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CALIFORNIA, PREGNANCY & BABY, TRAVEL

California Babymoon: Palm Springs + Joshua Tree

July 17, 2018
HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon

Our second stop on our babymoon we made our way inland to Palm Springs. Palm Springs has lots to do but its also a great place to simply relax by the pool at your hotel or house rental. We love to explore and be very active on our trips but this time around we wanted to make sure we had plenty of relaxing down time as we know our lives are going to get quite hectic in the months to come.

We stayed at the lovely Holiday House, which was newly renovated just last year. This hotel ticked all the boxes for us: stylish design, a large pool perfect for relaxing, delicious food, central location and very reasonable pricing.

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Fresh watermelon juice served all day long—a pregnant woman’s dream come true!

SHOP THE LOOK

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Super cozy lounge areas around the pool, perfect for doing nothing but relaxing with a cold drink and a good book.HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Original architecture by Herbert W. BurnsHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Really lovely rooms decorated down to the detail casting you straight away into holiday mode.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Lots of original artwork all around the property including works from John Baldassari, David Hockney, Roy Liechtenstein, Herb Ritts, Alex Katz and Mr. Brainwash.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Yesssss. The glorious pool (image credit)HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Hubs doing some very important reading :) + a poolside “bucket of veggie” from The Pantry. We also had the fish tacos, burger, chicken salad and chips and guacamole—all excellent.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Driving around the city admiring all the mid century modern homes, and in particular this little famous gem known for its pink door.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Spent an afternoon at the Palm Springs Yacht Club at The Parker getting massages and enjoying the indoor pool. So many cool bits and bobs around the property, definitely worth a visit if you aren’t staying here to see the beautiful decor. Grab brunch at Norma’s or a drink at Mister Parker’s.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Lovely indoor pool for use while visiting the spaHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Date night with my hubs + our little bambina. Heading out to dinner at Birba, an Italian restaurant with a lovely outdoor patio space.

Dress | Realisation Par

Bag | MangoHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon

Joshua Tree

We made our way to Joshua Tree early morning to beat the heat and found the temps to be more than manageable until around mid day, which was the perfect time to head back to our hotel’s pool. The drive from Palm Springs takes about an hour and is well worth it if you’re interested in seeing an otherworldly desert atmosphere of crazy muppet-like trees, huge rocks, and tons of cacti. There are two entrances easily accessed from Palm Springs, the West entrance and the South entrance. The West entrance is nearer to some of the main landmarks in the park so we entered through the West and drove all the way to exit at the South before heading back.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Crazy amazing “Joshua” treesHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon SHOP THE LOOK

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^And of course the must stop fast food when in California :) No trip is complete with a little In-N-Out

WHERE TO STAY:

Holiday House: Originally designed in 1951 by Herbert W. Burns and redone in 2017 by designer Mark D. Sykes, Holiday House has everything you need: delightfully decorated property and rooms, large pool with lovely lounge areas as well as a bocce ball court, complimentary bikes for use, delicious fresh food at The Pantry restaurant, and a central location right off the main strip.

Korakia Pensione: Romantic Mediterranean style resort with individually unique rooms as well as a pool, spa, yoga, complimentary bikes, fire pit, and outdoor movies played at night.

The Amado: Stylish rental home with five rooms accommodating a large family or group, or with the option to rent rooms individually for singles or couples. Large pool, fire pit, and BBQ.

The Parker: Exceptionally stylish hotel with expansive grounds including a large outdoor pool, spa with indoor pool, several restaurants and bars, fitness room, tennis court, Pétanque, croquet, yoga, and bikes.

WHERE TO EAT:

Workshop: A 2015 James Beard Award winner for best restaurant design, the interior isn’t the only thing Workshop is well known for. Featuring a seasonally driven menu focusing on fresh ingredients from local farms, as well as a killer cocktail and wine menu. A must visit in Palm Springs.

Birba: Beautiful outdoor dining and a menu filled with Italian favorites like pizza, meatballs, fresh made pasta and salads.

Farm: Garden-like patio seating with a menu inspired by the south of France.

Cheeky’s: Breakfast served all day as well as lunch options until 2pm. No reservations.

Norma’s: Brightly colored, cheerful atmosphere located at The Parker hotel, with a big menu featuring breakfast all day.

TO DO:

Relax at your hotel or house

Palm Springs is the perfect low key place to simply relax. So while there is lots to do, make sure and set some time aside to do all of nothing but sit by the pool and sip on cold drinks with a good book or your favorite music.

Vintage Shopping

Tons of good vintage shops in the city for designer finds and beyond including The Frippery and The Fine Art of Design.

Architecture Tour

Known for the Mid Century Modern architecture, you can take guided tours of the city or put together your own and drive yourself.

