travel – Page 6 – Blonde Rosie Blog

Spending the day with Chip & Joanna at Magnolia Market

Published on April 21, 2016April 21, 2016 by blonde rosie1 Comment

On a Saturday a few months ago I woke up really sick and was confined to the couch all day with a box of tissues. I put on HGTV and started an all day binge watch of the HGTV show Fixer Upper. After just one episode I fell in love with the show. When our family trip to Texas was getting closer I started planning the sites to see and things to do. Texas is a very large state. I mean like it is a few hour drive or a plane ride to get to another city large! In New Jersey, in an hour you can be in NYC or Philadelphia! We had to be strategic and smart with our sightseeing while in Texas. But then I remembered that Fixer Upper was filmed in Waco, Texas. I started to do some research and learned it was only a two hour drive from where we were staying.

On a rainy and chilly Wednesday we got in the car and started our drive to Waco, Texas. More specifically, we were on our way to Magnolia Market, the shop that the Fixer Upper co-stars own and work at on the show.

While I was there I “checked in” on Facebook and a lot of friends were intrigued and jealous! I thought I would share some photos of Magnolia Market with you along with what I purchased and some items on my wishlist! Continue reading “Spending the day with Chip & Joanna at Magnolia Market” →

Austin

Published on April 17, 2016 by blonde rosie1 Comment

Keep Austin Weird
Austin is a cool town in the middle of a transition and gentrification. It is the original hipster town full of art and music and great food. We only spent a day in Austin but I would love to go back and spend a weekend there.

Let’s talk about the food….
IT IS DELICIOUS!
I need to go on a diet asap and start dragging my butt to the gym because all I did was eat and eat while in Texas.

But first… coffee!

The place for tacos! A lot of famous people stop by here for the best tacos in Austin!

Forgetting I am allergic to dairy for the day…

lunch at Lambert’s Downtown BBQ

Second lunch….

LUNCH: Lambert’s Downtown BBQ
SECOND LUNCH: Guero’s Taco Bar

Adventures

San Antonio

Published on April 17, 2016May 19, 2016 by blonde rosie1 Comment

If you are in Texas, make the effort (and drive) to San Antonio. It is known for the Alamo and it’s history. The Riverwalk is a group of rivers that go through a story below the downtown. You have to walk down a flight of stairs to get to part of the downtown area. I wish we had more time to explore this city!

A friend once described it as a shed LOL It is a very historic shed !

Outfit: It was a chilly and rainy morning so I wore my J Crew button down shirt with white shorts.

There are a lot of cacti in Texas. Yes, I was dumb enough to poke a cactus to see if it really hurt if you touched it. After some investigation, yes it does hurt! OUCH!

The food in Texas is DELICIOUS!

To be honest…. I just came here for the sweet tea!

I’m in love with cities I have never been to and people I have never met

Published on April 17, 2016May 19, 2016 by blonde rosie1 Comment

The day of the wedding we had until 6pm when the bus left to take us to the wedding location. We asked the hotel where to go in the area where we could get a real, authentic, small town view of Texas. Clearly, the road less traveled…

We ended up in Wimberely, Texas.
We explored the downtown area and looked through the shops.
It was such a cute town to explore I wish we could have spent more time in!

The one thing I noticed about Texas is that they take state pride to a whole new level! A lot of their architecture, decor and furniture has a Texan theme. How cool is this bench??
Some vintage cowboy boots!

Barbie in Texas

Texas

Published on April 17, 2016August 27, 2016 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

I just got back from Texas and I am so excited to share my adventures with y’all!
It was a disaster getting from Newark airport to Austin but after a missed flight, my brother being stopped by security, a transfer in Houston, and a man having a heart attack on our plane we finally got to Texas! As soon as we landed we had to quickly get dressed and catch the bus to the rehearsal dinner. I know my family curse is being late to everything but we were really cutting it close! In the Houston airport I was straightening my hair and putting on a full face of makeup which was getting me a lot of weird looks in the airport bathroom.

