Starmont Winery

We recently headed out for a quick day trip to Napa to celebrate my birthday!  My husband was traveling, so I brought along the girls with my two 9 year twin boys.  (Pictured below from left to right: my niece Brianna; my sister Heather, my aunt Diana, and me).

I saw a Groupon (details to follow below) for Starmont Winery and before I purchased it, I called ahead to confirm availability.  I wanted to ensure the winery offered a family friendly environment as I was traveling with kids!  I spoke with Spencer on the phone and he assured me that kids were welcome to Starmont and even had some fun activities to keep them busy such as puzzles, games, jump rope, cards, snacks and drinks.  



Starmont recently opened their tasting room this past summer.  The scenery was breathtaking from the moment we drove in.  Starmont is located on a portion of the historic Stanly Ranch and sits between Carneros and Napa Valley, a region known for it's Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietals.  Spencer enthusiastically greeted us when we arrived and created a most enjoyable experience for my entire family.      

Just outside the open, airy, and modern tasting room is a beautiful outdoor courtyard.  This was our favorite place to relax by the fire pit and sip wine.  There are many different wine tasting experiences to try out.  You can check out Starmont's full list here.  

We enjoyed a portion of our wine flight in the courtyard but then decided to go inside to check out the new tasting room.  The indoor space was just as beautiful as the outside.  The interiors were modern and sleek with pops of color but still maintained that rustic Napa charm.   

Spencer's detailed knowledge and expertise of each wine in our flight was very educational. 

We tasted a number of different wines in our flight including:

2013 Viognier - flirty and crisp

2012 Chardonnay Stanly Ranch Estate - a hint of tropical fruit flavor, lemon, cinnamon & orange

2013 Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch Estate - suave, smooth, and sultry

2013 Syrah Stanly Ranch Estate - my favorite!

2012 Forward Kidd Napa Valley Red Wine - red blend with hints of raspberry, plum, and blueberry 

I love the red stools!  It's a perfect pop of color against the bright white tables and chairs and rustic wood plank walls.  

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Starmont Winery.  If you are planning a trip to Napa Valley, I would highly recommend a stop here.  The experience was the highlight of our day and we look forward to visiting again!  Of course before we left, we picked up a few bottles to take home and enjoy!  

Thanks for having us Starmont!

Happy Travels!  

Hayley

What's in Hayley's weekend Napa bag?  See see below and remember to bring layers because it gets chilly in Napa in the winter!  Oh by the way, here is the Groupon we used for our wine tasting at Starmont!  Enjoy!

OUTFIT # 1

OUTFIT #2

OUTFIT #3

J.Crew Factory Clearance

J.Crew Factory is having a major clearance sale and now is a great time to stock up on some classic staples for your closet!  

These fair isle sweaters come back every year in slightly different colors and patterns, and they are always a winter style favorite!  Check out my top picks on clearance here, here, and here! We still have a few months left in winter and it's always a good idea to think ahead for next season when you can get them at these prices!

Another closet staple that is great for layering and will transition into spring very easily are striped tees.  I like to wear these with my puffer vests and/or colored blazers along with a cute pair of distressed jeans and flats such as these pairs here, here and here.  When the weather warms up in the spring, they look great with capris and/or shorts on their own!  Here are my top three clearance picks here, here, and here.

I cannot live without shorts when the weather gets warmer so why not pick up a few now while they are on sale.  My closet staple shorts include a classic white pair like these ones, a bright red pair like these ones here, and of course, a denim pair is an absolutely necessity!

Last but not least, why not get some colorful plaid button up tops that introduce more spring color into your wardrobe.  These will be a nice refreshing palette that you can begin wearing now and clear into early summer! Here are some of my favorite spring colors here, here, and here.

The J.Crew Factory clearance sale is happening now in store and online.  Save an extra 50% off with code: EXTRA50 through Tuesday 11:59 PM January 19, 2016!  Shop now before your favorites sell out and check out all my picks below! 

Happy Shopping!

Hayley

SHOP:

Target Beauty Concierge: Lip Colors

Have you guys ever tried the Target Beauty Concierge service?  I honestly had no idea this fantastic service was even available at my local Target store.  However, this past weekend I decided to stop by and browse the make-up department in search of some new lipstick colors.  I was getting tired of the same old two lip colors I have been wearing since summertime.  My goal was to update and refresh  my lip color pallet for winter and spring and try something different and new.       

After browsing and searching through aisles of different brands and hundreds of colors, I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with so much to choose from.  That's when I met Sarah and she asked if I needed some help! At this point, I was thrilled to seek some advice and consultation!   I sat down and we discussed my beauty needs.  She asked me a number of questions to help narrow down her recommendations.    

