Tag: day trips

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Travel

Montreal in a Day

Hello everyone!

Happy Wednesday! We are in the middle of the first full week of August. At the moment, I’m on vacation with my family, it’s a well-deserved break for all of us and we are making some quality memories together. I’ll be sharing more of my trip in the coming weeks, but until then, I have another travel post to tide you over. One that I couldn’t wait to share with you all! 

Several weeks ago, my boyfriend and I took another one of our crazy day trips. My boyfriend is a great trip planner, especially ones that are affordable and unique too. We also like to do our trips in a day, even if it means being up for more than 24 hours. 

Last summer, we did NYC in 13 hours, you can read about it here. We also did Toronto in a day, which you can read about here. 

This summer, we did Montreal in a day! It was one of our furthest destinations, but we packed a lot in, and I fell in love with the city and the culture. 

Here’s a recap of our trip.

We left in the evening and drove to Burlington, Canada where we caught a train into Toronto. The car ride was about 2.5 hours and then the train was about an hour. After making our way to Toronto, we hopped on an overnight bus into Montreal.

Arriving at the border
Arriving in the bus station the next day

We arrived bright and early before 6:00 in the downtown area, since most of the city was still asleep, we freshened up and dropped off our bags. My boyfriend discovered a gym that you can store your bags for the day, this was a huge help to us. We could still pack what we needed for our travels without having to worry about carrying them during the day.

After getting ready, we started exploring the downtown, metropolitan area and then ventured into the Old Port and historic Montreal.

This was one of my favorite parts of the day. The sun was rising, the city was quiet, and we could just take in the city.

We got breakfast at a little bakery and ate in the town square.

Between the French signs, old architecture and French being the most common language spoken there, I truly felt like I was in a different world, and I loved it.

We walked down by the pier and then made our way back to the old part of the town to tour the Notre Dame Basilica.

More views from our walk

It was a gorgeous church filled with vibrant colors and details. We went when they first opened so there were no lines. 

After our tour, we made our way towards the downtown area where we climbed up Mount Royal.

A look at what we had to climb

We walked everywhere through the day, so we definitely got our steps in. The hill was daunting and climbing up flights of steps was challenging at points, but the view was worth it.

The view from the top

We could see the entire city from the top. It was breathtaking, especially in the sunshine. 

After enjoying the view, we made our way to a park in Mount Royal where we rented a rowboat and enjoyed some time on the water. It was picturesque and VERY dreamy. I felt like I had my own “Notebook” worthy moment.

Such a beautiful park!

We spent some more time in the park and then made our way down the steps and hill, the walk down was much easier.

The homes were gorgeous!

We stopped for lunch at a little shop and enjoyed our food in a nearby park.

Lunch in a park

 We walked back down to the water and enjoyed some more time in the city.

A look at the city from the water.

We also popped into a few shops, bought some souvenirs, and enjoyed some music in a town square too.

All the shops were so cute and quaint!

 We grabbed our bags and then made our way back to the bus station where we began our journey home.

Back at the station

Here’s a look at our final stats of the day when it comes to the mileage. 

There were some delays for the return trip, but that was all a part of the adventure. We got back very early in the morning and took the day to catch up on sleep and get our lives back in order. 

Although there was a lot of travel involved and many different modes of transportation, it was so worth it. My boyfriend and I love exploring new places and traveling, especially on a budget. He does an incredible job at planning and truly thinks of everything. I’m not sure where our next adventure will be, but I’m sure it will be a whirlwind. 

Until next time, Montreal!

Tell me: where are some of your favorite places to travel to? Bonus points if they can be done in a day! Although, I will be still away, I will have  a Friday Favorites post for you! I hope you are having a great week! See you back here on Friday! Happy August!

Categories
Currently

Currently #44

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week! Remember how I felt like July went by in a blink of an eye? Well August went by even faster. This month has been a whirlwind between traveling, big work projects, back to school, and wrapping up summer fun! 

As one month end and another one begins, I’m recapping this past month and all the memories and adventures that came with it.

Here’s a look at this month’s Currently.

What I’m Up To: This past month has been all about soaking up the final days of summer, from hiking in new places, completing bucket list items, and traveling to new places, I have been busy but in the best way possible.

It’s local festival season!
And local farm show season!
Plus, no summer event isn’t complete without a funnel cake!

I’ve attended community fairs and festivals, been spending lots of time outside and have been reading lots of fun, summer books. 

