Hi Friends! So last month I vacationed to Acapulco and wanted to share some of my favorite stops with you!
If you are interested in seeing my layover adventures in Mexico City, I’ll have that blog post up soon!
Acapulco is such a lush and tropical beach destination just a few short hours (by plane) from Houston! For this trip, we decided to stay at a resort and the one we selected was The Grand Mayan – a Vidanta property. Just a short 10 minute taxi ride from the airport and we were there!
The resort was absolutely breathtaking! We checked in at night so we left exploring for the morning. That evening we stopped at the bar and watched the evening performance.
The room was spacious and comfortable with luxurious bedding and toiletries. After a good night’s sleep we woke bright and early to start our first day of adventuring.
While exploring the property I sported my Stronger athletic wear. This brand is so comfortable and perfect for any climate! After we checked out the grounds it was time to change and venture off property.
Favorite Places / Activities
So the two things I think everyone needs to stop and do/see when in Acapulco are: releasing baby sea turtles and visit the Diego Rivera mural.
Releasing baby sea turtles was seriously one of the coolest things I think I have ever done! Before the release you watch a short film on conservation and the life cycle of sea turtles that way you fully understand the importance of this release!
Holding the tiny turtle and watching it take its first steps to the ocean was so touching!
As for the Diego Rivera wall, I was taken aback by the sheer size of the mural, which seems to come out of nowhere! It is just off of the side of a building on a random street, as if it is nothing special…perfect for a photo op! There is so much detail in this piece, that I wish I could have captured it all for you! The mixed materials and mosaic design are so beautiful and entrancing, a must see!
Here are a few photos from our other Acapulco stops, enjoy! From learning about gemstone mining and jewelry, to food, poolside drinks, local iguanas, and scenic outlook spots.
For my birthday weekend I wanted to relax and have a staycation, and what better place to do so than the newest downtown Houston destination hotel, The Hotel Alessandra!
This beautiful, and might I add, glamorous hotel offers it all! From a sleek bar lounge, to a full dine in restaurant, spacious outdoor pool with a skyline view, and plush guest rooms I could not have picked a better place to unwind!
The Room
We were in a corner room so the views were spectacular! All of the appointments from bedding to the tile were perfectly selected to create a chic ambiance. I personally loved the emerald green accents, complimented by their white embroidered logo.
Amenities at a Glance
For dinner we dined at the Bardot. This in house gastro-plush bar features a fabulous view of downtown, and comfortable relaxed seating. We decided on chicken strips and a burger (so there would be plenty of fries) I must say the burger was spectacular! SO GOOD! I am thinking about going back just to eat at Bardot! The food and ambiance were perfect, and with the excellent selection of specialty drinks they offer, it is the ideal location for a date night.
Even though it was a bit chilly, I wanted to check out the other on site amenities! The Alessandra offers an outdoor pool area which was so beautiful! Again, the view of downtown seemed within arms reach and the patio chaise were perfectly placed for a retreat within the city. The the gym offered everything you need for a well rounded workout all nestled perfectly in a floor to ceiling windowed room. Soon there will even be a spa available on property – even better!
Check out the Hotel Alessandra if you are visiting Houston on vacation, or just want a weekend staycation like I did. It is the perfect hotel to unwind, but also keep you in the center of everything, just step outside and you are in the heart of downtown! I would also like to add that it is right next door to a Forever21 so shopping is just inches away! What else can you ask for?
This past weekend myself, Kristine, and Alessandra went on a girl’s trip to Dallas for StyleCon. We had the pleasure of staying at the Fairmont Dallas for the weekend which was not only convenient, as it was located right across from StyleCon, but also a luxurious and relaxing getaway for the three of us!
Upon arrival, we were welcomed to a table of evening snacks and a bottle of wine. The traditionally appointed rooms are spacious and decorated elegantly leaving a relaxed at-home feel. One of my favorite special touches was the personalized toiletry items!
