Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label road trip. Show all posts

February 27, 2019

joshua tree, i love you.

J O S H U A    T R E E    F O R E V E R (!!!)
I love Joshua Tree. This place is legit pure magic and I am all about the vibe, all dayyyy. Pete and I went to JT for the first time last year when we went on our Cali trip, you can check out that post here.

We knew we wanted to go back to Joshua Tree, especially since it's just so close to so many other great places! We couldn't imagine not making the trip back to see such an incredibly cool place. So, we did just that! This time we just stayed in a cute air b&b for two nights. 

It was very cold in JT this time around, and sadly it was amidst the government shut downs, although while we were in the park everything still looked so amazing and beautiful. Hoping things are all sorted and back to normal now.

I'll be honest, there's not that much to do in Joshua Tree, I mean in addition to the fact that it's the coolest place ever inside the actual park. In that case you could get lost forever inside the park, because it is truly pure magic.

My favourite thing to do is go there for the sunset. Pete and I legit chased the sunset this time (lol) we were actually running around to find  the best spot to see the sunset and take some awesome pics. It's safe to say we found it! It was literally frigid cold there but so worth experiencing something so damn beautiful.


Other favourites while in Joshua Tree:

pie for the peopleA very delicious pizza place! Even though you basically always have to wait an hour and twenty minutes to eat it, I do feel like it's worth it.

country kitchen: We really wanted to go here last year but the wait was always so long. This is a teeny tiny diner with the nicest people and most delicious (greasy breakfast) I'm gonna go ahead and say it, the hashbrowns changed my life.

shop the mesa: My new favourite store. When you walk into a store and the owner offers you a mimosa for while you shop, you know it's gonna be a good time. This store is so beautiful, so bright and curated with amazing things. I got some really cute stuff like pom-poms + palo santo.

yucca bowl: When Pete found out there was a old school bowling alley with a mid-week special I was 110% on board. I love bowling! Omg we had so much fun here, the people there were so nice and it was like going back in time. $1.25 per game on Tuesday's - best $$$ we spent all trip!

hoof + the horn: Loveee this shop, and loved it last year too. A really amazing mix of clothes, decor, pins, jewels, candles, blankets and beyond. I got some palo santo perfume, pins, and Pete and I got the most beautiful navaho blanket for our house (it was only $50 and is legit beautiful.

joshua tree rock shop: Bless Pete's soul for putting up with my recent love of gems and crystals (lol) I wandered around the rock shop and was really thinking about the special gems I wanted from JT because it's a place that channels a lot of good energy. There were SO many options but I got three gems that are super special now!

moon wind trading co: This is a newer shop in JT, and is kinda in the middle of nowhere but I love that about it. Beautiful curation of goodies, especially the jewellery. Honestly, I just loved looking at everything because it was quite dreamy.

joshua tree coffee co: We loveeee coffee, so much that we did was like 15-20 minutes for our road trip coffees from JT Coffee Co. Worth it though because they were damn good! And everyone was so nice, I love nice people.

giant rock meeting room + coffee house: What an amazing spot! New to Joshua Tree, this is a beautiful spot right next to Moon Wind Trading Co. The staff were so nice (nice people everywhere) and the coffee was so so good. We sat by the window and the sun was shining so bright as we enjoyed some really damn good coffees.

I think everyone needs to experience the beauty of Joshua Tree at some point in their lives. I feel super thankful we got to go there two years in a row! JT, do you love me? Yes.






August 29, 2016

our road trip to pittsburgh!

Hello & Happy Monday!

A few weeks ago Pete and I went on a road trip with my brother Dave and his boyfriend Mikey. We wanted to go somewhere new & explore and since Pittsburgh is only about five hours from Toronto we thought it would be fun to go for it.

