We took Luke on his first flight last month and I was definitely feeling a bit nervous heading into it. How would he do with the air pressure changes, what would we do if he was fussing the whole time, what if I forget something? 

I'm sure if you are a new parent getting ready for a first trip you may be feeling the same. A week before the trip, I wrote down all the items I thought I would need. Then as I did our routine that next week, I added to the list when I remembered something. With a few Amazon orders and ninja packing skills, we ended up fitting everything we needed and below I'm sharing a few of my favorites. 

Item #1: Inflatable Chair: This was not just a fun thing for swimming, it was also a portable high-chair so that Luke had something to sit in while eating. It folds down super small when deflated and was so helpful both at the pool and in the hotel room. Luke also loved hitting the little center piece like a drum (shout-out to my mom for thinking to get this one!)

Item #2: Nursh Bottles: This was probably my favorite find for the whole trip. These silicon bottle inserts and lids make it super easy to make those bulky bottles compact. I stored mine in a ziplock bag and then slowly let the air out to vacuum seal them. I fit 6 bottles in one bag and easily fit them into my diaper bag with all the other things (change of clothes - for me and Luke, diaper changing things, toys, etc.) They also have little storage buns for these so they can be really compact. I just brought one of the colored hardshell exteriors with us and then had plenty of inserts for each day. 

Item #3: Extra Nursh inserts I bought a second pack of the inserts and nipples (it comes with 3 and I wanted 6) and if you are breastfeeding still, they also have great storage lids, or if your little one is older, they have sippy cup tops too. Big fan of this brand and so glad I found them researching for this trip. 

Item # 4: Teething Bibs: It just so happened that Luke was getting 2 teeth in the week of the trip so he was drooling and not super comfortable. These bibs were great on the plane, it kept his clothes dry from all the drool and had an emergency little toy built right into the end. The quality is also super soft. 

Item #5: Portable Hot Water Machine: This was awesome for the trip, it could only hold enough water for 2 bottles, but we were able to boil/purify the water on the go and that was a big plus. Note - it does get super hot so I boiled ahead of time and let it cool a bit before giving to Luke. Or mixed the hot water with some bottled water so he had the perfect temperature warm milk. I know they have portable bottle warmers specifically for milk, but I thought they were pretty expensive, so I thought this was a good hack to getting warm milk on the go without spending a fortune, plus I can use this for my tea in the future. 

Item #6: Shade Tent: This was so good for keeping some shade on the beach and it fit in the car seat bag for travel. Also, it's super thin so easy to store at home and now we have a little pop-up shade for the park or beach here.  

Item #7: Baby Shades: Ok these were more for me than for Luke, he preffered to chew on them than to actually wear them, but when he was wearing them, it was so dang cute. Next time I'd get a little lanyard to help them stay on to actually protect his eyes. -they are polarized! 

Item # 8: Airplane toys: Both the mini Baby Einstein tower and the spinners were a big hit on the airplane. We could stick the spinners to the window or a book and he would spend a lot of time playing with it. The tower was also great for having one little piece to chew on the plan or having the whole stack to play with in the hotel room. 

Item #9; Toy lanyards: These were really helpful to prevent pacifiers and toys from falling on the gross airport floor. You can attach them to either the baby carrier or stroller and it helps everything stay in place. Highly recommend. 

Item #10: Long sleeve sleep sack: I didn't know how warm or cold it would be in the hotel room so I got these and they were perfect, on cooler nights he had his pajamas and this and then on warmer nights we just put this over his diapers. He honestly slept better like that! 

Item #11: Portable sound machine: Ok the reason I love this sound machine is a)I love the neutral colors and b) it is small and has a lot of great features, 3 different sounds, a light, volume control and a timer. 

Item #12: Bath and bottle cleaning: Ok these ones were some little basics I threw in but they were the perfect size for travel. We love the Burt's Bee's baby shampoo and the  Babyganics  foam bottle cleaner was great for washing the bottles at the end of the day. 

Item #13: Ergobaby Baby Carrier: I've talked about how awesome this carrier is before. I've tried a couple others and this one is the easiest to use, feels the most secure and Luke slept so nicely in both in the airplane and on a hike we did. So comfortable and easy to adjust for baby and parents. 

Item #14: Car Seat Travel Bag: Alright you guys, this one was the BEST thing. First of all, it kept the car seat protected as checked baggage and secondly it left so much extra room, it was like a free suitcase, we threw in extra diapers, wipes and the baby shade tent. So much in one bag and when you are done, it folds up into a tiny pouch. 

