Dress: Prabal Gurung courtesy of 11 Honore. Can be purchased here

I’m just getting around to posting my New York Fashion Week recap and let me tell you, this time was one for the books! My first fashion week was last year and it was truly an amazing experience. I was lucky enough to snag a front row seat at the Christian Siriano show which I’m still pinching myself about. I also attended shows of plus size retailers such as Torrid and Addition Elle. It’s an amazing experience to see women that look like you on the runway!

This year was equally as amazing because I was able to attend another designer’s show, Prabal Gurung. Not only was I able to attend, but I got to wear one of his designs to the show! This was such a surreal moment for me. New York Fashion Week alone is a momentous occasion but as a plus size woman, you attend runway shows to admire. You know that the majority of the clothing presented doesn’t come in your size so it’s a different experience. To know that this designer, like Christian Siriano and others, makes garments for my body is really encouraging to see. Also, being able to wear said garment was a truly special moment that I will never forget.

With Patrick Herning, Founder & CEO of 11 Honore

I got to meet Tiffanie Hadish!

Of course, since it was Fashion Week, I had to bring the fashions. My favorite line every time I think about NYFW is from Dwight who was on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. This was a long time ago so you have to be a real fan to remember this. Dwight was attending Sheree’s fashion show of her new clothing line and she didn’t get the clothes in time for the show. So he walks in and says “A fashion show with no fashions?…How dreadful!” I laugh about that line to this day! Any who, the week was marked with all kinds of events and parties so I had to represent for the curvies!

Outfit details – Jumpsuit: Charlotte Russe | Pumps: Nine West | Hat (old)

Garments worn are old. Similar items below:

Burgundy Skirt | Burgundy Faux Fur Stole

I ended my trip doing some sight seeing in the Financial District, all the way up to Harlem and eating some good food along the way.

Until next time New York Fashion Week!

Photographer: Steve Suavemente

Outfit details – Duster: Forever 21 | Tank Top: Old Navy | Jeans: LOFT | Pumps: Nine West

My suitcases (yes plural) have not been unpacked, my clothes are everywhere and I can’t find anything but I had to take a moment to catch you all up on my recent trips. I was fortunate enough to be invited up to San Francisco, one of my favorite cities, for a fun few days with Alaska Air. My mom is originally from Oakland, which is the neighboring city to San Francisco, so it really feels like a second home. Plus, it’s a quick hour flight up the coast from Los Angeles and let me tell you, I got to ride in style.

Flight

You may or not be aware, but Alaska Air acquired Virgin America some time ago and the two brands have now merged into one. I know the question on many people’s minds is probably, “well, doesn’t Alaska Air only fly to Alaska?” Or you could be thinking that Alaska Air only has routes that are up and down the West Coast stopping at cities in between Los Angeles and Alaska. In all actuality, Alaska Air flies to many different cities across the US and even internationally to Mexico and Costa Rica. In fact, I continued my Alaska Air experience by flying from San Francisco to New York for Fashion Week (recap coming next). You can check out the full list of cities that they fly to so that you can consider them for your next trip!

Hotel

So while in San Francisco, I stayed at the Proper Hotel which is one of my new favorite places. Everything from the decor, to the service, to the amazing drinks makes this hotel a perfect destination to stay in. It was my first time staying here and it definitely made an impression. Upon arriving, we headed to the lobby bar which is probably the most stunning lobby bars that I have encountered. Fellow blogger Sheryl from Walk In Wonderland was also on the trip, so my boyfriend and I had drinks with her and her husband. It was quite the experience! The artistry and care taken making our beverages by our bartender, Moises, was unparalleled. He really set the tone for our stay.

When getting up to the room, I was amazed at how it had so many different elements but somehow worked so well together. There were various wall papers, patterns and textures all over the room that I never would have thought to mix. In fact, I’m sure if I would have done it myself, it would have been a disaster. It was very cozy, chic and eclectic.

Best San Francisco Rooftop Bar

In addition to this hotel already being amazing, they have one of the best rooftop bars in all of San Fran. We had happy hour on the most perfect day filled with delicious bites, more cute drinks and breathtaking views. There is typically a line to get up to the rooftop lounge, however if you are staying at the hotel, you get special access where you don’t have to wait. Another added bonus to staying here.

