Edinburgh, Scotland quickly jumped up the list of our favorite spots in the United Kingdom. We loved how walkable the town was and the history lessons on every corner. I have included some of the places we enjoyed most during our trip as an Edinburgh Travel Guide, but there is so much more will have to go back to see!

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian: Easily one of my favorite hotels we have stayed at. The concierge was extremely helpful prior, during, and even after our stay. Our room had an incredible view of Edinburgh Castle, was well maintained, spacious, and very clean. We loved every detail of this hotel and cannot recommend it enough!

Waldorf Astoria Whiskey (Scotch) Tasting: Prior to our arrival in Edinburgh, I worked with the concierge at the Waldorf Astoria to arrange a whiskey tasting for Alex. The concierge knew Ken, our whiskey master, and set up a private two-hour lesson whiskey, or what we call Scotch, history lesson and tasting. The concierge offered many ideas to make our stay in Scotland memorable, including a round of golf with the whiskey tasting. Hopefully, the weather cooperates on our next trip for a round of golf!

Waldorf Astoria Spa: Alex surprised me with a facial at the Waldorf Astoria Spa during our stay. The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helped provide a relaxing environment. The spa and gym area was well maintained and extremely clean. They offered a wide variety of services and I left with my skin feeling so much better after being dried from travel.

St Giles’ Cathedral: It is free to tour St. Giles’ Cathedral and I would highly recommend it! The Cathedral was built in 1124 and was a Roman Catholic Cathedral until 1572 when the Scottish Reformation adopted Protestantism. There is so much Scottish history to uncover during the tour, not to mention many important ceremonies for the royal family have been and are still held in St. Giles’.

Palace of Holyroodhouse: The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the royal family’s official Scotland residence. The palace and attached Holyrood Abbey date back to the twelfth century and are full of wild stories. We planned our tour in advance but could have easily walked up and bought tickets the same day during the week. There is an exhibit celebrating the life of Prince Philip for a limited time that I very much enjoyed.

Royal Yacht Britannia: I have been on many royal family-related tours, but the Royal Yacht Britannia was probably my favorite. They have left the yacht exactly as it was when the royal family retired it in 1997. The Queen’s bedroom, study, formal dining, and game room are all on display. The history this yacht covered from 1953 to 1997 made for a very informative tour. After our tour ended we enjoyed high tea on the top deck. I recommend buying tickets in advance the planning to have tea during an off time, this tour was particularly popular.

Beehive Inn: When we first arrived in Edinburgh we started with a walk through “Old Town” to find a place for lunch. The concierge at our hotel recommended Beehive Inn and it was the perfect pub for lunch. We enjoyed fish and chips and a traditional meat pie. Beehive Inn has a great front patio and was perfectly placed halfway through our walking tour of “Old Town”.

Angels with Bagpipes: The best traditional Scottish food we found in Edinburgh! The goat cheese starter, venison, and 12-hour braised beef were all delicious. The atmosphere was simple but nice and the wait staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I recommend making reservations in advance.

Contini: We wanted to mix up our meals a little so I found a family-owned Italian restaurant. The local family who owns Contini also owns a few other restaurants in the Edinburgh area but we were missing a little Italian flair. The buffalo mozzarella, orecchiette, and torta cioccolato were all fantastic. I had a hard time finding a decent martini in the UK but Contini nailed the espresso martini.

Ondine: I had Ondine on a list of potential dinner spots, but while eating lunch an older local couple overheard we were visiting and specifically recommended Ondine. They were right, it was some of the best seafood we have ever had! Everything on the menu was local and seasonally fresh, the oysters were some of the largest and richest we had ever tried. I recommend making reservations in advance, they filled up quickly for dinner.

The Scotch Malt Whiskey Society: Ken, our Scotch tasting guide, recommended we stop by the Scotch Malt Whiskey Society to try some more unique whiskeys. Alex enjoyed learning more about the flavor profiles and tasting different types of Scotch. You can join the American chapter and there are bars that offer their special Scotch across the states but none near Dallas.

