Tag Archives: Family

Blog Everyday In May: My Struggle

Obviously, I haven’t been blogging everyday in May but I remembered seeing this earlier this month and thought it would be fun to join sometime this month, especially since I’ve wanted to blog a little more about me. I say that because I am blogging about trips and destinations all the time BUT at the same time, I want you to know me and where I’m coming from and who I am. I think that makes a big difference when considering what you’re reading.

So I’m sitting here on a Sunday evening asking myself, “I wonder what I can write about tomorrow, I want a day’s break from my trips / expeditions…” then I remember seeing this post and head on over to the website. In a weird twist of faith, it’s asking me to talk about something that’s weighing heavily on my mind.

Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you’re struggling with right now.

Good gosh. My biggest struggle, I think I’ve talked about before. Should I stay or should I go.

I moved to Texas five years ago. Now, I’m in a completely different place in my life. I’ve had a lot of recent change. In the last six months, I’ve really pushed myself to travel across Texas as much as I can and have seen a great deal (I don’t think I’ve spent one entire weekend at home in the last two months). I’ve realized how big my support system in Texas is and the opportunities here for my blog (which is what I truly love and am passionate about). I love the western/Southern lifestyle, two stepping, Texas country music, the country livin’, and the food. Yoga – I’m completely addicted to my yoga classes that I attend. Addicted. I even have a friend here who I went to high school with which is so awesome. It’s like home comfort.

Now for the con’s – I have zero family here. My job is a job, I have no passion for it and it’s just paying the bills. I’m over living in the “city” and hearing the airplanes. Don’t get me going on the traffic and the other drivers. I think what bothers me the most is that I’m blessed to check out events for my blog and am always up to try out something new but it seems incredibly hard to find someone to go with me to some of these things. Everyone is getting married, having babies or busy with everyday life – you know the deal. I don’t mind traveling by myself but who really wants to do that all the time. In addition, everyone I know is centralized in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area. Finally, I would be lying if I didn’t mention this, I just went through a bad break up (five years) and am working my way out of that. It hasn’t really been fun.

Now, Vermont. My entire family is there. In addition to family, I have friends that I’ve known since I was five and are my rock. It seems like no matter where life has taken us, we’ve always come back together like we didn’t skip a beat. I have a one year old niece at home that I don’t get to see except when I visit a few select times during the year and a new niece/nephew due this November. Country living at it’s finest, dirt roads, peacefulness. I have friends throughout New England and the east coast (so if I was to check out something for my blog in a different state, I could, hopefully, meet up with one of them). There’s a lot friends that I can’t wait to see again (some I haven’t seen in 5 years). My love for the outdoors could really flourish and focus more on nature, hiking, canoeing, fishing and I can finally have a snowboarding season again. Canada / Montreal is just north and provides entirely new opportunities to blog and reunite with hockey season (go HABS!). Finally, maple syrup… need I say more. Job wise, I would love to try to get this job into a full time gig (what better way than to live with mom and dad… right mom… or just trying to get crafty and refurbishing furniture, starting a yoga business, photography business…. I’m going to be the woman with 300 jobs). Have I mentioned snow and mountains?

Cons – Jobs are a little harder to come by but not impossible. Is there even great Mexican food in Vermont? I think I may have withdrawals and that’s before I even mention BBQ. The events in Texas are weekly and never a dull moment… Vermont they may be fewer to find and farther to travel to. There’s no cowboys but there are dairy farmers. I’m going to be honest and say this… there’s a lot fewer people in Vermont which leads for much fewer options to find a husband. Call me vain or whatever really but I mean… I’m not getting any younger folks. I’ll have to open my own yoga studio. I’m pretty nervous that I’m not going to have as many blog opportunities…yea pretty nervous. I don’t want to take a step backwards in the blog world. I’m going to miss my Texas friends like I do now with my Vermont family.

My Texas friends say “stay”, my Vermont / New England friends say “come home”. I’m about 95% sure on my decision. I say that instead of 100% sure because there’s always that thought that crosses your mind asking if you’re doing the right thing and leaves you wondering. Does anyone have any history making a decision like this one?

Exploring Nature at the Hyatt Lost Pines

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Recently, I told you about my visit to the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa. It’s absolutely amazing but what really got me was how nature really embraces you. In honor of Wordless Wednesday, I thought I would share some of the sights that I saw outside on my trip.

There are hiking trails throughout the entire resort, so you could probably walk all day if you wanted to. The next few pictures are from the walking trails along the river which also leads to the walking trails at McKinney Roughs Nature Park.

