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Home Away from Home: My Stay at The Amsterdam by Viadora

If you're searching for a luxurious and cozy home away from home in Mexico City, keep reading. When we were looking for a spot to stay during our 4 day trip to Mexico City, we knew we needed a hotel that was centrally located to our favorite neighborhoods (Roma Norte & Condesa), had enough space for the two of us to work remotely, and preferably an outdoor terrace to soak in some sunshine. Luckily, Viadora checked off all of the above.

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An Unforgettable Stay in Todos Santos, Mexico

In March, my husband and I visited Todos Santos, a charming coastal town in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Our stay at the beautiful Villas La Mar was one of the best vacations we've ever had. After many DMs on Instagram, I figured it was time to share this gem with you all.

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24 Hours at White Water Cambria

Cambria is a charming coastal town off California's beautiful Highway 1. It's a wonderful destination for those looking for a relaxing getaway. During our recent trip to Cambria, we stayed one night at the White Water Cambria hotel; which was the perfect stop on our way back from Santa Barbara to San Francisco.

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A Week at Vakkaru Maldives

The Maldives is one of those few places that blow your expectations out of the water.  One couldn't possibly dream up a paradise as gorgeous as these 1,100+ islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The amazing teal colored water, palm trees perfectly placed on gorgeous islands, fresh fish caught daily, and sunshine 365 days of the year -- it's pure bliss.

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A Scottsdale Getaway: Royal Palms Resort & Spa

When I booked our stay at the Royal Palms Resort & Spa through AMEX Travels I had somewhat high expectations but if I’m being honest I thought the property was going to be a tad outdated. I’m usually a mid-century modern, clean white space kind of gal, and from the online photos, Royal Palm Springs looked like the opposite of my aesthetic. And I was right — the aesthetic was totally different than what I’m typically drawn to but wow, it was absolutely stunning in its own way!

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Mallorca photo diary: part I

We spent ten days in Mallorca in late July after traveling to the Netherlands and Germany. After a busy work season, it was so nice to unplug and relax finally with zero agenda besides drinking good wine, eating paella, and jumping in the ocean. It had been over ten years since we last visited Spain, and somehow it was even more gorgeous than when we spent time here in 2012.

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A Dreamy Escape in the Greek Islands, Paros Palace

Paros Palace set the bar high (like reallyreally high) for the rest of our trip in Greece. Just a 15 minute walk or 5 minute taxi ride from the Paros Port, Paros Palace sits on the side of a hill overlooking the ocean and the mountains nearby.  The views are absolutely breathtaking as you can see in the photos above and that's just one of the many perks of this little oasis overlooking the Aegean Sea.

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The Perfect Stay in the Heart of Fes, Morocco

When finding a place to stay in Fes, Morocco I had a few priorities: proximity to the Medina, safe location, and a beautiful Riad that had a terrace to relax on. Riad Anata provided all my necessities and totally blew me away by its beauty. In the heart of Fes, Riad Anata was easy to get to and allowed us to navigate the city by foot each day.

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An Amazing Day Trip from Marrakech: Atlas Mountains & Agafay Desert

Marrakech is an amazing city to visit.  However, after a few days of the busy Moroccan souks, it's really nice to escape the chaos.  There are many options when it comes to booking day trips from Marrakech.  From the Atlas Mountains and desert to the beautiful town of Essauoira there is so much to see. Even if you're short on time during your travels to Marrakech, taking a day to see something different and learn more about the Moroccan history and culture is worth it.

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Hiking Lake Mary & Catherine in Utah

Because we went in early August, the flowers were in full bloom. And wow. Incredible. Other than enjoying the fresh mountain air and having a packed lunch on the lake, the flowers were indeed the shining star of this hike. The hike is relatively easy - 2.5 miles to Mary, and an additional .5 mile to Lake Catherine. The views along the way are worth stopping for.

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Mykonos Photo Diary

Mykonos Island was one of the most charming islands we visited during our seven days of island hopping in Greece.  From beautiful alleys to restaurants over looking the ocean and the iconic mills, this island was absolutely stunning. 

Although spending a few more days would have been ideal, one day was a perfect amount of time to see the main sites on the island and enjoy everything.

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A Weekend in Paris

Spending a weekend in Paris is definitely not enough time for this romantic and charming city, but I will take what I can get.  Paris was one of those places I knew I just had to see while living in Europe. After a quick 48 hours in Paris, I can confidently say it surpassed my expectations and is just as lovely as all the 90s films portray it to be.

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My Favorite Hikes in Sedona, Arizona

If you’re like me and love a good lounge by the pool and read a book day but also need to get out and move your body, then Sedona is the perfect place to visit. It’s an absolutely gorgeous town with so much to offer. Before we arrived I reached out to a few friends and asked my Instagram to send recommendations, and wow did people deliver. From amazing restaurants like Mariposa, too many hikes to count, a walkable town center, views (all the views) and tranquil spas and gorgeous resorts — Sedona has so much to offer.

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Choosing Courage Over Comfort

I am a firm believer that growth doesn't come without discomfort.  If we stay in our safe, content places, how will we push ourselves in ways we can't imagine?  How will we learn new things without falling a few times? One of my favorite authors, Brené Brown talks a lot about vulnerability.  Here's one of my favorite pieces from her most recent book: 

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A Breathtaking Trip 30 Minutes Outside of Dublin, Howth Cliffs

The Howth Cliffs are located northeast of Dublin and have over 10 miles of hiking and walking trails with views of Lambay's Island, Irelands Eye, the village of Howth, and the gorgeous, rocky coastline.  While walking you can smell the ocean and overwhelming scent of coconut from the yellow gorse on the heath.  In every direction you'll find breathtaking views and I think I took more pictures in one day than I have in a while, there was just so much to see.

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An Oasis Amidst the Chaos: Bliss Riad

Bliss Riad truly embraces the culture of Morocco.  Filled with Moroccan rugs, leather goods, beautiful mosaic tiles, and greenery in every corner.  It was truly an oasis amidst the chaos of the souks of Marrakech.  Not only where we amazed by the beauty of Bliss Riad, but it also smelled divine.  The smell was like warmth and savory mixed with the cleanest, purest herbs. 

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How To: The Perfect Cheese Board + TJ's Grocery List

So, next time you're hosting a girl's night, dinner, or event at your place and you're looking for a delicious cheese plate and a one-stop-shop (Trader Joe's) to do your grocery shopping, look no further. It also impress everyone and make you feel like you’re a little chef in the making! Plus, it’s fun to just throw crushed nuts on the board, add color where you think is fitting, and get creative.

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A Snowy Holiday in Berchtesgaden

We had the opportunity to visit Berchtesgaden, Germany and stay with Kempinski Hotel in their newly remodeled space.  The week was full of a waking up to snowy views each morning, snow-shoeing for the first time, and having the most delicious meals in the Kempinski restaurant.  It was one of absolute favorite vacations of 2017 and gave me an opportunity to experience a real snowy winter. However, now that I have my fill of snow, I think I'm good until next year -- Summer 2018, where are you?

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