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Travel

Okay…SO sorry i’ve been MIA the past week, okay okay FINE 10 days 😬 (👈 does my fav emoji face make up for it by chance?👉😜) Life threw me a few curved balls and I’m only human (heartbreaking I know) so I just couldn’t manage to produce a post while frantically packing for a last minute work trip to GERMANY; oh yeah, and actually being there. Between working 15 hour, very “hands-on” days over there, flying directly to my prescheduled Create + Cultivate conference in Dallas, starting a weekly night class and obviously documenting it all across social media is a major yikessss….. PHEW I just got tired writing that, jesus! lol. Hey – someone get me some more coffee STAT. 🙏☕️

Anyway, I wanted to show you guys everything I’ve been doing abroad so I made a lil’ scrapbook of the trip!! 📷😃 I had about 3 hours of free exploration time total in 4 days but you best believe I managed to eat and drink (beer) as much as humanly possible.

10 Lessons from Germany:

If you think you should warn someone about spilling wine, then you most def should, cause they will most def spill it 😒
Gas stations have surprisingly great food, particularly shocked by how fresh the bread on the sammies were.
“AUSFARHT” (yes, ass-fart!) means “exit” so you see it everywhere. Yes I snickered every time and no, it doesn’t get old…but maybe I should. 😂😂
Hotels don’t provide conditioner for some weird reason 😖
~~Beer~~ bier is always a good idea, but when your jet lagged it can be your worst enemy 🍻😴🍻
Rieslings in Germany aren’t too sweet. In fact, quite popular and quite delightful (on a bit of a kick now🍷👅🍷)
German is no joke. It’s hella hard to understand and you can’t skate by like with Spanish or Italian (something I was hoping for).
People think you are an absolute ALIEN if you’re wearing sunglasses 👀 – literally was stared at all day like I had a Telletubbi antenna on my head, but you know me…those sunglasses were going NOWHERE. 😎
Going 110mph on the freeway is about as common as brushing your teeth 🚗💯
The table mustard is the best you’ll ever have!! (Even if you don’t want to coat your tongue in mustard as I often do). Seriously wish I had brought 18,000 packets home.

And there you have it! Hopefully I don’t have to play life catch-up toooo long, but I wouldn’t trade being really “present” in Germany for anything. Saying yes to the trip at the last second, totally uprooting the previous plans I had for months was totally worth it… and reminded me why I started this blog in the first place. Saying YES and finding myself in unexpected situations is what leads to the most exciting life, right!?!

BE 🆓

Pantones of the Post

Colors (left to right) // Pantone Warm Gray 11U / Pantone 7448C / Pantone 5255C / Pantone Cool Gray 1C (40%) / Pantone 7528C //

Beer Booze

Beer Rec: Blackberry Barley Wine

Posted on January 24, 2016

The Facts
Style: English Barely Wine
ABV: 10%
Brewer: New Belgium
Location: Fort Collins, CO

(PS: The rain is pouringgg right now!) Anyway… you got a cozy night in ahead? Cause I got a beer for you! And I’m totally loving that it just so happened to start raining as I poured the first sip to sit down to review. 💦🍻💦

It could’ve been the fact that I LOVE New Belgium’s Lips of Faith series, or the ROBE on the bottle (cozy cozy cozy I live in my robe cozy cozy), or maybe its the “smooth as the silk ascot you should be wearing while sipping this barley wine ale” that’s written on the bottle, but I fell in love at first sight

….NOT sorry I gave this beer a chance, not one bit. Actually, Im not sorry I gave this barleywine ale a chance because I almost swore off barely wine – they’re just “too much” for me usually, but not this one!

TASTE TEST: Pours much brighter and redder than expected. Smell is hard to tell, almost smells like a sour, but not much else there. Maybe grape soda, and blackberries. Taste is refreshing in fact, surprised me on the taste. Thin and not as INSANELY rich or sweet as most barely wine beers – it’s quite delightful! Berries (black), raspberries, creme brulee, and light but fresh caramel note.

