Category: Uncategorized

Beach Getaway- Jamaica Edition

1 Comment

I did not want to leave Jamaica. Wasn’t ready, at all. Such an easy going trip, with our big decision in the morning being: pool or beach? I hadn’t heard the best reviews before we left from several friends- people were pushy, the country was poverty stricken, it’s really not as pretty. Considering how much I love new places, solely based on the fact that they are new, it’s generally pretty hard for me to not like somewhere. Even so, I loved this country so much, regardless of the fact that it was new to me. And it just goes to show, that sometimes you need to experience a place for yourself. I think the biggest factor that contributed to our great time, and made it a more unique experience, was the area we stayed in.

We stayed at Jake’s, on the southwestern side of the island (St. Elizabeth parish), in a sleepy fishing community. The roads aren’t the greatest (think narrow with lots of pot holes), so it took us over 2 hours to get there form the airport in Montego Bay. Luckily, our driver was super cool (Hey Andre!). It amazed me just how few people were in Treasure Beach! The hotel consists of several cottages spread over the property, and while on the water, doesn’t have a true beach. There are several a short walk away, and while pretty, they aren’t the prettiest I’ve ever seen, so I’ll agree on that part. But that didn’t matter, because the vibe from the whole place was instantly relaxing- slow paced and easy and inclusive. Jake’s has a quirky, artsy feel and the service was excellent. The people make you feel like you belong- we were even invited to the local football match, which was a surprise treat. And the jerk pork & chicken!! Oh man. We stopped at a couple of road side places and feasted. We also spent some time at Dougie’s Bar, chatting with Christopher (who makes a mean piña colada), and had lunch at Eggy’s, which juts out right over the water- I could have stayed all day. And I tried conch for the first time 🙂 And just a side note: I can’t even tell you how many times Dan said “Red Stripe” in a Jamaican accent. Probably 100.
Our only real “activity” during the vacation was to take a boat trip with Captain Joseph & his wife, who were awesome and had the best smiles, and a fun couple from England. Captain Jo built a shaded area on a secluded stretch of beach and we feasted on freshly caught lobster, fish, and unlimited rum punch and Red Stripe. Dan joined the guys for a game of cricket, which was a blast to watch. True to Dan, he was a natural, and managed to play with a beer in hand 90% of the game. Then, we rode over to Pelican Bar, which has to be the coolest bar on the planet. It’s built way out off the coast, on a sand bar, out of a hodge podge of old wood.
Leaving was tough. It didn’t help that most of the people we met were staying for at least 2 weeks. 2 weeks!!! In one place! I can’t imagine. Home away from home, I’m sure. Oh Europeans and their massive number of vacation days. I can’t rave enough about how wonderful Jake’s is- truly an oasis.
DSC_0019 (1)

Houston Eats & Drinks

Leave a comment

With the weather just too perfect for words here in Houston, we spent quite a bit of time outdoors & with friends this weekend! Barley was utterly wiped by the end of it. Some places to check out if it’s as good this weekend (or I guess you could just sit inside):

Feels very old school mod, from the cocktails to the furniture. The Mexicali Sour was so fresh and tasty, but the drink specials change regularly! From the people at Treadsack, AKA all the great and trendy restaurants in Houston.
Via Houston Eater
Via Houston Eater
In a converted gas station, this patio is a dream. Apparently people agree because it was pretty packed. And the frozen margaritas are divine. I’ve been converted from an “on the rocks” girl- exception made only for this place. Check it out, and make sure to get some tortilla chips, because they are perfection. No wonder I like it, it’s the same people behind Coltivare!
With an amazing selection of Belgian beers (my personal favorites) and all the Belgian delicacies you can imagine, this place was delicious. The mussels come out in a big hot pot (YUM) and I had to follow it up with Belgian waffles because I’m into clichés. Of course, the Belgian Frites were great too. But beware- service is SLOW.
via Houston Press
And my favorite restaurant this weekend… our own home. REALLY loving our kitchen. And the people who fill it. And the food that’s made in it. And I promise I’ll post more on the remodel soon…. in the mean time, this Thai Chicken braised in Coconut Milk was just great, even if the pictures weren’t as pretty!

