Traveling Lightly as a Family
A recent Q&A I worked on with Steamline Luggage (discussing topics ranging from working from home to road and air travel with a young child,) is now live on their blog. In conjunction with the interview, Steamline has offered our community a promotional code for 15% off their gorgeous luggage, which we’ve both used at home and on-the-go for years. Use WLM15 for a discount, now through August 20th. A sampling of the exchange is below.
Q: We know you cut down on air travel to cut down on your carbon footprint; tell us more about that and how you still embrace road trip travel?
A: Flying less often is such a simple way to significantly cut back our negative impact on the planet. (A single cross-country flight here in the US represents about 1/18th of a person’s annual carbon emissions!) So while our small business and family hasn’t cut out air travel entirely, we’ve certainly decreased the number of trips we take by air. We’re only flying for rare/unique business occasions, or to be reunited with family after long stretches of time apart. As far as road trips are concerned, we’re staying close to home. Luckily SoCal is rich with mountains, deserts, old-growth forests, and vast beaches. In just a few short hours, we can be transported to so many breathtaking places. Plus, we live in a tourist destination— we might as well stay home and enjoy it.
Q: Back to your carbon footprint—the way you are cutting it down in terms of travel and at home is really admirable. What are some good “hacks” for greener travel?
A: Less than 20% of the population has ever been on a plane, yet the negative environmental impacts of air travel affect the entire planet. So if you are in the privileged position to be able to fly, challenge yourself to do so less often. When you do have to travel by air, little modifications can help, such as flying coach, packing light, bringing a reusable coffee/water bottle to fill after security, shutting the window shades when instructed by flight attendants, financially offsetting carbon emissions via a trustworthy source, and routing directly whenever possible. Additionally, while on-the-go, skip the disposable goods (marketed for “travel” or otherwise) at the airport, in the sky and while at your destination by opting for reusable / washable / refillable alternatives. Additionally, educate yourself in advance of a vacation, and consider how tourism is impacting the local community and infrastructure of the community you wish to visit. Confirm that it has the capacity to sustainably manage tourism.
Q: Little West is so gorgeous! And a fun age. Has having a child changed the way you have travelled thus far, what you would like to see, or how far from home you are most comfortable going? And regarding your road trips, what is your biggest travel tip for traveling with a kid for long car journeys?
A: Traveling with a little one can, of course, be a bit of a challenge. (“Please don’t put your mouth on the seat-back table, West!!!”) But it’s also an immense joy. West has flown over both the Pacific and Atlantic at this point. No journey is too long or too short— it all just takes a bit more consideration than it did before, and that’s quite all right. For road trips (and at home), we rely heavily on children’s audio books! (West is wildly in love with Sarah & Duck via the Pinna app.)
Q: Although we are all getting more comfortable in our little bubbles while we socially distance, we remain deeply interested in the connections we make with people with whom we mightn’t have much in common when we do leave our home spaces. In terms of past trips, can you recall one of the most meaningful exchanges you've had with someone while traveling? Both/either on the road or at your destination.
A: I enjoy staying in actual, old-fashioned Bed & Breakfasts. They lead to so many more human moments in otherwise highly curated experiences. When visiting our home away from home, Belcastel (Aveyron, France), I'm always moved by the little things… like a local grabbing us a head of lettuce for our dinner from their garden, or business owners opening up their kitchen after-hours to provide us with bread and wine. I ache for our late night dances by the river there, and to hear the villagers sweetly laugh at us while we huff-and-puff our way up the steep hills (paved with medieval cobblestones) as we slip out the backs of our sandals and wipe sweat from our sunburned faces. Sigh…
Q: As a small business owner who’s influential on social media, what does this look like when you travel? Do you ever find the need to power off—and if so, how do you do this? What role do social media and communications play on your trips?
A: I rarely power down when out of town, but I don’t think that has to be a negative thing, depending on how it’s executed. Though it certainly has taken me years to figure out how to most efficiently navigate work vs play while on trips, and remember to look up and breathe.
