Keeping Austin Weird

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Jenn

Last weekend Rogers and I packed a bag and hopped an early flight for Austin, TX. My good friend and sorority sister, Crystal, was marrying her man Nick, and all the Phi Mu girls were en route to help her celebrate.

Rog and I made a mini-vacay out of it and stayed three nights and spent the whole time exploring and catching up with good friends. We LOVE Austin. If it wasn’t 1 million degrees there in the summer, I’d consider moving.

We found a perfect little cottage on AirBNB.com for $48/night. Yes, you read correctly. It was about the same size if not bigger than a hotel room and 1/3 of the cost. Totally private and a mile from the heart of South Congress where all the great shopping and eating is located. I highly recommend staying at the Cottage if you visit ATX.

Here are some photos.

Boots – and boots. All the essentials for TX trip.

Quick plane change in Houston. We’d been up since 4 and had stayed up till midnight the night before. Not wise.

We arrive in ATX and were in our rental car by 10:30 a.m. but couldn’t check in to our place until 3. No worries. I’m a planner extraordinaire and had scheduled some things to look at. First, Barton Springs. Austin’s humongous natural spring swimming hole. It was 300 yards long and a crisp year-round 68 degrees. And there were little old ladies swimming laps in it. With no wetsuit. OMG y’all. That is cold.

Lunch was at Kerbey Lane for the famous queso. It lived up to my every hope and dream and then some. It had guac and pico de gallo in it. I die.

We finally couldn’t stay awake any longer and checked in early. We found this bottle of wine waiting on us from our host. We enjoyed it post-nap, pre-dinner. Dinner was at Uchi, the Top Chef restaurant that we ate at during girls weekend in January. We met Melissa and Aaron there and loved it just as much as the first time – apparently so much I forgot to take pictures.

The next morning. Tacos at TacoDeli and coffee and tea at Austin Java. Two new favorites. We loved Austin Java so much we went back the next morning for breakfast.

Saturday morning was so cool so we walked off our breakfast at the Lady Bird Lake trails downtown. There were so many people out and it was BEAUTIFUL. It’s a lovely thing being in a city with so many active people.

Next was shopping and lunch on South Congress. On the left is Uncommon Objects, our favorite South Congress store. So weird. So fun. On the right is a bloody mary from some café that we just had to have mid-day. We lunched on food trucks across the street. I had Mighty Cone – and ordered a tortilla stuffed with crunchy shrimp and slaw, in a cone. Delish. Rog had a yummy pita that took approximately 45 minutes to make.

On the right – please check out what girl to the right of Rogers is wearing. WHAT.the..heck.

Saturday night – Salt Lick BBQ – again of Top Chef fame and again a place we fell in love with on Girls Weekend.

Then it was on to Gibson Bar to meet up with the lovely bride and groom! They arranged to be at their favorite bar for a set couple of hours so everyone could meet up and visit. Great plan. It was so fun.

The next morning – breakfast at Austin Java. I wanted sweet and savory so I had Farmer’s French toast AND a chorizo, egg and cheese taco. Rog had some kind of omelet with gouda cheese. It was all divine.

Shopping and more eating on South Congress for lunch, after visiting a couple book stores and the famous Waterloo Record store.

Sunday night – on to the big wedding! It was on a beautiful Texas farm and was definitely the most beautiful wedding I’ve been to. So much fun.

I definitely wasn’t wearing what I’d plan on wearing – because the temps were dropping into the 50s. We all went out and bought tights and pantyhose. Ha. Nothing like some nude pantyhose to dress up any occasion, right?

I snapped this as they headed up the aisle. They were positively glowing.

Phi Mu ladies. From the left, me, Monica, Melissa, Lindsey, Edgin and Katie.

Crystal had arranged for us to have a Pink Ladies lounge. Too cute.

The reception barn – right next to the outdoor ceremony sight. I’m telling you – this is what little girls dreams are made of!

There was a photo booth. Like, a real photo booth. It was so fun. How six of us crammed in there, I have no idea. You’ll notice in picture two that Melissa also brought a giant log into the booth. You’ll notice in photo three, that she inadvertently smacked me in the head with it between photo 2 and 3.