Need a break? Directly outside the rooms, you will find two gardens filled with wildflowers and benches to sit, relax and soak it all in.

The landscaping is absolutely amazing. Just imagine being able to literally step outside of your room and be exposed to all this.

And at the end of the day, is this not the most perfect spot in the entire place? How were these chairs even empty?!

Most Historic Small Town In Texas

Comfort & Beauty – Room Overview
Firewheel Cafe at the Hyatt Lost Pines
Activities at the Hyatt Lost Pines

Today I’m linking up with The Paper Mama, Jenni From the Blog and Project Alicia for {Wordless Wednesday}.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated but did receive one night’s stay at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in return for this post. All photos and opinions are 100% my own.

Most Historic Small Town in Texas

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Bastrop is situated right outside of Austin however one shouldn’t let the appeal of a small Texas town deceive you as being “just a small town”. Bastrop holds a huge part of Texas history, history that the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa displays proudly.

Walking the halls of the Hyatt, what you will find on the walls documents the history of Bastrop in the state of Texas. It even led me to do a little research and find out a little bit more…

Back around 1804, a fort / colony was established alongsidethe Colorado River and was named after Felipe EnriqueNeri Baron de Bastrop. (He was actually a wanted man from the Netherlandsnamed Philip Hendrik Nering Bogel who was embezzler.) In Texas,he became a land commissioner for Moses and Stephen F. Austin. Around 1827,Stephen F. Austin moved about 100 hundred families into an area and named thetown after Baron de Bastrop, who had passed a short time earlier. Consideringthe town was located next to (or what was at the time) the Mexican boundaries,the name was later changed to Mina however on December 18, 1837, the town became officially known, forgood, as Bastrop.

In 1839, Bastrop applied to be the capital of Texas.It was later decided that the name “Austin”would be used as the state capital name, no matter where it happened to be established. Theory says, Austin was established right outside of Bastrop because it was not established. In doing so, they prompted growth in the area,bringing business, jobs and creating a community in an undeveloped area.Although Bastrop was defeated that they could not claim the title of being the capital of Texas,they knew that this would bring great benefits to their area.

Bastrop also has some famous citizens that held their place throughout history:

Three Bastropians signed the Texas Declaration of Independence
Several gave their lives at the Alamo
60 Men fought in the battle of San Jacinto

A huge importance of this area was the Lost Pine Forest which sat around the center of town. This was some of the only lumber available in the area which was supplied to Austin and San Antonio and later even sent off to Mexico.Later on, a pecan-shelling plant, cedar chest factory, cedar oil factory and coal production would bring even more business to the area.

1862 brought destruction to Bastrop.A fire destroyed most of the downtown area, including the county courthouse and many commercial buildings. The majority of buildings in the “old downtown” area are dated post Civil War due to the fire. 1869 brought even more disaster with the highest flood in the towns history, forcing everyone to evacuate.Unfortunately, it didn’t stop there with the most destructive fire in Texas history in 2011. Over 36,000 acres and 1,700 homes were lost in the fire,however the historic downtown remained untouched.

Bastrop joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 which added 131 buildings tothe site list. This helped to earn Bastrop the title of “ Most Historic Small Town in Texas”. In 2010, it was named one of America’s Most Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Now, this is a really quick hit on the information that I found on Bastrop. Walking the halls of the resort, you will see pictures and information on the history of this historic town (as shown above). About 10-15 minutes down the road, you can also drive into historic Bastrop and view some of the historic buildings in the area (below).

(Above) This house stopped me dead in my tracks. It was gorgeous, on a quiet street with large trees out front. I’m pretty sure I would be sitting on this front porch with a cool drink and a good book year round. Some of the historical homes in this area were beautiful!

Views of some of the downtown shops.

How small is the world. I happened to venture into one of the downtown shops. Here sat a butter churn made in Bellows Falls, Vermont.
A little piece of Vermont found in Texas by this Vermonter = one proud Vermonter.

Bastrop is super cute. If you happen to be at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort (or going thru the area), I highly recommend taking a little detour and enjoying some of this historic town.

Texas Tuesday link up with Amanda from Princess of the Panhandle and Crystal from Masons Mama. This is a chance for any blogger to participate in a post on the greatness of Texas! There’s so much to explore!

Historical Information: Visit Bastrop TX, Bastrop Texas Network, Wikipedia

Disclaimer: I was not compensated but did receive one night’s stay at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa in return for this post. All photos and opinions are 100% my own.