Hello everyone! I’m excited to share the latest blog about our 12th-anniversary trip! If you read last year’s anniversary trip write-up, you already know the challenges we faced leading up to it. We started on a rocky note that left us feeling a bit out of sorts—we didn’t even want to be around each other. A significant portion of our trip was spent in a shadowy valley 😞. However, GOD 👏🏾 IS 👏🏾 GOOD 👏🏾, and He graciously met us in that valley and led us to much greener pastures.

This year, our anniversary was the complete opposite of last year’s experience. We tried lots of unique foods, had a blast learning how to tag walls in a graffiti lesson, enjoyed our first 4DX theater experience, and wrapped it all up with some valuable insights. I can’t wait to share more—let’s dive in!

I love saving money when it comes to travel, but my tendency toward expensive tastes can make it difficult to find venues that accommodate all my wants and needs. During my search, I came across a condo Airbnb called Natiivo that ended up being exactly what I was looking for!

I booked us a corner suite with an impressive view from the 15th floor. The condo was decorated with a modern, simple design and furnished with amenities like a fully functional kitchen and a balcony for lounging. Additionally, the building is conveniently located within walking distance of the Rainey Street bar and restaurant scene. As if that wasn’t enough, they also have a gym and a rooftop heated pool for year-round use. I was able to book this room for a couple of hundred dollars LESS than the nearest neighboring 4-star hotel, where we would have had to pay additional fees and been confined to a single-use room (albeit a nice one).

After arriving in Austin later in the evening, we were eager to grab a bite, having held off our appetites for a good portion of the day. We chose a Tex-Asian Pub called Anthem.

The vibe was chic yet casual, with tiki lanterns hanging over the tables. My husband and I slid into a plush velvet green booth and browsed the menu. There were tons of options, but ultimately, we agreed on a sampling platter called The Cure. It included brisket rangoons, shishito pepper queso, salted charred edamame, JFC honey sriracha popcorn chicken, and miso mac daddy fritters.

At the recommendation of our server, we ordered a side of brisket to literally ‘beef up’ the shishito queso, lol. He was spot on with the suggestion; that queso ended up being my favorite of the samples. While we were eating, I realized the platter was heavily fried and contained a lot of cheese—not my usual choice for a late-night meal. However, if I dine here in the future, I’ll skip the platter and choose a lighter option.

I also really enjoyed my dry cocktail, The Flower Child. It’s a pea flower tea elixir with coconut, pineapple, and lime—very reminiscent of a piña colada with a touch more tartness.

After our meal, we decided to walk off the food in the newly developing Rainey Street scene since we hadn’t been in years. It felt so different from what we remembered, and even though it was a Friday night, it seemed oddly less crowded 🤷🏾‍♀️. We easily made our way through the sparse crowd and found a cute late-night donut shop called Little Lucy’s.

This small shop boasts mini donuts packed with flavor. RJ ventured beyond his comfort zone and ordered pistachio, lavender, and vanilla toppings for us to share. It was a delicious petite treat. I’m glad I don’t have a Little Lucy’s within walking distance of my home; otherwise, I might become addicted!

The next day’s adventures were even more festive. After a lovely brunch at Phoebe’s Diner, my husband and I had the unique opportunity to participate in a graffiti lesson at Color Cartel Art Studio. There were no planned lessons available for that particular day, but I called on a whim, and the owner/artist Apse graciously offered to host a lesson just for me and RJ!

Apse was really cool and shared how he has been developing his talent over the past several years. Initially considering architecture, he walked us through his journey to becoming a fully immersed graffiti artist who gets to travel to do what he truly loves.

We learned about the rich history of graffiti, picked up some community terminology like “piece” and “throwies,” and had the chance to try our hand at tagging Apse’s mobile graffiti wall on wheels.

It was more challenging than I realized! Everything—from the type of spray paint used to how the can is held and the pressure applied to the cap—matters significantly in developing each artist’s style.

