Merry (almost) Christmas to you all! While I am currently away embracing the snow showers and the holiday twinkle of Sun Valley, Idaho, I am concurrently welcoming my first guest blogger on Sunshine Daydream! Jessica of Thread and Bones is here to share some seriously beautiful and unique December outfit Inspiration. I hope you enjoy her stunning pieces and are having a terrific finish to 2014!
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Today I am continuing my travels to Sun Valley, Idaho for snowboarding, ice skating, hot chocolate (it just tastes better there!) and some quality time around a crackling fire and warm, cozy restaurants like The Pioneer in this simple mountain town. Between the nightly snow showers, bright shooting stars and endless picturesque beauty, a trip here always leaves me feeling refreshed as I am surrounded by the sparkling holiday lights that flicker along the quaint, snowy streets. This will be my third trip here and I can't wait!
Our final stop on our seven day Mexico cruise was a place I've always wanted to go, but never had the opportunity to. This stunning place known as Puerto Vallarta definitely exceeded my already high expectations. The moment our ship arrived, I had a sense of fulfilled wanderlust. We booked an excursion for this day, so I was antsy to explore and witness what this beautiful city had to offer!
After two days at sea and a beautiful day in Cabo San Lucas, our ship was headed to Mazatlan to see a whole place on our journey. Before we arrived in Mazatlan, we had the joy of witnessing a large gray whale off in the distance while cruising the Pacific! It was such a cool and magical experience to see the whale's migration for winter. As we arrived in Mazatlan with zero expectations of how this town would be, we got off the ship to explore, shop at local vendors, grab an authentic meal and see what Mazatlan was all about.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I departed the city to Long Beach to travel the beautiful open seas of the Pacific Ocean to Mexico on a seven day cruise. It was my first time cruisin' and was even more enjoyable than I expected! After setting into our small cabin, we quickly explored the ship and found the 'Serenity Lounge' which consisted of lounge chairs, hammocks, pods, jacuzzi and a pool made of filtered sea water...how cool is that? The best part about Serenity Lounge was the mere fact that it was ages 21 and older only. This gave us peace and serenity all while having a relaxing but fun time without the families and kids that were also on the cruise. The first two days were the ''fun days at sea'', which meant poolside by day and comedy shows, dinner and drinks by night. It was such a fun time on the ship, but of course we were eager to arrive at our first destination, Cabo San Lucas to see the rock structure at the tip of the Baja peninsula, indulge in authentic food and see a beautiful sunset along the sandy shores and warm ocean water.
Oh what a lovely month it is! Between holiday shopping, cocktail parties and perhaps even a little down time, I am absolutely loving all of my Beridan Naturals botanical apothecary products so much so that I wanted to share my favorite items from this handmade company based out of Maryland. Owner Katie Brooks began Beridan (meaning "surround" in Old English) in 2011 when she opened her first Etsy Shop and has been growing ever sense. With bath products, face care, healing salves and more, Katie has incorporated the idea of being in "consonance with nature rather than against it" by basing Beridan Naturals off this philosophy. It shows through her scented perfumes, body butters, lip tints, bath salts, oils and more all wrapped up in eco-packaging.
Well, today marks the day! It has been over six years since I've had the opportunity to embrace the culture, scenery and daily siestas that we San Franciscans simply don't get to indulge in. Today I will be flying to Southern California to set sail and cruise down to the stunning towns and warm waters of Mexico. Stopping at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, I am thrilled to capture the beauty of the sparkling waters, relax in the golden sand and eat authentic meals daily. I'm crossing my fingers 1 week is long enough! These photographs were taken by me with film during August of 2008 in Cabo San Lucas. I couldn't help but share these photographs, I love the dreamy scenery and turquoise ocean (yes, these are without filters, I don't think Instagram was around back then, was it?) On our first day, We will be adventuring to Los Arcos surrounding the romantic Lover's Beach in Cabo San Lucas. Here we will float in the ocean, sun bathe under the famous Golden Arch and head back into the town via glass bottom boat for a beach side dinner. The next day we will explore the historic town and culture of Mazatlan. I think soaking up the sun while watching the famous cliff divers here will be a great way to spend the day (plus a little shopping, of course!) You can bet a lot of ocean swimming. photographing and smiles will be happening here. I've never been to this Mexican city, so it should be an exciting time to do some exploring! Our next adventure will land us in picturesque Puerto Vallarta where we will be taking a private boat to the the #4 most private island in the world, Los Caletas. Here, we will snorkel, kayak, stand up paddle board, dine on fresh Mexican food while being surrounded by colorful parrots and maybe even some monkeys all before a nice siesta in the hammocks that are set up along the water of the island. We happen to be gone during Thanksgiving, so we may be eating a non-tradition dinner consisting of fish tacos and a corona (I don't mind!) I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving with friends and family and take time to enjoy the holiday. Travel along with me on my Mexico adventure by following Sunshine Daydream on Instagram and Twitter. Don't forget to enter my giveaway here and let me know if you have any must do activities in any of these cities! Happy Thanksgiving from Mexico <3
Happy Thursday to you all! Today I am shining floral, colorful light on Graydon Clinical Luxury By Nature. This newly discovered brand has such a interesting mixture of ingredients in their skincare line including Broccoli Oil and Berry Seed Oil that make Graydon's line of products super unique! Follow my recommendations, learn a little more about Graydon and enter to win my giveaway below!
