Category

Snapshots

Category

Isla Loves: BabyLit (40% Off Promo Code & Giveaway)

I first came across the BabyLit series while shopping at a little boutique in San Francisco. I took a picture of the cover, knowing I would add them to our Amazon Baby Registry when I got back to Houston. I added twelve of my favorite books and got them all from one of my mom’s good friends. I love them so much. It is so enjoyable to read my favorite classics to Isla. There are Counting Primers, Color Primers, Animal Primers, Opposites Primers, Anatomy Primers, and more. These books break down the classics into easily digestible terms and help children develop, as you can see from the photos below. I only brought three books with us to Durango, and I wish we had them all. I highly recommend you buy these for your little one, and if you don’t have any kids, then for friends who are expecting or having toddlers.


I’m excited to be teaming up with BabyLit to offer you 40% off all books until this Sunday, August 31 at midnight with the promo code ISLA. Click here to buy them now! In addition to this discount, BabyLit is giving away two books of your choice to one lucky individual. In order to enter the giveaway, you must do the following:

  1. Reply to this post, including your name and which two BabyLit books you’d like to win – see the full collection here (you can change your selection upon winning)
  2. You will get an extra entry by being or becoming a follower of Snapshots and My Thoughts (see ‘Follow’ button at the bottom righthand corner on desktop version of the blog)
  3. You will get an extra entry by posting this giveaway’s URL to your Twitter or Facebook account (please tag @ailee_petrovic on Twitter or mention Snapshots & My Thoughts and BabyLit on Facebook)

One winner will be drawn at random. The more entries you have, the higher the chance you’ll win! The giveaway ends at midnight on Friday, August 29. I will announce the winner by Monday. I look forward to reading your responses. Good luck!


Follow BabyLit on Facebook

babylit1

DSC_0453

babylit2

DSC_0410

babylit3

Istanbul Travel Guide

For years and years, I dreamed of going to Istanbul, and two years ago, Sasha and I decided to travel there after his MBA international trip took him to Accra, Ghana. He met me in Turkey, and we spent five days adventuring before heading to Athens (also highly recommended – travel guide to come soon!). There are so many iconic sites to see and oodles of delicious Turkish food and wine to be eaten. We both agree that our days in Turkey were some of our favorite together – this also includes the latter half of our trip, during which we went to Cappadocia. See photos of Cappadocia here.

I kept a very good travel diary while I was there, which was very helpful in writing this post. I also blogged while we were traveling – you can read the Istanbul posts here, here and here – lots of pictures! I have the travel bug and am dying to take Isla on an adventure, which Sasha laughs at. We are going to Mexico City in just a few weeks to celebrate one of my best friend’s weddings – I cannot wait to explore this historic city with some of my closest friends.

Have you ever been to Istanbul? If so, what would you add to my travel guide below? Click here to see a complete list of my travel guides, which includes BaliParisDurangoAustinHoustonWashington, DC,  and San Francisco.


dsc_1016

Food + Drink

Amedros Cafe – True story – Sasha and I still talk about the halloumi cheese appetizer we got at Amedros Cafe. It was that good (and there’s a photo here).

Pasazade Restaurant – We were starving, walking around Istanbul trying to find Pasazade Restaurant after tackling some of the big sites earlier in the day. When we finally found Pasazade (check out TripAdvisor, I’m not the only one to recommend it!), we were overwhelmed by the happy servers. The entire staff was so happy and accommodating. We ate the Vegetable Bükme as an appetizer, then I had the Herb Sauté with Mushrooms and Sasha ate the Seferceliye. We of course dabbled in the Turkish wine. We were most excited about the slanted white plates that the food is served in! It’s the little things in life, I suppose!

Aloran Cafe – We walked by Aloran Cafe and it was empty (December is not tourist season in Istanbul), so we kept walking, even though it was ranked highly on TripAdvisor. The owner came outside and convinced us to come in, and ohmygosh am I glad we did. Sasha ate the kebab and I had a mixed vegetable dish – we were so full by the time we left, it wasn’t even funny. We had the Turkish wine recommended by our waiter and moved from glasses to a bottle rather quickly.

Red River – If you want to enter back into the Western world for a minute or two, go to Red River for a drink. We got complimentary drinks because we are from Texas, duh!

Al Bushra Restaurant and Bar  (at Hilton Istanbul) – The views from this delicious restaurant are unbelievable. We felt funny eating at the hotel where we were staying, as we typically avoid that, but it was highly recommended by past visitors, so we gave it a try. This Lebanese restaurant was intimate with low lighting and round tables with comfy cushions. I ordered the falafel and highly recommend it!

Juno – We went to this eclectic little restaurant near the Hilton for a drink before dinner, and ended up staying to eat as we loved the atmosphere. We asked the waiter what he recommended (one meat, one vegetarian) and ordered that! I don’t think you can go wrong at Juno.

