Budgeting 101
Alright everyone. Time to talk money.
Have you ever found yourself setting up a budget, only to waiver away and give it up after a month? The reason was probably from feeling too restricted.
It's true, budgeting can definitely feel like you're on a short leash, when you really want no leash at all. Sounds kind of like a diet, doesn't it? Haha... failing after a month (or a week) of restriction definitely sounds like a diet to me!
Not to mention trying to stick to a budget as a married couple, or with a few kids tacked on. It's not an easy subject, and usually becomes a cause of tension between spouses. Before we got married, someone once said to me, "There are three things everyone fights about in marriage: Religion, Sex, and Finances." (Go read my post on marriage being spoken of negatively and why we should fight back). I remember scoffing at that "fact"... and I still scoff at it. BUT I will admit that we've argued about one of those three on more than one occasion over the years: finances.
It usually goes like this: One of you will have an idea of how your money should be spent and saved, and the other will have a totally different view. These thoughts are usually never brought up until that "budgeting night," so everyone suddenly feels thrown off-guard about it, which is why things get a little dicey. We try to re-imagine our budget every 6 months or so, and in the past it's always a "he-said, she-said" battle and ends up being full of snappy voices and eye-rolls.
So the last time we sat down to do our budget, we turned it into a DATE. We bought wine and cheese, and set the table. First we enjoyed our food while talking lightly about some ideas or expectations we each had for our money. Then, we set our food aside and started to hash out all the logistics. We calculated how much is going in and coming out each month (down to the cent) and then went over what budgets we're struggling to stick to and how we can hold ourselves to better standards. Honestly, the HOW is the biggest issue. How do you hold yourself accountable to a budget when the swipe of a card and mishandling of receipts to track are not kept up with? How do you handle those unexpected expenses like a drink after work with your colleagues, or a hostess gift for that party you got invited to?
Well, it was questions like these that got us thinking about our money a little more seriously. No matter how much or how little we had, we wanted to become pros with our finances and put the bickering behind us. And so, I'm going to share with you our best tips, tools, and ideas to make your budgeting as painless as possible.
1. Give budgeting a positive connotation.
As I mentioned before, lighten the mood by making it romantic, funny, or simply light-hearted. Start the process with an open mind, kind voice tone, and a glass of wine. You could also try setting up some serious ground rules before you bring up the topic (ex: no raising your voice, eye-rolling, blaming, etc..).
2. Calculate exactly how much is coming in.
Once you're ready to get down to business, figure out how much you're bringing in each month. Make sure you leave out reimbursements that come in your paychecks, as well as any income that's not as steady or guaranteed (like a freelance client here or there).
3. Calculate your absolute expenses.
By absolute, I mean: mortgage/rent, utilities (figure out the averages), car payments, home/auto insurance, phone bills, credit card payments, student loans, and so on. Take note of what time of month these items are deducted and see if the first half of the month is getting hit harder than the second half or vise versa. Maybe it would be good for you to move some transfers to later or sooner in the month to spread them out.
Minus these items from your monthly income.
4. Create budget categories.
Before you start adding amounts to any of your categories, go over your needs. Clothing, gas, entertainment, food, car maintenance, tithing, non-food items, decor, etc...
Then look over your transactions over a couple of months and see how much you're currently spending in each area. An important one for us that we recently added, was "social spending." This is spending that is often times unavoidable because of a social situation. Like going out for a drink with your colleagues after work, or needing a hostess gift for an upcoming party. They're the things that don't necessarily fall under "food" or "entertainment" and since adopting this new budget, we've seen less stress on our finances.
5. Create an amount for each budget after looking over problem areas.
Make it fair!
We discovered that a problem area for us is food. We always, ALWAYS overspend on food. We were spending a surprising amount on eating out each week, and it was messing with our finances more than we thought. So we chose an amount that wouldn't stretch us too thin, but also curbed it from getting out of hand. We did this in each category and it's been working very well. I have a decor budget each month, which I can choose not to spend in order to "save up" for something bigger later on.
The thing about budgets, is that when used properly, they give you more freedom than if you spent your money on a whim. So don't look at budgeting as a restriction or a repercussion of being bad with your money, but as a way to be smart and ultra responsible. Don't worry about keeping up with anyone else because you have to do what's best for you.
