Happy Hoooooooo-lidays!

What is it about the holidays that makes us say 'yes' to more and more each year? I'm trying to juggle everything Christmas related for Mr. Cush and I while preparing for a work trip to Nebraska and another possible trip to Seattle next week. There's a real possibility that I'm only in Austin two more days between now and when we finally head home for the holidays, and those days could be monstrously tied up with work if that's the case. So the last few days have been like studying for final exams - cramming a lot into very little time!!!

In addition to the gifts and the wrapping and the holidays cards and whatnot, I'm also participating in an "Owl Exchange" with sorority sisters across the country. Last year, a Chi Omega sister arranged an ornament swap via a Facebook group and I found out about it around January. (I guess now's a good time to point out that one of our symbols is the owl.) Needless to say, I quickly joined the group upon invite and have eagerly awaited my "owl pal" for most of the year. I received her name and address a few weeks ago and I'm quite excited to put this little guy in the mail to her today ...

I stumbled upon this ornament at Pier 1 and knew it was the one I wanted to send. It's colorful and happy looking - two of the best qualities an ornament can possess!

Sure, this whole anonymous swap has been one more thing added to my plate this week, but it's really helped me get into the holiday spirit.

From me and my owl ornament pictured above, happy hoooooooooo-lidays everyone!!!

Two New Discoveries to Share

I really enjoy sharing 'new' discoveries with you through this blog. In fact, it's one of the very reasons I began blogging back in July. Two 'new' finds have recently crept into my life and I'm equally enjoying the benefits of both.

1) Leggings - oh. my. gosh. WHY DID I STOP WEARING THESE IN FOURTH GRADE? Secondly, why I am so late to the leggings party??? No joke, I spent the better part of yesterday in a group text with Mommabear and my two sisters declaring my love for leggings. I want a pair in every color under the sun so that I never have to wear actual pants ever again. Don't even get me started on the elastic waistband - it's genius. 

2) Evening Primrose Oil - sure, you assume I recently watched "Catching Fire" (which I did) and searched "Primrose Everdeen" and stumbled across this essential oil. Unfortunately, you know what happens when you assume ...

Maybe it's going to be the trendy vitamin/oil of 2014, but I've seen EPO pop up on several blogs over the last few weeks and I decided to do a little investigating. After reading over and over that it does wonders for skin, I had to try it out for myself. I finally made a small investment in a bottle for $7.19 at Target and have since been taking 2-3 EPO supplements daily for a little over a week. I've noticed a big difference in my skin, especially my face. My face is truly the clearest I can remember it ever being, and the skin is very soft to my touch. It's crazy. I haven't changed anything in my skincare routine recently, so it has to be the EPO. 

Think I'm the only person experiencing these pleasant effects of EPO? (Didn't we just talk about ASSUME-ing things?) Wrong. Check out some other user reviews here.

"Tease" the Season

Three things Texas is known for: cowboy boots, football and big, teased, voluminous hair. Although Mr. Cush and I moved to Tejas more than five years ago, it only took us about four days to learn that the first sentence above isn't a stereotype - it's the honest-to-goodness truth. Neither of us have succumbed to purchasing cowboy boots (those suckers are expensive!), and the football scene is basically part of our lives due to my profession. And since Mr. Cush isn't quite into teasing his hair, I'll have to vouch for that myself.

It's not necessarily that moving to Texas led me to adding volume at my crown - it's probably more due to fact that I've been trying to grow my hair longer and the extra length weighs it down. To combat that, I've found a mini arsenal of everyday products and items to give the top section of my hair extra body that even true Texans would be proud of:

1) Oscar Blandi Hair Lift Mousse - apply to damp roots before blow drying. Works especially well if you're limber enough to blow dry while bent over at the waist.

2) Big Sexy Hair Powder Play - the name says it all. Once hair is dried and styled, lift sections of the hair near the crown and lightly sprinkle this at your roots. Once applied, "rub" it in the create extra volume. ***Warning - I remember Mommabear using this once and not liking it. It does make your hair feel slightly "sticky," but I don't mind it too much since I use several products a day and never have truly "clean" styled hair like she does. Also, it comes out as a white powder, but turns translucent once "rubbed" in.

3) Teasing brushes - a great tool for making sure your volume lasts all day. Not sure how to tease? Watch this video for a quick lesson.

