How to Become a Weekender Warrior

Today's travel guide comes from Becky, a journalist and avid traveler. She loves nothing more than planning perfect weekend trips, so today, she presents a guide to weekend trip planning, with Seattle and Portland as her example. — Amber

Matt and me at Pike Place Market, one of my favorite spots in Seattle.

I love to travel more than anything else on this earth, but I’m also super stingy with my time off and with my money. For the last five years, I’ve been working on making the most of my long weekends, by using them to catch up with friends in fun, exotic places, trying amazing new foods and experiencing new things without breaking the bank or draining my vacation time. Here’s how:

Pick a place 

Remember when you swore you’d visit that friend who moved to ____ after college? Now’s a great time to get in touch on Facebook. Mention you’re planning a trip to town, and you’d love to see them when they have a weekend off a couple months down the road. If they’re generous, you might land a couch or guest room during your stay (bring a thank you gift!). 

If not, you’ll at least have a tour guide or get good recommendations for places to stay, eat, hang out. Set dates with your bud, or let her know when in advance when you’ll be in town. Two months notice is great, if you can swing it.

Find a flight

After checking the typical travel sites to see what the going rates are for airlines, double check the specials at regional airports to see if there are cheaper rates there. 

For example, the tiny Allegiant Air gets breaks from bringing merrymakers to Las Vegas, so instead of buying a $200 round-trip flight out of Denver International (the nearest big airport to me), I can get fly on Allegiant from the little regional airport in Loveland, CO for about $70 each way.

Whatever flight you choose, make sure it will allow you to maximize your travel. I like to fly out Thursday or Friday night, so I’m ready to see the sights in my destination first thing.

Transportation

Figure out how you’ll get around your destination. If you’re in NYC or DC, you examine the subway maps online and buy day passes once you get there. In Philly, expect to walk or cab it around. 

My boyfriend Dean and took a long weekend in Seattle last month to visit our friend Matt, and because we knew we’d be going to far-flung neighborhoods AND Portland, we decided to rent a car. (I wouldn’t recommend a second-city detour like this for beginner Weekender Warriors.) We got lucky and found free street parking most of the time (because of tips from friends), but I had the addresses and numbers of the cheapest 24-hour parking garages near our places of interest.

The produce at Pike Place Market is brilliant and super-fresh.

Wish List

This is my FAVORITE part of trip planning. Essentially, you make a wish list of everything you want to do during your trip. You can throw everything you want on there before editing it down, flagging anything essential. 

In Seattle, Dean and I knew we needed time to hang with Matt, and we also wanted to eat everything that Anthony Bourdain got at restaurants there in the Pacific Northwest episode of “No Reservations.”  Dean loves music, too, so I checked out concert venues. Perusing farmers market postings, the Zagat Dining Guide, Facebook, and alt weekly magazines like The Stranger (Love you, Dan Savage!) helped a lot. 

My ambitious list looked something like this:

- Hang with Matt*

• Eat at Piroshky, Piroshky (incredibly Russian street pastry)
• Walk around Pike Place Market*
• See the Space Needle
• Eat at Salumi (Mario Batali’s dad’s killer charcuterie restaurant)
• See Nada Surf play at the Neptune Theater
• Check out the Fremont Vintage Mall
• Take a photo with the Fremont Troll*
• Visit Theo Chocolate Factory
• Shop at the Fremont Sunday Market*
• Eat ice cream at Molly Moon’s, as my friend Gina made me promise to do
• Hike to Puget Sound in Discovery Park

*Signifies non-negotiable activity

Dean and me at the Fremont Troll. While we were there, we were extras in a local pest control commercial with a giant dancing rat.

Prioritize Itinerary

This is where you play Tetris with your wish list. Some of the things we wanted to do had set times, like the Fremont Sunday Market and the Nada Surf show, so those had fixed spots in the itinerary.

Now do your logistical research, checking hours and locations. (Salumi is closed Saturday through Monday, so we’d have to go on Tuesday before our flight.) Also, Google Maps is your friend here. (Piroshky, Piroshky is in Pike Place Market, which is set on Puget Sound. Three birds, one stone.)

