Travel – Page 3 – Mackenzie Billington

Off to Vegas!

April 28, 2016 by Mackenzie

Hello friends! Guess what? Tomorrow is my birthday & I am officially going to be ~~twenty-one~~ twenty-fun!! I feel old. A few weeks ago, my mom called me & surprised me with a birthday trip to.. you guessed it.. Vegas! This afternoon, my grandma (aka my bestie!), my mom, and I will be jetting off to the ever so fabulous, Las Vegas! After a stressful few weeks of school, I am beyond ready for a girl’s trip to the ‘City of Lights’ with my favorite people. My fingers are crossed that we win big & make some good memories!

I’m going to be honest, I have a total love/hate relationship with packing. As an avid procrastinator, sometimes packing just gets put off until the very last minute. Here are some of my go-to tips for packing:

1. Check the weather

The first thing I do before last-minute packing is checking the weather for the week on my phone. If it’s going to be chillier than anticipated, I pack long sleeves and sweaters. If it’s suppose to rain all week, I make sure that my rain jacket pullover goes into my suitcase as well. Knowing the weather for the trip will definitely help you pack!

2. Plan accordingly for each day

The second thing I do when I begin to pack is to figure out what my specific plans for the trip are. Two nights = two dinner outfits. One day at the pool = one bathing suit. Know how many nights you will be staying and what you will be doing each day so that you can pack & be prepared. It can be helpful to make a list of the things you need to pack: one bathing suit, two dinner dresses, one pair of wedges, one pair of sandals, one pair of denim shorts, etc.

3. Pack layers + things you can mix and match

Layers, layers, layers. Layers are a huge lifesaver when it comes to packing, especially if you are cold all the time like I am. I usually pack a few things I can layer up like a chunky cardigan or a soft pullover. It’s always good to be prepared. Also, bring pieces you can mix-and-match. It will save room in your suitcase and give you tons of outfit options for the trip.

4. Be frugal with shoes

We all know by know that my shoe obsession is slightly out of hand, it just is. I love shoes more than anything (okay, except for maybe Chipotle). However, they take up a ton of room in your bag and can make things extra-heavy. I’ve learned that less is more when it comes to packing shoes. Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane, and try to keep it down to 2-3 (max) pairs of shoes for the trip. It’s fun to have options, but it’s important to try to pack lightly when it comes to shoes. [tip: if you’re packing boots, fill them with pairs of socks, bras, etc. to help fill even more space].

5. Keep important things in your carry on

I learned this gem the hard way this past summer! Make sure you always carry your most important belongings with you on your carry on, just to be safe. Medications and toiletries included!

I also wanted to share with you guys some of the things I packed for my trip to Vegas. A few weeks ago, I texted my sister, asking for her help to find the perfect b-day outfit. I finally decided on this gorgeous two piece from Show Me Your Mumu. I love this set because it can easily be mixed-and-matched all season (picturing the crop top with denim shorts + sandals for summer concerts & that midi skirt with a chambray button down for church + work). Here are some of the things I packed for Vegas:

Hope you guys are having a wonderful week!

xoxo,

Mackenzie

Spring Break Must-Haves: Fab & Under $50

March 8, 2016 by Mackenzie

cactus earrings (comes in silver too) // floppy hat // tassel earrings // lipgloss // fringe clutch // lace up sandals // seersucker bikini top // aviator sunglasses (only $12!) // flamingo float

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Spring break is only a few days a way for me, and I am beyond jealous of y’all that are already enjoying your spring break. I am so ready for a relaxing weekend & tons of sun.

A lot y’all really enjoyed my last spring break must-haves post, so I decided to make another one including pieces under $50! I am dying to add those lace up sandals to my shoe collection!

xoxo,

Mackenzie Kendall

Spring Break Must-Haves: Tan & Tropical

March 4, 2016 by Mackenzie

sb1

maaji bikini // laguna illuminator // tassel crossbody // round sunglasses (only $12) // lace up sandals // pineapple pool float (only $25) // tassel earrings ($34) // pom-pom tote // palm-leaf clutch

As much as I do love Midterms week (said no college student ever), I am beyond ready for some fun in the sun. This year, I am heading back to Florida to enjoy spring break with my sorority sisters. There’s nothing I love more than hitting the beach & soaking up the sun. With this dreary weather we’ve been having here in Oxford, I am ready for a warm getaway!

