Girlfriend Getaway Part 4: Edible Cocktails with Chef Matt Costello

Working in the Allrecipes office I'm surrounded by foodies and the latest innovations in food/drinks. I, however, had never imagined that I could EAT a cocktail. That's right... an edible cocktail!

Throughout the dinner experience, my mind was continuously blown by the genius of Inn at Langley GM and award-winning chef, Matt Costello! He did the absolute most with the meal and I loved every second of it!

I wish I could've captured more pictures of the food and drinks, but since we were filming I tried to stay in the moment and allow them to capture me truly experiencing things... and not just them filming me, filming my food. My millennial food phone-tography skills had to take a break.

Check out the Part 4 of our Buick Girlfriend Getaway below!!



Click here for Part 1
Click here for Part 2
Click here for Part 3

Girlfriend Getaway Part 3: A Drum Circle & Letting Go

The original plan was for us to see a psychic/spiritualist who analyzes your future based on your lipstick print, which admittedly would've been pretty dope. However, we ended up having a drum circle instead. My singing voice is trash, but I do believe in keeping my vibes aligned, so I tried to keep an open-mind and live in the moment. It also helped that the champagne was ever-flowing. Equipped with my BFF and all the adult juice I could want, I knew the experience would be one I could get through.

Marilyn Strong is the Spa Director at the Inn at Langley and guided us through our drum circle experience. We used drums, along with chanting, so try and get in tune with our inner selves. Or as Kat Williams used to say, our "star player".

We all started off super light-hearted and full of giggles, but once we went around the circle naming what we wanted to let go of, things took a more serious, intentional turn.

It was nice to connect with all of these women, all of us different, but realizing we shared a lot in common. There are some universal things women from all backgrounds can relate to, and I found it refreshing to share this moment with all of the ladies. We also got to light a flame to really cool paper that floated into the air as is burned. I wish I could remember the name... that's something I wanted to use in the future with my own set of girlfriends.



Click here for Part 1
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Click here for Part 4

Girlfriend Getaway Part 2: Kayaking

One of the highlights of our Buick Girlfriend Getaway was kayaking for the first time! We were placed in the highly capable hands of the good folks at Whidbey Island Kayaking, and after a quick instruction set free to roam the water.

This was my first time kayaking and I must admit I was a bit nervous to do it. For some reason, despite being a water person, I still feel nervous when I'm sitting on top of the water and prefer exploring below the surface (y'all know I'm a certified scuba diver).

Natalie and I took a few mins to get our rhythm together, but ended up choosing a Beyonce playlist to find a cadence we could both maintain. Overall, kayaking was really enjoyable and quite relaxing. We got to see some cute stuff in the water (I loved the star fish) and it counted as an actual workout.

If you haven't gone yet, I'd highly recommend going with a friend. You should stay dry, but it's always best to wear something you don't mind getting wet and putting your phone in a protective case. Also keep in mind if your watch is waterproof/water resistant, as that's something folks easily forget about.






Click here for Part 1
Click here for Part 3

Girlfriend Getaway Part 1: My First Time on a Ferry + The Inn at Langley

Last Fall, I was one of 8 lucky ladies selected to attend a fabulous Girlfriend's Getaway sponsored by Buick and Seattle Refined. As a winner I was able to bring along a friend and it was a no-brainer to bring my partner in crime, Natalie. We're basically the Black Broad City of Seattle, so it was a dream to have a relaxing getaway and explore a new part of Washington together.

After a short ferry ride (which happened to be my first time ever on a ferry), we got to explore Whidbey Island where we stayed at the ultra luxurious Inn at Langley. This resort was absolutely breathtaking and a peaceful change of pace over the sometimes chaotic Cap Hill where Nat and I both live.

Below is part 1 of the trip where we road up in super comfy Buick cars (the cars were actually impressive), enjoyed the short ferry ride to Whidbey Island, and checked out our sickening rooms at the Inn at Langley... the room was so damn impressive it's worthy of its own post.

As you'll see in the video, Natalie and I had an absolute ball riding up with Seattle Refined host Gaard Swanson. He was super sweet and made us feel comfortable... it took NO time for our personalities to start shining and turn the ride into a lituation.

Also -- glad to showcase our #BlackGirlMagic on this trip as the melanin was definitely lacking. We were also the youngest of the group, though still in our 30s, and some of the only ladies who didn't have kids. I think it's an accurate reflection of the direction Seattle is going as the fastest growing city in the country where people have more dogs than kids. We work hard, play hard, and definitely enjoyed the peaceful break from our daily routine.

Sidebar: I personally think Natalie and I were meant for Reality TV, so if you know someone who is looking hit me up! #ShamelessPlug


Part 1


Click here for part 2

Iron Springs Resort The Most Dog Friendly Resort in Washington

One of the perks of living in Seattle is the close proximity to the coast! I absolutely LOVE the ocean and being within a short drive of an instant vacation.

