travel Archives - Page 3 of 7

0 In travel

wiw: saguaro color hunt

Y’all know I’m totally obsessed with the Saguaro, specifically the bright color blocking. Where else is the generic carpet color bright violet, with saturated brights as a way of life?

We had incredible weather during our getaway, which was just plain lucky! It can get crazy hot in Palm Springs this time of year. Temps hovered around 120′ (I know!) during my first trip to Palm Springs, and I definately got a little woozy in the heat. I much prefer when the weather’s warm but bearable, like it was this trip… it’s much easier to have adventures and outdoor fun.

We did just that when we found a bocceball court just downstairs from our suite. We played some bocce, and I’m just as terrible as I was in college. At least I’m better dressed these days- this striped Topshop playsuit was the perfect attire for playing around the Saguaro.

The team over at Studio DIY had worked with the Saguaro on a fun scavenger-type color hunt. So we we ran around the hotel, chasing colors and wagering mimosas in healthy competition. I made the realization that what I need in my life and house is a bright pink wall…. Thank heavens David’s such a good sport!

topshop playsuit (sold out) similar, sassier // sandals// sunnies // earrings // necklace c/o dot&evelyn // lipstick

loveRavayna

July 26, 2016

0 In travel

house hunting in palm springs

After we left the Parker, we went neighborhood exploring and house hunting. It’s one of our favorite activities when we travel- I love admiring all the lovely houses and landscaping and dreaming of living in them.

And Palm Springs neighborhoods are absolutely chock-freaking-full of gorgeous mid-century modern homes. It’s eye candy as far as the eyes can see, and we can drive and walk and wander for hours. I was not too hot, just gorgeous for strolling.

The house with the lions is one of our favorites to visit- they regularly rotate the decor. The lions were accented with cupcakes this time, perfect for a cake boss like me. And y’all know I’m obsessed with succulents and desert plants, so I drool over all the gorgeous gardens.

And let’s be real: we are notoriously ridiculous, so there were some streetside shenanigans- skipping, silliness, prancercise and street sign mockery, and more. And then we finally found it, the house of my dreams.

‘That house with the pink door’ has been pinned and ‘grammed a million times, with good reason. It’s absolutely perfect, down to the twin agaves and elevated lawn, and I pink puffy heart adore it. We’d never seen it in real life before, though, so after I was done squealing over it, I had to grab some pictures and pretend I lived there for just a second.

We had pizza at Birba for supper – we go every time we’re in Palm Springs. We always get the quattro stagioni, and also love the San Daniele, braised greens, and the egg pizzas. We made a quick post- dinner stop at Jake’s for dessert to go, and headed back to the Saguaro.

The key lime pie was creamy and tart and perfect, and the ding dong cupcake was creamy and rich. Sweets with that darling husband of mine was a lovely end to another Palm Springs day.

loveRavayna

July 12, 2016

0 In travel

hotel playtime in palm springs

When it comes to sun protection, I take it so so seriously, even obsessively, especially in the desert. Some of the actives in my skincare routine can cause photosensitivity, so I make sure to protect my skin properly. David’s too- he’ll burn badly if we’re not careful. I wear this sunscreen every day under makeup, and this one when it’s extra hot and sweaty. This one is water-resistant for swimming and such, and this powder formula is perfect for reapplying, especially over makeup. [sunnies: similar blush, purple, red, silver]

We definately didn’t need all that sunscreen during the early-morning ‘June gloom,’ if I’m being honest. So I slept in a bit, and spent the greyish time puttering around our hotel suite, writing a few cards (peep my succulents from the botanical gardens enjoying the Saguaro, too!), and waiting for the sun to come out.

I was glad when it emerged fairly quickly, more so when it made for a picture-postcard perfect pool day! I wore a rather sassy one-piece again, and tied my hair up with a scarf– unicorn hair can’t really get wet in a pool. My suit is last season’s, available currently in white, or there’s this lookalike as well if navy’s what you need.

