Roadtrip to Arkansas

M and I just returned from a lovely weekend get-away in Arkansas to celebrate my dear friend April getting' hitched! We knew that the 5+ hour drive would necessitate some time off for travel (as it's just close enough to drive, and not worth justifying a flight and car rental, IMO), so we carved out an extra day off to get some R&R and make a true vacation of the trip. I generally opt for rushing there and back to minimize time off, which is a very real consideration when your hubby is self-employed (no PTO, yo), so I was excited that we could both justify a few days away to extend the weekend. (I think the baby-on-the-way deal makes it a lot easier to say "Yes!" these days, knowing that he is portable now in a way that he'll never be again.)

We looked into hotels in and around Ozark, where the festivities would take place, but I decided to check out Airbnb to see if we could find some cutie cabins to consider. (We love us some cabins. See NorCal Road Trip, and Colorado Anniversary Trip, and Grand Canyon Anniversary Trip, which I forgot to blog about. Fail.) We were in luck, and it became tough to narrow down all the great abodes in the lovely green plains and mountains of Arkansas. (We were just over the border of Oklahoma, so I will say that the majority of the beautiful views along the way were props to OK, but even Greenwood to Ozark was silly pretty.) We ultimately opted for Best Way Cabin in Greenwood, AR, and it was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Best Way Cabin of Greenville, AR
Rent it here!

We sipped our decaf french press (we literally always travel with the french press when a cabin is involved...priorities, y'all), watched the birds outside our window every morning, breathed in the clean air and opened windows all day long, explored the quaint nearby town, and did a lot of reading, napping, and nothing. It was glorious.

Glorious goodness

Side note: you will never see this blogger snapping adorable on-the-road looks. When I travel via car, I'm usually in glorified pajamas, and my hair looks akin to a spastic nest atop my un-make-upped mug. It's not pretty, and I rely a lot on sunglasses and stretchiness. So, no dice on the roadie selfies. You're welcome. 

The wedding itself was a ton of fun and so perfectly fitting of the couple. (I love that.) We stayed for the majority of the shindig before heading back down Mulberry Mountain, past the overturned semi-truck (10 mph switchbacks on a highway just don't seem like a good match for ginormous trucks), and making the hour-plus drive back to our sweet little cabin. There's something special about a destination wedding, and the beautiful surroundings of Ozark were no exception. It was like a collective vacation to laugh and dance, surrounded by nature. Great stuff.

I am always encouraged to find great escapes that aren't more than a few hours away by car (especially since it means we can drive our own vehicles and pack snacks...which is what road trips are all about, really), and Arkansas continues to charm me more than I expected. (We went on a family trip to Hot Springs last summer, and it was just precious.)  We're also spoiled to have a beautiful lake house in the family (which is where we got married, if you recall), and I am looking forward to another long weekend away there soon.

I realize what a treat it is to get to travel and visit places that stir our affections, usually with people who we absolutely adore, and I don't take for granted any chance to see new sights, relax in the grace of someone else's hospitality, and make new memories for our family. 

It's good to be home. Always. But it's also good to explore.

Missing the View From My Own Front Porch

When M and I daydream about vacationing, our thoughts go quickly to visions of blankets, fireplaces, coffee, coffee, and more coffee, trees, and seclusion...the kind of place where you can see stars at night and actually hear crickets chirp. This lends itself nicely to celebrating birthdays and our wedding anniversary in the late fall/early winter months (our wedding date was chosen with this in mind...we obviously didn't get much say on our birth dates, but are not surprisingly both winter babies).

We recently found ourselves brainstorming locales to look into rental property outside of Texas. This is not to say we're rolling in the dough and relish the thought of another mortgage. But rather, we're thinking ahead and both tend to do better with a realistic goal in mind. It's easy enough to have lofty dreams of owning multiple homes, but the reality of things can quickly take the wind out of our sails if we get too far ahead of ourselves without a reality check. Looking at the soaring costs of cabins and homes in some of our favorite destinations--Redstone, Colorado Springs, Portland, Seattle, Redcrest--we admittedly found ourselves a little overwhelmed and discouraged.

