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.

Disbelief. That’s what both Reuben and I felt when we clicked “confirm” on our reservation to Amangiri. We were being strategic by going during the off season when the resort was at a lower rate but it was still a healthy chunk of change to say the least! Having said that, we weren’t in a state of disbelief because of how much we had just spent. Instead it was because this was a trip that we’ve been wanting to take for so many years and now that it had been booked, we couldn’t imagine that we were finally bound for this amazing resort! But the purpose of this post isn’t simply just to gush. We really went with an open mind but were honestly skeptical that it would justify all the hype, Did it for us? Read on to find out.

First the nitty gritty details of how to get to the resort. We chose to drive since we had the pups with us and also because it’s such a similar route we had taken many times before on our way to Dunton, we were seasoned on what to expect. Of course, you can choose to fly into Paige or one of the larger regional airports and rent a vehicle or ask the resort to take care of your arrival and departure arrangements but if driving is an option, we really recommend that. The scenery is gorgeous, especially once you’re north of Las Vegas. If this is your first drive, I would suggest a day stop-over in Vegas so you’re getting to Amangiri fresh.

The resort is all inclusive so your dining and non alcoholic beverages are included but unfortunately due to Utah law, alcoholic beverages are not. I will say though that the delicious cocktails are worth every dollar! The chefs and service staff are incredibly attentive and receptive to your requests. And the amazing treatment wasn’t just focused on us humans. Indeed our furry little stowaways also got in on the act with custom pup meals filled with nutritious and fresh ingredients.

The post AMANGIRI first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post AMANGIRI appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

This past year, my skin has definitely taken a real beating. Face masks, while necessary in our current times are not the best when it comes to maintaining good skin! So I’ve had to up my skincare game and I want to share a couple amazing products with you guys that I think we can all put to great use.

My skin is naturally getting more and more dry as I age (along with some fine lines) and I’m sure the climate in Los Angeles doesn’t help either! Thankfully I was recently introduced to Rodan+Fields’ Redefine Intensive Renewing Serum and  I’ve been adding it to my nightly skincare regime. With the Intensive Renewing Serum, I am already starting to notice a slight difference with my fine lines after about 10 days of consistent use (important point, you have to give skin care products time to work!). If my skin is really putting up a fight in terms of dryness, a little dab of the Rodan+Fields’ Active Hydration Serum is just the extra little kick I need. All in all, my skin feels smoother and firmer and I couldn’t be happier with the results!

I’ve definitely heard how important it was to add Retinol to my skincare routine but was a little reluctant because my skin is sensitive and Retinol could cause some irritation. But the Redefine Intensive Renewing Serum utilizes Retinal-MD Technology which is a form of Vitamin A. It’s more potent than Retinol but still gentle enough for daily use to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. I’m always a little extra wary when adding new skincare products to my regime. I’m constantly on the lookout to see if I have any adverse reactions but thanks to the proprietary technology used by Rodan+Fields‘ that makes the serum gentle enough for almost all skin types, I’ve had absolutely no problems at all.

I am a big fan of the fact that the serum comes in handy, biodegradable capsules. Just twist off the tail, smooth the serum over you face and neck (careful to avoid the eye area) and you’re done! Do not rinse off and let the serum work its magic on your skin. You have a full sixty day supply in the bottle and while I’m sure everyone of us would love instant results, like I said before you need to give skincare products time to work. But the great thing is that Rodan+Fields‘ offer a sixty day back guarantee on all products, even empties! So you can afford to give the product the proper time to start having a visible effect on your skin.

As great as The Renewing Serum has been on improving the appearance of lines and wrinkles on my skin, the Active Hydration Serum is just as important to my regime. My skin can definitely get extra dry from time to time.  The Active Hydration Serum is my “secret weapon” when it comes to combatting the effects of dry skin. This Serum really quenches thirsty skin and instantly raises skin’s hydration level by two hundred percent after just one use and maintains that level for 8 hours! Hydration is extremely important to healthy younger looking and acting skin. On a personal note, I noticed an improvement in my dry skin after only a week with the use of this serum.

