Getaway in Laguna Beach

Living in Southern California certainly has many benefits as we have access to so many wonderful beach destinations that are just a stones throw away.  Whether you live in California or not, Laguna Beach should be on your radar. I recently tagged along with my husband who was at a conference there and we enjoyed our stay so much. 

Below are my favorite spots and suggestions for how to make the most of a long weekend there!

STAY: My husband and I truly enjoyed our stay at Montage Laguna Beach. It is the perfect blend of comfort and elegance and the views and amenities are incredible--the rooms, food, beach, pool, fitness and spa amenities were all stellar!

DINE: Some of the best meals in Laguna Beach can be found at  Watermarc and Driftwood Kitchen. Fave dishes include  the Cedar Planked Scottish Salmon from Watermarc and the Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna from Driftwood Kitchen. The waterfront view at Driftwood Kitchen is also breathtaking. For dessert I love to walk by the beach and get a little something from Dolce Gelato. They always have the most innovative flavors and tons of vegan options.

SHOP: A great way to spend your time in Laguna is to shop and there are several great spots for browsing and buying.  Laguna Supply carries a great selection of gorgeous beach-inspired pieces, from accessories and jewelry to swimwear and clothing. I also loved Anastasia Boutique where you'll find unique and beautifully curated ready-to-wear fashion pieces and an attached cafe. 

EXPLORE: Laguna Beach has so many beautiful areas to explore, but one stand out is Thousand Steps Beach. This hidden oasis is tucked behind beautiful trees and is, what feels like, a thousand steps down from PCH. This beach is great for exploring as well as getting your workout in as you climb the many stairs back to the road. 

CULTURE: This small town is also home to incredible history and culture. Built in 1933 with only 42 seats, St. Francis by the Sea is famous for being the second smallest church in the world. There is also incredible art housed at the Laguna Art Museum, with over 3,500 pieces from all periods of art in California. If you are lucky enough to visit Laguna Beach during the summer make sure to check out the Festival of Arts/Pageant of Masters which feature Southern California's top artists and live performances. 

DRESS: While I am visiting Laguna Beach, I love to pull out some of my bohemian chic dresses. They always fit the vibe in this beach town and can be worn for any occasion. Here are some of my essential dresses and accessories.

Top and Skirt from Sunday Saint Tropez!

Click through to see more photos from stay!

I hope you can make a trip to this wonderful West Coast destination soon!

xxMelissa

Glamping in Style: Caravan Outpost

I was so excited when my friend and blogging partner Janet Gunn invited me to go with her to the Caravan Outpost located in Ojai, about 1.5 hours from Los Angeles. With eleven exclusive and unique airstreams on the property, this destination is the perfect place to escape the city and relax in the midst of nature. We had so much fun disconnecting for a few days and glamping there in style!

All airstreams are equipped with a kitchenette including plates, utensils and cookware, a fridge, bathroom, shower, and an eating/sitting area. There are many activities to do at there like biking and hiking in the Ojai area. We enjoyed making s'mores around the campfire and then dancing in Janet's airstream to some fave old songs played on the vintage victrola!  Caravan Outpost also offers day excursions that include surfing, rock climbing, hiking, swimming and wine tastings. Spa packages available. 

Jeans by RTA. Sweater by Minnie Rose NYC. Boots by Joie. Hat by Lovely Bird.

Packed and ready to go with our new Heys luggage!

WHAT TO BRING:
I packed things that were cozy and warm since we went during winter time. The temperatures are in the 60's during the day but the nights can get chilly. Every time I pack for a trip my baby Bella wants to come too!

Travel in style with Heys Luggage in rose gold
Fave new Boho floral dress and graphic t-shirt by Madewell
The softest cashmere sweaters and beanie by Minnie Rose
Boho must-have hat by Lovely Bird
Softest Pj's and robe are by Bedhead Pajamas 
Chic and starry active wear for hiking and biking by Red Daisy
Classic Mini Marcie Bag by Chloe goes with absolutely everything

I also brought some essentials like the Flawless Skin Mask by Instytutum, a roll on perfume oil from The Sage Lifestyle, crystals from Flight of the Heart, some texturizing hair products by Unite and of course the Olie x Melissa Meyers RoseGlow Drops.

Shop the carousel below!

BUY NOW:
Boots by Joie
Sweater by Minnie Rose NYC

The Sage Lifestyle Onyx Candle (my fave scent), Flight of the Heart Love Pouch Crystals, Olie X Melissa Meyers RoseGlow drops.

BUY THIS LOOK NOW:
Madewell Dress
Lovely Bird Hat
Chloe bag
Joie boots

The local restaurants are available to cater to Caravan Outpost but we decided to venture off site and eat at AZU Restaurant & Ojai Valley Brewery, which had great salads and tacos. Other restaurants include East End Restaurant and Bar, and Agave Maria's Restaurant and Cantina. You can also bring your own food to prepare on the stove or around the campfire. 

