Happy Sunday All! Where does the time go? There’s exactly one month left before this season comes to an end, and I still have a few pieces I’d like to get in while I can fit them in…this being reason enough for me to sport my fun summer flair; a duo by Trina Turk. I always enjoy her contemporary designs for the bold prints and the vibrant colors. It’s what I call feel good clothing; effortless, comfortable and fun. And this Turkish inspired print is exactly that.
For my Funday-Sunday, I kept it casual by pairing Trina Turks Corbin 2 short and floppy hat with a Polo tee.
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Shorts: Trina Turk | Floppy Hat: Trina Turk | Tee: Polo
Happy Sunday! Well, the days are already getting shorter and before you know it we’ll be longing for summer to come all over again. For those of us maintaining a healthy lifestyle; we know all too well working out is not an option…so why waste our summer in the gym, when the best work out requires nothing more than our body and the great outdoors. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather skip the stuffy gym for an effective total-body workout in the fresh air on a beautiful day anytime.
One of the benefits of taking our work out outdoors is that we get to naturally absorb that good ‘ole Vitamin D (aka sunshine). Knowing how important Vitamin D is to our health and weight loss (if that’s your goal), an out-door work out shouldn’t even be an option. But as much as we love the sun, it’s imperative that we always remember to protect the skin from the ultraviolet rays by applying sunscreen and scheduling our work outs during non-peak hours. Sunlight rays are at their highest between 10:00am – 4:00 pm. And on a side note; if you’re interested in further information on the importance of Vitamin D, a recommended good read is The Vitamin D Diet. Now get out there!
First and foremost comfortable fitness attire is essential when it comes to an effective work out. I like to stretch thoroughly, get in a good run and use my surroundings for strength training.
Any excuse to visit Vegas is the perfect excuse. So when we realized this year my sisters birthday fell on the same weekend as multiple events including performances by Maxwell, Charlie Wilson and Keith Sweat all at the Mandalay Bay…planning this trip was a no-brainer.
There’s a code of loyalty with its own catch phrase that comes with a trip to LV; “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!” Well being that I’m a respectable women of a certain age and passed that stage in my life where my behavior warrants obscurity…I must say, there’s something to be said for such an awesome weekend, so to sum it up, I must share.
Salute to a week-long celebration of love and life. It all began Sunday a week ago yesterday, with my husbands Annual Fathers Day Golf Outing, on Monday we packed up the love and headed to Charleston to celebrate our 26th Wedding Anniversary, after four tranquil days, we returned home for my husbands annual All White Birthday Party on Saturday, and on Sunday we brought such a week to an end by attending the New Edition and Kenneth (Baby Face) Edmonds Concert. Wow!
Although Charleston is known for its beautiful historic landscape, well-preserved architecture, distinguished restaurants and southern hospitality…I must say we found this little slice of unspoiled paradise to be the ideal romantic destination.
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort was the perfect destination to allow us to unplug and escape the rigors of everyday life and reconnect, whether it be strolling along the white-sand private beach, taking in the picturesque sun-set or indulging in relaxing spa activities, Kiawah Island is hands down “the ultimate retreat.”
Equally as therapeutic is the shopping in Charleston…King Street; an area overflowing with shops and boutiques is the main attraction. And then there’s The Charleston City Market, filled with individual vignettes; ideal for souvenirs and whimsical finds such as the sweet grass baskets which are actually hand-woven on site (one of the oldest art forms from the African origin).
And the food; Omigod! The Food! Lets just say, I consumed more than my share.
To say we spent a week-long celebrating one another is truly an understatement, as our trip was that and so much more. And because we married on my husbands Birthday; as it turns out…I’m the gift that keeps on giving…so we bid our farewell to a wonderful time in Charleston to return home to Charlotte and celebrate my husbands birthday in epic style…of course who doesn’t love a party! If I express in entirety how I adore Charleston, you’d be reading this blog and looking at pics for an entire day, so heres my attempt at capturing the essence of our visit in one post.
Enjoy!
Our view of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
Soaring over Cooper River!
Just a few souvenirs
Where retail meets therapy!
The perfect photos opt. Pineapple Waterfall in Waterfront Park
Charleston City Market
Carriage rides are a staple when exploring the City’s Architecture
Fleet Landing, some of the best downtown waterfront dining is on the Charleston Harbor
One of Fleet Landings most popular dishes is the Crispy Whole Fried Southern Flounder with Apricot Glaze
The Peach Tea is perfect for Summertime Sipping
Low Country favorite; Shrimp & Grits
The Fried Oysters with Spinach and Fresh Corn straight off the Cob in Sriracha Sauce at Magnolias… nothing less than Divine.
Hanks Seafood Restaurant is nothing less than the truth when it comes to seafood.
Kiawah Island…A little slice of Paradise
The Sanctuary Spa at Kiawah Island Golf Resort was definitely a highlight for me,
Kiawah Beach
Basking in the beauty of it all!
Taking it all in.