My trip to Toronto was a highlight for sure!

What I’m Wearing: I have been continuing the trend of shorts and graphic tees.When my family and I went on vacation to San Diego, California, I wore a lot of neutrals to mix and match and keep it simple for travel. Here’s some of my favorite summer outfits. My shorts are from Old Navy and so are some of my shirts too.

A few of my looks from vacation.
Lots of color coordinated outfits.
And some bright colors too!

I have also been doing my best to wear all the bright colors for my dresses for work. I only have a small window to wear in the warm months, so I’m doing my best to wear them all. 

Bright blue for work!

What I’m Reading: This past month has been such a good month for reading for me 

 Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch follows the story of a young girl who loses her mom and her mom’s dying wish is for her daughter to go to Florence and reconnect with people from her mother’s time when she lived there. This book checks all the boxes for a cute rom com book. Dreamy city, beautiful description, incredible Italian food and desserts, and a little romance too. I blitzed through this book and was so sad when it came to an end. 

The sweetest summer book!

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune tells the story a young woman who takes over her mother’s resort on the lake. She plans on making some changes when she gets some unexpected help from someone from her past that she always wanted to forgot. I really enjoyed the story and finished it within a week. I’m also excited that it’s going to be making its way to the screen as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be working with Netflix to turn it into a movie.

 

Better than Fiction by Alexa Martin and it combined two of my favorite hobbies, reading and hiking! This book follows the story of a young woman who inherits her grandmother’s book store. As she tries to manage this new project, enter a fan-favorite author. He’s visiting her small town for inspiration for his new book and they make a deal. She shows him around the area and he teaches her how to love books. 

Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler follows the story of a young woman who makes it her mission to deliver her neighbor turned best friend’s ashes to her long lost lover. However, the journey to get the ashes delivered does not go smooth. She ends up traveling with someone from her past and they endure all sorts of detours. The book goes back and forth between the past and present and there’s so many twists and turns, you will question if they will ever make it to their final destination.

What I’m Watching: As summer winds down, I’m finishing up my summer shows. I finished season two of the Summer I Turned Pretty. Overall, I thought the season was pretty good. I definitely enjoyed the first season more but I thought the second season had some great storylines and the finale left a lot of questions for season 3! If you watched, what did you think of the finale and Belly’s choice?

I also finished the first part of Outlander. This was another show that had a lot of ups and downs this season. There were some major plot twists with characters that I did not see coming. I’m anxious to see where it picks up and how things get wrapped up when it returns. 

I also finished season two of “And Just Like That”, it was such a good season. I loved the callbacks to earlier seasons of the show, the fashion and the friendships. The finale was really good, especially with the surprise appearance by Samantha! I was also excited to see that the show was renewed for season 3! I already can’t wait for next season!

And last but not least, I finished the new season of Sweet Magnolias. Although, there was some drama this season including some fights, fallouts and relationship shakeups between characters, I really enjoyed seeing the characters come together in the end.

What Inspires Me: I have been enjoying all the summer salads with fresh fruits and vegetables. I hate wasting food, so I have been enjoying salads and bowls with lots of food that I already have in the fridge. Here’s been some of my favorite salads. 

A spinach and strawberry and pecan salad. This is the perfect blend of fruits, veggies and some crunch too. 

Strawberry and spinach salad

A steak salad on top a bed of veggies keeps you full and gives you lots of flavor.

A steak salad
A peach and chicken salad

Speaking of fresh vegetables, I have been so inspired and proud of my garden. Although, I have lost some plants, I’m so happy with the ones that have grown and flourished. I’ll be doing a bigger blog post on this later in the season, but seeing seeds turn into bright, red tomatoes is certainly inspiring. 

My baby tomatoes
The fruits of my labor
Four fresh tomatoes

What I Accomplished: August was a busy month. I kicked it off by attending our local National Night Out. 

My boyfriend and I did a day trip to Toronto, you can read about our adventure here. 

The iconic Toronto sign

My boyfriend and I also went blueberry picking for the first time which was so much fun and I made some tasty muffins too!

Our haul
The best way to use blueberries!
Soaking up the end of summer with nighttime concerts.
Summer S’mores!

My family and I took our family vacation to San Diego which was so fun! We packed a lot in and made a ton of memories. It was the best way to spend time together before we all went our separate ways from school to work.

