The Outside & In

Over Thanksgiving, our family went on a little adventure to Peru’s Sacred Valley. My aunt, who lives in Lima, invited us to go on this trip with her and for us to get some good quality time together as we get to know Peru better.

Peru has such amazing natural and archaeological sites, that we have a long list of places we still want to explore. On this trip, we were excited to bring the boys to experience Machu Picchu, located in Peru’s Sacred Valley region.

Machu Picchu

I am guessing you have heard of Machu Picchu. If Machu Picchu doesn’t sound familiar, this photo might look familiar.

Machu Picchu is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Often referred to as the “Lost City” of the Incas, it was discovered pretty much in tact by American Hiram Bingham in 1911. What makes this find so amazing is that the Spanish conquered the Incas 400 years earlier, but never found Machu Picchu.

Despite its celebrity status, Machu Picchu is just ONE reason to make this trip. Today I want to share with you why we chose to spend 5 days enjoying the Sacred Valley and why you should not limit yourself to just seeing Machu Picchu if you come to Peru.

Flying into Cusco

Most people who come to Peru are flying into Cusco, and headed straight to Machu Picchu. Cusco has always been an important Peruvian city. As the former capital of the Incan Empire, it serves as the gateway to the Sacred Valley. No matter where you’re coming from, your flight will be landing in Cusco – the only major airport in the Sacred Valley.

Because of its historical significance, there are some incredible archaeological and colonial historical sites in Cusco. When Brian and I visited 15 years ago, it seemed a lot sleepier than it is today though. The drive from the airport on this visit was a huge eye-opener that this city has grown quite a bit since the last time we were here. And so has the traffic. The picture below gives you an idea of how congested the city is.

For this trip, we stayed in the rural part of the Sacred Valley for four nights, and then only one night in Cusco on our last night before our return flight.

Cusco, Peru

A view of the Sacred Valley from up high.

Sacred Valley: A Lay of the Land

Both Cusco and Machu Picchu are located in the Sacred Valley. But so are a lot of other villages and ruins that are equally as impressive.

In this mystical region, the Urubamba River weaves through the Andes mountains like a snake. Which is also why you might see it also referred to as the Urubamba Valley.

Outside of Cusco, the Sacred Valley will make you feel like you are going back in time. From our visit last year, I had heard several Peruvians saying how much they enjoyed staying in a village in the Sacred Valley as their home base to visit the many sites versus staying in Cusco. Now I can see why.

The picture below is an example of what the roads in the Sacred Valley were like. No billboards. No tall buildings. Just mountains. And farmlands. As we drove around to our destinations, we would see shepherds with flocks of sheep. Farmers plowing their fields with oxen. Women walking down dirt roads with their mules. Llamas munching on grass.

Coming from an overconnected, fast-paced world, this place felt like nourishment for an over-thinking soul.

Our itinerary:

For the sake of keeping this post fairly short and manageable, I will just outline our itinerary here. I will follow up with another post sharing details and photos of what we did each day.

Day 1: Flight from Lima to Cusco. Head straight to our hotel in Urubamba.

Day 2: Guided tours to Maras, Moray and Chinchero

Day 3: Machu Picchu

Day 4: Hike in Yucay, Hacienda Huayocari, Pisac Market

Day 5: Head back to Cusco. Explore the city and attend chocolate making class.

Day 6: Fly back home

I felt like we got to thoroughly enjoy our days in the Sacred Valley. It was a nice blend of adventure with rest and relaxation.

Would I have liked an extra day or two? For sure. I would have probably added one extra night in both Urubamba and Cusco. If you can swing it, you should.

Where we stayed:

There are several amazing places to stay in the Sacred Valley. We stayed at an incredible resort in the village of Urubamba, called Tambo del Inka. I cannot think of anything they could have done better. The service was top notch during our 4 nights with them. We loved everything about it. Even the smell. In the evening, the lobby had live Peruvian flute music. The flames from the fireplace seemed to dance along.

The lobby at Tambo del Inka

Like most of the resorts in the Sacred Valley, the scenery around you is jaw-dropping. Incredible views from every window, including our room. The resort grounds were kept in pristine condition and added to the peaceful environment of Tambo del Inka.

