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#and they're like ''no i want the same thing for both entrees'' well then that's a one entree meal dummy
hillbilly---man · 1 month
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tell me all about your trip, what was your favorite thing you did, what's something neat you didn't expect, did you eat anything cool did you buy any souvenirs
Aaaaaaah thanks for asking! It's hard to answer so I've been thinking on it for a bit lol
My favorite thing I did:
Genuinely I don't know! I'm inclined to answer Ishinomaki/Tashirojima (Cat Island) though, mostly because of how off-the-beaten-path it was.
For some reference, most people who visit Japan for the first time (while technically it wasn't my first, it was my first as a tourist so I planned it like a first-timer) stick to a relatively small area: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, etc, sometimes heading to Hiroshima.
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[not that I think you personally need a geography lesson Kas but just in case someone reading this might]
But this place was up in Tōhoku (inside the red heart on the map) so it didn't have that touristy feel.. which isn't a bad thing to have but I thought it was neat to get away from that for a bit.
But yeah! In addition to that incredible hotel I mentioned in my other post (Tama Hotel in Ishinomaki), the city was really chill and the island was gorgeous. It had this whole "old declining fishing village vibe" to it which was so interesting. Plus the views of the sea were incredible:
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Not to mention the cats! Which, despite the reputation of Japan's animal islands seemed to be in no worse health than your average stray cats I'd say. Several were also neutered. The island didn't feel overrun, it just seemed like a place with a whole bunch of them. And they were so friendly! We'd be walking down the street and a cat would see us and just start excitedly trotting towards us and beg for pets. My sister even got to hold a bunch of them! (You're not supposed to forcibly pick them up, so she wouldn't hold them if they showed even the first sign of wanting down)
A gif of them as a gift:
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Something neat I didn't expect:
I didn't expect people to be so delighted by us speaking extremely basic Japanese to them!
Well, I did kind of expect it a little bit I didn't think it would be SUCH A BIG DEAL.
I've been very casually learning Japanese for a while, but it's mostly Duolingo so it's not like I like, know the language or anything. I went there with some vocabulary and just enough confidence to use a word or two. But when I hit a cashier with a "daijoubu" (I'm fine) when they ask if I need a bag or even just an "arigatou gozaimasu" (thank you) at the end they seem to be so much happier about the interaction. I honestly wonder if they're used to white tourists being kind of difficult and stubborn.
By far the most unexpected bit of useful vocabulary I used was "douzo":
Exiting an elevator at the same time as someone else? Old lady gets on the bus and you want to give her your seat? Someone in a store reaches for the same product you were reaching for?
Just gesture to the thing you're offering, smile, and say "douzo" to let them know they can go ahead. Doing that got me so many smiles from people! One old couple was so happy about it that they talked to us for a little while (we didn't understand much of each other but I caught that they were in their 80s and they caught that we were going to the aquarium) and they even helped us find our next train!
Did I eat anything cool?
I felt like I didn't really get a chance to be very adventurous with food this time! My sister is very picky and refuses to eat pork (it's not a dietary restriction or anything, she just thinks it's gross), raw fish, or cold entrees. Also, we were both pretty sensitive to the smell of seafood during the trip. This meant we were really limited on things like ramen, bento, sushi, etc.
We relied a little too much on American chain restaurants I think. But we did get to eat some good Japanese food though!
We went to this one place called Yakiniku Like (it's a chain and I think it's kinda trendy on tiktok bc it's very tourist friendly). You get a small grill in your table and you order your meat on an iPad and cook it yourself. It was pretty good! Not very adventurous or interesting though.
Snack foods are good too! I finally got to try Japanese pudding (good!), coffee jelly (not my thing but I understand why that pink haired kid I'm always posting about likes it so much), convenience store fried chicken (heavenly), and those strawberry-whipped cream sandwiches they sell at 7-11 (why the hell don't they sell those here).
Also, so many green grape flavored candies! We should do that more
Did I buy any souvenirs?
A little bit!
I spent most of my money on food/transport/logistics so I kind of found myself hesitant to buy too much stuff. I did get a bunch of pins and magnets though!
My pins:
I'm not taking them off my bag but I've circled the new ones! I got a bunch of vintage Olympics pins at a flea market on our first day, and I also got some from the Ghibli Museum and Rabbit Island.
(also in looking at this, I just now realized that I have two Lake Placid 1980 pins on my bag....)
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And my magnets:
I collect refrigerator magnets when I travel even more consistently than probably anything else. Every time I travel somewhere I try to get at least one. I came back from Japan with several, lmfao
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OH! Also I won this ugly little guy in a UFO catcher and I love him
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vitalphenomena · 5 months
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@k4ndall
She'd be stupid — and ignorant, and a little arrogant, too — to not immediately recognize Kendall fucking Roy. They're at the same restaurant, now, both sitting alone. She's just gotten up to leave, and he's waiting for his entree, or at least looks like it.
