I have always been the one to plan trips for
my family and friends. I’m in charge of the itinerary and there is never a question of where to go, what to pack
or what to do once we get to our destination.
But this time around, I did something totally new. This past weekend, I opened
myself up to new experiences by partnering with
Marshalls to depart on a surprise trip to Denver, Colorado. However, we had no idea where the
destination was until we arrived at
the airport, which made it even more exciting! I’ve been a Marshalls shopper ever since I was a little girl when- my
mom would take me about twice a week.
What I loved most about their stores then is still what I love most now – there
are surprises in every section of
every store. I might not always know what I am going to find, but I
know I’ll always find amazing things that I love.
With this in mind, and in the spirit of
Choosing Surprise, I went shopping at Marshalls armed with only a weather report and suggested packing list for
my unknown destination, packed up my
suitcase, went to the airport, and let surprise take over. From the moment I
said yes to this surprise trip, I
felt more open about embracing the new experiences that were ahead of me.
Thanks to Marshalls, I learned how valuable and
eye opening it can be to break away from your daily routine (and your typical
style!) and have some fun! An amazing weekend of new experiences in Denver lay ahead of me, and thanks to
Marshalls, I learned how valuable and eye
opening it can be to break away from your daily routine (and your typical
style!).
From Red Rocks to white water rafting, a food tour and exploring Denver in
between, my trip was certainly filled with excitement and out of the ordinary activities!
While I live for the experiences travel brings, I always like to prepare in
advance and curate looks depending on the destination. For this adventure, Marshalls
encouraged me to shop for unexpected items and outfits (with just a weather
report to go off of) to get me ready for an adventure of a lifetime, which was
definitely out of my comfort zone! Shopping for these new clothes before the
destination reveal was just the push I needed to be more open for this fun- filled
adventure. As I was shopping for my outfits, I visited multiple Marshalls
locations because the element of surprise in each store made the experience even
more exciting. I discovered different athleticwear, accessories and fashionable
pieces at each location.
One of the best parts? Marshalls teamed up with Pack Up +& Go, a travel
agency that specializes in surprise travel. Together, they had a full itinerary
and travel accommodations prepared for the entire weekend, which kept me on the
edge of my seat the whole time.
Time for the best part – all of the trip details and looks along the way!
Drum roll please…
Two days before our trip, I received an envelope with our destination sealed
away inside. It was not only one of the hardest tasks to keep myself from
opening it but the thrill of the “unknown” made this surprise trip even more
exciting. Upon arriving to the airport, I discovered that we would be spending
the weekend in Colorado and I, immediately, shrieked from excitement. As I
continued to open the envelope, there was an itinerary for the entire trip
filled with planned activities as well as various recommendations. Upon
boarding the plane, I not only felt eternal gratitude but knew that this trip
was going to be a life changing experience that I would remember forever.
As we arrived in Denver, we stayed at the Crawford Hotel in Union Station.
If you have a chance to visit Denver, I highly recommend either staying or
stopping by to visit this hotel. From its history, to the amazing
accommodations, and beautiful aesthetic, it’s definitely one of my favorite
hotels I‘ve visited thus far.
I must admit, packing for a surprise trip was undeniably one of the best and
exciting experiences and shopping at Marshalls allowed me to bring my vision to
life. I not only shopped for fashionable tops and bottoms to style for evening
dinners and morning coffee runs but I had ensembles ready to go for all the
activities planned.
I opted for colorful outfits to explore the city in, along with comfortable
shoes for all our sightseeing. Espadrilles are definitely a favorite and I had discovered
a chic, neutral pair that I knew would complete my looks and be comfy while
still being fashionable. I wanted to keep the looks trendy, so I paired this gorgeous
pop of red ruffled top with classic black sunglasses to keep the look chic and
polished.
I knew this surprise destination was going to push my fashion boundaries so I also brought along various active wear that would keep me comfortable yet appropriate for the hiking trail that was on our list for the trip.
As we embarked on our hiking journey through the Red Rocks, I opted for
black and white marled sneakers along with a matching sports bra. Since it was
a sunrise hike, I kept myself warm with a long sleeve active jacket as well as
black leggings with fashionable sheer cut outs.
The ultimate city girl had found herself amongst nature watching deer pass
by and valuing the life lesson that everything comes full circle. As we spent
the entire morning in the wilderness, I reflected on how Marshalls had really
encouraged me to shake things up and break me out of my everyday routine. The
element of choosing surprise resonated with me and not only applied to shopping
at Marshalls but also carried over into this trip, I never could have predicted
that choosing to infuse surprise into my life would lead me here but I’m so
happy it did!
As we hiked through Red Rocks and white water rafted through Clear Creek, I
was so happy I packed the right ensembles for each activity and had so much
fun.
For our last day, I kept my outfit causal chic for our Food Tour of Denver.
I opted for a white shirt dress with lace up flats and bold sunglasses. From
eating ribs, to different kinds of cheeses and desserts, we learned more about
Denver and its history.
I couldn’t be more blessed and grateful for this amazing trip and for Marshalls encouraging me to step out of my daily routine this past weekend. Life is all about the unexpected and having fun! This surprise trip to Denver, Colorado really showed me how fun and valuable it is to shake things up and that’s what style is all about!
Xo,
Lillian
