Fredericksburg, TX Travel Guide

February 4, 2021

Are you headed to Fredericksburg, TX or as like to call it, The Napa of the South? 🙂 First off, I’m jealous. Second off, I have been a few times now and thought it was about time for an updated travel guide as their are SO many new and cute spots in town!

If you’ve never been to Fredericksburg you are in for a treat! It has quaint small town vibes but with so much to do and see! Obviously most people come for the wineries, but honestly you’ll want to stay for more than just that! While it’s a great weekend getaway, I would highly recommend it for a bachelorette party, girl’s weekend or low(er) key birthday trip.

WHERE TO STAY

I highly suggest renting a house for the weekend. If you are heading up for a girls weekend or wanting to go in on a place with multiple people, a house is the way to go. Fredericksburg offers many cute options that make the trip so much more enjoyable than staying in a hotel. We stayed at The Emerald Door which proved to be everything we hoped for and more! With COVID still a high risk, we wanted a space where we could spread out and not have to leave the house except for wineries and one nice dinner.

Most places are between $4-$600 a night (cheaper during the week) so split between multiple people, it is well worth it! Our house slept 12 plus came equipped with a huge outdoor area, corn hole, a fire pit, hot tub and a whole cupboard of games which we used the entire weekend. The owner has several other properties (found here), all with different colored front doors, that are perfect for your next girls weekend, bachelorette party, or couples retreat. I cannot say enough great things about the owner, all of her recommendations, attention to little details, and the overall house aesthetic. Just look what I mean- SO CUTE! In fact, many of you messaged me while I was there telling me you had stayed in one of her properties as well!!

WINERIES

Aka the reason you are probably headed to Frederickburg! I’ve tried several but this past trip was by FAR my favorite wineries that I have been to yet! While Grape Creek, Becker Vineyards and 4.0 Cellars are all highly recommended and fantastic options, these next 3 will blow them out of them water!

Signor Vineyards–This was our first winery of the day and talk about GORGEOUS. I’m telling you right now that you’ll want to stay at this outdoor space for hours! Our group was too big for a tasting so we bought a few bottles and did our own tasting at one of the picnic tables. They are known for their chardonnay and pinot but the cab was my personal fav!

Baron’s Creek– Out of the 3 we went to this one was probably my least favorite just because it didn’t have the WOW factor that Signor and Augusta Vin had but I enjoyed the wine, outdoor music and the wine was actually one of my favorites from the day!

Augusta Vin– Talk about a little piece of California in Texas. With the floor to ceiling windows and hilly views, it’s hard to believe you are in Texas! Check out the picture below. If you can request a tasting on the second floor- highly recommend. Also highly recommend the bread and olive oil pairing with your tasting 🙂

If you want to really take your weekend up a notch and not have to worry about getting transportation in between wineries (Ubers are V scarce), I recommend looking into a winery tour/shuttle. We used Texas Wine Tours and our driver was a freaking hoot. His name was Darrell and if you can request him- DO IT- you’ll be laughing for hours. Not to mention he brought us donuts and kolaches which came in clutch after 3 wineries if you know what I mean.

The way the winery tour works is that they handle all of your winery tasting reservations and fees in the price which is actually incredibly convenient if you have a big group (especially during COVID) because making reservations for big groups actually proved to be really hard when I was trying to do it!

WHERE TO EAT

Granite House Lounge– Hot of the press! The food was AMAZING. Just take my word for it. This place had only been open 3 weeks when we went and it was hip hop happenin to say the least. It’s pretty small so expect to wait but you can grab a cocktail and hangout outside while you do! I also would suggest hopping on the online waitlist!

The Auslander- If you are wanting a cheap, authentic German meal, this is the place! If the weather is nice enough, there is usually a pretty good sized crowd enjoying live music and throwing back oversized beers.Sozial Haus– A quaint spot that has great pizza. Monday nights they have half price pizzas and bottles of wine.

Hondos– An old spot where you will find many locals. The food is nothing extraordinary but the atmosphere is fun!

Vaudeville– This is a nicer place and reservations are recommended. Even if you don’t get a chance to eat here, I suggest checking out the courtyard and little shop that is attached to it. Both are amazing! I have heard the restaurant is a must do if you have the time (and money!) to do so.

August E’s– Another great fine dining experience. We were there during the week and attended “Thai Tuesday” night. While the price is a little high for thai, the portions are HUGE and easy to share. They also have sushi and steaks.

Prometheus Pizza-This food truck came highly recommended to us if you are wanting something quick, easy and GOOD. They deliver too!