The two key ingredients in the Active Hydration Serum are Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid. The Hyaluronic Acid deeply hydrates your skin and the Glycerin prevents your skin from losing that moisture. The serum also has the added benefit of prepping your skin to better receive products applied after. With that in mind, I tend to apply it before a moisturizer after cleaning and toning. I am currently using it every other day or on days when I feel my skin is just that little bit more dry and it’s been working a treat! If your skin is more on the dry side, you can use the serum twice daily (in the day AND at night) and if you’re using it only once a day, you can apply either in the AM or PM.

I’m definitely happy I gave these products a proper chance by giving them the necessary time to start having an effect on my skin. I love the visible improvements that I’ve seen and I’d love to hear from you guys if you decide to try them out for yourselves. But for me, these two serums have a home in my skincare routine and that isn’t going to change anytime soon!

I want to thank Rodan+Fields for sponsoring this post.

The post RODAN+FIELDS first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post RODAN+FIELDS appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

Hey everyone, its certainly been a while! Don’t want to go too much into it but 2020 wasn’t exactly fabulous so let’s just leave it behind us. I am for sure looking and feeling more positive about 2021, so really striving to write and share more on here. If you are reading this, you know I am deeply grateful for your continued support.

On a similar note, I think a great way to start up the blog again is to share the news that I got work with Farfetch for an article on their site! Valentine’s Day is almost upon us so check out this look I styled (as always, links below) and I’d love for you guys to check out the article here.

Dress: WAYFR Ribbed Dress / Shoes: Amina Muaddi AMI satin pumps/  Cardigan: Elizabeth and James Fringe Robe

The post VALENTINES DAY WITH FARFETCH first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post VALENTINES DAY WITH FARFETCH appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

The Mister and I had a little bit of a dilemma for our anniversary this year. We wanted to do something special of course, but this is the first time we would have a furry tag-along with us so we needed to stay local. And was Freddie Friendly too! The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel not only ticked all those boxes, they helped make our anniversary an amazing one!

The property has the advantage of being right by the ocean with gorgeous beaches so it’s paradise, yet just an hour’s drive for us. And the staff did their utmost to ensure we enjoyed our experience. And I really mean “we”. When we checked in and walked into our room, Freddie was thrilled to find his own bed, a couple toys and his own hand-painted bowls waiting for him. It’s no surprise that a happy puppy means happy guests and the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel fully celebrate that fact!

We spent our first evening enjoying a spectacular sunset with drinks and small bites at 180BLU and it couldn’t have been more romantic. We started the next day with a morning walk by the beach. And the rest of the day was all about the pool while Freddie made some friends so he had a blast chasing them around while playing catch! After he was all tired out, he took a nice long nap and we made our way to dinner at one of the property’s restaurants, Raya.

I have always said that a great hotel is all about the staff and Raya has some real gems on their team. Dinner was delicious and we were so expertly taken care of by Daniel, Billy and Rosa. Daniel was funny, sweet and just a delight as he went over every delectable dish. He made us feel so special and his attention to detail really enhanced our celebration! He was ready with the perfect wine to pair with every bite and when we had trouble choosing just one dessert from our favorite 3, he saved us a tough decision by bringing all 3 out for us! Amazing!

Naturally, we hated to leave because we loved our time at the resort so much. And I want to thank everyone at the property who made our stay such a great one. We can’t wait to return and being so close, it’s not going to be too long till we are enjoying that sunset again.

The post ANNIVERSARY AT THE RITZ CARLTON LAGUNA NIGEL first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post ANNIVERSARY AT THE RITZ CARLTON LAGUNA NIGEL appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

So we did a thing. Yes, we’ve added an adorable, little furry love sponge to our household! Meet Freddie Wonderland. He is an 11 week old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a blur of energy (when he’s not napping) and seems to be happiest on our laps (we aren’t complaining).

So let me give you guys a little background on our decision to add a puppy to our lives. I’ve never had a dog but the Mister grew up with big dogs. In fact when he was a baby, his crib would be watched over by a German Shepherd and 2 Dobermans. So while Reuben was ready to go, I was very hesitant. That was until we dog-sat our very good friends’ amazing Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chloe. Now, we’ve know Chloe since she was a puppy and we’ve seen her grow into a beautiful adult with so much character. But after spending a week with her, it was so hard giving her back and we just knew we needed our very own fur ball!

