JustBrookie

Howdy, y'all! To celebrate turning 25, I decided to go out with a bang and celebrate in true country girl style... a trip to NASHVILLE. I'm a big fan of birthday celebrations, and this was the most special way to ring in my milestone year. I was fortunate enough to have some of my closest friends and family join in on the fun, and our weekend getaway was top notch.

After numerous requests, I had to pass along the itinerary of our trip to the south, so this post will feature all of the exciting adventures we participated in, along with my overall reviews and recommendations of each activity. To start things off, see below for the itinerary I put together for our weekend at Brooke's Bash in Nash...

THE ITINERARY:

Nashville Itinerary, Recommendations, Birthday, 25th, Bachelorette, Girls weekend, GNO, 25, Birthday Party, Weekend Getaway, Trip inspiration, Travel, lifestyle blogger, Nashville Recs

Naturally, I also included a themed lookbook on our attire to match the weekend. Of course, we wanted to be fashionably represented, so we kept it pretty simple for a large group of males and females.

WHERE TO STAY:

The best part about Nashville is that you can truly get a sense of the culture and the experience of the city from any of the nearby villages/neighborhoods that surround the metro area. I had gone to Nashville once before in 2017, so this visit in 2021 was not unfamiliar to me. I knew that most of our trip was going to be around the hot spots of the town... 12th South, The Gulch, Broadway, etc., so it was intentional of me to choose a neighborhood near the downtown area for our AirBnB. Any of these neighboring areas would be great for a visit like mine.

Our AirBnB was in a perfect location snuggled just south of The Gulch neighborhood. You could tell that the areas that surrounded downtown have quickly been developing into the tourist destination with multiple AirBnB's that offer rooftops and skyline views. What we loved most about our location was that we were walking distance to The Gulch, or a Bird ride away to downtown... which we definitely did.

I recommend selecting your AirBnB after deciding on which areas you are looking to visit in the city, as this can determine the amount of (or lack thereof) Ubers/Lyfts you may need to take from your location. Pro tip: You can also negotiate your rates on AirBnB. Don't be afraid to message the host and ask if they would be willing to meet you at the budget you had in mind for your trip. You'd be surprised how many stays I've been able to reduce the cost down to. Only the pros know to do this ;)

WEDNESDAY - ARRIVALS:

Our flights all arrived at different times near the afternoon. If you intend to stay anywhere near the downtown area, account for at least 30 minutes of driving time to commute from BNA. For us, an Uber/Lyft XL for our varied groups that arrived around the same time was a perfect way to get to our AirBnB.

Since it was a casual arrival night, we didn't truly have an itinerary, but after arriving to our beautiful AirBnB, we all decided to grab a late bite on Broadway at Hattie B's Hot Chicken. This was a perfect spot for us to have a fast-casual dinner, and it was yummy too! No better way to introduce the tourist group to the South like a hot chicken restaurant... a dish that Nashville is known for.

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To get downtown, we all rode Bird scooters! It was such a fun and memorable activity that only took about 15 minutes.

My friends are the sweetest ever and surprised me with the most adorable cowboy hats for the girls to wear throughout the weekend. A party favor for all of the ladies to take home... such a thoughtful and special gift.

THURSDAY - CAKE. DINNER. NIGHT OUT:

The next day, we started the morning with some breakfast at the house, delivered by a grocery delivery service, like Instacart. It's a nice idea to have a stocked fridge with bottled water, snacks, and breakfast items to start each day off strong. Our first stop on our itinerary was 12th South. This neighborhood is super charming with cute shops and restaurants fit for all ages. I highly recommend exploring 12th South on your visit to Nashville!

Highlights include: Stoney Clover, Amelia's Flower Truck, Draper James, Frothy Monkey & Bar Taco

Lunch at Bar Taco is a great place for a large group because you seat yourself and order from your mobile device. Your tab stays open as long as you want, and the servers bring your meal and drinks within a few minutes of your online order at your seat at the table. It's a casual dining experience with an innovative experience that worked perfect for our group. A bonus that the food was delicious too!

