FREE Music! Chris King Sampler

I absolutely love Chris King. I don't even know how I discovered his music, and I've only seen him play acoustically a couple of times. But his album, 1983, is one that I still listen to on a very regular basis, start to finish. And I've had it for more than two years. Yes, it's that good. I specifically listen to it when I'm driving. Specifically through the hill country and the Southern part of Texas. And I drive down there for work a lot. I love listening to him when I'm driving alone but that is when I can really listen to music and his songs just fit the vibe I feel driving along in that part of the world. 

Even better than King's music is his generosity. I've never met him, but I can just tell from interactions with him on Twitter, his blog and emails, that he is a very genuine and sincere person - which makes me love his music even more.

Lucky for you - he is giving away a sampler of 20 songs FO FREE YALL. That's just the kind of guy he is. Just because he wants you to hear his music.And this isn't even his first time to give away music.  Click here to check it out and thank me later. Oh and if you want to be a kind person, leave a tip. NoiseTrade is super cool. Just like Chris King. And just like you.

Texas Travel 101 Part 1, Top 10 Tips

Elizabeth and I both have jobs where we travel a lot so we thought we’d do a series documenting our best travel tips. I’m usually out of the office 2-3 days a week and around 100 days a year - hotel hopping all across Texas. These tips are things I use no matter if it’s a week long vacation, a weekend getaway or a few days out for work. Here are my top 10 travel tips!

Can't ever complain about a view like this.

1 – Sign up for every single rewards program there is. I have a whole sheet of logins, passwords and honors codes because I have one for every single hotel brand, airline and car rental company I have ever used. Little trips stack up quickly! It took me only a few months to achieve A-List status with Southwest and I had enough points to buy both of us round-trip flights to Cabo last year, as well as several free nights in hotels!

2 – I travel alone a lot and sometimes for extended periods of time. To break up the monotony of lonely hotels, I’ve learned it’s worth it to go a little out of my way to do something fun when I have down time to keep my sanity. From taking a two-hour detour to visit Roundtop and the Junk GypsyHeadquarters to just taking a little time at the pool with a margarita when you’re in South Texas in the summer. I also love meeting up with long-lost friends or family if I’m in their part of the world!

Made a two-hour pitstop (detour?) at the Junk Gypsy Headquarters last summer.

3 – Outlet malls. This kind of goes with #2 on this list, but if there are outlet malls along your route – take advantage of them!! There are no outlets anywhere near where I live so I always jump on the chance to stock up on workout gear when I pass a Reebok outlet.

4 – If you aren’t sure what to do, ask around. I like to send out an SOS on twitter about places to eat so I’m not stuck eating Chick-Fil-A in my hotel alone in every town (not that there’s anything wrong with that J). Locals are usually more than happy to steer you in the right direction for food, shopping or fun. Use work travel as an opportunity to try new things or knock something off your Texas bucket list.

Sometimes, your car becomes your closet, gym, personal kitchen and home. Sometimes I think I should just get an RV.

5 – If you’re timid about sitting alone in a restaurant, order at the bar. Even if you don’t want to drink, there will at least be several people eating alone and may even strike up good conversation – even if it’s just with the bartender. It’s what they do for a living. One of my best experiences was in a wine bar in the Love Field airport with about 4 old men who had just toured Napa Valley.

6 – On a long trip, don’t be afraid to take an afternoon off to get a manicure, lay out with a drink, shop or get a massage. Turn off your email notifications and just relax for a few hours. It will keep you sane. Promise. In the summers I love nothing more than cranking the AC up, getting under the covers and taking a snooze!

7 – I used to be adamant about making as few stops as possible when driving long distances, but I’ve learned that it’s best to stop often and get drinks and go to the bathroom. It keeps me hydrated and awake and I love stopping in at Buc-ees or little mom and pop places for a coke and a snack.

Always buy the roadside watermelon. Always.

8 – If you rent a car, always ask how you turn on the lights before you leave. I’ve found myself driving around in the dark with no clue my lights weren’t on far too many times!!!

9 – I’m notorious for leaving my phone charger in hotels. I’ve gotten in the habit of keeping my car keys next to where I charge my phone so I can’t leave without it.

10 – One last tip for packing – ziplock bags are my best friend. I have used every form of fancy fold-up, hang-up or roll out toiletry bag on the planet but I’m telling you, two gallon-sized ziplock bags are all I need. They lay flat, don’t take up any extra space, and if something spills, you can just toss it and grab a new one. I use one for makeup and one for toiletries. I keep the toiletries bag packed all the time with backup or travel-sized bottles of everything so I just throw it in my bag and go. I love having my makeup in a clear bag – makes getting ready even quicker!