I hope that you all are having a happy Thursday! Let me know what your spring break plans are this year!

xoxo,

Mackenzie Kendall

p.s. here are a few more tan & tropical spring break pieces:

Best of DFW, Texas

February 8, 2016 by Mackenzie

Hello, friends & happy Monday! So as a lot of y’all know, I have been living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area since Elementary School. Growing up in the DFW area has really been such an incredible experience, and I’ve made so many amazing memories over the years here in Texas. My family lives in Westlake, a tiny town nestled between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. I have grown up visiting both Dallas and Fort Worth (and everywhere in-between) on a weekly basis. I get questions all the time from followers that are planning to visit the DFW areas and are unsure of things to do or specific places to eat. I am no expert by any means, but here are some places my family, friends, and I have loved and wanted to share (in no particular order). I hope that you enjoy this list of my favorite places and activities in the DFW area & that you have a fabulous trip to the Lone Star State!

Weekend at Wake Forest

January 13, 2016 by Mackenzie

Hello, hello! I recently got back from Winston-Salem, and I just had to share some pictures from my trip with y’all. My mom and I flew to North Carolina for my sister’s bid day! It was such an exciting day for Alexandra, and I am so glad that I got to go down to finally visit her at her university. Winston-Salem is such a gorgeous place, and I fell in love with the Wake Forest campus. At Wake Forest University, they have a deferred recruitment. My sister received a bid from Kappa Kappa Gamma, and she was beyond excited! My mom was also excited as well because she was a Kappa when she was in college. It was such an awesome moment for them, and I am so glad I got to snap a few pictures as they became sorority sisters! I am so proud of my little sister, Alexandra, and everything that she has accomplished so far in college.

I hope y’all are having an awesome week so far!

Best of Maui: Places to Eat & Things to Do

December 23, 2015 by Mackenzie

Aloha! We have been visiting Maui for the past eight years, and this gorgeous oasis has easily become my favorite relaxing destination. My family always stays in the Kapalua area, which is such a lovely part of the island. There is something so incredible about Maui from the friendly locals, to the amazing food, to the stunning beaches, mountains, and flora. Maui is a place I know I will be visiting for many, many more years to come. I hope that someday I will get to maybe live on Maui during some point of my life- that would be a dream!

I have received so many emails and questions over the past few years about my favorite places on the island and our favorite things to do there. Here are some of our favorite places to eat & things to do in the Kapalua area:

Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop (pictured at end) – This is probably my #1 favorite restaurant on the entire island. Leoda’s Lahaina Dog is out of this world. You also have to get one of the famous pies; my personal favorites include the banana cream and the chocolate mac nut.
Mama’s Fish House – We always go to Mama’s on the way to the airport because it is about an hour from the Kapalua area. It is pricey, but it is probably the best rated restaurant on Maui. The seafood there is incredible, and the atmosphere is hard to beat.
Pineapple Grill – The Pineapple Grill is an adorable restaurant located on a golf course, making it an awesome ‘photo op’ go-to. If you go, you absolutely have to eat out on the patio. They are constantly changing up their menu, but their desserts are the absolute best. Between the Smores dip, the chocolate brownie in a pan with mint chocolate chip ice-cream, and the Pineapple upside down cake, it’s too hard to pick one favorite!
Merriman’s – We have been going to Merriman’s for years, and it’s a long-time Miller family favorite. The location is just perfect, offering a great view. The sea food dishes are just phenomenal and they usually have awesome live music. It is also in walking distance of the Montage.
Plantation House – Plantation is another one of our long time favorites. It is located on the golf course and offers a great selection of sea food dishes and pasta. I opted for some sushi!
Hula Grill Kaanapali – The ‘Hula Pie’ is a must! It’s huge, so make sure you share!
Leilani’s on the Beach – My favorite thing about Leilani’s is the delicious sea-food pasta. It has a little bit of everything! Leilani’s also has a really fun, exciting atmosphere with lots of families. Leilani’s is owned by the same people that own Hula Grill, so there is Hula Pie here as well!

