Exploring: Lawrenceville

Hi, hello! 

I have been home nearly two months...isn't that crazy? My transition back has been amazing. These past few weeks I have mostly just been enjoying relaxing at home and being with my friends and family.  But with the change of weather, however, I am ready to get back to exploring! Pittsburgh was rated amongst the top foodie cities in 2015  and now we are on the list of cities about to be famous...again. So...rather than just reading about it, I figured I should head out to one of the hippest parts of town, Lawrenceville! 

Recently my friend Deanna and I headed to Lawrenceville to explore for the whole day. It was just awesome to walk around with no real destination in mind. We ended up going into three places that we had never been to before:

1) The Butterwood Bake Consortium- This bakery is a dream inside. I wanted to take a photo of every corner (and I did so there will be a whole post about this place coming up, hehe). They have a full coffee bar and tons of sweets to choose from! 

2) Von Walter & Funk- The first thing I have to say about this place is that Zoe Deschanel would love it! It is filled with quirky, slightly whimsical items for every room of your house. I ended up just buying a card but cannot wait to go back and explore a little more. 

3) Who New Retro Mod Decor- Last but not least, this antique vintage shop was so cool. They had tons of midcentury modern pieces that I want to buy for my future apartment. Not only that but they also had some vintage hats and purses that were very tempting and well-priced. 

After all of our window shopping, I had to take some pictures of Deanna. Lawrenceville is filled with cute back streets and colored walls. This pink one matched Deanna's sunnies perfectly so I made her my model for at least 15 minutes. 

This day was just perfect. With no expectations or plan, we ended up finding some spots that I had never knew were there...aren't those days always the best?

Next time I head over to Lawrenceville, I have been dying to check out The Vandal or Morcilla so keep checking back! 

Outfit of the Day!!

(Top: h&m Sweater: Forever 21 Jeans: h&m Shoes: Aldo Necklace: Forever 21) 

Outfit of the day!!

(Dress: Primark Coat: Forever 21 Tights: Marshalls Shoes: Aldo Sunnies: Forever 21) 

Good Eating: Smallman Galley

Good morning! 

How is everyone's week going so far?

The other day my sister took me out for my birthday lunch and it was fabulous! She picked me up from work in town and headed straight to the Strip. I knew she was taking me to the Smallman Galley but I didn't know how cool this place was. 

As one Yelp review described it, the concept is a chef incubator. There were four different places to choose from with their own unique menus:

1. Carota Cafe
2. Josephine's Toast
3. Aubergine Bistro 
4. Provision PGH  

Annie and I decided to try the sloppy joe's from Aubergine Bistro. They were delicious and the plate of two sandwiches was enough for us to split. Plus, they came with a pear salad on the side that was AMAZING! Being pears you would think that it would be a sweet salad but it was savory and simply delicious. We also got the avocado toast and nutella s'mores toast from Josephine's Toast. Minus the fact that we ordered pretty much all gluten, the meal was awesome! 

To be honest, my favorite part of the restaurant was the actual building. The Smallman Galley is a massive space in the Strip. The walls have exposed brick, there is plenty of seating and the lighting is just great. 

Overall, I can't wait to come back and try out the other restaurants and grab a drink at the bar! I love that places like this are in Pittsburgh and can't wait to see more coming. 

Smallman Galley

54 21st Street 

Pittsburgh, Pa 15222

Outfit of the day!!

Top: h&m

Sweater: Target

Pants: Forever 21

Sneakers: Plato's Closet 

Socks: Primark

Phone Case: Made by Wallflower

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

Outfit of the day!!

(Top: Target Kimono: h&m Jeans: Forever 21 Choker: Forever 21) 

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

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! 

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Spring is here: trip to Phipps

"Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade."

This quote has never been truer than the past few days! Last week it was warm and sunny and then we woke up this week with snow! I never know if I should wear a coat or not, haha! 

Thankfully, I have found a spot close to campus that feels like Spring everyday! I always love visiting Phipps Conservatory, but my last visit was extra amazing. The Spring Flower Show has transformed the feeling of the entire place. This year's theme celebrates rain and its importance. 

As you walk into the main room, there are umbrellas covering the ceiling. Rain noises are surrounding you, coming from the various fountains throughout the conservatory. And you are instantly relaxed. 

So relaxed that studying doesn't seem as much of a chore. Surrounded by gorgeous colors and delicious scents makes you want to come back everyday (which I plan to do, hehe).  

Phipps Conservatory 

One Schenley Park

Pittsburgh, Pa 15213

Caffeine Kick: 4121 Main

Hello, everyone! How are you on this lovely afternoon?

To celebrate the amazing Spring weather that has finally arrived, my friend and I did what we do best....got coffee! I have been obsessing over 4121 Main after finding them on Instagram and decided that it was time to actually check them out in person. All of their posts are fantastic and just make you want to take time out of your day to go enjoy a latte.

The photos set my expectations high but the store didn't disappoint. As you walk in, there is art and flowers all around you. It is a very inspiring space despite being a little bit smaller than I had imagined. Still, there was plenty of space for my friend and I to sit and chat before taking some cool photos of the decor! 

As you all probably know by now, I am a lover of vanilla lattes. Unfortunately, 4121 Main sticks with just standard drinks and no flavorings. Still, I got a flat white and my friend got a cappuccino...both were really good and the latte art was brilliant! 

I can't wait to go back again to try something else and buy art or flowers!

