jillivictorio@gmail.com /

I recently returned home from a weekend trip to Las Vegas with girlfriends whom I haven’t seen since moving to Texas. It was a fabulous reunion of sorts and an even more more fabulous weekend celebrating a milestone birthday for three of us turning 40 this year! (August, September, and October), so a weekend girls trip was in order.

It’s been 5 years since I last visited Las Vegas!  I’m not much of a nightlife’er/clubber these days, nor do I gamble much, I’ll try the slots!  But I do love food and can appreciate the culinary scene. So many new exciting restaurants and dining experiences have opened in Las Vegas in the last 5 years and you really have to pick and choose your itinerary if you’re only there for a brief time.

A few highlights of my 24 hours in Las Vegas:

 

The Venetian and The Palazzo are good options because every room is a suite and can easily sleep 5+ girls. As a perk, these stunning hotels are reasonably priced so it’s a good excuse to treat yourself. The cabanas and pool at the Venetian have been remodeled and just reopened so if you have time, definitely reserve a shaded spot early before the crowds.

It’s always fun getting ready for a night out with girlfriends with the Venetian rooms’ bathrooms large enough for everyone to get ready together and a large mirror for selfies and the perfect #ootd!

Sequin Night!

Want The World

Lots of photo ops around the Venetian and lots of friendly people willing to take your photos!

 

 

As the world’s tallest observation wheel, at 550-foot-tall the High Roller is an unforgettable experience. The Happy Half Hour ticket gives you a thirty-minute ride with an open bar. We opted for the cabin without a bar and just bought drinks at the lobby entrance.

Tip: Go just before sunset for the most amazing cotton candy color skies as the Las Vegas lights illuminate the landscape. Bonus if you remember to look down to watch the Bellagio fountain show!

Outfit Details | Sequin Bralette: (sold out) For Love & Lemons | Sequin Jacket: LPA | Pants: Zara |  Sandals: Sam Edelman

You’ll definitely have the best view of the Strip!

 

The Dorsey at The Venetian: Dance the night away to one of its DJs, or chill on the sofas and chat with your besties over drinks at this local spot.

 

 

My favorite day of the week, or my favorite meal of the day: BRUNCH!

Brunch Look…

Outfit Details | Cropped Knit Top: Zara | Pleated Pants with Belt: Zara (sold out), similar here | Purse: Rebecca Minkoff |  Sandals: Sam Edelman | Sunglasses: Le Specs Lolita

 

A girls trip isn’t complete without brunch. Opened in 2015, Bardot is Chef Michael Mina’s latest restaurant at Aria Resort & Casino. To create the brasserie’s menu, Chef Mina and Executive Chef Joshua Smith drew inspiration from travels to Paris. The menu offers classic French fare executed with a modern twist.  Bardot is the American take on a French brasserie—the beautiful yet contrived variety.

L’atmosphere

The space is stunning: a gorgeous glass square bar, beautiful wood paneling, stunning floral arrangements, and of course marble and brass everywhere. If this is the Las Vegas take on Paris, I’m OK with that.

 

Bardot’s version of the Croque Madame… The Double Decker Ham & Brie

One my favorite things to order at any French cafe is the Croque Madame or Croque Monsier. BARDOT’s version of a Croque Madame is piled high with Paris Ham and Gruyére Fondue then topped with an over-easy organic egg – yum! So glad I changed my order at the very last minute. If you’re going to have one meal with carbs, have it here and with this.  So. Worth. It.

Short Rib Bourguignon Croissant Benedict

I had a bite of my friend’s Short Rib Bourguignon Croissant Benedict – puffy, flaky, housemade croissants topped with poached eggs, sauteéd kale and short rib Bourguignon. So delicious!

 

 Toasted Marshmallows

Toasted Marshmallows birthday treat from the kitchen!

That said, I will return to Bardot each time I’m in Vegas, as you can’t beat a beautiful French brasserie for brunch.

 

Hello Kitty Cafe Las Vegas

To walk off brunch, we strutted our full bellies over to the new Hello Kitty Cafe at The Park, just opened in July, located on The Strip between New York-New York and Park MGM.

