Tusks and Tails

California Casita with Desenio

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 14:51:00 +0000

Earlier this year in January we decided to leave the East Coast for a new experience. We came to San Diego, California. We have always loved San Diego and wanted to spend some part of our life out here. Upon our arrival we rented a short term furnished leased just for a few months. During those three months we started planting our feet, became friends with the owners and decided to stay here through the year and into the next year as well!

Since we know Cali isn't permanent at this point in our life, we left all of our belongings and furniture back in Philly. But now that we know we are going to be staying in San Diego through 2024 I wanted to make some things more our style. Desenio is the perfect way to do so!

We both love a very neutral Scandinavian home style. Anything neutral and airy with added details of texture is right up our alley. I fell in love with the Composition iii print and Composition iv art print. Desenio also offers custom frames in various colors to make it easy to display immediately. Desenio has such a wide range of products you can update any space on a budget!

Use code "TUSKSANDTAILS" for 40% off to give your space an update.

MIAMI

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 17:55:00 +0000

Living in Philadelphia, the weather is very moody this time of year. By the time March rolls around I am ready to escape to warmer weather. Miami is the perfect little getaway, with only being a 2.5 hour flight from Philly. We spent 4 days with Loews Miami and it was amazing!

Once we landed we headed straight to our hotel. Our room had a balcony with beautiful ocean views. We had some rosé while we unpacked and then cocktails by the pool. Later on, we walked around Ocean Drive, the hotel is within steps of the Versace Mansion, then freshened up for a Cuban dinner.

The next morning we went out in search for Cortadito (Cuban coffee). Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel for a day by the pool. Loews Miami provided us with an 'adults only soak cabana' for the day. Soak Cabanas come with your own private cabana, including 4 lounge chairs, along with a butler service from 9-6pm. We were sipping on frozen mojitos all day! I love how refreshing mint is in drinks. We ate lots of yummy food throughout the day including tuna niçoise salad, grilled octopus skewers, shrimp cocktail, baja chicken, veggie burger and more. They even walk around offering complimentary cocktails and beverages to try. It was the most relaxing experience! If you visit and reserve a cabana, ask for Paul. He was extremely kind and accommodating. We had so much fun with him!

The Loews Miami has several great restaurants right on site, along with serving Starbucks coffee. For breakfast we ate at Preston's Market attached to the hotel. You can sit inside or outside and have a view of the palm trees, pool, and beach in the distance. They offer a buffet or sit down dining. We chose to dine outside to enjoy the weather and view. Their avocado toast and eggs Benedict were delicious!

After breakfast we headed down to the beach. If you're staying at the hotel the beach lounge chairs are complimentary. They also offer umbrellas and private day beds, which we absolutely took advantage of. The day bed was perfect to give you the option for shade if the sun gets too hot. They sit a few feet high off the sand and include cushioned pads to lay down or sit up along with an huge awning to hide from the sun. Similar to the pool cabana, you get butler service with the beach front day beds. Loews Miami sits directly on South Beach which has bright blue warm ocean water, just like the Caribbean.

Our last evening in Miami we dined at another on-site restaurant, Lure Fishbar. The restaurant's decor is a swanky nautical atmosphere with dim lighting. We started off with some cocktails, of course. I got the Sake 75 which was Tanqueray gin, Soto sake, basil, cucumber, honey, and Prosecco. It was beyond delicious! Josh got The 4 B's which was Bulleit bourbon, Brute Americano, Banane du Bresil, and bitters. We started with spicy tuna crispy rice, oyster deviled eggs, and tempura shrimp tossed in spicy sesame mayo for appetizers. If you know me you know sushi is my favorite food. So for dinner we got a Kenai Roll: spicy wild king salmon, cucumber, fried shallots. HellFire Roll: spicy tuna, cucumber, temporary flake, brûléed tuna, avocado, with kimchi sauce. Dynamite Roll: spicy scallop topped with spicy tuna, yellowtail, and tobiko and a side of the house fried rice. This meal was some of the best sushi I ever had and a great ending to a much needed trip! Thank you Loews Miami for an amazing time.

For more recommendations visit my Miami highlight on my Instagram.

ALEXIS HOTEL SEATTLE

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:41:00 +0000

I have been wanting to visit Seattle since I was obsessed with The Postal Service and Death Cab For Cutie in high school. The pacific north west always gave me that gloomy, cozy vibe from photos so when we finally booked our trip my 16 year old self was screaming inside. If you have never visited Seattle you need to add it to the top of your travel list!

We stayed at The Alexis Royal Sonesta Hotel Seattle. The boutique hotel is in a dreamy historic building from 1901 that was given a luxurious remodel with neutral tones, and is decorated with local art! Our room was unreal. Super cozy with a king bedroom, spa like bathroom with a rain shower, big comfy living room, dinning area with a wet bar and great views of the water! Overall our room was bigger then our apartment in Philly, haha. The Alexis also has great added amenities. Bicycles you can take out for the day, complimentary umbrellas, the chroma spa, dog friendly, and they have parking.