4) Bed Head Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray - once you've styled all that volume, you want something to keep it in place all day, right? This hairspray offers plenty of hold while adding shine, too. Not to mention, the pineapple scent alone is enough to make this a must-have product.

I Just Compared My Life to Kelly Preston's in Jerry Maguire

I'm going to assume here that like me, you've seen "Jerry Maguire" approximately 1,372 times. No? Just four or five? Well, you still remember Kelly Preston's character Avery, right?

I basically-kinda-sorta-mostly do her job in real life, except not for the NFL. Remember how busy she was during the NFL Draft? That kind of busyness has taken over my life for the next two or three weeks and PBT will have to move to the back burner during this time. I'm still going to do my best to get up 3-4 posts a week, but please forgive me if that goal isn't met.

Also - can we talk about Kelly/Avery's hair above? I'm basically-kinda-sorta-mostly loving the color. And it IS the best year ever for redheads, per Buzzfeed ... 

Setting a Table

I'm sorry if the title of this post is confusing ... if you went into shock at the thought of me setting a table for Thanksgiving, I'll give you a moment to collect yourself.
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Better? Good. Of course I'm not setting a table for Thanksgiving, and probably not for any other event in the near future. Instead, I found this cute picture guide for a proper table setting on the TargetStyle Instragram account and wanted to share it with y'all.

Even though there are no formal or fancy dinners coming up at Casa de Cushman, there might be at your place and you might want to bookmark this. Mommabear actually has something similar taped inside one of her kitchen cabinets back home, and I'll probably do the same with this picture when I get back to Austin. (<-she's kinda brilliant like that!)

I'm in Ames, Iowa, today for work and looking forward to returning to the 40-degree weather in Austin much later tonight. Plus, when I get back, Mommabear and Ol' Rodney will be there to share Thanksgiving with Mr. Cush and me. I'm looking forward to whatever spare minutes of downtime I can find over the next few days to share with the parentals.

If you're wondering what our Turkey Day plans consist of, well, they're pretty underwhelming ... we're planning on having a late lunch/early dinner at Moonshine, and then we're all heading a few more blocks north to take in the Texas/Texas Tech football game. I'm excited to actually sit in the stands for the first. time. ever. 

Hope everyone out there has a very, merry Thanksgiving! 

Easy Peasy Pumpkin Dessert

As luck would have it, I stumbled upon this recipe for Sweet Pumpkin Dip one day about eight or nine years ago during the Mr. Food segment of the local evening newscast. Even at the tender age of 22 or 23, I knew I was destined for a lifetime of five-or-fewer ingredient recipes and this instantly caught my attention. This has become my signature treat at any fall gathering. Try it once, and I swear you'll instantly swear by it, too.

Once completed, serve this in a pretty dish so it doesn't look quite as much like baby food.

Sweet Pumpkin Dip

Ingredients:
1 (15-ounce) can 100% pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:
In a large bowl, with an electric beater, beat the pumpkin and cream cheese until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients, beating until well combined.

Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

Serve with wedges of fresh fruit, like apples and pears, and gingersnap cookies.

PS - if you make this and store it in your fridge, good luck not inhaling a spoonful every time you step foot into your kitchen. If there's any downfall to Sweet Pumpkin Dip, it's this.

'Tis the Season ... For Visitors

College football head coach Nick Saban referred to a "special pressure" when he described what it's like to coach at Alabama. I'm guessing he's never prepared his home for his parents to visit because I'm certain there's no pressure out there that compares to doing so. Many of you agreed with me based on my Facebook status yesterday ...

Don't get me wrong ... Mr. Cush and I aren't a slovenly couple. It's just that preparing for a visit from your parents can be stressful. I think the stress comes from wanting to impress our parents, to prove to them that we're actually grown up enough to pay a mortgage, take care of a home and take care of each other. (And maybe a little bit of the stress is because Mommabear keeps an immaculate home and I'm seemingly incapable of doing the same.)

In preparing for my parents to visit us over the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr. Cush and I spent the better part of our weekend taking care of the odds and ends we've let slip since they last visited ... which was approximately *gulp* a year ago. We had a piece of the laminate flooring in our kitchen replaced, fixed the hot water issue in our spare bathroom and cleaned all of the furniture in our living room. 

