Travel, Fashion and Fun!
Hello from, England, one of my most favorite places on the planet, where my younger son and I are enjoying a break from our daily routine, visiting friends, and exploring new places. I’m excited to share with all of you the new and interesting things we’re discovering, but in the meantime …
Love, Hilary
Summer projects have become a tradition in our household. Previous years, have included make your own longboard, and paint your own skateboard deck. Most recently we gave my younger son’s room a complete makeover. Elliot graciously let me choose the design, and looking for a way to incorporate all the photos we take on our family adventures we decided on a travel photography theme.
He’s a tween, so we wanted something that would take him through the next few years, and still feel “cool” or at least until he decides to move into his older brother’s room, when he leaves for college in (sob) 2 short years. We gave it the full Do-it-yourself treatment. We made own shelves, painted the walls, created a mural, and applied decals, photographs and a DIY bulletin board.
I should mention that Elliot’s room is tall and narrow with the sleeping area below and the hang out space above, (which makes it difficult to get great photos). The upper portion of the room has a long narrow walkway, and that seemed like the perfect spot for our world map mural.
Where in the World Photo Mural
Having done years of extensive travel both separately and as a family we were looking for a fun way to display where we’ve been. Unable to find exactly what we had in mind we created our own.
Deciding which photos to hang up was probably the most difficult task. My family takes bets on how many photos I’ll take in any given location, so you can imagine that narrowing it down to just one per destination was near impossible, but I almost did it.
Tip: Order the photos before you start the painting process as they will both take a few days to be ready. My favorite online photo company is: MPix.
Elliot chose the paint color, mega blue, a perfect representation of oceans, but I swear I didn’t influence this choice. Here are the before and after photos of the wall:
Tip: Prime the wall first, and wait until the paint is completely dry before the next steps. Depending on the time of year, and the weather, this could be days, we waited four.
Once the wall is completely dry its time to hang up or apply your map. Although any map, or even paper cut outs would work, we chose a vinyl world map from Wall Need Love. In our case we planned to add a lot of photos, so I really like the simplicity of the map silhouette*.
Again your photos can be any size and mounted directly to the wall. I mounted ours to 1/4 foam board, which gives them a little punch and allows me to remove and replace easily, should we change our mind.
Your chosen destinations might seem obvious to you, after all you took the photos, but I thought it would be fun to have the location printed onto each photo.
Tip: Use photo mount to apply your photos to foam boards. Use double sided foam tape to apply them to the wall.
Tip: Practice your layout using scrap paper and painters tape.
We opted not to string lines between the photos and their corresponding locations, but we did use map pins. We assigned a color to each family member, which we stuck directly into all the destination photos that each individual had personally visited. Red pins representing the countries and cities we stuck directly into the map.
Would you like to make a world map photo mural? Here’s what you’ll need:
Because Elliot’s room is two stories tall we needed some fairly large prints. This time we chose street art and graffiti photos from around the world. We had them printed 20 x 20 and mounted onto 1/4 foam board.
Tip: Use double sided foam tape to hang your prints.
Because the room is narrow it was difficult to find furniture that fit between the bed and the wall, so we made shelving that works as both night table and storage.
This next project does require some power tools, and an outdoor space to work in. We purchased the wood, the pipes and all the supplies at a local hardware store. If you don’t have power tools you can have the hardware store cut and drill the wood for you, and finish the project at home. Here are photo directions to the DIY Pipe Shelves:
I used a plastic wire tie to attach the charging cords to the shelving, as this seems to be an item that is easily lost. The lower bar, started out as nightlight storage, but has since become a place to hang headphones, and I’m sure it will evolve again over time.
We finalized everything with a custom bulletin board and some “graffiti style” vinyl murals.
*Ireland was missing from my map, but was sent along later.
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away…
We visited Batuu, a planet located at Galaxy’s Edge, or at least we really and truly felt like we did. Okay, so we weren’t really at Black Spire the last outpost before Wild Space on the planet Batuu, but rather in Disneyland, located in Anaheim, California.
In true Disney fashion no detail was spared, and we all agreed that our visit to Disneyland’s new Star Wars themed land was the most immersive theme park experience we’ve ever had.
During our visit we flew the Millennium Falcon, explored the market place, sampled the food and met the citizens of Black Spire, who very impressively don’t break character. Careful, you don’t want to catch the attention of a stormtrooper.
Located within Disney’s Magic Kingdom, you’ll need a theme park ticket to visit Galaxy’s Edge*. Access points are just next to Critter Country and Frontier Land. From the moment you walk through the entrance archways you are transported to another world, complete with two official languages, Aurebesh and Huttese.
