Photo courtesy Lee’s Fried Chicken and Donuts

I have a confession to make. I’ve never had chicken and waffles. I know, I know. I claim to be a southern gal and a foodie no less, but I’m kind of a mad freak when my food touches. I’m the adult that still wants those portioned out plates so my food doesn’t touch. Thanksgiving has always been tough for me, but I digress.

The reason I admit that to all of you is that I finally had a similar combo and I want to punch myself in the face for missing out on this for so long. I went back to Lee’s Fried Chicken and Donuts recently and I won’t lie – I was basically forced to try the Double Donut Fried Chicken Sandwich (chicken tenders between two amazing glazed donuts with your choice of sauce). And if I’m being really honest, I ordered this but asked the food to be separate and then ate a few bites together. And that’s all it took. I was sold. More like obsessed.

Photo courtesy @leeschickendonuts Instagram

For starters, their glazed donuts (only $1.25 each) are some of the best glazed donuts in Houston and secondly, the combo of the salty fried chicken is seriously out of this world. I am a converted believer that certain foods can and should touch and be eaten in one big bite.

This is one of those places that definitely is not good for the waistline, but I have no problem adding gym time to each such tasty southern food. Plus, donuts y’all!

This spot is just another restaurant located within about 15 minutes from my home at The Millennium Kirby, so don’t be surprised if you run into me here. Frequently! 

Photo via TheGraciousWife.com

Seriously, I can promise you (if you like Oreo Cookies, especially) this will be the best cookie recipe you will ever see. And it’s pretty dang easy to make too.

Here is the recipe for Marshmallow Oreo Chip Cookies, taken directly from TheGraciousWife.com. You should definitely check out her website for tons of other delicious recipes – you won’t be disappointed. (Seriously, her recipe has been shared more than 84k times, so you know it’s good!) 

INGREDIENTS

• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4-ounce package Cookies ‘n Cream pudding mix, unprepared
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 2¼ cups flour
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
• 1 Jumbo Hershey’s Cookies ‘n Cream candy bar, chopped
• about 8-10 Oreos, coarsely crushed

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars.
• Add eggs and vanilla and mix again.
• Mix together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter mixture, along with cocoa powder and pudding mix. Stir until everything is fully combined.
• Fold in marshmallows, chopped candy bar, and crushed Oreos.
• Chill dough for about 15 minutes.
• Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and shape into balls. Place on a greased cookie sheet (and I DO mean greased. None of that wimpy cooking spray. You’re going to have to break out the butter and slick it down because marshmallows are sticky!) 2 inches apart.
• Bake at 350° for 8-11 minutes.

*Note, for some reason finding Cookies n’ Cream pudding mix has been really hard lately, so I used a white chocolate pudding mix and ground up (majorly so it was almost powder) 8 Oreo cookies to make my own variation.

This post is part of my “learn and love to cook” resolution for 2017. I love living at The Millennium Kirby because of the massive kitchen, to test out and eat up these great recipes. Y’all already know anything with Oreos is a win in my book! SPONSORED

ThrIVe Drip Spa in Houston

I don’t often buy into fads, but with the same token, I love trying out new things. Especially when they offer quick and easy benefits to your health and overall appearance. Recently I had the chance to check out ThrIVe Drip Spa, located in Houston.

While they mostly do IV therapies, their menu of offerings is quite unique and one I had a field day analyzing and trying. IV therapies (think the kind to cure those extreme hangovers) have been around for quite some time, but most of the early adopters were the super wealthy, elite and celeb-types (none of which describes me).

ThrIVe is unique because they offer other premium services that are affordable alternatives to plastic surgery, like photofacials and injectables. Also, their entire staff is incredibly well-versed in everything you could possibly need to know (trust me, I tested them quite intensely). Many services produce similar results and they take the time to find out about your skin type, your exact needs, etc.

I also tried Forma for the first time, a procedure I’d read about in the major

ThrIVe Drip Spa in Houston

magazines, but sounded painful and sort of crazy when I’d read about it. It’s a skin tightening treatment for your face and neck (which as I age, is a must!), and is not painful or invasive, which was a pleasant surprise. I was glowing and plumped almost immediately (this is the only kind of plumping I want, trust me!).

I’m also secretly dying to try Body FX, which is basically the same treatment, but for cellulite areas. And well, I’ve got a trip to Grand Cayman coming up, so we might have to check that out!

They offer a number of drips, so you can literally “pick your poison” so to speak, but my top is the Myers Drip, which is the original vitamin cocktail that started it all. It’s a powerful blend of vitamins and minerals designed for IV use by Dr. John Myers (aptly named, right?).

Since Dr. Myer’s discovery, doctors worldwide have used, recommended, and “prescribed” Myers’ Cocktail to help treat a broad spectrum of health conditions.

While I don’t see myself becoming a regular for drips, I do see myself getting a Myers fix right before every trip. My immune system basically hates me, and this powerful blend of vitamins helps prevent me from getting sick thanks to changes in environment, lack of sleep, different altitudes, etc. The drips take only 30 minutes and you get to relax in the most swanky, serene environment (see pic above).

Photo: Sunshine Winters Photography

I have no shame in my game admitting that I can spend hours upon hours on the couch – even on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon – or worse – when I have free tickets to the Texans game across the street but my couch feels much more conducive to my day.

For starters, I have the most comfortable couch, EVER. And there’s plenty of room for my boyfriend and my two dogs or just a ton of blankets and the remotes. Either scenario works for me. (Bonus – they even white-glove delivered my couch, so that part was easy too!)

So now that I’ve told you my dirty little secret about spending hours on the couch, let me share what usually fills my DVR (and remember, this is a no judgement zone).

• Any and every episode of every city of the Real Housewives franchise. I know a lot of people “lose respect” for me because of some of my TV choices, but I’m totally OK with that. Life is too short to worry what other people are watching, amiright?
• Still stuck on Bravo, Vanderpump Rules is a crazy obsession of mine.
• WAGS – I’m partial to the original version, but I watch Miami too.
• Of course, we record and rewatch all the Texans games – it’s important for when I do guest TV and radio to keep up-to-date with what’s going on (though it’s usually the same story – our quarterback sucks and he has no o-line to protect him…).
• Any law or criminal shows – like Law & Order SVU, Chicago PD, Chicago MD, Chicago Fire, Criminal Minds, etc. I pretty much watch them all.
• Dateline – yes, this is probably my favorite. You know we’re getting comfortable (or is it lazy?) in our relationship when we’re totally cool making dinner at home and watching a new Dateline. Speaking of which – I can’t wait until Friday already!

What about you – what’s clogging up your DVR? I dished, now it’s your turn!

Even though it’s still “just an apartment,” living at The Millennium Kirby really feels like home. I love spending time on my couch, watching TV and having friends over more than I have in a long time. [SPONSORED]