FRIDAY: Fly into Seattle. Staying at City Hostel Seattle.

SATURDAY: Sleep in, wander Pike Place Market. Eat at Piroshky, Piroshky. Visit the Space Needle. Grab Dinner. Nada Surf is playing at the Neptune Theater.

SUNDAY: Fremont Market, Fremont Troll. Drive to Portland. Dinner with Katie at Apizza Scholls. Drinks. VooDoo Doughnut.

MONDAY: Breakfast. Drive back to Seattle. Grab lunch at Salumi. Visit with Matt? Discovery Park?

TUESDAY: Fly back.

Dean got to play a $20,000 Martin Guitar from 1940 at Emerald City Guitars. We were lucky I ever got him to leave.

Refine. Check-in. Refine

When we got in touch with Matt, he was planning to move and hadn’t found a place yet, so we planned to stay in a hostel but held off on reservations. (We ended up crashing with his brother. Thank you gift!) Also, Matt’s band was set to play a show the same night as Nada Surf, so we didn’t buy tickets in advance. None of us had our hearts set on actually going up the Space Needle, so we drove past it and snapped a picture.

Schedule Downtime

You’re getting a lot done this weekend. Give yourself some flex time each afternoon to relax, change, shower. If you don’t need it, you can go to a nearby park or bookstore to veg and recharge.

Be Prepared

Your daily needs don’t take a break during your trip, so if you prepare for them, you’ll avoid spending unnecessary money and taking unwanted pit stops. Pack a water bottle to bring with you. Having my Nalgene (I emptied it before reaching TSA, refilled at the airport) kept me from having to find convenience stores and buying bottled drinks every few hours. I think I saved at least $25. Obviously, it’s wise to bring travel-size SPF and tissues. Also, pack comfy walking shoes AND cute going-out shoes. You don’t want an adorable pair of pinchy boots to ruin your romantic afternoons strolling around the city, or to be compelled to buy a new pair of walking shoes you don’t really like. And don’t forget to pack your phone charger!

Keep your itinerary on hand

Before you leave on your trip, make an itinerary complete with the address and phone number of each location, contact information for your friends, flight numbers and times, confirmation numbers for reservations, etc. Naturally, you can make any changes you need. I included restaurants we never made it to, just in case we needed somewhere to go. If your phone battery dies or you lose cell reception, having a trusty slip of paper in your bag can keep you on track and prevent you from getting lost.

Marilyn Batali makes gnocchi in the window at Salumi. Sweetest. Lady. Ever. Also, the mole salami and mozzarella on Giuseppe bread was the best sandwich I've ever had in my life, and I grew up in the New York metro area.

Mine looked like this:

TRIP TO SEATTLE, PORTLAND

FRIDAY

• Rental: Alamo at SEA-TAC (confirmation number)
• Expedia (confirmation number)
• Impark - (cheap, 24/7 parking): 2231 Sixth Avenue, Seattle (877) 449-7275
• Mark’s Apartment: (address, phone number)

SATURDAY

• Pike Place Market: 85 Pike street  Seattle, (206) 682-7453
• Piroshky Piroshky: 1908 Pike Place  Seattle (206) 441-6068
• Space Needle: 400 Broad Street  Seattle (800) 937-9582
• Neptune Theater: (Nada Surf at 9 p.m., Doors at 8)
  1303 Northeast 45th Street, Seattle, (N.E. 45th Street and Brooklyn Avenue)
• Parking: The Neptune Theatre does not have its own parking lot. Parking across the street at the Deca Hotel is $2 after 6 p.m. There are several other pay lots in the area as well as metered street parking (after 8 p.m. and Sundays are free). Parking on the nearby UW campus is free after 8 p.m.

