Until about a year ago, when I decided I WAS deserving and simultaneously realized some of my favorite little luxuries in the world, happened to also be free or very low cost. I started documenting my journey online sharing my favorite luxurious tips with fellow frugal felines and next thing I knew, I had my first viral series.

I’m so excited to bring my learnings over to Substack and to all of my new friends here (hi almost 500 subscribers!!!). Because we all deserve to wake up feeling like Nicole Kidman every. single. day. <3

10 Things I Do Every Single Day To Make My Life Feel Luxurious

1.Matching Pajama Sets and Robes

There is nothing more luxurious than waking up in a chic (yes i’m still using that word) ass pajama set and wrapping yourself into a delicious, cozy hotel-style robe. It makes me immediately feel like the luxurious rich character in every movie. Is it the actual robe from the hotel with the $200 price tag? Of course not! I found the supplier and sourced it directly from Amazon for 1/4th the price.

Full roundup of my favorite pajamas here!

2.Play Cozy Jazz Fireplace Videos on YouTube While Drinking Coffee

In a whimsical af mug specifically. This is the easiest, FREE way to make every single morning feel luxurious. There are so many options that are 10+ hours long on YouTube and can transport you to any country, season, holiday, vibe you want in the world. Currently hyperfixated on ones that transport me to a cabin’s back porch during the thick of fall in Vermont.

3. Wear Eye Patches

Every. single. morning. These can be as inexpensive as these or as elevated as these. I’ve become a better person and my undereye bags have TRANSFORMED since wearing eye patches every single morning. So no, it’s not just placebo effect!!

4.Using Body Oil

I don’t know what it is, but body oil just feels sooo much more expensive and luxurious than lotion for some reason. A few years ago I found myself rationing my Osea body oil and one day I decided NO MORE (which brings me to #5)! The time is now for soft, supple skin. Ever since then I’ve never looked back. My current favorite routine is mixing Cyklar Vanilla Verve with Naturium Unscented Body Serum and omggggg. Softest most delicious smelling skin of my life.

5.Actually Using My Nice Products (dare I say the most difficult one)

Burning nice candles, using that expensive lotion. No longer saving them for “that special occasion.” It’s not helping anyone sitting in the closet or on that shelf. The special occasion is being alive baby!

6.Corresponding Scents with Activities/Moods

I light different candles throughout the day for certain activities. Work gets a citrus/mint scent to spark creativity and productivity. Fresh cotton in the bathroom or while showering. Lavender while getting ready for bed. I’ve basically pavloved myself to associate different scents with different activities and my body snaps right into whatever mode it’s meant to be in the second I smell each scent.

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7.Never Letting An Outfit Go To Waste

I wear my nice clothes or find occasions to wear them to. I’ve thrown parties, dinner parties, you name it if there’s a specific dress I bought and haven’t worn yet. I do not let anything go to waste and love to feel luxurious every time I get dressed.

8.Mixing High and Low End Pieces

My Amazon bar cart is next to my West Elm TV console. I'll pair a designer bag with a TJ Maxx dress. I never feel like I’m missing out on owning and wearing nice things but I’m still not going to blow all of my hard earned money on strictly luxurious items. The art of knowing where to spend your money vs save it is the true test of ~taste~!!

9.Hand-Writing Everything

To-do lists, notes to self, things that come into my brain throughout the day. Something about putting pen to paper (especially in today’s day and age) is so so cathartic, especially with a perfectly fine point pen. I swear I remember everything 5000x better when I handwrite it.

10.Investing in Organization

I will never deprive myself from purchasing something that will help me organize my life even .1% more. I have multiple shoe racks in my closet, drawer organizers in every single drawer, literally anything that will make my home even slightly less chaotic. My dream is for someone to mistake my home for The Container Store one day.

~~

I’ve also curated a very in-depth list of my favorite little luxuries that I hope inspires you to treat yourself too (with tons of affordable recs because I haven’t changed thaaaat much of course).

I could talk about this topic for YEARS and have come up with a million little ways to make every day feel more special so let me know if you want more!

If there are any daily rituals you do to make life feel more special, I’d love to hear them!! Thank you for being here and for being the best <3

Ta ta for now!! Ily!!

Xx,

Stef

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Due to what can probably be coined as The Jenna Rink Effect, I grew up during the peak of 2000s rom coms and what I’ll designate as the most inspiring female leads in movies to date. Andie Anderson rewired my brain to never settle for a guy who wouldn’t jump through hoops for me. Cher taught me to never give a sh*t about dressing to conform. Elle was probably the reason I went to college in Boston. But most notably, Jenna Rink was my north star.

I wanted everything she had. A badass job living in New York City. A sick apartment with an even sicker closet. The high school sweetheart. And most importantly: a 30th birthday party.

I always felt like my 30th birthday would be the start of my life.

t would be an age where I'd have met my lifelong friends. I'd have the money to rent out a fun venue and host all of them in. I'd be in a relationship or maybe even engaged. I'd have a career, money to highlight my hair. I'd have it all.

So after many years of flipping through Seventeen magazine, pulling out articles, and rewatching every 2000s movie to the point where my now boyfriend Joe can’t watch them with me because I recite every single word, I’ve realized that I was really just manifesting and designing everything that I currently have, but in my own font.

so what did it actually take to finally feel like I “got it all”?

Facing a lotttt of unpleasant and uncomfortable years. Like I'm talking years and years of self discovery to figure out what I actually love. It's easy to credit these characters and movies for helping me figure out the energy I wanted to channel, but actually getting to the place where I am confident in knowing what I love, who I want to be, and finally starting to live only for myself and not for others took quite literally every single year of my 20s.

things that actually helped me figure out my interests and who I am by 30:

• A LOT of alone time. Tons during my eras of being single and most importantly making time for it during my eras of being in a relationship. I live for walks with noise cancelling headphones and only my thoughts keeping me company. That is where I can really dissect it all.

• Trial and erroring careers. I changed my major halfway through college after realizing every journalism class was my least favorite to attend. So why would I make that my major? The same attitude is how I figured out pretty much everything I like and dislike. Try it, figure out how I feel about it, run from what I dislike, and go full steam ahead on what I do. From there I realized I liked public relations, then at my first job that writing social copy and working with influencers was exciting to me, and then from there that I actually wanted to become that influencer myself. Every no became a yes eventually.

• Learning from every single role I came across. Even during the jobs I knew were not for me, I knew there were skills to be learned and that eventually the payoff would be worth the time and energy investment. The jobs that felt the least like me were ultimately the ones I learned the most about myself at, and about others.

• Taking a lotttt of scary leaps of faith. Moving cross country in six days when presented the opportunity. Quitting my corporate job far sooner than most would recommend. Posting my entire life online while receiving insane judgment from others. The scarier the leap, the higher the payoff.

  

Eventually, after all of those intentional lessons and some hard life milestones throughout my 20s, I started learning what I actually like and found myself more than ever being unapologetically myself. During my early 20s, I used to think I was someone that was hard to love and easy to abandon. Now I know that there are people who will love my dry humor and how loud I get when I’m excited. I used to try to conform to the beige-epidemic, now I know I LOVE animal print and wearing multiple patterns at once.

and now I feel like I found it all.

the Ben to my Andie who would walk across fire for me if it meant getting me the crispy diet coke i’m craving. moving to san francisco and only a few streets away from Mia Thermopolis’s high school. and my own little version of Jenna Rink’s 30 year old life and the one 16 year old would’ve DREAMED of.

and now I’m MANIFESTING IT FOR YOU TOO!!!!

Who did you look up to at 16 and how do you feel they’ve influenced your life thus far?! I’d love to know if my theory is true for others!

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I say frugal but really I believe we’re all just ~money wise~. I often say even if I made millions of dollars, I could NEVER picture myself spending money frivolously. Maybe it’s because my most transformative years were during the 2008 financial crisis, maybe it’s being an eldest daughter, maybe it’s the fact that doing literally anything costs $200 anytime I step out of my home.

Which is what inspired me to pivot to my latest series and now part two here: inexpensive shit that’s 100% worth the $$! Made in an effort to cleanse everyone’s feed and wallets, and give a gentle reminder that every day items don’t need to be Aesop soap and designer decor to be BANGERS. And if you missed vol. 1…

Side Of Stef

inexpensive sh*t worth the $$

If you’ve scrolled on social media for more than five minutes in the last month, chances are you’ve seen the “5 things worth the money” viral trend going around. For weeks prior, my series “expensive sh*t that’s worth the $$” was a fun place where I was documenting all of my splurge purchases and why I 100% believed they were worth every penny…

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a month ago · 647 likes · 30 comments · Stef Anderson

So without further ado, please find my second edition guide thus far of all of my favorite inexpensive items that I would repurchase 100x over and stand ten toes down for.

INEXPENSIVE SH*T THAT’S WORTH THE $$ PART 2!!!

Beauty and Makeup

• Rael Miracle Patch Overnight Pimple Patches - not only are they the clearest pimple patches I’ve ever used (I legit can’t see them on my face sometimes), but they get the deepest of gunk out overnight and don’t leave red marks on your face.

• Murad Deep Relief Acne Treatment - if you get under the skin cystic pimples (1. i’m so sorry I see you sister), like the kind that don’t even have a head and just hurt SO bad…this stuff is magic for them. somehow brings them to the surface and then you can put your miracle patch on them!

• Bauble Bar Tennis Bracelet - every single person in my life thinks this tennis bracelet I wear every single day is real and it’s SO inexpensive. they also have crazy sales and don’t tarnish (I shower with it on and never remove it!)

