Well hello, old friends! It’s been a (long) minute since I’ve updated the old blog, but today it’s good to be back. It’s been a wild couple of weeks around here with a little surgery, closing on a new home, SO much furnishing and decorating, and jumping into becoming an Airbnb host for the first time. Lots to digest, right? Where do I start?
I’ll start with the whole surgery thing. I mentioned it over on this post last week and then completely forgot that I ever said anything. Over the past few years I’ve dealt with ovarian cysts on a regular basis. It was always uncomfortable and slightly painful but nothing too crazy and something that always came and went in waves. A hereditary sitch, not much I could do about it.
Recently though, something changed, and I was experiencing really painful, debilitating flare-ups. The kind that left me curled up in a ball on the floor, unable to stand or crawl into bed without Eric’s help. Something had to give. An ultrasound revealed that I had a cyst on my (hugely swollen) left ovary the size of a tennis ball and a pretty large cyst on my right ovary as well. These were large enough that they weren’t going to go away on their own, so last week, I had them both removed.
Perhaps it seems like a little TMI, but I wanted to share for anyone else going through something similar. The surgery was pretty routine with three small incisions and about two hours under anesthesia, and after a weekend full of sleeping, this week I’m definitely on the mend. (I had high hopes of catching up on blog posts and such while hanging out in bed, but nope – I blame the painkillers and HGTV.) While I’m feeling pretty good this week, I’ve got a bit of lingering nerve pain near one of the incisions that we are still trying to get a handle on. That said, I’ve been hobbling around at a slower pace than normal these days which has made my current home decor project a little…difficult.
Which brings me to the next tidbit of news – we bought a house! Interesting timing, I know, but we are so excited, and I can’t wait to share the full details with you guys so soon. I’m waiting on a couple more furniture and decor deliveries and will have a full blog post up next week, but you can take a sneak peek here. I hope you guys will follow along!
And so here we are – surgery, nonstop rainy forecasts, and a few wild days behind me, I’ve got my sights set on spring and some fun projects ahead. But first? The weekend. Happy almost Friday, friends!
Happy Valentine’s Day, loves! How will you guys be spending this made-up holiday? I kicked off the day by surprising Eric with donuts because an apple fritter is the way to his heart. When he ran out the door and forgot them on the counter, I obviously had no choice but to eat one. Happy Valentine’s Day to me. Self love, ya know? Now I’m working from the couch, layered up in ALL the sweats, coffee in hand, with my two furry Valentines sleeping next to me. My poor Weeze girl is on the mend from a lump removal yesterday, so her sad little stitched face will be snoozing most of the day. And Wilma? Here’s hoping she doesn’t drive us all insane during these cooped-up rainy days.
Today’s look is probably one of my favorite kinds – jeans, soft layers, and pretty much no color. I used to dress in all black all the time, and while I do throw in more color these days, neutrals are still my main jam. You guys already know my love for these jeans, and this sweater / scarf combo has also been in heavy rotation lately. The booties instantly elevate pretty much any look, and if you’re a Marc Fisher fan like me, then take advantage of code LTD924 at checkout for 20% off sitewide or code PREZ19 for an additional 25% off sale styles. No better day to treat yourself, right?
So whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with your significant other, your girlfriends, your work friends, or not celebrating it at all, here’s hoping we all spread a little love today. Happy almost Friday, friends!
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.)
The hot days roll on around here, and lately I’m looking for any way possible to beat the heat (or at least some way to prevent turning into the hot, bothered, slightly crazy lady that sometimes appears). If I’m being honest, these days I rarely make it out of these Nike shorts and this matching tank. I’m full-on Sporty Spice this summer, and I’m A-OK with that.
But on the rare day when the Nikes don’t exactly fit the dress code, then I’m reaching for these striped pretties. They’re lightweight and breezy, super comfortable, and pretty freaking cute. If you’re between sizes, I’d definitely recommend going down a size. (There’s also an adorable matching tube top for you gals that are fine with a strapless bra situation.) Paired with the breathable linen shirt that I’ve worn 1,000 times this summer, these shorts just may help me keep a little sanity.
Well, these shorts, made-up errands to walk around in air conditioning, and the never-ending return of a high ponytail. And maybe occasionally a little chilled vino too.
