travel

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Atlanta

May 4, 2016

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to take a break from my real life and escape to The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Atlanta. For Christmas, my husband surprised me with a spa gift card to their spa and he decided it would be a great little getaway for me to use around Mother’s Day. The Mandarin Oriental definitely lives up to its 5 star reviews. From the moment I pulled up until I drove off, my stay was nothing short of wonderful. The staff and concierge were so helpful, friendly and attentive. All the guest rooms are non smoking which is such a bonus because I cannot stand the smell of cigarette smoke. Check in was a breeze, guest services was on top of everything and valet had my car up before I finished checking out. buy lipitor online https://salempregnancy.org/wp-content/languages/new/buynoprescription/lipitor-no-prescription.html no prescription

The hotel is in a prime location across from Lenox Square and close to several restaurants and nightlife. Even though it’s located in a busy area, it’s tucked away just enough to prevent street noise. My spacious room was on the sixth floor and I was lucky enough to stay in a king terrace room which had it’s own private balcony over looking Buckhead. It was beautiful and clean and had been well maintained (no chipped painted, spots on carpet, smells etc). The deep soaking tub was my favorite. I can’t tell you how long it had been since I’ve been able to enjoy a bath without toys floating everywhere. buy paxil online https://salempregnancy.org/wp-content/languages/new/buynoprescription/paxil-no-prescription.html no prescription

After checking in for my spa appointments, I was treated to some amazing hot peach tea and warm towels for my hands. I was then introduced to the spa grounds by a very helpful member of the spa staff. She showed me to the locker room where I had a robe and private locker for my belongings. For my three spa treatments I chose a massage, pedicure and facial. It was my first time having a hot aroma stone massage, which was 50 minutes long. In the past I was always hesitant because I thought the stones would be too hot but this wasn’t the case. The massage therapist was definitely skilled in her training and worked out a lot to tension I had in my shoulders and limbs. This relaxing massage uses heated stones to generate energy and create a sense of balance and calm, as well as, giving relief to deep-seated muscle tension.*{source} The dim lighting, calming sounds and smells create a tranquil atmosphere and allows you to achieve the ultimate level of relaxation. Next up was my essential facial which was nothing short of amazing. My skin felt so soft, wonderful and clean afterwards. buy priligy online https://salempregnancy.org/wp-content/languages/new/buynoprescription/priligy-no-prescription.html no prescription

I finished my appointments with the nourishing pedicure, which is completely waterless. Something I had never heard of but makes total sense. Without a tub filled with water there is less to clean and disinfect making the process more sanitary for the client (the technician wrapped my feet in hot towels instead). I didn’t think a waterless pedicure could produce smooth results since I’m on my feet a lot but it was better than any regular pedicure with water that I’ve ever had. It’ll be hard to go back to one that uses water after experiencing this. After the spa services I came back to my room feeling so relaxed and rejuvenated. Upon my return, I was greeted with some macaroons and a very sweet note from the hotel. It was such a nice surprise because I was starving and they were so good.

After almost three hours I spent in the spa, I was craving room service and lying in bed without “mommy” being yelled 100 times per minute. To be expected, everything on the menu looked outstanding. I chose the Signature Burger: 8 oz Angus Beef, St. Andre Cheese, Avocado, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Tomato, Frisée and House Dressing on a Honey Wheat Bun with their house made potato chips. It was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious. I ended the night with some cheesecake because why not?

The spa and wellness center is available for hotel guests between 5:30am-9:30pm. After waking up feeling refreshed and energized I headed to the steam room to do even more relaxing. I am kicking myself for not bringing my swimsuit because their 60 foot saline lap pool is nothing short of amazing. No hotel stay would be complete without breakfast in bed. In true Chanel fashion, I went all out. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and I could eat it for every meal. Everything on their menu looked mouth watering. I decided on the french toast, bacon, cheese grits, poached eggs, an english muffin, coffee and orange juice. Just like with dinner, everything was perfect and so tasty.

