Trip to Madrid: Hotel

I have been looking forward to recapping my Christmas and New Years trip to Spain and Portugal. It was an amazing trip that took us to Madrid, Porto and Lisbon.

Taken in Plaza Mayor, a festive square that was full of Christmas markets.

While the majority of our pictures were taken in Portugal, I wanted to share where we stayed in Madrid, Spain: Melia Fenix.

We spent 3 nights here, including Christmas Eve and Christmas. It was a gorgeous hotel, with all the amenities and had a prime location.

Recap of our trip to Portugal to come soon!

Valentines Day Gifts + Goodies

Valentine's Day is a perfect excuse to indulge in chocolate and all things pink. I pulled together some fun gift ideas and goodies to get in the loving, holiday spirit.

hanky panky set // diptyque candle // rose gold watch // rose water spray // lock & key

minimergency kit // sweet nothings journal // heart pajama set // floral confetti push pop // heart tray

While the bird & I usually don't plan anything extravagant for Valentine's Day, I love the idea and meaning behind the day. It's a sweet reminder to embrace and celebrate us.

Oooo... and I love this fun, illustrated slideshow about relationship advice, from real people.

And lastly, can we talk about the new Ben & Jerry's non-dairy flavors! PB & Cookies. #yum

Linked with Meet at the Barre

Comeback Trend: Bootcut + Flare Jeans

I am embracing this trend comeback with open arms. I feel like the bootcut and flare fits have such a flattering silhouette.

frankie hearts fashion // fifideluxe // advice from a twenty something // lauren conrad

Here are some great picks to get these jeans back into your closet!

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight

Love the inspiration of dressing them up or down. They are very versatile, but to continue the elongation, I think they look best with a bit of a heel. Try pairing them with booties, wedges or heels.

Pantone Colors of the Year: Rose Quartz

I love the pretty colors of the year from Pantone. I am particularly partial to the Rose Quartz.

fabric chair // fray pillow // tassel keychain // textured rug // glass vase // cashmere wrap // coasters (similar here & here)

Here are some great finds to add a bit of Rose Quartz into your life. Loving these chairs and this textured rug as statement pieces. How perfect would this be in a nursery! #targetdoesitagain I've also been on the hunt for agate coasters. These are so pretty!

A quick guide to Core Power Yoga

I wanted to kick off 2016 with fitness post of my current favorite workout: Core Power Yoga.

sports bra // yoga mat // mat towel (other colors on sale here) // water bottle // headband (one + two)

high rise yoga pants // yoga mat strap // yoga bag

Here is a quick overview and guide to the basics of Core Power Yoga:

What to Expect
I find Core Power to be a mix of yoga poses, cardio and (light) weight toning. It is generally warm in the class (low 90s) and it's a flow type yoga.
It's also more 'high energy' than other yoga classes, in fitness, music and atmosphere. Expect to sweat more than you ever have before.

Start Slow
Every class you attend will be warm and you will leave fatigued and sweaty.
Same for Sculpt, start light. 3 & 5 lb weights might not seem like much, but they feel like 100 lbs by the end of class.

What to Bring
I always bring my mat, mat towel and a sweat towel to class. I also bring a water bottle and change of clothes for afterwards.

Why I love it
Of all the different workouts I’ve tried, Core Power is my favorite. I love the how challenging it is, the mix of strength and flexibility training and cleanse you feel from the heat and poses.

Getting back into a routine after moving is always tough. But I was so excited to find out there was a Core Power Yoga in downtown Austin when we moved here!

What is your go-to fitness routine? I would love to know and try some of your favorites so I can start mixing it up a bit.

Highlights of 2015

Before I dive into my resolutions for 2016, I thought it would be appropriate to recap this year's noteworthy moments:

Rediscovered my love for iceskating. 

Trip to the south, visiting Nashville, Atlanta and North and South Carolina (Charleston).

With that, I had the pleasure of meeting Jillian, Cait, and Meg!

Weekend trip to Vegas at the Wynn.

My best friend's bridal shower, bachelorette party and wedding!

Celebrating 3 years of marriage with the bird.

Took a much anticipated calligraphy class.

Sold our first home.

And moved to Austin.

Went to ACL and saw Of Monsters and Men, Hozier and Florence + The Machine.

Ending the year with a family trip to Spain and Portugal.


It was a great year! Looking forward to an even more exciting year ahead.

Image via

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours the Merriest Christmas!

May your Christmas be filled with scents of evergreen and lots of sweet treats.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend! Xo