PALM BEACH + MIAMI TRAVEL GUIDE

Palm Beach is seriously one of the most magical, happy places I’ve ever visited. My family and I have been going every summer for the past 7 years as our family trip of the year, and I always look so forward to going and dread the plane ride home :) I wanted to share our favorite place to stay, places to eat, shop, and explore. I hope it gives you a little travel inspiration and that you find this helpful if you ever plan a trip to Palm Beach. I’m also including a brief Miami section with some of my favorites from the few times we have gone. It’s a great roadtrip from Palm Beach as it’s only an hour away.

STAY

The Breakers:

My parents started going to the Breakers long before I was born, but stopped when my sister and I were born. They decided to start taking us once we got older and share their love for Palm Beach, and I’m so happy and grateful they did. I can’t think of one bad thing to say. At all. The service is impeccable. The staff are beyond friendly. The grounds are stunning (there’s not a blade of grass out of place :) ). The food… don’t even get me started on how good it is. You never have to leave the property if you don’t want to. There’s always something for everyone with 3 pools, a spa, a beach, and shops. This summer you wouldn’t have even known coronavirus was happening with how seamlessly the hotel handled everything. I personally witnessed the staff arriving for work and wearing their masks the second they got out of their car and also having their temperature taken by the security guards. I thought it would be fun to share a typical day in the life at the hotel for us:

6am: Grab coffee at the News + Gourmet and watch the sun rise from the ocean lawn.

7am-8am: Walk around the local neighborhoods (you have to go early in the summer before it gets too hot :)

9am: Breakfast at the Circle (currently closed for renovation) or the Beach Club.

10-5: Pool + Beach, Lunch at the Surf Break (they have the BEST casear salad or if you are feeling a treat, the parmesan grilled cheese is INCREDIBLE, my sister and I also LOVE their chips and guac, and their chocolate chip cookies are also beyond)

6pm: Dinner at HMF (Our favorite restaurant on the property). You feel like you’re back in the roaring twenties. The vibe is so much fun and the food is so good. They have such an awesome variety of options. My favorite is the Dragon Sushi Roll. Whatever you do, get the whoopie pie sundae for dessert :)

*I have also heard really good things about the Colony Hotel right down the street

EAT

Flagler Steakhouse

Sant Ambroeus

Renatos

Sant Ambroeus is an awesome pic for breakfast or brunch! Their lattes + avocado toast are amazing!

SHOP

Royal Poinciana Plaza: Fairly new to Palm Beach and located right behind the Breakers golf course, Royal Poinciana is stunning with incredible shopping. My faves are: LoveShackFancy, Zimmermann, Celis Produce for smoothies, Beach, Goop (open in the winter/spring).

Amanda Lindroth: cutest interior design shop with great linens and rattan pieces

F.S Hanemader: the BEST vintage palm beach interior design finds

Worth Avenue: My favorites are tucked back off the main street (CJ Laing + Aerin)

TIPS

-Visit in the summer. While the high season, or resort season is at its peak November thru March, the summer is MUCH cheaper and quieter.

-Take a walk down South County Road to Root Trail. It’s the cutest street of houses in Palm Beach by far.

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MIAMI

STAY

We have stayed in Miami twice, both times at the 1 Hotel South Beach. This hotel is absolutely stunning, with a great location, and awesome health food options; however, the service is not good at all. While I have enjoyed my surroundings staying there, I think we will try somewhere different the next time we are in South Beach.

EAT

Casa Tua: Whatever you do, go to Casa Tua. It is the BEST Italian food I have had, the service is out of this world, and the environment is dreamy. Highly recommend.

Mandolin: While I haven’t eaten here, I have stopped in and the food and environment look incredible. They serve mediterranean food and it’s all outdoor seating.

Dreamer Miami, Pura Vida, Under the Mango Tree: Awesome acai bowls + smoothies

SHOP

Bal Harbour is in North Miami and is absolutely stunning. They have all of the high end designer stores, so it’s mostly a fun window shopping experience.

Wynwood/Design District also have great shopping and stores.

MY PRE-TRAVEL ROUTINE + HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR CORE

I’m always working on my health to make sure I’m feeling my best, but I always put in a little extra work around vacation time, so I can really feel my most confident. I wanted to share some of the things I do the weeks leading up to a trip, especially a beach vacation, as well as some tips that CHANGED my core strength and appearance. I hope you find these tips helpful, and as always, message me on Instagram with any questions you may have :)

FOOD/NUTRITION

If you saw my previous post, I talked about focusing on immunity, which is of top priority if you are hopping on a plane. In addition nutrition is my second top priority when I want to look and feel my best. It’s the kitchen where the real results happen :) The #1 thing that changed my core is eliminating processed “health” foods. For example, paleo baking + treats or paleo chips + crackers. While these are great alternatives if you are looking for a treat, they are still processed and not whole foods. I really focus in on whole foods for best results.

Breakfast: Ezekiel bread with almond butter + matcha w/ oat milk

AM Snack/Post-workout: Big smoothie- water, banana, mixed berries, vanilla plant protein powder

Lunch: 2 hard boiled eggs, half an avocado, cherries

PM Snack: handful of pistachios + apple (sometimes rice cake with almond butter if I’m really hungry)
Dinner: fish + veggies + sweet potato, brown rice pasta + veggies, brown rice + chicken + veggies

Dessert: 2 squares of Hu mint chocolate, 2 dates w/ almond butter, peppermint tea (I love dessert and never skip it :) )

WORKOUTS

Walking has truly been transformative for me especially when it comes to cellulite. I have always had to work really hard at combating it, but many women do. It’s only because our skin is thinner. If I keep up my walking routine, it really helps keep it at bay. It’s also so great for my mental health and getting clarity before I start my day. I love yoga + pilates for lengthening, strengthening, and toning all over. The best thing both of these workouts have taught me is to keep your engaged all the time. It TRANSFORMED my core. In fact, doing exercises that isolate specific muscle groups are less effective for core strength. It’s when we do total body exercises, but focus on engaging our core that we will see the best results. Even walking, sitting in the car or at your desk, engage your core muscles (this will help your posture too :) )

3 days a week: reformer pilates

2 days a week: hot yoga

Everyday walk: 30 mins - 1hr

1x a week: sauna

OTHER

Outfit planning: I always look to old magazines, Pinterest, or my saved Instagram posts to find inspiration when planning vacation outfits. I love looking at vintage photos especially for summer style inspo.

Skincare: I follow my skincare regimen featured in this post to a tee, especially using this mask!

