Like a Rhinestone Cowgirl

Howdy Y'all! I just got back from visiting Texas this week for the first (and not the last) time in my life. The past few weeks I'd told my friends and family I was fix'in to visit Texas and they'd ask, "Really, why there?" or "It's going to be SO hot and humid, are you crazy?"

Don't rain on my parade, I thought to myself. If anything, cross your fingers Texas gets rain SOON because they really need it.

So, here's why I've always wanted to visit Texas:

1. The rumors about San Francisco being super COLD in the summer are REAL, so I'm always craving HOT weather in the summer

2. I'm a meat and potatoes girl. Filet mignon and mashed potatoes drizzled with truffle oil is my kind of meal

3. After scooping spoonfuls of sugar into tea I order in SF, I was looking forward to Southern Sweet Tea

4. I eat Chevy's every week, so the thought of authentic TexMex had my mouth wattering

5. Most importantly, there is history, culture, unique cities and super friendly people worth seeing
    (Special thanks to Jean and her family for ALL the hospitality there)

Here's a quick tour of my trip and maybe you'll give the Lone Star State a visit yourself sometime. :)

One of my favorite parts about San Antonio was the Riverwalk which runs throughout the city

At the lake house we visited at Canyon Lake the day fires were starting around the state :(

Back to the River Walk

  Luckily we caught a cooling trend after a stifling HOT summer there. After talking to locals, Texas is   having one of their worst droughts in decades and it's rained less than five times this entire year.

San Marcos Outlets near San Antonio has a Neiman Marcus discount castle. Thanks to some seriously slashed Labor Day prices I was able to buy a couple fall items I'll show later :)

A day trip to Austin, TX 

After one of the best dinners ever, we decided to walk some of it off on the Riverwalk. The humidity made my hair SO flat.  How do Texas gals get their hair big? I need their tricks :)

One of the best steaks and Margaritas I've ever had at Bohanan's in San Antonio

The Alamo in SA

No trip would be complete without souvenirs for my family and maybe 1 for myself. :) I found this old belt buckle at an antique shop near the Alamo

Whether you've always wanted to visit a city an hour away, go to a different state or fly halfway across the world, I'd encourage you to plan it, save for it and go! AND don't let anyone "rain on your parade." hehe

Not to sound like a timeshare sales pitch, but is there a place you've always wanted to visit but haven't made the time...yet?

Have a great weekend and I can't wait to post in a few days on the amazing Fashion's Night Out event I went to at Santana Row last night in San Jose. :)