I’ve found that, for me, sharing compilation posts and videos across my blog and social channels AFTER the trip allow me to focus on living in moments (and capturing them as I naturally would anyway), and then I can edit my footage and imagery on the journey back home while my son is occupied with an audiobook or with my husband. While on the trip, I do feel that it’s important to share a bit about the environmental toll our activities take (or don't take), in realtime, as it draws awareness to the impacts of travel, and sparks some productive conversations on ways that we can all be more responsible, and mindful of our actions and footprint.
Q: How do you generally plan or design your trips? Do you build around visiting loved ones / people or certain places or things?
A: We have no family here in LA, so we tend to “use up” most of our travel time and money on visiting family members elsewhere. But when we plan a trip based on a place itself, we always overlap it with business in some substantial capacity so that we can better justify the journey and expense. (And when traveling by car, we are much more flexible with planning in general.)
Q: We really appreciate your candor and advice re: WFH challenges, such as how you said, “Even though I can’t work uninterrupted for more than a 30-60 minutes at a time, I do try to practice helpful habits like separating myself from the rest of the family, clocking-in for the task and clocking-out when it’s completed, and having necessities and comforts within arm’s reach (and notifications off) so I’m not sidetracked.” SL founder Sara Banks is a mother of four boys (4 mo.-7 yrs) and is attempting the same! She has noticed how the practice is similar to her travel mantra of “slow down, look up”, i.e., powering on or off (not both!), being present, and single-tasking well over multitasking poorly. Do you think these disciplines have the potential to improve home and travel life in our post-COVID-19 world?
A: I certainly hope so. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we remember and honor such findings, rather than fooling ourselves back into believing that we have to do everything… perfectly… and all at once. It’s okay to be the tortoise rather than the hare if that’s what it takes to cross the finish line with integrity and peace of mind.
Q: Your sentiment also really resonates that, “This is a time for heightened flexibility, compassion and patience— with others, and with ourselves." Sara has also been contemplating the virtues of communal care versus self-care. Do you think we might come out of this with a more neighborly, less-judgemental world?
A: I think that communal care is crucial to a healthier tomorrow. In becoming more connected and reliant upon localized and collaboratively-managed resources, we can potentially alleviate much of the burdens carried by our planet, and better provide for everyone — not just those who can afford it. This time has also been a loud reminder of what jobs and skills are most necessary (and thus should be respected and compensated accordingly) to keep our communities safe and functioning.
Q: Lastly, you seem to use space so cleverly and never seem to have too much of anything around, but just enough that you can highlight things you use. Does your use of space apply to how you pack? What are some essentials you might bring with you, and do you tend to be a light or heavy packer? Any tips for packing for kids?
A: We tend to be easygoing and toss things pell-mell into the car when on a road trip. But for air or train travel we’re highly organized and minimal, typically sharing one suitcase and limiting ourselves to 2 carry-ons so we still have hands free to hold each other. Since we have a straightforward and simplified relationship with “stuff” in our house, it’s now fairly effortless to translate that into our packing system and routine. On a more detailed sidenote, West’s favorite activity is reading books, so we take a small stack of slim and lightweight paperbacks in our carry-on, and then we always try to visit the library wherever we go. A library can be such a fantastic window into a community’s personality!
Tiny Adventures: Asheville
I believe that one of the ways that we can inspire each other to protect and regenerate the earth together is by deeper imbedding ourselves within the natural world year-round. This is one of the many reasons why I appreciate tiny living— it encourages us to get outside and dive into the environments that exist beyond our four walls.
“It’s an indisputable fact that we are deeply connected with nature. From the most past, we simply fail to realize this connection. From the perspective of ecology, our bodies are made of all-natural stuff... Greater than 95% of our tenure as humans has been spent living in intimate contact with the nonhuman world. Our bodies, minds, and emotions were fashioned by evolution in wild places where a deep sense of connection was essential for survival.”
- “How to Raise a Wild Child”
West doesn’t get to explore a traditional winter since we live in Southern California. It’s a season that he mainly experiences via stories and illustrations in the books we borrow from our local library.
So for the past two winters we’ve taken him to places where he can breathe the cold air, see and touch the snow, and see beautifully sparse trees and vines before the burst of spring. (Of course there were personal reasons for both of those trips as well, which I’m not prepared to share. Ideally we would skip the plane ride altogether, since air travel is so staggeringly damaging for the planet. What good does it do to fly to experience new views of the natural world if we’re harming it in the process?)
