Photoshoot Series: Vail - an Experience (Vail Lionshead Village)

   ** Quick apology for next week's mess up, I'm still trying to recover my domain and my traffic. Please help me spread the word that you need to add blogspot after karinastylediaries for now, thank you for your patience**

  Back to Blitz for the last change and we take the in-town bus for a five minute ride towards the Lionshead Village, where it used to be the "not so pretty part of the town" back 10 years ago when Brian and I moved there after getting married. But boy was I surprised when we went back last year, it is now the most beautiful and charming cozy village. The buildings became more and more European inspired, Italian gelatterias, and coffee shops with little outdoor tables. The buildings are colorful and full of style, a truly amazing scenery for the lovers of architecture and such!

The Arrabelle in Lionshead Village

 Bus Ride, the buses are free of charge and go between the villages as well as to and from East and West Vail, inter-town buses are also available for a charge. Buses are clean and fun to ride, during season all the skis and snow boards hang outside on the side rack, while we carry our equipment with us inside where everyone (almost everyone) is wearing their ski gear and keeping warm!

" The storybook-looking centerpiece of the reinvention of Lionshead Square, Arrabelle has a hand-stenciled, multiterraced facade that looks like several buildings straight from the Old Country, and includes a clock tower, glockenspiel, and other Bavarian touches. Best of all, it's Vail's only true ski-in, ski-out lodging, featuring a ski valet who warms up your skis and has them waiting lift-side on your command. Inside it's just as wondrous, from the happy bronze bear that inhabits the lustrous lobby to the spa (the signature treatment involves hot wine) to the guest rooms, which are the best in the village. The 32 units here feature canopied beds, original art, rich red color schemes, fireplaces, and private balconies. There is a splendid rooftop pool with a remarkable view of Eagle Bahn and an excellent French eatery, Centre V."

The Arrabelle - Lionshead

The Arrabelle Vail Lionshead

Italian style chandeliers hang from the Arrabbele building in Lionshead

  The weather was beautiful, sunny and blue skies just ready for the tourists who visit for memorial day, a great time to shop sales!

Just by the skating ring is the Bell Tower,does it get prettier than this?!

In the warmer seasons the skating ring becomes a hang out place, the town offers diferent kinds of events throughout the year and these places are used to put the booths.

 Might as well show the liquor store! Hehehehe

Walking from the Gondola this is what you see. The left side is newer and chicer and the right side sits Garfinkle's, a great bar food and beer spot with big tables on the deck, both feature privileged views of the mountain!

Avanti is a great little run, one of my many favorites! And we totally trespassed the "do not trespass" sign and got on the lift! Sorry Town of Vail ;)

Born Free Lift

Karina Style Face :D haha!

 I couldn't pick my favorite, so just posted them all!

The Arrabelle

I suck at snowboarding, absolutely hate it, my bottom thanked me after giving up! Hahaha but I love love and love snow skiing (not good at water skiing tough) and the feel like I'm flying, the scenery and the cold air blowing on my face is truly an amazing feeling and I feel so fortunate and blessed to have done it in one of the most amazing Mountains in the world! Viva o Colorado!!!!

 All Photo Credits: Cindy Loo

Outfit#3: Tom Ford Whitney sunglasses; J.Crew white cardigan; H&M floral plant; Zara heels; Stella and Dot Isadora Necklace and bracelets.

A video with all the outfits is up and running on my youtube Channel, check it out and subscribe while you're at it!

Please let me know how you like this kind of post guys, your feedback is very valuable to me!

Beijos,





 

Photoshoot Series: Vail - an Experience! (Bridge Street)

   We're back in Indy and settled (well, sort of) and brought back with us a whole lot of memories and fantastic scenery that will stay with us forever. I have to say that our experience in Vail made us stronger as a family and through the ups and downs of being away from home and friends and the rest of the family we grew, and hopefully we'll not take what we have from granted anymore, or at least not as much!

    Before we left I wanted to shoot pictures and combine the blog, my passion for fashion, and the beauty of that little town, so international, so welcoming and so very beautiful! Vail is one of the Oldest ski areas of the great United States and one of the largest in the world. It celebrated it's 50th anniversary this season.

Vail 50th Anniversary!

   I chose one of my favorite eras to style this shoot, the 60's also because it was when the town of Vail was founded. Of course modernized and updated to this day but with a pinch of "the put togetherness" feel so characteristic of that time period.

   Our shoot started at the Bridge Street, at the famous bridge. Which is a "Pedestrian mall (that) acts as the main thoroughfare through this European-style mountain village." Bridge Street is a pedestrian mall that connects downtown Vail's parking structure to the mountain's ski lifts. It starts at a covered bridge (spanning Gore Creek) at its north end. The Covered Bridge is a short walk from the town's subterranean parking structure and lies along the free in-town bus route. South of the bridge, the pedestrian streetscape rises and bends slightly to the left and south towards the bottom of the mountain. The street ends at Siebert Circle, which is near the mountain's ski lifts" by Paul Westhelle 

 "As a place, Bridge Street offers a very strong first impression, and is very comfortable (as any thriving pedestrian-oriented place in America feels). It is fun, safe, and immaculately clean. It is patrolled by friendly local police throughout the day, and accommodates all types of people."