I was a big fan of the pool area at the Saguaro. Not too crowded, poppy and colorful with the rainbow of the hotel surrounding. It had a a great bar and service, and the pool was positively stocked with fun inflatables. That floatmingo and I were meant to be, obviously.

When we had enough of Palm Springs poolside, we headed back to the room to cool off. We cleaned ourselves up and got dressed, and headed out to play tourist.

The Parker-Meridien was our first stop. It’s a must-visit in Palm Springs if design speaks to you at all… the eye candy calls to me like magnetic north, and I pretty much become the heart-eye emoji.

The lobby decor is so good, I can barely stand it. Forget a room, I just want to move in right there and live among the prettiness. We briefly considered the Parker when contemplating a small SoCal wedding, and the aesthetic of the space played a big part.

Really, the entire property is stunning. It’s landscaped to have lots of little alcoves, and it feels very private. We found a hammock in this shady grove, and it was the perfect spot to relax with an cocktail before moving on to our next adventure.

loveravayna

July 6, 2016

0 In los angeles/ travel

brights and whites in palm springs

We had a great time at the Saguaro in Palm Springs. For this last minute getaway, I was excited when I snagged a great rate on the Hotel Tonight app. A broken air conditioner in our room sent me back to the front desk before David had brought the car around, but they promptly upgraded us to a lovely chartreuse corner suite. I really love me a hotel upgrade, and have been pretty lucky lately, getting them frequently.

It was very much of a working weekend for us- good stuff upcoming! That said, I had a mimosa within reach most of the weekend, and that’s just the way I like my vacations. And y’all know I’m not about to drop my skincare game while travelling, so I had a little mask-and-manicure session while the morning clouds burned off and then got ready for the day while David snoozed.

When the sun came out, we met it at the pool. I’ve been loving one piece swimsuits the last few summers, and this white crochet number is my new favorite this year. I just adore white with a (safe) tan, and I think the cutwork is super sassy but still very classy.

I brought JLaw with- I just know we’d get along merrily!

swimsuit (on amazon) // bracelet // sunnies… i wish. $13 dupes! // earrings // heirloom rings (similar) // nail polish // similar pineapple dress (mine is old from TJ Maxx) // oxford

We splashed around in the pool some, but mostly talked, read, and and drank, napped and soaked in the sun. When we got overheated, we retreated to our suite. We cooled off, cleaned up and headed out for a little shopping in Palm Springs.

Thrift shopping is always my jam, but especially int Palm Springs. We went to several stores while in town, but I’m always most excited about visiting Dazzles. It’s full of all the prettiest things – I either want to move in or buy the store out.

I had a very interesting and kind of sad conversation with the proprietor. He asked why we were taking pictures, was very sweet and supportive of my blog, and explained he inquired because other vintage dealers notoriously come photograph to duplicate the drama of Dazzles. So though I swanned about for far too long dancing to an amazing era-appropriate soundtrack, I didn’t feel right sharing all of the detailed images of the wares. Trust me, check Instagram hashtags if you must, but you just have to go shop for yourself!

We kept supper crazy casual, with burgers and sweet potato fries at Woody’s. I love that place- it’s a totally unfancy diner, but the food is yummy, the drinks are cold and it’s astonishingly inexpensive. And tthe live music in the back room is so fun and festive!

Mrs. Rose brought the house down as I devoured a mushroom burger and sipped cava and flirted with my husband… wasn’t mad at any of it. Every day is different, but I always love Palm Springs.

loveRavayna

June 29, 2016

1 In travel

wiw: temecula day

One of my sweet sorority sisters got married at the Temecula Creek Inn a few weeks ago. We made a spring weekend getaway of it, and it was so lovely. The drive was short, but the weekend was seriously relaxing.

romper (on sale!) // jacket // similar bag, 2, 3, lust // old rampage oxfords, similar

The property was so lovely, especially in the peaceful mornings. We took advantage of it, and went for an early-morning walkabout with our coffee. I especially loved the adorable papasan chairs… I want one so bad!