Spa Day

Pamper yourself with a day at one of the many spas including Palm Springs Yacht Club, the spa at Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage, and La Quinta Spa.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The world’s largest rotating tramcar will take you over 1.5 miles up along the cliffs of Chino Canyon and into the pristine wilderness of the mountain top. Once at the top, enjoy two restaurants, observation decks, natural history museum, two documentary theaters, gift shop and over 50 miles of hiking trails.

Day trip to Joshua Tree

About an hours drive from the city, spend a few hours or more exploring the crazy other-planet like environment at Joshua Tree National Park.

Photography: Images shot using the Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 R LM OIS Lens and the Fujinon XF35mmF1.4 R Lens, as well as the iPhone 6s.

 

CALIFORNIA, PREGNANCY & BABY, TRAVEL

California Babymoon: Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Malibu + Laguna Beach

July 17, 2018
HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon

Baby girl is only a few months from making her grand entrance, but we know as soon as she arrives, time to ourselves will essentially be non-existent. So as a last ditch effort to have one more trip just the two of us, we planned a little babymoon getaway to southern California. A few years ago we had a great time in Central California and this felt like the perfect time to make our way south to enjoy an easy going vacation. We began our trip in Venice Beach, a really cute LA neighborhood centrally located and a perfect base for exploring the surrounding areas.

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^First stop was a delicious lunch at Gjelina. Located on Abbot Kenney, one of the main streets occupying Venice Beach, which is also lined with lots of other great restaurants and cute shops.HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Tucked back amongst the homes in the area, you’ll find a series of canals in homage to the famous ones located in Venice, Italy. It’s a great place to take an evening walk before dinner to admire the water-front houses, watch the ducks swim by, and view the sunset over the canals.HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonSHOP THE LOOK

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^breakfast at Gjusta, a more casual sister restaurant to Gjelina with a focus on baked goods: pastries, fresh bread, pizza…as well as breakfast dishes, smoothies, fresh juices, coffee and sandwiches.  There’s a really great patio out back as well + a spot on curated homes goods store next door if you’re looking for something with that southern California bohemian vibe.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Great way to get around the neighborhood: Scooters….only a dollar a mile when you download the app. ^^Can’t get enough of the plants and flowers everywhere. I guess that’s what perfect year-round weather will do.^^Spent a day at Venice and Santa Monica beaches relaxing and getting some much needed sun. Santa Monica is about a 1.5 mile walk up the beach from Venice. ^^Route 66 begins in Chicago and ends at the Santa Monica Pier. The Pier is full of lots of rides, games and your typical carnival type foods but it would be a great (although busy) place to take kids or just to check out if you have some extra time. The view from the very end of the pier is really nice. HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonSHOP THE LOOK

California_babymoon_Goop California_babymoon_Goop California_babymoon_Goop California_babymoon_Goop^^Indulging in a little shopping at Brentwood County Mart. We stopped in Goop, Doen and Poppy Store and had lunch at Farmshop. Really cute area with a great selection of boutique shops in a nice outdoor setting.

MALIBU

We spent a day in Malibu, about a 30 min drive north up the PCH from Venice Beach. I really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and the less crowded beaches. We arrived early and found easy parking right off Surfrider beach by the pier. We grabbed breakfast at Farm Cafe (at the end of the pier – counter service), set up on the beach for the morning, then grabbed a late lunch back at Farm Restaurant (at the front of the pier – sit down service). After a couple more hours enjoying Surfrider beach, we made our way up the coast to El Matador beach and spent some time there. On the way back we drove up through the hills into Calabasas and back down to Venice Beach, which made for a nice scenic detour. It was definitely one of my favorite days from the trip.

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Finding this dress from Faithfull the Brand I purchased last year to be quite useful this summer over the baby bump. HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Farm Cafe—how breakfast should look every dayHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^settled in—happy camper anytime I’m set up on a beach for the dayHANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonSHOP THE LOOK

HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Cauliflower crust pizza from Farm Restaurant—delicious! HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^El Matador Beach – really beautiful atmosphere with big rocks and little coves to hang out in.

LAGUNA BEACH

Our final stop of the trip after spending a few days inland in Palm Springs, was to visit our family in Laguna Beach. The vibe is really laid back in Laguna so it was the perfect place to end our trip. We had a great time visiting the various beaches in the area and hanging out with our cousins and their adorable kiddos. Made for some great practice for the years to come :)HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Anita Street at Laguna BeachHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^Crystal Cove BeachHANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon^^Sandcastle time :) Crystal Cove is really family friendly with lots of space for kiddos to run around, dig in the sand, + a couple nice restaurant options. You can also rent condos right on the beach if you are really looking for a beachfront experience.HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon ^^San Clemente—about 20 mins south of Laguna. A really quaint little Spanish inspired town with a nice beach, beautiful pier and lots of cute restaurants and shops.HANNAH SHELBY: California BabymoonHANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon HANNAH SHELBY: California Babymoon

WHERE TO STAY:

Venice Beach/Santa Monica:

Airbnb / Palihouse Santa Monica / Shutters on the Beach

Malibu:

The Surfrider / Native

Laguna Beach:

The Ranch at Laguna Beach / 14 WEST / Surf and Sand Resort

WHERE TO EAT:

Venice Beach:

GjelinaGjusta / Felix / Rose Cafe

Malibu:

Malibu Farm Restaurant + Cafe / Nobu / Neptune’s Net

Laguna Beach:

Rothschild’s / Nick’s / Oak / Shake Shack at Crystal Cove

Part two of our Babymoon in Palm Springs: HERE

Photography: Images shot using the Fujifilm X-T2 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 18-55mm F2.8-4.0 R LM OIS Lens and the Fujinon XF35mmF1.4 R Lens, as well as the iPhone 6s.

