A Stroll Through Notting Hill

When traveling to London, I don’t feel like many people say, “Hey! Let’s go to Notting Hill today!” There are so many other “typical London” things to do that I feel like someplace as adorable and Instaworthy as Notting Hill gets shoved to the back-burner. But, the blogger in me couldn’t miss out on that opportunity! Especially since about 4 months prior I started following some amazing London bloggers/Instagrammers (which I’ll tag below) and most of my favorite posts were in Notting Hill. So, Jackson and I meandered over to Notting Hill for some pretty strolls and antiquing on Portobello Road!

The first stop was food. Portobello Road holds the UK’s largest antiques market, some yummy restaurants, and some adorable shops. We stopped for lunch at Arancina, an adorable Sicilian pizza restaurant. How could you not stop with a window as adorable as this??

We chowed down on some yummy pizza and a coke! I highly recommend Arancina!

Next, we walked around Notting Hill to look at all the gorgeous row houses! The good part of Notting Hill is that it is all pretty centrally located. You don’t really have to walk a million miles to see some pretty things!

Now to the biggest bummer of the day. Make sure to pay attention to the day you go walk around because some of the shops might be closed! I was really excited to go to Alice’s Antique Shop, but alas, it was closed. Most of Portobello Market was closed also. There were still some small antique shops open, so the antiquing part wasn’t a total bust.

All in all, Notting Hill was definitely beautiful and good for a nice stroll! I would say if you have some time to spend in London, you should definitely check it out!

If you’re not in London, but you want to add a little bit of beauty to your Instagram feed, you should check out the following Instagrammers:

@siobhaise // @prettycitylondon // @clairemenary

You won’t be disappointed! Have a great day dreaming of London!

❤ Abbie

Wandering Wednesday: Jekyll Island

One of my favorite things to do is to take a little more time on a road trip. That might sound counterproductive, but I find that when we take some extra time it leads to exploring. So that extra hour of time that we gained by leaving early can be useful for stopping at a cute restaurant or checking out a cool park! Some of my favorite places were found by just driving by and deciding to stop! For example, when we found this insanely beautiful little park in the middle of nowhere in Georgia! Happy accident!

Today, I’m going to share with you another place we decided to just wander around, Jekyll Island! You can find this adorable little island off the coast of Georgia. You drive down this seven mile strip of road with beautiful swamp areas surrounding you. There are signs warning of sea turtle crossing as you journey along. You do have to pay $5 to get onto the island, but it is well worth the money. As you get onto the island we were pleasantly surprised to find an adorable little community. Tons of cute houses and small hotels dot the tree-covered island. There are many different places to see, and I hope in the future I can do a more thorough post on this adorable little place.

We mostly stopped for the famous driftwood beach. After a little bit of driving around, we finally found the beach. You have to pull off to the side of the road and walk through the woods a little, but on the other side is an incredible sight.

Hundreds of huge pieces of driftwood are embedded into the Georgia shore. Some of these pieces are at least 10 feet tall.

The driftwood stands like pieces of art. It is a beautiful sight.

I wish we could have stayed longer and enjoyed the view. We plan to someday travel back when we have more time and can explore the island even more! However, this just goes to show that wandering can often lead to something beautiful!

Hope you have a dreamy Wednesday! Go wander!

❤

Abbie

WW: Two hours in Savannah, Ga

Let me start this whole thing by saying that two hours in such an incredible and historic city is just not enough. Seriously. A whole day wouldn’t have been enough to explore Savannah. That being said, this is just going to be a brief post about the things we discovered just walking around for two hours. Now, you might be asking why we only spent two hours in Savannah. To be honest, we just didn’t have time. We were driving back home from Myrtle Beach and just happened to be passing near Savannah. You should know that Savannah has always been on my list of places to visit in the U.S. I’ve heard of it’s beauty and historical significance almost my whole life. So to drive by it without stopping (if only for two hours) was absolutely unthinkable! Let me tell you, I am so glad we stopped. In just the short amount of time we walked around we saw a lot of really beautiful things. Hopefully in the near future we will be going back to spend a long weekend there (you know my birthday is coming up… hint, hint). So until I can do a full-fledged Wandering Wednesday I’m just going to leave this little beautiful snippet right here.