HOW TO BOOST IMMUNITY BEFORE TRAVEL

Hi Everyone! Now that it’s summer and everyone is starting to travel in a time of germs, I wanted to hop on today and share some of my tips and practices I have been doing to boost my immunity before hitting the road or hopping on a plane. While these practices don’t guarantee total protection from the virus, I know they are at least helping to lessen severity of symptoms. The two biggest parts of the body I focus on are gut health + lymphatic drainage. These are the basis of our immune function, but people often overlook them and just focus in on one supplement like Vitamin C. We have to remember to zoom out and look at the systems of our body as a whole and how they work together! :)

Sweat it Out!

I have been going to the infrared sauna once a week for the few weeks leading up to travel. The difference with an infrared sauna vs. a regular sauna, is infrared light goes deeper into the body to promote healing and detoxification. My sessions are 140 degrees for 40 mins and I feel incredible after! Sweating helps promote circulation, boosts white blood cell count (one of our primary lines of immune defense), and helps give your skin that extra glow. I also make sure I hit up hot yoga a few times a week if I can too.

Dry Brush + Cold Shower

After any hot workout or sauna session, I head home and dry brush (brushing up towards the heart in circular motions) and hop in a cold shower. These two practices are key to lymphatic drainage and circulation. Lymphatic drainage is the practice of helping our cells move around better and respond more quickly to areas that need healing. Cold showers are also super great for helping with glowing skin and shiny hair.

Pro + Pre-biotics

Gut health = total health. It all starts in the gut! I take the Seed daily symbiotic every morning on an empty stomach. Many people focus on probiotics, but you actually need to take pre and probiotics together because of their symbiotic relationship. Prebiotics are food for the probiotics to actually function properly!

Eat high antioxidant foods

I always pay extra special attention to the foods I’m eating during times where illness is going around. I make sure to pack my diet with as many antioxidants as possible (fruits + veggies with every meal). I also make sure to limit my intake of processed health foods and sugars. Sugars are fuel for bad cells in the body, and we don’t want to feed the fire! Some of my favorite high antioxidant foods are: matcha, cacao, goji berries, and spiruilina (all good things that can be thrown in a smoothie). Smoothies are actually one of the best ways to make sure you can pack in as many nutrients at once.

Stay hydrated!

Most people are actually chronically dehydrated, which means if you fall ill, you are already behind. Make sure you are drinking at least half your body weight in water everyday, plus more if you sweat, to stay ahead. Our body does not function properly without hydration, which once again aids in the circulation of the good cells! I make sure to drink water with electrolytes and minerals too. ( I love Flow water)

I hope you find these tips helpful and that you all stay healthy, happy, and safe throughout all of your travels this summer!

HOW YOU GET THE GLOW: MY SKIN JOURNEY

Having great skin has never come naturally for me. I have had to work VERY hard to get it where it is today. I think it’s so difficult in our world to find people who share tips and products, but have also had a history of troubled skin. I wanted to start from the beginning and share my story and then give you all the tips that have really been the most transformative for me.

I started getting breakouts right around 6th grade as my skin started to get more oily. They naturally occurred in my t-zone area, but quickly started to spread. This was before I consistently ate clean, whole, foods and exercised. I tried every product, did tons of “research”, and continued to do all the wrong things for my own skin because I thought what worked for someone else would help me too. The products I was using were full of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid which were extremely drying and harsh. With nothing working, I finally started going to the dermatologist to see if she could help. I never did Accutane and actually refused to use it as a treatment after learning how detrimental it can be for your hormonal health in the long run. I started using prescription topical products, but I always thought the answer was what I put on my skin, not underneath it. Finally, as I started to clean up my diet, drink WAY more water, and exercise consistently I started seeing a difference. I stopped using the prescription creams because I always believe there is a way to holistically treat everything, and I’m so glad I did. Does it take longer? Yes. Did I have to be more patient? Yes. But is it worth it? Of course.

The one thing I can’t stress enough is this: to keep being confident. Yes, I have my days where breakouts bother me, and I want to cover them with makeup. But, I never let my skin dictate my confidence. I hear so many stories of people feeling so ashamed of their skin or even because of one hormonal pimple. The way that I look at skin is this: it’s natural and NORMAL to have imperfections. In fact, it means you’re body is functioning properly if it knows when to send you signals to make a change. Our skin is a big indicator of so many crucial functions that we cannot ignore the signals it’s giving us, whether that be stress, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, poor gut health, dehydration, too much sugar, etc.

I have had numerous facials in my life, talked to many beauty experts, and everyone has told me something different. The two biggest misconceptions I received were the following: dry out breakouts or hydrate them and use essential oils. I can’t believe it took me until winter of 2020, when I went to my first facial at Heyday in NYC that my facialist finally gave me one tip that changed it all for me. Breakouts are a form of inflammation. We have to treat them the same way we would treat a cut or wound on our body, We need to be gentle with them, spend time with them, and heal them. By combining my healthier diet and this tip my skin does still have occasional hormonal breakouts, and I still have scarring from the past, but it has a glow. A glow that actually makes me smile. It makes me feel warmer inside and out and I wish that for everyone reading this.

So here are the things I do daily and the products I love:

-No consumption of refined sugar, gluten, or dairy, no red meat, corn or soy (obviously I do have treats every now and then)

-Drink at least half your body weight in water everyday ( I drink about 90-100oz, especially because I do hot yoga regularly)

-Speaking of hot yoga, my skin LOVES it. Sweating is such a good way to release toxins and open your pores. Just remember to bring your own towels and wash your face soon after!

-Wear sunscreen!! The number one thing that worsens scarring is exposure to sun. I apply a basic, oil free sunscreen everyday.

-Facial sculpting: Lymphatic drainage is not only great for the body, but also helps the face by pushing healing tissue towards breakouts that need a little extra help. My favorite by far is this roller. I apply my serum and rub the excess on the roller before rolling my skin, so it goes on smoothly and lets the product really sink in. It also really helps with allergies by relieving sinus tension.

-Take a daily probiotic. I take 2 of these Seed capsules everyday and they are amazing. The gut has direct connection to EVERYTHING in the body. Treat it right and prioritize its care.

-This mask! I started using this twice a week and its a GAME CHANGER for sure. Seriously brings out the glow, plus a little goes a long way :)

-Use a cleansing milk: I always used cleansing gels or basic cleansers, but milks are so much more gentle and hydrating on the skin. This really helped me! It’s important not to use a gritty exfoliant because it can break open breakouts and cause bacteria to seep in.

