Hey hey! The last month or so has been so busy- hopefully I will catch up around here sometime soon! But in the meantime, welcome to Florida Vacation Part Two!
Here are a couple more captured moments of our fun beach time from the night of July 9th.
Sweet sandy smiles!
We actually saw a proposal that evening which was sooo sweet & the most perfect night for it!
July 10th Mr. Tripp woke up ready to seize the day!
A RARE sighting of Tripp smiling in a car seat lol.
We had a very chill day at the house and then drove down the road for a dinner out at Ambrosia. Walking into the restaurant Quinn and Ender held hands which was the cutest thing just about ever.
This restaurant was just WOW. The service, the food, everything was spectacular!
We started with their Butcher’s Bacon Rack that came out with a sampler of different bacon flavors. I believe their flavors were hickory applewood, coconut, praline, bourbon and peppercorn!
DJ and I also got the truffled waygu carpaccio and oh myyyyy. The flavor was divine.
We also tried the seasonal salad that was a watermelon salad with pistachio and I think some type of balsamic fig dressing if I remember correctly! I recall they also added a little mint. The flavors together were lovely.
For my main I had scallops which were so good.
Tripp was not having it for much of the dinner so I ended up taking him in and out of the restaurant quite a bit to not disturb the tables around us. The last time I was out walking around the strip mall I ran into a couple that was also on vacation with their 18 month old and 6 week newborn also from Ohio!! I do not know how they did it – 6 WEEKS postpartum!
We successfully got Tripp down in his pack n play that evening, and I was able to go up on the top balcony with Quinn. It was such a comfortable temperature. The wind was lightly blowing, the air slightly salty but refreshing. We watched people on the beach with flashlights looking for turtles while cuddling. I soaked up this moment with her. She ended up falling asleep up there in my arms just like she used to🩷.
Another day, another mug!
July 11th we went to a fun place called WonderWorks. It is a huge indoor amusement park/arcade with multiple floors of rides, activities, games, etc. It was a little loud for Tripp so I did end up taking him back to the car eventually, but Quinn, Ender and Emelyn really seemed to enjoy it!
A little bit of putt putt for the afternoon!
That evening we ordered Amigos 30A. Their flour tortillas were the BEST I have ever had!!!
The kids did some Danny Go in the afternoon & then we enjoyed another beautiful evening on the beach.
July 12th DJ ordered Parlor Donuts for the house. They do sell dairy free donuts, but they were sold out so I didn’t try any- however everyone who had them raved about how delicious they were! They have that croissant/donut combo vibe!
One last swim for the books! We got this float here.
I really can’t stand food going to waste, so I looked up a recipe to use our remaining ingredients on chat GPT. These oatmeal pizza bites were 🔥!
Our last day was pretty chill. We packed and hung out around the house.
Ender found a feather that we put into chat GPT to figure out what bird it belonged to! Kind of a fun use of AI.
I think the consensus was it is a Carolina Wren.
Last time playing out on the beach all together for this trip! 🩷
Time to travel back! We got Tripp headphones for the way back since the plane was so loud.
They did great on the way back too!
That wraps this wonderful vacation!
Mackenzie
P.S. this post may contain Amazon affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you make a purchase 🫶🏻. Please know I’ll only ever share products I truly stand by and use!
It’s vacation time! Florida here we come! We went with DJ’s side of the family to a gorgeous beach between Destin and Panama City. It was one of the most beautiful parts of Florida I have seen! The white sand and comfortable ocean water was incredible.
..Wait I’m getting ahead of myself!
First things first- the plane! I think I have been asked this question by anyone I’ve told about our trip- “How did Tripp do on the plane?”. He did great! He seemed to love the white noise and it put him right to sleep. I personally think the hardest age to travel from my own experience is when they are 1-2.5ish.
Quinn did great too. I’ll do a separate post about all our plane friendly travel activities!
We have landed!
Tripp was not having it on the drive from the airport to the house. We had to stop once to calm him down. I do think he is overall improving in the car though! Quinn didn’t get better in the car until after a year old, but I’m optimistic that won’t be the case with Tripp seeing how much better and distractible he already is. He loves when I sing to him- much more than Quinn ever did. I feel like my singing just annoyed Quinn sometimes 😂.
Anyway, as I mentioned earlier we stayed in a stunning VRBO in 30A (a stretch of highway along the gulf coast between Destin and Panama City Beach).
After dropping our luggage, getting groceries delivered and settling in we took the kids out to the water. Quinn was all about the ocean!
Her joy and giggles running in and out of the ocean were everything!!!
The next morning was one of the cooler mornings, so I ventured out with Tripp on a little walk during his first early nap of the day.
It was a nice slow morning for the kids, they had breakfast in their pjs followed by some mess free coloring before getting ready for some pool and beach time.
DJ watched Tripp for a bit while I played at the beach with Quinn.
After Tripp’s second nap, I got him ready and then it was his turn to go swimming!
We door dashed dinners, but for lunch I tried to prep something nutritious and easy. That day I made us some turkey, sweet potato fries and green beans.
For dinner, we had Ford’s Garage. If I didn’t have my restrictions, I would have had to order what DJ got- the bison bacon burger with sharp cheddar, bacon jam, bourbon bbq sauce, arugula, onion ring, and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun. DJ said it was fantastic!
I had the blackened salmon salad which was delicious too!
A beautiful evening 🌅
July 8th was another nice, easy morning. The VRBO had coffee mugs with different sayings on them- I got a kick out of them.
We ventured out to the beach a little later after a battle to get Quinn to put her suit on. She was adamant she didn’t want to swim so she just played on the beach in her dress 🤷🏼♀️.
Quinn then led a “gymnastics class” before lunch- it was adorable! After Tripp’s nap we took him out to the pool and that finally convinced Quinn to swim too!
That evening was one of my favorite meals of the trip! We had tazikis. I ordered the grilled lamb gyro with a side of veggies and hummus. The gyro was GREAT. Not the best hummus ever, but still good! The falafel was great too.
That evening we had family pictures out on the beach 💕
From Amanda Eubanks Photography
July 9th mug to start the day!