If you listen carefully you’ll hear the citizens using them and see that many of the signs and items for sale are also labeled in these languages. English translations are posted, but if you’re interested in learning the native tongues you can download a handy app which will translate for you.
There is one ride attraction within Galaxy’s Edge, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, with another attraction set to open later this year.
Smuggler’s Run is an interactive ride experience where guests (the minimum height requirement is 38 inches) will work together to pilot the Millennium Falcon on a smuggling mission.
While you’re waiting in line you’ll be treated to stunning views of both Black Spires and the Millennium Falcon. Decide whether you’ll be the pilot, the gunner, or the engineer, but remember you’ll need to work together to ensure a successful mission.
Once you get through the line you’ll find yourself walking through the passageways of the Millennium Falcon. Next thing you know you’re onboard!
Food choices in Black Spire (Galaxy’s Edge) are plentiful including, vegetarian options, unique snacks and even a cantina, which serves alcohol. If you are at all familiar with Disneyland you’ll know this is big news.
The market place includes multiple shops including, a toymaker, a creature shop, and an outfitter. If you’re in the market for a light saber or a droid you’ll have the opportunity to build your own, but you should know that these items are a hot and expensive commodity.
Keep your eye out for Planet Batuu’s many mysterious and unique creatures.
If your tastes run to the Dark Side you’ll want to visit First Order Cargo, which you’ll find just to the left of this Tie-Fighter.
Stick around to see Galaxy’s Edge after dark:
*Galaxy’s Edge officially opened on May 31, 2019, and as you can imagine its a popular destination. Access will be limited to those with a reservation until June 24, 2019.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Summer is here, or almost, technically it’s not for another few weeks, but here in the United States, Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of the summer season. For many of us that means vacation time, beach days, and of course that sweet summer staple in a myriad of flavors and colors: ice cream.
This isn’t a best of list, because although some spots do stand out as being exceptional, is there really such a thing as bad ice cream, or for that matter dessert? I’m an equal opportunity dessert eater, so this list won’t just include the cool sweet stuff, but some other fun treats as well. I’ve shared a few of these before, but how nice to have all of these delicious options in one convenient spot.
You’re welcome!
While not technically in Los Angeles, I am starting with my most recent ice cream discovery, Black Tap, which is located in Downtown Disney in Anaheim, so almost LA. I’d been hearing about and seeing photos of Black Tap’s gigantic milkshake concoctions for years, and as soon as they opened I made a beeline straight for it. There are multiple combinations available, and there were three of us, so we decided to share…
Taiyaki is a fish shaped pastry with a texture somewhere between a waffle cone and a pancake and we do our best to enjoy it whenever possible. Traditionally filled with red bean paste, custard and Nutella are other popular options. Somi Somi in Koreatown is a great place to enjoy Taiyaki.
Another great place to enjoy taiyaki is Stray Cat Poke & Dessert, which is located in Old Town Pasadena, a great place to spend an afternoon.
The Milk Shop, located in Silver Lake, is an old fashioned ice cream parlor and bake shop with a modern day twist. Not only were the treats Insta worthy, but they were delicious. Even though I enjoyed my macaron ice cream sandwich immensely I couldn’t resist the cookie dough to go, yes please!
Churned to order and paired with delicious toppings we are smitten with Smitten. You’ll find Southern California’s only Smitten location in El Segundo.
Salt and Straw’s ice cream is delicious, but don’t take my word for it, the ever present line around the block should speak for itself. One reason the line is so long… you can sample as many flavors as you want!
Rori’s has multiple locations around town, and lucky for us, one of them is within a mile of our home. If I had to pick a favorite Rori’s would be very near the top.
Wait, what? A 24 hour ATM that only sells cupcakes and cookies? Where can I find that? Beverly Hills of course! We discovered that Sprinkles also has an ice cream shop, and we couldn’t resist. This was some incredible ice cream, and the red velvet cones were amazing. You’ll find the Sprinkles ice cream shop just next to the Cupcake ATM.
Little Damage is a family owned soft serve ice cream shop in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. With trendy black cones and unique flavor choices, Little Damage, is not your average ice cream… its ice cream with a Goth twist. We sampled Unicorn Tears, a lovely blue color, which actually tasted like vanilla birthday cake. A scoop is $6 and comes with one free topping. The trendy black waffle cone (made from activated charcoal) is $1 extra.
Sidecar Doughnuts is one of our favorite Westside doughnut shops. We aren’t the only ones who love them, so be prepared for a long line. I promise you it’s worth the wait their uniquely original and very delicious flavors are baked fresh all day long.
We love Astro Doughnuts, and their fried chicken is delicious too. They recently opened a new location on Main Street in Santa Monica, so now we can bike there.
