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Las Vegas: Ultimate Walking Guide

If you’re in Vegas or thinking about going to Vegas, check out this walking map to hit all the main attractions on the strip. You can save this map to your phone and make edits for your own journey! I also tagged a few must-see places that are not on the strip.

To copy the map:

  1. Click the Square in the top right-hand corner of the map
  2. This will bring you to the expanded view of the map. Click the 3 dots.
  3. Then click “Copy Map”
  4. You can rename the map
  5. Click “Ok”. The map is now available on your Google Maps and you can make edits to customize your trip. You can access it on your phone or computer. Click here for video instructions on how to use the Google maps.

1) The Cosmopolitan –  The Chandelier

I started my walking tour at the Cosmo. The Cosmopolitan has an amazing brunch buffet at Wicked Spoon with bottomless mimosas. Another option for breakfast is Eggslut, seriously delicious egg sandwiches. read more

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An Organized Purse Leads to an Organized Life

Having a busy week, running from work to work-out classes, then to dinner with friends can be hectic. I found my self always switching purses to match my outfit for the day and keeping old receipts in my purse for no reason. I decided to put an end to the madness and re-evaluate the original need for a purse.

If you’re familiar with the lean six-sigma mindset and enjoy be organized, then this blog post is for you! I got this cute Dooney & Burke purse from my Aunt for my Birthday and knew right away- this was the purse that would help me stay organized. First let’s talk about the size, if you’re looking for an all-in-one purse to bring with you all day then it needs to at least 10 x 10 inches. Yes, clutches covered in pom-poms are cute, but realistically it’s not going to fit my planner and everything I need for work. read more

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DIY: Mother’s Day Cards

Mother’s Day is less than a week away and there is still time to make your mom a custom card. I made my mom this card and got her a bunch of goodies from Trader Joe’s because she loves Trader Joe’s but doesn’t live near one. I already know the blueberry scone mix will be her favorite.

This card design can be re-used for any occasion, just add your own text! To make the card, you’ll need a Silhouette Cameo or other craft cutter and construction paper. I snagged this construction paper at Target last weekend- link here for the paper. read more

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How to make a Boxwood Backdrop

Boxwood backdrop

The Boxwood backdrop was so fun to put together for my sisters Bachelorette party and the perfect photo booth opportunity. I saw a lot of options on Pinterest and decided to make my own.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how I put a Boxwood backdrop together:

1. Order Supplies

To start you’ll need to order the supplies. I ordered the supplies on Amazon and then went to Lowes to get the PVC pipe.

  • Boxwood
    • Option 1: Boxwood set
      • If you use this option it’s cheaper, but you’ll need different dimensions for the frame. Start by measuring so you know what size you need.
      Option 2: 4 Pieces of Artifical boxwood
      • This is the option I ordered. Sometimes it’s out of stock so I linked more options below.
      • Decorations: “Love” Balloon and Flower garlands
      • PVC pipes from Lowes

        More Boxwood options:

        2. Cut the PVC pipe

        At Lowe’s, I bought 5 pieces of 10ft long PVC pipe and then cut them to the lengths shown below. I was glad I made the frame out of PVC because it allowed me to break it down and put it in the back of my car versus making the frame out of wood and then needing a truck to drive it to the event. read more

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Top 10 Things to See & Do in Longboat Key, FL

Longboat Key Florida has always been a special family vacation destination. My family loves going there for spring break or Christmas. We usually coordinate with extended family and all try to stay on the island at the same time. After many years of going to Longboat Key, I am excited to round up my Top 10 Things to See & Do in Longboat Key, FL.

Here’s a map to help start your planning if you are thinking of going to Florida.

To copy the map:

Click the Square in the top right-hand corner of the map
This will bring you to the expanded view of the map. Click the 3 dots.
Then click “Copy Map”
You can rename the map
Click “Ok”The map is now available on your Google Maps and you can make edits to customize your trip. You can access it on your phone or computer. Click here for video instructions on how to use the Google maps.

Top 10 Things to See & Do in Longboat Key, FL

1 Go to the beach

Going to the beach is pretty obvious… but here the top beaches to visit if you’re on Longboat Key.

  • Lido Beach
  • Beer Can Beach
  • Coquina Beach

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    The Ultimate Arizona Road Trip: Scottsdale // Sedona // Page // Flagstaff

    #Arizona #roadtrip #travel

    Arizona is the perfect state for a weekend road trip. The highlight of this trip was seeing Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ! I flew in and out of Phoenix and put my Google map below. You can copy the map to your phone to use this as a guide and add to the map additional places that you want to see.