Then, minus your budget amounts from your monthly income.
6. Find resolutions to budgets you have a history with failing at.
For example... to remedy the food problem in a way that forces us to be more accountable, we get cash out for our food budget each Sunday. We have only that amount to use on eating out or groceries. If we meal plan well enough, we can save a little each week to roll over into a nice dinner out every now and then. Sometimes we go out to eat before grocery shopping and we have to deal with a smaller grocery budget. It really forces you to think before you buy. Sometimes we say no to dinners out with friends so that we can stay on budget (or we use entertainment or social spending)... it's difficult, but again, worth it.
7. When to use cash, credit, or debit?
I'll use us as an example and explain how we use each of these methods.
Credit: reimbursable work expenses, gas, and decor. This works well because our card gains sky-miles. Gas is inevitable, and decor is very "set" and I never overspend, so putting these items on a credit card will never get out of hand. We pay it off at the end of each month.
Debit: bills. Anything that needs bank info or needs to be paid for upfront gets the ol' debit.
Cash: Groceries, social spending, car maintenance, clothing, entertainment. All of those areas were causing trouble in over spending. We pull the amounts out in cash and store them in an accordion file. We can build up the amounts if they don't get used one month, and if we do use them, we always communicate it.
Other: Non-food. We realized I was getting all our non-food (toilet paper, toothpaste, cleaning items, make-up, soaps...) from Target and saving 5% with my RedCard. So the RedCard is strictly for those items and sometimes clothing, as long as it's purchased in separate orders for the sake of keeping track of the respective budgets.
I'm no financial advisor, so if you use your cards/cash differently, and find that you can stick to budgets without a problem, more power to ya - this just happens to work best for us!
8. After answering "how," ask yourself "why?"
Why is budgeting important to you? Is it because you're saving for something major? Simply because you want to be super intentional with every dollar you spend? Are you paying off serious debt?
Once you answer "why," you'll find that keeping that answer in mind will help you stay accountable. We're being very strict with our budgets because we're saving for a kitchen remodel. Our "why" has stopped us from purchasing numerous frivolities over the last several months (like a new TV sound system, a $180 coat, a redundant trip, and a camera). It's hard when you feel like others are expecting you to dish out money because they are, or because it seems like you have to be charitable all the time, but if you're working those things into your budget already, anything beyond that shouldn't have to be debated and you should be able to rest easy.
Here are some tools we use to accomplish all of this:
Mint.com - You safely connect all your accounts (bank, credit cards, student loans, car loans, etc..) and you can see all your transactions and allocate your money to the right budgets. It's very easy to use and straight forward. We like to use it to see our budgets in a more visual way. Plus, on a totally random note, I sat next to the CEO's mother-in-law on a plane once, and we talked the whole flight. She was very sweet!
Google Sheets - Basically a sharable/cloud version of Excel. We have our own system for organizing this spreadsheet, but it lets us see what time of month certain bills come out, when things get transferred, how much our savings has grown, etc.. It think this is one that needs to be organized on a person by person basis.
Digit - "Every few days, Digit checks your spending habits and removes a few dollars from your checking account if you can afford it. Easily withdraw your money any time, quickly and with no fees." We used this tool for a while, until we decided we could just save bits and pieces ourselves and not mess with our money be moved to yet another electronic place. Good for people who just can't seem to start saving. It gets you in a habit without even realizing it.
Cash jar - Each of us comes across random cash here and there. Usually from freelancing, babysitting, selling items, etc... and all of that goes into a jar for a rainy day. We used some of it to pay for Christmas decorations (since we didn't have a budget for that), but the rest will probably be used for our trip up north to help with the extra expenses of travel and eating out. It's not much, but it helps our budgets from getting too dented.
Adulting is hard work, guys! Our budgeting secrets will most certainly adapt as the years pass and our income changes. For now though, these easy steps have helped us stay strong in the face of wanting or pressure to spend. The best thing to keep in mind: do what's best for you and your finances and don't compare yourself with others or try to keep up - they do what's best for them and that's okay!
