I Put A Spell On You: Favorite Movies for the Halloween Season

I'm a big fan of Halloween, but one thing I don't do is horror films. I do enjoy a good thriller/spooky film with a twist (like The Skeleton Key or The Others), but things like Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Blair Witch Project just don't do it for me. I can do without all the blood/guts and terrifying demons that may or may not be living in my house thankyouverymuch (if you want to know what it feels like to be awake for 48 hours straight, go watch Paranormal Activity. You have been warned). I'm much more into the fun & whimsical aspect of Halloween: dressing up, stuffing my face with candy, and anything related to Hocus Pocus. Much like so many others, it's my favorite movie to watch this time of year. It's such a classic, and it really sets the mood for the whole month.

I decided to put together a fall look inspired by the Sanderson sisters and round up some of my favorite (lighter) Halloween movies for the spooky season (so if you're looking for something that will scare you to the core, this isn't it.  #booFelicia).

Not Another Basic Blog Post: Just Kidding. It Totally Is.

I love fall (said every female ever). I’m a girl, I’m a millennial, I drink a ton of Starbucks: so yes, fall is deeply embedded in my DNA (my blood type is pumpkin spice). So I decided to fully commit to it & be as ridiculous as possible to bring you some fresh (but still totally overdone) basic fall girl content.

Hold on to your chunky sweaters - it’s about to get REAL (basic) up in here. I give you: the basic fall girl starter pack. Your fall challenge for the duration of this post is to drink every time I say "basic" or "pumpkin." Drink double for "pumpkin spice latte" (warning: this post will get you drunk).

You Best Start Believing in Ghost Stories. You're In One: Texarkana Recap

It's October and thus the "official" start of spooky season, though some of us have been celebrating since the end of August (hey, if it can be Christmas in July at Hobby Lobby, I can celebrate Halloween in August)! Since October is the month of all things macabre, I thought I'd kick it off with a recap of my experience in Texarkana, which is quite literally, a ghost town.

The Wilderness Must Be Explored: A Sunrise Hike with Experience Chattanooga

Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Experience Chattanooga. We received a discounted hike in exchange for exposure, but all thoughts and honest opinions are my own.

You don’t just visit Chattanooga. You  e x p e r i e n c e  it!

This little-big town has grown exponentially since I came here in 2006. There are so many new things popping up every day - restaurants, shops, hotels, & so many activities unique only to Chattanooga that quickly rise to the top of any Nooga must-do list. One of these must-dos is Experience Chattanooga, a company that offers small group guided hiking tours to places you may otherwise only dream of seeing, right here in the scenic city.

Experience Chattanooga offers a variety of tours that range in price from $65 to $175. They have everything from sunrise and sunset hikes to waterfall tours and scenic mountain hikes, and even a tour that includes paddle boarding (HA! Now that would be a hilarious blog post. Shell tries paddle boarding = hilarity ensues)! And if you're super indecisive and have enough trouble picking where to go for dinner (like me), then they even have a "Dealer's Choice" tour, and they will personally curate an experience for you, based on the weather, day of the week, and your interests.

8 Must Do's at Animal Kingdom

Ok, I'll admit it. Animal Kingdom used to be my least favorite park (emphasis on the past tense there). I just felt like there wasn't as much there as some of the other parks. I'm still a Magic Kingdom girl through-and-through but Animal Kingdom has definitely grown on me. Maybe it's the fact that I'm a little older, a little wiser, and a lot more observant. 

Animal Kingdom is one of those parks that has so many hidden gems, underrated attractions, & epic photo spots. I used to be able to fly through the park in just a couple of hours, but now, I could probably spend (close to) a full day there if I wanted to - and still probably not see & do everything it has to offer. So that's why I wanted to jump in here & tell you guys the best way (in my opinion) to tour Animal Kingdom & share with you how I spent my day there.

You Stay Weird, Austin: The Good, The Bad, & The Super Weird

"Uh, but Shell? This mural is in Dallas." Yeah I know - hold your cattle. I'm getting to that.

Ok, buckle up because this one is going to be a long one. But there's lots of pictures, so stay with me here. Got your coffee (or beer, or wine)? Alright, good.

