Happy Wednesday, friends!
It’s the MAY edition of Let’s Look!
If you don’t know what this is, once a month, Erika and I do a little link up where we “look” at different aspects of our lives (and then if you blog, you share and link up too!). We have been doing this little linky party for years now, and it’s always one of my favorite posts each month because most of the topics are YOUR suggestions!
In January, we looked at HOW WE ORGANIZE FOR THE NEW YEAR.
In February, we looked at WHAT WE EAT IN A WEEK.
In March, we looked at OUR FAVES FROM HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE
In April, we looked at HOW WE DO DATE NIGHTS!
And today, we’re looking at….OUR HOMETOWNS!
This was a popular request when we asked you ladies what topics you wanted us to “look” at this year 🙂 .
Let’s work backwards for me…
…our family currently lives in McKinney, TX 🙂 .
We LOVE living here!
From the hot air balloons that pass over almost daily to the historic downtown, the beautiful Croatian village, lakes, trails, parks, golf courses, and so much more, it is truly magical 🙂 .
Sometimes, I have to pinch myself because a normal evening can feel very much like a vacation when you’re here in McKinney.
I have blogged ALL ABOUT MCKINNEY before and you can read that post HERE and then more recently on The Bestie Breakdown podcast, we did an entire episode breaking down all of the ins and outs of our town. From specific restaurants to schools, extracurricular things, housing, safety, shopping…it’s all right HERE in this one episode. You should really take a listen!
So, I’ve lived in McKinney now for the last 16 years. Prior to that, I lived in Dearborn, Michigan for a year and in Southlake, TX for about two years…but my real hometown, the one where I was born and raised is good old…
...Irving, TX 🙂 .
I lived in Irving from birth until I went off to college at eighteen. While I was in college, my parents sold their home and moved to where they live today, so even though I haven’t “returned home” to Irving in over 20 years, it’s technically my hometown and where every single childhood memory comes from. Unfortunately, I am a child of the 80s and 90s, so I do not have a million pics on my phone of where I grew up because…well…I’m old and that technology didn’t exist back then, so what I lack in photos, I’ll make up to you in “fun facts”. Some of these facts are about me and some are about Irving:
#1: Irving is an inner ring suburb of Dallas. Basically, you have Dallas and Irving bumps right up next to it. Because of its proximity to Dallas, it feels very urban. There are multiple major freeways that pass through it, quite a bit of traffic and a lot of people. There is public transportation and even a train system. McKinney is a large city (population of 200k now), but it feels quiet to me and a lot slower than growing up in Irving even though the populations are about the same. I think the proximity to Dallas (and all the people driving through Irving to get there) makes it feel busier.
#2: My parents owned this home for 17 years and this is where I grew up…
…that window there on the right was my bedroom window until I went off to college. I loved my street and had so many friends who lived right there in my neighborhood with me. I attended Davis Elementary, Crocket Middle School and…
…graduated in 2000 from Irving High School.
#3: For a very long time, Irving was famous for being the home of…
…the Dallas Cowboys! Their stadium and training facilities were in Irving until pretty recently. They played here in this stadium from 1971 until 2009 (and then later moved their training facilities to Frisco, TX).
#4: If you’ve ever flown into…
…DFW Airport then you’ve basically been to Irving. My house growing up was so close to the airport that when they built Terminal D, the airport and city had to compensate my family and every other family in our neighborhood because of the noise. I honest to goodness forgot how noisy my house was until I went back a few years ago and stood out front. Planes fly over Irving (especially my neighborhood) constantly. And by that, I mean…CONSTANTLY.
#5: I would say that most “Irving people” refer to Irving as anything south-ish of Highway 114…but…Irving does have an area north called Las Colinas which is technically still Irving and home to…
…the famous Mustangs of Las Colinas where on May 2, 2003 a young Andrew Shull proposed to a Miss Shay Lowe 🙂 .
So, that’s a bit about my hometown(s) 🙂 .
Coming up this year on Let’s Look…
…next month, we will be posting our GO TO SUMMER LUNCHES!
If you blogged with us today, make sure you link up below!
Have the best Wednesday! xx
Elspeth says
What a fun post! I love learning different fun facts about your life. Have a great day!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Sheaffer says
Just fyi,, all I can think about now is how I want a corn dog. Gosh, I love a corn dog.
M says
Funniest comment on this blog (every time 🙂
Erika Slaughter says
WHAT? Andrew proposed in front of the mustangs? HOW have I not heard this story?
Katie says
How fun! I’ve read your blog for years and never realized you lived in Southlake! For some reason I thought Colleyville!
Mix and Match Mama says
My parents’ neighborhood splits the two but since Southlake is closer, they/we do/did everything there.