Then, I got a healthy dose of perspective...

This morning, I set my alarm a little earlier than usual (and set the timer on our coffee maker as an extra incentive to actually get my butt out of bed...it worked) to spend some quiet time with The Lord. I headed out to our front porch in my robe, cup of coffee and daily devotional in hand, and sat for a while in silence. I need the silence that only morning can afford me (in absence of the discipline to shut down my busy brain after a busy day) to really listen. To hear the sweet song of birds, the gentle creak of my rocking chair, and to receive the whisper from My Heavenly Father. 

And then it came to me. That wisdom from On High. ' Look! You have what you seek. Now. Available to you, every day.' I looked around, took a deep breath, smiled, and felt my eyes well up with tears. He is right. Every morning, I have the ability to sit on my front porch and experience that sense of peace: fuzzy robe, coffee, and all. Sure, it's a choice to ignore the landscaping that needs attention and the fence that needs mending (neither of which are concerns when on vacation and staying at someone else's place...even if those needs are present there as well). But even years in, there is something about that space in front of our home that feels like a haven. Some of my favorite conversations have taken place on that porch, and we've shared that space with some of our favorite people. 

When I get down to it, we seek locales that make our hearts stir. For us, that generally comes in the form of lovely vistas of trees and mountains (bodies of water too, if we can swing that mix), great beverages, and cozy digs...amounting to our version of peace, really. However, I've been stirred many times while seeking His face just a few steps from our front door. With my eye focused on sites states away, I missed that.

It reminded me how often I make excuses for putting Christ on a shelf. I've developed a bad habit of waiting for just the right moment to spend time with Him, but like waiting for other aspects of our life to slow down before feeding into our relationships, we end up forsaking those we love and fail to honor or even represent where our hearts lie. What a sweet gift we've been given, and what a blessing to realize that a get-away is as close as our front porch. This little girl needed the reminder that He never leaves, and He doesn't need a majestic backdrop to show up. Indeed, any space can be made infinitely more beautiful with His presence. We need only show up.

The Blessing of Home

M and I just returned from a little getaway to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. (Weren't we just standing at the altar all giddy faced?! P.S. I haven't forgotten that I owe y'all a post on the ceremony. Perhaps by our 10-year I'll get that one up for ya.) We debated where to spend our little vacay (and if we were going anywhere at all), but with the promise of seclusion, romance, and some cold weather, we bundled up and headed to Redstone, Colorado. I almost hesitate to tell y'all how wonderful it was because I don't want to compete for lodging on future stays. (It's a town of about 100 people in the off-season, so my concern is legit, y'all.) But...it was amazing. If you can go to there, do so.

I will share more details on our trip soon (see previous note on epic post delay and laugh, it's OK), but for now, I have to express how blessed I feel to have a home to which I am excited to return. I was just discussing this (via email) with my Mamaw (that's Southern for grandmother), and it really is a gift to be whisked away to a gorgeous locale (see delicately-snow-draped cottage below...silly, right?), to relish the coziness of a place so far from the city that cell service was out of the question and stars appeared to be numbered in the gazillions, yet to still look forward to returning to our humble abode. Our home isn't perfect, and it isn't the most fancy, high-end place we've ever laid eyes on, but it's ours. The walls have heard many laughs, seen plenty of tears (both happy and sad), and absorbed hundreds of prayers in the short year that we've been there. It's home.

Gamekeeper's Cottage

I haven't lived near our childhood home for nearly a decade, and when it sold just prior to my parents' divorce (or maybe after, I can't recall the exact details), my brother and I found ourselves in an unexpected position. If I'm honest, I felt homeless. There were plenty of places where I could still visit and feel that warmth of a safe, secure environment (like Mamaw's house, where hugs and salty snacks were always abundant), but it wasn't my home. It wasn't until I walked in the doors of what is now our nest, our little bungalow in a transitional neighborhood, that I felt my heart swell and my burdens lift. Granted, peace and assurance follow me wherever I go because the Lord is ALWAYS with me. That is not housed in a building or anything temporal in nature. And thank God for that!



