The spirit of New York City is like no other. Every time I’ve come it’s only been a few days top and this time I actually had a little time to absorb the city. I stayed at the Soho Grand hotel and spent my days prepping in Soho. I was flown in for work, dressing Meghan Trainor and her band, dancers and background vocals for The Today Show and The Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon, so I had lots of shopping to do. I give New York wardrobe stylists a plethora of props because not having a car and schlepping all your shopping bags is no easy feat! (I’m due for a Korean Spa visit because my shoulders are on fire!) The idiom “Shop til you Drop” has never felt more real until this very moment. Since I spent most of my days in SoHo I truly fell in love with that part of New York. I sipped an iced almond milk latte at La Colombe, inhaled those huge NYC pizza slices from Prince St. Pizza (that sauce is everything!!), and marveled at the postcard view from my hotel overlooking the neighborhood. I’m 100% into the idea of coming back and spending a full week in the city, this time when i’m not working, so I can dive into New York full force.
I hope you guys enjoyed your Halloween!! I’m honestly so sad that the season is over…. (wah!!) I’m just reliving through my old posts.
So for my last costume I bidi bidi bom bom’d through the night. That’s right I finally got to dress up as one of my favorite women in history, SELENA, and it was the most fun I’ve had.
This legendary babe had a look like no other! I loved that she designed some of her own outfits. Selena was so adventurous and true fashion pioneer, always pushing the boundaries.
I went with, what to me, is her most ICONIC and recognizable look
THE PURPLE JUMPSUIT
And let me tell you I wore those glittery flares with pride for two reasons:
Its Selena!! A woman with such incredible talent!!! So unfortunate that she left us too soon 😦 (I still cry, without fail, EVERYTIME while watching the movie)
AND
I sewed the entire jumpsuit by hand. 4, 5 maybe 6 laborious hours!!
…A lot of people assume I can sew because I’m in “fashion” but sadly I have not sewn a lick since 7th grade home economics, so this was quite a venture for me. Therefore, of course, I’m so proud of my work! I was determined to be this queen once and for all.
If you guys are already looking into next year’s costume (as am I) here is how I created my costume. *Bookmark this page or for you Pinterest users, pin for later*
So I knew that I would need capri leggings and two miniature circle skirts for the bell bottom.
For the leggings I followed this youtube video (except I couldn’t locate my sewing machine so I just did mine by hand. I recommend using a machine though, so much faster!)
The girls in this youtube video are sewing baby leggings but obviously just use the leggings that fit YOU best and end around your calves. Also leave a few extra inches at the top when cutting out your pattern so that they’re high waist!
So once your finished with the leggings you make the two circle skirts. I followed this youtube video. Instead of measuring your waist, measure your calf!
Once you have your two circle “skirts” with both the leggings and circle skirts turned inside out, sew them together.
NOW YOU HAVE YOUR PANTS!
For the top you are going to need a friend!
Cut two wide strips of fabric. The width is going to determine how much side boob you’ll have so adjust accordingly! For each fabric strip, my dimensions were 8” X 35”
Sew each strip to the front of your pants
then cross the fabric around your neck and have it come under your arm to attach to the side. This is when you’ll need a friend so that they can help stitch them into place.
For my makeup I went with her iconic bold red lips and kept the rest pretty minimal- a small winged eye and a very matte face.
For hair I put my “bangs” in a soft roller so that they lifted and curled a lá SELENA and left the rest just slightly wavy. I have to admit I did trim my hair a bit so that my bangs could be a little shorter (literally anything for Selenaaaas! Hah!)
AND that its! Its actually a lot easier than it seems….if I can do it ANYONE can !!
Any questions? Feel free to comment below I’ll def reply.
Also comment below to let me know which was YOUR favorite Selena look or the best halloween lewk you saw this year!
There is something so liberating about going sans makeup! I love to let my skin breathe and go au natural from time to time. Why not let your natural beauty shine, right? It feels just as nice to be fresh faced as having your face beat for the Gods! A key to embracing this no makeup look starts with taking care of our skin. I used to be a lil (okay ALOT) careless of my skin regimen BUT I’ve made it a point to take better care of my skin over this past year. I started experimenting with lots of new products and found my skin getting more radiant and glowing. I’ve even noticed when applying makeup, it just goes on a lot smoother and looks more flawless. After many trial and errors with so many products here are some of my favorites on my top shelf that are currently in rotation.
