Austin: Hijo

So over the last month I've made about about 10 roundtrip drives to San Antonio, as my father lives there and is terminally ill. I always make a point to break up the long drive from Dallas with stops along the way. Whether it's lunch at Monument Cafe in Georgetown, a stop at the Texas Monthly office, or a coffee break at Bistro Bakery in Olmos Park.

 My latest stop has been to Hijo, Michelle Teague's new little shop in the back of Jardinero's Nursery in East Austin (that hood is my favorite, btw). 

 You may remember Michelle from previous posts about her great store JM Dry Goods. Originally in Marfa, she moved the store and her family to Austin a few years ago. 

 Her tightly edited Texas-meets-Mexico merch is spot on. It's clean, but everything also has a handmade rustic feel to it; somehow it's all evenly balanced. Everything from the gorgeous Oaxacan hammocks to painted Turkish clay bowls to bowls of skull-shaped beads made me swoon.

 Next time you're in Austin, I urge you to head East and explore. It's really where it's at now and if I could, I would move there in a minute. 

 I bought a handful of these babies below in white and blue and have them nestled in some white geodes I bought from Michelle. They look so great all piled on top of the paper mache skulls I picked up in San Miguel in February. 

Dallas: Sugar Derby

You can probably tell I only post things on here that I'm really nuts about. So, of course, I have to let you guys know about Sugar Derby Mobile.

 Owned by Melissa Mackaly, that darling girl below, it's a 1958 Cardinal travel trailer merched-out with all kinds of fantastic vintage finds. And the other thing: Mackaly, a Dallas-native, is obsessed with Texas. Anyone with that preoccupation is best friend material as far as I'm concerned. 

 Want to see for yourself if you already haven't? Head over to the Old Bike Shop tomorrow night for her one-year anniversary party. I hope to see you there. xx

Marfa: Camp Design Build

I'm dying to sign up for the Camp Design Build Adventure in Marfa this summer.

 The four-day workshop held on the grounds of El Cosmico is lead by artist/builder Jack Sanders

 From June 6-10 attendees get to learn about design, functionality, and how your environment effects the outcome and ultimately work on a community project benefitting local children

 Register here and hopefully I'll see you there

Dallas: Traffic

I can't figure out which I'm more excited about: Traffic men's and women's clothing stores, the Taschen bookstore or women's boutique TenOverSix, all of them are opening (the Traffic men's store is open now) in the next few weeks as the Joule makes its renovated debut. Finally downtown is being injected with some major energy. 

 Here's a quick peek at Traffic 

 Dying over this men's DSquared jacket. Want it for myself.

 There's a smattering of women's, like this back corner of Rick Owens, a few racks of IRO, and some J Brand denim. There is free valet and the store will also offer home delivery if you can't make it down. Now there's no excuse not to do a little shopping south of Mockingbird. 

Dallas: James Perse

Soooo excited that James Perse is opening in Highland Park Village this fall!

 Finally I'll be able to shop the entire collection of my favorite tees and basics.

 I would live in this dress all summer

 And I'm praying that the new boutique will carry James Perse furniture

so simple and stylish

 And seriously, this ping pong table is incredibly chic. Love.