Weekending in Lancaster County

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In November, Ryan and I took a much-needed break from wedding planning to the beautiful countryside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Located only 3 hours from the city and with so many holiday activities, local eats, and homemade goods, it was the perfect getaway to turn our brains off, relax, and appreciate each other and this journey toward marriage.

We stayed in a historic boutique BnB, enjoyed an Amish-style breakfast, and checked out all the local art, markets, farms, and handmade treats.

Keep reading for a complete list of our recommendations and all the details of our trip.

This post is sponsored by Discover Lancaster and may contain paid promotional content.

Are you looking for a small-town getaway with plenty of charming attractions and delicious dining options? Look no further than Lancaster, Pennsylvania! Located in the heart of Amish country and only 3 hours outside of New York City, this charming town is filled with history, culture, and endless things to do.

If you're in need of a comfortable place to rest your head, The Hollinger House Bed and Breakfast is a must-visit. This beautifully restored Victorian mansion offers luxurious accommodations and a delicious breakfast each morning. Kenneth, the innkeeper, did a wonderful job accommodating the guests. His attention to detail is outstanding and his hospitality is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

For those interested in local craft beer, be sure to check out The Lancaster Brewing Company. This popular spot offers tours of the brewery, tastings of their handcrafted beers, and a cozy taproom to relax and enjoy a pint. The soft pretzel with a beer-infused cheese sauce was a MUST during our pre-dinner happy hour date. The flights of beer are inexpensive and you can’t beat the ambiance.

If vintage gaming is more your style, Decades is a must-see. This retro-inspired “bar-cade” offers a wide selection of vintage and antique arcade games and pinball machines, as well as a unique drink menu and delicious small bites. Games are 25 cents each, and for two hours of fun and bar service, you could rent out a lane at the newly installed six-lane bowling alley for less than a cup of coffee back home.

When it comes to dining, Lancaster has no shortage of delicious options. Shady Maple Smorgasbord is a local favorite, offering a massive selection of home-cooked dishes, including Amish specialties. For a more upscale dining experience, The Greenfield Restaurant is a must-try. Located in a beautiful historic building, this restaurant serves delicious modern American cuisine using locally sourced ingredients.

No trip to Lancaster is complete without a visit to Central Market Lancaster, the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country. Here, you'll find a wide selection of fresh produce, baked goods, and locally made crafts and goods.

For a taste of Amish country life, be sure to visit The Old Windmill Farm. This working farm offers tours, demonstrations, and a chance to interact with the animals and learn about Amish traditions.

Overall, Lancaster is a charming and welcoming town with plenty of attractions and dining options to keep you entertained during your visit. Discover all that Lancaster has to offer by visiting DiscoverLancaster.com and plan your trip today!

Being Unapologetically Me

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Originally written for TheOdysseyOnline.com circa 2016

KRPINTOS PHOTOGRAPHY (C)

Being raw is being real, and real people are hard to come by since we live in a society that adores conformity. People seem to dress, act and even feel the same to fit in.

Somewhere on one of the pages of this crazy book we call life, we were told that something about ourselves was wrong. Maybe it was a slight frown from a stranger or maybe one of your classmates in second grade told you that it’s not cool to like to read and write. You might not even remember what exactly it was that made you think this or maybe you lay awake at 3 a.m. cringing at the memory and agonizing over the idea of not fitting in.

But for some reason, whatever it was, it was more than enough to make you wish you were different-- or maybe not so different.

If you ask someone what he or she would change about herself you will hardly ever get somebody who says, "Nothing, I love who I am just the way I am."

When did it stop becoming okay to just be you?

The thing is, most of the things people have said they wish they could change about themselves are the parts of what makes them who they are. I can remember talking to a good friend as she was expressing her feelings towards a boy. "I wish that I didn't care so much,” she said, “I wish I could just turn it off and not care at all, the girls who can do that are so lucky" 

It is absolutely heartbreaking; the fact that she cares so much is what makes me love and appreciate her. And that's the entire point of this-- the things you may hate about yourself, the things that someone made you feel were wrong, there’s someone out there that loves you because of them. 

