Adored Austin

Indi Indi Quite Contrendy... plus a giveaway from Duluth Trading Company!

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:54:00 +0000

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While I've been away, Chris has been hard at work in our garden. One of our first major projects as new homeowners was having seven raised garden beds put in. When I was doing more outfit posts, I'd often use the garden as a backdrop, so over the years, you've gotten glimpses at some of our backyard bounty:

Chris and I don't claim to be master gardeners (our friend Jenni takes the cake on that one), but over time we've learned some great tricks of the trade. When we first started our garden, we would simply mark what we had planted with large popsicle sticks, labeled in Sharpie. This method was lacking because the Sharpie bleeds on the wood, and the sticks are small and sometimes disappear among the plants. Sure, there are a lot of fancy garden markers out there, but it seems silly to drop a lot of money on something that is literally going to go into the dirt. This weekend, I was thinking about our garden, and I came up with what I'm now calling "crazy convenient garden markers". These are awesome because the clothespins act as labels, and they can be shuffled or several can fit on one dowel. Best of all, not including the seeds, I spent a mere $4.00.

Supplies:

Outdoor acrylic paint (any color)
Paint marker (contrasting color)
Paint brush or sponge
Standard sized wooden clothes pins
1/4'' thick 12'' long bamboo dowel rods (check in bakery supplies)
Names of seeds
Not pictured: plastic cup, paper plate, and paper towels

Instructions:

Place clothes pins around a plastic cup so that they can be painted on both sides in one go and can dry easily, without laying flat.
Using several thin layers, paint the clothes pins.
Paint the dowels (optional- I skipped this part for now).
Label clothes pins with the names of the seeds.
Label additional clothes pins with notes or planting or harvest dates.

I think these could be super cute if one were to be very methodical in their painting and labeling, but they're still pretty cute when they're imperfect.

Some of you might wonder how Chris and I have a successful garden in Austin when the temperatures are consistently over 100º for most of the summer. The answer is consume lots of water, work in the morning, wear a big hat, and dress cool.

Duluth Trading Company recently hooked me up with some sweet outdoor work clothes that I can't wait to use in the garden once I get back to Texas. I've been wearing the heck out of my Armachillo shirt here in Indiana; I honestly can't believe how lightweight and comfortable it is. It's the kind of shirt that a person could wear year long. Can you imagine? Long sleeves in Austin in August? This shirt makes it possible.
I wasn't actually expecting these clothes to be cute enough to wear outside the garden, but I think I can make it work:
And best of all, they're certainly durable enough and designed to get me through a summer in our garden, which I can't wait to get back to. If you'd like to try something out from Duluth Trading Co. yourself, feel free to enter below to win a $50 gift card. I'll choose the winner tonight, so be sure to enter right away! As always on Adored Austin, no need to follow a bazillionty links or Pin or Tweet or repost anything for a gazzillion additional entries:
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Bonus: Enjoy free standard domestic shipping until June 30th with a $50 purchase using code T13PRCG.
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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Texas Style Council 2013: It's On!

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Mon, 06 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

We're doing it!
You know, after last year's conference I wasn't convinced that there was a need for another Texas Style Council symposium, but after evaluating a lot of the feedback I got from last year's event and endeavoring to make subsequent TxSC conferences markedly different, I think this is going to be our best year, yet!

Registration opened today, and we're having twice a many tickets available and making sure that any woman (blogger or not) can get something out of this conference. We're calling it TxSC Summer School, and the focus is on learning. We've scrapped the panel / audience format in lieu of hosting two days of smaller, intimate, hands-on / face-to-face classes. [more info on our changes from 2012 here]

Our teachers are phenomenal. Our keynote presenters are Emma & Elsie from A Beautiful Mess, plus a few other familiar faces:

If you are a woman who has a lifestyle, fashion, DIY, or mom blog -or- if you own a business that caters to women-centric industries, you will get a ton of bang for your buck at TxSC Summer School. Our full line-up is on its way. In the meantime, take advantage of our early bird discount and register soon. Tickets sold-out both last year and the year before.

We've only just begun going through our perspective speakers' pitches, and we haven't yet begun seeking official conference sponsors. If either of those opportunities interest you, contact me and the TxSC advisory team here. We're also looking for a few local volunteers to help our registration manager get check-in done at all of our events.

Two things: (1) it's incredible how much we've grown in the last four years (note blogger #5), and (2) Huge props to Joa Jean, our patient, talented web designer who came back on this year! Our TxSC website has never looked so good.

Austin Eavesdropper Post on Ethical Shopping in Austin

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:46:00 +0000

My friend Tolly wrote a thought provoking post about ethical shopping and she included a list where you can shop with heart in Austin. I recommend hightailing it over there to read it at Austin Eavesdropper:
Read more >>>

Kid of the Year (in other words, give your mom a really great Mother's Day gift and be funny)

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:44:00 +0000

Do you want to earn "favorite child status" from mom this year? I can guarantee that you'll be in the running if you give your mom a Mother's Day Gift that is equal parts thoughtful, useful, and delightful. A present that will make her smile + a card that will make her laugh = sure hit. Here are some ideas that will make your siblings wish they would have thought of that:
1. CANDLE // card inspiration: "No one holds a candle to you, Mom."
[pictured: Capri Blue Red Volcano candle via Anthropologie]

2. RING // card inspiration: "For all those times when I was growing up and you wanted to ring my neck."
[pictured: Catbird Heart Ring exclusive to Anthropologie]