While we were in midst of preparations for our home, two things dawned on me and I've added pictures of both below. Easy things that can make your place just a tiny bit more comfortable for travelers ...  

TOP: I finally picked up a large apothecary jar at Michael's after I stumbled upon a 50% off coupon. I'm notorious for bringing home the shampoo and conditioner bottles from all of my travels, and now they're all stored in our guest bathroom (well, at least the ones that Mr. Cush DIDN'T throw away during my hoarding phase). No need for guests to worry about bringing their own shower items!

BOTTOM: As I was cleaning out various bags, I found one of my 1,374 iPhone chargers. These are spread all over my home, car and work bag, so I decided to leave this one in the guest bedroom. There's a 95% chance Ol' Rodney forgets his, and if he does, I've got him covered.

Do any of you have family visiting for the holiday? What are your secrets to getting your home ready for their arrivals???

High Five For Friday #H54F

Happy Friday, everyone!!!

We're supposed to have a major cold front come through Austin later today, and hopefully cooler temperatures will remain until maybe January. Knowing Texas, though, I wouldn't be surprised to see it back in the 80s by the first week of December. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I'm excited about the fall/winter weather coming because it will help me get into the holiday spirit.

Before it becomes too cold to feel my fingers and type this post, let's look back at the week via another #H54F …

Link up at thelaurenelizabeth.com

1) Some horrible storms ripped through my home state Sunday morning, and it's been on my mind ever since. My youngest sister lives in the greater Peoria area, and she said that neighborhoods within minutes of hers were destroyed. Please continue to pray for everyone that was in the line of dangerous weather.

2) Be still, my early-20s heart. The OC's Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) and Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) are getting married!!!

3) After my semi-traumatic eye injury Tuesday morning, I swapped from pencil eyeliner to MAC's Technakohl (no sharpening required). Much to my delight, I had one in my makeup arsenal. I'll continue to remind Mr. Cush that I do, in fact, rely on that arsenal more than he realizes everyday for the rest of my life. (He calls it "crap I never use under the bathroom sink.")

4) Speaking of Mr. Cush, we pretty much texted each other simultaneously Wednesday suggesting we go out to dinner at our favorite little Mexican joint down the road from Casa de Cushman, La Tapatia. Seriously - I think we're "regulars" there by now.

5) KATNISS EVERDEEN IS BACK!!! It's been fun watching Jennifer Lawrence make appearances on every single talk show this week to promote "Catching Fire." Mr. Cush and I were actually going to see it tonight, but we cancelled our plans and hope to catch it Sunday instead.

BONUS - 6) I made my own #H54F image. No clue why I didn't think to do that before.

Share your five highlights in the comments below with PBT readers!!!

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!

Remembering Grandma Mary

Is it just me, or are pictures just not as meaningful as they used to be? That's not to say that first birthday, wedding, graduation, first child, etc., pictures aren't memorable, but it's more or less my thoughts as we've become a society that shares pictures all. of. the. time. We have Instragram, Facebook, picture messaging. I can't keep track of how many pictures flash in front of my eyes every 24 hours.

With that said, there are three pictures that stand out the most to me in my lifetime (and I really hope this doesn't upset anyone if I haven't listed a picture that we've maybe shared in the past): a wedding photo of Mr. Cush and I walking out of the church right after we were married, a picture of my sisters and I wearing Mommabear's pantyhose on our heads and pretending we were dogs when we were young, and this picture of my grandma Mary ...

That picture above was taken on our wedding day - June 25, 2005. Grandma passed away less than five months later on Nov. 18, and even eight years later, I can honestly say it was the most heartbreaking day of my life.

Growing up, my siblings and I were blessed to live in the same town as both sets of our grandparents. We all saw each other very frequently, but we saw Grandma Mary every single day until we left for college. Both of my parents had full-time jobs, and with four kids, they were lucky to have Grandma Mary just five minutes away to help out at anytime. She literally came to our home every morning before school and would help us pack lunches and get ready for the day. 

Grandma Mary's home was less than a block from the elementary school we all attended, and I remember walking to her house all the time for lunch ... she made a mean cheeseburger. I'd also walk there after school and wait for my parents to pick me up. After Brittany and Cassie were born, I remember spending every Saturday night (and sometimes Friday, too) with her and Grandpa Bob. We'd all watch the NBC lineup of "The Golden Girls," "Empty Nest," "Nurses" and "Sisters" together before I'd fall asleep on the sofa in their living room. Grandpa and I would have a 'midnight snack' between shows - maybe a Ding Dong or Twinkie, or a single-serving box of cereal. I remember those nights like they were just last week and cherish the details of those memories.

