I’m nestled in a room that sits above a coffee shop in a restored building on a street being restored in Springfield, Missouri. The room is a clean design without being minimalistic.
Gorgeous Queen Bed In The Casablanca Suite
Casablanca Suite
Outfit Decisions in The Lovely Wardrobe In Casablanca Suite
Despite the partial exposed brick and Edison bulbs, the room feels tasteful without being voguish. The room has a coffee shop feel without the underflowing feeling of overstaying your patronage or the sickly feeling of eyes on you.
The hotel’s owners and coffee shop owners are one in the same. The room is subtly themed to represent Casa Blanca as an ode to the Eurasian region that the they philanthropize towards. Through the day, the room is lit with two recessed skylights and a tall, rooftop window.
Sunlit Casablanca Suite at the Culture Boutique Hotel
The hardwood floors are re-purposed with original wood from the building. The open floor design allows you to take in the full space and still allow each station it’s purpose.
This kitchenette added some extended stay amenities to the room.
At night, dangling lights warm the room with a soft, peaceful climate without feeling low-light cumbersome.
Afternoon tea in the breakfast nook at Culture Boutique Hotel.
Culture Boutique Hotel feels more like an elite AirBnB than a hotel room. It feels more like an experience than a stay. The ownership is staff and they are warm, laid back, and inviting. And yet, they leave no doubt of professionalism. The rooms are much, much more affordable than you’d expect from the setting. For not much more than a stay in a standard hotel room (if not less for some name brands), you can have a space and experience you enjoy rather than tolerate.
The concept and the design are simple and let you feel at ease and whelmed. The amenities compliment the impression wholly.
After you’ve checked in and had the day to try C-Street’s diverse culinary and shopping offerings, you can retreat to your room for a soak in a two-person jacuzzi.
This Jacuzzi tub felt like heaven to soak in.
If baths aren’t your thing, there is a walk-in shower. After you’re sufficiently wrinkled and relaxed, the mattress will encompass you as you easily drift off beneath the night sky framed in the skylight. And in the morning, you can awake refreshed and relish a complimentary cup of Eurasia Cafe’s direct-trade and ethically sourced coffee, served to you with a pour-over kit. The coffee is a remarkable quality and intentional. It serves as a fitting representative to the stay.
Morning coffee pour over style
I couldn’t get enough of the coffee, and I found myself down in the coffee shop that morning with another cup ordered while I glanced through their characteristically simple menu.
Eurasia Cafe’s menu
Each dish was flavorful and clean. It seems like every hotel has a restaurant attached to it. But this one pairs fluently and allows you to carry the mood of your room into your dining.
A maple latte and breakfast sandwich from Eurasia Cafe
Just look at this breakfast sandwich! Delicious!
I loved my stay at Culture Boutique Hotel. I’ll recommend it to any Springfield-bound visitors. I hope when you visit that you’ll set aside some time to enjoy the room and appreciate the atmosphere. If you’re a local do what I did, and take a break from the routine. If you’re coming from out of town, a couple or few nights here will take your visit from a trip to a vacation.
Disclaimer: This stay was not sponsored.
The building is located just in front of an active rail line. Trains are passing through the night. If you’re a white noise sleeper, this isn’t much of a problem. (While I was sleep drunk, I mistook the noise for crickets–even though it was snowing.)
The open floor design means that your bathroom door is a curtain. So if you’re going as a couple (the room is not set up for families), then you should be very comfortable with your partner’s bathroom habits.
And while C-Street is undergoing a gentrified boom, it is still the center of the rougher side of Springfield. I had no problem during my stay or during any other time that I’ve spent on Commercial Street recently.
Iceland has breathtaking views strewn across the entire island. The residents are laid-back and welcoming, and it’s easy to be a tourist there. Also, Iceland is expensive–fucking expensive. But there are ways to maximize your Icelandic experience while minimizing the impact on your wallet. Let me tell you how I did it, and what I would have done differently, if I knew then what I know now.
Before I went:
My trip to Iceland began when I came across a great deal on nonstop flights to Reykjavik through WowAir. ( As of 2019, this airline is sadly no more ) The flights were for mid-August which is between Iceland’s summer and winter tourist seasons. Going during this shoulder season meant lower prices and lesser crowds.
