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The Isle of Skye: Jaws Dropped for 3 Straight Days

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We had no idea what was in store for us when we visited the Isle of Skye. We decided to go there on a whim, and this last-minute decision ended up being one of our very favorite places in the world. 

We're going to keep this really brief and simply share a ton of photos, because the landscapes were the best part (and pictures mean a thousand words, right?). Photos don't do this place justice at all, so consider this a teaser.

Some logistics (in case you're interested):

We were on the Isle of Skye for three days. We rented an AirBnB and explored by car daily. Our highlights were:

  • Hiking to the Old Man of Storr
  • The weather... we lucked out
  • Driving the Quiraing
  • Exploring the small town of Portree
  • Our tiny house AirBnB in Staffin
  • All the sheep

For those that are planning a trip (and we really hope you do!) Cross your fingers for good weather, rent a car, reserve an AirBnB, and get over there before the secret gets out... Skye is spectacular. 

Last thing... zoom in on some of the photos towards the end and see if you can find people hiking. It gives some good perspective! 

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Life is a Highway - And Highway One is Open!!

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One of our favorite drives in the world is the coastal-hugging California Highway 1. (So much so, that we drove it on our honeymoon!) The scenery never ceases to amaze us - no matter the weather or the time of year. From the surf swells in Santa Barbara, to the cliffside hikes in Big Sur, to the majestic bridges entering Monterey County… it’s natural beauty at its finest. 

Due to some massive landslides, Highway 1 was forced to close. For over a year and a half crews have been working day in and day out to get this scenic drive back to what it once was, and FINALLY the day is here! 

Highway 1 is open, and it’s better than ever!!!

We jumped at the opportunity to explore our favorite highway once again, at the start of our road trip nearly three weeks ago - and Alli nearly cried with joy. Highway 1 in the summertime is postcard-worthy, and you better believe we stopped wherever we could to take it all in!

This trip up the highway was especially significant for us, as it’s the first time we’ve brought our fur-baby Sally along! (Dog lovers out there, you get it.) We had SO much fun taking her around our favorite stops on the drive, one highlight being the elephant seals. We’ve never seen our little bernedoodle so wide-eyed!

We’ve met people from all over the world that hear we’re from California, and immediately tell us that they’ve driven Highway 1 - most of them numerous times! It’s captivating and addictive, no matter what kind of traveler you are. You could pack a tent and camp at every stop, or stay in world-famous five star hotels, there’s literally something for everyone. And there’s never a bad time to do it either, the change in weather only adds to the dramatic coastline.

Planning a road trip of your own? One way to cut hotel costs (and add to the adventure!) is by renting an RV with RVshare. They're the largest, safest and most trusted RV rental marketplace with wide ranging inventory from affordable pop-ups to luxury motorcoaches. Whether it's just you and your significant other out on the open road, or you're planning a trip with your family - they have something for everyone! They even have pet friendly RV rentals too! RVshare also has 24/7 emergency roadside assistance on every booking, making it a very safe and trustworthy travel option. Head to RVshare.com to learn more!

If the Rascal Flats song is true, and “Life is a Highway”, we’d like to think of it as Highway 1. Beauty everywhere we turn, pure joy, and endless discoveries… Sounds like an epic life to us!

Below is a throwback to our first days of marriage... on Highway 1 on our honeymoon!

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The Happiest Tour on Earth - Meet Adventures by Disney

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Us talking to friends and family:

“Guys, guess what! We’re going to Ireland with Disney!”

 

Their responses:

“Wait what?”

“Do they have a Disneyland there?”

“Like on a cruise?”

“Does Mickey lead the tour?”

“But you don’t have kids!”

 

To be fair, we had never heard of Adventures By Disney either - and initially had a similar response. (Up until we got the itinerary, Bobby thought we were going on a cruise!) And while Disney does have a cruise line, (that we have yet to experience - but we’ve heard great things!) Adventures By Disney is something entirely different.

Imagine going on a trip to a country you’ve always wanted to visit (Ireland), and all of the logistics are taken care of for you.

  • You stay at the nicest hotels (even a castle!)

  • You visit the best museums, monuments, historical sights, etc, and you do it all away from, or before the crowds.

  • Everywhere you turn you’re learning about the history and culture you’re experiencing from your local guide who’s with you the whole trip (Stephen can you learn about the whole world and please come on every trip with us?)

