This Week in Travel Vol.15

There are so many travel blogs & publications I read on a daily basis! Wanted to share some of my favorite links, articles, info graphics and tips from around the web this week.

• Beautiful on a budget? The best hotels under $150 a night.
• Are you a hotel towel-stealer? They can track you.... so it's probably best to swipe the travel sized lotion instead ;)
• With all the recent incidents, an update on air travel safety in Asia.
• Spring break, here we come! Here are the top 30 resorts in Florida. I have at least visited (the pool, beach or restaurants) in several, and I can still say I'd rather stay on Sanibel :)
• Do This, Not That for romantic Valentine's Day destinations! 
• Travel the world on $40 a day. It doesn't sound possible, but it totally is!!!!
• The most beautiful coastal towns (hmmm... noticing a trend here). I can vouch for #4 and #12, but i'm sure they're all amazing!
• How one traveler uses multi-leg flights. How I use them, too :)
• Vacation vs. Traveling -- there's a HUGE difference. I travel 95% of the time and vacation 5%. 
• Still looking for a Valentine's getaway? Here's the procrastinator's guide ;)
• And a last minute V-Day travel guide for any budget! Seriously, you can do this.
• The next airline trend.... as someone with hips that don't lie, I am NOT a fan of this trend! 
• And update on travel to Cuba for those who are anxiously awaiting! Or if you can't get to Cuba yet, here's where you can enjoy some authentic cuban coffee.

Sullivan's Island near Charleston

What a GREAT weekend! We visited Charleston for an early Valentine's Day trip, and it was so fun. I absolutely love going somewhere that neither Matt nor I have been (it doesn't happen often!). We ate and drank our way around the city, and we couldn't have asked for better weather - 60* and sunny the whole time. Sunday was closer to 70*, and I would venture to say I was pretty warm! I'll have a full update & city guide on the southern charmer this week.

Did anyone watch the Grammy's last night? I have to say, I enjoyed Beyoncé, Sia, John Legend/Common, Usher (loved that tribute!) Lady Gaga/Tony Bennet, Ed Sheeran, and Sam Smith. 

I really did NOT enjoy Gwen Steffani (loved her look, not her vocal range), Kanye (no idea what that first song was, and don't get me started on the second song with Rihanna), Hozier, and ESPECIALLY Madonna (GO HOME MADONNA - YOUR CHILDREN ARE EMBARRASSED BY YOU). 

Some thoughts:

- I think Arianna Grande & Katy Perry should have chosen different songs. They're great singers but those were bold choices for a live show. But that's just my opinion, and I have a lot of them when it comes to music... :)

- I think CBS really could have made the show shorter by cutting down on the shameless self plugs.... it was one giant CBS commercial, and 3.5 hrs is a looooong time.

- I would like "Record of the Year" to be changed to "Recording of the Year" so there is less confusion.

- I was shocked by the amount that Beck won, but I think he's a great artist and a welcome change from the obvious choices! 

- I was also shocked at ZERO wins by T-Swift, but I guess Sam Smith won all her awards this time. 

- I was equally shocked and saw it coming that Beyoncé didn't win, and Kayne tried to get on the stage. If he was joking, he should stop, and if he was serious.... COME ON MAN. Lock it up.

Just a few opinions to start your Monday :) What were your Grammy faves?

xo

Playlist for Fall in Italy

via 

I've always been obsessed with music. It's been a good week for music in my book, as the new Damien Rice was released & new Copeland (a band I never thought I'd hear from again) dropped a few days ago.

One of my favorite things to do when I travel is wander the streets with my headphones in and a killer soundtrack. 

We're gearing up to leave for Italy, so I thought I needed a new playlist for the long train rides. 

Press play, close your eyes, and imagine that you're in a train car with countryside passing at high speeds. Every song goes. It's a little moody & a bit melancholy, but it definitely works :) 

T-2 days and we're off!
xo

PS - Just to be clear: I feel the same way about Spotify as Taylor Swift. I believe artists should have the opportunity to get gold & platinum record certifications (T-Swift's 1989 is the ONLY album this year to reach platinum.... maybe because people had to actually purchase it?!). I believe in buying music & supporting artists that you love! I only used Spotify to be able to embed this playlist... I do not pay for a Spotify subscription because I buy albums. All of the songs you see above, I own personally :) And I think you should buy them, too!

