I set a goal for myself at the beginning of the year, I vowed to take weekend getaways to three new US cities that I had never been to before. I checked Austin, Texas off my list in April and in May I spent three very fun days discovering the best of Seattle. My favorite thing in life is exploring a new place I’ve never been before, and Seattle had been at the top of my list for years. Seattle was everything people said it would be and in my rental car I hit as many recommended spots as possible. During my stay, I rented a private room through Airbnb inside someone’s home – remember this article about what makes a great guest room? Everyone knows both Amazon and Starbucks were founded in Seattle, so Seattle has solidified its standing in the business world as a place where big ideas happen. Its iconic skyline is changing because growth is readily apparent in this coastal and very progressive part of the country. Driving around I took snapshots beautiful homes, indulged in a lot of seafood, and sipped the strongest coffee. I also caught up with an long time blog friend who lives in Seattle, which made for an unforgettable visit. I departed after a long weekend feeling both satiated and exhausted. These were some of my favorite experiences:
Space Needle & Chihuly GardensDale Chihuly is the famous glass sculpture artist who’s unique designs have been showcased around the world, I love his work so much so I was terribly excited to visit the Chihuly Garden and Glass. It’s next to the Space Needle, you can see the top of it from the solarium at Chihuly Gardens and you can look down on the Chihuly Gardens as you take the elevator up to the top of the Space Needle. When I was there, the Space Needle was under construction but I could still take in the massive views from up at the top! Purchase a joint admission to see both at the base of the Space Needle or at the entrance to Chihuly.
Pike Place MarketNo trip to Seattle is complete without a tour of this world famous waterfront market, established in 1907. I visited Pike Place twice while in Seattle, the first time just to walk around at a slow pace and see the flower market, shops and specialty food stalls. The second time I went with my good friend Melissa from The Inspired Room on a chef’s tour we booked through Airbnb. On the tour we learned the history of the market as we went from stall to stall sampling so much food including smoked salmon from Seattle Fish Co, mac and cheese from Beecher’s, and clam chowder from Pike Place Chowder. It was nice to avoid the huge lines because our tour guide had kitchen access to so many of these famous culinary stops.
Waterfront Walk & Olympic Sculpture ParkI ended up down at the waterfront on more than one occasion just because there is so much do see and do there. One evening I went for a stroll through Olympic Sculpture Park and ate at a restaurant at the end of a pier (I forget which one). Another morning I spent walking all along the main waterfront promenade where you can ride the famous Ferris Wheel and visit the waterfront Aquarium.
Pioneer Square & Smith TowerPioneer Square is old historic Seattle dating back to the Gold Rush. I read about it in a guide book and was so intrigued I parked my car and headed out to explore these few city blocks. The brick buildings are over 100 years old, they were built after the great fire of Seattle swept through the city in the late 1800s. I couldn’t help but feel that Pioneer Square had a New Yorkesque vibe to it. I spent some time strolling around, tasting wine, and admiring the architecture. There’s an underground tour you can take (I didn’t on this visit) but I could tell it was a popular attraction by the crowds of visitors on the tour.
There’s a hidden gem near Pioneer Square, it’s Waterfall Park, and it completely surprised me. The juxtaposition of this loud cascading waterfall nestled among skyscrapers did not escape me. This is a tiny yet magical place of serenity in the heart of a bustling city.
A few blocks away is Smith Tower, its Art Deco interior reminded me of the Empire State Building: brass elevators, onyx stone floors and columns, and a swanky bar with panoramic views at the top.
Boating on Lake WashingtonBefore I arrived in Seattle, I asked some of you what I should do and so many of you recommended getting out on the water. You were right! I booked an afternoon sailing excursion through Airbnb experiences, and it was fantastic! On my boating excursion, I made a handful of new friends and we all shared stories while our captain sailed us around the lake to catch views of the the Seattle skyline and the houseboat community, including the famous floating home from Sleepless in Seattle. Seattle’s weather is fickle and unpredictable. I had a few cloudy mornings, pockets of sunshine and then out of nowhere the rain would would swoop in. The same thing happened on my sail, first sunshine, then clouds, then rain, then clouds again. Best to be prepared, as the locals say.
Daytrip to Bainbridge IslandFrom the waterfront port, I rode the ferry across Elliott Bay to Bainbridge Island on a sleepy Sunday afternoon. It was recommended as a charming town and I agree, it was. I spent an afternoon walking around, through the main center of town, and a few residential neighborhoods, then I ended up down by the water. It was picturesque and unexpectedly quirky with its river rock sculptures scattered throughout.
