Durango, Colorado Winter Holiday Part 1

We live in the great state of Texas, so we do not see a lot of snow, especially during the Holiday season. This year we decided we wanted snow for Christmas and immediately knew where we wanted to go! We have been taking winter vacations since our kids were toddlers and have always loved Durango, Colorado! We have checked out other places over the years, but are always drawn back to the small town charm and gorgeous beauty of this destination. In today’s blog I will be sharing some of the highlights of the Ski Resort and the surrounding area.

We prefer to fly in to Albuquerque and make the three and half hour drive to Durango by car because the views are simply breath taking. (In addition to our love of the Albuquerque landscape). When driving in to Durango, you see the little town literally nestled down at the bottom of the mountains. You can see the entire town from the mountain as you are coming down. It’s a view that you just don’t forget. We always choose to rent a condo at the Purgatory Ski resort , which is located about a 30 minute drive up the other side of the mountain. We normally make two stops in town on our way through before heading up to the ski resort. We stop at the local Walmart (that’s right, there is one and only one!) to stock up on groceries for the condo! The next stop is at the ACE store to pick up a sled! We love having one for the evenings when the slopes close. The kids especially have a lot of fun racing them down the bunny slopes! (which are only feet away from the condo)

Now, on and up the mountain we go to the Purgatory Ski Resort. This resort is a little know gem! They have multiple lifts that run daily (they literally run everyday of the year there is snow!) We use Premier Vacation Rentals to book our condo and they do not disappoint! Our condo was beyond gorgeous! They think of every amenity from dishes, to toiletries, towels, and even fire wood! Below are some of the photos of the specific condo we rented.

The Ski Resort offers ski and snow board lessons for every level. You can get private one on one lessons or have lessons in a group setting. The instructors are extremely knowledgeable and keep it fun. Our kids took private lessons here when they were toddlers and had such a good time! There is a special offer on their website currently for first time snow boarders or first time skiers that purchase a full day lift ticket, to get four hours of group lessons for free! What a great deal! The resort offers bunny slopes at the base of the mountain where the resort is located for those that like to take it easy. There are also lifts that take you all the way up the mountain where they offer runs for every level.  Our kids started out on skis, but as they got older, switched to snowboarding.  For those that enjoy snow boarding , there are several jumps, pipes, etc located at the base of the mountain that the kids and adults too, love to try their skills on!

bunny slope

slope picture

purgatory picture

balcony view durango condo

bunny slope pic2

Some of the other fun activities offered at the resort are the snow coaster, Inferno Mountain (newly added) and the snow tubes! Unlike some of the other, bigger resorts in Colorado, you do not have to reserve a time slot for the snow tubing! You can go and pay for the time and go as many times as you like! The new roller coaster is a blast!!! My son and I road it and I was literally laughing the whole way down out of pure enjoyment! I felt like a kid again! I would highly recommend it for everyone!

snow coaster2

snow coaster

We can’t talk about the resort, without talking food! You will definitely need to refuel while having all this fun! There is a café/bar located at the base of the mountain, Purgy’s. They serve everything from burgers, to chicken strips , etc to keep you full while playing on the mountain. In addition, they have an outdoor bar that is perfect to grab a nice beverage and sit at the base of the mountain and just relax and watch for a spell. I highly recommend the bloody Mary’s! They really warm you right up!

You can also take the lift up, just to eat at the restaurant located up at the top of mountain, Dante’s.  They offer stunning pasta and burgers among other delicious items to refuel you. In addition you get to enjoy the stunning views of the mountain while eating!

backside bistro restaurant exterior

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nestled in the middle of the ski resort are multiple shops to buy souvenirs for your friends, loved ones, and co-workers! There are also a few more eateries, including the amazing Paradise Pizzeria! This is one of our favorite places to eat at the resort!

The other detail I wanted to mention was that we reserve our ski equipment before our trip at a place in town called “The Ski Barn“. We have been using them for 20 plus years and they are the best people! They are super friendly and literally work with you to decide on the best equipment and fit for your ability, comfort and needs. The link to the website is below:

Home

There are live webcams on the website for the Ski Resort, so you can go check them out and get a look at the views of the slopes and the mountain! We have stayed on the property and we have also rented vacation homes off the property in the area, but in our experience it is just so much easier if you intend on skiing or snow boarding to rent a home on property. The lifts are all centrally located to the homes, condos and lodge so you don’t have far to go! In addition to the tons of other activities to enjoy at the resort, this is the best bang for your buck! In my next blog, I will go into further detail about the little town of Durango and all there is to see and do there!

snowman

ski you next time

I would love to hear about your favorite vacation spots, so please feel free to leave comments! Happy travels to you all and much love! xoxo – SheShe

 

 

 

The Journey

The New Year is upon us and with that everyone usually feels pressure to put resolutions out into the universe or set some dynamic goals that you must meet by a certain date or you won’t feel accomplished. After having an eye opening year in 2018, I have chosen to take a new path this path this year in 2019. My motto for the new year is “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey!” In this blog I will explain the meaning behind this motto.

