mexico.

This hotel sure is beyond fabulous.
We don't have one of these in the States.

 Mexico, I will be yours in times of plenty and in times of want, in times of sickness and in times of health, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, in times of failure and in times of triumph. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care and protect you, to comfort and encourage you, and stay with you, for all eternity.

PS: muchas gracias, blue pool road, for the image tip. 

barley swine.

Yea, that's right. I've fallen victim to the trailer craze.

I'm the mom who piles the kids in the minivan and drives clear across Austin to try new, recently reviewed, mobile dining spot. I'll pack up their chicken nugget vittles, get The Husband some beer and indulge in my secret "food critic for the New York Times" fantasy world.

One of my very, very, very favorites is The Odd Duck. (I have a thing for birds). It's simply fine dining priced right and served in a little paper trough. Eating with a plastic fork never tasted so good.

Here, let me try to explain: 

soft boiled duck egg, grits, mushrooms, brussel sprouts $5 

grilled goat cheese sandwich with butternut and mushroom  $4 

half of quail with napa cabbage, arugula, cilantro and cheddar $6 

Need I say more?

Well, bless my vegetarian bones! Owner Bryce Gilmore, has opened a land-locked restaurant called Barley Swine. I haven't tried it yet, but expect a review by craftbox agency soon.

And if you've been there, please leave us your thoughts.

howl interiors.

Friends - I am a native Austinite. And I'm here to tell you, I've seen this fair city go through its ups and downs. Right now, we are going through some fabulous creative "ups".  Case in point ~ I first noticed HOWL behind Waterloo Records some time ago. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I could smell some magic brewin'.

Then, low and behold, I saw the writing on the wall when I read HOWL proudly displayed on South Lamar. My car turned in the parking lot before I could say, "Hello. Who and what, are you?"

Sure enough - when I walked in, I felt like I was transported to another time and maybe even another city. HOWL reminds me of something you would find the French Quarter in New Orleans, 100 years ago. It's filled with well-priced oddities, curiosities and enough fine-taste furnishings to make even the snobbiest interior designer perk up their eyebrows.

Stop in, and pick yourself up that mid-century-esque blue velvety chaise you've been looking for, or maybe even that long lost 25 foot tall triptych from the err...Renaissance. Why not? Its a total steal at $1800.

Trust me, when you leave, you'll feel like you've reclaimed your inner-design spirit animal. And, this time its a wolf, with HOWL.  Well done, Barry Jelinski. You've made this gal swoon.

PS: The fashionista owners of Feathers have killed it (and in a good way) with MOSS, right next store. But we'll save that scoop for another day.

black swan

There's a lot of buzz going on about Black Swan lately. And even though I haven't seen the movie yet, it seems well-deserved. Natalie Portman. Darren Aronofsky. And Mila what's her name.

Why just this past weekend, we took our daughters down to Austin's Lady Bird Lake to feed the ducks and maybe a swan or two. But much to our surprise, there were 50 other families feeding the ducks. People, there must have been enough stale heels and moldy slices floating in the water to make 20 loaves of bread.

We gathered ourselves and our bolillos (that means white bread, and sometimes white people.) I bought at Fiesta, and moved to a more hidden area of the lake. I'll be darned, there she (or he) be. A Black Swan. It was stunning.

Lovely, graceful, and demure Black Swan, you made our weekend. So, step aside sexy ballet movie, Black Swans were hot way before you got our tutus in a wad with an artsy lesbian love scene.

And White Swan, you ain't so bad yourself.

the tiger and the bunny.

For my children, I wish one or two simple toys... accompanied with truckloads of time and imagination.

wimberley, texas

 

There's nothing quite like the magic of a Texas Winter.
"One of America's Ten Best Small Towns" by Travel Holiday Magazine.

new years day!

I must confess, I went to bed at 10:30pm and prayed the neighbors fireworks wouldn't wake me up.

I'm a New Year's Day kind of gal and wear my badge proudly. We're headed out to the family river house and look forward to a day of eating, drinking and soaking in the country living... if its only for few hours.

I hope that we can live out in the country one day. But for now, I've brought the country to me. And feeding the girls is a must every morning.

If you are the mood for country living, you must check out this blog.  

http://www.farmgirlfare.com/

Its awesome. Here's one of my favorite recipes from it:

Happy New Year's Day!! (Its not for the faint of heart.)