Roadtrip Checklist

Chris and I are no strangers to roadtrips. Back when we were dating long-distance, we both made the 16 hour trek from Portland to LA numerous times. LA to Vegas, to San Francisco, to San Diego...it's always been a mix of fun, exhaustion, and countless snacks and games to pass the time.

So how do you make a roadtrip feel more like the vacation, and less like a means to get to a vacation? I've put together a few helpful tips and suggestions to make your next journey on the road EPIC! Or at least help pass the time ;)

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Movie in the Park: The Princess Bride

Every time the seasons change, I like looking back on all the fun adventures Chris and I had the past few months. One of my favorite memories this past summer was walking from our house to the park across the street to watch my childhood favorite movie, The Princess Bride. Not only is this movie a classic, but it might be the first movie I started quoting regularly. (Aside from the Newsies!)

I was so excited to go to the show, that I bought our tickets about 3 months in advance. Life gets so busy sometimes that I was not about to let this one pass us by! The day of the movie Chris and I made some homemade popcorn to take with us. We like to cook it in coconut oil, and it's my favorite movie night snack!

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Sweet & Saucy Teams up with Sweet Lucie's Ice Cream

It's the last day of summer, I can't believe how fast this year is flying by! With these sweltering temperatures in LA, you can bet that the summer sun might stick around a few days weeks longer! Why not make the most of the heat with some delicious organic ice cream treats?! (Like I need a reason to eat ice cream!)

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DLD goes to Chicago

Last weekend, Chris and I visited family in Chicago. As I mentioned on Wednesday, we were pretty happy with the chilly temperatures. It was over 100 degrees in LA that weekend, so it was great to escape the heat for a few days!

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Picnic Paradise

As summer is coming to an end, I find myself trying to hold on to every last drop of sunshine I possibly can! That's why Chris and I decided it was far too long since we've had a proper beach picnic, so we packed up and headed out to Malibu!

Honestly, this was one of the most fun days we've ever had living in SoCal. The weather was perfect, the beach was empty, and we had great food and wine to enjoy the whole day. 

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Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July Everyone! I hope your spending it somewhere warm with tons of food and close friends and family! I feel so beyond blessed to call America my home. We have so many privileges and freedoms that are too often taken for granted. I couldn't be more proud to be an American, and I am so grateful for the men and women who protect those freedoms everyday. 

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Long Beach Flea Market

This past weekend Chris and I woke up at the crack of dawn to visit the Long Beach Flea Market. The last time we came to this particular market we found our awesome shabby chic coffee table that we were able to get for a fourth of the original price (!!!!). So naturally, we were pretty excited to go back.

I had a few things in mind that I've been needing/wanting, but I also knew I'd more than likely find things I didn't even know I was looking for (typical). Chris was on the hunt for some interesting vintage books. He has a huge collection from his Bunicu (Grandpa) and is always looking to expand it.

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Happy Father's Day!!

Even though he didn't have any boys, my dad still got to do all the fun stuff with my sister and I as kids. We loved to play catch in the back yard, hit golf balls into the woods, cheer on the Detroit Tigers at baseball games, build snow forts, and eat lots of pizza.

His unending generosity to our whole family, not to mention my friends and pretty much anyone we know, is truly inspiring. It's an amazing character trait that I know he got from my Grandpa George. Together they are the most polite and giving duo in the world! He's always provided above and beyond for the family in so many ways, and I don't think we can ever thank you enough for all your hard work and long hours.

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DLD Goes to Florida!

Last weekend Chris and I headed cross-country for my Grandpa's annual birthday get-together in Florida. For three years, we've all traveled from around the U.S. to celebrate my family's patriarch. 

Tons of good food and wine, fishing, shopping, and beach time always make for a great weekend with everyone. One new thing we added to the list this year was having professional family photos taken on the beach. I'm excited to get them back from the photographer soon, it will be such a great keepsake for all of us!

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Our Wedding Video

This is a shout-out to my favorite wedding vendor, Curtis Nemetz Videography. Not only is it great to have this amazing momento from the biggest day of our lives, but to have such a GREAT video is beyond what I could have ever imagined. He captured the day perfectly, and we are so grateful for it!

As soon as we met Curtis, he put us right at ease and it felt like hanging out with an old friend. My husband's whole family is Romanian, and come to find out Curtis and his wife have traveled many times to Romania on missions trips! 

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Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday celebrating loved ones. Or perhaps you were the one being celebrated and pampered by family!! To ALL the moms out there working hard every day to care for and raise their kids or grandkids, we salute you!

To my mom specifically:

You are an absolutely beautiful, loving, caring, extremely organized, strong Christian woman who is always there to listen to our stories and help solve any problems. You are an amazing mom for so many reasons, but there are some specific things that come to mind....

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DLD Goes to Vegas!

Last weekend I had the privilege to puddle jump over to Vegas for a long, relaxing weekend. I'm definitely no stranger to this city, but this last trip was one for the books!

Why is that you may ask? Well, let's look at the roster: Some of my best friends from Michigan, a first-timer, my dad and sister from the east coast, and my brother-in-law's bachelor party also happened to fall on the same weekend. I'm pretty sure that all adds up to an epic weekend.

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Beach Yoga

It's Motivation Monday!! Time to get SERIOUS about getting in shape for summer. With pool parties, barbecues, and vacations on the horizon, it's crunch time to shed those winter pounds and start feeling confident!

I really enjoy going to yoga classes, but the class times don't always fit with my schedule. And let's be honest it can get pretty hot and stuffy in that overcrowded classroom.

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London Baby!

I will always remember my first trip to Europe. There were so many places to see and explore, I couldn't get enough! When we first arrived in London, our hotel room at the beautiful Claridge's wasn't quite ready. We decided to kill some time exploring the area around our hotel. Jet-legged and hungry, we were on the prowl for a laid-back pub to kick up our feet and relax with some good food. 

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Spa Day at Home

Last weekend my friend Ariana hosted an at-home spa party at her beautiful apartment in Playa del Rey. The views from the wrap around balcony are absolutely stunning; it was the perfect place to have an afternoon get-together with friends. 

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Rise and Shine: Griffith Park

The best part about waking up at 6 am in Los Angeles is that you feel like you have the city to yourself. No traffic, no crowds, just open roads and quiet streets. Not to mention the sense of accomplishment you feel from waking up at the break of dawn. The crisp morning air, that feeling of a fresh start, and knowing you have the entire day ahead of you with endless possibilities.

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Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday happens to fall on February 14^th, which to the rest of the world is known as Valentines Day. The day I was born the nurses kept asking my mom if she would name me Valentina...thank goodness that didn't happen. There are pros and cons for sure, but for the most part I absolutely love having this fun holiday as my birthday.

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