moments

i heart the usa - all photos by me from left to right : top 1. guggenheim museum, nyc 2. angels flight,(aka the park from 500 days of summer) downtown LA 3. santa monica beach, LA  4. NYC city lights 5. Seattle Library, WA 6. The Highline in Chelsea, NYC


I just realised that a year ago today I set off on my American odysessy. It doesn't feel like a year since I jetted off on my 5 week break in the US of A - it feels so much longer, probably because I kind of miss that time so much. It probably goes without saying, but I wish that I was heading off to NYC again today or any day for that matter.  

The pictures above are some of my favourites from the trip, and have been on my desktop at work since the day I got back.

While I may be at my day job today and not in Central Park, on the bright side, I have some great news and new projects to share with you tomorrow!

LA LA land - last stop LA

Santa Monica - i loved relaxing down on the beach

lovers locks on the Santa Monica overpass

The Bradbury Building

Angels Flight , downtown LA - the world's shortest railway

angels flight park - and the bench from 500 days of summer

my hands are the same size as Judy Garland's. amazing

yes, i did the walk of stars. 

Griffith Observatory - my favourite place in LA

View from the Observatory down to LA

Relaxing at Griffith Park. 

So for the final stop on my little voyage abroad - LA. I had some really great times in LA. We spent the day exploring Downtown - I saw the bench from 500 days of summer, the Million Dollar Theatre & the Walt Disney Concert Hall. We went to the La Brea Tar Pits and LACMA. And of course I did the typical things - Hollywood Bld which I am not going to lie, I totally enjoyed putting my hands in the casts at Mann's Chinese Theatre more than words. We went to  a great museum too at the old Max Factor Building. I mean thats where Lucy got here hair colour. Awesome, well to me anyway. We also spent the day at Griffith Park which was one of my fave days ever, its gorgeous up there and the Observatory is just gorgeous (and has a kickass planetarium show!). LA is so spread out its just silly, but I really liked being there. It is just an OTT place but like everywhere I guess it has some sweet spots. 

So that is my trip in a nutshell for you - hopefully you enjoyed my photos! I had a truly amazing time and honestly I didn't want to come home, I loved the USA. Seriously, I am already planning my next trip. 

Coming up I will share my treasures from my trip with you, I think I picked up some gems you will like. 

sweet home Chicago

Gorgeous Tiffany dome Chicago Cultural Centre

Art work at the Chicago Cultural Centre

Cloud Gate at Millennium Park

Inside the Cloud Gate

More art work at Millennium Park

Tiny street art at the Tribune Building

Chicago. Well as you may know, I studied architecture. And Chicago is the home of modern architecture, well the skyscraper at least. I was overwhelmed by this, and slightly annoyed by it. Don't get me wrong - there are some amazing architectural sites but there are so many I just didn't find I could become attached to it. But there are some gorgeous things i loved, riding the El, sitting in the sun in Millennium Park, exploring Lincoln Park. Chicago has a rhythm all its own and I had a great time. I saw some amazing jazz, a great play & I saw my fave band Mumford & Sons play an amazing show (but more on that later). 

and next - last but not least - Los Angeles!

i left my heart in San Francisco

The De Young Museum 

Outdoor movies in San Fran - at the park where the Full Houses are - awesome

Sonoma is gorgeous - I would move there in a heart beat

Grace Cathedral

Wandering around the streets of San Fran - so amazing

Seeing a Banksy in 'the wild' - after we saw Exit Through Gift Shop

Bay to Breakers - a fun run with a difference & 300,000 people

Gorgeous houses

I really did leave my heart in San Francisco. I have wanted to go there since I was in Grade 2 and made my fake trip plan. And I was not disappointed. I only had a few days there but it was a cool city. Amazing art, story book houses, crazy amazing food. What more could you want?

