The holidays are officially over.. (sigh). While it’s always sad to say goodbye to the holiday season, it is nice to escape the craziness and get back to a normal routine.
This year for the holidays, my family and I went to Palm Beach right after Christmas and through New Years. It was an absolute blast ! Growing up, I had always gone to Palm Beach with my family so I was familiar with the area, but this time I loved it more than ever! Check out my favorite places to go below.
Where we stayed:
This trip, we stayed in a condo at the PGA Club in Palm Beach Gardens with my grandparents. We went to the hotel a couple times and the hotel wasn’t my favorite, but it wasn’t awful. One day at the pool, the entire pool was swarmed by birds to the point it was very uncomfortable. While this wasn’t the resorts fault, the service when this happen was very disappointing and we no longer went to the club.
Other than that, the location was great and overall it was a nice place to stay. If I were to do it again though, I would stay at the Four Seasons, Breakers, or the Eau.
Shop:
Worth Avenue is a must. From cute restaurants to high end shopping and department stores, you cannot go to Palm Beach and not visit Worth Avenue. Some of my favorites include Intermix, Nemain Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Palm Beach Gardens Mall is a great mall to go to, especially when the weather is not so ideal in Palm Beach. The Gardens Mall has so many stores like Lululemon, Anthropologie, Athleta, Apple, Bloomingdales, Express, Forever 21, H&M, Madewell, Michael Kors, Nordstrom, Pacsun, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tory Burch, and so much more !
Workout:
Okay so by far one of the best parts of the trip was that there was a SoulCycle pop-up in Palm Beach exactly while we were there! The pop-up was SO cute and fun, it was sponsored by Smart Water and the decorations as well as apparel were so cute. The classes were so popular, that they waitlisted every class. The instructors I went to were Conor, Eve, and Amanda. I would highly recommend all of them!
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Other than that I tried Orange Theory in Palm Beach Gardens. I like Orange Theory, but this studio was nothing special and I like Barry’s Bootcamp a lot more.
Eat:
One of my favorite restaurants of all time now. This Italian restaurant hidden in an alley off Worth Avenue is so adorable you feel like you are in Italy ! The food is also to die for. Definitely request to sit outside !
This restaurant has been on Worth Avenue for forever. The atmosphere is super fun and the food is really good too ! Definitely recommend for lunch, brunch, dinner, or just drinks.
This restaurant is right off of Worth Avenue on the ocean and is super cute! The food is good, the only down fall is that it is an amazing location, however the only way you can see outside is through a few windows.
First of all, the store is four floors of absolutely amazing decorations and furniture. This brand new store in the middle of Palm Beach takes up an entire block and is actually extraordinary. On the top floor, there is a rooftop cafe that is amazing. While they don’t take reservations and there will likely be a wait, it is worth it to walk around and see the store.
While a lot of the Breakers is only for members and guests, the Seafood bar is open to all and is so fun ! With an amazing view of the ocean and great food, I definitely recommend.
This restaurant in Juno Beach has been one of my family’s long time favorites. The seafood is so fresh and the atmosphere is super fun due to it being small, local, old, casual, and fun.
This restaurant by the pool and right on the beach is so cute and the food is so good ! We came here straight from the airport and it was by far one of my favorite places we ate.
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Celis Juice Bar: This juice bar was in the same plaza as SoulCycle and was seriously so cute ! Along with carrying kombucha, healthy snacks, health cookies, smoothies, acai bowls, and so much more, all their produce is so delicious and organic. We came here almost everyday after SoulCycle. One day the whole family even came to get acai bowls for lunch!
FIRST, I am going to talk about my favorite coffee shop, Alfred’s Coffee + Kitchen ! Seriously, I don’t think I can imagine LA without Alfred’s and I crave it every single day. Since I started at USC and moved downtown, it is a bit of a hike to get there but I still go as often as possible. My favorite things to order there are the iced Matcha Latte with almond milk, The iced Chai Tea Latte with almond milk, a plain black coffee, a vanilla latte, or their kombucha on tap. Honestly, all their drinks all are so amazing you can’t go wrong.
