N and I recently drove west for some family stuff. On the way back, we stopped in Merkel, where my mother's family has some land. 

Everything was so green - it was incredible. Far from my memories of red, dusty earth dotted with dying scrub. I haven't been out there in over ten years and when we got there, I couldn't remember where the gate was, so we just drove around and took pictures of West Texas in spring. 

This weekend we went to Austin.The trip was pretty spur-of-the-moment (N was suddenly able to get crazy cheap tickets to see The Naked & Famous and we figured why the hell not?). 
Surprisingly enough, it ended up being crazy productive and amazing. 
We went to the show on Friday night. Honestly, we knew like one song, but for 10 bucks a piece, it was a pretty ballin evening.

Saturday we got a late start. Coffee and whatnot in the morning, tacos and driving around in the afternoon. We spent most of the day combing Austin neighborhoods for "For Rent" signs in the hopes that something completely epic and cheap would fall into our laps. No such luck. At least there was El Chilito and more coffee to make us un-grumpy.

Sunday was more driving. And more tacos. This time: Torchy's. Verdict: meh. I went for the potato taco and a migas taco, both of which were just fine. Their queso, however, was AMAZEBALLS.

Also eaten: P.Terry's Burgers, home of the most amazing veggie burger known to man (until I find the next one). SO GOOD. Didn't get a picture, as I scarfed it pretty damn quick.

Random scenes:

When we got home Sunday night, we were crazy exhausted. Luckily, we left Austin armed with tons of info about apartments and a list of places to visit this coming weekend when we head back for a bitchin Halloween party.
How was your weekend? 

All photos by me.

N and I have made a very difficult decision.

After months of unhappiness, anxiety, and searching for employment in places far, far away, we have come to a conclusion and have decided to move to Austin.

To be quite honest, I am beyond thrilled. It’s not ideal – my first choice would be anywhere out of the country, or even somewhere far from here with a completely different climate… you know, somewhere with *winter*. However, as far as cultures go, Austin fits the bill.

You see, I’ve been unhappy for a long time. We currently live where we went to college, and since I’m being all honest and shit, it was an impulsive decision (for me) to even go to school at this university. I didn’t even consider going out of state, which, given my personality and constant affliction with wanderlust, is surprising. I’ve been here 9 years; N has been here for almost 10. I’m done.

N and I currently live in a stiflingly conservative area, where city growth goes unchecked, residents water their lawns at 5 pm in 110* heat, and the Ford F350 is ubiquitous. Waste is a way of life, and rhetoric is heated and driven by “faith”. I’m a firm believer that a place has a profound effect on one’s sense of self, and this place does not encourage me to be my best.

Austin suits us.  I grew up not far from there and have always felt an affinity for the mix of conservative and liberal, old and new, cattle ranching and veganism, and accessibility to the creativity of the collective. It seems a place of forces in balance.

So we’re moving on. We’ve spoken with friends and family, we’ve begun searching for ways to pay the bills. So please keep us in your thoughts as we make this journey into the unknown. It’s going to be terrifying, but hopefully it’ll give us the boost we’ve so badly needed.

xo.

obsession: South African weddings

in June, N and I went with my family to South Africa for a spell. it was AMAZEBALLS. I fell in love. the recent(ish) posts by 100 Layer Cake haven't helped. see: 

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I mean, COME ON. the DRESS.... the HAIR... the LANDSCAPE... the FLOWERS. le sigh. 

this next one is also on 100LC and is absolutely fab. 

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this last wedding was photographed by we love pictures in Cape Town. I die. 

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