After booking my flight, the next step was lodging. One of the most important decisions to make when you’re traveling. I spent a few weeks looking up hotel and Airbnb options, but the more I looked the more I realized just how expensive lodging in Iceland is. It was looking like somewhere around $200 USD a night for a 2 1/2 to 3 star hotel. That would have put me at $1400 USD, and that’s before the car rental.
So I did some digging. That’s when I came upon the miracle that is Happy Campers. Happy Campers converts commercial vans into camper vans, and they’re awesome. They have a ton of different designs to fit however many people you have. The vans come with cooking gear, bedding, a mini fridge, WiFi, heating, and every add-on you could want. I went with the smallest option since I was traveling light. For less than staying in a sub-par room every night, I got lodging and a high clearance vehicle for the entire trip. From the time they picked me up at the airport, to seeing me back to the terminal, they were above and beyond helpful. The staff and product both rule. Even if you’re not planning a trip, take a look at their website just for fun. They do great work.
My home on wheels during my trip.
*Quick note about the campgrounds in Iceland. It is illegal to park your vehicle overnight anywhere besides a campground. Luckily, campgrounds in Iceland only cost about $25 USD. You generally get shower facilities, communal cooking areas, and a wicked view. I never reserved a spot in advance the entire trip, and it was never a problem.
Day 1: Landing in Iceland and Exploring Reykjavik
Once I landed in Keflavik, a representative from Happy Campers was there to pick me up and shuttle me to their location. They gave me great advice on the road, gave me a tour of the van, helped me plan my trip based on what I was wanting to see, and double-checked that I was all set before they sent me off!
*Insider tip: Get the gravel insurance.
While filling out the paperwork at Happy Campers, I spent a full 120 seconds shifting from foot to foot trying to decide if I should pick up the $17.33 USD/day gravel insurance. Three days later, I spent the rest of the trip wishing I had.
If you go outside the cities, there is gravel literally everywhere! A vehicle parked on a scenic view took off in front of us while we were driving and chucked a piece of gravel that chipped our windshield. You can be as careful as you want, but gravel happens.
$121 < $375
Reykjavik: Free parking!
When looking up Reykjavik online, one immediately runs across photos of Hallgrimskirkja. The beautiful cathedral towers over the city in a feat of impressive Icelandic design. This was definitely one of my favorite places in Reykjavik. Coincidentally, it also has free parking all day long and downtown is just two blocks away.
Take some time and walk around the downtown. The shops are mostly gift shops and boutiques. But there is a local art scene that subtly permeates through, and you can catch some great creativity.
After a couple hours in Reykjavik, I drove to my Airbnb just north of the town. Jet-lag is a bitch, and I knew I shouldn’t be driving in a foreign country on a sleep deprived brain. I recommend you do this too. Tourism is a heavy income revenue in Iceland, and the Airbnb hosts do it right. It was cozy, well-curated, and well priced. While my sleep was less than stellar, I cannot blame the room I got.
*Insider tip: To save $ avoid eating out, and check out the local grocery stores instead.
Don’t go to Iceland as a foodie. There’s nothing for you there.
If it’s in Iceland, it’s pricey. I sustained on a lot of PB&J and egg sandwiches. Another shout out to Happy Campers, they have a pantry where they keep leftover groceries. Hit it up. Seriously.
This might be my biggest regret of the trip. Your restaurant options are novelty American food or Fish and Chips shops. Frankly, it’s not very impressive.
Spend your food money on inexpensive groceries, and if you must try the local food, get a pastry from a bakery or local coffee shop.
Day 2: The Blue Lagoon
I started out my second day in Iceland with a visit to The Blue Lagoon. I booked an early morning slot months in advance on their website, and boy, am I glad that I did! I slipped right through check-in and by the time I left at 10:30 AM, the tourists were lined up by the dozens.
The Blue Lagoon was just as beautiful in reality as it looks in pictures. I was absolutely blown away by the place. Of all the tourist hot spots, this is a must see.
9AM at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
*Insider tip: If you want to see the Blue Lagoon, book your time slot in advance on their website BlueLagoon.com. Choose the earliest time to avoid the majority of the crowds.
Day 3: Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
Diamond Beach and Glacier Lagoon are right across the road from each other. You need to see them both.
Jokulsarlon is serenity incarnate. A waterway carries glacier pieces softly into the Atlantic. The blues are indescribable. The biting cold wind is a fitting companion and sets the stage for a surreal, meditative scene. There are fellow onlookers littering the beach, but somehow, even that can’t keep you from being moved.
