St. Patrick’s Day is this week, and while I’m not always 100% into celebrating, I am conveniently VERY drawn to all things green this season. And luckily, green is everywhere for spring in every shade you could want. From lightweight sweaters and comfy loungewear to bold handbags and sandals, I’ve found so many new favorite green pieces lately.
So today I’m sharing a couple of favorite St. Patty’s Day ready looks with quick shipping that can arrive in time for the party. (Also apologies for the last vacay-ready look to all of you still stuck in snowy weather – I’ll be in Palm Springs for St. Patty’s Day where it will be 85 and sunny, so I had to!) You can also check out this post for a few more green ideas. Hope everyone has a great week ahead!
While California is still pretty shut down right now, I’ve finally made it past the “everyday sweatpants” phase I was in because, well, the weather got warm. Full disclosure, you can still find me in workout gear or these Gap sets that I swear by (sweatshirt here and shorts here – both on sale) a TON, but these days I’m mixing in some easy basics and fun accessories to at least pretend like I tried, ya know?
Here are a few casual staples that have been in heavy rotation lately:
If you’ve followed along for a few summers now, then you’ve probably noticed that jean shorts are my main jam when it comes to the warmer months. Last year I wore the hell out of this AGOLDE pair (still available this year here), and currently, I’m all about this high rise pair from Good American. Normally, I’m not into high rise shorts. I LOVE high rise jeans exclusively, but for some reason, I like to wear my shorts a bit lower. It’s probably because most companies don’t make them long enough for the tall girls, so a high rise equals a constant wedgie. TMI, but it’s the truth.
A couple of weeks ago I came across this pair at Nordstrom and figured I’d give them a whirl. I went up one size from my normal skinny jean size for a bit of a looser fit, and I love them. The denim is super soft, the rise hits at just the right spot on my waist, and the legs are a bit roomier than most – all pluses in my book. They’re admittedly a bit of a splurge, but I know I’ll be wearing these a ton all summer long with swimsuits, tees, or button-downs like this season after season favorite from Lilly Pulitzer. (See it styled here, here, and here.)
And while we’re talking about favorites, how cute are these striped espadrilles from Marc Fisher? If you’re feeling these then you’re in luck because early access to the Marc Fisher Friends & Family sale starts today. Take 25% off with code MFSquad25. Here’s hoping everyone has a great week ahead!
Well, it only took me about three weeks, but I’m finally sharing my brief little travel guide for Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you probably noticed a few snaps from Idaho and Wyoming earlier this month. Eric sent me an email from work earlier in June with one quick question, Want to take a trip to Coeur d’Alene or Jackson Hole after the 4th? I responded with, Is this a trick question?
As a general rule, we never like to travel much during the summer when school is out because if we wait a bit, the crowds are much more manageable. But Eric knew that he’d have a couple of quiet days at work around the 4th, and before he could change his mind or have a meeting pop up, I started booking. Our original plan was to fly into Spokane, spend a couple of nights in Coeur d’Alene, and then drive to Jackson Hole (you can see my winter guide to Jackson here), stopping somewhere in between for a night.
But since it was the middle of summer, rental cars were few and pricey for the areas we wanted. Really pricey. For just a bit more, we could put a checkmark on a big bucket list item for Eric, so we flew from Coeur d’Alene to Jackson on a small Cessna plane. (You can see a photo of the plane below.) I was terrified, but in the end, it was such a cool experience. We’ll get to the second half of the trip in a later post, but for now, here’s a little recap of what we did, saw, and ate in Couer d’Alene.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort Spa – For our first night, we booked a Dine, Spa, and Stay package that included a $100 restaurant credit and a spa treatment. I got to kick off the trip with a massage, and it did not disappoint. The spa at the resort is beautiful and so cozy with a full view of the lake. I’m normally a facial-loving girl, but I got a Swedish massage and loved every minute.
Dinner at Beverly’s – Beverly’s is located on the 7th floor of the resort with the most beautiful floor-to-ceiling views of the lake, and the food was incredible. We had the seafood tower (photo below) and filets while watching the sunset over the lake. It was seriously a “pinch me, this is so pretty” dinner that I’d like to repeat again and again. After dinner, you can step into the bar inside of Beverly’s for live music.
