Last year was the first time we visited the island of Eleuthera 🏝 and we fell in love with it so much.🥰 Eleuthera is only a short one and a half hour flight from Orlando, ✈️ but you feel a world away. (For those who have not been following me for awhile, I REALLY hate flying.) For whatever reason, it’s still a hidden gem 💎 with next to no common tourist downfalls you associate with other locales. You really get the true native island vibe and it’s an excellent place to relax and put yourself on “island time”. So when we were invited to visit Bird of Paradise Beach Front Cottages 🏡 I was beyond stoked.🙌 My excitement was only hampered by a bit of nerves, since we usually vacation in resorts. I have heard so many horror stories about people booking online to stay in cottages that had beautiful 📸 pictures and reviews, 🤔 only to arrive and find the property was nothing like the online pictures!!😩 (What a nightmare that must be!) Well, the Purple Papaya cottage is the polar opposite of that. It truly exceeded all my expectations and is a real slice of paradise.🌺

Cris and I always talk about when both our girls go off to college, we would love to retire on a private island. 👫🏝 Even though Purple Papaya is not on a private island, it sure makes you feel like it. Bird of Paradise Beach Front Cottages has three adjacent properties equipped with anything you may need while you’re staying there.

Cottage: The cottage has absolutely all the comforts of home and it’s a smart home too, so everything is done with just a click of a button. You have very fast high speed internet 💻 and a generator as well, so you will never go with out AC.😅 Everything you may need or want is there, from a fully outfitted kitchen 🍽 to a 🏊‍♂️ heated infinity pool. You can view the cottage tour and insta stories from our trip here.

Food: The three cottages sit right next to a restaurant called Tippy’s. So its literally a one minute walk if your not up to cooking and they have excellent Flatbread pizzas🍕among other things. There are a few other small restaurants and also local grocery stores in the little downtown area nearby also.

Beach: The closest thing to having your own private island! 🐚 We walked nearly a mile in each direction without ever running into anyone. The beautiful pink sand is thick and soft and it feels like clouds when you walk on it. It’s complimented by 50 shades of blue water 🌊 disappearing into the horizon. We had a blast snorkling, paddle boarding, swimming and running around with our kids.

Things to do: Tippy’s next door has live music a few nights a week. You also have Queens Bath, Glass Window Bridge, Light House Beach and more. Also, make sure to catch the sky on a clear night! We were in absolute awe 😱 viewing the clarity of the Milky Way 🌌🔭 without the light pollution we have back home. But my top recommendation is to kick back and relax.💆‍♀️ While it’s an island that’s over 100 miles long with lots to explore, you tend to be happy right where you sit. You’re on island time here!

In Conclusion: I will definitely be visiting again! In fact, Bird of Paradise has invited us to go back and visit their bigger cottage, so stay tuned for our next visit to this beautiful island! I would highly recommend the properties without reservation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  These beautiful cottages feel 100% like home away from home.

           Check out our video below to see how much fun we had.🙌

While researching what beaches to visit in Florida, I came across a gorgeous picture of a swing on the beach in Longboat Key … and as a blogger, it was an immediate must-visit place for me.😍 So I quickly looked up places to stay nearby and stumbled across Zota Beach Resort. The property had great reviews and beautiful pictures as well. So now, this too was a must-visit for me.😋

Room: Zota Beach Resort is a contemporary luxury resort in the Gulf of Mexico with 187 guest rooms and suites. Room choices vary from pool views to gulf views or both and they have numerous room sizes and sleeping configurations available to accommodate your party. We selected an ocean front room on a high floor with an awesome balcony overlooking the gulf. We had breakfast there in the mornings and watched the beautiful sunsets in the evenings. The rooms are super comfortable with plush beds, flat-screen televisions, refrigerators and coffee makers. Cris did a little work from the room and found the desk area to be plenty comfortable and the high-speed internet was very fast. Our girls loved the daily turn down service, especially because the staff put extra chocolates under their pillows for them. What kid doesn’t like chocolate before bedtime, right?😝

