AN UNEXPECTED EAST COAST ADVENTURE

 

last weekend brought the most frustrating travel disaster i've experienced.  i won't go into details because who likes listening to travel sob stories? (except those closest to me, who comforted me as i cried in the philly airport and then a cab and then the train station followed by a bus ... thanks ;) it tested my patience to the extreme (i'd say i did okay minus a few breakdowns over thirteen hours in).  although i didn't get to see k, it turned into an unexpected, whirlwind of an adventure.  it ended up being filled with old friends, a fabulous afternoon at the most amazing bookstore, lots of wine, and rooftop views.  oh, and a visit to my new neighborhood.  NYC, i love you already.

 ^^ a fitting wine for the weekend ^^

 ^^ this beautiful lady saved my weekend, twice ^^

MINI ROADTRIP

 

K had some work in Phoenix last week so we spent a few days in Scottsdale.  Don't get me wrong - I'm thrilled to be moving to the big city on the east coast, it's going to be wonderful and irreplaceable - but I hope we end up out here soon after.  Everything about it was perfect.

MY COUNTRY

^^ a hard earned view from the top at mt zion ^^

My mom and I roadtripped up to Utah last week.  It was perfect (minus a brief encounter with altitude sickness).  This country of ours is really beautiful.  I want to go back already!

 ^^ arizona has the most beautiful rest stops you'll ever see ^^

^^ we made it! ^^

^^hoodoos - bryce canyon ^^

BEACH DETOX

i started 2014 on the beach (and with a cat on my head. i don't really like cats, but this one is cool).  january has been good to me.  more coming soon, i swear.

^^lazy first few days of 2014^^

 

^^a foggy goodbye.  hermosa beach, i miss you!^^

HOLIDAY TRAVELING

AZ --> DAY --> CHI  next stop, MKE!

BIG BEAR

a couple of weeks over a month (i swear time is moving faster everyday) ago my mom and cody and i road tripped.  road trips are my favorite and the cali mountains were calling us.  it was a much needed weekend in nature.  cold (see: freezing) nights were accompanied by tea and chocolates (i was on vaca....) and the days were spent hiking, exploring some beautiful historical areas, admiring our family friend's stunning horses, and attending inspiring film festivals.  and cody was in dog heaven, i think he's mad at us for leaving.  big bear, you are wonderful.  maybe ill be back this winter....

THE WEEKENDER

This weekend Kurt and I are headed to our hometowns for family parties.  I'm excited to spend time with both of our families and visit pieces of our pasts.  I hope you have a great weekend!  Here are some of my favorite links from around the web this week....

I've always liked doing work at coffee shops.

....and it turns out that coffee is good for us too!

How great are these his + her mugs?

Hopefully I'll have time to make one of these beautiful crowns for the fourth of July weekend.

How cool would this bedroom be?

In just a few weeks I'm going to be surrounded by cacti.  I might try making this cute mini cacti garden for the new yard...

I would love to take a road trip and visit some of these beautiful national parks (and make a stop at the Redwoods).

I love these ideas for a little spring cleaning for your body.

SUNDAY FUNDAY

Every second of this last weekend was perfect but if I had to choose, my favorite day was Sunday.  We spent the whole afternoon biking along the river and through the city.  I discovered areas of Dayton that I didn't even realize existed!  We attempted to get lunch at the Silver Fern Cafe at Riverscape Metro along the river but they aren't open Sundays (along with every other lunch place in Dayton, it seems).  So instead, we enjoyed the fountains at the park, ran into a festival downtown and finally made our way back home to indulge in Chinese take-out (our favorite).  And if it wasn't a perfect day already, Kurt surprised me with tickets to a comedy show at Funny Bone.  We were laughing all night, it was the best.

 Thanks for a perfect weekend, Kurt!

THE WEEKENDER

{a shot of campus in late fall}

This weekend I am returning to my alma mater for the first time since I graduated (it's been a whole two months and I already miss it!).  Kurt still lives next to campus so I'm visiting him for the week!  He has hinted at a week full of surprises, dinners at some of my favorite restaurants, and time to relax together.  I'm so excited!  Have a great weekend.  Here are some fun links from around the web....

