Browsing Tag

travel

travel

Disney World Travel Tips

We just got back from a long weekend in Disney World for their 50th anniversary and if you were following along on my instagram stories you know it was anything but smooth! Our direct flights from Raleigh/Durham Airport into Orlando on Southwest were canceled after being delayed for 6 hours, and then we scrambled to even find flights the next day. As you know Disney planning takes months to perfect with all the dining reservations and accommodations etc. I did not want to miss another full day of plans, so we luckily found a company to drive us through the night to Orlando. Shout out to Raleigh Taxi services, you made my kids Disney dreams a reality! We arrived at 4am on Saturday morning, and had 3 hours of sleep until our Character breakfast with Mickey. We did make it, two exhausted parents and two excited kids that didn’t even notice. Here is everything I know right now going to Disney World during these crazy world times. PS* I am cohosting a giveaway for a free 3 night stay to Disney + LainSnow swimsuits for an entire family over on instagram! It closes on 10/24, go tag friends!

Where to Stay:

Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek
:
We have loved staying off Disney property resorts several years now. The Wyndham was in the perfect location to take a quick ride 10 minutes to the park. The resort also offers free shuttle rides for various times. They also have an amazing buffet breakfast on site which made it seamless to eat and hurry the kids to the parks. They have several pools to choose from, including a lazy river and beach front entry for the kids. One of my favorite meals of our trip was at their onsite restaurant Deep Blu Seafood and Grille. You can see all they have to offer on dining here as well. The giveaway I posted is for a free 3 night stay to this hotel + daily breakfast for two. Enter here on this post for instructions!


Tips for Planning a smooth Disney World Trip:

  • Sign up on Mouse Watcher app for all the dining reservations you need to make! It will send you an alert the second one becomes available. We were able to get all our desired dining this way.
  • Order Magic Bands to link all your hotel reservations, wallet and park tickets to your wrist for easy access.
  • Plan your days by the parks, there is no fast pass system in place right now so that might things a little hectic with young kids, but I heard they were releasing a new Disney Genie pass soon to replace it!
  • Reserve a stroller for the kids to be dropped off at your hotel for arrival. This was a game changer for us, we used Scooter Bug!
  • Order outfits and mickey ears ahead of time on Amazon. You can shop all our outfits here.
  • Have some downtown at the hotels for just lounging between parks.
  • Pack extra Masks, they are requiring them when waiting in indoor lines and all restaurants walking to tables.
travel

Cabo Bachelorette Guide

I had the pleasure of hosting my best friends bachelorette last week in CABO, so here is our entire itinerary below for easy planning! This was one of the smoothest and no drama trips I have ever taken with 11 girls. I believe it went so smooth by staying extremely organized and having a plan each day so everyone was on time! I downloaded this itinerary template from Etsy, and made all the girls little hangover kits for the weekend. Below are all the details!



Arrival:
You don’t need a Covid test to enter Mexico, so we all flew in around the same time to SJD airport. We had Vivolx Luxury transportation waiting for us with a sign for pick up! This was key to not be frantically trying to look for a taxi and a great welcoming for the bride on arrival with champagne! You can use code BECCAINGLE for a discount on your next trip with them!


Where we Stayed:
We started the trip at Waldorf Pedregal and got a 3 bedroom luxury suite. We stayed here last year with the kids and fell in love with the resort, you can see that blog post here. It was much more doable when split between 11 girls!


We ended the trip our last 3 nights at Hilton Los Cabos! I was blown away by the hotel when we arrived. Make sure to book a ground floor walk out pool room way ahead of time if staying there, the rooms go fast since limited availability. They have one of the only beachfront swimmable beaches in Cabo and we spend a few afternoons on the beach just floating in the waves! They also have options to ride horses on the beach, rent surfboards, and various cabanas. We spent one afternoon at Enclave Beach club in a Oceanfront Bungalow and it was my favorite day. They have several infinity pools, an entire kids area, slide, park, and beach entry by one side of the hotel too. You can book any Cabana rentals here and also use code SOCIAL for 25% off a stay of two nights or more!

Where to eat:

  • Brunch: Flora Farms or Malibu Cafe
  • Dinner: El Farallon, Cocina Del Mar, The Office ( for a laid back/fun night out), Acre Baja, Nobu Los Cabos, Nido at Viceroy.