We finally landed on the L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Collection Exclusive.  Each lipstick in this carefully curated collection is custom made for every skin tone. My skin is fairly light to medium depending on the season, so Sarah suggested two colors from the Nude pallet and one color from the Red pallet.  I was a little hesitant when she suggested nude lip color.  I haven't had much luck in the past with wearing nude lipsticks.  However, she assured me there are many colors in this spectrum and all you need to do is select the correct hue to complement your skin tone. She recommended Doutzen's Nude 600 which is a light pink shade intended for fair to light skin tones, J Lo's nude 370 which is a bit more of a mauve color intended for medium skin tones, and Julianne's red 401 which is a bold and iconic red lip color. 

I was so thankful for Sarah's help and expert advice.  She was extremely personable, helpful, and knowledgeable about all of Target's beauty products!  We even chatted about the hottest trends in nail colors for spring and I "may" have picked up a few of her product suggestions there as well that I will share in a future post!

I headed home excited to try my new lip colors!  Here's a few pictures of the colors Sarah picked out!  Let me know which one is your favorite!    

Getting ready to try the first lip color: J Lo's Nude 370

I think this one was my favorite of all three!  Surprise!  As I mentioned, I never have luck with selecting a perfect nude color but this one is exceptional!  It looks completely natural without making me look washed out (which generally has been my problem with selecting a nude lip color in the past).  

Next up is: Doutzen's Nude 600 

I have to admit, I really wanted to try some new colors that take me out of my comfort zone...colors that I never wear but always want to try.  I have seen pictures of women who wear a light pink matte lipstick with a smoky eye and I have always wanted to achieve this look!  I really think Sarah nailed it when she recommended Doutzen's nude (shown in the pictures above).  What do you think of this color?

The last color to try on is Julianne's red 401.  Every woman needs a bold and bright red lip color in her beauty bag!  Red is a classic, timeless, and iconic color that will always be in style!  I really love this shade of red.  It matches my skin tone perfectly as Sarah said it would and I love the pure matte color and velvet finish!   

So which color is your favorite?  Have you tried the L'Oreal Colour Riche Collection Exclusive lip colors?  If you are unsure about which colors to choose, I would highly recommend the Target Beauty concierge service.  You can find them at your local Target store, or if  you're like me (wandering aimlessly around the beauty aisle confused and overwhelmed) they may come find you and offer some much needed help and expert advice!  

Thanks so much Sarah!  I'm looking forward to trying your suggested spring nail colors and manicure tips and will see you soon! 

#targetstyle  

xoxoxo,

Hayley

SHOP:

Weekend Napa Trip Part 2

Living in the San Francisco Bay Area has many perks...excellent restaurants, diverse culture, fun entertainment venues, great outdoor activities, etc. However, the best thing about living here is the close proximity to so many fabulous places to visit...the city, the beach, the mountains, and of course the Napa Valley/Sonoma wine country.

This past New Years weekend, I took a short road trip with my family to visit this "world famous wine growing region" where "the wine is bottled poetry".  The grape vines are dormant and the air is much cooler and crisp in the winter time.  Therefore, it's a good idea pack with layers in mind.  I made sure to bring a few cozy over-sized sweaters in my weekend bag along with a pair of jeans that mixed and matched each day.  I also brought a pair of boots that were comfortable to walk around in.  Don't forget to bring a beanie, a coat, and perhaps an umbrella this time of year!  We are currently having an El Nino weather pattern in California so it's best to be prepared.  However, don't worry too much about the weather...the winter months are less crowded and the accommodations are warm and inviting with cozy fireplaces and steam/mineral baths to keep you perfectly relaxed.

Shop what's in my winter Napa weekend bag below.
   

Our first stop after breakfast, previously featured in this post here, was a wine tasting and tour at Merryvale Winery and Vineyards located in St. Helena.  Reservations are not required for wine tasting.  However, if you are interested in a unique experience I would highly suggest the Artisanal wine and cheese tasting and their Profile Library tasting.  Both of these experiences require advance reservations which can be made online here.    

  

If you have never visited Merryvale, you will thoroughly enjoy the Cask Room where you are surrounded by two stories of century old 2,000 gallon casks which line the stone walls of the room. Check out these upcoming events which will truly make your visit to the Cask Room an unforgettable experience.  I may see you there for the Godfather movie night!!





As I mentioned, layers and warmth are essential for winter time in Napa.  I wore this cozy over-sized snowflake sweater with my favorite ripped jeans and these suede over the knee boots I got for Christmas and I was perfectly comfortable.    

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Merryvale and look forward to our next visit.  Of course, we didn't leave without picking up a few bottles of wine to take home and enjoy!

Happy Travels,

Hayley

What's in Hayley's Winter Napa Weekend Bag?

Outfit # 1
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Outfit #3