Fall Inspiration Board

Hallie here. I have a confession to make. While every other basic white girl is getting her daily pumpkin spice latte, dreaming about sweater/legging/boot combinations, and singing the praises of the Fall weather that is upon us..... I'm slowly sinking in a heap of desperation. I am not a fan of Fall or Winter. I would take scorching 100º days year-round over a week of cloudy weather or one single day of snow.

 I'm being pretty dramatic, but I have self-diagnosed myself with a little thing called SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's real. Look it up. "It's worth a Google." (name that movie)

 I'll get over it once this silly storm from the Pacific that has kept normally-dry Lubbock cloudy and wet for going on two weeks now passes. I'm just solar-powered and missing my sunshine. While I could live in sundresses and cut off denim shorts year-round, the only thing giving me any hope this time of year is thinking about how I can switch up my wardrobe to *cope* with the cooler weather.

I have narrowed it down to the few basic pieces that I use to mix up my outfits throughout the cooler months. Layers are my best friend and my worst enemy. Being only 5'1, too many layers can make me look like a Teletubby real fast! (Fur vests, I'm looking at you!) But being as hot natured as I am, I like bundling up in the morning and then having the option to strip down later. You will never catch me in a big thick sweater!!

 I made a Fall inspiration board to help hone in the items already in my closet and how to pair them. I know I can pretty much grab any two of these items and throw it together for a fun and effortless fall outfit that can be made appropriate for work or going out with a few simple tweaks.

Start with one of these: bold graphic tee, denim button down or plaid button down.

Add: leather jacket or vest, fur vest, denim jacket or vest, military style or camo jacket, fringe vest or jacket.

Complete the look with: badass boots, holy bootcut jeans or colored or black skinny jeans and a crap ton of mixed jewelry (bling + turquoise).

In My Ears: Nikki Lane

Nikki Lane is one ballsy, badass babe. Her latest release All or Nothin' has been on repeat in my car and at my desk for a couple weeks now. And when it's not being played, I'm most liking singing along to it in my head. Sometimes out loud too. I swear these songs get so stuck in my head and that's not always a good thing. I find myself singing "tonight would be a good night to sleep with a stranger" out loud in public sometimes. Like at work. Or walking into my family reunion. Totally appropriate places like that.

"Sleep With A Stranger" was the first song to hook me, and I don't care how much of a prude you are, you can't help but chuckle at this one and kind of wish you were ballsy enough to admit that you just sometimes have those days. Lane's honesty in every song is so forthright that it grabs you when you least expect it. Every song is so raw and real. A different song tends to grab my attention every time I play this CD and it's one of those that I can listen to front to back, over and over. Not just pick and choose a song. I can relate to so many and then others just have this dreamy, vintage quality that I can't get enough of. The songs range from sad and lonely to setting your man straight and everything in between.

Seriously check this out. I can't get enough and I think the more I listen, the more I love it. I have a feeling this chick is about to get huge.

Oh and PS - it even passes the Elizabeth test. I'm pretty open minded to music, but Elizabeth is not. ESPECIALLY when it comes to female country music. She seriously likes like ONE female singer. So this is HUGE.

Texas Cookin': Chalupa Grande

"If you ever want a man to marry you, just make him chalupa grande." That's what my mama has been telling me for years. I can't personally say this theory is tried and true, but my mom and Nana seemed to have some pretty happy men in their life and they both made this on a regular basis so they may be on to something.

It's always been a hit. I like to make it in the crockpot in the winter and eat on it for a few days, then freeze the leftovers to make soup later (it makes a HUGE batch). Or make it in the summer because it doesn't require slaving over a stove for hours and it will feed a crowd!

My mom is actually famous for this recipe as it was published in Taste of Home wayyy back in 1992 and then later in the Taste of Home cookbook a couple years ago. Mama and Nana used to make it and take it to the fields for the workers during cotton harvest. The recipe is still posted online here! The little description cracks me up - it was back in their only-child days!

Photo from tasteofhome.com

If you've ever eaten or ordered a chalupa in a restaurant, this recipe is going to confuse you. I have no idea why it is called Chalupa Grande because it is NOT a chalupa. It's more of a Mexican roast recipe. I like to eat it in a bowl like stew with chips, or in a tortilla with the juice strained out. I always pack on plenty of extra cheese, avocado and hot sauce too!

Bunch of hungry crop dusters!

