The post Summerween! Summer vibes spooky energy first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>Summer what? Summerween!
What is Summerween? It’s essentially Halloween celebrated in the Summer months. The term is most famously known from its pop culture origins in Gravity Falls, where the townspeople love Halloween so much that they decide to celebrate it twice a year. The lore includes carved watermelons or pineapple, otherwise known as jack-o’-melons; and spooky summer treats, pumpkin spice, horror movie marathons, poolside Halloween floats, and tropical costumes. Essentially, Summerween is a blend of cozy Halloween vibes and Summer heat.
Of course, Summerween isn’t replacing Halloween, it’s just expanding the season into a feeling – one that begins earlier and lasts longer.
Spooky but make it Summer! Duh!
Cookout vibes & Movie Nostalgia
Summerween wouldn’t be complete without a cookout, spooky decor, and a 70/80s summer camp/lake thriller.
To complete this vibe, my husband grilled burgers, while I made elote, arranged a charcuterie board, carved a jack-o’-melon, and crafted a blood orange mocktail.
After we grubbed, we decided to watch the original Jaws (mostly because it felt like a local flick, with my husband and I currently residing in Boston, with the movie filmed on Martha’s Vineyard).
Spooky Seazon in Salem
All that said, Summerween wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Salem and Marblehead, MA! So, the next day after celebrating this iconic holiday, we took a trip with the in-laws and bopped around.
We began the next day in Marblehead, starting with the historic district, then Fort Sewall. After walking around some, we drove to Salem Maritime, then walked around downtown. We finished the day off with some pizza at Monte’s, in Lynn, MA. Fun fact, Monte’s ranks no.1, with a perfect 10, on Dave Portnoy’s top 20 pizza places – one bite, everybody knows the rules!
It may be the end of August, but there is still plenty of time to celebrate Summerween. Then, before you know it, there will be a change in seasons. With the air becoming more crisp, the leaves changing color, and the ghouls coming out to play with the Halloween days.
The post Summerween! Summer vibes spooky energy first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>The post Five star weekend: A blue book guide on how to summer in Nantucket first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>Planning a trip to Nantucket? I got you covered, or at least Elin Hilderbrand and The Blue Book, do.
The Blue Book is a guide to all things Nantucket! Each chapter lays out where one should beach, eat, shop, rent bikes, and plan added activities.
I ordered a signed copy of The Blue Book from Nantucket Bookworks, prior to my move to Boston (I would say I manifested things), and it is easily one of my most prized possessions.
One year later after moving to Boston, we made the ACK trip happen, and visited this past Memorial Weekend (a great way to spend our one year anniversary of living in New England)! With the help of The Blue Book, this was our (my husband and I) planned out itinerary:
Day One
On day one, my husband and I drove from Boston to Hyannis, and took the Hy-Line ferry to Nantucket. We booked Captain’s View tickets, which gave us priority boarding and extended legroom. As a note, parking and ferry tickets, especially during the summer season, sale out fast, so it’s important that one secures tickets months in advance (I booked and gifted this trip as a Christmas present to Evan and I).
When we arrived to Nantucket, we walked to our hotel, 76 Main Ink Press Hotel, and were able to do an early check-in, allowing us to drop off our bags and re-fresh.
Of course, we were feeling pretty hungry after arriving to the island, so we hit up Walter’s Deli. Though expensive (like everything else on the island), it easily became my husband’s favorite food spot (he literally asked me if we could go back everyday while on vacation). We ordered the New Yorker and Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwiches, as well as a a homemade lemonade, but we also heard from several locals the Lobster Roll is fantastic (and pretty affordable as far as New England lobster rolls go).
We took our sandwiches (grab and go) to the beach, thereafter. We were planning to go to Steps Beach, but settled on Jetties Beach (which was still really nice, and a walk carrying my new Bogg Bag). Unfortunately, when we visited Nantucket, it was on the colder and cloudier end, so we sat and ate, and then boogied to Town.
In Town, we shopped at some local boutique stores including the new (opening day) Dairy Boy flagship store, Mitchell’s Book Corner (I bought an Elin Hilderbrand ornament, Nantucket postcards, and a new Elin Hilderbrand read, The Identicals), Blue Beetle, Milly & Grace, Murray’s Toggery (famous for their Nantucket reds), and a few other shops.
After we shopped until we dropped, we went back to our hotel and got ready for dinner, where we had reservations waiting for us at Oran Mor. Oran Mor was our favorite dinner spot on the island (I ordered the flaming daisy cocktail, and we shared the kale Caesar, black truffle bucatini, and coffee meets doughnut dessert).
Finally, we finished off with a nightcap at The Chicken Box. If you are an Elin Hilderbrand fan, then you know.
Day Two
On our full second day in Nantucket, we ate breakfast at our hotel, and then made our way over to Nantucket Bike Shop, where we rented out a couple of bikes (I got a beach cruiser for myself and Evan opted for a mountain bike). Once the bikes were secured, we rode over to Siasconset, taking the scenic route on Polpis Road (~10 miles). We, then, ate at Claudette’s, where we ordered the smoked turkey with house sauce. I love horseradish, so this sandwich was top notch for me!
After we ate our sandwiches, we went for a nice walk, taking the Sconset Bluff trail out to Sankaty Head Lighthouse. We enjoyed some spectacular views, but our feet/legs were definitely hurting. Still, we powered through and ended up riding our bikes back on Milestone Road (~8 miles, flat terrain).
Once back at the hotel, we took a little nap, then worked up an appetite for dinner. Our second night of dinner was spent at Sea Grille, which was super yummy (the oysters were nice and fresh), but came with some pretty high price tags.
Day Three
On our final day in Nantucket, albeit it was rainy, we took a stroll over to Wicked Island Bakery for the morning bun and almond croissant.
We were hoping to play Micomet Golf Course or check out Nantucket Disc Golf, but we took a rain check and walked over to the Whaling Museum instead. We did some final shopping around Town, walked by The Nantucket Hotel (Elin Hilderbrand’s novel “The Hotel Nantucket” is based around this famous landmark), and then took an Uber to Cisco Brewers. Cisco has many foods, wines, beers, and cocktails to choose from, but I went with a frozen margarita and ordered fish and chips from Nantucket Lobster Trap.
Of course, our trip wasn’t complete without some ice cream from The Juice Bar. We ordered the green monster and pistachio.
With the weather being less than sublime, we decided to take a break from the rain, and spent some time reading (me) and playing video games (Evan) in our hotel room. I even finished the last book (published), A Court of Silver Flames, from a Court of Thorns series.
To cap off the evening, we ate dinner at The Proprietors. Most of the food was shareable, but because we weren’t readily hungry, we just ordered two smalls: baked feta and fried broccoli, as well as some orange wine for moi, which really hit the spot!
In summary, we thoroughly enjoyed our time on Nantucket, and were sad to leave, but have every intention of returning in the future. Thanks for following along, and I hope this itinerary serves as inspo for your next big adventure!
The post Five star weekend: A blue book guide on how to summer in Nantucket first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>The post The Wizarding World of New York City first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>In the famous words of Taylor Swift, welcome to New York, it’s been waitin’ for you!
