Armadillo XMas Bazaar

We definitely exerted some self control at the Christmas Bazaar!  They had everything and anything you could imagine from art to jewelry to furniture and much much more.  Some things were a little "unique" while others were just plain outrageous but it was great to take it all in. 

TexAversary

Another year in Texas, another celebratory meal at Salt Lick!  We couldn't have picked a better place for our first meal upon arriving in Austin and this is one tradition we will definitely keep up!!!

Disneyland

Experienced through the eyes of a 2 year old!  I flew into San Diego a little early so I could hit up Disneyland with the Bennett's before starting my work week.  It was a blast but exhausting, Reagan & Harper can definitely outlast me!  We covered a lot of ground from rides to parades but nothing more important than all the character autographs.  We left not only well after dark but well after my bedtime.  These kids are troopers!

Browns Backers

It's now a family affair ;)  Cali loves to show her team spirit as much as we do! 

Tree Lighting

So you'd think the lighting of the Capital Christmas Tree would be a pretty traditional and straightforward event, but not in Austin!  The tree itself was spectacular and they had a cool parade for the kids but the Carolers were just a little off.  It sounded just like your favorite carols but if you listened to the lyrics a little closer you realized that they were politically charged and not what you were expecting at all.  What can you expect, after all our slogan is Keep Austin Weird?!?!

Parents Week

We had a fun filled week with my parents, showing them some of our favorite spots in and outside of town! 

They arrived on Thanksgiving, which happened to be my bday this year, so we had a delayed Thanksgiving on Friday so we could cook and enjoy all our normal traditions together! 

Then not so normal for my parents we kicked off the Christmas season by decorating the house and triming the tree.  In my parents house they don't decorate the tree until Christmas Eve, which is a fun tradition in itself, but I'm too anxious and love to get the tree up right after Thanksgiving.  We had an eventful trip trying to get the tree though.  We drove out all the way to Eglin, TX so we could cut down our own tree only to find out due to the drought they didn't have any.   So we had to settle for just picking one up off the lot.  But we did score some cute XMas decorations at the same time so the trip wasn't a total bust.  We continued the Christmas activities with a play, Santaland Diaries, and heading out to Gruene Hall to get our picture with Cowboy Santa ;) 

We enjoyed many great meals while they were in town, even discovered our new favorite brunch spot, Moonshine Patio & Grill, and of course Salt Lick.  No trip to Texas is complete without some BBQ!  We toured different areas of town but they were all balanced out with a great restaurant or treat as well.  Pflugerville was paired with German Food, South Congress and Amy's Ice Cream, the Lake and Hula Hut, and even the Austin Duck Tours gave us more info on restaurants than actually history or facts.  Guess we Texans just love our food.  Maybe that's why everything is Bigger in Texas ;)

Before the week was over we also squeezed in some quality time over mani's/pedi's and relaxing time at the Wineries.  I wish every week was parents week!  Thanks for making the trek Mom & Dad, we had a blast!

Uchi BDay Dinner

Another year and another great birthday celebration!!!  We moved here almost a year ago and ever since I've been dying to check out one of the most talked about restaurants in town, Uchi!  Shaun suprised me with a bday dinner there and boy was it spectacular!!!  Once of our best restaurant experiences to date; amazing food, service, and ambiance! 

Saratoga Springs

I traveled to Saratoga Springs for the weekend wanting to hate it but loved it!  If we can't have the Richards in Austin at least they've found an amazing new town to call home ;)  It didn't take but 30 minutes to fall in love with this town; it has a charming downtown area, horse track and memorabilia everywhere, a gorgeous lake, and a beautiful park lined with tall pine trees on the long drive in.  It really is picturesque! 

The weekend flew by but Sara and Eric were the best hosts!  They took me on a driving tour of town, beautiful homes, and a circle around the lake.  We also enjoyed girl time at the spa and adult time out on the town.  But my favoriate part was being reunited with Alli again!  We enjoyed a day at the mall to meet Santa and see Happy Feet2.  Then I got to join Alli for her first ice skating experience, it felt like mine too as I haven't skated in ages.  I really miss getting to share in all these fun activities with her, she puts such a big smile on my face! 

Pfall Pfest

As the reigning Czech Chili Champion, Shaun has been anxiously awaiting the annual Chili Cookoff in Pflugerville since we moved here.  We were tempted to enter but weren't sure of how things operated so decided to use this year just for recon.  We got to taste more than our fair share of Chili, fired off a few rounds of paintball, enjoyed the miniture ponies, and danced in the streets.  Pflugerville has no shortage of Pfun!  We are now prepped and ready for next year's Pfall Pfest and hope to be going home with a Chili Cookoff Trophy!

Haunted House

Each year we slowly get more and more into Halloween.  We've always loved the holiday and the fun costume parties it brings but now we need to make sure our house is just as decked out as we are!  This was our rookie year so we started out simple with tombstones, hay bails, spookey music and spiders but boy did we take some mental notes for next year from our neighbors.

