WILLIAMSBURG TRAVEL GUIDE

Traveling as a family is one of my favorite things in the world. It’s so amazing to see the kids exposed to new cultures, foods, history, and people. I love watching them experience things for the first time through their eyes. Every summer, we go on a big family trip and spend multiple weeks abroad bouncing between places, but it’s looking like this summer (like last), we will be staying closer to home. Unlike last year when we barely traveled at all, this year we have been exploring more within the U.S.

A couple weeks ago, we got to go to Williamsburg, VA, and we had so much fun! It was a super family-friendly destination, so I wanted to share where to stay, where to eat, and where to play – for both parents and kids 🙂

MUST-STAY IN WILLIAMSBURG: KINGSMILL RESORT

I’m a sucker for splurging a little extra to stay somewhere nice when we travel. Especially with kids, having somewhere comfortable and cute to come back to at the end of the day or a cool property where the kids can swim and play games – it’s priceless. The Kingsmill Resort did not disappoint. 🤩  It’s right on the James River so it has the most beautiful views, especially at sunset!

We stayed in the cottages, which are super cute and great for families. I slept sooo well while I was there (not enough, because we were moving non-stop trying to see it all). The beds were really comfy. They have cottages with 3 or 4 bedrooms, so it’s the perfect spot for families. They have full kitchens, washer and dryer, LARGE bathrooms, plus each bathroom has a full-size jetted tub. You also have full access to all the resort amenities – two championship golf courses, the tennis club, marina activities, multiple restaurants, etc.

DETAILS: WHITE DRESS | SUNGLASSES | SANDALS

Prettiest cherry blossoms!

We were there pre-season, so the outdoor pool wasn’t open yet, but since we were there with Visit Williamsburg, they let us check out the pool at The Estate at Kingsmill. It used to belong to the Busch Family (of Busch Gardens and Budweiser Beer), but they sold it to Kingsmill, so now it’s available as a luxury rental. The home is so gorgeous! The decor is sooo stunning and all of the bedrooms are insane. It would make for an amazing family vacation rental for a big family get-together! We loved spending our nights swimming there!

The prettiest pool overlooking the river – sunset was so magical!

DETAILS: GRAPHIC HOODIE

MUST-EATS IN WILLIAMSBURG

ELECTRIC CIRCUS TACO : 9 times out of 10, you’ll find us either at a Mexican or Italian restaurant. We ended up at Electric Circus Taco for lunch the first day, and it was the perfect intro to the Williamsburg food scene. It’s right in the heart of Williamsburg, so you can walk and tour the city after. The restaurant has tons of arcade games for the kids, so they loved it!

ANTONIO’S RISTORANTE: We got this to go after we went to Busch Gardens and the garlic knots were amazing! Thin crust New York-style pizza too. It was one of our favorite meals! 

WATER STREET GRILLE (Yorktown): Nothing beats a good pizza 😉  Cody took the healthy route and ordered a steak salad. Loved the views and they have the prettiest tables out on the balcony that overlook the river.

MAURIZIO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO: This was a local favorite – it was super busy, and the pasta options were all really popular, but we were craving pizza again, no surprise haha. It’s right at the entrance of the resort, so it was super convenient to stop and grab food. 

MOBJACK BAY COFFEE ROASTERS (Yorktown) : I could talk about this place for hours! It’s the cutest coffee shop with all handmade (and amaaaazing) pastries. The building it’s in is actually one of 7 buildings that were built in the 1700s. At one point, it was owned by a female who actually sold coffee – the current owner was so inspired that she wanted to open a coffee shop of her own with her family. The owners have also had multiple ‘ghost’ encounters in that building (but friendly :). Such a cool spot with soooo much history! They also had a picnic area in the back with an outdoor fire going. You’re also within walking distance of a lot of the historic sites in Yorktown.

Favorite thing we tried: Nutella Donuts – we had waaay too many! The kids loved the pink macarons. Also loved the Caramel Macchiato – their coffee is all roasted in-house so it’s super fresh. This place was probably my favorite!

WYTHE CANDY & GOURMET SHOP: Cody always finds the best sweets! This place had caramel apples, homemade fudge, chocolates, and more. Also, our fam loves jelly bellies, and they have a wall with all the flavors.

MUST-PLAY & MUST-DOS IN WILLIAMSBURG

*Disclaimer – we aren’t much for museums. Our kids have pretty short attention spans and would rather be outside or doing something active. There’s soooo much to do in Williamsburg that I didn’t think the kids would gravitate towards the more historical or educational elements, but they totally did! Tons of live exhibits and replicas make it feel like you are there experiencing it and not just listening to an audio recording looking at pictures on the wall.

JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT: Jamestown Settlement was the perfect mix of history and interactive experiences – the kids loved it! They kept seeing “come see this” or “wow! look at this!” It was honestly the best museum-type experience we’ve had. Wes kept talking about what he had learned in school, and it was cool to see it all come to life for the kids.

While there, you can see re-creations of the ships that first came to Jamestown in 1607. They have replicated a lot of the original structures and ships from early Jamestown. We got to board a life-size replica of Susan Constant – the biggest ship that brought over the original settlers of Jamestown. There were 71 people that came across on that ship, which put it all into perspective how cramped and uncomfortable the journey overseas would have been. They also had a recreation of a Paspahegh town to see how Powhatan and Pocahontas and their people would have lived. So cool!

DETAILS: DENIM JACKET (SIMILAR HERE) | TANK | BLACK DENIM | WHITE SNEAKERS

BIKE RIDING: Without really meaning to, we’ve started the tradition of renting and riding bikes on almost all our vacations – The Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, the beach in Newport Beach, and now we get to add along the Greensprings Interpretive Trail in Williamsburg. We love being active and outdoors, and riding bikes is the perfect way to combine the two and get to explore new places. We rented bikes from Spoke + Art Provisions Co – they had options for a hybrid or recumbent bike and also have toddler wagons available. The trail was sooooo beautiful! So green and tons of wildlife (including a baby deer!). Also had the cutest wood bridges over different ponds, and the woods were gorgeous.

After the bike ride, we went back to return the bikes and got to talk to the owner more. He’s from England, so I got to talk to him about our obsession with “The Crown” haha. They have a cute outdoor sitting area in the back where you can get snacks, have coffee, and listen to live music either before or after your ride. They also do a British tea once a week! Such a cute spot and one of my favorite things we did on this trip.

SISTER CITIES FRENCH MARKET: The Yorktown Market Days are a Saturday staple, with special theme markets through the year and our weekend corresponded with the Sister Cities French theme! It was the cutest waterfront farmers market complete with food trucks, cute shops, and artists, and more. Yorktown is the sister city of Port-Vendres, France, so the market is re-creation of their Saturday market and has the coolest French feel to it! Cody snuck away for a crepe and didn’t save us a single bite haha. 

