2016: my year in pictures
J A N U A R Y
bought a new car + celebrated my birthday at downstream casino #BettingOnAMILLEon
F E B R U A R Y
first of (several) work trips to NYC + got pulled on stage during spamalot on our valentine’s day date at the rogers little theatre
M A R C H
a work conference with some pretty decent views
A P R I L
welcomed becky to america with the best party ever + celebrated a beautiful bride at mount magazine
M A Y
(best month ever)
bentonville film festival, fayetteville foam fest + 5-year anniversary in St. Lucia
J U N E
sister-in-law got married + traipsed around california with these people
J U L Y
celebrated husband’s birthday in denver
A U G U S T
mother daughter weekend in NYC + too much fun at a wedding #travkeg2k16
S E P T E M B E R
best labor day weekend ever #tracytrap
O C T O B E R
squad goals at a stranger halloween
N O V E M B E R
an amazing weekend getaway in missouri + a fun week in LA
D E C E M B E R
birthday celebrations with the sistahs + christmas in DC
[a catalog – my year in pictures] 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Picturebook: Christmas in DC
C H R I S T M A S D A Y
{Woke up (suuuuper) early and hopped on a plane to Baltimore to spend Christmas with Husband’s dad, stepmom, sister and her husband. We hadn’t spent Christmas with them in a very, very long time so it was extra special. We ate, drank, played ridiculous games and stayed up laughing until 4am.}
M O N D A Y
{Woke up (suuuuper) late (did I mention we stayed up until 4am…which means we had been awake for 24 hours…) then shopped and explored Georgetown, which of course was adorable}
T U E S D A Y
[first day in DC]
{We had so much fun walking around the National Mall and exploring the monuments. My favorite was the Washington Monument behind us. How great is this candid picture?!}
{Stopped for lunch at the famous Old Ebbitts Grill – seriously one of the best reubens I’ve ever had}
{Quick stop at Arlington Cemetery on our way out of the city – it was absolutely gorgeous and I would love to go back and spend more time walking around}
{The boys and their cigars after an amazing fondue dinner at home}
W E D N E S D A Y
[second day in DC]
{The perfect start to the day – Mari’s famous huevos rancheros! We seriously talk about these all the time because they’re so delicious.}
{Holocaust Museum – the museum and this quote in particular were very moving and convicting, a must-see museum in DC}
{Smithsonian Museum of American History – very packed, but very cool. We even saw the Hope Diamond!}
{STRANGER THINGS BAR! You would not believe the line to get in to this place, but it was totally worth it!}
{Dinner at Founding Farmers was incredible! Pictured: Shrimp & Grits with andouille and bacon (more like gumbo), Not Pictured: the best cornbread and fried green tomatoes I’ve ever had, and husband’s chicken and waffles he claimed were the best he’s ever had}
T H U R S D A Y
{Visited the new MGM Grand Casino – played slots, lost money, drank beer, oh and ran into Sarah Jessica Parker selling shoes – no big deal!!!!!}
{Spent the evening exploring Annapolis, which was seriously the cutest town ever. Then stopped in a wine bar and had the most fresh crab tostadas with tomatoes, onion, cilantro and lime juice. It was so good we had to order another round!}
{We then stumbled upon this cute little underground gastropub for our last supper – not pictured, but seriously delicious … pig wings!!}
What a trip! I’m not sure how we got so lucky with such amazing family on both sides, but we sure are thankful. It will be a Christmas we never forget!
xo xo
Food Picturebook: LA
Typically when I go on a trip, I follow up with a Picturebook blog post sharing all my photos and trip highlights.
Since I just did an LA Picturebook in July after my last work trip, I decided to switch this one up a bit. I ate some amaaaazing food on this trip at some amaaaazing restaurants and I just had to share so you can enjoy them too (and so I can remember these places for trips to come!)
Enjoy a look at my latest LA trip via my delicious meals. #FoodPorn
S U G A R F I S H
My coworker would not stop talking about this place since the second we learned we were traveling to LA. “We HAVE to go to Sugarfish in Santa Monica.” So we did, straight from the airport. It was packed and a 45 min. wait (the perfect amount of time to get some shopping in), but it was totally worth it. I’m not an adventurous sushi eater, but oh my gosh it was divine. It was easily the freshest sushi I’ve ever had; I had a blue crab roll and a cucumber roll. Most people get the “Trust Me”, where they bring you all different kinds of sushi and you just, well, trust them it will be delicious. Next time, I think I’ll go for it.
Oh, and did I mention this place is a celebrity hot spot?? So you know that makes me like it even more ….
S W E E T B U T T E R
Okay, so this was another one my coworker kept going on and on about, and guess what, it was amazing. She definitely has good taste. This was an adorable breakfast and lunch spot in Sherman Oaks. We sat outside and enjoyed the Cali weather, a cappuccino, avocado toast and pumpkin pancakes. Is that perfect, or what?! They also had a mega drool-worthy dessert case. (I might have purchased a few things for later … and yes, they were delicious.)
M A L I B U F A R M
I stayed an extra day after my work trip to hang out with one of my high school besties, who now lives in LA. She took me to this incredible lunch spot in Malibu. It sits on the new Malibu pier with absolutely stunning views. We had the perfect seat, on little couches overlooking the pier and sea. We drank mimosas, ate nachos and chatted just like we were back in high school. Unfortunately it was pretty chilly and overcast while we were there, but I will definitely be back and if it’s sunny, you might have to pry me from this place, mimosa in hand.