SUNDAY

• Fremont Market (10a-5p): 400 N 34th St (between N Phinney Ave & Canal St)
• Fremont Troll: N 36th St., Seattle
• Fremont Vintage Mall: 3419 Fremont Pl N, (between 34th St & 35th St) Seattle
• Theo Chocolate: 3400 Phinney Ave Seattle (206) 632-5100 (Free samples, tours)
• Brouwer’s Café: 400 North 35th Street, Seattle (206) 267-2437 (Beer joint)
• Silence-Heart-Nest: 3508 Fremont Place North, Seattle, WA (206) 633-5169           (Vegetarian restaurant, run by disciples of Sri Chinmoy)

DRIVE TO PORTLAND

• Dinner: Apizza Scholls, 6:15 dinner reservation for 4 people; 4741 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR (503) 233-1286
• Voodoo Doughnut (two locations)
• a) 22 Southwest 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR (503) 241-4704
• b) 1501 NE Davis St, Portland, OR (503) 235-2666

MONDAY

• Brunch Meat, Cheese, Bread (open 7am): 1406 Southeast Stark Street, Portland, 

          (503) 234-1700

• Powell’s City of Books (9a-11p): 1005 West Burnside Street, Portland, OR 97209, 228-0540 ‎

DRIVE BACK TO SEATTLE

• Pies and Pints (4p-2a): 1215 Northeast 65th Street, Seattle, (206) 524-7082
• Molly Moons (Amazeballs ice cream. Gina says salted caramel and coffee are good.I liked balsamic strawberry)
• a) 1622 North 45th Street, Seattle, (206) 547-5105
• b) 917 East Pine Street, Seattle, (206) 708-7947

TUESDAY

• Salumi (open 11-3:30): 309 3rd Avenue South, Seattle (206) 621-8772
• Return car to Alamo

FLIGHT: Frontier #817, Departs 2:51p, Arrives 6:25 pm

This type of planning sounds like a lot of work, but I’ll admit I get a sick satisfaction from this kind of trip planning. But it’s served me really well over the last few years to make sure that when I go on a trip, I’m not stuck without options, and I don’t ever leave disappointed.

P.S. Take pictures!

Touring Europe in a Party of One

I'm one of those people who gets nervous eating out by myself and has seen a movie alone once, but I'm so full of awe for folks who are just as happy by themselves as they are with others. One of my dearest best friends, Bret, just completed his very first trip to Europe and he went alone and had the time of his life! I asked him to share all the details on planning and enjoying a trip for one. — Amber

Every time I told someone I was traveling to London and Paris for eight days on my own I got the same vacant confused look followed by a pity "Oh! Sounds….fun. Cool…" Is it so difficult to believe that a grown 27-year-old man would enjoy sojourning all by his lonesome? Traveling alone was a great experience for me and I am delighted to share my experiences with y'all per Amber's request. I loved being able to do whatever I wanted without having to worry about a friend's need to do silly things like sit down or eat food (things I tend to forget to do).

Planning

I started planning in February using www.hostelworld.com from my friend Kate's suggestion and my love of a good/terrible pun. Since I knew I cared about cleanliness and safety above staying in a party spot, I was able to find great and cheap places to stay that suited me and my needs and I basically just wanted a clean bed near a good metro. I decided to underpack since I wasn't sure how long I'd have to be carrying around my bag or how much locker space I'd have at the hostel. Of course, for me, packing light means bringing only one change of socks but four pairs of sunglasses and five striped tees.

Self-portrait with Tower of London

London 

After being yelled at by a drunk woman either reading her Bible or crying (it was a LONG flight), I landed in jolly ole London and instantly fell in love — the architecture, the streets, the people, the gin. I loved just walking for hours upon hours through Soho, the West End, the City, Westminster, wherever my Toms-covered feet would take me. I recommend having a guidebook filled with detailed maps, especially if you're as prone to wandering in the wrong direction as me.

Traveling by myself was a huge bonus for me in London because I got to do anything I wanted, namely enjoy West End theatre. I know I live in New York and see great theatre almost every week, but when Imedla Staunton and Michael Ball are starring in "Sweeney Todd," you pay attention! Being alone and not having to think about another person's time, wants, or money made it easy for me to see this musical two days in a row without question. Some West End shows offer seats at cheap rates day-of if you just ask at the box office. I know my need to see 5 shows in 3 days would have been annoying to any traveling companion, so I was glad to be buying only one ticket.