What do you do to budget? Also, thanks for making it to the bottom of this post, I know it was years long!
6 Ways To Pack Light
It's time for me to confess...
I used to be a chronic over-packer.
When I would leave for a four day trip I was guilty of packing more shoes than actual days, several bulky sweatshirts, wayyyyy too many pants, and jewelry (which I hardly ever wear in the first place).
Every now and then, I still find myself getting a little gluttonous while packing, but I have definitely figured out some good tricks to help me simplify. So let's just dive in.
1. Start with choosing one outfit per day.
This is easy enough. Think about each day you'll be gone and what you'll be doing that day that may require a certain kind of outfit. Is your destination a little chilly, and you'll be outside for the majority of the day? Pack a layer outfit. Will you be going out later that night for dinner? How can you add or change one piece to that same outfit to make it work for later too? Add a cute hat or statement necklace, trade out the pants for a skirt, switch your shoes for a dressier pair, etc...
Once you do that for each day, you can get an overview of how many shoes, hats, or accessories, you're hoping to bring at this point.
2. How can you consolidate?
Now it's time to look over all the ideals you have in front of you and break it down. Do you have a different pair of pajamas for every night? Plan to wear a pair for at least two nights in a row to save room. For shoes, make it easy: one pair that's comfortable, cute and goes with a lot (like some staple boots), a pair that's a little dressier and goes with a lot, but doesn't take up too much room (wedges, heels), and possibly one more pair that's ultra comfy for travel or heading out the door for a little adventure (sneakers, tennis shoes, moccasins <--always my choice haha).
With clothes, bring one comfy hoody that you can wear several times over. Bring tops and cardigans/sweaters that easily mix and match and can be dressed up or dressed down easily. Can you wear some pants or skirts a couple times? Dresses with or without tights are always easy to pack because they take up little space and can always be upgraded to fit a venue or occasion. Scarves are basically like packing air, let's be real. Can you wear bulky layers on the plane that can be used later in the week too? Don't forget to have an easy travel outfit for inbound and outbound!
3. Hygiene products and accessories. Ugh.
This is ALWAYS my weak spot. Here's what I've learned, though. I used to pack a bazillion different pieces of jewelry.... but I hardly wear anything other than earrings. Ever. So I stopped packing bulky bracelets and necklaces unless I was absolutely planning on wearing them on the trip (like for a wedding, night out, etc..). Moral of the story, don't bring things you never even wear when you're at home, because you probably won't pull them out on a trip either!
As for bulkier items... will you be able to borrow a hair dryer where you're going? Do you need every different tool for doing your hair, or can you just choose one that can do a lot of styles? Do you need the full-sized bottle of everything, or will a travel sized work (hairspray, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, contact solution, etc..)? If you can manage with the smaller versions, you can even throw them in your purse while you're out and about! I even leave my electric toothbrush at home because 1) I'd hate to lose it 2) it's far more bulky than a travel one. For make-up, I used to bring everything I owned "just in case I wanted to mix it up"... but I never mixed it up and did my make-up the exact same as usual. HAHA. So keep it simple. I keep my bobby-pins in a little jewelry baggie, and I wrap a couple extra hair ties around a hair brush handle. Separate your items that get wet (shower items) from items that don't (hair brushes and jewelry). Then you're looking at only two plastic bags and a small make-up bag. So easy.
4. Bags.
This is one I should have thought up sooner. I try to bring suitcases large enough that once all my clothes, accessories, and shoes are packed, there's extra room for a small purse (like a crossbody) to fit in it. Then, I wear a small backpack with my computer (if needed), headphones, a book, extra set of clothes, wallet, passport, phone charger, and other little basics to bring with me on the plane. I prefer this because it saves me from dealing with a typical carry-on sized bag PLUS a fussy purse PLUS a checked bag. By all means, if you can pack yourself into a carry-on, do it!! But strangely, I've found that by checking a larger bag (free on Southwest) that isn't full and keeping a purse in it, using a backpack for traveling makes life so much easier. Plus, backpacks are really cute nowadays. Then, when you've reached your destination, you can grab your small purse out of your bag and go about your day. I used to always bring GIANT purses on trips to try and squeeze as much stuff onto a plane as I could manage, but I hated having to lug it around once I landed. And if you do need a bigger "purse" once you reach your destination, you'll have a cute backpack instead of a heavy purse to carry around.
