Month: November 2020

In honor of my last post, I decided there is no better place to end than in Happy Valley:) Welcome to State College!

While our time here has been short, I have already sought out some of my favorite spots! First up is obviously Old Main. While this may seem mainstream, I found it to be the perfect place to get some fresh air and sunlight — especially during COVID.

When the weather was warmer, I enjoyed bringing a blanket out and laying on the lawn in the evening. It was extremely peaceful considering the chaos and new-ness in the beginning of the semester.

My absolute favorite spot to grab breakfast on Saturday mornings is the Bagel Crust. While Pennsylvania bagels just don’t compare to Jersey bagels, the Bagel Crust holds up a pretty good bargain. Personally, my go-to-order is from their lunch specials: Baja California. The blend of chipotle sauce, pepper jack cheese, and avocado is SO perfect; it adds a caramelized taste to your sandwich. Okay, I’m done being a food critic now but I absolutely love it<3

Next up is my favorite place to go shopping. If you’re looking for a cute, hip boutique to shop at, People’s Nation on College Ave is the place to be. However, while I love their collection, it can be pricey at times.

A little road trip off-campus helped me find Uptown Cheapskate. This trendy thrift-store sells up-cycled clothing for cheap. It’s a steal! Unfortunately, you can’t walk here from campus but it’s about a 7 minute car ride away! My favorite part is the discounted Penn State merch — they have an entire aisle dedicated to it:)

Aside from the creamery, my favorite spot to grab dessert is Duck Donuts. Their warm, freshly-made donuts are to die for… literally. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating but I HIGHLY recommend them. You can customize what you want on your donut PLUS you get to watch them make it!

Although I’ve had a great time going out and exploring this new town, I’ve also really enjoyed experiencing fall in State College. All of the trees and fall colors make it truly beautiful. My favorite part is having leaves fall all around me, when the breeze blows. I think it’s safe to say I’ll miss it.

You’ve now spent ~a day in the life~ with me in State College! I hope you enjoyed:)

Today, I’m gonna be showing you guys around one of my absolute favorite places EVER. You probably didn’t guess it, but it’s the Jersey Shore!!!

And NO, it is nothing like the tv show.

Before we get into the details, we need to establish something. You can’t go to the beach and not be a ‘water’ person. It simply doesn’t work that way. If you’re going to the beach, you best be jumping the waves and cooling off, in the water. That’s the only way to do it. (I used to be a competitive swimmer, that probably has to do with my obsessiveness with water).

Over the summers, you can probably find me at the beach at least 4 of the 7 days in a week. If you couldn’t tell, I live at the beach.

My personal fav is Belmar Beach. I find that it’s the perfect mix of lively, yet not overcrowded. Plus, they have all of the classic beach-food-favorites that you could want. Specifically on 8th ave, they have the iconic Playa Bowls, Coney Waffle, Jimmy’s Place, and The Beach Bum — a little gift shop on the corner. Of course there are more snacking joints along the coast and on Main Street, however, these are the ones located off of the prime spot — 8th ave.

For those who didn’t know, Playa Bowls‘ very first location was actually on 8th ave in Belmar! The owners lived above the pizza place (Jimmy’s Place), and made acai bowls right out of their home:) Jimmy’s Place is fairly popular as well. You can get a variety of different pizzas, paninis, and burgers, along with the occasional live entertainment.

If you hadn’t noticed by my enthusiasm on Belmar, I have an opinion about everything there. My favorite joint on 8th ave is Coney Waffle. Coney Waffle is hands-down my favorite spot to get ice cream. Their large variety of flavors, famous milkshakes, and waffles+ice cream are all MUSTS!!! Personally, I think the “Rich n Famous” on a waffle cone is the way to go, but “Cookie Monster Blue” comes in a close second.

While I spend most of my waking moments at the beach, I also like to switch it up. By this, I mean sunrises or sunsets at the beach. Before you judge, I have to say they are well worth it.

If you’re planning to go see the sunrise, it’s actually so fun waking up at the crack of dawn — actually before — to race to the beach. It’s an adventure within itself. I would recommend wearing your suit, even though it is like 6 am. I assure you, you will be amazed by the sudden urge to jump in the water, no matter the time.

Once you’ve gotten your ~morning swim~ in, you have to indulge in some jersey bagels. I recommend Joe’s Bagel and Grill. The line does start early, but it’s worth it:)

Now, if you’re planning a sunset by the beach, you should be equally as excited. A popular dinner spot by the beach is Surf Taco. However, I prefer to do take-out so that I can eat while watching the sky turn pink. I love 10th ave Burritos. If you’re more of a restaurant person, they have a beautiful seating area, which is equally as pleasing.

I hope this was as exciting for you as it was for me:) You have now ~spent a day in the life~ with me at Belmar Beach! Hope you had fun!!