Grandpa passed away when I was in fourth grade, and from then on, we saw Grandma Mary even more frequently. She joined us on family vacations and was everywhere we went. I don't have many family/holiday memories without her.

Halfway through college, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. A few surgeries and treatments were successful, but the cancer never went away completely. She was well enough in early 2005 to help my mother make my bridesmaids' dresses and table cloths and other items for our wedding. However, when we returned from our honeymoon one week following the wedding, she was back in the hospital. She didn't make it long enough to see the end of the year. Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2005 were devastating. It felt wrong to not have her with us for the holidays.

Eight years later, the pain has gotten better, but when I come across the picture of her above, I'm flooded with memories that very few photographs are capable of achieving. 

Grandma Mary wasn't alive to see both of my sisters' weddings or the births of what now would've been three great grandchildren. Although that makes me terribly sad, it's been fun to watch Mommabear fill that role for my nieces and nephews. She spoils them rotten and it's gut-wrenching (in a good way) to see how much they love her back in ways only grandmas can be loved. I might have to witness it from 1,000 miles away, but it's beyond evident that she's more than capable of being the best grandma ever to them. I love hearing them call her "Grandma Cindy" ... it reminds me of my love and affection for Grandma Mary.

This probably became a little sappier than I intended ... my apologies. It's funny how much a single image can flood us with memories ...

Eyeliner Shrapnel

Did your mom ever tell you not to play with sticks because you might poke someone's eye out with one? I'm sure Mommabear told me this once or twice back in the day, but I swear I never remember her replacing the word "sticks" with "eyeliner" ... because that would've been pretty useful yesterday.

#nofilter

I'm honestly not even sure how the above injury occurred. I had finished putting eyeliner on my right eye (the injured eye) and was working on the left when I noticed some red-tinged tears leaking down my face. I surveyed the eye and found nothing that seemed to be causing this, and then lifted up my eyelid for further inspection and spotted a cluster of broken blood vessels. The eyeliner pencil I was using at the time probably needed to be sharpened and was so dull that I must've scratched the eye when I was working on my lash line.

Thinking nothing of the incident because I was in no pain and the red-tinged tears had ceased, I proceeded to tell Mommabear about my scratched eye approximately 20 minutes later during our almost daily phone chat while I commuted to work. 

This was an instantly regrettable decision because I'm pretty certain no one in the world incites panic faster than a mother.  

"If you're leaking pressure, you might go blind ... call your optometrist ... does it hurt ... don't let the fluid all drain out." It took all I had not to hang up on her when she suggested I never wear eyeliner again.

I never should've told Mommabear about the eyeliner shrapnel. My story retelling on the phone was really just a way to catch her up on my life in the 24 hours since we had last chatted, and I had none of the symptoms she was rattling off. My eye went from a stupid injury that hadn't concerned me in the slightest to Defcon 1 in mere seconds. Phantom pains and images of wearing a pirate eyepatch for the remainder of my life danced in my head.

Thankfully, I work with some fine folks that know a few things about injuries, and after a quick look over, I was pronounced a-ok. For 48 hours, I'll have to forego wearing contacts and flush my eye with saline solution every few hours. I'm really glad I won't lose sight in my right eye because it'd be a very lame story. If I ever do lose sight in either eye, I at least want a cool story out of it ... like, "I was in an unfortunate sword fight," or "I was hoeing the backyard and got a little overzealous."

Moral of today's post? Don't play with sticks, even the pretty-colored ones they sell at fancy department stores.

YouTube Wedding Videos

Few things make me smile at my computer screen as much as wedding videos on YouTube. I'm not talking about the 'wedding day recap' videos that show the bride eating breakfast, getting glammed, seeing the groom for the first time, ceremony and reception videos ... I'm talking about all-out dance fest videos from the reception.

The other morning while I was getting ready for work, the folks on Today were discussing a bride and groom that recently reenacted the finale of "Dirty Dancing" to conclude their reception. Everything was perfect - from the groom's outfit to "the lift." It was good. I've linked to it here so you can see for yourself. I smiled.