• Whimsical but Sturdy Claw Clips - I loved a patterned claw clip, particularly polka dots right now, and these hold your hair back SO well whether its thick or fine.

Skincare and Body

• Trader Joe’s Face Sunscreen - a tried and true SUPERGOOP DUPE!!! goes on so clear and doesn’t break me out which is rare and is the exact same thing as the much much more expensive Supergoop

• Dry Brush - if you want your skin to feel like a baby dolphin after every shower, dry brush. They say to do it before but I do it after because I like to use it on clean skin!

• Toe Spacers - oh my god. I can’t believe I only recently discovered these. pop these on for like 10 minutes a day, especially after exercise or wearing heels and your feet will feel brand new. I’m like actually excited for the next time my feel hurt from heels and I can do these after.

• Tongue Scrapers - metal and last foreverrrr, I put mine in the dishwasher. No one likes bad breath or a nasty looking tongue. Please, tongue scrape twice a day.

• Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp Oil

• Lumineux Teeth Whitening Strips - peroxide free and make my teeth SO white without sensitivity (if you’ve accidentally left crest strips on too long you know how important that is).

• L’Oreal Ultra Care Conditioner - if you’ve ever box dyed your hair you know the little tube of conditioner that comes in it is THE BEST stuff ever. now L’Oréal finnnnally sells a large size of it and it’s the best deep conditioner ever.

Home

• Heated Blanket - my work from home MUST. amazing as we head into colder months and just such a luxury when you’re sick, have your period…just all the time.

• Target Spa Plush Oversized Bath Towels - the best towels ever!!! truly feel better than hotel towels 10/10 times and they’re SO large. hold up so well we have had ours for YEARS.

• Target Drawer and Cabinet Organizers - every single drawer, cabinet, and closet in your home should have these in them. my mom always says “there’s a place for everything” and these are step one in curating and organizing that place.

• Cute Kitchen Timer - yes this is definitely the least necessary thing on this list but when I tell you using this over my phone or the stove clock has made cooking/baking 100% more fun I mean it. I love when the timer goes off and it feels so analog.

• Laminator - no piece of paper is safe when me and my laminator are around. one of those things you don’t realize how much you’ll use until you own it, and just always makes any signs/materials look so much more put together.

• Bulk Buying Salt and Pepper - this is adulthood at its finest but always bulk buy these and refill your containers. saves so much money and these bags last me 1-2 years.

Kitchen and Food

• A Well-Fed Happy Sourdough Starter - I feel like knowing how to bake sourdough should be mandatory for anyone past 30, it’s healthy chic and tastes SO GOOD. I also always gift and store mine in these bakery paper bags that cost 10 cents each, come with cute stickers and just make the whole experience so whimsical.

• These Overnight Oats Jars - I use them for my sourdough starter, oats, storage, literally everything. they’re the perfect sized jars.

• Trader Joe’s Chocolate Covered Gummy Bears - IYKYK, the best dessert/snack EVER.

Stationery and Gifting

• Sharpie S-Gel 0.7 Pen - my current favorite pen. the perfect fine line gel and writes so smoothly. doesn’t smear easily and is great for notepads/planners!

• Cute Amazon Notebooks - life is too short not to buy cute notebooks for literally everything, trust.

• My Daily Planner - I couldn’t rave about this planner more. it’s my lifeline. I bring her everywhere. once you try it you’ll never look back and the patterns are always sooo cute!

• Etsy Custom Stationary - there’s nothing more chic than having custom stationary. great if you need a last minute card too!

• Custom Etsy Kindle Cover - I read 1000x more after buying this case it’s that cute!! it’s also the most protective one I’ve ever had and the handle is right in the middle so you can easily swap hands which you can’t do well with the amazon ones!

Random Things That Work

• Miss Mouth’s Messy Eater Stain Treater - I feel like moms are obsessed with this stuff and rightfully so!! it gets out literally ANY stain. like red wine on a white shirt vibe.

• Small Glass Vases - I have been loving making little bouquets around the house vs a big one and they’re also great for tablescapes! I get sooo much use out of these!

• Purse Hooks - treat your purses nicely, they don’t deserve to hang off your chair or plop onto the floor! my grandma put me onto these and they make me so happy to whip out. owning these really makes you feel like you have your life together.

• Trader Joe’s Spray Hand Sanitizer - save your money on the expensive sprays and get this one instead. right by checkout and does the trick/easy to travel with.

Ok I have a million more of these so let me know if I should keep going!!!

TTYL,

Stef

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Since turning 30, I’ve spent a lotttt of time reflecting on my repeated patterns and behaviors in my 20s, one of which being the things I chose to spend my hard earned dollars on.

Some context: In recent years, I’ve really found a hobby in understanding and mastering personal finances, and particularly have hyper-fixated on the waste that comes along with fast fashion and this era of severe overconsumption. I used to be guilty of buying every trend each year on the Zara shelves, but after YEARS of stressful closet purges and donating bags and bags of wasted clothes that no longer suited my ever-evolving personal style, I realized something had to give.

I decided to be extremely thoughtful about every single purchase I made, calculating the cost-per-wear/use I would predict on items, asking myself if I wanted it because I genuinely loved it or because it was “trendy” or something people were talking about online, but then also thinking long and hard about where I wanted to start spending my hard earned money on “investment” type pieces.

I grew up with a grandmother who loved all things designer, and had me daydreaming of when I could be in my late-20s+ and finally able to purchase things for myself. For my 24th birthday, as she was entering the last few years of her life, she gifted me my first Prada purse and what is now one of my most cherished items. Every time I wore the purse, I felt confident and appreciative for the quiet luxury it brought to otherwise very affordable outfits.

Am I rambling? Maybe. But this is all to show the value I find in both everyday priced items, and complimenting them with higher-priced specialty pieces. Now lets chat through the things that I think are worth the splurge or not in your 20’s if you’re like me and still apartment living…

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In full transparency, although I’m someone who loves to share recommendations and favorites, I still have a very conservative mindset when it comes to money and spending the hard-earned dollars I’ve made (read: I’m a millenial who grew up during the 2008 financial crisis).

I’ve never been one to regularly go on shopping trips, I still sell my unworn clothes on Poshmark to feel better about my purchases, and I think loooong and hard before every single purchase that I make (and still have buyers remorse like 99% of the time after).

Which is what inspired me to pivot to my latest series: inexpensive shit that’s 100% worth the $$! Made in an effort to cleanse everyone’s feed and wallets, and give a gentle reminder that every day items don’t need to be Aesop soap and designer decor to be BANGERS.

So without further ado, please find my guide thus far of all of my favorite inexpensive items that I would repurchase 100x over and stand ten toes down for.

INEXPENSIVE SH*T THAT’S WORTH THE $$!!!

Beauty and Makeup

• L’Oreal Paris Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick - if you want glass skin, end with this in your makeup routine. It gives the most perfect glow without looking like you’re wearing highlighter, super natural.

• L’Oreal Paris Glotion Tinted Moisturizer - like the Saie Glowy Super Gel but for a fraaaction of the price! Also makes for an insane body glow lotion

• Maybelline Lash Sensational Body Full Volume Lifting Mascara - I’m pretty sure this is one of the newest mascaras on the market and it’s INSANE. great for a natural look and I love their brown/black shade.

• Real Techniques Makeup Brushes - literally can find these at Walgreens, CVS, you name it and they’re the best brushes ever. I’ve had some of them for 10+ years now and grab them over my expensive brushes alllll the time.

Skincare and Body

• Naturium Body Serum - the most perfect body lotion ever. makes your body look immediately younger and hydrated and isn’t gross and greasy after

• Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Oil Mist Cocoa Butter Vanilla - smells JUST like my Laura Mercier body oil that I’ve been savoring for over a year now and the spray bottle makes it so you don’t spill everywhere. gives the bestttt glow.

• Briotech Renew Toner - non-name brand hypochloris acid scrap, works just as good as the expensive ones and you can pour into your Tower 28 bottle for a better spray hehe

• Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum - the most hydrating correcting serum I’ve ever used. Great for targeting sun damage/discoloration.

• Bubble Skincare Cosmic Silk Hydrating Milky Toner - the most hydrating toner I’ve ever used and sooo good for facial massaging. if you want cheekbones sculpted to the gods use this.

• Garnier Micellar Reusable Eco Pads - ditch your micellar water and makeup wipes and buy these. they get off allll your makeup and mascara and can be washed in your laundry over and over again, also great for travel!

• Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Treatment Pen

Hair

• L’Oreal Paris Glossing 5-Min Lamination Hair Mask - literally gives you a salon level gloss at home in 5 minutes it’s INSANE

• L’Oreal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss Shine Boosting Shampoo & Conditioner - THE BEST SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER EVER!! If you have hair that frizzes easily you need this. I’ve never had softer, easier to style hair before and it makes your hair sooooo shiny.

• Wavytalk 5 In 1 Curling Wand Set - a hot roundbrush and multiple curling irons all in one. the head comes off so you can easily pack away and sooo good for travel. actually holds my hair in a perfect blowout unlike so many others!

• Amazon Hair Rollers - this + the wavy talk and your blowout is going to be iconic

• Denman Brush - Mason Pearson brush dupe!!! Makes for the besttt slick backs. Has a little bit of a break in period but trust the process.

• Wet Brush Detangling Brush - I think I have 10 of these, the best brush for wet hair, you’ll never go back.

Home

• Target Microplush King Sized Blankets - I fear we are in an epidemic where people have now normalized and idolized $400+ dollar blankets and it’s incredibly worrisome. I’m sure they’re soft and heavenly but so are my target throw blankets and they’re cheaper than my normal doordash haul so like….