5. The only items you should over-pack.
Underwear and socks. It's just a matter of "better safe than sorry." If you get stranded due to weather or something of the like, even if you have to wear your clothes a bunch of times over you'll at the LEAST have some clean skivvies. I think I pack about two weeks worth of undies and socks every time I travel and I always use more socks than I think I will. There have been far too many trips that I wished I had more clean socks. If I'm in a cold hotel room, it just feels better to put on some clean socks before bed instead of the icky, sweaty ones you wore all day. It's a small luxury - haha.
6. If you forgot something, it's not the end of the world.
Chances are, if worse comes to worse, you can buy a pair of pajamas if you forgot yours (or borrow your husband's t-shirt). Or some deodorant. Or some face lotion. You will in fact survive if you forgot something, I promise. Just don't forget extra contacts and your glasses... because that could potentially suck.
Even though my husband might disagree, my packing has become quite efficient, these days. If we're visiting family for a week or more, I try to sneak in a load of laundry to keep my suitcase fresh and "recycled." I hope you guys found this helpful. Do you have any tricks of the trade? Share them in the comments, because this girl loves some good old fashioned efficiency.
Guest Room
Welcome to our guest room - the very first room we worked on in our humble little home.
If you look at the first couple photos, you'll notice the slap-brush textured ceilings. We just couldn't stand the cobwebs they gathered and shadows they cast, so we knew they had to go. It was quite the process (not nearly as simple as popcorn texture), but after several rooms, Tom has become quite the pro at it.
After the ceilings were smoothed, our wall paper literally peeled off the walls! In great, big sheets. So we had to refinish the walls as well. They were painted green, and the trim was given a fresh coat of a brighter white.
Here's what all we did:
- smoothed the slap-brush ceiling texture
- refinished the walls
- painted every surface
- spray painted the fan
- refinished/painted thrifted side tables
- hung curtains
- picked up decor from IKEA, Target, ReStore, and Home Goods
If you notice that lovely art piece above the bed -- it was painted by my oldest sister when she was in high school of me as a toddler. I adore it, and the creepiness of baby Joy watching over her guests! Oh, and those tables were $11 total. What a steal!!
Any questions? Drop me a line!
Being a Certain Age Won't Make You Ready For Marriage
You know those articles that make claims like, "According to Science: Best Age To Get Married And Avoid Divorce" or "Best Age To Get Married"?
Don't listen to them.
Now, their studies might actually have some credence, sure. Marrying a little later in life could help avoid issues down the road... but the key word here is could. They tout to readers that only by this certain age range, have you learned enough about yourself and developed enough sense of independence to be the best partner for someone else (hogwash - more on that another time). But what if you waited and waited, putting off relationships and engagement until you reached the ripe age of 30 when you could have started your happily-ever-after years before with no problems at all?
The thing is, guys, don't let me or any 'scientific article' on the internets tell you when the best age for marriage is. Because the best age for marriage is when God places the right person in your life. This may happen when you're in high school, college, years into a career... heck, your ring bearer and flower girl might even tie the knot later in life! Thirty may very well be the exact right age for you to start your life with a wonderful human being that God placed there.
When we got married at 23, we had a lot to learn - you bet! But we were sure of our relationship, and we shared values, morals, and faith. The last (almost) 3 years have been the best of my life, and I am so grateful I never listened to some silly article that told me that my marriage would be stronger and I'd be better equipped if I waited seven more years. We have grown more in love with each day, laughed the hardest we've ever laughed, yet endured trials, tears, and disappointments. Marriage is a vow. No matter how much one another changes over time (and believe me, you will change here and there) this person you chose at age 17, 34, or 52, will be the person you continue to choose each day. Sometimes, you may even find yourselves changing in unison, because of changes in life stages and circumstances (a move, a new baby, new jobs). Hold yourselves to the moral standards you set from the start. Stay by their side, grow with them, accept and love their changes, and always encourage each other to live life according to God's Word.
