Oh Willie, you never fail to impress me. Just when I think I have you figured out (an Austin legend with a deep love of bandanas and bud who can pick and sing like no other), you go ahead and blow my mind with these gems of wisdom. I had no choice but to gussy up your words in Photoshop with the intention of plastering them on our walls as a daily reminder of the awesomeness of life, love, God, family, friends....and of course, you.

Well, I teased you a little bit on Tuesday about a certain announcement that John and I have to make. Without further ado.....*drumroll please*......we bought our first house today!!! We made a very grown-up decision that I don't think even we knew we were ready to make until we found "the house." If you zone out listening to HGTV for 7 hours a day watch HGTV every once in a while, you know all about that mythical moment when you step foot in the house, and visions of family, friends, kids, dogs and sugarplums dance around in your head. We walked into the freshly listed home (3 hours to be exact), and after a quick glance around the place, we just knew. Having looked at around 35 houses, doing our real estate homework, and seeing how the market was absolutely bananas and all the homes were going into multiple bid situations, we had to act fast. So, our "moment" was more like "WTF!!!! AHHH! PAM, PLEASE CALL THE LISTING AGENT RIGHT NOW! YES YES LET'S PUT AN OFFER IN. WE JUST MIGHT DIE IF WE LOOSE THIS HOUSE. WHAT IF IT GOES INTO ANOTHER MULTIPLE OFFER SITUATION?? NOOOO! SAY IT AIN'T SOOOOOOO. HURRY!!! ANDALE ANDALE!! ARRIBA!!! WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN??? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH." Totally dramatic and spaztastic. I think I chewed all my nails off I was so anxious. Good thing short is chic, eh?

Now that I am officially in nesting overdrive, I am delighted to bring you this lovely home designed by Melanie Turner. Wouldn't mind it at all if our abode was this cohesive and cozy once we move in and get set-up. We don't have a whole lot of stuff right now, which is great....just a lot of ideas that are ALL over the map. This will definitely be a fun adventure in designland.
Photos by Erica George Dines // Interior design by Melanie Turner

Gosh, sorry for the nearly month-long radio silence. Things have been a bit busy in my world lately. A good kind of busy. Will have a little announcement to make in a few days (no, it's not a baby....you can go ahead and wipe that look of horror off your face, Mom). Any guesses from my super duper smart readers?! Ok fine, I'll give you a hint: It's in my diaper and it's not a toaster. I kid, I kid...I obviously stole that line from The Family Guy and clearly I am giving you no more hints.

Well, I'm back from a long weekend jaunt to Boston to celebrate our sweet and smiley niece Lucy's christening. Now I know I may be biased, but she is definitely one of the chillest, coolest, and cutest babies I have ever met. Gosh, I am not going to lie...I was tempted to take her home with us.

Now, for something totally off-topic but also made my heart go pitter patter: Matthew Williamson's spring 2013 collection. Just can't get enough of those amazingly tailored watercolor ombre numbers, mod tribal patterns and embroidery, and vivid "go get your sunglasses" colors. What items are on your "must have" list right now? Fantasy and actual, of course. ;)

via moda operandi

Someone please tell me I am not alone in my utterly ridiculous lust for the latest studs from Bario-Neal? They went straight on my "probably never going to happen but feel free to fantasize all you want" wishlist. Specifically, those geometric bar studs with the tapered baguette-cut diamonds. Mmmmm....baguettes.

Like 99% of the women on the planet, I feel pretty friggin' sexy when I rock a dark and smokey eye. However, I've learned to dial this incredibly "come hither" look back a bit since using the traditional black eyeshadows are much too harsh for my skintone. I'm working with a pretty light palette to being with - fair skin, a couple freckles, and blonde hair, so using colors that contrast too much with my natural coloring makes me feel more porn star than super star. Instead of traditional black eyeshadow, I play up my eyes with olive, dark bronze or dark plum. It's a little more modern and subtle, but an equally impactful way to get the smokey eye look without overdoing it. Wish I had just smudged the liner a bit more before heading out to the par-tayyy, but oh well...will definitely paint my peepers like this again soon. 

I love Hillside Farmacy - it's one of my fave places to dine at in East Austin. What's not to love about a place where some staff members wear lederhosen and big wooly socks with shorts? It's like Inglourious Basterds-meets-Top Chef....a beautiful mash-up of sights and flavors, I will tell  you that much.

Let's take a minute to talk about the menu. It's simple food that lets the homemade or fresh ingredients do the talking....and talk they do. I was practically drooling over the entire brunch menu. Bruleé grapefruit; croque monsieur; bread pudding french toast; Texas watermelon salad with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and riccotta salada; macaroni & cheese “carbonara” with peppered bacon, hen egg, mornay & fresh herbs; smoked salmon with lavender honey, capers, fennel, and house slaw....it basically came down to a quick eenie meenie minie mo because I looked up from my menu and saw the top left face below staring back at me.


Yep, I had committed the cardinal sin of not making either one of us breakfast...and let me tell you, when John's blood sugar takes an gold-medal worthy dive, he lets me know about it (and I secretly think it is adorable when he gets a bit grumpy). Like a modern day Snow White and her 7 dwarfs, we instead had Hillside Farmacy and the 6 stages of low-blood sugar. Luckily, there wasn't enough time to act like total freaks since the food arrived lickety-split after we placed the order. 

John practically inhaled his "big brekkie" - scrambled eggs, bacon, skillet potatoes, and toast. I may or may not have swooped in and stole some taters when he wasn't looking.


Into my belly went the smoked salmon with lavender honey, capers, fennel, and house slaw. To say I enjoyed every bite is an understatement. Can't wait to go back. The faccia bedda sandwich with smoked mozzarella, roasted red bell pepper, arugula, tomato, red pepper flakes is calling my name. Nom nom nom.