The cold temperatures have quickly arrived in DC and it’s officially time to bundle up. I’m excited to partner with Wooden Ships Knits to show you how I like to style three of their cozy made-to-order sweaters for cooler temperatures. Wooden Ships Knits was so generous to create a discount code to share with my readers to receive 15% off of anything on their website (TRISH15). Keep scrolling to check out the three different ways I styled my three sweaters gifted by Wooden Ships Knits.
The Mini Martinis V Neck Cotton Sweater is perfect for any occasion as the neutral colors pair well with everything and it’s also very lightweight. I added a pop of color with these corduroy flare jeans and black and gold accessories.
Absolutely obsessed with the Metallic Star Crew Neck Sweater and I pretty much wear it everyday. I paired this sweater with black bell bottoms and a studded leather jacket for an edgier look that would be perfect for a night out.
Last but not least, the XOX Slouchy Pullover Sweater is thick and cozy and perfect for those extra cold temperatures. I went for a casual and cozy look with Spanx leather leggings and Ugg boots, which I will probably end up wearing this exact outfit again on Christmas morning.
These sweaters will also make the perfect transition into early spring if you wanted to pair with denim or a skirt. Don’t forget you can save 15% online with my code TRISH15 if you are looking to step up your sweater game this season.
I am over the moon to finally share the details from our Anniversary trip up the Pacific Coast Highway. Katy Perry wasn’t joking when she said “nothing comes close to the Golden Coast” because California is absolutely stunning. This blog post highlights our some favorite spots and recommendations from our trip from Los Angeles up to San Francisco. Tip #1 while visiting California, make sure to refer to Pacific Coast Highway 1 to “The 1” and you will fit right in.
FIRST STOP: VENICE BEACH
We had a feeling we would fall in love with Venice Beach and boy it did NOT disappoint. The weather and the views were gorgeous and every meal we ate was heaven. Fun fact, some restaurants actually charge market price for avocado toast, whatever that means.. #socali.
I would definitely recommend visiting the famous Venice Beach sign, but actually taking a picture in front of it when tons of other instagrammers are trying to do the same thing is easier said than done. It’s also a high traffic area, so I would suggest going very early in the morning before all of the cars are out and about. I would also recommend trying out the cutest coffee shop right across the street called Great White Venice.
Another Venice Beach hotspot we loved was Abbott Kinney Boulevard as there’s a great variety of eclectic shops and restaurants that you won’t find many other places. Some of my favorite online boutiques I was most excited to visit in person were Show Me Your Mumu, Cuyana, and Gorjana. We ate brunch at The Butcher’s Daughter pictured above, and it was a VIBE – I am totally moving here.
NEXT STOP: SANTA BARBARA
The drive from Venice Beach to Santa Barbara was actually the easiest leg of our near 400 mile trip up “The 1”, so we were able to spend a little extra time in Venice Beach before we were on our way. We actually stayed a few minutes north of Santa Barbara at the Kimpton Goodland in Goleta. To say I was obsessed with this hotel is a total understatement. Our hotel room was so cozy and even had it’s own record player in which you could borrow extra albums at the front desk. This hotel was serious instagram goals and I really hope to return someday soon.
FAVORITE SPOT: BIG SUR
Oh my goodness Big Sur is a dream. We probably pulled off at least 10 times just to stop and look at the views of the water over the cliffs, it was insanely beautiful. Highly recommend renting a jeep for the drive, although I only lasted 20 minutes behind the wheel so big shout out to my husband for being able to handle it. We stopped for lunch at The Nepenthe before stopping in Monterey for the night. We actually didn’t have much time to explore Monterey but did enjoy the sunset drive through Carmel By The Sea, and of course the In-N-Out conveniently located right next to our hotel.
FINAL STOP: SAN FRAN
The final destination on our trip up the coast was good ole San Francisco. We drove straight to the Golden Gate Bridge for some sight-seeing before parking the Jeep at the hotel for the evening. Of course we arrived in the city just in time for rush hour, so that was eventful… This was our first time ever staying in a St. Regis and all I have to say is WOW. I had been saving my Marriott points for this trip so it was nice to splurge a little bit on a fancy hotel, especially when they upgraded us to a 1 bedroom suite! Our room had a butler who actually brought coffee for free, so it’s safe to say we had plenty of caffeine during our 18 hour-ish stay. Spoiler alert, we actually drove all the way back down to LA in 1 day to fly home on Randy’s Delta companion ticket, so you probably think we are crazy. I will say the drive back actually went by pretty quickly, and we still had plenty of time to stop a couple of times to take in the scenic views.
Lastly, here are few tips that I wish I would have known before planning this trip:
(1) Confirm it’s not peak fire season, which is not something I would have ever thought about prior. We have been wanting to plan this trip up the coast for a long time and our anniversary week was perfect timing for us.
(2) California is actually very cold in the fall at night so it’s necessary to pack more than 1 jacket.
(3) If you can, start the drive in San Francisco and drive South as we thought the views were better in the opposite direction.
(4) Never believe that a Wharf is actually going to be cool…we learned the hard way that they were tourist traps. #bubbagump
That’s it! Feel free to reach out if you ever have questions or need recommendations for your next trip to Cali.
Happy Monday! The Sephora Beauty Insider 2019 Summer Bonus is finally here and I wanted to share 15 of my holy grail beauty products that are worth the splurge when you can save 15-20% off now through August 27.
Almost all of the products in this post I’ve continued to repurchase over the years unless they are newer products that I’ve quickly grown to love. I also need to give credit where it is deserved to my favorite beauty gurus Stephanie Ledda and Emily Gemma for their recommendations and online tutorials, so I’ve linked their respective pages for you to check out!
MAKEUP + BRUSHES
#1 ILIA SOFT FOCUS FINISHING POWER — This translucent powder is 100% natural, vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and 50% organic. I use this power my foundation and concealer and it keeps everything in place and shine free.
#2 LAURA MERCIER MATTE RADIANCE BAKED POWDER — I use this product as bronzer, eye shadow and contour in shade Bronze 03. I purchased this last year at the fall sale and a little goes a long way as my brush hasn’t even hit the pan yet.
#3 TATCHA SILK CANVAS PROTECTIVE PRIMER — It’s true, this really is one of the best primers on the market. I actually purchased the $22 mini size back in January and I’ve been using this little container all year.
#4 ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS SOFT GLAM EYESHADOW PALETTE — This was the first ABS pallet I ever purchased and it’s by far my favorite for everyday make up. Stephanie Ledda basically turned me into an amateur makeup artist in her youtube tutorials of this pallet here.
#5 HUDA BEAUTY LIQUID MATTE LIPSTICK (MEDUSA) — If I could never wear another lip color again I would die happy – but really. This liquid lipstick is insanely good and I’m so happy my make up artist at the Sephora in Las Vegas introduced me to this product on my bachelorette weekend.
#6 DIORSHOW WATERPROOF MASCARA — Another oldie but a goodie. None of the other mascaras that I try are as amazing as this one.
#8 HOURGLASS VEIL™ POWDER BRUSH — This is by far one of my favorite make up brushes as you can utilizes both ends for so many uses. I originally purchased this brush along with the Hourglass Veil™ Translucent Setting Powder in which I didn’t love, but this brush is so soft and easy to clean and I would highly recommend.
SKIN + HAIR
#9 DR. DENNIS GROSS CLINICAL GRADE IPL DARK SPOT CORRECTING SERUM — As I’m getting closer to 30 I’ve finally figured out what “dark spots” were and that I also needed a way to get rid of them. This clinical grade serum fights discoloration by removing over-pigmented surface cells while brightening the skin tone. Definitely a splurge but a little goes a long way!
#10 DR. DENNIS GROSS ALPHA BETA EXTRA STRENGTH DAILY PEEL — These alpha beta peels are so perfect for traveling as they are all individually packaged. I use the extra strength version every 1-2 weeks to make the set last longer to help with dullness and uneven texture, fine lines, and clogged pores.
#11 FRESH SUGAR ADVANCED LIP THERAPY TREATMENT — I’ve been using this Sugar lip therapy for years and don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back to regular chapstick. This lip balm hydrates for 24 hours and smooths the look of wrinkles for visibly fuller lips.
#12 DRUNK ELEPHANT T.L.C. SUKARI BABYFACIAL™ 25% AHA + 2% BHA MASK — This purchase was another in which I waited for a sale and it was so worth the splurge. This mask resurfaces skin to reveal greater clarity, improved skin texture and tone, resulting in a more youthful-looking appearance.
#13 LANEIGE LIP SLEEPING MASK — This is another product that lasts forever and I don’t even want to admit how long I’ve had this one. It keeps your lips super moisturized all night and works wonders for chapped lips.