From the palm trees
The hikes and ocean
Enjoying some iconic West Coast food.
The San Diego Zoo
Balboa Park

Goals from Last Month: I accomplished my goal of running my first 5K, you can read about my journey here. 

Finishing my first 5K!

I accomplished almost everything from my summer bucket list. There were a few things that I didn’t get done, but I plan to do them in the fall.

The best part of this past month was all the family time. The older I get, the more, I realize how important family time is and how much I try to treasure every moment I have with my family and siblings. This summer has been so special that we have all been home under one roof.

End of summer Lobster rolls!

Goals for Next Month: Even though it’s September, I still plan on enjoying the warm weather and soaking up the sunshine. I’m not ready to think about fall yet, but I know I will have to eventually, right now, I’m all about savoring every last bit of summer. I will also be sharing my fall bucket next week!

Enjoying evening walks after work can continue in the fall.

There you have it, another Currently in the books. Tell me, what were some of your favorite parts of August?

Let me know in the comments below! Have a great rest of your week and end of August! See you back here on Friday!

Categories
Travel

Canada Day Trip

Hello hello!

Happy Wednesday! I hope you had a great week so far! We are halfway to the weekend and I couldn’t be more ready for it.

I love to travel and visit new places, whether they are cities, state parks or the suburbs! This summer I have done a lot more traveling than in year’s past, mostly due to Covid. It’s been fun to return to old places or go someplace new. My boyfriend and I love taking day trips together, since our work schedules don’t line up whenever we take a day off for one another we try to really capitalize on it. So far this summer we have gone to Columbus, New York City and Toronto and the Canadian Falls to name a few spots. 

Our trip to Canada was our most recent trip at the beginning of August. We had such a good time and packed a lot in. Here’s what we did and how we did Canada in a day!

We left around 4:30 and made our way up north. We drove to Burlington, Canada and from there took a train into the city of Toronto.

Making our way across the border

We arrived around 8:30 to Union Station with all the commuters for the day.

Union Station

 Our first stop was Tim Hortons for some fuel, even through we have them at home, we knew we had to take advantage of the Canadian staple. 

Fuel for the day!
The city in the morning!

We walked around downtown for a bit and checked out some of the tourist spots, like the CN Tower and the big Toronto sign and then City Hall. We also saw the Rogers Arena where the Maple Leafs play! 

The CN Tower
The iconic Toronto sign
City Hall behind the sign
Home of the Maple Leafs

After taking in the downtown we took a ferry to Centre Island which was so fun! From the boat, you got a whole new perspective of the city and it was beautiful to be out on the water.

The city from the ferry
On the ferry!

On the island, there are trails to walk and bike, a beach, lots of food stands, a little amusement park and lots of green space along with boating clubs.

There were so many green spaces
A look at the amusement park

We walked around by the piers and rented bikes as we took in the island, we could have stayed there all day!

It was beautiful on the island

In the future we want to go back with picnic and spend more time there. It was beautiful! 

The ferry coming back to the island (my boyfriend snapped this photo)

We took the ferry back and then made our way to St. Lawrence Market for lunch.

A look inside St. Lawrence’s Market

There were dozens of different vendors , from fresh produce, to breads, meats, fish, vegetables, bakery items, and speciality goods. We both settled on sandwiches for lunch.

Lunch time!

After our meals, we decided to take the train back to our car in Burlington and then head to Niagara Falls. We have both been to the American falls, but this was our first time heading to the Canadian falls together. 

The falls!

If you have never been before, the Canadian falls is very touristy, lots of gift shops, fast food places, amusement park rides and very Americanized. We found it to be a little overwhelming, so we quickly made our way past the chaos and just enjoyed the falls.

America or Canada? It was hard to tell with all the American chains.

We decided not to purchase tickets to any boats or activities since we arrived late in the day and just decided to take in the falls. 

Up close of the rushing waters
The falls-both of them!

It was beautiful to see both the American and Canadian falls next to each other. After seeing them from many different spots and taking lots of photos, we decided to call it a day and make our way back home.

A rainbow to end the day!

It was a packed full day and we were tired. 

We had such a great time that we have already begun to talk about what we want to do the next time we go. 

Goodbye falls!

Tell me, have you enjoyed any trips this summer and have you been to Toronto or Canada, if so, what are your must do’s? 

Let me know in the comments below!

See you back here on Friday for another edition of Friday Favorites!

