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School’s out for summer! We’re kicked off the kids’ summer break and hit the road on the last day of school to embark on our first ever camping trip in Texas.

We were avid campers when we lived in the Pacific Northwest, but have not had the opportunity to explore any Texas campsites since we’ve moved here until now.

Huntsville State Park, nestled in the Sam Houston National Forest, offers an idyllic setting for an unforgettable outdoor adventure. With its diverse range of activities, including fishing, hiking trails, and abundant wildlife, this state park is a perfect destination for families seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In this blog post, we will delve into the exciting activities and attractions that make Huntsville State Park a great getaway for families with kids.

 

Fishing Fun

Huntsville State Park boasts a great fishing dock accessible from the campsites via a short trail to tranquil lake that’s teeming with fish, making it an ideal spot for a family fishing expedition. Pack your fishing gear and enjoy some quality time with your kids on the water’s edge. Common catches include largemouth bass, catfish, and crappie. Don’t forget to obtain a fishing license, available at the park office, and familiarize yourself with any size or bag limits. Engaging in this classic outdoor pastime is a fantastic way to teach your kids patience, the art of angling, and the importance of conservation.

 

Hiking Trails Galore

Exploring the beauty of nature through hiking is a must-do activity at Huntsville State Park. The park offers a variety of well-marked trails that cater to different skill levels, ensuring there’s something for everyone in the family. The Prairie Branch Loop Trail, for instance, is a beginner-friendly trail that winds through the park’s diverse ecosystems, offering glimpses of towering pine trees, peaceful meadows, and serene lake views. The Chinquapin Trail, a moderate-level hike, presents a slightly more challenging terrain and rewards hikers with breathtaking vistas along the way. Encourage your kids to become nature detectives as you discover unique plants, animal tracks, and hidden treasures during your hike.

Wildlife Encounters: Huntsville State Park is a sanctuary for a wide array of wildlife, presenting countless opportunities for your kids to marvel at nature’s wonders up close. Keep your eyes peeled for the park’s resident white-tailed deer, squirrels, and rabbits as they meander through the forest. Birdwatching enthusiasts will be delighted to spot an array of feathered friends, including woodpeckers, warblers, and even the elusive bald eagle. Remind your kids to observe these creatures from a respectful distance and to refrain from feeding them, as maintaining their natural behaviors is vital for their well-being.  We did see a couple of alligators in the lake so be sure to watch out and take precaution while in and on the lake!

 

Fun On The Lake

Huntsville State Park Boathouse rents canoes, kayaks and paddleboats by the hour, all day or overnight.

Huntsville State Park Boathouse rents canoes, kayaks and paddleboats by the hour, all day or overnight.

 

Our Campsite

We got lucky booking our campsite so late in the season as we got a really good site facing the lake with lots of trees.

Camping Delights: After an eventful day of fishing, hiking, and wildlife encounters, unwinding at one of Huntsville State Park’s campsites is the perfect way to cap off your adventure. The park offers a variety of camping options, from tent sites nestled in the shade of towering trees to RV sites with modern amenities. Gather around the campfire to share stories, roast marshmallows, and bask in the tranquility of the outdoors. Our kids enjoyed the simplicity of nature, stargazing, and simply enjoying the peaceful ambiance of our campsite.

Conclusion: Huntsville State Park is a family-friendly haven that offers an abundance of activities for kids and adults alike. From fishing escapades to invigorating hikes and memorable wildlife encounters, this Texas gem has it all. So, pack your camping gear, don your hiking boots, and embark on an adventure that will create cherished memories for the whole family. A trip to Huntsville State Park is a gateway to reconnecting with nature, fostering a sense of exploration, and creating a bond that will last a lifetime.

What are your favorite state parks and campsite in Texas?

 

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Image courtesy of PaperCity

 

 

Since moving to Fort Worth TX, John and I, along with our kids have been making time on the weekends to explore our new town, city, region, and state. Recently we had the opportunity to head south to San Antonio to explore the San Antonio’s Historic Pearl and The Missions. We absolutely loved it and wanted to share our discoveries and photos of the area with you!

