Category:

Travel

We kicked off our babymoon at the Langham Pasadena with cream tea time in The Club Lounge. The baby and I enjoyed cream, berries and English tea with cream and a cube of sugar, YUM!

It happened to be a really hot week here in Pasadena, so we waited until the sun came down a little to enjoy dinner at the Royce. Reid wanted to celebrate with a steak, I really just wanted a veggie burger. I ended up compromising on this one.

We had a corner room with a view over the pool and the San Gabriel Mountains. The grounds and gardens here are botanical and simply breathtaking! I mean, what would it feel like to get married here? You can’t help but notice the manicured lawns with paths that meander through the beauty. I told Reid, time stood still a little today, and that’s not a bad thing.

For day 2, we made a beeline to the club lounge for some potato and garlic scrambled eggs, a plethora of berries, fresh lattes (steamed almond milk upon request), muesli, fresh smoothies—you get the idea. YUMMY. After breakfast, we stopped by the pool and hot tub to cool down. I love the size of the hotel, it’s big but it doesn’t feel huge. They also had yoga outside for the community and supplied cold water by the pool and the staff is super friendly. I definitely will be back. Maybe with my party of 7 ;). 

Top and similar / Earrings // Leopard Clutch // Sandals // Jeans // Necklace similar // Sunglasses // Bronzer in “Laguna” // Sunless Tanner

Last weekend I spent with Rewardstyle! I have been with them since their inception, and if you’re not already familiar, this company has changed the fashion world! One of the highlights was, I was able to talk to my insta friend, fellow mom and multiple business owner Amber Venz-Box. We talked about her new venture “cherry” the downloadable app that allows you to order a mani pedi from your phone and they come to you. YES, I tried this service and LOVED it! Feels luxe when you can get a manicure and pedicure in your pj’s! Besides taking advantage of the great opportunity to network with fellow bloggers, I also attended for the seminars on how to best integrate home content into my blog and social channels. As most of you know, we are in the thick of renovating our the Lake Arrowhead house, and will be shortly furnishing it! I can’t wait to implement what I learned from this packed weekend! What do you guys think? I always value your opinion.

Tips for Travel to Dallas

Where did you stay?

Hotel Crescent Court

Huge hotel and lots of amenities, service was a wee bit slow but it was during a large conference so delays expected.

Friends of mine also stayed at the Adolphus and loved it.

Where did you eat?

+ We at ShinSei for sushi, thankfully they had a good variety of vegetarian dishes as well.

+ The Concierge is your best friend. We asked for healthy vegetarian food and we were told to go to NORA, mediterranean cuisine that knocked it out of the park.

Also recommended to me but I didn’t have time to try:

Sixty Vines, Honor Bar, Royal Blue Coffee, Mi Cocina, Bird Bakery, and Dolce Riviera

What to do for fun?

+ Go Biking! Our hotel had bikes – use them! Did you know on average, you can burn up to 450 calories just biking 5 miles?

+ Get Coffee

+ Go visit the Dallas Arboretum

+ Shop at the Dallas Galleria

As always, my shop page is open 24/7 (including home products I’m shopping for currently) and don’t forget to follow me on the LiketoKnow.it App where I’m posting exclusive content.

Now, off to take my kids to the park because its truly feels like Spring.

Happy Monday!

We had the opportunity last week to go as a family to The Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage in Palm Springs.  The brand ASbyDF invited us to stay for two nights and feature some of their gorgeous new arrivals. Needless to say, it was a beautiful desert getaway with so many amenities and natural beauty surrounding us. To name a few, the separate kids pool and adults vista pool, the spa (I got a facial) , Reid hit the gym and club lounge. The latter of which really made the trip.  The Club Lounge provides breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks from 7 – 10 at night.  Our room happened to be a couple doors down from the club lounge. So convenient and we goofed around in their for a little while. Our special last night, we ate dinner at State, a restaurant within the hotel. We enjoyed decadent burgers, steaks and excellent kids menu.  Oh and the kids finished their plates, thanks to the full day of swimming. As a special treat, the kids were invited into the kitchen to meet the chef, so cool!  They couldn’t believe the full size pig getting ready for a roasting.  If you’re planning a trip to Rancho Mirage, don’t miss these things:

STAR GAZING starts at 6:30, see the bright stars (If the weather permits…it usually does) and meanwhile enjoy a milky way candy bar.

HIKING you can go hiking around the hotel and nearby Indian Canyon. If we had more than 2 days, we would have loved to hike!

