home...

The excitement of going home for the first time is not lost on me. Frankly I can't wait! I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss the Twin Cities. I love my home. Growing up I always took the cities for granted. Living in the suburbs was great, but now that I'm living in Texas I realize that I never knew the cities in the proper way.

I think I've come to love Minneapolis/St. Paul more since I've moved. It's the atmosphere, the urban grind, the way people trudge through snow, sleet, hail, and rain just to live in the city they love. It's the respect for all things Twin Cities. Now don't get me wrong, I love living in Austin, but it's not my home. I just live here for the time being. It's got all the wonderful things a city should have, cool funk, fantastic fashion, and amazing food. But it's not where I grew up, it's not where my fondest memories happened.

When I go home in a mere week and four days (HOLY YEA) I'm looking forward to experiencing familiar and new things. I know there will be a Twins game at the new Target Field. This will be my first time seeing my favorite team play outdoor baseball. It will be different not having the roar of the Metrodome, but it will still be wonderfully awesome. There is nothing like sitting in a ballpark drinking beer with your favorite people. Then maybe going out with said favorite people after the game to a bar for an ice cold Summit!

(A beautiful picture of Target Field from thesportsbustrip.com)

My family is a sucker for all things delicious and cultural. So naturally when they built the best restaurant in town a block away from their house, my super cool parents decided we need to frequent this place as much as we could! Thus began our love and fascination for the Mediterranean Cruise Cafe (aka The Cruise). The Cruise is a brightly colored, high energy restaurant that specializes in scrumptious food from the Mediterranean (hence the clever name), delicious drinks (shots of Ouzo), and belly dancing (which you can participate in if you'd like, or you have a few too many shots). The experience is one that I've yet to see in Austin. The restaurant is huge with a nice patio, but it feels small because the staff is so warm and friendly. I know it's not exactly in either "downtown" city, but it's close, and I like it!

(Photo from medcruisecafe.com)

The following is my open ended letter to Starbucks:

Dear Starbucks,

You may try to fulfill my caffeine addicted body with your lattes, but you fall so short it's scary. You are not my friend. The fact that I shell out money to you when I have to be awake at the ass crack of dawn is appalling. If there was a substitute that sucked less than you, I would drink it, however even your burnt espresso is better than no espresso. Also, why do you take so long to have my order ready? Trust me, hand crafted coffee drinks sound intense but are not that challenging to make. What is with your drink sizes? We are in America, here we say small, medium, and large. I don't like having to speak another language to get a damn cup of coffee. And non-fat? It's called skim, dummies. Get this stuff straight! Starbucks you are in no way as close to amazing as Caribou is. You are stupid, really, really stupid. But I will continue to drink you because there is not a Caribou in Texas. However, while I am home I will only drink Caribou, and lots of it! In fact, I will get off the plane at MSP and head straight for Caribou, that's how much I love it! So there!

(I believe the only time I will not have a latte in my hand while I'm home is when I have a beer in my hand)
(Photo by the lovely and delicious cariboucoffee.com)

These are just highlights of what is to come. I'm sure there will be time spent wandering the streets of downtown with my sister, drinking in small town bars with my friends, and of course a Graduation BBQ and the Law School Graduation. I'm sure my time home will be as wonderful, and glamorous as I hope it to be. Plus I get to see this precious face everyday for a week! My beautifully naughty and lazy Curtis!

(Photo taken by my mom)

I now realize this post has become a bunch of rambling crap. Oh well, we're without Internet at the new apartment (oh did I tell you we moved?) so work is now just an excuse to play on facebook and blog. SWEET! I hope to find more time between customers to update, but since I'm working off a PC not my usual Mac it's a little confusing (plus I'm computer illiterate). Plus I don't have any of my pictures on this computer. Maybe I'll start bringing my computer to work. That wouldn't be dangerous at all!

Needless to say, I'm ready for a vacation. I'm ready to go home. I can't wait to see my family, my sister and brother-in-law, all my friends, my animals! I miss everyone! A LOT! I knew it would be hard, I just never imagined this hard. Maybe because it's the first time going home. Maybe because I'm a giant baby and I'm homesick! Who knows? The excitement of going home for the first time is not lost on me.

restless already?

Searching for art has made me crave vacation. We're moving into a new apartment this week, and I'm very excited (I get a real bedroom with four walls and a door, also my own bathroom) because I get to decorate my space anyway I want! So I've been searching for art to hang on my walls, and deciding what colors I want to use. In that search I've come across some beautiful pieces of photography of places I want to visit some day.