After our pleasant afternoon, we made our way back to the AirBnB to get ready for our night out. We dressed to the occasion and pregamed with drinks and a birthday cake, fit for a birthday cowgirl! The birthday cake was custom made by a local bakery - Baked on 8th.

We took the rodeo downtown and had dinner at the main floor of one of Nashville's hottest spots in town: The Twelve Thirty Club, also known for being Justin Timberlake's latest honky tonk. This was where we held "the birthday dinner" where we dressed up for the occasion and celebrated in true celebratory style. This was my favorite place of the weekend because there was live music all throughout dinner, and the meals were delicious. They even played my request to cover Taylor Swift! This restaurant has a private dining area on the second floor which is another alternative to host dinner parties. Definitely a high recommendation on my list!

Naturally, we didn't stop there. The party kept going on Broadway, walking just down the road to find whatever bar was vibin' best. Honestly, there is no wrong choice on Broadway when it comes to a good time. You can find some fun in every venue because there is live music on every corner.

Highlights include: Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row, Luke's 32 Bridge, Jason Aldean's Kitchen & Rooftop Bar, Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse

FRIDAY - DRINKS. TRACTORS. HONKY TONKS:

On Friday, we dressed in all jean attire... a 'jarty' if you will... and started our morning in The Gulch with breakfast at Milk + Honey. This restaurant, just like many others in the area, was unable to take any reservations, so we considered an alternative as an option in case it was full: Anzie Blue. The food at Milk + Honey was decent, but it was challenging to get a table, and I would've preferred a restaurant that could accommodate our full party in advance. After our breakfast, we walked around The Gulch and shopped for some goodies. Our party split up to explore the stores to our likings.

Highlights include: Uncommon James, Kittenish, & my favorite Urban Outfitters store, & Killebrew Coffee

We then went back to the AirBnB to freshen up and prepare for one of the most exciting activities of the weekend... our tractor ride with Big Green Tractor Tours! This was a perfect activity that hosted our entire group and toured us around the city from daylight to sunset. It was BYOB with coolers and cups provided to ice our drinks. A definite must do if you have a large party! Especially as you'll get to see most of the city. Beats riding a party bike around town for sure... One thing to keep in mind is the weather. We traveled to Nashville in the thick of Fall, mid-November, so we definitely needed to bring blankets to snuggle up with. It was freezing after the sun set!

Our tractor ride dropped us in the heart of Broadway... our favorite place in town, clearly! We had a casual dinner at Acme Feed & Seed that was paired with live music, of course. I had been here once before and continue to highly recommend this spot for an easy dinner. There are 4 floors with different cuisine options to choose from and lots of energy from wall to wall. It's a nice place to share dinner with family and friends.

We finished this night off once again on Broadway, revisiting our favorite spots from the night before, which included Luke's 32 Bridge and Jason Aldean's Kitchen & Rooftop Bar, along with a new spot for a skyline view: Ole Red.

SATURDAY - BRUNCHIN'. BOOZIN':

Our Saturday morning started with a brunch at Hampton Social. This place is super charming and located near the river on Broadway. I do recommend this place for a group that's looking to get lots of photos and a boozy brunch, as this place is gorgeous inside. The only downside to our brunch was that we had lounge style seating, rather than a traditional table - something to keep in mind when booking a large party! To our surprise, this place was far booked up a month in advance, so it was definitely a hot spot. I also recommend the monkey bread... YUM.

After brunch, we walked up Broadway and explored the shops. There is a Boot Barn and some cute souvenir shops worth checking out. One regret I had was not getting a true cowboy hat, something still on my list to get!

One of the activities I really wanted to try out when in Nashville was to visit Dolly Parton's famous rooftop bar: White Limozeen. It was a mystery to figure out how to get a table at this place, as everywhere I looked online told me I needed to book this place a month in advance due to the high demand. Located at the Graduate Hotel near Vanderbilt on Music Row, this rooftop overlooks downtown and the city with the most adorable pink decor in true Dolly fashion. Turns out, you can enjoy the outdoor rooftop area without a reservation as it is all open seating. That was definitely in our favor when we arrived around 3pm, as it was vacant enough to snag a table for our group. We had drinks and a few appetizers while watching the sunset.