Last month, April 2026, Evan and I traveled to New York City for our joint 33rd birthday celebration. We both are big Harry Potter fans, so naturally, we planned our trip around Broadway and The Cursed Child. And let me just say, the show did not disappoint – it was literally everything and more!
Of course, we did other things aside from just eating chocolate covered frogs and drinking butter beer. Here is a break down of our itinerary for the long holiday weekend (Marathon Monday in Boston).
Day One
On our first day of the long weekend, we drove from Boston to New York City, spending about five hours in the car, with traffic. Normally, the trip is shy of four hours.
Once we arrived, we checked into our hotel, Marriott Vacation Club (we are Marriott members and this hotel was perfect for our weekend needs).
After showering and getting ready, we ate dinner in midtown at Valerie, where I ordered a dirty martini, and we shared the baby gem caesar, truffle fries, and charcuterie.
We finished off the night on broadway, where we watched The Cursed Child at Lyric Theater. If you are a big Harry Potter fan, like we are, this play is for you! Everything from the stage design, to snacks, to our very own balcony box, and special effects, surpassed our expectations and were 10/10! Of course, it was an experience to watch Tom Felton reclaim his role as Draco Malfoy (and he was absolutely amazing!).
Day Two
On our full day in New York City, we got up early and grabbed breakfast at Liberty Bagels (I ordered the rainbow bagel and Evan got the blueberry bagel; we both ordered the original cream cheese schmear).
Even with the rain, this couldn’t keep us away from checking out some sites, including the infamous Statue of Liberty and Elis Island. We booked the 9am departure with statue Liberty Cruises in Battery Park.
After checking out the Statue of Liberty, Evan was set on visiting the Nintendo store, and even ‘sent it’ on purchasing a Switch 2. From there, we walked a bit around Times Square, the Rockefeller Center, and Bryant Park/New York Public Library, before heading back to our hotel, and then out for some sushi at Izakaya MEW.
After hanging out at our hotel and taking a long mid day nap, we worked up an appetite for some pizza. We were originally going to go out to Lucali in Brooklyn, but that seemed like an expenditure in the rain, so we wound up finding this cute spot on Yelp called Gelso & Grand (the aperol splash and margherita pizza were to die for).
Finally, we finished out the evening with a nightcap up on the rooftop of our hotel, and even had a view of the Empire State Building.
Day Three
On our last morning in the Big Apple, we grabbed some Dunks (because New England runs on dunks and my hubby can’t go a week without his refresher), and walked around Central Park.
We were originally going to have a picnic in Central Park, but with the weather being cold and rainy, we opted into walking around instead, which was more than okay, since it allowed us to cover a lot more ground and say hi to cute pups out on their morning stroll.
Thanks for visiting the Wizarding World of New York City with us! Stay tuned for the next travel blog. I have a feeling it might have something to do with Nantucket, MA
The post The Wizarding World of New York City first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>The post We’re shipping up to Boston first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>Hello New England! Admittedly, it’s been a minute since I posted on the blog. As a life update, Evan, the pups, and I, recently moved out to the Boston area in Massachusetts, and I started a new role as a Case Manager at Boston College! Thus far, I am enjoying and feeling seen in my new role, and I like that it combines aspects of my Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, as well as higher education/student services work in Academic Advising.
I received my job offer in March/April 2025, flew out to Boston and found a cute apartment/townhome end of April, and then we made the move and I started my job end of May. We have flown back and forth from California this month of June, to attend three weddings in South Lake Tahoe (I love, love), so I’ll have a chance to settle into my new role and residence a bit more starting July.
I am most looking forward to beach days out in Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Newport, Portsmouth, Bar Harbor, and The Hamptons, to name a few, this Summer. I can’t wait to collect seashells, eat lobster rolls and ice cream, take a sunset sail/ferry across the pond, stroll along coastal walkways, drive past New England homes flowering with hydrangeas, and splurge on market goods. Similarity, I am also really looking forward to spooky and leaf peeping season this Fall. Your girl will definitely be out in Salem getting witchy with her ghostly corgis, driving along the autumn foliage highways in New Hampshire and Vermont, and hitting up all the pumpkin patches and apple picking farms that I can find! Still, I am excited to experience all the seasons, including winter and spring, because that means skiing and ice skating, drinking warm cocoa, enjoying the holidays, watching movie marathons, and seeing new flowers bloom!
I will be better about blogging and will follow up with a summer edition of activities, eats, stays, etc. in New England. In the meantime, this post will be focused on the journey from Salt Lake City to Boston:
Salt Lake City UT to Boston MA
Since the drive is a total of 1 day and 10ish hours, and we drove our separate cars (with a dog in each car), we broke the journey into 5 days total. Keep in mind we would stop at parks for the pups and food/gas along the way, so by the time we arrived at our destination, it was later in the day and we weren’t up for much sight seeing. Still, it was cool to drive and see different parts of the country I’ve never seen/experienced, and we were able to visit Niagara Falls (it was rainy, but an amazing experience nonetheless) when we stayed in Buffalo (~25 minute drive).
Day One: Salt Lake City, Utah to Cheyenne, Wyoming (~6 hours).
Day Two: Cheyenne, Wyoming to Des Moines, Iowa (~8 hrs 30 minutes).
Day Three: Des Moines, Iowa to South Bend, Indiana (~5 hours 45 minutes).
Day Four: South Bend, Indiana to Buffalo, New York (~6 hours 30 minutes).
Day Five: Buffalo, New York to Boston, Massachusetts (~6 hours 30 minutes).
The post We’re shipping up to Boston first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>The post ciao Europa! This is what honeymoon dreams are made of (part two) first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>Ciao ~ welcome back to part due of my honeymoon blog! This week, I am going to cover the later half of our trip spent in Italia. In the famous words of Lizzie McGuire, “this is what dreams are made of.”
Lake Como, Italy
Day One:
Lake Como was our first stop on our Italian leg of our honeymoon. We took a bus from Strasbourg to Como, which took longer than expected due to our bus running an hour behind. Once we arrived in Como, we took a ferry to Lenno, where we checked into our hotel, Lenno Albergo. We had planned to ride bikes or take a ferry over to Hotel Tremezzo so we could lay out by the pool/beach, but since the weather and timing was not optimal, we decided to opt out (though if we ever return, this is on our list of things to do).
Lenno Albergo
When we arrived to Lenno, we decided to lounge at our hotel pool, then walk around the cute little town and beaches. We found a tasty gelato spot, and when it was time for dinner, we ate at the restaurant inside of our hotel, Lenno Albergo. Do not get me started on the tiramisu – I was speechless, in a good way.
Day Two:
On our second day at the lake, we ventured over to Bellagio (I am not talking about the one in Vegas).
Bellagio
Bellagio is just across the pond from Lenno, so it made for a pretty easy ferry ride. Once we were in Bellagio, we wondered the neighboring streets and Town Center. Bellagio is known for their silk, so I bought a dainty silk scarf from a local shop, which I wore in Venice a few days later.