With multiple locations, each location has different food options and certain drink options everyday which is so fun. One of my favorite shops in the Alfred’s in the Alley on Melrose, I love their bagels and sandwiches you exclusively order at this location. The one on Melrose place is also a total sight to see as it is in one of the most popular areas in West Hollywood and is oh so adorable.
check out their locations and hours here !
Along with going to Lollapalooza though, I cannot tell you how much fun I had in Chicago ! Being pretty close to my home town Louisville, Chicago is a city I have visited many times in the past. Each time I go there, I find so many new and fun aspects of the city and I have an even better time than before. This trip, with rewardStyle being there and with all the people in town, the city was more energized than I had ever seen it before. Today, I am so excited to share with you what I wore, where I ate, where I worked out, and everything in-between !
WHAT I WORE:
This week I was so excited to be sponsored by Tobi to wear their pieces to Lollapalooza ! The pieces looked amazing and I was so excited to rock them. Check out some pictures below and watch my latest YouTube video to see more outfits, shop them, see them all more closely, and hear about why I love each piece so much !
And of course, the Liketoknow.it wall was a must stop at Perry’s Stage ! I mean how could you not with these “instagramable” colors?!
On one of the days, it was so cold I couldn’t help but wear my leather jacket. This Chicago Bulls bodysuit from Topshop was perfect to wear under it since I was in Chicago..duh 
… and because it was so cute and comfortable ! At music festivals, jerseys are very popular looks and this is figure flattering, hip, and unique while still having the jersey effect !
Shop this look HERE
BEAUTY
When you’re in Chicago, if you have an event, you have to stop by DreamDry!! As many of you may know, I love DreamDry. When I stopped there for New York Fashion Week (see post here) , I absolutely fell in love. I know when I am on vacation, time efficiency is key. I get so busy that I have to make sure I carve some time out to get work done and getting my hair done is the perfect way to multitask. I just bring my computer to the studio, get my hair done, and it’s a win-win ! I get my work done and my hair looks awesome ! The Lincoln Park neighborhood where DreamDry is located is so cute and fun, it’s definitely worth checking out !
While I was there, I got the braided space buns and curls look Drybar has in collaboration with Oribe ! It was so cute and fun, I loved it for the festival !
WHERE WE ATE
The Hampton Social
Okay seriously, this place is so cute ! When you first walk in, there is a huge lit up green wall saying “Rose All Day”; all the tables are white painted wood; the walls are windows which open when it’s nice out; and the whole place makes you feel like you are at the beach ! Not to mention the food was so good. I got the cobb salad and loved it ! This was definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I highly recommend !
Three Arts Cafe
Located inside Restoration hardware..this cafe is a must. It’s so beautiful your jaw literally drops! They do not take reservations and usually have a wait, so be prepared..but know it is worth it.
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True Food Kitchen
True Food is a chain in several big cities, but I ADORE it! Whenever I go anywhere that has one..I have to stop there. It’s super casual and all their food is organic and so yummy and fresh. Some of my favorites are the burger, the turkey burger, the grain bowl, the johnny cakes, and make sure you get the crudités to for the table to start !
WHERE TO WORK OUT:
Barry’s Bootcamp:
There is no secret that I love Barry’s Bootcamp. I love running and think strength training is so important, so I am a firm believer in this workout ! During Barry’s, you will switch back and forth from the treadmill, where you will be walking, jogging, and sprinting for various intervals on different inclines, and the floor where you will be doing weight and strength training work ! Out of all the workouts I do, I think Barry’s is definitely the most effective because the intervals cause your body to burn calories all day, you get your cardio, you build some muscle, and you can do it all in one hour ! This workout will surely test your abilities and you will undoubtedly leave stronger from it.
SoulCycle:
Oh do I love SoulCycle…In case you didn’t know, you can read this post to find all the reasons why I love SoulCycle so much..but in Chicago I went to Anthony, Brent, and Kirsten’s classes. Each one was amazing in it’s own way! My favorite’s were definitely Brent and Anthony. The energy was amazing in each of their classes and it is clear that the regular riders know what they are doing !
Where to Shop..DUH!
Michigan Avenue is a must. I love the Topshop, Zara, The WaterTower place is amazing with Free People, Cusp by Nemain Marcus, Forever 21, and so much more ! The Ralph Lauren is beautiful there too so definitely make sure to stop inside. Since I was here for Lollapalooza, I did not get to do as much shopping as I would have liked but Michigan Avenue is always a good choice !
