Going Coastal

Perhaps the title of this blog is a bit misleading.. though I'd like to be able to say that we got the chance to take off for a weekend and head to the coast. Preferably the East Coast for a stay at our favorite hotel and dinner at our favorite restaurant. Lately, I've had the beach on my mind. Though I've heard that it is quite different than the ocean we are used to, I am hoping to visit the Washington coast this Spring. Seattle has always been a travel wish and we are just close enough to make a drive possible (and I wouldn't mind meeting Sara for a cup of tea).

We did manage to get away this weekend, even if it was only for hot, homemade soup at our favorite spot. I told you about this little gem a few weeks ago but now I have heartbreaking news - the Soup Shack will be closing on March 10th, indefinitely. We're still upset about it. In a few weeks, Soup Shack Sundays have become a tradition for us. As much as I love eating soup, I really love having a reason to dress up on the weekend. Without plans, I would probably stay in leggings and a THON t-shirt for days. Instead, I got the chance to wear this fun new top that Trevor bought for me. Really, every girl deserves a guy with good taste. As if the color wasn't perfect enough, it has a little keyhole closure at the back that I'm in love with. So, despite the absurd amount of homework that was on my to-do list this weekend, we still squeezed in time for a drive, a big bowl of taco soup, a hot cup of chai tea, and some photos of my new glasses.

That's where Coastal comes in. Lately I've been having a lot of trouble with my eyes, strange for someone with what has always been perfect vision. I've left work with headaches and aching eyes. I wake up each day angry at the thought of having to turn on the light. I'm not sure if it some type of exhaustion from the hours I spend behind a computer or in front of a textbook but I'm headed to the eye doctor this afternoon in hope of some relief. In the mean time, I've been trying to find a solution for myself. While sunglasses might seem like the obvious choice, I cannot bear tinted lenses and I get quickly frustrated with the pain caused by cheap frames. Trevor is always looking out for me and begging that I do something to protect my eyes from the Montana sun - after all, we are much closer here by about a mile. As a compromise, I have began to wear plano glasses with UV protection.

I ordered this pair an online glasses and contacts retailer, Coastal, who offers a really great deal for first-time customers, free glasses. The deal even included anti-glare, UV protection and scratch-resistant coatings for free. If you are a glasses wearer or just enjoy the look, you can also get free glasses by visiting Coastal's First Pair Free program and picking out a set of frames. I chose a pair of birch framed glasses by Derek Cardigan (I was totally smitten with the little math symbols!). They were even better in person than I expected - comfortable, thick, and practically weightless. As I said, I struggle to keep sunglasses on because of the poor quality but I can wear these glasses all day without trouble.

While you can choose to upgrade to thin, sunglass or progressive lenses for an extra charge, I chose basic lenses and only paid for shipping and handling which came to $12.75 for my order. Better yet, if you don't like your frames or have trouble with the prescription you chose, the company will pay for return shipping anytime within the next 366 days!

Please know that I am not being compensated in any way to share this offer with you - you are entitled to free glasses just the same as I was! I just wanted to share my experience with you as this is a great way to get a new pair or even an extra pair of glasses - a great reason to choose more "interesting" or "fun" frames. I think I'll be upset if my eye doctor says I need real glasses, I'm quite a fan of these frames. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase frames from Coastal even at full cost.

Update: Unfortunately, after going to the eye doctor, I found out that I do need a prescription in my glasses. It turns out that the sensitivity was not from the extra bright Montana sun but instead from an astigmatism. Guess it looks like I will have more use for Coastal's great prices in the future!