While Chloe did have a big say in us choosing to bring home a CKCS, we did do our research to make sure the breed would suit our lifestyle. They are so adaptable and while they aren’t the most physical, they can still play a mean game of fetch and tug of war. But they are definitely just as comfortable being couch potatoes and hanging out while you watch tv. I won’t go into too much detail but stay tuned because I’m sure a lot of you out there might be thinking of taking home a puppy so I’ll be putting together a primer plus talk about his first week with us!

In the meantime if you want your puppy fix, follow @freddiewonderland on Insta and see what kind of trouble he gets into!

Rusty Off the Shoulder sweater / Snakeskin Pumps

The post MEET FREDDIE WONDERLAND first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post MEET FREDDIE WONDERLAND appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

As the leaves turn, a part of me that has been waiting all year for Fall starts to wake up. I’m sure that it’s no mystery to a lot of you out there that Fall is my favorite season. But what you guys might not know is that a delicious glass of Love Noir Pinot Noir is the flavor I turn to when I want to let my sultry and mysterious side out to play.

Out go bright colors and fabrics and in comes warm fall tones and candles. Maybe its the mood it puts me in, but my outfits become a little darker and more seductive. It’s no secret that I am more of a homebody so there is nothing I love more than cuddling up with my Mister and a glass of Love Noir Pinot Noir.

With its luscious shade of dark, deep red and notes of cherry and espresso, Love Noir’s Pinot Noir had me hooked from my first sip. There’s something intriguing about the flavor yet the smooth finish makes it so fitting for this time of year. Don’t get me wrong, this wine is good all year round but it really shines as the temps start to drop!

For those unfamiliar with Love Noir, it is the brainchild of winemaker Andrea Beltran. She brings her passion for decadent flavors to the world of wine with every bottle. What I love about her Pinot Noir is that it has a unique flavor profile that sets it apart from other wines but is still so easy to enjoy. She wants to bring a darker, more edgy side to wine and that is a message that I can totally get behind!

So I want to invite you guys to try it for yourself and maybe let a different side of your personality out for a while. Let Love Noir guide the way with every seductive and luxurious sip.

I want to thank Love Noir for collaborating with me on this post

The post Celebrating My Favorite Season with Love Noir Wine first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post Celebrating My Favorite Season with Love Noir Wine appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

I firmly believe that you can find art in almost everything. It doesn’t just exist in traditional channels like paintings or music. It can show itself in so many other ways and The Peninsula Chicago takes hospitality to such a level that it becomes an art form!

The Mister and I took a long overdue trip to Chicago at the beginning of October and we were lucky enough to call The Peninsula Chicago our home during our time in the city. We were last here when The Peninsula Chicago invited us to celebrate their 15th birthday and that was certainly a party we will never forget! So naturally, we were very excited to return and experience that one of a kind Peninsula hospitality again.

Outfit 1: Orange Sweater / Yellow Satin Skirt / Brown suede pumps

During our previous stay, I raved about how beautiful and inspiring it is with artwork all over the property and also how amazing our suite was. Our most recent visit was no exception and you can read all about the amazing tech that puts control of the entire suite at your fingertips here. And like before, the gorgeous views are just to die for! But there is a new side to The Peninsula Chicago and a new way to take in that iconic skyline.

Outfit 2: Purple Mohair Sweater / Striped Pants / White Wrist bag

The Peninsula Chicago is now home to one of the best rooftop bar experiences in the city, Z Bar! Every facet from the cocktails to the food to the decor has been obsessed over to ensure a one of a kind experience. For instance, The “Old Fashioned” (The Mister’s drink of course) features a young walnut instead of a cherry. Reuben was all about that! My drink called “True North”, is a vodka concoction with little jelly bubbles that burst in your mouth! Plus the little hibiscus leaf is not just a garnish, it is also edible. These ingenious twists come from the brilliant mind of Vlad Novikov, Director of Cocktails and Culture who has definitely put his background in chemistry to good use.

We had the pleasure of chatting with Vlad for a few minutes as he graciously came over to ensure we were having a great time and he mentioned how his cocktails are his way of creating art. We couldn’t agree more and while Vlad is a credit to The Peninsula, he is no exception. Every single staff member from the moment you walk into the property to the housekeeping staff are focused on making you comfortable. Indeed, “art” is the word I would choose if I had describe The Peninsula experience in a syllable and we are so thankful to have had the chance to enjoy it immensely.