3. SHOES // card inspiration: "I bet raising us was no easy feet!"
[pictured: white crochet TOMS via Nordstrom]

4. TOTE // card inspiration: "You are TOTE-ally the best mom, ever!"
[pictured: red striped reusable tote by Baggu]

5. MEASURING CUPS // card inspiration: "When it comes to being a mom, you more than measure up." or (sappier) "Our love for you is beyond measure."
[pictured: Measuring Hedgies via Anthropologie]

6. GRATER // card inspiration: "Mom, you're grate!"
[pictured: Beak the Clock Grater via ModCloth]

7. WHISK // card inspiration: "I whisk you were here!"
[pictured: Martha Stewart stainless steel balloon whisk via Macy's]

8. WINE GLASSES // card inspiration: "For all those years you had to put up with my wining."
[pictured: Mikasa Cheers white wine set via Dillard's]

9. DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME // card inspiration: "I can't picture a life without you!"
[pictured: Kodak Pulse wi-fi digital frame via Amazon]

If your mom does, indeed, deem you her favorite child after you used one of these ideas, high fives all around! If anyone else has any punny gift ideas, leave them in the comments below!

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This post also appears on the Simon Style Setter blog. I love that they let me come up with the permalink title. Ha!

These businesses gave (a darn).

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

I want to take a quick moment to highlight the generous and awesome people who supported my fundraising efforts for the Austin Children's Shelter during Amplify Austin. Please take a moment and visit and support these kind companies (don't forget that Mother's Day is coming up soon!).

Beauty Queen Blog

I officially met Cindilu, the make-up and hairstylist behind Beauty Queen Blog during the Texas Style Council March mixers. She was so sweet and funny. She says, "My personal goal [is to] enhance natural beauty and create magic for everyone I come across. My passion is to create looks that you can wear every day to feel your best."

Blog | Instagram | Facebook

Blank Slate Patterns
Melissa, the blogger behind Melly Sews, took the big plunge and quit her day job to start her own small business, Blank Slate Patterns. Featuring modern sewing patterns for kids, these affordble patterns are absolutely adorable. Because she's a mom to two boys, she has great patterns for the little gentlemen in your lives. She says, "I choose sewing over buying because I like unique, well-fitting clothing. And I like that through sewing I can dress myself and my family more responsibly with regards to the environment by utilizing upcycled/recycled materials and support small and local businesses by sourcing fabrics and materials from them."

Shop | Blog | Facebook

Dragonflight Dreams
I met Amanda at Texas Style Council last year, and our paths have crossed a few times out since. She's a kind soul, creative and thoughtful. Dragonflight Dreams is her shop of hand printed clothing, tote bags and art prints with designs of a whimsical, fantastical, or elemental nature.

Shop | Blog | Facebook

Little Low Studio
Caitlin and I met at Le Garage Sale earlier this year, but I was already familiar with her goods shop Feb 10 Designs because I had been stalking a few of her animal alphabet prints via Etsy. When I found out she was launching an Eco Friendly print shop, I was excited to see her new work. Everything in her shop is awesome-- clean and modern with a touch of whimsey, my favorites are her hoop art prints.

Site | Etsy | Facebook

Longhorn Fashions
Way back in 2010, Tessie sponsored Adored Austin when she first opened her online retail shop. We did a great giveaway, and she even sent Jude an adorable Longhorns outfit, which Caroline is about to inherit! Longhorn Fashions is the go-to place to find affordable, adorable burnt orange clothing and accessories. Why relegate yourself to a shapeless mascot t-shirt, when you can find a cute sundress to wear to your campus events, instead? (Psst- there's a few maroon and purple items online, too).

Shop | Blog | Facebook

Musana Jewelry
As someone who is striving to highlight more companies that actively partner with global artisans and pay them a fair wage, I was really happy to learn about Musana Jewelry, where 100% of profits return the the artisians in Lugazi, Uganda. Each piece of jewelry sold takes the women artisans one step closer to survival, to providing for their children, and to eventual independence to pursue their dreams. While working for Musana, they practice English, receive literacy training, health training, financial guidance, and help with savings plans. The hope is that Musana will be a springboard for them to eventually stand on their own and pursue their dreams. After paying the women’s salaries and for operational costs, Musana jewelry profits are put back into the community to strengthen families and stability through various international development projects.

Shop | Blog | Facebook

Noonday Collection
I did a big spotlight post on Noonday Collection a few weeks ago, as it's one of my favorite companies. Their jewelry is so lovely! The artisans Noonday purchases their collections from know their craft. For them to be paid a fair and competitive wage for their skilled work is a life-altering opportunity for most of them. Because the artisans are working under Fair Trade guidelines, your purchases enable them to earn more than what they would be earning in another job. This extra income allows them to put their children in school, buy chickens, or even expand their own business so they can employ their local community. Lilly Neubauer is my Noonday Collection Ambassador, and she's a kind hearted, super helpful gal up in Dallas.

Shop | Lilly's Blog | Lilly's Twitter

Polished
I owe much of the success of the Texas Style Council to Tracy. My very first year throwing it (when it was called the "New Media Fashion Brunch"), she generously hosted. I later learned that her Etsy shop (now with over 13,000 sales and a 100% positive rating) is one of the top Etsy shops, ever! Wrap your head around this: there are over 500,000 active Etsy sellers, and Polished ranks as the #42 jewelry seller. Featuring bright, chunky, eye catching designs, Polished is best known for its Day of the Dead collection and it's one of a kind pottery shard jewelry. Nothing is over $35 and everything is handmade here in Austin!

