Memories – Page 2 – SALLY♡THINGS

2024: January to March Photo Dump

A little late here, oopsie! Winter felt like it lasted forever and I’m so happy we started to finally get warmer weather even if it lasted for just a day. I’m not a cold weather person AT ALL. I question all the time why I live in the midwest, I’m not built for the cold. I started my second semester of college, so that school and social life balance has been a hard one. The beginning of 2024 has been an interesting one to say the least. I will say I am pushing myself to be a better version and opening up more. I want more out of life than what I have been comfortable with. Here’s to living more and loving life ♡

January

February

March

Epcot: Drinking and Eating Around the World.

Drinking at DISNEY? YES, you heard that right. The happiest place on earth just got happier for the adults. Disney World already sells alcoholic beverages in all of their theme parks, but it’s nothing like Epcot. You’ll want to experience a drink and food tour around the countries at Epcot at least once! Honestly, I got a little drunk towards the end and have never, EVER eaten so much in one day. I went to Epcot thinking that we would have time for eating, drinking, rides, shopping and checking everything else out, but we ran out of time. The International Flower and Garden Festival was going on as well, so there were extra things to look at. We were there from 11 AM to 10 PM too. We’ll for sure be back another time to try more foods and drinks and actually ride the rides.

Now let’s go world traveler, to Epcot we go! ºoº

Lunch Reservation at Chef de France (France)

Cassolette D’escargots
Casserole of Burgundian escargots baked in parsley and garlic butter

I don’t even know how to describe the taste of this except for the word délicieux! It may not look very good in the photo, but you can trust me that it very much was. I could eat this appetizer all day. The mixture of flavor is perfect.
C’est vraiment très bon!

Boeuf Bourguignon Linguine
Braised beef in Cabernet, baby onions, carrots, pasta

Jarret De Porc Braise Au Miel
Braised Heritage pork shank, mashed potatoes. Scallions, tomatoes

In NO way did we regret eating here, but what we ordered for lunch was pretty heavy to start off a drink and food tour. Maybe next time we’ll start off a little lighter, but we just couldn’t resist. Both proteins were so tender and melted in your mouth. The sauces and flavors were out of this world. Chef de France knows what they are doing in the kitchen!

France

Beignet Caramélisé
Caramelized Beignet filled with Vanilla Cream and glazed with Caramel Fleur de Sel

Sparking Pear Cocktail
Sparkling Wine with Pear Flavor

Yup! We started our drinking and eating tour right after our big lunch. I was already so full, but there’s always room for dessert! Usually the cocktail is a Sparkling Raspberry, but they ran out already so pear it was. Then the Beignet Caramélisé was good, but nothing too special in my opinion though. It was like a crème brulée doughnut.

Morocco

Orange Blossom-Saffron Cake

Cider Flight:
Keel Farms Pear Honeysuckle Hard Cider (Plant City, FL)

Woodchuck Imperial Sippin’ Citrus Hard Cider (Middlebury, VT)

3 Daughters Brewing Pomegranate Hard Cider (St. Petersburg, FL)

I couldn’t find a description of the Orange Blossom – Saffron Cake online at all, so let me try to describe it in the best way that I can. The top orange layer is a cream almost like vanilla ice cream and it was covered with a orange chocolate like layer with orange powder. That tasted like an orangesicle, then the green layer was a pistachio flavored cake (with pistachios on the side) on top of a raspberry syrup. It was a perfect burst of flavor!

Japan

Cocktail Flight:
Winter Melon Cocktail

Tokyo Sunset
Coconut Rum, Peach Schnapps, Banana Liqueur, and Pineapple Juice

Violet Sake
Sake, purple pear, and lime juice

Again, I couldn’t find a description online about the Winter Melon Cocktail. It was very sweet and tasted just like those little winter melon candies that are in small balls, very nostalgic. The Tokyo Sunset and Violet Sake were also sweet drinks, but all three were very good The Violet Sake was actually my favorite drink out of all the drinks we had! It tasted like a grape jolly rancher, but lighter in flavor mixed with lemon. Third country and 7 different drinks later, I was still feeling sober. The food we ate was doing some work or maybe I have a high alcohol tolerance, but let’s say it was the food!

America

Spicy Chicken Gumbo
with Andouille Sausage and Long Grain & Wild Rice

Bayou Cocktail
Spiced Rum, Coconut Rum, Fruit Punch, and Orange Juice

The Spicy Chicken Gumbo was my most favorite food item that we tried all day (besides our lunch at Chef de France). Who knew it would be gumbo from America? The Bayou Cocktail was okay. I think it reminded me too much of a drink that we serve at the restaurant I work at, so it wasn’t anything new to me.

