**scroll to bottom for itinerary**

Honestly, where do I begin with this trip...

To say it was the best, most blissful, peaceful, serene week of my life thus far, would be a good place to start. Before I get into it, I just have to say how incredibly blessed I feel. I know life isn't always this sweet, I know it ebbs and flows but when things get tough, I'll pray for the peace I found in these moments. It's weeks like the one I had that make life worth it. 

I had decided pretty early on into the week that it was the best week of my life, maybe by day 2 or so...then I was proposed to.

I had this idea to do a trip for my 24th birthday, because I've been dying to see big, beautiful, vast mountains. Last year, Tyler and I went to the Bahamas, which was lovely, but like most of my travels in the past few years, it was a tropical vacation. I felt a void in my travels. I wanted to feel small. I wanted to be humbled. I wanted vast space of land to fill my eyes instead of highways and high rises. I wanted to forget about where I put my phone and ignore everyone for a week. (no offense everyone)
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Planning this trip definitely took some effort (logistics wise), and I think that's why I've gotten such a high demand for the itinerary. It's pretty overwhelming trying to research these sights. It helped that I already knew I wanted to see the Antelope Canyons & Horseshoe Bend. Those two destinations alone were really what incentivized the whole trip.
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Once I started diving into the research for the trip, I realized we had to fly into Las Vegas or Phoenix and drive to Page, AZ where the two sights are. It's about a 4-hour drive from both airports but after hearing that Vegas was the more scenic route, we ate the $100-$200 price difference and booked our flights to Sin City. Though I don't have a drive from Phoenix to compare it to, I think it was definitely worth the extra buck to enjoy the long drive. Especially being from Florida and only ever seeing flat ground on the highway, driving through the mountains was a treat in of itself. 

We rented a Jeep Wrangler with FOX Rentals, which was the most affordable option considering they don't have a young driver fee. I had checked their reviews online after Tyler booked with them and was honestly really nervous when I saw how many bad reviews they had. We debated booking with another company but realized our purchase was non-refundable so after thinking about it for a few days, we decided to cross our fingers and hope for the best. We ended up having a great experience (thank god) and we also totally scored with the Jeep! Four-wheel drive is the way to go out there and we took the roof off everyday which was so so lovely.

Now for where we stayed- I say this every-time, but if you are still using hotels to travel, you are seriously missing out! We rented a clean & comfy room in Vegas for one night and crashed there for only $46, tax included. I'm sorry but you can't beat that.
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The next morning, we headed out to our 3-hour UTV tour (like an ATV but bigger) with Southern Utah Adventure Center. It was a two-hour drive from Vegas so we grabbed some bfest to go and hit the road. **PRO-TIP there is an hour difference between Nevada and Utah. Take that hour into account if you are planning any activities.** We learned this the hard way! We hauled ass and made it by the skin of our teeth, and thank god we did because I literally can't remember the last time I had that much fun. Our tour guide was so friendly and knowledgeable on the land. We got lucky and only had one other couple in our group. They were retired and living their best lives. We all bonded and had so much fun together. Worth every single penny and this was a huge highlight of the trip. Definitely go out of your way to do this if you can and I'd highly recommend Southern Utah Adventure Center!

After the UTV tour, we grabbed a yummy lunch at River Rock Roasting Company (the Beet  Salad was bomb.com) and then made our way to Under Canvas Zion.  I knew I wanted to spend at least one night camping/glamping so I dug deep into researching all glamping hotels in the tristate area (there are a few different ones). I had my eyes set on Under Canvas because it looked like my type of camping. King size bed, hot showers, and a restaurant on site...shit, call me a happy camper.

We checked in right before sunset and got to enjoy some games and s'mores before the sky turned dark. So here's the deal with the tents- Under Canvas offers several different tent options based on the level of glamping you're looking to do. I ended up going with the Safari Tent, which includes a king size bed, and wood stove to keep the tent warm at night. I debated upgrading to the Deluxe tent which includes a private ensuite bathroom, but for one night I didn't think it was worth the extra $200. We used the communal bathrooms and showers which were totally fine and did not feel like a gross dorm hall bathroom at all. Each stall has its own shower, toilet, and sink. It was actually fun and made the experience feel more like camping.

The camp does have an onsite restaurant within the lobby which was convenient and yummy. We had dinner in the lobby with fellow campers and enjoyed our night playing board games and coloring. They don't have wifi on the campsite but instead provide guests with board games, which I thought was a sweet gesture and a nice change for once. It was so cool being in a big tent full of people watching them interact and laugh with each other instead of lost in the world of the internet. I could not have been more content spending my 24th birthday night under a big canvas tent with the love of my life, coloring with markers and playing board games next to a cozy warm fire. It was simple, sweet, and perfect.