Categories
Currently

Currently #42

June, where have you gone?! I can’t believe we are at the end of another month. There were certain times that this month felt slow and sweet and then I blinked, and I was planning things for July. These past 30 days have been filled with lots of walks, books, grilling, sunshine, and summer adventures. I have been making my way through my summer bucket list and doing more things that weren’t on the list. As we prepare to flip the calendar. Here’s a look at what’s Currently going on in my life.

What I’ve Been Up To: Through the entire month of June, I have been marking things off my summer bucket list. From day trips, to picnics, walks and time outdoors, I have done a lot. 

This month, I made a trip to Columbus, where I went to the zoo and state park for grilling and a beach day. 

Columbus Zoo!
More animals- I loved the polar bears!
And gorillas!
And finished the day at the beach!

I also enjoyed playing mini golf and trying a new to me pizza shop and park for a walk.

Pizza in the park!

Picking strawberries was on my summer bucket list and I accomplished that and made seven jars of jam in addition to lots of fresh berries to eat.

Strawberry picking day!
Our haul!
Some of the end results!
And strawberry shortcake too!

Another big highlight of the month was my birthday present from my boyfriend, more on that in the coming weeks!

Here’s a tease for where I went…

I rounded out the month with a trip to the beach to visit family and it was so good to see relatives and get some time by the water.

The shores of New Jersey!
The boardwalk!

What I’m Wearing: Besides your typical shorts and graphic t-shirts on days off, I did a big summer clothing haul at the start of summer and have been wearing new pieces to work. Lots of bright colors and patterns, plus quality clothing coming your way too.

One of my new dresses. I have been wearing lots of pink!

I also have been wearing lots of short sets too! Like this one!

 

What I’m Reading: I got a lot of books for my birthday and have been slowly making my way through them.

I started this month with Best Served Hot. I saw this book on display at the library and was immediately drawn in by the plot and checked all the boxes for a good read! Rom-com, takes place in a big city, and talks about food! The story follows a food critique and a food influencer as they try out different restaurants in NYC, first as competitors and then on a collaborators. The best and dare I say, worst part of the book was the details of all the foods they were tasting. The description was so vivid, which just made me hungry while I was reading.

I also read Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. I really enjoyed her book, Little Fires Everywhere and I was excited to read this book. I will admit, it was a heavier novel, but I learned so much about the Asian American culture and customs. It’s all about the lengths a mother will go to protect her family while doing what she thinks is right. Themes of unconditional love, sacrifice and coming of age are found throughout the book.

I also read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. This book takes a scientific approach to productivity and time management. I am all about maximizing my time and being as efficient as possible. This book was more research based and didn’t have as many tips or advice about management, but I still found it interesting. I appreciated how the book focused on time management through history and ways we can be make the most of our time on Earth.

What I’m Watching: I haven’t been watching too much tv as I have been doing my best to be outdoors as much as possible. I have watched some good family movies, like Air and A Man Called Otto.

Family movie night!

I also finished the series, Ted Lasso which was really good. I think the series wrapped up very nicely and I like how everyone’s storylines had closure. It was such a fun show to binge and watch week to too.

I also watched The Night Agent on Netflix. This was only ten episodes, with which episode lasting about 45 minutes. It was a mix mystery, intrigue, action, drama, and thriller, those are all good things I’m looking for in a series. I would recommend it if you were looking for a new show to binge watch.

The new season of Outlander is back! I have been making my way through season seven every week when their episodes air. 

Outlander is back!

And Just Like That Season 2. The girls are back with And Just Like That! I really enjoyed season one and have been enjoying what season has brought. It’s also been a fun show to watch weekly. 

What Inspires Me: I’ve been so inspired by summer fun! From outdoor meals, walks, trying new recipes and celebrating milestones.

Walks by the water

I also have been getting my runs in weekly and have enjoyed feeling stronger with each run I go on.

My longest run!
Delicious summer meals!
Picnics by the shore

What I Accomplished: This past month has been all about welcoming summer and really trying to be present in the moment.

Summer grilling and salad

I’m always trying to find time to sneak in time outdoors, whether it’s visiting a bit longer outside after a meal, reading outdoors instead of inside or finding time to go for a quick walk. 

Slow mornings reading outdoors.

Goals from Last Month: I kicked off my summer bucket and have been proud of the progress I’ve made so far which has been a win.

Enjoying all the fresh foods!

