Experience Sandestin: Our family trip to the Emerald Coast at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort

Experience Sandestin:

Our Family Trip to the Emerald Coast at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort

Sunny days. White sand. Clear Water.

Sandestin, Florida.

Living in upstate NY can mean long, cold winters- IYKYK! Usually by the time February rolls around we are all incredibly anxious to get out of the snow for a quick getaway down south. The Emerald Coast in Florida is a place we loved visiting this past summer. The small town vibe, family friendly feel and gorgeous beaches had us hooked. We had heard great things about Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, so we decided to head there for our family vacation at the end of February and we had such an amazing time!

There were so many things we loved about Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort….where do I even begin?

Location:

Sandestin, FL is located in South Walton County in Florida’s Northwest Panhandle. It is a 24,000 acre development located in Miramar Beach between Pensacola & Panama City Beach. Because we live in New York, we flew into Destin/Ft. Walton Airport and it was about a 40 minute ride to Sandestin. Other airports nearby are ECP or Pensacola.

Almost my whole life when I’ve gone to Florida, I’ve visited Orlando and the Eastern Coast of Florida. I do feel like the panhandle is a little undiscovered to Northeastern US, which is actually great. This means that our school breaks don’t always line up and we miss the “peak” times. Its definitely a hot spot among southern travelers and I don’t blame them!

Also, as a side note, this area of Florida is actually central time zone!

Where to stay at Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort:

We stayed at the brand new Osprey Pointe 3 bedroom condo which was amazing! The modern furnishings, spacious layout, and relaxing balconies was just what we needed as a family of 5. The gourmet kitchen was a dream and super convenient having 3 hungry littles. We eat every meal outside on the balcony as a family.

The pool at Osprey Pointe was not only a hit with the kids, but also for my husband and I to relax while the kids play. Less than a 2 minute walk from our rooms, the heated pool had a waterfall, a wading area, and a hot tub.

Osprey Pointe was centrally located to all the amenities that Sandestin offers which was amazing for us with 3 small children. We were able to bike or walk everywhere including the beach, pool, Baytowne Wharf (more on that later), and the Fitness center.

I highly recommend Osprey Pointe, but know there are tons of different accommodation options at Sandestin. You can check them out here!

What to do at Sandestin

The biggest takeaway for me after staying at Sandestin is that there is something for everyone! Whether you love to lounge on the beach (the beaches are seriously gorgeous), love to play golf, want to relax at the pool, get a workout in, play tennis, head to shops/restaurants, have little ones and need to entertain them, or go on a bike ride, Sandestin has it all.

Most of what we did revolved around things we do as a family:

Beach time: We headed to the beach everyday and played in the sand & swam. The water is as clear as day and sand as white as can be. I dare you to find a more gorgeous beach in America.

Bike Riding: Every day we rented bikes and explored the property with the kids. Our older two ride 20/24” inch bikes and our little guy was in the trailer/toddler seat. The best part was that the bikes were complimentary!

Baytowne Wharf: Baytowne Wharf was a short 12-15 minute walk from Osprey Pointe and the kids loved it! This is modeled after Bourbon Street in New Orleans & they have really fun festivals and events there, including a Mardi Gras parade while we were there! Complete with shops, restaurants, little fun activities, a playground and an arcade, this was a hit with the kids! Other activities include giant checkers, a carousel, a Zipline, & a ropes course!

Poolside: There are over 15 pools on the Sandestin Property so if swimming/being poolside is your thing, there are plenty of options!

Trails: We loved all of the biking and walking paths throughout the property. We even found a kids treehouse/playground at Fort Davidson Nature Preserve. So fun for the boys!

Other fun activities to do at Sandestin are boat & dock fishing, exploring Jolee Island, mini golf, hitting the basketball courts, and heading to the spa (I’m saving that for next time ;) )

Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort Free Amenities

Traveling with 3 littles can sometimes be stressful, so having a bunch of free amenities with our stay was SO nice. As I mentioned earlier, we were able to rent bikes everyday free of charge. Also, we were able to rent/use the fitness center (see photo), tennis time, and kayak and boogie boards. Keep in mind there are time limits, but it definitely saves a ton of money especially with littles who want to buy a boogie board during your 7 day vacation, haha.

