The Urban Darling Archives - Page 2 of 23

Our First Christmas As A Married Couple & Family Of Three

By Esperanza on December 24, 2025

Holidays, holiday photos, family photos, holiday family photos, Christmas, holiday style, family style, family photography, family blogger, lifestyle blogger, fashion blogger, couple style, vintage style, baby style, baby boy style, vintage baby boy style, desert photoshoot, desert, Phoenix, The Urban Darling.

This Christmas feels extra special because it’s our first one as a married couple. Last year was also our first Christmas together, and looking back at those photos at Superstition Mountain fills my heart in a way I can’t quite put into words. Before meeting my husband, I was a single mom imagining what family traditions might look like one day. Now, here we are — married, growing, and soaking in this season together. This year’s photos at San Tan Park in Queen Creek feel like such a beautiful marker of how far we’ve come.

Our Amazon Holiday Gift Guides For Him, Her, & Kids

By Esperanza on December 3, 2025

Amazon Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2025, Holiday Gift Guide For Her, Holiday Gift Guide For Him, Holiday Gift Guide For Kids, gifts for her, gifts for him, gifts for baby, holiday gift guide, gift guide, holiday gifts, gift ideas, Christmas gift ideas, gift guide, gifts for him, gifts for her, holiday gift guide, Christmas gifts, lifestyle blogger, fashion blogger, shopping guide, holiday guide, family blogger, mommy blogger, The Urban Darling, home decor, interior design, boho chic style.

It’s that cozy, heart-warming (and chaotic!) time of year again. There’s something so special about the look on loved ones’ faces when they open something thoughtfully selected just for them. As I found myself scribbling wish lists for myself, my husband Andrew, and our toddler Sage, I thought it would be helpful to share my gift ideas! I’m really excited about this holiday gift guide because I’ve curated favorite gift ideas for her, for him, and for the little ones — all things we’ve used, loved, or that are on my own wish list. I mixed practical must-haves with a few splurge-worthy picks, almost all available on Amazon. I did include a handful of adorable kids’ items from Maisonette (because everything on their site is just too cute!). Whether you’re shopping for a bestie, spouse, or toddler, I hope this guide takes a bit of the stress out of gift-giving — and maybe even inspires something your whole family will love.

My Life | Pregnancy

Celebrating 18 Months Of Breastfeeding My Baby

By Esperanza on August 5, 2025

Breastfeeding, baby weaning, breastfed baby, breastfeeding journey, breastfeeding mom, motherhood, motherhood journey, baby boy, first time mom, boy mom, new mom, mom style, mommy blogger, lifestyle blogger, The Urban Darling, toddler, baby.

My breastfeeding journey is sadly coming to an end, so to celebrate 18 months of breastfeeding my son, Sage Wylder, Andrew took these beautiful photos of us. When Sage was taken to the NICU after my c-section, I fought really hard to be able to breastfeed him because it meant so much to me. I totally would have kept going, but the toll it was taking on me physically was really starting to wear me down. It’s been an emotional roller coaster—mentally and physically. I wish they would warn you about the hormone crash that happens when you start weaning your baby off breastfeeding. It’s been brutal, not to mention how much I miss the connection between Sage and me during those precious moments. I’ll forever cherish that time, and I’m proud of myself for sticking with it as long as I did! Also, Sage looks huge in these photos, lol—I wish we’d taken them when he was littler, but it’s hard to make the time in these busy days. I’m so glad we made the effort!

Montrose, Colorado, USA | Travel

Our Stay At The Rathbone Hotel In Montrose, CO

By Esperanza on July 18, 2025

The Rathbone Hotel & Parlor Bar, Montrose, Colorado, Colorado hotels, hotel review, boutique hotel, hotel stay, travel blogger, family travel, family style, hotel style, hotel design, modern hotel, modern design, Colorado travel, boutique hotels, family blogger, The Urban Darling, travel style.

During our Colorado trip, we stayed at The Rathbone Hotel & Parlor Bar in Montrose—and it turned out to be a true gem. I was instantly drawn to this boutique hotel by its beautifully designed rooms and the stunning restaurant on-site. Housed in a historic Montrose building, the property has been thoughtfully renovated, blending classic charm with modern comfort. The spacious rooms, soaring ceilings, and meticulous attention to detail made our stay extra special. As luck would have it, our visit coincided with my birthday, so having such a gorgeous place to celebrate made the trip even more memorable. We had an incredibly comfortable stay and such a great overall experience that I couldn’t wait to share it with you all here on the blog!