Goals for Next Month: Keep enjoying summer! I know it may not seem like much, but I really am trying hard to be present in the moment and soak up the sun, go swimming, grill, go on picnics, and make memories!

More grilling nights with lots of salads and fruits!
And more fresh salads (do you sense a trend here?)

The older I get the more I know how sacred family time is, so I’m doing my best to spend as much time with family as I can!

The beach all quiet in the morning.

I also have a concert planned and plans to visit friends! I’m looking forward to seeing those plans through. Plus, a lot of our local fairs and festivals gets underway in July so I’m looking forward to checking those out too!

Ending June with ice cream.

That’s a look into what’s Currently going on. A whole lot of summer lovin!  How have you been spending your summer? Let me know in the comments below!

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Fabulous living Fun Ways to Organize

Barrington Tote Review

Hi everyone! Happy Wednesday!

I hope you have been soaking up the summer and had a smooth week so far. This month has been a mix of summer fun Fridays with activities and day trips, nights spent grilling with family, taking walks after work and sneaking in every bit of sunshine! My calendar hasn’t been too packed which has given me space to enjoy the simple moments of summer and love it!

I have taken some day trips and one of my must-haves is a big tote bag. Last week, in my post about travel tips, I talked about how I got a Barrington Tote bag for my birthday and how much I have been loving it.

Me and my new tote for my birthday!

I’ve had it for almost a month and have used it multiple times, so it’s time for a proper review.

I’ve heard about the Barrington company for years, but wanted to wait for the right time to make the purchase. When I saw Barrington was collaborating with Simplified, I knew this was the time. After lots of research and online browsing, I decided to go for the St. Anne’s Tote with no zipper in Happy Stripe with a pink monogram and it was the best purchase for me.

If you are debating on making a big purchase, like a new purse or tote (whether it’s through Barrington or another brand), do your homework. Figure out what you have a need for, what do you want the purpose of your purse to be (a dainty purse, a tote, another accessory?) There are so many different brands and styles, it can get overwhelming. 

From there figure out what pattern speaks to you or goes best with the purpose of your purse. Are you looking for a year-long bag or one just for a season?

Lastly, decide how you want to accessorize it with a monogram and color options. This is the fun part, feel free to get creative.

After you get your purse order and it arrives, it’s time to try out your new tote.

Here’s a few things I love about my Barrington Tote. 

Ready for a day errands
  • The size- I love the size of the St. Anne’s tote. It can fit so much and things are still organized with pockets in the inside. For a day running errands or heading to the office, I can fit a laptop ( I have a Mac Book Air), my planner, a legal pad, a book, packages to mail, a few smaller pouches and some odds and ends.
A look in the inside
  • The durability-I brought it on some road trips and had it in and out of cars and places and I wasn’t worried about hurting it. I could easily find everything I needed to bring without having to go on a deep dive in my purse. I brought a hoodie, extra clothes, a pillow, snacks and some toiletries and more small pouches and everything had a home.
Everything I needed for an overnight trip fits in here.
  • The interior pockets- Having interior pockets makes it so much easier to find things and store things too, from chargers, to sunglasses and wallets.
  • The print- I love the colors, pattern, and monogram. The pattern is called Happy Stripe and it sure makes me happy.

I went back and forth between wanting a zipper or not, I have totes with both zippers and non-zippers and ultimately decided to not to go with a zipper and I’m glad I did. For the reasons, I use this purse, it’s been easier to not have a zipper.

I have been so happy with my purchase of my Barrington and Simplified Tote. If you are on the fence about getting one, I can whole heartedly recommend it. I have a few summer trips planned in the coming weeks and I know this tote will be coming with me.

If you have a Barrington purse or tote, what are your thoughts on it? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great rest of your week and I will see you back here on Friday!

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Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites #45

Hi friends! Happy Friday! I hope you are in the midst of soaking up the days of summer. Although summer as an adult isn’t nearly as fun as summer as a child, I am still enjoying the sunshine, warm weather and family time! This past week, I got the chance to catch up with two friends, spent lots of time outdoors and went on some fun day trips!

My pup enjoying the sunshine!

This week’s Friday Favorites has all things summer as we make our way through June! Let’s get started as I link up with Erika and Andrea!

