Friday, February 28, 2014

This Month In Pics

Wow.  How is tomorrow March 1st?  This month has come and gone in the blink of an eye but I'm ready to bid February farewell.  March means Spring, and Spring is just so much better than Winter....wouldn't you agree?

I had a request to start doing more of my 'This Week In Pics' style posts like I used to do last year but since I post the majority of my photos on Instagram now {andy_adler} I don't want to bore you with the same repeat pics every week.  Maybe instead I'll start doing a month end recap with pictures and share some that didn't make it to Instagramland.....thoughts?  Let me know if you like this and want to see it again in the future.

Ok, so here we go.  My month in pictures.....


Seriously, is this my life?  Beach walks in my backyard in February?  I'm such a lucky girl.

We ordered a case of wine from our favorite vineyard in Tuscany.  Too bad I'm really watching what I'm eating/drinking right now and have yet to indulge.

Foggy sunrise from our living room.
Blah.  How boring is this?  Ground chicken w/ steamed veggies & rice cakes.

We took a quick weekend trip to Seattle....

Some fun new beauty products + a great scented candle.

Typical breakfast lately: scrambled egg whites with hot sauce + micro greens.  I HATE scrambled eggs so I have to drown them in Cholula hot sauce!
Pretty, pretty palms.

Gym selfie.

I made these delicious healthy chicken lettuce wraps - recipe to come soon!!
Househunting in ladylike Chanel flats, Frame denim {here}, and Rag & Bone silk top.

Fun fact: I'm blind as a bat and wear contacts everyday.  I was forced to wear my glasses when I developed an eye infection earlier this month.

Stunning sunset.  How beautiful are those clouds?
Protein shake & 2 hard boiled eggs for breakfast.

Our wedding album finally came!  I have a very exciting announcement in the near future about our wedding pictures!
Treasure hunting at the Restoration Hardware Outlet in Vero Beach.


My food pics are SO boring you guys!  "Diet food" is not fun but I've been trying really hard.....


 Ummmm....those black dots in the ocean are sharks!

In love with my fun new sneaks!!  You can purchase them here



Have a great weekend & don't forget to enter my S'well water bottle giveaway!!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  xx

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

S'well Water Bottle Giveaway

Hi gals!  Do you remember when I did this post last month about some new fitness gear that I had my eye on?  Well, I ended up purchasing the S'well stone water bottle that I featured in that set because a) I really did need a new water bottle and b) I was pretty curious about the claim that beverages stay cold for up to 24 hours.

First off, let me say that this water bottle is effin amazing!! I've seriously put it to test; let it sit in my car for hours on end in 85 degree weather {check}, allowed it to sit out all night for around 12 hours {check check} and guess what.....my water is still ice cold with absolutely zero condensation on the outside of the bottle!

I love the feeling of the "stone" texture and the bright fun color!  I'm also digging the fact that S'well donates a portion of each sale to a h20 charity {WaterAid}.  Who knew that I could get so excited over a water bottle!?  :)  To view other S'well collections or to purchase, click here.



Today, I've decided to giveaway two 17 ounce S'well bottles to two of my readers {one bottle each}!  To enter, simply leave your name, email address + color selection in the comment section of this post.  Winners will be chosen on Tuesday, March 4th and announced on March 5th.  This giveaway is open to everyone!!
 
Good luck and thanks for checking out my blog! xx


**Giveaway is closed**

Monday, February 24, 2014

Bright Fun Prints

Happy Monday lovers!  Did you guys have a good weekend?  My weekend was pretty basic; went to the movies, went and looked at a couple houses {still house hunting!}, went to dinner with friends, lounged around with Adam, did a little online shopping.....standard stuff. :)

I think I have a case of the Monday blah's today so I thought I'd share a fun, bright tunic that I scored recently from Revolve Clothing.  Bright colors make Mondays better!



Shop This Look:

 Dress - Tolani {here}
Heels - Dolce Vita {currently on sale here}


I first spotted this silk tunic style dress when I wrote a post last month on some of my favorite looks for resort 2014 {read it here}.  I couldn't stop thinking about how much I loved this dress and decided that I needed to add it to my closet!  I'm in love with the bold colors & fun boho style print.  

Now I do realize that most of you aren't quite ready to shed your winter coats in exchange for summer dresses just yet, but if you're planning a winter vacay I think this dress is a must!  I recently saw on Instagram that Sincerely, Jules wore this dress on a vacation in Mexico.  I just adore her laidback style :)

This dress embodies everything that I love in resort wear: bright, fun, a little bit boho, and effortless! 

xx

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

An Insiders Guide To Miami Beach

Sun, sand, palm trees, and beautiful bodies; these are images that one conjures up when thinking about all that Miami embodies.  I've lived here for going on 4 years now and I can't imagine living anywhere else!  Where else in the country can you be laying on the beach, soaking up the sun in the dead of winter?  

