MY TRIP TO TULUM, MEXICO: THE BEACHES + A FEW TIPS...

Those people who know me well know that I am my absolute happiest when I am on the beach - a good crisp, clear blue water, white sand kind of beach. Well know that I was my absolute happiest on the beach in Tulum. It's definitely one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. The sand is white and fine, the water is really soft, warm, and blue, and the vibe on the beach is really relaxed and laid back. Gosh - just writing that makes me want to book a trip back there!

Anyway, here are a few scenes from the beach - which is pretty much where we were most of the trip. I've also sprinkled a few tips and comments in between - just in case you or someone you know may want to visit this amazing place one day...

Tip #1: No need to bring your own beach chairs and umbrella to the beach if you aren't staying on the beach. The hotels along the beach have their own "beach beds" that you can use- even if you aren't a guest at the hotel. All you have to do is order a few drinks and/or appetizers and you're set. At least that is what worked for us. We settled each day at a boutique hotel called Le Zebra, which was recommended to us by a local. The beach beds were so beautiful and comfortable (see the next photo)! They came with Wi-fi and even included plugs for phones! The food was delicious, too, which I will show and tell you about in the next blog post. 

Tip #2: Speaking of the locals, we didn't meet one single person that wasn't friendly! Everyone there was really nice and helpful. So don't hesitate to ask for tips or advice on anything. They'll give it to you. 

Tip #3: Wear LOTS AND LOTS of sunscreen! I don't care if you are white, black, brown, blue, or yellow - or if the sun is shining or not. Wear the sunscreen - especially if you have sensitive skin like I do! I wore this sunscreen on my body and it worked beautifully. But I didn't wear it on my face thinking that my moisturizer with SPF 15 and a hat would be enough. It wasn't. My face got scorched and it is honestly just now getting back to normal. The sun - even when it's not out - is really strong there, so a good quality sunscreen is crucial.

Tip #4: Wear mosquito repellant. Mosquitos are vicious there around this time of the year. I personally don't like chemical-laden repellent, so we wore these mosquito bracelets instead (I'm wearing a blue one in the photo above). They worked like a CHARM! I never got bit, but a friend of mine did at a time when they weren't wearing the bracelet, so I know they work!

Oh I'm wearing this bikini (top HERE, bottoms HERE) which is currently on sale!

Tip #5: Probably the #1 touristy thing to do in Tulum is to visit the Mayan Ruins. We went on the last day of our trip around noon. Big mistake. It was SO HOT! If you are in Tulum around this time of year, go early in the morning when it is cooler. Even during the cooler months, I would still get there early because it can be quite crowded. 

The photo above and the last few photos are from the ruins. That big blue beautiful ocean was at the edge of the ruins and was such a welcome site to see! I kinda enjoyed that more than the ruins... :)

Tip #6: This maybe should have been my #1 tip, but here goes. Bring plenty of cash- in pesos. And bring more than you think you will need. They do take credit cards and dollars, but it's more expensive to use those forms of money. There are ATMs, but the fees can be high and the exchange rates aren't the fairest. The restaurants seemed to prefer pesos. Also, cabs are the easiest way to get around town and paying in pesos is the easiest thing for the drivers. 

Don't you just wanna go there!! Wait until you see the FOOD! That's coming up next!

MY TRIP TO TULUM, MEXICO: OUR HOME...

So back in March, a friend of mine called me and asked if I wanted to go on a trip to Tulum, Mexico. I immediately said yes - without even thinking twice about it- which is so not my personality. I'm the type of person that weights the pros and cons over and over in my head before making that type of decision. But I hadn't been out of the country in a really long time- plus a beautiful vacation was something I really needed after everything I had been through the last few years. So we went last month and it was honestly one of the best vacations I've ever had. 

Naturally I took tons of photos, so I'm going to share them here with you over three different blog posts that will detail where we stayed, what we did, and OF COURSE what we ate! 

In case you haven't heard of Tulum, here's some quick info... It's a small beautiful little beach town that is about an hour and 45 minutes south of Cancun. It is known for its beautiful beaches, AMAZING food, and its focus on health and wellness. Lots of people often go there for yoga and wellness retreats. Anyway, we flew into Cancun and hired a driver (as opposed to a taxi) to get us to Tulum from the airport - which is something I highly recommend one do when traveling to Tulum. Our driver dropped us off and this house and it's what I want to share with you first... 