A Praise Chorus

I really do love visiting Ashley in Chicago. Always something fun and different to do, but it's full of favorites that I could always go back to. 

We lucked out with pretty great weather - high 50's most of the weekend, sunshine, and a nice breeze! Everything I packed worked out great. I brought 1 jacket instead of 2 and it was the right decision. I so LOVE having a light suitcase!

We had high tea at a place called Soho House. It's a member's only club that started in the UK and has locations all over the world. The bottom level is for us commoners so we were able to enjoy some tea & cakes :) We were also able to go to the member's only area because Ashley has a friend on the board! It was a really fun thing to be able to do. I love pretending I'm fancy.

Waiting for our tea!

The reason for the trip and the true highlight - Jimmy Eat World! They were playing the album "Futures" all the way through and it certainly did not disappoint. I mean seriously - seeing your favorite band, play your favorite album, with your favorite female (aka best friend).... I don't know if it gets much better! 

Hey, Jim!

Me, Ash & Melissa at the show!

 They also did TWO encores that featured some less commonly played songs. It was so fun and you could tell they were having a great time interacting with fans that love them! It was so great we are considering hitting up a show closer to home...

The first sold out show of the tour!

Any other Jimmy fans out there? Definitely catch this tour if you can!!!

We also ate some really delicious food. Here are a few to try if you're in Logan Square/Wicker Park.

Billy Sunday: All I have to say about Billy is make sure you get the relish tray & a side of their breads. You won't regret it.

Trike: Thai food delivered to your door. What's not to like? The portions were huge and I wish I would have saved half for later (rather than letting it sit out and be wasted!). I'll be back here.

Reno: We've eaten here once before, but what I love about Reno is that they have tons of creative sandwiches & pizzas... and suggests adding an egg to everything so I'm definitely on board! They have a nice patio on the square so it's great people watching. Please note that they're cash only.

The Winchester: We brunched here and enjoyed their outdoor patio. I'd take advantage of that if the weather allows. Also, they serve Metric Coffee, a newer roaster in Chicago that happens to be quite tasty!

L'Patron: Also cash only. But extremely cheap and TASTY! Vegetarian taco of the day?! Sign me up! This was also a repeat but it's a good "fast" food option that tastes great. 

There are so many places to eat and drink in that area, so pick one and give it a shot!

Another Chicago weekend on the books. I don't know when I'll be back but I'm already looking forward to it! We had such a good time and I love eating my way around the city with Ash.

For all the Jimmy fans... here's the video I took during my favorite song, "23" - it's the full song, so enjoy! Definitely not the best camera work (I was trying to enjoy the song LIVE while I was there and film at the same time... so forgive my questionable frames, angles, etc!)

New Music Tuesday: It's a BIG DAY

My dear friend, Adam, has been working on this record for over three years....

AND TODAY IS RELEASE DAY!!!!!!

Do yourself a favor and go listen to this album. It's pretty incredible.

If I could go back in time and have "Don't Shy From the Light" be the first dance at my wedding, I would.

If I could have "Native Skin" playing at Respectables in college while we were dancing at 2am... I would.

I guess the fact that I know how much time & effort went into this album might make the love it more. 

But truly, it's art. Heartfelt lyrics. Raw melodies. 

It's haunting, exciting, sad, and hopeful all at the same time.

If you want to check it out (you definitely should!!!), go to iTunes and search for Neulore, or click HERE.

And if you happen to be in Nashville, their CD release show will be at 3rd & Lindsley on Sunday night. You can get tickets here. OR you can listen live on Lightning 100 on the "Nashville Sunday Night" show.

For the rest of their tour, check out their website.

This sounds like a big sales pitch.... but it's just me trying to help YOU out ;) If you like good music, give it a listen.

Did you discover any new music lately that I need to know about?

xo

for the (music) lovers...

When I moved to Nashville, the thing that changed the most was my accessibility to music. Love ya, Fort Myers - but you always made me drive to Orlando for shows!

