Alli Talley

February 22, 2021

Lubbock, Texas - Bring The Whole Family!

Alli Talley

February 22, 2021

Way back in 2019, we hopped in our Prius and took a road trip across the country. We hit the wide open road with our trusty dog Sally, and headed to West Texas. We spent four days eating incredible food, drank plenty of chiltons (IYKYK), and found as many puppy-friendly adventures as possible.

How our lives have changed.

A new year, a new car, a new pandemic, a new kid… ha! 2020 was a whirlwind, and we were craving a little normalcy. Why not head back to some of our favorite destinations with the whole family?

In November we hopped back in the car, with a few more bags, and headed back to our beloved Lubbock. And although we were in the midst of Covid-19 (right in between spikes), we found the same charm and flavor as our last visit. Whether you’re driving from California or somewhere in Texas, Lubbock is an amazing spot for the whole family. Here are some of our favorite Lubbock locales, including a few new names since our last visit!

STAY

While there are plenty of solid hotel options in Lubbock, they really upped their game in 2020 with the addition of the Cotton Court. The Cotton Court is part of the Valencia Hotel Group, a small chain of laid back, trendy hotels that are scattered around Texas and California. Spread out over acres of landscaped courtyards, the Cotton Court has a stunning pool, lawn games, space for live music, fire-pits, and outdoor dining. Perfect for families! (And they are SUPER pet-friendly!)

And the rooms! They incorporate luxury, local style, and hip design… and they’re incredibly spacious. Smeg refrigerators, comfy beds, cool light fixtures… we could’ve stayed so much longer!

Love the design, the space, and the SNACKS!

EAT

When we talk about Lubbock, we’re most often reminiscing on Evie Mae’s BBQ. This popular family-run establishment gave us a new appreciation for BBQ, and we go back every time we are in town! When you go, try a little bit of everything… but our favorite is the brisket! (And don’t be scared of the line, it moves fast. And it’s SO WORTH IT.)

With the pandemic still in effect, we had to get creative with a few of the new spots we tried while we were in town. We had Thai Pepper’s to-go in our hotel room, and it was so tasty! The wait was long, but again, totally worth it. Another new favorite of ours is Dirk’s for fried chicken! We sat outside (due to Covid and Sally) and had a savory assortment of chicken, fries, green beans, and mashed potatoes. A true Texas feast!

If it’s your first time in Lubbock, we’d say you can’t miss La Sirena Cocina and the Funky Door. At La Sirena Cocina you can indulge in scrumptious latin-fusion plates and a variety of “coctel artesenales” (we recommend the ones with tequila!). We love the salsa trio, the crispy brussel sprouts, and the chicken pot pie! If you want to get adventurous with your cocktail, try the “Last of the Oaxacans”. The Funky Door has INCREDIBLE fondue and tasty burgers. They currently have a “Quarantine Essentials” menu with great deals on both food and drinks. When life heads back to normal, it’s a perfect date night spot for a delicious meal and soothing live music.

A trip to Lubbock without a trip to Evie Mae’s would be a disaster…

DRINK

If you’ve been following us for awhile, you know that there are two types of drinks in our book… coffee and alcohol. For coffee, we were obsessed with Yellow House Coffee, Gold Stripe and Sugar Brown’s on our first trip to Lubbock. We visited them all again this time around, and loved the new “Lobby by Sugar Brown’s” that was a 2 minute walk from our room at Cotton Court.

This time around we found two new coffee shops on the booming Lubbock scene— Monomyth Coffee and TOVA Coffeehouse. We said numerous times that Monomyth would be our spot if we were Lubbock locals. As I, Bobby, am a self-proclaimed coffee snob (I’m not proud of it, I just like good coffee), I was right at home at Monomyth. (Not among snobs, but really good coffee.) We went to TOVA one morning for breakfast and coffee, and loved the vibe and their mission - they’re a non-profit shop combating poverty in Lubbock and beyond. So cool!