Though these "ideal age" articles are well-meaning, and are written to help people avoid making mistakes, remember that mistakes can be made at every age and stage of life. In fact mistakes will be made all throughout our lives. The problem with articles like that are the "what ifs" and "could help" mentalities. There are a lot of "what ifs" and "could helps" in life, but if we constantly lived by such fears or expectations we wouldn't truly live or experience anything of substance at all. Marriage is a leap of faith and trust no matter what age you are.
Now, I'm a big believer in marrying young, and I'm not afraid to voice that here (I say this, because I'll probably post about that another time)... but I also believe you should only be marrying young when you've found the person God intended for you. I was blessed to have met Tom in college, but others may not meet that person for years - and that is perfectly okay and just as awesome! Some people are friends for years before time finally reveals to them that their future spouse has been in front of them all along (more on that subject: stop looking for love). I believe that God's timing is everything, and there is always purpose in how and when spouses meet, date, and marry. So friends, pray for those you meet. Pray for your future spouse. Pray for your spouse who you have the privilege of waking up to each day, and pray your marriage. Do not let the world tell you that 28-32 is the best way to ensure your happiness... because I promise you, it's God who will ensure your happiness. No matter what age you are.
Master Suite
So.... learning your style and tastes really takes time. Over the last few months, I have bought... returned... DIY'ed... threw it out... forced things that didn't work... and tried to envision things that might work (which is so hard). Who knew it was so much effort to make something have just the right feel?? Until buying a home, it was easy for a room to feel "right" because you were limited with what you had to work with, and you knew you'd be cutting the cord after a year anyways. Now, we need our spaces to have our exact personal style, which we don't even know fully, yet! Needless to say, we're so proud of our ability to be thrifty, but feel rich in terms of how we choose highlight our dwelling.
Here's the latest - the first three photos are before. Below, I've added the last items we're hoping to add for the cherry on top.
Here's what was added:
Curtains: IKEA $25 for pair
Curtain rods: IKEA $18 for both
Large canvas: DIY by yours truly for about $30
Plant and planter: IKEA $19 plant (similar), $10 planter
Pillows (covers): IKEA Green $7, IKEA Large Grey $8, Target Small Grey $19 (I actually got it for $13)
Geometric desk lamp: DIY by yours truly
Bonsai: Home Goods $12
Next we're going to add just a few more pieces to make it complete. Here's what I'm thinking:
- A small hamper for pillows/throws when they aren't in use.
- A black (instead of red-brown) bed frame that's a little higher off the ground. We've also considered a grey upholstered one. We're on the fence.
- A picture shelf above the bed with black and/or white frames and modern, colored prints.
- Another, thin comforter with a differing pattern or a solid color. We've also played with the idea of hanging plant above the area where the frame-shelf is. Also, potentially adding more hanging art around my vanity mirror. Maybe even a bench at the end of the bed or two upholstered stools.
What do you guys think? So far so good? Do you have any ideas to add?
Living Small
First, let me ask the question: What is the purpose of a house?
A house is there to shelter you. To bring together families and friends. It offers warmth and good food, prayer and thanksgiving, love and happiness.
Tom and I strive to live simply. We don't need or want many 'things,' and try to spend our time with good intent. In our efforts to live simply and fully, we chose a small house... and will continue to choose smaller homes. Here's why.
1. To outgrow it.
Right now, we have two bedrooms that are not in use. One serves as a guest room, and the other will be inhabited by a little person (eventually). Once we have a few little people around, it'll feel like close quarters rather quickly. The thing is, if we had a home with more space than we could fill in a reasonable amount of time, what would we need in our next house? What would be the incentive to move on to something bigger? Outgrowing a space is an important part of transitioning through life.
2. To use all the space we own.
Along with growing out of a space, what's the real necessity in having room after room that goes unused? Storage should be used for items that move with the seasons (decorations, school year items, outdoor items, etc..), so to have rooms filled with 'things' that no longer hold a purpose is excessive.
For example, we do not have a basement. What would we do with a basement, plus the two unused bedrooms, plus the half-filled garage? We have plenty of storage, and more than enough room to fill as it is! A basement would do nothing more than hold a couch and another TV that we'd never use. Make your home a place of intentional togetherness... not a place of excess.
