A Dash of Spectacular: Art

Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts

7.18.2013

Off to Toronto!

As the summer semester winds down for husband {mine is ramping up!}, we are planning to use our weekend the best we can. He'll be studying in the car for his financial accounting final exam, but hey, all eyes will be on our destination:

Shapes of Toronto, print available here.

Starting dark and early on Sunday, we're road tripping to Toronto, Ontario {Canada, y'all}. It's so close to Pittsburgh {< 5 hours, around 300 miles}, and we've been dying to go check it out some weekend. We've cut back on a few things so that we could go this year, what with two graduate school tuitions, moving, ~~mandatory?~~ holiday travel, the usual anniversary hullabaloo, etc.

We scored some good tickets to an unmentioned-until-husband-approves concert on Sunday night, so that'll be the main event. Since it's such a quick trip, I have a few things lined up that we may or may not have time to do - so everything will be shrouded in secrecy until we come back to PGH.

If I don't see y'all before then, have a wonderful weekend! See you guys Tuesday!

6.08.2013

{Travel} Chicago 2013, Part 2

Instead of studying for my Six Sigma quiz for Monday, I'm going to talk to you readers about Chicago. Yes, again. However, this will be the last post for this year's Chitown trip - I've run out of photos to upload. It's true.

Day Three

We started our last full day in Chicago with a coffee and a stroll through the Loop's parks. {This seems to be a trend.} One thing I didn't pick up on last time we were there in September was that Chicago certainly loves their planters. Truly. There are pops of gorgeous color all over the city, this time to welcome the warmer months.

Case in point:

Not a planter but a tree, ok.

What a glorious way to celebrate the change in the seasons. Unbearable cold, wintriness to bright sunny days with flora perfume in the air.

{Travel} Chicago: Architecture, Art and Steak

We're back!
Chicago was the beautiful, bustling city we remember from our third wedding anniversary {Read Part one, two, three & four}. We fell in love all over again...with Chicago. It's certainly on the 'short list' of places we'd like to end up.

Today I write this post on my day off {flex scheduling is great, y'all}, while the rain pours outside. Sipping on a hot chocolate, too. However, even with those lovely things, I am still missing my time in Chicago.
We started our vacation the night before, by having dinner at The Porch at Schenley. We shared the fig, arugula and goat cheese pizza {along with calamari and a salad}. Wonderful as usual, especially sitting out on THE PORCH itself, looking out to the garden and carousel. You can read my previous review here and be sure to hone in on those crispy potatoes.

Day One
Husband and I decided to road trip out to Illinois, rather than dealing with the lameness that is Pittsburgh International Airport. It was a great decision, and we saw parts of Ohio and Indiana we'd never seen. We stopped in South Bend for lunch, and took a brief self-guided tour of Notre Dame.

Immediately when we got into Chicago after our 7-hour drive, we stopped at Target to get a few things before going to the hotel. Somehow we can't escape missing putting a crucial item in the luggage. We were greeted in Target with a nice selection of spirits and wine, which was a breath of fresh air from Pittsburgh grocery stores.
We sailed down State with our loot, and took a few car photos of the buildings. You just can't ignore Chicago's architecture.

Dashes and Dots: March

I'd be a little late on getting this post out if it were a February post, but I've been working full-time {and completely forgot!}...so, this will be my March Dashes and Dots post! Forgive me!

{1.} Atelier Glass Studio has so many lovely items I am lusting after! I'd like to revisit their store soon to outfit the house with glass creations.

{2.} I'm a big fan of "local" art, and I'd love to hang this on my wall:

Source: etsy.com via Cristin {Ashley} on Pinterest

{Are we friends on Pinterest? If not, we should be!}

{3.} Much later this year, Husband and I are planning to make a trip to Seven Springs with some friends! Since this year's "winter" hasn't been much to speak of, we'll try again later this year. It seems like a incredibly fun place. Bring on the spiked hot cocoa and snowboard lessons!

{4.} I still need to have a celebratory dinner at Meat and Potatoes, and STAT!

{5.} Guess what! {A Dash of Spectacular} is now a RANKED BLOG on UrbanSpoon for Pittsburgh. Check me out!

{6.} Thanks to my fabulous Husband, I've booked two De-Knotting Neck & Back massages with this spa in Sewickley! I can't wait for our appointment!

{7.} I'm wishing I had these shoes to begin spring in PGH...but I need these shoes more! The Pittsburgh Half Marathon is less than 2 months away! Eek!

In other news, I've finished my first week at my new job! Since it's with a University, I have today off in honor of their Spring Holiday. The perks have already started!

Also, good luck and best wishes to the Texas Style Council {TxSC} this weekend!

1.21.2012

Liebster Award!

I feel so honored! I was given the Liebster Blog Award by my "blogger" friend, Celia of Looking Lovely Etc.! She's also a lifestyle-type blogger, who lives in Baltimore. We went to high school together, but unfortunately didn't connect until recently through the blogosphere. She has some really lovely travel and health posts, and I always enjoy reading her blog. Thank you, Celia!

As for the award itself, here’s the description and the instructions for winners:

{A Liebster is: “sweetheart, beloved person, darling adj. dear, darling; beloved, liked very much; affectionate, loving adj. favorite, preferred above others; liked or loved above others.”}

Rules:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Link back to the Blogger (or Bloggers) who awarded you.
3. Answer the following questions, down below.
4. Pass the award out and recognize other Bloggers letting them know that you love them.

Here are the questions {with my answers!}:

Favorite color: Green!
Favorite animal: Owls or Elephants. {This is starting to feel like a high school quiz now...}
Favorite number: 4, 17, 25.
Favorite drink: Organic skim milk.
Facebook or Twitter? Facebook mostly, but deep down, Twitter always wins.
Passion? Food, living healthy, and living life's adventures with the people I love.
Getting or giving presents? Both.
Favorite day: Any day I'm on vacation with Husband, reaching a fitness/life goal or seeing family.
Favorite flower: Ranunculus or peonies. Any color.

Who do my Liebster Awards go to?

Chelle of Spangled Paraphernalia {Best Friend Fashion!}

Bessie of Bravoe Runway {Chicago Awesomeness!}

Andrea of Haggis Tacos {Typographical Art!}

Sarah of Coming Unstitched {PGH Love!}

I've recently met so many bloggers that this was hard to keep it down to four!

In other news, the repairman just finished his repairs, so Husband and I are about to go on a long, snowy walk and grab a coffee from Espresso a Mano. Maybe even a treat from La Gourmandine. Have a great Saturday!