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Quick Stop in Madison, Wisconsin

March 28, 2022

Quick Stop in Madison, Wisconsin
📍 Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin, Midwest, quick stop, travel

Sweater (Also) || Jeans || Sneakers || Similar Tote Bag || Coat || Earrings || Bracelet

While I identify as a born and raised Floridian, a little known fact about me is that I lived in Wisconsin when I was a kid. While my family always called the Sunshine State home, there are a lot of fun memories from growing up in the Badger State. Many of them revolve around trips to Madison, about an hour away from where I lived. Home the University of Wisconsin, we frequently visited for shopping and swim meets. A few weeks ago, I flew back up to Wisconsin for a work conference and had a chance to revisit the city of my youth. Obviously, it’s changed so much, and I have a newfound appreciation for this state capital. Here’s a snapshot of my quick stop in Madison, Wisconsin.

Madison, Wisconsin, Midwest, quick stop, travel, Graduate, hotel — Credit: Graduate Hotel-Madison

Stay at the Graduate Hotel

While I didn’t stay here myself, I know my number one pick would easily be the Graduate Hotel. You can find this collection of hotels in many of the most loved college towns. What I love the most is that each of the 32 locations is uniquely designed with the college’s identity in mind. For Wisconsin, that means lots of plaids, nature photos, and an ode to the beloved cheese curd. Grab a bite at Camp Trippalindee, a rooftop spot with views of town.

Madison, Wisconsin, Coffee Shop, Travel, Style Blogger

Coffee at Wonderstate

I started my Madison morning with coffee and breakfast at Wonderstate Coffee. This coffee shop is absolutely wonderful! I was able to snag a spot by the window and had full views of the Wisconsin state capital building, which you can see below. Breakfast started with a White Chocolate-Peppermint Latte and ended with a Black Sesame Scone. Afterward, I had a chance to chat with the baristas behind the bar, who gave me a complete list of recommendations around the downtown area. If only I had more time to try them all out. I guess that means I need to make another trip to Madison soon.

Madison, Wisconsin, Burger, Travel, Style Blogger

Eat at the Settle Down Tavern

First off, what a great name! The Settle Down Tavern was the number one recommendation from my new barista friends. Better still, it was just around the corner from my coffee shop and open for lunch. I instantly had a good feeling when I entered the restaurant. I found a sunny corner spot at the bar, and I only wished I had come hungrier. They have an exclusive Toddy menu for cocktails in the wintertime, meaning hot drinks to warm up one cold Floridian. Since no trip to Wisconsin is complete without a healthy order of cheese curds, you know I had to order their rendition. Lovingly named Cheese Puppies, it’s safe to say I ate my body weight in cheddar. Want to order their burger? Good Idea! Seriously, that’s what they’re called, and for a good reason.

Madison, Wisconsin, is such an incredible town! Even though I was there for less than 24 hours, I quickly learned that I was only scratching the surface. If you happen to find yourself in Wisconsin or the Midwest, I cannot recommend experiencing this city enough! Madison, I honestly hope to see you soon!

Love from Wisconsin,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Snapshots from Disney World

March 7, 2022

Snapshots from Disney World
📍 EPCOT and Magic Kingdom

Disney, Disney World, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Florida

Dress (Similar) (Similar) || Sneakers || Hat || Earrings

Although I have so many fond childhood memories from Disney World, I wouldn’t exactly call myself a “Disney Adult.” Yes, I always like to watch the latest Pixar flick and sometimes have a hankering to watch old favorites, but that’s pretty much my limit. It’s been years since my last visit to the Happiest Place on Earth. With all of the recent changes that have taken place around the parks, it’s incredibly different from my previous visit. Still, when one of my dearest friends, Sydney, told me she was taking a long weekend, I just had to visit myself. After all, it’s just a short 90 minutes away. Let’s look at a few snapshots from our Disney World trip.

Check-In at Coronado Springs

I’ve stayed at many different Disney properties throughout the years, but this is the first time I received a “Welcome Home” at Coronado Springs. The resort received extensive renovations over the past few years, and it feels like a brand new hotel. The space is absolutely gorgeous! I wish I could go into details about the hotel, but it was just a place for us to lay down our heads for the night. In fact, we didn’t even get to our room until 10 pm, after a long day of navigating the parks. Coronado Springs has a great location, pristine rooms, and the beautiful grounds you expect from Disney. If we ever take an extended trip, I would have no problem re-booking here.

Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Florida, Disney, WDW, Disney World

Start the Day at EPCOT

After a quick breakfast from our hotel, we began our day at EPCOT. Although it’s a favorite, there’s a lot of growth and change going on here. In the next few years, I’m sure it’s going to be incredible! We opted to pay a little extra to access Genie Plus. Consider it a new and improved answer to the Fast Pass that my family could take advantage of when I was a kid. If I’m being frank, I don’t think the App is as user-friendly as it could be, but maybe I would have gotten used to it if I had been there for more than one day. I loved being able to see wait times around the park and being able to “book” a Lightning Lane pass every two hours. At EPCOT, we had passes for Soarin, Space Ship Earth, and Mission: SPACE. We had to skip Test Track, but I know there’s always next time!