The Alexis Hotel is in a perfect walkable location to so much! Pike Place Market, the very first Starbucks, Pioneer Square, with tons more restaurants and shops only steps away. The staff was incredible nice and helpful, they gave us great recomendations and made our stay enjoying and carefree. We absolutely loved our stay with The Alexis Sonesta and are planning to stay there on our next visit to Seattle!

Pack Up + Go : Kimpton Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 18:22:00 +0000

If you know me, you know traveling is my favorite thing. I look at it just as I would paying my bills, it's something I will always spend money on and I need it. Over the last year traveling has been very different, but Pack Up + Go gave me a great travel experience right in my city of Philadelphia with one of my closest friends Jimmy!

Pack Up + Go is a surprise travel agency. First starts by you answering a short quiz on personally interests. (Examples; staycation, road trip, outdoors, plane, trains etc.) You will set a destination, a budget, and a timeframe along with favorite types of food, activities, and just the basics on how you like to personally travel. The best part is everything is a complete surprise until your about to leave for your trip!

The morning of our staycation I received a fun envelope with an itinerary for the weekend. To start we had check-in instructions for the Kimpton Hotel Palomar, we were welcomed with a bottle of wine and desserts waiting in the room. Kimpton Hotels are all over the world not just Philly. If you ever get a chance to stay in one, do it, each location is so unique and beautiful! In our itinerary we were given our plans for dinner at Parc, a charming french bistro that Jimmy has never been too. (Parc is already one of my favorite restaurants in Philly, their french onion soup is to die for!) Along with tickets to a walking food tour for the next day. We explored different food stops in the city included a Philly Cheesesteak of course and ended at the famous Reading Terminal Market.

Overall Pack Up + Go put together a perfect weekend for us based off the questions I answered before the trip. I would highly recommend their service. Would be perfect to surprise a significant other, girls trips or even a solo trip to explore a new city! Thank you for a wonderful weekend, check out my Instagram for a fun reel from the weekend!

SMOKED S'MORES BOULEVARDIER

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 13:04:00 +0000

With fall approaching I have the perfect drink to have fireside camping with friends or even indoors! The marshmallows I'm using are infused with bourbon but you can use any kind you like. Below I'm sharing an easy fun fall drink.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Coopers' Craft Bourbon

1 oz Campari

1 oz Sweet Vermouth

Graham Crackers

Chocolate

Marshmallows

First I melted chocolate and crushed up a few graham crackers. I dipped the rim of the mug into the chocolate and then immediately into the crushed graham crackers to garnish the rim. Next I mixed to together all my liquids and poured into glass over ice. Lastly I torched a few marshmallows until crispy on the outside and garnished the drink. Enjoy!

Must be 21 to drink - Coopers' Craft

DESENIO

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 15:08:00 +0000

I used to always decorate with photos I have taken or of me with people. Don't get me wrong I still have photos up from travels through Europe but lately I have been loving and wanting to put art work on my walls. I found these two prints from Desenio that I am obsessed with!

Since moving into our apartment last fall I haven't done much with the walls in the bedroom. I wanted to add in some modern minimal styled art pieces to pull it all together. I gravitate towards neutral colors for everything, from clothes or decor. I knew I wanted to stay in that color family so I searched their easy website by typing in neutrals first. The ones I chose were Abstract Lines and Shapes and the other print is Beige Art Poster. I decided to put them both into white frames so a sleeker look!

You can use code TUSKSANDTAILS at this link for 25% off your purchase until September 3rd, enjoy! #deseniopartner

Pantene: Waterless Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 16:32:00 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pantene. All opinions are 100% mine.

Women have more days where they don't wash their hair than when they do. Having longer thick curly hair I have always only washed my hair 1-2 times a week. Trust me it's a process haha, then after 2 days of clean hair I usually just wear my hair in a bun until its washed again. A recent study showed that 71% of women cannot keep great hair days in between washes, can you relate? I am so excited to have found the new Pantene Waterless Collection. It has helped me style my hair as if it was right after a fresh wash. Now we all can officially #BanTheBun!

When banning my bun I start by using the Pantene Never Tell Dry Shampoo Spray. It's filled with Pro-Vitamin B5 and wild mint, it's also paraben-free and sulfate-free ! The mint gives your hair a fresh start with tapioca that absorbs excess oil as you apply to your scalp and roots. I apply it all over my scalp and rub it in with my fingers then proceed to brush through the rest of my hair. I then move onto using the Pantene Mist Behaving Dry Conditioner Mist! I've never used a dry conditioner before but now I'm obsessed. The conditioner mist helps with detangling, frizzy hair and controlling fly aways. To use, you simply spray at the ends of your hair and brush out. This product is also paraben and sulfate free. Plus, it's made with Pro-Vitamin B5, Omega-9, aloe and jojoba oil, leaving your hair nourished for a full 24 hours!