The other thing that changed is how many talented people I'm surrounded by. I have so many friends who can play instruments, sing, write songs or some combination of the above. I tried to write songs once... it was awful. I can play the flute (at least I could in 8th grade) and I love me some karaoke, but that's about as 'good' at music as I get... it's best left to the professionals.

I have a friend named Amy who is super talented. She plays multiple instruments, sings beautifully, and writes all of her own stuff... and some of other people's stuff. She's got a solo project and a sweet side project (band).... and she manages to co-own a design firm called Milkglass Creative (they literally have the coolest office).

Her name is Amy Stroup, and her record, TUNNEL comes out today. If you're not excited, you should be. Here's a little preview:

recognize anyone in there?

You might have heard some of Amy's stuff on Pretty Little Liars or Grey's Anatomy, but this album really mixes it up!

If you like Tegan and Sara and other music i would consider SUPER FUN, check out "Finally Found Our Way".

Need a song for your First Dance at your wedding? Check out "Say You Won't" (the strings! so pretty). Or at least just PROMISE you won't have Butterfly Kisses anywhere in that mix. Pinky swear?

Hosting a dance party anytime soon? "Falling" should be your go-to. Followed by "Back Burner" (grab a tambourine - you'll need it).

And with a strong finish.... "Dark Runs Out" has some of the best lyrics. There's something magical about the last song being the longest, and being kind of dreamy.... and Dark Runs Out NAILS it. Gets me every time!

I could describe the entire album to you, but I honestly think you should check it out for yourself!

All the songs can be found at this link or by a search on iTunes. Or if you feel so inclined, tell Amy which song is YOUR favorite, perhaps in haiku form? :)

Any other albums I should check out? #NewMusicTuesday is probably my favorite day of the week.

xo

Ps - other awesome music.

An Autumn Playlist

There are seasons in Tennessee, which I greatly appreciate about it. Florida never afforded me reasons to wear scarves or build bonfires, so I'm into it.

Cambridge in the Fall. You should go sometime.

I'm all about music that fits the mood, and fall has it's own special mood. It's not quite the holidays, but it's definitely not bright and cheery like summer anymore, and i LOVE IT.

Bring on the cool days and mellow tunes.

Sweater Weather Playlist

 

"Wait for Me" - Kings of Leon (Loving the new album)
"She Lit a Fire" - Lord Heron
"The One That Got Away"  - Civil Wars
"Hero" - Regina Spektor
"The Enemy" - Andrew Belle
"Biko" - Bloc Party
"Back to Black" - Beyonce + Andre 3000 (Great Gatsby Soundtrack)
"Anna Begins" - Counting Crows
"Wake Up" - Arcade Fire
"Codes and Keys" - Death Cab for Cutie
"Things We Lost in the Fire" - Bastille
"Natural Anthem" - Postal Service
"Riptide" - Vance Joy
"Big Jet Plane" - Agnus & Julia Stone
"Knocked Up" - Kings of Leon
"Time and Time Again" - Counting Crows
"1957" - Milo Green
"Alexithymia" - Anberlin
"When Finally Set Free" - Copeland
"Heart Shaped Box" - Nirvana
"Cautioners" - Jimmy Eat World

A little mix of old favorites and stuff i'm just hearing. I'd highly recommend the Andrew Belle record, as well as the new Kings of Leon and newcomer, Bastille - I'm wearing all three of them out! And the new Arcade Fire was just released... I'm so looking forward to that album!


Are there any other fall releases I've missed?

xo

Free and Almost Free Music!

i LOVE music. Let's talk about it. Anytime.

For some reason over the past few days i've found out about
a bunch of free or inexpensive albums or shows.

And as much as i love music... i ALSO love a good deal. So i'm in heaven & felt compelled to share!

#1 - NoiseTrade

A great friend of mine just happens to be a fantastic musician... in an amazing band.

Meet Neulore.

They're amazing. If you like the indie folkey stuff... you'll be in love. If you just like music,
you'll be in love. And the best part? Their album is currently FREE (yes i said it - FREE) on NoiseTrade.

If you decide you'd like to pay them for their awesomeoness, you can do that too

(Noisetrade gives you the option, which is killer!)

Download it here.

They're also offering the new Jars of Clay album for FREE (yes again, free).
but i believe it is for a limited time, so get on that here.