Shop | Facebook | Twitter

POM (Patterns of Movement) PR
Kristen Chin is the public relations maven behind all of Austin Fashion Week. I first met her in 2009, when Adored Austin was a baby and POM PR was about to launch. I am always impressed by her company's work; their communication with me has always been personal, friendly, accommodating, and swift, which is a breath of fresh air! If ever I am in need of public relation services, Kristen is the one in Austin who I'd trust with that task!

Site | Facebook | Twitter

Red Chair Market
I finally got to meet Anita, the genius behind this new company, last March at Langford Market, and I was so impressed with her candor, knowledge, and warmth. Sometimes a company comes along and you ask yourself, "Why didn't I think of that?" That's what I said to myself when I first learned about Red Chair Market, which is a listing service for vintage, antique, and used furniture. As someone who loves vintage furniture but has had two bad Craigslist experiences, a place like Red Chair Market, is a welcome relief.

Shop | Blog | Facebook

Team Ensor
Shannon and her husband Joe were in my Bradley birthing class, and her daughter Stella was born a couple weeks after Jude (and she's due any day now with her second daughter, too, so Josie and Caroline will be in the same grade, too). After spending ten weeks or so together preparing to become first time parents, we got to know the couple behind Team Ensor Real Estate pretty well! Strange fact about the kind of emails I get via Adored Austin: on average of 10 times per week, I get an email that says, "We're thinking about moving to Austin. Can you recommend places to live?" Strange fact about me: I am always looking at Austin real estate, and dreaming way beyond what my family can comfortably afford! Ha! In fact, at this very moment, I have a tab of Team Ensor opened up, and I'm looking at houses a little closer to my husband's work. I have my eye on a half acre up north. If you're thinking about moving to Austin or relocating within Austin, I really recommend reaching out to my friends Shannon and Joe.

Site | Facebook | Twitter

Toni Marie Photography
Embarrassing, but true: I am active on a local mom board. Chris calls me a "forum warrior", but I'll take his teasing any day because truly I feel better connected to the local mom community by being an active participant on the boards. I met Toni through the boards, and I just love her work. The older I get and the faster life seems to be whizzing by, the more photos I wish I had. When people list off prized possessions, family photos are often one of those things we say "if the house were burning down, I'd quickly grab my photos". I really love Toni's attention to light, and I'm a big fan of her "Mommy & Me Sessions".

Site | Blog | Facebook

Tupelo Grease Co.
Launched in 2006 by Texas graphic designer Dylan Moore, Tupelo Grease Co. is inspired by a throwback lifestyle filled with smokey back-street card rooms, dimly lit lounges, blaring rock joints and honky tonks. Tupelo Grease just feels like Texas to me. The line features ultra-soft graphic tees, thermals and pearl snap shirts, and retro accessories like distressed trucker caps and chunky buckles.

Shop | Facebook | Etsy

Thank you so much for supporting the businesses who support my fundraising efforts in Austin.

Glitzkrieg!

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 04:45:00 +0000

Pageant pictures are crazy:
That said, I was a bit hesitant to get my first round of Mrs. Austin photos done. I had a fear that my first professional pageant photo would have to be decked out with fake eyelashes, impossibly perfect skin, and glass doll eyes:

[See what a little time on Ribbet can do?]
So when I saw that Kathy Whittaker was offering a special, I promptly nabbed a spot, grabbed my crown and banner, and got my headshots done the day before I left for Indiana. Kathy is a photographer my talent agent recommends for acting headshots, and she happens to specialize in non-glitz pageant headshots. I love how they turned out:
Not bad, huh?

We're six months out from the Mrs. Texas pageant! Yikes. My first round of headshot are done. This just got really real.

shirt: Walmart

earrings: Noonday Collection (loan)

A baby blanket so easy to make that a baby could make it herself

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:43:00 +0000

Slacker mom alert: I forgot the kids' blankets in Texas. The morning we left, I gathered them up and put them in a bag to take with us, but that bag got left behind in my rush to get the family on the road. Oh, well. At least I remembered the children!

The day we settled into our temporary apartment, I made a trip over to Walmart to get Caroline a baby blanket (it is literally my only shopping option here in this town). My choices were Disney Princess, Hello Kitty, and Dora the Explorer. What? No plain white? No pink polka dots? Since the blankets were all $12 and up, and I didn't want her becoming attached to something I could potentially loathe looking at, I decided to take a gander around Walmart's (surprisingly decent) fabric area instead. Among all the camouflage and Winnie the Pooh fleece, I found a bolt of pony printed fleece and decided to make her a blanket out of that. Plus for $3/ yard, it sure beats dropping $12+ on something with Sleeping Beauty's or Dora's smug little mug emblazoned all over it.
Speaking of smug little mugs...
I made this blanket in about 30 minutes. No sewing required. In fact, it's so easy to make, Caroline probably could have made it herself, and I am hesitant to call it a "craft". Really, I just cut up some fabric. If that sounds like your kind of craft, here you go:

Supplies:

Two pieces of fleece, one yard each. I used one print and one solid, but you can do whatever you want.

One pair of good fabric scissors (you'll be doing a lot of little cuts).

Instructions:

[music credit: "Blanket" by The Melillo Brothers]

Line up the fabric on top of each other. Since we're not sewing anything, make sure the right sides are facing out.
Cut off the selvage and/ or uneven edges. Make sure the two layers are nearly identical in size and layer them on top of each other.
From each corner, through both layers, cut off a square of fabric about three inches.
Cutting through both layers, cut fringe strips around all four sides, the same length as the squares that were cut out. I did mine an inch and a half apart.
Tie the fringe in knots, using one strand from the top layer and one strand from the bottom layer.
Give the blanket to the baby.