Stay

AIRBNB

This trip’s Airbnb was an amazing historic mission building, Casa De Alamo, built in 1868 that has been fully restored with modern décor and luxe touches, kid friendly amenities, and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.  The scenic drive to the home was a highlight in itself passing through winding roads and views of Texas Hill Country.

Absolutely loved this welcoming front porch.

The stoney walls continue throughout the interior…

Cute farmhouse style kitchen

The kids’ bedroom

 

Master Bedroom…

Complete with the perfect selfie mirror for capturing the perfect #ootds

Outfit Details: Coat: H&M, Pants and Top old, Platform Sandals  Blush (also available in white)

The back deck, fully fenced, and just beyond the grass is a creek

 See

The Pearl

The Pearl is a great example of the revitalization along the Riverwalk. Originally a brewery founded in 1881, this property has seen a renaissance in the last decade. Buildings have undergone complete renovation and restoration and now house the Culinary Institute of America, 15+ food venues, a weekend farmer’s market, a luxury hotel and apartments, 13+ retail venues, a yoga studio, and the new Bottling Department, San Antonio’s first food hall, opened in 2017.

The turf lawn outside the Bottling Department Food Hall is the perfect spot for kids to run around and play and people watch.

 

Hotel Emma

Located in the hip Pearl District of San Antonio, Hotel Emma was originally Pearl’s Brewhouse built in 1894 and a San Antonio landmark ever since. It brings an eclectic, high style vibe to a city known for its intermingling of the multicultural and historical. Opened in 2015, Hotel Emma was designed by the award-winning firm Roman and Williams in the historic Pearl Brewery bulding, whose IG I’ve been following for years for their stunning designs in all the cool places. I could spend an entire blog post on just the Hotel Emma itself, but for now I’ll just share some of our favorite features we had time to enjoy.

Lobby

The Roman and Williams team created an original hacienda-chic style that feels one part South Texas ranch, one part Old World extravagance, and one part Jules Verne steampunk.

The front of the building welcomes guests and visitors to a beautiful courtyard that has a romantic Old World feel, with string lights hung, terracotta tiles, a water feature created from tanks salvaged from the original brewery, and a sitting area in front of a beautiful large wood burning fireplace.

Courtyard and wood burning fireplace

Can we take a moment and talk about this impressive kitchen? The Exhibition Kitchen at Hotel Emma sitting smack dab exposed in the middle of a hallway hosts events and classes throughout the year offered to guests. When not in use, the kitchen is definitely a show stopper and conversation starter.

Edible garden landscape outside Supper

 

Outfit Details: Blazer Cape (from 2016): Similar here, Jumpsuit: ANewDay , Sandals  Blush (also comes in White), Fanny Pack: Who What Wear (no longer available)  similar here

 

The Missions

Preserved by the National Historic Parks, San Antonio’s four historic missions are not only architecturally alluring, but also offer some of the area’s most interesting attractions. Sadly, many people have never even heard of these missions – overshadowed as they are by the famous Alamo. Here are some of San Antonio’s most beautiful missions to get your family-friendly, cultural adventure off to a great start.

A fun family day out, The Missions are very kid friendly and best of all, a free attraction for the entire family to enjoy. Kids can run and play inside their stone walls, explore garrisons that guarded residents from raiding Apaches and Comanches, see how native peoples lived 250+ years ago, and learn how ancient settlers grew crops and carried water along an ancient aqueduct.

Mission San Jose

Mission San Juan

Mission Espada

 

Eat and Shop

San Antonio Historic Market Square

We followed the upbeat music and came upon a square dating back to the 1820s, which locals dub “El Mercado,” full of vendor stalls, indoor shops and patio-equipped Latin eateries sitting underneath colorful strings of flags.

The boys and I had our first authentic Gordita! As surprising as that sounds and as much as I love Mexican food, I’ve just been comfortable ordering my usual street style tacos al pastor or carne asada. The boys loved them so much so I’m going to have to learn to make these gorditas at home!

The indoor market had the most beautiful artisan wares. I need to go back for some Saltillo tiles and other art objects.

