We headed to The Masquerade in Kenny’s Alley at Underground Atlanta. With temperatures in the low 30s and dropping fast and my lack of a proper coat, the doors couldn’t open fast enough (or, you know, 50 minutes after they were supposed to open). The show went off without a hitch and we had an amazing time. Both of the bands we were there to see blew us away and just like that, our night was complete. We drove back in a state of bliss and I fell asleep dreaming of breakfast foods.

We woke with a purpose on Wednesday and for once, I didn’t hesitate when Andrew asked what I wanted to do. I’d been talking about going to the Georgia Aquarium since before we got into the city and I wasn’t leaving without visiting. First things first, though: we needed food.

Andrew had Home Grown picked out before I was even awake and again, his food choices didn’t disappoint. I kept it pretty basic with some french toast and orange slices (one of the things off of my sleepy breakfast list from the night before), Andrew had the breakfast tacos. While we ate, I went ahead and bought our tickets and parking pass from my phone. Pro tip: you get a discount for visiting on a weekday and buying your tickets online-- even if it’s the day of-- plus a discount on your parking pass. Just make sure to buy them straight from the aquarium’s website!

The Georgia Aquarium was nothing short of breathtaking. My dream since I was a kid was to be to a “real” aquarium where they had one of those tunnels you could walk through and watch all the fish swim overhead and all around. I’m pretty sure I saw it in a movie or tv show once, but the image never left my head and my little dream finally came true.

The aquarium has SO much to offer including whale sharks, beluga whales, California sea lions, sea otters, dolphins, African penguins and so so so much more. We spent the better part of our day here, even going back and repeating exhibits because of how much we loved it there. The aquarium is also really pushing to inform people about the harms of plastics, especially single-use plastics. Their gift shops don’t hand out plastic bags, which I really appreciated, and there is no shortage of recycling bins all around the facility.





















































The rest of the trip was for Andrew’s brewery checklist. Though we really only had time for two more before having to head home, we made the most of it. Our first stop was Wild Heaven Brewing in (surprise!) Decatur. Their layout was pretty comfortable and although we were just about the only people there, the atmosphere was pretty great. The guys working there were super friendly and it was an all around chill place.














While we were at Dancing Goats the day before, Andrew had had his eye on the restaurant just across the street, The Marlay House. This is a Dublin style pub and I kept it pretty basic again having the fish & chips. Andrew had the lamb stew and we split the blueberry bread pudding for dessert.

Our final stop was Orpheus. We’re no stranger to the Orpheus brewery. We’ve been here before and we almost always have at least one of their brews in our fridge. We sat down for a few card games and laughs all while toasting an end to the trip we’d been looking forward to for months. Though this was probably the briefest stop of the day, it was the perfect way to end our short trip. Like always, our drive home was accompanied by My Favorite Murder and fighting over the car’s temperature.

One of my favorite things about traveling-- no matter how short the trip-- is that you can always stretch the days out and do as much or as little as you want. Although we were really only in Atlanta for two days, it felt like we’d taken a much longer trip. We were able to squeeze so much into our two days there without ever feeling rushed or exhausted. Maybe it’s because we aren’t strangers to day trips and weekend adventures, but I think we’ve really found our sweet spot for planning short trips. Like I said, Atlanta is only a couple of hours away and I really wanna start visiting more often. I know that there is so much more that I haven’t gotten the chance to see or do, and I’m sure convincing my better half won’t be too difficult.

Hey everyone! It's been a minute since I've last posted. Life's been a bit crazy with all of the changes that have happened in the last few months. I started my new job, and with that came a whole new routine, one which required me actually waking up at a decent hour. I'm just now getting the hang of it all, and I'm excited to share my updated favorites list with you guys!

It always feels awkward writing about the new beauty products I'm loving because for the most part, I hang around my favorite color schemes (let's all say it together: warm neutrals), it's what I'm comfortable with. I'm not a person who is actively collecting new products to test out and even if I do, they're all fairly similar. Recently, though, I've started branching out and I'm already more comfortable working with colors previously out of my comfort zone.

The palette I've been playing with lately is the Grandiose Palette from Ace Beauté. I received it in this month's Boxycharm, and I was really hesitant to play with it. But I've really only been dipping into the colors that scare me(!!!) It's those berry shades that made me nervous, yet excited me right out of the box. It wasn't until I saw YouTubers play with the palette that I decided to try it out for myself. I've been wearing Poppy, Rose, and Primrose to work all week; I never imagined that I'd love wearing shades like this! It excites me to branch out even more! As for the quality, this palette is top notch. I've worn it for full, busy days and haven't found it to crease or begin to fade on me. Even the deepest shades blend out really well, and it's cohesive and versatile enough to create several complete looks (even if you're not willing to use every color). I love having the ability to get creative and a little colorful, without having to reach for multiple palettes. The only thing it's missing, in my opinion, is a mirror. 