I've had a couple requests for this post, and thought it was a fun idea to put together a list of my favorite shopping + dining spots in my city.  So pack your flip flops, your spf, and a teeny bikini - you're headed to MIA!





Where To Shop -

First and foremost, lets get down to business.....where to shop!

The shopping in Miami is pretty spread out.  If you're staying in South Beach {or Sobe as the locals refer to it as}, there is always the 'Shopping District' which is within walking distance of most hotels located on Collins Ave.  The shopping down here is decent; I make the trek down here often as the only Zara in the area is located down here.  A few of my favorite retail stores in this area are:
  • Zara
  • Intermix
  • Beach Bunny
  • Dash 
  • Club Monaco
  • Steve Madden
  • Sephora

Another great shopping area that I always recommend for people to check out is Lincoln Road.  Lincoln Rd is an outdoor pedestrian only promenade that has lots of great little shops + retail chains, cheap restaurants, and is great for people watching.  Here you can pick up bikinis on the cheap {usually $10 for a top, and $10 for the bottom mix + match style}, shop in stores such as J.Crew, Madewell, All Saints, H&M, and Anthropologie {for a full list of stores click here}, or grab a cocktail at one of the dozens of outdoor cafes and watch the action.  I also recently heard that a "super Zara" is being built down here that will have a entire section dedicated to homeware!  Definitely worth checking out!

For more high end/designer merchandise, head to Bal Harbour Shops.  This outdoor mall is an easy 15 minute drive on Collins from South Beach.  If your man is into exotic sports cars, take him to lunch at Carpaccio {be sure to sit outside} and watch him drool over all the Ferrari's, Lambo's, and Porche's that pull up.  This is definitely a "see + be seen" type of place with a wide variety on the menu for reasonable prices.  After lunch, walk thru the mall and do a bit of your own drooling as you window shop stores like Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, and Saint Laurent.  When I need retail therapy, you can find me at:
  • Intermix {I'm obsessed with Intermix!}
  • Scoop
  • Rag & Bone
  • Calypso St. Barth
  • Chloe
  • Jimmy Choo
  • Neiman Marcus
  • Saks Fifth Avenue 

For a complete listing of shops & restaurants located in Bal Harbour click here



Aventura Mall is another 10-15 minute drive from Bal Harbour Shops, and this is where I do the majority of my shopping :)  With over 300 specialty stores + 10 full service restaurants it's easy to see why Aventura Mall ranks in the top 5 highest grossing malls in the country!  A few of my fave stores in this mall are:
  • Nordstrom
  • All Saints
  • J.Crew
  • Louis Vuitton
  • H&M
  • Jo Malone
  • Koko & Palenki
  • MAC
  • Restoration Hardware
  • Sur La Table

For a complete listing of stores click here.

 
Where To Eat-

Below are some of my favorite restaurants. 

Prime 112 - Everybody who comes to Miami must eat at Prime 112 at least once.  Delicious food + drinks + social scene.  We almost always see celebrities, athletes, someone famous everytime we eat here.  Reservations are essential, and even with a reservation you will usually have to wait for your table.  The food is pretty pricey but I promise it's worth it for these three words: Deep Fried Oreos.  Save room for dessert because they are so, so good!

Milos - Gorgeous restaurant with amazing Greek food.  This is one of my favorite restaurants!  If you like fish, you must eat here.  Also make sure to try the 'Milos Special' appetizer - so yummy!

Cecconis  - I love this spot for lunch or dinner.  Located at Soho House, the restaurant is outside and absolutely stunning!  Try the burrata.

Rosa Mexicano - Located on Lincoln Road, Rosa Mexicano has the best Mexican food around.  Definitely order the tableside guacamole {it's insanely good!} and a yummy skinny margarita!

Casa Tua - This is my favorite restaurant for a romantic dinner.  Reserve a table outside on their gorgeous terrace - it's lit only by candlelight.  Anything you order will be amazing, although the food is pretty pricey.  Reserve well in advance.

Michaels Genuine Food & Drink - My favorite spot for lunch is located in the Design District of Miami.  Lots of great high end shopping around here also :)

Zuma -  Best sushi in Miami!  Great Sunday brunch as well.

Joes Stone Crab -  It is famous for a reason! 

Timo Restaurant  - This restaurant is located in my hood {Sunny Isles Beach} about 15 minutes north of South Beach.  Adam & I eat here a couple times per month!  We always share the margherita pizza {thinnest crust you'll ever have!}, with a side of their delicious truffle risotto.  Great menu + well priced.


Where To Grab Drinks-

We usually always take our out of town guests for cocktails at The Delano.  Whether you sit inside {stunningly decorated} or out by the pool at night, this is a great choice for drinks.  Info found here.

Bar Centro by Jose Andres at the SLS Hotel is another great option for unique cocktails, light snacks + people watching.  