• Target 400 Thread Count Sheets - THE BEST SHEETS IN THE WORLD!! I can’t tell you how many people I’ve put onto these. I grab them over our expensive sheets every time. Wash so well and so many cute patterns that we rotate throughout the year!

• This Target Candle - that smells so fresh clean and summery we love it

• This Silicone/Metal Reinforced Ice Cube Tray - comes in a three pack and truly makes the best ice cubes every that stay solid in your Odwala all day

• Joyjolt Layla Italian Red Wine Glasses - great price for wine glasses and still chic and fun

• Velvet Shirt Hangers & Kids Velvet Hangers - the besttt hangers, cheap enough where you don’t care if they break and won’t make you freak when they inevitably break

Clothing

• Uniqlo Ribbed Cropped Bra Top - the most chic tank top with a built in bra. I have in ever color and legit wear it every single day.

• My Pink Waffle Robe - the best priced robe for the quality and the perfect summer robe. This is reminding me to order it in more colors tbh.

Laundry and Clothing Care

• Downy Wrinkle Release Spray - amazing for travel or when you’re in a pinch and can’t steam your clothes. I keep one in all of my purses and scattered around my home.

• Travel Clothing Steamer - maturing is realizing a travel steamer is a packing non-negotiable. wrinkles ruin a cute outfit immediately, always steam your clothes.

• Dryel On-The-Go Stain Remover Pen

• Cadillac Shield Water and Stain Leather and Fabric Protector Spray

Kitchen and Food

• Chobani Coffee Creamer - if I could write a love letter to pretty much all things Chobani (all hail the flips yogurts) I would, but most specifically the coffee creamers as they have simply changed my life. My favs are: white chocolate, sweet cream and toasted coconut vanilla!!

• Gin Gins Original Ginger Chews - order in bulk online or snag at Trader Joe’s checkout. if you get car sick like me (or randomly nauseous all the time help) these are the BEST. also when you randomly get low bloodsugar.

• Oxo Good Grips 3-In-1 Avocado Slicer - my college bf’s mom gave me this after I sliced my hand opening and avocado and it’s moved with me to every single apartment ever. worth every penny.

• Onion Storage and Avocado Saver 4-Piece Silicone Set - the besttt for making sure your produce stays fresh once cut into.

Wellness and Sleep

• Weighted Sleep Mask - non explaination needed. thank me later.

• Steripod Toothbrush Sterilizer - Easy peasy tooth brush sterilizer/cover. My college freshman year roommate put me on to these and I’ve never looked back. They sterilize your toothbrush when it’s on, smell fresh and are ammmmazing for traveling with so gross stuff doesn’t get on your toothbrush

• Traditional Medicinals Throat Coat Tea - I swear if you have a sore throat or yap/karaoke too much like me this will make it go away like…immediately

• Dr Teal’s Calm Blend Spray With Melatonin - spray this on your pillow/bed every night and you’ll sleep like a BABY

Stationery and Gifting

• Galison Puzzles - the most whimsical cutie puzzles ever and the 500 piece ones are perfect for a Sunday afternoon while your phone is Bricked or in phone jail

• Skyjo Card Game - this is probably my most niche rec ever but also an IYKYK. the most fun card game ever. like the cool big sis to uno

• Blank Cards and Envelopes - adulthood is realizing it’s so much easier to bulk buy birthday, holiday and every day cards. what’s more chic than always being ready to handwrite someone a card??

• Custom Etsy Aprons - they’re like $8 and the most perfect gift to yourself or a loved one ever. I actually have no idea how they’re so cheap I thought it was a scam at first but nope, they’re perfect.

Random Things That Are Amazing

• Non Slip Shoe Grip Spray for Women - I’m pretty sure I found this because Kylie Jenner said it’s how she walks red carpets and is always fine but it’s truly THE BEST. I use for Vegas trips, any time I’m wearing heels, you name it. It’s like an adhesive spray that makes your foot sticky so you don’t slip and slide and then easily comes off when you shower before bed. Also, please always shower before bed.

• Apple Chorded EarPods - keep one in every purse and thank me later. you never know!!!

• Dryel On-The-Go Stain Remover Pen - also necessary for every single purse. IYKYK

• Cadillac Shield Water and Stain Leather and Fabric Protector Spray - never wear suede or leather without treating it with this first!!! I go through 100 bottles a year.

• Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Treatment Pen - chicness is determined by how your cuticles look, this is the best.

How’d I do?? Let me know your inexpensive favs I need to try next or any from this list you order/fall in love with!!!

TTYL,

Stef

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As women we’re conditioned not to celebrate our own accomplishments, to be modest and make it look like it was nothing. I’m trying to work on this and actually being proud of the things I’ve done, especially in the past few years where I flipped my entire life upside down and ultimately landed on my feet.

I’ve always been someone who considered work a key personality trait. There was a point in college where I was balancing 3 internships + a full-time class schedule to try to fund my weekend fun in Boston while simultaneously gaining as much knowledge of the communications space as possible. I had two dreams in mind: land my dream job at Edelman and become one of those influencers that gets paid to travel around the world (I was OBSESSED with Kara and Nate at the time).

My dream Edelman job came and went and 8 years later, I found myself having to make the incredibly difficult decision of whether or not I wanted to take a chance on myself and chase my passions/a new career choice or to stay at my severely underpaid and disheartening corporate PR job.

I wouldn’t trade any of my work eras for a second. I’ve always believed that no matter what job you find yourself in, it’s incredibly important to master that specific role and to then carry those skills onto future journeys. Now, this mindset is what I attribute my disciplined self-employed work ethic to. The attention to detail skills I mastered at 22, how to effectively write social media copy at 25, leading difficult conversations and decision making at 28.

I also believe that your body knows deeply when it’s time for something new. At my last job, I was miserable each day despite trying to stay as positive about it as I could. I was working East Coat hours from California, doing PR for accounts I was embarrassed to even talk about, and hadn’t gotten a raise in over 3 years (yep not even cost of living!!) so was essentially losing money each year that I stayed.

My options were to either jump ship to another PR agency (likely based in NYC to keep as similar salary) or to take the leap into full-time content creation, running my own social media consulting PR agency, and dedicating as much time as possible to starting a women’s social club in San Francisco.

My body knew the right choice and during Christmas of the year before, I set up my first LLC, told my loved ones, and mapped out my escape route. This was the first time in my life I found myself crossing out each day on the calendar counting down to February 28th (the arbitrary day I told myself I could quit lol).

For months after leaving my job, I woke up every single night at 3:00 AM in a panic wondering if I just blew up my life or made the right decision. I told myself if things weren’t looking good financially, I’d start applying for competitor NYC agencies or walk of shame back to my previous one.

Not to sound woo-woo, but I do believe the energy you put out into the world is what you get in return. Though I had the backup plan, I knew I was going to do everything in my power not to make it a reality. I went balls to the wall posting on socials, finding any client that would hire me for social media consulting, and launched my dream social club with zero support or funding. I left shame at the door and knew that my goals were so much bigger and meant so much more to me than what anyone thought about it. Somehow it worked.

One year later, not an ounce of me regrets the leap and I truly have to stop myself every day and pinch myself that what was once a dream is my reality. I get paid to talk about the brands and products I adore, some of whom are led by my old coworkers who are excited to hire me. Meet You There (the women’s social club) has grown to over 20,000 community members with insane partnerships each month like FP Movement and Bumble BFF. And I even got to the place where I was able to sunset some consulting clients due to lack of bandwidth.

Moral of the story: do it scared, be brave and trust your gut. Your body always knows before you do!!! If you’re feeling ready for that next leap or phase, lean in baby!!

I’ll preface this post by saying, I’m not a perfect friend by ANY means, but one thing I have always taken pride in is how much I prioritize and value showing up for my friends. While texting with my friend about that last night, it got me thinking about a nuance I do not see talked about enough.

Heres the thing most people are overlooking when it comes to “building a village.” They think the secondddd you start showing up for people consistently, being thoughtful, being the one who texts first, who brings flowers on hard days, who adds their friend’s milestones to their calendar and checks in before the hard appointments…that it comes back exactly the same way.

The reality is: it doesn’t. But that doesn’t necessarily mean what you think it means…

Villagers Show Up Differently, and That Is Allowed

Something I keep coming back to is that villaging (yes I just made that word up) doesn’t look the same for every friendship. The friend who shows up with a text every single day looks different from the friend who picks you up from the airport after a long flight. The friend who always takes your our for birthday drinks is completely different than the one you can sit in silence and rot with on your couch on a random Sunday.

None of those people love you any less than the other. They are just showing up in the language that is natural to them. Part of being in a village is learning to actually see those different forms of showing up as love, instead of measuring everyone against the same yardstick.

In the spirit of honesty, I used to get SO frustrated by this and I 100% used to measure friendships by whether things felt “even.” I was always questioning things like: Did I text first more than they did? Did I plan more hangouts than they did? Did I “show up” more than they “showed up” for me? I was keeping score without even fully realizing I was doing it.

In the last few months, my village has felt SO strong. What I’ve come to understand, and what genuinely brings me so much peace at age 30, is that everyone has a different love language and a different way of showing support.

None of those are wrong. None of those are less than. They are just different instruments in the same orchestra. And honestly, the village works best when it is made up of people who complement each other rather than mirror each other exactly. You do not need ten friends who show up exactly like you do. You need friends whose strengths fill in the places where yours might be a little thinner, and vice versa.