NEW ORLEANS, TRAVEL, FASHION

Winter in New Orleans | February 2018

March 12, 2018
HANNAH SHELBY: Snapshots from New Orleans

February has always felt like the month where I’m really beginning to lose my patience for winter. The holidays are long gone, and it feels like eternity since 90% of my skin has seen the light of day. While not always possible, one of the best ways to remedy this lack of seasonal enthusiasm is to pack up and head for a warmer climate. We did just that in early February with a trip to New Orleans, and it made for a nice little break from the Chicago winter. The 60 degree temps didn’t quiet call for swimwear and cutoffs, but still a big improvement from the frigid Windy City.

New Orleans is without a doubt one of the most fun and unique cities in the states, with beautiful architecture, delicious cuisine and a celebration all its own: Marti Gras. And while I’m not exactly a Bourbon Street kind of girl, it was fun to be in the city during this holiday season. Seeing all the decorations, partaking in a little parade action, and of course indulging in some beloved King Cake made for an entirely different vibe than previous trips to The Big Easy.

HANNAH SHELBY: Snapshots from New OrleansHANNAH SHELBY: Snapshots from New OrleansHANNAH SHELBY: Snapshots from New Orleans Continue Reading…

MEXICO, TULUM, TRAVEL, FASHION

Snapshots from Tulum | October 2017

January 24, 2018
HANNAH SHELBY: Snapshots from Tulum 2017

Our time was short and sweet on our third trip to Tulum, with only a couple days in paradise before heading to Merida for our friends wedding. But if you ask me, any amount of time in Tulum is well worth it. Our previous two trips took place in March and April, considered as the “high season” compared to the slower pace of October. With the ever growing popularity of Tulum, this was a nice change and kept things very relaxing. There’s just something about this little town that pulls you in. The thought and creativity put into each boutique hotel, restaurant and shop—combined with the pure natural beauty of the place—make it irresistible.

We stayed at the unassuming but very charming Playa Canek, located at km 7.5 within easy walking distance to some of our favorite spots: Sanara, La Zebra, Gitano, Casa Banana and Hartwood.

HANNAH SHELBY: Snapshots from Tulum 2017HANNAH SHELBY: Snapshots from Tulum 2017HANNAH SHELBY: Snapshots from Tulum 2017

This time around we spent a day eating and lounging around Nomade. You can’t beat the perfectly laid-back vibe of the beachside restaurant—sitting on pillows and Persian rugs at low to the ground tables right on the sand. Plus, the food feels light and healthy and the drinks perfectly refreshing, so you don’t feel so bad eating and drinking all day long. The whole place has such a cool community feel, with lots of beach beds and hammocks scattered about. It was a great way to spend a day and Nomade is definitely on our short list for places to stay next time we visit.

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MEXICO, TRAVEL, FASHION

Mérida, Mexico | The Gem of the Yucatán

January 18, 2018
HANNAH SHELBY: Merida Mexico Travel Guide

My love affair with Mexico runs deep. The more I visit this beautiful country, the more that love grows. In October we had the chance to return to Mexico with a short stop in Tulum followed by a few days in the colonial city of Mérida. This trip was centered around our friends wedding celebration at Hacienda Sac Chich, located 40 mins outside the city, and was the perfect opportunity to visit this buzzy city that’s long been on my bucketlist.

Mérida, the capitol city of the Yucatán, is artsy with European-influenced colonial architecture and a lively food scene. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Mérida was said to house more millionaires than any other place in the world. Today, it has become a popular refuge for the modern day creative class looking for an inexpensive place to call home—and its easy to see why. The architecture around the city still echoes the past’s glitz and glamour. And the real estate is extremely inexpensive—we’re talking what would be million dollar homes back in the states for $200,000. I imagine if you had time to sink into the city and explore all the lesser known bits, you would really uncover that allure. A bit of grit, a bit of free-spirited bohemia, and a bit of enchantment all wrapped into one.

With so many beautiful homes and boutique hotels, choosing a place to stay can be tough. We landed on the modern Casa del Limonero, a two bedroom home with soaring ceilings and a unique layout complete with an outdoor courtyard + pool. Casa del Limonero is located in the Santiago neighborhood, within close proximity to some of the cities best restaurants and parks.

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