HISTORIC YORKTOWN: Yorktown was such a cool village to visit. I love cute picturesque towns and fell so hard for all the beautiful buildings here (as my 100 pictures in front of the buildings can attest haha). It was crazy to think how much those buildings must have witnessed over the centuries

We stopped at Yorktown Bookshop and got to see a Bible they have for sale from the 1600s. 🤯 The kids each got to pick out a vintage comic book, too, and they already looked them up to check resale value haha. One of them was already worth $70!

We also got to watch The Fifes and Drum of York Town play 18th-century field music, and it felt like we were taking a step back in time. During the war, they couldn’t hear the commander, so drummers would play specific beats to send orders to the troops.

DETAILS: WHITE PULLOVER | DENIM | SNEAKERS

BUSCH GARDENS: (Tied: Kids’ Favorite) We couldn’t come within miles of the iconic Busch Gardens and not go… haha. Wes is always pulling up videos of roller coasters, so he was probably the most excited. The Williamsburg Busch Gardens also has 9 European village ‘replicas’ throughout the park. Their Food & Wine Festival is taking place right now (through May 23), so you can try authentic foods from around the world. Such a cool way to bring Europe to us since we can’t go to Europe this summer.

Post-park nap 😂  Always a sign of a fun-filled day.

I got a lot of questions about Covid restrictions. They limit the number of people who can enter the park each day, so you have to reserve your tickets beforehand, but it was actually nice to not have it so crowded. Most of the roller coasters and rides were open, and the kids got to go on every open roller coaster. Cody and I both went on a few – I made him go on the crazy upside-down roller coaster, so he got his moment to shine as the adventurous parent haha. Everyone wears masks unless they are eating. It was our first theme park experience post-Covid and was just like the old days, plus masks and minus insane crowds haha.

Have you guys been to Williamsburg? If you have any favorite places to stay, restaurants you recommend, or other activities you would suggest, leave a comment below for others planning future trips. 🥰

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Visit Williamsburg.

The post U.S. Must-See Destinations: Williamsburg, Virginia Travel Guide appeared first on Hello Fashion.

Cody and I kept thinking we would go on a babymoon before the baby arrived, but time slipped away from us and all of a sudden I was past the point that I could fly anymore! With all the chaos going on at home with them ripping out and reinstalling the floors, we thought it would be nice to get away for the weekend so we stayed at the Grand America for a little babymoon staycation. Here were some of the highlights and a few reasons to visit the grand America next time you are in Salt Lake!

1. The Room Service! First and foremost, the Grand America had the best room service I’ve ever had! You know how honestly a lot of times the room service food isn’t as good by the time it gets to your room. I always order room service since the convenience usually outweighs the fact that the food is usually just average, but the Grand America was the first hotel where the room service was actually just as good as eating in the restaurant! We had both breakfast and dinner and it was so yummy! (Side note: Also make sure to try their  chicken noodle soup with their rolls at the cafe on Sunday – so good!)

2. The Grand Spa. Cody and I broke away for a trip to the spa and it was the perfect touch for our babymoon staycation. They have tons of facial and beauty services, but one of my favorite parts was the 17-head shower before the couple massage, So relaxing! If you do it turn the side sprayers on cold and the overhead ones on hot, it feels so good! They also had the yummiest creme brûlée when you come into the couple massage – I’m not sure if its the pregnancy in me, but I’m realizing all my highlights are revolving around food haha.

3. Location. Whatever brings you to SLC, downtown is definitely the place to be. The Grand America has super easy access to downtown so it’s really convenient. We used to live downtown, so it was nostalgic to be back! We walked to dinner, rented city scooters to get around, and loved soaking up more time downtown.

DETAILS: DRESS (UNDER $10 – NOT MATERNITY – WEARING SIZE SMALL) | SNEAKERS

4. Tea Time! One of my favorite parts of the Grand America is their Afternoon Tea! It’s the perfect excuse to get dressed up with friends for a really unique event. It’s available almost every day (excluding holidays) and the finger sandwiches and tea pastries are all amazing. I also found out they can host private tea times for larger events – it would be so cute for a bridal shower/birthday party/etc.!

5. Something for the kids. They have a big candy shop and toy store inside the hotel and it’s the perfect attraction for kids! They gave Beckam a cute wood token when we checked in for a stuffed animal.

DETAILS: MATERNITY SWIM (I JUST PULLED DOWN BOTTOMS FROM OVER MY BELLY TO GET MY TAN ON 😉

6. The Grounds: The pool was a highlight 100%. We’ve actually stayed at the Grand America a couple times but I have only been to the indoor pool. This was my first time at the outdoor pool and it was so nice! It has a pretty view of the hotel from the pool, and they have a kiddy area, regular pool, and jacuzzi, so its the best of everything. Also have to mention how beautiful all their gardens are grounds are in general, major inspo! All of the grounds are just  so beautiful!

I love all the marble in the interior – so pretty, feels like an escape to Paris 🙂

7. The Staff: Last but not least, everyone on the staff was soooo nice and accommodating! It’s one of the biggest factors that make and break whether I will be back to a hotel or property, and the staff was definitely one that made me excited to come back. Also don’t forget to get the free yummy chocolate chip cookies when you check in!!

Have you guys been to the Grand America? What are some of your favorite parts?

XX, Christine

* Special thanks to the Grand America for hosting our family! We can’t wait to go back!

The post Babymoon at the Grand America appeared first on Hello Fashion.

Comfort is always a must when it comes to travel style! Love their matching Nike sneakers!

Dying over their matching hoodies!

When you usually borrow everything from his closet, but his sneakers never fit so you have to buy your own. Love these!

DETAILS: WHITE NIKE JACKET | SNEAKERS (ALSO GOT THESE)

CODY: WHITE NIKE JACKET | SNEAKERS | SHORTS

MARA:  CROPPED TEE | SNEAKERS

WES: ZIP UP HOODIE | SNEAKERS

BECKAM: ZIP UP HOODIE | SNEAKERS

Europe is one of my favorite places in the world especially Paris! The Eiffel Tower still gets my every time like the first time. Why is it so magical?? I’m excited to start sharing all the pics from our trip earlier this month!

Packing for a long family trip always seems to have a few mishaps and a few more this time with my pregnancy brain! I forgot an entire packing cube with more of my underwear and swimsuits this trip!) Cody forgot his swimsuits too! But there are a few things I always make 100% sure we have packed for every person in the family. I didn’t realize until I was looking at pictures from out summer trips the years before, but sure enough I pulled up our pictures from our visit to the Eiffel tower and the boys were both in their Nike sneakers and tees. I didn’t even realize it, but we have the same picture in their Nike gear (100% unplanned!). See below 🙂

Anytime we fly to Europe, we always try to fly in and out of Paris so we have at least 1 day in the city. (It’s a direct flight from SLC which is amazing, so we usually start our summer trips in either Paris or London.) It’s always one of our favorite cities to go back to! Mara says Paris is her favorite city in the world and all the kids were excited to pick out Eiffel Tower keychains for their school backpacks. We loaded up on banana crepes, rode the carousels, and wandered the streets. While we were out exploring this year, a HUGE thunderstorm hit and we were all instantly soaked, but it make for some great memories. 🙂

This year, I got everyone a pair of sneakers from the Nike White Collection – there’s nothing more versatile than a good white sneaker and they go with anything in your suitcase, from comfy airport style and sportswear to street style and cute dresses. You have to have comfortable shoes to walk around! I actually ordered this pair for me at first, but when these sneakers that Cody picked out arrived, I loved them and needed a pair too haha. Love finding great men’s sneakers! Just size down 1.5-2 sizes! I’m usually an 8-8.5 and these are a 6.5 in men’s. I’m obsessed with the shoes I ordered for the kids. They come in tons of colors – I love the look of white and think I’m going to order a darker color for back to school.

