Well it’s officially fall, y’all, and you know what that means.  Jogger season, of course.  I’m constantly on the hunt for the best joggers each season, and this year I think I’ve found them already.  This pair is so soft, fits like a glove, and is under $35.  (They do run a smidge big, so if you’re between, order down.  I’m in a medium for reference.)  I love a good pair of joggers for everyday, but they’re the real MVP during travel days.  And right on cue, Eric reminded me that Thanksgiving is just about a month away.  Can anyone believe that?

So I’ve decided that this will be my fall slash holiday travel uniform – joggers, sneakers, easy tee (or this thermal), and the super soft cardigan that I just found fully in stock for over 40% off.  The handbag is admittedly a total splurge, but I love this clean and simple look for less.  Add a few airplane snacks and some overpacked luggage, and we’re off to Louisiana for Thanksgiving.  Is it too soon to pack?

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

Remember way back in this post I mentioned I had done a little traveling during the holiday months?  Well today I’m finally sharing one last trip from 2018, and it was a good one for sure.  Immediately after this trip to Jackson Hole (about 12 hours after, to be exact), I hopped on a plane to tag along with Kat at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championships in Aspen, Colorado.

It was my first time in Aspen and hopefully won’t be my last.  The town is beautiful and (to my surprise) pretty laidback, the people we met there could not have been nicer, and the St. Regis Aspen Resort was like a glorious holiday home away from home.  Scroll down for a few of my favorite, must-see / eat / do spots in Aspen.

The St. Regis Aspen Resort – This was actually my first time staying at a St. Regis property, and oh man was this a good place to start.  (And at Christmas time, no less.)  The hotel itself was so beautiful with a plush lounge area for warming up by the fire, a quaint little library area, an outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi with serious views, the most delicious cocoa that I’m still dreaming about, and a beyond adorable and lovable hotel pup named Kitty.

The rooms were ultra plush with big, comfy bedding, tons of closet space, views of snowy Aspen, and a bathroom that was straight out of a design magazine.  (I somehow didn’t snap photos of the room, but you can see a couple over on Kat’s recap.)  The staff and service were phenomenal, and the location is ideal: ski-in / ski-out for those living their best sporty life and easily walkable to town sights, restaurants, and shops.  It was also a super quick shuttle ride from the airport.

Drinks and apps at Mountain Social – After arriving to the hotel, we roamed around getting the lay of the land, snapped a couple of photos, and then settled in on a plush velvet couch at Mountain Social in the hotel lobby for some late afternoon nosh.  We split a Caesar salad and the truffle fries because, you know, balance.

Dinner at 7908 Aspen – The welcome dinner on the first evening was just a couple of blocks’ walk from the hotel, and wouldn’t you know I find myself staring at a Southern-influenced menu?  The chef at 7908 is whipping up New Orleans favorites like shrimp and grits, gumbo, and gulf red snapper, and everything I tried was delicious.  As a table, we decided to split ALL of the vegetable sides with our meals, and I would highly recommend any of them.  The carrot soufflé and crispy brussels were killer, and everyone who ordered the fried chicken raved about it.

Remède Spa at St. Regis Aspen – While others on the trip woke up and hit the slopes, Kat and I woke up and hit the spa for what was hands-down one of the best facials of my life.  I’m pretty sure if I could make facials from Paige at the St. Regis a regular occurrence, I might just start Benjamin Button-ing.  The spa itself is so pretty with ALL the things to accompany your treatment: sauna, steam room, plunge pool, waterfall room, and an oxygen room to help kick any fatigue from the altitude.

Lunch at White House Tavern – I believe someone recommended this place to Kat, and as soon as we walked in I was like, yep – this is the spot.  It’s tiny but cozy, and while the salad we shared was meh, the fried chicken sandwich (which is served like sliders) was maybe the best I’ve ever had.  So crispy and delicious, and that bread!  I’m pretty sure I was telling random strangers that they should hit up White House Tavern after this lunch.

Shopping in Downtown Aspen – After a “light lunch” of fried chicken and a beer (oops), we decided to walk it off and pop into a few shops.  The downtown area of Aspen is pretty small, but though she be but little, she is fierce in the shopping department.  High end brands like Prada, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren mingle perfectly with smaller favorites like The Little Bird (packed with killer consignments), Forty Five Ten, and Olive LA.

