Holiday Travel Essentials

Image via Free People

If you are anything like me, you are just starting to gear up for the holidays. And if you aren’t, well, I admire and envy you. Regardless of how prepared you are, the holidays - especially holiday travel - can catch you off guard, causing undue stress and taking focus away from being present with your loved ones. 

So in the name of holiday spirit, I thought I’d share how I try to prepare for travels. After all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear eliminating stress.

My Holiday Travel Essentials:

1. Hand cream: Airplanes, cold weather and OCD hand washing (stay away, germs) all wreak havoc on my hands. My current favorite is this small batch one by Camille Beckman that is made sustainably in small batches.
2. Healthy snack bars: I have the hardest time eating in airports and on the go, so I stash up on go raw bars and elemental superfood bars (both available at Whole Foods). Tip: the spirulina ones pack extra protein.
3. Host gifts: Mulling spices from Williams-Sonoma or Bulleit whiskey for hot toddies (pick up some mini bottles if you're flying).
4. Sequins: The holidays aren’t complete without them.
5. Serial: The new podcast by the creators of This American Life makes long car rides go by in a flash. But Serial debates can get heated, so maybe don’t bring it up over Christmas dinner.
6. My husband’s portable iPhone charger: What’s his is mine, right?
7. Tide to go: This isn’t just a holiday essential. I carry one in my purse and one in my car at all times, because I’ve learned the hard way that if something can be spilled, it will be spilled. Usually, on my white blouse.
8. RelayRides: I just discovered this peer to peer car rental service. Rent your car airbnb-style while you're away for a little extra holiday cash, or rent one at the airport to save money and avoid ridiculously long waits at a rental counter. Added bonus: the sharing industry is the greener way to go.

Whether you are staying close or traveling this holiday, I wish you and yours the merriest. xox.

San Diego City Guide

Last week, I wrote a City Guide to San Diego for Darling Magazine. Darling curates great content, and their City Guide series reads like recommendations from your best friends. So it was such a pleasure to share what San Diego has to offer and why I've fallen in love with this city. Granted, it's not hard to do, and there's a reason it's one of the top tourist destinations in the country. But in living here for almost a decade (!!), I've found that San Diego has much to offer beyond the well known attractions, and I'm not holding back in spilling the dirt on all of its gems. Check out the full post over at Darling Magazine!

Also, aren't these photos by Gantes Co. to die for? Book your ticket now, friends. You won't be sorry.

Rainy Day Links

In San Diego, we're experiencing this little-known phenomenon called weather this weekend. It's so rare for us to have a stormy day, much less an entire stormy weekend. I'm really appreciating the occasion to pause and hibernate for a few days. But before I sign off, I wanted to share a round up of what I've been reading this week...

A recipe for a hot ginger toddy that I'm planning on making later today, when I'm snuggled up on the couch with a good book.

Why I'm working on adding more fermented foods to my diet. Recipe coming soon for kimchi brussels sprouts.

This minimalist, library-themed hotel in Thailand that I can't stop day dreaming about.

Homemade, healthier nutella. Yes, please.

My girl Michelle Obama announced this week that food labels are getting a makeover, with more realistic serving sizes, prominent calorie counts and an added sugars column.

Have you heard of laughter yoga?

Cute, printable Oscar party ballots.

Have a great weekend, friends!

Photograph: Greg Kandel for Vogue Italia, November 2007 

Walking With Giants

When we were planning our trip to Thailand, I couldn’t stop talking about elephants. Who isn’t fascinated by elephants? They are majestic and beautiful in a strange and prehistoric way. And you get to ride them in Thailand. My inner five year old was freaking out.

As I started doing research, I learned that the process of domesticating elephants for work and tourism is inhumane. The parks had mixed reviews, and some travelers were disturbed while riding the elephants, as the mahouts were brutally jabbing them with sharp hooks to get them to perform.

I just knew we just couldn’t support those places with our time and money. Luckily, I found the Elephant Nature Park and booked it immediately.

The center is beautiful and inspiring. Their founder, Lek, is a Thai woman on a mission to rescue abused elephants and to educate her country about humane training methods. She’s now has rescued 35 elephants and 400 dogs. (I’m not kidding. Four hundred. Animal Hoarders would have a field day.)

