Friday Five: South Congress Edition

Today we took a stroll down our block to visit some of our favorite South Congress locations. If you've never been to Austin, this is one of the first districts people will tell you to visit as a tourist. South Congress is a renowned shopping district located in South Austin, and we're lucky to be located on this street!

1. When in Texas...
Austin is the only city where I've seen a cowboy riding a horse down a busy street, so I had to include this image. Plus, we have a great skyline. You can see our Capitol Building from any spot on South Congress.

2. Cup of Jo's

Ask any SoCo Sales Associate where to get a cup of coffee and they'll tell you Jo's. Not only does it have a great outdoor patio for people watching, but it is also home of the Belgian Bomber and Iced Turbo (for those who really need a jolt). You won't have any trouble finding Jo's, it's the one with the line of tourists taking "I Love You So Much" photos (see the guy below), and everyone should have an "I Love You So Much" photo. 

3.  Not So Secret Garden

Hotel San Jose has got to be my favorite hideout on South Congress. Even if you're not staying in the bungalow-style hotel, be sure to swing by their magical courtyard for a kickass happy hour. 

4. Quickie Lunch

When it's a busy day at the store, we're thankful for the many food trucks that grace the SoCo and SoFi neighborhoods. One of my favorites is Burro Cheese Kitchen. I had their Brie and Balsamic Apricot Fig spread on Easy Tiger Beer Bread and then I was hooked. A quickie Gourmet Grilled Cheese from an unassuming food trailer in the middle of your shopping day -- what more could you possibly want from life? 

5. But I want to sit down... 

Ok, so when you'd like to enjoy your coffee and lunch from a cozy booth or counter, then head on over to South Congress Cafe. For me it's more than their mouth-watering Carrot Cake French Toast and Belinis; a lot of my love for South Congress Cafe is because of the staff. The have some of the friendliest servers and bartenders in town. 

And hey, if you've made it to that neck of the woods, stop by next door, we'll be happy to see you!

Handmade Holiday Gift Guide: For Him

The second of our Handmade Holiday Gift Guides, our Men's Gift Guide has some heavy hitters! (Listed Clockwise)

ZZZ Threadz / Loved by celebrities like Patton Oswalt and Quentin Tarantino, these pearl snaps are upcycled with unique embroideries like Sasquatch with a Wristwatch Pearl Snap (ZZZ Threadz, $45).

Mr. T Pillow / Amazing and hilarious pillows featuring stoic celebrities on the bodies of Russian Generals. Made by Replaceface (Available at Limbo Jewelry on SoCo).

Soy Candle / Men like need candles, but don't just get him a girly fragrance with girly packaging, get him an awesome fragrance like Unicorn Puke and Butt Naked (The Burlap Bag, $10).

Cutting Board / Get him in the kitchen with these cutting boards available in many styles including Austin landmarks (South Austin Gallery, $27-37).

Professional Satchel / Hand crafted genuine leather satchels with a brushed brass or silver clap for closure. Each one of a kind bag will fit any 17" laptop (Betty Loo Project, $320).

Planter /  Liven up his work space with a colorful (and easy to care for) terrarium containing air plants and/or succulents. Bonus points if you use a DIY kit! (by Articulture Designs)

Pocket Square / Not your grandpa's pocket square. He can use these charmers to stylize a suit for holiday and New Years Eve parties. Made from fine Italian cloth tailored in USA (Margot Petitti, $32).

Wood Sunglasses / As seen on Shark Tank and Snoop Lion, these sunnies are handcrafted from 100% sustainably sourced wood. The young brand also makes a pair from skateboard decks (Proof, $130).

Renovations Week: Day 2, Bike Rack - My Apartment Therapy

Ok, so we don't live in an apartment, but we may as well, our townhouse has almost zero storage space, no garage and NO BICYCLE RACK! I'm not complaining, just stating some facts. 

When we moved to Austin, our bikes were stolen. When reporting the theft, I learned that bicycles are among the top reported stolen items in Austin. Moral of the story, when we finally bought ourselves some new bikes, we promised to ALWAYS lock them up. The problem, as I've explained, is that we have no bike racks or storage options. 

