September 18th

I went to explore Dallas. Finally. I don't plan on living here forever, but while I do, I want to really know this place. When I was a kid, I saw Dallas as this place where everything happens outside on a restaurant patio in the late afternoon. 

 I have a memory of riding in a convertible with the top down. I was somewhere between ages six and ten. My dad was driving my brothers and me around Dallas. Nirvana's cover of "Lake of Fire" played, and we were surrounded by these crane-your-neck tall buildings reflecting sunlight. My brain eventually filed this memory away as "DALLAS." 

Now that I'm living in the big D (as far north as one could be, really), I'm eager to get to know it. 

I decided, for no reason in particular, to start with the Bishop Arts District. Which, to my surprise, is really just a small part of a street. I walked around the street by myself with a mega caffeine buzz. It's kind of a cool little place. There are some restaurants I can't wait to eat at. Odd Fellows. Their menu made my mouth water.

I got my coffee, by the way, at Espumoso Coffee & Juice Bar. Starbucks prices (what's up with that? grr..) with a real coffee house feel. I really enjoyed it. Door open, slight breeze. Hi, serenity.

I'm sure these people are very glad I took a picture of them.

I dunno. Espumoso wasn't entirely what I was hoping for. And that's okay because I don't really want my favorite place in Dallas to be that far away. 

 I still miss Karma, which was that very dark and very cozy coffee house in Denton. I'm not a smoker, but I loved that you could smoke inside. Unfortunately, it's now a text book store. Womp womp. 

I did find something very exciting that Sunday, though. Backstory: I fell in love with velvet this summer. Why? Who knows? In June I made velvet curtains for my bedroom (unbelievably cheap). Love them. And then I happened upon Urban Outfitters. I don't think I'd ever been in there in my life. 

Found it!

That's velvet, boys and girls. And it rocks. 

And if the weather would finally cool off, I will feel wonderfully warm wearing it.

And, yeah, that's my to-do list taped to the back of my phone.

xoxo - Amanda Rachel

For Tori

When Tori died, I had this urge to start a blog. It was one of the many inexplicable reactions I had. Maybe it's because it was then that I found out she had been keeping a blog. Or maybe it's because tracking my memories feeds my sentimental nature. Either way, here we are. This is for Tori, who had so much life to live. She's been on my mind every day, and I plan on keeping her there with me. I still don't feel like she's really gone. She was so vibrantly alive that I feel like she's still here with us. Again, I don't know why I suddenly put emphasis on this blog, but it was something I felt compelled to do. Now, two days away from October, I'm sitting down to do it.

So check out her blog. Be excellent to each other. And find love.

xoxo - Amanda Rachel