One of my bestie-bridesmaids had flown in to stay with us for the long weekend, and it was a treasure to get to spend the time with Shelley. We headed into old town Temecula to visit the farmer’s market, one of my favorite weekend activities, especially when out of town.

While walking to the market, we came upon a dog adoption tent. Sweet Violet and I quickly got acquainted, but our enthusiastic attempts to convince David to be her daddy were quickly shot down.

I’m an especial softie for farmers market floral stands- I stop by our Sunday morning one mostly every weekend I’m home. I love shopping locally, especially when the benefits are so beautiful. I also tasted nearly every flavored honey, taking home a bottle of rich purple loganberry honey.

Michelle verbatim told me to ‘rein it in’ at the succulent stand- my obsession has been so intense lately! We were all hangry, so we headed to Mo’s Egg House for a yummy old fashioned diner brunch. When we returned to the Inn, we wandered for a bit, sitting and playing (i.e. losing) tic-tac-toe before heading back to the room to relax before the wedding.

loveRavayna

June 24, 2016

0 In travel

maracas beach

Trinidad was just such an amazing trip. It wasn’t perfect though- one of the more frustrating incidents was our Maracas Beach day. We’d cleared the whole day, woke up early to prep and load up a dozen people, and headed off in a caravan to drive around the island to Maracas.

As we stopped for snacks and pictures at the overlook en route, we realized that the grey morning mist looked atypically thick. It was still cloudy when we unloaded and sent our driver off, and that mist promptly turned to rain. Fortunately, the rain was warm, so we decided to stick it out, make the best of it, and just have lunch first.

Maracas is known for its shark-and-bake, a Trini fried fish sandwich. Richard’s is legendary, and has always been our favorite. But we had time to kill as we waited out the storm, so we had a progressive lunch and ate at Daphne’s as well. It was yummy, but Richard’s was still my fave- I adore piling my bake with spicy slaw, salted cucumbers, mango chutney, and plenty pepper sauce.

I had used my Silhouette to cut vinyl labels for some covered sip-a-mugs, figuring they’d be useful at the beach, and they were! We used bits of soca lyrics for the personalization, and they made for vacation-long jokes on very handy cocktail cups.

The sun didn’t come out, but it did dry and warm up a bit post-lunch, so we were glad. We walked the beach for a while, and eventually meandered in to wade in the water (and compare tans). Erin won… David lost, as if anyone’s surprised by that.

The water was really pretty nice, and I do hate crowded beaches, so it wound up working out okay, all things considered. It just made me sad that the views were so dreary, because Maracas is stunningly beautiful on a clear day, and I wish I could share that with you.

After a while, storm clouds rolled in again, so we decided to cut our losses before another drenching. I called our driver Kevin, and got him to come pick us up earlier than we’d planned.

And of course, we made a stop at the the fruit stand on the way home from the beach. So much fresh local produce, as well as sugarcane juice, freshly pressed by the friendliest vendor.

We shopped and made friends, until Kevin rounded us up and home we went, to rest up before that night’s fete.

loveRavayna

June 19, 2016

0 In travel

moorten botanical gardens

Even in familiar places, like Palm Springs, I’m always looking for new adventures. When we ran away for the weekend a few weeks ago, we made a point of visiting the Moorten Botanical Garden and I was so glad we did! Established in 1938, it’s the loveliest enclave.

I’ve never seen more variety of cacti, succulents, and other desert flora in one place…. I was a kid in a candy store. I love succulents- I carried them in my wedding bouquet- so I moseyed down the paths like molasses, inspecting the gardens carefully.

Some of those cacti are older than I am, which is kind of mind boggling to think about. It was really interesting to see the transition in texture from rough bark to smooth flesh on the oldies. I have a special soft spot for agaves- we have a few in our backyard, and they’re a favorite chicken snack, so not nearly as stunning as these.

The property is just gorgeous- beautifully yet authentically landscaped. There’s a small greenhouse, which is full of a million amazing spiky varietals, labeled and arrayed in a magical little space.

