{ baby [navy] blues }

Cookies for my beautiful cousin, Robyn, who is hosting a baby shower.

The navy and white scrolling pattern is from the nursery bedding. It sort of reminds me of wrought iron I might see in San Antonio. And considering the "customer" is one of my favorite native San Antonians, it seems rather fitting.

texas tea

A gift from home!

My sister, Christine, recently made a quick trip to San Antonio to visit a dear friend with a new baby (welcome to the world, Baby Ella!).

While she was there, she stopped at one of my favorite stores, Melissa Guerra at the Old Pearl Brewery, and picked me up a Texas trinket -- a bright and fabulous tea towel from Catstudio.

I love it ... so much so that I might try and find a funky vintage frame for it!

It's so great to receive unexpected goodies in a box. :)

cowboys and cabernet

If you're looking for a beautiful weekend get-away, The Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio offers a great escape in the majestic Texas Hill Country.

Something that recently grabbed this wine-lover's attention is the wine tasting opportunity offered at La Cantera, featuring eight Texas vintners. From resort sommelier, Steven Krueger:

The other Texas wine opportunity we offer is the afternoon Texas wine tasting; from 4:00pm to 5:00pm on Wednesday through Saturday everyone is welcome to come to our bar, Steinheimer’s, where I am pouring two ounces of three different Texas wines for a nominal charge of five dollars. We offer three different wines each day, so if a guest came all four days they would taste twelve different Texas wines from seven different wineries! I am really enjoying pouring the Texas wines and I am encouraged by all the very positive compliments the wine receive. If you are in the area, please come by and say “hello.”

The twelve wines in the Texas Wine Tasting are (in no particular order):

1. Super Texan, Sangiovese Blend, Flat Creek Estate, Texas Hill Country, 2008
2. El Guapo, Tempranillo, Alamosa Wine Cellars, Texas Hill Country, 2004
3. Viognier, McPherson Cellars, Texas, 2009
4. Viviano, Sangiovese Blend, Llano Estacado, Newsome Vineyards, Yoakum County, Texas, 2005
5. Provencal, Dry Rose, Grenache, Becker Vineyards, Texas, 2008
6. Viognier, Alamosa Wine Cellars, Texas High Valley Block, Cherokee Creek Vineyard, 2008
7. Cornelious, Tempranillo, Inwood Estates Vineyards, Newsom Vineyards, Yoakum County, 2007
8. Sangiovese, McPherson Cellars, 2008
9. Viognier, Becker Vineyards, 2009
10. Raven, 80% Malbec 20% Petite Verdot, Becker Vineyards, Tallent Vineyard, Mason County, 2007
11. Syrah, Alamosa Wine Cellars, Tio Pancho Ranch, Texas Hill Country
12. Viognier, Brennan Vineyards, Texas, 2008


La Contera Wine List information courtesy of VintageTexas.com.

died and gone to heaven

As I blogged a few days ago, I just returned from San Antonio where I was able to hang out with my family for a few days.

The highlight was meeting my cousin's new baby (he's perfectly adorable, by the way), and spending time with aunts, uncles and cousins whom I adore. Every time we get together, I'm a bit sad that we don't do it more often, so it's sort of bittersweet. But I'm so blessed and lucky to have such dear people in my life, so instead I'll focus on that emotion.

But now ... on to serious business....

I GOT TO HANG OUT AT ALAMO FIESTA ON MAIN, BABY!

Give me a pitcher of sangria and a few hours in that place with some of my besties (Laura and Beverly come to mind), and I think I'd be happier than a pig in slop ... or, given the environment, más feliz que un cerdo en barro.

Not only was I able to add some bling to my Mexican tin ornament collection, but I was also able to visually feast on the colors of a culture I adore.

It was a beautiful day ... both outside and inside. Only in mi querida Texas can the sky be so blue. Plus, I got to spend my little excursion with the guy I married. Again -- más feliz que un cerdo en barro. :)

I swear, this store calls to my soul. There's no way I'd be able to post only a few pictures, so I'm sharing a crap-ton.

short trip to the alamo city

A big chunk of my heart lives in San Antonio, Texas. My dad's "half" of the family all reside in Bexar County, with only a small number of exceptions scattered outside the area.

Growing up, trips to San Antonio for me meant visiting Grandma and Grandpa's house and playing with cousins. If anything else existed in SA beyond the walls of my grandparent's home, it didn't really matter to me -- I didn't need, nor was I interested, in much more.

As I've grown up, I've discovered that San Antonio is a fun place to spend a few days away from home. The culture is uniquely and perfectly Tex-Mex, on a much greater scale than any other city of its size. There's a touristy element (beyond just the Alamo and the Riverwalk) that lends itself to visitors from out of town, but not in an overly garish manner, but just enough to be entertaining.

Tomorrow Ty, Aidan and I are hitting the road for a few days and heading over to the Alamo City. I'm most excited about meeting my new second cousin, Baby Bryson, and visiting with family. But hitting any of the following spots ... some of my favorites in San Antonio, would be queso on top.

1. The Menger Hotel -- one of my favorite hotels in the world. Within walking distance of the Alamo and the River, the Menger sits in a centrally perfect location in downtown SA. But my two favorite (yes, it's a tie) aspects of the Menger are its historically gorgeous bar, built in 1887, as well as the mysterious ghosts and spirits who reside inside the old hotel. I've even had my own unexplained spooky encounter at the Menger ... but that's a post for a different day. :)

According to the hotel's website, the watering hole at the Menger was where Teddy Roosevelt recruited many of his Rough Riders, volunteers for the American volunteer Cavalry in the Spanish-American war. The pub has a paneled ceiling of cherry wood, booths and beveled mirrors from France. It's cozy in size, yet perfectly so. Oh, and they serve a killer a cosmo.

2. Dolores Del Rio Ristorante & Grill Room - Betcha thought I'd be writing about a Tex-Mex restaurant in a post about San Antonio, didn't ya?! Believe it or not, one of the best overall experiences I've had at an Italian restaurant has been in San Antonio. Dolores Del Rio is a magnificent hidden gem. Look for the little place where a tree on the river grows right out of the building.

The restaurant is located in one of the less-travelled areas of the Riverwalk, and if you blink as you walk by it, it's easy to miss. With live jazz 7-nights a week, as well as a belly dancer who makes a sexy appearance at 8:30 in the evening (don't miss it!), the eclectic bohemian ambiance of this tiny restaurant is a total feast for all the senses.

Oh, and the menu and wine list (mostly Italians, heavy on reds) is top-notch. Menu tip du jour: go for the gnocchi and chicken in bay leaf sauce -- divine.

If you're lucky enough, you'll be seated right by the kitchen, which usually isn't the best location in most restaurants. But the owners and chefs at Dolores are eager to share old world stories about Italy, as well as tidbits about the menu. Again, such a super overall dining experience. It's hard to leave!

3. Alamo Fiesta on Main - THE place to go for gaudy (yet fun!) Tex-Mex party supplies, arts and crafts, as well as furniture and textiles from abroad -- an explosion of Dia de los Muertos, sugar skulls, papel picado, piñatas, and cascarones.

Located in an old white house near San Antonio College close to downtown on Main, Alamo Fiesta epitomizes color. It's also from where most of the ornaments on my Mexican tin ornament tree originated!

¡Felíz año nuevo!