Summer Garden– I teased this last week in my post and talked about it in my summer bucket list, but one of my goals for this summer was to plant a garden. I’ve been looking for a creative outlet where I could have an end result and I found it by planting a garden. Since I am just a beginner, I decided to keep it simple and do some seeds and some plants. I decided to buy cucumbers, tomatoes, and pepper plants and then carrot and pea seeds. I wanted to have a variety of options in case they didn’t all work out. Fingers crossed, I get to see the finished product in a few months, but I did enjoy picking the seeds, tending the garden and making signs too. I’ll keep you updated on my progress this summer!

My garden!
and signs!

Sure as the Sunrise– I mentioned this daily devotional by Emily Ley back in January and I have been reading it every morning and just finished it. It’s 100 daily devotionals and reflections with space for thoughts too. I took a brief break during Lent to do another devotional and just finished Ley’s book in time for summer. I really loved how the book was set-up with daily scripture, reflection and questions. Then at the end of every week, there were a few questions you could answer. You don’t have to start on January 1, so if you are looking for a new devotional or morning reading companion, I highly recommend this one. 

My favorite way to start the day

Birkenstocks– This may be one of my favorite birthday gifts. After seeing the trends for years, I finally decided to hop on the Birkenstock bandwagon and I’m so glad I did! I was on the hunt for a pair of sandals I could throw on if I had to run out to get the mail, hit the store, wear by the pool or just go for a walk and these were just what I was looking for. I love the rubber material (perfect for the pool) and white color. They are so comfortable too. I know these will be  a favorite all summer long!

New favorite summer shoe!

Chicken Kabobs– Another birthday related favorite! I decided on grilled Chicken Kabobs and veggies for my birthday dinner with pasta and fruit salad and it was delicious. I love grilled chicken with lots of seasoning and flavor and these were the perfect way to welcome 25! I am looking forward to trying new recipes with chicken kabobs and grilling this summer. I can’t wait to try new summer recipes. If you have any you love, drop them in the comments below!

Best birthday dinner!

Queen Charlotte– I finished a lot of series in May, so as June rolled around I was looking for a new show to start and I found that with Queen Charlotte! I love Bridgerton, so I was anxious to watch the prequel to the series. It definitely has the same feel of Bridgerton with the characters, clothes, one-liners and scenery, but has a heavier feel (if that makes sense?) I really have enjoyed learning about the Queen’s backstory and it has been such a fun way to escape our world and head back in time. The episodes are a bit longer, but there are fewer in the season. This would be a great summer binge!

Such a fun show to start!

That’s just a peak into life lately. Some fun new gifts, new shows, tasty food and hobbies! How have you been enjoying your summer so far?
Let me know in the comments below! 

Happy Weekend!

Categories
Fabulous living

Pittsburgh Day Trip

Hey guys! Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a great week so far. I’m soaking up as much summertime fun. From pool days to walks, family and friend time and day trips. Summer is winding down and I’m looking to make every moment count.

I have a lot of friends in Pittsburgh so I have been making trips to see friends this summer. I’m also making up time from not seeing people last year due to the pandemic. I’ve also been making trips with family and friends too. I went to the city a few weeks ago and I wanted to share some of my adventures. 

Here’s a look of the the first glimpse of the city.

The day started with a trip to the zoo! I love going to zoos and seeing animals and I love to head to a zoo whenever I go to a new city or revisit an old city.

Watching the family of lions interact was my favorite.
Elephants are my favorite animal, and I love seeing them at the zoo!
The otters were cooling off in the water.

After the zoo, we ventured to Station Square for walk and lunch!

A view of the city from lunch.
I enjoyed a shrimp platter from Joe’s Crab Shack!
An up-close view of the food.
Another view of the city at lunch!

After lunch we went on the incline for a view of the city.

Making our way to the top.
A view of the city from above.
Another city view from Mount Washington.

Although, it was only a day trip, we packed a lot in. From the zoo, to walks, tasty food and gorgeous views. It’s always a fun time to visit new places or head to my favorite spots.
Where are some of your favorite places to travel to?

If you are a Pittsburgh fan, what are some of your favorite things to do or see?!

Categories
Fabulous living

Summer Bucket List Recap

Well friends, it is the end of the summer. This summer has flown by, I think that has to do with the fact so many things are closed or not what they used to be due to Covid, but I also think due to working full time, summer just feels different. Although, I am sad to see summer go, I am looking forward to the new season. I set 20 goals for the summer and now that Labor Day is over, it’s time to see if I accomplished them all. 

