We recently stayed at Alila Manggis, part of the Hyatt Hotel family and it was truly lovely.
To be transparent, I am trying to build up our travel portfolio and therefore am getting as many posts up as I can. One of our major goals is to thoroughly explore Bali and I am hoping to do that with the help of some travel partners! I have covered travel around the US pretty extensively over on instagram, and some here on the blog and am looking to expand this part of my blog business.
That being said, I just HAD to share these gorgeous photos of our stay at Alila Manggis, which was in no way sponsored. It is located just an hour and fifteen minutes away from Sanur in East Bali right on the coast. I asked a new friend who lives in Bali with littles for a resort recommendation that would be a relaxing weekend for us and for my mom. Something with a luxury feel, that was affordable, close and toddler friendly. She hit the nail on the head with Alila Manggis (thanks, Libby!)
I can’t believe this hotel is only a Category 1 in the Hyatt family. It felt much nicer, even if it is almost 30 years old! And on top of that, its totally family friendly. Actually, most places in Bali are because the Balinese love children and are so kind.
Heading to a NASCAR race this summer? Need some NASCAR outfit inspiration? You’ve come to the right place.
you can officially call us NASCAR girlies. Thanks to the new Richmond Raceway president, Lori Waran, we jumped on the NASCAR bandwagon this year! Lori has made sure there is a place for NASCAR women in Richmond and we couldn’t be more thrilled.
We were so excited to attend our first NASCAR race in her president’s box this spring. It was a night race which was SO cool to see. We saw the sunset over the track right before it started, and because it was a little rainy that day we also caught a rainbow just before the cars started their engines off as well.
We don’t get to “get out” as much as we used to, so when we do, we get excited to plan our outfits! I had to go shopping in my own closet (Bali spending freeze), and knew it was a graphic tee and denim kind of occasion. I’ve linked our exact outfit details along with some other pieces that the track inspired!
As you can imagine, we weren’t the only ones excited to be invited to the race. John & Kevin were thrilled that we chose to bring them along for the ride with us for once 🙂 We all had such a great time. We got to go into the Drivers Meeting before the race, hear the pre-race prayer and see all the drivers! It was such a unique experience.
I recently went to Madewell to find some new jean shorts and was shocked at the quality for the price point! They have so many great options and I was thrilled to walk away with two new pairs. (RELAXED MID RISE && PULL ON PAPER BAG). Highly recommend if you need to add a couple pairs to your closet this summer.
Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille originated in Houston and let’s just say, you can feel the Texas vibes. In the best way. You know how they say everything’s bigger in Texas? That’s definitely the case at Perry’s. From the size of the Pork Chop to the delicious cocktail flavors and the beautiful patio, bigger is better here.
We had the pleasure of attending their preview night where we got to taste a little bit of lots of menu items! We started with a Martini Tasting, which will be offered at the bar to taste new cocktails. I’m not usually a cocktail girl, but the flavors were all delicious. If you are a ‘tini drinker, you won’t want to miss this.
Lobster, lump crab and Sea Bass showcased delightful seafood offerings and we got to taste the famous Pork Chop, too. We were excited to learn about “Pork Chop Fridays” which is celebrated in a big way at the Texas locations. Perry’s will only be open for lunch on Fridays and the special is their famous Pork Chop for $19. One of the employees told us that down in Texas it’s a way to kick off the weekend with a big long lunch. If you know us, you know that is something we are reaaaally good at. They run the special from 10:30-5pm.
They also have Happy Hour during the week from 4-7. This includes discounts on the bar food menu (get the pork chop bites or the fried asparagus with crab meat!) as well as specials on wine by the glass and select cocktail selections.
If you’re a dessert person and/or a dessert DRINK person, you must try one of their signature flaming desserts. We had the Nutty D’Angelo which was flambeed with a brandy sauce and it was unlike anything I have ever tried! The Salted Caramel Espresso Martini was also to die for.
They have excellent spaces for events and group dining as well! Work with the Perry’s team to set up the perfect business dinner, engagement party, birthday party or in my case we may do our going away dinner here! The spaces are beautiful and you are sure to *wow* your guests.
