Hotels I've Loved: The Garland, Los Angeles

I was back in LA this month to speak at a conference and meet with a few clients. Since most of my work was downtown, I opted to rent an AirBnB in that neighborhood for most of the trip. But for the last day, I switched over to a cute hotel in North Hollywood called The Garland.

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A Weekend in Michigan (The Fresh Coast Retreat)

There is a lot about blogger life that is totally delicious. Setting your own hours and schedule. Working from home (especially on those nasty weather days!). Tasting and trying and traveling and creating. It's a whole lot of magic, and I am so thankful that I am able to make my living this way.

(With the exception of a couple instagram photos, all images in this post are by Alejandro Photography. )

That said, working in a little solo bubble can sometimes get frustrating. I find myself craving colleagues to bounce ideas off of, learn from, or even just to vent with on the days when things don't go quite right. We have Facebook groups and often chat via social media, but nothing beats in-person interaction.

Fortunately last month, I had a chance to get away and experience a few exhilarating days surrounded by some of the most talented and inspiring bloggers, photographers, and entrepreneurs I ever met.

And I'd love to share a bit about it with you! Scroll down to see and learn more about my experience:

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Hotels I've Loved: The Charlie Hotel in West Hollywood, Los Angeles

Work has been bringing me to Los Angeles more and more lately, and I've been using each trip as an opportunity to explore different neighborhoods and hotels.

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Travel Diaries: Surfing with the ladies in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

CHICABRAVA, an all-women's surf retreat in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, definitely sounded intriguing. Billed as an empowering program for women, it promised personalized in-depth surfing lessons, along with yoga and other physical activities in the company of cool women from around the country.

It sounded amazing, but also somewhat intimidating. I loved the idea, but was it right for me?

What do you think of when you think of surf camp? In my head it was all super fit, tan, lithe, and blonde surfer chicks.

While me? I'm more of a "too much wine and too much cake and sleep in and skip the gym" kind of lady. I'm curvy and soft, and while I have the ability to pose and dance and strut in heels with modicum of grace, attempts at significant physical activity--say hiking or running or any kind of group exercise class--typically result in an embarrassingly uncoordinated calamity.

I mentioned it to my best friend who thoughtfully responded, "Alejandra, I don't think you would be good at that..."

I agreed, but I also couldn't stop thinking about it.

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Nicaraguan Macuá Cocktail

One of the first things I tried on my trip to Nicaragua this past Fall was a Macuá cocktail. Noted as the national drink of Nicaragua, the fruity tropical cocktail is named after the equally bright and lovely parrot, which is native to Central America (a Macaw, in English).

A simple mix of fresh lime juice, guava juice, and rum (preferably the local favorite, Flor de Caña), the drink is a not-too-sweet welcome to this gorgeous Central American country.

I was there to learn how to surf along with a group of other US-based travel writers and bloggers, and we were in the process of traveling from the airport in Managua to the beach city of San Juan del Sur where the surf retreat we attended (CHICABRAVA) is headquartered.

We stopped off for lunch and pictures in the lush courtyard of a cute restaurant in Granada, a welcome respite after a day spent traveling by plane and car.

With my own tropical roots, guava has long been one of my favorite fruits, and the flavor is one that always wakes up sweet memories of afternoons on my grandmother's balcony in Puerto Rico sipping cold fruit juice, or the fruity pastries and custards we grew up eating.

As much as I love dessert, I'm not a fan of overly sweet cocktails, but found that the balance of flavors is just right here. I recommend using a bottle guava nectar (Goya makes a good one), or whisk up your own by sweetening frozen guava puree to taste. (Again, Goya is probably the way to go for this ingredient.)

If you're lucky enough to make your own guava puree from fresh fruit, well then I'm insanely jealous of your good fortune!

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Loved this recipe? Here are three other Cocktail Recipes you might like:

• Double Apple Spritzer Cocktails
• Pomegranate Rose Champagne Cocktails
• Spiced Apple Cider Rum Punch Cocktail

And let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates.

Thanks so much for reading

Macuá Cocktail Recipe
Serves 1, multiply as needed

Ingredients
2 ounces white rum (Nicaraguan Flor de Caña rum is most traditional here)
2 ounces guava juice or nectar, shaken well before measuring—both pink and yellow guava work
1 1/2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
Cocktail cherry and lime slice, for garnish

Directions
Combine rum, guava juice, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice, cover and shake until shaker is frosty.

