My Vacation Look Go To: Sundress and Sneakers

Happy Saturday Ladies!

Right now I'm sitting in my living room in Palm Springs trying to cool down from the 110 degree heat! Chay and I came here without the dogs to relax and connect before I leave for Nashville Tuesday for a job all week! I'm so excited!

Here is my last post from my trip to France and Ireland and I wanted to share one of my go to looks while on vacayyyyy!!

During our last day at Ashford Castle, we walked around the grounds and checked out the nearby town, Cong. (You can see more of what I recommend at Ashford here.)It is about a 12 minute walk, so I wanted to be comfortable but of course still look cute and pulled together. When I go on vacation, I love to wear clean white sneakers, like these Nike ones, with a feminine sundress to balance out the look. This For Love and Lemons dress, similar style here, has enough detail and style to be the focal point of the outfit. The sneakers are so comfortable and are totally neutral in shape and style, so they're easy to wear with anything. When wondering what to wear on vacation, a good staple is always a pretty dress balanced out with cool sneaks!

How cute is this cottage in Cong?

I loved the bright white smooth stucco walls and vibrant red colors on this cute bar and arts and crafts store.

Back in Ashford, wandering around and exploring the grounds. I love the view of the castle from this angle. The color of the water and the stone on the bridge and castle add so much depth and beauty to the view! 

The prettiest gazebo I ever did see:) out front of The Lodge at Ashford Castle where we stayed.

Everything here is pristine as you can see with so much care and detail taken to make sure the property is preserved with authenticity. I loved exploring and even being able to stop and sit with a coffee to observe passerby's. We explored all day and I felt so comfortable in my outfit, which is why I always pack so many dresses for style, but also sneakers for comfort.  

I can't recommend Ashford Castle enough for a family vacay or a romantic getaway. It's dog friendly and very kid friendly with huge open spaces, lush grounds and lots of activities. Comment with any questions or recommendations on places you love in Ireland! Thanks ladies!

xo, Kim

Ashford Castle

Happy Monday ladies!

Check out my recap of our time at Ashford castle and some recommendations we would suggest to anyone venturing to this gorgeous place!

The first thing we did as soon as we got to the Castle was high tea inside the most gorgeous and ornate room overlooking the lake. The castle has been meticulously preserved and is more beautiful in person than any picture depicts. Some things to note:

-If you stay at the castle, its much more expensive. There is The Lodge at Ashford Castle, which is where we stayed. It's a third of the price and is gorgeous and has a great interior!

-In order to see the castle interior, you need to be a guest staying at the castle or have a reservation for one of the restaurants or for tea. If you plan on walking in for tea without a reservation, know that it most likely won't work out as its very popular! Book in advance!

One of my favorite activities was bike riding around the lush grounds that span over 365 acres. It was so fun to ride around and discover little bridges and creeks and horse stables. There was so much nature all around us and it was so impressive. I really felt like I was in another world. The bikes are complimentary at The Lodge too!

Other things I would have liked to know before we planned our schedules:

-The Castle and The Lodge provide a huge list of activities you can book from and we heard from numerous people that Falconry, clay shooting, the boat ride on the lake, and horse riding were activities we need to book. We did do the boat ride and it was absolutely gorgeous and so enjoyable. When we come back, I will definitely clay shoot, that is something I have always wanted to do! 

- Take morning walks around the grounds to see things more up close and grab a coffee from the cafe near the castle bridge.

- Take a walk into Cong, the village a few minutes by foot from the Castle. Its small and quaint and so cute! I'll be posting a little about Kong and other areas at Ashford in an outfit post later this week. 

Lets talk more about The Lodge:

-Totally different from the castle with a fun color palette and a more modern look. If you stay at The Lodge, you have the same access to the property and grounds. The perks are the same as long as you book reservations at any of the restaurants inside Ashford Castle. I am a sucker for ornate and historical detailing and the castle is a feast for the eyes! I also have a thing for pretty bathrooms and the woman's room on the main level is breathtaking. PURPLE MARBLE PEOPLE. PURPLE! It's so fun!

