Visitor Guide to Tahoe


One of the most frequent questions I get is what to do and where to eat when visiting Tahoe so I thought it was high-time I put a visitor guide together.

We live in South Lake Tahoe, though I am familiar with some other areas around the lake {email me or leave a question in the comment area if you have any questions specific to the north shore, like Incline Village, Tahoe City or Truckee}.

Here are my favorite things in South Lake Tahoe, which is focused mainly on the summer months:


SEE/DO:


Emerald Bay is a must for first-time visitors. 


 Then hike up to Cascade Falls that can be accessed through the campground behind the viewpoint of Emerald Bay.

Take the Heavenly Tram up for the views.


Go to the beach!
We love Baldwin and Pope Beach. Both have a parking fee but you can always park on the highway and bike/walk in.   Depending on where you stay, Zephyr Cove Resort is on the opposite end of town and is always fun "scene" with beach-side service.



The casinos are fun for nighttime--there's always a concert, stand-up comedy, etc going on. And it's quite the scene...something you wouldn't expect to find in a small mountain town.  Ciera Steakhouse at Montbleu is super fun and swanky if you're looking for a more upscale steak and martini dinner.

EAT:

Here are some of my favorite spots:


Freshies (must sit on the rooftop during the summer): Love their tacos and try the Pliny the Elder on tap...it's a cult favorite.


Brook's Bar at Edgewood: Fabulous views of the lake and golf course (this is close to where you're staying).

Azul at Heavenly Village...sit outside...they usually have live music and it's a fun scene:(this is in Heavenly Village which is where your hotel is).

Beacon, which is down by the beaches and on the lake, so great views. Grab a rum runner. (Would be good if you went after your hike to Cascade Falls).

Artemis at Ski Run (sit outside!): Their fries are the best and they make their pita bread on-site. I love their chicken lettuce wraps! They have a great breakfast too.


Revive: A cute new coffee and wine bar with fabulous outdoor seating and a great charcuterie platter!

STAY:


I've talked about the Coachman Hotel, which is a fun hipster spot with great coffee and a cool little lounge + outdoor area with cornhole, etc.

Basecamp Hotel--similar fun vibe but more of an outdoor theme.  Check out Ethan's 6 month photoshoot here for more photos!

If you want to stay somewhere on the lake, check out Beach Retreat.

And coming in 2017, Edgewood {where we got married!} is opening their lodge, which is sure to be absolutely amazing!

Don't forget, winter is a whole new world, so while some of the above applies, it is still worth a return visit!


Have you visited South Lake Tahoe before?  What's your favorite thing to do?

xo natasha

Best of #NSALE Workout Gear



I don't know about you, but new workout gear always helps to keep me motivated.  I LOVE Zella's workout line and have these leggings on my wishlist.  As the weather cools down in fall, I know I'll be happy to have any of the tops above.

Have you shopped the sale yet?  Check out my other picks below:


xo natasha

Outdoor Entertaining Must Haves



If you're anything like us, you savor every minute of summer and get outside as much as possible!  We're constantly dining al fresco or hitting the beach all season long.

Above are so much picks {and they're ALL on sale!} to kickstart any outdoor soirée.  We especially need that wagon for the beach and I definitely have my eye on those serving platters, along with that cozy blanket to keep things going after the sun has gone down.

I'll leave you with my favorite summer recipe...


Summer caprese salad!  All you need is heirloom tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil, sea salt + pepper, and olive oil + balsamic vinegar.  It's SO good!  And cut up a loaf of baguette to soak up the left over oil.

Cheers to summer entertaining!

xo natasha

My Picks for the #NSALE + What I Bought


The sale is finally open ton the public and I'm thrilled that Norstrom has restocked many of the items that I had on my wish list!  So far I've bought the leggings, OTK boots, this blouse, and this blouse {both of which will go from work to weekend}...but I'm keeping my eye on some designer denim and some of the other items I have listed above.

Have you shopped the sale yet?

I hope you're having a great weekend!

xo natasha

L'il Critters™ Gummy Vites™ to the Rescue!