The Mini Cafe Pop-Up offers a fun outdoor cafe experience that celebrates all things Hello Kitty and Las Vegas, along with collectible merchandise and themed treats. The pop-up is the first of its kind in Nevada, following the success of its sister locations in California, which include the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe in Irvine, and Hello Kitty Mini Cafe in San Jose CA.

Our final afternoon together sharing Hello Kitty’s global message of friendship and happiness, before I parted ways with the girls and as we head back home to our families, kids, and our daily lives at home.

I had to pick up some cute sweet treats for my boys!

Do you have any travel tips for visiting Las Vegas? Let me know down below!

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

  1. Traditions & Something New

Peonies (our wedding flower) on every anniversary, June 21

For our ten year anniversary, we renewed our vows in Hawaii and took professional photos. A year later on our eleventh anniversary, John and I woke up excitedly that we didn’t have to work this day as we both took the day off, and beautiful peonies (our wedding flower) greeted me on the breakfast table. I also got a text from our contractor that he was on his way to our home to start demo on our kitchen that morning – exciting times! (More to come on our new reno project). John and I exchanged the traditional wedding gifts. We usually have an idea of what we’re getting each other, but it’s still fun choosing and shopping for the gift. The traditional gift for an 11th wedding anniversary is Steel. We knew exactly what we wanted to gift each other as it is also something we’ve needed for the house and that we’d get a ton of use out of. I’ve wanted these steel Yeti wine tumblers for quite sometime to use at the pool, or while traveling/camping. Yeti makes really great high quality ones so I got John a black steel wine tumbler and he got me the pink steel wine tumbler. Cheers!

 

2. Anniversary Trip

We finally broke away from the kids for an overnight trip to San Antonio to stay at one of my bucket list hotels, the Hotel Emma.  John and I don’t get many date nights so it was nice to be out without kids for once. If we really wanted to, we could ask my dad to watch the kids and make date night a priority, but because he already watches Baron during the day, Monday to Friday, which is a huge help to us, we don’t want to take advantage of his time and we respect his time. But for  special occasions such as John’s and my wedding anniversary, we do make special arrangements in advance for childcare and we are so grateful for the extra time for John and myself.  I assume this may be a challenge with balance that many married couples with children face and understand that we could improve on this area in the following year. More on this later.

So today I want to recap our 11th wedding anniversary.

First things first- we NEED talk about this hotel. We first discovered Hotel Emma last winter on our first visit to San Antonio. We didn’t stay at the hotel, but we dined and drank around the Pearl, and toured the property and grounds. I just knew John and I would have to come back for a weekend getaway without the kids. As our 11th anniversary was approaching, we booked the last River Terrace room! It really might be the most gorgeous hotel we’ve ever had the pleasure of patronizing. You step onto the grounds and you feel as if you’ve been transported to Europe. Just look at this place-

Lobby

 

Lobby

Lobby

For starters, the attentive staff welcomes you with their signature cocktail La Babia, in their amazing library. For any fellow bibiophiles, this library needs to be on your bucket list asap.

Hotel Emma Library

The rooms are gorgeous. We opted for the River Terrace Room because this balcony!  The hotel was definitely a splurge but we don’t go out as often and we love treating ourselves on our anniversary so we went for it. Man was it the right decision. We’ve never felt to utterly spoiled at a hotel. This terrace was my favorite feature as it was our own private little sanctuary to enjoy a glass of wine, or morning coffee with a cozy fire and overlooking the river.

So in love with the bathroom design – vintage mixed with industrial and old world charm and all. the. brass. accents.

To our delight, a beautiful plate of chocolate covered strawberries that John had arranged was on our table upon arriving to our room. A surprise bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice and a handwritten note was left by the Culinary Concierge.

We headed up to the rooftop pool to check out the views before getting ready for dinner.

Outfit Details:  Jumpsuit: A New Day |  Sandals: Teva

We eventually pried ourselves away from the hotel and headed out to dinner and explored the Pearl District. The hotel shuttle will take you downtown but since our dinner reservation was so close to our hotel, we wanted to walk to dinner and enjoy the sights around the Pearl on this beautiful first day of summer.

Coincidentally, J-Lo was also leaving the hotel lobby at the same time as she was headed out to her concert that night. I don’t usually get starstruck, but I thought it was cool that even a-list celebs love the Hotel Emma.


