There Are No Bad Words For The Coast Today

I have a love / hate relationship with beaches. I feel like most people love being on the beach, in the sand, in a swimsuit, and in the sun. I really am not a fan of sand - walking around in it is okay, but sitting in it is still a no go for me. For reference, my favorite beach was a beach that had no sand, but ROCKS in France. I thought that was the best. But I also love the beach. I love it from a bit of a distance. I love walking on the boardwalk besides Deerfield Beach. I love restaurants and towns by the beach, like Kona in Hawaii. I love the sounds, I love the breeze. It's for this reason I found Honolulu to be the best city in the world - good shopping, good breeze, peaceful, and lots of greenery. The beach itself, while we did a good job of photographing here, was overflowing with people tanning and hammering umbrellas into the sound. In fact, the short time we were on the beach was the opposite of peaceful, where as being nearby is just perfect for me. That being said, I'll do just about anything for a good photo, including dragging my husband out to beach in our full-on clothing while everyone else is in swim suits :D

dress :: beach bums via bettie page // sandals :: miss trish // sunnies :: ray ban

bag:: modcloth // necklace :: target // ring :: c/o modcloth

Kiwi-Basil Mojitos

I cannot get enough of mojito variations. Really, once you get the main kind down, you essentially need to muddle fruit and herbs, add rum and soda water, and voila, you've got yourself the most refreshing, delicious cocktail ever. This one mixes kiwi, lime, and basil, which was a superb combo guys.

What You'll Need

2 Limes //  2 Kiwis // 1.5 TBSP Cane Sugar or White Sugar // 2 Ounces Light Rum // Club Soda // Ice // Basil Leaves

Muddler // Shaker

Optional :: Basil Rimming Crystals

Squeeze the two lime and scoop out the kiwi into a shaker. Muddle well with a handful of basil leaves, then add 1.5 tablespoons of sugar, and muddle until dissolved. Finally, add 2 ounces of rum, and shake well.

Strain over ice (or, if you prefer your drinks without ice like my husband, add the ice into the shaker part!), and then fill to the top with club soda. And serve!

If Nautical Nonsense Be Something You Wish

modcloth pillow // to tommy from zooey // anthropologie wall hook // aldo shoes

Whenever I hear the word 'nautical', the silly Sponge Bob lyrics always pop in my head. The phrase 'nautical nonsense' is actually really pretty, in a weird way to be. But I have been loving everything nautical for awhile now, and my penchant for red and blue things has only been furthered by Zooey Deschanel's recent Tommy Hilfiger capsule collection. SO CUTE. And octopus things have been really catching my eye. Last year we found the coolest octopus tentacle candle holders at Anthropologie, but they aren't available anymore (obviously) but I am glad they are carrying a fun wall hook now. And those boat shoes meet saddle shoes are just to die for!

Boca

Girls weekends are seriously the best getaways. Boca Raton is seriously the perfect place for such an outing - full of restaurants, shops, and all within walking distance and in perfect weather. It really is amazing the endless amount of places we have to explore in life - I feel like I've only gotten into the tip of south-west Florida (I have still never been to Miami or Palm Beach), and I have a long list of destinations to get to as well. I've been outside of the US, although not for a few years now (unless you consider the Bahamas, which I kind of don't), and I'm overwhelmed at the amount of places that I keep adding to my list to get to. Exploring Boca was amazing though - and our first task was to settle on a brunch place!

We had such a foodie weekend! We enjoyed brunch at Kapow! - which is a noodle bar but had like a super amazing brunch. Later, we enjoyed a fanciful wine and cheese plate at the Cheese Course which has become hands down, without fail, my favorite place in the entire planet. This dress has got to be the most perfect thing for eating because it is SO comfortable! An Orla Kiely dress for not a crazy amount of money? YES! I love collaborations.

dress :: orla kiely for people tree via modcloth // purse :: valhalla brooklyn // heels :: steve madden

necklace :: c/o turtle love co // headband :: ebay // sunnies :: ray ban

Intense Dark Chocolate, Good Books, and 'Me' Time

Anyone ever feel like they need 'me' time? Of course you do! Lately, I have really been needing just a little time to get off the computer, stop running around, and enjoy something. And what's better to pair my 'me' time with than some Ghiradelli Intense Dark Chocolate? I've got to say, first and foremost, that dark chocolate to me, is best enjoyed on it's own.  For a long time now, I have been set on dark chocolate. The darker, the better - I prefer at least 60%. I can barely eat milk anymore - it's far too sweet and sugary for me. Ghiradelli makes my favorite semi-sweet chocolate as it is, so their (relatively) new Intense Dark line has been a favorite for me. The Twilight Delight is probably my favorite - it's the mid-range of the pure darks, doesn't have anything in it (nuts are a no-go in this family!) and is perfectly delicious. It's something I love picking up at Target - who often has some nice sales on the bars.

So, just eating chocolate is really not the only thing I do. Here's the things I like to do while indulging in some super dark, super intense chocolate delight.

Read books and magazines
I feel incredibly fanciful when I read print books, particularly my little collection of Kate Spade books, while eating chocolate. Their is something about coming home in my work clothes, eating chocolate out of the fancy packaging the Ghiradelli comes in, and reading about style with Kate Spade's illustrations alongside that makes me feel like a real adult.

Watch really, really, girly TV
When else do I get to sit around, eat chocolate, and watch things like Glee other than when my husband isn't around?

Play with the dogs
This seems like the antithesis of 'me' time because it's actually 'puppy play time', but playing with my dogs is such a happy experience. They love to run and play, and I kind of enjoy just watching and throwing the ball every now and then while I sit enjoying some chocolate and wine.
The big thing to note here : chocolate is toxic to dogs. Enjoying chocolate is a 'me' activity, and while pairing it with my relaxing time playing with my dogs, they are not allowed to have any!

What is your me time? Do you have any favorite chocolate pairings - either experience or other food? Ghirardelli wants to see your intense dark chocolate perfect pairings. Show them off by uploading a photo to Instagram using #IntenseDark. Or you can share your perfect pair photo with some Ghiradelli intense dark chocolate here on the Ghiradelli website!

This post was sponsored by Ghiradelli Intense Dark Chocolate. This indicates I received a product in exchange for review, although the opinions and ideas expressed are my purely own. For more information - read the disclosure of this blog.

Funky Buddha

Part of the greatness of visiting a new area with a friend is getting to explore together. My friend Leah and I spent some time in Fort Lauderdale trying out a new (to us) brewery and exploring downtown. I loved the name 'Funky Buddha' for a brewery - and while I enjoyed their beer, there are so many other amazing places that this kind of pales in comparison (maybe the absurd amount of breweries in Pennsylvania has spoiled me). Anyhow - we still had a wonderful time nonetheless. Craft breweries always are such a fun thing to explore!

dress :: agaci // belt :: agaci // flats :: seychelles

headband :: free people //  bags :: emma fox