This was definitely one of my favorite places to attend due to its unique design and photo opps. Had to take advantage of it obviously due to the pink. The inside bar was also flawless and deserves its moment. After the fun, we took it over to Losers Bar & Grill, another fun lowkey spot to grab a beer and play darts.

We ended the night with dinner at a classic... Martin's BBQ. This is another staple stop for Nashville to indulge in a delicious traditional barbecue. Fast casual and easy to get to, it's another recommendation on my list. There's also bar games upstairs so be sure to check out the second story.

SUNDAY - DEPARTURES:

The final day of our trip, so sad! We started our morning by having breakfast at The Dutch. This place was a perfect and intimate spot for us to enjoy a delicious brunch. Since it was just 6 of us left, my family and Lo, we were able to grab a table pretty last minute.

It was raining during this day, so we wanted to stay indoors during our last few hours. We made our way back to Broadway and spent a few hours touring the Johnny Cash Museum. This was so special and incredible for music loving fans like myself. It is worth checking out if you're looking to kill a few hours.

Overall, the weekend was a huge success! Oh, and everyone dressed perfectly to the theme... I had to be in pink of course - this dress is linked HERE in another color from Mistress Rocks ;)

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

Food:

Merchants, Broadway
Sixty Vines, Broadway
Stateside Kitchen, Broadway
Casa Rosa, Broadway
Biscuit Love, The Gulch
Adele's, The Gulch
Pemrose, The Gulch
UP a rooftop lounge, The Gulch
LA Jackson, The Gulch
Superica, The Gulch
51st Deli, The Gulch
404 Kitchen, The Gulch
Parlour Donuts, Music Row
Proper Bagel, 12 South

Activities:

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Broadway
Grand Ole Opry, East Nashville
Fifth & Broadway, Broadway
Pinewood Social, Broadway
Tennessee Titans Game, Broadway
Bluebird Cafe - hard to reserve, tickets on sale 1 week in advance
Freebird Steve Madden Store, West Nashville
Losers & Winners, Music Row

This weekend was truly unforgettable, and I'm not sure if I can top a celebration like this one. I highly recommend this trip itinerary as an exciting way to celebrate a milestone birthday, a bachelorette party, or even just an exciting weekend for fun! Get those cowboy boots on and giddy up for the best weekend ever!

xoxo

♥︎
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This last year has taught me so many valuable life lessons through the pandemic, and most importantly, I learned that life is incredibly short. There is never a promise of tomorrow, and the world we live in is just our temporary home. This reminder is something I took into 2021, with the intention of living every day to its fullest.

My boyfriend, Mitchell, was turning 25 this January, and I wanted to make it extra special. If you know me, you know I’m all about birthdays, especially surprises! Given that our typical scenario of celebrations with a group of friends have been ruled out due to the pandemic, I wanted to surprise him with something for just the two of us that he would never forget. SO, I surprised my boyfriend on a trip to Maui, Hawaii... during the pandemic.

Crazy, right? How did I do it? What did we do? I’m going to share my story on how I made this dream a reality while staying safe and following CDC guidelines and protocols.

HOW TO GET TO HAWAII:

I booked the flights in December for a 5-day, 4-night mid-January vacation to Maui, Hawaii. The deals to Hawaii are TOO GOOD to pass up. I’m talking under $500 for 2 people round trip. Insane. This is something that will not be the case after the pandemic. If you feel comfortable traveling, I highly recommend looking into a vacay to the Aloha State.