Our lives are broken up into a few different primary categories that we try and juggle on a daily basis: Professional, Family, Financial, Personal, Home and Charity.  In looking at all of these categories together it does seem stressful and often times to be honest, it is down right overwhelming. Let’s try something new this year and take a look at them on an individual basis and examine them from a personal perspective, instead of from the perspective of what you think the world expects from you or what you think you must achieve to make someone else happy.

PROFESSIONAL – Is your job a career or is it just a paycheck? Does it truly make you happy? Are you utilizing your skills where you are currently? Are you being held back by fear of change? No one can answer these questions, except you. There is meaning behind each and everyone. You see, your professional life should not be a punishment or a mundane task that you just “get through” each day. You owe it to yourself to do something that you love because that is when you will truly be successful! You know what your strengths are, what you excel at and what drives you. Put it to purpose.

FAMILY – Do you spend as much time with your family as you wish you could? Your family is the heartbeat of your world. They are your support system. Your vitality. The reason you do everything you do, right? But, my question to you is, do you recognize they are there? Or like most people, you get into a daily routine of just go, go, go everyday. Deadlines to meet, games to make, practices to get to, the list goes on. Are you keeping up appearances for the sake of appearances?  I am here to tell you that you can not get a moment of time back, no, not one. Stop and smell those roses. Listen when your child is telling you that story for the one millionth time and I mean really listen, because that just might be the first time you really hear it! Take more family vacations and live in those moments. Eat breakfast together, take walks after dinner. Value your loved ones while they are here!

FINANCIAL – Are you over extending yourself for the sake of others? Do you have a savings account? Are you comfortable with your financial situation? Do you have financial planning? These are all important questions, well because we all know that it takes money to sustain our daily lives. Your finances should not control your life. They should not be the sole reason you live and breathe.  Is it nice to have money and to be financially stable, well of course, but bottom line is that you can not take it with you when you go. Do not let it control your life to the point that it controls your life. Learn to be responsible in small ways, such as a change jar. It may seem insignificant, but by year end – that could be a bill you could eliminate or a mini get away! Or, if saving is just not for you, look into a 401k that can be automatically taken out of your paycheck and you don’t even have to worry about it!

HOME – This is your safe haven, your place of rest, ultimately your happy place. You should treat your home with the same respect it gives you. When you have a clean , nicely decorated space to live in, you will find it it actually good for your soul. Live in a space that makes you happy. Why would you not? You are literally there everyday! If you do not like that couch, change it. Don’t like the color of the walls, paint them! Don’t be afraid of change. You will be surprised at how much fun it is to change up your surroundings on a regular basis, but also how much better it actually makes you feel.

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PERSONAL- THIS is probably the most important category of ALL because it is solely about you. How do you feel about yourself, your health? Are you happy? How much time do you spend on yourself each day? Each week? Let’s stop here for a moment. I want you to think about something for the next second.

“You only get this one life, this one moment, live in it.”

Now, I want you to take a deep breathe in, let it out and continue doing that from this day forward. CARPE DIEM!. Seize the day. Each day. That doesn’t mean following a schedule or if that is what makes you happy, then schedule on! Is there a challenge you have been putting off because you were to afraid to try? TRY! A Bucket List destination you have been wanting to visit, but didn’t think you deserved to go. GO! A race you have been wanting to run, but didn’t think you had it in you. RUN!

Make it a priority this year to make you a priority. You were not put on this earth to be unhappy. The world is a big, beautiful place, live in it. The happier you are on a personal level, the more successful you will be in every other category in your life. That is a fact.

CHARITY-  This is one of my favorite categories and I hope it becomes one of yours ,if it is not already. Giving back does not always have to be monetary. Giving back can be as simple as kindness. A kind word, a smile, an encouraging note, or just a hug on a bad day.  We should all be putting back goodness into the world on a daily basis.  There are other levels of charity that are beautiful ways of sharing too, such as volunteering at a hospital or a nursing home or even a homeless shelter. Giving of our time is one of the best gifts we can give to one another. It literally does a heart good. If you are struggling with where to find somewhere to give back, go to a local hospital, church or shelter and they can definitely steer you in the right direction.

If volunteering is not for you, that is ok. The next time you clean out your closet, think about those less fortunate and bag up those items and drop them by a clothing drop off location. Or, next time you are at the grocery store, pick up a few extra items and drop them in the donation barrels at the front of the store. These are just a few other simple ways of  putting some goodness back into the world.

The bottom line is you never know just how much your kindness may mean to the person on the receiving end at that exact moment.  Be kind.