Pictured here is a cream cheese champagne glaze 24k gold donut, which if you’re feeling spendy will set you back $100!! Yes, $100 for one donut! At a mere $3.50 the other donuts seemed like real bargains, so we got two… Elliot chose a panda donut, because… panda! The strawberry donut was so delicious we wasted no time on a proper photo.
Offering unique flavors like Habanero PB&J, trendy flavors like maple bacon, and the more traditional like lemon poppyseed you’ll find something for everyone at Blue Star. Elliot loves the Meyer lemon & key lime curd, but the crisp edges of the lemon poppyseed make it my personal favorite. Maybe it reminds me of the crisp edges on beignets?
Canter’s, an LA institution, has been serving up their award winning pastrami sandwiches and other deli fare since 1931. Beyond pastrami, other favorites on my list are the Mish Mash Soup, and the High Hat, which is basically a cupcake married to a ding dong! Delicious!
Would you like a free cupcake? Georgetown Cupcakes is giving you one! All you have to do is check out their online fridge cam for the secret cupcake of the day. Tell them the flavor when you walk in and they’ll give each member of your group a complimentary cupcake!
Whether you like it savory or sweet you’ll be guaranteed a unique and tasty treat at the Pie Hole. With 5+ locations throughout the greater LA area you have no excuses!
We stopped in Lark Cake Shop at the request of the kids, and thankfully we were in the mood to say yes! The Ice Box Cake was so delightful we considered going back for a second round.
The Milk Tavern is my kind of bar with unicorn crepe cakes, cotton candy burritos, rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches, and ping pong! Video games too, if you fancy them. Not only is it an instagrammers dream, but the food is delicious too.
Bottega Louie is known for it’s colorful and photogenic macarons, but it isn’t just about the sweets and treats, it’s also a full service restaurant, bar and gourmet market. @laweekly listed Bottega Louie on their 10 best macarons in LA list! We enjoyed chocolate mint, raspberry, salted caramel, birthday cake and coconut. My favorite was coconut!
Cheetos flavored cookie anyone? Trust me, it’s delicious. Not your thing? Don’t worry Cookie Good, has “normal” flavors too. The cookies here are so delicious we bought a dozen different flavors and took a bite of every single one
Compartes chocolate bars are literally bursting with deliciousness. An LA institution since the 1950s these fabulous chocolate bars are a mixture of art, style, and design. Often partnering with other iconic LA brands these are some of the most luxurious and fashionable chocolate bars you’ll ever have the occasion to eat.
If you love bubble tea (I do!) and cute things, then you’ll want to stop in at Mini Snow Monster, with locations at Universal City Walk and Koreatown. Their delicious boba is served in your choice of unique and reusable jars in various fun shapes, and if you fancy it a halo of cotton candy and fruity pebbles.
There is no way I can put together a list of Los Angeles area treats without including Disneyland. I love Disneyland, the rides, the cheer, the gorgeous surroundings and most especially the TREATS!
We do our best to limit our treat intake in our everyday lives, but this is most definitely not the case when we visit the Magic Kingdom, where we do our best to cram as many treats into our faces as possible. We especially love the seasonal treats, which often have a fun twist.
Do you have a favorite dessert? Have you been to any of these places? Have I missed any must try dessert spots in the LA area? Let me know in the comments, so I can add them to my list. Happy Summer!
I know its not a popular opinion, but I don’t enjoy camping. It’s not that I have’t done plenty of it, in fact I grew up tent camping every summer, but somewhere along the line I decided that hauling a car full of gear into the forest, slathering myself in bug repellent, sleeping on the ground and peeing in a hole just wasn’t for me. However, I do love the company of good friends gathered around a warm campfire, and being surrounded by beautiful scenery, I just don’t want to sleep there.
I was beginning to feel guilty about having only taken my older son camping twice, and my younger son, never. Not guilty enough to plan something on my own, but thankfully I didn’t have to. Elliot’s school’s annual 5th grade family glamping/camping trip came to my rescue, and I was able to remedy the situation.
Our glamping destination was El Capitan Canyon just outside of Santa Barbara, California. A very family friendly destination, El Capitan Canyon’s cabins, tents and yurts are situated alongside a creek nestled within the trees and just next to the ocean. The car park is just outside the main glamping area making it safe for children to run and play and there are wide pathways for bikes and scooters. Weather permitting there are heated outdoor pools and playgrounds on site as well.
The onsite store and full service restaurant will ensure that you have everything you need during your stay. For example, if you’re staying in a cabin with three men and no one remembered deodorant.
