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Image: WWD

A decade has come and gone by in a flash. It really has been the fastest decade of my life. The majority of it was spent raising kids, working, and establishing a home. Over the course of the decade, I’m sharing some of the lifestyle trends that defined each year.Disclaimer: By no means is this a definitive list of all trends, but more of a personal reflection of the decade trends that I participated in or adopted in aspects of my own personal life.

A lot of these trends I foresee carrying over to this new decade as some of the trends are also non-trends suitable for daily life and everyday style, such as classic fashion pieces that never go out of style, a less is more approach (in the home, with material possessions, and consumption), wellness, plants and gardening, and high quality and crafted foods designed for both entertaining and everyday sustenance.

Here is my decade trend recap (as best as I can remember!) from each year:

2010: Macarons are at every dessert table, subscription boxes (produce, meals, clothes, beauty, etc), wedge sneakers, skinny jeans, photo collages, booties are a closet staple, festival wear, street style bloggers are the go-to for inspo, #ootd

2011: Succulents are everywhere, cheese boards/charcuterie boards are a kitchen entertaining staple, garden beds and container gardens are the norm, colored denim skinnies, millennial pink

2012: Fiddle Leaf Fig, boho interiors, Birkenstocks are back, peplum, lighter and brighter interiors replace dark furnishings

2013: Boyfriend jeans, the year of Moscow Mules and the copper mug theft across America! Rose all day! Farmhouse everything thanks to the HGTV hit FixerUpper, LaCroix’s comeback, foil ballon number and letters

2014: Blazer capes, coats worn over the shoulders as capes, Doc Martens reemerge, cropped jeans, mom jeans, the lob (long bob), essential oils, KonMari Method book changes life

2015: Midi dresses, off-the-shoulder tops, slip-on sneakers, athleisure, backless loafers/mules, fanny packs/hip sacks, embracing the art of Hygge

2016: 90s revival: bodysuits, crop tops, high-waisted pants, lug sole boots, the block heel, faux fur coats, animal print, faux stems and greenery are more than acceptable

2017: Midi skirts, culottes, paperbag pants, bras and bralettes worns as tops, hikers as everyday shoes, chunky sneakers (again 90s), wildflower loose stem bouquets, floral arches, floral garlands, eucalyptus, IG Stories

2018: Balloon garlands, biker shorts, dad sneakers and Tevas comeback (again 90s), snake print, olive trees

2019: Neutrals, microbags, slip dresses (again 90s), organic earthenware, pottery, mixing metals, earth tones, Amazon The Drop

What are some of the decade trends that you are bringing with you into 2020 and beyond?

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Just Back From…A Joie de Vivre Weekend in Napa Valley

When it comes to pockets of California that have been on my list to visit, Napa Valley has certainly been among the top three.  With picturesque mountains, endless spa options, a bustling food scene, more vineyards than you could dream of and copious amounts of wine, Napa Valley was the perfect choice destination for relaxation and pleasure.

As you might have seen on my Instagram – we recently spent a weekend in Napa Valley in October to celebrate my 40th birthday, that’s right the big 4-0!  What better way to spend a milestone birthday than with a relaxing weekend getaway in Wine Country?  While the trip was short (they always are), it was my first time visiting Napa and it was the perfect taste of Wine Country and I’m already eager to return for more!  Whether you want to relax and pamper or dine and drink wine, Napa Valley has everything you need to make your birthday (or any trip) a celebration.

When to go:

For our trip, we had a weekend in the beginning of October, which I personally think made for the perfect late summer/early fall inspired weather in CA: cool and crisp in the mornings and 70 degrees into the afternoons, then cool again in the evenings, perfect for layering and still wearing summer-to-fall outfits. Of course, a lot of travelers opt for the height of summer to visit Wine Country (June and July), but I have to say, the fall foliage and autumn vineyard leaves changing colors is stunning to see between September and October.