It was so nice to sleep without the sound of a baby monitor next to my ear. I woke up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It is amazing what one night of uninterrupted sleep and no kids and responsibility can do for you. If you are a husband looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift for your wife, surprise her with an overnight stay at a local hotel. If there’s a spa that’s a bonus, but I’m sure any mother would love a night alone and a chance to sleep in, relax and temporarily escape from her responsibilities. For my Atlanta readers, the Mandarin Oriental is hosting a beautiful brunch for Mother’s Day this Sunday from 11:30am – 3pm. The brunch will feature appetizers and desserts and guests will also choose an entree. There will also be a pop-up flower shop in their amazing gardens. Priced at $90 per adult and $35 per child aged 5-12 (plus tax and gratuity). They’ve also recently launched a family package which includes a one-night stay in a two-bedroom family room with tickets to Legoland and The Children’s Museum of Atlanta along with a few goodies. This is ideal for families who live in the South and are thinking about coming to Atlanta for some family fun.Thank you Mandarin Oriental for such a wonderful visit. I will definitely be returning and next time bringing my husband so we can enjoy a night out on the town.

*The Mandarin Oriental provided me with a valet, wifi and one night stay free of charge. As always, all opinions expressed are my own*

Portland Part 2

March 23, 2016

Writing this last recap and reminiscing about our trip really has me wanting to go back. My husband and I are talking about taking a trip in September for Feast Portland since we basically travel to eat good food. Until then I can continue to follow all the Portland instagram accounts and drool over everything I see … Back to our trip recap (and my diet). It was a good decision to keep the rental car for the rest of our stay. We wanted to explore Cannon Beach so we headed out pretty early Saturday since the ride was about 90 minutes each way. The drive was a straight shot down Route 26 and overall very easy. There was some winding roads but I think the ride could be done for at nearly age, even with kids. We stopped first at the top part of the cliff which was extremely windy. I literally thought the wind was going to blow me over. It was also freezing so after I took a few pictures and mental snapshots I hightailed it back to car since my fingers felt like ice cubes. In true Oregon fashion, the sky had parted and the sun was out by the time we got back down to Cannon beach. It was so beautiful and spacious. The coast line is definitely different from southern beaches. The sand extends much deeper into the water. I loved seeing Haystack Rock which was accessible by foot since the tide was low. buy desyrel online https://bethanyhealthcare.org/wp-content/languages/new/desyrel.html no prescription
Goonies Never Say Die.

We ended up back in Portland right around lunch time and hit up Lela’s Bistro for some bahn mis. They have a ton of vegan options and the food was pretty decent. Prices were a little high compared to Atlanta but still good. By the time we finished eating it was pouring out, of course, so we got the car and drove to the Portland Gear store which I had been dying to check out. I have followed them on instagram for months and I love their clothing and accessories. When I heard they were opening a store a few weeks before our strip, I knew I had to go and buy some goodies. I got a few shirts for my husband and myself and a coffee mug since I am a mug hoarder. The shirts are super soft with a great slim fit and the mug holds a ton of coffee since I never just have one cup at a time. Marcus, the owner, was there and he was very friendly and seemed genuinely interested in our group, asking us questions about our trip and if we were having a good time. I definitely recommend checking this store out if you have a chance to visit Portland. buy effexor online https://bethanyhealthcare.org/wp-content/languages/new/effexor.html no prescription
It’s right by Providence Park so if you’re going to check out a Timbers game, stop in there for some hometown gear.

For a late afternoon snack we braved the cold rain and stood in line at Pip’s Original Doughnuts, which was the longest wait we had since being in Portland, but it was so worth it. Their donuts were some of the best I have ever had. They were all made fresh as you ordered and came out super warm. The Dirty Wu is their most popular and I can see why. How can you go wrong with cinnamon sugar drizzled with warm nutella? You can’t. It’s also named after Sgt. Wu on my favorite show Grimm. The pricing is very cheap but that’s because the donuts are all minis. They are the perfect size for a snack or to share and you can try all flavors without overdoing it since they are light and airy. The staff was very friendly and patient. You could tell they are used to crowds and tourists and they answered everyones questions with a smile on their face. buy premarin online https://bethanyhealthcare.org/wp-content/languages/new/premarin.html no prescription