Last week we visited Asheville, North Carolina with my parents. We saved up for an extraordinary, minimalist, 2 bed/2bath Airbnb that was built to usher the outdoors in.
Click here for the Airbnb listing.
Click here for our 1-minute video journal from the trip.
We arrived at night, so we couldn’t see much of the land around the house— we could just hear the bubbling of a nearby creek. When I pulled back our bedroom curtains in the morning I actually gasped so loudly I woke Adam up. The view was staggering, and it was was visible from nearly every room of the home.
In addition to the generous windows, there were additional natural elements within the space that were unique, and made us feel like we were outside, even as we tucked ourselves into bed.
Bark-lined walls, sculptural boulders, and mollusk shells + agate stones inlaid throughout the concrete floors and custom furnishings reminded us that there’s nothing more beautiful than the diverse treasures scattered abundantly throughout the natural world.
As such, we spent 2 of our 3 days there almost entirely outdoors while exploring the community.
For our last day in town, we rested and enjoyed the home from sunrise to sunset.
I’m no expert on Asheville, so I’ll skip the “what to do” guide, as the community is tourist-savvy and has no shortage of expertly compiled tips available via a bit of research. Instead, I’ll simply say that the town is unique, gorgeous, eco-minded, and welcoming, and our family is thankful for the time we spent there.
Tiny Adventures + Video: Our Winter Vacation in N. Florida
We took a lil’ break from our tiny cottage this holiday to visit our family in my childhood home of Gainesville, Florida.
It’d been 2+ years since I’d be home, as we’ve been trying to cut back on air travel due to its high carbon footprint.
Rather than doing my usual daily posts while on the trip, I wanted to simply enjoy being with everyone, and to then create a miniature video journal and blog post from our experiences afterwards.
(Click here to view the 1-minute video.)
While there are admittedly no tangible “takeaways” in this post, I do hope that the visuals (which feature abundant live oaks, Spanish moss, animals, rainy skies and brilliant sunshine,) serve as a reminder of why the health of this beautiful planet is worth fighting for— in ways both grand and small— every day.
Some Items You Can Probably Go Without - Travel Edition
While it's great to share stories about designs and practices that help us live comfortably and contentedly in small spaces, I think it’s just as important to discuss the things that we can happily live WITHOUT— particularly during the holidays, when “stuff” just of all sorts just seems to swell. After all, making a home of a small space isn’t mainly about figuring out how to cram as much stuff as possible into your compact quarters— it’s about experiencing more by owning less. As always, before we jump on in, here’s a lil’ disclaimer: To each their own. While these items might be easy for easy for some folks to forego, they might be gems elsewhere. You know your own needs and space best. Habits shift, tastes change, lives and practices evolve. Design and decor should be different and enjoyable for everyone! The following is just a small sampling of travel items you may want to reconsider. (View all the entries in this series here.)
Neck Pillow
These silly things always, always make me laugh… until I imagine how many are likely disposed of between trips, and how many new ones are purchased daily. Try rolling up a scarf or a sweater… or dare we simply make-do with ever-so-mild discomfort for a few hours and then move on with our clutter-free lives.
Luggage Scale
If you have a regular scale at your home, then you have a luggage scale. If your bags are hard to weight by themselves, just weight yourself with each suitcase in your arms, and then subtract your weight sans-suitcase. My 5 year old nephew can manage it— you got this.
The Overzealous Skincare Routine
At home and on-the-go, I used to use an obnoxious (and expensive + space-space-consuming) number of products: makeup remover, face wipes, cleanser, toner, face oil, serum, add-in powders for the serum, moisturizer, under-eye cream, sunscreen, and primer. It was absurd, costly, cumbersome, and wreaking havoc on my skin. I’ve since updated my routine to something simpler and less wasteful in terms of spending, packaging and space. View my post about it here.
Disposable Makeup Remover Wipes
I was guilty of keeping a stash of these disposable goods in my bedside drawer, in the medicine cabinet, and in my travel toiletries pouch for years. Then, recently, we were paddling down the canals and I saw a crane pecking the discarded plastic packaging from the same product. So… no more. I now have three reusable makeup remover pads, which can be washed up to 200 times each. If I’m wearing particularly stubborn eye makeup after a en event or shoot, I just use a bit of coconut oil on a washable cotton round and it’s managed.