Of course I want to visit New York. I want to walk through Central Park. To eat a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery. Sit on Carrie Bradshaw's front steps. Visit all of the museums like the MoMA and The Met. See the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero. Maybe even ring in the New Year in Times Square. Maybe one day!

I want to cross the pond and go to London. Ride the London Eye. Look out over Piccadilly Circus. See Buckingham Palace, and try to make a guard laugh. Walk the London Market. See Westminster and St. Paul's Cathedral. Walk through the streets at night and stop at a pub. Longingly someday.

Oh, and Venice. I want to ride a Gondola and be serenaded at dusk. To walk across the historic bridges over the waterways at sunset. Watch the pigeons at St. Marks Square. See the sun change in The Clock Tower. Drive to the Dolomite Mountains. Wander the street boutiques of Cortina. What a dream!

And of course there's always Paris. I want to see the Eiffel Tower during the day, and lit up at night. I want to visit The Louvre and see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Sit in a cafe drinking espresso, eating French delicacies. Walk the Champs Elysees and see the Arc de Triomphe and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWI. Take in the enormity and architecture of the Pantheon. I want to take in the beauty of the most wonderful city in the world. This is my ultimate destination.

Traveling the world is my dream, and finding the beautiful pictures has made me yearn to go. I wish to see the world, one city at a time. I know there are so many other fascinating places to see, but these four are at the top of my list. To say I've been there would enlighten me and bring culture into my life. I've traveled before, and count myself blessed for the wonderful places I've been and the sights I've seen. But I guess until I get to travel again, seeing these photos will have to suffice. Searching for art has made me crave vacation.

seriously miss manners

This is what I've learned so far in Texas. People suck at driving in every state, and no one has manners in the south. The driving the I can handle, because I'm used to the way Minnesotans drive (which is comatose by the way). Although (side note), everyone told me Texans drive fast and crazy, this is so not the case. If an ounce of precipitation is forecast for the next three days everyone must slow down for fear of driving off the road. (Yes, this happens when there are no clouds in the sky and the sun is shining.) Also, going the speed limit is not going fast. It is in fact the posted speed limit. If it was too fast, the Department of Public Safety, (or whatever it's called here) would probably lower the limit. (Side note over) It's the manners thing that is getting to me.

How hard is it to say a simple "please" or "thank you"? Not that hard, in fact I've been doing it since I was a child, so if I could do it then, you as an adult can probably do it. Also, why do you feel the need to interrupt me when I'm speaking to someone? Wait your damn turn. I don't understand how people don't understand that politeness will go a long ways, especially in my book. I will generally like you about ten times more if you're kind and polite to me. You see me getting snotty? Maybe think back to whether you've used your manners. Chances are probably not.

I've gotten used to it at work by now. I don't expect it from everyone anymore, but the people I do expect it from better keep it up! The part I'm not getting, it's out in restaurants/bars/retail stores (basically service industry). Waiters/waitresses/staff members are not using general manners. They're acting polite and all, but I'm there spending my money, so they have a job and get paid, and no one can thank me for that? It's not like it's hard! Two words, two syllables, it seems pretty easy. I guess some people just don't get it.

I really didn't mean for this post to become a rant, also, I did not intend to come across so crabby in this post because I haven't blogged in forever (and I feel bad because some people totally have it worse than me), but I blame it on being tired. (Also, why so many parenthesis in this post?) Anyways, now I must go learn to drive and forget my manners. This is what I must to to fit in here apparently. This is what I've learned so far in Texas.

fashionista

I guess I've always been interested in fashion. But I didn't understand how much until recently. Moving to Austin has really made me sit up and take notice of clothing styles and trends. Also, lately I've really gotten into Gossip Girl (a guilty pleasure I know), and I really like the style of all of the females on the show. I would love to be able to carry that into my life, but I'm lacking the basics, so I've been looking for ways to get the money/gift cards to redo my wardrobe.

I've recently found a new website/email program called Shop It To Me. You sign up for their email program, pick the designers and sizes you want, and what day(s) you would like to receive their emails. Then they send you your emails on your designated day(s) of everything you selected that is on sale. Also, for every ten of your friends you refer via email (and they have to accept) you get a $10 gift car to the store of your choice. I personally chose Old Navy, because I love their basics. So if you want in on this, send me your email so I can send you an invitation, and make some money!

So far I've found some really cute things that I want badly, and all at a really reasonable price!

Now I just have to save up some money, and achieve my goal of getting gift cards. I have to say I am excited for summer to come so I can start wearing my summer tank tops. I feel like this winter has been really long, and I'm ready for some sun. Then I can start exploring my style even more. It's weird that I didn't notice this side of my personality before. I guess I've always been interested in fashion.