Saturday night was our last dinner together and since we were pretty exhausted from such a full day, we Yelped it for some low key Italian. Serratto, located in the Alphabet district, was quaint and quiet with dim lighting and a warm atmosphere. They had valet on site which was perfect for a busy Saturday evening since parking was scarce. I of course had a few glasses of prosecco which tasted so refreshing and the girls and I split the Pommes Frites (house-cut fries, fried twice with garlic aioli) as our starter. The Risotto with mushrooms, leeks, Grana Padano and white truffle butter was incredible. Mind blowing even. I could have licked my dish but decided to spare my friends and fellow dinner goers. As much as I would love to come back here and try other things on the menu I don’t think I could because I’d want to order the risotto again, it was just that tasty. Of course we went out with a bang and ordered the Creme Brûlée for dessert, how daring of us. I usually never order dessert because I am so stuffed from entrees and wine but the Creme Brûlée must have been a house favorite because we were watching them walk by us all night. It was delicious, which wasn’t surprising and the perfect way to end a great evening with friends in such a wonderful city.

Two of the girls on our trip booked the noon flight home so they had to head out relatively early. We decided to have one last meal together and went to Meriwether’s for brunch. This place was just down the street from our rental in the Northwest/ Industrial area and had it not been pouring we could have walked. The service here was excellent but we were also only the second table to be seated which may have played a part. Our waitress was super sweet and attentive and made us feel very at home. We ordered a stack of the classic buttermilk pancakes as an appetizer .. not really sure if people do that at brunch but they sounded, and were, delicious. I love how this restaurant operates their own farm which is located 20 minutes away so you know the ingredients are top notch. Fresh squeezed orange juice and vanilla iced coffees were flowing and the rain outside kept pouring. One of the girls ordered the chicken chilaquiles (basically nachos for breakfast) and I was lucky enough to try a bite and they were superb. The southern part of me chose the fried chicken and waffle with orange marmalade. It sucked. I’m kidding, it was everything I had hoped it would be. The orange marmalade, pure maple syrup and light dusting of powdered sugar added the finishing touch with just the right amount of sweetness.

After our group breakfast two of the girls headed to the airport and my other girlfriend and I went back to our rental house to sleep/lounge off the carbs. We packed up the car with our luggage, returned the keys and spent the next 9 hours exploring the different neighborhoods in the city. We were on the red eye which left at 11pm and had to check out by noon. It was a good excuse to really take advantage of the day and not have the house to go back to for periodic carb induced naps. On our last day the weather called for 100% chance of rain and thunderstorms but the weather pattern changed drastically and we were blessed with clear skies and sunshine. We couldn’t have asked for a better surprise since we didn’t have a house to go back to in case of continuous downpours. Since we were just down the street from the Industrial area I had to stop at Schoolhouse Electric & Supply. They had been on my “must go to” list since planning this trip. I’m a huge fan of industrial decor and lighting and being in their store made me long for city lofts with exposed brick walls and pipes.

One of my favorite things about Portland is all the beautiful murals throughout the city. They’re so gorgeous and basically outdoor works of art. I have a thing for colored and textured walls and there is definitely no shortage in Portland. My friend and I hit up Alberta street for some shopping and exploring since ironically our last day of the trip also gave us the best weather. I loved how unique each shop was and definitely did my part to help boost the economy by purchasing something in almost every single one (sorry babe).

Once the rain started to come down a little we thought that would be a good time to grab some lunch. Boxer Ramen was literally right in front of us as we were talking about food so in we went. The restaurant was very tiny but we only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Luckily the waiting area is outside the restaurant so there aren’t people hovering over you watching you eat and huffing while looking at their watches. The portions were huge and the prices were very reasonable ($12 for a large bowl). If I were a local I would come here all the time and get the lunch and save half for later. I ordered the Tonkotsu Shio: traditional pork broth, pork belly, soft-poached egg and scallions. We split the Okonomiyaki Tots which were tater tots with a creamy spicy sauce, tonkatsu sauce, shavings of bonito flakes, togarashi and nori. The bonito flakes actually moved and it looked like our tots were alive. One of the craziest things I have ever seen and I would definitely spend the $5 just so you can see this. Even though there weren’t kids with us, the place was kid friendly and I know my son would have loved watching the dancing tater tots.

We walked off our ramen and headed to Salt & Straw because why not? I could not leave Portland without trying this awesomeness. I chose the Stumptown Coffee & Burnside Bourbon scoops. How local of me, right? Some seats emptied at the front bar and we were able to enjoy our ice cream and people watch. By the time we left the line was out the door. The staff was also super friendly and handed out a ton of samples. Everything was delicious and I wish I lived closer so I could try all the flavors. The shop was very clean and kid friendly and I was definitely getting home sick seeing all the little boys excited for ice cream with their mamas. Until a little boy tried to pull his pants down and that reminded me of something Henry would do so I quickly snapped out of it.

