Category Archives: Travel & Miami

Vixen for a Day

Official Vixen Workout | Miami + Bubbles & Ink Blog CoverGirl Event

Saturday afternoon found me reminiscing on the blur that was my early twenties: I hunted for parking around South Beach for about twenty minutes, touched up my makeup in the car, and stood in line on Washington Avenue to get into the hottest party. This time, however, it was the Vixen Workout that was holding a line to rival that of any tourist trap on the beach. And the twerking was in full force, as expected. My early twenties may be a distant memory, but I was able to channel all my cheer/dance/club girl days to get through one of the most intense workouts I’ve had in a while. Read on for tips on how to survive your first Vixen experience.

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New York Bound

New York Bound | Bubbles & Ink - Heading to Lucky FABB 2013 in New York City

The last time I was in New York City, I was eight weeks pregnant, wearing unflattering red jeans, and searching for sour pickles at every corner deli (not even kidding). Over a year later, I’m packing my bags and heading back to Manhattan to take part in Lucky magazine’s FABB (Fashion and Beauty Blogger) conference. Thankfully, this time I’ve shed (most of) the baby weight and vowed to make better pant choices.

If you want to follow along (there’s word of Erica Domesek of P.S. I Made This and ANTM judge Bryan Boy stopping by), check me out on Instagram. I’ll be back next week. Can’t wait to let you all know how it went!

Pamper Me Fabulous Miami

Pamper_Me_Fabulous_Event_in_Miami

Pamper Me Fabulous is coming to Miami this Sunday, September 15th at the Moore Building and I’m giving away two pairs of tickets! This event is basically dedicated to making women feel incredible all day long. From 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. enjoy freely flowing cocktails, shopping deals, fitness classes (yoga, Zumba), and a pretty amazing swag bag full of goodies from the event sponsors. Click here to check out the event and buy tickets.

TO WIN TICKETS just leave me a comment with the name of your favorite Miami spa. Two winners will be announced on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. EST.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY WINNERS: Francesca Gonzalez & Cari Diaz! Email me at ali@bubblesandink.com to claim your prize!

MBFW Swim: Day 3

Reel Code Media App Girls at MBFW Swim 2014

Day 3. Sigh. Day 3… Day 3 can only really be defined by the number of hours we stood in line. We waited in line to park. We waited in line to check in. And then we waited in the mother of all lines for the highly anticipated Mara Hoffman show. Then I’m pretty sure we stood in line to stand in line to get into the tent. But once we were in, give or take a few challenges, we knew what all the waiting was about. Mara Hoffman was spectacular. The prints. The colors. The gorgeous models with the pom-poms in their hair. It was the sexiest display anyone could have hoped for on a hot summer night in Miami. And the best way to end Swim Week for me. Motherhood calls and that’s my favorite show, hands down.

Check out all the event pictures after the jump…

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MBFW Swim: Day 2

MBFW Swim: Day 2 on Bubbles & Ink

I wish I could tell you I was in better shape, but the truth is that fashion week is not for the fragile. Perhaps I underestimated the stamina and preparation it requires to survive five days of shows, but I’d liken it to the kind of focus one dedicates to training for a marathon (not that I’ve ever done that). Day two of Swim Week left me aching and blistered – quite literally, unfortunately, due to my stubborn insistence on wearing some sparkly little Guess wedges that felt reasonably comfortable in my living room but not as forgiving on the pool deck of the SLS hotel after three shows and five hours of standing-room-only accommodations. Still, my worship of this industry is propelling me forward. And so it shall be that I continue on…in flats.

Check out some pics from last night’s events with Poko Pano and Suboo Swim being at the top of my list for the day. 