As a generation, we spend a vast amount of time on our social media platforms, day-in and day-out. People spend more time worrying about how many “likes” their posts will get rather than realizing it does not matter, at all.

The validation people seek to receive from social media is unhealthy; the only acceptance that is important is our own and that which comes from the people we love in our lives, not the followers. It's human nature to want to be accepted by others, but trying to receive it through posting pictures or statuses that don’t reflect who you are as a person isn't the way to go about it.

Being real with yourself leads you to create stronger bonds with others, as well. Not only are you being true in your actions, but also in your emotions. When we are able to open up emotionally to others and truly let them in, it creates a deeper connection.

Being entirely open emotionally is more powerful than doing so physically. It is easy to take off your clothes, but expressing your emotions, to truly get naked, requires more courage and trust. Of course, it isn't always easy to express ourselves, but that's what makes us human.

We care so much about what other people think of us and not enough of what we think of ourselves. Over the past few months I’ve embraced who I am. I’m wild, impulsive, and slightly reckless. I’m passionate.

I spent years hearing that all those things were bad and unlovable, and all it took was one person to make me think that I shouldn’t be me. So I tried to be sweet and quiet. I became someone I didn’t recognize or even like, I ended up being weak. 

I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have my piercings and tattoos. I wouldn’t be me if I didn't take impulsive trips. I wouldn’t be me if my highs weren’t incredibly high and my lows weren’t painfully low. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t wear ripped jeans and belt out every song on the radio when I drive to work. 

If I had listened to that boy who told me all those things weren’t lovable then I still wouldn’t be me. If I had listened to the girl in second grade who told me books weren’t cool I wouldn’t be majoring in something I love. No one who is worth being in your life will ever tell you that those things aren’t good enough. If it makes you happy, then it’s good enough.

Don't be afraid of being yourself or exploring until you find peace within yourself. Once you feel comfortable in your skin, share it with others, unapologetically.

A Lesson in Resiliency: 2020

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Originally written January 11, 2021 for Instagram

There’s no secret that 2020 was an unkind year.

Pandemic aside, my partner, Ryan, and I suffered tremendously and silently in our private lives. Between family loss, health concerns, and so much more, we slowly lost each other and in the absence of communication grew a deep rooted resentment.

In an effort to cope and heal from all that was thrown our way, I decided to turn distant and lost interest in every aspect of my life. I fell off in my responsibilities, my education, my

I questioned my abilities in my art and my passions. My LIFE. I questioned people’s intentions, including those closest to me. Hurt people hurt people, and I projected and deflected until I truly was alone.

My and Ryan’s relationship suffered the most. Through all the hurt and confusion we had bottled up and then the state of the world’s climate, there was just a ticking time bomb of pressure that we kept tossing back and forth at each other.

When things finally started to turn around, we looked at each other for the first time in a long time and decided it was time to move on and face all the pain we’ve taken and swallowed. We weren’t going to succumb to the tragic cards we’ve been dealt.

We are resilient.

However, to follow through with the plan well... was intimidating, to say the least. I had to not only accept what I and we had overcome but also my affinity towards toxic coping mechanisms and how it’s played a part for those around me.

It was hard, but we took a huge sigh, a deep breath, held hands, and committed to the idea of moving on from all the shit for good.

God has a funny way of humbling you and showing up when we need Him the most.

No, 2020 wasn’t easy. It was a year of lessons and building strength. It taught us so much about our individual growth and our growth as a couple. It showed us what and who was important and how to handle the big life-changing things.

We are so blessed to be where we are in 2021.

I never would have thought, given where we were this time last year...or even the year before, that life would bring us here. But everything happens for a reason and we have learned to truly trust the journey and God’s plans.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
— Jeremiah 29:11