Me and the bride!

Why not?

Getting inside Monica’s blanket with her. Yes – she brought a blanket, which she wore most of the evening.

Me and Rog.

Thank you, Bristows, for letting us celebrate in your nuptials and fall in love with your city! We can’t wait to hear about Hawaii! Love you.

XOXO,
Jenn

Mountain Mama

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Jenn

Rogers and I went camping a couple weekends ago. We stayed three nights, four days at Elkmont Campground, where we’ve stayed three or four times before. We LOVE Elkmont and the Smokies like I cannot describe to you. I seriously could stay there a couple weeks (before I’d have to get a real shower and bed).

We get so into our little camping routine and never tire of each other, without TV, computers, cell phones, etc. It’s really nice to escape everything else and we’re both just really in our element when you drop us in the middle of the Smoky Mountains.

We don’t shower (but we maybe bathed in the River – shhh, don’t tell the Park Ranger). We sleep in a tent (with an air mattress and down comforter – shhh, don’t tell Rogers I told you! It embarrasses him that I have to have an air mattress). We cook all our meals by campfire or tiny camp stove. We sit. We hike. We visit. We laugh. A lot.

Here’s a photo recap.

Entering the mountains – so excited!

Dinner night one – campfire hot dogs and easy mac. YES.

My view.

We had the biggest steak ever, thanks to Momma and Daddy’s freezer.

Rog wraps potatoes in aluminum foil and throws them in the campfire coals. The best baked potato!

Every morning – bacon and eggs. This particular morning we had leftover steak on the side! Hiking fuel.

Our camp. It poured on Saturday, but Rogers kept us dry with his tarps and crazy Eagle Scout knots.

Friday morning Mom and Dad met us at the Alum Cave Trailhead and we headed off for Mt. LeConte. The grandaddy hike of the Smokies.

Me and my Dad.

However, Mom was having some knee pain, so she and I turned around at the bluffs (2ish miles each way) and then went into Gatlinburg and shopped and ate Mexican food. Ha! We sent the men on to to the top. They got to see the Llamas! The llamas hike 12 miles roundtrip, three times a week, to bring supplies, laundry, food, etc. up and down the mountain. So cool. Look at ‘em!

Dad snapped this photo from the top. You can’t beat it.

Like I said, it poured on Saturday, so we stuck close to camp. In between showers, Rog taught me “land navigation” with a military compass. Now, if I get lost, I can find my way home…if I have a map and compass, which I clearly ALWAYS carry with me.

Views around camp.

When the rain didn’t let up, we went into Gatlinburg so I could get an internet signal and download a new book on my Kindle. Priorities, friends! We also may have acted like tourists for a minute.

Please notice I’m being photo-bombed by a stuffed moose on the right. (Rog).

Dinner on the last night – cheeseburgers and black beans. And S’mores. Duh. We had s’mores every night!

Rog cooked our last breakfast on a little gasoline powered stove made in 1966. He’s had it since he and his Dad used to go camping and it’s made by a company called “Rogers.” So awesome.

Until next time, Elkmont. We love you so!

XOXO,
Jenn

See ya, Summer

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Jenn

Tell your friend Fall to hurry on over.

We’ve been enjoying the last days of Summer but craving Fall so much.

Here are some of our end of summer happenings.

I recently went to Atlanta for my friend Crystal’s bachelorette party. She is a sweet friend and Phi Mu sister from UT. I can NOT WAIT for her wedding in Austin in a few weeks! We had a blast in Atlanta. The crew was about half friends from college and half friends from her post-college days in Atlanta. So that was really fun. We all got along so well and had a blast – duh, Crystal picked us all as friends, so we’re clearly all awesome. It was so much fun.

We spent Saturday “shooting the Hooch,” or tubing down the Chattahoochee River. So nice! It was like redneck tanning. Just laying in a tube, getting some sun and drinking from your floating beer cooler next to you. Yes indeed.

Then, it was bachelorette time. On the right is Edgin and I – my freshman year roomie!