WHAT TO DO (besides the obvious)

Besides visiting wineries, there are plenty of other things to do in Fredericksburg! It is such a cute town to explore and small enough to walk most places if you are staying at a house that is close to the main strip (which I highly recommend!).

Tasting rooms– If you are just wanting to grab a drink before dinner or do not want to drive out to the wineries, several of the vineyards have tasting rooms on the main strip.

Lincoln St.– A cute indoor/outdoor bar that is perfect for drinks before or after dinner and one of the only places that stays open later.

Fredericksboards– We did this one night for a happy hour at home! Highly recommend grabbing a charcuterie board from them. They are beautiful and will save you a trip to the grocery store!

Yellow Door Studio– If you have already done a wine and painting class, then you know how fun they are. If you have not, now is your time! The art class is BYOB and is so much fun! These classes run about $45/person and are a great keepsake for a girls or bachelorette weekend!

I have a Frederickburg highlight saved to my Instagram with more visuals and fun happenings from our weekend but if you have any questions please feel free to comment on this post or email me at itsallchictomeblog@gmail.com. I hope you enjoy your stay!

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Outfits

Houston Rodeo Outfits

February 20, 2019

Houston Rodeo Outfit

Houston… are you ready to Rodeoooo?!

If you are from Texas then you already know what a big deal the Houston Rodeo is. Personally, I look forward to the Rodeo almost just as much as I do Christmas and for really good reason if you’ve heard of a thing called fried Oreos! They might as well shut down work and school when the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo starts because it takes precedent over just about everything. And while we might spend the majority of the year trying to convince non-Texans that we don’t ride horses to work or that cowboy boots and hats aren’t a part of our normal everyday wear, all of that goes right out the window when the Rodeo comes to town.

When it comes to Rodeo fashion, the Rodeo might as well be Texas’ own version of New York Fashion Week. For most of us, it’s our one time of the year to pull out the most Texan attire that we own and flaunt it. Suddenly every person is dressed like they just popped out of an old western. While you can bet to find every guy in a pair of Wranglers, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, the girls get to have a little more fun with their outfit choices. Long story short, just about anything goes as long as you’ve got your cowgirl boots on. If you live in Texas and don’t own cowgirl boots well then it’s about time you invest in a pair if you plan on sticking around the Lone Star State.

A few trends that I always love when Rodeo season comes around are embroidered attire, denim chambray, big belts and turquoise jewelry. I promise you will see it all. And I promise if you do dress to the Southern 9’s that you will not be out of place one bit. You will be more out of place if you don’t dress the part! If you are new to the Houston Rodeo or just need a little western style inspiration, see below!

On top of all of the Texan fashion, you can also bet to find a lot of country music, carnival rides, animals and a total food-lovers heaven. If you haven’t already given up hope on those New Year’s resolutions, you sure will after attending the Rodeo. They can fry just about anything you can imagine- Oreos, Twinkies, cheesecake, candy bars, ice cream, meat, vegetables you name it and they can fry it! You can always go for an old fashioned turkey leg but with all of the endless possibilities, you should probably take a page out of my book and try one of everything 🙂

Houston Rodeo Outfit

Houston Rodeo Outfits

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Fall, Life

Adams’ Family Fall Recipes

November 2, 2018

POPCORN BALLS

Adams' Family Fall Recipes: Pumpkin Popcorn Balls

10 cups popcorn (popped)
2, 10 ounce bags of Mini Marshmallows
1/2 cup unsalted butter
Orange food dye

2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 roll of clear or orange Cellophane 12 green pipe cleaners Serving Size: 24 Popcorn balls

Step 1: Pop the popcorn, remove any leftover kernels and place all 5 cups of popcorn in a large bowl.

Step 2: Use the stove to melt the Mini Marshmallows and butter in a pan on low heat. Continuously stir until the mixture is completely melted.

Step 3: Add 10 drops of orange food dye and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the marshmallow mixture and stir until fully mixed.

Step 4: Pour the marshmallow mixture over the popcorn and stir until the popcorn is evenly coated.

Step 5: At this point you can use a scooper or your hands to scoop up the popcorn balls. I suggest spray your hands or scooper with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place each ball on a piece of parchment paper to dry.

Step 6: Cut 24 squares of cellophane large enough to place the popcorn ball in the middle, wrap it up, and still have enough material for the “stem”. You will also want to cut your 12 pipe cleaners in half.

Step 7: Tie up all of your popcorn balls in their cellophane wrapper and tie it off with a pipe cleaner. For add effect: twist the pipe cleaner to make the “stem” curly!

