The Riviera Palm Springs

The Riviera hotel in Palm Springs is truly an oasis in the desert. Located in downtown Palm Springs, it's incredibly convenient for exploring the surrounding area. You can soak up the sun and lounge by the pool during the day, and go listen to live music at night. I've stayed in a few different resorts over the years in Palm Springs, but The Riviera is now my favorite. In fact, we plan on making the trip an annual visit.

Everything about the place exuded glamour, luxury, and relaxation. The resort is divided into sections, and each section is centered around the large pool and patio area. I loved all of the flowers blooming, as well as the shady trees and large palms that surrounded the property.

1600 North Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs

The lobby of the hotel was gorgeous. As soon as I walked in, a citrus scent wafted through the air - it was honestly kind of intoxicating! I can still smell it as I type this. I also really loved the color scheme in the lobby area with white and pops of blue, green, and pink. I need one of those pink velvet chairs for my office! Everything was just so beautiful and well done.

While compiling these photos, I realized I didn't take a single picture of our room! It was just as luxe as you'd imagine though. It felt private, the bathroom was spacious, and the bed was supremely comfortable. 

The pool/patio area was inviting and we spent a whole day there drinking and lounging. There was a nice mix of people, from couples looking for some pampering, to families with small children, and of course plenty of singles wanting to party. I really loved the variety. On Saturday, a DJ played music and everyone was dancing in the pool. If that's not your scene though, Sunday was more low-key although music still played through the loud speakers. 

We ventured out to eat for most of our meals but we did have breakfast at Cafe Palmetto. I got their eggs benedict and it was the best I've had! I think it was the hollandaise sauce that was so rich and creamy. It's a must-try!



Nate and I did many of the same things that we did on our day trip last year, so I'm including that post in case you're wanting some recommendations for things to do and see!

Overall, this is one of the nicest resorts I've ever stayed in and it was a wonderful experience. I would recommend it to anybody who is visiting Palm Springs! Definitely an A+

This post was not sponsored in any way - I mean, I wish! 

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Beauty Products I'm Using And Loving This Spring

Hey ladies, happy Wednesday! I'm back from my long weekend in Palm Springs and I'm really excited to share pictures of where Nate and I stayed, what we did, and of course what I wore. It was one of the most relaxing vacations I've had.

The beauty of going away somewhere relatively close to home is that it lets me recharge without the pressure of a bigger, longer vacation. Palm Springs is only an hour drive from our house and I've been there countless times so instead of cramming in a bunch of activities and sight-seeing, we mostly stayed at our hotel and lounged at the pool.

I also took the opportunity to pamper myself a little. I brought some of my current favorite beauty products from home so that I could not only use them but also have pretty backdrops to photograph them. I've been using and loving all of these products for a couple months (or more) so I can fully attest to how good they really are!

Ouai Leave In Conditioner  is a multi-purpose product that I spray on my damp hair before blow-drying. It protects against heat, helps hair look healthy and shiny, detangles, combats humidity, and is formulated for all hair types. It also smells incredibly luxurious - if it came in perfume form, I would buy it! I also love that it doesn't have any sulfates or harsh chemicals. I don't use very many products on my hair, just this before heat styling and a couple oribe products in between shampoos. You have to try this!

Ahava Hydration Cream Mask is a thick creamy mask I've been using twice a week. It contains Dead Sea minerals, shea butter, and other ingredients that help lock in moisture. Simply leave on for 3 minutes and rinse with cool water. Fast, easy, and great on the dry patches I get sometimes on my cheeks. 

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream has been a game changer for me. I originally tried their hand cream over Winter, and as soon as I ran out of that I decided to buy their signature bum bum cream. It contains caffeine and a blend of oils to help smooth and tighten. I specifically use it on my thighs, and while I know the results aren't permanent, it does make my skin look much firmer. Hey, anything helps, right? It also smells like a tropical vacation, so there's that. I'll definitely be using this all Spring and Summer long. 