Outfit 3: Sold Out Sweater / Green Pants (on sale)

The post THE ART OF HOSPITALITY first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post THE ART OF HOSPITALITY appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.

Hey Guys! We had a blast this past weekend when the Mister and I were invited to experience San Francisco with Alaska Air. We’ve been to the city many times before and we normally drive (about 6 hours from LA) but now we know flying with Alaska is the way to go! From takeoff, we were on the ground in San Francisco in less than an hour! No need to deal with traffic or parking in the city and I’m pretty sure this is how we are doing it from now on. Download the Alaska Air app and the check in process as well as getting your boarding passes are a breeze! When we got the airport, we dropped off our bag and we were ready to go. And on a short flight, some airlines might compromise good service for speed but not Alaska Air.

Now I know what some of you might be thinking. “Alaska Air only flies to Alaska right?” Or maybe you guys might think they only do short flights up and down the west coast. In reality, their routes are varied and far reaching! From flights to Chicago (we are already planning a trip there!) to Hawaii, and even international flights to Costa Rica and Mexico!

From the airport, we made our way to our home for the weekend – The Proper Hotel San Francisco. Being our first time at this property, we were really excited. And our first impressions didn’t disappoint! When we checked in, we snuck a look at the lobby bar and had to have a quick drink with our friends and fellow blogger/photog couple Kristine and Steve. If your guests feel compelled to order a drink before heading to their rooms to freshen up, your bar game is strong!

 We did get to our room eventually and we were really struck by the decor. As you can see by the images, Great lines and patterns on the walls and tasteful furnishings really tie everything together. Really, the entire property is like that. The hotel also boasts one of the best rooftop bars in the city so don’t forget to stop by for some awesome views of the city.

The great thing about San Francisco is how diverse the different neighborhoods feel. The Mission, Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Hayes Valley, (the list goes on!) all have a unique vibe and I wanted to focus on a few favorites from the neighborhoods we hit up on this trip.

The Mission

So much color and vibrancy! Amazing artwork surrounds you and that energy is also in the air thanks to the fabulous eateries in the area. I would recommend Curio for Happy Hour and with a concert venue next door and the stage actually visible from the bar, maybe stay for dinner and a show! Or if pizza is more your jam, head to Mozzeria where your pies are prepared in a genuine Steffano Ferrara oven! Not only are the Neapolitan style pizzas utterly delicious but the restaurant hires people from the deaf community and is committed to providing opportunities to people with hearing impairment plus I really wanted to try their famous Peking duck pizza so I was eager to stop by. I suggest you guys do as well!

Haight/Ashbury

If you’re on the hunt for vintage pieces then this is your spot. So many stores so you can’t miss but here are my highlights : Relic Vintage, Static Vintage and Love Street. And the vintage finds aren’t just on the hangers in stores because this part of the city feels like it is in a permanent time warp and its still the 60s/70s! This is a great place for people watching and on a beautiful day, you have so many coffeeshops to do just that!

Hayes Valley

This is a new spot for us. So many of our SF friends recommended this neighborhood and for no good reason, we waited till this trip to visit! We have been missing out guys! So many amazing boutiques, eateries and bars! For us, Absinthe Brasserie & Bar was a definite must for lunch and a cocktail. This is a beautiful part of the city and I told the Mister it reminds me so much of the West Village so that’s probably why it is such a fav of mine! I honestly can’t wait to go back!

Sausalito

Unfortunately, all great trips have to end sometime and our friends at Shopstyle and Alaska really know how to end a trip. Sausalito is just across The Golden Gate Bridge and has the feel of a sleepy town but is actually a great place to unwind just minutes from San Francisco. Brunch at Bar Bocce with its stunning views of the city was the perfect way to cap off our trip and definitely something that should be on your to do list as well!

I hope you guys enjoyed my SF travel diary and I want to thank Alaska Air, The Proper Hotel San Francisco and Shopstyle for partnering with me on this post.

The post SAN FRANCISCO WITH ALASKA AIR first appeared on Walk In Wonderland.

The post SAN FRANCISCO WITH ALASKA AIR appeared first on Walk In Wonderland.