Top 5 Places to visit before Summer is Over

Okay, I know summer is technically coming to an end…that is…only if you’re going back to school. Aka, if you’ve been thrust out into the real world, summer break doesn’t exist and the season is declared over when you don’t break a sweat anymore walking from your front door to your car. Therefore, you possibly could still be planning a late summer trip (I know I am). So where are the top places I recommend you should visit? I’m glad you asked 😏

1.Eden Roc in Miami Beach

Okay, numero uno on my list…MIAMI…duh! I love this city. The diversity, the culture, the ocean. I mean, if you like to have fun, you’ll be set. The food is great, and it’s one of those places where you’ll feel like you’ve entered another country without having to stray too far from your own backyard (America).
Why you’ll love it here:
Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR luxurious pools will be awaiting you with some of the most friendly staff and best restaurants on site.

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Book your stay!

2. Huntington Beach, CA

Okay, so I’m a little biased here from living in this beautiful beach town all of my early twenties. Why did I love it so much? Street fair on Tuesdays, being in the surf capital, the beautiful homes, walking to the beach every day, BONZAI BOWLS, and the fact that you could accidentally stumble upon a chorus of people singing and playing the ukulele. Yep, this town slows down a bit after the US Open and always has something to offer, no matter what day of the week you’re there. Check out Jan’s Health Bar for the most amazing sandwiches and salads, Ruby’s at the end of the pier for an ice cream cone, and go ahead and take a surf lesson!

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3. Big Sur, California

Love camping? Ready to have your breath taken away? pack up your friends, turn your cell phones off, and enjoy this majestic piece of heaven in northern California for one of the most beautiful get aways you will go one. You can go glamping, rent a cabin, or what I recommend, tent camping. Looking down at the ocean from the mountains, cooking over a campfire, and the dazzling stars that cover the night sky will guarantee to give you a good reset on life. Remember to pack bug spray and definitely go see McWay Falls!

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4. Austin Texas

Okay, so some might think Austin is a giant bar scene…and, sometimes it can be. But lets not forget it’s the best city to visit for live music and bbq! Ever been to Stubb’s? That where you go to chow down and listen to whatever hot band is booked that night. Also, a little out of the city you can visit Hamilton Pool where you can float in the water, have a picnic with your friends, and relax. Just get there early because it’s first come first serve! And don’t forget! Austin has some of the BEST pizza you can order right out of a window.My best fiend and I are in love with Airbnb, so just grab one and get to seeing the town and don’t forget to stop by Hula Hut for lunch on the lake!

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5. St Maarten

Because who doesn’t want to say “See ya!” and head for the caribbean. Now this one may take a little more planning (and a passport) but I just had to throw it in the mix. A friend of mine used to live here and talk about how beautiful it was and how I would be missing out if I never made the trip out there. Well, when I finally did he didn’t live there anymore but I still got to play on the island and soak up all the beauty. And, best place to rent a jet ski if you ask me. Be sure to check out Maho Beach (not for the faint of heart!) for some awesome snorkeling and to watch the planes fly over you so low you could high five the pilot.

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I’m hoping by now you’re packing your bags and getting ready to head to one of these beautiful places. Either way, enjoy the rest of the season and be spontaneous, have fun, go somewhere new even if it’s a restaurant downtown. Love you all.

xokris

Bliss in Cancún!

Okay, so I am going over some of my most favorite trips I’ve been on and it’s taking everything in me to not just jump on a plane heading to the beach. Until then, I can reminisce on one of my best friends weddings in Cancun. Iberostar was one of the most gorgeous resorts I have ever stayed at and one of the most epic trips I have ever been on.

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xokris

Bed & Breakfast

Greetings, beautiful readers. I hope you have all been getting through the slum of the end-of-winter blues. That time of winter when you’re counting down the days till spring so you can remember what sunshine everyday feels like. Well, cabin fever may be taking over your whole existence if that’s the case, leaving you wondering what is new and exciting you can do while still having the warmth of being inside. To shake up things in that slump, I visited McKinney Bed and Breakfast  with my wonderful boyfriend where we enjoyed sampling breakfast treats and reading books in a room (“The Sweet“) that looks like it was cut from a piece of heaven. The newly remodeled room is a Better Homes worthy find and comes with even better hospitality. Amp up your weekend and visit this beautiful abode to see for yourself.

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Restaurants to check out in the area (all within walking distance)
For Breakfast- Snug on the Square
For Lunch- Patina Green Home and Market
For Dinner- Square Burger

xokris

Book your stay today

Get my outfits here.