Our home, looking lovely in white

But to know where your head will rest, to embrace yet sometimes whine about all the little idiosyncrasies that only you would notice (why, oh why, are there holes drilled into the bottom of the pantry door...were we going for a swiss cheese vibe, people?), to corral memories and love between four walls...that is truly a gem that shines all the more brightly when you step back and get a good look at it.

{Northwest Coast Road Trip} Day 6: Au Revoir, Pacific Northwest

On the final day of our road trip, spanning over 1,150 miles and 3 states, we spent a few more hours at Pike Market and finally enjoyed a proper overcast PNW morning. We grabbed some drip coffee and split a breakfast sandwich at Boticelli Cafe. (Why have I never thought to combine an English muffin, eggs, fresh tomato and basil? It's genius!) There might have been another piroshky in there somewhere, too. And spanakopita for the road. (I was on vacation! Calories don't count!) We also loaded up on some fresh produce for plane snacks, and grabbed a few more souvenirs before packing up to fly home.

This was an amazing adventure with my hubby-to-be, and I hope it'll be one of many special trips we have in our future. It's a blessing to be able to see the world, and there's no one else with whom I'd rather see it.

{Northwest Coast Road Trip} Day 5: Pike Place Market and Coffee Heaven

It always surprises me how much a travel companion can shape your experience of a given place. I've been to Seattle before, mind you, but visiting the city with M, I felt like I saw it with new eyes. It was as though I could see myself actually settling in there, imaging what life would be like in this thriving city, hitting up the market on a regular basis for fresh produce and spending hours in one of the dozens of local cafes. Le sigh.

We were fortunate enough to have nabbed a room at the very charming Mayflower Park Hotel, situated mere blocks away from Pike Place Market, which served as the anchor point for most of our stay here.  

We headed out from Portland around 6am to beat the epic morning commute in Seattle (well, most of it), so I was pretty excited when I found myself with a legit excuse to indulge in second breakfast once in town. My must-eat spot in Seattle? Piroshky Piroshky! This Russian Bakery is located just a few doors down from the OG Starbucks on Pike, and their potato, onion and cheese piroshky is one of my absolute favorite treats.

My other favorite noms while in Seattle: Rainier Cherries from the market. We enjoyed several bags of these while perusing the fresh offerings of local vendors. M was in awe; meanwhile, I had to restrain myself from jumping headfirst into the glorious spread of veggies.

And the flowers. Oh, the lovely flowers. Pale pink peonies were my favorites.

After a brief cat nap, we grabbed some lunch at Sound View Cafe, which is nestled in the market and overlooks the waterfront. It is a great, low key spot to grab some tasty fuel. (I splurged on this trip and ate some seafood. Gasp! I know, but when in Rome...)

We ventured a bit north to Lynnwood to visit M's homeland: Seattle Coffee Gear. This place is quite a gem. The staff is super sweet, and you can sample the impressive variety of coffee gadgets available for purchase. (M decided on a classic vacuum pot to round out his own impressive collection.) 

Primed for a proper cup of Seattle coffee, we visited Victrola Coffee Roasters downtown at the recommendation of another local roaster. It was a good recommendation, indeed, and nice to watch the city roll by for a bit from our table near the window.

M and I wanted to splurge on a romantic dinner to celebrate our trip (and our engagement), so we spiffied up a bit and trusted good ol' Yelp with leading us to a great dinner spot. We ended up with reservations at Il Bistro, which could not have been more lovely for such an occasion. Located just off a cobblestone alley near the market, we were welcomed into a dimly lit bistro which we shared with just one other couple. I enjoyed a glass of Prosecco and the Ravioli di Pera (pear and gorgonzola...oh. my. stars.), while M opted for some Chianti and the grilled salmon with marscapone and English pea risotto. (The lighting didn't accommodate food photos without being totally obnoxious, so trust that it was lovely and delicious.) We grabbed a slice of marscapone lemon cheesecake to enjoy back in our room, tucked into bed, and happy as clams.

