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5 Boss Babe Hacks & Takeaways from Alt Summit

Written By Naohmi Monroe - April 05 2019

Last week, Palm Springs was beaming with energy, inspiration, and GIRL POWER as Alt Summit hosted their 10th anniversary conference filled with panels, roundtables, speeches, and fashion shows celebrating women and their passions around creativity, business and entrepreneurship. Dani crushed her speech at the Parker, which went over what it means to truly OWN your phone and Dazey even pulled together a last minute fashion show that turned out to be a HIT! We ran into so many amazing Dazey ladies throughout the summit and honestly just felt so free being there. Alt was truly a magical space void of judgement and negativity, and overflowing with pure sisterhood, overwhelming support, and inspiring spirits. After a week chalk full of education, collaboration, and fun we’ve put together 5 major boss babe hacks and takeaways we got from our newly dubbed Dazey work retreat, Alt Summit:

1. OWN Your Phone

This NECESSARY hack every boss babe should start now is taken directly from Dani’s speech Own Your Phone that was presented on the first day of Alt at the Parker. It’s available to view on IG stories too if you want to take a peek at that! In sum: Your phone is your #1 tool and if you haven’t already, it’s time you create healthy boundaries and optimize your relationship with your digital space. This means diving into your social media space with MINDFULNESS > MINDLESSNESS, reflecting what you want your digital space to do for you and CURATE that, blocking or muting whatever doesn’t inform, inspire, or empower you, and learning to post for LOVE and not for likes. Once you’re able to stop the scroll, block the bullshit, and really FOCUS on creating a digital space that serves you, you’ll see your relationship with your digital space transform into one that you OWN rather it owning you.

2. Pinterest Is Underrated! Use it To Drive Your Business & Brand! (Tips Below)

Okay, we knew Pinterest was amazing for moodboards and endless inspo, but we didn’t realize all the STRATEGY you can do on the backend to drive your business and brand?! We’ve totally got Instagram down, but Pinterest is a whole new game for us! If you’re creating content in any capacity for your business, THIS IS FOR YOU! The #1 actionable tip we got from the Pinterest guru Anstasia Casey of the Identite Collective is name your files before you pin! It’s an easy way to OPTIMIZE and make all of your content instantly SEARCHABLE on Pinterest and Google!

Example: Instead of keeping the file name that comes in camera like 0P439585.jpg, change it to DazeyLA-brave-babe-graphic-tee.jpg. This allows your content to automatically pop up when these words are searched on Pinterest or Google! She recommends keeping a consistent naming routine such as, brand-style-item.jpg, too!

4. Prioritize IRL Connection

Yes, we are all for digital communities but sometimes it’s important to stop the scroll and find connection IRL. Ending every day with genuine connection, insightful conversation, and dance parties was probably one of our favorite things of Alt. When you can lean into likeminded people, laugh about the ups and downs of life and HYPE each other up in real life, everything just gets a little bit brighter. It’s things like spending time in IRL that fill our cups back up after long work days.

Looking for opportunity to connect IRL? Check out this upcoming Dazey LA / Biz Babez event!

3. Be a HYPE Woman

In the office, on the street, at the store, and any other space you may be YOU have the opportunity to radiate positive energy and HYPE people up. At Dazey’s runway show we were blessed with tons of hype ladies who, in the end, made the experience WAY more fun and gave models the confidence to WERK the runway. If you don’t practice it already, a little “YASSSS QUEEN” here and there can go a long way and create positive IMPACT and instant community. As our ultimate hype bae Lizzo says, “If I’m shining, everybody gonna SHINE!”. Let’s spread those hype affirmations babes!

