oxheart, bon appetit

This labor day weekend has been a memorable one as my family ventured up to Houston, Texas for a taste from the new restaurant "Oxheart". For the past few months, my older brother Sam has broken off from the corporate world to take a shot at being a chef. His first gig is at the newly opened restaurant "Oxheart" which just landed the number eight spot on bon appetit's "America's Best New Restaurant" list. Needless to say this was a special dining experience for my family with a bonus of being delicious. 

Mother showing her delight at the "Tasting Menu" or otherwise known as the seven course meal we were served. 

Sam serving and describing the plated dish infront of us.

Bare light fixtures that hang from the ceiling.

Their more famous dish off the "Summer Menu".

The open kitchen in the 40 person restaurant.

An old building with exposed brick and double doors opens up into a quiet and quaint space. With only 40 seats a night and an estimated time of a 2 hour dinner, the eating experience is an intimate one you do not often come by.

Finally catching a moment to make my mom happy with a picture.

Other brother and I finishing off the mean with dessert and wine.

If you ever find yourself feeling adventurous in Houston, Texas feel free to check out Oxheart on Nance Street. I would be sure to call ahead for reservations though since it books up fairly quickly.



eat well & live accordingly,

am

Testing UsTrendy

Life has taken a bit of a whirlwind with summer school and a part-time job at ElectricFrenchie.com, yet through it all I seem to still find time to try out a new venture. Through my job I've met my match in odd shopping habits and a love for fashion.

From the random vintage finds from around Austin to the amazing designer brands she finds at consignment stores, Erin and I have joined forces to try out a little site called UsTrendy.

Elizabethtown

 

No longer do I need to make the trek to Houston to eat a Vietnamese sandwich. There is a little place called Elizabeth St on South First that is just what you need for a summer lunch.

Hit List: July

Summer isn't over yet and neither are my wants and "needs" for summer. Looking towards the gold stars of the fashion world, I pulled out some affordable knock offs or on trend pieces from stores that won't suck up my dwindling wallet. 

The Big Red White and Blue

The Fourth of July is fast approaching and it is time to pair together the greatest color combination out there. Red, white and blue. Go retro for the perfect Independence Day Brunch, fancy BBQ, or just simply to make a patriotic impression. 

2nd Street Jam

It's been a long week of projects and work that it is hard to get out my usual hermit ways. Luckily an impromptu happy hour excursion came to the rescue Friday night. 

Malagas Tapas Bar on 2nd Street values it's flavor over large portions and has one of the top happy hours in Austin. From 5-7 you can enjoy $5 drinks versus the normal $8.50 price. On top of that wine and beer are also discounted. All happy hour drinks can be paired with a Tapas or Spanish Appetizer for $8. 

 What's the kicker? There really isn't one. For $8 you can enjoy a huge Spanish Sagra or a standard Mexican Martini. On top of that you will get the normal serving size of a Tapas. The usual price of the pork bites tapas is $8.75 while the happy hour pairing gets you the same amount of food plus a drink. Need I say more?

Sagria! Pork Bites! Pita Bread! Spinach and Artichoke Dip! Crostini s!  

Just getting happier and happier as the hours go on. 

After a walk down 2nd Street we started to crave something cold and creamy...like frozen yogurt. 

Berry Austin is a pretty Austin yogurt place. I know they can be a dime a dozen around Austin, but I will say this place has loads of toppings and great flavors. Almost everyone had to have vanilla and mint swirled on the hotter than hot summer night. 

Chloe and the toppings bar at Berry Austin. 

 

Keep Austin Weird. The plated decorations that line the entire yogurt spot. 

 

 Other quirky decorations that lin the store.

Fun little bar perfect for people watching on 2nd street. 

 My personal favorite touch about the place. A bar top full of I-Spy-like games for when you are eating your yogurt. Couldn't keep my eyes from trying to find the little lists in front of each stool.

