Blue Ocean & Snorkeling- Check!

Hola! So I suppose it's been awhile. I apologize for my lack of posts but I haven't been doing too many new things and got caught up in the summer months! Butttttt good news, I recently took a vacation to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana Princess All Inclusive Resort)! Talk about beautiful and talk about a new experience! This was my first time traveling out of the country (besides the wonderful Canada). I took this vacation with my best friend Matthew who was commonly confused as my boyfriend or husband or brother for the past week. Those Dominican's just don't seem to get it, but we got a kick out of it!

Anyways, I did a lot of new things this week that weren't on my bucket list but probably should've been! The quick rundown of the things that stick out... hold a monkey (Cindy was the cutest), drink out from a fresh coconut, learned how to salsa, travel out of the country with a complete language barrier (main words used: Hola, Gracias, Cerveza, no español, dos Agua). All which were great, but on to the main point of this blog. I can officially check off the swimming/seeing a clear blue ocean and snorkeling! Yay!!

First look at the ocean on the day we got there!

 There isn't too much to say about the seeing and swimming in a clear blue ocean. It's just beautiful. For the past 24 years of my life I've been to the beach plenty of times, but nothing compares to this water. We spent a lot of our time on the beach because we just couldn't get enough of the view and the atmosphere. The sun was hot but the breeze made it so bearable I fell asleep on the beach everyday! It was as amazing as it sounds and looks!!!!

Swimming!

After realizing that all the excursions can really break the bank and having to decide which to go on we made the final decision to go on a sting ray, shark, snorkel adventure! We got picked up on a bus and headed out. Once we signed our life away, a big group of us pile on a boat and ventured out to sea (by dancing of course)! The boat was more like a party, they had everyone dancing and having a good time until we got there. Before you knew it we were jumping in to hang out with some sting rays! Sting ray's are totally weird feeling and totally not like I remember at the Pittsburgh zoo! But we got to hold them and feed them if you wanted. Next thing I know I'm jumping in a pool of sharks. Let me tell you, I never considered myself afraid of sharks but this really freaked me out!!! They were way too close for comfort but it was still pretty damn cool. We hopped back in the boat and danced our way to the snorkel destination (which was what I was really looking forward to).

Dance party!

Again, before you know it we are there all geared up and snorkeling! It was yet another beautiful sight to see! It's a whole different world down there with all the fish, coral and all of that. Stunning! I can't wait to do it again. After climbing on board, they fed us a lot of drinks and shots and we danced our way back to shore! This excursion was an absolute blast and I recommend it to anyone heading to Punta Cana!!

My snorkel gear and Cerveza!

I could go on and on about this trip! As always I made a lot of new friends but this time they were from all over the world (which was way cooler), drank a lot and ate a lot as well. All in all a fantastic, relaxing vacation and am sad to be back to reality but happy to be back to American food and where everyone knows what I'm saying! Don't worry I'll post a lot more photo's on Facebook eventually! Until next time, adiós amigos! :) xo


*Oh and I'm adding two new bucket list goals:
  -Learn another language
  -Zip line in a rainforest

Wine Tasting- Check!

This past week I joined Venture Outdoors (www.ventureoutdoors.org)! They honestly make getting outdoors easy. There are all sorts of activities practically everyday of the month from kayaking, to hiking, to biking, to anything outdoors really! So if you're like me and want to try kayaking, they organize beginner paddles which include instructors and kayaks to make you feel comfortable and get out there and try it! Which someday soon there will be a posting about that one once I do it! I highly recommend checking this out if your looking for something new to do around the area.

Anyways, my lovely friend Jamie and I signed up for the 'Spring Wine Tasting Hike' through Venture Outdoors. We were super excited considering we both love hikes and drinking, so who could deny this winning combo? It was a nice easy 4 mile hike in North Park followed by wine tasting at the Tuscan Inn. There was a group of about 25 adults, we were the youngest and ahead of the pack but it was still a blast! The weather was beautiful and all people involved were incredibly friendly and fun!