What to do:

  • Boat Day: We booked Pelican Cabo and we all agreed it was our favorite day!! They had a chef on site, provided alcohol, and you can customize the trip to stop by the beaches and just float on the mat. 10/10 all around!
  • Day Excursions: Cabo Adventures has an entire list on site. We did the Camels & Atv tours!
  • Pool Party: Omnia Los Cabos, we booked a cabana and this was another epic day just partying from 1-5pm!
  • Themed Nights: We did a color theme night and a wig night, and both made our pictures pop! highly recommend to make the bride stand out! We also did matching swimsuits from LainSnow! Restocking this friday at noon est!
travel

Turks & Caicos Travel Guide

We have been coming to Turks & Caicos since our honeymoon almost 9 years ago! We fell in love with the island then, and we fall more in love with it every time we visit. This trip made it our 6 time visiting the island, and third time for the kids. It is the perfect family luxury island vacation in my opinion, and we have been all around the world! You can see my first ever turks and caicos blog post here, and another one we did a few years ago here. I feel like this time we finally got to explore the other side of the island more, but already dying to go back!

Documents Required for Entry into Island:

1. A negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an accredited laboratory (antigen and antibody tests will not be accepted). Anyone above the age of 10years+
2. Medical/Travel insurance that covers COVID-19 medical costs, full hospitalization, doctors’ visits, prescriptions and air ambulance/medevac.
3. Completed a health screening questionnaire and Travel Authorization Form see link : TCI || Dashboard (turksandcaicostourism.com) 

On the TCI Assured Portal a traveler may begin the application process 5 days prior to arrival in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Each applicant will be provided with a username and password to access the application so that it can be completed in multiple sessions. Once all of the required documents are uploaded, the application can be submitted for review. The information is then verified and a TCI Assured Travel Authorization sticker will be issued to the traveler.

Documents Required to return to the US:

1. A negative COVID-19 PCR test result from an accredited laboratory (antigen and antibody tests will not be accepted). Anyone above the age of 2 years+ has to complete.
*All the resorts we stayed at have onsite covid testing you schedule your appointment upon arrival a day in advance before departing!

Where to stay:

Grace Bay Beach: We love this side of the beach if visiting the island for the first time. It was voted as #1 beach in the world in 2016 by TripAdvisor. The sand is white and the water is so calm and clear! There are no waves and it is the perfect place for young kids to play in the ocean.

  • Seven Stars Grace Bay: This resort has several buildings and you can’t go wrong with any room, they all face the ocean. We stayed in a two bedroom ocean suite which included a full kitchen and walk out balcony. They have several pools onsite, coconuts to order, and complimentary yoga every morning. They also keep a water trampoline right out front of the hotel and complimentary non-motorized watersports.
  • Point Grace Resort: This is a secluded quiet resort with poolside cottages that are one-two bedrooms with huge balconies and full kitchens. We enjoyed letting the kids nap in the rooms when we swam in the pools since it was in eye sight, it was very convenient for young kids!
  • The Palms: Sister property to the Shore Club, they have a kids camp on site, one large ocean front pool, and beautiful location on grace bay beach.


Long Bay Beach:

  • The Shore Club TC: On the other side of the island, this ocean area is a little windier but very shallow for a mile out. You will see kit surfers right outside your bedroom and jetskis are able to pull up right on shore. We had a one bedroom walk out room and felt like we were at our own private beach house. There is also a kids camp on site here, several restaurants, amazing spa, and adults only pool area.

What to do:

Where to eat:

lifestyle

The Spring Sale ShopBop

The Shopbop Spring Sale is Live and ends on Friday the 16th! Below are my favorite looks to pack for spring/summer travel that I will be wearing nonstop! Also listing everything I packed for our recent trip to Mexico!

Shop my favorite work out looks here:

Here is everything I packed on our recent trip for you resort/beach lovers! These are perfect essentials:

Shop my beach packing list here!

travel

Travel Guide Miami, South Beach

It’s been just shy of two weeks since I left the city of Miami with all my girlfriends celebrating my 30th, and I miss the energy (and heat) there!  It is the perfect place to fly for a weekend trip with the family, girls weekend or bachelor/bachelorette!  Below you’ll find everything you need to know to make it an amazing trip!

How to get there:  You can fly into FLL or MIA airport.   With traffic, both come out to almost the same drive time to South beach Miami. I always put google alert flights on for multiple airports and route options months prior to get the best deals.  Flying from NC we ended up getting RT flights for $200!