Summer Bucket List
  • Read 20 Books (I’ve read 18 last summer so I want to up my books for this summer)
One of the books I read this summer, book review coming soon

No, this didn’t happen, between working full time and spending any free time with family or friends, I was upset this didn’t happen but I am looking forward to reading more once the weather is cooler and I’m inside more.

  • Finish 30 Rock (I keep starting it but never finish it)

No, I  am making my way through 30 Rock but still have another few seasons, I did start and finish The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which I absolutely loved! From the costumes to the characters, and them drama and the comedy, it was the perfect summer pick me up. 

  • Be outside for 3-4 days a week (whether its swimming, walking, or running)
Going on walks and cutting fresh flowers were a big part of my summer days

Yes! I spent so much time outside especially on my days off or before or after work. I went on a lot of walks, to parks, the beach and zoos. I loved making it a priority to get outside. 

  • Spend 30 minutes outside a day (Eating, reading, doing work, I want more sunshine)

Yes! Every morning before work I would spend some time outside to read, to work, or just for a walk, I loved getting some sunshine before I spend my day inside. I also liked spending time outside after a long day too. 

  • Go someplace new

Yes! I went on a few day trips which were great for the soul. It was good to get away for a breather and go someplace new, and I got to spend time outside which made it better too.

  • Catch up with college friends (lots of plans have gotten changed due to Coronavirus, so I’m hoping to start rescheduling things)

Yes! I was able to see friends over the summer, outside and socially distanced, but still it was great to see friends face to face instead of just over a screen. 

  • See high school friends (hoping to make more time for friends near and far)

Yes! I was able to see from high school friends for both breakfast and dinner, it was so great to catch up and see friends in person and not over a screen.

  • Entertain friends at home (I love entertaining so I’m hoping to have more friends over)

Yes! Although, it was different this year, I was still able to entertain and have people over. It was much more limited this summer due to Covid but having people over made me feel like things were a bit more normal. 

  • Wine Tasting (my friends and I have talked about doing this for ages, hoping we can finally make it happen this summer)

No, this didn’t happen, but we are planning to do it in the fall once it works better with people’s schedules and more things are open. 

  • Beach Day

Yes! It was great to spend some by the water on the beach and with not a care in the world. 

  • Dinner by the water (I love living by the water and having dinner by it is so nice)

I didn’t get dinner by the water but I did get lunch and a walk by the water which was perfect and we had beautiful weather too!

  • Kayaking (I love being on the water in any form)
Morning out kayaking

Yes! My brother and went kayaking one morning and it was great to be on the water and get some one on one time together.

  • Working out (I want to keep being consistent with it)

Yes! As soon as gyms reopened I was back in the gym five days a week. I can feel myself get stronger each time I am there which is the best feeling.

  • Pool Day

Yes! I got a handful of pool days this summer with my family and brothers which made me feel like a kid again.

  • Bonfire
Bonfire Fun

Yes! We had a bonfire at the beginning of the summer and I loved sitting by the fire with some of my favorite people.

  • Day Trips

Yes! Whether it was going to see family or friends I got many day trips in which worked out great especially with Covid. 

Beach day and a day trip
  • Really take time to slow down ( I took the time during Coronavirus to slow down and I want to continue to do that)

Yes! On mornings before work I was able to relax and take it easy and on my days off I tried to have one busy day with getting things done and one day that was more laid back and relaxed. I want to try to keep this up in the fall too.

  • Summer restaurants (I have a few favorite seasonal places that I can’t wait to get back to)

Yes! I was able to hit my favorite spots this summer and introduce my friends to them too which was even more special.

  • Ice Cream shops

Yes! I ate too much ice cream this summer and hit all of my favorite spots. One day I had ice cream twice! 

  • Take advantage of local spots and free activities

Yes! I got to do a lot of my favorite things this summer that were local, especially in these hard times, it’s always great to support local!

Well there you have it! I am so happy with what I accomplished, from local spots, favorite food places and time outside, I couldn’t have asked for 

Categories
Fabulous living

Summer Recap 2019

I can’t believe I am writing my summer 2019 recap. This has been a wonderful and packed full summer. When I moved back home in May, I didn’t know what this summer had in store for me. Yes, I knew there would be work, fun, and friends but other than that, I was open to any opportunity that presented itself. I accomplished a lot these past few months, from working at home, working at school, lots of family time, seeing a lot of friends from high school and college, weekend getaways, and trying new things. Let’s take a look back at my summer to do list and see if I accomplished everything. 