Visit Pier Park for a more touristy feel and bright colors, drive the scenic 30A highway through Seaside, Florida, play a round of golf, visit the lush conservation park, embrace the vibrant orange sun as it dips into the wavy waters to create a golden glow, or simply relax on the warm, white sand to the sound of soft waves along the pier. Presented to you here, my photographic diary of my time spent in Panama City Beach, Florida.
During the month of November, we think and talk about tradition. What it means, how it came to be and how new traditions are formed. Giving thanks, following family recipes and being surrounded by good cheer and family is the core of the Thanksgiving holiday. Although hectic, this special time of the season allows you to catch up with life even though it seems to be the most fast paced time of the year. The time when you must prepare for the new year and new resolutions, it can be a lot of pressure. During this time, I love to incorporate new recipes while keeping the old ones alive and well. I came across A Kitchen Box, a company curated by two women and their love for cooking and creating based out of Oregon. This company offers a great variety of hand selected, themed boxes (including a subscription plan) that will keep your cooking creative with inspired recipes and all tools to boost your confidence in the kitchen. They even include a pre-stamped card to send to a loved one in each kitchen box...talk about snail mail inspiration! I happened to snag the last Thankful Box, but don't worry...they have over 12 other great boxes to choose from! Beside their perfectly designed website, they also offer an active blog with seasonal recipes to keep your taste buds satisfied. Here is what popped up on my doorstep in their perfectly balanced, artfully created Thankful Box (minus the pumpkins and candles) ...
Wow, what nice weather we are having here in the bay area! Just kidding (sorta) because I personally always loved the rain. The calm and collect sound it makes is so refreshing as it calms your soul. For days like this, there is no where else to go for brunch or dinner. Be prepared to wait, and then wait some more for a (not so secret) stellar meal at this Outer Sunset neighborhood gem. Here you will find locals crowding around the amazing architecture and simplistic design of Outerlands. On this particular day, I indulged in lemon ginger apple cider, cast-iron grilled cheese (if you think your at home grilled cheese is good, think again--this is what a real grilled cheese tastes like) paired with mushroom, squash and kale soup. Their small but mighty menu will leave you torn on what exactly to order, so I always encourage sharing!
Atlanta is quite the diverse city full of history, a vibrant booming art scene and of course, shopping and restaurants galore. Due to family ties all throughout Georgia, I have frequented Atlanta a great number of times throughout my young life. Most recently I got to experience autumn in Atlanta and must say, it was gorgeous. I've visited during extreme heat and humidity of the summer months and have visited during the frigid, snow covered streets of the winter months. Trust me on this one, Autumn is lovely. Seeing the leaves change colors along the backroads and side streets of The Peach State is something we just don't see in California.
I've spent the better half of this year doing a lot of reflection on health. Not only on what goes inside, but what goes on the outside. I can admit, I still have certain products in my bathroom that are not 100% natural, but for the most part I have made a complete switch to everything being either certified organic or botanical based. With that being said, I've had a lot of experience trying new brands and new products, and one of those is Sonoma County's very own Rosemira. Learn more about owner Mira and how established her company, browse even more of her skincare line and learn all about the ingredients used in the Rosemira line here.
My southern travels a few weeks back led me to the extravagant and pastel colored scenic highway wrapping along the Gulf of Mexico through Seaside, Florida. This beach town is located between stunning Panama City Beach and Destin. From enormous mansions home to several celebrities, to rows of airstream food trucks, ocean bluffs and gorgeous blue and green hued water, this drive could be comparable to California's Highway One. Subtract the roaring cliffs and substitute long stretches of bright white sand and you've got quite the highway.