Yes. Yes, I did just show y'all how to "make" a blanket without sewing anything at all. Perhaps for my next trick I'll show you how to make an Ikea end table by screwing the legs into the top.

Slacker mom, indeed.

Thank you from your Austin area Simon Malls Style Setter!

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

I am thrilled to announce that for the next six months or so, I'll be blogging for the Simon Malls Style Setter blog and covering happenings for The Domain, Barton Creek Square, and Lakeline!
I am humbled by how many of you voted for me and promoted the link. Thank you. Truly, it was a surprise to learn I had been chosen for not just The Domain, but also for Barton Creek and Lakeline. I am excited to lend a personable voice to my favorite collection of malls in Austin, and if you're local, let's plan to meet up!

Hose, in different area codes (i.e. Hanes Legwear in the midwest in spring)

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:44:00 +0000

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Here I am on my old stomping grounds: southern Indiana. Although I am primarily here to visit with my grandma, I've been able to catch up with some friends from high school as well. This past weekend, I met a group of girl friends up north for an adult prom, benefiting Family Service of Bartholomew County and Columbus Abuse Prevention:

[music: "Back to Indiana" by The Elms]

Since I attended on a whim and packed light, I didn't have a clue what to wear. The night before the party, I hightailed up to the nearest mall (which, incidentally, is 40 miles north), and I was dismayed to find out that in the decade+ that I've been gone, that mall had pretty much died. There was a minuscule dress section of a seedy lingerie shop, but luckily the dress had a sleeve to give me a little warmth and it covered my butt (it was literally the only dress in the shop long enough to cover my buns). Bonus: it's USA made, but alas, it still cost $40 for a cheap polyester dress. I like it well enough, though, and maybe I'll be able to wear it again for a Mrs. Austin thing:

date: 20 April 2013 | occasion: CAP Adult Prom
dress: via Nite Life Boutique | jewelry: Claire's | shoes: Nine West | hosiery: c/o Hanes

I had packed a few pairs of Hanes Legwear since hosiery is always a good transitional item in this funky spring weather. For Adult Prom, the hosiery was truly a necessity, since the temperature hovered right around 40º, and this Texas idiot didn't pack anything wintery at all to bring to the Midwest. I know a lot of women eschew pantyhose altogether, but I prefer my gams in hose when I'm wearing a short dress in spring. The control top Silky Sheer pantyhose helped to (comfortably) squash down my post-baby jiggle and it made my legs look airbrushed, which is great since A) I was too lazy to shave and B) my legs are a little beat up and scarred from childhood bike crashes.
At $5.97/ pair, it's not a bad idea to have a few packages on hand. Stag at the prom... more fun than high school! [photos courtesy of Studio Limelight] I had a great night dancing and reconnecting with old friends. I'm here in the Midwest for several more weeks, so stay tuned for more glimpses of my small town style! I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

And one time my friends staged an intervention...

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:57:00 +0000

Nothing on Adored Austin is really "TMI" anymore since the posting of my birth stories, which is why I'd like to confess something to you today:

Yes, folks, I have a serious nose hair problem. It's so bad that I've been the subject of both a nose hair confrontation and an intervention as well as the recipient of a nose hair trimmer from a boyfriend on a major holiday.

A few years ago, a friend of mine hinted that I should get my nose hairs waxed. My initial thought? "She must think I'm crazy! That would hurt like the dickens!" My secondary thought? "She's probably right..."

And just so you know, as someone with a persistant nose hair problem, I have regularly subjected myself to nose hair plucking. I HATE it. It makes me sneeze. It makes my eyes water, and even my back gets sore because I tense up so badly while I pluck- sneeze- pluck -sneeze- away.

So I did it. I got my nose hairs waxed, and you know what? It was awesome. They simply stick a stick up your nose with a bit of wax, wait for the wax to cool, and then yank it out in one swift movement. My first time in, I didn't sneeze at all, my eyes didn't tear up, and it hurt way less than plucking. Of course, that's probably because it's so much pain that my brain's pain receptors just shut down and said, "WHAT WAS THAT?! WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO FIRE BECAUSE THAT WAS JUST INSANE." Waxing is my nose hair is my favorite way to take care of my hair up there.

It was so satisfying to see all those hairs (short and long) on that ball of wax. I'm not going to lie. Every time I have it done, I ask the esthetician if I can exam what's been extracted. I stare at it and marvel over how much came out and how it's not going to come back for 10- 12 more weeks.
This morning I had my first set of Mrs. Austin headshots taken, and on Wednesday night I was horrified to notice that, once again, my nose hairs were out of control. Thankfully, yesterday morning, the dear folks at Milk + Honey Spa squeezed me in for an early appointment, and believe it or not, but I fell in love with nose hair waxing even more!
This time, there was no stick involved. The esthetician put wax up my nose using the stick, but made a "pull tab" for the wax instead. She got it all in one pass for each nostril and zero plucking for cleanup. It was painless, quick, and oh so satisfying! I took a very detailed photo of what came out to post on my blog, but my sweet husband begged me not to post it. (Sometimes even he can't believe how gross I am.) If you want to see it, beware, it's disgusting. It is not for the squeamish, and even the strongest of stomachs will be horrified. [Beware: photo here].
With that... enjoy your weekend!

An extra special thanks goes out to Milk + Honey for comping my face waxing. I am in love with the hip, serene vibe of the new space on 2nd Street. I'll be back for sure!

For more info, see the Milk + Honey services menu here and connect with them on Twitter and Facebook.

Video: Caroline + Banana

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Caroline is six months old now! The other day, we let her try her first solid food. It was a banana, and she was so not impressed:
Her little faces crack me up!