Since we are bloggers we travel with quite a bit of accessories. To keep everything organized, here is our shoe and handbag set up! We found the best space for these items to be the living area. I will also add the closets are spacious and provided enough hangers for the three of us to hang all of our clothing!
We stayed in an adjoining King Suite and a Double Room. The bedding was plush and extremely comfortable. When I stay at a hotel usually the first night I cannot sleep well just because I am in a new place, but at the Fairmont I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow!
In the morning it was just a short elevator ride and hallway walk to Starbucks! We loved that there was one conveniently located in the hotel, perfect for getting the morning started on the right foot!
After that, we spent the day at StyleCon, which I will chat about in a separate post. Once we arrived back at the hotel, we found lemonade and sweets in the entry to welcome us back, along with a beautiful fresh floral arrangement. After refreshments it was back to the room to change and get ready for dinner!
We met up with our fellow blogger friend Zaira at Mercat Bistro, a short 0.4 miles away from the hotel. We dined in the gazebo on steak, beet salad, shrimp ravioli, bread pudding, and creme brulee! The French inspired restaurant was beautifully decorated and elegantly appointed with printed china, linen table cloths, string lights and dark green rot-iron scrolled posts.
I would also like to add in the evening turn down service was provided by the hotel including a fresh bag of ice and a bottled water.
Since the weather was so beautiful while we were at the Fairmont Dallas, we had the opportunity to check out the amenities on the Terrace floor. Here they have lovely gardens and a sparkling pool overlooking the Dallas skyline.
If you are planning a trip to Dallas, or just want a relaxing weekend getaway, this is the place to stay! You will feel comfortable, welcome and leave well rested! Thank you Fairmont Dallas for the wonderful stay, be back soon!
After experiencing my first NYFW I wanted to round up some of the most important take aways, and share them with you all! These are my own opinion and I’m sure others have found certain things might be more streamline, but this is what worked for me, and what I learned from my first NYFW!
Take the subway. I say this because you get everywhere so much faster! – Not to mention it’s only $2.50 a trip. Yes, taxis require less walking, but if you aren’t staying close by to the venues this can definitely make a huge dent in your budget!
Wear comfortable shoes. Manhattan requires a lot of walking and you will be on your feet all day. Do yourself, and you feet a favor by wearing comfortable shoes! I rarely saw people in heels at the shows, seriously! If you really want to bring heels for the evening parties, that’s totally cool, but if you are thinking you need to wear heels to everything to fit in, I promise that is not necessary!
Be aware of your time, distance between locations, and Lyft. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time between shows to actually get to the shows. Manhattan traffic is very unique in that something 3 miles away can take like 20 minutes or more to get to. If there is less than 30 minutes to an hour between shows, I would recommend only selecting of the two to attend. As for Lyft, we were almost late to a show and our flight home because of Lyft. It is just too unpredictable! If you have a timed schedule, don’t rely on this from of transportation.
Arrive to the shows 30 minutes early…at least! So this is how I was able to sit at all of the shows I attended (if I wasn’t already assigned a seat.) When you arrive and check in you find out your seating assignment, or if you are standing. Priority standing means you do not have a seat assigned, but doesn’t mean you won’t have the opportunity to sit. Many people do not attend shows they are invited to, because of this seats are left empty. If you are “priority standing” you are the first in line to fill those seats! I was fortunate enough to get seating at every show I was not previously assigned seating to because of this, only because I arrived early! Before shows begin you have to line up outside the door. Obviously the first in line are the first to enter, therefore you get the best options available for standing or leftover seats. This year I was blessed with front row for 3 shows, and the others was able to get a seat based on entry. Seats mean swag bags, and prime viewing space for the shows! The early bird gets the worm!!
Pack snacks – water will be provided. Pack as many granola and protein bars in your bag as you can because food will be the last thing on your agenda! Don’t waste precious real estate in your bag with water because it will be at every show. Seriously, they keep you hydrated! Complimentary water bottles were provided at every shows lounge area. No need to lug that around!