Marimekko Target set (kids, sold out) // jean jacket // hat // gladiators

Creosote- that bramble with bits of white fluff- is such a weird plant, and I just love it. I was perpetually burying my face in it and inhaling. It looks so delicate, but is actually hardy, and it smells like fireworks or a campfire, sharp and smoky. I especially adore it when intermingled with really fragrant florals, like tuberose or peonies- it’s a lovely little contradiction.

But when I made it to the succulent nursery section, my day was made. Table after table of beautiful succulents at amazing prices… I wanted dozens, not gonna lie. But I limited myself to a small mix-and-match of $1 baby succulents. I spent far too long deliberating, but it was hard to decide which were sturdy enough to survive my epic black thumb. All are still hanging on at home, out of reach of chicken nibbles, so I’m feeling hopeful over here!

loveRavayna

June 15, 2016

8 In lifestyle/ travel

totally Trini

One of the best things about our Trinidad vacations is how much it feels like home. That expectation’s should be a little unrealistic- we moved to the States in time for me to start kindergarten, and I didn’t return to the island until I was a grown woman. But from the time I feel the humid air at Piarco, Trinidad embraces.

Part of it is our guest quarters. My aunt Annemarie hosts us all (David and I, our besties Erin and Craig, my mom, aunt and uncle, my cousin and her new fiancé- a whole crew!) at her lovely home, and it’s perfect for playtime and partying… ‘liming’ is the Trini translation. She’s just the most gracious hostess, and makes her home a pleasure for us to visit.

Auntie has the loveliest ladies helping her at home. They spoil us rotten, and take such good care of us. Mrs Rose and her daughter kept us in literal feasts, and Mrs Rhona (to my mom’s right) kept us in stitches too. We always joke that their goal is to fatten us up till our costumes don’t fit- these women are some talented cooks.

More on Trini food in an upcoming post… Back to the party! says Auntie Angela. ?

The house pretty much has a revolving door, so the soca music starts the party early in the morning, and it goes all day. Aunties and family and friends stream in and out as Craig, the most patient bartender in the world, keeps drinks full and strong. Poolside is a sociable place to be in the Trini heat on the days we stay in.

Each of us maxes out our duty -free purchase upon arrival in Trinidad, and we stock the bar. Absolut Karnival is a bit of a thing on our trips- it’s a local market limited edition, flavored with passion fruit and orange blossom, and we drink it with soda, lime and bitters. When we’re not drinking rum, that is. We drink a lot of rum. It’s a Trini ting.

The house has plenty: people, food and drink, bright colors, photos of my auntie’s winning carnival costumes. And Lola, my aunt’s parrot- she’s something else. My mom taught her to say my name on a previous trip, and hand to g-d if Lola doesn’t call for me incessantly. Bless his heart, Craig spent some time trying to teach her other names, but no such luck.. She only wanted to sqwawk ‘vayna, vayna’ ad infinitum every time she saw me or heard my name.

If you visit our family, someone’s going to tell you about the savannah, (Queen’s Savannah Park), and claim it as the largest roundabout in the world. I don’t know about all that (proof or it didn’t happen), but it’s home to good stuff. Aside from the carnival festivities it hosts, there are vendors of every stripe dotted along the roundabout all the time- fruit, drinks, oyster shooters, kebab, roti, and more.

For us, it’s always about going to see the coconut man. Normally we’d do oysters, then coconuts but we kept missing the oysterman. It’s not like the street food vendors are on some kind of easily accessible schedule, and rumor and routine are only so reliable on Trini time.

Coconut water in bottle or can can be as cold-pressed and raw as it wants, but it can’t compare to a fresh Trini coconut hacked open. After all the water has been drunk, the coconut and machete meet again, to expose the yummy coconut jelly ready for eating.

We’re always interested in shopping local, seeing markets, and engaging with the vendors. We made a trip with Auntie Annemarie out to El Soccoro Road, where lots of fruit vendors are. The produce is arranged prettily, like at an American farmer’s market, but the varieties differ greatly. I was totally intrigued by the fresh pigeon peas in their pod, and the assortment of chilis made me realize exactly why homemade Trini hot sauce is so good.

