KOOZA

Picture Courtesy of cirquedusoleil.com

I love Cirque du Soleil! There is nothing like witnessing the abstract stories, taking in the music in their made up language and watching the performers do things that blow me away. I had the opportunity to see the show KOOZA under the Big Top at Sam Houston Race Park. This show is about finding your place in the world and that how no matter how alone you feel, there will always be the perfect place for you. This action packed show features tightrope walkers, a unicycling duo, a man who balanced on mile high chairs, contortionists, a master hula hooper, and a group teeter totter act. Some of these things may sound simple, but I assure you that is not the case! It is actually quite hard to put the magic of Cirque du Soleil into words. All I can say is that everyone should go and see it for themselves once in their life. It's not for everyone, but I think that everyone appreciates the mind blowing tricks that the human body can perform. KOOZA will be in Houston until September 9, so be sure to get your tickets today!

Haute Wheels Houston was on a Roll!

All I can say is that if you didn't get a chance to visit the Haute Wheels Houston food truck festival than you really missed out! It was a fantastic gathering of about 30 different vendors, offering a wide variety of food and drinks. I tried to eat as much as I could, but was only able to try six of them! Here is a run down of all the treats I was able to try, starting with the appetizers and ending with desserts.

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

1. H-town Streats: This place was the start to my adventure. Here I was able to try the Monte Cristo balls. I know this might surprise some of you, but I have never had a Monte Cristo. It was a ball filled with ham, melted cheese, covered in a funnel cake like batter and served with powdered sugar and a strawberry jam dipping sauce. These were delicious, though they were not all the way melted in the middle, which was slightly disappointing. Though not completely perfect, it was a great first Monte Cristo experience.

2. Fork in the Road: I was really surprised to find out that this was from HEB. I had the fried green chile mac and cheese balls. They were absolutely delicious. The kick from the green chile and the melty, gooey, and crunchy texture from the fried mac and cheese was the perfect combination. This truck also offered a spicy Moroccan meatball that had spice and flavor. The spice gave the meatball depth with a little bit of heat. They were definitely on the list to try again, so I will be following Fork in the Road to its next location!

Sister and her Bahn Mi Sandwich

3. Pho Cup'd: Not having access to bahn mi sandwiches is a real issue for my sister, so of course we had to stop and get her one. The crispy baguette bread and the crunch of the carrots makes this sandwich music to her ears. I opted for a bite or two and was not disappointed.

4. Ladybird: Ladybird, Ladybird where art thou Ladybird? This simple food truck took two of my favorite treats, grilled cheese and tater tots, and turned up the flavor. Truffled tater tots are not something you find very often, but boy were they good. The best part was the nice big basket you got, so you weren't left feeling hungry.

Caprese Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese is one of my favorite things. This caprese grilled cheeses was tucked between two pieces of delicious bread topped with red pepper jelly. Sounds spicy, right? Surprisingly, it was a bit on the sweet side and added a smokier flavor to the sandwich. The basil and fresh mozzarella with giant slices of tomato gave it a very sophisticated look and turned this basic children's favorite into a must have for grown ups.

Homemade truffles

5. MMM Cupcakes: Who doesn't love a good cupcake, especially when you can get a mini sampler pack? This cupcake truck was serving red velvet, lemon, strawberry, chocolate, and salted caramel. The cakes were moist and not to crumbly, making them very easy to eat. The icing to cupcake ration was just right, where every bite of cake had a bit of icing. It wasn't to sweet and the texture was like eating clouds.

6. Chocolate d'arte: What better way to end a meal than with these beautiful, handmade truffles. The flavors include lemon blueberry and goat cheese, chocolate mousse, and dulche de leche. The shimmery powder on the truffles made you want to dive right in and so that's exactly what I did. The lemon blueberry and goat cheese was something I was a little weary of, but it turned out to be a wonderfully summery flavor combination. The dulche de leche just melted in your mouth, so that was an immediate hit. The beloved chocolate mousse was airy and not overwhelmingly sweet. 

I hope that you enjoyed my little visit through the food truck festival. If you had the opportunity to go or have a favorite food truck, then please comment below because I would love to be able to try it. If you didn't be sure to stop by their location in the area and try them out. These are places not to be missed!

Wait, Come Back Food Truck!

Bernie's Burger Bus

One day I was driving along and was surprised to see a yellow bus parked on the side of the street. What caught my attention even more was the fact that it was actually a food truck, which have begun to revolutionize the industry and how people eat on the go. I admit I was not very keen on eating something that came out of a kitchen on wheels. Sadly, traffic started moving again and I didn't catch the name of this truck. However, I kept randomly seeing the bus and decided that it needed to go on my "places to try" list. Though, it seemed like it was evading me because we were never at the same place at the same time.

As I was driving down the freeway last year, I passed a parking lot full of people and what I saw to be food trucks. I later learned that this was a food truck festival, but unfortunately I missed this wonderful event. I made myself a promise that I would not miss out this year! What is this event? It is Houston's Haute Wheels Food Truck Festival.

I am so excited to be going this weekend and my tummy is already crying out for something new and delicious. I am a food truck newbie, so this will be the perfect opportunity for me to try them all out at once. These trucks serve every kind of food from barbeque to pizza to French cuisine and then of course desserts, including waffles. I cannot wait to finally try Bernie's Burger Bus and everyone else participating. This is a foodie event not to be missed!

For more information and to buy your tickets, visit www.hautewheelshouston.com. The website will also give you an in depth list of all the food trucks that will be participating. So head on over and join me as I sample my way through the day. If you get a chance to visit, make sure to post your must haves and check back for my favorites and the ones you need to try!

It's a Zoo Out There!

As a child one of my favorite things to do was go to the zoo. I remember riding in my stroller and seeing the huge display of pink flamingos at the entrance to the San Diego Zoo. They were the highlight of the trip and could sit and look at them all day. Only now do I realize how much they smell, so I usually spend less time around them. Nonetheless, I still enjoy watching those long-legged, pink birds. Whenever I take a trip, I always want to see the zoo, even though most zoos have the same animals. To me, going to a zoo is means I get to become an explorer. You never know what you will find around each corner and where the path will lead you.

Rain or shine, hot or cold, nothing can stop me from getting my zoo fix. The Houston Zoo is fantastic and I will never grow tired of going to visit. They are constantly changing and rearranging, so there is always something new. For me, I feel like it is literally in my backyard which makes it even easier for me to pop in. Located in a bustling part of town, there is a serene and calming feeling that I get when I enter the park. Being a bystander and watching the animals go about their normal routines, reminds me that there is an ebb and flow to life. Just like animals, life gets loud and crazy at times, but there will always be periods of calm, and those much needed afternoon naps.


One of the best experiences I had, was when I went for my birthday and was able to get up close and personal to feed the giraffes. It was an incredible experience! A mom and baby giraffe swayed to the music as they chomped on leaves of lettuce, delighting all those around them. I was truly amazed at how regal they are.


In case you haven't heard, the Houston Zoo will be hosting a Dinosaurs! exhibit, so check out www.houstonzoo.org for all the details, as well as all their other exciting events. Leave a comment with your favorite zoo memory or those crazy stories like of the monkey taking a visitor's hat. Even if you aren't an avid zoo lover like me, be sure to visit your nearest zoo because you never know what you will find!