 

Brunch at Ocho

Ocho is arguably one of the most instagrammable spots in San Antonio no matter the time of day and weather conditions. I knew I had to visit here after seeing photos of their conservatory attached to the Hotel Havana which serves as the Ocho restaurant/bar. I mean the place practically had all of my favorite things in life: windows, plants, marble, turquoise, and brunch!

Upon entering, you are greeted by the largest and tallest Fiddle Leaf Fig you’ll ever see.

 

Southtown

We spent our last day in San Antonio in the Southtown neighborhood, which we stumbled upon by accident searching for the nearest Steelcity Pops per Jonah’s request. After a bit of walking we found Steelcity Pops around the backside of a block located in another industrial building with a big grass lawn in front. I could see this being a popular spot for families during the warmer months.

We also found The Friendly Spot while driving through Southtown. What we first saw was the big children’s play structure out front with tons of kids playing and having fun. In the background was what appeared to be a bar. To our surprise, this said bar had the perfect solution for parents with kids to be able to enjoy some adult beverages while their kids safely played. Let’s just say the rest of our plans for the day got scratched after we found The Friendly Spot.

 

Finally, no trip to San Antonio would be complete without stopping in an H-E-B for market goods. For South Texans, H-E-B is the spot for locally sourced and specialty food items. It’s corporate headquarters is based San Antonio with retail stores located primarily in South Texas and 8 locations in the Southwest part of the DFW Metroplex – we feel lucky to have one in Granbury!  We decided to stop at the H-E-B near our Airbnb in Helotes where we were staying, and to our delight, it was Happy Hour at South Flo Pizza!  South Flo Pizza is a new concept at select H-E-B stores featuring fresh made-to-order artisan pizzas. Happy Hour is from 4-7pm and includes a 16″ large pizza and a choice of draft beers and wine… all for only $10.00!!

Clearly, the wine and beer made our day. The pizza was delicious too! The best I’ve had in Texas.

San Antonio has so much more that we want to see and will have to do on our next visit. I’m already booking a hotel stay for just hubby and me at Hotel Emma for our 11thanniversary this summer!  Three things still on my bucket list in San Antonio:  The Riverwalk, The Luxury, and La Villitia Historic Arts Village.

For those who have travelled to San Antonio, what are your favorite places to check out?

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

My little family and I have lived in Texas for almost 6 months now! We still can’t believe it, but we’ve been making the most of our new lives here and embracing all the amazing opportunities and fun adventures that have come our way.

On my bucket of things to do, see, and try in Texas has been a trip to Magnolia Market and Silos in Waco. As most of my family and friends know, I’m a huge fan of the hit show Fixer Upper and all things Magnolia and Chip and Joanna Gaines. Their brand and vision is such an inspiration to me through their creativity, humility, kindness, and hospitality, not to mention Joanna makes everything beautiful!

Luckily for us, Waco is only an hour and a half away from Granbury. Why haven’t we gone sooner?! Now that the weather is no longer in extreme freezing temps or extreme scorching 100+ degree temps, and the madness of the holidays are over, we took advantage of a quiet leisurely weekend in February to visit Magnolia. Note: Magnolia is usually closed on Sundays. They hosted a private event this weekend to celebrate the spring issues of Darling Magazine and Magnolia Journal, and we had the opportunity to capture some photos of the exterior grounds, the vegetable gardens, and plaza features which are amazing and really the highlight of the entire venue.

Upon arriving, Joanna Gaines’ design presence is immediately felt. There are details that you can pin point and recall from specific episodes on Fixer Upper when they first started the Silos project in 2015/16 and the bakery addition in 2016 such as the wooden flower boxes outside the bakery windows.  The exterior building is a beautifully painted brick white with her signature black shutters, black window trim and black door. In an older Fixer Upper episode before they demo’d space which would become the bakery, Joanna said her vision for the bakery would have an old world charm feel to it, and she achieved just that.  The Silos is located in an industrial part of Waco taking up no more than a few blocks. I can see how crazy and packed this place can get on a typical Saturday, which I recommend to try to avoid if your schedule and situation allows. Coming here on a Sunday really allowed us to enjoy every design element and landscape feature of the space.

