brunch – The Prep In Pink

Every time I make my way to West Palm, I always try to make a stop by my favorite brunch spot, Restoration Hardware. Now don’t let the name confuse you. It actually houses three levels of fabulous furnishings, and is topped with the best rooftop restaurant in town.

This hot spot sits on the fourth floor atop the grand staircase as the sun shines through the glass atrium. While you’re waiting on your reservation, you can hit the barista bar. Here you can order anything from a mocha to a mimosa, and step out on the terrace overlooking all of Palm Beach.

From palm tree photo ops to prime time sunshine, this is the perfect place for a girls date. Once we were seated inside, we had a I love tasting of their savory seasonal menu, starting off with the burrata, then the burger, and top it off with a banana split!

Whatever you are in the mood for, RH is sure to have it in store… from a bestie brunch date to an evening under the stars. I cant wait for my next Restoration occasion!

Make your reservation today:

Restoration Hardware . 561-804-6826 . 560 Okechobee Boulevard WPB, FL 33401

Every April I always look forward to our annual salute to Spring, the Come See Me Festival. It is my favorite local festival in my hometown of Rock Hill, SC. This fest is full of fun events, from frog jumps to fireworks and more.

The community kicks off the event with the Come See Me Parade. Our beloved mascot Glen the Frog always makes an appearance, along with the Shriners and the Strawberry Queen.

I also love to hit the Hops in the Park, where you can sip samples from local breweries, and snack on sweets at the Gourmet Gardens. The best party is the Beach Bash, where you can dance the night away to live music, and have a beer with your best buds.

A great event for the girls is the Bubbles and Berries Brunch. It is a wonderful afternoon hosted by the Women’s Club, complete with sweet treats and champagne.

The grand finale is the famous fireworks show. Locals gather around Winthrop Lake for an all- day tailgate. The night lights up with live music as fireworks fill the sky. What better ending to this annual event? I already can’t wait for next year!

Come See Me Festival: April 12-21st in Rock Hill SC

Palm Dress: Britt Ryan . Sunnies: Lilly Pulitzer . Maxi Dress: Lilly Pulitzer

As you may know, over the past few years I have worked for Lilly Pulitzer, most recently as the manager of Life’s a Beach in the Outer Banks, NC. I am excited to announce that I now have accepted the position as the Mid- Atlantic Sales Representative for Tori Richard Honolulu.

I was first discovered in the Outer Banks and everything after that fell into place. I packed my bags and shipped off to Charlotte. As soon as work started I was whisked off to several states, all around the Mid- Atlantic area, from Maryland and Delaware to the Carolinas and Georgia.

After the holidays, I made my way down south to sell Summer 2018. We made it to Myrtle Beach, Wilmington, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort and New Bern… and that was just week one. We visited several stores and showed off our latest styles.

The next week we toured anywhere from Savannah and St. Simon’s to Charleston and Pawleys Island. My favorite part of my territory is covering all of the coastal towns. Once we made our way through the Carolinas and Georgia, we were off to Florida.

This trip was at the top of my list as Florida is my absolute favorite. Our first stop was Ship Chic, our concept shop in Tampa. We then made our way to Sassy’s boutique, a shop in Vero Beach. We made a stop in Stuart and saved the best for last, Palm Beach!

We were on to to Worth Avenue for brunch with none other than the Orrico girls, and headed back to chat at their C. Orrico store. We shopped, we gossip, and showed off Summer. Once we were off, it was time to stroll down the palm tree path to the city’s jewel, the Colony Palm Beach.

I have always dreamed of visiting this iconic address, and I couldn’t wait to check in and sip champagne. Walking past the Polo lounge and the palm leaf lined halls, I was off to sleep in my suite.

The next day we were back on the road to visit the Sandpiper store in Marco Island and Naples. I couldn’t wait to drop in to Boca Grande to visit Ariel, along with the Lilly store next door. We ended our tour in St. Armands Circle at the Columbian in Sarasota. We sipped mojitos and strolled through the shops and headed home.

Our last Florida excursion sent us to the Surf Expo in Orlando. We had a blast browsing the booths and setting up to sell our Summer lines. After appointments all afternoon we were off to Rocco’s Tacos for a sip of socializing.

We had a great weekend of networking with everyone from entrepreneurs to surfers and more. I can’t wait for the Atlanta Market next week, when Tori goes back on tour!

I tend to say ‘it’s always sunny and 75 in my head.’ I close my eyes and dream of the beach, but when I open them, I am stepping out of the plane in Palm Beach! My sister just landed a job there, so of course I was on my way before she could say when. The weekend was a special celebration of her new job, little sister’s graduation, my promotion to manager, Father’s Day and my mother’s birthday. It was the perfect excuse to bring my fab fam back together.

We shopped for hours at the best boutiques, and we hit the town to dance the night away at a Dierks Bentley concert. There were many memorable moments but the one I will never forget would have to be brunch at the Breakers. We drove through the gates, passing the palm trees on the promenade. We pulled up to lambos lining the valet. Walking into the lobby, I was in awe of the grand design of this luxury resort. I couldn’t wait to peek out into out to the Palm Courtyard.

Checking this location off my list, I must say, made me a bit emotional. I have always dreamed of being at the Breakers, and walking through the square and into the mecca: Lilly Pulitzer.

The store was everything I envisioned, full of fabulous fashions and sprinkled in shells. The dressing rooms were my favorite part, each with their own personality. I left the shop with the signature palm beach breakers tote, what a treat!

Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, we were off to a mimosa brunch at The Circle. We made our way into the grand dining room, and couldn’t wait to sip champagne beneath the crystal chandeliers. We tasted fabulous treats as we were serenaded by harp hymns. What a perfect ending to a posh trip to Palm Beach!

Location: The Breakers, Palm Beach

Julie Caftan: Lilly Pulitzer . Breezy Tote: Lilly Pulitzer

Starting off on our adventure, it was not as glamorous as you would think. Cruising out of Hawaii, we made it to the airport. Unfortunately we didn’t quite make the plane, as we just missed the cut off for our flight. To make the best of it, we ate and drank our way through the next 8 hours until the next one arrived. It was another 9+ more hours on the plane until we made it to our final destination, New Zealand.

It was a rough start, but I knew it could only go up from there. Once we arrived after our all-nighter, we jumped right into party mode, as it was time to get the barbie fired up for our BBQ at sunset. We loaded up on wine and played meet and greet on no sleep with friends and family. I felt right at home sharing stories and plates with my newfound friends.

The next day we set out to tour the town. We started off by bringing mince (beef) pies from the bakery to the beach. This was the start of my sampling of N. Zed’s delish delicacies. Later on, we made our way back to town for a mid-day matinee.

Not long after that, we were off to the Mount. My boyfriend’s family has a huge apartment overlooking the beach, the perfect destination to party with our local peeps. We had a few beers and headed to the Pizza Library, a funky joint with quirky character and pies named after school time storybooks.

The next day we brunched at Café 88 with friends, where I went out of American comfort by adding organic coke and bubble and squeak (similar to hash browns) to my meal. The greenhouse type vibe was nice, until our friends got plopped on by birds!

To brighten up the rainy day, I set out for the shops. By my surprise, I found some fab fashion. It was so refreshing hunting through haute stores in another country, because everything is new to you. I spotted this chic piece at a local boutique, Alice & Co, and could not pass it up!

For more of my vacay, stay tuned for week 2 of my New Zealand adventure…

West Palm Brunch Babes

Come See Me Festival

Tori Richard on Tour

Brunch at the Breakers

New Zealand Week 1