where have I been?

I just hate being away from my blog for so long! As mentioned in this post, school has been keeping me pretty busy. Additionally, the hubs and I are getting ready to move from our little condo in downtown Fort Worth to a house a couple miles west in the Cultural District--yay! It has been such a process since we decided to purchase a lot in an older neighborhood and build the house from the ground up. I don't think I was quite prepared for how much it would test my patience--if you've ever built a home, you probably know what I mean!

Though it is a little bittersweet to pack up our compact abode of the last [almost] 4 years, we are so excited to have a little more space and a yard for our sweet pups. I'm looking forward to decorating the new house and documenting parts of it to share with you!

Now that I've gotten a handle on the school situation and the workload, at least for this semester, has become more manageable, I'm ready to bring the blog back to life. With the advent of my move from downtown to the Cultural District, I decided to  begin with a blog name refresh. So long, Lancaster Laundry! Hello, Cake for Brunch!

The new blog is under construction for now, but will hopefully be up and running within the next few weeks!

xo.

one dollar finds

Sometimes, it's really the little things in life that can bring so much joy! This summer,  I found a few edibles that I could buy for $1, which really made my heart happy and got me through long work days. I will continue to hunt for sweet deals like this, but for now I wanted to share what I've discovered so far. xo.

Dollar Days at Schakolad

As a lifetime chocolate lover, I find it kind of strange I never wandered into Shakolad before this summer [after living in the city for almost 4 years.] Nonetheless, I read some tweets announcing the chocolate shop's dollar days this summer and figured it was worth a shot. Two words: life changing! I have tried the chocolate covered strawberry, which was divinely ripe, assorted truffles galore, and the chocolate covered cookies. I'm not sure how long these deals will go on, so I highly recommend you check them out asap!

Where: 106 E. 4th Street, Fort Worth 76102

Breakfast Tacos at Oliver's

Sometimes, cereal or yogurt just don't cut it. Or I just plain overslept and had no time to fix breakfast. Either way, 99 cent breakfast tacos are a satisfying solution to start my morning off right! Besides a growing menu that includes delicious fish tacos, Oliver's serves breakfast tacos every weekday morning from 7-11 a.m. Hint: If you are calorie-concious, ask for egg whites only! There are only two options: bacon or sausage. Perfect for my inability to make decisions early in the morning. One of these days, I'll make it on a weekend to try out their brunch.

Where: 415 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth 76102

Happy Hour Pizzas at Frankie's

Despite less than stellar service every time I've gone, I have to say the dollar pizzas really made up for it. After attending a happy hour with coworkers a few weeks ago, I was pleasantly surprised that Frankie's had yummy, perfectly proportioned, cheesy pizzas for only a buck! I am not sure if this is a consistent happy hour special or only on certain days, but you should definitely check it out for yourself next time you're in need of a drink after a long day at work.

Where: 425 W. Third Street, Fort Worth 76102

project cupcake | mckinley's

My previous three project cupcake posts have been about cupcake food trucks, but today I'm writing about an actual bakery with a storefront. McKinley's, conveniently located in University Park Village, has been one of my favorite places to get a cupcake fix for years. I actually got my first cupcake crush when I was introduced to their delicious strawberry cupcakes!

Aside from an awesome food menu [the turkey pesto panini and barbie salad are my faves], their bakery is unreal. Everything is baked from scratch each morning, so you have to get there earlier in the day to truly see the entire selection. They have a huge variety of cookies, cakes, pies, monster cinnamon rolls... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. But the star of this post is obviously the cupcakes.

Cupcake flavors I've tried and liked: Lemon and Strawberry. The end!

Description: These cupcakes are the perfect size. The frosting is always delicious and the cupcakes are always dense, moist, and flavorful. Although I love chocolate as much, or more than, the next girl, I have to say I found the chocolate cupcake verrrry rich. Thus, I usually alternate between Lemon and Strawberry flavors. Also worth noting, the prices for baked items--especially the cupcakes, I've noticed--are the best I've seen so far in Fort Worth. I'm a sucker for a bargain.