Animal lovers will enjoy visiting and feeding the onsite llamas and other animals located a short “hike” from the main site. The meet up is just in front of the Market. For those of you who want to keep up your exercise routine, there are guided fun runs as well.
If you’re looking for something more challenging there are longer moderate to difficult hikes in the surrounding hills. We had a wonderful time on the Bill Wallace trail, which offers sweeping views of the surrounding hillsides and ocean. We stopped often to take photos and enjoyed looking down on the camp from above.
Recent rains made for some lovely flower shots, and for very wet feet. Thankfully we’d packed extra shoes.
Much to my delight, our cabin was fully heated, with a bathroom, mini kitchen, and an upstairs loft for the boys. We were with a large group and met up in the main area for evening campfires, however each cabin has its own campfire/grill.
Conveniently the onsite Market sells dinner kits complete with sides, s’mores fixings and cooking utensils, which can be delivered to your accommodation or picked up. There are options for chicken, beef, salmon, and hamburgers and hot dogs. Make sure to order six hours ahead.
While my mind hasn’t been completely changed about camping I have now seen the light where glamping is concerned and would definitely consider another fun filled family weekend at El Capitan Canyon.
Instagram’s popularity is off the charts, and with no signs of it slowing down anytime soon businesses have definitely taken note. Which makes it my go to, whether I’m visiting a new city or exploring my own, for finding the fun.
Following city centric accounts will ensure that you get the latest information about what is happening in your own hometown, or wherever you might be headed.Thanks to Instagram we’ve discovered many fun events around Los Angeles.
The second largest city in America, LA has no shortage of #InstaWorthy locations, and I’ve been doing my best to seek them out. From high flying over the city on a secret swing to the iconic Hollywood Sign, and mouthwatering culinary experiences here are some of the city’s most Instagrammable locations:
We spent a lovely morning at the Invader show in the Downtown LA Arts District. This show is no longer on, but did you know there are 200 Invader works throughout LA? So even though the show is over you can still see his work… all you have to do is keep your eyes open! Not in LA? There are over 3600 of his works around the world!
We recently attended Secret Walls, the Fight Club of the art scene, which took place at the Start Los Angeles Gallery. 29 artists armed with nothing more than a marker, a brush and some black paint had 45 minutes to complete their drawings. No pencils and no sketches allowed! 10 artists moved on to the next round… This fun event will be taking place every month until the last artist is standing.
We loved the Sparrow Mart, I could have done my entire grocery shop there, a temporary pop up shop in the Downtown LA Standard Hotel. The only problem? Everything was made of felt! Yes, that’s right, ALL 31,000 handmade and painted grocery items from gefilte fish to bubble gum and pork chops were pretend! It’s the ultimate “playing store” experience!
Even LAX has jumped on the #InstaBandwagon, and with plenty time to while away while waiting on a delayed flight we took advantage of this #InstaWorthy bench in the SouthWest Airlines terminal.
Reservations are a must at MTN Venice, Abbot Kinney’s latest culinary go-to, where Asian style food both lovely and delicious.
You’ll feel like you’re really flying when you visit these gorgeous @colettemiller angel wings located 69 floors above the City of Angels at SkySpace LA, but If pretending to fly isn’t enough for you consider the slide, which will see you sliding around the outside of the building.
This is the view from the bar at 71 Above a fine dining restaurant located high above Downtown Los Angeles. 71 Above offers prix fix menus for both the lunch and dinner menu, but the choices are plentiful and we found the lunch prices reasonable, the food delicious and the views stunning!
I had the most amazing lunch @margotlosangeles located on the 3rd floor of the @platform_la Every detail is perfect, from the perfectly on trend “I want to live here” decor to the elegant, but mismatched dishes, all that and the food was delicious too.
The @thecontaineryard is located in the heart of the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District. The entire complex is covered inside and out with gorgeous paintings by some of the best muralists in the world.
The Wolves is a newly opened bar and restaurant located in the historic Alexandria Hotel building. Famous guests of the hotel include Rudolph Valentino, Jack Dempsey and Charlie Chaplin and the hotel is said to be haunted by multiple ghosts. With interiors inspired by the year 1910 stepping inside The Wolves is like going back in time.
18 years after I first moved to LA I finally did the Hollywood Sign hike, and it was fabulous. There was something really special about getting so close. Remember to wear comfortable closed toed shoes, and bring water.
You’ll get unique and sweeping views from this not so secret “Secret Swing” in Elysian Park. Do use caution when visiting this spot as the swing is not official.
Posing with street art always makes for some #instafun especially get into it! Props Anyone?! I’m especially proud to share this fun mural because I actually helped bring it to life!