-Change your towels and pillowcase every night! I always use my bath towel for my face, never my hand towel. I also make sure to change or flip my pillowcase every night. I started using a silk pillowcase, and didn’t believe it would do much, but I really do think it helps with getting the glow! Amazon has good ones which are cheaper too, just make sure they are 100% silk :) Plus, you don’t have to wash as much because silk doesn’t hold onto oils like cotton does.

-Eat avocado at least once a day. We’ve all heard how good they are for skin, but seriously I do notice a difference if I consistently eat some form of avo everyday!

-In addition I use this moisturizer and this serum, both of which are SO good and remember, CALMING!

SUMMER WELLNESS GUIDE + MY BEST FITNESS TIPS

Hi Everyone! I wanted to hop on today and share my go-to tips for when I really need to reset, and get in my best shape. While I maintain a healthy lifestyle all year round, I definitely am more conscious about really toning up and feeling my best during the summer months, but as I always, always want to reiterate, it’s not how you look, but how you FEEL. I am going to share a sample of what I eat in a day and the workouts I do to really amp things up. This was the routine that really helped me see results and I have since been able to maintain, by keeping this routine as my base, but mixing in more low impact workouts. I really wanted to share this because I remember when I started on my health and wellness journey, there really wasn’t a lot of people sharing exactly what they did to get where they are. Now trust me, this is not what everyday or week looks like for me, but I always keep this base for the most part. The key to remember is that everyone is different, and what works for me might not work for you, and vice versa. :) The goal is for all of us to do the best we can everyday and constantly work towards achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You know you are seeing results when you see yourself glow, not necessarily when you’re “skinny” or have a six pack.

FOOD:

AM-

DRINK: Matcha + Hot Lemon Water

EAT: 1 slice of Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin Toast with Almond Butter + 1/2 grapefruit or a banana if I’m doing something more intense

POST - WORKOUT:

Green Smoothie: almond milk, spinach, mango, banana, Garden of Life vanilla pea protein

or

Berry smoothie: 2 cups of cold water, frozen mixed berries, banana, garden of life pea protein

LUNCH: 2 eggs scrambled with a heap of spinach + an apple

SNACK: Berries + a handful of nuts (almonds, pistachios, or walnuts) or brown rice cakes with almond butter

DINNER: Every night is different, but some of my go-to’s always on rotation are:

Salmon + Roasted Brussel Sprouts + Sweet Potatoes

Brown Rice + Sautéed Mushrooms + Roasted Chicken + Roasted Broccoli

Pesto Chicken Meatballs w/ Rao’s Marinara + Steamed Spinach (with lots of fresh garlic)

Brown Rice Pasta with Pesto or Red Sauce

White Fish with Roasted Veggies

DESSERT:

2 Dates with Almond Butter or 2 Squares of Hu Chocolate

Peppermint Tea

WORKOUTS:

3 days a week: HIIT WORKOUT (I used this one to really get in shape. I also like this one a lot.)

3 days a week: 5k run or walk + quick Pilates workout or Hot Yoga Class (60 or 75 mins)

1 day a week: rest + treat of choice for dessert

*Updated: This summer I have started going for a power walk almost every single morning for an hour. Never underestimate the power of walking! Living in NYC got me in the best shape of my life from walking alone. It’s also a great time to get some headspace or multitask and respond to emails :) I like making a great playlist, listening to a good podcast, changing up my route, or setting a destination (like coffee or matcha) to help keep me motivated. I also do a melissa wood health workout when I get back or go to a hot yoga or Pilates class in the evening.

TIPS:

-I LOVE snacking on fruit. It’s by far the food I consume the most. I never think of fruit as bad or too sugary; however, I try to stick to fruits that are lower on the glycemic index, meaning they won’t spike your blood sugar as much. This will help you from craving too much sugar and feeling like snacking even more. My top picks are: cherries, grapefruit, apples, berries.

-Eat a lunch with a good balance of protein + fats. I eat eggs and avocado almost everyday for lunch because of what great fuel it is. It keeps my blood sugar and energy levels stable through the afternoon, not to mention, the regular consumption of both of these foods has tremendously improved my skin, hair, and nail health.

-Soak up the sun! One of my keys to a summer glow is making sure I get outside and get in some sunlight. You don’t have to be tan to still feel the benefits the sun has to offer. Just make sure you protect yourself properly! I never forget face sunscreen when I’m heading out the door for my morning walk.

MY GO-TO WORKOUT MOTIVATION TIPS

WEAR A WORKOUT SET

I find that for some reason, when I am in a coordinated set, I feel so much more “on my game” for a workout, plus if you want it to be your outfit for the day, you are already put together. My favorite places for cute sets are Free People Movement, Alo Yoga, and Carbon 38. Target’s JoyLab line has also started doing some really cute pieces.

CREATE A DESIGNATED SPACE

Roll out your mat somewhere free of clutter and separate from work or sleep if you can. I like going outside whenever I can. Just make sure you are free of distraction! It helps me to physically go somewhere, even if it’s to a nearby park, so that I can’t make an excuse once I’m there to not make the most of my time. If you make the effort to go, you will make the effort to make it happen.

WALKING WORKOUT

Walking can be a fabulous form of exercise with a few helpful tools. As you walk, really focus on engaging your core muscles, rolling your shoulders back and down, and keeping your head held high. With each step, really extend and feel your inner thighs as you step forward and squeeze your glutes as you switch legs. Focusing on this engagement is actually a really great form of meditation to give you something to focus on! Another thing I do, is pretend like I’m walking in my favorite place. Whether it’s the beach or a city, really visualizing that space is such a great way to get lost for a little bit :)

FINDING A GOOD HEADSPACE

The last, most important piece is not only getting yourself to the workout, but getting through the workout. This brings in the question I always come back to, “How bad do you want it?” This question is my driving force in everything I do. When I feel unsure or unmotivated I always ask myself, how bad do you want it? With your health, how bad do you want it? With your fitness goals, how bad do you want it? With your career, how bad do you want it? Because if you want something bad enough, you will push through. There is nothing more rewarding than sitting back and looking at how far you’ve come and remembering the moments when you asked yourself this question. Just because we want something really bad, does not mean it will land in our lap. It’s how bad do you want it AND how hard will you work to get that thing. For me, this question comes up a lot when I’m working out. Just when you don’t think you can, ask yourself, how bad do you want it? Because if you want it bad enough, you will push through, and you will come out the other side so much stronger than you’ve ever been before. 

HAPPINESS: MY SECRET TO ACHIEVING RESULTS

I have talked a lot about my personal health journey, but I haven’t touched on the things I have done to really see results.