The following day was left open on my itinerary because I just wasn't sure what we would want to do before driving to Page. I had looked up things about White Pockets and The Wave, but I read that you needed permits and TBH it overwhelmed me. So, we asked around the camp and got some great tips from locals. They recommended going into the actual park (Zion National Park) and exploring. Not sure if I'm the only one, but National Parks have always been a little intimidating to me. I imagined needing hiking gear and maybe a course or two on how to survive in the wild in case of emergency. To my surprise, the park was dummy proof and well organized for the average and uncoordinated folks like us. They have a shuttle system that makes your life as simple as sitting on a bus and picking which of the most popular spots in the park you want to get off at. 

​We spent the day going to a few different stops and hiking some easy trails. It was BEYOND beautiful and I was really excited that we got to catch the leaves starting to change color. Although the trails we took were pretty easy, you definitely want to go into the park prepared. Water, sunglasses, chapstick (necessity- my lips were not used to the dry cold), hats, jacket to throw on in the shade, and comfy sneakers are a must.
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We hit the road for Page right before sun set and the drive out of the park was just as incredible as what was inside it. We jammed out with the roof off and enjoyed the cold breeze. The golden hour sunshine glowed over the vibrant rock formations and we chased the sunset looking for a good spot to catch it. We finally found a climbable rock formation and hopped out of the car while it was damn near still moving. We ran to the top and caught the last 60 seconds of the ball of fire sinking into the top of the mountainside crest. ​
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We arrived at our Air Bnb in Page and got settled in. We quickly learned that the town of Page is pretty small, so there's not a ton of options for restaurants and stores. You can pretty much look down on the whole town from any high point. I actually really enjoyed the simplicity of a small town. I also learned the streets quickly which was a nice change for my directionally challenged self. We splurged a little on the Air Bnb because, well, we wanted to and I'm SO happy we did. Again, worth every penny. We had access to the backyard which included a hot tub, fire pit, & grill and we had a washer and dryer in the house. You just get so much bang for your buck! (p.s. ready for that collaboration whenever you are @Airbnb) 

I should have known what was ahead of me when we got dinner that night and Tyler only got wings and salad for us to share. He usually has quite the appetite...

The next morning, we had our Antelope Canyon tour! For those who don't know, there are two options for the canyons- Upper and Lower. After a lot of research, I decided to go with Lower because apparently it was less crowded this time of the year. I booked the Deluxe Tour with Ken Tours which is a little more private with a smaller group (1-4 people) verses the normal tours which typically have a bigger group (I believe 7-10). To my surprise, Tyler and I were the only ones on the tour so we basically got a private tour, which was awesome. The canyons were so incredibly beautiful. The tour only lasted 30 minutes so I really tried to soak up every minute because it really did feel magical.

The tour guides are also photographers which comes in handy because they know how to get the best shots in the canyons! As soon as we got in, our guide started snapping pics for us, which was great, but to be completely honest I would have been fine without SO many photo ops- I want to ACTUALLY enjoy the canyons and not just look like I was enjoying them for pics. It was interesting to see how popular the destination has become due to the power of social media. 

As we were snapping pics through-out the tour, we approached a photo op spot called "The Arch". Our guide slipped in front of us to set up for the shot and I turned around to pose with Tyler and next thing I knew, he was on one knee. 

He said "I want to do this forever, will you marry me?" Immediate sobs and I cried "yes".

Everyone's question is "did you know?!". I'll be honest, yes and no. It was definitely not a complete shock, as we talked about it all the time. We had talked about rings here and there so it's not like I had NO idea. He was so nervous he was shaking like a leaf. I'll never forget that moment and how surreal  it felt. I'm so excited to marry my best friend. 

The next morning we rented paddle-boards for Lake Powell which is what the town is really known for since it covers so much of the land and is a big tourist attraction as well. We rented through Lake Powell Paddle-boards, and got them for a full day ($45 per board) which includes 6 hours (plenty of time). They help you strap the boards to your car and give you directions on how to get to the lake and where to go once in it. We made a rookie mistake of renting paddle boards during Fall instead of kayaks which is definitely a better option when the water is that cold! We chatted with a few locals while on the water and found out that paddle-boarding the lake is more of a summer activity. I had a good thing going with my board and switched between standing and sitting. Tyler on the other hand had trouble keeping water off of his board, so if you ask him, he wouldn't recommend it. He was bitching the whole time. I enjoyed having the option to stand up or sit down on the board since we were on the water for 2-3 hours. 