For dinner we enjoyed a beautiful dinner at Cured, just a few minutes walk from the hotel.  We’ve always enjoyed going to out special restaurants in Seattle and the Eastside for our anniversary dinners, and we were looking for a comparable experience in San Antonio. We believe we found just the spot at Cured. At first glance, the building reminded me of one of John’s and my old favorite date night restaurants in Madison Park, Madison Park Conservatory (RIP) with its cozy atmosphere, reclaimed and exposed wood and brick interiors.

Cured specializes in charcuterie boards and house-cured meats. Overall food was delicious, ambiance was beautiful with warm exposed brick, ornate details and elevated updates throughout the interior in a historical atmosphere. The building used to be the Pearl’s Administration Building built in 1904 and has been lovingly restored. As you enter the building, a large charcuterie case shows off hanging meat in the dining room; it’s stocked with options like smoked vealwurst, smoked duck ham, and jalapeño sausages.

I loved everything we ordered, but favorite dish was the Beet, Avocado and Citrus Salad.  The flavors and textures just remind of the delicious farm to table foods we enjoyed in the PNW.

Aged pork belly, bresaola, smoked double barrel cheddar, pink lemonade jam

 

Avocado, Beet & Citrus Salad

 

Wagyu Beef Short Ribs

After dinner we ended the night with a gorgeous stroll at sunset along the famed San Antonio River Walk, followed by more champagne, macarons and turndown service.

River Walk

Outfit Details | Crop Knit Top: Zara similar here | Blazer: Wild Fable | Shorts: Prologue |  Sandals: Sam Edleman, similar here

 

When we returned back to our room, THESE were waiting for us. At Hotel Emma, turn down service comes with macarons. Every. Night. Winning.

Turn Down Service with Macarons!

We made ourselves right at home lounging in these amazing lightweight cotton Guyarobes by Dos Carolinas made exclusively for Hotel Emma.

 

In the morning, you can ring downstairs and hot, freshly brewed coffee magically appears in your room, or you can head down to the Library and enjoy the same freshly brewed Merit Coffee at the coffee cart with an assortment of continental breakfast pastries.

We opted to do both because the library is just so fabulous – had one cup of coffee there and brought more coffee up to our room to enjoy on our terrace.

I find that the best time for truly experiencing architecture during travel and resort amenities is very early in the morning before the crowds come down or arrive. Since becoming a mother I’ve been an early riser and just can’t sleep in. I am a morning person and love quiet mornings exploring hotel grounds without any distractions. The stunning Southerleigh is a hidden gem tucked in the Hotel Emma. Truly a treat for the senses, we got to admire all the rich architectural and design elements that went into this building and had the place pretty much to ourselves.

Pearl Farmers Market

I’m so glad we made plans to visit the Pearl Farmers Market. This has got to be one of my favorite farmers markets I’ve been and we’ve been to a lot!  The Pearl Farmers Market is held every Saturdays and set up along the beautiful outdoor space through the Pearl grounds, which is also just outside the hotel, hosting local produce, meat & cheese producers, fresh flowers, fresh baked goods, live music & cooking demos. It is also very family-friendly with a splash pad for kids in the middle of the plaza. This is the perfect spot to grab breakfast or lunch and a bistro table while the kids splash or run around the park.

Outfit Details | Dress: A New Day |  Sandals: Teva

 

Before checking out of our hotel, we had to stop by the gift shop to pick up a bottle of the most wonderful scent we experienced throughout the hotel during our stay – Milagros by Soular Therapy designed and produced this exquisite room fragrance exclusively for Hotel Emma. The spring and summer aromas of amber, sandalwood, oakmoss, and citrus greeted and followed us throughout the property and we wanted to experience the same aromas at home. I never knew ‘scent marketing’ was a thing but I’m now a believer!

Scent Marketing definition by Air Aroma: By using scent, brands are able to connect with consumers on a deeper emotional level, resulting in a more memorable experience. Scent can attract new customers, increase sales, heighten value perception, and expand brand recognition and customer satisfaction.

 

After a weekend of being wooed by Hotel Emma and her gorgeous architecture, attentive staff, macarons, champagne, and coffee, we were refreshed and ready to go home to see our kids and how the demo was coming along. Besides, isn’t that one of the best things about getting away? At the end, as much as we love a luxurious getaway, we’re ready to go home. And we’re reminded of how special home is and how much we love being at home with our little family.