Item #15: Cross Jet Travel Stroller: Last, but certainly not least, is the Cross Jet Travel stroller, it has an amazing design and folds up small enough to fit in the overhead compartment. The cross bar also double as a handle and it comes with a travel bag and a rain cover. Big big fan of this stroller and think this is a MUST BUY for travel. I also got the Nuna car seat adapters. 

These products all helped make the first time traveling with our little guy so much easier and I hope it helps you too. Let me know if you have any other favorites I missed on the list!

My family is originally from South African and when we moved, just over 20 years ago, many of our friends moved to various parts around the globe as well.  That, paired with my parents love for travel, has made me lucky enough to travel to some pretty awesome places around the world. 

Most of the time when I think of a vacation, I think of a multiple day excursion filled with airports and possible hotel hopping between adventure locations. This las weekend, however, my husband had a work event in Los Angeles on Friday evening so we decided to make a mini getaway trip out of it. 

We drove up from San Diego on Friday afternoon and while he was at his event, I got to catch up with a friend in the area. Then we got to the hotel and splurged on late night room service dessert. We stayed at a Hilton near the airport which was relatively inexpensive and dog friendly which was important since we brought little Stella with us. 

In the morning, we did something we almost never do...we slept in late! (Those blackout curtains are magical). Once we finally surfaced, we headed to our favorite spot in LA, Manhattan Beach and explored a new park before heading to grab pizza from our first date spot and the best ice cream sandwich of all time! We had nowhere to be exactly by anytime and it was fun to have an agenda-free day enjoying the beach and sun. We were back in San Diego by 5:30 that same day and back in our routine. 

I wasn't expecting such a mini trip to be as refreshing as it was, but we both felt recharged on Sunday and ready to get to work. It was a great reminder for me that a vacation doesn't have to be a long, far-off journey, and some of the most refreshing ones in fact are close-by and quick but just as (or maybe even more) relaxing. 

Here are my 6 reasons why local getaways are just as awesome as big trips:

Even though LA was quite the drive in Friday afternoon traffic, we still got there faster than almost any airport trip filled with pre and post flight activities. Brad may have had to work that night but I fully enjoyed getting into relax mode asap and enjoyed an amazing dinner with a friend.

Even if it is a place you live or have gone to a million times, you can make it feel like a brand new location. Brad and I met in college and would frequent Manhattan Beach, but since we had Stella with us this time, we looked up a dog park we could take her to and found a gem at Polliwog Park. Not only is the name awesome, but it had beautiful green lawns for picnicking, awesome play sets, a pond, a dog run and a cute California botanical garden. We had never been there before and didn't expect such a great find. 

Since it's local, you have a car so can stay somewhere that is a bit more inexpensive since convenience of location is as big a deal. We got a great deal on a hotel and could drive around between Culver City and Downtown LA on Friday night and easily get to Manhattan Beach on Saturday.

That being said, wether you are staying in your home city or going somewhere nearby, I would definitely recommend still getting a hotel. My brain is wired to find things to do at home (clean the kitchen, do the laundry, organize this cabinet, etc.) Even if we had stayed at home in San Diego and cleared all activities on Saturday, I think I still would have had a to-do list floating in my mind of all the things I should be doing. Removing myself completely and staying in a hotel with great blackout curtains really helped it feel like a restful and restorative vacation. 

One of the most stressful parts of a vacation is planning all the details to make it perfect. Where to stay, what to eat, what activities to do in the day. Since we were familiar with the area, we knew some of our favorite places we wanted to go back to and so other than a quick yelp search on Saturday morning to find the dog park, we didn't do much planning and just enjoyed the sunshine. 

Again, since we were driving, we could bring Stella with us and it really felt like a little family vacation. There are a ton of pet-friendly hotels now with nominal fees for letting your fur baby come along. 

So the next time you feel like you just need to getaway, consider maybe taking the freeway instead of hopping on a plane. And if you head to Manhattan Beach, make sure you stop by the Manhattan Beach Ice Creamery for the best "Creamwich" of your life. 

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I travel quite a lot both personally and for work and after just completing a 2-week trip to Southern Africa, I realized there are some great little tips to share with you guys to make your travels a bit easier.