Below, is a recap on how I celebrated my 40th birthday with only 72 hours in wine country:

While I had my mind set on relaxation, I knew I also wanted to find a winery or excursion with a little something extra, because wine not? Below is a breakdown of our Friday-Sunday itinerary with details to follow and some of the snaps from our epic adventure and joie de vivre in Napa Valley…

THE WEEKEND ITINERARY:

Friday: 

4:00 pm: Check in at 1801 First Inn, Napa

5:30 pm: Wine Hour at the inn

7:00pm: Oxbow Market for dinner and snack haul

Saturday: 

6:45am: Hot Air Balloon Ride

9:30am: Breakfast at the Inn

11:30am: Lunch at Oxbow Market

1:00 pm: Tasting at Provenance Vinyards

3:00pm: The French Laundry Culinary Gardens

3:30 pm: Tasting at RH Wine Vault

4:45 pm: Dinner at RH Yountville

Sunday: 

9:00 am: Breakfast at the Inn

10:00 am: Check Out, drive back to the airport

 

OUR STAY

1801 First Inn truly exceeded our expectations. Located near downtown Napa, the inn is a beautiful historic Victorian with cozy and thoughtful touches throughout (coffee, teas, water, fruit available), conveniently located in town near the shops and restaurants we needed to visit, and a great starting point to get to the nearby wineries and other towns. If you’re looking for something charming yet, elegant and luxurious yet b&b-like, it really covers all the bases.

Check-In time, Carrie the innkeeper was so sweet to take our photo!

Outfit Details | Cardigan: Superdown | Jeans: Levis | Bodysuit: Alix NYC |  Boots: A New DayxTarget | Bag: Chanel 2017 Metier d’Art

Sweet hubby had some birthday treats with a personalized note set up in our room upon our arrival. There’s nothing better than cold bubbles and dessert after a long day of traveling.

It may have been our first airplane trip without the kids, but our first priority off the plane was to FaceTime with Jonah and Baron. Okay, first it was to check in, find food, wine hour and then, before we consumed, we called home.

Speaking of home(s), special shout out to my dad (aka Lolo) for allowing this trip to happen and watching our crazy kids.

Wine Hour

After settling into our room, we headed outside to the inn’s beautiful patio for a special Wine Hour and presentation by micro producers Elkhorn Peak. We tasted 4 different wines with delicious food pairings prepared by the inn.

 

FOOD AND DRINK

Oxbow Public Market

After our Wine Hour tasting, we headed into downtown Napa to check out the Oxbow Public Market and grab dinner and snacks there. This market is the perfect place to grab picnic foods and artisan snacks and wine, or a quick bite at one of the many local food purveyors and pop up restaurants. From fresh fruit and produce, to books and flowers, everything beautiful and fresh you could ever want and more you’ll find here.

Most gorgeous San Marzano harvest

Lovely little artisan bouquets

Being from the NW, I’ve missed having access to fresh seafood since moving to TX, so I really came here for the oysters and I had to try Hog Island Oyster Co‘s own. Safe to say, I got my oyster and clam fix and was one happy lady.  The Roots were also playing an outdoor concert along the river so we were able to hear the band play from our table! We ended the evening exploring more of downtown and finished with the rest of the champagne and chocolate covered strawberries in bed.

Outfit Details | Sweater: Who What Wear | Jeans: Levis | Boots: A New DayxTarget | Hat: Nordstrom

Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise

A hot air balloon ride has been high on my bucket list of experiences.

If you are planning a trip to Napa Valley, one thing to consider is taking a hot air balloon ride at sunrise. For the wine enthusiast, you’ll get a unique view of the vineyards and valley from above. For the thrill seeker, you’ll be rewarded with sights that will take your breath away. A hot air balloon ride has been something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m so glad I got to experience my first flight for my 40th birthday with Napa Valley Drifters. 

We arrived just before dawn, met our pilot and watched as the crew quickly prepare for take off. The baskets attached to the vibrant balloons slowly started to rise, one by one. We finally hopped into our basket and, before we knew it, we were up in the air!

Ready for take off

Gaining altitude, everyone was mesmerized by the panoramic views of the valley just at the break of dawn. Moments later, we simply floated into the sunrise, up in the sky and watched the other balloons pass above and below our own. It was so serene.

Dawn

 

Sunrise

Valley views

3500 feet above!

