Maka’eo Botanical Gardens walking path

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wearing: pearl earrings (purchased in Hawaii-similar here) / sunglasses / summer lipstick / print dress / multi-strand bracelet / woven handbag / summer nail polish / espadrille mules / gold ankle bracelet /

One of the beautiful facts about Hawaii is that they have large, beautiful flowers! Our hotel was located in a rather urban setting, but one mile away, there was a botanical garden filled with samples of all the beautiful flowers and plants native to the Big Island.

We put on our walking shoes and walked a little over a mile to the Maka’eo Botanical Gardens. It is a beautiful walking path adjacent to the Kailua beach. This is a beach area which attracts locals instead of tourist, so the path and beach were quiet and serene. My son even found a coconut on the beach! He was so happy!

The flowers were really pretty, and my son loved all the different types of cactus. We had to keep reminding him not to touch the needles!! Eeeek! Haha

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After touring the beautiful gardens, we walked along the beach before heading back into town for lunch.

My favorite beer to buy a case of back home is from Kona Brewing Company. So I was thrilled to learn we were so close to actual brewing company! On our way back to the hotel from the gardens, we stopped into Kona Brewing Company for lunch.

kona brewing company beer flight

There is nothing like tasting beer straight from the brewery. It is smooth, fresh, and puts anything bottled to shame. I enjoyed a four beer sampler with my lunch, which was incredible. My favorite beer was the Porter which was made with 100% Kona coffee beans! I could taste the coffee, and the smell was out of this world. If you ever visit Kona, don’t miss tasting beer at Kona Brew Co.!

Shop my Hawaii sight-seeing outfit:

This outfit was perfect for walking two miles round-trip to Maka’eo Botanical Gardens, as well as walking in the gardens and along the beach. It kept me cool despite the humidity, and these shoes were just as comfortable to walk in as a pair of sneakers. Yay for comfy and cute shoes!

Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for more from our Hawaiian adventure!

Aloha!

Cathy

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Shades of blue on a Hawaiian summer evening

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wearing: bold silver earrings / sun hat / sunglasses / summer lipstick / bold silver necklace / blue ombre dress (on major sale!) / floral blue scarf / summer nail polish / blue bracelet / woven handbag / ivory wedge espadrilles /

One of the beautiful things about Hawaii, is how blue the water is! At home, our skies are often overcast or grey, so the water doesn’t look very colorful. In Hawaii, the close proximity to the equator, coupled with the crystal clear water, creates the perfect environment for incredible shades of blue.

This blue ombre dress I picked up from Chico’s was perfect for a Hawaiian dinner near the water. It evoked the same shades of blue seen in the Pacific Ocean waters of Hawaii. This blue floral scarf paired with the dress gave the look it’s overall island vibe. This was my favorite outfit of the trip!

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I love blue, but I also love dressing in theme with my surroundings. This dress evoked the perfect vibe for strolling on the streets of Hawaii during sunset, as well as dining by the beach.

Since this dress mimicked the ocean blue hues, I wore it for our family dinner at The Fish Hopper. This incredible restaurant is famous for it’s clam chowder and Mai Tai’s. While I skipped the Mai Tai, I did enjoy a cup of clam chowder, which for the record, was out of this world!

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The Fish Hopper sits across the street from the beach just a few steps away from our hotel in Kona. It offered a beautiful view of the ocean, and an incredible menu. My scallop risotto was out of this world, and everyone in my family really enjoyed their meals.

As it turns out, they have a location in Monterey! Who knew! So we can re-visit this delicious Hawaiian meal back home. Yum!

Shop my blue ombre dress and outfit:

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for more from Hawaii!

Aloha!

Cathy

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Nordstrom Anniversary Sale fall 2019 blogger picks

nordstrom anniversary sale 2019

Best deals Nordstrom Anniversary Sale fall 2019 from top left: curling iron (such a good deal-I’m buying this one!) / green jumpsuit (one of the top fall 2019 colors!) / red plaid blazer (plaid blazers are still big this year) / gold hoop earrings (new for fall-currently full price on brand’s website) / cable knit sweater (classic ivory cable knit sweater, great to wear for many years) / Estee Lauder set (one of mt favorite’s!) / Zebra bootie (I’m buying this one! Animal prints are hot for fall-as usual!) /Jeans (classic style, yes I am buying this too) / Animal print skirt (always a fall classic!) / Black hobo bag (great everyday bag) / Black high heel booties (I’m buying these-aren’t they hot!) / Brown tote bag (classic tote, great for everyday and the office)

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for fall 2019 is here! This is always a fun sale to pick up a few basics for the upcoming fall 2019 season. It’s good to wait and see which trends from the runway will actually hit the streets before stocking up on fall trends. What we know is going to be hot on the streets for fall is animal prints, snakeskin, plaid, and Pantone’s top twelve colors, which you can view here.

This is the time to buy basics! When I say basics, I mean the base of your fall wardrobe. This can mean items such as jeans, layering pieces such as tee’s and turtlenecks, underwear, workout clothing and shoes, beauty products, and this fabulous curling iron that I am buying!

If you are looking for handbags, look for basic, everyday bags such as this black tote or this brown tote. When it comes to shoes, you can’t go wrong with booties! This snakeskin pair will carry you from now into the winter season, and this black pair is classic to wear throughout the year.

The reason it’s a good idea to buy basics from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 right now, is because the prices will go up on August 5, 2019. So, you can stock up on fall basics now at sale prices! Love that!

Only cardholders can shop today starting at 9:30am PDT. The sale opens up to the public on July 19, 2019.

I have scoured the sale for the best deals on basics which will still be relevant when fall actually arrives. I hope you love what I love! Here are my favorites from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale fall 2019.

Shop blogger picks Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019

Shop what I purchased from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019 for fall 2019:

What are you buying this year from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy