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Apparently, Todd and I are in our cruise era. Last week, we attended the opening of Titanic: The Exhibition, where we got to experience the grandeur of the ill-fated ocean liner. And in much happier cruise news, we also booked a German Christmas Markets riverboat trip for December. One of these involves sipping mulled wine in the picturesque villages of Todd's homeland, and the other involves… icebergs. More on both below.

Oh, and somewhere in between, Claire picked up a roller derby MVP award and some epic bruises. Let’s get into it.

Proud Parent Alert!

Boots & Bruises Roller Derby Weekend in Waco

We spent the long Presidents Day weekend in Waco for Claire’s first roller derby tournament since leveling up to the All-Stars team for Rolling Rebellion. The tournament was called Boots & Bruises, and Claire definitely left with plenty of the latter.

She earned an MVP award in one of her bouts (proud parent moment), but also got ejected from the final game for landing in the penalty box too many times. Oops! Powerful on wheels runs in the family, I guess.

We took the RV down and stayed at a really cute RV resort called Camp Fimfo, which was charming in that Instagram-perfect, but still comfy way. (They also have cabins if RV'ing isn't your thing.)

If you want to keep up with Claire’s roller derby adventures, give her a follow on Instagram: @derbybear9​

Retail Therapy

Downtown Neiman Marcus is Closing 😭

Like much of Dallas, I’m mourning the impending loss of Neiman Marcus’ downtown flagship store next month. But what I’ll miss most? The Zodiac.

For years, my friends Eric, Craig, Jennifer and I have made an annual tradition of hitting their Christmas buffet for a loooong, boozy luncheon. (Kerrie and I usually squeeze in a visit, too.) Two holiday seasons ago, I think I went three times. No regrets.

It’s the end of an era, and I’m feeling dramatic about it.

Out & About (Or Just Out)

Titanic: The Exhibition

Todd and I were invited to the opening of Titanic: The Exhibition here in Dallas, and it was equal parts fascinating and eerie.

Along with artifacts from Titanic and its White Star Line sister ships, it featured immersive recreations of the grand staircase, a first-class suite and a promenade deck under the cold starry sky.

When you arrive, they hand you a ticket with the name of an actual Titanic passenger, and in a morbid twist, at the end you find out if you survived. (Spoiler: Todd and I both made it. Not sure I would’ve gotten that lifeboat in 1912, though.)

Fun fact: Todd’s passenger was one of the inspirations for the Jack character in the movie. Mine was a random Justice of the Peace whose cabin got looted during the mayhem.

If you’re into history, immersive experiences or just really good set design, check it out: Titanic: The Exhibition – Dallas​

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In Happier Cruise News...

Todd and I have also booked a riverboat cruise through Germany’s Christmas markets this December! The Classic Christmas Markets Cruise is hosted by my friends Kelli Carpenter (with her wife Anne Steele) & Gregg Kaminsky of KelliGregg Travel.

They’ve reserved the entire boat for our group, which is mostly LGBTQ+ travelers and allies (everyone’s welcome!). If you’ve ever dreamed of sipping glühwein, collecting Christmas market mugs and wandering through fairy-tale villages, this is the one. Bonus: we’ll be onboard for my birthday! 🎉

There’s still some availability if you want to join the fun: kelligreggtravel.com (How fun would that be?!)

Add To Cart

Magnolia Finds: The Best Fake Tulips Ever

While we were in Waco, we made the required pilgrimage to Chip & Joanna’s Silos, where I picked up the most realistic fake tulips I’ve ever seen. (And I typically abhor fake plants!) They actually feel real too—so good that they’re now "living" in my new tulip tower in the entryway.

Oh, and I also grabbed one of the best-smelling candles ever. The Daybreak candle smells like Valencia orange, peach and heliotrope. Spring can't be here fast enough!

🌷 Magnolia’s Hyper-Realistic Tulips​
🕯 Daybreak Candle​

I already regret not buying this adorable candle snuffer and matching wick trimmer. (You do trim your wicks, don't you?)

Words To Live By

The Quote My Teens Hate

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Trademarked

This week in 2017, I officially received the trademark for Cooped Up—clearly, I was thrilled. What I hadn't yet discovered? The magic of filling my forehead full of neurotoxins. The enthusiasm is still here, but thankfully, the forehead lines are not.

It's wild to think that seven years later, Cooped Up is living its best life as a newsletter. Moral of the story? Trademark your ideas and find a good injector. (Shout out to Via!)

That’s all for this week! Thanks again for all the love on Cooped Up. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome—hit reply and let me know what you’d love to see next. And if you missed last week’s edition, you can catch up right here.