My favorite dessert place in Philly…actually my favorite dessert place ever!

I love walking around Chinatown in Philly and since I am a major foodie, I love finding new dessert places. A La Mouse, from the very first time I visited, has been my favorite dessert place ever.

They have the cutest little desserts. All desserts are made meticulously. My favorite dessert there is the matcha lava cake. I love matcha and the pairing with chocolate makes this dessert the best dessert ever! I have also tried the Lychee Panna Cotta and the Mango Mousse Cake and they did not disappoint! The natural ingredients they use make me love these Asian inspired desserts even more. They are open late into the night so it’s perfect for late night studying or for hanging out after spending your day walking around. I highly recommend stopping here if you are ever in Chinatown!

 

Coffee in New Jersey

Here are some of the coffee places I have been to and recommend that you try. All of these coffee shops  have their own unique vibe and yummy coffee, tea, and even food!

 

Ahrre’s Coffee Roastery – Westfield, NJ

Cheech’s Own Coffee Company – Somerville, NJ

Factory Fuel Co. – Flemington, NJ

Citispot Tea & Coffee – Clinton, NJ

Riverside Coffee & Tea – Clinton, NJ

Scout’s Coffee Bar & Mercantile – High Bridge, NJ

Rook Coffee – Colts Neck, NJ

A Few of My Favorite Beaches

With winter (hopefully) winding down, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite beaches on the east coast!

Since I was old enough for my parents to take me to the beach, I have been soaking in the sun and playing in the sand. The beach has been a place of relaxation for me my entire life. I take any opportunity to go to the beach.

If you are planning a short day trip to the beach or want ideas for a week or two vacations, I hope this helps you plan!

(Note these beaches are not in order of my favorite to least favorite. I am going to just begin at the top of the east coast and make my way down)

 

Narragansett, Rhode Island

I went to the beach in Narragansett almost 9 years ago and it still stands out as one of my favorites. The little town around the beach is adorable and there are mesmerizing rocks and rock structures near and on the beach. Not only is this a great beach to spend the day, but it is also close to Newport which is one of my favorite towns! In Newport, you can hop on a sailboat and take a relaxing cruise to see beautiful homes along the shore.

 

Sea Bright, New Jersey

I just went here for the first time this past September and fell in love. This whole area is charming and quaint but the beach area was definitely stunning. There were cute shops and restaurants along the beach. The beach itself was lovely and there were restrooms near the parking area and beach area.

 

Wildwood Crest, New Jersey 

This Beach really has it all! It’s a FREE New Jersey beach. Yes, you read that correctly! There are many hotels, motels, and rentals in the Wildwood Crest area. I have always lucked out and have gotten places about a block away from the beach! The reason why I love this location so much is that the beach is beautiful, not too crowded, and it’s close to all of my favorite evening beach hang out places! I love the Wildwood boardwalk and the vintage arcade there. I also love going to Stone Harbor and Cape May for dinner and shopping!

 

Cape May, New Jersey

Since I brought up Cape May, this beach is near and dear to my heart. I have grown up on this beach. Cape May is a beautiful old beach town with history, gorgeous beach vibes, and fun all in one place. I love the carriage ride you can take on a warm evening where you learn the history of Cape May. The Cape May beach is beautiful and the Washington Street Mall is the perfect place to hang out in the evening.

 

Lewes, Delaware

This is an area that I just recently visited. On the drive to the beach, there is a little street in Lewes that has the most delightful shops and restaurants. The Notting Hill Coffee Roastery has a really cool coffee shop vibes and is a great place to refuel. If you are really into coffee, this is definitely the place to go. They roast their own coffee and have a whole wall of bags of coffee to buy! This main street in Lewes has an old church, a unique book store, and a lighthouse boat nearby! In the Cape Henlopen State Park, there is a great beach for swimming and shelling in the summer!

 

Outer Banks, North Carolina 

I’ve only been to the Outer Bank once but it was one of my most adored beach experiences! I stayed in one of those large beach houses that have great beachy vibes. It was walking distance to the beach and also to the little town of Duck. One of my favorite parts of this beach vacation was taking an open-air jeep tour. The jeep took us miles down the beach and saw wild horses near houses that were only accessible by driving on the beach! The Outer Banks is very unique and stunning.

