We’ve been wanting to get away from LA for a while now, especially with the heat we had been experiencing. We started looking into heading somewhere up the Coast in search of some nice weather. We decided on Carmel-By-The-Sea for a number of reasons. It was relatively close, it is an incredibly charming destination and it is one of the most dog friendly cities you can find! We also hadn’t been in a few years and we were eager to return. We really had an amazing time, so much so that I wanted to write about our experiences and to give you guys some recommendations of things to do.

There are an abundance of places to stay, like the luxurious L’Auberge Carmel or the adorable Vagabond House Inn where we stayed on our last trip. Both are highly rated but we decided to try someplace new so we picked Le Petit Pali on Ocean. Le Petit Pali actually offer another location just a couple blocks away on 8th Avenue too. Both are new to the area and we love experiencing newer properties, warts and all but for the most part, we enjoyed our stay.

There were a couple of teething issues that come with staying at a new property. Our suite wasn’t ready by the guaranteed check in time and we also found out that the fireplaces weren’t working. But the hotel staff were extremely apologetic and refunded us our resort fee as well as our pet fee. Other than that, we found our stay to be very comfy and the amenities were a really nice touch. A French style continental breakfast is served for guests, there is a lovely cocktail/wine social hour in the late afternoon and delicious daily cookies brought to your room every evening. We spent quite a bit of time on the patio chatting with other guests while our dogs all chilled and enjoyed the sun. Like I said, Carmel is extremely dog friendly so nearly every room had a furry guest (or 2) accompanying their humans.

But the best feature of the hotel had to be its location. A 15 minute walk to the beach and surrounded by the best dining options in Carmel. It was so nice being able to walk to our dinners and we have quite a few dining recommendations that I’ll share below this post. Carmel has some amazing restaurants and we even found a great bar for a nightcap! We were very fortunate with the weather. It was sunny and comfortable in the day and nice and cool at night so we were able to dress up when we went out. Freddie and Bruce had so much fun on the dog friendly (of course!) beach and their joy was palpable every time we returned to the hotel for a break.

If you guys are looking for a quick getaway and want to bring your furry best friend along to live their best life. Or maybe you just want to experience the Central Coast beach culture then Carmel-By-The-Sea is the spot for you.

Recommendations

Stationaery

Barmel

Promesa

Anton & Michel

La Bicyclette

The post LE PETIT PALI first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post LE PETIT PALI appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

The year has zoomed by and would you believe it, we’re flying into Fall! So, I thought it would be the perfect time to share my desert oasis of luxury shopping here on my blog.

Just  90 minutes away from Los Angeles and 20 minutes west of Palm Springs, Desert Hills Premium Outlets is California’s largest luxury outlet destination and home to over 180 stores with discounts as much as 65% off. I’m talking Chloé, Burberry, Prada and more! Plus, you want to talk exclusive? How about Givenchy, Lanvin, Balmain and Loewe? Desert Hills Premium Outlets has the only outlet locations for these brands in the western United States.

My first stop had to be Givenchy because I’ve had my eye on a new bag. The store itself is gorgeous and of course you would expect nothing less. I had a genuine conundrum when it was time to pick what color bag was coming home with me. I had a grey and red one in either arm and to be fair, they both looked amazing but I finally decided on the red because RED is big trend going into this Fall season. But I really don’t think I could have gone wrong either way. I also had to drop into Balmain (Love their bags!!) and Loewe (so many cool and quirky signature pieces). For a closer look at my visit to those stores, check out my Reel on Instagram.

And more stores are opening soon too! Can you believe it, even more choice! David Yurman is opening their first outlet in Southern California, plus Rails and Amiri will be debuting their first and only outlet locations in the world at Desert Hills Premium Outlets. I’ll definitely be coming back for that.

A visit here could turn into a whole day affair so bring some comfy walking shoes and someone to help carry your bags because the selection is enormous and when you consider how many brands you have to choose from, you’re going to have no problem leaving with amazing finds! I’m going to link their website here for you guys so you can check out the extensive store list, hours and any special offers that are being offered. I really hope you all get a chance to visit Desert Hills Premium Outlets soon and if you do, comment below and let me know what you bring home with you.

The post Desert Hills Premium Outlets first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post Desert Hills Premium Outlets appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

Coat / Denim jacket / RacerBack Tank / Leggings / Shoes / Sunglasses

I want to thank Nordstrom and Shopstyle for sponsoring this post.

Let’s just jump straight into it because things are selling out so fast, now that the Nordstrom Anniversary sale has gone public and it will only last till August 30th. It will come to no surprise that I have been stocking up on some cozy loungewear pieces for myself and Reuben since we’ve been staying home a lot.

But Fall Fashion is also a huge thing for me so I HAD to pick up a couple of outerwear pieces like this “shacket”(Shirt+ jacket) and a denim jacket. And these faux leather leggings from B.P, which are so sleek and fit me perfectly. Such an incredible deal right now for $28 during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. These leggings are usually $49 so I highly recommend picking up a pair now. For Fall and all through winter, this is one piece in your closet you will definitely be reaching for!