Each group of 15 will be allowed two minutes inside the With All My Love For The Tulips, I Pray Forever exhibit, at the Marciano Art Foundation, but you can enter as many times as you’d like. We went twice! Shoe coverings are provided to keep the environment pristine.
Located in the old American Apparel factory, the Row DTLA, is hoping to be LA’s next shopping and dinning destination. They have a good chance as the area is filling up quick with one-of-a-a kind shops, restaurants and murals. If you do go, keep your eye out for the secret shop and a visit to the new Tartine is definitely a must.
@smorgasburgla is an outdoor Sunday market with 70+ food and shopping vendors from all over LA. It’s conveniently located @rowdtla an outdoor shopping and dining destination with many one of a kind boutiques and restaurants. Plenty of parking too!
I am not a vegan or a vegetarian, but I LOVED my dining experience at Gracias Madre a plant based Mexican restaurant. The “fish” tacos were some of the best I’ve had as was the guacamole. The service is perfect and so is the atmosphere. The decor is so lovely I’d consider living there. Oh, and the drinks… almost too pretty, but we managed it.
Melrose Avenue is a great place to find Instaopportunties, so keep your eyes open. My boys and I were out on a secret art mission when we stumbled upon this lovely piece of yarn art by @madebylondon.
Isn’t this wall cute? It’s actually an ad for @meundies but the moment I saw it I knew I would visit anyway.
A visit to the Art Walls on Venice Beach is always #instacolorful and its even better if you ride your bike there.
A visit to the @lacma Urban Light sculpture is always worthwhile, but if you visit on a Wednesday when the museum is closed you might get lucky and get the place to yourself!
Sampling the local treats is an important part of exploring any neighborhood. Especially if they’re as pretty as these macaron ice cream sandwiches at the Milk Bar.
The Milk Tavern is my kind of bar with unicorn crepe cakes, cotton candy burritos, rainbow grilled cheese sandwiches, and ping pong! Video games too, if you fancy them. As the name suggests the @milktavern does serve alcoholic beverages, but children are welcome too.
Santa Monica beachThe beach is always #instaworthy.
Looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of LA? Look no further than, Malibu, LA’s closest neighbor to the north. Stretching 21 scenic miles along the Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu is the stuff California dreams are made of. We love the Malibu pier it’s so picturesque.
We love poking around the and shops and grabbing a bite to eat.The mini boutique on the land end of the pier is aesthetically pleasing with a pink and red theme.
We’ve had a lot of rain this winter, and for the first time in 7 years California isn’t experiencing drought conditions. Another great side effect of all that rain: A super bloom!
These are just a few of the places I’ve found since our last #instaLA posts, stay tuned for more Instagrammable LA!
In a few months hilaryStyle will be 4 years old, which is something of a milestone, but a few weeks ago I published my 300th article, that’s 266, 855 words, which absolutely seemed worth mentioning.
When I set out to write this blog I had no idea that I would still be writing it 300+ articles later, nor that I would never miss a single week’s edition. That’s right I’ve never missed a week, which I admit at times feels like a chore, and there are weeks I’m not sure I’ll have something to share, but I always seem to manage and a deadline is a deadline…
In honor of this milestone, I thought I’d share some of the blog’s stats. Although I don’t have the most impressive numbers I do have a steady following. Occasionally I think about throwing in the towel, but then I hear from someone letting me know how much it’s helped them, or made them laugh and I realize it’s still a worthwhile endeavor.
I’ve personally visited 18 countries, and 22 States, which in the world of travel bloggers may not be impressive, but what I do find impressive is that HilaryStyle has been visited by people from 157 different countries. Thinking a blog would be a fun way to share my adventures with friends and family, I had no idea my thoughts, ideas and photos would be shared around the world.
Click on the suitcases for links to related articles.
I’m most popular in the United States, but it’s nice to know that HilaryStyle has reached Greenland, Iran, and Zambia as well.
I’m often surprised as to which posts receive the most and least attention.
50 of the 250 travel articles I’ve written are about Los Angeles and surrounding areas, but I’ve got love for other places too. London is in second place with 22 articles, and New Orleans, with 20 articles came in third. France and Scotland are tied for fourth place.
Shoreditch Street Art Tour & Masterclass
St. Pauls Cathedral and Westminster Abbey
10 things to do in New Orleans with Kids
The Garden District New Orleans
New Orleans Let’s Eat Lunch and Talk about Dinner
The blog’s tagline is Travel, Fashion & Fun and while there is a heavy emphasis on travel, I have written 60 fun, 26 street art, and 23 fashion related articles. Occasionally I’m even funny, or at least I make myself laugh and I love to give advice. Here are a few of the most popular articles falling into the aforementioned categories:
DIY: 10 Steps to Building Your Own Longboard
A Super Birthday For Your Little Hero!
