trip highlights: austin, tx

If you follow me on instagram, you may have noticed I visited Austin, Texas last month. It was my first time to Austin, and while we were only there for 48 short hours, we hit up most of the spots on my must-see list.

The majority of our time was spent on 6th Street. My favorite bar was a dive on the Dirty 6 side called Dizzy Rooster, which I later found out was one of the favorite haunts of the Real World Austin cast.

The entire bar was covered in bottle caps. I loved every filthy, rusted one of them.

6th Street was oddly welcoming to K-Staters. Call it southern hospitality, or a way to get purple people in to your bar to spend a bunch of money. Either way, I liked it.

The weather was insane, and lucky for us we were out early enough to get a prime spot on the roof-top at Shakespeare's. From what I encountered, the tailgating experience is nothing like it is in Manhattan, or most Big 12 campuses for that matter. Instead of SUVs and RVs lined up in fields and parking lots surrounding the stadium, most people hang out at the bars on 6th Street, or went to a banquet hall that I can only describe as where your aunt may have had her wedding reception in the early 1980s. It was so Texas, and it was awesome.

After our loss (boo) and a perfect night's sleep on Saturday, we awoke on Sunday to meet friends at my now FAVORITE brunch place ever: Bess Bistro on Pecan. First off, they serve dollar mimosas, which apparently is a normal occurrence in Austin. This needs to become a thing in KC. Stat. Brunch was all-you-can-eat, so I started off with a mimosa and an order of deconstructed croque monsieur. I've never even had a constructed croque monsieur , so I wasn't really sure what I was ordering. It had just the right amount of truffle oil on the toast, a perfectly crispy-fried poached egg, and spicy blackened ham. After a pass through the delicious buffet line, Adam and I split the most popular order of the day - Fruity Pebble pancakes. Oh My G, I thought about those pancakes for days afterwards.

We had almost a full day before needing to head to the airport, so after eating our weight in breakfast food we bid adieu to our friends and went to Rainey Street. It's a small street where the adorable houses have been transformed into bars with backyard games, garages turned into restrooms, and parking lots filled with food trucks. Such a fun little street with so much character.

ATX - you were fun. I'll be back.

oh hey

I did it. I became “that girl”. You know the one.  She writes semi-regularly and then gets engaged and completely ignores her blog for weeks upon weeks. I’ve seen it happen so many times, and I always swore I would never become her.

Hi. I’m her.

So now it’s that awkward stage where I figure out what to write. Do you want to hear the engagement story? Do you never want to read a thing about the wedding? (Foreshadowing: this is going to be near impossible.) Do I just go about my business telling you about whatever is on my mind like normal? (Mind has become overtaken by wedding.)

I guess I'll just talk wedding.

I hinted at it back here. And I'm finally ready to announce it. We are getting married in Mexico!

Mexico... here we come May 2014!

Save the Dates are ordered. Wedding party has been asked. Next up - dress shopping!

trip highlights: nashville

Or NashVegas, as some like to call it.

Stick 12 sorority sisters in any city and it's going to be a good time. But put all of us in Music City, and times aren't only good, they're downright rowdy.

This is not even close to a comprehensive city guide of Nashville, because we almost never left Broadway street. For a really amazing (although slightly dated now) post on all things Nashville, head on over here. For a few pictures of the fun the city has to offer on a girl's trip, keep on scrolling.

Now I know back here I said our only set plan was to go to Bluebird Cafe. I was so excited to tell all you Nashville show lovers about it. Turns out, our reservations were for Friday night instead of Saturday night. So we missed the Bluebird, but to be honest, it was probably for the best. When 9:30pm rolls around and you're with 11 of your best friends from 6 different states and just finished bar hopping along the main strip, it is highly likely you'd be asked to leave the famous listening bar due to volume control issues.

So instead, you could find us every night in the back of Tootsie's, usually on stage helping the bass player with his chords. We dined at some pretty delish spots, my favorites being Merchants for lunch and M for brunch. May I suggest the mimosas....

The rest of the trip was spent walking up and down Broadway, running in and out of live music bars as we pleased. I definitely did some damage in accomplishing resolution #4 that weekend. Thank you Nashville - for being so fun, so country, and so inviting to us all. We'll be back.

off you go

First off, I must say *thank you* for all of the emails, comments, and texts I received from Monday night's post. You guys sure know how to make a girl feel better.

