Typically, I reserve the “First Class Favorite” title for our e-boutique favorites. But, I fell in love with these Kate Spade Cayman Slippers and where can I see them most? In First Class, of course. Aren’t these adorable slippers perfect to slip on during your next long flight to keep comfy? My favorite is the pink glitter-bow satin slipper…I’m a sucker for anything that sparkles. I want these NOW…for flights, for walking around my hotel room, for cozying up fireside in the ski lodge, and just to feel fancy when I’m home lounging. I mean really…have you ever seen a cuter slipper? These three can be found at Neiman Marcus, but a few more colors (like a black slipper with gold glitter-bow) can be found at kate spade new york.
Recently, Coconut Grove held it’s annual Pumpkin Patch Festival here in Miami. Since we, unfortunately, had no plans of heading north this month to see the leaves change, go apple picking, and go to an actual pumpkin patch, we hit this one up to see what it was all about and get in the “Fall” spirit with the kids. We were excited for a fun day together outside, a pumpkin beer for mommy & daddy, and cute haystack photos with our little pumpkins. So, off we went…here go my three boys…
There were rides galore for the preschoolers…and Rocco tested them all out.
But the little ones, like our Gavin, were too small for most things except for this bounce farm house.
Though, this Hay Maze was fun for all the kids…
…and it wasn’t bad to take a break from the crowds and catch this view of the boats along the water in the Grove.
But, oh my, was it hot…I mean, sweltering. After an hour of being there, I was checking the time wondering if it had been 4 hours. Then, I checked the temperature. REALLY? Only 84 degrees?!? We were four roasted pumpkins at the patch. Each one of us looked like we’d just gone swimming, hair soaked & slicked across our foreheads. After only an hour and a half, we called it quits and headed straight to the nearest air-conditioned restaurant for lunch…only stopping for a frozen lemonade on the way out. We all had fun but, next year, we’ve already decided we’re heading up north to celebrate Fall with our New York friends where it’s guaranteed to be cooler. Maybe we’ll even see a leaf fall too. In the meantime, this is our new way of celebrating Fall in Florida…pumpkin beer poolside.
Looking for a pumpkin patch that’s still open in South Florida? We usually go to The Little Farm each Fall. There you’ll find pumpkins big and small, a butterfly garden, pony rides, about 20 outdoor playhouses, and plenty of farm animals. The kids love it. Maybe we’ll check it out too this year before the season’s over…if a cold front rolls in.
In the Travel Tips section, I’m sharing tricks I’ve learned and advice I’ve gotten on the road to help make the journey as smooth as possible.
My Travel Tip this week? Wear Heels & Pack Flats. I can never bring myself to pack ONLY the comfy, flat shoes on my adventures. First of all, I’m a shorty, so I need the height. Doesn’t everyone look a little better taller? But mostly, for me, wearing heels is part of the fun. So, I always toss a pump or two in my suitcase. That said, there’s only so much pain this princess can take, especially after a long day of sight-seeing. What works best for me when I have a day where I just HAVE to wear heels? Wear heels & pack flats. Throw a pair of fashionable flats into a shoe bag and then into your tote for the day. This way, you can get the best of both, fashion & comfort, and you will be a happy girl come day’s end. We are loving these Tieks fold up flats that look fantastic and take up almost zero space in your carry-on bag & luggage.
Love these foldable Tieks flats when I need a break from the heels!
On my recent getaway to Marco Island, my days were spent poolside and on the beach so my look didn’t require much more than a bathing suit, flips, a cover up, sunnies, and a hat both days. Luckily, I found this fun cover-up right before I left on my trip. It’s by a company called Miken (found in Macy’s) and is made out of the softest jersey material and has an interesting lace detail at the shoulders with a fun, high-low hem.
Cover-up: Miken | Monokini Bathing Suit: Body Glove | Flips: Havaianas | Sunglasses: Tom Ford | Hat: Helen Kaminski (similar)| Nails: Essie Bond With Whomever
Evenings are pretty casual at the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, but I can’t help but slip on a dress for dinner. It’s so easy and when it’s so humid outside, it’s all I want to wear. This dress I’m loving as it’s black & white, feminine with a ruffle that won’t stop and has an edgy gold zipper down the front to keep it from being too girly. Plus, it’s plenty comfy and gives me a little extra room so I can indulge in dessert! The first night was more casual, so I wore Gap leather flips with my dress; but, on this evening, we were headed to the upscale restaurant on the resort so the heels came out…besides, a little more height never hurt a 5’2″ girl.