The next product I'm excited about is a product that I received in last month's Boxycharm (they've been killin' it in the eye makeup dept. lately). This is the It Cosmetics Superhero mascara. I know I talk about mascaras a lot on here, but I like to think it's pretty difficult to impress me. I'm gonna be honest: I didn't love this one right away. It came off a little heavy at first and it was really easy to get messy. But by my third use, it hit that sweet spot and I've completely stopped reaching for anything else. It's so nice to have something that lengthens without having to sacrifice volume and vice versa.

To round out my new eye favorites, we have a product that's already been touted about a lot, but I've just recently gotten around to trying it out. It's the Milani Supreme Kohl Kajal eyeliner. This is a retractable eyeliner that's able to line my water line better than many traditional pencil liners. I haven't found it to bleed on the corners of my eyes, and it stays on the water line on the longest of days. I'm so glad to have this in my arsenal.

Moving right along out of eye makeup, let's talk hair. I hardly change up products that I've found that work for me. When I ran out of my most recent bottle of the OGX Argan Hair Oil, I decided to try the bottle of Verb Ghost Oil that I've had for a while. I'd initially bought this to use on dry hair, which didn't really impress me. But when I began using it in damp hair, the results were incredible. This works just as well, if not better than OGX. I'm able to extend my washed hair a whole extra day on top of what I was previously able to do, something I never even thought was possible. Even though it's a bit pricier than what I'm used to paying, the results are worth it. 

Several months ago, I received a trial size of the Dr. Brandt microdermabrasion exfoliator and I absolutely loved its formula. I went through a full size bottle after finishing the trial. But then one day I found the Bliss Micro Magic scrub, which has the same super-fine formula and works just as well for a fraction of the price. I love using this a couple of times a week, and especially love it on mornings when I'm struggling to wake up because it's minty enough to give me the boost I need. 

And finally, the cherry on top of this is a nail color that checks so many of my boxes, especially for this time of year. This is the OPI nail color in Como Se Llama. It's red, it's dark, it's a little vampy, a little brick-y, and it has the creamy consistency I love in polishes-- especially darker ones. This is one of the colors I'll be repeat-wearing for sure.

I hope you guys found some good stuff in my little list. I'm really excited to have found a new daily routine which allows for me to continue blogging. I'm also incredibly excited to tell you guys that I'll be flying home at the end of the week for several days. I get to see my family for about 4 or 5 days a year, so I'm super excited to be home with all the dogs, my family, and the friends I have down there for whatever short time I have. Be on the lookout for my hometown photo diary, something I haven't done on here yet! ❤️ 

I’ve had an on-again-off-again relationship with my handbag obsession. I either switch bags frequently, or use the same one for a month straight (that’s a long time for me!). It’s hard for me to find the perfect bag that’s both stylish, functional, and sturdy enough to keep up with me. Lately, I seem to have struck a perfect chord and have been frequenting the same few bags that check all of my boxes.

BLACK BACKPACKS

I’m sure you guys have seen my black Michael Kors backpack on quite a few occasions since finding it when I was in Denver last year. I never thought I’d find any other backpack I’d love as much as that one... Then I found this gem at a local thrift store (is anyone surprised?). It’s a simple black backpack but is SO roomy, is extremely organized, and it’s a great size. It looks small, but holds so much more than you think. I’ve used this bag to tote around everything my regular purse contains, plus my DSLR, a hardcover book, and a reusable bag and I still have room to spare. These are perfect for exploring a new city, shopping, or any time you want your hands free.

GUESS

I did an actual happy dance when I found this bag. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have to know that vintage styles from so many major labels are having a big comeback right now. I’ve mentioned before that stores like Urban Outfitters and Pacsun are cycling back to many of the styles that are very much still available at thrift stores— where you’re likely to find items that are not only authentically vintage and less expensive, but much better quality. This bag perfectly embodies everything I’ve been looking for in an everyday bag: it looks amazing, has ample room and organization, and is versatile enough to seamlessly transition from outfit to outfit. If I’d found this bag in every color, I would have bought them all.

VINTAGE CAMERA BAG

It’s a familiar dilemma: we’re on a trip, and I’m trying to capture and experience as much as I can. I have my purse and camera with me, but don’t want to carry separate bags for each. When I found the vintage Fossil bag above, I also found this black leather shoulder bag. It’s a small messenger-style bag that can act as both a camera bag (without screaming 'I AM A CAMERA BAG!’) and my purse. It’s made of super soft black leather with gold hardware that’ll go with any outfit. What got this bag on the list, though, is that it’s versatile enough to get used even when we’re not on an out-of-town trip. I’ll carry my camera, a notebook for writing, and whatever book I’m reading and I’m set for the day ahead.