The rooms were super comfortable and amenities very well-thought out. I wish I had better pictures to show you.

The boys’ favorite part of the hotel was the pool and jacuzzi areas though. The swimming pool was part inside and part outside. I joined them on our last evening because I just had to experience looking up at the stars from the pool.

You could actually spend a whole day here without leaving. My aunt actually did that on the day we went to Machu Picchu. She stayed behind and had a massage at the spa, worked out at the gym and a nice lunch at the restaurant.

Max enjoying the indoor/outdoor pool

As I mentioned earlier, we did head back into Cusco on the night before we left. This allowed us to explore the city and also be close to the airport for our early flight home. We stayed at the JW Marriott El Convento. The hotel was very nice and was excellently situated. Walking distance to everything.

To be honest though, we missed our friends and the serenity at Tambo del Inka a little bit. And my aunt, who left us to go back to Lima.

I am so glad we stayed in the Sacred Valley as our home base for exploring and visiting this gorgeous region of Peru with my aunt.

If you make plans to visit Machu Picchu, I would strongly recommend staying in the Sacred Valley. You will not regret it!

For more on our Peruvian adventures from last year, check out THIS post and THIS post.

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Posted by Ale & filed under Travel. This post has 4 comments.

One thing I’ve learned in recent years is to find people I trust to help me with my (many) weaknesses. Skincare is one of those areas for me. I am at an age where my lack of care and interest has caught up with me though. Many years of not protecting my skin from the sun left me with sun spots and hyper pigmentation that just doesn’t look great.

As I shared in THIS post last year, once I discovered Beth Casse and her team at Beyond Skin, I felt good about letting them guide me. Only of my favorite things about Beth and her team don’t make me feel guilty about my mistakes from the past. These ladies have a “leave it to us” attitude for people like me that I really like.

Lightening up sun damage

In the case of my skin’s hyperpigmentation, we’ve tried many topical approaches over the past year. While there was some improvement, Beth was honest with me that if I wanted to really see a difference, we would have to try something a little different. For me, she recommended the ZO medium-depth chemical peel followed up by a skin lightening treatment.

After explaining the whole process and why she felt I would be a good candidate for it, I was totally game for giving it a try and sharing my experience here on the blog. Just in case there are other people like me out there who are curious cats like I am.

The First Day

My appointment for the peel was fairly quick. Beth prepped my face and then applied the solution. She warned me that it would be uncomfortable for about 5 minutes. She was right about that. My skin felt a stinging sensation, but was made much more bearable with a fan.

After she applied some sort of other cream, the feeling went away. Beth and her team went through all the instructions and let me ask my gazillion questions, and I went on my way.

Below is a visual for the first day. My face was shiny and had a yellow tint from the whatever the ointment is that stops the peeling process. Nothing like taking close up shots of your face to make you feel self-conscious. Oh well, we’re all friends here, right?

My Experience with a Medium-Depth Chemical Peel

All greased up the afternoon of my medium depth peel at Beyond Skin.

Days 2 & 3

On the second and third day, I could tell something was happening, but I don’t think anyone else could tell. My skin felt tighter around my face. It was also darker, and my beloved sunspots got darker too. My skin was getting ready to peel, but nothing else.

In my opinion, these are days that you could totally go out and about and probably no one would notice anything was different.

Days 4 & 5

On the morning of the fourth day, something was finally up. I woke up with the skin around my nose peeling in a big sheet. I was relieved to see that it was just brand new healthy baby skin under there instead of the Freddy Kreuger look I had been envisioning.

If you have ever had a bad sunburn on your back or shoulders and started peeling, that is exactly what it was like. The next two days were definitely days I felt self-counscious talking to anyone. So I tried my hardest to avoid being out and about.

Below is a visual so you can get an idea of what it looked like. You can also see a little of how yucky the peeling around my nose was.

Days 6 & 7

The last two days were basically no sweat. I was in the home stretch. Most of the major peeling was over. All that was left was the bits around my hairline. Which did kind of look like dandruff, but I don’t think anyone looks that close to tell. Right?

Overall, the peel was much less scary than I had imagined it to be. What I was worried would be 1 week of my face falling off and scaring little children, was basically 2 days where it looked like I was peeling from sunburn.