I mainly wanted to focus on the historic district, of course, so we parked on the east side of the beautiful Forsyth Park. Sometimes when you have such a short amount of time in a location the best thing to do is just wander. I find that most of the time just wandering around can lead you to some beautiful things. I’m not necessarily the type to always have everything planned out which is always interesting. So, we walked.

Savannah is full of beautiful and huge churches. It is always incredible to see the pure size of these places! Some churches will even let you tour the inside!

One of my favorite parts was just walking around and seeing all the beautiful historic homes. They are beautiful and they are everywhere. Some of these mansions date back to the 1800s! You know you’re in a cool place when they have a Victorian District.

The day we went to Savannah was just a measly 98 degrees and humid as all get out, so as you can imagine we started to get pretty thirsty. We just happened to be passing by this cute little cafe called Art’s and noticed that there was a double-decker bus inside, so we stopped. The cafe is across the street from the Savannah College of Art and Design, which is housed in an incredible building itself! Definitely stop in for a drink at Art’s, it’s a neat experience!

There are so many adorable little shops hidden in basements and second floors of these historic buildings! If you have the time, stop in a few of them! I highly recommend stopping in The Book Lady. This adorable little bookshop and cafe is located in the lowest level of an old building, and is easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention. When you walk in you feel transported to something that would be in Harry Potter. Books line the old brick walls, and a worn leather couch surrounds an old fireplace. I imagine in the winter it would be the perfect little hideaway. Come dream with me. You’re lounging on the comfy couch, sipping on hot apple cider while the crackling fire lulls you into relaxation as you read a book. Yeah, this place is dreamy.

After you’ve awakened from the dream that is The Book Lady (and you step outside into the humidity, really feeling that non-Christmas vibe) we highly suggest walking down to Forsyth Park. It’s a beautiful little area! I love parks in the middle of big cities. A little bit of a nature sanctuary is always needed!

I hope this has inspired you to spend some time in Savannah. I am planning a second, more thorough post and will hopefully get that to y’all before the year is out! I hope y’all have a killer Wednesday! Go wander!

❤

Abbie

Wandering Wednesday: Myrtle Beach

Well y’all, I’m back from a much-needed vacation. I got the pleasure of spending five days exploring and relaxing on the beautiful South Carolina coast! Last September (on my birthday to be exact) my Dad retired from the Sandusky Fire Department! As his retirement gift he wanted to get our family back to Myrtle Beach where we had vacationed something like 8 years prior. So, that’s exactly what we did! Today, I’m going to share with you some of the fun things to do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina!

 It’s a beach, so obviously relaxation is key. The really cool thing about M.B. is that it’s on the Pacific Ocean, so there are almost constant waves that are perfect for boogie boarding. And those waves wash up a lot of cool stuff too, like seashells and shark teeth! The amount of shark teeth you can find just walking to the pier is crazy. My dad found 28 teeth in less than a mile walk! Fun fact! Did you know most shark teeth that are found are black because they have been buried in the sand and start to soak up the minerals found there? And most are super old so they are more like fossils than actual teeth!

If you are tired of chilling and you want some fun stuff to do, you can walk down Ocean Blvd. and you will pass tons of things to do. Whether it’s riding the huge ferris wheel, talking a stroll down the pier, or eating some yummy food, you are sure to have a good time! I suggest getting these delicious smoothies made inside a pineapple! You can find them at Le Cupcake Cafe on N Ocean Blvd. So yummy. 

Putt-Putt is a family tradition at Myrtle Beach! We stopped and played a game at Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf! Very cool place! I mean how often do you get to play putt-putt inside of a skull cave?!

 

And if being on the ground is just not thrilling enough we highly recommend taking a trip by helicopter! You’ll see signs all over Myrtle Beach advertising for Helicopter Adventures (although the signs say $20 it’s more like $40) taking you on a tour of M.B. We hopped in a helicopter and got to see some pretty amazing sights! It is a bit pricey, but really, how often are you going to get that kind of an opportunity?

You should also check out the Fun Plaza Arcade! I only have one word, skeeball. You’re welcome, earth!