The only downside to planning a vacation (for me), is having a dog. Yes, I adore my pooch and am a proud pet parent (aka Instagram Stage Mom), but between finding a pet sitter or a pet friendly resort, the struggle is real.

Enter my boyfriend.

He's been an absolute dream planning dog-friendly vacations at resorts or Air BNBs that are pet friendly and allow us to explore. Our most recent trip was to Iron Springs Resort in Copalis Beach, WA and it truly blew me away.

Not only is Iron Springs Resort dog friendly, they were named the 2016 "Most Dog Friendly Destination" by KING-5 TV. Finally an award that I can get behind.

After spending 3 days and 2 nights at the beautiful resort that sits on the Pacific Ocean, my boyfriend, dog and I all left relaxed, refreshed and singing their praises.

 The best perks for dog owners:

1) Dog friendly resort where dogs are allowed in all areas of the resort and beach -- it was great staying at a resort that allowed Khaleesi to be everywhere. Not once did I ever feel like she was unwelcome, and all the other dogs at the resort were super friendly. Also, major points for having private beach access that was relatively free of cars! This is huge

2) Dog bowls, towels and washing station at every cabin -- it was amazing having dog bowls and towels ready to go in the cabin for us. I also loved having our own hose/washing station in the front of our cabin so I could give Khaleesi a quick spray down after our romps on the beach.

3) Iron Springs Resort branded tennis ball and dog treat available at check-in -- This was very clutch considering Khaleesi lost one of her dog balls on the beach. Bring your chuck-it and get ready to have some fun! The tennis balls were the perfect touch and way to remember the trip.

For more information or to book your next stay click here.

Vegas with my Seattle Woes

Let's just take a moment to embrace the beauty and true blessing of traveling with a girlfriend who is also a professional photographer. Last weekend I spent 3 days in Vegas with my Seattle girlfriends and had a ball! Admittedly I was running on fumes since I was packing the days leading up to the trip (moved to a new neighborhood in Seattle), but we definitely got in our pool time!

Y'all... can I also just thank the ever fabulous Solange for creating the wedding picture pose that will go down in history as one of the most innovative of all time! While everyone else is doing the most Solange knew to just stand there and be great.

I want to start incorporating more travel type posts into my blog, so there will be a full write-up on the way for our stay in Vegas. I've been to Vegas many times, but this was my first time staying at The Cosmopolitan and having so much pool time. It was a fun trip.

Photos: Leah Blanton Photography

This is what happens when you go on vacation with a girlfriend who is also a photographer!! Yassss! @lablanton is awesome 👏 (slow clap) you're the real MVP! Photos: @lablanton #curlbox #SeattleNaturals #pnwnaturals #melanin #Vegas #cosmopolitan #thecosmopolitan #FBF #hiimcurrentlyobsessed

A photo posted by @sixtwentyseven on Sep 4, 2015 at 1:09pm PDT

Valley of the Sun

Yesterday we touched down in Arizona and can I just say how nice it is to be back home. The mountains, the blue skies... endless sunshine!!! Yes, I'll take it all. I haven't been back to visit for nearly 3 years and it's been great to see my family and relax before the move to Seattle next week.

Scottsdale is a big suburb (actually all of Phoenix feels like one big suburb), and it's a nice change of pace from Chicago. I'm definitely a city girl, but I have a suburban girl heart. Imagine the house and white picket  fence... but in a picture frame hanging up in my downtown condo lol. That's me in a nutshell.

We received a warm welcome to the valley with temps reaching 110+ degrees. There was even one point when my dash read 118 degrees! After cool, rainy temps in Chicago the past week I'm more than happy to soak up all the warmth I can.

Bienvenidos a El Paso

First off, Happy October!!! I can't believe the year is almost over!

I spent the past week in El Paso, Texas with my husband preparing for his 2nd deployment, but I might as well have been in Mexico - - thus the reason for the title of this post.

Although I'd been to Texas before (Houston, Amarillo, Dallas...), I'd never been this far South... literally 10 mins from the border and about 15 mins from Juarez, Mexico - - the most dangerous city in the world right now. As a friend so eloquently said, "The murder capital, where they murder for capital..."

Driving on the e-way you could see the ginormous Mexican flag waving proudly in the sky. This picture (to left) didn't do it much justice, but it was actually a HUGE and very beautiful thing... yet it couldn't distract from the eyesore that was the majority of Mexican homes. Wow, they looked like the freaking slums and shacks on shacks on shacks. No wonder why folks are always running for the border and a better life. Can't say I wouldn't be doing the same thing if in their position.

Crave Kitchen & Bar - - my favorite place

A highlight of our time in El Paso was the the food!! I mean, being that close to Mexico you would expect them to get Mexican cuisine right, but they hit it out of the park. Tex-Mex cuisine is so delicious, no wonder they're one of the most obese states. My favorite restaurant was hands-down Crave Kitchen & Bar. The food was impeccable and the service was great. I'm still thinking about the bacon-wrapped shrimp I had. Yummy in my tummy.