My MORNING routine include:
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser ( I kid you not this has been continuously in my shower for the past 3 years when it was recommended to me, I cannot switch from this one! )
I moisturize with Benefit’s Triple Performing Facial Emulsion. This lotion is extremely lightweight which is nice for these hot days, but i’ll probably switch it out if cold weather ever hits LA. I love how clean the scent smells.
My last product for my morning routine is my LaserAway 50+ Moisturizing Sunscreen Laser Formula which I LOVE! I feel like I can just wear this when I don’t feel like wearing foundation because it’s also a tinted moisturizer. I also love how much SPF it has (50+!!) … it kinda serves as a primer too if I do go onto wear foundation. (WINS ALL AROUND!) You can find this product at LaserAway locations near you
My NIGHTTIME routine includes:
I always start by wiping my makeup off with Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes. Again these are always stocked at my place. If I’m being really bad and lazy I’ll just use these and fall asleep and my skin doesn’t suffer any major consequences.
I wash my face with Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel I feel like since I’ve started using this product I’ve seen a difference in my skin’s texture, it feels smoother and brighter for sure, and again I just love the scent of this.
I was just gifted the Clarisonic which I’ve only started using the past week I know its too early to tell, but this lil baby makes my skin feel so soft and SMOOOOTH, like new skin is coming forth. I know this is gonna be my new gem. Can’t wait to see these very promising results further down the line.
After my face is nice & clean, sans makeup I use my Murad Clarifying Wipes For Blemish Prone Skin. I use this in place of a toner at night. These wipes are AMAAAZING. I love when skin products leave your face feeling tingly because I’m like “yay its working” (haha totally in my head) but this product does just that. Its like fresh mouthwash for your face (AHH!), leaving you totally refreshed and skin feeling super clean. Thats why I love using these wipes at night.
Lastly I moisturize with Origins Night-A-Mins. This has been my favorite night cream its moisturizing enough to really hydrate my skin which is something that I look for because I hate waking up with dry or too oily skin, and this isn’t greasy at all. I love how thick and rich it is and the citrus scent makes me feel so relaxed and ready for bed.
**Every 3-4 days I’ve been using Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Peeling Gel. I have a small tube that I got as a gift set with my face wash and OMG I need to upgrade to the full size because I’m obsessed. It sloughs away your dead skin which you can see (like you literally see the dead skin, ew!) and when you wash it all off your skin is soo radiant!
This is an ode to one of my favorite albums of all time and def. my favorite Kanye West album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Seriously if you guys have not heard this album in its entirety, you need to do yourself a favor and listen to it like literally right NOW! You don’t even gotta like the guy…. but you can’t deny that the album is genius.
SO IMMA LET YOU FINISH … but we have a DIY to get to…. ;-P
DIY Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Costume
Here is what you will need:
3 poster boards: Red TriFold Project board (yup the science fair type) Cut off one fold to get a board that measures 36 X 36 and then tape the other fold on the back so its not flappin’ around. You will also need 1 Gold (22 X 28) and another any color (22 X 28) preferrably green, blue or white but it will get painted anyways.
You will also need a black leotard, ballet tights, scissors, glue stick, lots of black tulle (I chose Glitter Black tulle because why wouldn’t I?!?!), black ribbon, green, white, and blue paint + a stipple sponge brush
*I got my all my supplies at Michaels and the leotard and tights on amazon 🙂
For the tutu:
Measure your waist and tie a bow
Cut off the excess ribbon
3. Meausure your tulle into 6 inch wide strips of fabric ( I bought a roll that already measured 6 inches wide… I’m so lazy )
4. Measure your tulle twice the length of your desired skirt
5. Fold in half and cut
Continue until you end up with a big stack like this
6 . Loop the tulle through your ribbon and continue doing this til you have a full skirt
It should look something like this
For the album:
7. Cut the Gold poster board so its 22 X 22 inches
8. Cut the other color poster board so that its 21.5 X 21.5 inches
9. With your paints and stipple brush, paint the poster board so that its very George Condo-esque and resembles Kanye’s MBDTF album cover.