Becca Glow Gloss in Camellia is a cool-toned petal pink that makes my lips look fuller and well...glowy. I purchased my first tube last Summer and loved it so much that I bought another before Palm Springs. I'm not much of a lip gloss girl anymore (mostly due to the sticky factor) but the texture and formula of this gloss is so comfortable for everyday wear. I find that once the weather starts heating up, I crave a more minimalist makeup look and this is just the right amount of color and shine. Plus, it smells minty and this specific color makes teeth look whiter. 

Have you tried any of these products? What are some beauty items you're currently loving?

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The Spring Staple Every Closet Needs

When you think of Spring fashion, what comes to mind? I think for most of us Spring inevitably means florals, lighter neutrals, pastels, and open toe shoes. But what about a denim jacket? There's definitely room in every closet for this great Spring staple, and you'll likely reach for it more often than not as a lightweight layer.

Wearing // Old Navy denim jacket, House of Harlow 1960 skirt, Cult Gaia bag, Soludos espadrilles

This denim jacket is a recent purchase from Old Navy. They currently have a few different styles and washes, but the boyfriend or relaxed fit worked best on me. My favorite way to wear it is over little dresses and skirts, but you can style one with practically anything:

Throw one over shorts and a slim tee for a casual weekend look.

Layer one over a smart black jumpsuit and a pair of wedges.

Tied around your waist over a tunic and leggings or joggers for running errands.

Mixed with other shades of denim, especially white, black, and olive.

Over maxi dresses, mini dresses, floral dresses, white dresses, any dress!

Have I convinced you? That's a rhetorical question. 

I hope everyone is having a great start to April! Nate and I are heading to Palm Springs this weekend...I'm so excited! I want lazy pool time, margaritas, and beautiful desert sunsets. I'll be back next week with some fun posts.

Linking up with On The Daily Express and Straight A Style

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The Monthly Edit // March

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is Summer in the light and Winter in the shade." ~ Charles Dickens

I thought February was a fever dream, but March went by just as quickly. I can't believe that today marks the 1st day of April.

March was a great month overall, aside from some minor health annoyances. For example, last week I had a migraine that persisted for two days and God was it painful. I suspect that all the polled in the air was the culprit. However, I can't complain too much; the welcoming of Spring was my favorite part of the month.

The "super bloom" blanketed the hills in a fiery orange. California poppies and other wildflowers were a big draw. It took Nate and I over four hours to make the drive from Temecula to Los Angeles two weeks ago, which is NOT typical. Crowds of people lined the freeway in hopes of documenting the beauty. Nate and I scoffed, mostly because we were running late and traffic was insane, but really, I couldn't blame people for taking photos. I snapped the one below from our car as we passed by.

As a side note, I've seen some bloggers getting backlash for posting photos of the super bloom. I absolutely understand some of the concerns about preserving nature, but there are areas that are sectioned off with clear walking paths and most people are respectful of the rules. If there's one thing that Californians are famously passionate about, it's nature. 

Once we arrived in L.A. we went straight to my grandmother's house. I don't talk about my family very often, with anyone. My dad and I have had a strained relationship all of my adult life, and although it isn't completely healed, I am making more of an effort to visit. My grandmother is getting older, and her memory isn't as sharp as it once was. Despite differences and resentments, I love them and it's my responsibility to show them. Life is short.

Things I liked in March:

Finding a missing moonstone ring behind my nightstand after spilling water everywhere. This was in the midst of my migraine fog, so at least one good thing came out of it!

I love understanding more about public policy issues, and The Remnant podcast had two excellent discussions on homelessness and opioids. 

I'm late to the Netflix show called Friends from College, but after Katie introduced me to it I'm completely hooked. Plus, I love Fred Savage. If you want a good laugh, I highly recommend it!

Celebrating my friend's birthday on The Queen Mary in Long Beach. It also happened to be Saint Patrick's Day.


Things I didn't like in March:

I struggled with cystic acne on my chin (and still am). I feel like my skincare routine is solid, but maybe I'm missing something. I plan on writing a post about it if you're interested. Hormones are a bitch.

That's it for today, but I'll be back on Wednesday with an outfit post!

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