Adventures in Pittsburgh: The Cafe at the Frick

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Sarah S.

When I learned that The Cafe at the Frick, which is situated on the beautiful Frick Park grounds, served proper afternoon tea, I couldn’t wait for a free Sunday afternoon to give it a try.

Frick Cafe Pittsburgh

My high expectations were not let down! For $18, I enjoyed four different types of salads (crab, beet, tuna, and egg), two scones (orange and lavender) complete with English sweet cream and strawberry preserves, a variety of four cookies made perfect with chocolate sauce, and of course hot tea (I chose the Frick’s specialty blend).

Frick Cafe pgh afternoon tea

Frick Cafe Pgh

I also enjoyed the perfect autumn weather and a gorgeous view of the gardens surrounding the Clayton mansion. Not to mention, I was reading Jane Austen’s Emma the whole time, which let me tell you, when coupled with tea, is probably the most sublime experience you’ll have in a long time. Reading about Emma discovering her love for Mr. Knightley while eating a lavender scone, is a Jane Austen lovers dream, I would think!

Frick Museum Pgh

To top it off, the service was excellent. Before they closed at 5pm, I even had time to take a look at the art galleries, which hold a great experience of their own.

Frick Park

For more information about the cafe, the museum, and the park, be sure to visit the Frick website.

Adventures in Pittsburgh: South Side Flats

Adventures in Pittsburgh: 61C Cafe

Great Finds: Handmade Silver “Amare” Bracelet

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Sarah S.

As much of a hassle unpacking is, sometimes it does give one the opportunity to rediscover long forgotten treasures. A couple days ago I ran across this simple silver bracelet I made in high school (my public high school had a very robust arts program!). It wasn’t until I was wearing it for sometime that I noticed the stamped word, “amare” on the inside of the piece. “Amare” is Latin (and also Italian) for “to love” or, as I suspect I might have first intended it to read, the imperative command, “love.”

First Triathlon Highlights

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Sarah S.

9.8.13

On Sunday, September 8th, in Canandaigua, New York, I participated in my first triathlon: the sprint distance Finger Lakes Triathlon, an annual fundraiser for Mary M. Gooley Hemophilia Center.

Obviously, I was quite stressed preparing for this race. Certainly because of the swim (before February of 2013, which is when I started my swim lessons, I could barely doggy paddle and couldn’t tread water), but also because this was my first race without my twin sister, Angie. …And also because I was preoccupied with, you know, moving halfway across the country (Madison to Pittsburgh to be exact) as well!

During the race (probably a minute after finishing the swim), I realized that my stress was all for nothing. Here I was, finishing the swim leg (my biggest enemy until this point), and running to the first transition. I was doing it, and it felt both awesome and ridiculous (have you ever gotten onto a bicycle soaking wet?)…and not so serious at all! It was actually so fun! The racers were surprisingly chill and open. Like at my first marathon, I felt like I was a part of something bigger- sharing a well-deserved moment with like-minded strangers.

Honestly, when I first stepped up to the registration table to collect my bib and timing chip, I felt rushed, intimidated, and nervous. I thought, “I definitely don’t belong here!” Thankfully, a swim clinic hosted by Ironman athlete (she’s swum along side Lance Armstrong!), Mary Eggers the evening before the race, erased my unease. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of questions asked by the racers…everything from swim technique questions to how to best put on a swim cap. And each question, no matter how simple or obvious, was answered by Mary with enthusiasm. I realized, nobody was judging anyone here! After all, we were all here at the starting line, weren’t we? It didn’t really matter if this was our first triathlon or our 100th because we were all racing.

When Mary led those of us in wetsuits down to the edge of the water for a quick practice swim, I was surprised to find that I couldn’t wait to get into the water! Me, a girl who couldn’t float let alone front crawl eight months ago, was actually excited to swim. I had made it to the start line. It wasn’t quick and it wasn’t easy, but for sure, it is where I belong.

Decorating My New Pittsburgh Home

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Sarah S.

When you move in to a new space, especially one so drastically different from your old, it’s pretty overwhelming to begin the decorating process. To start decorating my new 70-year-old Tudor-style duplex in Pittsburgh (I moved from a clean-cut suburban apartment in Madison, WI), I began with images. Pinterest, of course, is probably the best place to collect visual inspiration. After spending some time browsing, I decided to narrow down my decorating plans into 4 sections:

1. My bedroom, bathroom, and closets- with a focus on organization

2. My living room- with a focus on comfort, displaying eclectic pieces of art and memorabilia, and entertainment (a bar cart included in my plans!)

3. My dinning room and kitchen- with a focus on my favorite moments, brunch and coffee, by creating a coffee bar and a bright and open eating area

4. My sewing room- with, well, a focus on sewing!

Not a bad start for a pretty overwhelming ordeal! My goal this week is to get up most of my wall art and begin to rearrange. Stay tuned as I start to put together my two favorite ideas, the bar cart and the coffee bar!