The State of Hawai’i requires a 10-day self-quarantine for all inbound travelers. In order to forego the self-quarantine, you must complete the state’s pre-travel testing requirements. After booking the flights, I received my confirmation email prompting me to register to the Hawaii Safe Travels website that tracked my completion and held all of my documents of the required checklist before arriving. The rules for traveling to Hawaii vary between each island, so make sure to confirm that your desired island of travel is allowing the exemption of the 10-day quarantine through this program. Maui was okay to travel to, where as Kauai was not at this time. The mandatory checklist for each person arriving to Hawaii requesting exemption for the 10-day quarantine was:

Registered Hawaii Safe Travels account - each person creates their own, with the exception to children under 18 that can be included with their parent/guardian
Trip details of all flights traveling to get you to and from Hawaii (including connecting flights)
A negative COVID test distributed no more than 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the final flight into Hawaii from a trusted testing partner (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test - NAAT)
Health Questionnaire completed within 24 hours of departure certifying and signing that you have not been exposed to COVID or feeling symptoms within 14 days

Note that all of the above requirements must be completed and uploaded to the site before leaving for Hawaii. If you arrive on the island of Hawaii, and the test results are missing or unapproved by the site, you will be forced to quarantine or sent back on the next flight to the mainland.

I started by registering and creating our trip details. Because we had connecting flights through Oahu to arrive to Maui, I had to upload both flights that brought to us to our final island. Trip 1 was the first flight, and trip 2 was the second flight. Only one of our flight numbers was auto-populating in the text box, but it is okay to type it in manually, not all flights will populate.

The COVID test we completed was through Walgreens. I reserved a drive-thru time slot for the both of us to complete a rapid PCR test with results within 24 hours. This is not the same as an antigen test, as an antigen test would not be approved by the safe travel requirements. Once we received our negative lab results, I uploaded the PDF’s to each created trip on the Safe Travels website. The results were immediately scanned and labeled as “negative” on the website, meaning our results were approved! Because our first flight was directly to Oahu, we were able to do our COVID test within 72 hours of our first departure flight. However, if we were connecting through another city on the mainland, such as Los Angeles, we would’ve needed to complete our test within 72 hours of our second flight from LA to Hawaii.

The Health Questionnaire was available 24 hours before our first trip, and I completed all of this within a few minutes. After this was completed, we received our individual QR code’s for each of our “trips” that will allow us to move forward after landing in Hawaii. None of the materials are required to be shown at the departing airport, just at arrival in Hawaii. Keep in mind, this was all done without Mitchell knowing where we would be going... he probably had an inkling, but I kept the arrival details a secret! Overall, the process seems a little complicated, but it is pretty simple if you just follow the instructions to ensure you complete all requirements. Now onto the fun part... the trip itself!

OUR HAWAII ITINERARY:

Day 1: Fly in on an early flight to arrive by 2pm, explore the island by car
Day 2: Beach day, exploring the West side of the island, Lahaina district
Day 3: Road to Hana, East side of the island, Pipiwai Trail and Waimoku Falls
Day 4: Beach day, Makena Beach, soaking up the last bit of island time
Day 5: Fly back home on an early flight, all day travel

WHAT WE DID IN HAWAII:

Day 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I kept this secret going as long as I could... even through the security checkpoint of the airport, Mitchell didn’t know where we were headed. I obviously told him what to pack, and he anticipated a warm vacation, hopefully something tropical. Early morning risers, we flew Hawaiian Airlines from Phoenix to Honolulu connecting onto Kahului Airport. When it was time to board, it was pretty obvious we were flying Hawaiian airlines, but to Mitchell’s surprise, he didn’t find out that we were headed to Maui until we were on the plane. His assumption was Oahu, somewhere he had been before. This was exciting for the both of us, as it was his first time going to this island, and I pulled off the surprise successfully! There was another clue that Mitchell picked up on: the 60-year-old couple walking around our terminal in straight up Hawaiian tacky tourist clothing...

After getting approved on both the Oahu and Maui islands to forego the quarantine, we headed straight to the rental cars where I had reserved none other than a red convertible Camaro for the week... if only it was a VW bug ;) The rental car was pretty cheap, about $150 before insurance for the full 5 days we were there. This may be the case due to the lack of tourists during a pandemic, another way you could save. It was about 2pm, and we wanted to stop for a quick lunch and enjoy the rest of the day exploring the island by car. We were thinking... poke bowls!