After our Alberta street adventures we went to see a friend of my girlfriends who happened to be a bartender at a bar in North Portland, the Florida Room. The drinks were very well made and there was a Photo Booth so I could have stayed there all night pumping money into that machine. My friend told me about photo booth hire Birmingham since she lives in the UK and she’s considering getting a booth for her wedding. I told her to do it! They’re so fun!! This place definitely has that road-side bar feeling with graffiti in the bathroom, a pinball machine and a covered front patio for smoking. Being non smokers we sat inside at the bar which was pretty comfortable. We didn’t stay long and it was in the afternoon so it wasn’t too crowded but it sure seems like a fun and interesting place to hang out at night.

Before the sun set we really wanted to see the Cherry Blossoms that had recently bloomed by the Steel Bridge, so we booked it over to Tom McCall park to walk along the waterfront. As I mentioned before, Sunday gave us the best weather of the trip and I am so glad I decided to take the red eye back so I had another whole day to see Portland. It was also nice to spend quality time with one of my best friends who I’ve known for almost 20 years!

We had worked up an appetite and were running out of daylight (and energy), so we decided to spend the rest of our time perusing the isles at Powell’s and having some pizza at Sizzle Pie. The slices were huge and the people watching was fantastic, since the face of the restaurant sits right on the corner and there are people coming and going in all directions. At the bookstore I came across from vintage JFK coloring books and am kicking myself for not getting them, even though they were nearly $30 a pop, but still. I know what I will now be searching for on eBay.

Just like that, our trip came and went and we are all back to our real lives. Mine currently consists of registering my son for pre-k and being covered in smashed bananas, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Portland, you were so good to us … what an amazing city you are. I’ll be back for you soon.

Portland Part 1

March 16, 2016

Thursday started extremely early with a 4:45am wakeup call. I had to drop Evelyn off with my mom since my husband had to work and Henry had school. We beat all the Atlanta traffic and made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. After catching up with the girls and a few cocktails, we set out for our Portland weekend on the 9:00am flight. One of the best things about traveling to the West Coast is that you gain 3 hours. We arrived at 11:30am PST and basically had the whole day to enjoy. The drive from the airport to our Airbnb rental was quick and the location of the home was ideal. Located in a residential area of the NW/Nob Hill district, the house was perfect for 4 girls. There wasn’t any street noise, traffic or random people walking by at all hours. If you are traveling with a small group (4 and under) I highly recommend this listing. Besides, having an entire house to yourself and splitting the cost with friends is way cheaper than a hotel.

Portland has an incredible food truck scene (over 500!) and there are trucks everywhere you look (view map here). We headed to SW Washington since we were starving and it took forever for us to decide. I wanted a sampling from every cart. The smell was so amazing and since I was basically ready to pass out, I could have devoured everything. I chose Mac & Trees since I love all things carbs and dairy and got the Blue Cheese Please: blue cheese crumbles, bacon, spinach, carmelized onions, breadcrumbs and a balsamic glaze. No joke, it is now in my top five favorites of all time (a close second to the truffle mac and cheese in Malibu last Fall).

After putting ourselves in a food coma we walked to the Ace Hotel to take pictures in the photo booth (I do this wherever I go and must have over 1,000 strips by now) and for a pick me up at Stumptown Coffee. Most of my friends know that I drink iced coffee year round so even though it was a tad chilly and rainy out, I still had their classic brew over ice. We wandered over to Powell’s Bookstore, their flagship location with over 1 million books, and got lost in the aroma of old paperbacks. I am a huge fan of bookstores and still enjoy reading a real book. Of course I spent most of my time in the children’s section and was amazed at all the kids books I had never heard of. I bought a few for the kids and scored some amazing vintage Easter books for their baskets. We did some more wandering and shopping around the Pearl District and the weather ended up being pretty decent so we were able to do a lot of walking. After working up an appetite (i.e., craving a beer) we stopped into Deschutes Brewery for some cold beers before dinner. I split a flight with one of the girls which had six different 4 ounce beers. My favorite was the Theory of Sourtivity, since it tasted a bit like champagne. No brainer. buy fluoxetine online https://bethanyhealthcare.org/wp-content/languages/new/fluoxetine.html no prescription