Diamond Beach is the juxtaposition. The glacier pieces are caught and thrashed in the tides and chunks break off and wash up on the black sand. Here, the ocean air doesn’t carry the same bitter wind. It feels subdued. If Jokulsarlon is serenity, Diamond Beach is melancholy.
Diamond Beach Iceland
Of all the towns I came across, Vik was my favorite. I drove through it on my way to the Black Sand Beach, and backtracked just to stay the night in it. On top of being a few minutes from the beach Reynisfjara, it’s close to the waterfalls Skogafoss and Helgafoss. Make sure to check out the little path coming from behind the church that leads to one of my favorite views in Iceland.
The View of Vik Myrdal Iceland
Day 4: Helgafoss, Skogafoss, and that beach from Game Of Thrones
I spent the day exploring Helgafoss, Skogafoss, and Reynisfjara beach. The unfortunate reality of these places is that, while they are beautiful, they are also overrun with tourists. Sword fights with selfie sticks and big smiles wrapped in ponchos were far too distracting to take in the grandeur of the scene.
But I couldn’t just walk away. So I patiently waited for my turn, and I was able to get a shot or two.
Skogafoss Waterfall in Iceland
Day 5: The long rode to Akureyri.
Ring Road is a highway that circles the island. From Vik to Akureyri is the longest leg of the trip. It’s an 8 hour drive that took me 13 because I encountered some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.
The further I drove from the tourist hot spots, the more breathtaking the scenery became. The popular sights are fine to see. But the essence of Iceland flows through it’s landscape. Iceland is perfect symbolism portraying how much the world has to offer outside of it’s beaten paths.
Once I passed Jokulsarlon, Iceland’s raw and natural beauty unfolded around each curve in the road; small seaside villages, ice blue bays, remote black sand beaches with ocean overlooks that made me squeal in delight (Yes, I actually squealed in delight.), waterfalls that took my breath away, and sweeping vistas through glacial carved valleys. I would have missed out on all of these sights if I had just taken a tour.
The Road to AkureyriThis roadside beach was ridiculous!
I didn’t actually make it to Akureyri that night as I had planned. Partly due to how many times I had stopped, and then an unforeseen tunnel closure forced me to call it a night. Around midnight, I stumbled onto a campground near the tunnel.
Day 6: Akureyri at last!
The next morning, I was eager to make it to the the second largest city in Iceland. Also, I was desperately in need of charging up my camera and some fresh brewed coffee.
The drive into town follows a two lane road that winds it’s way down the mountain and the town comes into view set against a back drop of sparkling water. It’s beautiful.
I arrived before the campground opened, so I made my way into town to seek out some outlets and caffeine. That’s when I stumbled upon Kafe llmur. This two story cafe set on a hillside was everything I had been hoping for. The staff was friendly. The Swiss Mocha was incredible. And with free drip coffee refills to boot! Wifi was fast and complimentary. And, last but certainly not least, they had an 11 A.M. brunch buffet that blew my mind! The food selection was good, everything tasted fresh, and they had some of the most delicious desserts that I have ever tasted.
If you’re itching for some city life on your trip, I recommend holding out to Akureyi. The city is compact and modern and carries a lively vibe.
*Insider tip: Get the Swiss Mocha and the Saturday brunch at Kafe Llmur in Akureyri. It is worth every penny!
Day 7: Sunset in Akranes
Because this was my last full day in Iceland. I wanted to be close to Keflavik airport, but I didn’t want to spend the night in Reykavik. On a whim, I decided to check out Akranes. Akranes is a northern coastal town with not much to show for it on Google. But as luck would have it, the campground sits right next to the beach! And just a five minute walk brings you to towering ocean side cliffs. It’s a sleepy town with a remarkable view. And it was the perfect place for the last day on my trip.
The Sunset in Akranes Iceland
I’m so glad I visited Iceland, and I genuinely loved my time there. But I wish I would have done a few things differently. So, please, learn from my mistakes:
First, hit the ground running. The cities don’t have much to offer. Start driving the island and give yourself ample time to wander and roam. I backtracked after Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach when I should have just spent the night north of Glacier lagoon. Or I should have split the drive to Akranes into two days. For as many spots that I stopped for a photo, there are at least two that I passed up due to a time crunch.