Our hot air balloon ride lasted about an hour and we reached a total altitude of 3,500 feet above the valley floor. When our flight had come to an end, we landed in a field with two other balloons and waited as the crew came to meet us to help us unload. We shuttled back to the parking lot, and drove back to our inn just in time for breakfast. It was a lovely way to end our morning’s amazing adventure!

Outfit Details | Sweater: A New Day| Jeans: Levis | Boots: Danner , budget option here| Hat: Nordstrom

1808 Inn Breakfast

No matter if you’re visiting for the first time or the tenth, I highly recommend taking a hot air balloon ride to explore Napa Valley from the clouds! Overlooking the vineyards below from a bird’s eye view was unlike anything I’ve experienced.

 

Wineries

Provenance Vineyards

The first winery we had reservations at was Provenance Winery and Vineyards.

The grounds and vineyard here were laid back and relaxing, and we sat outside on the patio overlooking the orchard. This is a great place to do any gift-giving or to simply sit and relax outdoors for a while.

Outfit Details | Dress: Zara, similar here | Belt: Vintage | Booties: A New Day | Hat: Nordstrom

RH Yountville

The next winery and restaurant destination, also on my bucket list – the new RH Yountville (opened in 2018) is stunningly gorgeous. The multi-structure feels like it’s been there all along, with arbors and granite and an indoor-outdoor restaurant in a Tuscan style design, where shoppers can sit on sectionals while sipping local wine flights.  To be honest, as a food, wine, art and design enthusiast, I based my entire trip around RH Yountville.

The Restaurant

100-year-old olive trees at the restaurant at RH Yountville. Photo courtesy of RH

 

John always orders better. Rib eye sandwich with truffle fries

The menu features simple, California-inspired, comfort dishes like truffle grilled cheese, a ribeye sandwich, and lighter fresher fare like the grilled salmon.  I regret not getting dessert as I’ve heard the cookies are amazing – a trio of freshly baked, gooey chocolate chip cookies sprinkled with giant sea salt flakes. Ugh. Maybe I had one too many wines by this time and wasn’t thinking clearly, because who passes up birthday dessert?!

My dream glass house or greenhouse!

Signature RH elements are found throughout the restaurant: stone fountains, opulent Rococo chandeliers, and cozy, neutral-toned RH furnishings, which of course, can all be purchased. But the 100-year-old, live olive trees are the main event, seamlessly blending the outdoors with the in — as do the picture windows, glass doors, and a glass roof that acts as a giant sky light. In the evenings, the ambiance completely transforms; the entire property glows, thanks to the massive chandeliers.

The Tasting Room

We made a tasting reservation at the RH Wine Vault so we could hang out early and enjoy the environment before our dinner reservations next door at the restaurant. The RH Wine Vault is the perfect place to enjoy a wine tasting experience outdoors in an unrushed and relaxed manner. I really could have stayed here all day. Like the restaurant, the Wine Vault emphasizes the outdoors, with several al fresco “living rooms” available for seated tastings. The ambiance and décor is nothing short of amazing as each seating area or grouping is designed straight of out of pages of the RH catalogs. Chandeliers hanging above every table added to the magical setting.

 

 The Galleries

Behind the restaurant and through a courtyard are two RH design galleries, where people are free to peruse home furnishings and antiques in the open-air rooms. We didn’t view the galleries while we were here, but I will definitely do so on our next visit on our own time.

 

The French Laundry Culinary Gardens

Another gem in Yountville is The French Laundry Culinary Gardens.  The French Laundry from chef Thomas Keller is among the most coveted dining experiences in the WORLD. The Michelin 3-star restaurant itself has a prefix menu that is $300+ per person, and books out 6-8 months in advance. I have never dined there, but during our day in  Yountville, I loved going across the street from this famed spot and exploring the 3-acre public gardens where they grow a lot of the vegetables that they use for their menu. It would be a dream to have dinner at TFL one day!

The culinary garden has a large hoop house where they grow all of their own starts.  A large table with flats of beautiful micro greens greet you as you enter the hoop house. There is also a chicken coup where they gather farm fresh eggs for the dishes and a bee area to pollinate the plants in the garden and provide honey for restaurant.

I appreciated this beautiful spot that Chef Thomas Keller has created. I recommend visiting this garden near sunset as the light adds a beautiful tone to the garden.

