Exploring California Wine Country in the Napa Valley

October 31, 2013

Napa is a beautiful area of California with so much to offer. Even if you’re not into wine, the scenery is this part of the state is gorgeous and many areas are reminiscent of areas in Europe. Driving around this area is a treat in itself before you even get to all the wineries.

On our drive, the first winery we stopped at was Castelo di Amarosa. This replica Tuscan castle was built to make you feel like you are in Tuscany and believe me, it does the trick. For a very different winery experience, this is the place to go. We wine tasted in their “wine cellar” tasting room and fell in love with their “Fantasia” sparkling red wine (came home with a bottle of it).

After tasting, we explored the castle and took in the gorgeous views of the Castelo’s grounds and vineyards as well as views for miles of the surrounding area.

After leaving Castelo, we headed back the way we had come to head back to Sacramento and decided to stop at the Domaine Chandon winery in Yountville. While we didn’t taste here (they were closing the tasting room as we pulled up) we did get to wander the grounds a bit and take in the gorgeous scenery. For a truly incredible take on scenery, this winery took the prize and was well worth the stop.

While we weren’t in wine country to necessarily take in the wineries, I had a great time exploring the 2 we did stop at. While so different, both offered a really unique experience.

Exploring California Wine Country in the Napa Valley

Exploring California Wine Country in St. Helena

October 28, 2013

After stopping in Yountville, we headed up farther North to St. Helena and the surrounding area of the town.
This area was gorgeous and we pulled down a few side roads to fully take in the gorgeous vineyard and endless grape vines right alongside the roads. I was so surprised by how accessible the vineyards were and it was so easy to just pull over on the side of the road and wander into the edges of the land. This section of California wine country was my favorite as far as the scenery, as the stretch of road from Yountville to St Helena was incredibly beautiful and everything I was hoping California’s wine country would be.

Exploring California Wine Country in St. Helena

Exploring California Wine Country in Napa & Yountville

October 24, 2013

We started our wine country escape by driving from our hotel in Sacramento, The Citizen Hotel, and arriving first in Napa. While Napa wasn’t my favorite of the wine country locations, it was a good starting point. We walked around the “downtown” area of the city and had lunch there. There is a cute little riverfront area with shops and restaurants and while it doesn’t scream “wine country” I thought it was worth seeing. Once you leave Napa and drive North, that’s when the real wine country begins with vineyards lining both sides of the highway. We then made the 10 minute drive North to Yountville, by far my favorite of the towns we visited. Yountville is gorgeous and you can tell right away, it’s one of the higher-end Napa Valley locations. The streets are lined with little vineyards and buildings are covered with growing vines. Yountville was magical and totally what I was expecting and hoping of California Wine Country. We stopped and had some treats at Bouchon Bakery in Yountville and wandered around the gorgeous grounds of the Bordesano Hotel. This town would be my choice to stay probably in the future if we go back and want to stay right in the heart of wine country.

A Summer Day in New York City in Chelsea and the West Village

August 28, 2013

Our second and final day in NYC on Sunday was just as beautiful as Saturday, so we took full advantage of the gorgeous weather and spent almost the whole day outside. We started our day with Brunch at Tipsy Parson in Chelsea, which I would highly recommend. The food was delicious and the atmosphere charming and quaint. Afterwards, we did a little bit of shopping – Nick to B&H Photo and me to Zara. Afterwards, we met up at our hotel, checked out, left our bags with them and headed out

to enjoy our last afternoon in the city.

We grabbed a cab and headed down to the West Village for a stop at Magnolia Bakery. We sat for a while in the small park across the street and enjoyed our cupcakes and just watched the people and took in the scene. It was so nice to just sit and take it all in, in one of my favorite areas of the city.

Next we walked through the Village towards the Hudson River and wandered along the walking path there for a while, stopping for a bit at the pier and sitting, watching the city go by. After a while we started walking toward the Meatpacking District and Chelsea again and came across a Citi Bike station (a new bike share program in NYC). I’d really been wanting to do this in NYC as we’ve done other programs in Europe, like when we rode bikes in Hyde Park in London. So we rented a couple bikes and headed up the bike path along the river. We rode all the way past Chelsea and then returned our bikes and headed back to our hotel to head to the airport. Sunday was so much fun and we had such an amazing time in the city all weekend. I love New York City and each time I go there, I remember all the reasons why. While quick, it was a memorable and lovely weekend in NYC.

Photo by Nick Nieto

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Exploring New York City in the Summer

August 27, 2013

Nick and I had an amazing weekend in New York City. And though, while quick (we took the red-eye Friday night and left Sunday evening), we enjoyed every minute of our brief trip. This wasn’t our first time to New York so we planned the weekend just to wander around the city without a true agenda. The weather was gorgeous, low 80’s, no humidity and bright blue sky both days we were there, which made it perfect to walk around and take in the city.

