life (layhf) | once upon a misadventure

Hi, you've reached Defining Tabitha and I'm currently on my babymoon.  While I'm out I've asked some friends to blog sit for me.  Over the next few days you'll read great posts that have a travel theme embracing topics that each blogger is an expert at covering.  

Today meet Erin from Once Upon a Misadventure.  Erin is more than just a FIRL (friend in real life), she's a wonderful blogger who shares her everyday misadventures with hubby Brett.  Since her and Brett are the cutest couple who are always up for anything, I asked her to write about the top five most romantic vacations they've shared.  I think you'll agree that Erin and Brett are a couple that you wish you were friends with...luckily I am. :)

I am honored that Tabitha asked me to write a guest blog post while she and Matt are on their babymoon! A little about me: I went to high school with Tabitha’s husband and started a little blog of my own called Once Upon a Misadventure after my now-husband proposed a couple of years ago, initially to help plan the wedding. My husband, Brett has truly brought me out of my comfort zone and, since meeting three years ago, has taken me on around two dozen trips—or “misadventures” as we like to call them. Travel is definitely a top priority for us, since we want to see the world before adding to our little family too!

These are my picks for the top five most romantic vacation locales we have had the opportunity to journey to!

1. Siem Reap, Cambodia




Although Cambodia didn’t fit my idea of a “five-star resort, Egyptian cotton-sheeted” honeymoon, it turned out to be my favorite—and most romantic—vacation destination of all! The Khmer Rouge was defeated just 13 years ago and the memory is still fresh to a lot of people, so they celebrate the simple things in life: peace, love, family and freedom. I have never witnessed such joy within people who seem to have so little material wealth. We saw temples, roamed open markets, enjoyed tuk-tuk rides through the countryside, saw the amazing floating villages of Tonle Sap, and ate delicious (and super affordable!) meals. Brett and I bonded through sharing these awe-inspiring experiences and we both developed a deep level of appreciation, gratitude, and humility. We can’t wait to go back someday!

2. Oahu, Hawaii



This may be a no-brainer for many of you, but I’m from Hawaii, so going there is just coming home for me. Brett and I have visited together five(!) times since we’ve started dating. Hawaii is romantic just by nature with the sunsets and beaches and all, but add to this the excitement of watching your friends and family fall in love with your then-boyfriend and it is icing on the cake! Because our Hawaii trips are usually jam-packed with two or three social get-togethers per day with our loved ones, we try to block off some quality B+E time, otherwise it doesn’t really feel very romantical. Walks on the beach never hurt.

3. North Carolina coastline



Brett and I went to Oak Island, North Carolina for our “minimoon.” Since I started pharmacy school literally the Monday after our wedding weekend, we had to cancel our original honeymoon plan (Spain) and suck it up. I went to school that week, and on Friday we packed up and headed to Brett’s family’s beach house on the beautiful North Carolina coast. It was such a lovely weekend, spent playing in the warm Atlantic Ocean, sitting on the porch with cocktails, eating meals on decks overlooking the sea and simply enjoying the newlywed glow. We played board games and cooked dinner together. It was perfect. I can’t wait to spend a month there this summer!

4. Phuket



Phuket was part of our southeast Asia honeymoon misadventure. Where Cambodia was spiritual, Phuket was…well, it was debaucherous. We stayed out late, slept in late, lounged at the pool, played drinking games, sun-worshipped on the beach all day, went to a Thai boxing match, and island-hopped. It was wildly fun, and such a great opportunity for Brett and me to just laugh and play together. Although B thinks Phuket was too “crazy” to be considered romantic, I think it is the mixture of playfulness and quiet moments that makes our love story what it is, and Phuket was a perfect example of this.


5. New York



New York City was our second trip together, in the summer of 2009. Because our love was so shiny and new, we skipped around town, met each other’s friends for the first time, and fell even harder for each other. My highlight of the trip was seeing Gavin Rossdale and Gwen Stefani in Central Park (and watching Gavin’s reaction when Brett had no idea who they were). New York is debatably the greatest city in the world, pulsing with energy, and we had so much fun exploring the museums, bars, shows, all it has to offer, together! Hopefully we can go back again sometime soon to see our old friends and possibly make new ones!

I personally can’t wait to hear about Tabitha and Matt’s European babymoon, and I’m sure you all feel the same! Brett and I are also heading somewhere this spring—Panama for a week! We are always chasing our next misadventure and I wish you the same! Many thanks for reading!

fash•ion (fash-uh n) | pretty & fun

Hi, you've reached Defining Tabitha and I'm currently on my babymoon.  While I'm out I've asked some friends to blog sit for me.  Over the next few days you'll read great posts that have a travel theme embracing topics that each blogger is an expert at covering. 