Be courageous with your fashion, and try new things. I played it pretty safe with a few of my looks and pushed my comfort zone on only 2, and found I enjoyed those 2 looks the best! Next year I will definitely be braver to push outside of the box and wear whatever I want to because fashion week is all about pushing the envelope, and fashion from all genres!
Don’t accept more than 3 shows a day. I say this because more than 3 gets super overwhelming as the shows may not be close together…you may want to change clothes, and at some point you are going to want to eat. With more than 3 shows on your schedule for a day; after parties, wardrobe changes, meetings and food are not going to be possible.
Additional tips
Don’t fear about not getting into any shows! This is something I was really worried about. I was terrified I would not get any invitations! They will come, but you have to do the legwork! That means find out the show dates once available, find out the PR companies partnering with those shows, and reach out! There is no harm in sending an email, if they aren’t the right contact, chances are they will point you in the right direction.
Join Style Collective. If you are a blogger I highly recommend joining Style Collective! This is an amazing platform to learn how to be successful in the blogging world! They also set up a forum for NYFW where you could share insight with other girls attending, find a roomie, and best of all, they can get you invites to shows as well! On top of that, they show you just how to pitch to other companies so you can have the best experience possible! Plus they threw an amazing NYFW party! There are so many other reasons I recommend Style Collective, but for NYFW specifically, these are the reasons! 🙂
Reach out to shows 3 weeks out and follow up at 2 weeks. This may sound super last minute, but this is the window to get responses and acceptances. Before this timeframe the reps may not know the seating, venue, or even how many people they can extend invites to.
Reach out to partnering brands for clothing and accessory partnerships 1 month to 2 months out. I was late on this aspect this year, but know for next year to reach out early for collaborations.
How much did I spend?
The big question…how much was the trip to NYC, NYFW, the hotel, food, transportation?
- Flights: 250
- Hotel: 690
- Transportation and Food: 290
- NYFW events and Afterparties: Complimentary
*Prices are reflective for 2 people.
The reason transportation and food was not very expensive is we took the subway and only had time to eat street food for the majority of the trip. Also because dinners and drinks were always complimentary at afterparties. I hope this transparency shows that NYFW is not free, but at the same time, is more affordable than you might think. Rooming with someone reduces the expenses dramatically and it also helps to have someone to share this amazing experience with. 🙂
I hope you have found these tips helpful! I really enjoyed my first NYFW and cannot wait for next year! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! I’d love to answer!
To many of you I’m sure this is going to sound pretty crazy. How could a fashion blogger possibly take only a carry on to NYFW? Well here’s how it did it!
#1 Comfort and versatility is key!
Bring shoes and accessories that you can wear with multiple looks. Skip on the pair of heels that you will only wear with one look and pack the boots that go with everything and are comfortable. I say this because there is an overwhelming amount of walking to be done. On average, we walked 7 miles a day! – Keep that in mind before you pack those stilettos… chances are they will just be taking up space in your luggage.
#2 Plan your ensembles out ahead of time
This is a really big one. I always pack extra, but this was a really incremental part of me managing only a carry on. Take only what you will actually wear! As a blogger, I needed to average 3 ensembles a day. So that meant I had to coordinate 9ish outfits. The reason for so many is morning and evening looks, along with additional ensembles to shoot in. By curating and stylizing my ensembles ahead of time, I knew exactly what I would be wearing which day and with what accessories. This limits un-needed access.
#3 Create a Final Cut
So when I packed, I made sure every piece would be worn and made sense for the occasions and looks I was aiming to create. If it didn’t make sense, I didn’t bring it. Here is what made my cut!