    Scottsdale 
    Sedona
    Page
    Flagstaff

    To copy the map:

  • Click the Square in the top right-hand corner of the map
  • This will bring you to the expanded view of the map. Click the 3 dots.
  • Then click “Copy Map”
  • You can rename the map
  • Click “Ok”

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    Phoenix, Arizona: Great Winter Getaway

    #Arizona #travel #blog #travelblog #Scottsdale

    It’s mid-December and getting cold in most of the U.S., but not in Phoenix. Southern Arizona has a great warm winter that makes it the perfect destination for a trip to escape the cold. The Phoenix/Scottsdale area has so much to offer from fun hikes, shopping, great restaurants, art walks, and more.

    #Arizona #travel #blog #travelblog #Scottsdale

    Scottsdale is the town just East of Phoenix and recently revamped their tourism with the Experience Scottsdale media push, check out their website, it has awesome city walk guides.

    While it’s great to write about my trip, I realized I can offer more than just text and pictures! I found a way to share my Google maps for everyone to download. This is a great resource to help everyone start planning a trip. You can add the Google maps to your phone and make edits to customize the trip. It lets you have all your addresses in one place to get a better idea of the city layout. Planning a trip can be time-consuming so hopefully this helps. Let me know if you have any edits or feedback to make the Google maps even better!

    Click here for instructions on how to download the Google maps. 

    For this trip, I traveled with two friends Diana and Katie. We started out in Scottsdale for one day and then drove north to Page, AZ to see Horsebend and Antelope Canyon.  We rented a car because of the long drive from Phoenix to Page. You’ll definitely need to rent a car to get to Horseshoe Bend and the Antelope Canyon. It’s 4.5-hour drive from Scottsdale to Page, AZ.

    While in Scottsdale, AZ I really enjoyed the hiking and restaurants. Here are some highlights from the weekend. All of the locations are pinned on the google maps:

    Hiking

    I’ve been to Scottsdale before so I knew exactly what I wanted to do to make the most out of my day in the outdoorsy city. We started the day with a hike at Tom’s Thumb trail. It’s a 4.2-mile hike round trip to a rock formation that resembles a thumb. I linked the trip advisor site for more details about the hike. In short, it’s a steep start and then a more level hike. Be sure to bring lots of water and sunscreen. Here’s a summary of great hiking trails in the Scottsdale area:

    #Arizona #travel #blog #travelblog #Scottsdale

    Resturants

    Diego Pops

    Diego Pops is in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. Their menu features amazing tacos, taco bowls, poke bowls and more. Also, check out their drink menu for amazing margaritas. The whole restaurant has a trendy design and atmosphere that will make you want to stay for hours.

    #Arizona #travel #blog #travelblog #Scottsdale

    #Arizona #travel #blog #travelblog #Scottsdale

    Olive & Ivy

    We went to Oil & Ivy for dinner Friday night. Definitely call ahead to make a reservation. The location is amazing, right on the riverfront. The menu offers a variety of options from flatbreads to pasta, to main dishes. Everything was delicious! Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos, but just imagine amazing food while eating on a riverfront.

    Farm & Craft 

    On Saturday we stopped at Farm & Craft for breakfast before the big road trip to Page, AZ. The food was amazing and so was the atmosphere. Pictured below is their tap that boasts cold brew, kombucha, wine, and beer… what more could you want? I ordered the protein toast with a side of sweet potatoes and Katie got the Breakfast sandwich. Their website summarizes it best, “Farm & Craft is focused on healthy and sustainable food in a community-style atmosphere. Think modern farm with a contemporary twist.” Definitely visit for breakfast, lunch or dinner during your trip to Scottsdale.

    I hope you enjoyed this city guide. Comment if you have any additional places to add!

    -Rachel

    #Arizona #travel #Farmandcraft #Scottsdate

    #Arizona #travel #Farmandcraft #Scottsdate

    #Arizona #travel #Farmandcraft #Scottsdate

     

    PIN IT

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    Simple Royal Icing Cookies

    #cookies #royalicing #blog #royalicing

    I’ve always loved sugar cookies but thought royal icing cookies were difficult to make. Turns out, making royal icing sugar cookies is obtainable if you find a simple recipe! Read below for the cookie and icing recipe that I love using for the holidays. Note: This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure by clicking here.

    Baking Gadgets

    Before you start your baking adventure you’ll need a few handy tools. I linked my favorite baking tools below:

  • Icing coloring kit  – Don’t skip and using food coloring from the grocery store. This concentrated color kit is perfect for baking and comes with 12 colors!
  •  Hand mixer – Or if you already have one:  Kitchen aid mixer
  • Wilton squeeze bottles  – These are the best squeeze bottles for royal icing. Don’t try to create the icing bags… that will create a mess fast.
  • Cookie cutters  –  I linked my favorite set of cookie cutters. I know.. it’s 101 cookie cutters, which sounds like a lot, but it has the whole alphabet, all the numbers, and cookie cutters for every holiday. I went ahead and bought it to avoid buying extra sets later.
  • Cookie bags– You’ll want these for after the cookies are completed- they make a nice finishing touch.
  • And some of the more basic baking items- cookie sheets, rolling pin… etc.

