First off, let me caveat by saying that the following is by no means a comprehensive collage of Nuke baby’s “milestone photos.” I’ll be the first admit that I desperately need to adopt a better archiving system for my pictures (or just having any system at all!).
You see, this weekend, hubs and I have the joy of sitting down and filling out applications for Nuke baby’s preschool applications (most of them due on a rolling basis the day after Labor day). Yes, you read correctly – and if you’ve ever seen or heard of the documentary “Nursery University,” you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Hence, I thought that it would be both fun and inspiring to put together something to reflect the passage of time, especially as our little guy just turned one.
In yet another #TBT moment, these photos were taken in January, when the Nuke was just five months! We had endeavored upon a road trip in New Zealand, where we stopped through Rotorua (known for its thermal pools), and then shacked up for a few days at the Solitaire Lodge, which was sheer bliss.
Here, my wardrobe comprised almost entirely of Southern Hemisphere favorites (think Country Road, Jigsaw, and maybe even an odd Witchery accessory thrown in here or there). The Nuke is dressed almost entirely in Le Petite Bateau (my then-obsession), coupled by this ridiculous horsey hat I found for him plus these Ro Sham Bo Baby sunnies that I was absolutely obsessed with during our Southern Hemisphere road trip.
And yes, that was our backyard, aka the view we woke up to every morning at the Solitaire Lodge. I know that hubs might have been a bit cross with me at the time for wanting to do a photoshoot after a long drive and still recovering from potential jetlag. But, I must say, it was worth it!!!
In honor of TBT, I’m sharing with you some photos from our date night at Amanyara in Turks and Caicos, where we stayed at the Tuscany. What more can I say but... “wow.” From the moment I entered the property, I knew that I had stepped upon somewhere special.
For starters, the space itself is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and the food (Asian-fusion inspired and beyond fresh) was both delicious and immaculately presented (on par with the likes of Daniel or Eleven Madison).
Aman means “peace,” which paints the very ethos by which the Aman resorts are based on, and “yara” stands for “peace” in Sanskrit. Given this context, I can appreciate all the more how the resort went the extra mile and beyond to provide that sense of zen and calm to all of its inhabitants – with thoughtful execution on design, layout, smell, and sound.
Just one thing to be aware of, the resort is the epitome of remote. Case in point, hubby and I literally thought that we were driving in the wrong direction (admittedly we had a pretty crappy GPS), until we stumbled upon that little piece of oasis. I suppose the remoteness of it all instilled an even greater sense of awe when we arrived.
This weekend, we officially celebrated the Nuke turning one!
It’s hard to believe that a year has gone by… I still remember, quite vividly in fact, the birth of my baby and the emotional rollercoaster that came with his arrival.
I always knew that I wanted to celebrate our son’s first birthday in a big, spectacular way. At the same time however, I also wanted it to be incredibly special, intimate, and all about him. After some debate (and very much to hubby’s relief), we opted to not throw a huge party, but splurge on a weekend getaway instead to create our own memories. So off we went to Shelter Island with the little guy, where we shacked up at La Maison Blanche (more on this later).
That said, we also wanted to do something sweet and elegant with the grandparents (particularly as my in-laws live so far away). Having spent Fourth of July in the vineyards of North Fork, we knew that the Jamesport Manor Inn would be the perfect venue. It was close enough to the Shelter Island ferry (from Greenport), what's more, the restaurant has a beautiful patio/garden, with a lush and well-manicured lawn for the little guy to play on, and the backdrop of the countryside is sheer perfection.
The result? We couldn’t have been more pleased. Our little man was grinning ear to ear, as he was getting spoiled from every feasible direction. We had the patio all to ourselves (the joys of dining at 5pm, which was well-timed in between naps & actual bed-time). As it was just the five of us, we could fully devote our attention to each other and, more importantly, to the man of the hour. We even went so far as to unwrap each individual gift and watch the Nuke squeal in delight! I wouldn’t change anything, if I had to do it all over again.