After the Peel:

After the peel had done its thing, I went back to Beyond Skin and they put me on a one month brightening system that would start addressing the hyperpigmentation.

Unlike my typical low maintenance, minimal product self, I actually used the system they put me on. I think I followed through with this because I knew there was a purpose for it. The system I used was the ZO Multi-Therapy Hydroquinone System pictured below. For the next month, I just applied the product in the morning and evening.

Below are the before and after of the one month on the hydroquinone treatment.

As you can see, while my skin is nowhere near perfect, the hyperpigmentation did fade quite a bit of the spots in one month.

I am currently taking a break from the lightening treatment, but will probably be hopping back again in the next month or two to see if we can get some of the more stubborn spots.

In the meantime, I am trying my best to wear sunscreen every day. My goal is not to look 25 years old, but I also don’t need to be speeding up the aging process by being careless. Wish I would have come to this conclusion 15 years ago!

Q&A with Beth about Chemical Peels

If you are curious like I am, you might be wondering how and why these medium-depth chemical peels are so effective when combined with a therapeutic treatment. Beth was kind enough to answer some of these questions for us.

What is the difference between the light peels you do during a facial, versus a more intense peel like the ZO Peel?

Unfortunately, several small steps do not equal one big step when it comes to chemical peeling. Very light, monthly peels will help some with discoloration, decongest the skin, induce cellular turnover and improve skin texture.

But they will not help with fine lines… the peel is just not strong enough to reach the deeper layers necessary for improvement in fine lines.

Medium-depth peels will help sun damage, discoloration, and even fine lines and wrinkles. You will peel dramatically for 7-10 days.

What do you look for in a good chemical peel? What do you avoid?

I prefer using low percentages of multiple acids, it gives a better outcome with less irritation than a single acid at a higher strength.

What types of people make good candidates for a deeper chemical peel like this one?

Medium-depth chemical peels can be applied to the face, neck, and body and are highly effective in smoothing texture, improving superficial discoloration and mild photo-aging, eliminating fine wrinkles, and enhancing vitality of skin.

Medium-depth chemical peels are ideal for those who want more dramatic results than a superficial peel can offer but wish to avoid the risk and recovery time associated with deeper peels or laser.

Nothing controls melasma or hyperpigmentation better. Although there isn’t a permanent cure for the recurring sun-triggered or hormonal dark patches but chemical peels (paired with at-home bleaching creams, sunscreen and avoidance of sun exposure ) offer the best chance.

These peels may be applied safely on all skin types and are a great alternative to clients whose skin types are too high risk for laser such as those with olive skin to light brow to dark skin tones. Lasers may make lofty claims, yet they’re essentially trying to treat a light- and heat-sensitive condition with light and heat.

How long should someone go between peels like these?

There is moderate downtime associated with medium-depth chemical peels, and they can be applied up to four times per year.

Hopefully that helps you understand what the medium-depth chemical peel is all about like it helped me. I will certainly be returning to the team at Beyond Skin to help me on this journey to reverse the sun damaged skin on my face.

In the meantime, if you are local, and have skin issues of your own you may want to schedule a visit with Beth, Jonsie or Leslie at Beyond Skin.

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Posted by Ale & filed under Learning. This post has no comments yet.

Remember when I said I was going to challenge myself to update one room in our home every month? Murphy’s Law states as soon as you declare something on the internet, you must eat your words. You didn’t know that? Yeah, they changed Murphy’s Law recently. Well, better four months late than never, right? Today I want to share how we freshened up our small entry over the past few months.

This past summer I decided to focus on freshening up our small entry. I figured it would be fairly simple. The space measures about 6 feet by 8 feet and has only one wall to work with. Brightening the space and swapping out the art were my top priorities.

Before the Before:

Taking a quick look back, here is the entry before we moved in. Back then, the wall on the right had french doors leading to an office space. When we renovated before moving in, we closed up the doorway and opened it up from our master bedroom. Not only did this help create a dedicated entry, it also allowed for a more private office space which I needed working from home.

Before:

The next two pictures are from THIS post from a few years ago. They are a pretty good representation of what the entry looked like before the latest updates. The stripes really held me over for a long time. However, in my quest to lighten and brighten the space, I knew bright white shiplap could work nicely. As a side note, I am happy to see my photography skills have improved since these were taken.