However, my all-time favorite YouTube video still remains "JK Wedding Entrance Dance." It's hard to believe this video is four years old now (and it has more than 80 million views!), but every time I watch it, the same thought immediately comes to mind: WHY DIDN'T MR. CUSH AND I DO THIS?!?!? We had a wedding party that definitely would've participated (the only person questionable would be my father, but I'm sure we could've talked him into it), and it would've been so. much. fun. (Plus, "The Office" made a parody of it when Jim and Pam were married ... so you know it's entertaining.)

To brighten your Monday, why don't you watch these two videos when you get a chance? I'm 97.8 percent sure a smile will creep up on 57.3 percent of PBT readers.

High Five For Friday #H54F

Yay! It's Friday!!! I'm heading to Lubbock, Texas, later today, so, I've got that to look forward to as a kickstart to my weekend.

It's been a fairly quiet week for me, but I've scrounged up five things that have excited AND terrified me for your enjoyment. Remember - do the same on your Facebook wall or other social media accounts to reflect on the week that was. 

PS - there aren't that many more weeks left in 2013, so, you might want to start tracking them now.

Link up at thelaurenelizabeth.com

1) Picked up this doo-dad on a whim at the drugstore and I love it (less than $5). I'm trying hard not to use ponytail bands on my hair as often, so this is an awesome alternative. You twist your hair into a French roll (leave the ends 'out'), weave the stick through and then loop the band across your hair onto the stick. Less damage and hair off our necks - what more is there to ask for?

2) The cartoon Maleficent terrified me as a child. Angelina Jolie kind of terrifies me now that I'm an adult. Angelina Jolie AS Maleficent in a live-action movie that's not softened by animation? No, thanks. This image will haunt me when I'm alone in strange hotels trying to fall asleep for the rest of my life.

3) NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unless they name the next child 'South West,' in which I'm totally OK with it.

4) Dug out my tried-and-true bottle of Essie Bourdeaux for a winter mani. It's the perfect deep burgundy for us fair-skinned gals. I'm glad it's a staple in my apothecary jar of too-many nail polishes.

5) Glamglow has changed my skin care routine. I've been using it every other night on my nose and I can tell SUCH a difference. If you need more information, you can read my review here.

Happy Friday, everyone!!! Hope y'all have had a splendid week and an even better weekend is in the works!!!

Glamglow Review

First off, I feel the immediate need to tell you this is not a post about a Kardashian or anything even semi-Kardashian related. I can see where the title of this blog entry could lead you to think it might have something to do with them.

Secondly, yes, I am ashamed that I'm writing about a $69 Sephora item. Please rest assured that I didn't spend $69 on a product that I'm about to rave about below. Instead, it was the result of an exchange, a 20% off coupon and a $5-for-$10 Groupon that when combined resulted in this costing about $25. Much more acceptable, I must say.

After reading and hearing about the Glamglow Supermud from several Bloggers and YouTubers, I decided to look into it. Biore strips just hadn't been taking care of clogged pores and blackheads on my nose, and nothing was really working. Per several reviews, this face mask would supposedly cure my problems in a few uses. 

And it has.

For a limited time, Sephora has a gift set that includes a free Youthmud with purchase of Supermud.

The picture you're about to see below might be frightening, but it shows how the Supermud treatment works like a vacuum and sucks all of the gunk from your pores. (Science is magical. I really should've paid more attention in chemistry when I was a kid so I could've grown up and invented really spectacular products like this.) 

I'll hit enter a few times to let you prepare for what's to follow ...

Ready? Here you go.

If you don't believe what you see above, just Google 'glamglow' and look at the images of various users. Seriously - this is exactly how it works. (I actually took a picture of myself, too, but I'm not dumb enough to put it on my blog for the world to see. Unfortunately, bullying is real and I'm trying not to subject myself to any. That's my PSA for the day.)

If you're looking for a product that cures the problems I outlined above, this is for you. I totally understand the price point being a little excessive, though, and I've found this link to six sample packets of various Glamglow treatments for $11.99 ... 

Hit me up on Facebook, Twitter, email, anything else if you have questions I didn't cover!!!

Chicken Avocado Burgers

It doesn't take much to get Mr. Cush's attention when it comes to food. Specifically, I emailed him a link to a recipe for Chicken Avocado Burgers the other day and used the subject 'Chicken Avocado Burgers.' Within mere seconds, his reply was in my inbox and exactly seven words long: Why hadn't I thought of that before?