Boots by Rocket Dog

Sold by Piperlime

Now $ 39.99

Denim By Levi's

Sold at Macy's

Now $ 34.99

Cardigan by Ann Taylor

Sold at Ann Taylor

Now $ 69.99

Dress by Silence & Noise

Sold by Urban Outfitters

Now $ 29.99

Top by Lucca Couture

Sold by Urban Outfitters

Now $29.99

busy, busy, busy

My goodness, where has time gone? Sorry I've been so slacky lately. I've been busy trying to find a job, and getting settled in my dining room/bedroom, and trying to become a TX resident (which is a lot harder than it sounds!). Also, I've been busy doing stuff! On the job front, I finally got one, yay! It's only a part time job at the service desk of a car dealership, but that's ok because that's less time to spend doing something else. So now I just need another part time job so I can actually pay my rent.

(My dining room/bedroom)

My bedroom (dining room) is coming together. I have pictures hanging on the walls and my clothes are organized, and only my shoes and some of my clothes are hanging in Kate's closet, and by some I mean all 35 of my dresses. Yes, I do have 35 dresses. It's a tight space, but we're making it work. I also discovered a really cool way to hang jewelry and scarfs.

(My awesome accessory corner)

Aside from spending time organizing my room, we've been doing stuff too. When mom was still here we took an afternoon trip to San Antonio to remember The Alamo and do the River Walk. It was fun to walk around and do a little shopping. We took the guided boat tour, and that was probably the highlight. That always turns out to be the best part of any trip. We've also eaten at some great places: The Kerbey Lane Cafe, Torchy's, Tacos #5, BJ's Brewhouse, Madame Mam's, Polvo's, Waterloo, One-2-One, and other awesome places. The food here is sooooooooo good!

(The Alamo, Torchy's and Kerbey Lane Cafe)

(Do you remember The Alamo? That will never get old!)

I'm also trying to drive around and get a feel for the city. I've only gotten lost a couple of times, but if I just keep driving eventually I get to where I need to go. The highways are a little confusing to figure out, because to get on them you have to go a round about way instead of just being there. I'm sure I'll figure it out. Also, the bridges are super high here, and I get a little scared driving on them. If only I could close my eyes!

(Freaking tall overpass)

So far things are going good. Everything is going smoothly, except getting Texas residency, but I have all of my paperwork now, so hopefully that will be resolved by Tuesday. It all still seems a little surreal, more like I'm on vacation with all of my stuff, but I'm sure once I get working that will change. Pray I can start on Tuesday. I can't believe it's been almost a month already. My goodness, where has time gone?

tequila, anyone?

Last night was intoxicating. We were trying to figure out what to do, and after tossing around ideas for about half my life we finally decided to go out for drinks. None of us were super hungry so we didn't want to go somewhere known for it's food, but known more for it's drinks. So if you're ever looking for a pitcher of the best frozen margarita you'll ever enjoy go to Polvos in Austin.

I'm not a huge tequila fan (the only way I drink it is in a margarita), but these were sooooooo good. A pitcher is $20, but you get about six out of one pitcher, so I recommend going that route! The neat thing about Polvos is that they have a salsa bar, with three different salsas to taste. They are all really good too. We also got the Chili Con Queso to split, and it was the best queso I've ever had. You add your own ground beef, tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and jalapenos so you can pick what you want in it, and how spicy you want it. Super delicious.

The atmosphere is really cool there too. Their patio is made up of plastic tables and folding chairs, with a billion Christmas lights over head. It's the perfect place to relax and just have a fun, laid back night out. If you are going to split a couple of pitchers of margaritas between you, take a taxi, or walk. The drinks are strong, and so yummy. Once you have one you'll want to keep on drinking! Last night was intoxicating.

sweet travels

Guess I asked for it. I wanted this adventure. I am sitting in B&N using the internet, trying to look for a job, and the smell of coffee is making me happy. I miss working in a coffee shop, and it's only been two weeks. It's been a bittersweet couple of weeks, saying goodbye to all of my coworkers who are really my friends, and my family who are really my inspiration. It's been an interesting trip, with only one mental breakdown, but way too many car breakdowns.

The trip started relatively uneventful packing the car with everything I own. We couldn't fit everything in, but we got a lot, and the car was jam packed. With one last stop at Caribou we were on the road. We stopped in once in Iowa for a potty break, and once for gas. Drove through Missouri without any issues, which was surprising because it was super foggy, and then stopped somewhere is Kansas for dinner. We got back on the road, drove another hour and decided to stop in Emporia, KS for the night. Then the problems started.