It’s time to plan a happy hour, event or book a dinner reservation! What are you waiting for?
Of course on the day I decide to write this post it is a balmy 65 degrees out here in Richmond, VA. But also, we just got back last week from skiing in multiple blizzards in Colorado. And in typical me fashion, I am just now getting around to unpacking our bags. SO, Olive’s laundry is fresh on my mind and I thought I would come on here to share some thoughts about dressing your toddler for the snow ❄️
Olive is 18 months and wearing somewhere between 12 m and 2 T clothes so we brought a couple of options with us on our recent ski trip to Colorado! I found a waterproof snowsuit from H&M that was SO cute and what I thought was a great price. It ended up running pretty big, but Olive was still able to walk in it so it worked fine. It most definitely kept her warm. We also decided to get a pair of snow bibs to go along with her winter North Face and she wore those as well!
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I will say that the one piece is definitely a little easier because its, well, one piece! But if you don’t want to spend extra money and already have a waterproof winter coat – the bibs were significantly cheaper! I bought her a cute little pink pair from Amazon that did the trick just fine, and bought her a pair of pink boots *with the furrrr* from amazon too. I was shocked at how waterproof and durable they were. She wore them out in thes now everyday and they never got wet. Recommend 10/10 !!
Under both the snowsuit and the bibs / jacket, she wore a little matching set made from thick cotton, as well as an undershirt /onesie. It was really cold while we were there, but that was plenty of layers underneath the snow gear. You definitely don’t want them getting overheated.
I would suggest getting larger sized mittens that you can just pull up over their arms if they are like Olive and not used to having gloves on. She kept flapping them off and it definitely would have helped to have a larger size.
Olive’s winter coat is North Face and SO cute. Comes in a couple different patterns that are reversible. We decided to size up so it will fit her for a couple seasons. We also brought a couple pairs of Babiatorswith us because it can be REAL bright out in the snow. Plus, how cute do they look? They’re protecting her little eyes too. A must, honestly.
I have been on a huge sweatsuit (particularly Abercrombie sweat pants and sweatshirt) kick lately, which you know if you follow me on instagram. This winter I am ALL about comfort, but unfortunately my all black & all grey sweatsuits are not appropriate attire for all occasions, lol. SO, when I was browsing ASOS, looking for some new pieces to wear around the holidays, I wanted something that was appropriate to wear from girls nights at Quirk to cold weekends that was also comfortable. I knew immediately when I saw this mini smock black dress that it was the perfect piece.
It has pockets, is the perfect mini length that isn’t toooo short, but shows some leg and did I mention, comfortable? Oh, and it’s under $50! So, if you are looking to be cozy this holiday season, but still dress the part in an LBD, I have rounded up some more great black dress options for you guys! You don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style.
If you are a fan of GOOD pajamas, and matching with the family during the holidays, LAKE Pajamas has the best options.
If you have been around here for a while, you know we LOVE LAKE pajamas! I started wearing them during pregnancy and immediately fell in love with their PIMA Cotton sets. You might also remember us wearing the Blair Eadie x LAKE Collection during our trip to Primland.
We had our first twinning moment with the kids when they were little (see below for a throwback!) last year and to say it was a core memory is an understatement. I can’t believe how little Olive was omg. We love the seasonal collections as well as the classics that they have year-round! They always do special prints for the holidays that are beyond cute. Last year Olive and Phoenix did the Nutcrackers and ornaments and they were ADORABLE. This year they have more cute and festive prints to choose from! I had my eye on the Scarlet Antoinette if I was going to add a print. The snowflakes are super cute too and you definitely wear both of those all season long.
~ HOLIDAY PRINTS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY ~
*for kids I recommend sizing up in all pjs! adults run TTS *
We went with the classic red stripes this year in order to get more longevity and wear out of them, but don’t get me wrong I am swooning over the prints too! I wear my red stripes year round and trust me when I say that these Kimono Pajamas are my most worn item! I have them in blue too and they totally can pass as loungewear. Below I am wearing them when John and I had our wine & Christmas cards night a few days ago!
