Day in the Life in L.A.: One Day/One Night in Los Angeles
Welcome to my blog post on suggestions of things to do if you have only one day in Los Angeles with family! The feel we were going for was relaxing, beautiful, stimulating, yet chic. #dayinthelife #dayinthelifeLA
Dukes, Malibu
Dukes, Malibu
Welcome to my blog post on suggestions of things to do if you have one day in Los Angeles! My grandmother and mom visited, so the feel we were going for was relaxing, beautiful, stimulating, yet chic. Below are the 3 places we went to for one beautiful day in L.A. Also, scroll down for the pics!
LA in-a-day itinerary:
—> The 3 Places: Duke’s Malibu, the Getty Villa, and the Beverly Hilton.
Lunch at Duke’s Malibu in Malibu, overlooking the ocean.
Duke’s restaurant is right beside the ocean and right off the PCH highway. The booths right next to the window have beautiful views of the waves, and sometimes you can see dolphins. Duke’s has brunch on Sunday’s, outside seating, and a bar. It’s a great restaurant for families as well as friends. I ordered a cold brew coffee in a glass bottle and a vegetarian burger :) I loved it. Check out Duke’s in Malibu website here. Duke’s is also close by the Getty Villa, where we went after lunch.
Museum day at The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades.
Next, we went to The Getty Villa. The Getty Villa is a beautiful museum in itself and features ancient Greek and Roman art. It’s located in the Pacific Palisades overlooking the ocean. It is perfect for spending a day with friends or with family. The museum is free, but you need to make a reservation beforehand. Check out the Getty Villa website here.
Check-in at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
After our day spent in Malbu at Duke’s and the Getty Villa, we headed for check-in at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, which is about an hour drive away from Malibu. The Beverly Hilton is known for its history in Hollywood, and hosts annual Grammy’s parties and the Golden Globes, and more. The Beverly Hilton has a restaurant by the pool, a bar, a modern spa with cryotherapy chambers, a beautiful pool, event spaces, and the rooms have beautiful views of Los Angeles. Check out the Beverly Hilton Hotel website here.
Dinner at the Beverly Hilton outside by the pool.
Since the restaurant at the Beverly Hilton is already chic and fun, we had dinner outside by the pool. The food is amazing. I ordered a vegetarian pizza and had a velvet chocolate dessert. Sitting outside at the Beverly Hilton is also so relaxing, they have a fun old fashioned iconic bar that’s outside by the pool. The hotel gave me a to-go box for my pizza, which is super cute. Scroll all the way down for a pic of the pizza box <3
Breakfast at the Beverly Hilton outside by the pool.
In the morning, we had breakfast by the pool of the Beverly Hilton again, since it’s so nice to sit outside there by the palm trees and pool and we were also looking for some relaxation to our one day Los Angeles trip. The Beverly Hilton provides enough fun to stay there and enjoy anyway. However, for the last part of the day for your one day/one night in LA and want to try somewhere different for breakfast, the Beverly Hilton is located near tons of restaurants in downtown Beverly Hills by Rodeo. It’s walking distance from the hotel if you like to take a half-mile walk, or, it is a very short drive.
The end of a relaxing, beautiful, stimulating yet chic stay of one day /one-night stay in Los Angeles!
Also, check out my blog post Mother/Daughter Dinner Date on Sunset Boulevard for another “Day in the life in L.A." post.
Scroll down for the gallery of our day. XO <3
Duke’s Malibu, Menu
Getty Villa gardens
Getty Villa gardens
The Getty Villa. Buried by Vesuvius, Treasures from the Villa dei Papiri exhibition.
The Getty Villa gardens.
The Getty Villa gardens.
The Beverly Hilton, restaurant by the pool.
The Beverly Hilton, restaurant by the pool.
The Beverly Hilton, by the pool.
Beverly Hilton pizza box to go <3
Xx,
Laura
INSTAGRAM: @OOOHLALASTONE
Beach Day in Malibu
I found shade underneath a palm tree :)
It’s now Summer in Los Angels and I love how warm it’s getting here! My favorite beaches in Los Angeles include Point Dume in Malibu, Paradise Cove in Malibu, and of course the left side of the Santa Monica Pier.