Lastly, Myrtle Beach is a great place to propose! Yes, you read that right! I would not be able to write this post without at least commenting on one of the most exciting moments of our trip! My brother Michael finally proposed to his amazing girlfriend (now fiance, obvi) Paige! I’m so crazy excited for these two and we feel so honored to be a part of that special day!! Love you both!!

As you can see Myrtle Beach is full of fun things to do, but it’s also the perfect place to relax! I hope one day you get to make the trip!

❤ Abbie

And one more thing…

Congratulations Dad! We are so proud of your hard work as a fireman all these years!! In a world that finds it hard to thank people like fireman and police officers, we sure do appreciate the sacrifices and the times you put your life on the line for others!! Love you!!

Wandering Wednesday: The Ringling

Happy Wandering Wednesday everyone! I am so beyond excited to share this post with you today! Last week Jackson and I both had Friday off so we decided to take a day trip! I have to say that since we both started working full-time it has been difficult to get the same day off, so we took advantage of it! We thought about going to St.Augustine, but we have already been there 3 or 4 times. We love it, but it’s not new. After much thinking and Googling we found The Ringling Museum in Sarasota. It was only an hour away from us, which was perfect! On Friday we headed to the museum!

The museum pass includes the Ringling Art Museum, Circus Museum, and a first floor self-guided tour of John and Mable Ringling’s Venetian Gothic mansion, Ca’ D’Zan. We got to the museum around 2:00 and we weren’t able to get in the mansion until 4, so we decided to go through the Circus Museum first! It was so stinking cool! I have this bizarre fascination with the circus and carnivals, so I was beyond excited!

They have actual costumes, banners, equipment and old photographs from different famous circus performers and circuses! They even have certain acts you can try and take photographs doing, like walking the high wire or trying to fit in a tiny car!

After you are done with the main room, you have to go in the Howard Brothers Circus section. Inside is the largest model circus in the entire world. It is so amazing! It’s hard to describe how cool this thing is, so I’m just going to tell you it’s a must-see!

After we finished up at the circus museum, we still had a little time before we had to be at the house for the tour, so we walked over to the art museum to look around for a bit! And let me tell you, it felt like we weren’t in America. I felt like we had been transported to somewhere romantic like Italy. The building is made up of several sections, some had modern art, some had Renaissance art, there was even an Ancient China exhibit going on. There was so much to look at!

The building makes a U-shape, so we did one side before we made it into the central courtyard. And let me tell you, I about died when I saw the courtyard. Perfectly manicured gardens, statuary, and an incredible view of the building were just some of the many reasons this place is stunning.

The classical art sections were definitely my favorite. It’s an incredible feeling to be right up next to massive paintings. Painting is one of the talents that I wish I were good at, so I tend to find them particularly interesting!

After we made it to the courtyard it was time for us to take a tour of the house. We walked under the banyan tree covered paths, and made it to Ca’ D’Zan (“House of John” in Venetian dialect).

The house was built in  Venetian Gothic style because the Ringlings had spent many vacations in Italy and had fallen in love with Italian architecture. The mansion was used as their winter home. While going through the mansion you can just imagine 1920s flappers hobnobbing on the terrace. It’s so Gatsby, and I was loving every second. The tour takes you through some of the incredible rooms and allows you to go onto the terrace which overlooks Sarasota Bay. It’s not hard to see why the Ringling’s picked such an incredible location!

The Ringling was so incredibly wonderful. I definitely suggest getting there sooner than we did, however. Three hours was hardly enough time to see everything and take in the beauty. If you liked this blog post, go check out my super awesome husbands’ vlog about our day trip here. I hope that one day you take the opportunity to take a short drive from Tampa and check out The Ringling!

❤ Abbie

Shaaawl-Right, It’s Fashion Friday!

Feliz Fashion Friday my friends! Last month Jackson and I traveled up to Louisiana to see his sister Julia graduate. Well, on the way home we got to stop for the night in Pensacola. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hit some historical sites the next morning, so stay tuned to see more about this super cool fort and lighthouse we visited! You are going to get to see a sneak preview today because Jackson took some pictures of me for today’s Fashion Friday while we were there! This outfit has quickly become a favorite of mine, so I’m excited to share it with you!