We wanted a reason to get out of the house for a little bit, so we opted for curbside pick up and it was such an easy and safe process. If you don’t have a Nordstrom near you, they are also offering free shipping and returns and all you have to do is sign up to become a member of The Nordy Club. I’ll link it here for you to sign up.

I’m also linking a few of my other favorite cozy pieces for you to check out so let me know in the comments if you anything catches your eye or show me your Nordstrom Anniversary Sale haul!

The post NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post NORDSTROM ANNIVERSARY SALE appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

Road trips are great for the soul. The open road, the amazing sights, the weather and the scenery feed the ancient need in all of us, to explore. The Mister, pup and I recently took a fantastic road trip to Zion and Colorado and I just wanted to share the amazing experience starting with our first leg in Zion. I really want to thank Volvo for loaning us an XC90 T8 Inscription because it really came in handy on our drive!

The theme of our trip really was “the seasons” because we experienced 3 of them on our drive! We left L.A during a summer -like heat wave. It was 90+ degrees and as we drove through Las Vegas and got closer to Zion, it started raining. And more amazingly, it started looking like Fall. The leaves, the smells… I loved it! In the rain, Reuben really appreciated the all wheel drive on our Volvo. We felt super safe and not going to lie, I LOVED the massaging seats! Plus, Freddie matched the interior perfectly.

The drive from Vegas to Zion is breathtaking in spots. The mountains really give you sense of perspective. It’s one thing to see them in the distance but you really get a sense of how impressive they are when you’re driving right between them!

We spent the night at Zion Mountain Ranch and to get to it, we had to drive through Zion National Park. I’ll admit that we didn’t do any research about Zion before leaving but a few of you guys told me it would be an unforgettable experience and you know what? It was!

The sheer size of the mountains, the vast scenery and the beautiful colors are indescribable! Zion Mountain Ranch is so peaceful and it’s also a Bison reservation. The good people there are looking after an adorable baby bison named Betty that we got to meet. If you guys were following along on my Insta stories, you would have seen how excited Freddie was to meet her. I think he thought she was another dog! They are hoping to re-introduce her to the local herd soon so if you want to meet her close up, plan a trip ASAP! We spent such a restful night before continuing on to Dunton super early the next morning, so look for Part 2 of this post coming soon!

Brown faux leather Puffer Jacket / Black Combat Boots / Plaid Puffer Jacket / Brown Suede Boots / Black Pants: Zara / Brown Saddle cross body bag 

The post THE OPEN ROAD PT 1 first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post THE OPEN ROAD PT 1 appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

As you’re reading this, we are off on yet another road trip, this time to Dunton Hot Springs so stay tuned to my Instagram over the next few days! This post however, is all about our last road trip to another beautiful location, Carmel.

Living in So Cal, we are so blessed to be close to so many different experiences. The old California cliché of “surfing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon” is actually possible, especially this time of the year. Carmel is a laid back and picturesque town to the north of Los Angeles, along the coast. Its a beautiful drive and we actually did PCH for a majority of the drive there and back because even though it adds time to it, you just don’t feel it!

I got a ton of questions on Instagram about where we stayed and that didn’t really surprise me. Vagabond’s House Inn is definitely going to be our go-to whenever we feel the need to get out of LA and relax in Carmel. This charming bed and breakfast is the perfect combination of old world charm and modern amenities. Their newly renovated rooms are still warmly decorated and the bathroom is to die for! Plus, really appreciated the heated bathroom floor in the morning!

But there are so many B&B’s in Carmel and that is part of its charm. No matter what your preference, you’re going to find a great place to stay and all of them are located within walking distance to downtown so pack your walking shoes.

There are so many great options for foodies. Much more than you would think for a town this small. We had an amazing dinner at Seventh and Dolores  (highly recommended!) which was a 5 minute walk from our B&B and pet friendly. Yes, little Freddie was along for the ride and we picked Carmel because of how pet friendly it is. So many restaurants have not only pet friendly patios with heaters, some even have pet friendly sections inside so you can stay extra warm! We also stumbled onto a newer place that had opened a few months earlier called Stationæry. We met the lovely couple who own it and found out that while they are locals, they actually lived in LA for years and they are also owners of an adorable Blenheim Cavalier pup named Henry! Naturally, we bonded immediately ;). But their food is the real star of the place. In fact, we loved it so much that we came back for dinner and then lunch again before heading back to LA.

The next day we did the famous 17 mile drive along Pebble Beach. I had read about it before hand but we were debating until a reader raved about it to me. We are so glad we did it because the coastline views are stunning! There are lots of places to stop and take it in too.