I have tried EVERY type of workout you can think of. I have tried ALL the health and nutrition trends. Yes, nutrition and exercise are key components, but where and when I have seen the most results are when I am happiest. Most people, including myself, often underestimate the benefits of and importance of our mental health on our physical self. I became my absolute fittest, both mentally and physically when I moved to New York. This was not due solely to the extra walking and fabulous fitness classes, but the total happiness I have to wake up and live in that city every day. While not everyone can physically move to a new place, we do have the ability to make small changes to improve and work on our mental health everyday. I wanted to share a few things you can do at home to still enhance your mood.

MEDITATION:

For me, coming back to my breath always, always helps calm me down and put things in perspective. It’s not easy to do, especially for a racing mind like mine, but I always feel so much mental clarity afterwards.

CREATIVE OUTLET:

Having an outlet that allows you to be your most creative self is crucial to feeling happy. I didn’t realize how much I was holding myself back until I dove into really exploring and spending time on my passion, my blog and Instagram. Whatever that is for you, I cannot stress enough the importance of making time to let your creative spirit free. It’s beyond rewarding.

CONNECTION:

Taking time to be with yourself, by taking yourself out for a coffee, working out, walking, driving, whatever it is for you that allows you to truly be alone with your thoughts, is where the magic happens. Most of us don’t stop and sit with ourselves. We don’t want to because we don’t want to be uncomfortable, but the more we do it, the more comfortable it gets. You truly have to be in touch with yourself to be happy and successful in anything that you do. Not only does this connection strengthen your relationship with yourself, it strengthens your relationship with other people. So take that time and really get to know yourself. Listen to your body, listen to your heart, and really dive into understanding WHO YOU ARE.

SPRINGTIME REFRESH RITUALS

I always feel the need to reset each season, especially coming out of the darker winter days and into the fresh spring air! I wanted to share a few ideas for how you can feel a little bit more refreshed as well as things you can do to look forward to. I love planning small little activities for myself throughout the week, like waking and getting a coffee out on Saturday morning or making an açaí bowl on Friday afternoon for a treat. It doesn’t have to be big things to make your metal space a little but happier and clearer :)

MEDITATION

I have recently been feeling this serious urge to meditate, and since this is rare, I am totally listening to my body. It’s incredible how when you truly tune into what your mind and body need, you FEEL so much better. I have been starting my morning everyday with a 15-20 minute mediation and it makes SUCH a difference in how I carry myself throughout the day. My favorites are Melissa Wood Health and the Humming Puppy (my fave NYC yoga studio).

CREATE A HAPPY SPACE

It can be just a little corner of your room, but having a place you look forward to seeing or being in is so important! Print out some new photos, set out your favorite books or magazines, add a candle or oil diffuser, or buy a succulent or some fresh flowers (you can probably find some in your yard or neighborhood)!

FRESH JUICE

I love starting my day in the kitchen. It’s so therapeutic to make something with your hands and not start the day zoned into a phone, TV, or computer. I love making a fresh celery juice with ginger, and lemon. It gives me something to look forward to everyday and is great to sip on while you meditate.

MAKE YOUR OWN AÇAÍ BOWL

While it’s so much fun and such a treat to get an açaí bowl out, making your own can be equally as fun! I love planning out fun topping ideas and really taking time to dress it up. It’s a great little treat to make now that the weather is warm. Here is my recipe for a great açaí bowl:

1 pack of Sambazon frozen açaí (make sure it’s unsweetened!)

1 frozen banana

1 cup of frozen mango and blueberries

Dash of almond milk

HOMEMADE GRANOLA:

This is my favorite recipe I made up about a year ago that’s so easy and quick to throw together. I don’t have exact measurements, but just keep an even ratio of ingredients :)

Raw Almonds

Raw Pumpkin Seeds

Sprouted rolled oats

Cinnamon

Vanilla

Coconut oil (1 tbsp)

Maple Syrup ( 1 tbsp)

Bake at 350 for 25 mins!

Some of my other favorite toppings to add are: sliced banana, strawberries, almond butter/peanut butter, macadamia nut butter, cacao nibs, hemp seeds, shredded coconut

TAKE A 24 HOUR SOCIAL MEDIA DETOX

I took a day recently where I did not open any social media app all day and it was BLISSFUL! Don’t get me wrong, I love Instagram, but it can be mentally overwhelming sometimes. Taking a break is not just okay, I’ve learned it’s NECESSARY. It really deepens our connection with ourselves and the people around us.

SPRINGTIME SPRUCE UP: TABLETOP DECOR

Hi Everyone and happy spring! I wanted to start a seasonal series with tips on how to live out the seasons more fully, and of course I can’t wait to start with spring. I’m going to be sharing tips on fashion, lifestyle, wellness, and more! Spring is the time for lightening, brightening, and clarifying our space, so I try to follow that theme throughout the different parts of my day to day life. I also find that this is the time of year where I’m wanting to utilize all the fresh flowers and make arrangements, set the table, and sit down to a meal with friends or family. Here are some of my best tabletop decor tips!

Vases

I love finding unique vases, but I also don’t think you can go wrong with having a classic clear vase on hand. It’s nice to have a few different heights and styles to work with! Some places I like to keep little arrangements are my desk, nightstand, dresser, kitchen, front hall table, dining room, and even the bathroom if you have a small space. You don’t have to go out and buy a new vase or even flowers. Using a cool glass or even mason jar with flowers from your yard can totally bring some life to a space. I also think candle holders or votives can make great vases as well. I also love looking at Terrain for seasonal tableware.

Placemats

Another way to instantly bring a table to life is with placemats. I love wood or rattan mats as they can be used all year round and really warm up a space. Plus they match any napkins or tablecloths. I often look to West Elm, Crate and Barrel, and even Target!

Glassware

I often keep my glasses simple, and LOVE these from Williams Sonoma. I also love clear glass mugs. They add a modern touch and allow the attention to go to the flowers or table linens. I do love finding cool ceramic mugs and cups from ceramic artists. Etsy and Pinterest are great places to find these items.

Serve ware

I love these plates from Crate and Barrel. It’s so nice to have a rim on the edge. It’s fun to have unique plates, but I usually stick to white for dinner plates, and save the specialty plates for smaller dessert or salad plates which can be set on top when setting the table. My number one must have for serve ware are wide, low rimmed bowls. They are a GAME CHANGER. Pasta, oatmeal, smoothie bowls, salads, you name it. What I love most about these is you can spread your food out and really distribute your toppings.

Table Linens

I actually use a lot of linens I bought in India a few years ago. I love the block printed textiles for a splash of color. There are lots on Etsy! Some of my favorite prints and colors for a table are: green, blue, mustard, and pink. For patterns, I like gingham, stripes, or a subtle geometric print. I also love getting basics from World Market. Another tip I have, is going and buying fabric from your local craft store, like Joann’s and making your own napkins or tablecloth. It’s so much cheaper, and very simple!