We stopped at Poi by the Pound where we had THE BEST ahi poke bowl ever. All week long we tried to top it, but this one has others beat. It comes with the option of shoyu, spicy or half & half sauce. We went with spicy, but our waitress was so kind to let us have a taste of the shoyu... it was divine. I’d recommend the half and half to try both flavors, and we were able to share one dish. The tuna was so fresh and melted in my mouth.

After our tasty lunch, we took the top down and drove around the island enjoying the perfect weather and sunshine. (Always wear SPF!! You will get burned.) We started driving up the west coast through the Lahaina district and up to the north shore. So many beautiful resorts sit on the beaches that line the coast, and they are all public access. At the north shore we stopped at a few lookout points to watch the surfers do their best work. It was so relaxing and fun... I wanted to get in the water right away.

We took the drive back down the coast to Kaanapali Beach to watch the sunset. Just having my toes in the sand was so refreshing... the beach is my muse! It was such a beautiful evening and so peaceful. I could tell right away that we had lucked out on exploring Maui while it wasn’t so crowded. There was way less traffic and tourists crowding the popular areas this time around, in comparison to my last visit to Maui.

We were staying in Kihei, so we continued back down the west coast to check in and get some sleep before a long day ahead.

Day 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The sun was shining, and it was a perfect day to hit the beach. Looking ahead at our weather, we saw it was likely going to rain light showers the next two days, of typical Hawaiian nature, so we wanted to get at least one full beach day in. We started at one of the greatest secret spots on the island (well maybe not so secret anymore) - Makena’s Secret Cove. There are about 5 parking spaces on the side of the road that lean against a wall separating the road from a beautiful natural cove. You walk through a small alley to get to the beach.

Due to the less crowded island, we were lucky to have this place almost completely to ourselves! There were only 2 other families there when we arrived and more than enough space to keep an area to ourselves. This spot is such a beautiful landscape for pictures and relaxation, there’s really nothing like it. We explored the black lava rock in the cove and tanned for a few hours before heading to the next beach.

Neighboring the secret cove, just slightly north, sits one of the most popular beaches, known for its large beautifully stretched sandy beach - Makena State Beach “Big Beach.” This was Mitchell’s favorite spot to go, and it had the best spot to swim. The waves and water were so beautiful.

When we saw the clouds rolling in, we opted to head back to the hotel and change into something for dinner. On our drive in the Lahaina district on day 1, we had decided on coming back for dinner and shopping, so that’s exactly what we did! On our drive up the island, we stopped and watched the sunset at a lookout point... so romantic, I know ;)

There was one dish I had back when I was in Maui with my family in 2015 that I had absolutely LOVED so much. It was a Macadamia-nut crusted Mahi Mahi from the Lahaina Fish Company in the historic district. Since my visit over 6 years ago, I have thought about the meal an unusual amount of times... I obviously wanted to go back and give it another try now that I was back. We went to the same restaurant right on the water and sat upstairs on the deck. The atmosphere is so quaint and peaceful. It feels fancy yet casual at the same time, it was a perfect way to have Mitchell’s birthday dinner to celebrate. You know when you remember a dish and it’s so good, you want to try it again, but it doesn’t live up to its expectations that you set so dangerously high??? Well that didn’t happen... I reordered my famous dish and was blown away AGAIN. It’s literally so amazing 12/10 recommend this Mahi Mahi.

While stopping in a few shops around the neighborhood, gathering some souvenirs, we spoke with some of the locals on their advice for tomorrow’s day trip of Road to Hana: where to stop and what to see. Knowing it was going to rain the next few days, we figured the first of the two days was the safer option to explore the jungle scenery, so we headed back home to get a good night’s sleep.