When to visit:  Miami is a place I would visit year round!  The temperatures are ideal anytime 70-80s typically, but I would just try to avoid holidays, spring break, and ultra weekend music festival due to the crowds.

 


(Outfit by South moon under, picture kimpton surfcomber pool)

Where to stay: We stayed at both Kimpton sister properties during our time there, and both were amazing in their own ways.  You know I love some Kimpton Hotels, here are some things to note about each.  Since both of these properties are boutique hotels, its key to book early because they only have a select amount of rooms.

  •   Option 1:  The Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel:  If you prefer to be on the beach, this is the spot.  It is located at the heart of SOBE and easy walking distance to all the action.  They have an onsite pool that hosts some amazing pool parties & you can rent the side cabanas during the day.  They also have an onsite restaurant called The Social Club where you can dine inside by the lobby or outside.  I enjoyed their avocado toast one morning!  They also offer fun Splash Cycle fitness classes & several other events you can find on their calendar here.

(From beach to pool, they provide chairs and towels)

  • Option 2:  The Kimpton Angler Hotel:  I loved this hotel was located within blocks from the beach and around a fun area of SOBE.  We immediately enjoyed bites at the Minnow bar upon arrival.  I got the Charcuterie Board and the chef brought us out the lobster rolls to try too.  The outside area has a boho chic vibe, I would sit out here the entire night if I could.  Also their drinks were SO good!  My favorite thing about this hotel was their ROOFTOP POOL!  The rooms were so cute and the staff felt like family.  They even brought me balloons for my birthday, who does that?  Thank you to the Kimpton team, yall are amazing!


    (rooftop pool at Kimpton Angler)

    (Outdoor dining at Minnow bar)


    (Pimento cheese dip & Charcuterie board)
    *
    Where to eat: (besides the above hotels, we love to dine out in cities whenever traveling new places)Below are ones I have been to before and can vouch!  But here is a complete list online too
  • For Party/lively crowd (sparkles table kinda thing): Komodo, Baoli, Seaspice or Kikis on the river (sundays)
  • For upscale dining:  Nobu, Prime 112, Swan, STK
  • For Brunch Spots: Malibu Farm at Eden Roc, Nikki’s Beach
    (brunch at Kimpton Surfcomber, outfit by local shop Wallysposh)
    (on the yacht we rented from yacht charters of miami, my suit is from kyaswim)
    *
    What to do:
  • Book a Yacht for half the day or an entire day!  We did this on a Saturday with Yacht Charters of Miami and we wish we had done an entire day!  I also recommend booking these way in advance because the best companies get booked.  The entire staff on yacht Charters of Miami were so sweet and organized from booking to finish.  We went out on this yacht, but you can choose a variety on their site!  You can also choose to do Jetskis as well, but we ended up just enjoying the boat and sightseeing Miami from that point of view.
  • Explore South Beach and Art areas of Miami.  There are so many cute areas we didn’t have time to check out, but everyone suggested.
  • Shop!  One of the local stores I loved and wore clothes from is Wallys Posh. Shop all their looks online!


  • (Luggage is Delsey, You can shop all my looks here from the trip!)Its always fun Miami!  Until next time 🙂
lifestyle,north carolina,travel

North Carolina Travel Stay-Cations

I was born & raised in North Carolina.  I went to school in North Carolina (except for a semester in Hawaii), and I now live in North Carolina with my family!  When it comes to traveling around the state, I find myself doing the same things I am so use to and grew up to know.  I wanted to break out of the ordinary and start traveling my own state like I do other cities.  These next couple months I am so excited to do several “Stay-Cations” in North Carolina and see some sides of these towns I haven’t before!  We have some upcoming trips to the mountains (Blowing Rock & Asheville) over these winter months so keep an eye out for those travel guides.

In NC, fall/Winter blend together for the most part. I wanted to show you my basic travel packing list for the kids when going on short one night stays in the area!
Here’s whats in their suitcase:

  •  Jackets: These Merrimane Jackets have been a life saver, not too hot, not too cold, perfect over the clothes jacket that’s so soft.  It also has a chic look too it, so we rock these jackets to church too :). * Fun Giveaway happening on my Instagram page, head over there for a chance to win a Merrimane Jacket!
  • Basic Tees/Leggings: My go to is H&M/ Carters for basic black/white tees for layering
  • Pajamas: Babybreez– I always try to put the kids in jammies when traveling for comfort.
  • Toboggans: Loving Love your Melon kid line right now!
  • Shoes: Uggs- so easy & Warm, I think im going to get black for both of them for christmas.
  • Essentials: Babybum products, from lotion to shampoo!
  • Packing Cubes: These making packing so much easier, got them on amazon here!

