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"It was midnight and no one was around. The Urban Cowboy lobby was empty, we were listening to music and sipping wine, Mark was playing all the instruments hanging on the wall (we were told we can play them). I looked to my right and saw the porch light shining through the door. I went and grabbed my camera and these photos were born..."

Those are some of the last moments I remember from Urban Cowboy.

Staying at Urban Cowboy was such a fun experience. Upon checking in, we were greeted by a couple glasses of whiskey. Our room The Midnight Rider was absolutely beautiful, the clawfoot bathroom was especially fabulous. I can keep talking and talking about it but you should see it for yourself. Thank you Urban Cowboy for hosting us, I would come back in a heartbeat!

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Urban Cowboy, Nashville

December 22, 2018

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"It was midnight and no one was around. The Urban Cowboy lobby was empty, we were listening to music and sipping wine, Mark was playing all the instruments hanging on the wall (we were told we can play them). I looked to my right and saw the porch light shining through the door. I went and grabbed my camera and these photos were born..."

Those are some of the last moments I remember from Urban Cowboy.

Staying at Urban Cowboy was such a fun experience. Upon checking in, we were greeted by a couple glasses of whiskey. Our room The Midnight Rider was absolutely beautiful, the clawfoot bathroom was especially fabulous. I can keep talking and talking about it but you should see it for yourself. Thank you Urban Cowboy for hosting us, I would come back in a heartbeat!

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A lot of people asked me, "Why Nashville?" or "What's in Nashville?"

Honestly, why not? I have never been to the South and Nashville seems cool. The fact that I was a huge fan of the show Nashville might have a little something to do with it. Also, Mark was working on a Google Search project and one of the ads features hotels in Nashville and he was like, "Didn't you say you want to go to Nashville?" So, that's why.

Our trip couldn't have been better! Prior to leaving, I looked at weather there and it was rainy and in the 40s, however, it was in the 60s the entire weekend we were there and it only rained on the first night! We lucked out! After checking into Aertson Kimpton, we headed straight to Martin's for some BBQs. We had the combo plate with ribs, brisket and pulled pork and my oh my it was sooo good. The brisket (so buttery and melts in your mouth) was definitely my favorite! After dinner, we walked up to Broadway to check out all the Honky Tonks and then we spent the rest of the night catching up with Mark's friends who live in Nashville.

We woke up the next morning and went to Biscuit Love for brunch (but really it was all for the BONUTS)! Donut holes made of biscuit dough, with lemon mascarpone and blueberry compote... After eating bonuts along with benny and fried chicken, we walked and shopped a little before exploring Centennial Park. Later that evening, we had dinner while listening to some local musicians at the Commodore Grill. I really wanted to go to the infamous Bluebird Cafe but both nights' shows were sold out.

Sunday morning we had brunch at Le Sel (cutest spot ever), coffee at Barista Parlor, and walked by the infamous RCA Studio before checking out of Aertson Kimpton which we stayed at our first couple of nights because we were spending our last night at Urban Cowboy (blog post on that here). We spent the afternoon at Frist Museum and coincidentally there was a "Paris 1900" exhibit (you know me, I love all things Parisian). We ended the night eating more hot fried chicken and drank more beer.

Nashville was so wonderful. Food were amazing, people were friendly, and it was so refreshing to actually get a sense of fall (we don't have that here in LA).

PS. I didn't want to post too many photos in this post, you can see everything on Instagram in my Nashville story highlight.

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Nashville Travel Diary

December 15, 2018

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A lot of people asked me, "Why Nashville?" or "What's in Nashville?"

Honestly, why not? I have never been to the South and Nashville seems cool. The fact that I was a huge fan of the show Nashville might have a little something to do with it. Also, Mark was working on a Google Search project and one of the ads features hotels in Nashville and he was like, "Didn't you say you want to go to Nashville?" So, that's why.

Our trip couldn't have been better! Prior to leaving, I looked at weather there and it was rainy and in the 40s, however, it was in the 60s the entire weekend we were there and it only rained on the first night! We lucked out! After checking into Aertson Kimpton, we headed straight to Martin's for some BBQs. We had the combo plate with ribs, brisket and pulled pork and my oh my it was sooo good. The brisket (so buttery and melts in your mouth) was definitely my favorite! After dinner, we walked up to Broadway to check out all the Honky Tonks and then we spent the rest of the night catching up with Mark's friends who live in Nashville.

We woke up the next morning and went to Biscuit Love for brunch (but really it was all for the BONUTS)! Donut holes made of biscuit dough, with lemon mascarpone and blueberry compote... After eating bonuts along with benny and fried chicken, we walked and shopped a little before exploring Centennial Park. Later that evening, we had dinner while listening to some local musicians at the Commodore Grill. I really wanted to go to the infamous Bluebird Cafe but both nights' shows were sold out.

Sunday morning we had brunch at Le Sel (cutest spot ever), coffee at Barista Parlor, and walked by the infamous RCA Studio before checking out of Aertson Kimpton which we stayed at our first couple of nights because we were spending our last night at Urban Cowboy (blog post on that here). We spent the afternoon at Frist Museum and coincidentally there was a "Paris 1900" exhibit (you know me, I love all things Parisian). We ended the night eating more hot fried chicken and drank more beer.

Nashville was so wonderful. Food were amazing, people were friendly, and it was so refreshing to actually get a sense of fall (we don't have that here in LA).

PS. I didn't want to post too many photos in this post, you can see everything on Instagram in my Nashville story highlight.

