Travel | Sweet Peas & Stilettos: The Modern Mommy Guide

Posts in the ‘Travel’ Category

Las Vegas Family Vacation

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Never in a million years did I ever think I would say that Las Vegas was a fabulous place for a family vacation. My memories of Las Vegas include leather pants and leopard print and lots of things my 4 year old does not need to know about. So when some new family friends invited us to join them in Vegas for the weekend, I was cautiously optimistic. But I must say it was the best 48 hours we’ve had in a long long time. Vegas was fabulous!

When we landed in Las Vegas we quickly settled into our room at the Mandarin Oriental. It is a gorgeous hotel, very low key and has none of that icky smoky smell you get at most hotels. My son loved pressing all of the magic buttons to open and close the curtains. Once we were able to peel him away from that great toy, we went over to Serendipity for a yummy family dinner. I had the most delicious grilled cheese sandwich. Yum!

On Saturday we enjoyed the hotel pool and then the moms went off for an afternoon of shopping (Chanel and Louis Vuitton around every corner – love that!) while the dads spent a few hours with the kids – the M&M store, the lions at MGM, the Ferrari store at the Wynn, and of course a trip through ‘the castle’ and a happy meal at the McDonalds at ‘the pyramid’. The hotel was able to arrange for Mary Poppins to come take care of our boys why the adults enjoyed an incredible dinner at StripSteak – Michael Mina’s amazing restaurant. In lieu of bread and butter they serve crispy French fries with dipping sauce. Need I say more? The husbands went out for a night (and morning of gambling) and we went back to get a good night sleep with the kids.

We wrapped up the weekend at the hotel. The boys enjoyed a few hours splashing at the pool while my friend and I went to the gorgeous Mandarin Oriental spa. Between the steam room, and bubbling pools and perfectly relaxing facial – it was a blissful end to an amazing 48 hours. A huge thank you to our new friends Colleen, Andrew and Cooper for a perfect 48 hours.

Posted in General, Health & Spa, Travel, Yummy | Comments Off

Little Passports Subscription

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

With the new school year here I can’t help but think about play dates and birthday parties. I am always on the lookout for something new, or using something old in a new way. I have featured Little Passports on Sweet Peas & Stilettos before because I think the company has a great concept and I love the idea of teaching kids about geography, history, culture, and language. I had two ideas pop into my head this morning that I wanted to share.

1) Birthday party gifts – I know my son does not need 20 $20 gifts when his birthday rolls around in a few months. Why not chip in with a few other families and buy a subscription to Little Passports for the birthday boy or girl? What child isn’t going to love getting a birthday gift every month, all year long! The child will be able to learn and enjoy and you will feel good about giving a meaning, educational and fun gift.

2) International play dates. I am usually not very creative when it comes to play dates. The kids come over and tear my house apart and leave 2 hours later after the hurricanes get tired. I love the idea of theme play dates that will keep kids engaged and interested. Subscribe to Little Passports for your own child and then they can host international theme play dates for their friends. They can learn about Brazil and then play soccer outside, or check out the Japanese kit and have fun making sushi. The kids can learn all about the world around them and have fun too. I love it.

Here is a little more scoop about Little Passports:

Little Passports is a subscription service for children featuring two loveable characters, Sam and Sofia. Sam and Sofia travel to a new country every month and share their experiences with your child. Your child will receive an exciting package via postal mail that includes an adventure letter, fun souvenirs, activities, and access to the Little Passports Boarding Zone full of games and activities. Visit www.littlepassports.com to learn how to bring the world to your door!

Posted in Cool Kids Stuff, Travel | Comments Off

Little Passports

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011

Inspire your children to learn about the world. I have always been impressed with the concept of Little Passports and their mission to teach kids about different countries and cultures. I had the travel bug from a very young age and I hope my son will have it too. Sign up and Little Passports will send your child a new country package every month full of games, stickers, souvenirs and more teaching them about a new country. This is a great gift for grandparents to give to their grandchildren or aunts and uncles to give to their nieces and nephews. Save 10% on Little Passports with code “SHARE10″! Exp. 7/31!

