We have been dreaming of a vacation for so long! We had quite a few busy months recently and wanted to take a little mini trip together to soak up some sun, spend some quality family time, and just unwind, well as much as you can with kids (haha). It was also my hubby’s birthday so I thought a trip to Palm Desert would be the perfect little trip to celebrate him! Here is a little recap of our 36 Hours in Palm Desert!

I used to go all the time to Palm Desert as a kid and loved it! It’s just a 1.5-2 hour trip from San Diego and it feels like you’ve gone to a whole new state! I have so many memories of swimming by the pool, going shopping on El Paseo and riding bikes along the palm tree lined streets! It’s honestly one of my favorite places!

We left San Diego early Sunday morning and it was just starting to drizzle and was in the low 60’s. But once we got to Palm Desert, it was beautiful, sunny and in the 80s and 90s, with a cool breeze! The weather was perfect! I love the desert, especially in the Spring months because the weather is just so beautiful! And those desert sunsets are so majestic with its pink skies framing the mountains.

I thought I would where to stay, what to do, and what to pack for a fun little weekend getaway! I had so many people DM me on Instagram asking questions so I thought this post would be super helpful!

Where to Stay

For this trip, I decided to book the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage! It’s one of my favorite resorts, not only because the hotel and grounds are amazing but it is centrally located just minutes from all the fun things Palm Desert has to offer!

The property itself is just a few miles from Palm Springs, and is surrounded by beautiful palm trees and the backdrop of mountains. It really is so picturesque and they have done such a great job at maintaining the grounds. I was obsessed with the numerous colors of the bougainvillea and how beautiful all of the landscaping was! I wish I took more pictures!!

Splashtopia

The main reason we chose this hotel was for Splashtopia! It’s basically a mini waterpark on-site for both adults and kids. You have a 425-foot lazy river, two 100-foot waterslides, a splash pad, a sandy beach area for kids to play in, and a little splash pad with fountains, sprinklers and different water features! I mean you could literally spend all day here and not leave the hotel! There is also a family pool connected, as well an adult pool near the entrance of the resort.

We went swimming everyday and loved being in the lazy river! It was so fun to float around, take breaks to zoom down the water slide (almost lost my top on that one) and soak up some much needed Vitamin D.

Because of COVID, the jacuzzis, saunas and steam rooms are temporarily closed and pool capacity is limited! We actually got wristbands for each day and because the resort wasn’t too busy when we went we were able to get the wristbands for the 9-1pm sessions and the 2-6pm sessions so it worked out for us!

We had so much fun here and it’s so fun for both kids and adults!

Other Amenities

The resort also has five restaurants on site, including a coffee shop, 27 holes of championship golf, a 24 hour fitness center with Pelotons (you better believe I took advantage of that) and a 20,000 square foot European Spa! It truly has everything you need!

One of my favorite things about the resort was the birds! You could hear them chirping so loudly at night around sunset! It was so beautiful to listen too! I would sit outside on our patio and listen to them! Such a sweet sound!

I highly recommend staying here for a fun-filled weekend!

Things to Do

LIVING DESERT ZOO AND GARDENS: There are so many things to do, but if you are going for just a little weekend getaway, I highly-recommend visiting the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. I’ve gone quite a few times and I just love coming here. You can feed a giraffe, ride camels, visit the different exhibits and enjoy some fun shows! My girls love coming here and they are always adding new attractions! You need to make reservations but it is a fun activity for both kids and adults!

EL PASEO SHOPPING DISTRICT: If you are looking for some great shopping, look no further than the Shops on El Paseo. This is the prime shopping area, nestled right at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains, where you can shop name brand boutiques, ranging from high end luxury to casual finds! It’s so pretty with the palm tree lined streets and the different art galleries dotting the streets! Definitely a must visit if you want to spend some time shopping!

