in travel

We’re Moving to Austin!

Welcome to a new year at Linen and Lavender. New year, new adventures and our next one is gonna be good. We have decided to move to Austin! When I left seven years ago, it was the student life I left behind. A city for schoolwork, dorm rooms, free buses, the student union. The next time around I hope to take full advantage of what the city has to offer: excellent food, walking trails, dog-friendly culture, and hopefully a beautiful texas hill country home (fingers crossed).
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in inspiration

Weekend List: Christmas Shopping Edition

Black Friday means deals! But I prefer to think that it means gifts and happiness for your loved ones that causes a smaller dent in your wallet than it normally would. It can be difficult to resist the temptations of Black Friday. 25% off? But that stuff never goes on sale! I know, I feel it too. But sometimes I find the best way to get a little retail therapy without the guilt is to buy things for others. At the same time, I find that a really great inspiration when you have gifter’s block is to draw on things that you want or enjoy yourself. Here’s my holiday inspiration this year!
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in food, inspiration

Trader Joe’s Holiday Guide

There’s nothing that will get you in the holiday season faster than a visit to Trader Joe’s in November. Starbucks brings back the peppermint mocha and gingerbread latte. Shopping centers start hanging wreaths and garlands. Radio stations become peppered with “Jingle Bell Rock” and if you’re lucky Wham!’s amazing “Last Christmas”. And Trader Joe’s beats them all.
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in food

Simple Chocolate Chip Shortbread

From my time in London, I really came to appreciate the simple things. Or more specifically, the simple carbs. Like buttered toast, scones with clotted cream, and shortbread. These things are sometimes hard to appreciate when you compare them to something more decadent, but with a cup of tea, you can’t beat a good piece of shortbread.

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in food, travel

Cold, Gray, Rainy, Seattle… and Sushi!

Returning to Seattle in October was bittersweet for me. Sweet because I got to catch up with old friends, celebrate my husband’s birthday with world class sushi, and attend a beautiful wedding. But how could I forget the bitterly cold, wet and gray fall season. It’s like when you forget to take your sunglasses off as the sun goes down. But in fall in Seattle, that’s just what normal looks like. Everything is stripped of color and a dark haze makes you want to curl up in bed and do absolutely nothing.

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