10. Glue poster board layers together.
*A good tip is to go on google image and find a Parental Advisory image (print cut and paste it) to make it look more album like.
11. Now you’re ready to get dressed. Throw your hair up into a ballet bun, grab a plastic wine glass (I found mine at The Dollar Tree) Fill Er Up w/ red wine (or cranberry juice works just fine!) and pose 😉
If you’re into this costume, but still lookin’ for more Halloween inspo. Check my blast from the past costumes here !
ANIA is my inspiration behind my makeup look not only for today, but everyday!! I stumbled upon this Australian makeup artist on Pinterest which lead me to stalk her instagram to then discover all these beautiful dewy faces! She is absolutely amazing!! This is without a doubt my favorite makeup look day or night, YEAR ROUND!
Are you dying? Such beautiful faces too! I noticed she loves to use Laura Mercier products like these here and here. Which have just conveniently found themselves in my Sephora cart.
For my copycat look I used these products below
1. Tha Balm Betty-Manizer and bronzer with the perfect amount of shimmer.
2. L’Oreal Magic Lumi primer. I absolutely LOVE this product even worn alone it kisses the skin with a hint of natural glow
3. Benefit High Beam. FOREVER in my makeup bag. I always reup on this one. I use it after my foundation and it allows my powder highlighter to be even more luminizing
4. Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop highlighter. Provides the perfect peachy hue shimmer and truly makes those cheekbones pop.
Using High Beam and Champagne Pop, I highlight my cheek bones and temples in a C formation , the inner corners of my eyes, my cupids bow, above the arch of my eyebrows and just the tip of my nose.
It may be a bit “sweaty” for some people but I die over dewy highlighted faces. Before I was even allowed to wear makeup, I used to take the Lip Smacker Roll-On Shiner and roll it on my eyelids for a “glossy” look in addition to pounding it on my lips. My best friends and I refer to this as the “Chicken Grease Era” because it literally looked like we just devoured a bucket of oily drumsticks. You can only imagine how thrilled I am with so many amazing products on the market advocating this lustrous look!
I will always be a desert girl @ heart. I do quite fine in 100 degree weather, let me tell you. I haven’t visited home in a while I’ll be honest, but I’ll always be proud of where I came from. Kacey Musgraves said it best “Cause I’m still the girl from [Palmdale] ..Had to get away so I could grow… It don’t matter where I’m goin’ I’ll still call my hometown home” ❤
Wearing: Billabong denim shorts/ Gap boyfriend shirt/ Vintage Belt/ Zara sandals/ Rebecca Minkoff crossbody
Gypsy Queen Romper here/ Gladiator sandals similar (& better) here/ Michael Kors bag (a bday gift) found here
Frolickin’ around in my Gypsy Queen romper by the lake… this play suit makes me want to teleport to the sheer beauty that is Santorini, enjoying savory lamb gyros and sunbathing amongst its white-washed buildings and serene beaches. Greece is TOP 3 on places I want to visit. For now I’ll get my souvlaki fix at George’s Greek Cafe (unbelievably delectable & one of my favorite restaurants) and “OPA!” with the ducks + swans over at El Dorado Park. Sunset at this park provides a deeper sense of allure and capturing these beautiful birds at golden hour was gratifying. Did you guys know that swans mate for life, a rarity in the animal world… it’s no wonder they are always creating that natural heart shape with their graceful necks. So Beautiful!
Trusty denim will always withstand the test of time. Made popular during the California Gold Rush, and through John Wayne western cinema, California is unofficially known as the birth mother of denim. ANOTHER WIN for the west coast! Denim is my go-to and it probably is for the rest of the western world. I’m more of a skinny jean or mom jean type of girl but I thought I would give flares a chance in hopes of elongating these tater tots I have for legs. I’m not mad at em’ but an extra couple inches would’ve been nice 🙂 I stumbled upon these meaningful steps in Silverlake and the powerful words echoed in my mind for the rest of the day. I love when life forces us to pay attention to our surroundings and allows us to peel away from our iPhones and reflect.
