Kauai island has one of the best beaches in the USA and I especially fell in love with this "secret" Hideaways beach in Princeville where Ben and I shot this beautiful pink bikini from Zaful. I have been trying to find a swimsuit in a beautiful shade of blush pink all summer and I was so happy that Zaful had this in stock.
Week 19: Hawaii. Aloha, Beaches! Zaful Swimwear Review.
Dear readers, I apologise for not updating Pastiche.Today this past week. I am currently on my vacation the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii and I am predictably busy :)
I will try to keep you updated on Instagram, but I am very excited to finally share my swimwear photoshoots and travel tips on the blog. Ben is a really wonderful and supporting man and even though he doesn't always enjoy taking pictures, he helped out because he knows how important Pastiche.today is to me. I have also been lucky to shoot with Marcus Bloss and I cannot wait to show you what we have created together. So while everyone else is writing about Fashion Week, I am going to show you some awesome beach photographs and write a unique Kauai Travel Guide!
ZAFUL SWIMWEAR:
Today I am showing you my photographs in this absolutely stunning swimsuit from ZAFUL. This one-piece is very intricate and beautiful, and is so perfect for honeymooning. I have been so impressed by the quality of Zaful items and their wide range of clothes and swimwear that I just have to share a little list of my favourites from the shop at the end of this post (along with coupon codes!). Girls, I really do highly recommend this online store!
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Week 18: Summer in NYC. Living in a hotel full time!
Many of you don't even know that Ben and I actually live in hotels in New York. FULL TIME. For more than 7 months now!
I am no Van der Woodsen, so usually we do not stay in a suite at the Palace Hotel, however living in hotels has been mostly pleasant and a very interesting experience I never expected I would have.
Ben is a loyal Platinum member of SPG and it helps to make all of our stays at their hotels extremely pleasant. We often get upgraded to the best hotel rooms available, I get to have breakfast and snacks every day for free, everyone is there to help with picking up the mail, sending out our laundry or dealing with any requests you could possibly imagine.
At the beginning, back in January, when Ben and I moved in to one of the big suites at the W Hotel in New York, I wasn't really ecstatic about it. Growing up in a big house where the kitchen and dining room are a big part of family gatherings, I felt robbed of the new, little experiences like doing grocery shopping in NYC, cooking for my boyfriend, baking cookies to share with neighbours (do people still do that? I would!) and inviting people over for a board game night with drinks.
Also at that time it was extremely cold in New York and I didn't know a lot of people in the city. I felt extremely lonely and claustrophobic in the big, pristine, clean hotel suite that didn't have anything of my own except for a few clothes and coats I brought with me in one suitcase. I was missing small things like drinking freshly brewed tea, having my little library and ability to wash things whenever I wanted and instead of waiting for Delivery.com to pick our laundry up once a week.
Ben on the other hand was used to this kind of lifestyle as he was living in hotels for more than a year before he met me. He was trying as much as he could to make me feel comfortable and gain a sense of "home".
He would send me flowers while he was at work and order me new books, even though afterwards I didn't know where to find a space for them.
At that time we had to leave our hotels every two weeks to go to Ben's parents' house in Park City, Utah. We would fly over for just a weekend, but every time we had to take ALL our luggage and repack there again. You have no idea how frustrating it was for me if I forgot to pack something and bring it to NYC, or if I didn't realise I would need it (especially if it was something important like a bill, a statement or a document). Also we would often switch from one hotel location to another and it would mess up all my mail and orders.
But a few months after we started living in hotels together, I adapted and started really enjoying our hotel hopping life! I particularly grew fond of SPG's Four Points Hotels.
My favorite one to stay at is Four Points Soho. Their rooms might not be the biggest ones, but they are decently sized for such a great location in Manhattan. The hotel staff are phenomenal and all of them became almost like our little family. I started to love getting breakfast every morning downstairs (Jay is an amazingly nice guy and his service is impeccable) or ordering food straight to the room when I felt I wanted to stay in or watch a movie while eat my regular porridge with latte.
Another perk of living in a hotel? Actually being able to focus on my website, on my relationships with husband and friends, writing, going to photoshoots and reading, and not worrying about cooking, cleaning and washing as in a hotel everything is taken care of!
How many people can say they have experienced full time living in a hotel with all its perks? I know one day Ben and I will get an apartment (might even be really soon!), but for now I am fully appreciating living in the heart of New York, surrounded by Four Points SoHo staff that are willing to help, and just enjoy LIVING. Hotel-hopping life might have it cons, but there is much more to love about it.
Week 18: Summer in NYC. After the Sun Goes Down.
There is always something to do in New York at any hour of the day. However, when museum doors close and shops start politely shooing everyone away, many people obligingly go to the nearest take away place, and go either home or back to their hotel, abandoning the exciting wonders of nighttime Manhattan. Wouldn't you want to have a proper night dance with the city?
I decided to give you a little 5-step guide of what to do this September after the sun's last ray disappears somewhere behind 14th Street.
1. It's SHOWTIME!
Let's start the evening at a Broadway musical. One of the newest, and already celebrated shows, is Cirque du Soleil PARAMOUR, a magical marriage of a classic musical and amazing Cirque du Soleil performances. Ben and I sawit a few weeks ago and thought that it was overall very aesthetically beautiful. To be honest, it is not the best musical we have ever seen, nor is it the best Cirque du Soleil show we have ever witnessed, but it is certainly a show worth seeing at least once!
Alternatively, you still have time to book the last available tickets for one of the greatest musicals of all time, Les Miserables, which is having its last show on the 4th of September. Book your tickets here before they are gone.