After months of keeping them in our living room, causing me loads of frustration, we hit up Home Depot for some pipes. 

Items Needed:
2 - 1/2" Floor Flange ($6/piece)
2 - 1/2" Galvanized Elbows ($2/piece)
1 - 1/2" x 12" Galvanized Nipple ($4)
PROJECT TOTAL: ~$18

If you have two bikes and have the space for two bike racks, I would suggest it. As you can see, we pretty much have to stack our bikes until we can get a long or second bike lock. 

There you have it, a space saving, landlord approving, bicycle rack for less than $20! 

March FE | NOM: Anne Rutt-Enriquez, Owner of Limbo Jewelry

Name: Anne Rutt-Enriquez

Age: 33

Sign: Gemini

Occupation: Co-Owner of Limbo Jewelry Design, Operations, Janitor :)

1. What's a goal you recently achieved? We opened a retail space on South Congress!

2. A Few of Anne's favorite things: Food, Wine, Travel with my husband, the beach, my kiddos (three dogs and one cat). 

3. What's that about travel? Anne and her husband visit his family in Mexico at least once per year and live in Chicago during the Summer. Throughout the year, you may see them in different cities across America selling Limbo at large festivals, like Pool Tradeshow in Las Vegas. 

4. Favorite piece of Limbo Jewelry: Cadena Solo Bracelet, I wear it everyday.

5. Favorite Austin Hangout: I love Elizabeth Street and the San Jose Hotel.

6. What's it like building a business with your husband, Edson? Fun for the most part, challenging sometimes. I couldn't imagine building a business on my own; I truly believe you need your partner in life to build something together. I do want to mention we aren't perfect, we fight like everyone else, but running a business with my spouse makes our relationship stronger because we get to experience more than most together. I love it!

7. Favorite Cocktail? Woodford Reserve Manhattan on the Rock in the Winter, Gin Gimlet Up in the summer

8. What do you want to be when you grow up? I refuse to ever be a grown-up.


Any advice for young entrepreneurs? 

Do what you like, if you love your job you will never work a day in your life.  Here are the top reasons I feel Edson and I work well together in building our brand, Limbo Jewelry Design: 

1) We have the same goals and aspirations. We want the same things from life. We want a successful company for the freedom to travel, get our foodie kicks at our favorite restaurants and take care of our families.

2) We have a similar work ethic, but our strengths and weaknesses are balanced. We are not afraid of hard work, but when he likes to pull all-nighters, I make us stop, eat and sleep. He's great at details and I am able to look at the big picture.

3)We say please and thank you. Not always, but often. Nobody likes to feel under-appreciated, I always try and acknowledge his hard work and talent.

4) We don't allow any work talk at the dinner table. It's not always possible, but it is important to just be home when you are home.

5) I put EVERYTHING on our sync-ed Google Calendar with reminders, this way every morning we know exactly what needs to go down for appointments & deadlines to happen and be met.

6) We laugh together - how serious can this all be?

Limbo Jewelry Design's SoCo Grand Opening is on April 11th, 6-9pm, stop by for music, food, spirits and jewelry! Visit www.limbojewelry.com, follow @limbojewelry or like Limbo on Facebook for more info!

Recap: Austin's Trailer Food Tuesday

Food Trucks aren't just a fun commodity, they're also a great way to try gourmet food on the cheap, and Trailer Food Tuesdays on The Long Center Terrace is the best way to sample some of Austin's best food trailers while enjoying this gorgeous spring weather. The event takes place from 5pm - 9pm on the last Tuesday of each month and includes several local vendors, as well as one guest truck from a neighboring city. Most trucks do take credit/debit, but it's suggested to bring cash. The Long Center also provides a cash bar with beer and wine selections and perfectly concoted signature cocktails. The Trailer Food Tuesdays event is perfect for a weekday happy hour, date night or family fun day!

Overall, our experience was awesome. We went directly after work and the lines were short, the food selection was amazing and it was break from cooking dinner without breaking the bank! Rusty and I sampled three food trucks:

• Chickpea Fries from Whole Foods
• Chicken, Pork and Veggie Tacos from @ColibriCuisine
• Bacon, Goat Cheese & Strawberry Jam Sliders from @EasySliderTruck

We planned on grabbing a CoolHaus icecream sandwich for dessert, but the $4 large chickpea fries were as filling as they were delicious (I suggest getting a $2 small if you intend on sampling from several trucks).