After:

After four months of puttering around making one big change and several little changes, here’s where we are today:

The first step we took was hiring a talented local wood worker to do the shiplap this summer. I have been planning this change for at least 3 years now, so I knew exactly the look I wanted: smooth, nickel-sized grooves, and no nails showing. He did a great job.

Besides the shiplap, the rest of the changes were decorative. I swapped out the art for something more earthy. The cute little tray for our mail is from the Container Store. The frame, book crate (similar) and faux fiddle leaf fig plant are all from Target.

The indoor/outdoor rug is from Ballard Designs, but it will not be living here much longer because it actually looks better in our kitchen. I am still looking for something more antiqued or vintage in muted colors in the entry. Something like THIS. Just have to find one in the right size that can handle a lot of foot traffic.

You might notice we also painted the door and swapped out the hardware. While I do love the contrast of the gray door, the actual door itself is on its last leg. Don’t be surprised if I actually pull the trigger on a front door decision one of these days.

This shot gives you a better idea of how the entry relates to the kitchen and living space. Even though it is not grand, I love having a spot to welcome guests, stash our Little Free Library book donations and set down the mail.

And there you have it. The little updates in the entry made such a difference.

Despite my slow progress on this room, the concept of only focusing on one room at a time is still working for me. Up next is our living room. The good news is I’m pretty confident I will have some updates to share with you soon. I hope those words don’t come back to haunt me.

How about you? Have you been making any changes at your place? Do tell!

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Posted by Ale & filed under Learning. This post has 3 comments.

My Podcast Subscription List

Through an unfortunate turn of events, I recently had to start over with my podcast subscription list. I got a new phone, which promptly fell in a river within a few days. Sad, but par for the course for me. When I went to activate my old phone again, none of my old podcast subscriptions were saved. Which meant I had to start over.

Podcast subscriptions are the best because just like subscribing to your favorite magazine, as soon as a new podcast episode comes out, it goes on your “Unplayed” list.When I get a moment to listen to a new episode, I check the “Unplayed” list and all kinds of good content is waiting for me.

Re-subscribing to all my favorite podcasts was a bit of a blessing in disguise because I had to remember which podcasts I enjoy listening to most. The mediocre ones I kept skipping over or that just weren’t resonating any more got left by the wayside. What I was left with is about 20 awesome podcasts that reflect my interests.

I thought I would share them with you today. Some are new. Many you have seen me mention before. There’s even a handful still on here from my second ever blog post back in 2014.

Entrepreneurship & Business

1. How I Built This – One of my very favorites. The host Guy Raz is just so likable. Guy interviews founders of companies you know and love to get the scoop on how it all started for them. I pretty much love every single episode, but some of origin stories I would most recommend are: AirBnB, Spanx and Whole Foods.

2. Side Hustle School – If you like How I Built This, the odds are you will like Side Hustle School too. The host, Chris Gillebeau, shares a different short side hustle story every day. I just find it so fascinating to learn how & why people create the businesses they do. Chris also does a great job of recapping the take aways from each person he profiles so that his audience can use the knowledge for themselves. All in under 10 minutes.

3. The Tim Ferriss Show – If I could only subscribe to ONE podcast, this would be it. I feel like I owe Tim Ferriss so much. I have learned a ridiculous amount from listening to his interviews the past 3 years. Thankfully, Tim came out with THIS book last year in which he condenses some of the best of best takeaways from his very best podcast interviews.

My Podcast Subscription List - The Outside and In

Tim Ferriss

Branding & Marketing

4. How to be Remarkable with Tiffany Hahn & Erin Cassidy – This is a fairly new podcast on the scene, but I really enjoy the tactical and specific branding guidance from these two. Tiffany is a brand strategist and Erin is a graphic designer. Together they have an online course on branding and online business strategy. This podcast is an awesome extension of the work they do around helping people create authentic online brands.

5. Being Boss – Emily and Kathleen are two dynamo business owners that tackle different challenges to running and promoting your own online business. Emily has a web-design company and Kathleen has a branding company. Together, they have created a highly engaged community of self-employed business owners. Each week, they produce one full episode and one mini-episode covering subjects like How to Stay Focused and interviews with respected thought leaders like Brené Brown.

