What are you thankful for?

Even after Thanksgiving I remember to be thankful everyday for the people in my life, the things that I have, and the places that I have been. But it's on this special holiday, that I get to share it with you in writing. Also it's our blogs first holiday… so I thought it would be fun to share with you the things I'm most thankful for! We definitely hope to be celebrating many more holidays with you!

I come from a pretty BIG family!! I feel so blessed to have been raised around my 25+ cousins and 12 aunts and uncles (those living in the US).

I am thankful and blessed for my amazing parents and two brothers, who have supported me throughout my 27 years, who have loved me unconditionally through the good and bad and who will always be by my side when ever I need them. It's the most comforting and warm feeling a person can have.

I am thankful for my amazing husband and best friend, who I feel in love with from the first hello. 

I am thankful for my friends, new and old, who are always a phone call away. 

I am thankful for all the pretty things in life that I appreciate and take inspiration from. For more, check out my pinterest page!

Lastly, I am thankful that tomorrow my husband and I are heading to Buenos Aires, Argentina for our HONEYMOON!! Wooo hooooo!! It's summer time there, so I've packed all my summer clothes, big summer hats and sunscreen! Can't wait. I'll definitely be sharing photo's when I get back! So stay tuned :)

What are you thankful for? I'm sure everyone has something to be thankful for, even if its as small as the pinky on your hand :) So make sure to remember all that is good in your life and don't dwell on the negative, just be thankful for today.

XO, Mais

Oh New York, I love you . . .

... and even more when I met my love and best friend here! Yes I'm a married women ... but we'll save that for another day :) .

I happily moved to Manhattan in 2007, such a short while ago… but I frequented the city a few times before and every time I left, I left a piece of me there. I would go back to Michigan dreaming that one day I would move to New York and become the best person that I can be. New York gave me hope and the feeling that I can achieve all the things I wanted to in my life - career, family and lifestyle. It was all available in that vibrant city, and if I worked hard enough, one day I would live there.   

So I worked hard and thought even harder about what my life would be "when" I moved to New York. I would envision all these little moments of me living there - what my apartment would look like and where I would go for my coffee in the morning, I researched and bookmarked all the best restaurants to dine at, and I even picked my favorite street to live on. I envisioned myself walking through the city streets and my morning run through Central Park (so cheesy, I know), but all this kept me motivated.

One summer morning, while sipping on my favorite Java Hutt latte, I was sitting in front of my laptop checking my email and getting ready to do some work… I find an email from an unfamiliar woman named Catt. I was going to delete it, thinking it was junk but I was a bit curious so I read on…"Dear Mais, …. we have an immediate opening for a junior level designer position, and we were wondering if you would be available to relocate to Cincinnati, Ohio for training and after training work for our office in New York City." …. they were wondering WHAT?! Was this a scam or some kind of joke?! … I must of read the email 100 times before I responded, not knowing what kind of reply I would receive... To make a loonnng story short, I moved to Cincinnati for three months and after training I moved to Manhattan and never looked back!! It was a fabulous dream come true :)

And ever since then I have been frequenting all my favorite coffee shops, parks, and streets when ever I want :) and for fun here is a list of my 10 favorite places in New York City, in no particular order:

1. MoMA - My favorite museum to visit on a cold rainy day.

2. Bistro Bagatelle - The funniest Saturday brunch spot for those who like to drink champagne and dance away their Saturday afternoon!! 

3. ilili Restaurant - One of my favorite Lebanese restaurant and the first dinner date with my love.

4. Biking and picnicking - along the Hudson River, a quick and easy escape from the city traffic.

5. McNally Jackson Books - An indie bookstore where I spend all my money.

6. Chelsea Market - An indoor market with great food, coffee and a unique interior space. A good place to go on a rainy day. 

7. The High Line - A beautiful renovated railway turned into an elevated park.

8. Rockwood Music Hall - An intimate music hall, with no cover charge, a great place to catch all the up and coming singers and bands from around the world. Always a great place to go wind down and have a glass of wine on the weekdays.  