We had free wi-fi throughout our stay and the customer service was excellent. Not only do they have an app with information on it, but they also have a free text service where you can just ask any question and they are able to help you out within minutes!

Other things to know

Grocery: Publix is literally two miles away which is super convenient. We were there every other day! There is also a Whole Foods 15 minutes away

Shopping: We hit up Silver Sands Premium Outlets (you can’t say you are surprised are you?) and they have some great stores like Nike, Disney, Adidas & Saks Off 5th. This was only a few miles from the property. There is also Grand Boulevard at Sandestin which has upscale shops such as Anthropologie & lululemon.

The Beaches of 30A (Rosemary Beach, Alys Beach, Seacrest Beach) are a close 25-30 minutes away as well as Seaside which is a fun trip.

The Donut Hole is world famous & the kids favorite spot!

Sandestin: The perfect Family vacation or getaway for anyone

All in all, if you’re looking for sugar white sands and clear water but don’t want to leave America, Sandestin should be at the top of your list! There is really something for everyone and is our favorite vacation spot.

For more info/to book your next vacation, click here.

Have you been to the Emerald Coast before?

Thanks to Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort for hosting us! As always, thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy Travels,

xo

Alex

Hawaii Vacation P1: #whatiwore

Happy Tuesday friends! Hope you all had a good start to the week! Now that the dust has settled I wanted to do Part 1 of our vacation trip to Hawaii: What I packed/wore.

Packing normally takes me days on end, but this time I feel like I was slightly limited due to some of my clothes (well..most of them) not fitting me. I did do a little shopping before I left grabbing some swimsuits, and athlesuire wear. I’m so glad I did because we lived at the pool/beach and we did so much walking in the heat wearing some of my activewear was really comfortable!

A majority of the clothes that I did bring down there were non-maternity and I either sized up or they were a looser cut. My biggest goal was comfort while still being somewhat stylish! I think some maternity stuff is really cute but honestly this is my last pregnancy so I’m focusing more on winter clothing for maternity wear and trying not to get too much.

Part 2 Hawaii will be what we did, & travel tips for long haul flights with 2 littles! Stay tuned!

What I packed: (Links are attached in each number and if you scroll down you can click on moving windows and it will take you to the products :) )

1. This super cute non-maternity bikini top- love the back!

2. The matching bottom

3. I always love a good vintage tee. This Beatles tee is great to travel or lounge in!

4. My fave high waisted leggings from Nordys. They also come in maternity and are super comfy!

5. This polka dot maternity swimsuit…I am obsessed and the price is EXACTLY what you want to spend for a maternity suit!

6. From the same retailer comes this flower maternity suit- beautiful colors!

7. I love this non-maternity pink romper from asos!

8. These fun heart shaped sunglasses!

9. Believe it or not, I wore non-maternity jean shorts (they were one size up). I love these paige jimmy jimmy jean shorts. Stretchy and super comfy whether you are pregnant or not.

10. I’ve spoke about this free people top before! On sale and super light and comfy. Great for summer and even fall for layering.

11. My birks. Enough said.

12. This Becca suit. I sized up about 2 sizes as its non-maternity but its so flattering and has a sexy side to it without being a bikini! Also can’t beat the price!

13. These are the joggers I travelled in from Anthro. They run big so I would recommend sizing down if you are between sizes. I still was able to get a small (with room) at 20 weeks pregnant. So comfortable and are chic enough to wear out and about and perfect for travel.

14. I have worn these every. single.day. since I bought them. The Lululemon tracker 4 inch. I sized up 2 sizes, but they have been a lifesaver the last month with the warm temps still going and were great for vaca!

Have a great afternoon!

xo

Alex

Aloha 19 weeks & LB Sales

Aloha from Hawaii! 

Hope you guys are all having a great weekend and have some fun plans for the holiday weekend. Its always different being away for holidays and Labor Day is no exception! Sure doesn't feel like Labor day- firstly, its so hot, and secondly HOW IS IT SEPTEMBER?!!! We are having an absolute blast here spending time with family and enjoying the Hawaiian laid back lifestyle! 