4121 Main

Pittsburgh, PA, 15224

What I ordered: a flat white 

What I am going to try next time: a pot of hot tea

#afriendbygram

I feel like there are so many articles and stereotypes out there that say millennials (Generation X) are stuck in front of screens and as a result don't know how to have a face-to-face conversation like in the 'old days'. 

But it's called social media for a reason, it can be as social as you want it to be! This summer, I realized just how amazing my favorite mobile app, Instagram, can be! 

I planned a day trip to New York City using only Instagram as a planning resource...it was fantastic! I used the geotags to find out locations, user captions and comments for recommendations on what to order at restaurants, and photo inspiration from my favorite accounts. Not only that but I reached out to a few of these accounts and asked to meet up!

When my day in NYC finally arrived, it was just amazing (a few of my favorite photos of the day are above ^^^)!! I got to see all the places I had been scrolling through on my feed and adding to my favorite hashtags! I met up with the lovely Keen (@acupofkeen) who showed me around Brooklyn like my own personal tour guide (who didn't mind stopping for a billion photos!). 

Keen( pictured below) is the creator of #afriendbygram and she strives to meet up with as many Instagrammers a possible! She takes all her photos with her iPhone and has never taken a photography class. She has been one of my favorite accounts for a while and it was awesome to actually meet up with her and see who takes some of my favorite photos! 

Because of Instagram I now have a friend that I would have never met on my own. It has taught me how to better network, be bolder, and be more confident in myself as an aspiring photographer. 

High Five For Friday!!

1.) Jack has moved to his second home! He is getting so big! I mean last week he lived in a different neighborhood and hadn't even started crawling. Now he is crawling around a whole new house! 

2.) Autumn is officially here! I couldn't help but stop on my way to work and take a photo of this gorgeous tree changing!

3.) This has become my daily uniform....these shoes, a scarf, and green tea in hand :) 

4.) Next weekend I will be in Toronto! I can't wait! Scrolling through my timeline and seeing photos like this street art near Kensington Market in Toronto make me even more excited! 

5.) This is the first photo I took with my new iPhone 6! Not as artsy as I had imagine my first photo would be but at least it is of one of my favorite people! 

Working at Starbucks is making me addicted to coffee.

I spent an entire semester in Italy and I had maybe 5 coffees total (including shots of espresso). I have worked at Starbucks for a little over a month and now I drink a cup of coffee almost everyday. 

I have become obsessed. I love my skinny vanilla lattes and white chocolate mochas, but I wish that flat whites were on the menu like they were in London! 

Outfit of the day!!

dress: Forever 21 socks: Forever 21 bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs 

Exploring: North Park

One day on my way home from work this summer, I found myself driving slower. I realized that although I was driving the same way I did all summer, everything just seemed more beautiful. The grass greener, the sky bluer, and the trees taller. 

To celebrate this extra gorgeous day, my mom and I decided to drive out to North Park instead of taking our usual spots in front of the television. And wow, am I glad we did! It was AH-MAZ-ING! I felt like we were on vacation exploring a whole new area and we were less than a half hour away. We just wandered around with no plan and found some incredible views (and got some amazing shots too)!  

I just love how much Instagram is challenging me to explore and look at my city in different ways. I saw a picture of North Park on my feed a few days before going and I realized I had never been there before so I just went. Instagram made it that easy to connect with Pittsburgh in a new way. 

Pittsburgh in Pictures

This summer I explored so many new places in Pittsburgh! It is crazy to think about how I have lived here since I was born and there are still parts that I'm not familiar with! I love it. Here are just a few of my latest Instagram shots that I captured around the city. 

Heinz Chapel in Oakland

A saturday morning in the Strip District

The County Courthouse

Gorgeous street art off of McKnight Road 

Good Eating: Round Corner Cantina

One of the side effects of turning 21 while abroad is that sometimes you forget to celebrate legal drinking once you get back to the States. So, my sister Annie decided that although she couldn't buy me my first drink as a 21-year-old, she could buy my first shot of tequila! 

To celebrate, we went to the Round Corner Cantina in Lawrenceville! From the outside, the restaurant looks small with only a few two-seater tables out front and a bar inside. To my surprise, however, as I followed my brother-in-law Ben to the back, I realized there was an oudoor patio. High tables, bar stools, bright colors, and string lights hanging above makes this a fun and cozy dining space. 

Despite being there on a busy Thursday night, we were kindly greeted by the hostess and seated right away (no wasting space, we were at a shared table). After looking at the menu for a while and realizing I had no clue what makes a good tequila, I let Annie and Ben do the drink ordering. We ended up getting three shots of tequila, two La Cantinas Margaritas, one can of Tecante, with chips and salsa, which all tasted amazing. 

After a few more minutes perusing the menu, I ordered the Lamb Barbacoa tacos and both Annie and Ben ordered the Gobernador Tacos. In what seemed like just a few minutes, our food was already on our table and looked delicious. 

Before ordering my tacos, I thought to myself 'should lamb really be put on tacos?' but decided to order them anyways...and it ended up not being, well, not my favourite. After trying Annie's shrimp tacos, I regretted not ordering those. Mine were a bit too spicy for me and the flavors just didn't mix as well as I had hoped. 

Even so, I highly recommend the Round Corner Cantina and can't wait to go back and get some shrimp tacos all to myself! 

Visiting Lawrenceville but in the mood for French food? Head over to my post about La Gourmandine Bakery!