Lead By Example, Because Villaging Is Not Exactly Mainstream Right Now

Here is something a few people pointed out in this exact conversation on one of my recent videos that I think is so important. Villaging is genuinely not part of a lot of people’s daily practice right now. We live in a culture that is busy, online, a little isolated by default. So if you want to be surrounded by people who show up for each other, sometimes you have to be the one who goes first.

Not because you are keeping score. But because when you consistently show people what that kind of care looks like, you give them something to copy. You make it feel safe for them to show up that way too, maybe for the first time in a while.

And on the other side of that balance, there will absolutely be seasons where you have less capacity and other people step up for you instead. That is not a failure on your part. That is the whole point. A village is not one person carrying everyone forever. It is people taking turns carrying each other through the actual marathon of life.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN BECAUSE I LOVE PLAYING DEVILS ADVOCATE!!!!!!!

If you have been a villager for someone for 6+ months and there is truly nothing coming back in return, not even an attempt, that is KEYYY information and you are 1000% allowed to step back from that. You do not owe anyone endless effort with zero return.

But that’s not most situations. In reality, there could be seasons where you are doing one, two, three, four “villager” things for someone where they cannot match that energy. Not because they don’t love you. Not because you are not in their village. Just because everyone’s capacity at any given moment is VASTLY different.

Someone going through a hard season at work, a breakup, a health scare, a move, a million invisible things you cannot see from the outside, might not have it in them to show up the way you are showing up for them right now. That is not abandonment. That is just being human at different points in the same life.

Big Sis Love!

I think a lot of people give up too quickly on things right now, friendships included. And I get it, it is genuinely hard to keep showing up for someone when it feels one sided in the moment.

But the truth is the easiest way to be successful at almost anything in life is consistency. Friendships are not exempt from that. The people who end up with real, deep, thriving communities are not the ones who got lucky. They are the ones who kept showing up even during the stretches where it felt uneven. They did not keep score. They trusted that the “friendship” marathon evens out over time.

So if you are in a season where you feel like you are giving more than you are getting, ask yourself honestly. Is this person not showing up for me in any form. Or are they showing up in their own love language, in their own way, during a season where they have less to give in the way I am used to receiving it.

There is a real difference. And learning to understand it might be the thing that actually gets you the village we all yearn for!!! 🤍

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There were many, many lonely days, long walks alone, moments that felt awkward and forced. More times than I can count I came home from an event or girl date and wondered if I had made a huge mistake.

But slowly over time and with a lot of effort made, I now have what I can genuinely call a thriving, flourishing community that I am so proud of.

Whether you are about to make a big move, already in the thick of it, naturally introverted and the idea of putting yourself out there sounds genuinely exhausting, or just want more friends in the city you already live in— this one’s for you. 🤍

For My Introverted Girlies…

I want to address this before anything else because I think a lot of friendship advice is written for naturally extroverted people and it can feel really alienating if that is not you.

You do not have to become a different person to build a community. You do not have to be the loudest one in the room or love small talk or thrive at big parties. None of that is required. I definitely consider myself an extroverted introvert (the most gemini to ever gemini). When I’m out I’m OUT…yapping, making friends, (usually) having fun. But then I hit a point and need to find the nearest exit sign and recharge alone at home for the next 3-5 business days. So promise, I have tips from both angles.

What actually helps if socializing takes energy for you:

Give yourself a concrete goal instead of an open ended one. Instead of “I will put myself out there tonight” try “I will have one real conversation with one new person.” One. That is it. It feels so much more manageable and honestly it is usually more than enough.

One on one is always easier than group settings. Skip the big party if it feels overwhelming and lean into coffee dates, walks, smaller dinners. You will connect more deeply anyway.

Give yourself permission to leave early. Showing up is the whole point. You do not have to stay for three hours to make it count. Go, be present, have one good conversation, and go home if you need to. You still showed up and that matters.

Recharge intentionally. If you know you have a social thing on Friday, protect Thursday night. Guard your energy so you actually show up as yourself instead of a depleted version of yourself.

The goal is not to be everywhere all the time. The goal is to be consistent. Slow and steady absolutely builds the village.

Now lets get into what I call my ~phased~ approach and something I dove into deeply in this TikTok!!!

Phase 1: The First Six Months (New Girl Season)

This is genuinely one of the most fun and underrated phases of the whole experience (if you let it be!!).

There is this thing people call “new girl smell” and it is so real. Being brand new to a city can be magnetic when you lean into it. When you are out meeting people, be honest and a little vulnerable about the fact that you just moved and know no one. Ask people for their favorite restaurants, their go to spots, any recommendations they have. You will be genuinely surprised by how many people light up at this and want to be part of your new chapter.

The two things that matter most in this phase:

Say yes to EVERYTHING. Every invitation, every plan, every casual “we should hang out sometime.” Yes. Always yes. I know it is tiring. Say yes anyway.

Follow through EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. This one is so important and so easy to underestimate. If someone invites you to something and you say no that first time, the chances of them inviting you again drop significantly (like 99% drop!). Show up even when you are tired!!

If you have made one or two genuine connections by the end of this phase you are absolutely killing it.

Phase 2: The Local Legend Phase

By now you’ve probably tried a handful of workout studios, restaurants, and things to do around your area. Phase two is about identifying the ones you want to become a regular at and actually committing to them.

I cannot tell you how many friends I made just by sitting at the bar at places I loved and being open to talking to people. There is genuinely nothing more community-building than walking into your local spot and having people be happy to see you. It does not happen overnight but it starts with showing up consistently and being warm and open when you do.

This is also the phase to reach out to any loose connections you already have in the city. Someone who went to your college that you kind of know, a friend of a friend, a former coworker who moved there. Reach out. Suggest coffee. Nine times out of ten it might stay surface level but that one time it turns into a real friendship it is so worth it.

A note for introverts here: becoming a regular somewhere is actually a perfect low pressure way to build connections. You are not cold approaching strangers. You are just showing up to the same place consistently until familiar faces become friendly faces. Let the environment do some of the work for you.

Phase 3: One Year and Beyond

By this point you are not just surviving in your new city, you are becoming a real part of it. Keep doing everything above and the community genuinely starts to build itself. The more you show up for other people the more they show up for you. It is that simple and that hard at the same time.

The Tips That Actually Work At Any Phase

Become the host. If you want to get invited to things, start by hosting something yourself. Pick a date, pick something low key like a watch party or a dinner or a game night, and while you are out meeting people casually invite them. By the time the date comes you have a roster and suddenly you are the person who brings people together. Communities get built this way.

Always be the one to offer to exchange numbers. Do not wait for the other person to do it. If you had a good conversation with someone be the one to say hey I would love to grab coffee, can I get your number? And then actually text them. And actually set the date. Be specific. “We should hang out sometime” goes nowhere. “Are you free Thursday for coffee?” goes somewhere.

Never cancel. Unless you are genuinely sick, you show up. Every time you cancel on someone you do not know well yet you are chipping away at something fragile that is still being built. Future you will almost always be glad you went.

Say yes the first and second time someone reaches out to you. If someone initiates plans with you, say yes. If you turn someone down twice they are realistically not going to keep trying and you cannot blame them. Say yes.

Tap into local events. Whatever city you are in there are things happening constantly. Local organizations, community groups, hobby based meetups, city events. I found an entire social club for women in San Francisco doing exactly this and it genuinely changed everything. Add events to your calendar and actually show up. Go with an open mind and I promise you will leave with at least one new connection.

For the introverts: try structured social activities. A cooking class, a book club, a running group, a pottery class. Any activity where there is a built in reason to be there and something to talk about removes so much of the pressure of pure socializing. You are not there to make friends, you are there to do the thing, and the friendships come naturally from that. It is so much easier than walking into a party alone.

The Part Nobody Talks About

Making friends as an adult is genuinely uncomfortable sometimes. There are moments that feel like a lot of effort for not a lot of return. There are nights you come home wondering if it is ever going to feel natural.

It gets natural. I promise it does. Practice makes perfect!!

You are allowed to find it hard. Moving somewhere new and building a life from scratch is hard. Being shy or introverted in social situations that reward extroversion is hard. Wanting connection and not knowing how to get there is hard. All of that is allowed. 🤍

Send this to anyone you know who just moved somewhere new or is trying to build more community in their life. And if you want me to go deeper on any of this I have a million more thoughts just let me know in the comments.

Ta ta for now! ily! xx, Stef

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I keep my travel bag pre-packed and ready to go at all times. It gets me through a two day weekend trip OR a month long Euro summer. A no makeup day at the beach OR a full bridesmaid beat. Whatever the trip throws at me, this bag is ready.

So whether you are searching for the perfect travel makeup bag list, trying to figure out what to actually bring to Europe this summer, or just tired of arriving somewhere and realizing you forgot the one thing you needed— this is for you. 🤍

A Few Rules I Always Follow

After years of refining this I have a few non negotiables that make the whole system work:

Buy travel sizes of everything you can. Most of your favorite brands make them and it is SO worth it. Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon are great for stocking up before a trip.

The tinted sunscreen is doing double duty. It is your SPF and your base in one, which means one less product taking up space. Get a good one and use it every single day you are traveling.

Makeup remover wipes over micellar water when you are traveling. Less spillage risk, easier to use in a tiny airplane bathroom or a hotel room with bad lighting at midnight.

The double sided blush and bronzer stick is the best travel hack I know. One product, two uses, takes up almost no space. If you are not using one of these already.

Restock after every trip. I always do a quick check of what ran out or what I wished I had and add it to my cart immediately. Future me is always SO grateful.