There was a time when she wanted to represent him. There was a time when some of the partners at her firm wanted the same thing. But someone like Kendall was considered among many circles to be a professional liability, a hazard. And then Kennedy had to scale back her hours at the firm to make time for Archetype, which was a whole thing...but I digress.
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"Kendall Roy," she says warmly. She hopes that today, at least, she's only the first person to approach the poor man while he reads something on his smart phone and enjoys the restaurant's ambiance.
"I'm Kennedy St. Clair. I'd kind of given up on ever getting to meet you. You became quite elusive, after everything — though I would, as well." A knowing smile. She knows elusive — Archetype can be so unnecessarily mysterious.
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fizzingwizard · 5 months
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food and diet talk
not that I'm dieting lol.
It has been really, really frustrating trying to make even the small changes that I wanted. The minute I find a healthy recipe I like, I'll discover it's only healthy in some ways, but unhealthy in others. Even if I ate nothing but bowls and bowls of kale without any seasoning, I might get lower cholesterol but I'd be lacking a whole lot of vitamins and just energy in general.
One source says eggs are a yes! They have cholesterol but they're so good for you that you should still eat them (obviously not every single meal or every day but they're healthy enough not to be cut out).
Another source says: eggs are a big no! You can have them if you really, really must... but only now and then... and only the whites... and we don't recommend it tbh.
If I eat "healthy," I'm eating food I don't like, that tastes bad because it has no seasoning, and the only benefit is the idea that I'm going to be overall healthier myself (which for me rn is pretty much about cholesterol and that's it). But my genetics mean it could have no effect - and even without the genetic component, it could still be no good, because I'd fuck up my health other ways by eating "healthy" but not "balanced."
Moderation is supposed to be the key. Eat almost everything as long as it's a balanced diet. But what even is moderation. I went to a restaurant the other day that bills itself as a healthy restaurant. It has the nutritional facts listed right there on the menu, tells you the pros and cons of each dish, etc. But they have a fish deal with 10 grams of salt. That's like double the amount of salt you're supposed to eat in a day?? And my meal was a chicken salad. The chicken had the skin on, which, fine, it's a restaurant (but it actually didn't need it, the meat was very tender and well-seasoned without the skin). It came with multi-grain rice with hjiki and miso soup. Those were fine I think. The real insult was the chicken salad itself. It was supposed to be loaded with vegetables: it had three thin strips of bell pepper, one wedge of tomato, two pieces of broccoli, and two thin, tiny AF slices of squash. The rest was literally just lettuce and cabbage. Not what I was expecting at all. A while ago I went to an Italian restaurant and got their salad, which was just as big even though I got a half portion, and had more vegetables. It was, however, absolutely doused in oily dressing. I hate restaurants that put the dressing on for you (the nice thing about the "healthy" place was at least they put all the sauces on the side so I just didn't use them). It was actually too much too: tasted nice for a few bites, but soon was just super overpowering. It was also the same dressing they put on the bruschetta so if I ever go back I definitely won't order both lol.
Anyway, well, I was prepared for a "healthy" restaurant to not really be that healthy - I'm sure it's going more for "healthy compared to other restaurants," not as healthy as home cooking. But still... I can't get over that meager amount of vegetables in a salad. And I never wanted to be That Girl who orders a salad as an entree. I'm not trying to lose weight, I don't care how big or small people are, I'm just trying to lower my cholesterol numbers by avoiding meat, especially red meat, avoiding sugary and fried food, and trying to eat healthier carbs. I've probably had the most success limiting fried food, or at least more success than I expected. Still not as much as I should be but it's a start. Sugar is harder especially now that it's cold and I want hot cocoa... But I have made some progress there. It's nothing big, but at least I've tried to only eat chocolate-covered almonds instead of just chocolate when I get a craving, and I've been going for sweet potato or fruit sweets whenever I can persuade myself away from chocolate cravings.
I usually eat two meals a day, a brunch sort of and dinner. The first is a light meal and it's usually oatmeal and fruit, or rice with beans. I struggle to get in more veggies or really anything more for that meal because I eat with my students (it's their lunch time) and they need so much help eating their meals that it's hard for us teachers to eat our own. My coworkers can mostly do it, though. But unfortunately, I've always been a slow eater, and as much as I love toddlers, helping them spit out food they refuse to swallow into a napkin and then turning back to my own lunch really grosses me out and always has. So I try to only eat quick, light things. The problem with waiting for my break to eat lunch is 1) it's often not till 3 pm, and 2) if I use my break to eat then I lose prep time. Because even though I'm not paid for one hour a day... I sometimes only get 15 paid time away from the kids. And the max I'm supposed to get... is 30 min x'D which is nowhere near enough. So if I don't use my break nothing happens. And this is true for everyone - people do take actual breaks, but only when they don't have anything else that needs doing, and even then I almost always discover something I forgot and have to rush to deal with (yesterday it was sending the kids' outside play hats home for the weekend to be washed. Usually a c-oteacher does that, but both my co-teachers were out on Friday so I was the only one there to do classroom upkeep.)