When we were ready to hit the road the next morning, we started the car and discovered the low coolant light was on. So we went to some oil change place and had them check it out, fill it up, and make sure we wouldn't blow up or anything. So we keep driving and make it to Oklahoma without anymore problems. Stop for lunch and get back in the car only to discover the check engine light was on. So we call a few people, and they tell us that it could be two things, a tripped wire that's nothing, or something bad, just keep an eye on it, and keep driving.

On the road we go, praying, hoping, and begging that my car does not breakdown on the side of the road in the middle of OK. We make it through Oklahoma City, all the while looking for a car dealership to see if they can look at my car to make sure we won't die in a fiery explosion. By sheer luck we find one on the outskirts of town, pull in and ask them for a little help. As we're talking to the service manager I look out my window to see a river of coolant running down the shop floor.

As we waited for the guy to come tell us that my car was completely broken, we discussed our options. Hope nothing was wrong, buy a new car, get a rental, or stay in Norman, OK for two days. Turns out my car would cost another $1000 (thanks parents) and two days to fix, rental cars couldn't leave the state, and enterprise was closed. Thus ensued my mental breakdown, crying because I was sick of driving, sick of things taking so damn long, sick of my car being so broken, and the start of my life seemed so far out of reach. The service manager seeing this somehow made it ok for a rental car to leave the state, and we loaded an HHR (really dumb looking by the way), and headed for Austin.

Finally here I feel like my life can start. I am getting organized, furnishing my makeshift bedroom, and looking for a job (and blogging of course). It's been an eventful four days, full of excitement, fear, adventure, laughter, and tears. And I couldn't be happier. We're still trying to figure out when to get my car down here, but it will all fall into place, I'm sure. This is what I wanted. Guess I asked for it.

fate. planning. packing.

It's all up to fate. And planning. And careful packing. No one ever tells you how much packing sucks until you're knee deep in boxes, clothes, hangers, and crap. I have paths all around my room and stuff everywhere. It doesn't help that there is a mountain of clean laundry to put away. I have neatly separated things into piles; what to move, what needs to be stored, what I'm selling, what's getting donated, and what goes straight to the garbage.

(My mountain of laundry on the bed.)

Turns out I am slightly a pack rat (or just lazy). But I keep weird things no one would ever need. I've found my collection of In Styles and Glamours, which are purged every time a move happens. There are old journals with one entry in them, books I need to read, and a nice stack of college textbooks. The weirdest things are plastic bags from Target, Gap, Anthropologie, and Charming Charlie, etc. and white plastic hangers. I must have a thousand hangers, why?

(Save or throw away?)

(Seriously hangers? There are still at least 50 hanging up still!)

I'm not lacking motivation to pack, I feel like I just did this. When I moved out of my apartment in September I planned on just grabbing everything I have and moving to a new apartment in the Twin Cities. I didn't think I would be consolidating everything into my car and driving to Texas. This is a little more challenging than I had anticipated. I'm just making the dent in my room, and I still have the whole garage to go through.

How is this all going to get done in a week? Especially with a trip to Grand Forks and Fargo this weekend. It's hard to know what I will need and want when I get there. Does every book and movie come? Will I need all of my dishes, Tupperware, and cookware? Who knows, I guess this is just all up to fate. And planning. And careful packing.

adventures

It's time for an adventure. It's time to get out of this Minnesota weather and head south. I'm packing up my life and moving to Austin, and I'm going to blog all about it. As i sit on my bed at my Parent's house writing this, I'm looking out my bedroom window at the snow covering the ground and thinking about all of my time here in the frozen tundra. All of the friends I've made, all of the adventures I've had, how much I'll miss my family, and it makes me sad. But then I think about the new adventure I'm about to have, all the new friends I will make, spending more time with my sister, and being happy!

I've discovered a lot in the last month since I've decided to move. saving money is easier than I thought, I have some of the best friends and family a girl could ask for, and I've actually made an impact on some people's lives. And while all of that is wonderful and would make some people very happy, I'm ready to live for me. I'm ready for my time to shine, and for my life to really get going. I've gotten too comfortable and complacent, and I'm ready to really LIVE!

So with just over a week to pack up all of the belongings I can fit in my car, say goodbye to everyone I love, and set out for bigger and better things, I'm finally starting to feel it. I'm starting to feel my feet getting wet, and I can't wait to start swimming in the proverbial ocean of life.

It's happening faster than I thought, but at a snail's pace. How is that even possible? Packing, cleaning, organizing and laundry are going to consume the next couple days, and then it's here, time to go. I guess this is where real life starts. It's where my journey here ends, and my new journey begins. It's time for an adventure.