Address: 1616 University Drive, Suite 301, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Bakery hours: 8am - 6:30pm Monday-Saturday, 11am - 5pm Sunday

project cupcake | red jett sweets

I wish I hadn't waited so long to write about one of my favorite Fort Worth cupcake vendors. Red Jett Sweets has been a go-to stop when I needed a quick fix for my sweet tooth when I was in the West 7th district, as their truck could often be found at the Fort Worth Food Park.

As of June 9th, the business closed due to the increased amount of time and energy the owners were putting into the business, which resulted in less time for family and friends. Though my heart was deeply saddened with this news, I can only hope some good soul out there will buy the brand and keep these cupcakes going! Because honestly, they are phenom. xo.

Top left: Nuts for Kentucky. Bottom Right: Spotty Dotty Lemon.

Cupcakes I've tried: Red Jett Velvet, Coconut Comet, Nuts for Kentucky, Spotty Dotty Lemon, and Peter Pumpkin.

Description: Perfection. Fantastic texture and density. Perfect frosting consistency. Flavor packed without being too sugary to handle. Normal sized--not too small, not to large.

Address and Hours: None right now! Fingers crossed Red Jett Sweets 2.0 will hit the streets in the coming months.

Twitter: @RedJettSweetsFW

trader jacques [joe's] macarons

Though I will always have a special place in my heart for cupcakes, I've recently been bitten by the macaron bug. And not just any macaron--French macarons! Those coconut macaroons [read: two o's instead of one] you can find in a grocery store are alright, but they ain't got nothin' on these light, crispy-on-the-outside-chewy-on-the-inside cookies that come in a plethora of fillings, flavors, and colors.

Although there are a few little macaron bakeries in Dallas, they are not as close as I'd like when a sudden craving strikes. Enter: Trader Joe's. I discovered that this inexpensive health food mecca just down the road actually sells French macarons in the frozen aisle! I thought this was questionable at first, but for $4.99 I decided to give them a whirl.

Four boxes later, these macarons have become a kitchen staple. I opt for the box containing colorful cookies with flavors like Cassis, Coffee, and Pistachio; however, Trader Joe's does also sell a box of plain vanilla and chocolate. If you live near a TJ's, I suggest you check these out asap! These cookies can be kept frozen and only require 30 minutes to thaw at room temperature. I have only one word left to say: heavenly.

xo.

project cupcake | cup cakin machine

I've been wanting to try Cup Cakin Machine's cupcakes for quite a while, but always seemed to miss them on the few times they made an appearance in Fort Worth [this cupcakery on wheels largely sticks to the Dallas area.]

I finally got a chance a few weeks ago to get a cupcake after a yummy dinner at the Fort Worth Food Park. Since it was late in the evening, they only had Red Velvet left, which was fine with me since I do love some classic red velvet!

It takes a lot for me to say I that I just straight up didn't like a cupcake. I'm usually so easy to please. However, I was so disappointed with my cupcake from Cup Cakin. The frosting was not cream cheesy enough. The cake was not red velvety enough. It tasted ordinary, and very sugary. The cocoa was a little too prevalent, resulting in more of a brown instead of a true red hue. I could go on. Overall, I do not think I'll be a repeat customer, unfortunately! If you live in the DFW area, let me know if you have tried their cupcakes before and had a better experience than I did. xo.

Cupcake flavor I tried: Red Velvet

Description: Very large, very sweet, but did not taste like a classic red velvet should. Cream cheese was not a major ingredient in the frosting. Decent texture, but it didn't seem to be mixed well as the coloring was not evenly red throughout.

Address: Check their schedule online to see where they will be during the week.