Breakfast at Honey Eatery & Social Club – On our first morning in Coeur d’Alene, we were up early hunting for breakfast, and we learned that maybe the downtown area just doesn’t DO early. (I myself usually do not DO early, so no judgement here.) It’s a sleepy town on weekend mornings for sure, and lots of places were still closed. We stumbled upon Honey, a cozy little brand new spot with what seems to be a Southern flair, and oh man it was good. I wanted just about everything on the menu, but we went with the Chorizo Deviled Eggs, a Cast Iron Pancake, and a side of the Wild Rice Grits. And then it took all my energy not to head right back to the resort and crawl back in bed – it’s a breakfast spot worth visiting, 100%.
Burgers from Hudson’s Hamburgers – After breakfast, we roamed around town a bit, popping into small shops, walking around parts of the lake, and exploring some of the side streets. We noticed a tiny little burger place with a line out of the door and so many people crowding around. We had seen similar lines the previous day, so obviously we had to know what all the fuss was about. And it was worth the fuss. It’s a tiny little diner-esque place with only a few (taken) seats, so we took ours to go. The burgers are pretty simple – high quality meat, cheese, house-made ketchup and mustard with a little tang to it, and pickles. No lettuce, no onions, no tomato, no fries, no need. No credit cards either, so make sure you have cash – about $3 for a cheeseburger. A couple of days after the trip was over, I told Eric I could REALLY go for a Hudson’s burger, and he definitely agreed. (And to be honest, I could go for one right now.)
Lakeside Infinity Pool– So the pool at Coeur d’Alene Resort is beautiful. It’s an infinity pool on the edge of the lake, and they have an amazing water taxi waiting to shuttle you there. Grab a beer for the ride from the little dockside bar before you go. Unfortunately though, the pool is one of our only complaints about the resort. Like I said, it’s beautiful, but it’s pretty small. And since we were there in the middle of summer, it was full of kids. While we’re certainly not anti-kids, it’s always nice when a resort has a separate pool for families so that while you have your cocktail in the infinity pool overlooking the lake, you’re not being targeted by the nearest cannonball. That said, this would probably be solved if you went when kids are back in school. (And also, some of the little goggle-wearing kiddos were pretty cute.)
Lake Boat Cruise– Admittedly, Eric was a little anti on this one at the beginning, but I really wanted to cruise around the lake and check out the homes and cabins from the water. #Stalker, sorry. But I’d say it was worth it, and Eric now agrees. There are two levels of seating and a full bar on board, but definitely get to the boat early if you want a seat up top or a drink without waiting in an extremely slow-moving line.
Snacks or Apps at Whispers – If there’s one thing that Eric does on vacation, it’s EAT, so when we stopped by Whispers for a glass of wine before dinner, I should’ve known there would also be food involved. We (and by we, I mean he) ordered the Hummus Sampler and the Cougar Gold Melting Pot, a cheesy artichoke and onion dip, and both were delicious. We also sat outside on the deck and met a couple who let Eric and I pet their dog for probably longer than socially acceptable. So that was also a win.
Dinner at The Cedars Floating Restaurant – This place is also owned by the resort, but it’s off property so they provide a shuttle to get you there. (Side note, the shuttle drivers for the resort are awesome. They can tell you everything you want to know about Coeur d’Alene…and answer Eric’s 100 questions too.) But, back to Cedars, it was so good. We shared a local trout appetizer, had more king crab legs, and made a round or two by the salad bar. (The salad bar there is seriously legit.)
Well, friends, she’s been a LONG time coming, but today I’m finally sharing a peek into our finished master bedroom and bath. Like, a long time coming. Remember this post from 2016? Turns out, getting things “just so” with photos or art hung on the walls takes a little longer than expected.
I’ve chatted about it before, but Eric and I had quite the journey of transitioning the house that we bought into the home that we love. When we bought the house, the master bedroom was a moldy disaster. No joke – disaster. As a starting point, we changed out all of the drywall, scraped the popcorn ceiling and resurfaced the wood floors that we were so happy to find under decades-old carpet. (For the record, I’ve searched and searched for some before photos, but they just don’t exist.)
