Pink’s Places

PINK’S PLACES REVIEW: BE Fit Modern Pilates

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HELLLOO! Happy JUNE! It is almost my favorite time of the year, aka Summer! This post will be the start to my Pink’s Places Reviews: Orange County Edition. I am going to share reviews on some of my favorite spots local to Orange County, CA and I am so stoked to share my review today on one of my favorite places ever in Newport Beach – let’s talk about BE Fit Modern Pilates. If you follow me on Instagram, then you KNOW this place is like my second home. I am obsessed with all things Pilates, but this studio has to be the best Pilates studio in Newport Beach and ALL of Orange County! Here are the deets:

Why I Love BE Fit Modern Pilates:

My love for Pilates began about 7 years ago when I lived in San Francisco. I lived about four blocks away from Core40 (miss you!) and I got HOOKED. The second I moved to OC, I was on the hunt to find a similar studio that offered “Lagree Style” Pilates. Lagree is essentially like Pilates, but on a megaformer – here’s a full article on the differences.  I tried pretty much every Pilates, reformer, and Lagree studio on ClassPass in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and even some in South County. But the second BE Fit opened in Newport Beach, I knew I was going to become a regular.

While it is not technically “Lagree” Pilates, BE Fit Modern Pilates uses a similar technique and BE Fit offers a 45 minute full body workout, that is low impact, high intensity, and done right on a reformer.

BE Fit Pilates Newport Beach Location

First off, the location is PRIME – BE Fit is located right in the Westcliff shopping center behind many of the shopping and restaurants that line 17th Street. And, of course, right by my fav coffee shop Kit Coffee. I never have any issues with parking, which is a big factor for me. But of course, the aesthetic of the studio is also on point. It’s clean, modern, sleek, and makes you WANT to work out.

A Spin on “Lagree Style” Pilates

What makes me come back time and time again is the workout itself. Like I said, it is a spin on the traditional “Lagree Style” workout – controlled movements, with some cardio and strength training. I have been doing reformer style Pilates for years, but at BE Fit, it NEVER gets easier, and for me, I like the challenge.

The instructors are also incredible – well trained, great energy, and I leave every workout feeling better and stronger. Plus, they’re all just NICE and not intimidating – which I think is so great for any newcomer. The team at BE Fit truly makes an effort to put you at ease if it’s your first class.

Class Scheduling and Times

BE Fit also offers great scheduling and time options – I love early mornings, but you can also find a class in the afternoon or evening. I could probably do a whole article on how Pilates changed my life but honestly, it is a life changing approach to working out and BE Fit Modern Pilates is the perfect twist on Pilates that I needed – my body CRAVES it.

How to Signup for BE Fit Classes

BE Fit is on ClassPass, but not ALL classes are offered on the app. You can check out their ClassPass availability by clicking here.

They offer great class packages on the BE Fit Modern Pilates app and you can sign up directly there too – it’s super simple.

Plus – your first class is only $19!! Sign up here!

How to Get to BE Fit Modern Pilates:

BE Fit now has many locations. You can find a studio in Long Beach, Orange County, and even in San Diego! You can find all of their locations by clicking here and looking at the bottom of the page.

Overall Rating of BE Fit Modern Pilates

It will likely be NO shock to those of you who follow me on Instagram,  that BE Fit Modern Pilates is a 5/5 for me. I am there at least two times a week LOL. It truly is the perfect workout, the best vibe, and one of the more friendly studios in OC that makes me feel welcome and excited to be there. Please let me know if you give it a try!! And if you think it’s hard, I know….but keep going 🙂 #makeitshake!!

Book a Class Here!

PINK’S PLACE: PARIS!!!!

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Ya’ll….I just spent a week in Paris and HOLY smokes....it was a DREAM! I have been before but there was something magical about traveling abroad post pandemic that made the city extra alive and special to me! I actually went for work but took advantage of every waking moment being in the city….so didn’t get a lot of sleep LOL but NO REGRETS! Plus. Robb had European work travels so we got to take advantage of being together in our favorite city. It felt completely normal there (no masks!!) and I felt safe the entire time.  Here is a QUICK list of some of my FAV spots this time around. ADD PARIS TO YOUR TRAVEL LIST ASAP

⭐️ Hotel Costes for din or drinks

⭐️ Harry’s Bar for cocktails (go downstairs for live music!)