Day 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Our trusty locals who shared advice with us recommended an early start for Road to Hana. It’s best to be on the highway making your way down the coast by 8am if possible in order to avoid traffic and slow drivers. Road to Hana is a 64 mile two-lane winding road that consists of 59 bridges and 620 curves. Renting the car was the way to go, as we were able to take the top down and enjoy the scenic view at our own pace.

There are plenty of stops along the highway to make note of, but most importantly is the Halfway to Hana market that sells the most popular banana bread on the island. The reviews are not kidding - this banana bread was DELISH! We had chosen to make our way to the bottom of Hana as quick as possible, so by the time we made it to the market, it had just opened with a warm fresh batch ready to eat.

Along the way, we had anticipated a rainstorm, but we lucked out for at least half of the drive that barely came as a drizzle. The rain started to pick up, but it didn't ruin the fun. At first, we were hesitant about driving the dangerous highway in the rain, but after some research and local advice, we felt comfortable moving forward with our plans as long as we drove slow in any troubled areas. The Road to Hana is known as a dangerous drive due to most bridges being one-lane and the high cliffside that is known for fallen trees and rocks to tumble into the street. During the rain, the hazard is much higher, so keep that in mind if you're taking a convertible or Jeep!

By the time we made our way to Hana village, it had been about 2.5 hours. Guided by the advice we received from the locals, we planned to have an early lunch at a small food truck, Braddah Hutts BBQ Grill, at the base of the village at 11am. We were warned that it would get busy fast, and the truck tends to run out of food quickly by popularity. Since we arrived before the market opened, we explored a few beaches just south of the village, including Hamoa Beach and the Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach. Since it was raining, and we had intended to go for a hike after lunch, we didn't swim, but we did wander around the large red cliff walls and lava rocks at the base of the sand.

Once the food truck was open, we made our way back to have a filling lunch before we continued on our way. We had one plate - definitely sharable between 2 people, and it was pretty good!

The farthest we drove was to our hike destination: Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls. This was another 35 minutes from Hana village. We parked at Kīpahulu Visitor Center and lucked out on a free visit and parking due to the MLK holiday. The hike was absolutely beautiful. It was not too difficult and was mostly an incline due to stairs and rocks, so it gave a great exercise as well.

The hike follows a large stream with mini waterfalls created by the grand Waimoku Falls, scaling high above the base with large whimsical trees, walkable bridges, and a bamboo forest. When you make it to the very end, the hike opens up to the most stunning view of 7+ waterfalls towering over the surrounding mountains. Even with the rain, this was by far worth the hike. We spent 2.5 hours on the hike, but it can easily be done in less time. The view was breathtaking and magical. 10/10 recommend this hike!

After the hike, we drove to Black Sand Beach, back in the direction of Hana village. This was by far once of my favorite places to visit in Maui! There are lava tubes on the beach, and the contrast between the green plants and black sand made such a unique aesthetic to view. We enjoyed watching the waves crash on the black lava rock.

This area is incredibly unique and very photogenic... I could only imagine if it wasn't raining! What I loved most about this area is that it reminded me a lot of Nusa Penida in Bali, but with black sand. The colors are so vibrant, including the ocean water.

It was about 4pm by the time we completed our desired stops, and we were SO tired from the long day. We still had another 2+ hours to drive back to the north side of the island off the Hana highway. On the drive back, Mitchell was basically a pro, mastering all the curves and bridges. We lucked out and made it out of the highway just before dark.

To finish up our long day, we stopped at Maui Brewing Company in Kihei just by our hotel for a few brewskiiisss. I got a flight of their seltzers and loved ALL of them. They have unique flavors like Dragonfruit and Acai, and I honestly think they're better than White Claws. Also the ambiance was super cute! We never had any trouble getting a table at any of the restaurants we wanted to go to in Maui, probably due to the lack of tourists. However, we did notice that only 50-75% of all of the island restaurants were actually open - something to keep in mind when traveling to Maui. No reservations necessary, and indoor dining was available.

Day 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We were #blessed with another sunny day! Probably the most beautiful day of the whole trip.

