A Week in Cozumel

tunic ℅‎  // shorts // avarcas ℅‎  // sunglasses // necklace ℅‎

photos by Miguel Nunez 

Cozumel is the little island off the coast of Playa del Carmen where my family spent the most perfect week earlier this summer! I had never been to Mexico before, so I really didn't know what to expect. From the moment we stepped off the plane, it was such a fun, relaxing time. I thought I'd share my favorite experiences from our trip and what might be helpful if you're heading to Cozumel!   

 

Pack: 

I could have left half the outfits, and packed double the amount of swimsuits, coverups, and these Castell Avarca sandals by The Avarca Store! I wore them in this post, and basically every day of the trip. I could just as easily wear my avarcas to the beach, while we went on long walks through town, or on the few occasions we got dressed up to go out to dinner. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, and since they are so well made, I know I'll be wearing them for years to come! 

Eat: 

Kondesa for gourmet Mexican food. This was hands down the best restaurant on the island, and we actually ended up going twice! 

Albertos for great tacos and even better salsa! Possibly the best I've ever had! 

Guidos for incredible Italian seafood dishes and gourmet churros. Who would have guessed some of the best Italian food I've ever had would be in Mexico?! 

Coconuts for a super tacky beachside atmosphere, but great fish tacos. Definitely a quintessential Cozumel experience!

Shop: 

With the exception of a few kitschy souvenirs, I would say Cozumel was not the place to find the perfect outfit or great shopping in general. But it was fun to bargain hunt and negotiate at the roadside stands!

Do: 

Cozumel is the perfect place to do nothing. The majority of our trip was spent laying in the sun or floating on the ocean. That being said, if you feel like venturing off the beach, there is still so much to do! 

Quad tour for a unique way to see the the jungle and El Cedral, one of the oldest and most colorful parts of the island! It had poured rain the day before we went quadding, so our tour turned into mudding! We thought it made our trip even more fun.

Ek Balam for a stunning hike and the chance to experience one of the most historical sites in South America. This Mayan pyramid still (surprisingly) allows the public to climb all the way to the top. It is definitely a little sketchy, but the views of the jungle are stunning. It is so worth the ferry ride to the mainland and a long drive to get there. 

Snorkel tour for a boat ride to the coral reefs and the brightest blue water. On our trip, we saw tons of beautiful fish and even got less than ten feet away from a little shark! Equally exciting and terrifying!

San Gervasico for a walk through an ancient Mayan city. I would definitely recommend spending a few extra pesos to have a tour guide walk you through the park and explain the significance of each site. 

PS: more posts from Cozumel here and here 

0

24 Hours in Charleston

Visiting Charleston, South Carolina had been on the top of my list for years, and when I realized that Mandy and I were just a few hours away, we knew we had to make the road trip! Charlestom was the perfect city for a girls trip with Mandy, my best blogging buddy!  It was so fun to be there with someone who equally appreciated each cute and colorful building, wanted to stop and take photos on every single corner, and who was also willing to pay for all of the trendy, overpriced coffee! We had a pretty packed schedule during my week in the South (and later DC), so we only had time to go to Charleston for a quick overnight trip. I could have easily spent a whole weekend (or really the rest of my life) in Charleston, but it was absolutely possible to knock it out in 24 hours! It never took more than 10 minutes to get from one side of town to the other, so we were able see and do every single thing on our list. Here’s how we not only explored the city but how we did it in just about 24 hours!  

Eat and Drink: 

Black Tap Coffee for  your pre-Charleston caffeine fix. Fuel up for the day with an iced lavender  latte. It may be the best I've ever had! 

Leon’s Oyster Shop for a delicious, quirky, and quintessionally Southern lunch. Let me just say, I hadn’t lived until I tried hush puppies with honey butter from Leon’s.

Magnolias for one of the best dinners of your life. We were lucky to get a reservation at this famous Charleston staple. 

The Daily for a casual breakfast and coffee.  I felt like The Daily was filled with more locals and a more hip vibe. I loved the city's colorful, historical charm, but it was fun to see another side to Charleston.

Sugar Bakeshop for the most life changing vanilla blueberry cupcake.

See: 

Tradd Street for a spontaneous drive. This part of our trip was unplanned, but actually one of my favorite parts! It started storming, so we just hopped in the car and drove around. Tradd Street was my favorite neighborhood, and where I snapped this Instagram picture! 

