I hope you all had a relaxing weekend! Iām going into my last week of classes and then itās finals week! This semester has flown by, my finals week shouldnāt be too bad, so Iām hoping to soak up as much time with my friends before many of them graduate. I always feel thatĀ Ā pack them most into the last few weeks of school since thatās when everything is winding down. Last year, I did a fun facts post and it was so fun to do. You can read it here. Today, I decided to update it and share 10 more fun facts about me. Who knows maybe you will learn something new!
I journal every day and when I am stressed out or overwhelmed or have a problem, I always turn to journaling. I have several journals filled with thoughts or multiple word documents with thinking things out. I feel best after I write out a problem or talk it out with someone.
Journaling is the best way for me to unwind and be intentional every day
My biggest pet peeve is when people cancel plans on me, Iām always understanding especially when something unexpected comes up and someone has to reschedule consistently but it still bothers me
I love anything British, whether itās books, movies, music, actors, the culture. I love everything about Great Britian. London, England is on my list of top three places to visit. One of my best friends is going to London this summer and Iām super jealous, Iām making them take lots of pictures for me. Haha!
Speaking of music, I have no favorite type of music, my playlists are all over the place from Praise and Worship, to 70ās hits, 2010ās workout music, top 40ās pop music, even country music and movie scores, itās a mess. Whenever, I am out with friends, I let them pick the music since my taste is all over the place.
Just a peak into my pandora playlist…my amazon playlist is even more different
If I wasn’t a Communication major I would probably be an Education major. When I was growing up I always wanted to be a teacher growing up, but ultimately decided communication was the right path for me and Iām so glad I did since I love what Iām learning and doing.
I always have a bottle of water and gum with me, whether itās in the car, going to class or running errands. I drink a lot of water during the day and even through the night, I keep water by my bed and typically finish a bottle of water through the night.
I prefer sweet over savory, I would rather have a big dessert than a steak dinner. Chocolate is my weakness so I will always indulge in something sweet.
I would prefer this over a huge dinner any day
I love hanging out and doing activites with friends, my friends and I go bowling and have a ton of fun even though I am probably the worst bowlerā¦no joke, last time I went I think my score was 33ā¦yeah, not the best score but I have a ton of fun when Iām with my friends and thatās what matters right?!
Although, I spend more time texting, I prefer calls over texts/DMās/ snap chats etc. I find calls to be more personally and I can express myself more over a phone call than a long text or a direct message.
I love the simple things in life, for example, flowers. I love having fresh cutflowers in my room or on my desk. I love how such a small gesture can change your mood. I love the scent they bring into a room and how they can make a space feel warm and inviting.
Fresh cut flowers are a favorite of mine
And thereās 10, I hope you found this fun and enjoyable to read. These are always my favorite posts to read on other blogs since everyone is so different and itās always fun to learn different things about each other.
How many did you know? Whatās one fun fact about yourself? Leave them in the comments below!
Happy Tuesday. I found this fun quiz/ survey from Mix and Match Mamaās Blog. I love learning things about other people, especially fun or unique facts and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do one for myself. I borrowed some from Shayās blog and made up a few on my own. Letās get to my three favorite things!
MOVIES (This one is soooo hard-but current favorites)
A Star is Born
Such a good movie
Life Itself
Again, another life changing movie
Love Actually
One of my favorite movies of all time especially around Christmas time.
BOOKS
Year of Yes
Another life changing book
Grace not Perfection
Grace Not Perfection- an inspiring book for all
Pride and Prejudice
A romance that never gets old
TV SHOWS (OF ALL TIME)
Bones
One of my favorite shows of all time
Grey’s Anatomy
Old photo but I can’t get enough of this show
This is Us
Another fantastic show
RESTAURANTS (FAST FOOD-ISH)
Chipotle
Panera
Chick-Fil -A
PLACES IāVE VISITED
Rome, Italy
Hershey, PA
Getting away for a bit at my favorite place-Hershey, PA
New York City, NY
One of my last visits from NYC, can’t wait to go back soon
PLACES I WANT TO VISIT
Paris, France
London, England
Dublin, Ireland
FAVORITE HOLIDAYS
Christmas
Christmas morning spent well, the tree all lit, a warm cup of hot chocolate and time spent with family
Thanksgiving
Forever thankful for family on Thanksgiving
Fourth of July
Rocking my Red, White, and Blue for the 4th
THREE THINGS I ALWAYS HAVE IN MY PURSE
A closer look at what’s in my purse
Earbuds
Phone Charger
Wallet
FAVORITE DESSERTS
My favorite fall dessert made by my mom
Warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies
Chocolate cake
Apple Crisp
FAVORITE WAYS TO MAKE TIME FOR MYSELF
Read
I always like to read after a long day
Do my Nails
Nothing makes me feel better than a fresh coat of polish
Watch a movie/latest tv show Iām binge watching
Such a good mini series that I just finished watching
Well there you have it, some of my three favorite things. If you guys liked it, let me know and I will do it again, this was so much fun and it really made me think about my favorite things. Pick a few things and add your responses to the comments below! Have a great start to your week!
Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is off to a great start. This past weekend was so nice to catch up on school work and sleep from coming back from my time in Rome! Today, Iām recapping part 2 of my trip to Rome, Italy during Spring Break! To read my recap of the first half of the week, you can find it here.Ā
We are picking upĀ āŖon Wednesday morning. It was Ash Wednesday so we were up bright and early for mass. During our time in Rome, we had mass in English, Italian, and Latin. It was interesting to hear all the variations. We went to mass at San Clemente. The church was a 20 minute walk from our hotel so it was a great way to start the day. After mass we were able to tour the Church, San Clemente is unique because it is three churches built on top of one another, the first a secret Church, the next one from several hundreds years later and the last one is the one still used today. It was so cool to be in a Church with so much history. Due to the history of the Church, we couldn’t take any photos. After we left San Clemente, we headed to St. Maryās Major, one of the four major basilicas in the world, all of which in Rome. They include Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St Peter’s Basilica, St Paul Outside the Walls, and Papal Basilica of St Mary Major. This one was by far my favorite, from the details, to the artwork, and all the history. Something else that was special about this Church, because myself along with others had the opportunity to go to Reconciliation in Rome on Ash Wednesday to start off Lent. How cool is that?! It was a highlight of my trip. I felt so connected to my faith even more on this day.
St. Mary’s
The manager at St. Mary’s
Gorgeous ceiling
Amazing ceiling, stunning
After we finished at St. Maryās, myself along with a few friends went to do some shopping and see some other sites. We first went to the Trevi fountain to make a wish, three years ago, I made a wish to return to Rome and it came true, so let’s hope this next wish comes true.
The Trevi Fountain
Making a wish at the Trevi Fountain
Making wishes at the fountain
We then got lunch at a small Italian restaurant, after eating pasta for the past few days, we all opted for something lighter. I got a Caprese salad, which was perfect to snack on. I also got the most divine chocolate mousse.
We opted for lunch
And a sweet dessert-surprising not Tiramisu
After we had a nice lunch we went to see the Spanish steps and do some shopping. We then headed back to our hotel. The Pope was supposed to be saying mass at the Church right next to our hotel, we waiting outside to see if we could see him. We saw him arrive but didnāt get a look at him saying mass. We then went to discussion for the night and then went to dinner.
We had a delicious dinner with pasta and fish. Yum! We then called it a night to get some sleep before a day trip the next day.Ā
Lots of delicious appetizers
Seafood pasta
Tiramisu
On Thursday morning we were up early and ate a quick breakfast before getting on a bus to head to Monte Cassino for the day. It was an hour and a half bus ride away. We had been going non-stop for the week so everyone slept on the ride down. We were all pretty tired. When we arrived in Monte Cassino, the view was incredible. It sits on top of a mountain so the drive up was beautiful. Monte Cassino is one of the places were St. Benedict lived and died and where he is buried. Since, I come from a Benedictine college, this was simply incredible to be here. The whole time we were in Rome, the weather was warm and in the 60ās, but being so high up in the mountains, the temperature dropped to the 40ās, it was such a drastic change. We were able to celebrate mass with a few monks and seminaries that travelled with us from school to Rome, which was incredible. We were also given a tour and then able to spend some time taking it all in. After spending the morning there, we boarded the bus back to Rome.
The view from Monte Cassino
The view of Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
In Monte Cassino, there are plaques of all the schools associated with St. Benedict and my school was up there
The original floor at Monte Cassino from when St. Benedict lived there
St. Benedict’s tomb at Monte Cassino
We stopped for lunch on the way back and had a delicious lunch of light appetizers, pasta, and a light fruit cake.