Twitter: @cupcakinmachine

fort worth foodie review | the woodshed smokehouse

One of my favorite haunts when the Texas temps reach what I call "patio weather" [aka 85 degrees or so] is the Woodshed in Fort Worth. This rustic-cool restaurant headed by Chef Tim Love sits right on the Trinity River with the coolest outdoor/indoor dining concept I've seen. The food is outrageously good, the atmosphere is perfect for a both casual date night and a group of your closest friends. On the weekends you will find live music to kick back and enjoy while sipping on any one of their selections of beer, wine, margaritas or cocktails. I highly recommend this joint if you're looking for a great atmosphere to soak in the beautiful spring weather. xo.

Where: 3201 Riverfront Drive, Fort Worth

Hours: Sun-Thurs, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. / Fri-Sat, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

What to try: Smoked hummus, smoked white fish dip, pulled pork sandwich, brisket stuffed piquillo peppers, burger, and ribs. For the more adventurous, my hubs and friends have testified that smoked red fish, bowl of ramen, and rattlesnake sausage are awesome.

project cupcake | hummingbird sweet shoppe

In the second installment of my Project Cupcake series, I introduce Hummingbird Sweet Shoppe.

This bakery on wheels has been on my "to try" list for quite sometime, and I finally caught up with it at Fort Worth's newest food truck park, Clearfork! I ordered the "Hummingbird" cupcake, which had decadent flavors of banana and pineapple topped with cream cheese frosting and pecans. It really knocked my socks off, y'all. I can't wait to go back and try a new flavor!

Address: Check their schedule online or follow them on Twitter for daily updates of their whereabouts!

Twitter: @HBirdSweets

xo.

fort worth events | April 12 - 13

The work week is coming to a close, and now the fun begins! Take advantage of the beautiful, sunny spring days ahead by trying one or more of these cool events taking place in DFW this weekend.

Friday, April 12

Friday on the Green

The first Friday on the Green of the year kicks off at 7:00 p.m. this Friday! If you've been following this blog for a while, you know that I had this event on my bucket list for last summer. I didn't end up making it due to other plans always getting in the way, but this year I have made the commitment to finally check it out and I'm so so excited! Bring a blanket, some friends, and your pups if you have any and enjoy some live music and food truck fare. It's a great way to ring in the weekend if you ask me.

Where: Magnolia Green Park [1100 Lipscomb Street, Fort Worth]

When: 7-10 p.m.

Cost: Free

Extras: Bring pet food or cash donations for this month's charity, Don't Forget to Feed Me

Saturday April 13

Brewfest

Love beer and music? Head over to West 7th for Brewfest from 5-10 p.m. this Saturday. There will be live bands and plenty of imported and craft beer to try! I've never been but it seems like a pretty cool environment to mingle with some good friends. Plus, there are lots of yummy restaurants nearby so you could make a really fun date night of it. Think Terra, Hacienda San Miguel, Fireside Pies... I'm getting hungry [and thirsty] already!

Where: Crockett Street, Fort Worth

When: 5-10 p.m.

Cost: Free. Just buy the beer!

Pop-Up Market

This Saturday, the first ever Pop-Up Market is opening up on Magnolia Green in the Near Southside of Fort Worth! This concept is so intriguing to me, I might just have to stop by to see what it's all about. Vendors range from jewelry to vintage, and so much more in between. Visit the website to see the vendor list and find out the other dates for the market, which continues through October!

Where: 1201 Lipscomb, Fort Worth

When: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Cost: Free

The Dallas Flea

Y'all know I had the best time with my mom and sister at the last Dallas Flea back in December. Well, the next event takes place this weekend! With tons of new vendors, it's sure to be another fun day of vintage and hand-crafted shopping. I highly recommend getting a group of your best girl friends or family members together and making the trip to the Flea. You won't be disappointed! Mosey on over to the Dallas Flea website to see the full list of awesome vendors.

Where: 1409 South Lamar Street, Dallas

When: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Cost: $5 entry & free parking

How are you spending your weekend? xo.

project cupcake | stir crazy baked goods

My obsession with cupcakes began with the first bakery-fresh strawberry frosted delight from McKinley's in Fort Worth. I've always had a major sweet tooth, but the store-bought baked goods didn't really do much for me.