To change things up we went to a trampoline park called Just Jump after breakfast.
It was a great park!
DJ and I took turns with Quinn, and I even snuck into the Photo Booth with Tripp at one point.
They had a claw game machine that had a winner every time. This was so fun! Quinn won two duckies!
That evening we had The Perfect Pig Seagrove. There was a lot of good looking stuff on this menu! All the food was tasty- I had the Greek salad & DJ had the three little pigs burger with pulled pork, crispy bacon, smoked ham and potato wedges.
After, everyone headed out to the beach to enjoy the lovely evening. The guys tossed around the football and the kids ran in and out of the ocean.
Hi all- first I just want to say thank you for such kind and loving words regarding my last post ❤️.
I hope everyone is doing well. I have been so eager to write this post. Our to-do list is dwindling, nursery is ready, air ducts have been cleaned, the house is deep cleaned and carpet cleaning is done. I had my last shift at work which was very bittersweet. We’re ready and eager to meet this little guy!! Ok let’s jump in!
January 12th DJ and I went to L’Albatros in Cleveland for my birthday while Quinn spent the evening with Gigi and Grandpa. This restaurant was DJ’s suggestion! He has been on a streak of finding the best gems lately.
This elegant and quaint French restaurant is tucked away in a corner of Case Western University’s campus. The building itself is actually an old carriage house.
One unique offering they have is the “assiette de fromages”, an assortment of cheeses. I stayed away because I wanted to be safe while pregnant, but we will be back to try as many as possible! DJ tried three different kinds and finally admitted how good they were when I pried it out of him (he didn’t want to brag since I was abstaining hah!). Also the fig jam and other accompaniments they serve it with were excellent. It transported me back to our cheese tasting in Austin at Antonelli’s!
Another appetizer we tried was the French toast. I expected it to be more like a crisp toasted bread, but it was actually French toast! It was savory with ragout of wild mushrooms and a balsamic glaze. The flavors went together beautifully!
Now, the main meal I ordered was one of my favorite meals of late. When they set it in front of me I figured I’d barely make a dent seeing the size. But I just about polished it off. So what was this dish?! Let me present you the duck confit with crispy duck leg, sweet potato puree and braised cabbage. This is a dish I will not forget!
DJ ordered the hanger steak and fries with bearnaise sauce.
While waiting for our food and enjoying the romantic moodiness of the restaurant, DJ asked if we had ever been to a French restaurant before. I remembered we had been to one in San Francisco. I couldn’t remember the name, so to the blog I went! I found the post where we visited Cafe Claude. It made us laugh that DJ ordered the same thing at L’Albatros he had ordered there!
After our fantastic meal we were so full but still had room in our dessert stomach. We stopped by the Handel’s near our house for some ice cream.
It was such a wonderful evening!
January 13th was my official birthday. 31 years! I am no longer 30, I am in my 30s. It was a really great, low key day. I soaked up a day with Quinnie, and everyone made me feel so loved 🥹. We ordered pizza from Decheco’s Pizzeria & it was fantastic! Maybe our new favorite pizza spot! The charred hot honey pizza and pineapple were where it’s at. And I was absolutely spoiled with the best birthday treats from friends and family!
January 14th we whipped out some toy bins in the basement for a change of pace.
Random- I have been craving carbonation a lot lately- but don’t really want to drink soda. I found this Sparkling Rainwater (yes actual Rainwater), and it gave me my fix!
Oh and I have got to RAVE about this birthday gift of Caraway food storage containers!!! I am OBSESSED!
January 15th we had a quick errand to run at the mall and naturally we stopped by the play place for a bit. I was hungry before we left around three and knew Quinn could use a snack too.
We stopped at a sushi place and ordered veggie rolls. They were delicious, but don’t let this picture fool you- this girlie spit her first bite all over the table.
We had to stop in the photo booth, as we do. I’m not sure if it’s sophomoric of me to love these things, but I treasure my little collection of photo strips with my Quinnie girl. I let Quinn choose the themes and this is what we landed on 😄.
A bump pic! I don’t remember exactly how far along I was. 32 weeks if my math is right?
That evening I started my postpartum meal prep! Coming up in the following posts will be a lot of large, nutrient packed meals made in the crockpot. First, I made a beef enchilada casserole. So good!
Moose being able to play at Marie and Jorge’s this winter has been such a great thing. It still gets him some exercise when we can’t walk him and he loves the socialization with other dogs. Don’t know what we would do without them!!
Had to share this adorable picture of Moose snuggling with one of Quinn’s stuffed animals 🥹.
January 18th I started the day with a Nervous Dog au lait with oatmeal, yogurt and peanut butter, my go to lately.
That afternoon I packed up for our baby moon and Clair, Lainey (Clair’s sister) and Layla (Clair’s daughter) arrived that afternoon to have a girls’ weekend with Quinnie!
Quinn had zero issue saying goodbye to us and was so happy to be with them.
DJ and I headed to Cleveland, where we did a little babymoon staycation. First up- Cordelia! Halston and Kevin got us a giftcard here for Christmas and we were so eager to use it. We have heard nothing but rave reviews about this place.
It’s located on the classic East 4th street in downtown. This street is happening!! It’s been a while since I’ve been here, and it was fun to see the new stores and restaurants illuminating the alleyway.
Decisions decisions!!! It was so hard for me to decide. The pregnancy restrictions actually helped a lot in the case , otherwise I really wouldn’t have been able to make up my mind!
We started with a trio of party snacks. We opted for carrot muhamarra with hazelnut dukkah, thaxton’s garlic with honey and sumac, and pimento cheese with smoked chili. Goodness it was all fantastic. I think DJ’s favorite of the three was the pimiento cheese and mine was the carrot muhamarra. I have no idea what half these words mean but I know they translate into insane deliciousness.
We enjoyed our appetizer while taking in the cozy, bustling establishment. It has a great vibe. It’s refined, yet inviting. Warm and cozy, while casually elegant. We loved it!
Next up, we tried the “bone in Brussels” with Harissa, salted almond charoset, genmai and mint. The “bone” is the stalk of the Brussels. This was very yummy!