J O N & V I N N Y ‘ S
So this one has quite an interesting story and is my favorite on the list. About 3 years ago, I read an article in GQ about this new LA restaurant Jon & Vinny’s. Something about the article captivated me – maybe the fact that they deliver pizza AND wine?? Regardless, I sent it to my friend and asked her to please go for me. Well, here we were 3 years later trying to decide on dinner and we remembered the article. We had to go. It was a Sunday night around 6pm, so we didn’t think it would be too busy. HA. Little did we know, they are full with reservations every.single.night. Like, always full. The only way we would be able to get in is if we waited and someone didn’t show up for their reservation. We decided to take our chances.
In the back of the restaurant is this adorable, tiny little wine store called Helen’s with bottles ranging from $15 to $800. We made our way back there to get a glass of wine while we waited and hoped for a table. We stood back there for over an hour and met two of the most interesting, talkative people. It was amazing and fascinating and felt so LA. Just as we were finishing up our convo with the ex-pro golfer who was trying to hide from his family, the hostess told us she could seat us if we could be in and out in 40 minutes.
So we took the challenge, ordered a salad, a pasta and a pizza to share and never looked back. Words can’t even describe how amazing all three were. Sadly this was the only photo I took before inhaling it all, but take my word for it – if you are in LA, you have to go to this place! Just don’t forget to make a reservation!
I N – N – O U T
And of course, I would be remiss if while talking about food I didn’t share my food porn, drool-worthy photo of a California staple – animal style cheeseburger from In-N-Out.
‘Ya hungry yet?
xo xo
Weekend Picturebook: Hermann, Missouri
You guys – Hermann, Missouri is ADORABLE. I cannot say enough good things about this quaint little town (pop. 2300!!). As we were driving in, Husband literally said, “Do you have the theme song of Gilmore Girls playing in your head right now?” The weather was perfect, the leaves were gorgeous, the streets were walkable, the people were friendly and the wine was flowing. Okay, enough talking, let’s get to the pictures!
F R I D A Y
{welcome to Höehn Haus – our amazing little cottage for the weekend!}
hotel: inn at hermannhof
{how about this bathroom?! with a fireplace! of course I took advantage of it … I took not one, but TWO baths this weekend}
{we got in town just in time to watch the sunset on our patio with incredible views and of course, wine}
{dinner at tin mill brewery – a short walk from our cottage}
S A T U R D A Y
{big breakfast before all of the wineries … have I mentioned yet how amazing our B&B was?!}
{our ride for the day – the wine trolley!}
{first stop: adam puchta – not our favorite, but we got a $5 wine tasting of 8 wines (sips, really) so I’d say it was a win}
{2nd stop: stone hill winery – our favorite!}
{and where we got our best pic of the weekend}
{3rd stop: oak glenn – gorgeous views of missouri river}
{4th stop: dierberg and star lane – this is where we had a very serious discussion about … our first born son’s name. ask us about it.}
{final stop: hermannhof winery – our B&B’s winery, which we loved. luckily it was only steps away from our cottage …}
{though not easy steps … it may not look like it here, but these were treacherous even when you haven’t been drinking wine! and that’s not even our cottage you can see!}
{after a little nap and a little Mean Girls on TV, we walked back in to town for the best post-wine food ever – mac and cheese. and oh my gosh was this mac and cheese amaaaazing. husband got bbq steak and I got bacon and mushroom in truffle oil (mine won)}
S U N D A Y
{a little walk with more beautiful views before the 4 hr. drive back home}
{stopped in at the hermann wurst deli and picked up some brats to take home to cook – who’s coming over this weekend?!}
{and of course, a road trip would not be complete without jack-in-the-box tacos}
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Weekend Picturebook: New York, New York; Weekend Picturebook: Denver
Weekend Picturebook: New York, New York
New York City – the city that never sleeps, and is perfect for work AND play.
W E D N E S D A Y
[Highly recommend the Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise. You get to see so much of the city, and it was amazing. Thanks, Sister E for the recommendation!]
T H U R S D A Y
[Great day full of meetings, then an adventure out with the team in East Village!]
[Awesome restaurant Gnocco – I tried about 5 pizzas that night and mine was the best: prosciutto, arugula + parmesan. The salads were also delicious.]
[After dinner we walked “right around the corner” to the famous Odd Fellows Ice Cream. I had banana pudding ice cream with salted caramel sauce – yummmmm! photo from oddfellowsnyc.com]
[Later that night Mom arrived – yay!]
F R I D A Y
[Morning of meetings, then took the afternoon off to start our girls weekend!]
[We felt so fancy staying in the gorgeous St. Regis on 5th Avenue]
[Afternoon at the MoMa (Modern Museum of Art) browsing Van Gogh, Rothko, Matisse, Warhol and so much more. Ended with a rosé + the best onion dip ever in the statue garden]
[Dinner at Don Antonio’s in Hells Kitchen – more salad and pizza, that was just as amazing as the night before … maybe even a little better. Thanks for the recommendation Erin!]
[Tonight’s show: The Humans – 2016 Tony Award Winner for Best Play. Enjoyable, but not my favorite]
[My favorite part of staying at St. Regis – after coming back from a long day of walking, there would be slippers at the ready, water on the bedside table + classical music playing in the room. Can this be real life??]