I also found some great jackets and hoodies for the trip. I loved this Nike pullover jacket and got one for both me and Cody (sized up to a large for the bump :).  For this kids, I pack one hoodie or sweatshirt for the whole trip and loved these matching hoodies. I actually which we would have ordered one for Mara too! They are definitely unisex. Clearly I’m obsessed with coordinating outfits for the whole family and I love all the pieces from the Nike White collection! The monochromatic white also makes it so easy to spot everyone when we are traveling so we don’t get too far (and not quite as intense as matching family tee’s ;).

Below are a few more of my favorites from the Nike White Collection:

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Nike.

The post Nike in Paris appeared first on Hello Fashion.

THE DESTINATIONS

Royal Caribbean has so many amazing destinations to choose from, but our day at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas, the first in their new Perfect Day collection of private island destinations, was probably our favorite stop yet! Honestly, I could put together a whole post just on the island – there was so much to do! It’s the perfect destination for families who have different speeds or interests (or both :). Cody and the kids are really adventurous, so they got their thrill with the helium balloon, Up, Up & Away (which gives you the highest view in all of the Bahamas!), Thrill Waterpark (which has 13 slides, including the tallest water slide in all of North America), and a 1,600 foot long zip line — did not disappoint. Then, over on the other side of the island is the most beautiful beach, Chill Island, where you can lounge and relax. The water is warm, super clear and a gorgeous color and when the tide is right, you can walk out really far (a couple hundred yards). We even found star-fish on the beach, which was a huge hit. There were also tons of great food options on the island. I could go on forever, but Perfect Day at CocoCay really had something for everyone in the family, and all in close proximity so you don’t lose any precious daylight going back and forth between different activities.

The view from the ship as we pulled up to Perfecy Day at CocoCay.

Getting ready to go up on Up Up & Away!

It’s the highest view point in The Bahamas — so cool to be able to go up and see a view you can’t get anywhere else!

Next stop – Thrill Waterpark!

Last but not least, the most beautiful beach!

You know it’s a been a good day when you can’t keep your eyes open, haha.

THE FOOD

Food is half of the experience of a cruise, so you definitely want to choose a cruise line that has the good stuff! Royal Caribbean has so many great options. I love good Mexican food so we hit up the taco spot, El Loco Fresh, every day for lunch while on Navigator of the Seas. Cody and I got the steak and chicken tacos every time and the kids’ quesadillas were really good, too! We also tries Jamie’s Italian one night for dinner and the food was amazing. Call me crazy, but the kid’s spaghetti was my favorite. And the desserts alone were worth the trip. 😂 And last but not least, the unlimited soft serve ice cream – I swear it is every kid’s dream come true! Strawberry swirl all day long!

THE WIFI

It’s the last thing you think about when you book a fun vacation, but one of the first things you think about when you are out at sea and start to lose cell coverage. I love that Royal Caribbean has Voom – the fastest at sea Wi-Fi – so we can stay connected to family at home. Plus it meant we were able to share some of our highlights in real time ;).

THE JOURNEY

Whoever said it’s all about the journey and not the destination was probably thinking of cruises haha (although the destination was pretty hard to beat!). We were on Navigator of the Seas which has so much to do on board that it was impossible to do everything. It has one of the longest waterslides at sea, The Blaster, and also The Riptide waterslide – which actually twists and turns over the water – the coolest view and feeling like you are floating in air! Wes also rode the FlowRider surf simulator for the first time. Wes got up so easy; that kid is so naturally athletic. It’s so cool to experience so many firsts with the kids… One of my favorite parts of traveling!

The FlowRider is so much fun to watch, I can’t even imagine how fun it is to actually do it!

The waterslide went over the water it was so crazy! The coolest waterslide! It felt like you were floating above the ocean.

Mara, Wes, and Beckam splashing on the Navigators of the Seas pool deck.

THE SUNSETS/SUNRISES:

Ok, we need to come to terms with the fact that all of my travel guide must-dos will include a sunset or sunrise view! I love a good sunset no matter where I am in the world, but there’s something about being out at sea and having the full horizon light up the sky with so many colors! I will never get tired of it!

Special moments aboard the Navigator of the Seas.

Have you guys cruised with Royal Caribbean before? What are some of your favorite ships or destinations? I would love to add to our must-do list!

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Royal Caribbean.

The post 5 Reasons to Cruise with Royal Caribbean appeared first on Hello Fashion.

PRESET: DIRECT SUN

Direct sunlight can be really harsh to shoot in, so it’s all about how you edit! This is my go to preset when I’m directly in the sunlight.

PRESET: OASIS I

This one is perfect to brighten up those beach shots and capture that beautiful teal water.

PRESET: OASIS II

Forget the shadows and brighten up the dark shots with this edit.

OASIS BRIGHT SUN:

Shooting in harsh light can make it impossible to capture true to color, so this one helps correct the harshness and brighten up those beautiful blues like you were there in person.

SUBTLE EDIT:

Some pics don’t need much of a filter – this one is perfect for just adding a subtle contrast and pop to your pictures.

The  Hawaii: Island Edition presets come in a 5 pack and they are on sale right now! So snag them on discount while you can 🙂 And make sure and use #hellofashionpresets so I can check them out. You can also check out my other presets here that I use for my photos and instructions for installing them below!

**TO INSTALL – Download them to your computer first and then email or airdrop it to yourself so you can open on your phone.

**Requites Lightroom CC for your mobile device, which is a free download! Once you order, there is a short video on how to install the presets from the downloaded zip file.

XX, Christine

The post The Easy Edit for All Your Summer Getaway Pictures appeared first on Hello Fashion.

DETAILS: GREY BODYSUIT (UNDER $25) | SHIRT JACKET (UNDER $100 – ALSO LOVE THIS KHAKI OPTION) | CROPPED WIDE-LEG TROUSERS (UNDER $100) | WOVEN SLIDES (MORE SIZES HERE) | STRAW SUN HAT (UNDER $50) | NECKLACES | SILVER SUITCASES | NUDE TOTE

I don’t know if it’s my current obsession with tans and beiges or just my excitement over this new outfit, but it takes something special to oust my go-to airport sportswear style, and this look did it! Nine times out of ten you will find me in my favorite leggings, oversized sweatshirt, and sneakers when I’m traveling, but this is one of my favorite travel outfits to date. These trousers are a super lightweight material, plus with the wide leg silhouette they are just as comfortable as my typical travel uniform. I always layer-up for the plane, so I was excited to find this jacket that matched perfectly. Both pieces are under $100 and transition perfectly from the plane to going out to dinner or jumping right into your vacation. Also you guys helped me decide on this straw hat and it’s such a great staple (and must for spring/summer travel!) – and a great price point under $50. These slides are another one of my favorite recent buys for this spring and summer and under $150. Love the texture!