Lunch Around the World

My favorite element of EPCOT is easily the World Showcase. Visiting each Country’s Pavilion is such a treat and something that seems to get better the older I get. If you enjoy an adult drink, you’ve probably heard about the Drink Around the World Challenge. As someone who has attempted it before, it’s not for the faint of heart. Since we were meeting friends, David and I were satisfied with just a few drinks to help us cool off in the warm Florida sun. Since the crowds were insane this weekend, we found the spots that had the shortest line. Because that means Cherry Limoncellos in Italy and Chai-Mint Mimosas in Morocco, I’m not complaining! We ended with Lunch in Morocco and Dessert in Germany before finding our friends at Magic Kingdom.

A Magic Kingdom Evening

After lunch and several miles, we took the monorail from EPCOT straight to Magic Kingdom. Honestly, is there anything more Disney than that? Because we booked the Park Hopper option, we could visit any other park we wanted after 2 pm. The timing worked out perfectly because we found our friends right on Main Street USA, enjoying the afternoon parade. From there, we booked a few Lightning Lanes and enjoyed our time in the park, although the 2 hours wait for Haunted Mansion wasn’t ideal. Eating any Mickey Ice Cream isn’t required, but still highly recommended. The evening ended with fireworks on Thunder Mountain and at least one more dessert. It was certainly a magical day if you ask me. David and I finally got back to Coronado Springs at around 11, and it was lights out. I think we walked about 20 miles and we were exhausted!

This blog post is just a quick PSA to listen to your inner child and make plans for the sake of nostalgia. Although I have a lifetime of childhood memories from Disney World, the 24 hours I just spent with friends may very top that list!

Love from Florida,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

2022 Resort Shopping Guide

February 17, 2022

2022 Resort Shopping Guide
📍St. Pete, Florida

Resort Shopping Guide, Rattan, Beach, Raffia, Cabana Life

This is a sequel to one of my favorite blog posts from last year, a 2021 Resort Shopping Guide. Living in Florida, we’re pretty fortunate to have vacation-like weather for most of the year. It brings visitors from the northern states in the “harsh” winter months. Partnering with Cabana Life, one of my favorite women-owned companies seemed like the perfect opportunity to round up my favorite Resort Trends for the year 2022. Happy shopping!

Sun Protective Dresses

My love for Cabana Life is no secret! If you plan on jetting off to somewhere sunny this Spring Break, I highly recommend packing a dress or two from their collection. Each is embedded with UPF 50+ to help your skin be healthy and sunburn-free. Better still, they offer a rainbow of different patterns in almost countless styles. There’s a perfect piece for every member of your family.

Woven Straw Tote Bag

The first thing I grab to get ready for a beach vacation is my oversized rattan tote bag. It makes for a surprisingly great carry-on and holds whatever you need. About this time last year, I brought mine on our trip to Harbour Island. From wandering around the resort to scootering to another part of the island, it was incredibly practical.

Raffia Earrings

Raffia earrings are here to stay! I loved them last year, and I still love them today. The biggest difference in 365 days is the size. Raffia earrings seem to be even bolder than their 2021 counterpart. Because the material is so naturally light, you can truly make a huge statement without sacrificing your ears. These earrings from St. Armands Designs are favorites that I wear as often as the occasion allows.

Natural Inspired Sandals

It seems, each year I treat myself to a new pair of sandals. Since they are my number one shoe, I wear them almost every day, and they take a beating. The must-have pair for the year is this raffia pair from Carrie Forbes sandals. I get compliments each time I wear them, and they’ve been holding up so well! When finding a beach sandal, I recommend something that can be dressed up or down, just in case you opt for dinner afterward.

A Grand-Millennial Sun Hat

Do you want an additional piece of protection from the sun? How about an oversized straw hat! It’s incredible how much they help, even with the sunscreen and sunglasses. Last year, I splurged on this beautiful work of art from Sarah Bray Bermuda, and it was such a great investment! They are so many different styles to choose from. Plus, you can pick from a rainbow of ribbons (including vintager florals) to create a hat that perfectly fits your style!

Retro Inspired Sunglasses

Just like skincare, your eye health isn’t something to be taken lightly. That’s why, when I go to the beach, I say the bigger, the better! These cat-eye J. Crew specs have been my most used pair of sunglasses for years. They give off an updated Jackie O vibe. I love them so much, I have them in both tortoise and black.

Personalized Beach Towels

And don’t leave home without it! Your beach towel will wear so many hats on your day out to the sand and surf: blanket, hair wrap, coverup, and the list goes on! Weezie makes the closest thing you’ll find to the perfect beach towel. It’s soft and plush but somehow isn’t a magnet for all the sand you could pick up along the way. As a great alternative that is so much easier to pack, I can’t wait to start carrying around my new Julia Amory Pareo for whenever the mood strikes! Please visit the blog later this week to see how I style the latest addition to my wardrobe.

Vacation Worthy Reads

Although I’m typically partial to biographies on incredible women, I’m trying to sprinkle in more lighthearted novels. So far into 2022, I’ve been doing a pretty good job of that! I have a long list of beach reads to pack along inside my rattan tote bag for my next vacation. One that I’ve heard so many great things about is aptly named Beach Read. It’s the top recommendation, and I can’t wait to have it on my bookshelf.

As the weather begins to warm up, be sure to treat yourself by filling your closet with new vacation-ready pieces. Find the joy in shopping for new destinations. Don’t forget to book an incredible trip along the way. Happy travels!

Love from Florida,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.