I.M. Pei's pyramid at the Louvre.

I also wanted to visit plenty of museums and historical sites, but I like to walk through them at my own pace since it seems I'm either spending too much time looking at an object d'art or practically racing through yet another painting of the annunciation for my traveling companion's taste (seriously, there are like 10,000 of those between the National Gallery and the Louvre). I was able to contemplate a single stroke of paint on a Seurat at the Musée d'Orsay for half an hour but race through stacks of wood at the Tate Modern since those are my jam and anti-jam, respectively.

A picnic of market fruit and veggies.

Boeuf bourguignon and red wine for one.

Dining alone might be an issue for some, but it doesn't have to be. In London I mostly grabbed food on the go or nibbled on pub fare and Paris culture is all about sitting in a brasserie or cafe alone reading and enjoying a coffee or glass of wine for hours. I was able to sample tradition French dishes like boeuf bourguignon and the most delicious rotisserie chicken with potatoes all while watching the beautiful people of Paris walk by me. I also went to local neighborhood street markets to make picnics in locations like Covent Garden, Jardin du Luxembourg, and the Eiffel Tower.

Self-portrait with dead people in the catacombs.

My good friends know I have a morbid fascination with cemeteries and all things creepy (minus Tim Burton movies), but not many feel the same. Naturally I was DYING to wander through 2 kilometers of an underground Parisian ossuary with stacks of artfully arranged bones and skulls. A real highlight of my trip, the Catacombs of Paris, were built in the late 18th-century and have been a tourist attraction ever since.

I was able to experience two amazing cities I've dreamed about since childhood and I am grateful to have done it Eponine-style, on my own.

Isn't that inspiring? I'm trying to think where I'd want to go on my own...not sure I'm this brave yet, so it might be a place like the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia.

Stylish Luggage

I was thinking the other day that, although in so many ways I am really practical, I am never the person who sacrifices style. That applies to luggage, and I thought my trip to Ireland was a good time to rethink my ragtag collection of suitcases and duffles.

I have: a) a beat-up big green suitcase I got when I was 11; b) a structured black duffle with wheels that is almost impossible to smoosh into an overhead compartment and c) a tiny blue suitcase that fits enough for an overnight trip. What I really needed was a medium-sized suitcase to check and a squishy duffle to push into the overhead compartment. It got me thinking about the different types of luggage everyone should have...you don't need to take all these pieces at once, but together, they can keep you covered for weekend trips, week-long trips and month-long trips (but probably not hiking the Appalachian Trail...that's a time to be straight-up practical).

Here are some of the pretties I'd like to have in my collection:

Cute Luggage by amberfiona featuring a leather luggage

1. A small duffle that doubles as a tote, by Abercrombie, $68
2. A bigger, classic duffle with silver skulls for some edge, $128 at Ralph Lauren.
3. A tote that can fit cameras, metro maps, snacks and souvenirs, $173 on sale from Kate Spade.
4. A classic tiny suitcase in a fun tartan plaid, $46.36 at ASOS.
5. A rucksack is perfect for hikes, amusement parks and flea market jaunts, $52.99 at Quicksilver.
6. A timeless big suitcase with leather trim, $290 by Longchamp.

All great choices, but here's what I'll actually be scooping up at baggage claim:

I picked this H&M duffle up to be my carryon.

I also picked up this 20-inch leopard suitcase at TJ Maxx for my overflow stuff. I'm trying to be really disciplined with my packing this time, but let me tell you, I am a born overpacker!

Travel with a Baby Like a Pro

Today's guest post comes from a college classmate of mine, Aliya. She is a traveling pro, and her gorgeous baby boy Kyran is on the fast track to becoming a pro himself! She's currently anticipating the arrival of her sure-to-be-beautiful baby girl and today, she's sharing tips for traveling with kiddos.

Hello, Newly Domesticated readers! I'm Aliya and I blog over at Double The Fun where you can read all about my daily mishaps, trials and tribulations of both raising a baby and baking a baby at the same time. I was flattered when Amber asked me to write up a guest post about traveling with a baby since I am the first to admit I am no expert anything... however, I do have a list of tips and tricks that work for us that I'm happy to share with all of you! 

