Friday, March 30, 2018

Denver Recommendations?

The best friend and I are headed to Denver for the weekend! We are so excited, we've been planning since my birthday. But we would love if y'all have any recommendations. You'll be able to follow along on Instagram - xoxo darling, Hayden.
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Thursday, March 29, 2018

What's in My Travel Bag

Hannah and I are traveling to Denver this weekend and I thought I would share what I'm carrying in my bag. It's going to be a fun weekend getaway, check it out - xoxo darling, Hayden.
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Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Week Re-Cap

What a week, and what a good one. It has been an absolute blast but lordy have I been stressed since Monday. But back to the weekend, I got to hangout with friends, eat some good foods and get covered in powder paint for Holi. The photos from that particular event were too good not to include. This week Serena and I are in high stress time because next week is my spirit group's inaugural Lady Bird Johnson Week. It's the first week of its kind and it really about celebrating the life of the amazing woman.  I've also been doing a lot of stuff for job applications/interviews, which let me tell you, college is the most amazing time of your life, but getting a job is not. If y'all have any advice, please let me know. Hope your week is going well - xoxo darling, Hayden. 
 Colleen's Kitchen is the most aesthetically pleasing restaurant I've been in thus far. 
 Saturday afternoon at Live Oak Brewing. 
The sandwich was a Schnitzelwich, a Schnitzel Sandwich. 
 Alyssa and I finally tried Academia on 4th...we were not the biggest fans. 
The theme was trying way too hard. 
 Our checks came in books...
 Sunday's Holi Festival was so much fun! 
 Love these ladies. 
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Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Mattie's at Green Pastures Review

"I want to marry the biscuits at Mattie's; the white peacock can officiate," my best friend said as we sampled our appetizer during our first trip to Mattie's at Green Pastures. Hannah is normally funny but on this night in particular she was hitting me with one-liners about our food. Which I think really represents Mattie's. It isn't stuffy like you might expect and the food is way better than I could have ever dreamt.

I first saw the place pop up on Eater Austin {my favorite news site} and knew I wanted to visit the white house located amongst the oak trees of South Austin. It was too picture perfect - the ideal spot to Instagram my food. But as with all places like it I assumed it would be over-priced with tiny portions. Boy was I wrong and I don't think I've ever been this happy to be that wrong.
When you drive up to Mattie's you may come across peacocks crossing the road. The street is dotted with signs saying, "Peacocks Welcome Here." The somewhat long drive leads you up to the house where complimentary valet will happily park your car. At this time I think I should point out that two things were happening for Hannah and I. 1: A dean of our college was getting out of the car in front of us. 2: A wedding was going on. Yes, a wedding. The bride & groom were taking photos at the entrance of the restaurant. It was beautiful.

Once we made it past the happy couple we checked in for our 5pm reservation. We were 15 minutes early so he suggested we stop in at the bar for drinks. The bar, right off the foyer, looks like it could be in a home in Southern Living. The handsome people perched on bar stools sipping Old Fashions helped, of course. Out of inspiration for my 16th birthday trip to Paris, when all I drank was Kir Royale, I ordered a Kir Royale Highball ($11). It was Côté de Mas sparkling crémant, French cassis, crushed ice, and grapefruit oil - I cannot tell you anything about all of those words but I can tell you it was beautifully made, perfectly sweet with just the right amount of bubbly and refreshing.

About three seconds after we received our drinks we were ushered to our table in the main dining room. The furniture was simple - wooden tables and chairs with inviting blue velvet booths. The lighting was muted; not great for photos but great for intimacy. Speaking of intimate, it was for such a big house. And with a wedding going on; it felt like it was just Hannah and I in some southern family's home. Everything about the decor, the simple paintings, the wood floors continued the vibe that this was somewhere you can relax, enjoy the company of your dining companions and let time pass.

Being the bread lovers that we are, Hannah and I opted for the Buttermilk Biscuits ($8) with seasonal butter. Now Hannah and I have been to the "best restaurant in Austin" Olamaie, whose biscuits are talked about like legends in the Austin restaurant scene. Neither one of us loved Olamaie but we agreed the biscuits were good. Then we visited Mattie's. Mattie's biscuits blew every other biscuit I have ever ingested out of the water. I'm serious. Two southern women are telling you these are the best biscuits we've ever had - believe us. They have this crunch on the outside with a sweet glaze. The insides are like a fluffy pillow you want to fall into, you want to snuggle deep in its hold and live there forever. The seasonal butter added an appreciated kick to an already delicious appetizer. Hannah said she wanted to make her wedding cake out of the biscuits.
Both of us, we are best friends, got the same entree. The Mattie’s Fried Chicken ($24) with Yukon pomme purée, spinach, pickled onions and chipotle-yogurt dressing. It's presented on what appears to be a cooking pan with handles. These are not small portions. Read: they are huge! So if you see $24 and think, no way, realize you'll take half of it home.