For Thursday dinner we kept it low key at Mother’s Bistro & Bar. We were exhausted from being up before dawn and this home cooked inspired restaurant was perfect. It’s no shocker that I ordered the Chicken Fried Chicken: crispy buttermilk & spice-marinated chicken breast topped with country gravy and served with mashed potatoes. I chose broccoli as my side and it was the freshest broccoli I have ever tasted, even being from the South! The lighting was really dark so I couldn’t get any good pictures of my dinner, but use your imagination to figure out what fried chicken and mashed potatoes look like 🙂 buy lipitor online https://bethanyhealthcare.org/wp-content/languages/new/lipitor.html no prescription

Friday morning we all woke up at 5:30am being that we were still on East Coast time (this was 8:30 for me and I felt so refreshed since all my days at home usually start by 5am). We threw on some hiking clothes and headed to Voodoo Donuts in Old Town Chinatown to pump ourselves full of sweet before the car ride to Multonomah Falls (smart right?) There was no line at Voodoo when we got there which was shocking since every picture I have seen shows the line around the block. This was another fortunate part of our trip … we never hit any lines or had a wait time except twice. These donuts were so fun to eat and the Homer Simpson (pink) and Rice Krispy, Chocolate + Peanut Butter were my favorites. They also made a mean maple too! buy valtrex online https://bethanyhealthcare.org/wp-content/languages/new/valtrex.html no prescription

We had spent the first day Ubering around, thinking that split between 4 girls the price wouldn’t be too bad. However, with each ride averaging between $8-$12, we decided that renting a car for $35 a day would be way cheaper. We chose Avis Rental which was located right in Downtown Portland. It was easy to get to, the car was clean and they were very flexible with us extending our reservation and returning the car at the airport Sunday night. I’m not sure if we lucked out or if Portland is always this way, but driving in the city and outskirts was extremely easy. There was hardly any traffic and parking was never an issue. I highly recommend renting a car if visiting because you will need one and it allows you to see so much more of the city. It also allows you to get your bearings more. We were surprised how relatively close everything was to each other and how easy it was to get everywhere, which you don’t know while in Uber since you aren’t really aware of your surroundings because you are focused more on your drivers vampire fangs than the beautiful city. After picking up our car we headed East to the beautiful Multnomah Falls. The drive was only 30 minutes and if you are renting a car, making this trip is a no brainer because it will not eat up a lot of your vacation time. The waterfalls were so alluring and are really a sight to see. Photographs definitely don’t do this place any justice and I feel so lucky to have been able to see these falls in person. I haven’t gotten the chance to explore the West Coast that much but the Oregon coastline is simply beautiful.

After coming home to rest and freshen up, we went to get our burger on at Tilt. All the food is hand crafted and the gourmet burgers live up to their prices. Of course I chose the The Big Tilt: two chuck patties, bacon, egg, American cheese, pickles, tomato, onion and lettuce on a three layer bun. Yes, you read all that correctly. I am going on record here to say this was the best burger I’ve ever had. Paired with a cold beer and the handcrafted cheddar tots, we were all in Heaven.

We did a little shopping in Sunnyside, which reminded me of Little 5 Points in Atlanta, before going home for some R&R. Nap time definitely happened and it was nice to relax without having a baby monitor on my nightstand table or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse blaring from the TV. We had a late dinner at The Matador, one of the two times we had a wait because we didn’t make reservations and came at 8:15. Fortunately we found some seats at the bar and ordered a few margaritas which were some of the best I’ve ever had, not to mention strong, which was perfect for a Friday evening without kids. We all split the Queso Fundido and I ordered the Mushroom & Goat Cheese Quesadilla with Shrimp and it was the bomb. I’m a sucker for Mexican food and could eat it everyday, so it was such a relief to find some good Mexican while I was in Portland. The staff at the Matador were so friendly and the service was very speedy. This definitely stood out as the nicest staffed restaurant I visited on this trip.

We definitely packed a ton of food and fun into our first two days on the trip and now I am starving looking at all those yummy pictures. They get even better with part two of our travels coming later this week. Yay for Wednesday and warm Atlanta weather! xo, friends!