All because I was trying to trying make up for lost time in the cities.
And lastly, just get the gravel insurance. That one still hurts…
Bonus Tips:
1: Gas station coffee is quite good. If you bring your own thermos you can get three times the amount for the same price.
2: Bring as much food with you as you can. Because it’s gonna cost around 2-3 times as much in Iceland.
3: If photos are what you’re after, skip the tourist spots. If you must hit a tourist attraction, get up before the crowds.
4. Plans most of your trip to be spent from Jokulsarlon on. Especially if you’re a photographer.
5. Pretty well all the bridges are one way. So pay attention coming up on them, and be polite.
6. If you see a rock on the side of the road charging towards you as you’re driving, it’s a sheep. They’re everywhere, and they’re idiots. Watch out.
Hello Everyone!This is my first ever blog, so bear with me!
Most of you know me from my Instagram ( http://www.instagram.com/heidimaetrix ) but there’s so much more that happens in my life than I can show in just one IG post.
so that’s what this is for!
Nice to meet you all, can’t wait share more of my adventures with you.
Overalls are a timeless and versatile addition to any wardrobe. They can be dressed up, dressed down, and they go with just about anything. What scenario can you wear overalls?
Coffee with the girls?
Check.
Date night?
Check.
Brunch with the parents?
Check.
Overalls fit in every casual setting. I’ve pulled together a look for each of those scenarios to spark your own overalls outfit inspiration!
Brunch’eralls!
For this look, I paired my overalls with a cropped rainbow sweater. I threw in a silver scarf, black fedora, and silver cage heels.
Nothing says, “Good morning, folks!” like a bright pop of color.
Madewell black overalls outfit
The silver heels also dress it up nicely and tie the vibrancy together!
Ted Baker Silver Cage heels with Black Overalls
Coffee’eralls!
For a casual coffee break with the girls, I combined the overalls with a dark floral button down and embroidered booties.
Zoe Karssen Floral Button down with Madewell Black Overalls
Zoe Karssen Floral Button down with Madewell Black Overalls
I love the way the floral prints play off of each other and bring in a feminine vibe.
Zoe Karssen Floral shirt, Madewell Overalls, and Rebecca Minkoff Booties.
Date’eralls!
For my date night look; I wore my overalls with an off white lace top, black mesh waist belt, and a pair of Old Skool Platform Vans.
White Lace and Black Overalls Outfit
White Lace and Black Overalls Outfit
I love the way the lace top gives a flirty vibe while also highlighting the criss-crossing straps of the overalls…
White Lace and Black Overalls Outfit
…while the Vans dress down the look. If date night includes playing tag, you’ll be prepared!
Old Skool Vans with Black Overalls
So, there you are! A few different ways to style overalls for all the different scenarios you may find yourself in.
This is not a sponsored post. But if you like the look, here’s the overalls I went with…
One of my biggest goals this year is to get out and explore more, to see and experience things that before I had only ever seen on a screen, or imagined.
So when I heard that there is a company called Ice Castles that create full size explore-able ice palaces, that are open to the public, I of course immediately had to schedule a trip, and see it for myself!
Adventure Time has always been one of my favorite shows
So this seemed like the perfect time to create a cosplay of “Fionna The Human” I mean come on, a REAL LIFE ice castle?! I couldn’t NOT! I reached out to Ice Castles and they so graciously invited me to come to their Dillon Colorado location.
I teamed up with my brother Broseph David ( who created an Ice King cosplay )
and together we grabbed our camera, packed the car, and set out on our grand adventure!
The ice castle is located in Dillon Colorado, about an hour and half outside of Denver.
We wound our way up the mountain roads, drove to downtown Dillon, and when I finally saw it, it was even more beautiful than I had imagined!
The color of the ice is breath taking.
There are dozens of rooms and passageways to explore.
There are even windows in the ice!
The more I explored, the more I truly felt like I was in a live action episode of Adventure Time.
Words cannot describe how beautiful it is.
I can’t stress enough how highly I recommend this place! I already know that I’ll be going back next year. If you’d like to see more, Click here to watch my full length Youtube Video exploring the ice castle, and check them out at their official website IceCastles.com
Thanks for reading! and please, leave me feedback on what kind of blogs you’d like to see in the future!
I’ll leave you with this gif of me geeking out in the ice castle!
There are even windows in the ice!