Shopping the Sample Sales in LA’s Fashion District
Fashion Favorites: Walking In My Shoes… Travel shoes that is.
Biking & Art on the Atlanta BeltLine
What do you say LA? Messages from the Street (Art That Is)
30 Tips For Better Travel Photos
Whether you’ve been with HilaryStyle since the beginning, or are just joining me, I am so grateful for your interest, and will look forward to continuing the journey. Although I may ease up on that weekly deadline. We shall see…
As much as I love to be on the road exploring, and contrary to how it might look if you follow me on Instagram, I’m not always traveling, in fact more often than not, I’m home, which if you don’t already know is beautiful sunny Los Angeles, California.
However, I do have other non-travel related interests, and thought it might be fun to share some of them with all of you, after all this blog is about travel, fashion and FUN.
So, what, beyond all things travel related, constitutes fun Hilary style? I’ve got many irons in the fire, so to speak, but currently I’ve been spending a lot of time creating in the kitchen (mainly cookies and cakes), and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to share some of my sweeter creations.
I’ve always loved to bake, but my newest baking obsession is cookies. Mainly French macarons and sugar cookies decorated with royal icing. The later being a nice mix of baking and art.
I’m enjoying this so much, that I admit to being a bit behind in some other areas, as I can’t seem to stop decorating. Though I haven’t heard any complaints from the family.
These cute little sweeties seemed like the perfect treats to bring to the Lunar New Year party we attended.
Baking the cookies onto lollypop sticks seemed like a fun idea, and thankfully it worked out beautifully. I will definitely be doing this again. Not to mention eating them off the stick was particularly satisfying.
Thinking it would be fun to “dress” the cookies as their recipients I had no idea that they would actually be wearing matching outfits. A photo was absolutely in order, as I couldn’t have planned this better if I tried.
I love travel and I love cookies, so baking cookies related to some of my favorite travel destinations makes sense. Here’s an attempt at some USA/California themed treats. I think I still need some work here, but thankfully my brother-in-law has volunteered to eat all my practice cookies. He lives in Seattle, so I’ll be shipping these his way just in time for…
This is my younger son’s last year of elementary school, and also our last year exchanging class Valentine’s. This is a bittersweet milestone, as moving on and up is a positive, but we’ll miss these fun elementary traditions and are going to go all out with heart cookies for everyone!
We had friends over for a cookie decorating party and everyone loved the speech bubble cookie. I’ve seen a lot of fun Valentine pun cookies around, but I’m going with “I love you soy much”, which I thought up on my own!
Learning to make French Macarons was a fun and delicious challenge. I don’t know that I’ve mastered it quite yet, but I have learned that they are delicious whether they look pretty or not!
If you’re a beginner macaron baker, consider flavoring the filling as opposed to the shells, which can be finicky even when using the most basic recipe. Displayed here are pumpkin shells with a cheesecake pumpkin butter filling, chocolate with chocolate hazelnut ganache, vanilla peppermint with crushed peppermint, orange cranberry, orange chocolate and vanilla with a vanilla and chocolate ganache center.
Did you know that macarons can be frozen for up to 5 months? Pre-baked shells can be thawed and then filled with buttercream, chocolate or curd as needed. I got this cute little stand/carry case for $11 on Amazon, which comes in handy if you want to bring your creations with you.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this sweet detour from my usual musings about art and travel, and if so you might like to follow my cookie adventures on my new cookiestagram @cookiesareeverything, which is just getting started.
I’ll be back to travel next week sharing some off the beaten path fun from our most recent visit to New Orleans, and stay tuned for more baking fun…
2018 was a year filled with travel and with art, and it was a year of evolution where both are concerned. No longer content to be a spectator my quest for art and unique experiences has reshaped the way I approach travel and inspired me to spend more time creating on my own.
Travel will always be a priority in my life, but realistically I can’t always be on the road, so creating adventures closer to home has started to play a bigger roll. That doesn’t mean I don’t have some pretty lofty travel goals. Currently Croatia, Italy and Japan are topping my international wish list, while New York, Nashville and Charleston are at the top of my North American list.
In 2018, we made it to San Francisco, Atlanta, Palm Springs, Puerto Vallarta, Portland, Seattle, Miami and New Orleans. Speaking of which, San Francisco and the Bay Area are back in our lives in a big way, and while we aren’t leaving Southern California we will be spending a lot more time up north, so stay tuned for more NorCal adventures.
A weekend visiting friends in San Francisco was a great way to start the year. We shopped, ate and of course hunted for street art.