St. Regis Midnight Supper – The Midnight Supper is an exclusive St. Regis dinner ritual that’s been around since the start of the hotel, and I’m so lucky that I got to experience one firsthand.  It’s a super swank affair with several courses, wine pairings, beautiful decor, and (in my case) dinner convo with some new friends.  Besides my girl Kathleen, I spent the evening chatting with Hallie (check out her blog Hallie Daily) and the fun team from Blade and Bow Whiskey.

Breakfast at The Velvet Buck – This cute little spot is also located inside the St. Regis, and after having their breakfast on our last morning, I was wishing we could’ve stuck around for a few more meals.  The Breakfast BLT is seriously where it’s at, and the fresh squeezed Detoxify juice was just what we needed after Midnight Supper-ing and experiencing a bit of Aspen nightlife.

St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship – And now for the main event.  The World Snow Polo Championship hosted by the St. Regis was the whole reason for the trip.  I’ll be honest.  I wasn’t familiar with snow polo before this trip, but now that I know, I’m thinking I’ve been missing out on my new favorite sport for all these years.  The match itself is exciting, and watching it from a fully catered, heated tent with the bellowing voice of a polo announcer who’s just as enthused as one would think?  It’s the blissfully bougie (and surprisingly un-uptight) event to see…and be seen.

Yurt Village / EMP Winter House – The St. Regis currently has a pop-up yurt village right outside that features the most beautifully decorated (and heated) yurts.  It’s exclusive to AmEx card holders and currently taking reservations for dinners.  On our last night, Kat and I joined the Blade and Bow Whiskey team (you can find it here) for Blade and Bow hot ciders, pastas, apps, and the MOST amazing Alpine Fondue that I’ll likely never forget.  We’re talking the cold weather, cheese-lover’s dream served up in a yurt…with Baked Alaska for desert.

xoxo

And just like that, it’s Christmas Eve, y’all.  And I’ve got one thing to say about it: WILD.  The holidays always seem to fly by, but this year in particular, I’m over here scratching my head wondering where the last month has gone.  I’m sure it’s because, as I mentioned in my last post, I’ve spent lots of time traveling over the last month or so (and this year in general).

Warm weather trips, cold weather gear, dressy staples, casual exploring gear – I’ve packed and unpacked a few times this year, and I have to say, I’ve gotten pretty good at it.  I am ALL about our hard case luggage from Ricardo Beverly Hills.  It’s been tough enough to last through a ton of trips and fits SO. MUCH. STUFF.  (Because let’s be real, I’m not always the best at editing down the packing list.)

And when it comes to carry-on luggage or just a bag for short trips or errands around town, I seriously love everything MZ Wallace.  My friend Jenn introduced me to the brand years ago, and I’ve now got a few different styles.  The fabric is super durable, there are a ton of interior pockets and pouches, and the straps are so comfortable to carry all day long.

The latest bag I’m loving?  The Large Metro Tote is seriously so nice.  I love the larger size, the zipper closure at the top, and the sleek, easy design.  I used this tote on a recent trip home to Louisiana with Weeze and managed to fit a full-sized blanket, my computer, and ALL of the other puppy necessities with room to spare.  I put all my purse essentials in the Metro Pouch and used it as a clutch once we got to New Orleans.

If you’ve got travel planned for the new year and want to get organized, check out MZ Wallace to get your act together, girl.  Merry Christmas Eve, friends!

 Madewell jeans;  Lou & Grey sweater (40% off);  MZ Wallace pouch;  Marc Fisher OTK boots;  Quay sunglasses

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

Greetings again from Pueblo Bonito Pacifica!  Yes, I know I’ve now posted SO many photos from this resort, but when the entrance looks like this, what’s a girl to do?  Especially since I brought this pretty little blue romper for Jenn’s wedding welcome party.  The color, the gold embroidery, the jeweled neckline, the long sleeves – it’s seriously my favorite romper that I’ve tried in years and so perfect for any upcoming springtime party.  (Especially if said party is a welcome party on the rooftop of the penthouse of The Cape Hotel in Cabo with a mariachi band, churros, and yummy margaritas.  Have I mentioned how fun Jenn’s wedding weekend was?)