Two years ago, Jude had a banana for the first time, too. Unlike his sister, he dug it big time:

Next up? Avocados and sweet potatoes. I hope those are better received.

Spotlight on: Noonday Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:42:00 +0000

Ever since I started exploring fair trade fashion, I have learned about so many great companies that operate with heart by practicing fair-trade and sustainable business practices. One such company is Noonday Collection, that just so happens to be based out of Austin. The necklace I wore yesterday was a piece from Noonday Collection, and it was made by a lovely artisan in India.
After visiting Uganda in February of 2010 and holding hundreds of orphaned children, Jessica Honegger (the Noonday Collection founder) and her husband Joe decided to adopt internationally. During that life changing visit, the Honeggers met up with long time friends who had lived in Uganda for many years trying to create sustainable income opportunities for the Ugandan people. They asked Jessica if she would like to sell the fair-trade locally made goods in Austin, in order to raise money for the costly adoption process. Jessica agreed and the first Noonday Collection trunk show was born!

Noonday Collection only partners with companies and ministries who assure that their artisans are growing, learning, and benefiting from their craft. All of their suppliers use fair trade principles. Basic fair trade principles state that artisans receive a fair, living wage, a good working condition, and a reasonable path out of poverty. However, Noonday Collection strives to go beyond fair trade. In many instances, the artisans are part owners in the companies. And they're making dang cute stuff:
some of my favorites: Dulce Necklace | Wildflower Belt | Chevron Dangle Earrings
Word spread quickly about Noonday's envied products and the lives they impact. Other women wanted to style their friends while advocating for women and kids. Soon, the opportunity for women to start their own social selling business with a social impact launched and the Ambassador opportunity was born.
At Noonday Collection, the artisans aren't just at the heart of the company, they ARE the company. The artisans Noonday purchases their collections from know their craft. For them to be paid a fair and competitive wage for their skilled work is a life-altering opportunity for most of them. Because the artisans are working under Fair Trade guidelines, your purchases enable them to earn more than what they would be earning in another job. This extra income allows them to put their children in school, buy chickens, or even expand their own business so they can employ their local community.

As you may know, adoption is something my family plans to do, so it is a cause that is very dear to our hearts. I love that Noonday Collection believes every child belongs in a family. Noonday advocates for the orphan by:

Providing jobs that create a pathway out of poverty for families. A stable income means a family is less likely to abandon their child.
Help families raise money for their own adoptions. We give 10% of trunk show sales directly to the adoptive family when they host a trunk show.
Aside from donating 10% towards qualified adoptive families, Noonday Collection also gives towards orphan care and prevention. Watch this video to see one of our beneficiaries.
The dream is to one day take YOU on a trip to visit artisans and visit orphans in their distress.

Lilly Neubauer is my Noonday Ambassador, and she graciously supported my fundraising efforts during Amplify Austin for the Austin Children's Shelter. Take a look around Noonday Collection. Don't forget; Mother's Day is coming up (May 12th). It'd be great to give the gift of jewelry that supports economically disadvantaged mothers and orphans. Thank you for supporting businesses with heart!

This old thing?

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

I haven't been able to part with this cardigan although it's been unworn for (literally) years. If this cardigan were a child, it would be a freshman in high school. I've had this crazy thing in my closet since 1999.
date: 7 April 2013 | occasion: errands with the family
cardigan: Express, 1999! | blouse: thrifted at Savers (similar) | necklace: c/o Lily Neubauer at Noonday Collection (fair trade) | jeans: Paige via Nordstrom Rack | flats: c/o Wanted Shoes, 2010 (similar) | diaper bag: c/o Kipling (similar) | sunglasses: c/o TOMS Eyewear | belt: Target
The sweater, shoes, and shirt are old, but most everything else is new.

This diaper bag from Kipling is super brand new. It's so new, that this bag in this print isn't out yet in the US, yet. My other diaper bag finally bit the dust after 2.5 years of daily use (slamming it in the sliding van door will do that, I suppose). This go around I wanted a diaper bag made of nylon so I could spot clean it a little easier. Kipling is the king of tough, cute, nylon bags, and I was so excited when I learned they came out with a baby bag. This diaper bag is awesome because it has plenty of pockets, stroller straps, a matching changing pad, and a cute little purple gorilla keychain that has already provided Jude with easy entertainment in a pinch. Another newcomer to my closet is this Noonday Collection necklace, which goes with absolutely everything that I own. I love Noonday Collection and all they stand for. This particular necklace was made by a fair trade artisan group in India that creates avenues of employment for the economically disadvantaged.

Speaking of do-good brands, I've been a longtime fan of TOMS. As a special thanks for spreading the word about all my favorite TOMS Shoes, the kind folks that work there recently sent me a pair of their TOMS sunglasses.

Much like their shoes, their eyewear is a one for one program. For every pair of frames purchased, TOMS pays for eyesight restoration for a person in an economically disadvantaged community either via surgery or medical treatment. I know I posted this outfit photo yesterday in my Vaseline Spray & Go post; see it in action in the family video I shot here. Although most of my outfit is made of new things, I finally feel like I'm getting back to the old me again. My hair is growing out, my pre-pregnancy clothes are fitting again, and the weather is warming up.

Isn't it crazy that my sweater is fourteen years old? It is my hope that these new acquisitions will have that kind of longevity in my wardrobe, too.

Anyone else out there still rocking a fourteen year old sweater?

Our mornings maxed

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

When it comes to parenting, there are very few things I can say I've mastered. I can't figure out how to get my kids' naps to synch up. I can't get Caroline to crawl forward instead of backwards. I can't get Jude to do a number two on the toilet. However, one thing that I can say I've mastered is maximizing our morning. The kids wake up around 9:30 a.m. and we, as a family, hit the ground running.