The Bag Itself

This is my tried and true bag is the Tender Love+Carry from Amazon!

I’ve tried a millllion different ones and this one is the most durable, easy to pack/see each item and also happens to be incrediblyyy inexpensive. I keep everything organized in sections— beauty, top compartment for the random essentials, back pocket for the skin stuff, and then a separate pouch for full size toiletries. Breaking it down below for you by section below so it’s easy to shop and pack!

Section 1: Makeup

This is the section I have refined the most. Everything here is either travel size, a multi-use product, or something I would genuinely reach for whether I am doing a five minute no makeup look or a full face.

Base:

• Face powder

• Double sided stick with blush and bronzer (a GAME CHANGER for travel, one product two uses)

• Glow drops or glow lotion

• Travel size makeup primer

• Travel size foundation

• Tinted sunscreen (doubles as your SPF AND your base, do not skip this)

• Travel size concealer

• Travel size color corrector

• Travel size setting spray

Eyes:

• Eyebrow pencil with built in spoolie

• Eyebrow gel

• Travel size eyeshadow palette

• Eyeshadow stick (for when you want a quick look without a full palette situation)

• Eyeliner

• Waterproof mascara

• Regular mascara

Cheeks and Glow:

• Travel size blush

• Two highlighter options (one for every day, one for when you mean business)

Lips:

• Travel size lip liner options

• Lipstick options

• Lip stain

• Lip gloss

Brushes:

• Contour and blush brush

• Powder brush

• Foundation and concealer brush

• Eyeshadow brush

Section 2: Toiletries Pouch

Everything here is travel size where possible. The goal is to never check a bag if you don’t have to — so keeping this section TSA friendly is always the move.

Skin:

• Face wash

• Lightweight moisturizer

• Thick moisturizer (for long flights or dry climates)

• Eye cream

• Face serum

• Tinted sunscreen

• Untinted sunscreen

• Acne cream

Hair:

• Travel shampoo

• Travel conditioner

• Travel hair mask

• Detangling spray

• Travel heat protectant

• Travel dry shampoo

• Travel hairspray

• Hair clips

Miscellaneous:

• Travel toothpaste

• Travel shower cap

• Wrinkle release spray (this one is so underrated and I will not shut up about it)

• Eye drops

• Nail file

• Nail clip

• Q tips

• Cotton pads

• Toothpicks

Section 3: Top Compartment (The Random Essentials)

This is the section that has genuinely saved me more times than I can count. Everything in here is small, easy to forget, and absolutely necessary.

• Travel perfume sample (pro tip: use the ones that are almost empty so you get to enjoy them AND free up space when they’re done)

• Eye drop samples

• Advil

• Antibiotic ointment

• Backup toothpaste

• Body sunscreen

• Mosquito repellent

• Makeup remover wipes

• Melatonin

• Face masks

• Pimple patches

• Hair ties and bobby pins

• Mini rubber bands

• Retainer cleaner

Section 4: Back Pocket (Skin and Recovery)

This is the section that makes the difference between arriving somewhere looking exhausted and arriving somewhere looking like you slept eight hours on the plane when you absolutely did not.

• Eye patches

• Face mask

• Eye mask (for sleeping on flights, NON negotiable but just take from the plane)

• Shower cap

• Band aids

The Quick Reference Packing List

Saving this for anyone who wants to screenshot and shop — here is everything in one place:

MAKEUP: face powder, blush and bronzer stick, glow drops, primer, foundation, tinted sunscreen, concealer, color corrector, setting spray, brow pencil with spoolie, brow gel, eyeshadow palette, eyeshadow stick, eyeliner, waterproof mascara, regular mascara, blush, two highlighters, cream bronzer, lip liner, lipstick, lip stain, lip gloss, contour brush, powder brush, foundation brush, eyeshadow brush

TOP COMPARTMENT: travel perfume, eye drops, Advil, antibiotic ointment, backup toothpaste, body sunscreen, mosquito repellent, makeup remover wipes, melatonin, face masks, pimple patches, hair ties, bobby pins, rubber bands, retainer cleaner

BACK POCKET: eye patches, face mask, eye mask, shower cap, band aids

TOILETRIES: face wash, lightweight moisturizer, thick moisturizer, eye cream, face serum, tinted sunscreen, untinted sunscreen, acne cream, shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, detangling spray, heat protectant, dry shampoo, hairspray, hair clips, toothpaste, shower cap, wrinkle release spray, eye drops, nail file, nail clip, q tips, cotton pads, toothpicks, travel perfume

That is genuinely everything. Years of post-trip notes, forgotten products, and overpacked bags distilled into one list that has never let me down. Save this before your next trip and let me know what I missed!! My list is always evolving!! 🤍

Ta ta for now! ily! xx, Stef

Whether you’re planning a girls trip, a solo adventure, or sneaking in some fun on a work trip like we did, this is your complete guide!! 🤍

Where We Stayed: Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina

We stayed at the Four Seasons Oahu because it was a work trip for Joe, and honestly I will be finding any excuse to go back. The property is absolutely beautiful. It sits right on the Ko Olina lagoons on the west side of the island, which means calmer water, gorgeous sunsets, and a little more of a resort-y, relaxed feel compared to the hustle of Waikiki.

A few things worth knowing if you’re thinking about staying here:

• The pool situation is stunning. 2/3 are kid-friendly and theres one completely private pool that’s adult-only with a delicious infinity pool and swim-up bar.

• We ate at Mina’s and Noe and loved both!

• Ko Olina itself is about 30-40 minutes from Waikiki so renting a car for at least one day is a must if you want to explore

The Full Itinerary!

Tuesday: Arrive, Explore, Sunset Sail

We flew in from SFO and landed around noon which meant we had a full afternoon to settle into the property, walk around, and just exist in the sunshine for a little bit before anything official started. Truly the perfect arrival day.

That evening we did a sunset sail cruise with Hawaii Nautical and it was the most perfect way to kick off the trip. We did a scuba trip with them on a similar catamaran during our Big Island trip a few years ago so it was really cool to be back with the same organization. It was the same energy, same easy vibe, and I love that they’re no frills and easy to book online.

Wednesday: Kualoa Ranch UTV Tour

This was one of my absolute favorite things we did the entire trip and I think it is a non-negotiable if you are going to Oahu. We drove from Ko Olina out to Kualoa Ranch on the windward side of the island (it’s about an hour drive but so worth it!!) and did their UTV tour through the valley.

A little background on Kualoa: the ranch has been in the same family since 1850 and spans over 4,000 acres of land in the Ko’olau Mountains. It’s been the filming location for Jurassic Park, Lost, 50 First Dates, and so many more. The landscape is genuinely unlike anything I’ve ever seen…lush green cliffs, wide open valleys, and views that felt almostttt too beautiful to be real.

The UTV tour takes you through the valley and the guides are incredible. They share the history of the land, the significance of it to Native Hawaiian culture, and point out all the filming locations along the way. We absolutely loved it and I cannot recommend it enough.

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Thursday: Snorkel Tour with Hawaii Nautical

We went back on the Hawaii Nautical catamaran again for their snorkel tour and I am SO glad we did. In the few hours we spent on the water we saw sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and the most beautiful fish (we even caught a tuna on a fishing line & they served fresh sushimi!!!) it truly felt unreal. There’s an open bar on board and they provide food, so you are fully taken care of the entire time.

Genuinely one of the best afternoons of the whole trip. If you can only do one water activity, make it this one.

What to bring: reef safe sunscreen (this one is my fav it smells soooo good) and motion sickness meds!!!

Friday: Waikiki, Foodland Poke, and Pool Day

Our last full day we rented a car and drove over to Waikiki Beach and I am so glad we made time for it even just to pop in. It has such a fun, energetic town and was a totally different vibe from Ko Olina but so worth seeing.

If you have more time in Waikiki than we did, here are some things worth adding to your list:

• Walk Kalakaua Avenue, the main strip with shops, restaurants, and views of Diamond Head

• Surf lesson on Waikiki Beach— one of the most iconic spots in the world to learn and the waves are genuinely perfect for beginners

• Visit Diamond Head State Monument for the hike and the views

• Ala Moana Shopping!!

After Waikiki we continued exploring south and stopped at Foodland for poke on the way back (this is an absolute MUST and I will not hear otherwise!!!). It sounds simple but the poke bar at Foodland is legendary for a reason. Get the spicy ahi and the shoyu!

Then it was back to the hotel for pool time and dinner on the property which was the perfect last evening honestly considering we were EXHAUSTED.

What I Wore

Oahu is warm, sunny, and calls for the kind of outfits that look effortless but still feel put together! Here is everything I brought and wore throughout the trip:

Flights:

• Travel Outfit: snagged this Free People sweater on sale before we left and it was PERFECT. the perfect summer sweater and color scheme.

• Sneakers: these were so comfy and I wore on walks and adventure days on the trip!

• Luggage: my first time using our Beis suitcases and the medium was the perfect size for the 4 night/5 day trip!

Resort / Pool Days:

• Target Bikinis: did potentially my best Target bikini haul ever right before the trip and looooved every one of them.

Sunset Sail / Dinners Out:

• Sunset Sail Set: potentially my favorite fit I’ve ever worn.

• Uniqlo Travel Dress: that I snagged right before the trip is my new favorite versatile dress! It was perfect to dress up or down.

Active Days (Ranch + Snorkeling):

• UTV/Adventure Outfit: I think i’ve worn this exact outfit on 5+ trips now, it’s always perfect. I do wish I brought a light raincoat because there were scattered showers during our drive but nothing unmanageable!

