Sorry for being light on the postings lately, it’s because I’m busy working and preparing for the big trip! Now if I could just find a fairy to pack my bags for me, and fill it with fabulous things!
Are you making any big trips this summer? What should I pack?!
It’s no secret that this dry desert has plenty of great Staycation offers this time of year. After all, many tourists are freaked out at just the sound of triple-digit heat. But for us locals, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy the deals and explore a bit of the city, too. And one sizzlin’ staycation that’s doing it right is Hotel Palomar Phoenix at Cityscape. Unless you live in Downtown Phoenix, chances are you haven’t been in awhile. Which is one of the reasons why this staycation made my summer list. Being downtown actually makes you feel like you left the Valley, with views of the high-rises, gaming and concert venues, shopping, arts and restaurants just steps away. If you aren’t sure where to start in your Phoenix exploration, these summer staycation packages are geared toward just that. See for yourself.
$102 and a Round of Brew: Cheers to great rates! Beautifully appointed deluxe accommodations, a round of four beers at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails. Runs June 1 – September 8, 2013. Rates start from $102 (Rate code: BREW).
Laugh Like a Local: Life just seems a bit better when you’re laughing. Beautifully appointed deluxe accommodations, two tickets to Stand Up Live. Rate starting from $129 (add just $10 more than the Best Available Rate for two comedy tickets. Rate code: LOCAL).
Downtown Discovery Family Package: Beautifully appointed deluxe accommodations, choose your own adventure with two children’s tickets to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix –or- Arizona Science Center, two welcome kids packs. Rates starting from $124 (rate code: PFAM).
Feed the beast at their on-site restaurant, Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails. This American gastro-loung has got plenty of creative, hand-crafted cocktails and a menu that will not disappoint. (Get the deviled eggs, these are not your Grandma’s deviled eggs and just exceptional.) Booking: http://www.hotelpalomar-phoenix.com or 602-253-6633 Check back next week for even more Sizzlin’ Summer Staycation ideas!
There is so much to say about my recent trip to Moscow, Russia, that a weekend update just won’t cover it. (I suppose that’s why I tend to write magazine articles about these things since short just isn’t my forté!)
It was funny to both my hubby and I the impression everyone had of this city before we went: “Is it safe to travel there?” “What is there to see?” and “Why don’t you just go to Mexico?” were seriously some of the questions we got. Well, let me just say this: the city is beautiful, rich in history, style and culture. And although there is a time and place for a nice beach vacay, nothing (in my opinion) beats an exotic trip to a far-off locale.
And now, the fashion…
{Xinhua/Jiang Kehong}
I took it as a big sign that I so happened to be in Russia during Moscow Fashion Week and experienced a ridiculous amount of F’Envy. That’s Fur-Envy, the term we made up for my constant head-turning and gawking at the unfairly stylish and attractive women traipsing through the city in high-heeled boots and gorgeous leather bags in tow. They were sophisticated, elegant and damnit I’d kill for a fur coat now.
The sites to see were spectacular; I could spend an entire afternoon just staring at St. Basil’s. But aside from the touristy things, there’s quite the scene in Moscow. And to give you fair warning, it’s quite an expensive one at that. GUM at the Red Square was built at the turn of the 19th century and during the Soviet Union, the top floor was home to Section 100, a secret clothing store only open to the highest echelons of the party. Now, it houses more than 200 luxury brands like Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Hugo Boss and more. (Still the upper echelons of society, you might say.)
Just across the street is TSUM, another ultra-luxurious shopping center. If you’ve ever shopped at Printemps in Paris, you’ll know exactly what to expect at TSUM, which is essentially a luxury department store on steroids housing all of your favorite high-end brands. Don’t like stocking up on Burberry Baby clothes? Kick up your heels and hang out in their Veuve Clicquot lounge. You could easily go broke here, so might as well bring in your pooch and just drink some Champagne. (Yes, there was a couple doing just that. It was quite cliché)
Now that you’ve shopped for the very best, wind down at O2 Lounge, the rooftop bar at the Ritz-Carlton, Moscow with gorgeous views of Red Square. You should stop by, even if it’s just for a cocktail. And if you’re itching for clothes you can actually shop for don’t worry, there’s a Zara on every corner.