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN CHICAGO? HAVE YOU TRIED ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES MENTIONED? Comment below and let me know ! I’d love to hear from you !
Having never been to the event before, I had no idea what to expect. I wasn’t sure what to wear since this weekend the weather was so hot and the sun was so strong, but I scrummaged through my closet and luckily pulled together some awesome looks. Usually for events like this, I would order something new and special but since I didn’t know I was going to be in town until last minute and I didn’t know what the weather would be like, I had to improvise and do some shopping in my own closet !
Day 1:
The first day, I wore one of my crop tops from Zaful and my favorite denim skirt from Topshop. Since this outfit was pretty simple, I styled it with my brand new Blue DIFF sunglasses! As all my followers know, I am obsessed with DIFF and wear their sunnies everywhere. I have so many pairs! I also wore some classic black gladiators from Forever 21, but with the sand and dirt on the ground I am not sure if will recover..at least they were a super reasonable price and were awesome while they lasted !
Day 2:
Today was soo hot and I was in a huge hurry to get ready, so I borrowed a cute, casual, boho looking dress from my sister and it was perfect ! It was so comfortable, flowy, and perfect for the heat and some dancing.
Day 3:
Finally for the last day I was so excited for my outfit from Tobi ! Tobi is one of my favorite stores and this top was awesome for the event. It was lightweight, comfortable, and not to mention so cute!!
Top (Tobi) // Skirt (Topshop) // Shoes (Sole Society)
In the end, Forecastle was so fun ! For anyone looking at going, know that it was hot, a little dirty, and definitely tiring, but I would for sure do it again and am already looking forward to my next music festival in Chicago in two weeks !! Shop my looks above and some more of my favorite festival pieces below now !
But to wrap it all up…I thought I would do a bit of a Derby round up with a summary of the most important, insider fashion tips (which was also featured in Kentucky Living Magazine!! Ahh!)! See below my essential Derby tips for both women, and men!
Let’s talk Derby!
The Kentucky Derby is beyond unique and special for its place on the sporting calendar.
The Churchill Downs tradition is also one of the most fashionable sporting events in the world. Derby is your chance to sport the brightest spring colors and patterns with the best accessories you can find to celebrate the most exciting two minutes of sports. Men and women both have endless options to wear to the track for three days of festivities and excitement. From May 5th-7th, guests can attend Thurby, Oaks, or Derby providing plenty of opportunity to release your inner southern-side!
Derby weekend is a great excuse for men to get as into their outfits as women do. The traditional mens style for Derby is strutting spring’s tropical or pastel colors, either solid or patterned, stripes, plaid, seersucker or even a common navy blazer; anything goes! When picking your jacket, shirt, pants, and bowtie, or tie, remember, more is better. Choose complimentary colors and patterns to make a statement, with absolutely no judgement. Finish off your outfit with your favorite loafers and if you’re really feeling the Derby spirit, add a fedora or bowler hat!
Women… when are we not concerned about our outfits? Many times I find myself thinking my outfit is too bright or “too much,” but at Derby, none of those concerns apply. No matter where you are sitting, sport your brightest colors or patterns to the infield, the Turf Club, or maybe even a box with an amazing hat or fascinator.
Derby is known for the one-of-a-kind accessories, so often times I like to go with a simpler dress and really amp up my jewelry and hat. Many ask whether to pick a hat or dress first. In my opinion, I believe whichever you find and can’t live without, buy it and then worry about whatever you are missing later!
With the amazing local boutiques and local hat designers Louisville has to offer, you can stop in any of them and are sure to find a dress in a multitude of patterns and colors, or local hat designers ready to create a custom piece for you. With Derby on everyone’s minds, there is no shortage of people trying to help you complete your look. In recent years, fascinators have become just as popular as hats. Fascinators are always fun to wear and this is your chance. Derby and Oaks are two days of the year where you can wear whatever you please on your head and make it look absolutely fabulous.
Derby insider tip… find a neutral, fabulous headpiece or dress, and then go all out on the other.
