On the Road Again: Gearing Up For Our Next Move

With less than three weeks in Monterey, the hubby and I are gearing up for our next adventure:






That's right we're moving to Portland! The hubby will be doing his internship in Portland, Oregon from May until September. We are both excited for this new adventure and the chance to experience all of the great things Portland has to offer. I of course will be sharing all of those adventures right here on the blog. If you have any recommendations on things to do, places to visit or other insights on Portland, please share in the comments below!


Until next time!



~Adventures of a Nappy Chica

Final Countdown in Monterey Part 2: Hotel 1110 + Cupcakes & Champagne

Two weeks ago one of my friend's celebrated his birthday in style at Hotel 1110 in Monterey. When the hubby and I first moved to Monterey several people mentioned this at a must-see spot before leaving the area. Not to mention you can see the rooftop lounge as you drive up Del Monte.

We were lucky enough to have great weather so we could really enjoy the beautiful views. Definitely check out this spot if you find yourself in Monterey.

Getting the party started

Look at the view! I definitely will miss this seeing this everyday.

With the birthday boy :)

Cupcakes & Champagne

Sometimes girls just wanna have...cupcakes and champagne! Although we love the men in our lives sometimes it is nice just to hang out with your girlfriends. So a friend and I organized a cupcake and champagne themed potluck for the girls in my hubby's cohort. We supplied the yummy Pink Velvet cupcakes and the other ladies brought yummy champagne to share.

Our pink velvet cupcakes before we put icing on them. Yes, pink velvet cupcakes are a thing. That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Recipe courtesy of Paula Dean.

Yummy icing.

                              What are some of your favorite things to do in your city?

Final Countdown in Monterey Part 1: Point Lobos

I can't believe in 5 weeks and 5 days our time in Monterey will be over! It's so close I can taste it! The past 7 months have been difficult  interesting to say the least. While I'm thankful for the friendships and experiences (well some of them) during our time here, it is time for this city girl to move on to bigger pastures. So, to honor celebrate the final weeks, I'll post some of my adventures in Monterey. First up is our recent trip to Point Lobos.

As much as I dislike the lack of diversity in this city town, I have to admit there is plenty of beautiful scenery in Monterey. Being so close to the water and experiencing the breathtaking landscape as been the best part of this whole experience. With our time winding down, the hubby and I are trying to hit all the great spots before we leave. After hearing both the locals and our friends talk about the Point Lobos, I decided to check it out for myself.

Point Lobos is known as the "crowning jewel" of the California State Park system.  Located south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, this area refers to the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Point Lobos State Marine Reserve and Point Lobos State Marine Conservation Area. In addition to the amazing views, there are numerous hiking trails and a whaling museum to explore. Here are some of the pictures from our little adventure.

The hubby before he cut of his winter beard

If you're ever in Monterey, be sure to visit Point Lobos and expereince the beauty for yourself.

Finding a Place to Live in a New City or State

You landed your dream job but it's out of state. Moving out of state can be exciting but it can also be stressful. Finding a place that fits your style and preferences can be a challenge, especially if you are not familiar with the city or state. The search can quickly become frustrating if you don't know where to search. Sure, sites like Craigslist might be a way to start your search but there are other resources that may help.

                       

  

 After two out of state moves and some bad rental experiences, I learned some helpful tips that can help you find and secure a place that fits your needs. Click here to read about Finding a Place to Live in a New City or State on StrongIsourSexy.com .

Whale Watching, Big Sur and another trip to San Fran

The last week of 2014 is officially here! The last few weeks have been filled with new adventures that I want to share with you. I hope you enjoy :)!

Whale Watching

As I mentioned in my last adventure post, my father-in-law came to visit us for a week. One of the last adventures we took with him was a whale watching tour. Since this was my first time on a boat, my father-in-law opted for a private rubber raft. Before our tour, I took a Dramamine (the less drowsy formula) about 2 hours or so before and I also picked up some anti-nausea ginger gum. I figured it was better to be safe than sorry and sick on the boat.

