Tweed and Lace

DC based fashion and lifestyle blog

Christmas in Northern California | A Photo Diary

Oh that Cali life…I was so excited to head out to northern California over the holidays to visit my in-laws and explore the Bay area for the first time. Going through these pictures for a second time made me realize how stunning this place is. What I would give to have a gingerbread house on top of a hill overlooking the water in Carmel. I hope you enjoy these pictures and make a point to visit this part of the country at some point in your life. It’s not to missed!

After almost missing our early 6:30 AM flight we made it bright and early to SFO the Saturday before Christmas. We went straight to meet up with my in laws and headed to Monterey to check out Carmel and 17 mile drive. I think this area was my favorite of the whole trip. Obviously – any place with a beach is always my favorite. Carmel is the cutest little town filled with quaint shops and restaurants. The beach is also SO pretty. What a place to live! We ate lunch at Hog’s Breath Inn in their cute little outside patio. The food didn’t knock me off my feet but it was a nice place to enjoy a meal outside on a nice winter day. After lunch we walked around the town and of course I snapped photos of all the cute homes and the stunning beach. I kept holding the group up while we were walking around because everywhere your turn there is a photo-op. We also did a quick drive through 17 mile drive which is a famous drive with the most picturesque views of the coastline. We ended our drive at the Inn at Spanish Bay which is a stunning 5 star property on Pebble Beach and watched the sunset overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Although we were exhausted it was a perfect way to kick off the trip.

The next day Brett and I took the Bart and headed into San Francisco to do with a quick walk through of the city. We walked through the Ferry Building a bit and then headed to get a really great brunch at Park Tavern (as per Ashley’s recommendation. I loved of the menu – I always think a combination of unique ingredients makes for a good restaurant. We walked to the wharf to check out the touristy stuff where the sea lions were a highlight for me. We saw a glimpse of the Golden Gate bridge which was really stunning and I wish we had walked even closer (next time…). I usually enjoy the architecture of the buildings and neighborhoods anytime I’m exploring a city and I loved the cream and pastel colored buildings that lined the hilly streets – a truly unique place. Plus a lot of the flowers were in full bloom which was refreshing to see in the winter. We also walked around the Marina District which was a highlight for me, grabbing a cocktail on Chestnut Street at a place called The Tipsy Pig, and later walking down Filmore to window shop the pretty stores. Definitely a city worth getting lost in by foot.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was spent with family, good food, and hikes. The day after Christmas we made the trip to Napa! I had been wanting to go to Napa for a long time now so I was really excited. First we headed to Artesa Vineyards which was my favorite stop of the 3 vineyards we went to. I honestly loved all the wines we tasted here and even picked up a half case of limited edition Pinot Noir on reserve. Can’t wait to get into some of it! We also went to Beringer for a tasting. Since Brett’s uncle is a member we were able to bring a picnic and enjoy it on the property. Don’t you just love eating cheese, meats, olives, dips, and wine? It’s the best! We capped off our trip at Mumm Napa to cheers with some bubbles. It was the perfect toast to send off the trip and the sunrise that night was another one for the books.

3 Warm Weather Vacations to Consider this Winter

Ahhh, doesn’t this picture just make you happy? We got another little dusting of snow here last night so this image is giving me hope that brighter days are ahead! I have my in-laws to thank for allowing me to write a solid recommendation for this post. They are well traveled people that spend a lot of their time chasing spots with 75 degree weather. Brett and I are happy to join them when we can! With a fresh new year and January/February being the coldest months of the year who doesn’t love dreaming about a warm vacation? I’ve been lucky to have spent some time in a few different warm places around this time of year (mostly February and March time frame). Here is my list of top 3 favorite warm weather getaways for you to consider in your future. Each offers something different than the other so check out my different reasons why I chose each destination below. It is always important to go into planning a vacation by deciding what you are looking for next – is it relaxation without a care in the world by the beach? Or perhaps you are looking to do a lot of outdoor activities and exploring?

Cancun, Mexico – For beach bums who live for a good margarita

Cancun was one of my favorite vacations we ever took. It is the best place to go if you’re looking to get away for a week after a long winter. We went last March which ended up being the perfect week to go. Cancun has a reputation for being a big party town but honestly there are a lot of families that go there too. The Cancun Airport is such a great direct flight from DC and most major airports in the US. Another big plus if you don’t want to hassle with a long travel day – more time in the sun!