Unique appetizers of lunch meat and cheese
Pasta with a mushroom sauce
Fruit cake for dessert
Once we came back to Rome we made a stop to see a third major bascilica, St. Johnās. It was more simple compared to St. Peterās and St. Maryās, but still beautiful.
The outside of St. John’s
St. John’s
We made our way back to the hotel where we were able to have some downtime to relax before we had an earlier dinner at 7:30 instead of 8:00. For dinner we had appetizers of different pizzas, a simple cheese pizza and an everything pizza. We then had a stuffed ravoili and pasta for our main dishes. For dessert we had a lemon sorbet shake. It was so light and perfect to finish off a big meal. We made it back to our hotels to get some rest for out last full day in Rome.Ā
Pizza for an Appetizer
Stuffed Ravioli
Cheese Pasta
A Lemon Sorbet for dessert
Roof top views from our hotel at night
On Friday, we woke up and ate breakfast before making our way to the fourth and final major bascilica, St. Paulās outside the Walls. I loved the gorgeous ceiling and how they have all the Popes in historyās displayed. I loved how this Church was quieter since it was outside the downtown of Rome.
St. Paul’s Outside the Walls
St. Paul’s…stunning
After we spent some time here, we boarded a bus to drive to Ostia Antica, about 45 minutes outside of Rome. Ostia Antica used to be a major port thousands of years ago. Ostia Antica was also the place that St. Augustine spent some of his time and it is where his mother, Monica died. This brought back lots of memories from reading Augustineās Confessions in my First Philosophy class. We had about two hours to walk around and take it all in, it was huge and amazing to see all the ruins and how most are still standing.
Ostia Antica
Another view of Osta Antica
We LOVED Ostia Antica
After out morning there, we headed back to Rome. We stopped for lunch and shopping at Eataly. I had been to Eataly when I traveled to Chicago last spring, but it was so cool to be in the original one in Italy. For those you donāt know or havenāt been to Eataly, it is basically a four-story grocery store/market/shopping center with many small places to get a bite to eat or get drinks. It was incredible. We were able to get, shop, and hang out for the afternoon on our own just as long as we were back for discussion. It was so nice to have free time on our last day. My friend Olivia and I got some gelato and browsed before getting pizza for lunch, yes we both ordered full pizzas and ate the whole thingā¦when in Rome, right?! After we picked up some gifts and food to bring home we made our way back to our hotel. Now, comes story time, Eataly is located outside of the Roman ruins, so we were a little out of our element. Olivia and I had a GPS to make sure we got back to the hotel, we knew that once we were inside the walls of Rome, we would be good.
EATALY
I may or may not have eaten the whole pizza
These desserts were to die for
Look at all the foods covered in chocolate
After a slow and steady walk, we made it back inside the walls and did some window shopping and one last stop for gelato before we went back to our hotel room to freshen up before our last discussion and dinner. It was bittersweet knowing this would be our last time together in Rome. After a great last discussion and a few toasts we made our way to dinner. We had a large fish dinner about 30 minutes from our hotel. We had great appetizers, pasta with seafood, salmon and vegetables and a delicious cake for dessert. It was so fun to be all together and celebrate our last night in Rome. After a fun dinner we made our way back to our hotel to pack since we had an early flight the next day.Ā
Bruschetta
Seafood Pasta
Salmon and Potatoes
Cream Pie
On Saturday we woke up bright and early, grabbed breakfast and headed to the airport. It was a bit stressful getting everyone from the hotel, to the airport, through TSA and security and ironically we werenāt all together until we were at the gate boarding our plane back to Newark. We took off at 10:00 am and had a 10 hour flight home. I kept myself occupied by journaling about my fantastic trip, getting some work done for school, and watching lots of movies, my friends and I sat near each other so we kept each other company and watched the same movies together. I watched A Star is Born, Book Club, Mamma Mia 2, and some episodes of Friends. The flight was long but we made it through.
A view of the Alps from the plane
Once we landed in Newark, we had to go through Customs, TSA, recheck our bags and security. It took a while but we made it. When all was said and done, our group knew we needed to eat, we all were craving some super unhealthy American food, so Wendyās it was. Haha! Nothing says welcome back to America than fried food. Haha! We then boarded our plane from Newark to Pittsburgh, an hour and 10 minute flight was nothing compared to our last one. We grabbed our luggage drove back to campus, we got back around 9:30 and I was exhausted, I guess thatās what happens when you have been traveling for 22 hours! I went straight to bed when I got back to school.