• Snorkel Sail Outfit: the embroidered sailboat are you KIDDING ME!!! on insane sale on Free People.

How I Packed: Tips, Favorites, and What I Snagged On Sale

I could write an entire post on packing alone (and maybe I will) but here are the things that made this trip so much smoother.

My packing philosophy:

Write out every single day that you’re going on a trip in the notes app on your phone, including the activities and itinerary. From there write out each type of outfit you’ll need during that day and then build each outfit from your closet.

Once assembled, write the outfits into the note so you have seemless dressing/styling while on the trip!

Packing favorites:

• Packing Cubes I use the compression ones to make the outfits/bag even tighter and it’s the best space saving hack ever!!

• Luggage love the medium size

• Toiletry Bag the best one ever and i’ve tried them all, I can make another substack about how I fill it!

• Full Travel List Here!!

Tips I always follow for a warm weather trip:

• Pack one more swimsuit than you think you need you WILL wear it

• Reef safe sunscreen only, especially in Hawaii where it is actually required by law

• A lightweight linen or cotton coverup does triple duty (beach, lunch, exploring). I always wear multiple times!!

Recs From You Guys!

Before we left I asked for your recs and you guys absolutely delivered!!! Saving ALL of these for next time and adding them here so you have them too!!

The Pillbox Hike + Lanikai Beach Do the Pillbox hike and then head straight to Lanikai Beach after, apparently it is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island and the perfect reward after the hike. AND Obama’s favorite shave ice spot is right in that area.

Waimānalo Beach Described to me as honestly the most beautiful beach ever and I fully believe it. Skip the main entrance and park in the neighborhood instead for a much better experience.

North Shore for Sunset The best sunset spot on the island! Go to watch the surfers, spend the whole day up there if you can, and grab your Foodland poke while you’re at it. A full day on the North Shore sounds like an absolute dream honestly and I’m bummed we didn’t have time for it!

China Wall A really cool surf and sunset spot! Park in the neighborhood and follow the path between the houses.

Snorkeling Spots Worth Knowing

Electric Beach (west side): You need to be a strong swimmer for this one because you swim out past a break, but once you’re out there follow the large pipe all the way to the opening. It blows out warm air which attracts the most incredible fish and sea life. Apparently it is verrrry worth it and I’ll definitely be going next trip!!

Sharks Cove: A classic North Shore snorkeling spot and one that comes highly recommended.

Makua Beach (also known as Ke’eau or “Sets on the Beach”) : This is the most northwestern beach on the island and a bit of a trek to get to, but it is absolutely stunning. It drops off quickly which makes it amazing for free diving and snorkeling. One really important note that I want to be intentional about sharing: this is a local beach and a well kept secret. Be respectful and take cues from the people around you!

The Oahu Summer Trip Cheat Sheet

Best time to go: Summer (June through August) is peak season: warm, sunny, and great ocean conditions for snorkeling and sailing. Book activities and hotels early!!

How many days do you need: 5 to 7 days is the sweet spot to see Ko Olina, Waikiki, the North Shore, and Kualoa without feeling rushed

Getting around: Rent a car for at least part of your trip!! It is the only way to really see the island!

Save this for your next trip and send it to anyone you know who is heading to Oahu this summer!! And if you went somewhere recently and want a guide like this let me know, more travel content is coming. 🌺🤍

Ta ta for now! ily! xx, Stef

SO after years of trial and error and learning and all that boring stuff…here is every single thing you need to do on Thursday evening so that every weekend is the best weekend of your entire life <3

Step 1: The Everything Shower (non-negotiable!!)

Thursdays are what I like to call “everything shower optional” night. If you have plans Friday right after work, you are doing this Thursday. No excuses and not a single step skipped.

We’re talking a full 10-step exfoliating routine, an actually thorough shave (you know the one), and when you get out…a crisp, even layer of self-tanner. I promise you’ll step out of that shower feeling like a completely different, significantly more put-together person and THAT is how we should be heading into the weekend!!

• Exfoliating body scrub or mit

• Exfoliating shaving cream

• Flaming Razor (the best)

• Self tanner

• Body lotion (Naturium body lotion FOREVERRRR)

• Tanning mit

Step 2: Cook a real, healthy meal at home

Fresh out of the shower and glowing is when we start our dinner process. Make something delicious AND nutritious because let’s be honest, once that weekend starts, there is a very likely chance you will not see a vegetable again until Monday. This is your one opportunity. Take it seriously.

Can totally be something simple like a big salad, a grain bowl, whatever you have in the fridge. Just something that makes you feel like you have your life together, because you do!!

• Favorite weeknight recipe (two-ingredients from Trader Joes)

• Meal prep containers (for leftovers!)

Step 3: TV catch-up block: 8pm to slumber

It’s around 7:30–8pm, you’ve eaten, you’re glowing (inside and out), and now we have one job: get caught up on every single show you let slip through the week. This is not optional. This is research.

You have plans this weekend. People to see. Conversations to be had. You NEED to know what happened on your shows and you need to be ready to gossip, debrief, and theorize at a moment’s notice. Binge responsibly.

• Streaming subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, Max, etc.)

• The coziest blanket / throw ever

• Cozy slippers or lounge set

Step 4: In bed by 10:00 PM with your Lemme sleep gummy

When that clock hits ten (or earlier), you are DONE. Take your Lemme sleep gummy, put the show on sleep timer, and go to bed. Not because the night isn’t fun, but because you have a perfect work-from-home Friday routine to follow at 7am sharp and showing up rested is how you actually enjoy every single thing you have planned this weekend.

Future you will be so, SO grateful.

• Sleep gummies (Lemme!! trust)

• Silk pillowcase (protect the self tanner situation)

• Blue light glasses

• Bedside water bottle

• Cozy pajama set

Save this for Thursday and report back. I also have my full work-from-home Friday routine coming soon! 🤍

Ta ta for now! ily!

xx, Stef

Rewinding back to June of 2025, we had our flight alerts on and were able to snag well-priced tickets to Tokyo for January 2026. We booked them immediately, and suddenly, our dream trip was becoming a reality.

The only problem was that NEITHER of us had any idea of what to do once we actually landed in Japan. We quickly realized the ski resort we wanted to ski (Niseko-Hokkaido) was not only another flight away, but was basically like traveling from London to San Francisco to Denver to Aspen…in a foreign language…eek!

I’ve been so excited to write this guide that took us 6 months of research to accomplish, and I am happy to report that every part of our trip went off without a hitch! For a bit of context, we splurged more than we typically would have on travel, accommodations, food, etc., knowing this was our one and only 30th birthday trip (with no kids, mortgage, and dual-income). But given we’re not millionaires (yet), it was still a pretty reasonable trip for everything we were able to do and experience.

This guide was written with love for first-time Japan skiers, solo-travelers, couples, and group trips!

Within you’ll find:

• Transportation Recommendations (flights, transfers, pros/cons, options)

• Accommodations Review

• Where To Ski/Mountain Tips

• Niseko Village Recommendations (food, nightlife, sweet treats)

• Rental Information

• Packing Tips & more!

I hope this guide helps you achieve your bucket list trip or gives you inspo for a new dream to add to your list! Feel free to ask any questions in the comments!! Happy travels <3

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When I wrote my 30 before 30 list back in June, I wanted to include a healthy mix of moments on it, ranging from small tasks like learning to floral arrange to larger ones like international travel. I figured if there was ever going to be an era where I could dedicate the time, energy and (loosely) the funds to do such a mix of tasks, it’d be in my 29th year of life. One of the items that I always felt represented that mindset the most, was this drive, and boyyyyyy was I right.

I’ve never been one to enjoy car rides as someone who always gets motion sick, so I was nervous this would be a very difficult trip for me. But I’m happy to report back that we PERFECTLY spaced each stop, hotel stay and total trip time, where not once did I get car sick or butt sores from sitting too long (IYKYK).

I’m so excited to share the final itinerary we did and the items that got me through the trip. Of course, this is what worked best for us and there is plenty of room to swap some destinations, stops or add-ons around a bit (but I truly loved this trip and wouldn’t have changed our route for a minute (Joe can attest))! So without further ado…ENJOY!

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A Few Items That Made This Trip 10/10

• Farmers Market Tote Bag Cooler - has a space for both snacks/chips and a little cooler in the front for drinks. I’ll never go on a road trip without it now!

• CalPak Carry-On Bag - Joe already added this to his Christmas list again, the way it handles is so so smooth and it fits SO much in it.

• Dagne Dover Carry-On Tote - Easily my most used carry-on tote bag ever. I got it before my Europe trip this Spring and haven’t looked back since. Fits SO much and perches perfectly on top of the CalPak roller luggage. Fits under the seat in front of you on airplanes too!

• Travel Umbrella - A hero, considering it rained every day of the trip. Packs super tiny so I was able to fit it in my purse when we walked around too!

• My Favorite Hand Sanitizer - Finished two of these between gas station stops, pre-dining assurance, you name it.

• Ginger Chews - helpful for car sickness and I alway keep them handy on boats and plane rides too!

• Uniqlo Sweater: pretty sure I wore this plus their white tees every single day of the trip, evening and night! Ordering in every color now!!

• Rothys Clogs: I’ve been preaching the good word about these for over a year, but they truly were the best slipping on and off in the car and in hotel rooms!

Our Day-By-Day Itinerary!