Below are some stays we recently did and Holiday events going on around the Triangle this month (Raleigh/Durham).  You can see my first Christmas post on events around NC here.

Winston Salem, NC
Where we stayed: The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel

  •  Proximity: We chose this hotel due to its convenience to downtown and tons of restaurants within walking distance.
  • Kid Friendly:  If you saw my stories on my Instagram, they didn’t do it justice.  This hotel comes with a complete underground basement with a basketball court, Bowling Alley, Slide, ping pong tables, and so on.  Anyone from kids to adults could spend hours in this area having a blast.
  • Pet Friendly:  This hotel allows dogs.  Its rare that I am at a nice hotel that also allows pets, so bring your fur babies!
  • Rooms:  We stayed in a large king room, the showers were amazing with kids- double sided no fights!
  • Buffet Breakfast: Starts at 8am, I would have preferred earlier because my kids are early birds but nonetheless it was delicious and easy!

    Raleigh, NC
    Where we Stayed: Hilton North Hills

  • Amenities: Their Indoor Pool & Whirlpool was the hit of our stay with the kids.  I love when a hotel has a pool indoors because you can keep the kids entertained no matter what time of year it is!  The place was huge and stocked with towels.
  • Restaurant on site:  Their new restaurant 88 Oaks was an easy choice for dinner & Breakfast.
  • Service:  Everything was perfect from check in to check out, to getting us anything we needed quickly.
  • Rooms: We had a king bed room and the bed was very comfortable, I usually toss and turn not sleeping in my own bed and didn’t wake up at all here.  The bed felt like a cloud.
  • Proximity: This location is within a mile from North Hills shopping, and we happened to stay the night of the Tree Lighting at North Hills!  A lot of fun action happening around this area for kids to be entertained.

We went to the Christmas parade in downtown Raleigh yesterday and then scooted over to the North Hills Hilton! There seemed to be a ton of events going on.  A tree lighting at North Hills Shopping center with a ton of vendors/events going on, and at the same time they had one in Lafayette Village we didn’t get a chance to check out.

The Kids are wearing their Merrimane Jackets in these pictures I mentioned above- giveaway happening on my instagram page!

Upcoming Events I am excited to check out and share with you, check them out if you’re in the area!

  •    Santa at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock NC
  •    Tweetsie Christmas- Blowing Rock, NC
  •    Umstead Tea with Santa
  •    Pullen Park Holiday Express
  •    12 days of Shristmas at Carolina Inn
  •    Polar Express
  •     Museum of Natural Science, Durham NC
lifestyle

Swimwear Summer series 2018 round up!

If your family is like mine, everyone is in better moods in the water….. therefore I like to stay at the beach as much as possible!  So of course I am bathing suit obsessed, and styling my minis is my favorite thing ever.  Below are the brands I have been crushing on and you’ll see my kids in all summer.  Some of them have promotions and special discounts listed below!  Go grab your favorites for the summer and be the most stylish kids on instagram, tag the brands when you rock them!

Sunuva Swimwear:
It is a london designed in house company and features a huge safety factor for your kids with their stylish swimwear that is UPF 50+.  We love the bright colors, playful designs and how you can mix and match siblings!  They have a variety of options, from rash guards to clothing on their site.  One of my favorite suits lainey has on below features beads on the neckline, its all on the details! Instagram link:

*Links to the suits my kids are wearing below
Blue Shell suit
Yellow suit
Navy Suit
Boy arrows
Boy surfboards

Current discount CODE: BECCAINGLE
T&Cs: Use code ‘BECCAINGLE’ for 20% off on sunuva.com. Please note this code is not valid on outlet, web exclusives and the boutique items. It cannot be combined with another code or promotion. The promotion expires at midnight Sunday 30th June 2018.

