This past week I was fortunate enough to travel to Portland to experience the Nike World Headquarters. If I could sum it up in one word (okay, two) it would be Disney Land. It was incredible! I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but whatever it was, if you could imagine the coolest people (I mean, they design THE most innovative (and cool) products surrounded by most beautifully landscaped grounds, there you have the Nike campus!
During my two day trip to Portland, the program was focused on Nike Women. I remember my driver saying on the way to the hotel the first night, ‘Nike will have you busy from dawn to dusk,’ and boy was he right! I’m not complaining, though! I am all about fitting in as much as possible and experiencing the most you can. On the first day, there was an optional yoga class taught by the talented Krissy Jones bright and early (6:30 A.M.)—luckily, Portland is within the Pacific time zone, so it didn’t feel too early! After yoga, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for our big day ahead!
We arrived on the gorgeous Nike Campus, and I had to laugh to myself because the driver (yes, same one) also told me that it’s so well manicured, that he swears Nike has little elves that come in at dark and make sure everything is perfect! First stop was the Tiger Woods Center. On our way there, we got to walk around the campus. We walked through the Nike Hall of Fame and even saw some Olympic athletes training.
They had a delicious breakfast spread ( I could certainly get used the delicious AND healthy options they had displayed for me daily 😉 ), during which we heard from Amy Montagne, VP/GM of Global Nike Women, and saw a gorgeous display of shoes (it seriously looked like artwork!) and watched some super inspirational nike videos (you know the ones that make you just want to get after it and ‘just do it’)!
We also heard from Martin Lotti, VP and Nike Global Category Creative Director, speak about his journey (so inspirational!). He also discussed how the intersection of performance, style, and soul is woven into every nike design.
After that, we walked to another space that featured different Nike designers’ takes on natural motion, specifically called, “Experiments in Natural Motion” collection. 
Nathan Jobe, Senior Design Director of NSW Footwear Innovation, showed us how each designer experimented with flyknit uppers and unique materials to create interesting shoes that were featured in a Nike exhibition at Milano Design Week 2016.
The space also featured artifacts and history from the start of what Nike came to be. It was so cool reading about how Geoff Hollister packed his VW van with running shoes and literally drove around to different high schools and colleges and sold the new line of shoes. It was interesting to learn about how the iconic Nike Waffle Trainer came to be.
Then, it was time to head to the Blue Ribbon Studio, a newly built creative space that designers at Nike can use to play around and create things. It was amazing to see machinery such as sewing machines, screen printing, and rolls and rolls of fabric (which I later saw on a shoe for Spring/Summer 2017—SO cool!). 
Here, we each got to make our own tote bag with whatever we wanted! Everyone was so creative, and every single designer or employee I encountered was just so happy and more than willing to help! Having worked at a corporate job, it was SO refreshing to see!
Once we made our bags, we got to see hear from Georgina James, Design Director of NSW Women’s Footwear, Theo Wang, Concept Director of Women’s Training, and Helen Boucher, VP of Women’s Training. Of course, they were super stylish and so sweet! They gave a brief preview of the super hard work that goes goes into creating apparel and footwear. They also had beautiful models to show some of the new pieces from the 2017 collection. I specifically LOVED the new mesh legging that is coming out in 2017— the phone stayed in the mesh pocket, even during a workout!
After we had the most delicious lunch, we headed back the the Tiger Woods Center for our Nike Training Club workout! Before the workout, we went to our very own personalized lockers that had some super cute kicks and a full outfit! It was fun because everybody was dressed in some variation of the same pieces!
We then met with our trainer, Ben Monk . He gave a killer workout and he wasn’t bad to look at either 😉 
We did a bunch of drills and also partnered off, which was fun to get to know the other girls. Having not done a ton of NTC workouts, I loved it, and will definitely by doing them more often! Following the workout, we headed back to the hotel and had a delicious dinner that evening.
We definitely got our sweat on!
The next morning began with another great yoga class (loved starting my day off that way!) and then another busy day at Nike! We also started in the Nike Lab, which is super secure, so I was so psyched we got to see it! They had an entire wall of every pair of Nikes that have been made starting from the 1970’s until present. It was so cool to see the progression and how the styles and colors have evolved. We also got to hear from Julie Igarashi, VP and Creative Director for Nike Running and NikeWomen, and Martin Lotti, who showed some of the pieces that Maria Sharipova and Serena wore during the US Open and how Nike caters to each athlete individually.