My carry on packing list:
Accessories
- Elaine Turner Ally Crossbody
- Jewelry roll storage: held 3 pairs of earrings, 2 necklaces, 2 bracelets, contacts and toothbrush
- Felt hat
- Curling Iron
- Straightener
Shoes
Dresses
Jackets
- XOXO embellished blazer
- Danny Nguyen Couture Jacket
- Chunky sweater cardigan
Tops
Bottoms
- Dear John Distressed Jeans
- Danny Nguyen Couture Embellished Mesh Skirt
- Express Shorts
- Black High-Waist Mini Skirt
Now to make this work, I chose to wear one of the shoes I selected so that I only needed to pack one pair, and I decided to wear a top and jeans so again, this cuts down on a few of the larger pieces that would otherwise be in the bag.
The next tip to make this work is space saver bags! I cannot rave enough about these bags! They have assisted me on multiple trips! All of the ensembles I packed for this trip fit into 2 bags and with the air out, took up minimal space.
The contents above is what all I had to place in my carry on. Everything easily fit with space to spare! If you are looking for a great sized, affordable carry on check out Target!
So that’s it! I hope you found this helpful if you are looking to travel with less baggage! As for my chargers, medications, and makeup, those were all stored in my tote as I like to keep those items handy! Happy travels!
Day 3 started with a New York bagel and hot apple cider! This to me is the perfect breakfast for NYC. Something you can walk and eat and a sweet warm beverage to wake up!
My first show was at the NYFW the Shows location once again, this time to see Taoray Wang. I once again had a full schedule ahead of me and really wanted to be comfortable, so the ensemble I selected for day 3 was this adorable romper from Posh Tulsa, my favorite over the knee Steve Madden Boots and a felt hat I picked up at Marshalls. This look is so versatile and extremely comfortable!
For the Taoray Wang show I was assigned standing, but was able to move to seating. This was the largest show I attended as it was in Gallery 1 which was so massive and set up with riser seating. I loved every piece of this collection! So many shades of blue with fringe, tailored pleats, pinstripes, and really cool chest and collarbone tattoos on the models of birds and trees!
Following this show we had to make our way to 5th Ave. for the Banana Republic show! This show was located in-store and was set up as a quick runway show and showroom. Olivia Palermo was the creator of this collection and she was actually there to show the line!
The collection was totally my style and if I could, I would purchase all of the coats (just doesn’t make much sense for someone who lives in Texas) The pieces were military inspired with soft feminine touches of velvet and blush tones.
One thing I really liked about this show was the pieces were actually available for purchase! I was really thankful we got there early so we were able to be inside for the show. So many people did not get the opportunity as this show was open to the public and first come first serve.
After the BR X Olivia Palermo show, we grabbed a quick slice of pizza and headed back to the hotel to get ready for the last show I would be attending during NYFW.
For this last show, I wanted to pull out all of the stops and wear the most show-stopping ensemble I brought. That would be this amazing piece by Danny Nguyen Couture! I paired the beautiful blazer with a high waisted black mini skirt, and my over the knee Steve Madden boots. For accessories, I wore a sparkling Mirina Collection necklace and carried my essentials in the Ally bag by Elaine Turner.
The last show I saw was the Negris Lebrum show, which was located in an art gallery. This collection was definitely wearable and something I can totally see myself checking out! The materials were lightweight, perfect for the warmer Texas temperatures! I loved the light shades of yellow, khaki and mixes of plaid and florals. Trends included; plunging necklines, round sunglasses, hair turbans, high waist bottoms, mixed prints, 60’s silhouettes, and piping accents.
The designer is actually from Houston, Texas and came out to thank everyone for coming and for everyone who helped get them there as the show almost did not happen due to Harvey. So thankful the Negris Lebrum show was able to make it to NYFW as the collection was amazing!
The intimate after party included delicious chicken and red velvet waffles, and Dey Dreemz Rum Punch in a variety of flavors! This was the perfect relaxed way to end our NYFW experience! Following the show, it was back to the hotel to pack and get ready to head to the airport at 4:00am.
My first NYFW experience was like a dream! I feel so unbelievably blessed to have had the opportunity and ability to go, and thank everyone who made this possible for me! If you are interested in learning about how I attended shows, tips and tricks to NYFW, and lessons I learned, check out my next post for those details!
