On the Blog

Apres Ski


This March I will be spending a long weekend at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek resort in Colorado thanks to free nights rewards from the Chase Hyatt Credit Card.  Thank you The Points Guy for all your great tips!  Making the reservation got me thinking about what I could wear for apres ski that would be warm, comfortable and chic.  This is one outfit I came up with, based on a combo of things already in my closet and new pieces.

  • North Face Metrolina Parka or Jacket ($195-290) – Bought this about a year ago in parka form.  It is SO warm!!! The black fabric has a slight iridescence to it which gives a bit more special of a look.  Love that you can remove the hood, wear it plain or with fur trim for different looks.  I’ll be using this for years!
  • Sorel Tofino Boot ($160) – Received as a gift last year – the faux fur trim adds fun to this waxed canvas and rubber-soled boot.  Warm, dry, classic!
  • Three Dots Chunky Knit Turtleneck (SALE $118) – Also works with jeans or a skirt.
  • Hue Ponte Leggings ($29-44) – Bought earlier this fall and have been wearing them to death.  Comfy and don’t stretch out.  Great for travel!  Love the heavier weight, they’re warm and look a bit more pant-like than the light cotton blends.
  • Elizabeth & James Antler Hoop Earrings and Ring (SOLDOUT) – cute nod to mountain life.
  • Julianne Shearling Tote (SOLDOUT) – Have always wanted something shearling and I love the urban meets rustic vibe of this roomy tote.  

Read the Trip Tale!

Wardrobe Building: Where to Begin Investing?

So, you’ve decided it’s time to upgrade your wardrobe but are wondering how to start investing your hard-earned dollars!  

A great place to start is by focusing on pieces with low cost per wear ratios.  Cost per wear ratio is calculated by taking the price of the item purchased and dividing it by the number of times you will wear the item in a year.  For example:

  • $500 special event outfit at 2 wearings per year = $250 cost per wear
  • $500 seasonal handbag at 65 wearings per year (5 days/week for one 13-week season) = $7.69 cost per wear
  • $10 blouse bought on sale/impulse with tags still on a year later = $10 in the trash
Low cost per wear pieces often include:
  • Shoes and Boots
  • Handbags and Small Leather Goods
  • Jeans
  • For professionals: A suit in a dark color (black, charcoal, navy)
  • For cool climates: Outerwear
  • Sunglasses
As you elevate your personal style, choosing to invest in these items first makes a ton of sense as you will get repeated wear and a variety of styling options out of these pieces.

Room with a View: Conrad Koh Samui

My flirtation with amateur travel hacking started with a weekend trip to Niagara Falls. We stayed at a Hilton property and decided to join the Hilton HHonors travel reward program. With my husband traveling a great deal for work at the time, we quickly saw points start to accumulate.  

In typical rookie fashion, we used our new reward point wealth for local weekend trips, spending them on free stays at Hampton Inns. When, a year later, we booked a bigger trip to France and needed a hotel in Paris we realized the error of this approach.

In our mid-West locale, Hampton Inns pretty much all run below $150 per night, sometimes significantly so. However in Paris (and most other major cities in Europe and the US) a well-located downtown property can run anywhere from $300 to well over $800 per night.  

Luckily we were able to secure a 5-night reward stay at the now-defunct Paris Hilton complete with a balcony view of the Eiffel Tower and Executive Lounge access with daily breakfast and unlimited champagne pours!  


Lesson Learned: Only redeem points on high-end properties!


Which brings us to the Conrad Koh Samui – our most recent and best “bang for the buck” hotel reward stay. Located on Samui Island Thailand, the Conrad is at the top of the Hilton chain. This stunning property consists of spacious, private villas nestled on a cliff over-looking the Gulf of Thailand. Each villa features a 10-meter infinity edge pool, an over-sized soaking tub, rain and multi-head shower and the latest and greatest in in-room technology. And the best part – these villas normally go for $1200 per night! 

While it’s unlikely we ever would have ponied up $4800 of our own money for this stay, by budgeting our award points wisely, we were able to enjoy a luxurious and relaxing experience that was the perfect ending to a couple of weeks in Thailand.