Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
I was invited by The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel for a fun *and safe* family road trip to this beautiful area. I got so many questions via Instagram and I want to share all the details about where we stayed, where we ate, where we went, and more.
Because of the current worldwide pandemic, I personally do not feel comfortable traveling by plane- especially with a two year old. However, I love the idea of driving to another city in your state, changing the scenery, supporting local business and tourism, and enjoying life while still being safe.
The drive to Fort Myers & Sanibel is under 3 hours from South Florida. 3.5 from Orlando, and a little bit over 5 hours from Jacksonville- we were coming in from Miami so it was a really easy drive with a toddler.
Where we stayed: Matlacha Tiny Village
I was so excited about staying in a tiny home, I absolutely love the concept and it was adorable. The one we stayed in was “Flamingo” themed and everything had little flamingos on it. This home sleeps 6 adults and it includes a full kitchenette.
The community has a few tiny homes and its amenities include BBQ grill, dock, deck and kayak launch. I also found very convenient that it had picnic tables outside because we liked picking up food at restaurants and eating outside.
We also loved the location, Matlacha is so colorful and the people were very nice.
Must-have eats:
- Blue Dog Bar & Grill: If you want local seafood, this is THE place! It was recommended by many locals and it did not disappoint! My favorite were the fish tacos.
-Island Pho & Grill We were kind of craving some asian food and we heard great things about Island Pho. If you go, you have to try the spring rolls…they are everything!
- Paradise Deli: This was our last stop before heading to Sirena Park and heading home, we took some delicious egg sandwiches to go and enjoyed it at the park while looking for manatees (more on it below!)
The first day we visited the Calusa Heritage Trail (0.9 mile walk through mounds and canals of the Pineland archaeological site). It was very interesting to learn about the Calusa Indians that inhabited the area many years ago.
What to do:
-Pineland Site Randell Research CenterThe first day we visited the Calusa Heritage Trail (0.9 mile walk through mounds and canals of the Pineland archaeological site). It was very interesting to learn about the Calusa Indians that inhabited the area many years ago.
-Cayo Costa State Park (we used Tropic Star of Pine Island to get there)
The second day we went to Cayo Costa, which is a state park island that is only accessible by boat or kayak and used to be a former fishing ground of the Calusa Indians. We arrived via boat in the early morning (Tropic Star takes about an hour each way), it was nice that it wasn’t full and everyone was required to wear a mask. Many people were in their “hiking" gear and when we arrived there I was excited to see a lot campers with their tents. It looked really fun staying overnight (adding it to my bucketlist!).
We headed to the beach since the island has nearly 9.5 miles of pristine beach on the Gulf of Mexico. The day was a bit cold and cloudy but the water was still so beautiful.
TIP: you need to bring everything you need as there is barely anything on the island- aka bring food, umbrella, towels…everything!
Because of Nico, we decided to stay until 1pm instead of 3pm- and it was a great decision, he was already super tired from all the playing in the sand and he napped the whole boat ride to Pine Island.
- Thrifting on Fort Myers
The third day we headed to Fort Myers and as I absolutely love finding gems in thrift stores, I googled the ones in the area. There are MANY thrift stores around Fort Myers and so many have amazing beach furniture.We might go back when we start decorating our home. I actually bought some gold beautiful frames that I can’t wait to repurpose, and some vintage jewelry!
if you want to enjoy the beach and shops, rent a bike! Toddler seats are available for your little one!
Sirenia Vista Park
- On our last day, before driving back to Miami, we stopped by Sirenia Vista Park to see if we were lucky enough to see manatees (as they are common during the colder months January/February). We didn’t see them but Nico had a blast running and we read some books after having breakfast with a view!
Have you been to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel? I had a blast doing this little guide, let me know if you want to see more like this!
I grew up dipping my feet in the Caribbean Sea in Venezuela. If you ask me about my favorite memories as a kid, most of them were under the sun…either by pools or the ocean.
I’ve been in Miami for almost 13 years; and I have to admit I wasn’t spending as much time enjoying this gorgeous city and its hot weather as much as I should have been. BUT this Summer was different, it was all about about having full with out baby and our dog under the sun.
The good news: Miami’s summer is not coming to an end any time soon!
With all the time spent outside, let’s talk SUNSCREEN!
Australian Gold has been a go-to in our family since I was a little girl. I remember my mom using it and its amazing smell transports me to my childhood.
Just like I grew up, I love that the brand has evolved with the times: the Botanical Mineral Sunscreen collection. It is made with real, nutrient-rich native Australian ingredients. It’s formulation doesn’t include unnecessary chemicals nor animal testing. And I'm OBSESSED!
My go-to for beach, pool, park, any time outdoor is the
Botanical SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Lotion: it has a nice subtle smell, and it’s not sticky or greasy.
This post is sponsored by Chateau Ste. Michelle. All opinions are my own.
Earlier this month was my mom’s birthday. Many times, I’ve shared how proud I am to be able to call her my mom. We have our ups and downs, as any true bffs, but I wouldn’t change her for the world. She had been in Miami for three months helping me with Nico, and before she left, I wanted to thank her with a little surprise -- a trip to Anna Maria Island on the west coast of Florida.
My mom is definitely her happiest by the ocean. We told her to pack for the beach, hopped in a car, and drove for four hours. She really had no idea where we were going. We stayed at this cute apartment just a few steps from the ocean.
One afternoon, I told her I was going to pamper her, and Gabe was going to take her picture (she loves social media, so a new profile picture was a must). I did her makeup and gifted her the kaftan she is wearing in the photos. When she reached the backyard, I had a little surprise for her: sweet treats, Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Chardonnay, and Gabe was ready to take her close-up.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay is one of my favorite white wines; it was perfect for bonding with mom and it also pairs perfectly with seafood - making it the perfect white wine by the ocean! It is fresh and soft, with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances.
I’m so happy we were able to enjoy this little trip with the family before my mom left. Cheers to more moments like this!
I remember the day I realized I needed prescription glasses. I was a senior in high school and for fun I borrowed my friend's eyeglasses to see how they looked on me. Little did I know that I would SEE WAY BETTER. At that time, I only needed them to go the movies or drive. Fast forward 12 years and I can't live (or see) without my eyeglasses- and I'm not the biggest fan of contacts.
As a fashion blogger, I used to get the most versatile pair of eyeglasses- so they would go with basically any outfit. Also, prescription eyewear can get very expensive; and if I'm totally honest, I'm always misplacing and losing my glasses. But this is all about to change. I just purchased 2 pairs of glasses from Zenni Optical and I can't wait to get many colorful and chic styles to match my outfits.
I've had this post in my drafts for a while. There is so much I want to say but at the same time I don't know how to put the words together in a way that not only makes sense for moms/moms to be, but also for my non-mommies.
There is so much pressure for pregnant women to stay fit and tiny during pregnancy, to not have stretch marks... and don't even get me started on the pressure to bounce "back" and look better than ever AFTER the baby. But I'll probably talk more about this when I have my boy.
When you are pregnant you will hear a lot of:
"OMG you are HUGEEE, you are probably about to pop"
"OMG such a tiny belly, are you sure you are eating right?"
"OMG it has to be a boy because of XXX "
"My belly/my friend's belly was so much bigger/smaller"
As someone who has struggled with weight and diets since I was a little girl, I'm not going to lie: all of these comments offended me somehow. You can blame the hormones all you want, but it's also RESPECT.
1. Nobody wants to be told they look huge- even with triplets.
2. I really dislike being compared to anyone or analyzed. It's my body- all bodies are different- all pregnancies are different.
When I miscarried last year, I blamed myself a lot. I felt some sort of anger towards my body "for not being capable". I was able to forgive myself, to not think that it was my fault in any way. But at the same time, this fear has stayed with me throughout my pregnancy. Nutritionists might say I could have been more active or eat a bit better, but I'm just listening to my body and feeling blessed to have this little miracle inside me that I will never take for granted.
What I want to get to is that all we want to hear is that we are looking beautiful or that we are glowing (even we have been puking the whole 9 months and look terrible).
And you, fellow mom-to-be: don't be so harsh on yourself.
It's okay if your belly is bigger than others.
It's okay if you are 7 months pregnant and still have your abs.
It's okay if you gained a little more weight that you should have.
It's okay if you got stretch marks.
It's okay if you had that extra cookie.
It's okay...
You are creating life and there isn't anything more beautiful than that.
I love planning trips...especially road trips! I like spending hours and hours looking at Airbnbs and hotels for every stop. Maybe you remember our trip to California or the one at a gorgeous glass cabin in Georgia.