5. Create Systems to Strengthen Your Workflow! (FREEBIE ALERT!)

Running a business, brand, and being a working woman in general is tough work to balance, ESPECIALLY when you have a creative mind and don’t quite operate on a systematic level. Luckily, we sat down with the organization masters Katy Krupnik and Jessica Litman at the How To Stay Organized When You Have A Creative Mind roundtable and brought back an amazing, simple freebie all of you can try! A quick and effective hack to get your files, priorities, and endless to-do lists ORGANIZED once and for all is desktop organizer backgrounds!! Has anyone tried these?! Personally, my desktop always looks like a wreck and I’m so ready to change that and tidy up my digital life! Click here to get a download!

Dazey Getawayz - Guide to Nashville

Written By Billy Zablan - January 25 2018

Dazey Getawayz Nashville Edition

As part of our New Years Resolutions, my boyfriend Phillip and I decided we want to travel more. Especially trips we can dub "work trips!" Before I started Dazey I worked full time for larger companies and inconveniently always either quit or was fired just about the time where you get that weeks paid vacation. So I literally spent a good 3-4 years not traveling AT ALL. Guess you can say I’m making up for lost time this year!

I've been calling these adventures #DazeyGetawayz. We want to explore, create content, and see all that different cities have to offer. We're big lovers of coffee, cocktails, and the culinary world! The getawayz have been an awesome excuse to try EVERYTHING in order to blog about our favorite spots :) Every time we go to a new city, even with a handful of recommendations, we feel a little lost and end up in a Yelping frenzy and likely get into an argument. We’ve all been there right!? We want these travel guides to show you the best spots and go into depth about what to get and why. Honestly these mini vacations end up feeling a lot more like work because of all the photoshoots and a mad rush to see it all, but it’s worth it being able to share with all of you!

Nashville has been a destination on our list for quite some time now! It’s one of those US cities dubbed a “hip” spot so of course we had to see for ourselves. Phillip’s family lives in North Carolina and we were already planning on going out there for a post Christmas get together and figured why not hit up good ol’ Nashville while we’re in the south! It was only six hours away so a road trip was a must. Lucky for us Toyota was down to sponsor us with an amazing, roomy Highlander! You can see some snaps below. This car seriously saved our asses in the SNOW! Yes snow, we were (un)lucky enough to visit when they got one of their rare snowstorms accompanied by single digit temperatures.

The weather made exploring the city a bit difficult, so we layered up and made it work the best we could. On our first real day it actually snowed so much that most of the stores and restaurants actually shut down! It was a shame we couldn’t really walk the city and see all it had to offer, so we certainly need to make a trip back in fairer conditions. BUT we do have some awesome recommendations still and had a great time in Nashville. Here’s our trip synopsis:

1. Urban Cowboy BNB - A Boutique Hotel Dreamscape

I would by lying if I didn’t admit this very hotel was one of the biggest reasons I was dying to visit Nashville. I’m sure you’ve seen it on the gram in almost every big blogger and well known creative’s feed. Well all those photos you’ve seen DON’T DO IT JUSTICE. When I walked in I audibly gasped. Every little detail was thought out and felt authentic and special. Wallpaper layered on top of wallpaper, light fixtures made from vintage speaker cones, rustic furniture, and a blazing fireplace. Right as we walked in we were greeted by a friendly face who offered us a glass of whiskey. It was a snow day so her adorable kids came with her to work, further showing what a small tight-knit operation the BNB is. She opened up a secret door in the wooden wall and lead us up to our cabin. I felt like a hidden treehouse complete with a fur covered nook bed and free standing deep bath tub. We were ecstatic. When you scroll through this post you may notice that 80% of our photos we’re taken here! We couldn’t help ourselves :)

2. Pinewood Social - Nashville’s Ultimate Hang Spot

This was the top recorded spot by everyone we talked to by far and I understand why. Pinewood was everything you could want all in one epic location! Pinewood features a massive open lounge, coffee shop, a full service restaurant, a bar, and a gorgeous vintage bowling alley. Basically everything good in the world. It’s located right along the river and everything about this building is beautiful from the inside out. We had coffee, an incredible lunch, and pretended to bowl for photos LOL. They were so nice there and ended up giving us a mini-tour which included the back of the bowling alley and the amazing rotating art installation wall all made of cans. This is the place you can not miss!