If your toddler is anything like mine, then you know how difficult it is to get him or her to eat properly. If you struggle with the same problem, then know that you are not alone!  I am constantly worried about whether my son is getting enough veggies or nutrients...but if I'm being honest, there are a lot of days where mac + cheese comes to the rescue.  Between working full-time, and balancing two kiddos, life can get pretty hectic!  Of course, with Ethan growing and learning so much every day, it goes without saying that a balanced diet is crucial for creating healthy habits and setting him up for success.


One thing Ethan has always loved is gummy treats--but of course, rewarding a child with candy has its own set of problems, which is why I was super happy to discover L’il Critters™ Gummy Vites™. They look and taste like his beloved gummy treats, which is great for my 3-year-old, but they deliver essential nutrients--which is great for me!  And less mommy guilt and stress is always a good thing too.

  
L’il Critters™ Gummy Vites™ are gluten-free, and are made with natural fruit flavors and colors derived from fruits, vegetables and plants. This great tasting kid’s gummy vitamin helps support your children’s healthy habits and while satisfying their palettes.
Another fun fact: They meet the recommended daily intake of fruits & vegetables, moderately active girls and boys would need to eat 1.5 cups of fruit and 2-3 cups of vegetables a day*...which is HUGE!  I know sometimes we simply can’t eat all the fruits and vegetables we need to in a single day. So it is great that L’il Critters™ Gummy Vites™ can help us meet the recommended daily intake of key vitamins.
They're available at most major retailers like Target, Costco, Walmart, and Walgreens.  More information can be found here.


L’il Critters™ Gummy Vites™ have become a fun part of our morning routine.  Ethan is more eager to eat his breakfast and get into his car seat knowing that he gets "rewarded" with his gummies.  Meanwhile, I'm just happy we're ensuring that he is getting the right nutrients.  It's really a win-win overall!
Do you have the same worry as I do?  If so, let me know how you're overcoming the nutrition battle in the comments below for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.
This is a sponsored post for which I’ve received free product and/or compensation, but the opinions are 100% my own.
 *SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fruits and Veggies More Matters® April 2016. Available here.
Thanks and good luck!
xo natasha
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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
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This sweepstakes runs from 7/22/2016 - 12/31/2016
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#NSALE for Baby



Did you know that the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is open to the public starting TOMORROW?  Yes!!!

Did you also know that there are tons of cute baby items that are part of the sale?  Above here are my favorite picks!

Pssst...to see my other favorite picks, check out my Favorites page!

Have you shopped the sale yet?!

xo natasha

Ethan Bounces into 4!


A couple weeks ago we celebrated Ethan's 4th birthday with a giant bounce house, a visit from the ice cream truck, and of course...lots of friends!

I have really enjoyed planning summer birthday parties for Ethan (probably because I am a winter baby!) and we've always had them in our backyard.  I think there will come a time where his parties will be relegated to the beach, but for now, I'm relishing in the joys of a backyard bash.


Ethan asked for a bounce house and I was so happy with how it turned out.  We have a sizable yard and it was fun to watch all the kiddos bounce around like crazy!


Of course, we looked to Minted for the birthday invitations!  The bounce house theme was easy to carry out with their darling invitation and this fun bunting banner.  We also got some fun goodies from Amazon of all places, that helped pull the theme together!

Check it out!


All in all it was a great birthday!!

xo natasha

#NSALE Anniversary Early Access Picks


It's that time of year again...theee sale of all sales, The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here!  Actually, the early access sale is here, which means those that have a card get exclusive, early access.  The sale opens to the public on July 22nd.  Don't have a card?  No worries...you can apply right here!  This is the sale where you can preview all of the upcoming fall fashion and buy all the essentials on sale!

Below are some of my favorite picks...