This is  New Year, full of new opportunities in each new day. That in and of itself is an exciting thought! My wish for all of you is that you don’t get weighted down with things that are not truly important to you this year. My wish is that you live the life that you are destined to live this year and that you live it to the fullest! I would love to hear about your new year, so please feel free to leave me comments below! Much love to you all – XOXO – SheShe

New Mexico Travel Inspo

As many of you know from my previous blogs, I am a huge fan of traveling to destinations that are off the beaten path. Nature, serenity and gorgeous views are right there at the top of my lists, if at all possible when looking for a place to visit! This Christmas vacay was no different! We scheduled a stay in Durango, CO for the Christmas holiday this year. To make the most of the vacation, we flew into Albuquerque, NM so we could make the drive from there into Durango, CO. It is about a 4 hour drive that is full of gorgeous scenery!

For those of you that have never been to New Mexico in the winter, it is a treat. The landscape is something to behold. We booked our stay at the Hyatt Tamaya Resort and Hotel, which is set a few miles off the main roads. The hotel is literally set back in the middle of the mountains. For starters, they greet you at check in with a home made margarita, that I can attest for, is amazing! They offer several activities such as s’mores, horse rides, golf and a luxury spa to keep everyone in the family pleased. There are two restaurants located on the property as well in case you don’t feel like leaving to eat. Below is the link for the resort:

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-mexico/hyatt-regency-tamaya-resort-and-spa/tamay

7D6EED00-D255-492F-995C-E97DD1D9AB50    03DD8DE5-F0F2-4645-8E40-AEC422334C3C  48406914_2307909059428952_6922017397314420736_n (2)  48391412_2307909126095612_3547390786016378880_n

While you are enjoying your stay and do feel like getting out and about the town, there is a great spot literally right up the road from the resort. The Santa Ana Casino and Hotel is located right up the road from the resort and is a ton of fun. They have a smoking and non-smoking section in the casino and have slots and tables, so there is something for everyone! I have linked the casino site below for you:

https://www.santaanastar.com/

Over 1,500 slots at Santa Ana Star

And now as promised, let’s get to the drive from Albuquerque to Durango, CO. There are several little towns along the drive that are charming in and of themselves, such as Aztec and Bloomfield. All of which are filled with eclectic  spots to stop and take pictures, such as the “B” on the side of the mountain in Bloomfield. The most notable mention is of course the beautiful landscapes. I have included a few of the pictures we were able to get along the route of highway 550.

abq1  abq2  abq3  abq4

I hope you enjoyed the views of New Mexico as much as we did! You will want to stay tuned, as my next travel blog will be a continuation of our Christmas winter vacation in Durango, CO. I would love to hear about your New Mexico travels, so please feel free to drop your comments below. Until next time, safe travels and much love to you all, xoxo – SheShe

 

 

Target Holiday Décor Run

With the holidays quickly approaching, the count down is on to get the decorating completed before they arrive. In years past, I have primarily stuck to only decorating the main living spaces of our home, such as the living room, entry way and formal dining areas. This year, I decided I wanted to branch out and decorate some of the other spaces in our home as well. With that in mind, I am sharing some of my holiday décor finds on one of my Target runs on the blog today.

The “Dollar Spot” at Target is one of my absolute favorite places on the planet and I know I am speaking for many of you as well. Target does such an amazing job of stocking cute goods in this section for each season and today was no exception. I was not disappointed with my holiday finds! Not only did I find some holiday décor , but I also found some great little stocking stuffers (not even on my list)! christmas-bath-balms.jpg

These bath balms with winter themes were just too adorable to pass up and will make great stocking stuffers! These little cuties are only $2.00 each. They have multiple ones to choose from, so I’m sure you will find something they will love! Another great stocking stuffer that I ran across was these Christmas themed sock sets.

christmas socks

And again, they had these sets in multiple color and design combinations, so you are sure to find the perfect set. You could even open the set and split them up for multiple stockings as well. These sets were only $3.00! What an amazing deal!

There were several items in the Dollar spot to keep your little ones busy during the holidays, so you can get your wrapping done, decorating completed and baking in the oven! One of the fun items I found was these “grow your own marbles”.

stocking stuffer

There were multiple different items similar to this one, all with Christmas themes. Some were making ornaments, making little Christmas trees, watching reindeer grow, etc. These will definitely catch their attention and have them busy for hours!

One of my favorite finds (and I almost passed right over them) was these adorable gift card holders. They are knit gift card holders with a zipper closure. In looking at them, you would expect for them to be more expensive in nature because they are quite detailed and absolutely festive in every way! santa giftcard holders

Now, as promised, on to the holiday décor that I mentioned! From signs, plaques, pillows and trees, the dollar spot will satisfy all of those needs! These wooden signs with various Christmas sayings are just too darn cute to pass up and can be used in any room in the house! They are only $3.00 each!

wooden sign2   wooden sign1

Along with these, you can also find wooden word signs of all different colors in Christmas sayings. I chose the “believe” saying, but they had “joy” , and “merry Christmas” as examples of others available.

believe sign

Colorful Christmas trees are always a fun and festive way to decorate any space. Target has you covered with these cute little colorful trees I found on my trip today. They come in varying sizes and colors so you can certainly mix an match to your liking! The plaid tray they are sitting is wooden and those come in multiple style and colors. I also picked one up in glitter red! And the bucket of snow balls! Come on, who does not want an indoor snowball fight (especially in South Texas where we don’t get real snow)?!!!