Rainbow Row for a walk along the beautiful cobblestone streets. Charleston has more pink and pastel colored houses than any place I've ever visited, and they are perfectly showcased along this historic row of houses. 

Pineapple Fountain for the perfect end to a walk through Waterfront Park, which is absolutely beautiful in it's own right. The ocean views and oak tree groves surrounding the fountain make for the most peaceful afternoon.

Shop: 

Candy Shop Vintage for the most darling mix of new and vintage jelwery and accessories. 

Be the Change Boutique for pieces with purpose. Each item in the shop has a unique story and gives back to communities in need all around the globe. 

Candlefish for a mix of fragrant homemade candles, beautiful home goods, and (of course) ample Instagram opportunities. 

Lilly Pulizter for your fill or preppy prints and colors. Lilly's King Street location was definitely more Mandy's favorite than mine, but had to be included in our Charleston guide nonetheless! 

 

Charleston is the most beautiful city with the kindest people. I left feeling like it was the best city on the planet, and what do you know, literally the next day it was voted Travel and Leisure's Best City in North America! If you are headed to Charleston and are really ambitious, I've made an hour-by-hour itinerary of our exact trip. Like I said, I would have loved to spend an indefinite amount of time in Charleston, but I feel like our trip was perfect if you're on a tight timeline but still want to experience all the charm, beauty, and Southern hospitality that Charleston has to offer. 

0

Travel Style

tee ℅‎ // shorts // hat ℅‎ // avarcas ℅‎ // bag ℅‎ // necklace ℅‎ 

photos by Miguel Nunez 

I’m so excited to share photos more from my trip to Cozumel, Mexico last month. Cozumel was the most perfect place to unwind from the busy school year. I was home for less than a day before we hopped on the flight, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start my summer! It was nice to go from 100% school mode to 100% vacation mode. Cozumel was just stunning. Each morning waking up to that bright blue view was unreal. And I think I have finally found the perfect summertime travel outfit. This combination of breezy shorts, a cute tee, a straw hat, comfortable sandals, and my new favorite bag is essentially what I wore the entire week. I especially love these pieces because they were so comfortable. This tee is possibly the softest shirt I own, I was able to walk miles in these Castell Avarca sandals by The Avarca Store without getting sore feet, and this structured cross body bag was perfect for long days of travel. Do you have a go to travel look? I’m curious because I think I may have just found mine! 

PS: My other post from Cozumel and more travel looks here and here  

1

Travel Essentials

Off to Mexico we go! Today my family and I are traveling to Cozumel, Mexico and I am so excited! I couldn't think of a better way to kick off the summer. After an exhausting week of finals, I am looking forward to laying on the beach for a week straight. But before we get to the beach, we have a long day of travel. We are flying from Sacramento ---> Houston ---> Cancun, then taking a ferry to Cozumel. A lot of people get stressed out by travel days, but I actually love them! Last year was a huge travel year for me. India, France, England, and smaller trips throughout the year meant so much joy, staying more organized, and packing as smart as possible. Whether you're preparing for a quick weekend road trip or a huge trip to another country, these travel essentials have proven to be so useful. I teamed up with the incredible artist Evelyn Hensen to share my travel must-haves! 

Travel Journal 

One of my favorite ways to capture the memories from a trip is to journal them out. I love looking back on all of the memories and experiences. Take the time each day to journal where you went, what you did, who you met, and what you discovered. After a big trip, one of my favorite things to do is reread my travel jounrals. They always take me right back to the moments of my trip.

Makeup Bag 

I try to only pack my must-haves and fit them into a carryon sized makeup bag. A great way is to bring sample sized products like mini mascaras and moisturizers. After a long plane ride, there is nothing better than freshening up and taking on the city! When I'm looking back on photos, I'm always thankful that I took a few extra moments to look my best. 

Cozy Scarf 

On a long flight or car ride there is nothing better than staying cozy with a blanket scarf. I'm usually freezing when I'm traveling, so this is the best way to stay warm and stylish (and hide from the world when I want to take a nap). 

Headphones 

This one's a no brainer! Headphones are necessary for all of those travel playlists! These Spotify playlists from EF College Break are my favorite! Plus, headphones help tune out that awful airplane noise. 

