Weekend Getaway: The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

A few weeks ago Ray and I decided we needed a little weekend getaway. We started researching hotels and came across several perfect ones. However, when it came to logistics, most didn't work. Ideally, we needed somewhere driving distance from LA. Our other criteria (particularly mine, lol), was cozy and quaint with a beautiful spa. We came across the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe and it was exactly that: a charming inn with a famous day spa. Booked!

We packed up Saturday morning and left the city around 10:00 am. We arrived just in time for lunch. Even though it wasn't time for check-in yet, the women at the front desk were so sweet and accommodating and found us a room that was available for early check-in. We dropped off our bags and Luca (sorry Luca!) and headed for lunch.

The room was bigger than our condo, I kid you not. There was a living room with a fireplace, a kitchen, two bathrooms and a huge master bedroom with sitting area. The space is pretty ideal if you have kids. In the room was a dog bed and bowls for Luca. Any hotel that is so accommodating towards pets is a winner in my books. There is nothing worse than fighting with a hotel that he's a service dog and they don't have a choice (thank you, next).

We had dinner at Morada, the restaurant in the Inn. The decor is rustic and cozy. It kind of reminds me of a Ralph Lauren store. The menu had so many options for me, which is rare (I'm a pescetarian, fyi). Chef House came over and offered a tasting menu. It was the first tasting menu I could actually enjoy, since normally I can't eat half of what is brought out. My favorite dish was the bass.

After dinner, we didn't feel ready to head back to the room. We took a seat at the Huntsman Whiskey Bar and started chatting with Dutch, the mixologist. I complained to him that I never know what to order, and always end up ordering one of the following: Aperol Spritz, glass of champagne, glass of rose, Dirty Martini or port. I've never sat down with a mixologist to find creative drinks that I'd like. He was so patient and asked me tons of questions to figure out what I like and what I don't (which was surprisingly difficult for me, since I'm not quite sure when it comes to hard alcohol). He created a drink for me, and a few for Ray. It was the perfect end to our evening.

Sunday morning we started the day with a couples massage. I don't think I've ever had a massage first thing in the morning. Normally, I book them for the later afternoon before dinner. I have to say, it was SUPER relaxing. The bed was heated (a dream in the morning) and the massage therapists were incredible. We then spent some time having tea in the lounge before heading back to our room to pack up and go back to LA.

People always ask if we travel a lot around LA. The thing is: 1) it's expensive, and 2) we work (duh). But seriously, it's not so easy to find a place that is relatively close by, making a 24-48 hour trip worth it, and that's in our price range. The Inn totally satisfied our criteria, was relatively well priced and close to LA. We can't wait to make this an annual trip and go back next year...or maybe next summer, if I can convince Ray ;).

Hawaii Recap

Ray and I went to Hawaii for my 30th birthday. We both had never been and didn't really know what to expect. Everyone kept telling us that it was the most magical place. To be honest, we expected it to be a bit like Bali- beyond magical, tropical and foreign (even though it's part of the US). When we landed and noticed all of the strip malls and giant chain stores we were a bit confused. It took us a few days to genuinely appreciate it. While it may not be foreign in the way we had expected it, it was definitely breath-taking and unlike anywhere we've seen before. It also helps to know where to go and what to do.

Island.  We went to Maui and stayed there for 5 nights and 6 days. I think this was the perfect amount of time on the Island.

Hotel.   We stayed at the Ritz in Kapalua. We only stayed there because we used points. It was okay. The service was amazing but the facilities and rooms were just okay (i.e. not very luxurious). I would recommend it if you wanted to use points but I wouldn't stay there if I had to pay.

Restaurants.  When we landed we stopped at a food truck called Like Poke?, which was 5 minutes from the airport (in a Costco parking lot). I found it on yelp. The poke was UNREAL. We ended up stopping there on our way back to the airport. Our favorite dinners were Mamma's Fish House and Merriman's. Mamma's Fish House sits on the most beautiful piece of land overlooking the water. They have something called a rolling menu. The menu starts off with the fish they have that day and as the fish sells out, the fishermans' come and bring more fresh fish and they update the menu with whatever catch comes in. Merriman's also has the prettiest view (we ended up eating there twice).

Sightseeing.  We spent a day doing the Road to Hana. It's long but worth it. It took us about 9.5 hours of driving in total. I won't lie, I was really nervous since I tend to get pretty car sick. Surprisingly, I was okay. Just make sure to drive with the windows down and sit in the front. The valet driver at our hotel told us about the Shaka App and I don't know how we would have done it without it. The app is like a virtual tour guide. You download it and it works off of your GPS (since you lose service pretty quickly). The guide describes each stop and even offers helpful tips like whether it's worth it stop and see (since there are so many stops you can't possibly do it all in one trip), whether it's family friendly (aka the hikes aren't too difficult- perfect for me haha), where to park, how far you are from Hana etc. It also plays Hawaiin music and tells you stories about Hawaiin culture. It was like having your own private tour guide. I honestly don't know how people do it without it.