And then we thought we’d relax. Wait a year or so and do the rest of the remodel in parts. So I set out trying to decorate rooms, get the master bedroom feeling like a cozy home. I worked with the most amazing designer through Havenly. (You can check out the design renderings below.) She helped me envision the cold room that I hated turning into the sanctuary where I’d get some rest (and snuggle with my dog…and husband). I told her I wanted a color scheme with blue and yellow, our small space issues, and what we needed storage-wise. (You can see that color scheme here. Eventually though, I got jealous of the guest bedroom colors and switched everything out.) And she killed it.
And then we slapped ourselves and realized that if we did part one of a remodel, we’d probably never go through with the next phases. So we gutted the thing, moved out for the unexpected five months, and did everything at once. For the master, we added a window in the bedroom and one in the bathroom, and it’s one of the best things that we did. We get tons of sunlight, and in the hot summer months, we get just a smidge more breeze. (And we joke that the automatic MechoShades above the bed are my morning alarm clock.)
You’re probably wondering about the ceiling fan / light pendant combo, and here’s the deal. The fan was originally hung in the middle of the room, and once we got the bed in, it had to be moved. The light pendant became a sort of quick fix for the hole in the ceiling where the fan was originally hanging. And now it’s totally grown on me, so it’s here for keeps.
For the bathroom, we kept with the marble theme of the kitchen and other bathrooms and went with all white to try and open the space a bit. (The house was built in the 60’s, and we sacrifice space in rooms for the neighborhood we love.) I’ve had so many messages and emails about putting marble in bathrooms (wear and tear, stains, etc.), and 100% honest – we’ve had zero problems in the bathrooms. For some reason, coffee stains, water rings, and obvious toothpaste neglect just haven’t shown their ugly faces.
My level of calm in this room is 100%. I’ve had questions about whether Eric hates the pink in the room, and to be honest, he couldn’t care less. We both love how light and bright it is, and the framed photos from Framebridge with Queen Weeze just complete the space. Now that this room is finally done, it’s onto the next.
And just like that, the 4th of July is officially one week away. Crazy, crazy, crazytown. Now, I’m not complaining. I love summer just as much as the next bike-riding, beach-going, easy summer dress-wearing gal, but the summer months also bring along the dreaded (for some) swimsuit season.
If you’ve been following along with this blog for a while, then you know I’ve done my fair share of whining about finding swimsuits for busty girls. Bikini tops were never cut large enough, and one-piece suits for the most part were just no-support, not-happening, jokes in my book. Well, gals, I’m happy to report that after years and years of trying ALL of the damn swimsuits, I’ve finally found some tried and true brands that won’t let you (or your girls) down. And Magicsuit is one of those brands.
I first tried out Magicsuit when I brought one of their suits along on this amazing Mexico trip last year. The swimsuit was super supportive with adjustable straps, had a low back that I loved, and was comfortable enough for all-day wear. It quickly became a go-to one-piece suit for me, so this year when I saw the updated version, I was immediately sold. I’m loving the ruching along the front seam, and the palm print is just too cute to pass up.
For me, it’s the perfect kind of suit for a beach day that leads right into lunch, dinner, drinks, or shopping near the beach. Just throw on denim shorts, an easy kimono, and comfy slides to take your swimsuit right into tank top territory. Another favorite of mine? Check out this wide strap tank suit that will never leave those uncomfy red marks on your shoulders (also seen here). And stay tuned for one more Magicsuit making its way to the blog soon.
AGolde shorts (look for less here); Free People sweater; Golden Goose sneakers (also love this look for less); Bottega handbag
Free Assembly joggers and sweatshirt; New Balance sneakers (love this colorway too); Madewell denim jacket; Bottega handbag
Re/Done jeans (use code ULANIKKI10 for 10% off); H&M sweatshirt; Gucci slides; Scarleton handbag
Free People dress; Amazon slides, bracelets, and sunglasses; Palm leaf hat
Sunrise from our balcony
Coeur d’Alene from above
HomeGoods bench (
