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Travel

Travel

What to do in Charleston

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

I took a girls trip to Charleston with Leanne Barlow and Jordan Zobrist this last week and it was a blast. Here is what we wore and did!

We also visited Magnolia Gardens. Visit the bridge area. Looks like a scene out of the Notebook.

Little white dress and similar // Pink bag // Amazon $15 sunglasses

White shorts similar // Halter top // Chain sandals // Lagos bracelets // Strapless bra // Turquoise Ring

Last week, I drove 5 hours from Atlanta to Charleston to meet up with my California girlfriends.

We went to The ordinary and Hotel Bennet while in Charleston, SC. I included some of the favorites you recommended.

Cru cafe was recommended as well as The Daily for coffee. Hall’s steakhouse is so good and Husk is great too! Husk I was told, has an awesome mixologist so really good cocktails and their food is all super fresh— farm to table and unique. There is no doubt, the eating scene can’t be beat!

I was hesitant to leave the family and drive 5 hours form Atlanta to Charleston, but boy was I happy I did it. It was refreshing to leave the house, the noise and plug in my favorite pod cast for the long drive, “How I built this,” snack on almonds and sip iced coffee. The simple joys. If you have a chance, reconnect with girlfriends and you’ll be glad that you did. The laundry will always be there.

Happy Friday!

Shalice

Travel

Where we vacation in FL!

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Peasant top in small // Shorts // Similar scarf // Sunglasses $15

How does a place become your family go to vacation spot?  Every family has that special go to vacation spot.  What is your story?

While growing up, my family loved going to Hong Kong.  I know that sounds strange, but my mom grew up in Hong Kong.  My dad was a pilot, so we would fly standby once a year back in the day when you could still smoke on airplanes.  Yes, those were long trips.  But visiting my cousins in Hong Kong was the best.  They would take us to the best places.  If we got separated, they would say, tell the cab…”NOW CHUN TOE, KOWLOON TONG,” and we would get home. Those trips to the markets to get cloths and grubs would forever be one of my favorite memories.

We had enjoyed many great day trips in California.  Whether that was Lake Arrowhead, Anacapa Island (See post) or Laguna Beach, leaving California was hard.  But knowing Florida beaches would be a short drive away, our sorrows turned to joy.  Florida is a favorite place to take our family.

Here is our tips on traveling to the scenic 30A.  The last few times, we have stayed near Alys Beach.  The community we stay in is called Magnolia By The Sea and we found it on VRBO.  It’s a small community of cottages across the street from the beach.  While small, the house sleep quite a few people.  Perfect for multi-family gatherings or big families.  We like that the beach is private and the community has a heated pool.  The perk for the location is that it is a short bike ride to Alys Beach.  I should mention, Alys Beach is our dream vacation goals.  Someday we want to stay there, but for now we enjoy riding our bikes, playing at the park and getting coffee within the town.  You cannot take a bad picture of this place.  The community is design perfection in my opinion.  Everything down to the window trim colors to the outdoor planters.  Every vista is perfectly harmonized.  Reid and I enjoyed sometime meandering the quaint streets.  Reid admires the architecture and design while I soak in photo shoot inspiration. 

Rosemary Beach is also another hot spot we like to take the kids to in the evenings.  It’s a bustling beach community with a lot of night life and you feel like you are in Europe.  While there are many places to eat and play, here is my brief list of our favorites for your vacation planning enjoyment.

·      Stay:  Magnolia By The Sea (Hint:  Staying outside of Alys/Rosemary Beach saves you $$$ – but you can still enjoy the public hot spots)

·      Eat:  George’s (Alys Beach)

·      Dessert:  Sugar Shack (Rosemary Beach)

·      Drink:  Neat (Alys Beach)

·      Breakfast:  Donut Hole (Inlet Beach)

·      Coffee:  Raw & Juicy (Alys Beach)

·      Do:  Rent Bikes – Don’t forget Sunscreen! I like this one – non toxic.

