5 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR RESOLUTIONS!

by with No Comment healthholidayinspirationlifestylemotivationpersonalwedding planningwellness

Happy 2017!!! Can you believe it, already January 2nd! Ummm chill out there new year I need more time! More time to make time, make plans, and to make time to stick to the plan!

Every year I write out 3 goals and create a vision board to inspire me, I’m big on tangible things that I can look at daily. I need daily reminders of what the big picture is because I get stuck in my head sometimes on the temporary. Today I’ll share with you my 5 ways to keep your resolutions and what mine are for the year.

nye1

1. Write it down – on a piece of paper. I probably have a thousand notes on my phone and a gazillion text edits on my computer all labeled in various ways TO DO. There’s something about physically writing your thoughts down on paper and being able to cross things off your list that is way more satisfying then deleting a note on your phone.
2. Get organized – planners are a great way to take the list of your goals and your daily to do’s and manage them day by day to get you to those big goals. I really like writing little notes to myself in my planner that keeps me on track like, “today is wine night, drink up buttercup!” LOL
3. Keep it simple – and keep it realistic. Yes go for those big goals and dream bigger, just adjust your daily list to things you can accomplish without overwhelming yourself or setting yourself back.
4. Stay focused – set backs are normal, just stay focused on the plan which are your daily to do’s. That’s why having a schedule is so important. When you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed or you have days where you aren’t motivated, you can look at your day and those bite sized tasks will equal up to the big picture.
5. Slow and steady wins the race – day by day baby! Daily accomplishments set into motion your goal so take your year one day at a time. Be present in everything you do and remember that slow and steady wins the race <3



My goals for this year are to focus on being consistent in both blogging and my channel, get wedding ready, and to find more time to unwind from they day.

As a blogger and YouTube creator, I’ve constantly struggled with being consistent and sticking to a schedule. Creating on two different platforms is taxing on my creativity because I’m crafting for two different audiences. I hit walls all the time and for me, sticking to a schedule and writing out my daily plan really helps. It helps me not to work on my brand from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep, not being able to clock out ever is dangerous IMO.

That’s why having a routine of rest is just as important as having a routing of work. I’ll be balancing work, working-out, and time-outs for myself every day this year. Wish me luck!


Just keep swimming 😉

What are your New Year’s resolutions for 2017? Do you have any tips on sticking to the plan?

 


BEIJING CHINA AND OUR PERSONAL TCM TOUR!!!

by with One Comment adventurehealthinspirationlifestyletravelwellness

The longest flight I’ve ever been on was 5 hours on a trip to Mexico for our wedding venue vacation, and here I was this time last week gearing up for a 12 hour flight to China! C H I N A! Talk about traveling, it was a full day of flights, transportation, time adjustments, and language barriers. I had nothing to complain about though, one of my closest friends, Miya, and I were headed into a week of Beijing explorations, new adventures, and a personal experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine (aka TCM)!

I have so many stories to share I don’t even know where to begin, so I’ll start with how it all began. Miya and I were invited by Juicertrip to join their Ctrip group of travel enthusiasts to journey around Beijing learning all about Traditional Chinese Medicine. Miya is 100% holistic by belief and lifestyle and I love submerging myself into new ideas and cultures, so there we were! We found ourselves among 8 other bloggers and journalists, and two of the writers were from one of our favorite blogs, our friends, Local Adventurer! First on the agenda was a traditional Chinese cuisine served family style, where we got to know one other and learn more about what we were to embark on in the coming days.

Among our days of visiting China’s famous landmarks, were first hand experiences in acupuncture, healing massages, medicinal herbs, natural hot springs, and stress fighting Tai Chi moves!


