Before I'm Thirty...

Not to go stealing everyone else's thunder when it comes to the whole bucket list idea, but I've decided to do a pre-30 bucket list. I haven't drafted it in its entirety, or even at all yet really, but one thing I've always wanted to do is be a decent gardener. I'm not all obsessed with my food being local (unless you're talking about eating at local restaurants - that I appear to have down pat!) or anything, but at the same time, there is a certain fulfillment that comes with having nurtured something from seedling to table. Then again, I've carried a baby to term and nurtured her for six months with my body exclusively, so a cantaloupe is small potatoes next to that!

Anyhow, I think I can officially cross the "grow a productive garden" off my list:

Tomatoes (many varieties, including cherry):


Banana Peppers:

Serrano Peppers (my fave!):

Cantaloupe:

Watermelon:

Basil (Genovese):

Umlauf Sculpture Garden.

If it seems lately that I'm a tourist in my own city, I am! The summer has always presented a challenge in my profession, as the kids are out of school and it is hot, hot, HOT! As such, I've taken to trying to come up with ideas by pretending more or less that I'm a tourist in this great city, and taking advantage of all that it has to offer - things that I normally dismiss or overlook the way that native Manhattanites don't haul themselves to the Empire State Building.

After visiting the Botanical Gardens the other day, I decided to head to the Umlauf Sculpture Gardens this week as well, and I am so glad that I did. Not only are they free for children and just $3.50 for regular admission, they're amazing. Imagine combining a sculpture museum with the gorgeous outdoors in Austin and the ability to climb on and touch the actual art, and you've got the Umlauf. Actually, don't imagine! Here are some pics of our fun!

The lovers:

Ava practicing her amazing balance on the rocks:

The Rhino:

Ava loved being able to touch and climb on them:

The Baby:

This was my absolute favorite, entitled, "The Family":

Not entirely sure what this one was, but loved it just the same:




Second favorite, entitled, "The Kiss"



Afterwards, we decided to go have a quick picnic at Butler Park downtown, and Ava ran around (fully clothed - ha! oops...) in the Liz Carpenter Fountains. I LOVE AUSTIN!






How do you enjoy your city through the eyes of a tourist? If you live in Austin, what are some places I need to check out next?!

Pease Park Splash Pad.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love all that Austin has to offer for families with young children? Seriously, this was an amazing city when I was a single, childless individual with a partying agenda, but it's even better now that I'm a grown up. Most of the cities dozens of public parks and playgrounds have added splash pads in recent years, including the awesome, centrally located Pease Park. We took it upon ourselves to suit up and go cool down yesterday in the blazing 103 degree heat - well worth it! Ava was so cute, dashing from fountain to fountain and trying to figure out where the water went when they'd turn off. We did, however, keep her shoes on since the pavement gets a bit slippery!

Wordless Wednesday - New Button.

I have a new button! Thanks again to the marvelous Chelsey over at The Paper Mama for all of her help - I highly recommend her for your header/button/photo editing needs!!!

Not sure why it's duplicated on my sidebar, but when you grab it, it won't be :D

Zilker Botanical Gardens!

Alternatively, this post could have been titled, "How I've Lived in Austin Ten Years and it Still Surprises Me With These Hidden Gems Because it is the Single Most Awesome Place Ever."

Seriously, folks. How on Earth have I lived in Austin for ten years and have never been to the Zilker Botanical Gardens? They're amazing!!!

Seeing as how it is summer and S was scheduled for summer camps all summer but flat out refuses to go, I've been on a mission to come up with fun and novel things for us to do to keep busy - and cool. Enter the Zilker Botanical Gardens. Check out the gorgeous scenery!













If we didn't have friends getting married here in November, this could have been a major contender for the spot we're getting married. That being said, the place we've chosen is absolutely perfection. And if you haven't heard of our new wedding plans, check out my last post :) So EXCITED!!!

An Exciting Announcement!

Remember how I recently said the wedding was off, and that we'd be eloping to an island somewhere the three of us?

Well, after much perusal and discussion, we just couldn't get into it. A lot of the places that did destination elopements seemed generic and manufactured, and that's the last thing you want for your wedding, right? We explored New York City in detail, as a piece of my heart remains there and I'm dying to share it with David and Ava, but passed on it due to the sheer expense of a hotel for a handful of days. Having found the loveliest woman alive to marry us in New York City, though, I started thinking. Perhaps there was an Austin counterpart to the NYC woman who married people wherever they'd like - be in in Central Park (my choice, obvs!), the Brooklyn Bridge, or any place of your choosing. And, as it turns out, there is!

So, here's the big news. The wedding? It's on, baby. We're combining the best of both worlds: we'll be married in my ideal location in Austin, Texas, our true home and somewhere we felt a bit odd not being married at, considering our true love for and history here. After talking to the City, we're able to do a ceremony on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are choosing to do it on a weekday afternoon, so we'll have free run of the park. And as such? We won't have to pay any rental fees for the venue. We're just paying a nominal fee for the officiant, and even such, it's extremely reasonable!!!!

The best part? Our families will be there. My family (including mom, dad, sisters, aunt & uncle and four cousins and grandparents) will fly in from California for a few days, and we'll do it up bridal party style with pedicures and a hair appointment. David's family will come up as well, though it's only the three of them. And, understandable to anyone who knows me, the D's and the girls will be in attendance as well <3. Perfection. Afterwards, we'll do a reception with lunch, cake and champagne at a local restaurant in a private party room. And Ava? She'll be our flower girl in her gorgeous dress.

Friends, I could NOT be happier. I'm sure we'll have some friends who are disappointed, as we're doing a no friends ceremony (none at all, mainly because if you invite even one, suddenly you're listening to a plethora of "why them and not me?" complaints and it's just DRAMA). But to me? My little family of three joined eternally in front of our families (including the D's) in a most beautiful Central Austin location? Seriously, perfect!

As for my dress....oy. That's the only part of this nonsense I had originally figured out, and now it's the only part left hanging. So, not to sound all bridezilla, I've decided I don't like my original dress. Actually, I decided that almost immediately, but only just have decided that if I am getting to have the wedding I want, I should have the dress I want too. So the search continues. As for my ordered dress, since I obvs can't cancel it, if you know anyone who wants to buy a size 4 gown with a lace-up back, beaded bodice, ruched skirt and long train, let me know (haha. seriously, though!).

San Antonio Zoo Revisited.

We took Ava to the San Antonio Zoo back in October, right as she started walking and while it was still cool. While she enjoyed it then, and was really interested in all of the animals, she was WAY more into it this time. Check out the awesome time we had:

Checking out the hippos and fish:

Staring down the cats:



Happy baby!

Kanga:

Petting Zoo...she was swarmed by bees because of the popsicle. Chaos.

Warthog:

Elephant (obvs):

Okapi:

Trying to cool my poor baby down with a giant popsicle:

Ostrich:

Wild Dog:

We really liked the kangas:

Getting ready for a dip in the baby beach:


Such a fun trip - can't wait to go to the Houston Zoo later this summer!