Pierre Loti Cafe – Apple tea. That’s all I need to say. I will dream of that drink forever! This little cafe boats amazing views of the Golden Horn. We also had Turkish coffee, which tasted like heaven as well.


dsc_0875

Sites

Basilica Cistern – These underground caverns are the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul. The cistern was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The lighting is kind of eerie, but it’s worth visiting.

Topkapi Palace – This large palace was the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for approximately 400 years.  As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. Not only is the palace a majestic sight to see, the outer gardens are equally exquisite.

Hippodrome of Constantipole – The area is officially called Sultan Ahmet Square and used to be an area for the circus and other entertainment. The course of the old racetrack has been indicated with paving, although the actual track is 6+ feet  below the present surface. The surviving monuments are two obelisks and the Serpentine Column, and these now sit in holes in a landscaped garden. The walled obelisk is massive and definitely worthy of photographing. The hippodrome is in the same area as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern.

Istanbul Archaeology Museum – We ducked into this museum as it started raining, and were really glad we had. The architecture of the old buildings and the gorgeous exhibits are fascinating – all signs have English translations, so you can follow along. If you are a museum person, I recommend you visit the Archaeology Museum.

Blue Mosque – One of the most famous sites in the world, the Blue Mosque (technically called Sultan Ahmed Mosque) will not fail to impress you. The mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. The design is the culmination of two centuries of Ottoman mosque development. It incorporates some Byzantine Christian elements of the neighboring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. Be sure to wear conservative clothing during your trip to Istanbul – you will have to also wear a hijab (head scarf) before entering, but don’t worry, you’ll get one before you go in.

Hagia Sophia – Hagia Sophia s a former Greek Orthodox patriarchal church, that later became a mosque when Constantinople was conquered by Ottoman Turks. It is now a museum. You can see where the Muslims plastered over images of Jesus and Mary – it is a fascinating place to walk through. The view from the main entry (look upward) will take your breath away.

Gulhane Park – This park is luscious and green (and we visited in December!), and we spent about an hour just wandering through (and getting some delicious warm coffee). It’s a pleasant break from the busy hustle and bustle of the city.

Egyptian Spice Bazaar – The spice bazaar is a shock to your senses in the very best way. We spent about two hours just walking through and buying coffee, nuts, dried fruit and spices to take home. We bought the most amazing coffee (see note below), which all of the gift recipients loved.

Grand Bazaar – The grand bazaar is also rather overwhelming, as it is literally a maze of stores. As long as you’re not claustrophobic, you will love it. The stores aren’t selling high-end goods, but the trinkets, scarfs, candles, etc. are definitely worth looking through.

Rüstem Pasha Mosque – The Rüstem Pasha Mosque is famous for its large quantities of exquisite İznik tiles, set in a very wide variety of beautiful floral and geometric designs. The mosque is built on a high terrace over a complex of vaulted shops, whose rents were intended to financially support the mosque complex. The narrow, twisting interior flights of steps in the corners give access to a spacious courtyard. We went into this quiet mosque for a private tour – it was very calm and beautiful.

Pierre Loti Funicular – We rode the funicular ride up to the top of Pierre Loti Cafe, where the views of the Golden Horn are breathtaking. The hot apple tea at the cafe (mentioned above) was a perfect treat to sip on while taking in the views.


dsc_1007

Activities

  • Stand in line at the Egyptian Spice Bazaar to buy coffee from Mehmet Efendi – it is well worth the wait (and bring some home for family and friends!)
  • Sign up for a tour with True Blue Tours (request Yilmaz – he was wonderful)
  • Take a boat ride on the Bosphorus
  • Done a hijab and enter a mosque with a local who can explain what happens where and why
  • Drink lots and lots of Turkish wine
  • Order a clay pot dish, which they will break at your table
  • Get lost in the Grand Bazaar (make sure to haggle!)
  • Walk around Gulhane Park
  • Take pictures inside Hagia Sophia – it is gorgeous
  • Wander through the Basilica Cistern (get the audio guided tour – it’s worth it!)

Magenta Florals

I just completed the first week of my Floral Arranging 101 class, and I am addicted. Our homework assignment was to create a hand tied bouquet, using primary, secondary, and filler flowers, with additional greenery to give it texture. We had suggestions for which flowers to use, but the local Durango grocery store’s floral department is not the best, so I went out on a limb with my selections. My mom told me about April’s Garden after I had already made my bouquet, so I’ll head there next week.

I’m very amateur in the world of flowers, so I bought The Flower Recipe Book to help me. I’m so excited about this purchase – not only does it help with the arranging, it’s also the prettiest coffee table book. I highly recommend you buy it if you’re interested in flowers.

Lastly, the Milk Nursingwear giveaway ends tonight at midnight. Make sure to enter today!