Below are a few more travel style pieces that will transition seamlessly into your vacation looks:

XX, Christine

The post The Outfit That Has Me Second Guessing My Travel Uniform appeared first on Hello Fashion.

This swimsuit is one of my new favorites! So comfy & flattering.

DETAILS: SWIMSUIT BOTTOM | TOP | HAT (Old -Similar)  | SUNGLASSES

Everyone loves a good beach trip right?! I got so many requests and messages asking me to share what I packed / what my beach vacay essentials are. My outfit above is one of my favorites from the trip, and I have rounded up some other essentials that I took with me as well.

On beach trips, I always pack a big floppy straw hat to help protect me from the sun, and a big straw bag (shown in pic below) to hold all my stuff in for the beach. This is the bag I took to Hawaii recently and I loved it! I’ve actually had it for 2 years I think and they just restocked it. It’s such a good bag and can hold a lot but not be too heavy.

The majority of the clothing I take with me are cute swimsuits, cover ups, and light weight linens for the beach and pool! I found this brand last year called POSSE and their pieces are AMAZING! They are really light weight and I love the neutral color palette they have. I’m wearing their rose linen top above. I try to take neutral cover ups that go with anything, so that I can wear them more than once.

This flowy maxi dress (shown above) is amazing! This brand has lots of cute flow pieces that are colorful and playful.

You can’t forget swimsuits!! I love this swimsuit, this one piece suit, and this one piece that I shared on my Instagram!  This swimsuit (shown above) on is a good one for any body type, comes in like 10 colors and it’s under $100.

Comfy pants are an essential of mine for beach vacations too! I like to have something lightweight and flows (in case you get burned 😉 or it’s just too hot and you don’t want crazy tight fitting clothes.  I got these pants and wore them almost every other night to dinner. I love how effortless and cute they look and they’re so comfy to throw on after a long day outside they feel like pajamas! These are a BIG STAPLE!

For makeup, I always stay very minimal when outside at the pool and beach – I rarely do my makeup when we travel.  I usually just put on some tinted moisturizer – this one is a recent favorite and I love that it has SPF in it!

And of course – its always important to have a good suitcase to get you to the beach!  I got this cute red suitcase a couple months ago and I am still loving it. I have also been using this bag when traveling – I love that its big and holds everything I need as a purse and is easy to clean!

Let me know if I missed anything you saw me wearing and I will be sure to link it!  Hope this helps when packing and hope you are all going somewhere fun & warm soon 🙂

XX,
Christine

The post What to Pack for a Beach Trip appeared first on Hello Fashion.

DETAILS: WHITE  DRESS | WHITE SUNGLASSES | PRINT HEADBAND (ALSO GOT THIS ONE) | HOOP EARRINGS (UNDER $25)

I was so excited to go back to the flower fields with the family. I took Beckam when he was two years old and talked Cody into going again because I am obsessed with all things flowers! They still get me every time! The colors were actually richer this year than when I went last time.

This is the perfect little white dress! It’s more of a beach coverup but we had just come from the beach so it worked 😉  I love the playful length of it so it works great for the beach or grabbing lunch. Love pieces that do double duty, especially for traveling! It’s such a great price point too.

This cute sports bra is under $20! I ordered both colors they are super comfortable.

Cody’s brother and his family came with us on the trip! We usually do every spring break with their family – don’t know if you guys remember last year’s trip to Costa Rica 🙂

DETAILS: PINK SPORTS BRA (UNDER $20) | BLACK LEGGINGS | LONG-SLEEVE STRIPED TEE | SNEAKERS | GREY HAT

We hiked Runyon canyon (my first time) Cody’s been a couple times,  and it was so cool to get a different view of the city! It was a little smoggy so you couldn’t see everything – I want to do it again next time we go to get the full views!

DETAILS: STRIPED BIKINI TOP (UNDER $50 – WEARING SIZE 6) AND BOTTOMS (UNDER $50 – WEARING SIZE 4) | WHITE SUNGLASSES

As much as I wear neutrals, I really love color so I’ve noticed I always go for something bright with swimwear. I saw this one on my friend Jaci’s account and was in love, plus it’s under $100!

DETAILS: BLUE BANDEAU BIKINI TOP & BOTTOMS | HEADBAND | WHITE SUNGLASSES | HOOP EARRINGS (UNDER $25)

I guess I’m on a bandeau bikini kick! I was obsessed with this one the second I saw it! Blues are one of my favorite colors for this season. I love the bright blue shade of this one and the ruffles make it feel super unique. Also, headbands! I’ve been wearing them non-stop lately. They are such a fun detail to add to a spring look. Also what do you think of Cody wearing my sunglasses lol. He always forgets his and ends up wearing some of mine. These ones aren’t bad but sometimes I only have really girly ones and he still wears them lol.

DETAILS: BLUSH WINDBREAKER (UNDER $100) | CROPPED HOODIE | BLACK LEGGINGS | PINK SNEAKERS (WEARING KID’S SIZE 5.5 – TYPICALLY 7.5 ADULT) | AVIATORS

It rained a couple of the days we were down there 🙁 We were hoping for a little warmer weather. So when we couldn’t hit the beach we biked around the city – one of the hotels we were at let you rent bikes for free for a couple hours so everyone got to ride. I had just got this cute  blush windbreaker under $100, so I was excited to bust it out with the cooler weather on the trip :).

Even on the colder days we had to check the beach to see if the weather was bearable. I snapped this shot of Cody and loved how it turned out! We’ve been doing all our own pics lately, we used to do about 50/50 and I’ve just been so excited to be a little more creative and shoot our own stuff. Even on a cloudy day, the beach is so stunning! And this beach was close to the airport in San Diego so planes fly over every like 15 minutes its so cool!!

DETAILS: COLORFUL CROCHET  TOP | COLORFUL CROCHET BOTTOMS | SANDALS (UNDER $100) | WHITE SUNGLASSES | BLACK AND WHITE TOTE (CLUTCH VERSION HERE)

Haha ok I’m realizing a trend now – does California bring out anyone else’s love of bright, bold pieces? I saw this crochet two piece combo and was obsessed. Definitely a statement piece and so much fun to wear! And your probably wondering where Mara and Wes were in these last couple pics – people get so weird if they don’t see them in every picture – they were off getting donuts with their cousins while we said goodbye to the beach 🙂 Whenever we travel with family all the kids – Beckam included  love playing with their cousins so much I feel like we have to drag them away to hang out with us. Anyone else have this problem 😉

Below are a few more colorful favorites:

XX, Christine

The post California Spring Break appeared first on Hello Fashion.