Today meet Cait from Pretty & Fun.  Every time I see Cait at blogger events she's always so put together with the perfect combination of her outfit being functional yet super fashionable.  Since I refuse to just travel in my Hello Kitty pajama pants, I asked Cait to put together a list of her favorite items to stay stylish while traveling.  Enjoy!

Hi there! I'm Cait from the lifestyle blog, Pretty & Fun. I'm excited to be guest posting for Tabitha (aka the most adorable preggo chick I've ever seen) - while she's off on her babymoon, I wanted to share some advice for staying chic while traveling.

As exciting as traveling can be, we all know it is also exhausting - from a long wait for airport security or a twelve hour drive (which I did last weekend) - comfort is key when you're on the go. But don't break out the sweats, here are some key pieces to add some style to your traveling wardrobe, while making sure you're comfy as the miles fly by:

• Leather Passport Holder: Protect your passport while adding a pop of color to your look (and the neon pink color will make it easy to find while digging through your bag!)
• Ban.Do Heart: Dress up your t-shirt with an easy accessory - just pin it on and you're good to go.
• Sam Edelman Leopard Ballet Flats: Yes, taking off your shoes to go through airport security is a pain. Make things easier on yourself with a cute pair of flats that you can work into tons of outfits for your travel wardrobe.
• Deux Lux Weekender: One word says it all: sequins. 
• Gap Pure Leggings: Can you really go wrong with a great pair of black leggings? No, I don't think so.
• J Crew Vintage V-neck Tee: When traveling, layers are key! This comfy v-neck tee is a perfect basic piece in a fun color that would look great on anyone.
• Old Navy Shawl Cardigan: It can get chilly when traveling so a sweater is always important to bring. Shawl cardigans allow you to feel like you're wrapped in a blanket while being much cuter than a Snuggie.
• Burberry Aviators: Hide tired eyes and instantly look glam with a really great pair of sunglasses - I love aviators because they're so classic and are super flattering.
• Marc Jacobs Watch: I'm pretty sure every outfit looks better with a chunky gold boyfriend watch. Not only do they look great, but they're perfect for traveling so you can keep track of time without draining your cell phone's battery.

The best part about these pieces? They're all extremely versatile and can easily be styled into different outfits throughout your trip. So go ahead, book that vacation and pack your bags - with the help of some classic pieces, you can travel in style and look fabulous during every part of your trip. Thanks again to Tabitha for the opportunity to guest post and be sure to check out my blog or say hi on Twitter.

xo.

Cait

life (layhf) | postcards from themfdre

Hi, you've reached Defining Tabitha and I'm currently on my babymoon.  While I'm out I've asked some friends to blog sit for me.  Over the next few days you'll read great posts that have a travel theme embracing topics that each blogger is an expert at covering. 


Today meet Andrea from theMFDre.  She's got a strict running regime, is much more of an adventurist than I am and covers it all on her fab blog.  She's traveled to some fab places not just checking out the traditional sights, so it's only fitting that she share with you some of her favorite adventures while traveling.  Enjoy!

Hi I’m Andrea, sometimes better known as the MF Dre. I’m a Wild Child Creator, Obsessive Runner, Baker, Dog Rescuer, Travel Lover and Energy-Crazed-Can’t-Sit-Still-Adventurer.

The Mr. claims that one of my worst problems – if you can call it a problem - is that I do not know how to sit still.  I am the girl who always says YES! Want to go here? YES! Want to try this? YES! Seriously.  If I’m sitting on the couch a) something is probably wrong or b) the Bachelor is on. {I know. Don’t judge.}

The result of this so-called-problem? Some pretty kick-butt adventures.  So while Tabitha is off on her own babymoon/adventure-before-the-adventure-of-kids, I thought I’d share a few of my own adventures from around the globe – Beijing, Tibet, Brazil, Thailand and Los Angeles.