We all researched some cool places to go and before we knew it we had a seriously jam packed weekend on our hands! We had lots of laughs, good drinks, great food and saw some really awesome stuff. I am sure there are some cool things we didn't quite get to in our weekend in Pittsburgh, but here are six things to do/see while you're there:

1. The Ace Hotel // We spent a lotttt of time at The Ace Hotel during our short time in Pittsburgh. It's a beautiful, bright and unique space and we just fell in love with it. We had dinner there on Friday night (omg, so good), We had coffee there Saturday morning and then we made it back for cocktails and good times on Saturday night! We found a big party in the gymnasium and of course took some Photo Booth photo's.

2. Mattress Factory // What an insanely cool place. The mattress factory was a bunch of big houses with art installations inside. It was honestly amazing. I am not an overly huge fan of museums and galleries but this was one of my favourites. It was REALLY hot, but we spent a good four hours checking it out, and then having lunch at the cafe inside. 

3. Randyland // Where all your weirdest & wildest dreams come true. This was one of the first places I found when doing some research on Pittsburgh. It's basically just a giant house and yard filled with crazy colourful garbage (lol) it was a short walk from mattress factory and a very awesome and photo worthy spot to visit!

4. Andy Warhol Museum // This was our very stop on our weekend adventures! WHAT A COOL PLACE! Andy Warhol was such a amazing, creative artist and I loved learning more about his life and his art. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh so it felt extra special to be there. 

5. Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens // This was on our last stop (and was actually the hottest day ever) but was most definitely worth it. It was actually my first time going to a botanical garden, and if you know me you know one of my favourite things in life are flowers! We saw so many cool plants and flowers and rooms of all different themes. Definitely check it out if you're visiting.

6. The Vandal // I found The Vandal online and thought it seemed like the coolest restaurant in Pittsburgh and I think I was right! We actually tried to go there a few times until we finally made it there on Sunday for brunch. The coffee and food was delicious and it was so cool inside! We all really enjoyed it and think it was worth the wait! 

September 22, 2013

i love chicago, part two

I posted a few weeks ago about our road trip to Chicago, and that we had an awesome time there. Totally loved the city and got to experience some amazing things there for sure. I think I like Chicago because in some ways in reminds me of Toronto, and generally speaking I gravitate towards cities that are similar to my own (because I love it so much) Here are a few more photo's from our trip!

Great view of the water, took this while waiting to get in to the aquarium ;
This babe of a babe sittin' on the steps. looking all handsome ;
My first ever bloody mary! I know, seems crazy but in Canada we have Ceasars;
Loved this adorable diner we found for breaky, Eleven! ;
Saw a cute candy heart, obvs took a photo ;
Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier, so pretty at night! ;
Chicago Skyline photo, rockin the red tones ;
Navy Pier sign just before ;
Hotel room selfieee! ;
The perfect pairing! Coconut cupcake from Sprinkles and the cutest little bottle of wine ;

September 11, 2013

i love chicago ; part one

Chicago! ♥
As you know if you're a regular "life of a cupcake" reader, on labour day weekend Pete and I and our friends Chantal & Steve headed on a road trip to Chicago! It's been ages since I've been on a road trip, and one drunken night 6 months ago lead us in to planning this awesome trip. We headed out bright and early with a car packed with snacks, games, music and FUN!

I absolutely loved Chicago, thought it was cute as can be. It reminds me of Toronto in some ways which of course is a huge plus! 

Our whole weekend was filled with so many laughs and amazing times. I am doing three blog posts with my favourite photo's from the trip!

from the top :
  • i spotted these balloons with positive messages on them, and obvs got so stoked
  • loved this view just outside our hotel!
  • spotted this cutie little pig in the window after an adventure we went on
  • bert's car wash was calling out to me with cuteness! love.
  • tattoo life! our pal steve got a tattoo while we were there at great lakes tattoo
  • chantal and steve being babes on a bus.
  • a cutie chicago sign
  • pete with his free maple bacon cupcake from sprinkles!
  • i LOVED this border on the window of sprinkles
  • me with my cupcake from the ATM
  • SPRINKLES ATM (!!!)
  • just me and woody
  • crumbs cupcakes, noms.
  • my babe in chi-townnn.