I have to compliment Seattle’s food scene, everything I ate while I was in town was amazing! I had an incredible fish at Shaker + Spear in downtown Seattle and the very best pasta dish I’ve ever had at Vendemmia in Madrona, the tagliatelle with white bolognese was sooooo good, I dream about having it again! Thanks so much Seattle for showing this gal a great time, I can’t wait to return someday! Those who know Seattle, tell me, what did I miss? What should I see or do on my next visit? . from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/08/snapshots-from-seattle/
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A little breakfast party is a lovely way to mark the return to school after the long summer break, so whether they’re excited or nervous, why not put on a small spread of their favourite breakfast treats, hang a few pretty decorations and send them off on their way with a little ‘back-to-school’ treat. You could even invite their best friends over to join the fun; what a great way to start the day and welcome in the new school year! Printables are available for download here. The post Real Party: Back to School! appeared first on Party Pieces Blog & Inspiration. from https://blog.partypieces.co.uk/blog/real-party-back-to-school/ Send them off on the first day back to school with a special breakfast party! Pack includes:
Free Printables: Back to School 7.85 MB
The post Free Printables: Back to School Party appeared first on Party Pieces Blog & Inspiration. from https://blog.partypieces.co.uk/printables/free-printables-back-to-school-party/ I’m Lucy, a parenting and lifestyle blogger over at Real Mum Reviews – I have two daughters, one nearly 2 and the other having just turned 5. As a family we love hosting a party, and every year we take advantage of our outdoor space and bring our entire family together for one big celebration. Each year we have a different theme, and I absolutely love all the planning and creativity involved in bringing a party to life. If you want to follow our family adventures and get inspiration about our days out, events and celebrations then I’d love you to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Our Unicorn PartyI am yet to meet a 5 year old who doesn’t have a slight obsession with unicorns. They are everywhere at the moment, and when I asked Erin what theme she wanted for her party this year, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation. With a large family with lots of little ones expected, and the garden being our venue of choice, I set to work planning how to bring a Unicorn theme to life – thanks to Party Pieces, this was much easier than I feared! Party Pieces have a huge range of Unicorn themed tableware, decorations and party accessories, perfect for bringing your party to life. Here’s just a few of what we had at ours! TablewareErin totally fell in love with Party Pieces’ Unicorn Sparkle range and it’s easy to see why – with its pastel coloured stripes, stars and gold iridescent unicorns, it makes quite the statement. The Unicorn Sparkle tablecover combined with matching Unicorn Sparkle plates and napkins created the perfect setting for our yummy unicorn treats! Thanks to my sisters’ culinary skills (my baking talents are somewhat lacking!) we also had some yummy cupcakes with unicorn toppers taking pride of place on their very own unicorn cake stand. The best part about this cake stand is that it has interchangeable toppers, so if she opts for a mermaid theme next year I am already set! For the children’s party food, I opted for party food boxes, which are super easy to pack up in advance, and have plenty of space for a sandwich, crisps, piece of fruit and snack. I chose some plain white party food boxes from Party Pieces and created a printable unicorn face which was easy to stick on and create something pretty special for really budget prices. You can download the unicorn printable over on the blog here. DecorationsNo party is complete without some unicorn balloons, and this giant unicorn foil balloon was ideal to help set the scene. I also loved the number 5 rose gold coloured balloon; a right of passage for any birthday but something a little different to the traditional pink or gold. The GamesI am an eternal lover of a photo booth, and these Unicorn themed photo booth props were loads of fun, and went down great with the children, with the ability to write their own messages to the party girl herself. This combined with the unicorn horn party hats made the ultimate fancy dress treat! By far the biggest hit of the entire day was Party Piece’s Unicorn Pull Pinata. Unlike the traditional piñatas which can take a while to break into, this one is a little different. Children take it in turns to pull a ribbon each from the base, and one lucky ribbon opens the bottom and releases the goodies we’d hidden inside! The children all lined up on their best behaviour to take their turn and the audible screams of excitement when the contents spilled out were just lovely to hear! Party BagsWe opted for sweetie cones for our party bags this year, using the clear cello sweetie cone bags to create a colourful mixture of edible treats with pastels and sprinkles galore. The party was a huge hit, and we had one very happy little girl. If you’re planning your own unicorn party this year, check out the entire range of Unicorn products on the Party Pieces website, there really is something for everyone! The post Real Party: Unicorn Sparkle Party appeared first on Party Pieces Blog & Inspiration. from https://blog.partypieces.co.uk/kids-birthday/girls/themed-party/real-party-unicorn-sparkle-party/ Last week, my best friend Karin died of cancer. I mentioned my friend’s condition last month in this post about designing a life you love. I took the week off to process the grief and the loss. It felt wrong to dive back into writing about design or travel without addressing it. I’ve lived with the reality of my friend’s diagnosis for the last ten months, watching her journey and being by her side each day. I was there when she received those dreaded words, “You have cancer”. I was there through her chemo, through her surgery, through her follow up chemo, through her recovery when we thought she’d beat it. I was there when the CT scans showed the cancer was back with a vengeance, when her oncologist told her it was terminal, and when it took her life six short weeks later. I thought today I’d share what I’ve lived and learned in the hopes it may help any one of you when a friend or family member receives a cancer diagnosis.
