Saratoga with Camilyn Beth

Who doesn't love a good day at the track? This past weekend I had the pleasure of going to Saratoga again with America's Best Racing! Short story: it involved pretty dresses, lots of horses, good friends and winning/losing money. Long story ...

World Trade Memorial & Observatory

I've been wanting to visit the 9/11 memorial and museum since it opened, but as you may know, it's not an easy thing to do. I knew it was going to be very emotional but I also knew that it was something I wanted to honor and see.

So on Saturday Andrew and I went downtown to visit the memorial, the museum and then made our way to the top of One World Trade. The whole day was emotional but amazing and I wanted to share our time with you all.

Cadillac in the Hamptons

True life: I think I'm a closet car nerd. Really beautiful cars get me way too excited! I think you'll find out why below... 

If you don't know by now (which, I'm not sure why you wouldn't but...) I live in New York City. Which meant that, like a true, poor-ish New Yorker, I had to sell my car before moving here. Bummer, right?

While there are times I'm grateful I don't have a car, (parking is a joke ($$$) here) more times than not I wish to be able to drive and get away. I get a little stir crazy in the city, especially when the warm weather hits. I think I was just made to be at a beach somewhere! 

This is where the wonderful team at Cadillac comes in. They loaned me this gorgeous car for the weekend so I could escape to the Hamptons and be at the beach for a weekend. How amazing are they!

When I first saw the car I was in total awe. It was so beautiful and sleek; super sophisticated and extremely well made. Every little detail in the car was well thought out, planned and executed! I've been driving SUVs my entire life so to say this was a change of pace would be correct. 

But it was so awesome. I loved how well the car drove. It hugged all the curves, it was smooth on and off the highway and it was extremely intuitive. 

The coolest features in the car were dedicated to the drivers needs. A reflection on the window kept you aware of your speed and cars nearby and the side mirrors would flash when there was a car in the blind spot.

One of the cooler features was the seat vibration for different alerts. Depending on where the alert was coming from (left, right, front) the seat side would vibrate accordingly and make you extra alert!

The car also would honk twice when turned off and doors shut if you accidentally leave the keys in the car. I'm not going to tell you how I found that one out hahah! This whole keyless car start is new to a girl who hasn't had a new car in a couple of years.

I felt totally safe in the car with all the extra protection. The seatbelt even tightened to make sure you were properly strapped in every time you start driving.

Not to toot my own horn, but I'm a pretty great driver. And in all honestly the car made me an even better one.

Thankfully (or not depending how you look at it) we were also able to test out the car in different conditions. It rained a lot of the weekend in the Hamptons and I found the car performed just as well in the rain. The dashboard screen even had a handy little weather map next to the GPS and the music!

The windshield wipers were totally automatic. They adjusted to how little or hard it was raining without me even bothering to touch it. So cool!

One of the weird things about the car was the ability to play music. The car had a ton of USB plugs for us to charge and use our phones which was great but for some reason it didn't want us to use Spotify. It was so crazy!

Sydney and I would plug in and turn on our music (in Spotify) which would randomly shut off and be overtaken by our iTunes. We have no idea why but after a couple times wrestling with it going back and forth (like 15 times), we won the good fight and got to listen to our music for 30+ minutes at a time. 

That is until it got shut off again hahah. We should have just given in! Does anyone actually still have up to date music on their iTunes? Mine is full of teen bop 2000's music that I'm embarrassed I paid money to download.

Thankfully our trip out to the Hamptons and back was great weather so we were able to open the sun roof and roll down the windows. It was nice to enjoy having a car again! I was actually really sad putting it back into the garage at the end of the night Sunday. I didn't want it to go!

You can read all out our weekend in the Hamptons here!

Here's a full picture of the beauty:

So I've never owned a Cadillac myself but I'm pretty sure after this experience I might need to look into one. What do we think?! Has anyone else driven this car and loved it as much as I did??