Relax on the beach – This may be a given, but it always tops my list each visit to Maui. There’s nothing I love more than laying out on the beach while reading a good book. It’s so relaxing and is always ‘much needed’ after finals week.
Take a yoga class – This probably is not for everyone, but as a yoga addict myself, yoga in Maui is the absolute best. I love a morning yoga class while enjoying an amazing view of the beach. I personally like the classes at the Montage, which you can attend even if you are not a guest at the resort!
Haleakala crater – Totally worth the drive up, especially if you love a good sun rise. Pack warm clothes because it is super, super cold up there. We were not prepared in our shorts and sandals!
Take a surfing lesson – My dad, sister, and I took surfing lessons during one of our first ventures to Maui. Though we weren’t too stellar at it, we still enjoyed trying it out.
Whale watching – If you were to ask my mom what her favorite Maui activity is, she would definitely tell you whale watching. Whether you’re on the lookout for whales from the pool/beach or on an actual whale-watching tour, it’s exciting every time you see one of them poking their heads up.
Take a helicopter tour– This activity is on the pricier side, but let me just tell you, there is no better view of the island. A helicopter tour of Maui is just breath taking.
Watch the surfers at Ho’okipa Beach Park– The waves here in the winter time are seriously hardcore. It’s too rough to swim in, but it’s entertaining to watch all the talented surfers out there!
Banyan Tree Park & shopping at Lahaina – Located in the town of Lahaina, the Banyan Tree Park is a must see. It’s also located next to the harbor, which is always a great place to watch the sunset before dinner. I also love the shopping in Lahaina. They have an awesome shark tooth store where I always buy all my shark tooth necklaces. They also have a LUSH store in Lahaina, and the staff there is so friendly and helpful!
See a Luau– This is such a Maui classic! If you’ve never been to Hawaii before, you absolutely have to go watch a Luau! I love watching the firedancers and all the performers!
Play golf – If you love to play golf, you have to try out one of the golf courses on the island. They are absolutely gorgeous.
Zipline tour- There are ziplines located all around the island. They are really fun and offer stunning views. We have enjoyed zipline tours for years now- as kids and as adults.
Scuba diving/snorkling – There are tons of places around the island to scuba dive and snorkel! You can see some really beautiful fish! Molokini is especially a great place for snorkeling.
Lavender farm– In our past 8 years or so of visiting Maui, we have never ventured out far enough to see the island Lavender Farm. We decided to check it out this past year (pictured here) and really enjoyed it.
Family pictures– We absolutely love getting family pictures taken in Maui (shown at bottom). I would recommend wearing white because it looks really nice in any beach photo! It also makes for a great Christmas card.
Take a hike– There are so many amazing places to hike in Maui! I would definitely recommend taking a guided hiking tour so you won’t get lost or miss any of the incredible things along the way.

Montage resort

Leoda’s is my favorite restaurant on the island!

Lahaina Dog- beef dog topped with Maui pineapple chutney and Poha berry mustard

Chocolate mac nut pie

Aloha nui loa from my ohana to yours!

Printed Paradise

December 18, 2015 by Mackenzie

Tie top | Shorts | Mystique sandals

[On Alexandra: Topshop Top (similar) | Shorts (now on sale!) | Sandals]

This week has just flown by. I can’t believe I only have three days left in Maui. One of my favorite things about going somewhere warm for holiday break is being able to break out my favorite bright and fun summer pieces. As much as I love winter clothes, it can be nice to put it away for just a week. Allie and I decided to wear our favorite Carlos shorts to dinner. She paired hers with an off the shoulder top and neutral sandals. I paired mine with a matching co-ord top and jeweled sandals. Printed pieces put me in such a great mood despite the rain we have been having on the island lately!

Hope you all are having a great Friday- the weekend is finally here!