Another Derby insider tip, dress appropriately. Derby is a fun, but long day so make sure you are comfortable in what you are wearing. No one likes a clingy dress that is going to ride up all day, a dress you truly can’t breathe in, a headpiece that won’t stay on, or something that will bother you to no end. There is a time and place for these uncomfortably (but fabulous) pieces but in my opinion, the track is not it. Make sure you bring flip flops, sunglasses, lipstick, gum/mints, a small handbag, and enough cash to make some sporting wagers on the ponies! That’s what Derby is all about, right?
Thanks for reading and make sure to check out more on my blog, snapped by gracie! Have a fun, fabulous Derby weekend and win big. I know you’ll look amazing!
Now time to look at some inspiration! Check out some of my favorite Derby looks and don’t forget to shop all my favorite pieces for Derby (& spring in general) at the bottom of this post!! Happy Derby !
This year I am so honored to have been featured in Garden & Gun again for the 50 Of Our Favorite Derby Hats !! This piece is definitely a favorite of mine that I got from the local boutique, Circe, years ago. It’s such a classic, I wear it over and over again!
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We arrived in Paris after about an easy two hour flight from Rome. We were able to have another beautiful morning in Rome before hoping on a plane after lunch and arriving in Paris before dinner ! The drive from the airport to our hotel was about an hour with traffic, but driving and seeing the city was an activity in itself.
Where we stayed..
In Paris, we stayed in the West-End Hotel due to a recommendation from a friend. When we first arrived at our hotel, we were shocked there was no where to pull up and there was no one outside, but we knew it was a boutique hotel and was small so it was fine! The location was awesome as we were right in the heart of Champ Elyees and we could not have been more excited to be in Paris!
When we got to our room, it was definitely a smoking room when we were guaranteed nonsmoking room..however, they were very nice and updated us to a bigger room to make up for it. Our new room was a little out-dated, but the bathroom was very updated and since we weren’t in the room too much, it was honestly just what we needed.
The hotel room did not have a workout room, however many don’t in Paris, and they did have complimentary breakfast however the breakfast only provided fruit, croissants, and nuts.
Exercise..
Our first morning we decided to go to a spin class that I had seen mentioned in an article by Vogue earlier this year. Since the hotel didn’t have a gym, Dynamo was the perfect solution and was so much more fun than my regular workout in the hotel workout room!
Before we went, I have to admit even I was pretty nervous. Not because of the workout, but because I was in a foreign country, knew no french, I didn’t know it they would speak english, if they would be nice, or anything ! The first class was free though, so we thought we’d try it. We had nothing to lose !
When we got to the studio we were pleasantly surprised almost everyone spoke English, and spoke it well ! They could not have been more friendly to us and helped us with absolutely anything we needed. The studio provides shoes every class and water is free your first class.
During class, the tempo is directly correlated to the beat of the music very much like SoulCycle. This made the class very easy for my mom and I to follow along even though we didn’t know a word they were saying ! The class involved tap backs, push ups, movement of positions, and changes in positions very similarly to classes in America.
We loved class so much we went back every single day we were there! Each instructor was just as good as the next and we loved experiencing the moves from each of their classes. We went to Tilly, John, Clotilde, and Jeremie.
Where We Ate…
Four Seasons: Our first night there, we were not too familiar with the area yet but we were right across from the Four Seasons, which is always fabulous and very reliable, so we enjoyed drinks in the garden at the Four Seasons and then dinner in their dining room! The entire hotel and especially garden was so beautiful, and it was definitely the perfect welcome to Paris!! Their french food was very good and the atmosphere was even better.
Laduree: Seriously, how could you go to Paris and not go to Ladurees?! With locations all around the world, Ladurees is known for having the best macaroons, tea, and treats. We enjoyed afternoon tea here with macaroons and trust me, they are not overrated. This is definitely a must when in Paris !
L’Avenue: Definitely one of my favorite restaurants from the whole trip! L’avenue was across the street from our hotel and in the heart of absolutely everything ! The street in which L’avenue is located is practically like the Rodeo Drive of Paris with the most fabulous high end shopping and this restaurant has the most beautiful outdoor patio and windows as all the walls. The atmosphere was magnificent and the food was to die for as well. When you first sit down, they bring a bowl of nuts and olives and a basket of the freshest baguettes before the main course. My mom and I both ordered the grilled chicken, which was a very large but very thin breast grilled perfectly, and I got the green beans on the side while she got fresh fries! We both could not have been happier with our meal. L’avenue is great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It was crowded for every meal, every day!
