There are so many things to love and celebrate during the upcoming holiday! Fireworks, Freedom and of course Friends & Family. But with all that fun in the sun… it’s easy to rack up the calories and carbs! So, here are 3 Low Carb Cocktails to Help You Celebrate 4th of July and Stay on Track With Your Nutrition Goals!
Read MoreLooking for some low key luxury? You’ll find it at the Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage in Palm Springs.
This high-end oasis boasts mountain desert views and provides the perfect setting for a romantic long weekend or golf filled getaway.
Poolside Carne Asada Tacos and Spicy Strawberry Margarita
With just over 240 rooms this Ritz Carlton leans a little more intimate than most. As expected, the service is incredible and with such few guests, they can fulfill that Ritz promise of going above and beyond.
If you are visiting for a romantic rendezvous, don't miss the adult only pool perched cliffside or the 90-minute couples massage at the spa.
Request a room on the first floor to enjoy your personal fire pit and make sure you ask for a window-side table at The Edge Steakhouse to soak in the infectious desert sunset.
Couples Lounge at the
If your schedule allows it, plan an ENTIRE day at the spa. We've experienced a lot of spas all over and this is one of our absolute favorites. The spa area features an expansive couple's waiting lounge with a waterfall pool and outside sunning area. Within each locker room, you'll find a steam area, small European plunge pools, aroma showers and all of the toiletries and supplies you would need for a mini makeover. We loved the experience so much that we bought the aroma infused shower head so we could get our daily Ritz fix at home.
If you decide to journey outside the resort you'll have plenty of areas to explore. Palm Springs, nestled in the Sonoran Desert, is known for its spiritual retreats, golf courses, and film festivals. It's also flooded with midcentury-modern architecture (à la Frank Sinatra) and happily serves as Hollywood’s hideaway located 100 miles southeast of LA.
Searching for a dinner spot? Ristorante Mamma Gina's was recommended to us from our friend Gennifer and it's a "Can't-Miss". Originating in Italy in 1956, Mamma Gina's has enjoyed its desert location since 1986. The authentic Florentine cuisine was impressive and filling. Save room for dessert and an after-dinner drink because you'll want to soak up the ambiance.
If you are planning a boozy lunch, our gold medal goes to Las Casuelas Terraza. A Plam Springs staple since 1958, this Mexican joint offers a casual environment and a street-side patio adorned with tiny birds and plenty of tequila.
But you don't have to just eat your way through Palm Springs... you can shop your way through it too! Its core shopping district along Palm Canyon Drive features vintage boutiques, mainstream stores, interior design shops and lots of local watering holes.
If you are looking to explore your adventurous side, the surrounding Coachella Valley offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails. Not to mention the Coachella Music Festival held every April.
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Coachella), is an annual music festival held near Palm Springs in Indio, California. The festival features musical artists from a variety of music genres, including rock, indie, hip hop, and electronic dance music, as well as art installations. The origin of the event traces back to a Pearl Jam concert in 1993 held to boycott venues controlled by Ticketmaster. Some past acts include Madonna, Drake, Lady Gaga, Guns N' Roses, DJ Khaled and of course Beyonce. Since the festival is so close to LA you’ll find the place swarming with stars trying to get that perfect Instagram shot and dancing the night away. So if celebrity hunting is your game, it's well worth a ticket to Coachella.
Now, if golf is more your speed check out a round at one of many top-rated courses in the area. The prestigious PGA West Golf Club flexes its proverbial golf muscle with six courses designed by some of the biggest names in the business, including Pete Dye, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer.
Our concierge booked us at Desert Springs Golf Club located at the JW Marriott right across town. This course was very playable and a ton of fun. With two courses to choose from it caters to players of all skill levels. Taylor Made rental clubs are available if you aren’t into dragging your sticks around.
No matter what you are looking for you can find it in sunny Palm Springs. We couldn't have enjoyed our stay more can't wait for our next trip.
For more travel information and recommendations check out my other posts!
In this podcast, I'm giving you all my Las Vegas favorites! No matter if you are looking for a great glass of Champagne or a new Chanel bag.... I'm dishin' out my recommendations.
Read MoreEast Nashville is on fire y’all. There are so many creative and yummy places to try. I quickly realized that my list of bars and resturants was longer than my long weekend.
So, I combatted my indecisiveness and FOMO by creating a hybrid bar crawl + lite bite tour... which I have christened as the Germantown Sip Around.
Here are my most drinkable and snackable places in Germantown.
