I had never been to Los Angeles or let alone California before, so when I had the opportunity to go with Erin Condren I was so excited! I was only going to be with Erin Condren for Thursday and Friday but decided to extend my stay a few days so I could do some exploring on my own.
Thursday
I got in on Thursday and Ubered from LAX to my hotel. We were staying Hotel Hermosa which was the quaint and totally Instagrammable boutique hotel not far from the beach and only about 15 minutes from the airport. When I extended my stay I was a little nervous about the price but it was completely reasonable at about $200 a night.
After getting in and freshening up I headed out to Santa Monica pier with Tori from The STORIbook. We were both starving so we popped in the first place we saw on the pier, which was The Lobster. We were a little nervous because it felt a little tourist-y but it was SO delicious and had the BEST view of the pier. I order the Westside 75 to drink, a fun take on a French 75, and had the half chicken for lunch.
We walked around the pier took quite a few photos and then strolled along the beach a little bit. On the way back, to our hotel, we had out Uber driver swing by Venice Beach so I could get a feel for the city.
Once we got back to the hotel we rested and freshened up again before dinner. At this point, Kendall from My Styled Life had come into the city and popped in my room to say hey and give me the sweetest goodie bag.
We all headed to dinner at The Bottle Inn which is actually one of Erin Condren’s husband’s restaurants. Dinner was filled with lots of wine and lots of carbs… I got the pesto gnocchi and the cheesecake and was completely stuffed, in the best way possible!
The time change was throwing me off a little, so we just went to the hotel after dinner and crashed.
Friday
Friday was jam-packed and started bright and early! We started the morning off with a quick breakfast at Martha’s 22nd Street Grill, another one of Erin’s husband’s restaurants.
From there, we went to visit the Erin Condren creative office and lobby shop. We started with a full tour of the space and in true Erin Condren fashion, it was colorful and creative. I loved hearing all of the behind the scenes and back story from Erin.
After that, Kendall and I got to sit down with Erin herself and get to know her a little better. Check out what kind of planner she uses and her full planning system here.
Next on the agenda, was a photo shoot. If there is one thing I love it’s a photo shoot! We started with some headshots and then added in fun props and Erin Condren product.
Before we wrapped up at the office we shopped around in the Erin Condren lobby shop! Any planner addict heaven! I had my eye on the new Amy Tangerine clear stamp collection.
From there, we headed to Manhattan Beach for a more lifestyle vibe and of course outfit change. I had so much fun playing model and getting some amazing shots on the beach.
I told you it was a jam-packed today! After the photo shoot, we met up with some more of the Erin Condren marketing team members at True Food Kitchen for lunch. Now, most of y’all know I am a picky eater so looking at the menu gave me a little bit of anxiety. I ended up ordering the Kale Salad which was surprisingly really good! I felt SO LA! Lol
Once lunch was over we went back to the hotel from another outfit change. This time athleisure! We made our way to Terranea (quite possibly the best-kept secret in LA – more to come on this in tomorrow’s blog post). We did some hiking and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
On the way to Terranea, we made our Uber driver pull over for a super speedy photo shoot with this gorgeous lighthouse!
At Terranea, we changed into nicer clothes and enjoyed some dinner and drink, and of course great conversation. We ate at Nelson’s which is on the Terranea property. I got the steak and parmesan fried with a giant soft pretzel and cheese for an appetizer. YUM!!
That concluded my time with Erin Condren and the team and it was truly unforgettable!
Saturday
I spent the whole day at Disneyland and California Adventure and LOVED every single minute of it. Read more about my experience here.
Sunday
To be honest, I was completely pooped after a busy three days. I slept in that morning and slowly got ready. My flight wasn’t until 2 and I didn’t have to check out until 11, so I headed down to Hermosa Beach which was only about 5 minutes away and enjoyed some time on my own.
I indulged in a latte and croissant at Gum Tree which was the cutest local place off of the beach. I walked down to the end of the pier and soaked up all of God’s creation. I then strolled in and out of local shops until I found the perfect souvenir for Jared.
This was the perfect way to end my time in California. I feel like I did so much while I was there and still saw so little. I’m hoping to go back again with Jared and explore downtown and more of the iconic tourist sites.
The Winners of the Instagram Erin Condren Giveaway are…
Pink Notebook and Planny Pack Bundle: Jenna Confer @jenna_confer
2019 Wall Calendar Pack Bundle: Kristen Frampton @klframpton
Navy Notebook and Geo Planny Pack Bundle: Carly Clark @mrs.clark127
Please email me at angela@thethriftypineapple.com to claim your prize!
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