DSC_0015

bouquet7

DSC_0990

bouquet10

DSC_0793

DSC_0797

My absolute favorites – as mentioned here


I love a pop of magenta in a bouquet and have shared some of my favorite wedding arrangements below (all sourced from Style Me Pretty). What is your favorite pop of color in a floral bouquet?

bouquet2

medhus_braly_wedding_278_600$!600x

bouquet1

Heidi!$!Zayne-1$!600x

bouquet3

details_setting_0073$!600x

bouquet4

 

Week 5 in Durango

Week five has come and gone, and ohmygosh, I am not ready to go back to the ‘real world’ (i.e. Texas). However, I do miss everyone like crazy, and cannot wait to hug all of my family and friends. This past week flew by in anticipation of one of my best friends, Kirby, arriving on Thursday. I managed to run every day this past week, clock between 13,000-20,000 steps every day, enjoy short hikes to the top of a nearby mountain in the mornings, continue my Illustrator 101 and Floral Arranging 101 classes, work on the blog (some fun giveaways coming up soon!), and spend lots of time with Sasha, Belle (our dog) and sweet Isla. We also hiked the 6 mi. trail of the Animas Mountain together for the first time – Sasha and I did it last Labor Day when we were visiting (see photos here).

As you can tell from the thousands of photos below, I love taking pictures of Isla’s cute face, because I know I won’t have as much time to once we are back in Houston (and because she cannot yet tell me to stop).

In case you want to keep track of our Colorado sabbatical, you can also read about Week 1, Weeks 2 and 3, and Week 4.

DSC_0793

week5_2

DSC_1085

Isla being sassy in her Carter’s Romper (similar here) – that last face kills me – her personality is shining through

week5_1

Pretty in pink (and white!)

DSC_1059

Cheesin’ it up

week5_3

DSC_0426

week5_4

Hot pink is my absolute favorite (similar bodysuit here)

DSC_0508

Someone was none-too-pleased with us taking photos before she got to eat ‘lunch’

week5_5

Bows on bows on bows (buy dress here) – and Sophie the Giraffe making an appearance (and Isla loves her hands if you can’t tell!)

DSC_0316

I swear this isn’t a hunger cue, Isla just adores her hands (praying this is ‘self soothing’!)

week5_6

Kisses from her ‘Tata’ and (the much dreaded) tummy time (similar outfit here)

DSC_0367

week5_7

Saturday mornings are for PJs and superman time with dad

DSC_0254

Her hair is seriously out of control, but I love it

week5_7

Isla’s little Gap peplum top and leggings

DSC_0473

This was taken after five minutes in her new heaven – i.e. the Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym… she’s enamored (this is a GREAT baby shower gift)

week5_11

DSC_0301

week5_8

DSC_0509

Loving the views from the top of the Animas Mountain – Isla loves the view from over my shoulder (her favorite holding position)

week5_9

DSC_0218

Vegan ice cream at Cream Bean Berry – my one true weakness!

week5_10

Isla LOVES (eating) this lovie!

DSC_0004

A sneak preview of my first homework assignment from Floral Arranging 101 (more to come tomorrow!)


Three weeks left! Have a great day. xo

 

Week 4 in Durango

We have almost been in Durango for a month, and time is literally flying by, which is giving me anxiety. I am not ready to return to Houston, although I would give anything to hug my friends and family. In the past week, we have seen multiple deer lingering in our yard and our neighbors, taken (almost) daily walks to the local handcrafted ice cream shop – Cream Bean Berry, gone on 2-mi. morning walks with the beautiful crisp air, finished Photo 101, started Floral Arranging 101, and learning so much in Illustrator 101. We also visited Sutcliffe Vineyards, ate at Carver’s Brewery (dying over their veggie burger), and  Sasha’s mom, her friend, my sister, and her boyfriend all visited. It was a busy week, but we enjoyed every second of it. One of my best friends arrives next week with her baby, Lillian, who was born 26 days after Isla. I cannot wait!

week4_2

Isla’s Baby Gap romper – love that bow at the waist (similar here)

DSC_0879

Daily walks to the Animas River with the whole family are the highlight of my day

week4

Jill is already one strike down on the babysitting tally (re: drinking and holding)! // Dinner at Grassburger happens far too often

DSC_0270

This is the face she makes when she is gurgling – totally purses her little lips (more of this outfit here)

week4_3

Isla loves to fist pump in her Gap Star Bubble Bodysuit (now on sale!)

DSC_0542

My hair is now in constant pony tails because she loves to grab things – like her dad’s Serbian Orthodox chain necklace
week4_4

Pattern play in her Carter’s top, Baby Gap striped pants and Trumpette socks
week4_6

Hanging out on one of her Mimi’s colorful quilts

photo 4 (8)

Belle is in heaven

week4_5

Straight CHEESIN’ – in her J. Crew tank in flower patch and Baby Gap shorts

DSC_0668

I couldn’t love her any more

week4_9

Going on a walk in my J. Crew tank (I live in these), Nordstrom fedora (similar) and Chloe sunglasses (similar) – Isla’s Baby Gap hat looks like a mushroom here!

DSC_0858

Ready to play fetch

week4_8

Practicing standing with her Tata

DSC_0759

One happy little patriotic sailor

week4_7

I want this Janie and Jack romper for myself! I love the bow on the back