Yala Sales Rep Amanda Giomi Explores Europe!

Have you ever wanted to explore Europe? Been there before and dream of going back? Yala's long time employee, Amanda Giomi, got to do just that this winter when she took a well-deserved two weeks off to travel to Italy and Switzerland with her husband Treg.

Amanda with her husband Treg

Interview with Amanda…

What was your favorite part of the trip?
All of it really, we loved immersing ourselves in the laid back Italian lifestyle, indulging in the simple yet exquisite cuisine, and of course taking in all the history; everything from the ancient ruins in Rome to the works of famous artists such as Michael Angelo and Sandro Botticelli.

Coliseum

Did you know the language or learn any while you were traveling?
I had been listening to some Italian language pod casts here and there and I did know a few words and phrases but everybody was very friendly and helpful when it came to communicating, I loved learning the language! I downloaded a translation app ‘IHandy’ for my iPhone before we left and it turned out to be extremely helpful!

Town of Monterosso - Cinque Terre, Italy

What historical site did you like the best?
The history and the architecture were absolutely mind-blowing! Some of the highlights for me were seeing the Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican, and visiting the Accademia Gallery, which houses the Statue of David.

 

The Vatican

What would you bring next time?
Better walking shoes! My typical motto is 'Fashion over Function' when it comes to footwear so I brought one pair of trendy flats (absolutely no cushion or arch support), a pair of nice boots for dressing up, and some light weight tennis shoes. I would have traded them all in for an amazing pair of walking shoes to wear every day!

On the Trail - Cinque Terre

What kind of accommodations did you stay in?
We mainly stayed at small Inns or B&B’s but in Venice we had an apartment, which was the best because it really allowed us to live like the locals!

Venice, Italy

What was your favorite authentic meal?
Would it be ridiculous to say that every meal was my favorite? Italians typically eat dinner later in the evening so most of the restaurants don’t even open until 8 o’clock at night. We learned quickly that 2-3 hours for meal time was the norm. At first it was a hard adjustment because we were so accustomed to living a fast-paced American lifestyle where it's always go, go, go. Once we realized "hey, we're in Italy, we have nowhere else to be and nothing else to do" dinner often became the highlight of the day. It was a time to sit down, relax, enjoy each other's company, reminisce about the days events, and indulge!

Seafood Linguine

 

 Gelato

Was this your first time traveling abroad?
Yes, it was the first time for both of us! Treg and I both had dreams of going to Italy before we even met so it was amazing to be able to experience it together.

Town of Vernazza - Cinque Terre, Italy

Do you have any advice for planning a trip to Europe?
The best advice I ever got was “pack light, just bring a carry-on”. Typically I over pack for every trip so I never thought it would be possible to pack two weeks worth of clothing options into a tiny carry-on, but I’m so glad that I did! We traveled through Italy & Switzerland by train and I can’t even imagine trying to deal with more than one small bag!

Ponte Vecchio - Florence, Italy

What Yala item do you wish you had?
In hindsight I wish I had brought the Airline Comfort Set for the long plane ride to and from!

Yala's Airline Comfort Set

Did you bring any Yala with you? What did you find most useful?
Of course I packed Yala! We traveled in mid to late October so it was just starting to get chilly; I literally wore my Garnet Cashmere Scarf every single day. Not only did it keep me warm but it looked very chic amongst a sea of fashion-forward Italian natives.

Lugano, Switzerland 

Yala's Cashmere Scarf 

Until Next Time,
Lauren of Team Yala

Yala Sales Partner - Sedona Organics Educates its Customers on Sustainable Fabrics

Yala's new sales partner, Sedona Organics offers a wonderful selection of products "...for you, your home, your family, your friends." Their store is located in central Arizona among the beautiful red rocks and fresh air on the outskirts of Sedona.

"Our products reflect our desire to support and encourage 'organic' and natural as much as possible. Our Mission is to nurture and nourish our local and global communities,  working in harmony with people here in the USA and abroad in helping restore the health and balance to Mother Earth."

Sedona Organics Products

They carry an amazing selection of fabrics including Organic Cotton, Recycled PET and Viscose or Rayon from Bamboo, including a wonderful selection of Yala favorites. Along with selling conscientiously sourced products, Sedona Organics has a goal of continually raising education, awareness, consciousness, and action on their journey to sustainability.

Sedona Organics Store Front

Sedona Organics provides useful information about their fabrics, including these interesting facts about how these three fabrics are sourced... Also, make sure to check out their information about "Why Organic".

Did you know?

Cotton vs. Organic Cotton

Inside Sedona Organics

• On average, it takes about a pound of chemicals to grow cotton contained in a standard cotton T and jeans. 
• Standard cotton production may not go away overnight, but buying organic cotton helps support farms who engage in the socially responsible practice of pesticide-free production. 
• The chemicals used on cotton crops have been linked to ground water, surface water and drinking water contamination around the globe. 

Viscose or Rayon from Bamboo

Yala's Bamboo Dreams® Piper Dress is made of Viscose from Bamboo

• Considered a grass, bamboo is capable of growing over three feet in a 24-hour period making it one of the fastest growing plants in the world. 
• Compared to trees of similar size, bamboo also consumes five times the amount of CO2 and emits 35% more oxygen. 
• Growing bamboo improves soil quality and helps rebuild eroded soil. The extensive root system of bamboo holds soil together, prevents soil erosion and retains water in the water shed. 
• It does not require replanting after harvest because its vast root network continually sprouts new shoots by pulling in sunlight and converting green house gasses. This happens naturally without pesticides or fertilizers and without the use of tractors or other petroleum using machinery.