trees

And last on my Target run, but certainly not least, my bedroom décor. I did find some of the items in the Dollar Spot, such as the accent pillows. These pillows are such a great bargain because they are decorated with different designs on both sides. How awesome is that? If you get tired of the design on one side, you can just flip them over the next day to the other side!

pillows1     pillows3

pillows2pillows4

So I am already a huge fan of the  Threshold Performance Sheets at Target and have been using them for some time. They have the stay in place binding on the side, which I love and also the deep pockets for larger mattresses. I also love that they have the silky, sateen blend! With all of that being said, I chose a solid black set as my base for my holiday décor bedding. I have linked these below for you. The holiday bedding I chose is a red and black Billie plaid, but they also had it in a white a tan pattern as well. It is a sateen and faux mink blend. I chose a large red accent pillow I found on the pillow aisle, where there are a variety of pillows to choose from! The throw is super adorable, a solid black with cute little bubbles at the ends!

https://www.target.com/p/performance-sheet-set-solids-400-thread-count-threshold-153/-/A-51846287?preselect=50068380#lnk=sametab

https://www.target.com/p/3pc-billie-plaid-mink-comforter-set/-/A-53621891?preselect=53620413#lnk=sametab

bedding2

This was one of my favorite Target runs and also one of favorite decorating sessions! It really puts a festive spirit in the house and I plan on doing even more decorating and holiday activities in the near future. I will be sure and share those with you as well. I would love to see and hear about your holiday decorating, so please feel free to drop me a note in the comments and thanks for the read and follow! Much love and happy decorating! xoxo – SheShe

Academy Try On Sesh:Athleisure

There is absolutely nothing better than comfy cozy athleisure wear, who else is feeling me on this? The days of buying athleisure wear for going to the gym or work out wear only, are long gone. In today’s world, it is our go to for travel, running errands, or simply vegging on the couch catching up on your favorite tv shows!

With an upcoming surgery this week and the possibility of spending the night in the hospital, I decided to do a little athleisure shopping today. I wanted something comfy and yet cute, especially since I will be under the weather so to speak. I went to our local Academy, here in Tomball, TX and am sharing my finds in today’s blog.

The first items I tried on were from the Under Armour brand. The pants were a jogger style pant and I am wearing an XS for reference. The top is a sweatshirt , but the band is loose at the bottom and not fitted. I am wearing a size Small in the top because I wanted a looser, oversized fit. ubderarmourgrey1

 

 

 

underarmourgrey2The pants and the sweatshirt are both a super soft cotton material. I would recommend sizing up if you want more of a baggy or oversized fit, as both the pants and sweatshirt have slender fit to them.

This style also comes in multiple colors and I have linked these items here for you :

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/under-armour-womens-synthetic-fleece-jogger-pants#repChildCatid=5446813

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/under-armour-womens-rival-fleece-crew-sweater#repChildCatSku=114637430

The second set of athleisure wear I tried on was from Adidas. It was a cute medium grey and pink set. The pants were a grey jogger style pant with pink branding on them. I am wearing a size XS for reference in the pants. The hooded jacket zips up the length of the front and has pockets. I am also wearing an XS in the jacket, which is also a grey color with pink branding. I would suggest sizing up in the pants and the jacket if you want a looser fit. I am wearing a quarter length sleeve baseball ADIDAS pink tee, also in size XS. The ADIDAS tee runs big (I have it tucked in the front of the pants, but could easily be worn untucked with leggings).

addidaspink1

addidaspink2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Both the jacket and the pants are made out of a thicker cotton blend and are extremely warm and comfy. I believe the pink branding is only available in stores. I have linked these and or similar items here for you:

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/adidas-womens-essentials-linear-full-zip-hoodie#repChildCatSku=111728467

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/adidas-womens-essentials-linear-pant#repChildCatid=4098012

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/adidas-womens-sport-id-baseball-t-shirt#repChildCatSku=115001556

The next athleisure set I tried on was one of my favorites and such a classic in white! The set was another Adidas set. The pants were a white jogger style pant with black stripes down the sides. They, unlike the other sets I tried on, were a looser fit. I am wearing an XS for reference, but they fit more like a Small. The hooded jacket has pockets and a zipper that runs the length of the front. There is black stripes down the sleeves of the jacket as well. Both the jacket and the pants are a heavier cotton /fleece mix and are super soft. I am wearing a size Small Adidas branded rainbow tee underneath the jacket. The tee runs large.

addidaswhite1addidaswhite2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have linked these items here for you:

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/adidas-womens-essentials-cotton-fleece-3-stripes-full-zip-hoodie#repChildCatSku=111799100

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/adidas-womens-essentials-cotton-fleece-3s-pant#repChildCatSku=111774076

 

 

addidaswhite3

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/adidas-womens-sport-id-sweatshirt#repChildCatSku=115712593