Below are a few photos from our recent trip to Edinburgh! xoxo

Manchester is always on our list anytime we cross the pond! Alex is a Manchester United fan and cannot pass up the opportunity to visit Old Trafford. Our last trip included a stadium tour, but this time we were lucky enough to attend a match. We always have a great time in Manchester, so I wanted to share a full Manchester Travel Guide based on our favorite spots!

The Lowery Hotel: We stayed at the Lowery five years ago, but sadly they were booked this time around. Most Manchester United players and coaches who do not live in town stay the night there before a match. We loved the Lowery and were bummed that there were no rooms left for us. It is not in a highly walkable area, but there is a strip of restaurants/shops within walking distance and it is a short uber to the main downtown area. The rooms were well decorated, maintained, and most importantly clean!

Manchester Hilton Deansgate Hotel: We visited Cloud 23 during our previous visit, so when the Lowery Hotel was full the Manchester Hilton Deansgate immediately came to mind. The concierge was very helpful making sure everything was set prior to our stay and arranging transportation to the airport. Our room had plenty of space, a fantastic view, and the breakfast buffet offered a large variety. The hotel did seem to be suited more for business and the room we stayed in was not as clean as we would expect from Hilton.

Old Trafford Stadium Tour: We saw every aspect of the stadium including the locker room, tunnel, player’s seats, owner’s box, and press room. Go behind the scenes at Old Trafford and see the stadium through the eyes of Manchester United greats themselves. The tour was about 80 minutes long and very informative.

Manchester United Match: I didn’t know the slightest thing about soccer until I met Alex and would consider myself more of a casual supporter than a true fan. The experience of watching a Premier League match live was unbelievable and I would recommend it to anyone! It is easier to find tickets for certain matches online, but we had no issue finding tickets from a trusted website.

Cloud 23: During our first trip to Manchester, our Uber driver was kind enough to share his favorite spots, including a dining room on the 23rd floor of the Hilton Deansgate: hotel. We had some free time and stopped by for a cocktail then and this trip we stayed in the Hilton hotel to visit again. The atmosphere and view were incredible and we enjoyed the cheese plate with a selection of cheese, seasonal fruit chutney, grapes, and biscuits. They also serve an elaborate tea that looks perfect for a special occasion.

Dukes 92: We planned to walk back to our hotel from Old Trafford after the match and I stumbled on Dukes 92. I would recommend making a reservation in advance and if weather permits we enjoyed the patio. Dukes 92 patio is more casual than the dining room so check the dress code in advance. Everything we tried on the menu was delicious and the hamburger was a nice taste of home.

La Bandera: There are so many great Tapas places in Manchester, something I wish we had more of in Dallas. I had a hard time narrowing down which one we wanted to try but glad I picked La Bandera. We wanted to go somewhere within walking distance so we could see more of the city. Everything we ordered was delicious and do not skip on the churros! El Gato Negro was another tapas spot high on our list.

BrewDog: Alex found BrewDog on a work trip to Columbus and we later realized they are based in the UK. He couldn’t resist passing one on the street without stopping to enjoy a seasonal beer. The BrewDog in Manchester also offered a great variety of single local canned beer to go if that is your thing.

Below are a few photos from our recent trip to Manchester! xoxo

Dark chocolate is no doubt my favorite dessert, especially when paired with the creamy flavor and crunch of hazelnuts. This dark chocolate ganache nut tart is not only a total crowd-pleaser but also very simple to make. I used walnuts and hazelnuts for the crust, but I have made this tart with a crust of walnut, hazelnut, and pistachio that was equally delicious. The shaved nuts on top can also be replaced with a sprinkle of sea salt, but I prefer the dark chocolate taste instead of the sharp sea salt. Enjoy! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.

Print Dark Chocolate Ganache Nut Tart Recipe. 

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted, plus more room temperature for pan

2½ cups mixed raw nuts (such as walnuts, blanched hazelnuts, pistachios, and/or almonds)

¾ tsp. kosher salt

12 oz. dark chocolate (70% or more), chopped

1 ½ cups heavy cream – maybe 1 and ¼

5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into 1″ pieces

Lightly butter tart pan with removable bottom; line with a round of parchment paper cut to fit just inside the pan. Pulse nuts in a food processor until finely chopped. Add salt and melted butter, and pulse until nuts begin to clump together and the mixture looks sandy. Evenly press mixture into bottom and up sides of the pan. Bake crust at 350 degrees until golden brown, 20–25 minutes. Let cool.