CABAZON DINOSAUR MUSEUM: This is such a fun, quick little stop to make on the way to Palm Desert or on the way back home! We stopped on our way home and my girls loved it! It was sooooo windy though so we ran inside to the gift shop (located inside the pink dinosaur), took some pics and ran back inside! It was super fun though and if you want more of an experience, there is a dinosaur trail where you can dig for dinosaurs digs and fossils or climb into the mouth of a T. Rex. You can also mine for gold! It’s a fun little pit stop if your kiddos are getting restless! Just be sure to bring a sweater because that part of town can definitely be windy!

One thing I love doing when I go to a new city is trying a local coffee shop! We were just down the street from the Rancho Mirage Koffi location, which has an onsite roasting room, so we made sure to pick up my favorite Honey Vanilla Oat Milk Latte! It was so good and the smell of the freshly roasted coffee is just amazing!

There is so much to see in Palm Springs/Desert Area! From hiking and riding in the sand dunes to visiting art galleries and shopping, you will definitely not run out of activities!

What to Pack

Depending on what you do while you are in Palm Desert, you really don’t need to pack too much! I like to keep it simple, throwing in a couple of bathing suits, cover-ups and easy dresses! Be sure to protect your face from the sun and bring a long a hat or two! I always have my go to Brixton Hat, but am eyeing this one too! You can easily dress an outfit up with a little block heel or espadrille platform! And if you go to the zoo or do something more active, I love this high neck tank (such a great price), this denim romper or these cute paperbag shorts! Pack it all in this weekend bag and you are good to go!

Shop The Looks Below

Hopefully this post helps you plan a fun little getaway! Whether you have 36 Hours in Palm Desert or a whole week, there is so much to do and see! If you haven’t been to the desert, it is definitely a must visit! And please don’t hesitate to message us or leave a comment if you have any questions or need any recommendations! We are happy to help!

And don’t forget to check out our last blog post about the Sephora sale, you can definitely stock up on all your beauty and skincare faves!

Hope you have a great week!

xoxoxo,

kari

Ps. If you make a purchase from one of our links we make a small commission and it means so much to us! Mahalo for the support!

The post 36 Hours in Palm Desert appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.

I’m sure most of you have heard of the Liketoknow.it App! It’s an awesome app that makes shopping your favorite influencer’s style picks right at your fingertips! You get access to shop million of products styled by and on real people! We love this app and it really helps us try new styles that catch our eye! Every year, they have a LTK Spring sale, an in-app exclusive sale event where you can get major discounts at select retailers! It’s a great sale so we thought we would share everything you need to know about the LTK Spring Sale!

LTK Spring Sale Basics

This is a 3-day event from April 9th through April 11th! The sales are only accessible through the app, where you will receive a discount code for each retailer. It’s the perfect time to refresh your spring wardrobe, stock up on your favorites and try new products, all at a great price! It’s great because the sale is in addition to whatever sale each retailer is currently having and you can stack promo codes! You really can save so much money!

Here are this year’s participating retailers and their discounts!

• Abercrombie & Fitch – 25% off sitewide (stackable on any promos)
• Buddy Love- 25% off sitewide
• Colleen Rothschild- 25% off sitewide
• Express- $10 off $100 (stackable on any promos)
• Elemis – 20% off sitewide
• It Cosmetics- 35% off sitewide
• Madewell- $25 off $125 (stackable on any promos)
• Quay – 20% off sitewide
• The Styled Collection – 45% off sitewide
• Tarte- 25% off + free shipping
• Victoria Emerson- BOGO

To make it easier to shop, we will be sharing our favorites from the sale, so you can see them all on our liketowknow it profile and save them to your Wishlist prior to the sale.

If you don’t have the LiketoKnow.it App, here is how you can download!

1. Download the LIKEtoKNOW.it app
2. Follow us (sunkissedandgrateful)
3. All products from the sale will be on our profile with a red tab
4. Tap on the products for additional details and it will pull up a unique discount code for you to use
5. Copy the promo code then click ‘Shop Now’
6. Paste the promo code when checking out

Abercrombie Spring Finds

Abercrombie has so many new spring items. If you’re like me, you’re probably tired of everything in your closet, so at 25% off during the LTK Spring Sale, I think we should all treat ourselves to something 🙂 Here are some of my favorite Abercrombie Spring finds.

