San Francisco Sunset

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Jacket / Shirt (sold out similar here and here) / Jeans / Shoes

My husband and I spent two weeks in California this summer, traveling to major cities from south to north. Towards the end of our trip we decided to go to San Francisco spur of the moment and purchased plane tickets in the airport.

Our trip to San Francisco was quite an adventure! The first night, we decided to stay in Fisherman's Wharf area. When we got into our room, ear plugs were awaiting us as though they were chocolates on our pillows. We thought, man this is weird...in all of the hotels we have stayed in this is a first! We later found out why...the trash came through that evening making the most ear-shattering noises right outside of our window, making it impossible to stay asleep, despite our ear plugs. 

Walking around the area our first evening, we decided to try out a restaurant in the area a friend had suggested to us called The Franciscan Crab. It was incredible! Neither one of us was very hungry that night so we split the 3 course dinner option. We decided on the crab alfredo and we were not disappointed. The restaurant was not only delicious, but almost every seat in the house has a gorgeous view of the water. Every night we were in San Francisco we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

After having a not-so-great experience in Fisherman's Wharf at our hotel, we decided to switch accommodations and ended up at an Airbnb in Sausalito the second night. With crab seeming to be the go-to treat at most restaurants, we picked an outdoor, ocean-front restaurant called Fish for dinner that evening. The restaurant offers BYOB for a small corkage fee and the most amazing crab roll I've ever had!

Our hosts were only a ten minute drive away from the bridge! I found a beautiful spot that was not as crowded to watch the sunset and take pictures. 

A good friend of mine that lives in San Fran now accompanied us that evening for dinner and sight-seeing that night. "The summer has some of the prettiest sunsets in San Francisco", he told us. He wasn't lying. I couldn't even believe my eyes. The sunset started with beautiful rainbow pastel tones and as the sun went down, got deeper and deeper in color.

If you are planning a trip to San Francisco in the summer, the sun doesn't usually set until about 9:00 pm, which gives you a full day to enjoy yourself. We loved staying a little outside of the city in Sausalito and having some peace and quiet. The only downside to staying in that area is the closing time of almost all of the restaurants and bars. Most close around 9:30-10:30 pm, leaving us with nothing to do but head back to the airbnb and relax there.

Our second night in San Francisco was a dream and I am so happy we brought along our camera to have a physical image to match our memories. 

Gingham Swimsuit at the Hotel Del Coronado

Growing up in Florida, my family always preferred to get out of our home state for vacations. My mother grew up in California, so once I turned 13 we started traveling to different parts of California each year until we stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado. Once we stayed at this classic hotel we started coming back annually and it quickly became our most anticipated vacations each year. Just minutes from San Diego, this hotel is an amazing travel destination, boasting of celebrity guests such as Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant.

SHOP THE POST:

swimsuit / also available in two-piece: top / bottoms / hat (similar here and here) / sunglasses

My husband and I took a trip this summer to California and went all along the coast from SoCal to northern California. Our first stop was San Diego! We had talked about visiting there several times in the past but finally got the opportunity to go. 

The Hotel Del is my favorite spot around because of how historic and well-preserved it is! It has beautiful wood ceilings, fun shops, great dining, an amazing poolside bar that overlooks the ocean and so much more. There are tons of great restaurants around the hotel just a small walking distance away. I would also highly suggest the hotel brunch if it is available during your stay. It is held in the crown room which features a wooden vaulted ceiling, chilled seafood bar, tons of delicious carving stations and fresh cheeses among many other foodie delights.

Outside of the hotel, some of my favorite places to dine near the del are: Miguel's for Mexican food, Maretalia Restorante, and Il Fornaio. There's also a great casual pizza place near the hotel called Village Pizzeria. I haven't been to that one in a few years but I remember liking it.

My enchilada from Miguel's...it was delicious!

If you go to Miguel's, ask for the spicy carrots. ;)

Aside from spending all day at the beach, you can rent bikes, walk around the cute island of Coronado and admire the beautiful homes, or take a day trip to San Diego.

Monday Blues - Blue Gingham from Daytime to Happy Hour

Outfit Details:

Scarf (sold out), other scarves shown below

Happy Monday! We got back from California on Friday and have been attempting to catch up on sleep ever since! We spent almost 2 full weeks on the west coast and we had the best time! When we travel and try to see a lot of one state, we like to hop around rather than staying put in one city for a week.

California was absolutely beautiful. The weather was perfect! It was warm during the day and with a cool breeze at night. I kept laughing at the fact that I was able to wear jeans with a jacket in the middle of summer! In Atlanta, it gets so hot and unbearably humid it's hard going outside in just a tank top and shorts.

While in Sausalito, we stopped at a cute flower market called Nancy Ann's. They have everything. I built an arrangement to match my outfit, took it inside and had them wrap it for me. Even while traveling, I love to have fresh flowers around. It makes the hotel room feel more homey.