6. Awesome with Alison – Alison Faulkner is new to the podcasting scene but is a rockstar in the online world. Although she seems like just a happy-go-lucky girl from Provo, Utah that likes to dance a lot, she is actually smart business-minded woman with over 100K followers on Instagram alone. She clearly knows marketing and I enjoy learning from her.

Emily Thompson & Kathleen Shannon of Being Boss

Interiors

7. The Chris Loves Julia Podcast – A while back ago I posted about 3 Blogger Homes I Love, and one of them was Chris and Julia Marcum. In addition to their super popular blog which I enjoy reading, they have this awesome podcast too.

8. Young House Love Has a Podcast – One of my most read posts (to this day) is THIS one from a YHL Has a Podcast episode recap I did. It has been a while since I wrote that, but I am still listening and enjoying this fun podcast about making the best of your home with what you have.

9. How to Decorate – I admit the name of this podcast by Ballard Designs is not the most exciting, but I am so glad I gave it a chance. As I mentioned in my recent post about Ballard, they have really done a great job freshening up their brand. And that includes their blog & podcast.

Chris and Julia Marcum

Intentional & Simple Living

10. The Next Right Thing – I just subscribed to this one within the last 2 weeks or so based on a recommendation from a blog. After listening to just one episode, I felt calmer and centered. According to Emily Freeman, the host, she created each episode to: “Offer a short reflection, a simple action, and a benediction to help you create a little more space for your soul to breathe so you can discern your next right thing.” Ahhhh….

11. The Minimalists Podcast – You might recall the Minimalists are the duo that inspired me to play their 30-Day Minimalism Game at the start of the year. They dedicate each podcast episode to discuss their minimalist approach to an assortment of topics, for example: technology, holidays, budgeting, etc.

12. The Simple Show – I have not missed an episode of The Simple Show since I started listening several months ago. The creator/host of the podcast is Tsh Oxenrider and her podcast focuses on her 3 favorites things to chat about: books, travel and home. Needless to say, I have found my online soul-mate. I would totally be friends with her if I knew her.

The Simple Show’s Tsh Oxenreider

Self-Improvement

13. Happier in Hollywood – Happier in Hollywood is actually a spinoff podcast of Happier with Gretchen Rubin. Gretchen’s sister Liz, who is also on Happier with Gretchen Rubin, recently started this spin-off show with her writing partner. This is very similar to the other Happier podcast, but it has a bit more of a Hollywood slant to it.

14. The Lively Show – The Lively Show has been on my podcast list for several years now. The show has evolved over the past year or so from interviews & conversations with creatives to a much more “woo-woo” show. Topics like flow, the “Law of Attraction” and metaphysics are pretty much the norm now. Regardless of the change of direction, I still enjoy listening and learning about all this new to me stuff!

15. Happier with Gretchen Rubin – This is another one I listen to the very day it comes out. Gretchen is the author of one my favorite non-fiction books of all time, “Better than Before”, which is all about establishing positive habits based on your temperment. Gretchen’s podcast continues the theme and addresses happiness hacks and roadblocks. Lots of food for thought here!

Happier podcast’s Elizabeth Craft & Gretchen Rubin

And one health podcast for good measure:

Balanced Bites – I didn’t include this one one the original list because it didn’t really fit into the categories or the graphic (OCD, I know). But that doesn’t mean I don’t love it and listen religiously. This is actually the very first podcast I ever started listening to. My gateway podcast you could say 🙂 Although I do listen to other nutrition and health podcasts sporadically, this is the one I never miss. I have listened to pretty every one of their 300+ shows.

Welp. There you have it. I feel like I have just introduced you to some of my best friends. I know it sounds weird, but these are people that I learn from, laugh with and check in with at least once a week. They have challenged me to think differently and expand my mind in countless ways. And it all started with clicking on that little “Subscribe” button.

Are you a podcast lover too? Which podcasts do you love and subscribe to? Do we have any in common? Let me know!

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Posted by Ale & filed under Podcasts. This post has 5 comments.

