We're Back!!

Eric and I just got back from a wonderfully relaxing vacation and I just have to share it with you! We went to Martha's Vineyard dahling and it was simply divine.

We ended up flying into Providence and staying the night at the NYLO Hotel before catching the ferry in the morning. Here's a look at the awesome NYLO Hotel.

 Very cool built-in platform bed and hanging side lights instead of the typical lamp.

The coolest part was the shower. It's a curved frosted glass wall. And I loved the barn door to the bathroom except it needed a little WD40 because it was hard to pull. 

A closer look at the platform bed and the cool acrylic side tables. 

 The Hotel Lobby which they called the "Library"

Very cool furniture!

A not so good shot of the front desk but I wanted to get the lamps around the desk because I love them! They are the Kartell Bourgie lamps. 

Ok now off to the vineyard:

 Pulling into the harbor at Oak Bluffs

 I loved all the ponds everywhere and the blowing reeds. 

We rented a car and drove to the famous light house at Aquinnah and to see the cliffs. 

Paid the $5 to climb to the top of the light house.

 Had some fun with the light at the top!

Here's a shot of the light house and the cliffs from farther away.

 We bought some seafood at a shack called the Bite and walked over to eat it at the beach and watch the sunset. 

The next day we drove all over the island in a little yellow convertible mini that we named "the bumble bee" because that's what it sounded like when we tried to gain speed to pass all the bikers. 

We saw a parking lot to a private residents only beach at Lambert's Cove and decided to take our chances and see it. We followed a sandy path all through the woods until we came upon this....

A beautiful shot of a pond and a little bit farther...

A beach! It was so beautiful and secluded however we didn't stay long fearing that the bumble bee would get towed.

We had to stop at the Black Dog Tavern, but the wait was an hour and half so we settled for a cinnamon twist from the Black Dog Bakery instead. 

Stopped at a little harbor filled with sail boats.

I love the architecture on the island!

Another shot of a pond, "fisherman's pond" to be exact.

Tom Clancy's house. 

The famous carousel, oldest running carousel in the US!

The horses had creepy glass eyes.

But we still had fun!

The next day we rented bikes and rode down to Edgartown. Again, I love love love the architecture!

Can I live here please!

A beautiful light house we stumbled upon, I love not having an itinerary.

Nice person stops to take our picture with the light house....

so we don't just have pictures like these in our photo albums. 

What good looking line-up

A quaint path between a pond and the ocean to see the light house. 

We like to be crazy. 

And then we hung out on the beach for a while where it was very windy and we got nice and sunburned. We just wanted to empathize with all the lobster. 

An early dinner on the roof top overlooking the harbor. 

This was the best meal of the trip! Lobster Quesadilla, more please!

And can't forget that shrimp and scallop scampi.

All in all it was a fantastic trip! Our second to be booked and planned only the week before it's time to leave. Are we spontaneous or what!? Gotta love my husband who doesn't mind hopping on a plane to wherever I want to go at a moment's notice. 

Do you like last minute trips or are you the planning type? Where's the best place you have traveled to? I need some ideas for next week! ;)

~Jessica

Vitamin B Boost: A little inspiration

In light of the recent fires and 9/11 anniversary, I feel like we all need to feel hope and continue to live everyday in spite of the hardships that we deal with daily.  Here's some things that give me hope and keep me going.....

My son

My husband.  Both my boys have a great sense of humor and always keep my spirits up!

My puppy, Reeses!

There's nothing better than a cup of coffee on a brisk morning and even better with a little art!

Curl up with this new Missoni Throw from Target (sale starts today!)

Places I have traveled...

Park in Paris

Florence

Sedona

So many places to travel and so little time...

 Art. Love this collage from 20x200.com -Well-being 1 by Valerie Roybal

Memories of loved ones gone.

Ninewest- Unmixed $109.00

A great pair of shoes always makes me feel fantastic!  I think it's because you don't feel fat when you have to go up a size.

Anything that keeps me organized.  This is the from http://www.seejanework.com/productcart/pc/Bright-Ideas-c251.htm.  I love this website; lots of bright colors and being organized looks so chic!