3. Less time cleaning, more time with loved ones.
When driving through the suburbs of The South, we are always shocked at the shear masses of the majority of the homes. I often lament at how much time would be wasted cleaning such an expanse. When you have less space to clean, you spend less time cleaning. Therefore, you're able to enjoy your home with your loved ones more often in a smaller home. I am a clean/neat freak, so being able to keep up with the daily housework is important to me. I'm also a hard one to help, because I'm particular about how it needs to be done, so the smaller the space, the happier the wife.
4. Cheaper to maintain.
Smaller roof to shingle, smaller square footage to heat/cool, smaller yard to mow, smaller rooms to paint, and everything in between. Our utilities are a fraction of most of the homes around us and I'm so grateful to have that money go towards more exciting things.
5. Affordable (and easy to sell!)
When you're buying in a price range that most anyone can be approved for, the market can be tough. We saw many houses leave the market almost as soon as they hit it. Now that we own one of those gems, though, we have no worries when the time comes to sell it. For reference, our offer (of the list price) was accepted about two days after it went on the market.
6. Helps maintain a minimalist lifestyle.
With more space comes more decor, more furniture, more... stuff. Tom and I try to live very simplistic, minimal lives. We aren't materialistic, and don't even have great 'wants' for things. We love to see how God has blessed our lives beyond the tangible items. There is no desire to have excessive space, clothes, decor, or excess of any kind. We know that we have enough, and we never want our definition of enough to become excessive.
7. Money can be spent elsewhere.
This is my favorite. This year, we're challenging ourselves to become mavericks with how and where our money goes. With the money we save on our lower mortgage and utility costs, we have the freedom to spend it on travel and giving - both of which we hope to be more generous with. By choosing to live minimally, we can be "excessive" in more positive, God-pleasing ways!
Back to the purpose of a house: to shelter, bring loved ones close, and encapsulate warmth, good food, and happiness. Does your home offer these things? Whether big or small? Then friend, you're doing "home" right. As for me and my house, though, we'll serve the Lord... but always just a little closer together.
DIY Geometric Pendant Light
My desk/vanity area in our bedroom is now at completion. I'll probably add a plant to the right of it and maybe hang a couple more items... but for the sake of usability and functionality, it's done-zo! The finishing touch was my light. I was (annoyingly) picky about what I wanted, but I found all the pieces (with the help of Tom of course) and got it done once we could take the time to swing by our IKEA. I saw a Pinterest photo that was close to what I wanted, but I didn't even pin it because I figured out how to accomplish the right look just by looking at it. I found the actual post (here) and Natalie's blog is actually really awesome, so I'm glad I did. She used this $23 cage light from Target and the EKBY VALTER bracket from IKEA (I used this smaller one).
Here's some glamour shots of this DIY in its finished glory:
Here's what we used to pull it off:
Gold geometric candle holder: Target $15
Edison bulb: West Elm $7 (on sale)
Fabric-twisted cord, plug, and socket: Vintage Wire and Supply $18
Wood bracket: IKEA Ekby Valter $2
TOTAL: $42
Honestly, now that I added this up, I'm really surprised! Ahhh whatever. It was worth it for the exact custom look I wanted. The bulb was honestly the hardest part to find. The actual work just took a few holes to be screwed (for the light socket and one for the cord). I also need to give a huge shoutout to Vintage Wire and Supply - they had great customer service, gave us more cord than necessary, and wrote "just in case you need the extra length" on a little card. They have a ton of really awesome products. I'm not being paid to say this, I was honestly just really impressed!
What do you guys think? I'm sure you could make it for far cheaper, but I'm kind of in love with all the unique elements we used.
San Antonio, TX
When my husband learned that he had to travel to San Antonio for business, there was no question that I'd be tagging along. I mean, it's basically like a buy-one-get-one trip, and at some point I won't have the freedom or flexibility to join him, so we're taking advantage now.
We were in town from a Saturday afternoon till a Tuesday evening. Monday was all business related, so while Tom was at his respective meetings, I hung out in the hotel eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, drinking beer, and working.