So, in my continued series of 'Recipes with Five or Fewer Ingredients,' I now present you with the latest installment that is Cushman approved and verified ...

Chicken Avocado Burger 
1 pound ground chicken 
1 large ripe avocado – cut into chunks 
1/2 cup panko crumbs or other bread crumbs 
1 chopped clove of garlic salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions: 
Toss the chunks of avocado, breading and garlic together. Blend mixture into ground chicken being careful not to mush the avocado. Form into 4-5 patties and grill until done (temp of 165).

We used Hawaiian buns and the combination was delicious. Also, we reheated the leftovers last night for dinner and they held up very well.

Bon appetit!

Love It and Loathe It

My very sweet sister-in-law gave me an amazing gift last year for Christmas in the form of a gift card to Spalook.com. I had never before purchased anything from the site, but knew I wouldn't have any problem using the surplus at an online retailer that hawks "luxury skin care essentials." 

I kept my eyes on the site for several months before deciding what to purchase ... I hate the idea of 'wasting' a gift on something trendy and trivial, and it was important to me to find something I really wanted and could use on a very regular basis. After some serious thought, I decided on two cult favorites: a Beautyblender and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant.

The pink egg-shaped thing on the left is the Beautyblender that I've finally figured out how to use correctly and I'm now in love with it. It's made applying liquid foundation so much easier than ever before, and I can't say enough good things about it. You're supposed to use it wet, but I've had the best results when I squeeze it out in a hand towel rather than just my hands. Once it's wet, I dip the fatter bottom end into foundation I've pumped onto the back of my hand and dot it all over my face. The 'pointed' end can be used to reach those crevices around your eyes and nose. For the time being, I've replaced my MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus with a bottle of L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup that I've had for awhile but hated to apply with my fingers (and I'm really liking the foundation, too).

I wish I could say equally amazing things about the Elizabeth Arden cream, but I can't. It's more like an ointment instead of a cream, and I wasn't really expecting that. Secondly, it smells like a nursing home. (<- I hope that's not an offensive description, but that's honestly what it reminds me of.) A ton of bloggers and YouTubers love this potion, but I haven't gotten into it just yet. Maybe time will change my opinion, but for now, I'd suggest skipping this. (I've heard there's a fragrance-free version, but I'm not convinced it works any better on chapped lips and dry patches. Leave me a comment if you use it, please.)

Oh, and one more thing - the wonky EA 'cream' scent really messes with my pup, Riley. Whenever I try wearing it to bed on my chapped lips, she'll get really close to my face because the scent draws her in, but even she can't bring herself to try licking it because it smells. that. bad.

Overall, I'm happy with my decisions. The Beautyblender alone is enough to keep me happy, and if Riley is ever annoying me, then I know how to fend her off now.

High Five For Friday #H54F

First Friday of November and 47 days until Christmas! Judging by decorations I saw at the mall last night, it's NOT too early to begin shopping for the holidays!

But before you hit the stores and begin searching for the perfect gifts, let's take a second to reflect on five highlights from the week. Here are mine:

Link up at thelaurenelizabeth.com

1) Sunday evening started the week off right with a sneak peek of the new Royers Pie Haven in Austin.

2) Wurstfest 2013 followed Monday night.

3) Babies reading postcards from Aunt Ashy is pretty much the cutest thing ever. 

4) PBT hit 10,000 all-time visitors this week. Thank you to everyone that's ever stopped by my little corner of the internet!

5) Essie's Cashmere Bathrobe is on my nails right now and it's lovely. It's like a sparkly, concrete-y color that I can't get enough of right now as we continue to transition into fall and cooler temperatures in Austin.

That's my week in five pictures. Share your 'high fives' in the comments below or on your Facebook wall with your family and friends.

Have a great weekend!!!

Pie Haven or Pie Heaven?

Over the hills and through the woods, there's a precious small town with a restaurant that serves the greatest fried chicken of all time every Sunday. The restaurant is Royers, and the small town is Round Top. Put 'em together, and it's Royers Round Top Cafe.