​Logically, it makes sense to fold your clothes in your suitcase but I have found that tightly rolling your clothes is the best way to fit more into your bag, reduce wrinkles, and be able to easily see the items you have packed. That being said, it is much easier to roll tops, summer, and workout clothes than winter ones. Heavy sweaters and bulky sweats/jeans are harder, so I normally leave these for the top of the suitcase and lay them flat or I try to wear as much of them on the plane if it’s possible to help reduce the bulk. 

In every carry-on bag I’ve had, whether it is a handbag or a backpack, I’ve made sure that the bag has a pocket on the exterior of the bag that is easy to get to and a quick place to store some of my go-to items. I like having it so that I don’t have to dig through my bag (especially if you are in the middle seat. #theworst)
 
That being said, some of the best things to store in this area are lip balm and hand lotion (nothing worse than that dry feeling). I also like having my phone charger there and since I wear contacts and sometimes they irritate my eyes on the plane, I put my glasses case here too for easy relief if needed. 

​No matter where you are going, a hot location or a cool one, having a neutral large scarf is THE BEST way to avoid being cold. On this last trip I packed one and used it about 90% of the time. Sometimes it’s because the plane is freezing, and I need a little warmth, other times, it’s a great accessory to add to an outfit. Either way, I highly recommend keeping one at the bottom (or for me, the top ) of your carry-on. 

​This one I didn’t do the best job of on this trip. I normally drink about 50-70oz of water a day. It helps me to feel energized and sparkling water especially helps me avoid some unhealthy cravings. It’s tough to always have water with you on a plane since you have to get rid of anything before security but if you purchase it on the other side or fill up your favorite travel water bottle, make sure you get that water in. On my way home from our South Africa trip, I relied on the water served on the plane and it left me feeling completely drained once I landed. Furthermore, it caused a bit of nausea that could totally have been avoided if I just had slipped a bit more on the plane. 

​My husband loves reading on a plane, but for me, reading is the #1 way to make me fall asleep within about 5 minutes. So, I love listening to podcasts on the plane. Another reason I love them, is because you can “subscribe” to shows on the podcast app on your phone and they automatically download when you are in a wifi zone. That way, when I’m on the plane, I have new, fresh content to listen to and and I didn’t have to remember to download it, which is HUGE for me since I always forget to download music from Spotify for the plane. 

​Along the same lines as carrying a scarf, carrying an extra t-shirt and underwear for a long trip is one of my go to things. On this last trip, we spent 40 hours traveling home and to say that you start to feel gross after the first long flight is an understatement. I like to keep a black t-shirt (cause it goes with everything) and fresh socks and undergarments in the bottom of my bag. Halfway through the long journeys, I see if any of the lounges in the airports have showers. A quick shower and change can renew a journey. If not, then a trip to the bathroom with one of the fresh wipes, and new clothes makes a big difference in your mood and energy. 

No matter how healthy you try to be, planes are a little bit of breeding ground for getting sick. Not only are you in a small space with lots of people (who may or may not be coughing) but also, the altitude that causes dehydration in your own body also makes you more susceptible to catching a bug. To try help with this, I love using the Vitamin C EmergenC packs. They are easy to pack, don’t take up much space and go a long way. I take them in the morning 2-3 days leading up to a flight, try take on the plane for flights over 5 hours, and then once a day on the trip. They taste great and help keep the immune system just a bit stronger throughout the journey while your other health habits may be a bit out of schedule. 

Jessica

In celebration of Mother's Day this weekend (and my dad's birthday), we decided to go explore a new part of town. We've been to Liberty Station before, but mostly to stop in at a grocery store or grab a quick bite to eat. I'd never actually walked the property. We accidentally parked on the wrong side of the lawn, and started strolling toward the Public Market. I was absolutely amazed at the gorgeous landscaping, fountains, and plazas that made this oasis a truly remarkable place. 

For those of you who don't know, Liberty Station is a former Naval Training Center. With the base closure in 1997, the city decided to preserve the landmark through a modernization plan. Today, the exterior of the buildings are well maintained with their original charm. Plenty of patriotic detailed mosaics, iron framed windows, and plenty of cute lawn chairs and benches lining the courtyard. I told my husband Brad that we had just found the perfect Sunday picnic location.  The interiors on the other hand have been transformed into trendy restaurants with bocce ball, vertical gardens and gourmet cuisine and an art center paradise with galleries, crafters and training classes.

Our favorite spot of the day was the Public Market, we enjoyed a delicious afternoon rosé from Uphold Wines and some snacks from a few of the vendors inside the market. The patio lights criss-crossed overhead, while kids and dogs played on the well kept artificial turf. Just around the corner was a vertical garden and through the gorgeous doors a full bar.  

