TRAVEL DIARY | PORTLAND, OREGON - A BACHELORETTE WINE TASTING WEEKEND

HAPPY Tuesday, EVERYONE!

I JUST GOT BACK FROM A WONDERFUL WEEKEND GETAWAY TO CELEBRATE MY DEAR FRIEND MORGAN'S UPCOMING WEDDING NEXT MONTH IN CABO!

SIX OF US LADIES HEADED TO PORTLAND FOR A 3 DAY WINE TASTING BACHELORETTE ADVENTURE AND HAD A FANTASTIC TIME!

TODAY, I'M BACK WITH ANOTHER SEGMENT IN MY TRAVEL DIARY SERIES IN A PICTURE SHOW THAT TAKES YOU ALONG ON OUR FUN-FILLED JOURNEY!  IT IS A BEAUTIFUL CITY WITH SOME WONDERFUL WINERIES, AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO PORTLAND?  PLEASE SHARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW IF YOU HAVE! ❤

MY AFFORDABLE TRAVEL ATTIRE.

DENIM JACKET BY KUT: EVEREVE  |  STRIPED DRESS: FOREVER 21  | TAN BAG: MARSHALL'S  | NAIL POLISH: SALLY HANSON "SHELL WE DANCE" PRO GEL KIT  | GOLD LUGGAGE TAG: FOREVER 21  | SUITCASE by PACIFIC COAST LUGGAGE: MARSHALL'S

A LIGHT DINNER AT WOODY CREEK BAKERY & CAFE AT

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

READY FOR TAKEOFF AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

OUR CHARMING AIRBNB IN THE HEART OF PORTLAND.

BUFFALO ART AT OUR AIRBNB, WHICH I SAW AS ANOTHER SIGN FROM THE UNIVERSE.

LOVING THIS WINE WE HAD UPON MY ARRIVAL!

TIME TO CELEBRATE THE BRIDE-TO-BE!  A CROWN VEIL AND

LIGHT-UP WINE CUP WAS SO NECESSARY!

BRUNCH AT THE EASTBURN IN PORTLAND.

LOVING THEIR MORNING COCKTAIL MENU OPTIONS!

MIMOSAS CHEERS!

ADORABLE MIMOSA FLIGHT.

ENJOYING THEIR CAPRESE EGGS BENEDICT OVER A POLENTA CAKE,

I ADDED AVOCADO!

THEY HAVE THESE AWESOME SWINGS AT THE FRONT OF THE RESTAURANT

AS CHAIRS, SO FUN!

WE WALKED AROUND THE PORTLAND SHOPS, AND I HAD TO

TAKE THIS FOR MY FRIEND LENA!

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO RAIN THE ENTIRE TRIP AND MAGICALLY THE SUN CAME OUT AND IT WAS ABOUT 70 DEGREES, SO, WE TOOK FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT!

BEAUTIFUL SPRING CHERRY BLOSSOMS!

AUTHENTIC THAI FOOD DINNER THANKS TO THE BRIDE-TO-BE'S MARVELOUS MOTHER!

FULLY CELEBRATING THE BRIDE-TO-BE WITH SOME FUN

COCKTAILS AND KARAOKE AT CHOPSTICKS!

celebrating the bride-to-be and her love story.

WINE FLIGHT TASTING TIME AT PONZI VINEYARDS, WHICH WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL!

SMALL TASTING BITES FROM CHEESE AND MEAT TO FLATBREADS, YUM!

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!

IT STARTED TO POUR, BUT WE DIDN'T LET THAT STOP OUR FUN!

ENJOYING SOME DELISH ROSé AT THE STOLLER FAMILY ESTATE, WHICH WAS a GORGEOUS property despite the wind and rain!

WE BROUGHT OUR OWN SPREAD OF YUMMY SNACKS TO ENJOY WITH THEIR WINE, SO LOVELY AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE STOLLER FAMILY ESTATE!

SHARED A YUMMY BBQ CHICKEN SALAD AND A GLASS OF SAUVIGNON BLANC AT THE AIRPORT WITH MORGAN BEFORE OUR FLIGHTS HOME.