We each had a queen bed in our airstream with Pendleton wool blankets. Matching cotton Pj's by Bed Head Pajamas.

But first...coffee! 

Masking party with Instytutum skin care!

Star Pants by Red Daisy!

Smoothing on some RoseGlow drops for dry skin! Now sold on AMAZON!!!
Cut out Sweatshirt by N Philanthropy
Fave boyfriend jeans by AMO

Time for shopping!!!! Janet and I were obsessed with the General Store with it's fabulous selection of hats, sweatshirts and t's, vintage clothing, home goods, skin care and everything hipster chic! 

Thank you Janet for including me on this wonderful excursion! Glamping was a blast at the Caravan Outpost and I still smile when I think about that time away with you. I will always remember our dancing and singing to oldies, roasting marshmallows by the fire, and our masking party!

Note to friends--I highly recommend this destination as a get-away with your girlfriends, partner or family to share in some quality down time together! 

xx Melissa

Trip to the Maldives

One of my bucket list trips has always been to visit the Maldives so last year my family and I decided to take a dream vacation there. The Maldives are a series of 26 ring-shaped atolls, which are made up of more than 1,000 coral islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka and India. Because it is such a long journey to paradise, we made a stop in Dubai for two days to break up the trip and enjoyed both destinations. This tropical getaway is literally like heaven on earth and known for its powder white-sand beaches, fabulous snorkeling and luxurious resorts.

GETTING THERE: We flew Emirates Airline from LA to Dubai which took us 16 hours on a direct flight. I highly recommend this airline if you are making a long trip as the service and food are top notch. Once we arrived in Dubai, we took a five hour connecting flight to Male, the capital of the Maldives. Once we landed, we were greeted by the staff at the COMO Maalifushi hotel where they escorted us to their sea plane taking us to the island  where the hotel was located (this flight was one hour). This is a very long trip from anywhere in the U.S. so I suggest you plan to visit some other nearby countries like Sri Lanka and India while there. Or, you can make a pit stop in Dubai or Hong Kong to break up the trip.

STAY: For this trip, we used the American Express Concierge Service for the first time. They recommended several properties and after researching all of them, we decided to go with the COMO Maalifushi Hotel. My husband and I had stayed at one of the COMO hotels when we were visiting Thailand on our honeymoon and had so many fond memories of this hotel group. This particular luxury property is known for its beautiful architecture, over-water villas, tropical greenery and cobalt lagoon. The COMO Maalifushi has a minimalist, spa like vibe throughout the property and offers the best in fresh organic food, spa treatments, yoga, water activities, and more. The staff is very friendly and pays extra attention to every detail that includes folding your clothing. The guests at the hotel were an international mix of sophisticated Europeans and Americans. Although Islam is official religion of the Maldives, women are able to wear whatever they want at the hotel but should be dressed appropriately when in the Male airport.

DINE: There are a few restaurants on property that take inspiration from the region’s fresh, tropical produce and abundant seafood. The food is light yet flavorful. Tai was the one restaurant on the property besides the main hotel restaurant serving the freshest sushi. There is also a shark pit in the center of the restaurant where you can feed the sharks!

EXPLORE: We took a private island tour where we went to another nearby island, had a delicious picnic, and enjoyed some of the best snorkeling anywhere. The hotel offers the opportunity to swim with the whale sharks at night but they never came out while we were there. :( Whale sharks are the largest fish species in the sea--they are 18-32 feet long and weigh up to 47,000 pounds. If you are lucky, you can snorkel next to some! I would suggest visiting the Maldives soon due to the bleaching of many of the coral reefs there. We went snorkeling every day and saw many stingrays, sharks and the most colorful tropical fish. Also, I could not get over the size of the fruit bats flying around--they are quite large but harmless.

ESSENTIALS: When packing for this kind of beach vacation, think light. I always pack easy flowy dresses that can take you from day to night and one light sweater or wrap. I suggest checking out Nudz Beachwear for so many great dress options. Make sure to bring a straw hat, beach bag from Poolside, sunglasses, a couple pairs of sandals and a great sunscreen. An underwater camera is a must-have as you will be mesmerized by all of the sea life. It's a great time to deep condition your hair because of all the salt water from swimming and the sun. Remember to pack a super moisturizing face cream and face oil. Leave any fancy jewelry at home and opt for a few delicate gold pieces that you can leave on the entire trip. Bring a great self-tanning cream like Vita Liberata to boost your tan while away so you look sun-kissed ready at all times!

Swimsuits in this post are by Cami & Jax. Sunglasses by Illesteva. Skirt and top by Flannel Australia. I've included a carousel with some great shopping essentials for this kind of beach getaway.

I hope you get a chance one day to visit this incredible part of the world!

xxMelissa