What a week! I work for the next few days so technically, my week is just getting started. However, I had the best time on Wednesday going to the Shania Twain concert! My bestie is just that, the best, and bought us tickets to go see her. We had incredible seats and I was in awe of how amazing she sounded!
Travel Topics: New York was so much fun. I cannot express to you how much I loved it. I left feeling anxious because I hardly got to see or do much. I spent two days at the Her Conference 2018 (so good!) so my nights were spent exploring. I'm already trying to find another time to head back however!
Something New I Tried: I've tried so many new beauty products, I'm planning to bring you a product recap so you can see all the goodness! I have also really been trying to find products that are cruelty free. If you have any cruelty free brands that you love, please share below!
Favorite Food Or Meal: Corn on the cob!🌽 Corn is around 8-9 feet right now and it's this time where sweet corn stands start popping up all over the city. You guys, sweet corn is so good. I try to have it a few times a week when it's in season.
Mood Booster: This week it's my to-do list! There are so many fun projects I'm working on and events that I am planning. My list has sort of escalated into a full notebook at this point but it's keeping me motivated!
Listening To: Shania Twain! If I look and sound half as good as her at the age of 52 then I will be #blessed. This has been my favorite playlist to listen to; it includes the oldies, the goodies, and the newbies.
Watching: The Bachelorette! We are down to the final two and things are getting heated and so emotional. I cried three times during this weeks episode, three times! If you love recaps, these are my favorite.
Wish List: I never did find a travel bag that worked as a handbag too. I have quite a bit of time before I travel again to find the perfect bag. I'm craving fall now that my trips are over...thus, I'm looking to re-vamp my fall wardrobe!
Working Out: Still off that wagon, I walk the dogs every morning so that's something but I plan to start back on Monday!
Weekly Goal For Next Week: Eating clean and meal prep! I'm keeping this on my list because I can do much better than I am. I know I haven't eaten the best when I start to crave my beloved vegetables and fruits. At least those cravings last for a long while! 🤗
Every season, I always seem to acquire more pink pieces to my wardrobe. This Madewell wrap top was a great find (and it's on sale for under $20)! I paired it with white denim and my favorite espadrilles wedges. You could easily wear this wrap top with work pants to work or a cute skirt for a summer evening dinner.
Happy Monday Friends! I hope your week is smooth sailing until the weekend. Stay tuned later this week for some fun happenings on the blog!
I'm finally back an unpacked from my vacation, gearing up for another trip soon! I thoroughly enjoyed my week jaunt to Hermosa Beach. We packed in so many activities, I know some followers are headed to that area soon so I'm putting together a travel guide in the next week! First up, is Catalina Island. Last time I visited Hermosa, I could always see the island in the distance whenever I was at the beach. I told myself that the next time I visited we would go! It definitely didn't disappoint and made for a fun day trip!
There is one main way to get to Avalon (city on Catalina), and that is the Catalina Express Ferry. The ferry boards in the morning and you choose the return time. We left at 8:15 AM and came back at 6:15 PM. This was plenty long for us but if you are planning on staying on the island for dinner I would choose a later time! The ferry ride is an hour and it can get pretty choppy depending on the weather, waves, etc., so if you get sea sick - take some motion sickness medicine! On the way home we were all so tired and we decided to sit on the deck outside so it was quite chilly but very relaxing.
When we arrived on the island, I was in awe of how quaint it was...it reminded me of the harbor town I visited last year in France, Honfleur. There are many boats, big and small that lined the harbor and the pebble beach was filled with smiling kids. The first thing we did was rent a golf cart, they are first come first serve and they don't take reservations so have a flexible plan!
What To Do:
Rent A Golf Cart - This was our main activity, we wanted to be able to see a lot of Avalon and the nearby sites. This was so fun and we loved that we were able to go at our own pace. They give you a map of the ideal road to follow and once we completed that we strayed from that and went other places we could visit.