my friend Karin wearing her favorite dress on our trip to Paris in 2016 Do Your Research. This was my first exposure to a cancer diagnosis in someone close to me, so I took the time to learn about this disease. There are many forms of cancer and several stages of cancer and there is a lot of information online that will educate you. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the three ways oncologists fight cancer. There are also experimental trials. My friend had colon cancer so learned everything I could about it, and what her options were for survival. By researching the disease, I learned the medical terminology and treatment courses and it helped so much when talking about it while she was going through treatment. My friend was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer, which has a tragically low rate of survivability. Her cancer was caught too late. She was a champion through multiple months of chemo and major surgery, but because her cancer had metastasized, it was able to spread quickly. This is a good time to mention to never ignore strange physical symptoms and to get yourself screened at the recommended age of 45. Protect Their Privacy. When word got out that my friend had cancer, I was inundated with questions from well meaning friends. Karin was a very private person and did not want the details of her condition shared until she was ready to share them. I respected that and would only tell people the minimum amount of information. Ask your friend just how much they want people to know and protect that with all your power. Keep visitors away if they don’t want to be seen. Honor their wishes to not be seen in a compromised condition. This was tough since so many of our mutual friends and family wanted to see her and hold her hand in those last weeks and tell her how they felt. If your friend doesn’t want to be seen looking sick, write a loving note, send flowers, make meals, or donate to their family’s expenses if there is a need. I count myself as very lucky to be one of the few that my friend allowed to be with her in her dying days, but don’t be offended if they request you stay away. Be Their Advocate to Medical Professionals. There were times when my friend wasn’t getting the medical attention she needed so if you’re in the inner circle, make sure doctors and nurses are meeting the needs of the patient. I found it was also helpful to personalize the patient to nurses in the hospital or medical assistants doing procedures or tests. When they knew her story, it seemed they gave her a more sensitive and loving degree of care. Offer Support Wherever Needed. In the beginning, my friend just needed an understanding ear and emotional support. We would have coffee together or take long walks together so she could share her fears and frustrations. We reminisced about our adventures together. Offering your time and friendship and a safe space for them to share is an incredible gift of support. When the time came, we had talks about her assets and her will so she could make final arrangements. We talked about when hospice would be necessary, and when it was I was so relieved they were there to make her as comfortable as possible. As Karin got sicker, she became angry and depressed, a completely normal reaction to the circumstances. There were times I felt I couldn’t bring her out of her deep depression, so I just sat by her side to comfort her. There were a couple of times her anger made her lash out, but I realized it was the cancer talking. These were both stages in her grief process. Her anger passed when she accepted that her time was short, and she was just grateful that I was there to tell her everything would be okay. Rally The Community. As her health deteriorated, my friend needed more. Her husband stopped working and became her caretaker which meant there was no income to pay the monthly bills. Thankfully we had an overwhelming outpouring of financial support from the local community through a GoFundMe and a fundraising benefit. These helped immensely. There was also a meal train set up by the elementary school moms to bring meals to the house during a time of great need. Orchestrating and contributing financially is a great way to show support for a friend diagnosed with cancer. Say What You Need to Say. Before she died, I told my friend how grateful I was that she has blessed me with her friendship, how inspired I am by her life, what a wonderful mother she is, and how much I love her. I told her our friendship continues because I would continue to live the same way and to do the same things to honor her memory. It gives me peace knowing that she knew how very much I loved her and how much I treasured our time together. _____________________________________________