Camera 

I've yet to meet someone who wishes they took less photos while traveling. Taking the time to capture memories is always worth it. Months and years after your trip, you will be so thankful that you brought along a nice camera instead of just depending on your camera app. 

Striped Tee

You really can't go wrong with a classic striped shirt. On my last long trip, I packed lots of fancier pieces that took up a ton of space in my luggage and then ended up wearing the same striped tee over and over! I think its better to pack simple pieces and then dress them up or down with the right accessories. Packing simpler, classic pieces that save space and effort is the way to go! 

Sunglasses 

Sunglasses are necessary for exploring a new city. Sunglasses like these that just happen to be really cute are even better! 

One Good Book 

One book (yes, just one) is perfect for filling in the moments in between adventures! I always want to bring more books, but the only time I end up reading is on the airplane ride, a few minutes before falling asleep, or lounging in the sun.

Tote 

Throw it all together in the perfect tote! Time and time again, my favorite travel bag has been this Longchamp bag. It's water resistant, big enough to fit my laptop, and completely worth the investment!

What are some carry ons that you can't live without? I'd love to read in the comments below! Shop my travel essentials using the links above and then head over to Evelyn's blog for more fun! I'm so excited she and I could team up to create this post! 

2

A Weekend In Toronto

Time for me to brag... A few weeks ago, my brother's hockey team made it the North American Finals. A big perk of being a hockey sister is getting to tag along to some pretty incredible places! So for MLK weekend, my whole family headed to Toronto, Canada. The three-day weekend was filled with lots of hockey games and a trip to Niagara Falls! No one in my family had been to Toronto before, and boy it did not disappoint; definitely one of the coolest cities I have ever been to. 

 One of my favorite parts of the trip was visiting the historic Distillery District. The original brick structure was converted to hold dozens of unique shops and restaurants. The shopping was incredible, but one of my favorite spots in the Distillery was Cluny Bistro (pictured above); such a cool atmosphere and the most authentic French food!

 Our frequent stops at Tim Hortons for donuts and coffee were another highlight of the trip. Not even ashamed to admit that we stopped there at least once a day! 

 Niagara Falls was simply stunning. If you can brave the freezing temperatures, I absolutely recommend visiting in the winter. During offseason, you basically have The Falls to yourself! Our quick trip to Toronto was so much fun! I am already dreaming of going back and getting to see more of the city! Have you even been to Toronto?  

PS: My another fun weekend adventure and my favorite trip I've ever taken

0

10 Fun Things to Do in NYC This Summer

image via

Hello from New York City! I am so excited to be here reunited with friends, meeting new ones, and being constantly inspired by the incredible speakers at the Live Smart Series! Most of my days are spent at the conference, but there is also plenty of time for sightseeing and exploring in the evenings! This can be a sort of bucket list while I'm in town. I hope to do as many things as possible. Have you been to NYC before? What are some of your favorite things to do?

Window shop on 5th Avenue 

Actually shop in Soho

Have tea at the Plaza like Eloise 

Walk the High Line at Sunset 

Attend a Broadway show 

Head to the top of the Empire State Building 

Take a coffee break at Ralph's 

Relive your favorite Gossip Girl moments in Central Park 

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge 

Attend Live Smart Series (Day Two of this incredible conference begins today!) 

2

Paris

Remember a few months ago when I was dreaming about going back to Paris? Well, my dream came true! I don't think there is a place I love more than this city. My family jam packed so many laughs, metro rides, beautiful sites, and even more beautiful memories into our five days in Paris, and I am so excited to share them! We arrived late in the afternoon on Sunday, and my brother and I explored our neighborhood in search of crepes. We managed to get so lost, but thanks so a nice florist (who also gave us the prettiest fresh peonies!), we found a crepe stand! Could there be a more perfect way to kick off our time in Paris?

To start our first full day in Paris, we headed to the Notre Dame Cathedral. After taking in the beautiful sights, we decided to go walk around Luxembourg Gardens. Wow. What a perfect, flowery place in the middle of the city! We found a sunny spot to sit and may have fallen asleep for a few minutes. A little ice cream break woke us up, and we made our way to the Eiffel Tower. When you first get a glimpse, you can't help but stand in awe for a minute. Somehow this giant metal structure is absolutely beautiful. We braved the crowds, pickpockets, and crazy wind to go to the top and witness the most magical views of the Paris. It was a beautiful, sunny, and busy first day in my favorite city. 