There is so much to offer here if the beach is your thang! Also Tulum and Playa del Carmen are popular beach towns that you can easily get to when flying into the Cancun airport. While I haven’t been to either of those places, it seems Tulum is very bohemian and has been super popular with the famous instagrammers of the world and I know plenty of people that went on their honeymoon in Playa del Carmen. Anyway, you should definitely go to Cancun if you like the following:

  • Pretty white sand beaches and turquoise water.
  • Love Mexican food (mas margaritas por favor!)
  • Like a wide selection of GREAT restaurants within walking distance (our favorites are Lorenzillos for seafood, Puerto Madero for a great Argentinian steak, and La Habichuela for a finer dining) Mexican food experience. All of these restaurants are situated with amazing views of the water.
  • Seeking daily excursions: we opted not to do this but there is plenty of history to check out like the Tulum ruins, Chichen Itza, and Xcaret to name a few
  • Are into a nightlife (but you obviously don’t need to partake if you don’t want to)

Key West, Florida – For the bohemians that love the sun and a good time

Key West makes for a nice long weekend trip. It is one of those trips I think is best with girlfriends or a couples trip. I have been there a few times – once in college (woo Spring Break!) and once a year ago for Christmas with Brett’s side of the fam. Out of all the places on the east coast you can pretty much be guaranteed warm weather here. I would describe Key West as a “free spirited” tropical towns. It is kind of a “no shoes, no shirt, no problem” kind of vibe. I’d go here if you’re with a group of people who are looking for sunny days and fun nightlife. Consider Key West if you enjoy the following:

  • A vibrant nightlife. Duval Street is basically where its all going down. My favorite places to go in college were Sloppy Joes and Fat Tuesdays.
  • Water Sports: While there might not be a lot of beaches there is so much water to enjoy all the activities that go along with it.
  • Enjoy a walkable town where you can bike or walk most places.
  • Great seafood restaurants – ohh the conch salad!
  • The Beach: Key West isn’t well-known for beaches BUT there is Smather’s Beach, Higg’s Beach, and Doggie Beach which is a fun spot to check out to see the dogs having fun!

Palm Desert, CA – For the outdoorsy types that enjoy the desert life

Like Key West is to the East Coast, Palm Desert is to the West Coast. It the warmest place to be in the winter be far. I’ve only been to Palm Desert one time but it was such an amazing and different place to escape to in February. The best part is how amazing that hot sun feels during the day and the refreshing chilly air in the evenings. I consider Palm Desert to be great for people that like to hike and spend a lot of time outdoors exploring. Here are the highlights of Palm Desert and why it might be a great place for you:

  • Many places to hike, camp (glamp?) bike, etc: basically lots of outdoor activity
  • So many artsy fartsy things to do like art museums and flea markets
  • The Living Desert Zoo is super cool
  • Many amazing unique restaurants and shopping in El Paseo
  • Laying by the pool in the hot sun or indulging in a spa day. While there is a lot of outdoor activities there is plenty of relaxing to be had. There are also a lot of golf courses for the men out there!

Last of Laguna + Wide-Leg Pants I am Obsessed With

Outfit Details – Top: Madewell – in blue (similar retro striped tops here, here, here, and here. I also like this stripe sweater too!), Pants: Everlane (available in 7 shades!), Flats: Sole Society, Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

Hi friends! Today I am sharing my last post from our time in Laguna Beach. Our second day was spent exploring more of the coastline on foot. We caught the bus in the early afternoon and got dropped off in front of The Montage resort which is STUNNING! If you are looking to splurge on a nice summer vacation or just want to check it out like we did – its a must see! After we got a feel for the resort we next walked along the busy highway to check out 1000 Steps Beach which is a beach that can only be accessed if you walk down the many steps. It isn’t actually 1000 steps – its more like 250 – but still a nice little workout to get your heart rate up! After that we made our way to the Ritz Carlton which is another gorgeous resort situated on top of a cliff with amazing views of the ocean. Like most Ritz Carlton properties the overall ambiance is perfect and the views are just breathtaking. I definitely recommend checking it out! It would make for the perfect dream spot for a wedding.

Later that night we made our way to The Deck which is a popular oceanfront bar in the heart of downtown – a great spot for a cocktail. It is right next to Driftwood Kitchen which is where we ate dinner later in the evening. The food was delicious and I would highly recommend that spot as well.

The rest of our trip was spent hanging around the town and lounging on the beach. We got our fix of the local salmon during a home-cooked dinner on our last night (SO tasty) and just enjoyed what we had left of dreamy California. Oh I almost forgot – we checked out Crystal Cove State Park before catching the red eye back home. It is a size-able beach in Newport that is worth going to for a nice walk along the shore. There is also a famous restaurant there called The Beachcomber Cafe which sits right on the beach – ideal for a yummy brunch or lunch with a view.

Ok – last thing – these pants are my new favorite thing! The skinny jean trend is sort of yesterday’s news and right now its all about the flare. I am obsessed with anything cropped right now. High-waisted pants with a fit and flare finish at the bottom are always flattering on people with hourglass shaped figures like myself. It offsets the curvy-ness of the hip area and accentuates the waist. These are a great pant for pre-fall as the temperatures slowly drop. I paired them with a jacket and sneakers when I was in Paris last week which had way cooler weather than DC recently. They also come in 7 different colors, fit true to size, and are only $68! You need these pants! The quality is SO good too.

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