Now the star of the show- the “burger box” with smoked cheddar, pickle, onion and Cordelia’s sauce. This was tremendous. One of my favorite burgers ever! (Although I still think often about the one from Heck’s!).
First baby moon meal was a major success! Thank you, Hal and Kevin!
Quinn was busy making pizzas and we were so far out of her mind haha.
We went back to the hotel after- we stayed at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, which has become our go-to place when needing or recommending a hotel in Cleveland. Last time I was here was for my 30th birthday!
We had a great view of the Browns stadium!
Given how cold it was, all that sounded good to us was Door dashing dessert and watching a movie. DJ humored me with watching Wicked, which I’d been dying to see.
We had seen it on Broadway together, so it was fun to watch the movie together too. We loaded up on some serious desserts- an outrageously good cookie and Afters ice cream. We were in dessert heaven!!!
Yes, we are watching on Quinn’s iPad 🤣.
Unfortunately I realized I had forgotten my thyroid meds again. I figured one missed dose would probably be ok, but DJ insisted on going back to get them for me. He knew I would be likely secretly spiraling over it. So he drove about 40 mins back home, got the meds and returned, acting like it was no big deal. He is just the best. I did feel bad it cut into our time together, but we were able to finish the movie the next evening when Quinn fell asleep.
The next morning I snuck in an early morning workout. I always have the best workouts when traveling, I’m not sure why! Throughout my pregnancy, I have tried to get in about 3-4 miles a day in some type of walk/run combo. The walking has mostly taken over at this point, but just feels good to move!
I received an adorable pic of these two cuties first thing in the morning!
And Mr. Moose had a play date at Marie and Jorge’s that day. They sent this picture of a spiffy Mr. Moose!
I had a hankerin’ for coffee shop coffee, so we stopped by Rising Star Coffee Roasters on our way to brunch (we knew there’d be a wait, so this would help tide us over!).
This coffee was SO good!
Brunch time! We went to Juneberry Table, one of the most highly rated brunch spots in Cleveland.
I was absolutely famished by the time we got seated (I think we had a 40 min wait), and I was ready to chow down. We hung out in the car and chatted during the wait which was still so enjoyable.
We started with the Cheddar and Chive biscuit with sorghum butter and jam. This may have been my favorite thing here!!!
Then I also tried their parfait because it sounded refreshing, and it was!
I also got the Ohio Spelt Pancakes with sorghum butter, Ohio apples and cinnamon and syrup. There are not words!!!!
DJ ordered the Gravy and biscuit with local mushroom gravy, spinach, soft scrambled eggs and sausage crumbles. This was super delicious too.
It was definitely worth the wait and the hype!
We had considered going to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before heading home, but the roads were starting to get hairy. We headed home instead eager to see our girl.
She was not ready to be done playing with them when she saw us 😂. She clearly had an amazing time. They also made this sweet Valentine craft with her for us 🥹.
That was a very special weekend we will treasure!
Part 3 January coming atchya next, that is – unless it’s a birth announcement haha. I’m 37 weeks!
Hello hello! Welcome to part two of our South Carolina September travels!
We arrived to Halston and Kevin’s in Tega Cay around 6 pm. They had this fun water coloring mat set up for Quinn, and she got right to it!
This was our first time visiting their home! They have a boat docked right in their backyard.
That evening we went to Kid Cashew in Charlotte which was a great meal! It reminded me of the type of restaurants we would frequent in Austin.
It’s Mediterranean fare, and everything we tried was mouthwateringly good.
Plus the place is a whole vibe.
They have an excellent mocktail menu, so I started with the paradise margarita with club soda, house sour, desert pear nectar and fresh orange. Very yummy and refreshing!
For an app, we shared a trio of the spreads: hummus, tzatziki and spicy feta. So good, but that feta in particular was next level!!!
I remember Quinn could not get enough of the pita too.
This below is their spinach and feta dip which is something dreams are made of!
We also tried their brussels sprouts caramelized with lemon vinaigrette and toasted almonds.
For my main, I had the beets and arugula salad topped with lamb! I could have used more beets on the salad, but it was tasty nonetheless.
Highly recommend that place! There is so much deliciousness on their menu. Other favorites of Halston and Kevin’s include the quinoa stuffed avocado and the wood-fire grilled octopus.
When we got home, Quinn helped give Captain his little treat bowl.
DJ arrived that evening! Quinn was overjoyed to see him when he walked through the door (and of course, so was I!). Her reaction was so sweet.
The next morning, September 7th, we woke bright and early to go to the Fort Mill’s Farmer’s Market! First things first, coffee. We stopped at Knowledge Perk on our way. This is a fun little shop & Halston and I agree they have the *best* pumpkin spice latte. I don’t even generally like pumpkin spice lattes, but I tried a sip of hers, and it was incredible.
This pregnancy I really couldn’t stand the smell or look of coffee in the first trimester. That day I attempted a half-caff au lait, and a few sips in I had to toss it. It’s wild how much pregnancy changes core tenants of who you are 😂. No other time would you find me throwing away a coffee. It was just a bit sour on my stomach!
It was a beautiful morning and perfect for a farmers market. We were hoping to snag some cinnamon rolls from Little Brittle, but unfortunately they weren’t there that day. We did find some other tasty options to give us a fix though!
Quinn had a ball running around the open green area! The coordinator also let Quinn pick out a toy from the treasure chest at the information desk. She picked out a little pink duckie that she hardly let out of her sight the rest of the trip!
Can you tell we’re related by our outfit choices? Hah!
Next, we were heading to the whitewater center in Charlotte! (Obviously I was not going rafting, but Halston and Kevin wanted to show us this unique Charlotte offering!).
We realized we might need some snacks on the way, so we stopped at The Peach Stand for some food to tide us over until lunch. Lo and behold we spotted brittle from Little Brittle! Of course we snagged some, and it truly is the best brittle. The salted caramel cashew is everything.
Ok, this whitewater center is epic. The whitewater rafting is done on the world’s largest manmade whitewater river!
There are endless activities like ropes courses, zip lines, rock climbing then falling into the water (this one looked so fun to me!), mountain biking and trail running. That’s not everything, but some of the main activities that I remember!