3. Date Night: Rolf and Daughter

This spot was un-freaking-believable. Located in the Germantown area it’s nestled between some buildings in an unsuspecting alleyway. It was gorgeous inside with moody lighting and exposed brick walls. We started off with some kick-ass cocktails. I’m a huge lover of an aviation, so I ordered their orange-flavored spin off version, Cheap Sunglasses, and OH MY GOD it was tasty. Their menu was a little complicated, but our amazing waitress patiently explained each dish to us and basically made us want everything. We decided to split three dishes to get a taste for it all. I forgot exactly what everything was or was called but both Phillip and I agreed it was easily the best meal we’ve ever had. I do remember one delish dish compromised of some sort of roasted yam? Rolf and Daughter made us question the entire culinary scene of Los Angeles.

4. Barista Parlor: Nashville’s Official Coffee Shop

This place came highly recommend by quite a few of our Dazey Ladies and did not disappoint! We could’t let business come to a halt while we were gone and this was the perfect spot to grab a good drink and get some work done. It’s a Nashville-only based chain with four locations throughout the city. We we’re lucky enough to check out two of them, one in the Gulch area and one on the east side. They were both in large open spaces with beamed ceilings, almost like airplane hangers. Long work-hall style tables fill the room and the center piece of each was a gorgeous coffee bar. The latte was a creamy dream come true, you gotta stop by if you’re in town!

5. Five Daughters Bakery: Donuts With a Twist

The first day we went to Barista Parlor I had an amazing maple donut along with my drink. I needed to know the origin of this piece of heaven. We found out they all come from Five Daughters Bakery just down the road. Being one of the few places open that day it worked out perfectly. They make those croissant/donut style treats, cronuts, but they can’t legally be named that due to a trademark haha. They just call them “layered donuts.” Whatever they are, they are AMAZEBALLS. Plus they have a pristine white storefront complete with a pink neon sign, basically “Instagram photo-op" porn right there.

6. Lunch at Pharmacy - Big Ass Burgers (Veggie Included!)

We were stoked to see this spot was open as well since a few of you mentioned it. It had that smalltown diner feel and was great for an easy lunch. I decided to start with one of their house made cream sodas, it was incredible! Their burger menu was extensive and when we got our food we realized we were way in over our heads. The south sure does take their portion size seriously! The food was amazing and there was plenty to go around.

7. Butcher and Bee - A Sweet & Savory Masterpiece

This was a spot we actually found on Yelp after realizing our original dinner choice was closed because of the snow. Not knowing what to expect we didn’t have huge expectations, which made tasting their amazing food even sweeter. The ambiance was open yet intimate and cozy, perfection. From what we could tell of their menu and name it seems like their whole thing was to mix both sweet and savory flavors together in unique and interesting ways. Literally my favorite flavor combo! It’s a tapas style place but their prices are marked appropriately as opposed to many that try and charge entree prices. We decided to go for a bunch of things and split! One of the dishes was fresh pita bread accompanied by a whipped feta dip covered in honey and herbs. We couldn’t even believe what we were tasting. Another amazing one was a pureed butternut squash paired with pomegranate and parmesan, just wow. If you go here be adventurous and try a bunch of the strange and glorious menu items!

8. Atta Boy - Curated Cocktails

This was such a fun experience! We walked through an alleyway (a reoccurring theme here) and had to knock on an inconspicuous door to be let in. Attaboy is only recognizable by a cool mural they have on the side of the building. The interior was a mix of 90’s art deco with a simple mid century twist. With moody lighting and private booths it had total speakeasy vibes! The whole shtick here is they have no menu. A mixologist asks you what kind of spirit you like along with some flavor profiles and they make a unique drink exactly to your taste. I said I love drinks served up, gin, and Creme De Violette liqueur…Essentially I described an aviation haha. Of course she has to put a special twist on it and made me something called a Water Lilly. It was like an Aviation but with an orange liqueur and a few other things mixed in as well. Let’s just say I have a new favorite drink now :)

9. Crema - Sweet Coffee and Clean Space

We had to try more than one coffee shop of course! This was another one of Nashville’s own, Crema. Their drinks were just amazing and they had a no-fuss way of approaching the design of their space. It was clean yet inviting. Many people were both meeting with friends and working out of it. We spent some good time getting shit done here!