So I try to eat good meals for dinner. And then I just get stuck. Because I make something, it tastes good, it has protein and fiber and vitamins, but it's also got a salty dressing, or involves frying, or tastes like ass unless it's well seasoned... And I just don't KNOW how to make food without ANY carbs. You're supposed to get some, but I tend to assume I got enough at lunch. I don't want zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice but. Also it's so much more work.
I just feel frustrated (in a way I've heard lots of people frustrated in the past) that every change I make backfires in a different way. It's just such a bummer to find something I like and then realize it's not as good for me as I thought. Idk what to do. Although, for the first step, I think I've got to lose this job and go somewhere I can have a proper lunch. (But even that comes with a loss because this job DOES give me tons of chances for walking and squatting and exercise - not enough to count as "intense" but it's certainly much better than being sedentary.) And then I guess I should talk to a nutritionist since I don't understand all the nutritional trade-offs well enough myself.
Lol, when I first started this not-diet, my coworker said, "Isn't your background Italian? The Mediterranean diet is so healthy!" Well, Idk it might be, but my 100% Italian grandpa still died of heart disease. And my mom, who is his daughter, and whose eating habits are 100x better than my dad's, still has very high cholesterol and docs want to put her on statins, even though she's been specifically dieting for decades to not have that happen.
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stairset · 3 years
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Customers are so stupid. A lady walked up to me with a bucket of KFC chicken and asked if she could pay me for it. I work in the Chinese department.
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peachyysugaa · 3 years
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enhypen members on a café date ☕️♡ requested by anon
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– heeseung
what kind of café he takes you to: his local favorite, it's on the cozier or quieter size, which gives him the privacy to spend quality time with you~
the menu: now serving your favorite coffees, teas, and sandwiches! from iced americanos to milk teas (bubbles/boba if you want) to paninis, this café has got all the regulars. what would you like to order? ♥
activities you do: while the two of you should probably go to a gaming café for this, you and heeseung always sit in a more private booth/area side-by-side and play multiplayer games on his switch. if you're not gaming, the two of you casually talk about your days while sipping your drinks, resting your head on his shoulder or working on your respective things, schoolwork maybe for you or producing for heeseung.
short blurb: "heeseung, you let me win." "no, you're just really good at this game, love." (˶◡‿◡) you just laugh and roll your eyes, pinching his cheeks before resting your head on his shoulder in the middle of your favorite booth, in your favorite café that was filled with precious memories.
rest of the members under the cut! <3
what kind of café he takes you to: either the most expensive café ever or the most aesthetic (which tends to be pretty expensive anyway), you already saw this coming because we all on that rich boy!jay agenda.
what kind of café he takes you to: either the most expensive café ever or the most aesthetic (which tends to be pretty expensive anyway), you already saw this coming because we all on that rich boy!jay agenda.
what kind of café he takes you to: either the most expensive café ever or the most aesthetic (which tends to be pretty expensive anyway), you already saw this coming because we all on that rich boy!jay agenda.
the menu: how do you even pronounce most of these drinks? ಠωಥ is that a caviar-flavored drink LOL say sike 🅱ls ‼ ahem, so order something familiar to you or let jay pick something for you (it might be expensive, but that's okay let him spoil you 🥺 you deserve it, king/queen/royalty)
activities you do: jay loves listening to your day, and you love listening to his. he often likes to tell you about new things he's learned, and you watch as his eyes brighten over these, loving every sparkle. with jay, i don't see him going to the same cafés all the time: he likes to explore, so the only thing that's consistent is the amount of quality time you two spend together.
short blurb: "jay..!" "hm? what's up? is something wrong with your drink?" "no, it's just...?" you take a second to think about your phrasing before you answer. "is there supposed to be gold foiling on this?" "oh yeah, it's on trend now, babe. i heard it tastes as expensive as it looks." "and as it costs?" 🤨 "don't worry about it, y/n. this is my treat for you since you've been working harder than usual these days." (۶ •̀ᴗ•́)۶
– jake
what kind of café he takes you to: a dog café, let's be honest he really wants to pet dogs and he would get along so well with them. it's the golden retriever energy 🤩
the menu: aside from dog treats to feed the puppers (not jake), re-energize with refreshing drinks from lemonade to peach tea! the dessert menu also looks enticing, honey brick toast and pancake art shaped like the many dogs that prance around the vicinity.
