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.
From Dulles to Doha to Denpasar. We moved from Virginia to Bali and here is how we got here with a toddler! Strap in, folks, its a long one.
We have been living in Bali for a few weeks now, and even though I haven’t yet written a blog post about WHY we moved to Bali, I wanted to write this one first while it is still fresh in my mind.
SO, here is *logistically* how the four of us traveled from Virginia to Bali. Spoiler alert: it took us 3 days.
We priced out our options with our friend & travel agent, Ally from Lensvue Travel, and decided that it was best to drive up to Dulles and fly to Bali by way of Doha on Qatar Airways. The flight times worked better this way than flying through Dubai, which was the other option when flying East to Bali. My mom traveled with us in order to help us get settled, and we had my dad drive us up to Dulles to help us with Olive and all of our luggage. We each had an allotted 2 bags plus a carry-on and personal item. So here is the baggage breakdown:
Checked luggage: 3 Large Suitcases – we love our AWAY BIG suitcases. 3 Tyvek Bags (do not recommend, the straps ripped when being handled by airline staff) 2 Black & Yellow Bins 1 Thule Running stroller in a bag stuffed with assorted other items (FREE!)
Carry-on: 2 Roller Bags 1 Backpack 1 Small Duffle (Olive’s “diaper bag”) 1 Small purse (kept passports and tickets in here for easy access) 1 Travel Stroller bag (free!) 1 Car seat (Olive used it in her seat…some)
We left Dulles around 9pm, which is the perfect time to leave with a toddler. They do this on purpose, of course, so that you are able to catch some ZZZs on the flight. The flight was 11 and half hours to Doha, and since we took advantage of getting on during pre-boarding that meant we were on the plane for 12 and a half hours. I would say that the flight went about as well as to be expected.
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.
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.
A little photo diary and details from our stay at Charlottesville, VA Luxury Resort Keswick Hall.
To say we are lucky to have such great luxury vacation options in Virginia would be an understatement.
Having littles makes traveling a little more *complicated* so it is really nice to have options close to home where we can hop in the car and feel like we are on vacation just an hour away from our own front doors. We recently got to stay at Keswick Hall to kick off Spring Break and it was such a lovely, relaxing, time.
Located just a few miles outside of Charlottesville, surrounded by horse farms, a beautiful golf course, wineries and more, Keswick is beautiful destination. It has a boutique hotel and luxury feel all at once. On top of all of that, it is home to Marigold, a Jean-Georges restaurant which makes it a destination in and of itself.
See Video from our Stay HERE and HERE. Keep reading for more!
Here is a photo diary from our January trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
SHEESH time is flying. It has been a month since we went to Steamboat and it seriously seems like yesterday and last year all at the same time. This seems to be the theme of my pregnancy.
I LOVE STEAMBOAT. But, I was a little nervous about going and not being able to ski at 12 weeks pregnant. I love our Colorado trips, though, and didn’t want to miss the opportunity for a trip out west so we planned the trip with my parents knowing I might *hopefully* be pregnant. As we got closer, I was really excited for a few days to just relax, take in the views, eat some good meals and spend a couple of days with Johnny and my parents. A true vacation. And that is exactly how it went!
It has been a while since we posted a regular OOTD, but this outfit felt like it warranted its own blog post, it is that good.
Helloooo, good old outfit post! It has been too long.
We fell out of the routine of posting outfit photos on here, because we thought that might be limiting. Over the past few years we have been doing more “round-up” style posts. AKA Black dresses for winter. The Best Cowboy Boots. Faux Fur Coats and Statement Outerwear. You know the drill.
But when I was going through the looks from my recent trip to Steamboat, I thought that this post would make for a good old piece by piece outfit post. It will of course include a round-up of faux fur coats within the post, because I’m me and I just can’t help myself. But, lets talk about the other parts of the ‘fit first.
shop local this year with these amazing Richmond-based businesses.
Here are some of our favorite Richmond small businesses! Check out their websites to see what they have available online or how you can shop in store for the full experience.
Emmie, RVA Cheese Girl, makes the most delicious cheeseboards in town. Show up to your holiday parties with a cheeseboard, gift one to a friend or family member or give a gift card! They are perfect for any occasion or no occasion at all and we can vouch for their deliciousness.
Britt of Sun & Selene handmakes and designs each piece at her studio here in Richmond. From Zodiac necklaces to earrings and custom engagement rings, Britt does it all and does it gorgeously. Any of her pieces would be a thoughtful gift for the ladies on your list.
Gotta plug the family biz! If you didn’t know, my mom, Becca has a Turkish Towel business and if you need an intro on our towels you can check out this post or visit our instagram. They are perfect gifts for literally everyone! Beach towels, bath towels, wraps, shawls, throws and more. Use code REBECCA for 10% off any of our towels or blankets and feel free to send me a DM with any questions or if you need help picking something out!
Kristy & Evan have curated the most perfect and unique little gift shop in Church Hill and online. From chic undergarments to accessories, there really isn’t another shop like it.
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. 