Fill a tall cocktail glass with ice and strain in drink. Garnish with a cherry and slice of lime, and serve.

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Papardelle with Pork & Pumpkin Ragu

This Papardelle with Pork & Pumpkin Ragu was born because, upon getting home from Italy a couple weeks ago, I promptly found myself daydreaming about pasta.

The truth is, I don't actually feel like I ate enough of it while I was there. Before our trip, I had fantasies of long lunches in the sun with multiple courses and glasses of wine, followed by lazy walks through ancient cobblestone streets, afternoon naps, and equally lush dinners.

We only had about four and a half days in Italy--a brief detour at the tail end of a two-week trip spent primarily in Greece, but I figured it would still be enough time...

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Apple Picking near New York City

A few weeks ago, I messaged my friend and pointed out that it's been way too long since we've hung out. "Let's plan a cozy fall dinner!'

"Or we could go apple picking," he replied.

YES!

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Hotels I've Loved: The Standard Spa, Miami

If you ask me what my favorite hotel is, I will--without hesitation--tell you The Standard Spa in Miami Beach.

This gorgeous boutique hotel is like a yummy, sexy playground for grown-ups.

Included in the room rate is access to the Turkish-inspired hamam--a dark heated chamber filled with hot stone slabs that you can stretch and nap and roll around over. Once you're warmed up, you can move onto the bevy of indoor and outdoor hydro features like massaging waterfalls, an icy arctic plunge, hot tubs, big soaking bathtubs with a la carte aromatherapy salts, scrub rooms, cedar saunas, sound showers, and even an outdoor mud patio where you can cover yourself in cleansing mud before baking and detoxing under the hot Miami sun.

There are also massage therapists, daily yoga and fitness classes, stand-up paddle boarding, meditation circles, nutritional consultation, and a number of other traditional spa services.

The rooms themselves are sparse but luxurious, with comfy beds draped in crisp shades of cream and white, sheer curtains, and hidden TV sets. Perfect for sleeping in late.

Some of the rooms feature private patios with outdoor soaking tubs that you can sink into with a glass of wine while enjoying cool breezes blowing from the bay.

And when I say it's an adult playground, I really mean it. There are no kids under age 17 allowed, but the hotel does allow (and even encourage!) adorable doggies. You are also encouraged to spend your entire stay wandering around in your bathing suit or one of the fluffy hotel robes (and I usually do).

And while Miami Beach can often get a bit rowdy, The Standard is located about a mile away from the craziness on Belle Isle. It's a quick cab ride or easy walk or bike ride (the Standard lets you check out bikes) to the hub of activity, but far enough away that serenity and calm can be easily had.

Seriously the best of both worlds!

I'm also a big fan of the hotel restaurant, The Lido, which serves up a solid menu of healthy, tasty dishes just perfect for enjoying between hours by the pool (open 24 hours!) or in the spa.

Think gorgeous kale chopped salads topped with grilled chicken, grilled octopus, skirt steak, raw lasagna, or crispy fish tacos. So so perfect.

There is also a cute juice bar that's perfect for breakfast in the morning, and a bar that serves up boozy cocktails and fresh coconut water late into the night.

My only complaint about The Standard is that depending on the season, the rate can sometimes swing wildly towards the too expensive level. But if you catch it at the right time, I promise you that it is so worth it.


Travel Tips

• Want to enjoy the spa benefits without staying? You can actually buy day passes that allow you access to the pool and the spa regardless of where you're staying (great for locals, too!) Or keep an eye out for one of their regular events and classes, which usually include spa access in the rate.  
• If you're flexible or feeling spontaneous, download the One Night Standard app, which offers amazing same-day rates for last-minute bookings at all Standard hotels starting at just $99 a night.

Photo Credits: Images 1 via Afar, 2-4 via The Standard

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Loved this post? Here are three other travel articles you might like:

• Travel Diaries: Obidos, Portugal
• Honeymooning in Vieques, Puerto Rico
• My Airplane Travel Essentials

And let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates.