Bring the western vibes with Beth Dutton style for Halloween, or simply just to bring the vibes and the hype for the final episodes of Yellowstone.
This post has been the most popular here for a few years, but I keep it updated with current picks!
Raise your hand if you love Yellowstone!
From the moment we started the first episode of Yellowstone last year we were hooked. To the characters, the western vibes and Montana. The reason we decided to go out west to Whitefish & Glacier was because we were seeking the Yellowstone vibes and landscape. It did not disappoint!
Without a doubt, the most badass character on the show is Beth Dutton and her entire ethos has had me riveted from day one. I love how she fully embraced ranch style once she left the city to come work with her family at Yellowstone. Its a nonchalant, yet super western chic look and truly a vibe.
the one where rebecca and cathclaire layer up to look like fashion icons mary-kate and ashley olsen
*this post was originally written in October 2020, but has been updated with current costume piece picks.
The leaves are falling here in Richmond but it is rare we get a true, crisp fall day. Regardless of the lack of fall weather, spooky season is here and you know what that means? HALLOWEEN!
After some long walks and brainstorming, we are so excited to show you are Halloween Costume for 2020 : The Olsen Twins.
When we first started The Crystal Press years and years ago, we would get all dressed up for outfit pictures. Back then, getting dressed up involved putting on just about every cool thing we owned – at one time – in a very Olsen way. We were reminded of this fact when we were brainstorming our looks for this Halloween Costume, perusing endless photos of our favorite fashion icons, and trying to decide which look to replicate.
I came across this idea while scrolling instagram one day (where else), and then again and again and again when I was perusing Pinterest for first birthday photo ideas. I knew we were going to get family photos taken around Olive’s first birthday, but I also loved the idea of the simple cake and cake smash. I knew we probably couldn’t do both with the photographer, so I figured we could just do it ourselves.
I knew it probably wouldn’t look AS good as if we had them done by Halle and honestly had pretty low expectations for us, lol. But, I think they turned out pretty darn good. SO, here are a few tips if you want to do it at home yourself and save some money but create some sweet mems. (and do a test run of a cake smash before the big birthday party!)
If you have a nice camera, use it. It had been waaaay too long since I got out my “real camera.” We have the Canon G7X Mark IIthat I got a few years ago. It is compact point and shoot with wifi that is great for getting better photos than your iPhone. Like, way better photos.
Pick up a cheap cake from your local grocery store! For Olive’s birthday party, we had a fancy cake, but for the shoot, I just went to Publix and got a white cake, which cost me only $15. Order the $6 “one” cake topper from Amazon if you want, but obviously isn’t absolutely necessary.
Find a spot in your house (or porch, like we did) with lots of good, natural light! This is a standard for any photo shoot, but especially when you are trying for that “at home professional photographer” vibe. We did our on our screened porch, which was perfect.
Use some old white sheets to hang up behind and place underneath your baby! We all have that set of sheets in the linen closet that doesn’t get put on the bed anymore and you’re keeping around “just in case.” Use that! Its going to get messy. You can hit it with a steamer if you want the back to be smooth and crisp so it looks more like a studio shoot!
Get in a few photos yourself! Of course this is all about the baby, but these will be great keepsakes for the baby book or for you to look back on. I LOVE these photos of Olive and I.
TAG ME or send me the photos if you decide to do this!
If you are looking for a luxury resort getaway in Virginia, hopefully this will help you plan your trip!
This post is LONG overdue. Well, actually not that long overdue, as I only visited Keswick Hall and Primland earlier this year. But if you have been around here for a while, you know that we have been going to the Homestead for over 20 years! We were lucky enough to bring Olive along to Keswick Hall over spring break and Primland with Catherine, Kevin and Phoenix in late March. So, now I feel like I can write an extensive, knowledgeable post comparing them and letting you know which is best for what.
The Homestead
I figured I better start out with The Homestead. It is probably the most well known, as it is “America’s First Resort” and has been a household name since long before Omni added it to its’ resorts collection. We got married at the Homestead back in 2015, so it has a special place in my heart. We have been going a couple of times a year since then and I am happy to report that they have recently undergone some major renovations and it looks better than ever! I hate to say that it needed it because I am such a lover but, it needed it.
