City Guide

How I spent my 36th birthday in Montecito, California

My son is likely the exception to the rule, he has a generally engaged and calm demeanor and there’s only one of him! We taking our son to restaurants from a young age, mostly for my own benefit! But we have had success and to preface this conversation, these tips are from my own experience, including this last supper on our trip to Italy in the most beautiful of places in Verona! This is not intended as parenting advice, just things that have helped us along the way. Whateve

Golden hour focaccia pizzas and Prosecco in my colorful new coupes, on a boat, feeling like an Italian movie star… A highlight of our trip to say the least. An evening boat ride is a must on Lake Como. I can’t tell you how much fun we all had with our local snacks and sips, enjoying a very comfortable ride along the lake seeing villas, colorful towns and glittering waves! Lake Como by Boat Lake Como is a huge wishbone shaped landmark in northern Italy, just below the Swiss bo

The promise of magic, is how I got Parker to wear the cute little Italian loafers I earnestly purchased for him, praying he would consider swapping out his Nike’s for one extra elevated evening on the lake… And fortunately the magic worked. Parker totally bought in with the heavy handed clue ChatGBT and I carefully constructed and instantly put on the loafers as we pulled into the narrow, almost hidden driveway at Passalacqua. For anyone who isn’t already aquatinted via Vogue

I’ll be honest, the lake life has never quite done it for me. Yes, of course lakes are stunning, especially with soaring mountain ranges behind them quite like many of the lakeside retreats not far from Los Angeles in Tahoe, Mammoth and even Big Bear. However, Lake Como I must add is quite incomparable to those locales, even it’s neighboring Lago di Garda, a place I spent much time at when I lived in nearby Verona. Lake Como or Lago di Como as the Italians say, is absolutely

I’d been to Milan a few times when lived in Verona about 15 years ago, but back then my main focus was nightclubs, fast fashion and sightseeing as one would expect at age 20. We often traveled to Milan because the two airports had more direct flights to other European cities than Verona so it mainly served as a nearby port to other more worthwhile destinations. However, as I have gotten older I’ve realized Milan is essentially the only Italian city I’d ever consider living in

The happiest place on earth is in Florida, just not Orlando. Welcome to Palm Beach, a place where resortwear is mandatory, pastels are considered neutrals and the local trivia night resembles a Slim Aarons photograph. Everything in Palm Beach is pristine, pink and pairs well with a statement earring and cocktail. Traditionally a waspy winter retreat for snowbirds and heiresses, Palm Beach has now become a bit more known for it’s picturesque Spanish colonial charm and chic eat

The Epitome of California Chic… Living in Los Angeles offers many convenience aside from the blatantly obvious year round sunshine, beautiful landscapes and epicenter of west coast style. The proximity to other equally beautiful places is what people tend to think less of and if I had the option of nearby vacation home it would most certainly be Montecito or neighboring Santa Barbara. Both are just 90 minutes north of LA, involving a scenic drive up the California coast into

Skiing and all the ceremony that comes along with it, has become a real treat for me that I now look forward to every season. However, it’s become much harder to do with an active toddler but I figured this year I could finally bring him along for the fun. Hello Mammoth! I’ve been to a few different ski resorts; Aspen , Vail , Big Bear and Steamboat to be exact. All of which without a toddler, hence why we chose Mammoth for our first family trip given it’s proximity to Los

We arrived in Valle de Guadalupe on a warm and sunny afternoon in advance of our dear friends wedding festivities. Considered one of the best secrets of Mexico, Valle de Guadalupe is a quaint and rustic wine country region in Baja, Mexico, only about a couple hours south of San Diego, California. Buenas Tardes Valle! Known for it’s relaxed, country atmosphere we felt like we were truly lucky being introduced to the region given we have never visited a non-beachside destinatio

