I wanted to avoid finding a halloween costume so badly this year I ended up planning not one, but two trips over the frightening holiday. One to Paris, and one to Mexico. I heard the weather in Paris is cold this year, and it didn’t include shooting a 5 page spread in Modeliste Magazine either.

The choice was easy: I would spend this year in Puerto Vallarta celebrating the Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos) with a boss babe group from all over the world, AND shooting a 5 page spread for Modeliste Magazine. Can we say this was so meant to be?

Well, yes I think so. I dreamt of shooting a magazine spread as one of my first goals as a model. Luckily I was able to do that already, but recently I realized that I never simply wanted a red hot photo spread in a magazine. I dreamt of having a voice, a message and a meaning behind the photos I created. I wanted girls to be like, "hey she looks like she could be my friend!” or a photo with true meaning. Modeliste magazine made this dream a reality this week through the opportunity to not only be the model for the spread, but the creative director, wardrobe stylist and to put a story through my photos. Too bad I can’t share the spread until January (guess you’ll have to subscribe to see!)

This week was truly a blessing thanks to Modeliste Magazine and Hard Rock Hotel PV!

Throughout the 5 days in Puerto Vallarta, we watched baby sea turtles make it to the ocean, visited a local community center that collects recyclables every month and even reuses them to build walls, art pieces, or education, photographed a magazine spread, experienced the exquisite detail of the Day of the Dead celebration and the beauty surrounding the message behind it, filled up with a lot of food, including a private dinner with full staff at the “Rock Star Suite” at the Hard Rock Hotel where we were staying, and still had time to enjoy the sunshine.

Every single morning I woke up at the brink of dawn, and probably the only time I immediately went to open my curtains. Normally I would just lie there, dooming the second I had to wake up because mornings are the worst. Just me? But here I really looked forward to exposing the tropical Mexican beach view from my cozy room and watching the sun rise. Better yet, I could open my 5 story high balcony and hear the ocean, hardly waiting to get down into it.

Another thing I usually would just absolutely dread: breakfast. I never have enough time in LA (because mornings are the worst) and end up running out the door 20 minutes late if I even attempt, but this incredibly welcoming, all-inclusive resort allowed me to walk down to breakfast in a breeze. And their buffet style breakfast was mouth watering every. single. day. One more thing I didn’t have to worry about! I would stuff my face with made-to-order (like right in front of my face) nutella and strawberry jam crepes, fresh pressed juices and pastry assortments. My vaca diet was so real.