The Bellevue Collection's #ISpyBellSq Instagram contest & just for funsies extra fashion outfit shoots

#ISpyBellSq

#ISpyBellSq

#ISpyBellSq

TGIF everyone! 

Going off the list from yesterday's post on future fashion pics here is #1! Bellevue Square Mall of the Bellevue Collection, had a spring fling style contest for Instagram which I decided to enter in. 

The contest basically wanted you to share your favorite clothes and items from your favorite stores in the mall, using your creative skills to photograph and showcase the items. Then you would share your pictures on Instagram and hashtag "ISpyBellSq" to submit and enter your photos. The contest was from March to April with them announcing the winners the first week of May. 

I submitted a total of three photos to the contest {completely not in order: the 2nd, 3rd, & 5th photos, they're labeled} and then just took two extra ones just for fun {1st photo & 4th}, because I couldn't resist not sharing everything I got just for the halibut, I mean why not!? It was a joyful shopping spree!  

The last pic is of what I bought with my gift card and the same picture I shared on Instagram giving a shout out of what I had purchased. 

I'm so grateful for the opportunity and for have being chosen as one of the winners. Who knows? I might dabble more in future Instagram contests. I'm excited to work more on the fashion side of things but my blog will always be my personal lifestyle blog with no advertising or marketing gimmicks, I can promise you that!

Look forward to the remaining fashion posts listed from yesterday's post: #2 and #3. Also, next week I will have a post about exciting news on the business growth here in the Puget Sound- in Seattle and Bellevue. It'll highlight what big stores will be opening up here and many other new retail. Many exciting things to look forward to! 

As always, if you wanna see what I'm doing now or this weekend's adventures and shenanigans, just check out my Instagram page! It's the fastest and most current way to see what I'm up to when I'm out and about & on the go! 

Have a great weekend guys! Have fun and be safe. :) 

~Tiff

A few pics I didn't upload onto Instagram and exclusive to the blog: #tiffstravels

Monet painting being exhibited at the De Young art museum in San Francisco 

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona- main outlook point near the visitor center

Twin Falls City, Idaho- near the giant metal, brown bridge above the Snake River and gorge

Koala Crib- adorable marsupials chilling at the LA Zoo in Los Angeles, California 

Outdoor modern art in the side courtyard of the De Young art museum in San Francisco, California

As stated from my previous post, here are a few pics that I took from my road trip from my adventures and explorations. The captions will explain where the photo was taken and which city it is in. 

For even more pictures from my vacation, be sure to check out my Instagram for the rest and last of the photos from my road trip to be uploaded! 

Expect plenty of fashion posts soon:

1) the Bellevue Collection Spring IG contest post

2) older fashion posts from before my blog transformation

3) Outfit pictures I took while on my vacation road trip!

In the meantime, I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your week. The weekend is just around the corner!

Ttyl!

~Tiff 

[all photos were taken with my iPhone 6] 

Coming Home: Memorial Weekend

Man, it is good to be back!

The road trip was a remarkable and an unforgettable experience. I saw so many amazing sites, attractions, and places. Nothing but good vibes and awesome memories. I got back Saturday and was able to spend the rest of the three day weekend to unwind, relax, and get situated back home. I will upload a few extra pics or outtakes from my trip that I did not upload onto my Instagram sometime this week.

Also, I am happy to say that I won my second IG contest that I've enter in for the Bellevue Square Mall's Spring IG contest in downtown Bellevue, WA. It's the second contest that I've entered and also my second time winning a prize! With the gift card, I was able to purchase a new duffel bag big and convenient enough to stuff everything I needed for my road trip. A post for that will be up on the blog either towards the end of this week or the beginning of next week. So keep on the look out for that post! 

Moving on, I spent the last days of the weekend to visit Seattle since I dearly missed my beloved city and the great Pacific Northwest! 

SUNDAY- we went to a new bakery and cafe place called Coyle's Bakeshop. It is fairly new and we decided to go check it out since the pictures on their Facebook page looked so enticing. The place is cozy, spacious, well lit, and adorable. You are able to see the staff baking away when you order. The coffee and baked goods were delicious. We had a mocha with their house made marshmallow, a hazelnut latte, a currant scone, a slice of their decadent chocolate cake, and a "cretzel"- croissant pretzel. {First Photo} They also had a rhubarb tart and an olive oil cake with rhubarb and cardamom that I will be getting the next time I'm in. 

Next we explored Capitol Hill and stumbled upon a tucked-away alley filled with new boutiques and restaurants yet to open soon. A new local ice creamery had already opened up along with a small plant and home decor shop next to it called, Niche outside. They had cute convenient home products from Japan, gardening books, plant keeping supplies, and other quaint items. {Second & Third Photo}

MONDAY- was Memorial Day and I spent another day adventuring in Seattle! Later on in the evening, I finished the night by watching the new hit movie, Mad Max. We walked around the Seattle waterfront and went go the Northwest Cultural Folklife Festival they had going on memorial weekend. For brunch {Fourth & Fifth Photo}, I went to Tilikum Place Cafe in Belltown and close to the Seattle Center. The food was delicious and the coffee made well and delicious also. Our waiter was super nice and always made sure we were doing fine. I had a sweet mini dutch baby that came in it's own pan with apples and almond streusel. I ordered a side of two eggs sunnyside up and my boyfriend ordered a crab cake eggs' benedict smothered in hollandaise sauce. Yum, and so much yes. Both orders were delicious and several other options on their menu had intrigued me as well. Gotta go back! 

Well, I hope you guys had a wonderful weekend regardless of whether it was long or not, and had gotten to enjoy some sunshine! Relax to the max in your free time! 

I will talk to you guys later! Cheers!

~Tiff 

Upgrading

I'm upgrading! I changed the appearance of my blog for a more sophisticated feel and look. 

To summarize, I now have more time on my hands with a more open schedule. With that being said, starting out, I will post at least once a week to get into a habit of posting more. Eventually the goal will to be more than that, obviously, and maybe into a daily thing. 

Life has been throwing a bunch at me, but a little vacay has been helping me relieve stress and has been a good break from..well, life! The vacation also has allowed me to reflect and rethink about the future and future priorities/goals. 

SO! Expect a series of photos from my road trip in upcoming future posts. Also in the meantime, I've been working on my photography direction and photo editing skills which I hope will be evident in the photos themselves.

There will be more fashion outfit pictures as well as new posts of exciting events that I will be attending in the future. But don't worry! I'm still going to take tons of my favorite kinds of pictures: food, coffee, & scenic nature photos. Overall, I will be documenting more parts of my adventures to share with you all!

I am truly excited with this new direction now that I've gotten back to my somewhat motivated self! Thanks for being patient with me and I will definitely see you soon. Consider this post as the first step towards my goal and counts as my post for the week. I will post pictures from my vacation after my return next week.

Ttyl!

~Tiff