Pre-Packaged Travel Convenience Kit
These drugstore kits are usually filled with plastic bottles containing filler-laden formulas with toxic ingredients. And, most likely, you probably don’t even need (or want) all the products, but accept them as a bundle. Invest in a few reusable travel-sized bottles and containers instead— then just syphon off an appropriate amount of your everyday necessities within them and go. Sample sizes work well for this, too.
Passport Cover
I’m not going to lie— we have these. I bought a handmade trio for our first trip out of the country with West, simply because I was so excited about the journey. But it was silly of me. As long as you keep your passport safe while at home and on the go, you don’t need a dedicated cover. And, according to NPR, e-pickpocketing by RFID-hackers can be blocked by wrapping your wallet, cards, or passports in aluminum foil when you’re in places in which they’re potentially more vulnerable. (Consumer Reports claims that this works just as well as most RFID protectors on the market.) Our passport envelopes are pretty for sure, but we really only see them for a minute or so per year. I should’ve taken that bit of money and put it into West’s education account instead.
Conversation Cards
What? No. These are on par with neck pillows. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you require a deck of cards to carve a path through your social interactions during long rides.
Airplane Footrest
Some people have injuries and conditions that require special gear for travel. However, if you don’t have a medical issue, then you probably don’t need things like airplane footrests. Can you prop your feet on your under-the-seat bag or nearby hardware? Can you perhaps walk up and down the aisle, or do some basic stretches if you get achy? I have faith that most folks can make-do without their own suspended footrest.
“Shoe Bags”
I wrap up my shoes when I travel, but I do so with washable canvas totes, cotton drawstring sacks, or even the unfortunate plastic bags that still come with various deliveries. (Does your dry cleaner wrap your attire in plastic, even when you’ve asked them not to? You might as well get some more milage out of it all… better than just throwing it directly in the trash, right?)
Compact Blanket
These dedicated blankets roll up tight into their own clever little built-in pouches, but they’re likely unnecessary, and usually manufactured in conditions and with materials much like fast-fashion apparel. Just use your coat or an oversized large scarf when you get a bit chilly in-flight or on a drive. Adam, West and I wear our larger LSA scarves (as seen above in a photo by Sebastian Artz) when we travel for this exact purpose.
Above: Folks always ask how we get the pups to pose. We don’t. We just catch them doing what they do best: adorably photobombing.
Travel Accessories With Which I’m Unapologetically, Totally on Board
I personally like the following because I use them to stay organized every day, whether in our tiny home or when we’re away:
Dock-A-Tot & Carrying Case (We used both sizes of these constantly until West was about 18 months old.)
Tiny Adventures: Laguna Beach
One of the things I enjoy the most about small space living is that it inspires us to seek new experiences beyond our four walls. This week, someone rented our cottage for a shoot, so we decided to turn our time away from home into tiny adventure and hop down the Cali coast a bit. We started off in Hermosa Beach, and ended up in nearby Laguna Beach.
We kicked off the trip by celebrating the cheerful #OhJoyxErinCondren collaboration in Hermosa.
From there, we headed to the Laguna Beach House.
It was a short but therapeutic stay. We walked on the beach, played in the pool, visited some local shops and restaurants, chased bunnies through the parks along the ocean, and West even slept through the night for the first time without making so much as a lil' peep.
These beachside communities along the SoCal coast are so stunningly gorgeous. I'm thankful that we had the opportunity to share them with our son in the quiet days before the busier Memorial Day weekend.
West broke in his new swimsuit from Alex and Alexa, and it was one of the cutest things I've ever seen. He's definitely a Cali kid.
Hermosa and Laguna-- we'll be back. Sooner than later, I hope. Thanks for all the gorgeous sights and colors, and for the relaxing, tiny adventure.
Co-Sleeping in the Cottage
Note: Please consult professional sources and keep safety as the top priority when making sleep decisions with and for your child. I am neither advocating for or against bed-sharing via this blog post. I am simply sharing our personal experience in case it helps anyone else on their journey.