I love to go to Point Dume when I want to spend time on a more secluded and private beach in Malibu. I love how this beach is at the base of the Malibu cliffs. There are a few surfers out there and a few swimmers. Other than that, it’s just a few other people, the sand, the sun, the ocean, and beautiful Malibu,
I didn’t have an umbrella, so I found shade underneath a palm tree :)
Mother/Daughter Dinner Date on Sunset Boulevard
Rainbow latte, flourless chocolate cake, French onion soup on Sunset Boulevard.
Sunset Boulevard Dinner Date :)
I’m excited when my mom drives up and visits! We had only a few hours, so we went to dinner and after that we crossed the street to a cute cafe for an after dinner coffee.
First we enjoyed dinner at a French restaurant called Le Petit Four on Sunset Boulevard. It’s really nice to sit outside in wicker chairs, just like you’re in France! It’s like a France and Sunset Boulevard fusion. We both got French Onion Soup and I got a flourless chocolate cake which I loved :) The table right next to us ordered a chilled wine, placed on their table in a chilled bucket.
After that, we crossed the street to a cafe/restaurant called The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker. They have a large selection of different types of coffees, espressos, wines, and you can use almond milk in your latte…that’s how I like it :) I love this cafe has comfortable tables for people watching right on Sunset Boulevard. They also have a quiet courtyard with booths and beautiful trees to just relax, and a separate indoor cafe and separate restaurant room.
I ordered their rainbow latte with almond milk and my mom got an iced cappuccino to go. :)
Le Petit Four
Le Petit Four
The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker
The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker
Thanks for stopping by!
X O,
Laura
Summertime in Le French Riviera
Cafes, espressos, books, motorcycles and wine. Capturing the little things in Europe. Scroll through travel inspiration of Europe.
Bonjour
Flowers from the market and wine
Motorcycles
Cafe for 2
Book Shopping
Magazine stand
The alleyways
Cafes and espressos
Espressos for 2
Sidewalk cafes
Afternoon espresso
Merci y Gracias :)
A Remote Escape in Huatulco, Mexico
Fresh coconuts off the palm trees. Waves crashing as you fall asleep. Slowing down, enjoying. Scroll through my travel blog!
Huatulco, Mexico
Fresh coconuts off the palm trees. Waves crashing as you fall asleep. Slowing down. enjoying.
Gracias y hasta luego Huatulco.
Raiding Products in the Pharmacy in France!
Scroll through and see my French pharmacy product picks! :)
One of my favorite parts of France is visiting their pharmacy.
French FDA regulations for cosmetics in France are different than in the United States. So, certain skincare ingredients are found in French products, but these ingredients are not found in the U.S. version of the same product.
Here are the products I picked and why….
La Roche Posay Sunscreen, Anthelios line
Star ingredients: Mexoryl, other names for Mexoryl…. Mexoryl SX (Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid or ecamsule), Mexoryl XL (drometrizole trisiloxane)
In Europe, skin care manufacturers have the option to choose out of 7 UVA-ray filtering ingredients that deliver better performance advantages than UVA filters available in the United States. The sun’s UVA rays cause premature ageing while its UVB rays cause sunburn. Mexoryl, protects against both UVA-1 and UVA-2 rays.
Zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and avobenzone are UVA-ray filters used in the United States which don’t compare to the UVA protection offered by Mexoryl. **Mexoryl is a safe ingredient as far as I know, and is currently under FDA review in the United States **
“Research data has shown that Mexoryl in particular is more effective than either zinc oxide or titanium oxide alone in blocking UVA/UVB rays, and in fact blocks in a similar range to zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in combination. Mexoryl, available as SX (water soluble) and XL (lipid soluble), is very effective for two reasons: one, it is very stable [as a benzylidene camphor derivative], and two, because it absorbs light at a broader range of UVA wavelengths than many other chemical sunscreens. ”
My first choice for the La Roche-Posay, Anthelios line was Dermo-Pediatrics SPF50+ since its formula is sensitive enough for children, while still containing full UVA protection. I just prefer sensitive skin formulas in sunscreen.
The second choice was Anthelios XL 50+ since it contains Mexoryl XL and Mexoryl SX, and nice for everyday use, but also still perfect for the beach since it’s waterproof. It also comes in a 250ml bottle as opposed to the smaller bottle!!