POOLS and hot tubs, we enjoyed the kids pool but there’s also a beautiful adult only pool with a spectacular view.

THE SPA you can use their hot tubs till 7:30 that day of service.

THE GYM has gymnastic rings and battle ropes for some HIIT (High Intensity Impact Training)

Have you been to Palm Springs or Rancho Mirage? Let me know in the comments below. And we are re-vamping the blog, so feel free to share what you’d like to see more of — stay tuned!

my parka // my dress // boots // hubby’s coat // little boy parka

Camel Coat Outfit

Ski Jacket // Ski Pants //

The Arrabelle at Vail Mountain

Perched up on top of the breathtaking Rockies – a mere 8,022 feet above sea level, is the European inspired town of Vail, CO. I cannot tell you how excited we were to finally go here! Not to mention as a family. This summer, we stopped in Vail for two days on our way to Chicago. Read more here. We rode the gondola and marveled at the streams, the warm sun, chilly nights, and most of all, GORGEOUS VIEWS. Family vacations, as many moms know, are not all relaxing all the time, so we were super excited when Reid’s parents agreed to join us in Vail for a couple of days. A girl needs a couple date nights out with hubby, right? I also got a little spa day, more on that below.

Which do you prefer?  Skiing or beach.  As always…I’ll welcome one of each per year, if I can.  All in the name of balance, right?  Now that we live in a warm climate, I don’t mind a week in snowy cabin.  The family was fortunate enough to partner with Vail Resorts as the ski season was just getting kicked off this last week.  The beauty of going skiing as a young family is that you are investing in their skills so when they are teenagers, they’ll be racing you down the black diamonds…if that’s your thing.  Or, sipping hot chocolate with you in the lodge.

Reserved Ski lessons

For a large family, you can book a private group lesson for less than 4 kids ½ day ski school.  Here’s our lesson learned.  Skiers and snowboards don’t mix.  The boys chose to snowboard and the girls skied.  I booked Ski lessons for everyone.  The Vail Ski School was super accommodating.  They arranged for a group ½ day lesson for the boys at a little extra cost.  The girls kept with the private lesson I had originally booked.  While the kids were in their lessons, Reid and I skied together which ended up being on the same bunny slope as the kids.  So we all got to see each other the first day.  And woahhhh… did my heart melt seeing my mini snowboarders figuring things out!  It was the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Seriously.  Worth every penny.  The boys though switched to skiing the rest of the trip, so Reid and I spent a day teaching them skiing.  Fortunately, they picked it up pretty fast.  Can we say Pizza?  I grew up calling it Snowplow?  What did you call it?

Booked a spa treatment

My hubby surprised me with a spa treatment at the Arrabelle Spa.  With the winter dryness setting in, airplane hair, wind burn, I needed major facial reconstruction.  I had a 50 minute glow facial.  It was…..

Yes.  That good.

I loved the exfoliation, steam, hot towels and how tight my skin felt afterwards. I learned a lot too! The aesthetician told me silk pillows are worth the buy both for your hair and skin, go easy on chemical peels, and every night you go to bed with make-up on, ages you 7 days. Ouch! Good to know. Bonus, I was given lemon sorbet after the procedure and a welcome to come back to the spa anytime to use the spa’s hot tub, sauna and steam room as we were hotel guests. Which of course Reid and I did that night. 

Meal Planning

Planning a day on the slopes can be overwhelming.  Especially for a larger family.  We tried to ease some stress by packing a backpack of crackers, gummies and water.  It did help some hangry moments.  Nobody really wanted to stop skiing, so a quick snack hit the spot.  Plus, the lifts lines we the best during the lunch hour!

Spending time on the slopes will be memorable now and years to come.  We are now one of those skiing families that I always dreamed of being.

Thank you Vail Mountain/Vail Tourism for a wonderful trip our family will never forget!

faux fur jacket and similar // jeans // flats

This week, the brand MeUndies flew me up to the Bay Area to cover their store opening in Palo Alto. It was a fun night of drinks, bites, taking selfies in front of their mirrors that read “You look good tonight” and shopping super soft sweats. Not a bad job, right?

After the event the next day, we were left with 3 good hours in San Francisco before we left for LAX. What would you see in SF if you only had 3 hours?