Hopefully your weekend has started off great as well!


eat well&live accordingly,

am

What's Up Doc's

All I wanted for Game 1 of the NBA Finals was a rowdy crowd. For someone who enjoys watching a game with a good beer special, Doc's Motorworks on South Congress did the trick. Texas Tuesdays offers up $2.50 Dos Equis Pints, $9 Dos Equis Pitchers and $5 Pan Nachos. I guess Drew and I got carried away by the pitcher price and the nachos that we ended up ordering a pretty heft tab. What makes a game more interesting? Wagering which team will win with the stakes of paying for dinner. I took on the Texas favored OKC and he dug his grave with Lebron and Miami. I am not a huge sports fanatic, but I will say betting dinner made the entire experience exhilarating. 

Mad About Blue

One of my favorite things to do is vintage diving at Blue Hanger, it is really just that. From bins and bins of old furniture and electronics to barrels and barrels of used clothing, it can either be an overwhelming sea or an ocean of opportunity. It takes a great will power to conquer the Hanger, but when you succeed in finding some gems it is always worth it.

Like this printed skirt that I fell in love with and wore to dinner that very same night.

 

What You Call A Tavern

All the Electric Frenchie Interns with Stylist Edith Henry at the Austin Lifestyle Magazine Preview Party.

For our Electric Frenchie Intern Dinner, we took a spin at Taverna by Lombardi. Taverna is a fairly dressy-casual Italian Restaurant or Italian Tavern. It boasts a cute little patio off of 2nd Street with an equally warm atmosphere inside. From the hanging daily special menus written in chalk to the patio equipped with outdoor fans, Tavern has your Tuesday Nights covered. Another plus? The Tuesday Night Special includes 1/2 price bottles of wine when you order an entree off the regular menu or special's board. 

The Happiest of Hours

My latest obsession, thanks to my newly graduated friends and the fact that we are all on low-end salary budgets these days, are happy hours. To be more exact, my latest obsession is all day happy hour. 

Sunday is the day to be when it comes to Happy Hours. From 1/2 off drinks to special happy hour menu's cheaper than cheap, it is no wonder how Sunday just became my favorite day. 

Barchi on 2nd Street has one killer All-Day-Happy-Hour that includes $2 Sake Bombs, $4.5 Martini's, and a list of munch-able deals.  

The Hit List: June

Kelly Green, 

Anything Kelly Green. Don't get me wrong, I love Cobalt Blue and have loved the bright hue from day one of Spring Season. Though the electric blue will carry you into Fall, it never hurts to get a little a head. Enter in Cobalt Blue's color wheel friendly neighbor, Kelly Green. From sheer collared shirts to bright flats, I have been on the hunt for this shade. 

We Should Be Brothers

Once my friend Maggie landed a job at the newly open Goorin Brother's Hat Shop, I knew that I had to visit. What pushed me farther to visit? The in house hat steamer.

Located right next to American Apparel on South Congress, this little gem is out of this world. Filled with vintage hat boxes and typewriters, the store makes you want to be from a different decade. From Panama fedoras to 1920's cloche hats, they carry them all.

Keep Calm and Float On

Summer time when the living is easy is pretty much what sums up my current state of being. From a job i love to hanging out in the sun, I've had a lot of time to simply soak up the sun, splash around with friends, and float on. 

Start off right with a bright yellow float, perfect for lounging in the sun. 

BBQ-Boogie

Being from Texas, let alone Austin means you have to eat at Saltlick BBQ at least once a year. And by Saltlick I mean the original restaurant out in Driftwood, Texas where the air smells like sweet, sweet, meaty salvation. From the outdoor vineyard across the gate to the famously crafted BBQ, there is nothing more a girl could ask for. When I heard we were making the treck to Driftwood, I couldn't help but get excited as you can see by the touch of burnt cowboy boots. 

Start the day off write with a vintage blue and white Striped Button-Down Dress.

Farm to Table

Summer is here and the Farmer's Market is the place to be at 9am in the morning when the weather is a little cooler than scorching. For this early bird special, I couldn't help but pull out an easy-breezy outfit to fit into the fair-like setting. 

Start out with a delicious, peachy, hi-low top and add on a classic Ralph Lauren baby blue and white striped button-up.