Clothes.  Bring cute beach clothes, sandals, running shoes and windbreakers. It rains a ton, but for a few short minutes each time. I didn't wear any of the heels I brought. And I definitely overpacked (oops!).

What I Packed For Vegas

I didn't post a lot on my Instagram while I was in Vegas but I did post on stories. One night I posted my outfit with a Forever 21 bodysuit and I got the most swipe ups I've ever received! It led me to believe that I'm not the only one who has no idea what to wear in Vegas and is looking for some outfit inspo. I honestly had no idea what to wear since I knew mom jeans wouldn't work, let's be real. I spent hours on Pinterest doing some research and found some good outfit inspo. I then found the looks for less.

My Stay At The Fairmont Grand Del Mar

The past few months seem like a blur. Both Ray and I have been swamped with work and haven’t really stopped to relax, breathe and enjoy our surroundings. Not to mention that I went to London for 9 days without him. So we decided that a romantic getaway was necessary, stat. It's kind of strange but sometimes you need to force yourself to take a getaway. I can imagine that when you have kids this is particularly difficult.  However, even when you don't, it can sometimes be a challenge. I won't lie...Ray and I considered just staying home, snuggling in bed and catching up on shows (I mean, how bad can that be?!). But truth be told there is something important about getting out of your usual setting and getting into the mindset of a vacation. You focus on the two of you, limit your time on the phone/social media, try and limit work, get dressed up and just have fun. Do you guys know what I mean? I can’t stress enough the importance of prioritizing your relationship, getting away (even if it’s for a day), and reconnecting.

People ask us all the time if we travel around California. I hate to admit it but we don’t do it nearly enough. We’ve been to Palm Springs a handful of times and have made it to Santa Barbara, Ojai and Napa Valley. San Diego was on our list for a while so we decided to head there for our romantic weekend.

Saturday morning we packed up the car, grabbed a Starbucks and made our way there. We stayed at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar and wow! The service was incredible and the hotel was upscale and charming. Since we knew we were going to arrive by noon, we requested an early check-in. Our room was ready when we got there.

We had the most luxurious and spacious room. I should preface this by saying that I have been known to play musical rooms (cue Ray’s eye roll). Generally, I’m not pleased with the first room I’m given and politely request to change rooms until I’m satisfied. I won’t lie, I was ready to do it as per usual…until I walked into our room. The bathroom had a long double sink (with ample room for all my makeup and hair products…as if it was designed for me). Not to mention the most beautiful marble (yes, I took a million Instagram pics in there). There was a huge tub with Le Labo rose bath salts on the side (I mean…dreams).  There was a large king bed, sitting area and office space, which was perfect for Ray since he had to work. Our room opened up to a large terrace overlooking the adult pool. All of that is impressive but what really got to me was the dog bed and bowls they had ready for Luca (they really know the way to my heart).

Once we were settled in we made our way to Amaya for a late lunch. I had a glass of champagne while Ray chose a bloody maria (bloody mary made with tequila) and we shared something to eat. We then walked around the grounds, which are so picturesque. In the late afternoon, I got a therapeutic massage and Ray used the spa facilities. My massage was amazing, obviously. I love when spas pay attention to the little details, like heating your robe during the massage so that it’s warm and cozy when you’re done.  It takes the massage from great to unforgettable, if you know what I mean.

Saturday night we had a few cocktails at the bar before heading to town for dinner and a walk on the beach.  On Sunday we slept in (until 8…yup, we’re that old). We ordered room service, tried (but failed) to get Ray to take cute Instagram pics of me (it’s not easy to be an Instagram Hubby), and just stayed in our robes until we were ready to venture out. I won’t lie, I was mega sad to check out. While it was a short trip, I left feeling relaxed and recharged. Can’t wait to go back.  

NAPA RECAP

I was in Napa this weekend and had such a great time. I really wasn't sure what to expect. Part of me expected really fancy restaurants (think cocktail attire) and wineries. The other part expected a rustic, cozy countryside. Considering the price of hotels, restaurants and wine tastings, I was actually pretty suprised by the low-key, rustic vibe. I thought I would give you a recap of our trip, what I loved and what I would do differently next time.

Hotel: I need to preface this by saying that we decided on this trip really last minute. None of us had a clue it was harvest season (our luck!) That meant that everything was more expensive and booked. We wanted to stay at a hotel in Yountville but the prices were insane!! (I'm talking about over $800 per room). So we settled on a B&B called Candlelight Inn. It was charming but even that was way more expensive than we would normal pay. So, if I had to do it again, I would try and visit in May or June rather than September.

