Lifestyle – Mae Bakes

Jacob’s Well

September 4, 2021January 6, 2022 maebakesatx

My favorite thing about Texas is the outdoor life. People in Texas are always outside… even in the crazy heat. One of the best parts of the outdoor life in Texas is the abundance of swimming holes. These watering holes aren’t your average creeks with warm water and scary snakes either. Texas has some of the most magical places to swim in the world. These spots have the bluest and the coolest waters you’ll ever see and feel. One of my favorites just happens to be a short drive from Austin, Jacob’s Well.

Jacob’s Well is a natural area located in Wimberley, Texas. It sits on 81 acres and was discovered in 1850 when settlers discovered a fountain (it was more of a geyser with very cold water and less of a hole back then) of beautiful clear water. Over the years Jacob’s Well has been explored by divers and scientists who want to know more about this magnificent body of water. The well is full of caverns both large and small. Some caves have yet to be explored because of their small size.

Today Jacob’s Well is visited by people from all over the world. The water stays constant at a cool 68 degrees Fahrenheit which is perfect for those hot summer days in Texas. It’s a beautiful, scenic, and easy hike down to the well (except for a few stairs) complete with wildflowers and bird watching. It also happens to be in one of the sweetest little towns in Texas. Below are my Tips, Tricks and Don’ts that I did to help you plan your trip to this amazing piece of Texas.

Tips, Tricks and Don’ts that I did

Make a reservation. We got lucky this year because I forgot I made reservations and ended up making another, so we went twice. The Park itself doesn’t require reservations, but in order to swim you must have a reservation. Reservations open in March, and they go fast so don’t wait!
Jump! Part of the Jacob’s Well experience is jumping from the rocks that overlook the well. The first two times we visited we didn’t jump and I kind of feel like we missed out. The third time we went I knew I wanted to try it and I’m so glad we did. For one thing the cold temperature of the water is less of a shock jumping in rather than slowly getting used to it. The second thing… it’s fun! I felt like a kid again. Don’t get crazy or dangerous and try any wild dives but jumping from the lower rocks is a blast. I didn’t know how much fun it could be until I decided to jump…. and jump again! Keep scrolling to see both of my jumps in action!
Do explore the entire park. The first couple of times we visited the park we went straight to the well and only the well. Last weekend we decided to get there early and run the trails. It was awesome. We got to see part of the park that I had no idea even existed. The trails are well maintained and easy to run (or walk). It’s a great activity to do before cooling off in the cool waters of Jacob’s Well.
Don’t forget your water shoes! Jacob’s Well is a natural water source and has a lot of slippery algae. We watched several people accidentally take the plunge into the frigid waters because they slipped. The rocks in the water can also be painful without the added protection of water shoes.
Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes. The visitor’s center is super nice and has changing areas so you can change out of your wet clothes before exploring the town.
Speaking of the town… Don’t skip out on exploring the town of Wimberley. It’s a charming little town, has a lot of shopping, and has some of the best restaurants and one of the best bakeries we’ve ever been to. I’ve included links to a few of our favorites here. https://www.sugarshackbakerytx.com http://www.wimberleycafe.com
For more information about the history of Jacob’s Well here’s a link to their website. https://hayscountytx.com/departments/hays-county-parks-recreation/jacobs-well-natural-area/
If you liked this post, check out my blog about visiting Stubbs in Austin, TX here https://eats8.food.blog/an-intimate-concert-with-2000-strangers/
As always, don’t forget to Enjoy!

Lifestyle

Let’s Get Personal! 5 Fun Facts About Me

July 10, 2021January 6, 2022 maebakesatx

This week has been wild at work and unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to bake. I was looking through my blogs and realized I’ve done over 30 posts in the last 2 years. I decided now would be the perfect time to reintroduce myself to the blogging and social world with a few fun facts about this new baker turned blogger. Check out these 5 fun facts about me you probably don’t know and leave one about yourself in the comments. Let’s have some fun!

My full-time job is in construction. Yep, that’s right. This girly girl spends most of her days with men on construction sites and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I absolutely LOVE my job and the people I work with.
I workout 6 days a week and by workout I mean lifting heavy and high intensity cardio. I wouldn’t call myself a gym rat more of a gym Lion. Going to the gym and being active is like breathing for me; I can’t live without it.
I own a Jeep and never thought I’d love a vehicle as much as I love her. I honestly feel like she was made for me. I joke that my Jeep is my soulmate. Any fellow Jeepers out there?
I love to travel and have been lucky enough to visit a few of my bucket list places. My travel list is long, and I have so many more cities I can’t wait to explore. So far Ireland has been my favorite place. I’m looking forward to going back as soon as I can.
I was born and raised in a very small town in south Alabama, but I’ve lived in a few cities since then. I moved to Austin 5 years ago and finally felt like I was home. If my jeep is my soulmate then Austin is my love story. As the saying goes “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could” If you haven’t been to Austin, come visit. We’d love to have you!