Clockwise from top Left: 1. Carving of Peking Duck  2. Forbidden City  3. Chairlift Ride to The Great Wall  3.  Strolling around the Shichahai Lakes in Behai Park   4. Climbing the Great Wall  5. & 6. Bobsledding down the Great Wall of China

 

Only in Beijing for 3 days last year, I focused on eats, feats and shopping treats.  Yes fashionistas, you must spend at least a full day at the Silk Street Market for the best deals on custom made clothing, handbags and jewelry (I.cleaned.up.big.time). Shopping makes you hungry so you must eat Dim Sum at the famed dumpling house Din Tai Fung and/or Peking Duck at Duck de Chine where they teach you the art of cutting the duck into exactly 120 perfect slices.  However, my two greatest adventures in Beijing were the day I wandered the streets alone, visited the Forbidden City, ambled through Behai Park and used my very broken-mandarin to navigate across town and the day I visited the Great Wall of China.  There are multiple sections of The Great Wall, most famous being the Badaling.  Skip it and instead head to the Mutianyu section. It is even more beautiful, has fewer tourists AND after taking a chair lift up, hiking the wall and enjoying the view, you get to bobsled down!

 

Clockwise from top Left:  1. Monk blessings 2. Climbing The Potata Palace - the Dalai Lama’s home 3.  Base Camp, Mt. Everest  4.  Jokhang Temple – the most scared & important temple in Tibet  5.  Frayed prayer flags on the road to Mt. Everest  6. Buddha Statue, Potata Palace  7. Mt. Everest from a distance 8. Sakya Monastery - largest monastic training school in Tibet. 9. & 10. Pictures from the road to Everest.

 

If you think you know altitude, you’ve got nothing on Tibet.  From 12,000’ to a peak of 18.192’ at Base Camp, getting to Mt. Everest is no small feat, even for the seasoned athlete.  It takes about 4 days by van to get from Lhasa to Everest – there are no planes.  It is a long.windy.days-long.altitude-sickness.filled.journey, but a journey that will leave you breathless – literally and figuratively.  We stopped along the way, visiting many of the brilliant temples (and to make sure we had some major Dalai Lama lovin’ and blessings on our side) and took time to bask in the small graces of prayer-flag-tunnels and yoga atop limitless peaks.

Clockwise from top Left:  1. Speed Boat ride under Iguazu Falls 2. Cayman Spotting, Amazon 3. Surfing in Rio 4. Greeting Iguazu Falls 5. Pirhana Fishing, Amazon 6. Rappelling down Iguazu Falls 7. Swimming/Feeding Pink Dolphins, Amazon 8. White Water Rafting, Iguazu Falls 9. Bird Park, Iguazu Falls 10. Hang Gliding over Rio

Visiting Brazil is a lot like visiting the US. From LA to NY to Chicago, each city offers something unique.  I spent a few weeks in Brazil – Rio, Iguazu Falls, Jericoacoara and the Amazon – each providing tons of adventure.  For the thrillist, head to Iguazu Falls – the Garganta del Diablo (devil’s gorge) will mesmerize you and you can spend days hiking, rafting, rappelling and adventure touring through the falls.  The Ariau Tower Hotel in the Amazon is the largest tree-top hotel in the world and the ultimate place for eco-tourism. I spent days and nights cayman spotting, swimming with pink dolphins, trekking and piranha fishing (yes, I even ate them!).  Then I headed to Jericoacoara – the fishing village/sand dune national park and mecca for kite & wind surfing.  As the sun sets each day, it is tradition to hike up the dunes and watch the sun drift down past the horizon, then sandboard (think snowboarding on sand) down the dunes and into the breaking waves.  Jeri is a hidden gem in Brazil and probably my biggest MUST VISIT for anyone going to Brazil. 

 

Clockwise from top Left:  1. Maya Bay, Thailand (where “The Beach” was filmed), 2. Frolicking on Kata Beach, Phuket 3. Water Ferry, Bangkok 4.  Thai Cooking School, Chiang Mai 5. Feeding Monkeys, Monkey Beach, Phi Phi Islands 6. Elephant Spotting, streets of Bangkok, 7. Bamboo Rafting and Trekking, Chiang Do  8. Elephant Riding, Chiang Do 9.  Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bangkok

My best recommendation – get in and out of Bangkok.  You MUST go, but no more than 48 hours – serious.  Temples, Thai Massages, Tuk Tuk’s and move.the.heck.on!  Chaing Mai is the largest and most culturally significant region in Thailand and thus offers SO much more – elephant sanctuaries, waterfall treks, local villages, bamboo rafting, cliff diving, artisan shops, and the best local food and thai cooking schools in the country.  In fact, we spent a day at the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School and let’s just say, it was so good, I’ve never ordered Thai food in the US since.  (Luckily I brought home the cookbook).  Phuket is magical –I hopped the islands and discovered the most surreal beaches.  I’m convinced Maya Bay was what made Leonardo DiCaprio and The Beach famous, not the other way around.   