Have you checked out Ballard Designs recently? In the past few months I have been working on several styling and decorating projects that have been keeping me busy sourcing products. Time and time again, I find myself on Ballard’s site.

I am blown away with how this brand has evolved through the years. Do you remember when their catalog was filled with roosters and harlequin? I do. You used to have to dig hard to find the gems in their catalogs. Not so any more.

Although I would still categorize Ballard Designs as traditional furnishings, their products are fresh, clean-lined, and textured. In my opinion, they are elevating traditional better than anyone else in this price range. No more stuffy grandma pieces here.

Below are ten items that I have recently recommended to my styling clients. These are the pieces that keep catching my eye over and over as I search for unique but classic furniture and accessories.

10 Ballard Designs Favorites

1. Arbre de la Vie Art – If you have a spot in your home to put a large piece of art, I would definitely recommend you go for it. Ballard has dozens of options, but this one is my favorite. I love the graphic design juxtaposed with the aged paper cutouts. I saw this piece in the store and could not believe the quality for the price. No matter which artwork catches your eye, go big for the most impact!

2. La Jolla Woven Tray -This tray is the perfect piece to break up a large solid surface. For example, a large black coffee table or even a glass coffee table. You will hear me say it again and again, texture is the name of the game when you want to create a cozy living space.

3. Ancient Grecian Vases – When you see the words “ancient” and “Grecian”, the last thing that comes to mind is modern. But that is exactly the impact these gorgeous vessels have. Look at the photo of the mantel above. The vases are the stars of the show, right?

4. Jute Urn – Looking for something interesting to style your coffee table or entry console with? This jute urn is the perfect accessory. Not only are the lines simple and clean, but it is functional too. And of course it adds texture which is always welcome & needed.

5. Petite Morning Light Art – Ballard has bumped up their art game significantly. In addition to large scale pieces (like the Arbre de la Vie above), they are now carrying a bunch of smaller scale framed pieces like this one. The little green landscape would work perfectly as part of a gallery or even layered into a bookcase.

6. Hartwell Apartment Sofa – The Hartwell is probably the most modern sofa that Ballard carries. The arms are straight and don’t roll out which often adds bulk. In addition, you can customize it with dozens of different fabric options which you can try out online. It’s so much fun to see the personality of a piece change with fabric alone.

7. Sheffield 8-Light Chandelier – If you are looking for a chandelier with large impact that does not block views, the Sheffield is the perfect choice. The scale of this light is ideal for a rectangular dining table. The lines are clean yet traditional.

8. Bailey Woven Chair – Oh man I really want this chair. This is the perfect solution for someone who wants to mix and match their dining table and chairs. Although caned and woven chairs are not new, this silhouette is fresh and modern.

9. Marina Indoor Outdoor Rug – The Marina rug always catches my attention when I search for weather proof rugs. The pattern seems so happy amongst a see of trellis. I ordered the mocha color for our house. And I also included the midnight one in a client’s beach house bunk room design (below).

10. Buffalo Check Lamp Shade – There is no denying buffalo check is definitely on trend right now. However, we usually see it on pillows and upholstery. But not on lamp shades. Pop one of these on your lamp and see how much it changes the look of your room.

Source

Have you noticed Ballard Designs getting better each year too? What Ballard pieces are you loving lately?

Do you need help sourcing “just the right thing” for your home? If so, feel free to get in CONTACT with me about working together to find what you’re looking for.

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Posted by Ale & filed under Home Decor. This post has no comments yet.

5 Days in Peru’s Sacred Valley

Machu Picchu

Flying into Cusco

Sacred Valley: A Lay of the Land

Our itinerary:

Where we stayed:

My Experience with a Medium-Depth Chemical Peel

Lightening up sun damage

The First Day

Days 2 & 3

Days 4 & 5

Days 6 & 7

After the Peel:

Q&A with Beth about Chemical Peels

Summer Home Project: Freshening Up Our Entry

Before the Before:

Before:

After:

My Podcast Subscription List

My Podcast Subscription List

Entrepreneurship & Business

Branding & Marketing

Interiors

Intentional & Simple Living

Self-Improvement

And one health podcast for good measure:

Ten Ballard Designs Favorites

10 Ballard Designs Favorites

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