Beach Bliss

December 17, 2015 by Mackenzie

Top | Bralette | Eyeshadow (in ‘Stargazer’)

[on Alexandra: Dress | Bralette | Sandals| Necklace]

There is nothing I love more than the beach. Every Christmas, my family heads to Maui for some rest & relaxation. For the past six years or so we have stayed at the Ritz Kapalua, which I absolutely love. This year we decided to do something different and book a room at the Montage. We have been absolutely loving every second of this gorgeous resort so far. My sister and I decided to take a few quick pics near the ocean before enjoying an awesome dinner at Merriman’s– one of our family’s favorite restaurants on the island. I had fun being behind the camera and snapping some pictures of my sister twirling in this Free People dress [also featured here]. She paired the tunic dress with brown lace up sandals and a simple necklace. For dinner, I wore a blue halter blouse paired with some flowy, black shorts. I also added some gold sandals as well. For my makeup, I decided to use my favorite lime green eyeshadow that is super glam and sparkly. I also added some ardell lashes just for something different! To finish it off, I went with Too Faced’s lipstick in the shade ‘Juicy Melons‘. It’s such a fun shade for the beach, and it definitely reminds me of summer time.

Follow me around this week on Maui by following my Snapchat (Mackenzieken) & my Insta (mackenziekmiller). Thank you so, so much for checking out my blog! I hope you all are having a great week!

48 Hours in Paris: Day Two

July 29, 2015 by Mackenzie

For the last day of our Paris getaway, we decided not to let the bad weather stop us from seeing the Eiffel Tower. Luckily, the rain did not hit before we got there, so we were able to enjoy an hour or so checking out this magnificent tourist favorite. When we went to Paris a few years ago we climbed to the top, so we decided not to climb it again this time. After snapping a few pictures, we headed to a local cafe for lunch. Our friend that recommend Angelina to us also recommend to check out Amorino, where we could get beautiful, flower-shaped gelato. We just couldn’t pass that up! Our gelato was not only gorgeous, but it tasted so great as well! Allie tried a combination of coffee, chocolate, and raspberry. Shortly after eating our gelato, the intense rain hit (which probably explains our lack of photos after the gelato trip). We took a cab to the Catacombs, something we both had been dying to see. Allie read that the lines are always very, very long, so we had our fingers crossed that they wouldn’t be as long with the rain. However, when we arrived, we noticed hundreds and hundreds of people in line- all with umbrella in hand. We spent a second or two contemplating if we wanted to wait in line, but we decided we wouldn’t have enough time because we needed to head to the train station in just a few hours. Next time I go to Paris, I will definitely wait in line to see the Catacombs. Though it sounds a little creepy- ‘The World’s Largest Grave’- it definitely seems really cool and interesting. Allie and I decided to hit the Musee d’Orsay instead! We have actually never been to this specific museum before, so we decided it would be the perfect activity on this rainy day. After waiting in line for 30-40 minutes in the rain, it was finally time to enter this incredible museum. The Musee d’Orsay is actually housed in a former railroad station, which is something so unique. I really enjoyed this museum because I love Impressionist paintings (almost as much as I love Surrealism). Last year in college, I studied Degas a lot and did several master copies of his work. I really enjoyed all of the Degas pieces that the Musee d’Orsay had to offer! We also got to see tons of beautiful Van Gough pieces including the famous ‘Starry Night Over the Rhone’, ‘Self Portrait’, and ‘The Bedroom’. With an hour left before our train, we stopped by a chaotic Starbucks to hide from the rain. People were sitting on the floor in the Starbucks- willing to do anything to get out of the storm and have some warm coffee. We made a friend in the Starbucks, and we shared stories of our favorite things that Paris and London had to offer. Allie and I ran back to our hotel through the pouring rain to collect our bags and catch a cab to the train station (the tubes near us were shut down due to the Tour de France). I was really wishing I hadn’t worn a maxi dress because it was completely doused. I was so ready to get back to my dorm so I could shower and put on some warm pajamas. We sat near my two LSE friends on the train ride back, and I took a great nap. After we got back to my dorm, Allie ran to Chipotle in the rain and brought us back some tacos to eat in bed. Does it get any better than that? I can’t imagine a more perfect weekend in Paris!