This post was in no way sponsored but, Cadillac did loan me the car for the weekend upon my request. This post was just me wanting to share my honest thoughts and reviews on the car (just like all other posts). 

Travel Tuesday: Southampton

If you remember two weekends ago I traveled east to Southampton with Sydney for some time with Country Club Prep. Hope you enjoy my weekend recap!

(Swan)

Travel Tuesday: Nantucket

Yay for today's Travel Tuesday! And it's all about my recent trip to Nantucket. If you remember last year we went as part of our larger trip to Boston, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

We obviously loved Nantucket so much last year that we decided to make a trip of it this year. This was actually part of my Christmas present so I've been counting down for some time now!

Friday:

Anyways, we left early Friday morning on a direct flight to the island. From JFK to ACK it was about a 45 min (take off to touch down) flight. So to say it was pretty easy was an understatement.

We landed, picked up our rental car and headed off to our "hotel."

Travel Tuesday: 5 Summer Travel Essentials

1. Portable Steamer

I never ever ever travel without my steamer. It is my saving grace on the road and it also means I can jam pack my clothes, roll them up, shove them in and not have to worry about wrinkles! 

I've had a few steamers in my day but this is by far the best I've ever owned. AND it's only $30. So I don't know how you say no to that... 

2. Straw Hat

Hats were made for summer! They're so fun and great for days at the beach (protecting your skin from the sun is cool guys), for days when you don't want to wash your hair and for days when your outfit needs a fun accessory! 

My tried and true hat (from J. Crew like a million years ago -- see this post here and my first ever Travel Tuesday post here) is this Panama hat. It's my favorite hat and I'm not kidding when I say it goes with everything.

As for true straw hats, I recently just bought this hat because I wanted something more structured. It's a little bit more pricey but it was totally worth it. You can tell it's a high quality hat and something that I'll have for many more years to come. 

This hat will be my next purchase. Coming in at $48 it's a steal and totally worth a try! I also have a rather large head so I'm glad there is sizing available for this one.

3. White Shorts

My favorite thing about summer is the ability to break out my white denim shorts. I wear them like I wear my white pants -- all year round and with everything.

I'm not going to try to push some fancy denim shorts your way or ones that are crazy expensive just to make money so trust me when I say these white jean shorts are. my. jam. I mean I even bought a second pair for this summer and I'm trying out this distressed pair as something new too. 

They're running a little low in sizes but try your local store or check back on the site. They update it all the time with new sizes! 

4. Monogram Duffle

We all know of the all-American classic monogram navy and canvas duffle (that I also found comes in red -- so cool) but what about other options?

I love this duffle that you can totally make your own (with leather detailing) and this expandable one that comes in a TON of colors.

But of course we can't forget about my favorite duffle ... my Keepall! I love this one and take it everywhere. Here are some great secondhand bags for you to look at!

5. Beach Towel

I mean what's summer without a really great beach towel? This one has tassels and a fun print. It's the twist on a classic turkish towel, these have come in every color of the rainbow and have stripes (which you know I hate) and this of course is such a classic (and only $34).

What are your summer travel essentials?! I know I have tons more but I thought theses were top priorities!! 

How I Afford To Travel

It's no surprise that I travel a lot. It's my very favorite thing to do and I think it's good for the soul. And every time I travel I inevitably get the "How do you afford to travel?" question (afford meaning time, money or any other factors).

Without getting too in depth or personal I thought I would share some advice and tips so you can start traveling too! So I've rounded up some questions I've gotten and I'll just fire them off below. 

If there are any more burning questions you have, be sure to leave them below in the comments. 

Trip to Phoenix 

How/Why do you travel so much?

To put it simply, I make time for it. Traveling is a serious passion and hobby of mine and just like others who might put money into their hobbies, I put money into my traveling (read more in the next question).

Trip to Seattle

How do you plan your travel? 

For airfare, I exclusively use Google Flights. They round up the best times, providers and dates for you to search and help make sure you book the cheapest flight. You can read about Google Flights more in depth in my past Travel Tuesday post here. 