Instead of staying right on the beach, we stayed in an Airbnb called Villa Vidrio in a residential area right in the heart of Tulum. To say that this house was beautiful is an understatement! We weren't on the beach, and the neighborhood wasn't the prettiest, but our house made up for all of that!! It was a little big modern oasis that came fully stocked with the essentials - filtered water (because you NEVER drink the local water in Mexico), fresh towels, really comfortable beds, Wi-fi, a pool, rooftop sitting areas, and even Netflix! Netflix is an essential right?? We took taxis pretty much everywhere, but the house came with a cute set of bikes that we did use a few times to explore the neighborhood. The architectural details of the house were also insanely gorgeous... It was just perfect - and here are a few photos that prove it!

Isn't the home so GOOD!! What's also good is that it rents anywhere from $180 - $360 per night, depending on the time of the year- which is super cheap for a house like this I think. Busy season there runs from the end of November through May or so - when it's a little cooler. It's more pricey then obviously. It's about a 15 minute taxi ride to the beach, which we went to daily, but staying in the home was a lot cheaper than staying on the beach. So worth it! 

You can see the full home tour HERE!!

Images 2, 5, 13, 15 via Airbnb, all other images by me

LATELY...

Wow. It's been since January huh?? Well, I'm still here and it's my hope that you are, too. How have you been?? So many of you sweet people have asked me what's been up and I guess I have a few answers to that question. The short answer is that I've been nowhere. I've just been doing my same routine most days - work, cook, eat, sleep, read, hanging out with my friends and my family, managing my house and my health, browsing (and sometimes posting to) social media, and doing some traveling. In the midst of all of that, I guess I've been contemplating the fate of this space a little more than usual. But before I dive into that, let me give you a health update - because that might give you a little more insight as to why it's been quieter around here...

If you recall, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in March of 2016 - March 8th to be exact. You can read more about that here, here and here. Once I was diagnosed, I dove into this unknown, scary, and really uncomfortable world of learning how to control this symptoms naturally (i.e. without medication) through diet and lifestyle changes. Well, I am SO excited to say that my disease is in remission! I actually learned that back in early February, but I honestly didn't believe the results - despite the fact that I had been consistently feeling better and better. It had been less than a year at that point since I had been diagnosed and per my doctor and my research, remission could happen - but usually not that soon. But I had another test last month that yielded even better results, so I believe it now. I am in remission. I remember getting in my car right after I got the results at my doctor's office feeling like I had just won what has mentally and physically been by far the toughest battle of my life. I've always known that hard work pays off, but this honestly takes the cake...

So how did I get to this point in less than a year?? Basically it all came down to consistently eating a clean diet and keeping a self-care regimen. I kept doing the same things I mentioned back in this post - over and over and over again until I started to feel better. I quit eating gluten, dairy, processed sugar, wheat, soy, eggs, and some nightshades- all foods that a Food Sensitivity test yielded I was sensitive to. I didn't and still haven't slipped up not one single time. I meditated every single day (and still do). I formed a team of doctors and specialists that included a naturopathic doctor, a chiropractor, an acupuncturist, and a massage therapist who essentially helped me put my body back together. I saw all of them except my naturopath almost weekly for about 8 months. I took (and still take) supplements that supported my thyroid and certain vitamin levels - and I never missed a single day of taking them. I stuck to nighttime routine and sleep schedule most nights. And I prayed every single day that God would give me the strength to not give up (which I wanted to do HUNDREDS of times) and for the energy to get through long days that consisted of work, multiple appointments some weeks, LOTS of meal planning and cooking all of my meals, and all of the other random things that just needed to be dealt with on a daily basis. And He came through as always...

That gets me to how I'm doing and feeling today...