There was a serious game of Jenga. Each piece had a question about the bride and groom on it or had a “drink three drinks” or “never have I ever” kind of phrase on it. It was hilarious.

Me and the bride!

OMG – dinner at Two Urban Licks. I had scallops over gouda grits. GOUDA! I love you.

Jen Hester and I have a mutual friend back in Nashville – like, besides the ones who know Crystal. Small world.

Beginning of night – end of night. 8:30 vs. 3:31. Wow.

Back in Nashpatch, we went to Bartender Bash. Just as fun as I remember! But the drinks were not as yummy as last year. There were only a couple that blew my mind. The rest were just, eh, so so. But when you’re in good company, it doesn’t really matter.

Stud!

Alice and I, and Samantha and I. Samantha, our month-long roomie, has moved back to GA since her rotation, and we miss her so! Hopefully she’ll do her residency at Vandy.

Beautiful Union Station Hotel where Bartender Bash was held.

End of the night – sorry so blurry, but things were…well, blurry.

Also while Samantha was here, there was a Food Truck contest in Centennial Park across the street from our place. We headed over because Samantha won a spot as a judge! She got to try like 20 food trucks on her last day in Nashville. Jealous.

I ordered lunch from Riff’s Fine Street Food, my favorite food truck that I’ve tried.

I had the shrimp and grits (OMG) and the salt cod fritters, which was their “tasting” portion available for the event. Y’all. I could eat those one more time, top it off with their cucumber basil (I think that’s what it was) lemonade and die happy.

Look at Samantha and all her loot! Fortunately, she left a lot of it in our fridge when she drove back to GA the next day. Muhahahah. I ate it. All.

Come on, Fall! I’m tired of sweating every.where.I.go.

XOXO,
Jenn

My First Guest Blog Post!

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Jenn

Since I’m apparently too lazy these days to keep up regular blogging on my own blog, I’ve done a guest post over at www.HiFromColorado.com. I love Katelyn’s blog and am honored she asked me to do a guest post. Hop on over and see it!

Beach Me

Posted on May 20, 2012 by Jenn

The beach trip with the family was ah-mazing. A whole week of togetherness, relaxation, fun and good times. And we didn’t even get tired of each other – I don’t think.

We stayed in a house in Miramar Beach (just east of Destin and before Sandestin). It’s in a neighborhood called Frangista Beach. We used to drive by it when Josh and I were little and we’d stare at the big houses and think “that must be where the rich people stay.” Ha. While we are certainly not, our foursome was a sixsome this trip and we needed more room! The “Happy Go Lucky” was perfect and I want to live there forever.

There were porches for sitting and catching up and drinking coffee and I miss the “Happy Go Lucky” house already.

Here is a photo overload for you – and all of my iPhone photos can be seen here: https://plus.google.com/photos/103099989861665011156/albums/5744751461106338641?authkey=CIGIwMeTu9yFHA

My sweet parents – about to smooch.

We celebrated my birthday a little early while we were all together. Donut Hole doughnuts – way better than cake!

We had my birthday dinner in Baytowne Wharf at Acme Oyster House.

And topped it with a Fat Tuesday daiquiri.

Dewey Destin – so tiny and such a great hole in the wall dive seafood joint. We watched a mama dolphin and baby dolphin frolic after dinner.

Check out the rain wall moving in. So cool.

Our view when we stepped on the boardwalk to head down to the beach. I miss it!

And some courtesy of my awesome photog sis-in-law.

Rinsing the sand off or doing the “Stanky Leg” – who knows.

I’ve been doing that for years – apparently.

My supermodel brother and sister-in-law.

Me and my main squeeze – and my birthday dress from my Mom and Dad! Mom had some help from her personal shopper, Ashley.

My little familia.

And then we had a thirsty Thursday. Things happened – like this.

I had to go undercover for a while.

I love this brother of mine.

We may not be right, but they’re my family and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

Can’t wait for the next Wade beach vacay! Family is a blessing –and it’s even a bigger blessing when you actually enjoy being around them. Mine is the best. Truth.

XOXO,
Jenn

ATX — What’s Yo’ Dream?