I've been buying some new pieces for the summer and have recently been swooning over the gingham trend. I just love all of the soft pastels and how easy they are to match with other items in my closet. My favorite things to wear in the summer are light and airy tops that are breathable. I found this particular top by Rebecca Minkoff at a Nordstrom Rack while we were in La Jolla.

This top is so lightweight, it almost feels like you're wearing nothing. It's tight around the chest so it doesn't gape open and breezy at the bottom so you can eat as much as you want in it. ;)

 

As for accessories this summer, I have been sticking to tropical/straw bags and using my new favorite purse by Kate Spade. It matches just about anything I put on and carries more than what I need.

I always love one solid pair of sunglasses as my staple and I tend to go for tortoise shell because they look good with my skin tone.

When we were in LA, we found the best little restaurant right outside Hollywood to stop off for a little bite and cocktails called Edendale. I am an absolute sucker for cheese, so when I saw a cheese board on the menu, I immediately ordered it. 

Now THIS is what you call a cheese board. They did not skimp on the meat or other accouterments. They topped our board with dried figs, little pickles, various shaved meats, a few cheeses and fresh cut herbs.

This blue top is so versatile. It looks great tucked in or as I am wearing it here. I think it is a classic and can be worn for years to come because gingham, like a good cheese board, never truly goes out of style.

Ole Miss Football + Free Popcorn Box Printable

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It's GROVE SEASON!! Okay, okay, I realize this post is more targeted to graduates of Ole Miss or people interested in attending a game there, but I had to share. If you've never heard of Ole Miss, let me introduce you to the number-one tailgate in the country, home of William Faulkner, and a town full of amazing restaurants and charm. 

My family moved to Mississippi when I was in high school. I was sure when we moved, as soon as I graduated from high school, I was going back to Florida...until I visited my sister at The University of Mississippi. I fell in love. Girls and guys dress up in their Sunday best for game day and walk from tent to tent to enjoy libations and finger sandwiches. Walking down the Walk of Champions, the intoxicating smell of bourbon and fresh cut grass hits your nose while you drown in a sea of blue and red. 

{ image source: flikr.com - user: akmcafee9}

While not every tent is extravagant, they all have their quirks. Here in the grove, you can find chandeliers hanging from the tops of tents, topiaries in the shape of the mascot, and looks right off the runway worn by the beautiful students and graduates. Outside of the grove, the "square" houses top-ranked restaurants that have gained national recognition for their menu offerings. It's easy to get around the square as each bar, restaurant and shop are right next door to one another, making for an amazing mingling experience.

{ image source: www.thedailysouth.southernliving.com }

If you're looking for another activity that is a little more laid back, check out Taylor, MS. Only a fifteen minute drive from Oxford, this tiny town practically revolves around one spot: Taylor Grocery.   Fried catfish, okra, and a brown bag with a bottle of whatever you please to drink, Taylor Grocery is a crowd favorite. Get there early, or you can plan on waiting for up to 2 hours to snag a table at this hole-in-the-wall.

Eat or we both starve.

Taylor Grocery

William Faulkner's home and grave are located in this quaint little town. As a tradition and Ole Miss bucket list item, students imbibe on the grave sight and leave their bottle for Faulkner, as Faulkner was a known bourbon fan.

Whatever you're looking for, you can find it here in Oxford.

To download this game-day popcorn box, click the link below. 

Free Download:

Ole Miss Popcorn Box

Game Day Popcorn Box

Our Honeymoon in Maui

Let me take you on a literary trip to the most beautiful place my eyes have ever seen. Every turn of the head looks like a scene from a postcard. 

We have been on a lot of trips together, but this trip topped the scales. We were originally considering going to Japan and Thailand but we changed our mind. I still have those vacations on our roadmap for future trips to take together, but after weighing all the pros and cons we decided on Hawaii. In our opinion, a honeymoon should be relaxing and romantic. We felt being in a foreign country that moves at a fast pace like Tokyo might be a bit stressful. Where oh where could we go that feels like a wonderland, where natives speak English, and that is relatively close to home? There was really only one option in our mind: Maui.

Can you hear the ukulele music now?

I went to Maui with my parents and sister as a gift my senior year of high school. I remember it like it was yesterday. My family has always visited tropical destinations during the winter months to escape the cold, if even for just a week. We love the heat. I've carried that love with me to this day. 

My husband had never been to Maui. While discussions of our honeymoon transpired, I raved about my family's trip. The volcano, the whale watching, the luaus...what's not to like? 

My husband and I are both love being adventurous. For most of our trips we have decided what to do once we get to our destination. Call it crazy, but we have found that we have a better time when we travel like this. No itinerary, no reservations. We do what we feel like doing each day rather than being tied to a schedule. Most of the time, we ask the locals what to do once we arrive and gather a plan from there. They are the best itinerary money can't buy!

