Tag Archives: favorites

a girls’ day.

Posted on by

last friday night, my adorable cousin ashlin flew in from florida for a little visit.  we had a little sleepover at my apartment with lots of late-night giggles and secrets and stories about cute boys, and then on saturday we had a girls’ day – always one of our favorite things to do!

{ashlin is all ready to shop ’til she drops!}

mimi and my mom met us at the quaint little corner market on greenville avenue for breakfast.  ashlin and i both had a lox sandwich.

{lox is one of my favorite breakfast treats.  this open-faced sandwich was piled high with sprouts, red onions, and capers.}

next we ambled next door to my beloved buffalo exchange.  i found a funky and fabulous little black strapless dress covered in strips of tulle that look almost like feathers [i'll have to take a picture in it one of these days].  it will be the perfect thing to wear to a wedding that i’ll be attending in december.

{speaking of weddings, i also had a blast trying on this denim and tulle dress. texas wedding anyone?  not what i plan to wear at my wedding, but oh so fun!}

next we headed to northpark mall, where we were able to hit nordstrom, anthropologie, papyrus, and urban outfitters in one swoop.  you can’t go wrong with that kind of lineup, i’ve decided.

{ashlin striking a pose in a chic hat at urban!}

of course, we had to stick to tradition and make our stop at the nordstrom bistro for a late lunch. i did decide to venture beyond my usual cilantro lime shrimp salad [which happens to be mom's and mimi's usual as well!  it's so delicious!] and ordered the crab stack.  i wasn’t disappointed!  it was so fresh and light and perfect for summer.

{how could you go wrong with avocado, tomatoes, onions, mango, and fresh lump crab meat stacked on top of each other to make a beautiful and elegant tower?!  you can’t.}

and finally, we stopped at nordstrom rack and home goods to round out the trip.

after our big day of shopping, ashlin headed back to mansfield with mimi and mom.  unfortunately, i wasn’t able to join them and the rest of my family for dinner at mimi and papa’s, because i had to get ready to move into my new apartment the next day!

so here i am on thursday, finally moved in.  well, i should say that all my stuff is in my apartment. “moved in” does not accurately describe the current predicament that my place is in; right now it falls somewhere between a chaotic jumble of boxes and complete mayhem.  but it’s slowly getting there.  AND tomorrow my family leaves for argentina!!  i’m very excited.  and when i get back next saturday i will be sure to post lots of pictures!

ashlin, i’m so happy you came to visit me in the big d!  i had such a wonderful time and am lucky to have a cousin who’s as fun to be around as you are and who has so much in common with me!  love you!

xoxo

ZICO

Posted on by

Just a little something I’m loving right now…ZICO pineapple-flavored coconut water.  It’s so refreshing, and while I know it’s winter in the rest of the world, we’ve been kicking it in the 70′s here most days since I’ve been back in College Station. (This time of year reminds me why I love Texas, or at least when I’m having to walk all over campus.)  Warm weather or not, ZICO is a perfect after-workout hydrator, and if you have a case of the winter blues (or the Monday blues!), it is sure to transport you to a tropical paradise far, far away.

West

Posted on by

One of our favorite pit stops to make when we’re going to College Station or Austin from Mansfield is The Czech Stop, right off Exit 353 of I-35 in the town of West.

The little family-owned Czech bakery attached to this convenience store and gas station has the best kolaches you will ever eat.  They have a variety of different kinds – everything from sweet to savory – and they’re always incredibly fresh and soo yummy.  You can never go wrong with a fruit-and-cream-cheese kolache (I like blueberry), and their sausage rolls are to die for.  West is known for their homemade Czech sausage, and that wrapped in warm, soft, doughy goodness is heaven.  You can get them with cheese and jalapeno if you want to be a true Texan!

The bakery is no secret to Aggies, Longhorns, or the Baylor Bears, so it’s always a zoo as everyone stops on their way to or from college.  However, there’s always a lot of people working, it’s very efficient, and the kolaches are 100% worth a short wait.  As I headed back to A&M for my last semester, I realized that my days to conveniently stop by the Czech bakery are numbered, so I will gladly indulge on a kolache or two whenever I have the opportunity!

A Bit of Whimsy

Posted on by

Here’s the latest addition to my room:

I got both the garland and the bunting at the Saturday morning market at Beans & Barley in Milwaukee, which I mentioned here.  I got to know the vendor because I would go admire her adorable handmade wares every week, and I would always check to see if this bunting and garland were still there.  Towards the end of the summer, I decided it was meant to be, so I purchased the bunting first, and then the next Saturday I caved and got the little flower garland.  I like the bit of whimsy they add to my room, and every morning when I wake up and see them hanging above my head I smile.

A Potter’s Work

Posted on by

One of the things I fell in love with while I was in Milwaukee was Beth Eaton pottery.  Her beautiful mugs, plates, and dishes are sold at Beans & Barley, and I would frequent that little shelf in the store often, seeing what new pieces of hers they had to offer.  Beth doesn’t use a potters’ wheel, but instead rolls out the clay and stamps it before shaping, firing, and painting to create unique and whimsy little wares.  Each one has its own character, stamped with everything from rollerskates or people exercising to camping items or nature scenes.  They’re fascinating to look at and I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like them.  I had to buy a piece before I left, of course, and ended up purchasing this little dish which is perfect for holding my rings or earrings at night:

I just love it!  It’s small but perfect in such an imperfect way, and it will definitely always remind me of Milwaukee.

An Anthology of Beautiful Things

Posted on by

My new obsession: Anthology Magazine

.A melding of “home decor, travel, design, entertaining, and culture,” Anthology is an ensemble of stories and photos in storylike format that are centered around a different theme for each issue.  The magazine is issued quarterly, but it contains over 120 pages and has limited advertisements.  Its slogan, “Living with substance & style,” describes the magazine perfectly.  Beautiful, artful, and sophisticated, it will have you relishing every season and make you feel inspired to be creative in all aspects of your life.

Spreading the Words

Posted on by

I’m a greeting card addict.  I love giving them, I love receiving them, I love decorating with them.  It may be old-fashioned (as one of my best friends lovingly indicated to me the other day when she said, “Jess, I think you’re the only one who still gives me cards besides my grandma”), but I think there’s something irreplaceable about a concrete, in-your-hand, enveloped card with a handwritten message inside.

One of my very favorite greeting card companies is Quotable Cards.  I love the square shape of the cards, the simple black or white backgrounds that are gender-neutral, and the unique and thoughtful quotes printed on them, which are written in different fonts and colors and are so inspiring that I often get goosebumps when I read them.

You can find one that fits every person and every occasion, and you can even buy a Quotable Frame, available in black or white, to make the words last.