CALIFORNIA: PART 2

Part 2 of our trip to California was by far my favorite part of the trip! Don't get me wrong...I enjoyed spending time in Yountville and Napa, but there was just something different about our time in Sonoma that I just loved! Sonoma definitely has more of a laid-back atmosphere. Many of the wineries in Sonoma are family owned and full of friendly people! We learned that Sonoma is now the second most popular destination for wine next to Tuscany. Maybe someday we can visit there. :-)

Although we stayed in Sonoma, our first full day spent there was our wedding anniversary. In a way, two years has flown by but it also seems like Dan and I have been married forever. I seriously can't imagine my life without him. By far God's greatest blessing upon my life. I love life with you, babe! :-) We decided to spend the day relaxing and enjoying time together. We started off the morning at Chateau St Jean Winery. Since we were there early enough we enjoyed some wonderful private time tasting delicious wines and taking in the beautiful scenery. If you ever go to Sonoma, this place is a must! From there we drove to Kenwood Inn & Spa where we enjoyed a day of R&R. For Dan's birthday-versary present I surprised him with a couple's massage (this was my first ever). After that we spent time by the pool and ended the evening with a delicious dinner at the Inn. Again...absolutely beautiful place to visit! Tip: We weren't able to stay there (it's a little pricey), but if you book any spa appointment they allow you to use the pool and the grounds for the day. We took full advantage of that! 

Day three in wine country was by far the busiest. We visited three wineries, all good! First up was Matanzas Creek. This winery is known for their lavender gardens and they just happened to be in full bloom during our visit. The entire vineyard smelled amazing! We did a tour and a tasting and then visited the lavender shop to bring home some goodies. Our second stop of the day was Benziger Family Winery. We did a tram tour and were the only ones on our tour, so we basically got a private tour of the place! We even got to go underground to the cellars and see where they store the barrels - something I've always pictured doing in wine country. Third and final stop was Kunde Family Estate, which ended up being one of my favorites. We splurged on this one and did the Mountaintop Tasting (highly recommend). The views are incredible and the wine is delicious! Our favorite was the Red Dirt Red. We also found out they do a lot of weddings on the estate and I decided I might move there and work as their wedding planner. :-) 

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in wine country and I am already trying to get Dan to take us back. If only it were a weekend road trip away, right? It is by far one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Even if you don't think you're a wine drinker I suggest going and trying it out. You will learn a lot about wine and who knows, you might end up loving it! If not, at least you'll enjoy the scenery. Tip: To save money, ask about shared tastings when booking. Dan and I shared at some wineries and only had to pay for one tasting. Of course there are always some that don't allow shared tastings or are too good to share - we did our own at each of those! 

WIDE LEG JUMPSUIT

Jumpsuit: Kendall and Kylie for Pacsun, Wedges: Banana Republic (unavailable), similar here, Sunglasses: Forever 21

Alright, ladies. So about a month ago I had to stop into Pacsun to pick up something for someone (I haven't stepped foot in this shop since my high school days). Little did I know they are carrying a new(ish) line that I absolutely love! The line is Kendall and Kylie for Pacsun. Ok, so...yes, they are Kardashians, and yes their show can be a little ridiculous at times but it can also be pretty hilarious and they all have such wonderful senses of style. I don't know about you guys but I will totally turn on the show just to get some fashion inspiration from time to time. And how adorable is this wide leg floral jumpsuit?! I had been on the hunt for a jumpsuit for months it felt like and nothing seemed to fit me right. When I found this one I specifically loved the relax fit and open back. It was a perfect piece to wear for a day of wine tasting in Napa! They already have me looking forward to their fall line. If you are loving it as much as I do, go check out their summer collection online! And at such affordable prices you won't be sorry you did.

XO,

Jacqueline

MEET PIPER ROSE

Top: Zara (unavailable), similar here and here, Shorts: Piperlime (unavailable), similar here, Flats: Sole Society 'Lauryn' Flats

As if life weren’t already busy enough in the Brown House, try adding a puppy. A little over a week ago we welcomed this sweet face into our home and became a family of three. Alright, so this isn’t exactly something we did on a whim. We have known about our sweet fur baby since early May. Our first visit to the breeder was about a month ago. Although we were told not to fall in love with one, we just couldn’t help ourselves…Piper (Blossom at the time) stole our hearts. Our original plan was to find a house and get a puppy this summer; we just didn’t expect those things to happen in the same week. Growing up the oldest of five kids, there was never room for pets in our house. Even Santa knew he couldn’t bring me one! After two years of trying to convince Dan we needed one, I am so proud to finally be a puppy mama to the sweetest little girl. I mean, I can’t even look at her without screaming “She’s so fluffy I wanna die!” Honestly, if you are ever in the need for some serious puppy snuggles, Piper can help ya out! We are both so excited to start a new chapter in our new home with our new fur baby.

