Posts tagged ‘see the world’

Remember when I talked about how productive I can be when I just leave the house? Well, I think I may have found my most productive workplace yet: THE AIRPORT!

Let's Fly Away | Ann-Marie Loves Paper

As someone who is perpetually fifteen (twenty, twenty-five…) minutes behind schedule, I rarely have the opportunity to really take full advantage of the airport setting. I’m usually trying to race through security, grab a bottle of water, and get onboard before my plane leaves the runway. Okay, so maybe it’s not that bad (most of the time), but it’s not often that I get to wander through an airport and take a moment to breathe before takeoff.

On Friday morning, I had an early flight to Salt Lake and was pleasantly surprised when the usual weekend rush at LAX was nonexistent. In fact, I was able to get through security in less than three minutes – victory! So I went over to Coffee Bean and picked up coffee + oatmeal (that came with steamed milk – heaven!) and sat down to enjoy my meal. I can’t even tell you how nice that was for a change. Especially since it meant I could avoid the always-futile juggling act of lugging my carry-on suitcase, my laptop, and a large cup of hot coffee down that narrow aisle to my seat (lord beer me strength). Once it was time to take to the skies, I opened up my laptop and got to work! I edited photos, I composed a blog post, and I reveled in the fact that I could be so productive at such an early (read: 7am) hour! There’s something to be said about having to remain stationary for an extended period of time that really allows me to focus and get things done.

On Sunday when I was flying out of SLC, I had to get to the airport extra early to turn in my rental car and on top of that, my flight was delayed. But you know what? I didn’t mind it one bit. Salt Lake has a fantastic airport with plenty of tables, comfy chairs, and outlets coupled with a wide selection of dining options (including coffee! and alcohol! go utah!). I was more than happy to get my standard coffee + oatmeal and find a table where I could take advantage of the several unscheduled hours I had before me. It was kind of the best thing ever.

If I could hang out in that airport at one of the tables overlooking the runway, I would do it every single day. Ahhh, I love flying.

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Happy Place No. 002 | Sundance, Utah | Ann-Marie Morris

Happy Place No. 002 | Sundance, Utah | Ann-Marie Morris

Sundance was one of the first places John and I discovered upon our move to Utah in 2010 and it completely bowled us over. In fact, it STILL bowls me over every time I visit. I spent this past weekend in Utah and on Sunday, my good friend Sarah + her husband Mike took me up to Sundance for an amazing brunch at The Foudry Grill.

Happy Place No. 002 | Sundance, Utah | Ann-Marie Morris
Happy Place No. 002 | Sundance, Utah | Ann-Marie Morris

After breakfast, we spent a little time shopping (I’ll take one of everything, please!) and wandering around the resort. Just being amidst the trees + the mountains felt so refreshing. One of these days, I want to rent out one of the cabins (or yurts!) and wake up and breathe in that crisp alpine air with a hot cup of coffee in hand. Heaven.

Happy Place No. 002 | Sundance, Utah | Ann-Marie Morris

Happy Place No. 002 | Sundance, Utah | Ann-Marie Morris

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Happy Place No. 002 | Sundance, Utah | Ann-Marie Morris

From there, we jumped back in the car and went for a scenic drive through the Alpine Loop, stopping along the way for photos. This time of year is an absolute dream in Utah. The temperature is no longer too cold and not yet too hot and it feels amazing. I’m so glad my trip happened to coincide with the perfect weather!

Happy Place No. 002 | Sundance, Utah | Ann-Marie Morris

Happy Place No. 002 | Sundance, Utah | Ann-Marie Morris

If ever you get the opportunity to visit Utah, I highly recommend stopping by Sundance. Not only does the resort have so much to offer (including Full Moon lift rides!), but the idyllic drive through Provo Canyon to get there is worth the trip all on it’s own!

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It’s really no secret by now that San Diego has a hold on me. It truly is my ultimate happy place and I can’t quite shake the feeling that it’s where I want to settle down. Eventually I’ll convince John that we need to move back down there, but until then, I’ll just keep visiting. A LOT.

