It's Hip to Be Square

On our most recent jaunt to Dallas Hubs and I stayed with my folks for a few nights in McKinney. We both grew up in McKinney and were excited to see how much it has grown and how much cooler it has become since we were kids. In sixth grade we were stoked just to get a Chili's, now there are a ton of restaurants and entertaining things to do.


What is most impressive about McKinney's regentrification (not that it was ever bad) is the historic square. I worked on the square in high school at a fabulous boutique called Cotton Hearts. It is the quaintest, most relaxed and stylish women's clothing store you could ever hope to stumble upon. Cotton Hearts has lived on the square in the same spot for almost twenty years.

Images courtesy of katherinerobertsonphotography.com

Gorgeous new over-sized flower pots spill colorful prettiness on every corner of the square.


But Cotton Hearts is no longer surrounded by small country-styled stores and antique malls. Today you can find chic restaurants (open later than 5:00 pm, might I add), art galleries, wine tastings, home interior stores, live music, pubs and even a hotel!



Hubs and I enjoyed Square Burger. We enjoyed it so much that we almost ate it all before we could even get a photo.



Sauce, is a rustic yet modern Italian restaurant that reminds us of DC restaurants. Cool and skinny.


One can not go to the square in McKinney without having a slice of pie from the Pantry. It just wouldn't be Christian, or human for that matter. "How good is their pie?" you ask. So good that I served it at my wedding instead of cake. That's damn good.


Super cute idea for displaying photos from Smitten. The pictures are standing up in red beans. Much better use for beans than eating them.



There is a really well organized and curated furniture consignment shop where we found this corner pew on sale for $225. Still wish that we would have adopted it and brought it home to live around the game table in our family room. It would be all to appropriate considering the Hubs is the son of a preacher man.





My new favorite interior decor store has to be Gray Living. Look how yummy. Plus, I'm a total sucker for all things gray.





An old and extremely out-dated store was turned into what is now, Sharla's. The fun part is that we actually know Sharla as she is the mom of one of our high school friends. She opened this ahh-mazing cosmetic store a while back but recently moved into what can only be described as an utterly drool-worthy space. The details are beyond fabulous.




If you are ever in Dallas and want to see a cool place with even cooler people, head on up 75 to McKinney. The Square is something that you don't want to miss. Unless you're not into interesting places and great food, but that's your deal.

No Photo?

Trinidad is amazing and many of you have been asking for photos and updates and I have a billion posts written (in my head) but nothing to post. Why??

This may sound lame but I left my camera at a friend's house and she is in the States until mid April. There are cool pics on that wee little camera on house arrest on the Northern Ridge.

The folks are coming down today and we will be having many more adventures and I will be sure to capture them on my back up camera. Stay tuned!

For now, enjoy a bit of locally loved Trini food. It's called Doubles and it is the messiest most delicious thing ever. You buy it off the street from a (sanitation inspected) street cart. It is some sort of crepe like bread with a mixture of chickpeas, spices and other "stuff" folded inside. You have to eat it right there on the street or else risk losing it to the floor of your car or it bonding with the wax paper it's wrapped in. It looks a bit like vomit but I'm pretty certain it isn't.

Now that's a Philly. Or is it?

This past week BF and I made the quick trip up to Philadelphia to see his god parents. They are the best host and hostess of ever. They have a lovely country home out in Pheonixville, that they call the "Creek Retreat." This home makes my little interior design heart flutter wildly.

Other than hanging out with our family friends and enjoying their standard poodle, Looey, we also played in the city. We started by going to Independence Hall and then to the Liberty Bell. I had never seen it and was quite impressed. Did I mention that the windchill was 5 degrees? Oh, it was. C-O-L-D.

Half-popped collar? That could be a thing. Or could it?

But that didn't stop us from taking a few fine self-portraits!

After soaking in some history we were jonesing for a cheesesteak and heard the place to go for all food is Reading Market Station. And it did not let us down. Imagine a mall but for food. And a great deal of Amish people. They make great food.

If you don't want to be a total tourist, make sure that you pronounce this correctly. It is "Redding," not "Reading." It's not your fault they don't know how to spell.

I heart shrimp. Some of these were as big as my face.

Whomever figured out that chocolate chip cookies could only be made better by dipping them in chocolate is my best friend.

There was even a sweet little used book shop in the market where BF found a treasure.

The whole trip was perfect, minus the blizzard that we drove through on the way back to D.C. But BF can even make that fun!

Cheers!