Dress: Francesca’s (similar) | Shoes: Guess (similar) | Gold Bangle: a gift (similar) | Nails: Essie Bond With Whomever
We recently spent a weekend at the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort on the west coast of Florida for a quick family getaway. This wasn’t my first time here. I’d practically grown up at this resort as it was always so easy to get to from Miami, where I’m from. I have such fond memories of times we spent at the Marriott when I was a little girl playing in the soft, white sand, splashing in their pools, hitting the ice cream shop nightly, and slurping down their frosty daiquiris (virgin back then, of course). I recently told my NJ husband, “You had the Jersey Shore, I had Marco Island.” But, I hadn’t been back since they completed over $250 million in renovations and redesign. It looks incredible. They’ve updated their restaurants, redesigned modern & kid-friendly pools, and redecorated the lobby and rooms. But somehow, they’ve left the serenity of the old Marco Marriott untouched. It’s still the place to stay when in Marco Island for a mix of relaxation and family fun for everyone…whether that’s 4 of you or 27 strong like we were! Yes, I have a giant family.with
We spent our mini-vaca in Marco with my parents, grandfather, sister, 4 brothers, two cousins, and everyone’s kids…and yes, it got hectic. But, it was so much fun to have everyone away together! We all did our own thing during the day, crossing over here and there at the beach and pool, and met up for one big family dinner each night. There was plenty of entertainment for all 11 kids in our family, from 9 months to 16 years old with an arcade, waterside, pool splash pad, jet skis, and beautiful beach. Even the bigger “kids at heart” played with catamarans, parasailed, lounged in cabanas, treated themselves at the world-class Balinese-style spa, and played the two stunning “Resort-Private” championship golf courses.
Pool Water Slide, Building Sandcastles, & Motorcycles in the Arcade
The resort has plenty of restaurants to choose from. Quinn’s, which has been around for decades (not to age myself), is a casual, caribbean seafood grill for beachside dining. Tropiks is the resort’s causal restaurant which presents a fabulous breakfast buffet each morning with, our favorite part, the make-you-own bloody mary station. One evening, we all had dinner in the private room at Kurrents, their upscale steak and seafood restaurant, where I had a tasty Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass. Though, my favorite dining spot on the resort was probably 400 Pazzi’s which was perfectly located between both pools and the beach. This spot offered generous portions of pastas, salads, paninis, and brick-oven pizzas. Sadly, we ran out of time to dine at Korals, the lobby sushi and cocktail bar. But, we did get to experience their custom-designed, 11-foot tall, 3,600-pound aquarium each time my three year old spotted it and ran over to the column shouting “Dori! Dori!” Cocktails are available just about anywhere on the resort and I can say my margarita and mojito did the trick; but, the frozen daiquiris are clearly their strength at the resort. There’s even a cocktail cart that drives by your tiki hut on beach to take your order and deliver your drink. Ahh, paradise.
Quinn’s Margarita with Salt, Make-Your-Own Bloody Mary from Tropiks, & Mediterranean Salad from Pazzi’s
The Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort is located near Naples and Ft. Myers, Florida on 3 miles of beachfront property. This resort has won a #9 spot on the Reader’s Choice Top 40 Florida Resorts by Condé Nast Traveler, won the Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor in 2013, and was listed on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List – The World’s Best Places to Stay: Best Hotels and Resorts in Florida 2012. Don’t miss it on your next trip to Florida’s west coast!
In the Travel Tips section, I’m sharing tricks I’ve learned and advice I’ve gotten on the road to help make the journey as smooth as possible.
A fun belt adds instant style to neutrals when traveling as seen here on So Very Pretty Things
We’ve all heard to pack neutral colors and solids so you can mix and match your wardrobe and keep the suitcase light when traveling. However, sometimes, this results in a blah look at your destination. To make a more interesting outfit on vacation (or a business trip), add a fun belt. We love animal prints, studs, and bright colors that will be sure to give that basic look some great style. Besides, they take up much less space in your luggage than a whole other outfit. Here are some great selections we found this week…
These animal print, camo, and studded belts can be found at J.Crew.
Target also has a cute selection of fun belts starting at only $12.99.
Meet Ashley
Former NYC fashion industry girl, forever traveler, foodie at heart, and now Mom in Miami. My blog, Arrive Chic, covers the style I find in everyday life both on the road and at home, often with my two energetic little boys in tow.