In Bellagio, we also walked over to Salita Serbelloni and connected to Via Giuseppe Garibaldi viewpoint. Thereafter, we meandered over to Comune di Bellagio and followed the sign for Pescallo, which is a small fisherman’s village.
After roaming around the residential side of Bellagio, we arrived at the meeting point for our one hour boat tour with Bellagio Water Limousines of Lake Como and had Luca drive us around the lake. We saw various landmarks like Villa Carlotta, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Parco Civico Teresio Olivelli, Villa La Cassinella, and I Giardini di Villa Melzi, but Villa Del Balbianello was our favorite site (which is well known for its portrayal in famous movies like James Bond and Star Wars).
Venice, Italy
Day One:
When we arrived in Venice, we were not prepared for the shock of climbing what felt like a minimum of ten bridges with our suitcases before we arrived at our hotel, Rialto Unique Experience. There are no cars on the island of Venice, just water taxis. So, don’t do what we did – instead pay for a water taxi to take you to your location, and consider bringing a backpack, rather than a roller bag (joke was on us).
St. Marks Square
Thus, after we checked into our hotel and took a quick shower, we headed over to St. Marks Square, where we made reservations to visit the Basilica. The Basilica was probably our favorite part of Venice, because the architecture was nothing short of spectacular. We were able to go inside the building and even saw The Horses of Saint Mark, also known as the Triumphal Quadriga. As a rule of thumb, it is best to wear clothing that covers your knees and elbows, as this is a religious monument/site.
After the Basilica, we walked over to Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Signs. However, because it was so crowded, we quickly crossed the bridge and moved on.
Dorsoduro District
We meandered over to the Ponte dell’Accademia (bridge) and the Dorsoduro District next. The bridge is one of four in Venice that spans the Grand Canal, while the Dorsoduro neighborhood offers quaint alleys, smaller bridges, and shopping. Evan and I were going to try and rent a private gondola, but most were really pricey and we personally didn’t think it was worth the time and money, though it seems like a very romantic activity.
Ristorante Riviera
Ristorante Riviera is located in the Dorsoduro neighborhood, and specializes in Venetian Cuisine. The restaurant came highly recommended by locals, so I booked a reservation for us. I ordered the spaghetti carbonara, and without a doubt, it was the best pasta I ate in Italy (and we ate a lot of pasta).
Day Two:
The next day in Venice was pretty rainy and chilly, so there were smaller crowds (but honestly not by much … Venice was the most crowded city we visited). So, it was nice to head over to the island of Burano after we ate some breakfast.
Rialto Bridge
Because our hotel was situated behind the Rialto Bridge, we figured we could take pictures at this populated site earlier in the morning. There are pretty views on both sides, but the key is to arrive early!
Caffe Florian
Caffe Florian is the oldest coffeehouse in Venice, established in 1720, and is located in the Procuratie Nuove of Piazza San Marco. While expensive, I thought it was cool to experience, and I even finally enjoyed smaller-sized macarons and morning tea.
To get to Burano and Murano, we took the water bus ACTV.
Burano
When we arrived in Burano, we strolled around the streets and enjoyed the views of the colorful houses. Burano is known for its lace, colorful fisherman houses, and Bussola or S shaped cookies. Though it was a rainy day, we really enjoyed the vibrant homes and canals.
Murano
Since Murano was on our way back to Venice, we decided to stop off at this little island. Murano is known for its colorful glass, and I actually snagged a pair of cute red glass heart earrings.
Osteria Anice
Finally, to end the day, we made our way back to Venice and went to dinner at Osteria Anice (where we made dinner reservations). The restaurant served some of the best food we had on our trip – the fried chicken is not to miss!
Siena, Italy
A day spent in Siena/Tuscany
Castello di Brolio
Castello di Brolio is the oldest winery castle in Italy. The region is also known for its Chianti wine. While we did not have enough time to pay a visit, when we eventually return in the future, we plan to visit the gardens and enjoy a tasting in the wine shop (or at least I plan to do this, since Evan doesn’t drink).
Cooking Class!
After we checked-in to our hotel, Il Chiostro del Carmine (an old monetary that offered stunning views of the Tuscany region), we ventured to the cooking class I booked in Siena, through Fontegiusta Academy. We booked the Pasta Lovers cooking class with Chef Chiarelli.
In the cooking class, we made homemade sauce and pasta, ravioli and gnocchi, as well as a biscotti dessert and cookies. Of course, I also enjoyed a few glasses of the local Chianti wine.
The cooking class was hands down, the most enjoyable and unforgettable experience, we had in Siena. It even went a few hours longer than planned, so we didn’t have as much time to check out sites in Siena. Consequently, we will have to plan a visit back to this picturesque place. One day was clearly not enough – but while we weren’t there for a long time, we had such a marvelous time (and even made new friends)!
In the famous words of the movie Ratatouille, “anyone can cook!” (Picture proof of us in chef hats).
When we eventually do return to Siena, I have plans to check-out sites like I Tetti di Siena, Piazza del Campo, Piccolomini Library (we actually walked by this), Facciatone, Duomo, Palazzo Pubblico, and the Basilica of San Domenico.
By car, we also plan to check-out Poggio Covili, Pienza, and Montepulciano, as we didn’t have time to stop along our way to the Amalfi Coast. The Tuscany region is so stunning, and I do honestly wish we would have devoted more time to staying in and exploring this area.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Day One:
Speaking of stunning, the Amalfi Coast was absolutely gorgeous! One might even describe it as magical.
Evan and stayed in Sorrento, a town that overlooks the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy.
Peter’s Beach
After we checked-in at our hotel, Atlantic Palace, in Sorrento, we walked down to Peter’s Beach. A co-worker had recommended the club (and the caprese sandwich) to me, so Evan and I thought we would go and check it out! The beach club ended up being rather enjoyable, where we spent our afternoon lounging underneath the orange umbrellas and sun, while I enjoyed a limoncello spritz.
O’Parrucchiano La Favorita
After seeing tons of pictures of this restaurant online with its lemon trees and garden, I knew we had to eat dinner here. Even though we did try calling and texting the restaurant numerous times, but were unsuccessful in reaching anyone to make a reservation, to our pleasant surprise, we were able to walk-in no problem (we did arrive when the establishment opened its doors for dinner though). The food was decent, but the views and company were superb!
Day Two:
On our second day on the Amalfi Coast, we weren’t as lucky with the weather. The morning fluctuated between cloudy weather and pouring rain, but we made the most of a gloomy day.
Positano
We took a ferry from Sorrento to Positano, where we ventured over to the beach club, Da Ferdinando.
Da Ferdinando
I made reservations for a front row umbrella and two sunbeds, so we figured we had to go to the beach club, even if for a little bit of time. We ended up lucking out and spent this first hour under cloudy skies, before we left the beach and it started to rain in Positano.
We were going to visit the towns of Amalfi, Atrani, and Revello, but decided navigating the bus system in the rain would not be as enjoyable. So, we boarded the next ferry across stormy waters to the island of Capri.
