Riviera Maya, Mexico

Better late than never, I suppose! We went to Riviera Maya in August and, even though we hadn’t planned it that way, we ended up treating it as a first anniversary trip. 🙂

We stayed at El Dorado Royale and it was beautiful! The staff were all so friendly and the pools were perfect, but I think our favorite thing was the food! We had heard good things about it before going and it definitely went way beyond our expectations! There are quite a few restaurants to choose from and you don’t need reservations for most of them. There is one called Fuentes that’s actually a dinner theater and you do need reservations for that one. The menu was a little too exotic for me, but it was definitely a cool experience!

If you’re going for your honeymoon, anniversary or birthday, you should definitely let them know ahead of time! They put banners on your door depending on what you’re celebrating and you get tons of extra perks throughout your time there!

The other food pictures I have don’t really do the food justice, so here is a dessert that gives you an idea of the quality! We actually are still talking about some of the food we had there and how good it was haha!

As part of our anniversary package, we were given a free dinner on the beach and it was amazing! I think it would have cost around $200 otherwise. A great reason to make sure you let them know if/what you’re celebrating before you go! You may have to show them your marriage certificate for proof, but it was really hassle free. 🙂

One thing we weren’t sure about before we went was tipping. We had heard mixed opinions on whether or not you should tip, but we quickly learned that it was very much appreciated and well received.  Even though it is all inclusive, it would be a good idea to make sure you have some cash with you for tipping!

If you’re into chess, they have a life-sized chess board! I don’t play, but I saw a lot of people using it and it looked fun! Right near this chess board is a smoothie bar that also has really good sandwiches and they always have out cute jars full of cookies! We were frequenters of the smoothie bar. 😉

The whole property was really pretty and you could easily walk anywhere you wanted to go, but a lot of people use golf carts to get around. We were staying almost right in the middle of the resort, so we had an easy walk to all of the restaurants! The swings in the picture above are located throughout the resort and I really loved them! We would stop as we were walking to hang out on them. 🙂

As you can see, the water is beautiful! The resort is part of an artificial reef project, which is why you see all of those boulder-looking objects in the water. They’re supposed to protect the coast from erosion. You can read more about the project here if you’re interested.

Of course, I completely support this project and think it’s for a great cause, but the water is pretty rough because it is smacking against these giant boulders all of the time, so you really can’t go swimming in the ocean. I definitely prefer the beach over the pool, so we would spend most of the day at the beach, but would walk over to one of the pools when we wanted to go swimming. I wouldn’t say this is a deal breaker and our travel agent did tell us about it beforehand, but it was definitely a bigger impact on the beach than we had expected.

These little coconuts are so fun! The line was usually pretty long, but it was so worth it because you can keep getting it filled throughout the day! I think it is the only thing that we paid extra for throughout the week, but for $6, I would definitely do it again!

We had a swim up room, so when we opened our sliding door, it went right out into a lazy river, which we loved! You wouldn’t know it from these pictures, but there was actually a tropical storm while we were there! It really only took away 1 day of our trip and they did a really great job of cleaning everything up as soon as the storm ended.

I couldn’t end the post without sharing my favorite part about the trip- my pineapple float. 🙂 I got it in Hawaii and it was worth every penny!

I’d love to hear about the tropical places you’ve been! There are so many more I’d like to visit!

Thanks so much for reading! 

XO, 

You may also like Maui 🙂

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on or make a purchase using these links. All opinions are my own.

Spring Jackets (Under $100)

Even though it doesn’t feel like it when there’s snow on the ground, spring will be here before we know it. 🙂 So, now is the perfect time to grab a spring jacket you’ll be able to throw on when it’s raining or when you just need an extra layer. There are a ton of great options out there, but some can be pretty pricey. I searched for some more affordable ones, keeping it under $100, but even found a few cute great options for under $50. Here are some of my favorites that I hope you love to!

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This jacket comes in 4 colors! Love the light pink.

Love the color of this denim jacket (under $40!)

Thanks so much for reading!

XO, 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on or make a purchase using these links.

 

You may also like 5 Tips for Transitioning from Winter to Spring 🙂

 

 

5 Tips for Transitioning From Winter to Spring

Hi! Happy Friday! Hope you have had a great week. 🙂

It’s not quite spring yet where I live, but that doesn’t stop me from acting like it is. 😉 Today I wanted to share with you 5 tips you can use now for transitioning your wardrobe from winter to spring.

1 Break out your white jeans. I’ve never really followed the Memorial Day to Labor Day rule and I love how white jeans can really brighten up your whole look. No need to leave them sitting in your closet until May! You can grab these white jeans here.

2 Grab some transition pieces like this long sleeved, peplum from Pink Blush. I love that it’s a thin material (perfect for layering), but also has long sleeves, so it doesn’t look too summer-y. On a side note..this top is incredibly comfortable and flattering. If it came in other colors, I would absolutely get it!