Additionally, we also had the opportunity to hear about the progression of Nike Air engineering. 
First Nike Air model
It was so cool to learn about the technology and how much it’s evolved from the start to present. They are releasing the Nike Air VaporMax, which are the lightest pair they’ve made and 100% sustainable.
The other incredible shoe we got to learn about was the Nike Hyperadapt from Tiffany Beers, Senior Innovator—think Back to the Future shoes! They sense your foot and auto lace for you! I got to try on a pair later that day, and they were SO cool! Felt like it was a magic shoe! 
I shared them at work on my snapchat that day!
Following that we headed back to the Tiger Woods Center, where they had the same gorgeous display of shoes they had the first day, EXCEPT this time, we couldn’t take any photos because they were previewing the new kicks for Spring and Summer ’17. Let me just say that I am utterly obsessed with every single one of them! I can already kiss my bank account goodbye!
Andrea Corradini, Senior Product Director of NSW Women, talked about some the inspiration behind the new lines for next year: innovation, modern comfort, and obsessing about the materials. As a result of these fundamentals, classics like the ‘Cortez’ and ‘Blazer’ are going to be released in gorgeous fabrics like satin leather, and velvet. 
Got these in the black, and I’m so psyched to wear them!
Most definitely getting these in the spring!
Cortez in satin, yes please!
Additionally, portions of the classics like the ‘Air Flow’ and ‘Air Presto’ were taken together and molded to form the most gorgeous shoe, ‘Lunarcharge’. Ya’ll I’m obsessed! Some of the colors have been released just now, and they will continue releasing more into 2017. She also went further into the color scheme for 2017—expanding to neutrals and then to pale pinks and lavenders to fit under the theme ‘from dawn to dusk’. They will also be releasing the new Air Max in the summer that has a rainbow bottom that fits under the ‘#BeTrue’ collection.
During the rest of the day, we got to see a makeshift ‘store’ that housed most of the apparel and footwear for 2017. Again, such beautiful pieces! Most of the line focuses on proportion, bold color blocking and graphics, and nesting (layering pieces together through mesh and open backs). It also focused on reactive color mixed with black and white—LOVE!
After obsessing over every piece of clothing, we headed back to the Tiger Woods Center to sit down and have an open forum with several very empowering women, including olympic boxer, Marlen Esparza. We discussed the difficulties us, women, face, and specifically, how each of them have overcome obstacles. One thing that really stood out to me was when Marlen did not qualify for the 2016 Olympics, she still was super happy for her fellow competitors that did make it and were competing in Rio. Instead of being bitter, she watched them and cheered them on. Such a powerful statement. She talked about how women should lift each other up and be happy for competitors and friends and not to be jealous. I could not agree more! Such truth behind those powerful words!
Reflecting on this amazing experience, I was humbled to be surrounded not only by the INCREDIBLE designers at Nike, but by these incredible women that were on the journey with me. Most of them were some form of editor for a well known magazine (that I read on the regular)—think Glamour, Women’s Health, Elle, etc. These girls were clearly bright and successful, and yet so humble! Nobody was catty or rude, which made this trip that much better. Not only did I bring home some amazing Nike goods (obsessed with my Blazer kicks and Apple watch!), but I also took with me so much appreciation behind what I already knew was an awesome brand!
some photos courtesy of Nike
They have four gourmet restaurants on the property, as well as an incredible spa. In December, they will be debuting a brand-new, ultra-luxe “resort-within-a-resort” expansion called The Towers at Pacifica. It will offer upscale accommodations, a 24-hour butler service, elevated dining experiences, and exclusive access to a new VIP Towers Lounge. We had the opportunity to stay in the new tower before it was completely finished, and the rooms were incredible!
They have a great gym filled with cardio equipment, free weights, as well as machines. We were able to get in a great workout each day! They also offer a ton of workout classes that are complimentary!
You can also order food and drinks poolside, which of course, we gladly partook in! We don’t usually drink, but we ordered this drink which was vodka, sparkling water, and fresh mint blended together with ice that was SO refreshing. I literally gulped it down both times I had it, haha, and that is totally unlike me! The waiters at the pool were super friendly and accommodating, which always makes a huge difference.