Greetings from sunny La Jolla, friends! Lies, all blogger lies. Greetings from the comfort of my couch next to a sad-looking puppy who suddenly became allergic to her sutures 14 days after surgery and had to go back to the vet this morning. This furry kid, I swear. Small bump in the road and a pup who’s back in her inflatable cone with some sleepy meds means a little work catch up day for me. And sharing one last look from La Jolla for you.
And was this gingham look not made for this checkered wall in La Jolla? I’d like to say that I master planned the whole thing out, did my La Jolla checkered wall research beforehand and then packed the (under $20) skirt, but the truth is, it was a total happy accident. And I’m cool with that.
If you haven’t dipped your toes into gingham prints yet, there’s no time like spring and summer to try it out. This little wrap mini is probably the only gingham thing in my closet these days, but I’m thinking it won’t be my last. Y’all, there are so many cute gingham pieces out there! How much do I need this little under $20 handbag? Mucho, that’s how much. I’m also loving this one-shoulder dress, these adorable sandals, and this sweet top – so good.
And then just to make sure you’ve got your spring noggin on right, add in a floral bag and the prettiest coral heels. Here’s hoping everyone has a great rest of their week!
It’s been one whole week since I was taking in the sights, twirling in the flower fields, and eating ALL the food in La Jolla, and I’m already wondering how soon is too soon to go back? I’ve wanted to check out La Jolla for the longest, so when Kathleen and I got the chance to skip town for a couple of days last week and post up at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, it was a real no-brainer.
I love a good Hyatt (like this one in Huntington Beach), and this one in La Jolla was definitely no different. The people were all so nice and accommodating, and our room was seriously perfect. We ended up getting a suite with an extra adjoining room, so we had our own space but also a little common living room area for computer and wine time at night. We also each had our own bathroom which is so great for spreading out ALL of the hair and makeup things. (If only we could have rooms like this at New York Fashion Week!) We had access to the Club Lounge for all the snacks and coffees and an honor wine bar in the evenings. (Winner, winner!) The hotel also offers a junior sized Olympic pool, a gym, and a coffee bar that kept those almond milk lattes flowing. Overall, we had an amazing couple of days in La Jolla, and if you’re headed to the area soon, here are a couple of things not to miss.
What We Did:
Sightseeing at the Cove – The Cove is the area along the coast of La Jolla and 100% needs to be on your list. It’s where you can get views like this, beach hangs like this, and a front row seat to watch SO many sea lions sunning themselves on the sand. There are also a bunch of restaurants in the area, but we unfortunately didn’t have enough time to try any of them. (We got tons of suggestions about Puesto though, so if you go, it’s probably worth a try.)
Sunny Jim Sea Cave – There’s a little place called The Cave Store, and for $5 you can access a tunnel of stairs inside the store that leads down to Sunny Jim Sea Cave. Once you’re down there, you can’t really go far, but it’s still pretty cool to see the cave up close and think about how crazy it must have been building that tunnel. (Photos in the cave were really hard to capture, so unfortunately I don’t have any.) We were hoping for a repeat of the time that a curious little sea lion climbed the steps and roamed around the Cave Store, but for $5, we felt like it was still worth checking out.
Murals of La Jolla – If you paint it, the bloggers will come. Downtown La Jolla is all about a little outdoor art, and I, for one, am here for it. Kathleen looked up a few walls before our visit, and this one was calling our names. It was just about a 10-15 minute drive from the Hyatt, and the shop owners nearby didn’t seem to mind that we were trying to park it there for a little while. Hashtag, doin’ it for the ‘gram.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad – The Flower Fields were on our way home, so we figured we might as well stop. And we were so glad that we did. I had heard great things, but once you see them in person, it really is pretty impressive. Rows and rows and rows of the prettiest flowers, all organized by color. Red, pink, white, yellow, orange, and then some areas of mixed colors – it was seriously something to see. (And for the record, still kicking myself for not trying out the strawberry Dole Whip stand.)
What We Ate:
Breakfast at Barcino Grill – This is the breakfast grill at the Hyatt, and, y’all, it’s so freaking good. We skipped the buffet option and ordered off of the menu which I think is definitely the way to go. On the first day we split the breakfast sandwich (with bacon jam on a pretzel roll, yasssss) and SoCal scramble bowl and loved both so much that we ordered them again via room service on day two. (And added on an oatmeal, for good measure.)