If I were a morning person, I'd set my alarm for 7 a.m. and have two+ hours of uninterrupted me-time before the little ones start stirring, but alas, since Caroline is not yet sleeping through the night (meaning I'm up with her at midnight, 4 a.m., and 7 a.m.), this lady chooses to sleep in as long as possible. No need to set an alarm; hearing my kids through their baby monitors gets me going. Because they sleep until 9 or 9:30, and because I typically want us out the door by 10 a.m., I am a pro at maximizing what's left of our mornings.

Our typical weekday mornings look like this:
7 a.m.: Caroline cries out for morning milk. I do a big nursing session in her room and put her back down for two more hours of snoozing. I go back to bed myself.

9:30: Jude gets out of bed and turns off his white noise machine. This jolts me (and Noodles) awake. I bolt up, knowing I have only a few minutes until he starts calling out to me, thus waking Caroline who has the room right next to his.

9:31: I'm a night showerer, so I quickly brush my teeth, wash my face, and then moisturize my face and body. Vaseline Spray & Go enables me to spray my body lotion on and get dressed immediately. On workout days, my exercise pants go on instantly. On non-workout days, I shimmy into my skinny jeans without waiting for my lotion to dry.

9:35: I put on a little make-up (foundation, blush, and eyeliner), pull down the bun I've slept in, and I greet Jude at his door. I quickly change diapers and get both kids downstairs.

9:45: I let Caroline work on crawling in the living room while I get Jude situated in his high chair in the kitchen. I give him a yogurt while I heat up a sausage link and toast him a piece of raisin bread. While he eats and watches birds at the bird feeder, I nurse Caroline if she seems hungry again.

10:00: We're out the door, either meeting a friend for a walk around the lake or a romp on the playground or we make a trip to the store. We often grab lunch while we're out or we're back home by 11 for lunch and Caroline's first nap.

We try to get out of the house every single day so we can enjoy our city together. What's helped my family is having certain weekday rhythms and go-to items that help this non-morning person get the ball rolling: speed inducing beauty products like Vaseline Spray & Go, dark skinny jeans with a fitted top, and a swipe of bright lipstick help me look good and feel good.

I can get ready and get two kids up and out the door in 30 minutes flat. How about y'all? Do you speed out the door or are your mornings a little more leisurely?
For more info, please visit MaxtheMorning.com. Thank you so much for supporting the companies that support my family.

Dear Amelia

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:23:00 +0000

I would venture to say that no one has affected my style sensibilities like my Grandma. I've mentioned her on Adored Austin a lot over the years (most notable examples: my Tribeza feature, the Jane By Design Challenge, and my Minnetonka post). My well documented love for animal jewelry began with a big silver owl necklace from the 70's that she gave to me. I attribute my love of thrift stores to her as well as my desire to add special DIY touches to my outfits. Nearly needless to say, she has wielded a huge influence on my life.

I was three years old when my dad was killed in a helicopter crash serving in the Army, and because he was my primary care taker, his parents took me in after his death. By all accounts, they were done raising kids by the time this scraggy headed three- year- old blew into their lives, but nonetheless, they loved me and raised me, seeing me through my delicate earliest years to my tumultuous teenage years. My grandparents were a mom and dad to me, and I lived with them until my grandpa had a stroke when I was a junior in high school.

My grandma is a tiny thing. She's five feet of concrete with a head full of white hair. She's stubborn and opinionated, but she loves pranks and laughter. She's into DIY projects, and she has never met a yard sale or a flea market that she didn't like. She fills her days with meeting up with friends around our small town, and her evenings are spent doing word searches, watching basketball or baseball on tv, playing bingo, or going to a neighboring town with friends to listen to live music and to see people dance.

Here she is meeting Caroline for the first time this past winter:
Caroline meets "GGB" (Great Grandma Brewer)
She often says, "The only thing old about me is my hair!", and a part of me thought she would live forever. Sadly we recently found out that this spitfire of a woman and the grand matriarch of our family has colon cancer. Because of her age and heart and the fact that she's tiny (she weighs less than 100 pounds), she can't have surgery nor can they treat her with chemotherapy. It would just be too hard on her. Obviously this news breaks my heart into a million little pieces. Thankfully, she's in high spirits and her oncologist has started her on radiation treatments to shrink the tumor. So far, the radiation treatments don't seem to be slowing her down or diminishing her positive outlook. In fact, when the nurse told her "I'm going to treat you now" at her first radiation treatment, my grandma said, "Well, I wish you'd treat me to some ice cream, too!"

She is a very important woman in my life and I want to spend a little time with her while she's still up and at 'em and her regular, jovial self. She's still living on her own, still visiting with her cronies every day, and still telling her funny stories. For the next few weeks I'll be back in my hometown recording some of these stories and banking these precious memories.

My favorite photo of her. See? Her hair wasn't always so white!

I'll have some sponsored content and a few reviews queued up and scheduled while I'm away, but to be honest, I'm not sure how often I'll be able to post while I'm gone. If you want to stay connected, I'll be on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. The kids will be with me, and I imagine we'll have a bit of down time while she rests and gets her treatments.

If you'd like to say a prayer for my Grandma, my family would appreciate it. Her name is Amelia. Also, I'd appreciate any suggestions for ways I can comfort her and my family over the ensuing months. Thanks for always being so supportive in your kind words and prayers.

