Sassy Southern Blonde

A Fashion & Lifestyle Blog by Kelsie Bynum

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • PARTNER WITH KELSIE
  • SHOP
    • SHOP MY INSTAGRAM
    • SHOP MY IG STORIES
    • HOME DECOR
  • CATEGORIES
    • FASHION
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • BEAUTY
      • MAKEUP
      • HAIR
    • TRAVEL
    • BLOG TIPS
  • DISCOUNT CODES

Nashville Birthday Trip Recap

May 17, 2023

Nashville Birthday TripSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS)

I am a proud Enneagram 7, so that means I want to celebrate every little thing, especially my birthday! I love planning a weekend trip for my birthday each year, and I decided on Nashville this time. My choice to go somewhere driving distance was largely due to the chaos that ensued last year! (More on that HERE) Having my car felt like I had more control of the situation and trip! Lol.

Nashville Birthday TripSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS)

The weekend we usually travel for my birthday was Taylor Swift in Nashville, and hotel rates had tripled! If I didn’t get to see her in concert, I definitely wasn’t paying those prices. Luckily, we went the last weekend in April and it was the perfect time! I just had to book at The Graduate Hotel, and our stay was amazing! I’m so glad we were there the entire weekend. Last July, we only stayed for one night before moving over to an Airbnb!

As far as food goes, I had a lot of making up to do from our July trip! I booked touristy restaurants, and the dishes were just so subpar. Bo was disappointed in me, BUT I gained his trust back this time! Lol. I normally do better research, so I stepped my game up and we went to some delicious spots!

Nashville Birthday TripKorean Pork Belly Bao at Virago

We checked into The Graduate on Thursday afternoon and grabbed drinks at the White Limozeen! I ordered the Anti Hero, which was great. They also have incredible frozen drinks during the summer. Bo and I split some truffle fries, and they were crisped to perfection! Our dinner reservation was at Virago, and Bo was apprehensive at first. I had eaten there years ago, and I’m happy I booked it! I ordered the Tokyo Sangria, Fire Crunch Roll to split, and the Korean Pork Belly Bao as my main dish. SO GOOD! Especially the Bao!

Nashville Birthday TripSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS) *15% off with kelsiebynum*

I received lots of recommendations and didn’t have enough time to try them all, but I did book Barcelona Wine Bar for a night cap! Everyone said to try the olive oil cake, and it was very interesting. I think Bo liked it more than I did! I wish we could have had dinner there too because the menu looked great! We really covered a lot of ground on night 1! Haha.

Nashville Birthday TripNashville Birthday TripLoveless Cafe Biscuits + Chocolate Chip Pancakes

After I made Bo take pictures of me Friday morning, we drove to Loveless Cafe for breakfast! Many people don’t know this, but you can make reservations beforehand. If you don’t, you’ll be waiting at least an hour or more! The food was exactly what I hoped it would be though, just good Southern cooking. We rode over to Green Hills when we were finished and shopped around the mall for a bit! Bo loves going to Nordstrom! Hahah.

Nashville Birthday TripSHOP MY OUTFIT (Top: XS, Skirt: XXS)

Nashville Birthday TripCreste Di Gallo at Sixty Vines

From there, we strolled around 12 South and grabbed margaritas and guacamole at Bartaco! This guy was selling vintage pieces on the sidewalk, and Bo found a cool camo pullover. He was so excited! Lol. We ended up meeting our friends for dinner at Sixty Vines! I ordered the Froze and the Creste Di Gallo. This restaurant has great views because it’s on a rooftop off Broadway and the food is pretty good too!

Nashville Birthday TripSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS in both)

Nashville Birthday TripFrench Toast at The Mockingbird

We started Saturday at The Mockingbird for brunch! Bo and I both love peeking at other people’s tables to see what they ordered, and someone had gotten the best looking cheeseburger! I went with the French Toast and it was perfect, though. Bo was hungover, so he didn’t eat much of his meal. Lol! We roamed around Broadway for a little while, but it was SO crowded. I had booked an early dinner reservation, so we did the most touristy thing possible and hit the Country Music Hall of Fame!