This was us at the Beijing University Of Chinese Medicine. So much was happening here I had to capture all of the things going on in this one moment. From left to right: Dan laughing at the situation before snapping a photo, as our professor instructs us on how to make flu prevention sachets. Caroline, Franka, and Erin smiling over Franka’s interpretation of the featured herbs, while Amanda and Miya got started. Not pictured, Josh, Lena, and Jackson who were taking awesome photos. Also not pictured, each of us deeply inhaling each bowl of herbs to guess what each contained 😉



From these 6 herbs, of which we could easily identify cinnamon and eucalyptus, we created these beautiful scented “flu sachets” that you smell daily and is believed to ward off the flu. There are so many plants, herbs, and medicinal substances used in TCM that an entire museum is dedicated to the history of Chinese medicine and it’s materials. It was pretty fascinating to learn about what goes into different medicines and powders, and the powers each has to heal from within. The idea of internal related to external really settles in when you get to see what 657 acupuncture points actually looks like on the human body. I’m captivated by the idea of healing the way China views medicine and not ‘numbing’ the way we do here. I’m the girl who even thinks I’m about to maybe get a headache and I pop a pill. I don’t like being uncomfortable I’m the first to admit it. I learned so many different ways to heal ailments naturally on this trip.



A very exciting moment for the group was when we got to share our enthusiasm with local officials and members of the press during the opening ceremony. Check us out following along in some traditional Tai Chi moves directly following the speeches. Our Sifu instructed us on how to relieve stress and pains simply by moving our bodies. It was like a beautiful dance, reminiscent of yoga meets martial arts. Tai Chi has been performed for centuries in China to lower stress and anxiety, and enhance balance, flexibility, and mood. Big thanks to Dan for capturing this moment, if you spot me you’ll see how focused I was!


Once we got back to our hotel, the Beijing Jinyufengshan Spa Resort, we took a dip in their renowned natural hot springs! A few times we all looked at each other to remind ourselves that we were sitting in a hot spring, in the middle of winter, in CHINA!  These 39+ degrees Celsius pools of water are rich in minerals which get absorbed through the skin and were the perfect addition to our trip. Our evenings of hot tea and hot springs.

I can’t thank everyone enough for this incredible trip and the memories our group created along the way.This post was just a glimpse into our 3 days in Beijing with one of the coolest group of people and I can’t wait to share what Miya and I did with our remaining 3 days ! David and Hash of Juicertrip, our friends on the Ctrip team, the Beijing Tourism Development Committee, and our gracious hosts, thank you all so much for having us and we can’t wait to visit again!


And more picture time! Dan once again with his photography skills! Here we are doing our own version of ‘Forbidden City Tai Chi’, “Still Got Juice” style! Ha! From exploring the Great Wall, wandering the Forbidden City, going temple trekking, and experiencing Beijing the way we did, it couldn’t have been a more memorable trip. I’ll leave you with this fun video Miya created while we were at the Forbidden city, spinning in circles the way we do when we find the perfect center point.

 

You can follow along in our adventures from this trip using the hashtags #juicertrip #ctrip #visitbeijing and #TCM_Beijing! If you’d like to learn more about Beijing, TCM, and the trip we took you can check out these links!

Beijing China Official on FaceBook
Visit Beijing on YouTube 
Visit Beijing on Instagram
Visit Beijing on Pinterest

 

Have you ever heard of TCM? Do you practice different forms of holistic approaches in your own lifestyle? Ever been to China! Hen gaoxing jian dao ni! 

BOOKS TO READ WHEN READING BOOKS ISN’T YOUR THING

by with No Comment inspirationleisurelifestylemotivationpersonal

Joe recently said to me, “I never see you read” and I threw him a nasty lil look because, rude, but also, true. I NEVER read, I mean I read all day long though. It’s part of my job to know what’s new and exciting, who’s doing what, and when the new Apple thingamajig is dropping. I just never read books. Ya know, those tangible-page-flipping-library-kinda material. I do however love the smell of libraries and old book stores I just never find myself seeking them out.

So I’ve piled together the books we have laying around here at home and I’ll share with you why you should read them. Partially so that I can help you discover your inner nerd again because nerds rule, but mainly for myself because I really do need to find time to sit down and feed my brain something besides mindless scrolling of endless status updates.