You don’t have to even buy anything new. I’m sure you have tons of long sleeve tops and light sweaters sitting in your closet. You could even break out some of your summer tops and layer them with a sweater, but I’m getting ahead of myself. 😉

3 Change up your colors. No need to leave your comfort zone here! If you’ve been wearing a lot of dark colors, you can mix in some lighter colors like pinks, blues and yellows. If you’ve been incorporating lighter colors all winter, you can start adding some brighter colors like hot pink, coral, brighter blues, etc. Whatever you’re comfortable with, but enough to make a little change. 🙂

4. Layer! This one speaks for itself. Rather than a bulky sweater, choose a few lighter items that you can layer. This lets you stay warm while it’s still chilly, without looking so bundled up.

As I mentioned earlier, you can use some of your summer tops for this too! If you have a cute cami that you love, wear it under a sweater or with a denim jacket and you’re all set!

5. Accessories.  Switch to a new purse, bring out your colorful earrings or necklaces. Even if your purse isn’t a typical spring or summer color, making the change will make you feel like spring is on its way!

Shop the look:

top // jeans // jacket (similar) // ankle boots // bag (similar)

Thanks so much for reading! Have a great weekend! 

XO, 

You may also likePink Blush Floral Top 🙂 

Thank you to Pink Blush for gifting me this top!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on or make a purchase using these links. All opinions are my own.

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Ideas & Popcorn Recipe

Valentine’s Day has (almost) arrived! Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day or both, I’m sharing some last minute ideas if you don’t have any plans yet. All of these would be perfect for 2 people or for a group, depending on who you’re celebrating with. These are just a few, so I’d love to hear your ideas too!

1 Get crafty! You don’t need to go anywhere to do a paint night. Have one at your house! You can grab some wine or champagne glasses from the dollar store to paint, or get small canvas boards and do a more traditional paint night. You could also decorate wooden signs for you house, make wreaths, create banners, whatever you’re into! This one takes a little preparation, but not much! Just a trip to A.C. Moore or Dollar Tree.

2 Game night. Bring out whatever board or card games you have and start playing! If your friends are joining you, have them bring whatever games they have too. There are also a lot of games you can find online if you search for Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day games. Here are the results I found on Pinterest.

3 Get cooking (or baking). You can either have a potluck with your friends or cook something on your own. You could also make it a competition for who can make the best Valentine’s Day cookies or whose side is best.

4. Movie night in. I love watching the movie Valentine’s Day every year around this time. I never get sick of it, but you could also grab something from Redbox, watch any of your old DVDs or there’s always Netflix, of course! If you go with this idea, I definitely recommend some festive popcorn! You can find a fun recipe at the end of this post. 🙂

5. Check Groupon. There are tons of ideas on Groupon that you may be able to do last minute. When I searched in my area, I found glow in the dark mini golf, wine tastings, brewery tours and ice skating. You may find something in your area you didn’t even know about!

 

Here is the popcorn recipe!

Ingredients:

-I bag popcorn

-1 12 oz. bag of white chocolate chips

-Toppings (M&M’s, candy hearts, marshmallows, etc.)

Directions:

-Microwave your popcorn. When it’s finished, pour it in a bowl.

-Melt half bag of white chocolate chips in the microwave

(Put them in a microwave safe bowl. I put them in for 1 minute at a time at 70% power. I did this three times and it was perfect!)

-Pour the melted white chocolate over it and stir to coat.

-Put on your toppings!

Enjoy! Oakley sure wished he could 🙂

Thanks so much for reading! Hope you have a great Valentine’s Day!

XO,

You may also like Valentine’s Day Gift Guide & Valentine’s Day Outfit Guide

January Instagram Roundup

Today, I am sharing an Instagram Roundup with links to everything I have shared in the last few weeks! I’ve realized that my feed has been pretty full of blush pink and gray, but, like I said on Instagram, I’m not mad about it. 😉

This outfit is SO affordable! The bag is under $20, the sweater is on sale and these jeans are on clearance! And they are all great staple items!

I love the lace up details on this sweater! It also comes in 2 other colors and is one of the softest cardigans I have. This clutch comes in and out of stock a lot, but it’s only $25, so check back frequently if you’d like it! It tends to sell out really quickly when it’s in stock.

This dress is one of my all time favorites! The back is so pretty, it comes in a ton of colors and it’s $64. It would be a great bridesmaid or prom dress! This picture is from our honeymoon if Maui. You can read all about Maui in my Maui Travel Guide.

These leggings are by far my favorites! I got them in 3 colors because they are so comfortable and have pockets. They often go on sale for $25, but are definitely worth the full price too! Love them!

This post was part of my JORD giveaway (closed), but these shoes were super popular! They are the most comfortable flats I have. I got them in 2 colors and wear them to work all the time. These jeans are called super soft jeggings and they definitely live up to their name. 🙂

This top from Shop Pink Blush is one of my new favorites. The back has the prettiest lace detail and it’s $37.