 

St Augustine, Florida 

This is by far my most treasured beaches on the east coast of Florida. The beach is beautiful and quiet. The town of St Augustine is beautiful, old, and historic. There are fun restaurants and shops. There is even the Fountain of Youth you can visit! I haven’t gotten to the Fountain of Youth but I cannot wait until I visit again! Also, Flagler College is in the town of St Augustine. I defeintely recommend stopping by to look around the campus. It is an impressive and historic campus.

 

Dunedin/ Honeymoon Island, Florida 

Dunedin and Honeymoon Island are my favorite!!! Dunedin is a cute town! They have hip restaurants and coffee shops. Off the coast of Dunedin is Honeymoon Island State Park. This park is wonderful. It’s the perfect combination of wilderness and the beach. The ocean is clear and calm. There are walking trails which are fun and give you the opportunity to see Florida wildlife.

 

Siesta Key, Florida 

Below the Tampa area is a rare beach with quartz sand. The sand stays cool even in the hot sun! The really cool part of lounging on the beach was during sunset when multiple weddings happened. I swear there must have been 4-5 weddings that happened at sunset. It was the perfect way to end a relaxing few hours at the beach.

 

Sanibel Island, Florida 

Ah, Sanibel. This is the best beach on this list. Though I loved each one of the beaches I listed before, Sanibel and the area around Sanibel really impacted me. The beaches are so natural. Sea creatures are in their natural habitat and nature just exists that way its suppose to. There are so many opportunities to see wildlife there. I went to take a boat to Cabbage Key and there were a few manatees swimming around the harbor. Another time, I stopped at a beach right off the roadway and there was a dolphin showing off for the people on the beach. The shelling in the area is amazing as well. Full, remarkable, and unique shells are everywhere! Even though I have only vacationed here once, I plan on traveling here many more times throughout my life.

 

There are so many beaches on the east coast that I haven’t visited yet and that I am eager to get to. If you have a beach I should add to my list let me know and I’ll visit is ASAP!!
Hope this helps you plan your beach adventures in the future!

 

 

When Trips Do Not Go According to Plan

You never know what to expect when you’re traveling. You could have smooth traveling days and even smoother days at your location. Other trips can lead you to new and unexpected places. And other trips could leave you wanting to never return to the area.

I have had some trips that have moved smoothly. Every day goes according to plan and every activity meets all my expectations. Other trips though, do not follow this formula. I have had trips where there just isn’t enough time to see it all or some plans fall through. Trips like my most recent trip to Florida, nothing goes according to plan at all. I find these trips exciting and character building. These types trips make or break travelers.

I hope they make more then they break.

I have learned that with each trip that does not go according to plan, you just need to go with the flow. Seriously, do not resist where the trip is trying to take you. You may miss out on something great because you are disappointed. I am a natural planner and I admit, I definitely start feeling discouraged when every plan falls through or changes. IT’S OKAY TO FEEL THIS WAY! Just don’t let this feeling linger. Embrace the path that the universe is putting you on and go with it!

Like I said, this happened with my most recent trip to Florida. Looking back on the trip, it was so unique and eye-opening because I went with where the trip was trying to take me.

The best example would be that wherever I travel, I always need to go to a new coffee shop. I need to try a new, single origin coffee. I look for coffee shops that roast their own coffee and have a certain vibe. I found these two coffee shops that meet my criteria near downtown Orlando. Luckily, our plans had us driving by downtown Orlando a few times, which means we could stop! Every day, every time,  our plans would fall through on our way to the coffee shops. We would have plans, leave early for these plans, and we would just happen to hit 30 minutes of traffic on the way. That would have been the 30 minutes we would have had to get coffee! I even tried looking at coffee shops along the routes we would be driving and one after another, our plans to stop would fall through.