For the afternoons and beyond, there are two breweries that can’t be missed. We enjoyed both The Brewery LBK and Two Docs Brewing on our last visit, and we will on our next as well. The Brewery LBK has really good beer and is a solid date night spot if you order food from the West Table (or start at the brewery and end at the West Table). Their wraparound patio is also perfect for dogs or loud babies (hehe, our reality now). Speaking of being outdoors, Two Docs is a perfect spot for craft beer, four-legged friends, and the whole family. Two Docs consistently has a solid variety of beers on tap and rotating food truck partners serving up unique street food.

If you’re more of a wine-o, head to Burklee Hill or McPherson Cellars. We got lunch and a bottle of wine to-go from Burklee Hill one afternoon, and the club sandwich was one of the highlights of our trip. Their dry rosé was easy-drinking and perfect to enjoy outside our room while Jude napped. We didn’t have a chance to get to McPherson Cellars on this trip, but may still have a bottle of Mouvédre from last year - we brought a few home :) We’ve also heard English Newsom Cellars is a must for next time… we’ll be there!

Note - all of the above restaurants, breweries, and wineries have Covid-safe protocols that make them accessible and safe in this new reality we live in. From takeout to socially distant patios, they have taken steps that made us feel safe during our time in Lubbock.

The whole fam at Two Docs… I think Sally had some beer ha.

If you’re in the mood for shopping, we are big fans of Mountain Hideaway and California T’s. Bobby was obsessed with the clothing and adventure gear at Mountain Hideaway, while Alli LOVED all the color at California T’s. We both came home with plenty of souvenirs. If you’re in the mood for an afternoon of shopping local and capping it off with dinner, consider Cactus Alley. There you’ll find several local vendors, as well as Gold Stripe Coffee Roasters and La Sirena.

With a child under one, our list of things to do typically revolves around eating and drinking since they’re usually pretty easy to entertain. But soon enough we’ll be seeking out all the family friendly activities a destination has to offer. During this trip, we loved exploring At’l Do Farms! From the barnyard, to the cow train, to the corn maze (!), Jude was in heaven! Another activity that was great for little kids was Prairie Dog Town. Jude was totally zoned in as the little prairie dogs pop in and out of their holes… So cute!

If you have older kids, 4ORE Golf is such a fun spot to spend an afternoon. A driving range with serious technology, there are a variety of games you can play. And they have really yummy food! If you want to go the more educational route for an afternoon, the National Ranching Heritage Center will allow your family to immerse themselves in the Wild West. They have replicated houses and cabins where families can explore and really feel what it would have been like to live in that time. Definitely an upgrade from reading about it in a book...

If you’re traveling with a four-legged friend, Lubbock is very dog friendly! We have a whole blog that’s a guide to all the dog-friendly adventures Sally went on during her first time in Lubbock. This time, a highlight for her was running around Phil Hoel Park. And probably having a few nibbles of brisket from Evie Mae’s :)

Jude got over the maze and just wanted to play in the hay.

Contemplating if it’s worth jumping in :)

Whether you’re traveling solo or with a family and pets, Lubbock has something for you. The pandemic (and the newborn) slowed us down a little on this trip, so we’ll definitely be back again soon. We’ll be craving Evie Mae’s and Monomyth Coffee in no time!

Alli Talley

February 5, 2021

Mississippi, Road Trip

Our Second Visit to Coastal Mississippi - And Why We’ll Be Back ASAP

Alli Talley

February 5, 2021

Mississippi, Road Trip

We first ventured to the Mississippi coastline in mid-2019, on a road trip in our cozy, tightly-packed Prius (With Sally too!). With little expectations on arrival, we were wowed by our hotel, the food, the experiences, and the people! Our second visit, in November 2020, was no different (well, besides the fact that we had a bigger car and a baby). We had grand plans to head back to all of our favorite Coastal MS spots, but we were pleasantly surprised to find some new gems, too! From tasty new restaurants to incredible new activities for the whole family, Coastal Mississippi continues to have us wanting more.

Why? Let’s start with where we stayed. In case you need a refresher, in 2019 we stayed at the Roost, the most beautiful little boutique hotel just a short walk from downtown Ocean Springs. It’s quaint and chic and cozy all in one—not to mention connected to an incredible (and under-the-radar) speakeasy. How can you possibly beat that?!