Thanks so much for reading

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Travel Diaries: A Weekend in the Hamptons

As much as I love New York City, I also adore the occasional weekend escape out of the city...especially during the summer!

A few weeks ago, Eugene and I dropped Hudson off at my parents' house, packed our bags, and drove a few hours east to Sag Harbor for a little Hamptons beach weekend in the sun.

The highlight of our trip was getting to attend a couple fancy foodie parties at the gorgeous Tasting Table Hampton's House. I was invited by the team at Coca-Cola Life to experience and share about the parties, which featured gorgeous food, drinks, backyard games, and lots of other goodies.

Here are a few pictures from our weekend, plus some of my favorite things that we ate and did in case you're planning your own Hamptons trip this summer!

Since a few of the parties we were attending were going to be in Sag Harbor, I logged onto Airbnb and found a great beach house located steps from the water. It was stunning! I was in my bikini and running toward the water within about 4 minutes from arrival.

On Saturday, morning, I woke up around 5AM and ran out onto the chilly beach to watch the sun rise.

It was so perfect...nobody else was out and the only sound was that of the water and birds. I'm so envious of people who get to enjoy that gorgeous peaceful view every morning.

When Eugene finally woke up a few hours later, we headed to Estia's Little Kitchen--a farm-to-table Mexican restaurant for breakfast. It was fantastic! They made their own homemade salsas with fresh local herbs.

We even had a minor celebrity spotting; Isaac Mizrahi and his husband Arnold Germer were having breakfast there, too. I made the mistake of subtly and quietly pointing him out to Eugene who loudly shouted back, "THE DESIGNER?! WHERE?"

(That was the last time I will ever point out a celebrity to him. Ever.)

After a few hours wandering and shopping in town, Eugene and I picked up some local goodies (cheese from Cavaniola's Cheese Shop, bread, wine, cookies from Tate's, etc.) and had ourselves a little beach picnic.

Later that afternoon, we attended a rosé wine tasting at the Tasting Table house, where we were greeted at the door with cocktails, then entered what is basically the house (and backyard!) of my dreams.

(Oh the parties I could throw!).

We sipped rosé, enjoyed little fancy sandwiches and raw oysters, and chatted with new and old friends.

The chefs in the kitchen were creating fun treats to share, including these delicious frozen rosé slushies, which took about 30 seconds to make and were so fun.

(Stay tuned for that recipe!)

The next morning we slept in (it was gray and rainy and cold!), then headed back to the Tasting Table house for brunch featuring a DIY Bloody Mary bar with all the fixin's

Eugene took full advantage of the bloody mary bar, but I just stuck with the bacon because I have priorities.

It was candied bacon! And I definitely had at least three slices of it, plus one more "for the road" before we left.

No shame, kids. No shame.

The brunch menu was gorgeous, including dishes like this wild smoked salmon salad with charred citrus, a very cool green bean salad with cherries, chorizo omelets, and bottles of chilled Coca-Cola Life.

(I also fell in love with these mini avocado toast appetizers with preserved lemons. So great!)

After brunch, Eugene got me to join him for a game of ping pong, but I'm very bad at ping pong, so he swiftly regretted that.

After a few hours of relaxing, we reluctantly got back into our car for the drive home to the city.

(Though we did stop in Southhampton at Sant Ambroeus for ice cream, first!)

Thanks to Coca-Cola Life for inviting me out for this lovely weekend! I tried out Coca-Cola Life before agreeing to partner with them, and can honestly say I'm a fan!

It's sweetened with a mix of real cane sugar and stevia, but has that great fizzy nostalgic taste that's perfect with pizza or while watching a movie.

If you love the taste of Coke, but are thoughtful about things like calories or what kind of sugars you consume, I think it's a great choice!

Disclosure: This is sponsored collaboration with Coca-Cola Life. I was compensated for my time and social shares, but all opinions are my own. Follow Coca-Cola life on Instagram and Twitter for more fun summer inspiration!

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The New Yorker (on Vacation) Cocktail

Last week, I had the privilege to spend a few days at the Grand Lucayan Resort on Grand Bahama Island as part of a culinary press trip.

This was my first time in Grand Bahama (and the Bahamas in general!), and I loved being able to explore and taste and experience a tiny bit of what that beautiful island has to offer.