On the 3rd day of the trip, plans fell through again to visit one of the coffee shops. I decided right there and then that I was done planning. This trip clearly had other plans for me. Later on the 3rd day, we visited a cute little town and we stumbled upon this tea shop called The Rosie Lee Co. They had loose teas lining the wall and a bar where you could order them. To the right of the bar, you could smell and buy the loose teas to brew on your own. I am obsessed with loose teas and love trying new ones. This place had a cool vibe and was like heaven! I was smelling the different loose teas and the barista started telling me about some of their specialty drinks. One was a turmeric latte with coconut milk and honey.

Fun fact about me: I love turmeric tea and I make lattes at home with turmeric tea. 

I was dazzled about how amazing that sounded. I ordered one right away.

Honestly, it was one of the best turmeric lattes I have ever had!

If I had coffee earlier in the day, I might have not given that shop much of a glance. And if I did go in, I might have ended up passing on the turmeric latte. But since I just let the trip take me where I needed to be, I ended up with an amazing turmeric latte and some loose teas I could bring home.

So please please please don’t get discouraged if your trip does a 180 last minute. Go with the flow! It’s a part of the journey.

The Tale of the Quick Moving Ocean

Traveling Truths about Iceland

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE traveling. The truth is though, traveling can be tough and isn’t always glamorous. Iceland was a magical and gorgeous place to explore but it did come with a slew of unexpected challenges.

 

The Tale of the Quick Moving Ocean

On the first full day in Iceland, our group traveled to the Snaefellness Peninsula to see some seals. After a long drive from Husafell, tired and excited, we walked out to the beach and moved quickly toward the seals lounging on the rocks. I had dreamed about this moment for a long time and couldn’t believe I was seeing these seals for the first time!! I spot three seals laying on rocks not too far from some rocks that jet out into the water. Wanting to see them up close and spotting a prime location for an Insta pic, I make my way out onto the rocks. I dragged my boyfriend along with me to see the seals. On our journey, we started crossing some rocks with crunchy seaweed and then through an inch of water left over from the tide.

As we made our way out, we started crossing over some slippery seaweed on top of the rocks so we had to be careful not to slip. Once we got all the way out to the edge, we were able to see the seals perfectly! I even had my boyfriend take a killer picture of me for Instagram! We could see my family looking at another seal far off in the distance. After a few minutes, we wanted to head where they were so we began to make our way back to the shore. As we made our way back, we noticed that the path we originally took was no longer the path back. In the 5 – 10 minutes we were out on the rocks, the tide had risen. As we started looking for a new path to take, we realized that the water had risen to over knee deep. Slightly panicked, my boyfriend and I took off our boots and rolled up our pants and waded through the knee-deep water.

Luckily, we made it through the water with only our pants wet. Had we been out on the rocks for even 2 more minutes, we might have been chest deep in cold Atlantic ocean water. When researching about traveling to Iceland, I had read a lot about tourists getting caught in waves that come up on the beaches rather quick. I had read many articles about the water being unpredictable on beaches in Iceland. Even though I did my homework, the excitement about the trip got the best of me on that first day and I almost ended up in a ton of trouble because of it.

Traveling can be wild, amazing, and awe-inspiring. When traveling, please keep in mind that cautions that come along with it. Listen to people who have traveled to the locations you are traveling to. Stay safe and keep on traveling!

 

Pittsburgh, PA

With my upcoming trip to Pittsburgh in October, I thought I would highlight some of my favorite places I have been while traveling there!

In June 2017 I traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Even though this wasn’t my first time in Pittsburgh, I always find something new and exciting to do while visiting. I absolutely love Pittsburgh! I am going to give you guys my top five favorite things to do while visiting this beautiful city. Whether it’s your first time visiting or you have been there hundreds of times, this list will give you cool ideas to help plan your next trip to the Steel City!