We started our morning with a local breakfast at Kihei Caffe. We went for sweet & savory, and it did not disappoint. They have the most delicious cinnamon roll french toast paired with coconut syrup - 10/10. Their eggs benny was also a fan fave and was tied for first place. All in all - great experience.

Obviously it was worth catching some rays, so we did a walk around the park that was near the café and continued our day by hitting our favorite beach spot. We went back to Makena State Beach “Big Beach with some seltzers to swim and tan - what a perfect day.

We walked up and down the shore to the North end and climbed over the cliffside rocks to get a better view of the beach and private cove on the other side. This was such a perfect way to finish off our vacation, and we were able to soak up the last bit of sun before heading back to Arizona.

The final stop we made on our trip was at the furthest south point of Maui - Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve. This area is completely untouched lava rock covering the coast for miles. It's a fascinating drive to get to the Reserve parking, as this is where you can spot dolphins when they come to the cove for rest. The area is so beautiful, and we were able to catch the sunset from this spot.

Day 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It was time to depart our vacay! We woke up for an early flight back to the mainland, connecting through Oakland and back to Phoenix. It was a full day of travel due to the time difference. We were so thankful for this trip and the nice little getaway during this new way of life during a pandemic. I would recommend this type of travel to Hawaii to anyone who feels comfortable traveling! The 4-5 days on the island of Maui was more than enough time to do everything we wanted to do while getting in some relaxation. Cheers to this adventure and to many more! Mahalo, Hawaii...

xoxo

♥︎
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Happy Friday, loves!

As most of you may have been feeling during this pandemic, I have never felt more out of my usual routine than ever before. Mornings are starting later, social events are completely cut out, and I've spent much more time binge-watching Netflix than ever before. I can't say it's been completely horrible... I'm finally catching up on Friday Night Lights :-)

Social distancing hasn't ruined my day-to-day, it's just changed. What started out as an emotional roller coaster for me, has turned into a life-changing experience that I am thankful for. I've been lucky enough to share this time with my family back in Arizona, and I feel so grateful to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be back in my hometown during such a strange, and long time.

One of the challenges I've faced through this change was health and wellness. More specifically, finding the motivation to dedicate time to my FITNESS. I spent a lot of the beginning of this pandemic indoors, which really heightened my lack of motivation to work out. Back in LA, my routine kept me going. I woke up early, every morning before work, to attend a HIIT boxing class with my roommate. These classes became my new favorite hobby and absolute BEST workouts I've ever had.

You can only imagine how 3 months without my fave daily boxing classes could have taken a toll on my fitness motivation. I decided to CHOOSE not to give up and ADAPT my fitness routine while being home. At the end of the day, all you need is movement. My body craves it, especially now more than ever before, and it doesn't need a daily boxing class to keep it healthy. After being exposed to so many at-home workouts, I thought I would share my ways to move and stay fit during the pandemic.

These are my favorite at-home workouts that I've adapted into my daily routine since the pandemic:

YOGA - @CAITLINBARNER + @KATIEALHADEFF
My all-time favorite yogi's (who also double as my BFF's) are Caitlin (@CaitlinBarner) and Katie (@KatieAlhadeff) from CorePower Yoga in Phoenix. Since the beginning of this pandemic, I have them to thank for keeping me active and fit. I tried yoga a few times before, but these girls kept me in a routine, craving yoga every week! They have hosted weekly Instagram Lives featuring their Set + Flow Yoga Sculpt class, perfect to tone and challenge your body to a sweat-off. These girls can really get you moving, and they are SO motivating. If you are looking for a workout to increase flexibility and strength, join them in the CorePower Yoga Studio (now open) in Phoenix or on their Instagram.

SWIMMING
Vitamin D is sooo important to boost your immune system, so I strongly encourage to get some sun once a day (of course, with the appropriate SPF sunscreen - protect your skin). Swimming is the best exercise to treat yourself on a hot summer day, and if you are lucky enough to live with a pool, or by the beach, take advantage of the body of water! Swimming is a great way to pump the oxygen through your body and keep your lungs healthy.