This made me a little nostalgic and a lot happy.

Some great (and cheap) breakfast ideas.

Videos like this give me a little more faith in humanity.

This bloody mary looks amazing.  I can't wait to try it.

Some of these ideas make me want to throw a party!

This project is so fun!

Don't these cocktails looks delicious?  I'm planning on trying the gin sparkler tonight!

IVY LEAGUE

I spent a good amount of my weekend driving but it was worth being able to celebrate my cousins graduation in New Hampshire.  It is a beautiful part of the country that I have never been able to explore before.  Although Dartmouth is located in the middle of nowhere, it was absolutely beautiful and inspiring in it's isolation.  From frat parties to official Phi Beta Kappa meetings, it was a wonderful weekend full of food and a lovely celebration of accomplishments.  Congratulations, Joey!

THE WEEKENDER

{a shot of the Lion's Gate Bridge I took while visiting cousins in Vancouver last summer}

I can't believe its already the weekend again.  And I'm already headed back to the east coast!  My cousin is graduating from Dartmouth and we are on our way to celebrate with him.  I'll be driving through some familiar territory (a similar route I used to take when I would drive to school in Dayton) and some new (hopefully beautiful!) areas of the country I haven't seen before.  Here are some fun weekender links for you....

This is my favorite playlist to listen to while spending an evening cooking, eating, and enjoying wine in the kitchen with my family.

Have you seen these funny and interesting maps of the United States?

Safe Haven was my first Nicholas Sparks book and I liked it so much that I'm going to try out this memoir during the drive to Dartmouth!  I heard it's a little different than his others so I'm really excited.

I'm also going to be reading this.  Alex was reading it on the beach last weekend and it seemed so uplifting and interesting.

As a fresh graduate with no current employment I have been scouring Netflix for a new show and ran across Private Practice.  I'm a huge Grey's fan and am always a little late on TV shows so it's so perfect for me.  I've been loving it!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

CRAVINGS

{browsing a vintage store in paris last summer}

I am craving some new pieces in my wardrobe now that there is finally a hint of warmth in the breeze coming through my window.  With my days left living in Milwaukee slowly dwindling it may be time to take one last visit to my favorite vintage store in the city.....hopefully I'll be back soon with some beautiful new additions!

THE WEEKENDER

^^looking out toward the Pacific Ocean on the MV Explorer (S'11)^^

Happy Friday!  I am headed to Baltimore to visit with Semester at Sea friends and am so excited for a girls weekend full of happy hours, relaxing on the beach, and soaking up the sun.  A few weekender links for you.... have a fabulous one!

I am looking forward to reading this book on the beach.  I recently watched the movie and loved it!  Have you read any good books lately?

I recently bought the top to this swimsuit and can’t wait to live in it this weekend.

I drove down to Chicago a few weekends ago to watch my boyfriend compete in a tough mudder and had so much fun.  I have been thinking about training for one ever since!  Would you ever compete?

I can't wait to try these paired with my own baked fries recipe when I get back from Baltimore!  Nothing makes me happier than cookouts on warm summer nights.

These sangria recipes look amazing.  I might have to try them all throughout the summer!

REUNITING

^^Megan and I looking toward California mountains^^

This weekend is going to be a memorable one!  I head to the east coast this afternoon to visit with two of my closest friends from Semester at Sea (spring 2011!).  I have traveled around the world with Alex and Megan and have (barely) been able to see them in the last two years.

The three of us have bonded over exploring the eccentric colors of Brazil, getting dirty building houses in Ghana, and wine tasting in the mountains of Capetown followed by days on the mesmerizing seas of the Indian Ocean.  We have relaxed beneath the Taj Mahal, sweated on the dirty yet beautiful streets of India, and have gotten lost on the winding streets of China.  I am so excited to spend the weekend with these two!

^^Alex and I in Brazil^^

^^Megan and I in Ghana^^

^^wine tasting in South Africa^^

^^exploring India^^

^^enjoying China^^