#14 LIVING PROOF PERFECT HAIR DAY DRY SHAMPOO — This has to be my most purchased product ever from Sephora as I’ve yet to find any dry shampoo this good. It gives your hair a much cleaner feeling than drug store dry shampoos and I love the smell too – totally worth the splurge!
#15 ST. TROPEZ GRADUAL TAN WATERMELON INFUSION BODY LOTION — This new product from St. Tropez is making it’s way onto the list of frequent purchases because it’s now my new favorite self tanner! The pigment is strong enough to only have to use this a couple of times a week and it doesn’t rub off or streak – highly recommend!
As I’m growing closer to the age of 30 by the minute, I’ve been aiming to be extra careful with all of the products that I’m using on my face daily. As a self-proclaimed Sephora Queen, I’ve tested out a good amount of high-end cleansers, serums and eye creams over the years and I’ve still never found a set of products that I would consider my “holy grail” items.
I recently received a complimentary beauty box from influenster which contained the newest product line from Giuliana Rancic’s Fountain of Truth Beauty. I have been testing these clean beauty products out for a few weeks now for my honest review, and I am super excited to share my thoughts and results with you.
At first glance, the rose gold packaging definitely caught my eye and I also appreciate how lightweight and easy to pack everything since I travel quite often. I’m also used to a very extensive skin care regimen at morning and night, therefore the three products I received already fit right in to my routine. All of the Fountain of Truth™ product formulas contain a Super Bio-Ferment technology of clean, safe, gentle, and highly effective, fermented, skin-loving botanical ingredients.
I’ll start with the product that impressed me the most, and is also the cheapest at $36: the Fresh Face Foaming Cleanser. I don’t wear make-up more than 2-3 days a week at most, but when I do, I go allllll out. I typically have to use a cleanser and a separate micellar water on a cotton pad to remove everything, and I was literally blown away how effective this product works. This cleanser is also very gentle on my sensitive eyes and gives your entire face a super clean feeling. I will say though, you must moisturize right after using as it is drying, which I don’t mind as I have naturally oily skin.
The next product that I’ve been using right after cleansing is the Skin Nutrition Booster Kit which contains three different facial serums that can be worn alone or mixed with your daily moisturizer. These serums all serve different purposes for brightness, hydrating and calming any irritation or redness. In the morning I mix together B: Bright and B: Hydrated, then load up on B: Calm at night. As I mentioned above my skin is naturally oily, and these serums actually work to counteract the oil and give me the most amazing glow with or without make-up on.
The final product which is absolute game changer for eye cream is the Magic Wand Sculpting Eye Roller. Since moving to Washington, D.C. this summer, I’ve been having some of the worst sleep of my life adjusting to living on a busy street in the city. My dark circles are no joke these days and this eye roller works so quickly to plump up my under-eye area with the help of ingredients such as green tea and caffeine extract. The unique package includes a stainless steel double ball applicator that has a cooling effect while applying.
I’m definitely interesting in trying more of the Fountain of Truth Beauty line, especially the Overnight Repair Mask and Hydrating Moisturizer with SPF. If you have any questions or recommendations regarding Giuliana’s clean skin care line, feel free to leave me a comment below!
Now that you have seen how much we have eaten, I’ll be sure to post an update regarding my desperately needed work out plan (jk). Any and all restaurant/bar recommendations are always welcome – there’s a couple of spots we are saving to bring our friends who are visiting soon, but so far I would recommend any of these spots for anyone local or visiting.
Can you believe May is almost over and we are officially approaching June 1staka one of the most popular wedding weekends of all time? Since we have already been to our fair share of weddings this Spring, I wanted to share all of the amazing outfits I rented via FashionPass to provide some inspiration for your next upcoming event.
I’ve mentioned FashionPass recently on my blog when we traveled to Philadelphia for a Spring wedding, but if you aren’t already familiar, FashionPass is a monthly unlimited clothing rental service similar to rent the runway. I’m approaching the 1 year anniversary from the time I started renting from FashionPass, and it’s been so much fun to try out brand new styles for a monthly membership fee that is way less than purchasing all the items yourself.
Rehearsal Dinner
Unless you are living under a rock, you have probably figured out that jumpsuits are SO IN right now and they are perfect for a wedding rehearsal dinner. This black jumpsuit from Line & Dot is so flattering and very easy to put on and take off with the back zipper and waist tie.