Physically, I feel the best I've felt in a really long time - even before my symptoms were really apparent. Most of my symptoms are gone and have been gone for quite some time. My random anxiety and constant fatigue have dissipated, my hair has stopped falling out, I sleep well most nights, and my intense brain fog has lifted. I can certainly tell a difference in how much quicker I can think and how well I remember things compared to this time last year. I still have heart palpitations when I don't get enough sleep or when I'm a bit stressed about something, but they are far less than they used to be. Because of those crazy things called hormones, I might have one or two migraines a month. I used to have on average 10-15 a month just a few years ago, so one or two is certainly tolerable. I've also seen a lot of positive changes in my skin, hair, nails, and body since I've changed my diet. Do I feel amazing everyday? No. But I'm not 18 anymore either...

Mentally, I've got some work to do. Getting sick like that just freaked me out. And you might imagine that all of the work I've done over the past year to heal has left little time and energy to really enjoy life. Getting well has been like a second full-time job - one that I didn't really have time for in the first place. And while managing the disease now doesn't take as much time now as the healing process did in the beginning, it still takes time. In order to keep this disease at bay, I still have to be very careful about managing stress and what I eat. I still see my chiropractor weekly. I see my acupuncturist and massage therapist monthly. Blood tests with my naturopath are done quarterly. But the food is the biggest part. I've added back some foods into my diet, but might never be able to have gluten, dairy, wheat, soy, some grains, some nightshades, or processed sugars again without the possibility of a reoccurrence of symptoms. Time will tell. But being a foodie and not being able to eat whatever I want has been depressing - literally. Going out to eat, which was one of my favorite things to do, is now quite stressful sometimes. Food really heals- and my journey is a true testament to that. But eating this way is hard work sometimes! I often feel like I live in my kitchen. While batch cooking fresh food a few days a week is so good for you (and the food often tastes so good and fresh!), it can be so time-consuming and tiresome when you don't have help and work full-time. Don't get me wrong - I'm so incredibly thankful for where I am now, but I'd be lying if I were to say that my new routine is always easy. It's definitely not.

With all of that being said, here is where I think I stand with this blog. Now that I am physically healthier, I want to start enjoying life with my leftover energy and free time as opposed to being in front of the computer all day at work and all night to blog- then behind the camera most of the weekends to shoot blog posts. I also want to start exploring that whole "finding your purpose" thing (which is a whole other story). Today, my heart says to keep blogging in addition to working on all of that, but my mind says to stop. However, a week ago, the opinions of my heart and mind might have been the opposite. I still love writing, photography, design, and food, but I've realized that those things can't be a priority anymore until I figure some other things out. I've always heard that sickness can quickly and completely change your priorities and how you think and feel about certain things that you once thought were so damn important and necessary. I now know that to be so true. Anyway, I'm not sure if/when my heart and mind will ever be in alignment, but here is what I will do in the meantime:

I will blog here when I have something really special, personal, and original (to me) to share... 

And by special, it could be a life update or a photography project (food or life related) that I really want to share and have time to tell you about. It might be monthly, every two months... Or I might be go really crazy sometimes and do something once a week or every other week. I honestly have no idea. One thing I do know is that I recently went on trip to one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. I'd be crazy not to share the photos I took with you here. So I will - and soon! In the meantime, you can always find me on Instagram. I do often share little updates there. I sometimes also do random InstaStories of things I love, things I'm doing, and recipes that I'm making. It's easier for now (and often more fun!) to share things with you there.

So that's what's up for now! I want to thank each and every single one of you who have reached out to me to see if I'm still around. As you can see, this last year has been a little tough, so getting lovely messages from people I've never even met before were double heartfelt and I'm so appreciative... :)

Dress: Max Studio (under $100 and is so comfy!) | Coin Necklace: vintage, similar here | Shoes: Topshop (old), similar here & here | Sunglasses: Banana Republic (old), similar here

Images by my amazing brother

SIX INTENTIONS...

We are already 18 days into the new year, so it's perfectly acceptable to still be thinking about goals for the year right?? Well I've been thinking and here is what I've come up with regarding my thoughts on 2017. I'm not making any official resolutions. I'm not going to come up with a "word" for the year. I'm barely wanting to make any official goals. All of those things are great things to do, but I'm just not into that this year. Last year was incredibly challenging and full of so much change. Change is good, but quite honestly I'm exhausted from so much of it. However, I know that change is always good. I learned a lot of new things about life and about myself. And in ways, I feel like I became a somewhat of a different person - a better one. I'm more relaxed in many ways, I'm more willing to just go with the flow, and am really coming to a place where I'm secure with my imperfections and comfortable with who I am. So this year, I'm not putting any pressure on myself to make any one specific CHANGE or word happen. Of course I want to do things like maintain my health, continue to grow as a person, learn new things, etc. But those are goals that I have every single day.