SoCal Trip Part 2

September 28, 2015

You’ve got to love Yelp and Thrillist when it comes to finding the best restaurants near you. On vacation I feel like I’m always lost somewhere between taco Tuesday and fit Friday. We love to eat when we go on trips and that is basically all we do aside from the city exploring. It is so hard to resist the incredible food and Los Angeles has over 10,000 restaurants. (Side note, I wonder if any LA natives have ever tried to eat at every single one. Apart from being super expensive, it would take almost 28 years if you tried a new one every day). I have to say that every restaurant & bar we visited in the Santa Monica/LA/Malibu area had really friendly staff who were also super helpful and cheerful. We definitely did not experience any negative stereotypes that are out there. One of my favorite things about the Los Angeles and surrounding areas was all the street art and walls/buildings. They make the best back drops and I was kind of wishing I had Henry with us to show him. But then I remember how fun it was to drink at 11am and sleep in.

Friday morning we had breakfast at M Street Kitchen near Venice and enjoyed bottomless mimosas and bloody marys while we talked about how much we missed the kids (typical right? parents always want a kid free vacation but end up talking about how much they miss their kids while on vacation).

After breakfast we drove up to Malibu to enjoy the view again and visit the American Apparel store. Super cute and pretty pricey but I bought Henry a few things … including 1970’s red running shorts ala Richard Simmons. We met up with my sweet friend Britney again for a quick lunch before we headed south for the wedding rehearsal. It was so good to see her twice on our trip. We ate at Milo & Olive in Santa Monica. Their portions were on the smaller side but very appropriate for lunch meals so you can still enjoy your day without feeling stuffed. We had the meatballs, huge garlic knot, baked gnocchi, potato gnocchi and bolognese (apparently we were carb loading).

Since we had to be in Palos Verdes at 4pm for the rehearsal, we left Santa Monica at 2:30 and it took the entire 90 minutes to get there. Traffic is insane everywhere! Our friends rented the most beautiful house overlooking the ocean with the most incredible view. The weather was perfect and the breeze was so cooling. It made me realize for the one thousand time again how much I hate Atlanta summers.

Saturday morning was our last morning in Santa Monica and we were so sad to leave. We went out with a bang, eating at the Blue Daisy Cafe which had all the sweetness you could imagine plus bacon bloody mary’s. Definitely two of my husbands favorite things.

After Croissant French Toast topped with caramelized apples. bananas, walnuts, cinnamon, and vanilla ice cream with a side of iced vanilla coffee we headed back to the condo to pack and take a little nap before heading south for the night. We ended up renting a hotel room about 5 minutes away from the venue so we wouldn’t have to drive 60 + minutes home at midnight after a night of drinking. The wedding decor was so nicely done and the bride looked incredibly beautiful. She chose such a pretty color pallet for the wedding and I loved that her and groom both wore white. The food during cocktail hour was my favorite and I probably ate my weight in hors d’oeuvre’s. The weather kept cooling off as the night went on so luckily I wasn’t a sweaty mess by the end of the wedding because that is usually what happens when my face meets heat.

The reception was a ton of fun and the drinks kept flowing all night. At some point in the evening I had three different kinds of drinks in front of me and was silently thanking God that we ended up going with a hotel close by and that Uber was on hand.

Sunday morning came way too fast and we definitely were not ready to jump on an airplane. Our flight was delayed a little bit so what better way to pass the time then by racking up a tab on greasy food and booze at the airplane bar.

After parmesan garlic fries, pretzels as big as my head and enough cocktails for a football team, we hopped on the plane and headed home. We had such an amazing anniversary trip but it was good to get back home to our kids and house. And my waistline wasn’t complaining either 🙂

SoCal Trip Part 1

September 17, 2015

Tuesday morning starting with a 5am wake up call and a 8am flight. The flight was uneventful and went by pretty fast thanks to a lot of Jack Daniels. We arrived at LAX around 9:30am which was perfect because the time change allowed us to have another full day of vacation not wasted by traveling. The first order of business was UBERing to our condo in Santa Monica. Jan picked the perfect one right on Ocean Avenue on the 18th floor with a beautiful clear view of the ocean. It is so close to the beach and we ended up walking there daily. We wanted to keep lunch simple and close by so we yelped and were brought to Toms Sushi. A little hut in the front of a parking lot with some of the best and freshest sushi I have ever tasted. And surprisingly an A rating by the health department (come to think of it, every restaurant we ate at had an A score).