Pearl Street Swim:
They are a northern based company with beautiful light shades!  Their suits are designed for active children and come in unique, hand illustrated patterns and matching solids that are SPF 50, chlorine and sunscreen resistant.  I love their rashguards and adjustable boy trunks!  The suits feel so soft. Instagram link:

*Roman wearing this Blue suit & rashguard , Lainey wearing this suit!
Current promotions going on for two weeks, use code: Becca20

Of One Sea:
This line is based out of North Shore, Oahu and radiates all things Hawaii that I miss.  (I used to go to school at University of Oahu!)  Their inspiration comes from the simple forms and beauty found in nature which they aim to translate into comfortable and stylish pieces for the whole family.  I love the matching daddy and son line, and their whole vibe on style for clothes!  If your a hawaii lover like myself, this brand is for you! Instagram Link:


Roman and Yeirdon’s matching outfits found here

Current promotions for fathers day, buy one mens boardshorts get a matching kids boardshort HALF OFF: use code FATHERSDAY

Minnow Swim:

If your looking for simple classic styles, you have found it here!  I love the coloring tones of the suits and the simple looks for boys and girls.  Made and designed in California, minnow is a contemporary children’s swimwear label that embraces clean lines, simple details and crisp seaside breezes. Instagram Link:

Summer 18 Collection just dropped here! We are obsessed with the nantucket red!  They are having a huge giveaway contest on their instagram right now!

Bermies:
For the moms that want to twin with their son, you have found it!  It is lifestyle brand which combines style and adventure with a concern for the well-being of our oceans.  Bermies are made from the highest-quality materials in swimwear and celebrate your confidence, in style and comfort. These swim trunks are not only bold and stylish but they will make you look and feel like you’re in paradise. Our trunks are stretchy, breathable, fast-drying but most importantly extremely comfortable. They donate a portion of their profits to clean up oceans! Instagram Link:

You will be seeing me and Roman rocking their matching styles found here!
Current sales going on: 15% discount on Monday 11 and until Sunday 17 for Fathers Day using code LOVEDAD at checkout

McKenna Swim:
Australia Based company, that is too cute for words!  High-waisted with crop tops for your mini? Did I wake up dreaming? They have the most stylish little girl swimsuits I have ever seen.  From the crop tops, to the open back, your girl will be the cutest on the block!  I love their matching sibling styles too! Instagram Link:

Love this set here!

Little Minimalists:
This adorable shop has worldwide shipping and has all the latest trends on their site!  All their brands range from swim to clothes and even toys!  Get everything you need for summer in one quick online shopping cart!  Instagram Link:

 

Pieces we are eyeing!:

Olivia & Ocean:
They have the cutest mommy & me line I’ve seen lately!  Its hard to find cute swimwear that matches your mini and covers a mom the way we want!  They are dedicated to crafting swimwear as cute and stylish as it is functional. Prints are custom pieces of art created exclusively for each season’s collection. Swimwear is printed, manufactured, and hand finished here in Los Angeles by seamstresses who are paid a fair wage.  They donate a portion of the proceeds from every swimsuit sold to Water.org on your behalf. Instagram Link:

 

Pieces we are eyeing!:

 

travel

Turks & Caicos

We have vacationed to Turks & Caicos for 3 years now at various months of the year and we fall more in love with the island each time!  This was our very first family trip out of the country with just the four of us (a three year old & one year old). There are pros and cons to each month.  The best weather seemed to be this last month in early April.  We first visited in September, which is a hit or miss for hurricane season but we lucked out and the island was very deserted at that time.  Another month we went was January and we ended up staying there an entire week because our flight was delayed back home due to a snow storm.  Unfortunately the weather was stormy our last few days in January and the wind + the ocean current was so strong we couldn’t even go on the beach. In April the weather stayed in the 80s daily, maybe rained for 15 minutes in the afternoon if that, and we did a simple Thursday-Monday trip.  I felt that time frame of 4 nights was perfect (especially with kids).  Traveling from the east coast, you can get a direct flight from Florida and be there by lunch time!

Below are all the reasons why we love Turks & our favorite spots:

1.  The beaches:
Grace Bay Beach was voted the #1 top beach in the world.  If that doesn’t make you want to visit there, I don’t know what will.  It is the clearest water I have seen, and there are barely any waves, which makes it the ideal family friendly spot!  The sand is white, not too hot, and easy for sandcastle building.