Hotel Plaza Athenee: The Dorchester Collection hotels have always been my favorites ! So obviously we were going to stop in the one in Paris and it was surely did not disappoint. This was definitely my favorite lunch the whole trip and wish it was somewhere I could go more often. We ate on the patio outside the hotel, which is also on the same beautiful street L’Avenue is on, and it was the perfect, casual lunch spot on a beautiful Paris day. When the brought us the menu, I was so excited to see the McCarthy Salad from the Beverly Hills Hotel (my favorite salad there) was featured on the menu!! Obviously I ordered it and have to admit I think it was better than the one in California. The Hotel Plaza Athenee has many restaurants to choose from and is fabulous for breakfast, lunch, drinks, or dinner!
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Carette: Super cute for pastries, tea, or lunch right by the Eiffel tower with an amazing view!
Cafe De Flore: Adorable cafe for brunch, lunch, tea, or pastries ! My mom and I sat here after dinner at Ralph Lauren for some tea before heading back to the hotel. The atmosphere is so adorable here and the shopping around this area is adorable ! In the heart of the Saint Germain area of Paris, this cafe is also the perfect place for afternoon tea after some fun, walking, and shopping.
Angelina’s: Another awesome cafe for tea, coffee, pastries, or if you go to their tea room you can get breakfast, brunch, or lunch! We ate breakfast at the tea room on the last morning and it was the perfect way to end our stay in Paris. The food and atmosphere were amazing!
Sights To See..
In Paris, we did not do much sight seeing at all because I think we definitely got our fair share in Rome..and in Paris the monuments are much larger and are not as much things you ‘tour’. While there , we definitely made sure to see the Arc de Triumph, The Louve, and The Eiffel Tower. However, we skipped out on the Palace of Versailles because I had heard horror stories about the crowds!
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Shop above outfit HERE!
Most of the sight seeing in Paris is very quick though and is a great picture opportunity, so one thing we enjoyed was we took a photo tour where a professional photographer took us around and snapped some awesome pictures ! Some of the poses he put us in were definitely a little awkward and he only took us to a few sights, but it was definitely worth it and so much fun!!
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Shop outfit above using the links below !
Another activity I loved was we walked along the path next to the Seine River. The path is amazing and really let’s you see all the beautiful bridges, plants, and greenery.
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Shop outfit here!
Shopping..
Honestly, the shopping in Paris is amazing on every street and the fashion is indescribable ! Plus, every European brand (Zara, Topshop, Chloe, Hermes, YSL, Chanel…) is dramatically cheaper in Europe ! We definitely shopped til we dropped. My favorite shopping while we were there was on Avenue Montaigne, which was like the Rodeo Drive of Paris! This street had Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chloe, YSL, Celine, and just about every other iconic fashion brand we all dream about. Another street that we loved was on Rue de Sevres around the Zara, Hermes, and a huge department store with just about every brand and item you could imagine! Finally, Galeries Lafayette is absolutely amazing and has just about everything you could imagine with the most beautiful architecture !!
We felt compelled to get matching boots..
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Hello everyone!! Sorry it has been a while since you have heard from me..if you follow along on instagram (@gracieparish) and snapchat (gracieparish), you will know that I have been traveling around Europe for the past two weeks !! With spotty internet in Europe and some maintenance going on to Snapped by Gracie’s website, I have not been able to blog for a bit longer than usual but was sure to keep you all up to date through social media!!
The Flight:
To start my trip off in Europe, my mom and I flew into Rome, Italy! This was my first time to Europe and I could not have been more excited. We took the red-eye flight from Cincinnati to New York and then straight to Rome; while a long flight like that is never easy, I slept most of the way which made it a little less painful! Plus after my trip to Asia last summer, this flight felt like nothing!
From New York to Rome was 11 hours and we flew with Delta. Luckily, we did not have any issues with our flight (Delta was short-staffed this past week and canceled tons of flights so we were definitely grateful), and the food they served was surprisingly really good! While I usually plan ahead and pack food while traveling, Delta had many options this time and I just got a grilled chicken breast with vegetables, hummus, and fruit! They also had a bunch of really good movies that had not been released from theaters yet; I finally got to watch La La Land and loved it !