10. Gift Horse - Quirky Gifts with a Nashville Twist

The last day I realized I had hardly had a chance to shop the local boutique scene! We made a mad dash for some of the best spots. Gift Horse was awesome. As a designer and illustrator this was my jam. They have printer paper goods, many with Nashville motifs, fun accessories, and all those adorable things you didn’t know you needed - but you do!

11. Wheat & Co - For Ya Dazey Dudez

Gotta give a recommendation to my Dazey Dudez! This was a super rad men’s store with hand selected items from some awesome designers, many of which were CA based. Phillip and I happened to know a few of the makers featured in his store and we got to chatting with the owner. He was a super nice guy and turns out we have a ton of mutual friends! This is a great spot to dress the dudez in your life while still shopping small.

12. Two Sons - Shipping made Simple and Spectacular

This store was recommended to us by a lot of you! It’s a giant space filled with only a few racks of very curated clothing from awesome designers like Ace & Jig. The whole store was expansive and white, but their rack was rainbow color coordinated, I loved that.

Dani's Hometown Tour - Lake Arrowhead

Written By Billy Zablan - January 05 2018

Tour of Dani's Hometown of Lake Arrowhead CA

I was born in Los Angeles but spent most of my childhood growing up in the beautiful small town of Lake Arrowhead. It's a mountain community nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains, a few hours from LA and right next to Big Bear. It's known for it's quaint cottages, thick pine tree forests, and of course the gorgeous lake! One thing it's not particularly known for is it's culture. There are very few places to eat or drink, grab a coffee, or even shop. Even the tiny town of Joshua Tree has way more things to do and places to see as you may have noticed from our previous travel post.

Though I consider myself a city gal these days, Lake Arrowhead is a gorgeous getaway to escape it all, take things slow, and visit my family. Looking back I'm so thankful for growing up there, but back then there wasn't a whole lot to do as a kid! It seemed like teenagers either got into partying or nerdy tech things, I fell into latter category haha. In a way I'm thankful because I ended up spending a lot of time on the computer learning coding and graphic design which later helped me in my career and as I was starting Dazey!

If you were watching my insta-story you know I was on a mission over the holidays to promote Lake Arrowhead and make it COOL haha. Being a beautiful destination just hours away for LA, it has all the right ingredients to become a hip vacation spot. And with house prices literally 1/4 the price of LA maybe even a great spot for those burnt out on the city to escape to. We just need a little more creative culture in the area! Luckily this is beginning to change. There are a few little spots popping up started by former Angelenos' looking to take a break from big city living. Below are a couple recommendations, along with photos descriptions, shown throughout the post. We also took some around town, in the forrest, and by the lake!

Photo Op Alert - HWY 18

This highway is as gorgeous as it is treacherous. When it gets snowy it's sadly been known to claim many lives. So on the way up while all you flatlanders (that's what we called the non-mountain folks LOL) are driving slowly up the hill, be sure to safely pull over on one of the larger pull-offs for a photo. There's a ton of them on the way up, all equally amazing. Here are some snaps from where we stopped! Pro tip, if you stop more near the bottom you can get more hills in the backdrop before you're too high!