One-piece here (other colors)/Shorts similar here/ Belt is vintageBackpack here/ Shoes here Custom tote made by me. Tutorial ?Bikini similar hereTop here/ Shorts here/ Shoes here Dress hereRiviera Maya Mexico photo diary
Playa del Carmen was everything I could’ve asked for in a trip. I absolutely LOVE visiting Mèxico. The hospitality that I feel surpasses any other country I’ve ever visited, they truly know how to make a girl feel welcome. Ay mis lindos mexicanos. We stayed in Playa del Carmen, my first time visiting and I have to say it quickly became one of my favorite cities in Mexico. I wish I could’ve spent more time there. TIP #1: GO LONGER THAN 4 DAYS! You truly need a full week to soak up these radiant, white sand beaches and sparkling, aqua-blue waters. My favorite part of the whole trip was visiting Tulum. We saw las ruinas de Tulum, and swam in a beautiful cenote *basically a sink hole caused by the crumbling of limestone and looks a lot like an underground cave with water. What a solitary experience! Bats flying above us, turtles and fish swimming with us, and clear blue waters (check out my video above to see what I mean) TIP #2 VISIT A CENOTE!! You will not regret it one bit. We spent a day at Mamitas Beach eating crunchy, mouthwatering chilaquiles for breakfast and fresh ceviche to re-up after our cycle of cheladas ->siesta->take a dip>repeat. Um, can I be on vacation forever?
TIP #3 REAPPLY SUNBLOCK EVERY 2 HOURS – I’m still peeling 😦
The nightlife is played down, at least from what I saw. We ended up at this three-story lounge, La Santenera, and spent our evening on the rooftop taking in the beautiful views of Playa del Carmen. Vibing to the pulsing beats coming from the DJ, yet saddened that it was our last night and we would soon part ways with this captivating city. Don’t worry Playa I will be back and I promise to make more time for you!
Sunglasses are like personal DO NOT DISTURB signs….gets me through the days where “I just can’t” AND I can people watch all day in these babies and no one will ever know what a lurker I am muhaha 😉 (creepy, I know).
When it comes to sunglasses I don’t like to splurge because I’m really terrible at keeping them in their case, so they end up getting tortured in my bag. I have my classic go-to Rayban wayfarers that I believe are a good investment if you’re looking for a solid-goes with anything- chic pair *bonus they are on the cheaper end as far as designer glasses go* They honestly look great on anyone & everyone, and they withstand the test of time. AHEM
Of course I love to have fun with outfits and go for a funky pair of sunnies to make a statement every once and while. Here are some fun sunglasses I’m lusting over atm.
I had the most amazing time celebrating my birthday with my nearest and dearest at Paradise Cove in Malibu. Since its a private beach we were able to bring our own wine, beer and champagne and enjoy the beautiful day. I recommend any beach lover to celebrate their birthday there, or just go for the day! Of course I love a theme so I had all my girlfriends wear flower crowns and turned it into a boho beach bash! I love my friends, family and boyfriend to bits.
Upon discovering Prada Marfa through other bloggers and miss Beyoncé, I made it a point that I absolutely had to go. It has become a fashion landmark and I thought the concept of it is so cool. An oxymoron of sorts; you have this replica of a lavish designer store in the middle of no man’s land- just a genius piece of art! Years passed by and I still hadn’t had a chance to go, and then the perfect opportunity arose. My boyfriend and I trekked from Los Angeles through the breathtaking Grand Canyon (I’m convinced its just a hollywood backdrop), New Mexico and all the way to Dallas, Texas. I dragged my boyfriend (bless his soul) to Prada Marfa deviating another hour or so off our course, but it was totally worth it!
Panama was such eye candy. It takes you from the lush vegetation of their tropical rainforests to being surrounded by high rise buildings of their concrete jungle. Panama has developed so much since I’ve been there, and the architecture is absolutely insane! I loved cruising down the Causeway watching the sun set from the ocean to the beautiful, twinkling skyline. Casco Viejo was the best surprise and a part I hadn’t yet visited- giving me the hipster vibes that I crave. (Lots of cute cafes, art galleries, and Panama hats for days!) Panama is the only place where you can take a morning dip in the Atlantic Ocean and by the evening be lounging in the Pacific Ocean as you soak in this vibrant, colorful city.