Damn Good Advice (for people with talent!) – this book was actually gifted to Joe by our incredible friends Sebastian and Karissa but I’ve heard so many good things about it. Offering up advice, information, and inspiration for you creatives out there, I think this read will be a nice little reset if you’re feeling creatively blocked.

Think Rich Grow Rich – this book is a personal development book that focuses on ’13 steps’ and how each principal is necessary to achieve success, promoting the focus of ‘long term goals’. I read all of 3 pages (yes I know, eye roll) but it’s interesting so I’ll pick it back up and report back soon!

The E Myth Revisited – this book addresses the myths of being an entrepreneur, how to let things go and chuck ’em up to casualties of war, and defines the difference between working on your business and working in your business. I honestly have zero clue what the hell that even means but I’m intrigued! Once I read it I’ll give you my full review.

Bossypants – oh Tina Fey how I adore thee. I’ve only read a few chapters of this book but it’s like she and I are besties, she just doesn’t know it yet! She writes in her own voice (duh Jess it’s an autobiography) but it’s legit like I can hear her telling me these stories, like I’m right there with her. And they’re damn hilarious! The woman is smart, sassy, and witty! This is a must read for everyone, everyone I tell you!

Saltwater Buddha – Joe has had this book sitting in our book shelf since I’ve known him and he says this book is awesome and I believe him. I think we can all feel a little lost sometimes and this book is spiritual, travel driven, and all about finding your focus . . . all the things I love! Can’t wait to read it!

Beauty Detox Solution – this was given to me by my hyper brain angel face bff Nikki last year and I’ve perused and pulled information from every chapter! If you know me than you know I’m obsessed with skin care, with feeling young forever, and dammit, looking it too! This book educates you on the food you put into your body and the effects it has on your body inside and out. I love learning new things and finding out about the timing of foods, and what vitamins do what and when is pretty fascinating. Do it <333

Are there any books you’ve recently picked up that I should add to my list?

My goal is to read at least one book a month and I think it’ll be a nice way to start and end the day, a little zen a little zoning out. Do it with me!

 

 

 

 

SOPHISTICATED STYLE WITH LINDSAY ALBANESE + MONROW

by with No Comment fall fashionfashionget the looklifestylelook book

I am so proud to share this post! My incredible friend, Lindsay Albanese teamed up with MONROW, and created a capsule collection that is sophisticated, timeless, and CHIC! I’m fawning over every piece, but honestly, I wouldn’t have expected anything less from this triple threat! Lindsay is a style expert, the savviest entrepreneur I know, and THE highly revered ‘Stylist-Next-Door’.

So I quickly jumped at the opportunity to order early, as once the collection is sold out it’s sold out! If you know me than you know I love simplicity, my closet is mostly monochromatic (as seen here), and I choose comfort over trend. With this capsule collection though you don’t have to decide on one or the other, it’s the perfect medley of comfort, class, and eternal style. If I can make an outfit look elegant and trendy, than anyone can . . . and I say this as I type in sweatpants and a holey racerback 😉




I paired the Lindsay Albanese Roam Sweatshirt with an asymmetrical mini skirt, thigh high boots, and simple accessories. I love the juxtaposition between my messy high-bun and this streamlined look. I felt comfortable, sexy, and sassy!

Head over to MONROW and get in on the pieces! You’ll forever have something to wear to any occasion because each article can be dressed up or dressed down in an endless amount of ways!


How would you wear this collection? Do you enjoy a sleek, fluid kind of look, or is comfort and casual more your speed?

 

 

BEST MOM FRIENDLY BATHING SUITS

by with 4 Comments bridalfashionget the lookinspirationleisurelifestylemommy diariesstyleweddingwedding planning

If I’m being honest, I really hate when things are referred to as being ‘mom friendly’, and I’m a mom! I don’t know if it’s me assuming the phrase denotes negativity or it’s just me being paranoid that I’m fully defined by my mom hat. Either way I really wanted to share my favorite ‘mom friendly’ bathing suits.

