🌴 Vaca Recap ~ Miami 2019

Hi there! Today I’m sharing a recap of a quick getaway David and I went on to Miami!

We stayed in a 1-bedroom suite at the Hilton Bentley Beach Club in South Beach. We try to stay there whenever we are in town and enjoy every minute of it. It’s an old Art Deco apartment building that was converted into a hotel. The little touches of marble and gold everywhere scream 1920’s, it’s like stepping back in time to a very glamorous era. The pool and beach club as well as the Greek restaurant inside the hotel are all excellent. Concierge even spoiled us with some bubbly to enjoy!

While we were here we did a whole bunch of pool and beach time (I got a little too much sun the 1st day and spent the rest of the trip slathering myself in aloe), but we also checked out the Shops at Bal Harbour, the Design District, as well as Lincoln Road. We did a little shopping at Tiffany’s and we also stopped by the Café Dior pop-up on the roof of the Dior Boutique (I’ll be recapping that in a separate post).

Another fun thing we did while in town was trying the new Wine Menu at Quality Meats-my very favorite restaurant in Miami. The menu allows you to try a bunch of different wines with your 3 courses, it was so much fun, and very delicious!

On our last morning in town I tried out the hotel’s spa, Spa 101 for a signature mani/pedi. My technician did a great job and it was a super relaxing way to spend the morning. 

All in all we had another amazing time in Miami and can’t wait sneak down for another quick getaway sometime soon!

Do you have any favorite spots in Miami? Let me know down below, I love hearing from you!
Thanks for reading, have a fabulous day. :)

💍 5 Luxury Items I Can’t Live Without

Hi there! How was your Thanksgiving? Did you wake up super early to score some good deals?

Since it's Black Friday I thought it would be fun to do a post on some of my favorite items I've ever purchased. I saw this tag making its way around YouTube and it got me thinking about luxury items I personally love and would 100% recommend. (Obviously I don’t “need” any of these things, but they are “nice to haves”.)

Handbag-

Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM in Damier Ebene Canvas

This was my wedding gift from my husband in 2009 and over 10 years later it still looks brand new. It is pricey for canvas, but it lives up to its name “never full”. The dark leather never gets any sort of marks or stains, the bright red interior makes it very easy to locate things inside it, and the two straps on the sides of the bag cinch in to make it a smaller “city bag” when I don’t have much to "tote" around. This Louie is hands down the best handbag I’ve ever owned.

Accessory-

Alexander McQueen Skull Scarf

A fun accessory to spruce up any outfit and very practical for traveling or on a chilly evening. I love the iconic print and how it adds a little edge to my otherwise classic look.

Shoes-

Kate Spade Taxi Flats

OK, so these might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they’re funky and fun and a sure fire way to put a smile on someone’s face. I cannot even tell you the compliments I receive when I wear these and they’re comfortable too! They’re the perfect pair of shoes to spice up an ordinary outfit.

Jewelry-

Tiffany & Co Return to Tiffany Heart Bracelet

This was such a hard category for me to choose just one item because I LOVE jewelry! But if I had to pick...

A Christmas gift from my parents (aka Santa) in high school, I recently took it to Tiffany’s and had it polished and deep cleaned and it looks brand new! I love how it matches everything and is such a classic piece. I love Tiffany’s and silver and all things hearts!

Miscellaneous-

Cartier Carat Perfume

I am a perfume fanatic and am never not wearing any. I put some on getting ready in the morning, again before bed and I usually carry a purse spray in my handbag. This scent is Cartier’s newest and a personal favorite. It’s the perfect way to wear some Cartier every day without breaking the bank! ;-)

Do you have any tried and true luxury faves? Let me know down below, I love hearing from you!

Thanks for reading, have a fabulous day. :)

🎁 Wedding Gift Ideas

Weddings are so much fun, but they can also be a bit stressful. What am I going to wear? Which table will I be seated at? What am I going to give as a gift? Fear not, I have gifts covered in this post! David and I have had a few weddings this year and that got me thinking about unique gift ideas.

For the couple that isn’t registered and you don’t feel comfortable giving cash, here’s what I’ve come up with:

Tiffany bone China paper cups-$110

This playful set of cups are made in Japan from fine China, but are made to resemble paper cups! What a fun way for the happy couple to start each morning with their cup of Joe.

Waterford Chip & Dip-$150

An entertaining necessity that no one really thinks about. Chip and dip servers are such a retro gift idea, but very useful. The large plate doubles as a serving platter, and classic Waterford crystal matches nearly anyone’s kitchen decor.

Kate Spade “Mr & Mrs” picture frame-$85

A beautiful piece that is a wonderful way to display the couple’s wedding photo. This was one of my favorite gifts I received for my wedding and is so timeless.

His and Hers passport covers-Varies

There’s tons of personalized options on Etsy, and such a fun idea if the couple is traveling internationally for their honeymoon.

Experiences-Priceless ;-)

Although not tangible, I think gifts that a couple can experience together are a great idea! Some ideas I have are an overnight hotel stay at a local hotel for a staycation, a wine tasting, a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant, a couples massage, or even a donation on the couple’s behalf to a charity near to their heart. These gifts fit nicely in a card and are easy to mail, no need to gift wrap!

I hope that helps get the wheels turning for you if you have any lovebirds to celebrate. Do you have any unique wedding gift ideas? Anything you were excited to receive at your own wedding? Let me know down below, I love hearing from you.

