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Shopping: Beach Vacation Packing List


I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for winter to be over. Which is why I am extra excited for my upcoming beach getaway. My bags are nearly packed – a few versatile dresses that can be worn to the beach and to dinner, a roomy straw tote, way too many one-piece swimsuits, one pair of flat beach sandals, a pair of dressy mules, and of course a couple of pairs of chic sunglasses. And thanks to all of the fresh resortwear new arrivals at stores like Shopbop, shopping for my vacay was super easy. If you’re looking for a few beach essentials yourself, I put together some of my faves below.

Are you planning a winter getaway any time soon? Share your dream destination in the comments.

Dresses


Swimsuits

Bags

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Style Blog Travels: Boating in Capri


Before our trip to Italy this summer, I told le bf that we are definitely, 100%, non-negotiable renting a boat as soon as we get to Capri. Mostly, because one of my happiest memories in life involved boating in Capri and I wanted him to experience the joy of cruising around this beautiful island with me. He wasn’t psyched about navigating an unfamiliar boat in an unfamiliar area, but as I said – non-negotiable. Spoiler alert: he ended up loving it! If you’re into swimming, beautiful views, wind in your hair and sun in your face, then you too must rent a boat in Capri the next time you find yourself on this gorgeous island – it truly is the best.


While doing my boat research, I stumbled upon Capri Boat Banana Sport company and I am happy to report that they were professional, well-organized, and affordable – would hire them again without hesitation. Renting a boat for 2 hours cost us EUR 90 (each additional hour is only EUR 30, and the all-day rate is EUR 220), the staff was very helpful, walking us through the ins and outs of operating and anchoring their boats, as well as giving us a bit of background info about the island’s best sights along the way, before taking us to our boat. It was such a straightforward process, that both le bf and I immediately felt at ease.

Boating in Capri is very easy, even for inexperienced boaters – there is no reef to worry about, the water is fairly calm, there are plenty of spots where you can drop anchor and go for a swim, and the island itself isn’t very large, so you can cruise around without worrying about getting lost. As long as someone in your group has a driver’s license, you’re all set. There are a lot of stops to make along the way, so you may need more than 2 hours to finish the trip, but it was just enough time for us.


After our boating expedition, which included swimming, going through the Faraglioni arch, and just the overall feeling of being truly alive, we returned our yacht boat, and headed to Terrazza Brunella for lunch. We had a reservation, so we took the funicular to the center of Capri from Marina Grande – the quickest way to get to the top. This wasn’t our first time at Terrazza Brunella, and once again we were not disappointed – the food was top-notch, as was the service and the views.

Post-lunch we did some window shopping along Via Camerelle, but somehow I was able to walk away empty-handed. The store that really caught my eye on this trip was Wonderland, which carried a great selection of vintage bags and accessories. The shop itself is very cute, so check it out if you have time.


Because our boat to Sorrento was departing early, we didn’t have time for a visit to Anacapri, but having visited it in the past, I was ok with skipping it. We took the funicular back to Marina Grande and headed to our dock, sunkissed, with salt in our hair, and bellies full of clams. On our way back to Sorrento, le bf told me that boating around Capri was a highlight of our trip for him, and I couldn’t agree more.


Have you been to Capri before? What are you favourite activities on the island? Share in the comments.


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What I Wore: Bye, Falesia!

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The worst thing about vacations is being back at the office, feeling like you could use another couple of weeks off. This is me right now, looking at the photos from my trip to Portugal and feeling severely homesick for a place that isn’t even home. Bizarre, non?

These photos were taken at Praia da Falesia aka Cliff Beach near Vilamoura in the Algarve. Falesia is one of several beaches that my friends and I were lucky enough to visit during our trip. It is a lovely and well-manicured beach, with all of the modern amenities – from swanky bars where you can grab a bottle of bubbly or some fried calamari, to beach umbrellas and loungers for rent, to all kinds of water sports within arm’s reach. Falesia Beach is also quite expansive, stretching to nearly 7km in length, which means there’s plenty of space to set up camp without feeling cramped.

