The Urban Darling

Getting a Lash Lift at Lash & Beauty Lab

By Esperanza on April 25, 2018

I have been wanting to get my eyelashes lifted for so long now and I finally got them done at Lash & Beauty Lab in downtown Portland. Just a little back story on my eyelashes; I do have long lashes however they do not hold a curl. When I use a mechanical curler, my eyelashes will fall out of the curl in about an hour. Mascara works a bit better but I’ve never been able to find the perfect one for my lashes. I first heard about lash lifts from a Youtuber that I follow and I thought it would be the perfect solution for me! I thought I would put together this blog post for those of you who who may be interested in getting a lash lift.

Living Sustainably: Project Re-Made with thredUP

By Esperanza on April 19, 2018

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Who doesn’t love a good thrifted outfit? Thrifting has become so popular today for good reason. A thrifted outfit is trendy, saves you money, and it’s sustainable! Today I’m sharing an outfit I put together with some of my favorite thrifted pieces to kick off Project Re:Made with thredUP.

Portland, Oregon, USA | Travel

Glamping at The Vintages

By Esperanza on April 17, 2018

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Rocio and I got the chance to go glamping at The Vintages in Dayton, OR. You guys, this vintage trailer resort is the CUTEST glamping spot. We had so much fun getting dressed up in vintage inspired outfits (of course), hanging out in our trailer, and riding cruiser bikes. The Vintages are about an hour from our home in Portland so it was the perfect weekend getaway! Rocio and I both love photography and videography so we took advantage of the cute surroundings. I’m so excited to share these photos with you!

San Francisco, California, USA | Travel

InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco Hotel Review

By Esperanza on April 13, 2018

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On our recent trip to San Francisco, we stayed at the the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. The glamorous InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel is located on beautiful Nob Hill, which makes for some amazing views of the city! You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot the grand entrance on the corner of Mason and California. The entrance is designed for cars to drive in and be handed off to valet. Red carpet stairs lead you into the luxurious lobby boasting crystal chandeliers, marble tile floors, and velvet armchairs. I was immediately transported to a more elegant time when I stepped in!

San Francisco, California, USA | Travel

San Francisco Travel Guide: Where to Eat, Stay, & Play

By Esperanza on April 11, 2018

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For our four year anniversary, Schyler and I decided to visit San Francisco to celebrate. My sister Rocio came along for the ride. We road tripped all the way from Portland, OR and spent 3 days in San Francisco. We had such a great time! This was my third time visiting San Francisco so I knew exactly what I wanted to do. We were able to hit all of the spots on my list and visit some great restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops. I’ve rounded them all up in this guide for you!

Home Inspiration

8 Must Haves For The Home From Amazon

By Esperanza on April 5, 2018

We’ve been all moved in to our new apartment for a couple months now yet I’m still not done with the finishing touches in our decor. I’ve had so many items saved in my Amazon Prime wish list for so long now so I thought I would share some of my top finds with you guys! I love Amazon because I can almost always find exactly what I’m looking for at a way better price.

Most of these items are eligible for prime shipping so you can get them in as little as two days! I’m amazed at how well priced these items are compared to other name brand stores. If you’re on a budget like I am, then you will appreciate this list!

Chicago, Illinois, USA | Travel

Ambassador Hotel Chicago Review

By Esperanza on April 1, 2018

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Hey guys! I’m so excited to be sharing my travels with you this year. So far I’ve been on two trips this March and I have two more exciting trips coming up in April. I love traveling! It’s a huge passion of mine and I’m so glad I’ve been able to turn it into part of my job. I’m hoping I can give you a sense of wanderlust and share some cool cities, hotels, and restaurants, etc. with you.

On my recent trip to Chicago, I was able to work with the Ambassador Hotel Chicago. Rocio and I had the most amazing stay at the hotel! The interiors were beautiful, the view from our room was amazing, and the food and drinks were on point.

Chicago, Illinois, USA | Travel

Chicago Travel Guide: Where to Eat, Stay, & Play

By Esperanza on March 26, 2018

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My sister Rocio and I took a spontaneous trip to Chicago last week. Chicago had been on our list of cities to see in the U.S. for a long time now so I’m so glad we got to check it off! We spent a total of 5 days in Chicago which was the perfect amount of time to see everything we wanted and more, while still finding some time to relax. I decided to create a Chicago Travel Guide with all of my favorite sights, places to eat, and places to stay! I hope you can find this guide helpful if you are planning a trip to Chicago.

Portland, Oregon, USA | Travel

Portland Dining Month with St. Jack

By Esperanza on March 7, 2018

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March is Portland Dining Month and we kicked it off with a bang at St. Jack! The french cafe St. Jack opened on NW 23rd ten years ago. Ben Morris, the talented Chef de Cuisine at St. Jack, has been with the team since November of 2017. Not only is he gifted when it comes to creating food, he’s also excellent at executing his responsibilities at the cafe. St. Jack has had the same team for a long time so naturally the camaraderie at St. Jack is great, which is key for a successful restaurant!

London, England

Top 20 Things To Do In London

By Esperanza on February 25, 2018

London was another stop on our Europe trip last summer. I fell in love with this charming, old city! I love all the history and character. We were lucky to be graced with amazing weather while we were visiting which allowed us to run around all over the city. London is a great city for tourists because the major landmarks are all in a good walking distance from each other. Anything that’s not walkable from the city center is easy to get to by bus or subway. We used both transportation systems and figured them out quickly! I definitely reccomend buying an oyster card when you get there which will allow you access to both. In this post I am sharing some of our favorite London attractions!