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24 Hours in Carmel

 

24 Hours in Carmel

It’s hard to believe that our Babymoon was already a month ago. What a wonderful adventure that quick, five day trip was for both of us. It was one of the first vacations during which we both disconnected from work, focused on us and just relaxed together. The entire trip was so amazing that when we discussed it, in preparation for the upcoming posts, there wasn’t one thing that either of us would change. 

As you review our ititinerary, keep a few things in mind:

  • We had limited vacation time since I am saving for maternity leave. If we could have made it a longer trip, we would have preferred to extend it by at least one or two nights.
  • However, since I’m pregnant and the Big Sur Highway was closed, we are hard pressed to think of places we would have stayed longer. Instead, if I wasn’t pregnant and Big Sur wasn’t closed, we would have done one night in Big Sur and a night in Sonoma.

A number of people have emailed me asking for specifics regarding the places we stayed, dined and explored during our trip. Today’s post is focused on the one for which I’ve received the most requests – Carmel or Carmel-By-The-Sea. 

Where We Stayed: We absolutely loved our choice to stay on the coast at Tickle Pink at Carmel Highlands. The inn is located just a quick, ten minute drive from downtown Carmel but it felt a world away with the gorgeous views, large room, ocean waves and service. While we looked at many of the inns located in Carmel, we wanted to enjoy the ocean setting since we knew we’d spend plenty of time exploring Carmel. There are 35 rooms at this small inn and when we booked, our only request was to have a view of the ocean and one of the rooms with a wood burning fireplace.  It was such a treat to sit on our balcony, listening to the waves crashing and watch the sunset, then walk a few steps into our room and enjoy a small cheeseplate and roaring fireplace.

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What We Did:

  • Seventeen Mile Drive – We loved leisurely driving the historic 17-mile drive which takes you through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove while passing famous golf courses, stunning views and mansions. We stopped to have lunch and explore Pebble Beach Golf Club and would recommend having lunch outside at The Bench, their casual terrace restaurant.  
  • Carmel-By-The-Sea –  I would recommend exploring the downtown shops early, before the tourists arrive. We spent an hour meandering through small shops, sipping coffee and enjoying breakfast sandwiches. Check the website to see what time the shops open, depending on the day of the week, to ensure that you’re able to shop as well as meander. Don’t hesitate to make a few wrong turns, get lost and explore as I promise the small alleyways and courtyards are where the magic comes to life.
  • Enjoyed the Beach – We went on two wonderful adventures along the Carmel-By-the-Sea beachfront including an hour beach walk from 4-5pm before sunset and then a 5 mile run along the footpath.  The footpath provided the perfect way to take in the beach’s natural beauty as well as the incredible homes, including the famous Frank Lloyd Wright home, The Della Walker House.

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Where We Dined: Luckily, a few weeks before our trip, we took time to do some research and make reservations as it seems like the top restaurants book quickly. We opted to enjoy seafood while we were there versus one of the many French or European restaurants. Other than dinner, we didn’t worry about any other reservations and just stopped in the small restaurants and coffee shops while we explored.

  • Flying Fish Grill – This cozy, inventive restaurant serves a menu of Asian-Seafood infused dishes that have been delighting locals and toursits alike for years. Known as one of the institutions in Carmel-By-The-Sea, this spot books quickly and even a few weeks out we were only able to snag a late reservation. We loved the California Tower, artichokes and almond encursted sea bass. 
  • Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co – This spot opens early so is a perfect place to grab a to-go cup of coffee before exploring town and a bite to eat. Their miniature cinnamon rolls are amazing!
  • Salumeria Luca – This Italian bakery and sandiwch shop is also home to the Big Sur Bakery Pop Up until the bakery is able to reopen. Therefore, the lines were long while we were in town but well worth the wait and moved quickly.  There are plenty of benches, shady spots and parks in the downtown area, so I would recommend getting your order to go. We enjoyed two of their signature sandwiches as well as a Big Sur Bakery chocolate chip cookie.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me in the comments or send me an email as I’m happy to help!

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Stepping Into Spring with Brooks

 

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As you guys know, even though I live in New York City, I tend to avoid monochromatic, black workout gear in favor of bright, fun prints and colors. In fact, a few months ago, when it was requested that I wear black for a photo shoot, I realized that I have have very few pieces of black workout gear aside from shorts and tights. IMG_8426

Imagine my excitement when Brooks launched their Spring Escape collection, featuring lots of color ranging from aqua and teal to vibrant neons. Since I knew that my Spring workout gear from Brooks would be used more for workouts and errands than running, I chose coordinating pieces that could keep me dry and warm during the March and April showers but feeling Spring like thanks to vibrant colors.

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Here is a quick description of the gear I’m wearing in these photos.