activities you do: pet and feed the dogs, of course, duh you're at a dog café 🐕 for some reason, they take after jake very well, so well that one is practically attached to the hip with him as he pets it, an australian shepherd. he asks you nicely to take pictures of him with it and you tell on him to layla.
short blurb: "y/n, y/n, look! this one loves me!" "i can see that, jake." "y/n, it's an austalian shepherd, do you think he knows i'm aussie too?" "maybe he does." "take my picture with it?" "oh, so proof for layla that you're cheating on her?" "NOOO LAYLA ㅠㅠ"
– sunghoon
what kind of café he takes you to: a modern chic café. it's got the industrial feel to it and perfectly matches his sophisticated vibes.
the menu: only coffees and plain teas! specializes more in hand brewing coffee and the like. also has some sandwiches or pastries for you to taste.
activities you do: with sunghoon, it's mostly talking. the way you two can talk about anything and everything really makes your relationship so comfortable. you two also watch videos and make side comments here and there together. don't forget to take each other's pictures and selfies together, there is no visual hole here and the setting is perfect, what are you waiting for? 📸
short blurb: "are you getting my good side?" "huh, but every side is your good side." "oh yea, you're right." you shake your head at his way of getting a backhanded compliment and simply snap the picture of him and his coffee. looking at it makes you smile, but he quickly pulls you into his side and holds up his phone. "now time to show off my beautiful s/o."
– sunoo
what kind of café he takes you to: a character café! whether it's kakao or line friends, you two are both there to enjoy the too-cute-to-eat types of food, taking many pictures before savoring it.
the menu: character-themed food and drinks! they're carefully planned out from the ingredients to the witty names, all to match the theme of the café. you order a full course meal with sunoo, sharing your entrees with each other and drinks, so you both have the chance to taste what you can!
activities you do: did you hear me? a full course meal 🗣‼️ you two are eating your weight's worth of food because (1) it's cute and (2) it's expensive! sunoo is a chatterbox, and i just know he scored you two a picture with either one of your favorite characters at a lower price. both of you also take part in any chants cheerfully~
short blurb: "you're as cute as all the characters here, y/nie!" "yah, we're both cuter than all of them, don't lie." "yes, you're right, we would be doing them a favor by taking a picture with one of them." "cheers to us then?" you ask holding your glass already. "cheers~" he replies and clinks yours with his. all of a sudden, your favorite character comes by with your plates of food. enamored, you ask if you and sunoo can take a picture with them, to which the servers agree happily as long as you pay accordingly. the two of you pose to your hearts' content with the cute character. after which, you think sunoo unintentionally charmed the servers to give him a lower price for the photo by signing it and letting them post it somewhere, which you can't help but think is so befitting of him.
– jungwon
what kind of café he takes you to: a cottage-style café or specifically, the sheep café in korea. the latter is actually located in hongdae and literally 2 sheep roam around! (search up thanks nature café) he would just want to touch their fluffy fur 🐑
the menu: very green, as in matcha and mint and pandan and the like. also has some cute garden-themed pastries/drinks like the good ol' throwback, dirt in a cup, (basically some crushed oreos with gummy worms), which jungwon is all over.
activities you do: when one goes to animal cafés, you pet the animals! so pet the sheep you two do, but very cautiously, of course. jungwon tries to ba with them, maybe even asks if they make clothing out of their wool.
short blurb: "do you make anything with their wool?" jungwon suddenly asks the worker nearby. "huh? oh yes, we actually do have some sweaters in store if you would like to see them." "yes please." "alright, one moment please." "wonie, will you actually buy one?" "i mean, yea, who else is able to say that they met the sheep their clothing came from?" it's overly priced, but he buys a scarf anyway and wraps it around the two of you despite it being summertime. "jungwon, it's hot in this!" (/Д`)
– niki
what kind of café he takes you to: manga café or a café with really cool latte art. riki would have fun either way, reading manga together or trying out latte art himself!
the menu: the manga café has all your regulars and even offer comfy snack foods like bungeoppang and ddeokboki! on the other hand, the latte art café really focuses on their art, thanks to the machine that prints out any design you want on top of it (which riki is amazed by).
activities you do: in a manga café, you would have a private room together and just chill and roll around in it. at the latte art café, he's having so much fun seeing all the characters and drawings are put on top, even when they're not his (he orders shin-chan or doraemon). they offer 3d latte art classes and the two of you take one!
short blurb: "y/n, your cat looks funny." "riki, it's deflating :(" "draw the face anyway." "how come yours is so nice?" "oh, i just frothed the milk myself." "what? riki, you are so cool~" he becomes bashful and makes use of his classes by buying the necessary materials to make you different 3d latte arts every day.