Dana P says
So fun! We actually went to some friends’ house in Las Colinas this past Saturday night. My friend told me that Irving is the most diverse city in the US now, more diverse than even Manhattan?! They have neighbors from all around the world. They love it up there. It also seems great for getting around DFW!
Mix and Match Mama says
It is a super diverse city! I worked there after college for several years too.
Emma says
Future Let’s Look idea: Would love to see how you organize photos, kids school crafts, other keepsakes, etc. I need inspiration!
Bev says
Those mustangs are amazing!!! Neither you nor Sean seem to have a southern accent. Is that common or unusual for that part of TX? I don’t live far from Dearborn, MI! I suppose people think those of us in the Midwest are the ones with an accent! 😂
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwwwww! I love Michigan so much!! I think we do have accents, but I don’t know that they’re Southern accents. I think states like South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia have a different accent than we do.
Andrea W says
Wow! I have been reading your blog for years now and didn’t realize we had so much in common. I also grew up in Irving and graduated from IHS in ’96. My parents moved away, right after I graduated, to outside of Ft Worth, so I haven’t really been back either. Man the traffic was real though, especially on Sunday game days.
Mix and Match Mama says
No way?! What a small world! That’s so cool!!
Danna F says
Love McKinney! Visited last year based on all your recommendations. We were sitting next to the Todrik kids waiting for breakfast & they were the sweetest. Would have loved to have run into you!
I have a very fond memory of those mustang statues too! My mother lived in Los Colinas for several years while I was in college. I was dating a guy from Hurst who was going to Texas Wesleyan and on our second date, he took me to dinner and then to see the mustang statues. I have to say I fell hard in love with him early on. Maybe there’s something magical about those statues? Ha! We have been married for 27 years now! Have a great Wednesday!
Maria says
I grew up in NY. My house was in the flight path of the Concorde. Every time the plane passed our home, you’d hear the rocket engines and our home would rattle like the opening scene in Mary Poppins! 😄
Mix and Match Mama says
The Mary Poppins reference made me lol! Now when I go back, I think “how did we stand this?!”. We didn’t think about it one bit back then.
Heather says
Fellow Irving Tx person here!! I moved there in 1988 (3rd grade) and I stayed there until 8th grade when I went to live with my mom. My dad stayed there until he passed away in 2019. For a few years I lived in the apartments across from Irving HS. I went to Lively Elem, Austin JH then I moved. But all my siblings went to Irving HS. I am now in NW Fort Worth and it is definitely way slower than the hussle & bussle of Irving.
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s just such a small world! I had so many friends at Lively and Austin!
Kelly Menou says
So glad you chose to look at hometowns. It was the perfect way to announce our new adventure in our own hometown! These link parties are amazing for blogs like mine;) Thank you!!
http://www.seasonallyyoursco.com
Kathy Davis says
I too grew up in Irving. Graduated from Irving High School in 1980. I’m a few years older than you!! Moved from Irving to the HEB area in 1985. I only occasionally drive through Irving on the freeways.
Mix and Match Mama says
I love that you grew up in Irving too!!!
Chelsea says
Hail to thee our Irving High School, fly your colors bold. We will always dearly love you, honor black and gold. 🤣
My husband and I were born and raised in Irving! We met at Irving High School in 2005 and now we live in McKinney! Great minds think alike!
We love McKinney so much! We still go back to Irving frequently because both of our parents still live there.
Love that you’re from Irving too!
Mix and Match Mama says
No way?! What a small world!!! That’s awesome!!!!
Shelly Powers says
Omg! How did I not know that you were proposed to on my sons actual “birth” day! 5-2-03 is pretty awesome day for us both! 🥰 congrats on 19 years of engagement last week! 😜
Mix and Match Mama says
No way?! How cool is that?!
Cris says
Do your parents live in McKinney now as well?
Mix and Match Mama says
They do not. They still live where they moved while I was in college 🙂 .
Jessica says
Oh my goodness! My husband and I both grew up in Irving ( I am a little bit ,ok I graduated Irving in 92, older than you). My husband also proposed to me at the Mustangs! They have or are redoing that area , I am not sure if the refurbishment ( is that a word?) is finished. I have not had the pleasure of meeting you but we do have friends in common, That is how I found your blog.
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwwwww! What a small, small world!!!! I love this, Jessica!
Chelsa says
We flew in/out of DFW Monday and Friday. We were in Dallas for our youngest two’s robotics worlds comp. (Makes them sound way geeky, but they aren’t lol). Anyway- I told my husband “my favorite blogger used to live here” haha!
Mix and Match Mama says
You flew right over my old house 🙂 ! Thank YOU so much for being a blog reader! Geez, I appreciate that more than you know!