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Jenn

This past weekend was the 7th Annual Phi Mu Girls Weekend. My college pals and I have been out of college almost 7 years (gasp!) and we get together every MLK weekend to celebrate. Why? Because we like to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of course.

Actually, it’s a convenient weekend because most people have Monday off and well…we’re not doing much else.

We rotate locations of this weekend extravaganza since we’re all spread out, and this year was in Austin, TX. Crystal moved there in the past year or so, and we’re STOKED she did! It was epic.

Prepare yourself for a photo-heavy recap of Phi Mu loveliness.

Ready, go!

Crystal told us to take all non-essentials out of our purses for shopping on Saturday. Please notice that Melissa started sorting through her purse and pulled out Big Boy. (under her arm in this photo). He stayed in the purse – totally essential.

Lunch on Congress St. at Home Slice. To die for NY style pizza. And this was my menu, so you know it was a winner in my book.

Adrienne, Crystal, Melissa, Edgin, Yours Truly, Doss and Monica.

Food trucks on Congress St. Can you tell we like to eat? Maybe that’s why we’re all such good friends. This is Crystal – our hostess with the mostess.

Sweet Melissa and Monica with her cupcake. I don’t hang out with ugly people, clearly.

Alright – for dinner, we headed to Uchi. Crystal made us reservations two weeks in advance and the only time we could get in was 5:30. I made AARP jokes. But, little did we know, we hit “Sake Social” hour. SCORE.

Now, this restaurant is one of the current Top Chef contestant’s restaurants. Crystal built it up so big in our minds that I was sure it would never stand up. It’s mostly (or maybe all) sushi. We sat down, perused the menu, and had no idea what to order. Most of it isn’t even in English.

Thanks to our helpful waitress and our local gal though, we picked out a few happy hour tastings and began the teasing of the tastebuds. Oh.Em.Gee. If you are in Austin, take out a small loan and go on a romantic date or girls night here. Then do yourself favor and order one of everything. It is worth every.single.penny. The sushi was the freshest thing I’ve ever tasted. It melted in your mouth.

SAKE!

Here are a few of my tastings. First, hama chili – yellowtail sashimi, sliced thai chili, orange supremes. This was my favorite. I should have ordered a second one of these. As you can see, it’s a small tasting size dish. Totally Top Chef style. I felt like Padma.

Next, this sushi roll was the Shag – tempura fried salmon roll, sun dried tomato, sumiso, spicy sauce. Hands down, the best sushi roll I’ve ever tasted. I would have eaten these till I threw up if I wasn’t afraid of embarrassing my pretty friends. That’s some squid ink or something spread on the serving board. Pretty tasty.

And finally – the Bacon Steakie – pork belly, watermelon radish, citrus, thai basil. I had never had pork belly. I die. It was so good. Like bacon but ten times richer and better.

Also, I had an order of the machi cure – smoked baby yellowtail, yucca chips, asian pear, marcona almonds, garlic brittle. I must have inhaled it so quickly though, that I forgot to take a photo.

The tastings were small, but it allowed you to have a taste of everything and it was so fun. Honestly, it wasn’t that expensive either. For all of the delicious food we got to try and the drinks we consumed, I honestly would have paid double and still thought it totally worth it.

Me and Melissa drinking our un-distilled sake. It’s traditional to pour the sake overflowing in a small glass, that sits inside these boxes. The overflowing glass symbolizes generosity. Then you pour the rest of the sake into the box and drink it like so. We’re so cultured.

Next, it was onto the famous Broken Spoke for dance lessons and honky-tonking.

Me and Edgin on the left – my roomie from Freshman year at UT! And Dossy on the right – my beautiful Phi Mu who lives in Nashville, but I see more OUT of town.

Don’t hate.

Melissa getting her dance lesson with Jack. He had some moves!

After the Broken Spoke it was back to Crystal’s briefly (the Broken Spoke was sort of early in the evening). And we had a special surprise for Crystal, who just got engaged. A Phi Mu candlelight! Oh yes – a sacred Phi Mu tradition…well, not that sacred. This is a public blog, after all. Want to know the handshake?

