TODAY: Adventures in Online Shopping, via Austin's Peacock Plume.

Teehee. I have a post for you guys from Breanna ("B" as I like to call her), fellow Eavesdropper who told us about the Texas Artisan Showcase last week.  This one is about Peacock Plume, drool-inducing local boutique, and a favorite of Austin Eavesdropper!

Anyway, the reason I am giggling is because Breanna kindly gives me a little shout-out, here in this post, here on my own blog. I could delete it like a modest person would...or, I could not.

Thanks for the love, B! You are the sweetest, and I'm so happy you're writing for Austin Eavesdropper now.

Here she is Austin girls, telling you fashionistas what's what!

from breanna:

I’ll admit it: I’m not really an online shopper.

Okay, sure, I’ve bought books and DVDs from Amazon. And, occasionally, skin care products. But in all these cases, you know what you’re getting. There’s really no room for error.

Clothes and shoes, however? Another story. Because, like many ladies I know, my size fluctuates occasionally, and every brand is cut a little differently. One woman’s size 6 jeans are another woman’s OMG you have got to be kidding me I can’t even pull these up over my thighs! (This happened to me in Banana Republic recently. I swear they’ve changed their size charts.)

Also? My feet are slightly different sizes. Thanks, genetics! So I never* buy shoes without trying them on first. Specifically, without trying them on my left foot first. It’s the bigger one.

I know, I know - you can always return something if it doesn’t fit. But to me, that’s just an extra step and a pain in my ass that I don’t want to deal with. Wait for the thing to arrive, be disappointed that it doesn’t fit, send it back and wait for a different size? Hell naw. Instant gratification, people. It makes the world go round.

But all that changed when I perused the online shop at Peacock Plume after reading about them here on Austin Eavesdropper (more proof that Tolly does, indeed, know what is up). Whoa, people! I tell you, I loved almost everything in their store. I covet this dress:

And this necklace:

Oh, and this. This is new:

Plus, Peacock Plume is based right here in Austin. Big-time bonus points! Upon discovering Peacock Plume at last, everything came together in one of those fantastical cosmic moments, and I was compelled to break my own rule. Yes, dear friends, I bought a pair of shoes online without trying them on first. Behold, the shoes:

I could not resist, made a guess on my size, and clicked “Submit Order” like a crazy woman. Fortunately, being an Austin resident, I received them quickly. I opened the box - which contained a sweet, handwritten thank-you note from Peacock Plume’s owners and an actual peacock feather - tried on the shoes (left foot first), and praise Jeebus, they fit! And I love them. Is it weird to say they are slimming? They make my feet look slim. I have also received several compliments on them, which, yay! Hearts all around.

After this experience and all the drooling I’ve done over their wares, imagine my excitement when I heard that Peacock Plume is having an open house event this week. And wait, there’s more: free wine while you shop. The excitement, it builds! If you haven’t had the chance to check out Peacock Plume online, you can drop by in person TODAY, Thursday, July 1 from 5:30pm to 8pm at 5555 N Lamar, Suite C110.

Racks of adorable clothes, shoes, accessories, and free wine - I’m pretty sure that’s the definition of awesome.

*I guess I should never say never, huh?

Celebrating Sloooow (Also: Yummy) Food at the Texas Artisan Showcase

Hello friends!

Sweet Breanna, our lovely food contributor, is here today to talk to you about the Slow Food Austin Artisan Showcase, going on tomorrow. Please refrain from drooling on your computer monitors.

As for me? Aloha, I am in Hawaii! And will be back on Tuesday. In between now and then, I'll try to stoke the flames of your jealousy with some pictures of the beach, surfers, Mai Tai's and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. Yes?

Now take it away, B!:

In case ya ain’t heard, Slow Food Austin is kind of badass. It’s one of those organizations that helps make Austin a super-awesome place to live (and eat). If you want the official description of SFA, observe, my friends:

“Slow Food Austin supports activities and education to preserve biodiversity in the food supply, spread the education of taste and connect producers of excellent foods with the co-producers (consumers) through events and initiatives.”

I mean, boom. I love them.

One thing they do that I’m dying to check out is a Happy Hour event once a month at cool locations around Austin. This month they had it out at Boggy Creek Farm with Bill Norris from FINO and David Allan, the Tipsy Texan, with appetizers served by Ecstatic Cuisine. (Uhh, you had me at FINO.) Also, appetizers. In May, the Happy Hour was held at Green Gate Farms (see gah-orgeous pic below).

Does this not look like a dream? My big fat foodie dream, specifically...

Anyway, all rambling preamble aside, I wanted to tell you that the fine folks at Slow Food Austin are hosting a Texas Artisan Showcase this Saturday, June 26, from 4-8pm at Space 12 (3121 East 12th Street).

It’s gonna be stellar, with samples of beers, cheeses, breads, meats (or charcuterie if you’re French, and/or know how to pronounce that), coffee, tea, and more! All from “good, clean, and fair” Texas producers and sellers, as if you needed another reason to go. Plus, there will be live music, a silent auction, demos, and a live auction where I hear they’ll be auctioning off cuts from a whole hog. Which sounds...bizarre? Maybe a little too REAL? At any rate, my interest is piqued.

You can buy tickets (which range from $35-$60, depending on whether you’re a Slow Food member and how much you want to sample) through Brown Paper Tickets.

Green Gate Farms

And before I go, to whet your appetite further, here’s a list of the confirmed Artisans/Producers who will be offering their goods at the Showcase:

(512) Brewing Company

David Allen (Tipsy Texan) and Bill Norris (FINO) will create “Slow Cocktails” using local spirits, mixers and herbs

Zhi Tea

Summermoon Woodfired Coffee

Owl Tree Roasting

Mary Beth Murphy (Piche) will host a 10-minute demo on olive oil 

demoBread: Bona Dea

Pure Luck

John Antonelli of Antonelli’s Cheese Shop, will MC a demo, while a producer performs a cheese making demonstration

Guajillo honey (Thunderheart Bison) and Gause Yaupon honey from Boggy Creek Farm. Barrie Cullinan will provide her butter croissants for this and the following station

Green Gate Farms

Straight from the Vine

Thunderheart Bison 

Dai Due Butcher Shop (Jesse Griffiths) 

Kocurek Family Charcuterie (Lawrence Kocurek)

see you there!

*photos snatched from slowfoodaustin on Flickr and courtesy of Marshall Wright of eatthislens.com