Caudalie Vine[Activ] eye cream
Star ingredient: Resveratrol
Caudalie uses the antioxidant found in red wine, resveratrol, which is the highly coveted anti-aging antioxidant found in red wine. Researchers have found that topical resveratrol has a 17-fold greater antioxidant content than idebenone, which is also an expensive and powerful antioxidant used in anti-aging products. What better way than to invest in some anti-aging resveratrol when it’s sourced right from one of the main wine regions in France, Bordeaux and is at a bargain price when compared to the price sold in the U.S.!
Vine[Active] is amazing because it uses a high concentration of grape polyphenols, I like to apply this antioxidant defense in the morning lightly patting under my eyes, under my eyes and under my brow bone.
Caudalie Masque Purifiant
Star ingredients: Kaolin clay and Bentonite clay
I love Caudalie’s Masque Purifiant because it’s purifying with Kaolin (the second ingredient used) and Bentonite clay and also delivers a high concentration of antioxidants from plant origin. You can use this mask 2-3 times a week, and I like to apply to my face and décolletage. **All the ingredients are the same in this formula as in the United States’ formula, but the price is lower!
Nuxe Paris Huile Prodigieuse, a shimmering dry oil
Star ingredients: Camellia Oil, Argan Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Olive Oil, Rosemary extract, Tomato fruit extract
The next product I had to snag is by Nuxe Paris, Huile Prodigieuse. Not only does the bronze/gold oil contain shimmering gold particles, but it contains skin benefitting ingredients to nourish your skin at the same time. The finish is non-greasy and the scent is like wearing a perfume in itself. Definitely a favorite of mine, and of course, the price is unbeatable and cheaper than in the U.S.! The application is via a spray glass bottle accentuated by a beautiful gold cap. I love to apply it to my legs, arms, and décolletage when I’m wearing a dress or shorts on a night out. It can also be applied to your body or hair.
Savon Liquide de Marseille a’l’Huile d’ Argan
Star ingredients: Argan Oil, Rose essential oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Coconut Oil
The last product I grabbed on my pharmacy haul was Savon Liquide de Marseille a’ l’ Huile d’ Argan, for only 5 euros and at a 500ml bottle. With Argan Oil, Rose essential Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) AND Coconut oil, the price for this body wash is a steal. I saw this product as I was checking out and was amazed at the price for the amount in the bottle and the quality of ingredients within this. What’s great about body washes like this is that they are moisturizing enough to use as a shaving gel.
Tip—> If you aren’t headed to France anytime soon, check pharmamundi.com or frenchcosmeticsforless.com to order products overseas. The shipping time could be up to a month.
XO
Laura
Packing Light for a Girls Trip! Which Essential Products I Picked!
Packing light with only a carry on is no easy task when you like to bring a separate little luggage just for your wellness and beauty products. BUT—Here is what I chose and why!
Hola
Cabo San Lucas! yesss
For a ladies trip to Cabo San Lucas, a friend and I decided we would pack one carry-on piece of luggage for our 4 night, 5 day trip instead of checking the big bag. Both of us love our products, but we were up to the challenge of fitting our chosen products into a 1-quart-sized-bag for TSA.
I was sitting on my bed with a pile of products the night before my flight with my roommate, where I begrudgingly had to eliminate most products in order to fit into that TSA-1-quart-sized-bag. How could I leave my Hyrdro-Peptide serum behind? or rosewater with hyaluronic acid spritzer? Well, it had to be done, for the sake of traveling light for our girls trip to Mexico!! As we sat on my bed laughing at my pile of product, I picked out my product essentials. The chosen ones had to go in little plastic bottles.
Here’s what I chose to bring!
Products I picked!
*Scroll down to the bottom of the post to purchase products I mentioned
1. Face Wash. Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask with benzoyl peroxide. I’ve used this face wash since high school and it does its job by keeping my skin clear. It’s super easy to restock with, and I believe spending more on serums, etc. is more beneficial than a face wash that washes off in a few seconds.
2. Eye Makeup Remover. Beauty 360 Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (CVS brand). Again, nothing fancy, but it does its job of taking off my eye makeup. I picked this up at CVS when I was heading to the premier of Fifty Shades Darker. I worked at the Sisley Paris “Which Shade are You?” lipstick booth. This eye make-up remover did its job of removing all lipstick shades efficiently off everyone’s hands and mine, so who could ask for more?
3. Shampoo. Enjoy Professional Hair Care Sulfate-Free Luxury Shampoo. I love this shampoo because it keeps the integrity of my blonde highlights and it’s sulfate free. Even though, depending on the hotel, they may have shampoo that is sulfate free and suitable for color treated hair, I didn’t want to risk it!