Balboa Park, San Diego | Ann-Marie Morris

One of my favorite spots in San Diego is Balboa Park. I’m absolutely in love with this place. Not only is the location (perched above the bay + downtown) ideal, but the sheer size of it is incredible! It’s home to a wide variety of museums, restaurants, and even the world famous zoo (all of which I highly recommend).

Balboa Park, San Diego | Ann-Marie Morris

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On Wednesday afternoon, I had time to kill between visiting Elise and trying to avoid rush hour traffic, so I spent a few hours wandering around the park and pausing to snap a photo every five feet. Even though I’ve been to Balboa Park countless times, I discover something new with each + every visit…the park is THAT big.

Balboa Park, San Diego | Ann-Marie Morris

Balboa Park, San Diego | Ann-Marie Morris

This trip, I finally found the walkway that crosses the insanely beautiful Cabrillo Bridge. It stands high above the 163 freeway and offers the most amazing bird’s eye views of the lush San Diego landscape (I may or may not have let out an embarrassingly audible gasp upon first glimpse).

Balboa Park, San Diego | Ann-Marie Morris

I don’t know if it was the thrill of a new discovery or the cozy marine layer creeping in from the bay or just the fact that I took the late afternoon to myself, but I felt so happy standing there in Balboa Park. San Diego, you are my fave.

P.S. If you’re wondering if I ever wear anything other than that black + white dress, the answer is a resounding…NO. (ha!)

6 Comments

When I found out that the infamous stair car from Arrested Development rolled into town, there was no way I could skip out on it. So on Sunday, John, my brother Andy, and I headed down to Santa Monica for a Bluth mobile sighting and a walk around town. The beach, the buildings, the Bluths…what more could you ask for on the day of rest? (Ummm…how about more parking?)

Santa Monica | Ann-Marie Morris
Santa Monica | Ann-Marie Morris
Arrested Development World Tour | Ann-Marie Morris
Santa Monica | Ann-Marie Morris
Santa Monica | Ann-Marie Morris
Santa Monica | Ann-Marie Morris
Arrested Development World Tour | Ann-Marie Morris
Santa Monica | Ann-Marie Morris
Santa Monica | Ann-Marie Morris
Santa Monica | Ann-Marie Morris

The countdown to the BIG PREMIERE is on! George Michael, I’ve missed you so…

10 Comments

topanga vintage market | ann-marie morris

There’s really nothing in this world that I love more than a good treasure hunting excursion (obviously). I mean, what could possibly be more fun than digging through others’ discarded junk and giving it new life?! (Uh, just about EVERYTHING is more fun than that, my mom would say – ha!) Thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales – bring it on! So on the fourth Sunday of every month, I love to attend the Topanga Vintage Market in the San Fernando Valley. This market hosts a wide variety of vendors + vintage products in all different price ranges. Of course I’m always on the lookout for unique glass + tableware, but even if I don’t buy anything, it’s worth it for the visual inspiration alone! Here are a few of the awesome items I spotted the last time I attended:

topanga vintage market | ann-marie morris

One of these days, I want to purchase a giant sign like this and work it into a lush outdoor landscape. I love when urban + natural aesthetics collide, a la my beloved Grow.

topanga vintage market | ann-marie morris

The wooden crate! The orange tackle box! The yellow lawn chair! Everything about this photo makes me want to dig in.

topanga vintage market | ann-marie morris

If I had a few kids + a few hundred spare dollars, I would definitely snatch these chairs up and put them in a playroom or on a patio for outdoor dining. You could even use one as a place to stack books or blankets! Aren’t the colors just perfection?

topanga vintage market | ann-marie morris

These handcrafted glass beaded necklaces are amazing. Not only would they be great for wearing, but they would also look fantastic if they were tied into a loose knot and displayed on a dresser or coffee table. So many possibilities in so many beautiful colors!

P.S. If you make it to the market, be sure to stop by booth F-20 and say hello to my lovely future in-laws! (:

What are your favorite things to look for when you go treasure hunting?

