the happiest of fourths


Oh, Fourth of July. It's just the best.

I had the pleasure of spending the Fourth at my friend Katherine's house in LaGrange, where we boated and bonded and enjoyed the insane generosity of her parents.



 

There were iced coffees and cocktails and boating and floating and the absolute bliss that only the water can bring.




The relaxation of the rocking boat combined with sunshine set in right when we arrived and carried me into work Monday.


Not to mention Saturday I headed back to Atlanta, where my brothers had their first cookout (so grown up!) with some of my very best ATL friends. We relaxed outside on their porch, eating hot dogs and having drinks. I felt so happy to move from a lake weekend to a cookout with my real-life family and my Atlanta family, all on one deck.


It reminded me that life right now is just so good.

I hope your Fourth was lovely! 

How to Spend a Weekend in Austin

Last fall, I went to Austin for the Love Does conference with Robyn. We didn't have a ton of time to explore, but I fell for that city. And not just because they have the first Whole Foods ever. But that certainly didn't hurt.

I'm hoping to get back there sometime in the next year for a more exploratory weekend, so I decided it was the perfect city for my next weekend guide.

With the help of my brother, Sam, who recently went to Austin and is also just a pro and finding the secret treasures in cities, we put one together. So, if you have 48 hours in Austin, here's the best of it, in our opinion:



Coffee
Wright Bros Brew & Brew - Local coffee and beer in East Austin. Sam says drink the local roast in the aeropress
Flat Track Coffee - Tiny, hidden espresso bar in East Austin with top-knotch breakfast croissants. Sam says? Drink the Americano. Also I, personally, want their t-shirt.
Jo's Coffee - Three locations with brews and java. Mmhmm.

Eat
Koriente - Healthy Asian food. --> eat - the hummus roll.
G'Raj Mahal Cafe - BYOB Indian food --> eat - the Naan no matter what. I still think about it. 
Torchy's Tacos - Food truck with fresh tacos --> eat - The Democrat
Homeslice Pizza - Pizza on South Congress --> eat - Classic Pepperoni
La Condesa - Farm fresh Tex-Mex --> eat - the tacos, ribs, cactus...everything
El Sapo - Pretty new Mexican infused burger spot --> eat - the Lamburguesa
Magnolia Cafe - They say everybody knows and everybody goes. --> eat - the black bean entree
Hop Doddy Burger Bar - Burger Bar. Need I say more? --> eat - the Continental Club


Drink
Weather Up - Craft Cocktails in an old house in East Austin --> drink - the Presbyterian
Easy Tiger Beer Garden - Beer Garden with homemade pretzels and craft beer

Shop
Whole Foods Flagship Store - It's beautiful. I can't even explain the bulk bin section. 
Stag Austin - The end-all, be-all of men's attire
Tesoros Trading company - Crafts and folksy.
Uncommon Objects Antiques - You may call it junk but I know my antique-loving roomie would call it a honey hole.

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Stay
Hotel St. Cecilia - Near South Congress and looks absolutely beautiful. Last time we did an Air BnB but next time around I want to stay in one of these!
Hotel San Jose - Sits on South Congress and every Austin guide recommends it. Apparently it's the bees knees.

Treat
Amy's ice cream - I didn't get to try it but I hear it's the best.
Gourdough's Donuts - I'm not normally one for doughnuts but their crazy concoctions are worth trying.

And that's all we know :) Now, I'm coming for you ATX!

cleaning up my beauty products


On the whole, my makeup routine is wildly unimpressive. My mom doesn't wear much makeup and, therefore, neither my sisters nor I do; powder & mascara girls here. 

Last summer, I had some trouble with my scalp reacting negatively to my shampoo. I went to see a dermatologist and he said that while some products can seem really clean (I was using a plant-based vegan shampoo), they can have hidden ingredients that cause harm. Ever since then, I've been pretty diligent about shampoo purchasing, but hadn't given much thought to my makeup.

Then, last month all of the bridesmaids got our makeup done for Abby's wedding around 9 a.m. for a 6:30 p.m. wedding. By the time the event rolled around, I had to have mine redone because my skin had completely absorbed the makeup. Ever since then, I haven't been able to shake the fact that all of that makeup was in my body - I may as well have eaten it! 

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A while back I saw that Sarah Tucker suggested an app from the Environmental Working Group for finding beauty products with fewer toxins, Skin Deep. At the time I didn't think much about it - my powder can't be that bad, right? But then, after the wedding weekend I realized that even if it doesn't seem like much, I'm putting it on daily.

I put my products to the test last week and am now, officially, making some changes. Fortunately the Bare Minerals powder I've been rocking since I was 20 (told you I'm not good with this!) got a score of 2 out of 10, which is good. Lower is better and higher means RUN. 

Sadly, the Garnier BB Cream I use and love love got a score of 5. I hate to give it up, but now when I put it on in the morning I can't stop thinking about the fact that I put all this effort into being healthy through my diet, exercise, sleep habits and lifestyle in general and yet I can't give up my BB Cream? C'mon. 

The best part of the app is that it suggests better products, which means you don't necessarily have to spend an arm and a leg cleaning things up - you can see a lot of options all at once. 

For a new BB cream, I'm going to try out Batty's Bath Quick Tint Antioxidant Moisturizer, which got a score of 1 and is only $6 more. 


The one piece of makeup I do care about is mascara, but I'm always trying new ones, so I don't have much loyalty here. I decided to try out Rejuva Pur Lash Volumizing Mascara because it got a score of 0. That's right, 0! 



That's all for now on the makeup front. Next to tackle? Body lotion. My brother, Sam, got me hooked on Malin + Goetz, so that'll be my first line to try. 

life lately

I told Chris recently that I love doing life with him. This sweet summer pace that offers events and busy right alongside slow and humid. These sunshiney days and sticky patio nights coupled with air conditioned sleeps. Just life; good life. 

It's warm and happy with big events like my beautiful friend, Abby's, wedding last weekend at the Fox. I was blown away by her elegant affair.




And the Summer Supper Series at Two Urban Licks to celebrate Chris and my Meetiversary.


Yes those special nights, but also the slow and easy - the normal.

Like grocery shopping, making dinner, going to church, building absurdly huge salads at Whole Foods, pool days, workouts and everything in between. It's easy and steady and reminds me daily not to create chaos, but instead to enjoy every sweet summer minute. 

I hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!