CALIFORNIA: PART 1

I am thrilled to finally share part one of our trip to California! California is a place I have wanted to visit since Laguna Beach and Summerland hit television about ten years ago and I dreamed of becoming a beach babe. Dan and I were fortunate enough to visit Northern California a few short weeks ago and we had such a great time! During the first part of our week we stayed in Wine Country and visited Napa and Sonoma. The two are quite different, but both so incredibly beautiful. I decided living in Wine Country is the kind of "farming" I could handle. I could definitely get used to that atmosphere! I tried fitting our whole trip to Wine Country in one blog post and it just wasn't happening so this post will focus on the Napa portion of our trip. 

After arriving in California we decided to do some sightseeing before we headed into Wine Country for a few days. We crossed over the Golden Gate Bridge and stopped for lunch in the adorable town of Sausalito. If you are brave enough you can rent a bike to ride over the bridge into Sausalito, but Dan and I both decided we would pass. When it comes to bridges, we do much better in cars! After lunch near the water and walking along some of the shops, we took a tram to Muir Woods and did some hiking. The  woods are beautiful and if you have never seen Redwoods I suggest you add it to your bucket list. Walking along the pier in the evening and looking at all the boats reminded me of being in Mackinaw City. We made it to Sonoma for a late dinner at The Girl & The Fig and some romantic ambiance on their dining patio. I felt like I was in France! 

Our first official day in Wine Country was spent in Napa which is about a 20-30 minute drive from the heart of Sonoma. We started the day off with some delicious treats from Bouchon Bakery in Yountville. Even though we had to stand in line it was so worth the wait. We kicked off wine tasting at the stunning Signorello Estate. This turned out to be one of my favorites from the trip! The views were incredible and the wine and cheese were to die for. We stopped for lunch at Boon Fly Cafe and tried their world famous donuts before heading to Domaine Carneros for the afternoon. We spent some time walking around and enjoying the scenery here. I am telling you, there is not a bad view in all of Napa! At the end of the day we headed back into Yountville and did some walking throughout the cute town. We ended the night by having dinner at Redd Wood. Loved the interior design and the pizza at this place! 

Stay tuned for Part 2 and 3 of our trip coming soon!

XO,

Jacqueline

BROWN HOUSE

(Photos taken on iPhone)

Well, it's official! We are officially first time home owners. Last night we closed on our house and within the next few weeks we will be packing up our life in boxes and moving (last time for awhile I hope). I have to be completely honest...life is crazy right now! I am slowly learning everyday to let go of how I want things done and trust that God has us right where we wants us right now. For those of you who know me well, I do not always do well with change. Nothing stresses me out more than a messy house and living in boxes sure isn't my cup of tea. I am really trying to be "okay" with living like a tornado just ran through our place. I am constantly reminding myself that this is only a temporary season in life and I extremely grateful to have my summer off to focus on getting ready for the next big phase of our lives. We are so thankful to finally have a place of our own that we can open up to others and serve in.

As for the house, I could not be more excited! For awhile part of me wanted nothing to do with the responsibility of owning a house, but as they say "when you're ready, you know it". We are definitely ready. I have always dreamed of having a house and sprucing it up with my own personal style and touches. Thankfully, we found a beautiful home that only has a few minor cosmetic changes that need to be done. One at a time we will tackle these "little" projects and I can't wait to share along the way. I am excited for the new things this house will bring to the blog. Get ready for more Interior Design posts, DIY projects, and Before-and-After shots on Elementary Style. Thanks to all of you who have called, texted, and offered up your help. We appreciate you more than you know!

XO,

Jacqueline 

AMERICANA

July Fourth is definitely one of my favorite holidays! Nothing says summer like Americana parades, festivals, cookouts, fireworks, being at the pool, and time with family & friends. This year I am looking forward to seeing all the Americana fashion that seems to be everywhere right now. Although I love the idea of rocking star prints and flag tees, I also love the idea of keeping it simple with a classic chambray piece. A few of my favorites are above! How do you do Independence Day? Dressed up or dressed down?

XO,

Jacqueline

SPLATTER DRESS

Dress: Francesca's, Top: H&M, Belt: Forever 21, Sandals: Target, Bag: Kate Spade, Sunglasses: Forever 21

Sometimes you look in your closet and pull out a piece you have neglected over the years and decide it's time to bring it back to life. That's what I did with this dress. I have had it for years and rarely wear it because I don't love the way it looks on me. I recently said to my husband, "Maybe I could turn this dress into a romper". I haven't pulled out the scissors just yet, but instead I decided to pair it with my favorite chambray top (which I have been wearing with everything lately) and give it a whole new look. I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it. I love finding new ways to bring old pieces back to life! Absolutely nothing about this outfit is new, which I love. Somewhere deep down I knew this comfy cotton dress would find it's way back into my wardrobe. Summertime is the perfect time to experiment with all those old dresses you have hanging in your closet. Have any of you brought a piece back to life lately? If so, how did you like it?

XO,

Jacqueline