Roma

Leave a comment

ROME! Such a fantastic city. Love the history, love that it’s so walkable, love the food. Now the wine… not as good in Rome as it is in the rest of the country 😉 But you still can’t beat $10 table wine in Italy.

After our terribly long day of traveling from the Amalfi Coast, I was wiped out. Luckily, I got a burst of energy once we arrived at our VRBO rental. It was the best room we had the entire trip- maybe it was the A/C? No, definitely more than that. Lofty ceilings made of the original wood, from the 1600’s, smack in the middle of everything. The owner also left us a great map marked with his favorite spots. Charm was just oozing.
We started the night off with a walk around the neighborhood- we hit the Pantheon, the Torre Argentina (ruins where they think Caesar was killed- also a cat sanctuary), and the Piazza Navona, following up with pizza at Da Baffetto. 2 packed stories of deliciousness. They make the pizza right in the center of the restaurant- I can’t imagine how many they make in one night! Afterwards, we stopped for a drink and stood outside surrounded by Italian conversation. Languages are so beautiful.
It was pouring rain the morning we went to the Colosseum- I had wanted us to get there early to avoid the crowds. We definitely avoided the crowds, but I think it was mostly due to the rain. We donned our ponchos and had the place almost to ourselves 🙂 Luckily, the weather cleared up pretty quickly and we were able to leisurely enjoy the Roman Forum. I know I’ve said it a dozen times, but the history of this place!! Unreal.
Our second night in Italy was spent on a “Food Tour of Rome“. We went to several different neighborhoods, learning the history of Rome and tasting food at 7 different places. Meat, cheese, wine, pizza & pasta, cannoli, espresso, gelato (Cortona was the best gelato of the trip- so fresh). The company was great too! It was quite the the last hurrah. Our guide baffled me, since he grew up in Rome, but had a 100% American accent. Apparently he spent some time in Oregon post high school and worked extensively on losing the Italian accent when speaking English. It worked, but was amusing to hear him make the switch to speaking flawless Italian.
unnamed.jpg
Our last day was spent on foot, walking around the city. We started the day with a trip to the Vatican. We skipped the museum because I had gone a couple of years before, but we hadn’t actually gone into the Basilica. So glad we made it this trip because it  was overwhelmingly extravagant. We climbed (approximately one million steps) up to the top for a view of Rome, but my favorite part was seeing the dome of the church and the status on top, up close. The stairs are extremely narrow and fairly claustrophobic, so getting to the top was a breath of fresh air. Then, after we left, we got to see the POPE! We aren’t Catholic and don’t speak Italian, but it was still a cool experience. People really love him and I feel privileged that we were able to be there.
The rest of the day, we just roamed (sorry, I had to). We walked through small campos, past markets, and along the water. A perfect last afternoon and a summation of our entire trip. Oh and we rented segways in Villa Borghese- maybe Dan’s favorite part! Such an odd juxtaposition.
On our last night, I think 1/2 of our conversation consisted of lamentations on having to return home. As much as we missed Barley and our bed, feasting your way through one of the best food countries in the world without a single thought of calorie consumption is truly magical. We walked around the corner from our rental and dined at Trattoria Moderna, and had our last aperitivo, primi piatti, secondi piatti, and dessert. And man, was it a great last feast. And then a long flight home. LUCKILY, we got moved into an exit row, which made the trip infinitely better.
And that (finally) concludes our Italy re-cap! Only 5 months later 🙂  A once in a lifetime trip. I know some people don’t visit Italy because it’s too touristy- and I say, it’s that way because it almost can’t be beat. The diversity, the people, the landscapes, the food & wine. Just beyond. And always a new corner to discover. The Trevi Fountain was under renovation and we weren’t able to toss a coin, so hopefully that doesn’t keep us from returning one day 😉