You know what else makes a girl feel better? I'll give you some guesses.

1) weekend trip with best friends

2) live music

3) Nashville, TN

The correct answer? All of the above!

I leave for Nashville tomorrow with my college girlfriends.

This is a city I've been to a handful of times, but have yet to experience a lot of the touristy sites and sounds. Most of the weekend is unplanned, although we did snag reservations to Bluebird Cafe for Saturday night. I can't wait!

Fun fact: A few years ago, I saw My Morning Jacket perform from a boat-like platform on the Cumberland River (above) while the crowd watched from the stairs. By far the coolest venue I've been to for a show.

Have you been to Music City?

images // 1, 2

lately

I took a longer break from the blog than expected. A week of that break was because I was here:

In case you're curious, all but the photo with the beer and Kindle were taken with the Rebel. 

Love, LOVE it.

The rest of the blog break, how do I say this, is because I've been looking for a j-o-b. That little endeavor I mentioned here? Yeah, didn't work out. It sure wasn't for lack of effort. To put it extremely kindly, the devil angel investor backed out on his entire investment while I was boozing about San Pancho. So on my second day in Mexico, I received an email from this guy announcing he is pulling the plug on 12 people because his health is bad and he's stressed.

Surprise!

It should have ruined the trip, but some people have an uncanny ability to compartmentalize. Sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes it's not. In this case, I did all but forget about the situation waiting for me at home for the rest of our time in paradise. Thank goodness for tequila.

I learned a lot in those 2 months of starting a company. Lots and lots and lots. But the most important lesson I'd like to document here (in case I get any hair-brained ideas and want to start a company again someday) is to ask for the financials and a business plan before signing anything. Duh, right? I'm a finance major, I should have known better. But things get exciting, you trust people you shouldn't, you get that giddy light-headed feeling of exhilaration, and you go with it.

The upside of being unemployed: I allow myself to drink wine every night that I apply for a job. So it's Monday night, and you better believe I'm drinking wine. Cheap wine. Because after all, I'm unemployed.

Truthfully though, unemployment is nothing to take lightly. I kind of joke about it here because you don't want to read a sob story and because I'm awkward. And because this isn't the worst thing that could happen to me. I'll be fine and happier in the long-run doing something else (until then, does anyone need their dog walked?). I do want to say, there are a handful of my former colleagues who have been left high and dry by this horrible man (dangit, I knew that would slip in my typing somewhere) in a depressed economy in upstate New York with kids and sick parents to take care of. I pray for and think about them everyday. It's heart breaking.

With that, if you have a job, take today to be extra thankful for it.

Sorry for the debbie downer ending there, but that's what's been up lately.
Onward ho with the job search!

refinery 29's 29 places to visit in 2013

via

Even though I have been stateside for a mere 72 hours, I can't help but daydream about the destinations refinery 29 suggested visiting this year. While San Pancho, Mexico didn't make the list (more photos to come), number 24 is especially nice.

Where would you like to travel to this year?

adios

Although the plane doesn't leave until tomorrow morning, I am officially checked out and ready to be on Mexico time. Have a lovely week!

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winter tropical vacation must haves

I am aware of the following facts:

1. Mexico is warm when Kansas City is cold

2. Mexico is fun

3. Weddings are amazing

4. Mexico + wedding = REALLY good time

5. I'm visiting Mexico twice, both for weddings, within six weeks of eachother

6. My life is completely ridiculous

Far from a travel professional (still haven't been to Europe, tsk tsk), I have traveled south of the US border a handful of times over the past few years. The crazy thing is, I get to travel south again in 5 days, which also happens to be my 27th birthday. Which is why I felt obligated to list #6 above. It's the truth.

Naturally, I'm waiting until the last minute to pack. But luckily with my recent escapades to Tulum (first of the 2 weddings), Dominican Republic, and Cancun, I have the warm weather vacation packing list pretty much down to a science.

