Spring Look 4 - Wine with girlfriends at the Grove

The Grove in Austin is one of my favorite newly discovered places. Wine on the patio is so relaxing (and the grove isn't uptight for a wine bar at all). I'm a sucker for a wide-leg pant and the colorful scarf offsets the neutrality beautifully. Go jewelry-free but add a wedge and a gorgeous handbag -- I love this casual but "still-special" look! But where are the skirts and dresses for spring? I'll have to go back a-digging.

Old Navy tank, Anthro pants and scarf, Kooba handbag and I forget the shoes (sorry!)

Thinking about joining a bowling league

So I may or may not have thrown a bowling ball BEHIND me when bowling at my lovely friend and co-worker Dawn's birthday party. Highly recommend 300 Lanes on I-35 - it was a great bowling alley. But I don't think I'll invest in my own bowling ball just yet. I blame my ineptitude on the fact that us Massachusetts yankees didn't have (what we call) Big Ball Bowling. All we had was candlepin, which has more pins and small balls. Yes, apparently we did grow up in a bubble.



Other weekend highlights...extra-delicious Pizza Sunday at Homeslice (maybe we were just extra-hungry but whatever, it was like eating angels), a finally clean house, a possible new-old couch and a lot of relaxing. And maybe some real world brooklyn.

AMEN!

Help me choose!

Ok, this is one etsy find that I just must have! But which one?

Frame clutch wallets from kailochic here and on etsy.

Want this!

The weather is getting warmer but for some reason I'm dreaming of scarves. Like these from necklush on etsy.

Ooooh, ahhh!!

This is so beautiful (from etsy seller Fray via Another Shade of Gray's blog (who brings beautiful things to my reader all day long).I was pretty sure I would be introducing it to my closet until I saw that the yarn is wool. Booo...my skin is way too sensitive for wool. But I post it so that you can wear it and I can be jealous of you. You should.

A schlong is not a nose...

Heard from one of our presenters on the audio recording of a recent conference session:
"You've got to have a really unique selling proposition. But you can have fun with it. I mean, I know this guy from California that has a really great big schlong. He uses it to his advantage. Puts it on his business card and says, "Knows how to sniff out a great deal." And it works for him. I mean, who wouldn't want to go to the appointment and see the guy with the really big schlong?."

Yes. The man said "schlong" in a room of hundreds. I found it quite amusing until I realized that I really needed to have a conversation with him about it. I mean, he could tell this story every time he teaches. I then agonized over how to explain to one of our top instructors that it does not, in fact, mean nose (he was going for schnoz). Surprisingly, my phone rang Friday and it was him saying, "Hi there, it's been a really schlong time since we last spoke." Someone had come up to him after the class and said "Did you mean schnoz?" I can't stop laughing about it....if I'd been in the room I would've been wondering if I was the only one for whom schlong most certainly does not mean nose. He is NEVER going to live that one down.

Whirl of a weekend!

Twas a wonderful whirl of a weekend. It's officially spring and the Austin weather did not disappoint. Have I mentioned lately how utterly thrilled I am to be back in Austin?

Saturday, Tim and I started the "couch to 5k" plan. In reality, Tim could run it now, but I can't and he's sweet enough to patiently run/walk with me. Too bad we live in hilly Westlake making it a bit more challenging than it should have been for the average bear. Saturday afternoon we had the brilliant idea to go to HomeSlice for lunch. During SXSW. A bright shiny moment. Needless to say, we ended up at Saccones way up in Round Rock. Num, num, num! We then actually went back downtown and braved the crowds. We sat in the sun and watched Fastball at Auditorium Shores then took a long walk around town and people-watched.


And we learned that mustaches are back in. Is it meant as irony? I'm pretty sure I'm too old to understand.

Sunday we went for a long walk in the Greenbelt (when does the water come?). Then it was RODEO TIME! I love the rodeo much more than a girl from Boston should. And not so much in a novelty "yankee goes to the rodeo" way either. I love it in an "I'm seriously considering getting cable again just so i can watch it on tv again" kinda way. Although Tim is not a fan, I'm pretty sure he's certain if he doesn't go with me I'll run off with a cowboy aaaannnnddd I can't say I'd call him paranoid. He is also, however, a fan of hot dogs. You can pretty much get him to go anywhere if you can tempt a hotdog. Have I ever mentioned how before I moved to Texas I, in all seriousness, thought everyone in Texas wore a cowboy hat and boots at all times? It's so utterly ignorant but I was highly disappointed.

I must say I was extremely disappointed by the bull-riding. They cut it short to start the Randy Travis show (why is he famous?). Apparently the rodeo continued after the concert, but we had to leave. Boo. I was like a little kid who licked her ice cream off the cone into the dirt.






Sprinkle in some couch shopping, some Target trips and a bit of kitchen cleaning, and you've got a weekend!

Spring Look 3...Getaway

I'm thinking top down of some kind of vintage beaut with a floppy straw hat for drama, headed to the coast without a care in the world.



Anthro shorts & tote
Old Navy sheer camp shirt
Pucci shades
Nine West Shoes

Spring Look 2

I'm just loving grey lately - it's my favorite neutral by a mile! Popped with yellow,
it's perfection. Perfect for weekend.



Club Monaco silk tank
AG Boyfriend Jean
Martin + Osa hammered disc necklace
Cejon (Nordstrom) scarf
Old Navy flip flops

Bring it, Spring!