Now, about the food, aka the most important part! I will admit, I was a little nervous about the food, considering we were at an all-inclusive resort, and how particular I am about how my food is prepared. I was super surprised at how easy and accommodating it was to eat healthy and the way I normally do while we stayed there! 
For breakfast, at Siempre, they had a ton of options at the buffet like fresh fruit, amazing pastries and breads, oatmeal, hot food items like eggs, refried beans, roasted potatoes, and other Mexican specialties like enchiladas and tostadas. They also had an omelette station, where you could get eggs prepared however you like them. We both ordered our usual egg white omelettes with vegetables, and the sweet lady making them everyday remembered our order every morning! She was adorable, and so accommodating! They also offered a variety of salsas to top your eggs with (LOVE!). My favorite part of the breakfast was that they had egg whites with salsa and veggies in the actual buffet! I had never seen that before, but I absolutely loved it!
Our hotel itself is very walkable, and we heard from other guests it was their favorite all-inclusive resort out of all of the ones they have stayed in, so that is saying a lot! The resort is about 45 minutes from the airport, but it is a great drive and allows you to see a lot of the city as you drive in!
Here are some of our outfits from our trip:
Being the foodies we are, we love the dining options they have available. Not only do they have
Chef Will had just made a trip to Morocco and used spices he got from there on the dish! Does it get any more authentic?! The flavors were out of this world and everything was SO fresh! We even had a tuna sashimi appetizer, and we saw the tuna that Chef Will caught the day before (so cool, right!?). More importantly, we loved that all of these restaurants had options for individuals with food allergies or sensitives. Nothing is worse than going somewhere with no options to eat!
We also cured our sweet tooth’s several times at Gelato & Co. The shop is owned by an Italian, so you know it’s authentic! We haven’t had a flavor that we didn’t love, but we were even more excited that they had a stevia sweetened chocolate sorbetto that was dairy and gluten free! Sign us up! We were hesitant about the taste, but it did not disappoint! AMAZING! They also offer fruit sweetened sorbettos that solely rely on the fruit to sweeten the delicious favors, as opposed to additional sugar. Aside from the the amazing flavors, the actual shop is super cute and makes you want to hang out in there forever. The dream!
We loved that Camana Bay offers several ways to stay active! They have Anytime Fitness and Crossfit located within the community and both have classes available. Additionally, they have an 75 foot tall Observation Tower that leads to 360 degree views of the island. We’d say that’s a great post workout reward! They also have a Sports Complex, which features two tennis courts, two basketball courts, one eight-lane, 25-metre swimming pool, and a FIFA rated sports field.
Camana Bay also offers some great shopping! We had a little too much fun checking out the more than 
Whether you’re enjoying the outdoors, shopping, or heading to grab a bite, you can’t help but notice the beautiful design. The community itself was designed with green concepts in mind, such as having electric car charging stations, and is the largest producer of solar power on the island. On top of that, the most talented artisans all over the world were hired to create the beautiful awnings, fountains, lightings, and mosaics that can be seen throughout Camana Bay. 
We love spending time at Camana Bay, and definitely make a few stops there on every trip to Grand Cayman. If you’re ever visiting Grand Cayman, we highly recommend checking it out!
Photos courtesy of Dart Realty
This past week my boyfriend and I stayed at the beautiful 
The staff is all incredible and so welcoming, and the actual grounds itself are gorgeous. My boyfriend became best friends with all the staff members by the end of the trip because they are all so nice and entertaining (shoutout to Sebastion!). The lobby/front desk area is all outdoors overlooking the ocean and infinity pool, which is so cool. The decor is super contemporary and unique, which I loved. The hotel is just over a year old, but it still feels brand new, and they make you feel as if you are the only people staying at the hotel. The hotel is secluded, but in a good way to where you feel like you have your own private beach and is not overcrowded like some of the other big hotels in the area.
Manta is the other restaurant they have on the property, and it is a Mexican and Japanese fusion. Although we didn’t have a chance to eat there, we heard great things about it!