Watching my best friend die from cancer was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced, and it’s changed me. It’s made me appreciate life even more. It’s made me even kinder to strangers. It’s compelled me to tell everyone I care about at every opportunity that I love them. Her death does not end our friendship. We traveled together, we had so many crazy adventures together, we worked out together, we enjoyed life together; her legacy is woven into my life as I continue to do those things. Karin wanted everyone to realize that each day we are alive is a gift. Be happy that you are healthy, that you have a home and food on the table, and people around you that you love. In the end, nothing else matters. I recommend this book on preparing for a meaningful death, it’s titled No One Has to Die Alone and it was full of wisdom and helped me know what to do and what to say when my friend was facing death. If any of you have any insight or experience on how you handled a friend or family member’s diagnosis with a terminal disease, please feel free to share. Thanks for listening today everyone. Be back soon. :) from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/08/when-a-friend-is-diagnosed-with-cancer/ This week we’re excited to share a lovely woodland themed party from Jessica at The Woodland Wife. Head over there to read the full write-up of the birthday party! We absolutely adore how Jessica dressed up her garden for a beautiful fairy party. She set the scene using our I Believe in Fairies garland alongside the pretty vine garland. The table was set outside with alternating toadstool and flower paper plates, leaf-shaped napkins, purple party cups and wooden cutlery. Guests could help themselves to a pair of pretty fairy wings and get their faces painted. The post Real Party: Flower Fairy Party appeared first on Party Pieces Blog & Inspiration. from https://blog.partypieces.co.uk/real-parties/real-party-flower-fairy-party/ After trying my hand at resin art for the first time with these ocean inspired pieces, I discovered I really like getting creative with this medium. With resin, you mix colors, you pour, you blend, the magic happens, and in the end you get a slightly unpredictable yet absolutely beautiful abstract piece of art with a high gloss shine. It’s made me want to RESIN ALL THE THINGS. I was so inspired I decided to create a resin top for my new DIY desk and I did it! Last weekend, I created this amazing surface with such cool detail. Then that night I got cleaned up, I went out on the town and upon my return, I discovered my cat had danced all over the surface completely ruining it. UGH. So…. I have to redo the entire desktop and this time you can be sure that cat will be on lockdown until the surface dries. I started researching artists that do this professionally and discovered some very talented artists selling and showcasing their work online and on Instagram. Resin artwork is more expensive because resin epoxy is more costly than acrylic paint so it drives the prices up, but still, take a peek at some of these pieces large and small, they are the coolest and worth the price for an original piece of art. These artists get really creative with the fluid resin medium, they use crystals and gold leaf to make geode wall art, special lacing techniques to create wave art, and also use resin epoxy to make home decor and jewelry. Be sure to check out their portfolios to be inspired, purchase, or commission an original piece.
Mrs. Colorberry
Tamsin Pearse
Art by Loyal
Ann Upton
Mitch Gobel
Elaine Dilay
Liza Vaughn
Iveta Horvath
Phoebe Moonyean Gander
Martine Vanderspuy
If you know of any other talented fluid resin artists, be sure to share them in the comments! .If
from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/08/spotlight-resin-artists/ My weekend has been super chill, the kids are back in school and I’m just hanging out in my hometown. I went to a comedy show last night, that was fun, but then came home to find a mini disaster with my latest DIY project, I’ll share more information about that tomorrow! I don’t know who said it but I completely agree, August is the Sunday of summer. Very relaxing, but already the focus is on the looming demands of school and sports schedules. I’m bracing myself. Fall is just around the corner and I’m just not ready for it yet. :) Favorite links from the week: I’m enchanted by this designer’s Columbian home. Black and white and brass: this glam Texas kitchen. Minimalist with masculine touches: this California cottage. Modern and tranquil: this renovated bungalow. Get it girl: Nicole Gibbon’s paint company launch. Best paint color names ever. Very cool award winning drone images. Revisiting The Breakfast Club in the age of #metoo. Fascinating: American trees are moving west. Agreed! Budget travel can be better travel. Four months of travel with just one carry-on bag. .