Lunch at Cafe Japengo – This sushi spot is technically part of the Hyatt, but it’s actually located right across the street. And it was delish. We thought we might have a light sushi lunch before hitting the beach, but then “a couple of rolls” turned into SO much sushi, truffle fries, pork belly bun sliders, a little wine, and one large food coma. And it was all worth it – now if only we could get a Cafe Japengo in Orange County. (Seriously though – please?)
Happy hour and dinner at DRIFT eat + drink – We had dinner reservations here (inside the Hyatt) for 7:00 but thought we’d pop down earlier for a glass of wine. Well, turns out we were just in time for happy hour. As, you know, journalists, we just had to check out the happy hour, and it was a good one. There was a special on carafes of wine, so…journalism. We capped it off with the nachos and butternut squash dip, pushed our dinner back to 8:30, and headed back to the room before showing up for round two – salads. (And more wine, desert, and coffee, if I’m being completely honest.) The food was delicious, the staff was super friendly, the space was so pretty, and that tile floor was shoefie ready.
Dinner at the Red O La Jolla – The Red O is a favorite of mine in Newport Beach, so when I saw that their newest location in La Jolla was just about a mile from the Hyatt, we had to check it out. True to form, the new location is beautiful, and the food was worth talking about days later. While I love their steak and fish options, I switched things up this time with the Mariscos Chile Relleno and holy dankness. I couldn’t switch things up in the margarita department though because the Alacran has my heart. (If you like SPICY margaritas, this one is the jam.) We left FED. So full that we actually skipped the Uber ride home and walked the mile back to the hotel instead. Needed, and so worth it.
xoxo
Brought to you by Hyatt Regency La Jolla, but all opinions are my own.
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.
A little over a week ago, Kathleen and I headed to Mexico for Jenn’s wedding in Cabo and stayed at the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica resort. We had been planning the trip for what seemed like forever, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Last week I shared a little peek of the hotel, but today I’m so excited to share a few reasons to L-O-V-E this place.
The People. This to me is far and beyond, without question, my numero uno favorite thing about staying at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica. The people here were JUST so nice, and the level of service was pretty amazing. We were lucky enough to stay in the new Towers at Pacifica which boast a 24-hour butler service. Shoutout to our main man Manuel who seriously hooked it up – everything from scheduling dinner reservations, booking beach cabanas, arranging transportation, mixing up the prettiest cocktails (gotta do it for the ‘gram), and even showing up with duct tape when we had a little luggage snafu. From the moment we arrived to the time we checked out, we were pretty blown away by the friendly faces and beyond helpful staff.
The Beach Cabanas. This was by far our favorite daytime activity. The pool looked really nice and had a swim-up bar, but when the ocean is just a few steps further, it has to win, right? There is a flat option and swinging bed option, and no worries about walking over to the bar for your next drink. Rene and Juan will be by periodically to make sure you never need to get up. You have to book the cabanas ahead of time as they do tend to fill up, but for around $40 a day, it’s totally worth it.
The Location. The location of the resort is really pretty great. It’s located on the beach (hello, panoramic ocean view) but just minutes from the main part of town. It was also a perfect fit for us as it ended up being about 15 minutes from the wedding venue.
The Food. Pueblo Bonito Pacifica is an all-inclusive resort which means you can leave your wallet in the room and just bring yourself to breakfast. (And lunch and dinner actually.) I’ve been to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico before, and the food was just pretty, meh. This time around the food was definitely better (especially the breakfast – loved it). I’d definitely recommend the nachos by the beach or pool, room service shrimp fajitas, and the Sunday brunch for sure. Oh, and that whole all-inclusive thing, it also includes the booze. Get yourself a piña colada and live your best life, girl.
The Spa. Kathleen and I both enjoyed massages at the Armonia Spa on our first full day at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, and let me tell you, there’s just no better way to kick off a trip. Breakfast, massage, and then an afternoon in a beach cabana? Sign me up, sister.
The Views. Is there anything better than waking up and looking out at the ocean? In my book, probably not, but Pueblo Bonito Pacifica takes it a little further because everything around the hotel is just plain pretty. From giant cacti to tons of bougainvillea, water features to daily hand-designed sand art, and even the buildings themselves, there’s just no shortage of pretty scenery.
Overall we had an amazing four nights in Mexico, and next time, I’m definitely dragging Eric back to Pueblo Bonito Pacifica with me. If you’re looking for a laidback vacation filled with the friendliest people to help make your stay easy-peasy, then this is your spot.