Saturday
Our first night was chilly, and we were starving after our flight. We were recommended a Mexican restaurant that happened to be right across the interstate from our hotel, so we actually walked to it. It was called Alamo Cafe and we gorged ourselves on queso and freshly made, soft tortillas. I had a burrito and Tom went for a chalupa. Though it was tasty, we honestly didn't find much difference between the flavors there, and Mexican food we've had elsewhere in the country (no offense, my Texan friends!). Nevertheless, you simply must eat Tex-Mex when in Rome (or San Antonio in this case). We took an Uber back to the hotel and watched a movie until we fell into our food coma.
Sunday
This was straight up the most fun day. EVER.
- We got a day pass for San Antonio's B-cyles. These babies were awesome because you could grab a bike at any parking ramp, ride it for up to 30 minutes, check it in at another bike ramp, take it back out, go for another 30 minutes, then ditch it at another bike ramp, walk somewhere, then find another ramp and grab another bike! Even cooler, there are a bunch of cities that have these bike systems. Here's a map of the cities. It was cheap, and we got such an up close view of soooo many parts of the city. We took them through the downtown metro area and all the way down the Riverwalk. Not to mention, the dorky baskets on the front were super handy for my purse or anything we picked up along the way. I highly suggest them!
- We had a late lunch at the Farmer's Market at Pearl, which is a newer area of San Antonio with a more hipster vibe and modern buildings that still encompass the old architecture of Texas. The vendors there were top notch, and we ended up getting this GIANT piece of bread pudding that we had to carry around with us the rest of the day - haha!
- From there, we biked over to the nearby San Antonio Art Museum. We thought that admission was free on Sundays, but it was actually just from 10am-2pm, and we missed the window by about an hour. However, after finding out that we were from out of town, the sweet gentleman behind the counter gave us free admission. We both agreed that this was one of the better art museums we've been to. It topped the Atlanta High Museum as well as Milwaukee's. They had such a cool array of pieces from around the world and different time periods - including mummy cases! It's definitely worth it to take a look.
- Next, we biked throughout the metro area and the little squares in the middle of the city. We jumped on and off the Riverwalk, but we did get in trouble for biking on a portion of the Riverwalk that we were supposed to walk our bikes - oops! We stopped by Tower of the Americas for a potty break and got dizzy staring up at it :)
- Near the restaurant saturated portion of the Riverwalk, we got a little hangry. But after looking at the prices of the restaurants, (Side note: If you are anywhere, and find yourself near a Rainforest Cafe and a Hard Rock Cafe, you should probably just leave because you're clearly in a tourist trap) we decided to take an Uber halfway back to the hotel to a restaurant called Los Barrios. Here I made the mistake of thinking I actually like margaritas (or anything besides beer and wine) and tried to choke down this giant, tequila filled thing. Haha! The food was 'okay' and like we felt at the Alamo Cafe, the employees seemed to want to rush us. This was kind of annoying because we didn't have a vehicle to rush back to!
- We grabbed an Uber to a grocery store, then headed back to the hotel to hit the hay.
(pardon the quality of this video... it's hard to video and drive these front-heavy bikes - haha!)
Monday
Just your average work day in a hotel room. The day didn't exactly end very well, but I'd say the day before made up for that fact. (Told you I don't sugar coat here!)
Tuesday
- We woke up exhaustedddd. Slowly got ourselves to a vertical position, and went to work at a cute coffee shop called Olmos Perk, which was relatively near the airport. Behind the coffee shop, we grabbed a quick sandwich at All Aboard Deli - which was located in an old train car (and very yummy). It had friendly cats that kept us company, too. Not that I like cats, but it was cute.
- #airportlife
Overall, San Antonio was a TON of fun. We agreed that Sunday might have been one of the best days we've had over the course of our five years together. That has to say something, huh? Tom and I love to explore and make an adventure out of anything, and San Antonio just highlighted our adventurous nature so well! The bikes were seriously a huge factor in the day being so fun. I'm super jealous that Atlanta doesn't have them... although, Atlanta drivers would most definitely plow bikers over soooo there's that.
Visit San Antonio, friends, because there's more Tex-Mex than you can handle, lots of sunshine, and an overload of friendliness from the locals.