My favorite ladies
My favorite travel buddy Olivia
Reflecting on the whole trip
A few of my favorite memories from Rome
My roomie and “exit buddy” Marion
Wow, that was a lot. For those of you who stuck with me, congratulations. I wish I could have taken you all with me to explore Rome and see all the sights, sounds, and tastes of the beautiful Italian lifestyle. This was by far one of the best trips I have ever been on, it was the perfect balance of academics, religion, leisure, fun and fellowship. I am forever connected to the people I travelled with. No matter where life takes us, āAll Roads Lead to Romeā. Ciao Roma! You will always hold a special place in my heart!
Itās so good to be back to blogging. I got back late Saturday night from Rome, Italy where I was for Spring Break. I have been a part of a leadership program during my time at college. During the spring semester of our senior year, we travel to Rome to study abroad. Since Iām graduating early I went as a junior, Iām so glad I was able to go with this group since I have so many friends who are a year older than me, it made it so much more fun. There were 13 student that went with 2 professors and a few other chaperones, we had a great group. I had the absolute best time this past week. I canāt wait to get into all the things I did while I was abroad.
I was able to rest up on Sunday and get things done before starting back to reality yesterday. Itās been a busy few days but they have been so good. Instead of having a huge post all about my time abroad, Iām going to break it up into two posts. Part One will be today and Part Two will be up next Tuesday. Grab a cup of coffee and letās get started.
Off to the airport
I left early Friday morning for Rome. After an early wake up call at 3:30, I think I got maybe three hours of sleep. We were off to the airport. We went from Pittsburgh to Newark and were in Newark by 10 am. We then had a long layover until 5:45 when we jetted off for Rome. During our layover my group and I hung out, grabbed lunch and did homework.
A look at my travel journey
We took off at 5:45 to take an overnight flight to Rome. It was about a 6 hour flight. During the flight I watched Crazy Stupid Love, ate dinner, and tried to get a few hours of sleep. ( I think I got maybe 2?) This lack of sleep is consistent through the whole trip. Haha! We got breakfast on the plane the next morning before we landed.
We landed at 8:00 am-super early. We were all pretty tired but we dropped off our bags, walked around the area near our hotel and enjoyed a mid morning coffee.
Landing in Rome
We stayed at Via San Pio, it was near a Church, San Anselmo, which became our base. We were staying in a more residential area, therefore it was much more quieter and not as touristy. We were 20 minutes away from the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. We walked everywhere on the trip. I think I averaged between 25,000-30,000 steps a day. Because we walked so much we became very familiar with this area, as long as I knew where the Colosseum was, I could get you to our hotel, the restaurants, and the shops.
The view of the city near our hotel
After a mid morning coffee break, we got lunch at San Anselmoās and we were able to eat with the monks and priests that live there. After lunch, we were able to check into our hotel, freshen up, shower and unpack. My friend Olivia, who was also on this trip, and I grabbed some gelato and and took a walk around the neighborhood we were in.
Morning Tea
It’s amazing what dry shampoo, mascara, and lipstick can do…does it look like I got 5 hours of sleep in 2 days?!
San Anselmo’s…The Church we were staying near
First Gelato of the trip
Since this trip was with an academic, leadership program, every night we had discussions and assigned readings and toasts were given out. We went to our discussion then went to dinner at Bucatini, a delicious restaurant that was a 15 minute walk from the hotel. It was delicious.
Dinner night 1…Bucatini
In Italy, the biggest culture change besides the time difference (they are 6 hours ahead), was the meals. First, they eat much later, most days we didnāt eat dinner until 8:00 and there are many courses and it takes a while to eat. Most nights, there were four-five course (appetizer, pasta, meat, dessert) and we would be there for 2.5-3 hours eating. We werenāt getting back to our hotel until 10:30 or 11:00 and then going straight to bed since we had to be up early the next day. The days were long, I think I averaged between 5-6 hours of sleep a night. Long days and short nights, to put it in perspective, when I would be talking to people back home before I went to bed it would be dinner time back home, by the time I woke up, they were still awake. Crazy!
After delicious dinner, I came back to the room and went to bed, keep in mind I had slept about 5 hours in the past 2 days so I was very tired.
