travel with me to Nashville.

Did you know that Nashville is one of the most popular cities for bachelorette parties? I didn't. Just got back from a less than 24 hour trip to the city for my sorority big sis's last hoorah as a single lady.

This marked my second visit to the city, and I have to say it was much different than the last time I went for work. A couple of years ago, I got to travel to Nashville for a business trip and got to visit Bluebird Café (yes, the intimate music club where singers like Taylor Swift and Faith Hill performed) and honkey tonked. 

This time around, it was surprisingly a bit more low key (which I preferred) as it was a reunion for most. Bridesmaids flew in from San Francisco, Chicago, Virginia and of course, Maryland. There was a lot of drinking, but mostly EATING-my fave! If you really want to embrace the city you're traveling to, you need to try the food the city offers. Check out my foodie venture below! Warning: you might get a bit hungry after reading this post :P.

Five Daughters: You guys know I have a bit of a donut obsession, so donut be surprised that I stopped in this local joint to pick some up for the crew. This bakery is known for their 100-layer doughnuts- kind of reminded me of "cronuts." My favorite was the vanilla creme. Delicious!

Acme Feed and Seed
Didn't get a chance to eat here, but walked around a bit. The ambiance inside reminded me of Cracker Barrel, but with a stage for live performances. I think it was the general shop they had inside? It was pretty packed when I was there, so I hope to go back next time and actually the food.

Crema- if you're a coffee person like me, you'll appreciate this local coffee spot. Not only can you view the city while you're sippin' on your coffee, but they have specialty lattes with local honey, pour over coffee and avocado toast. YAS!

The Pharmacy- don't let the name fool you. It's actually a burger joint/beer garden (actual garden area outside). Make sure to make a reservation or else you'll have to wait awhile. Had the my go-to: black bean burger with sweet potato fries. Delicious delicious! They have really cool craft beer options and wine. The sparkly rosé was perfect for the hot, humid weather.

Hattie B's- you cannot go to Nashville without visiting this popular hot, fried chicken joint that even celebrities stop to eat at. Full disclosure, you may have to wait in line for awhile to get some, so I recommend you order ahead online and pick it up. Definitely recommend the black eyed pea salad and baked beans for side options. The mac & cheese was surprisingly disappointing with the "watery cheese."  

 

 

lulu-if you need a break from the heavy and greasy southern food, I definitely recommend you take one here. They have fresh salad and grain bowl options that you can customize with your choice of protein. The free samples of sort of vegan froyo is a plus too! 

 

XOXO <3 Margaret  

eggie.

My guilty pleasure has to be streaming YouTube videos all day, every day. I have been following one YouTube guru for many years now. You might know her channel Jenn Im of Clothes Encounters. I can't even tell you all the things I've learned from her over the years from styling clothes, applying makeup to posing for pictures. Being in the industry, I've had the chance to meet and converse with Jenn and have worked with her on a few projects. I have to say, she is literally one of the hardest working people I know, and her eye for creativity is out of this world. What I like most about her is what you see is what you get, which is rare to find in the blogging world (trust me on this one). She is just like her YouTube videos- sweet, humble and genuine. And I have mad respect for her as a young, Asian American woman paving the way to success in the states. I could not be more proud of her for launching her clothing line: Eggie (baby in Korean) that truly represents the Korean American heritage and personal style. 

Without further adieu, check out my take on styling, Eggie. And yes, the outfit can't be complete without her signature beret. 

[Outfit details]: Dress and beret: Eggie, Shoes: Zooshoo.

[Photos]: Lindsay Solomon

XOXO <3 Margaret

thePEACHbox.

I am ALL about accessories- not that you don't know this about me by now. It's crazy how one piece of jewelry, a unique hat or a statement belt can instantly elevate a look. Personally, I don't like sticking to just one type of metal when it comes to jewelry- I'm all about mixing and matching. As of late, I've been really into rose gold as it complements my skin tone, and looks great with black and brown leather.  

I partnered with Australian brand, ThePEACHBox to create my own wrist stack. They recently launched stylish timepieces by Marc Bale, and I'm obsessed!!! These watches pair great with a bangle/bracelet from the existing ThePeachBox collection. What I love about the brand is that everything in their collection is a great mix between modern and edgy. 