Popsugar's Must Have Box

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

I love presents. Have you read the Five Love Languages? By far, my love language is receiving gifts. On top of this I really like getting mail. Letters, postcards, packages... pretty much any mail that is not a bill.

Because I like surprises and mail, I've signed up for my fair share of monthly surprise product subscriptions, including Birch Box (meh), Beauty Box 5 (meh), and Stitch Fix (the verdict is still out on this one as it was hit and miss for me the last two months). Hands down, my favorite monthly subscription is Popsugar's Must Have Box. I got my first one last September, and I was thrilled with the contents:
1. Brokedown Scarf (retail price: $68) | 2. Benefit Cabana Bana (I am now officially in love with the Hoola bronzer inside and will getting that again once I've run out of what came in this kit) | 3. $25 gift certificate to Tracie Martyn Skincare | 4. Yes to Cucumbers Towelettes | 5. make up bag | 6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie tickets and book (I read this in high school, so it was a trip down memory lane reading it again.) | 7. salted caramels from Becky's Blissful Bakery (I ate all these in one sitting! So good!) | 8. Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips (Jude devoured these!) | 9. Kitsch hair ties | 10. Pop-Up Pantry cookie | 11. Rifle Paper Co. lined notepad

All this for $35 PLUS the fun of getting a surprise in the mail! I'm a huge fan of this because it isn't a box of tiny little samples nor is it solely beauty products. If you look through the Popsugar Must Have blog, you can see all the previous months' boxes. Last month, box subscribers got the cutest corkscrew, ever and lots of goodies from Hollywood Fashion Secrets. I'm kicking myself for not getting the March box!

I plan to rectify that ASAP. Right now, Popsugar is running a $5.00 off promotion with code "MHMOM5" for first time subscribers.
The code will work through April 30th 11:59 PST. See the Must Have Terms for details, and order your box here. Let's not regret not getting April's!

I should start practicing my parade wave.

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:54:00 +0000

Did I mention that this is, like officially official now?

There's no turning back now that these have arrived.

Read more >>>

That girl was on fire!

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:22:00 +0000

Last week my friend Andrea, who is on tour with Alicia Keys, came through Austin. Our friend Trina, who lives in our hometown of Seymour, Indiana, happened to be on her spring break, so she flew in to meet up with Andrea here in Austin, and Andrea treated us to a night of the music stylings of Miguel and Ms. Keys. What a memorable night!
1. wearing a Langford Market skirt, American Apparel bodysuit, CUSP necklace, and carrying an Emily Hallman clutch. | 2. Watching Miguel from the side of the stage! | 3. Trina and I meet Miguel! (He was very sweet and gracious.) | 4. Meeting Alicia Keys! (She radiated a serene-ness, she smelled like sugar cookies, and her skin glowed from within.) 5. Alicia Keys had the audience in the palm of her hand. | 6. Keys on keys. | 7. "In Austin, Austin, Austin" she sang at the end of Empire State of Mind. | 8. Waving to Trina & me (really... but that's because I was waving like a maniac at her from the side of the stage). | 9. Trina, Andrea, and I after the show.

Needless to say, I was starstruck, and I feel incredibly blessed that I got to see friends who I don't often see and that Andrea gave me the opportunity to enjoy this show and meet the artists. Thank you, friend!

I've never met a celebrity on purpose, and I don't often go to big arena concerts. I wasn't sure what to wear, and my outfit came together in the final minutes before we left for the show. I was happy to be cool and comfortable. I felt like I was in the exact spot where I wanted to be between cool and fancy:
Get the look: necklace | skirt | top | similar boots | bag | belt.

Now I'm curious: what celebrities have y'all met? Were you starstruck?

Let's get social! Adored Austin is on Instagram // Pinterest // Twitter // Facebook // & YouTube.

Adored Austin could be blogging for The Domain... but that's up to you.

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:21:00 +0000

I am so excited to let you all know that I am one of three finalist to blog for my favorite shopping center in Austin: The Domain! I just held the Texas Style Council March Mixers at The Domain and had the opportunity to get to know some of the people who work at some of my favorite shops there. It goes without saying that I love The Domain, and when Simon Malls announced they'd be hiring a 40 bloggers to cover events for 40 of their major shopping centers, I knew immediately that The Domain would be receiving my application.
At the beginning of this month, I submitted this blog post for consideration. This afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised to learn via Twitter that I made it as one of The Domain's top three choices. I was not so pleasantly surprised to learn that the final choice would be left up to Facebook votes. Whoops. I should have committed the fine print to memory!

In any regard, I'd love your votes if you have a moment! Vote by clicking this Facebook link and then click on Indiana Adams (the girl who looks like me). Or if you think Charles or Tawni would be a better fit, vote for them (um, how cool would it be if they hired a guy? And I need to know what shade of lipstick Tawni is wearing in her photo. It's gorgeous!). Vote for one of us here:
[Fine print: Please note that the Facebook voting link only works from a desktop computer. It is not configured for mobile devices.]

I think The Domain could use a blogger like me. I mean... surely they'd be down with blogs like this and this, right?

Adored Austin + Family on the Minnetonka blog today!

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:19:00 +0000

My family is on the Minnetonka blog today!
I was interviewed about my well documented love for moccasins. Check it out to see cute photos of my family and to see me use the word "multifarious" in all seriousness.

Read more >>>

Family videos: March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:46:00 +0000

SXSW 2013 has blown out of town. Did you survive? Do512 and Skype treated me to some great shows over the weekend (Big Freedia, The Polyphonic Spree, Third Eye Blind, & Foxes, respectively), and I am exhausted in the best way possible! I got to deepen some friendships, see some awesome shows, try out some new products (swag bags!), and I fell in love with my city even more. Someone asked me if I had ever been to Coachella, and I was like, "No way. I live in Austin. I get to do SXSW, Fun Fun Fun, and ACL all without leaving my town." If we're connected on Instagram and Twitter, you've been witness to some of my SXSW shenanigans.