Lake Life - How to trick the system

So Lake Arrowhead is technically a private lake reserved only for it's residents. But I'll let ya in on a little secret, it's hardly enforced. There are a ton of ALA entrances throughout the lake where you can walk right down from the road. I recommend heading down to the north bay for a more secluded and fun part of the lake. There's an entrance near the corner of Northbay road and Alpen drive. They are marked with little wooden posts that say "ALA" on the side. Now Lake Arrowhead is a big town for vacation homes, and around the lake most of them aren't occupied by full time residents, nor are there docks. Growing up we would walk down to the lake and just choose a dock and post up all day, rarely do people say anything. YES the dock shown in these photos were borrowed as well. ;)

Road Trip - @shoproadtrip

This adorable little shop with all sorts of goodies from vintage clothing, artwork, cards, patches, and more! Located in a cute A-frame, it has that mountain feel but still curated to an LA clientele looking for a special souvenir. Owned by a good boss and crafter herself, I discovered Savannah in an LA Times article (she's since ditched the dude and is a bad ass solo-lady-boss!) and I remember instantly reposting it saying something along the lines of, "OH MY GOSH SOMETHING COOL OPENED IN LAKE ARROWHEAD." Certainly in all caps. Not to trash talk the hometown, but it definitely needs more awesome spots like this. I got some vintage books for my dad and amazing holiday cards. Now time for you to take a road trip to Road Trip!

Lou Eddie's Pizza

Located in a quaint area of willow woods, right off the the main highway, this spot has only been around a few years but I make sure to stop by whenever I'm in town. Like I said, the foodie scene isn't quite like LA, but this is a solid spot with a great pie! There's also a tavern on the bottom and a forested outdoor seating area. The inside is super cute as well!

Lake Arrowhead Village

Literally the only place we had to shop and go to growing up. It's our version of a downtown and a total tourist trap. But if you're in Arrowhead you are basically obligated to check it out. Though it's filled mostly with outlet stores (I do like the Pendleton one) or weird bear/fish shops, it is still a very cute area that does feel like an alpine village. It's also a great place to see the lake and feed ducks! Most of the stores around the lake will sell duck food for a buck, and the ducks do go pretty crazy. Franklin loved it!

What's Edible in the Village - Belgian Waffle

Belgian waffle is THE JAM, literally they have great jam. But in all seriousness this is an amazing long time local spot! I've been coming here since I was a kid and am obsessed. They kill the savory-sweet breakfast game and the Brussels Belgian Waffle is heaven sent. They also have super reasonable drink prices, so naturally it's a great place for boozy brunch. The inside has all your mountain cottage vibes, or you can sit on their lakeside patio.

Hearth & Sage - Top Town Crestline

When growing up Crestline was basically the ugly step sister of Lake Arrowhead, but man it's starting to come up! It's gotten some cute stores as well as a highly recommended (for the mountain) coffee shop called Higher Elevation. Per Savannah of Road Trip's recommendation we stopped by another previous LA (Angeles) resident become LA (Arrowhead) shop owner. Hearth & Sage looked like it was picked up right out of Silverlake and dropped down on the mountain. It's the perfect place to get that gift for the friend who already has everything, but still NEEDS all these cute things. We got Franklin a beautiful leather matching color and leash set he LOVES. It's true, he told me.

Random Patch of Forest

They're everywhere haha. We just pulled off of the road to snap these quick pics! But if you're up there you have to take advantage of all the beautiful hiking trails Lake Arrowhead has to offer. We didn't have time this trip but a really great one is Deep Creek Hot Springs! Just be careful of the nudists haha.

Dani Dazey - Joshua Tree Travels

Written By Billy Zablan - December 07 2017

High Desert Trip part 2

Escaping LA and going to a Joshua Tree/Yucca Valley Airbnb is a serious “thing!" It’s always affordable and a great way to get off the grid. I grew up with my mom taking us here so it holds some precious memories. We had to make the most of our high desert trip by making a stop here on the way home from Palm Springs. Since a huge part of my brand is creating content, a gorgeous location is key! We got so many cool photos in Joshua Tree we figured this part of the trip deserved it’s very own post.