Not So Scary Scarecrow

Cali in her Skeleton Costume

Cali Handing Out Candy

Pumpkin Carving Contest

Catherine and I started this tradition when we lived in California and I'm happy to report this is a tradition that will never die! Maybe it's because I love Halloween, maybe it's because I'm a little competitive, but regardless it always leads to a good time. At least that's what I think as the reigning Champion ;)

San Diego & Seattle

I love that my company is headquarterd out of San Diego, not only because I love Southern California but it also gives me so much more quality time with the Bennetts! Shaun flew out to meet me for the weekend, on his way to Seattle, so we could celerate all the September/October birthdays! Reagan and Harper got showered with gifts and a trip to the Zoo while Phil and Shaun got spoiled with a round of golf at Torrey Pines. I think all our birthday boys and girls were pleased ;)





As if Torrey Pines wasn't enough, Shaun then flew onto Seattle to enjoy coffee tastings and smoozing with the big wigs!

Frequent Flyer

We need to start a rapid rewards program for our house because Meredith should be getting points for all her visits to Austin! We love having her visit so much, it really helps prevent us from getting homesick ;)

She traveled into town expecting a nice fall weekend but it's still summer here. We spent the first day floating in Lake Pflugerville and then headed downtown to check out the Mean Eyed Cat. Then day two we headed out to a swimming hole, Krause Springs, and enjoyed another relaxing day along the water. Our whole weekend revolved around water, music and sports. VT and the Browns dominated some of Saturday and Sunday but we enjoyed some live music outdoors on Sunday in SoCo. We just stumbled across this outdoor pavillion under huge oak trees and feel in love with Austin just a little bit more. Now you understand why Meredith keeps coming back!

JAB Fest

We kept hearing about this place called Nutty Brown Cafe on Country Radio and decided we needed to check it out. It's a little bit of a hike but they seem to draw great acts/artists so we figured it would be worth the trek and boy were we not disappointed. The venue rocks all on it's own, it's an outdoor stage in a dirt field with wooden bars and picnic tables. We picked a great night with several local Texas groups and the festival was headlined by the Josh Abbott Band. This place will definitely be added to our list to go back to next spring/summer!

Austin City Limits

Austin City Limits is definitely one of the best festivals this town has to offer! This year we convinced Muge to come down to visit and check out all the action.

Austin City Limits is three day music festival that goes all day and all night long so it really does wipe you out by the end! But this year we scored the three day wristbands so you can come and go as you please, a must do moving forward! This years performances included Cold Play, CeeLo, Stevie Wonder, Ryan Bingham, Jack Ingram, Allison Krause, and the list goes on and on. Shaun found several new bands to follow, I think he's trying to take over my groupie status ;)

This was Muge's first visit to Austin so also had to fit in some of the must see or do activities and establishments like Hula Hut, Salt Lick, and Canoeing on Lady Byrd Lake.. Hopefully that was enough of a teaser to get her to come back soon!

Double Threes

It's the lucky year, Shaun is during 33! We have the perfect weekend to celebrate too; great weather, great friends, and great music. It really is a trifecta ;)

We enjoyed a tasty dinner tonight at ALC, Austin Land & Cattle, and now we have ACL, Austin City Limits, ahead to continue the celebration all weekend long!

Happy Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Richards Final Farewell

The dreaded day has finally come, the Richard's are moving to New York :(

We hate to see them go but we really enjoyed our last week with them. I got to have a whole week of play dates with Alli while the movers packed up their house. We enjoyed some girl time at the pool and playground as well as a Disney Movie Marathon and then we got some great quality time with the whole family with a few sleepovers during their last night's in town.

Summer Sunday Fundays

We may have set a record for most consecutive days over 100 degrees but that didn't stop us from enjoying all of Austin's outdoor activities! We spent our weekends discovering more of Austin's parks and recreational activites; Lakes, National Parks, Swimming Holes, Golf Courses, and much more. Then when we needed an escape from the heat we'd enjoy a Sunday Funday Brunch ;)

Texas Tailgate

We love living in Longhorn Country, there is nothing quite as engergizing as UT Sports! We just missed the football season when we moved here last year so we've been looking forward to it all year long and it was worth the wait. The stadium is so impressive, it seats more than FedEx field, everything really is bigger in Texas ;)

We scored great tickets to the season opener and it also happened to be the last weekend before the Richards moved so we had an amazing BBQ spread for our tailgate. What better send off from Texas than BBQ and Football?!?! I have to give the credit to their neighbors for the tasty BBQ though. Their neighboor Ken was always dropping by with delicious treats and put together a sampler of all his best items for us to enjoy. The entire city was taken over with tailgates but we found the perfect perch up on the rooftop of the parking garage. We had great a view (aka people watching) of all the mayhem below and it was perfect to wait out the crowds after the game as well.

The Big Send-Off

The movers are coming in a week and we hate that we have to say goodbye to the Richards. So what better way to say goodbye then to turn their departure into a party, and what better way to party then to party it up in Vegas!!!