·      Shop:  Don’t be silly, this is a beach vacation

Grey and Ivory Bleeker street poncho via Shopshalicenoel.com

Travel

The Travel Stroller We Took to Milan

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Shown: The Baby Carrier in Wild Child

use code shalicenoel for $20 off!

If you are in the market for a stroller, or thinking about being in the market for a stroller, or just like the idea of being in the market for a stroller, this is the stroller for you! As you can imagine, with five kids spanning eleven years, I’ve owned my share of strollers. But the Colugo Compact stroller is hands down the best compact one I’ve ever owned. It’s perfect for travel, quick trips, trips when you’re not driving anything that has a Texas-sized trunk, or anytime you need simplicity and convenience. Did I mention it is only 16 lbs?

Why I love the Colugo Compact Stroller:

While there are SO many reasons, here are a couple you need to know:

1. It is easy and quick to break down. My seven-year-old can do it without breaking a sweat.

2. It is lightweight and slim. I can get it in and out of the car easily, without having to take everything out of the trunk before I do.

3. The fabric is machine washable and can be switched out if you tire of the design. I have camouflage and just ordered the black for winter. I love it! And you did catch the “washable” part? It’s WASHABLE. 

4.  It’s comfortable! It has a thick cushion that Levi actually sleeps in, which is no small fact. Those who know Levi well know that he is NOT a great sleeper.  I only wish he slept as well in his crib as he sleeps in the Colugo!

When we went to Milan this past fall, we brought the Colugo. It managed to fit in an overhead bin, a Prius Uber in Milan, and the little coat closet in our apartment, not to mention all the cafes and coffee shops we visited. To be completely honest, the Prius Uber driver gave us a bit of grief at first, saying “NO STROLLER” over and over. But after Reid did a little demonstration with the stroller and said molto piccolo (very small) a few times, he let us in! .

 Believe me, I’ve tried SO many brands and this is always the stroller that ends up in the back of my car. DON’T FORGET TO USE CODE “shalicenoel” for $20 off your entire order of $125 or more, for new customers, one use per customer. 

Items shown: THE COMPACT STROLLLER // THE CARRIER

At 16lbs, it’s so easy to break down and carry!

Thank you Colugo for sponsoring this post. All opinions my own.

OutfitsStyleTravel

Travel Tuesday: Unico Our all inclusive retreat

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

 

We spent 4 dreamy days in Riviera Maya, Cancun, Mexico to celebrate Unico’s one year anniversary. Since I was their very FIRST influencer to stay at Unico and promote it, I was asked to be the first to hit the pinata. While I was feeling a little sick (2 months pregnant with baby Levi), the beach, the gorgeous scenery, and chill time by the pool made me feel WAY better. One of our biggest regrets was missing out on the excursions thanks to our flight arriving late. Be sure to organize that right away with your guide. Hopefully there will be a next time! The resort is all-inclusive that means food and beverage is covered with the price of your stay. Reid and I both agreed this is THE BEST WAY TO VACATION. There is much less stress having to pull out the Amex every time you order a daiquiri or guacamole and chips. And while we are on the subject, don’t miss out from their signature avocado smoothies you can order from the cafe. Insider’s tip. Have you been? 

Here are some common questions I got about our stay at Unico Resort.

It is all inclusive?

Yes all meals are prepaid. It wonderful to have one less thing to think about! Hello fresh chips and guac on the beach.

Are children welcome?

It is an adult only resort. Leave the kids with Granny!

Room with a pool vs Room with a tub?

However I missed the tub, we both agreed we loved the pool room by the beach and pool!

–What to pack for Mexico–

White and black tanks and tees

Sun screen!