Thanks for reading, have a fabulous day. :)

💜💜💜 PS-A very Happy Birthday to my Mom today. Love ya!!! 💜💜💜

💙 Monthly Favorites~Summertime Blues

My favorites from this month come with a theme...the color blue! Just like Picasso I’m going through a blue period, haha. Here’s everything I’ve been loving lately:

Shark Week

Give me all the shark documentaries on TV, I love them. I find sharks fascinating yet terrifying, and I can’t think of a better way to beat the scorching summer heat than to sit in my air conditioned condo watching the cool blue ocean.

New iPhone case

Gorgeous shades of blue and lavender flowers, this case offers really good phone protection, and a really good price.

Tiffany's Yin & Yang pendant

The newest addition to my jewelry collection, I am in love with this piece and have been wearing it non stop.

Essie nail polish in “Bikini So Teeny”

David picked this color out for me when we were at a Walgreens in Miami picking up supplies, and I haven’t taken this color off for weeks. It’s the perfect bright blue, and it’s a lovely opaque formula.

Bath & Body Works Gingham lotion

My mom treated me to this lotion when we were shopping at our local mall the other day and the scent is absolutely divine! It’s a blend of white peach, clementine, freesia, and violet. It’s very moisturizing too.

Anything you’ve been loving lately that you’d care to share? Let me know down below, I love hearing from you.

Thanks for reading, have a fabulous rest of your summer. :)

Tiffany's Blue Box Cafe

Today I would like to share a little bit about our visit to the restaurant at Tiffany & Co on 5th Avenue, Blue Box Cafe. 

I was absolutely elated to find a reservation for the cafe, as having breakfast at Tiffany's was finally possible! 

Tiffany's on 5th Avenue is a girly girl's paradise. Everywhere you turn there are the most exquisite pieces on display, and to combine that with a cafe on the 4th floor is a dream come true. 

My husband David and I scored a 5:30 reservation, their last of the day, and I loved how the restaurant wasn't crowded and we were able to sit and linger a while longer. 

There are 3 different pre-fixe options, breakfast, tea service, and lunch. Even though it was late afternoon, we both still opted for the breakfast option. The cost for breakfast is $32, and it is available anytime. Each breakfast comes with a pot of tea (or coffee), croissants and fresh berries, and then a choice of a main course. David chose the avocado toast and I had the waffle. I wish I would've snapped some pics of our food, they had edible flowers on them! The presentation was gorgeous. 

The tea was also outstanding, Bellocq brand, and they even have their own Tiffany blend. It's a black tea with hints of vanilla and lavender, divine!

The decor is stunning, you truly feel like you are dining inside a Tiffany box. There were fresh flowers on every table, and every little detail from the china to the chairs are in the signature blue color. The views of 5th Avenue were also spectacular.

A few things to note- The restaurant is cash free, credit cards are the only payment method accepted. They also do not take reservations by phone, you need to book on Resy, and they update openings at daily 9am est for 30 days  in advance.

I would definitely recommend having breakfast (or lunch) at Tiffany's and I am hoping to score a reservation to treat my mom one day soon!

Thanks for reading, have a fabulous day. :)

Valentine's Day 2019

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Hi there! I thought I’d do a little recap of my favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day. 

I had been working for about a week before the holiday making chocolate covered pretzels (covered in Friday's post) and making care packages for my family.

My homemade chocolate covered pretzels ready to be given out

I sent my grandma and mother-in-law some lotto scratch-offs, candy and cards. I sent my brother and his girlfriend a gift card for their local movie theater, and I gave my parents a gift card for Chili’s, where they sometimes like to go for a quick dinner. I bought David a Ralph Lauren scarf he had seen one day when we were walking the mall together, and of course his favorite, some Reese’s peanut butter cups. I also got my pups some treats they love, they have WAY too many toys. I have such fun picking out little trinkets for everyone. I also found the nicest quality cards and gift wrap this year at the Target Dollar Spot and I need to remember to check there more often for cutesy paper products and gift wrap.

Patiently awaiting their Valentine's Treats. :)

After everything was made and mailed we kicked off the holiday Wednesday night after my yoga class. We met my parents at California Pizza Kitchen for their pre-fixe Valentine’s menu. We had such a fun time sitting at the bar and they even made our pizza into a heart shape! We added the wine option for an additional $12 and it was such a great deal and so yummy, I hope they offer it in years to come.

Heart shaped BBQ chicken pizza, so good!

On Valentine's Day my parents, David, and I had reservations to see a show at the planetarium at Raritan Valley Community College. They were doing a special show for couples called “Romancing the Stars” and it was both fun and informative. The show went through some romantic sights in the sky and the love stories behind a lot of the constellations. David's train actually broke down and he missed the show, so I was 3rd wheel with my parents, haha. It was a really creative and unique show that I would absolutely recommend! While we were at the show David picked up Chinese take-out from our favorite local spot. It was such a fun night. 

As for presents David spoiled me with a Tiffany heart pendant and a pair of Dolce & Gabbana custom painted heart sneakers (a review to come after I’ve worn them a while). He also brought me home my favorite from the city, Laudurée macarons in the cutest Valentine's Day special packaging. I was absolutely spoiled this year but the holiday truly isn’t about gifts, it’s about showing your admiration and fondness for those you love.

The holiday packaging is beyond gorgeous.

Tiffany & Co. heart pendant-I've been wearing it non stop!

Can't wait to wear these, probably more in the spring since the ground is so wet from snow and slush.

Did you do anything fun for Valentine’s Day? Do you like to stay home or go out? Let me know down below, I’d love to hear from you. :)

Thanks for reading, have a fabulous day.

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