Seeing as how my son isn't even one year old yet, I must say he is quite the avid traveler. In his short little life, we have been on two plane rides and several long car trips to exotic and interesting destinations like... Minneapolis. And Pittsburgh. Ok, I kid, but the boy has touched both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, so that's one thing off the Bucket List, right? 

With that said, traveling with a baby isn't as daunting as it might seem. The two main things to remember are 1. Be Prepared (for anything) and 2. Be Flexible. 

1. Be Prepared 
My family traveled a lot growing up and it would always drive me bananas when my mom had 3 carry-on bags and a purse and an extra bag with another set of clothes. I would always cram everything I could into one bag so I had as little to schlepp around the airport/terminals/plane as possible. Now, even with a kid, I'm the same way... I refuse to carry more than one bag (especially since you'll need as many arms free as possible). So I'd recommend having a diaper bag that you can push to the limits.

Overpacking isn't fun for anyone, but when you have a baby, it's a must. You think you only need 10 diapers for the plane ride? Pack 15. Bring a whole carton of wipes. And a 2nd book and chew toy in case you accidently leave one in the airport terminal... like I did. And two extra outfits, just in case. 


That way, when you and your 3-month old are flying alone together and he decides to present you with a poo-splosion diaper, 10,000 feet above Cleveland... you don't want to lose your mind over it. $h!t happens. Pun intended. If you're prepared, there will be less freak-outs and less stress. 

Aliya uses this diaper bag by Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Also, pack smartly. My diaper bag has tons of outside pockets and I make sure to keep things in them that I will need at a second's notice or need often — like, my wallet/ID, the pacifier, hand sanitizer, etc. When you're juggling a baby and a huge diaper bag and the attendant is asking for your boarding pass which is at the bottom of your bag under 12 blankies and clothes and bottles, you're going to want to kick yourself. Make sure anything you'll need can be accessed with one hand and accessed quickly.

Depending on where you're going, you also want to make sure your destination has everything your family needs. If you're flying somewhere, you might not be able to bring a pack-and-play or large stroller with you... call ahead and see if the people you are staying with are able to borrow the items you might need from a friend. Or, if you're staying in a hotel, try and figure out how you can arrange to get any items you might need.

2. Be Flexible 
I am about as neurotic and OCD as you can get when it comes to sticking to a schedule and routine. That might not work for everyone, but it definitely works for us, and with another little babe on the way, it was imperative to me that my son have a daily routine that he and I both acknowledge and stick to. With that said, rules are meant to be broken... and when you're traveling, sticking to a routine is almost impossible. You can try (and believe me, I do), but you have to remember to be flexible.

Your child is also out of his element/comfort zone.. might not sleep as well or as long in a new place. Might be thrown off by the smells or people or noises. Maybe you're going on a long car trip and your kid (if he's like mine) sleeps the whole way there... then he's probably not going to be ready for his usual 3 p.m. nap two hours later. If we're driving somewhere, we try to plan the drive around his naps or leave at night so he sleeps as much as possible. Let your kid stay in their PJs in the car so that they're comfortable, and always keep snacks, music and toys to keep them busy if they start to get anxious. 

One important thing to remember is to try and be attuned to their needs and make them as comfortable as possible with their new and unfamiliar surroundings. We always bring his favorite toys, books and blankets... as well as a travel "Sleep Sheep" since he always sleeps with one at home. One blogger I follow travels a lot and always puts her kid's pack-and-play in the hotel bathroom since it's the quietest/coolest/darkest place. I think that's genius! Not ideal, but again... being flexible and figuring out what works for you is key. 

Lastly, what you pack for your trip really depends on the age of your child... the older they are, the more entertainment they'll need (books, toys, a DVD player, perhaps). Also, I cannot stress the importance of a non-stop flight. When it's just you, it's fine... but when traveling, you want to get to your destination as quickly as possible. TRUST ME when I say that your sanity will be worth the extra $100 round-trip. 