a/n: YAYY this was so cute thank you for your request again, anon! <3 i hope you liked it, especially the format hehe
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707spenis-blog · 7 years
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What is the craziest way the RFA would spend they're new year's eve with MC? Like the most stupid/unusual/overall crazy thing they would do.
sorry this is late ;n;
Yoosung
you both pretend like you’re both on a cooking show
like you’re both “competing” and “judging” each other’s dish
2 person version of chopped???
an appetizer, entree and dessert is going to be prepared by each one of you
every round is timed and you and yoosung get busy with cooking
every now and then, one of you runs into each other, causing an eruption of laughter because you guys were enjoying yourselves so much
after each round, you both critiqued and criticized each other’s dish, saying things like “could have used less salt”, “needed more soy sauce, but the presentation was beautiful”, etc.
other people might have found it stupid, but honestly neither of you guys cared because you both were having fun????
after the dessert round, you fed your boyfriend your dessert and he fed you yours
needless to say, you both were full from delicious home-cooked food for the night
Zen
flip cup for 2 lmao
not the most intellectual thing to do, but hey, the concept is fun
or if you don’t drink alcohol, you use water or some other favorite beverage as a replacement
zen goes with his usual beer though (nothing bad happens ok)
you both lined up the table with cups and shots of beverages in each one
whoever got to the last cup first won
ready, set, gO
you both drink the first shot and then proceed to try and flip the cup upside-down
you get the first cup and move onto the second repeating the same process
zen’s still stuck on the first cup for a bit, but then is able to move on
you end up winning eventually and tell zen that he should drink a few swigs of water to prevent being too buzzed if you’re gonna play a few rounds
Jaehee
does jaehee ever do crazy, stupid, or unusual?
no
but she breaks her rules for you
instead of watching the countdown for the new year, you decide that you want to play just dance
well, it could be worse
so you pop in the game and choose a song
you go with Rihanna’s SOS bc jaehee needs it from jumin’s work and cat projects
turns out she’s not bad at it
she does have a blackbelt in judo so… she’s pretty coordinated
Jaehee ends up winning??? wow
you tell her you want a rematch with a different song
and that’s how you two spend the rest of the evening
Jumin
you were watching your favorite vines on your phone
and one of your favorite series of them came up
which then prompted you to attempt on Jumin
so when he comes back from the bathroom and back into the living room
you stand up suddenly, using an accent and hit record on your phone
“DAMN, MR. HAN – BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THE WHITE PIN-STRIPED SHIRT!”
he just blinks as if saying what the hell did i just witness
you’re literally doubling over from laughter even if it was a really stupid version of the original
poor Jumin doesn’t know what a vine is, so you explain what the platform is
you also upload the video to the group chat for everyone else to see
but afterwards, you spend the rest of new year’s eve watching vines
this was funnier in my head
707
it was his idea to spend the rest of new year’s eve doing this
the room is filled with nothing but a plastic disposable water bottle trying to be flipped right side up
you’re both taking turns flipping the bottle
and when it’s finally seven’s turn
he tosses it
and it lands
on the lid
and stays put
for once
memelord seven oh seven
daBS
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easytravelpw-blog · 5 years
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Full text write on https://easy-travel.pw/what-i-spent-a-five-day-road-trip-to-joshua-tree-and-palm-springs/trip-planning/
What I Spent: A Five-Day Road Trip to Joshua Tree and Palm Springs
01 of 08
Upfront Costs
Emily Hymes
The upfront costs of vacations are predictable. It’s the little things—airport snacks, cocktails before dinner, tipping a tour guide—that can throw even the most well-planned vacation budget off track. In this new series, we’ll look at the spending patterns of real travelers in popular destinations, so you can estimate what you’ll actually spend.  (Thanks for the inspiration, Refinery29!)
In this installment, two sisters take a road trip to California's Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park.
Flights: $640 (JFK – LAX, Delta Economy)
Hotels: The Saguaro: $552.00 for two nights (booked through Kayak); Hicksville Trailer Palace: $83.25 for one night; Teepee: $121.00 for one night
Rental Car: $466.28 (6 days + insurance, Hertz)
Size of Group: 2
  Continue to 2 of 8 below.
02 of 08
Friday
Laura Hymes
4:30 p.m.: Laura and I embark on our first ever sisters trip. We start by taking the NYC subway (J Line) from Williamsburg, Brooklyn to the Airtrain in Jamaica, Queens for service to Terminal 4 at Kennedy Airport. It takes us about an hour. Cost: $15.50
5:30 p.m.: We're through security in under 15 minutes. (Thank you, TSA PreCheck!)
