Philly Winter Bucket List

- Sarah Leave a comment

Philly Winter Bucket ListHappy first day of Winter! On one hand, I’m glad our days are going to get a bit longer each day, but I know the snow and cold have just begun. I’m an extrovert, but even I have to force myself out of the house to try new things during the winter months. So this year, I’m crossing off items from my own Philly winter bucket list.

Riverrink

The Blue Cross Riverrink on the Delaware River Waterfront is a winter classic for a reason! I wouldn’t say that I’m a good ice skater, but I do’t have to grip the walls when I skate anymore. I almost always end up going to the ice rink on closing weekend, but this year I’m determined to make it there at least twice. They also have cozy cabins and wintery drinks so it’s nice to unwind after all your skating.

Philadelphia Distillery Trail

Breweries are a big deal in Philadelphia, and a fun place to spend weekend afternoons. It’s time to branch out though by visiting a distillery — if you’re feeling ambitious, you can tackle the whole Philly Distillery Trail. I think I’ll start with visiting Red Brick Distillery; I enjoy their whiskey and it’s in my neighborhood. Perfect way to warm up on a winter afternoon. Wine more your thing? Take a day trip to a local winery for a tasting — here are some wine destinations perfect for a winter day.

Restaurant Week

Center City Restaurant Week is coming (January 14-26, 2018, FYI)! East Passayunk also usually hosts their own restaurant week in the late winter. I haven’t picked out which restaurants, but it’s always fun to try new places and new dishes you wouldn’t usually order. Emily at Her Philly has great tips on how to conquer restaurant week too!

Winter Hike

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you have to be inside 24/7. Fresh air is necessary, though I’d suggest saving a winter hike for a sunnier day. I have plans to bring Arya to the Wissahickon this weekend, but my new hiking boots are begging me for a trip to the Poconos. (Don’t forget to check out my pet-friendly list of Airbnbs near the Pocono Mountains.) Prefer exercising indoors? Winter is a great time to try a new fitness class or sign up for Classpass!

Philly Theatre Week

I admittedly did not know this was a thing until LaNeshe told me about it! Philly Theatre Week makes theatre more accessible to the community by having free and discounted events (tickets are no more than $30!).  Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 16 and the celebration runs February 8 through February 18. You can see the shows available here. (Bonus: lots of options in the suburbs too.)

Let me know what’s on your winter bucket list, whether you’re in Philly or another city!

~ Sarah

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Romp Around

- Sarah Leave a comment

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First things first, I apologize for this blog post title. This is what happens when I write late at night. And yes, while these photos are from late September, this romper would be an appropriate outfit today, in early November, because the high was 74.

Anyway, I am like a million years late to the romper trend and I should probably have my blogger card revoked. I am rarely an early adopter, and I hemmed and hawed before deciding to keep this romper. Turns out that while not always convenient, rompers are pretty comfortable.

Here’s a tip if you too are dealing with an extended “hotumn:” buy summer items in fall colors. The mustard and darker floral print don’t look out of place in early fall and you’ll feel comfortable when it’s still hot out. It’s a simple concept, but it helps me resist the urge to pull out warmer clothes too early. Let’s be honest: eight times out of ten, I’ll dress for function over fashion. I am not the girl who sweats in her ankle boots just because it’s after Labor Day.

I’m looking forward to wearing this romper with ankle boots and a jacket before we skip straight to winter. If you’re still looking for rompers you can wear in the year (or you know, you live in Florida), here are some affordable picks that fit into that fall color scheme too!

~ Sarah
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Romper: Old Navy (still available in limited sizes!)
Sandals: Target
Bag: Ross (similar)
Sunglasses: SelectSpecs (review here)

Things I Need To Tell You About, Vol. 5

- Sarah Leave a comment

On Monday night, I saw my blog/IRL friend Chelsea and she blog shamed me! “You haven’t blogged since mid-September!” And it’s true…I’ve been busy thinking of topics to write about without actually blogging! And now it’s somehow November?? Anyway I’m back, and catching up…

Hotaumn

I don’t know if you noticed, but this past September and October were warm. I love summer, so I didn’t mind too much, but it was weird. Especially once all the fall decorations came out. And of course, the temperatures had to go from shorts to sweaters and leggings within the span of a week. Now it’s at least feeling seasonal, but my body was not ready. So don’t be surprised if my next outfit post features bare legs…because that’s what is going to happen. Regardless of the warmth, I crossed a few things off my fall to-do list. My friend Camille and I made s’mores and enjoyed some cocktails at The Deck. I also went apple picking (in shorts) and made apple crisp and applesauce.

Navy Yard Saturdays!

Almost every October, I spend two Saturdays at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The first tradition is Mutt Strut, part fundraiser/walk/fall festival that benefit the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. I took Arya this year, and she had a blast. We also raised over $250, a record for us! Thank you again to everyone who contributed! The second tradition is an annual cider fest with my college friends. This year was our fourth year! We enjoy the sunshine, sample a lot of delicious (and less delicious) hard ciders, and wrap up the day with some cheesesteaks. It’s close to the perfect fall day.

I got LASIK!

Okay, this is the most exciting/life-changing thing from the past few weeks (sorry, everyone else). I got laser eye surgery! It came together rather quickly, and while I had been hoping to get it done eventually, I wasn’t expecting that to be this year. I plan to write more about the whole experience, but being able to wake up and see without having to reach for glasses is wild. Let me know if you have any questions about it and I’ll do my best to answer them!)

Link Love

I also thought now would be a good time to share what some of my friends are blogging about!

Camille shared her favorite cruelty-free beauty products.

Chelsea wrote about adjusting to a 9-5 after her retail career.

Jess blogged about how she really paid off her credit card debt.

Unrelated to credit card debt…Melissa picked out some fun fall sweaters to add to your closet!

Chrystina wrote about her baking competition party series (attending as a judge was a great idea on my part).

~ Sarah