I personally love a good museum, and I enjoyed seeing all the exhibits! For as many times as I’ve been to Nashville, I’m surprised this was my first time going. We then went to our 5 o’clock dinner at Bourbon Steak because that was the only time available! It was absolutely incredible. I loved that they offered a flight of fries with various dipping sauces instead of just bread! I ordered the filet and Bo went all out with the Lobster Pot Pie. The presentation was as perfect as the dish! It’s saved on my Nashville highlight if you want to watch! 🙂

Nashville Birthday TripFry Flight at Bourbon Steak

Bo and I had every intention of going to Broadway after dinner, especially to the Twelve Thirty Club rooftop! I LOVE that place and the drinks are always delish. However, we somehow ended up back at our hotel in pajamas ordering Tiff’s Treats! *Their cookies are amazing if you’re ever in a city with one* But I wouldn’t have wanted to end my birthday trip any other way! I’m so glad we were able to go. Let me know if I missed any trip details you want to know!

PS: I’ll link all outfits with sizing under each photo!

XO

Kels

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Travel

California Coast Road Trip Recap

May 11, 2023

Hotel CoronadoSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: SM)

It was such a dream to cruise up the California coast with Lexus, and I wanted to recap our Pacific Coast Highway road trip for y’all! Everyone flew into San Diego on Monday, and we stayed at Hotel Coronado. The resort was absolutely gorgeous, especially with our ocean view rooms! We had dinner at the restaurant there and ended the night with s’mores on the beach. My favorite! Haha.

Beverly Hills HotelSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS in both)

Tuesday was the start of our adventure from San Diego to Santa Barbara! Lynlee and I decided to make a pitstop in Beverly Hills for lunch at The Beverly Hills Hotel. We sped towards Los Angeles in the LC 500h sports car and rode through towns like Laguna and Newport! I’ve become a fan of Real Housewives of Orange County, so I spotted a restaurant that was featured in the show along with The Oppenheimer Group next door. I’m a reality tv junkie! Lol.

Beverly Hills HotelI wish we would have had time to explore the OC, but we had a lot of ground to cover! Once we finished lunch in Beverly Hills, we decided to visit another popular restaurant called The Ivy. They have the most beautiful pink and orange flowers everywhere along with incredible red velvet cake that they’re know for!

The IvyAfterwards, we got back on PCH and drove through Malibu. We were already running late, so we skipped the Santa Monica Pier unfortunately! Lexus truly spoiled us the entire trip, but the hotel stays were next level! We checked into the Santa Barbara Ritz Carlton with even more breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. We had a delicious private dinner at Angel Oak and got ready for Day 2!

Red Velvet CakeWe continued on our California coast road trip to Monterey on Wednesday, but we did take a detour to Solvang! I’ve wanted to visit this town since it was featured on Vanderpump Rules, and it looked like we stepped into Denmark with all the Danish accents! We grabbed a few pastries at The Solvang Bakery and drove around before driving to San Luis Obispo for lunch!

California Road Trip SHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS) *Pants are Zara*

Finney’s in downtown SLO came highly recommended, and I know why! The menu is stacked and made it hard to decide. Lynlee and I split the Buffalo Cauliflower and then I ordered the Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese! It was chilly that day and made for the perfect lunch. A section of PCH was closed between Morro Bay and Big Sur, so we had to detour through Central California.

California CoastWe arrived in Monterey early to have some downtime before dinner! We stayed at Monterey Plaza Hotel and literally opened our balcony doors to listen to the waves crashing! It was so nice. Lexus threw a beautiful cocktail hour on the water and we ate at the restaurant there. I really wanted to see Big Sur, so we decided to at least go to Carmel by the Sea Thursday morning!

California CoastSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS)

Our final destination was Yountville in Sonoma County but backtracking to Carmel was so worth it! We cruised down their main strip where the most adorable houses faced the ocean. Throughout the entire trip, I loved seeing these coastal towns like Carmel and even Laguna Beach hold true to their roots without appearing to be too overdeveloped! We had brunch at a restaurant called From Scratch, and they had some of the best French Toast I’ve ever had! Which speaks volumes because I’ve eaten a lot of French Toast! Lol.