By now, you probably already know that I am a lover of all things handmade and try to shop local when possible. It must have to do with the San Francisco way of living. By supporting small business and local artists, this city can continue to thrive. What you may not know is that I am have and always will love Etsy, an online market place dedicated to creative souls selling a great variety of items. This is where Handmade Habitat was discovered and when the lovely Amina sent me her November candle subscription service.
Good ol' Haight Ashbury, where no day is the same and it's far from predictable. The Upper Haight has an interesting dynamic to it from cutesy vintage shops to older dive bars. Simply put, this area is iconic San Francisco Summer Of Love meshing with the ever changing small boutiques and restaurants of the now. It's history can still be seen today, you just gotta look a little harder to find it. After living on Haight Street for a little less than a year, I have cultivated a guide for an enjoyable day on this wild stretch of land called the Haight from a locals perspective...
Fall is always an exciting time for me. It's full of adventure, busy schedules, gatherings of both friends and family and daylight savings time. This season allows you the opportunity to participate in the traditions of the past while creating new ones at the same time. This past weekend, I ventured through the vast countryside of Marin County to Nicasio, a small town 11 miles from Point Reyes Station on search for the perfect pumpkin. We arrived upon a large area dedicated to squash, hay rides, Cinderella style pumpkins, smiling children and a big blue sky all set on a full functioning farm.
After quite the ten day vacation to both Florida and Georgia, I am back and ready to introduce a skincare brand that got me through a trip that provided more than one type of weather and a variety of conditions. From hot air to wet, rainy moisture filled air with warm southern rainstorms, I couldn't have been any happier that I brought along my simple, yet effective products from Brooklyn based organic skincare, Skinny Skinny. Clara, the founder of the company was so generous to send me a great variety of popular items from her shop. Clara created her line to ensure the items be skinny of unnecessary filler ingredients, and from that Skinny Skinny was born!
We've all been there, just a little shy of unsatisfied with the normal, bland cocktail mixers overloaded with sugar and unnatural flavoring. Today, I am introducing Owl's Brew cocktail mixers. Based out fabulous New York City, the two ladies behind this company have completely re-imagined craft cocktail making. Owl's Brew currently offers three very different mixers: The Classic, Coco-Lada, and Pink & Black. All three can be mixed with any type of alcohol, including beer and wine to complement your personal taste. The Coco-lada is sweet and spicy, Pink & Black features a blend of hibiscus and darjeeling and The Classic is combination of English Breakfast tea and lemon blend. Not only are the flavors unique and full of flavor, they are also hydrating which can provide peace of mind if you decide to stray from just one round.
For the next 10 days I will be vacationing on the white sand beaches of Panama City Beach, Florida and attending a country style wedding in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. Check back in a few weeks for new travel guides and more!
Down in the southern states, weather is often a combination of humidity, high temperatures, and sudden southern rain storms that seem to come out of no where. After a summer of fog (thank you San Francisco) I am off to catch some rays in the sunshine state. Yes, I am heading to Florida for the fluffy white sand, colorful cottages and palms swaying slowly in the salty air. The best part is I'm packing a suitcase full of bright colors, sandals, sheer materials and my camera in hand. Here is what I am bringing along with me to Florida.
The more and more I read about the chemicals and synthetic ingredients in the large majority of skincare products, the more and more I realize that making natural decisions about what goes on my body is just as important as what goes in it. Today I am spotlighting a wonderful Seattle based botanical skincare company that I recently fell in love with. The sustainably crafted products are seriously amazing and don't even get me started on their branding. Could their website and simplistic design be any more perfect? As the fall air becomes more dry and the harshness of winter wind is on the horizon, I especially appreciate a good skincare routine during these times.
Warm days, windy nights and a golden glow cast over the sky as the sun passes the torch to the moon earlier in the evening. Yes, autumn is here and for many, this means retreating inside the home a little more than usual. The change of seasons for me is always a time to switch around the decor and overall vibe of my home. From cozy candles, to interesting shapes and colors of autumn harvest and pumpkins and cinnamon galore, now is your chance to give your home a new feeling.
The final Sunday of September was spend soaking in all that is the outer sunset. From long lines at all the must stop restaurants to neighbors lazing around in casual clothes and flip flops, 48th Avenue and Judah is the center meeting place in this close knit community.
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