I'm going to spend the next couple of days reconnecting with my family. I feel like Jude woke up this morning and he was no longer a toddler. He's a little boy full of energy and has an endless desire to learn. I am hopeful that he'll be an early reader. I was a little lax on lessons this past week and a half, and we're both missing our alphabet time together.
Can you believe how big he is getting?

Not to be outdone, Caroline is trying her hardest to show me how grown up she is. She is trying so hard to crawl and has been rolling and scooting (backwards) all around the living room this morning:

Doesn't it seem like only yesterday that Jude was learning to crawl?

I've missed these little monkeys! Thankfully SXSW doesn't last all year, and I have one entire year to rest up for the next one.

Adored Austin in Ladies Home Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

When I first started blogging, magazines like Nylon would call me for commentary. Now that I'm firmly in my 30's, I'm giving quotables to publications like Ladies Home Journal. Adding two kids and a couple pairs of mom jeans will do that to a blogger, huh? Chris points out that I'm in good company, though. Tina Fey (also a mom) is on the cover of LHJ this month. Check me and my city out on page 98 in April's issue:
Thanks, Jennifer for interviewing me! Truly, thanks for choosing me to tell your readers about some of my favorite Austin places.

Ladies Home Journal? Check! AARP Magazine? Watch out. I'm just one grandkid and a purse full of peppermints from being in you.

Happy Pi(e) Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

- - - - -
Today is 3.14, and that means it's π day! Like any irrational ~~number~~ person, I like to celebrate π day by eating a pie, and since I host a dinner group every week, I thought I'd help my friends celebrate π day by picking up a Marie Callender's frozen dessert as my contribution.

Oh my word, there were so many delicious choices. I contemplated getting a buffet of single serving pies, but I didn't want my party to come to fisticuffs over a shortage of certain varieties, so I waffled between Banana Creme and Razzleberry for a while. I ultimately went with Razzleberry because the theme of that week's dinner party was rainbow, and I was responsible for purple.

Since I'm kind of the queen of making a store bought food look like I slaved for hours over it, I thought I'd share some of my frozen pie secrets with you. The keys? Foiled edges, egg wash, and fresh whipped cream. You're welcome:
Since we all know that eating pie is a lot more fun than sitting around calculating the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, here's a coupon that will get you $1.50 off any frozen Marie Callender's pie so you can celebrate π Day/ Pie Day, too.

Check out the ratings and reviews of all the Marie Callender's desserts here. For more tips and tricks visit Marie Callender's blog.

Disclosure: I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Recovery mode!

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:07:00 +0000

What an insane and fun time I've been having! The Texas Style Council hosted three events this past weekend, and last night I hit up the Neiman Marcus / Stylecaster / Man Repeller party with my friend Sierra. Maybe I'm getting too old for SXSW, but man, oh, man... all this fun is making me very tired! I miss my family and I miss sleep. I have my wrap-up posts in the works, but in the meantime, please enjoy these two group photos Linda's fiance took of a few of us on Saturday at The Domain:
"Be normal!" "Now be a fashion blogger!"

Let's get real...

noreply@blogger.com (Indiana Adams) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:42:00 +0000

Oh, gosh. Let me clear something up. Today I was in Real Magazine's SXSW issue. It was an honor to be interviewed, and I don't take my reputation as being known as an Austin insider lightly. I love this city and I love SXSW. However, I need to take this opportunity to fix my printed quote.
Gah! I wasn't misquoted insomuch as this was a teeny, tiny segment of what Chad and I talked about. To have this one quote of mine stand on its own makes my point of view seem antiquated and it paints women (especially business women and women in tech) in a completely wrong light. The sentiment, on its own, came out wrong, and anyone who knows me personally or professionally knows that I would never say anything like this.

As someone who has had the distinct privilege of being a speaker at SXSW the last two years and as someone who looks up to countless women who are smart and at the top of their fields in both business and technology innovations, I am horrified that my quote insinuates that women are not qualified to give speeches at SXSW... and that they'd rather be shopping. My friend Kelsey tweeted me the above image, and after reading my quote, I literally slapped my forehead and said "Doh!"

I want it to be known that I know that SXSW works hard to make sure the interactive portion is diverse. I know this more perhaps more than the average person (Hello! Multi-cultural female / former SXSW speaker here!). Yes, the crowd is heavy in the white dude territory, but never in a million years would I think "I'd rather be shopping" instead of attending what is, perhaps, the best conference in all of America.

What my quote should say is thus:

"The 2nd Street District is an oasis of awesome during SXSW. Everyone knows about shopping and dining on South Congress, but 2nd Street has amazing restaurants and shops within walking distance of the convention center as well. If a woman needs a break from all the SXSW madness or happens to be without a coveted SXSW badge and is simply accompanying a tech dude to Austin, she should take some time to check out the SXSW sales and promotions at Langford Market, Etcetera Etc, and Plain Ivey Jane."

People of SXSW, please accept my humble apology for my published quote and know that I applaud all of your efforts to be at the top of your fields, no matter what private parts or marital status you happen to have or not have.

In related news, I think I need an interview coach. Remember my misquote in the Wall Street Journal?

My published guide to Austin appears in the April issue of Ladies Home Journal. I haven't seen it, yet, but let's all hope I didn't say something stupid for that.

First one to send me a screenshot of my interview wins.