Dumpling Party
All the dumplings we could fit in our stomachs. We made homemade dumplings and prepared store-bought dumplings. You can see all the goodness here.

Boba Milk Tea and Fried Chicken at Tea Haus
When meeting up with my friend MJ for a coffee date, I got to check out this place and enjoy a milk tea. I also had a few bites of MJ’s fried chicken and it was so good! This is a great place to meet up for coffee and snacks.

Hot Wings at Super Bowl Party
I went to a Super Bowl Party at a friend’s house and another guest made these awesome fried hot wings. They were the perfect amount of spicy and dipped in the homemade ranch dressing, these hot wings were quickly devoured by everyone.

Gryo at Arpeggio Grill
A few years ago, Arpeggio Grill was a frequent spot for me. My go-to (as you may have noticed from other Flavors posts) is a gyro and they make a good, packed one here. As a combo, it comes with french fries and a drink. I’m looking forward to coming back with a crew to devour the 30″ pizza!

Homemade Crock Pot Chicken Soup
I missed my two crock pot meals a month in February, but this crock pot chicken soup I made was a hit! I used five cups of chicken broth, a little more than one pound of chicken breast, and a mix of fresh veggies (not measured).

Fried Chicken Sandwich with Fries at Flyrite Chicken
This new fast food spot has opened up in Austin on the east side. No antibiotics, MSG, hormones, artificial ingredients, and high fructose corn syrup. While I didn’t like the wheat bun, I thought the overall sandwich and fries were very good and a great fast food alternative. That Sriracha mayo is SO good!

Happy Hour at Pacific Rim Sushi & Yakitori Lounge
We gathered at this sushi spot for an Austin Food Bloggers Alliance happy hour. They graciously fed us their best dishes, including the sake mac and cheese, pot stickers, tuna avocado nachos, yakitori, and hot rock selection. The sake mac and cheese was definitely my favorite!

Beer at 4th Tap Brewing Cooperative
My boyfriend and I went to 4th Tap for their beer release party. I really enjoyed the Sun Eater (a sorghum ale that is gluten-free) and the Long Walk (a grapefruit IPA). I also tried the new release Highland Scoundrel, a scotch style ale, but it was a little intense for me.

Space Jam Fries at Svante Burger
These french fries may not look so good but it’s got jalapeño havarti, chipotle aioli, garlic aioli, and bacon-onion jam. Yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds.

Lots of eats at Austin Lamb Jam
My friends and I decided to go to Austin Lamb Jam this year and it was a blast! Our top dishes were the pictured braised lamb gnocchi with hazelnuts and oranges from Juliet and roasted pear and chestnut soup with Moroccan spiced lamb shoulder.

What was your favorite dish in February?

The post Flavors of the Month: February 2016 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Priorities
One of my big life lessons learned in the past two years is making time for your priorities. This post was a great reminder of how we all have the same number of hours in a day and not having the time is usually a silly excuse.
“If you want something to be a priority in your life, you make the time for it at the expense of something you deem not as important. It’s truly that simple.”

Aura Photography
An aura photographer was in Austin this month. This photography method has been around from the 70s and before photography, it was done through paintings, as the photographer’s mother did. You get into a dark space, which for me was a sphere tent set up outside a shop. You sit and place your hands on sensors. She takes the photo and you hold still for ten seconds. The first exposure is your image. The second exposure is the colors.

It was so interesting talking with the photographer about trends she’s seen and what she’s noticed in three years of doing this. They’ve seen twins with very similar auras and some with completely different auras. Same for couples and friends. The thing about the aura is that it can change from day to day. It depends on what’s going on in your life at that moment. It’s like how your feelings and attitudes can change. Her assistant said that she’s had her aura taken several times and there are cycles of similar photos and a few different ones thrown in.

All in all, it’s a gorgeous photo and I love the colors and composition. It represents me at that moment, what I’m working on and what actions and feelings are recognized.

All the Info You Need for Planning a Bachelorette Party
I took all my bachelorette party knowledge and packed it into two posts for you – one with general bachelorette party planning tips and another with suggestions for an Austin bachelorette party.

Watched: War and Peace
Have you all seen the War and Peace series on A&E, Lifetime or the History Channel? It’s so good. Slightly chick flick with lots of war and history. It’s eight hours long and how the episodes are divided up depends on the network. The guy that plays Andrei (guy on the right below) is dreamy. Dare I say, it made me want to read the book?

Austin’s Best Eats
As part of the Austin Food Blogger Alliance, I wrote two posts for their 2016 City Guide: pastries and North Austin restaurants. In the city guide, you’ll find posts for almost every cuisine, dish or area. If you want to explore Austin’s best eats, these guides will help!

Things to Start Doing NOW
The great thing about the Internet is that it is so much easier to share wisdom that will help us live the most satisfying life possible. This list of 10 life lessons is a must read!

February Parties
February was one for parties! I hosted a dumpling party filled with good eats and a Valentine’s party filled with DIY projects. Stay tuned for an upcoming post about the third one – a DIY watercolor party!

Having It All Kinda Sucks
When I heard Joan Lunden speak at the Prevention R3 Summit in January, she mentioned the great strides that have allowed women to do so much more, mainly get an education and get better jobs. The thing is, while we (women) are told we can now have it all, we’re also expected to do it all flawlessly. What has resulted is the pressure and overwhelming stress to run a household, raise amazing kids, and have a successful career. The pressure is making women frazzled and feeling guilty. What’s needed is less judgment and more understanding. This article by a new mom and business owner elaborates on the topic and gives a first-hand explanation.

Do you like it?!
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Austin Lamb Jam
This past weekend, my boyfriend and some of our friends and I went to a lamb fest! Twelve restaurants created their best lamb dishes and there was plenty of wine and beer. It was also the PERFECT weather! I’ll tell you more about the dishes in the Flavors of the Month post later this week. Until then, here’s a photo!

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