Food: The hotel has two restaurants, Viento Kitchen + Bar and Cascades Pool Bar. We really enjoyed them both. The Viento Kitchen + Bar was a great place to have an early dinner and watch the sunset, since the elevated outdoor seating overlooks the pool area and the ocean. Their menu included bucatini bolognese, lobster ravioli, grilled Alaskan salmon, espresso bone ribeye, and more. They also have plenty of kids options too, with classic favorites like chicken fingers for your picky eaters, lol. Cascades Pool Bar had your bar food favorites like pizza, wings, french fries … but more importantly, they had wonderful hand crafted drinks and a daily happy hour.

Pool: As you can see in the photos, the giant oceanside pool and hot tub are the center piece of the resort and the poolside service was amazing. They literally delivered fresh drinks straight to your hand as you lounged in the pool or hot tub, which in my opinion underlines a luxury experience. Cris and I kept those piña coladas coming and it was pink lemonades for the kids. They also offer gorgeous cabanas if you bring a group or plan to stay poolside for an extended timeframe.

Beach: The beach is beautiful of course and the Gulf Coast never disappoints. From the beautiful blues & greens to the awe inspiring sunsets and the bath warm waters … you just can’t go wrong. The resort compliments this amazing nature with your choice of anything from a simple towel and umbrella all the way to a full size bed & canopy + side tables, to lounge away your day. Note that these amenities are a paid feature though, so bring your own umbrella if you’re seeking budget savings.

Things to do near by: When I go to the beach, I mainly like to relax and disconnect. On this particular trip, we literally never left the resort and didn’t feel like we needed to. The unwind was much needed and enjoyed. However for those who do want to get out or are staying for an extended timeframe, you can find everything nearby that Florida destinations generally offer. Golf, fishing charters and a wide variety of water sports are available with a quick call down to the resort concierge. The Mote Marine Aquarium, Tree Umph and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens are some other places to visit while you’re there.

In Conclusion: I would highly recommend Zota Beach Resort. We found it to be the perfect resort to get away with the family, or for a romantic and relaxing couples getaway. I’m going to have to go back for sure and find that swing I mentioned above … because that was the main reason I went to Longboat Key in the first place. But since the resort was so great and we unwound so well, we honestly forgot all about it until we were driving home.😋 Make sure to check out my Insta Story with some of my Zota Beach Resort highlights.

Hotel special: To celebrate the official start of Summer and the Summer solstice, the Opal Collection summer flash sale starts today, June 21. Book during this 72-hour sale to save on your next Longboat Key getaway. *Blackout dates apply. Must book by 11:59 p.m. EST on June 23.

Until Next Time! XOXO -E 💋

 Dress | Heels | Bag | Bandana EarringsHotel

Romper | Bag | Earrings | Heels Dress | Earrings | Heels | Bag Pants | Top | Heels | Bag | EarringsSunglasses | Bikini | EarringsBeach Umbrella | TowelRomper | Bag | Bandana | Heels

Pants | Top | Heels | Earrings | Bag | Sunglasses | HatTop | Pants | Heels | Bag | Earrings | SunglassesBandana Swimsuit | Float | Earrings | Sunglasses

Until next time!  XOXO -E 💋

 

As you girls can tell from my social media, living in Florida where it’s beach or pool weather most of the year, I pretty much live in swimwear.😝So I don’t mind splurging, but I do love love love finding a good deal on them too!🙌  This black scalloped one shoulder bikini is a great find! Continue Reading