The canyons were so so beautiful and getting such a close look at them was an amazing experience. I played some music and really enjoyed the stillness of the lake and surrounding rock structures. Paddling gets a little tedious but I think that's the point. I found a good flow and rhythm with my stokes and stayed present and mindful throughout the trail. I felt the power of my paddle pushing me through the lake and the resistance of the water with each stroke. I watched the water glisten and dance under the stunning red rock structures while gazing through the water at the world happening under me. It was so tranquil and the perfect ending to the trip.

​I've traveled a lot these past few years, but this was a trip of a lifetime-for obvious reasons. I've never been so at peace with myself, my life, and my love. Arizona and Utah will always have a special place in my heart. It reminded me that life can be, contrary to belief, simple. I truly found my peace in those mountains.

​After a few days of being home and getting back to the chaos of life, I found myself stepping outside, looking at the sky, taking a deep breath, and visualizing myself back in those special moments that grounded me. I'm so thankful for the life I live, the opportunities I have, the love in my life, and my faith in the universe. 

I hope you enjoyed getting an "inside my head" take on this trip beyond just the IG photos. If you have the opportunity to take this trip I would 110% recommend it. Go off grid, get off your phone and be present! If you have any questions at all, don't hesitate to DM me. 

I attached my actual itinerary that will be easier to follow. Pick and choose as you please. ​

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Night one:
-Land in Las Vegas
-Shuttle to Fox Rent a Car

• Check oil, tires, etc.

-Arrive at Air BnB
-Casino
-Dispensary  

Day one:
8:00am: Breakfast
9:00am: Drive to Zion (2hr 16min/146mi) (account for 3 hours due to time difference)

• Southern Utah Adventure Center

11:30am: Arrive at Southern Utah Adventure Center 
12:00pm: Sand Mesa UTV Tour
3:00pm: Drive to Under Canvas Zion (28 min/16 mi)
3:30pm: Check into Safari Tent
6:00pm: Sunset
7:00pm: Dinner
9:00pm: S'mores
 
Day two:
-Check out of Under Canvas
-Breakfast
-Zion National Park
-Drive to Page (2hr 40min/152 mi)
-Check into Air Bnb
  
Day three:
8:00am: Breakfast
9:00am: Leave for tour (Kens Tours in GPS)
9:30am: Kens Tours Antelope Canyon check in

• 10:00am-11:00am: Lower Antelope Canyon Deluxe Guided Tour

12:00pm- lunch
1:30pm/2:00pm: Horseshoe bend
7:00pm: Dinner
hot tub/fire pit

Day four:
8:00am: Breakfast
9:00am: Lake Powell Paddleboards  
4:50pm: Return Paddle Boards
7:00pm: Dinner
 
Day five:
Drive back to Las Vegas
8:00pm- Drop off rental car

• 8801 SOUTH LAS VEGAS BLVD

10:06pm- Depart Las Vegas to Ft. Laud

This month, I had the incredible opportunity to partner with Universal Orlando Resorts to stay at the stunning Aventura Hotel. I was so so excited when they reached out to me for this collaboration, as I've always loved theme parks since I was a little girl and I was way overdo for a fun theme park trip! I took my bestie, Jessica, and we had SUCH a great girls weekend. 

We arrived at the hotel and the first thing that caught my eye was the gorgeous open concept layout in the lobby. We checked in with ease and met their friendly little robot helpers! The staff explained that the robots help with room deliveries, share candy in the lobby, and even tell funny jokes. Talk about the future. SO cool.

The dining area is conveniently located next to the lobby, which made it really easy to chow down then head straight to the parks! They even have a Starbucks to grab your morning brew to go.

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Once getting up to the room, I went right over to the window and checked out our sweet view that looked right over all three of the parks. Although the view was quite impressive, what really wowed me was the advanced in-room technology. The iPad next to the bed controlled literally everything in the room. When I say everything, I mean it! It controlled the lights, temperature, TV/ Netflix/ YouTube, room service, dining reservations, etc. I was even able to set a timer for the TV to turn off at night when we were ready to hit the sack. They really thought of everything!

We headed to the parks and made our first stop at Universal Studio's Florida. Of course, we had to take a pit stop on the way to get the notorious wave picture! We ran around the park for hours and had the best time. My favorite parts of the day had to be visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for the first time and riding the Revenge of the Mummy.

Once back at the hotel, we headed up to the rooftop bar, Bar 17 Bistro, to catch a sunset drink and some bites. We invited some local Orlando friends to join us and we had such a lovely evening catching up while looking over the beautiful city lights.  