Congrats, my love!

Now, in the cab and on to Downtown Austin!

Meet the Space Rockers, who dressed like Power Rangers and played Top 40 hits…but from 7-8 years ago. I swear, it was like we wrote their playlist during our senior year at UT. Get Low, anyone? What about “Shake it like a Salt Shaker?”

Crystal, convincing them to give us a shout out. Yep – we were just dancing away and all of the sudden heard, “this one is for my Phi Mu ladies….” We squealed like groupies.

I call this “the morning after.” P.S. – yes, we’re in matching shirts that say “7th Annual Phi Mu Girls Weekend – Austin, TX” on them. Crystal really went the extra mile with this hosting business!

Next was on to Juan in a Million. Oh.Em.Gee. Although the smell of food almost made several of us have to run for the bushes, we eventually quelled the evening’s shenanigans with some breakfast burritos and tacos. I was the only one we strayed and got beef, rather than breakfast tacos. Mistake. I survived on chips and queso at 9 in the morning. Delish.

Juan in a Million is famous for the Don Juan, which is a HUMONGOUS breakfast burrito. And it’s $4. Two people split it and still can’t finish it. Breakfast for $2? Yes sir. It was featured on Man vs. Food, where Adam tried to eat 8 of the breakfast tacos – and failed miserably.

Monica is proud of her stereotype as an Asian driver. She is so hilarious. She also was fond of asking people (after a little liquid courage) – “Do you know why we’re here?” And after a couple of seconds of confused, blank staring, she’d respond “We’re celebrating the life and death of Dr. Martin Luther King.” We thought at one point it may be more appropriate to say “life and legacy,” but it was too engrained in our minds by then to change it.

Sunday evening it was off to the Salt Lick in Driftwood, TX. This was recently featured on Top Chef where they competed in a BBQ challenge and I was so excited after watching the episode. Can’t believe we actually went there – and can’t believe I didn’t take photos of the massive amount of food we ordered. We started with brisket, ribs, smoked turkey and sausage, (1 pd. of each) and then ordered more of the brisket and sausage. We had two pints of cole slaw, one pint of potatoes, baked beans and pickles and onions. Then we got one of each dessert – blackberry cobbler, peach cobbler and pecan pie. We tipped generously, and each owed $12.50. Seriously? SERIOUSLY? Oh, and it was BYOB, so we had our cooler tableside. Heaven.

The grounds were amazingly beautiful. You can check out more on their website, because I can’t do it justice without photos. It would be amazing for a wedding, but I can’t imagine the cheese you’d have to fork over for a rental fee.

Hey – Yates – maybe you should look into that for your upcoming nuptials. I will pitch in $12.50 for my meal.

Here we are below, in the Salt Lick winery doing a tasting while waiting on our table.

Nik, Crystal’s man, joined us on this excursion and even treated us to the wine tasting. We love Nik.

The pit! If you watched Top Chef, you saw this.

I imagine this was against Health Dept. regulations, but whatev.

Me and Edgin with our beer staches – best invention ever.

My other sustenance for the weekend. I had 2.5 Whataburgers and as many fries. Nom nom nom nom.

Pirate! Snuggling and chewing her bone on my sleep spot.

The last night we cuddled on the futon (with Pirate) and watched Bridesmaids. The perfect ending to a perfect weekend with perfect girlfriends.

We really are so blessed to still have each other and be so close. Even if we don’t all see each other regularly, or even keep in touch as well as we should with our busy lives, we all come right back together like we didn’t miss a beat. That’s what real friendship should feel like, if you ask me. Ups and downs, backwards and forwards, we always have our girls.

Thanks again for being such an amazing hostess, Crystal. The entire weekend was planned to a T, but flowed so seamlessly. Can’t wait to come back for the Yates/Bristow wedding extravaganza!! I’m making my reservation at Uchi as so0n as you tell me your wedding date.

XOXO,
Jenn

Category Archives: Travel

Keeping Austin Weird

Mountain Mama

See ya, Summer

My First Guest Blog Post!

Beach Me

ATX — What’s Yo’ Dream?

Follow “”