This beach was closest to our incredible Airbnb villa in Vilamoura, and we spent two blissful days there, playing in the waves, dancing in the sand, and drinking all of the champagne, with views of the Atlantic on one side, and breathtaking cliffs on the other. It wasn’t the most beautiful beach we’ve visited on our trip, but it was certainly the most comfortable.

Have you ever been to Praia da Falesia? Share your travel stories in the comments!

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Shopping: Best One-Piece Swimsuits To Buy Right Now

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First things first – Shopbop Friends and Family Sale starts today, so if you like any of the swimsuits on this list, know that they are most likely on sale RIGHT NOW! The sale will end on April 7th, and you can use promo code INTHEFAM to get 25% off sale and regular-priced merchandise.

Having said that, today’s post is about one-piece swimsuits. As someone who’s no longer a size zero, I am psyched that one-piece bathing suits are making a comeback. The variety of styles is pretty incredible – from solid to striped, to everything in between, rocking a one-piece this summer is practically a necessity. I wore a few on my getaway to Hawaii, and loved how flattering and comfy they were. Mark my words – all you need is a pair of chic sunglasses and a cool one-piece for any beach getaway. So if you’re looking for a stylish one-piece swimsuit, now’s the perfect time to pick one up. Check out my faves below!

Striped


Slogan

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What I Wore: Baldwin Beach Park and Paia

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The thing I loved about Maui is how easy it is to get around the island. There are only a couple of main roads, so getting lost is nearly impossible. After spending a few blissfully relaxing days at our hotel, we decided to go on an adventure. We rented a car at the hotel, and took a picturesque drive to the north side of the island, heading towards the fishing village of Paia. Our plan involved a late lunch at Mama’s Fish House, as well as some beach time at Baldwin Beach Park.

On our way from the hotel, we noticed signs for a scenic lookout, and decided to make a pit stop. What we found was a breathtaking view of the ocean, with whales splashing in the distance. It was glorious! After enjoying the lookout, we jumped back in the car, and headed to IHOP in Kahului…judge if you must, but our breakfast was deeeeelicious. Afterwards we drove to Baldwin Beach Park to work off those pancakes, relax, and look for sea turtles.

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Baldwin Beach Park was an interesting place – a beautiful beach with lifeguards, and all kinds of colourful characters. Hula-hooping hippies, a friendly, if a little crazed-seeming Bible-reciting man, girls handing out free coconuts, nudists…you name it, Baldwin Beach Park has it all! Speaking of free coconuts…I considered declining the kind offer, but the girls were opening them up right next to us, so I figured YOLO, and accepted one. I didn’t share the coconut water with le bf, in case it was laced with something…but it ended up being delicious and not at all poisoned nor roofied. Lesson learned: when life gives you free coconuts, take them and drink the coconut water with abandon.

We spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around and playing in the waves. After a while, we took a stroll down the beach and spotted sea turtles swimming super close to shore. Le bf grabbed the camera and waded into the water, forgetting that his phone was in the pocket of his swim trunks. Cutting our sea turtle adventure short, we drove to Paia to buy some rice to try and save his phone, but apparently the rice trick doesn’t work with ocean water. Before we realized it, it was time for our Mama’s Fish House lunch. Once we arrived at the restaurant, we found immaculate grounds overlooking the ocean, friendly staff, and a dining room with a ton of character. We ordered Macadamia Nut Crab Cakes, Mama’s Stuffed Mahimahi, and Opah, Mahimahi and Ahi fish sautéed in Panang Curry. All seafood at Mama’s is freshly-caught by local fishermen, and everything tasted great. Prices are definitely not cheap (especially with a weak Canadian dollar), but Mama’s is a perfect place for a special occasion dinner while in Maui.

After spending some time in Paia, we jumped back into our rental and drove back to Kaanapali, enjoying all the beautiful sights along the way. Minus the ruined cell phone, it was a pretty magical day…IHOP and all.

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WHAT I WORE

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