Playing tourist is one of my favorite things. Who is with me? This time I was playing tourist in New Orleans for New Year’s and Ben’s birthday. We did enjoye the local food, such as gumbo, red beans and rice, and jambalaya to name a few. If you want to taste some of the best local food try Mother’s Restaurant, but fyi there is always a line out the door so get there early. We visited the popular places such as Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, but what we really loved was Frenchmen Street. This is the place you want to go if you want to hear the iconic New Orleans jazz and blues sounds of the city. Plus more locals hangout there. You won’t be disappointed. If you are in the city I definitely suggest taking a swamp tour, or a Steamboat Natchez jazz cruise. There are waterways all over New Orleans. Also, don’t forget the biegnets at Cafe Du Monde. What are you favorite NOLA spots?
It’s officially 2018, which potentially could be the best year yet. Who has their goals set and their whole year worked out? Me, I have a lot of planning to do this year. This includes a wedding, building my many businesses, and planning the future with Mr. Yates 🙂
A lover of lace and bold colors, this outfit is perfect to start the new year. If you are dressed well and feel good from the start, I feel that it sends good vibes that will carry on throughout the new year! What will your signature style this year? Shop one of my signature pieces, lace, below.
Off the shoulder is my jam! Who is with me? Showing a little shoulder is stylish and sexy. Especially if it compliments a great pair of custom fitted jeans. These jeans are from RoxyNell (follow them on Instagram here for an update on their launch). RoxyNell is based in Louisville, KY and they focuses on Bourbon, Baseball and Denim.
Custom fitted are a must if you want the right look for your body type, and RoxyNell has done it right with these trouser jeans. The color is great and they pair well with mostly any top. The things I love about trouser jeans are that they are acceptable for causal days at work, date night and even running errands.
Do you have a favorite pair of jeans? Shop my outfit below.
Shop Hats: One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven A Day at the races is no day at the races without the Whisky Chicks and Brown Forman! The weather was perfect at Churchill Downs, which is one of the most famous horse tracks, stemming from the long tradition of the running of the Kentucky Derby. The atmosphere was great for betting and dabbling in a couple of spirits. Completed by a view from the Brown Forman Suite. The Brown Forman Corporation is one of the largest American spirits and wine companies. Their brands can be found in over 160 countries, which include Woodford Reserve, Old Forester and Jack Daniel’s.
This was all organized for Mother’s Day by the Whisky Chicks. If you do not know who the Whisky Chicks are then you should! It is an organization that allows women of all ages (21+) to come together to embrace the unique taste’s of whiskey. They pride themselves on being libation liberators; meaning they help women appreciate and love cocktails that are outside of their standard norm. They are whisky educators promoting knowledge of a drink that is rich in Kentucky history, and friend facilitators allowing others to meet and form lasting friendships. This Mother’s Day Event was truly wonderful for all who attended.
Want to come to the next Whisky Chicks event? Sign up for a membership here and check out their upcoming events.
*I attended the Mother’s Day at Churchill Down’s Event as the Whisky Chicks’ guest
We all know that I love to travel! So I definitely take advantage of seeing the world when I can. As you know last month I had the opportunity to explore many parts of Australia. While exploring this beautiful county I was able to visit Canberra, which is the national capital. The name Canberra means “Meeting Place” in the Aboriginal language. The territory of Canberra is very gubernatorial, modeled after Washing DC, having the Federal Parliament located in the city’s center, it was selected as the capital in 1908 as a compromise between the rivals Sydney and Melbourne, which are Australia’s two largest cities.
Canberra is home to many amazing sites such as Parliament House, The Australian War Memorial, the National Gallery, the National Museum, an amazing view from the Black Mountains, and the native Kangaroos. So there is a lot of history and a lot to see in this town. Make sure you set aside at least 2-3 days to view it all and take it all in. Find out all you need to know to plan your trip to Canberra here.
If you are planning to explore Canberra I suggest wearing something comfortable because there can be a lot of walking depending on the activities you do though out the day. I planned my outfit around visiting museums, so I wore comfy jeans and shoes. See all the great pictures of my experience in Canberra below and also shop the look.
The whole continent of Australia is beautiful. I spent my time there in the states of Victoria and New South Wales. Sorrento is a townships in Victoria that I had the opportunity to visit. Located off the shores of Port Phillip Bay in the Mornington Peninsula and about an hour and a half from the city of Melbourne, Sorrento is a great getaway.
This quaint village is sprawling with amazing views, boutiques, and eateries. If being on the water is your thing take a full day Kayaking Tour (details here), or capture the scenic views on the Sorrento-Portsea Artists Trail. If you are a foodie Sorrento is known for its vanilla slice, Just Fine Food is known to have a tasty one and if you are staying a little longer Stringer Store is the go-to grocery for visitors and locals. Sorrento also has great shopping. A couple of my favorite stops were Country Road, Witchery, and Emia. Although I was only there for a day trip, I also know that Sorrento has some prime real estate and some great places to stay for a weekend holiday. Check out the Sorrento Beach House or the Buoys on Queens.
When we finished our day walking around the local strip we took the Seared Ferries, a 40 minute boat ride, from Sorrento to Queenscliff, which is the gateway to Great Ocean Road (a must see) for our next adventure. Check out the video below where you might see some dolphins.