⭐️ River cruise on the Seine (best views on the Bateaux Mouches!)

⭐️ Cafe Flores for lunch/espresso

⭐️ The Lourve (Mona Lisa!)

⭐️ LouLou for Lunch

⭐️ Buddha-Bar for dinner

⭐️ Mozza Pizza for lunch (right by the Eiffel tower!)

⭐️ Shopping in St. Germain or on Rue Saint Honoré

⭐️ Le Deux Magots for an aperol spritz

⭐️ La Maison d’Isabelle for a CROSSIANT 🥐

⭐️ Musée d’Orsay for impressionist art

 

I will be back SO SOON Paris…

 

Pink’s Place Review: Top 5 OC Coffee Shops

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I LOVE coffee…like LOVE. So, it is no surprise that I always hunt for the best local coffee shop no matter where I am at (sorry – Starbucks doesn’t do it for me). After moving to Orange County a few years ago, I started to hunt down the best coffee spots. To me, a stellar coffee shop has great coffee (duh), a calming/fun aesthetic vibe, and a friendly staff. SO, after years of scouring the area, I have finalized my list for OC! Here they are:

Orange County’s Top 5 Coffee Shops:

Kit Coffee

My #1 go-to coffee spot is Kit Coffee. Located at the cute Westcliff shopping center in Newport Beach, Kit Coffee is a simplistic, community-driven local shop that not only has incredible coffee and lattes, but also amazing fast-casual brunch options (like avocado toast). I just love any drink I have had here and their staff is always so friendly. The earthy, minimalist interior is v calming and they also sell plants and local artisan goods. They offer great indoor seating, and outdoor spots as well, and it gets busy on the weekend, but worth the wait. This is a great spot for grab and go or to meet a friend to enjoy a coffee and brunch outside – I love a spot that offers the best of both worlds! I go here at least once a week. My go-to orders: Almond milk latte or dirty chai latte or just a simple pour over. The garden toast is amazing too! (you can order online and pick it up to-go too!) 

Reborn Coffee

When I lived in Corona Del Mar, I probably spent a good portion of my paycheck at Reborn Coffee and I have 0 regrets lol. This place is SO good – incredible coffee drinks (even just their black coffees/pour overs too) and has a moody vibe that just feels right. Located right on PCH in the heart of CDM, Reborn Coffee uses their “reborn process” during the coffee making process. This means they carefully process and wash their coffee beans, use specific water when brewing and truly put incredible effort into each step of their craft. (they also have other locations you can find here!) I would walk here regularly and the staff is always helpful and sweet. They offer local pastries (always a vegan and gluten free option) and also serve empanadas (random but so good). My go-to orders: Americano, chai latte with almond milk, Chagachinno with almond milk (yes- they use Renude’s superfood mushroom powder in a coffee- don’t judge until you try it!) 

Alta Coffee

Another local fav coffee shop of mine is Alta Coffee. Located on the Peninsula in Newport Beach, Alta is a breakfast/lunch house and also a coffee shop. They serve organic coffees and also pastries too. During the pandemic, we would love to come here to grab a drink then walk the beach – they have a great location on a little street behind Lido. They have great breakfast too that you could order online to pick up to-go. Because of COVID, you order outside the shop and wait outside for your order. They did recently start seating people outside for breakfast/lunch again. They have GREAT service – always friendly. They do get busy on the weekends, but I think the wait is worth it. My go-to orders: Almond milk latte, black coffee, or iced coffee plus any of their omelets 🙂  