It was a very, very good day.

Next: Au Revoir, Pacific Northwest...

{Northwest Coast Road Trip} Day 4: Portland Must-Do's

If my dear family didn't live in DFW (or, more precisely, if I didn't cherish living close to these folks), I'd be calling Portland home in a hot second. Waking up to the clean, cool air coming in through the cracked window (no A/C needed up in here) is not a bad way to start the day. But for a straight up excellent PDX morning, you've go to hit VooDoo Doughnut and Stumptown Coffee Roasters downtown. (That bacon-maple number obviously belongs to M; my vegan maple bar didn't photograph as nicely. Or I bit into it too quickly. Whateves.) 

Tummies full (and suffering from a mild case of eater's remorse), we headed east to check out Multnomah Falls. During previous visits, my schedule hasn't permitted exploring the falls. But as we were already on a total nature kick at this point from our experience with the Redwoods, the falls became a must-see for this trip. And they did not disappoint in the slightest.

We climbed a mountain, y'all. Like, legit hiked over a mile up a zig-zagged trail (with 11 total switchbacks) at a pretty steep incline. There was some huffing and puffing happening, not gonna lie, but the sights were incredible. And when M and I made up it to the top of the trail, we were rewarded with an incredible, secluded oasis. We sat beneath the shady boughs of the local flora, listening to the clear water rushing by, then stuck our toes in the cool spring and refilled our water bottle for the rest of the trek.

We continued up the mountain a bit on the hiker's trail to take in another lovely waterfall before finally heading back down. The experience of making it up that mountain together was really special for M and I, and I know we'll hold on to precious memories from our little oasis among the trees.

Freshened up a bit and changed into clean clothes, we met our friends for dinner at Vita Cafe. I opted for the seitan cheese steak and a root beer, which was quite satisfying after our active day. M's buffalo tofu wrap was also a winner. Once again, hunger triumphed over the photo op, but just imagine the yumminess as you take a gander at Vita's menu. (You may need a bib.)

After dinner we headed over to Powell's Books to peruse the countless shelves and for my yearly stock-up on handmade and letterpress note cards. We could've spent hours there, reading up on home design, recipes and coffee lore, but our tired feet beckoned us to take a seat and relax for a bit.

Just a short stroll from Powell's, Henry's Tavern invited us in with its comfy booths and low lighting, not to mention a great selection of local beers. (I went with the Widmer Hefeweizen. Delish!)

Tuckered out and knowing an early morning departure for Seattle was in our future, we made our way back to the condo to visit with our friends and their sweet munchkin before falling fast asleep.

Next: Pike Place Market, we heart you...

*I realize the apostrophe in the title of this post isn't grammatically correct, but "Must-Dos" had an unintended latin flair to it, so we're just gonna have to deal.

{Northwest Coast Road Trip} Day 3: Redcrest, CA to Portland, OR

Monday (Memorial Day) was our big driving day. It took us about 11 hours (including stops for sightseeing and snack) to make it from NorCal to PDX. The drive was beautiful and we were more than willing to put in the miles for those vistas.

We pulled off the 101 to check out one of the secluded coastal coves along the way. The wind was cool, the air smelled salty and clean, and the shoreline was comprised of beautiful dark sand sprinkled with large wood slabs, perfect for resting and enjoying the view.

As we neared the 5, we pit-stopped in Crescent City for some Dutch Bros. My soy Cocomo was awesome, as always, but I couldn't resist sneaking sips of M's Annihilator.

Eugene, OR was a good stopping point to stretch our legs and get out of the car for a bit. Unfortunately, some of the places we wanted to check out were closed in light of the holiday (planning fail), but we stumbled upon Cafe Soriah while in search of some healthy noms. I didn't even get to snag a picture of our Baby Mazzah platter because I dove head first into this Mediterranean platter o' flavorful goodness. We intended to take our snack to-go, but they had a Ninkasi beer on tap (which was recommended to us by the very friendly cashier at Dutch Bros.), so we grabbed a table in the bar and enjoyed this lovely local ale with our meal. Charming and unexpected, this was a great moment and fantastic eats.