So let’s say you’re coming to visit me in Northern California but on this trip you’ve only budgeted one day to get the “wine country experience”. Well my friend, secretly I’m thinking you should have taken a little more time than 24 hours to soak it all in because the Napa/Sonoma region is a destination, haven’t you heard? ;) But if you only have one day, I’ll still hook you up as your virtual tour guide. Whenever friends come to town I take them on this same tour of five favorite wineries in the Sonoma Valley. Four of them are clustered together on Highway 121, just 20 minutes from my house. The final stop is just a few more miles away, but worth the extra drive!
As your virtual tour guide, if you follow this day trip itinerary I guarantee you’ll get that wine country experience you seek. If you’re coming from San Francisco, you can get here in under an hour. This tour takes you through the Carneros region in the Sonoma Valley, known for its Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and sparking wines from grapes that grow in the volcanic soil and thrive amid the coastal breezes. Included in a day trip is a stroll around the Sonoma Plaza, you can start early there, have lunch, and then hit the wineries after. Or start with the five recommended wineries, enjoying a picnic at the first one, and end your day in the Sonoma Plaza with a nice dinner in the evening. From San Francisco, drive north on Highway 101 to Highway 37 to Highway 121. You’ll cross Marin County into Sonoma County and enter the Carneros appellation where Highway 121 becomes Arnold Drive, it’s here you’ll see the grapevines rolling along the hills. Your first stop is Viansa, an Italian inspired hilltop winery which specializes in both red and Italian varietals. This villa offers a fabulous view, beautiful gardens, a grand tasting room, and a marketplace of gourmet foods.
Next, you’ll go to neighboring Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. Although relatively new (the tasting room opened in 2007), the estate buildings seem as if they’ve existed for centuries. There’s a courtyard, fountain, and vines crawling up the stone façades.
In addition to the wines, you can sample their flavorful olive oils at The Olive Press, housed in the same villa. These olive oils make great mementos to take home with you, I’m always buying their extra virgin and infused olive oils for myself and to give away to friends.
The third stop is directly across, it’s Cline Cellars and here you’ll find a completely different vibe. (Interestingly, the Jacuzzi winery you just visited is owned by the same family!) At Cline Cellars, a farmhouse with a wraparound porch greets you and inside you’ll be sampling sustainably farmed wines. The farmhouse is surrounded by idyllic gardens filled with roses and swaying willow trees nestled along the banks of several spring fed ponds that surround the vineyards. The grounds are beautiful for strolling, and you can linger at the outdoor picnic tables.
If you have time, consider stopping at Cornerstone Gardens, a sculptural garden and marketplace down the road. Walk around olive trees with the gravel crunching underfoot just like in European gardens. At Cornerstone Gardens, you’ll find several shops, art galleries, small tasting rooms, and the Sunset Magazine test kitchen. Don’t spend too long because you want to taste sparkling wines while you’re in the region. There are two places to do so, the first is Gloria Ferrer which is just down the road from Jacuzzi and Cline. The Ferrer family has roots from Spain and from the terrace of this Mediterranean style villa, they specialize in sparkling wines, consider sampling a flight while you admire the panoramic views of the Sonoma Valley.
The final stop is in the direction of Napa along Highway 12/121, you’ll cross the border into Napa County when you visit Domaine Carneros, a stunning French inspired chateau which sits atop a knoll surrounded by vineyards. This French estate was founded by the Tattinger family, the chateau it was inspired by the 18th century Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne, France – home of Taittinger champagne. The terraces and formal gardens are beautiful, take your sparkling wine with you as you stroll among the grapevines while admiring the chateau above.
I put together a video for you of these five wineries so you can get a feel for what this day trip.
As previously mentioned, a great way to end your day is with a stroll through the Sonoma Plaza where you can walk and shop and enjoy a great meal in any of the amazing restaurants.
For dinner, I recommend these great spots: La Salette a tucked away place that serves great Portuguese food; El Dorado Kitchen serves contemporary California wine country flavors. I also love Della Santina’s for hearty Tuscan food, especially in fall and winter, and there’s also the famous The Girl and the Fig serving authentic French country cuisine. If you ever do this day trip, be sure to let me know! I’m happy to answer any other questions about a getaway to Napa or Sonoma. :) . from https://centsationalstyle.com/2018/08/day-trip-five-favorite-wineries/ |
About MeHi I am Albin Adamski from Brynrefail, I am 32 years old. I always surf web for buying antiques for home decoration. Archives
April 2019
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