Last, but certainly not least, is an oldie, but goodie and also an Adidas brand. The Adidas designed to Move straight Pants, are my  go to athleisure pants of all time! These pants are a staple for an Woman’s closet. They are a loose-fitting straight pant with an elastic waist (for those days you deserve that treat) and pockets. They also have the classic white stripes down the sides, which add a classic look to them. I am wearing a size XS, however I did buy the size Small. I paired it with a classic pull-over Adidas Sweatshirt also in size small.

addidaswhite4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         I have linked these items here for you along with a few similar items:

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/adidas-womens-designed-2-move-straight-pant#repChildCatSku=110090924

addidaswhite5

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/adidas-womens-essentials-3-stripe-fleece-sweatshirt#repChildCatSku=115001960

 

Today was such a fun try on sesh at Academy and I had a hard time choosing between all the great athleisure wear they had to choose from! I ended up getting some great items and can’t wait to be comfy cozy in them later this week and throughout the coming winter season! I would love to hear what your favorite athleisure wear is and see some of your favorite items! Please feel free to share in the comments below! As always, happy shopping and much love to you all – XOXO, SheShe

Versatility in Stripes

Versatility is the biggest bonus you can get when purchasing a piece of clothing. This striped top that I ran across at Diamonds and Rust Boutique in Huntsville, TX , is the perfect example of a versatile WIN!!!! I was super excited to find it in my size as well, being size small.  This will be an item that will get multiple uses through out the seasons! In today’s blog, I am demonstrating just a few of the many ways to style a striped top, such as this one. I will also be linking a few similar tops for you!

The first way I styled this striped top is with a pair of white Kancan distressed cut off shorts. I simply tucked in the front and left the tail untucked for a comfy look. I also wore this out today to run errands and threw a plaid shirt around my waist and it was adorable! I’m wearing a pair of red Converse and a red tassle necklace from Kendra Scott to accessorize. Below are links for the shorts and shoes for you.

Diamonds and Rust Boutique:

https://www.diamondsandrust.net/

Striped Top:

Everyday Beauty Bubble Sleeve

 

Red Converse:

https://www.nike.com/t/converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-nylon-low-top-unisex-shoe-jkJsnc/162412F-682

White Distressed Shorts:

MILLIS – HEVON

 

 

shortsandstripes2         shortsandstripes2

 

I styled the striped top with a pair of high waited kaki pants from Target for a more sophisticated look. The pecan hat I’m wearing to accessorize is from Vici Dolls and I have linked it below for you as well. This would be a great look for work or brunch with the girls!

Pecan hat:

https://www.vicicollection.com/collections/hats/products/pecan-hat?variant=12427223105598

Kakis:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-boyfriend-chino-pants-a-new-day-153/-/A-53171376?preselect=52968659#lnk=sametab

kakis                kakis2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And last, but certainly not least, and definitely one of my favorite looks – I styled this striped top with a velvet skirt from Lulu’s for a classic Fall feel! I accessorized with a plaid blanket scarf also from Diamonds and Rust Boutique and a Captain hat from H&M.  The boots I’m wearing are from Target and I have linked those below for you as well. This would be a great pumpkin patch outfit or a night out with your sweetheart!

Captain Hat:

https://www2.hm.com/en_us/productpage.0633148004.html

Boots:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-lanae-scrunch-boots-universal-thread-153/-/A-53559032?preselect=53510175#lnk=sametab

fallstripes1

fallstripes2

There are so many other ways to style these striped shirts, I have only listed a few in this blog, but hopefully you were able to gain some style inspo from them! As promised, I have listed some links below to some similar style striped shirts for you!

Vici Dolls:

Well Loved Striped Knit Top – Black/Ivory

Well Loved Striped Knit Top - Black/Ivory

Target:

https://www.target.com/p/women-s-striped-long-sleeve-fitted-crew-t-shirt-a-new-day-153/-/A-53720690?preselect=53529797#lnk=sametab

Nordstrom:

 

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/boden-blouson-sleeve-breton-stripe-top/5005783?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FTops&color=ivory%2F%20navy

Blouson Sleeve Breton Stripe Top,                             Main thumbnail 1, color,                             IVORY/ NAVY

 

Striped tops are just one of many versatile pieces that are a must have in your wardrobe, but I hope today’s blog was helpful in shedding some light on the many possibilities available in styling this versatile bonus piece! I would love to hear about how you style your striped pieces, so please feel free to drop me a comment! Much love and style to you all! xoxo  – SheShe

Seattle Travel Spots

We all have “Bucket List Travel Destinations” and one of ours this year was to take a cruise to Alaska. Part of our travel plans included an overnight stay in Seattle, Washington. Now, not knowing a ton about Seattle, I was not overly interested in doing any research on landmarks or travels spots to visit while we were there for the day. Luckily for us, the couple we were traveling with, did know a few things about this extremely interesting city and I am pleased to report that I have some great spots to share with you in todays blog!