We made it to Portland later than expected, but were warmly welcomed by our sweet friends with whom we stayed while in town. It was nice to catch up a bit, but it wasn't long before we washed up and passed out, tuckered out from another wonderful day of exploring.

Next: We climbed a mountain and turned around...

{Northwest Coast Road Trip} Day 2: Humboldt County Redwoods

The time gain when travelling to the west coast is always a bit of a treat, and it worked out especially well when we were able to sleep in on Sunday and still be up by 9am. Now that the sun had risen, we could finally take in the sights surrounding our cozy little cabin, #9 at Redcrest Resort.

Adorable, right? Oh, and hello, giant Redwoods. Not too shabby a backdrop. We packed our trusty French Press so that we could enjoy the crisp morning on the porch right proper. We also brought some disposable to-go cups, allowing us to bring along our brew as we played on the property's swings, flung some horseshoes and smacked around the tetherball. (No, you cannot see those photos. Oh, the gracefulness...)

The playground antics worked up our appetites, so off we headed to Eureka, CA (a brief drive north of Redcrest up the 101) for some breakfast. We discovered the website for Golden Harvest Cafe while researching good eats in Humboldt County, and we simply couldn't resist trying out this unassuming cafe that caters to veggies and meat-eaters alike.

Y'all! So. Nom. The fresh squeezed mimosa should have tipped me off that I was about to experience a straight up party in my mouth, but there was just no preparing for the out-of-bounds tofu scramble, breakfast potatoes and biscuits and gravy. I wanted to absolutely roll around in it. If you're ever in the area, you want to go to there. (Hippies included at no charge.)

Bellies full with a delicious breakfast, we headed into the woods. Our necks were sore after a few minutes because you simply can't help but look up, open-mouthed, starting at the gorgeous giants that are the Redwoods. Photos can't do it justice. But here's an idea of our view:

I'm pretty sure they go up forever. And the loveliness just goes on for days, trees as far as the eye can see in every direction! But there were a few "celebrity" trees to which we were directed to by the Redcrest Resort folks, and we so enjoyed getting up close and personal with some particularly amazing specimens.

The Giant Tree (below). Y'all, this beauty was truly awe-inspiring. I had a hard time keeping my composure, to be honest. This tree is majestic. Being in its presence feels  like a gift, and I felt truly ministered to in beholding such a sight. I felt so small, so young, and it drew me straight to the Lord in thanks and amazement. I could've stayed there, seated on its intricate roots, for days. Examining its bark, I felt like I had read a thousand stories without resting my eyes on a single word.

And then we proceeded to get lost in the wilderness at dark. No joke, I was about to record my parting words with what little battery life we had left on our video camera, Blair Witch style. But then M led us back to the trail and out of the woods, and buckled safely into our rental car, my mind quickly became preoccupied with food. Which was a whole other adventure seeing as there is no food in the vicinity and everything closes early on Sundays in surrounding towns. But we managed. And I learned a valuable lesson: the unexpected adventures are really what you remember and what make a vacation special.

Next: Portland or bust!

{Northwest Coast Road Trip} Day 1: San Francisco to Humboldt County, CA

I'm going to try to keep the vacation recaps short and sweet. It's all about the photos and food anyway, right? Right.

On Saturday, we flew into SFA via Virgin Airlines. This was our first Virgin experience, and I must say, it was a great one. The little touches, great customer service, and in-flight snack options were sweet. I was a bit miffed prior to my flight because M and I were not seated together despite being on the same reservation, but that was Priceline's bad and we were thankfully able to snag two seats together before take-off, and in an exit row to boot!

We had just a few hours in San Francisco as it was the cheapest city to fly into to begin our six-day road trip, but not formally part of the journey. We did at least grab a delightful meal on the embarcadero at Pier 23 Cafe. We dined overlooking the ocean, shielded from the chilly wind by a clear patio cover, and embraced our first opportunity to rock the hoodies.

