Health

7 Things Holding You Back from Your Happiest Self

When the final assignment in a class is to have groups of students perform random acts of kindness, you know there’s something special going on. Dr. Raj Raghunathan is a marketing professor at The University of Texas at Austin where he has spent much of his time researching the topic of happiness. While many business classes […]

Why You Should be Composting

I’ve been telling myself that “I really need to start composting” for a long time. For years, actually. I’m not sure why it took me so long to get started — for some reason, I felt intimidated by it all, and thought that composting would pose a huge lifestyle change. Turns out, it’s one of the […]

Noël and Will

To learn the story of Noël and Will Bridges is to sign up for a short course in Austin history. Ten years ago, Will (together with a small group of friends) quietly opened a new restaurant in the old Schneider Brothers Building downtown under the peculiar promise of “fancy barbecue”. Today, Lamberts is an institution […]

Weekend Notes

Morning, y’all! We’re in Houston this weekend to celebrate Chanel’s engagement — we haven’t talked too much about it here on the blog quite yet, but I did post a hint at the fabulousness that is to come when she ties the knot this fall, so stay tuned for more on that. Even though it’s a quick […]

Swimsuit Selfies: Yea or Nay?

I read an article once in “The Age Issue” of Vogue featuring a very stylish over-sixty living in New York. When asked what fashion advice she would give a woman in her early twenties, she didn’t miss a beat: “Put on a bikini and don’t take it off until you’re 35.” The cold hard truth […]

What Happened When I Went Vegan for Three Days

Confession: this Nebraska girl has had a longtime curiosity about adopting a vegan lifestyle. I might lose some followers for saying that – especially those from the Heartland. Nebraskans are wildly proud of their beef. And it’s true, visit any steakhouse in the state and you’re likely to have one of the best steaks of […]

Weekend Notes

Mornin’, friends! Hope you’re having a great weekend so far. Life has been speeding by so quickly lately in such a blur of busyness that I’ve been making an effort on the weekends to slow it all down a little. Which means that I’m intentionally leaving blocks of our time unscheduled to make room for things like laying […]

Weekend Notes

Happy Easter, friends! It’s been a sunny, lovely weekend so far with egg hunts, neighborhood bike rides, and dinner out with friends. This morning we’re making waffles and laying low before a family celebration later this evening. I’ve got a busy few days of work ahead, so I’m trying hard to mostly unplug and savor the weekend […]

Are you on a media junk diet?

*photo by Alice Gao They say if you want a quick overview of a person’s intelligence, interests, and background, just take a look at their bookshelf (or even better, their Netflix queue). Around our house these days you’d find a mix of favorite paperbacks like Just Kids and A Moveable Feast alongside hardback copies of […]

The Positive Side of Social Media

Much has been written about the negative aspects of social media on our health, our stress-levels and even on society. We’ve touched on it here: TMI issues, increased anxiety, and comparing ourselves with others, and there have been countless articles about effects on self esteem, relationships, and our abilities to focus. And as much as it’s […]

Weekend Notes

Happy weekend, y’all! It’s been a glorious low-key weekend to cap off the end of a crazy two weeks (#SXSW). I hosted a baby shower for two of my pregnant pals yesterday — just a small group of really good friends, breakfast tacos, mimosas, and lots of adorable baby gifts. Oh, and Adam and I got bikes!! […]

Jennifer and Keith

The first thing you’ll notice about Jennifer Matos and Keith Holmes II is that they make a drop dead gorgeous couple. Both professional fitness instructors at the lake shore YMCA in Austin (Jenn is also weeks away from obtaining her cosmetology license), these two make a living inspiring other Austinites to look and feel their […]

Can improving posture improve your life?

When it comes to posture, mine has always been less than perfect. It’s something my mom never fails to point out, although she’s not nearly as much of a stickler as her mother was. Inspired by the grandmother I never met, I challenged myself to spend a week focused on improving my posture. At my […]

How to Be Active When You’re Strapped for Time

Lately, things have been really busy around here. Most of you already know I work for one of the largest creative festivals in the world (SXSW) and for the next few weeks, finding time to take care of anything outside of work is tough. As I type this, we are exactly four days out from […]

Weekend Notes

Morning, y’all — hope you’re having a great weekend! It’s felt like a bit of a marathon around here lately. After getting back from Miami last weekend, I dove headfirst into the kickoff to SXSW here in Austin, and the last couple of days have included speaking on a panel, tons of parties, and then throwing […]

How to Shop Like a Pro Online

A few weeks ago I found myself at the mall, bouncing from one store to the next, skimming the racks for something new and exciting to add to my wardrobe, when it hit me: I don’t know how to shop in person anymore. Is it just me, or has the shift into online shopping been so profound, that […]

Victoria & Lucy

I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Victoria Smith of sfgirlbybay in person, but I swear it feels like we’re best friends. Not only was she one of the first bloggers I discovered when I entered this crazy world, but since then, she’s continued to delight readers with her modern bohemian style, her colorful point-of-view, and last […]