Texas Oct. 2020

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Day 1: October 13, 2020

Woke up at 6am and headed to the Oakland Airport. Flight to Texas was a total of 5.5 hrs. we had a 30min layover in Houston then out flight to Dallas Love Field was an hour.

When we landed we got our bags and took a shuttle to get our rental car. The lady on the phone who booked our rental car for us booked it at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. So instead of driving a new Foed Escape we ended up driving a Jeep Compass. We had a 3 hr drive to Marble Falls. We drove an hour and thirty to Waco and stopped at Target. Then took us 2 and a half ours to our resort. Got to our resort at 10:45pm. Easy and smooth travel day but LONG.

Day 2: October 14, 2020

Slept in until 10:30am felt really nice. Around 1:30 we went an explored downtown Marble Falls where we were stay. They just had a few stores but really unique things. I got a pottery coffee mug that what done an 18 year old.

Day 3: October 15, 2020

Headed out to Dallas, TX at 8am. 3.5 hr drive. Arrived at Armor Coffee Co. in Allen, TX at 12:14pm. We got coffee and a hummus platter and 2 protein balls. They have a chef making all the food in the back. It was delicious!! So cool to visit. And I follow the owners on Instagram. We left about 2:45pm. When we got outside I had mom take a picture of me infront of the coffee shop and the owner Mike Todryk showed up and I got him in the back of my picture. Such a neat experience. After leaving their we headed to the Galleria Mall in downtown Dallas. Spent about 1.5 hrs walking through the mall, went through Nordstrom, Macy's, Pink, and Lulu Lemon. Before heading back to Marble Falls we stopped at Trader Joes in Dallas. Made it back to resort at 11:15pm.

Day 4: October 16, 2020

Left Marble Falls about 10am and drove to Round Top, TX. Went to Junk Gypsy Shop. Their shop and poperty is gorgeous, unique, and gyspy esque. The pink truck from their show they had on TV is sitting in the front of their property. Got a picture with it. Got some really cool things from here. They also had post cards!! Only place so far where we found post cards. Unfortinatelly I only grabbed 2. (couldn't find any until our last day) So didn't send any out. Then we headed to Austin. First place we stopped in Austin was Whole Foods. We parked the car in their parking went in grabbed some things. Then we walked down to the ballet. Got a picture infront of the door. Once a dancer always a dancer. Always find the ballets in every city. Then we walked down a couple more blocks and found the Willie Nelson statue. Really cool achitecture. We didn't find a vegan restraunt or bakery here. Then walked back to our car and headed back to the resort. Our walking was probably a mile or a little more.

Day 5: October 17, 2020

Headed to Waco, TX at 9am. We arrived at Magnolia Table at 11:30. There was a 2 hour wait to be seated so we just went to the coffee bar and got some coffee. Then we around the corner to the gift shop. Took pictures and sat in the patio area for a little bit. Not that we were even able to eat anything since they don't offer vegan options. Hopefully in the near future they will! Next we headed to the Silos! The property is breathtaking in person. We parked about 2 blocks away. Started at one end and made our way to the other, the fist stop was The Press Co. the coffee shop on the property. Since we had just gotten coffee from Magnolia Table we bought a water, didn't have any with us, unusual but that is what we got. Next stop was Magnolia Home, an entire store of home decor, furniture, plants, etc., looking forward to the day I have a home that needs to be furnished! (Trying to also get pictures and "blogger pictures" not a professional blogger...... still need practice. LOL) Next we went to the brand new shops and Chapel. Back in June 2020 Jo and Chip started construction on 8 new little shops and a chapel. Friday, October 16th was day 1 of thoes shops being open. They are adorable, look like little houses and each one is different inside. Chip has his own shop; it is filled with everything for guys. It has his book, baseballs, footballs, basketballs, grilling utensils, specific pens and pencils for construction, and lots more really cool "Chip" things. One of the shops is filled with different types of note books and has some pens and pencils. There is a clothing store, and a body / bath store (self-care). The Chapel is quiant, small, and content. They had 2 food trucks. One was food from Magnolia table and the other was their coffee and some pastries. Then we made our way to the Market, which is the main store. Spent a good 45 min to an hour inside just looking around and soaking it all in. Bought my first YETTI here with the Magnolia logo on it! Super excited and stoaked about it. Lastly we stood in line for the bakery. We knew they wouldn't have any vegan cupcakes but we still wanted to see the inside of it since we watched them build and design it on TV. Got pictures of the inside and inside the bathroom, hahaha. Then on our way out of town we stopped at their little shop on Bosque. The t-shirts at this store were on sale, so this is where we bought our shirts from.

Day 6: October 18, 2020

Stay at resort and relaxed. We went to Starbucks, the pool and watched Halloweentown.

Day 7: October 19, 2020

Left around 8:30am drove to Tomball, TX. This is the town where Boxwood Manor is. Boxwood Manor is a brand new wedding venue. They just opened and had their first wedding on October 24, 2020. The owners are Jessica Crum and her father. They have been working on this project for 4 years now and it is officially up and running. If you are looking for a venue for you destination or non-destination wedding check them out!! When we went they were still finishing up construction. I should have let my mom drive in and gone to say Hi to Jess, but I was nervous and weird about going in and on the property. Now I really want to go back like now and see the finished product and say Hi to Jess. It is so sureal to watch and see something happening on Instagram but to actually go and see the process and venue in person is another experience. It is hidden well and tucked away, they property is gorgeous and stunning. Then we drove to a vegan soul food tiny restraunt. Definitely worth waiting 6 days to find this vegan place. The food was delicious and not greasy at all.

Day 8: October 20,2020

Our last day in Texas we drove to San Antonio. Drove to The Tower of Americas. Looks similar to the Space Needle. Then parked and walked around and through The Alamo. Cool visiting the mission is another state and seeing where it is located. So interesting because next to it is the mall and across the street infront of it are a bunch of suveniour shops. When we finished walking through we went across the street and finally found post cards! Then I found a shop that allows you to pick out the style of sweatshirt, color and design and you can custom make it. So cool and different, also a neat suveniour for yourself something to remember your trip. I got a grey hooded sweatshirt with a picture of a cowboy hat with the word Texas attacted to the bottom of the hat. We headed back to the resort and got there about 5pm. Had dinner, watched Halloweentown 2 and started packing up suitcases to go home!

Day 9: October 21, 2020

Homebound. Starting at 6am. When we got to Waco we decided to stop at Magnolia again and grab some more pens as gifts. A little fun detour before heading home why not. Magnolia twice in a week. Made it to the Dallas rental car return at 12:15pm and took the shuttle to the airport. Security was not sufficient. Not very well organized at all. Got on our first flight we had a layover in Austin, stayed on the same plance. Layover was only about 45 min. Then we had a 4 hr flight to Oakland, Ca. Landed in Oakland at 4:45pm. Got home about 7:00pm.

If you are now reading this thanks for reading until the end. I have a blog just for the specific placese in Texas I visited with links attached. This was a fun, exciting and eventful trip. Much needed in this time and year. Hopefully you've been able to take some much needed trips as well rather close or far sometimes it's just nessary for the mind, body and soul. Thank you all for following along on this journey.

Rhiannon