I don’t feel like the pictures do justice but these were the beautiful glaciers! It was seriously so surreal to see! So many of them are melting, they said they are continually getting smaller each year so was really thankful to see them!

If I’m totally honest we all got matching moon boots just because we thought they were cute but they were the warmest boots!  And really light weight! You know when your walking around in the heaviest boots and it feels like your feet are a million pounds. These are so lightweight!

We all started our blogs around the same time and used to have monthly girls lunches when we all lived in Utah before we had kids – all these girls have amazing blogs if you don’t follow you should 🙂 From left to right (Rachel – Pink Peonies, Cara – Caraloren, Amber – Barefoot Blonde)

This was one of the coldest Cody and I have ever been! It was crazy windy and soooo chilly but the views were so so worth it!

DETAILS:  WHITE SNOW PANTS (FULL SUIT HERE) | BLACK PARKA | MOON BOOTS | OVERSIZED KNIT SCARF | ILY GREY BEANIE (OLD ILY – SIMILAR HERE) | SUNGLASSES

CODY: BLACK PARKA | SNOW BOOTS

In case you guys missed it we were in Whistler last week. The Helicopter Glacier Tour was definitely one of the highlights of the trip (Thanks to Blackcomb Helicopter Tours for having us!!) The glacier is twelve thousand years old and seven thousand feet from sea level. I literally had on four layers, two pairs of gloves and hand warmers, and I was still the coldest I have ever been in my entire life. (Literally the only part of my body that was warm was my feet from my boots and this isn’t even sponsored 😂 – they are just so warm, I was shocked!). The windchill was nuts but I think the adrenaline rush got me through it haha. It was 360 views on top of the glacier above the clouds. It felt like a movie! We were going to have lunch up there too, but with the strong winds we weren’t able to do it. We were up there for like 45 mins, so you’ll definitely want to wear pretty much every layer you pack. These pictures don’t even do it justice though – you have to see it in person!

The guys went in the second helicopter behind us, and as soon as we took off, their pilot told them they had 2 minutes to get in the helicopter. After they got on and took off, the pilot told them that if they had waited any longer to get in the chopper, the clouds would have moved in and they wouldn’t have been able to take off. I guess it had happened once before when the pilot told the group they had 3 minutes and they took 7 minutes taking pics, etc. They ended up stuck on the mountain for 3 days and people had to hike up food and supplies to the group until the clouds cleared enough for them to be able to take off.  (So glad it was the guys and not us that left second – no doubt we would have been late and totally gotten stuck on the mountain! lol) It sounds a little intense but Blackcomb Helicopter Tours know what they are doing, so as long as you don’t ignore them when they tell you to get back to the helicopter, you will have the best time ever! It was Rachel and Cara’s first time in a helicopter and they said it was one of the best things they have ever done! So if your nervous don’t be its one of those amazing things you will look back and be so glad you did! Tomorrow I’m sharing a full travel diary of our trip and a little video so be sure to tune in 🙂

XX, Christine

* Big thanks to Blackcomb Helicopter Tours and Four Seasons Whistler for setting up this amazing excursion and having us!

The post Helicopter Glacier Tour appeared first on Hello Fashion.

DETAILS: RED CROPPED HOODIE (UNDER $50 – COMES IN 6 COLORS) | BLACK DOWN COAT | LEGGINGS | SNEAKERS | SUNGLASSES | GUCCI CROSSBODY | BLACK SUITCASE

Hello from Whistler! We booked a couple’s trip with a few of my blogger friends and I’m excited to be back in Canada!

You guys know how much I love to be comfy especially when it comes to traveling! This cropped hoodie is so good I own it in like 4-5 colors. It’s super cozy and I love the cropped hem so it feels a little more feminine. It’s under $50 and seriously one of my favorite layers ever. I also just got these sneakers and am obsessed with the marbled bottom! Such a pretty detail and a good price point too.

Let me know if you guys have any must-dos for Whistler in the comments below! Or follow along on stories today!

XX, Chrisitne

The post Canada Travel Style appeared first on Hello Fashion.

DETAILS: BLUSH BRAIDED BIKINI (UNDER $20 FOR THE WHOLE SET) | STRIPED DRESS (ZARA – SIMILAR HERE) | BAMBOO CROSSBODY (ADDITIONAL STOCK HERE) | SUNGLASSES | GOLD CHOKER | GOLD PENDANT NECKLACE (ADDITIONAL STOCK HERE)

Hey guys! I got a million questions on my looks yesterday. I found this bikini for under $20 and bought it in 2 more colors – it’s so cute and I can’t believe what a steal it is! I also got tons of questions on my necklaces. I love the layered look with this choker and this pendant necklace. This cover up is actually a dress I found at Zara. You can turn any button up dress into a pretty cover up, just wear it open with your swimsuit and you can add a pair of cut-off shorts if you want more coverage. Lastly, obsessed with this bamboo bag! I’ve seen a lot in this style but I love the beaded shoulder strap on this one – so pretty! Here’s a similar option for under $50.

Below are a few more beach favorites below!

XX, Christine

The post Daily Style Diaries – January 8th 2018 appeared first on Hello Fashion.

DETAILS: ORANGE SWEATER | DISTRESSED DENIM | BLACK LOAFERS | TORTOISE SUNGLASSES | GREY CROSSBODY

Happy Sunday guys! I am so overdue on a lot of my recent travel guides – hoping to catch up one day – starting with our trip to NY! Here are 5 things to do in NYC as a family:

1. Pick the perfect location. Since it’s such a big city, you really have to choose where you stay strategically so you don’t spend the majority of the time getting to and from the sights you want to see. We stayed at the Quin, and it was in an amazing location. It’s really close to Central Park, close to shopping and some of our favorite restaruants, and the rooms were really spacious! The hotel restaurant was also delicious, too. Traveling with kids, sometimes you end up calling it a night early or have to stay in for a meal so I’m always so thankful when the hotel food is so yummy! Also I have to mention the bathrooms because the tubs were HUGE and the whole bathroom was marble. It was so pretty.

DETAILS: RED BERET | RED STRIPED TEE | DISTRESSED DENIM | RED CROSSBODY (LOVE THIS ONE)

Central Park. What’s NYC with out Central park! Our hotel was really close to Central Park so we went over multiple times during out stay. There’s so many different areas of the park to see that all have a really different feel so we explored there daily. It’s super kid-friendly and there are endless things to do.

Ride bikes to explore the city. They rent bikes in the building next to the hotel. I think it’s like $10 for the day or something like that. The boys originally said let’s just rent them to ride through the park, but if you know my husband it’s always about all the extreme activities so it quickly turned into, let’s just ride them to the Brooklyn Bridge. (They are not close to each other lol) It ended up being an all day activity but it was a great work out and such a fun way to see the city up close!

Walk and find new restaurants and enjoy old favorites. I always have to go to Sarabeth’s every time I’m in NY. So good! Have you guys ever gone? It was not even a block away from our hotel, so I was excited to make it over for breakfast! Also wha’t NYC with out pizza we went to which is a famous spot in NYC called Joe’s Pizza, it was really good for pizza on the go while we were out walking around. The city has so many places to eat – there’s something for everyone.