Day 1: San Francisco to Monterey

We took a half day of work and left San Francisco around 2:30 PM to make our way to our first stop of Monterey. I was hoping we’d be able to walk around or make it for sunset, but given the rain and daylights savings, it was pitch black and pretty yucky out by the time we arrived so we opted for a cozy night in after dinner. Not too much to report back on this day since it was short!

Lodging: We stayed the night at Hotel Pacific in Downtown Monterey. It was just what we needed and a really cute cottage feel. The room had a kitchenette, full living room, and a working fireplace, which we lit while I fell asleep to the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City screaming at one another. Heavenly.

I’ve also stayed downtown at the Marriot which I thought was great and the Embassy Suites which is a little ways away. Both are exactly what you’d expect of them/the chains.

Food: We had dinner at Chart House on Cannery Row…skip it. It felt like an upscale Chili’s (derogatory) ((I love Chili’s)) that wasn’t worth the bill.

Day 2: Monterey to Carmel to Morro Bay

This was Joe’s favorite day of the trip! He had never been to Carmel or Monterey so I was soo excited to show him around. He said in the future he’d probably skip visiting Monterey (I agree, unless you’re whale watching or visiting for the first time), but loved Carmel.

You can read my full Monterey/Carmel guide HERE!

Food: We grabbed coffee in downtown Monterey at Carmel Bakery then walked around Fisherman’s Wharf. We tried to spot some sea lions before making our way over to Carmel where we visited the larger Carmel Bakery location and grabbed breakfast sandwiches and another coffee. We marched our goods down to Carmel Beach City Park to enjoy them by the ocean for the perfect breakfast view!

Then we hopped back in our car and did the 17-mile drive which we both LOVED (and was still fun my third time around). After a ton of photos and browsing the Pebble Beach gift shops, we hopped back on the road around 2:30 for the ~2ish hour drive down to Morro Bay where we were staying the night. I was a bit nervous about the pick as a ton of people had told me we should’ve booked our stay in SLO vs Morro Bay but OH MY GOODNESS what a cute little town!

Dining: After watching sunset at Morro Strand State Beach we went into the town for dinner. We saw SO many otters along the way and it was the cutes thing ever. We went to Giovanni’s Fish Market & Galley for some pre-dinner oysters (be prepared for some BIG BOY oysters) then over to STAX Wine Bar and Bistro for dinner which was great!

Lodging: We stayed at the Hampton Inn Morro Bay and honestly, it was perfect. I love a Hampton Inn lol

Day 3: Morro Bay to San Luis Obispo to Solvang to Santa Barbara to Los Angeles

If you’re thinking, woah that’s a lot, yes it was lol. But I promise it was so so manageable. Most of our stops were basically on the way down to Santa Barbara/Los Angeles from Morro Bay, if not just a few minutes of of the way!

Coffee: We kicked off the morning with probably the most highly recommended coffee shop I’ve ever received, Scout Coffee, and let me tell you it did NOT disappoint. The Morro Bay locations interior was SO cute and I’m sure the SLO locations are just as adorable.

Then we drove through SLO, which was such a cute town, now I understand why everyone who went to college at UC SLO loves it so much! We didn’t stop since it was pouring rain but still got to take it all in :)

We made our way over to the cutie little town of Solvang which has been on my list to visit since moving to California. It’s a quaint town known for its Danish-style architecture in the Santa Ynez Valley. We didn’t get to stop in any of the bakeries or nearby wineries but we’ll definitely be back on another trip to!

For lunch, we stopped in Santa Barbara which I’ve heard the most AMAZING things about, but sadly it was still raining. We got lunch at Reunion Kitchen + Drink right along the water and it was perfect, although I’ll definitely be back to swap my Hot Toddy for an Aperol Spritz one day.

And finally, on this marathon of a day, we ended our day’s travels in Los Angeles. I had only ever visited once, which happened to be for New Year's of this year, so I was super excited to drive around different areas of the city. We only had about 45 minutes of daylight when we arrived, but we still got to drive around Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and a little bit through Venice. We grabbed a celebratory pint of Guinness for almost getting to the last leg of our trip in Venice, before having a cute dinner at Irori Sushi, a Japanese restaurant where you take your shoes off at the door and sit on the floor! Great prep for our Japan trip in January (spoiler alert!!!).

Day 4: Los Angeles to San Diego

My personal favorite day of the trip! I had such a blast driving from Los Angeles to San Diego all through Orange County!

We drove along the coast the entire way, stopping in Huntington Beach, Corona Del Mar, Laguna Beach and then finally…SAN DIEGO! The stops were short and sweet but enough for me to CLAIM Laguna Beach as my future home because wow that place is simply perfect. And it made all of my Lauren Conrad dreams come true.

If we’re being sooo honest, Joe and I visited San Diego about a year and a half ago and honestly thought we hated it. When we first moved to CA, we had told everyone we’d eventually move to San Diego (sight unseen) and were sooo disappointed after visiting (we even moved our flight up earlier to get home to our beloved SF sooner). I was nervous to go back and end such an incredible trip here, but was SO pleasantly surprised at how much an evening in La Jolla won me back over. It’s the cutest area and we finally found some good dining (don’t go to Cody’s despite everyone else’s recs). And TBH our hotel room had me saying I wanted to move there.

Lodging: After arriving to San Diego, we checked into one of my new favorite hotels ever, Hotel La Jolla (which I will be modeling our guest room after now). It had the most stunning views of the ocean, sunrise and sunset— and we even kept our bedroom porch door open for the beginning half of the night because it was such a gorgeous night.

Dining: I’ve had Marisi pinned on my hit list guide for a while now, but the last time we visited SD, I thought it looked a bit too trendy to taste good. This time, it proved me so wrong. The focaccia and browned butter were out of this world, and we loved splitting the carbonara and spicy rigatoni. We capped the night and trip off at Bobboi gelato (with over 2000 reviews and 5 stars) with high expectations, and it delivered. It was truly the perfect ending to the trip. <3

Simply put, the trip was perfect. What made me the happiest thought was that after seeing so many new, beautiful corners of California— I am still so so happy that San Francisco is where we get to call home. She’s perfect to me (but if anyone wants to go in on a house in Laguna, you know who to call).

TTFN!!!!

Stef

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I sorted through all of the chaos, took notes, and put together this list of the spots that came up again and again in the messages.

This isn’t a polished itinerary (yet!) — I’ll be documenting everything in real time on my stories and posting a full recap after the trip, but here’s the crowdsourced roadmap from everyone who’s done the PCH drive and also loves to romanticize it.

🐚 MONTEREY

Food:

• First Awakenings (breakfast classic)

• Osteria al Mare (for sunset views)

• Il Vecchio (homemade pasta heaven)

• Salina’s (cozy local gem)

🌊 MORRO BAY

Stops & Eats:

• Sea Otter Rock (yes, the otters are real and adorable but you need a boat to get there)

• Brown Butter Cookie Co (mandatory)

• Hidden Kitch (a secret-feeling breakfast spot)

• Sea Shanty

• Windows on the Water (dinner w/ a view)

• Tognazzini’s Dockside (seafood shack vibes)

• Dorn’s (breakfast!)

• Stop at Hearst Castle on the way between Monterey and Morro Bay!

• Shell Beach for sunset 🌅

🏄‍♀️ SAN LUIS OBISPO / PISMO

Food + Fun:

• High Street Deli (get the Dutch Crunch)

• Firestone Grill (tri-tip sandwich, always)

• Lincoln Deli

• Giuseppe’s (Italian date night energy)

• Perfumo Canyon drive

• Montana de Oro State Park (gorgeous coastal hike)

• Madonna Inn (obviously)

• Pismo Beach for golden hour

• Field Day (cute shop)

• Old West (cinnamon rolls!!!)

• Scout Coffee ☕️

🌴 SANTA BARBARA

• Stroll State Street, grab a glass of wine, pretend you live there

☀️ LOS ANGELES

Things to do:

• Hollywood Bowl

• Walk around the Rose Bowl (Pasadena)

• Hike to Griffith Observatory or the Hollywood Sign

• Explore Little Tokyo, the Arts District, or Culver City

• Hit the beaches: Manhattan, Marina del Rey, or Long Beach

• San Gabriel Valley for the best Asian food scene (skip Chinatown)

• Koreatown for unreal KBBQ

• Taco trucks in East LA (Ave 26)

Food Recs:

• Howlin’ Rays (Nashville hot perfection)

• Daikokuya Ramen 🍜

• CAR Artisanal Goods

• Langer’s #19 sandwich — life-changing

• Porto’s Bakery

• Pizzeria Sei or Quarter Sheets

• Amboy Burgers

• Bestia / Bavel / Saffy’s (sister restaurants = 10/10)

• Republiqué (my forever fave)

• Basquiera in Malibu for the views + vibe

🌅 SAN DIEGO

• Top Gun House (Oceanside — yes, the one from the movie!)

• TBD once I get there 😉 (send me more recs!)

☀️ Other Detours

• Solvang (the Danish village that feels like Disneyland)

• Pismo Beach (again, because it’s worth two mentions)

I’ll be sharing everything — playlists, packing lists, photo dumps, what was worth the hype (and what wasn’t), and everything else in between so STAY TUNED.

If you’ve done this drive, drop anything I might have missed in the comments!!! I want to keep adding to this before I hit the road. 💌

xoxo

In case you missed my Paris recap, we hopped over to London after an incredible trip start in Paris via the Eurostar for a jam-packed long weekend. This guide includes my honest hotel review, what visit and what to skip, how to effectively use their public transportation, free museums, and why the Guinness in London hits way harder than the one you’re used to.