As freelancers (with a baby on the way), we have been trying to take as much work as we can . We have months that are non-stop and then weeks when we are staring at the wall thinking how to make money. That uncertainty of the upcoming months can be nerve-wracking.
We definitely wanted to go on a baby moon. However, without even noticing, weeks went by and I wasn't allowed on cruises anymore and planes get a little stricter...so the options for a babymoon kept getting more limited!
Last month, Gabe and I had a few days off. I told him, let's just pack out bags and go to a city in North Florida. We got in the car (with Chiki, of course!) basically without no destination, no hotel, no plan!!
Last year, when our flight got cancelled to Fashion Week because of Hurricane Irma, I was able to get the reimbursement of our hotel as credit in an app called Hotel Tonight. So I thought, let's just go and I'll find a hotel for a cheaper price and use that credit.
While in the car, I posted something on IG stories and a friend who went to school with Gabe sent me a message asking where we heading. Honestly, I thought she lived in Georgia or North Carolina and I quickly answered "Around St Pete!!!". Little did I know that she lived 15 minutes from there, and we ended up staying with her, her husband, and their cute puppy: LUNA.
It ended up not being a baby moon but an amazing adventure with friends. They took us out to a few restaurants, to a pet friendly Clearwater beach, and to the Dali Museum (more on the museum later!).
It's true that magic moments in life are definitely spontaneous!
Have you ever hopped in a car with absolutely no plan or destination? Or were we a bit crazy?
Like I've said, I'm trying to buy only maternity essentials and I've been wearing a lot of pre-baby clothes that had an elastic around the waist. This one barely closed but I thought it was still cute!
Chiki was so happy at the beach. It wasn't alarmingly hot- actually there was a delicious chilly breeze. We put some umbrellas down, and together we fell asleep while reading a book in the sand. Chiki has been so cute during the pregnancy.
This is LUNA! My friend's pup!
St. Petersburg, its charm, and this gorgeous tree!
Our stay in Punta Blanca (in Ecuador) was very family oriented. We were staying right by the ocean and it was all about spending time as a family.
This day, Gabe and I decided to walk around to see what we could find. So we wouldn't take the same pics over and over. We first found this lovely blue door and we had seen some Santorini-looking architecture from the distance.
Apparently what we were seeing was a beach-club, we asked the security guard if we could take some pics around it and totally let us in. I hate asking these questions but Gabe is not as shy. So we ended up enjoying SUCH an amazing view from the tower.
Nuestra estadÃa en Punta Blanca (Ecuador) fue realmente familiar. Como les conté , nos estábamos quedando frente al mar y todo fue muy de disfrutar esos dÃas en familia.
Pero claro, tenÃamos que aprovechar para tomar fotos. Nos pusimos a caminar a ver que encontrábamos. Lo primero fue esta puerta azul e la cual me enamoré. Estábamos caminando hacia una arquitectura muy "Santorini" y querÃamos ver si podÃamos llegar ahÃ.
Nos dimos cuenta que era como un club de playa pero sin pena le preguntamos al guardia de seguridad si nos dejaba entrar. ¡Y SI! Terminamos arriba en una torre disfrutando de unas vistas espectaculares de la bahÃa.
I'm not going to lie... watching my body change every day is both MAGICAL and WEIRD.
Even at my highest weight, my waist has always been small. So I guess I was very used to highlighting it - and my highwaisted stuff was the first thing that stopped fitting. Fashion-wise, this pregnancy has been about learning how to dress again and finding what fits instead of buying a whole wardrobe that will only last a few months.
When I was packing for this 2-week trip, I was nervous because the body changes happen so fast that I didn't know if I was going to fit in the clothes I was bringing.
No les voy a mentir...ver mi cuerpo cambiar todos los dÃas es MAGICO y RARISIMO.
Amo mi pancita- pero hasta lo más gordita que he estado, mi cintura siempre mi punto más delgado y estaba acostumbrada a vestirme para sacarle provecho a eso. Las cosas altas o a la cintura fue lo primero que dejó de quedarme, lo que ha llevado a aprender a vestirme diferentes cada semana. Me rehuso a comprar muchas cosas de maternidad que solo voy a usar por poco tiempo.
Cuando estaba haciendo la maleta para este viaje de dos semanas estaba muy nerviosa. ¿Qué pasa si lo que llevaba ya en dos semanas no me quedaba!?