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01joshuatree-jumborocks-desert-travel
Ok wow, I wrote Joshua Tree: Part I over a month ago and I JUST realized I never wrote Part II... So here it is! It's mostly just the rest of the photos I took at Jumbo Rocks. I like them so much that I want to put them in a separate post. Enjoy!
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Joshua Tree: Part II

December 14, 2018

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Ok wow, I wrote Joshua Tree: Part I over a month ago and I JUST realized I never wrote Part II... So here it is! It's mostly just the rest of the photos I took at Jumbo Rocks. I like them so much that I want to put them in a separate post. Enjoy!
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I have no idea why I waited so long to visit Joshua Tree. I had wanted to go for years but didn't end up going until a couple of weeks ago and I already cannot wait to return! We arrived on a late Friday night and quickly settled into our cozy little (actually quite spacious) airstream. We woke up early each mornings to catch the sunrise, made breakfast and sipped coffee, before heading out for our adventures. We did plenty of hiking, climbed a bunch (you can see the rock climbing post here), and discovered so many beautiful things. Joshua Tree National Park is quite large and there are so many different terrains with their own unique features. My favorites were Jumbo Rocks and the Skull Rock area, I felt like I was on a different planet! On our last night, we even saw the most amazing sunset which kept changing colors. It was epic! My photos really don't do Joshua Tree justice, you really have to see it for yourself.
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Joshua Tree: Part I

November 13, 2018

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I have no idea why I waited so long to visit Joshua Tree. I had wanted to go for years but didn't end up going until a couple of weeks ago and I already cannot wait to return! We arrived on a late Friday night and quickly settled into our cozy little (actually quite spacious) airstream. We woke up early each mornings to catch the sunrise, made breakfast and sipped coffee, before heading out for our adventures. We did plenty of hiking, climbed a bunch (you can see the rock climbing post here), and discovered so many beautiful things. Joshua Tree National Park is quite large and there are so many different terrains with their own unique features. My favorites were Jumbo Rocks and the Skull Rock area, I felt like I was on a different planet! On our last night, we even saw the most amazing sunset which kept changing colors. It was epic! My photos really don't do Joshua Tree justice, you really have to see it for yourself.
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01rockclimbing-ropeclimbing-bouldering-joshuatree-fitness
Four months ago in July, I had gotten my 15th tattoo of a mountain range on the back of my forearm. Little did I know it was also a foreshadowing of my life two months later when I started rock climbing. I remember the first time I stepped foot into a climbing gym, it was nearly two years ago when my best friend Shirley took me to Dogpatch Boulders back in SF. To be honest, I was a bit intimidated. I didn't even give it a try and immediately gave it the death sentence thinking, "Nah, this isn't for me."

Life works in such a funny way. I met my boyfriend Mark (who is an avid climber) a few months ago and now I am hitting up a Touchstone with him at least once if not twice a week! I remember on our third date he had invited me to join him and his friends out in Malibu Creek State Park. They went out there to climb and thought I would just hike but it ended up being tons of scrambling and I even had to traverse over this water. It was challenging but I did it and they thought I was a natural, and then the rest was history...

Mark started showing me the ropes (pun intended haha) at the gym and I picked up top rope rather quickly. Next thing you know, I was already belaying and crushing some 5.10 (I just did my first 5.10c last week). A couple of weeks ago, we spent a weekend in Joshua Tree (non-climbing related Joshua Tree post coming soon) and did some climbing out there as well. Climbing outdoor is so different than climbing in a gym. It was so challenging and apparently J Tree climbing is especially hard but it was also very fun and rewarding (especially when you get to see the view from the top). Obviously, I am new to all of this and have alot to work on. I have been top roping and not really bouldering so I need to work on that because bouldering is also a whole other story. Baby steps, right? Either way, I am excited about this new found hobby of mine and hope that you will enjoy following my climbing journey here on my blog and over on my Instagram.

See my feature over on the Touchstone Blog here!
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My Rock Climbing Journey

November 11, 2018

01rockclimbing-ropeclimbing-bouldering-joshuatree-fitness
Four months ago in July, I had gotten my 15th tattoo of a mountain range on the back of my forearm. Little did I know it was also a foreshadowing of my life two months later when I started rock climbing. I remember the first time I stepped foot into a climbing gym, it was nearly two years ago when my best friend Shirley took me to Dogpatch Boulders back in SF. To be honest, I was a bit intimidated. I didn't even give it a try and immediately gave it the death sentence thinking, "Nah, this isn't for me."

Life works in such a funny way. I met my boyfriend Mark (who is an avid climber) a few months ago and now I am hitting up a Touchstone with him at least once if not twice a week! I remember on our third date he had invited me to join him and his friends out in Malibu Creek State Park. They went out there to climb and thought I would just hike but it ended up being tons of scrambling and I even had to traverse over this water. It was challenging but I did it and they thought I was a natural, and then the rest was history...

Mark started showing me the ropes (pun intended haha) at the gym and I picked up top rope rather quickly. Next thing you know, I was already belaying and crushing some 5.10 (I just did my first 5.10c last week). A couple of weeks ago, we spent a weekend in Joshua Tree (non-climbing related Joshua Tree post coming soon) and did some climbing out there as well. Climbing outdoor is so different than climbing in a gym. It was so challenging and apparently J Tree climbing is especially hard but it was also very fun and rewarding (especially when you get to see the view from the top). Obviously, I am new to all of this and have alot to work on. I have been top roping and not really bouldering so I need to work on that because bouldering is also a whole other story. Baby steps, right? Either way, I am excited about this new found hobby of mine and hope that you will enjoy following my climbing journey here on my blog and over on my Instagram.

See my feature over on the Touchstone Blog here!
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