When we flew to California with our son, he was about 5 months old. He slept most of the way and we were able to entertain him for about an hour after he woke up... but those last 40 minutes of that 5.5 hour flight were the hardest. He didn't cry or fuss, but we could tell he was getting bored and antsy and there is only so long you can have a kid sit in your lap! We took turns being "those parents" who would walk him up and down the airplane aisles... take him to the back to look out the window... and distract him with cups and peanut bags. I always felt bad for those parents before I became one! However, as long as you're willing to be flexible and do what works, you'll be fine! 

Hope these tips help some of you who might be worried about traveling with a baby! Maybe after I have my little girl, I can come back and talk about traveling with two under two -- Ha! :) Thanks again, Amber for letting me hijack your blog space for the day!

5 Tips for Happy Traveling

Since I'm out of the country for the next week or so, I've asked some of my most well-traveled friends to share their best travel tips and stories. I've learned a lot reading these posts, so I hope you enjoy!

Today's post is from Laura, who has been lucky enough to visit some of the most exotic locales before hitting her mid-20s! Laura was most recently working at the newspaper where I met her, but is now finding her way in a new city where she has just bought a beautiful home. Today, she's sharing her best travel tips. — Amber

 

Since Amber is off gallivanting around (about?) Ireland, I thought I'd share with you all five "big trip" tips. I've had the pleasure of visiting Alaska, Canada, Ireland, England, Korea, the Bahamas and Uganda, and in June we're heading to Hawaii!

1. WRITE. I wrote something in my journal each night that I was in Uganda. If I was too tired to write out a long entry, I would jot down whatever came to mind — something I missed about home, an emotion, or a silly memory like this one:
Bill: "Your women are strong!" Ugandan man: "You want one?"
 

 I did most of my journaling under a mosquito net

2. PACK SNACKS. If you're out of your mind and need convincing, consider the following: Eating out while traveling can get expensive. Depending on where you're going, you might not like the food. Plane food can be downright nasty. See? Snacks are where it's AT. I packed a ton of food for Uganda, including Clif bars, Goldfish, nuts and peanut butter crackers. I recommend doling out serving sizes in Ziploc baggies - that way you can take some on the plane and have some in your checked bag.

3. THINK PRACTICAL, NOT FASHIONABLE. Obviously a blend of both is ideal, but if you have to pick one, pick practical. It doesn't matter what you wear — everyone is going to know you're a tourist anyway. I wouldn't go anywhere without my trusty ugly Gortex! 

Staying dry and making a friend in Ireland (no, I don't normally roll my jeans up to my calves... clearly I wasn't trying to be fashionable here!)

4. TAKE TIME TO RELAX. I'll always cherish the time my brother and I ordered room service and watched the NBA finals together on our cruise around Glacier Bay. We did a lot of incredible outdoorsy activities on that trip, but simply hanging out with my brother was just as memorable. In London, Andy and I split from my family to have a a spur-of-the-moment date (he had proposed a few days earlier). We strolled the city just the two of us, no itinerary in hand. Bliss!

Happily engaged in London! Notice the Tower Bridge in the background?

5. BE FLEXIBLE. My friend Katie once said, "Blessed are the flexible, for they will not break." That advice has stuck with me ever since, and I hope I'll never forget it. It's great traveling advice. No trip is going to be perfect from start to finish, but choosing to go with the flow (and having a good attitude about it) will make it easier to face any bumps along the way.

Thanks for reading! Amber, we miss your fabulousness and can't wait to read all about your trip. Sláinte!

Packing for Two Weeks

I'm not sure I've ever encountered a greater packing challenge than packing for my first trip to Europe, knowing it's for almost two weeks, knowing it involves city visits, country stops and beaches and knowing I won't be able to do laundry for the first week.

BUT I'm happy to say that with careful planning, I managed to squeeze several mix-and-match outfits in my little suitcase and duffle. These aren't the exact clothes I packed, but they're very close approximations.

I packed a bunch of neutrals that can be mixed and matched to create about 11 outfits. It's good to mix in some patterns to spice it up a little, but if they're neutral patterns, you still have a lot to work with. For shoes, I went with a couple pairs of flats, Sperrys and boots.