Wineries: On the first day we visited Duckhorn, Rombaurer (had a picnic there), Schramsberg (did the cave tour) and Silver Trident. The cave tour was really informative. Silver Trident is a boutique, smaller winery but is really cool to visit because all of the decor is Ralph Lauren. I picked up some amazing candles. The second day we visited Domaine Carneros and Artesa. Domaine Carneros was probably my favorite. The grounds are beyond beautiful and the bubbly is so good. By the afternoon we were all a bit over drinking, if that's possible. It's not so easy tasting all day! We were dying to go to a spa but everything was booked! It was crazy. We headed to the B&B and rested for dinner. Sunday we visited Caymus (highly recommend) and then got massages.

Restaurants: The first night we ate at Farm at Carneros and it was my favorite. The food was delicious and the ambiance was great. The second night we ate at Bottega. I had heard so many good reviews and the food did not disappoint. The third night we ate at Mustards and I wasn't a fan. There wasn't a lot of options for me and the food came out cold. I would suggest going to Redd or Redd Wood.

Style: I overpacked, as per usual. I basically lived in jeans (brought my high waisted GRLFRND, skinny blue AG and black Rag and Bone), with a fitted shirt and sweater from Zara. At night I paired the look with heels (brought my new Diors) and a black jacket. I thought the restaurants would be a bit fancier so I brought a dress and some fancier alternatives but the vibe was pretty casual. I also brought two exercise outfits but didn't exercise once, oops!

Photography by Felicia Lasala

My Favorite Things to Do in LA

Today I thought I would do a different type of post. I often get asked what's the best things to do in LA. Ray and I definitely have our routines and parts of the city we are obsessed with (and parts we avoid at all costs). Scroll down to read 10 of our favorite things do in LA. 

1. Dinner at The Ivy- I should say this is my favorite thing to do in LA (not necessarily Ray's). Whenever I used to visit I always made it a point to go there for dinner. Now that I live here it remains one of my favorite places to eat. The decor is so beautiful (fresh roses on every table) and the food is delicious and healthy. It is very expensive though so we don't go very often. My favorite dishes are the tuna tartar, ivy chopped salad and sea bass. Plus they give you a free glass of champagne when you walk in. What could be better?

2. Malibu Country Mart- Everyone always loves to visit Santa Monica third street promenade and we avoid it at all costs (sorry!). Santa Monica is SO touristy and all the shops are chains. Malibu is so much more charming. The landscape is beautiful, there are great boutiques and good food options (Tony's Tavern and Malibu Kitchen, to name a few). 

3. Walk around Beverly Hills- I may be biased because I live and work in Beverly Hills but it truly is one of the prettiest neighborhoods. Rodeo Drive is fun to walk around but all of the streets in 90210 are really beautiful. Ray and I often do our night walks around the streets because the storefronts are amazing and the houses are so inspiring (inspiring meaning I need to work even harder to be able to afford one one day). 

4. Drinks at the Polo Lounge- The Beverly Hills Hotel is iconic, need I say more? It reminds me of old school Hollywood, with someone playing piano and everyone drinking dirty martinis and champagne. Not to mention the palm tree wallpaper is my dream (#bathroom goals). 

5. Cycle House- The best place to spin in LA. I took my first class the day after I moved here and I've been hooked ever since. I only take Nichelle or Aaron's class. It's the opposite of Soul Cycle in terms of environment and attitude. Highly recommend it. 

6. Coffee at Verve. While everyone loves Alfreds, I highly recommend Verve. The location on Melrose has a beautiful outdoor area and the iced coffee and chai is amazing. 

7. Temescal Canyon hike- While I do like Runyon Canyon, Temescal Canyon is more challenging without being too hard. Ray has taken me on some hikes where I thought I was going to die. Not fun. Sometimes I think he forgets he married someone with skills to walk in 6 inch heels but with the inability to do anything too adventurous (aka climb the steepest canyon in LA). Temescal is a good middle ground. I suggest hiking Temescal and then heading to Malibu for brunch.

8. Brentwood Country Mart- This area of LA is amazing. Ray would love to live there one day. In the middle of this neighborhood is a County Mart filled with cute boutiques like Calypso, Free People and Intermix, restaurants and ice cream shops. Have lunch or dinner at A Votre Sante.

9. Walk around Franklin Canyon Park. This is truly a hidden treasure. It's a gorgeous pond in the middle of Beverly Hills. Unless you know about it you would never pass it. It's a pretty short walk but beautiful if you're looking for an easy walk with a scenic view. I definitely want to do a picnic there one day. 

10. Sugarfish- The best sushi we have ever hard. Everyone we take is always obsessed. We love to go to the one in Beverly Hills and drink a few bottles of Sake while we wait for our table (think $8 a bottle). While it can be a while before you get your table, just relax and have a drink. It's worth the wait!

Photography by Felicia Lasala