NoiseTrade is just an awesome way to check out and support artists.
Some others you might like are the Carey Brothers, Civil Wars, Josh Rouse and Ben Rector.

#2 - TicketFly.com

I got an email from LiveNation telling me that Fitz and the Tantrums were coming to Orlando - yay!

Turns out it's this Sunday, and i'll be in Chicago - bummer.

BUT i need to share the news that they are playing at The Social in Downtown Orlando, and giving
2 for 1 tickets. YES THAT'S RIGHT - $18 for 2 tickets to the show! You honestly cannot beat that.

So if you live anywhere in FL... i'm guessing it's worth your time to get to Orlando this weekend.
But get to TicketFly first to get your awesome 2 for 1 tickets!!!

#3 - iTunes

I know, i know. You probably think i'm crazy right now. But every week, Starbucks has these
little cards that say "Song of the Week", where you punch in a code and get a free song.
Once i got one that was an entire "Summer Playlist" - and it was awesome. 

But what most people don't realize, is there is this handy little button in the iTunes store
 that says "Free on iTunes" - that takes you right there. 

It offers a song or two, a music video, sometimes a behind the scenes thing... you just never know!
Plus they update it every Tuesday, so you can find some pretty cool bands on there from time to time. 

The other thing is the "sale" items in iTunes. Sometimes it's 60's music, sometimes it's One Hit Wonders,
but this week, it's the jackpot: Alternative/Rock Albums for $7.99 or less

We're talking Mumford & Sons. Kings of Leon. Modest Mouse. 4 different Coldplay albums. Bon Iver. Phoenix. Broken Bells. Raiohead. Manchester Orchestra. MGMT. Young the Giant. Joy Formidable. Foo Fighers. Mat Kearney. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. Black Keys. Death Cab. Wilco..... 

.......need i say more?

Most of these albums started at $14.99, and most of them are pretty recent. So i'd take this deal while it lasts!

#4 - Amazon.com

I have a few friends who swear by Amazon music, but i've never really done it myself. I'm also skeptical, because Amazon ran a $1 special a few months ago that resulted in bad 80's covers, foreign heavy metal, and nothing at all i'd ever listen to. But today  i read something about $5 music.... so i figured i'd give it a shot.

What i found was the 100 Albums for $5 page! What a gem.

Some of the albums are She+Him, Drake (getting that!!!!), Katy Perry, the Swell Season, Ellie Goulding and Cold War Kids. Also, if you've got different taste than i do, they also had Jimmy Buffet, Rage Against the Machine, and Tim McGraw. So i think there is something for everyone! The important thing was that I recognized most of the artists... so it's probably worth your time to check it out HERE!

#5 - Spotify

Have you tried Spotify yet? If not, just give me a shout and i'll send you an invite.

The great thing about Spotify (let me clarify - i have the free version) is that you can listen to full albums, rather than the 30 second preview, so you know if you like it or not. For example, i just listened to the new James Morrison before i jumped right in. Which i think is a pretty great option. PLUS they are always showcasing new albums that have been added. So you'll always be kept in the loop.

With Free Spotify, you can't download songs. I've heard rumors that you can download
with the upgraded version, but i'm not too sure how that works.

However - you can have Spotify on computers, your phone, or iPod touch - and take playlists on the go.
So who needs to download anyway?

This was kind of like Extreme Couponing.... for Music. 

Be Amazed. And enjoy!

xo

Music Monday

Twitter hashtag of #musicmonday is always a favorite of mine! So i figured i'd share my crazy wacky album line up over the last couple of weeks.

1. Bon Iver (Self Titled)

Still trying to figure out if i'm as obsessed with this album as i thought i'd be. But i keep giving it second chances. I think as long as i skip Beth/Rest, i'm ok. But this is by far my favorite track up until now:

Hinnom, TX (Bon Iver, Bon Iver)

any opinions out there? love, hate, indifferent? I'm glad i had a little time in the pre release to form my own opinions before everyone else told me what they thought. thanks to Nick Sammons for the assistance in music from time to time :)

2. Jon Foreman - Limbs and Branches

I got a random text from a friend asking if i knew Jon Foreman... to which i replied "No, i don't think i know him". I didn't think very hard, because i didn't realize he was talking about Switchfoot's lead singer... not a mutual friend.

