Entre Nous.

Maygram

Life of late summed up via Instagram.

   

   

   

Follow me on Instagram: @HissAndTell

Etsy is the Word

I'm always on the prowl for home décor inspiration. Since I'm moving house this weekend, I finally have a valid reason to consider some new purchases. This mash up is a bit Palm Beach and a bit Austin. Though too eclectic for one room, dispersed throughout the house it just might do.

Dream Catcher

 

Polka Dots Pillow

 

Banana Palm Watercolor

 

Seafoam Bison Skull

 

Lucite Towel Bar

Blogger Book Club (May & June) - White Girl Problems

 I picked up "White Girl Problems" because I thought it would be a cheeky read. Initially though I found it even too vapid for me. Yes, I do realize that's the point. After taking a hiatus from the book, I realized I had to give it another go. I actually thoroughly enjoyed it when I gave it a second chance. I appreciated it for what it was, a lighthearted tip toe through life via the lens of a privileged white girl. Perhaps you have to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate Babe Walker's humor.

Have you read "White Girl Problems"? If so, what did you think? Do tell! 

My next pick for Blogger Book Club is my idea of the quintessential summer read, "I Take You" by Eliza Kennedy. I'm trying not devour it, as it's a story line I quite want to savor.

"Meet Lily Wilder: New Yorker, lawyer extraordinaire, blushing bride. And totally incapable of being faithful to one man.Lily’s fiancé Will is a brilliant, handsome archaeologist. Lily is sassy, impulsive, fond of a good drink (or five) and has no business getting married. Lily likes Will, but does she love him? Will loves Lily, but does he know her? As the wedding approaches, Lily’s nights—and mornings, and afternoons—of booze, laughter and questionable decisions become a growing reminder that the happiest day of her life might turn out to be her worst mistake yet. Unapologetically sexy with the ribald humor of Bridesmaids, this joyously provocative debut introduces a self-assured protagonist you won’t soon forget."

As always you'll have two full months to read "I Take You", then we'll discuss on August 31st. Use the hashtag #bloggerbookclub if you're reading along.

Return to Austinland

Aside from the atrocious heat and the cluster you know what of the TV festival, the time we spent actually exploring a bit of Austin was pretty sublime. We ended up getting up close an personal with the South Congress neighborhood. My friend booked our hotel just off of South Congress, which was the ideal neighborhood, aside from the fact that our first few days in Austin were spent trekking across the river for all of the TV festival hoopla.

THE HIGHLIGHT REEL 

Gourdoughs  Our second night in Austin happened to coincide with national donut day, so we strolled over to Gordough's for literally THE best donut I have ever had in my life. Picture this: a maple glazed donut toped with bacon. Yes, bacon. They have multiple locations, but we hit up their airstream off South Congress. Apparently at their downtown location they serve fried chicken and creamed corn atop your donut along with variety of other INSANE (in the very best of ways) flavor combinations.

Casey's Snowballs  The sweltering Austin heat necessitated a snow cone break while strolling on South Congress. I obviously had to go with the Cotton Candy flavored snow cone. But I kept intending to venture back to try something more novel from their vast array of options.

Jo's Coffee  Their iced turbo coffee is TDF. Plus they have an Instagram worthy mural and live music on the regular. Oh and you can smoke there. They actually sell cigarettes there. Does anyone else not find that odd? I forgot to mention that Austin is apparently a smokers paradise. Jo's Coffee, I love you so much!

The Driskill Hotel  Multiple sources said this was the place to hit up for a nightcap. Do not listen to these sources as the hotel bar was no where I'd want to be for a drink anytime of day or night. But the café was quite charming for brunch, what with it's old school southern décor and ambience. Plus their omelet was quite palatable.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar  Along with my donut from Gordough's, my burger from Hopdoddy's was one of my culinary highlights while in Austin. I really dug this place.

South Congress Café  Multiple sources assured me this was the place to brunch on South Congress. I was just not impressed. Perhaps I ordered wrong. I went the omelet route, as I tend to do. Their carrot cake French toast was probably beyond amazing.