I say that with a smirk because here I am saying it’s crappy to say ‘mom bod’ or ‘dad bod’ like what the hell does that even mean? But in this case, this momma over here has some rips and tears in this fabric and there’s just some bathing suits I prefer to wear! But these styles still make me feel beautiful, sexy, and fierce, which is important to me because I love to feel feminine! Whether you’re trying to conceal your tummy area, hips, or booty and thighs, I’ve got ya covered, literally! Disclaimer: rock your damn body no matter your size or shape because we only get one body in this life, so we mine as well love the shit out of it! We’re perfect just the way we are. *I have to remind myself of this all the time* <333

THE HIGH-WAISTED BIKINI


I’m especially fond of this type of bikini even though you run the risk of looking like you’re in a diaper haha I’ll take my chances! This conceals whatever pooch it is that I think I have, I also got a few stretch marks from having my daughter so beyond wearing a one-piece, this is my favorite version of a bikini. Also this style has scrunched Brazilian cut bottoms so you’re booty looks hot hot hot!

THE CROCHET SEXY ONE PIECE


Honestly, this is probably my all time favorite go-to bathing suit. I even wear it under jeans as seen here, or with a summer skirt because I think it can double as a sexy top. Crochet one pieces come in so many different colors and styles and if you’re trying to conceal your tummy or your hips, and even if you’re busty, I think this style flatters everyone. I refer to this bathing suit as my ‘mommy cover-up’ but it’s actually the best version of a one-piece that I’ve ever put on. It’s sexy but not offensive. And even if it were, if people don’t like it, tell them to close their eyes.

THE SIDE-CUTOUT ONE PIECE / COVER UP

Processed with Snapseed.

I just purchased this suit for our trip to Azul Beach trip when we did our wedding site visit because I wanted as many options for the beach and pool that I could possibly pack! I fell in love with this style because it’s got an open back, a higher neckline, deep side cut outs, and it comes attached to it’s own mesh cover up. This felt stunning on, I felt sexy yet modest . . . though I did have to keep tugging at the sides as to not have a nip slip, but hey, all’s fair when you’re on vacation. This style is perfect for concealing just about anything, for us bustier ladies though, be cautious of your lady bits when you’re in the pool LOL

So these are my favorite styles for us ladies, whether you’re a momma like me or if you just want a little more coverage in some areas, I think these bathing suits will make you feel beautiful, sexy, and fierce!

Rock it baby!

Are there any particular styles that you like that weren’t featured in today’s article? Do you like a high-waisted bikini even if you aren’t trying to conceal anything? What’s your style?! Do tell!

 

 

THE RISE FESTIVAL – THE GOOD THE BAD THE BEAUTIFUL

by with 2 Comments adventurecommunityentertainmentfestivalsinspirationlifestyletips and trickstravel

Everything you need to know about having a successful launch at the Rise Festival from someone who maybe-almost-kind-of didn’t have a perfect night at the coveted lantern ceremony. Could have been disastrous.

It was on Miya’s bucket list to cross off the Rise festival from her to do’s this year, which is I believe, one of the most breath taking and spiritual events you can ever partake in. So of course I told her to count me IN! Our Rise Festival took place about 32 miles northeast of Las Vegas in the middle of the desert and was the perfect setting for what would be one of the most intense visceral experiences either one of us had ever felt! You’ll see!




