weekend getaway essentials

Packing for a weekend getaway is not that difficult, if you remember to include some of your favorite goodies. 

For me, it’s my favorite Guess jeans, a few comfortable and cute tops and my favorite Tieks, which are foldable adorable flats that come in the most gorgeous colors and patterns. 

My current favorite is my pair of leopard Tieks. Leopard seems to go with just about everything!  

A must-pack item is a travel size of Downy Wrinkle Releaser. Once you've tried this product, you'll see what I mean about it being a necessity for any trip. I just leave one in my bag!  Just spray and forget about it! No ironing required! 

I also coordinate any jewelry I'm bringing. Either all gold, or all silver makes it easier to throw on. And, I always bring a scarf or two in case it gets chilly.

Look at how easy it is to pack jewelry and other small items in this Stella &Dot “Hang On” travel case.  Everything is now visible and ready to hang at my destination! 

And speaking of Stella & Dot, I can’t forget my favorite “Getaway” bag.  Look at how it expands for all the extra shopping I will most likely do.  It’s so pretty and practical!  

With Tieks, there are so many possibilities!

I always bring a good book or two.

Two of my beauty essentials are a good lip balm and my treasured rose water spray!  I have a bottle of rose water and lip balm on my night stand, in my bathroom, in my car and on my desk.  I am always ready for a spritz and a dab!  

The rose water is perfect for spraying on before applying lotion on your face and body.  I love Burt's Bee's tinted lip balm for any trip.

Of course, room service is always fun!

ciao! fabiana

rings and bracelets by Stella & Dot

a little getaway...

Everyone needs a little getaway now and then! More on this locale in a few days… 

ciao! fabiana

travel together as a couple

Most people would agree that traveling together as a couple is an enjoyable escape from the day-to-day grind of life. We look forward to vacations, come back and share stories with our friends, and reminisce about our travels for years after. 

But, did you know that studies actually show there are real relationship benefits that transpire when you travel together as a couple? 

Here are the top 6 reasons you should travel together with your significant other, according to American Express.

1. BUILD NEW RELATIONSHIPS

When you travel, you see and learn new things, meet new people, taste new foods, and immerse yourself into a brand new experience. It doesn’t matter if you travel to the same destination repeatedly or consistently knock off destinations from, your list. 

Among non-married couples 79% say that sharing new experiences is an important reason to travel together. Finding shared ground is key when learning about one another, especially early on in a relationship. 

Traveling together as a couple and in turn creating shared ground to relate to one another on, can even further relationship bonds. It can provide you with inside jokes and memories only the two of you will share, all the while you will be learning about one another’s tastes, interests, and habits.

2. BETTER COMMUNICATION

Couples who travel together report that they are over 10% more likely to communicate well with their partners than those who do not travel together. Traveling together provides you with opportunities to talk to one another, whether it be on a flight, taxi ride, at dinner, or in your hotel room. 

The amount of uninterrupted time that you’ll have while on a vacation tends to be far greater than during your typical business week, especially if you truly try to “disconnect” from the digital world during your trip. 

More than seven in ten couples who travel together agree that talking and reconnecting is an important reason to vacation.

3. MORE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS

According to the study, couples who travel together are more likely to say that they share similar goals and desires, that they have a good balance of time together and apart; that they have shared hobbies and interests; that they agree on how to spend money; that they laugh and have fun together; that they handle differences well; that their partner is patient; and that they are best friends. 

84% of respondents who travel as a couple believe that they spend quality time together, compared to only 70% of respondents who do not. For many relationships, quality time together is key for a meaningful and fulfilling relationship.

4. CONNECT INTIMATELY

A lack of energy and time can have an adverse impact on intimacy. However, a couples getaway, if planned with the intent of relaxation and connecting with one another, can provide an opportune time to reconnect and romance one another. 

During the study, 58% of married respondents said that being intimate is an important reason to vacation together.

5. LONGER LASTING RELATIONSHIPS

Strong relationships are built on a variety of different components. According to the study, almost two-thirds of couples believe that travel helps couples stay together longer. It seems rather logical when you consider all the benefits of traveling together. 

You are able to build your relationship on shared experiences, communicate, learn about each other more in depth, as well as connect or reconnect romantically. The study even goes on to note that divorce rates are higher among couples who do not travel together.

6. TRAVEL IS BETTER THAN A PHYSICAL GIFT

Vacation or new car? Survey says, 63% of respondents rate a vacation or weekend getaway as important in sparking romance where only 15% credit a big gift to sparking romance. Chances are, your vacation may even end up being more budget friendly than a brand new car. It’s a win-win.

Do you have any couples trips planned in the near future?

My favorite weekend getaways here in so cal are:

Santa Barbara,

La Jolla,

Laguna Beach,

Palm Springs, 

and

Beverly Hills.

ciao! fabiana

photos

beautiful ways to indulge the body & soul

 

This lovely gathering of four friends on Lido Island features some of the most beautiful ways to indulge the body and soul. From coastal inspired art to revitalizing beauty products, soft cotton robes to nature inspired jewelry, these gals have got it covered!  

 

What’s better than a group of talented friends getting together to share their wares just in time for Mother’s Day? 