For those of you that know anything about me, know that I am a coffee addict (and that is stating it lightly)! More so, I am a Starbucks connoisseur. I have been visiting Starbucks in my travels for just about as long as I can recall! I am sharing this important detail because Seattle just so happens to be the birthplace of Starbucks! The original Starbucks is located right there! I could not have been more excited to see, visit and enjoy this landmark! We actually walked there from our hotel, as it was only a few blocks away in the Market District. The staff there was beyond delightful and courteous in sharing the history of the establishment. I highly recommend this stop, especially if you are a Starbucks Lover!

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sb6  sb1

This is an original beam and the countertops are original wood as well.  They have kept many  of the original pieces used to build the establishment.

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We needed something to eat along with our freshly brewed coffee and what could be better than a freshly baked good? I can’t think of anything! Just a short walk up the street is the Piroshky Bakery. If you can imagine it, you can literally smell the fresh baked aromas all the way down the block coming from this bakery! You know it is a good spot when there is a line out the door. They make all of their pastries fresh daily right there in the bakery and you can actually see from the windows street side. I ordered an apple cinnamon roll twist. It did not disappoint! I could not finish it, but not for lack of trying. As you can see from the photo below, their pastries are an abundant size and just as delicious as they look!

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While in the Market District, we walked through many of the open air shops and I have to say I was amazed. There were fresh fish markets of every kind to be had, from shrimp, to crab, to lobster and more! There were also floral shops of the likes I have never seen before! I told my Hubby if I could have packaged up all the flowers and had them sent home, I totally would! The flowers were absolutely gorgeous and the prizes were nothing short of amazing! We just do not have anything like it back home. I was truly impressed with all of the shops and the quality of the merchandise. I only wish we could have spent more time there! This area is a definite must see and experience when visiting Seattle. As a side note, we did notice a couple of tours going through the Market while we were there, so I do believe that someone offers them there in town.

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After walking the markets, we went down to the famous “gum wall”. I’m sure you are thinking, what? It is exactly what it is called. There is a whole wall that is covered in gum and it is a famous landmark that is world known in Seattle. People from all over the world go to this wall and stick their gum on it, in addition to photos, business cards, poems and letters. It is an extraordinary sight! I had to get pictures! Otherwise, none of you would believe it!

gumwall5         Gumwall1

We decided to visit the Aquarium because we had a little time to spare before boarding our boat. If you have never been to the Aquarium in Seattle, you are definitely in for a treat. For starters, they have a massive aquarium inside where divers put on a live show that includes dancing to music! There are several displays throughout the aquarium that are hands on, which is extremely cool. Being able to interact with aquatic organisms is a unique and learning experience that you won’t likely forget!

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We finished our afternoon in Seattle eating at the Fisherman’s Restaurant. We sat by the window so we have a beautiful view of the harbor. The food was exceptional, as was the service. The serving sizes were well worth the price as well as the ambiance. An added bonus is that the restaurant is on the pier, right beside the large Ferris wheel ride.

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ferriswheel

Seattle was an unexpected surprise to the start of our vacation and I am really glad that we got to experience it. I would definitely like to go back and visit on a separate trip to spend a little bit more time exploring the city. I hope this blog was helpful to anyone that plans on visiting in the near future or that is interested in visiting. I would love to hear about your travels there, so please fell free to comment below with your favorite spots in the city. As always, much love and safe travels! XOXO – Sheshe

Formal Dress Fall Try On Sesh

We are going on a cruise to Alaska in the coming weeks and there are a few Formal dinner nights on the cruise. Not that any girl needs a reason to go try on beautiful dresses, but hey, this was the perfect opportunity for a Formal dress try on session! In today’s blog, I am sharing a few dresses from Nordstrom’s and from Express.

The first dress is a midi crochet dress with a deep V-Line. It is a fitted dress, but does have some stretch in it. It is fully lined, which is a nice detail so you do not have to worry about coverage underneath. The floral detailing on the dress has the slightest hint of glitter, with gorgeous fall hues. This is just a stunning dress all the way around! It would be very flattering at a Christmas dinner or work party! This was part of my dress try on session at Nordstrom. I am wearing size XS for reference.

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This next dress is a wrap style dress, also in a midi length. This dress was fitted at the waist and had a button closure behind the neck. This was a sophisticated dress that would look nice with some simple diamond earrings and necklace. It would be staple dress that you could reuse for multiple dinner parties and or events. The material was a great quality, and opaque, so no worries with undergarments. This dress was also part of the Nordstrom try on sesh. I am wearing size 2 for reference.

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To spice up the try on session a bit, I threw in this next dress for fun. It has some really cute and fun details! It is a midi length , fitted dress, but flares out at the bottom for some added fun! The dress also has some fun chevron details on the bodice that add a slimming detail to it. This would be great to wear to an event where you will be out on the dance floor. Trust me, you will definitely catch everyone’s attention! This dress would look great paired with some bright jewelry and heels for contrast! This dress was part of the Nordstrom try on and I am wearing a size 2 for reference.