 

Pepperjam Verification

This weekend has been one of the most incredible trips I’ve taken and had some of the best experiences I’ll cherish forever. I can’t wait to travel here again as there are so many amazing towns within short driving distances and so many more wineries and restaurants I want to visit. Napa Valley has captured a piece of my heart.  It was the perfect birthday celebration weekend and I’m grateful to John for always making it so special and memorable. It will forever remain a highlight of my life.

 

 

 

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This was our first official family portrait session since moving to Texas – we’ve been here for 2 years already! And to celebrate a milestone birthday, I wanted some special photos of my family so this fall weekend was the perfect time to plan for a family portrait session.  We hired Julia Nigro Photography (IG:@julianigrophotography) to capture some special moments of our family as we wandered around the Dallas Arboretum during their annual autumn festival. We had fun exploring the pumpkin villages and pumpkin displays this season. Although the weather in Dallas this time of year is still in the 90s, it was still fun to dress up in our Sunday best wearing fall outfits with warmer colors and textures.

 

Outfit Details | Dress: Zara (sold out), similar here |  Booties: Splendid L.A. (sold out) similar here  | On The Kids: Baron’s Pants: Cat and Jack , Shoes: See Kai Run Jonah’s Pants: Cat and Jack , Shoes: Cat and Jack | On John: Philip Lim for Target, Boots: Clarks

 

Julia was so great with making the kids feel at ease and engaging with them so she could capture those special candid moments.

Thank you Julia for capturing these special moments with our family!

 

 

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Peppers (jalapeno, banana, habanero), basil, rosemary, & parsley

It’s been three months since we sowed new seeds again for this year’s spring season. The raised beds which John built and installed last year , have been a great addition to the garden and investment as it has provided two spring and summer seasons of an abundance of fruit, vegetables, and herbs.  The kids have their own bed to grow their choice of fruit and vegetables, and John has his own raised bed dedicated to growing peppers and herbs. The herb garden is truly a treat for the senses. I just love the smell of fresh basil and rosemary.

This year, I decided to try something different by growing purely flowers in two of four the beds for my very own cut flower garden. I’ve always been inspired by flower farmer Erin Benzakein of Floret Flower after reading her book a couple of years ago, Cut Flower Garden. My long time dream has been to have a large garden or acquire some land and grow a peony farm. Well, I finally got that large garden, so I can at least make a sliver of my dream come true on a much smaller scale with raised beds of flowers right? More land will come in due time.

First Peony, bloomed April 17, 2019 (planted March 2019)

 

Dahlia bloom June 3, 2019 (planted March 2019)

Because peonies and dahlias are my favorite flowers, I chose to plant and grow these as tubers and roots. I grew peonies and dahlias at our last home in Issaquah WA and they provided beautiful flowers in the spring and summer.  The Texas climate is different from what I am accustomed but it is a challenge I am having fun and learning through trial and error. Our raised beds get a ton of full direct sun which the flowers need to grow and thrive. Since I planted these peony roots, I’ve received one early flower bloom so far. The dahlias on the other hand seem to be growing better as they are a later blooming flower too. I’ve received one dahlia bloom the last week of May, with four more stems and buds ready to bloom.

 

Baron’s Zinnias, planted March 20, 2019

A project I did with Baron to celebrate the first day of spring was to plant Zinnia seeds. These zinnia seeds were leftover seeds I had from last year when we started our beds to attract butterflies. A few flowers have emerged and the joy and surprise on Baron’s face when he saw them was priceless. His exact words were, “I didn’t know that was going to happen!”  I replied with, “That’s the magic of gardening, you don’t know what will come out or happen.”

Edible Flowers

In addition to my attempt at growing a cut flower garden, I’ve planted seeds to grow edible flowers. John and they boys gifted me these adorable seed packets for Mother’s Day and I couldn’t wait to get them into some soil. The seeds have been planted for one month now and are sprouting well. Can’t wait to see some beautiful flowers soon. My plan is to use the edible flowers on summer salads and desserts.

I’ll share another update on how the raised beds and edible flowers are blooming in July!

Who else has peonies or dahlias in bloom? Do you cut them to enjoy in your home or do you leave them?