 Ingredients:
1 pound dried pinto beans
1 boneless pork loin roast (3 pounds)
7 cups water
1 chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 teaspoons cumino
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 can chopped green chilies (OR 2 diced fresh jalepenos if you like it hotter - my preference)

Garnishes:
Corn chips, tortillas
Shredded cheddar cheese
Diced avocado
Diced tomatoes
Chopped green or regular onion
Diced jalepenos
Salsa
Sour cream

Directions:
Place first 10 ingredients in a large kettle (crock pot works great). Beans do not need to be soaked. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, about 3 hours or until beans and roast are tender (about 6 hours in crock pot). Remove roast; cool slightly. Remove meat from bones; shred with a fork. Return meat to kettle. Cook, uncovered, until thick, about 30 minutes. Serve over corn chips or in a tortilla. Pass remaining ingredients as toppings. Yields 10-12 servings.

We're proud to be an American



Throw back 4th of July circa 1994. Selfie Fail.
Pre-Pinterest outfit awesomeness.

For us, Fourth of July has always been a family affair. Well, who am I kidding; anything is always a family affair with our family. But I am totally okay with that. Whether we were rocking amazing pre-Pinterest homemade stars and stripes apparel or crowed around in a backyard watching fireworks with giggly grandmothers and screaming children, Independence Day has always been a fun holiday for us!

 

I don’t know if it’s due to being a Marine’s daughter, a soldier’s grand-daughter or a seaman’s niece, but we have a lot of American pride deeply rooted in us. Whenever people ask where we are from (like, “from-from”, our heritage, not our hometown) I say America. We’ve been here long enough, and take a lot of pride in our family’s American history. Not a day goes by that my Daddy or Nana isn’t flying an American flag in the yard- and you sure better not let that thing touch the ground, you better fold it correctly, and then dispose of it properly. So this 4^th of July, let’s remember that the day isn’t about the party, the fireworks, the drinks or the food. Let’s do remember what Independence Day means, where we’ve come from as a nation, and love those who fought to get us to this point. But, let’s do this with a party, fireworks, drinks, food, family and friends.

We generally have a 3^rd of July celebration and ring in the 4^th with fireworks. We’ll do that tonight, and celebrate through the weekend. So, have a safe and fun 4^th of July weekend!

Food & Family. Our sweet cousin enjoying her Uncle Jeff's famous chicken leg last year on the 4th.

DIY: Pallet Texas Flag

I think it's hilarious that pallets are all the Pinterest rage these days. Growing up half my life on a freight dock and the other half in a hangar, pallets were EVERYWHERE. Seriously they were more like a pest than DIY material. I now see how versatile these things can be, but I can't believe some people PAY for the things, even before they have been repurposed. Seriously - if you need some pallets, just go drive around in a more industrial part of town. More than likely, there are plenty lying around and if you ask nice, I bet folks would be more than happy to let you to haul off a few.

This little project was so so so easy. I just slapped on some paint I had on hand. I didn't measure anything. I am NOT a perfectionist whatsoever, especially when it comes to projects, so everything I do ends up rustic looking because I like it rough around the edges. I used interior paint in white, a cherry red and a deep turquoise. I liked how the turquoise "girled" it up a bit, but if I had navy or royal blue on hand, I probably would have used that instead.

As you can see, these pallets are not the standard size ones you find lying around which are normally more square in shape, maybe a little longer on one side to make it barely a rectangle. The vertical one on the left actually came to our house when we had some parts delivered and it was already that size. The White and Red part was a regular-sized pallet that my dad had that we trimmed I think two slats off of to make it line up with the blue. I think you could play around with whatever pallets you have and just do whatever is easiest. Don't think too hard - don't do math. That's my DIY motto.

Vintage 7-Up cooler stolen gifted from the neighbors. Jalepeno and tomato plants in homemade dollar store planters and the lovely Fran the Flamingo from Coyote Candle Co.

 You could use any kind of paint, even craft paint would work. If you want to seal it (overachiever), it would probably last longer in the elements. Me? I think the more wear it gets, the better. The star was just an old rustic metal thing we happened to have that I hung on with just a nail. I shot it with the same white paint as well, however I may eventually have to go over it with some Rustoleum to keep it from rusting. Or maybe I'll just like the rusty look.

The actual cutting and painting part of this project took a solid ten minutes. Easy peasy lemon squeezey. Now for the hanging... if my roommate Emily and I had been left to our own devices, it would have taken around 10 minutes, been super rigged, but probably worked good enough for us. BUT, we made the mistake of letting boys be involved, so suddenly we had five ameteur engineers who just knew they could get this thing hung better than us. And about two hours later, it was done.

Just a little visit to the hardware store for some chain and hooks and this bad boy was flying pretty. I love how it adds a little something extra to the backyard. It would be even easier to hang on a fence or just lean on the corner of a patio or something. So fun, practically free (minus about $5 on hardware that I deemed completely unnecessary) and about a 20 minute project (if boys don't step in and ruin the fun ;).