Being silly with Uncle Kevin and Aunt Hally
After being there for a bit we were ready for a proper meal rather than just snacks. We stopped into River’s Edge and loaded up before eating in the pavilion!
Everything was tremendous! Does Charlotte have even a subpar bite of food anywhere? The pork belly was the standout for me! Also the falafel burger hit the spot that day.
Quinn grabbed my phone and without prompting started taking pictures of our food hmmm wonder where she learned that? 😄
We walked around the trail after. It was starting to get blazing hot, so we didn’t last terribly long.
That afternoon, we went out on the boat!! woohoo!
Quinn’s first time on a boat!
My mom grew up on the water in Traverse City and definitely passed the boating bug to Halston. I never learned but love going along for the ride!
Quinn was not so sure about Aunt Hally’s driving though.
She said I’ll take over from here! (Boat was parked, please don’t worry ;)).
This girl was truly living her best life! Grapes, Bob Marley and boating!
We were docked at the cutest little beach area for a while. We had some toys and floats for Quinn to play with and mainly just enjoyed lounging around and chatting- the true definition of R & R. We enjoyed some cheese, crackers and fruit while basking in the beautiful afternoon.
When we got back, Hal and Kevin put together a burger, hot dogs and brats meal with corn and asparagus! Hit the spot!!
On September 8th we walked to a nearby park in Tega Cay for Captain and Quinn to run around.
Before our flight that afternoon, we went to one of Halston and Kevin’s favorite Peruvian restaurants- Yunta.
You guysssss. This place! First off, they had a delicious bowl of corn nuts (cancha) on the table ready to go.
I didn’t realize they were spicy and Quinn took a handful immediately when we sat down. The poor thing was not ok! The waiter immediately brought her out a whole fruit bowl (in the picture it’s mostly gone) and milk. It was so thoughtful & they really wanted to make sure she was comfortable. I also learned my lesson to always taste-test first!
Kevin told us about Inca Cola, it’s a popular Peruvian drink that tastes similar to cream soda or bubblegum. I didn’t have any myself but fun to learn about!
I also ordered the tostones thinking Quinn would enjoy this fried yucca. She nibbled, but there was plenty for the rest of us to try- and they were great!!! Especially with that sweet chili.
The rest of the table had ceviche with the catch of the day, shrimp, octopus, squid, Peruvian corn, glazed sweet potato and red onion.
We also shared the vegetable maki with glazed sweet potato, portobello mushroom, kyuri cucumber, avocado, quinoa and vegan mayo.
The show stopper of the meal may have been this Arroz con Mariscos ( Peruvian seafood risotto). Holy moly. I’d fly to Charlotte just for this and fly back.
Oh and we tried the Arroz Chaufa with jasmine rice, smoked pork, chicken, eggs and vegetables. This was another winner!!
Lastly, we tried the lomo Saltado with filet mignon, potatoes, red onion & cilantro served with jasmine rice. This meat was so flavorful, and I think this was Quinn’s favorite. I know I sound like a broken record but everything here was outstanding!!!
We killed some time before our flight by going to Lowe’s to see “the monsters” (the Halloween decorations that Quinn gleefully enjoyed during that season!). Then we said our goodbyes and headed to Charlotte airport. It was a wonderful trip, and we can’t wait to go back!
This post and the next are long overdue, but I’m eager to share them! I wanted to get all things fall/holiday out first, so now since that’s a wrap, let’s zoom back to the balmy month of September to escape from this wintry cold- shall we?!
September 1st my mom arrived in OH! She was actually attending a woman’s retreat with her virtual Bible study, but she stayed with us that evening. She came right in time to read stories to Quinn for bedtime 🥰.
The next day, September 2nd, I remember deep cleaning the kitchen and making this amazing feta pasta from Green Chef. This is one of my favorite meals from there hands down!!
That evening, my mom watched Quinnie while DJ and I had a date night out! We decided to go to one of our favorites in downtown Cuyahoga Falls, Leo’s Italian Social.
The warm, fluffy bread dipped in the balsamic infused olive oil with Parmesan knows the way to my heart 🫶🏻.
We ordered their zucchini fritte with lemon aioli. That lemon aioli was superb!
DJ ordered their carbonara, and I was up for a salad for pretty much the first time this pregnancy.
I opted for the salmon salad & it was exactly what I was craving.
Now for the absolute star of the show… we were going to order the Tiramisu, but they were out (we us just don’t have the best track record with tiramisu at restaurants, ha!). The waitress recommended the gooey butter cake instead, and I am so glad she did! It was one of my favorite desserts ever.
After dinner, we strolled along the main drag before heading home.
The next day, September 3rd, my mom, Quinn and I were set to fly to South Carolina to see their new home for the first time! On the way there I had aminor (read: major) panic moment when I realized I forgot my compounded thyroid medication in the fridge at home. There wasn’t enough time to drive home so I called DJ who saved the day by driving back from work, getting the meds and meeting us at the airport. I know it was a huge ask but he acted like it was no big deal- he’s just the best ❤️.
At the airport, Quinn happily scribbled away with her Bluey aqua art while we waited for my mom to park the car.
And then we did some Winnie the Pooh on the plane. I was in thick of brainwashing her to fall in love with Winnie the Pooh since that was going to be our Halloween costume ;).
Pete met us at the airport! Quinn was so excited to see Grampy she ran right up to hug him. We flew into Charlotte that time, and had a 3 hour drive from the airport to the house. We stopped for Subway on the way. I was still dealing with “morning” sickness and remember feeling quite queasy a lot of that drive.
When we arrived at their house around 6:30 pm, Quinn immediately took the tricycle out for a spin. My mom and Pete hadn’t moved much stuff in yet, so some of my mom’s friends dropped off a bunch of toys, a stroller and a tricycle for Quinn to use for the weekend- so sweet!!
We went for a beautiful walk on the lake right around golden hour.
We ordered from one of the restaurants in the community for dinner- I don’t remember what I had but I do know the food was really good there!
Quinn happily played with the farm set while we waited for the food to arrive.