2. Feed me!
Musicals and plays are rarely shorter than 120 minutes, so chances are you tried to fill yourself up with overpriced pretzels and jellybeans sold during intermission, but you are stillreally hungry. I suggest you have a late night dinner at the amazing Italian restaurant, Marea, which specializes in seafood and has two Michelin stars. Prices are actually quite reasonable for such a high-end, gorgeous restaurant, but book your table in advance!
3. Midnight in New York
Nothing is more romantic and surreal than midnight at the top of the Empire State Building. My husband took me there on our third date and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Usually crowded, the Empire State Building is quite empty at that late hour, so don't miss your chance to admire a bird's eye view of Manhattan by night.
4. Party like a VIP
If you want to party in the top rated nightclubs in New York, sit at VIP tables and have access to exclusive events, contact Blue Circle NY. Just call and tell them whatever your energetic heart desires (from bottle service to partying with celebrities). No need forstanding in that line to Marquee anymore and loosing precious time!
5. Drunk cravings or Feed me part 2.
Your night was crazy and fun, but suddenly you realise that your alcohol infused body desperately wants some delicious food. The majority of cafés and restaurants are closed and you promised to yourself to not eat at McDonalds anymore. Luckily, New York has a few great 24/7 places. I recommend Katz’s Delicatessen (205 E Houston St) or Ukrainian eatery, Veselka (144 2nd Ave).
So there is your 5-step guide to an intense NYC night! Do you have any other ideas? Comment or message me on our Facebook page.
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Week 14: Park City. Best Places to Visit
Park City is a small town in Utah, but it's quickly becoming a more popular destination. The world knows Park City for its luxury ski resorts and the largest independent film festival in the United States, the Sundance Film Festival. Park City is also home to the US Ski Team, it hosted the skiing and snowboarding events during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and it is one of the hottest real estate spots in America among celebrities and millionaires. Michael Jordan, Will Smith, Katherine Heigl and many other famous people own gorgeous mansions in Park City.
I have been spending so much time in Utah, both in winter and summer, that I have decided to share my favourite places in Park City.
TOP 7 Places to Visit in Park City:
1. Main Street
The Egyptian Theatre in Park City was part of a national and worldwide fascination with the contemporary discovery of the tomb of King Tut in Egypt.
The Sundance Film Festival has used The Egyptian Theatre as a cinematic house for almost as long as the festival has existed; one of its oldest and most recognizable venues.
Banksy on Main Street.
One of the art galleries on Main Street.
Main Steet is the first street you will likely want to explore in Park City. Main Street to Park City is like Oxford Street to London and Broadway to New York. Rumour has it that there are more restaurants per capita in Park City than in any other American city, and they all serve delicious food. You should also check out all the little boutiques and galleries. Be sure to go to Dolly's Bookstore, where they not only have a great selection of books and gifts, but the store is also home to a few friendly cats. And of course do take tons of pictures of the beautiful, colourful houses that easily compete with the rainbow coloured ones in Notting Hill, London.
The cutest soft toys made from alpaca fur.
Throwback to my first visit to Park City in August 2015.
2. Park City Museum
I love visiting museums and will never miss a chance to wander around interesting artifacts and expand my knowledge base. Usually small towns have modest museums featuring exhibits that aren’t very engaging, however the Park City Museum pleasantly surprised me with its various interactive exhibits, displays, videos and even little attractions.
This huge interactive book describing criminals from Park City's Wild West history was really fun to "read." I was not surprised to find out that the Park City Museum has recently undergone a $9 million dollar renovation. It really shows! The museum is located at 528 Main Street and it is a great family friendly place.
3. Ski Resort in winter/FUNICULAR to St.Regis in SUMMER
Skiing with my husband Ben.
The majority of tourists come to Park City in the winter to ski. I only just learned how to ski last year, but my husband is a former professional skier, so I trust him when he says it is the best town for skiing in the USA. If you plan to ski, plan for at least a few days since it is cheaper to get multi-day or weekly passes rather than to pay daily.
If you visit in the summer, take the funicular to St. Regis hotel and enjoy the breathtaking view. The bar at St. Regis is beautiful and I recommend you order their signature spicy Bloody Mary or a delightfully sweet Pineapple Mojito.
Gorgeous view Park City
4. Nature love
Everyone in Park City hikes, or so it seems. There are hundreds of trails and beautiful spots... at least according to every person who lives in Utah. I am personally not a big fan of hiking and cannot recommend any specific trails (I am more of a theatre and museum kind of girl!), but I can appreciate the nature and wildlife of Park City. Even if you just take a drive instead of wandering around the woods, you will probably spot a graceful deer or a fluffy rabbit somewhere alongside the road.
I personally love the White Barn/ McPolin Barn and its surroundings. It is a perfect spot for taking pictures or having a little picnic, plus it has a parking spot on the opposite side of the road. I will post a photoshoot from next to the McPolin Barn later!
5. Handle Restaurant and Flanagan's
Handle is a rustic-chic eatery with a very delicious and original menu. It is located at 136 Heber Avenue. It is probably one of my favourite places to eat at in Park City, along with Flanagan's. But I love Flanagan's mostly for their mouthwatering beignets.
6. Atticus Coffee
Forget about Starbucks! Atticus coffee has an impressive range of hot and ice coffees and teas, free wifi, and a very cozy atmosphere. Whenever I am visiting Park City, I go there to blog or read.
7. Silver Lake Drive
If you want to see more luxury houses (because, to be frank, they are everywhere in Park City), drive up Silver Lake Drive. The designs of some of the houses will make you reconsider buying that new pair of shoes you wanted and inspire you to start saving for a beautiful house of your own.
Hope this was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions about Park City, and I will gladly guide you further :)
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