READY FOR TAKE OFF ON A VERY RAINY PORTLAND DAY!

APPROACHING OUR LANDING AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, I LOVED THAT WE COULD SEE OUR PLANE'S SHADOW AND THE AIRPORT IN THE BACKGROUND!

THE DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAS SOME BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE ON THE WAY TO THEIR REALLY WELL DONE TRANSIT CENTER.

ABOVE IMAGES BY LIESL EHARDT.

DESTINATION DENVER | EXPLORING B&GC - A MAD MEN INSPIRED SECRET SPEAKEASY

HAPPY MONDAY, BLOGLAND!

I'm back with chapter 6 of my destination denver series!

This week, i explore a hidden speakeasy called B&GC that has been rated one of the top bars in denver if you can find it and get in.

BELOW, I EXPLORE THE SPACE, TRY SOME DIVINE COCKTAILS, SMALL BITES AND SHARE MY ENTIRE EXPERIENCE, ENJOY! ❤

CHAPTER 1  |  CHAPTER 2  |  CHAPTER 3  |  CHAPTER 4  |  CHAPTER 5

IMAGE BY: DEVON EHARDT SHELTON

LOCATION: ASPEN, CO - SUMMER 2016  |  DRESS: FOREVER 21

A VERY 60'S THROWBACK WITH THE CLASS OF THE MAD MEN ERA AND AN

INCREDIBLY COOL CIRCULAR, LIT CEILING.

WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE VIA TEXT ONCE YOU ARE CONFIRMED A DATE AND TIME.

It IS VERY HARD TO SIMPLY SHOW UP (IF YOU FIND IT) AND GET IN.

THEY STAMP THIER LOGO IN THE VERY COOL SQUARE ICE CUBES, A CLASSY TOUCH!

DRINK ON LEFT: A QUIET DIVORCE | DRINK ON RIGHT: OUR BARTENDER (MARCELO) CREATED A BOURBON BASED COCKTAIL FOR ME

A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIES!

MEAT AND CHEESE PLATE, A MUST FOR ME ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!

TIME FOR ROUND 2 - DRINK ON THE LEFT: A [SOMETHING] RELATIONSHIP (WE CAN'T FULLY REMEMBER)  |  DRINK ON THE RIGHT:  OUR BARTENDER (MARCELO)

CREATED A FUN CITRUSY GIN COCKTAIL FOR ME, VERY REFRESHING!

ALL IMAGES BY: LIESL EHARDT

LOCATION: DENVER, CO - JANUARY 12, 2018

CHAPTER 6  |  EXPLORING B&GC - A MAD MEN INSPIRED SECRET SPEAKEASY

Saturday night I went on a little adventure to discover a hidden, somewhat secret, underground, speakeasy in Denver called B&GC.  

Once you find the golden doorbell, you are greeted by a host who will escort you down a set of long stairs and around some back hallways to a large, extravagant door.

Behind which, a romantic cocktail bar appears before you that will immediately transport you to the Mad Men era of the 1960's with glassware and cocktail presentations that exude class and elegance!

The bartenders, we had Marcelo, are full of personality and truly know the art of mixing a fantastic cocktail!  Whether choosing one of their signature cocktails, which they change every season, going with a classic or having them create something special, as I did, they won't disappoint!

The experience, quality of cocktails and overall feel warrant the $15 price tag, similar to New York City pricing.  However, I'd go as far as to say, they are better, and most definitely prettier than those in the Big Apple!

So if you are in Denver, I think it is a go-to and fun experience that you should definitely add to your to-do list...if you can locate it and get it, but that's half the fun! ❤

DESTINATION DENVER | MOVING DAY + EXPLORING MY NEW NEIGHBORHOOD

HAPPY FEBRUARY, EVERYONE!

I'M BACK WITH MY 5TH INSTALLMENT FROM MY DESTINATION DENVER BLOG SERIES.