Recycled PET

• Recycled PET is one of the most exciting eco-conscious fabric choices available on the market today.  The fabric starts out as used plastic containers in the recycle bin. The PET products are sorted out, crushed, pressed into bales, shredded and then refined into PET flakes. 
• The recycled flakes are identical to newly produced PET flakes in their chemical composition, but they do have a few extremely important differences. It takes two-thirds less energy to manufacture products made out of recycled plastic, 90% less water and 50% less certain chemicals.
• At first glance, making clothing out of plastic bottles instead of bamboo or organic cotton may not seem very eco-friendly, but consider this- The United States consumed over 5.6 billion pounds of PET plastic containers in 2007. 
• Choosing to buy garments made of recycled PET over more resource-intensive fabrics (synthetics or otherwise) is one way to help reduce this imposing mountain of plastic in our world. Flexible, weather-resistant and long lasting, PET fabrics can also be surprisingly soft and supple, while maintaining favorable insulation properties.

We look forward to a long relationship providing sustainable fabrics together!

Until next time,

Lauren of Team Yala

Yala's Black Friday Sale - 15% Off our Entire Website! Plus Free Gift Wrapping

Yala's Holiday Gift Ideas

 Give her the gift of cozy with these great Yala nightwear and lounge pieces.

 

 Surprise that very special person with the gift that will be oohed and ahhed over every night. 

You will be adored for your thoughtfulness.

Spread the love.  Something for all your special people at just the right price.  Gift wrapping included!

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You just might want to sneak these gifts in early so the mister can start lounging in the ultimate of comfort now.

 Give a gift with meaning and make a difference in someone's life. 

Your new friends on the other side of the world say thank you.

 

Treat your traveler to something special that makes the journey more comfy and luxurious.

 Deck your little one in the jingle bells spirit with colors of the season. 

And the softness will make it baby's favorite.

Until Next Time,

Happy Shopping!

Lauren of Team Yala

Thanksgiving - Yala Style!

We recognize that the holidays can be stressful, with the pressure of cooking traditional dishes and hosting visiting family and friends, getting dressed is often moved to the back burner. To help you out, we asked some of our staff members to tell us how they would personalize their Yala holiday outfits. We hope that these six different looks will inspire you!

Yala's Top Six Outfits for the Holidays

Amanda's look utilizes Yala's timeless Grace Gathered Dress in Cassis paired with our popular Cashmere Scarf in Chai for a little extra warmth on her neck. The look is completed with black boots, a simple pendant necklace and of course, a classic pea coat.  

Caitlin likes to keep things cozy and simple. Yala's Harlow Top in Bayou is the perfect top no matter the dress code. She paired the top with our Maxi Skirt in Slate for the ultimate warm and flexible layer. Add our Wrap Bracelet in a few colors, brown boots and of course an over sized hobo bag.

Erica stays comfortable while looking chic in our classic striped Laurel Wrap paired with a feminine Lace Cami and Wide Leg Pants - perfect for our mommy-to-be. Pull the whole look together with a tonal clutch, stylish jacket and your version of a ruby slipper!

Kristen keeps it edgy with our new Della Dolman Sleeve Top, a pair of classic skinny's, and one of Yala's Nugget Necklaces for a touch of sparkle. Put on your sexiest pair of black heels, your favorite red lipstick, and a modern cape to keep the winter chill off!

Naomi sports the versatile Nadia Tunic with a pair of Yala Leggings and her trendy black booties. Keep the look funky and flirty with our frayed Pashbu and a pair of fingerless gloves for added warmth.

Tif gives the Izzy Dress a rocker-chic makeover with a pair of Yala's Slate Leggings and tall lace-up boots. Complete the look with a fur-trimmed hooded jacket and a pair of diamond studded hoops!

Until Next Time,
Happy Thanksgiving!

Lauren and Amanda of Team Yala

Yala Founders Nancy and Larry Morgan Spend Ten Days on a Barge in France!

Ten days on a barge in France is a slow, luxurious way to get to know France’s interior. It is a unique way to visit small villages, bike on country roads, shop farmers’ markets, enjoy regional wines, and eat in local restaurants.

Lucky us! We chose a trip on the River Lot.  We began our planning a year ahead of time with six other friends by booking our boat through Le Boat.  We already knew we would have a wonderful time as we had done the same trip on the Canal du Midi three years earlier.

 

Larry, enjoying the scenery

The living area, bedrooms, and bathrooms are small so thank goodness we have fun and wonderful friends as travel companions.  Our DreamSacks were much appreciated as the linen provided was limited.

Nancy in her Yala Tessa Tunic with traveling companions

We picked up our boat in the small town of Duelle, famous for its beautiful riverside mural depicting the history of wine.

Soon we learned the art of opening and closing the locks to raise or lower our boat as we went upstream or downstream.  We all took part by either roping the boat off or climbing up the ladder and cranking the heavy iron doors open or closed as our capable friend Captain Tom, guided us through.

 

We flowed past spectacular views of medieval villages, castles, farms and vineyards, pulling over when we wanted to explore. 

 

We are already looking forward to our next barge adventure.


Until next time,

Nancy Yala Founder