I'll be sharing more about my trip soon, but I first wanted to share this special cocktail with you. On the third day of my trip, the other journalists and I were treated to a private island mixology class led by Prince, the resident bartender at Havana Cay--a gorgeous, cozy cocktail and Cuban cigar bar located on the resort.

Prince went through three of the most popular cocktails they serve on island, including the Bahama Mama (of course!), Goombay Smash, and the Hurricane.

He also talked about how one of his favorite things to do is create original cocktails for his guests. He asks them what they like, how they're feeling, and their favorite flavors, and then whips up a totally personalized specialty cocktail.

Hearing this, I knew I had to take advantage, and challenged him to make me a special drink. I requested a refreshing rum-based cocktail with sour citrus and tart flavors. He thought for a minute, then got to work behind the bar, adding a dash of this and a shot of that.

He shook it up, then served me a gorgeous bright pink drink you see right here.

I took a sip. It was wonderful!

He asked me what I thought, and asked for honest criticism, so I said that I'd actually love it to be even more sour, and recommended doubling the amount of lime juice while keeping all the other ratios the same.

Prince whipped it up again with my changes (mind you--everything was totally in his head without a single note taken!) and served it.

Perfection.

All the other ladies on the trip agreed it was a success, and he had us pick a name for the drink which he was now going to add to the bar menu.

We chose The New Yorker (on Vacation), after me (aka a New Yorker on vacation!).

I suggested serving it in a chic champagne flute with a twist of lime peel, then I took it outside to photograph.

The cocktail is now available on the menu at Havana Cay in the Grand Lucayan Resort.

If you visit and order it (and you should!), take a picture and be sure to share it with me!

And don't forget to tell Prince that I sent you! (He's a total sweetheart!)



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Love Always Order Dessert? Let's connect! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!  

The New Yorker (on Vacation) Cocktail Recipe
Makes 2 cocktails

Ingredients
2 oz banana rum
2 oz gold rum
1 tablespoon mango rum
3 oz cranberry juice
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1 1/2 large fresh limes, juiced
1 tablespoon fresh pineapple juice
1 teaspoon Sour Apple Pucker (or other sour apple schnapps)
Fresh lime peel cut into strips, for garnish

Directions

Fill a large cocktail shaker with ice and add all the ingredients except for the lime peel. Shake until the shaker is frosty, then strain into two flute glasses.

Garnish each with fresh lime peel and serve.

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My Travel Essentials

I have been doing a LOT of traveling lately, both for work and just personal vacation trips. I actually just got back from an amazing weekend trip to Las Vegas this past weekend where I and several other bloggers had the opportunity to attend and watch the Pillsbury Bake-Off. It was such an incredible experience, and I'll be sharing some photos and recipes from that trip next week, but for now I thought it might be fun to do a quick post about some of my favorite travel essentials.

These are the things that I've been making sure to include in my carry-on bag on just about all of my recent trips:

1. Vaseline Rosy Lips: 
I have LONG been obsessed with Vaseline. My friend Vanessa and I always used to have little containers of it in our purses in high school, and were forever borrowing each others. It's great for lips, dry elbows, and in a pinch, I even use it as an eye make-up remover. When I was in Scotland for my bestie Ilana's wedding a couple years ago, I discovered that in the UK, they sell it these cute little tins in shades like this Rosy Lips. Ilana brought me a bunch of them from her last trip, and if you can get your hands on them, I recommend you do. In the US, they recently started selling these tiny little plastic containers that are also equally adorable (I found them for sale at Walgreens). The Rosy Lips is my favorite because it has just a tiny hint of pink, but is also very moisturizing.

2. My Plane Pillow:  
I really tried to love neck pillows, but I found that in reality they're the worst because they don't let you relax against the seat. I hated my last plane pillow so much that I accidentally dropped it in the airport in Lisbon, and just didn't even bother to go back for it. Good riddance, I said! Instead, I use a small decorative pillow filler (like the kind you'd use on your couch). You can get them for $5 at home stores and they squish up nicely.

3. A GREAT Book: 
Hello, I'd like you to meet my new favorite book: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. I'm only about 1/4th of the way through it, but I'm already so in love with it that while I'm reading, in the back of my head I'm also going "I love this book. Oh my gosh I LOVE this book."

