I’m not sure how many times I said, “this is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been” — and I’ve been lucky to see my share of places. The weather was incredible, the people so genuinely warm and welcoming, the scenery breathtaking… and yes, the golf was completely off the charts.
If you’re a golfer, I would highly recommend Te Arai . It is beyond spectacular. Not only is the golf world-class, but the accommodations were designed by Jenni Kayne — which, of course, I loved. If you love hiking, there are gorgeous trails on both the North and South Island. The South Island was stunning — and while the extreme sports weren’t exactly for us, we had fun watching (bungee jumping, anyone?). And the food… so fresh, so good.
But what made this trip really special was that it was just Bob and me. We truly checked out and focused on being together — being present. Lots of long conversations… about life, about what’s next, about making sure we keep trying new things.
One of those “new things” was watercolor painting. A friend had given me a travel watercolor set, and we both decided to give it a try. It was surprisingly fun — and honestly a little meditative. We liked it so much we’re now talking about taking a class (once I find one 😊).
And aside from how beautiful the trip was, one thing really stood out to me: getting dressed felt… easy. Not because I packed more — actually the opposite. I packed less, but better.I didn’t bring anything “just in case.” Nothing I wasn’t sure about. And definitely nothing that required a lot of thought to make it work. Everything had a purpose — and more importantly, it all worked together.
The piece I wore the most:
A great pair of black trousers — the tech/athletic kind.
They made everything feel more pulled together, even when the rest was simple. I wore them during the day, out to dinner, and everything in between. Best part? They didn’t wrinkle.
And then everything else supported that:
A simple La Ligne sweater that worked day to night.
I went with cashmere — it works across temperatures. Cream and black went with everything.
A leather jacket I always had with me — perfect when the temperature dropped.
I chose an olive green, oversized one from Banana Republic— much easier to layer than something fitted.
Shoes I could actually walk in — all day.
These New Balance sneakers have seen a lot… and walked many, many miles.
A pair of dark denim jeans.
A little stretch, super comfortable, and easy to dress up at night
And this perfect Alex Mill carry-on bag.
I love anything with a monogram.
And one unexpected favorite…
A Hermès scarf. Great on the plane, and the easiest way to make even the simplest outfit feel finished.
That’s it. Nothing complicated — but somehow it made everything feel easier. And I think that’s what I’m craving more of right now — not more options, just better ones. I pulled together a few of the pieces I wore (and a few similar options) if you’re thinking about travel — or just want your everyday to feel a little easier too.
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how, and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.