On Sunday, our first full official day in Rome, we were up early for Mass and then we took a walk as a group to see a few sites such as the Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Novena, and the Pantheon. It was so nice to see what a Sunday morning was like, by simply walking the streets, seeing the markets and the locals. After a nice morning walk we got lunch at a small Italian restaurant where we had the best pizza and bruschetta. After lunch we stopped for gelato. The orange and chocolate raspberry was a favorite for me. We then took a long walk back where we passed a few Churches, my favorite was Saint Maria Della Vitoria. It was absolutely stunning. I couldnāt get over the beauty and the detail of the art work. We also passed the Colosseum on our way back. We had some downtime before we had our discussion and dinner. We had a big dinner with five courses, the pasta was delicious and I tried everything that was offered. The Arch Abbot of our school was in Rome for a few days and he joined us for dinner too which was an honor. After a lively dinner, we all went back to the hotel to get some rest before the full week began.
Walking around the markets early Sunday
St. Maria’s
Lunch- Bruschetta
Pizza
150 flavors of Gelato
Gelato
First look
Dinner- Appetizers
Bread and cheese
Pasta
Pasta
Meat and Potatoes
Variety of Tiramisus and Desserts
On Monday, we woke up bright and early, grabbed some breakfast and were off to explore the Palentine Hill, Roman Forum and the Colosseum. The Palentine Hill was the residential area of Ancient Rome and the Roman Forum was the city area. We saw some amazing views from the Palentine Hill. The Roman Forum was quiet impressive as well, itās amazing how well preserved everything is from hundreds of years ago. The pictures donāt do it justice. We ate lunch at a nearby restaurant were we were served Panchetta (an egg/cheese pasta) and veal along with Tiramisu. We ate these same meals often, but every place they were different. In the afternoon, we spent time in the Colosseum, exploring the ruins and just imagining what life was in Roman Times, once again the pictures donāt do it justice. We took a scenic walk back to our hotel and went straight to our discussion and dinner. For dinner, we had delicious thin crust pizza (I donāt know how I can go back to eating American pizza) and a mushroom pasta. It was such a fun time to eat together and share our favorite moments of the day. After a late dinner we went back to the hotel to get to sleep since we had a big day on Tuesday.
Views from Palentine Hill
My two buddies for the trip. My roomie Marion and my good friend Olivia. We had so much fun!
The Roman Forum
Recognize this place?!
Lunch- Panchetta Pasta
Veal and Vegetables
Tiramisu
The Roman Ruins
Dinner- Pizza for an Appetizer?! Yes Please!
Bread and cheese
Meat and Pasta
On Tuesday, we woke up very early and took a bus to the Vatican and St. Peterās Basilica where we had mass in the crypt next to St. Peterās tomb, along next to where many of the other Popeās in history lay. It was so amazing to be praying and have mass in St. Peterās, it was one of my favorite moments. We had a fantastic tour guide of St. Peterās and the Vatican. She was so knowledgeable and friendly. The artwork, the detail and the history behind this Bascilica was incredible. I was in awe the whole time even though I have been there before. I loved seeing the artwork and paintings and hearing how they all came to be. Without a doubt, the Sistine Chapel was phenomenal, no words can describe it. I could have spent hours there. After a full morning of touring, we went to lunch where we had Panchetta and Veal with Tiramisu. We then had the afternoon free to shop, see other sites around the Vatican and just relax. We spent most of our time shopping and getting gifts for people at the Vatican. We then made our way back to our hotel where we rested and got ready for discussion and dinner. We had dinner at one of my favorite places, we had a flavorful appetizer, delicious pasta and gourmet chicken. We decided after dinner to check out the Colosseum at night which was a must see in Rome. We then made our way back to the hotel very late and got some rest before the next day.
The Vatican
The Hall of Maps
Taking it all in
Pictures don’t do it justice
Looking out to the city
Stunning entrance
I was in awe the whole time
Some famous artwork you may recognize
Does this look familiar
So much detail
Lunch-Mushroom Pasta
Veal
Tiramisu
Dinner- Appetizers
Pasta
Meat and Vegetables
The Colosseum at night
We were a little excited to see it
Whew, thatās a lot, for those of you stuck with it, THANK YOU! Part 2 will be up next Tuesday. I hope your enjoyed part one of my Rome recap, it was truly the best trip I have ever been on, from organized tours, free time, good food, shopping and downtime. It was the best time. See you Thursday for a look of the day! See you then! xoxo
Today, Iām sharing about my trip to Pittsburgh Light Up Night last weekend. I went with my good friends Bailey and Olivia and a few other friends from school. Ā Bailey and I met last year through mutual friends and work and the first time we hung out was at Light Up Night. Last semester we spent a lot of time together through work and this semester we practically spend every Tuesdays and Thursdays together since we have a lot of the same classes and schedules. Iām so glad we have gotten so close the past year. She has been the absolute best person to have in my life this past year.