9. La Colombe - The best coffee in all of Manhattan. The space is not too shabby either

10. ABC Carpet & Home - A heaven for interior designers and people that love pretty things.. I can spend HOURS there.

Those are just to name a few, I will constantly be sharing with you my favorite places in the city. So please keep checking back! And if you are planning to visit New York City soon and wondering what are some great local spots to see, don't be shy to ask, I'm always happy to help :)


All pictures are found via pintrest


Have a fabulous day ya'll
xo Mais.

Dressing up for haunted houses and a parade . . .

. . . yes i am talking about halloween in new york city! 

New Yorkers take it seriously and it's pretty damn fabulous. Despite the cold and rainy days we've been having each year, people will still dress up or down (for those who wear close to nothing) and head out in large crowds to visit all the SCARY haunted houses or spend their evening at the grand parade. The halloween parade, in Greenwich Village, runs straight up 6th avenue from spring street to 16th street. See this site for more information. 

This year the city will be celebrating their 39th annual parade in style and I will be attending!! Last year i was too cold and feeling lazy, so i stayed home cuddled up with a cup of tea and my warm blanket. This year, i'm determined to dress up and beat the cold in style, with my husband by my side ;) We're dressing up as Sandy and Dany from Grease. I can't wait!… What about you? What are you dressing up as?

I prefer the more romantic side of halloween, rather than the scary and bloody side. It's more fascinating to see someone dressed up all glamorous in glitter, a beautiful mask, an old vintage dress or even a charming character from an old fairytale. But that's juts me :)

So dress your kids, dress your dogs and dress yourself up and head out to the parade or to a haunted house and celebrate the funniest holiday of the year, halloween!!

Cheers, Mais.


(Photos by Brooklyn Vegan)

Halloween on 6th Street - Austin

See more photos  here 

It’s that time of year again, I hope you have your costumes picked out (and ladies, let’s try to keep it classy)… it’s Halloween and there’s no other place to go than to 6^th Street. Located in downtown Austin between Congress and Highway 35, 6^th Street is probably known as Texas’ most famous street. 6^th Street and its surrounding streets offer all kinds of entertainment, there are no rules here especially when it comes to Halloween. If you ever find yourself on 6^th street you will see many historical buildings, tons of bars, live music venues, unique restaurants, art galleries, tattoo shops and of course the famous Driskill Hotel. You will also probably run into a few naked people, so don’t be startled… it’s just how we roll (well, not me, but you know who you are).

More photos here 

Austin is known as the “Live Music Capitol of the World” and it all started on 6^th Street. Several other nationally and internationally known events such as SXSW, ACL, Biker Rally, Pecan Street Festival and Mardi Gras Austin all show their love for 6^th street. There’s a reason why tens of thousands of people make their way to 6^th street in their “unordinary and weird” Halloween costumes to party the night away, and each year topping the last. Every bar is packed to the ceilings with some of the craziest people of the city, while the street stays filled with diehard partiers. This is definitely not a place for kids, so that should tell you something.

Great times on 6th Street Austin

I recently stumbled across a photographer’s website here, PLEASE CHECK IT OUT! He happened to be shooting wedding photos at the Driskill Hotel the same day of the 6^th street Halloween celebration. He captured some of the most amazing photos I have seen of the event. His photos can explain how a typical Halloween on 6^th Street plays out, better than I could ever explain.

All I have to say is, if you are in Austin this weekend and you are looking for a way to spend Halloween the right way…. No place is cooler than 6^th Street.

Xo Patrice Nichole Rios

Austin can throw chic dinner parties too - Patrice Nichole Rios

http://thefive-senses.blogspot.com/2010/05/eating-out.html

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party in your 700 square foot apartment or the roof top of a building over looking the city skyline, one thing you want to remember…the absolute MOST important detail is the DECOR! Once you decide on the location for your dinner party, start making your guest list. Try to keep it short, I suggest a maximum of twelve close friends and family. Keeping your guest list at this size allows for great conversation, but not enough to get a noise complaint (trust me on this). Next on the checklist is creating your menu. To make it easy, pick a theme…for example French cuisine… if it’s a summer night dinner party with a French theme, start researching and get your google on. Maybe contact one of your favorite French restaurants. Such as Peche, a local French restaurant here in Austin. Their website shows several entrées you could attempt at home or always call to see if they provide catering (don’t believe anyone who says catering is cheating.. it can be our little secret). Make sure to pick fantastic appetizers, light salads, rich soups, and main courses that look beautiful on a plate. If you are a super hero and decide to cook everything on your own, make sure you buy quality ingredients, and there’s no better place in my opinion to go to than Austin’s very own Whole Foods Market. Whole Foods has everything you need to throw a chic dinner party.

