Waxing Poetic

The final stop of my retail therapy in Los Olivos was Waxing Poetic, a jewelry, charms, candles and housewares boutique.  You may have heard of Waxing Poetic as they has been mentioned in a number of publications and is not only available in their two boutiques (Los Olivos and Summerland) but also in numerous boutiques across the country.  The last time I was in Los Olivos they were in a different location so I was excited to visit the new store and of course, peruse all the dainty treasures.

When you enter the store, you immediately feel as if you are in someone's living room.  Books line the walls, there is a beautiful writing desk and you are surrounded by intricately designed charms, jewelry, scarves and candles...just to name a few.  I found myself getting lost in the store as I immediately began thinking of all the sentimental gifts that I could pick up here.  Something for the bride, for your pregnant sister, your mother, a first communion.  Truly, they have embraced the moments of life and created opportunities for you to give something that is just not a gift but something that will be held on to forever.  I may have also started my own "wish list" for the hubby while I was inside.  As with all the boutiques I visited while in the valley, the customer service was phenomenal and even though I have discovered all the locations Waxing Poetic is available in Orange County, there is still something special about being in this store in Los Olivos.  It is a very special little place.

You can visit the Los Olivos boutique at 2477 Alamo Pintado Ave. or click here to find where Waxing Poetic is sold near you.  

I also recommend following them on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with their new pieces.

Wendy Foster

Nestled next door to my favorite coffee house in Los Olivos is Wendy Foster, a boutique that exudes classic sophistication with a relaxed country feel.  The walls are filled with art representing the Santa Ynez Valley while the tables and racks are filled with simple yet chic pieces that fit right into the Los Olivos lifestyle...or any lifestyle for that matter.  With designers such as Vince, Joie and Current Elliott alongside local designers such as Emily Rosendahl, there was just too much goodness in one place for me to handle.  The staff was extremely friendly and I had a wonderful time chatting with them while I shopped.  Just like I said with yesterday's visit, I will definitely be back.      

Wendy Foster is located at 2928 San Marcos Ave., Los Olivos, Ca. with additional locations in Santa Barbara.  I highly suggest following their Instagram account to see all the new merchandise they receive, along with shots from their life in Los Olivos.   

Plenty Boutique

A few months ago I began following the Plenty Boutique in Santa Ynez on Instagram and knew instantly that they were a "must stop" the next time I was up there.  The pieces they showcased and the travels they took gave me the sense that I was going to like this place.

It was better than I even expected!  I adore their ability to bring the ethereal and wonderlust feeling of the valley that I love so much into a beautiful boutique filled with all sorts of treasures.  It was a bohemian paradise.  Everywhere I looked their was something that caught my eye.  The boutique began from two friends who make their own jewelry and you could spend hours looking through every piece.  Racks are filled with Free People, Stone Cold Fox, J Brand, Bella Luxx and many other brands that share in the laid back yet sexy feel you often see in Orange County.  If you are not in the mood for clothes or jewelry, there are a number of bags, bath products, hats, scarves and numerous other accessories scattered throughout the boutique.  It was cozy, welcoming and fun to shop.  It was such a lovely experience and I will definitely be back.

Plenty Boutique is located at 1110 Faraday St., Santa Ynez. California.  

I highly suggest following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook to preview their incoming merchandise and events. 

* No compensation was provided for this post.  When I see something I love, I want to share it!

Laguna Beach

It has been a while since we have had a day to do whatever we wanted as a family.  President's Day gifted us with a day free of practices, school, work and games so we took advantage and headed down to one of our favorite spots, Laguna Beach.  Laguna has such a unique feel to it, unlike many of the beach cities here.  A little more laid back.  A little more eclectic.  It is definitely a place to recenter and enjoy some smiles with the kids.  We spent the day running on the beach, enjoying lunch at The Cliff and even though the clouds began to roll in, we weren't going to miss shakes at the Ruby's Shake Shack.

You can find some of our other Orange County favorites here.

Blushington

One thing that I hate to do on my own and absolutely love to get done is my makeup.

Sure I can handle taking care of myself from day to day, but when an event comes up, the first thing I want to do is make an appointment to have my makeup done.  It just makes everything so much easier, allows me to be more adventurous with my look (I can only do so much on myself) and who doesn't love getting a little pampered?  The only downfall of this is that I usually go to a department store to get it done and tend to walk out with products I would not normally use because, well, you are a tad bit obligated to purchase a few things.  Other times I have had someone come to the house but I am spending at least a $100, which can add up during event season.  