Coffee Dose

Looking for coffee with a side of sass? Coffee Dose is for you! This cute Orange County location is inside a hair salon (sounds weird, but it works) and is no stranger to sarcastic humor and great coffee (a dreamy combo). They offer an eclectic selection of coffee drinks – like wellness lattes with collagen, charcoal and turmeric. Their sweeteners and fun spin on drinks are homemade and original too, so no weird gunk and fake shit. It is not a menu for everyone, but they also still manage to offer great regular lattes and iced coffees too. It’s a very Instagram-y vibe with a mural on the small outdoor area wall and pink tile throughout and of course their infamous cups have funny and witty slogans that are bound to make your Instagram story. While ironically one of their slogans is “anti-bitch” serum, the employees are not always the friendliest. However, I always give coffee baristas the benefit of the doubt since I am also cranky before coffee. They also offer great baked goods, CBD products and fun merch too. I recommend this place to anyone looking to spice up their coffee game, but it is more of a grab and go spot. My go-to orders: Detox Latte, The Beauty Latte – w/no syrup or a regular coffee or almond milk latte. They also have a location in West LA too!

Moongoat Coffee

Another favorite spot of mine is Moongoat Coffee. Located in Westside Costa Mesa, Moongoat Coffee is a large warehouse turned coffee shop with major hipster vibes but in a welcoming/cool way. They offer a wide range of drinks – like a churro latte and even an iced coffee mixed with sparkling water (was kinda good lol). I have enjoyed their matcha too. There is definitely something for everyone here on the menu when it comes to drinks and I love getting to try so many different things. They also have a ton of food options – like bagels, avocado toast, oatmeal – and everything I’ve had has been SO good (vegan and gf options). They offer great seating – both indoor and outdoor. The large open indoor space makes this a great place to grab a coffee and study or work or to meet up with a friend. I also found out they hold group meetings and open mic nights here. The baristas are also super nice and friendly and they allow dogs too! It’s just a great vibe in an unassuming neighborhood and every experience I have here has been top notch.  My go-to orders: Iced matcha latte, hot americano, gf/vegan banana bread. 

Other notable mentions:

Philz Coffee

Hola Adios Coffeeshop

Coffee Nature 

Coffee Importers

WIP Work In Progress Goods

Stay tuned for a giveaway soon that may or may not have to do with coffee! 🙂

Pink’s Place Review: PARK CITY!

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After a few days in Park City, I can officially say this is one of my new favorite little towns. I absolutely LOVE the mountains so I knew I was in for a treat. However, Park City was the perfect blend of the great authentic outdoors and rustic luxury (making this a thing lol). I am sharing our favorite spots, activities and so on. We legit already have plans to go back…and my new goal is to own a home here. 🙂

First off, if you live in SoCal, Park City is SO easy to get to. You fly less than an hour and half into Salt Lake City and it is less than a 40 minute drive to PC. Loved it. Here are our details/places we LOVED:

Where to Stay in Park City:

We booked our first few nights with AvantStay. If you haven’t heard of AvantStay, you need to jump on it. This is like Airbnb, but better. They offer vacation stays, but with curated experiences and special touches. For example, when we arrived, we had a special welcome package waiting for us and through their app, you can book a private chef, cleaning services and book other experiences/hospitality services. We loved it and the property we stayed at is linked here called Slopeside (will be back for ski season!!). With the hot tub on the balcony, record player and special touches, we had the BEST stay. It was a perfect distance to downtown Park City –  far enough away for a quiet vibe and right on a golf course. I highly recommend AvantStay for large groups or small! 

Where to Eat in Park City:

Firewood

The most upscale meal we had was at Firewood. Located right on Main Street, the vibe here is very tranquil, rustic and I loved that all the food is cooked by a wood fire. I am obsessed with that smokey flavor and smell! We ordered an amazing salad to start and then I opted for the vegan option on the menu, a broccoli cake, which was actually phenomenal even though it sounds strange and Robb ordered and enjoyed the steak (he even had a bite of the broccoli cake and said it was “Not bad.” LOL 😂). This would be a great place to check out if you’re looking for a nice, upscale dining experience with a mountain vibe. 

Yuki Yama

The thought of sushi in a landlocked state freaked me out (especially coming from CA), but Yuki Yama delivered. Apparently they fly in fresh fish daily and their menu was a sushi lover’s heaven. Every single roll, veggie, and small plate we ordered was SO SO SO good. This may have been my favorite meal overall. Order the Yama-Mame (edamame in garlic goodness) and Beatrix Kiddo roll (veggie roll but TRUST me..so good). 