We drove up the Pacific Coast Highway towards Malibu to V’s Restaurant + Bar for dinner. The drive was beautiful and overlooked the water the entire time. This was a place we found on yelp because the reviews were excellent (4.5/5 stars and 131 reviews). Still being on Atlanta time and being up since 5am, we decided for an early dinner at 5:30. Not surprisingly we were the first ones there but did not mind at all because it was nice to eat a meal alone at a fancy restaurant without the kids and no crowd noise. The waitstaff were so helpful and friendly and the food was incredible. I had the organic spinach pizza with fresh ricotta and parmesan. Jan had the special which had two huge shrimps … almost like prawns over mashed potatoes. The best item of the night was the truffle mac and cheese. We talked about that the entire trip and if there was one thing I could go back and eat, it would be that.

We stopped at the beach on the way back while looking for things to do in Long Beach and watched the sunset and the waves splash against the cliffs. It was breathtaking and so relaxing … something we hadn’t had for a long time before this trip. Probably not in over 2 years since our last vacation to San Francisco (for a trip down memory lane, you can read about it here, here and here).

Since we were still on east coast time Wednesday morning, we woke up about 5am, had some coffee on the balcony and headed to the beach to watch the sunrise together. The weather was perfect and it was so quiet and peaceful outside. Listening to the waves crash and feeling the ocean breeze was one of the most relaxing parts of the trip.

For breakfast we headed up Santa Monica Blvd. to DK’s Donuts & Bakery, which like their sign states, is probably exactly what donut heaven would be. They have nearly 70,000 followers on Instagram (what??) and they make the most ridiculous donuts which turned out to be the best sweet treat I have ever tried in my life. They even make donut waffles with cereal on top. If you are in the LA area even for a few hours, you have to come here. No excuses since they are open 24 hours!

After putting ourselves in a sugar coma we decided to continue up Santa Monica Blvd into the Beverly Hills/LA area to site see. One of my favorite guilty pleasure shows on Bravo is Vanderpump Rules so I had to drive by Sur Restaurant to see it in person. It was a total dump from the outside and nothing worth writing home about (except for me to write what a total dump it was). We could not believe that was the same place shown on the show because Bravo makes it seem so glamorous and much bigger. We ended up searching out my old house from 3rd grade when we lived in Beverly Hills for a year. It was super cute and I have always remembered the address because the numbers and street rhymed. I looked it up on Zillow and it is now worth 1.4 million dollars .. did I mention it’s only 1,350 square feet and 2 bedrooms?! INSANE.

After relaxing at the condo we drove back up to Malibu to eat at Malibu Farm, which has a beautiful ocean front view and we sat right on the pier. It was hot as hell (California was in a heat wave for a few days while we were there). Thankfully they served the most refreshing cocktails I have ever tasted. My favorite was the Watermelon: cucumber infused vodka, watermelon & lime juices and organic agave. Jan got a few local brewed beers and all their food was organic and also from local farms. We started with the green goddess crudités and the vegetable were almost too beautiful to eat. They made for one of my favorite pictures of the trip. We each got the grass fed burger for lunch and headed home to nap & rest before dinner.

Wednesday night we walked along the Santa Monica Pier, which was very touristy but still a fun sight and then had dinner at Blue Plate Taco with some old friends from middle school/high school. It was so good to see them and they have been such a godsend in planning this trip by giving us advice on everything. We sat outside on the patio and could feel the ocean breeze. The lobster tacos and house margaritas were the stand out items for us but I honestly didn’t even pay attention to the food that much because it was so fun catching up with our friends and we jumped back into conversation like no time had passed.

After dinner we headed to Bar Chloe which was very classic (the bartender wore suspenders and knew how to make an excellent drink). It was recently named the best bar in Santa Monica by LA Weekly and even though it was around 10:30pm when we got there, we were able to snag a bunch of sofas. We stuck with prosecco & IPA since it was getting late and our friends had to relieve their babysitter. I could have stayed and talked and hung out for hours but one thing about visiting people while you’re on vacation is that they are not on vacation and have jobs to get to the next morning.