On to the wine tasting. First off the Tuscan Inn is located in the North Hills. It was a very rustic, elegant, unique atmosphere. Our group was obviously under dressed but they planned for us and the back room was reserved for our wine tasting. Jamie and I sat with our new friends Cathy, Laura, Lindsey and Matt which we are already planning on getting together again with! So at our white clothed tables we awaited the beginning of our wine tasting (hoodies and dirty shoes included). Now let me tell you, the portions of wine were large and the "cheese and crackers" accompanying each was plentiful. *Note, on Venture Outdoors description of the event they said there would just be cheese and crackers.* We had four full glasses which included each of these wines;

First was the Sannio Falanghina which was a white wine. This one was my favorite, Jamie's as well. It was sweet, crisp, light, citrusy and refreshing. This came with a small plate of salmon and corn cake.

Second was the Infinitus which actually was kind of a white spicy and different tasting wine, but tasted better with the mozzarella cheese bread it was paired with.

Third was the Tormaresca Neprica, a red wine which had black raspberry, peppery flavors. This wine was paired with duck on top of beat risotto.

And last and least enjoyed was the Carbnet Sauvignon. This was very red, very dry, very yuck. This wine was paired homemade gnocchi and beef tips.




Don't ask me how to say those names. I am in no means a wino. I drink it on occasion and when I do I'm always more of a fan of the white wines. The other three I wasn't too much a fan of so I don't even know how to describe them in a positive light! Don't get me wrong, it was fun tasting the different wines but the food was the best part. It was absolutely delicious! I can't wait to go back to this place for dinner!

All in all it was a great experience! So check wine tasting off the list and on to the next one!! Until next time get out there yourself and try something different! :)

The very beginning...

I started this blog for a very simple reason and that just being I always wanted to try blogging. Like many things in my life I've always wanted to do I get hesitant to try, put it off or whatever other reasons get in the way. One night a little while ago I decided to write down all of the things I wanted to do in my lifetime and it evolved into a bucket list. Some of the list seems like very simple and easy things that many of you have done and for whatever reason I have not. I have intentions of getting through a lot of these and replacing them with new goals to achieve. But for the time being, follow me as I try to take advantage of the many things this crazy world has to offer!

Learn a entire country line dance
Visit Europe
Travel to every state in the US or at least hit these additional spots
  -- Nashville, Tennessee (July 2013)
  -- Las Vegas, Nevada and learn a table game then hopefully win big!
  -- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
  -- All the New England States
  -- Chicago, Illinois
  -- San Francisco, California
  -- Michigan (June 2013)
  -- Kentucky (July 2013)
  -- Visited before this bucket list... 
     PA, MD, WV, NY, OH, NC, SC, FL, LA, DE, VA, NJ
Site see in Washington DC
See/Swim in a clear blue ocean (Accomplished 8/12/12)
Start a blog (Accomplished 6/1/12)
Volunteer at least once a year
Go to a drive in (Accomplished 5/25/13)
Go to a wine tasting (Accomplished 6/2/12)
Hot air balloon
Snorkel (Accomplished 8/14/12)
Donate my hair to someone who needs it more than me
Find a soul mate
Throw the biggest party of my life
Take a cooking class
Run some kind of race
Take my parents on vacation
Become a parent
Become the world's best aunt
Tailgate for a concert
Go white water rafting
Start a camp fire (considering I'm never lit a match this will one will get interesting!)
Perfect piano to play it by ear
Do a polar bear swim
Ride a train
Ride a roller coaster with a loop (Accomplished July 2013)
Learn how to knit (Thanks to Groupon and Knit One (Squirrel Hill)- Accomplished 3/15/12)
Watch every brat pack movie
Discover my dream job
Have a drink with Sara Bareilles
Own a dog
Buy my dream house
Participate in a beer olympics
Wedding crash
Dance/play on the FAO Schwarz piano
Send a secret to post secret
Get a tattoo
Ride an elephant
Learn another language
Zip line in a rainforest 

So there is my start. I can't wait to accomplish a lot of these and add new things to do! Since I've made the list there were a few things I can now cross off! I'll be in touch with stories and photos to share with you! Until then... xo! :)