Needless to say, I was inspired to begin a mission to try cupcakes from as many different bakeries in Fort Worth as possible and share my review of each with you! My reviews will be in no particular order, just in the order than I happen to eat and photograph them [this is a true challenge when I usually eat them before I even think of taking a picture].

First up: Stir Crazy Baked Goods.

via

Located just off of South Main Street in the up and coming Near Southside district, this sweet little bakery is vintage perfection. I mean don't you just adore those turquoise-painted re-purposed chairs? I love the open and airy atmosphere, with the sunlight pouring over the glass case stuffed with the bakery's daily rotation of baked goods. From cupcakes, to cookies, to the oh-so-delicious sweet rolls, these people know their way around the kitchen! I definitely recommend a stop by this place if you live in or visit Fort Worth. I love it so much, this is the second post I have written about them! [First post here.]

Cupcake flavors I've tried and liked: Mimosa, Coconut-Lemon, Lemon, Red Velvet & Chocolate with Stawberry frosting.

Description: These cupcakes aren't particularly large, but about the size they would be if you made them at home, which adds to the "made-from-scratch" charm they have. Though I love me a good giant cupcake piled with yummy frosting, these cupcakes are probably the better portion size and always leave me wanting more, which is a good thing! The cake is moist and dense while the frosting is airy and light.

Address: 106 E. Daggett Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76104

Bakery Hours: 7am - 2pm Tuesday-Saturday

Twitter: @StirCrazyBakery [follow them for their daily menu listings!]

Let me know if you visit Stir Crazy and what flavors you try! xo.

introducing | fort worth bike sharing

I usually consider myself fairly "in-the-know" about the goings-on in this growing city I call home. However, though previously I'd thought bike sharing was just a rumored possibility, I was completely [and pleasantly] surprised when I woke up one morning last week to see tweets announcing the installation of thirty bike share stations all around the downtown, southside, and cultural districts. Fort Worth just got some major brownie points in my book!

The official "launch" day takes place on April 22, which also happens to be Earth Day! How perfect. In the first inaugural ride, 300 volunteers will ride the spiffy red bikes from Burnett Park to one of the thirty designated bike share stations around  central Fort Worth. Memberships range from 24 hours to annual passes. An annual pass is $80 [a great deal if you ask me!] and if you register before April 22, you get $10 off! Hop on over to the Fort Worth Bike Sharing website for information about Bike Share Station locations and to register for a pass.

via

I'll definitely share my first bike share experience with you all once the launch takes place! I'm pretty anxious to take a bike from the the West 7th/Stayton location [right next to Chuy's] for a spin around the Trinity Trails.

Do you plan to test out the new Fort Worth Bike Sharing? xo.

treasure hunting

It is so thrilling and just plain fun to visit antique/vintage/junk shops in hopes of discovering something old that will get a new life in my home. A few weeks ago, I finally ventured out to Curiosities in Dallas [something I've been dying to do for months] and was amazed at the vast amount of inventory that they had! Admittedly, I was a bit overwhelmed but it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Here are a few photos I took:

Since I left empty-handed, I still felt determined to find some new pieces to decorate with since the hubs and I decided to revamp our living room [I'll save the re-do photos for another post once everything is in place!] After mom and sister decided to visit me last weekend for a girl's shopping day, I did some digging and found a fun "junk" shop to explore much closer to home: Junker Val in Bluebonnet Circle, Fort Worth.

This place was a little piece of heaven! It was a much smaller and more manageable shop to navigate than Curiosities, with a bubbly shop owner who offered cookies/cake/wine/soda to all the visitors who wandered in the open front door. I purchased three items that I am so excited about! A silver tray [$5], a gold piggy to hold my rings [$5] and a vintage photo of the Dallas skyline [$10]. This is definitely a place I plan to frequent more often! If you plan to visit, note that this is a cash only business. If you are a klutz like me, I've learned it's best to wear a slim cross-body style purse as opposed to a large bag to avoid knocking over breakables.