Black metal planters never looks so good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Magnolia Seed and Supply feature is beautiful as it is functional. It features raised garden beds that have been meticulously maintained.  One of my projects for the backyard this spring is to install similar raised garden beds to grow vegetables and herbs, and a little place for the kids to help grow and tend to their own veggies and fruits of their choice. I love the protective awnings that double as filters for the produce and protection from critters!

The main open pavilion space is dotted with adorable picnic tables and benches with stylish black and white stripe awnings. These awnings for shade are so needed during Texas’ harsh sun and heat in the summer and fall months. They look great year round and also come in handy if it rains. I love how the Magnolia team installed faux grass or turf on one side to accommodate lawn games or folks that just want to relax on a blanket and have a picnic and people watch.  I also love the contrast of keeping the other half of the grounds raw with gravel.

My favorite feature has to be all the magnolia trees that have been planted along the sidewalks of Magnolia Market and Silos. There are also a cluster of magnolia trees strategically planted against a trellis wall that serves as a backdrop, perfect for those instagram shots! The grounds are going to look even more gorgeous in the spring when all those magnolia trees bloom! We can’t wait to go back.

The boys also had fun wandering the grounds.

 

Obligatory bakery photo

 

A funny story I shared on my Instagram post:  a couple eagerly approached us and said they saw us from the road, pulled over to try to get an autograph thinking I was Joanna Gaines. I literally lol’d, thanked them and apologized to have disappointment as I wasn’t THE Joanna Gaines.  I don’t think we look anything alike but I’ll take a Joanna Gaines reference any day! Haha. Our styles may be similar, we have long dark hair, and our ethnic backgrounds are of Asian decent, but that’s about it.

 

It was a great visit and provided a backdrop for inspiration.  We can’t wait to return when the flowers are in bloom and when their new restaurant Magnolia Table opens!

While in Waco, we also took some fun photos in front of the floral wall mural by Tyler Kay, then ended with a picnic at Cameron park and let the boys play and run off their energy at the playground.

 

Tips for visiting Magnolia Market and Waco:

  • Come early! Arriving before opening is ideal, or even on a Sunday when it’s closed to the public if you want to take some great landscape photos without people in the way.
  • Start at the bakery and visit the rest of the market and silos after.
  • On busier days, you can park your car and take the free trolley that drops you off at the front entrance.
  • Save money by packing a picnic lunch or some snacks to enjoy in the pavilion.
  • Enjoy the little details that makes the space so beautiful and charming.
  • Visit during the different seasons as the landscape and gardens will look different throughout the year.
  • Take lots of photos and have fun!

What are some of your favorite things to do or places to check out while in Waco?

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

It has been four months since we sold our house, left Washington and moved to Texas. I’ve been reluctant on writing this post because I just didn’t feel like I was ready to express all the emotions that come with a move/relocation, a new city, new state, new town, new life, new everything. As the end of 2017 nears, I’ve had a few months to reflect and am ready to share my thoughts on our recent move.  It has been both exciting, liberating and joyful, yet there are times I feel sad and miss the place I was so familiar and comfortable with. Being a Seattle native, I’ve only lived away from Seattle to go to college in Pullman and to study abroad in London England for a semester. At age 32, the biggest move for ME at the time was moving from Seattle to the Eastside (Issaquah to be exact).  It was the first time in my adult life that I’ve felt such passion and connection about a place and a home before.  I felt more content than I ever had before. It wasn’t until my husband, children and I did life there that I discovered a new found appreciation for everything about it. I loved the natural beauty surrounded by mountains and trees, the lake nearby, the landscape, the proximity to Seattle and Bellevue, the charming small town feel, the craftsman architecture, the neighborhoods and the excellent schools. I loved how we had access to everything outside our front door and could walk to the park, playground, community center, library, market, shops, and hiking trails.

 

 

With the real estate market up and more equity built up in our home, we knew we wanted to sell to buy and design/build our next dream home and stay in Issaquah.  What we didn’t know was how quickly our home would sell. We listed the last weekend of June and by the second week of July, we accepted an offer and went into contract.  This gave us very little time to go with the plan to build a new home in Issaquah and we hadn’t found any listings that we loved.  The same week that we accepted an offer on our house, John got a call from his employer about a position in Fort Worth and if he was interested, he could start in August.  As in next month August. Freaking out, with no plans or leads for any Issaquah homes, we jumped online to check out potential Dallas/Fort Worth real estate listings. We were surprised by what we saw, especially for the price point. You get a lot of house and land in Texas for half the price of what you would pay in the Seattle/Eastside areas, allowing us to increase and save our net proceeds, and invest in another project.