We decided to get into the holiday spirit by going to Light Up Night together to not only celebrate Christmas but also out friend-aversy.
Hereās a look into our fun night together in Pittsburgh!
We started our night with burgers and shakes at Burgatory on the North Shore It was so good, Friday was definitely our cheat day and we took full advantage of it.
I got the Cookie Monster shake. So delicious
This burger was heavenly
After we ate we took the T (Pittsburghās subway system over to Market Square, we looked at all the little shops and stopped to see all the decorations.
So many Christmas decorations all over the city
Once we finished in Market Square we headed over to the PPG skating rink where the tree was and we stopped to get some pictures.
The tree all lit up around the skating rink
Our whole group
This was Bailey, Olivia and I last year
And this is us a year later…Love these ladies
Liv and I
Happy Friendaversay Bailey!!
There were concerts going on all around the city so we stopped to listen to some live music and got some drinks to keep us warm. We made our way back to the North Shore via the T and we watched the fireworks.
Beautiful fireworks
It was a 15 minute show and the fireworks were gorgeous over the water with the city in the background. That concluded our night in the city, we headed back to school with Christmas joy filled in our hearts.
I love the city at night
I love going to Light Up Night, Iāve gone for the past three years and it is my favorite way to kick off the holiday season. The city is gorgeous with all the decorations. I canāt wait to start decorating for Christmas after Thanksgiving.
If this doesn’t get you into the mood for Christmas then I don’t know what does
Speaking of Thanksgiving, Iām going to be taking Thursday off to spend some time with family and enjoy the holidays. Iāll be back here next Tuesday! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Last week, I blogged about my weekend trip to Chicago! I love to travel, and I try to take any opportunity available to me to travel whether itās near or far. Throughout, my weekend away I made mental notes of things I want to remember when it comes to future traveling, especially for a college student on a budget. Here are my must haves for weekend adventures:
Donāt over-pack. Yes, it may seem tempting to pack several cute outfits and figure out what to wear when you get there, but thatās not the answer. Pack simple and efficient. For example, for my trip I packed one pair of jeans, a few different tops to alternate, an outfit to wear at night, and two pairs of shoes, as well as comfortable clothes for traveling. I wanted to make sure I had the essentials and things to mix and match for the weekend. Although, I didnāt look the cutest in all my photos wearing my north face, jeans, and sneakers, I was very comfortable walking several miles each day. I also packed pretty simple when it came to luggage. I had a duffel bag, small tote, and cross-body. The small tote came in very handy for the souvenirs I bought while I was away.
All packed! Simple but efficient
Plan accordingly for traveling. We drove down to Chicago over night on a bus, so I made sure I was comfortable for the long bus ride, therefore I made sure I brought a blanket and pillow for the bus. This came in extremely useful when I was able to sleep a few hours driving down. The same goes for flying, planes are notorious for being chilly, be sure to throw an extra sweatshirt or socks in your carry on so you arenāt freezing your whole flight. Overall, be sure to pack for your destination and any accessories that may come along with it.
Itās was very chilly in the Windy City. The weather was in the 30’s the whole weekend so i was bundled up. Yes, it may not look super cute, but I was very warm
Make a Plan. When we found out that we were going to Chicago, my friend and I made sure we had a plan of things we wanted to get done and when. There is nothing worse than going to a new city for the first time and not knowing what to do or where to go. Donāt be afraid to ask for suggestions of places to try. I have several friends who live in the Chicago area, so I made sure to get their opinions on their favorite spots. This helps to ensure you get the authentic experience while being in the city.
I found these tricks to be most helpful while traveling for a weekend away. Do you prefer weekend getaways or week-long vacations? What helpful hints do you have for trips? Let me know in comments below!
I hope you all had a great weekend. I took a break from the school work and got away for the weekend. One thing unique about my school is a tradition called Mystery Trips. How it works is students pay a flat rate (typically $100) for a weekend away, but they donāt know where they are going. I loved concept and idea so I signed up with my best friend for a promised weekend of adventures.