On day two, we stopped by the outdoor bar, Sol Bar, to grab a drink before heading back to the parks. Our server was so friendly and even gave us some good "pro-tips" for navigating the parks, like taking the Hogwarts Express to get from one park to another instead of walking! My feet thanked him later for that. 

For our second day, we went to Universal's Islands of Adventure. Our first stop was The Incredible Hulk Coaster and holy cow!! Talk about an adrenaline rush. Later in the day, we got a Turkey leg for lunch and it really lived up to our childhood memories of it. My favorite ride of the day was the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. We rode it three times and honestly, I would have done it 100 more if we had the time! 

All in all, Jess and I had such an incredible weekend. After working so hard for months, taking this weekend to dedicate to pure FUN was so necessary and needed! We truly had the best time and our hotel, Universal’s Aventura Hotel was the perfect mix of comfort, style and convenience for the modern traveler.

A special thank you to Universal Orlando Resorts for having us, we can't wait to be back!

Love, Liv

Every so often, my friend group and I like to plan a trip somewhere together. With most of us living away from each other, we've found that taking trips together is the best way to spend time and make memories together these days. After all, getting seven girls together is not the easiest of tasks. Our first idea was to go for the cabin/campfire vibe in Georgia, but when we decided we wanted to leave the boyfriends at home and make it a girls only trip we chose Nashville instead. Not quite sure how it happened, but it did. 

All I had known about Nashville previously was that just about every country music artist was born and/or discovered there. Ironically, I hated country music growing up. I was that person who would make fun of the corny lyrics that talked about love at first sight, going through heartbreak, or growing up in a small town. 

That changed when I met my boyfriend, Tyler. He grew up listening to country music so I inevitably listened to a lot of it when we started dating. The more I was exposed to it, the more I started to enjoy and appreciate the thoughtful song writing and instrumental music behind it. I realized that it was refreshing to hear lyrics that told a story or had a lesson behind them verses lyrics that glorified lifestyles lost in partying, drugs, and sex. 

Since then, I have been an avid listener of country music and it's become one of my favorite genres. So, when Nashville was the decided destination, I was all in. YEEHAW.

Broadway is the strip in downtown that’s notorious for it's live music bars and country music celebrities being discovered. You can’t miss it from a mile a way, the strip glows with neon signs and music pours out from every bar on the street. They call it NashVegas for a reason. The cool thing about the bars is that they all have 3 floors with different live music on each level. So, if you're not feeling the music, just head upstairs (or downstairs).
 
We started at The Stage and bar hopped down Broadway for a few hours. The bands mostly play covers to popular songs, which is great because dancing to music you don't know can get boring. They also make sure to cover a good amount of rock and alternative hits, so you’re not totally drowning in country. We danced and sung our hearts out for literally hours. Even my two girlfriends who hate going out and hate dancing, were up having the time of their lives. We got back to the air bnb and couldn't stop talking about how much fun we had. Nashville was off to a great start.  ​

​We had brunch reservations the next morning at Louie's Wine Dive. The girls ordered bottomless mimosas and we chatted for a few hours. I ordered the crab cake Benedict and it was to die for. Our server was awesome and gave us some good insight on where we planned to head next, which is an area between Music Row and Downtown, known as The Gultch. A friend had recommended this to me as a place to shop, walk around, and even rides Bird scooters around. (If you don’t know what those are, Google them, they are all the rage.)
 
Although we enjoyed our time, I wish there had been more affordable boutiques in the area. The few we came across were way out of our shopping price range. But we did ride around on the Birds and that was hilarious. We headed back to the house and spent the night in. We ordered pizza, caught up on each others lives, laughed, cried, you know, just your typical girl stuff. 

Day 2 came around and we headed over to another recommended spot, Arrington Vineyards. There was a bit of a late start to the day, so by the time we made it there it was around sunset. The girls ordered their tastings and I picked out my cheese & meat selections for the group. We found a nice table on the outside patio that was dimly lit by white Christmas lights. We chatted about life, relationships, and our futures. Two bottles of wine later we laughed our way out of the winery and hit the road for dinner (me as the DD of course- if you don’t know about my alcohol allergy, you can read about it here). The Southern Steak & Oyster was the chosen spot since it was close to downtown and also a recommendation. The oysters and the service were phenomenal. However, the pasta dish with fried eggs on top of it, not so much. Not sure who’s idea that was.
 