Ciao!

Sarah

Great Finds: Hologram Necklace

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Sarah S.

Among silver tea sets, vintage typewriters, and fur coats, I found this hologram necklace once belonging to my late nanna. My dad, now retired, was an engineer who worked on holograms, so I’m sure he gave her this beautiful rose necklace. In the right light, the image truly looks 3D. Given all the hologram-inspired fashion I’ve seen the past couple of years, my nanna was clearly ahead of her time!

Hologram Fashion

Vintage hologram necklace; Gap moto denim jacket; j.crew popover, Gap leather ballet flats

Three Months. No Shopping. Bring it on.

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Sarah S.

How often to do you go clothes shopping? If I’m totally honest, I probably buy 2-3 pieces of clothing, shoes, or accessories every month. This might not be so tough on my wallet if I stuck to shops like Forever 21 and H&M, but I truly believe in building a quality wardrobe (think: style over fashion), so I end shopping at places like Lands’ End Canvas, Pickwick & Wleller, or Threadless. And that can do a number on anyone’s budget!

Photo courtesy of hangerhiatus.tumblr.com. Read this blog. Seriously.

On September 1st, a good friend of mine dared to embark on a courageous (she works in the fashion industry, after all) journey: she is not going to buy a single piece of clothing (shoes and accessories included) for a whole year. Her blog is well-written and super entertaining, so be sure to check it out here!

I wish I could join her, but to be totally honest, I don’t think I’ve totally built up a solid enough wardrobe to take on the task (I work in the fashion industry too, remember!), especially since I’ve only really been spending good money on my wardrobe since graduating college a year and a half ago. However, my fall and winter wardrobe is the most robust season represented in my closet…

So for three months, I’m giving up clothes shopping all together. Here are my rules:

-No clothes shopping (shoes and accessories included). Excluding…

If a staple item breaks or becomes unwearable (think: black leather ballet flats or sports bra).
A (needed) lingerie or sleepwear purchase.
Gifts for family or friends.
Materials to make or tailor my own clothes.

Tank- Pickwick & Weller, Tank- Mango, Sandals- American Eagle Outfitters, Pants- American Eagle Outfitters, Watch- Fossil, Cameo Bracelet- vintage find, Necklace- RocksNSoul, Earrings- Swarovski

For three months, what I usually budget for clothing every month will be added to savings. If this (it’s my first!) triathlon goes well on Sunday, I’m going to put the savings towards a triathlon bike next season.

So wish me luck! Maybe I’ll even dare to go to six months…

Ciao,

Sarah

Adventures in Pittsburgh: Schenley Park

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Sarah S.

For my run this weekend I traded the the concrete trails of the Southside for the dirt trails at Schenley Park. The view was amazing (I’m still amazed that a city can be this green!), and for someone from the Midwest, the hills were challenging. I manage to get a bit lost, so my run was about a mile longer than I anticipated. Still, it gave me more opportunity to snap some great photos.

Petite Goggles. Who Knew, Right!?

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Sarah S.

Since the beginning of my triathlon training, I’ve had trouble with my goggles leaking…not to mention they were super painful to wear. I think this might be one of those times when it’d be really nice have some female triathlon friends. When consulting male triathletes, the only response I seemed to get about my ill-fitting goggle conundrum was, “Um, I don’t know. I’ve never had any problems.” I think it’s also safe to say that they’ve never had any issues trying to find a swim top that was supportive enough to run in either…

That said, I found a pair of women’s petite swim goggles at REI! Who knew they even existed, right!?

Might I also suggest some petite running tights (at 5ft 2in, too long athletic pants are one of my other gear troubles)?

Also, I learned that REI is actually a coop, which means they are member-owned and can (and do) choose to spend some of their revenue on environmental and community non-profits. For $20, I signed up for the lifetime membership and am eager to check out their member-only used gear “garage sale” this Sunday.

Can’t wait for the cooler weather to roll around to go back for some fall running and cycling gear!

Where is your favorite place to shop for your swimming/running/cycling gear?

Ciao,

Sarah

Adventures in Pittsburgh: South Side Flats

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Sarah S.

Last week, I decided to explore the South Side Flats of Pittsburgh. Before I move into my new apartment, I’m in temporary housing here, and find myself really enjoying the riverfront trail, called the Three Rivers Heritage Trial, and charming businesses (not to mention the Hot Metal Bridge, which is my favorite bridge, by far). The South Side was one of the first neighborhoods in the city to gentrify and features the South Side Works, an outdoor mall. There is also the Bavarian Hoffbrauhaus (lots of well priced beer and dancing) and, my favorite thing, the riverfront trail. The trail is a bit strange, since it starts and stops at points, and at times one needs to go off the path to get around construction or broken path, but all in all, the trail is generally well kept, well traversed, and boasts a charming view.