We left at 1:30 am on Friday morning.
All packed!
Heading out!
When we were half way there, we learned we were on our way to Chicago. I was beyond excited, I had never been but was dying to go!
We arrived around 11 am, we checked in and got some lunch.
Starting the trip off with a lunch at Shake Shack!
We started walked down Michigan Ave and made our way to the Cultural Center for a guided tour of some of the top spots of Chicago.
Where the city meets the river in downtown Chicago.
Itās was very chilly in the Windy City. The weather was in the 30s the whole weekend so i was bundled up.
We loved this spot, we walked past it so often it became a landmark when it came to directions.
The ceiling of the cultural center. I was in awe of the design of all the buildings
We toured a Macyās and I loved the Spring theme!
Although it was freezing outside, it felt like spring with all the pastels!
After our guided tour, we stopped for some sweet treats and to warm up.
We spent time popping into shops and speciality stores to stay warm and try new things. We browsed at the Sugar Factory to see what unique things they had in stock.
We then went to Dylanās Candy Bar to browse for some sweet treats.
We spent time looking at Nordstrom at all the designers and to see what was in style this season.
Pastels were clearly in I loved these patterns and styles that were in a Prada boutique
We grabbed dinner at an authentic deep dish pizza place- Pizzeria Due. It was my first time having deep dish pizza and I loved it!
Day 1 of Chicago shown by my Fitbit, yes, we walked a lot!
After dinner we headed back to the hotel for an early night. With little sleep the night before and a full day of walking and sightseeing we decided to rest up.
Good morning and letās kick off day 2!!! We woke up early and got an Uber to head down to Millennium Park to see the Bean!
The Bean!!
We love the bean!
After the Bean we headed over to the Willis Tower (Sears Tower) to see the city from the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
View from the top
The closest I got to the Sky View boxes (a completely clear box overlooking the city below. ) yep, not a fan of heights
After the Willis Tower, We headed to the iconic Navy Pier
Once again the water meeting the land
We went back to the Sugar Factory for a fun lunch.
I got the Four Cheese flatbread
And the ice cream cookie sandwich for dessert. So delicious
These shoes!!!!!
The weather was very chilly so we went back to Nordstrom for more browsing. I saw these stunning shoes, can you guess where they are from?!
Yep, you guessed it! Sex and the City. I was having a fangirl moment in the middle of Nordstrom
After a full day of sightseeing, walking, and window shopping we relaxed by getting some Gelato and treats at Eataly! It was delicious
We did some browsing at Bloomingdales where I had to pick up this purse! It was too cute to pass up!
We spent our last night in Chicago at the Second Street. We saw a very funny show
Great way to end the night
Day 2 shown by my Fitbit, even more walking
The sun setting on Chicago, so beautiful
We headed back to the hotel to pack since we were heading out the next day.
I was so happy I got the opportunity to go to someplace new, Chicago stole my heart. From the clean city and beautiful water, to the food, the shopping and all the sights. I had an absolute blast. Also, i couldnāt have done this trip without my travel companion Shay! Thanks for a great trip!
Today Iām sharing something that Iām trying to incorporate more in my life: self-care. Whether itās a quiet night in with a good book or a girlās night out with friends, we all need to take care of ourselves. Ā This past weekend, my best friend, Shay and I took a day trip to the city. We both have a heavy course schedule this semester and we decided to take some time before the semester got crazy to adventure and relax.
Walking through the streets of Pittsburgh on a rainy Saturday!
We left mid morning and got to Pittsburgh around 12:00, our first stop was the National Aviary. I had never been there before, but Shay had and assured me it would be an enjoyable time. It was a smaller, interactive place. We spent an hour there but, there were a lot of activities geared towards children that would be great for families. Ā There were lots of exhibits and it was very colorful, most importantly, there was a wide variety of birds.
Flamingo’s hanging out at the Aviary.
Can you spot the bird in this picture?
After we finished at the Aviary, we headed to Burgatory for lunch on the North Shore. It was a 10-minute walk, so we opted for the exercise rather than an Uber.
Although, I have eaten the delicious make your own burgers at Burgatory, I opted for a grilled ham and cheese sandwich was their fresh cut fries. I love their burgers but, they are huge and since we had more things planned I decided to go with something more manageable. I couldnāt leave without getting one of their famous milkshakes. I got the cookie monster and Shay got the Sāmores milkshake.