Italy

Arrabbiata
Pennette Pasta, Spicy Tomato Sauce, and Buttery Shrimp

I am a pasta lover! At this point I was so full of food, but I had to try a pasta at least. The picture does not do it justice, it really just looks like school food, but you’ll have to trust me that it wasn’t. The sauce had the perfect spicy kick for those who only want a mild spice. The sauce had a thick, rich consistency too!

Orangecello Cocktail
orangecello, orange juice, pineapple juice and strawberry puree

Peachy Dream Bellini
peach purée and Prosecco

I must have started to feel a little tipsy around here or was too excited to drink because this is the only photo that I have of our drinks from Italy. These two went down too easy! Out of the two the Orangecello Cocktail was the better one. I still loved the Peachy Dream Bellini though! This is when we were getting drinks back to back at a quicker speed.

Germany

Apfelschaumwein
Apple Sparkling Wine and Apple Liqueur with a Rosemary Garnish

I’m still trying to pronounce the name of this drink, so if anyone would like to teach us all feel free! This drink tasted like a light apple flavored hard cider, but with the perfect amount of sweetness. The rosemary garnish was super strong and we left it in the drink the whole time. That was our fault because it took over the taste towards the end of the glass.

China

Dragon Butterfly
Butterfly Pea Flower Gin, Vodka, Green Tea, Lemonade, Soda Water, Hibiscus and Dragon Fruit Syrups, with Blueberry Popping Boba

Did I use this as an excuse to put a picture of me in here? Yes, I definitely did. Plus the picture that I got of this drink is not that great. I was feeling the drinks for sure at this point and even more after this drink. This drink was very strong tasting. The popping boba at the bottom was our chaser with every sip. From here to the end, the Disney cast members were heavy handers!

Mexico

Tamale de Rajas
Poblano Peppers, Corn, and cheese in Masa topped with Poblano Cream Sauce, Crema Mexicana, Pickled Carrots and Onions with Chives

Lychee Margarita
Centinela Blanco Tequila, Lychee Liqueur, Citrus Juice, and Agave Nectar

As you can see from the picture, that I was drunk. I did not care for the photo HAHAH. That Dragon Butterfly drink from China really got me. THEN, our Lychee Margarita wasn’t any lighter. I swear it was pure tequila. I still was having a good time though! The tamale was good, but I feel like the cream sauce made kind of made it less authentic, it tasted more like mayo. My tastebuds could have been a little off at this time though. In the end, I would get it again.

Germany

Welsh Dragon
peach schnapps, melon liqueur, creme de menthe, orange juice, and pineapple juice

I can’t tell you why the last drink of the night has the best photo. I amaze myself and also confuse my own self A LOT. Anyways, the last drink we had! It was another sweet cocktail and my second favorite of the day. It was pretty close to being my first favorite. This drink wasn’t as strong as the last few and we had a little bit of down time before getting this drink. I was better after this.

BONUS: Disney Traders & Port of Entry

Soy-glazed Sticky Ribs
with Green Onions and Peanuts

Bonus foods! The down time we had between Mexico and United Kingdom, we got some more food and visited Canada (no purchases). So these foods aren’t in any of the countries, but in their own section. You can find these Soy-glazed Ribs by the Disney Traders. These are good, but I think they have great potential to be better. If they had a little more of the soy-glazed flavor, then it would have been perfect! The ribs were tender and fell of the bone otherwise.

Spicy Hotdog
with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain chips

You can find this Spicy Hotdog in Port of Entry. I was so full that I only took one bite of this, but that one bite was pretty good. It actually has a spicy kick to it. Yes, I know how basic it sounds, but plantain chips on a SPICY hotdog? An actual spicy hotdog? You can’t beat that. I’ll be coming back for it next time with an empty stomach. Maybe I’ll get two!

9 countries, 2 worlds, 14 different drinks, and 10 different foods all in one day. We even skipped getting drinks and/or food from two countries, Norway and Canada, to make sure we would make it through the whole park at least. We also skipped a whole bunch of other restaurants and food booths in every country and multiple items from the booths that we bought drinks and/or food from. There’s at least 4 different restaurants and booths to choose from in each country. To try everything at Epcot that we want, we’d probably have to spend at least three more full days at Epcot. There’s just tons of delicious sounding options there. I’m already drooling over the thought of trying more again. ♡

Until next time world traveler! ºoº

2023: October to December Photo Dump.