Lastly, I want to talk about the Pantene Curl Affair Curl Reshaping cream. If your hair is curly that tends to frizz easily, this product is perfect for you. Trust me a little bit goes along way. This is pumped with anti-frizz hydration that works to block humidity, keeps your curls smooth all day and defines curls with no crunch. Another nice thing is you can use this product multiple days in a row between washing! I twist or scrunch it into my dry hair for a more polished look, you can even use this to apply to damp/wet hair!

Pick up the new Pantene Waterless Collection now at Walmart!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pantene. All opinions are 100% mine.

Seaview, A Dolce Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 17:17:00 +0000

Even if you can't travel far, a little weekend away to have a change of scenery is perfect to recharge. Located about an hour outside of Philly in Galloway, NJ is The Seaview Hotel! If you don't know where Galloway is, don't worry, I didn't either. Turns out that it's right up the street from Atlantic City, but much quieter! When you enter inside the newly renovated hotel, you're greeted by a stylish lobby decorated with tufted sofas, a marble bar, and a roaring fireplace. We arrived on a Friday night after work and were ushered into our suite (which was bigger than our apartment haha) with champagne, chocolates and treats for Buddy!

After we got Buddy settled in, we kicked off our stay at one of the hotel restaurants, Coastal Grille. Josh and I both ordered the clam chowder along with some items to share. Don't sleep on that soup, it was excellent! The Seaview Salad was amazing. It's filled with scallops, grilled shrimp, avocado, hard-boiled egg, crispy bacon, blue cheese and a lemon vinaigrette. One thing Coastal Grille is known for is their "Monday Night Special." This includes their famous burger and fries, paired with a shot of White Cap Whiskey from Little Water Distillery and a cold Double IPA from Hidden Sands Beer! This is available every Monday night from 5-10pm.

Saturday morning we woke up and took Buddy on a long walk around the premises. The Seaview Hotel is massive and has a golf course on site along with a walking trail. Buddy loved being out of the city and roaming through nature. After our walk, we returned to our room for breakfast in bed room service! We had fresh squeezed orange juice, grapefruit juice, champagne, eggs, bacon and chocolate chip pancakes. Buddy had some bacon too and was in heaven! As I mentioned earlier, our room was bigger than our apartment, for real. If you watch the Seaview highlight on my Instagram, I have a room tour you can check out! When you walk in, there was a foyer with a coat closet and a long hallway to the right. That's where there was a wet bar and a powder room. At both ends of the hallway there were double doors leading into another room. Inside of there was an enormous living space to hang out in with a wall-mounted flatscreen TV. It also served as a dining area and had a desk for workspace. The bedroom was its own vibe with bay windows and a table and chairs set up. I sipped my morning coffee there looking out to the water in the distance. Our bedroom had a HUGE bathroom with a walk-in closet and dressing area as well as a marble shower and separate tub.

After eating breakfast and hanging out with Buddy for a bit, we went to check out the indoor pool. It was heated and we had the entire place to ourselves! With the indoor pool being so nice, I want to come back in the summer and use the outdoor pool. Later on, we drove over to the beach for sunset since the hotel is only about a 10 minute drive to the coast. It was FREEZING out, but so worth it! I feel so relaxed and at peace when I'm on the beach or near water, anyone else?

On the way back to the hotel from the beach we got a fun surprise. Our friends from New Jersey were watching my Instagram Stories during our stay and thought the hotel looked so cute that they booked a room for themselves! Even the 1 bedroom standard guest rooms were so charming! We all met in the lobby for dinner and drinks to end the night.

Sunday mornings at The Seaview Hotel is the place to be. They put on a lavish champagne brunch that was voted among the "100 Best Brunch Spots in America" by OpenTable. The spread was filled with salads, fruits, seafood, a carving station, an omelette station, along with a waffle station. They also had a dessert section to satisfy your sweet tooth. You could say we lived like royalty during our stay! Overall our experience at Seaview Hotel was exceptional. I really can't say enough good things! Everybody who worked at The Seaview was by far the nicest hotel staff I've ever met and were so welcoming to Buddy. I would recommend anyone who wants a weekend getaway or is planning a trip to the beach to stay here. I know we will be back with Buddy during the summer to enjoy The Seaview in the warmer months!

ART IN THE AGE

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 18:23:00 +0000

I always enjoy trying a new cocktail! I wanted to share a fun new recipe that I have been enjoying lately. Thought this drink could be perfect for the Galentines / Valentines weekend ahead!