I love getting out of the city for lil’ staycations, especially when I’m with the best girl gang on the planet. My gfs and I headed two hours outside of Los Angeles to Joshua Tree. It was the ultimate girls weekend
Hiking, dance parties, insanity, pizza, cooking with Chrissy teigens cookbook, face masks, cheesy Hugh Grant movies…. What more could you ask for in the desert surrounded by babes
Outfit details// Forever 21 top and leggings// Nike shoes // Borrowed jacket
Outfit details: Urban Outfitter denim// Zara boots (no longer avail)// Forever 21 tee// H&M jacket (no longer avail)
I love a themed party and the Met Ball is the ultimate ! I await the Met Gala each year to see what my favorites are going to pull off. This year the theme was ManusXMachina: Fashion in an Age of Technology.
I’m all about futuristic vibes so I was really biting my nails over this one as I watched the red carpet on E! I do feel the guests could’ve done a little more with the theme but everyone still looked stunning.
Here are my favorites…
Am I missing any of your favorites? Who were you loving?
I am so fortunate that work allows me to travel and I especially feel lucky when its a place like LONDON! To be honest I never had an urge to visit and I could just slap myself for brushing it off because I now have the deepest love affair with this city. The tube, Notting Hill, the rich history, and of course the shopping. All the stores are on steroids there… Topshop (of course), Liberty, H&M, Lush… and so many other choices for fast fashion. Lets be real the sneaker and coat game in London are next level. Being there I was in the mood to dress up more than my laid back LA uniform of a tshirt and denim. The spirit of the city is something I definitely vibed with. My home for the week was the Rosewood which had thee most comfortable beds, the decor is like an instagram dream, and the hospitality surpasses anything I’ve experienced. I have nothing but good things to say. They treat you like a royal and I absolutely adored it…. the British accents didn’t hurt either. Even though I was there for work, it felt like a vacation. Getting on that plane home was a snap back to reality. See you soon London!
Highlights
Pub crawls through Shoreditch. Def. grab a drink at the Ace hotel and make your way to the nearby pubs.
Notting Hill. Visit the flea market that takes place there then fuel up with thai food and a brew at The Churchill Arm (the prettiest pub that ever was).
The British Museum. Anything you’ve ever learned in your past art history class is floating in this museum. Its so amazing and freeee.
Tower Bridge. Sometimes confused for the London London Bridge… Go ahead sing Fergie’s song, I did 😉
Buckingham Palace. Like I even need to say more…
Big Ben. You really can’t miss it … you can spot that clock in several parts of the city.
The London Eye. I’m always chasing sunsets so if you’re like me you’ll eat up these delicious views as the sun goes down.
5th Street Circus. Incredible shopping. The Topshop flagship store is here and so many other shops we don’t have in the states. The biggest Lush in the world is also here. I would spend a full day going through this street. and dont overlook the shoe stores they have some really cool adidas and converse style I have yet to see here in LA.
Sketch. After you are all shopped out at 5th Street Circus, head to Sketch which is nearby to see Pinterest IRL. Google it, you’ll see what I mean.
Harrod’s. Even if you can’t exactly shop down to the ground here, its such an experience and worth checking out. You can also make your way to their souvenir shop. Lots of cute and affordable things to chose from.
Dishoom. Best Indian Food Ever. Literally the best dish I had while in London. The Brits aren’t exactly known for their cuisine but you can find a few hidden gems.
Have you ever visited London? What are your favorite things to see and do? Leave me a comment below.
This time Manny and I trekked through the gorgeous Pacific Northwest. Making our way from Los Angeles all the way to Seattle. This was the perfect trip to appreciate beautiful mother nature. The drive to each destination was just jaw dropping. We passed through so much greenery, giant trees, snow, rivers and creeks and I never grew tired of the picturesque road. Just being in everything we aren’t able to see in a big city like Los Angeles was beyond refreshing. I’ve broken down each place we visited and included the highlights we loved.
We used the app Roadtrippers once again. We loved it when we drove to Dallas, TX and decided it was a must for this trip.