Apparently foreman has a handful of solo albums, all a little more folky and accoustic than Switchfoot typically goes. However, the song on the album i keep coming back to has the most intense beat out of all the tracks:

Resurrect Me (Jon Foreman, Limbs and Branches)


Check out the rest of the album if you haven't already. And don't let the idea of Switchfoot be the deciding factor in if you listen to this album or not (if that opinion is positive or negative :)

3. Lady Antabellum - iTunes Sessions

For everyone who has ever known me - i am not a country music fan. Close friends of mine have been trying to get me to cave for years, and i just plain cannot do it. However, i love music; regareless of style i can completely appreciate good musicians, singers, artists, and writers - so i'm not hating on the amazing talent that country music has to offer (ie, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, etc etc etc! love them, it's just not my thing :) That being said, I also love a good guy/girl harmony, and Lady A just happens to deliver a minimum amount of twang, with gorgeous harmony sprinkled in. Plus, raw talent (writing, music, and singing!) - so i'm sold. I downloaded the iTunes Sessions (which has about 7 songs, mostly radio hits) and i'm obsessed! They also covered one of my favorite songs growing up..... so they get even more bonus points:

Learning to Fly [Tom Petty Cover] - Lady A, iTunes Sessions


4. Hillsong United - Aftermath

Where do i even start? Hands down, one of my favorite bands on the planet. I can't quite tell you what it is - but every time i hear a song that i love, it turns out to be a Hillsong song. Always amazing. Since that's the case, and i was so in love with their last album (A Beautiful Exchange), i was hesitant to buy this one, for fear of disappointment. However, Alicia made me a mixed cd (yes, we still do that), and it had some amazing stuff on it... which turned out to be tracks from Aftermath, the most recent Hillsong project. This song is the song i keep coming back to, and it is SO Hillsong in my opinion!

Take Heart (Hillsong United, Aftermath)

5. Jason Walker - Down

Ok, so this one isn't an album. But it's one of those weird moments when you're listening to a pandora station, and something out of the blue comes on (ie, "All Star" by Smashmouth on a Copeland Pandora station - yes, this has happened to me) - but in a good way. I was listening to Lydia Pandora; a station i've thumbs up/down so much and added and taken away so many genres over the past two years, it's pretty much a hand crafted station of everything i love. A couple of weeks ago, i heard Jason Walkers song, and a few days later it came on again, so i finally downloaded it. ONce again with the guy/girl harmony - i'm in! I believe it was featured on a WB show recently, so i'm guessing he'll get pretty famous soon. Check it out, i love their voices.

Down (Jason Walker)

For anyone interested, i've linked each of the names of the bands to iTunes/Amazon for your purchasing pleasure! Actually i went a little link crazy in this post. so feel free to explore!

I also just realized how random this music selection is - but i guess you gotta mix it up! Happy Music Monday! Anyone have any new recs for me?

xo

Super Photo Weekend Recap

As a nomad, i don't typically have ordinary weekends at home. This one was particularly lovely! I got to spend all day Saturday with my friend Alicia (and some other friends, too!). Not to mention, i borrowed the nice camera from my office - so i was snapping away all weekend.

For those of you who don't know, I've known Alicia since we were 11.

I just spent 45 minutes looking for this photo from 8th grade of Alicia and i wearing pleather tube tops we bought from Charlotte Russe.... hers was black, mine was hot hot pink.

But i couldn't find it. and you didn't notice the 45 minute lapse... so i guess that's good. But let me tell ya, this photo is a gem. The best part is that we're wearing short sleeved button up shirts over it, because we had the "two inch" tank top rule.

Sorry, i'm getting really off track. But i've known Alicia (or DJ as i like to call her) since 1997, and this is us having a really fun weekend in 2011.

this is much better than the tube tops.

I spent my Friday evening at the softball field, pretty standard. My boys lost and one got injured... and it rained... but hey, it was still a fun night. Then i had a sleepover with Alicia.

There are no photos of the sleepover, and there are also no photos of how we managed to knock over 2 freshly poured glasses of wine on opposite sides of a couch in less than 10 seconds.