5:31 p.m.: Our flight is delayed, so we have time to kill. First stop — Hudson News for the essentials: Teen Vogue, InStyle, Nylon, water, and a bag of quinoa chips (we are suckers, but at least we will be hydrated and stylish). Cost: $31.99
6:51 p.m.: Laura says she is going to faint, so we b-line it to Panda Express. (Why did we skip Shake Shack, you ask? Well, it’s because we are going directly to In N' Out Burger the second we land in L.A. at midnight. Duh!) Cost: $8.70
6:24 p.m.: I can't stand when people eat without me, so I opt for the build your own salad from La Break Bakery. I do not recommend this place, but at least it is healthy. Cost: $13.08
7:21 p.m.: As we board, the flight attendants hand us Rice Krispie Treats as an apology for our flight being delayed. Because of this, we forgive them. Cost: Free
8:00 p.m.: Complementary snacks are served to economy passengers. Laura and I choose the cheese plate, and we're pleasantly surprised to find out it's from Murray's — a beloved cheesemonger in NYC. The platter was comprised of cheddar, gouda, and manchego with marconda almonds and some dried fruit and crackers.
11:14 p.m.: We land! Laura and I are tired, so we decide to skip In ‘N Out Burger (for now) and instead stop to buy candy to fuel us for the 3 hour drive ahead. Cost: $7.66
3:15 a.m.: We arrive at the hotel in Palm Springs. We are so tired, but hey, we made it!
  Continue to 3 of 8 below.
03 of 08
Saturday
Emily Hymes
10 a.m.: We're off to a late start. We need to hydrate so we stop for overpriced waters at CVS. Cost: $12.18
10:50 a.m.: We head to Norma's in The Parker Hotel for breakfast, and feel chic as we order $30 egg entrees. Yes, it is expensive, but it's all about the experience! The lobby is designed by Jonathan Adler and couldn’t be any cooler. The worst part? We missed the Kardashians by one day! Cost: $95.39
12 noon: We begin our drive around Palm Springs for Desert X — art instillations throughout Palm Springs & the Coachella Valley that use the desert landscape as a canvas. We make five stops around the Valley, but both decide that our favorite is “Mirage”, a glass house that sits atop the mountains and reflects the surrounding landscape and people. Cost: Free
3 p.m.: We head over to the Moorten Botanical Garden for some plant history. Fun fact: they have the world's first Cactarium here (whatever that means). There are lots of cacti to see and there is a free tour of the gardens. Cost: $10
3:47 p.m.: Time to shop! We start at Sunny Dunes Antique Mall and then walk along Palm Canyon, popping in and out of stores for a little over an hour. We were told Trina Turk is a must-visit, since it's one of the first stores in Palm Springs (and Jonathan Adler also designed it). We're most successful at The Frippery, a vintage shop where Laura ends up with a very cute dress for the summer. Cost: $106.82
6 p.m.: We hit the Amigo Room at the ACE Hotel for a drink and light bite. We order the Palm Spritz, Cranky Coyote and chips & guacamole. We are hungry and need a cocktail, because our parents won't stop calling us to check in. Cost: $46.51
7:45 p.m.: We spot a photobooth on the way out. Of course the first attempt was a disaster, so have to take another round. Cost: $12.50 (or $6.25, if you do it right the first time)
8 p.m.: Dinner at Birba. We call ahead and are told they're full, but we go anyway and get two seats at the bar. We split a few things and have a glass of wine. The whole restaurant is outdoors and it is fun to people watch. Cost: $52.59
9:13 p.m.: We have a busy day tomorrow and are tired from traveling the night before, but want a nightcap so we go to Seymores, a speakeasy bar tucked away in a small room attached to Mr. Lyons Steakhouse (both owned by the same owners as Birba). We skip the fancy cocktail and go with a basic sparkling rose. Cheers! Cost: $23.00
Continue to 4 of 8 below.
