Stand Up Paddle Boarding Archives

Over Labor Day weekend (how long ago?!?!) Price and I went to Austin to visit our friends Natalie and Jason, and their 2 cats and new puppy. We hated that they moved back to Austin after 2 years in Boston so we had to see them again and the city that pulled them back.

{Friday}

Price and I got up at 4.30 in the morning to get ready, feed the buns, & get to the airport for our early morning flight. I hate early morning flights being that I tend to stay up super late so we can finish packing, clean the kitchen, clean the rabbits’ cage, and then I get all sorts of busy with rushing to finish work stuff I will be missing and then I get sucked into the blogging hole to post things while gone. Ugh. And yet, I love to get up early to start vacatin as early as possible. Plus seeing the sunrise at the airport is so lovely.

Jason picked us up at the airport and then we get Natalie and wham bam full on intro some great food to Chuy’s. Oh so much food! Such good food! Limitless chips with our queso. Their green chili season was in full swing so I got one of their specials. ah-mazing.

After splitting up for some errands and some naps back at the house we were all geared up to get ready to go out in Austin.

We met up with Natalie and Jason’s friends Ashley and Zack at the South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery. We had dinner from one of the food trucks parked in the lot. We split some queso and chips and enjoyed some fantastic tacos from Torchy’s Tacos. Each tacos was in the $3-4 range which made for a great affordable meal before going out drinking at the Rainey Street bars.

We missed the bats but caught a really cool sunset.

We first went to Lustre Pearl where we sat in a front room that had peeling plaster walls and a fireplace. Little candles around the crate box side tables and books on the fireplace mantel made the space feel charming and relaxing it. We found the Book of Mormon. It made my night.

We then went to Bar 96 to have some more drinks, sit outside, and play games. They had frozen mojitos. Sooo good. I def need to make some of these myself.

The night was gorgeous so we hung out back playing corn hole and a massive jenga. Plus they had a massive projector onto a shed!

Lastly, we went to Clive Bar for our lost stop. It was really casual with seating outside. We managed to get a table, which were hard to come by, so major score!

What do you do after you have had plenty to drink? You get Whataburger! So we stopped there on the way home and got some take out. Price loved the burger and I loved the Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit that Natalie and Jason picked for me because I am so indecisive. Let me repeat… Honey.Butter.Chicken.Biscuit. At that very moment I didn’t care about the calories. It was heavenly. Absolutely heavenly.

{Saturday}

Everything is bigger in Texas, right? Well, while Jason nursed a hangover, Natalie took Price and me to a huge grocery store called H-E-B. There was a kiosk where fresh hand made corn tortillas were being made. I wanted to get a back just because but really had no point since Natalie and Jason were planning on taking us to some great places to eat while we were visiting.

Post grocery store run we went to Rudy’s BBQ for some take out. They were so nice and welcoming there! Such a different attitude from the Northeast- which is really hard to get used to for me. They put a piece of wax paper in front of us and asked us what we would like to try as it was out first visit. We sampled the different kinds of brisket and the jalapeno sausage, which was my favorite. Also a favorite… the new potatoes which we figured they slice and then boil in a combination of water and butter making them so GD amazing (and fattening).

I got really excited for Dr Pepper and Coke with real sugar.

As well as getting to enjoy Happy Hour!

We could not get enough of Happy Hour when we were in Austin, so when we went out after Rudy’s and relaxing to check out Austin by UT we first had to stop at Sonic. I could get used to that!

When we were outside the campus store the real life mascot went by. People went crazy for Bevo.

And I went crazy for Whole Foods!!! We went to the Whole Foods flagship store (not the original store) and I fell in love. From the green wall at the entry to the trail mix bar to the wine bar in the store. I could have spent all day there. For real.

Back home we napped again. Seriously, I could not get enough naps. It was so nice just to be able to relax and catch up on sleep from out insane on the go summer.

We had dinner at their neighbors Sara and Andrew’s house. Sara is a super talented graphic designer who owns Stationary Bakery. I need this rabbit print and this mermaid card she made. Anyway, we all had a great time eating, drinking, and watching the Longhorns game while the dogs went crazy playing with each other.