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    Gift Guide: Travel Deals

    Gift Guide #gift #travel

    Here is a Gift Guide for your favorite traveler… or yourself 😉 There are so many great discounts this weekend, but stay focused on your shopping list and gifts for others! This blog post covers 9 gifts for any traveler. Some of them are on sale this weekend:

    1. HERSCHEL SUPPLY CO. – Little America Backpack

    Sale Price: $47.98 until 11/27
    Regular Price: $120.00
    Store: Nordstrom

    Why I like this item: Super cute and a great deal!

    1.  Catch all clutch

    Sale Price: $67.20 with code FRIENDS// 20% off + Free shipping
    Regular Price: $129.00
    Store: Mark and Graham

    Why I like this item: I love to stay organized while traveling and this clutch is perfect for all your essential travel documents and electronics.

    1. Boise Headphones

    Sale Price: $179.00
    Regular Price: $279
    Store: Nordstrom

    Why I like this item: Noise canceling headphones are a must for traveling on the airplane. These are a great black Friday steal!

    1. Anker PowerCore 

    Price: $26.00
    Store: Amazon

    Why I like this item:  You’ll always need an extra charge while traveling. Be sure to bring a power pack on your next trip.

    1. Cosmetic pouch

    Sale Price: $32.00 with code FRIENDS// 20% off + Free shipping
    Regular Price: $89
    Store: Mark and Graham

    Why I like this item: Mark and Graham is my go-to for Monogrammed items. I love their free monogram maker for quick images, check it out here. A cosmetic pouch makes a great secret Santa gift, add a monogram to personalize it.

    1. S’Well Water bottle

    Sale Price: $26.25
    Regular Price: $35
    Store: Nordstrom

    Why I like this item: A water bottle is a great item to travel with. Don’t get dehydrated on a long trip or worse, throw out your water bottle at TSA. Instead, bring a reusable water bottle on your next trip and go eco-friendly.

    1. Passport holder

    Sale Price: $35.20 with code FRIENDS// 20% off + Free shipping
    Regular Price: $59
    Store: Mark and Graham

    Why I like this item: Okay, a passport holder is not required… but makes internationally travel so much more fun with a pop of color.

    1. Travel Space Saver Bags

    Price: $18
    Store: Amazon

    Why I like this item: With the travel space saver bags you can pack everything into a carry-on for the weekend, say goodbye to checked bag fees.

    1. iPhone Charger

    Price: $11
    Store: Amazon

    Why I like this item: Yes, everyone has an iPhone charger. And yes everyone can likely use another charger. Really you can never have too many chargers and if you gift a friend a charger, they will likely use it every day 🙂

     

    I hope you liked this gift guide. Comment below and share your favorite travel products.

    Happy Thanksgiving,
    Rachel  

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    New Orleans: Top 5 Things to do

    New Orleans Bourbon St. #NewOrleans #bourbonst

    I’ve been to New Orleans multiple times but wanted to go back for a day to capture the city for the blog. For this trip, I traveled with my friend Sarah Kelly. Sarah is a fellow co-worker at Southwest Airlines and also an amazing photographer, check out her website. We flew there Saturday morning and returned Saturday night. With little time to spare we headed straight to the French Quarter.

    Here are the highlights:

    Cafe Du Monde
    Jackson Square
    The Carousel Bar
    Pat O’Brien’s
    Bourbon Street

    To copy the map:

    1. Click the Square in the top right-hand corner of the map
    2. This will bring you to the expanded view of the map. Click the 3 dots.
    3. Then click “Copy Map”
    4. You can rename the map
    5. Click “Ok”

    The map is now available on your Google Maps and you can make edits to customize your trip. You can access it on your phone or computer. Click here for video instructions on how to use the Google maps. 

    Cafe Du Monde

    Cafe du Monde #NOLA #NewOrleans

    We caught an uber from the airport ($30 for reference) and headed straight to Cafe du Monde. Cafe du Monde is a classic and required stop if you are visiting New Orleans. There is only one item on the menu- beignets! Be prepared to stand in-line when you visit. Don’t worry, the line goes fast and if you are truly in a rush there is a to-go window on the right-hand side of the building. A few things to know about cafe du monde before you go:

    1. Cafe du Monde is cash only!
    2. They are open 24/7… Late night snack anyone?
    3. There is no way to avoid getting covered in powdered sugar- embrace it. 

    Jackson Square

    New Orleans Bourbon St. #NewOrleans #bourbonst

    After filling up on coffee and beignets we took a walk around The St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. Walking around Jackson square is the perfect introduction to the New Orleans culture. There is no way to describe it. In one block you can find:

  • Street performers
  • Artist setting up shops on the sidewalk
  • Tourist walking around with drinks (There is no open container law)
  • Psychics
  • Adorable souvenir shops
  • And more!

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