Joie Pippi Sandal $285 now $169.90

 FRAME denim $245 now $163.90
 Halogen Flats $89.95 now $59.90
 Elizabeth and James Crossbody Bag $545 now $298.90
 Halogen OTK Boots $189.95 now $109.90
 Vince Cashmere Car Coat $495 now $329.90
 Illesteva Sunglasses $290 now $173.90
Rag & Bone Bootie $495 now $329.90
 Bobbi Brown Blush Set $92 value, now $50

Are you shopping the sale early?!  I'd love to know what you plan to buy!

xo natasha

Birthday Gift Exchange


Ethan is finally at the age where he really enjoys special occasions...probably because he thoroughly enjoys the art of opening gifts!  ;)  So naturally, when we were invited to be part of a gift exchange, we didn't hesitate to participate!

Ethan received a gift from the adorable Maddie of Just Another Day in Paradise and was super excited to open it!


Ethan loves jelly snacks so this was definitely a good start!


Ethan also loves anything and everything tractors, so this Chug, Chug Tractor book was a big hit!  Ethan especially loved the sounds when he opened a flap to reveal a surprise.


Finally, since we saw Finding Dory on Ethan's birthday, it only seemed appropriate that we were gifted this adorable Finding Dory watercolor book set...Ethan loves it!


Thanks so much to Maddie {and Charlie!} for our gift!  And a special thanks to Liz for setting this up!  To see the rest of the gift exchange {and get some fun gift ideas!}, check out the rest of the participants below:

Ashley and Waverly // Being Brickner
Elizabeth and Mason // Chasin' Mason
Laureen and Tyson // Chateau Deveau
Brittany, Charlie, and Maddie // Just Another Day in Paradise
Desiree and Julia // Macke Monologues
Natasha and Ethan // Schue Love
Sarah and Brantley // Seeing All Sides
Vanessa and Arden // Sunflower State of Mind
Julia and Myles // The Everyday Momma
Traci and Charli // The Hallway Life
Amanda and Lily // Tickled Pink
Laura and Liam // tiny toes, little nose
Whitney and Brielana // Work It Mommy

xo natasha

Backyard Bounce House Party



We're celebrating Ethan's FOUR year old birthday party tomorrow and I wanted to do something fun in our backyard, since I figure we will likely start to do beach parties in the future.  I thought Ethan and his buddies would really enjoy a bounce house and since we have the space, I thought...why not?  You only turn four once, right?!  ;)

We ordered the sweetest invitations from Minted, which really helped to set the tone with the fun colors!  I went ahead and ordered a mini ball pit for Wyatt and his crew...you can order additional balls here.  And to round out the theme, I ordered those mini bouncey balls and candy buttons as party favors {I figured they were safer than gum balls!}.

For attire, I love this colorful t-shirt and star shorts...and since everyone will be completely worn out and ready for bed post-party, these weenie dog pajamas are the perfect fit!

Last...the food!  I found these darling hot dog wrappers and accessories on Amazon and we plan to serve hot dogs and then have the neighborhood ice cream truck stop by...I cannot wait for Ethan to see it!

I hope Ethan loves it...be sure to follow along on Instagram and Snapchat {schuelove} to see the party unfold!

xo natasha

Lake Michigan 2016

I've said it many times before, but Lake Michigan is truly my happy place. We traveled there in June for my grandmother's 90th birthday party and it was SO much fun seeing all of my family. Ethan had a blast rough housing with his cousins and keeps asking when he can see his "Mich cuzzies" again. It completely warms my heart.

Get ready for loads of photos...

The view from my grandma's back deck is one of the best!
My grandpa would be so happy seeing everyone play ball in the front yard!
 Auntie Heather!
The first night, we went to a new brewery called Fetch.  It was a super cute place, which used to be an old bank!

They had a pretty penny floor in their old safe.
 Lots of men on my side of the family!

Ethan and I on a walk by the old bayou.
 We really lucked out with the weather this trip...we got to go to the beach everyday!


Ethan with his "cuzzie"

My cute twin brothers.
The whole fam!
 My grandma...isn't she beautiful?

We had the best time...though the flights were long and exhausting {traveling with two crazy boys is quite the feat!} but it was 100% worth it.  We can't wait to go back!

xo natasha