The Homestead is definitely the most family friendly option, in my opinion. From the lazy river and water slides in the summer to ice skating in the winter and Down time arcade, they have something for kids to do year-round. They have a KidsClub so you can enjoy a kid-free day or plenty of activities for the whole family to do together. Every week they put together a resort guide with activities for the whole family and there is literally always something going on!
If golf is your thing, all of these resorts have golf courses, but the Homestead was famous golfer Sam Snead’s home courses. Have you ever wondered what “falconry” was? Homestead has it. Sporting clays? They’ve got you. I would say The Homestead is the home of activities. But at the same time, they have an excellent spa. My favorite part of the spa experience is the Serenity Garden which has a natural hot spring, hot tub and pool where you can relax all day on the day of your services. Order a glass of bubbly after your massage and soak in the hot spring. There is absolutely nothing like it.
They also have multiple great dining options for the whole fam! If you want pizza and salad, they’ve got that. If you want a Prime Rib fine dining experience, they have that at Jefferson’s. We have been there during every season now and it is safe to say that each has its own charm. Christmas is absolutely magical, summer is a blast with the pools, the fall foliage is stunning and Easter felt special, too! You can’t go wrong.
Want to see The Homestead on video? I’ve got lots of Homestead Reels ::
When you pull up to Keswick, you are immediately transported away from Virginia. It looks like you are checking into a resort in Europe. Seriously. I would say this is the best spot for a romantic getaway. Olive was young enough to just do whatever we did, but I wouldn’t say there aren’t as many things for kids to do here in comparison to The Homestead and Primland. Keswick Hall is more about the luxury accommodations, Jean Georges restaurant and spa. And those things are FIVE STARS.
If you are looking to sit by the pool with a drink in hand, next to your partner, bestie, group of besties or family, this is the place. The infinity pool that looks out over the stunning golf course is unlike any other I have seen. It truly transports you out of Virginia. The rooms are luxurious, most have balconies and the views are gorgeous. To read more in depth about Keswick Hall, see this recent blog post that gives alllll the good details about Marigold by Jean-Georges and more.
We had the pleasure of going to Primland with Catherine, Kevin & Phoenix this past March! We got a FREEZING cold weekend, but that didn’t get in the way of us having an absolute blast. We stayed in the Pinnacle Cottages which were beyond stunning, had great views and honestly we could have stayed a week. (Maybe next time 😉 )
I would say that Primland is the most remote location – literally in the middle of nowhere in Southwest Virginia on a mountain. It felt GREAT to getaway. It reaaaaally felt like a getaway. It is a great destination if you like outdoor activities, golf, and of course, a great spa experience. The boys did a sporting clays round while we were there and we got to hit the spa for facials! Other activities they offer include horseback riding, kayaking, ATV adventures, hiking, and more. As I peruse the website as a refresher, I am thinking, dang, we gotta get back there in the summertime next!
The resort itself is stunning enough to just sit and relax and enjoy your surroundings and the views. All of the activities and amenities are a spectacular bonus. And the food? Delightful. Every meal we had was amazing. From room service delivery for breakfast, to lunch in the pub and Elements for dinner, we thoroughly enjoyed ever meal.
One unique gem that Primland has is an observatory (!!!!!) We didn’t get a chance to check it out because *babies* but next time we will definitely make it a priority. They do stargazing at night from the top of the observatory — which is the top of the silo you can see in the last photo. I would say the only thing missing at Primland is an outdoor pool (the spa has an indoor pool) and we heard that mighttttt be in the cards in the future! So, keep that in mind when you are planning your trip.
I am happy to answer any and all questions about our stays and about each resort if you are interested in planning a trip! Leave a comment here or slide into our instagram DMs.
To be transparent, I am trying to build up our travel portfolio and therefore am getting as many posts up as I can. One of our major goals is to thoroughly explore Bali and I am hoping to do that with the help of some travel partners! I have covered travel around the US pretty extensively over on instagram, and some here on the blog and am looking to expand this part of my blog business. 