S A T U R D A Y
[What a wake-up call – french-press coffee + NY Times hand-delivered. Okay maybe this was the best part!]
[Breakfast and goodies at Chelsea Market]
[Quick stroll on the High Line (which was incredible) before …]
Greenwich Village Food and Culture Walking Tour!
A 3-hour tour where we learned about the history, culture and architecture of the area and ate so.much.good.food. Seriously, this was amazing, and I can’t wait to do another one next time I’m in the city! The following photos are from the tour:
[First Stop: Joe’s Pizza aka the perfect, quintessential NYC pizza]
[Our favorite spot, that was so adorable – Palma. Will definitely come back here.]
[The Cornelia Street Cafe – where SJP and Matthew Broderick had their first date, where Eric Clapton randomly shows up the play the piano, and where you might run in to Taylor Swift because … ]
[she lives right next door!!! I almost died and went to heaven. This is her $40k/month rental while her home in Tribeca is being remodeled, in case you were wondering.]
[Rafele’s Ristorante with amazing eggplant + ricotta!]
[Where they filmed the opening of Friends!!]
Seriously, if you’re going to NYC you have to do one of these Food Walking Tours!!
[Drinks before dinner and a show at The Roof, Viceroy Hotel – how about those views of Central Park?!]
[Yay Matilda! Loved this movie growing up and the show was so so cute!]
S U N D A Y
[Officially obsessed with Levain, and will always make a stop here before heading home.]
[Brunch at Central Park Boathouse – this mac and cheese was everything.]
[Such an amazing trip with Mom I will never forget!]
xo xo
You might also enjoy photos from my last mother-daughter trip to NYC here.
Weekend Picturebook: Denver
[first stop – husband’s favorite brewery!]
[great tour + great beer – blood orange IPA]
[did some shopping on Pearl Street in Boulder]
[perfect date night at Larimer Square – it was so picturesque and adorable!]
[dinner on the patio at Osteria Marco]
[after-dinner champagne flights at Corridor 44 champagne bar]
[sunday morning brunch at Curtis Club – yes we will have all the champagne, please]
[coffee + exploring at Union Station]
[the most amazing tacos + churros I’ve ever had at Pinche Taqueria – we went here 3 years ago and had to fit it in again. it will always be a go-to every time we’re in Denver!]
[and finally, the main event – The National at Red Rocks!]
[such an amazing show in the most amazing venue – check out the Denver city lights in the background. these pictures don’t do it justice, but you must put Red Rocks on your bucket list!]
We had such an incredible time in one of our favorite cities to celebrate Husband’s 29th birthday. Unfortunately didn’t get a photo with our generous hosts – cousin Ellen and husband Lanny, but so wonderful spending time with family! ❤
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Picturebook: California Dreaming’, Aldermans Go Global: St. Lucia
Picturebook: California Dreamin’
{Welcome to LA, and first stop at YouTube space!}
{Next stop BUZZFEED! With pretty awesome rooftop views}
{Dinner at an amazing restaurant, Rose Cafe, in Santa Monica. Check out this 48oz steak!}
{SO happy I got to see this lady in Cali!! The night before she got on a plane to Bentonville, ha!}
{Started day 2 with an early morning run on the Santa Monica pier}
{Maker Studio Tour}
{First (of 2) In-n-Out stops. Always incredible}
{Video set for Back to School influencer videos}
V I D C O N
{Amazing food truck lunch!}
{THE BEST PART OF THE TRIP – LUKE’S DINER FROM GILMORE GIRLS!}
{Fun times at YouTube party}
{More fun times at Kin Community party}
{The closest we got to Disney … meetings at the hotel}
{YouTube stars dressed in onesies playing video games … Where am I?!}
{Awesome dinner at Anaheim Packing House and so fun to hang out with these two!}
{The perfect way to spend my final night in Cali – beach and wine in The O.C.!}
Oh, Cali how I love you.
xo xo
Aldermans Go Global: St. Lucia
D A Y 1
{The first views of the hotel were amazing – Calabash Cove Resort & Spa. I’ll never forget husband’s face when he stepped out of the car and saw our hotel for the first time.}
{We got to our room just in time to watch the breathtaking sunset}
D A Y 2
{Of course it rained our entire first full day. Not just rained, down poured, even though it’s the dry season on the island.}
{We still found ways to pass the time and relax, with good food (prosciutto grilled cheese with mango salsa), good drinks (pina colada) and good books.}
D A Y 3
{We laid in bed and listened to more rain (ugh!), but then it stopped … and we went on the balcony… and saw this. Oh my gosh I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never seen two sides of the rainbow and this was more gorgeous than I could have ever imagined.}
{It still rained off and on all day, but we couldn’t wait any longer for the pool. Note the swim-up pool bar, that we frequented often where they made us fancy drinks ….}
{Cue fancy drinks – this one was called the Bob Marley and our favorite drink made by Chris aka Mr. Fabulous}
D A Y 4
{I woke up really early, so walked down to the beach with my book (check out my vacation book reviews here)}
{And then came back to our balcony for breakfast. We loved having breakfast delivered to our balcony every morning. How could you not, with these views?? (and french press coffee and fresh local fruit!)}
{Another day, another drink, another amazing day in the Caribbean}
{An end to an amazing day}
D A Y 5
{Our Catamaran for the day, leaving from the beautiful Marigot Bay}
{We met these two ladies from Missouri celebrating their 55th birthdays and decided to boat together}
{Amazing day on the water traveling from Marigot Bay to the Pitons and snorkeling (for the first time!). It was the highlight of our trip!}
D A Y 6
{Started the day off with an amazing couples massage in the gazebo – seriously, the best massage I’ve ever had}
{Then headed to our private beach for some paddle boarding (didn’t work out so well, ask me about the story) and some two-person kayaking (which was a lot of fun)}
{And back to the pool for our last round of drinks at the swim-up bar}
{Last night on the island – sipping champagne, watching the sunset and talking about our next trip to St. Lucia – for our 10-year anniversary!}
D A Y 7
{Before heading to the airport we had just enough time to drink one more Piton beer, walk the grounds again and take a final picture}
We had such an amazing time celebrating our 5-year anniversary in St. Lucia and at Calabash Cove. We would highly recommend this resort to anyone traveling to the island. It was small and quiet, but with everything you could possibly need. We felt like we were the only ones at the resort, with the pool and beach practically to ourselves.