I am so excited to share these self-tanning products! They’re so easy to use and give the perfect amount of color, even for the palest of the pale like me. 😉 They also just launched a tan extender lotion that will make your tan last even longer. You can order them here and use code LARADA10 for a discount!

This photo went along with my Valentine’s Day posts! If you haven’t seen them yet or you’re still in need of an outfit or gift, you can check out my Valentine’s Day Gift Guide and Valentine’s Day Outfit Guide. 

Thanks so much for reading! Have a great weekend!

XO,

 

Hello Gorgeous!

How cute is this sweater from Simply Blush? It’s pretty lightweight, so it’s perfect now with a jacket and will be great on its’ own all spring and summer. It’s already a great price, but scroll to the bottom and you’ll get an extra discount with a code I’m going to share with you. 🙂

I love the neckline on this because you can wear it as an off the shoulder top or keep it more centered depending on what you’re comfortable with.

My ankle boots are a few years old from Target, but I found a very similar pair here.

I’ve talked about these jeansbefore, but I have to do it again because they are THE best! They’re super soft jeggings and they genuinely are super soft. I have gone shopping for jeans since getting these and I never end up buying any because they aren’t as nice as this pair!

I found this Anne Klein bag at Marshall’s, but I have linked a very similar one here.

Head over to Simply Blush and use code Lara15 for a discount. They have so many cute items, you will definitely find something you love!

Thanks so much for reading!

XO, 

You may also like Winter to Spring Neutrals 🙂

Winter to Spring Neutrals

I have to admit, I haven’t always had good luck at H&M. But, this sweater was definitely a great find. I’ve gotten so many compliments when I’ve worn it because of the color and how cozy it looks (and is). 🙂 It’s selling out pretty fast, but you can find similar ones here & here.

This bag is less than $20 and is such a great color! It’s really good quality for the price, comes in 5 colors & has more pockets and a zipper inside. Win-win. 😉

You can find these jeans here. They’re currently on major sale and I love them! You can also find the distressed version of them here.

I found these shoes at Old Navy years ago and they were on sale for $9! I haven’t seen any for quite that low since then haha, but you can find a similar pair here & here.

I really try to only share things that are affordable, so everything I’ve shared is well under $100 at the time of this post and most are under $50. I love clothes, but I also love traveling, going out to eat (hey, Shake Shack!) 😉 and there are always those student loans waiting for me, so it’ll stay affordable around here. 🙂

Thanks so much for reading! Hope you have a great weekend!

XO, 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on or make a purchase using these links. 

You may also like Casual Lace-up Sweater 🙂

Valentine’s Day Outfit Guide

I’m getting so excited for Valentine’s Day! If you saw my Valentine’s Day Gift Guide post, then you know why this holiday is so special to me. 🙂

Whether you’re going somewhere fancy or doing something more casual, I’ve put together some items that will be perfect for Valentine’s Day! Hope you find something you love. ❤

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And, in case you also wanted to get something new for him…

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Thanks so much for reading!

XO, 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on or make a purchase using these links.

You may also like Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 🙂

Casual Lace-up Sweater

Happy Friday! Hope you’ve all had a great week and have some fun plans for the weekend!

I’m excited to share this look with you because I have been loving this sweater! It’s so soft and has the cutest details on the sleeves. I did go up one size because I prefer things longer in the back, but your regular size would be fine too!

These jeans have been my favorite lately too! I have to give my husband all the credit for them because he picked them out himself and gave them to me for Christmas! They’re actually called “Super Soft Jeggings,” so he definitely made a good choice. 😉 You can find them here.

While we were taking these pictures, it was SO windy! My hair was all over the place and my sweater seemed like it was taking flight. We were left with some really hilarious photos that made me want to do a bloopers blog post someday. I’m sure other bloggers can relate to some ridiculous photos, so someday I will definitely share some of those funny moments!

This clutch is also a favorite and is $25! It tends to sell out a lot, but always comes back. 🙂

Thanks so much for reading!

XO, 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on or make a purchase using these links. 

 

You may also like Pink Blush Floral Top 🙂 

 

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

It’s hard to believe Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! I love what a fun holiday it is for everyone to celebrate. It also became a very special day to me 3 years ago because my husband proposed on Valentine’s Day!

Before we got engaged, I laughed and said not to propose on Valentine’s Day because it was too cheesy! A few months later, he proposed..on Valentine’s Day ha! He said he did it because he knew I wouldn’t be expecting it. And of course I wasn’t mad. 😉 So now I love it even more!

Anyway..on to the gift guides! There is one for her and one for him! I hope you find something you love. ❤

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I also had to share these books that I got my husband last Valentine’s Day. They are a fun, easy and cute way to do small, every day things for each other and I’m sure you will love them!

For her

For him

Thanks so much for reading!

XO, 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click on or make a purchase using these links.

 

You may also like Birthday Gift Guide