Capri
At Capri, we climbed the stairs to Capri Town (The Funicular, tram, was not running at the time). The whole time it was pouring rain, so we grabbed some spaghetti alle vongole aka spaghetti and clams, and then stopped into a shop to purchase some sweatshirts.
Unfortunately Blue Grotto charters were not operating due to unfavorable weather conditions, but Evan jokes that while he didn’t see the Blue Grotto, he was able to “buy a blue ass sweatshirt.”
Rome, Italy
A day spent in Rome
Rome wasn’t built in a day … still, this is how much time we spent in Italy’s Capitol.
Roman Colosseum
The Colosseum is one of, if not the biggest, tourist attractions in Rome. It is an elliptical amphitheater just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built, and was once used for gladiator battles, executions, and plays/dramas. In the early medieval era, the building ceased to be used for entertainment purposes, and instead, was utilized as a quarry, housing, and religious shrine. Now, this ancient place serves as a renowned symbol of Imperial Rome.
Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps, or otherwise known, Scalinata di Trinita dei Monti, is a landmark that was built in the 1700s. It features 135 steps, and as depicted in the photo, gets significantly busy in the afternoon lol.
Trevi Fountain
Finally, the Trevi Fountain was designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and finished by Pietro Bracci. This is the most grand fountain in the city and has appeared in notable films, like the Lizzie McGuire movie, IKYK. It is said, if you toss a coin into the fountain, you will return to Rome. I did not have a coin and we had to stand pretty far back behind the crowds, but I tried to put good vibes out into the universe that we would like to return one day
Like Venice, Rome was pretty packed when we arrived in the afternoon. Thus, we didn’t have the opportunity to see the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, or St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Hopefully, one day we will be able to see these sites.
Il Giardino Ristorante at Hotel Eden
Nonetheless, we did enjoy one last honeymoon dinner at the restaurant inside the celebrity-frequented Hotel Eden. The views were top notch, and even though I ordered a simple chicken noodle soup, it was probably the best chicken noodle of my life. Send more noods! What’s more, the restaurant staff were very professional and kind, and even brought out a little donut dessert to commemorate our honeymoon.
To conclude, we enjoyed the most splendid vacation. I feel so grateful to have a partner that is open to exploring the world with me, and I can’t wait for more adventures with this man. Evan, thanks for the best honeymoon – I love you as much as I love Italian gelato – which is a lot!
The post ciao Europa! This is what honeymoon dreams are made of (part two) first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>The post Bonjour Europa! This is what honeymoon Dreams are made of (Part One) first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>Most of my European dreams and inspirations, as I’m sure is the case for others as well, derives from famous movies and tv series like The Lizzy McGuire Movie, Luca, Beauty and the Beast, Star Wars, James Bond, Emily in Paris, etc. Thus, we saw it fitting to visit various parts of Europe, for our once in a lifetime (always the goal) honeymoon!
We took the untraditional route and decided to plan our honeymoon roughly 6-7 months out from our wedding. While there are pros and cons to waiting some time after the wedding to vacation, we figured there were more benefits in our situation. It gave us the opportunity to pay down some of the credit card costs accrued from our wedding before we spent thousands more on our honeymoon, I was provided a few additional months of planning for activities/restaurants/sites, and we were able to re-charge our batteries after the wedding and before voyaging onto our itinerary-packed honeymoon vacation.
In terms of planning, we spent a number of months figuring out honeymoon logistics. We booked our flights first, then the hotels, then public transport. After travel/hotel accommodations were arranged, I started booking restaurant and site/activity reservations. I highly recommend making reservations in advance as things book up quickly, especially during the height of The Eras Tour, Olympics, and busy tourism months.
Because our itinerary was so packed, I am going to cover each location we visited, starting with The Netherlands and France. I will focus on the Italy portion of our honeymoon in next week’s blog post!
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Day One:
Because our overnight plane arrived in Amsterdam around mid afternoon the next day, we were able to spend the first half of day one exploring the Anne Frank House and Jordaan District. We even had time after dinner to check-out the Red Light District.
The Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is one of the most famous landmarks in all of Amsterdam, so it is important tickets are purchased once that window opens (I believe I was able to purchase tickets a few months to our visit date/time). The museum is dedicated to Jewish WWII diarist Anne Frank, who hid with her family and four other people in the Secret Annex, as a way to flee Nazi persecution. Though Anne Frank did not survive the war, her diary was preserved and published in 1947, and the Anne Frank House went on to became a permanent exhibition to locals and visitors alike.
Pesca
After touring the Anne Frank House, we worked up an appetite and made our way over to dinner reservations at Pesca, a local seafood restaurant in the Jordaan. The restaurant was an experience in itself, as there were different elements to ordering food/drinks. The Theater of Fish has patrons choose their own fish (daily selection) and side dishes from the market. From there, a wine or other beverage is paired. The food/wine was fresh, delicious, and absolutely one-of-a-kind!
Wondering the Canals
Of course, a trip to Amsterdam is not complete without wondering around the many canals. Because of this, the area is often lovingly referred to as the “Venice of the North.”
Red Light District
De Wallen is the most well-known and largest red-light district in Amsterdam. It is known for its alleys and one-room cabins rented by prostitutes who offer their services from behind an illuminated red glass window. While Evan and I found strolling through the area interesting, and not the typical exposure we would experience in the states, it wasn’t really our thing (though, it might be for others).
Day Two:
Keukenhof
Because Evan and I visited Europe late spring, Keukenhof was one, if not the main, reason we chose to add Amsterdam to our travel list. Keukenhof is known for their vast tulip fields and botanical gardens, which are in bloom March-early May. The garden sits just outside of Amsterdam in the country-side, and is accessible by car or bus (we took the Keukenhof Express Bus to and from Amsterdam RAI). Since Evan and I visited on a Tuesday morning, it was relatively unpopulated, which made for an enjoyable stroll!
Small bites at Vlaams Friteshuis and Van Wonderen
If you love fries and fixings, as well as stroopwafels, as much as we do, then Vlaams Friteshuis or Vleminckx de Sausmeester and Van Wonderen need to be on your to-do! For my fries, I ordered the Dutch mayo sauce, while Evan smothered his fries with the cheese sauce. Van Wonderen is also pretty well-known from places like Tik Tok for their stroopwafels and fixings. I ordered the m&ms, which were tasty and made for great photos, while Evan got the Oreo topping.
Bloemenmarkt
Bloemenmarkt is a floating flower market, and it includes floral, garden, and other souvenir shops. The market is one of the largest suppliers of flowers to central Amsterdam. While we did not purchase flowers, we did start the trend of collecting travel ornaments at every city we visited.
The Jordaan & 9 Streets
Some of the best shopping and restaurants are located in the Jordaan. Though it was originally a working-class neighborhood, the Jordaan has become one of the most upscale and expensive areas in Amsterdam.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is a national Dutch museum dedicated to the arts and history of this historic city. We had the opportunity to roam around the gardens and check-out the amazing architecture. Of course, there are other proximate sites like the Van Gogh Museum (I have been to this before and it is such a cool day activity), the Stedelijk Museum, and Vondelpark.