Jet-ski tour of the city. This was our first time doing this and it was amazing! I can’t recommend it enough. It was so cool to witness new views of the city I have never seen before. Just avoid getting in the water if you can haha.

Hit the market. We were surprised to find the cutest farmer’s market on Saturday morning when we walked outside our hotel. Such a fun NY touch! To be honest I’m not sure if it happens every Saturday or it was a special occasion but they had lots of yummy food trucks and little trinkets for the kids.

DETAILS: BLACK SHERPA PULLOVER |  WHITE CROSSBODY | GLASSES

Times Square. Times Square is always an exciting stop, SUPER TOURISTY!! I have to say that because really I get overwhelmed with big crowsds of people, but with Beckam’s current superhero obsession it was even more magical this year. He was so excited to see all his favorite superheroes in real life!! He was freaking out. Kids really make everything so so magical!!

Ice skating at The Rockefeller Center. This has been on my bucketlist FOREVER, and it’s even more magical in the winter! So much fun, especially as a family. I didn’t think Beckam would even care about going but he was so so excited! It was pretty funny because I am NOT a good skater, and trying to hold Beckam up and skate at the same time. It was pretty comical! Good memories though 🙂

DETAILS: BLUE SWEATER | LEGGINGS | OVER-THE-KNEE BOOTS | GREY CROSSBODY

What are some of your favorite family activities in NYC?

XX, Christine

The post NYC Family Travel Diary appeared first on Hello Fashion.

DETAILS: X PAVE BRACELET | SQUARE PAVE BRACELET | SILVER LINK BRACELET | SILVER STUD EARRINGS | CROSSOVER STACKED RING | PAVE LOOP RING | STARBURST RING | DIAMOND INFINITY RING | SIMPLE PAVE RING | RED GOWN | METALLIC COAT

CODY: LEATHER BRACELET | SILVER TWISTED CUFF | SILVER CUFF | KNOT RING

One of my favorites aspects of blogging is getting to be creative – I love when brands give a theme or concept and we get to create a story! David Yurman’s holiday collection was “Enchanted Forest” so we came up with this beautiful snowy mountain escape. Obviously I don’t get dressed up in a gown to go explore mountain tops any old day, but it was so fun to shoot something magical for one of my favorite jewelry brands.

A lot of times during the holidays I end up giving a lot of little gifts that I find randomly throughout the holidays, and usually by the time I’m done I spend as much as I would have if I had just splurged on one special investment gift. A David Yurman piece is something you will wear forever so it’s a perfect gift for the special people in your life. Cody loves their bracelets and I’m obsessed with all their pieces from the Silver Sensations gift shop, especially rings – love this crossover one and these pretty earrings.

I’m also hosting a special Holiday giveaway with David Yurman to give one of you guys a holiday bracelet (either for you or someone on your gift list ;). Check out my Instagram @hellofashionblog later today for details.

Below are a few more of their pieces I’m obsessed with for him and her:

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with David Yurman // Photos by Aaron Brimhall // Helicopter thanks to York @iflyheli

The post Winter Fairytale appeared first on Hello Fashion.

This wicker bag! I can’t get enough of all things wicker and straw!

obsessed with this pink one piece!

DETAILS: BLUSH ONE-PIECE SWIMSUIT | RUFFLED DISTRESSED SHORTS (SIMILAR HERE) | WHITE WOVEN CROSSBODY (LOVE THIS ONE) | SUNGLASSES | SANDALS (UNDER $25)

Hawaii is our favorite beach spot in the US. Well it might be Cody’s favorite tropical escape overall. This was Cody’s first time to Maui and my second. I went years ago with my family, it was when Cody and I had first started dating and my parents said I didn’t even pay attention to anything because I was busy texting him the whole time lol. Ooops! It felt so good to be back!

The first day we got in we just lounged at the resort (we stayed at the Four Seasons Maui) went swimming and of course had to catch sunset! Sunset is my favorite part of the day whenever we travel! We make it a point to catch everyone!

I have such a soft spot for swimwear! They are all so different! I had my eye on this pretty pink one forever, it sold out and then when they restocked was so excited to get it!  I love the classic one piece silhouette and of course it’s pink so I love it! This wicker woven bag was another one of my favorite pieces from the trip. The tassels are so pretty and it’s a must-have for vacation!

You can find more of my favorite pink suits here:

And some great beach-bag finds below:

XX, Christine

The post The Perfect Color Swimsuit That Everyone Should Own This Summer appeared first on Hello Fashion.

Obsessed with this swim under $20!

DETAILS: ORANGE BIKINI (UNDER $20 – MORE COLORS HERE) | BLUE MIRRORED SUNGLASSES (UNDER $50)

CODY: COLORBLOCKED SWIM SHORTS

HAPPY MONDAY Fam!! We were in St. Lucia at the new Sandals Over Water Bungalows last month and it was seriously magical!!  One of my favorite islands we’ve been too (working on a full travel guide :)! I’ve gotten a lot of questions on this bikini and I just found it on sale for under $20 so I had to share before it sells out! It’s one of those really unexpected colors that looks flattering on everyone. It makes any tan look 10 times better, so don’t shy away from this statement color. I fell so in love with the orange I just ordered this bikini and this orange ruffle one piece. I love the detail on this one too.

I know bright colors aren’t everyone’s thing, so if you want more of a softer neutral the orange bikini I’m wearing above comes in like 5 other colors here.

More colors here:

And more great orange swimwear options here:

XX,
Christine

The post The Designer Swimsuit That’s Now On Sale Under $20 appeared first on Hello Fashion.

 WHITE MAXI CROCHET DRESS  (SIMILAR HERE UNDER $100 – OBSESSED WITH THIS ONE UNDER $50!)

This year my side of the family decided to skip out on presents and do a family getaway! Cody, the kids, and I had gone to Hawaii last January for Mara’s birthday and it was one of our favorite trips so we wanted to make it an annual trip! We were so excited to have the whole crew out there with us! My parents, aunt and uncle, cousins and there kids, it was a party with the full group of 15! With so many of us we wanted to stay somewhere that had lots of stuff to do for everyone.

Oahu is actually pretty big, so we stayed on a whole different side of the island than last time we went. It felt like a completely different trip! With that here are 9 of our favorite things to do at the Four Seasons Oahu:

1.BREAKFAST WITH A VIEW: With the time change we were up pretty early each morning so we caught almost every sunrise and sunset. The kids loved the breakfast buffet because they got chocolate and sprinkles on their waffles or loads of whip cream 🙂 I tried a couple different things on the menu, anything with eggs is always my favorite! The kids also get a free toy so they were really excited!

DETAILS: WHITE OFF THE SHOULDER MAXI | TORTOISE SUNGLASSES | WHITE WATCH

2. GUYS GOLF GETAWAY: We went to Hawaii with my parents and cousins and their families and it was so much fun. While we had girl time, the guys snuck away and went and played a round of golf at the Ko Olina Golf Club. I’m an only child so my Dad gets really excited to do stuff with Cody and hang with the guys. I was really excited there was something there for the guys to getaway and do their thing.