And now, you can check out ThePEACHBox for yourself. Use code margaret_nam to get 15% off your first order. Be sure to comment below and let me know what you pick out. Happy shopping!

[Outfit Details]: Top: JCrew, Shorts: Asos, Rings: PANDORA Jewelry, Bangle and Watch: ThePEACHBox

[Photos]: Lindsay Solomon

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by ThePEACHBox, but the opinions are my own. 

XOXO <3 Margaret

travel diary: colorado.

One of my good friends I kept up with following high school recently moved out to Denver, Colorado, and as we both had Labor Day off, I paid her a visit. As I'm typing this, we really had a jam-packed weekend and did everything touristy and local as possible.

I got into Denver pretty late on Saturday night, so we kept it super chill by grabbing dinner at this restaurant called, Linger. This restaurant is UBER cool with it's industrial decor and American food and drinks with an Asian twist. And yes, they have vegan options.The pictures do not justify the appearance and taste, but hopefully my Yelp review will. 

After dinner, we stayed in the LoHi area and went to a rooftop bar called, Avanti that overlooks the city. Definitely recommend you stop by if you're in this area. 

The next morning, we got up fairly early, picked-up some sandwiches at Union Station and took the bus out to Boulder. Can I just say, this is the cleanest and cutest train/bus station I've been to! People are literally just chilling here, drinking coffee and working/people watching. And the coffee and food options are plenty! Love how health conscious everyone is. A lot of restaurants sell kombucha- YES, YES, YES!!!

Once we arrived in Boulder, we hiked the Flatiron. Let me just say, as a person who works out at least five-six times a week, I was shocked that I was out of breath after five minutes. This high-altitude everyone was warning me about is no joke!! I've been so dehydrated and woozy in my life. 

Full disclosure, I have a severe fear of heights and have had panic attacks before. Thankfully, my friends who we're with me, motivated me to finish and guided me along the way. Couldn't have done it with out them and the support I received from the other hikers. And let's just say, the view was definitely worth it and now I can proudly say that I hiked Boulder. 

After the hike, we we're famished so we ran straight to downtown Boulder to grab some sushi. I got my faves- shrimp shumai and salmon poke bowl. YUM! The town is super cute too, so we walked around after and got some bubble tea for the bus ride back to Denver. Hung out in Downtown Denver and did some bar hopping. Loved the music at Lodo -a mix of 90's and today's hits. 

The next day, we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park to.. you guessed it, hike! I was so happy to see my first moose!!! 

 

We did the Bierstadt Lake trail and it's moderately easy and doable. The view of the lake at the top is definitely worth it! After our hike, we hung out at Estes Park- super cute town- definitely a ski resort vibe!

 

 

On the last day, I picked-up an acai bowl because if you check out my Instagram, I'm obsessed. And did some touristy things like touring the Capital and eating Illegal Pete's (homegrown Chipotle). 

 

 

Need to head back to go on the Coors Beer Tour. Sadly, it was closed the day after Labor Day. Until next time!

XOXO <3 Margaret

floral crop top.

We're getting closer and closer to the end of summer, so I've been trying my best  to wear all my summer clothes before Labor Day. This floral crop top is something I picked up this time last year, and I never got the chance to wear it. Naturally, I remembered I had it as I was packing for a short trip to Ocean City. How fitting! 

Dressed this casual top up with some fancy black pants and a pair of stilettos for a schnazzy dinner at Liquid Assets. If you guys haven't been to this hidden gem, you're missing out! Check out my review on Yelp here. 

[Outfit Details]: Top: Asos, Pants and Stilettos: Zara 

[Photos]: Lindsay Solomon

XOXO <3 Margaret

kimono.

Not going to lie, my summer uniform is typically a tank and denim cutoff shorts- pretty much the standard for most, I'm sure. In order to stand out and put my signature touch to this look, I always like to add on some accessories or a pop of color anywhere I can.

I was recently gifted this beautiful kimono that is super lightweight (perfect for the chillier summer nights) and is literally a piece of art in color and design. The ruffled, wide bell sleeves adds a unique touch of sophistication to this look.

[Outfit Details]: Tank: H&M, Shorts: Hollister & Co., Georgette Ruffle Kimono: Anthropologie

[Photos]: Lindsay Solomon

XOXO <3 Margaret 

every time has its place.