APHRODITE'S JUJU

+ 4oz Universal Spirit Vodka

+ 1 tsp coriander seeds

+ 1 tsp dried spearmint

+ 1 tsp dried orange peel

+ 1 tbsp dried rose petals

+ 4 oz water

Add The Universal Spirit and all dried herbs into a airtight jar with lid and store in a dark cool place for a week. (I tried this for 48 hours and still tasted great.) After a week dilute a drop of your mixture with a drop of water, if the taste is to your liking, proceed to strain. If not, reseal and continue to steep and continue to taste daily.

Once to your liking, strain the mixture through a small colander lined with cheesecloth, or a clean tea towel into a clean container. Press on the soaked herbs to extract as much liquid as possible. Dilute the liquid with equal parts water and transfer to dropper bottle. To use the mixture, place 5 to 10 drops into 8 oz of water, tea, or any drink of your choice! Enjoy!

Aside from the drink shared above, this book has over 100 cool recipes inside. They even have a special drink for each zodiac sign, which I personally love!

Universal Spirit Vodka and Infused Spirits book available at Art In The Age!
Art In The Age also has a tasting room and bottle shop at:
116 North 3rd St
Philadelphia, PA 19106

15fdc2f0972d8ffaa41dcfd19fd4e17f4c7994bd11bcf202cd

AMSTERDAM FOOD GUIDE

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 20:21:00 +0000

When it comes to traveling, you could say we travel for food. I love to experience new foods and different cultures. I will seriously eat anything or at least try it once! I usually do lots of food research before traveling and make a list of places to go. So for Amsterdam I wanted to share the places we enjoyed the most on our trip!

Bam Boa - Bam Boa is not right in the city central area but worth the trip. We rode bikes along the Amstel canal to get there. One of the main reasons we went was because a girl I follow on Instagram is the owner of Bam Boa. Besides the food and drinks being delicious, the inside is so Instagramable. By the way, the food was great for any meal of the day.

Blue Amsterdam - Want to eat with a view? You need to go to Blue Amsterdam! I would recommend this place more for lunch or even coffee / breakfast. The restaurant is located at the top of a shopping area with an entire 360 view of the city. They even have binoculars on the tables for you to look out while eating! Both our sandwiches were SO good and the drinks were unique, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Mama Kelly - I kept seeing this place all over instagram before our trip! I recommend making a reservation here because it can fill up quick. It’s become a very popular spot for tourists especially based on its location. The atmosphere inside is absolutely amazing with everything being pink. It’s more of an experience to go to the restaurant vs being known for the food in my opinion. The food was good, don’t get me wrong, but not mind blowing to us. The vibe, however, is just so cool. Josh and I both got such delicious drinks and some food to share.

The restaurants mentioned above are more of a sit down eating style. Next I'm going to share more of the "street food" places we really enjoyed and some things that you must try in Amsterdam!

Van Wonderen - Amsterdam is known for their stroopwafel and Van Wonderen is the place to get them! There are multiple locations throughout the city and they make them fresh right in front of you. If you know me, I am not a sweets person but, I could eat these all day. If you don’t know what a stroopwafel is, they’re two thin wafer cookies with melted caramel inside. At Van Wonderen you can choose any type of toppings to go on top as well. That includes nuts, chocolate, Oreos, and even marshmallows along with many others!

The Happy Pig - This place is unreal! They serve rolled pancakes, almost like crepes. Josh and I got a savory and a sweet one to be able to share and enjoy both kinds. I ordered smoked gouda cheese with bacon and Josh got fresh strawberries. He asked for half to have melted chocolate and the other half to be drizzled with honey. Best of both worlds! We walked over to a canal and sat along the water to eat them which was very enjoyable because there’s very little room to sit inside!

Kibbeling & Herring - These fishes might be the most known “street food” or “snack” in the city. They have stands all over the city just like the hot pretzel stands here. We rode our bikes to the trendy neighborhood of De Pijp to try them at an outdoor market called Albert Cuyp Market. Kibbeling is fried salt cod chunks that comes with tons of dipping sauces on the side. Herring is served raw with diced raw onions and sliced gherkins on top. We definitely loved Kibbeling more, but try both to get the full experience of Dutch culture!

Croquettes / Bitterballen - You can find these anywhere and everywhere in Amsterdam. So f*cking good! I ate way too many on our trip, haha! You can even find them in vending type machines off the street. You put 1 euro in the machine and it opens up and pops out a hot croquette. A lot of these quick-mart type of places also serve up hamburgers which seemed to be quite popular in Amsterdam too!

French Fries - Another dish you can find on every street corner. French fries are a true weakness of mine. Of course, I was eating them left and right with the “mayo.” The dutch mayo does not taste anything like the one here in the US. It has a more garlicky foundation. I need to figure out where I can buy their kind in bulk! There are Fry stands all over and they come packed in a paper cone full of fries. You’re supposed to able to eat them on the go while walking! Most of the places we came across have tons of unique sauces to add on the side for dipping as well.