  • Simultaneously, your personal concierge is handing you snacks, water bottles, sunscreen… you name it. He knows your needs before you do (Landon, you are a master of logistics, snacks, and stories - we need you).

  • Every time you venture to a new location, your luggage is handled for you. You arrive at the next hotel (or castle!), and your luggage is already in your room.

  • You never have to worry about renting a car, driving on the opposite side of the road, scheduling your itinerary, etc.. It’s all handled. Every little detail.

  • AND… you’re eating the best food in the country, at the coolest local spots (like a castle!! Sorry, we still can’t get over it). And you’re dining with all of the new friends you’ve made.

Honestly, we could go on and on… but you get the picture. Having traveled to Europe numerous times, and always on our own, going with Adventures By Disney (from now on we’ll refer to as ABD) was the ultimate treat.

 

Speaking honestly, we were worried that being on a tour might frustrate our wanderlusting, adventurous selves, or that traveling with a group of 30 people might get old. But friends, we loved every minute of it.

 

The ABD crew does a phenomenal job planning these trips itineraries - and here’s why. They send several scouts to each location to find not only the best local guides in the area, but the best places to see. Then they figure out the best times to see them, the best ways to avoid the crowds, the best local places to eat and explore, and the best way to pack it all in one trip. The result? A fast-paced (but also relaxing) adventure that leaves you smiling ear-to-ear, ten pounds fatter (SO many snacks!), feeling like a local expert, with a million memories and a couple dozen new best friends.

 

Can you tell we LOVED ABD?!?

 

While we’d love to go through our Ireland Itinerary day-by-day, this blog post would quickly become 20 pages long, so we’ll save that for another day. (You can check out the detailed itinerary here)

 

In closing, we’ll leave you with a highlight reel of our trip. ABD does trips for families, and adult-only. Another couple on our Ireland trip did an ABD adult-only tour for their honeymoon and had a ball. So whether you’re a family of four or planning your next adventure with your significant other, we highly recommend Adventures By Disney. Their trips range from a weekend in New York City to a 12-day adventure in China! Whatever your interests are, we guarantee there’s something for you. And we guarantee you’ll be hooked like we are. Now we just have to decide which ABD adventure to go on next!!

 

(Ireland day-by-day with Disney blog coming up next!)

Gearing Up for Newport Beach Wellness Week! August 24 - August 30, 2018!

Newport Beach; a dreamlike destination that offers a taste of the perfect life for both visitors and residents (like us)! 

One of the (many) things we love about Newport Beach is having a balanced lifestyle is a priority within the community. Locals are encouraged  to pursue all that life has to offer - being active is part of our DNA! For the first time ever, our beloved Newport Beach will be hosting “Wellness Week” – a week dedicated to embracing the wholesome lifestyles that have been adopted by our sporty and health conscious community. Wellness Week is set for August 24 – 30. As part of the premier for Wellness Week, Visit Newport Beach will be hosting a series of kick off events - that we can't wait to attend!

 

DAY 1 AUG 24 - Let’s Get Social

To kick off Wellness Week, a social media contest will go live on the first day of the week. On August 24, you can enter to win a one-night stay at The Resort at Pelican Hill (our FAVORITE!!) by posting photos on social media from your personal experience at Wellness Week. The contest will run August 24 – 30, giving participants the whole week to post. The winner of the contest will be announced the last day on Visit Newport Beach social media channels. Let the games begin!

 

DAY 2 AUG 25 - Work It Out

Join us at Fashion Island for a complimentary workout event open to the first 100 guests! Katie Dunlop of @lovesweatfitness (she's the cutest, and SO inspiring!) will be leading a class to work your entire body and burn some serious calories to get you feeling strong and confident! The workout will be in the Bloomingdale’s courtyard on Saturday, August 25 from 8 – 10 am. You won't want to miss it!

 

DAY 3 AUG 26 - Water Fun

(Our favorite event!) On Sunday from 8 – 10 am meet celebrities and fitness influencers (us included!!) at the Newport Dunes Water Obstacle Competition. Included at the competition will be a healthy breakfast buffet and a Wellness Week giftbag. Tickets are $35 for an all-day water park pass and parking, the breakfast buffet and a chance to meet the celebrity competitors. Such a killer deal, right?