The Wedding

The whole reason we went to Texas was to go to my cousins wedding. It was a gorgeous Texan theme that looked like it came out of a Martha Stewart magazine. Everything was done perfectly!

I was afraid to get dressed for the wedding because this look is not my normal one. But hey, when on vacation try something new, right?

I chose a floor length dress with a very high slit (which became a big pain in the butt as it got really windy later that evening) and went with a statement red lip. I was inspired by my friend who never wears a boring color and always has a bold lip look. (Thanks Miss Victoria 😉 ) I got the lipstick for free as my Sephora birthday present because I never would have bought it myself. All of my lipsticks are shades of pink and one Chanel red I rarely wear. I became obsessed with this look and see myself using this shade more often in the future.

NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil, Belle De Jour

My date for the wedding!
Awesome ideas to have beer carrying donkeys at the wedding !

This was just day one of Texas with a lot more adventures ahead!

packing for texas

Published on April 7, 2016April 17, 2016 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

As I am writing this post I am wearing my warmest cashmere sweater with winter pants and I am still freezing! It is early April and there is no sign of spring. With the weather being in the thirties and snow in some areas packing for warm weather is a difficult task. As much excitement Texas brings I am staring at my closet wondering, what in the world am I going to bring? I have spent a good amount of time in the South to understand it is warmer but I have never been as far down south as Texas! We have a family wedding, travels, and adventures planned so again I ask, what in the world am I going to bring? After taking everything out of my closet and putting it on my floor outfits started to come together.

Denim

When in Texas, you wear denim! The night before the wedding my family is having a casual-ish dinner with jeans and boots as dress code. As a girly girl, wearing jeans to a rehearsal dinner is not going to happen! I decided to pack a J Crew denim dress that is casual but dressy with the right accessories. I am also bringing a denim shirt that I can wear with white shorts when we are going on day trips to places. I had a cute Lauren Conrad faded chambray shirt that keep the look preppy and is super comfortable.
J Crew Dress
LC Denim Shirt

Dresses

You cannot go south without some Lilly in your suitcase! I decided to bring my more casual long sleeve dress with me so I can wear it to sightsee or go out to dinner with the family.

For the rehearsal dinner for my cousins wedding it is casual with a Texan theme. People are suggested to wear jeans but me being me, I cannot just wear boring jeans! I decided to bring a J Crew denim dress and made it dressy with suede booties and a belt. https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/dresses/Day/PRDOVR~78958/78958.jsp?srcCode=AFFI00001&siteId=QFGLnEolOWg-BnJKUiMu0FZddi4S6Ej5tg

I am so excited to reveal my dress I chose for the wedding. It is something I do not usually wear but when I tried it on, I knew I needed it!

Sightseeing Essentials

I have no idea what the weather in Texas will be like. As I am shivering in Jersey writing this post I am dressed for winter. My body is not prepared for warmer weather! My wardrobe is also not ready for spring or the South! I am bringing J Crew button downs that I can wear with shorts or white jeans depending on the weather.

Factory petite gingham button-down shirt : Petites | J.Crew Factory

Shoes

There will be lots of walking! The problem with packing is that shoes take up so much room in my suitcase but I want to bring them all! I am bringing my Jack Rogers because they are the classic preppy southern shoe. I can wear them with a dress or out sightseeing so they are a trip must have. I am bringing my suede booties I got from Old Navy last summer in the clearance bin for $4. I wear them every day at work and for going out for drinks. Best $4 I ever spent on shoes! Old Navy copies popular styles for less but when they go to clearance they basically give them away for free!

Relaxing by the Lake

I am officially an adult when I buy a one piece bathing suit. I will be with my family being active by the pool and lake so I thought it was appropriate to get a one piece to keep it family friendly. I got a cute purple ruffle one piece that is adorable but i also brought an old Victoria’s Secret two piece in case there is time for sunbathing.