In case you're planning a trip somewhere warm during these last cold months of the season (or if you just want a head start on pool season), here are a few of my tropical vacation must haves.

j. crew popover

I have this in white (shown in chambray) and got it a size up so it would be longer, and use it as a cover-up. It's especially perfect if you're going on an booze cruise excursion where you'll be in the sun for hours on end and want those sleeves by the end of the day. It also makes me feel preppy on the beach, which I love.

stella & dot charlize teardrop earrings

These bring a beachy element to any outfit. I wear them nearly 100% of the time I'm on a tropical vacation.

soprano racerback maxi

This maxi is super form-fitting and lightweight. It's perfect as a cover-up as long as your bikini bottoms don't have string-tie sides, or as a casual dress at night.

havaiana sandals

In the blogging world, Jack Rogers sandals rule the roost; but I can't wrap my head around forking over $100+ on beach shoes. Havaianas are comfortable, reasonable, and offer really cute designs.

lumene vitamin c+ day dream with SPF

All day. Everyday. Plus it smells like citrus. This redhead has not had a face sunburn in two years.

Top photo by me while in Cancun December 2011.

bucket list: visit all 50 states: arizona

Last week I went on a trip with 40,000 of my closest friends. 

K-State fan friends, that is.

While we lost the game (still sad about it), I had a great first trip to Arizona.

Tailgating Fiesta Bowl style with some of my best friends.

Attending my first NBA game. Real live mouse in the stands included.

Drinking. Drinking on Mill Street in Tempe. Drinking in Scottsdale. Drinking downtown. Lots of drinking.

Apparently if you're not hiking a mountain in Phoenix, you're drinking.
Or maybe that's just me.

I'm now well over 50% of my goal with 29 states visited!

bucket list: visit all 50 states: wisconsin

Hello! I hope you all had a relaxing and blessed holiday.
I'm back after a 14 hour car ride home that started early yesterday morning. Mom said it best when, after a few hours of road tripping, she muttered "This has got to be one of the weirdest Christmases we've had yet."

We spent all but one hour, from 8:30am to 10:30pm, in her SUV on Christmas day.

Instead of turkey, homemade cookies, and mashed potatoes & gravy (my absolute favorite), we ate gas station food and Hardee's. That sounds a bit depressing, but it wasn't so bad. The family was together, I got about 4 hours of sleep, knitted half a scarf, and ate a ton of sunflower seeds (second favorite).

We had made it safely to our final destination and back: Wisconsin. 

My aunt & uncle, their three boys, and grandma relocated to Fort Atkinson over a year ago for my uncle's job. It's about 30 minutes from Madison, and if the roads weren't so icy and the weather wasn't so cold, we might have taken a day trip to the state's second largest city and home of their beloved Badgers. As it was, the state was covered in a beautiful white blanket of snow (!), so we stayed in the house playing games, opening gifts, and eating a delicious feast on Christmas Eve. This also means that I didn't get many any quality photos of the state. It was serene, calm, and cold. I saw wild turkeys for the first time, and went outside long enough to visit my uncle's office building.

I wanted to take so many more pictures of the beautiful white scenery while we drove through the state, but the car windows were too dirty to get a decent shot. So there you have it - I've been to Wisconsin!

Check that bad boy off the list and add a star to the new 50 states (and DC) map.

Next in line to get crossed off the bucket list: Arizona in January!

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dear santa

Dear Santa,

How are you? I know this is your busy season and all, but I was hoping one of your elves could read this letter to you before you pack up the sleigh for good and start your chimney plunging in New Zealand. It's my understanding (which is very poor when it comes to geography) that New Zealand is the first place a new day starts, due to the International Date Line. So those little New Zealand kids get their presents hours before everyone else... luckies.

I was very happy to wake up today. The world didn't end this morning, so the Mayans were wrong which is great news. I should clarify that I didn't wake up "very happy". That NEVER happens, unless I wake up at 10am. But now that I've been up for a few hours and had one gingerbread latte, things are looking good.

This year, my name should be on the nice list. If that's the case, I still really want a puppy. I know, it's been on my list for the past 16 years and there's never been a puppy under the tree. Maybe it's because your elves can't make puppies in their workshop? If that's the case, I have a great solution for you. There's a nice little shelter just down the road from my place, where I'm sure it would be OK for you to make a pit stop to pick up an orphan pup before heading over to my roof. If that is not in the budget this Christmas, I figure persistence will lead to a puppy one of these years....

pleeeeeeeaasssseeee.