Oh, and there was bubbly, of course ;)
A great big shout-out to the lovely folks at the Jamesport Manor Inn, who were simply wonderful, and really went out of their way to help us make every moment special. We would happily go back again in a heartbeat!
Here’s to Rockshic Baby turning one, with many, many more happy returns to come!!!
Mamma's wearing: dress by Carven, necklace from an antique shop on Shelter Island, and bracelets from PasParTou (a pop-up shop on Shelter Island, based in Brooklyn)
We ordered his birthday cake from the Blue Duck Bakery, which has a location in Sothold (right near the Shelter Island Ferry) and Southampton
It’s been a while since I’ve done a restaurant review in Manhattan (not for a lack of eating I might add, but possibly just laziness). In any case, a couple of weeks back (three to be precise), hubs and I did date night at Bacchanal, the newly opened restaurant inside the Quin Hotel on the Bowery. I left it up to him to choose the spot (sometimes a girl’s gotta let her man take charge! What can I say, it makes them happy). Result? Super impressed with hubby’s selection.
Let me just start by saying, this is a GREAT date spot! The food by Scott Bryan (formerly of Apiary), certainly did not disappoint. Both hubs and I opted for seafood (I may or may not have been on my strictly no-carbs kick, which didn’t last for very long). Though I must say that, for me personally – it was the cocktails that stood out (which doesn’t surprise me in the least, since some of these folks are also the brainchild behind The Dead Rabbit).
My all-time favorite was the Point Blank, with chivas regal, dolin blanc, St. Germain, and lemon bitters. Yum! Take a look and judge for yourself!! (P.S. For a lo-down of cocktails, check out Fork and Shaker here). You won’t be disappointed.
Now the only thing I need to get on is penciling in another date night, pronto!
Photos from a business getaway in Dubai (circa 2010). To me this embodies the perfect mix of business and pleasure!
Having sat through my fair share of corporate events and visited enough places that accommodate them (see my series on luxe lodgings), I can safely say that hosting a corporate event isn’t as easy as you think. First and foremost, you’ll need to find the right venue – with the best & most ideal combination of atmosphere, setup, location, service, foodbeverage (where applicable), facilities, and so on. In many respects, it’s no different than organizing a wedding, I suppose, or showers of sorts, or even possibly… a birthday event (okay, so the last one may be heavily weighing on my mind at the moment, just saying).
That said, there are certain elements which can set a corporate event apart from other functions, so here goes some tried and true tips that I hope will help!
1) Location, location, location
When you are going to have a lot of people travelling to a corporate function, there is a good chance that most of them are going to have to travel some distance to attend. You should keep this in mind when looking at choosing a location for your event and try to choose somewhere that has hotels close by, as well as accessible transport facilities such as taxis. By doing this, you will allow those attending the party to not have to worry about how they are getting home as they can stay in a hotel for the night (perhaps indulge in a drink or two… and truly let their hair down). This is where search engines can come into play, like the corporate venue for hire in Newcastle, where you should be able to check the location of each potential venue and see which is going to suit you and your guest the best. Another thing to remember – time zones!! This is one thing that I often found to be cumbersome when I travel to Europe for business.
2) Size Matters (!!)
As there are so many different venues available (scaled for the number of people attending of course), you will want to make sure that you choose the best location for the amount of people that are going to attend. If you hire a venue which is far bigger than you need, then this can kill the atmosphere at your event, just the same as hiring a venue which is too small and cramming too many people inside. Finding the right size venue will help to make your event an enjoyable experience for all of those that attend. Who needs room fillers when you can find the perfect room? Remember also to check for fire safety hazards (aka “maximum capacity” warnings).
3) A Matter of Yum (aka choosing Catering)
You know that your girl is a culinary fan. That said, I tend to lower my expectations when it comes to mass production lines. However, I must admit that I have been pleasantly surprised at times.
The key to remember is the following – most venues will also offer catering facilities, and if you are going to be providing food it is worthwhile making sure that the food is up to a high standard before confirming your booking (otherwise why bother?).