We receive lots of questions about how we manage the family’s sleep situation in our tiny home. Where does West sleep? What about the pups? How do we handle noise and keep from disturbing one another? What are our plans for the future? Would we recommend bed-sharing to other new parents living in small spaces?
Left: WEST In the DockATot Deluxe in the Cottage bedroom. Right: West In THE mini-crib in our tiny house nursery nook.
Adam and I never had a sleep plan in place for our life with the baby. We decided to go with what felt natural for us, day by day. The short story is that we’ve bed-shared for the past 16 months. The longer version involves many more layers, including a DockATot, mini-crib, and convertible toddler bed.
Months 1-12
Our Baby:
For the first year with West, we had a mini-crib. When our son was a newborn, he would take his naps there, or in his MamaRoo or the small DockATot. He would also begin his nights in the crib.
I worked full-time throughout my entire pregnancy and after our son was born, and I simply felt too tired to get in and out of bed for each feeding. As such, we would bring West into bed with us after his mid-night wakeups. At that point, he slept safely and snugly between Adam and me in the center of our bed in the DockATot.
West fit perfectly in the mini-crib until around 7 months, when he began to flail around a bit too much to sleep in there for more than a couple of hours at a time. We kept the mini-crib for for an additional 3 months for his naps. Sometimes we rolled the crib into other areas of the house and the garden, just to get him used to other views and environments.
Left: In the airplane bassinet, flying to France. Right: Up from a nap in a hotel in Maui.
Bed-sharing has been made life easier when we travel. West will fall asleep anywhere when his natural bedtime rolls around.
Our Dogs + The Noise:
Sophee sleeps at our feet in the bed, and Stanlee like to curl up on the floor in the tiny space between my side of the bed and the wall. They have THE LOUDEST beagle barks, but they rarely wake up West. I think it’s because West has been listening to those barks since the moment he could hear in the womb. I even remember him physically reacting to being startled by the barks when he was still just a bump in my belly. By his earliest days in the Cottage, he was very used to the sound. West doesn’t even wake up when Adam and I watch movies on the laptop in bed next to him. And, due to the skylights and numerous curtainless windows in the cottage, the light has never phased him either. We lucked out.
Months 12-16
Our Toddler:
West still sleeps with us in bed at night, but we no longer use the DockATot. We believe he's big enough now to sleep safely by our sides without it. He also uses his new convertible crib / toddler bed / daybed in the front cottage for naps, and at night when my parents or a sitter are with him.
Travel:
When we take quick trips by car we bring the large DockATot with us for the versatile options it provides. When we travel by plane, we simply plan on West sleeping in a regular bed with us.
Left: In the DockATot Grand in the garden. Right: Slumber party in the front cottage guest bed.
The Bottom Line:
Personally, I love sharing our bed. Since I work for most of the day, the nights are a wonderful way for me to be close to my son. It can’t last forever, I know, but it’s still enjoyable for us right now. Yes, he kicks and pivots and smacks us in the eyeballs. Yes, we are tired. But what parent isn’t? And the magic of it all far outweighs the disruptions. We plan to wean ourselves slowly off of co-sleeping at some point this year, when it feels right for all of us.
Create & Cultivate Seattle
Adam and I took a quick trip to Seattle this past weekend to participate in the latest Create & Cultivate conference at the Microsoft Headquarters. It was a joy to speak on the panel: Detail Oriented: An Inside Look at the Business of Design.
I was honored to be part of such an incredible group of women. The panel included Kate Arends (of Wit and Delight), Anne Sage (of Light Lab), Christina Martinez (of New Darlings), Anne Alo (of Creative House Int'l), Amanda Manna (of Lowes Innovation Labs), and was moderated by Jessica Anderson (of Elle Decor).
Photo © New Darlings: newdarlings.com
Adam and I stayed at the Thompson Hotel, which is beautifully designed and perfectly situated in the city. Since it was our first time in Seattle, we did the touristy things, like visit Pike Place Market and the Space Needle. We also spent hours in the MoPOP. We enjoyed many of their installations, but we went specifically for the Jim Henson Exhibition, organized by the Museum of the Moving Image in New York. I loved the Henson collection so much that Adam practically had to drag me away from it...