The decision to head back to downtown was strongly influenced by the amount of fun we had the first night. But as anyone could have predicted, going out on a Monday night is much different than a Saturday night. Not that we didn't enjoy ourselves, but it seemed that the single men of Nashville were out to mingle. We couldn't go 5 minutes without a different guy in a cowboy hat approaching one of us. To be honest, it was really annoying. Guys-I’m all for you shooting your shot, but when you see a group of girls clearly enjoying each others company, for god sake, let them be!!

Day 3 approached and we found our way back to The Gultch to hit a hot spot called Biscuit Love. My overall impression was that it was charming and clean. The food came out shockingly fast and it was delicious. Everyone was pleased with what they ordered which is a rarity when trying to please seven people. I kept it simple with the Egg Plate (the cheesy grits were SOOO good). After breakfast, we headed to a space called Pinewood Social. This place was recommended to me by one of my followers and I was sold by the old-fashion bowling alley photos I glanced at on Yelp. The space itself was pretty cool- kind of like a lounge/bar and coffee shop/work space all in one. The vibe reminded me of Soho House- but without the exclusivity. The old fashion, 50s themed, bowling alley hid in the back of the warehouse styled building and it made for the sweetest surprise. We had fun competing against each other in a retro, throwback setting. 

Our last stop, and probably my favorite part of the trip, was a 6 o'clock show at The Listening Room. The tickets were $7 each, with a $15 food & drink minimum. The show was worth every penny. It was really special to get a more intimate listening experience compared to the live music at the bars on Broadway. By the end of the show, we all agreed that we were SO happy we came and it was the perfect note to end our trip. (See what I did there?)
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Although I was bummed to leave Nashville and my best friends, I felt so fulfilled with the memories this trip gave us. There wasn't much planning in advance, we kind of played by ear, but it usually works out better that way anyway. Thank you to my friends & followers who sent recommendations! We had the best time and would do it again in a heartbeat. Nashville now has a little piece of all of our hearts. If you are planning a trip I hope this gave you some insight on places to go or what you have to look forward to! Feel free to leave any questions or comments below. Until the next adventure. xx

Love, Liv. 

Serendipity -  an unplanned, fortunate discovery​

​​While talking over lunch with my friend K.C. recently, I mentioned that I had been invited to take a trip to Joshua Tree, but I didn’t think I was going to make it. K.C.’s eyes lit up as he blurted “I’m down”. I had a few things to consider- I already made plans with my BFF, Maddie, and her roommate, Esther, to take a train down to San Diego to do some exploring. Add to this that I had just rented a car to run errands around LA. I over planned myself and had too many options for how to spend the day. I was torn. 

​​But if you know me, or have read any of my other travel blogs, you'll know that adventure always trumps errands.
 
I'll kill 2 birds with one stone-screw the errands...Let's all take the rental car to Joshua tree for the day.  
 
So off we went in our little Toyata Prius into the dry heat of Joshua Tree National Park. 

​Not sure what it is about me and the desert, but per usual, we didn’t do any research before our arrival; we just drove into the park and winged it.

​After several minutes, we were off to find our next spot. Every park stop had a unique set of rock formations that were special in their own way. As we climbed up and explored the formations, we felt like we were little kids again, playing on a jungle gym in the playground. We had the idea to take our shoes off and boy, was that the best idea of the day. Feeling the cool rocks on our warm and slightly sweaty feet felt so grounding. (TMI?)
 
It was thrilling to be out in nature, completely focused on climbing the rocks with caution and skill; a feeling we rarely get to experience in our hectic everyday life and man made world.
 
I was reminded of my true love for nature and being outdoors. I was reminded that it is where I feel the most alive and human.

​We sat on the rocks in silence, and solemnly observed nature’s beauty. The gradient color schemes in the rocks appeared like it was inspiration from an interior design magazine. The patterns, the light, the combination of colors, That’s when I realized that it all comes full circle. As they say, art imitates life and Mother Nature is the greatest of artists. As a society, we are constantly trying to imitate nature, whether we are aware of it or not. It makes sense that natural elements serve as the greatest inspiration for designs in architecture, furniture, and even fashion. 

​We lost ourselves in the journey. Some climbing and exploring later, the sun was already setting. We ran to the highest point on the rocks and caught the last 10 seconds of the very tip of the sun as it slipped behind the silhouette of the mountains. For the next 20 minutes, we enjoyed the variations of colors of the sunset desert sky. 

​Maddie and I talked about how thankful we were for the abundance in our lives, and how we are so blessed to be able to feel the thrill of climbing rocks and see the beauty of the sunset with our eyes. After shedding a few tears or joy and gratitude, we headed back down towards the car to begin our journey home.

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With the windows down and music blasting, I watched as the night sky turned dark and stars began to shine bright. I thanked the universe for that moment, and carry it with me still.
 