Pier 23's Fish & Chips and Fish Tacos, complimented well by Henry Weinhard's Root Beer.

We headed north via the Golden Gate Bridge, which was even cooler than I remember. As it neared dusk, we stopped in the precious city of Novato, CA for some Peet's coffee and marveled at the Pleasantville-like perfection of this quaint locale. This country is rich with hidden gems, and I adore stumbling onto places like this.

Delirium set in as night fell and the day of travel was catching up with us. Giant trees seemed to jump out from the darkness as we twisted and turned our way up the 101 en route to Redcrest.

Pretty sunset and trees for days on the 101 North.

We arrived at our cabin on the Avenue of the Giants around midnight, and passed out not a moment too soon. A day of exploration and wonder waited for us with the sunrise...

{Friday's Fancies} Memorial Day Weekend Travel

While I imagine many of y'all have big plans to hang by the pool and enjoy some frosty adult beverages this weekend, M and I are embarking on our long-awaited vacation to the Pacific Northwest. In other words, we're trading in pina coladas and sunscreen for strong coffee and hoodies. And truth be told, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Tote // Sunglasses // Top // Studs
Denim // Watch // Shoes

I broke form a bit to incorporate a little patriotic love into my FF look. This get-up would be perfect for flying into West Coast coolness, and a sturdy tote is one of my must-haves for traveling. Low fuss-factor and comfy shoes, that's the way I roll when on the road.

I'm looking so forward to exploring Nor. Cal, Oregon and Washington with my honey, and I've got some exciting news to share with y'all in the near future, so stay tuned!

Check out the other fab Fancies over at {long distance loving}

Need. More. Coffee.

I'm back from Vegas, y'all! I had the best intentions of blogging while out there, but the conference was way more time consuming than expected. All in all, we had a nice time. I am pretty much just a warm body today here at work. (I'm still not exactly sure why I had to report to the office after an already 40-hour work week as of yesterday, but whateves. I'm here. Kinda.)

Some highlights...

The Palazzo was gorgeous and I quickly fell in love with the proper vanity in the bathroom. I felt like a movie star. A movie star who schleps a roller laptop bag and juggles two cell phones. But still.

Pretty view of the strip and the desert mountains from my 36th floor room. It was really lovely at night, but I'm not so good with the night photography. (Or day, really.)

This is me working. Woop woop for a 7am web-ex demo during a demanding conference. Thank goodness for Coffee Bean in the lobby of the hotel. They saw me in PJs more time than strangers ever should. I'll send flowers.

There was a lot of food. We actually didn't see the light of day from Monday to Thursday, but we at least explored the fine dining establishments of the Venetian and Palazzo. This lovely is from Batali's OTTO Enoteca in the Venetian.

Other nom highlights: Asian salad and Mac-n-cheese Nom Noms at i love burgers; chef-inspired vegetarian linguine at Pinot Brasserie (probably my fave); Green Bean tempura and avocado rolls at Sushi Samba; and lots of merlot and iced coffee mixed in there for good measure.

After a refreshing beer at the airport, many antibacterial wipes, and sitting on the tarmac through two maintenance tweaks to our plane (for sure thought we were going down in a hot blaze), I made it home. All I wanted was my own bed and some clean and fresh. To my delight, I opened my door to a spotless, yummy smelling apartment thanks to my wonderful man. So thankful to be home, and looking forward to lots of relaxing this weekend.

Vegas-bound!

Today I am heading out for Vegas, baby! Granted, it's a work trip, but my company is putting us up in a really nice hotel on the strip, so good times will still be had. Honestly, I'm really looking forward to the evenings in my hotel room. I love me some hotel rooms. And I like to imagine I'll have some silly gorgeous view at which to gaze whilst wearing a big white robe, fuzzy socks, and sipping a beverage.

via

I've been to Vegas quite a few times, actually. Some good, some bad. But I have to admit: I'm a bit nervous about this trip. I've been struggling with materialism and wanting all the live long day. And while I know I can't bury my head in the sand to battle through these misguided desires, I feel like I am walking into the lion's den, so to speak (not that big MGM lion...he's pretty fabulous), in that this city is all about opulence, spending, shiny new fancy.