The morning of September 4th we had breakfast on the deck and then went for a walk. We of course had to send a picture of Quinn hugging the frog with the Clemson shirt to her Aunt who goes there!
The air was so fresh and their community is the definition of peaceful.
After lunch, I was able to get a run in while my mom played with Quinn. They have a great path for running, and up to that point in my pregnancy I really didn’t run at all. It was so nice to be getting back into it!
Sweet little setup for Quinnie!
Quinn also helped Grampy assemble a bed frame! She loves helping him with all his projects.
Later in the afternoon, we took Quinn out to the beach/lake area. This water was so invitingly warm, like bath water. There were some very friendly ducks that Quinn was getting a kick out of watching!
She had a ball running in and out of the water! She raced back and forth more times than we could count.
Sweet photo of her and Grammy 💞.
We played at the park a bit after too.
When we got back, we got ready to go to dinner and then went to the Bistro, which overlooks a golf course.
The whole dinner felt like vacation- the music, the ambiance, the weather. So cool they get to live here!
We ordered some awesome food- I had the Thai green curry and I also had to feature my mom’s fried cod which was sooo good.
September 5th we started the day walking along the lake while Quinn practiced her tricycling on the path. My mom also found a stick for her and called it a walking stick. For a while after this trip Quinn would be on the hunt for a walking stick whenever we went on a walk.
That afternoon we ventured to the pool!
We had some delicious burgers and zucchini that evening.
September 6th I went for a short jog on the water and then joined Quinn and my mom at the park.
That afternoon we left for Tega Cay to visit Halston and Kevin (Where DJ would also join us! We missed him lots that first half of the trip).
Y’all ready to take a trip to CA?! We went with DJ’s side of the family on a trip to the Palm Desert, CA area in July. I say “area” because I was never totally sure where we were- I definitely used Palm Desert, Palm Springs, La Quinta and Indio all interchangeably, hah!
Landed! We all stayed in a beautiful home together that had a lazy river pool and game room. It was a fun find!
Alllll the luggage!
The kitchen!
Here’s the outdoor entertainment area! We admittedly didn’t use a lot of this area since it reached nearly 115F, and I think up to 120, some of the days!
Quinn’s first time playing air hockey with Poppy and Sissy!
We spent the rest of the day/evening settling in, getting unpacked, ordering groceries and then ate dinner takeout from Lazy Dog. I missed this restaurant! It was one of our go-tos when we lived in Cupertino.
The next day after breakfast and an easy morning, we went to Inside Out 2 to escape the peak heat of the day. This was our second time attempting the movies with Quinn and we actually made it through the whole thing. Also it was a great movie, but it hits different as a parent- bring the tissues!
After her nap, this girl crushed some watermelon.
For dinners, we had a chef who prepared a different theme every night. The first night was Mexican night & it was possibly my favorite, but they were all close contenders!
Here are some views of the lazy river at night.
If you look closely, you can see a little putting green.
The next day, we had family photos in the morning! These will be treasured.
See this dog in Quinn’s hand below? She fell in love with it when we got there (it’s one of the museum’s collections of animals for the kids to play with). It broke my heart when she had to say goodbye to it at the end and she cried some serious tears. I ended up finding the exact same dog online though and ordered it so we could surprise her when we got home!!
Quinn and I both took a nap that afternoon.
Dinner is ready!
I believe this evening was a yummy steak night with a potato and wedge salad bar!
When we got up on Wednesday, Amy’s boyfriend worked hard to make us all a breakfast of biscuits, gravy and eggs. My mouth is watering as I write this. Biscuits and gravy is easily one of my favorite breakfast eats, and these were so good.
All fueled up we headed out to see Palm Desert from the Aerial Tramway!
It was a neat ride up with 360 degree views of the mountains below. Quinn was not having it though. This was our fussiest day with her- I think the time change, activity and being off a normal sleep schedule caught up a bit.
Here’s a photo of the three of us, just missing half of Quinn’s face, hah!
Group photo!
The weather was much cooler on top of the mountain and a nice break from the heat.
The kids loved playing in this creek. Ender even found some Fool’s Gold!
Hiker girl!
We all selected an ornament before leaving. DJ and I try to get an ornament from every place we visit.
This place was great!!! Each “house” had a different theme and tons of toys that matched the theme. I wish we had something like this near here!
That evening was Asian night! I slacked on pictures, but it was delicious.
Friday we went to Zebra World which was an epic play place for kids. On our way we saw a dust devil which was really cool! Anyway, Zebra World had huge trampolines and foam pits, the biggest play gym you’ve ever seen and so much more. I was blown away by the options for kids in the area. It makes sense how kids probably can’t be outside a good portion of the summer.
That evening was Mediterranean night!
The next day DJ and I went to a nearby EOS fitness facility that has childcare to get in a workout. It felt wonderful!!
We also took advantage of the pool again too.
In the afternoon we walked around the mall and Barnes and Noble. We found this Doodle Dog that Quinn was obsessed with then and still is now. It’s a great travel companion! (I linked the one from Michael’s since I couldn’t find it on B & N).
When we got back Quinn did a quick round of putt-putt !
That evening we had a delicious dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.
And that’s a wrap!
It was a wonderful trip full of rest, great quality family time and yummy food!!
Welcome to Part 2 of our Pittsburgh trip! But quickly, back in Ohio on May 26th my sister, Halston, arrived with Captain!
Quinn is obsessed with Captain. The pictures and vids of the two of them we received were so sweet. Moose loved playing with Captain too!
Sweet cuddles with Aunt Hally 🥰.
Meanwhile, back in Pittsburgh DJ and I headed over to the Museum of Illusions. It was cool!
I’m not actually sitting in a chair here, but when taking a picture it creates the illusion that I am.
Then we walked to the Mr. Roger’s memorial statue. This city has so many gems!
Next we walked back toward the hotel and passed by PNC Park. We actually had been to one game here back in 2014! It was a great stadium.
We stopped into Red Beard’s for a light lunch of wings, salad and crispy Diet Coke, then headed back to the hotel to rest our feet before dinner.
Dinner ready!