3. SOAK UP THE SUN AT THE POOLS: The Four Seasons has have three different pools on sight. We spent so much time at the pool!! The pool grounds were so beautiful! ADULT POOL:  They have an infinity adult area which is the best spot to watch the sunset. Since we had my family with us Cody and I were able to sneak away a couple times for some time just for us.

DETAILS: CITRUS PRINT SWIMSUIT (MORE SIZES HERE – BIKINI HERE UNDER $100 -LOVE THIS ONE UNDER $25) | AVIATORS | WHITE WATCH

KIDS POOL: The kids area was where we hung out the most. They have a huge pool for kids and the best part is they have a really shallow area that is attached to the bigger kids pool so Beckam was able to play in the huge area where he could stand and Mara and Wes could swim all in the same spot. They seperate it with a little wall so they are connected but not, if that makes sense. Also a huge perk, kid’s under 5 eat for free, kids meals over 5, are only $6 and they come with a ton of food. It was big enough for Mara and Wes to share one.

This is the shallow area B pretty much lived in! Wes would pull him around on his boogie board. They loved it!

DETAILS: BLACK BIKINI TOP (UNDER $100)

We would swim until like 7 or 8 at night sometimes. The kids are seriously little fish!

4. FREE BEACH AMENITIES AND CLOSE BEACH ACCESS: There’s a hut at the Four Seasons Oahu where you can rent sand toys, boogie boards, and all your beach toys and necessities for free. We took the toys and board with us when we went to beaches off site which was super nice! They also have beach bags and towels you can take with you so it makes exploring outside the resort really easy. There is beach access right on the property and lots of other cute coves that are with in walking distance with more beach access.

View from our room 🙂

My parents always dressed my cousin and I in matching outfits so I get excited to get the girls matching things too 🙂

This beach was about a five minute walk from the resort. We loved to go their at sunrise and watch the tide come in!

5. SNORKELING AND PRIVATE YACHT TOUR: This was such a fun family activity! We went on the Serendipity, the Four Season’s private yacht for a family snorkeling experience and all the kids got to snorkel too (well minus B). Mara and Wes needed a little extra encouragement to get in the water, but once they did they were excited. We were hoping to see dolphins (they said typically you get to see dolphins and whales on the tour) but I was bummed we didn’t catch any this time. We did see the cutest blow fish, oh my word! He wasn’t puffed up yet and had the hugest, cutest eyes! The snorkel instructor even fed him and the kids were so excited to get to see it.

We saw so many sea turtles! They were so big!! I feel like pictures you can’t tell when there is nothing next to it for size comparison but they were so cute!

B fell asleep sitting up it was so cute!!

DETAILS: BLUSH BIKINI (SIMILAR HERE) | DISTRESSED BOYFRIEND SHORTS (SIMILAR HERE) | HEART HEADWRAP | SUNGLASSES

6. COUPLES MASSAGE: Cody and I are obsessed with massages. We go pretty consistently at home so when we are traveling its always one of our favorite things to do together! The spa area at the Four Seasons was SO pretty! They had all these tropical plants and you can get your massage with open doors so you can hear nature and soak in the beauty while you get a massage.

7. MAKE LEIS: When you check in you get a calendar of activities on the property, 90% of them are free, like lei making, painting, jewelry making, etc. Our family loves crafts, I was an art major so it’s one of my favorite things to do with the kids. Anything crafty we are in! Lei making was probably one of my favorite things we did on the island!!

Lei making with the little princess!

DETAILS: CROCHET MAXI DRESS

8, DINNER AT NOE: This restaurant was sooooo pretty I couldn’t believe it! There were hemp lights hanging from tree branches around the tables and it was right next to a little stream, covered in palm trees. It was seriously picture perfect – it was all I could do to stop taking pictures and eat my dinner. 😉 I tried squid for the first time ever! I was surprised there wasn’t a fishy taste at all, but I’m a freak when it comes to texture so it didn’t make it onto my favorite foods list 😉 but the bruschetta and lobster spaghetti were really good!

DETAILS: BLUSH OFF-THE-SHOULDER DRESS (SIMILAR HERE) | TORTOISE SUNGLASSES

9. CATCH EVERY SUNSEST AND SUNRISE: We made it a point not to miss a single sunset while we were in Hawaii. If you stay on the ocean view side of the resort, you can get an amazing sunset view from your room. There are also so many spots to enjoy it on the resort. One night we watched it from hammocks, another night from the inifiniti pool, from our table at dinner, and there’s also easy beach access for a straight beach meets horizon view. We even saw 2 couples getting married during sunset while we were there. (I always love seeing brides in their pretty dresses!)

BLUE EMBROIDERED DRESS | LACE-UP SANDALS (SEE FULL OUTFIT IN THIS DRESS HERE)

All the cousins! They are all close in age and are seriously best friends! I love watching them all play together!

TRAVEL TIPS FOR THE RESORT:

• The Four Seasons Oahu is a 20-30 minute drive from the airport
• It’s set in a cove so the water is really calm and there’s instant beach access from the resort. There is also another cove that is walking distance that is known for sea turtles!
• My kids are ALWAYS snacking so we stopped at Target which is only like 7 minutes away and loads up on snacks to keep in our room.
• Kids care: We had so much family with us we had lots of babysitters if Cody and I wanted to go do something for an hour, but the resort also has a kids area where the kids can do all sorts of crafts and games. It’s a huge area! It’s available for free from 8-5 I think, I can’t remember the exact hours, but we went in the last day just to look at it and the kids didn’t want to leave! So if your traveling just with your family it’s a great opportunity to just get a quiet meal with your significant other while the kiddos play or something.
• Renting a Car: Our family got a van because we have a little bit of ADD when we travel and love to explore beyond the resort where we are staying, but we met multiple families at the resort that were there for a week and never left, so there are definitely enough activities and amenities that you don’t have to leave. So I think it’s really a preference and comes down to your travel personalities 🙂

Nearby Food:

There are so many great restaurants within walking distance from the resort. Below are a few great spots we tried. (These were all right across the street – literally a 2 minute walk but they also have golf carts available and the kids were always so excited to ride the golf cart to dinner.)

• Just Tacos Mexican Grill & Cantina: Of course we found a Mexican place while we were in Hawaii. I’ll vote for Mexican food at any place or time. 😛 Just be sure to get the mild salsa because the hot one burnt my mouth so badly – you’d think with my latin blood I could handle it. 😉
• Monkeypod Kitchen: This was a great spot and had something for everyone in the family. They are known for their happy hour – pizzas were just $9! – and make sure to try dessert! The banana cream pie was sooooo good.
• Island Country Markets: I didn’t get a chance to try this one, but my dad for banana pancakes for breakfast at the cafe in the market and said they were really good.