Kapsalon - We were recommended by serval people to eat Kapsalon. It’s not fancy, but it’s so damn good! Considered a fast food dish in Amsterdam, Kapsalon is a layer of french fries served in a dish topped with shawarma meat and gouda cheese, all melted in an oven. Yum! Once that is heated up it gets topped with a “salad” which is made up of lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and onion. Lastly, it’s dressed with a healthy bit of garlic chili sauce.

Food Hallen - This is like a food hall market, with a wide variety of different cuisines. They even offer venders with gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options. Josh and I got a few things from different spots to be able to try a little bit of everything. We got Dumplings, Spanish tapas, Bitterballen, Sausage sandwich with bacon and mustard, and a variety of cheeses on little baguettes!

Lastly I wanted to mention the Coffee Shops, which I figured was appropriate to add into the food category hahah! A coffee shop in Amsterdam is not what a coffee shop is in the U.S. Over there, coffee shops are where you can buy cannabis or hash. Of course we went to a few… you have to if you’re visiting! The cutest one that I would highly recommend (if you’re into it) is Boerejongens Coffeeshop, go to the one at Utrechtsestraat 21, 1017 VH, Amsterdam. The inside is all gold and marble and the workers are dressed up fancy!

Click here for my Amsterdam Travel Guide!

CHRISTMAS BLACK ON BLACK

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:13:00 +0000

I have always been into wearing black on black, although it doesn't really seem festive around the holidays. I found the perfect way to give it that extra step, pair it with a red lip! So simple but a red lip will make anything seem for Holiday chic. Here I wore a sheer ruffle blouse from FemmeLuxe which I have been obsessed with and paid it with a high waited trousers. Perfect for work, night out or even a holiday party!

STYLISH WATER RESISTANT BOOTS

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 14:01:00 +0000

Living in the northeast it is crucial to have a good pair of water resistant shoes. We have yucky weather over the cooler months and your never know when its going to rain or even snow! Its also very hard to find a pair thats cute and stylish, I personally am not a fan on the traditional rain boot. Dont get wrong I find them cute on other people but they are never comfortable to me around my calf and I feel like my feet are always freezing in them!

Now I have found the perfect pair, the Ellin Boot from EMU Australia! They are water resistant, fur lined and the look like a chelsea boot! Super stylish, I have already worn them out with a dress, jeans, and of course the outfit here!

COOPERS' CRAFT BOURBON

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 19:09:00 +0000

Fall is one of my absolute favorite times of year. The holidays are right around the corner plus with the trees changing colors, the smell of firewood and just the overall excitement of the season put me in the mood to celebrate! It’s always fun to craft up some seasonal drinks while entertaining or simply having a stay-at-home date night with your significant other. I’ve put together two cocktails using Coopers’ Craft Bourbon that are perfect for fall!

They really nail the mix of smoky and sweet for a balanced taste. It has hints of spice and notes of baked apple that pair well with all things autumn. Josh happens to be way more of a bourbon drinker than me, but Coopers’ Craft quickly has become one of my go-to liquors to stir up! We are hosting Thanksgiving at our place this year and these two drinks are for sure what I’ll be making.

Bourbon Champagne

+ 1 part Coopers’ Craft 82.2 Bourbon

+ 1 part Champagne

+ 1/2 cup sugar

+ 1/2 cup water

+ Berries

First, you will melt the water and sugar together over medium heat, stirring until clear, not cloudy. Once the simple syrup is cooled down, it’s time to make your cocktail! Fill half your glass with Champagne, add a shot of Coopers’ Craft 82.2 Bourbon, and a shot of simple syrup. (You can add more to your liking.) Stir together and garnish with frozen berries.

Bourbon & Berries

+ 1 part Coopers’ Craft 82.2 Bourbon

+ Simple Syrup

+ Club Soda

+ 1 lemon

+ Berries

Instead of ice I chose to use frozen berries for this drink! Add the frozen berries into each glass. Fill up the glass half-way with club soda or seltzer water. Add a shot of Coopers’ Craft 82.2 Bourbon and a tablespoon of simple syrup. Cut the lemon in half, squeeze one half equally into glasses. Garnish with lemon slice and enjoy!

I hope you loved these drinks as much as I did! You can also check out the website for Coopers’ Craft and get even more drink ideas to make! If your family and friends are anything like mine, these recipes are certain to be a hit with whomever you spend the holidays with!

Cheers!

Thanks to Coopers’ Craft for sponsoring this post.
This content is intended for people of legal drinking age. Coopers’ Craft 21+
Honor the Craft. Drink Responsibly.
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 41.1-50% ABV, Brown-Forman Beverages, Louisville, KY

AMSTERDAM TRAVEL GUIDE

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 19:07:00 +0000

I have always wanted to visit Amsterdam, it was just never the top of my list. After visiting, I can easily say it is tied at number one with Paris for my favorite cities I've traveled to! Everything about the city is just so charming and magical, it's like nowhere I have ever been. We spent a week there, but easily could have stayed longer and still not have seen everything. If you don't have a week to spend there, there's still a lot to see with only a few days time. I put together a little travel guide to share some of our highlights and favorite things about Amsterdam. You can also see more on my Instagram!