I love grilled cheese, but grilled ham and cheese is even better!
Treating ourselves and our sweet teeth to a milkshake!
Checking out some artwork in the Warhol exhibit.
After a delicious and filling lunch, we walked to the Andy Warhol museum. It was a first for both of us. It was a 10 minute walk from lunch to the museum.Ā The Seven floor museum took us an hour and a half to get through. Tickets for students were only $10, which was a great deal for a few hours of entertainment. There were great displays of Warholās pieces as well as a great history of Warholās life. I personally loved his bright pieces of portraits of different well-known figures.
A few of my favorite pieces from the Andy Warhol exhibit. All photographs of Jackie Kennedy.
I love the bright colors in these flower paintings
Definitely a must stop if you are in the North Shore area
Many memories were made during our fun Saturday excursion. We get wrapped up in our busy lives that we often forget to take care of ourselves. My challenge for you this week is to take some time out of your busy day/week for yourself. Have a great week!
We have all had those days when itās gloomy outside, our outfit isnāt working, we over commit and we are left with nothing but stress. We let everything pile up around us until we are left completely overwhelmed. I may not be able to change the weather or help free your schedule but I can show you where to find happiness every day. These are five easy ways where I find happiness in every day life. We are all humans and mistakes happen and some days are harder than others, but it’s important to remember to stand up again and keep moving forward. I hope this helps you find some happiness in your lives.
Ā Play Good Music. Blast your favorite Ā Pandora station and dance around. Put on some soothing music when you just need a break. When I really need a pickup up, this is my favorite Pandora station. Sometimes we just need to let go and let God take over.
My favorite station
Talk to a friend. Whether itās your best friend or your mom (or if thatās the same person), stop the texting and have a phone call or Face Time session. Talk about your latest tv show you both are watching or whatās going on in your lives, or even plan an activity. Whatever you talk about it will take you mind off what you are stressing about. Reminisce and relive your favorite moments.
Friends always make things better
Read a book. Sometimes we need to step away from everything, even technology. Pick a up book you keep telling yourself you are going to read but havenāt started yet. Get lost in a world besides your own. Flip through your favorite magazine. Do something for you.
My next read
Go for a Walk. Step away from your stressful day and just spend time thinking and being one with nature. Let your mind wander and then come back to the task with a fresh set of eyes. We all feel happier after spending some time with our own quiet thoughts.
Beautiful morning walk
Do something you love! Whether itās eating your favorite snack, grabbing lunch with a girlfriend, or catching up with your favorite show. Take that time and do something you will feel relaxed and happy with.
Smiling is the easiest way to spread happiness
Well, there you have it. When I am in a rut, I turn my frustrations into joy. To leave you with a quote on the Tuesday. “Whatās broken can be mended. Whatās hurt can be healed. And no matter how dark it gets, the sunās gonna rise again.ā -Meredith Grey
I love baking, and trying new things. I was home for Fall Break a few weeks ago and besides being home and seeing my family, I wanted to try some new recipes. I hit up Pinterest and a few of my favorite blogs for some ideas.
Hereās the first one I tried. You can see the full recipe here. It was a delicious fall treat for October. Ā Hereās a quick recap:
All you need are some apples, crescent rolls, cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg, all spice seasoning Ā and butter.
You are going to lay out all your crescent rolls all spread out on a sheet of wax paper on a cookie sheet.
Slice your apples and peel the skin off if you so choose.
Apples and butter mixture
In a bowl you are going to melt your butter and mix in the sliced apples.
Crescents with the mixture on them
In a second bowl you are going to mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and all spice and then you are going to spread it over each crescent roll.
Rolling crescent rolls with the apples and mixture
I used the large crescent rolls so I put two apple slices per roll, in the future, I am going to put more than two because I found while eating them there was too much pastry and not enough apples.
Ready to be put in the oven.
You are going to roll the crescents up, put one coat of the melted butter over top each roll and put some of your mixture on top of each crescent. Bake it for 28 minutes at 350 degrees.
Ready to eat for delicious fall treat!
Take them out and cool. Eat them warm for a delicious fall treat.
I hope this gives you some ideas for fall treats. I ate this as a dessert but they would also be great as an appetizer or lunch snack. Give it a try and let me know what you think of it. What are your favorite fall snacks?