Forget the designer bags at home. I barely needed a bag

Rompers jumpsuits and dresses for evenings

Outfit deets below. Let me know if I missed anything and if you have any other questions in the comments!

xx

Shalice

polka dot shorts // polka dot dress // white tie blouse // wrap dress // similar straw hat

 

We were so thankful to be able to return to Unico’s beautiful resort and recreate so many memories. We can’t wait to go back! Book your next trip to the ultimate paradise HERE.

.

Travel

Our Stay at Nobu Los Cabos

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

straw hat // his suspenders // my sunnies // my sandals (only $35!)

Funny how whenever the flight attendants see us board a plane their first comment is, “Are these all your kids…. That’s a lot of work!”  Well, it’s true, traveling with 5 kids under 11 is no walk in the park, but traveling is worth every bit of hassle.  I’m thankful for the travel opportunities we have had this past year and what better way to close out the school year with a trip to Mexico on the Baja Peninsula.  We put all those Spanish classes to practice!  Kind of.

We flew to San Cabos San Lucas for a 5 night stay at the brand new Nobu Hotel.  Nobu is a chic celebrity sushi restaurant in LA (one of the owners is Robert De Niro).  They are now opening resorts all over the world so you can enjoy the fine Japanese cuisine and style all over the world.  The Nobu Hotel Cabo San Lucas is located 45 minutes from the SJC airport.  You can book an airport transfer through the resort as we did.

You will be in awe of the experience as you drive up to the front lobby.  The architecture is sleek and sophisticated as well as the service.  Upon arrival, the staff warmly greeted us with moist towels to freshen our faces from, juice boxes for the kids and a ginger cocktail for Reid and I.  Exactly what we needed to decompress after the stress of flying.

The resort opened in April 2019 and designed to immerse Japanese design with Mexican hospitality.  Ocean views and Zen gardens are everywhere.  The property includes three pools, many hot tubs, private cabanas and a swim up bar. The Cabanas have private bathrooms and showers and was a great place for the kids to nap in the shade.  It was like an extension of our hotel room.  Reserve your complimentary Cabana with your personal butler upon arrival.

For our family of 7, hotel rooms that accommodate all of us are rare.  Fortunately, Nobu offers a variety of suites.  We stayed in the Zen Suite with an adjoining room.  We had a living room, eating area, king size bed with incredible bathroom and another adjoining queen bed room for the kids.  All rooms have darkening drapes so the kids always slept till 7:30am which made for nice quiet mornings.  Comment below on this bathroom dream!

We spent every day at the pool.  The resort is beach front but the ocean is not swimmable.  You can hear the power of the waves crashing throughout the day.  Besides the pool, the kids loved going to the Kids Club.  They did face painting, movie nights, crafts and games for the kids from 7am – 10pm.  You drop your kids off and pick them up whenever you want.  Can you say date night?  Even better….ocean view sunset date night at Nobu! 

The resort offers fine dining at Nobu and Malibu Farms.  Feels like we are home in Los Angeles!  The food was fresh and delicious.  We recommend getting an all-inclusive package offered on Nobu website upon making your reservations. 

Also keep this on the DL, but the fitness center provides iced chlorophyll water that we loved. I won’t lie, it is the best and most refreshing beverage after a day in the sun. Also a favorite was the dark chocolate they left at turndown service. I would call for turndown service just to feed my chocolate addiction. All in all, a great family getaway. Next time, we will explore the town!

Tip#1: If you’re flying with children, check the stroller at the gate.

Tip #2: Bring instant oatmeal packets. My kids wake up at the crack of dawn on vacation and I’m not taking them to breakfast at 5am!

Tip #3 Buy your girls shorts in the boys section. You get 3 more inches, and they have good washes and distressing.

Tip #4 Lower your expectations. Or let go of any you may have. Like parenting at home, some days are totally unpredictable. Go with the flow and you’ll enjoy your vacation more.

Tip#5 If you’re traveling with an infant (Levi is 8 mos old) nurse him/her at take off and landing to alleviate any ear pain or pressure. If your baby is older, bring something to chew on. I bought him a play iphone but he really just loved the chew beads and melt in your mouth snacks.