I deliberately left my camera in my purse the majority of the time, focusing instead on meeting the participants and attendees of the conference. But I snapped a few iPhone photos for Instagram Stories, below:
Thank you, Jaclyn R. Johnson and Create & Cultivate for including me in such an epic, informative and inspiring event.
Santa Monica Staycation
Recently, while a TV show was being shot at the Cottage for a few days, we decided to relocate to Santa Monica for a lil' working staycation:
We stayed at the Palihouse, and absolutely loved it. Our suite was probably around 600 sqft-- compared to our tiny cottage, we basically felt like we were in a palace. West scooted all over the place, and it was the perfect spot for keeping him safely entertained while I worked.
With the full kitchen in our room, along with the incredibly comfortable and cozy work/lounge areas in the lobby and gardens, we felt like we were staying in a friends gorgeous, sprawling home.
I loved how intimate the Palihouse felt. It's not quite a typical hotel, and we liked that about it.
We held a few meetings, caught up with some friends, watched the GOT season finale (which was fun-- we don't have a TV at the cottage), and strolled along the beach. It felt good to be there, and, of course, it felt wonderful to return home afterwards.
Unfortunately we discovered a lot of damage to the cottage when we got back. (That'll happen when you have a production crew of 40 people in under 400 sqft for three days straight, I guess.) But the great thing about a tiny house is that we got it all back under control within a few hours. (And hurricane Harvey put things into perspective for us.)
Now on to September!
Guesthouse Getaway in Santa Barbara
Last week, Adam and I felt the overwhelming need to be with our family, and to surround baby West with love. We decided to take a quick getaway to Adam's brother and sister-in-law's home in Santa Barbara. We stayed in their guest unit, which is the dreamiest and most comfortable little house. (Even though it's a small studio-style home, it's still probably about 3x the size of our cottage!)
I hadn't intended on taking many photos during our visit-- I wanted to my eyes focused on my family, not my phone. But I couldn't keep myself from snapping a few images here and there, as the interiors and grounds were just too gorgeous to resist. (Alas, it's not an Airbnb, folks. Sigh!)
I hope you enjoy a glimpse of the details from this incredible property, which is one of my main design and decor inspirations.
At 10+ months old, West zoomed all over this cozy casita. He even picked and ate oranges from the garden. We took him on a few visits into town and to the beach, and relished the immense beauty of the California coast at the end of summer.
Click the images below to see what we packed, what we saw, and why we are counting down the days until our next visit.
From Cottage to Castle
In late July, we journeyed from our tiny house in Venice to a tiny village in France for a two week vacation in Belcastel. This little medieval town is nestled in the Aveyron Valley, and has been my home-away-from-home for a decade. The Château de Belcastel, which sits atop the village, is a striking and stunning historic monument, owned by my dear friend Heidi Leigh. I usually stay in her castle during my visits, but this year I was joined by more friends and family members than ever before, so I rented us all a gîte instead. It was the best of both worlds-- we were nestled in the heart of the village, and we were also fortunate enough to have access to the gorgeous castle. (When I could find wifi, I documented the stay on Instagram via Stories, and via #FromCottageToCastle.)
This year's trip was particularly magical for a few reasons: it was our first time in Belcastel with Baby West, it was the first time my sister visited the village, and we all got to see and celebrate an original mural that two of my close friends from LA-- Chandler Wood and Darren Le Gallo-- painted for one of the art galleries within the castle. It was extraordinary to be in one of my favorite places with so many of my favorite people:
One of the things I love most about Belcastel in summer is its Friday night market series. Artisans, bakers, wineries and more set up booths along the river and offer their specialty items to residents and visitors:
Both the village and the castle are spectacular. Adam and I are seriously considering finding a little cottage in the area...
I wore an outfit that was super practical for traveling-- particularly with a baby who I'm still nursing. I selected a button-down one-piece from Tysa, flats by Mohinders, an ascot (so West can yank on it) from Late Sunday Afternoon, and a teething necklace from Etsy. We requested a bassinet seat from Air France, and were thrilled with the results (even though our 10-month-old West is almost too big for it). We dressed him in a one-piece from Primary, which was extremely easy to manage on board.