4. Conditioner. Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Conditioner sulfate free. My hair is very fine and color treated, so with the right conditioner I can leave my hair de-tangler spray. This conditioner brings my hair volume and makes it easier to brush out when wet–yay, two products in one!
5. Retinol. Tretinoin. Prescription only. This is a strong retinol cream that I apply every other night. This is an essential to me since retinol is one of the few proven anti-aging ingredients in today’s current world. I started using retinol when I was 18 or 19. Also, I would never attempt to take Tretinoin and put it in a smaller tube. (Thankfully the tube is under 3.4 ounce anyway). The packaging of Tretinoin keeps the active ingredients safe, so this product should never be removed from its packaging.
6. Night Under-Eye Treatment. Replenix All-Trans-Retinol Eye Repair Cream. This is another product I’ve been ordering for years. It has 90% green tea polyphenols to neutralize free radicals, retinol, vitamin K and vitamin E. This product’s retinol can also be seen by the color of the product (retinol is a yellowish color in its true form and green tea is a brownish/green). Again, I would never separate the formula from this packaging since it keeps these ingredients stable inside. Luckily, this eye cream is 0.5 ounces.
7. Oil and Blemish Control. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. I chose to bring this product because during these summer months with the combination of sweat, sunscreen, and how active I am, I’ve found that an oil absorption and blemish control underneath sunscreen helps my skin stay clear. This product uses Zinc (great for oily skin), Sulfur (great for oil absorption) and Salicylic Acid (great for blemishes). A little goes a long way, as it does dry slightly pink.
8. Mascara. Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils-Luxurious Mascara in Purple 4. I will normally only wear this mascara for eye make-up. I’m in love with this deep purple hue, it’s fun and makes eye color pop even more.
9. A wide brim hat. A must. Tans are beautiful, but smooth skin for years to come is even more beautiful! Protect your gorgeous skin! No TSA questioning necessary.
10. Blush, bronzer and pressed powders do not need to pass for TSA inspection!
11. Sunscreen…I decided to buy sunscreen at the hotel market. I use so much sunscreen and especially during a vacation out in the sun, pool and ocean, that 3.4 ounces would not cut it, and a full new bottle just for the trip would work!
Ladies in white in Mexico
oooh…this pool…
1. Digestive Enzymes. I was recommended by a nutritionist in Los Angeles to take 2 enzymes before every meal. Although I don’t follow that all the time I will definitely take 2 before dinner when it’s mixing all sorts of tasting things and drinks.
2. Vitamin B-12. I follow a mostly vegan diet and so gotta have that B-12!
3. Maxi Hair Plus. You can order these on Amazon, or get them at Sprouts. I take this every morning with breakfast, it’s recommended to take another at dinner. My hair stylist Anush told me to take these and my fine hair has finally been growing!
4. Nuun Tablets. Electrolyte tablets you can stick into your water. I love love love these! You can buy these at Whole Foods, Sprouts or (of course) Amazon!
Wellness Lifestyle DIY Tip—>
You can wrap supplements in little tin foil pouches <3 Easy to throw in your purse!
Water
It’s so important to drink a lot of water every day, but especially while traveling. I used to drink diet coke or other sparkling drinks on the plane and now refrain and only drink water. A habit that was very hard to break, but am so glad I did. Try it next time you travel. Just drink water the whole travel day, and lots of it, and see how you feel.
Wellness Lifestyle DIY Tip–>
If you are staying at a hotel you could buy the biggest sized water bottle and re-fill it at the hotel gym. Hotel gyms (most) always have complimentary water. I drink two of those a day.
Travel-Friendly Work Out/Wellness Gear
1. Stretch Strap. (the pink strap) I ordered this off Amazon. This long pink rope is a life saver for me while traveling. I am a person that is constantly moving, and I especially like to walk and check out the city all day.
You can put your foot in the padded part and stretch your legs or arms any way you like. There are tons of Youtube videos on this, for now I’ll give you an idea with a little chart. It feels amazing and gets your lymphatic flow going and your body feeling all stretched out and relaxed!
2. Resistance Loop Band. I also ordered this off Amazon. This is great to travel with and barely takes any space. There are many types of toning exercises you can do with this in your hotel room. Again, there are so many Youtube videos and charts to follow and choose from. Here is one of my favorite positions!
What are your must have products when you travel light???
XO
Laura