Luxuriating in a quiet moment
In keeping with the area’s southern charm, I fell in love with the West Indian themed decor that flowed effortlessly throughout the entire Spa.
Evening Shenanigans
Waterfront Fun
A Sweet Spot For A Sweet Tooth
Whimsical Flavors…all the sales from the orange cupcakes are donated to Orlando…I love it “Charleston Strong”
A nice surprise to take home to our Grands.
A Room With A View...as bad as I wanted to, I couldn’t wait for the sun to go down any longer because we had a dinner reservation, even still I thought this was awesome!
Casual Elegance fit for an Anniversary Dinner with my Mr.
“To The Good Life.” Anniversary Dinner at Hanks Seafood Restaurant
Emanuel (Mother Emanuel) African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. For us it would be remiss to visit Charleston without pausing to remember The Charleston 9 as well as the survivors. And although the wound is still young I admire the resilience the City has after that tragic day in June 2015.
Well Rested and ready to spread the love. And The Turn Up Begins!!!
R&B Artist Avant graced us with a wonderful medley of his greatest hits, as was the evening itself.
Winding down a week of celebrating with a nice outdoor throw back concert; “Kenny (Baby Face) Edmonds and New Edition
I hope you enjoyed our postcards
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Off-The-Shoulder Blouse: White House Black Market | Caftan: La Moda | Bathing Suit: Becca By Rebecca
With the warmer months approaching, so is the idea of lite-eating. And although I plan to attend my share of Barbeque’s and Food Festivals this summer, try as I might…the goal is always to indulge in moderation. I’m a “Foodie” however there’s nothing more miserable than feeling stuffed and bloated after a heavy meal, which is why I enjoy salads year round but more-so during the warmer months, not only because they don’t weigh me down, but because of the many different ways in which I can be creative with all the fresh and seasonal ingredients as well as all the colors that make a salad even more enticing.
I especially enjoy pairing tuna with my salads; a nice source of protein; rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, low in calories and considered a low-mercury fish. The addition of tuna to or with my salad helps me to feel satisfied without over indulging.
So I thought I’d share this evenings dinner as well as one of my favorites with you, as you may be interested in incorporating it into your Summer Menu.
Nicoise Salade with Seared Tuna
Nicoise Salad; pronounced nee/swahz…means “Nice Salad” in French. This Yummylicious dish is extremely simple to prepare as the ingredients are of course tuna, green beans, potato’s and eggs…of course you can always put your spin on it, (during this time of year we do a lot of outdoor cooking, so I pretty much grilled most of my ingredients) however…whether you choose to roast, steam, grill or whatever, these practical yet lite ingredients make for quite a hardy dish!
I always look forward to our family times together, whether it be a stay-cation or a vacation, they’re always so much fun. This year with my granddaughter’s final cheerleading competition of the season in Tampa Florida, we took our vacation a little earlier than we normally do, and with West Palm Beach being only a jump, skip and a hop away…with all it has to offer (gorgeous weather, beautiful surroundings, out-door adventures, great dining, entertainment, and shopping) we were attracted to the idea that this would be the perfect destination for us to vacate to and indeed it was. Enjoy the many postcards of some of our sites and times along such an awesome trip.
Marriott’s Ocean Point Resort on Singer Island In West Palm Beach
Always time for a selfie!
Tropical beauty everywhere!
Geckos…very much in abundance in the area
Poolside libations…Mango Mojito
Okay now lets hit the beach!
My youngest adult child…still a kid at heart.
A visit to the humongous Shopping and Entertainment Complex was rather impressive
The Trolley was a nice amenity that I found quite convenient.
During a tropical down pour we enjoyed some time bowling at Revolutions
Not exactly making a fashion statement!
In route to The Fishing Marina, we noticed that Old Dixie Highway has been renamed in honor of our President…how cool is that!
Wow…Are we suppose to catch-all that!
Baby Girl is having second thoughts about the Fishing Excursion.
Our Seahorse Fishing Excursion was one for the books!
The Pelicans stay posted at the marina’s…as you can see we weren’t the only ones with plans to go fishing.
All lined up and ready to go!
Leading up to and during our excursion Captain Lee’s knowledge, patience and hospitality was awesome, which made for a great experience.
Who knew the littlest one on the boat…the very one who had doubts about the fishing excursion, would catch the biggest fish.
Standing at the entrance of the affluent Worth Avenue is a monument to the Palm Beach Pier which stood in this same exact site before it was destroyed by the 1930 hurricane is the Worth Avenue Clock Tower
Spanning three blocks from Lake Worth to the Atlantic Ocean, lined with beautiful coconut palms and tabby concrete sidewalks, the affluent Worth Avenue; considered one of three of the “Most Ionic” streets in America, with over 200 influential merchants…a shopping experience like no other.
The beautiful Living Wall adorning the facade of the Sacks Fifth Avenue building at 150 Worth Avenue
Cover-up: Tommy Bahama | Bikini: Robin Piccone | Espadrilles: Targets | Tote: Targets