If you’re not going to sip this in front of a fireplace, well then sip it while playing a board game with friends, and if you’re not going to do that then at leastttt sip it in a robe for christ sake!!!🙏😜 ….preferably one as soft as this, cause soft is all that matters in life. Stay cozy my lil Sippin’ Sunday babes. 😚

Pantones of the Post

Stuff // Beer: Blackberry Barely Wine (New Belgium) (Found at Healthy Spirits Castro and Richmond) //

Colors (left to right) // Pantone 689C / Pantone 721C / Pantone 7517C / Pantone 419C / Pantone 187C //

Beer Booze Discover

Top SF Beer Week Events

Posted on January 21, 2016

Guess what next week is?!?!?! (Since you know the topic of this post I’m guessing this was a dumb question…yes, it definitely was). It’ssssss SF BEER WEEK!!! If you live by the motto “Beer + Food = Love” then I’ve got some gooooooood events coming your way! After spending hours scouring all the events offered (literally) I’ve narrowed it down to my MUSTS for this 10 day long beer fest. Now, onto the list:

Discover Stuff

Dry Skin Rebellion

Posted on January 19, 2016

Has anyone else been applying hand lotion like a 14 year old boy who just got his first play boy mag. JESUS sorry my girlfriend actually just wrote that last line. NOTE TO SELF: DO NOT leave my gawd damn computer unattended. That rat. 🙈 🙉 🙊

But now that I have your attention.. (thanks Katie)… I want to briefly discuss the inevitable outcome of winter air, ski season, and for lack of a third outcome, well… dry skin.💨⛄️💨

Tb(completely)h I use these products all year long, but that doesn’t make them any less relevant for winter dryness. I have pretty balanced skin, nothing too oily or too dry, so when looking for an everyday face lotion I needed something equally versatile and mellow.

Beer Booze

Beer Rec: 6am Stout

Posted on January 17, 2016

6am Stout, Morning beer | Chasing Kendall

Pantones of the Post

The Facts
Style: (Milk/Sweet) Stout
ABV: 6%
Brewer: Flat Tail Brewing
Location: Corvallis, OR

They weren’t kidding when they named this beer, it really is the BEST morning beer I’ve ever had. I could drink this everyday instead of coffee…but maybe that’d be a bad idea hehe. Even Katie (my girlfriend) liked it and she hates ~~stouts~~ beer. When I saw it I immediately thought of a pre-ski moment, because nothings wrong with a little liquid courage before hitting the slopes right? Something I practice on the reg. 😉

This brew, “worthy of the crack of dawn,” contains rolled oats for a smooth body, cold coffee extract for that 6.am. pickup and hefty dose of lactose for a creamy, milky finish. The 6am Stout is perfect choice if ya wanna rock some liquid breakfast.

TASTE TEST: Pours thin, minimal carbonation and black in color. Hints of coffee and toffee, Caramel but not burnt caramel. Milky but not in look or feel. Seriously going down like water it’s so light and smooth. Very well balanced. Not too sweet or too bitter or too heavy. Literally just a perfect mouthfeel for morning time. 🍼

Don’t be scared of stouts people! You may have already categorized them as “those heavy beers,” but this one is actually QUITE light, light enough in texture as a Corona even. The light quality makes it really easy to drink in the morning plus the added coffee make it extra flavorful and caffeinated for 9am fun. 😋☕️☕️☕️

Now I must pound this beer and shred the gnar! (Translation: I have to quickly finish this beer because I’m loosing time to snowboard epic snow 😜). For real though, Tahoe actually has some snow and it’s making me BEYOND excited. So, Happy Sippin’ Sunday from Squaw Valley USA! 🏂🍻 🎿

Stuff // Beer: 6am Stout (Found at Healthy Spirits Castro and Richmond, Whole Foods, more locations: here) //

Colors (left to right) // Pantone 7701C / Pantone 7541C (50%) / Pantone 299C / Pantone 7615C / Pantone 412C //

Discover Stuff

Hats on Hats on Hats

Posted on January 15, 2016

Happy National Hat Day beautiful people!! It’s actually SO funny to me how we have all these “national” days now that social media exists. Rarely do I pay too much attention, but I can’t resist when it’s one of my favorite things (cough cough, donuts or hats). 🍩😛🎩 Speaking of, where’s the National Sunglasses Day?!?! I digress…

I wanted to celebrate with you by talking about this year round closet staple, because if you don’t have a solid hat ya NEED to add it to your wardrobe. And NO, I don’t wanna hear that you “can’t pull them off ” or “hat’s just don’t look good on you,” that just means you haven’t found the right one yet! Since I don’t wear toooo much jewelry on the day-to-day, I’ve found hats come in at the last second and totally take your outfit to that next level, adding a completeness that often times a bag/jewelry would give you. 👌

