Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Monday, December 12, 2016

Seattle MoPop: Museum of Pop Culture, a Review

This past weekend I was in Seattle visiting SH and we had so much fun! Yesterday we went to the Museum of Pop Culture or MoPOP! We saw a really cool Star Trek exhibit with lots of Star Trek history, costumes, TV show clips, memorabilia, and more. It was crazy how shabby and dated the costumes looked up close (but then again, a lot of them are quite old!) I loved seeing Spock's outfit!

It was really fun seeing parts of the sets and learning about how the show got its start. The show is praised for tackling relevant social issues and Gene Roddenberry, the show's creator, strongly believed in racial and gender equality. Did you know the first on-screen interracial kiss was in a 1968 episode titled "Plato's Stephchildren" between William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols?

We also saw the Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction exhibit which had so many amazing movie props and costumes! We saw a ton of cool props and costumes from Terminator, Battlestar Galactica, Galaxy Quest, Alien, and many other famous films. There is a space weapons wall which is so cool too! I definitely recommend this exhibit! Oh and I can't forget the HOVER BOARDS from the Back to the Future films are here!!! I could not believe how shabby they looked up close haha but I LOVED THEM! :D If you love the films then you'll love them too! They look so much smaller in person though!

Then we went to the Can't Look Away: The Lure of Horror Film exhibit which wasn't my favorite. I don't really like horror movies but if you're into them this could be cool because again they have props and stuff from horror films.

For any fashion lovers out there, The World of Wearable Art will surely inspire and intrigue you! There were so many amazing creations, from dresses made of fiberglass, wood, and even plastic zip ties. The creations were truly amazing and so imaginative.

Last but not least there is a cool but small Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic exhibit. I was really hoping it would be bigger and that there might be some Harry Potter stuff but of course that is all owned by Warner Brothers, I guess. We did see some costumes from the Princess Bride (including the wedding dress that Buttercup almost marries Humperdink in) and Dorothy's costume from the Wizard of Oz which was awesome.

There are other exhibits too that we didn't visit: Nirvana, Hendrix, Seahawks, etc. Check the website for the exhibits if you want to see what else the museum offers.

All in all the visit was super awesome! We did those four exhibits in about three hours and we ate lunch beforehand at Culture Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck which is inside the museum before you reach any exhibits. We ate the spinach and artichoke dip (AMAZING!), a rosemary grilled cheese (meh - who puts mustard on grilled cheese?! If I knew they did that I would have asked for NO MUSTARD!) and a chicken cesar salad wrap which was pre-made but good and fresh.

It wasn't a cheap date, the tickets were $30 each (it would have been $25 but we paid the extra $5 for the Stark Trek exhibit) and lunch was $36 with tax and tip. But if you're movie and TV buffs or science fiction buffs like we are then I believe the cost is worth it! We had an awesome time and I'm super glad we went. We both thought it was well worth the money.

I give the Museum of Pop Culture a solid 4.5/5 rating! 

Thursday, June 9, 2016

The 10 Products I Never Travel Without

Hi guys! I'm heading to Seattle tomorrow so I'm super excited to bring you today's post about the 10 products I never travel without. These 10 products are essential to me staying happy, healthy, and energized when I'm on the road!

1) Lavender Oil
Sometimes I get nervous or anxious so I actually always carry this lavender oil with me, (whether or not I'm traveling.) Anxiety is something I've battled with since I was young and lavender oil has proved very effective in helping me feel calm. When I start to get nervous I dab a little on the edge of my nose and take slow, deep breaths. You can also dab it on the inside of your neck or your wrists, or rub it on your shoulders to help relax your muscles. Just be careful not to over apply because the smell can become overpowering! A little bit goes a long way! I've also dabbed it on my stomach to help soothe stomach aches. It really is a wonderfully relaxing scent.

2) Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturizer with SPF 15
I apply this every day. It's my favorite moisturizer, it doesn't make me break out, it doesn't feel greasy, it's truly the best. I also apply it on the back of my hands to prevent age spots. You can get it at your local drug store.

3) Phone Charger
I usually carry my iPhone charger with me but this is a super cute portable charger! I keep my charger in my purse whenever I'm traveling because I usually take so many photos and use my apps so often that I drain my battery very quickly. I hate being in a new or foreign place with a dead phone!

4) Headphones
I really love my Sol Republic headphones, which are similar to these. I've had them for years and years and they are still in great condition. The sound is so crisp and clear. I've never tried noise cancelling headphones so I'm not sure how they compare, but I'm a big fan of the ones I have. They are stylish and comfy to wear, too, the part that goes around your ears is very squishy so it's comfortable to wear them for extended periods of time, like a long airplane ride.

5) Sunglasses
I've been on a sunglasses kick lately because I recently got contacts again. My favorite pairs are these and these right now. Sunglasses are great to have on a trip but I recommend packing them carefully -- you want to have a hard case for them so they don't get damaged, and you also probably want to pack them in your carry on if they're expensive in case someone with sticky fingers happens to go through your checked baggage. Not saying it happens often, but it's been known to happen.

6) Lipgloss
Bobbi Brown makes pretty much great everything, but I definitely love her lipgloss, I've been wearing it for years. It's the perfect amount of sticky and it doesn't get clumpy or gross. Right now I'm wearing Almost Nude which is basically a sheer gloss with a little bit of a nude tint.

7) Antibacterial Towelettes
I usually buy Wet Ones (which can also be bought at pretty much any drug store.) They come in convenient little travel packets and for a germaphobe like me it's just nice to be able to wipe my hands when I'm sitting in my airplane seat or in the car and wanting to dig into a snack.

8) Snacks
Speaking of snacks, snacks are a CRUCIAL part of my packing planning. I have to pack at least one snack per travel day or else I am going to be very hangry and upset. I really like Lara Bars, they're pretty much all natural. My favorite flavors are Cashew Cookie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. I also like Power Crunch Bars, my favorite flavor is Vanilla. Those are great because they are light and flaky almost like a cookie but they're packed with protein.

9) Medicines
It might sound crazy, but I always travel with a mini pharmacy, even if I'm not leaving the country and I'm going somewhere that definitely has a CVS. I just feel better knowing I have my allergy meds, ibuprofen, Tums and Cold Calm with me when I'm traveling.

10) Smooth Move Tea
It might not be the most glamorous thing to say, but sometimes travel can make a person constipated. I really like this tea called Smooth Move  - I'm not a doctor and you should always consult with your doctor before you try new medicines or herbal remedies but this works beautifully for me! I prefer the chamomile flavor to the chocolate flavor, I find it's milder on my stomach -- the chocolate is sometimes a little too forceful. I steep the chamomile smooth move for five minutes exactly and remove the tea bag, drink it before bed and it works overnight. I recommend trying it at home first before you go on a trip, just to see how it works with your body.

That's it! I love hearing travel tips so if you have any must-have traveling products, let me know in the comments!

Monday, May 16, 2016

Flight to Catalina Island!

Happy Monday! So...

Did I ever tell you guys about the day SH and I flew to Catalina Island??!

#nofilter :-p
As some of you may know, my boyfriend, (aka SH,) is a pilot and is very avid about all things airplanes. He eats, breathes, and sleeps airplanes (every book or magazine he reads are practically all aviation related!) He co-owns an airplane and we flew it with our friend Mike to Catalina Island a few weekends ago. It takes less than an hour to get there from where we are in SoCal so we popped over and had lunch at the airport restaurant. It was soo delicious!!

Buffalo burgers om nom nom


Did you know Catalina Island has buffaloes? Random, right?

View of the island from the air




When you get to the airport it looks like this:


And you find your way to the cute little restaurant which looks like this:




Isn't it charming?? It looks like a vineyard, no??

The outside patio where we ate. We saw a fox too!! He was very cute and got very close to us humans!


It was such a beautiful day, we got really lucky with the weather. After lunch we took the airport trail and went for a little hike. These views are NOT filtered - it's the real deal! So gorgeous! If you get the chance to visit Catalina sometime, I highly recommend it!

Monday, February 22, 2016

Monthly Update (January)

Hi everyone! Man it's been crazy around here! I took last week off so thank you for your patience. I have a few updates but first I want to start out with a new series called the Monthly Update. I hope it inspires you to try a new activity or restaurant! It will also help me keep track of some of my monthly adventures.

To start, we have, of course, January.

Best word(s) to describe January: eventful, adventurous

Favorite thing that happened: SH and I have these friends who own a 37 foot long, refurbished school bus. (The crazy thing is, this is the third school bus they've owned!) They've done all the repairs, painting, and revamping themselves (like the good old fashioned, rural Georgians that they are.) We took the school bus (which I have affectionately nicknamed Boris) camping over MLK weekend. It was my first bus trip with them and it was an absolute blast. We stopped in Santa Barbara on the way there and back and all in all had a grand ol time. We ate at The Lucky Penny and explored the Funk Zone of Santa Barbara very briefly (read more about the Funk Zone here.) What's great about the bus is it's extremely comfortable and both nap and noise friendly. While it doesn't have a bathroom, (probably for the best, who wants to clean that?) it has three couches, three beds, and even tables to sit or play cards at. Those of us who were lucky enough to stake out a spot slept in the warm cozy bus at night while the others camped outside. (There were 14 of us, I think?) We made a delicious homemade breakfast in the morning (buttermilk pancakes and eggs) - it was roughing it in the best way! I highly recommend bus or RV camping with friends if you haven't done it before!

What kept me busy after work: Yoga and friends. I've been trying to go to yoga at least twice a week (ideally more) and I really do feel great after I go. Sometimes my social calendar takes over though, and I find myself heading to happy hour or sushi instead. Happy hour is such a great way to bond with coworkers so I will favor that over yoga when I feel like we're in need of some quality time. (Is it weird that I used the words coworkers and quality time in the same sentence?)

Favorite restaurant I tried this month: KazuNori in downtown LA. The hand rolls are absolutely divine. It's a small, dimly lit restaurant -- very trendy. The food is honestly unparalleled. These are by far the best hand rolls I've had in LA (and that's saying something because I absolutely LOVE Sugarfish hand rolls.) Tip: Be careful when parking and walking around if you are not familiar with the LA area as homelessness in downtown LA can be startling.

Overall Climate for the month: BUSY! But at the same time, busy in a selfishly fulfilling way. I got to do and see what I wanted and that is not always the case. I feel very fortunate. I was able to see my dear friend Charlotte on her birthday and also visit with SH's dad and uncle. SH and I made our first trip to the San Diego Zoo which was super exciting and fun :) I highly recommend the SD Zoo if you haven't been before! Tip: Pack your own lunch and/or snacks, as food can get quite expensive! At the zoo, the koalas and elephants were highlights for me :) And then to top it all off, SH and I went to Big Bear for the first time together to ski, as well. So much fun! He's such a kind ski partner! It's not every month where I can focus on myself, SH, and pursuing activities and adventures we want to do (either together or apart.) So grateful!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Dunnottar Castle...

 
Enjoying the ocean breeze!
...Over the ocean wind.  And hangry.




Skirt: Topshop  | Shirt: Olivia Moon | Jacket: Cupcakes and Cashmere

***
 Hello lovelies! Here are some more pics from Scotland! (This was a rare occasion on our trip where I got to wear a skirt. Scotland is pretty cold, even in the summertime!) These photos were taken at Dunnottar Castle! It's on a gorgeous seaside cliff and absolutely breathtaking. This was one of my all time favorite stops of the trip. We went to many castles but none were as romantic as this ruined medieval fortress! The castle is also very close to the adorable village of Stonehaven. I loved everything about this day. If you ever visit Scotland I highly recommend making a stop at Dunnottar Castle. But pack a jacket because as you can see it was incredibly WINDY!