I’ve been following FNNCH, a San Francisco based artist, for a while, so was excited to see a few of his pieces in person.
A surprise bonus was our impromptu visit to one of San Francisco’s most iconic attractions, the Coit Tower.
A girls weekend brought me to Atlanta, Georgia in February, and I jumped at the chance to explore a new city.
A highlight of our visit was Atlanta’s newest park, The BeltLine, which was a perfect way to get an overview of the city.
The multi-use pedestrian friendly pathways are perfect for cycling, running, and walking, and they’re also home to the South’s largest temporary public art installation! Atlanta is host to multiple mural and art festivals each year, including the Outer space Project, and Living Walls. This means you’ll find murals, sculpture, and performance art throughout the city.
Palm Springs, an easy two hour drive from Los Angeles, happened to be one of the few well known Southern California cities our family had yet to explore, which made it the perfect choice for a quick getaway.
The Palm Springs Art Museum is the largest cultural institution in Coachella Valley. The Downtown location features modern art and is spread out over three floors. The museum has a nice easy flow, a wonderful selection of art, and a lovely cafe.
In April we joined friends for 4 fabulous days in and around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This was my first trip to Mexico, and we filled our days with boating, snorkeling, ocean swimming, and a trip to town. In between all that exploring we even found time to relax.
We walked along the beach boardwalk, explored the markets, and admired the art installations. There isn’t a lot of street art in Old Town Vallarta, but there is some, and you know I did my best to hunt it down.
Many of the pieces I found are part of the Restore Coral Mural Project an initiative bringing awareness to the importance of coral reefs and the preservation of marine ecosystems.
Historically May is a busy month for our family and we don’t often travel, but living in the second largest city in America means a lot of opportunity for exploring right here at home.
We’ve had our fair share of pop up museums in LA, but when I heard about Beyond the Streets: Vandalism as Contemporary Art, I knew this was one exhibition I couldn’t miss.
Unlike other recent “museum” pop ups Beyond the Streets really felt like a museum, and less like an Instagram photo op, but how could I resist posing with these fabulous LA Hands?
Not one to stay put, we love to pick a neighborhood and explore and one of our favorites is Silver Lake, a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.
The area’s hidden stairways, which wend and wind through the vibrant and colorful residential areas are a great way to spend an afternoon. Keep your eyes open as you wander through the streets and you’ll find hidden murals and art installations and if you make it to the top you’ll be rewarded with fabulous views of the city.
After 10 days exploring the Oregon Coast this self described city girl needed a dose of hustle and bustle and a good cup of coffee, so we made a beeline for Oregon’s biggest city.
I’m impressed with the longevity of the street art pieces in Portland, many of which are years old.
My never-ending quest for street art led me to the Alberta Arts District where we found street art murals and slap tags aplenty.
We took a walking tour of the Central Eastside Industrial District and although it was a blistering hot 95 degree day we persevered.
It’s been 18 years since I’ve called the Emerald City home, but family and close connections guarantee that I visit regularly, and August is my favorite month to be there.
Our quest for art took us from one end of the city to the other including Georgetown, SODO, Downtown, Belltown, and Capital Hill.
Autumn found me digging even deeper into our local art scene. Including…
Showcasing my work at my first art market in Downtown Los Angeles,
getting a chance to assist one of my favorite artists, Bumblebeelovesyou, with a large scale mural in Japantown.
and finally hosting a graffiti art party in support of my 10 year old son’s elementary school at the Venice Art Walls.
With two trips, in the first two weeks, December was a busy month. The first of which was a solo trip to Miami where I spent three days immersed in all things art.
A visit to the Wynwood Arts District and the Wynwood Walls outdoor mural museum was first on my list and I know I’ll find my way back to this vibrant and happening neighborhood in the future.
Art Basel Miami Beach, and Little Havana were also highlights of my whirlwind three days in South Florida, and I’ll be sharing more about my experiences soon.
Our final trip of the year was our annual visit to New Orleans. I was nervous we might not make it for the tricentennial in 2018, but we managed to fit in a quick visit. Our three days there were filled to the brim with both old and new favorites. Beignets anyone?
New Orleans isn’t known for street art, and what little there is has for the most part eluded me, but the movement has started to catch on, and we managed to discover a few art pockets while exploring the Faubourg Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods. A lot More to come on that…
The Bywater is home to Studio BE, a 35,000 square foot exhibition space, which features large scale works by New Orleans artist and filmmaker BMike. Unfortunately our visit didn’t coincide with the studios’s opening hours, but it’s on my list for next year’s visit.