Other than that, I just really want a safe holiday weekend. My family of four will be touring the upper Midwest (brr) the next four days. I must say, this is not nearly as exciting to me compared to how the fam spent last Christmas. Wow, I used to have a lot of exclamation points in my posts. Yikes. Sorry about that. I will miss Blue Eyes like crazy while we're away, but I'm sure the family will figure out something to pass the time in the car quickly. If it comes down to it, I plan on singing Justin Bieber at the top of my lungs until Dad lets me drive so we can go 20 mph faster. I'm excited to add another state to the "visited" category on my bucket list while we embark on this holiday road trip: Wisconsin. I plan on eating lots of cheese and playing in the snow with my cousins while we're there. I hope they're not too old and cool for that.

I feel like you have a pretty good relationship with Jesus and God, so if you could give them a heartfelt thank you from me, that would be awesome. It's been a very good year. Even with it being a great year, I failed at all of my new year's resolutions, so I have that to work towards in 2013.

Well I think that's all from me this year. I hope you enjoy lots of cookies and milk this Christmas Eve.

Love, Monica

PS: I'm being serious about the puppy. :)

images // 1, 2, 3

fiesta fiesta

A month ago, a bunch of friends embarked on a trip to celebrate one of our favorite couples. 

We knew there would be sand, sun, and fun.

We didn't know there would be icebergs, a glowing dance floor, and 24/7 room service.

Our first days consisted of celebrating everyone's safe arrival and scoping out all the resort had to offer.
The favorite drink of the trip had to be icebergs, which are 3/4 beer topped with frozen margarita.
So delicious; so dangerous.

Friday, November 9th was the wedding day. Salud!

The dress was stunning and perfect for Kindal. 

Blue Eyes was thrilled to hang out with George Brett during the reception.

I was thrilled to have a new luggage tag and dance to Gangnam Style all night.

The day after was spent goofing off on the beach and watching the Wildcats beat TCU.

Blue Eyes & I at our last dinner of the trip // The newlyweds!

photo courtesy of Danielle Kelley

Seriously, can you get enough of this couple? I definitely cannot. 

Thank you Kindal and Matt for sharing your special day with us. 

And thank you for choosing Mexico. 

Oh how I love destination weddings.

PS: There's a reason this post has 2 fiestas in the title: K-State is going bowling!

destination

via

In nine short days I'll be laying out next to this beautiful water with some of my favorite people.

It's going to be a wedding celebration beyond my imagination. 

Bring on the margs, Tulum.

at the moment

At the moment, I'm....

via

• loving anything and everything french bulldog.
• enjoying watching the leaves change colors in Kansas City. (Tiff has captured it perfectly here.)
• impatiently awaiting our trip to Mexico next month. 
• looking for a good excuse to purchase something from this calligraphy shop.
• wanting this sequin sweater.

bucket list: visit all 50 states: utah

I'm sure you're all checking this list daily.... but in case you missed it, the number of states visited on my bucket list ticked up to 27. If you hadn't guessed already from Monday's post, I went to Utah for the first time last weekend.

Does anyone else love taking pictures out of the plane window? 

 We did some touristy things like go to Temple Square in Salt Lake City. The architecture is beautiful and I learned about the Latter-Day Saints religion, which admittedly I knew little about before visiting.

Bro and I outside of the Salt Lake Temple. rose gold sweater // jeans

The Tabernacle at Temple Square.

Salt Lake Temple from the front.

The flowers in Utah were like nothing I've ever seen before.

I had to get a picture of this flower since the color oxblood is so popular this season.

After about an hour in Salt Lake, we hit the road towards Park City.   

Olympics ski slopes.

Utah has some interesting laws when it comes to boozing, like draft beer is only 3.2% alcohol unless you're at a microbrewery. So we went to a microbrewery.

A Porter, Pumpkin ale and Apricot ale. The pumpkin was, in one word, delicious.

Our favorite bar/beer garden on Main Street in Park City.

Mom and I enjoying our favorite beers at No Name. She got Coors Light (with a few ice cubes - weird I know) and I got Kansas City's own Boulevard Wheat.

There you have it. My first trip to the beautiful state of Utah. It was quick since we were en route to my cousin's wedding in Wyoming, but we packed in as much as we could. September was a wonderful time to visit, but I made a promise to myself to come back for ski season. And bring Blue Eyes along next time!