The Travel down here was pretty painful..we had some serious delays and traveling with two little kids is never easy. BUT the boys honestly did SO well for never flying on a long haul flight. We ended up traveling for close to 20 hours...so we were all exhausted when we got in. 

I'll be sharing more about the trip when we get back including tips for travel with kids on long haul flights, some things we have done here in Hawaii, and some what I packed :) 

19 Weeks & Counting..

Another week in the books! Almost halfway there! Still feeling really good, even though the travel def did a number on me! I was pretty tired when we landed just trying to take care of the kids, time change, altitude from flying etc. On the positive side, I was definitely not as swollen as I thought I was going to be!

I took Tuesday (travel day) off from working out and have gone on two runs since we got here. We've been doing some serious walking so I know I'm getting tons of activity in! I went to the gym one day with my bands (the gym here is pretty bad- no free weights)and made do with what was there.  I'll probably find a gym close by for a workout tomorrow while the boys are napping to get a pump in to at least get a second good leg day in this week.  ;) 

Its funny how with each pregnancy time seems to go faster and faster, clearly because you're so busy with the other kids! I also shudder at how big I am going to be in 20 more weeks! yikes.

Labor Day Sales: 

For today, I'm going to share a few sales that I've seen running over Labor Day weekend and live vicariously through ALLL of you because let's just say buying 90% of normal clothing is just a STRUGGLE rn #preggoprobs LOL. 

I've actually hit up Nordstrom while I've been down here and bought a few things that were pregnancy friendly, and they had awesome sales. 

 

1. I know I've spoke about these Madewell jeans before but they are really THAT comfy that I have to share that they are 40% off. 

2.This twist top is a great basic and you can't beat the price- under 20 bucks. 

3. These dark wash Paige jeans are a great fit and I love them for fall. I have this model of jean and they're one of my favorites. Totally recommend these and for just over $100? yes plz. 

4. Sam Edelman is one of my go-to's for date night, girls night or a trip away and I am completely obsessed with the rich color of these ankle strap sandals that you can wear well into October/November. The color is to die for, and again 30% off :) 

5. I got this super cozy and chunky cardi during the Anni Sale and I love it! 

The next group are from another great retailer that I love-Bloomingdales. They are having their "great big brown bag sale" over labor day weekend and it does not disappoint! Whenever I'm away and there's a bloomies in town, I make sure to hit it up. Here are a few great picks I've spotted: 

1. This Isabella Rose Strappy One Piece: Can I EVER make a list of good buys without adding a swimsuit? NOW is THE time to grab a suit. So many good deals, esp if you have a vaca planned in the next 4-6 months! 

2. Wilt's side slit tees. I have a few of these- so comfy, can be dressed up or down, are flattering, good quality... and while they're pricy, they don't hurt the wallet too bad being on sale. 

3. I've been on the hunt for a good summer silk bathrobe to wear when I'm getting ready. I think I'll be adding this one to my cart- 

4. I have loved this suit ever since it came out and still do. Snag this Tory Burch 2 piece NOW. 

5. A-Line dresses are always a win in my book and this dress and color is perfect for fall. I have a few of these and I love them on their own, layered with a denim jacket or fur vest (fall) and booties. Also.to be noted this is under 40 dollars #winning

Hope you have a Happy Labor day! Bring on fall! 

xo

Alex

18 Weeks & Friday Fashion

Friday is here! Fridays are a special time in the summer for us because with our businesses for about 8 months of the year we are pretty busy with work for at least 1, if not 2 of the days on the weekend so I'm savoring the slow weekend summer weekends while I can!

#THATPACKINGLIFE

We have our big family vacation next week so I'll be busy packing and gathering things for our super long flight (+10 hours..yyiiiikkkesss) I do feel like no matter how early I start packing I am always up late the night before ha.

We've dealt with my oldest getting the stomach bug and a fever this week so I'm so happy that he's getting over that before we leave ((and praying his little bro doesn't get it!!)) I feel like sicknesses always seem to go around right before big trips!! Does this happen to anyone else? Lol. Also...mother nature has thrown us a curve ball with this massive hurricane hitting Hawaii. Hopefully all is well and Hawaii doesn't get hit as bad as what they say might happen.

Regardless..the Preperation MUST go on. I will definitely be sharing some of the items that I'm bringing along, as well as items to stay organized AND what I'm bringing for the boys to stay occupied for 10+ hours! 