Beach Day - It was HOT when we were there, so laying on the beach and dipping our feet in the water was a must. They have a sandy portion to the beach but when you go down the steps it becomes a pebble beach so just beware if your feet are sensitive. The water was incredible!
Shopping - There are so many cute shops, Avalon is like a little village of colorful storefronts so there's a lot to look at!
Zip-lining - I really wanted to do this but...it was very expensive for all of us to go, over $500 expensive. On the golf cart we were able to see where people were zip-lining so that was cool but it just didn't make sense for us - we were also here peak season so the price was a lot higher, there are select times when it's $99 per person. If you've never been zip-lining I think this was be the perfect place to go. I've been before so I knew what I was missing!
Obstacle Course - We came across this super cool obstacle course driving around on the golf cart that we didn't even know about it! Again, I have done something like this but if you never have it looked like so - much - fun! It's only $49 per person and I would say totally worth it!
Parasailing - I love parasailing, I went in Mexico a few years back...everyone should try it as it's completely different then expected. They will take you just outside of the harbor, it would be another amazing view of the island!
Where To Eat:
The Lobster Trap - Hands down some of the best fresh food ever! Everything except for the clam chowder is homemade, yes even the ranch is homemade for those midwesterners that will be visiting! I had the grilled shrimp tacos and steamed veggies and we shared French fries with their house seasoning, it was delicious! They also have a really cute "deck" that looks like a boat where we sat...made for fun ambiance.
Scoops - After the golf cart ride we needed a treat to cool off before we did some shopping and headed to the beach. Scoops is right on the main strip and they have the best homemade ice cream and gelato. My mom got their frozen lemonade (again, homemade, hand-squeezed lemonade) and said it was just as good as the limoncello she had in Italy.
Lua Larry's - We were pretty tuckered at the end of the day and had an hour to kill to we decided to go to Lua Larry's and get a drink. Tip: order their special drink of the day, you get a terrible hat with the drink but it's all about the experience. We ended up gifting the hat to a little kid waiting in line for the ferry. #sorryparents Anyways, this was a super fun bar and they had great chips & salsa (homemade).
What To Wear:
I would wear comfortable clothing. I always opt to look "cute" so I wore a super comfortable J.Crew top and linen skirt. I was very comfortable but also felt put together. I would definitely bring a jacket for the evening, whether you are on the ferry or on the island. Temperatures dip and I wished I had pants and a sweater on! Wear comfortable sandals and depending on the activities you partake in, I would bring tennis shoes.
What to Bring:
There is one main way to get to Avalon (city on Catalina), and that is the Catalina Express Ferry. The ferry boards in the morning and you choose the return time. We left at 8:15 AM and came back at 6:15 PM. This was plenty long for us but if you are planning on staying on the island for dinner I would choose a later time! The ferry ride is an hour and it can get pretty choppy depending on the weather, waves, etc., so if you get sea sick - take some motion sickness medicine! On the way home we were all so tired and we decided to sit on the deck outside so it was quite chilly but very relaxing.
When we arrived on the island, I was in awe of how quaint it was...it reminded me of the harbor town I visited last year in France, Honfleur. There are many boats, big and small that lined the harbor and the pebble beach was filled with smiling kids. The first thing we did was rent a golf cart, they are first come first serve and they don't take reservations so have a flexible plan!
What To Do:
Rent A Golf Cart - This was our main activity, we wanted to be able to see a lot of Avalon and the nearby sites. This was so fun and we loved that we were able to go at our own pace. They give you a map of the ideal road to follow and once we completed that we strayed from that and went other places we could visit.
Beach Day - It was HOT when we were there, so laying on the beach and dipping our feet in the water was a must. They have a sandy portion to the beach but when you go down the steps it becomes a pebble beach so just beware if your feet are sensitive. The water was incredible!
Shopping - There are so many cute shops, Avalon is like a little village of colorful storefronts so there's a lot to look at!