I got this adorable shawl from Aerie! It’s very lightweight and perfect for hot Florida days! I belted it with my favorite bow belt from New York and Company. It’s amazing what a belt can do for an outfit! Nothing like a good belt to give you your shape back!

I paired the shawl back to some medium-wash jeans and some brown sandals! I love the unevenness of the vertical stripe pattern in the shawl. Vertical stripes are almost always more flattering than horizontal. It’s all about elongating and not widening!

 You also can’t really tell from these pictures, but I didn’t belt the shawl all the way around. I belted the front and around the inside of the shawl so that the back just hangs straight. It becomes more cape-like. I really enjoy this outfit and I hope it gave you a little inspiration! Thank you to my sweet husband for totally rocking it with the pictures and giving this post the punny title! Have a happy Friday y’all!

❤ Abbie

Wandering Wednesday: Brooklyn, NY

Happy Wandering Wednesday y’all! I’m excited to be sharing part two of our honeymoon trip to New York today. I shared part one awhile back and I’m finally getting around to the second half! Today we will be wandering around Brooklyn and Coney Island!

When we went to NY I really wanted to venture over to Brooklyn. I had heard of a lot of things about the Brooklyn Flea, Smorgasburg, and Williamsburg so we made it a point on our to-do list! Also, what would be a New York trip without seeing the Brooklyn Bridge? So first thing we are going to visit is the Brooklyn Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge Park!

 

And all I can say is ‘What a view!’ We honestly could have sat at the park all day and just watched the city from across the river. So beautiful!

Next stop is Smorgasburg in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. Williamsburg is basically hipster central. And Smorgasburg is a huge food truck and food stand festival that happens on Saturdays. It is so stinking cool. There are tons of vendor set up in the park and you can get everything from fish and chips, to crazy Mexican dishes! I got the Cemita and it was phenomenal! Smorgasburg is a definite must-do if you go to Brooklyn!

While you’re there check out all the awesome street art! It’s everywhere! You could make a day out of walking around and finding cool murals and paintings! The above were some of our favorites!

Next, we went on over to Coney Island! It’s one of those places that you have to see just because it’s so historical! It’s incredible to walk on the boardwalk by all the rides and think about when it was booming in it’s heyday! You almost expect it to be like it was back in the 1920s, but I assure you it’s not the same any longer. Times have changed, but it’s important to remember the historical significance to places like this!

And you have to check out the original Nathan’s Hot Dogs while you’re there; it’s another classic! Well, this is it for our trip to Brooklyn and Coney Island! Maybe someday you can make the trip! I’m going to leave you with my favorite mural in Brooklyn!

❤ Abbie and Audrey

Wandering Wednesday: St. Petersburg, Fl

Happy Wandering Wednesday everyone! Today we are going to take a nice trip to beautiful St. Petersburg, Fl! There’s no snow here, just a nice cool breeze and sunshine! So let’s get exploring!

St. Pete is a beautiful ocean-side city with a blossoming arts district! There are murals all over the city and it makes for a fun time to just walk around and see how many you can spot!

There are also lots of yummy places to eat and it gets a little hard to choose where to go! Today my bff Grace and I decided to eat at King’s Street Food Counter.

This place is amazing with its adorable diner inside and a cool lounge area outside!

And the food is delicious!! King’s is known for their hot dogs and grilled cheeses! Grace got the Sleepy Dog which is maple apple chicken sausage, bacon, sunny-side up egg, and american cheese goodness!

I got the Pear-fect Grilled Cheese which is made up of gorgonzola, pear, carmelized onions, and bacon! They were both incredible. King’s should definitely be your first stop on the St. Pete food list!

Make sure you stop and check out some of the adorable little boutiques and shops! Art Pool is one of our faves! It’s a cute vintage clothes and homemade goods shop!

They also have a phenomenal record collection!

You should also check out Plain Jane, an adorable clothing boutique! They are sure to have lots of cute little trinkets to take home!

Finally, no trip to St. Pete would be complete without checking out the awesome Dali Museum! It showcases the incredible artwork of Salvador Dali! It’s a definite must-see!