Fruit Accents

Fruit is one of my favorite ways, aside from flowers, to bring color and texture to a table. I love adding lemons to water or slices to the rim of a glass. For breakfast, I always do fruit bowls. Even putting a bowl of whole fruit like oranges, or apples can really enhance the setting.

Candles

Candles are such a great way to add ambience to your table. For a meal, stick to unscented candles. For bedrooms and bathrooms, something light and slightly floral. For a kitchen, something citrus, and for a living space, something slightly woodsy and warm.

EASTER ESSENTIALS

Hello Everyone! I’m so excited for today’s post as Easter is one of my favorite holidays. As I do with every special occasion, I love doing special themed activities and trying to make some of my childhood favorites a little bit healthier. I have dyed my Easter eggs using vegetables before, and wanted to do it again this year! It’s such a fun activity and the eggs come out so beautifully. I actually found a new trick this year to making my eggs marbled, using a surprising technique of ziploc bags and butter :) In keeping with the Easter theme, I also made a carrot cake from my favorite, Sweet Laurel. It is AMAZING! I hope this gives you some springtime inspiration of some happy activities that are sure to brighten your day!

NATURAL EGG DYE

For blue eggs, I used a whole red cabbage, chopped, and brought it to a boil in water. Then I reduced the heat and simmered for 30 mins. I then added 2 tbsp of salt and 2 tbsp of white vinegar. I then drained the liquid into a glass bowl and waited for it to cool.

For the yellow eggs, I sprinkled some turmeric and a little white vinegar in a bowl and mixed well. I then rolled the eggs around in the mixture and used a paper towel to wipe them clean.

For the pink eggs, I used fresh beet juice. I dipped my finger in and used a little bit to spread over the egg. A little goes a long way :) These vegetable all stain so be careful! To get the marble effect, I followed this guide here.

PALEO CARROT CAKE

I used the recipe found in the Sweet Laurel cookbook. All I can say is YUM! Also you can buy pre-shredded carrots to save time, but I shredded my own. This cake is gluten free, grain free, refined sugar free, and dairy free.

WARM WEATHER LUNCH/DINNER IDEAS

Hi everyone! I’m back today with a post showing some of my favorite lighter meals to eat during the spring. These are super easy to make but equally delicious. Enjoy!

ROASTED CARROTS + BEET HUMMUS

I was inspired by my favorite restaurant Earth in Maine to create a dish I ate there last summer. I took organic rainbow carrots, tossed them in olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasted them on 400 for 40 minutes. I then juiced a red beet, added a few tablespoons of the juice to pre-made hummus, and topped with micro greens. So so good!

BROWN RICE + VEGGIES

Sometimes simple is the way to go. I love having brown rice, roasted broccoli, steamed asparagus, and sautéed mushrooms. When I cook, I keep it simple and only use olive or avocado oil, and a little pink salt and pepper.

LEMON BROWN RICE NOODLES

I love cooking up the Jovial brown rice capellini (it’s my favorite pasta ever) and tossing it in my mom’s homemade dressing. We just mix olive oil, lemon, Dijon mustard, fresh grated garlic, and salt and pepper (no exact measurements, just to taste). This dressing makes ANYTHING taste good. Seriously try it. I then wilted some spinach for added greens. I always like adding greens into my pasta because it’s an easy and delicious way to sneak them into your diet.

WARM WEATHER BREAKFAST FAVORITES

As the weather gets warmer, it’s especially important that we start to lighten up our meals. This doesn’t mean eating less, but eating more in sync with the seasons. It’s actually proven to be very beneficial, especially if you can eat things grown more locally, as it helps our bodies naturally rhythm. I have a few breakfast ideas for warmer days that I thought I would share. These are things that you can just use what you already have at home by subbing out ingredients. Stay tuned for another warm weather lunch and dinner favorites post.

BREAKFAST TACOS

I love spicing up my normal eggs by scrambling them (plain with a little olive oil in the pan), piling them onto a Siete almond flour tortilla, adding avocado, red onion, tomatoes, and a little arugula. So easy and delicious!

COCONUT YOGURT BOWL

I love a simple yogurt bowl with coconut yogurt and fruit. I love GT’s coconut yogurt, Cocojune, Anita’s, or CoYo. I often add banana and berries with a little cinnamon, but you can also do mango or add other toppings like honey, cacao nibs, hemp seeds, chia seeds, or goji berries.

COCONUT SMOOTHIE

My favorite smoothie of all time is the Butcher’s Daughter 7 minutes in heaven. I decided to try and recreate it and I have to say it turned out amazing! It’s perfect for warmer days ahead :) I used 1 cup of Three Trees almond milk, 1 date, 1 tbsp of almond butter, 1/2 frozen banana, a small handful of cacao nibs, and a small handful of shredded coconut!

HEALTHY BAKING GO-TO’S + BEGINNER TIPS

When I first started eating healthy, I knew that in order to make it maintainable, I needed to find a way to satisfy my sweet tooth. I turned to paleo alternatives and fell in love with the process of clean baking; however, it’s an entirely different skill to bake this way. The way alternative flours like coconut and almond interact, and the proportions of sweeteners are different. In addition, it takes a lot of trial and error to find recipes that are clean but actually taste really good. I also realize how expensive it can be. I wanted to share a few of my favorite, simple, go-to recipes that are great if you are starting out, or want to go back to the basics, along with some of my tips and pantry essentials. Hope you find this helpful and tag me on Instagram or use #fewell if you give any of these a try.

Paleo Vegan Banana Bread

You can never go wrong with banana bread, especially from Rachlmansfield. Rachel’s recipes are my GO-TO for super easy recipes that always turn out DELICIOUS. Seriously this is my favorite banana bread of all time. If I do add chocolate chips, I use Hu Kitchen gems.

PALEO VEGAN BROWNIES

Another favorite of mine from Rachel, her brownies are SO good.

MORE FAVORITES:

-Sweet Laurel Bakery: I HIGHLY recommend downloading a copy of the cookbook. It’s my go-to along with Rachel’s recipes. I love the chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, and cinnamon rolls (these are a little bit complex). Anytime I need a cake, I make one of hers.

PANTRY ESSENTIALS + TIPS:

These are the staples I always have on hand in case I want to whip something up. I recommend buying in bulk because it’s much cheaper and these are things you will pretty much always need when doing paleo, vegan baking. I go to Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Thrive Market for online. I also like storing my flours in these OXO containers to keep them super fresh.