  1. The Strip District
    The Strip District in Pittsburgh has to be one of my favorite places on this planet. It’s a lively strip that contains culture, great food, and awesome shopping. In my most recent visit, I had brunch on a Sunday, in a restaurant called DiAnoia’s Eatery. It was awesome! I had the lemon ricotta pancakes and they must have been the best pancakes I have ever had!
    Right near DiAnoia’s Eatery, there is a cute little shop called Roxanne’s dried flowers. Roxanne’s has any plant you would ever need. They have a mix of dried and live plants and during the summer they have air plants!
    Next stop in the Strip District is the Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. This place has everything your Italian taste could desire! I once found squid ink pasta there! They even have fresh bread in the back. My favorite is the olive bread!
    One of my other favorite spots in the Strip District is Penzeys Spices. It’s the most amazing spice shop around! You can find anything from cinnamon from around the world to some of the best onion seasonings you’ll ever have!
    Last but certainly not least, the Allegheny Coffee Exchange is a cool place to stop for a coffee pick me up! If you love coffee, this is the place for you. The back of this coffee shop is lined with various coffees from around the world and they are all available for purchase! Additionally, they have neat coffee and tea brewing methods and accessories.  I usually look around in the back and then grab a coffee to go on my way out.If you’re looking for more to do when you visit the Strip District head to their website at: http://stripdistrictneighbors.com/ .
  2.  The Clipper
    I have done the Gateway Clipper boat tour twice now and both times it was great! Spending a hot summer day out on the three rivers seeing the beautiful city is definitely a unique experience! The tour includes a mix of historical and cultural information about Pittsburgh. It’s a great way to snap a picture of downtown, the stadiums, and the fountain where the three rivers meet. They have a snack and drink bar where you can buy food and drinks (alcohol and non-alcohol). If you want more information on the tour, check out their website: https://www.gatewayclipper.com/activities/three-rivers-sightseeing-2/ .
  3. Sports Game
    I have had the opportunity to see a Pirates game at PNC Park and a Pitt game at Heinz Stadium. Both stadiums are sensational! The amount of pride that Pittsburgh has for their sports teams is incredible! Not only does the stadium illuminate with pride in their teams, but it also gives you an amazing view of downtown Pittsburgh. If you travel to Pittsburgh and its during football or baseball season, definitely go and see a game!
  4. Coffee in Squirrel Hill
    In Squirrel Hill there is a quaint little coffee shop that I have adored for years. It’s called the Commonplace Coffeehouse. The vibe in this coffee shop is relaxing and cozy with a touch of modernism. I have not been to this coffee shop since I have learned a lot about coffee but I am hoping to write a follow-up article on my coffee adventures in Pittsburgh after my trip in October!
  5. Pitt and Carnegie Mellon
    If you have never been on the University of Pittsburgh’s or Carnegie Mellon’s campuses, you must go! They are walking distance from each other and there are many cool shops and food places in that area. Both universities offer really beautiful and unique buildings and are home to some incredible intellectuals. My favorite place to visit on Pitt’s campus is the Cathedral of Learning. On Carnegie Mellon’s campus, I love the statues and just walking around the grounds of the campus.

 

I’m pumped to get back to Pittsburgh after not visiting for a year and a half! I cannot wait to try new coffee shops, food places, and finally, ride the incline on this trip! Stay tuned.

Sunflower Fields Forever

One of my favorite activities to do in late summer/ early fall is going to the Sussex County Sunflower Maze. This sunflower maze is owned by a family farm in Sussex County New Jersey. The past two Septembers I have gone here with my boyfriend and it’s the cutest little place! They have two different mazes with a wide variety of sunflowers. They have the classic beautiful yellow sunflowers and deep red ones.

After being there twice, here are some tips about visiting this sunflower maze!

 

Tip #1
Make sure to go early in the season! This season, they were originally supposed to be open a few weekends into September. Due to hurricane Florence, they had to close early. Last summer, they stayed open an extra weekend and that’s how I was able to go. Even though it is great to go when it is a little cooler, if you want to make sure you get to the maze, definitely plan to go earlier in the season.
(They usually open at the beginning of August)

 

Tip #2
Wear boots or other shoes that you don’t mind getting mud on them! I know you are going to want to look cute for your Instagram but it could be muddy if it has rained recently.

 

Tip #3
Bring a friend! The sunflower maze is so much more fun with friends. Your friends can help take great pictures while you are there!

 

Tip #4
Make sure to buy a sunflower on your way out. They have beautiful big sunflowers for only a few bucks! Not only are they gorgeous but they help support a local family farm!