For hotels, I always use Hotwire. Some people either love or hate Hotwire but if you trust it, it's the best thing ever. Hotwire is the website that doesn't tell you the name of the hotel but because of that you get a much higher discounted rate. 

The trick of the trade is to make sure you're only searching 3-star hotels (like Hiltons and Holiday Inns) and above. I used Hotwire to book both trips to DC (2014 (day 2) and 2015) and my first trip to Hilton Head. 

Only scenarios for when I don't use Hotwire are when I'm staying with friends (like Seattle, St. Louis, Upstate NY, ), family (like Phoenix and Derby 2014 & 2015), when Andrew books the trip (like Maine, Nantucket, Boston and most recently Grand Cayman), when I take day trips (like Philly, Martha's Vineyard and Popolopen Gorge) or when trips are comped (like Hilton Head and Bahamas).

Trip to Grand Cayman

How do you afford to travel?

I'm actually pretty conservative when planning my trips. For booking the trip itself, I always try and buy fight and hotels way ahead of time to take advantage of lower prices. For the extra costs, I always try and avoid them. 

I've become a pro at traveling/living out of a carry-on suitcase (see my favorites here), I don't pay for upgraded seats like first class (such a waste unless you're flying long distances), and I try to travel in the states. 

For the periods of time when I'm not traveling, I like to be aware of what I'm spending money on. I don't go out too often (alcohol is a BIG ol' money killer), I only eat a nice dinner about once a week (praise the Lord for ramen) and I have a strict rule that new clothes/accessories can only be bought via blog commission (aka be put back into the blog #CircleOfLife). 

Trip to DC

How do you find time to travel? What about work? 

This is probably the most frequently asked question, which I totally get. You want to know my secrets so you can travel too!! The secret: weekends. 

As most of you know, I work in social media for MLB and have a normal 9-6/Monday-Friday job. We get a certain number of vacation days and, when used wisely, can really be made fun.

70% of the time when I travel, I leave a little early during work on Friday (but make up for it by staying later during the week) and head out for the weekend. Friday is my "travel day" and I'll usually come back late Sunday night. 

So technically I'm using ZERO vacation days.

25% of the time when I travel, I'll do the same thing as above but instead of Friday being my travel day, I make it Thursday. I'll really only do this when it's an absolute must to have another day (like Seattle or KY for the Derby). Then, just like above, I come back late Sunday night.

  That's three whole days spent away and just ONE vacation day.

The other 5% of the time is when I actually take off multiple days (aka use a chunk of my vacation days) and really plan a trip. 

Last year that was our trip to Boston/Cape Cod/Nantucket/Martha's Vineyard (which I also took over the 4th of July, when I had two days + a weekend off). 

That trip cost me THREE total vacation days. 

Cruise to the Bahamas

Work talk continued...

What's also really great about working in baseball is the fact that we have a down season (not "offseason" because technically we're just getting ready for next season). 

And while during the down season it's always important to be in the office, it's easier to (if need be) work a day away via the computer. Perks of working in social and being a digital company! 

Also during this down season, we have this amazing one week break from Christmas to New Years. So obviously you have to take advantage of that (which I did). That was our trip to Grand Cayman.

Trip to Hilton Head

Extra Tips:

-Travel locally: One of the best parts about living in NYC is that it's centrally located and so close to other great cities. What might be a $300 flight to DC for most is a $80 train ride for me. Explore your area, take a drive, see where you end up!

-Ask for experiences instead of presents: for holidays and birthdays I usually ask Andrew for an experience. I can buy almost anything I really "want." And because of that it's so much more special to receive a trip/experience that you both can share in.

-Visit your friends: DUH. Not only do you want to see them but they have a free place to stay, a car and (most likely) food. You pay for the flight and the weekend. They also can come visit you :)

-Search for good deals: things like cruises (where food and drink are included and there is a low expense while on the ship), vacation packages (that include air, car and hotel) and special deals/low rates (like off seasons for destinations).

