Rich & Elizabeth

This weekend was another noisy one – not us, our neighbor. The first weekend we were here, the neighbor to our right kept us up all night with loud music and conversation on the patio and then this weekend our neighbor to the left woke us up with loud music and laughing and banging on the patio – finally, my deaf ear could not take it anymore and by 5 in the morning Rich asked them to turn it down a bit and they did, a bit. So annoying but seriously, the walls around here are paper thin and I was trying so hard to make the most of it and hear something juicy to blog about but it was just a bunch of lame, “i love college” babble that would make Asher Roth proud. I’ve never met our neighbor to the left but I thought she would be classy because she had Pottery Barn furniture delivered. But based on what I have seen roaming around here, even the professionals are thirty year old tweens. I have a feeling that my neighbors probably hang out on 6th street closing the bars, talking to each other via iPhone apps and showing off their Porches without actually having any fundamental knowledge about cars. Who knows, maybe they are really super cool and I will be borrowing sugar from them before you know it. But seriously, no one around here knows how to hold a door. What happened to southern hospitality?

On an up note, I do appreciate Austin style (although it should be mentioned that whoever made the fitted button up and jeans standard protocol for men did not take into consideration that a group of male friends would all follow the same fashion rule at the same time for the same occasion – it was the sight of this faux pas crossing the street, bro-crew by bro-crew, that has inspired Rich to trade his look up for the fall and I think you will all be impressed). But as for the girls that I have seen – very vintage/hipster chic and always effortless looking and well put together with simple, flattering accessories such as a nice pair of sunglasses, a nice handbag or a great pair of boots – nothing Lady GaGa-audy about it. Lately, I have been wearing a lot of flip flops and comfy clothes and the night of the Ra Ra Riot show, I had on galoshes because it had been raining earlier which sounds logical but… as we walked home by all the girls in their designer boots and stilettos, I felt a titch Bridget Jones schlumping along in my rain boots and realized that I love getting all dolled up and have been a disgrace to my motto: Fashion before function. So time to put an end to that! Time to reinvent myself! Time to stop being comfortable and back to looking smart (and sassy)! Maybe then people will want to hold doors for me if they notice that I am strutting like a warrior in 4-inch spikes.

Sunday, Rich and I went shopping and I bought a couple new dresses from American Apparel (the outlet – it’s like shopping a sale without the hassle of rummaging through racks or bins and half price means half the guilt!). I have always thought that American Apparel clothes are a bit too outrageous for me but now, after trying on a few things, I have discovered that the lines of the clothes are very flattering to my frame. And yesterday I wore a dress that I have had in my closet (here and back in Buffalo) for months. I had been waiting for a special occasion or something to wear it but why wait for an occasion when you can create one? So yesterday I wore my dress to Target, to do laundry, to make dinner and go for an evening walk with Rich around the park; Rich was in his new swim trunks . Just call me a modern day housewife (sans house, sans wife). (Yes folks, I have been applying for jobs – even retail sales clerk positions…does anyone actually look at my resume?)

Back to the dresses, I found a dress at Target that I liked, Rich didn’t like (the “tablecloth” description in the name probably didn’t help – I believe Rich said that it was so ugly that he would not eat off of it if it was his grandmother’s tablecloth) and so, with that, I put it back. (p.s. it drives me crazy when my mom takes my dad’s fashion advice) Needless to say, I thought about it and the next day I decided that I wanted the dress. So I emptied piggy and took myself to Target only to find that it had been snagged. And now I have gone to the Target website to order the dress only to see that it is no longer available (not even sold out – just not there anymore). So now, all I have left to remember said dress is an iPhone photo I asked Rich to take before I placed it back on the rack. Who would have known that that would be out only encounter.

This morning we went to the Domain! Sound cool? Shopping paradise! It was just a perfectly constructed metropolis of designer shops! Like a piece of Rodeo Drive in Austin but more convenient for me to window shop and daydream. Rich had to go to the Apple store to fix his iPhone (read more) While we were at the Apple store, this is what we saw:

What do you see? Well, the lady in red is wearing floral leggings, ankle socks and hi-tops and the jacket is wool on an 80 degree day. What stuck out most about her ensemble was the surgical mask over her face (which she removed when speaking to the salesman which I would think would reduce the spread of whatever she was trying to prevent). I nudged Rich who thought that this was odd but not too strange – he did not realize that what I was really trying to draw his attention to was the small child she was keeping in the suitcase next to her. Yes, under that white blanket is a sleeping child. In a suitcase. Any theories?

Remember how I said, “neatly organized, fully functional household?” Well…I think that we are definitely on our way to neatly organized (thanks to The Container Store) but fully functional? I would have to say not so much based on Rich’s reaction when he asked me where something was and it just so happened to be “behind the bamboo box and under the clear itso bin in a clear box with a lid.” I just hope that he doesn’t need batteries in the near future (but fyi – they are in the small plastic box on the top shelf of the cupboard above the charging station).

On tonight’s agenda is sorting through Rich’s files and making room for mine. (I know, you are all sad that you can’t make it) But first, we are going shopping! But not serious shopping – fun shopping! We are going to check out the shoppes in our neighborhood and I am very excited.

— 6 hours later —

We are back from our shopping excursion with a few new discoveries.

One. I like a pair of lululemon pants but they are 88 dollars. Our gym membership (at the South Austin Gym – home of Big Steve, a 75 year young man who benches 425!) was only $158. And of course, I should mention that there is the top which is $52…and the hoodie..and a lovely purple bag. So, my question is this: Thinking of it like Rich (in terms of percentage) is it a good investment? Probably not. Thinking of it like Elizabeth (in terms of motivation)…What do you think?

