travel – Page 8 – Blonde Rosie Blog

Texas

Published on April 17, 2016August 27, 2016 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

I just got back from Texas and I am so excited to share my adventures with y’all!
It was a disaster getting from Newark airport to Austin but after a missed flight, my brother being stopped by security, a transfer in Houston, and a man having a heart attack on our plane we finally got to Texas! As soon as we landed we had to quickly get dressed and catch the bus to the rehearsal dinner. I know my family curse is being late to everything but we were really cutting it close! In the Houston airport I was straightening my hair and putting on a full face of makeup which was getting me a lot of weird looks in the airport bathroom.

The Wedding

The whole reason we went to Texas was to go to my cousins wedding. It was a gorgeous Texan theme that looked like it came out of a Martha Stewart magazine. Everything was done perfectly!

I was afraid to get dressed for the wedding because this look is not my normal one. But hey, when on vacation try something new, right?

I chose a floor length dress with a very high slit (which became a big pain in the butt as it got really windy later that evening) and went with a statement red lip. I was inspired by my friend who never wears a boring color and always has a bold lip look. (Thanks Miss Victoria 😉 ) I got the lipstick for free as my Sephora birthday present because I never would have bought it myself. All of my lipsticks are shades of pink and one Chanel red I rarely wear. I became obsessed with this look and see myself using this shade more often in the future.

NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil, Belle De Jour

My date for the wedding!
Awesome ideas to have beer carrying donkeys at the wedding !

This was just day one of Texas with a lot more adventures ahead!

packing for texas

Published on April 7, 2016April 17, 2016 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

As I am writing this post I am wearing my warmest cashmere sweater with winter pants and I am still freezing! It is early April and there is no sign of spring. With the weather being in the thirties and snow in some areas packing for warm weather is a difficult task. As much excitement Texas brings I am staring at my closet wondering, what in the world am I going to bring? I have spent a good amount of time in the South to understand it is warmer but I have never been as far down south as Texas! We have a family wedding, travels, and adventures planned so again I ask, what in the world am I going to bring? After taking everything out of my closet and putting it on my floor outfits started to come together.

Denim

When in Texas, you wear denim! The night before the wedding my family is having a casual-ish dinner with jeans and boots as dress code. As a girly girl, wearing jeans to a rehearsal dinner is not going to happen! I decided to pack a J Crew denim dress that is casual but dressy with the right accessories. I am also bringing a denim shirt that I can wear with white shorts when we are going on day trips to places. I had a cute Lauren Conrad faded chambray shirt that keep the look preppy and is super comfortable.
J Crew Dress
LC Denim Shirt

Dresses

You cannot go south without some Lilly in your suitcase! I decided to bring my more casual long sleeve dress with me so I can wear it to sightsee or go out to dinner with the family.

For the rehearsal dinner for my cousins wedding it is casual with a Texan theme. People are suggested to wear jeans but me being me, I cannot just wear boring jeans! I decided to bring a J Crew denim dress and made it dressy with suede booties and a belt. https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/dresses/Day/PRDOVR~78958/78958.jsp?srcCode=AFFI00001&siteId=QFGLnEolOWg-BnJKUiMu0FZddi4S6Ej5tg

I am so excited to reveal my dress I chose for the wedding. It is something I do not usually wear but when I tried it on, I knew I needed it!

Sightseeing Essentials

I have no idea what the weather in Texas will be like. As I am shivering in Jersey writing this post I am dressed for winter. My body is not prepared for warmer weather! My wardrobe is also not ready for spring or the South! I am bringing J Crew button downs that I can wear with shorts or white jeans depending on the weather.

Factory petite gingham button-down shirt : Petites | J.Crew Factory

Shoes

There will be lots of walking! The problem with packing is that shoes take up so much room in my suitcase but I want to bring them all! I am bringing my Jack Rogers because they are the classic preppy southern shoe. I can wear them with a dress or out sightseeing so they are a trip must have. I am bringing my suede booties I got from Old Navy last summer in the clearance bin for $4. I wear them every day at work and for going out for drinks. Best $4 I ever spent on shoes! Old Navy copies popular styles for less but when they go to clearance they basically give them away for free!

Relaxing by the Lake

I am officially an adult when I buy a one piece bathing suit. I will be with my family being active by the pool and lake so I thought it was appropriate to get a one piece to keep it family friendly. I got a cute purple ruffle one piece that is adorable but i also brought an old Victoria’s Secret two piece in case there is time for sunbathing.

*None of these are my own personal photos. All photos found on Google.

are we out of the woods yet?

Published on March 14, 2016March 14, 2016 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

When I was growing up I spent a lot of time at our cabin in the Poconos that we shared with a few other families. In the winter we would go up there and ski and I would pretend I knew how to snowboard while my parents stayed warm in the ski lodge watching my brother and I fall and then fall again. I have also driven to Pittsburgh, PA more times than I can count! This past weekend two of my favorite things came together, I was invited on a trip to a cabin outside of Pittsburgh in the Seven Springs are.

I forgot how nice it is to just relax with friends in the outdoors. It felt like we were in the middle of nowhere and at night you could see all of the stars above. Living in New Jersey on the coast I feel like I am always going to Point A to Point B. My routine is so perfectly mapped out to make sure I get everything done. Am I the only one who schedules when they shower?? There is just something about being in the woods that refreshes your body and spirit.

