My trip to Austin

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So last week I had the pleasure of visiting Austin, Texas, my first trip ever to Austin.  I was in town for BlogHer16, and went in a day early in order to have some time to explore the city as well as catch up with an old friend.  Before leaving for Austin, I did some research and was interested in the fact that the airport only has local vendors, there are no chain restaurants in the airport (what a great way to support locals).  What a great way to invest in local businesses and what a great way to showcase a few of the things that Austin has to offer.

So I was interested and excited to see the Austin airport.  While, I was a little sleepy, I had a 6am flight and had been up since 4:00am, I did have the opportunity to see a little of the airport.  I was also happy to see that the airport was not a huge airport, but a quant, clean quiet airport, compared to other airports I have experienced. By the time I landed, I was more interested in a nap, but as I walked out of the airport I did have the opportunity to see the restaurants and shops that were in the airport.

Once I got to my first hotel, Hotel Indigo, I was sleepy and hungry and went for a walk around the neighborhood to see what was in the immediate area, but most importantly to find some food. After dealing with a few hiccups at the hotel, I went in search of some food.  I had seen several people online bragging about the food and live music at Stubb’s, so I decided to head there for lunch, and since it was right across the street from the hotel it was the perfect pick.  Let me say that the smoked turkey at Stubb’s was the type of food that makes you feel like everything is moving in slow motion because you just want to enjoy it. It was a great welcome to Austin.

The portions at Stubbs were enough for lunch and dinner, so I did not have to think about what I was going to eat later, however my friend and I went to happy hour at Takoba, another local restaurant to catch up and for appetizers and drinks.  The ceviche at Takoba was the best ceviche I have had to date.  There was just enough of everything for you to experience the powerful flavors without one flavor overpowering any other favor.  I do not like cilantro (yeah, I don’t) and I often forget to tell people to not put any in my food.  But even the cilantro did not make this ceviche bad.  And the frozen margarita to wash it down was the perfect compliment.  It was truly a happy hour!

The remainder of the first day was pretty much uneventful, but I will say that at the Indigo, if you need quiet place to sleep, that may not be your best choice.  Austin is a music town, and there was music going until 5am.  Now I can pretty much sleep through anything, I did wake up a few times throughout the night and the music was still going.  It think it was probably about 5am before I woke up and didn’t hear any music.

Overall, Austin is on my list of places to go back to.  While I was able to do a few things, I had lunch on 6th street, saw a lot of the food trucks, and was able to see just a little of the city, I would love to go back to really get a better tourist perspective of the city.  I did have the opportunity to have a short sight seeing expedition of some historical civil rights locations but I would have loved to have learned more.  Austin has a lot see and do and my next visit I will do, see and eat more.

 

Stay Blessed…….Stay Fabulous!

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Missing Pieces

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A few days ago I attended a bridal expo with my friends.  NO I AM NOT GETTING MARRIED.  I am the official/unofficial wedding planner and it was my job to accompany the bride and we went to see what the expo had to offer.  I love weddings and parties and the planning phase and all things girly, but there were a few things that struck me, or rather that bothered me during and after the expo was over.

The fist issue I had with the expo occurred during the fashion show portion of the expo.  My issue was that the models were not indicative of society.  All of the models were almost scarily thin, and while there were a wide range of brides present at the expo, the fashion show was only for the sample size brides and bridesmaids.  How unfair to the brides who were average size.  That really bothered me.

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The second issue I had was that there was a lack of diversity at the expo.  I do not remember seeing not one minority vendor.  Not one.  I know for a fact that there are minority vendors who print invitations, provide photography services, bake, cater as well as dress brides and bridesmaids.  I know that these people and businesses exist.

It just bothered me that in this day and age, such a lack of diversity was present at the bridal expo.  I am not sure how the vendors were selected, who decided what fashions were going to be presented at the fashion show, but I have to admit that the more we walked through the expo the more displeased I was with what was represented.

I can also say that with those ideas in mind.  I will be taking action in the very near future in order to become the change I wish to see in the world.  Stay tuned, bigger and better is coming and there will be an opportunity for minority businesses to be represented and showcased in the very near future.

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Be Blessed!  Be Fabulous!