High West Distillery Saloon

Pretty much everyone recommended High West when I asked for Park City recommendations. Known for their world-class whiskey, High West Distillery Saloon is a bar/restaurant in Park City, but they also have an actual large distillery about 25 minutes outside of Park City. This restaurant and saloon are in an old building that has cool updates displayed throughout, including large tanks where they ferment/store their whiskeys. But what must also be noted about this place is their food. We came here for lunch and the food was exceptional. I ordered the tacos, vegan style and they were amazing. We also came here just for drinks that were also bomb – they have many whiskey drink options that even a non-whisky lover would enjoy (plus other wine/beer/drink options). High West also owns the restaurant next door called Nelson Cottage. We couldn’t get a reservation here but we want to go here when we come back. They offer a prix-fixe menu that changes weekly with a whiskey pairing. Sounds amazing! Definitely check this place out if you’re ever in Park City! 

Handle

Another place I received a lot of recommendations for was Handle. Located a bit off of Main Street, Handle offered family style small/large plates and fun, craft cocktails in a modern vibe atmosphere. They were accommodating of any dietary preferences and their menu was fun to order off of – I just love sharing! The standouts were: the cauliflower, pickled carrots, bread and shishito peppers. It was a perfect meal and would highly recommend checking it out for dinner! 

Deer Valley Grocery Cafe

We loved exploring Deer Valley and stopped by Deer Valley Grocery Cafe for lunch. A small grocery store with a cafe? My dream. They offered fresh salads, sandwiches, breakfast and grab and go market items.  I ordered the kale salad (& picked up some small, local snacks) and Robb loved the turkey chilli (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – this is Robb proofreading) and chicken wrap. It has a cute outdoor patio alongside a pond that was relaxing on a perfect summer day. We will be back!!

Five5eeds

Another iconic brunch/lunch spot in Park City is Five5eeds. They offer great coffee, fresh breakfast and lunch items with a healthy twist. I loved the chia seed pudding, and will be back to try more! It was crowded so we ordered it to go.

Harvest

Harvest is the perfect place to grab a quick coffee or green smoothie. I came here twice and loved it. Very LA 🙂 

Pink Elephant Coffee

Another great coffee shop was Pink Elephant Coffee. Located above a cool store, Pink Elephant offered great coffee, lattes, cold brew and also juices from Land Juicery (we tried the wellness shots and a green juice). I also tried their vegan/gluten free coffee cake and I am still thinking about it…

Where to Drink in Park City:

No Name Saloon

Amazing, old time saloon with a rooftop. You must come here as it is a Park City staple and has been there for ever!!! Be sure to get a spot on the roof for the best views!

High West Distillery

As I mentioned above, incredible drinks and outdoor vibe and indoor bar!

St. Regis Hotel Deer Valley

We loved taking the funicular up to the St. Regis hotel for drinks. The view is amazing, the bartenders are incredibly friendly and the drinks were also great. They have a great outdoor area with a cozy fireplace where you can take in the views and enjoy a cocktail. You have to try the espresso martini – be sure to ask Grant to make it. Robb and his friend Chad ordered one, okay maybe 5 or 6 old fashioneds and they said that they were amazing. This place is awesome. Definitely take the time to head up there and Deer Valley offers incredible views both at night and during the day. 

What to Do In Park City: 

Hikes

We opted for a basic slopeside hike up the Park City mountain. We accessed this at the top of Empire Avenue (right by Main Street). It was easy, pretty and a good workout in the altitude. Next time, we want to do the Armstrong Trail.

St. Regis Hotel Spa- Remede Spa

We love checking out spas when we travel and Remede did not disappoint. With incredible amenities including locker rooms, sauna, steam room and a whirlpool, we both felt very relaxed and were beyond happy with our experience. We got pedicures and we were served with incredible drinks and even better service. Ask for Erin!

To Wrap It Up:

Park City is truly one of my new fav places and I can’t wait to ski the slopes this winter. Any other fav mountain towns you love? Plz share!!