So there you have it! It’s been a great year filled with travel and art, and art and travel and I am so grateful for each and every one of you who choose to follow along on all my colorful adventures. Thank you, and Happy New Year!
When the boys were younger I was frequently asked if I would be bringing them on our travel adventures. The answer was always yes! I know we traveled prior to their arrival, but I hardly remember what it was like, and with very few exceptions, the children have always joined us.
I confess there was a time when I thought occasionally leaving them behind would have been a nice option… Now that they’re getting older I realize our window for family travel is finite and I’m cherishing every opportunity. Speaking of which, my older son turned 16 this month, which is what led me to take this trip down memory lane.
Simon was only three weeks old when we took our first family trip, a car ride to Santa Barbara.
We visited the London Zoo when Simon was 3 years old and again when he was 15 and Elliot was 9.
It hasn’t always gone according to plan, we’ve left strollers in parking lots, formula at home, and wipes in the airport bathroom. Traveling while potty training is always interesting, and I apologize for whoever sat in our seats on United LHR – LAX back in April 2006.
Elliot suffers from air-sickness, and has pretty much thrown up in every place we’ve ever visited, (Lucky me?) I’ve been there to catch it in just as many places. On the rare occasions when this hasn’t happened, Simon usually takes his place. We’ve lost a few retainers that way.
We brought Salmonella home from Hawaii and Fifths Disease to New Orleans. Our flight left without us in Barcelona, we filled our diesel car with gas in Ireland, and once came back to a car filled with thousands of ants in Santa Barbara.
For the most part we’ve been able to make lemonade out of lemons, except maybe that time with the ants, and though our style of travel has changed as the boys have gotten older one thing has stayed the same and that’s my love of the uninterrupted dedicated time that traveling as a family gives us.
A trip to Maui when Simon was just 13 months was our first long distance flight as a family. Happily it went off without a hitch setting the tone for future family travels.
We loved our annual trips to Seattle to visit family, especially in the summer months when we could take advantage of the city’s many wonderful parks.
Butterfly World will forever be remembered in our family as the first place Simon decided to use the potty. The expression on his face is the way I felt when he said he wanted to use the bathroom!
Simon was three when we took Our first long haul flight to Europe. We visited London, Barcelona, and Bilbao. Everything was going according to plan until the plane left without us in Bilbao. Thankfully, the airline put us up in a nearby hotel where I had the best pastry I’ve tasted in my life.
It’s no secret that New Orleans is a family favorite, we go almost every year, and I have a feeling the kids will continue to visit The Crescent City long after they stop traveling with us.
Visiting the Forum alone with two hungry boys who wanted to be anywhere else isn’t one of my fondest travel memories, but I love what happened afterwards when I treated them to McDonalds. It was the most crowded one I’ve ever seen (to this day), and there was no way I could get inside with a stroller. I couldn’t leave the boys alone, so 9 year old Simon braved the crowd, pushed his way to the front, and ordered two Happy Meals! Where there is a will there is a way!
A 28 day trip to Europe in 2013 was at that time our longest family adventure to date, and it went off without a hitch! Still a number of years before I would start this blog, I was definitely starting to feel like I had a handle on this family travel business.
In spring of 2014 we visited Japan, our dream vacation, and it was everything we’d hoped it would be and more. A return visit is high on our family’s wish list and I hope to make this happen before Simon heads off to college…
A last minute trip to Portugal and Spain in the fall of 2015 meant taking the boys out of school, but dedicated family time is important and we made it work, spending the time between sightseeing and dinner doing homework in the room.
In 2016 we set off on a six week journey, our longest trip ever. During our travels we almost kissed the Blarney Stone in Cork, Ireland, signed the Peace Wall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, went to art school in Glasgow, Scotland and walked on Hadrian’s Wall.
We spent a few days in London (I wished for more) visiting some of our favorite places, before hopping the train to Belgium where we wished we’d eaten way more chocolate, Amsterdam where we visited Anne Frank’s House and Van Gogh’s Museum and finally Paris, where we practiced our French, sailed boats and wandered aimlessly.
2017 was a busy travel year. We stuffed ourselves during our annual trip to NOLA and survived the soaring summer temperatures on a 2000+ mile road trip through the Great American Southwest. Finally, we brought the year to a close in London where we froze our Southern California butts off on multiple day trips and outings including Bath, Stonehenge, Windsor, Kent, and WB Studios.
We stayed closer to home this past year exploring the West Coast of the United States including Northern California, Oregon, and Southern California including Palm Springs.
2018s’ final trip will be our annual visit to New Orleans, and beyond that I’m not exactly sure where we’ll be headed next, but I’ve got lots of ideas. Stay tuned…