  • Brooks Greenlight Running Capris – The wide waist band slips versus creating an akward muffin top while the drilayer material kept me dry during tough workouts. The side rouching provides a fun detail and the crops are available in 7 colors ranging from this fun pattern to plain black. I found the fit to be very true to size and went up one size to provide space for my growing belly.  PSA – Some of last season’s colors are on sale for $20 on this site!
  • Brooks Freemont Running Jacket – As soon as I took this jacket out of the box, I knew it would be a favorite. The semi-fitted nature makes it perfect for either a chilly, drizzly run or running errands. The perforated panels on the jacket ensure that you don’t over heat while the two pockets provide space for phones, cash and headphones.
  • Brooks Launch 4 Running Shoes – This neutral shoe provides the perfect amount of support for my high arches while still being lightweight and cushioned. I’ve enjoyed using this responsive shoe for long walks, Orangetheory workouts and my last few runs in March. Available in seven different colors, there is a color combination for everyone!
  • Brooks Run Happy Smile T-Shirt – This soft, dri-layer t-shirt has become a favorite of mine lately as it is soft and cozy while still being technical enough for my sweaty Orangetheory workouts. The fun blue color pairs perfectly with any of my shorts or crops and makes me smile everytime I wear it.  PSA – Certain colors and sizes are on sale for $20 on this site.
  • Brooks Juno Bra – As you all know, before pregnancy, I didn’t need much support for my 36A chest. I could workout in shelf tanks though I often chose to wear a lightly padded sports bra for high impact workouts. These days, I am wearing a 34C and know that between now and when I start nursing my chest will most likely grow into a D. It’s crazy the support I need these days and am thankful that Brooks creates bras that are perfect for women of all shapes and sizes. After wearing the Juno bra almost exclusively these past two months, I understand why it’s one of their top-selling bras. The adjustable straps make it perfect for a personalized fit or nursing while the back’s mesh provides plenty of breathability. So far I have this in cobalt blue and black but am eyeing the vibrant print as well.  PSA, the previous version is on sale for $45 on this site.

Thank you to Alexis Damen Photography for the gorgeous shots!

Thank you to Brooks for the fabulous gear, half of which they sent me and half of which I bought myself. I’m proud to be a Brooks RunHappy Ambassador.

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Friday Favorites–April 7th, 2017

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Photo by Alexis Damen Photography

Happy Friday! I hope you all have had a good week. We had lots of rain in New York City this week but I am thrilled that the weekend forecast is sunshine and warmer temperatures! Tonight we’re having our next-door neighbors over for a casual dinner and then tomorrow I have a few dates with girlfriends including a workout at Uplift and brunch at Little Owl as Bo is going to be traveling during the day.  The rest of the weekend is going to include a prenatal massage, writing thank you notes, cooking and working on the nursery.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • Bo and I love cooking together on Sunday and always make at least a meal or two in advance for the week. This round-up of 20 Healthy dinners you can make on Sunday, or any day of the week for that matter, was immediately added to my recipe Pinterest board!
  • If you’re expecting or have children, did you know that you can stack the coupons at BuyBuyBaby! We were able to save more than $50 this morning by using multiple coupons!
  • After seeing these adorable Sperry Seaside Perforated Slides on Tina’s blog, I decided that they’d make the perfect third trimester shoes since it’s getting difficult to tie and untie my shoes. Comfortable slip-on shoes that are also stylish will be a great Spring accesorry as the weather continues to get warmer! Now, should I order the gray, pink or the gold?
  • As a blogger who also loves my full-time job and career, I appreciated Meghan’s thoughtful tips for the part-time blogger.
  • I’m excited to see Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard next week with one of my girlfriends. Have you all used the site TodayTix yet? It’s a great way to snag tickets for less than normal AND they hand-deliver the tickets to you! The website isn’t for NYC shows only as they feature tickets for shows in San Francisco, London, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC!

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  • I love giving and receiving fresh flowers as I feel they are a great way to brighten up any room in a home. Over the past few weeks we’ve recieved three separate bouquets from Bouqs and each time we’ve been more and more impressed! In fact, I’ve fallen so in love with this company that I’ve sent the same bouquet to three different people over the past month. Due to their freshness and high quality, we found that the bouquets we received each lasted AT LEAST a week if not longer. Never tried Bouqs? Use the code NEWB25 to save 25% off your first order!
  • We whipped up this healthy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad as a side dish Tuesday night and have been enjoying leftovers all week. The flavors only get better with time and I love that you can choose to add protein to make it a main dish or stick with the feta and vegetables when serving it as a side dish. 
  • If I wasn’t pregnant, I would have bought these adorable pieces for Spring and Summer as I’m loving the colors and details.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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