Thankfully, I'm not much of a gambler. My idea of gambling consists of $40 max (...for the week), low-bet Blackjack tables and/or video Poker (Holla, Biggie!), chatting with tablemates and enjoying a cocktail or two over the course of a few hours. High roller, right? Look out!

My heart is in a very different state since my last trip to Vegas, thank the Lord. But instead of living in fear (a crisis of faith, to be sure), I am going to enjoy this free trip that God has sent my way, enjoy some of the truly beautiful sights the city has to offer, bond with my co-workers in attendance, and lean on Him if/when I start to feel tempted to spend all my dollars and behave like a goober.

Cheers to a goober-free week, y'all!

{Friday's Fancies} Let's Fly Away

This is my first Friday's Fancies, y'all, and I'm super excited! This week we're flying away to dream destinations and packing an outfit to fit the locale. In a surprising turn of events, I've chosen Paris. You're shocked. I know.

So loverly.

Earlier this week I was craving a romantic sidewalk date with my honey, but today I'm thinking we grab a baguette, some soft cheese and a bottle of wine, and head to one of the many lovely parks for a Parisian picnic. This calls for a flirty ensemble with pops of color, a nod to French style, and a portable blankie to keep grass stains off of my sassy dress.

Earrings // Sunnies // Tote // Dress
Belt // Bracelet // Flats // Blanket

Where would you head off to, dear readers?

Austin Road Trip Recap {Photo Post}

{THURSDAY} M made us to-go cappuccinos as we hit the road for Austin. (Jesus Panda loves road trips.)

Once in Austin, we joined our friends for lunch at Bouldin Creek Cafe (where I promptly scarfed down a Veggie Royale), walked along the trails, ran a few errands, picked up some coffee from Dominican Joe to rally for a late evening, and snacked on Izzoz tacos before heading out for the show.

All dressed up with Biscuit, one of my besties. We sipped on cabernet and swooned as we took in the show with our men.

The Civil Wars were AMAZING. It is rare to hear a band that sounds even better in person than they do on their album (especially with just a guitar and piano as accompaniment to their beautiful harmonies), but they're phenomenal. See them, especially if you can catch them at a venue as gorgeous as The Paramount.

{FRIDAY} Late breakfast at 24 Diner. Their veggie hash and coffee is probably one of my favorite meals, which goes to show you that quality ingredients can make a simple dish extraordinary. After fueling up, we perused the Whole Food flagship store across the street and stocked up on non-perishable yummies.

We rented a kayak from our hotel and paddled along Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake if you're OG), taking in the lovely view of downtown and heckling hippy ducks. An afternoon catnap followed shortly after. 

Oh, Mandola's Italian Market. So, so yum. The concept of this place is adorable, from the fresh breads, meats and cheeses, to the accordion serenading dine-in guests as they enjoy house wines and delectable Italian eats.

M and I started with garlic fries and pesto dip, as well as herb-infused olive oil and freshly baked bread. For dinner, I ordered my usual (cheese ravioli) while M sampled the evening's special: five cheese manicotti. I swear, their marinara is laced with magic. It was like dining in Europe and we had the most lovely dinner date. 

I couldn't leave without grabbing some gelato! They didn't have coffee flavor, which is my fave, but the mint was quite good.

After our Italian feast, we headed over to the Biscuit home to share some beverages and catch up. There are no photos from that portion of the evening, despite making it through without another seventh-grade-style slow dance to Wham's "Careless Whisper." (I don't know.)

{SATURDAY} Before heading home, we grabbed some cupcakes from Sugar Mama's (M finally got to experience The Hemingway...hummina) and dined at Mother's Cafe. I opted for one of their classics: the artichoke enchiladas with vegan cheese.  

I missed a few photo ops here and there, but hopefully these shots provide a glimpse at the loveliness of our visit. We had such a fantastic weekend and definitely got our fill of good times and delicious eats. Can't wait to venture down south again soon!