The boys flew out on Friday and enjoyed a guys night while Sara and I flew out Saturday morning, ready and rearing to go! We started with a Bloody Mary Brunch and then suited up for the pool party at Wet Republic. When Kendra (Girls Next Door) heard we were in town she decided to host a fabulous pool party in our honor ;) If you play Where's Waldo you might be able to find us in this pic?!?!


The pool party was probably the highlight of the trip but we managed to squeeze in a show, some gambling, the Palm, more gambling, more pool time, you get the picture. It was a great send-off and now we're looking forward to the Welcome Back party ;)

Staycation

I'm a Lady of Leisure again!!! Ok, it was only for a week but I'll take every second of this status I can get ;) I had a week off before starting my new job and got some much needed R&R. I spent my days lounging poolside or lakeside and evenings enjoying date night or family night. I could really get used to this life!

I made the most of my staycation and tried to squeeze in a little bit of everything. I de-stressed with some gym time, partook in some retail therapy at IKEA, escaped from reality at the movie theater, reconnected with my inner child at the circus, and enjoyed quality time with friends and family!

Start Spreading the News

The news is out, the Richards are moving to New York?!?! Austin just won't be the same without them but we're excited to visit Saratoga Springs and bet on some horses ;)



We have to make the most of their last month here so we started with the first of many farewell activities, a night on the town to visit all of our favorite establishments! We figure if we remind them of all the amazing things Austin has to offer they'll change their mind. Can't blame us for trying ;)

Shaun's Mom Visits

What better way to welcome someone to Texas than a BBQ! Shaun's mom came to visit for a week and we had the grill fired up and ready to go. Shaun has always been a grill master but being surrounded by BBQ Masters has really inspired him, I think he can make a steak that is comparable to Rays the Steaks?!?!

We had a very full week but it was relaxing at the same time. We are experiencing a record breaking summer with so many consecutive days over a 100 degrees so there were many of afternoons spent poolside.



Our evenings were the perfect balance between nights in and nights out on the town. We enjoyed several home cooked meals but also visited the Salt Lick and Chuy's which are some of Austin's favorite restaurants. We also enjoyed bowling, the outlets, and several movie nights. I think the highlight of the trip though was the Bat Bridge! A unique Austin fact is that it is home to the largest bat colony in the Unites States. The summer is peak season to see the bats fly so we rented a boat and had a sunset dinner/cocktail cruise on Town Lake. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it for myself but when the bats fly it's actually extremely impressive. It's definitely a sight to see and something that should be on the must do list for any Austin visitors!

California is Calling

Everyone knows my love for California, so when the opportunity came up to work for a company headquartered in San Diego I jumped on it!!! It all happened so fast; within two weeks I contacted CliniComp, was on a flight to Cali for an interview, received a job offer, and was resigning from what I thought was my dream job. It all worked out for the best though, BazaarVoice is a dream company but I know career wise I'll be much happier at CliniComp! I'm so excited for this change and to top things off I'll get to work from home and travel to California every month or so, now that is a dream come true ;)

Max's Wine Dive

We've been on a food tour of Texas and enjoying every minute of it! First we discovered Chicken N Waffles at Paggi House and now we've discovered Alligator Apps at Max's Wine Dive. This place had over an hour wait but was worth every minute. They have an amazing wine list, food selection and ambiance. It was perfect for Shaun's date with two lovely ladies ;)

Third Years a Charm

Another year another great anniversary ;) We spent our first anniversary in Paris so I thought that would be impossible to top but each year keeps getting better! Last year we were lucky enough to celebrate our anniversary in the Dominican Republic with Jamie & Annie who got married a month before us. Not only were we in great company but we were living like Rock Stars in Villas & the Penthouse Suite. This year we decided to stay local and explore more of Central Texas. We rented a cabin for the weekend in Fredericksburg, TX and enjoyed all the wonders of this small German town; wineries, breweries, shops, outdoors, live music, & some much needed R&R. Shaun found the most amazing cabin which I feel in love with, that alone made the weekend. The place was perfectly decorated and I really wish we owned it, I wouldn't change a thing. The cabin had a wrap around porch with rocking chairs, large fenced in yard for Cali to play, a private deck off the master suite with a hot tub, and no television. Yes, I enjoyed a weekend with no television ;) It was just so great to just spend the weekend together and reflect on the last three amazing years!

Gruene Hall

We have discovered one of our new favorite day trips! Gruene, TX is the most charming historic town we've seen yet. On the weekends they have a market set-up with various vendors & artists that compliment the shops that line Hunter Rd. But the best part of all is the rustic barn at the end of the strip, Gruene Hall. This is one of the oldest dance halls in Texas and has been home too many legendary country artists. You can walk in any day and no doubt will find fun and entertainment! We will be going back a lot!!!

Fourth and Fireworks

What's the Fourth of July without Fireworks?!?! Well we almost found out. The drought hit Austin hard this year and we've been under water restrictions and fire bands all summer. Leading up to the holiday, firework celebrations just kept getting cancelled left and right but lucky for us there was still one town in the area that was going to sparkle. Thanks Georgetown for saving the day!