Well, their sister property, the Beatnik, is brand new to Ocean Springs, and it’s just as magical. The Beatnik boasts four modern, luxurious floating cabins that we were obsessed with from the moment we walked in. From a Covid-19 perspective, we had zero interaction with anybody to check-in, and the room was only cleaned on an as-needed basis (with safety precautions in mind). We all had our highlights… For me (Bobby), it was the outdoor shower. Alli loved the pool. Jude wanted to sleep in the hidden bunk beds (not quite ready, though). And Sally lived for the refreshingly cool floors in the bathroom. This place was a dream!

Jude’s nap time is Mom and Dad’s pool time.

Upon rising, which was earlier this year than last (thanks Jude), the first stops for coffee and breakfast are Bright Eyed Brew Co and the Greenhouse on Porter (for biscuits that are to DIE for). Bright Eyed was a success, but because Greenhouse was closed that day we had to branch out… and French Kiss Pastries was a hit! For our afternoon coffee, we discovered Jacked Up Coffee Bar in Biloxi and were not disappointed. If you’ve been following us for awhile, you know that finding cool coffee shops is our jam!

Jacked Up Coffee Bar is another great coffee shop!

With so many interesting museums and art galleries throughout Ocean Springs, we were shocked to find another pop up in the past year (and our favorite one yet) - the Mississippi Aquarium! It was definitely a highlight of the trip for all of us! Check out more info here on another blog post we recently shared :)

One thing that we thought would be very different on this trip were our dinners. We had a few amazing meals on our last trip (see our blog on why Coastal Miss is Seafood Heaven) at Vestige and White Pillars, and just assumed that having a 9 month old in tow would ruin everything. Somehow, we were able to have two equally dreamy evenings out that included mouthwatering food, social distance, and romantic ambiance (even with the kiddo!!). One night we enjoyed Dinner on the Lot, a ticketed event designed to bring fine dining outdoors while highlighting local hand picked produce. Our meal also featured beer pairings with every course, courtesy of Craft Advisory Brewing (which is directly across from the Lot). With 6 courses and 6 beers, it was probably the highlight of our month-long road trip. Here were the courses:

Partridge Peppers
French Hermit Oyster
Jurgielewicz Duck
Two Dog Farm Carrots
FL Spiny Lobster
South African Boerewors
Craft Advisory Root Beer Floats for dessert

Intrigued? You should be! You may notice by those courses that not only are they using local produce, but they’re proud to show off exotic ingredients and dishes. It was SO FUN!

On our final night in town we had probably the most romantic beach picnic of our lives set up by Coastal Picnic and Co. With an array of finger foods, wine, and an unreal sunset, it was (and we don’t say this lightly), the perfect night. Even Jude was in heaven. (His teepee!!)

The best way to spend our last night in Mississippi

It’s no surprise Coastal Miss was one of our first places that we returned during our only big road trip of 2020. And guess what? We’d be stoked if we could head back again in 2021! That’s how much we love this place! The area continues to flourish and we can’t wait to get back as soon as possible.

The Coastal Mississippi Promise: When you visit The Secret Coast, you will be met with warm welcomes and 62 miles of shoreline dotted by unique coastal communities. Here, you can expect excitement and relaxation in equal measure, with plenty of room to roam. You should also expect to see that our hospitality partners are implementing all necessary precautions to protect you, your loved ones, and our industry employees.

Alli Talley

January 27, 2021

Food, Home

While We’re Home - 5 Reasons We Use Our Vitamix Immersion Blender Daily

Alli Talley

January 27, 2021

Food, Home

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of our Vitamix and use it almost daily. We’ve even jokingly call it our other child (because we love it so much, and because since 2020 our humor has gotten REAL weird). But y’all, there’s a new appliance that we’re using (and loving) just as much— the Vitamix Immersion Blender!

It’s become an invaluable appliance in the Talley Household… and here are 5 reasons we use it every day!