Not to mention the food … wow!! Chef specials every night made it so hard to choose what to eat. A few of our dishes included: Oven Roasted Whole Duck (the best duck I’ve ever had), Mahi Mahi with Mango Salsa, Red Snapper Filet with Chorizo Risotto, Indian Lamb Curry (this was amaaaazing), Jerked Shrimp (that we ate every single night as an appetizer), Banana Flambe, Homemade Pumpkin Pie with Pistachio Ice Cream … the list goes on and on. We were all-inclusive, so every night we shared a different bottle of wine, appetizers, main course and desserts. Needless to say, we gained a few pounds and are now on the post-vacation diet, but it was oh so worth it.
Here’s to our next 5 years together!
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Alderman’s Go Global: London, Paris, Munich
Picturebook: Birthday Week + NYC
B I R T H D A Y W E E K
[kinky boots + bordino’s with the family]
[birthday tradition: hostess cupcake in bed]
[the best surprise at work!]
[drove a van to downstream casino, ate, drank, gambled, danced, partied like I was 27]
N E W Y O R K C I T Y
(work trips can be fun too)
[it may be touristy, but I still love times square]
[dinner at serafina]
[meetings at hearst tower – dreary day, but still amazing central park views]
[lunch at carnegie deli – pastrami + pickles]
[our hotel was right next to colbert, so we might have hung out near the talent access door a few times to have a celeb sighting, which we did – bernie sanders!]
[dinner at greek restaurant uncle nick’s – I will dream about this fried cheese!]
[obviously couldn’t leave without a bagel (or two)]
[had to wear my favorite shirt from shop written – new york, los angeles, bentonville]
[it sure was cold, but can’t leave NYC without a walk through central park (especially for levain cookies!!)]
xo xo
Aldermans Go Global: Munich
D A Y 1 – O K T O B E R F E S T
[Wilkommen to Deutschland! What an amazing surprise from my friend Bobbi Joe, waiting for me at our hotel. Dirndl and all here we come, Oktoberfest!]
[I can’t even describe how amazing of an experience this was!! Something we will never forget!]
[So much food! Pretzels, two hens, pork knuckle and the best potato salad I’ve ever eaten!]
[We were in the Augustiner beer tent for 5 1/2 hours, and by the end, everyone was standing on their tables dancing and singing, without a care in the world.]
D A Y 2
[Beautiful day exploring the city – Glockenspiel and Marienplatz]
[Viktualienmarkt – basically a huge amazing farmers market! And I just wanted to buy all the flowers all the time!]
[Michael Jackson memorial outside the Bayerischer Hof Hotel, where he stayed several times and other celebrities stay in Munich.]
[When in Munich … eat pizza? Strange I know, but it was incredible because the meat is just so good on anything you put it on.]
[Early night in after a late night previously and a long day of walking. But of course, still laying in bed drinking beer.]
D A Y 3
[Lunch at Hofbrau Haus!]
[Another beautiful day walking around the city and enjoying beautiful gardens.]
[Delicious meal at Cafe Tambosi – pumpkin and brown sugar ravioli in a honey truffle sauce and dessert: fresh pineapple with pistachio ice cream and real cream. Drooling now just thinking about it.]
D A Y 4
(We were supposed to take a trip to Austria our last two days of vacation, but unfortunately trains were suspended due to migrants, so we made the best of our extra time in Munich!)
[Rainy days are for museums – first up, Museum Brandhorst with an amaaaazing Warhol exhibit!]
[Next museum, Pinakothek der Moderne filled with everything you could imagine such as furniture, the first Apple computer and Dali’s!]
[The BMW Museum was so cool, inside and out! And of course the MINI exhibition was my favorite.]
[We were looking for a place to eat dinner, and we just couldn’t pass up the meat cooking in the window. It was seriously the best thing we ate in Munich (and as you saw, we ate some great food). The pork knuckle and sauerkraut was incredible, and the flaming apple fritters were awesome.]
D A Y 5 – Last day in Munich
[Our last day in Munich we spent shopping in the morning, and then relaxing and drinking beer all afternoon at our now favorite beer garden Augustiner-Keller.