Day 2 started bright and early with the GCDS show at 10:30 am. This show was located at NYFW the Shows off Washington Street in the Meat Packing District.
We arrived early and had access to the lounge Papyrus Café and E! experience, TRESemme Studio and Reebok lounge. Once it was showtime, we were lined up and directed to our seats. I was actually able to sit on the front row at this show, and was able to move up at the majority of shows I attended. (I will explain how this happens in the series 5 post) So as for this show…..it was amazing!! The carpet was pink and the overall theme was aquatic yacht. The center of the runway had a giant pink novelty swan, perfect for photo opts and really tying the theme together. The looks were a primary color palette with fun meshes, swan prints and visors. I became a huge fan of the designer’s handbags that were featured in this show. So graphic and constructed in fun colors, the ultimate accessory.
Finishing the show, we were able to get a few snaps of the models up close, as well as, Giuliano Calza the designer himself! For this show I wanted to wear something leaning more toward street style, as this was a street wear show, so I selected an embellished blazer from XOXO, a soft blush velvet tank from Express, destructed jeans from Dear John, and metallic sneakers from Target. You can shop this look and similar here!
Following this show, we had a few hours to eat, take some photos, then it was time to head back to the hotel to change before the Nolcha Shows! BTW lunch was a street hotdog…my fav NYC meal! 🙂
For the Nolcha Shows I wore a white lace top from Shein (similar) and this amazing lace and mesh crystal skirt from Danny Nguyen Couture! I paired the look with tights and tall boots to create a more conservative feel and for jewelry and accessories I wore two baublebar pieces and the Elaine Turner Ally Crossbody.
Here I had the opportunity to take pictures with their step and repeat and model products for a few brands. Once it was time for the show to begin we were lead to our seats. My photographer was also able to attend this show, so that is why I have these face-on images of the runway show!
The W. Reflex show was really interesting and edgy. The menswear brand featured blazers, tube socks, raincoats and even the recycle sign. All makeup for the Nolcha shows was done by Ecru and I loved how they chose a pink blush for the male models. It was such an interesting and notable touch.
Concluding the show, we traveled back to the hotel. (Not before taking some pics of course!) Then it was time to change and get ready for the Style Collective Party!
This was by far my favorite party to attend at NYFW as I was able to chat with so many bloggers that I admire and make so many new friends! SO many Houston ladies attended the event, so of course I had to get a picture with some of my faves! And I also have to mention the I met the incredible Annie Spano, creator of Style Collective! Seriously y’all she is amazing, inspirational and the sweetest!
The night was filled with good laughs, amazing fajitas, Day Owl Rose wine, upbeat dance music, scenic New York views, beautiful empowering women, and fizz pops!
Since I am a Style Collective member, I was able to attend the upstairs private event. Here complimentary hair and nail appointments could be done, select dessert vendors were available and quaint sitting areas were provided to chat with fellow members! Once the party concluded, it was time to make our way back to the hotel for a good nights rest!
For my first NYFW I came prepared with a full schedule and I must say it was everything I hoped for and more! If you are a blogger and have been dreaming of attending I strongly advise taking the leap and just doing it! So here we go with day 1! I am going to share my experience in a 5 part series broken down by day, traveling tips and tricks, budgeting and lessons learned so say tuned for those posts!
So my flight was at 6:20am from IAH, which placed me at LGA around 11. With a jam-packed NYFW schedule, and the first event starting around 12, we hit the ground running! First stop was to our hotel to unpack and change, then to the Nolcha Lounge Showroom!
Here I had the opportunity to meet with Ecru New York! I have collaborated with the brand in the past, but loved getting an up-close look at their assortment and fall colors! If you are unfamiliar, Ecru New York is a hair product and makeup company! They have an amazing dry texturizing spray and the most amazing lipsticks!
