(I’ve RAVED about this dress before here – a total must-have. Comes in long sleeves, too, ! SO MANY colors to choose from – #AddToCart) // (a total wardrobe staple – on sale for $31.90!) // (SO unique – I had never seen coloblock booties before these!) // Gold initial necklace (makes for a PERFECT Christmas gift, if you’re in need of an idea!) // (Get 30% off with code FRIEND! Also in a gorgeous denim navy color! Tthis is like the grown-up version of the hold-all wristlets that were INSANELY popular in the 2000’s – anyone remember?!? I had a Very Berry one and it came with me EVERYWHERE – to high school football games, the mall, the works!)
First thing’s first…can we talk about these flowers?!?!? This was def one of my favorite photoshoots ~evah~ ’cause I mean…obviously. 😉 HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS FLOWERSCAPE?!?! This was a totally hidden gem at the from my recent Phoenix trip. I literally gasped + squealed simultaneously upon discovering it. It’s actually right above the pool area (of which they have 10, casual) and is just chockful of these gorgeous blooms. I mean…*all the heart eyes*.
Since sharing our trip via Instastories (@ericaligenza – follow me here!), I’ve gotten so many DM’s + comments from y’all asking about what to do in Phoenix! WOO! ICYMI, this blog post details a bit about our first day there. Our second day in Phoenix was a blur. Namely because it was jam-friggin’-packed with #AllTheThings – and fun things, at that! The day started around 6 am, as we drove out to the middle of the desert to score the best view of the town – in a hot air balloon. Now apparently hot air balloons are the safest form of aviation out there. Do I believe that a basket of humans being carried by a nylon balloon and fire is the safest form of aviation? Welp…it makes me second guess airplanes, that’s for sure. 😉
I’ll be sharing a full shoot from ballooning *supah soon*, but until then, wanted to share that if it’s not yet on your bucket list – get it there! There’s just something so surreal about seeing the world from such a peaceful place, so high up. Because in actuality, you feel NO bumps or turbulence from up there, since you’re just drifing WITH the wind! When it comes to what to do in Phoenix, I’d say hot air ballooning is def on that list – there were 4 other balloons up in the air with us at the same time, in the horizon.
After ballooning, we had a hot sec to head back to the for a quick change before heading out again for a tour + lunch at the Farm at South Mountain.
The Farm is the *cutest* little utopia right near – you guessed it! – South Mountain. It’s got a charming assortment of restaurants (one for breakfast/brunch, lunch, AND dinner), as well as all sortsa activities for all ages, + gardens that the chefs use to source the freshest of fresh ingredients. We grabbed lunch at The Farm Kitchen, where the assortment of salads/sandwiches/soups is *so good* and all *so stinkin’ fresh*. They give you this giant mixing bowl with your salad, too, so that you can get down n’ dirty tossing errrr’thaaang with your choice dressing. A ton of folks get married on the farm, too, which you can totally see once on the premises; the walkway is lined with pecan trees, there are globe lights between trees, and the entire place is just picturesque. Then there’s everything from yoga classes to local vendor pop-up shops, DIY art tutorials and live music.
(I own in 3 colors – lovelovelove!!!!! Comes in 7 colors – I have the “Amazon green” color for Christmas, this hot pink, and the lighter pink, too. Currently 50% off – on sale for under $40!!!)
Upon returning “home” to after lunch, it was SPA TIME!!!! YAAAAS! I got a poultice massage, and my mom got a facial; before our actual treatments, we were able to enjoy the Hyatt’s Himalayan salt room (which is SO good for you!), as well as the hot tub, mineral pool, etc. Their spa premises are *gorgeous*. It really reminded me of my favorite spas in tropical resorts in Mexico – just totally serene + relaaaaaaxing. (Which we both seriously needed on a trip of just running around from sun up to sun down!). If you’re in town, I’d recommend showing up early to your actual appointment so that you have time to just enjoy all of the complimentary things at the spa – since, oh yeah!, the hot tub, mineral pool, etc are all complimentary. Say what.
(it’s only $13! – make sure to size up one size, as it runs small!)
For dinner, we had reservations at Postino – this super chic “wine cafe” (so right up my alley) with the coolest backstory (read about it !). It’s got the coziest feel for everything from date night to a big girls night out. We ordered a tomato-mozz app, a board of bruschetta + 2 glasses of wine, and that ended up being our entire meal since it was so filling + so dang DELISH. Ermagherd.
Their bruschetta.
Y’all. I kid you not.
This might’ve been one of my favorite meals of my entire life.
Granted, wine + bruschetta could be my last meal on earth and I’d be a happy camper. But their bruschetta is no ordinary bruschetta. (If you’re curious, peek at their bruschetta menu – it’s incredible). We ordered the Almond Hummus with Chopped Tomato, the Salami with Pesto, the Sweet n’ Spicy Pepper Jam with Goat Cheese (which was both my mom’s + my FAVORITE), + the Brie + Apples + Fig spread option as a sweeter finish. The bread was thicker and not your usual thin bruschetta toast (or at least what I think of when I think bruschetta – ha!) and just so yum. 100% recommend for a night out in the town!
So, for a day’s worth of “travel guide” inspo for what to do in Phoenix:
- Hot air ballooning (we used ) to start the day at sunrise – they set up a gourmet breakfast + mimosas for when you touch back down to earth!
- Lunch at (at the Farm Kitchen!)
- Afternoon spa appointments at (go early to use the hot tubs, mineral pool + Himalayan salt room!)
- Dinner at (get a bruschetta board!)
Shoutout to Trish from for putting together our itinerary for the day – she nailed it!
Have you ever been to Phoenix?
If you have, anything you’d add to the list of “what to do in Phoenix 101”? If not, would lovelovelove to hear if you plan on it in the future, and/or if any of the above will make it on your to-do list!
Aaaaaaand justbecause it’s the moooost wonderful tiiiiime of the yeaaaaaar, I wanted to do another giveaway for y’all! WOO! Someone’s going home with an extra $1,000 to Nordstrom. Bless.
Simply enter below by completing the Rafflecopter. You’ll receive one entry per completion. This giveaway is open internationally and runs until end of day 12/18. Winner will be announced here – Good Luck! *This giveaway is in no way sponsored by Nordstrom.