The last few months of 2023 in pictures look a lot better than how they actually were. One thing I do know is that even though I’m down, I’ll always be trying to live my best life cause that’s all that I can really control. I really just let certain things go and flow. End of 2023 didn’t want to let go without a bang though and honestly I’m not mad about it. What is meant for me will always find it’s way. ♡

October

November

December

July & August Mini Writings.

Sometimes quick little mini writings come easier than writing a whole blog. Sometimes I don’t have the time to pull out my laptop and write what I’m feeling or if I don’t write it right away I’ll forget or second guess on sharing. Every mini writing expresses me and how I felt at that moment and the photos will have something significant to them. There’s a lot more meaning to me, but it might seem like nothing to others which is fine too. You can find these on my Instagram @Sally.Things stories/highlights. Now here’s what you might have missed ♡

July 17, 2023

I’m still human.
I still have a lot of emotions.

I’m very much going through it.
I mean it just really started.

May this photo remind me and help through the waves of sadness.

– sally.things

July 24, 2023

Even though it hurts, I’m still going to continue to sit here and choose myself.

Choose the love I deserve.

– sally.things

August 3, 2023

I try my best to move on and go about my day and life/future.

It gets hard on some days, but I know it won’t last forever

Keep going.

– sally.things

August 9, 2023

One of these days I’m going to heal through my words.

Until then, all I can do is write it all out in hopes that it’s helping someone else out instead.

I’m constantly reading, rereading and rereading.

– sally.things.

P.s. I’m going to choose to remember this as the last. It was beautiful.

August 13, 2023

Super excited that I’m actually able to continue with my life plans. It didn’t work out last year which was my original plan, but I guess things happen for a reason.

The future I was planning for will still happen and I’m still going to go that route, except it’s going to be just for me. The support and excitement will always be with me though.

– sally.things

August 22, 2023

“I wish that you could see how much you mean to other people in their lives like how you see how much people mean in yours.”

Somewhere along the way, I lost my sight of that. I wish that one day I can see that again too.

– sally.things

August 28, 2023

For every push, there’s been a bigger pull.

For every pull, there’s been very little pushing away.

Tell me what am I suppose to do?

– sally.things

Follow my Instagram for more or come and visit the end of October/beginning of November to see more ♡

2023: July to September Photo Dump

Memories from mid summer to the end. Summer goes by way too fast. I would love it if we could get a little extension, maybe an extra month or two please? Birthdays to Breakaway Music Festival to starting school and to Lost Lands. So many memories ♡ Keep living life. Keep loving life.

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

2023: April to June Photo Dump

Some of my favorite moments from April, May and June. This year is going by so quickly. We’re already have way through, insane. Slow down, so I can have more time this year please!

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

2023: January to March Photo Dump

New blog post series? Yes, we LOVE those! Every few months, I’ll post my favorite photos or videos from each month. The point of living is to live and I’m trying my best to do just that. A little trail of memories you can say.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Hello Late Twenties, It’s 27!

AHHHH! I hit my late twenties. I don’t know if I should be excited or sad about it. It’s kind of like your sophomore year in high school where everything is the same. Nothing exciting or important really happens, you’re just older. I’m now 3 years closer to 30 and I heard your 30’s are better. I’m waiting on that cause I need it, BAD.

Do I expect anything for my 27th year of life? Not really, I think I’m done with expecting anything. What my twenties has taught me so far is that life is never the way you think it will go. You have to learn to adjust and fight your way through whether you like it or not. You’ll make tons stupid mistakes, which lead to good life lessons and good stories. You also do tons of self healing and it’s so hard, but this is the perfect time for all of it. This is really your time to set yourself and your future up. Your twenties are meant to be for living your best life like traveling, love, friendships, family, educations, jobs, etc. It’s to feed your soul without anyone else in mind, just you. Your twenties are also for you to learn the negatives or downsides of yourself and others, heartbreaks, and constantly getting pushed down. All you can do is get back up and work your way through. I still have 3 more years of this?? Can I say I kind of hate it here HAHHAHA. But really though, I’m going through the thick of it and it’s not even THICC with two C’s..

I would like to say that I am super grateful that I am surrounded by love from both friends and family. Life gets in the way and you tend to forget how much people actually care for you or that there’s even good people in the world. I really appreciate every message or post. Thank you for taking time out of your day! So with that being said here are some pictures and videos that I got. I suck at remembering to take pictures and capturing videos, so I’m glad someone did. No matter how embarrassing or how rough I look, I’m happy to have made these memories ♡

What I would like this year and for the next few or even forever is to continue living with loving eyes and just seeing things to finally start falling into place. I’m ready to be settled, but not settled as in marriage, starting a family or having kids (all that is still fine of course if it happens). I’m ready to feel settled within myself and see what I can do for me. My advice for getting older is to make those memories, be kind to others, be kind to yourself and live your best life.