Posted in Cool Kids Stuff, General, Travel | Comments Off

Stephanie Johnson Travel Bags

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

I have found a little travel bag that I will never ever tuck away in a drawer. I received this glorious Stephanie Johnson cosmetic case as a gift (thank you Susan!!) about 2 months ago and I swear it has been on my counter or in my bag every day since. It is to pretty and festive to put away. It has been wonderful for vacations – I love the little compartments inside where I can organize my make-up and brushes. The bag has been equally useful to use on a daily basis to carry little items in my bag. I’ve used it for my iPhone, for glasses, you name it. I toss it into my Louis Vuitton Neverfull and I can always find it.

I love Stephanie Johnson’s website too because she makes it really easy to see all of your options and all of the products you have to choose from all on one screen. Above is a snapshot of some of her bags (there are many more too!) so you just pick a bag style you like. She really has designed a bag for everyone and every possible need.

And then you have all of these gorgeous fabrics to choose from. If you fall in love with a particular print you can quickly see all of the bags available in that print. It is so simple and intuitive. The hardest part is narrowing down your selection because the colors and fabrics are so pretty.

Go to her website and play and have fun with all of the colors. I am sure you will find a new cosmetic bag you’ll love. And while you are at it, you can pick up a cute evening pouch and an iPad case too. Happy Shopping!

Posted in Beauty, Fabulous Handbags, General, Mommy Must Haves, Organization, Shop 'til You Drop, Travel | Comments Off

L’Auberge Del Mar

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

Have you started planning your summer vacation? I know that many people with kids vacation in San Diego. With the gorgeous weather, the beaches and so many kid friendly activities, it is easy to understand why. We went down that way for Mother’s Day weekend and had a fantastic time. Instead of staying in San Diego, we opted to stay a little further north at the L’Auberge Del Mar, and we loved it. For my Mother’s Day gift my husband took my son to Lego Land and I enjoyed the spa at the hotel (pictured above). It has a very cool relaxed surfer vibe to it and the services were great too. I must admit I was happy to skip out on Lego Land….

My favorite part about the hotel had to be the lobby. I just loved the beach decor – the pretty white walls, cool fabrics and of course the modern fireplace. All the windows and doors are usually kept open so you can enjoy the spectacular ocean view. My son loved the pancetta flatbread and would have eaten it for every meal. I would have too…. The walk to the beach is just a few blocks and the hotel provides beach chairs and towels. We went down there everyday. What is particularly nice about the beaches in Del Mar is that they are not crowded like other Southern California beach towns. I am not into crowds so in my book it is perfect.

Needless to say, we will be staying at the L’Auberge Del Mar again.

Posted in General, Holiday, Travel | Comments Off

Girl Up

Sunday, February 20th, 2011

Recently I read a few articles about Girl Up and immediately wanted to learn more. I loved the idea of connecting girls in the US to girls all over the world. I was incredibly lucky to be able to spend a summer in Kenya while I was in high school and it was an amazing experience to meet girls my own age who lived a world away. I had a similar experience going to China when I was still in grade school. These amazing adventures forever changed me and always made me very aware of what my reality was vs. what was real for so many other kids around the world. I was always grateful for my home, my private school eduction, my loving and supportive family, and the food on my table. The thing that has always stuck with me are the vivid memories I have of the smiles, laughter and fun that kids all over the world have, without the material possessions that we have grown accustomed to. Kids don’t need fancy train sets and elaborate outfits for their dolls to be happy, what they really need is love, food, shelter, friendship, security, education and a little imagination.

Here is a little scoop about Girl Up that I am quoting from their website:

“Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, gives American girls the opportunity to channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for programs of the United Nations that help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls. Through Girl Up’s support, girls have the opportunity to become educated, healthy, safe, counted, and positioned to be the next generation of leaders. Campaign supporters are encouraged to give a “High Five” to girls in developing countries by donating $5 or more to provide girls with such basic needs as access to school supplies, clean water, life-saving health services, safety from violence, and more. To give a High Five and learn more, join us at GirlUp.org.”

I am looking forward to introducing my 15 year old niece to Girl Up. I know that she and her friends will love be part of something like this – knowing that they too can make a difference.

I think we should all join Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan (one of the organization’s global champions, and an amazing mother of four) to do what ever each of us can to support these girls all over the world.

Mom-to-be, and super entrepreneur, Ivanka Trump is a Girl Up champion who is using her voice to help teen girls. Through her Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry line, she designed this stylish bracelet that can be purchased for $40 and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Girl Up.

Posted in General, Giving Back, Inspiring Women, Travel | Comments Off

Santa Barbara Zoo

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

My son and I went down to Southern California for the weekend to enjoy the sunshine. Was it beautiful! (A huge thank you to our new iPad for keeping him happy during the long drive both ways!) My son rode a bike for the very first time (my 35 year old little green Schwinn no less…) so we were all very excited. What better way to celebrate than a glorious day at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Here is an action shot of my son feeding a giraffe. If you are ever in Santa Barbara with the kids you must stop by. You’ve got to love a zoo with an ocean view!

Posted in Cool Kids Stuff, General, Travel | Comments Off

Rosie Tiger

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

We all want our children to explore the world and embrace other cultures and ideas. What easier way to do that than to shop international sites online for adorable clothes for your little girl. Straight from Paris to your doorstep. Rosie Tiger has a great selection of tunics, dresses and other pieces with a funky, chic, original twist all designed by French designer (and mom!) Rebecca Charles. This dress is one of my favorite items. It is such a vibrant pretty shade of purple. I love the bold circle too and actually have a skirt that is similar that I bought many moons ago… If you can’t jet to Paris for the weekend – you can at least open a bottle of French wine and some yummy cheese and go check out Rosie Tiger. Dare to dream…

Posted in Cool Kids Stuff, General, Shop 'til You Drop, Travel | Comments Off

Sole Searching – Getas

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

geta-shoe

During the summer of 1979, my family took a trip to Asia with a group from the Los Angeles Natural History Museum and we visited China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. I wore my blue and yellow Zips throughout the trip – my favorite sneakers at the time. My brother wore identical ones. With our bright shoes, blond hair and OP corduroy shorts in vibrant colors, we were quite a spectacle for the many Easterners who had never seen white American children.

In Kyoto my mother bought my brother and I matching black lacquer Japanese sandals – the ones that look like a wooden flip-flop resting on two boards turned sideways. The simple straps were a wonderful red velvet. When we put them on in the store we both giggled in delight. We never thought we’d be able to walk in them, but of course we wanted to have them.

A few days later we were in Tokyo. My dad and I went for an evening walk and I wore my new Japanese shoes. I vividly remember passing by the rows and rows of arcades with all of the pulsating music and flashing lights. The clanking noises from the machines, the American pop music, the neon lights – it was such a sensory overload. There I was in Tokyo, an eight year old California girl in my brand new pair of getas singing along to Shawn Cassidy. What a sight to behold.

Here are a few more of my favorite memories from that trip…

Posted in Cute Shoes, General, Shoe Shopping Stories, Travel | Comments Off

Glamping

Monday, June 14th, 2010

With my Louis Vuitton Neverfull packed to the brim with weekend essentials, I was ready for a weekend of ‘glamping’ with my boys and 10 other families. I will be honest – I don’t enjoy camping. It is not fun, nor is it relaxing. I do love being outside in beautiful places and being away from home and endless to-do lists. I fully embrace this trend towards fancy, glamorous camping (now known as ‘glamping’) and a great place to do it is Costanoa, in Northern California. I had told a few girlfriends about the place and before I knew it 10 Silicon Valley families had found a weekend to embark on a fun filled getaway.

I opted for the log cabin that comes with a fireplace, deck (great view and swing), stereo, refrigerator and fluffy spa robes. Never once did I hear my husband complain wishing that he was pitching a tent. The surroundings are gorgeous and the weather was perfect. We had an amazing day at the beach (it’s a long but pretty walk – I just kept my fingers crossed my son wouldn’t ask me to carry him), we roasted marshmallows, we lounged in the jacuzzi, we sat in the grass and watched with wind blow the leaves in the trees and just enjoyed a few days with no cell connection and no TV (they do have WiFi). Yes they also have a spa, a delicious restaurant and lots of activities too. If you like to camp, you can also pitch a tent and barbeque. Something for everyone.

This is the first time we’ve traveled with more than one other family and it was great. Because the place is so spread out, we all had a little alone time and we all kind of moved to our own schedules. Everyone brought yummy food, wine and cupcakes to share. The kids loved the dirt, the sticks, the sand, the rocks and the millions of stars that filled the night sky. A good time all around.

Some of the moms were talking as we were packing up and we thought this was the perfect spot for a girls getaway – a few days of yoga, wine, good food, great friends and a little peace and quite. Sounds perfect.