(Outfit Minnow Swim)

2.  Accommodations:
We always stay at the Grace Bay Club.  This is mainly due to the high level of service we got on our first visit and we have continued to receive outstanding service ever since.  When I travel with kids, and in general, I want to know the place we are going to is consistent and accommodating to all our needs.  Grace bay is 5 stars in our book.  We have stayed in all the properties at the resort.  There is an adults only pool there and we stayed in that area during our honeymoon.  We prefer the Villas now with kids because you have your own kitchen and laundry area.  (Best advice I ever got for traveling was to do all your laundry before you go back home!)
Highlights Grace Bay Club has to offer:
-Kids camp on site daily
-Hot tubs, swim up bar, and pools
-Free watersports
-Pools and beach chairs easily accessible, very private and quiet resort.
-On site Butlers that cater to your family, they can do all the grocery shopping for you before you even arrive.
-The best on site dining on the island, easy to eat with kids and live music on the beach.
-They provide roll-away cribs to the room.
-Sunsets unreal, large balconies


Hats- Southend Surfshop- Wrightsville, NC


(suits: lspace, bag saltsuit)


(outfit babybreez) * You can now use Code: BECCAINGLE for discount at checkout!

3.  Food
We stay close to “home” when eating on vacation, because once you find a good spot why mess it up by trying something else?  We did venture out one year about 20 minutes away from the property, and became disappointed it was not as good as the other restaurants we are repeat customers.  All the places we love, are within walking distance of our hotel- Grace bay club!  Also when traveling with kids, we try to keep everything as simple as possible.  Every morning we had the complimentary breakfast overlooking the ocean at the Grill.  Turks has some of the best lobster I’ve ever tasted (Note it is only in seasons August-April 1st).  Below are our favorite restaurants on the island that have never disappointed in service, food or atmosphere.
*  Coco Bistro– Hands down favorite atmosphere, you feel like you’re in the middle of a rainforest.  My favorite here is the dessert.  If you cant get into the restaurant, the airstream in the parking lot is open for dinner & has really good churros!

*  Coyaba– This is my husbands number one choice over coco bistro, and for me it could be a tie.  Coyaba hits the nail on the head with every food you try.  They bring samples throughout your meal for you to try as well, atmosphere is cozy half-inside half-outside with an Italian vibe.  The wine is the best I’ve ever tasted, but very expensive too!  I guess you get what you pay for, and here I’ll pay all night long.  We were able to meet the head chef, who was busy but took the time to meet some fans!  This is such a hidden gem.

* Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar at Grace bay Club-  We love this place for several reasons and usually eat here multiple times during our stay.  For one, its super convenient, on the resort property.  You can dine several areas of the restaurant and have a completely different feel!  One option is to have an intimate dining experience by sitting by the beach (with kids this is great because they can play in the sand while you dine).  The view of the sunset is amazing.  Another option is to eat at the longest infiniti bar.  And a third option is to eat in the lounge area, where they serve full menu, by fire pits and listen to live music!  This place has my favorite surf and turf entrée.


(Cocobistro)

4. Plane travel/Packing list

*Recently I have become obsessed with packing cubes from amazon.  There are several options, but I use these here.  It really making packing with kids and organization a breeze.  I did various colors for each kid and myself so I could easily locate things.

*Also any beach travel trips, I keep their clothes pretty simple since most the time they are in bathing suits.  I go with neutral tees and sweats, and then load up on swim stuff.  I have found that if they are wearing the same thing, there are no arguments.  Brands we are loving currently and you see the kids in from our trip below:

Baby Breez PJS – discount code: BECCAINGLE at checkout!
Hanna Anderson striped PJS
Tribal Dreaming Necklaces
Minnow Swim matching Gingham
Children of the Tribe white rompers
Hautelook– most of their other swimsuits are from here!
H&M– for the basics

5.  Activites & Excursions

* Island Vibes Tours– We have done this every year we have gone.  They pick you up right on the beach in front of the resort.  You can do half day options or full day.  We have always felt like the 9am-1pm half day option was ideal, and with the kids they come back just in time for their naps.  They have no age restriction for the boat, and since its very big and water calm we feel very safe with them on there.  You go snorkeling for about 30 minutes at the beginning, then they take you to a private beach for an hour, then they catch live conch and fix a lunch for you..  They have a slide off the top of the boat that they stop for about 30 minutes on the way back and let people take turns.  There is also unlimited rum & punch for the parents :).

*Provo Ponies- We rode horses on our honeymoon and I cant wait for the kids to experience it but the minimum age requirement is 5.  You get to take the horses through the beautiful water of turks on a private island, and it still is the highlight of my honeymoon.

