TRAVEL & Eats
Since last Tuesday, I might have repeated it countless times, but the overwhelming sense of honor and gratitude still lingers within me. Being a part of something truly grand has left an indelible mark. As we delve into this week's "An Outfit and a Glass of Wine," I am dedicating it to one of my all-time favorite opportunities.
I was so obsessed with the True Food Moroccan Chicken dish and without having any prior experience cooking anything Moroccan, I decided to give this a try today since I had similar ingredients.
This literally took less than 10 minutes to prepare and the clean up was ONE PAN (and maybe a plate to season the chicken). I know you will love it!!
Must love olives.
Last week I got to experience the beautiful Arizona Grand Resort located in Tempe, Arizona. I had heard of this iconic hotel since moving to Arizona, but it was one that I never truly got to explore until now.
The Andaz Scottsdale is such a sweet little place. Nestled close to one of Arizona’s most well-known mountains, it has unparalleled views of some of natures best work.
Traveling with a baby can seem like a daunting task, especially as new parents. I’m no expert in this field, but I’ve had several successful trips in the one year that I’ve had my little girl, as well as a couple of failed ones too! I wanted to share what works for us here as well as hopefully instill some confidence for you to travel with your kids as much as possible.
I have been fortunate enough to visit many Ritz-Carlton properties (we got engaged at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe), but this one is easily one of my very favorites. The beautiful surroundings, the amazing amenities and the top-of-line staff just can’t be beat. Of course, there’s a little nostalgia mixed in there too!
When Kevin would retreat here he would be busy pretty much all day. I’d make my way to the beautiful gym or down to the beach. Read a book, snack, stretch… you name it! When he would finish up, we would meet for a sunset cocktail and dinner, then we would head down to the beach to listen to the waves crash in. Those are some of my very favorite memories of the first few years of our relationship.
Mckenna and I decided on the Royal Palms in Phoenix for our little girls staycay. There are so many beautiful resorts in the area, but we especially love Royal Palms because of how beautiful it is. It’s so charming and quaint, it literally feels like you’re in Europe! I honestly forget that I’m still in Arizona, and I really don’t live far from the resort.
Backpacking Havasupai was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I’ll be doing multiple blog posts on the planning of this trip… but I wanted to share some of our photos on a separate thread, here! Please comment with any questions you may have below so I can include that in my post.
Feeding my family nutritious food is a no-brainer. I love teaching Nixon about the healthiest and freshest options when it comes to eating! Heritage Breed eggs by Happy Egg are some of the freshest eggs I've ever tasted! But equally important is the sustainability of our foods. Happy Egg thrives under natural conditions and come from several small family farms throughout Missouri and Arkansas.
T. Cook’s has been the go-to dining destination for more than two decades and Valley foodies have a whole new reason to visit now that Chef Alex Robinson has taken over as executive chef, bringing with him an exciting take on Mediterranean cuisine that combines his California sensibility with French techniques.
At 33, Chef Alex has worked in some of the country’s best five-star resort kitchens including The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, The Ritz-Carlton Chicago; Four Season Resort Jackson Hole, Four Seasons Hotel Denver, Four Seasons Hotel Boston and Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.
Other than the services, this beautiful spa (who recently went through an insane renovation) offers a sauna, steam, hot tub and resting room and obviously the gorgeous rooftop pool I mentioned earlier. I AM OBSESSED with this spa. I am going to be doing a full roundup of Phoenix spas asap, but I can tell you right now, this one is up there!
Napa is one of my favorite places to visit. And depending on what time of year it is, it’s so fun to pack for! I love visiting when the weather is on the warmer side, but not too warm! So, spring and fall end up being the perfect time for me to go. But even in the summer, the nights can be brisk. So I always recommend packing a layer or two. Soft, light and flowy sweaters are perfect for any time of year and can easily be taken off. Even though the weather is cold in the winter, it’s still NAPA and it’s still magical, just remember to pack accordingly.
I’ve put together a little packing guide so that you don’t forget a thing.
Carneros Resort and Spa is hands down, one of my favorite resorts in the valley. It is truly one of the “finer things in life”… the service and staff are incredible, the rooms and beds are luxurious, and mostly importantly, the food and wine are OUTSTANDING. Carneros is home to 100 cottages, suites, and residences. All surrounded by beautiful rolling hills and scenic vineyards.
I love to cook but honestly, I’m just not that great at it. My two worlds collided on this day when one of my very favorite restaurants taught me to cook their signature meal!
Early morning strolls through the grounds of the Andaz are necessary. It’s so peaceful with beautiful 360 views of various mountains and desert terrain, it makes for a tranquil little exercise!
Right down the road from my house is a very relaxing place nestled within Camelback Mountain called Sanctuary Resort. It is truly an experience of a higher level of luxury and glorious renewal… and no doubt lives up to its name, Sanctuary. This beautiful Scottsdale luxury resort begs to you let go and reconnect to yourself. Something I’ve been having trouble finding lately.
We recently had the luxury of staying at Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay and it was such a DREAM. Half Moon Bay is a small city on the California coast and is a total dream for nature lovers. The coastline has lots of paths for hiking and biking and the water is great for surfing and boating.
This past week my little family and I got to spend some time at Hotel Yountville and it was so amazing. We really had the best time exploring the area and spending time together. The hotel is tucked away in in the heart of Napa Valley. We had the most breathtaking views of Wine Country. I mean, we were definitely in the most prime location, we were surrounded by more than 400 wineries. It was so hard to leave.
If you guys have been following along on Instagram then you probably saw that I recently had the most luxurious spa day at Well & Being Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess here in Arizona.
I recently got the chance to be completely pampered at the luxurious Alvadora Spa at Royal Palms Resort and Spa here in Phoenix. Royal Palms is nestled at the base of Arizona's Camelback Mountain, between downtown Scottsdale and the Biltmore corridor, and is only 7 miles from Phoenix International airport.
This past weekend we got to stay at one of our favorite resorts, Kimpton Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona. We love visiting Sedona, especially during this time of year. It was a much needed getaway for our family. We definitely all came back feeling refreshed.
Traveling can be messy and chaotic sometimes, that is why I typically like to have a plan. Not a strict minute by minute schedule, but a vague idea of what I will be doing. Plus it saves time and stress. Some people may only plan on places they want to eat, or stay. Not getting the most out of their travel.
That is why I created a list of categories that everyone should keep in mind when planning their next vacay. This list is not specific to what to do but topics to get anyone started.
During our last trip to San Diego we had the opportunity to stay at Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa and we had the BEST time. We love escaping to cooler temperatures to enjoy some time outside as a family and The Catamaran did not disappoint.
You guys probably already know, but Sedona is one of our favorite weekend trip destinations. It’s so beautiful, the weather is always nicer than it is in Phoenix and there’s lots to do. One of the best parts of visiting Sedona is getting to stay at the Hilton Sedona Bell Rock.
We LOVE vacationing here because it is just the best escape. The resort is so peaceful and relaxing as it’s nestled right in the middle of Sedona’s red rock mountains. Honestly no matter where you are within the resort, the view is spectacular.
Catching a red eye can be your worst nightmare or the best decision ever made. It just depends on how prepared you are. You can’t really control who is sitting next to you, but here are a few things you have complete control over.
My family and I recently had the luxury of staying at Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa in San Diego and it was an absolute DREAM.