Then back to the hotel, watching the Scream Queens pilot on the iPad and figuring out how to pack everything to take it home…]
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Aldermans Go Global: London, Aldermans Go Global: Paris
Aldermans Go Global: Paris
D A Y 1
[Arrived in Paris to a beautiful day and another adorable (Rick Steve’s recommended) hotel – Hotel Des Grandes Ecoles. This was the cobblestone pathway that led to the hotel behind closed doors from the street, and the adorable patio/garden where everyone sat and drank wine every afternoon. To say I could get use to this would be an understatement.]
[6-course French wine + champagne tasting]
[Dinner at Louvre Ripaille – mushroom risotto + beef bourguignon (and a creepy husband)]
[Moonlit stroll home with Notre Dame + Love Locks]
D A Y 2
[Musee d’Orsay was incredible – highly recommend it! And the special exhibition was amazing. Pictured: At the Moulin Rouge by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec]
[Our favorite thing about Paris was just walking around, exploring and these gorgeous views.]
[One of the last remaining original metro signs]
[We didn’t go in the Louvre, but we did stop by for some photos]
[Wine in our hotel patio/garden. Like I said before, I could get use to this.]
[It was a looooong walk to the Eiffel Tower after an already long day of walking, but these views sure were worth it. <3]
D A Y 3
[Cappuccinos + croque monsieur at Le Descartes]
[Strolled through the gorgeous Jardin du Luxembourg]
[Laduree was a dream! And the macarons were amazing! From L to R: Iced Mint, Salted Caramel, Pistachio, Coffee (our favorite!), Rose Petal, Marie Antoinette]
[We stumbled upon this pop-up art museum and had to go in. Turns out it was an Hermes exhibition that was one of the coolest things we saw in Paris. We felt like we were in Alice in Wonderland!]
[This hole-in-the-wall bar in Montmarte served us the best duck we have ever tasted. It seriously melted in my mouth, and was my favorite thing we ate on the trip.]
[Loved seeing a show at the Moulin Rouge! So much fun!]
D A Y 4 – Last day in Paris
[The Hall of Mirrors at Versailles was stunning!]
[And so were the grounds – wow! Versailles was so impressive. There aren’t even words to describe it.]
[Another adorable side street with Shakespeare and Co. bookstore + take-away crepes. It doesn’t get more French than walking the streets with a crepe.]
[Dinner on Ile Saint-Louie was so romantic! A perfect end to our Parisian adventure.]
[We loved you, Paris! We will definitely be back!]
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Aldermans Go Global: London
Aldermans Go Global: London
D A Y 1
[First impression of London – I mean, WHY can’t our taxis be this adorable?! I already love this city.]
[Kensington Palace and Gardens was huge and gorgeous. We spent our first afternoon strolling the park, people and swan-watching, and finding the Peter Pan statue! #NeverGrowUp]
[Then, the unthinkable happened. I took this picture literally minutes before a drunk homeless guy came over and spilled his alcohol all over my pants. Like, I’m not kidding you when I say I reeked of alcohol and my pants were drenched. Long story short, it led to new pants from Zara and … ]
[… finding this place, The Cockpit. We ended up missing our pub tour we’d booked, but instead we found this pub that was so quintessentially English it was amazing. There were no tourists, Rugby World Cup was on the TV and most importantly, the beer was flowing. Probably our favorite place from the entire trip.]
[Pub stop #2. We just decided to make our own pub tour.]
[After a few beers, we were more than happy to take these cliche pics.]
D A Y 2
[Our Rick Steve’s recommended hotel was so adorable. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Not to mention we had a full, traditional English breakfast every morning. Not pictured: The baked beans that came with this and were SO good. (For breakfast! IKR!) Pictured: The most amazing bacon and grilled tomatoes you’ve ever had.]
[Tower of London, Crown Jewels and adorable husband – check!]
[And awesome views of the Tower Bridge – check!]
[My favorite thing we did in London was the Sunday afternoon church service at Westminster Abby. The choir was PHENOMENAL. I’ve never heard anything like it before in my life. Also, I couldn’t stop thinking about how Will + Kate got married here, sooooo that was pretty cool.]
[Favorite photo from the trip! Thanks random strangers from Chicago. <3]
[Next up – The London Eye. Which I did not like. So I promptly rewarded myself with ice cream. And as mom later reminded me, she always use to reward me with ice cream too.]
[After a loooooong day of walking, we decided to stick near our hotel for dinner. Come to find out the restaurant literally right next door was highly rated on Yelp. We both had great meals, but it was the dessert that left an impression. This orange creme brulee was TDF. Tiny, but TDF.]
D A Y 3
[Waiting with thousands of other people for the changing of the guards!]
[And the wait was totally worth it. Next time I have to go in Buckingham Palace!]
[Churchill War Rooms was Kyle’s favorite thing from London. It was literally the secret, underground bunker Churchill used during WW2, and it was fascinating.]
[Not Pictured: The National Gallery museum – highly recommend!]
[Lunch at Red Lion Pub and our first fish and chips, which we LOVED.]
[Tower Bridge selfie on our hop-on, hop-off tour bus! We loved this. It was a great way to see the city and fun to sit on top!]
