Travel Diary: Newport, Rhode Island & NYC!

Hey there, gals! How’s your week going? I’m writing this post from Las Vegas (we’re here for Blake’s cousins’ co-bach/bachelorette trip) – truth be told, Blake is sound asleep next to me (it’s noon..ha!) …let’s just say in the Blake vs. Vegas match, Vegas is winning haha. Thus, I figured I should take this moment of peace and quiet to share a roundup my last trip to Newport, Rhode Island and NYC!

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll have noticed I spent a wonderful week hopping from Newport to NYC! I flew up to Newport to visit with the Brahmin Handbag team (their headquarters is about 30 minutes away from Newport) and meet with some other fabulous bloggers who also adore Brahmin as much as I do…and it was a total DREAM! …But more on that further into this post.. 😉

**Behind the pic above: I don’t think we stopped smiling this whole trip, ha! Had SUCH a blast with my girl Veronica (“Vron” as I call her), we definitely soaked up the quality galpal time and were basically giddy for four days straight (…as you can see 😉 ). Love this girl so much!!

^^I had never seen a fall as beautiful as in Newport! I clearly have been missing out all of my life, because as soon as we landed in Providence and hopped in our car en route to Newport, one of my best friends Veronica and I were either silently staring in awe out the windows or saying “ooh and ahh” out loud as we passed through the gorgeous colorful trees! It is truly a magical sight to see (…and one we don’t exactly get to experience in Austin!).

vest – PATAGONIA / chambray top – MADEWELL / jeans – DL1961 / handbag – BRAHMIN / boots – CLARKS / sunglasses – CELINE (less expensive option HERE) / watch – CLUSE

dress – LUSH / jacket – similar BB DAKOTA / handbag – BRAHMIN / scarf – BP / booties – SEYCHELLES / necklace – ETSY / sunglasses – CELINE (less expensive option HERE)

^^We had cocktails and appetizers at The Clarke Cooke House Restaurant along the harbor and ohhh my goodness, the upper deck decor is swoon-worthy! It was a pink dreamland, so of course I got a drink to match.. 😉

^^We stayed at the Newport Marriott and it was wonderful! Within walking distance from popular Thames Street – lined with local boutiques, restaurants and a ton of dessert shops right along the harbor. Though we were only there a few days, Veronica and I woke up early to grab coffee and stroll along the cobblestone streets nearly every morning. Rows of sailboats with fall trees in the backdrop? Pure heaven!

^^The final day of the trip, we had the unbelievable pleasure of taking a private sailboat ride around Newport harbor…for two hours!! I basically had a cheesy smile on my face for the entirety of the trip..it was absolutely magical. We had wine, ate a delicious lunch and sailed into the Atlantic Ocean, passing JFK’s summer vacation home (…err, mega mansion..) and the incredible estate where the first Great Gatsby was filmed. My jaw may have been dropped the whole time as we were told the history of the land and the people who’d come and gone over the past century and beyond. If you get the chance to go to Newport, taking a sailing tour is a MUST!

striped top – J CREW / vest – PATAGONIA / jeans – DL1961 / boots – CLARKS / sunglasses – CELINE (less expensive option HERE)

^^I mean, seriously…could it be ANY more charming?! A turquoise bike with a basket full of flowers? I had to snap a pic! 😉

dress – LUSH / jacket – similar BB DAKOTA / handbag – BRAHMIN / scarf – BP / booties – SEYCHELLES / necklace – ETSY / sunglasses – CELINE (less expensive option HERE)

^^The Brahmin team went above and beyond for us throughout our time in Newport…literally, they wined and dined us and rented out Newport Vineyards – we had it ALL to ourselves! cocktails, red, white…you name it, I tried it all. 😉 Veronica and I had so much fun dressing up (and getting to wear our new croc embossed clutches – how cute are those?) for a farm table dinner with the gals! (…And yes, I was having a full body “pinch-me” moment this entire trip…of course!!).

dress – LUSH / jacket – TROUVE / booties – FRYE (similar less expensive pair HERE) / magenta dress – ASTR

^^Onward to NYC for a few days with my bffs! I took the train from Providence to NYC and y’all, it was my FIRST ever train ride…and it was so peaceful and lovely! Not to mention, the view from Rhode Island into New York is quite stunning…gorgeous fall leaves and the cutest homes in view for over two hours, I was actually sad when it ended, ha! This was snapped while strolling around Cobble Hill in Brooklyn. One of my best friends (Ben) is moving from Manhattan to Brooklyn, so we took a day to get to know his new neighborhood…it didn’t disappoint! Cobble Hill has such an airy, clean, smart feel to it – I am definitely excited for my next visit when he’s all moved in!

top – FREE PEOPLE / jacket – TROUVE / scarf – CASLON / sneakers – NIKE / handbag – KELLY WYNNE / sunglasses – CELINE (less expensive option HERE)

^^Must have in NYC: latte “for here” at La Colombe…so yummy! I got in early on Friday and Ben was still at work, so I self entertained for a few hours in Tribeca. Of course a coffeehouse was first thing on my agenda! 😉

booties – SEYCHELLES / thermal top – FREE PEOPLE / camo jacket – SANCTUARY CLOTHING / jeans – DL1961

^^I spent one afternoon catching up with my friend Courtney (of the fabulous Color Me Courtney blog) and her sweet boyfriend Paris, in the West Village. I have officially learned that if I was ever going to move to NYC, I’d reaaaally try to live in the West Village (…so, I guess that means I should start playing the lottery haha)…it is GORGEOUS! And SO many adorable coffee shops everywhere you turn (…which is obviously what sold me, ha!). I met Courtney during our Mediterranean cruise last summer (…remember this post from Cinque Terre? We had the “best worst day ever”…it’s a must read.. 😉 ) and we’ve kept in touch ever since. It’s so nice to meet fellow fashion bloggers who are truly genuine and kind, we definitely stick together when we meet! If you love happy, bright, beautiful photos and hilarious captions – definitely go follow her, she’s adorable (and exactly the same in person!).

My look: dress – LUSH / boots – STEVE MADDEN / handbag – BRAHMIN / scarf – BP / sunglasses – CELINE (less expensive option HERE)
Courtney’s look: dress – FREE PEOPLE / jacket – BLANKNYC / green jacket – TOPSHOP / boots – STEVE MADDEN

^^Snapped a sunset picture with Blake’s cousin, Ellary! This gorgeous gal is interning at Refinery29 and in grad school (hello, #girlboss!) – it was such a treat to sneak her away from her studies for a glass of wine and a rooftop view at her abode in Chelsea.. SO much fun!! ^^Y’all know Ben, my bestie in NYC! (See this post for reference.. 😉 ). He is a trooper to host me once a year for a few days at a time – I am directionally challenged in NYC (…still working on that whole “grid” thing, forgive me!), so we’re basically attached at the hip for days on end, ha! Our daily NYC agenda generally consists of drinking coffee while watching a few episodes of Sex & The City, strolling around town, eating, more eating…and then some more eating. We’re good at that!
^^My bebes!! Quite a few of my closest friends live in New York, so whenever I come visit, it’s always a slumber party sesh! No makeup, really blurry, but soooo much happiness in this photo. My heart kinda explodes when I look at it! Love these folks and miss them like crazy, but always such a blissful time when I get to visit. 🙂

Aaaand that’s a wrap! I am not sure how to put into words how thankful I am for these past few months of travel – I feel so happy and fulfilled, it’s such an honor to work with brands I love and meet the beautiful humans behind them, as well as get to see my dear friends more often because of it. To the Brahmin team – thank you for an incredible trip that I’ll never forget!