Monday, October 5, 2015

Wine tasting in Temecula


 



 Wearing: J.Crew dress | Steve Madden flats | Rocksbox necklace: use code mapleandmintxoxo for your first month free! | J.Crew bracelet | Sunnies from thriftstore in Edinburgh

Hey beauties! Happy Monday! These photos were taken last weekend in Temecula. I went wine tasting with a few friends at the most gorgeous wineries I've seen in SoCal yet! We stopped at Leoness, South Coast, Wilson Creek and Faulkner! Faulkner was the last one we went to and definitely my favorite. It was beautiful weather, quite hot and sunny so I was so glad I wore a summery dress. I wore this preppy, thrifted J.Crew dress I got on Threadflip.  If you want to shop my closet, head to Threadflip.com/mapleandmint. I'm pretty much obsessed with Threadflip and have found so many cute things on there! (I talk about my amazing Balenciaga bag find on Threadflip here  if you haven't read the post yet.) Have a great week!

Monday, August 24, 2015

Buckets of Fun

Wearing: Lush Top | Joe's Jeans | Lucky Brand Flats

Shop the look:
Top no longer available but similar tank version here
Jeans no longer available but also love these, these and these
Flats no longer available but similar here, here and here

Monday, August 10, 2015

Front Button Skirt











Wearing: Topshop skirt | Olivia Moon shirt | Lucky Brand Jeans flats | Balenciaga handbag | Citizen watch | J. Crew bracelet | Alex and Ani bracelet | Kendra Scott ring | Puravida bracelet | Gorjana necklace | heart sunnies

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Stroll Through South Kensington

Hey beauties! I'm currently in Scotland! Our trip has been beyond amazing, I can't wait to share more with you but it's 12:30 am here, and I should get to bed! Here are some photos from when we first arrived and were staying in London for a few days. Cheers xx







 Plaid Shirt: Gap (another one I love here) | Jeans: Joe's Jeans (also love these) | Flats: Lucky Brand (similar here) | Hat: Nordstrom (less than $30!) | Necklace: Gorjana | Bracelets: J. Crew, David Yurman, Pura Vida (Only $15 and if you shop here with the code ChristineA10 you get 10% off!!), Nordstrom (similar here), Jaw Bone Up | Watch: Citizen |  Lipstick: Milani in Power Pink (you can get it at your local drugstore - I got mine at CVS) | Bag: Balenciaga *Note: I am currently blogging from Scotland and am trying to login to the US versions of sites to give accurate linking info. However, some may link to the UK sites with prices in pounds! Sorry for the inconvenience!

Monday, June 29, 2015

10 California Campsites to Visit



Isn't camping the best?

Lighting a fire, eating smores, playing board games, creek jumping, hiking, enjoying the peaceful beauty of nature, looking at the stars, you name it. It's all fun. This past weekend I took a trip with SH and friends to the Kern River Valley for a one night camping trip. It reminded me of favorite camping pastimes, so I thought I'd compile a list of campgrounds in California (some that I've been to, others I'd like to go to.) I hope it inspires you to take a camping trip or maybe pitch a tent in your own backyard!

Northern & Central California

Tahoe National Forest
With opportunities for cabin rentals, campground camping, and group or RV camping, Tahoe has something for everyone.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park
The oldest State Park in California! Miles of trails for hikers and equestrians, waterfalls, bird watching, and of course home to the beautiful redwood groves. Book here.

Big Sur
Tent and RV camping, camp by the water, or camp among the redwood trees. For a list of campgrounds, visit here

Yosemite National Park
Words cannot begin to describe Yosemite's beauty. Seriously, you have to just go and see it for yourself. For more information click here

Sequoia National Forest
Home of the greatest concentration of giant sequoia groves in the world. For campground information, visit this site. (I personally found the site a bit confusing, so I would probably call if you're looking for booking information.)

