Dreaming Of: A Weekend Beach Getaway

There is nothing better than making a run from the city over a long weekend, cranking the tunes in the car and singing at the top of your lungs, all the while driving to a beach locale to enjoy the sunshine.

Us Vancouverites are so lucky to live here because we have a ton of different beach venues at our disposal BUT but, of course, not everyone is as fortunate.  Sometimes a beach getaway isn't as easy to get to over a long weekend.  However, the fact remains that beach vacations are the best.

Piece created on Polyvore by pisces7

When it comes to packing for a beach getaway, I only need the 5 things listed above:
1.  My favorite printed bikini
2.  A gorgeous floppy hat
3.  A very high SPF sunscreen
4.  My go-to bronzer
5.  A bright orange lipgloss

If I had infinite space, I would be bringing a lot more items but these are definitely what I need for laying at the beach.  Once I leave the beach, I would say I need to pack more items like the picture below!

The perfect getaway by glitterlovergurl featuring beach home decor

Whether you're a hop, skip and a jump from the beach OR need to get there via plane, nothing beats a beach vacation.  If you're on the market for a getaway you should check out this AMAZING list of the best beaches (articles).  You never know where you'll end up next.

What are your 5 go-to items for a beach vacation?

    

Sun, Sand and Surf - Red Lip Gloss on Vacation

Guess where we're going for vacation at the end of this week?  If the tacos, enchiladas and guacamole aren't hints enough, we're going to MEXICO!  We can't wait to see the sun, the beach and introduce Benjamin to the ocean.

I am usually the best packer, especially for a 2 week trip away from home.  I would usually only bring a carry-on suitcase.  However, packing for yourself AND a baby means that you take the largest suitcase you can find and fill it with every possible thing a baby could need and then throw in your couple bathing suits, if there's any room left over for yourself.  Despite having very little room, I have managed to put in a couple cute items.

First, we're going to Puerto Vallarta for 11 days and this is a picture of the actual resort we'll be staying at.  What's even better is our amazing friends will be joining us on this adventure.  YAY.

When it comes to dressing on vacation, I practically live in my bikinis and sarongs or a lightweight bathing suit cover.  I've pretty much only packed items like this,

Plus, I don't have much room in the suitcase for anything else!!  Ha.

We can't wait to go on holidays.  As of this Saturday, we'll be off enjoying Mexico and lounging by the water.  Woohoo

    

Red Lip Gloss on Vacation....With Benjamin!

So, Benjamin and I are leaving on a quick trip to Phoenix super early this morning.  In fact, when you read this we'll already be in the air.  Poor Allan is staying behind to work as this was supposed to be a girl's trip, but we are more than happy to have Benjamin come along.

It's Benjamin's very first flight (and mine with a baby) so needless to say I am very nervous. Hopefully everything will go well and he'll enjoy traveling as much as his dad and I do.

I will resume posting next week!  Happy Thursday, friends.

    

Traveling to Bali, Indonesia

Ubud, Bail, our first island destination.  Photo courtesy of http://island-in-bali.blogspot.ca

Today marks 5.5 months until both the wedding and our honeymoon.  (September 15, 2012 is the official day for those that may not know.)  All of the planning that's gone into creating a one-of-a-kind vintage celebration has been exhausting, amazing and surreal all at the same time.  And best part is that because I have had some amazing help from my friends, I am in this incredible lull as most things are planned and I finally get a chance to be enjoy being engaged.  Oh, and of course, plan our honeymoon.

Photo courtesy of www.aquamarinediving.com

Bali is our honeymoon destination.  We leave Vancouver on Monday the 17th (just 2 days after the wedding) and get to enjoy a glorious 3 weeks traveling around the island.  We will be staying in Ubud (first half of the trip) and Seminyak (second part) and have hired some fabulous drivers to take us off the beaten track to see what the locals see.  As exciting as the wedding is, is it wrong for us to be just a bit more stoked for the honeymoon? 

Though we'll be documenting our trip when we're there via this blog (we want to keep our friends and family updated as to where we are, ect.) I thought I would take some time to show you some pics of the where we're staying, what we're going to be eating AND how we're going to spend our time.  Check these pics out!!

The Inata Hotel in Ubud.  Photos courtesy of www.tripadvisor.com

This is the Inata Hotel in Ubud, Bail and our home for about 10 days of the trip.  I selected this hotel after MANY sleepless nights spent scouring the internet for a place that had positive reviews and excellent staff.  This was the place.  PLUS, for only $55 CAD a night, it's a steal as it includes a fabulous rice field view, breakfast, free WiFi and is less than a 5 minute walk from the city centre.  For those that aren't aware, Ubud is where they filmed the movie Eat Pray Love with Julia Roberts.