This past weekend I went to my usual hot yoga class and my instructor mentioned she overheard a family at the beach running down a list of things they were going to do next rather than enjoying their vacation. This made me think how often I plan out my day on the regular. From setting calendar reminders and alarms to writing out a list of things to do and at what time of the day. Even when I spend time with my family and friends, rather than enjoying the moment, often times I'm thinking, what do I have to do next, what can I cross off my to-do list. Who else is guilty of doing this?! 

Time is precious, we never know what is going to happen next or how long we have left with someone important in our life. So next time you're spending time with your family member or friend, or doing something for yourself (this includes treating yourself to ice cream), take the [time] to treasure the moment. Oh and if you haven't heard already, it's National Ice Cream Day so go take some time to treat yo self! 

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Lilienthal Berlin, but the opinions are my own. 

[Outfit Details]: Top: T.J. Maxx, Shorts: Hollister Co, Shoes: Soludos, Bag: Coach, Watch: Lilienthal Berlin

[Photos]: Lindsay Solomon

XOXO <3 Margaret 

gingham.

Move over polka dots, plaid, checker, houndstooth prints- there's a new trending print in town. Say hello... or welcome back to gingham. If you haven't seen this print worn by your trend friend, co-worker or neighbor, you don't have "trendy" friends... I kid, I kid.

The gingham trend was spotted on the runways of highly coveted designers' spring 2017 collection shows, and is seen in a lot of editorials, as of late for being the "it" pattern of the season. I personally, am a sucker for any cutouts and cool sleeve details, so here's my take on rockin' this season's hottest trend. 

[Outfit Details]: Sunglasses: Spitfire, Dress: Asos, Shoes: Asos
[Photos]: Lindsay Solomon

XOXO <3 Margaret 

Lavender fields.

Celebrated my birthday this past weekend the most tranquil way possible by going to the lavender festival at Springfield Manor with my friends. Not going to lie, I lost interest in celebrating the day of my birth after I turned the big 21. I often times even forget how old I am when asked. But a girl can't pass up a scenic view and vino. 

If you know me, purple is one of my favorite colors (not because my name in Korean means purple) and lavender happens to be one of my favorite flowers. I always keep dried lavender by my bedside ($3 at Trader Joe's) and often use lavender oil in my humidifier to help me sleep at night. When I heard about this festival happening, I immediately purchased tickets. 

They had fields of lavender with visible mountains in the horizon to take serious #ootd's in, a mini market with tents that sold paintings, soap, jewelry and jam, food tents, live music and sold lavender infused liquor and bottles of wine. The festival ended this past weekend, but if you're in the area, I definitely recommend you visit! 

Outfit details: Gingham romper, sun hat, sunglasses and sandals.

Cheers!  Margaret 

Running Hare Vineyard.

Not that I ever need another excuse to enjoy a glass of wine, but if there's a holiday involved, a girl's gotta celebrate. If you didn't know, it was National Rosé Day this past Saturday, and I celebrated the most proper way possible by going to a vineyard with my gal pals. 

I've slowly been crossing off my list of vineyards in Maryland, and having never been to Running Hare Vineyard before, I had to give it a whirl. Let me just say, the location is beyond breathtaking. There's a small lake as you drive into the main area, and there is a mansion that overlooks the whole vineyard. My friends and I definitely chose the best day to go. They had live music and tastings (wine and beer) for $10- what a steal! We came prepared with meats, cheeses, bread, crackers, olives, pickles and the works, but there were two food trucks on site, which was nice. Not to mention, there are tons of benches and tables to sit at. 

I have to say though, you taste a lot of oak in all of the wines they offer, and they did not have my go-to white: Sauvignon Blanc, and my favorite red: Cabernet Sauvignon was not part of the wine tasting- what a bummer. I will say most of the bottles of wine are reasonably priced at $20 and below. I stuck with the chilled rosé (obviously) and the Pinot Grigio- both options are great for some day drinking in the spring/summer weather. Everyone has their preference in wine though, so don't let my wine taste buds deter you away. Comment below and let me know where your favorite vineyard in the D.M.V. is. 

                 

Cheers!  Margaret