Bridge Street bridge - Vail Village

 These were taken in front of the Gorsuch, a luxury retailer that's been around since Vail's opening and it's almost a land mark. During the warmer seasons the vintage bikes and wagons stay outside.

Vintage bikes at Gorsuch

 And during the winter/ski season these cute benches are covered with furry blankets so tourists can have a seat and warm up a bit while people watching. "Absolutely one the best places I can think of for socializing and people-watching in the U.S."

Bench at Gorsuch

   At the end of Bridge Street there is a fountain that "sings" when it is quiet it makes a melody when the drops hit the water. Very neat! It is incredible to see how crowded these streets are during season, cars and motor vehicles are not allowed in these areas, and how empty they become when the season ends. The lifts are located right behind these buildings.
  

Bridge Street Fountain

Mud Season is not the prettiest season to take pics (we couldn't help!) but you can still see and imagine how nice everything looks during the winter and summer. I love this monument!

Gondola One Monument

   As you walk in a circle to the other side of the village you come across this big vintage popcorn  cart, along with little restaurants with tables outside, very European-style.

Popcorn cart Vail Village

   Coming out of the circle is the Gore Creek Dr, another street full of luxurious shopping and chic restaurants, for all tastes and a bit pricey but yes, you can also find a few deals around. 

Dancing in the sun!

Local gift shop in the village

  Right across from the parking structure lays a variety of these wind "things" not sure what they're called but there is a lot of them and they all move with the wind making for a beautiful view.

   This is yet another sort of land mark of Vail, the Austria Haus is a luxury condominium that has been around forever and I happened to work on a boutique in the same building. But that is another chapter of our fun filled photo-shoot! Check back for the rest of them this week :)

Austria Haus

All Photo Credit: Cindy Gonzalez

 Outfit #1: Mini skirt and white piquet blouse are both from J.Crew; pink blazer with gold buttons is H&M; yellow pumps are Rachel Roy and necklace Stella and Dot. I'll be posting the makeup look video this week as well but they are already available on my channel.

 Check it out if you haven't yet, I'll do a complete post about the makeup looks tomorrow!
 English version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPtwmCMDDOg
 Portuguese version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXcorIc_TPs

Don't forget to like the videos, subscribe to my channel and comment here or there :) anything helps!

**This week will be dedicated to the Vail story, stay tuned for more outfits, scenery and fun with me!!!!

Beijos,


 

VLOG: It's a Rocky Mountain family adventure for you!

   As you know I had a ton of issues with downloading my movies and editing them so while I tried to figure out what was wrong and why it was taking so long to get my videos up and running I purchased the latest iMovie version and well, I had to play with it for a minute...or two! So I made a vignette from the full version of the footage I made highlighting the Rocky Mountains. From East Vail to West Denver the short movie captures the beautiful views from the mountains as well as my energetic little family! Hahaha

   I hope you enjoy the footage, if you've never been to CO this will be a good reason for you to come and visit!





Full version next. I apologize for the shakiness, the car was in movement the whole time.





Do you guys like this kind of videos?!

 

Pause For: A powder day!

   Just so you won't be disappointed with no videos this week I'll post pictures of the reason I didn't have time to work on one this week! In between kids recovering from stomach flu, cleaning, cooking, working on my paying job, and having a couple of delightful days on the mountains enjoying the fresh snow and the freezing cold (ok, didn't enjoy the cold that much!) I found myself short on time...so I hope you enjoy the views of this beautiful place that Vail is and hopefully entice you to pay us a visit!!!

   I could tell you about the clothes and accessories but who cares when the view is sooo cool! Right?! 

If you follow me on instagram you're probably sick of looking at these but hey a lot of you don't! So enjoy the breath of fresh air ;)

Brian tells me that that's called the Holy Cross Mountain because there's the shape of a cross somewhere in there, unfortunately there were clouds blocking our view but it's still a beautiful view, isn't it?! This is in the back, very quiet!

This pic I took yesterday when coming from the Northwoods Express lift, one of my favorite runs (not this one though guys, I take the blue paths ;D) hehehe

I was basically frozen when I took this pic, but that was my first day skiing by myself and I enjoyed so much I wanted to save a memory!

I love how the tress are packed with snow, it only makes it more dreamy!

This pic was taken at the new restaurant up the mountain, very nice setting, and very nice way to finish my day before it was time to pick up the kiddos at school ;)

Behind the cameras, getting ready for the family pic! hahaha

Mister playing hard to get in his stylish ensemble ;)

Finally in the school line to pick up my babies....not a bad view, huh?! 

    Thanks for baring with me on telling about mine an my family's adventures in our temporary home! If nothing else I'm sure you can appreciate this picturesque little town ;D


 Beijos,