It was so much fun to play "tourist" in our own city. Sometimes spontaneous adventures to well known places are the perfect place for inspiration and fun. Hope you get to check it out some time soon! 

Jessica

San Diego is known for it's microbrewery community. I'm not much of a beer fan, but I've heard of all the places, well known and boutique. So when one of my colleagues mentioned a gin distillery in downtown San Diego, I was shocked that of all places, that is where it would be. 

As part of my birthday festivities last weekend, I decided to take my family there (mom and sis pictured) and I am SO GLAD that we went.  Not only were their cocktails so unique and delicious, but their decor was AMAZING. The way I can't stop describing it is "effortless luxury". It sounds like an oxymoron, but I swear, from the minute you walk in there is a sense of comfort, yet the velvet and leather couches mixed with neutral brick walls and greenery accented throughout, it definitely has an upscale vibe. 

We took the behind the scenes tour and tasting and got to learn all about how they make their unique Sunday Gin. Did you know that you have to make vodka in order to make gin? We also learned the proper way to smell a spirit so you don't burn your nostrils! (Keep your mouth slightly open as you breath in through the nose). 

From there, we made our way to the bar and enjoyed some really unique hand-crafted cocktails while taking in the view. One of my favorite details was their back wall with an extra long velvet couch nestled against the tall white brick wall and their logo boldly carved into wood. This wall made such a statement while the wall right next door featured a quaint bookshelf featuring fun pieces that your best friend may have. Like I said, effortless luxury mixing grand designs with a comfortable atmosphere. 

You and Yours just celebrated their one year anniversary, they are up and coming and believe me, they are coming! So if you are in the area, maybe before a Padres game, you should definitely check them out. And if you're anything like us, be prepared to use your 10% discount from the tour to bring home a bottle that you can enjoy later. 

Hope you guys are having a great week! You're welcome in advance for your weekend plans ;-)

I love getting inspiration from hotels, restaurants, museums and more! I'm one that totally appreciates each and every thought and detail that goes into the design. Not every place brings all the perfect feels together but Better Buzz Coffee, a small local coffee chain here in San Diego combines my favorite shapes, colors and textures to make one seriously awesome place to hang out.

Their combination of bold metals, light and bright wood and marble accessorized with gold accents (my favorite) and spotted with greenery captures a cool and collected vibe. Every detail from the hexagon shaped tiled bar transitioning to the concrete floor to the retro lighting and coffee inspired sayings (that totally speak to my coffee addiction) incorporated in the walls and floors makes you want to just pull up a seat, maybe a laptop, and feast on some delicious avocado toast. 

And it doesn't stop there, on their small but WOW factor patio they have cornhole and swing seats to enjoy your coffee and conversation. While I was there I saw families grabbing an afternoon snack, students studying for their next exam, individuals journaling and I swear I even saw a date happening. Honestly, when a place looks this amazing and has a menu to die for (I had their vanilla buzz lite, a blended iced coffee - AMAZING) you can find just about any reason to go. 

So if you are in the San Diego area, be sure to check out this spot, they have a few locations and each one is slightly different but just as awesome. 

If I sound a little excited, it's because I am, this place has captured one of my favorite design looks with brass, hexagons, wood and white and I'm so glad that it's walking distance from my house. Do you have a local spot that you just love? Bonus if the menu is equally as good as the design!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica

My husband and I came here a few years ago and loved the wine and the tour that we got. We were really excited to taste grapes from the vine and get a sense of the different varietals from our guide. 

Fast forward to this last weekend and we were able to swing by the beautiful property once again. We were in awe of all the amazing additions they have implemented and I was so excited to capture all their wonderful decor details to share with you. 

Walking from the parking lot, we were greeted with the relaxing trickle of the fountain that set the stage for the afternoon of a casual yet sophisticated vibe. They had a stage with live music and plenty of seating. Some of the seating was open in front of the stage and there were a few private cabanas to sit and enjoy in more privacy. 

The Meritage restaurant overlooked the gorgeous vineyards and had a menu to die for. I also loved the arch entrance they have made out of wrought iron and guiding you toward the restaurant oasis. 

Across from that, the main entrance greeted us with whimsical spiral topiaries and lights strung across the entire patio. Inside, we were greeted by a gift shop with hilarious and stunning home decor. I especially loved this ombré mint tumblers and the celebration reserve box. 