So Barry & I had a chance to take a vacation just the two of us while Lilly stayed with grandma & grandpa & got spoiled all week. Since my parents live in Memphis, we needed something within driving distance, so we settled on Austin, TX. We'd never been and I had heard really cool things about the city. Dallas was only about 6(ish) hours from Memphis, so we headed out to make a stopover there for a night first, before continuing on the extra 2 hours down to Austin.

But my mind was blown. Everything I thought I knew about Texas was wrong.

Carbo-loading for Dummies: Bread Service at Sanaa

Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of my favorite Disney resorts for numerous reasons: unique cuisine, stunning architecture & theming, and rooms with a serious view overlooking the African savanna (well, Disney's version of it anyway). Although I've only stayed at AK Lodge once, there is a hidden gem of a restaurant here (or maybe by now, not-so-hidden) that I just had to write about, and that is Sanaa.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is split into 2 sections: the main, larger building, Jambo House, and its smaller counterpart, Kidani Village, which is where Sanaa is located. It can be a bit tricky to get to because of this reason, but luckily our Uber driver knew where she was going and probably understands directional cues like when the GPS says in a polite British accent "turn northwest in a quarter of a mile" (really? Just say left or right at the McDonalds!). 

I desperately wanted to try the Indian-style bread service that I was hearing so much about (Sanaa, you had me at carbs), but had never gotten around to trying it - mostly because my husband wasn't a fan of Boma (the restaurant over at Jambo House. Clearly he didn't fully appreciate the out-of-body experience that is eating a zebra dome), so convincing him to give Sanaa a try was futile. Luckily, my bestie Britney was more than up for the challenge, and had already given me the rundown of her love affair with naan bread. Plus, she was 110% down for Disneybounding with me. We were doing this.

Resting Brunch Face: Wine Bar George Disney Springs Review

*Disclaimer: This post is a collaboration with Wine Bar George. I was hosted in exchange for a full review. All thoughts & honest opinions are my own, based on my experience. 

Disney Springs is one of those places that I always have to make time for when I'm taking a trip to Walt Disney World. There's so much to do there that I could honestly spend an entire day just shopping, eating (& drinking!), and enjoying the various entertainment throughout Disney Springs. But one of the places I had been wanting to try for a while was Wine Bar George.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to grab some brunch with my friends Kristen & Megan at Wine Bar George. I was really excited the weeks leading up to this because, well, did you hear me say BRUNCH + DISNEY? Basically if you say those words 3 times fast in a mirror, I will appear with mouse ears and a froscato (fro-what?? Keep reading). I'm so here for this.

Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale Hacks

It’s that time of year again: the After Party Sale is upon us! Which also means there are approximately 8.5 million blog posts about how to shop the sale & this year I’m in that bunch! Y’all have probably read most of these tips, but I’m hoping there’s a few in here that you haven’t heard of before. So let’s jump in!

Staycation, All I Ever Wanted: Westin Chattanooga Hotel Review

*Disclaimer: This post is a collaboration with Westin Chattanooga and Goldygates Photography. I received a complimentary stay, but all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are solely my own and based on my personal experience. Majority of these photos were taken by Bridget of Goldygates Photography (contact her for shoot bookings).

There’s something so luxurious and glamorous about staying at a nice hotel. I want to feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, or Eloise at the Plaza (literally complete opposite ends of the spectrum there, but you get my point). I just want to feel like I’m a VIP for the night. I want to eat breakfast in bed, drink champagne in the bathtub, and wear one of those fancy hotel robes while doing absolutely nothing (downtime is a luxury you don't get when you have a toddler).

I love to travel, but since I work a full time office job, I don’t get infinite amounts of time off (unfortunately, we can’t all be Samantha Brown & travel the world on Travel Channel’s dime). So when I need a getaway but I can’t really get (too far) away, I opt for a staycation. Chattanooga has plenty of options for a weekend getaway, but the Westin has always been at the top of my list of hotels to experience. Recently, I was invited for a mini-getaway, and brought along some girlfriends to join in on the fun to live the suite life with me (yes, I went there).