Growing Up

from An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy 1917 - 1963

Alright. I've been trucking away at new blog things. Sorry for the distraction. We're getting some unseasonable yet very welcomed storms here in Austin. Nice excuse to stay in, make dinner, and catch up on The New Girl.

I've been reading a biography of John F. Kennedy and falling in love with it. Though I'm slowly making my way through it (how is reading always the first thing to go when you get busy?!) I am quite infatuated. This quote is from the very beginning of the book and one I've found myself reading and re-reading. 

What are you reading these days? Do you have any recommendations for me? I need a fiction novel to balance out this hefty biography.

A Reminder to Myself: Be Thankful

Live the pretty life now. You will always want more and "more" is never really attained. Your life will not begin once you have the things you find yourself pining for this month. There will always be a new outfit to own. There will always be new people to know. There will always be new novels to read, movies to see, and music to hear. Most likely, you will always want a pay raise. You will always have trips to take - no matter how many trips you have under your belt. You see where I'm going with this? Where does it stop and what's stopping you from embracing what you have and making something beautiful out of it?

Rearrange your bedroom. Draw stuff for your walls. Pick flowers for your empty whiskey bottles and try to keep your cat from eating them. Turn on the perfect album and get creative with what you already have in your closet. Donate what you don't need because other people will need it. Cook the meals you're dying to try and invite people over to enjoy it. Dust off your guitar and play. And if you want it documented take pictures and instagrams. 

Be thankful for what you have because you have a lot and you are blessed. 

I'm alive.

Y'all, I suck. I wish I could say I took a stint from updating this here blog for good reason when really I've just had a bad case of blogging apathy. My days have seemed busy but have really just been filled with bread baking (I've been on a kick lately), working out, reading, planning for out-of-town friend visits, and preliminary work for blog number two. 

I visited family in Houston for Easter weekend and had the best time. Sunday we all got up early, packed our beach bags, and jumped in the car to make the hour drive to Galveston. Being near the sand and water with the fam was just what I needed. We swam, the sister and I took pictures, and we went on long walks while the brother skim boarded. I try my best to never buy into the Easter dress craze and only wear something that has been in my closet for a while (to me, I always felt selfish celebrating this holiday through clothes), so it was amazing to throw on a t-shirt and comfy shorts and sandals for a day outside. 

What did you guys do for the holiday? 

BBQ and Cats

Spring has sprung and I've been trying to take advantage of as much of the sunshine and blooming trees before the summer death heat comes. Last weekend a few girls and I took a much needed day trip out of Austin. First stop was Wimberley when we poked around as many quirky shops as possible. We were greeted by a giant cat lazing over the jewelry cases  as we walked in the door of one shop. I thought it was a stuffed animal until he slowly turned his head to check me out. I had no idea a cat could startle me that much.

We left Wimberley for Lockhart and a taste test of some of their famous BBQ. Lockhart has four competing BBQ joints and everyone you talk to has their opinion on which is the best. We decided to hit up Black's BBQ and while I haven't had any of the others, it was perhaps the best brisket I've ever tasted. And eating it was a treat as I've been trying to cut back on my meat consumption lately. 

The town of Lockhart was a cute dream as well. Old buildings and aging store fronts. I have to say I preferred it to Wimberley quite a bit. 

Instagram Round Up and a Question

 In following suit, here's a little instagram weekend round up. Lots of cooking with basil since my basil plant is sprouting endlessly, out of town trips to Fredricksburg, and stone hunting for pretty rocks and gems.

Sorry for my insane lack of posting as of late. I've actually been working on a new idea for a blog and would love your input. You see, over the last couple years I've found myself ditching my aimless ways and actually working hard toward career, life, etc. But I'm not convinced that I need to let go of the fun and exciting things I do as I transition into a corporate job and an adult life. So I was thinking of sharing my juggle in a more focused blog. A place where we could discuss how to keep your cool (even in an office) incorporating style, multi-tasking, down time/hobbies, work relationships, and a lot more.

What do you guys think? Do you think it'd be something you'd be interested in reading? I'm debating getting a whole new blog to do this or revamping this blog for it - which would mean taking down a lot of old posts and redesigning the layout. Would you guys hate that?

Thanks in advance for your input, party people!

Finally. I know.

A few instagrams from SXSW. It was a crazy week and very very busy. What started out as an overcast, rainy forcast ended with bright sunshine and warm days. Perfect. Sixth street resembled halloween weekend with the insane crowds. once it got later in the day I dodged it as much as possible. A small group of us did end up on the roof of a friend's 6th street office overlooking the craziness one night. 

After a super long work week I took a couple days off for music fun. Saw Youth Lagoon, Alabama Shakes, Kimbra, The War On Drugs, and many more. 

I hope you all had a wonderful last couple weeks!

Ali Golden's Good-As-Gold Collection

Ali Golden Good-As-Gold Fall 2012 (found via Refinary 29)

This may be a fall collection but I can see some of these peices being worn perfectly during our summer here. Pretty pretty.