Cocktail Attire
If you are looking for the most amazingLBD look no further than thisAmanda Uprichard mini dress. This dress is super lightweight and helped me survive the Georgia heat over Memorial Day Weekend, and it also has a smocked side detail making the dress very comfortable for sitting, standing and dancing.
Black Tie Affair
I would be lying if I didn’t already rent thisDress the Population gowntwice already because it really is the most flattering dress I’ve ever worn. My favorite part about renting this dress from FashionPass is that they have sizes with a “short” option, and since I’m only 5’5, the short option is the perfect length for me with heels and I don’t have to hold it up all night long.
Obviously I can go on all day about how amazing FashionPass is, and a lot of other girls think the same way because now there’s now a waitlist to sign up for this monthly subscription. If you are interested in trying FashionPass for an upcoming event or day-to-day outfits, sign up to gain priority access to the top of the waitlist and $35 off your first month with my code TRISHSPOON at https://thefashionpass.com.
The news is out and we are moving 600 miles away from home to Washington, DC!
I actually graduated from high school 10 years ago today, so I certainly feel ready for a new adventure! My husband accepted a new job and since I work from home full-time, this is the most flexible time in our lives to make the move. Randy actually started his career up in DC a little over 6 years ago while I was still in college, so he’s always had his sights on making it back up to the city.
We casually looked at apartments last month in DC thinking maybe we would move at the end of summer, so it was nice that we already knew what area of town we wanted to live in. This move is happening rather quickly and much sooner than expected, but we found a place to live (with a rooftop pool of course) and we will be hitting the road in two short weeks. We will be living right in the heart of Logan Circle and we can’t wait to get up there and start exploring our new neighborhood.
It’s definitely sad and scary to be leaving our friends and family behind, but Atlanta will always be my home and I plan to fly home and visit as much as I can. I’m also really excited about how close DC is to some really cool cities in the Northeast (ahem, NYC!). Randy’s sister and her family are also local to the DC area, so we are very fortunate to have family nearby.
Thanks for following along on our new adventure, and I’m excited for all the new DC content that will come to my blog this summer!
Since I am a self-proclaimed proud plant mom, I was super excited to check out the Varnish + Vine cactus shop in East Point, Atlanta to pick out some new babies to join the Spoon plant fam. It took a great deal of self control not to go all in on a 5 foot cactus for our apartment, but I hope that one day I will live in a place where they can grow abundantly out of my front yard.
We absolutely loved the Varnish + Vine East Point warehouse as the walls were filled with tons of beautiful and unique cacti to choose from. We ended up selecting two smaller ones that would fit inside a planter I already owned, plus the smaller size pairs well with my other cacti that I keep on the window seal. The best part about this little cactus shop is they only charge $15 per foot which is an amazing deal so we were able snag our two for only $25 total.
If you aren’t in the Atlanta area, don’t fret, Varnish + Vine frequently hosts pop-up shops in different cities so I would check out their instagram to see if they are coming to a city near you.
In typical Trish fashion, I took this opportunity to soak in the desert vibes with my snake print kimono and cactus bag. I’m also super excited to let you know I’m officially an ambassador for my FAVORITE jewelry brand Natalie B. Jewelry, so you will see me posting and tagging them in pretty much all my posts because their pieces are incredible. I’ve been shopping Natalie B. for YEARS so I am super excited for the opportunity to create with them. Feel free to reach out to me for any of my recommendations and I have many, and use my code NBJTrish15 for 15% off your entire purchase.
Don’t forget you can instantly shop all of my looks via the LIKEtoKNOWit app or online via www.liketoknow.it/insta_spoon.
Happy Friday! Randy and I spent last weekend traveling to Washington, D.C. for an extended business trip turned weekend getaway. This town is full of memories after Randy lived up here during my last couple semesters of college and I was fortunate enough to be able to visit him at least once a month, #deltababy. Since we have already tackled all of the major sights to see in D.C. over the years, we spent our weekend trying out new places and revisiting old favorites around the different neighborhoods we know and love.
GEORGETOWN
My favorite things about Georgetown are the lavish shopping and insanely gorgeous homes, #goals. In typical Trish fashion, I had our Uber drop us off at the Greenworks Floral Boutique so that I could get the gram in front of a bright pink flower shop (pictured above). In my defense, it was only a couple of blocks away from where we were planning to eat lunch and we were also able to take in all the pretty houses on our way down to M street.