Photos by Skyler Fike

All Wrapped Up

Throwing it back to White Sands (again 🙂 haha). Just me enjoying the sun just before it set over the mountains while wrapped up in a warm blanket. I’ve been in the beginning stages of planning another trip here soon, the ones I do have planned aren’t until the start of summer and I want to sneak in a get away before then! I’m thinking either Florida, the Carolinas, maybe back to California, or keep it close and go explore Austin. Till then I’ll just reminisce over here about this sandy escape. ❤

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xokris

Photos By: Skyler Fike

Bikini: Zink Swimwear

Back to You Again

I love to explore as much as I can and I enjoy going to new places to take in something completely unseen. And then there are those places I feel I just can’t get enough.White Sands, New Mexico is definitely one of them. I first made my way out there with my family when I was 14 where I did cartwheels with by brothers and watched my mom turn into a little kid again. The 2nd time I went with my brother and best friend, right before an incredible storm started rolling in turning the whole sky a brilliant navy blue. This past December I again got to take in the beauty of this place. Though it was a little bit colder compared to the times I went in the summer, it was even more beautiful than I remembered. I can’t wait to make my way back out there and create new memories to build on top of the old ones. Thank you immensely to O’Neill for sending me my wardrobe for this trip as well.

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xokris

photos: Skyler Fike

Get my jacket here!
Get my maxi dress here!
Get my mini dress here!

Headin’ Southwest

I am still thinking about the amazing time I had in White Sands, New Mexico at the sand dunes. We arrived at the perfect time when the sun still had the place warmed up for us. I wore my favorite top from O’Neill (which coincidentally is named the “Kristen” top) and paired it with a maxi skirt and hat from PacSun. It was the perfect day and easy to remember.

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xokris

photos by Skyler Fike

Dancing in the Desert

As 2014 comes to a close I have been thinking of all the incredible places I got to visit this year. I took my first trip to Vegas, camped in Big Sur, walked miles in Chicago, rose horses and danced in Denver, and had a few more memorable trips to add to the memory bank. My last trip of the year I visited one of my favorite states, New Mexico, where I revisited my absolute favorite national monument. Thank you to my friends at O’Neill for providing me with the perfect wardrobe for this adventure. And thank you to the folks in Mesilla for making me fall more in love with small towns.

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xokris

Buy this dress here.

Photos by Skyler Fike

Hello, Chicago

Hello world! I just got back from a trip that was packed with so much fun…I spent about a week in Chicago along with my lovely parents and we spent a day just walking around and soaking up the beautiful city. I enjoyed stuffed pizza from the famous Giordano’s (YUM), I finally got to see the Bean (I was WAY too excited for that), I walked the pier, met some amazing locals, and planted myself in Margaritaville (get their volcano nachos!) for a couple of hours. It was a great trip with so much to see…I really hope to go back soon! I loved everyones style and stopped a few locals to snap some photos of them to show off Chicago’s style.

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Being tourists with the rents 😉

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Local//Monica// how fab is that hair?

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The great wall of Hendrix? I of course snagged some copies of this art work for myself.

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Locals//Paula & Robert// you both get infinite style points!

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The BEAN ❤

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Locals//Maggie & Laura//best smiles in all of Chicago

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Local//Michael//can we have that jacket?

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Chicago Avenue

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xokris

My Day with Talee

We all have those friends who capture and mirror off pure energy (if we’re lucky) Those friends who are always up for a dare, help push you to your goals, and speak words of encouragement whenever you are going through a battle in life (again, if we are lucky!) I love that I have a friend like that, her name is Talee. She is a singer/songwriter and just opened her own yoga studio in SoCal, check it out here! Spending a day with a fellow hippie and songbird makes any day feel like summer. This is my day with Talee.

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xokris

Keep Austin Weird

It’s time for a little travel, wouldn’t ya say? Especially it being summer and all, we all need a little get away to keep our lives full of adventure and even spontaneity 😉 I was just sitting up stairs in my parents house in Fort Worth thinking to myself…’AUSTIN’. It had been on my mind for a while and I haven’t visited in some odd years so I was itching to get back to the funky city. I picked up my phone, text my best friend at work and told her “This weekend we are going to Austin”. She was down so we made plans to stay in a cute cottage we found on airbnb.com (SO cute!) All weekend we ate BBQ, ventured 6th street, visited Hamilton Pool, and made some fun new friends.

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Places to check out: Hamilton Pool
This spot was awesome with a short easy hike down. Get there early to avoid a long wait to get in (it packs up fast) bring water and some floaties to relax in the water with!

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Places to check out: Our Airbnb Cottage
This amazing one bedroom home had everything you could want. My favorite part was the out door shower AND the outdoor bathtub!

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Places to check out: Hula Hut
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There are so many great things I could share about Austin, most of which you need to discover on your own…I hope you all get to make it there one day if you haven’t already!

xokris