First off, we stayed at The Eden Hotel Amsterdam. It was prime location! Our hotel was right on the Amstel River which is the biggest river that runs through the city and connects into the canals. We walked everywhere from out hotel unless we rented bikes to cruise around. Two blocks from our hotel is where we rented bikes (Black Bikes is who we used), but there were bike rental options around every corner. The Eden Hotel was very spacious. We had a top floor room with a canal view, it was unreal! The beds were insanely comfy and I slept so peacefully each night. We even had our own Nespresso maker in the room which was very helpful. Instead of spending money every morning at cafes, I was able to make my own espresso in the room and drink it while getting ready. I could have moved right in!

I mean look at this view from our room

You have to rent bikes while in Amsterdam! Everyone, and I mean everyone, rides a bike. There is actually bike traffic if there is such a thing, haha. People either walk everywhere or bike around town. I love that about Europe. I feel like was meant to live in Europe! We chose to go with Black Bikes, which was close to our hotel as I had mentioned. They were super friendly. If you follow me, you'd have seen in my stories that I crashed my bike and broke the reflector off! Oops! They didn't even charge anything extra for that and said insurance was included with our rental in case of an accident. It's a great way to see the city and get around faster.

There are lots of neighborhoods that make up the city, just like any city. The two that really stood out to us were Jordaan and De Pijp! We found ourselves going back to each multiple times during our trip.

Jordaan: Jordaan is exactly what you envision Amsterdam to look like in your mind. All the iconic photos of the city have to be taken there. It's actually where we did our photoshoot! Jordaan is full of narrow canals with cobblestone streets, lots of boutiques, cafes, antique shops, art, and gallery museums. We found it to be very quaint! As popular as Jordaan is, you could be walking down a street in the neighborhood and be the only ones there. It was great to be able to find these quiet gems in such a busy town like Amsterdam!

De Pijp: This was another neighborhood we found ourselves in more then once. The locals were telling us that De Pijp is their "hipster neighborhood" haha. On our first day, we walked down to De Pijp and stumbled onto a big outdoor market they are known for, Albert Cuyp Market. The market was filled with fresh produce, shops, and all the iconic dutch snacks! That is where we ate the famous Herring and Kibbeling fishes.

I would highly recommend doing a Sunset Canal Dinner Cruise. We booked ours with Lovers Canal Cruises. It was a fantastic way to see the city, learn the history and view all the boat homes. No joke, some of those boat homes should be on HGTV. They are unreal! I had no idea that Amsterdam had more canals then Venice, Italy. Our cruise lasted roughly 1.5 hours. We got on the boat right before sunset and were able to watch the sun go down while cruising into the night as the city lit up. It truly is just a beautiful way to see the city. I will 100% do another one when I go back. There were even boats you could rent and steer yourself down the canals! Next time for sure.

De 9 Straatjes for shopping! There are tons of little shops you will pass all over the city, but we made most of our stops in stores within Jordaan and De Pijp. I'm not one that's really into collecting souvenirs, except for Christmas ornaments. I'm more into finding something unique to bring home that no one else will have. We both got a few things while we were exploring there, but you need to go to De 9 Straatjes! Its 9 Streets is full of designer and vintage shops along with cute cafes. They're located all along the edge of the canal ring, right in-between all kinds of old leaning homes that are just so cute. You will find tons of super cute boutiques and European brand stores that we don't have here in America as well. I wasn't expecting to really shop a bunch, but I didn't come home without some new things. I don't know how I fit it all in my suitcase to be honest haha!

The Anne Frank House is another must see I would say. It's a very humbling and chilling experience to go through the home where her family and two other families had to hide out for years. You're not allowed to take pictures or video while inside and I recommend buying tickets in advance because they sell out fast. You get to climb through the actual rooms where they were in hiding and see writing on the walls from those that lived there during the war. I will warn you that I felt very sad afterwards for several hours but, I also believe it's important to see.

If you're wondering if we explored the Red Light District, you bet your ass we did! Haha. It's actually a lovely area and such a beautiful neighborhood. ( FYI: you can't have your phone out while walking through the Red Light District either.) You see all the "girls" in the windows when you walk by. I didn't know what to do, so I just kept smiling at them. If you're in Amsterdam you have to walk through it, like c'mon! Besides they aren't everywhere. There are also lots of cute restaurants, shops, and tons of little canals and bridges to walk through.