The Hotel:
When we arrived in Rome, we were beyond jet-lagged. We landed at 10am and with about 4ish hours of rough sleep on the flight but we could not have been more excited to be there! After landing we immediately hopped in a cab to drive about 30 minutes into the city of Rome and to our hotel, the Boscolo Excedra! The Boscolo Excedra is a Marriott owned hotel and was absolutely amazing. From the moment we stepped in the lobby we knew we were in love. The marble decor, the chandeliers, the friendly staff, everything was perfect! Unfortunately our room wasn’t ready yet, but the staff was very helpful and got us in our room around 1pm instead of 4pm, when it was supposed to be ready!
The entire time we stayed in Rome we could not have been more pleased with the hotel, the amenities, the staff, and just about everything else. While our room was pretty small, it was perfect since just my mom and I were traveling and we did not spend much time in the room. The bathroom was very large and beautiful (with perfect lighting for makeup, hair, and all other glam ) and the bed was very comfortable. The concierge helped us make reservations at some of the hippest places, including restaurants, sights, and tours, and they could not have been nicer. Every morning I worked out in the work out room and ate the hotel’s complimentary breakfast. While the workout room was very small, they had a nice treadmill and a rack full of weights suiting my workout perfectly! The included breakfast buffet every morning was amazing and had a selection of all sorts of typical breakfast foods from around the world along with a menu to order omelettes and such! INSIDER TIP: Breakfast only comes included in Superior rooms though ($30 more per night than the Deluxe room) and breakfast is $25 a person if you have a deluxe room, so if you think you are going to enjoy the breakfast and have more than one person, it is actually cheaper to upgrade your room!
Where We Ate:
Street Cafes: In Rome, a couple times we ate at some cute cafes along the streets. After walking around and exploring for hours, we would lose track of time and find ourselves very hungry. Cute cafes were everywhere along the streets and were all very similar, we would just pick the cutest one, read the menu, and enjoy! They all ended up being very good and perfect so we could sit down and enjoy a nice Italian meal before hitting the streets again and continue shopping or sight seeing.
Food Tour: While we didn’t have time on this trip, many people have recommended and suggest doing food tours! In Rome, I know you can take a food tour and enjoy a variety of Pizzas while exploring the city before making your own authentic, Italian pizza! This is honestly something I am dying to try next time I visit Rome and know many people who have recommended. See more information here!
Zuma: If you have ever been to or heard of the Japanese restaurant Zuma, then I highly suggest visiting their location in Rome! Located on top of the Fendi Store and Private Fendi Suites, from the outside terrace Zuma makes for a great view of Rome and is an overall amazing atmosphere. The food is really good, but I would argue the main reason to go there is for the location and environment! Here you can order sushi, sashimi, salmon, steak, and while it is pretty pricey, the food and experience are worth it.
i Sofa: On top of the Indigo hotel, i Sofa has an amazing atmosphere and awesome food. While their food is again not your typical Italian, you can order an amazing pizza or pasta while enjoying it surrounded by greenery seated on top of Rome. We enjoyed lunch here before catching our flight to Paris, but you could also definitely enjoy dinner or drinks here as well!
Eataly: An American favorite, we were so excited to have an Eataly right by our hotel!! Filled with authentic Italian coffee, chocolates, pastries, sandwiches, pastas, and salads, stop in here to enjoy a quick meal from the counter or sit down and enjoy their restaurant! Trust me, the food will not disappoint and there is a wide variety of options to choose from.
Sights:
Colosseum: When you’re in Rome, duh you gotta see the Colosseum!! This was by far my favorite sight to see in all of Europe. While guided tours are offered and are definitely the fastest way to get inside, they generally last quite a while so we just bought the skip the line passes and went at our own pace, since we were only in Rome for a day in a half and wanted to pack in as much as possible! While you still have to wait in line for quite a bit to get through security with the Skip the Line passes, it was better than buying tickets at the Colosseum and the passes were fairly inexpensive (only about $30). We did notice some people were booking guided tours however and not following the group, they only booked the tour to skip the line and get inside ! This can be pricey, but definitely a smart way to get in and out quick if that’s what you’re looking for. We ended up staying at the Colosseum for about 2 hours and felt a little rushed, but we were in a hurry to get to our tour of the Vatican! The Colosseum was crowded, but since the area is so big and it was outdoors in Rome’s beautiful weather, the crowd did not bother me. We were still able to wander wherever we pleased and did not ever feel uncomfortable or claustrophobic. The Colosseum and Roman Forums really makes you appreciate the Roman’s beautiful architecture and is an amazing opportunity to take in some history and take pictures.