 

Overall, it is so incredibly peaceful and fun walking around a huge sunflower field! It’s only $10 per person! Please check out their Facebook page for updates and great photos of the sunflower maze!

https://www.facebook.com/sunflowersnj/

 

 

3 Days in LA

Hey Everyone!

This past June I went to Anaheim to present at a conference. I knew I was going to be there for only a few short days but I wanted to see as much of Los Angeles and the surrounding areas that I could! In three days I did more than I could have ever imagined! I stayed in Anaheim so I had to figure out how to get around without a car. I am going to give you some travel tips and then a break down of each day and how you can maximize your next trip to LA!

LA Trip Tip #1
What people say about LA traffic is true! It takes an hour to an hour and a half to travel thirty miles.

LA Trip Tip #2
If you hike the Hollywood sign, bring plenty of water! I was not use to hiking in such a dry climate!

LA Trip Tip #3
I heard about the June gloom in LA. I really didn’t experience it the few days I was there. the skies were clear and it was sunny and warm!

LA Trip Tip #4
My long (1-1.5 hour) Uber rides were around $50 each so be prepared for that cost if you are using Uber.

 

Day 1 

After my workshops on my first full day in LA, I took an uber to the Fullerton train station. I took a double-decker train to Union Station in LA. The train ride was beautiful! during the ride, you could see the San Gabriel mountains that paralleled the train. I met one of my friends at Union station and we drove to Santa Monica.

My friend and I parked in one of the parking lots for the Santa Monica beach along the Pacific Coast Highway. From there we were able to take a walk on the beach and down to Venice. It’s not too far of a walk but I must say I definitely got a lot of steps in that day.

On our walk back to Santa Monica a parade of colorful LED-lit bicycles rode up and down the bike paths. Once on the Santa Monica pier, we rode the Ferris wheel and got great ice cream sundaes. My friend brought me back to Union Station where I took an Uber back to Anaheim.

Day 2

After my presentation on the second day, my one friend who attended the conference with me rented a car. ( I could have also taken an Uber)

With his other two friends, we all drove up to the parking area for the hike to the Hollywood sign. The directions I found online were easy to follow and took us all the way up behind the Hollywood sign with various in front of the sign shots along the way. Since I went in June, I would really suggest bringing a pick me up snack and plenty of water. Being from the humid Northeast, hiking in the dryer climate made me very thirsty!  There were not many people behind the sign and we were able to get some great pictures. The view was great from the top too! On our way down, we went the same direction as another hiker and did not return the way we came. DO NOT DO THIS! we ended up with a great view of the sign but wound up in a residential section nowhere near our car. Also, there are gates where the parking lot is and it closes promptly at sundown. So make sure you are out of there before the sun goes down!

If you are looking for directions on how to get there use this link:
https://www.hikespeak.com/california/la/griffith-park-hollywood-sign-hikes/

It has the most up to date directions because some easier/quicker routes have been closed in the past few years.

After hiking, my friend from the first day picked me up and we ate dinner at the Hard rock cafe at University City Walk. There are so many stores, restaurants, and cool pieces of art. It is definitely a must-see.


Day 3

This last day of the conference I did not have anything going on until the evening so I woke up and decided I wanted to do something fun! I found a great deal on Groupon for a Hollywood Tour through Hollywood Tours LA. So, I got up and left right away! I took an Uber up to Hollywood and made it just in time for my tour! The tour was fantastic. We drove along Mullhonad drive and saw so many famous people’s houses and cool famous spots. I even requested to drive by Richard Simons and the tour guide took us there without hesitation. The tour guide I had used to be a drive for celebrities so he was full of information!

After the tour, I just walked around Hollywood Blvd. I grabbed some pressed juice at Rise and Grind. It was great! The place had a cool vibe and the juice was delicious. After walking around a bit more, I took an Uber back to Anaheim to get ready for an event at the conference. After the event, I grabbed a drink at the hotel bar and took a dip in the swimming pool.

******

I could not believe how much I was able to see in just three short days! If you are visiting LA and the surrounding areas and are looking for some cool places don’t hesitate to ask for help!

What are some of your favorite places to visit when you’re in LA??