How such a glamorous, and luxury travel destination could have a reputation as anything but is beyond me. We’ll be going back someday. Definitely love.
Packing like a Pro. Who wouldn’t want their luggage to be utter, organized bliss?
I’m jetset again this month with a quick trip to Florida this weekend, followed by our big trip to Moscow so packing is on the brain at the moment. If you’re one for whom the idea of packing brings on waves of panic and anxiety, check out these super easy packing tips and secrets to packing like a Pro.
Packing Cubes
Before my recent trip to Canada, I stumbled upon eBags Packing Cubes and I have no idea how I’ve lived so long without them! They’re lightweight, have heavy duty zippers and great at keeping your suitcase organized. You’ll never have to deal with fishing through your entire suitcase for one item hidden at the bottom again. Need a sweater? Take out the cube filled with sweaters! Need a swimsuit? Don’t rummage through all your clothes, take out the cube with swimsuits in it! I’m addicted to these things now and even use them when I’m not traveling. I use a Large Packing Cube to store my leggings and two small packing cubes to keep my swimsuits organized in my dresser. Trust once you’ve tried these, you’ll wonder how you survived any trip without them.
Pre-Packed Makeup
Filing up your toiletry bag isn’t just time consuming, doing it last minute makes it so easy to leave things behind. That’s why I have a pre-packed bag with my favorite travel-sized items, ready to go. I keep my favorite beauty travel products in my Mini Kittour Jetsetter so all I have to do is grab and go!
Stuff Your Hats
I love hats but boy are they a PIA to travel with! For my St. Lucia honeymoon, I wanted to take big, glamorous summer hats for days spent by the beach but was worried they’d flatten out and lose all their shape. Solution? Stuff them just like they do at the store! I used cardboard from shoe boxes to first line around the bag and then, stuffed them with rolled tops. You need to use every nook and cranny available so might as well fill your actual hat with some of your clothes! Plus, it helps your hat retain its shape, too.
Keep it Simple
It can be oh-so-tempting to try and stuff your entire wardrobe in your suitcase. But just don’t. You won’t have any room left to bring goodies back and will end up wrinkling more clothes than needed! Pack according to outfits instead of at random and remember to keep it simple. I like to stick to a color scheme so all your shoes, accessories and bags match. For more on this, check out my guide on how to pack for anything.
I had somewhat of a milestone birthday this past summer. So to celebrate, my fiancé took me to San Francisco. Yes, I’m totally a bit late on posting, but thought I’d share some pics from the trip while I’m out on my current trip–honeymooning!
{Oh, seafood…}
{We took the ferry over to Sausalito. Would highly recommend, it’s abs gorgeous!}
{And then, there was Napa…}
You really can’t go wrong with Napa. The last few pics are from Domaine Carneros which is one of my favorite wineries to visit when you’re in the region; you get plenty of fabulous bubble to sample and one of the best views of the Valley. It’s a great way to end your day if you’ve been wine tasting all day.
Ever been to San Fran/Napa? What are your favorite places to visit?
On our way to our next hotel for the evening, we stopped by Witches Chase Cheese Company for a tasting. And boy, was that a treat! We met with one of the owners, the impossibly lovely Meredith Morris, who has one of those life stories that makes you feel like a total underachiever. After bring Lush Cosmetics to the states (yes, thatLush Cosmetics), and sailing the world for a year with her husband, they purchased an old factory to make cheeses to complement their love of fine wine. Did I mention that all around the factory you see the handwritten menus on the walls which are the same “font” that Lush Cosmetics uses? Oh yes, that’s because her handwriting was patented and made into the font for Lush. And yes, she’s also beautiful and quite lovely.