So I’m spilling my hat secrets to you all today! Hoping to make you and your outfit feel more complete and cool (because yes, hats are just coooooool). 😎 🎩Here are my top 5 favorite places to shop the coolest hats:

1. Goorin Bros – Local SF shop thats been around for over 100 years with various retail locations around the city + serious swag

✨ Tip: They celebrate customer loyalty. Buy 10 Hats and you get the 11th free! (lots of hats though, I know). But really I love their upkeep program where you can bring your hat in anytime and they will clean, waterproof, steam and restore your hat back to the best it can be.

2. Worth & Worth – New York made, with an extremely high quality and a wide range from more traditional to more unique, they take sizing very seriously here so you’re sure to find the perfect fit!

✨ Tip: Their shipping cost can be a pricy add-on to the already pricy hat, but they ofter free shipping often (especially holidays or holiday weekends) so keep an eye out and swoop then!

3. Gladys Tamez Millinery – Made in Los Angeles, these hats are definitely on the pricier side but their cool and unique factor is through the roof. If you want the sickest hat possible, then hit up these guys.

✨ Tip: They don’t sell every hat online, some are in select stores or bespoke by appointment (courtlyn@gladystamez.com) so keep your eyes peeled and also check their instagram account (@gladyz_tamez_millinery) for more insider tips.

4. Janessa Leone – Another LA based brand but with a much more affordable price point. Her hats come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials and are all handmade; you’re bound to find the hat you’ve been looking for.

✨ Tip: Their hats do sell out and aren’t necessarily restocked so if you see your dream hat purchase immediately!

5. Rag & Bone – Ok, I know, technically not a hat shop…but they really do make some of the best hats – ask anyone! Perfectly classic with a little edge, Rag & Bone’s hats work just about always.

✨ Tip: They usuallyyyy don’t sell out on all their hats so if you wait until the season sale you might be able to get your fav hat half-off.

And there you have it, my hat run down! If you want to know where a particular hat is from in the above shot just comment below and I’ll be happy to tell you!

Happy National Hat Day! What better way to celebrate than buy a hat! 🎩😄🎩

Discover

Eat Here: The Keystone

Posted on January 14, 2016

Brunch at the Keystone SF | Chasing Kendall

Did you SEE how many cocktails are on that table?!👆 That’s my kinda brunch! Recently I branched out of my gay/hipster bubble and ventured downtown to The Keystone (solid effort I know 😜)….Let’s be real though, we’re ALL at fault for getting into a weekend routine. The same couple brunch spots on the tip of your tongue incase friends are feeling more social and rowdy than usual. But now it’s a new year and it’s time to get some NEW brunch spots in your repertoire – let The Keystone be one of them!

Nothing, and I mean nothingggg, hooks me into a new brunch spots quite like the cocktail menu (duh). Yes, I. Love. Booze. Welllll actually let me revise… I. Love. Good. Booze. – and the Keystone cocktail menu totally satisfied my morning fix. 💃

My drinks of choice?

The Bourbon Maple Fizz (Evan Williams bourbon, lemon, maple, egg white, seltzer, angostura)
Sunrise Spritz (Cappelletti Aperitivo, cava, orange bitters and seltzer) but really I order this one for the coupe and orchid, cause I only drink for the presentation 😝🌸🍸

LASTLY but arguably most importantly, are the $25 bottomless mimosas — I don’t judge a book by its cover but I do judge a brunch spot by the color of its mimosas and The Keystone is definitely on the “orange juice is just for color” train…so my heart is won. 🙌💛

Ok fine – Lets talk food. The Keystone consists of southern inspired fare (can ya tell?👇😉) and damnnnnnnnnnn was it finger licking good. Literally… After those Fried Soy & Calamansi Glazed Ribs I practically ate off my own sauce covered finger.👅 Buttermilk Pancakes cooked to perfection, Mac & Cheese that did NOT disappoint, and the Southern Fried Chicken Benedict was unlike any other benedict I’ve consumed before (mad props Chef Banks White). 👏👏👏

Before I start drooling on this keyboard I’m going to simply tell you to GO. Climb out of your routine for a new year, new brunch moment. 😋

Brunch served weekends 10am-2pm. See the full menu here.