Tip #6: Don’t forget your face mask for the flight. Even if I don’t have time (holding a baby the whole time) I will apply a face mask on my neck for refreshment. I also bring my NuFace mini and do a mini eye lift.T

Tip #7: The sun is stronger than you know. Pack sun hats and sunscreen. I use Unseen sunscreen as a makeup primer so I NEVER forget to put it on.

Travel

Our Trip to NYC

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Why we went

Myself, Reid and Levi are in New York city all week for work meetings and reunions with friends. It wasn’t easy leaving the four older siblings at home, but I worry less knowing they’re in good hands with my dad watching them. Funny enough, we really miss the kids help with Levi. My oldest is so helpful changing his diapers and holding him so I have a little break. This week, I had some really exciting meetings, more of which I can share later.It was a highlight to be able to meet up with my friend Laura from Brooklyn, and do a little shopping in Soho. I forgot how good the NYC shopping is and HOW GOOD the style here is. The NYC girl surely knows how to dress: from classic trench coats, to simple totes, and stunning boots. See below what I wore, and where we ate. Let me know in the comments if I missed anything. Next visit, Guggenheim is on the list! Can’t wait to go back.

What I wore:

paper bag shorts similar // sweater (only $25.99!) // red sandals // earrings

blazer c/o/ Veronica Beard // crop top // black orchid denim similar jeans // white sandals // snake bag // earrings

kate jeans c/o Marissa Webb denim similar // crop top // trench coat similar // red heels // my Chanel diaper bag // Longchamp bag //

Sweater // jeans under $80 // Orange sandals // Turquoise Ring

White flowy pants // Anine Bing Tee // Sandals // Brahmin bag

Where we ate:

Estancia 460 // 460 Greenwich St. // I ordered salmon, Reid ordered the fried chicken.

Le Mercerie // 53 Howard St.// lunch and star sightings. I sat by Ina Garten!

ABCv // 38 E. 19th St. // breakfast vegan yumminess

Laduree // 398 W. Broadway// I had a meeting with Lago’s for breakfast I got the sunny side up eggs and almond milk latte.

Maman // 205 Hudson // We went there for lunch, sandwiches and coffee. Cutest southern frenchie vibe

FamilySkiTravel

Our Vail Vacation 2019

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Top Photography by Tomas Cohen

I’m going to shake the boat a little bit in today’s article. Reid and I will take a ski trip to the mountains over a trip to Disneyland any day. Yes, it’s true! For those diehard Disney goers, feel free to blast me in my comments below…kindly though. But here are my thoughts. Skiing is a great way to be active, learn something new, improve at a sport, challenge ourselves physically, face our fears, encourage each other…I can go on and on. Skiing is good for families.

When we plan our ski vacation we always pick Vail. For us personally, it’s centrally located for Reid’s parents who meet us there. We fly from the west coast and they drive from the midwest. They love the opportunity to see the kids ski and help us by babysitting Levi so I can ski. If you have grandparents who don’t ski, you need to know Vail offers free scenic gondola rides after 3:30, so the grandparents can join the kids on top of the mountain, watch them ski and then grab hot chocolates at Bistro Fourteen.

We flew Southwest Airlines from Burbank to Denver. Southwest is one of the few airlines that has bags fly free and with snow gear, and we knew we’d have a lot of bags. We got into Denver late afternoon and by the time our shuttle picked us up, the sun was down and we missed the scenery. When you book your trip, make sure to get to Denver no later than 1:00 pm. It’s a two-hour drive from Denver to Vail and the sun goes down around 5:00 pm.  

Vail has world-class skiing and attracts people from all over the world. Vail has amazing restaurants like Flame (our favorite) and Standard. Also, the streets are heated, so you don’t really have to slosh around in your boots to explore the town. Where were heated streets when I was a kid? They also have free transportation that will take you from one side of Vail to the other.