[Dinner: The Thomas Cubitt
This may sound crazy, but this was the best soup I’ve ever had in my life – white onion + thyme with wilshire truffles and croutons. Like, I can still remember exactly what it tastes like, and I’m not even a soup person. Also, our appetizer got messed up and instead we got smoked quail, and surprisingly it was delicious.]
D A Y 4 – L A S T D A Y I N L O N D O N
[Kew Gardens was just gorgeous, and the weather was so perfect. My pictures don’t do it justice (and of course I took like a million.) But I had to share this one of the peacock that just walked right in front of me on the path – it was incredible! We were like, where are we?!]
[Mid-morning cake + cappuccinos.]
[Not Pictured: Victoria + Albert Museum – also highly recommend!]
[One thing we did not get to do that I really wanted to was go to Notting Hill (I will just have to re-watch the movie and go back!). This was the closest we got – Churchill Arms, a famous pub full of flowers and plants inside and out that also served delicious Indian food.]
But before we headed to Paris, there was one more thing we HAD to do …
[JK, we’re not going to Paris, we’re headed to Hogwarts!!]
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Aldermans Go Global: There’s No Place Like Home
Aldermans Go Global: There’s No Place Like Home
We’ve been home from vacation for approximately 72 hours, and I would already take the next plane back if it was offered to me.
Ever since we got married (4 1/2 years ago), we’ve talked about a two-week vacation to Europe just the two of us. It finally happened, and it was even more amazing than I could have even dreamed.
I’ll be doing a series of blog posts over the next week or so, sharing photos and details about our trip. (In case you just didn’t get enough following me on Instagram. 🙂 )
But first, a few thoughts after re-entry:
[FROM EUROPE] I M I S S …
Full English breakfasts served steps from our room.
Staying out until midnight, and sleeping in until 10am.
Being fully present in the moment because our phones weren’t pinging us with texts, emails, notifications, etc.
Mine and husband’s squabbling over maps and which direction to go.
Stopping at a cafe for a glass of wine (or two) at 2pm, because we can.
Walking everywhere.
The laid-back dining culture, where waiters don’t harass you and you can properly enjoy a meal.
European cappuccinos.
(with full-fat milk! and if you asked otherwise they looked at you like you were crazy)
Being around so many different cultures with different stories, and meeting new people.
Learning something new every day.
The laissez-faire attitude.
Quality time with just husband, every single day, learning more about him and enjoying him.
[FROM HOME] I M I S S E D …
Ice water. Seriously. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Snuggling with my fur-baby, Olli.
Understanding everyone, and all menus, at all times.
My mom. No matter how old I get, she’ll always be my Lorelei.
My TV shows.
(I’m sure that sounds lame, but we did leave as Fall TV started back, and we know how much I love my Fall TV…)
Mexican Food. Give me some chips and guac and queso and margs, please.
Group texts. I have two groups I communicate with on a daily basis, and I missed my dear ones.
My own bed, with my own pillows, and a FAN.
The indescribable feeling of being home.
xo xo
60 days.
Y’all, trip planning is hard, and I love it.
In 60 days, husband and I will be embarking on our first European adventure together and I could not be more excited. [London, Paris, Munich + a spontaneous night in Salzburg] (Side note: is it really spontaneous if I’ve already planned it? But I hadn’t originally planned it, so it feels spontaneous!!)
But it’s hard.
If you didn’t know, I’m super planner, especially when it comes to trips. My favorite thing is to find the amazing local restaurants. Food is too good to skimp on when traveling!! But it can get overwhelming fast when planning for a two week vacation in several cities. I’m starting my itinerary spreadsheets now (go ahead, judge) and I’ve taken a lot of recommendations (go ahead, send me more). I’m already thinking about packing, and the shoes I need to buy, and my passport that still has to come in, and the train tickets I need to purchase, and the adapter I can’t forget, and the budget that needs to be solidified, etc. etc.
Like I said, a girl can get overwhelmed.
But I love it.
And like they say, anticipation is half the fun. I’m already learning new things about the cities and their cultures just from reading up on what to do. I seriously get giddy if I think about how much we are going to get to experience together.
When I realize we will land in London on the anniversary of our engagement.
When I realize I will get to eat macaroons at Lauduree.
(and also at home, in my bath, just like Blair Waldorf)
When I realize we will be in Munich for Oktoberfest. OKTOBERFEST!
When I realize our last night will be in this adorable lakeside hotel.
When I realize I’ll get to go to Platform 9 3/4 and take a cliche picture, all the while praying I will somehow end up at Hogwarts.
When I realize I will get to stroll hand-in-hand with my love beneath the glittering Eiffel Tower.
It all sounds magical. And it will be here before we know it. 60 days.
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”
xo xo
Discover Arkansas: Little Rock, Part 1
I’ve officially started on my Discover Arkansas Bucket List. We spent a wonderful Memorial Day weekend in LR with some close friends, and got to visit some family who were gracious enough to let us stay in their home. Though we didn’t get to do everything on our list, we did ate a LOT. [Spoilers: the following photos may put you in a food coma like they did us]
Note: This is part 1. We have plans to go back in July and will absolutely cross the following off the LR Bucket List: Hike Pinnacle Mountain, Eat at Cotham’s + The Faded Rose.