Guero's Taco Bar  Y'all, I was really disappointed in this place. I wanted authentic "Tex Mex" while in Austin. So I asked around and many sources seemed to concur that this was available everywhere. Guero's was conveniently located on South Congress, was packed every time we walked by, so it seemed like an obvious choice. To be honest I think we might have fared better at a food truck. The tacos (their specialty) were lackluster and the margaritas were ho-hum at best. I mentioned this to a friend who had also visited Austin for the first time earlier in the year and apparently she had a similar experience. I'm just so perplexed as to what Tex Mex actually entails. Because the straight up Mexican food we have here in Washington is superb, and we're about as far away from the Mexican border as possible.

Aside from not having write home worthy Tex Mex, I was also rather disappointed to leave Austin without having their BBQ. Franklin's was the place apparently. But it requires a lengthy wait and a car. As we didn't have our own ride or an abundance of time, Franklin's not to be had. Oh and then there was the fact that my friend is a vegetarian, so obviously BBQ was of zero importance to her. Upon my return to Washington, lo and behold I found out there was a Franklin's outpost at the airport. I suppose all this means I still have reasons to venture back to Austin. Hopefully this return trip will occur sooner rather than later.

Behind the Scenes

June's installment of "Behind the Scenes" highlights Natasha of A Squad Bake Shop in Savannah, GA. Natasha and I met way back in 7th grade in Washington State. We were classmates through all of middle school and high school. Cut to 7ish years ago and it turns out that unbeknownst to either of us we both ended up moving to Savannah, GA. A mutual friend in Savannah realized that we were both from the same part of Washington State and the rest is history. We reconnected across the country from where we first met. Such a small world moment.

Natasha opened A Squad Bake Shop in 2014. They specialize in wedding cakes and fine desserts focusing on everything local and lovely.

Collects  Memories. I live in a 1000 square foot home with my husband, two sons, two dogs and almost no closet space. There is barely enough room for our dishes, let alone a shelf of tchotchkes, plus I hate dusting.

 

Admires  HUSTLE. I have been a small business owner twice over in Savannah, GA. I respect and admire anyone who can earn their living on their own terms.

 

Daydreams  Baking apprenticeship in the French countryside.

 

Guilty Pleasures  Pizza, but like, good pizza, ya know? I barely eat gluten (annoying), as it hurts my guts. But about once a month, Nathan (my husband) and I will walk down to The Florence and I will murder their margarita pizza.

 

Weekend Pursuits  As I am in my last weekend of wedding season, hopefully not a lot. Here’s what I hope Saturday looks like, lazy morning, sipping coffee, head to the farmers market, go to the pool, cook food and drink rose with friends, laugh with the boys.

 

Libation of Choice  Gosh, its pretty rare when I will turn down a gin and tonic.

 

Coffee or Tea  Coffee with cream. NO SUGAR

 

Favorite Book  To Kill a Mockingbird. I have read it a million times and have loved it a million times.

 

Where I’d Rather Be  I rather like where I am at, right now, but I COULD be on a boat. With a breeze. And a gin and tonic.

 

Lipstick or Gloss of the Moment  Neither. Dr. Hauschka lip care stick!! The perfect amount of shine, and it smells so good!!

 

Nail Polish du Jour  Can’t wear it on my hands because I work with food. Clear on my toes because it makes me feel beachy.

 

Scent  My kids say I smell like frosting. All the time. I like to think I smell like lavender and patchouli.

 

Style Icon  Jane Birkin and Francoise Hardy. I love that their style is effortless and sexy with really simple pieces.

 

Can’t Leave the House Without  Sadly, my phone. It is my brain.

 

Pending Vacation  Headed to the west coast in just a couple of weeks, to take the boys through northern Cali and Oregon before heading up to Ferndale, WA to see grandparents and to go to our 20th high school reunion. DC at the end of the summer. And maybe something tropical for Christmas….

 

Social Media of Choice  Instagram. I am a visual person.

 

Crushing On  SeeSAW (See Savannah Art Walls) Their collaboration with Bison Jack, this past spring, projected poems onto the side of a building downtown and through a porthole of a vacant retail space. It was thoughtful, interesting to look at, and it really gathered community. It made people stop in their tracks to gawk. It was really incredible. 

 

There you have it! Now if you need a brilliant baker in Savannah you know just who to call. Do follow A Squad Bake Shop on Instagram for jealousy inducing photos that will make you covet Natasha's life.