Unfortunately with my job it does not allow many days off for me to go on vacations but weekend trips are so much fun! Sometimes just getting away for the weekend is enough to feel like a relaxing vacation. This Monday was rough getting up for work after too much fun and lack of sleep over the weekend. But the exhaustion was worth a fun weekend with some new & old friends! I encourage everyone to grab some friends and get away for the weekend. I promise you won’t regret it!

she said, I think I’ll go to Boston

Published on November 20, 2015August 27, 2016 by blonde rosie1 Comment

Day 1

For years I have been talking about going to Boston with some college friends. The first week of freshman year I became friends with two girls and we remained friends all of those years. Finally after graduation we decided to visit our friend Lola in Boston. I worked until noon on Thursday and then around 2pm my friend Deb and I were on the road!

NJ –> NYC –> Conn. –> MA
On our trip through Connecticut Deb found out where UConn was so I guess you are never too old to learn something new. 😉

After six hours of driving in traffic we finally made it to my friends house about an hour outside of Boston. Can you tell we were excited to finally make it? hehe Exhausted from the drive we snuggled up on the couch and watched tv. It was nice to watch Scandal with my girls and be able to OMG together.
We woke up super early and took the T into Boston, or should I say Bahston. After some confusion (Lola ordering senior tickets for Fenway instead of regular adult ones) we got a tour of the Fenway Park. Hopefully my dad will be okay with me pretending I am a Boston Red Sox fan for the day and abandoning my Pittsburgh Pirates!
Fenway Selfie with the Girls!! I could get used to this view!

The day of our tour was when Fenway Field was being used for a football game later that night so the field looked a little off but still very cool to see.
Some original seats from the early 1900s!
View from the Green Monster Seats!

I am so ~blessed~ to call these girls my friends! After Fenway we went to the Prudential Tower, 21 stories up in the air and the view was fantastic! You got to walk around the top floor and see all of Boston.

A trip to Boston is not complete until going through a Samuel Adams Brewery tour! Cheers!

Day 2

On day two we slept a little late to catch up on some much needed sleep. We walked so many miles the day before and we had many more things to see on day two! But first we needed coffee and went to Starbucks, a place Lola and I spent way too many days drinking coffee & chatting in college. Deb was a Starbucks newbie so that was fun to witness after explaining to her a medium was called a grande “Can I g.et a grande coffee?” “What kind?” “A freshly brewed coffee?” HAHAHA We told her to get a Pike Place coffee after she looked very confused…

We decided to drive to Boston this time and I am happy we did. The weather dropped significantly and our bodies were not used to the cold weather. We started out at Faneuil Hall and I still cannot pronounce it so I called it Falafel Hall haha
Quincy Market was so cute and it was already decorated for the holidays. It was fairytale perfect!
We went down to the harbor and froze to death (almost). It was gorgeous and I hope to see it again when it is warmer to appreciate it better.
You cannot go to Boston without a trip to Mike’s Pastry!!
I found the place I would like to be proposed to. The worlds cutest bridge in Boston is the ideal romantic spot to be with a significant other. I asked Lola to tell my future husband to propose to me on this bridge but preferably when it wasn’t cold! Make Way for the Duckling Statue
Of course this picture had to be taken!!
Cheers at Cheers!

Where everybody knows your name!
Bye Bye, Boston!

Until next time!

We plan on coming back to Boston in the summer to go to Cape Cod since Deb has never been.

A girls weekend I just what I needed after weeks of working and drowning in adulthood.

you know you love me xoxo philly

Published on November 10, 2015December 21, 2015 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

On Sunday the family and I drove down to Philly for the day to go to the art museum for my moms birthday. Philly is a city that has history for all of us so it always nice to visit. I went to college for four years in Philadelphia and my mom went to PCOM for optometry school while my parents were married for a few years. It is great because this city feels like home for the three of us!

We were lucky that we have a great city just an hour away from us! Since the Pope was recently there the LOVE Philly logo statue was changed to “AMOR” to honor the Pope. Of course we had to get a photo! I hope we can take advantage of day trips more often because it was a great time with the family. We went to the Philadelphia Art Museum which is a must see if you go to Philly! Again I fell in love with Monet. I was staring at one of his paintings for about fifteen minutes just memorized by the beauty of the brushstrokes. There was Picasso, Michelangelo and Da Vinci!

See you again, Philly!

xoxo

the moment that changes your life forever

Published on January 23, 2015December 21, 2015 by blonde rosieLeave a comment

I could go on for hours trying to fully tell someone about my ten day trip to the Gulf Coast. I could talk about all of the funny things that made me laugh so hard I actually cried. Or the service I did with others that brought me to tears for different reasons. Or how those ten days became one big therapy session for me where I got to release my demons and somehow step out of my depression.

They say that the best way to get through depression or even sadness is to help others. For months I thought my life was worthless. I was sad and could not imagine the day I would not feel this heavy sadness that consumed me. But since the first day on this adventure with fourteen other people I left that dark rain cloud in Philadelphia and got to be my free spirited and socially awkward old self again.

I got to see homelessness, or “residentially challenged” as they liked to call themselves in a whole new way. I got to stand in a part of the Lower Ninth Ward that was once twenty feet under water and remains as untouched as it did after Hurricane Katrina ten years ago. In Alabama, I saw firsthand the hunger that occurs in our country. I personally got to hand people who waited in line a bag of food that will need to last them a week for their basic survival. Solidarity is a concept that I always hear about and try to stress to do in any thing I do with people that may differ from me but during my Gulf Coast experience it was so easy to do.

I would give anything to go back with those fourteen amazing people. The Gulf Coast will always have a special place in my heart forever. My life has definitely been changed because of these life experiences. Not just because of my freedom from my depression but this new outlook on life.