And then there are these jewels.  If you’ve been following along here for a while, you’ve probably noticed I’ve got a thing for Julie Vos jewelry.  Like, a serious thing.  If you type in “Julie Vos” in the search bar of this blog, you could scroll through more posts than you even care to see.  But there’s one thing that I’ve never, ever worn on the blog since its start in 2011: earrings.  And there’s a pretty easy explanation: I can’t.

Now before you go suggesting this kind or that, real diamonds or nickel-free metals, trust me when I say that I’ve tried them all.  I’ve had my ears pierced four or five times, and once I even had them done at a doctor’s office thinking it was the most sanitary.  And each time they’ve gotten crazy infected, swollen, and eventually close up.  So I gave up on earrings a long time ago and figured it was more fun wearing 4,000 bracelets at a time anyway.  (Seriously, I used to stack those bracelets HIGH.)

Fast forward to a few weeks ago while scrolling the Julie Vos site and wondering why the hell I’ve never tried their clip-on earrings.  They’ve carried them for years and now offer so many pretty styles.  One more accessory to add on?  I’m never opposed.  I’m loving the all-gold style in today’s post but also seriously heart this pretty pair.  I’ve got a couple more styles coming up on the blog soon, but if you’re like me and can’t do the whole “real earring” thing, then these are definitely worth checking out.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Valorie Darling

When packing for someplace tropical (or just beating the heat at home during the summer), you probably don’t immediately think of an activewear line to stock up on essentials.  Well, think again, friends.  Today I’m sharing one of my favorite little dresses from my recent trip to Mexico, and it’s from my very favorite activewear line, lucy.

I’ve been a fan of lucy’s leggings and tanks for years for actually working out, but in recent seasons, I’ve especially gravitated towards their dresses, jumpers, and separates to support my love of all things athleisure.  Today’s midi dress is just about as lightweight as they come, has a mesh detail in the back for added ventilation, and is just SO comfortable.  After a day in the sun or night out, it was pretty much the only dress I wanted to throw on and wear all day.  Plus, the fabric is so great for packing and travel because it stays pretty wrinkle-free and won’t look like a hot mess when you pull it out of your suitcase.

Other travel-friendly favorites include these denim-look leggings that are perfect for the plane, these easy crops that I want to live in, and this lightweight wrap cardigan that’s a go-to for chilly nights.  Well, and maybe this little jacket top too.  And everything else below.  When everything is this cute and comfy, picking favorites is hard to do!  Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Michelle Preau

Brought to you by lucy

I’d say if I had to describe my ideal summer dress, it would be something with tassels, embroidery, stripes, or shades of blue.  Boom – all of the above.  I ordered this little summer frock off of Shopbop a couple of weeks ago before our Mexico trip, and I’ve since worn it more than a couple of times.  It’s so easy and comfortable and combines all of my favorite things.  Plus, I really dig the long sleeves on it.  (I always have to remind myself that in Orange County, we have chilly nights well into July.  I went to dinner tonight in jeans, a sweater, and a leather jacket.  No joke, although I am a bit of a baby when it comes to the cold.)

Anywho, it was the perfect frock for roaming around the city of La Paz last week, and lucky for you, it’s currently on sale.  (Head over to this post for the deets on the sale.)  I’m telling you, you won’t regret it, and as an added bonus it’s surprisingly wrinkle resistant, perfect for packing and traveling.  Also, if you’re looking for the most comfy summer wedges around, I’ve found ’em.  I knew these would be comfortable enough for the long haul the second I put them on, so I had no worries about wearing them to explore La Paz.  They’re a dream and come in 7+ colors – shop your heart out, girl.  I’m adding in a few more summer dresses on sale below as well as my hat, bag, and jewels, so here’s hoping you find a little something special to treat yo’self.  Happy Friday, loves!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Michelle Preau

You guys, it’s been just about a week since we left Playa de La Paz, and I’m still floating from this dreamy girls’ trip.  (But you probably already knew that if you follow along on Instagram – can’t stop, won’t stop with the photos.  #SorryNotSorry)  Around two hours away from the Cabo airport (where we flew into), Playa de La Paz is a collection of 23 residences on the Sea of Cortez.   If you head over to their website, you can see a few beautiful pictures and an amazing aerial video, and I have to say, it’s even better in person.  (I think we all know that a website can make a place look nicer than it actually is, but that’s not the case here.  It really is as nice as I imagined it, but better.)