Don’t forget to share a fun fact about yourself in the comments! I’d love to get to know you too!

If you want to know even more about me check out my About Me page here https://eats8.food.blog/about/

If you’re curious about my Jeep adventures check out my Jeep Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/seaseajeep/

Lifestyle

An Intimate Concert with 2000 Strangers

June 9, 2021 maebakesatx

I honestly never thought I’d go to another concert, especially not one a little over a year after the pandemic started. I absolutely didn’t expect my first show after Covid to be an intimate concert with 2000 strangers. The last concert I went to right before quarantine was Incubus. We saw them at ACL Moody Theater, and it was the perfect show; one of the best shows I have ever been to. The Incubus concert was so amazing it made it easier to accept that it would be a long time before I ever saw a live show due to Covid-19.

We purchased tickets to Black Pumas right after they played the Presidential Inauguration. At that time there wasn’t a vaccine, and I imagined this show much differently than it turned out to be. I thought it would be fun, but not the way concerts were before the pandemic. I knew I’d be worried anytime someone bumped into me. I was concerned the heat of the masks and the amount of people would cause unbearable anxiety, but I LOVE Black Pumas and I was willing to endure whatever my anxiety riddled brain had to throw at me to see them live.

Obviously and thankfully none of that anxiety happened. We’re both fully vaccinated and got to see Black Pumas play an amazing show with a couple thousand of our fellow Austinites. We danced, we laughed, we sang, and we had the BEST time. Sweat from strangers was all over us, beers were spilled down our backs, toes were crushed from everyone dancing, but none of that mattered. We were at a show, listening to one of our favorite bands, having the time of our lives. It felt so good to be back to almost normal, to be with people, to dance while listening to a great band in the middle of one of the greatest cities on earth.

Below are some Tips, Tricks, and Don’ts that I Did if you’re planning a post-Pandemic outing.

Tips, Tricks, and Don’ts That I Did

Location! Location! Location! We saw Black Puma’s at Stubbs BBQ in downtown Austin. It was the first time either of us had been there and oh my goodness!! Such a great venue!! If you ever get a chance to see a concert at Stubbs, do it. You won’t regret it. Even with the Texas heat it was one of the best places I’ve ever seen a live show. Check out upcoming shows at Stubbs here https://www.stubbsaustin.com
Wear closed toe shoes. I don’t know if it was the isolation or pandemic brain fog but we both wore sandals… to a concert. We know better, but the sandals still ended up on our feet. My toes were sore even a few days later.
Don’t stress about where to eat. We planned to eat at a food truck that ended up being closed. We wandered around for a while trying to find something else but found ourselves back at Stubbs. The food was great, and we were right where we needed to be for the show.
Being around a lot of people is kind of stressful in the beginning. Just remind yourself that most people are feeling the same way. Don’t let it ruin your night. Everyone is trying to get back to normal just like you are.
Austin local Tameca Jones opened for The Black Pumas, and she was amazing!! If you get the opportunity to see her live… GO! You’ll love her as much as we do. You can check out her music here http://tamecajones.com

Lifestyle

Welcome to my Life(style)

May 25, 2021January 6, 2022 maebakesatx

Mae Bakes is evolving! I’m adding to my baking blogs and incorporating some of my other passions into Mae Bakes. From travel to kids’ parties, hidden gem restaurants to hikes around Austin, and everything in between. Continue reading for some pics to give you a taste of what’s to come.

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Lifestyle

About

November 25, 2019 maebakesatx

Hello! My name is Mae and I am not a baker, but I am becoming one. This blog is dedicated to my new passion in baking. Before I start diving into all things sweet here’s a little more about me.

I live in Austin Texas and work full time. I’m a mom of 2 boys ages 12 and 7. When I’m not working or chasing boys you’ll find me in the gym or outside enjoying Austin’s beautiful weather. I’m into reading, art, photography, trying new restaurants and recently BAKING.

I am by far not very experienced in the kitchen. I recently started baking as a way to spend my time with my oldest son. I find myself googling most of the directions or ingredients in recipes just to get a handle on what I’m doing. I’m constantly learning new things about baking and can get a little overwhelmed and stressed in the kitchen.

So why did I decide to keep baking and then also blog about it?

Because I baked a cake. Yep. It took one cake from scratch and I was hooked. Not only did the cake taste amazing, but I had an amazing time making it. I found out that I was actually a pretty decent baker and wanted to share my baking adventures. All of it. The good bakes and bad bakes. The perfect pies and over baked cakes and everything in between. I’ll also share all of my recipes including tips and tricks that I’ve learned along the way.

I hope you enjoy this blog and maybe some day enjoy one of my bakes. Until then, let’s bake! -Mae