Summer Vacation Essentials.

The summer solstice is coming up, everybody...it's in 5 days! I know you are all getting ready for summer and planning your weekend getaways or even bigger trips. I, for instance, am getting ready to go on a vacation to Spain in a couple weeks, and I've been planning the essential things I need to take with me for weeks. Whether its an international trip or a weekend getaway, there is always a way to travel in style and I'm here to tell you how!

I've gathered 9 products that are perfect for vacationing smart as well as in style. I'm sure you know that sunscreen is important to take with you on vacation, but do you know which one has the most protection and the least amount of oil? Airports give you paper luggage tags, but wouldn't a stylish luggage tag do a better job of lasting and standing out among a sea of luggage? That's what this post is for...

Without further ado, let's begin our holiday!

1. Do Not Disturb Hat: This hat is the perfect way to lay by the beach and get lost reading a book without being interrupted. The floppy brim is also a good protector from the sun! This hat is a bit of a splurge, but you can make your own DIY version by reading this tutorial here. Or buy the hat here.

Eugenia Kim Do Not Disturb Hat. $219.95

2. Tortoise Shell Sunglasses: When packing for a vacation, space is key! There is no room to take 3 different pairs of sunglasses, nor should you try to find room. Tortoise shell sunglasses flatter every outfit, every color you wear. They are a universal accessory that looks good on almost everyone and matches with literally anything you wear. They are the perfect accessory to take on vacation. Get the pair pictured here.

H&M Sunglasses, $12.99

3. Comfortable Sandals: Let's face it, when you're off to go on new adventures in a new place, its going to be hot and you're going to do a lot of walking so you need to perfect shoe that is ventilated and also comfortable. These Birkenstock sandals are both of those things. I used to think they were really manly shoes, but there are a bunch of new colors incorporated now that make them more feminine and stylish. The arch support on them are also great for those touristy days where you'll be walking a lot. Get them here.

Birkenstock Madrid Birko-Flor Sandal, $69.95

4. One Piece Swimsuit: Bikinis are great for laying by the beach and getting a great tan, but if you're going to a place where a lot of swim activities are available, you're going to want a swimsuit that you won't have to worry about falling off or having an accidental, unwanted body exposure. Get your adventure on with the peace of mind a one piece swimsuit gives. And it doesn't have to be a boring, sporty one piece. This swimsuit's scallop detailing gives it a girly look, while still covering the right parts. Get it here.

Everything But Water One Piece High Neck Halter, $319.00

5. Rose Bud Salve Lip Balm: The summer, in general is really hot and it dries out your skin, including the skin on your lips! Being in airplanes also dries them out. So to remedy this, Rose Bud Salve is one of my favorite lip balms that gives your lips a ton of moisture and shine when you want that dewy summer look. Get it here.

Rose Bud Salve, $6.00

6. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen: Don't learn the hard way...take sunscreen from home when you're going on vacation because everywhere else you go will sell it to you for an insane markup! This Neutrogena sunscreen goes on super light, but protects like crazy. It has Helioplex technology, which protects from UVA and UVB rays, is water resistant, and doesn't clog your pores. Find it in stores here.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 70, $11.49

7. Long Kaftain: Kaftains are the perfect thing to wear over your swimsuit to cover up when you're on your way to or leaving the beach or the pool. This H&M kaftain's print is Middle East inspired and so cute. Get it here.

H&M Patterned Kaftain, $34.99

8. Large Tote Bag: When you are on vacation, you are going to want to have a lot of things on hand. A large tote bag carries a lot of items, perfect for the beach. It can even double as a carry on bag, if it is big enough. This striped tote bag from Forever 21 is a large enough bag with a bunch of tiny compartments inside of it as well. Get it here. 

Forever 21 Striped Canvas Bag, $22.90

9. Colorful Luggage Tag: Have you ever mistaken someone's luggage for yours on the carousel because they all look the same? With a bright, unique, and colorful luggage tag, you'll be able to spot your suitcase right away. This bright Kate Spade luggage tag cannot be missed in a sea of suitcases. Get it here. 

Kate Spade Petula Stripe Luggage Tag, $14.00


Happy Summer!!

Holiday Wrap Up.

I wanted to share some of my holiday highlights with you all in hopes that it will inspire you for next year or even for any other holiday throughout the year!

I want to start off with my favorite gifts of the season. These are my top gifts I received this year. They're gifts that are really desirable and make great presents that a lot of girls will love. Valentine's Day is coming up, so these might be good things to keep in mind! Shop the items via links below...