Kathleen, Jenn, Krystal and I arrived to Playa de La Paz last Monday and quickly made ourselves at home in a 3-bedroom residence.  Holy moly, this place, y’all.  Everything inside of the home was sparkling new and beyond nice – we’re talking serious kitchen and bathroom goals.  (Still kicking myself for not making the time to take a really long bath in the oversized jacuzzi tub in our room.)  The kitchen was stocked with fresh fruit, tons of snacks (Mexico legit has the best snacks), and some vino that we mysteriously kept making disappear.  To me, it’s so nice to have a full kitchen on a vacay like this one because you can wake up, grab breakfast at your leisure, and get ready for the activities of the day.

And activities we did.  On our first full day, we walked steps away from our back door and hopped on a boat for the day with The Cortez Club.  We were all pretty excited to see a huge school of manta rays playfully swimming around, but we really lost our minds when we found ourselves smack in the middle of SO. MANY. DOLPHINS.  Did you guys happen to catch that video on the old Instagram story?  Because that was bananas.  Then a couple members of our group swam with sea lions and a whale shark, but I kept myself parked on the boat soaking up the sunshine.

Throughout the rest of the week, we explored the town of La Paz (so cute and not overrun with tourists), enjoyed the most amazing sunset dinner on the beach complete with a mariachi band (so much fun), had massages on our patio, tried a little outdoor yoga, and went for a sunset horseback ride along the beach.  I can’t even lie, I felt WAY too spoiled during all of this and more than a little guilty that Eric was back in California dealing with the home remodel.  He’s a real trooper, that guy.

And then there was the food.  With its location right on the Sea of Cortez, La Paz is known for its fresh seafood, and for four Southern gals, we were in heaven.  Every meal I had there became my new favorite meal, and I’m still dreaming about the Shrimp Diablo at Pichilingue.  Other favorite restaurants included: Cafe Santa Fe (in Todos Santos), The Bagel Shop for breakfast and the best lunch sandwiches, and Nim for dinner.

Overall, I can’t say enough good things about our time at Playa de La Paz, and while the residences are all for sale, you can also rent a place if you’re looking for the ultimate secluded getaway, free of the usual hotel crowds.  The motto of the property is A World Apart, and it really couldn’t be more accurate.

xoxo

Red Carter coverup (c/o);  Gorjana bracelets (c/o);  Hat;  White Elephant beach bag (c/o); sunglasses Swimsuit (c/o);  Hat;  Sunglasses;  Beach tote Maxi coverup;  similar hat KAS New York caftan (c/o);  Beaded tassel necklace Tassel tank (c/o);  jeans;  Crossbody bag (c/o);  Sunglasses;  Hat Swimsuit;  Hat;  Sunglasses Last two photos thanks to Michelle Preau

Look #2: Miraclesuit black swimsuit (c/o);  White Elephant beach bag (c/o);  Brixton hat;  Gorjana bracelets (c/o);  Karen Walker sunglasses (affordable version here)

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you may have noticed a post or two from The Residences at Playa de La Paz.  OK, maybe there are more than a couple of posts, and full apologies, they’re not about to stop any time soon.  Y’all, it was seriously a dream vacay, and while the full recap is still coming up this week, today I’m sharing a couple of favorite swimsuits from the trip.

Maybe I’ll back things up a bit here.  When I first started planning for the trip, it dawned on me that all of my swimsuits (and pretty much anything summery) from previous years were trapped inside a dresser, wrapped up in plastic, and barricaded behind a ton of other furniture in our current home remodel situation.  (When we moved into the rental, it was supposed to be for one month, remember?  Quietly walking into month four over here…)  SOOO, that was a challenge.

I’ve had my eye on Miraclesuit swimsuits for a while now (remember this post from almost a year ago?  Peep that number 12.), and for this trip, I finally decided to put them to the test.  Well, friends, disappointed I was not.  I mean, these suits suck you in, slap you on the behind, and send you off for the day.  Maybe not that intense, but it’s the kind of suit that you can easily feel comfortable in all day long, whether you’re a busty gal or not.  (I think we all know my busty gal swimsuit struggle around here by now…)

Anywho, I found myself grabbing for these more than once, and if you’re fed up with the swimsuit shopping struggle, I can’t recommend these Miraclesuit swimsuits more.  Slip one on and go live your best vacay life, y’all.  Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Michelle Preau

Brought to you by Miracleswim