This was our trip and all the stops along the way. If you are itching to take a roadtrip I would recommend you use the Roadtrippers app. FOR SURE. Its so helpful when you’re trying to map where you want to visit.
First stop……
Big Sur
First stop was Big Sur. The drive although a little TOO windy for my taste was absolutely sublime. Gorgeousness all around. I have to admit one morning was not enough time spent in this magical terrain.
Must Sees
Pfeiffer Beach to see the Sun Portal. Its best seen around sundown but beautiful any time nonetheless.
Bixby Bridge
San Francisco
We had a pitstop lunch in San Francisco. Even though I had visited San Francisco twice before I had yet to visit the Painted Ladies. They are so beautiful dressed in the perfect color palette. We also decided to go to the Golden Gate Bridge because why not? What’s a trip to San Fran without seeing this beautifully engineered landmark.
Napa Valley
We spent the night in Napa Valley and the moment we left I was already itching to get back. Napa is so beautiful and definitely kicked off this roadtrip’s tour of red wines and cheese plates. I just can’t seem to turn either away. The town itself is very quaint and I really wish we were able to explore during the day. We met the nicest sommelier that night who treated our taste palettes REAL well.
Redwood National Park
Leave it to mother nature to make you feel like the smallest speck on earth. These redwood trees were spectacular. The mist amongst them and all the greenery surrounding these majestic giants was unreal.
Medford, Oregon
Medford was like an in between stop so we wouldn’t have to drive so far but my god am I glad we chose it. Medford had some of the best “american” food I’ve ever had. We had dinner at Immortal Spirits & Distilling Company, I ordered the Drunken Goat which was a burger with goat cheese and other really savory flavors that took my mouth for a whirlwind. I’m still dreaming about that damm burger. They also offer really cool whiskey flights and absinthe which I passed on but Manny loved it!
For breakfast we ended up at Buttercloud where they are known for their biscuits and other baked goods. I had the peanut butter and bananas atop of their famous
made-from-scratch biscuits and a side of veggie hash. Manny got the french toast biscuit plate and we shared the biscuits and gravy. Easy to say we were in a food coma. I was literally saying “oh my god!” in between each bite. It was soooo delicious. I wish we had places THAT good near me.
Well played Medford, you surprised me!
Crater Lake
Crater Lake was so dreamy. I was so excited for this place but I had ZERO idea that it would be snowing. Its like it has its own weather up there. I bet its absolutely stunning in the summer but I’m so happy we visited during the snow because I had never touched snow like that in my life. For a split second I thought I was touching the fake snow from Christmas time at the Grove here in Los Angeles, because it was that beady, powder snow that I have never ever seen in my life. It was a highlight of the trip for sure, even though I was freaking out during the drive in our little compact rental.
White Salmon River
Another highlight of our trip was white water rafting down White Salmon River in Washington. We booked our trip through River Drifters which I would 100 percent recommend. Our guide was awesome and so knowledgeable in a really relaxed way if that makes sense. I never thought I would do something so adventurous but it was one the best times. I’m so glad I did it! The White Salmon River is known to be one of the best destinations to white water raft.
Portland, Oregon
I’m number one to say California Girl FOREVER, but damn I wouldn’t hate moving to Portland. (West Coast forever, perhaps?) I really really loved Portland. We rented an Air Bnb for our 3 day stay. We guzzled beer + wine and stuffed our faces through the city. The Portland way is very organic with farm to table ingredients and lots of cutting edge breweries so we really did it up.
Must Dos:
Brewcycle Portland was our highlight in portland. You get on a 12 seater bike with others as you pedal to 3 different breweries. By the 3rd brewery everyone is like besties!
Powell’s Bookstore. Its the largest independent used and new bookstore in the world. With so many levels you can spend an afternoon shifting through everything. Their prices are great too!
Adler Street Food Truck Pods. I think that Portland, Oregon was the birthplace of the food truck craze. They are everywhere! We made our way through the many, many food truck pods posted on Adler street. I circled around twice to decide on which I wanted. Commitment issues? FOMO issues? Not sure… but you really can’t go wrong. The food in Portland is so tasty.
Voodoo Doughnuts its one of those tourist staples that sucked us in but hey its a must. *We were there around 11 am and totally beat the long line.