{Sunday}

Natalie and Jason were up in the middle of the night dealing with a sick pup! Poor Zoey had an allergic reaction to something and her cute little pup face swelled right up! awww!! So they took her to the vet in the middle of the night. Such good puppy parents!

Well, when Price and I stumbled downstairs after a full night of sleep they were ready for some breakfast so Jason and Pricer went to Tacodeli for some breakfast taco takeout. Which turned out to be the best idea ever. I don’t know what I would do if there every happened to be a Tacodeli in Boston. I would be their number one customer. I loved the fresh ingredients and creative combinations of tacos. As well as their fresh agua frescas.

What better way to spend the morning than getting pedicures and going shopping. But not just getting pedicures, getting boozey pedicures. I could get used to that! Oh no, wait, I can’t since Mass has super strict alcohol laws and I can’t ever imagine finding a nail salon serving wine. (if you know of one, please let me know asap) So, Texas you win that round.

I think the buns would approve! I wanted to get these from Antropologie.

And then off to the quintessential stop in Austin… SoCo, which is an area of South Congress Street that is filled with great shops and restaurants. It is a great place to wander around to check out shops like Uncommon Objects, where I got a really cool glass, and Creatures Boutique, where Pricer got a pair of bunny earrings for me. Love.

We had lunch at Magnolia Cafe, which has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Since just about every meal we had involved getting queso Price and I split the Flamingo Sandwich, avocado, tomato, sprouts, and swiss on grilled whole wheat. totally worth it since it meant more room for queso. Why does queso have to be so good!?!?

As much as we were full from lunch we headed over to Amy’s Ice Creams after we left SoCo. Glad we did go since the had fantastic ice cream as well as did this AWESOME thing where they scooped the ice cream and then flung it up in the air and caught it on the cone. I would fail miserably at that part of the job.

For the rest of the day we hung out at home watching TV and movies including Snow White and the Huntsman. Which I am surprised I enjoyed let alone I survived since I hate Kristin Stewart. Seriously, did she just smell a fart always?

And then Natalie and Jason invited friends and neighbors over and we played ‘Cards Against Humanity’ and ‘Drawception’. They are my new favorite games. We were all dying at the outrageous card combos in Cards Against Humanity (imagine Apples to Apples but for awful people). And then watching Drawception breakdown over the 3rd person was the best. I really wish I had kept those cards.

{Monday}

In the morning we went to Stand Up Paddle Boarding. I really wish I had photos of this as it was a total blast. It was great to try something new and to be on the water on the hot day. Jason and I managed to stay up the entire time (I got a super big board so I think it prevented me from falling) while Natalie and Pricer fell in. But no worries, very refreshing on a hot day.

Next stop… Tacodeli! Obviously. This time we sat down and had a massive lunch since we skipped breakfast, which was just perfect to me.

We hung out at home for the rest of the day. Of course we had a nap. 🙂 We also watched Men in Black 3 and the guys went out for a Sonic Happy Hour run. And we rounded out the night with watching Contagion which has scared the shit out of me and I can’t stop washing my hands since then.

{Tuesday}

A pretty relaxed day as Natalie went back to work and Jason worked at home. I watched the Hunger Games further instilling my love for the series, as well as my annoyance that they changed the end of the damn movies from the book. Plus we had some puppy time with Zoey.

Natalie came home at lunch since she worked close enough to go back and forth. It was great to get to see her one last time. Plus she brought us a fantastic lunch from Urban Picnic. I had the BLT with Blue Cheese Mayo sandwich, which I need to start making all the time since it was pretty incredible.

For the rest of the afternoon. Price and I lounged around savoring the last of our vacation. I watched more episodes of The Newsroom becoming a major addict. There might also have been some day drinking.

And then we were back in Boston. Back to reality.

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We loved getting to spend time with our friends Natalie and Jason!!! We had so much fun and got to have plenty of time just to relax. It was great to visit a new place and eat the most amazing food as well. Queso… I love you.

Plus they have the coolest pets!