You will need to keep in mind that people have different tastes when it comes to food, as well as certain dietary requirements, so you may be best to choose a menu which is not too specialised and has popular foods (finger foods are always a huge hit, something which can be eaten in two-three bites, this should be a rule of thumb for most parties). Another big consideration is if you will be providing drinks for your guests, as this can increase the cost significantly.
4) Decor and music set the stage
You will want to make the venue look attractive for your event and many venues will include decorations in their charges. Or, if you’re picky like me and have specific notions of what you want, you may also want to decorate the venue yourself before your event, although this prove to be more burdensome on yourself later on. Entertainment is also something that you will need to arrange, and many venues also offer this for an additional charge.
Alternatively – why not hire your own entertainment to come to the event! If you’ve done all the hard work in putting this together, I’d say it’s high-time to let your hair down and relax for a change.
Just remember, at the end of the day, the type of corporate event that you are holding will most definitely influence the venue that is most suitable. Whether you are holding a company party, awards ceremony or looking to entertain your best customers, choosing the right location is crucial in making the event a smashing success!! Personally, I'm partial to destination corporate functions, for travel inspirations, but that's just me!
Mamma's rocking <a href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2013/02/288-glam-rock-by-dvf-nyfw-2013.html" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2013/02/288-glam-rock-by-dvf-nyfw-2013.html">DVF</a> (last featured <a href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2014/05/528-feel-like-a-woman-wear-a-dress.html" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2014/05/528-feel-like-a-woman-wear-a-dress.html">here</a>) and <a href="http://www.chewbeads.com/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.chewbeads.com/">chewbeads</a>, while little man is donning <a href="http://www.jeanswest.com.au/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.jeanswest.com.au/">Jeanswest Australia</a> (some favorite finds from our recent trip to <a href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/new-zealand/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/new-zealand/">New Zealand</a>)!
Growing up on Long Island, we would drive out to the East End often, as my father had worked with many of the galleries down there. Back then, however, I could never truly wrap my head around the various different neighborhoods in the Hamptons (Westhampton, Southampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, East Hampton, Montauk, and the like).
I still get confused, even today, though I will say that as I get older and more financially independent, I’m finally starting to know and understand the many shades of the Hamptons/South Fork and North Fork – with their individual characteristics and nuances (recognizing that neighborhoods also happen to evolve with time).
Think of East Hampton as old money, luxe, and sophisticated (with beaches, of course). It also happens to be home to some of the nicest, high-end boutique hotels in the Hamptons – you have c/o Maidstone, The Baker House, and the 1770 House – all lined up next to one another. There’s also the Topping Rose in Bridgehampton, adjacent to the west , which boasts fine dining à la Tom Colicchio (think Top Chef), and we all know who he is!
Shopping in East Hampton’s Main Street is quite fun (and even boasts Blue and Cream, which is my neighborhood stable on the Bowery, last look featured here). If you happen to be in the area, I highly recommend the Ralph Lauren Polo Store for kiddos – it’s just the cutest thing imaginable (nautical chic never looked so fitting for these mini me’s).
Also worth a visit… believe it or not, is the East Hampton library, which had just went through a major renovation in its children’s wing. The result? Shiny and fabulous!! Be sure to check out the garden out in the back.
Now come to think of it, I feel like we need to pay another visit to the East End, before summer wraps up for good.
You can follow my entire Summer series on all things Hamptons, Montuak, and North Fork here. Next weekend we're off to Shelter Island for a family getaway! Stay tuned.
Backdoor garden of <a href="http://www.easthamptonlibrary.org/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.easthamptonlibrary.org/">the East Hampton library</a>, which was directly adjacent to the Children's wing... super cute. #secretgarden
Ralph Lauren Polo for the littles, very cute. I couldn't resist but pick up a few things for <a href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/city-baby/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/city-baby/">the Nuke</a>.
We even found some street art in the Hamptons! And it matches mommy's dress.