I spent some time chatting with the shop owner while I browsed, and while he chopped my sugarcane to reasonable lengths. Trini people are just chatty. Auntie enjoyed art directing from the idling driver’s seat- peep her there?

similar black dresses // vintage chambray dress similar // similar // gaimo espadrilles similar, 2

The sun was setting as we headed home, so we took a long detour to go up to the lookout. Port-of-Spain and the sea beyond were really gorgeous as the sun slipped below the horizon and pinpricks of light sparked on.

loveRavayna

June 7, 2016

1 In travel

trinidad boat day

While we were in Trinidad, we chartered a small boat for the day to spend some time on the water and go DDI, or down de islands. Motoring off in the direction of Venezuela, we headed towards the Bocas Islands in Dragon’s Mouth, with no real agenda but some good times in the sunshine.

Not gonna lie, things got fantastic real fast. Our boat wasn’t fancy, but it was more than plenty fun- that’s typical Trini style. The weather was absolutely stunning, 85 degrees, and the water sparkled in the sunshine.

The soca music was blasting- David and Craig make a hell of a dj team- and the drinks were cold. The islands rising from the sea made for a beautiful sight, and it was so lovely and breezy out on the water.

Erin and I attempted our very own Titanic moment- rather unsuccessfully, but we were surely entertained. My precious aunt Judy joined us for our boat day- she’s so sassy and so sweet, we all loved getting to spend more time with her.

We spent some time up in the captain’s chair, admiring the views. Wilderness and stunning beauty in equal turn, and as far as eyes could see.

We were very much into the private party aspect of the boat charter. With lots of fetes (big open-bar parties) upcoming, we were all reveling in the open air, considering it our warm-up for the crowds and madness that makes up carnival.

It was pretty much a great big party on that gorgeous water… and in it, too.

In between drinking and diving, I did a little sunning. Reality check: I worked on my tan for six seconds before I decided it was too hot, I was missing the fun on the back of the boat and that my swimsuit sleeves would leave awful lines.

So I tucked my sleeves into my bikini top and returned to the dance party. And on we raged…

It was noisy and rowdy and fun and fantastic, and we all had such a good time! We came across few other vessels, but the ones we did were all happy to join the party.

We were surprised at how quickly the time had flown when our captain advised last dips and drinks, since it was time to head back to land. We had soaked in the sun, and were toasty and tired as we disembarked, met our driver, and headed home for supper.

asos bikini, similar, 2, 3, under $50! | cynthia steffe shift, similar, 2, 3 | vintage earrings, similar, 2, 3 | erin’s bikini: vs, similar, 2, 3 | nail polish

loveRavayna

May 4, 2016

2 In style/ travel

WiW: a tobago morning

I tend to rise early in the morning when traveling. I’m a light sleeper and if you only heard my family’s typical volume, you’d understand why sleeping in is impossible. This morning in Tobago, though, roosters started crowing while it was still dark. I woke David to walk down to the beach with me- he’s no morning person but a great sport, and a sucker for good light.

There’s something about first morning light. The morning was misty, and the sun rises on the opposite side of the island, anyway. But even without a spectacular sunrise, that light just glows, and brightens the world so magically.

I’m sure it didn’t hurt that we seemed to be the only people in Crown Point that morning. We didn’t see a single car crossing the street to the beach, which was totally deserted. The tide was still pretty high, and I went from walking along the sand to wading in just a moment.

I’m used to chilly Pacific waters, so I’m always pleasantly surprised to find the water warm enough to tolerate. That said, this flowy maxi was not the easiest to manage after it had absorbed gallons of saltwater… shocker, I know.

It was so relaxing to stroll along the quiet beach, and just enjoy the peaceful morning. And when we did make it back to the condo, it was for mimosas with breakfast before heading back to the beach for the day with the whole group. Vacation in Tobago was really low key… and that’s the beauty of it.