04 of 08
Sunday
Emily Hymes
7:30 a.m.: We wake up early for an 8 a.m. yoga class at our hotel, only to find out the class is at 9 today. We decide breakfast sounds like a good alternative to stretching and being zen. We try our luck at Cheeky's (since it's early), but the line is out the door, so we go to King's Highway instead. This place has a mid-century vibe and good food. Laura gets the lox and I get the avocado toast. The avocados here are so creamy and good — we can't get enough. Cost: $48.63
10 a.m.: May the architecture tour commence! We set off on a self-guided tour we found online that includes modern steel structures & 70s style homes up on the hills. We also drive up to old Tuscany, located in the mountains, to see the homes of the stars, past and present. Elvis’s house was the coolest! We are lucky enough to catch an open house. Laura and I decide that our parents should buy it, so we can vacation here frequently. Also, we make sure to see the house with the pink door. Cost: Free
12:30 p.m.: Time for some poolside relaxation at our hotel, The Saguaro. It's noticeably less crowded than yesterday. We assume it's because it's a Sunday and people are checking out… and we don't mind at all. The pool floats are on point (think flamingos and swans) and just waiting for us to take pictures in. To complete the vibe, we order frozen cocktails. Cost: $26.16
3:30 p.m.: We have a late lunch at the Barn Kitchen in the Sparrows Lodge. When we walk in, we're initially faced by the pool, but we wander a little further and find the back garden with a long table and lots of outdoor seating. It is beautiful and tranquil back here. Laura and I split the ham and mustard melt and the hummus platter, which we accompany with ice teas. Pretty sure Laura is annoyed with how many times I tell her how much I love this place. Cost: $40.71
5 p.m.: I scream, you scream, we all scream! We're running out of time in Palm Springs so, why not? The Ice Cream Shoppe is a cute store that has lots of Californian paraphernalia in addition to inventive ice cream flavors. We both go for a small of the local favorite flavor — date — with rainbow sprinkles. The small is two scoops! We are very happy and very full. Cost: $9.63
7:20 p.m.: We head for drinks at the Draughtsman, an upscale sports bar with an outdoor area that has games. Laura and I play foosball and corn hole before sitting by the fire and enjoying our Aperol spritzes. (Oh, and just because I know you're wondering, I win both games.) Cost: $23.00
8:30 p.m.: We head to dinner at Las Casuelas Terraza, as we're told it was a must for Mexican, and sit close to the live music they have every night. Obviously, we start with chips and guacamole. Laura gets the enchiladas and I get the carnitas tacos. Cost: $53.91
9:30 p.m.: To burn off those carnitas, we walk along the main street and end up in a tourist shop to buy postcards to write to friends and family back home. Cost: $1.09
Continue to 5 of 8 below.
05 of 08
Monday
Emily Hymes
8:30 a.m.: We arrive for our third & final attempt for breakfast at Cheeky's. Again, there is a line, but we wait and fill the time by writing our postcards.
9 a.m.: We get a seat indoors — score! The menu is constantly changing so it is hard to plan ahead on this one. We order the bacon flight, which is a Cheeky’s staple and a must-try. Laura gets an omelet and I get a granola. We eat everything. Cost: $48.24
10:30 a.m.: We stop to send postcards from the post office. Cost: $2.25
11 a.m.: Then we stop for gas. Luckily, we find an affordable place to fill up. Phew! Cost: $31.16
12:35 p.m.: After a three-hour drive drive southeast, we arrive at Salvation Mountain, located in Slab City. The area is definitely off the grid — it's got a post apocalyptic feeling. People live here in tents, free from rent, but also without plumbing and electricity. The mountain itself is covered in artwork with inspirational words and drawings.
2:55 p.m.: We have spent most of the day in the car and are ready for one last meal in Palm Springs! We go to the Sandwich Spot for a sandwich on the “Dutch crunch” bread they are famous for. Then we head down the street to Great Shakes for the berry and almond shake. Cost: $8.99 & $5.50, respectively
4:45 p.m.: It’s time to bid farewell to Palm Springs and head to Joshua Tree. In a little under an hour we arrive at Hicksville Trailer Palace, where we're staying tonight, and it's truly a palace of trailers. Pictures don't do this place justice. There are about 10 trailers, ranging in size, scattered across the site, and we chose the smallest, The Pony. From hot tubs to archery, ping pong, and mini golf, this place could keep you entertained for hours. There's only one other guest staying here right now, so it's pretty quiet.
6:42 p.m.: We end up at the main bar in town: Pappy and Harriet’s. The wait for dinner is an hour and a half, so we get a drink (a beer is only $3.5!) and watch the live music — it happens to be open mic night. We're impressed by the food menu, too. We get a kale salad and split the pulled pork sandwich with fries. Cost: $36.05
9.39 p.m.: We're back at Hicksville for a night of games and trying to stay warm — we didn’t pack for the 35 degree weather (because it's April).
  Continue to 6 of 8 below.
06 of 08
Tuesday
Emily Hymes
9:15 a.m.: We bid farewell to Hicksville and head to our first stop of the day: Noah Purifoy's Desert Art Museum. It's just 10 minutes from our “hotel” and supposedly life changing. In reality, its just a huge piece of land with different structures made out of debris, wreckage, and trash. It is a sight to see. Cost: Free (I would hope so!).