San Fran highlights:

1. Wandering Haight Street down to Golden Gate Park

2. Our drive to Sonoma for a little fun afternoon of wine and beautiful scenic driving

3. Seeing a Banksy in Chinatown

4. Yummy food everywhere - seriously!

5. Amazing street art at every turn - literally

6. Grace Cathedral & SFMoMA -amazing gallery & amazing building

the capitol

Arlington Cemetery 

Arlington Cemetery

The ruby red slippers at the Smithsonian American Museum

Flags at the Mall

Lincoln Memorial

Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial

View along the Mall

Silver tree at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

D.C was lovely. It was hot - I'm talking 35 degrees. Everywhere you turn there is a monument, there is an inspiring building. You are literally wandering through history. I stayed in Capitol Hill and it was a lovely little pocket of sweetness with a great market & street after street of little brownstones. I saw the White House (which was actually really uninteresting). I got to see the star spangled banner. And Dorothy's ruby slippers at the Smithsonian American Museum. I got to go to the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery which for me was the best gallery I have ever been to my entire life. I was so inspired. I still am. 

So my D.C highlights:

1. Exploring the Smithsonian's - it is just amazing they have such a collection all in one city

2. The Vietnam Memorial - I studied this at uni and it is honestly the most stunning built form I have or will ever interact with. Big call I know, but really it is so beautiful

3. Arlington Cemetery. I was just overwhelmed by this. 

4. Walking the Mall at sunrise. Beautiful

Portland

taking the Amtrak from Seattle to Portland

Portland is most definitely the home of weird. Case in point - hot tubbing by the hour

I wish this was my shop - Tender Loving Empire

Seriously - how awesome?

Look what I found at Tender Loving Empire - my friends Anna & Gareth's awesome  cards able and game 

The gorgeous store front - it has a moving wooden set.  Radish Underground next door is equally amazing - seriously!!!

The Chinese Garden. Apparently authentic, apart from the view of the buildings outside. As my travel buddy said - worst $8.59 I will ever spend

Gorgeous saucers at my favourite coffee store in the whole USA - Stumptown Roasters

amazing interior space at Stumptown off Burnside.

My first view of snow from the overnight Amtrak we took from Portland to San Fran 

Next we trained our way down to Portland, Oregon. And what amazing views! Once there we found such a sweet little town, I mean it seems like every amazing crafter or blogger out of the USA is living in Portland, so it must be good right? I found some great stores. I had some had amazing hot chocolate at Stumptown. We even went to an old movie theatre out in the 'burbs and saw an old re-run which was a highlight. All in all Portland is very sweet. 

Here are my Portland highlights:

1. Second run movies at an old movie theatre outside of the city

2. Stumbling across fun stores like Tender Loving Empire & Radish Underground

3. Exploring Powells bookstore

Sweet Seattle

Pike Street Public Market - so many gorgeous flowers 

Totem poles on the waterfront

View to the street from Seattle Public Library

Ferry race on Puget Sound

Puget Sound 

Gorgeous house boats - I want one, really I do

The Fremont Troll

Amazing coconut cupcakes 

Waterfront on Bainbridge Island

I loved Seattle. The home of Ferry boats, gorgeous waterfront & well Grey's Anatomy (really, I am that lame) i had nothing but gorgeous weather, amazing food & fun looking around the sweet neighbourhoods of Seattle. Of course I did the mega tourist thing - you know saw the Space Needle, rode the monorail, went to Starbucks. And yes there literally is a Starbucks on every corner - and about 4 in between. Above all else Seattle has some stunning views. Literally every view over Puget Sound is like a postcard. I really felt like I could live there, it was very sweet.

Seattle highlights:

1. taking a ferry ride  - we went to Bainbridge Island. It really is just stunning

2. Pike Place Market - so many gorgeous flowers, food and some quirky shops

3. Seattle Art Museum - one of my fave galleries on the whole trip

4. Sunday morning in Fremont - they have a great market, yummy food, great vintage stores & a troll under a bridge. what more could you want? 

5. Seattle Public Library - AMAZING public space - go there if you go to Seattle