1. Ease of Use (and Clean-up) - This is probably the most compelling reason for anybody to purchase an immersion blender. (Especially if you’re parents like us— ease is key!) It’s handheld, easy to maneuver, and takes up a fraction of the space of any of your other appliances. In terms of clean-up, you can scrub and rinse it in no time. The time that it takes to take out, press “on”, and be blending away is SO convenient compared to taking out the blender and it’s attachments. In fewer words… it’s just really easy.

Having fun with the immersion blender :)

2. Quality and Power - With so many immersion blender options on the market, you may wonder why the Vitamix is worth the investment? (Good question!) Upon opening, it’s easy to immediately recognize the amazingly high quality of the blender, built with sturdy plastic and stainless steel. It also has five power levels, which will allow you to blast through the more difficult textures like nuts and ice (most immersion blenders avoid against these… not Vitamix)!

Built with sturdy plastic and stainless steel

3. Compact - You may remember that we travelled with our Vitamix last year (With a carrying case!). What can we say, we love our smoothies! Considering we have a little more baggage on our trips thanks to baby Jude, we absolutely love how small this is. Aside from taking it on our next road trip, it takes up minimal cabinet space in our tiny kitchen. WIN/WIN!

4. Smoothies, Salsas, Soups - Between these three, we’re using the blender daily. All four of us (Sally too!) enjoy a healthy smoothie to start our day full of fruits and veggies. Switch out those sweet smoothie ingredients for some tomato, onion, garlic, and cilantro and you’re ready for chips and salsa. For those cozy nights in, butternut squash soup is our go-to (see a blog we did on it here!). We love how easily the immersion blender can whirl together a rich, creamy soup!

Jude waiting for his morning smoothie :)

It was a hit! And somehow the bowl ended up on his shoulder.

5. Waffles - There’s nothing like whipping up some waffles on a Sunday morning, (or any day, let’s be honest)! What used to be a monthly treat has now turned into a weekly meal thanks to our immersion blender. Not only does it whip up smooth, tasty batter, but it allows us to make smaller batches (Bobby may have waffles more than weekly). Thank you, Vitamix!

Point of the story: The Vitamix Immersion Blender is a new staple in our kitchen. It’s versatile, powerful, and easy to use for so many of our meals. Get one for yourself and start blending away!

Alli Talley

December 23, 2020

Home, Food

Cozy Winter Meals - Creamy Tomato Soup Using Our Vitamix Blenders

Alli Talley

December 23, 2020

Home, Food

For those of you that witnessed our pie making extravaganza a few weeks back, we went back in the kitchen for a new adventure last night. Except this time we knew what we were in for, and it turned out the way that we hoped. Meaning it took less than an hour instead of 6 hours (for our pie). It was a chilly winter night (50 degrees in SoCal), and we decided to whip up a creamy tomato soup along with some grilled cheese sandwiches. We added a small salad to feel better about ourselves… but really this meal is all about the comfort food :)

Overall, it was a great success! We used our Vitamix blender to whip up the Tomato flavor slurry (new term for us, ha!) and then our new Vitamix Immersion blender to blend the soup. The total time start to finish was about 20 minutes on the soup, and we made our grilled cheeses during that time too… so quick and easy!

For the tomato soup, we used this recipe by Amy Cakes. For the grilled cheese sandwiches, we used a fresh loaf of sourdough and a combo of white and yellow cheddar cheese. If it was healthy, this would be my meal of choice on every cold night :)

Here’s the play by play in photos...

Alli’s favorite part… slicing the onions.

Adding salt and pepper until it’s perfect.

Recipe was a win! The blenders make it easy to whip up and clean up. It’s the perfect meal for when you’re feeling cozy inside! Enjoy!