Needless to say, this was a highlight of our trip. Apse hosts monthly graffiti lessons for groups at his studio when he’s not traveling for work. I highly recommend giving Color Cartel a try if you’re ever in Austin and looking for something unique to do!

Our final full day in Austin was pretty easygoing. We got a late start on lunch at Ramen Tatsu-Ya, which is owned by Tatsu Aikawa and Takuya Matsumoto. Tatsu had worked in a two-Michelin-star-rated sushi restaurant, so we had high expectations for the ramen.

Of course, the food was amazing! 😋 The ramen broth is cooked for over 60 hours for depth of flavor and authenticity. We had zero complaints about our meal. Now all we need is a location in Fort Worth! 😝

After lunch, we had some downtime between activities, so we headed to Mozart’s Coffee Shop to grab a drink and enjoy a picturesque view overlooking Lake Austin. While sipping our beverages, a young man strummed familiar tunes on his guitar. Interestingly, he was doing an “earn money for a flight challenge,” where he travels to a city and hopes to make enough money from tips to afford a flight back home or to his next destination. It made me wonder: would you put your travel fate in the hands of strangers?

After our caffeine jolt, we returned to the condo rooftop to take advantage of the stunning sunset dipping into the horizon. A nearby older couple, in town for the Kentucky/UT game, struck up a casual conversation with us. We talked about sports, gleaned some marriage advice, and enjoyed snapping a few pictures against the city backdrop.

Next on our to-do list was to hit up the local Regal Theater to catch the new Gladiator II in 4DX. This was our first time experiencing a movie in such an immersive way. I enjoyed the film, and the effects definitely enhanced it. The seats moved with the action of punches, kicks, and even riding horseback. There were blasts of air to simulate feeling the wind in your hair while on a ship, and we even experienced sprinkles of water in scenes where it was raining! Overall, I would recommend trying a movie in 4DX at least once, though I will caution that RJ mentioned feeling a little woozy from the movement after eating, so maybe it’s best to do it on an empty stomach.

The next day, during our final hours in Austin, we decided to spend the morning at a coffee shop called Afuga, discussing our short- and long-term marriage goals—how responsible of us! 😂 I find discussing future marriage endeavors much more enjoyable when I pair it with a nice drink. My go-to choice is usually a classic Chai Tea Latte, but lately, I’ve been loving a drink called The London Fog. It’s Earl Grey tea with steamed milk, notes of vanilla, lavender, and a hint of brown sugar. 😋

After our in-depth conversation, it was time to redeem ourselves from the Thai food fiasco from the previous night. After seeing Gladiator II, we were ready to chow down, but it was late, and options were limited. We picked PD Thai Restaurant, and in hindsight, the “Under new management” sign should have served as a warning to steer clear. 🤦🏾‍♀️ The food was unappetizing and left us feeling unsatisfied.

Determined to leave the Austin food scene on a high note, we opted for an unassuming Thai food truck called Sukjai, and it did NOT disappoint! 🙌🏾🙌🏾 I ordered some delicious pork belly and had to keep the mister away from my plate!

For our final treat, we grabbed Dirty Dough Cookies to go. This cookie company has an interesting backstory involving a rivalry with the famous competitor Crumbl Cookies🤔 They pride themselves on scrumptious dough-stuffed cookies that can bring a smile to even the most stoic faces.

We tried The Classic Chocolate Chip, The Brookie, The Reverse (like a Reese’s cup), Cookies and Cream, The Carmelita, and Strawberry Shortcake (my favorite).

Nothing beats driving home from a wonderful anniversary trip with good tunes and delicious cookies. It was nice to spend quality time with my favorite guy and feel a huge wave of relief in redeeming last year’s anniversary. The Good Lord gave us beauty for ashes even amid difficult times. This entire trip served as a beautiful reminder that when we trust God, even in the most painful circumstances, He is faithful to bring something wonderful from it at the right time.