I’ve received tons of questions about the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa where I stayed in Palm Beach, FL for our girls trip! I’ll start by rounding up some of my pictures and outfits from the trip, so scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full review.Pink Off the Shoulder Top | Wedge Sandals | White Jeans | Pink Suitcase | Boater hat | LV Bag | EarringsPink PJ ShirtFlower Print Midi Dress | SandalsPink Bow Sandals | White Lace Top | Bag | TasselShorts | Salty Swimsuit | Sandals | Bag Sold out (similar here | Bracelets | Sunglasses | HatLaura Beverlin Swimsuit | Jaimie Cittadino Swimsuit | My One Piece Swimsuit  Orange Temple Terrace | Hat | Bracelets | Shades | SwimsuitBreeze Ocean Kitchen | Hat | Shorts | Black Off the Shoulder Swimsuit Yellow Salty Swimsuit | Hat White Maxi DressHat | Black Off the Shoulder SwimsuitPink Swimsuit here & here | Leaf Print SarongEau SpaEau SpaBlack Polka Dot Swimsuit Flower Print Swimsuit | Necklace | Earrings | Bracelets


Room: I’ve received so many questions about our room, which as you can see is literally what I’d call picture perfect. We had an ocean front king room with a balcony that overlooked the adult pool. The room was really spacious with a desk and lounge chair. The balcony sliding doors would turn off the air conditioning as soon us you open them to capture the ocean breeze and turn it back on as soon as they were closed to keep your climate perfect at all times. The bedroom balconies overlooking the ocean truly give you the feeling of having your own private cabana in your room and the room decoration captures the true sense of Palm Beach; a casual luxury. The vibrant yellow and blue colors set the tone for the perfect Palm Beach destination experience.

Pools: The property has two large pools and they both overlook the ocean. One is exclusive for adults with a lap lane and the other for family fun. The first two days we were there, there was no humidity and a cool ocean breeze. I’m the kind of girl that doesn’t get in a pool unless it is extremely hot outside or the pool is heated.  I have to say that I’m very picky with the water temperature in pools and these are both kept at the perfect temperature for even a sunrise swim. There’s also a large hot tub immediately beside the Breeze Ocean Kitchen’s outdoor bar that we loved and frequented as well.

Food: Let’s just say that we were a bit more on a liquid diet because the drinks were amazing!! But, we did eat at two of the four dining options on property, Breeze Ocean Kitchen and Temple Orange Mediterranean Bistro. Temple Orange is the perfect restaurant providing indoor and outdoor dining anytime of the day from breakfast to dinner. Breeze Ocean Kitchen was the perfect pool and beach restaurant and we ate there multiple times. They specialize in fresh food with light sauces & local FL craft brews and the menu was simply to die for. The drinks, the decor and of course the ocean view … we just loved this place.

Beach: The beaches are so beautiful every time I’m in Palm Beach. You’re far enough south that you really get that Caribbean vibe with the light colored sand and stunning array of blues and greens in the ocean. I love getting up early and going for a walk on the beach to catch the sunrise (and for those of you who know me well I am generally not a morning person).  One of the cool historical facts I learned about this beach was that in 1947 part of the A1A highway sank and had to be moved to the opposite side of the property.  So when it’s low tide you can see the remnants of the old sunken A1A that’s now covered in natural coral. It makes an incredible backdrop for pictures or a great opportunity to explore for sea life.

Spa: If I had to describe the Eau Spa experience in one word, it would be incredible. It is a whopping 42,000 sq. ft of relaxation bliss. You will definitely leave feeling like a new person and it truly reflects the idea of taking time out and treating yourself to some well deserved “me time”, which was much needed in my case. #MomLife. What made this Spa experience even more wonderful and unique was that before we started our massages, we enjoyed signature cupcakes and champagne. They sure knew the way straight to my heart and I felt that they delivered an out-of-the-ordinary spa experience. After our massages we hung out in The Self-Centered Garden, which is truly a wonderland. My favorite thing to do there was to sit on the swinging chairs and listen to the waterfall while playing in the water with my feet. I truly relaxed and enjoyed my “me time”.

