Iām not sure how many times I said, āthis is one of the most beautiful places Iāve ever beenā ā and Iāve been lucky to see my share of places. The weather was incredible, the people so genuinely warm and welcoming, the scenery breathtakingā¦ and yes, the golf was completely off the charts.
If youāre 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 ā 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 ā and while the extreme sports werenāt exactly for us, we had fun watching (bungee jumping, anyone?). And the foodā¦ 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 ā being present. Lots of long conversationsā¦ about life, about whatās next, about making sure we keep trying new things.
One of those ānew thingsā 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 ā and honestly a little meditative. We liked it so much weāre now talking about taking a class (once I find one š).
And aside from how beautiful the trip was, one thing really stood out to me: getting dressed feltā¦ easy. Not because I packed more ā actually the opposite. I packed less, but better.I didnāt bring anything ājust in case.ā Nothing I wasnāt sure about. And definitely nothing that required a lot of thought to make it work. Everything had a purpose ā and more importantly, it all worked together.
The piece I wore the most:
A great pair of black trousers ā 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 didnāt wrinkle.
And then everything else supported that:
A simple La Ligne sweater that worked day to night.
I went with cashmere ā it works across temperatures. Cream and black went with everything.
A leather jacket I always had with me ā perfect when the temperature dropped.
I chose an olive green, oversized one from Banana Republicā much easier to layer than something fitted.
Shoes I could actually walk in ā all day.
These New Balance sneakers have seen a lotā¦ 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 favoriteā¦
A HermĆØs scarf. Great on the plane, and the easiest way to make even the simplest outfit feel finished.
Thatās it. Nothing complicated ā but somehow it made everything feel easier. And I think thatās what Iām craving more of right now ā not more options, just better ones. I pulled together a few of the pieces I wore (and a few similar options) if youāre thinking about travel ā or just want your everyday to feel a little easier too.
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