Cruise to the Bahamas

And that's all folks! If you liked what I wrote about, want to know more, or have any other questions be sure to let me know below.

Excuse the post for being a bit longer than usual but I hope it was worth the read. Don't forget to catch up on all Travel Tuesday posts here!

Travel Tuesday: Casual Travel Style

Outfit: White Blouse (similar here and here, cheaper here) / Denim Factory Shorts

Flower Shoes / Old Navy Blue Scarf only $12 / Belt (old) / Black Ray Bans

Jewelry: Moved Bold Watch / Love Bracelet $25 version here / Teal Cuff

Teal Bangles / Pearl Earrings / Mini Monogram Necklace 

Luggage: Luggage / Purse

Today is all about summer travel style! The key to traveling is to travel comfortably. And there is nothing more comfortable to me than my denim shorts and a white blouse. 

I had limited room in my suitcase to pack a lot of outfits so I actually wore this look on both travel days to and from the Kentucky Derby. Gasp! Repeat offender over here!

The only difference was I wore these white boat shoes on the way out. It made the look a little more casual and a tad bit more comfortable. 

The key to comfortable heels are wedges. The key to really comfortable wedges are low heels. And these shoes (that Andrew refers to as my fruity pebble shoes) are so freaking comfortable.

You may recognize today's look from last month—similar style (like the shirt and scarf) but with pants. It’s the “wear-to-work” look. 

To be honest, during the week I live in this shirt and I’m slowly falling in love with scarfs. Yolooooooo.

What is your go-to travel style? This is perfect for summer! If you’re interested in how I dress for winter, you can check out this look here. 

SHOP MY LOOK HERE:

Travel Tuesday: Louisville KY

Welcome back to Travel Tuesday! Last weekend (as some of you might know by now) I went to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby. 

This was my second official year going and it's hard to say, but this trip was even better than the last; I flew in a private plane for the first time, I made it on the Kentucky Derby snapchat story and I won big at the track! 

Pretty exciting stuff, right? Let's get started:

Packed up my things Wednesday night for our flight out on Thursday. Had to give a little sneak peek of the things I was packing on instagram:

Dress (from left to right): Yellow / Floral / Pink / Off White / Stripe 

Shoes (from left to right): Nude + Blue / Blue Bow / Nude / Floral / Wedges

Travel Tuesday: Seattle, Washington

Welcome to today's Travel Tuesday! As you know, I spent this last weekend in Seattle visiting my friend Tyler with one of my best gal pals from college, Lucy. If you've been around the blog for a while, we made a similar trip last year to St. Louis when Tyler still lived there. 

Funny thing is that on my last day in St. Louis Tyler got this job offer in Seattle. For selfish reasons I convinced him to take it so we could plan another trip! And that's what we did. I had never been to Seattle so I was pretty excited about it. I got in late Thursday night and left Sunday night (took the red-eye back to NYC). Enjoy!

Thursday:

After a half-day at work, I flew out of JFK to Seattle. Thankfully my favorite airline, JetBlue has a nonstop flight so I was sure to hop on that! I had my movies and music ready and it was actually the first time I've used WiFi on a plane! They have it for free on the flight which is so clutch. 

Luggage / Duffle / Shoes / Shorts / Shirt / Jacket / Watch

Travel Tuesday: 5 Tips for Planning Your Perfect Vacation

Happy Travel Tuesday! Today I thought it would be great to talk about how to book your perfect trip in five easy steps. I tried to think of all the things I do when I book my trips and the sites I use so hopefully I compiled a great list for you to reference in the future. Enjoy :)

1. Research

The first thing to do is research where you want to go. Explore top destinations, think of where you've never been, places you've only seen in pictures and then look them up! Make sure to ask yourself: Is it doable? affordable? available? It will help you narrow down places and make sure that you're staying in check. 