CHICKEN TORTELLINI SOUP

8 cups chicken broth
3 carrots (chopped)
4 stalks celery (chopped)
1 large onion (chopped)
1 sprig rosemary

2 sprigs thyme 1 Rotisserie Chicken 1 package (9 ounces) Tortellini . Serving Size: 8 servings

Step 1: In a large pot, bring broth to a broil. Reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes.

Step 2: Add veggies, tortellini and spices and cook covered till soft (about 10-15 minutes)

Step 3: Add chicken and let simmer covered for another 30 minutes.

Step 4: Salt and Pepper to taste.

HOMEMADE TEXAS CHILI & TRUFFLE MAC ‘n CHEESE

Adams' Family Fall Recipes: Homemade Texas Chili

2 tablespoons cumin seeds
8 ounces bacon (chopped)
3 pounds beef chuck, cut into 1⁄4-inch cubes
2 onions (chopped)
1⁄4 cup Homemade Chili Powder
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme

1⁄2 teaspoon salt
4 large cloves garlic, minced
1 3⁄4 cups beef broth
1 (28-ounce) can pureed tomatoes
2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
1 box Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese
1 package of HEB’s truffle butter (found in the dairy section)

Step 1: Toast the cumin seeds in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 1 to 2 minutes. Using a metal or wooden tool with a flat surface, crush the seeds coarsely. Set aside.

Step 2: Cook the bacon in the skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove the bacon and reserve.

Step 3: Over high heat, brown the beef in the bacon drippings left in the skillet and set the meat aside.

Step 4: Over medium heat, sauté the onions in the remaining drippings until lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.

Step 5: Add the toasted cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, black pepper, thyme, salt, and garlic to the cooked onions and sauté for 1 minute. Crumble in the bacon, add the beef broth, 1 cup of water, the tomatoes, ancho chiles, and the beef.

Step 6: Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover partially, and simmer until the meat is very tender, about 2 hours, adding water as needed to maintain desired consistency. Alternatively, transfer to a slow-cooker set on low and cook for at least 6 hours and up to 8 hours, until the meat is very tender.

Step 7: Remove the anchos, puree in a blender, and return to the pot. Serve in a bowl with chopped onions and shredded cheese, with saltines, over tamales, rice or potatoes, in a Frito Pie, combined with beans or our personal favorite, over truffle mac ‘n cheese.

Step 8: Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese: follow the directions on the back of the Kraft box. Once fully cooked, add one spoonful of the truffle butter and mix thoroughly until dissolved. Serve with chili.

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Life

Hair Edition: Everything’s Bigger in Texas

March 19, 2018

Hair Food Volume Enhancement

Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation on behalf of Hair Food. The opinions and text are all mine.

Hair Food Volume Enhancement

Photography by: BanAvenue

Over the years my hair has thinned out tremendously and left me with a mane which is extremely hard to achieve natural volume. Being from the south (more specifically Texas), this is not something to mess with. I’ve tried everything from teasing brushes, to extensions, and every product imaginable trying to make my hair look bigger than it actually is. Yes, teasing works. Yes, extensions work but they both damage my hair and that’s not ideal when you are already losing hair you can’t afford to be losing!

A couple of months ago I got the chance to try out Hair Food’s Volume collection infused with kiwi fragrances and have noticed such a change in my hair and I would be a bad friend if I didn’t share the results with you ladies! in addition to adding natural volume and shine, Hair Food’s Volume collection is free of parabens and mineral oil (shampoo is free of parabens, too!). Instead it is infused with nutrients your hair actually needs! Just like your body, your hair is in desperate need of power foods and pure ingredients to grow big and strong.

Part of my hair road to recovery has been limiting my washes to every two or three days rather than once a day. I now use both the Hair Food’s Volume collection shampoo and conditioner. The combination leaves my hair feeling energized and full of body. I also have to mention the scent of these products are extremely nice and light. The kiwi and fig blend remind me of tropical vacation or fruity cocktail – both of which are two of my favorite things!

Hair Food also makes a collection for moisture and another for color treated hair. All three collection can be found at your local Walmart. That’s right, a drugstore brand that will not break the bank and actually works. A rare combination to find!

*Thank you Hair Food for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Life, Travel

Girls Weekend in Fredericksburg, TX

September 4, 2017

Theres no hiding what a huge wino I am on my little corner of the internet. I’m not one to shy away from a glass (er, bottle) of cab any given night of the week. So when my college girlfriends talked about getting together for a reunion, Fredericksburg (aka Texas wine country) was at the top of our list. I’ve been to the “real” wine country, but this was my first time to experience Texas wine country and all of it’s glory. By the end of the trip, we all agreed that it would become an annual trip as we fell in love with the little city and of course, the endless amounts of wine and girl talk.