Clockwise from top Left: 1. Urban Lights, LACMA 2. Beer Tasting, Fathers Office 3. Flying to San Francisco 4. Trail Running, Santa Monica Mountains  5. Beach Running, Santa Monica Beach  6.  Coastal Motorcycle Ride, Venice Vintage Motorcycle Club 7. Art in the Streets, MOCA 8. Dressing up as Rafiki, Disneyland 9. Flight to Santa Barbara for Foster the People’s first show 10. Great Urban Race, Downtown LA 11. Snowboarding, Big Bear 12. Buttonwillow Raceway Park

Despite my love for travel, I wouldn’t be a true adventurer if I couldn’t have an adventure in my own city.  Even to someone who has lived in the same city for almost 23 years, I find new ways to uncover Los Angeles all the time.  Scavenger hunting, Art Exhibits, running new trails and beaches, riding new tracks (the Mr. races cars!), day trips to Big Bear, San Fran and Santa Barbara and even dressing up in character for the Disneyland Parade!

I’m sure it is possible to have an adventure sitting still, but living in an imaginary dream world has never quite done its thing for me. Luckily, I don’t plan on changing my mind about that anytime soon so feel free to follow all of my adventures at The MF Dre.

Thanks Tabitha for letting me guest post!  Happy Babymoon!

{MF Dre}

food (food) | style foodie

Hi, you've reached Defining Tabitha and I'm currently on my babymoon.  While I'm out I've asked some friends to blog sit for me.  Over the next few days you'll read great posts that have a travel theme embracing topics that each blogger is an expert at covering. 


Today meet Zoe from Style Foodie.  She's got a keen sense of fashion, the best vocabulary and a taste for good food, so I've asked her to share some of her favorite meals she's enjoyed while traveling.  Try not to get to hungry while reading her post and enjoy!


Hi Loves!

I'm Zoe and I blog over at Style Foodie. I'm a Chicagoan like Tabitha and I work in the fashion industry and I've got a serious love for good food! I love to eat and cook good food and write about it. Style Foodie is a lifestyle blog about life in the windy city, style, and really good food.

Since I'm kind of big on food and I travel a bit Tabitha asked me to share with you loves my top 5 meals I've had while traveling.


1. BLT: Choice Market - Brooklyn,NY

When I was in NYC in September I made it my mission to try this BLT after I saw it on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. The picture doesn't do it justice, this has to be the best sandwich I've ever had and I don't even really like tomatoes! This sandwich was so good I ate it three times during the week I was in NYC and it's on my list of eats every time I go back.

2. Port-poached pear w/gingerbread and cinnamon ice cream: Eastern Standard - Boston,MA

I had this on my last trip to Boston on a dessert blate with Alex! This was the first time I ever went to a restaurant and strictly ate dessert and the first time I had a poached pear, it was heaven. The Eastern Standard was such a nice restaurant with great ambiance.

3. Crab Cakes: Hugo's Frog Bar - Chicago,IL

Via

I know I live in Chicago, but the first time I ever had these crab cakes I didn't live here and was in Chicago for business. I was staying at the Elysian(Now the Waldorf Astoria) and my agents and I had dinner at Hugo's. I will tell anyone that will even consider eating a crab cake go to Hugo's it's literally a crab cake orgasm in your mouth, that's right I said it food orgasm.

4. Jumbo Pizza Slice: Pizza Mart - Washington,D.C.

Please excuse the bad photo quality and chipped nail polish, this photo is from 3 years ago.



As an east coast girl I know pizza, I love pizza, and I'm very particular about my pizza. In D.C. a specialty is the jumbo pizza slice and Pizza Mart does it just the way I like it. I found this place by chance one day when my mom and I were walking around the Adam's Morgan neighborhood. I saw a sign for JUMBO PIZZA SLICE and I was intrigued so I popped in to check it out. Let me tell you that when they say jumbo they mean JUMBO the slice you see above was only half! My mom and I split one slice!

5. Filet Mignon au Poivre: Lake Park Bistro - Milwaukee,WI

via

I had this meal a while ago but it still sticks out in my mind, for two reasons. One I had never had potatoes like these they were pureed into a silky smooth bliss. Two the cognac sauce was like nothing I had ever had before and left me speechless, my mouth is watering just thinking about now. Also in Milwaukee Lake Park Bistro always seemed like such "fancy" restaurant to me when I was a kid and on a visit home it was so exciting to finally eat there.

I hope I got your taste buds going, I know mine are, and I hope I got these places on your list of restaurants to try. Be sure to hope over and visit me over at Style Foodie! 

And big thank you to Tabitha for having me!

xx

Z