The celebrities appearances are as follows; Misty May (x3 Olympic Gold Medalist), Teddi Mellencamp (Beverly Hills Housewives),Hitman Huseman (Boxhaus Founder; Head Coach),Katie Dunlop (Love, Sweat Fitness), Matt Bourne ( Master Instructor at GritCycle), and of course us (we're pretty honored to be among such amazing company!!). If you don't show up, we're not friends. Kidding. Kind of.

 

DAY 4 AUG 27 - TBD

(But you know it'll be epic)

 

DAY 5 AUG 28 - Yoga in the Gardens

On August 28, join instructor Stacey Fetterman at Sherman Library; Gardens for a tranquil yoga class. This class is specifically curated for younger yogi’s as the class is a blend of mind and body practices to increase concentration, relaxation and calmness. We can already feel the zen.

 

DAY 6 AUG 29 - Farm to Table (Details - TBD)

The Farmer’s Market at Lido Marina Village is a fun and easy way to shop for local and seasonal produce, bread, cheeses and much more. There isn't a more picturesque location to shop, and why not grab a glass of champagne at Zinque when you're done? ;)

 

DAY 7 AUG 30 - Closing Night at Lido Marina Village

The very last day of Wellness Week will be held at Lido Marina Village, Newport Beach’s newest shopping plaza on the harbor. Join Curl Fitness for an instructor-led yoga class located on the main deck. Waterfront yoga? We're in!!

The Couch That Dreams Are Made Of

We've been wanting a new couch for what feels like forever. When we got married we invested in a cheap white Ikea couch because a) we didn't have a lot of money, and b) white goes with everything, right? Well folks, if we have one word of advice for engaged and newly married couples, it's this: 

 

"DON'T BUY A WHITE COUCH."

 

Trust us. Don't do it. They're so pretty and chic and fresh but a few years (even a few months!) in, and you WILL regret it. You'll have friends over and they'll spill wine, you'll buy a puppy and when you're not looking she'll track mud across the cushions, you'll be eating a popsicle and it will drip... You get the picture.

So, back to our story. We started the long and treterous couch hunt and we quickly realized we were in way over our heads. Good couches are so expensive, and it seemed like all of the cheaper options weren't very stylish, and more or less just looked cheap. It felt foolish to spend our life savings on a sectional, but we didn't want to buy another Ikea couch. (No offense, Ikea!) We felt trapped. 

 

Until we heard about Burrow.

 

Not only is the style of couch exactly what we were looking for, it was affordable, the online process was a breeze, and their customer service was oh-so-friendly. Oh, and get this. Every couch comes with a plug-in station so you can charge your phone while you watch your favorite TV show (The Office, always). Did Burrow just invent the PERFECT COUCH?! We think so.

We opted on the Chaise King Sofa in Beige, and in just a matter of weeks, it was delivered to our door! (That's right - your couch comes delivered to you!) Now, we have to admit that the thought of assembling a couch seemed daunting (Ikea flashbacks) but we really cannot stress how EASY the building process was. Our entire sectional was put together in under 30 minutes... Mostly by Bobby by himself!! (I had the task of documenting the process - see said images below)

Now we've our Burrow for a little over a month, we can confidently say that we LOVE IT. Like, it's kind of embarrassing how obsessed with our couch we are. We've been invited to friends houses multiple times and we've declined, simply because we'd rather hang on our couch! (Sorry friends that are reading this, we'll come over soon we promise!)

Here's what we love about it so far: 

+ It's spacious. Bobby can fully lay down across the couch and I can fully lay on the chaise - and we don't even come close to touching. That's huge.

+ It's the perfect amount of soft/firm. We like a couch that has structure, but we also want something that's cozy and soft. The Burrow team really nailed this.

+ It's easy to clean. While we're still having flashbacks about our white couch, this one is a night and day difference. The fabric is stain-resistant making it incredibly easy to manage... Praise be!!

+ The charger station. It's a game-changer... or should we say, game-charger?! ;) Since we work from home a lot, and we're constantly on our phones, it really is a huge help for our business. (And for stalking Bachelorette contestants on Monday nights. Duh.)

In short, we love our Burrow. We think you would too. So much so, that we dedicated a whole blog to it!! If and when you're on the market for a new couch, we highly recommend Burrow - and make sure you tag us in your pics! We'd love to see how you style yours!

 

(And don't worry, as we continue to "upgrade" our living room, we'll be sure to post pics and updates along the way. And you know that we'll be posting those from our Burrow couch. While charging our phone. And drinking wine. Because we can. #nomorewhitecouch)