I’ve been doing freelance work for SMOKE on Cherry Street since last summer.  To say I hit the jackpot with this gig would be an understatement.  Food photography is my love and Mitch had the good faith to ask me last year if I would collaborate with them on some of their projects. You throw in good friends and fine dining and it culminates into, what I consider, a heck of a good job.

Beau and Shannon watched the kids for us and Steven and I got out {This is the second date in one week…a Guinness world record I tell you!  Thank you, thank you, friends!} for a private dinner featuring A Chinese New Year Menu at SMOKE.  I dressed up a little with lipstick and heels and pretended I hadn’t been wearing yoga pants all day.  Sometimes you’ve got to go for it girls.

Mitch and Stephanie have been so kind to us since we’ve moved here…inviting us into their circle of friends and making us feel like a part of the Tulsa family. :)  They’re a little further ahead of us in the game of raising three kiddos and hearing their perspective is really refreshing.  In other words, it’s all gonna be okay.  

Everything was so good {I love food.} but my favorite was the first course of the night: the consommé paired with the ginger drinks.  I had to google how to spell that, so don’t be fooled.  But I did happen to know what consommé was when it was served.  I’m sure that is thanks to Pinterest and my obsession with gourmet food blogs. :)

Chef Michelle {one of SMOKE’s 3 chefs} put everything together and did a fabulous job.  Steven and I agreed it was sort of like a Top Chef show experience with friends…and really…can date night get any cooler?!

I’m normally never anywhere than behind the lens and it takes a lot for me to post pictures of myself on the blog.  But that’s me right there and I am eerily looking more and more like my mom every day.  That means I will still look like this at 40, so I’m good with that.   {Thanks for the genes, mom!}

The night was perfect.  The more I tentatively venture out into activities without children and just the husband…the more I’m convinced: we need this often in our life.  Get back to our pre-kids selves and have a little fun…who’s with me?!

Happy weekending to you all…

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