48 Hours in Paris: Day One

July 28, 2015 by Mackenzie

Hot chocolate at Angelina

The Louvre

Oh so candid

‘Is my finger on the pointy part?’

Okay, I tried.

Rebecca Minkoff purse (c/o)

Picked up Crepes on our way to Champs-Elysees

Heaven on Earth

We wanted to try the Laduree ice-cream, but it was a little too chilly

Raspberry, Chocolate, Coffee, Rose Petal, Marie-Antoinette Tea, and Vanilla

Arc de Triomphe

Just a little excited about my Laduree macaroons

Half up-half down + bun

Sacre-Coeur

48 hours in Paris. In an incredible city like Paris, it can truly be hard to narrow down your exploration ‘wish list’ to 48 hours. Is two night really enough? My sister, Allie, and I headed off to France for the weekend to find out.

After running through London in the rain, we finally made it to our train just in time. About two hours later, we arrived in Paris. Even though our hotel was less than a five minute walk from the tube station, we managed to spend hours aimlessly wondering around the city at night to find it. Our hotel was called the Hotel du Louvre, a Hyatt Hotel. It was in a perfect location and was very nice. When we got to our hotel room, we spent a few hours digging on Pinterest and the internet to plan out our two full days in the city. We started by making a list of everything we wanted to see during our time in Paris, and then narrowed it down. Luckily for us, this wasn’t out first time in Paris. We have seen mostly everything, but we spent time deciding what we still had left to see and what we wanted to see again. I took a nice bubble bath, and then it was time to sleep.

The first morning we woke up pretty early to get a good start on our day. My friend, who recently studied abroad in Paris, told us to go to a restaurant called Angelina to try their hot chocolate. It was very chilly that morning, so we decided to head to the small restaurant to pick up some hot chocolate and a pastry before heading to the Louvre. The hot chocolate was very good, but very sweet/intense. We really enjoyed our pastry through! When we arrived at the Louvre, we waited in line for 20-30 minutes, which was a much shorter queue than we expected. Allie and I have been to the Louvre before, so we didn’t feel the need to spend hours exploring the huge museum. There were incredible artifacts and paintings, but we found it to be a little overwhelming. It is so hard to see the entire Louvre in just a few hours! We of course saw the Mona Lisa though, which is always fun. After we left the Louvre, we headed to the Champs-Elysees for some lunch and macaroons. We couldn’t resist picking up some crepes on the way though for a ‘pre-lunch snack’. We had a great time people watching at the Champs-Elysees while we enjoyed our lunch. However, the whole time we couldn’t stop talking about our excitement for our macaroon dessert! The line for Laduree macaroons was possibly longer than the line for the Louvre. I have to say it was definitely worth the wait though. We tried six different macaroon flavors, which were all incredibly delicious. My favorite was definitely the vanilla. Next was the Arc de Triomphe. We snapped a few pictures in front of the large arch, and then headed off to our next two destinations- the Espace Dali museum and the Sacre-Coeur. It was not the shortest walk to Espace Dali museum as it is located up on a hill. However, it was definitely number #1 on my Paris list because Salvador Dali is my very favorite artist. I really enjoyed seeing all of his beautiful watercolors, sculptures, and sketches. I couldn’t resist buying another Dali book from the gift store on my way out. He’s such an interesting and incredible man, and I always enjoy learning more about him! I would highly, highly recommend the Espace Dali museum for any Dali fans! It’s worth the trip! We decided to check out the Sacred Heart Basilica of Montemarte (Sacre-Coeur) because it was less than five minutes away from Espace Dali. The Sacre-Coeur was so gorgeous! We decided not to go inside though for the sake of time. At this point we had already walked eleven miles, and my feet were killing me. We took a cab back to our hotel and found dinner near by. Allie has spaghetti, and I had some great risotto. After dinner we got some ice-cream and headed back to our hotel to get some rest after our long- but exciting- day!

I will be posting about our ‘last 24 hours in Paris’ tomorrow! (P.S. A lot of y’all asked on instagram about my outfit, and my top is from Topshop and my shorts are from Show Me Your Mumu!)

Thank you for checking out my blog!