Do you like to treasure hunt? What are some fun things you have found or places you've visited? xo.

fort worth happy hour | the live oak

So evidently, my summer bucket list has transitioned to fall. Nevertheless, I'm happy to say I've crossed yet another item off my list! As you can tell from the blog post title, I finally made it to The Live Oak for some happy hour drinks with a friend last Friday afternoon. It was absolutely perfect weather--breezy and cool. We sat on the rooftop [of course] to bask in the autumn glory and look out onto Magnolia Avenue with the Downtown skyline in the not-too-far distance.

Happy hour at The Live Oak consists of $1 off pints, $3 wells, and half off appetizers. We indulged in a few wells and split an order of calamari. I must say the lemon aioli dip was delicious! It was a perfect complement to the calamari. Overall, the atmosphere was perfect for a relaxing happy hour. Next time, I hope to catch some live music!

Pretty lights in the trees! I'll take more photos next time, I promise!

Fort Worthians: Have you been to The Live Oak? What's your favorite spot on Magnolia? xo.

the dallas flea

Saturday was an absolutely perfect "fall" day. Overcast, cool, and breezy--it was truly dreamy! My mom and sister drove up to visit for the day and we set off for the Dallas Flea. If you aren't familiar with this event, I highly recommend it! Vintage, artisan, and antique vendors take over the first floor South Side on Lamar [a downtown loft building with a cool industrial vibe] and show off lots of seriously awesome and unique loot.

I could have definitely spent a lot of money there, but walked away with a few treasures that I knew I just wouldn't be able to live without.

Vintage Samsonite luggage bag [hello, new purse!], vintage cat eye sunnies,
some old keys for a future craft project. Pictured with: Trader Joe's 2 [now 3] buck
Chuck and Cookie Butter that everyone RAVES about.

After a couple hours browsing the Flea, we headed back to Fort Worth for some al fresco dining at Shaw's Patio on Magnolia. Being my first time at Shaw's, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, the cheddar/bacon/tomato panini I ordered was delicious. It's definitely made my restaurant rotation! I can't wait to eat on the patio again now that fall weather might be here to stay.

 We ended the day with a quick visit to Trader Joe's, Bath & Body Works [can't get enough of those candles!], and some petite desserts at McKinley's.

Seriously. Best day ever! Can't go wrong with fall + shopping.  xo.

lately

Hey, there.

I know it's been a while. It's been a very busy few weeks; in fact, I've been trying harder to carve out more time for artistic pursuits, which digs in a bit to my blogging time. I'm working on a little project that, if it comes to fruition, I am excited to share on here very soon!

Anyway, last weekend was a fun weekend. It was the first in a while that I was actually home! Saturday started off with the Color Me Rad 5k. Colored dye [temporary], gorgeous weather [hello, 70 degree temps!], and a run along Fort Worth's Trinity River was just what I needed.

I'm rocking the neon green sunnies!

After cleaning off, I picked up some ingredients to whip up this recipe I found on Six Sisters for Copy Cat Chili's Skillet Queso to have during the A&M vs. Florida game. One word: Perfection. My husband is a big fan of this appetizer and gave it raving reviews. I also stopped by one of my favorite local bakeries, J. Rae's, for some Texas A&M themed sugar cookies. Delish. Despite the Aggies' devastating SEC debut, it was still a fun and relaxing afternoon.

Adorable and colorful cookies!

I'll ignore the fact that the apostrophe definitely goes in front of the e. :)

While at J. Rae's, I couldn't help but snap a few pics of the up-and-coming Foch Street area. It's really starting to look great and I'm excited to visit this area a little more often [especially the new Urban Outfitters expected to open soon!]

Wag [pet store] and Blow W7 [blow dry bar]

Reservoir- a restaurant/bar that looks like it'll be pretty awesome!

The Reservoir's patio area. It's huge!

One place on my bucket list I've still got to try!

Hope you all had a great weekend and a wonderful rest of the week. xo.

working the flea review

I did it, I did it! I finally crossed one thing off my "Summer Bucket List!"