Get license renewed

  • Yes, I got this done the first day I was home and was so happy to get it done. 

Work/Internship

  • Yes, I worked at the same job I have been working at since high school and I got a lot f projects accomplished while I was there. I also volunteered for a Campaign this summer and it was interesting to see all the behind the scenes that goes into it. 

Make College photo album 

  • Yes, this was such a fun project and I’m glad I have all my pictures in one spot for the future, plus it was cool to look back on all the memories made. 

Celebrate 21

  • Yes, One of the highlights of my summer was celebrating my birthday with all my friends in Pittsburgh, it was so fun to spend the weekend with my people. You can read all about it here.
Celebrating 21 with my girls

See friends from college and high school

  • Yes, I made a few trips to Pittsburgh for work or to visit friends and it was so good to connect with friends outside of school. I also managed to hang out a lot with my high school friends whether it was weekend trips or fro yo runs. 
  • High school buds
  • College besties

Portfolio (BLS)

  • Yes and No, I am still in the process of completing this project for school but it will be done this semester. 

Work Study

  • Yes, I worked a lot for my school and it was great to be kept up to date on what was going on at school and do something I enjoy. 

Read 12-15 books

  • Yes, this was one of my favorite ways to spend the summer. I read a lot and enjoyed unwinding with a good book. You can read my summer book review here!
One of my favorite ways to enjoy the summer

Download pictures to laptop

  • Yes, another task I wanted to accomplish and I finished it early on in the summer. 

Spend time with family 

  • Yes, I got a lot of family time in between family vacations, good meals, and weekend adventures. There is nothing better than quality family time. 

Day Trips

  • Yes, I got in a few day trips to visit friends and work at school for a few days in the summer, one day trips were perfect to do something fun and get work done. 

Start Healthier habits

  • Yes, this summer I snacked a lot less and tried to get outside as much as I could, whether it was for a walk, jog, or even hitting the gym when I could. I was not as consistent with working out as I am in the school year but still felt good about creating healthier habits.  You can read about my summer habits here.
I always love going on hikes in the morning or evening

Go to a concert

  • No, I didn’t get to a concert in the summer, but I have plans for one in September which I am very excited about. 

Beach days

  • Yes, I made it to the beach with my friend Bailey twice, and then spent an afternoon at the beach which was so fun. 
ALL the beach vibes!

Family Vacation

  • Yes, I finished off summer with a family road trip. So fun and many laughs and memories were made. 
Much needed getaway

Find a new show to Binge watch

  • YES, I was obsessed with Outlander this summer. It was such a good show to watch and I became invested in the show fast, I can’t wait for the new season in 2020!
I am still talking about this show

Take more walks outside

  • Yes, I took more walks in the summer, whether in the woods, the beach or my own backyard. It was so good to get fresh air after working inside all day.
Not only did I spend more time walking outside but I also tried kayaking and loved it

Weekly facetime calls with friends

  • Yes and no, I didn’t get in weekly facetime calls but my friends and I stayed close by visiting each other and texting every day, plus you know you have a solid relationship when weeks go by and you can pick up from where you left off. 

Try something new

  • Yes, I did a lot of solo traveling this summer so that was definitely a new and rewarding experience that I was so lucky I got to gain more independence in this area.

Try new recipes 

  • Yes, to see some of my favorite recipes you can find my salads here, pizzas here, and snacks here. 
  • From smores
  • Pizza
  • and salad

Entertain Friends/family

  • Yes, I love to help host and entertain, this summer I did quite a bit from having family, friends, or college friends over, whether it was for dinner, a weekend, or just snacks, it’s a lot of work but it pays off in the end. 
I love entertaining from the prep, event and satisfaction of a job well done

Do something spontaneous

  • Yes, although I don’t have an exact time I was spontaneous, there were many times this summer that I stepped out of my comfort zone to try something new. 

Be Present

  • This was huge for me. This summer, I was more present and intentional with what I was doing. Some of my favorite summer moments there are no pictures of because I was in the moment and not on my phone. This was huge for me. 
Focusing on the here and now.

Looking back this was a packed full summer filled with new experiences, memories, work and fun. I have grown by trying new things while being present and spending time with those who matter most to me. Although, the school year will be busy, I know I will always have these memories to look back on. Thank you summer 2019, senior year… here we GO!