Restaurant Ambassade
I absolutely cannot recommend this restaurant enough! Restaurant Ambassade’s menu highlights a creative take on classic French dishes. I ordered the risotto but Evan’s dish definitely took the cake (I mean look at that picture… insert drool emoji).
Easy Times
Since a trip to Amsterdam is not complete without a trip to a coffee shop or two or three, Evan and I found Easy Times. Though I don’t really partake in said extracurriculars, Evan was flouting on cloud nine!
Paris, France
The next few days, we ventured off to Paris, the city of light!
Day One:
We arrived on Victory in Europe Day, aka when the Nazis surrendered, so many shops and restaurants were closed, which meant planning for pre-reserved activities and dinning options that were still open.
Picnic Tour Eiffel
The first thing we did was take a train from our hotel over to the Eiffel Tower, where we found a cute shop with charcuterie items. We ordered cheese, bread, and some bubbly. Because the surrounding parks around the Eiffel Tower were blocked off to the public in preparation of the Olympics, we brought our items over to the side of the Seine River, and enjoyed our picnic at a table.
River Seine Cruise
After we enjoyed our charcuterie, we boarded our reserved cruise with Bateaux Parisiens. We found this enjoyable as it gave us a different vantage point of the city. Though we weren’t able to cruise the entire river, due to the size of the boat, high tides, and bridges, we were able to see a good portion of the Seine. This is highly recommended for a visit (especially first-time) to Paris.
Perruche
As a night-cap, we had dinner at Perruche (again, I made reservations here). The restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, is located at the top of Printemps Haussmann, and offers STUNNING views of the Eiffel Tower, which we got to see sparkling in the night sky.
Day Two:
Le Vrai Paris
This cute little cafe/brasserie is located in Montmartre, 18th arrondissement, which is one of the prettiest arrondissements in Paris (but I may be biased). Of course, we started the morning off with croissants and cafe du lait, which translates to milk coffee.
Montmartre
Again, this is a neighborhood in the 18th arrondissement. We walked around and checked out various sites like Le Mur des Je’ t-aime, Rue de l’Abreuvoir, La Maison Rose Cafe and The Ivy House, Le Consulat, and Moulin de la Galette.
Le Marais
Located in the 4th arrondissement, Le Marais is home to Place des Vosges, Square Georges Cain, Nicolas Flamel’s House (for Harry Potter fans), Passage De l’Ancre, and several shopping areas. It was once an aristocratic district, to it encompasses many historic buildings. It is also where your girl scored a noir beret (tres chic)! Also, because we did a lot of walking around (and I wore shoes for looks, not comfort), I took a wine o’clock break at a cute winery near Nicolas Flamel’s House.
Saint-Germaine-des-Pres
This neighborhood is located in the 6th arrondissement and is known for sites like Jardin du Luxembourg, Champs Elysees, and Pont des Arts.
Le Bistrot d’Henri
By the time we walked several arrondissements, we were incredibly hungry. This was a sweet little cafe nestled in the 6th arrondissement that served some of the best pasta we had our entire trip!
Strasbourg, France
Day One
From Paris to Strasbourg, we spent roughly a few hours on the train. Strasbourg is located in Eastern France along the border of Germany. It is the historic region of Alsace, and is known for its Christmas markets during the holidays (we stumbled upon some of the cutest Christmas stores here, and of course, purchased a few ornaments).
Grand-Ile de Strasbourg
Upon our arrival, we explored the Grande-Ile de Strasbourg, Canal du Faux Rempart and the River Ill.
We then walked over to the Protection des mineurs and Pont Saint-Martin. We also explored La Petite France, which is one the trendiest neighborhoods in all of Strasbourg.
Au Petit Bois Vert
This restaurant offers rustic charm, common to the old winstubs. I enjoyed an Alsace wine, and we split the flammekuche (essentially a flatbread), which is characteristic of the Alsace region.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg
The Cathédrale Notre Dame is not just located in Paris, but Strasbourg, too! In fact, though the movie “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” says it takes place in Paris, I think they borrow illustrative elements from the Strasbourg Notre Dame.
Lycee International des Pontonniers
The best photo spot is, without a doubt, from the other side of Canal du Faux-Rempart. I mean, check out this beautiful building and sunset in the background!
Day Two
On our second day in the region, we took a short train ride to the village of Colmar.
We started the day off with fresh pastries, then adventured from there.
Fontaine Schwendi
Colmar may sound or look familiar to you, specially Fontaine Schwendi. Fontaine Schwendi is the fountain where belle sits and sings her desire to leave this poor provincial town.
Colmar Old Town
In Colmar Old Town, we walked around the market area, Maison des Tetes, Dominican Church, Saint Martin Collegiate Church, Maison Pfister, and the Old Customs House. We even checked out Marche Couvert, a market in Colmar, for lunch.
Afterwards, we walked along La Petite Venise, then found an e-bike shop, where we were able to rent electric bikes to a nearby town called Eguisheim.
Eguisheim
It took us roughly 30 minutes to ride from Colmar to Eguisheim. Along the ride, we passed through other small villages and vineyards. Though my hands got sunburnt (super weird place to burn, I know), it was such a lovely way to see the area.
Because our honeymoon was a full two weeks, and there is a lot of content to cover, stay tuned for part II, where we journey to Italy. Au revoir pour le moment!
The post Bonjour Europa! This is what honeymoon Dreams are made of (Part One) first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>The post MORE BOUQUETS and cowboy boots, please first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>Last week I flew out to see one of my best girlfriends, Andee, who currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama. Andee moved to Birmingham from San Francisco roughly three years ago, since she was presented with an amazing work opportunity at Food & Wine (which I got to tour during my stay). Shortly after her move, she met her future husband and they bought a house together, which meant I was due for a visit!
During my visit to Birmingham, I received the full tour of their new home. The pair also showed me around their city and all their favorite food and beverage staples. In fact, on my first night in Birmingham, we went to Adios, which has been deemed one of the best tequila craft bars in the nation. I can confer with that statement, and I have tasted a lot of great margaritas in my life! In terms of good southern bbq food, I got to try Saw’s BBQ and ordered the sweet tea fried chicken sandwich, as well as Dreamland BBQ in which I ordered a baked potato with boneless rib tips and banana pudding. Of course, it wasn’t a visit to the south without seafood. I got to try hush puppies, as well as yeast bread, oysters, and fish and chips at Automatic Seafood. A lot of the food in the south can be on the heavier side, so I’m glad we also worked in açaí bowls and almond butter/avocado toast for breakfast at Farm bowl + Juice Co.
Beyond all the yummy food and drink spots we visited, we also spent some time window shopping around the Homewood area, adventuring with the pups around Red Mountain State Park, and frolicking around the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Because Birmingham is geographically close to several other cities like Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans, etc., we decided to spend a day exploring some of these other sites and attractions. We decided to drive to a city I had never visited before and one that has been on my bucket list for a long time. It is also home to country singer Dolly Parton. If you guessed correctly, this city was Nashville, TN!