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Elegance is an understatement when trying to describe this next dress. This was definitely one of my favorites from the try on session at Nordstrom! This sequin covered beauty has a deep V-neck and a fitted waist. There was no stretch in this dress, which was fine because it is meant to fit just right. It is a midi length dress with a slit in the back. I am wearing a small for reference, but would have actually walked out with it had they had it in the XS! This dress is gorgeous!

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Last, and certainly not least from my Nordstrom try on session, is this black beauty. This dress, while not as formal as the others, was also a favorite of mine. This would also be a great dinner dress staple to keep in your closet. You could use it for so many different occasions and accessorize it in a dozen ways! Not to mention, the price point on this dress was amazing! I am wearing a size 2 for reference.

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The second portion of my formal dress try on session was done at Express. The first dress was a cute, fun and flirty black dress. The dress was fitted through the bodice, but not tight by any means. The top was loose through the bust area, so it would be cute with a sequin bandeau or a flashy necklace. Although this was definitely an adorable dress, I don’t think it was the right dress for a formal dinner.

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A gorgeous blue color to match the starlight is what this next dress is all about! This is a wrap style dress that has a fitted top, empire waist and flowy bottom.  It is both simple and elegant. This was my favorite from my try on session at Express. I am wearing an XS for reference.

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Shopping for special occasions and events is always a ton of fun. You get to step outside of the normal everyday casual and even try some new pieces that you otherwise would never try! I have linked the website for both Nordstrom and Express below for your reference and I would love to hear about your special event shopping in the comments section below! Much love, xoxo – SheShe

https://www.express.com/

https://shop.nordstrom.com/

 

 

 

Fall Free People Try On Sesh

With the ushering in of September, I was extremely excited to get out and do some official Fall shopping! My shopping spot for today’s try on session was Free People. I am obsessed with all of the gorgeous tones and colors that are out this season and Free People did not disappoint! In today’s blog I will be sharing just a few of the many, many great items they have out currently.

One of the colors that is abundantly popular this season is Copper, so I was Super happy when I walked in and immediately spotted this Copper high waist A-line vegan skirt! The pictures really do not even do it justice. This skirt is truly gorgeous and will look amazing with otk boots or with some heels! Now, let’s talk about this Princess V-Neck sweater in the “Jelly” color. This is the softest sweater EVER! And this color is so incredibly beautiful. It reminds me of a bold glass of Malbec wine. It would pair nicely with a pair of jeans and boots also! I can’t wait to style it up! I have linked both items below for you. For reference, I am wearing a size 2 in the skirt and a size XS in the sweater.

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/high-waist-a-line-vegan-skirt/?category=new-bottoms&color=028&quantity=1&type=REGULAR

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/princess-v-neck-sweater/?category=pullovers&color=061&quantity=1&type=REGULAR

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The next big fall item on my list was a sweater dress. I wanted something with some detail, but also simple enough that I could still layer if I wanted. Once again, Free People did not disappoint in this arena either. I found the perfect little sweater dress to transition into Fall with. The Lottie Dress is available in three great shades, all of which can be mix and matched with other fall colors and patterns. In addition, the dress has a cute button detail down the front that adds the perfect amount of interest! I am wearing the size XS for reference and have linked it below for you.

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/lottie-dress/?category=sweater-dresses&color=111&quantity=1&type=REGULAR

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I am always on the hunt for staple black skirts for every season and this Little Daisies Mini Skirt is the perfect one for Fall. The button details will look amazing with booties or with otk boots! It has a hidden snap closure at the top for extra protection, which I love. I paired it with this forever cashmere V-Neck in Rosegold color and a lace bralette. In the other pictures it is paired with a an off the shoulder sweater in an amazing shade of green. I was not able to find the link for this particular sweater on their website but in store they had in this sage color and in a taupe color.  I am wearing size XS in both for reference.

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/little-daises-mini-skirt/?category=skirts&color=001&quantity=1&type=REGULAR

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Last, but certainly not least, is the bodysuit. These are such a great item because they can be layered and or dressed up or worn casual. The one I am wearing below is the beside me long sleeve bodysuit in size XS, but I have linked several others that are also great!

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/beside-me-long-sleeve-bodysuit/?category=tops&color=001&quantity=1&type=REGULAR

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/cozy-up-with-me-bodysuit/?category=tops&color=001

https://www.freepeople.com/shop/zoe-bodysuit/?category=tops&color=001

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This was such a fun shopping trip and I came away with some great Fall pieces. I hope this try on sesh was helpful to those of you that are on the hunt for some new pieces for your Fall wardrobe as well! I would love to hear about your Fall finds as well so please feel free to comment below and as always much love! xoxo – SheShe

Express Try On Sesh: Business Wear

Not that any of us fashionistas ever “need” another reason to go shopping, but I have an upcoming trip for work this week, so I decided to go to the best place I know to do a try on sesh for some new work apparel, EXPRESS!