I understand not everyone is like us, and for those of you that like a plan or simply want a few ideas on what to do and where to eat in Maui, I wrote this for you.

This is a picture from my iPhone 6 that I took on the side of the road. Maui is that beautiful.

View from the airport

Where We Stayed 

My husband and I booked our hotel through Priceline and got a great deal at the Hyatt Regency in Lahaina. The resort has two pools, a grotto bar, two restaurants, live exotic birds, and excellent service. They also host their own luau. If you walk along the ocean and walk far right, you will find a great spot for snorkeling. We were also told about a snorkeling spot by a woman that worked at the pool. If you go to the park across from the post office (2 miles from the hotel) you are almost guaranteed to see a sea turtle. Don't touch them, though - the law doesn't allow it and the locals will be outraged. 

The Pool

{ Picture from the Hyatt Regency Website }

Grotto Bar

{ Picture from the Hyatt Regency Website }

View from our room

Our balcony view

View along our walk to our morning coffee spot

What We Did - Road to Hana

We started our first day early. Mainly because we flew in at 5:00 am, which wasn't too difficult because it was 3:00 pm our time and we slept on the plane. We were told that the Road to Hana can be dangerous because there are a lot of thieves along the way...the jury is still out on that one. Rather than risk it, we checked into our hotel early and put all of our things away before our journey.

First stop on the road - Paia Town

We started at the Hana Picnic Lunch Company. I read tons of great reviews about the place and it did not disappoint. They were open at 6:00 am for hikers and drivers to grab a meal for the day. I highly recommend packing a lunch because there are not many meal spots along the way.

We each got a breakfast sandwich, sandwich for lunch, all-natural mosquito spray, an insulated bag and giant water bottles. Bring water! You will definitely need it hiking in the heat. The mosquito spray was a godsend. There were so many people complaining about bites. The all-natural spray we picked up worked like a charm and smelled amazing.

Oh, and did I mention they have amazing gelato? We stopped by on the way back and pigged out on their cookie crunch.

Second stop - Twin Falls

I hope you wore good shoes. This trail is what they would call "advanced." If you have bad balance, weak legs, or a small child, move on to the next stop. This one is not for you. The beginning of our hike was scattered with light rain showers and falling leaves. Hiking about a half mile in, there was a large gate that read "experienced hikers only beyond this point." We looked at each other and shrugged. How hard could it be? The rest of the trip was fairly simple except for one spot - the rushing waters. There is a creek in the middle of the walkway that is about 10 feet wide. The creek had a very strong current the day we trekked it. We held hands and decided to try it out. The only problem was falling. If you were to fall in the creek you would promptly be carried across jagged rocks and down a small rapid into an area that I would imagine to be very difficult to crawl out of. We were both nervous. We moved slow. Painfully slow. If one went down, the other one was coming, too. Once we crossed successfully, it was all gravy. We found the jade green pool of water that the twin falls collected in. The water was ice cold and there were jungle vines hanging down everywhere. It was really romantic until a huge group of tourists came to join us. Time for our next stop.

Third stop - Garden of Eden

This is the view from the opening sequence of Jurassic Park!

The Garden of Eden was so beautiful! As soon as we entered, there were ducks and peacocks running up to our car like little puppies. We decided we would stop for lunch at this stop because of the beautiful views and picnic tables. Word to the wise - don't leave your food for a second. The peacocks are aggressive when it comes to food. One of them literally sat next to me on the picnic chair while I ate...and right when I thought I'd have a break from an animal staring at my every bite (our dog, Laila). This is the one stop along the way that requires payment before entering. We paid $15.00/person. 

Oh, and here's your chance to go to the bathroom, too.

Can I take him home?!?

Fourth stop - Halfway to Hana

Want to have the best banana bread you've ever eaten? Stop here. This stop offers a little snack shop from 1982 that offers banana bread, ice cream, hot dogs and various other refreshments. Other than that, there's really nothing to see here, folks.

Final stop

We were so exhausted from our previous stops and our flight that we skipped the other stops along the way until we got to the little town right before Hana. They had tons of cute food trucks, set up like a fair. Predominately they sold asian food, seafood and tacos. After being on the trail for 5 hours, this place smelled delicious. 

What do you fancy?

We're so punny.

Would this surf board fit in our luggage?

Aren't these the cutest things you've ever seen?!

Where We Ate

There are several great restaurants on Front Street. Our favorites were Frida's Beach House, Fleetwood's on Front Street, and Lahaina Fish Company. One spot we were told about after our trip (bummer) that is supposed to be excellent is Mama's Fish House. From what we were told, this spot has fresh-caught fish daily at a more affordable price than the more touristy restaurants. 

This salmon sandwich was heaven.

After the Road to Hana, we spent our days lounging by the pool, snorkeling and walking down the beach. I would have loved to go whale watching, but the season was over when we arrived. 

Please let me know if you have any questions about your upcoming trip to Maui! You will have an amazing time, I guarantee it!