After discussing the opportunity and weighing our options, whether to stay or move, I wholeheartedly agreed and supported John’s decision to relocate our family for his job.  After all, John has supported my career choices during our entire relationship, going along with my career plans and changes.  It was time to return the favor and encourage his career decision.

As John and I began discussing and comparing our wish lists and requirements in a new home, we compromised and agreed on a ranch style home on half an acre in a country setting about 35 minutes outside of Fort Worth. We worked with a virtual agent who was so helpful in touring and video recording properties for us all over DFW. She wrote up the offer and within days we had mutual acceptance, an inspection date and tentative closing date.

Everything happened so fast that we didn’t have an opportunity to see all of our friends and family that we would have liked to or for a proper farewell. Packing seemed like it was never ending, but we managed to get it done in two weekends and all the hours during the week in between. The task of packing in such a short window gave us the opportunity to purge a lot of unnecessary “things and stuff” that we kept and collected for no reason over the years. I applied some elements of the KonMari Method during the purge and it felt so good to get rid of stuff that we didn’t need or that didn’t spark joy.  I also had fun selling a lot of stuff quickly on OfferUp, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace.

Moving day came and I found it feeling similar to how I felt first going off to college. There’s excitement and fear of the unknown. I remember those college days well… I was homesick at first, yet I knew it was time for that next chapter.  I had no choice but to go forward.  Looking back, those were some of the best years of my life. I never learned so about myself and what I was capable of doing.  It’s a different time now and it’s not just about me anymore – I have a husband and two children now.  I need to show them that life here can be and will be great. It already is great in many ways if we open our eyes and look for it.  It’s also an incredible opportunity, a chance to try new things, explore more of the world, make new traditions, celebrate life and grow.

No matter how much I miss my old life, there’s no better time to move forward – for my husband, our sons, and for myself.  The timing of it all just fell into place organically as if there was a bigger plan for us just waiting to unfold but it was up to us to put in the work and make it happen.  We feel truly blessed.

Closing Day August 28, 2017

So here we are, in our new home and new state. The boys have adjusted so well, better than I expected. I know it’s their age that has helped make the transition easier. Jonah at age 7 going on 8 at the time of our move, loves his new school and hasn’t looked back. Baron at age 2 during the move is just enjoying everyday. We like to look at photos together on fb and Instagram of our friends and relatives from back home and the kids do remember the fun memories we had.  We love our new home and are happy with our decision on where and what we purchased. I have plans to make some updates to the house in stages, but for now, I am finding joy in making this house our home through projects such as decorating, repurposing, and styling a whole new blank canvas. (House tour pics coming soon).  Frequent trips to Target (Super Targets in Texas) have been therapeutic and have helped me ease into my new environment here, while discovering new places to eat, shop, play and explore have made it an exciting adventure for the entire family.  There are also Drybar‘s here in Dallas and Fort Worth, hallelujah! I just need to find a new hairstylist and I’ll be good to go.  Speaking of shopping, Dallas is the place to be if you love to shop. John has found his outdoor gun range, and the kids have a cute little park, beach and lake nearby.  At the end of each day, we find tranquility in our new country surroundings.

We appreciate the close friends and relatives who have been supportive and those who have rooted for us (you know who you are) in our decision to move. It really means a lot to know that it is your true friends that have your back no matter what, and uplift and encourage you to live your best life. I’m all about #goodvibesonly. Designing the life you want involves risk, challenges, uncertainty and figuring some things out as you go. There will be voices and negative nellies that tell you “It’s too hard” or “It just doesn’t make sense.”  In fact, our brains are scientifically wired to prevent us from doing things that are uncomfortable, uncertain or scary in order to protect us and survive. But at the risk of sounding cliché, I believe sacrificing a life inside a comfort zone for the sake of living a better, richer and fuller story is the best kind of life worth living.