We recommend ski lessons for the kids to get reacquainted with their skis and learn mountain etiquette. Secretly, Reid and I wanted to run off together and ski alone while they were in school. We met up with them for lunch and then did some runs with the ski instructor and the kids in the afternoon before I had to run off and feed Levi. You can book ski lessons online or even the day of. They offer private, semi-private or group lessons. With the four kids, we chose a private group lesson. Be aware though, you can’t mix snowboard lessons with ski lessons.

Besides skiing, we also took the kids to Adventure Ridge at the top of the Lionshead Gondola.  Adventure Ridge offers snow biking, an alpine coaster and snow tubing. The kids chose snow tubing so while I stayed home with Levi and ordered room service, Reid took the kids tubing. Very much a highlight for the kids.

The final day we were blessed with lots and lots of snow! We almost got up early enough to make first tracks. It was beautiful skiing with the snow falling and we skied the morning together as a family. With the fresh powder, the kids were able to take on the blue runs with no problems. Even our five year old was taking them on. Can I remind you how cute kids are skiing? Making fresh tracks in the powder was a great way to end our day…even though we didn’t really want it to end.

If you are curious, we stayed at Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail. Our place had two bedrooms, a spacious living room with a pullout couch, a well stocked kitchen, 2 bathrooms, a powder room and convenient washer/dryer. The hotel staff was friendly and helpful and provides shuttle service anywhere you need to go. I went downstairs to order a quick bite to eat while the older kids were tubing and the staff brought it up shortly to my room. Reid and I loved the gym area. We got to try the new Pelaton bikes. If we were brave enough, I would love to try the hot tub and heated pool. Funny enough, our kids jumped in and quickly begged for warm towels and blankets. Oh to be a kid!

Where we stayed: Collaboration with RITZ CARLTON CLUB VAIL RESIDENCES

Eat Little Diner (breakfast) Mountain Standard (dinner)

Flame (steak dinner)

Outfit details: GG Belt // Camel Coat // Red Print Sweater // Faux Leather Pants //

My Ski Coat // Ski Pants // Levi SnowsuitBoys Moncler

Girls Puffer // Girls puffer// Boys Puffer

SkiTravel

What I am bringing to Vail, CO + Packing Tips

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

I’ll be honest, packing for a ski trip is one of the most challenging to prepare for. Let alone with kids. The layers, the ski gear, the goggles, the extra thick socks, sweaters, and don’t get me started on the puffy coats!! But it is one of our family’s FAVORITE vacations. I mean, is there anything greater than skiing down a mountain together? I share more of our first trip to Vail, CO here.

We leave Sunday for Vail, CO so packing has been in the works for a couple weeks, ordering things like hats, gloves and snow suit for Levi, a ski coat for myself and Reid and a snow pants for my 5′ tall 10 year old that is growing like a weed!

Ok, you ask, what did you pack? FYI, here’s my last post on what I ordered for our trip!

Canada Goose Ski Jacket I got it in small (the vest is cute too)// (flattering) Ski Pants // Slippers to walk around the condo // Burberry scarf // Boot with red laces // Vintage inspired knit // “Ski” sweater similar// the red print sweater in my flat lay (FYI go up a size, I could’ve gone with a medium. It runs small // Moon Boots (I’ve always wanted an excuse to buy these!) // White and black turtlenecks

Where did you shop for good baby clothes?

H&M. As much as I like characters and cute teddy bears, I like his clothing to be character free, easy separates and I order a lot of them from H&M! His snowsuit is very warm and I ordered a size 9-12 mos, since he’s gotten quite long!

Can you recommend some good packing cubes?

Yes! Packing cubes help you save SO much space!

OK, I’ve been wondering about this, which ski coat did you get?

I opted for casual and classic. THIS ONE fit the bill. I also like THIS VEST worn over a long turtleneck sweater, faux leather leggings and moon boots.

