Category Archives: Travel

you guys, we’re going to iceland!

by reallyrisa Posted on April 7, 2013

Remember when I told you we were going to Paris for our one-year anniversary? Well, I lied. Oops. Turns out flights to Paris are more than we want to spend. So the other night I pulled up the map and jokingly declared “We’re going to Iceland!” Thirty minutes later we were all like, “Paris, who?” Five seconds into Google searching our jaws were on the floor staring at the spectacularness that is this amazing island. Forty-eight hours later our flights and hotel were booked. There is not a person on planet Earth as overly well-informed as my husband and I’m a crazy annoying planner, so this is big for us guys!

Now look, you’ve all been listening to me cry and whine about the winter chill for months. So why, you may ask, are we traveling to a place that, according to climate records, only reaches 60 degrees one in every 10 days in June? Because I want to break dance on a glacier. That’s why. I dare you to watch this video and not want to stowaway in my suitcase.

Have you been to Iceland?

Posted in Travel | Tagged Iceland, Travel | 12 Comments

oui oui paris!

by reallyrisa Posted on March 22, 2013

Friday at last! (sung in my best Etta James voice) Chris and I are planning a trip to Paris this spring to celebrate our first year of marriage and we would love your tips and suggestions! We’re hoping to eat, walk and shop our way through the city for a few days so we’d love to know which cafes, shops, streets and landmarks you think are worth visiting. Hotel recommendations would be great, too (ahem, but don’t break the bank!). If you leave some recommendations in the comments section we’ll be forever grateful!

Have a wonderful weekend! xo, risa

Posted in Life, Travel | Tagged Life, Travel | Leave a comment

it’s orange and small and has stripes

by reallyrisa Posted on February 12, 2013

I bet you can guess where I spent my weekend. While sitting on the beach in my bikini is likely my favorite activity ever, walking the (now nonexistent) boardwalk in snow boats is a pretty close second. A surfer and a cross country skier on the same turf, now that was a first. I felt a sense of peacefulness watching her maneuver her skis across the sand/snow while the seagulls “mine mine mine”-ed (get it? get it?) on the jetty in the distance and Kelly Slater sauntered his way across the man-made replenishing dunes. For just one split second I felt like Hurricane Sandy never happened, just that pesky fish of a snowstorm that dumped a foot on the beach. The moral here? My love for the shore transcends all disasters and seasons. There is simply no happier place in the world.

p.s. Who else thinks the next snowstorm or hurricane or other monstrosity of a natural disaster should be named Darla? Fishie … Why Are You Sleeping??!!!

Posted in Happiness, Life, Travel | Tagged Hurricane Sandy, Jersey Shore, Life, Sweet Moments, Travel | Leave a comment

bridge to somewhere

by reallyrisa Posted on January 23, 2013

Let’s take a time out from this insanely freezing weather and think about summer for a minute. Taking bike rides during our weekend visits down the shore is one of my favorite pastimes. This little walking bridge is on the Belmar side of the inlet that separates it from Avon-by-the-Sea and the whole strip of waterfront is lined with absolutely gorgeous homes. Every summer we ride through the neighborhood and over the bridge, musing about what it will be like when we one day live here. I suppose we’d have to tire of the city first, but a girl’s gotta have a dream. We recently took a trip down the shore to spend a glorious weekend hanging with the family. Before heading home, Chris and I decided to check up on the shoreline and visit this favorite spot. Our Sunday drive was foggy, frigid and Sandy has certainly left her mark; the beaches are still a mess, but I was thrilled to see signs of progress. I’m confident the Jersey Shore will be back and so too will our beloved bike rides.

[i had been eyeing this cozy sweater all season, but it was a bit outside of my budget. that is, until i found it a few weeks ago on serious sale. yay.]

[my very own crystal ball]

{J.Crew sweater; Ruche flats; Current/Elliot jeans; StyleMint sunglasses; Urban Outfitters shirt; Etc… Modern Vintage (available at Etsy) + J.Crew bracelets; Essie “Snap Happy” nail polish}

Posted in Style, Travel | Tagged Casual Style, Fashion, Jersey Shore, Philadelphia Style Blogger, Style | 2 Comments

family.

by reallyrisa Posted on January 9, 2013

I know, I know. Christmas is over. But I’m still reveling in the time I spent with my family so I want to share just a few more photos with you. Aside from a quick visit to the mall with the littles to see Santa (we didn’t want to wait in line so Ryan yelled down from the upper level, “I want a motorcycle, please!” classy right?), we went on only one excursion. The rest of the time I spent just as I said I would: playing on the floor. On our last day we took my nephews to the Henry Ford Museum. You’d think there’d be nothing but old cars there, right? Wrong. Well, and right, too. But even better, Ryan (while sweet baby James slept) drove a combine (the thingy used to harvest corn), blew the whistle on a real train, sat in a VW bus, saw JFK’s presidential limo and ate a Lego lollipop. Most of the time though, he walked around wide-eyed and in complete awe. It was priceless. And the first time I’ve ever seen him behave. Ever. As in, never ever before has he ever behaved. Never. But he’s cute so you know, we forgive. Anyway, it was a wonderful day and our trip in general was incredible. A reminder of why family is so important. And why my sister needs to move back east. Please. Pretty please.

Hope you enjoy these last few snapshots of our trip!