We ventured out of Paris for the day and made our way to Giverny to see Monet's Garden! We decided to use Fat Tire Bike Tours which was amazing. The tour included the train ride to Giverny, a picnic, a beautiful bike ride through the French countryside, a tour of Monet's Garden, and the ride back to Paris. Our day in Giverny was one of my favorite memories from our trip two years ago, and this time was no different. I can't even describe how delicious our little picnic on the riverbank of the Seine was, how beautiful Monet's Garden was, or how awesome our tour guide was! 

On our fourth day, my dad and brother headed to La Mans to watch the car races while my mom and I headed to our favorite part of Paris!  Le Marais is so quintessentially Paris, has the cutest cafes, and the best shopping in my opinion. The best purchase of the day was definitely a vintage Louis Vuitton tote that I seriously plan on using every day for the rest of my life! When I saw it tucked on a shelf I was so excited, and then when I saw the price tag I got really excited. Apparently designer labels are way more affordable in Paris than in the states...yay! Later that day, my mom and I met with Shannon! We met on the Champs Elysees for dinner, macarons from Ladurée, and a climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. None of us had ever been to the top, and it was incredible! We ended the day with amazing views of Paris, yummy macarons, and a gorgeous sunset with great people. I couldn't ask for more! 

We started our last day with a perfect almond-choclate croissant from Boulangerie Julien (my favorite bakery in Paris!) before heading to Montmartre. This part of Paris is so beautiful, so unique, and home to the Moulin Rouge and Sacré Coeur. My absolute favorite part of Montmartre, though, is the square where literally hundreds of artists set up with their easels to paint and sell their work. I can't think of a more perfect souvenir to take home than a little canvas from Montmartre. After that, we took the Metro to Musée d'Orsay. It was incredible to see such beautiful pieces of art and honestly just as wonderful to escape the heat for a bit! We ended our day with a river cruise along the Siene. The bank of the river at sunset is so beautiful. It felt like the whole city had found a spot along the river to picnic and celebrate the night. There could not have been a better ending to our five days in the City of Light. 

0

London

My two favorite Ben's: the brother and the clock! 

Outfit Details: top//jacket//pants//sandals//sun glasses 

The parks in this city were the most beautiful I'd ever seen. It felt like there was one on every corner! 

The Tower Bridge, not the London Bridge, as we were surprised to learn! Please tell me that I'm not the only person who thought this was called London Bridge all my life?! 

On the lawn of Westminster Abbey (aka where Will and Kate got married aka my mom and I were freaking out aka this called for an impromptu photo shoot). 

Hands down my favorite shoes for traveling. I picked these Tory Burch espadrille sandals up before our trip, and could not recommend them enough! I walked around all day and my feet weren't sore at all. 

I'm not sure if it was the jet lag or just the sheer amount of things we did in such little time, but London was an absolute whirlwind. Two days went by in the blink of an eye, and it was definitely one of those cities I would be perfectly happy coming back and spending weeks in. Since it was our first time there, seeing all the touristy sites was a must. Our first day, we arrived around noon and decided to walk all the way from the top of Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace, which was a great way to get a feel for the city. Day two was our busy day. In order to see all the sites, we hopped on the double decker site seeing bus! I know its so touristy, but whenever I'm in a new city, the first thing I want to do is hop on one of those obnoxious busses! Doing that was perfect for us because we saw all the important sites like the Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey, but still had the freedom to get on and off at the different stops around the city when we wanted to venture out. Speaking of that, story time! On the flight to London, my family sat by the nicest guy from London. He made us a hand drawn map of all the best things to do and see. Thanks to him, we ventured into Hyde Park, The Breakfast Club, and a 600 year old pub, which ended up being our favorite places! Thanks to our friend on the plane, I feel like we were able to jam the best sites, restaurants, and experiences of London into our two day stay. Next stop, Paris! 

PS- If you're ever in the UK, go to Millie's Cookies and order the Toffee Chocolate, it may be the best decision of your life. Not kidding, it was the most insanely delicious cookie I've ever had! 

0