While enjoying our dreamy balcony breakfast on our last morning in Paris, we also got some good news that our flight was delayed by a few hours, meaning more time on a sunnier day. Magnifique! So of course I beelined straight for the perfect photo location I had saved a long time ago! Photo Op! 225 Rue de l’Université, 75007 Paris, France Save it for your next trip, a great location for a less direct shot of the Effiel Tower, contrasted with a Haussmann style facade, making f

After a rainy day in Paris, we headed back to our cozy hotel suite to freshen up before our last night of the trip and official five year wedding anniversary! La Fontaine de Mars La Fontaine de Mars is a classic Parisian spot that I am happy to say lived up to it’s consistently good reviews. I thoroughly enjoyed my final meal of escargot and French fries, along with a perfect glass of bubbly champs. Arthur loved his fresh fish but we both swooned over the side of gratin daup

I woke up on our last morning in Paris eager to check off two more boxes; a run through the early morning light and a stop at a fabulous patisserie before putting that stunning large balcony to use. Morning Run in Paris Fortunately the rain had cleared and the city gave me perfect conditions with a fall like temperature, cleared streets and some sun! Pâtisserie Pickup I ended my short run at La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac , one a few places in the 8th open early on a Sunday morn

The next morning after our first night in Paris, we slept in leisurely and found a chic cafe to start our day. Maison François 1er One of my absolute favorite things to do in any place I visit is run or walk as far as I possibly can, stopping for photos, shops and little alleyways as I go. Arthur and I had the best time doing a complete loop of NYC on one of trips and I was hopeful to recreate that in Paris despite the rainy weather! Avenue Montaigne Since we were staying in

After our bébé shopping score, and some beautiful strolling on our first day in Paris, we headed back to our hotel to relax before drinks and dinner. Parisian Pink And for me to ooh and ahh over the dress I’ve been saving for Paris ever since I found it maybe 10 years ago in a vintage shop! It’s safe to safe the dress felt perfectly Parisian and it was truly a fantasy to wear it out for our first night in Paris! Miss at the Ritz Before dinner we made it to the Ritz for a fanc

Enchanté! Paris is always a good idea and this trip has been a longtime coming. The last time I was here was during my time studying abroad in Verona, Italy, so being back as a real adult is such a treat and we truly made the most of our short time! We flew in from Nice to ORLY airport and had a very easy time getting an Uber to our hotel in the 8th arrondissement. Throughout our entire stay in France; Provence, Saint-Tropez and Paris, Uber was extremely reliable and basicall

Provence is a charming area in the South of France, part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, just a couple hours drive inland from the glitzy coastline commonly referred to as the Côte d’Azur. I’ve been dreaming of a Provençal holiday… Known for it’s lavender fields, fresh cheeses, jams, honey and olive groves responsible for pinky rosé wine. Here you will find wicker baskets topped to brim with housewares and vegetables from the local market, boulangeries with warm bag

Honey, I’m home. I’ve been wanting to come to Provence forever and it’s truly now become one of my forever favorite places. Provence is a charming region in the South of France made up of many hilltop villages, just a couple hours drive inland from the glitzy coastline of the more famous Côte d’Azur. Because there are so many little towns to choose from, you really can’t go wrong here but I am happy to report this stunning piece of property checked all my boxes. Provencal cha

Oh. my. Gordes. Said everyone who’s ever been to Gordes and captioned a photo on Instagram. But the hype does live up. Gordes is one of the quintessential provencal towns for a reason! In fact, on our last trip to the French Riviera I had made the mistake of sending us to Gordon, France, when really what I meant (and unfortunately a quick google search would have suggested) was the charming hilltop village of Gordes!  We still managed a countryside picnic back then, a palatia

Avignon is the one of the largest and most established Provençal cities in the northern region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. For most people, Provence is considered the more northwest, countryside of the region where many small villages are relatively clustered near one another, as you can see on my map at the very bottom of this post. Avingon is also an easy place to arrive to by train as we did right after our flight on the TGV fast train , an easy 2.5 hour ride through th