...and back at home

As one lucky college kid, I have had the generous gift of having no finals for this past Spring semester. As school has come and gone, so has my crazy-packed lifestyle. During what we call "Dead Days" or what is known as two days off before the reign of Final's Week, I have experienced a pleasant "Dead Week" in which I took a drive up north to stay with my parents for a whole week. From going to work with them to attempting to finish crafty projects, it really did feel like home again.

A taste of home or at least something close to it. Just my parent's wanting to go out to dinner for a change of scene, but always choosing to eat at an Asian restaurant.

The Hit List: May

For the month of May, I've already started looking towards the Fall for a little bit of fashion-forward inspiration. It might be a little early and it might be a touch backwards, but I want to try to incorporate future trend predictions into my summer wardrobe. 

Why the sudden want, no need, to do this?

Fresh As Fresa

With the summer heat upon us, 91 degrees today to be exact, there is nothing left to do but fight it off with bright, bold, colors. From bold colors with a bold flavor to match, I can't help but love a spicy lunch hour at the new Fresa's Chicken al Carbon on Lamar. From Mexican Cokes to Bottles of Wine, it is the perfect canopy to cool down under. 

The Crème de la Crème

To celebrate the closing of another school year, we ventured off to Annie Street to have the finest treat in town, macarons, at the one and only La Patisserie by Luxe Sweets. 

Situated in a little house like many local businesses, La Patisserie is filled with couches, chairs, and chess tables. 

Trunk Full of Color

Start with a pinch of Wayfarer Sunglasses, 

More Than Meets the Eye

Found this lovely ensemble waiting for the elevator in the Art Building and couldn't help but admire the bold outfit with its unique finishing touches. 

Start mixing it up with a well-done Top Bun and Cat-Eye Liner. Make the base by matching up a pair of basic Salwar Pants and a simple black top borrowed from a friend ages ago. 

We All Scream for Ice Cream

It is getting to be that time of year when the weather is perfect and everyone is ready to play. Unfortunately it is also time to cram in the last bits of work to salvage your grade. Though this weekend has had a dark cloud of work looming over my head, I couldn't help but take a break from all that worrying to grab a few scoops of ice cream at the newly open ice cream shop, Lick. 

Just the mint green and poppy red sign to give you a taste of what the creamery has to offer. 

Summer Learnin'

Summer School is creeping around the corner and as my backpack gets heavier from approaching finals, I can't help but think of the grueling summer days ahead. To put myself in better spirits, I put together a few serious accessories to lighten the summer heat. 

Swap on a new bag to Keep Calm and Carry On.

Herschel Supply Co

Coral Me Happy

Sometime's luck is on my side when a girl like this is just waiting at the same bus stop as me. From the simple dress to the boxy-tote, I couldn't wait to share her outfit. Besides the eye-catching color of her dress, she also had some wicked glasses to match the part. 

Start off with a lightweight linen coral dress that ties in perfectly with a jean shirt and brown braided belt,

Primaries

It was almost 2 o'clock and I was already late for my next class, but I couldn't help but forego all costs to snap a few photos of Lorraine and her seriously put together outfit. From a brightly printed cobalt blue skirt to the details of canary yellow, this girl showed me up on how to dress for school. 

Start with a loose coral top and a printed cobalt blue skirt, 

DenimSquared

With Austin's perfect weather, it is no wonder that everyone brought out their "Sunday's Best" for this lovely Tuesday afternoon. One girl caught my eye in her very casually-chic outfit from head to toe outside Jester going over a paper.  

Beach tossed waves with a simple pair of aviators, 

Matched up with a pale denim shirt, silver bangles, and cuffed white denim shorts, 

the Hit List: April

The Cheapskate:

Dakine Sophia Backpack $55

The Middle Man:

Baggu Canvas Backpack $72 

BIG $PENDING:

Longchamp Backpack Le Pliage $118

Pattern mix with PRINTS

Get the simple modern twist with a purring Cat Eye and Tangerine Tango Lips

Get that POP in your Outfit

shop well&live accordingly,

am