3. Notes on 11 years of marriage

Over the years, each person learns that marriage isn’t all about spending every waking moment together, it’s more about discovering our individual dreams, talents and challenges and growing together and as one as lovers, best friends, partners, and companions. As a family.

Marriage is a time of constant learning and adjusting. It’s the time of endless self-discovery and growth. The journey continues, but every year there is something new. That, is my reality of our marriage in the 11th year.

What does your marriage look like today?

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

The highly anticipated House of Dior exhibit, Dior: From Paris to the World, opened at the Dallas Museum of Art last Sunday and I just had to get my fashion fix with an early peek.

The exhibit profiles both Christian Dior himself and the fashion house’s artistic directors including Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri.

Featuring almost 200 haute couture dresses, as well as accessories, photos, original sketches, runway videos and other archival material, this exhibit is one of the most beautiful displays I have ever seen.

As you enter, you’re surrounded by outfits from “The New Look,” 18 black and white looks. The collection’s two main lines, the Corolle and the En 8, set the stage for fashion in the 1950s.

 

Next you go into the “Office of Dreams,” a collection of 22 white toiles or mock-ups in plain cotton muslin.

 

 

 

 

While these displays were impressive, the runway hall was fun to walk through as your unexpectedly step into the “From Paris to the World” hall. It’s filled with 57 designs, propped up high, allowing you to look up in awe as you approach the back wall, which is also gasp-worthy. Thirteen dresses are highlighted in their own little cubbies, reaching high up to the ceiling.

 

 

Dallas Museum of Art’s 40-foot-high Barrel Vault gives this striking display maximum impact, providing the Dallas exhibit with something that the Denver exhibit did not have.

 

 

“Splendors of the 18th Century” shows Dior’s desire to bring the flamboyance of 18th-century France into modern life.

Lastly, “Fields to Flowers” conveys Dior’s belief that “After women, flowers are the most divine creations.”

 

I left this exhibit feeling inspired and refreshed seeing all the beautiful fashion, art and designs. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to move, live, work, raise my family, and pursue my passions in a new city where fashion is celebrated in a big way.

This quote pretty much sums up how I feel about moving here.

 

‘Dior: From Paris To The World’ is on display at the DMA May 19, 2019 to September 1, 2019. Timed tickets can be purchased here. 

 

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

Outfit Details | Dress: Who What Wear Floral A-Line  |  Sandals: Sam Edleman, similar here

 

Whether it’s going to the park with your kids, a Spring festival or brunch with friends, spring dress season is well under way and easy to wear for stepping outside. They are casual, comfortable, yet still feminine.

 

In April, we attended the Member’s Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast at the Dallas Arboretum. This lovely spring event is easily one of our favorite events held exclusively for members of the Arboretum. Members are treated to a sumptuous breakfast, festive spring crafts, and a delightful Egg Hunt in Jonsson Color Garden. We also had my in-laws in town so it was the perfect place to showcase the beautiful blooms and gardens during this time of year in North Texas.

I was excited to finally get to wear my favorite blogger Rachel Parcell’s dress from her new RP Collection for Nordstrom that launched earlier in the month. I’ve followed her journey over the years and she continues to inspire through her vision, determination and style.

This is the Rachel Puff Sleeve Dress styled with Teva Flatform Sandals  (my go-to shoes this spring/summer) for a more casual dressed-down look, or can easily be dressed up and elevated with a pair of strappy heeled sandals.

or layered with a staple denim jacket

I’m all about chic comfort for spring, while mixing in sporty casual pieces with feminine details.

Speaking of spring dresses, I recently got together with a few Fort Worth blogger moms to feature some spring dress looks for a Mother’s Day photo shoot. Jen from Working Girl Jen invited us for a fun afternoon at The Kelton to wear a floral dress styled with floral crowns she made. We had a ton of fun and enjoyed the beautiful spring weather in Fort Worth.

More of my favorite spring dresses and luxe looks here:

What are your favorite dress styles for Spring?