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The Vatican: To see the Vatican, you have to book a tour or have a skip the line pass or expect to wait for quite some time..the line wrapped around the gates and was painfully long! While The Vatican is definitely considered a “must see” in Rome..I personally did not love it only because of the enormous crowds. Don’t get me wrong, it is definitely beautiful, however I could have done without it. With all the people, it was very hard to take in the beauty and honestly it was very uncomfortable and claustrophobic. Being indoors and with tight halls, stairwells, and with one path, everyone is walking on top of each other together and once you start, there is no stopping. We ended up at the Vatican for 4 hours and were pretty uncomfortable and could not wait to get out of there, but if the Vatican is something you are looking forward to seeing please do not let me turn you off.
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The Trevi Fountain: The Trevi Fountain was again similar to the Vatican in the sense it was very hard to get to due to crowds. There were people everywhere and you definitely had to push your way through to get to the front, but it is worth it. The Trevi Fountain is so beautiful and since we were outdoors with no tight halls or stairways, the crowds did not make me feel nearly as uncomfortable and I would definitely not recommend going to Rome without seeing the Trevi Fountain.
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SHOP THIS OUTFIT..
Jacket (Zara) // Top (Chloe, similar here) // Jeans (Rag & Bone) // Sneakers (Topshop)
The Spanish Steps: Again, jammed with people but since the area surrounding the Spanish steps is so spread out and is outdoors, this is definitely something I think you have to do in Rome ! Along with seeing the historical steps, this area is surrounded with all kinds of shopping and was definitely my favorite area.
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SHOP THE LOOK:
Sincerely Jules ‘Worth The Wait’ Tee // Leggings // Sunglasses (Retro Super Future) // Leather Jacket // Adidas Sneakers
Shopping:
While this trip we did mainly sight seeing, the shopping in Rome is still fabulous! Some of my favorites included Zara, H&M, Hermes, Dior, Fendi (Fendi is from Rome), Valentino, 7 For All Mankind, and so many more along with cute little boutiques all along side streets!! Most of the shopping is all around the Spanish Steps so I suggest going there, walking around, and seeing where the shopping takes you! Sometimes the unexpected shops are your favorite ones. Also, remember all European brands are dramatically cheaper in Europe than they are in the Unites States so be prepared to shop til you drop!! I know we did..
Transportation:
Rome is pretty small so most places you can walk, but taxis are very accessible if needed! Because of all the walking, the entire city is pretty busy but it’s not bad.
As I said, everything during New York Fashion Week is so rushed and last minute-I knew I was falling so behind on my emails and needed to have some office time-but when?! Getting a blowout was the perfect solution. A blowout allowed me to workout early that morning, rinse and wash my body in 5 min. rather than 15 min. if I had to wash my hair, do my makeup, get dressed, and run out the door on time to make my blowout appointment. While the blowout still only lasted me one day, I was able to get caught up on my emails, work on getting some instagram posts up, write my blogs, catch up on school, and so much more all before my first show of the day (which was often at 10am)-talk about a productive morning!
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For my final day of New York Fashion Week, I was now hooked on blowouts and so excited to partner with DreamDry NYC! Ever since Rachel Zoe (totally one of my favorite designers and major inspiration for me!) announced she was opening her first DreamDry, I have been dying to go but as I said-I have never been a blowout addict and never thought it was ‘for me’ until after this trip. I have to say though, getting a blowout at DreamDry was long overdue and I wish I would’ve done it far earlier! I loved it!! From the products, to the staff, the atmosphere..I could not have been happier! After some blowouts, I have left with my hair feeling dry and dead but that was not the case at DreamDry! Their products made my hair look and feel so clean, healthy, silky, and smooth..I was beyond impressed. While I don’t drink (duh, I am still 18!), they were serving champagne to all my Style Collective sisters and accommodated me by serving me warm green tea, which was so perfect after coming inside from the bitterly cold winds.