One word - talent.

Saturday, we worked out and spent a significant amount of time at the beach. Despite the rain :)

Refreshments.

Yeah... that's the storm. We stayed in the water while it blew over :)

pre storm :)

After the storm passed, we spent a couple more hours in the sun, getting nice and brown. Already, this makes it a perfect Saturday.

Every third Saturday, Downtown Fort Myers hosts a Music Walk. We joined up with a group of people to get some food, a couple drinks, and listen to all sorts of live music! i love it. Downtown is so pretty.

fun group

I love music walk! perfect excuse to get out on a saturday night.

Sunday was Father's Day, and i got to celebrate with some yummy dinner with my family :)

father's day lovin.

love my daddy!

pretty sunset before the sunday night storm

that was my weekend. how was yours? xo

Current Addictions - June Edition

Hi Everyone! I'm back. Back in Florida for an entire week now. It's been kind of nice have no plans for the past few nights. it's very unlike me to actually do nothing... but i'm trying to embrace it here and there :) But i thought... it's probably time to blog again.

So here i am! I figured i'd break you in easy with an update - my current obsessions! The things i am....

DOING: Working. A lot. I just landed a brand new account 2 weeks ago and was made point person on another new account this Tuesday. Big stuff! Not to mention i wasn't exactly struggling to fill in the gaps during my work day.... so i've been working late. But that's ok! It's nice to feel like you're good at what you do, right? :)

I've also been seeing my girls. a lot! I'm kind of obsessed with my friends. Especially the ones I don't get to see on a weekly basis. But i've been quite spoiled the past month, and we've managed to squeeze in a few visits.

Casey visited in late April

Casey, Kim and i, visiting Ash in Chicago over Memorial Day (slash Ashley's Birthday)

Kim, E, and I on Sanibel a couple of weekends ago

and next weekend, i get to go here with Kim....

The Ritz Carlton. Sarasota.

Yes, that's RIGHT. Staying at the Ritz, baby!!! We'll put that on the list with "things i never thought i'd actually do" with skydiving and eating calamari.

EATING:


Fresh basil. Any chance i get. It's so yummy and makes everything a little better!

Yum.

WEARING:  

Dresses. it's too hot to wear anything else. And a right handed ring. It's started to feel like i'm naked without a nice big ring on my right hand.

WANTING:

A new phone. Yes. you heard it here first - Renee Cutaia actually wants to upgrade on technology! My phone is on the fritz, but i just cannot justify paying extra money if i have an upgrade coming in August. And hopefully, i can hold out one more month for what has rumored to be the iPhone 5 release. Apparently this is the prediction going around at the moment.

I'm really hoping for the robot arms.

WANDERLUSTING:

Nashville. Oh my gosh how i miss this place and the people that live there! Not to mention all the great music, food, and coffee available at your disposal. I got to drive through at 2 am and stare at the city.... and it was more of a tease than anything else. I know it sounds simple enough, but over $300 for a 1.5 hr plane ride is a little absurd to me. So i guess i'm holding out until further notice.

LISTENING TO:

the new Bon Iver album. Verdict is still out on if i'm in love or not. i've discussed this with Adam Agin and we're both thrown off by the 80's sounding vibe (particularly on the last track!) - but listen for yourself and let me know what you think.

Apparently this is the album artwork. I'm not completely sure if that's true or false.

Lady Antabellum iTunes Sessions. Typically i'm not into country... but i'm a sucker for a good male/female duet. And Lady A delivers every time! I'm loving "Just A Kiss" and they even do a cover of Tom Petty's "Learnin To Fly" which is just beautiful.

Really good stuff... even if you're not into country!

We The Culprits. These guys are local (fort myers) and i've now seen them twice and own the album. I have to say, they are fab live. They've got good stage presence and their sound is not compromised on stage. "Love Songs" is really fun and lively, then "Ballad of the Weary" is...well, a slower ballad. Lots of power behind frontman Josiah Ravish's voice... he's always been talented! And i can stay that, because i've known him since we were teenagers. but seriously, do yourself a favor and check em out on iTunes.

WTC. Seriously, check em out here

That's it for now. Just a few things i'm addicted to. We'll see how long these last :) Happy Summer!