Now, for the room! This was probably one of my favorite parts about the hotel. I never thought I would say that because I typically spend the least amount of time in the actual room, but this room was incredible and very well thought out. They use a key scanner to open the room door, so you don’t have to physically insert the key in the door, and they have USB ports all around the room to charge your devices. The bathroom was spacious and had a gorgeous all-glass rain shower, which is definitely more for couples, haha. Having the open shower and separate bathtub made the room feel twice as big, and opened up the space a lot. The room had gorgeous artwork, beautiful floor tile, and a really modern and comfortable bed.
The balcony was amazing because it had a rocking couch that was hanging from the ceiling that was great for reading or just hanging out. We relaxed out there one evening and just listened to the waves and watched the stars (total cheeseball;))
The hotel had a great gym that was usually empty and had a variety of equipment like cable machines, TRX, and cardio equipment. They offered complimentary spa water, healthy snacks, and towels as well. 
After meeting Jackie, we headed over to the cutest restaurant, Gilligan’s. It’s all nautical themed and had the yummiest food! The table got watermelon margaritas in mason jars (I know, so cute!), margarita pizza, pita and avocado, and Alexis and I got the Branizno, which was amazing!
After dinner and drinks, we all headed back to the Nike venue for the main event. The main focus of the event was to preview the brand new, never before seen, Team USA design and innovation for Rio this year. Within the venue, we saw the latest innovations within both equipment and apparel across all sports such as basketball, track & field, soccer, tennis, golf, and more. We were in such awe of all of the amazing products we saw! Everything from super rich and bright color palettes, material and technology that helps to reduce drag and weight and increase aerodynamics. By the time we had seen everything in the space, we truly knew why Nike is known for obsessing the athlete from head to toe. 
Photo c/o Nike
The second room was a room full of flyknit kicks all in the same bright neon yellow and pink hues (basically, heaven!). Of course, Alexis and I were completely obsessed with the colors Nike chose! The story behind it is pretty cool, too! Nike imagined athletes’ travel to tropical Brazil and thought about beetle shells. They took the bright and irqedsedent colors as inspiration to create Nike’s new signature unlimited colorway collection. In motion, the bright colors illustrate a glowing path that represents both the athlete’s unlimited abilities and how Nike views the world, “bursting with unlimited inspiration and design possibilities. Even cooler, did you know that FlyKnit technology delivers maximum performance with 60% less waste! More 
Upstairs, they had all of the throwback basketball kicks and gear, and wait for it…basketball legend, Scottie Pippin. So cool, right?! We also got to see the designer collections such as NikeLab + Gyakusou and Nikelab + .
After browsing through the venue and eating some delicious appetizers, we listened to an interview with Jackie Joyner Kersee, Scottie Pippin, and Michael Johnson. They were all so humble and super interesting to listen to!
Photo c/o Nike
The next morning, Alexis and I headed to the hotel gym for a quick workout and then walked over to 12 Chairs (so yummy!). We loved that we could walk around to good restaurants! After that, we went back to the hotel to get ready and then walked back to the 
This time was super cool because we got to sit down with one of the Nike designers and got a one on one explanation of EVERYTHING! It was SO interesting! I could have listened all day! I will be completely honest, had I not learned about all of this, I would have just said ‘cute gear,’ but never realized all of the time and innovation behind it. First up, she talked about their most exiting innovation within track & field, track spikes. 
Besides looking super badass, they minimize weight via Nike Aeroswift technology featuring recycled polyester. The fabric is also super breathable with engineered mesh and integrates Nike AeroBlades (formed nodes that channel air around the athlete, resulting in the greatest drag reduction of any Nike track and field kit to date).
Even better, in addition to the gear, Nike came out with leg and arm sleeves, and even adhesive patches with AeroBlades! This technology was in the making for quite some time. They used wind-tunnel testing on mannequins the same shape and size as the company’s various track and field athletes. 
Nike also used the same idea to create a breathable bib made out of perforated micro layer knit with tape instead of the traditional paper and safety pin bib. 
More on that 
She then went into the medal uniforms that all athletes will wear on the stand. 
How cool do they look at night!?
The NikeLab Dynamic Reveal Jacket is ribbed on the arms, which allows for breathability and mobility, and also shows ribbons of red and blue when in motion. The pants also have the same vertical ribbed zone that offers the same breathability and bright patriotic colors when moving. The jacket will be available for purchase later this month. More 
We had a blast! It was a quick but eventful trip! We hope to get back soon!