Oh, Belcastel-- we all love you so much. We cannot wait to return next summer.
Coverage of our trip to Belcastel is also up on Domino! Click here to view.
Mini Maui Trip
Last weekend, we took a mini trip to Maui for a Create & Cultivate pop-up. At the conference, I spoke on a panel called, "Climbing Higher: The New Multi-Hustle Business Woman." I’ve participated in Create & Cultivate events in the past, but this was a particularly refreshing opportunity-- and not just because of the location. I feel like I've evolved immensely (both personally and professionally) this past year, and it was s true joy to discuss that growth and to learn from the other speakers and attendees.
From left to right: Sophia Rossi, whitney leigh morris, and Kelly Oxford. Panel moderated by Jaclyn Johnson. Photo by brecht van't hof for create & cultivate
We spoke and stayed at the Wailea Beach Resort, which was recently renovated. It was an incredible indoor/outdoor hotel. Even the lobby was located outdoors. Swoon.
Photo by brecht van't hof for create & cultivate
Adam and baby West made the trip with me. We ended up staying an extra night, because poor West came down with an ear infection and a head-to-toe rash. The hotel staff and the nearby urgent care facility were extremely helpful and supportive, and by the last day of our visit, my son was back to his cheerful self.
Thank you Create & Cultivate for this wonderful opportunity. And thank you, Maui-- we cannot wait to return.
Gallery photos: Baby West at sunrise / Sunset at the hotel / Monday's workspace by the infinity pool / West on the beach / Create & Cultivate panel speakers / Poolside view / West and Adam in the hotel room / New travel gear essential for trip: "Sitting Pretty" case from This is Ground
Visit to Casa Joshua Tree
For West's first slumber party outside of the Cottage, we decided to take him to visit Casa Joshua Tree. This wonderful, peaceful home in the desert was also the first place I visited after discovering I was pregnant, so it felt fitting to return with our newest family member as soon as we felt comfortable travelling!
Note regarding this post's photography: I took most of these shots on my iPhone for Instagram Stories, so they're formatted accordingly.
I love the beautiful simplicity of Casa Joshua Tree. While there's no clutter here, every corner is an Instagram dream. It's a clean, open and inspiring space that sparks creativity in comfort.
Mini-Moon in Ojai
We decided to take a (very) mini-moon to Ojai this week. Between the pregnancy (the first trimester was rough for me) and the wedding, I hadn't spent a night away from the Cottage in months. Ojai is a gorgeous town, located about 80+ miles from LA, so it's one of our favorite quick getaways. Since we wouldn't have much time, we wanted a place where we could just drop the car keys and relax in one place for the duration of the trip. We opted to stay at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.
Linus bikes for the Picnic & Pedal program at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.
OUR PRIVATE CABANA AT THE NEW INDIGO POOL.
We kept giggling about our guest room, because it was nearly twice the size of our entire Cottage. And while we usually prefer to live small, it was definitely a joy to have an oversized tub (I am 5'11", and Adam is 6'2"), along with a fire place and an epic balcony available to us for our lil' stay. Thank you, Ojai-- we love you and cannot wait to return with the pups... and our son!
To the guest room...
Adam's luggage: The Weekender Bag • Whitney's suitcase: The Diplomat
The Venice Beach Canals
It's no secret how much I love the Venice Beach Canals. We walk the pups along the waterways daily, and look forward to the special events thrown by the Canals Association (such as the holiday boat parade and the 4th of July rubber ducky race).
Unfortunately, more and more of the cute, old bungalows like ours are now being ripped down for modern, zero-lot-line behemoths. To each his/her own, but it definitely bums me out to witness all the demolition. I'm all for change, improvement and progress (yay for green architecture and interesting design!), but I wish that more people tried modifying the smaller, historic homes before building and filling up new mansions.
These are some of my favorite shots we took on (or at places inspired by) the Canals this past year:
Casa Joshua Tree
I visited Casa Joshua Tree again in early February. It was incredible to see all the progress that Lindsay has made on her home renovation.
My favorite recent addition to the space is the Hygge & West wallpaper by Justna Blakeney that we got for her main bathroom. It looks 😍!!!