F R I D A Y N I G H T
ZaZa’s Pizza – The Heights
[We were fortunate enough to be staying with my aunt and uncle who live in The Heights, so a walk to ZaZa’s is always a must on my list]
[The wait for our pizza was 40 minutes, so of course I decided I needed dessert first – Dulce De Leche Gelato]
[The taps were mixed up, so Natalie kept getting the wrong beer … which in turn meant free beer … which I wouldn’t say was a bad thing]
[Finally our pizza arrived, and it was SO worth the wait. First time trying the ZaZa’s Italian and it was delicious]
S A T U R D A Y
[Not Pictured: Josh driving to North Little Rock to get us Mark’s Donuts for breakfast – amazing]
[Spent the morning at the Clinton Presidential Center – where we learned about a lot about Clinton and a little about dinosaurs]
[Next stop: The Flying Saucer because after all that walking around the RiverMarket, we needed none other than carbs + beer]
[said carbs – pretzels, brats + IPA mac and cheese]
[and said beer]
[Not Pictured: Nap time back at the house, followed by a walk around The Heights oohing and aahing over all the beautiful houses]
[Dinner at another one of my LR faves – Local Lime. Six different kinds of salsa, followed by tacos + frozen margs. Not to mention our amazing waiter Kye who sang us show tunes with his BEAUTIFUL voice]
S U N D A Y
Brunch: Loca Luna
[mimosas + breakfast pizza, which we continued to eat on the way home]
[we had a wonderful weekend with these friends we love so dearly!]
until our next adventure! xo xo
Work Picturebook: San Francisco
[Day 1]
{Golden Gate Bridge pics are a must, even when you’ve seen it multiple times!}
{walking the streets of Presidio, where I found my dream home, then pizza + burrata at Delarosa}
[Day 2 – Pinterest HQ]
{my job is pretty cool…}
{dinner at an amazing Peruvian restaurant on the water – La Mar}
[Day 3 – San Bruno]
{meetings at Walmart.com}
{having some fun at YouTube HQ across the street}
{YouTube conference room names on fleek}
{so thankful to get to work with some amazing people – Walmart co-workers and partners!}
xo xo
My Arkansas Bucket List
A few things you should know about me before starting this post: 1. I’ve lived in Arkansas almost my entire life. 2. I can’t sit still.
Now that that’s out of the way, here’s the thing. We’re planning this super awesome trip to Europe in the fall – one that I will certainly be posting about incessantly pre- and post- trip. However, since we have limited money and limited vacation time, that means the summer is wide open. But who can live through a summer without doing anything fun?! Certainly not me. See point 2 above.
So, I’ve decided this will be the Arkansas Summer. I will go and see and do all the wonderful things my home state has to offer – some of which I’ve done before (but it’s been a while) or some of which I have yet to do, but always wanted to. For those of you who live here you know how beautiful and underrated this state is. For those of you who don’t live here, you would be shocked to see all it has to offer, and hopefully I can share a glimpse into its beauty with you.
1. Float the Buffalo River
2. Eat a famous hubcap burger at Cotham’s [Scott/LR]
3. See the new Crystal Bridges exhibit, Van Gogh to Rothko [Bentonville]
4. Dig for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park [Murfreesboro]
5. Climb Pinnacle Mountain [Little Rock]
6. Go to the drive-thru wilderness safari [Gentry]
7. Climb to Hawksbill Craig and take a cliche picture
8. Enjoy an evening at the drive-in movies [Fayetteville]
9. Tour the Ozarks through railway [Springdale to Winslow or Van Buren]
Other must-dos for Arkansans, but that I’ve done regularly so not on my list: Horse races at Oaklawn [Hot Springs], Weekend in Eureka Springs, NWA breweries [read my post about that here], Concert at the AMP [Rogers], Saturday morning Farmers Market [Little Rock/Fayetteville/Bentonville], Tailgate and go to a Razorback Football Game [Fayetteville]
POST UPDATE: Check out my updated bucket list thanks to your recommendations and my new series Discover Arkansas!
Have a recommendation of something to add? See something you want to do with me? Let me know! xo xo
Weekend Picturebook: Sistahs in Vegas
F R I D A Y
{ready for Vegas!}
{view from our room}
S A T U R D A Y
{adorable mom drinking coffee getting ready for the day}
{mid-day shopping break – margaritas, chips + guac, El Segundo}
{beautiful sisters ready for an evening out!}
{one of the best dinners (and most expensive) I’ve ever had, Nobu}
S U N D A Y
{shopping + lunch at The Venetian}
{pancetta + goat cheese pizza, Mario Batali’s Otto}
{the best show ever – Michael Jackson ONE!!!}
{drinks after the show at Mix, Mandalay Bay – incredible view!}
M O N D A Y
{Eiffel Tower selfie}
{amazing brunch at Mon Ami Gabi – cheers to a terrific weekend!}
xo xo
[Other Vegas weekend picturebooks: January 2013, Vegas Throwback 2010-2012]
Weekend in Vegas: Wardrobe Prep
I’m headed to Vegas this weekend with the sistahs (mom and two new sisters, read more on that here) and I’m so excited!
I love traveling, but I’m the worst at packing. I usually just throw a bunch of clothes in a bag, with ideas of outfits in my head, but I never really plan it out. So, in an effort to save space (to of course make room for NEW clothes) and be less stressed deciding what to wear, I’m planning out my outfits for the weekend. What’s funny is for someone who’s such a planner, this actually kind of stresses me out – realizing I can’t change my mind at the last minute about what to wear!