ABERCROMBIE SPRING TOPS

Abercrombie Spring Tops— These tops really stood out to me. I’m really into the square neckline, buttons, ruffle accents, neutral tones and textured materials of these tops. I tend to wear more loose fitted tops but lately have been wanting to add a little variety to my closet.

Do you stick to the styles you like or love to try new styles? I really admire people who can try all the styles and look so cool in whatever they wear. Working towards that haha. I plan on getting a top or two during the LTK Spring Sale!

Shop Abercrombie tops below!

ABERCROMBIE SPRING DRESSES & SKIRTS

Abercrombie Spring Dresses and Skirts—I love dresses and skirts. Something about wearing a dress makes me feel automatically pretty 🙂 Abercrombie has so many dresses and skirts that are super cute on all body types. I do love all the 90s inspired pieces and they take me back to my middle school days!!!

I love the the floral dresses and skirts in their spring line, different silhouettes like the wrap dress/ruched skirt, and the subtle sexiness of the high slits and peekaboo knot! So many good spring dresses & skirts at Abercrombie which makes me so excited for the LTK Spring Sale!!

Shop Abercrombie spring dresses & skirts below!

ABERCROMBIE SPRING SHORTS & PANTS

Abercrombie Spring Shorts & Pants—I live in shorts! These Abercrombie shorts are my go-to bc not only are the super flattering but with all their frequent sales, you can get them at such a good price! I love their curve love mom jean shorts. Since I do have curvy thighs most shorts are tight around the thighs but these are so flattering!

I haven’t purchased a pair of jeans in so long haha but their boot cut jeans look so good—comfy and cool. I’m super excited to try these black joggers and knitted lounge pants.

Shop Abercrombie shorts & pants below!

ABERCROMBIE BODYSUITS

Abercrombie bodysuits—My love for bodysuits started with Abercrombie! If you haven’t added bodysuit to your wardrobe, you’re missing our! I know they seem super uncomfortable and unflattering, but they are actually super comfortable and can be worn with so many pieces! During the LTK Spring Sale, all of Abercrombie’s bodysuits will be on sale. I love the cut outs, ribbed material, scuba neck, Henley, 90s and halter! Seriously so many good ones!!

Shop Abercrombie bodysuits below!

IT Cosmetics

These are the best selling IT Cosmetics products. With each having hundred and some even thousands of positive reviews, they have to be amazing! With a 35% price cut during the LTK Spring Sale, now is the time to try something or stock up on your favorites.

For the eyes—IT Cosmetics collabed with Dry Bar and created a mascara. As someone who is always looking for a better mascara, this collab is exciting! And every make up bag needs a good brow pencil!

For the face—within the last year I started wearing foundation. IT’s CC cream and foundation have amazing reviews for being lightweight with great coverage.

For aging—Aside from makeup IT also has a popular skin care line. They’re top sellers are the anti-aging moisturizer and anti-aging night cream. Although I try my best to accept everything that comes with aging, I still wanna do what I can do to delay lines, wrinkles and all that other lovely stuff haha.

Shop It Cosmetics best sellers below!

Quay Australia

Sunglasses are a spring and summer must have! I’m so glad that Quay is included in the LTK Spring Sale! 20% off of all shades!! With so many style, frame colors and lens colors, there is a pair of sunglasses for every face shape and complexion. I really like a gold frame and the classic black too! There are also options for the men in your life.

Shop Quay sunglasses below!

If you haven’t invested in some blue light glasses, check out this post to learn about the benefits of protecting your eyes from blue light! I keep mine next to my bed so I can remember to use them when I work at night. I really do feel the difference in my eyes when I don’t wear them.

During the LTK sale, Quay blue light glasses will be 20% off! They are lightweight and cute! I especially love the clear aviators and black circled frames!

Shop Quay blue light glasses below!