If you guys have any more questions about our trip let me know!! I’ll be sharing some of our favorite beaches we visited soon 🙂

XX, Christine

• *Special thanks to the Four Seasons for hosting our family

The post Hawaii Travel Guide: 9 Things To Do At The Four Seasons Oahu appeared first on Hello Fashion.

There was a crazy fog in Santa Monica two of the days we were there, it was so pretty mixed with the palm trees! It was a whole new feel for California.

Love this scent! It’s a romantic, feminine fragrance with a mix of clean and fresh notes.

B’s favorite game right now is tag and hide and seek.  Cody kept chasing us in the sand and B thought it was the best thing in the world!

DETAILS: TORY BURCH LOVE RELENTLESSLY PERFUME | ILY COUTURE OFF-THE-SHOULDER TOP (UNDER $100)

Love, love, love. The older I get the more I realize there are so many beautiful stages of love. I look back at when Cody and I first met and we were UNCONDITIONALLY, HEAD OVER HEELS, INFATUATED with each other. It was a high like no other. I still remember the first time he went to hold my hand and it sent chills over my whole body. I knew instantly at that moment he was the one! We have gone through many highs and lows over the years. We are not perfect! Some of the lows were really hard times, but through those hard times they always brought us closer together in the end. Other times are comical to look back at and think was that even a big deal!! If there’s one thing you learn about love after 5 years of marriage, kids, working together, etc it’s that love is relentless and unconditional. No matter how in love or perfect for each other you are, there will always be hard times, and it’s how you choose to love and forgive each other through those hard times that really define your relationship. Love is beautiful!

Cody and I were on the plane the other day reading this article about funny things spouses do. So, inspired by the new Love Relentlessly fragrance by Tory Burch, I thought it would be fun to share 5 things I do that drive Cody crazy but that he learns to love (or at least laugh at ;).

1.  Eating my cereal in bed.  I LOVE CEREAL! It’s a tie between that and french fries as my favorite food! Every night before I go to bed I eat a bowl of cereal. I’m usually the last one to bed a lot of times, so I bring my bowl of cereal into bed while Cody is trying to sleep and all you hear is the crunch crunch crunch. Hahah it drives him crazy he will always be like “Soooo how’s that cereal babe? Sounds pretty tasty” lol.
2.  Leaving candles burning when I leave. Thankfully I haven’t burnt the house down yet!
3.  Take 5 hours to pack. I’ve openly admitted what a bad packer I am! Cody always teases me because the night before a trip I wander in circles around the house because I can’t think straight about what I’m going to bring. He’s gotten to the point he always plans to go see a movie the night before we leave somewhere because I can’t make any decisions about what to bring.
4.  Ask him a million questions in the middle of a show. Oops!
5. Eating when I’m trying to talk to him on the phone.  Hahaha apparently I have some issues I need to resolve with my food manners lol.

What are some of the things your husband always teases you about?

XX, Christine

*In collaboration with Tory Burch.

The post Love Relentlessly: 5 Habits That Drive Cody Crazy appeared first on Hello Fashion.

DETAILS: WHITE LACE DRESS | EMBELLISHED BOOTS

Cody and I were so excited to do a mini-getaway for our 5 year anniversary. I can’t believe it’s been 5 years! It seems like it’s been longer but shorter at the same time if that even makes sense, haha. The last 5 years have flown by but at the same time it feels like we’ve been together forever.

California is like a second home to us – we got married here and come down about once a month. We love it so much!

We literally laid in bed until like 11 o’clock one morning! We ordered breakfast in bed and just lounged. It’s seriously so nice having a little time just me and him to just do nothing!

My favorite thing to do when I first get into a hotel is get in the hotel robes! I don’t know where the tradition came from but it’s always one of the first things I do and I end up lounging for as long as I can get away with it.

We stayed at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons and their views from their rooms are SO pretty! For sure get the room with a balcony! We would sit out in the morning on their lounge chairs and just watch the hustle and bustle of the city. Sunsets are also so good!

DETAILS: BROWN SCALLOPED BIKINI TOP AND BOTTOMS  (ONE PIECE HERE) | WHITE LACE COVERUP | SUNGLASSES

It was in the 80’s the whole time we were there, so we were able to lay out by the pool, get some pina coladas and a mini tan.

Cody is really artistic and doesn’t give himself much credit! He was like look how cool those palm trees look against the stairwell get a pic and of course it ends up being one of my favorites 🙂

DETAILS: CAMEL CARDIGAN | GREY KNIT TOP (SIMILAR HERE) | CUT-OFF SHORTS | SUEDE ANKLE BOOTIES | NUDE MINI CROSSBODY | SUNGLASSES

The hotel is literally right on Rodeo Drive, so you can walk out your door and go shopping! I always get a memento from each of our special vacations. Sometimes half the fun is exploring and shopping for just the right souvenir, right? 🙂 I got some super cute Gucci sneakers I had been looking for for awhile so I was excited to find them! They’ll make an appearance soon so stay tuned! 🙂

The Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons went above and beyond on taking care of everything so we didn’t have to stress about planning much on the trip. We told the concierge it was our anniversary and they put together a whole date night for us right down to every detail and it turned out to be such an unforgettable night! It was so cool because it was stuff we wouldn’t have thought to do! They set us up with a car, one of Cody’s weaknesses, he loves cars! It was a brand new Benz convertible with all the bells and whistles. I swear it was like having a whole computer in the car with as many gadgets as it had.

They made us reservations at one of Malibu’s hotspots – Nobu. When we got there Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth were sitting there eating dinner with their family. Crazy! A private shuttle then picked us up and took us for the grand finale a private wine tasting at Malibu Rocky Oaks. It was seriously one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been!

The views were seriously insane!

DETAILS: WHITE LACE DRESS | EMBELLISHED BOOTS

CODY: OLIVE CARGO JACKET | BLACK TEE (OLD – SIMILAR HERE) | DENIM | SNEAKERS | AVIATORS (SIMILAR HERE) | WATCH

The night at Malibu Rocky Oaks was seriously unforgettable. The vineyard is literally built into the top of the mountain so it has the most amazing views. It was built before they had all the codes and regulations and now no one is allowed to build on a peak like this estate, so it will always have that 360° view of Malibu. I’m also kind of obsessed with Keeping Up With the Kardashians (guilty pleasure) and they told us they have gone up there a couple times for some episodes so I was kind of fan-girling out haha.

Random fact about Cody: he doesn’t drink, and he still thought it was one of the coolest places he has ever been. So even if your not a big wine person it’s still such an amazing experience. Honestly I can’t say enough about it!  It was magic. It was right at sunset and it was hands down the prettiest sunset I have ever seen. Every time I thought the colors couldn’t get any more amazing, they got deeper and more vibrant. It was one of the views you’ll never forget that you can never quite capture exactly in pictures or descriptions. So I’ll start rambling 😉

We seriously had the most amazing time! It was the perfect balance of downtime and exploring the city and new sights. What are some of your favorite spots around Beverly Hills?

XX, Christine

The post Beverly Hills Anniversary Trip appeared first on Hello Fashion.