To see the rest of our trip, in order:

Bedroom Colors

2 Comments

Since we didn’t end up putting in navy kitchen cabinets, I still have an itch to have it in a big way. Now I’m thinking about covering our entire bedroom. Even though it has 4 windows, it doesn’t get a ton of natural light and I’m not sure how it would look with our dark & heavy furniture. But I am loving the idea of it and feeling adventurous, especially after painting the rest of the house in white and gray (and trying to block out how much I hate painting). Maybe we could just do one wall navy, and the rest white? Are accent walls still in? Anyway, check out these rooms:

2015 Reflection

1 Comment

2015, man. Every year just keeps getting better. With all the ups and downs in this life, I’m extremely grateful that our ups, far and away, outweigh our downs. I can pretty sum up 2015 as travel + work on the house. And those are fun things 🙂

Processed with VSCOcam with g3 preset
AXO’s!
Processed with VSCOcam with g3 preset

We skied in Steamboat Springs, explored more of one of our favorites cities, NYC, tried lots of beers in Portland, Oregon, relaxed by the pool in Cancun, listened to live music in Nashville, ate our weight in pizza and pasta in Italy, attended the Great American Beer Fest in Denver, and had lots of friends & family time in Austin, Fredericksburg, San Antonio, Dallas, and Jackson (and they visited us too!). I was maid of honor in a beautiful wedding, we tried lots of new Houston restaurants, took Barley out as much as possible, and got really settled into our small group. We built a fence, painted lots of walls, remodeled the kitchen & added a bathroom, and spent a lot of time at IKEA.

I honestly can’t believe how fast it’s gone by. Looking back and reflecting, my heart is overwhelmed with the goodness in Dan & I’s lives. I hope I never take any of it for granted- that travel to new places (& old) would always feel like a special luxury, that our home would always fill me with delight when I pull into the driveway, that food would always make me feel adventurous, and that my family and friends always make me feel loved. Here’s to 2016!

And an article by Mark Manson I really enjoyed as I think about the new year (via SwissMiss)-

“This is the most simple and basic component of life: our struggles determine our successes. So choose your struggles wisely, my friend.”

Things I’m Loving Lately

Leave a comment

King’s cake

Strawberry infused water

This really talented ballet dancer

Our new, giant bed (post to come because Dan is amazing and built it himself)

The crossing guard waving at me with a big smile

The thought of Dan doing this

Skirts with fun prints like this one

Girl Scout cookies

Anthropologie’s and J. Crew’s New Balance sneakers

NOT being in public accounting busy season (shout out to my friends who are- it’s almost over!)

Dutch braid crowns

Giant puppy paws

Justin’s Honey Almond Butter

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Leave a comment

A entire weekend of love 🙂 I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day- an excuse to let those you love know you love them (How many times can I use the word love here??). And seeing as I’ve just married the best guy I could have ever imagined for me, let me take a moment to brag on him.

IMG_3446

This cutie with his 2nd most loved thing in the world (hopefully 2nd most)- beer. Photo from Valentines weekend in Fredericksburg 2013.

Hey Daniel, most precious person I know,

I think a husband as a Valentine is the best kind. You truly amaze me. Every day I’m astounding by your patience, kindness, and eager mind. Your desire to learn new things, grow as a person, and lead me as a husband impress me so incredibly much. I often (embarrassingly) get choked up thinking about how lucky I am to have found you as such a great match. Envisioning the future we have together makes me happier than you could know. I’m positive I talk about you much too much in daily conversation and that’s just because I’m completely enthralled by you, with you. Can’t help it. I think you’re pretty cool. Even if you’re the biggest nerd (maybe my favorite side of you and you have many, many great ones).

Love,
Your adoring wife

AND a happy anniversary to my parents- 34 years of marriage!! I’m so lucky to have seen your love for each other growing up.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!