Hope you get to check out St. Petersburg, FL sometime soon!! It’s a fantastic day trip!

❤ Abbie

Wandering Wednesday: Memphis, TN

Hello my wanderers! Hope your Wednesday is going swimmingly! Today we are going to take a trip to the south and visit good ‘ole Memphis, TN. I actually grew up in a suburb of Memphis, so it’s always a pleasure to talk about a place I once called home. Today we are going to focus on classic and historical locations in downtown Memphis. Let’s get wandering!

The first place you have to see is the Peabody Hotel. Not only is this place famous for being incredibly beautiful, but it also has some fun quirks that make it totally unforgettable!

For example, have you ever seen ducks treated like royalty? If you go to the Peabody, you will! Every day at 11am and 5pm the Peabody ducks march their way from the elevator onto a red carpet and into the lobby fountain to swim around for a bit. Yes, you read that correctly. The Peabody duck march has been a tradition for over 90 years! If you’re lucky enough you can even take part in the duck march ceremony! It’s a Memphis tradition and a must-see event!

Another classic Memphis hot-spot is The Arcade Restaurant. It is Memphis’ oldest cafe and has been around since 1919! I highly suggest getting there for breakfast because it is phenomenal!

Next, hop on one of the many trolleys and take a riding tour around the city! The trolleys are something that really makes Memphis it’s own and they travel all around downtown!

You might pass by the Orpheum Theater on the trolley. If you do, try to stop and take a peek inside. The Orpheum was built in 1890 and was called the classiest theater of it’s time (outside of New York, of course). If you ever get the opportunity to see a show or a concert in the Orpheum don’t miss out! The beauty of the theater alone is enough to make it worth it!

The last place I’ll talk about today is Dyer’s Burgers. This diner is absolutely adorable and did I mention delicious! Their burgers are incredible and, like any good diner, their milkshakes and root beer floats are where it’s at. It’s located on the world famous Beale St. so you can’t miss it!

Memphis is a really fun city and it’s growing rapidly. The art and foodie communities are really starting to make an impact in the midtown area, but that is a topic for another Wandering Wednesday!! So keep posted and go enjoy some classic Memphis locations!

❤ Abbie

Wandering Wednesday: Oxford Exchange, Tampa, FL

Happy Wandering Wednesday y’all!! Sorry that it has been forever and a day since I’ve posted anything, but I have been working a lot. The Holiday season is always crazy for us retail workers!! So today’s post is going to be super chill and we are going to visit the coolest restaurant/ bookstore/ coffee shop that I have been to! Enter Oxford Exchange! This beautiful place is in downtown Tampa, FL across from the stunning University of Tampa (which we will wander at a later date). So let’s get started!

Oxford Exchange is in the building that used to be the stables for the old Tampa Bay Hotel (which is now University of Tampa). The building itself was built in 1891, but it didn’t become Oxford Exchange until 2012. The owner of O.E. got inspiration for the restaurant/ bookstore/ coffee shop when touring around England! After falling in love with the architecture and design of many of England’s famous buildings, he traveled back to dear old Tampa, and created a place that looks like it should be in England!

When you walk in you are immediately immersed in beautiful black and white checkered floors and dark bookshelves lined with books! There’s a long hallway that leads to the coffee shop and seating areas. O.E. proudly serves Buddy Brew coffee and amazing teas!

After you enter the coffee shop area, you can pass through a doorway into a little shop with gifts like adorable handmade necklaces and beautiful serving plates!

You enter the restaurant through the gift shop. They have two dining areas, one is surrounded by painted brick walls and the other is in a courtyard with a beautiful glass ceiling! I definitely suggest you eat at O.E! Some of our favorite dishes include the Black and Bleu Burger (or any burger for that matter), the O.E. Grilled Cheese (pear and bacon jam, need I say more?), and the Chicken Burger! I also suggest getting tea to go along with your meal! The menu does change up often and their brunch is phenomenal if you ever go at that time!

If you ever get the chance to visit Tampa, I highly suggest you add Oxford Exchange to the top of your “places to eat” list! You will never be disappointed!! Happy Wandering Wednesday everyone!!

Ps. It also helps if you take someone handsome with you. 🙂