My little baby starts preschool tomorrow (today…I write my blog posts the night before). I am excited for him but also SO nervous. I am going to bed early tonight and want to make sure that he has the best morning ever for his first day of school. Wish us luck…I’m not sure who is going to cry more…him or me.

Outfit Details:
Nordstrom Rack Tank
Mossimo Cargo Shorts
Baublebar Eliza Tortoise Links Necklace
Chinese Laundry Fedora
Steve Madden Sandals

It’s day six of Blogtember.

Today’s writing prompt: “Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn”.

When I was 30 years old, I quit my job and moved to NYC without knowing a single person or having a job lined up. This is my story.

P.S. I took the above picture in 2006.

FIRST THINGS FIRST…I posted an AMAZING giveaway late on Friday afternoon. Be sure and check it out here. I PROMISE you will love it.

Second, I am already behind on Blogtember. Of course. So I am playing catch up and answering two questions today!

Friday’s writing Prompt: A story about a time you were very afraid.

I had my son via a planned c-section. He was breech my ENTIRE pregnancy. Everything went as planned and I was feeling great. Even after we left the hospital, I was healing remarkably well. But then a few days later, I woke up and went downstairs to talk to my husband before he left for work and my entire body went cold. My teeth chattered uncontrollably and I felt like ice cold water was running through my veins. I immediately laid down and thought for sure that I was going to die or at the very least pass out. I have NEVER experienced anything like it. My husband called my Dr. and he reassured him that this has happened before and that it was nothing to be too concerned about. I STILL don’t know what really happened that day but I was terrified that it was going to happen again. Thankfully it only lasted about two minutes and never did happen again. There is nothing worse than feeling so out of control and scared that you are going to die. Oh wait…yes there is…being a BRAND new sleep deprived mom…who thought she was going to die.

Today’s writing prompt: Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account – click “click to view” under “You” and “self awareness and personal growth.” You can even google your type and find more info on it!)

I am an ISTJ. All of it was pretty right on EXCEPT for the part about “always being on time”. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I always WANT to be on time…and think about it ahead of time about how I am going to be on time…but somehow, I get distracted and am always a few minutes late. It’s a horrible habit.

I thought this was interesting: “Effusive expression of emotional warmth is not something that ISTJs do without considerable energy loss”. Well, actually that sounds a little harsh. But I am a steadfast Taurus. Not that I believe much in astrology but I am very loyal and honest person. And expect the same from anyone that I let into my inner circle.

Have you taken a personality test before? Which one are you? Did you think it was accurate?

Outfit Details:
H&M Kimono (last year)
Mossimo Basic Tank
Chain Link Necklace via Shopbop (YEARS ago)
Denim Cut-Offs ($1 at a garage sale)
Haylen Booties c/o Justfab
Swept Away Bag c/o Jigsaw London

I am OBSESSED with these shoes. Printed sneakers (if you say sneakers…I actually call them tennis shoes…east coast vs. west coast) have been on the top of my wishlist forEVER. I was REALLY tempted to get the hi-tops, but I wasn’t sure I could pull them off! Still might have to try though! The colors are SO vibrant and I can’t wait to pair them with my skinny jeans and chunky sweaters when the weather cools down!

And now for the exciting news…I have partnered with Inkkas to give away ONE free pair of shoes! They come in mens, womens & childrens sizing so you can pick from any line! Enter to win using the rafflecopter application below! Thanks so much for reading and good luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More about Inkkas:

Inkkas.com is a socially conscious shoe company founded in 2012. The brand seeks to promote beautiful handmade shoes using traditional South American textiles. From the beginning, Inkkas set out to be a company that would have a beneficial impact on the world, not an exploitative one. The company was founded on the principles of fair trade, philanthropy and authenticity. Inkkas also donates a portion of each sale to help protect the amazon rainforest and it’s natural inhabitants.

You can also find Inkkas on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Both my husband and I are last minute weekend getaway type of people. Thankfully Palm Springs is just a 2.5 hour drive away. We have been so many times now that we have figured out how to do Palm Springs on the cheap without sacrificing the glam. Trying to get a hotel room at the last minute is not usually the most affordable way to go but seriously my husband has got it down to an exact science. He knows how to check/compare amenities, star ratings, etc. on Hotwire and then he goes to Priceline to place a bid. With just a little online research, you can pretty much narrow down which hotel(s) you are going to get so you don’t have to worry about being stuck with a hotel you won’t like. He SWEARS by these two travel sites over all of the others.

Tip: Go during the summer months when the temps are higher. The prices are cheaper and there are less people (BIG plus in my book).

Tip: No hotel room available online? CALL the hotel. I don’t know if it is because my husband could sell ice to Eskimos or what but he will call and speak with the manager and somehow finagle a room in a supposedly sold out hotel.

Tip: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ask the front desk if they have any upgraded rooms available. Many times they will bump you up without an additional charge.

We’ve stayed at a lot of hotels on and off the strip and one of the best spa experiences is at the Riviera Hotel & Spa. They have an awesome grotto with private relaxation rooms that you can hang out in and have lunch, read or nap in peace.

Tip: Call the hotel and ask if they have any spa deals/promotions. Many times they offer packages that give you a spa credit. Or if you end up staying at a hotel without spa facilities, you can always just get a treatment here and have a day of pampering!

We used to stay at resorts where you pretty much have to stay on the property or drive 20 minutes to get to town. Now we like to stay at Alcazar right at the beginning of the strip. My FAVE breakfast place is basically on the property and they have FREE bike rentals so you can go out and explore all day long.

Tip: Rent a bike and stop at the pricier hotels for a fancy drink or two. It’s a great way to check them out and the front desk is usually happy to give you a tour of the property and/or a peek into the rooms.

Tip: Palm Springs is known for it’s old school glam and the resale/thrift shops offer some of the best shopping out there! And what’s more exciting than finding a great vintage piece on the cheap?

Have any Palm Springs tips to add? I’d LOVE to hear them so please feel free to leave them in the comments! How do you travel luxe for less?

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Cadillac Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles.