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  • Euro summer bonus vibe 🍦🍦

    Next time you’re traveling through Italy and flying in/out of MXP…. let it be known there are 2 ways to do it.

    Option 1 – You pull up to the airport hot, sweaty, stressed, and sad your vacay is over. You had to leave extra early to ensure you have time for delays, returning your rental car, or whatever transportation buffer applies. You check in for your flight after lugging your bags around through various barely climate controlled zones and instantly wish you could take another shower.

    Option 2 – You take a bubble bath 30 min before you head to the check-in counter. You spritz it up your last night with no worries about getting anywhere in the morning. You ease your transition into homecoming by blasting the AC and sleeping in a fluffy king size bed. And you rest easy knowing you have nothing to battle in the morning.

    Behold, the Sheraton at MXP. Newly built, outfitted with an indoor pool, casual but luxe spa featuring Hydrafacials and a multitude of vibey treatments, a gym that is in no way crusty (complete with Technogym equipment for guided runs), strong drinks, and, most important, totally lush rooms…. there’s never been a better solution.

    Before returning our rental car, we stopped off for the obligatory top-up of gas and last gelato (the in-airport gelato just hits different, not the same). I found “Gelateria Il Ritrovo dei Golosi” on Google Maps and it did not disappoint. We even took a scenic detour to cross a few bridges over the Ticino river it overlooked.

    From there, we checked into the Sheraton, turned down the already in-room AC, showered and took full advantage of all the yummy moisturizers and shampoos, did a light unpack for the evening, and headed to the bar for truffle popcorn, aperol spritzes, and ordered a pizza before turning in with Netflix streamed on strong Wi-Fi. Life was good and I was no longer sad about vacation ending. Next day I indulged in a pre-flight bubble bath, lathered myself in all the available moisturizers (both theirs and my Caudalie VinoHydra Moisturizing Mask, topped with the since discontinued (super sad here) Caudalie Detox Oil and a few dabs of Greek lavender oil before taking the 15 min commute to the check-in counter. Voila!!!

    💌 Subscribe for more love — no spam, just vibes.

  • Euro summer vibe drop 🦋 🦋 🦋

    Top: Celle boardwalk views 1&2, lunch at the beach (Playa della Luna) in Bergeggi. Middle: Pizza at Basso Sera in Celle, the walk there, and view of Pappaciann’a in Celle by night. Bottom: Beach bar Playa della Luna in Bergeggi, vineyard views in Piemonte, and my fave gelato in Celle, Il Gelso Nero.
    Sori coast & my favorite view from my lettino in Bergeggi
    Views from the Prato Rotondo to Faiallo hike, complemented by Ravioli al Tuccu (yummmm)
    Top: Path to my favorite beach in Crete (so far), Psaromoura (which apparently means fish face??) Below: Door to a carved in rock church in Choudetsi, glimpse from the parking lot of perfect water at Psaromoura Beach, and a patriotic umbrella moment from an under-highway beach in Rodia where 2 chairs and an umbrella cost only €7!

    Like everyone else, I went to Europe this summer. And while I didn’t jet off for 3 months embodying the study abroad vibes of my youth…..nearly 3 weeks of swimming, lounging, reading, scootering, eating and drinking with zero input from any sources of media or work is arguably even more surreal. Having that much (paid) time off is the kind of vacation we all need 2-3x a year. Sadly to make this kinda time off work I had to squirrel away all my accrued hours so far this year, my rollover days from last year (max 3….*eye roll*) and I’m totally negative for the next few pay periods. Just want to bring a dose of reality to the situation…..but enough about business!! Where to start? What do the people want to know?

    Euro Summer 2025 Locations
    • Stella, Liguria — Home Base. Think soft, breezy hillscapes (no AC gamechanger) with views of the sea, 15 min scooter from the nearest beach but 30 min from our faves.
    • Bergeggi, Liguria — Idyllic stretch of the coast bookended by cliffs, calming “Bergeggi blue” water, rustic chic beach clubs
    • Celle, Liguria — Super cute seaside town, wide open boardwalks separated from the road and full of fresh air, multiple premium gelato locations (still dreaming of the dark chocolate & orange at Il Gelso Nero 👀)
    • Seiterre in Montebello, Piemonte — Quick, accessible (less than 1hr away from the coast) agriturismo moment for lunch in a vineyard valley with my fam.
    • Rapallo, Liguria — Seaside location I vacationed in during my youth and where my parents hung out this year which has unfortunately boomed so much it’s actually too busy to enjoy.
    • Pratorotondo to Passo del Faiallo, Liguria — There and back hike (3 hours each way) across hilly mountaintops with a pasta-reward halfway, giving major Sound of Music energy except with better snacks. Started off in the morning in the clouds and returned back with the sunshine, flowers, and butterflies in their fullest glory
    • Somewhere between Genova, Sori, and Recco, Liguria – Boat day blessed with perfect conditions and beautiful views from the sea of all the amazing, antique homes built into the cliffs made even more spectacular by the carved staircases that give these residences direct access to the sea.
    • Peza, Crete — Location change to Greece for my best friend’s wedding!! Countryside just 30 min south of Heraklion. Lots and lots of lamb. Joined by family for extra core memories and love.
    • Rodia, Crete — Access to beautiful beaches, steep rocky mountains, goats chilling roadside, and lots of Greek salad. 20 min east of Heraklion with easy access to the Agia Pelagia area for rocky beach swims.
    The Takeaway

    Chatting with one of my besties upon my return this time around, she observed that I didn’t sound sad to be back — that I actually sounded refreshed. Usually after a fun trip or a long trip that starts with lots of built-up burnout, I’m depressed to come back to reality. Instead, this time around I am feeling thankful, relaxed, content, INSPIRED, and thankful – both for the trip and uninterrupted time off but also for the privilege of many good things and a healthy routine to come home to.

    Lots of people I know (I’m totally guilty of this too, especially when exploring someplace new) spend short vacations running around, trying to jam in as many new experiences as possible to get their money’s worth. My view? When you’re actually trying to relax, recover, reconnect and LIVE THE VIBE you see on social media which inspires you to take a vacation in the first place….. go long, go slow, and go familiar. And go with people you love!

    Lean into what and who you love and give yourself the luxury of time to enjoy it all con calma. 💗💗💗

  • the vibe begins

    Soooooooo I’ve been thinking about social media. I feel like when we first got instagram (and the icon looked totally different !!!) it was all about sharing moments. Then later it became about sharing vibes. And eventually it became about sharing updates and keeping up with people you don’t talk to anymore.

    I’m not on insta anymore – I didn’t go so so far as to delete my profile but I removed the apps from my phone about two years ago. Scrolling just sucks the soul, makes me feel poor, and floods me with fake “inspo” that only makes me want to buy stuff to fill the void. Not anymore. I feel annoyingly fresh and centered now.

    HOWEVER, I do miss sharing the vibes. At my insta-peak, my life was all about the travel vibes, the spa vibes, all aesthetic all day. And I miss sharing that. And the truth is, I am good at vibes. This brings us, naturally, to vibes by val – the treasure trove you didn’t ask for with recommendations and the scoop on all things beauty, wellness, travel, home & kitchen, and, most importantly, spa.

    If you want to catch all the vibes as they drop, subscribe and get inspired w me!

    Upcoming topics for you to get hyped about:

    • honest spa reviews (South Florida focused with some worldwide moments)
    • candle-making
    • fraxel, chemical peels, and all things derm-approved
    • yummy healthy chocolate bites
    • guide to your cast iron skillet
    • hawaii travel recs
    • mocktail & cocktail moments

    To really get the party started, I’m rewarding you with one of my fave drinks of late: the Spicy Paloma

    • 1/2 cup-ish grapefruit juice
    • 1 fresh lime
    • tajin
    • spicy bitters or sliced jalapeño (or both)
    • shot of tequila or mezcal if you’re feeling frisky

    Let your lime “lick” the outside of your glass, then roll the glass in tajin (this way none of it is floating in your drink). Add a big ice cube, fill the glass halfway up with grapefruit juice. Squeeze in a full lime. Add a dropper of spicy bitters if you have it (using Bitterman’s Hellfire here) and/or some sliced jalapeños on top. Finish with an optional dehydrated or fully hydrated garnish if you have it for extra vibes.