Bleau Bar at Fontainebleau Hotel has great cocktails and loads of beautiful people!  This iconic Miami Beach bar usually becomes insanely crowded around the time that LIV nightclub is opening up {11pm}.  Grab a drink and watch the sh*t show unfold :)


 ************


I really hope this info was helpful to any of you planning to visit soon!  I'm sure that I'm missing some great spots, if anyone has restaurant or shopping recommendations, please be sure share them in the comment section :) xx

Monday, February 17, 2014

Real Talk + Seattle Weekend Getaway Photos

Happy Monday lovers!  I hope you're all having a relaxing 3 day weekend :) 

My blog has been a little silent for the past couple weeks and I wanted to let you know that I'm still here, and I didn't quit blogging!  I have received a couple emails & comments on Instagram from a few of you and I am honestly so flattered that 1) people even read Typical Domestic Babe in the first place and 2) that you are genuinely concerned about the silence on here! 

I started this blog as a way for my friends & family to keep up with what I'm doing, and also mainly as a resource where I could share all the things that I'm passionate about.  I never started my blog with the intention of making this my career, or gaining notoriety {as some other people do}.  This is a hobby for me - a hobby that I love.  I love helping people and sharing my recipes, new products that I'm using, great fashion finds, etc. with anyone who is willing to listen.  It genuinely makes me so happy!  At the end of the day, if one of you tries out a recipe that you found on my blog and shares it with your family at dinner that is such an amazing feeling for me....one that is a little difficult to articulate.  It's just a really, really good feeling. :)

With all that being said, I kind of feel like I'm in a creative lull right now.  So instead of publishing a bunch of junk "filler posts" on my blog, I would rather have things be a little quieter than normal around here.  Quality over quantity!

Anyways, hope that makes sense.  I really appreciate all of your support & comments - it means so much to me!

In other news, Adam & I took a quick weekend trip to Seattle a couple weeks back and I've been meaning to share some of the photos with you guys!  One of my very best friends & her hubby built a BEAUTIFUL new home, and we flew up there to stay with them, check out their new pad, see my mom, and do some fun tourist activities.


Flying into Seattle is always such a gorgeous sight.  Majestic Mt. Rainier never fails!


We've been friends since we were 15.  Living on different coasts, we definitely don't see each other enough anymore...


Cheesy tourist picture!


Wine tasting in Woodinville.


It started pouring snow!




Dinner with friends....


Cozy layers by the fire


Our friends have the cutest Shiba!


Adam & I may or may not have done a lil bit of cuddling with him in bed-please don't tell Ace :)


We took a fun noodle making class!



Hand making Asian noodles.



We took a direct red eye flight from Seattle on Sunday night, and made it back to watch the sunrise in Miami on Monday morning....Adam went to work & I slept in bed all day hehe :)


It's always so nice to come home to our little bears.



xx

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Lovers Day Internet Finds

I know for a lot of people Valentines Day is a big deal.  For me, however, it's just sort of an "ehhhh" kind of holiday.  Don't get me wrong, I am definitely not anti-cupid.  Seeing elderly couples holding hands, watching new families on walks pushing baby strollers, my own husband bringing me home flowers "just because", all of this makes makes my heart swell.  I adore love, and celebrating the bond that couples share - I'm just not over the moon about glitter hearts, cheesey boxes of chocolate, pink teddy bears, and overpriced menu items simply because it's February 14th.

I did run across some adorable random internet finds this week on Etsy and other smaller websites.  These are things that I think are just plain cute that celebrate all things "love" related......nothing over the top, no cheesiness, and no cupids or pink teddy bears allowed.





One.  Do you guys remember that do it yourself craft that was going around on Pinterest last year  with the deck of cards "52 things I love about you"?  Well this is sort of the same, except a book version that you fill in the blanks.  {Only $10 here}

Two & Three.  Lately, I'm loving tea towels, especially these cheerful & adorable cotton ones printed on flour sacks.  {here & here}

Four.  I adore anything personalized, including this hand engraved necklace where you can customize the exact GPS coordinates of a meaningful place {i.e where you met your boyfriend, where you got married, etc}.  I would put the coordinates of the villa where Adam & I got married in Italy....le sigh.  {available on Etsy here}

Five.  Another great Etsy find!  This custom initials doormat is adorable!  {Hint, hint to my mom, if you're reading this!}  Many different options/designs available.  {available here}

Six & Seven.  Heart shaped pasta noodles + a wooden heart shaped spoon stamped with "Made With Love" are out of this world cute.  Definitely adds a whimsical touch to a romantic dinner for two.  {herehere}

Eight.  If you follow me on Instagram {andy_adler}, you might have seen these adorable vintage silver spoons that I bought for Adam & I.  They are hand stamped with "His Ice Cream & Her Ice Cream".  Die.  So stinkin cute!  I went back and bought more spoons as gifts for our friends.  The owner of this Etsy shop is so sweet too - always a bonus!  {view here}

Nine.  I love this little handmade jewelry holder printed with "You Changed My World".  Would be cute as a little wedding gift, or to keep for yourself and put on your nightstand :)  {available on Etsy here}


xx
 

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