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For my 13th Birthday, my mom and I ventured to Paris for my first time in France, and when I say it changed my life... I MEAN IT! I returned home and immediately transformed my childhood bedroom into a Paris shrine: with photos of the Eiffel Tower perched anywhere I could, chips of paint I had taken off the (then crumbling) Eiffel Tower proudly on display, and all of my souvenirs scattered throughout so I could pretend I was still there every day.

Fast forward 16 years (holy moly!) and it remains one of my favorite cities in the world. I was so excited when my mom agreed to another trip across the pond with me when we saw Beyoncé was going on her Cowboy Carter tour. The second we booked our tickets for her London show, we knew we’d be stopping in Paris as well.

Without further ado, here’s everything we did during our 5-day Paris vacation — including where we stayed, what I’d do differently, my new favorite museum ever, some new favorite restaurants that I’ll be returning to, and how to beat jet lag like a pro.

I like to think this guide is perfect for first-timers and well-seasoned veterans alike, including a mix of must-do Paris landmarks, hidden gems, shopping advice, day trips, and local-approved little luxuries.

Enjoy!! <3

Day 1 – Arrival Day, Where to Stay in Paris, and Arc de Triomphe Views

We checked into our first hotel of the trip Hotel du Collectionneur, a luxury hotel in the 8th arrondissement near Parc Monceau. It’s not the most centrally located (the nearest metro is a 10–20 minute walk), but the rooms were massive by Paris standards and the hotel itself was stunning. If you want comfort, space, and glam hotel vibes, this is a great pick.

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And now, I’m beyond excited to share that we’re taking Meet You There SF on the road for the very first time—to Lake Tahoe!

The Dream Meetup: A Girls-Only Ski Bus to Tahoe

A fun fact is that I currently only have two personality traits. The above mentioned: hosting events. And the second: my shared Lake Tahoe ski lease. It has been a dream to host a Meetup in Lake Tahoe for years and I’m SO excited to have one of my absolute favorite brands in the city partner with me on it: Sports Basement!

I started chatting with SB a few months ago about my crazy idea to have a girlies-only, private bus charter girls in our club from San Francisco to Tahoe for our one-day event. They had never done something like this, and of course neither have I, but the two women who helped me coordinate and plan every detail shared the same level of passion and excitement about the prospect of making travel to/from Lake Tahoe and skiing more accessible.

Now, in just one short week, we’ll be gathering in Tahoe to ski, apres, and connect. Bringing Tahoe locals, ski lease participants, and San Francisco girlies together in a way that (to my knowledge!) has never been done before. I am so incredibly grateful that Sports Basement has helped me bring this crazy dream to life and can’t wait for everyone to experience my favorite place in the world with me by their side.

Attending the Meetup and have never been to Palisades? Or heading there in the future and looking for my tried and true recommendations? Whether you’re skiing or not, I’ve pulled together the below guide to ensure you have the best day or weekend trip possible.

I can’t wait to hear what you think! <3

Things to do that are NOT skiing or snowboarding!

Ride the tram to the top of the mountain!

Take the Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram to the top of the mountain! Once you’re at the top, you’ll arrive at High Camp where you’ll find restaurants/dining spaces, the Olympic Museum, and beautiful panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada

• Hours: 9am - 4pm with last upload at 3:40pm

• Price: $64 roundtrip for JUST the tram or included in daily lift/Ikon pass

Dining

• The Rocker — my favorite bar and restaurant in the village! Get the pretzel, nachos, tuna tacos— but you truly can’t go wrong with anything here!

• The Dubliner — Tahoe’s only Irish tavern and the perfect spot for an after-ski Guinness! Love their fried cheese curds too.

• Fireside Pizza Company — amazing for groups and pretty good pizza (I’m a tough critic— I’m from New Jersey).

• Plumjack Cafe — Delicious food and amazing wine/drink selection. My favorite restaurant in Tahoe!

• 22 Bistro — Great food and amazing outdoor seating with a beautiful view of the mountain. Also a fun apres spot when they bring in a DJ!

• Coffebar — my favorite coffee shop!

• Little Bear Cafe — second favorite coffee shop!

• European Crepes — delicious, of course!

  

Apres/Bars

• Le Chamois — The ultimate Apres bar! Gets packed on weekends and sometimes has live music.

• KT Base Bar — At the base of the mountain/main lodge. New as of the 2025 season and very fun! They bring in DJs who play on top of a Tram Car bar that sits under the Gondola!

• The Slot Bar — Home of the shotskis and PBRs, a small but mighty bar that I’ve dance atop a few too many times.

Shopping

• Lather & Fizz Bath Boutique — the cutest bath bombs, soaps, gifts and pajamas!

• Oakley

• Roark

• Patagonia

• The Ledge Boardshop

• The North Face

• Palisades Tahoe Logo — gift/gear store for all things souvinear and Palisades logos!

Other Things To Do

• Palisades Tahoe Yoga Studio — classes on weekends with up to 45 spots!

  • Price: Drop-In: $27, Drop-In + Mat Rental $30

• Snow Tubing — right next to the ski lifts and so fun!

  • Snow tubing sessions are 55 minutes long and begin at the top of the hour.

  • The last daily tubing session is at 3:00 PM.

  • Price: $55

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If you’re skiing and/or snowboarding!

And coming for the 4/12 Meetup..I HAVE DISCOUNTS FOR YOU!

Sports Basement is offering 20% off for Basementeers and 11% off for Non-Basementeers from April 4 through April 15, 2025. Please note, this does not unfortunately cover ski rentals, but their rentals are incredibly affordable!

Shopping Online? Use the code THISSIDEOFSTEF at checkout.

Shopping In-Store? Show this post at checkout to receive your discount. POS: 2050013677162. Some exclusions apply.

P.S. If you’re not a Sports Basement Basementeer yet? Join today!! I signed up two years ago and never looked back! It’s only $25 (lifetime fee!) to unlock even more perks and benefits! 10% off EVERY PURCHASE for life and 10% also goes back to local schools and non-profits.

Truly the kindest company ever!

Lift Tickets:

• If you’re skiing one day only, purchase a single day ticket here.

• If you’re skiing 2-4 days, purchase the amount of tickets you need from their daily pass pack checkout.

• If you’re skiing more than 4 days, I recommend purchasing the Ikon pass. The earlier in the season you can do this, the better, as prices increase as the season approaches.

• Spring skiing special: The Spring Ticket Trio offers ultimate flexibility—three lift tickets for just $152/day and you can share them amongst friends!

Ski Lessons:

You can book group or private lessons here on the Palisades site! There’s a wide range of options from season-long programs to one-day clinics. To coordinate group lessons with other girlies in Meet You There SF, join our Group Chat!

Not a first-timer? No problem! Use promo code LEARN35 for 35% off group lessons during the Learn to Ski and Ride Weekends.

Gear Rental:

Rent gear directly in the village from Palisades Tahoe Gear Rental. What’s included:

• Full equipment packages include skis, poles, and boots, or a snowboard and boots.

• Ski-only or snowboard-only packages only include skis or snowboard.

• Helmets are not included but you can add them at checkout.

On-Mountain Lunch:

• Gold Coast Lodge (Palisades Side)

• The Tram (Palisades Side) - Dine-in restaurant style dining and delicious food!

• The Chalet (Alpine Side) - Bavarian-style food

  

Favorite Palisades Lifts:

• Expert: Headwall, Silverado, Siberia, Granite Chief, KT-22, Shirley Lake

• Intermediate: Gold Coast, Emigrant

Favorite Alpine Lifts:

• Expert: Scott, Sherwood, Summit

• Intermediate: Roundhouse, Treeline Cirque, Lakeview

Whether you’re heading to Tahoe with Meet You There SF or planning a future trip, I hope this guide helps you make the most of your time in Palisades Tahoe. I can’t wait to hear about your experiences! Drop a comment or send me a DM on Instagram (@sideofstef) with your favorite Tahoe moments!

See you on the slopes (or at après)! <3

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Thankfully, in parallel, I’m in awe at the number of people, organizations, and brands who snapped into immediate action in the blink of an eye. I’m continuing to keep an eye out for new places to donate (goods and monetarily) based on the city’s constantly changing needs, and am in the works planning an opportunity for my San Francisco-based baddies to get involved which is coming very very soon.

More to come and sending so so much love to our LA friends <3

LETS CATCH UP!

TAHOE!

Last weekend was MOVE IN DAY at our Lake Tahoe ski lease! This is the third year Joe and I have done some form of longer-term Tahoe rental and it’s something that makes both of us so SO happy.

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Two years later, I can’t envision myself living anywhere else (at least for now!). As cheesy as it may sound, I genuinely wake up every morning pinching myself that I live in California and have somehow built the most amazing life from scratch out here. I have go-to restaurants where the staff/owners feel like family, have met new friends who feel like lifelong support systems, and have created the most energizing and refreshing routines that somehow make every week feel exciting and new!

With that said, it’d be CRIMINAL of me not to share some of my favorite places, things, bites, and sips that made 2024 feel so special. I can’t wait to share more in 2025 and please do let me know if you try or also love any of the below! I’d love to chat about them <3

Without further ado…MY 2024 FAVORITES!

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Getting to show Joe my favorite resorts, runs, shops, and restaurants has been so fun and he’s fallen hard and fast for Utah too.

I created this guide with some of my favorite recommendations for a perfect weekend itinerary for any couple, family, or group of friends interested in visiting Salt Lake City/Park City. As always, I’ve aimed to keep it digestible, simple but still informative with everything I wish I knew as a first-time visitor.

Enjoy!

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