Where to Stay

I highly suggest renting a house for the weekend. If you are heading up for a girls weekend or wanting to go in on a place with multiple people, a house is the way to go. Fredericksburg offers many cute options that make the trip so much more enjoyable than staying in a hotel. We stayed at “The Aqua Door“ which proved to be everything we hoped for and more! We were able to spread out comfortably and truly felt like we were at home. Most places are between $4-$600 a night (cheaper during the week) so split between multiple people, it is well worth it! Our house came equipped with boardgames, a hot tub, outdoor games, cable, a piano, and several other amenities that made it a home away from home and a real treat. The owner has several other properties (found here), all with different colored front doors, that are perfect for your next girls weekend, bachelorette party, or couples retreat. I cannot say enough great things about the owner, all of her recommendations, attention to little details, and the overall house aesthetic. Just look what I mean 🙂

Favorite Wineries

There are several tasting rooms on the main strip but if you are wanting to go to some of the wineries a little bit further out, I suggest taking the Wine Shuttle that runs to all of the wineries and picks up every 15 minutes. It is just $24.99 and well worth the money to not drink and drive. Our shuttle driver cranked up the music and we had a grand old time!

Grape Creek Vineyard– Our personal favorite! A tasting is $18 and you get to pick out 6 wines. The majority of us are red wine lovers, and enjoyed the Viognier and Bellissimo wines. We also stayed for lunch in their dining room and split a bottle of wine. We were given several free glasses of wine which might have been why it was our favorite 🙂
Becker Vineyards– A beautiful vineyard that also has lavender fields. Perfect for that vineyard Instagram picture (see below). There is normally live music on the weekends with a gorgeous area that overlooks the vineyard. Perfect area to split a bottle of wine. My personal favorite was the Reserve Malbec.
4.0 Cellars– Calling all wine and cheese lovers. This winery offers a wine and cheese pairing tasting for just $25. If you want to cut the cheese (hehe), a wine tasting is just $15. Friday evenings offer live music and you are welcome to pack snacks to enjoy on the patio.

Where to Eat

Fredericksburg has a lot of German history and heritage, which makes for great dining! Several of our meals were German because who can pass up a schnitzel and beer to combat all of the wine? Not us!

Otto’s– If you are looking for a really good German inspired meal, all 6 of us LOVED this place. Each one of us got something different and ended up sharing everything because every dish was out of this world! Some of our favorites included the Ricotta Gnochi, Wurst Platte, and Pork Shank. The prices are reasonable for a nice dinner. They are also open for Sunday Brunch. I do suggest arriving early or making a reservation as the place is very small.
The Auslander- If you are wanting a cheap, authentic German meal, this is the place! If the weather is nice enough, there is usually a pretty good sized crowd enjoying live music and throwing back oversized beers.
Sozial Haus– A quaint spot that has great pizza. Monday nights they have half price pizzas and bottles of wine.
Hondos– An old spot where you will find many locals. The food is nothing extraordinary but the atmosphere is fun!
Vaudeville– This is a nicer place and reservations are recommended. Even if you don’t get a chance to eat here, I suggest checking out the courtyard and little shop that is attached to it. Both are amazing! I have heard the restaurant is a must do if you have the time (and money!) to do so.
August E’s– Another great fine dining experience. We were there during the week and attended “Thai Tuesday” night. While the price is a little high for thai, the portions are HUGE and easy to share. They also have sushi and steaks.

What to Do

Besides the obvious, there are plenty of other things to do in Fredericksburg! It is such a cute town to explore and small enough to walk most places if you are staying at a house that is close to the main strip.

Walk/shop the main strip- There are over 100 small shops, tasting rooms, markets, and restaurants along the main strip. Be aware that almost everything closes down early in Fredericksburg so to do this earlier in the day. Most place close by 6.
Tasting rooms- If you are just wanting to grab a drink before dinner or do not want to drive out to the wineries, several of the vineyards have tasting rooms on the main strip.
Lincoln St.- A cute indoor/outdoor bar that is perfect for drinks before or after dinner and one of the only places that stays open later.
Yellow Door Studio– If you have already done a wine and painting class, then you know how fun they are. If you have not, now is your time! The art class is BYOB and is so much fun! These classes run about $45/person and are a great keepsake for a girls or bachelorette weekend!

*Thank you Colored Door Properties for our complimentary stay. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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