When I lived in Boston, fall was my favorite season...breaking out the tall boots, the brown and burnt orange sweaters (where burnt orange is just a color, not a statement), the cable knit tights. Here in Texas, there's only about a two-week period during which you can wear these things - so now I choose spring! And spring has definitely sprung in Austin - days in the low 80's and sunny have me feeling shopping spring fever! So, upcoming, some of my favorite looks that I hope to incorporate into my spring wardrobe (somewhat limited by the good images i could find - i couldn't stand for the images not to "match").

Look 1...Easy-Breezy Office!



Anthropologie necklace, top and wide-leg pants.
Banana Republic chocolate brown handbag
Forever 21 cardigans
Frye sandals (red shoes would be fantastic with this outfit too)

Beautiful botanicals

inleaf has such beautiful stuff!

She hand prints pillows, totes, towels, gift tags (and the list goes on) with real leaves. Her colors and textures are just so natural and gorgeous. As soon as she puts more frame clutches in her etsy shop (in about a week), I'll be introducing one to my collection!

Images from her blog.

SHUT UP!

Not only does Sea of Shoes' Jane have an A-MAZING shoe closet and vintage clothing collection, but she also (of course) has a ridiculous house. The white fur on the lucite chairs -- come on! Die, die, die!




And a bonus gorgeous shoe pic...

I lost my shit at yoga...

It was bound to happen sooner or later. It started with the guy who snores...every time...during resting pose. Who falls asleep that quickly? And why doesn't his wife wake him up? Dear god, be embarrassed! So, I'm in resting pose, not resting because I'm so distracted by the snoring. Then, our teacher decides to teach us this special breathing where you stick your tongue out and sip in loudly, then use your hand, in this special, odd position, to close off one nostril at a time and exhale. As I'm breathing out in this ridiculous way, I lose my shit. This in turn causes Kathy to lose her shit, which in turn causes the woman next to her to lose her shit. It's over. Except it's not over - she continues to lead us in that breathing for what feels like a half an hour. I'm sitting indian (native american?) style with my head in my hands shaking uncontrollably just praying for the end. P.S. When i came home and told Tim I lost my shit at yoga, he said (with hope in his voice), "YOU FARTED?!"

Alexis' Favorite Things

Some more favorites of mine...

CO Bigelow mint mentha lip shine
This is no joke, the.best.lip balm EVER! It is so moisturizing, but also gives your breath a shot of freshness. I have them stashed in my car, office, and all over my house - I can't stand to be without it.



Anthropologie aprons

Anthro has the most amazingly cute aprons in the world! They inspire me to cook.



Niven Morgan Gold Scent
This is the most unique, beautiful scent, without being overpowering. I love it in all its many forms. http://www.nivenmorgan.com


Until next time...

Julia Child is my hero...

I had a mad weekend of baking! I had a lot of thank yous to give/write and what better way than through baked goods! Tim did a great job as the official taster.

Emeril's key lime pie


A delicious double-chocolate bundt cake with chocolate glaze.



Chocolate bundt cake
1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar.

Chocolate glaze

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a double boiler over hot, but not boiling water, combine chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup. Stir until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, then add vanilla.

Spread warm glaze over top of cake, letting it drizzle down the sides.

Mocha Toffee Bars
This recipe is the favorite cookie recipe from Gourmet in 1987 and it didn't disappoint.



And finally, chocolate and almond covered pretzels.


Phew!

Here, there and everywhere.

I'm well overdue, as usual. Life really gets in the way of updates! And it's been a crazy couple weeks, a few days in Boston, a few days with mom (and friends) in Austin, and a loooong week back at work. So, I can only muster the energy for a collection of random thoughts, updates, musings, etc...

- Went to gospel brunch last sunday at stubbs. so much fun! (#63, #50)

This, I believe, is one of the original members of A.C. Littlefield and the Original Bells of Joy. He was so cool!




- Started the "beginner yoga series" with Kathy and I think I'm going to really like it. I had this major paranoia about yoga that there would be a lot of farting (by the others of course) but thankfully I didn't hear any or...err...smell any. (#29) Highly recommend Yoga Yoga - they have studios all over town and all kinds of classes, with lots of options for beginners.

- Riverview pizza in Ipswich, MA is the BEST.PIZZA.EVER. Tim says "Amen."
It just looks like this:

But it tastes like rainbows and unicorns.

- I am so lucky to have such fantastic in-laws! We spent a few sad days together in Boston, but it just reiterated to me what a wonderful family I have!

- Tried two new restaurants - Stubbs (brunch)and Woodland (salmon). Both get a B. (#44)


- I like the cupcake lady (and her cupcakes) on South Congress. Although, I like them even more in theory than in my mouth. Even more so because it epitomizes why I'm so glad to be back in Austin as opposed to Dallas (Sprinkles).


- Becker Vineyards is so nice, especially the Syrah. Fan. (#57) Also, need to plan a trip to Fredericksburg that's longer than a 1/2 hour (we seem to always spend all the time at the vineyards on the way!)


- Mom got a super-cute haircut at Hairy Situations (I forget her name though, but I recommend her (helpful, huh?)


- Had dinner at the Oasis - same verdict as the last time we went a few years ago - gorgeous views, sub-par food.


Mom may be the next Jennifer Nichols :-)


A very nice couple weeks!