Thursday morning we walked down to an ocean front cafe at the Back on the Beach, which is part of the Annenberg Beach House (a super nice community pool and bike/ocean rentals). The restaurant was right on the beach and we sat at a cute table with our feet in the cool sand. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros … crispy corn tostadas, fried eggs, ranchero salsa, black beans and queso. My tastebuds were very happy with me and it was my first time ever trying that dish. Jan got the eggs benedict … he totally thinks outside the box 🙂 I seriously ate like I was going to the chair on this trip and it was so worth it.

We did a ton of exploring that day (thank God our condo rental came with a car, because we were able to see SO much). We went all over Hollywood and up Mulholland to see the Hollywood sign and LA from up in the hills. Lunch was at the famous In-N-Out Burger on Sunset Hands down the best drive through burger we have ever tasted. The fries were just okay and we didn’t even eat them all but that’s probably why they’re not called In-N-Out Fries.

For dinner we headed to Korea Town to eat at Pot in the Line Hotel. I had heard of this place through Instagram and it did not disappoint (except for the lighting, it was super dark and full of random spot lights). But we came for the food and it was delicious. Jan had the Grilled Steak Ssam: Crispy Rice, Kimchi & assorted Lettuces. I opted for the Steam Room which was beer braised pork belly, sautéed kimchi and steamed tofu. I added the poached egg on top because I always add an egg to nearly everything. It enhances the meal and you should definitely try it. The Line also has another cool restaurant called Commissiary, which is a greenhouse next to the pool with farm to table style atmosphere. That is on our list next time for sure.

We ended Thursday night with rooftop drinks at High Lounge in the Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach (the only rooftop bar in Venice). The weather had cooled down and we picked some cozy couches to sit on which were tucked away nicely from everyone else. You couldn’t even see anyone unless you stood up and looked over the partitions. We only had one drink each since we were both pretty exhausted from the day but had to take full advantage of this kid free vacation.

Part two of our trip coming later this week!

exploring

August 11, 2015

The past 2 weekends we’ve started leaving the house once the kids are awake to explore new parts of Atlanta. We live and work in the suburbs and don’t get much time to head to the “big city” so we’re trying to make an effort to explore more Atlanta neighborhoods and their surroundings. Our first trip was to Historic Roswell, where my husband and I met, rented our first house together and got married. If we could choose somewhere in the north Atlanta area to live, Roswell would be it. Aside from all the memories we have there, it is up and coming with tons of new construction yet still keeping the historic elements. Henry loved ~~walking~~ running up and down the quaint streets and trying to open all the doors of every restaurant and shop we passed.

This past Sunday we headed about 20 miles south to the Inman Park area with a stop first at Paris on Ponce. They have the most beautiful painted brick walls which are like a work of art in themselves. I knew I had to get some pictures of the kids in front of them. Henry’s favorite part was waving to all the bikers and joggers on the Belt Line and yelling “good job!” as they ran past. We visited Krog Street Market for a cookie break and to sit in the AC for a bit. Even at 10am, Atlanta is hot and humid as hell. There are some amazing murals down the street done by artist Greg Mike, who I had never heard of but am now obsessed with his work. Henry kept referring to squiggly one as bath bubbles. (what). The big cat face was my favorite and I am wondering how I can convince my husband to have that recreated on our bedroom wall …

Already thinking of our next adventure!

Sugarboo Farms

September 9, 2014

A few weeks ago we loaded up the car and made the 2 hour drive north to visit Sugarboo Farms. Since this place is such a popular destination, it is almost always booked up so we don’t get the chance to visit too often (I hadn’t been since I was 8 months pregnant with Henry!) Being there almost makes you forget that downtown Atlanta is less than 3 hours away. It’s so serene, peaceful and relaxing.

We brought our two dogs, who have been there before, and they love being able to run free on the property and play. (another bonus, SB Farms is very animal friendly!)

This was Henry’s first time seeing farm animals and being in this kind of environment. He was amazed at all of the wilderness and spent nearly the whole time walking, running and exploring. He was so exhausted he passed out less than 5 minutes of being in the car. He loved seeing the goats, chickens and the “horse” which is really a donkey 🙂

If you would like more information on Sugarboo Farms, please contact [email protected] <3

travel

Latest from Instagram

chanelvanreenen