- From The Lodge, you can walk down to the boathouse to get picked up for the boat ride that happens twice a day for around 25 euros. 

-There are a couple awesome eateries at The Lodge and they are great for casual eats and bar bites.  The rooms are funky and clean and trendy which I love! They are the opposite of the ornate, historical, and traditional vibe of the Castle. If you are wanting the experience of staying on the grounds but don't want to pay so much, The Lodge is the perfect alternative for you. 

Outfit Details

SHOES Robert Clergerie

JEANS Madewell

TOP similar here Madewell

Have a great Tuesday ladies and don't forget to check out my instagram to enter my giveaway with Matiko Shoes! The contest ends July 18th and I will announce the winner on my blog next week! See you in a few days!

xo,Kim

OOTD in Dublin

Check out my casual street style look from my time in Dublin, Ireland

Hi all and happy Friday!

I have been editing like crazy since my trip to Europe and am trying to roll out posts on my trip in a timely fashion, so trust me, there will be more to come! If you haven't gotten a chance to read up on my trip suggestions while in the French Riviera, check it out here and here. Or if you want to see one of my favorite looks while in Eze, check that out here.

Now, back to Ireland. My sister and I first went to Ashford castle and had an amazing time, and the details on that portion will be coming next week. We then made our way to Dublin for two days and I had never been. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but it was definitely different from what I envisioned. It was smaller than I thought it would be, but of course very quaint and colorful with pubs and cobblestone streets all around. 

It was really fun to explore, but I was surprised at how quickly we had seen most of the areas we had wanted to visit. It really only took us about 4 hours of walking around to feel like we got a good idea of the cute and trendy areas one would want to spend time in as a visitor. Of course, there is always more to see and we didn't hit every sight by any means but we got a good visual idea. Dublin is big, but the downtown area is somewhat small.  From what we were told and observed, this is where people go to spend time, and the surrounding areas are mostly residential or office spaces. We stayed at The Dean, which I highly suggest as it's very hip, modern, ornate, and in a great central area to walk into the main part of town. They also have an awesome booklet of recommendations on where to go. Everything from great bars, restaurants, shops, and attractions in Dublin to guide you. Their rooftop bar and restaurant is also amazing and a fun hang out for hip crowds. I'll definitely stay there again!

I love the pops of red throughout the city. The shiny lacquer painted red pubs and restaurants with brass and black writing make ordinary streets feel special.  

If I were to go back (which i certainly plan on one day), I would choose to spend most of my time on the West coast of Ireland and have one day in Dublin to do the city thing. It's fun and so cute, but the breathtaking beauty of Ireland that really impressed me was on the West coast that I got to see from our time at Ashford castle. It is the quintessential part of Ireland with the rolling green hills, gorgeous coastline, villages, and lush greenery everywhere. I am so happy I got to see Dublin and experience it for a couple days but was wishing I had extended my trip at Ashford Castle since I felt like one full day in Dublin was enough to get my fix. 

Ireland is definitely a magical place that was so welcoming and charming. The people are gracious, the landscape is beautiful, and it truly feels like home in a strange way. The intimidation factor that often accompanies people while traveling seems to dissipate in Ireland and that is one of the reasons I love it so much. 

I feel most comfortable in boots, denim, and a tee and love that I could be casual and comfortable in Dublin and still feel stylish. I bought these culottes from Madewell and wear them to death. I paired them with this mens tee Adidas tee, similar here,my favorite leather jacket by All Saints, similar here, and my all time favorite Chloe boots.  Street style is one of my favorite go to vibes when getting dressed because you can express your personal style but still be casual and not fuss too much. I love love love fashion but don't care enough to stress myself out over getting dressed or impressing other people. I don't have time for that. When I travel, this type of look is my uniform and I simply switch out tops and the style of boot, but love this blueprint for everyday wear.

What do you guys wear on vacation and what's your go to look? I'd love to know in the comments below! 

xo,

Kim

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