The tour was great! Unfortunately, we didn't see any whales at least not up close. We did see some otters, sea lions and some amazing swells (waves).

* Side note: After the tour the Dramamine really kicked in and I was out of commission the rest of the day. I slept a total of 10 hours and I was still groggy in the morning. I can't imagine what the regular formula is like.

Big Sur

Big Sur has been on my to-do list since we moved out here. But because of the rain we got recently, many of the parks were closed. Instead of letting the trip go to waste, we explored the area around Big Sur. Hopefully, the hubby and I will get a chance to go back in the future. 

San Francisco

To celebrate the end of the hubby's first semester of grad school and to get some much needed alone time, we headed up to San Francisco the weekend before Christmas. We did a lot of the touristy things during our first visit to the city two years ago, so this time was all about relaxing. If you're looking for a great hotel, I highly recommend Hotel Kabuki in Japantown. I loved the decor and the on site restaurant is excellent.

If you go to San Francisco, stop by the Chancellor Hotel for breakfast. Try the sourdough pancakes and the chilaquiles. Chilaquiles is basically a breakfast nacho and it is awesome! Check out some other pictures from our weekend trip below.

My dinner choice at O Izakaya Lounge (in Hotel Kabuki)

The hubby's dinner choice = Ramen

Next door to our hotel

Chilaquiles

Enjoying a flight at 21st Amendment Brewery

Hanging out in Union Square

Until next time!

~Adventures of a Nappy Chica

Look ma, I'm flying!

I'm not usually a daredevil, at least I wouldn't describe myself that way. But, when my father-in-law said he wanted to cross something off his bucket list during his visit, I was game.

When we arrived at Bay Area Glider Rides, the fog threatened to ruin our plans. But, after about an hour or so the fog cleared and we were ready to start our adventure. My father-in-law's decided on the Mile High Mountain ride, which gave great views of the Diablo Mountain Range. We snagged a few photos of him before his ride and got a short video of him in the glider before he landed.

My father-in-law before his glider ride

All strapped in



Bringing the glider to its takeoff location

Getting ready to take off

         

Then it was our turn in the glider. The hubby and I decided on the Monterey Bay Adventure, which highlighted some of the farmland and other attractions along the Central Coast. The hubby was able to capture a bit of our ride on video. Here are some pictures and video of our ride.

The hubby and I before our ride

                         

                            

One of the many beautiful views we saw during our ride

                      

It was such a fun experience. I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in a cool adventure. This might just be my preferred method of traveling. 

Have you tried a new activity or adventure? If so, what did you do?

Until next time!

~Adventures of a Nappy Chica

Friendsgiving: A Fun Twist on a Traditional Holiday

 This year the hubby and I thought it would be a great idea to have a Friendsgiving. Now that we're out in California, flying back to Ohio for Thanksgiving isn't really an option for us at this point. Some of our friends (who are also in the hubby's graduate program)  couldn't go home for Thanksgiving either and loved the idea.

                                   

Some of us posing for a pic

The food was amazing and it gave everyone a chance to relax. The hubby and I brought the turkey (pre-cooked from Whole Foods). Unfortunately we don't have an oven, so we had to buy it. I have to admit, I was afraid that the turkey wouldn't be that great. But, the turkey was delicious! If you don't have the time, energy or space to cook a turkey, definitely check out Whole Foods.

Caught in the act

                                                                                                  

After our feast, we played Cards Against Humanity. I can't believe I just found out about this game! Now, this game is designed to shock, appall and make you laugh. Keep that in mind if you decide to purchase or play it. We ended up playing for hours until it was time to call it a night.

 

If you can't travel home for Thanksgiving, think about hosting a Friendsgiving. It was a lot of fun and something we'll do again in the future.

                                                    How did you spend Thanksgiving? 

Until next time!

~Adventures of a Nappy Chica