4. The Biggest Bottle of Water Available: 
As soon as I get through security, I go and buy myself the biggest bottle of water available. Usually a 1 liter bottle. If they don't have that, I buy 2-3 smaller ones. On my most recent flight to Europe, i made the mistake of giving Eugene my water bottle and he somehow dropped it while boarding the plane so I had to fly for six hours relying only on those obnoxious tiny cups of water. I generally drink about 2 liters of water on a regular day, so I was dying of thirst by the time we landed in London.

5. Scented Hand Lotion:
As you can see, I'm obsessed with hydration on planes. In addition to the water and the Vaseline, I literally slather my whole body in coconut oil the morning before a flight and then spend the rest of the trip moisturizing. I love to bring along a pretty tube of scented lotion (it's also nice because it helps freshen up the musty plane air. Also comes in handy when seated next to stinky passengers.). This Dead Sexy lotion from Tokyo Milk is one of my favorites!

6. Peppermint Tea:
I don't drink much coffee, and especially not on airplanes (it's drying, diuretic, and makes me hyper when I'm trapped in a small seat for hours--a terrible combination!). I also avoid caffeinated tea, preferring herbal infusions like peppermint or chamomile. I usually bring along a few peppermint tea bags, and then ask for hot water.  I also tend to feel bloated after sitting still for a few hours, and peppermint tea helps with that, too.

7. Calvin Klein Infinity Scarf:
This scarf is my favorite. It's soft and folds down really small, but it's also super warm and big enough to use like a blanket. And the blend of elegant colors (mine is actually more red than the one pictured here) goes well with a number of outfits so you can use it during your entire trip.

8. Fuzzy Socks:
I buy these cheap at the drugstore, and change into them as soon as I get on the plane. I even walk around the plane in them as they're basically just as thick as my cheap flats. Great for keeping feet warm. Bonus points for brightly colored striped or polka dot patterns like these (which come in a six-pack!).

9. Food. Glorious Food:
I'm such a psycho when it comes to plane food. I plan out meals obsessively, will run to different terminals to get a specific treat, and love eating up in the sky--just not the stuff they actually sell on the plane. I like to bring a mix of things to enjoy little picnics throughout the flight. My flight meals lately have included: sliced dried chorizo, roasted salted almonds, a good hard cheese like Manchego, and a bar of good chocolate. My current favorite is a Dark Chocolate Lime bar from Chocolat Moderne.

10. Dexflex Flats from Payless:
I've been living in these flats for the past 18 months. I own them in several patterns and colors, and have replaced them a couple times. They're so comfortable, and perfect for traveling since they are light, fold totally flat, and are easy to slip on and off at the security line. (They're also cheap enough that if you wear them out on your trip, you can just toss them. Like I did on my last trip to Spain where I walked about 35 miles in them over the course of a week.)

What are some of your favorite travel essentials? Tell me in the comments below!


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Love Always Order Dessert? Let's connect! Follow me on Twitter or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!    

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Travel Diaries: Óbidos, Portugal

One of the things I loved most about our week-long stay in Portugal, was having the time to explore the surrounding villages. The owners of the home we rented left us a binder filled with suggestions and information about the area, and one of their recommendations was the city of Obidos.

Described as a "must-see," Obidos was absolutely my favorite place we visited in Portugal. Located at the top of a large hill, the entire medieval city is surrounded by a fortified wall.

Stepping into it is like going back in time (or at least onto a film set); with narrow cobblestone streets, tiny shops, and horses that clop through the stone city.

We spent the day strolling around the village, poking in and out of shops and tasting local specialties.

(Like gelato made from a local sour cherry liqueur and egg pastries.)

I love the name of this store--"Pleasure & Vice Chocolate Shop."

Some of the group went up to climb the high, narrow wall that surrounds the city, but I prefer to stay close to the ground and so Ilana and took the opportunity to do a bit of shopping instead.

One of our favorite finds was this incredible bookstore, which displayed books inside old winecrates that lined the walls.

One end of the store also featured a small food market, where we ended up buying vegetables for that evening's dinner.

Click here for more posts about my travels in Portugal.

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Love Always Order Dessert? Let's connect! Follow me on Twitter or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!   

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