This is where Blushington comes in.

Blushington is a makeup and beauty lounge offering incredible services for even better prices.  I had heard this was opening up at Fashion Island but had yet to make a visit.  They invited Baby Girl and I in last Thursday and so we decided to see what Blushington was all about.

First things first.  The space is adorable.  Extremely feminine, fun and immediately gets you excited for a little beauty pampering.  Baby Girl felt instantly at home, and began eating cookies before we even knew what was happening.

For me, I had the option of numerous looks, depending on where I was off to.  I decided to look particularly glamorous for school pick up.  For Baby Girl, they offer a Sweet Pea package, allowing her to feel girlie with mommy while putting on a very minimal amount of makeup.  She still had to pick her look though and of course I was not at all shocked by the one that she picked.  I am in trouble...

We took our seats and it was time to start looking glam.

Thirty minutes later, DONE!

The entire staff at Blushington was extremely friendly. From Stephi, the Founder, to all the makeup artists, they made Baby Girl and I feel extremely welcomed and walked me through all that Blushington can offer.  Some of my favorites:

* The Full Face package - $40 and 30 minutes and I am ready for a night out on the town.

* The Sweet Pea package - I need my makeup done for an event and can I keep Baby Girl entertained for $10 with very little makeup applied?  No brainer.

* Teen Makeup Class - For $50 your teenager can sit with a makeup artist and learn how to properly apply makeup so that they look appropriate and boost confidence without being too made up.  The makeup artist will then do half their face and allow the young lady to do the other half, ensuring she knows how to do it herself!

* At Home Services - Many times my friends and I are running around like crazy people the day of an event due to our kids sports schedules.  Blushington will come to you and make the entire process of getting ready a little less stressful.  Who doesn't love a little girl time prior to an event...especially when champagne can be involved?

* Makeup Series - If you find you can use this service numerous times, you can buy a package offering a certain number of makeup applications for a discounted rate.

This is really just a few items available but I recommend taking a look at all the services and classes offered.

Blushington has locations in Newport Beach, West Hollywood and Dallas.

For more information you can visit their website here.

And the big question.  Will I be back?

ABSOLUTELY.

New York

via

Every year, when January comes to a close, two realities set in.  The first is that baseball season has begun which means that for 5 months, we will be moving at 1,000 miles an hour, spending the majority of our time on a baseball field.  The second is that summer is only a few months away and it is time to start chatting about where we would like to go on vacation.

Vacation to some means just taking a break from life.  Hawaii and Mexico are standard destinations for many and are both amazing places to rest and regroup.  To me though, vacation is not just about taking a break from life but also about seeing the world and sharing it with my kids.

I absolutely love traveling with my kids.  To see their faces experience something they have never seen before is amazing.  Just like their parents, they have developed a love for big cities and we have a blast exploring new places together.  So far, their favorite vacations have been Chicago and Washington D.C., both ranked higher than Hawaii, which too many might seem crazy.  For them, not shocking.  And so, when asked where they would like to go this summer for vacation, the answer did not surprise us at all.

New York.

And so, New York we will go.

I can't wait!

Here is the request list I have gathered from the kids (and perhaps myself) so far...
Yankee game
9-11 Memorial
a Broadway show
Natural History Museum
The Met

The amount of things to do in New York is endless so here is my question for all of you.  Have you been to and/or lived in New York with kids?  If so, what are we missing on the list?  Is there anything we must do while we are there with them?  Please share as all suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 

Have you thought about going anywhere this summer?  I would love to hear!  

Chicago

Los Rios Historic District

Over a year ago I did a post on Los Rios but when I began showcasing some of my favorite places in Orange County, I just had to do another one.  The Los Rios Historic District is one of my absolute favorite places in Orange County.  It is really just a simple road, made up of extremely old homes that have been turned into small cafes and shops.  I can spend hours there enjoying a cup of coffee at Hidden House Coffee (hands down my favorite coffee), enjoying brunch at the Ramos House (there is not a better brunch) or simply perusing all the little shops and boutiques.  When the kids are with me it is mandatory that we visit the petting zoo and play at the park.  With how hectic life can get, a stroll around Los Rios provides the perfect calm.  

Also, I pulled together one of my favorite looks for Fall over at My Thirty Spot.  Come visit!