For me, it meant fueling up with a good breakfast then heading over to the Golden Gate Bridge. I saw it when I was little and countless times on Full House, but let’s be real, there’s nothing like seeing it in person. I squealed like a pathetic tourist when our Uber driver drove over it. It happened to be a super clear day and not a cloud in the sky. According to locals, the most unique view of the bridge and Bay is to climb to the top of historic Fort Point, in the popular Presidio area. My only regret was not seeing this at golden hour. Impossible to do with a flight bound for LAX at 4:03.

It’s OK though, I was excited to greet the real golden hour – time with my kids after being gone 48 hrs which included hugs, kisses, reading books, hearing about school and the highs and lows of their day. Followed by a much anticipated opening of 4 Lego sets I ordered via Amazon Prime since I didn’t have time to buy gifts in SF. Efficiency makes golden hour sweeter. See the shortlist below where to eat.  See also my guide on Carlsbad if you missed it. Happy weekend!

 

WHERE TO EAT

// statebird SF // 1529 Fillmore St // American style Dim Sum

// a Mano // 450 Hayes Street

for amazing radish salad & homemade pasta

// Hotel Proper //1100 Market Street

“Instagrammable lobby.” Great breakfast

 


 


 

phoebe distressed AG JEANS :: jacket LINEA PELLE :: tank LUSH similar :: heels Coconuts by MATISSE :: bag REBECCA MINKOFF ::

 

We set out on a sunny Friday morning which happened to also be National Donut day, for the city of Chicago. We allotted 4 days of travel via a large 2017 Suburban thanks to Budget, that we picked up the night before, along with donuts. The vehicle was perfect for our long journey of 2700 miles with stops in La Verkin, Utah, Vail, CO, Omaha, NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, and finally Chicago, IL. While as a party of six, as you can imagine there was a lot of “are we there yet?” and when can we dig into the candy kinds of questions. Beyond that, there was a lot of eye spying games and ooh’s and ahh’s once we got to Utah and were in awe of the rocks and mountains. It was great to be able to stop when we saw a scenic overlook or an old gas station or whatever of interest. I remember driving with Reid when we were dating from Chicago to Omaha and barely stopping once. Now, with children, they force you to stay flexible, go with the flow and savor this time that I hope they never forget. While we LOVED the long car trip, we all agreed flying home with American Airlines was the way to go. Four hours of flying versus four days, was a huge difference! Read on below for some travel tips answering some of my most asked questions.

Tips for Travel:

Where to Stay when visiting ZION NATIONAL PARK?

I got asked this a ton when we drove through Zion National Park. Stay in Springdale if you want to catch the ZION national park hikes and trails right out your front door. Such an artsy and pedestrian friendly little town (La Quinta had a great pool ). We made the rookie mistake of staying in La Verkin instead of Springdale which is closer to the park and has a free bus service that takes you to the ZION entrance. Read more Here.

Bring protein snacks and water everywhere! The desert literally had zero watering holes nearby. Be prepared.

Get organized. We had all the kids clothes in Ziploc bags. Each bag contained 1 full outfit (shirt and shorts or dress) and 1 pair of socks and underwear.

Don’t let kids pack their backpacks it sounds good but edit, edit! You’ll thank me when you’re on your second hike and they’re complaining how heavy their backpack is.

Don’t forget the baby wipes! I use them for everything from ice cream mustaches to cleaning the dashboard.

Make frequent stops at the scenic overlooks. The theme of your trip (if you’re traveling as a family) is SLOW and SAVOR. Even though it seems counter intuitive and oh-so hard, don’t rush what could be the most unforgettable memory. Truly.

 

girls romper Saks Fifth Avenue // girls white cold shoulder dress Target // girls maxi dress Target // my Jacket AG JEANS 

bedroom credits //

nightstands Urban Outfitters // linen sheets West Elm // clothing rack IKEA // grommet tee Nordstrom // ivory sofa Interior Define //jute rug West Elm

top SAYLOR :: cutoffs FRAME

bikini VIX :: skirt ZARA similar 

Reid and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in March and what better way to celebrate than escaping away together.  The in-laws flew in to babysit and we said ‘Adios’ for a few, much needed, nights away.  We jumped on a flight headed to Cancun.  We stayed at the brand new UNICO 20˚87˚ Hotel Riviera Maya an adult only, all-inclusive, Mexican modern hotel.  With pre-vacation adrenalin rushing through our veins, we entered the front hall of the resort where over-sized black Moroccan lanterns hang low from the high ceiling.  A hostess offered us a seat on the chesterfield sofa and a refreshing post-flight ginger drink to sip while we waited to check in.  Instead of the usual check in procedure, we were greeted by our host, who introduced the amenities and then gave us a tour of the property while we headed to our room.  The holistic design of the resort was inspired by modern artisans and Mexican craftsmanship.

