Travel Tuesday: Southern Florida

It makes so much sense to me why people in Michigan get seasonal depression. I feel so relaxed, happy and rejuvenated after spending a little under a week in the sunny state of Florida! Since Alex couldn't get the week off for vacation, I invited my mom and step dad to join me on yet another adventure. We flew out of Detroit into Miami & boy was there a difference in temperature! On our first night we decided to get checked into the hotel and venture out for some fresh fish in Key Largo at The Buzzards Roost. We picked this restaurant at random, but it ended up being our favorite! Great atmosphere, great fish & the coconut cake was so freaking good.

My parent's bought a selfie stick while at the Grand Canyon, and I had way too much fun with it! We ventured out to Key West for a day where we ate Conch Fritters, BBQ & more fish. We had to walk to the southern most point in the US and try our selfie stick for the first time & it was a huge success! We waited all day for an epic sunset (even found the perfect bench) and storm clouds rolled out 10 minutes before it was suppose to set. Huge bummer, but we were just so happy to be somewhere with no snow we didn't really care :)

We decided to do a beach day & the front desk at our hotel suggested going to Biscayne National Park. We had to pay a small fee, but the beach was absolutely beautiful. After that we took it easy with a pool day, & our last day we visited the Everglades which was SO awesome!

It was a perfect getaway from our Michigan winter weather full of delicious seafood, sunshine & relaxation. I'm so thankful to work for companies that make it easy for me to live our my passion to travel. There's nothing quite like watching a sunrise in an airplane embarking on a new adventure. Here's to all you wanderers out there, may you never stop.

Travel Tuesday: Spanish Food

Today's post comes from a very special place: my stomach. While I was living in Spain I made a goal to 1. Never eat fast food and 2. At least TRY anything that was given to me. I tried snails, meat from a bull, I'm pretty sure my first Señora secretly fed us pig brains (there's proof!), and essentially anything that was put in front of me. I loved everything except for gazpacho (or any type of cold soup really) and cold tuna pasta. That being said, I wanted to share my top 5 favorite foods from Spain! 

5.  Patatas Bravas

 

(photo from bbcgoodfood.com/click through for recipe)

These handsome fried potatoes are covered in a kind of spicy ketchup sauce and are delicioso!

4. Croquetas

(photo from nbclatino.com/click through for recipe) 

Croquetas are pretty much fried mashed potatoes with jam or whatever else you decide to put in them! 

3. Jamón y Manchego

 

(photo credit: Tamorlan on Wikimedia Commons)

 A little dried ham and some rich cheese make for a great snack. Or, put in on some fresh baked bread and you have yourself a bocadillo!

2. Churros con Chocolate 

 

Fried dough dipped in the best chocolate? Que rico! It was also the best snack between classes with some of my lovely amigos.

And now for my number one favorite food in Spain...

 

If only wine were a food group...but for real. 

1. Tortilla Española AND Paella! It's a tie!

 

 

I would give you some sort of recipe but the truth is I'm a terrible cook. The only solution is to go to Spain and try them all for yourself!

What are your favorite foods from different cultures?

xoxo, K

Travel Tuesday: Mexico

So sorry Laura and I have been so MIA lately! It's like the artic tundra here in Michigan and I developed a pinched nerve/muscle spasms in my back so I've been pretty useless these past few days (shout out to Alex for letting me wake him up in the middle of the night sobbing in pain...love you!).

Anyways, about a week ago, I had an absolutely amazing opportunity to go on sort of a mission trip with my mom and my mother-in-law. I originally didn't think I would be able to get the time off to go, but my amazing employers and myself worked it out so I could go for a few days!

 

Ever since Alex was just a little guy, his parents would lead groups to Mexico to build houses for the poor. My first mission trip was to Tijuana...so this place holds quite a special place in both of our hearts. I literally found out I could go four days before we left and my mom decided only three days before we left she could go!

 We arrived to San Diego on Thursday, assembled the team and drove across the Tecate border. There was no one at the border so we just drove on through to Mexico. The difficult part would come soon enough on our way back to the States. If you can't tell by these photos...eating good Mexican food was of the utmost importance.
So the cake below was a tres leches cake and my mother-in-law helped fund her cake business through her nonprofit Sowhope.

That night we stayed at Tim's house whom is a missionary in Tecate. His dogs were pretty adorable! And the two dogs in front are the parents to the one in back, so precious.

The next day was full of visits to families, food and amazing friends.

I even ate my carne asada with onions! I don't even know who I am anymore :)

The last day started off just right with Eva cooking us a delicious breakfast! Thanks David and Eva for letting us stay with you!!

And we were off to visit more families!

Mary was named Godmother of Alexander! Pretty great name he has too! 

On to our last stop of the night before crossing the border later. Such an amazing view and we had a perfect ending to our Mexico trip with this amazing family.

 It was such a great experience and it was SO great having my mom come with us this time. So thankful I had to chance to go back and see everyone again. Thank you to all the families and everyone we had the pleasure of spending time with.

And because it's one of my favorite quotes:

"Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go."
-Mother Teresa

xoxo, Katelyn

Travel Tuesday: Colorado

Alex and I went on a vacation to Colorado a week ago to visit some friends and to re-charge for the new year. One of my very dear friends whom I met in Spain lives in Denver and brought us to literally every cool place there is to go. What I loved about Denver was that it was an extremely crafted city. From their food, beer, cocktails or boutique stores, everything was handled with such great care and pride. Sorry about the plethora of photos, I couldn't help myself. Here are a few key places to check out while there:

1. Resturants: Linger-my favorite, Le Central-delicious and authentic French food, Benny's-Mexican food with Green Chile sauce to die for, Euclid Hall-this was Alex's favorite, and last but not least-VooDoo Doughnut.

2. Coffee Shops: Kaladi Coffee, Leela

Top:Hot Chocolates at Leela//Bottom: Inside of Leela

3. Places to visit: Glenwood Hot Springs, Denver Art Museum-Passport to Paris-this was one of my favorite activities we did, Garden of the Gods-this was too gorgeous to explain in words & Willams & Graham- a speakeasy with some awesome crafted cocktails.

Glenwood Hot Springs

 

Garden of the Gods

 Beautiful Mountains everywhere 

4. Shopping: Downtown Denver was full of boutique stores, specialty stores, vintage stores & book stores. I personally fell in love with Buffalo Exchange, a consignment shop with some really great finds. Besides that I could have spent hours in a used bookstore downtown Denver.

It was so lovely seeing my friends who live so far away! Thanks Maddie for driving us everywhere and showing all the cool places to go, thank you mother nature for cancelling Chloe's flight so I could selfishly spend two more days with her, and thank you Stacie and Allen for your generous hospitality. Alex and I are truly blessed with some awesome people in our lives.

What are your favorite places to check out in Colorado?

 xoxo, Katelyn