Two. I am Garmin handicapped. No matter what I am looking for, Garmin can not find it (even when I can see where I want to be as I pass it driving in the wrong direction because of Garmin’s poor instructions and with no exits or places to make a U-ie for miles). Very “frus-tra-ting” (shaking my fist for those in on the ISJ).

Three. From now on, as annoying as it may be to hear “recalculating” every 100 yards, we must use Garmin. Rich (driver) + Me (navigator) = confusion. My navigation treats every road like there is a detour ahead and the combination of alternative route options with last minute warnings causes confusion for my driver who likes commanding the far left lane. So, from now on, I am going to stick to being the passenger.

Four. We found a bodega and I can not wait until I forget something and need to run over to Royal Blue Grocery to get it. At the moment, I am eating delicious Annies organic mac ‘n’ cheese – from the bodega! There was a whole convenient assortment of organic food and eco-friendly products to be “forgotten” on my future errands. They even have Orangina (which Rich is enjoying a glass of now) and bubbly wine in a pink can with a pink flexie straw.

Well, in closing, better luck next time Buffalo Bills!

We have just wrapped up our second weekend in Austin! We have been buying more and more furniture and (after the umpteenth visit to Ikea) our place is feeling more and more like home. Our first big purchase was a natural, “green” mattress made with bamboo fabric. It is super comfortable and we are especially appreciative after spending our first night here sleeping on the concrete floor (not even the worlds sweetest, softest blanket could soften the blow). Another big purchase that we are happy to have is our bright, big new tv (Rich is playing Mario Kart and it looks awesome!! I can’t wait to take a turn at it!!) and a big ol’ comfy couch (with a chaise which makes it extra comfy for Rich).

I have been to Super Target almost every day stocking up on groceries and rummaging through the home organization department. The only thing left to do is organize my organizers. Yes, this probably sounds silly and I think Rich thinks I might be crazy, but I feel that my freshly emptied and refilled totes and bins are in need of a new storage system. The good news is that I feel like we are close to having a neatly organized, fully functional household. I just wish that my hangers all matched…This will probably require another trip to Target. I should have just stuck to my guns and, instead of buying the cheap plastic ones (because after all, they are just hangers), gone for the more slightly more expensive and slimmer Joy Mangano huggable hangers which I have ended up buying a package or two of anyways. Now, although it seems that daily excursions to Target and Ikea has become my new full-time job (which I am sure that my Masters in School Counseling is being applied somehow…retail therapy perhaps?), it should be noted that this week Prixie and I did go off the beaten path (a.k.a. I-35 to Ikea and back and every Target exit in between) and ventured out to a shopping mall where I treated myself to a few lil Sephora goodies necessities such as Ojon dry shampoo which I have always wanted to try! And Whole Foods – the flagship store – is just down the street! It is the size of a Weggies but all one big Nature’s Market! Paradise if you ask me. Overpriced if you ask Rich. Luckily, I do the grocery shopping around here.

One of my favorite local stores is Monkey See Monkey Do in the SoCo area – they have lots of Fred-ware! Rich bought me the Evidence knife and Pac Man Potholder. On my wish list is the Calf & Half. We went there today in search of the Fred M-Cups (measuring cups disguised as matryoshkas) but they were no where to be found so I guess that those are on my wish list too. We also went to the Big Top candy shoppe next door and split a piece of chocolate covered bacon – yummy?? Here is what we thought: the goodness of chocolate + the goodness of bacon = a chewier version of a chocolate covered pretzel. Also in SoCo is a diner which is quickly becoming a favorite tradition – the South Congress Café. Rich loves the migas and I like the quiche eggs benedict. This will definitely be a place we go to brunch when we have visitors.

I have been cooking quite a bit since we got here. I made mac n’ cheese (Rich’s favorite), chicken tostadas (Stephie gave me the recipe and they made lots of yummy leftovers), a new pasta with roasted veggies dish recipe that I got at the kitchen outlet store where I bought a set of Pyrex (thumbs up) and a pasta with peas and prosciutto (not a total miss but I don’t think it quite hit the spot). The other night, we got take out from Mama Fu’s and that really hit the spot. And the good news (or, maybe trouble) is that it is located just around the corner! Last night, we went out to dinner – to a brewery that we always drive by on Barton Springs called Uncle Bill’s. Rich got a hamburger and I got brisket (yes, the former vegetarian is pleased to announce that she enjoys the brisket nowadays). And then Rich took me to Amy’s for ice cream!! It looks adorable with neon cows and the delish ice cream matched the atmosphere.

The 100 degree temperatures were a pleasant shock to my coolly conditioned Buffalo skin (and I feel confident that I will be tan for Thanksgiving sans booth-generated UVB bulbs). Last week, we enjoyed the pool, checked out Barton Springs and went for a walk around Lady Bird Lake. The last couple of days have been a bit rainy and cooled of the air a bit. Oh, that reminds me – I bought a plant for the patio! His name is Palmer (can anyone guess what type of plant he is??) His instructions said that he required lots and lots of sunlight (which is guaranteed sitting out on the patio) and should not be watered until the soil is completely dry (which is perfect because I tend to forget to do these things) – and then as soon as I put him out there, it starts raining cats and dogs – in Texas! Anywho, Palmer has a nice home on the patio in between our “His & Hers” Adirondack chairs for as long as he likes.

Last weekend was the kick-off UT football game. The city was a sea of burnt orange – seriously, from hats to dresses to shoes to bags – everything here is available in burnt orange, including Magic 8 Balls?? Rich and I will be better prepared for the next one with our Hook’em/Longhorn tees. But that fashion statement will have to wait – tomorrow is “Let’s go Buffalo” tee shirt day!