Here’s to another year of life, lets slide into my late twenties. Here’s to 27! ♡

My First Year in Wisconsin.

You read that right. It’s officially been a year since I moved from Michigan to Wisconsin. Time here flew by really fast, maybe a little too quick if you ask me. This past year has taught me a lot about myself, starting over, friendships and so much more. Moving states and changing environments has been good to me, it has humbled me and it has also brought out the worst of me. For the first time in my life, I felt like an outsider and I would be lying if I said it doesn’t still kind of feel that way. Adjusting to a brand new environment was a lot harder for me than what you would expect. Having to let go and move pass a life that you’ve always known is a lot harder than it seems. I guess I’m one of those people who prefer to be where I feel comfortable in, but I’m making it work.

I promised to be honest on my blog, so let’s talk about some of the downsides that came with moving. To start off, I miss my family and my friends so much even to this day and forever will. I’m so big on connections and being away from everyone really hit me hard. I’m missing out on seeing my nieces and nephew grow up and that probably hurts the most. I was so present in their lives and I absolutely adore and love them like my own kids. Hell, I missed my nephew’s birth and I cried after the call in the middle of a house party because I knew I wouldn’t be as present in his life like I was with the other babies. I’m also missing out on all the quality time with my parents, sibling and friends. They play such big roles in who I am as a person. My friends are literally my family, we celebrate everything together from big to small. It’s the connection, it’s the love and support.

Second, I lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan which I would say is super diverse, my friend group is also diverse, even the school I went to was pretty diverse. So it’s all that I’ve ever been around. Once I moved to Wisconsin, it was like the opposite of culture shock for me. I was around a group that mainly consisted of one ethnicity with one or two people of different culture. Even then, those one or two people were very educated in the ethnicity group where they even knew some of the language, music, food etc. so I actually felt like an outsider. Never have I felt that way or experienced something like it.

Third, there’s that saying ‘you can’t heal in an environment that has hurt you’ and as much as I would like to say it’s not true, there is some truth to it. I willingly moved on my own knowing the problems that I would face, knowing that I would be on alert and always on my toes waiting for something to happen. I knew it would be kind of negative at first, which I will say definitely did not help me with adjusting. Sad, but it’s how it was. I saw the outcome of the move to worth more than the hurt and that I could get passed all of it eventually. There were tons of people who tried to get to know me, but really their intentions were to really get to know what had happened before and to instigate or start new problems. I had to and sometimes still have to pick those people out from who my real friends are. It also keeps me stuck in a place or brings me back to it that I’m trying so hard to move forward from. It was hard to make genuine friendships because for a while I couldn’t make out the differences. You wouldn’t believe how many times I was told that I was stupid to move here or all the new anonymous accounts that tried to make my time here hell. Maybe all that can be talked about in another blog LOL. But yes that did happen and yes it use to get to me and yes I use to cry about it.
Now I’m not an angel or perfect, sometimes it’ll come up in conversation and it’s me that’s bringing it up. I’ll 100% claim that. I’m not fully moved on and now I’m living so much closer to the environment where it happened and with people around that knew. I had to learn how to forgive everyone and how to accept things and see things from different perspectives. I’ll keep working on it because I owe that to myself. I’m much more than what people think and I came here for a reason and maybe for a little vengeance, juuuuust kiddinggggg on that last part. If it happens it happens, ya know?

Processed with VSCO with g6 preset

Now time for the good part. Moving out of my hometown gave me a new start and even though that was hard to accept, I made my way and now I can literally do anything. I just needed this jump start. So if you plan on moving, do it. Just go ahead and do it. Do things for yourself. It may take time, but you’ll settle in eventually. I can say I’m more comfortable and I’m building my life here. I’ve also been learning new things about myself that I never knew. With having this space of being on my own, away from my friends and family, it has opened my eyes about who I am, my potential and who I can become. It’s exactly what I needed.

I met a lot of new people and made a lot of new friends and I even have some very close friends that I very much appreciate and love. My first year in Wisconsin also consisted of a lot of time spent in Minnesota or in different cities like Milwaukee and Sheboygan and even hotel living. If you know, you know. Long story short right after I moved to Wisconsin, I spent about a total of 3-5 months maybe in a hotel due to house cleaning, but because of that I can recommend some pretty nice hotels and restaurants in the Madison area if anyone plans to visit.