But a girl can't survive on neutrals alone! I didn't pack all of these, but I did pack a bright tank to go under cardis, my red pants, a colorful scarf, jewelry and lipsticks to make it interesting. I also got this absolutely perfect trench/anorak hybrid on super sale from New York & Company:

It has a hidden hood that zips into the collar. That's a win right there.

The key to making all that fit is to roll each item up, and put some of the most essential basics in your carry-on so you aren't totally lost if your luggage never makes it. The boots I packed can fold down, and I put my other shoes in the front storage compartment on my suitcase. I like to look nice on vacay, partially because it's one of the only times in life you're ever really focused on taking lots of pictures, and also because I'm old school and I like dressing up for travel. Just once, I want to look like this when I get off the plane or train:

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Well, our bags are packed and we're ready to go! We're Ireland-bound, and we're so excited. But the blog won't be dead while I'm gone; I've lined up several guest posts from some of my most well-traveled friends, all writing about their favorite trips, things they've learned and very best travel tips. If you're curious, btw, our passport covers are from Gent Supply Company and the Gap outlet.

I can't promise I'll be able to post to it during the trip, but you can now follow me on Webstagram!

I thought I'd share a peek at my "Going on a Trip" to-do list, after the break.

Sunday Best v.106

Linda Evangelista applies winged eyeliner, from W Magazine here.

Well, I won't be doing Sunday Best for the two weeks I'm out of the country, so this is an uber Sunday Best with a ton of awesome links I spotted this week. Although I'm going away, I've lined up blog content for almost every day, mostly themed around travel, so I hope you'll come back and visit while I'm gone! On to the links:

• Did you know there was no Pulitzer winner for fiction this year?
• But the Pulitzer winner for feature writing is a must-read.
• Hologram Tupac has a Twitter.
• What love does to our brains.
• Up-and-coming artists.
• Animals and their toy doppelgangers.
• Decor and fashion inspiration from a secret favorite: Mannequin.
• Celebrities read tweets about themselves.
• Since the advent of Pinterest, everyone is having the same wedding.
• The formula to writing a bestseller.
• Celebrity style at Coachella.
• From Sherry at Young House Love, a shocking confession.

I Spy ... Journalist Decor at Target

 I was cruising through Target the other day and double-taked when I spotted this typography-inspired decor line. Unfortunately (or lucky), I just don't need any more pillows or jars, but it took all my willpower to resist these journalist-inspired pieces.

I liked the et cetera jars, $11.99 for the smallest.

 This lead type-inspired set of letters would look sweet on a bookshelf, or (dangit) on a wedding cake for two word lovers. Why oh why wasn't this around when we got hitched?

 They had several type-heavy pillows...I liked the ampersand the best.

Not sure what these would be useful to hold, but I thought the small porcelain trinket boxes were charming.

And last but not least, these baskets reminded me of the "in" and "out" boxes that copy editors used to use to sort proofed and yet-to-be-proofed stories. Charming!

Tex Mex Cheesy Chicken

 I've had this idea for a long time that a Mexican spin on Chicken Parmigiana could be a good idea. I decided to give it a stab Wednesday, minus any breading (as though that makes up for smothering something in cheese).

This can easily be filed under my easy-for-one, easy to keep ingredients on hand list. To start, I used taco seasoning as a rub, first lathering a chicken breast in olive oil, then rubbing in the seasoning. I pre-heated the oven to 450 while I did this.

Once the oven was preheated, I put the chicken breast in to bake for about 30 minutes.

Once I was satisfied the chicken was cooked, I poured taco sauce (salsa would work, too) in place of tomato sauce and covered it in Mexican shredded cheese, in place of parmesan.

I broiled the chicken until the cheese was good and melted, then sprinkled crushed tortilla chips on top for some crunch.

 It was totally tasty, but if I had it to do over again, I might marinate the chicken overnight, in either spices, lime juice and tequila or taco sauce. But it was still tasty; I'm adding this one to the canon of chicken-for-one weeknight meals!