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MBFW Swim: Day 1

MBFW Swim 2014 | Bubbles & Ink Blog

10 THINGS I LEARNED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SWIM WEEK

  1. Miami weather spares no one. Always have a backup plan.
  2. The fashion crowd will weather any storm in the name of runway.
  3. Don’t expect anything to run on time. The fashion crowd will make it to said runway show at least one hour post call time.
  4. Never wear heels to a beach party. Getting sand between your toes is festive. Getting sand in your Louboutins is tragic.
  5. Go for a less complicated beauty regime. That stack of makeup it took to make me look presentable melted right off the minute I stepped into Miami’s perpetual humidity for the poolside show.
  6. Skip the flat iron. Blow-drying curly hair in 90% humidity is an exercise in futility. One I’m ashamed I continue to attempt.
  7. Wear what you like and are comfortable in. Whether it’s a bodycon dress or jeans and a tee, style is a very personal thing. Fashion week is the time to be true to that. Trying to pull off anything else, no matter how on-trend, will just be unflattering.
  8. Always opt for the party with free cocktails. It makes the tardiness much more tolerable.
  9. No matter what, the show WILL go on. And it will be fabulous.
  10. Despite all the challenges, I’m ready and eager to do it all over again.

View event pictures after the jump…

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Public Swim Week Events in Miami

Ready Set Swim - Miami Swim Week Events Open to the Public

You don’t need to have a press pass to enjoy next week’s Swim Week activities. The Dream Hotel will be kicking things off on the 17th with a rooftop fashion show and The Catalina Hotel, right across the street from the official MBFW Swim action, will be hosting a Swimtastic Pop Up Shop complete with goody bags, giveaways, and a beauty bar that are all open to the public. The fun keeps going with events through Sunday, July 21st. Just be sure to RSVP { rsvp [at] itmarketingconcepts [dot] com } for the fashion show. Enjoy!

Swimtastic Pop-up Shop, Miami Swim Week Events Open to the Public

Wanderlust: New York City

NYC-Buildings

It’s a funny thing, parenthood. It’s Saturday, we’ve got a babysitter for 24 hours, and the best and most exciting use I can find for my time is catching up on work and running errands. And this makes me perfectly happy. I was tinkering around on my site, making updates, when I came across this draft of images from my last trip to Manhattan in September 2012. It was fashion week, I was attending some very trendy events, and, newly pregnant, decided it was a good idea to fit into an obscenely tight pair of red skinny jeans. I regretted it almost immediately when, two hours later, I realized I’d forgotten to factor in my newly growing belly’s need for space when sitting. Thankfully, Lucy is now out and safely on the other side of the bump with no zipper marks to speak of.

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A Girl’s Guide to Beer

At the Funky Buddha Brewery Grand Opening

The thing about beer is that I didn’t really appreciate it at all until I met my husband. I hate to admit it, but I’d often turned my nose up at even the finest brew before Tony introduced me to IPA’s. My love of brut champagne made this my go-to flavor. It’s been quite the happy marriage on both accounts ever since. Which brings me to today’s post in honor of Father’s Day. I don’t often have guest bloggers, but when I do, I make sure they’re experts on their subjects. And few people are bigger experts on beer than my friend MP.

We recently attended the opening of the Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park, which inspired a post I thought would please my beer-loving husband on his first Father’s Day. Today, MP has lent me his encyclopedic knowledge of beer to bring all you ladies up to speed on what you need to know about the frothy stuff and what you can try next time you’re out with your beer-drinking counterpart. Hope you enjoy it. And Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads I know. Cheers to you on your day.

P.S. Just wanted to note that I certainly don’t mean to imply that all women are ignorant about brews and the like. I know there are plenty of ladies out there who are quite well-versed in all manner of topic related to beer. To those women, I offer a toast to your knowledge and only wish I’d been enlightened sooner. Xx – Alicia

P.P.S. Check out the pic of the Most Interesting Man in South Florida and the street style shots at the end of the post. I’m all about those leg warmers in a non-ironic way.

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Year Three

Jean Godfrey-June of Lucky Magazine interviews Lauren Conrad

Another year gone by and, yet again, when the 18th of May rolls around, I get that nagging suspicion I’ve forgotten something…which, of course, I inevitably have. The 18th marked my third year of blogging. When I looked back at year two, I thought there was no way I would top it, but just now looking back at my third year, I realize I have so much to be grateful for – and things are only getting better. Here’s a look back at my favorites (click on each pic to see more). Hope you enjoy. And THANK YOU SO MUCH for reading. <3

Bare Minerals at IFB Con

Red Lips & Red Light at The ForgeBrighthouse Baubles Bracelet & Heart Manicure

Dunedin-Brewery Continue reading