Overall it’s been a really good first year. I can honestly say I’m excited to see how the next few years will be because ya girl isn’t planning on moving anywhere else. It’s a lot of work and cost to move to a new state and I don’t have that in me again just yet. I didn’t think I had a lot of stuff to move until I filled up two cars. Plus I have so much in front of me that I wouldn’t want to miss out on. To my first year in Wisconsin and to another year coming, to all the life lessons, adventures and opportunities, CHEERS!
Now enjoy my little 1 year recap video below! ♡

A Girl and Her Honey Citrus Mint Tea.

It’s that time of year again where the leaves start to change, then it starts to get cold and snow. The daylight hours are almost non existent unless you’re a morning person and Starbucks is killing the holiday drink game. Which also means it’s that time of year where I somehow get a cold and all I drink is the Honey Citrus Mint Tea. So here I am, sitting, writing and sipping on some tea.

This first half of winter is beating me up. Boy I’ve been struggling, but I’m getting through. These last few days of 2021 are big reflection days for me. Just going over how my year was, what I wish I would have done differently and what I did that was best for me. I can say I don’t have much regrets at all, but I could have done more for myself. A lesson that I’ll forever be learning. I’ve done a lot and got through a lot this year, so I’m going to take this moment to congratulate and celebrate because damn it was emotional! All the different feelings that I had this year was way beyond any other years. Sally, take another sip of your Honey Citrus Mint Tea cause you deserve it. You did it.

Some highlights of 2021: I was a manager of an hibachi restaurant during the constant changing covid restrictions era. That in itself is a huge accomplishment. I was able to work with my old manager for a month before moving and I adore working with her and just adore her! I was surprised with a going away party from my Sakura family and I cried my little heart out. I love them so much and miss working with them tons ♡ They’re like family to me. I worked there for 4 years with most of them. They saw every bad and good day that I had, they went through and helped me go through all of my early and mid 20’s crisis. I will never forget my last day there because of everyone!

To all the traveling and trips done in 2021, CHEERS! I had an excellent year in food and adventure. I fell in love with views over and over again, I found things that brought out happiness in me that I wouldn’t get if I stayed home. I ate at the Versace mansion which is still so surreal to me! Traveling brings out the best of me and also the fun side LOL If you saw me in Miami, I’m still wondering where that Sally came from, I want her back. I will not stop traveling, it feeds my soul.

My going away party thrown by my friends. That is a huge highlight of 2021, one that I hold so close. You don’t really know how much you’re loved until it’s shown to you. I’m so blessed that I have all these people in my life that enjoy my company as much as I enjoy theirs. It isn’t the last time that we were all going to be together, but that would be it for a while. They give me so much support all the time even with the distance and for that I am truly truly grateful.

My move! Sheeeeeeeeesh it’s been a ride. I moved in April of 2021 to Wisconsin and I still call soda “Pop” and “ope, let me squeeze right past ya” I’m still that Michigan girl. Moving really tested me and I would be lying if I said that I’m fully settled in now cause truth is I’m not, but that’s okay. I’m enjoying it and I’ve met a lot of great people that I consider my really close friends. My boyfriend deserves a huge thank you for being with me every step of the way and helping me make sure I make it as close to home as possible. He is my home guys hehe ♡ The whole summer is a highlight though. All the trips, events, drinking… ya’ll are wild, but a fun wild. Everyone needs to get crazy to survive this crazy world anyways. Thanks to Wisconsin my alcohol tolerance went up HAHA No, but I’m thankful that I get to call Wisconsin my second home, that I get to spend everyday in love with my love and that I’m surrounded by friends who care for me (including my non MI & WI friends that I met through everyone in WI)

My last big highlight that I would like to add is seeing Ramses’s custom runway line being walked live!!! Ramses is one of my closest friend and he does custom apparel under his brand Ramraves. I’ve got to witness and help with the beginning process of Ramraves and to see his work go in a Runway?? PROUD. SOOO PROUD. Ramses when you read this I just want to let you know that I’m still so in awe. Keep it up, opportunities are coming this year! I love you!

To those who are reading this, I hope you had a great new year and this year treats everyone better. It was a rough one for not only myself, but everyone else too. I do want to thank you for all the views, I hit 10k views right before the year ended and that was a cool little milestone and accomplishment for me. For whatever reason you’re visiting my blog to read, I hope you get the year you deserve.