I encourage all of you to get out and explore this world. Nature has a way of making you feel so small in the very best way. It humbles you, it excites you, it challenges you…it IS you. Get out there.
 
Love, Livv. 

All photos taken by KC Fritz. Below is developed film shot on a FIJI disposable camera. 

When I get an invitation for adventure, my initial reaction is to jump to a quick "I'm down!" but when my friend (and roommate in LA) Laura, invited me on a camping trip to Lone Pine, California with her photographer friend, John Duarte, I had second thoughts. 

Me? Camping? Yikes. At first, I was hesitant. What the heck do I know about camping? A) I had never been, B) I don't particularly see myself as a "camper" type. But there is one thing that I am always game for, and that's some good ol' fashion adventure. 

After some back and fourth bickering, Laura got me on board. John sent us a mood/style board so we did a quick trip to Urban Outfitters to pull some looks. 

Our alarm clocks rang at the ungodly hour of 5am and off we went, groogy-eyed, to meet up with the rest of the crew. A rental Jeep, plus two cars full of wardrobe and camera equipment made its way 3.5 hours north to the dessert of Lone Pine, California. I slept most of the way and woke up to views I had never seen before. Desert in front of us, snow caps on the mountains in the distance. My initial reaction was just "wow".

​We started shooting immediately to make the most out of the daylight. There was so much variety in the terrain that we were able to switch up outfits and make it look like a completely different place! 

Though I've been to la la Land a number of times before, I'd have to say that this past trip was the most significant, in more ways than one.

The main purpose of this visit was to meet with a few modeling agencies that were interested in representing me in the Los Angeles area. Luckily, the agency that expressed the most interest in me was my top choice as well. I don't want to give too much away until things are set in stone, but exciting news coming soon!

​Another big reason why I knew I had to book this flight was because I was long over due to visit one of my best friends, Maddison, who moved out to LA almost a year ago with my other close friend Rachel. It was so nice spending quality, bestie time together with them and catching up on life! 

I had two agency meetings set up on my second day in town and I knew the day was going to be a long one. Thankfully, I was able to coerce Maddie into keeping me company and playing my stage mom for the day. (Love ya Madds)

We started the day at a café that was recommended to us by a local. He told us Coral Tree Cafe was the spot; he was right (thanks elevator stranger). We shared the Farmers Market Vegetable Scramble and Almond Crusted French Toast (pictured above). Both were so yummy and totally hit the spot. P.S. For anyone wondering about my vegan diet transition- I'm still eating eggs and seafood. Full blog post coming soon!

On our way to a friends place, we noticed this adorable house covered in flowers and vines. It may or may not have turned into a full-blown photoshoot. 

It's funny, I've always had this distant vision that one day I'd be driving down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) in a convertible, blasting good music, with good people, loving life. I can't help but think that I had manifested this exact moment and without much effort or thought, it came to life. Maddie's mom came into town to visit and celebrate her birthday. In the spirit of celebrating, she rented a convertible BMW and we thought what better way to spend the beautiful day than to drive up the coast? 

Along the way, we made a few pit stops, mostly to stretch but also for those spontaneous photos opts. 

​This day felt particularly special because I hadn't seen Maddison in such a long time and it was so nice to get that girl time in. Flash back to about 16 years ago- we were playing dress up in her backyard and she was my first sleepover ever!!  These type of friends are like rare gems so I keep her close to my heart. 

We ended up driving past the coast and into a small little town called Oija (pronounced "Oh, Hi"). After walking around for a bit we spotted a Kombucha Bar, Revel. At this point, we were ready for a snack break and this looked like the perfect fit. 

By no means am I a Kombucha expert; I knew it was good for your digestive system so I had tried it a few times(health and stuff right?). The server explained that they serve a special Kombucha called Jun Kombucha, which is made with Green Tea and honey rather than vinegar and sugar. The taste was a lot more delicate and didn't have that vinegary punch. We ordered two tasting flights and I couldn't get enough of it! The different flavors ranged from things like "Pink Moment"-blend of hibiscus ginger & orange zest, to "Blue Moon"-infused with Ojai lavender & Summer blueberries. So so yummy. 

This little spot is also known for their Açaí Bowls and of course we couldn't turn it down. This was the first time I had an Açaí Bowl made with Açaí sorbet rather than a smoothie texture. I fell in love and am now on a mission to find a place in Miami where they make it like this! 

After our tasty snack break we hit the road again. 

