There are certain times of year when I wish for seasonal changes and colorful leaves on the ground. But enjoying a day of Miami’s crisp yet sunny fall weather this weekend easily made me forget that. In search of outdoor entertainment for Lucy, who is now a vocal and vibrant 19-month-old, led us to some of Miami’s most scenic spots.
There’s something to be said for seeing your city as a foreigner. More precisely, as a full-blown tourist from the second floor of a double-decker bus. I wore my best attempt at a kitschy ensemble and joined the rest of a very international group for a day of rediscovering my town. I’ve gotta admit, Miami; you’ve never looked better.
Shopping from home while sipping on a glass of wine and paying less than boutique prices for the same brands easily makes me a fan of Rebi’s Closet – even though she’s also one of my closest friends. Sometimes, the fashion gods are giving.
In true Miami fashion, you can now get a blow out after a fitness class before heading to work or going out for the night. Thanks to Glam & Go, you can now experience the express blow-dry bar’s services, specializing in 15-minute dry-wash & blows, braided styles or full 30 minute wet-to-dry signature blowouts – all from the convenience of the women’s locker room. Partnered with Paul Mitchell, Glam & Go is quick, efficient and affordable with prices ranging from $20 to $35. If you’re in need of a quick style check them out at Exhale Spa at the Loews Hotel in South Beach and at the EPIC Hotel in Brickell. Both locations are open to the public. Click here to book an appointment. More pics of what you can expect after the jump.
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.
My visit to Christie Pea’s couldn’t have come at a better time, considering I was in serious need of brow therapy and a little me-time following two straight weeks of work/motherhood/work/work and work. I’m not complaining but rather just insisting that a glass of wine now and then (more now than then) while having your nails buffed is not just nice – it’s necessary for mental sanity. Which is why Christie Pea’s royal treatment (the Duchess, to be precise) and Lucy R.’s brow repair were exactly what I needed that afternoon.
I was raised with the understanding that a salon is a sanctuary. The place a woman can go to recharge, revamp, and rediscover herself. Simple things like the thick, glossy coat of a good manicure and the light tension of a proper blow dry always make me feel like everything’s going to be just fine. And it’s way cheaper than therapy. So when I received an invitation to check out Hair by Hisham last Saturday before its grand opening this fall, I booked a babysitter, charged the camera, and contemplated my mani/pedi color at least a dozen times.
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!
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
I won’t pretend I didn’t have an overwhelming love affair with food prior to my expectant status. But I will say that what champagne used to do for me pre-baby, cuisine has temporarily filled in for quite nicely. And without any of the guilt, which is essentially priceless. Hence, the Great Pregnancy Craving Tour of Miami.
I have shamelessly paraded this bump around town and (mostly unknowingly) dripped all sorts of toppings upon it to put together a list of my favorite (and not-so-favorite) crave-inducing establishments. I’m starting with my longest-running obsession, burgers. Check out my picks. Did I miss any? What should I try next? Let me know your favorites.
THE FAVORITES:
Elevation Burger – Simple, sustainable, organic, grass-fed, and free-range. If you’re a carnivore with a conscience (and a budget), there’s nothing better. Add a healthy list of toppings and a soda machine to blend any concoction to your whim and you’ve got the kind of place that’s made me go through a slew of frequent visitor cards. Slew!
Blue Collar – There isn’t enough I can tell you about this burger. I was newly pregnant at the time and discovering I’d developed the kind of appetite that would impress a wrestler. Enter the Real Juicy Cheeseburger – Prime dry-aged New York strip on a Portuguese muffin with your choice of lettuce, tomato, and onions. I don’t think I spoke two words during that meal.
Crave – This is the kind of refined establishment where most (non-pregnant) people would enjoy a nice sushi lunch or a delicately balanced salad. But I had absolutely no shame in devouring their Crave Burger and licking my fingers while doing so. I’m happy to do it again, even in the finest company. With smoked cheddar, onion, and house-made pickles, this is definitely a winner.
Lokal – I’ve never strayed from the 50/50 (Fidy Fidy) burger. And I don’t think I’ll ever want to. Equal parts Florida ground beef and Florida ground bacon combine to make super amazing burger babies in your mouth. Served with mayo, Monterrey jack cheese, and a sweet onion marmalade, you also get a side of 50% sweet potato fries, 50% french fries with honey mustard dipping sauce that gives you quite possibly the most beautiful combination of ingredients a belly could want.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Latin House Grill – This little gem on Sunset has a menu full of crave-able items (Sneaky Nachos!). But if you’re having one of those days when you can’t really figure out what flavor you’re after, I recommend the Intl Muffin Tops. Two of those little guys have a big fill factor.
Red Robin – I had no idea what to expect from Red Robin. And then I learned about their Bottomless Steak Fries (that I, of course, dipped in ranch dressing). It was absolute kismet. I paired that with the Whiskey River BBQ Burger and happily groaned my full belly out the door.
Shake Shack – While I genuinely enjoyed their Angus burger (I had the SmokeShack), my heart was really much more set on their Flat-Top Dogs. I made a mess of that Shack-cago Dog and enjoyed every last bit of relish. Bring your pooch along to dine on the terrace and buy him his own treats for a small price.
NOT WORTH THE WADDLE:
Le Tub Saloon – This waterfront joint has a serious following thanks to being voted best hamburger by GQ Magazine as well as being placed on Oprah’s radar as one of her favorites. The burger itself was simple, tasty, and juicy but the downside for any preggo is that there will likely be a minimum wait time of 1.5 hours before you see any meat on your plate. My vote? Try it when you’re not as likely to dig into the person next to you with a fork & knife. Or sit at a safe distance from others and bring a snack for the wait.
CG Burgers – You only get one shot at dinner. You can deal with “ok” food for lunch because you still have a chance to make it up throughout the rest of the day. But when you have the kind of dinner that leaves you wondering what was missing, you just end up with a grouchy preggo that’s likely suffering from heartburn and an unfulfilled appetite. In this case, what was missing was a decent brioche and some basic seasoning. I wanted so much to like this place but two strikes is enough for me to know not to go for the third.
SmashBurger – This place just made me angry. I first take issue with their logo, a blatant rip-off of GameStop’s font and coloring. But bad branding aside, with a name like SmashBurger, you should really be making a sensational impression. Rather, the result of quite literally smashing your burger patties into submission before squeezing all the juice out of the poor things is what my Cuban grandmother often refers to as “suela de zapato”, or the leathery bottom of one’s shoe, for those not fluent in Cuban slang. But I retain that it’s more accurately articulated in Spanish. No need to stop here.
Note: Rok Brgr didn’t make the list because I only visited once and wasn’t too impressed but felt that maybe it was an off night. I think it deserves another shot before I pass judgement.