Lindsay and I had the perfect mini-vacation together-- we worked on some creative projects, snapped tons of pix, hiked through the desert, ate at La Copine Kitchen and Crossroads, and got our live music fix at Pappy and Harriet's.
Idyllwild Weekend
Idyllwild. You. Are. Magic. This has been the best weekend getaway from LA-- we traveled from the sand to the snow in fewer than 3 hours.
Big thanks to Tysa Designs and Lou & Grey for providing me with the best winter-wear on short-notice. And thank you, Smoke & Honey Magazine, for teaching us about the town.
Pictured: Brooke Lyons, Casa Joshua Tree, Eliz Wilson, and Rachel Mae Furman.
South Florida Vacation
Before heading home to the Cottage after Gainesville, we took a little mini-trip down to Miami leading into New Year:
We stayed at The Standard Spa in Miami Beach. The staff was incredibly helpful and friendly (especially you, Frank Zapata), and Adam and I had such a relaxing 3-night stay.
A highlight from the trip was visiting The Walton House, where Adam's mother got married. The setting is a botanical-lovers paradise, and I couldn't stop swooning over the twinkle-lights and blue wooden doors throughout the grounds. It was such a perfect place for an intimate and extraordinary wedding.
Below are some of my favorite moments from Miami, including The Standard, The Walton House, and Whisk Gourmet (mmmmm, grits...):
North Florida Vacation
I love our Cottage, but as it's our live/work environment, it's always good to get out and adventure.
This Christmas, I decided to return to my childhood home in Gainesville, Florida for the first time in three years. Luckily my folks come to LA all the time, but nothing tops visiting in them here:
Sometimes I can't believe I grew up here. It's a wet prairie, surrounded by a live oak forest. This is my parent's immediate backyard. It was just as magical as I remembered it being, and at the end of the week-long vacation, I wasn't ready to leave. (I definitely won't wait three more years to return again.)
When I wasn't clipping botanicals from the garden to decorate our dining table and holiday gifts, I stopped by some gorgeous local sites with my 2½ year-old nephew, Finn. I'd definitely recommend the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens and The Florida Museum of Natural History to anyone staying in the Gainesville area.
If you're interested in seeing more photos of this region of Florida, I recommend checking out the work of my friend Mac Stone-- his Insta is one of my favorite accounts.
New York City (Fall, 2015)
I always miss New York. For a couple years, my ex and I lived in a tiny apartment in the East Village. It was a fantastic neighborhood, and a really cool little 1-bedroom. I wish I could've kept it. Since then, I've continued to work regularly with companies based in Manhattan. I try to head back as often as I can to visit those clients face-to-face, and to reconnect with one of the greatest cities on Earth.
I usually stay in an Airbnb, but for this particular trip I checked into the NoMo SoHo. It's a really unique and comfortable space-- I would definitely recommend it.
I couldn't have picked a better time to visit. The foliage was violently orange, and the High Line path wasn't too packed. I visited the new Whitney, the Met, saw some small shows, visited my friends at One Kings Lane, and dined at some of my favorite spots (including The Butcher's Daughter in Nolita). I also spent some time with a friend in Irvington, one of the cutest towns ever. It was the perfect trip.
'Til next time, NY! (Click on the image below to view the gallery in IG.)
Pennsylvania Wedding Client
I had the joy of decorating a 300-attendee wedding in a tiny town in Pennsylvania this summer. The bride and groom wanted to use as many repurposed/recycled and natural items as possible. This helped them keep the budget and environmental waste to a minimum. We worked hard, but had a great experience creating simple decorations using clippings from the region, empty bottles and various furniture and items from nearby homes.
I owe a big thanks to a few incredible companies that helped me pull off everything else:
• Thank you Forget Me Not Rentals for the beautiful handmade tables and mix-and-match chairs, as well as the gorgeous mixed tableware.
• Thank you Build.com for providing us with numerous strands of stunning cafe lights. They were absolutely perfect, and guests commented on them all night long.
• Urban Decay, we are so grateful for the amazing bridal party makeup you provided. All the ladies used the items, and still rave about them.
• Dot & Bo-- we loved the gardener's bar cart, as well as the lovely lanterns!