We stayed in the Alcoba Ocean Front room with a hydrotherapy tub on the deck that over looked the pool and Gulf of Mexico beyond.  The king size bed was ultimate rest and the sweatshirt like UNICO 20˚87˚ robes were cozy to slip into early mornings to watch the sunrise and eat room service.  Oh, and they even give you two hand-made straw hats to keep the sun off your face.  This was our first all-inclusive vacation and we were both delighted in not having to worry about where to go for dinner. UNICO 20˚87˚ has 4 á la carte fine dining restaurants to choose from on property with Mexican, Italian and Japanese menus.  They also have a small café with espresso and desserts, a specialty bar with personalized drinks, a breakfast and lunch buffet just off the pool deck overlooking the water and of course full menu while lounging by the pool or on the beach.

We realized the ultimate relaxation of an all-inclusive vacation is when the staff at the pool asked us our toughest question.  “Where would you like to lay down today?”  We chose the chairs in the water, facing the beach of course.  On our second day, I received a 90 min full body massage. So relaxing, while Reid hit the gym.  As health nuts, we learned that Café Inez offers smoothies, so afterwards I got a blueberry smoothie and Reid got some kind of cabbage and basil one, which was surprisingly really good.  Especially after plane travel.  We also got to talk to another couple sitting next to us from Toronto who happened to be leaving that morning and totally jealous of our smoothie discovery.  Now you know!

Our last night of our 4-night stay came quickly and was spent with more eating, more coffee and one last stroll on the beach at sunrise.  Our only regret was that we didn’t do one of the excursions they offer.  Next time! 

5 Suggestions for your stay at UNICO:

1)             Keep the immigration form in your passport for return home.

2)             Try each of the restaurant choices and order items you usually wouldn’t order in a restaurant.

3)             Don’t miss the sunrise.  We are so used to sunsets on the Pacific side that we missed a couple sunrises over the water.  Definitely worth the golden hour

4)             The hotel  will run your bath for you whatever time you request.  Take advantage of that service!

5)             There are major discounts on the salon and spa treatments.  Part of the Unlimited Inclusion, you only pay 20% of the full price on select salon, spa, excursions and Unlimited Golf. Which meant a manicure cost $6.  Definitely a service worth using. And the ultimate question, would we go again? In a heartbeat.

Thank you UNICO Riviera Maya for sponsoring this post!

 

dress ramy brook similar :: lace up heels  :: sunnies ::

An all white dress is the ultimate Spring essential. It compliments a tan, and looks great with lace up sandals.  While we’re sad to leave Unico Resort in Mexico, we cannot wait to see our kids! There was so much to see and do it was almost overwhelming to capture. Stay tuned for more on the resort! See more white looks here and here.

Lately, I’m loving a white tank, stripe tunic and favorite jeans for a weekday outfit. Reid and I are headed to Mexico in the next couple weeks to celebrate our Anniversary though late. I will definitely be bringing this pom pom hat, dress, and stripes south of the border.

hat COTTON ON ::  jeans LEVIS (fit tts) :: stripe top :: heels (on sale!) NINE WEST :: white tank SAYLOR similar  :: Photo’s by Tasha ::

Here are more pom pom favorites:

 

Anytime you and your hubby are able to get away from the kids, you know it’s going to be great. But when you add in top service, luxury accommodations, and star treatment, you start to wonder if maybe you don’t need to go home? Staying at 1Hotels in Miami was that for us. From start to finish, we were greeted with great service, enthusiastic staff, and non-stop lobby treats. Lobby treats! It should be A Thing, everywhere. Did we mention our toughest decision was which pool to use? Our room was spacious, a gorgeous white, and had triple-filtered water and a dreamy shower.

And in the event that you mustered enough energy to leave the room or the pool, the hotel offered a (complimentary) driving service. After you took the required Selfie in the Tesla, you could shoot over to nearby restaurants like Oh Mehico (the guac!) and Whole Foods. There was also a spartan gym for those over-achievers who actually work out while on vacation, and a steam room for those who don’t. I spent some lovely minutes admiring both on my way to the pool.

A few tips to enhance your stay:

  1. Ask the locals where to eat.
  2. Walk if you can- you’ll get a great feel for the place
  3. No shame ordering chicken fingers and fries by the pool. Vacation mode means you let up and enjoy time talking about the kids, school, work and life.

Read more here on 1hotels.