The chicken reminded me of trips to Church's Chicken as a kid after football games in Tallahassee, Florida. But the taste was way better. The batter is extra crunchy, the chicken is moist, it's just the right amount of salty and you can smell the spices wafting from the meat when you cut into it.

The pomme purée tastes like the classic mashed your mom used to make (with cheese). They are a little grainy and they could have been slightly warmer but overall they added a nice touch to the chicken. The spinach salad was wonderful. The greens were delicious, the dressing added the perfect spicy kick to the meal and it was a refreshing bite after the heavier chicken. Hannah doesn't even like spinach and she finished her salad. When I asked her what she thought of her meal, she just nodded her head vigorously - in Hannah speak this means she really, really liked it.

Overall the entree was everything I wanted out of it. I wasn't disappointed by its size, its quality or its taste. It was just downright delicious. Something I thought I could only experience in the best of southern kitchens that I have back home. Not in a posh house in South Austin.  
Dessert was the 1965 Milk Punch Single ($7). It tasted like Christmas and fall wrapped up in a tiny, adorable glass. It made us both feel warm and fuzzy inside. They have other desserts that seemed delicious but after the drinks, appetizer and entrees we were too stuffed. The drink hit the spot. 

Lastly, the bathroom was cute. It has green stalls and there was a candle that smelled ahhmazing. It was clean, tucked away and not over the top. 

After my experience, Mattie's at Green Pastures is now one of my top five Austin restaurants. It will not disappoint you because they take southern food and keep it simple. There is no over complication of the basics. They invite you to sit on their porch or in the dining room and stay awhile. You will never feel rushed or that you are overstaying your welcome - just like any good southern home.
I've already made a reservation for my graduation dinner. 

Mattie's at Green Pastures is located at 811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704. Reservations and more information can be found here.
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Saturday, March 24, 2018

Articles I'm Reading

  1. These kids are too cute // 27 Costumes That Won World Book Day 2018 // BuzzFeed
  2. Wow // The Best Blogger Trip Ever // Design Darling
  3. This made me laugh so hard out loud // If Literature's "Complicated Men" were on Tinder // McSweeney's
  4. Love these templates from Shannon // Instagram Story Templates // Prep Avenue
  5. How beautiful was this wedding? // Will & Mackenzie Nantucket Wedding // Inkspot Crow Films
  6. I think I might need this? // No Frizz Humidity Shield // Nordstrom
In Case You Missed It:
Here is the top I'm currently obsessed with...
The latest vlog is all about my Spring Break trip...
Here are some really pretty photos of flowers...
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Friday, March 23, 2018

Orange Babcock

I was in Bealls Florida the other day and saw this top. I must say if there is something burnt orange on a rack, I will swoop in like a hawk and buy it. The detailing around the neckline is very me and I think the fit is really complimentary to most body types. The jeans are nothing special but the shoes are Jack Rogers with the rubber bottoms. I own a pair with leather bottoms {here} but these were a Christmas present. You have no idea why my family would choose these, right? The gold pineapple is extremely detailed and since they are white and gold they go with everything. The photos were taken at Babcock Ranch a new community near Fort Myers that is super environmentally friendly. What do y'all think? - xoxo darling, Hayden
A note on the top: It was purchased at Bealls Florida on sale and
 they don't appear to have the color anymore on their site. 
However, they have other colors and they are less than $20! 
There are similar tops below along with the shoes & jeans.
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Thursday, March 22, 2018

Spring Break, Serena & Florida Vlog

Serena and I had a blast on spring break so of course we made a little vlog of our experiences. You can see lots of alligators, huge waves, even bigger slices of cake and just two besties having the time of their lives in Florida. I hope you enjoy - xoxo darling, Hayden.
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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Week Re-Cap

It has been a lovely two weeks in my world. I am combining photos from my last week of classes before break and some photos from break itself. We went out, we drank beer, we ate a lot of food and we just had fun. I really took the opportunity over spring break to relax, not do work, just hangout with my family - and I don't regret that. Hopefully y'all are having wonderful weeks as well - xoxo darling, Hayden.
Gorgeous day on campus.
Are we surprised that when Emma came to visit we took her to Rainey Street and took this photo?
 Serena and I grabbed some brie and beer at Second Bar + Kitchen in the airport. You can see more of her adventures here.
Spring Training season is one of my favorite seasons. Go Twins!
Tried Big Storm Beer in Cape Coral.
LOOK AT THAT BEAUTY. 
 The view from Table & Tap at Babcock Ranch.
Peace River Beer Company in Punta Gorda.
 St. Patrick's Day lunch tradition.
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