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A DAY IN TULUM //

Wednesday, 28 June 2017

Top c/o  | Shorts: similar | Shoes: c/o  | Sunnies: Forever21 | Bag: Asos








Tulum has to be one of my favourite towns in all of Mexico. It's so rustic yet trendy and still has the gorgeous white sand beaches I remember from years ago. While we were there we met up with a bunch of Danny's family and spent the day playing in the waves, swimming in cenotes and sipping mojitos. This adorable off the shoulder top and tassel sandals (which I wore all trip long) from Le Château were perfect for a day in Tulum - chic yet beachy.

This spot we stopped at is called Papaya Playa Project and it is stunning! Definitely recommend. The last time we went to Tulum we spent the day at Be Tulum which is also gorgeous. Really anywhere you end up you will fall in love with. 

xx
Tessa

Thank you to Le Château for partnering on this post.

TOP 5 IN-FLIGHT MUST HAVES //

Friday, 16 June 2017











Whenever Danny and I head on vacation, a comfy airport look is always a must. We have always been huge vans of Native and find they really are the best shoes for travelling, as I've mentioned before here. We recently picked up a couple new pairs for our vacation and I am in love with their new clay pink colour options, which I'm wearing above! I wore my natives yesterday for a grand total of 9 hours travelling to get to Mexico and they were a dream - super lightweight and breathable. They're also nice and lite so they won't weigh your luggage down after. I also packed the Jeffersons which will be perfect for exploring Mexico in!

After spending 7 hours on planes yesterday, I wanted to share my top 5 in-flight must haves for a smooth, comfortable in-flight experience.

1. Comfy shoes.
Obviously comfy shoes are a must for any travel. You'll be running around but also sitting for long periods of time. My feet always swell when I travel so it's essential for me to have comfy shoes that will allow for circulation and breath.

2. An external iPhone charge.

Often times I just assume the plane will have outlets so you can charge your computer or iPhone on the go, so it's never a big deal if my phone is dying because I know I can just charge it on the plane. Yesterday we weren't so fortunate, no outlets on the first or second flight! Thank goodness for my extra battery pack which was able to give both myself and Danny a bit of an extra charge to allow us to listen to music and play some games in flight.

3. A laptop or iPad with a pre-loaded movie.

Along with the assumption of outlets on the plane, I often assume there will be in-flight entertainment. Again in yesterday's experience this was not the case. What I would have done to have a movie loaded and ready to go on one of our devices. 

4. A good face mask.

The recycled air in airplanes always leaves my skin feeling suuuper dry and looking super tired. I love bringing a good 15 minute face mask with me to pop on mid-flight. You may look like a psychopath but you'll land with fresh glowing skin!

5. A cozy cardigan.

Even if I'm flying to a hot destination like Mexico, I always bring a comfy cardigan so I can wrap myself up when the plane gets a little chilly. It can also double as a blanket for Danny and I to snuggle up and watch a movie with.

xx
Tessa

WHAT I'M PACKING FOR MEXICO //

Wednesday, 14 June 2017



Tomorrow morning, Danny and I will be taking off and heading to sunny Mexico! I know we were just there, but it is seriously one of our favorite spots, and aside from going to soak up the sun and drink all the margs, Danny actually purchased some property there so we're really going to check out the land and sign the docs, but any excuse would have done for us to be able to head back to Playa Del Carmen and Tulum. 

Heading on vacay is the perfect reason to refresh your poolside wardrobe and pick up some fun in the sun approved pieces. Mexico is gorgeous and filled with bright colors, turquoise waters, and all the festive fun, so I wanted to pick up some new pieces to spruce up my current warm weather wardrobe. Obviously I'll be packing all the new arrivals from MACCS the label (that's my clothing line for those that don't know!). I also picked up a couple fun handbags to take from the beach to nights out. I love the fun straw and pom pom details. Another must for sunny vacays are tassel or drop earrings - so cute with little off the shoulder tops and dresses. Every vacation I always bring my go-to round Ray bans, I also recently fell back in love with my Quay leopard sunnies so those will be coming along as well. Another vacation must is the NYX BB cream, I pick up a new bottle up almost every sunny vacation I head on because it's the perfect lightweight make-up option that makes me feel done-up yet light and fresh! No one needs layers of makeup melting off in the sun. I also recently picked up the Josie Maran argan oil and am in love! I love the light formula for warm weather - super hydrating and gives you a natural glow. Lastly, a couple cute scrunchies for the pool and a fun sun hat and I'm good to go! 

Be sure to follow along on IG stories to keep up with all our trip moments! 

xx
Tessa


WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE TO DYE YOUR HAIR OFTEN //

Monday, 12 June 2017

With Summer fast approaching it's time to go back to the light side. I love switching up my hair, there's nothing that makes me feel more refreshed and confident! Therefore, I dye my hair quite often - almost every fall I'll go to an ombré, dark for winter, and come March, it's time to start the cycle over again and go lighter. With all the colour changes there will no doubt be some damage, so I wanted to share what it's really like dying your hair so often.