This past weekend, Fort Worth got some serious torrential rain. We sure needed it and I was actually pretty thankful, as it diminished the amount of people out shopping tremendously! Don't get me wrong, I think people going shopping on the weekend and pumping money into the Fort Worth economy is great, but with it being Tax Free Weekend I was pretty leery about leaving the house.

Saturday afternoon, I decided to venture out in the crazy storm and head to a place I've been dying to go to for a while: Working the Flea. This adorable little boutique in the Camp Bowie District charmed me from the moment I stepped inside the front door.

cute, right?

The shop carries a mix of boutique clothing similar to that of Francesca's with a garage sale / vintage store atmosphere. From home decor to gifts to drinkware, the items they carry seem to have that one-of-a-kind, treasure quality that I'm obsessed with! I picked up just one thing--a gift for my sister's upcoming birthday. I definitely plan to return for more goodies, though.

The only reason it took me this long to visit is the shop's hours are 10-5, Tuesday through Saturday. So that pretty much leaves Saturday as the only possible day to go since I work an 8-5 job. If only they could extend their hours until 6! Ah well, no matter. It's an ideal situation to protect my bank account from excessive treasure-hunting expenses.

Have you been to Working the Flea or any of the other adorable boutiques on Camp Bowie? xo.

tgif

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm looking forward to a fun weekend playing in Fort Worth and neighboring Dallas with my sister. She's coming up to visit tomorrow morning and I cannot wait! Hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Xo.

crockett street bottle shop review

I'm not sure if I will post Fort Worth business reviews often, but this little gem was too good to keep to myself. Located in an older retail building that's nestled in the booming West 7th District, Crockett Street Bottle Shop is a laid-back liquor store that perfectly fits the Fort Worth vibe. It blends so well in its surroundings it took me a year to realize it existed.

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I wandered inside one Friday evening after some fantastic sushi and proceeding cocktails at MK's Sushi and Hacienda San Miguel to search for my hubby's favorite whiskey as a "just because" gift. I was greeted warmly upon entering and felt immediately comfortable. The soft lighting and exposed brick walls created a cozy ambiance, making this little shop stand out way above the chain stores. I had a great experience there and definitely plan to go back for future alcohol purchases.

Things to know:  1) According to the owner [Jim, if I remember correctly...], they allow pets inside! That's pretty darn awesome. Now, I can't say I would volunteer to bring my rambunctious, people-obsessed -loving yellow lab, but I still think that says a lot about this establishment being an inviting place.

2) There is a wine tasting room/cellar, which I did not get a chance to check out during my visit. It was a really neat little nook in the shop and I definitely plan to go back for some tastings.

3) They also have a beer room and offer "Make Your Own Six-Pack." I've done this at World Market plenty of times, but it's neat that they do this as well. Basically, you can get a cardboard bottle carrier and fill it with 6 beers of your choice for a perfect custom gift for friends or family [or yourself, if you just like variety!]

4) From 1-7 p.m. every Saturday, they offer tastings to explore their variety of liquor selections. Pretty awesome!

If you live in Fort Worth or plan to visit anytime, you should definitely visit Crockett Street Bottle Shop! xo.

fort worth summer bucket list

This summer I've had many Fort Worth firsts--things I've been meaning to do in the three years I've lived here and hadn't done yet. From exploring the Botanic Gardens by day and attending Concerts in the Garden by night, to dinner at the scenic Woodshed restaurant on the Trinity River and a candlelit dessert at Lili's Bistro. I'm thrilled to have finally done these things but there's still plenty more on my list before summer comes to an end! What's on your summer bucket list? xo.

photo 1 / photo 2 / photo 3

featured :: fort worth on design sponge

All I can say is: It's about time!

Take a peek at Design Sponge's newest City Guide featuring Fort Worth. This guide includes many of my favorite local gems. Coincidentally, I'm working on a little Fort Worth blog post of my own that will be up in the next few days, so make sure you check back soon!

xo.