But I wouldn't be human if I didn't have a list of things that I wanted to accomplish outside of my everyday goals. So this year decided to come up with a simple list of "intentions" - kind of like a to-do list of sorts. They are simply things that I intend to do this year. They are simple and might not seem super exciting, but that's ok. If they happen - fabulous. If they don't happen, well that's fabulous, too. No pressure - because I think it's the pressure that we put on ourselves that can sometimes keep things from happening. Here goes...

1. Update this blog. - It's very long overdue, I know. My life has changed a lot since I first started this blog and even since the last re-design, so I'm really thinking about the future direction of this blog and how the new design will reflect that. That's honestly been the holdup...  One thing I know for sure is that no matter what, the new design will have a peaceful, clean aesthetic, and will be easy to navigate. That's what I love and what I think most of you appreciate, too. Any feedback on what types of content you would like to see more of here would be a big help in the process, so let me know!

2. Start doing yoga consistently - at home. Pilates and long walks are my favorite workouts, but it's always good to mix things up. One thing that I've learned about myself is that attending a 1 hr workout class for anything here in the city can take about 2 or more hours of time to do when you include getting ready, traffic, parking, etc... That is enough time to talk myself out of going to do something new. Yoga is something I've started doing at home, usually at night before bed, and I want to get more intentional and consistent with it this year. I'm liking this YouTube channel, but let me know if you have any favorites!

3. Update my kitchen. If there was a bed in my kitchen, I might sleep in there a few nights a week. That's just how much time I spend in there. Since I'm quite acquainted with my kitchen - and will be a lot going forward - then I want some nice non-builder grade stuff ya know? No oak cabinets, no boring backsplash, no faux granite countertops, no poor lighting, no poor storage, etc. I just got an AMAZING dishwasher, so just that alone has me excited to update everything else. If you've been reading my blog for a while, then this is probably the 3rd time you've heard me mention a kitchen update (remember this post??). Sorry! Life keeps getting in the freaking way, but fingers crossed that it will happen this year.

4. Continue to make my spiritual practice a priority. I have/had health issues, and can get anxious, easily overwhelmed, impatient, and easily irritated by others. I'm far from perfect. Just being real... The only thing that has provided consistent relief of those things is having a daily spiritual practice. I learned that last year thanks to all of the changes... :) I've always been spiritual, (i.e. church, praying, and random reads of the Bible), but never spent time with God on a daily basis until last year. But now I meditate every morning, listen to spiritual podcasts in the car every day (Joyce Meyer's podcast is my fave) and do my own bible study every night (including weekends!!). All of those things have worked wonders in terms of calming me down, and shutting my mind off with things get crazy - which in turn has made me a happier, healthier person, and has reduced my anxiety. I for sure plan to stay on top of that this year!

5. Increase my 401(k) contribution by 1%. One of the best things I've learned from my parents is to save. And then save some more. So I do. It's really hard sometimes, but it must be done. Saving in general for emergencies is important, but saving for retirement is even more important- especially these days. I'm seeing firsthand with some of my older family members how expensive things like healthcare becomes with age. It's quite alarming and I don't foresee things getting easier or cheaper. Even though I'm a long way from that, I want to stay on top of things. So I have actually already increased my 401(k) contribution by 1% - and plan to keep doing that each January for the next few years in addition to contributing to my Roth IRA. One percent doesn't seem like a lot, but in the grand scheme of things it will make a huge difference.

6. Find a new charity to support. Since I don't always have the time to volunteer, I try to make it a point to contribute financially to an organization on a consistent basis. Each January, I research a new charity to support during the year. I keep a list of causes that are important to me. I pick a cause from the list, research different charities that support that cause (I use Charity Navigator), then pick one or two to donate to each month during the year. If I ever have kids, this will be something we do together as my way of teaching them how to give back. Last year, I chose St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which will honestly keep getting my support. The work they do is incredible...