Express always has great styles for any occasion, but I especially love their business wear. I am 5’2 and 115lbs, so I find it difficult to find business wear in petite sizes, but am always able to find items that fit me perfect at Express. They actually offer a petite line there, which I sincerely appreciate!

Today’s try on sesh did not disappoint! I tried on multiple different items of varying styles, but all were in pants. For this particular trip, I wanted to be comfortable, yet still professional. In addition, I was looking for items that I could take from office meetings to dinner meetings with vary little effort.

EXPRESS1    This was the first pants suit  that I tried on. It had vertical navy, white and maroon stripes. The zipper was in the back and was hidden which was a nice touch and it has a sash belt included for effect. The pants suit is a great quality and beautiful colors, but it was just not a seller for me. I still felt like it made me appear short in stature, which is exactly the opposite of what I am looking for in a dress pant. I am wearing the size 2, but probably would have sized down to the 0 as the 2 was still considerably roomy.  I can’t find it on the website, so it may only be an in store item.

 

 

I really like these pink linen pants. They were similar to the paper bag style that is really popular right now but not quite as extreme. They are slightly a bit more subtle with the bunching at the top. The fabric is a gorgeous shade of pink, however it is a bit transparent and they are not lined. You would absolutely need to wear nude undergarments with these pants. EXPRESS2  This Downtown Cami Tank is of course one of my all time favorite styles from Express. It is a flowy tank and I am wearing an XS for reference. I have this tank in multiple colors already and I love how versatile it is. You can wear it with dress pants, a skirt or dress it casual with denim cut offs or jeans for date night! The tanks are also on sale right now for buy one and get one for 50% off!  I chose not to go with the pink linen pants, mainly because I am now buying transition pieces for fall and these would not get much use between now and then. Wish I would have come across them in the Spring, for sure! The pants can be found at the link below:

https://www.express.com/clothing/women/high-waisted-linen-blend-sash-waist-ankle-pant/pro/07459801/color/SOFT%20PINK

The tank can be found at the link below:

https://www.express.com/clothing/women/downtown-cami/pro/08633346/color/SOFT%20IVORY

 

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This Piped Hudson tank was full of detail and that is what caught my attention. It has faux pockets with a working zipper in the front. The back has a pleated detail that makes it look very stylish un-tucked as well as tucked in. It came in fall colors which is another reason I was drawn to it as well. It would great with a leather jacket and jeans. Also pictured here is another example of the down town cami tank in a beautiful burgundy color with black flowers, paired with the black linen pants. These black linen pants were the same style as the pink ones mentioned above. They are a light weight, unlined pant. They are a cute style, however I was looking for a thicker style dress pant. These would be a great staple to have in your closet though. The Piped Hudson tank can be found at the link below:

https://www.express.com/clothing/women/piped-hudson-tank/pro/06283421/color/THORNBERRY

 

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This is a WINNER! This pants suit is amazing. I LOVE every detail about it. I am wearing a size 0 for reference. It has a zipper closure in the back. The front has a v neck with a tiny bit of sheer black mesh in the v neck. They are an empire waist with a wide leg. The pants suit also has working pockets. I love this suit because you can easily add a belt, jacket, cardi or blazer to completely change the look. This is a must have piece for your closet! I paired it with cut out heels that are also from Express and I linked those below as well:

Black Cut Out Heels:

https://www.express.com/womens-clothing/shoes-boots/heels/cat1920045

Mesh Black Jump Suit:

https://www.express.com/clothing/women/mesh-v-neck-wide-leg-jumpsuit/pro/07921586/color/PITCH%20BLACK

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This is one of the outfits I chose to keep as well. These are the Low Rise Columnist Ankle Skinny pants. I am wearing size 2 for reference. These pants are fully lined and are an amazing quality! They hit me right at the ankle, which is perfect for my short stature. Another great plus is that the dress pants are buy one, get one 50% of right now! What an amazing deal! The link for these pants is below. This top is probably one of my favorite finds today! I can not locate it on the website, so it may be in store only currently. It comes in several colors, but this Thornberry was my favorite. It is such a soft and flowy material and will be great for layering!

Low Rise Columnist Ankle Skinny Pant:

https://www.express.com/clothing/women/low-rise-columnist-ankle-pant/pro/07459410/color/PITCH%20BLACK

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Last, but definitely not least, this was another outfit I walked out with today to add to my work wardrobe. This is the Downtown Cami in pink and these are the Mid Rise Columnist Pants in black. I am wearing an xs in the cami and a 2 in the pants for reference. These hit just a little lower and are a tad more slimming than the Low Rise Ankle Skinny, so I believe they give the appearance of being taller (or that’s my story)! I have listed the pants below for you:

https://www.express.com/clothing/women/mid-rise-skinny-columnist-pant/pro/07479559/color/FOUNDATION

 

This was such a fun session today and I walked away with some great deals. I hope I was able to share some helpful finds with you as well. I would love to see and hear about where you shop for business wear. Please feel free to comment below and happy shopping! xoxo – SheShe