I'm someone that loves history and wanted to enjoy some of the historical delights that El Paso had to offer. I made my husband drive me to the cemetery (kinda creepy, I know lol), so I could view the Buffalo Soldiers memorial they had. My husband definitely wasn't a fan of trekking around the graves to find the memorial, so I had to send him back to the car to wait for me lol... everyone can't hang in a cemetery I guess...


Still, the memorial was pretty cool. Just the historical significance of the soldiers and all that they did - - again, I was reminded of how amazingly great black people were and it still makes me sad that we went from being soldiers to "soulja boys"...  *electronic tear*

Another fun part of my trip was being able to squeeze in some time with my family in Arizona. I think it's always wise to schedule longer layovers in cities you have friends/family so you can make the most of your travel time. Things worked out great as I had time to eat breakfast with my parents and play with my dog. And can I just say that when I stepped foot off the plane and into the gorgeous weather of AZ it definitely made me long to live there again. Yes, I still own a home there so I'm not totally free of AZ, but I work and live in Chicago right now and with the approaching Winter (which I'm dreading), the beautiful Fall/Winter temps of Arizona are calling my name.

I'm still learning to juggle my new job, school, and blogging... which I'm self-admittedly struggling with lol... but I'm hoping to set aside some time to knock a few blogs out and make some YouTube videos. I want to write about my life as a military (air force) wife, new hair cut trim I got which is driving me to tears (it's so freaking short), along with some other random musings.

Weather Woes

Living in Chicago I learned to accept that weather could be completely random... but the last thing I expected was a freaking snow storm in South Carolina! The South hadn't experienced any snow since 1997 and everything was shut down... including my flight out of there. I found myself stuck in the Columbia, SC airport and having to soldier up and call it a night. I must give props to anyone that is capable of sleeping in an airport as I wasn't. I just couldn't get comfortable. I was worried about my bags. I was worried about people walking around me. I was annoyed by the florescent lights that were on charge... not to mention the ladies voice that kept popping up every 20 mins reminding me to keep an eye on my bags. Geez! With all of that going on it was hard to get comfortable. Since I'm officially a military dependent I was able to enjoy the USO lounge, but once that closed it was a painful 10 hr wait until my flight boarded. I managed to kill some time watching Ghost Whisperer and How I Met Your Mother... but then I was drawing blanks. All around me folks seemed to have gotten cozy and catching zzzzz's, but not me. I was like a freaking zombie wide awake. I even killed some time by going to the bathroom and doing a twist-out on my hair! lol....

Has anyone mastered being able to sleep in an airport?

The Travel Bug Effect

NFL linebacker Dhani Jones is the newest addition to the Travel Channel family. On "Dhani Tackles the Globe", Jones can be seen jet setting across the country and taking in the most popular sports in the country that's hosting him.

This is a masculine spin on the typical travel shows that usually feature chefs (Extreme Foods with Andrew Zimmer, No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain), travel writers (Samantha Brown), or even playmates (Bridget's Sexiest Beaches). Finally, a show for the guy's guy... and boy oh boy, is Dhani Jones 100% man!

It's hard to talk about Jones without mentioning his uber sex appeal, eye candy status, or his stats. At 6'2", 235 lbs and a size 14 shoe Jones keeps me glued to my tv (mouth slightly ajar) and that 18.5" neck... it sends chills down my spine. Really, he is the prototype for the ideal man. Why can't they manufacture men like this? (sidebar: I can barely write this blog because I'm staring at his abs....)

But there's more to Dhani than meets the eye. This 31 yo is not only an 8 yr NFL veteran, but he's an entrepreneur too. He took his love of bow ties (think Farnsworth Bentley and Andre 3000) and founded Five Star Ties, his own line of men's accessories. When he's not on the field for the Cincinnati Bengals or designing for his fashion line, Jones enjoys writing poetry, oil-painting, and photography.

His show airs Monday nights 9p on the Travel Channel.

Episode 1 - Muay Thai in Thailand

Episode 2 - Schwingen in Switzerland

Adventures on the CTA

I love the CTA. It's like having a personal chauffeur. A bus pass is your golden ticket to the city - - you're able to go anywhere! Everyday I take the bus and am bombarded by various sights and sounds...sometimes smells lol...and I try my best to capture these precious moments...these are my adventures on the CTA.

Short People: I'm short and love seeing fellow petite comrades on the bus...especially seeing someone's feet....dangle!









Missing your bus: There's nothing worse than seeing your bus coming...and then GOING as you realize that even if you broke into an olympic worthy sprint, you'd never make it!










Nighttime Rides: There's a welcoming peace and tranquility when taking the bus after 9p. There are actual seats, typically there isn't some hood ass girl on her cell phone talking about everyone that has pissed her off right behind you...as well as the lack of commuters taking up valuable space with their bags, books, and sometimes kids...lol...