*FlyBoarding- We have done this twice now!  There are two companies on the island that offer it, Tours by free & TCI Flyboarding.  We have had great experience with both.  We ended up using a different company this year because one was closed for a few weeks while we were in town.  I did like the location of TCI flyboarding company better with kids, its right in front of the blue haven resort.  Tours by free is off a dock in a marina so hard to keep an eye on the kids from falling in.  If you’re use to snowboarding or skateboarding- standing in the water on these power jets will come easily!  The whole experience is less than 20 minutes, but if you’re like my husband he could go an hour.  It is definitely a leg work out!


travel

St Pete Beach Florida

Spent last weekend in St Pete beach with all my college best friends for @sweetpotatosneakers bachelorette! (If you haven’t checked out her food blog you are missing out).  All the details below.

Where we stayed:
Kimpton Hotel (Ideal location & not the hefty price tag of the Don Cesar, which was just a block away)

Restaurants:
Solo Bistro & wine bar (favorite spot & loved the meat/cheese platter)
Selene Restaurant (slow service but said they had a waiter not show up)
Brunch at Chill (average)

Bars we went to:
-Jimmy B’s was by far the best beach bar with live music & good crowds.
Downtown Bars- we went downtown on First Friday, bad mistake.  Bars were way too crowded and it took us 30 minutes to even get down there.

Beach:  Seemed very clean and an easy walk.  Palm trees everywhere.  St Pete definitely seemed like retirement central, so probably ideal for family trips or a low-key celebration 😉

*We also did a sunset cruise that was absolutely beautiful but I would do your own private boat if possible!

Outfit details:
Pink Suit: Triangl
Hat: Lack of Colour
Bag: Saltsuit
Grey Suit: Koleha Bikini
Kimono:  Arnhem Clothing
Dress: Faithful the brand
Top: Afrm
Jeans: levis
Luggage: All linked on previous posts 🙂
booties: Kristin Cavallari

 

travel

Cancun:: Good Friends & Strong drinks

So I’ve been detoxing for a week since we got back from Cancun since it is nonstop for 5 days straight once you arrive (drinks and dinners).  For some reason this year seemed to go by a lot slower and smoother but after the second day I was missing both my kids.  I really love traveling with them, and if I was allowed to bring them they would have been there.  This is our 4th year going to Cancun, every year my company TEKsystems sponsors the trip and the amazing hotels hosts our entire crew!  The staff is so attentive, even though its an all inclusive place, the employees make us feel very welcomed and special.  The weather could not have been better this year, I think it maybe rained for a total of 30 minutes late one afternoon on our last day and stayed consistently in the 80s.  If you’re looking for a quick easy trip in February-Cancun is very affordable and we always feel safe on the resort properties.  The only time we venture off property though are for excursions all pre-arranged by the company.

Where we Stayed this year:  JW Marriot Cancun (Spa amazing)
In the past stayed here, sister hotel: Casa Magna Resort

Activities we did:  Swimming with Dolphins, the coolest part was the dolphin pushing us into the water from behind, see photos.  I was going so fast I thought my swim bottoms were about to fall off haha. (note: they would not let us take our own photography or videos, no gopros, and made you pay for their photography, so for this reason I give them 3 stars).

-Previous years we have done the ATVS, Jetskis, Catamaran, and cave diving, all well worth it!

Restaurants we love:
Breakfast buffet at JW was always on point.
Harrys (wait for the Cotton Candy at the end, AMAZING!
Indochine (Think of Nobu, but better).   && you know we love Nobu.  This was the first year we got to experience this gem, from the entrance to the scenic views…. i cant believe we have never been before and will probably be eating their every night next year.  Sushi was so good, and again i don’t usually care for sushi.
Puerto Madero–  probably the best steak house in Cancun.  My husband loves the Carpaccio.

Outfits from pics :
Grey Bikini: Koleha
Black Bikini & blue hat: Lspace
Green Bikini ** Currently on sale snag it now for $50:  Nirvanic Swim
Beach bag, hat and cover up: Salt Suit
Black floral suit:  Montce Swim
Crop tops:  Revolve- Tularosa
Jeans: Levis
Shoes: Converses
Legging:  Alo Yoga
Luggage: DVF & Calpak (Nordstrom Rack!)

   Â