Alli Talley

December 21, 2020

Family Travel, Mississippi, USA

5 Family Friendly Adventures in Coastal Mississippi

Alli Talley

December 21, 2020

Family Travel, Mississippi, USA

In our pre-parent life, we spent most of our time in new destinations bouncing from coffee shops to breweries, with random activities sprinkled in throughout the day. Well, our lives have drastically changed with the addition of our son— so our travel norms have had to adapt! We’re still seeking out the best coffee and breweries, but we’re also constantly on the hunt for visually engaging adventures that can stimulate him more than watching YouTube (ha!). During our recent visits to Coastal Mississippi (both in 2019 and 2020), we have found plenty of activities that are perfect for our growing family! While we’re certain there will be more on our next visit to The Secret Coast, these are currently our 5 favorites:

1. Mississippi Aquarium

The new (and BEAUTIFUL) Mississippi Aquarium is definitely a must for all families visiting Coastal Mississippi! With nearly one-million gallons of both fresh and salt-water, the aquarium has over 80,000 square feet of exhibits with landscaped walkways meandering throughout. You can learn about and see a variety of species covering the water (obviously), land, and air! Some of the highlights include the alligators, river otters, stingrays, and shorebirds!

Jude was obsessed with the stingrays and the stunning giant viewing area that makes you feel so small! We loved the 360-degree tunnel where you could feel like you were right in the water with all the sea life!

There really is SO much for the whole family at the Mississippi Aquarium. They have daily programming that could keep you there all day, or you can pick and choose your favorite spots and go at your own pace. If Jude was a little older (or if we left him at home), we’d love to go back for an “Otter Chat” or to watch the “Aviary Feed”. We can’t wait to go back!

2. Museums and Murals

Your time in Coastal Mississippi will at some point have the elements of an art walk whether you like it or not. From the colorful murals you can find on your downtown walks, to the Walter Anderson or Ohr-O’Keefe Museums of Art, there is plenty of art to appreciate!

Blown away by the detail at the Walter Anderson Museum.

3. Shrimpin’ with The Biloxi Shrimping Trip

If you have kids that are a little older than Jude (maybe 4+), the Biloxi Shrimping Trip may be the highlight of their (and your!) visit. This 70-minute “Living Marine Adventure” cruises the calm waters of the Biloxi shoreline and will teach you everything you ever wondered about a real shrimping expedition. They’ll put the shrimping net out upon departure, and will catch a variety of marine life for everyone to see (with shrimp being the main haul). If you’re a Forest Gump fan, it’s pretty epic to experience “a real shrimpin’ boat” (as Bubba would say).

Identifying all that we caught with the captain!

4. NASA’s official visitor center for Stennis Space Center

Another highlight for families with kids that are in the 4+ range, is the INFINITY Science Center— it’s out of this world (hehe, I had to). With over 35,000 square feet of exhibit space, families can experience a variety of education exhibits, hands-on adventures, and, my favorite, the MASSIVE section of a Saturn V Rocket (one that took men to the moon!). There’s also a Hurricane Prediction Lab, 3D Immersive Theater and the Biome Boardwalk, so it’s easily a whole day adventure!

5. Sweet Treats…

While we’re confident the whole family will find joy in the aquarium, shrimpin’, and the science center, there’s a chance that some may eventually get bored with all the history chatter. What’s a better way to resolve that than some tasty sweet treats!

With plenty of options throughout the Coastal Mississippi area, here are our favorites:

Pop Brothers - A daily visit for us… and they have tasty treats for your pup too!
French Kiss Pastries - Morning pastries and coffee is always a no-brainer.
Purple Banana - A great spot in Bay St. Louis for some Fro Yo!

Bonus - The Beach!

Being Southern California natives, we often overlook that many people don’t have access to the coastline! With that in mind, Coastal Mississippi boasts twenty-six miles of soft white sand (the longest man made beach in the nation)where you can find massive stretches all to yourself! Grab your sunscreen and towel and go enjoy a snooze on the sand! Or build sand castles with the kids!

For us west-coasters, Coastal Mississippi is an under-the-radar destination that we love visiting again and again. With new activities and good restaurants coming in constantly, it won’t be under-the radar much longer. This beautiful stretch of coast is perfect for the whole family, and we can’t wait to head back!

The Coastal Mississippi Promise: When you visit The Secret Coast, you will be met with warm welcomes and 62 miles of shoreline dotted by unique coastal communities. Here, you can expect excitement and relaxation in equal measure, with plenty of room to roam. You should also expect to see that our hospitality partners are implementing all necessary precautions to protect you, your loved ones, and our industry employees.