a few weeks ago the family and i had a chance to visit Maui, Hawai'i for a weeks stay and the Fairmont Kea Lani. my husband had a work conference during the week so we spent as many hours as we could between conference meetings having fun and exploring the island. the Fairmont Kea Lani hotel is super family friendly. with private beach access, four swimming pools, a waterslide, innumerable activities and kid dining options we enjoyed as much time as we could soak up lounging outside. if you are traveling with kids this hotel is probably one of the best i have stayed at and most accommodating for families.
prior to our departure my first priority was getting ourselves packed. i ended up booking a last minute video shoot in Los Angeles that took place two days before we were supposed to leave on vacation so i did the best i could to pre-pack our luggage so that i wasn't scrambling in the 8 hours i had from landing from LA to departing from SEA.
for our anniversary this month i picked up new luggage for myself, my husband and the kids. i scored some great hard case carry-on's for the kids from Kohl's. they were only $40 a bag and there was a variety of colors and patterns to choose from. naturally i chose leopard print for the girls and i selected a black hard case for my oldest to match his dad. for myself and Tman i picked up the Herschel Supply Co. black and white carry-on as well as a nylon backpack to tote around our cameras, accessories, sunscreen etc.
next up were my travel essentials. some of these items were invaluable to have along including my infusion drops from CoverFX. the hydration infusion drops kept my skin feel so soft and moisturized. i also added a few drops to my children's lotion when their skin started getting irritated from the heat, sand and sun. it provided them with relief and helped soothe their skin. the pink pointy toe flats are seriously some of my favorite shoes ever. not only are they incredibly comfortable but they are super stylish as well. a neutral scarf adds style and comfort (and by comfort i mean warmth for all you cold bodied people like me) and a jean jacket works for every outfit. i brought along my Ditto sunglasses that were portable and versatile. i love the Ditto sunglass subscription service. for a monthly fee you exchange your sunglasses as often as you would like to get your sunglass style on point. use the code BLUSHINGBASICS and you can get your first month's subscription free.
naturally the first thing we did on arrival was don our swimsuits and head to the beach. thankfully i had these cute swimsuits from Rufflebutts for the girls. with their winter skin being pale and sensitive the rash guard top and ruffle bottoms were perfect for protecting their delicate skin. they are specially made with UPF50 + UV sun protection so the girls had a great time playing in the water and i rested easy knowing their skin was protected. of course we used sunscreen but all day sun exposure is nothing to mess around with and i was incredibly grateful for these suits. plus, you can't deny that the suits are the most adorable thing ever. everywhere we had people asking about their cute ruffled attire.
we had several events during the week to meet and socialize with the other conference attendees. along with doctors there were office managers, medical sales, family members and conference speakers to meet. i feel like i am in constant awe of how small the world really is. visiting Hawai'i we ended up meeting several people who we were connected with in some way or other. i love chance encounters like that because it makes the world feel a little more cohesive and that we aren't quite so small and insignificant.
this dress was my go-to 'mingle' attire. the length was perfect for breezy nights, the fabric was just the right weight to keep you warm but not too hot and the colors make it a versatile option for many occasions. Maggy London dresses always seem to get it right.
speaking of wardrobe. there were two other items that i wore non-stop all week. the swimsuit pictured below was a show-stopper and only $15 you cannot beat it! along with the blue jersey dress that i literally wore every.single.day. that pretty much summed up my wardrobe. i still remember the look on my husbands face when i put on the blue dress for the fourth day in a row. listen, if i can be comfortable and look good at the same time i will wear that dress until i'm blue in the face.
we did some really great excursions while in Maui. we went whale watching and saw the most amazing creatures swim, dive and breach. we visited restaurants for delicious macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup. we ate countless fruits, salads and fish. we stopped by the world famous banyan tree to see what roots had spread. we went on a submarine and looked up close at the world at the bottom of the ocean. we went on boogie boards and went scuba diving. we rented under water jets that propelled us all around the swimming pool. my husband and my son went zip lining through the Hawaiian 'jungle'. we hiked to waterfalls and drank coconuts on the side of the road. we watched the sun set every night and we gave countless thanks for the beauty of the earth. all in all it was a pretty amazing trip.
for details on items pictured you can shop them through the widget below. and it if you made it to this point in the post, bless you for reading my longwinded thoughts.
xo,
kristie
No comments:
Post a Comment