A couple of years ago, I ventured to a city and spent the best weekend ever shopping, exploring, and eating. Last weekend, I took a trip to that same city, but this time was accompanied by my besties Kyria and Carly.

My Favorite Parts were:

• Staying at the amazing Renaissance Hotel in downtown Seattle
• Drinking from the fountains of Seattle's Best Coffee (Triple Chocolate for the girls and Passion Tea for myself)
• Shopping at the Nordstrom Flagship and Humongous Nordstrom Rack (on 3 separate occasions)
• Eating at every top YELP rated restaurant we could lay our eyes on
• Making friends with the famous fish throwers in Pike Place Market
• Being hit on every 7 seconds because my friends are beautiful
• Meeting a cab driver who offered to be our personal driver next time we come to town
• Having Sunday brunch on Bainbridge Island
• Dancing our hearts out in Belltown with the most beautiful people in the country (and meeting my soul mate/ new long distance lover)
• Eating atop the Space Needle for a late Saturday dinner, and then returning (for FREE) on Sunday to see the city on an abnormally clear day
• Taking a walking food tour around Pike Place Market and tasting everything from Fruit to Cheese to Smoked Salmon
• Eating a lot and compensating by walking 50,000 steps (Thank you FitBit) in sunny 70 degree weather
• And finally, hanging out with Carly and Kyria who make me laugh harder than anyone ever did.

 

 

 

I think we belong there.

traveling

Politics. Conventions. Opinions. Blah. Everyone is so heated. I mean, I get it, this is our life and our future and I find myself getting involved in a lot of the different conversations.


BUT. THEN. This week I was in Virginia and hopped over to spend some time in DC. Walking aroung a city rich with culture, heritage, and patriotism my paradigm shifted. Ultimately, the reason behind political turmoil is that people have different interpretations of Freedom. Just like people have different interpretations of Religion. At the end of the day I don't have to stress about agreeing with everyone. I get to learn, appreciate other views, and just be GRATEFUL that there is FREEDOM to interpret.

when life gives you lemons, pack your bags and take a trip with your BFF

I took a trip to Chicago this weekend to visit my Brother and Sister-In-Law. With all the craziness going on this year it was good to just relax, eat, site-see, and sleep with a view of the Chicago Sky Line. Rodney and Kylee are moving in a couple of months so I'm glad I went to see them once more before they leave. We saw everything there is to see about the city and ate at 11 restaurants in 3 days... So.., the indicators that I had a good weekend are a camera full of pictures, and a way too tight pair of jeans. Let's ignore the jeans and focus on the pictures.

• Major highlight, hanging with my little love muffin, Carly. This is on a Water Taxi we took to get home one afternoon. Does your city have water taxis? ..because they are magical.
• When Rodney and Kylee were engaged they were known to photo bomb EVERY picture they were in. We thought they grew out of it. Really ruined this picture of us four at The Bean in Millenium Park. They are too funny.
• On Monday Carly and I had a "competition" to see who could spend $100 in Nordstrom before the other person. I left empty handed and Carly hit the jackpot. Definitely a first for me.
• Everyone must visit Bijan Bistro downtown- preferrably after midnight when the crowd is reallly having a good time. I am normally not that much of a night owl (or a night carnivore- we ordered the Ribeye) but #YOLO and #VRA (vacation rules apply). Going out late on vacation is a must-do because we ended up laughing the entire time, mostly because Carly would say funny things like this.
• And of course, the beautiful Chicago Skyline, accompanied by unseasonably warm temperatures made this the perfect weekend getaway!

Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart

want to go here

want to take her

want to wear this