Thank you all for your patience during this transition. i so appreciate all of your support over on my instagram, where i post or am active on insta story almost daily, I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU!

iN THIS CHAPTER, I TAKE YOU ALONG WITH ME AND MY AWESOME BROTHER-IN-LAW ON MOVING DAY AND EXPLORING THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. ENJOY! ❤ 

CHAPTER 1  |  CHAPTER 2  |  CHAPTER 3  |  CHAPTER 4

IMAGE BY: DEVON EHARDT SHELTON

LOCATION: ASPEN, CO - SUMMER 2016  |  DRESS: FOREVER 21

TAUPE BOOTS: TARGET | WORK OUT LEGGINGS: VICTORIA'S SECRET | BLACK LOUNGE TOP: FOREVER 21 | JACKET: BOOKERPHILS | TAUPE PURSE: TJ MAXX

MY COMPLEX CLEARLY KNOWS ME SINCE THEY WELCOMED ME WITH A BOTTLE VINO!

LET'S DO THIS!

SIDE NOTE: I HAD PLANNED TO WEAR MY SNEAKERS, BUT IT WAS COLD AND THESE BOOTS WEREN'T FANCY AND KEPT MY ANKLES WARM...I DON'T USUALY MOVE IN BOOTS. HA! 

BOOTS: TARGET | WORK OUT LEGGINGS: VICTORIA'S SECRET | BLACK LOUNGE TOP: FOREVER 21 | GREY 3/4 LENGTH LAYERED TOP: WALMART

We DID IT!  SELFIE WITH MY BROTHER-IN-LAW - HE IS THE GREATEST!!!

COZY CHAI TEA LATTE from Olive and Finch eatery and bakery.

"LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE"

"ALL EXPERIENCE IS AN ARCH, TO BUILD UPON." - HENRY ADAMS

view from the beautiful restoration hardware rooftop.

TAUPE BOOTS: TARGET | WORK OUT LEGGINGS: VICTORIA'S SECRET | BLACK LOUNGE TOP: FOREVER 21 | JACKET: BOOKERPHILS | TAUPE PURSE: TJ MAXX

DUFFY'S CHERRY CRICKET

AN INSIDE LOOK, SO COOL!

THEIR FRESH CHICKEN TACOS, SO DELISH!

I get to enjoy THESE gorgeous sunsets daily from my new place, and I doN'T' think they will ever get old to me - it's like a little piece of magic.

IMAGES OF MOI BY: JON SHELTON | ALL OTHER IMAGES BY: LIESL EHARDT

LOCATION: DENVER, CO - JANUARY 6, 2018

CHAPTER 5  |  MOVING DAY - I HAVE ARRIVED

The new year had arrived, which meant that Destination Denver was just around the corner and my big move to Colorado was days away!

This move would not have been possible without my incredible brother-in-law! He offered to make the 14 hour drive to Denver from Phoenix, where my parents recently built a new home, on January 5th and move me into my place.

We did the drive in one day while listening to super fun podcasts, like Season 1 of Serial since we both really like real crime and murder investigation type shows, and I honestly had the best time!

Saturday, January 6th was the official moving day. We got the keys to my place at 8 AM, checked out my new apartment, which I hadn't officially seen since I applied online from afar, and unloaded the U-Haul, just the two of us, in 2 and half hours!

Then, we checked out a local coffee shop, that is now a favorite of mine, and walked around to check out my new neighborhood. I love that I'm within walking distance to all the fun shops, restaurants and bars!

My wonderful parents flew out that Sunday for a few days to help me get settled, and I feel so thankful that I have such a supportive family who is always there when I need them, I'm one lucky gal!

So far, I am simply LOVING Denver! Everyone has been beyond welcoming and so friendly, and I'm surrounded by an inspiring group of women, and fellow stylists, at work who have instantly become like family to me.

I am so grateful for this adventure and have been doing my best to make the most of each day of my new chapter! I will continue to keep you posted in my Destination Denver series, which will include many of my adventures, an apartment tour and so much more!

Thank you all for sticking by me through this transition and as I get settled, and I promise more fashion posts will be coming very soon!