My favorite place to research is on TripAdvisor. It has everything you need and everything you never thought you did. It's a great way to read up on places, explore new destinations, get other opinions and find an array of hotels, flights, vacation rentals, restaurants as well as helping you find the perfect destination! I mean, what more could you want? 

2. Read and Review

The next thing to do on your narrowed down list of places you want to go is read and review. This is also where TripAdvisor comes into place. You can read up about anything and everything on here. The hotel, the food at the hotel, places to eat, stay, hang out, go out -- anything! It's always good to hear other opinions on the matter (good and bad) so you know what you're in for. When I went to Grand Cayman, I researched all around the island for what was good and what we should do. TripAdvisor is a really great travel tool.

3. Budget

Now that you've narrowed down your list of places to go, count everything up (like hotel, flights, food, car rental and other expenses) and make sure you're within your budget. There's nothing worse than booking a trip and spending all your money so you have zero left over to actually enjoy your time on said trip. 

4. Compare 

Once you've found your ideal destination for your vacation, it's time to start comparing prices. Make sure you have enough time before you need to book so you can compare prices over the week. They change daily and the best days to book anything (hotels/flights) are Tuesdays. Travel Tuesday, am I right?!

Also make sure to clear your cookies. Travel sites will bump up prices when they know you've been searching around. So find the best places with the cheapest fairs on Tuesday with a clean computer. 

5. Book

Now it's time to book, woohoo! Below are my favorite tools and websites to book online:

Flight: I love using Google Flights (read more about it here) because it's just really intuitive and gives me the ability to easily search and pick out my flights.

Hotel: Wyndham and Hilton are great go-to's because they're affordable and available almost anywhere you want to go. 

Travel Sites: TripAdvisor and JetSetter and great resources for one-stop shopping when traveling. 

Booking Sites: Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and Expedia are all great places to book as well.

Travel Tuesday: Phoenix, AZ

Who missed Travel Tuesdays!? 

*only one that raises hand*

Well it's back! Woo! This past weekend I went to Phoenix, AZ to spend the weekend with the family for my mom's 60th birthday. The trip was WAY too short but it was jam packed with lots of laughter, warmth and food. I flew out Friday after work and arrived late due to a weather delay in New York (yes, it was snowing again -____-). The five-hour flight and the three-hour time change did me in. I was however welcomed and surprised with the Sedona two-story suite for our hotel room. It was so nice and made me yearn for a bigger place even more! You only turn 60 once!

Thankfully I was able to sleep in the next morning. On Saturday we woke up bright and early (6am, people) to head out to Lake Pleasant. My mom loves to fish and so for her birthday we rented a boat for eight hours and went out to catch some fishies!

Dress / Sunglasses

Here's me and my license to kill ... fish, haha! We booked our trip through the Hook Up Outfitters and had a blast. Crazy enough, our guide was cousins with Mickey Mantle! The trip was filled with sunshine, fish and intently checking the score of the UK game (which we won). Here are some snapshots:

Dad with the biggest fish of the day!

 Cheering us on!

Swim Top / Swim Bottom

Surprisingly enough I didn't get burnt! Although I can't say the same for my mom, haha. She fries out in the sun!

After our day on the lake we went back to the hotel and got ready for dinner at Seasons 52. Did you know that place is super healthy? No item on the menu is over 500 calories and they don't have butter! It was weird at first but boy was my meal delicious! Here's my look for dinner:

Dress

After dinner we came back to the hotel, had lots of cake, lots of laughs and then it was off to bed. The next morning we went to brunch at El Chorro and boy was it beautiful! Everything was so pretty and the day was perfect. We even got to sit outside to eat. It was such a treat!!

Top / Jeans

After that I had to catch a plane back to NYC :( The trip was just way too short!! But I'm glad I was able to see the fam bam and that we were able to spend time together for my mom's big birthday. Sorry there wasn't a more in-depth recap of the trip. It was more about the fam than the blog ;)