10 a.m.: We arrive at Joshua Tree National Park. The sight of the actual Joshua trees is breathtaking. Our first stop: Hidden Valley, for an easy trail to warm up our hiking skills. Then, we go up to Keys Point lookout for a beautiful view and an even more beautiful selfie. Then we wind our way around to our next stop, Skull Mountain. Over the mountain, the Joshua trees disappear and the Cholla Garden begins. We find Arch Rock on the way back, for one last rock climb that day. Cost: $25 (car entrance for the day)
2:30 p.m.: We are starving from all that activity! We head to the recommended Crossroads for lunch where I get a turkey sandwich and Laura gets a quesadilla. Again, we both have ice teas. Cost: $37
3:30 p.m.: Just up the road from lunch is Art Queen & Sun Alley shops — a collection of eclectic stores and art spaces. The most unique store we find is the Crochet Museum, a small green structure housing hundreds of crotched items.
4 p.m.: We head over to the town of Yucca Valley to shop. We start at an antique shop, where I find a set of 14 glasses that I love. Laura basically drags me out, kicking and screaming, and reminds me that I can’t bring glasses back with me on the plane. Then we go to a few vintage shops — The End, Hoof & Horn, and Promised Land. All the stores have such unique pieces and locally sourced trinkets. Cost: Free (But I really wish I was typing $50 right now… for the 14 glasses).
5:15 p.m.: We arrive at our teepee for the night.  Yep, you heard me right… our teepee! It's housed on a piece of land that has about six other teepees of all sizes. Ours is the smallest, but the inside has a light, heater, and heated blanket so we will be set for the cold evening weather. We are proud of ourselves for really beginning to embrace the outdoors.
6:30 p.m.: Nothing completes a vacation more than a stop at Walmart!! We go just for firewood, but end up with graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. I think you all know where we are going with this. We also pick up some appetizers of pretzel goldfish, and individual cheese packets (we don’t want the coyotes to get to any of our leftover food!). Cost: $28.64
6:40 p.m.: We decide to gas up before our drive back to LA in the morning, and find a cheap station on a side street. Cost: $34.91
8:15 p.m.: We go to Pie For the People for a slice. This place is known for their New York pizza, with a twist. Laura goes for a plain slice and I for a veggie, which is very spicy. They are huge slices and we can’t finish them, which is surprising for us. Cost:  $12.78
9:10 p.m.: We attempt s'mores back at our teepee. There is something we aren't doing right, because the chocolate won't melt. At this point, I think I hear a coyote so I run inside the tent and end all of our outdoor time for the night. Laura is not amused. Just when I think I can handle the outdoor lifestyle… 
Continue to 7 of 8 below.
07 of 08
Wednesday
Elusive Photography/Getty Images
9:45 a.m.: First stop: Hadley Fruit Orchard to peruse the dried fruit selection and try the famous date shake. If I could have one everyday, I'd be a happy girl. Cost: $22.81
9.50 a.m.: Our road trip to L.A. begins! We listen to Spotify “California” playlists all the way there, while Laura finally takes the wheel.
11:27 a.m.: We arrive in L.A.’s arts district to check out the Hauser & Worth Gallery. Parking is impossible, so we stop at a lot. Cost: $12.00
12:30 p.m.: We drive along Mulholland drive, atop the Hollywood Hills, where you can get great views of Los Angeles and the Valley, and stop at a few overlook passes, including Runyan Canyon — a place known for celebrity sightings. Unfortunately, there are no paparazzi in sight, therefore I am 100% sure there are no celebs, either. Then we head down Sunset Blvd and Melrose.
3 p.m.: We stop for lunch at Joan's on Third. It's a gourmet market with an extensive menu of sandwiches and salads. We sit outside and enjoy the last few hours we have in the warm weather (now that we are out of the mountains). Cost: $47.00
3:45 p.m.: I can't help but stop in Kreation Kafe to stock up on my favorite garlic almonds. Cost: $12.70
4:30 p.m.: Time to hit the beach! We go to Venice Beach and walk along the water, past Muscle Beach and then through the canals, which are unlike anything I've ever seen before. 
7 p.m.: Our final gas-up for the car. Cost: $21.16
8:30 p.m.: Our last stop before our red-eye flight is the place that was supposed to be our first stop: In ‘n Out! It was worth the wait. Cost: $10.21
9:30 p.m.: We're back at the airport. We plan accordingly, so there is enough time to drop off the car and take the shuttle to the terminal and still have time at the gate.
Continue to 8 of 8 below.
08 of 08
Thursday
Emily Hymes
7:10 a.m.: We touch down at JFK. We're debating whether to splurge on a cab or take the subway home, but we decide on the AirTrain/Subway combo to save money, so we can start saving up for our next sisters trip! Cost: $15.50
Totals:
Food & Drink: $669.89
Activities: $116.82
Miscellaneous: $109.01
Accommodations: $756.25
Transportation: $1226.6 (including gas & parking)
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