 

Hot off the press, directly from India is Pacific & Rose’s new line of hand block printed robes and accessories. Pretty in pink, Elizabeth is modeling the Montmartre robe.  

 

It comes beautifully packaged in its own matching fabric envelope and is ready to pop into your overnight bag for a weekend getaway. Matching cosmetic bags are also available to make travel easy and gorgeous! 

 

You may recognize Pacific & Rose from the tablecloths and napkins I’ve used in tablescapes, and Elizabeth puts just as much care and detail in creating her “Weekend Getaway” kits. 

 

These robes and cosmetic bags also make great Mother’s Day gifts, don’t you think? Perfect for a staycation relaxing at home, as well as easily packed up for a much-needed vacation.  

 

Five new prints are all named after Elizabeth’s bucket list travel destinations - Montmartre, Glasgow, Corfu, Bloomsbury and The Cotwalds. For the past year she’s been dreaming of traveling to those places, so she named the pretty patterns after them. 

 

Constructed from a soft cotton voile, the robes are 47″ long and have contrasting piping to add a couture detail.  The fabric for these robes and bags are printed by hand in Rajasthan, India by traditional craftsmen using hand-carved teak blocks.  

 

They're all perfectly presented in a matching fabric envelope ideal for use in your travels or gift giving. Add a matching cosmetic bag to the envelope for a beautiful gift set.  Robes are $79 and cosmetic bags are $28. 

At its best, make-up should make you look great without anyone else aware that you’re wearing it. And, when you look good, you feel good. Here Stephani Faurot-Reuter is adding Heroes Beauty Mineral Blush in Teaberry to model Merecedes Shaffer. Merecedes is the designer of the gorgeous jewelry they're showcasing here.

 

Mercedes Shaffer has a passion for art, nature, travel and real estate. Her jewelry is handmade and inspired by nature (branches, roses, ginkgo leaves, etc.)  It's available for wholesale orders, but you may have seen it at Seaside Gallery in Newport Beach.

 

For the past 18 years Mercedes has been involved in  real estate investing and she's just about to launch a YouTube show called "Investing in The OC". It will be the perfect virtual format to help answer questions related to real estate investing. For more, check out her  website InvestingInTheOC.com 

A few of our favorite things... 

A small blue bird painting by Ilona Martin 

On the Glow Spa Kit, includes the Rose Renewal Face Oil and Rose Quartz Face Roller by Heroes Beauty. ( I use this kit, and it's truly amazing!) 

Gold Cuff Bracelets by Mercedes Shaffer

The Glasgow, Cotswalds, and Corfu Cosmetic Bags by Pacific & Rose.   

Mercedes is showcasing Heroes Beauty’s Peace Out Bath Salt while wearing the Montmartre robe.  

 

This amazing bath salt is made from 100% Organic ingredients.  Made with Ancient Sea Salts the actually detox your body with 9 essential minerals. Essential oils of wintergreen, mandarin, and lavender relieve tension, soothes muscles, restores peace and relaxation, and I can say it just smells amazing too!     

Heroes Beauty owner Stephani Faurot-Reuter has worked as both an artist and a teacher before becoming a professional make-up artist in 1989.  

 

Her products are all cruelty free, paraben free.  Some are gluten free and vegan. Available online at heroesbeauty.com or at Seaside Gallery and Goods in Newport Beach and Fleur De Lys in Costa Mesa.   

A few of my picks for Mother’s Day Gifts: Rose Oil plus Rose Quartz Manual Roller on the black and white box. Rose Renewal Oil with Ultrasonic Rose Quartz Roller. Rose Overnight Lip Mask with Sweet Briar Rose and Vitamin E Tinted Lip Balm. Peace Out Travel Size Bath Salts. 

Stephani and Elizabeth wearing Pacific & Rose loungewear also featuring jewelry by Mercedes. 

 

Now let's meet the artist of the group, Ilona. Ilona Werner Martin is an impressionist artist living by the sea who has a gift for plein air painting,  which I absolutely love! 

 

She says, “Living by the Sea opens my soul to the rhythm of the wave”. Isn’t that beautiful? 

 

Seascapes and landscapes are her pleasure. Outdoor painting feels great, she's a LAPAPA Plein Air member. Ilona began painting in Carmel, and now lives in Newport Beach. Her studio “Arts & Treasures” at 420 31st Street, off the alley, is open on weekends.  

 

Giving back is important to Ilona. As a board member of LCAD Art School in Laguna Beach, she loves helping art students flourish and reach their dreams. Sharing time with artistic and creative friends and family is the most rewarding time for her. You can check out more about her her at Ilona-art.com and on Etsy, Art & Treasure Ilona.

These are some of my favorites among her paintings... 

What’s really special about this group of four women is that their friendship has grown so much over time, since they all first met at Seaside Gallery and Goods in Newport Beach. 

 

 

They were all brought together by the love of what they do and met each other while reaching the public with their beautiful products. All these things really do indulge the body and soul, and even the mind! 

 

When thinking about ideas for Mother’s Day, I would most certainly love any (and all) of these goodies! Learn more here:

      Pacific & Rose

      Heroes Beauty

      Investing in the O.C.

      Ilona's Art

ciao! fabiana 

 

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