Saturday, March 7, 2015

Hearts, flowers and a week feeling at home in AR

It has been 12 days since I last saw Joey, and while enjoying what we have living 1200 miles apart can be difficult at times, what I have in a friendship is truly unique and very much a blessing, something I will never take for granted.  Lets just hope the next 12 days goes as quickly as the last.

On February 14,  just after midnight, I landed in Memphis. I arrived to beautiful flowers,  an incredible airport kiss and a beautiful handmade Valentine! *(see handmade below) Our plan was to head to Little Rock in the early afternoon, settle in, eat dinner, go to a show and then head out on the town. We did, and it was amazing!

Our way back from Little Rock was a race against the ice clock. We stopped for groceries, knowing we would be stuck for a few days with the impending storm. We headed home, and prepared a wonderful meal and hunkered down for a few days of captive studio time. It was the most wonderfully relaxing 10 day break from school that I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. I am not one to be a homebody, but this time, it was just what I needed. We did venture out from time to time, and even managed to take in a movie the night before I returned home.

So what did we do/see?:

In Little Rock we went to:

the Flying Saucer     -FM rating 10
 When we couldn't get into the Flying Fish for dinner we went on a hunt for another suitable eatery. This place boasted a HUGE craft list and basically was one of the most progressive I have seen in AR yet. CUDOS to them. Valentines special, a flight of sours, some hard to get stuff too. Food was tasty and well worth the stop.

The Studio Theater FM rating 8+ 
Maybe it was just the production we saw, Rehearsal for Murder, which was a bit dry and not as interactive as we expected? This is an incredibly progressive space however and the bar boasts $7. glasses of wine that are basically 10oz pours AND you can take them into the theater with you.  

Willie D's Piano Bar FM rating 7 
Entertainment was great, and there is a dance floor upstairs, but the drinks sucked - order Macros as they are not as big of a price gouge.

The Flying Fish FM hangover rating 12++
A boatload of really fresh fish (we had the grilled trout) and OYSTERS served up with freshly ground  cocktail sauce.  All that was missing was the Bloody Mary. Sunday brunch was not overly crowded.

Historic Arkansas Museum FM rating 12++ (even while hungover) 
Incredible collection for such a small place and its free!

The movie we saw?
Fifty Shades of Grey  FM rating- 0 it SUCKED!!! 
boring, abusive, not worth the money or the time


*the handmade rules:
Birthday and Christmas gifts are to be handmade and/or up-cycled and if its up-cycled it has to cost less than $5.00.
Cards given on Valentines Day and other important dates determined by us- have to be handmade
Food, when prepared at home has to be as sexy as possible so that it evokes a sense of gratitude for the ability to share each others company and mindfulness of eating.

Why these rules? Everything about learning to love yourself as well as each other is a journey in mindfulness. Exchanging things that are handmade with each other creates the time for reflection on this mindfulness. Everything we do for each other, we also do for ourselves.
























Our next Adventure? NCECA