Pinnacles National Park
This is America's Newest National Park. Explore the high peaks, chaparral, wildflowers and more. Pinnacles offers unique landscapes, perfect for rock climbing, hiking, exploring, etc. For more information, check out this website. 

Southern California

Catalina Island (Avalon)
This camping experience is unique since it's near town. You can pitch a tent or rent a tent cabin. 

Crystal Cove
Head to Laguna Beach for beautiful hiking trails, coastal camping, mountain biking and more. Visit here to book and here for more information. 

Jalama Beach
Check out my post here about our camping experience at Jalama (Santa Barbara County.)

Joshua Tree
Escape the city lights and see a night sky full of stars. Make sure to bring enough water because it gets hot in the summer and water is only available at a few locations around the park's edges. Plan your visit here

What about you, do you enjoy camping? Do you have any great camping spots to recommend? And thanks as always, for reading!

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Packing for My Weekend Ski Trip

Hi friends! I am leaving for Utah today to go skiing this weekend. I have never excelled at snow sports. In fact, I've had a series of negative experiences with ski resorts. I got left behind on a skiing group lesson once, another time I sped down a bunny hill because I didn't know the different between "pizza" and "french fries" yet but the instructors asked to just "go down it" so they could see what lesson group I belonged in "uhhh... BEGINNER, I PROMISE YOU SIR!" *sigh* so I crashed into someone (coulda seen that one coming.) I finally stopped because that person leapt in front of me to catch me. I mean, who thought telling me to "just go" was a good idea??

But the one that takes the cake is the time I went to Tahoe once with an ex-boyfriend over Valentine's Day weekend. He tried to teach me how to snowboard - it went badly - and he broke up with me on the trip.

So! Needless to say I haven't had the best snow sport experiences to date! Remembering all those stories makes me feel like I should be nervous for this trip, but hey, worst comes to worst I will take photos all weekend and blog from the nice toasty lodge!

I packed last night and thought it would be good to make a ski weekend packing list. Here's what I packed:

- ski socks (2)
- snow boots
- long underwear (top, bottoms - 2 pairs)
- ski pants
- T shirt to ski in (2)
- ski jacket
- ski hat
- scarf
- ski gloves
- ski goggles
- mittens
- top to change into after a day on the mountain (2)
- long sleeve shirt
- jeans (2)
- converse
- sweater
- sweatshirt
- pjs
- toiletries
- chargers/ electronics (kindle, laptop, phone)
- sketchbook
- pencil
- book
- wallet
- make up essentials
- brush
- undergarments
- hair dryer
- jewelry
- lotion

I think that's about it! Can you think of anything I've forgotten? Wish me luck!

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Bloggiversary: My Year in Trips

Like I mentioned in my post yesterday, my 1 year bloggiversary is coming up this May. It's made me nostalgic for 2014 and all the wonderful things I got to do and see. I'm thankful for the year that I turned 25, the new friends I made, the friendships that were strengthened, and the milestones I hit like beginning my career in Higher Education.

2014 was also a year of travel. In May SH and I went to Santa Barbara to visit my favorite ranch and go horseback riding. Then I went to Sonoma for the first time with girlfriends over Memorial Day Weekend to go wine tasting (yum!) In June I went to NYC to visit my elementary school besties (going on 17 years of friendship!) and saw Orlando Bloom and Sophia Copolla on my flights there and back. In July SH and I visited Seattle for my second annual birthday trip (I turned 25.) Then in August we went on a friend camping trip to Big Sur. In October I went to Illinois for the first time, and saw SH's home and Chicago. Then last but not least, in December SH and I went to Big Basin for the day to admire the redwoods. 

I don't think I'll get to travel nearly that much in 2015, but here's to a year of visiting new places and having fun. 
















What do you hope 2015 has in store? Do you have any fun trips planned this year?

 

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