Kitchen Remodel Done

We finally finished the backsplash in our kitchen! This is what our kitchen looked like before we moved in...

And this is what it looks like now!

 

 My inspiration for the tile came from the below picture I saw on Better Homes and Garden. 

BHG did not put the name of this tile on their website but thanks to my interior designer friend Lauren we were able to find it! For the record, it is Folio One AT06 Pistachio size 3x6 and we bought it at Dal-tile.

We weren't even planning on putting tile in at all when we redid the backsplash but luckily Preston watches the DIY Network and had seen an episode where they were redoing their kitchen with beadboard and they had to put tile above the stove because it is against code to use wood. Heat plus wood equals fire (makes sense). We knew we wanted subway tile but it wasn't until I saw this picture that I really wanted a color. Plus if we get sick of it in a few years its such a small area that it won't be that difficult to replace (says the one who didn't remove the existing tile, replace the dry wall, cut the tiles/beadboard, smooth the grout and scrape off the excess).

This weekend our refrigerator "broke". It stopped cooling and then it started cooling again so we headed to Sears Outlet to buy a new fridge. Then we left Sears because refrigerators are a lot more expensive than we thought they were. I browsed Craig's List to see if we could find a better deal but ended up finding a repair man who came and out and fixed our fridge for 1/6 of the price it would have cost us to buy a new fridge. He was really nice so if your fridge ever breaks let me know and I'll give you his info. Oh and be careful buying a fridge on Craig's List. He said the reason he advertises on Craig's List is because most of the fridges he services were bought from dealers on Craig's List.

In other news I also started a mini garden in our backyard and we planted a tree. We have a Crepe Myrtle but it's crooked and while at Walmart one day they were having a sale on trees so I bought an Ornamental Pear Tree because the price on the tag was $18 and the picture on the tag looked like this...

So we planted our tree and though the pups gave their best effort too dig it back up, they failed. However I knew they would most likely succeed in destroying an herb garden so I decided a potted garden would be best. Preston brought home a gift basket at Christmas and after we had devoured the crackers, cheese and chocolate inside we were left with this ugly blue pail.

I decided to upcycle it as my planter. I spray painted it silver and Preston drilled holes in the bottom for me.

Then I used the below ingredients and this tutorial to start my potted garden.

 Materials: upcycled (formally ugly) blue pail, Parsley, Basil, potting soil, controlled release fertilizer

 

And there you have it. I realize this pail might be too small for two herbs so I may move them if they grow too big. The Basil is doing great right now. The Parsely is looking pretty sad. Any and all gardening suggestions are welcome. I am pretty proud of myself for actually remembering to water them.

Oh and I planted Strawberries in their own pot (bottom right). We'll see how that works out.

This is my vision for the baker's rack:

image via Pottery Barn

or this...

image via Pottery Barn

I think one of our next projects might be a pergola for our backyard. We've been creepily driving up and down our neighbor's allies trying to shop for what we like. How long do you think it takes for vines to cover the roof of a pergola? I know it depends on what kind of plant you use but Preston estimates 5-10 years and I am hoping that is not the case.

Austin Anniversary Trip

For our anniversary we decided to take a trip to the birthplace of our marriage: Austin, Texas. We arrived Sunday and met up with friends for dinner at The Oasis. The last time I had been to The Oasis was for Preston's fraternity's formal sophomore year of college. We didn't actually go with each other to that formal but I am so glad we took a picture together! If you didn't see it on my anniversary post, here it is:

 

2005 vs. 2012 

Chris, Amanda, Allie, Jake, me, Preston

Can't beat that view.

The Lees stayed with us at Barton Creek Sunday night. On Monday morning we had breakfast at Lone Star Kolaches which was like a donut shop but with kolaches instead of donuts. Tied with the Donut Palace in Coppell for best kolaches I've ever had. We will be going back. We laid out by the hotel pool for the rest of the day and tried a new burger place called Hopdoddy on South Congress for dinner that has taken 2nd place for Preston's favorite restaurant in Austin (Chuy's will always take 1st). We shared the Goodnight burger and Salted Caramel Milkshake. OMGoodness. SO. Very. Good. It is also a very earth friendly, organic, local food (aka what we refer to in Dallas as "Austin") type of restaurant so that was a plus. I love Austin for that reason. They are actually opening one in Dallas soon in Preston Center and you better believe we'll drive 45 minutes to eat there.

On Tuesday we had breakfast at Sweetish Hill Bakery before heading out to Hamilton Pool. Hamilton Pool is a natural spring preserve about 30 minutes west of Barton Creek and it was by far my favorite thing we did on our trip. Upon arrival it is about 1/4 of a mile walk (not far in tennis shoes but far in flip flops) until you reach this:

Amanda took the above pictures. I can't even tell you how breathtaking it is. I felt like we were on an excursion in Mexico. We brought our swimsuits, towels and water bottles but I still felt unprepared. Next time I would wear water shoes (the ground is rocky on the beach and in the water) and would bring a mat to sit on or chairs to sit in. And maybe a picnic lunch. One group brought a tent for shade. It was only $10 to get in (per car not per person) but I hear it is so crowded on the weekends that there is a wait to get in. We were there on a Tuesday and it was crowded but we got in easily.