We started Saturday morning bright and early, after arriving at 7am at JFK, we headed to our hotel to drop off our bags. After that, we headed out for the day (until we could check in to our hotel at 3). We started with breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien at Bryant Park, then we spent a while just hanging out in the park, watching the people and Nick snapping photos. Bryant Park is one of my favorite spots in Manhattan, perhaps because the buildings that surround it are so unique and beautiful… such an urban surrounding to the small park.

Next, we jumped on the Subway and headed uptown to the Upper East Side and Central Park. We stopped at the Apple Store (one of Nick’s traditions) and then headed up the edge of the Park, stopping to get Laduree macarons along the way. Then we meandered our way through Central Park as we’d never walked all the way through to the Upper East Side before. And what a gorgeous day to wander through the park! We eventually stopped for a bit and just laid on the grass and enjoyed the day.

Afterwards, we walked back through the Park’s East edge and jumped back on the Subway to head down to Madison Square Park for Shake Shack for lunch. We’ve always wanted to try it and had recommendations from friends in NYC, so we decided to just wait the line out and do it. I will say, it was well worth it if you have the time to wait.

By this time, it was around 3pm, so we headed back to our hotel to check in and grab a quick nap. Around 5pm, we grabbed a car on Uber and headed to Brooklyn. Last time we were in NYC we explored DUMBO and loved it, so this time we decided to check out the area under the Brooklyn Bridge near Brooklyn Heights. We wandered around the pier, had some ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, and then watched the sunset over the Manhattan skyline. It was truly a lovely and magical way to end our first day back in the city.

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Coming Home as a TCK

August 19, 2013

I’ve talked before about my background and growing up in Middle East, my heritage as a third culture kid (TCK) and a bit about what my childhood was like abroad. But in the span of the last few weeks, I’ve been reading so many posts from other bloggers on their struggles living abroad as expats, their learning experiences and the obstacles.

It’s interesting for me to read those posts, because although I spent a huge portion of my life as an expat, I never felt like one, until I moved back to America, the country that bore its name on my passport. And while my time as an expat in a foreign country was as a child, I think that in a way that sheltered me from all those things that make expat life hard. But when we returned to the States, that’s when I realized what it meant to relearn things, to have to figure out those things that I never had to before, those things that every American kid just knows. There are still things that go way over my head. My husband laughs when, in conversation with friends or family, things like 80’s/90’s tv shows or cartoons come up. I have no idea what they are talking about and Nick has to explain it to me. (We didn’t have current tv/movies in Saudi growing up).

I sometimes feel like I missed out on those whole decades while we were overseas, but I also feel like those decades spent abroad, those decades that we were expats were the years that defined who I am more than any others. They taught me things about the world that I never would have known were it not for my childhood abroad, and while it did make many things difficult, it has given me a perspective on the world I wouldn’t change for anything.

It takes a lot of courage and a lot of confidence to master life in another country. It takes a lot of patience too. I think that living in another country is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a citizen of this world. It’s an experience that is unmatched by anything else and an experience that will open your soul like nothing else. I know that someday I’ll head back overseas and it’s an experience I look very much forward to. I guess what I’m trying to convey here is that the rest of the world doesn’t have to be scary, it doesn’t have to be hard, it doesn’t have to be the unknown. At the end of the day, no matter where you put your finger on a map, those are people just living and loving like us, those countries are trying to do what they can for their people, and those places are all part of our growing interconnected global community.Coming “home” to the States for me as a child tested me in ways that many expats can tell you about: unsure of local customs, unaware of pop culture, feelings of being unsettled or not fitting in. All of those things I remember like they were yesterday and all of those things also created something in me that has stuck with me through all these years.

When I look in the mirror now, as a TCK all grown up, now living in the country that met me with such a chaotic few years way back when, I see all the countries that have built me, I see all the faces of people from all different walks of life, all different ethnicities, that have gotten me where I am today. When I look in the mirror I see the American that I never really knew existed until half way through my life, I see the little pale girl in the Arabian desert that built my foundation, and I see the home that I’ve finally found all around me.
It took me a very long time to find “home,” but I’ve learned that no matter where you go, “home” isn’t a physical place, it’s something within you that gets sparked when you finally figure out who you are and embrace all the places that got you to today.

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What to Wear On the Airplane

August 15, 2013

More What to Wear posts for more destinations here!

Travel is never as glamorous as it seems and I’ve been on enough long haul flights to realize that no matter how cute you look stepping on the plane, pretty much everyone looks like hell when you get off after hours of stale air and bad food and no sleep.

However, there are ways to have some semblance of “travel style” on airplanes and I’ve always been of the belief that traveling shouldn’t mean you have to limit your style. When traveling, style doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t be comfortable either, so here’s some ways you can be both stylish and comfortable when traveling and my best tips for being stylish even when traveling on an airplane.

I’m never without a scarf.