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For today during NYFW, I had already had my hair done twice and curled it both times so I decided to go for straight hair with a middle part and braid. At first, I was scared this look would be boring but I loved it!! It was simple yet classic, elegant, trendy, and cute all at the same time!
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So in conclusion, I obviously loved DreamDry and highly recommend it. In contrast with Amika, I honestly can say I had an amazing experience at both places so it is honestly whatever location works best for you or whatever look you are feeling that day! Amika‘s studio and hairstyles had a bit of a younger, hip, trendy, and fun vibe while DreamDry had a chic, more sophisticated, classy vibe. DreamDry has locations in Chicago, New York, and Atlanta-so if you ever find yourself in those cities I highly recommend making every effort to try it out!!
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Thank you DreamDry and Style Collective for sponsoring this post..all thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Photography by Cheryl Parish and @boraimages
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{photo c/o of Mandarin Oriental}
{photo c/o of Mandarin Oriental}
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Guest Rooms:
When we then went up to our guest room, it was no surprise that our furniture was just as cozy and chic as the rest of the hotels but we could not believe how spacious the room was! While my mom and I were planning on going alone originally, my sister and make-up artist decided to tag along last minute and at first we were worried that we would be crammed but the room was perfectly sized for all three of us! Had we all wanted to sleep in the King bed, we totally could have but my sister preferred getting a roll-away to have to herself. The roll-away still fit perfectly with the desk, huge bed, bedside tables, and chairs in the room along with our overpacked suitcases !
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Fitness Facilities:
Another impressive aspect of the hotel was how large and nice the workout room was. There was equipment for strength training, bikes, treadmills, and they even had a room for group classes! 
{photo c/o of Mandarin Oriental}
Dining:
After each running in the hotel gym in the mornings, I would go to the hotel cafe and order some eggs to refuel. The staff was always so friendly and their menu was filled with delicious breakfast items I was dying to try! While I never ate a meal besides breakfast in the hotel bar and cafe, I did meet some friends down there before dinner to enjoy some drinks and nuts as appetizers ! The bar was dimly lit with couches and tables for the perfect intimate atmosphere. While the Mandarin Oriental did not have the largest restaurant, the bar was very impressive and is connected to Del Frisco’s. Could it get any better?!
{photo c/o of Mandarin Oriental}
Location:
Along with all these amazing qualities of the hotel, its central location could not have been beaten. The Mandarin Oriental is truly directly in the center of Buckhead and gives you the perfect Atlanta experience! Across the street you can see the Leonx Mall, you are walking distance from the Phipps Center, and the Shops at Buckhead are just a 10-15 minute drive away! There are also so many amazing restaurants surrounding the area, everything is within your reach at the Mandarin Oriental !
Stay tuned-my Atlanta City Travel guide is coming soon! Have you ever been to Atlanta? What are your favorite things to do in Atlanta? Comment below!!
All photography by Cheryl Parish unless otherwise noted.
Along with this tank and Chaser Brand, I have a new found obsession that will be seeing a ton of in the future..Padgett Hoke! I mean for real, how cute is this necklace ?! Ever since I got it, I have not been able to take it off. It is the perfect everyday accessory and Padget Hoke has so many other styles like it! Whether you want silver, rose gold, gold like mine, earrings, or a variety of styles of necklaces, Padgett Hoke has it ! Be prepared for much more Padgett Hoke to come on the blog..with Valentine’s Day coming up, these accessories are the perfect gifts for a loved one or even yourself !
This outfit was the perfect cute, casual, and comfortable look for a fun day of shopping in the Lenox Mall! My mom (photographer), sister (make-up artist), and I all had the best time reviewing shops, hotels, and restaurants in Atlanta, I must say I totally fell in love with the city! Look for a travel guide to come at the end of this week!
Outfit Details:
Tank (Chaser Brand) // Leather Jacket (Zara, similar here, here, and here) // Jeans (Rag & Bone) // Booties (Joie, similar here and here) // Necklace (Padgett Hoke) // Sunglasses (Retro Super Future)
Thank you Chaser Brand and Padgett Hoke for sponsoring this post..all thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Photography by Cheryl Parish