Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Outfit of the day!!


Top: h&m
Sweater: Target
Pants: Forever 21
Sneakers: Plato's Closet 
Socks: Primark
Phone Case: Made by Wallflower

Monday, February 22, 2016

Caffeine Kick: Black Forge

Hello there! Happy Monday! 

Since Black Forge opened last year, I have been dying to go! It seemed like as soon as they opened, their Yelp and Instagram pages were full of amazing photos. Recently, I have had the chance to make the short trek over to Allentown and try it out with my brother-in-law. 


Just like Arnold's Tea, I was shocked at how many seats there were to choose from. However, it was different from the other Pittsburgh coffee shops that I have been to, in the sense that it was a lot edgier. The dark colors, art covered walls, and music gave this place a grungier vibe that felt very refreshing. 

I went a little rogue when ordering and got a coconut mocha...it was very sweet but overall delicious! My brother-in-law had their cold brew (his usual) and LOVED IT! The only thing I didn't like was the yogurt...it had a weird texture but I think that is just me, haha. 

Overall, I can't wait to go back! I love that they have monthly event calendars. I will definitely be checking out their open mic night and a brunch hard event! 


Black Forge 
1206 Arlington Ave
Pittsburgh, Pa 15210

What I ordered: a large coconut mocha
What I am going to get next time: cold brew


Friday, February 19, 2016

Chicago Round Up!


Well, hello there. Despite the fact that I left Chicago to move back to Pittsburgh, there were still some elements and experiences of the city that I enjoyed! With that in mind, here are my top favorite moments from my time in Chicago:
















Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Monday, February 15, 2016

Good Eating: Gaucho Parrilla Argentina

Hi, hello!!

I recently got the chance to try out the super-popular Gaucho Parrilla Argentina in the Strip District and it was amazing! I was so happy to see that I had tried out at least one restaurant on Yelp's list of 100 Places to Eat in the US. Gaucho was number 7 and it definitely deserves the spot!!


After waiting in line for about 15 minutes (we went right at noon), Annie and I decided to order a couple of small plates so we were able to try out more than just one dish! It was very hard to choose only three things to order but we decided on: provoletta (toast with provolone and arugula), rosemary braised beef con pan, and lastly we got 2 turkey empanadas. My favorite was definitely the provoletta. There was just such a good combination of flavors and textures! 

I can't wait to go back and get some more photos of the awesome decor they have! Be sure to go to the bathroom while you are there...the floor is gorgeous! 

Gaucho Parrilla Argentina
1601 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, Pa 15222

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Outfit of the day!!


(Top: h&m Jeans: Forever 21 Shoes: Plato's Closet Vest: Charlotte Russe Sunnies & Choker: Forever 21) 

(Edited with: A Color Story app) 

Monday, February 8, 2016

Caffeine Kick: Adesso Cafe

Happy Monday!!!

Today is a big day for me because I am starting my new job (more details to come soon)! I am so excited to start this new phase but I have enjoyed the past couple of weeks exploring as well. It just feels right being back in Pittsburgh. I've stopped by some classic spots like Eat n' Park, gone back to old favorites like Pittsburgh Popcorn, and tried out some new places as well!

The other day I was in the Sewickley area and I was in the mood for some coffee! I knew there was a Starbucks nearby but wasn't sure of any local shops in the area. So, of course, I pulled out my Yelp app and found this amazing gem, Adesso Cafe!



Adesso means "now" in Italian so I figured this would be a small and quick place to get some coffee. What I didn't know was how much this place had to offer!  Not only was the coffee great (and reasonably priced) but they also had gluten free pastries from Gluuteny! Twice a week they have sweets from La Gourmandine Bakery, which is one of my favorites! PLUS, they are going to have lunch options soon! I got all this info from the cheery man behind the counter. I can't wait to go back and try some different treats out!   

The only drawback for me was that they don't have any seating. Again, I understand that it just isn't that type of place but, to me, I like to sit down and enjoy my coffee when I go to a local shop. 

Even so, as I said before, I will definitely be back! I have a feeling during the warm Summer months that I will become a regular! 

Adesso Cafe
441 Walnut St
Sewickley, PA 15143

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Monday, February 1, 2016

Portraits of my people

How has it already been a week since I moved back to Pittsburgh? Time is going oddly slow and fast at the same time. I feel like I am already used to being back here and my life in Chicago seems so far away. I really like it!

Below are pictures of some of my favorite people...I love taking pictures of them to try and capture why they are so special to me. This has been an ongoing project of my mine and I thought I would now share a few tips that I have found helpful over the past several months while taking/editing portraits on iPhone!



1.)  Always use burst mode when taking portraits! My best shots are usually during the inbetween moments. I feel like I always read online that those moments are the best but never quite knew how to capture them myself and burst has helped me tons! 

2.) Once you find the backdrop you want, make sure to have your subject stand a couple of feet in front of it to create depth. This was the first thing I learned from photographer Dan Rubin during my photography workshop with him! 

3.) Once you have your favorite shot, I primary edit using the VSCO and ColorStory app. My favorite filters are: A6, F2, and HB1-2 (VSCO) and Road Trip, Clear, and Everyday (ColorStory). 

4.) One of the last things I do with my photos is to make sure I always adjust the contrast and sharpness of my photo. To me, adjusting those elements on each photo keeps my photos consistent with a similar feel no matter if it is a portrait, cotd shot, landscape, etc.  



Alright, alright, alright...that's it for now! I know these tips were pretty simple but I feel like sometimes the simplest tweaks can make a photo magical! Let me know if this was helpful in the comments below!