Bicycle. Rent a bike for a few hours and ride around as the locals do. We rented ours from Cycle Portland. They offer city tours which could be fun, but we just went off on our own.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is a destination I always wanted to see. We rented another Air Bnb for our 3 day stay. We were expecting lots of rain and super cold weather but I guess we brought the sunshine from CA. It was perfect weather, at least for Seattle standards I’m thinking. I felt very cozy in Seattle. Lots of coffee, wine, books, and pho. Its all the comforts I yearn for on a rainy day.
Must Dos
Space Needle. Definitely book during sunset. Nothing beats those views.
EMP Museum. I’ve seen every documentary on Nirvana/ Kurt Cobain. I’m so obsessed so you can guess how excited I was to visit the Nirvana exhibit here. They have so many cool artifacts and is very well presented.
Chihuly Garden All the colors and shapes, its amazing to see that everything is glass, done by Washington bred Dale Chihuly.
Pike Place Market (including the gum wall) Lots to see and do around here. The gumwall is kinda gross but at least it’ll make for some colorful photos. We ended up grabbing sushi nearby. 100 percent the place for fresh fish.
First Starbucks At pike place, you’ll notice the line !
Kerry Park for the best views of Seattle. You spot Space Needle, Mt. Rainier and all of Seattle from here.
Ba Bar for really delicious Pho with a dope bar. Also it is Anthony Bourdain approved.
Purple if you’re into wines. They have an incredible wine tower. Also order the baked Brie to start along with a pinot noir. Just trust me on this.
Here is a collective video, (as i always do with my trips) of how it all went down. Hopefully this inspires you to take a trip you’ve been itching to go on. Let me know in the comments below where you would love to road trip to 🙂
When HomeAway asked me what my Top 5 BeachEssentials arethese items immediately popped into my head. I wouldn’t dare leave these babies behind.
1. Maui Babe
I love layering Maui Babe Browning lotion on top of my SPF. It gives me the perfect golden glow. I found this product over 10 years ago while on vacation in Hawaii and I’ve never looked back.
2. A Good Book
It always so tranquil to unwind with a good book and the sound of waves crashing.
Beach and sunnies are pretty much synonymous. I love these rose tinted sunnies I got from Forever21. I also favor Raybans and the fun shades from Prism London.
5. Tinted Lip Balm with SPF
Sometimes we forget that our lips need SPF too. I never like to skimp on color for my lips so the L’Occitane Peony Tinted Lip Balm has always done the job but currently they are going under reformulation for a stronger SPF. Can’t wait ’til they’re rereleased. I found these Sephora Rouge Balms with SPF 20 that are pretty comparable.
HomeAway ‘s gorgeous rentals had me dreaming of my next getaway. I would choose a destination like Pensacola Beach or Puerto Rico hands down.
Where would you go? Let me know in the comments below!
As I had mentioned in an earlier post about first arriving in Kenya, I had my doubts… But once I let go of those negative thoughts about the insecurities of traveling alone I was able to embrace this beautiful country. Sometimes you have to be aware of how you’re feeling and assess that they have emanated from your head, and the only way to change your current circumstances is to chose to think differently and positively.
I urge any female to travel alone at least once in your life. People may try to discourage you and tell you things like its too dangerous but do not let anyone dissuade you from your dreams. If you wait for others to travel with you to ALL these places in the world you dream of, you may end up waiting forever.
The beauty in traveling alone is that:
Your itinerary is completely up to YOU!
You can completely own the ability of taking care of sh*t entirely without help.
Hence, you feel like such a badass
You get to enjoy your own company
The experience of depending on yourself while enjoying your own company through these new experiences will definitely give you a confidence boost (which I feel young women often need).
You grow from these experiences
Here are a few experiences that I enjoyed most. I was able to reflect and be at peace with myself and gain confidence. I felt CENTERED, which is pretty funny because we actually traveled to the equator. There were times where I had to combat my uncomfortable-ness, but these challenges allowed me to grow, as do most obstacles in life. I was able to step out of my comfort zone and experience what Kenya and life truly has to offer.
The Maasai people welcoming us with a dance at the Maasai Mara. They had the most beautiful hand crafted jewelry available for purchase.
