jam of the week // v.3

Thisssssss song! If you feel sketchy at first, give it a chance. Like 2 minutes and 18 seconds or so worth of chance. Then watch the rest.

jam of the week // v.2

Loving this song this week.

Let's make this happen, girl.




PS: I love a good ginger ;)

jam of the week // v.1

This is what I'm listening to right now. (Song only, no video.)





Would love some recommendations for some fun summer tunes - hit me!

Better Block Texarkana

Have you heard about Better Block Texarkana yet?

Once upon a time, a guy in Dallas decided that he didn't like how the downtown in his neighborhood was filled with empty buildings and nothing was going on down there. Sound familiar? So he and some friends came in and basically made one city block look cool for the day & got a bunch of people to come out. His project stuck, people got interested in reviving some of the buildings and they actually saw permanent improvement in his neighborhood (technically Oak Cliff). Since then, lots of other cities have emulated the idea and done similar things for their downtowns.

That's where Texarkana comes in. One of our lovely citizens took it upon himself to get this initiative going here, and he now has the backing of officials from both cities (Texarkana, Arkansas & Texarkana, Texas), the Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Texarkana, and  is working in conjunction with Railfest... he has really done an awesome job.

The sad part is what's still lacking - more community involvement. You know, from regular old people like you and I. Texarkana is one of those cities where the young people complain, "there's nothing to do!"  Well here is something to do. Something to be a part of that will help your city and be fun. May 10 is the date of the Better Block (same day as Railfest, how convenient!) At the very least, plan to be there. If you want to do more (yes, please) - sign up to volunteer (you could help clean up old buildings, or set up tables and chairs for people to hang out, lots of photo ops) or throw $20 toward to project here! Or even $10!

PS- Check out the Better Block Texarkana FB page to see a video that goes inside the Grim Hotel. Forreal. And Like the page, while you're there.

Above photo from my Instagram.

National Taco Day

 

Tomorrow is National Taco Day and I would be a liar if I said that holidays related to eating don't have a special place in my heart. I'm pretty serious about Mexican food because I love this: salsa.  Like I will practically drink it down I love it so much. Here is a little roundup of some favorite Mexican spots in the Arklatex…weighted a little more heavily by quality of salsa (QOS) than food.

Texarkana
Fuzzy's Tacos: The crunchy pork are all I eat. The queso is good, too.  Salsa, meh, but the pork tacos are good enough to overlook it.

Ironwood: Not a place to go for salsa either, but the blackened fish tacos here are really good. They don't skimp on the avocado.

On the Border: Don't shoot me, but if you're in a pinch, they really do have good salsa. I don't think I've ever eaten a taco from there, I'd bet they're average, but the salsa = good.

Amigo Juan: I feel like I have to mention this place because it's such a Texarkana institution (ditto Zapata's), but the salsa is just subpar. The salsa verde is good, but I really need the red salsa to be up there too in order to put it over the top. So I don't love it, but some people do and that's what makes America great.

New Boston/Linden

El Inca: This is one of the only places where I am happy just ordering some crunchy (chicken) tacos and eating chips and salsa. Probably the best salsa (that I've tried) in this area. (i.e. north of Shreveport. See: Oyster Bar)

Shreveport

Oyster Bar: Wait, a place called Oyster Bar serves tacos? YES. And has some of the best salsa a girl could ever dream up, it's so good. Get the tilapia puffy tacos and tortilla soup. Nix the taco dressing and pour on some salsa. Repeat.

El Compadre: This family-owned local spot is so charming, the kids work there alongside their parents! Yea so what if they are college-aged nowadays, it's still sweet. I don't even know how to describe the refried beans, um, they black. I think? They taste magical. And the salsa is awesome as well. Get some of each to dunk your chips in.



I'm dying to check out Tacos Mi Pueblo in Txk, but find it very intimidating. Do you have a favorite place I need to try? Let's hear it.


PS- Fuzzy's Tacos is offering $1 tacos all day Wednesday.

gift idea: arm candy kit

If you're like me, the number of summer birthdays in your friend group ( + kids!) can be a little wham-bam, overwhelming on the pocketbook.

For my friend Kristen's recent birthday, she expressed interest in a May 28th watch, so of course I bagged one on sale, and needed a little something to go with it. Here's what I came up with...

 

read more to see what's inside... 

summer fun

A friend and I are going to our local Blues Fest in our Linden, TX this weekend. While it's no Coachella or Bonnaroo (or Blues Fest in New Orleans), I'm looking to the bigger festivals for outfit inspiration to stay cool and breezy. Jorts and cowboy boots anyone?

 

all images from refinery29, harper's bazaar, & the cut.