Montréal: A Little Taste of Europe with Canadian Flair

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swag? lol, nah we wish

Oh Canada, how much I had missed you. I like to think I have a tradition of taking my siblings to Canada before they turn 21, and specifically Montreal since the legal drinking age in Quebec is 18 versus 19 like most other provinces. Besides that perk, Montreal is just really damn charming. It has the European feeling, that you just really can’t get in the U.S. but at the same time is so proudly Canadian. This was my second trip to Montreal and I like blogging about cities I have been to twice, because I feel at that point I have a real feel for the city. That being said, Montreal,  has so many hidden treasures that I’m sure even two more trips would leave me with tons left to do, especially since I visited in Winter both times. Also it’s worth mentioning the people in Montreal are just straight up NICE and in my book that’s always a good thing when traveling. Read on for some of my favorite places so far.

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Review of the 2017 Beautylish Lucky Box

beautylish lucky bag 2017 ,beautylish lucky bag

ooOh what’s inside?

As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I love Bioderma, so the first time I ordered from Beautylish it was really more out of necessity than anything else because  no other US-based stores sold it. When I received my first package I was struck by how beautifully it was packaged and the handwritten note that accompanied my order as a first time Beautylish-purchaser. Ever since, I’ve kept an eye on the website and when I saw an e-mail touting their “Lucky Bag” I knew I needed one. Beautylish’s idea comes from a Japanese tradition called fukubukuro, which is a new year’s tradition basically like a grab bag. I love a good grad bag, so this was a no-brainer. The cost for the 2017 bag was $75 plus shipping and handling, so I ended up paying $82 and you are promised to recieve a bag that contains at least $150 worth of beauty products.  Read on to see how much my bag was worth and some details on the items!

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Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival 2016

palm beach food and wine fest 2016, palm beach food and wine fest, pbfwf, adam richman, daniel boulud, daniel boulud and friends, rise n' dine, eau spa

The holiday season really is the most wonderful time of the year, and part of what makes it even more wonderful is the annual Palm Beach Food & Wine Fest. This past weekend was my second year attending and I’m already counting down the days until next year and vowing to go to even more of the events. It’s the sort of thing I almost don’t want to share because I love how intimate it is and tickets already sell out super fast. If you are looking for a festival that has bang for your buck, the coolest celeb chefs, and finger lickin’ food. keep reading. disclaimer: not all food is eaten off of bodies as pictured above.

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Most Epic Weekend in Chicago

Can we take a second to appreciate that cubbie spirit at the Art Institute?

Somehow my family picked the all-time best weekend to be in Chicago. No joke, it was like all the stars aligned and the Windy City’s gods smiled down upon us. Our reason for going to Chicago was so that my sister could see Hamilton, in celebration of her 18th birthday. We had no idea we’d be in Chicago the same weekend as the cubbies’ historic ascent to the World Series (!!!) Like what?! It made the city feel a little more electric and Chicago really goes all out with their decorations–so the combo of halloween decs and historic statues donning cub-wear really pulled on my heart strings. Plus, Kyle Hendricks, a pitcher from the Cubs went to my undergrad at the same time as me! & On top of all that, the band Joe Keery is in (aka Steve Harrington from Stranger Things) was playing a free double-header. I’m by no means a Chicago expert, but I really love that city, and I feel like I left a piece of myself there. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that two of my absolute best friends from college are from the Chicago-area. So read on for some of my suggestions and please share your own, because I know I’ll be back soon.

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Best Things to Eat at the Epcot Food and Wine Fest 2016

Ahhh, the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival–when it become socially acceptable to gorge yourself and become slightly tips at Disney World. I used to loathe Epcot as a child and each time I was dragged there my go to refrain was “But Mommy there are like, no rides here!” Oh how the tables have turned. Epcot has become one of my favorite parks at Disney World and it really shines during the Food & Wine Fest. Read on for some of the best things I ate this year, and hurry on down to Orlando before November 14, 2016!

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Gator Grounds:Things to Do in Gainesville, FL

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my sisters lookin’ cool at the hippodrome

Back in 2011, I was a naive law school student starting my first year at UF Law School in Gainesville, FL. 3 years, later I’d know the ins-and-outs of the town that was equal parts charming and grotesque (just keeping it real– if you’ve set foot in the beloved bar, Balls, you’ll feel me).  My relationship with the ‘ville was rocky at times, but now when I visit, I’m able to see it with fresh eyes and a new-found appreciation. The weekend before last was UF’s Homecoming, complete with football game against Mizzou. As to be expected, I skipped the actual game in favor of a wine tasting, so I can’t give any tips on great tailgating spots for alums, but this post will explore some of the things that a) didn’t exist when I went to UF or b) I made the grave mistake of overlooking.

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Top 5: Best Skin-Related Beauty Products

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from l to r: beautyblender, embryolisse lait-creme concentre, tretinoin cream .05% (generic retin-a) bioderma sensibo. in background: silk pillow

Today I’m sharing my top 5 ride-or-die skin-related beauty products. Read on to get the low-down on each.

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New York City Round-Up

bluestone lane, upper east side, things to do in new york, new york city coffee shops

Ah New York, where do I even begin? Out of the cities I’ve been to, NYC is definitely the one I’ve revisited the most. Yet, I still feel overwhelmed with all of the possibilities and options each time I’m there. Maybe the thing I love most about New York, is that feeling that anything can happen. Maybe this is due to years of watching too many superhero and rom-com movies set in NYC and seeing paparazzi pics of celebs nonchalantly walking around TriBeCa, but I digress. The bottom line is that NYC is one of those places that really does live up to every shred of hype and makes you feel a little more alive just by being in its presence. I can’t even begin to do a comprehensive list of all there is to do in NYC, so instead I will focus on some of the highlights from my most recent trip there this past weekend (Labor Day Weekend).

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Denver and Beyond

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This past weekend I went to Denver for the second time with some girlfriends. After visiting twice, I’m confident I’ve got a pretty good feel of the city and thought I would share some of the things that made me fall in love with Denver. To me it has the perfect mixture of being a city on the one hand, but feeling like a town on the other–it has that crunchy-granola vibe that’s very comforting and homey. The other bonus? The first time I went my flight out of Miami was $30 (ROUNDTRIP!) and this time it was only $97 out of Fort Lauderdale. Not too shabby to fly two time zones away.

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Miami for the 4th and the Biebs, pt. 2

 

bieber, bieber merch, purpose tour merch, alchemist miami, justin bieber

Somehow writing my last post, I forgot our first stop of the trip! We headed to Alchemist where Justin Bieber was doing a pop-up shop of his Miami tour merch. I had my eyes on a long sleeved black tee that said “No Photos” down the side. These were basic Gildan shirts, and somehow I convinced myself that $75 for this tee was totally worth it. Much to my dismay, the one shirt I wanted was gone, but I guess it was sort of cool being the only ones in the shop and taking some pictures of the minimalist set-up. Also, probably for the best that I didn’t waste $75 on a Gildan t-shirt.
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