We had been planning the week in Palm Springs for months, and I was so looking forward to some pool time and a little tan. BUUUUT, then the day arrived and things were looking more like sweater-and-shorts weather than anything warm enough for taking a dip. So we stashed the flamingo pool floats, snapped a couple of swimsuit pics (I mean it is Palm Springs), and then settled in with ALL the snacks and a little wine and made the best of it.
We stayed at our home in Palm Springs and made sure to check out a couple of my favorite restaurants while there. You just can’t go to Palm Springs without a little food on the agenda. This time around, these are the spots we picked.
Dinner at Las Casuelas Terraza – Palm Springs has a handful of Mexican restaurants that I really enjoy, but this one is probably my favorite for a skinny spicy margarita and shrimp fajitas. The place is HUGE, but don’t be fooled – it can get packed and sometimes has long wait times. Reservations are usually a good idea – especially if you want to be near the live band.
Lunch at Melvyn’s – It’s a bold statement, but I think I’ll say that currently this is my favorite place in Palm Springs for lunch or dinner. It’s an old-school restaurant that’s been around since the 70’s, and the food is just plain GOOD. Lunch is served on the prettiest little patio (the Chinese chicken salad is my favorite), and dinner is in a swanky, dark dining room. If you’re going for dinner, the lobster pot pie is what dreams are made of.
Dinner at Tropicale – So this one isn’t exactly a rave review, but I have friends who have eaten at Tropicale and loved it. So maybe I need to give it another shot? We ordered Vietnamese Spring Rolls and the Firecracker Shrimp as appetizers, and those were great. My entree though, as well as everyone else’s, was just kind of, meh. (For reference, I ordered the fried chicken salad which was supposed to be amazing. I guess I was thinking it would be boneless chicken, which to me makes much more sense in a salad.)
Breakfast at Norma’s (located in the Parker) – On our last day in Palm Springs, we figured we’d leave town on a high note. A REAL high note. Breakfast at Norma’s is pricey, but if you haven’t been, it’s definitely worth a try. We ordered a few things to split and loved every bite. The “Waz-Za?” and the Huevos Rancheros are seriously where it’s at, and taking in the pretty scenery at the Parker is a nice little bonus.
Overall it was an amazing few days, and I’ve already got the itch to go back. Eric and I are always looking to try out new restaurants in the area, so I’d love to know – what are some of your favorites?
Greetings from sunny Palm Springs, y’all. Sunny? Yes. Warm? Not so much. But warm or not, it was supposed to be rainy and cloudy a couple of days this week, so I’ll take the sunshine. I’m currently enjoying the week in the desert with Kathleen, Krystal, Jenn and Michelle celebrating our girl Jenn, the bride-to-be. And it’s been a fun little party so far, to say the least.
Annnnd now you’re probably wondering why I’m wearing denim cutoffs and chatting about the chill. Well you see, I grabbed these shorts and this adorable straw bag from Shopbop for the trip and had them rush-shipped. So you gotta wear them, right? (Use code GOBIG18 to grab anything from Shopbop – full price and sale items – on sale. Loving this roundup of under $200 finds.) Plus, I’ve been dying to pull out this Lilly Pulitzer top and will definitely have it on repeat this spring.
And now I’m off for a day of exploring around Palm Springs with the gals who will also, most likely, be wearing outfits that aren’t quite right for the weather out here. 55 degrees in shorts? Sure. But you know, c’est la vie with a bunch of bloggers. Make sure you’re following along on Instagram to see a few more snaps from the trip – Jenn may or may not have showed up with bluetooth karaoke mics for everyone. And tonight we will definitely be bringing those out to play. Just sayin’.
Billabong t-shirt dress; Madewell jacket; cabi belt; similar Marc Fisher booties; Lilly Pulitzer leopard handbag; Quay sunglasses
Sunrise from our balcony
Coeur d’Alene from above
Fountain at Hyatt Regency La Jolla
Outdoor happy hour at the Hyatt – so good!
Sushi and truffle fries at 
Tile at 
Room service breakfast from 
Outside of 
Becca tunic (
dRA jumpsuit (c/o) 
It’s really not that often you get to have a laugh-filled girls’ weekend in someplace sunny, and this month, somehow I managed to have two. I’m fresh off of an amazing long weekend in Mexico (more on that coming soon), but today I’m throwing it back to a 