HIKING

Arizona has the most beautiful hikes, and I feel lucky to have been able to explore so many during this quarantine. Instead of the usual social activities, I have dedicated my weekends to exploring new heights... literally. Consider going on a hike each weekend with a family member. Treat yourself to some intense cardio, an abundance of fresh air, and of course a beautiful view! Places I've been: Wet Beaver Creek (Rimrock, AZ), Coconino National Forest (Pine, AZ), Papago Park (Phoenix, AZ), Sara's Crack (Lake Havasu, AZ)

WALKING (THE DOG)

When it's not 100ºF at 8AM in the morning (yes, it can get that hot), I love to go for a 45min walk with my dog before I start my day. In my neighborhood, there are many hills with intense inclines, so I definitely feel a burn. Just fast-walking or adding in a jog is a great way to keep your body moving and up your cardio. Keep your heart healthy and your dog happy!

PAMELA REIF - YOUTUBE
My new favorite YouTube channel is Pamela Reif's! She has the best at-home workouts and stretching routines. I've become addicted to her workout challenges, and I really can't stop. Whether you are looking for a beginner or an intense exercise, Pamela has a variety of options to choose from. She even has Happy Dance classes that are perfect to get your body moving in a fun way. My favorite is the 12-Min Medium Ab workout. Give it a try, you may regret it ;)

SUMMER JURASZEK - IGTV
If you don't already follow her on Instagram, you should. Summer (@SummerJuraszek) posts short, yet satisfying, workouts derived from her background in Pilates on her Instagram TV. These exercises are perfect to use between lunch breaks or after a long day, or paired with one another for a longer period. These workouts are focused on intense, slow pulsed movements, perfect to TONE your muscles. She is motivating and has the most positive attitude. She also shares recipes of her favorite healthy snacks and meals. So proud of her for following her dream, go Summie!

I have adapted my daily rituals to explore these new hobbies and develop habits that have actually helped me overall. Even if you only dedicate 15 minutes in your day to one of these exercises, you are moving. Always practice self-love. You can implement these short and easy exercises into your daily routine to keep your body toned and strong.

I hope this inspires you to get up and move. You are BEAUTIFUL!

xoxo

♥︎
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Hi babes!

It's been awhile since I've last posted on my long-lost blog, but alas, here we are, quarantine and all. 2020 has truly taken a turn and brought me back to my roots. I'm back in Arizona, working from home and adding in a few new hobbies to my daily routine: yoga, art, and walking the dog.

For those of you share my enneagram (3w2), you can understand how this 'social distancing' thing has been treating me. Sparks of inspiration, waves of ambition, and too bored or relaxed to sit still. This extra time on my hands and lack of social gatherings (horrible for me, an extrovert) has challenged me in many ways... please tell me I'm not alone here.

On the bright side, I've also been feeling extra creative lately and decided to pull together a project I've been wanting to do for quite some time. A lot of friends and peers have reached out to me looking for some guidance or storytelling on how to land a job or internship while in college, or after. I've been a big fan of the mentorship program that the University of Arizona has shared with me, so naturally I love to give back to my alma mater in any way I can.

Given the circumstances that we're in, the coronavirus pandemic really (for lack of a better word) sucks. We're all in a weird stage of uncertainty and confusion on what the future holds. Luckily, we're all in this together, and the only outlook we can enjoy during this time is an optimistic one.

For the college and high school graduates Class of 2020, I feel most sympathy for. The lasts of many memories and the opportunities for jobs and internships were stripped away so suddenly. I even have friends who have lost their jobs. Now more than ever, I'm hoping to spread some optimism and inspiration during this difficult time to those of you who are looking for it.

I created the following video for any of you who are seeking new opportunities in your new (or current) career, including any high schoolers who want to get a head start. Whether you are looking for an internship in college, just graduating, or even 10 years down the line, I hope that my advice and insight would bring some inspiration to YOU!

Without further ado, here are my 10 tips and tricks on HOW TO LAND YOUR DREAM JOB:

xoxo

♥︎
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