1. Have your tickets mailed to you – if this is an option do it. Will Call was 45 minutes away from the event and completely out of the way unless you were already staying in Vegas. It would’ve been MUCH easier if they’d made tickets available ON site, in alphabetical order … ya know, the same way they distributed the lanterns and mats. LOLZ
2. Fuel up before entering the site – the location is sooo in the middle of the desert that you should enter Moapa Travel Center into your GPS as it’s on the Moapa River Reservation. If you’re parking in the lot instead of using the shuttle system (those never seem to be the best option for me) than you’re not going to want to fill up at 11pm in the middle of nowhere.
3. Arrive early – The earlier the better I think. We arrived at Will Call around 3pm and then got to the event around 4:30pm, which made for PERFECT timing. We were able to grab a drink, take some awesome photos during the most spectacular sunset, order food from the food trucks BEFORE all hell broke loose, and write our intentions onto our lanterns while there was still light out.
4. Layer up and tote a bandana– Did I mention we were in the desert? lol Once the sun went down it was actually kind of chilly and windy out. Layers will keep you warm and a bandana of some sort will keep the sand out of your nose. We were blowing chimneys out of our nostrils when we got back to our hotel later that night.
5. TO LIGHT THE LANTERN – the most important part right! To Actually getting your lantern to rise and be with the 10,000 others! So thankfully they passed out an extra lantern to all of the participants as we only purchased one lantern each. Well the wind decided to pick up JUST as we lit our torches, and as I lit the fuel cell, the flame burned holes throughout my lantern making the first two attempts a big fat fail. Also it was momentarily disastrous as lanterns flew by my head and flames zipped by my very heavily hair sprayed hair. But we ducked and dodged, and third time’s a charm! Here’s what we learned:

– You need someone to help you hold the lantern upright so that the lantern walls stay open and don’t collapse onto your flame. Preferably all of your friends (make this a whole group event!) will hold your lantern up right until the heat has filled the lantern and it’s ready to rise on its own.
– Light the fuel cell with the tiki torch until the entire fuel cell is on fire, this takes a few minutes. Pro top: remove the paper wrapper surrounding the fuel cell BEFORE lighting it on fire.
– Once the fuel cell is red with fire, as your friends hold up the walls of your lantern, slowly take your lantern towards the ground. This will help to keep the wind out of your way and allow the flame a chance to create enough heat to fill your lantern with hot air.
– Once you feel your lantern start to naturally tug away and lift from your light grips, slowly stand up and allow the lantern to release! Boom, you did it!



It only took me THREE tries to get my lantern to rise, but when it did, I legit cried. It was so moving, symbolic, and serene! To watch your lantern float away among thousandssss of other lanterns, lighting up the night sky, it was so surreal!

Oh, and they had a live band playing on stage …  so imagine writing your hopes, dreams, and prayers onto this ‘intention lantern’ with thousands of other people, in the middle of the desert, enjoying the breeze, all WHILE being serenaded with beautiful music. Right?! Unbelievable.

I uploaded the video of my lantern and I (the ‘3rd one’s a charm’ one) and our festival moments onto my Instagram account if you want to experience it <333

P.S. oh and don’t bother waiting in the 183,821 person line to get your photo in front of the RISE sign. I mean you can if you’re into that kind of thing but Miya and I took ours behind the sign and didn’t have to wait for didly. Just tell people to mirror the image in their minds.

Have you ever heard of this kind of event? Have you been? Would you want to go? I hope this post was helpful if you do!

HOW TO STYLE BOOTS THIS FALL!

by with No Comment fall fashionget the lookholidaylifestylelook bookreviewstips and tricks

In most places around the country people are welcoming the Fall season with it’s fresh crisp air, leaves turning, and cozy weather. Here in Los Angeles we got a few days of cool-er weather but no leaves turning … hell, we got no leaves! We get the cozy weather symptoms but not the actual change in season, so wherever you are, I hope this season is a beautiful one for you!

Wether you’re in a colder place than L.A. or you live in a tropical place, with these Fall style inspirations you can layer them up and even dress them down. Here are my most favorite ways to style boots this Fall! From chic to casual, and somewhere in between, there’s something for everyone.

METALLIC MAMA!