Zip-lining - I really wanted to do this but...it was very expensive for all of us to go, over $500 expensive. On the golf cart we were able to see where people were zip-lining so that was cool but it just didn't make sense for us - we were also here peak season so the price was a lot higher, there are select times when it's $99 per person. If you've never been zip-lining I think this was be the perfect place to go. I've been before so I knew what I was missing!
Obstacle Course - We came across this super cool obstacle course driving around on the golf cart that we didn't even know about it! Again, I have done something like this but if you never have it looked like so - much - fun! It's only $49 per person and I would say totally worth it!
Parasailing - I love parasailing, I went in Mexico a few years back...everyone should try it as it's completely different then expected. They will take you just outside of the harbor, it would be another amazing view of the island!
Where To Eat:
The Lobster Trap - Hands down some of the best fresh food ever! Everything except for the clam chowder is homemade, yes even the ranch is homemade for those midwesterners that will be visiting! I had the grilled shrimp tacos and steamed veggies and we shared French fries with their house seasoning, it was delicious! They also have a really cute "deck" that looks like a boat where we sat...made for fun ambiance.
Scoops - After the golf cart ride we needed a treat to cool off before we did some shopping and headed to the beach. Scoops is right on the main strip and they have the best homemade ice cream and gelato. My mom got their frozen lemonade (again, homemade, hand-squeezed lemonade) and said it was just as good as the limoncello she had in Italy.
Lua Larry's - We were pretty tuckered at the end of the day and had an hour to kill to we decided to go to Lua Larry's and get a drink. Tip: order their special drink of the day, you get a terrible hat with the drink but it's all about the experience. We ended up gifting the hat to a little kid waiting in line for the ferry. #sorryparents Anyways, this was a super fun bar and they had great chips & salsa (homemade).
What To Wear:
I would wear comfortable clothing. I always opt to look "cute" so I wore a super comfortable J.Crew top and linen skirt. I was very comfortable but also felt put together. I would definitely bring a jacket for the evening, whether you are on the ferry or on the island. Temperatures dip and I wished I had pants and a sweater on! Wear comfortable sandals and depending on the activities you partake in, I would bring tennis shoes.
What to Bring:
- Camera/Phone
- Sweater
- Tote Bag (for shopping, swimsuit, towel, etc.)
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Snacks
After Lua Larry's we made our way to the ferry for the hour ride back. As I mentioned above, it was cold on the way back, especially since we decided to sit on the open deck. I was freezing and we used out towels we brought as blankets😂...but, it was so relaxing sitting outside just dress appropriately. I loved Avalon, it was such a fun day trip. I recommend if you have time you should go!
Have you already been? If so, what were your favorite places?!
The other half to this look is this super cute black tie tank top. It ties on either side of the shoulders and would be adorable with a white pair of high waisted skinny jeans and wedges. Easy to dress up or down!
I have a love/hate relationship with summer. On the one hand, I love the warmth, clothes, and activities one can partake in. On the other hand, I hate the warmth, clothes, and activities one partakes in. Sometimes, it's just too hot and if I'm not wearing something that is breathable then I'm miserable and if it's too hot and my clothes aren't comfortable and I'm partaking in an outdoor summer activity (i.e., walking to the beach) then I'm really miserable. Well, this romper changed everything! It's incredibly lightweight and very breathable. I love the colorful print, it matched the beach front scenery perfectly.
If you can't tell in the photos, I got way too much sun the first day! 15 minutes turned me into a tomato...I have since learned my lesson! Thankfully, aloe gel helped me significantly as did lathering on sunscreen everyday. It's not very hot when you are actually laying on the beach. There is a breeze from the ocean that consistently delivers coolness and in turn, makes you feel like you aren't turning into a lobster!😂
We are on our way to Venice and Santa Monica today so I'm cutting this short but I'll share my travel guide soon!