Living Royal Emoji Socks
Martha Stewart's Appetizers Cook Book
Starbucks Los Angeles Ceramic Tumbler
Umbra Prisma Frame
Paper Source Iphone Case
Tory Burch Wristlet 

Next, I want to inspire you all to give baking a try and cultivate holiday flavors into your baked goods. I love making oatmeal walnut cranberry cookies! As you know, I always happily share my recipes, but this recipe is my little holiday secret :X

I loved seeing holiday lights at the LA Zoo this year too. It was very festive and my favorite part was the twinkling LED light canopy above a long, beautiful walkway.

Finally, I hope you all had fun celebrating the beginning of the New Year and I hope this year for everyone that all your pain be champagne!

Thanksgiving.

I love the fall season and one of my favorite parts of it is Thanksgiving. I love everything about it...the food, the family, the Black Friday sales. So this year when Thanksgiving was held at my house, I was so excited and so ready to get into the spirit. 

Usually, my mom makes the entire feast, but this year I offered to make all the side dishes and leave the turkey to her. I hope to one day be able to make a turkey as good as hers, but making the sides was a good start for me. In addition, I went crazy over making the table setting this year and actually prepared for it for weeks in advance. Everyone's Thanksgiving is special and I hope mine can inspire some of you for next year!

So I began preparing the table setting a couple of weeks before the big day...

I made these burlap place settings with burlap ribbon and washable fabric glue. I did it by folding different lengths on a 4 x 22 inch cut of ribbon. See next photo...

On a 22 inch ribbon, fold 2 inches one way, 6 inches the other way, then 5 inches from the side you folded 2 inches from. Glue with washable fabric glue and place a heavy object on it to seal thoroughly.

Then I made the centerpieces using a large cylindrical vase and adding small pumpkins, squash, and walnuts and topping it off with a candle. I wrapped it up in the leftover burlap ribbon from the place settings and a festive bow. 

I wanted keep a rustic undertone to the table so I arranged mason jars as glasses instead of regular cups. And to top off I added paper straws that fit in with the Thanksgiving color scheme. 

The drinks I made for our guests were so yummy. In a pitcher, I just added 4 cups of orange juice to 1 cup of vodka, a few tablespoons of the syrup in maraschino cherry jars, 3 rosemary sprigs, and 2 lemons. 

Appetizers should be kept light so people save room for the Thanksgiving feast! I decided to make a veggie tray shaped like a turkey. Gobble Gobble! 

This was my take on stuffing. To 1.5 pounds of rosemary olive oil bread, I added simmered onions, roasted mushrooms, parsley, sage, thyme, and garlic and I mixed it all with 3 cups of chicken stock and 2 eggs. Baked it at 375 for 30 minutes and voila!

My Brussels Sprouts were a huge hit this year. I halved and  roasted the sprouts in olive oil, salt, and pepper at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. When they came out of the oven, I mixed them with cranberries and walnuts and finally topped it off with crumbled Gorgonzola cheese. The balance of the ingredients can be tailored to your liking! I like the taste of tart cranberries so I added a lot of those. 

Okay guys, this green bean casserole was by far the favorite side dish of the night and I like to attribute it to the fact that I did NOT use canned cream of mushroom soup! Instead I made a Bechamel sauce, which is just 5 tablespoons of melted butter mixed with 4 tablespoons of flour. Add 4 cups of heated milk and season with 2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 a teaspoon of nutmeg. I mixed this sauce with blanched green beans, roasted mushrooms, and French fried onions in a buttered pan. Finally, I topped it with more French fried onions and baked it at 350 for 25 minutes. So delicious!

Sorry (not sorry) that half of these mashed potatoes were eaten before I could get a picture of it, but apparently it was that good. My favorite potatoes to use are red potatoes because the consistency is really thick but still smooth. It's easy to get lumps out with red potatoes, and I like my mashed potatoes without the lumps! You can even leave the skins on, as the skins on red potatoes are actually nutritious and have been said to improve cognitive function. I added 1 cup of warm milk and 4 tablespoons of butter to make it extra soft and creamy.

Not pictured: Cranberry sauce made by adding 1 cup cranberries to 2 cups of boiling water with orange zest in it. The cranberries will burst in the heat to make the sauce!

I finally finished off the meal with a Rose Apple Pie. I wish I could take credit for this recipe, but I got it from acozykitchen.com and it is to die for. It's topped with a bourbon glaze and it's oh so decadent. 

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving this year and that this post served as some inspiration for next year! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!