summer bucket list #9 - jalapeno margaritas

This post requires very little introduction. If margaritas are good, jalapeno margaritas are better. Especially poolside. 

Enough said.

THE GOODS:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1-1/2 cups good tequila
• 1/2 cup orange liqueur (Triple Sec or Grand Marnier or similar)
• 3/4 cup lime juice
• 1 sliced jalapeno
• lime slices for garnish
• Kosher salt (optional)
• ice

STEP ONE: Make your simple syrup. On the stovetop combine the sugar and water over medium-high heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Don't let it boil, otherwise you will have carmel, and that's not great for margaritas. Allow this to cool.

If you are impatient, just use less water in the pot and add a bunch of ice cubes after. I'm a lazy genius.

STEP TWO: Combine all ingredients into a pitcher. Stir it around and rough up the jalapenos a bit with a wooden spoon. If you only want a hint of heat, strain out the jalapenos before you serve. 

STEP THREE: Rub the rim of your glass with a sliced lime. Pour your salt onto a plate. Swish the glass rim into the salt. Fill the cup with ice, pour over your delicious concoction, and serve. Serves 3-4.

I'm a Texan girl who used to eat jalapenos straight off the plant as a child. My stomach can't quite handle that much heat now, but I do like things spicy. About 10 minutes into this drink I did want to die just a little bit. I took out my jalapeno slices and was good to go again. You could also use less jalapeno or take the seeds out.

Word to the wise, if you have any left over, for the love of God don't store them overnight in the fridge with the jalapenos still in the pitcher. Not that I did that.

Another item checked off our summer bucket list! This was the most delicious, by far.

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summer bucket list #2 - nature and science museum

We are tracking along nicely on our summer bucket list. Last week my sweet (albeit moderately insane) friend Kristi agreed to accompany me and both boys to the Perot Nature and Science Museum here in Dallas. I didn't even have to pay her. She'll never make that mistake again. 

In my infinite wisdom I misread the member hours online and we were there an hour early. This would not have been a big deal normally since they have outdoor things around the museum, except that it was raining. Well played, Tara.

summer bucket list #14: yummy (healthy) frozen yogurt popsicles

One of the more delicious items that I added to our summer bucket list is making homemade popsicles. It's crazy-simple, yet somehow, I completely forgot to do this last summer. Whoops. We'll chock that up to pregnancy brain (along with everything else I neglected to do last year).

These are beyond simple to make, like to the point that it barely qualifies as a recipe. There are thousands of things you can do to customize them to your liking.

summer bucket list #3 - splash pad

We crossed another item off our Summer Bucket List this week when we visited Klyde Warren Park in Dallas. This park is the bomb. Fountains everywhere, a stage for outdoor concerts, an open air library, a restaurant, and food trucks galore. Oh, and the biggest, cleanest family sized public bathroom you've ever seen...and the entire ceiling is a giant stained glass style skylight. It's gorgeous. I didn't take a photo because, well, it seemed creepy. 

I'm ashamed to say that this was my first visit, even though my office where I worked day in and day out was within walking distance. One big bonus of our summer list is that we will finally to do all of the great things in our city that we tell visitors to do.

To be super honest, parking downtown just makes me crazy. You either have to pay a billion dollars or be lucky enough to find a meter and have change or have the stupid app on your phone. Mostly I avoid it at all costs. Thankfully, my friends Maryam from hi and hello blog and Jane from Art by JC Cheek told me that Nasher and DMA members get free parking. 

Sah-weet.

And, no, not all of my friends have blogs. Just these two. And like 4 more. That's it. I think.

we bought a zoo! (membership)

We are busy plowing through our summer bucket list at the Lenney house. This weekend we loaded up the fam, along with sister Meredith and Mr. Kendall, and headed to the Dallas Zoo. I'm a little embarrassed to say that even though we live in Dallas, we had never taken the boys here. In fact, the Hubs and I hadn't been in almost ten years. Whoops. Being TCU graduates and all, we are Fort Worth Zoo snobs because, well, it's awesome.

If you live near the area and haven't been in awhile, I highly recommend that you check it out. They've made some major improvements. We had a great time checking out the exhibits, splashing in the kids area, riding the monorail and carousel, touching a snake, and best of all, Henry got to feed a giraffe. Have you ever seen one up close? Their heads are ginormous.

brilliant zoo tip: dress your kid in bright colors and stripes to very quickly locate him in the crowd.
it also seems to attract animal attention, which was awesome.

swinging between the two suckers, I mean, willing participants.

he was totally brave, as long as I touched it first.
sidebar- I know you're not reading this blog for fashion advice,
but check the related links below for info on my minty dream fossil watch and shorts!
the mint glasses are from Target

that face

riding high

watching momma and baby apes

I can relate, momma.

I love all the statue photo ops

best part of the trip

deep thoughts with gorillas

chomp

holy crap, a family photo where nobody is screaming!

momma, we're going faaaaaster!

this kid

This post was mostly an excuse to show cute pictures of Henry. Max was just happy to be outside, rolling along in the stroller.

We just happened to get a coupon in the mail for a discounted family membership, so it will pay for itself in 2 visits. Just $89 for a full year, including parking. Score. I love a good deal.

What are you guys up to this summer? Any good zoos in your hometown?


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