F R I D A Y N I G H T
[comfortable for the plane, but cute enough to step into vegas || t-shirt, Forever 21; jeans, BlankNYC, booties + cardigan, Elysian Boutique]
S A T U R D A Y
[focus on comfortable shoes for walking and quick dress changes for shopping || dress, Elysian Boutique; shoes, DSW]
[dinner reservations at Nobu calls for fur + bling || dress, necklace + fur vest, Riffraff; shoes, BCBG]
S U N D A Y
Day outfit: I will be spontaneous and purchase something Saturday to wear for Sunday! Eeek!
[sunday afternoon show + evening drinks overlooking the strip || jacket, H&M; dress, Elysian Boutique; clutch, Ann Taylor Loft]
M O N D A Y
[after a weekend in vegas, it’s time for comfort and casual heading home || boyfriend jeans, J. Crew]
Come back next week to see our Weekend Picturebook from Vegas. Hope you have a wonderful weekend wherever you are!
xo xo
Weekend Picturebook: Mini Getaway to KC
{First things first: BBQ. These were literally some of the best ribs I’ve ever eaten in my life. I’m drooling right now just thinking about it. – Fiorella’s Jack Stack BBQ}
{We loved our boutique Hotel Sorella on the Plaza – from the artwork to the adorable breakfast nook to the unfortunately unusable rooftop pool.}
{After a long day of shopping we enjoyed an amazing meal at Zocalo’s, including margs, tacos, guac + discussing our 2015 resolutions.}
{After dinner we walked outside to find it snowing … HARD. We were not prepared, but loved it. We walked around the beautifully lit Plaza like a giddy young couple, then raced back to our hotel for warmth.}
{And warmth we received – drinking coffee + baileys at the rooftop bar.}
{Before heading home the next day we made a stop at our new favorite coffee shop, Kaldi’s. Cappucinos + Mochas TDF!}
{And of course had to make one final (long and expensive) stop – ikea! Photo: loading up the mini to the brim in 12 degree weather!}
xo xo
[We like Kansas City quite a lot – check out our other weekend picturebooks: August 2011, May 2013]
Vacation Picturebook: Aldermans in Alabama
{first stop – after 12 hours of driving, who doesn’t want a cold beer and HUGE nachos at a bar with the coolest name ever}
{before there was the beach, there was the pool … well, in this case there was, and it was just so peaceful}
{after-dinner bushwackers at LuLu’s – Jimmy Buffett’s sister’s restaurant}
{the best breakfast everrrr – bananas in pajamas + mimosa flight}
{day at the beach with these cuties – isn’t he going to make the best dad??}
{view from our balcony and view of our beach towels}
{LOVED this restaurant in Orange Beach; also LOVED meeting up with some beautiful girls I haven’t seen in 3 years!}
{final meal – shrimp and grits perfectly peppery shrimp and amazingly cheesy grits}
{let the wedding festivities begin!}
{stunning wedding, venue and bride – what more do you need?}
{yep, we did the sprinklr down the aisle}
{love this lady so much and was so excited to be part of this special day – can’t wait to visit them in Austin!}
{what an amazing week with delicious food, quality time with husband, beautiful beaches and … }
{… the perfect car ride home with this guy. yep, we stole him from his mother}
xo xo
Beach or Bust
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmer of water, or watching the clouds float across the blue sky, is by no means waste of time.”
I haven’t been to the beach since our honeymoon. In 3 years. That’s practically blasphemous, y’all. The beach is my safe haven. I can never get enough of the sweet, salty air, sand between my toes and sultry sun beating on my sweat-stained skin. Give me a book and am margarita and I could sit outside all day. And that I will, starting Monday.
We leave tomorrow for the 12-hour drive to Gulf Shores, AL (my home state!). The purpose of the trip is ultimately for a best friend’s beach wedding, but we decided to turn it into a week-long vacation with a cozy condo overlooking the gulf.
Usually I plan every second of our trip from the restaurants we eat at to the activities we have to pack in, but this trip I have nothing – I repeat, NOTHING – planned. Except of course sleeping in and laying on the beach. It makes me a little anxious, but I’m also so excited to just relax and be spontaneous with our week. Who knows where it will take us?!
Follow our travels on Instagram @milledavis and through our hashtag #AldermansInAlabama.
I hope you have a good week. See you when we get back (very tan and very relaxed).
xo xo
Weekend Picturebook: Hot Springs
{started the weekend off right with margaritas!}
{then back to the house for pool and beer … among other things}
{love this pic – as someone said, it either looks like a rom-com or a psa for underage drinking}
{beautiful home we were so fortunate to stay in}
{day at the races!}
{dinner at backporch grill}
{downtown hot springs – superior bathouse and brewery}
{sunday morning mimosas}
{brunch at fisherman’s wharf before heading home}
xo xo
You might also enjoy: Weekend Picturebook: Cabin in the Woods, Weekend Picturebook: Little Rock
life lately
{laughing // during our weekend getaway to Tulsa to see Aziz Ansari}
{partying // at a two-year-old birthday party}
{drinking // at our favorite brewery on a sunday funday}
{traveling // to San Francisco, including FB and Pinterest HQs}
{enjoying // this saturday morning}
{loving //my valentine and our night out}
xo xo
m.davis xoxo 