In Conclusion: I would highly recommend the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. It is definitely a resort that I’ll be visiting quite often. In fact we loved it here so much that Cris and I are considering coming back in August to Celebrate our 15 year Anniversary and experience some of the amazing couples treatments at the spa.  Of course my kids had tons of questions when we returned too and I shared with them some of the amazing kids activities we toured. They informed me “they are already planning a family trip there” because they can’t wait to get their hands on the DJ booth.  I don’t want to forget to mention the amazing staff either. From the minute you pull up in your car till the moment you get back in you car, they make you feel welcome and extremely spoiled. I have truly enjoyed my stay and feel extremely glad to have found an incredible resort that you can have multiple kinds of experiences … from a girls trip to a romantic getaway or family fun in the sun!

Our girls trip was awesome, so if you and your girlfriends would like to visit too, here is some information about a package that they offer for your ultimate girls trip.  XOXO  -E

 

GIRLS’ GETAWAY
Girls always have more fun. Sun, sip, and spa the day away with the ultimate girls’ escape in Palm Beach. The Girls’ Getaway includes:
· Glass of champagne upon arrival
· Complimentary beach bag
· Luxurious accommodations for two nights
· Choice of one spa treatment* daily per person in the Forbes Five-Star Eau Spa
· Choice of one cocktail or mocktail daily in Breeze Ocean Kitchen or Stir Bar & Terrace
· Complimentary transportation* (one-way) to Worth Avenue or Downtown Delray Beach
· Complimentary makeover at Neiman Marcus Palm Beach with glass of champagne and take-home gift
· A minimum two-night stay is required and package is available for up to two persons per room. Spa treatment includes choice of Self-Centered Massage, Essence Facial, Personal Training Session, Hair Cut, or 90-minute Manicure/Pedicure. Complimentary transportation is available for one-time only. Cannot be combined with any other offers and available for stays from March 1st – December 31, 2017.

Eric Paskel
Celebrity instructor and renowned “Bad Boy of Yoga” Eric Paskel, and the Five-Star Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa have teamed up to host the first “Eaummm Yoga Rocks Retreat” August 11-13. In addition to lux touches, stellar dining and a gorgeous oceanfront setting, the weekend includes unique expert instruction. Planned sessions will zen out to a Prince-themed soundtrack, another 80’s version, and there’s even a class that will challenge students to execute all movements while remaining in one spot (for two hours!).

If you would like to book or just want to check out room rates, click here.

Let me just start by saying … Obsessed!😍 Talk about a great “look for less” at an amazing price!  This adorable palm print swimsuit is under $50 and is definitely going to be on repeat this summer. At first, I was a little worried about the plunging neckline. You know … trying to keep it classy here.😂  But the fit was very comfortable and “the sisters” were not going anywhere, so I was sold.😆

Continue Reading

White cover up with lace trim

So it’s been a hot minute since my last post, but you know, life happens. Last week was spring break for our little ones and we try to enjoy our time together as much as we can.  I decided to share with you one of their Spring Break musts and a trip to the beach is a must do for our kids every year. Since we now live in Florida, we have some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere. So for this trip they chose St. Pete Beach, which is one of my favorites too!

White neoprene brazilian cut bikini with multi-color crochet trim

I was lucky enough that right before I was getting ready to leave for the beach,  E’s Closet got their first shipment of these amazing bikinis in. I am biased of course, but I have to say I’m obsessed! 😍 They come in 5 different colors 🙌

White neoprene brazilian cut bikini with crochet details

There’s never a dull moment with these girls! 😍💕

White neoprene brazilian cut bikini with crochet details

White cover up with lace trim

This cover up is from last year’s E’s Closet Spring Collection and we have decided to bring it back for this season. It also comes in navy blue with white lace trim. It’s just perfect for the beach … so light and breezy!

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Roxy kids rash guard

We take the same type of shoot each year at the beach and it’s crazy to see how fast my girls are growing. My oldest is almost as big as me now. 😭

white crochet cover up

Nothing more beautiful and relaxing than the beach. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish up our Spring Break than with my little family, in my happy place, making memories. ☀

Until Next Time! XOXO -E 💋

P.S.- Be sure to follow along on Snapchat by adding username: EsLifeandStyle


Just relaxing. Happy Saturday from Palm Beach.🌊☀️

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