The only meal I had planned for this trip was Eleven. I had read it is a must try in Pittsburgh on several lists.
The fine dining destination had sky high ceilings and a larger wine display than I’ve ever seen.
We had some Pinot Grigio with a delicious spread of breads and sea-salted butter. (Sea-salted butter gets my ultimate stamp of approval).
Then we shared a couple tastings of cheese savoring every little bite. I wish I remembered which exactly we tried, because they were phenomenal selections. I’m sure you can’t go wrong.
We also had the morel mushrooms that were too good for words. I particularly wanted to try these because my mom used to hunt for morels with my Grandpa, and she always raved about how delicious they were. I definitely understand the hype!
I had their delicious seafood tasting & DJ enjoyed a steak.
For dessert, we had the best crème brûlée I’ve ever tasted. I believe it was toasted marshmallow flavored.
And they brought out complimentary chocolates.
This place was so worth it, and I’m really glad we went!! The service was excellent too. Highly recommend!
It was pouring rain when we finished our meal, so we had to Uber back to the hotel. We changed into more comfortable clothes for the evening and it was only sprinkling by the time we were ready to leave again. Dodging the rain a bit, we finally made it to Puttshack for some elevated mini golfing!!
This place is so cool. Each hole has a different theme and is interactive. For instance, there’s a trivia hole where the screen asks a question, and you aim for a different hole depending what your answer is. Then you get more points if it was correct.
It keeps track of your strokes automatically and you just focus on having fun! And winning. Which I did. Not to brag. But I never beat DJ at stuff like this, so I might brag a little 😄.
After, we had a drink at the bar and talked the night away. We practically shut down the place!
We walked back to the hotel and passed by the Heinz museum, another Pittsburgh classic.
We enjoyed a great night sleep looking forward to what tomorrow would bring!
May 27th I got another awesome workout in then we packed our bags, loaded the car and headed out for breakfast.
We were in the mood for pastries after the almond croissant the day prior, so we went to La Gourmandine Bakery.
Wow wow wow, I don’t think you can go wrong here with any of the pastries! The coffee was great too. We tried another almond croissant, the panier framboise and a mini puff pastry,
I also had a slice of their quiche. It came out cold and was so-so, but the pastries were top notch.
Time to head home. Bye Pittsburgh 👋. We stopped by McConnells Mill State Park on the way home. This place was bustling with the smells and sounds of family cookouts, children playing and nature.
We went down to the actual mill, and it was absolutely fascinating. This stuff never ceases to amaze me. I find the way people were so resourceful in days before technology and modern conveniences so interesting and inspiring.
We walked one of the paths too, they had some great hiking trails!
And that wraps our Pittsburgh trip! Thanks for following along ☺️.
Hello hello! I have been so eager to share all about our Pittsburgh trip. My mom suggested after our Miami trip went a bit awry that she and Pete watch Quinn while DJ and I have a weekend away. This was our first trip away, just DJ and I, since Quinn was born. While we missed her, it was wonderful time for us, and I definitely think we need to prioritize doing something like this once a year! It was DJ’s idea to do Pittsburgh, and I’m so glad he chose it. It was so much fun, and I really enjoyed the city!!
My mom and Pete arrived May 25th to take over for the next few days! Quinn has a little kitchen/ice cream stand in the garage, and when they arrived she gave my mom and Pete these cones below respectively.
The difference in the amount of ice cream Grampy got….. vs Grammy only received a chocolate cone with no ice cream and strawberry topping lol. We all were cracking up.
We took off on our roughly two hour trip to Pittsburgh knowing she probably wouldn’t miss us much with Grammy and Grampy holding down the fort.
We checked into the Fairmont in Pittsburgh and took in the awesome view of the city. This hotel had the perfect location- we were able to walk everywhere and only Ubered once when it was raining.

They were all doing just fine without us!
We spotted a rare Tesla Cybertruck parked on the street. I know nothing about cars, but DJ said it was a cool sighting, so thought I would share!
We had so much going on prior to this trip that I planned absolutely zilch except one dinner for while we were there. Usually I have our itinerary planned out, at least for meals, but it was fun to dive into this trip more spontaneously. We decided to walk around and find a spot for appetizers. We first walked to the Strip District and found City Winery, the perfect spot to tide us over.
We ordered some Sauvignon blanc, truffle fries and duck tacos. The fries were terrific, but the duck tacos were so overly salted (and I usually go overboard on the salt!). I’m pretty sure it was an accident because it was crazy salty, so we didn’t eat much of those but we destroyed the fries.
We walked around Strip District while deliberating where to go for our main meal.
The wait was a bit crazy, but for good reason- this place is a famous little Italian joint in town.
By the time we got our food it was dark out, but we relished the fact that we were eating a patio dinner at 9 pm and out on the town!
Below is their fresh bread with oil and parmigiano reggiano. This is not your average house bread. It was delicious!!
I enjoyed a Caesar salad and had some of DJ’s Cacio e Pepe.
The cacio was good, but we agreed that Emmer & Rye’s in Austin has yet to be beat!
What I remember the most about that dinner is how much we laughed. It was so nice and the trip was off to the best start.
We had these grand plans of going out somewhere for dessert and a nightcap, but the thought of sleep won, and we turned in after dinner.
May 26th when we woke up it was quite foggy but a comfortable temperature.
I went to the workout room and got in a great workout while watching Southern Charm. That’s my in-between-shows-show.
After getting ready, we headed to Sally Ann’s for breakfast.
Such a fun little spot that was designed for a millennial like myself who is a sucker for neon signs and quirky, colorful decor.
We ordered an almond croissant to split and we both agreed it was our favorite part of the meal!!!
This cappuccino was so good I was still talking about it the next day.
DJ got a Benedict, and I had their avocado toast. Definitely good, but that croissant was the star.
Miss Quinn was having a blast back at home.
We set off to explore the city. First we walked to the Point State Park Fountain.
Then we hiked across one of the “Three Sisters” (one of the yellow bridges) to make our way to the Duquesne incline!
I had no idea how to say “Duquesne” – I pronounced it like Du-kez-knee, lol. Thank goodness DJ knew how to say it correctly before I walked all over the city saying it like a total tourist 🤪.
