Shibori Indigo Dye Workshop
One of my goals this year is to complete a creative project every month. This month I took a shibori indigo dye workshop at HIVE. The result was two very colorful tea towels! How have you been creative lately? Any crafts you’d recommend?

For the Record
Actress Jennifer Aniston wrote a piece on Huffington Post speaking out about the expectations society put on women daily. It’s a great reminder that we should see the characteristics of a person and not only their roles in life as valuable.

Change
I think the word change is always an unconscious ‘word of the year’ in our lives. (See the actual words I picked out for my 2016 here.) We encounter a lot of change throughout the year and many times, it’s only in hindsight do we realize its effects. And then there’s active change. Things we want to accomplish or things we need to accomplish. I like this thought-provoking quote from Nicole about change: “Change is hard because it forces us to confront the size of the gap between our ideals and our actions.” How big is your gap and how do you work to narrow it?

ATXBloggerMixer
Fellow Austin blogger Jesse Coulter and I hosted the quarterly ATXBloggerMixer this month and it was so much fun! It’s always fun to connect with bloggers in real life and talk shop about what we do. I also enjoyed hearing Kirsten, CEO and founder of Raven + Lily speak about how she has grown her company and the importance behind their mission of empowering women around the world.

• Thank you to Raven + Lily for having us at their new store in the Domain Rock Rose!
• Thank you to Mighty Swell Cocktails, Shortbread Baking Co, and Salvation Pizza for the yummy snacks!
• Thank you to Oh Happy Day Booth for the photo booth!
• Thank you to Viva Day Spa, Birds Barbershop, and CorePower Yoga for the giveaways!

Foodies of Austin Unite
Speaking of bloggers, did you know there is a vibrant food blogger community (Austin Food Bloggers Alliance) in Austin? It’s no secret that Austin is a foodie city, and many restaurant reviewers and recipe creators are a part of this group. Check out the Facebook page to see regular posts from members and check out the annual City Guides to find the best eats in town!

On Growing Up
It’s my 10-year high school reunion this year. (Cue all the exclamations of being “old.”) In our alumni Facebook group, people have been posting “where are you now” updates, giving a few short paragraphs about what has happened in their lives in the 10 years since high school. I was thinking about these stories and my story and I think we all ended up ok, despite what we might have thought then. Sure, where we are now might not be exactly where we thought we would be, but we’re smarter and stronger. In reflecting, I’m proud of the personal growth I’ve experienced to become more bold and thoughtful, the degree I earned, and that I no longer have a middle part and bushy eyebrows. What have you learned or are you most proud of in the last 10 years?

Now Listening
Here’s the music on my playlist lately.
“Stole the Show” by Kygo
“River” by Bishop Briggs
“Close” by Nick Jonas ft. Tove Lo
“Never Be Like You” by Flume
“Into You” by Ariana Grande
“Capsize” by Frenship and Emily Warren

50 Best Burgers in Texas
Texas Monthly released their annual 50 best burgers list, so you’re in for a treat. I would definitely vouch for two of Austin’s winners – Chicon (had the burger at Contigo and Gardner) and Hopdoddy – and I can’t wait to try the ones at Central Standard, Clark’s Oyster Bar, Texas French Bread and Second Bar + Kitchen. Have you tried any of these fine burgers around Texas?

Simple Living and Finding Your True Self
Sometimes we think way too much about life and make it more complicated than it needs to be. This simple post on Becoming Minimalist was a great reminder of aligning your values and coming back to your true self. Be sure to give it a read!

What have you been captivated by lately? Any cool articles, videos or products you want to share in the comments below?

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The post Captivations v.25: ATXBloggerMixer, Change and Shibori appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Kimchi Fried Rice at The Peached Tortilla 
I’m a fan of The Peached Tortilla and I like what the restaurant is doing. I enjoyed dinner service back in March and thought their dishes were fantastic. For brunch, I went with nostalgia and ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice because it has Spam mixed in. I know. I haven’t had Spam in years but it was a part of my childhood, for better or worse. Despite the health factor, I did enjoy the dish and wouldn’t mind ordering it again for a family-style meal.

4th Tap Brewing Co-Op
A new brewery opened in North Austin near Circle Brewing and Adelbert’s. Since it is near boyfriend’s work, I got the inside scoop and tried it early. I like 4th Tap because they have an IPA called the Long Walk that isn’t too hoppy. They already have three beers canned. While they are new to the physical building, they are not new to Austin’s craft brewery scene; they’ve been going at it since 2011. Check out their grand opening party on November 7th!

Quiche at Bolsa (Dallas)
I’ve been wanting to try brunch at Bolsa for years. Years! I finally checked it off the list and enjoyed this skillet quiche. The crust was soft and flakey unlike a usual crispy pie crust.

Sweet Treats at Joy Macaron (Dallas)
After brunch at Bolsa, we were close enough to stop for some macarons at Joy Macaron on the way out of town. Yum! We got a six-pack with salted caramel, Nerds, blood orange, rose and lychee, pistachio, and Italian cream. All dainty and delicious. My favorite was the salted caramel (of course).

Gyro at Shahi Café
This hidden gem in North Austin is my favorite place for a quick, filling bite. The gyros are fresh and flavorful. The service is top-notch. Their summer drink, the ginger basil limeade, is a must every visit, though they may be transitioning to a fall drink now.

Crab Cake Benedict and Oysters for Brunch at Mongers Market + Kitchen
Mongers Market + Kitchen is delightful. Inside is a beautifully designed dining room and outside is a roomy patio. The menu has an abundance of seafood items. The mimosas are on point. The raw oysters are high-quality. All in all, it was a lovely brunch with my friend MJ. The Crab Cake Benedict comes with tomatoes, potatoes and arugula and is a very filling dish. My few bites of MJ’s slightly caramelized French toast were the perfect end to the meal. This restaurant will be a top choice for my seafood fix!

Kangaroo Carpaccio Nacho and Meatloaf at Lonesome Dove
I ate kangaroo! It tasted like beef. I also had a hearty dish of meatloaf, collard greens and mashed potatoes and finished the meal off with butterscotch budino. Lonesome Dove missed the mark for me. While the restaurant is beautifully constructed and presents the opportunity to eat exotic meats, the dishes lacked spark. I wouldn’t mind dining here again but my expectation will be a meal that is good but not great.

San Francisco and Sonoma Eats
I’ve updated my San Francisco Eats post by adding a few restaurants enjoyed on trip number two. Check out my notes on farm:table, Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, R&G Lounge, Jane, Brenda’s French Soul Food, and Comstock. Also check out the phenomenal Sonoma restaurants in my Sonoma Travel Guide.

$6 Happy Hour Burger at Gardner
I had dinner at Gardner late last year and it wasn’t my favorite, but this burger has me denouncing all other burgers I’ve eaten. It’s juicy and it comes with addicting French fries. They have drink specials and as low as $15 bottles of wine. To top it off, their bar and patio area is looking good and patio time in Austin has arrived. This burger special is on their patio during happy hour until the end of November and I highly recommend taking advantage of this deal! Get there as close to their 5:30 pm opening time as possible to snag a seat.

What recommended eats do you have to share?

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