Golf is on the upswing and with good reason. Golf's inherent social distancing and outdoor setting make it a safer activity than many others. Plus, golf is truly a game that (almost) everyone can play. It is a sport for all ages and all levels of ability. It doesn’t matter if you are particularly tall or strong, all body types can succeed. Even a lack of flexibility or athleticism can be counteracted with savvy and skill around the greens. 

We may be deep in the heart of Texas, but our great state has managed to claw its way to the top of the culinary scene -  and that scene includes lobster and lots of it. We love “lob-STER” (not pronounced “LOB-stah” in the Lone Star State). Personally, I have a soft spot for this hard-shelled crustacean. I lob it, and in my opinion, when it comes to the ultimate dinner, the epitome of "treating yourself" is ordering a lobster dish. "I'll have the lobster” is a bold order that usually earns ooohs and aaahs from around the table. 

For me, childhood summers were filled with push-ups and creamsicles, plus ICEEs, Slurpees and Slush Puppies - you know the beverages responsible for giving brain freeze to millions? 7-Eleven was Saturday heaven! And there was Baskin-Robbins ... and if Instagram was a thing, it would have been filled with colorful photos of Lucky Charms, Pop Tarts Toaster Pastries, and Froot Loops: a rainbow of brightly colored cereal rings with a fruity flavor (and a brand fraught with controversy when the news broke that all the delicious, multicolored O's that make up Froot Loops don't actually represent different fruit flavors. And again, when Kellogs gave the mascot Toucan Sam a new look.) This week I am celebrating a birthday, so I’m feeling a little nostalgic. But I digress.

Are you a bacon lover? 

The aroma. The sizzle. The crackle. The taste. The smell of bacon in the morning, or any time really, is like nothing else. It can literally make your mouth water. Bacon is an American staple in homes and restaurants alike. Commonly featured in breakfast dishes and sandwiches, bacon has made its way into our desserts and cocktails too. It’s not the latest food trend though, because bacon transcends trendiness. Whether you wrap a jalapeno with it, use it to garnish a Bloody Mary, or pile it high on a BLT, bacon is a versatile food that has nearly as many uses as it does lovers. Yes, bacon is for lovers! You’ve probably heard “you had me at bacon” or “I love you as much as bacon” or even “I love you MORE than bacon” and other odes to the savory strip. This puts bacon squarely in the camp of Love & Romance.

The Irving dining scene is red hot right now as we start to navigate the post-pandemic age of eating. From genuine Nepalese Himalayan dishes to beautiful baked goods and everything in between, here are the best new restaurants in Irving worth checking out this month (and beyond). I hope you like chicken.  

Summer is in full-swing, COVID-19 restrictions have been loosened and many people are taking advantage of the opportunity to travel again. We all love when we find the time to ‘get away from it all' – whether it's a trip to a spa resort or toasting our bodies on a crowded beach. But for some, the expense of a vacation is prohibitive, and for others with work and family commitments, it can be difficult to find the time to sneak away - even for just a weekend. Then when we do find time, there’s planning to be done, sitters to arrange, pups to