The incline was a cool way to see the city from a different view and there was a lot of history in the station too.
They had a Memorial Day ceremony at the top of the incline when we arrived that was really beautifully done.
There are a few restaurants at the top we would have definitely checked out if we weren’t full from brunch. Other than that it seems to be mostly businesses and such.
After taking in the views we headed back down the incline.
Hey my friends! Welcome to Part 2. Waking up on April 9th, DJ started not feeling well. His stomach was off following dinner the night prior, but him and Pete ate the same thing and Pete was fine, so it was a little odd. We figured maybe something wasn’t settling right for some reason or he caught some bug. The poor guy was in bed the whole day.
We tried to still make the most of it, even though we missed him. My mom and Pete chilled with Quinn while I got a workout in, then we headed to the pool.
I tried to swim with Quinn in the pool, but she was not feeling it. She was very clingy to me and didn’t want to leave my side. It was clear she still wasn’t totally feeling back to herself. Even though I love all the cuddles, these were definitely sick cuddles :(.
We just lounged and kept it super chill all day, especially with Quinn and DJ not feeling 100%.
We ordered in pizzas for the evening and dashed some soup for DJ.
DJ thought maybe he was feeling a bit better in the evening, so we sat outside to get him some fresh air.
As we were walking back to the room something about the way he was walking didn’t sit right with me. I did a couple physical exam maneuvers, and I didn’t feel confident that he didn’t have appendicitis. The thought had crossed his mind too. His pain was also shifting from the umbilical region to the right lower area- alarm bells. Even though he may have thought he was improving we couldn’t play around with appendicitis, so my mom and Pete watched Quinn while we went to the ED.
Sure enough, he had appendicitis. His surgery wouldn’t be until the next day. I felt so incredibly torn in two places at once because Quinn was not feeling well and obviously DJ was in the hospital. I stayed with him as late as made sense then we both agreed it’d be best for me to go back to her and help her get a good night’s sleep then return in the morning.
My mom took over while Quinn was still sleeping the morning of April 10th. I was a little uneasy because Quinn felt feverish overnight. I jetted back to the hospital before the sun came up. I grabbed a croissant from the lobby coffee shop to take on my way.
I cannot say enough good things about HCA Florida Mercy Hospital. It was a massive blessing that the nearest ED and surgery center happened to be absolutely stellar. I have completed rotations and worked in quite a few hospitals, and this was easily one of the best hospitals I have ever seen in action. All the medical staff was phenomenal. The systems, the flow, the speed, the cleanliness – it was something all hospitals should aspire to. This was the view out of DJ’s window.
As we were waiting for surgery I texted my mom that I was concerned Quinn had developed an ear infection from whatever she’d been fighting off prior. My mom said she had the same feeling 😔.
Side note, it was a bit odd being on the other side of things when DJ was getting ready for surgery. I work in presurgery, so I’m usually prepping patients. Anyway, as soon as he was checked in, I drove back to Key Biscayne and went with my mom and Quinn to the nearest minute clinic. There were no openings on the schedule until after 330 pm that day, but we decided to camp out and hope for a no-show. We bought craft supplies, a new baby doll and some snacks to try to keep Quinn occupied. She did great, I was so proud of her, she’d been such a trooper the last few days.
Finally there was a no-show and the NP snuck us in to check Quinn out. Sure enough, she had a double ear infection. I was grateful to the NP for getting us in, but she also lectured me on Quinn’s pacifier use. Keep in mind, she wasn’t even two yet at this time (right after she turned two we did totally stop). I told her “We have started weaning… but my husband is having an emergency surgery today and she’s sick, so we’re kind of in survival mode right now”. She didn’t have much to say to that 😬.
Once we got her started on meds and it was nap time, I went back to the hospital to be there when DJ got back to the room. I ordered a poke bowl and was eating it when they wheeled him back in. Even though I’d received a call from the surgeon who said all went smoothly (Praise God), it was a relief seeing him in person.
I spent a couple hours with DJ while Quinn enjoyed some fresh air, milk, and time with Grammy, Grampy and her new baby doll.
Once I knew DJ was doing ok and settled for the evening, I returned back to the resort (I drove over that bridge from Key Biscayne to Miami and back more than I could count!!). It was tough leaving DJ in the hospital for a second night in a row, but he agreed it was best I be with Quinn and encouraged me to make the most of our time left.
When I got back I cuddled up with my girl on the couch, sipped a glass of wine and watched either Elf or Bluey. No idea what we did for dinner that evening, probably leftover pizza.
The staff of the resort heard about Quinn not feeling well (my mom chatted with one of the housekeepers) and they sent her the sweetest note and goodie bag with swim floats, a coloring book, and a couple other toys 🥺.
My mom and I decided to take a little evening walk with Quinn in the carrier. It was a gorgeous evening.
Quinn seemed to already be bouncing back and wanted out of the carrier so she could dance to some tunes that were playing by the pool. The water looked so inviting- I love to swim, and I hadn’t gotten much of that in yet this trip. I jumped in and swam a few laps before we turned in for the night. It felt glorious!
April 11th was the day we had to leave, but by golly, we were going to make the most of it.
Quinn was totally back to herself for the first time the whole trip! I got her fed and ready, then Grammy and Grampy took over while I headed back to then hospital to pick up DJ.
She had a blast at the pool! This is the girl I know!
“Catch me if you can, Grampy!”
They took her to the beach too!
We spent the last bit of time we could by the pool, including DJ with his hospital bands on and all lol.
I got some time to swim with Quinn which brought me so much joy. Other than that we just soaked up our last couple hours with my mom and Pete. What would we have done without them this trip?!
After hearing everything that happened and with DJ fresh off surgery, my in-laws arranged us an easier flight back which was so generous and helpful. On the plane, sweet girl had an awful ascent – I have never felt so helpless. Her ears had to be killing her. I got more meds on board to try to help her out and thankfully she conked out the whole rest of the flight and was fine on the descent.