Golden Gate BridgeSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: SM)

On our way to Wine Country, we took the route over the Golden Gate Bridge! I had always wanted to see it, and the skies were actually clear and beautiful in San Fran! Lynlee and I made it to our final destination at Hotel Bardessono in Yountville right before dinner. This hotel was next level! I literally had an outdoor shower in my room. I couldn’t believe I only got to spend one night there!

Winery OutfitSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS tank, SM skirt)

Lexus treated us to a gorgeous winery tour and dinner at Silver Oaks! The wine was delicious along with the food! If you’re going to the area, one of the most popular restaurants in town is called The French Laundry. You need to book reservations months in advance! I wish I had more food recommendations for each town, but we weren’t in one place for long!

I know this blog is entirely too long, so thank you for reading if you’ve made it this far. I hope I answered any questions you may have about our California roadtrip, and if I missed anything, please let me know! 🙂

XO

Kels

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Travel

BAHAMAS TRAVEL GUIDE

March 30, 2023

Bo and I went on the most fabulous vacation to the Bahamas in September, and I somehow forgot to recap our trip! Since the Bahamas is a hot spot for summer travel, I decided to go ahead and share our experience even if it’s 6 months late! Lol. Atlantis is a popular spot, but I knew I wanted to book our stay at Baha Mar after seeing photos of the resort on Instagram. The only other time I’d been to the Bahamas was during a cruise in 2013, so I was excited to go back!

We caught an early morning flight to Nassau on Friday and landed by lunch. I hadn’t traveled outside the country in years, so I was nervous! Everything went smoothly and I never felt unsafe, though. I did book a car for us through Baha Mar that was right by baggage claim. This was a more expensive option, but I wasn’t trying to flag down a taxi! Lol.

Once we arrived at Baha Mar, I instantly knew I made the right decision to book there! The resort is beyond gorgeous with the most breathtaking views. We were even upgraded to a Presidential suite at no extra cost. We immediately threw on our swimsuits and headed to the beach for an afternoon of relaxation before dinner!

I had read online that booking your dinner reservations in advance was a must, especially for popular restaurants! We dined at the Italian restaurant Fi’lia the first night. I ordered the Rigatoni Alla Carbonara and it was SO good and creamy! Just look at the photo!

We did a lot of lounging on Saturday! We started at the beach that morning, and Bo insisted on going snorkeling. I opted out of that activity and read my book while watching him snorkel in the distance. Lol! I LOVE a spicy watermelon margarita, so I ordered one at the pool with a side of truffle fries. The perfect snack before dinner at Costa! I was most excited to try this restaurant, but the food (or what I got) ended up being my least favorite of the trip. The dessert churros made up for it, though! And I still recommend booking here because the restaurant itself is so cool!

TRAVEL TIP: This is probably a good time to mention that the food is expensive, BUT I did think most of it tasted great! We had a heads up about the food before we left, so I bought a ton of snacks to put in Bo’s suitcase along with a few bottled waters and liquor. It’s totally legal to travel with liquor in your checked bag to the Bahamas! Just make sure it’s packed well. Bo was mad I made him check a bag since he prefers a carry-on, but it was 100% worth it!

Everyone said to try Cafe Madeleine for breakfast or lunch, and I’m glad we did! I went with the Breakfast Sandwich on Croissant, and it melted in my mouth. The donuts are also phenomenal as I had to have a sweet treat on the side! Lol. This meal fueled me up for the on-site waterpark Bo made me go to! We ended up having a lot of fun, and this would be perfect if you have kids. I had no idea that the resort was so kid friendly!

We ate dinner at Cleo on Sunday night which was a Mediterranean style restaurant! We chose the Hummus as an appetizer, and I got the Basil Pesto Rigatoni as my meal. Bo ordered the Moroccan Lamb Tagines which ended up being the winner between our two dishes! Haha.

While we were at the waterpark, we noticed a gorgeous pool area which turned out to be the Baha Bay Beach Club! You have to spend a minimum of $200 to sit in the secluded area, but it’s for an all day pass. We decided to splurge and do it on our last day! It was so nice sitting under the palm trees looking out at the beautiful blue ocean! We ate at Marcus later that night, and I’m still thinking about the fried chicken all these months later. I’m not a big collared greens girl, but I definitely recommend that with the sweet potato mash!

I personally think traveling to Baha Mar the weekend after Labor Day is the perfect time to go! The weather is amazing, the resort isn’t crowded, not to mention the rates drop significantly. I know you run the risk of hurricane season in September, but it’s worth it as long as you book the refundable options! Lol. We stayed at SLS, but there’s also Rosewood and Grand Hyatt. I’m not super familiar with the other hotels, but I do believe Rosewood is strictly for adults! I hope I answered all your questions! Let me know if I missed anything! 🙂

PS: I have a Bahamas highlight saved on my Instagram with more photos of Baha Mar, food, and what I wore!

XOXO

Kels

1 Comment CATEGORIES // Travel

PALM BEACH TRAVEL GUIDE

March 29, 2023

I have traveled to Palm Beach a handful of times since I was little, and each trip is better than the last! I spent several summers exploring Palm Beach when I was younger because I have family who lives nearby. It’s such a beautiful place, and I loved going with my friend Brenna! We ate, we shopped, and we took LOTS of photos! 🙂

We flew in Thursday afternoon and picked up our rental car! I personally think a rental car is necessary unless you Uber around the city. Our Airbnb was the perfect location in West Palm Beach! It was only a short 8 minute drive over the bridge which is exactly what we were looking for. The Airbnb itself was even better than expected, and that doesn’t always happen! Lol.

We grabbed a quick late lunch at Pura Vida, and it was arguably my favorite meal of the trip! Brenna and I both ordered the Mango Salmon Bowl (I switched out the quinoa for brown rice) and it was incredible. A meal I could eat daily! 🙂 Since it was our first night, I booked a more casual dinner spot called Avocado Grill! I had also eaten there in December and loved the avocado dishes along with the dumplings. They have great drinks too!

Our first stop on Friday was lunch at Swifty’s inside The Colony Hotel! It’s such a cute spot to grab a bite to eat not to mention how aesthetically pleasing the place is. I chose the club sandwich with truffle fries and ate my entire plate. Brenna and I almost split the fries, but we were glad we didn’t because both orders were gone! We took pictures around The Colony and then headed to Worth Avenue to do some shopping!

Buying a Chanel bag has been on my bucket list for years, and I finally found the perfect one in their spring collection! I fell in love with the pale pink bag because I knew IF I ever purchased one, it had to my favorite color. Surprisingly, I still have no buyers’ remorse, and I really believe it was a great investment! And I’m sure if anyone in the financial world is reading that last sentence, they are laughing! Lol.

We shot a few more outfits Friday afternoon and then decided to take a little break before dinner! We noticed a Cheesecake Factory while driving, and a close parking spot just happened to open nearby. I took this as a sign that I needed red velvet cheesecake, so I grabbed some for myself and Brenna went with the Oreo flavor! It was SO delicious. A chain restaurant I will always love! We ended the night at Lola41 inside the White Elephant. The sushi is amazing! I ordered the spider roll!

The turquoise door is one of the most popular photo spots in Palm Beach, but what they don’t tell you is how bad the lighting is if it’s full sunshine! Haha. We ran by Saturday morning before our lunch reservation while the sun was behind a cloud! After we finished there, we headed to Restoration Hardware because they have the BEST prime rib sandwich. I’m sure other things are just as good, but I always chose that with truffle fries! RH is such a vibe, and I’m obsessed with eating there if I’m in a city with one.

We ate at Sant Ambroeus Saturday night, and we both ordered the Linguine Cacio e Pepe which was just super buttery cheese noodles! Hahah. Brenna and I both had afternoon flights, so we grabbed breakfast at Surfside Diner Sunday morning! She got the french toast and I went with the blueberry pancakes. The side of bacon was the perfect crispy texture! Once we finished, we wandered around The Breakers before going to the airport. It was the perfect adult Spring Break with a little work and a little play! 🙂

WHERE TO EAT

-Pura Vida

-Avocado Grill

-Swifty’s at The Colony Hotel

-Lola 41

-Restoration Hardware

-Sant Ambroeus

-Surfside Diner

-Cheesecake Factory (LOL)

WHERE TO STAY

-The Colony Hotel

-The Breakers

-White Elephant

-Airbnb

WHERE TO GO

-Worth Avenue Shopping

-Norton Museum of Art (Visited as a child)

-Beach

-Visit The Breakers (Even if you aren’t staying there)

XOXO

Kels

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Tips, Travel

Stowe, Vermont Travel Guide

November 2, 2022

Pink Teddy CoatSHOP MY OUTFIT (15% off with KELSIEBYNUM) Size: SM in both

Casual Fall OutfitSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: SM)

Visiting Stowe, Vermont has been on my bucket list for YEARS! I live in South Mississippi, so we never see the level of fall foliage that the New England states do. Bo and I traveled to Boston last October, and I’ve been wanting to go back to that area. Luckily, I rounded up two of my favorite travel buddies and we headed on a weekend trip to Vermont! We arrived Thursday night and flew out Sunday morning, so I do wish we had a little bit more time there.

SHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS in both)

We went to dinner at Idletyme Brewing Company on Thursday before checking into our hotel! It was a top recommendation on Yelp, and it lived up to the hype. I ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli, and the Idle Fries were an amazing appetizer! We stayed at Topnotch Resort just a few miles outside of Stowe, and I’d definitely book there again! It was actually even nicer than I expected! Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to explore the resort, but they had a lot of amenities between the spa, indoor pool, and tennis courts!

SHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: MD/LG for dress length)

On Friday morning, we grabbed coffee at Black Cap Coffee! I ordered the French Kiss Latte along with a chocolate croissant, and it was phenomenal. Another top suggestion was Butler’s Pantry for breakfast! It was extremely busy, but we joined the Yelp waitlist beforehand. I ordered the Biscuit French Toast Sticks because they were a restaurant special! I thought they were great. Both of these spots were next door to each other in downtown Stowe so super convenient!

Fall OutfitSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS in both)

After eating brunch, the morning fog started to lift, and we took photos around Stowe! I don’t know the exact address of the gorgeous landscape view with the church in the background but it’s on Mountain Rd right before the Stowe Covered Bridge. The view looked straight from a movie or an episode of Gilmore Girls! Lol. We also stopped by the Cold Hollow Cider Mill to grab donuts and apple cider! I went with the apple cider slush, and it was the right choice! 🙂

SHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: XS)

Pink Tweed SetSHOP MY OUTFIT (Size: 0 Petite in both)

I normally make reservations beforehand, but I wasn’t sure what our plan would be since we were shooting content all day! Hindsight is 20/20 and I definitely regret this. I’ll never go on a trip without reservations again because it just added stress to find somewhere to eat! Harrison’s was highly recommended, and they luckily had open seating on their heated patio. (Inside dining is booked months in advance) I ordered the most delicious Lobster Roll. It hit the spot after a busy day!

Casual Fall OutfitSHOP MY OUTFIT (Vest is 15% off with KELSIEBYNUM) 

Since Stowe is pretty small, we decided to make the hour and a half drive to Woodstock on Saturday! I knew I’d regret it if we didn’t. Our first stop was the Woodstock Inn, and it’s just as cute in real life! We snapped a few photos and drove around downtown Woodstock before heading over to Sleepy Hollow Farm. I couldn’t believe how chaotic it was including an extremely narrow road with too many cars. Lol! At this point, we were starving, so we ended up back at Harrison’s in Stowe for the second night in a row!

Lobster RollSince we only had 48 hours in Vermont, there were several places I wished we would have had time to go like Cafe on Main for breakfast and Smuggler’s Notch State Park for fall foliage! It’s a gorgeous place that I’d travel to again in a heartbeat! 🙂

XO

Kels 

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Travel

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »

MEET KELSIE

MEET KELSIE
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

STAY IN THE KNOW!

LIKE MY FACEBOOK PAGE

LIKE MY FACEBOOK PAGE

Recent Posts

  • Baker’s 2nd Rodeo Birthday Party
  • Nashville Birthday Trip Recap
  • California Coast Road Trip Recap
  • PALM BEACH SPRING OUTFIT GUIDE
  • BAHAMAS TRAVEL GUIDE

MAKEUP MUST HAVES

WHERE I SHOP

Abercrombie

Amazon

American Eagle

ASOS

Express

Forever 21

J. Crew Factory

Nordstrom

Old Navy

Pink Lily Boutique

Red Dress Boutique

Revolve

Target

© 2017 SASSY SOUTHERN BLONDE