On our way back south, we stopped by El Matador Beach, which is well-known by locals and a hell of a find for tourists. I did a photo shoot at this beach a few years ago during my first visit to LA and it is still one of my favorite shoots till this day, so this spot has a sentimental place in my heart. Pics from the shoot below!

Photographed by @Ayoandrsn, styled by Erika Wheaton, wearing Myraswim.

As we drove down the coast we wanted to find a good place to watch the sunset and end our day. We looked up nearby restaurants on Yelp that had good reviews and found The Sunset. Suiting, right? The food and atmosphere were great. Maddie and I ran out of the restaurant to watch the last minutes of the sun setting on the beach. Perfect ending to a great day. 

For my last day, I played it pretty low key. We had lunch at The Butchers Daughter then drove up to Paradise Cove for drinks and bites on the beach. I really enjoyed the ambience of both locations. Our lunch spot was the perfect green foliage inspiration that I needed- I've been saving inspo on my Pintrest trying to add some greenery into my apartment. 

If you asked me how my trip went, my answer would have to be "productive". As always with traveling, I met wonderful people, made special memories, and was reminded to live in the present moment and just take it all in. Exciting things are on the horizon! Definitely not a good-bye, but a see-you-soon LA! Maybe sooner than you think. ;-)

                                                                                                     Love, Liv

This past December, I visited Colorado for a ski trip and it was one of the best trips of my life to date. This was such a highly-anticipated vacation and it truly exceeded every expectation. Colorado is beautiful in so many ways!

One of the most important things to consider when traveling (if not the most important), is WHO you're traveling with. The people that I went with was what really made the trip unforgettable. The crew consisted of my boyfriend and I (who are already awesome, duh), my sister and her boyfriend (who are also awesome) and one of their best buddies and his girl (who are also totally awesome!). 

We stayed in Denver for a few nights at the most perfect Air B&B (Air b&b FTW). It had a cozy cabin feel and was conveniently placed on top of an authentic Polish Restaurant, which was actually owned by the Air B&B host herself. The restaurant even delivered to us upstairs when we didn't want to bear the 10 degree cold, not even for 5 seconds. Talk about the set up!

The photos below are from our small detour to Garden of the Gods before heading through the mountains to Aspen. The rest of the trip was captured through a video compilation I made right after the trip. Make sure you stick around for the bloopers. ;-)

Smiling through negative 4 degrees. Ha!

This was such a fun video to edit. I love capturing trips through video because it makes the memories so much more vivid. Enjoy. 

This past March, my modeling agency competed in the annual Model Beach Volleyball tournament on South Beach. Though I decided to opt out of actually playing, (any sport involving balls and I don't mix well, trust.) I made myself useful and cheered on our team through every round. I like to believe I helped contribute to winning the tournament. 

As a prize, the winning team won a paid-for trip to Haiti through The Jack Brewer Foundation (JBF Worldwide). The trip was organized through the JBF's Global Ambassadors Program which is designed to connect influential individuals to philanthropic organizations. Jack himself is a five-year NFL veteran who established this foundation to empower women and children living in impoverished and underdeveloped communities by enabling food security; promoting access to education and cultural exchanges; assisting in medical aid and disaster relief; and building peace. 

I had been wanting to go on a mission trip for years but never took the initiative and it seemed like this incredible opportunity just fell in my lap. 

Before leaving for the trip, there were many concerns from my family about the dangers that are associated with visiting a 3rd world country. Granted, yes there were very realistic threats, but I knew I was going with a well-established foundation that had been doing this work for years. I knew I was in good hands.

A group of about 100 ambassadors landed in Port Au Prince, Haiti, the countries capital. Individuals from all different professions- from models to yoga instructors, to musicians, to retired NFL players; all came together.
​

We spent the first few days in Port Au Prince. On our first day we visited the  JBF Worldwide sponsored nationwide cervical cancer program at St Luke's Hospital. As a woman, this visit especially made an impact on me. Learning that it is one of the only, if not the only, hospitals that provides treatment and screenings for cervical and breast cancer blew my mind. This program aims to save an estimated 3,000 lives a year.

Later that day, we visited the Olympic training Sports center to hang with some of the local youth athletes and donate 500 pounds of baseball equipment to Haiti's first national baseball league. Everyone was so kind and grateful towards us. ​

Our visit to the Hope Centre Orphanage in Delmas was a highlight for every body on this trip. We were able to donate water, dozens of boxes full of Nike and Puma gear, and 10 computers to the orphans of the Hope Center as part of Karen Civil's initiative to give them education and technology access.

During this visit, the foundation was able to  launch YesJulz Little Rascals Music Initiative, which will bring music resources and training opportunities to underserved youth. Julz was especially proud and overjoyed as she herself is in the music industry and was able to give these children the gift of music. 