Graffiti….one of the best back drops for a photo, especially for a blogger. These works of art are all over the lane ways in Melbourne, Australia. You can find this one outside of Spice Market, a great place to grab a drink if you are in town. The decor is enough to make you want to stop in.
The graffiti goes great with a this geometric print dress (similar here), that I paired with black flats and a oversized tote, which is idea for travel. As you will see me toting it all around Australia in my next couple post. So stay tuned, many Australia travel post to come!
What is your Whisky story? Mine is simple. I am from Kentucky and grew up hearing the words bourbon and whisky often, if you are from these parts you definitely understand. When I became of age and was able to drink, like most other college kids I reached for the beer and the vodka (this could be the fact that most undergrads know these are cheap and usually alway available). As I grew older my pallet changed and I began to appreciate the taste of bourbon, so it soon began to be one of my go to drinks. Insert the Whisky Chicks 😉 If you haven’t heard of them you should.
Whisky Chicks are a group of ladies of all ages (21+), who embrace the unique tastes of a good bottle of bourbon. They pride themselves on being libation liberators; meaning they help women appreciate and love cocktails that are outside of their standard girly norm. They are whisky educators, and friend facilitators. Whisky Chicks started over cocktails and conversation about how hard it is to meet other women with similar interest. During that conversation with founder Linda Ruffenach the idea of Whisky Chicks emerged.
Why do women love attending Whisky Chicks events?? From talking to other ladies at their events women love a place where they feel welcome to come by themselves, where they have an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, a great place for professionals to network, and be educated on the different brands of whiskey the world has to offer. You always leave with knowledge on how to make a new cocktail, a new friend, or even a great idea. As many of us know most great ideas and business ventures start over cocktails. Whisky Chicks’ events are not only attended by females, males are welcomed too. Lots of husbands, boyfriends, and men that are interested in learning about bourbon have always been a fixture at many of their events.
Jack Daniel’s Savor & Share with Maureen Petrosky was an exclusive event hosted by the Whisky Chicks. Savor & Share is a collaboration between Jack Daniel’s and Maureen Petrosky. Maureen is a lifestyle Expert who has written books such as, The Cocktail Club and The Wine Club (find books here), a columnist for Today.com and thekitchn.com, a chef, an event host and brand ambassador. Check out her website here. Savor and Share consist of a series of videos featuring cocktails, sample recipes for simple appetizers and easy tips for throwing a party. (Savor & Share Autumn Brunch video, Fall Fire Pit video)
This Whisky Chicks’ event did not disappoint. As soon as you walked in the door the attention to detail that the hostesses laid out was a whiskey lover’s dream. I mean who doesn’t want an elevator cocktail to start! Yes please! Sparkling Apple Sangria with Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel for the win. The night was filled with appetizers, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel tastings, great cocktails (especially the awesome spiked s’mores hot chocolate you will see below) and a little bit about how Savor & Share with Maureen Petrosky and Jack Daniel’s came about.
Ana Kornegay, Brand Director for Jack Daniel’s Craft and Luxury, educated the attendees on Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Whiskey. She says it is one to pull out for your favorite guest that you are trying to impress. This collection is made from Jack Daniel’s finest stock of whiskey, bottled in the smallest batches one barrel at a time.
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Whiskey consist of:
*Single Barrel Select- Your pallet will taste rich toffee, caramel, cinnamon, orange, clove, and oak.
*Single Barrel Rye- 94 proof with a bold taste of rye mixed with ripe fruit and toasted oak, which gives a peppery spice finish.
*Single Barrel Barrel Proof- A smooth taste of brown sugar, toasted oak and a hint of dark spice.
Single Barrel 100 Proof- Traveler’s exclusive with toasted oak, sweet vanilla, and a light spices.
If you love whiskey Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel is one to try.
Want to come to the next Whisky Chicks event? Sign up for a membership here and check out their upcoming events below. Make sure you get your ticket before they sell out.
Who doesn’t want a brownstone in NYC? If I ever really do live in the city I totally think a brownstone is the way to go. Now all I have to do is figure out how to pay for it. This is definitely a future goal. For now I will just take pictures in front of cute ones. When I was in NYC last week, that is exactly what I did.
While navigating through Chelsea and other great areas such as the High Line (A 1.45 mile linear park in Manhattan that is elevated on one of NYC’s old railroad), I was a total tourist and used the city as my back drop. If you are ever in NYC you must visit the High Line.
For my outfit while taking it all in, I went for the comfortable but put together look. It was great for the continuous walking we did while there. I paired skinny jeans with a gingham button down, and a puff vest, which is idea for the colder weather. I accessorized the look with riding boots (great for walking long distances, considering I was doing an average of 25k each day), a tote to hold all my gear and sunnies since it was a bright sunny day.
This was a great outfit to play tourist in. What is your favorite outfit to explore a city? Shop my outfit below.
Still dreaming of the warmer days of last week in Santa Monica. I am back in Kentucky where the temperature has been 18 degrees all the way to almost 60. Mother natural cannot make up her mind. Anyway, my travel style is casual. This is one of my favorite sweaters and I get compliments on it every time I wear it. I paired it with simple black leggings and a v-neck short sleeved tee. I accessorized with aviators sunglasses from Diff Eyewear, which is a company that provides reading glasses to people in need, meaning that every pair of sunglasses that is purchased by you or someone else allows a child or adult to see clearly, the Maddison May crossbody; found here, and a cute wood necklace that I received as a gift all the way from Australia. Shop similar items of this super easy look below.