Where can I find more affordable ski options?

After I had shopped for everything, I discovered the Outnet has ski items, game changer! Check it out. Also, Topshop has some cute ski options.

What do you bring for snacks on the plane and for the ride from Denver to Vail?

I’ll bring gum, mints, kale chips, turkey jerky, and raw almonds.

Don’t forget to check the weather before you go. It should be snowing every day we are there. The weather will justify me bringing 4 turtlenecks!

More sweaters below!

Palm SpringsTravel

New Years at Miramonte Indian Wells Resort

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

What island likes to have a lot of sweets? A deserted island J OK…OK…so we decided to head to the desert right after Christmas, but due to our unexpected trip to the Midwest, we ended up adjusting our dates so we could spend New Year’s Eve at The Miramonte Indian Wells Resort. Indian Wells is in the Coachella Valley (book now for festival season) between Palm Desert and La Quinta.

 

It’s funny how we left 12-degree temperatures in Omaha on December 29, and we were expecting hot desert temperatures to come home to. Well, we happened to come home to a cold snap and the temps in the desert were 60 degrees and below! We are so wimpy now. Needless to say, always check the weather before you pack. We took a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park and needed our winter clothes! I still grinned and bared it to get some fashion content but wow was I cold! All for the gram!

 

The Miramonte Indian Wells Resort is super family friendly with Spanish style architecture and beautifully landscaped grounds. Our room was garden level with a citrus garden outside our door. The grounds crew even picked some lemons and oranges for us and brought them to our door. The property also has a rose garden and an area with a life-size Connect Four game and bean bag toss, which the kids really enjoyed. We were disappointed because it was too cold for the pool. Although the kids totally would have gone for it if we had let them. We’ll have to return in the spring. The resort also has a spa and adult only hideaway pool.

 

Considering the cold temperatures, our favorite amenity was the fire pits scattered throughout the resort. You can even book a smores package and snuggle up together at sunset with melted marshmallow stickiness goodness.

 

For our hotel room New Year’s Eve bash, we picked up some root beer, sparkling juice, gummy bears, lollipops and popcorn. Whole Foods is a five-minute drive from the hotel. The room was spacious enough for a little dance party as we counted down the New Year. Here’s the nice thing about being on Pacific Standard Time – we celebrate the New Year at New York City time, then we all go to bed early. Does anybody else do this?

Despite the temperature hickup, it was a great trip and we’re definitely looking forward to our next visit!

Here are some other ideas for a trip to the Coachella Valley:

Tramway

Zoo

Joshua Tree

Salvation Mountain

Modernism Week

Outfits: kimono – Poska Resortwear // black camisole only $24! // leather pants and similar // white mules // “S” necklace

pink coat // white jeans // white mules // white blouse // leopard clutch //

chunky knit sweater // OTK Boots I’m a 9, and ordered a 40 // leopard Scarf

Click here to book your next trip at Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa

Ski

How to shop for a Ski Trip

by Shalice Noel
written by Shalice Noel

Women’s

scarf 2. ski sweater 3. gloves are under $10! 4. ski coat 5. sweater 6. moon boot 7. ski pants

Men’s

1. hat 2. beanie 3. sunglasses 4. sweater 5. marled sweater 6. T-shirt 7. ski pants 8. backpack 9. ski jacket 10. boots similar

In 20 days we leave for Vail, CO to ski as a family! I’m starting to pack now for our trip. I’m still waiting on some turtlenecks and goggles coming in the mail, otherwise I’m feeling good about packing early! I can’t wait for our private ski lesson and enjoying more snowy conditions than last year. I’ll be sure to capture many pictures of my kiddos in ski gear, because it is THE CUTEST. Admittedly, my 7 year old is a better skier than I am and went down more blues than I did! Sadly, that’s the truth! Which is your favorite ski sweater, coat?

See more pictures HERE from last year’s family trip to Vail!

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