What keeps you going? ~Brandy

Looking outside ourselves

Last week we didn't post.  Jessica was in Martha's Vineyard on vacation and I was at a loss to what to say with all those fires going on around us.  It seems trivial to talk about color, fashion and great finds.  Those things can be nice distractions but so many people lost their homes and would give anything to have 4 walls and roof no matter what it looks like.  We are talking basic needs that most of us take for granted.  It is times like these we are reminded about what is really important.  I know my family and friends were affected by the fires.  I had family in Steiner Ranch, Austin, TX and Jessica's family had their land burn.  Here's a really good video of what it has been like for those affected:

http://youtu.be/h6IkOFCdsxM

I just can't imagine.  Our prayers are with those who lost their homes.

So I have been thinking beyond myself or outside of myself, often that is the blessing that tragedy brings.  You become grateful for your family and friends and focus on how you can help.  All the worrying and stuff becomes so much less significant.

What do you do?

As I was eating lunch the other day at Don Juans on the square with my family for lunch I ran into the parents of an old friend from High School. We exchanged the typical pleasantries and then they proceeded to dote on their kids accomplishments, like most parent's do. I found out that my old friend just got married, spent a month traveling Europe for her honeymoon and will now be starting her new job as an optometrist, oh and her husband is one too. So it's Dr. and Dr. so and so.

At first I was jealous. Wow, I want to travel Europe for a month! Then I was feeling a little self-pity. At the age of 27 she is already a doctor and what have I accomplished in my life? A Marketing degree which qualifies you for everything and nothing at the same time. Quite the conundrum.

I have always been a little envious of people with a professional degree, you know the lawyer, doctor, accountant, engineer etc. Mainly because when people ask you what you do you can just say, "I am an accountant, or I am a lawyer. When people ask me what I do, I need 15 minutes of their time to explain it all!

However, then it hit me, I don't want to be described in just one word. Just like Alanis, I am all types of things, a little bit of everything all rolled into one. I am an interior decorator, photographer, entrepreneur, baker, marketing master, stylist and writer(blog world of course). I love all the things I get to do and wouldn't change a thing. It would just be nice to answer that small talk question with a simple answer, but let's face it, I am not a simple person!

Do you ever feel this way?
~Jessica

"What Were They Thinking Thursday!!??" - T-Town Tex-Mex

What's the deal with all the Tex-Mex in Tyler? There are 43 Mexican food restaurants in the greater Tyler area, yes I counted them in the phonebook. Most of them are not very good. Cancun cafe, you can skip that one.

Every time a new restaurant is opening, I get excited about what we might get and then the sign goes up and it's another Tex-Mex place that will probably only make it 6 months before shutting down. How about some variety folks! I would kill for some good chinese food or how about a Cheesecake Factory? La Madeline? Please Please come to Tyler!


When I was visiting my husband in California when we were just dating, we went out to eat at like the only Mexican food place in the area and this is how our conversation went:


Me:    "Do they have Queso here? 
Eric:  "Queso means cheese in Spanish." 
Me:    "I know, I know, do they have queso?"
Eric:   "I am sure they have cheese on stuff."
Me, getting very frustrated at this point:   "No, do they have QUESO! You know, the cheese dip that you eat with tortilla chips!"


Needless to say he didn't have a clue what I was talking about because apparently Californians don't have Tex-Mex.


I will say that we have been getting some better things these last few months. Chuys, finally! Panera Bread soon and a Corner Bakery! I can't wait! But seriously, what are they thinking with all these Mexican Food places. Let's list some off:


1. Cancun Cafe
2. Carretas
3. Casa Ole
4. Cosina Mexicana
5. Don Juans
6. El Charro
7. Lupes
8. Mercados
9. On the Border
10. Papacitas
11. Posados
12. Salsaritas
13. El Lugar
14. The Jalapeno Tree
15. Chuy's........


The list goes on and on! Out of those 15 I can honestly say I only like 2, Chuy's and Don Juans. What about you? Are you crazy for Tex Mex or do you think we need some variety here!


~Jessica

Speaking of Fashion....

This video is beyond fabulous! Love it!