Fruit stand everywhere at really good prices! I went during mango season and damn am I glad I did.
Matatus, these colorful pimped out buses are the most common form of transportation.
Picky pickys (street bikes) are another common form of transportation in Kenya used for shorter distances. I’ve never felt so free riding one, my hair flailing in the wind.
It was about a 6 hour drive from Nairobi to pose with this wooden sign. Worth it? ehh…
At Nyahururu Thompson Falls, at the equator. The waterfall is stunning and is a nice place to visit if you are wanting a picture by the equator sign. It semi makes the drive worth it. * Be sure to wear lots of bug off.
Naivasha’s Hells Gate, Hippo Lake and camping at Fisherman’s Camp
Our cute two-man tents that Fishermans Camp set up for us.Hippo Lake was a calm and relaxing ride not paying attention to the fact that the hippo is the most dangerous animal in the world. They can snap your body into 3 pieces with one bite.
View point looking out to Pride Rock
Riding bikes passing the “locals” at Hells GateSitting on top of Pride RockOur guide Joseph was the best!
The weekend at Hells Gate took me out of my comfort zone COMPLETELY. First off, if you know me well, I do NOT camp. I have never camped in a teepee style tent in mah life, and I weirdly enjoyed it. I think waking up and seeing the serene Hippo Lake across the way and being surrounded by such a great group of friends made it easy. We biked Hells Gate crossings paths with zebras, giraffes, buffalos and warthogs and it was unbelievable. Like seriously where else can you do this? We were determined to see Pride Rock (yes the Lion King’s Pride Rock!) which we were told was at Hells Gate so we got a guide, reluctantly but wow were we so glad we did.
This hike was like no other hike I have been on. I mean c’mon I’m used to Runyon Canyon. This hike was like a real life Indiana Jones adventure. If you choose this adventure please wear proper shoes and not flip flops like me. I honestly thought I wasn’t going to survive the 2 hour trail. We were there at the hottest part of the day, biked 15 miles, hiked 2 hours dodging quick sand and the boiling hot springs. We had to go across slippery rocks spiderman style but it was all worth it sitting on top of Pride Rock looking at the beautiful gorges. After that weekend I felt like I can do anything.
Our guide Joseph was amazing and I kid you not saved my life. If you want to do this hike to pride rock you can bike to the information center at Hells Gate (not to be confused with the ticketing office) and you can bargain for a price for someone to guide you. There is no way you can do this on your own.
Mombasa
Fort Jesus Spice MarketTuk Tuks are a common form of transportation around Mombasa
Shimba Hills National Reserve
Camel Ride at Diani Beach
Diani beach was my last leg of my entire trip in Kenya. It offered different views from Nairobi being heavily influenced by the Portuguese and Arabs. The beaches were beautiful and quite empty. I stayed at South Coast Backpackers Diani. It was really cool there because you get to meet so many different people from all over, even the staff were like friends simply hanging out at the pool and bar.
Flights are pretty cheap from Nairobi to Mombasa through Jambo Jet. Once landing in Mombasa you would have to take a ferry and taxi to Diani beach to reach the white sand beaches and turquoise waters. Or they have flights through Jambo Jet directly to Ukunda for a little more. You can also take an overnight bus from Nairobi to Diani. Bus tickets are around 15 dollars for VIP and it is a 9 hour bus ride so you may want the extra leg room.
Kenya is so beautiful and there is so much to see and do. LOTS of Only in Africa experiences. If you missed my video from my last post here you go.
In my Out of Africa post you will find a shorthand guide and photos
of the MUST-DO safari.
Gypsy Queen Romper 
Our cute two-man tents that Fishermans Camp set up for us.
Hippo Lake was a calm and relaxing ride not paying attention to the fact that the hippo is the most dangerous animal in the world. They can snap your body into 3 pieces with one bite.
View point looking out to Pride Rock
Riding bikes passing the “locals” at Hells Gate
Sitting on top of Pride Rock
Our guide Joseph was the best!
Fort Jesus
Tuk Tuks are a common form of transportation around Mombasa
Shimba Hills National Reserve
Camel Ride at Diani Beach
I would also recommend 
Pepperpout 