[Refined American fare served in lofty, rustic-industrial surrounds with a tree-lined patio]
Beauty School Dropout
My first "Sip" was imaginative, easy on the taste buds and the name was just so damn cute. Beauty School Dropout can best be described as floral fused with fruity, accompanied by a warm vanilla finish. [el dorado rum/ grapefruit / vanilla / lime / tiki bitters]
Sausage Cheddar Biscuits
After one bite of the Sausage Cheddar Biscuits, I bout fell out of my chair. The crispy crunchy outside paired well with the spicy yet sweet inner filling. Four of these little babies were not enough. Don't skip with Chow Chow relish on the side.
5th and Taylor shined bright as a triple threat by providing over the top customer service. John David, our server, was knowledgable, friendly and attentive! It was tough to leave 5th and Taylor... but it was time to journey on to our next stop.
[Industrial-chic restaurant with clever New American dishes, communal tables & inventive cocktails]
We had the heads up that the Rolf and Daughters menu was um... interesting. And boy, it was. Since we had three more returants to still sip at, we skipped our lite bite here and went straight for the cocktail. Matt, our bartender, crafted his take on a margarita which he let me re-name as the “Britt-a-Rita”.
Britt - A - Rita
[Tequila, Bitter Bianca, Garnish lemon, Basil, Simple syrup]
I appreciate anyone that will not only craft me my own special cocktail but also let me name it!
[Airy, chic spot for oysters & elevated seafood small plates, plus a separate bar for cocktails]
We hit the bartender jackpot again at Henrietta Red! We veered off the menu for a low(er) sugar option of an Airmail. [vodka, honey, champagne, lime]
Airmail
I also tried the Little Deuce Coupe (a great nod to the Beach Boys), which would be perfect for a summer afternoon swaying in a hammock. Sweet and delightful. [wodka, lemon, grapefruit, grenadine, mint]
Little Deuce Coupe
[Pan pizzas & other Chicago-style fare join draft beers in a big, airy pub with a rustic wood bar]
Our last stop was nothing short of delicious. After all that sippin' we were ready to eat!
312 Pizza Co is for all you Chicago-Style pizza lovers out there! But if you prefer a thinner crust... they'll do that too!
Hot + Fresh
We opted to create our own pizza and my goodness it was delicious! Just a heads up it takes about 30 minutes to get your pizza, but that will give you plenty of time to enjoy one of their creative cocktails or craft beers.
So if you find yourself thirsty in Nashville, head on over and wet your whistle in Germantown!
If you live in Lexington and love shopping, cocktails and culinary delights - I bet you've been to the Summit at Fritz Farm.
My gal pal and I were over there finishing up some holiday shopping and after hours of retail therapy, we were desperate for a cocktail. While there are plenty of wonderful places to grab a quick drink at the Summit, when she suggested Babalu I responded with an immediate yes.
Babalu is a southern based, upscale Latin-inspired restaurant named after the signature song of the fictional television character Ricky Ricardo, in the comedy series I Love Lucy. The house specialties are tacos and tapas highlighted by an inviting bar area that features imaginative drink specials.
Speaking of drinks and as a side note... I must confess : I'm a margarita snob. I love them and I make them well. So you can imagine my disappointment when a bartender tries to throw some janky mix into my “fresh squeezed” margarita.
Happily, I can report there were no janky mixes at Babalu! In fact, there was nothing but deliciousness.
As you skim over the drink menu, you could almost hear the ocean waves and feel the heat of the Los Cabos sun beating down on you.
The Caliente Cooler came highly recommeded by our bartender so we thought that would be a good place to start.
Ingredients : Exotico blanco tequila, agave nectar, jalapeño triple sec, strawberry banana puree, house made sweet & sour.
Our bartender did not disappoint with the suggestion. It was not only a great place to start we also decided to end with it too.
In the midst of our coolers, we got a little fruity with the Pineapple Margarita. I highly recommend adding some jalapeño triple sec to drum up some heat.
Ingredients : House infused pineapple tequila, fresh squeezed sour mix, jalapeño triple sec (*special request)
It was very refreshing and tropical with a slight kick, but it couldn't top our beloved Caliente Cooler.
After wetting our whistles, we decided to dive into the table side guacamole.
Its a must order and fulfilled all my wishes of being chunky, spicy and fresh.
And while I was impressed with the food, drinks and overall expereince, my biggest surprise came weeks after my visit to Babalu.
A handwritten postcard thanking me for my visit. Are you freaking kidding me? I LOVE getting mail!!! So kudos to Babalu for going the extra mile in regards to customer service and being a great addition to the Lexington restaurant scene.
The next time you in Lexington - make sure you check this place out.
Cheers to you, Babalu. See you soon!