-Almond flour

-Coconut flour, sugar, oil

-Canned coconut milk, almond milk
-Oats

-Maple syrup

-Cacao Powder

-Dates

-Ground Flax

-Vegan chocolate chips (I use Lily’s kitchen or Hu chocolate)

TIPS:

-To cut down on the amount of dishes I have to do, I try to use as few measuring cups as possible. Start with 1 cup and fill it up according to the different measurements you need. I also recommend using the same measuring tool to measure out almond butter or maple syrup as you did for coconut oil or almond milk as it will help the sticky things not get stuck.

-Line your pans with parchment! Coconut oil does help with greasing things but it is not as strong as a normal grease. Parchment will help things come out easier.

- You can always sub eggs in a recipe by making a “flax” egg. I use 1 tbsp of ground flax with 3 tbsp of water for 1 egg

-Coconut flour and almond flour absorb moisture much more than normal flour, use with caution and follow the EXACT amounts!

BEST DAYS: FOR THE DAY YOU NEED INSPIRATION

Hello Everyone! I am back today during this difficult time we are facing with a little bit inspiration on how to get inspired yourself. I have some go to things I like to do to help make me excited about the days to come. Spring is a season where everything blooms and comes back to life again anyway, so now is such a great time to get inspired!

ONLINE BROWSING

I never just aimlessly scroll online. I always give myself a task, whether it’s hunting down the exact dress I have envisioned in my head, or planning a trip right down to what I would order at every restaurant. I find that these activities are a great way to explore new things without having to leave the house. Here are a few of my favorite places to gather inspo…

-Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Serena + Lily home decor: I take screenshots and map out how I would decorate my dream room or tablescape

-Shopbop, Intermix, Net-a-Porter, Farfetch: I love exploring and filling my cart on these websites because they get the COOLEST pieces; however, most of it is way out of my price range… so I then go onto Zara, H&M, or Mango and challenge myself to find dupes for these items. Shopstyle is also a great resource for finding dupes.

-Goop, Conde Nast Traveler, Bon Appetit: I love looking at ,and reading city guides and putting together my own trips. Even scrolling through different restaurants’ menus could give you inspiration to cook something new.

BRING CHANGE INTO YOUR LIFE

For example, I love going into my closet and having a full try-on session. It doesn’t always sound fun at first, but I love finding ways to work with older pieces and style them in new ways. Once I have my outfit on that makes me feel good, I love heading out to buy some fresh flowers. Nothing fills me up more than fresh plant life! I find adding flowers or a plant to rooms you spend the most time in are game changers. Our living spaces hold so much energy in them and sometimes we need to shift it around. Re-arranging your furniture, organizing your closet, changing out the sheets on your bed, even getting rid of clutter will help open up room for creativity to flow in.

GO THROUGH OLD PHOTOS

I like going through old photos of times where I was at my happiest or photos I just truly love. We all have them :) I love printing them out or making a collage online to re-inspire me! In fact, collages are a great way to gather inspo.

TAKE A WALK

I love taking walks any day, but especially when I need inspiration. Make a playlist of songs that remind you of your favorite place and as you walk try and visualize that place unfold before your eyes. Sometimes I walk around my neighborhood but pretend it’s Soho and imagine the houses as my favorite shops or cafes.

BEST DAYS: REINVENTING YOUR SPACE

With the current state of events happening in the world forcing us all to spend a little more time inside, I think it’s the perfect opportunity to spend time sprucing up your living space. I have been in need of fixing up my bedroom at home and finally got around to getting started. Let me just say, it has done WONDERS for my headspace just by moving my furniture around alone. It doesn’t have to cost any money to make your room feel like new. Aside from doing some rearranging, I removed my rug and decided to stick to a hard wood floor. It’s so much better for rolling out my yoga mat and fitting a flow in :) I have had wallpaper in this room for 19 years now and I’ve been wanting to switch over to paint for a while now. I went with a very pale pink color that I love. I wanted to document the process to show how it came along. One thing to note is that I did this very inexpensively. My parents and I removed the wallpaper and painted ourselves and I found all my furniture on sale. I will link everything! Let me know what you think and be sure to check out my latest Youtube video for behind the scenes.

BEFORE

AFTER

I went with a simple with parsons style desk that I actually found from Walmart for $50! I then knew I wanted a rattan chair and low and behold found this one from Target. It is my absolute favorite piece in the room and SUCH good quality for the price. As for accessories, I found this adorable rattan vase from Urban Outfitters as well as the pink ripple cup. Having flowers and fun pens on my desk are necessities! I then accessorized with some treasures I collected in India a few years ago, but I know you can find pieces like this from Etsy, World Market, and ABC Carpet & Home. I love adding “warmer” wood and rattan pieces to a modern space to give it a little bit of character. This Vogue print came in the back of a coffee table book, but you can find vintage covers online and print them onto photo paper too.

I already had this bulletin board but it was a brown cork color, so my mom helped me paint it white and I love it! I think it’s so fun to have a bulletin board above a desk rather than a mirror or art prints because you can constantly change it up, make it personal, and it is super affordable and fun to put together. I tried to keep my theme consistent by using lots of pinks. I did a mix of Pinterest photos, my own photography, some Vogue prints, and a few pieces of fabric I cut from samples my mom had. Of course you could also go to the craft store and find some fun fabrics and again Etsy is great for prints and unique fabrics.

I of course had to order a Maison Louis Marie candle to bring in some happiness to the space. This is the same candle they burn at New York Pilates and it also happens to smell like my favorite perfume of all time Le Labo Santal 33, which smells like the 1 Hotel. :)

BEST DAYS: AT HOME BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

This year’s birthday definitely didn’t go to plan, but it ended up being fabulous as always. Growing up in my house, birthdays have always been very special and we always have the best time doing our family celebration at home. A tradition my sister and I have started is decorating our dining room for each other’s birthday and surprising each other with the decor when the other wakes up. There is always confetti, flowers, and a fabulous tablescape. I wanted to share a few photos from this year’s spread as well as share my birthday cake I made. Now I have NEVER had a birthday where I didn’t get a cake made; however, this year I felt making my own was symbolic of the year I’ve had and the success I’ve had in paving my own way and doing things myself. So I turned to none other than my grain free baking fave, Sweet Laurel. I absolutely adore her valentine’s cake which is featured on her blog. I decided it would make the perfect birthday cake, so I set to work! It tasted wonderful and I ended up running out to the store to buy a small bouquet of daises to decorate the top. I have to say I am still very proud of this gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free masterpiece. Enjoy!

I could seriously work on designing and putting together a tablescape all day long. One inexpensive and easy way to make your table instantly more fun and festive is confetti. This pink one is from Paper Source. After confetti is of course the flowers. I think getting flowers that are bigger like peonies, really amplifies the table and makes a statement. Our placemats are from Aerin. They are my absolute favorite as I’m a sucker for any and all things rattan. It instantly warms up the table. I brought out my block printed napkins I got in India a few years ago for a fun touch as well. I adore block printed anything for a table. You can find a lot of options on Etsy and if you are looking for something even more upscale, Amanda Lindroth Design has great linens.

Of course my mom’s love of great wrapping paper and cards has been passed down to me so we love finding the cutest gift wrap for birthdays. Some brands I love are Rifle Paper, Meri Meri, and Mr. Boddington’s Studio. If you are in Richmond, we always get our party supplies at Paper Plus, Quirk Gallery, or Paper Source. In New York, I love Greenwich Letterpress, Pink Olive, and Goods for the Study.

Of course I had to pull out the pink puff sleeve for my birthday. This top is from & Other Stories!

Now for the best part, the cake! I have the ingredients and brands I used pictured, but you can use any brand you have. I love buying my baking ingredients at Trader Joe’s or Thrive Market because it saves so much money. Especially with this type of baking, ingredients get expensive fast!

*Make sure your baking powder is aluminum free! :)

One other tip I have is to put a parchment circle at the bottom of your pans and also grease with coconut oil. Sometimes almond flour gets stuck to the pan :)

One tip to be aware of is that the icing is an overnight process. You need to refrigerate the coconut milk overnight so that the solids will separate and can be scooped out and whipped. One other thing that is good to note is that if you don’t have a juicer for your beet to make natural food coloring, which by the way is so fun! I suggest buying a pure beet juice at the grocery store or going to your health food store and ordering a fresh beet juice. A little goes a LONG way!

I wanted to find edible flowers but couldn’t so I researched what flowers were non-toxic and safe to decorate with. These little daisies or “asters” are safe, but we took them off to eat the cake. I just adore how it turned out and I hope you enjoyed following me through my birthday!

BEST EVER VEGAN VEGGIE SANDWHICH + PROTEIN BALLS

Hello Everyone! Today’s post is a very exciting one because during my time at home I have had lots of time on my hands to get to work in the kitchen and do a bit of experimenting. Since going away to college I have leaned more and more towards eating a plant based diet with fish and eggs being the few non-vegan things I eat. I had a craving for a sandwhich that was light and perfect for these warmer spring days so I came up with a veggie sandwhich that takes no time to make and is INCREDIBLE. Seriously, I can’t stop making it. Let me know if you try it out and tag me on Instagram if you make one yourself.

INGREDIENTS:

Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Bread

Cherry Tomatoes

Brocoli Sprouts or Mircrogreens

Avocado

Kite Hill Almond Milk Ricotta (Not pictured but ESSENTIAL)

Chickpea Salad: garbanzo beans drained and rinsed, 1 tbsp vegan or paleo mayo (I like Primal Kitchen’s) + 1 tsp of dijon mustard: mix together and store in an airtight container for a few days. I usually use about 1/4 cup on the sandwhich.

Make sure to drain and rinse your chickpeas well! I always rinse with filtered water. If you have time it’s always better for digestion to peel off the little skins of the chickpeas, but I usually just leave them on.

The sprouts add such a nice little crunch!

After prepping all of my ingredients, I toast my bread for about 2 minutes until it’s nice and crisp. I then spread one piece with a little bit of the almond milk ricotta and the other piece with mashed avocado. Then layer on your chickpea salad, tomatoes, and brocoli sprouts. I always cut my sandwhich in half. It just makes it better in my opinion! :) I hope you enjoy!

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And if you need a little dessert after… I whipped up some protein balls with some extra ingredients I found lying around my kitchen. These are great to fill you up and keep you from aimlessly snacking and they work with a million different combinations of ingredients.

INGREDIENTS: raw cashews, dates, cacao powder, vanilla, coconut oil, gluten free rolled oats

BLEND IN FOOD PROCESSOR UNTIL DOUGH LIKE | ROLL INTO BALLS AND KEEP IN THE FRIDGE

ULTIMATE NYC GIRLS WEEKEND

My mom recently came into the city for a little girls weekend and I have to say it was MUCH needed! I had been accumulating quite a long list of places I wanted to try when she came and I think we checked everything off! We had the best time and as always, ate the BEST food. Here’s a little run down on what we did! As always, send me a message on Instagram if you have need any other city specific recommendations and let me know if you try any of these places out!

*Pro-tip: Do not forget to make your reservations for all of these restaurants at least 30 days out!I have to set timers and reminders when it’s exactly 30 days so I don’t miss getting a reservation. New York is competitive after all… :)

SATURDAY

Flower District: The first stop as always, is the Dutch Flower Line. The flower district is only open until 11 am on Saturdays so be sure to go early! Major inspo as always…

Brunch at Anton’s: Anton’s recently opened in the West Village right off of Hudson Street. Of course, I had to try their pasta dish and it was DELISH! My mom also got the BEST omlette.

Manis at Sunday’s: No trip to the city is complete without a little R&R at Sunday’s. The most relaxing spot to take a break from all the walking, eating, and shopping. They do the best job as always and I really don’t think you can beat the price.

Shopping in Noho: Of course we had to do a little browsing around Noho to see all our faves, the Goop store, Ulla Johnson, and John Derian.

11 Howard Hotel: We checked into our hotel later in the day and stayed at 11 Howard. Let me just say the location and quality for the price is BEYOND. We only Ubered twice the whole trip because everything was in such close walking distance.

Drinks at the Crosby Street Hotel: Pop on over to the Crosby Street Hotel for an incredibly gorgeous atmosphere. They serve dinner too, but we just stopped in for drinks.

Dinner at Bond ST: Bond ST is located right in the heart of Noho. You can walk from the Crosby Street Hotel. Let me just say it was amazing!! Best sushi experience I’ve had in the city. Whatever you do, order the cauliflower appetizer. It was beyond.

Sunday

Sweat sesh at New York Pilates: What better way to start off a Sunday than with a little AAA class at NYP. I personally love going to the Bowery location, especially because of the way the morning light filters into class.

Brunch at the Crosby Street Hotel: The Crosby Street Hotel has a fabulous weekend brunch that my mom and I thouroughly enjoyed. I got the salmon and it was perfection!

Shopping in Soho: With 11 Howard situated right in the hear of Soho, what better way to spend an afternoon than a little stroll through Soho? Our favorite stores are Oak and Fort, Roman Williams Guild, Zara :), and of Zimmermann, Mansur Gavriel, and Nanushka for some browsing!

