~Our 6 Month Austin Anniversary!~

Wow, I always thought that “time goes by faster the older you get” was just something that people said, but it really does!  January marks 6 months of being in Austin already!  In honor of that, I’m writing about my six most favorite things here so far:

1)       The Texas pride:  Okay, so this is not specific to Austin, but damn, Texans are proud of their state!  From the Texas star carved in the concrete on highway bridges, and “everything’s bigger/better” in Texas slogans (not to mention “keep Austin weird” slogans) on everything from billboards to t-shirts, to specialty Texas/Austin gift stores, these folks are proud of where they’re from!  The local grocery store, H-E-B even has tortilla chips that are in the shape of the state of Texas.  Not joking.   Obviously, I still think nothing is finer than Carolina ;) but the state pride is pretty awesome here.

2)      The people:  SO welcoming, nice, outgoing, friendly… I can go on and on.  I’d say we’ve been so lucky to meet so many awesome people that have become friends already but I think that it’s just how they are.  We’re celebrating Patrick’s birthday tomorrow night by going to dinner with ten others and I’m so grateful for the ease we had settling here with such great people!

3)      The Hill Country:  I had no idea until I moved here, but as soon as you are to the West of downtown, the roads are surrounded by gorgeous rolling hills.  It is stunning.

4)     The winters (or, the LACK thereof):  I never have an will never be a cold weather person, so I am a happy girl!  I haven’t worn a winter coat yet and was in shorts a week ago.  In January!!  We can take Sadie to the park, go on long runs/walks, eat outside, and never shiver!   To everyone living in snow flurries and bundled up, I know I’m rubbing it in but I just LOVE it so much I can’t help it.  I will take 100 plus degree days all summer in exchange for a 70 degree January any day.

5)      The location of our house:  I don’t know how long we’ll be in this specific location but it has been incredible.  We can walk to various restaurants, are close to the highway, and best of all, can walk or run to the pathway around Town Lake in less than 10 minutes

6)     Which is convenient because the FOOD is my next favorite thing….okay maybe my most favorite thing:  Seriously, the food trailers, the Tex Mex, the five awesome Italian restaurants I’m in love with… we are discovering new places every week!  Adding to my love is the fact that almost everywhere has a nightly happy hour ;)

 

Ladybird Lake trail

I can’t wait to see what the next six months have in store for us! 

~Recipe for a Happy New Year~

Happy 2012 Everyone!!  I posted this last year but I just love it so wanted to post again... lots of good resolutions in here!  Cheers :)

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Recipe for a Happy New Year ~ Anonymous

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, prayer, meditation, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing—don't do it), and one well-selected resolution.

Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Happy New Year!!