Pictured: Coat: Banana Republic (old), similar versions on sale here | Sweater: Banana Republic (old), similar here and here | Jeans: Banana Republic | Booties: Zara (old), just got these, though and LOVE them! | Clutch: Clare V. | Lips: Nars "Fire Down Below"

THE HOLIDAYS + LINKS...

{These stools made their way around my home during the holidays... Love them! c/o Serena & Lily}

Hi there! Happy New Year!! I swear I'm still here. I promise. I left off here after Thanksgiving telling you that I wasn't feeling well. Well once I felt better, I made the decision to just REALLY enjoy the holidays. By "really enjoy" I mean not get all wrapped up in gift guides and spending the little free time I had on my phone or computer putting blog posts together. I really soaked in my time with my friends and family - so much so that I didn't really even take that many photos during my time off. I really checked out. And you know what?? It was so worth it. I was feeling good before Thanksgiving and now I feel even better than I felt before Thanksgiving. I'm so thankful...

Here are a few photos I took during the holidays. And keep scrolling because there are also some links at the bottom of the post! I promise you there is more coming your way on the blog in the next few days - starting with a delicious, SUPER easy and healthy dinner that I'll show and tell you about later this week. I'll also be mapping out my goals for the year, which I'm honestly still working on. Last year was tough, so this year I'm certainly putting more thought and effort into what I want to accomplish... 

Anyway, if you are still here with me, thanks so much!! I really appreciate you hanging around and bearing with me!

{If you like to be challenged and currently need something that will get your mind off of everything, then put a puzzle together. I put this puzzle together during Christmas and it was fun! I think this company makes the cutest puzzles I must say...}

{My first read of 2017 is "The Alchemist." Why it's taken me so long to read this international best-seller is beyond me! It's the first book I've read this year and I can say with certainty that it is one of the best books I've ever read. EVER. If you need a some inspiration, direction, and just some good, simple explanations as to why life is what it is, then read this book. }

{I finally have a consistent amount of energy, so I got back in the Pilates studio over the break for the first time in 4 months. I'm still sore and my workout was several days ago. Eek... But it feels so good! Now if I can just keep it up...}

A few links...

My favorite holiday home tour... Such a beauty!!

If you love food and like to physically see the accomplishment of one's dreams, then watch this documentary on Netflix... So good!

I watched this movie over the holidays and I can see why it received so many accolades. It's good, too...

Why I love Ina (the Barefoot Contessa) and Jeffrey - their relationship specifically...

I got this for Christmas. If you love photography, it's a total game changer and totally worth it. 

I also got these as additional motivation for me to hit the studio more this year. So comfy!!

This stuff has literally been magic in a bottle for me during these winter days. I'll explain more in an upcoming post!

WEEK IN SIX PICS...

{A basket of my mom's cute ornaments that will go on her tree... She actually found those at the Dollar Tree!}

Hi there! How was your Thanksgiving?? I hope it went well. It's been quiet in these parts - again. I know. My Thanksgiving went really well until I caught some sort of stomach bug near the end. I'm still not feeling that great and am spending as much time as I can resting (i.e. it's 7PM right now and I'm already in bed for the night!) Anyway, I thought I would share some photos I took over the break. I'll be back here as soon as I feel better! Fingers crossed that will be soon... Have a great rest of the week!

{The chopped vegetables I used to make a version of this braised turkey. It was SO SO SO good and super easy to make. I basically followed the recipe for the dark meat except for adding the flour and the cognac. Trust me - it was amazing without those things. }

{Cheese for the macaroni and cheese. I planned to make this mac & cheese. But once I got home, my mom was raving about John Legend's (the singer) mac & cheese. She said she had made it recently and that it was really good. So I made it (such an easy recipe) and everyone loved it! }

{My new favorite pair of glasses, and a few cozy cable knit sweaters I wore during the break. That top sweater is easily one of my favorites this season. It's still on sale! }

{An outtake during a photo shoot with my brother. I was wearing an all-black outfit, so naturally a lint brush was necessary. :) That clutch is a staple that I will quite possibly have forever. }

{ And the vanilla pound cake that I make every year for Thanksgiving... Everyone scarfed it up, which made me happier than I would have been if I was able to eat a slice myself.... :) }