Castaways and Lovers meet 🎶
Then kiss in Ecuador’s heat 🎶
Then kiss in Ecuador’s heat 🎶
Like I've mentioned, Ecuador became the meeting place for my venezuelan family. It's where some of my family members live, and it's an easy trip for us in the U.S and for my brother in Chile.
A friend from Ecuador told me that at this pace, I've been to more cities in Ecuador than her. But our family loves road trips and exploring new cities.
At the beginning of the year, we went to the beach- a gorgeous beach called Punta Blanca in Santa Elena. From what I saw, this area has mostly beach houses people from the city rent. My family found this house on AirBnb and it fits 16 people- GORGEOUS. You crossed the street and the beach is RIGHT there.
A friend from Ecuador told me that at this pace, I've been to more cities in Ecuador than her. But our family loves road trips and exploring new cities.
At the beginning of the year, we went to the beach- a gorgeous beach called Punta Blanca in Santa Elena. From what I saw, this area has mostly beach houses people from the city rent. My family found this house on AirBnb and it fits 16 people- GORGEOUS. You crossed the street and the beach is RIGHT there.
Como les mencioné, Ecuador se ha convertido en el punto de reencuentro para mi familia. Mi hermano vive allá y es un viaje rápido para mi desde Miami y para mi otro hermano en Chile.
Una amiga ecuatoriana me dijo que a este paso, ya conozco más ciudades en Ecuador que ella. Pero es que a nuestra familia le encanta viajar y explorar pequeños pueblos.
A principios de año nos fuimos a la costa, a esta hermosa playa llamada Punta Blanca en Santa Elena. Por lo que pude ver, en esta area hay muchas caras de playa de gente de la ciudad que se alquilan. Nosotros encontramos esta en Airbnb y cabÃan 16 personas- muy linda y muy cómoda. Aparte solo cruzabamos la calle y ya estábamos en la playa.
Una amiga ecuatoriana me dijo que a este paso, ya conozco más ciudades en Ecuador que ella. Pero es que a nuestra familia le encanta viajar y explorar pequeños pueblos.
A principios de año nos fuimos a la costa, a esta hermosa playa llamada Punta Blanca en Santa Elena. Por lo que pude ver, en esta area hay muchas caras de playa de gente de la ciudad que se alquilan. Nosotros encontramos esta en Airbnb y cabÃan 16 personas- muy linda y muy cómoda. Aparte solo cruzabamos la calle y ya estábamos en la playa.
I have to tell you everything about the scarf I'm wearing in my head.
My dear friend Valentina- who is also a blogger at MVTrends- launched a scarf collection called Silk by MVTrends. Every scarf is inspired by a city- and OMG they are all so stunning (wait, and I haven't mentioned they are only $25!!!). Mine is called SEVILLA .
Because I was at the beach, I was inspired to wear it on my head often. This is such an easy way to fold, but I got a few requests to do a tutorial. What do you girls think? Should I?
Antes que nada tengo que contarles del pañuelo que estoy utilizando- ¡¡porque me llena de orgullo!
Mi querida amiga Valentina- quien también es blogger en MVTrends- lanzó esta colección llamada Silk by MVTrends. Estoy enamorada, cada uno de los pañuelos esta inspirado en una ciudad y cuestan $25!! ¡BELLOS y ECONOMICO!
Cuando estaba planeando los looks, definitivamente quise usarla en la cabeza para la playa. Es muy muy muy fácil de doblarla asà pero me han pedido varias veces que les haga un tutorial. ¿Qué dicen?
The dress is from ASOS maternity, it was one of my first purchases when I found out I was pregnant. I got a few dresses that I thought I could wear throughout pregnancy and that they were versatile enough.
My issue with pregnancy clothes is that they are definitely made for the later months. Everything I got is STILL huge (and here I was 20 weeks, halfway there!), My solution: belting it with one of my favorite belts. I think it ended up adding a fun touch to the look.
El vestido es de ASOS Maternity, y fue de las primeras compras que hice al enterarme que estaba embarazada. Compré varios vestidos que sentà que podÃa usar bastante- ya me conocen, yo y la versatilidad.
El problema con la ropa de embarazo es que es toda para cuando ya estas inmensa. Aquà iba por la mitad ¡¡ y todavÃa me quedaba grandÃsimo!!! Por eso le agregué el cinturón doble- y me encantó el resultado bohemio que le dió.
Some of my favorite picks from ASOS Maternity.
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