Believe it or not, the last time we sailed together was on the Hudson River! See here.
Just before sunset this Friday – my girlfriend and I were meandering along the beach when we walked past the water sports activity center (you know, the type that every hotel boasts but inevitably gets under-utilized).
We quickly learned that the Rosewood Mayakoba had a myriad of choices for fun-seeking ocean-lovers (unsurprisingly), and in fact, they actually offered free sailing trips on their little in-house catamaran. Even better, the captain himself will show us how to sail it!!!
“Would you like to try it right now?” He asks. “The waves are in perfect condition.”
It didn’t take much persuasion for us to find ourselves strapping on our life jackets and lathering on an extra layer of sunscreen, and before you know it… we set sail.
Suffice to say, it was a blast – all the better that we got to take a tour of the Mayakoba beach from the other side. It’s funny how you learn the lay of the land from a different perspective. (FYI – this also happens to be excellent way to scope out the nearby resorts, in case you want to mix things up a little).
It felt both rejuvenating and liberating – as we sailed along the Caribbean coast with ease, like we were always meant to be there.
Sometimes the best experiences in life are the unplanned ones.
My girlfriend did most of the driving, while I just sat back and enjoyed the coastal view – and concentrated on not getting (too) wet.
My darling friend and I have been shacked up at the Riviera Maya since Friday, relaxing and indulging in some beach-side adventures along the Caribbean coast – think sailing, ziplining, ATV jungle rides, and the like. The only thing we didn’t get to see were Mayan ruins, but that will have to wait until next time.
We’ve been based out of the Rosewood Mayakoba for the past few days, and I can’t tell you how much we’ve enjoyed the experience. Case in point, this was us just earlier in the morning. Imagine rolling straight from bed to beach… and practicing some slow flow vinyasa!!! Yoga in the gardens is nice and all, but the ocean breeze trumps all.
Namaste my lovelies, and enjoy the rest of your weekend! Xxx.
This Sunday, we drove out to the East End, this time to the South Fork of Long Island, into East Hampton – for some family down-time and culinary treat. Later, I’ll fill you in about our weekend itinerary, jam packed with kiddo-curated fun. For the time being, however, I wanted to feature the Living Room at c/o Maidstone – perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon brunch with the fam.
I had first stumbled upon this gem of a place nearly two years ago, whilst on my yoga retreat in nearby Amagansett. I remember being super impressed with the whimsically chic décor, as I gleefully indulged in a cocktail (or two) by the fireplace.
All of that, of course, seemed like a lifetime ago.
Now that we’re traveling with our little munchkin in tow, we tend to appreciate a slightly different set of amenities (the luscious backyard, for instance, where the nuke could happily play on grass, was a huge bonus). The staff at the Restaurant and Inn were super friendly and attentive, bringing our little man toys to play with, and even going so far as to pick up all the things he had dropped (which was bountiful and constant – did I mention that we have officially entered the “let’s drop everything on the floor” chapter).
I had the deliciously prepared Kottbullar, or Swedish meatballs (which I even shared with the Nuke, who was a fan), and hubby went for the Swedish “Plattar” pancakes with Ligonberry jam, which disappeared in all of two nano-seconds. We were even greeted with some live music, sung a Capella by the bar, which distracted/delighted the munchkin to no end (I don’t lie; it was also a welcomed diversion for the grown-ups).
And yes, mamma did indulge in a cocktail (or two). Some things just won’t change!!
The beautiful lake right across the road, for more about the Maidstone, see here.
Mommy's wearing DVF (last featured here) and accessorizing with her favorite chewbeads! Which Nuke loves to grab all day long.
Based in Manhattan's Lower East Side, Rock Shic is an excerpt taken from my personal lookbook of real people around the world. It is a combination of aesthetics, fashion, lifestyle, and travel. I also offer personalized Lookbook Consulting and Styling upon request. Please contact me at rockshic (at) gmail (dot) com. Services include: Wardrobe Analysis, Closet Organization, and Personal Shopping.