Babi Guling at Ibu Oka's.  Photo courtesy of www.travelfish.org

FOOD!!  I am most excited about the food, honestly.  I love spicy food and have been told that the dishes are similar to Thai, which I adore.  The dish the Balinese are known for is called Babi Guling, or Suckling Pig (in English).  The dish is made by roasting a whole pig over charcoal made from coconut shells.  The reason the pig tastes so good is that it's been stuffed with vegetables and spice pastes.  I've been told that the best place to try this pig feast is in Ubud at a restaurant called Ibu Oka's.  For only $3 CAD, you get a massive plate full of pig -goodness.

Naughty Nuri's famous ribs.  Photo courtesy of http://travel.nytimes.com

OMG, the other place I am DYING to try is called Naughty Nuri's Warung and Grill.  I have read nothing but fabulous things about this joint and being as obsessed with ribs/BBQ as I am, I KNEW we'd be going to this place a few times (at least).  PLUS, with main courses ranging from $1.70 to $4.20 CAD, it's the place to go for low prices and high flavor.  (And it's all done in the open...similar to a food truck or street vendor.)  Man, I am drooling already.

Elephant Safari Park.  Photo courtesy of www.triasbali.com

Elephants are one of my favorite animals and when I heard (and read) there was an Elephant Safari Park in Bali, I knew we had to visit it.  Not only do you get to touch, feed and observe these animals in their own habitat, you can actually ride them too.  To ride an elephant is very pricey ($60 USD) so I'm sure Allan and I won't be doing that.  But I can't wait to touch one and see them up close.

The Ubud Market.  Photo courtesy of www.balistarisland.com

Ubud has a massive market open daily from very early to very late.  The prices are, of course, cheap but haggling is a must.  Allan and I have already began haggling amongst ourselves to ensure we're prepared for the nattering.  They have everything here from shoes, to sarongs, to food to jewelry and I can't wait to see what strikes my fancy.

 

The Amadea Resort and Villas.  Photos courtesy of www.agoda.com

Seminyak is the last leg of our adventure and our hotel is called Amadea Resort & Villas.  I had originally booked a different hotel BUT after some issues with safety and the reservation, I cancelled it and reserved this place.  It looks like an absolute dream.  And it should because we're paying about $80 CAD a night, which is rather pricey for Bali BUT NOT pricey for Seminyak.  Because it's so touristy, and right on the beach, Seminyak is a very pricey place.  But the food is supposed to be fantastic all over Seminyak so we knew we had to experience it.

I've been planning more things in Ubud then I have for Seminyak and I'm thinking it's because of it being a beach town.  Allan and I are going to spend our days laying in the sun (with 60+ sunscreen on), relaxing and eating crazy awesome meals.  I can't wait!

Have you taken any crazy trips lately?  Any advice on traveling to Bali?

I'm Back! (From Vacation That Is...)

Hi Ladies!!

Well, I'm back from my all-too-quick vacation and attempting to get into the swing of things.  (It's sooooo hard to begin waking up at 5 AM for work when I've been rolling out, the past few days, so much later.)

First, I should mention that I have a fantastic haul post coming up tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Second, a huge THANKS goes out to both Mandy (from MandysSecrets) and Laura (from Applied Glamour) for their outrageous guest posts.  Honestly, these two ladies are not only amazing bloggers but also great friends.  Thanks again ladies!

Thirdly, you HAVE to check out Bronwen's Wedding Wednesday post today because it's hilarious.  Go go go right now....ha

Thanks everyone for your patience with my lack of posts this week.  Stay tuned for something awesome tomorrow....

The Shortest Vacation

How do I begin explaining our 3 and a half day vacation to New York, except by saying that it was FABULOUS.

Never, in my life, have I ever seen so many cabs in one place...or people, for that matter. Everyone driving is honking at one another, even if they're parked at red lights, and pedestrians literally walk like they're the only ones on the street. (They also have this funny habit of waiting for the walk sign to change from red to green in the middle of oncoming traffic....very very very odd.)

As you all know, I made a list of all the things I wanted to see and do while in New York. I'm happy to report that Allan and I completed almost all of those things and more. Here are a few pictures I'd like to share with you.

I was soooooo excited Thursday afternoon. Here I am sitting at the airport bar, drinking vodka sodas, waiting for our plane to board. This is my classic "excited" face. Allan says I looked this way the entire 5 hour plane ride.

Now, my classic "excited" face might be funny, but this is a classic Allan face. To me, he looks very pensive. Either way, he travels a lot for work, so airports are his second home.

Cab ride to the hotel in Weehawken, New Jersey. No, we didn't stay in Manhattan, as nice as that would have been BUT our hotel was at the base of the ferry terminal and for only $8.50 per ride, we got a direct pass across the water into the heart of downtown...not too shabby. Oh, I should also mention that the drivers in New York are CRAZY....our cab driver was driving at about 100 km AND taking corners at the same speesd....I was too excited to be scared but, come to think of it, he definitely freaked me out.

Our hotel room...

Our hotel room part 2...

Our hotel room bed and Allan. Yes, that is a free gift on the bed.

Our free gift turned out to be a doll bed as there was an American Girl Convention in New York at the same time as our trip. Lucky us....

Our hotel room bathroom...

