Increase the culture points...an evening at the ballet

Since I'm a girl whose best dance moves include smacking my own bum and the running man, I don't know all that much about "real dance." But intrigued by the current show at the Austin Ballet, a few friends and I headed downtown to see it tonight. The studio is intimate and gorgeous and the dancing was really so beautiful. Their bodies are just insane! There were two pieces - Left Unsaid, which was intense and deep, and Songs of Innuendo (why I wanted to go) which was so much fun - featured music from James Brown, Nina Simone, Etta James. So, being a dance ignoramus, let me not even try to comment on that and focus on...the styling. I'll leave the first piece alone since it was kinda ballet-wear(although I still hold that the french twist is out). But, the second piece, which I loved regardless, was disconnected in the styling! The music was sexy - I mean Nina Simone and Etta singing "songs of innuendo?" The styling was a gum-popping, 50's diner worker who's headed to the sock-hop after her dinner shift. It contradicted so starkly with the beautiful music and movements. But that, and the lack of leg room in the seats, were the only disappointing things, otherwise I highly recommend! I believe it goes through this weekend.


Pic from Austin Ballet

Side note: I parallel-parked my car into the TINIEST spot ever. I'M THE BEST PARALLEL PARKER EVER!

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.

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

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!

Alexis' Favorite Things

So we've been married for about eight months now and using all our grown up dishes, pots and pans, etc. I thought I'd share what ended up being some of my favorite picks -- especially some that were kinda random scans in the store but is actually so useful! A lot of my favorite things were actually seasonal at Crate and Barrel, so I'm skipping those -- as well as the dishes and glasses and stuff, since that's all about personal taste.

From Crate and Barrel

Parker Bowls $36.95
These bowls are the best. In the fall they offer the Addison bowls which are in richer autumnal colors. They make great mixing bowls but also great serving bowls (they look great on a table) and there's five of them, so a size for everything. The price is also great - a fantastic gift to give too!


Footed Colander $19.95
Straining vegetables never looked so good!


Footed Cake Platter $54.95
Not the easiest piece to store, but cakes look so beautiful on this tall stand!


Water Lily Bowl $24.95
This is a simple bowl with clean lines but so versatile. You can put rocks, fruit, floating flowers, candles in it and continuously switch up your centerpieces.




Easy Roll Garlic Peeler $3.95
Who knew? I use this all the time and LOVE it. Easy to use, easy to wash and it really takes the garlic skin(?) off in two secs.


Acacia Wood Platter $14.95
This platter is so beautiful it looks like art. Great for decoration or for serving cheese and fruit. The acacia salad bowl is also gorgeous.


Ona Pitcher $26.95
This unique picture also makes a beautiful vase. I haven't made sangria in it yet, but it would look so pretty with the floating fruit (also in lemon or lime-ade).

Polycarbonate Pizza Wheel


Vino Wine Glass $2.95
A few of these at home are great for easy glass of wine. Also great for outdoors!



From Bed, Bath and Beyond

Micro-Cotton by Suite Collection Bath Towel
These are the SOFTEST towels ever! It's like drying off in a cloud.


Flexible Cutting Boards $3.99
These take up no counter space and are easy to pull out, wipe clean, etc.



One Touch Can Opener $19.99
This thing is AMAZING. Who knew we needed it, but it is fan-freakin-tastic.




Metrokane® Rabbit Wine 6-Piece Corkscrew Tool Kit
Wine is sooooo much easier to open with this guy. I keep recommending engaged ladies get the rabbit - for those that watch Sex and the City, you get the joke.


Good luck with your own picks!

NEW PROJECT!

I have GOT to make one of these ('cept with our last name of course). A girl sent me a list to a whole bunch of letter photos to play around with.


(from The Nest message board (AbbysMom))

Bonus - a cute picture of Mike being all "C'mon Mom!" when trying to sleep.

The Weekend in Pictures

After a change of plans late Friday, it was back up I-35 to Dallas for the weekend. We'll be putting our house up for rent (hopefully we have some luck that way). All in all, a good weekend with the dogs and the man (missing all of them too much!) The weekend in pictures.

A lot of this...


Sweet Mike... sometimes they're just too cute to yell at...




Yummy Sweet Tomatoes (Dallas, 1, as there is no Sweet Tomatoes in Austin) I'm no rookie at a salad bar yet I still can't master the balance. Everytime, I build a mountain and all my chick peas and croutons roll right off, practice has had no impact!



Some naps




And I finally broke in the gocco! It's so much fun, I can't wait to use it more. Can't reveal what I made as it would be an X-mas spoiler!



Finally...more of this.



BRING ON THE WEEK!