Back in 2014, I met Calvyn Cass who at the time was working for another salon, but has since opened his own stunning space - BRUSH. Calvyn successfully took me from a horrific box dyed brown/grey colour, to a vibrant bright blonde in just two visits and just in time for my wedding. Calvyn has been my go-to stylist ever since. When Calvyn and I work together we always go into it knowing that there could be a bit of damage because I do change my colour so often. I think it's important to go into any dye appointment knowing the risks. Is my hair maybe a bit thinner than it used to be? Yes. However, when it comes to switching my colour, the reward always outweighs the risk. You should also know that you may not get what you want the first go-around, especially when you're making the journey to blondesville. I recently started the trek back to a bright vibrant blonde and I have so far had two visits, I think by the time I go for my third I will be back to where I want to be. So be prepared to invest some time and dinero into your locks. Also, invest in an amazing stylist and salon. If you show up to a salon with brown hair and expectations of going platinum overnight ala Kylie K, think again, even worse, if the stylist says she can do it, run! It's important to find a stylist that will of course do their best to get you to where you want to be, but to not jeopardize your hair's overall livelihood. 

In my opinion, there is no better salon than BRUSH, and there is no better stylist than Calvyn, I definitely highly recommend them for your hair needs and especially for people like me that can never stay the same colour for too long. Check out my most recent visit below and take a peek into the process of going blonde for summer.


xx
Tessa

EARL GREY MINT ICED TEA //

Thursday, 8 June 2017

I'm so excited to be partnering with teapigs to bring you this super refreshing Darjeeling Earl Grey mint iced tea recipe to help celebrate National Iced Tea Day happening this Saturday! Weekends are always super busy around the Garcia house so I wanted to keep this recipe simple and classic with a slight twist so you can whip these up in no time with ingredients you'll likely find at home! 

Ingredients:
- 2 quarts boiling water
- 8 teapigs darjeeling earl grey tea temples
- 2 cups fresh mint (plus sprigs to garnish)
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup agave syrup or coconut sugar
- dark rum
Heat water until boiling, add in tea temples and mint, let steep for 20 minutes up to one hour. Once the tea is finished steeping, strain into a large pitcher, add lemon juice and store in the fridge. If you are wanting to make a large jug of the cocktails, I would add in your sweetener as well, however, I prefer to make individual drinks as the night goes along so I would add coconut sugar, fresh mint sprigs and ice to a glass and fill with the steeped tea mixture - I prefer this way because I love the texture of the coconut sugar in the cocktail! Top with your favorite dark rum and a mint sprig garnish and voila! The perfect teapigsiced tea cocktail to celebrate National Iced Tea Day!

xx
Tessa

Thank you to teapigs for partnering on this post. 

A QUICK GIRLS GETAWAY TO WHISTLER //

Tuesday, 6 June 2017

With the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, my good friend Sydney and I decided to play hookie and head to Whistler for the night for some much needed relaxation and overall quality girl time with Go Whistler. We had the most amazing time experiencing just the tip of what Whistler has to offer. Danny and I go to Whistler every year but always in the winter so going in summer was a new experience for me. Everything from the gorgeous mountainous views, yummy food, and calming lake waters was perfection and the perfect mid-week break from our crazy lives! 





The road trip started with a much needed caffeine hit of course! We picked up a couple lattés and head to breathtaking sea to sky highway in the new Lexus RX from Regency Lexus. It was one of the smoothest drives and offered us stability and comfort for our 2 hour trip into the village.  





We checked into the Westin Whistler which was absolutely gorgeous! Spacious rooms and beautiful mountain views. We also had the most amazing welcome with one of my favorite wines and a delicious fruit plate.








We took some time to tour around the village, browsing the little shops and cafés, then stopped in for lunch at Bar Oso for some amazing spanish tapas and refreshing cocktails. Bar Oso is the new sister restaurant to the famous Araxi. It's adorned with gorgeous floors, marble countertops, and geometric chandeliers - perfect for lunch with the girls or date night with your beau! Bar Oso also has the cutest little bar at the front with windows that open up to the walkway so you can sip a handcrafted cocktail and watch the people as they stroll by. 





After lunch we headed to Nita Lake Lodge to experience their lakefront property and spa. I was blown away! It was even more beautiful and adorable than I had imagined. They are also super dog friendly with pup beds and bowls located throughout the lodge so I definitely plan on coming back with Gigi! We indulged in an ila kundalini massage which was suuuuper relaxing (no really, I fell asleep on the table!). After our treatments we spent some time on their rooftop jacuzzi deck taking in the gorgeous surroundings. 





Once we arrived back to the hotel we took our time getting ready and of course sipping on more rosé on our patio. 





For dinner we went to Table Nineteen which is also located on a beautiful lake complete with float plane. We had originally planned on sitting on their patio but the rain had other plans. We sipped cocktails and had some much needed catch up time. When I come back I will definitely try to get a spot outside because you really can't beat their lake view.








The following morning was probably my favorite part of the whole trip, mimosas, Belgian waffles, and fresh fruit all from the comfort of our big comfy beds. 






A quick donut pit stop at Portobello Market and we were on our way back to the city! 



Overall we had the most amazing quick little girls getaway to Whistler and in a short 2 hours we were back home. The perfect way to escape and relax right in our backyard. 

xx
Tessa

Thank you to Go Whistler for partnering on this post.