There’s something magical about metallics! Corinne has these exact Wanted Angel Oxfords, in metallic silver and I swear every time she puts them on it’s like the Wizard of Oz except she’s the damn wizard. I love her style and 90% of what I wear or dream about wearing is inspired by my fashionista daughter. Chic, professional, and playful all in one outfit! White lacey socks, fancy pants that are high waisted and belted, a white ribboned button up, rose gold blazer, earrings to match, and a black crossbody.

 

ALL BLACK AND COGNAC!

There is a theme here 😉 Let me name something and I swear I’ll name everything! So if you know me than you know that black and grey make up about 99.9% of my wardrobe and I’m not even mad about it. Add some rich cognac colors and rose golds to the scene and baby you’re a firework. This outfit I wear (in variations) a LOT! DSW Crown Vintage Cognac boots, ripped black skinnies, loose fitting black tee, black moto jacket, aviators, cross body, some sparkle.

 

BOOTIE STRUTIN’ STYLE!

Get it … bootie … booty … I’m 4. So I’m still not over styling denim with all the things. If you’re in colder weather you can throw some additional layers on and still keep this sexy, simplistic little number in tact. These Guess Golda booties are the sexy version of a combat boot to me. Bringing back the all black and adding in some silver flare and sheer tights for fun. Blazer and clutch finish the look off with a bit of class … because we’re classy chicks.

 

Would you wear any of these styles? What’s your favorite way to style boots this season? Do you prefer booties or boooooots???

 

90’S TRENDS THAT ARE BACK!

by with No Comment fall fashionfashionget the looklifestylelook book

The 90’s are back in a BIG way babies! I know I’ve said that before in previous posts and in videos but it’s true! I’m sooo excited about it that I’m dedicating an entire post to the time in fashion when parachute pants, pointy bras, and pagers were the shit!

Denim on denim! Remember that one time Britney and Justin wore full out matching denim outfits to the AMAs?! Yes it was 2001 but still! Not that denim could ever be out of style, but when you see denim layered with sheer tights (minus the one pant leg rolled up), denim skirts paired with crop tops, and denim jackets complete with patches . . . you know that if they were out of style, they’re back! And don’t forget the overalls, just ummm not with one strap down 😉


Chokers! If I’d known that these chokers would be back I would’ve kept all 193 of the ones my sister and I had in high school! They were wayyy cooler than the ones you see today IMO. Now you’ll find them all fabrics, all colors, and the bolo is my personal favorite. Remember the plastic tattoo chokers that we’d stretch over our heads and sport every day? Ya those!
screen-shot-2016-09-27-at-2-20-21-pm

ALL the kicks! Doc Martens, Adidas, Puma, Chucks, high tops, all of ’em! The pink Docs are for Corinne because she has this exact pair and I keep telling her that she’s the coolest! The Adidas came in different colors, what was your favorite? I had the black and white ones and I have them now too, which feels silly like I’m in High School again but they’ve become cool again so there’s that. I had Converse too, but the Walmart kind. Being there were 3 of us and we all wanted starter jackets, track suits, and cool shoes, my parents opted for the less expensive options.

Instead we got starter jackets from teams we’d never heard of (like the Leprechauns), metallic felt pajamas, and knock off Converse- which much to our saddness, was NOT metallic and peeled easily. Thanks mom and dad, we contribute our resilience to our childhood and having to defend ourselves and our rando knock off jelly shoes.

They say that all trends come back into style, we rotate and recycle all things because that’s the way of fashion. So long as mismatched leg warmers, side ponies, and shoulder pads don’t come back, we’re all good!

What are some trends coming back into style that you’re loving?! Or hating?! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOW TO SITE VISIT FOR A DESTINATION WEDDING – BRIDE GUIDE

by with No Comment adventurebachelorette partybridalinspirationleisurelifestyletravelweddingwedding planning

The ONE YEAR countdown has begun! Planning is in full force over here, and this Saturday Joe, Corinne, and I head to Azul Beach for our very FIRST ever site visit! Cheers for our destination wedding! So today as part of my Bride Guide, I wanted to share with you some things I learned about destination weddings, site visits, and one of the destinations we decided on!

Ever since we decided on a destination wedding, we knew it would require travel for our guests and lots of planning. We wanted to give our loved ones a year to plan and prep, so accommodations, flights, food, and transportation were all on our “lets try and make this a doable thing for people”. I’m also keeping in mind that this is our dream wedding and a ‘tour’ wedding- so there will be two ceremonies, both very small and intimate.

Some things to do and ask when looking for your perfect destination:

  • what time of year do you want your wedding and what’s your dream destination
  • schedule site visits in that location with various hotels and venues so that you can actually see what that property looks like and have options. They can do a lot of things with a fish eye lens and photoshop!
  • do you have a guest list? If not, create one so you have a general idea of how many people are coming and how many rooms/accommodations you will require and what dinner plans will be
  • how’s the weather in the location at the time you plan on having your wedding there? Research other people’s experiences and do lots of fact checking on your venue from people who’ve been there. This is huge.
  • do you have a budget? This can be a deciding factor when it comes to destinations, you’ll know right away what’s realistic and what isn’t. Oh you mean I CAN’T get married in Iceland?! mkkayy
  • ask for wedding packages and rates before making a decision so you know what’s included in said price and what you’ll be paying extra for

Having gone through the list of questions to ask venues, doing a ton of location dreaming, and hours of researching, we decided that we want to get married in Mexico! Near Tulum in a breathtaking, beachy, dreamy kind of intimate ceremony!

Wowzer, I did a lot of googling, emailing, and phone conversations to narrow our search down. Joe and I went over timing, budget, guest list, and what we want, and we finally locked in a potential location! We’re all set to site visit this weekend at … drum roll please … Azul Beach by Karisma Hotels and Resorts! And THIS will be the view from our room!!!


I have to tell ya, this was NOT an easy decision, literally every property in Tulum and Playa Del Carmen is stunning and we wanted to be able to visit them all! But after getting all of the answers we needed in terms of wedding packages, what’s included, AND that this is an all-inclusive hotel, we were all in.

We actually get to see one of the beautiful ceremonial package in person this weekend which includes our wedding colors (earth tones, blushy pastels, and pops of color) <— sounds like every color imaginable right? lol but it also comes with a bouquet, welcoming drinks, dinner reception, and dancing among other things! I’m sure we’ll have more questions once we get there and sit down with our coordinator, but I’m just so excited to see it!

Karisma offers a bridal dress rehearsal where you get to see your wedding package choice and try the food that will be served at your wedding! Ummm can we say cake?!?!?! That’s another thing, when you ask for your package pricing, see what extras (though a wedding cake to me is a must) it comes with and what it doesn’t. You don’t want to get there and realize there is no DJ and no cake.

Literally all I want my guests to remember is the drinks, the dancing, and the love <333 The food and the location will be amazing but really, who remembers how pretty the napkins were or how extravagant the centerpieces were? No, people will be so happy to be celebrating your special day with you that it won’t matter to them if they have metallic gold-flaked napkins or paper mache ones!

Even though this is a trip for us to see the venue in person, experience the food and service before our big day, and see our set up come to life . . . it’s also a VACATION! I cannot wait to be horse bike riding and swimming in a cenote at El Dorado Royale! It’s a property also by Karisma and a location close to where we’ll be staying. So you can expect a full vlog video up on my channel when we get back because, ‘go-pro footage or it didn’t happen’ 😀 Follow us along on Instagram with #KarismaExperience and #LomasTravel!!!

Wedding planning can be overwhelming, I know I’m overwhelmed by every detail that comes with it. There are things I didn’t even think about before, I mean there should be a book about it! But also I have to remember that this isn’t stressful- I’m planning the best day ever with the love of my life, so why stress. I hope this helps you if you’re planning a destination wedding any time soon or know  someone who is!

Do you have any other tips for me or other brides to be?! Please share <333