I think it was a few years ago when my friend Thomas discovered Royers. He stopped there for a meal on a work trip between Austin and College Station and he basically drooled whenever he retold his culinary experience in Round Top. Since it's about two hours to Round Top from Austin and it was difficult to coordinate schedules, we couldn't make it to Royers unless it was a Sunday. Upon some Googling, it came to our attention that Sunday's are fried chicken days at Royers ... Sunday suddenly couldn't come soon enough.

This all happened in the spring of 2011. Since then, there's been a group of us that have convened in Round Top once every few months to catch up while indulging in fried chicken and amazing homemade pie.

Beginning Sunday, we'll no longer need to drive to Round Top for the pie portion of these extravaganzas. This weekend, the doors to Royers Pie Haven open here in Austin, and I suggest you start waiting in line immediately at 29th and Guadalupe. (Grand opening is Sunday at 11 a.m.)

Bud "the Pieman" Royer was kind enough to invite us to a secret pie opening party Sunday evening and it was an incredible time. The decor, the pies, the friendly service - everything felt just like Round Top. Their goal was to bring the country to the city and they definitely succeeded. 

Now's my turn to make you drool ... check out some pictures from the secret party below:

Here's a link to the menu. Pictured above is a slice of the Margherita Chicken Pizza Pie (fresh mozzarella, chicken, basil and yellow onion), the best Ding Dong I've ever tasted (seriously, I told Mr. Cush that I want it instead of a birthday cake next month!), and Sin-namon Rolls. 

49 Days Until Christmas

With only 49 days remaining until Christmas, I decided to replace the overly cliche 'monthly favorites' post with a 'Christmas wish list' post. To prepare for the holidays (travel, gift giving, other whatnot), I've tried to cut back on spending and can honestly say it would've been a struggle to come up with 4-6 favorites from October. Instead, I've wrangled up a few items that I definitely want, yet don't need, and we all know that's the perfect recipe for a wish list!

1) Marc Jacobs Honey: After receiving a sample of this and subsequently using it in its entirety and loving every spritz, I've decided I'd like to add this to my perfume collection.

2) PurseN Tiara Weekender Jewelry Case: This is a pretty nifty travel case that features several different pouches for various accessories. It would keep everything from tangling up, and also prevent scratches and other wear and tear. 

3) kate spade new york Mug: I could NEVER bring myself to buy a $20 coffee mug, but this is my wish list and I can add whatever I want.

4) Real Techniques makeup brushes: A few of my favorite YouTube makeup gurus swear by these brushes and I really want to try out the Expert Face Brush. All of the brushes are less than $10 and available at ULTA.

5) Jewelry Armoire: I think this would really help me keep my jewelry organized, obviously. The stand on my dresser is packed, and I'm starting to leave earrings and necklaces on the dresser because I'm out of room on the stand. It'd be nice if everything had it's "place."

Have you started thinking about your Christmas wish list yet? What's your most-wanted item this year?

No, You're a Kartoffelpuffer!

In a small town exactly 41 miles south of Casa de Cushman, there's a 10-day salute to sausage known as Wurstfest. Last night marked the fourth-consecutive Wurstfest jaunt for me, Mr. Cush and our friend, Thomas.

Located in New Braunfels, Wurstfest is a magical celebration that everyone needs to experience at least once. If you're planning a trip to Austin in the future, I'd even go as far as suggesting you plan it around Wurstfest. (Take into consideration that this occurs in November ... in other words, no insufferable heat!)

Here's a brief description of the festivities from the Wurstfest website: "Here you’ll enjoy good food, music, dancing, exciting carnival rides and games, German, Texan and domestic beer, special events and the finest in Alpine and Bavarian Style Entertainment. It all happens at Wurstfest! The best ten days in sausage history."

Below are some of our photos from last night that should serve as enough evidence to convince you to make it to Wurstfest at least once before your time is up ...

This and a few fun videos are on my Instagram.

Sausage on a Stick

Mmmmmmm, meat.

One 'side' of the Marktplatz, where the various food venders are located.

Selfies with any meat on a stick are a Wurstfest tradition.

Mr. Cush photobombing Thomas' selfie 'in the Alps.'

Our Wurstfest pilgrimage is always capped off with a serving of
Bread Pudding with Butter Sauce.

Panoramic of the "Big Tent" while The Alex Meixner Band entertained.
This polka band even plays Guns 'n Roses and Ozzy Osbourne.

PS ... a kartoffelpuffer is a potato pancake.