Lastly, if you have time and are willing to leave the city for an afternoon, you need to check out Zaanse Schans! It's about a 15 minute train ride out of the city into the country side of Holland where you can see all the windmills. Most of them are preserved historic windmills. Once you get off the train you'll walk about 10 minutes through a super cute little town to get to the main attraction. You get the full Dutch experience here, it's quite breathtaking. There is cheese making, chocolate making, and they also make the traditional wooden clogs.

Another little thing I love to do while traveling is, hire a photographer. I think its a great souvenir to have instead of trinkets! I used Celia from The Light Box Tales while in Amsterdam and she did AMAZING!! I hate asking strangers for photos because they never take it how I want or like. If you're heading to Amsterdam and want amazing photos, send her a message and tell her you know me! Check out her Instagram, it's gorgeous and that's exactly how I found her! We still talk together every week.

Click here for my Amsterdam Food Guide!

Olay Red Jar

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 21:02:00 +0000

Each year I get a little older and a little wiser and taking care of my skin has become a part of my daily practice. One part of my routine is to make sure is my skin is always moisturized to keep it feeling young and healthy! Another is to make sure I always have SPF on before going outside. With so many products out nowadays, it can be hard to know which is the right one to use.

Fortunately, I found Olay Red Jar offers both. It’s actually the Olay Regenerist line and comes in Micro Sculpting Cream or my favorite, Regenerist Whip Moisturizer. Make no mistake though, both of them are part of my skincare routine. They both moisturize my skin and restore its elasticity while keeping my skin looking youthful! That’s because the products in the red jar line are packed with Amino-Peptide Complex II to smooth and brighten the skin’s appearance while reducing fine lines and wrinkles at the same time!

I rinse my face with water in the morning, followed by toner, and then I apply my Olay Whip, whether I wear make-up that day or not. When I do put on makeup, though, I’ve found the Olay Whip is great underneath. It goes on smooth, matte and shine-free not super thick like most moisturizers. Actually, it reminds me of a primer. Makes it simple to layer makeup on top without it looking uneven in the slightest!

Micro-Sculpting Cream is amazing as a night cream. I find that it absorbs well, and my skin is left feeling hydrated, but not oily. I can definitely tell a difference when I don't use this cream. The best part is that it doesn't break out my sensitive skin! It also has a nice, light scent.

The Olay Whip doesn’t feel quite as heavy to me as the Micro-Sculpting Cream. For that reason, I think Olay Whip is probably better to use in the summer and Micro-Sculpting Cream better during the winter. After just 4 weeks of using Olay Red Jar daily, it really transforms your skin and reduce the look of wrinkles! I’d definitely recommend making the Olay Regenerist products in the Red Jar part of your daily skin routine too!

P.S. the Olay Whip is available with SPF for additional sun protection too!!

Click here to purchase your Olay Red Jar

This post is sponsored by Olay.

The Westin Philadelphia

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 16:37:00 +0000

Anyone who knows me knows I love going to the beach, but sometimes it’s just as cool to stay local here in Philadelphia where a music, food and art scene is exploding! Located in the heart of Center City is the Westin Hotel which I absolutely loved staying at! Entering into the lobby you’re greeted by marble everywhere along with a super friendly staff, with trendy furniture everywhere! Along with a lounge work place and dinning.

To kick off our stay at the Westin, Josh and I headed right downstairs to a whiskey and spirits tasting at Bluebird Distilling on Chestnut St. It was a super fun experience learning about how each type of alcohol is made and how to taste for subtle flavors. I must admit we got a little tipsy just from the tasting! Haha! Before we went back to our hotel room we made a pitstop at the Winthorpe & Valentine restaurant just steps passed the lobby to refuel. No more than twenty minutes went by before we heard a knock at the door, and it was complementary room service stocked with a cheese platter and beers from Philadelphia Brewing Company. Talk about class!

The room was so spacious (bigger then our apartment hahah) and had all of the comforts of home including a living room area to relax. Stepping into the bathroom was like stepping inside of a spa! It was overflowing with marble on the floors and walls as well as inside a rain shower. Now I need to figure out how to make my bathroom exactly the same!

The best part about the Westin is that it’s dog friendly! Buddy got to join us for our staycation. From treats at the concierge to his own bed and bowls, he made out like a bandit! Only a couple of blocks from the hotel is Rittenhouse Square where dogs and their owners can enjoy some peace and quiet from the buzzing city streets, Buddy was in heaven! It was nice to stay at a hotel which was welcoming to dogs so we could go out and explore the town knowing our little guy was safe and sound. Plus we even saw other furry friends during our visit!

You could easily say we lived and ate like kings and queens during our staycation. Winthorpe & Valentine had a vast array of items on the menu from health-centric to American classics to Asian cuisine and everything in between! We even contacted room service for late night smoothies and snacks which arrived to our room very quickly. The next morning we of course had breakfast in bed. Buddy thought he was included in that and tried to take some potatoes and smoked salmon right off of my plate! Overall our experience at the Westin was exceptional! I’d recommend anyone looking to either visit Philly or locals from the area looking to do something different kick their feet up at the Westin in Center City!