 

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

A couple of weeks ago during Jonah’s spring break, we took a family road trip down to Waco for the annual Spring At The Silos event.  This was my very first time attending Spring At The Silos and I knew I couldn’t miss it this year, especially since it featured the release of Joanna Gaines’ new children’s book ‘We Are The Gardeners’. When I first heard of Joanna’s book launch in January, I bought my ticket right away and counted down the days until Spring At The Silos. After all, it was the garden at the Silos that inspired our family garden we started last year.

Spring At The Silos is an annual event in celebration of the arrival of spring, and features a free vendor fair, additional food trucks, and no shortage of florals! Vendors from across the country were featured at this year’s vendor fair. The artisans and craftsmen are handpicked to come share their art, wares, and products, and is the highlight of the event. Everything from jewelry and home decor to dresses and hats and more.

Spring Displays

As always, the visual team at Magnolia does an amazing job with the seasonal displays and their floral displays were some of my favorites I’ve seen.  There were spring flowers everywhere with a mix of fresh flowers and paper flowers that surrounded the grounds.

 

Garden

The garden team is just as amazing in planning and cultivating an inspiring landscape. The tulips and daffodils bloomed in time for the weekend festival setting the scene. Oh how I wish I could afford to have a dedicated garden team in my own garden who carefully and meticulously tend to the garden 24/7. For now, I’m totally content with my little helpers that tend to our veggie and flower beds, and John to do the dirty work! 🙂

The giant teepee in the garden is still one of my favorite features as kids love it was much as grownups do. A beautiful climbing vine wraps around the teepee covered in yellow flowers. I would love to  (have John) build a structure like this in our backyard.

SILOS LAWN

Despite the crowds which we were prepared for, the experience during Spring At The Silos is still refreshing and inspiring. To see the gardens come to life is truly one of the highlights. The kids also enjoyed hanging out on the lawn playing games. We enjoyed a picnic lunch on the lawn while people watching and taking it all in.

We Are The Gardeners Book Launch Event

While the kids played in the garden, I ventured off to grab my wristband and signed book before the evening’s launch event.  I’m so happy the staff distributed books early for those who could not stay for the actual book launch event in the evening, and there was NO LINE for early book pickups!  As we were leaving Spring At The Silos, there was already a huge line beginning to form for the book launch event immediately after.  Our kids are early sleepers and early risers, so any event past 7:00pm that includes long lines of waiting, plus a long drive home after would not have been fun.  Along with a signed book by Joanna Gaines, we were gifted a cute terra-cotta plant pot and a packet of carrot seeds – perfect to plant in our family garden!

After picking up my signed book, as if the day couldn’t get any better, I ran in to Joanna’s mom, Mrs. Stevens!  I introduced myself and asked to take a photo with her. She was so sweet and totally happy to stop and chat for a photo. Mrs. Stevens is known to regularly help out and work at Magnolia Market.

I can’t wait to dive into the book with the kids! I’ll be sharing my review on the book in a future gardening post so stay tuned!

Vendor Fair

On the way out, we stopped and visited with some of the vendors and checked out the additional food trucks. We were on the hunt for The Hyppo for quite some time as Jonah is my ice pop fanatic.

 

 

We couldn’t have asked for a more blessed day at our first Spring At The Silos. The weather was perfect to wear spring styles and for enjoying the outdoors. I definitely plan to return next spring and hopefully find some artisan treasures to bring home.

Outfit Details: Knit Duster: Wild Fable  Jumpsuit: ANewDay , Sandals  Blush (also comes in White), Hat:  Brixton

Tips for Your Visit:

Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind for your visit:

  • Go early: We visited on a Thursday afternoon on the first day of the 4-day event. It was already super crowded for a weekday, but keep in mind, the event is also held during Spring Break.
  • Avoid Weekends: If you’re not a fan of big crowds and long lines, avoid Saturdays if you can.
  • Come hungry: Plan to buy from the food trucks and grab a spot at a picnic table or the lawn. Pack snacks and drinks for the kids!
  • Snap photos: There are so many beautiful photo opps throughout the grounds. Take your time and take it all in.
  • Parking: The parking lot cost $10 but if you drive around the blocks, you should be able to find several parking spots for free. There is also a free trolly if you have park further from the venue.
  • Research Vendors In Advance: This will give you a idea of what wares and products the vendors will be selling during Spring At The Silos.

 

Have you visited Spring At The Silos? I’d love to hear about your favorite vendors!