No matter where I travel, a scarf is part of my travel outfit. It can serve as a blanket in-flight, an accessory to add color to a neutral travel outfit or folded up as a make-shirt armrest or pillow. They are also a great way to change up outfits while in a location and can make your whole look feel entirely different from day to day, even with the same coat or sweater. Plus they will always keep you warm!

Some of my favorite scarfs: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Wear neutrals as your base and accessorize with luggage, purse and scarf.

I like to travel in black or navy as my base colors. Dark colors don’t show wear like light colors do, so when you step off that 10 hour flight, your black pants won’t look wrinkled like lighter colors might. I usually travel in black or navy leggings, with a long t-shirt or sweater, depending on the season, then a coat or jacket and a scarf.

travel style what to wear in the airport

Travel in layers.

Weather can be totally different from your original location and your destination where you’re coming from, so layers can help with this as well as allowing you to adjust your own temperature along the way. I generally have 3 layers at my disposal for a flight, a t shirt, a sweater and a coat/scarf. That way, depending on the destination and all those stops along the way, I can be prepared for whatever temperatures may arise.

Wear comfortable shoes.

Nothing is worse than your feet hurting as you’re walking the mile long airport terminals. Wear comfortable shoes that you’ve already broken in. My ballet flats or Converse low-tops are my go-to travel shoes. You also want shoes that are easy to take off for security as well as comfortable on the plane.

Be stylish with your luggage.

When I started traveling often, I knew I wanted to invest in a good set of luggage that would last me quite a few years and also a set that fit my personality. I invested years ago in a Tumi hard side carry on and it’s the best decision I made for my travels. My carry on holds a ton, rolls easy and Tumi has been amazing on things like replacing wheels and the handle for free over the years as it’s gotten a little worn down from use. I love my white suitcase because it’s easy to spot always and feels totally unique among a sea of black suitcases.

Similar to my Tumi Luggage: 1 | 2 | 3

Paris in July : Day 3

July 11, 2013

I spent Sunday wandering around Paris and checking out a few things I haven’t seen before in my previous trips there.

I started my day with my Parisian ritual: a croissant and Orangina in the park behind Notre Dame. Them I headed to the Luxembourg Garden, a place I can’t believe I’ve never checked out before.

It’s a gorgeous place and I want to take Nick back there the next time we are in Paris.

Continuing on, I made my way back to Notre Dame for a long leisurely lunch at another of my favorites: Le Petit Pont Cafe. I enjoyed a sandwich mixte and watched the people going by.

Following lunch, I headed to the Right Bank, following the path of the Seine and then crossing over at the Louvre for a stroll through the Tuileries.

I stopped and grabbed a spot in the shade there and spent some time

checking email and catching up on things.

Finally I headed down past Concorde and took in another sight of the Eiffel Tower from the Right Bank, then headed up the Rue St. Honore to grab a final bag of macarons at Laduree ( a couple for me and a box of Nick’s favorite flavors to bring home to him).

Finally I headed back to my hotel, grabbed my bags and headed back to

Gare de Nord to catch my train back to London.

My couple days in Paris were lovely and while I actually prefer the city cooler and less crowded in other times of the year, it was a lovely visit to the City of Light.

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Where to Stay in France

London and Paris in July : Day 2

July 10, 2013

I began the second day of my trip with a morning walk in London.

My train to Paris left at noon so I took advantage of being up early (from lovely jetlag) and wandered down to Buckingham palace and around the Royal Quarter.

After heading back to my hotel and then to St. Pancras to catch my train,

I arrived in Paris for the rest of the day.

I have to say, the train link between London and Paris is fabulous and having it been my first time taking it, I would totally recommend it.

After arriving in Paris, I checked into my hotel, my wonderful regular place Le Hotel Notre Dame. Then I headed out for an al fresco lunch at my favorite St. Regis on the Ile St. Louis

The city was absolutely packed and very warm so everyone was outside enjoying the sunshine.

Following lunch I made my way through St. Germain to do some

work errands and ended the journey at the Eiffel Tower to take in my favorite spot in Paris.

I ended my day by picking up macarons and a baguette on my way back to the hotel and ate them in my room while I watched the sun set behind Notre Dame Cathedrale from my window.

A perfect end to the day in my favorite place, Paris.

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London in July : Day 1

July 9, 2013

I am home from my long weekend trip to London and Paris and I’m going to start

my Day by Day posts from the trip.

While this trip was for work, I also got a chance to explore both Paris and London a bit more, if only for a short time. I traveled alone this time, which I will be doing more posts in in the coming weeks about, but ultimately realized I much rather would always travel with Nick, if possible.

Traveling without him just wasn’t the same!

On my first day of the trip, I arrived in London around mid day,

freshened up and then headed out to explore.

I wandered through Hyde Park, around Kensington and Chelsea and met up with

the lovely Betsy and Lauren to have ice cream at the V&A.

We had a fabulous time and chatted like old friends,

despite this being the first time meeting in person.

London was very warm and very crowded during my time there but I got to get all that I needed done as well as take in some sights and enjoy the city.