6 Comments

Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris
Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris
Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris
Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris
Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris
Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris
Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris
Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris
Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris
Ojai, Ca | Ann-Marie Morris

A few weekends ago, John and I decided to venture up north and take a little day trip to Ojai. Can you believe that in the twenty-plus years I’ve lived in Southern California, I had never visited this amazing town before? That’s just crazy to me now that I’ve experienced the wonder that it truly is. Everything about Ojai (well, except maybe the overuse of Papyrus…I’ll try to look past that – ha!), is perfection. We spent the first part of the day exploring the main street, dining at an awesome Mexican food joint, and strolling through the park. As the sun began to set, I knew we had to head up to Meditation Mount (after reading this post!) and take in all the soft colors and citrusy smells from the top of the city. My instincts proved correct…it was spectacular.

Ojai, you’ve won us over. Well done.

P.S. Hey locals! Any ideas for adorable SoCal towns that I need to visit? I would love to hear your suggestions! xo

7 Comments

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

weekend getaway | san luis obispo | ann-marie loves paper

San Luis Obispo has a way of making me regret filling in “Architecture” as my major of choice on my Cal Poly application back when I was eighteen. I mean, architecture, Ann-Marie??? Really??? Needless to say, I did not spend my college years in endlessly charming SLO. (I spent them in endlessly charming San Diego, so I’ll survive.) But now that I have long since graduated (sans architecture degree) and scored myself a cute fiance, San Luis Obispo is the perfect place for two twenty-somethings looking for a weekend adventure. Because when you break it down, this town has it all: beauty, brains, and a whole lot of thrifting! We’ll be back soon, SLO…

9 Comments

While in Salt Lake last week for a lighting-fast business trip, I had every intention of taking lots of photos of all the things that I miss most about living in Utah. The snow-capped mountains. Waking up to fresh powder outside my window. Rows + rows of thrifty goodness at the DI (oh, the DI). All of my amazing friends whom I miss terribly. The reality? I filled up my memory card with TONS of images from my breakfast at Eva’s Bakery in downtown SLC. I mean, I couldn’t help myself! Everything about this place is what designer dreams are made of, from the blue and yellow patterned flooring to the calligraphed labels in the bakery case to the gorgeous menu typography. I was in heaven (literally…this is Utah, after all).

Eva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie Morris
Eva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie Morris
Eva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie Morris
Eva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie MorrisEva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie Morris
Eva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie Morris
Eva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie Morris
Eva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie Morris
Eva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie Morris
Eva's Bakery | Salt Lake City | Ann-Marie Morris
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Oh, and the food? DIVINE.

xoxo

4 Comments

When Saturday rolls around and John and I are looking for a fun way to spend the afternoon, Ventura often seems to top our list of places to go. And why not? It’s such an underrated little beach town so close to where we live. The weather is always nice, the parking is always plentiful and FREE (take note, LA!), and there are so many fantastic thrift shops on Main Street that we could spend hours wandering though. Oh, and we’re totally getting married there in October! Needless to say, we love it.

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Ventura, Ca | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Ventura, Ca | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
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Ventura, Ca | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
ventura3
Ventura, Ca | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
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On the way home, we stopped at our wedding venue to see what it looks like at night. Despite my previous concerns that the lighting wouldn’t jive with my vision, I am happy to report, it looks SO GOOD! Warm, cozy, and ready for an all-night fiesta! Am I killing you with the wedding stuff yet? My apologies friends, but we’ve got a loooong (but not that long – ahh!) way to go! And speaking of wedding stuff, lately I’ve been sending e-mails with potential vow material to myself whenever a poignant thought crosses my mind. This includes, but is not limited to, grabbing my phone to write out my thoughts in the middle of the night while still half-dreaming (nightmaring?) about arriving at the ceremony only to realize that I forgot to write any vows…! (P.S. I woke up the next morning to some surprisingly decent work!) I am LITERALLY writing these vows with my eyes closed. If only the rest of the wedding planning could be so easy!

xoxo

5 Comments

On Sunday, I convinced John and my brother Andy to go with me to Disneyland, partly because the weather was springtime perfection, but mainly because I wanted to test my new 50mm lens in the most colorful setting possible. Mission accomplished.

Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper
Disneyland | Ann-Marie Loves Paper

As far as camera equipment goes, this macro lens is such a steal considering just how fantastic it really is! The sharp depth of field blows my mind every time… even if does force me to stand a mile away from my subject to get more than just their nostrils in the shot – ha!

xoxo

12 Comments
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