Probably the most anticipated and planned out part of the trip was our visit to City Soleil, considered widely to be the poorest neighborhood in the Western Hemisphere. As you can imagine, this was hard to digest. Though most of the children were over-joyed and affectionate towards us, I couldn't help but feel completely heart broken for the extremely poor conditions they were living in. Their strength and love towards others despite their hardships was so inspiring to me, and I can only hope that we gave as much to them as they did to us.

Some captures by me on my Sony A6300 of City Soleil below. 

Together, we planted 150 Moringa Trees! The oil from these trees are harvested to serve as a natural remedy for malnutrition in Haiti. Because it has so many amazing benefits, it is also known as a miracle tree! This project also aimed to address Haiti's deforestation crises.

On the last day of the trip, we had a boat day to celebrate the work of the Jack Brewer Foundation. Looking back on this trip, it was truly one of the most rewarding experiences and I'm so thankful that I was able to be apart of it along with 100+ incredible individuals. I have to thank Jack himself and the diligent team behind JBF Worldwide for putting together such a seamless and goal-driven trip. Looking forward to next year. For more information about The Jack Brewer Foundation or to make a donation click here. 

Being a New York born-South Florida raised child consisted of trips back and fourth visiting family periodically. Every trip included the "look how big you got!" from the great aunts and "what are you up to nowadays" from the older cousins. This trip was no different, but with the additional excitement of finally introducing my boyfriend of 5 years to my family and sharing the news that I'm moving into my own place next month! (own as in my name on the lease...eep!)

Our first stop in the city was a NYC tradition for me, Artichoke Pizza. My mom and I have been going here for years and crave it after each time. Now known for going viral on Facebook, this joint on the corner truly lives up to its fame. You don't even have to like Artichoke to like this pizza, promise! Down the street from Artichoke was the 14th St. entrance to The High Line (pictured above). We took a nice stroll on the once abandoned rail road track that is now consumed by lush greenery and modern design. 

That evening we were able to catch Alvin Ailey's season opening show and it was absolutely stunning. Being a dancer myself, I find such an immense amount of joy from watching others dance and perform. I know how amazing it feels and I can't help but feel so happy for those dancers who are living their dream! So fluid, so creative, so graceful...I left feeling incredible inspired. Isn't that the goal of art? To inspire? Job well done. 

I knew going to New York that I wanted to meet up with a photographer and try to get some lifestyle/street shots. After posting on my Instagram about the trip, Simone reached out to me and we made it happen! We met at Union Square and I told her we were planning on grabbing lunch at Chelsea Market. So we started walking and I'm thinking to myself "wait, but where are we going to shoot?" so I ask Simone and she says "on the way!". So that's just what we did. We crossed some roads, passed some street steam, and checked out some plants...Before you knew it we arrived at our lunch spot and went our separate ways. I love how things work out sometimes. 

Photos by Simone Hamilton 

​NYC is known for having some of the best sushi restaurants in the country so of course we had to indulge. Another old time favorite and every NY trip MUST is making reservations at Sushi Azabu. My mom took me to Sushi Azabu years ago and it has ruined every other sushi place for me forever. Now known for being a Michelin Star Restaurant, Azabu is in the basement of another restaurant and has an almost hidden entrance. We kept our spending to a minimum (keeping in mind we were moving in a month $$) but boy we could have easily spent $500 just on some damn raw fish. It's THAT good. 



​(p.s. PRO TIP- even if it's not on the menu, ask for the Umeshiso roll and they will make it for you. It's Pickled plum and Shiso Leaf. Unlike anything you've ever tasted and you'll never want the taste to end. TRUST.)

Each piece of sushi is handmade with fresh (and still warm) sushi rice, a small dot of Wasabi under the fish, and Soy Sauce brushed lightly on top. The fish simply melts in your mouth like butter. 

Central Park was on our top priority list for the trip, but we never even considered biking it until we saw the bike rental right outside of the park. Let's just say...we were GAME. 

I would have to say that this bike ride was the highlight of the trip for me. We got so lucky with a GORGEOUS day, and when I say gorgeous I mean just perfect. Just hot enough, with a cool breeze, birds chirping...you know, the whole nine yards. I really used this time to be present and enjoy the incredible nature that surrounded me. 

All in all, this was such an enjoyable trip for me, especially being able to share it with my best friend and boyfriend. Definitely planning a trip back sooner rather than later. 

If you have any recommendations, or questions about my trip comment below! 

​                                                                                                                 Love, Liv.