Pick Me Up at Sweet Rehab: Recently opened on Sullivan Street in Soho, Sweet Rehab is a true authentic french patisserie with the most stylish interiors and cafe seating. It is pricey, but incredibly worth it! Their chocolate chip cookies are UNREAL..

Drinks at Electric Lemon: With time to spare before our later dinner reservation we headed uptown to the new Equinox Hotel at Hudson Yards for their restaurant Electric Lemon. Owned by the same owners of Le Cou Cou and La Mercerie, I knew it would be fantastic and it was. The space is stunning and the views of the vessel at night are perfection. I got the non-alcoholic lemon drink and it was SO good.

Dinner at Veronika: Ending off our girls weekend, we headed to Veronika, the newest “it” restaurant on the scene in NYC. The interiors are worth the trip in themselves (another RW Guild masterpiece). Everything we ordered was delicious with the milk bread, perogis and desserts as definite favorites.

I hope this gave you some ideas for your next adventure through the city! As always, be sure to tag me if you give any of these a try.

BEST HEALTH FOOD STORES NYC

I have done my fair share of research when it comes to health food spots in the city. While I love Whole Foods for a big grocery shop, I love supporting small businesses, especially local health food stores. They do so much for communities by bringing awareness to how we eat and where our food comes from and I think we should give more credit to that. I have favorite spots in just about every neighborhood of Manhattan so I thought I would share a few of my ultimate faves.

Bonberi: Originally located on Bleecker Street in the West Village, Bonberi has moved to a pop-up at Nordstrom on 57th while they work on expanding to a new location. I have been a loyal follower of theirs for quite sometime and they carry such great products, especially for cooking your own foods. They have some of the best prepared health foods in the city. I have yet to get bowls or salads of this quality and freshness. You don’t feel like you are eating out at all which I love.

East Village Organic: For the market that feels like you are in a small town rather than NYC look no further than East Village Organic. If you are looking for a real health food store, this is it. They have a great selection of organic produce, a wonderful healthy chocolate selection, and a juice and smoothie bar in the back. Definitely worth checking out!

Orchard Grocer (Lower East Side): This little spot tucked away on Orchard Street is the cutest little market, chock full of some of my favorite brands. It’s tiny, but the curation of products is really well done. They also have great prepared vegan sandwhiches made to order!

Clean Market: Located in Midtown East, Clean Market is my new favorite spot for prepared health foods and any wellness essentials. They carry really great brands, their prepared foods are amazing, and it’s a gorgeous space. They also offer infrared sauna sessions and cryotherapy!

Foragers Natural Market (Flatiron): I came across this little market when I was in search of my favorite coconut yogurt, Cocojune. They have such a nice selection of health foods and gourmet cooking essentials. A little bit pricey, but a nice treat to wander and pick up a few things every now and then.

LifeThyme Market (West VIllage): Oh. My. Gosh. How did it take me so long to discover this place? I am fully OBSESSED. They have a full case of raw vegan desserts… need I say more? Get the raw chocolate walnut cake and thank me later. Such a great place to go and pick up any essentials as well! :)

Clover Grocery (West Village): Clover Grocery is located right next door to Cafe Clover, one of the cutest healthy restaurants in the city. They offer all the great health food brands in addition to having some of their own prepared foods, as well as a smoothie and coffee bar. It’s the definition of a “boutique” health food store :)

BEST OF BROOKLYN GUIDE

Hello Everyone! I am back with another guide and this time it’s to Brooklyn. I feel like there are so many cute places that don’t get the word spread about them and I am here to change that. Brooklyn has slowly become my sanctuary and escape out of the city, and I absolutely adore it. The restaurant and coffee shop selection is so so good, you can actually hear the birds chirping, and you can just slow down the pace of life from Manhattan for a little bit. I will go through my favorite neighborhoods and share my favorite spots in each!

DUMBO

1 Hotel: My absolute favorite thing in the world is walking across the Brooklyn Bridge and walking over to 1 Hotel. They are seriously the best hotels. Such earthy and relaxing vibes, not to mention they all smell like Le Labo’s Santal 33 :) They have a coffee shop on the lobby level with coffee by Bluestone Lane. I love to grab a matcha and relax in the lobby.

Timeout Market: Right around the corner from the 1 Hotel, Timeout market is a great place to go if you are in a group and want an option for food that will satisfy everyone. I love Avocaderia! They also have a great rooftop deck where you can go and take in views of the bridge!

WILLIAMSBURG

Bakeri: The BEST bakery in NYC hands down. I have yet to find a bakery more authentic or charming. Everything I have ever tried is delicious! My favorites include their banana walnut bread (OMG) cinnamon bun, and avocado toast on sourdough. They have two locations, I prefer the Greenpoint location as it has more seating and a better selection of pastries, but Williamsburg has a secret garden out back! :)

Le Labo Cafe: My favorite perfume company who makes the coveted Santal 33 scent, has such a nice shop in Brooklyn. This location actually has a coffee shop attached. Let me just say that they make a mean latte + it’s hard to beat the aesthetics :)

The Hoxton Hotel: I love popping into the Hoxton for a little break on my Brooklyn ventures. I actually just realized that they have an option to book a room just for the day. If you ever need to take a personal day, this is the place!

Pilgrim Surf Supply: The cutest, most fun shop in Williamsburg. I love going in to soak up the California surf vibes :)

Leif Shop: The best boutique in Brooklyn and NYC, Leif Shop has the best home decor and greeting cards. Their bright and airy space gives off all my favorite neighborhood small business vibes.

Fox Fodder Farm: One of the best florists in the city, Fox Fodder Farm recently moved their shop to Williamsburg. They have the most gorgeous arrangements and selection of florals!

Farmers Market: When the weather is nice, there is nothing better than strolling the McCarren Park farmers market. It’s so much quieter and relaxing than Union Square and gives off such a great sense of community.

Other: Whole Foods: the best Whole Foods in the city in my opinion, Alo Yoga

I love the walk between Williamsburg and Greenpoint, it’s about 1.5-2 miles and it’s really relaxing if you go early on a weekend morning!

GREENPOINT

Bakeri

Maman: All locations are great, but this one is one of my faves! Don’t skip the pistachio chocolate croissant or matcha latte.

Cafe Alula: I LOVE Cafe Alula! The aesthetics are through the roof, not to mention delicious food! I got the orange blossom chia bowl and it was wonderful.

Tend: Right next door to Cafe Alula, Tend is the CUTEST little green plant shop. Such a fun place to escape and relax.