August Photo Project: Water

I've always lived near the water. Whether it was growing up 10 minutes from the ocean in Savannah, living blocks away from the Puget Sound in Seattle or having a view of the East River in New York, it's part of my geographical history. Austin is a change for me, but Town Lake and the many swimming pools are tiding me over. Here are the photos you shared:

My friend Annie took this photo of Gullfoss Waterfall on her trip to Iceland.

Ann of write.thrift.bake.roam snapped a beautiful photo at the beach.

Melissa of On Board the Gravytrain took this pic of her parents' pool in Alabama.

My Aunt Kathy sent this photo of Vernon River in Savannah.

And Jessica of dissolved into something captured stunning Waipio Valley Beach in Hawaii, where she recently eloped! Congrats, Jessica!

If you want to share a water photo, just leave a link below! Thanks for all the beautiful images!

Fox and Friends

When it comes to stuffed animals, I don't have much willpower. It's hard to resist buying a whole bunch for baby boy. Last week, I got the sweetest little fox in the mail as a baby gift from a friend. Made by a Brooklyn-based company called Hazel Village, each animal comes with a name and story. For instance, Owen Fox has a secret treehouse where he likes to practice his dance moves. I can't even stand the cuteness. This little guy might need a few more animal pals.

Austin Eats: Hillside Farmacy Happy Hour

Hillside Farmacy is an East Austin restaurant housed in a restored drugstore and is a total hipster haven, so of course, we like it. We stopped in for happy hour the other day and tried their mac & cheese, gulf shrimp and malt vinegar fries. They even serve tasty non-alcoholic drinks, like the strawberry, basil and balsamic soda I had. I'm looking forward to returning for a full meal and a real cocktail some time soon.

Thoughts of the Week

This gorgeous flower cake deserves its own party.

Some home office inspiration.

Is there a sweeter flower than a sweet pea?

So many popsicles, so little time.

Rice and fruit: who knew?

I just love a good hotel.

I've come across some cute mobiles, but this may be the one.

And please send your water photos my way!

I've hit the 32-week mark in pregnancy. It seems crazy how this pregnancy has flown by. Despite things being so hectic here (or because of that), Jonah and I decided to book a babymoon getaway to Napa Valley in a couple weeks. Jonah has agreed to drink my share of wine. Ashley of Hither & Thither has some great tips -- she traveled there while pregnant too -- but if you've got any favorites, send them my way! Hope you have a great weekend!

Pet Possessions

It's funny to me how quickly we became "dog people." Zuzu's toys get scattered all over the place so the least they can do is be cute. Harry Barker is a Charleston-based brand that sells eco-friendly and stylish pet products -- I think it's safe to say that Zuzu is a fan. It's nice that all this dog gear can be as chic as it is slobbery.

The Sweet Life

These illustrations by Emma Block are all kinds of adorable. It's as if a perfect day in Paris were drawn out. It's enough to make a girl want to buy a plane ticket.

Weekend in Photos

My weekend appears to be entirely food-centric. I guess when it's 101 degrees outside, we just hop from restaurant to restaurant, and there's no need for fooling around with much else. I picked up a boxful of breakfast pastries from Tiny Pies, including a tasty blueberry-lemon pop tart. And we continued our search for our favorite Austin restaurants with dinner at New India and brunch at Olivia. Both proved themselves worthy of a return visit.

Getting Schooled

What girl doesn't love back to school shopping? These sophisticated supplies are even better than a set of scented markers.

[found here: backpack; notebook; pencil case; spiral-bound notebooks; highlighters; planner; binder; pencils]

Feeling Fresca

An agua fresca is a water-based drink infused with fruit, seeds, herbs or flowers. There are so many flavor possibilities, but I went with a combination of pineapple and mint. It's light and refreshing and perfect for sweltering summer days.

Pineapple Mint Agua Fresca

2 1/2 cups pineapple, cubed
2 cups water, divided
2 tablespoons agave or honey, or more if you prefer it sweeter
1 tablespoon lime juice
6-8 mint leaves

Puree pineapple, 1 cup water, agave, lime juice and mint leaves in a blender until smooth. Pour into bowl or container and mix in remaining cup of water. Chill until cold for about 2 hours, then strain mixture into pitcher using a sieve, pressing on solids in strainer. Fill glasses with ice and pour the agua fresca over. Garnish with mint. Serves 2.

Weekend in Photos

I hope you don't mind my weekend recap being a day late. Things are starting to slow down around here, especially me and my brain. We enjoyed hot dogs and a game of Connect Four at Man Bites Dog, which has become an occasional tradition. I especially like the fact that they have a hot dog called the Abe Froman on the menu, which I am obligated to order due to my love of Ferris Bueller. I made this tasty peach and blackberry crumble, did some shopping for baby stuff and had another puppy class with Zuzu, who is getting big way too fast!

Monthly Photo Project: August

For August's photo project, I'm all about cooling off. Let's capture water in all its glory. I'll share the results on Friday, August 29th. Email me your photo and information in advance, so I can highlight images from some of you. Send it to: southernhostess[at]gmail.com Have a great weekend!

Weeknight Treat: Blueberries with Custard Sauce

I spotted this recipe for blueberries with custard sauce on Pinterest and had to make it that very night because it looked that good. #blamethebaby Luckily, it's basic and quick and I had all the ingredients on hand, which constitutes a perfect weeknight treat. There's something about this custard sauce that's so craveable, like vanilla pudding before it's set. You can eat it warm or cold, and it's the perfect complement to fresh blueberries.

Nursery Art

We don't currently have a nursery -- just a guest bedroom that gets colder than all the other rooms (oh, apartment life) -- but that hasn't stopped me from planning and picking out art for baby boy and the space he'll occupy one day. I love the pops of color in these prints. It seems fitting for such a happy place.

[found here: sheep; teepees; alphabet and numbers; scattered showers; red; bear; blessing; map]

Weekend in Photos

It was a low-key weekend around here. We tried some restaurants in our neighborhood, Pinthouse Pizza and Noble Sandwich Co., and both were winners. There was some Sunday napping, time outside in Zilker Park and puppy class for Zuzu, which could also just be called roomful of cuteness.

Coffee Time

This concept for a coffee-making alarm clock reminds me of The Office episode where Michael burns his foot on his George Foreman grill because he likes waking up to the smell of bacon in bed. I think it's safe to say this prototype is a little more thought-out. Called the Barisieur, it was created by industrial designer Joshua Renouf and uses induction to heat the water and has a drawer for coffee grounds and sugar and a vial for milk. Now if only it were sold at Target.

[spotted on: laughing squid]