Chronicles of a Delicious Daycation

If anyone has ever traveled for work, you know it isn’t always a walk in the park. For me, my travel-related projects have me scheduled from morning to night with very little opportunity to enjoy my surroundings. Plus, the week immediately following the trip is usually full of meetings to catch-up on projects that were ongoing while I was away. So when I realized this past weekend had ZERO personal or work commitments, I seized the opportunity to take a much needed daycation.

One of my most favorite home stores, by far, is Crate and Barrel.  I love their design aesthetic and the products are high quality without breaking the bank. When I lived in Chicago, it felt like there was one on every corner. It was nothing for me to walk into their multi-story complex on Michigan Avenue and just bask in the glory of all things CB for a couple of hours. Now that I live in Pittsburgh, the nearest Crate and Barrel is a full 2 hours away near Cleveland, OH. Clearly a visit now involves a little more planning.

Yes, I planned an entire day-trip around one store.  Sure there were a couple of stops along the way, but the one-on-one time with Crate and Barrel was the cherry on top.  So I encourage you to hop in the car with Brent, our friend James, and me for a delicious day of shopping.

Sophie Goes to Doggie Day Camp: Of course, we couldn’t leave Sophie out of all the daycation fun.  I just couldn’t image seeing her little head peeking out our front window as we drove away. She was treated to a day at a local puppy camp to play with some familiar friends. Can you visualize Sophie’s tiny tail wagging in excitement when she realized where she was going? Trust me, it was quite cute.

Nordstrom Rack: Sometimes I need a good pair of shoes to make me feel pretty.  Our opening act, before the Crate and Barrel main event, was a quick stop at Nordstrom Rack. It’s one of my favorite places to buy clothes that are a couple of steps above a discount store at discount prices.  Plus, their selection of shoes is just too colorful for words.  As James tried on dozens of jeans to find the perfect cut that flattered his petite frame, I opted for the size 12 shoe rack. Yes, I have big feet, but I’m tall too…I swear.  Check out these great blue deck shoes I got for HALF PRICE.

Crate and Barrel Galore: Birds chirping and an angelic song floated through my head as I crossed through the threshold of the glorious CB. I had forgotten how the product sparkled against the soft lighting made me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  We sashayed through the levels of the store. We touched the stark white dishware, we sat in displays like they have never been sat before, and we even bought a few things.  I have no doubt you will be seeing the purchases featured in posts very soon.

Cheesecake Factory Fatties: Appetizers, Salads, Sandwiches and Desserts…oh my. We couldn’t help but giggle every time we ordered something during our lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. We laughed at what could have been the internal monologue of the server as we asked for more…more…more. I’m sure he was saying to himself, “Wow! These fatties must be on daycation.” My simple, 30 lb, slab of cheesecake with fresh strawberries was a pure slice of heaven.

An Evening with Friends: I couldn’t have imagined my daycation ending any more delicious than an evening with friends when we returned to Pittsburgh. Our handfuls of shopping bags were in tow. We sipped on bubbly beverages with large shards of ice as the sun began to set in the distance. The laughter was bountiful and the comfort in knowing it was a good day was priceless.

 Print This Recipe  Subscribe to Culinary Cory