Outfit details – Duster: Forever 21 | Tank Top: Old Navy | Jeans: LOFT (old) | Booties: ASOS (similar)

Places to See

One of the great things about San Francisco is that there are so many different neighborhoods that you can visit in one day. We got to go on a food tour where I not only stuffed my face with the most delicious cuisine, but I also learned about the history of the city. The Mission is one area that is known for being the foodie hub. We tried everything from deviled eggs with crispy chicharón on top at Curio, yummy tacos at Bar Pancho, margherita pizza at Mozzeria and ending it with crispy churros at West of Pecos. I’m stuffed just thinking about it. The great thing about the food tour is that you are walking from place to place, taking in the sights and burning off some calories before hitting the next spot.

Sausalito

On the final day, we headed over to Sausalito which is about 30 minutes outside of the city. It is a small town right off the water that has beautiful views. We had brunch at this cute little place called Bar Bocce. The back is completely open and the water is literally steps away. It was a great way to end the trip before heading to the next destination.

Outfit details– Dress: NY Collection | Shoes: Sam Edelman

Thank you Alaska Air for the amazing weekend and I can’t wait until the next getaway!

Photographer: Steve Suavemente

*This post is Sponsored by Alaska Air, Proper Hotels & ShopStyle. All opinions are my own

I recently went on vacation to beautiful Cabo, Mexico and had the most amazing time. I had never been to Cabo and didn’t realize how close it was to California, particularly Los Angeles. It is only a 2 hour plane ride from LAX! So I thought to myself, “in the same amount of time that it takes to drive to San Diego, I could be in a blissful paradise?” Sign me up!

The whole reason for the trip was to celebrate my mother’s 60th birthday (of whom no one believes that she’s 60 but I promise she is). My family and I had not taken a vacation together in quite some time so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. We were just missing my older brother who just had a baby girl a few months ago and had to work (oh responsibilities). I, like always, took the lead on researching places to stay and I found the perfect resort for us. Continue reading below to hear all the details about our trip.

Here’s a picture of my mother (middle), sister (right) and I during one of the many beautiful sunsets. See below for our outfit details.

Green Dress (old). Another option here | Purple Ruffle Top, Skirt (old) | Red Floral Dress (from ASOS but sold out). Similar here | Hat: JcPenney (similar)

I’m so glad that I get to inherit these genes from my mom!

Cabo San Lucas Hotels

There are so many resorts in Cabo, Mexico that it can become overwhelming trying to find the right one for you. I felt like I was searching for weeks trying to figure out what area to stay in, the amenities, the rooms, the activities, etc. but I was determined.

One thing that helped to narrow down my search is that we wanted to stay at an all-inclusive. My parents had never experienced the all-inclusive life and my sister and I just knew that they would love it as much as we did our first time. There were many viable candidates that were not all-inclusive though that were so tempting, namely a resort called Cabo Azul. The room rates are very economical and the resort is so luxurious. We debated which route to take and ultimately we felt that we should stick with our first instinct which was an all-inclusive and I’m so glad that we did.

Paradisus Los Cabos

So the resort that we chose is called the Paradisus Los Cabos. The pictures really do not do this place justice. It is absolutely breathtaking from the minute you pull up to the open air lobby. Paradisus Los Cabos is in the San Jose Del Cabo area. There are two main towns that you can stay in: San Jose Del Cabo & Cabo San Lucas. From what I gathered in my research, Cabo San Lucas is where all the action is. The bars, clubs, restaurants, etc. are all in that area and closer to the famous Arch. I also found that the hotels are a bit smaller and not as grand (size wise) as I would have liked. San Jose del Cabo is further up the coast but only about 15-20 away from Cabo, Mexico and seemed to fit our vibe of just wanting to relax and be pampered.

Hotel Accommodations

We opted to splurge a bit to get what is called Royal Service. There are several amenities included in this. The first is that you have rooms in the adults only section of the resort along with an adults only pool and a restaurant that is exclusively for Royal Service guests. The rooms are the closest to the beach and have the best views. Plus the Royal Service rooms are the only ones with swim up pools which was my favorite part. It also comes with an on-call butler 24 hours a day that can make dinner reservations for you, organize activities and excursions and in our case help to plan special occasions like birthdays. They give you a “butler phone” and everything and they answer every time.

Ultimate relaxation to me means not having to think about anything. I never had to figure out what to eat or where to eat, never had to take out my wallet (only to give a tip if I was so compelled to do so) and just never had to lift a finger for anything. Our butler even brought meals and drinks to our swim up pool so that we wouldn’t have to get out for the whole day. Talk about being spoiled!

Click “Continue Reading” to see the rooms and to hear more about my trip!

Continue Reading…