YAY, our first morning in New York. I was way too excited to sleep so I was up by 8 am (5 am pacific time) and demanded that Allan get up too. First stop was the Bagel Smashery in Hoboken, a neighboring town to Weehawken.

I discovered the Bagel Smashery while doing a search for the "best breakfast in New Jersey". This little cafe popped up first. I actually told the owner this and she was super excited about it, in fact we had a very long conversation about the internet and what I typed in to find them. I'm sure you can tell by the name BUT they actually smash your bagel, like a panini sandwich, and you eat it all hot and gooey. Yummy....Allan and I both had egg, bacon/sausage, and cheese on our flat bagel. This place is definitely worth a stop in for sure....

After breakfast we went to the ferry terminal and caught our first boat to Manhattan. The ride was short, about 10 minutes, and then, once docked, we started our first long walk of the weekend. First stop was Times Square. This picture really doesn't do justice BUT the sole purpose of us being on this strip was for the MASSIVE Sephora store. So, in we went....

This Sephora was huge. I don't think I can explain it any other way. They had, at least, 20 people working the floor and even more behind the multiple tills. Prior to leaving Vancouver, I'd made the decision to buy the 2010 Sephora Blockbuster BUT after looking around, I purchased the Tarte Blockbuster instead. This jewelry box palette has:

16 full-sized metallic eye shadows

16 full-sized matte eye shadows

8 lip glosses

Full-sized mineral bronzer in Park Avenue Princess

Full-sized highlighting powder in Soft Pink

5 long-wearing eye liners

*Plus a cute black and gold necklace

This is, quite possibly, the most complete palette I've seen in a long time. Either way, I am soooo

happy with this purchase.

After Sephora, I was rather tired. (Shopping does get tiring.) So, Allan and I went for some lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe at Times Square. I proceed to start my weekend of binge drinking on a high note with an Absinthe Pina Colada. As tasty as it was, I felt my toes curling after one, so I finished our lunch with two double vodka sodas.....not too bad for it only being about noon.

After drinks, we went to the biggest Macy's I've ever seen. The crowds were outrageous and the store was frightfully hot, but I was determined to find a new handbag. We braved the people and pushed our way to the handbag section. Now, I've been on a metallic kick for the past few weeks and really wanted to find a metallic bag. I was looking high and low, and the, in a clearance bin I spotted a cute, cross-body bronze metallic bag on sale for $55. I grabbed the bag, tried it on in the mirror, and fell in love. I took my bag to the till and bought it for the very low price of $19.84 (I KNOW...can you believe it??? This Fossil bag was about $89 regularly but with all the additional discounts, I definitely lucked out.) As soon as we bought this, we left the store thinking someone might assume we stole it.

The rest of the day flew by in a blur. More drinks, more walking, lots of subway rides and a Central Park tour. Check these out...

Dilapidated subway....

Subway (Metro) train...

Central Park Fountain...

Belvedere Castle in Central Park and my leg attacking it....

About half way through our Central Park adventure I needed, quite desperately, to find a ladies' room. This is the absolute dirtiest, most creepy bathroom I have ever seen. I made Allan stand outside the door, talking to me, since I was squatting right below a ceiling that looking like it was caving in....

Dirtiest bathroom part 2...

Well, this pretty much sums up day 1 of the New York adventure. There will be more tales to come, my friends!!!

xo

New York, Here We Come......

I know that some of you may already know, since my countdown began on Facebook about a week ago, but I leave for New York tomorrow. YAY!!!!

Since I was 5, there've been three places I've wanted to visit: Italy, France and New York. And, after all this time, I'm FINALLY knocking off one location.

I have literally been planning our trip by myself (sorry Allan but you know it's true) since about three weeks ago AND have planned everything from where we're going to eat, drink, visit, shop and sightsee. Here's a few things we have planned:

1) Since Audrey Hepburn is my idol, I want to see the Tiffany's store that she stood in front of in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's.

2) Eat at a pasta restaurant in Little Italy, attempt to finish a deli sandwich from one of the many fantastic deli's in Manhattan AND brunch at Shopsins. (Have NEVER heard of Shopsins before until I began researching online and OMG, the food looks fantastic. I am DYING to try the Mo'Betty....Check them out here!)

3) See Central Park, and in particular, Belvedere Castle as well as the giant Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Centre.

4) Shop at the HUGE Sephora store, Chanel Outlet Store and Century 21....

Big list, I know, for such a short time but we're going to do our best. I am saying goodbye until Monday, my friends, but be prepared for some great pics and fun stories...

xo

It's Vaaaacation Time!

I realized at exactly 9:08 pm that I haven't posted in two days.

For me this is quite a catastrophe since I typically post everyday. No, I am not running out of things to talk about BUT I am going on holidays for a few days. Here's the kicker.....

For those that know me, I have a feeling you might laugh in a second, but for those that don't, I am going....(wait for it) to my hometown of Prince George to visit some really close friends AND it's the first time that Allan will be coming with me.

Ciao my fellow product junkies. Talk to you on Tuesday!

XO