After Hamilton Pool we tried to stop by Cool Haus, an ice cream sandwich truck, but when we arrived to the food truck park it was closed. Luckily it's neighbor, Way South Philly, was on our list of food trucks to try.We tried the Balboa, which is made with Cheese Wiz, and it was pretty darn good! If Cheese Wiz scares you, Amanda got the Balboa with provolone and it was good too. On a random note, this was in their truck window...

(My husband's and dad's names)

For dessert we stopped by Walton's which is a quaint flower shop/deli/bakery owned by Sandra Bullock. Amanda and I got their specialty: The Golden Egg. Think sugar cake donut. I'd love to go back here for lunch one day because it's just too darn cute. Here are a few pictures from their website:

That night Amanda went home and Preston and I went to Bess for dinner. I had wanted to try it for a while because it is also owned by Sandra Bullock (and across the street from Walton's). We went out on a limb and tried the Bacon Wrapped Quail for an appetizer but it wasn't our fav. However, I may have swiped about five dinner mints because they were delish. They gave us a free dessert since it was our anniversary but that didn't stop us from heading to Cool Haus after dinner and this time it was open!

 
Preston got chocolate banana cookies with the Manhattan ice cream and I got red velvet cookies with Oreo coffee ice cream. Yum to the 10th degree. Oh and get this: the wrappers are edible too. Way to save the Earth.

On Wednesday we went to breakfast at Magnolia Cafe where Preston got an omelet smothered in queso. Then we headed to Zilker Park Rentals to rent a canoe on Town Lake. Originally we were going to rent a kayak but we both decided we weren't interested in getting wet so we went with a canoe.

Headed out on our two-hour tour. Our two-hour tour.

 

I left all the paddling to my main man. As you can see, he is thrilled with this decision. No but really, every time I tried to help we ended up in circles so it was better this way.

We saw a swan....

Shortly after this photo it tried to attack us.

We saw lots of turtles. 

Zilker Park Rentals is downstream from Barton Springs. You can pay to go to Barton Spring or you can go to this area (see below video) which is free and flowing with waterfalls and dogs. One day I want to take Patti and Selma here. They don't like water much but they might change their mind here.

 For lunch we went to Guero's on South Congress. I had heard their corn tortilla tacos were good so that is what we ordered but honestly my favorite part was their beans and rice. I don't know what they put in that rice but I ate every last bit of it.

That night we tried to watch the bats at Congress Bridge. Thousands of bats live under Congress Bridge and at sunset they supposedly fly out in swarms to catch their prey. We arrived around 7:30pm and waited with hundreds of other spectators for about 2 hours before finally giving up. We saw a few bats fly out but it wasn't nearly what we were expecting. Next time we want to try to go in August because the "show" is supposed to be much more dramatic at that time of year. Also, we tried to take a bat watching cruise tour but they were sold out by the time we decided to buy tickets. I was glad we didn't go since it was so anti-climactic but we did witness an engagement on one of the cruises when the boats first arrived to the bridge so that was entertaining.

We went to dinner that night at the Snack Bar. I tried The Tamago Yoko per an online recommendation. I'm not a huge seafood fan but with that taken into consideration it was pretty good and I would recommend it, especially if you like shrimp. We spent most of our dinner trying to eavesdrop on a neighboring customer who made a big hullabaloo about something causing our waiter to cry and the manager to sit down with him to chat. From what I could tell, he was a regular who asked that something not be on his plate (sauce? meat? food? who knows) and was highly offended when his meal came out incorrectly. He blamed the chef, not the waitress, but she still felt responsible and tried to bring him a new plate and comp his meal but he wouldn't have it. I guess he was under the impression that everyone in the restaurant should have his usual order memorized. And that's about all I could hear over the oscillating fan directly behind me.

Thursday morning we checked out of our hotel and headed to Jo's Coffee and Flip Happy Crepes for breakfast. At Jo's I ordered their specialty and my new favorite iced coffee: the Iced Turbo. World's best cup of coffee if you ask me (Buddy the Elf anyone?).

Then we said good-bye to Austin and headed to San Antonio. Along the way we stopped at the San Marcos outlets to shop a bit before having lunch at The Gristmill in Gruene, Texas. Gruene is a sweet little town about 15 minutes south of San Marcos with a lot of history. The Gristmill sits alongside the river and it certainly worth the slight detour for the atmosphere. We only ordered appetizers because it was so close to dinner time but I'd love to go back again for dinner some day.

Thursday night Amanda made homemade pizza for dinner and we hung out with some old ACU buddies/San Antonians. On Friday we hung out at the house, watched Duck Dynasty (Amanda knew them when she lived in Louisiana) and then met Chris for dinner at La Hacienda before heading back to Dallas!

Back in Dallas on our actual anniversary we went to dinner at Bob's Steak & Chop House (so good) and took a grainy photo with my phone.

 

And then to see The Avengers. I'd say we celebrated 5 years pretty well! And now for the cliche but true...

Where does the time go?

Time flies when you're having fun!

It feels like yesterday...

(It really does!)