The Urban Darling

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 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!

Dublin, Ireland

Top 10 Things To Do In Dublin

By Esperanza on

On my tip to Europe last summer, Rocio and I spent three days in Ireland. We both had always wanted to visit Ireland so it was amazing to finally be able to experience it! Ireland is such a lush, green country with so many sights to see. We spent a good portion of our time exploring Dublin and took a few day trips to the country side. Dublin is a very unique city with beautiful architecture and colorful culture. In this post I’m sharing my top ten favorite things we did in Dublin!

Gift Guides | Holidays

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: Gifts For Her, Him & Friends

By Esperanza on February 7, 2018

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I love getting the chance to spoil friends and family and that’s why I love Valentine’s Day! I know it can be tough figuring out what to get your loved ones for Valentine’s Day so I decided to make a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide to help you find the perfect gift for your friend, girlfriend, or boyfriend! All of these items are from Urban Outfitters. They have an awesome section of Valentine’s Day gift ideas on their website. This is a compilation of my favorites! You can shop the items by clicking on it’s picture.

Lifestyle | Skincare

Winter Skincare with BioClarity

By Esperanza on January 26, 2018

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Winter skin care is tough! My combination skin gets so dry during the winter months. I have to try really hard to keep my skin moisturized. On top of that, my skin is very sensitive and prone to breakouts. Cue BioClarity’s skin care regimen. My sensitive skin has been loving this 3-step system consisting of a cleanser, treatment, and restore gel. I also love that their products are 100% vegan, cruelty free, and free of parabens, gluten, sulfate, and fragrances!

Hi! I’m Esperanza, a lifestyle blogger and content creator with a background in interior design. My husband, Andrew, and I recently bought our first home—a 1920s Craftsman bungalow in Savannah, Georgia—that we’re renovating ourselves. We’re also expecting another baby boy at the end of this year! The Urban Darling is a lifestyle blog celebrating all things style, home, travel, and more, with a focus on creating a beautiful, meaningful life along the way.