My outfit of the day was this beautiful tonal plaid dress from Nicole Miller. I paired it with oversized sunglasses, tall faux suede boots from Steve Madden and the elegant Ally crossbody from Elaine Turner. All of which you can shop here!
Following this meeting I popped over to Bryant Park for show photos, then it was off to Pier 59 got the Supima 10th Annual Design Competition! Since we made it over to the piers a bit early we popped into the High Line Hotel patio bar for a drink. I ordered a Frozen Italian Splash which was lemon and delicious!
With a short walk over to Pier 59, I was lined up and ready to enter the show! So this was my very first show to attend and I was so excited it was seriously a blur! The designs were so beautiful and creative I have no idea how the judges were able to decide on a winning line! Following the show there was an excellent after party on the roof top which was a scenic view of the water and gorgeous greenery.
One thing I will say about fashion shows is you usually end up becoming friends with the person sitting next to you! As you all know I am super shy so this aspect was really amazing for me to get to know someone and share this amazing experience with!
So after the Supima show and after party wrapped up we stopping in at a small Italian restaurant for dinner then it was back to the hotel for some much needed rest and recharge for a full day of go-go-go- day two!
Hi Lovelies!
So I am currently embarking on my first New York Fashion Week, and wanted to go ahead and share with you what I am taking with me to look fabulous over the next 4 days! I have packed all of these pieces and more in my Merona Weekender for Target so yes, packing skills required! 😉
I will of course be creating stylized posts and will share all of my exciting NYC adventures with you when I get back, but wanted to give you a sneak peek of all of my looks ahead of time so you can shop them!
Enjoy!
Click on the photo or (here) to shop!
As for the outfit I am wearing for travel (featured image) you can purchase those pieces from Posh Tulsa! They are a boutique that offers a variety of beautiful clothing items as well as shoes and accessories! I’ll give a full write up on my experience with them and their products when I get back. 🙂
You may have also noticed the couture items in my instastories, those are from Danny Nguyen Couture! I am super excited to wear his designs, and look forward to sharing pics and a blog post with you all in regards to his label!
Stay tuned for posts of my NYFW experience, and follow me along of instagram to see what I’m up to in real time!
New York is beyond my favorite city. I will take a trip there any chance I can, which is why Jhonathan and I headed up there a few weekends ago.
This trip was just for fun. To get away, and spend some time in the city. On this trip, we visited a few of our regular stops, but added in some new places that really made this particular trip unique.
Food:
While in New York street food is a MUST! I always get myself a hot dog and a chicken kabob first thing! There is just nothing in the world quite like a Manhattan hot dog. We also stopped in at John’s Pizza. This is by far my favorite pizza spot in the city! Located in a converted church, this brick oven pizzeria is not only delicious, but also extremely beautiful!
After dinner we walked over to Junior’s to get some cheesecake – yes this is another “must” stop for me! I have a massive sweet tooth and their cheesecake is simply the best.
Our other food stops included the Chobani cafe in SOHO which was excellent! I have never visited a Chobani restaurant before, and was extremely impressed with the ingredients atmosphere and variety. Our next stop was The Wren we ordered brunch there and had a few drinks. This bar is so lively and offers a delicious assortment of curated options.
Shopping:
I will say I kept the shopping to a minimum on this trip to really enjoy the sights and the city, but I did make the time to stop in Birchbox SoHo to create my own box and check out their store! This was such a fun experience, I truly felt like a kid in a candy shop! There is makeup, skincare and hair products galore! I wanted to spend all day in this shop, and was so glad we decided to stop in. I also made a trip over to the flagship Henri Bendel location to walk through and check out their new offerings, and amazing wall art! Henri Bendel is one of my favorite handbag and accessory locations, so it is inevitable, every time I step in one I have to get myself something!
Aside from these stops, we also strolled through Central Park, Grand Central Station, and over by the Brooklyn bridge. I have to say this was one of my most loved trips to New York. Not because we had a million places to go, but because we didn’t. This was a relaxing trip to really explore the city and enjoy enjoy all it was to offer.
