Requesting Your Vote: My Sister's School!

I tell you, I've got some nerve not posting or commenting for a week and then begging for votes.

But I'm doing it. :-)

You've have likely read about my fantastic sister in my blog....

She happens to teach English as a Second Language as well as students with learning challenges at a school just north of Dallas, Texas. The school has entered a national technology contest to win over $30,000 in equipment from eInstruction.

Several of her ESL students are featured in this video... these kids are so cute (and I am not a kids person, I admit).

So on behalf of my sister, I would greatly appreciate a vote for them!

Go to: http://eimakeover09 and click on sign up at the top right of the page. Fill out the info (yes, sorry, it asks for email and stuff but you have the option to leave "contact me" unchecked) and then please vote for We Use Technology. They currently are in third place.

The polls are open through December 4th.

Thank you!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

--Emmie

Urban Garden- Alto Rex Lounge

Hello! I've missed you all and apologize for my lack of posts and comments on your wonderful blogs! I ended up quite sick and then was traveling with my boss all week.

While the South is getting colder, we do have a few warm snaps, which make dining out all the more fun. I posted on Alto Rex before and Mr. Southern and I made it back for our anniversary, so I got the chance to take photos for you. It's funny- when I was researching my first post in May, there was very little buzz on the place. Now, 6 months later, lots of buzz!

Stairwell leading up to AltoRex, Kamikarin Flickr

The restaurant downstairs, Pacci, and AltoRex, were designed by San Francisco-based Puccini Group. Here's an idea- if you want a cool hotel, find one with a restaurant designed by this team.

We asked them to turn on the natural-gas powered fire pits and whoomph- instant warmth.

The "logs" are actually pieces of metal, which look pretty cool in and of themselves without the fire going. Riverrock and lava rock cover (I assume) the natural gas pipes.

There are lots of little seating areas- all featuring big pops of green.

Underneath the arbor here is a waterfall wall and little tables.

A closer shot of the waterfall wall. I love the mix of materials used here. Warmth of the wood, cold stone walls...

Great use of topi

aries here to disguise (or at least downplay) the vents.

More seating near the back, including little cabanas. Note all the green!!

I love how they incorporated grass through the tile design.

Adore the Chippendale bench.

I think this is a great idea to liven up a blank wall.

In case of bad weather, cozy up to the bar- again great mix of materials and the grassy-walled idea is copied here (but with faux grass).

Hope everyone is doing well- can't wait to catch up!!

-Emmie