Once in Nashville, we decided to fuel up with some brunch at Butcher & Bee. We enjoyed some mimosas and tasty Middle Eastern breakfast items. After we ate, we explored the city’s artsy murals. We began our mural walk at 12th South, where we also meandered through shops like Draper James, Stoney Clover, and Uncommon James, before making our way over to the Gulch. We snapped pictures and visited these murals in the following order: “I believe in Nashville” 2702 12th Ave, “Flowers” 2900 12th Ave, “Make Music, Not War” 2902 12th Ave; “What Lifts You” wings 302 11th Ave, and “HearThisNashville” 901 Gleaves St. This gave us enough time to walk around, with a pick-me-up coffee and donut at Five Daughters Bakery, before checking into our accommodation for the night, the Bobby Hotel. Next, after we freshened up, we hit the town for dinner and nightlife. As the South likes to put it, we were looking pretty as a peach! We ate dinner at Assembly Food Hall (lots of different Nashville eateries), then walked over to DT Broadway on Honky Tonk Row where we indulged in live music at places like Tootsies, Lucky Bastard Saloon, and more (but like Cinderella, we turned into bed by midnight, because this is 30).
The next day, as we made our way back to Birmingham, we stopped at a winery called Arrington Vineyards. I sipped on the semi-sweet flights and enjoyed every bit of sunshine out on the lawn. Fun fact, Arrington Vineyards is co-owned by country music artist Kix Brooks.
Because our time in Nashville was short-lived, we didn’t get to see everything. Next time I am there though, I would love to check out Santa’s Pub (a year-round Christmas themed bar, because who doesn’t love Christmas?), the Johnny Cash Museum, catch a country music show at the iconic Grand ole Opry, meander around Hillsboro Village and check out various murals, and try out food spots like Biscuit Love, Milk & Honey, Hampton Social, White Limozeen (a tribute to Dolly), and Liberty Common.
In summary, I had the best girls trip. Just in time to celebrate International Women’s Day! If the South isn’t on your travel list, it should be. Birmingham is highly underrated, but there is such an up-and-coming food scene there. It also offers that slower pace of life that makes vacationing relaxing and enjoyable. Nashville, on the other hand, has become quite the tourist attraction, especially for Bach parties, and I can see why. Nashville offers something for everyone, whether that’s shopping, music, site seeing, food/drink, etc. Hence, this is your sign to pack your favorite blue jeans and head to the South, y’all!
The post MORE BOUQUETS and cowboy boots, please first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>The post 2024 Vision board: What’s in and out first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>With 2024 in full-swing, I can’t help but look back at 2023 with gratitude and appreciation, with hopes 2024 will live up to expectations. Last year, Evan and I got married in our home town of South Lake Tahoe at Valhalla Tahoe. We missed a few friends, but were primarily surrounded by the ones who love and support us most. Now that 2024 is here, we are most looking forward to traveling to Europe for our honeymoon.
Travel
In terms of upcoming travel, there are a few trips already in the books!
In less than a week, Evan and I will be traveling to Los Angeles to celebrate a wedding for our friends Maria and Casey, who will tying the knot at a beautiful venue in Topanga Canyon. I will be wearing a cute black satin cocktail dress, and already have the black chrome nails to go with the fit. That same morning, we will be grabbing breakfast with friends (the plan is Ollo in Malibu). Of course, no LA trip is complete without a visit to Disneyland! Thus, we will be going to Disneyland with my best friend Megan, and her fiancé, Kurtis. Evan hasn’t seen Star Wars Land yet, so he is in for a real galactic treat!
In February, while the plan is for me to stay in Salt Lake City, I have a few friends, like Kenny and Greg, who will be visiting me from LA. We have talked about skiing together and watching hockey (My brother-in-law will be on the ice for senior night). Moreover, Evan plans on traveling to Jackson, WY, for a ski trip with his dad.
In March, I will be flying out to visit my gal, Andee, in Birmingham, Alabama. I’m looking forward to checking-out her new home, exploring sites and landmarks, and indulging in some yummy cuisine (Andee is a Food Editor at Food and Wine, so she knows the best eats). Additionally, we are planning a mini girls trip to Nashville, since it’s within a few hours drive from Birmingham. I am most looking forward to experiencing the music scene the city has to offer!
Last, but not least, Evan and I will be honeymooning in Europe in May! We already have our plane tickets and most of our hotel stays booked. We will be flying into Amsterdam, in which we have plans to visit the tulip festival and Anne Frank House. We will, then, be heading to Paris and the Alsace wine region in France. I cannot wait to explore the quaint fairytale towns of Strasbourg, Colmar, and Eguisheim! After spending a few days in the country, we will travel to various parts of Italy, including Lake Como, Venice/Burano, the Tuscany region/Florence, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome.
Still, I can imagine we will plan other travel for the mid/end of year. We will likely plan a camping trip or two over summer, and visit home, South Lake Tahoe. We will also likely attend a few more friend’s weddings (tis the season of love).
Mood Board
My 2024 vision board is based on the vibes I would like to carry into the new year. I put together a collage, which is an assemblage of different parts to create a whole.
I am going to strive to be intentional in that I would like to continue to grow in my advising profession, set and maintain boundaries for myself and others, and continue to foster better self-care. I was nominated for Experienced Advisor of the Year at the U, and while I was on the fence about submitting a packet to be considered for the award, I think I’m going to challenge myself and put these materials together for submission. I have also improved over the years with instilling boundaries and self-care. I want to continue with my intention to schedule work breaks (e.g. walk and lunch blocks), as well as decreasing negative self-talk around rest and relaxation. I am going to be more “lazy” on my weekends; and I am going to engage in activities that make me happy (like taking my dogs on hikes).
I also want to foster and employee more of my creative side by engaging in fun craft projects. I like the hands-on aspect crafting allows me to do, whether that is building my blog/posts, decorating desserts, or making macrame rainbows. When Evan and I head to Europe for our honeymoon, I plan to film for my vlog and take polaroid pictures for our honeymoon book.
I would like to be bold in the sense that I am more apt to taking risks, pursuing challenges, not counting myself out (less imposter syndrome), and saying yes to adventures and travel. 2024 is all about exploring Europe, and I can’t wait to do this with my forever partner!
I am motivated in that 2024 is a new year, and I am excited to see what is in store. I am motivated in wanting to maintain my mental and physical health. This means practicing mindfulness, drinking more water, and continuing to engage in physical activity like running and learning how to ski, etc.
I want to be more authentic and less perfectionist. I am my biggest critique, and I need to learn to welcome imperfection as being a beautiful thing. I want to embrace the no-makeup and sweatpants days. I also want to learn to pick myself back up again when I fail, and tell myself that I am doing okay (this might mean trying something different or modifying what I am currently doing).
Finally, I want to reflect and communicate what I am thankful for. Starting here, I am thankful for a roof over my head (I am honestly so grateful for my cozy apartment even though I may dislike my neighbors at times), I am grateful for my husband and dogs (they are my biggest cheerleaders and know how to put a smile on my face), and I am thankful for the amazing honeymoon we get to enjoy this year (so so overwhelmed with gratitude for those who contributed to our honeymoon fund).