In a heat-proof bowl, add chopped chocolate and top with pieces of butter. Heat cream in a small saucepan until just beginning to simmer; immediately pour over chocolate and butter. Let sit, undisturbed, for 5 minutes. Whisk chocolate until smooth and glossy. Pour ganache into the crust and smooth out any bubbles. Chill, until set, at least 1 hour. Remove tart from pan; sprinkle shaved nuts on top. Slice into wedges with a hot knife.

This strawberry rhubarb pie is the perfect summer treat! It is tart with just a hint of sweetness and is best served chilled. I included my standard pie crust recipe below but doubled it so there is enough dough for the lattice on top. Do not skip over the note to fully let this pie chill. I know it smells amazing right out of the oven, but it has to have time to set properly or the filling will run everywhere. If you like sweeter desserts over tart desserts, I recommend adding an additional ¼ cup of light brown sugar to the filling. Enjoy! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.

Print recipe for Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. 

Crust

Filling

1 ½ pounds rhubarb, cut into ½-inch pieces

2 pounds strawberries, hulled, halved, quartered if large

½ cup granulated sugar

¼ cup light brown sugar

5 tablespoons cornstarch

Pinch of kosher salt

1 large egg

1 tablespoon raw sugar

Preheat the oven to 425°. Let dough sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to soften. Working one at a time, roll out two disks on a lightly floured surface (about ⅛” thick). Carefully transfer 1 dough round to the pie dish (make sure it’s a deep pie dish). Lift edges and allow the dough to slump down into dish, trim, leaving about a 1″ overhang.

In a large bowl, add rhubarb, strawberries, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Mix well. Gently scrape filling into dough-filled pie dish.

Cut the remaining round of dough into ½-inch strips. Lay strips in a lattice pattern over the filling and crimp edge as desired. Beat egg with 1 tsp. water in a small bowl and lightly brush over top of the dough. Sprinkle with raw sugar.

Bake pie for 5 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°. Continue to bake until crust is deep golden brown and juices are thick and bubbling, 60-75 minutes longer.

Transfer pie to a wire rack and let cool at least 4 hours before serving. Yes, it smells amazing, but if you don’t give it time to set up properly, the filling will be runny when you cut into it.

Sweater: J.Crew // Tank: J.Crew // Jeans: J.Crew // Sandals: Jaggar // Headband: Loeffler Randall // Handbag: STAUD

I love the idea of white jeans but often find them to be thin material or unflattering. These jeans stood out online and decided to give them a try because they seemed a little fun and different. I honestly expected to hate them when they arrived but was very surprised by the quality. The high-waisted straight leg cut is very flattering and the material is so thick you could even wear black underwear. These white jeans fit a little large (wearing size 24) and are truly high-waisted. I love the patchwork of white and off-white as well as the frayed seams that separate each patch. These are probably the most “fun” pants I own – not sure what that says about me (ha). I paired the white jeans with a matching off-white sweater, over the shoulders, and a contrasting black tank. This black crew neck tank is one of my favorite layering pieces and it comes in every color you can imagine. Shop this entire look below! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.

Dress: Amanda Uprichard // Shoes: Zara similar // Clutch: Cult Gaia

My calendar is starting to look like it did pre-pandemic and I am not sure if I was ready for this social whirlwind. My brother graduated college last month and I went on the hunt for a white summer dress. I had my eye on this Amanda Uprichard dress in black a long time ago but was nervous that white might be see-through. I gave it a shot anyway and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of such a light dress (aka not see-through). This dress fits large (wearing XS) so I recommend ordering a size smaller than you usually would. I love the tiered pleats that create such a light and breezy silhouette. Dresses with sleeves always win me over because I am cold-natured, especially when everyone is blasting their A/C in the summer. Shop this white summer dress and more of my favorites below! xoxo

Images via Alex Phillips.