Telluride, Colorado, USA | Travel

Where To Shop, Eat, What To Do In Telluride, CO

By Esperanza on

Telluride, Colorado, Colorado towns, Telluride boutiques, Telluride coffee shops, Telluride restaurants, western style, travel blogger, family travel, family style, travel style, Colorado travel, family blogger, The Urban Darling, western chic style, where to eat in Telluride, Where to shop in Telluride, what to do in Telluride.

Telluride was hands down my favorite town we visited during our Colorado trip! This gorgeous mountain town offers breathtaking views of the Rockies, a vibrant downtown filled with great shopping and dining, and a picturesque river running right through it. Once a Victorian-era mining town, Telluride gave me major Aspen vibes—but with a much more laid-back, welcoming feel. I’d love to come back one day with our family and stay for a few days to soak it all in. In this blog post, I’m excited to share where we ate, shopped, and what we explored during our time in Telluride!

Denver, Colorado | Telluride, Colorado, USA | Travel

Our Stay At Hotel Palomino In Ridgeway, Colorado

By Esperanza on July 16, 2025

Hotel Palomino, Ridgeway, Colorado, Colorado hotels, hotel review, boutique hotel, western style, hotel stay, travel blogger, family travel, family style, hotel style, hotel design, modern hotel, modern design, Colorado travel, boutique hotels, family blogger, The Urban Darling, western chic style.

We recently returned from our family trip to Colorado, where we stayed at the most charming modern, western-themed boutique hotel in Ridgway—Hotel Palomino. The property looks like a little western town straight out of a movie set! Once an old western-style building known as “Trail Town,” it’s been thoughtfully upcycled by its owners, who are Ridgway locals, into a fresh and stylish hospitality concept. I absolutely love what they’ve done to breathe new life into the place!

Detroit, Michigan, USA | Travel

10 Family Friendly Things To Do In Detroit

By Esperanza on July 15, 2025

We just returned from a trip to Detroit—somewhere I’ve been wanting to visit for quite a while. The main reason for our visit to Michigan was to attend a funeral for Andrew’s grandparents. I’m truly grateful we were able to be there, and it was really special getting to connect with more of Andrew’s family. We ended up extending our stay by a few days to explore “Motor City,” and even though Sage was going through a bit of a rough patch, we still managed to have a great time discovering the city and making some sweet family memories. Both Andrew and I were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed Detroit. It’s such an underrated city, and we’re happy we finally got to experience it for ourselves. In this post, I’ll be sharing 10 things we did in Detroit that are family friendly (and free!).

Detroit, Michigan, USA | Travel

5 Cute Restaurants To Eat At In Detroit

By Esperanza on June 21, 2025

While visiting Detroit, we ate at several amazing restaurants, which is one of our favorite things to do together. Andrew is a chef, so it’s always fun for us to try new things together, and I love finding restaurants with beautiful interiors. It’s a great way to get a “taste” for the local flavor and vibe of the locals. In this blog post, I wanted to highlight the restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops we ate at while visiting “motor city”.

Detroit, Michigan, USA | Travel

3 Cute Boutiques To Shop In Detroit

By Esperanza on June 20, 2025

Detroit, Detroit hotels, Detroit restaurants, Detroit boutiques, Detroit coffee shops, things to do in Detroit, where to eat in Detroit, where to shop in Detroit, travel guide, travel blogger, family travel, family style, family blogger, travel blogger, The Urban Darling.

We recently got back from a trip to Detroit, a city I’ve been curious about for a long time. One of the highlights of our trip was exploring Corktown and checking out the local boutiques the neighborhood had to offer. I love shopping at local boutiques, especially in new cities. They give me so much inspiration! I also feel like it’s a great way to peek into the vibe of the people who live there. In this blog post, I want to highlight three incredible Detroit shops!

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

7 Cute Restaurants In The Phoenix Area

By Esperanza on

Phoenix, restaurants, cute restaurants, Phoenix restaurants, Phoenix foodie, food guide, restaurant guide, foodie, restaurant design, restaurant style, family blogger, cafes, Phoenix coffee shops, Phoenix coffee, Phoenix dining, The Urban Darling.

Andrew and I always make an effort to have one date night a week, and a lot of the times when we do, we love trying out new restaurants! Andrew is a chef, and we are both big foodies, but I love finding spots that have beautiful interiors as well. In this blog post, I wanted to share some of my favorite spots we have visited in the past year for those of you who are local to the area or are visiting and want to find spots to check out. There are coffee shops, cafes, and fine dining restaurants located all over the Phoenix metro area.