Day Three/Austin-Lockhart-San Antonio, TX

Day three we woke up and headed into the city of Austin for one last day of BBQ (and those donuts again..i still miss them)

As you can see the men were interested in how to BBQ and getting tips.  I was just wanting to eat, and my mom just wanted the free beer. (yeah right)

On a full stomach, we hopped in the car and drove to Lockhart so we could see some of the original BBQ joints, and explore a town that seemed like it was straight out of the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.

After we were finished in Lockhart we drove to San Antonio where we would be the rest of the trip.  We headed out into the city to grab dinner and explore the city at night.

Day Two/Austin TX

We started our second day out by dropping Bob and my dad off at Franklin's BBQ to wait for a whopping 3.5 hrs. in line for food.  While Eric, my mom, and I explored the city of Austin.

We started out at the Capitol.  It's huge, and really cool.

After the Capitol we headed to the college.

We finished up before we met the boys at a park that had an awesome view of the city.

Then it was time for BBQ at Franklin's.  It was fall off the bone, and so good.  The best pulled pork sandwich of my life.

Then we headed on a road trip to visit Lake Travis, and the Oasis that rests on it.

Then we finished up our day with some dinner, dessert, and great views of the city.

Austin is such a cool city.

Day One/Austin, TX

We flew into San Antonio and then started our drive to Austin.  The first day of our trip the weather was gorgeous.  The sun was shining, the windows were down, and I was one happy girl.  (Utah was getting pelted with snow.)

Once we got into Austin, we took a very pretty drive through the middle of nowhere to The Salt Lick.  Had to start our trip off right.

The BBQ was amazing.  Probably the best ribs we had the whole trip.  Which is saying a lot because we went to a million BBQ joints.  The turkey was amazing too.  The only thing that was unpleasant was the whole jalapeno I bit into.  Don't know what I was thinking. All I know is that it felt like I blacked out for a second.

We had been traveling all day, so after dinner we drove to our hotels and slept so we could hit it hard the next day.

A New Decade

It's happening.  I'm leaving my 20's behind, and embarking into the 30's.  When did I sign off on this?  How did time accelerate to such breakneck speeds? 

There was a lot of talk about the preparation of turning 30.  A bucket list of sorts.  My cousin Ami and I decided that before we turned 30 there were some things we wanted to accomplish.  We each talked about what we had never done that we wanted to.  And then set out to check them off our lists.  Some of the things  on my list were..

hike to Havasupai..

ride a mechanical bull..

donate my hair..

lose 30 lbs. by 30..

There were plenty of crazy antics preparing for the big 3-0.  I think it's safe to say that we sent our 20's out with a bang.

So whether I like it or not it's happening. I'm choosing to embrace my 30's. I'm choosing to shed anything that's no longer important, and hold dear the people and things that are. To strive to live up to the title of this blog, and keep my life simple. I'm not expecting life to be easy, just trying to de-clutter and focus on what's important.

I'm looking forward to a new decade where I can breathe that sigh, and be comfortable in who I am, and what I have. To free myself from trying to keep up with others, or being a people pleaser, and focus on being happy. Content.

So here I am waiting to see what my 30's have in store for me.  I'm excited, a little nervous, but most of all hopeful that it's full of the people I love most and plenty more adventures.  Cannon ball!