The cheese shop and factory grew into their own brewery where you can now take a tour and enjoy beer and cheese pairings. We met with the Master Brewer, who doesn’t look a day over 19 and, it turns out, he started apprenticing at just 16. Needless to say, our afternoon at Witches Chase Cheese Company was full of laughs, great stories and this nagging little voice that entered all or our heads that we should be doing much more with our lives! (Like yachting around the world for a year? Oh yes, that sounds quite nice indeed.)
{Jeans: Gap. Fedora: Banana Republic. Watch (similar): Michael Kors. Tee: Ann Taylor Loft}
Remember last week when I mentioned that press trips pack a lot into one day? I wasn’t exaggerating! There was so much to explore in the Gold Coast that really, there was no other way to soak up just a glimpse of it all than to pack it all in. In the morning, I treated myself to a beachside stroll and had the chance to visit the shops that dot Surfer’s Paradise. That afternoon, it was time to suit up for a stand-up paddle boarding lesson! Yes, I actually did it (I’m more adventurous than you think!).
There’s no better way to celebrate a sporty activity than with good food, a glass of wine and gorgeous views, which is what we did at our lunch spot, Oskars. There was seafood on the menu that to be honest, I’ve never heard of before but the views were spectacular and the meal quite delightful.
Of course, a trip to the Gold Coast wouldn’t be complete without Koalas. It was raining so we quickly darted in and out of the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and got a few quick pics with the koalas! Turns out, they mostly sleep all day but the furry creatures were so adorable in real life!
Yes, all of those pics are from just one restaurant.
Later that night, we checked out the QT hotel where we popped by the spa, had drinks at Stingray and dined at Bazaar, an “Interactive Marketplace” (that’s a fancy term for a fancy buffet). The hotel itself is hip and retro, reminding me of Scottsdale’s Hotel Valley Ho. But the dinner concept was a real treat. Banish what you think you know of buffets and instead, think fresh International cuisine, a chance to interact with all the chefs, wine pairings and treats galore. I’m sure it’s a new trend we’ll be seeing here soon.
Press trips are a funny thing: they seem to pack a lifetime of experiences into just a few days and push you to be open to new adventures you hadn’t considered before. My recent trip to the Gold Coast in Australia was just four days, but felt like much longer. I’ll be sharing a bit about my trip every Thursday this month so be sure to check back for more!
After 15 hours spent in Qantas business class, I arrived in Australia. This was the longest flight I’ve taken in my life. Thank God for wine, champagne, fully-reclinable seats, movies galore and even a pair of comfy PJs for me to slip into. Yes, PJs are given to everyone flying Business class. How cute is that?!
Many hours later, I arrived to check into my accommodations for the first two nights, Sea Temple Surfer’s Paradise.
Gorgeous views, modern decor and a too-spacious-for-just-me two-bedroom condo is just what a girl who has been traveling 17+ hours needs. I settled in to relax and unwind….
Later that night, it was time to gussy up for a group dinner at the hotel’s decadent restaurant, Seaduction. Catchy name, no?
I’ve been doing so much traveling lately that I’ve been meaning to share a few posts on packing tips but in the meantime, I found this cool video on The Art of Packing by Louis Vuitton. Of course, this looks like packing for a 2-night stay (not a week in Australia) but it’s nevertheless a cute video. Enjoy!
Wanna learn more? Have fun playing with the Louis Vuitton interactive guide to packing on their website! It’s pretty entertaining. Now, if I just had one of those bags…
and I have no idea how I’ve lived so long without them! They’re lightweight, have heavy duty zippers and great at keeping your suitcase organized. You’ll never have to deal with fishing through your entire suitcase for one item hidden at the bottom again. Need a sweater? Take out the cube filled with sweaters! Need a swimsuit? Don’t rummage through all your clothes, take out the cube with swimsuits in it! I’m addicted to these things now and even use them when I’m not traveling. I use a 
to store my leggings and two small packing cubes to keep my swimsuits organized in my dresser. Trust once you’ve tried these, you’ll wonder how you survived any trip without them.
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