What’s in and out
There are a multitude of thoughts I have regarding what I would like to incorporate and disparage this 2024 season.
Some of the items that are IN include:
- Saving money: After spending a ton of money on our wedding, I want to focus on paying down credit cards and putting money away in savings. One of our goals in the next two to three years is buying a house.
- Self-care and relaxation: One of the most important aspects I learned during my masters program was to engage in self-care. After all, we can’t serve others unless we serve ourselves (a car can’t run without gas).
- Authenticity: Be you – there is no one like YOU!
- Setting/holding boundaries: If someone can’t respect your boundaries, then they don’t deserve to have a place in your life (if you weren’t there in 2023, then you won’t be there in 2024).
- Prioritizing mental and physical health: Look good, feel good, and reverse. YOU matter most – it’s important to implement positive changes in your life.
- Travel and serendipity: Life is short – travel more. I want to continue seeing the world and appreciating the moments as they come.
- Home cooked meals: Let’s fall in love with cooking and baking at home again! The benefits are saving money and living a more healthy lifestyle.
- Reading and podcasts: Self-care is paramount – do what makes you HAPPY!
Some of the items that are OUT include:
- Overspending: I’m tired of high credit card debt and not living within my means. It’s okay to ask for that raise, budget, and save.
- Restlessness/overthinking: I am naturally an over-worrier, which results in anxiety, and other negative health impacts. Be at peace with what is and go with your gut.
- Perfectionism: There is literally no such thing as being perfect.
- Energy drainers/excuse makers: If someone takes more than they give and constantly finds reasons to not show up/support you, then it probably isn’t worth keeping this person in your life. My wedding was telling in that I know who made an effort (there is, of course, viable reasons why some individuals could not attend) and who could give a damn (hint: these people are probably not reading this post).
- Accepting the bare minimum: I know my worth and what I deserve, and it isn’t the minimum. I also know what I am capable of, and I won’t sell myself short.
- Comparison and negative self-talk: Instagram is a highlight reel (my posts are not an exception). I don’t want to put myself down because I don’t look a certain way or my post didn’t receive as many likes.
- Eating out (too much): It’s okay to splurge and treat yourself here and there, but moderation is key! Eating out can get expensive, and this is where I can save on costs.
- Overconsumption/screen time: Too much of anything is never a good thing. As an advisor, I engage in a lot of computer screen time, so instead of coming home and watching hours of tv, I would like to pick-up a book and/or listen to a podcast more.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! I really appreciate your interest and care in what my hopes/dreams are for the 2024 year. What are your New Year’s Resolutions or what is one word you’d like to use to describe your intentions for the year? I’d love to hear!
The post 2024 Vision board: What’s in and out first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>The post Boogie with the browns: 10.13.23 Wedding Bells first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>October 13, 2023, Evan and I said “I do” beneath the Valhalla Tahoe pine trees. We were surrounded by our loved ones who traveled near and far for our big day. And so, this has become our favorite day to date!
In an effort to prepare for this monument day, we assembled a dream vendor team, and accounted for all the fine details. To initiate the planning process, I purchased the Green Wedding Shoes x Erin Condren planner. The planner accounts for timeline check-points, budget tips and considerations, guest list, venue and vendor contact details, invitations, seating arrangements, gift log, etc. We also made sure to secure our venue about a year out, so we could make wedding decisions based around this. One of the first check-list items I completed was wedding dress shopping and saying yes to the dress. When I went dress shopping with my girls, I was intentional in searching for a dress that had lace and sleeves, due to our wedding taking place in October in South Lake Tahoe. I tried on many beautiful gowns, but ultimately trusted my gut and went back to my first stop at Grace Loves Lace, where I purchased the Olive Gown and Grace Veil. What’s more, Some of the first vendors we secured were our caterer, coordinator, photographer, and dj. After a few months, we also hired our baker, as well as our bartending and waiting staff. To save on costs, we ordered flowers through a distributor and made bouquets ourselves, bought alcohol through Benvo, and had family friends help us with our Photo Booth, hair and makeup, and officiating needs.
Vendor Team:
Venue: Valhalla Tahoe
Photographer: Casey Simon Photography
Coordinator: Vista Events
Dress/Veil/Shoes: Grace Loves Lace
Suit: Tailor Cooperative
Hair & Makeup: Brynna Jones
Nails: Emily Bringhurst at Sugar Pop Nails
DJ: Lake Tahoe DJ
Caterer: Sombreros
Dessert: Lake Tahoe Cakes
Officiant: Family Friend
Florist: Bill Doran Co.
Bartending/Staffing Crew: Napa Phoenix Staffing
Photo Booth: DynaMicDuo Entertainment
Alcohol: BevMo
As a note, several of our vendors are Salt Lake City based, because this is where Evan and I currently live. Specifcally, I got my hair (cut and color) and nails done in Salt Lake City. Evan was also fitted for and purchased his wedding suit in Salt Lake City. However, his groomsmen rented their suits from Men’s Wearhouse, which has locations all over the United States. Still, many of our day-of vendors are South Lake Tahoe based, since this is where our wedding took place. Fun fact, South Lake Tahoe is also where Evan and I were born and raised.
Our Wedding Day
This brings me to our wedding day, which turned out to be everything we envisioned and more!
Some couples have wedding traditions, and while mine were not familial, I did incorporate the historical elements of something old, new, borrowed, and blue. My something old was a locket with mine and Evan’s baby photos in it, whereas my something new included the earrings I wore throughout our wedding day. For my something borrowed, I re-used several song lyrics from Taylor Swift in my vows to Evan. Finally, for my something blue, I tied a blue ribbon fresh water pearl charm around the anklet of my heel. Evan, on the other hand, sported a pocket square with Alfie’s face, cufflinks with Comet’s head and booty, and a tie clip gifted by me, with the words “meet me at the alter.” Our dogs are really important to us, so we wanted to make sure we included them in our wedding in every way possible.
Speaking of our pups, they were able to join us for our wedding ceremony! Alfie was our flower boy, and he was escorted down the aisle by our friend Lauren. Whereas, Comet was our ring bearer, and he was accompanied down the aisle by our friend Alex. I made Alfie his floral dog collar and leash, and I also crafted a floral crown for Lauren. For Comet, we had him wear a bow tie that I purchased on Etsy, and boy did he look dapper! Of course, we had pictures of our dogs on display throughout our venue, a signature drink sign with Comet’s Spicy Margarita and Alfie’s Pink Whitney, and a Connect 4 game with corgi shaped tiles.
For our ceremony, Evan and I both had our parents walk us down the aisle. Our party walked down to Best Day of My Life by Vitamin String Quartet, and I walked down to Tupelo Honey by Arts Fishing Club. We read our vows from our booklets, and we sealed our love and commitments with a kiss! After our ceremony, we took pictures with our families and pups, while our guests enjoyed cocktail hour complete with a photo booth, polaroid picture guest book area, and beer/soda canoe. After pictures were taken, our pups went back to Evan’s parent’s house just up the road, and Evan and I took a few more sunset pictures before dinner. Subsequently, dinner was set outside under the starry lights and sky. We enjoyed tacos and great conversation! For our dinner set-up, Evan and I shared a sweetheart table, so our wedding party could sit with their plus ones. While we did get around to conversing with a few of the tables, I do wish we would have gotten up sooner to make our rounds to say hi to everyone.