Preggo Transitional Clothing

I've reached that point in pregnancy where I've pretty much outgrown ALL of  pre-pregnancy clothing, but maternity clothing is kind of big. This clearly hit faster than baby 2, and WAY faster than baby 1. lol.

To be honest, I don't really love maternity clothing (actually who does lol?!!). I try to stick to the basics when purchasing maternity clothing: plain cotton tees (LS, Short sleeve, and tanks) that can go with anything, and leggings, and jeans. I try to fill in the rest of my wardrobe with some of my looser clothing that I can still wear when I'm not pregnant (when nursing and beyond). The last two pregnancies it was pretty warm at the last stages of the pregnancy so my wardrobe will be a bit different this time around. I def feel like once Nov/Dec/Jan hits I'm going to be wearing a lot of my maternity jeans, leggings and LS maternity tops with my cardigans. I stocked up on those during the Nordstrom Sale. 

I wanted to share some of my fave transitional pieces that you can wear pre, during, post pregnancy. There's nothing worse than shelling out a ton of money for maternity clothes you're only going to wear for a few months. I know for a fact I feel better about myself when I look good, so having some nice transitional pieces that firstly, save money..and aren't frumpy or scream "pregnancy" are super important! Here are some that have been repeat outfit offenders the last month or so!! 

1. Free People Aster Henley Tee- This tee comes in a bunch of colors, is on sale, and is a shirt you can wear before and after pregnancy as well. You can front tuck or tie in the front, or if its late stage in pregnancy...wear it just out! 

As seen here, not pregnant and had a knot tied layered with a cardi! 

2. THESE JEANS. Wit and Wisdom Absolution. These are a must for anyone who thinks jeans are uncomfortable (read: 90% of the population ha). I ordered these in my regular size and they fit up until now due to the AMAZING elastic band on waist. I've also ordered a pair and sized up so they can fit my whole pregnancy. I'm so excited because these are a pair of jeans that I can honestly say I will wear pre pregnancy, during, and especially postpartum ((y'all feel me on that...lol) The price is also great, and nordys has free shipping and returns! So stretchy and the waistband is GOALS. 

3. Leith Ruched Body Con Dress- The dress I was wearing in my post- Honestly I've shown the black color and worn a different color in my photo but this dress is a non-maternity dress and it is so flattering whether you are pregnant or not! I got my regular size, and ordered a size up for the Long Sleeve option when I'll be wearing it in the 3rd trimester. Price is good, and quality is awesome! 

4. This "Priscilla" Free People Dress- flowy, boho and cute. The only fail on this is I'm a boy mom and I bought the white. ha. 

5. This "Greatest Day" smock dress from Free People that I wore for my pregnancy announcement. I LOVE this dress, the pink is great for summer/spring and the red is awesome paired with a cardi and booties for fall! Super comfy and doesn't scream maternity. Its on sale too! 

6. These belted shorts from Shein. I LOVE these! I got so many compliments on them and I can't wait to wear them when I'm not pregnant ha. I love pulling them up over the bump right now and will be great postpartum...and when I've finally lost the baby weight. The price is also great and honestly I've been impressed with the quality..I bought several pairs ha. 

                                 Shein Belted shorts..I think I was around 15 or 16 weeks here? 

7. These Lush tunics are one of the best basics I have. The fit is perfect if you're expecting and comfortable if you're not! They come in a ton of colors, are great for layering or even just wearing on their own out, to work, or to a an event! You can tie them up for a more casual look or front tuck if you're not pregnant. Also they are currently on sale YESSS! 

8. I love these Free People January tees. Super cute no matter what phase you're in and preggo friendly. Awesome on its own, tons of color options and also great for layering! 

9. Do you see a trend..free people, free people, free people ha! These have been my fave tees over the summer. Def a bit lower cut on the sides so wearing a bralette is prob a good idea..but they are cute with the flutter sleeve and nice and long for pregnancy/or if you are wearing over leggings. Also can be tied if not pregnant! Great staple and awesome price! I have these in a few colors. 

Hope you all enjoy and this helps any of you on your fashion journey whatever stage you are in!

xo

Alex