Menu from Peche, one of Austin's best French restaurants

So, how do you truly impress your dinner guests? Well, if you’re anything like me (a huge planner) there’s time to mail out invitations. You want to make sure to highlight the theme of the party and maybe mention the dress attire (nothing is worse than going all out for a special event and having your guest arrive and not be camera ready). Inviting Affairs is a great local company for ordering invitations for any occasion.The great thing about hosting for a small group is that you can make the party as personal as you’d like. Place cards and small take home party favors are always a good idea. A party favor could consist of a bottle of French wine with a personal label created by you (check out Austin’s www.personalwine.com) or making personal take home desserts. Adding small touches such as these to the table will definitely make it memorable.

Personalize your party favors to make it extra memorable

Decide on a color scheme to make it easier when selecting chinaware and linens (table cloths and napkins). Don’t forget the centerpieces! Tons of candles are necessary; I mean everyone looks good in candle lighting. Simply wow your guest with something original. Just make it your own, show everyone the small things you appreciate... and have a GREAT TIME!

Whatever your style is... make it memorable!

 Remember there is always help out there. If you feel overwhelmed, contact your local event planner immediately....and leave it all up to them. A great event planning company that I have worked with closely is from Austin, called Guest List Intimate Event Design... check them out!

I encourage everyone to have a formal dinner party, so if you do, send us photos! Mais and I would love to see how we have inspired you.

Xo, Patrice Nichole Rios

(Photos were gathered from the following sites: http://www.invitingaffairs.com/, www.blog.weddingwire.com, www.calorielab.com, http://www.lunchboxmagazine.com/, http://www.pecheaustin.com/, www.biancarodriguez.files.wordpress.com, http://www.beautifulpurposeevents.com/, http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/)

Food, Architecture or College Spirit? What really defines Austin? - Patrice Nichole Rios

From home cooking style to celebration cocktails, Austin has it all

 When I moved to Austin, I really didn’t know what the hype was about this city. I just thought the locals were big on music, dressed kinda funky and that Austin was simply a college town. Little did I know that real Austinites are actually hard to find (as 173 people move here everyday), and little did I know that the funky fashion reflects the super laid back attitude of the city. You can literally find yourself eating at a fine dining restaurant sitting next to a man in cargo shorts and flip-flops watching him pull out a Black American Express Card to pay the bill. I learned very vast that this is not West Hollywood, the saying “you are what you drive” doesn’t exist here…. It’s more on the line of “you are what you are”. So what really defines Austin? Ask around and most people will say THE FOOD! It’s all about the food. Whether it’s at some of the coolest designed restaurants like La Condesa or a backyard bar-b-q at Saltlick (located 20 minutes outside of the city), you will find yourself struggling to decide where to go for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner.

La Condesa is a great get away from the suburbs to downtown

Hummmm…. So, I’m thinking tonight is an Olivia night! The Olivia (located on South Congress and Oltorf) along with La Condesa (located in the 2^nd street district) are both stunning restaurants… designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, a local architecture firm that houses incredible designers who really know how to create magnificent dining experiences. The Olivia is a perfect example of how Austin gourmet food inspires architecture. A place as Cuatro’s (located near 24^th and Guadalupe) display a well designed restaurant with amazing Mexican food while catering to the University of Texas students. If you decide to go on a Saturday afternoon during a UT football game, get ready to be surrounded by screaming fans and uniquely constructed rustic-modern architecture.

Cuatro's is the place to be for great food and atmosphere during the game

 So, is it the food that defines Austin? Or, is it the architecture? Some would say it’s definitely the college spirit. However, it seams as though it’s all of the above. Without the food, you would not have satisfied Texans and tourists. Without the architecture, you would not have people talking about their memorable dining experiences. And without the college spirit, you would not have the high energy that fills Austin. Come back tomorrow for my reviews on Olivia’s Fall Menu… mmmmm!

xo, Patrice Nichole Rios