After dinner and speeches from my Maid of Honor, Megan, and Evan’s Best Man, Ryan, had concluded, we moved inside for introductions, cake cutting, and first dances. Evan and I opened our first dance to Love Like This by Ben Rector. I, then, danced to I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack with my dad, which was really special! My dad has a hard time walking and dancing due to disabilities, but was able to get through the entirety of the song with my lead. I didn’t cry until the point where I was looking at my dad during our first dance (a special memory we will hold onto forever). Following this dance, Evan and his mom swayed to the tunes of You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me by John Mayer. Once the first dances concluded, open dancing commenced, and things got funky! Evan and I boogied on the dance floor with our friends, and I took a lil too many shots behind the scenes. Luckily, I made it the whole night, though our last dance and glow stick send-off are still a bit of a blur. Though we didn’t make it to the casinos afterwards, the night was still a 10/10! We even had a bald eagle fly above us during our sunset pictures, which is presumably meant to signify good fortune (our Friday the 13th wedding turned out to be lucky after all)!
Say hello to the new Mrs. Brown!!
The post Boogie with the browns: 10.13.23 Wedding Bells first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>The post Amanda’s last disco: A santa barbara BACHELORETTE first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>Roughly a month ago now, I traveled to Santa Barbara, CA for my Bachelorette party. After moving away from Santa Barbara a few years ago, it was really nice to return! The theme was Amanda’s Last Disco. Think 70s, retro, groovy, and disco vibes.
We spent a total of three days by the beach, and stayed in the coziest mission-style Airbnb.
Of course, a good amount of preparation went into planning my perfect Bachelorette party! I used an app called The BACH, which enabled me to use features like chat message with my gals, sending out polls, creating an expense sheet, and setting-up an itinerary for our trip. Speaking of itineraries, these are the activities we planned for the trip:
Day One
I flew into LAX from SLC Airport. I arrived around noon in LA, picked up a rental car from Enterprise, grabbed my Maid of Honor on the way, and drove to Santa Barbara, about two hours north. When we arrived in Santa Barbara, we met up with a few other gals in the bach party at a winery. We also checked into our Airbnb, grabbed dinner at The Boathouse, and watched the Barbie movie.
Deep Sea tasting room
Deep Sea Tasting Room is located on the Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf Harbor adjacent to a fish and chips shop, and behind a gift and candy store. At Deep Sea, there is a selection of handcrafted wines, whether you want to purchase by the glass or tasting. I tend to prefer a tasting when I visit a winery, and so, I went with a nice white/rose flight. Additionally, one can enjoy views of the harbor and ocean, whether you sit in or outside on the balcony.
Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach
A trip to Santa Barbara is not complete without a trip to Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach. I used to love taking Comet to the beach and grabbing a mimosa at Boathouse in the morning. Nonetheless, both breakfast and dinner are superb, and I figured the ladies might enjoy dinner with a sunset view over the ocean. Safe to say, no one was disappointed! We even did a fun lil Barbie video as the sun was setting.
Barbie Movie
Of course, because the Barbie movie had just come out, we decided after dinner we would hit the movie theater for a little nightcap. The Barbie movie was everything – it made me laugh, cry, smile, and dance. I can’t wait for the movie to come out so I can make my fiancé watch it with me!
Day Two
Once day two arrived, so did the rest of my bachelorette party! This being our whole first day together, we gathered for a brunch picnic, dipped in the pool, and boogied the night out on the town.
Picnic at Mission Rose Garden
To start the day off right, we enjoyed brunch in the Rose Garden at Old Mission Santa Barbara. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the flowers were in full bloom. Everyone contributed an item or two – I used a sign-up sheet so people knew what to bring. We had a beautiful charcuterie spread, morning mimosas and Santa Barbara wine, and a delicious cake!
Pool Partyyy!
It is not a Bachelorette without a pool or beach party though, am I right?! My former manager and friend Tracee hosted and organized a pool party complete with Barbie pool floaties, pink coupe glasses, flowers, bomb music, and a flatbread variety. A pool party was a great way to soak up some sun, but also chill and recharge a bit before partying later at night.
Boogie at the Last Disco
To cap the night off, the ladies and I went to Sandbar for THE BEST margaritas in town and dinner, as well as Wildcat Lounge to dance the night away. Love my dancing QUEENS! As Katy Perry says in “this is how we do,” “Straight stuntin’ ya, we do it like that.”
Day Three
For our final full-day in Santa Barbara, we enjoyed a bagel breakfast at the Airbnb, then went out to State Street to celebrate Fiesta. After a few hours at Fiesta, we walked over to The Funk Zone for wine tasting, grabbed dinner at Shalhoob’s, and ended the night with a slumber party.
Fiesta
In Santa Barbara, every summer, the town celebrates an event called Old Spanish Days – Fiesta. The event commemorates Santa Barbara history, culture, traditions, and heritage. Fiesta comes complete with a parade, dancing, arts, eggs with confetti, and amazing food. I didn’t originally plan to come to Santa Barbara during Fiesta weekend, but it turned out to be a happy coincidence.
Funk Zone
After Fiesta, we walked over from State Street to the Funk Zone for wine tasting. We hit Corks n’ Crowns first, my favorite winery in the Funk Zone. We then walked to Fox Wine Co. We did a lot of drinking the night before, so we decided to take it easy with the flights. After wine hopping, we ate at Shalhoob’s. I figured it would be easier getting us a spot on the patio for dinner than trying to make a reservation for a big group at one of the restaurants. Plus, Shalhoob’s has amazing food – loveee the sliders always!
Slumber Party
To finish off the Bachelorette party, we threw a slumber party at the Airbnb. We had champagne and played games. The first game we played was an ice-breaker for the girls to better know each other. I handed each girl a postcard and everyone wrote down a risqué fact/story about themselves, and each person took a turn guessing whose secret it was. If the guesser was wrong, they took a sip of their drink, and if they guessed right, the exposed individual took a sip of theirs. The last game we played was one I brought on Amazon, called Lulu & You Bachelorette Dash. The purpose of the game was to take turns guessing who was most likely to ___, guess if the bride would rather __ or __, take a gamble on who knows the bride the best, play never have I ever, engage in truth or dare, and pull a wild card to essential get a player to answer a challenge. Needless to say, the slumber party was a fabulous way to end the weekend before people flew or drove home the next morning.
When in doubt, disco it out! Also, you can’t go wrong selecting Santa Barbara for your Bach party. Evan went north to the San Francisco Bay Area for his, but I still think I had the better event (totally unbiased opinion)
The post Amanda’s last disco: A santa barbara BACHELORETTE first appeared on Amanda's Avenue .
]]>