PRIMARK

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 22:46:00 +0000

So lets talk about Primark! Have any of you been to one before? I've seen girls in Europe wear the cutest stuff for years by Primark, and we have never had a store close by. Finally we have one in Philly and I am so excited. I went over the last weekend and picked up the cutest pieces for Spring and Summer including this white linen dress for only $20 and the pink leopard head band for $4!

MODCLOTH x HALSEY

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 20:48:00 +0000

FIVE YEARS

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 18:08:00 +0000

Celebrating 5 years with this guy today, cant believe its been 5 years!! No one else I'd rather explore the world with! P.S. second photo up, we are def pointing out dogs walking by haha

PAISIE JUMPSUIT

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 21:19:00 +0000

Jumpsuits have been my thing and I have been loving the kimono style ones! This one from Paisie is a thick silky material which is very practical in the winter! I have an event next week that Im planning on wearing it to again!

ModCloth Three Ways

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 15:28:00 +0000

Lately while shopping i've been more into quality over quantity, buying a more expensive item that I know will last. I've been trying to having high quality good pieces in my closet that I know I can also style many ways like this dress! I know its perfect for Christmas time, but also it can be used all winter long for many occasions! Below Im going to show you how to style this beauty three ways!

The first way is obviously just by wearing this dress by itself, I'm planning to wear it as my Christmas dress this year! Emerald green is one of my favorite colors around the holidays. The dress is chic enough by itself, but I also decided to throw my leopard faux fur coat over it along with a gold watch! Im planning on wearing this outfit to a Christmas party and a winter wedding!!

For my second look with this gorgeous emerald dress, I wanted it to be cozy and a tad more casual but still give a winter vibe! Here I threw on a pair of sock boots and a chunky knit cream turtle neck sweater over top! I thought this was perfect for a winter date night, girls night, dinner party or even a night out in your city!

The last look I thought Id show how this could be worn from day to night in the sense if even being from work to going out at night! I paired the pleated dress over a white bow blouse and threw on a long plaid blazer styled coat. I wanted it it be more professional and I feel this blouse was perfect for that with the coat!

In sponsorship with ModCloth

Basic Invite

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 13:18:00 +0000

I love sending out Holidays cards, I try to make it happen every year but sometimes its like where do you find the time!? Basic Invite made it SO easy for me this year! They have so many designs to choose from and then on top of that you can personalize a basic design my changing color, fonts, and everything so it is truly your own! It was hard to pick just one with all their beautiful Christmas cards, but this is what we are sending out this year!!

Also if you are throwing a party they even have elegant holiday party invitations to make your guests feel even more special about being invited! Now I want to have a party just to create an invitation hahah! Is anyone like me where they are obsessed with stationary and being organized?! If you are planning to send out the most unique holiday cards be sure to use Basic Invite and right now get 30% off your holiday creations with code 'holi30' , enjoy and Happy Holidays!!

WINC

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 14:01:00 +0000

Wine hasn't always been my favorite choice of beverage. Within the last two years red wine especially has become our favorite over here! It nice to have a glass with dinner, watching a movie, winding down at the end of the day, also guilty of having a glass in the middle of the afternoon while working! Hahaha, don't judge me. Recently I discovered Winc and now no more running around the city to buy my wine! Go to their website and you take a quiz about what you like and you can join their monthly wine club and Winc will delivery 4 bottles of wine monthly right to your door step!!
Also use code "tusksaandtails" to receive $22 dollars off your first order! Enjoy and cheers!

AUrate

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 17:54:00 +0000

Lately I have been totally obsessed with gold necklaces! Wearing them as a single piece along with layering them. AUrate is a fine jewelry company that is all hand crafted in NYC with materials they collect from all around the world, you can even personalize and have pieces engraved. Each piece is covered with a lifetime warranty and will polish/clean at anytime with no questions asked. One of the things I really love about AUrate is that every piece your purchased and keep they will donate a book to a child in need right in the USA.

I went back and forth on ordering rings or a necklace but with their collection of necklaces I knew I had to have one! I chose the 14k Rose Solid Circle Necklace, I love how its dainty but still has character. I wanted to make mine for personalized so I have the word "oui" engraved on the inside of the circle, I've always just loved how simple the word yes is and even cuter in French. Hahah, I believe you should always be saying yes to knew experiences and trying things everyday!

SNOWY TREE FARM

noreply@blogger.com (Tusks and Tails) — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 16:15:00 +0000

If you haven't figured it out by now that Christmas is my favorite time of year! Its so joyful and cozy, then when you add snow it makes it so magical!! I wish it would just snow all winter long. I always say if its going to be cold at least have it snow to make it look pretty outside, am I right?! Hope you all are having a wonderful season with loved ones!