We also took Freddie to the dog friendly beach which unsurprisingly, is basically walking distance from downtown. He utterly loves the beach. And if you guys were following along on Insta Stories, you saw how much. He ran his heart out and said “hi” to everyone there! It warmed our hearts so much to see him have such unbridled fun.

At the end of our trip, on our drive back actually, we were talking about how hard it was to leave and how we have to come back in a few months. We were feeling so relaxed and almost glowing from our Carmel experience that we can’t wait to return. And we are both so thankful that we live relatively close so whenever we feel the need to unplug out of LA, we can jump in the car and head here.

Outfit 1: Leather Aviator Jacket/ Jeans / Boots 

Outfit 2: Denim Jacket / Sneakers 

Outfit 3: Coat / Jeans / Boots

The post OUR ROAD TRIP TO CARMEL first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post OUR ROAD TRIP TO CARMEL appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

I’ve had this coat in my closet for a while and was dying to feature it but the weather has not been cooperating! Finally today it was cloudy and cool enough for me to take it out for a spin. Naturally, the coat is sold out now.

I like shooting things more in real time vs shooting looks head of time but that can be really hard when the things I find sell out by the time I get to sharing it with you guys. Apologies in advance, but if you do happen to be in store at your local H&M, try to find it. Sometimes it’s nice to go out on the hunt for something and this coat is worth the effort!

Coat: HM (sold out but linked a few amazing ones below) / Pants: HM (sold out but linked a few faves below)

Bodysuit: L’agence / Shoes: Mgemi / Earrings: Jenny Bird

The post DARK CHIC first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post DARK CHIC appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

Outfit 1: Coat / Sweater / Jeans / Shoes / Bag

Outfit 2: Sweater / Skirt / Bag

Finally, the temps are starting to dip into Fall territory! And when I’m seeking Fall attire, I know Nordstrom will have what I’m looking for. I headed straight to the TopShop section and I found a bunch of pieces including this cream Banana sleeve funnel neck sweater that is still lurking in my wish list.

My first look features an amazing coat that I’m going to be styling a lot this season. I’m really feeling dark brown tones for early Fall and I took that into outfit 2.

My second outfit shares two staples from my first look and goes into a different direction with a daring slitted skirt. The faux fur bag is such a steal too, and considering how well it fits into both looks, I think it’s a big hit! One of my “must haves” for Fall is this affordable pair of brown suede pumps, I have a similar pair that gets lots of attention and this one right here is just as good!

 Thank you to Nordstorm for partnering on this post

The post FALL ATTIRE first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post FALL ATTIRE appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

You’ve probably seen me wear these boots a lot recently on Instagram. It’s very typical of me to wear something over and over again when I love it so much! And can you blame me? I have been on the hunt for the perfect pair of camel boots and then I saw these Neil J Rodgers beauties.

I love the way they fit, and they are actually comfortable! Plus, I live for the leather and suede detailing. I’ve been a fan of Neil’s designs for a while now and he keeps getting better and better every year!

Blazer / Pants / Boots / Bag

The post CAMEL BOOTS first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post CAMEL BOOTS appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

I don’t wear them often enough but it’s a style that keeps coming back. The Flares – the 70s style that has swag like no other. No lie, it’s hard to wear for someone who is petite, I am 5’2 if you didn’t know that already. Somehow I always made them work and I want all my petite girls out there to feel like they can too.

I’ll be honest, it’s a style I wouldn’t wear all the time, like my skinnies or mom jeans because I can’t really wear flares with low heels or sneakers since I’m not tall enough and it mostly only works with a comfortable pair of platforms or 4″ inch heels.  The pair above were tailored at the hem (cost me $15) because I wanted the original hem and I think my tailor nailed it perfectly!

There’s just something about the 70s flare that hits you with a “bang”, it’s such a statement! And looking back on my past flare looks, I thought it was fun to put together a collage over the years starting with one from 2011. Like I said, it’s a style that just keeps coming back!

Jeans ( they run tight, I’m wearing size 25) / Top / Bag

The post FLARES FOR LIFE first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post FLARES FOR LIFE appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

Firstly, I am so sorry for going radio silent on the blog. It’s been such an eventful few weeks with us traveling to celebrate an amazing couple get married in Key West, to celebrating my birthday in Boston and adding a furry love sponge into our lives! Check out my Insta and see Freddie Wonderland, our new pup! I’m sure he’ll be making his debut on the blog soon enough though!

This post is all about Boston and the name of the game was coats. It was COLD! Quite a change from Key West but I love that I got to wear some of my coats and I don’t know why, but being in the cold invigorates me! I’m sure some of you guys might have some choice words for me, but I always prefer the cold to it being too hot. What about you guys? Super hot or frigid cold – If you had to do one, which do you prefer?

Coat: Vintage (Similar) / Sweater cardigan: Ronny Kobo / Jeans / Boots / Bag

The post BIRTHDAY IN BOSTON first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post BIRTHDAY IN BOSTON appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.