All of the elephants have disturbing stories and scars: some had broken legs from being forced to beg in the streets of Bangkok, others had mangled feet from stepping on mines while logging in Burma, and several were blinded from being forced to work.

At the center, they are rehabilitated in their natural habitat, and you can visit for a day or stay up to two weeks. We opted for the day, and learned how to be a mahout, which involved feeding them, hanging with them, and bathing them in the river. It’s hard to describe in words what it was like to interact with these guys up close. It was exhilarating, and a little terrifying, and nothing short of incredible.

No riding elephants, but I couldn’t have asked for anything more. If you're interested, you can support the park here.

Bali Packing List

Husband & I are currently exploring Thailand and we're off to Bali tomorrow for some serious R&R. I've always been fascinated with Bali, and I can't wait to visit. My parents vacationed there when I was 11 months old and its actually a pretty incredible story. They were 30-something somewhat-newlyweds, living in Colorado with a house and a new baby (#yourstruly) and great jobs and all the skiing they could ever want, but they had a strong desire to live in and travel around South East Asia. My dad put in for a transfer, they sold their house, and moved to Malaysia... with a baby. I've always admired them for it, but now I'm approaching my 30s, I'm beginning to understand their  adventurous spirit and courage in choosing life experiences over comfort and security. Its a piece of my family history that I treasure, and I like to think its where my love for travel was born.

I've always wished I could remember living in Malaysia and traveling to Bali with them. While this trip is nothing like moving my entire life, I'm still beyond excited to go and make new memories. And of course, blog the heck out of it to share with all of you.

With that, these are my packing essentials for Bali (and really, any summer trip):

• Tiny, Beautiful Things: A collection of advice columns from the online columnist Dear Sugar. My dear friend Lindsay recommended this book to me & I'm devouring it. Its beautiful, honest, heartfelt and inspiring.
• Life's Operating Manual: Tom Shadyac's book, structured as a dialogue between Truth and Fear, is so packed with wisdom that I'm reading it again. Its an incredible conversation starter and I'm looking forward to discussing it with husband over long dinners in Bali's jungles & beaches.
• Farm City: My thoughtful friend Amy gave me this book about a year ago. I'm a little ashamed its taken me this long to start it, but I can't wait to not be able to put it down.
• My nifty fifty lens to try to capture some of the best moments, a head lamp packed by husband for night adventuring, and of course, our tickets.
• Sunscreen & a floppy straw hat: to practice safe sun exposure, because I plan on getting a lot of sun.
• Warby sunglasses: I'll defer my love for Warby to another time, but check them out. They're stylish and cost effective.
• My most lightweight lululemon yoga pants (similar): I can't wait to wear these while doing my sun salutations at The Yoga Barn.
• Cute tote: that's easy to pack, great for day trips, and has a sweet message (hold on to something good & don't let go).

And of course I had to do a tiny bit of shopping before the trip. My best finds were:

• A new JCrew suit: in this adorable floral pattern. I die.
• These perfect summer sandals: from Hallelu.

What are you planning for your summer adventures, and what's on your must-pack list?

New York Recap

Hi friends! I'm sorry I've been so absent on the blog lately. I've been traveling a little, working a lot, and getting sick in between.

Anyway, I wanted to share some pics from my NYC trip. We stayed in Brooklyn, which is my new favorite place. It's NYC sans crowds, with the most charming neighborhoods and farm-to-table food. Perfection. We ate a lot, shopped flea markets and found heaven at an all-food market called Smorgasburg.

We only left for Broadway, and Newsies was the ultimate dream. If you get to the big apple soon, you MUST see it. I was geeking out like no one's business, and now I'm scheming up an excuse to get out and see it again. And get back to Brooklyn. Here are some of my insta pics:

The crew.

Best Coffee in Brooklyn.

Charming Brooklyn brownstone.

Ted & Honey for brunch.

Times Square.

Carrying the Banner.

Ange & I at Evita. Channeling my inner Eva Peron with sequins & red lips.

Delicious Colombian food at Smorgasburg.

Farm-to-popsicle pops at Smorgasburg. The strawberry rhubarb was divine.

Posing with our People's Pops.

Brooklyn treats: Mast Brothers Chocolate, candy colored rock sugar & Spoonable chili caramel.

Ending the weekend with a {delicious} bourbon & champagne drink.