Pionerertown & Pappy and Harriett's

You will feel like you traveled back in time when you visit the precious and photo friendly Pioneertown! Perfect for cool, quirky, western themed photoshoots. There’s a ton of little kitschy shops to check out while you’re there too! The crown jewel of the little town is the world famous Pappy and Harriet’s restaurant, bar, and music venue. My parents had been going there for years and I had always heard my fellow Angelenos rave about it. Phillip and I had to see what the fuss was about! We went for dinner and open mic night and had the most amazing experience. The food was to die for! I eat mainly a veggie based diet but had to make an exception for their house smoked ribs, and I did not regret it. We stayed around to watch the local talent and it was so cool to see! Pappy and Harriet’s is truly a place where all feel welcome and enjoy. The eclectic crowd included families, Hells Angels bikers, hip young folk giving LA scenesters a run for their money, old long-time locals, and cowboys. You name it, and they were there.

Off to Joshua Tree! Next stop, The Coyote House

My friends Tim (@timmelideo) and Merrill (@merzydotes) recently bought an old fixer upper in Joshua Tree to renovate and rent out. They did everything themselves and it seriously looks AMAZING! They have dubbed this charming vintage inspired bungalow The Coyote House as it is located right off of Coyote Road. It was photo perfect and walking distance to some cool local spots. They also have a fire pit and hot tub in the yard, calling for nights out under the stars in a place where you can actually see them (darn LA light pollution!) Franklin loved running around in the dust and felt right at home!

"Downtown" Joshua Tree & the National Park

Ok another two-fer here since they are so close! Before you take that right down Park Drive there is a few block strips full of strange stores and restaurants. I was informed by a local that this area is technically all of Joshua Tree, which is often confused with the larger area of Yucca Valley up the road. I hear this area referred to as Downtown Joshua Tree and it is a serious treasure! They have adopted the often used phrase, “Keep Joshua Tree Weird” but unlike Portland or Austin, they seriously mean it! This is one wacky place filled with colorful and crazy art galleries, crochet museums (yes that’s correct), funky vintage stores and more. There is also some good spots to eat and drink. Phillip and I loved Pie for the People & Joshua Tree Coffee co.

Of course Joshua Tree is known for the national park, there is nothing like it in the world. Giant rocks and Dr. Seuss style trees as far as the eye can see. The landscape looks like another planet entirely. It’s great for hiking and of course incredible photoshoots! You can’t go to J-tree without hitting up the park.

The Beginning and The End

Right as you get to or leave Yucca Valley there is an awesome little block full of boutiques that rival those of East LA. One of the most well known of these shops is The End, a colorful store full of vintage and carefully curated artist goods. Celebrities and blogger babes go nuts for this spot, not only for what’s inside but the amazing murals by LA artist @bunnieluvrocks paints all over the exterior. Grabbing a beverage and breakfast toast at Frontier coffee and stopping by The End is a must before leaving town!

Palm Springs Birthday Weekend & Travel Guide

Written By Billy Zablan - December 05 2017

Weekend Getaway in Palm Springs

I'm a California girl through and through. My mom was born in Palm Springs and that whole side of my family still lives there. I grew up in Lake Arrowhead, but spent countless weekends in Palm Springs and really grew to love it. I make it a point to escape the city and make trips out to the desert as much as I can. My boyfriend, Phillip, our doggie Franklin, and I are trying to start traveling more often and document our getaways as a little family. Palm Springs is the perfect spot since it is so close to LA and has so much to offer. We went out there for Thanksgiving and since my birthday was the following Saturday so we figured we may as well make a trip of it! Here’s a little low down on our weekend adventures and some of our favorite spots, complete with fun photos and all our travel tips.

#thatpinkdoor

You may have seen this infamous spot before. The aptly name ‘millenial pink’ door has made its rounds on social media officially being dubbed #thatpinkdoor. I knew it was a bit overplayed, but how could I resist? Had to stop by for a photo after some thrift shopping! You can find this Insta famous photo spot at 1345 N Palm Canyon Drive; Palm Springs, California.