We ate lunch at one of our long time favorites, Pizzeria Paradiso, where we both proceeded to eat our entire pizzas with zero shame. After lunch we walked from M Street down to the Georgetown Waterfront to enjoy some afternoon sunshine and watch the rowers fly down the Potomac River.
DUPONT CIRCLE
We stayed at the Kimpton Topaz Hotel in the Dupont Circle Area. I highly recommend Kimptons across the board, and some of the perks at this hotel included huge rooms, free breakfast and not just one but two free happy hours nightly. I would recommend this hotel if you are trying to get some sleep because our street was surprisingly quiet and I slept like a baby.
We ate the mostamazing brunch ever right next door to our hotel at the Tabard Inn. After starting out with a couple rounds of Bellinis and the Tabard Donuts, I indulged on the Chicken & Waffles while Randy thoroughly enjoyed the Eggs Benedict.
We also ventured a little bit north of Dupont into the Adam’s Morgan neighborhood to have lunch at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants Loriol Plaza. As if we didn’t have enough to eat, we then went up the street to Tryst Coffeehouse for lattes and dessert. Randy used to live in AdMo a few years back so it’s always fun to go back and visit because pretty much nothing has changed.
LOGAN CIRCLE
Logan Circle might be one of my new favorite areas of town as it’s the perfect mix of city life with that neighborhood feel. Fun fact, Logan Circle is actually the last remaining residential traffic circle in the city so that’s what I think makes this area so charming. During our visit, we were actually following a list of places to go out on 14th Street recommended by my favorite D.C. blogger, Sweet Tea with Madi. From Madi’s list of recommendations, we only made it to Barcelona Wine Bar and Pearl Dive, where I actually ended up running into her and meeting her which was cool, #fangirl.
We also ventured to check out the Distract Wharf which was packed as expected since the weather was so beautiful on Saturday. We concluded our weekend adventures by spending a relaxing Easter in Alexandria, VA with family. If you have any recommendations for our next D.C. trip, please let me know in the comments!
Today is officially my 28th birthday, so I thought it would be fun to share 28 things that you may not know about me! I’m so excited to see what the next year brings, but also sadly realizing I am now closer to 30 than 25!
I met my husband Randy at 16 and married him at 26.
Champagne is my drink of choice for any and every occasion.
I’ve seen Britney Spears perform in Las Vegas 3 times.
Speaking of Vegas, I’ve visited 9 times in 3 years.
I only drink blackcoffee (preferably Starbucks).
I don’t drink milk in my cereal and never have.
Most of the time when I say I don’t eat a certain food, it’s because I’ve never tried it.
I’ve been friends with my best friendsince I was 5, and we eat at the same restaurant for dinner almost every single week and always order the same thing.
Believe it or not, I was a pole vaulterin high school.
I worked at a pet store in college and I’ve never owned a pet.
Speaking of pets, I still love stuffed animalsand have no shame admitting it.
Sometimes I will sit on the couch in front of the TV and watch Netflix on my laptop instead of on the TV.
I prefer to sleep in a freshly made bed where the sheets are tucked in super tight.
I’ve never lived outside of the state of Georgia.
I work from home full time and talk to myself throughout the day into the mirror hanging above my desk.
My top 3 favorite movies are still Legally Blonde, Mean Girls and Bring It On, and I don’t see that ever changing.
I am not a Disney person at all and if I could never have to go to a theme park again I would be fine with it (sorry if this offends you).
I only own 1 pair of blue jeans and haven’t worn them in years.
My dream halloween costume is the iconic Britney Spearsand Justin Timberlake all denim look, just waiting for my husband to agree to it.
My full name is Patricia Anne, named after my mom’s mom.
I always wake up with the craziest bed-head even if I go to bed with clean hair, I’ll never understand.
I absolutely love country music even though my husband can’t stand it.
I could eat Chick-fil-A for every meal.
I am the worst packer – I could be gone for 1 night and it looks like I’ll be staying the week.
My wedding day was actually one of the most stress-free days of my life.
Speaking of weddings, I ended up saying yes to the first ever wedding dress I tried on.
I actually decided I wanted to start a blog about 3 years ago and it took me this long to take the plunge.
Randy and I have been throwing joint birthday parties for the last 5 years called “Rash Bash” = RAndy + TriSH as our birthdays are 6 days a part. The 5th edition this year was a blast and we can’t wait to continue to the tradition.
Thanks again for your support and the birthday wishes!
