Blog Friends Turned Real Life

Compensation is being provided by Skinny Cow. The opinions and content expressed in this post are 100% mine and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Skinny Cow.

GET THE LOOK:

Luxe Apothetique Dress c/o Skinny Cow (similar) (similar) // Victoria's Secret (similar) (similar) // Target Sandals (option) (option) // c/o Noonday Necklace (exact) // c/o KO Designs (exact) // c/o Sophistifunk Tassel Bracelet (exact) // Forever 21 Pink Stretch Bracelet (exact) // Lily and Laura Beaded Bracelet // c/o T and J Designs Watch (exact)

Some of you may have seen from previous posts that I have been lucky enough to participate in this summer's Skinny Cow Wocave' program; celebrating time with friends, kicking up our heels and curating personal women caves.

So, when Miss Stesha sealed the deal about flying all the way from Canada to visit me for Texas Style Council I knew that this was how I wanted to embrace the Wocave' philosophy. What a better way to showcase pure friendship bliss than by sharing it with a blog friend turned real life.

Our Skinny Cow Mission? We were sent out to spend the day shopping, visit a few favorite Austin shops, play dress up, take home our fave finds and try out new cosmetics. Rough stuff, right?

Our "mission" was technically supposed to be completed in one day, but Texas Style Council was going on all weekend, so we ended up stretching our "orders" over three days. Mission drawn out, but successfully accomplished.

Here is snipit of our story, our time together for the first time in real life and how we made the most of our weekend long "women cave" soiree.

I picked Stesha up at the airport at 12:30 AM Friday morning. God love her. She started her trek to Austin at 6:00 AM the day before. Yes, that is 18.5 hours of travel. I thought she was going to go straight to a pillow and fall into dream land as soon as we got to my house. Oh no, that was quite the opposite. We uncorked a bottle of wine, slung off our shoes and curled up on my couch until 3:30 AM. We chatted about everything under the sun. It was like we had been friends forever. I am pretty positive that we could have watched the sun come up, but we knew we had a long weekend ahead.

Shopping was in full force during our down time from the Texas Style Council. We headed straight for The Domain Friday morning and picked up two dresses from Luxe Apothetique (the one I am wearing in above photos). Stesha found the exact top at one of the stores that she actually sells in her own personal online boutique, Classic & Bubbly The Shop. Can you see her excitement in top left photo? When one comes to visit Texas for the first time it is required to take said traveler to try on cowboy boots. Yes, I looked like a buffoon in red boots with a romper, but we couldn't pass up this photo op. Side note, our feet were so swollen from all the food, drinks and heat that BOTH of our feet got stuck in the boots. Holy heaven, if only you could have seen us in action trying to pull them off our feet.

I knew I had to take Stesha to one of the most popular eateries in all of Austin, The Hula Hut. I have lived here for years, but it's still one of my personal faves. It sits on Lake Austin, has glorious views and the food, well, just order the mango-cream-cheese-green-chile-chicken-quesadillas next time....then you will know what I am talking about. Dee-lish. The margs weren't too shabby either. Another way to unwind, relax and embrace the true definition of a Wocave'.

We wrapped up our sweet sanctuary of girl time by learning a few eye shadow tricks and tips from the ladies at the Macy's MAC counter. I discovered a few new products like their highlighter , eye brow pencils and paint pot; three products I have been using every day since I got them. I cannot tell you the last time I had someone professionally put make up on me. Oh how I wish I could have slid the artist in my pocket and taken her home with me. I could get easily get used to this kind of Wocave'.

In between all our shopping, eating and pampering, I took Stesha to see as many sights and sounds of Austin as possible during her short stay. Some of the places we ventured off to were South Congress (the ever so famous "I love you so much" wall, The Oasis for sunset drinks, Sixth Street because you just have to, the 360 Bridge Overlook for photo ops and much more. We crammed it in. No sleep resting around these parts.

It was hands down one of the best experiences of my life. We went from friends behind a computer to hugging in the flesh. If this isn't the epitome of a seizing girl time and making it the real deal, I don't know what is.

A piece of advice, if you have the chance to meet one of your blog friends in real life, make it happen, find a way, save up all year if you have to, just do it. You won't regret it and I can assure that you ladies will create your own special Wocave' that not a single soul can replace. I know Stesha and I did just that.

This past weekend will be one I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you, Skinny Cow for making it happen. 

P.S. We may or may not have indulged in a few of these sweet treats to beat the summer Texas heat. Ladies, stop what you are doing and get yourself a snicker doodle ice cream sandwich. Holy heaven above! They are a LIMITED EDITION find, so you better act fast. No lie, there will be zero guilt or disappoint with this dream sandwich. Enjoy!