Madewell Spring Finds

Madewell is offering Madewell $25 off $125 (stackable on any promos) during this sale! I love that you can stack promos so you can really get some great prices! I’m definitely going to take advantage of the sale to order some new jeans, headbands and stock up on my favorite Madewell Whisper Ribbed Tees and Tanks! I have them in four colors but I just saw that there are more! It’s such a great basic to have! I styled the white tee with my Madewell skirt in this post, just adding a knot for a little flair! I wear a size small in these shirts and think they run a little big!

I’ve also been eying this sweater tank the last few weeks! I love the neckline and I can dress it up or down! It’s pretty versatile but would look great paired with these denim shorts or my favorite Perfect Vintage denim! If you order the Perfect Vintage jeans, size down though! I feel like they run a size big!

I love this tie-shoulder dress too! The colors are rich and vibrant and it’s an easy piece to just throw on! Add a hat or headband and you have an easy look that looks put together!

Since I spend a lot of time at the beach, I want to get some more coverups! I loved this romper cover-up! It comes in a few colors too!

Shop Our Madewell Favorites Below

Elemis Best Sellers

I am actually super excited about this sale! One of our favorite bloggers, Andee Layne, often uses Elemis products and her skin is ahhhhhh-mazing!!! She uses the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads and has nothing but amazing things to say! They exfoliate your skin, help with dark spots and pores and work on correcting uneven skin tones! I’ve actually been struggling with my skin texture lately so I am going to add these into my skin care routine! They are more gentle, so it is perfect for those with sensitive skin!

I have also heard amazing reviews about the cleansing balms! They are perfect for dissolving make-up, daily grime and pollutants, leaving your skin cleansed, nourished and renewed! I’m going to pick up the fragrance free version as my skin is sensitive, but this one is a best-seller and I see it everywhere!

I’ll also be re-purchasing the Peptide Eye Recovery Cream! I’ve been using it for a while now and I definitely see a difference in the darkness of my under-eyes if I use it consistently! It wakes up my eyes and helps reduce puffiness! This tired momma needs all the help I can get!

Be sure to take advantage of 20% off sitewide during the sale! It’s a great time to invest in your skincare!

Shop Elemis Best-Sellers Below

Tarte Favorites

Tarte is offering 25% off + free shipping during the sale! Such a great deal because a lot of their products are already pretty affordable! Unfortunately, the ever popular Shape Tape Concealer is excluded from the sale, but there are so many other great options to enjoy! I am a big fan of these Quench Lip Rescue balms! I love the colors Opal and Nude! They are super hydrating, give a slight, subtle color and are made from vegan ingredients!

I’m also a big fan of the Amazonian clay 12-hour blush! I have it in a few different colors, including exposed (a nude pink), peaceful (a soft nude peach)and risque (a peachy-nude)! Pair it with the Amazonian clay matte waterproof bronzer for a soft, glowy look that lasts all day!

After seeing such positive reviews, I am definitely going to order the Rainforest of the Sea salt lyfe lip duo! It’s a beautiful color and you can wear them alone or seperate, depending on the look you want!

And if you are looking for a good full-coverage foundation, you have to try this one! It covers dark spots, redness, and acne! I love the matte finish too! My skin tends to get oily so this works great at keeping that down!

Shop Our Tarte Favorites Below!

Thanks for following along!

As always, thank you all for following along with us on our journey! We always appreciate your support and are so grateful for everyone who takes the time to read our posts, leave comments and interact with us! Hope you enjoyed our little breakdown of the LTK Spring Sale! Let us know if you have any questions about sizing or need help planning outfits!

Be sure to follow us on instagram if you aren’t already. We also have a LiketoKNow.it account, where we post exclusive content as well! Both have the (username: sunkissedandgrateful!

xoxoxox,

Kari and Melissa

p.s. if you click on a link and purchase within a certain amount of time, we do make a small commission. we appreciate your continued support!

The post Everything You Need to Know About the LTK Spring Sale! appeared first on sunkissed & grateful.