As Brad and I enjoyed our tasting experience on the patio, my favorite decor detail got the most photos. Flowers in a barrel. I've dreamed of flowers in a barrel for a long time as an addition to my yard one day and Callaway took it up a notch, lining their entire patio with classic barrels filled with bright and vibrant flowers that contrasted against the vineyard backdrop. 

It was an amazing afternoon and filled my soul with happiness and my bag with wine. If you want to experience Callaway a bit closer to San Diego, check out their tasting room in the downtown Gaslamp area. Can't wait to see how they brought the exterior decor inside their room in the city. 

As I aim to bring floral barrels to my patio one day, I'd love to here what your favorite decor to add to your patio or outdoor space is? Please share your ideas in the comments below. Thanks!

Jessica

Although I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, I think I can count on one hand the number of times I went camping as a kid. To say I would prefer glamping is a bit of an understatement. My ideal scenario for "camping" would be a warm bed decked out in rustic accessories and a beautifully done bathroom for a steaming shower at the end of an adventurous day of hiking, climbing, fishing or other. My husband on the other hand, grew up on a ranch, he not only loved camping growing up (and still does today) but chose on numerous occasions to camp in the backyard. For him, spending time in the outdoors is an essential part of recouping from our busy lives, so about a month after our wedding, when all the hustle and bustle subsided, we decided to use his new tent for the first time and go camping and fishing in one of his favorite places, Mammoth Lakes, California. 

We decided about a week before the trip that we would be driving the 8 hours from San Diego to Mammoth and all we had was a tent, a cooler, and a couple of old sleeping bags. With that knowledge, I quickly took to google and my dear friend Amazon Prime to find a few items that would keep us (mostly me) comfortable for the weekend. Below are my favorite finds and although it didn't quite give the exact glamping accomodations that are upwards of 150/night, it did provide lots of comfort at a reasonable and price and bonus it can be reused for next time. 

I insisted on a mattress pad...only I said it should be an air mattress because obviously those are more comfortable than foam. Well let me tell you from a miserable first hand experience, keeping air between the freezing ground and your warm bodies just sucks the heat right out of you and into the air mattress... coldest night of my life. Next time I plan to find a thick foam mattress or cot to try out. Stay tuned for the updates of how it works out. I've currently got my eye on these two for now. The LaidBack Pad Memory Foam Sleeping Pad, which can connect with others to make a bigger bed, or the Azurec Ultralight Portable Folding Bed, which keeps you a bit off the ground and is easy to store. 

We planned a list of activities on the water and they required inflation. We were car camping so used our car to power the pump and away we went for our blow-up raft and float tube for fishing. If you plan to sit on a float on the lake, or maybe some camping furniture for around the site, this definitely comes in handy for both inflating AND deflating. They are super affordable at $10-$20 and who knows, maybe you'll want your glamp site to have a few of these. :-P

Most of my co-workers and friends joke that I have about 1 degree of happiness, but in actuality, I'm constantly cold and when sleeping, I'd rather not sleep cocooned in a single sleeping bag and rather with my husband. I found this one and am in love. It keeps you toasty warm. Much better than the piles of blankets I used to use so that I could make a "bed" while camping. I imagine this one will also be handy when we go camping with our first little one down the line. 

There is nothing worse than waiting what feels like hours to me to get a fire started on a cold night. (If you haven't picked up yet even though this trip to Mammoth was in August, the nights were FREEZING!). Instead of spending time with the hope and pray method that the wood you collected catches fire, I suggest the InstaFire. A Shark Tank product that has taken off and is amazing for literally get the spark going no matter where you are. Whether you are planning to cook dinner over the fire or just spend the night under the stars with some warmth, this stuff makes it much easier to enjoy the experience than freeze with a sputtering fire. 

Many camping spots have tons of water sports, fishing, hiking, kayaking and more. For us, it was all about hiking and fishing. We stopped at Bass Pro Shops on the way up to get me a starter rod and then stopped into a local fish shop in Mammoth to see what flies and bait the fish were biting. For any camping spot, I suggest doing some online research for some activities, but then stop in at a local spot for rentals or gear to find out some of the hidden spots. Avoid the high traffic spots and take in some of the best hidden views. In Mammoth, some of our favorite spots are Hot Creek for both hiking (more walking but still amazing) and fishing. If you are looking for a real trek up the mountain, Heart Lake gets you off the beaten path and into some places that are relatively untouched.