It's 25 Degrees Cooler in Alaska Right Now

During my last week of summer, my family and I went on an Alaskan cruise. I found myself frequently closing my eyes, trying to imprint the feeling of 60 degree weather on my face, knowing that I would be returning to 90+ degree heat in Greenville.

The whole time we were there, my family and I kept marveling at the fact that we were still in the same country we were in just days before in Florida.

The glacier we climbed in Skagway. We had those spiky things on our feet and everything, so it was official.

 

Our stops included Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Victoria, BC, and a trip down Tracy Arm Fjord. We hiked a glacier, went whale watching, drank more than a few pints in Canada, and generally gallivanted around the cruise ship.

Glacier we hiked again. We refilled our water bottles from it :)

 Me + brothers in front of Mendenhall glacier. I couldn't get over how pretty the blue ice was, almost too brilliant to be real.

 More brilliant, too-good-to-be-true colors

 Pretty houses by the docks

Wet, foggy days in Ketchikan are still lovely.

 

It was So. Much. Fun. I don't get to spend time with my family nearly enough, so a week with my (not-so) baby brothers and parents was so needed. What a great way to end a whirlwind summer. Cheers, Summer 2014, you were really something; now if you could get out of the way and let Autumn through, we're all a little tired of being sweaty all the time.

xoxo,
E

Vacation Ready

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Does anyone else have an "Orange is the New Black" hangover?? SO GOOD.

I'm going on a few big trips this summer (including a three week trip to England! Yee!!) and have been in need of a nice piece of luggage for some time. I know that a suitcase doesn't sound like the sexiest gift ever, but my parents got me this for an early birthday present:

I hate how my iPhone pics never do anything justice...probably has to do with the extreme lack of natural light in my apartment.

Isn't she beautiful? I knew I wanted a hardshell suitcase in a color that would be instantly recognizable coming down the baggage claim line. I really wasn't expecting to fall this hard for a piece of luggage! Here's a better picture from the website:

 

source

It's still sitting in the middle of my living room because it makes me smile every time I look at it. I may or may not have actually hugged it several times. I'll definitely report back on how it does when I take it on a trip...a three week trip to England should put it to the test!

xoxo,
E

NOLA

I mentioned yesterday that I spent the weekend in New Orleans at a reading conference. I visited New Orleans briefly in college with a school group. It wasn't anything crazy, though I did get the opportunity to drink a PBR at a bar/pool hall/laundromat. #innovative

To me, planning and anticipating a trip is almost as good as going on the actual trip. When you get stressed the week before a trip, just try googling a travel guide (Bon Appetit is a go-to for me) and finding a great restaurant to go to your first night there. See? Stress gone!

Needless to say, I had all our reservations set four days before we left. Food is the best way to get to know a city, hands down.

Here are the highlights...

Beignets (and iced cafe au laits) from Cafe du Monde. Eight million people (I may be exaggerating, but probably not) waiting in line every day can't be wrong.

 Pimm's cups at Sazerac. I tried three different Pimm's cups in Nola, and this one was my fave. My research is nothing if not scientifically sound.

 

Roasted head of cauliflower at Domenica. The fact that there was half left by the time the cameras came out should tell you it's that good. Yes, cauliflower.

 

Monteleone Hotel, home of New Orleans' only revolving carousel bar. I drank my pinot noir while happily revolving around a spinning bar. I now believe that wine should be standard issue at all carousels.

 

My mom, me, and my brother's roommate's mom who happened to be at the same conference. Crazy right?! She was my dinner and drinks date after my mom left on Sunday :)

Oh, and dinner at Luke that night was delicious. Get the shrimp and grits.

Not pictured here, which should be a crime: Any one of the three, THREE, lunches I ate at Cochon and their deli next door. I had this kohlrabi salad with lemon yogurt dressing and spiced cashews that dances around in my dreams. I will make it my own one day and then my life will be complete. My mom and I also split their pork ribs with pickled watermelon that was just...so good. Plain and simple. We also had the Cuban sandwich and BBQ pork sandwich at their deli, coupled with the hero of the day, the mac and cheese. I wanted to rub it all over my face and...I'll stop there.

Thanks, New Orleans. You were a ton of fun.

xoxo,

E