Antique & Vintage Shopping

There is a whole gang of amazing antique malls in this area, starting with Sunny Dunes. I’m a sucker for some good vintage furniture or apparel, and Palm Springs is the perfect place for it! It was an area booming during the mid century modern craze so there is plenty to go around as opposed to the picked-over places in LA. I find a lot of inspiration for my designs when I wander about stores like this, whether it’s a vintage poster or some cool old album artwork. You can explore these places for hours and never run out of new treasures to find! Don’t miss this spot when you’re in town.

Arrive Hotel

We have Arrived! Yes, the puns never end with this beautiful boutique hotel. New to the neighborhood and giving the Ace a run for it’s money as the most hip hangout spot. It’s modern and minimal, yet cozy and cool. One of our favorite parts about the hotel is you never have to leave! Arrive has two restaurants, a cute coffee shop, an ice cream parlor, and a seriously stylish gift shop. It has two floors of bungalow style rooms complete with patios, all surrounding the gorgeous pool. They are super puppy friendly which was great for Franklin! We even got to hang in the pool while he watched us from a lounge chair all bundled up! Another awesome thing about Arrive is how they want to bring value to the community by hosting pop up events featuring local vendors, and also keep their pool open to the public!

Ernest Coffee & Bootlegger Tiki

Coffee and cocktails?! Count me in! Just a hop, skip, and jump away from Arrive we have one of the coolest hidden gems. Ernest is a delicious and adorable coffee shop by day, and by night the secret back doors open up to reveal a speakeasy-style tiki bar! I’m a huge lover of coffee and the tiki culture design of the 50s & 60s, so this place was a dream. Palm Springs was a hub of tiki design and much of my summer collection was inspired by the amazing art and architecture I had seen while visiting Palm Springs!

Brunch Bound at Farm

Saturday was my birthday so we figured we would finally leave the hotel, haha. What better way to spend it than at a birthday brunch with friends? We needed a spot where we could bring the pup, but also relax and have some drinks in a nice environment. Farm Palm Springs was perfect! It’s hidden away in a courtyard between some shops. It’s mostly outdoors and really makes you feel like you’re in a secret garden. It’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the main street. The food and drinks we’re amazing. I especially loved the watermelon mimosas!

Chicago Daze

Written By Billy Zablan - August 03 2017

This past weekend I flew out to Chicago for @officiallyquigley’s wedding. My boyfriend @phillipbutler and I decided we may as well make a mini vacation out of the trip! We love exploring new cities and I had never been. My dad lived in Chicago years ago when he first moved to America and always had great things to say about it. Other than him I really hadn’t heard a whole lot about the city, so I feel like I was able to go there with a clean slate and no preconceived expectations. Let’s just say it did NOT disappoint! Everything was incredible, from the gorgeous architecture, to the vast blue lake, and the adorable brick filled and tree lined neighborhoods like Wicker Park. This is one under rated city! I really fell in love with Chicago. If it wasn’t for the wild winters (so I’ve heard) I would move there in a heartbeat!

We were only in town for about three days so we were scrambling to get everything in! Wicker Park and Logan Square were adorable and the ultra hip parts of the city, so we spent a lot of time eating, drinking, and shopping in that area. We love to ask the locals where to go so we can see the city from their perspective. We always play the “what if we lived here” game in all of the places we visit :) Phillip and I normally shy away from the touristy stuff but actually had an amazing time seeing the landmarks and just being in awe of Chicago. Seeing everything from the Sky Deck was so cool, the buildings and lake just went on forever. The city planning, overall organization, and cleanliness of the streets was unlike any city I’ve seen before. It seemed like every building, bridge, and art installation was so thought out and made with intention. I highly recommend visiting if you haven’t, I’ll certainly be back soon!

Below are some of the photos we took around town at some of the magical places we found. We also have some snaps of the gorgeous blogger wedding! Of course I was wearing Dazey Everyday (aside from the wedding night lol) so there is some fun outfit inspiration there too!