The opinions expressed are my own.

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Valentines Day cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars.

I took a few weeks off from the Internet (blogging, Facebook, Twitter) to enjoy time with my friends and family around the holidays. It wasn’t on purpose, but looking back to previous years, it seems to be what naturally happens. I am okay with that. I welcome the break, and I’m sure everyone else does too.

What haven’t I posted about? We had a wonderful Christmas! Dave and I both had the week off from work, so we spent time together enjoying the holiday events in our city and doing things around the house. We spent Christmas Day with my parents and enjoyed the gifts from each other and our families.

Did you see? We spotted the most wonderful sign on Christmas. There will be an In-N-Out in Frisco, only a few minutes from our house. What a fantastic gift, right?! I have already been by to take photos of their progress. There will be lots more I’m sure as the construction continues. It’s a dream come true, except that I won’t own it. Getting the chance to eat there is a close second best though, and I will no doubt need to join a gym again to counter balance the 20 pounds I will likely gain from eating there.

For New Years Eve we went out to dinner and spent a little time at Dave & Busters before going home and ringing in the New Year with Dick Clark, Brownie, and a bottle of Sparkling Grape Juice. We even had our own party favors including hats, glasses, and noise makers.

My Birthday was this weekend, and I spent the day getting my hair and nails done after brunch at Le Peep. Dave took me to dinner at Craft, one of my favorite restaurants, and we had one of the best meals ever. I am pretty sure I am still full. Afterward we went to a movie. In case you were wondering, Blue Valentine ends abruptly and is super depressing. Both Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling were fantastic in it though, and it was interesting to see her wearing my entire 1996 Old Navy wardrobe in it.

Today we went to brunch and while we were there it starting snowing. When we got home the ground was covered and we built a snowman. It has been a good weekend and year so far. I haven’t done resolutions for a few years now (who ever keeps them anyway?), but I am really hoping 2011 turns out to be a year to remember. There are definitely things I want to do and accomplish. I am really looking forward to some happy changes and events. I wish that for all of you too!