As pro-Austin as I am, I have to say that our favorite of the day was the Easy Slider Truck, hailing from Dallas. Their creative, gourmet mini-burgers included unexpected ingrediants like bleu cheese slaw, strawberry jam or peanut butter, and they were an incredible mix of beefy, savory and sweet!


For more info, check out Trailer Food Tuesdays online or follow them @TrailerFoodTues.

Happy Eating!

Photoshoot for Mana Culture

I was honored to be asked by Mana Culture's owner, Jahnavi Sievert, to do a photoshoot with their new line. At first I felt really awkward because I am a curvy girl and not at all a model, but Jahnavi made me feel so beautiful and her styling is impeccable! I loved playing dress up and checking out their new items!

Girl's Day/Night Out - Blo Salon!

Looking for a fun night out with the girls or a way to get ready for a night out? Head to Blo Bar for awesome hairstyles, champagne and ambiance. With crystal chandeliers, Audrey and Marilyn photos and pink everything, this place is a nightmare for Butch McGee but a fun, pampering way to spend an afternoon with your best girls. In fact, this is where I got my sex-kitten 60's hair for my engagement photos and was one of the stops on my friend's Bachelorette Party Scavenger Hunt!

Clark's Oyster Bar Austin Review

Last year, Rusty and I along with two of our friends decided to forgo gifts and do an awesome holiday dinner instead. For our Second Annual Holiday dinner we headed to Clark's Oyster Bar on W. 6th. Here's the recap. 

The four of us shared a seafood tower, which included oysters, mussels, lobster, crab, shrimp and ceviche. There is not one complaint I can make about the food here; the oysters and shellfish are fresh and juicey and the ceviche, which was more like a slaw, was the creamy showstopper.

The seafood tower ($90) should be enough to feed four, but with our appetites, it took a few extras. We ordered a wedge salad and the shells and cheese (Mac & Cheese with Crab) and we were not disappointed. I could eat that Mac & Cheese every day for a year. The boys followed up with a Bloody Mary Oyster Bomb, which Rusty suggests over the Beer Oyster Bomb.

If there's one thing other than food that the McGuire/Moorman team (Perla's, Jeffrey's, Elizabeth Street Cafe and more) are known for, it's their ambiance. They are meticulous and detail-oriented from their color schemes to their waitstaff attire. Going to Clark's is like being swept away to a late-summer vacation in the Hamptons. Best of all, the polo-clad waiters know their oysters. A customer can simply describe their fabric oyster (gritty/not gritty, sweet/salty, etc.) and the waiters will make the perfect recommendations.

 Notes: Clark's will not take reservations for more than four people, and due to the tiny size, reservations are recommended. If you choose to wing-it, they do leave bar seating open for walk-ins.

Bon Appétit!

Ice Skating on the Roof of Whole Foods Austin

I was skeptical of ice skating on a grocery store roof, and for most part I was correct, but for $10/person (includes skate rental) this is a great outing for families with kids. We do not have kids, so it was more of a "glad we did it, but probably won't do it again" experience. (Note: This may be just my Northeastern Ohio snow-snobbery talking...)

Here's the photo recap:

The View

Mana Culture Holiday Event

I love me some good ole Austin Small Biz fun, and there's no boutique I love more than Mana Culture. So of course I wasn't about to miss their Holiday Event benefiting Austin Children Services! Plus, I won a haircut at my fave Austin Hair Salon, Dolce! What could possibly be better!?

Here's a few snaps of the event:

Guests who donated gifts received 3 raffle tickets

Jewelry Designer/Stylist Allison Moseley and Dolce Salon Owner Cris Coleman

Mana Culture Owner, Jahnavi Sievert and Manager, Charlie Robert

Prizes included gift cards and goodies from local businesses like Ballet Austin, Eddie V's and Hopdoddy

Stopped shopping for a sec to take a photo with Mana's Manager, Charlie Robert