And that wraps part 2 of our Key Biscayne/Miami adventure! We are just so grateful everyone was safe and healthy by the end. We still had some lovely memories despite the turn of events. I still have a little itinerary of restaurants and places we wanted to try, so we may just have to go back some day!
Hey all! Part one of Miami/Key Biscayne- here 👏 we 👏 go.
Zoomin’ back to April 6th. The trip started out on a good note! The plane trip went well after a very early morning. Waiting for a rental took ages, but besides that it was a perfectly uneventful trip there.
Moose was happily lounging at Aunt Marie’s and Uncle Jorge’s with his friends.🐾
When we finally got on the road to head to the resort in Key Biscayne it was around 11 AM.
We were very ready for food, so as soon as we got there we went to a restaurant on site for brunch, Lightkeepers.
We sat back and enjoyed the salty air, the breeze, the ease of other vacationers and a little lizard that scurried between tables. The exhaustion of travel dissipated as we got a little pep in our step and salivated over brunch options in front of us.
I got a crab Benedict, and it was exactly what I was craving!
After brunch we walked around to explore the grounds until our room was ready. We loved this resort. It is entirely family friendly & we would go back in a heartbeat!
Also there’s a champagne vending machine in the lobby 🥂.
We soaked up the view from our balcony as soon as our suitcases were plopped in the room.
We then put in an Instacart order to have easy snacks and on-the-go pouches for Quinn (and just snacks us), milk, wine, ice cream, etc. Quinn and DJ crashed, and I took the opportunity to go to the gym.
This gym was awesome! It had every machine you could imagine, multiple of them, and a separate open space room (pictured here) for core training, etc. I think they host classes in here too.
Exercise really helped me cope through those weeks following my miscarriages. I made sure not to rely on it too much as I have in the past, but it definitely helped me. I think it was mainly because during my runs I listened to two songs on repeat that gave me so much hope: Pull Me Through by KXC, Damilola, Rich & Lydia Dicas and Hope on the Horizon also by KXC, Rich & Lydia Dicas. (I listen to these via Spotify).
Back to the room I go! Quinn didn’t seem to be quite 100% when she woke up from her nap. We hoped she would bounce back quickly, and thought maybe she was just a bit overtired. We got ready for dinner then headed to Cantina for some Mexican food.
It was a great meal!! And Quinn seemed to be acting more herself.
I ended up having to leave the table at one point and collect my tears because a pregnant woman walked in with a toddler around Quinn’s age. It was the first time I’d seen a pregnant woman out and about since everything happened, and it really hit me in the gut. Since we were right on site of the hotel I was able to walk to the beach, breathe, call a friend, focus on all I’m grateful for (sounds cheesy, but it really helps) and then resume having a great time with Quinn and DJ. And you know what? The next time I saw her around the resort I was ok. The “firsts” can just be extra tough.
We were pretty tired from the day of travel so we decided to turn in early that evening.
The next morning, April 7th, we got room service breakfast. I feel like a room service breakfast on vacation is hard to beat!
We then decided to go to the Seaquarium. We were shocked how empty it was once we got inside. We didn’t think much of it and continued on. Quinn was really clearly not feeling well as we walked around. I had her in my carrier and the poor thing pretty much slept through it.
Remember that old TikTok sound “don’t be suspicious, don’t be suspicious”… that’s what this video makes me think of (watch till the end if you can spare 15 seconds lol).
We debated since Quinn felt so clearly unwell if we should leave. Right when we were deciding, we heard some protesters right outside the walls with megaphones. We looked into the allegations they were claiming about the Seaquarium and hiked it out of there when we realized what the place was being accused of (not taking proper care of the animals 😣). It suddenly made sense why it was a ghost town and a good lesson for us to do a little more due diligence before going somewhere like this.
After a nice long nap we thought maybe playing at the beach would perk her up, but sweet girl was just seemingly sick sick sick 😔(Hence the constant pacifier use which we’d been weaning till that point).
We spent a lot of time cuddling in the room and watching The Elf on a Shelf series on Netflix which has been one of her favorite shows since Christmas. I think we have every episode memorized by heart.
To keep things easy we went back to Lightkeepers for dinner. This was my favorite meal of the trip!
We started with oysters.
We also shared some heirloom tomatoes. They were extra refreshing.
DJ ordered a perfectly cooked lobster.
And I indulged in a phenomenal duck breast with an orange lavender sauce that I still crave to this day.
Quinn didn’t want much of her dinner, but I was able to get her to much on some cheerios.
We put Quinn back in the carrier so she could chill and walked around enjoying the beautiful evening.
We were hoping she’d turn the corner the next day when my mom and Pete arrived after a good night’s sleep.
And she did seem to! On April 8th she seemed to have bounced back a bit.
Then Grammy and Grampy were here!! At that time Quinnie said their names like “Money” and “Pow-Pow”, so we joked people were going to think they were part of the mob 😅.
After grabbing breakfast at the resort coffee shop we headed to the pool to lounge.
The blue skies and wind beckoned us to fly a kite, so that we did!
When it was nap time my mom and Pete stayed with Quinnie so DJ and I could lounge at the pool with a little rosé, read a book and soak up some rays. I flew through None of this is True, a *perfect* vacation read.
While lounging, we received this picture of Moose sporting his eclipse glasses 🤣. We totally missed out on that celestial event, and Ohio was right in the path of visibility. Always next time?! Glad Moose could enjoy for us lol!
For dinner, we went to Rusty Pelican to celebrate a belated birthday for my mom!
The views here were spectacular.
We started with the cornbread which not a crumb was left behind!
For my main dish, I got the scallops with forbidden rice, yuzu kosho and tobiko. Delish!!
Pete and DJ both got the Chilean Sea Bass.
And my mom got a sushi roll that was heavenly.
We also split the caviar and truffle baked potato that was unfortunately a disappointment. It didn’t pack as much flavor as we expected!
I ordered Quinn a side of broccoli and chicken if I remember right.
Here is a view of their outdoor seating.
Check out this sunset!!
We headed back to the resort and all dug into the ice cream we had bought in our initial Instacart order. Then we were all ready to hit the hay!
And that wraps part one! Buckle your seatbelts for part two 😮💨.
