Those oh-so-sweet snowflake stories I was telling you about!
The great thing about entering New Year and re-living those highlights from 2018 is that you also get to revisit some of those perfect memories – like mamma’s Spa Retreat to the St. Regis, Deer Valley in Salt Lake City. I was there just for the long weekend for a good friend’s Bachelor party. We had been skiing (well yours truly was mostly falling down but who’s counting). In any case… what better reprieve than a day at the spa? It was precisely what I needed. You know mamma loves a good spa!!! For more Rockshic Spa excursions, see here.
The grounds at the St. Regis, Deer Valley was absolutely gorgeous, just want you would expect… with grandiose luxury coupled with a cozy, cabin feel. I loved the juxtaposition of the snow as well as the hot pool (is there anything more picturesque than those mountains?). Oh, and the DIY hot chocolate? Say yes to that!!!
Mamma got their hot stone massage (mmmmm), I literally melted into the massage chair… followed by some retail therapy for the kiddos (Salt Lake City has so much cute stuff for the little ones!! Think yetis, snowflakes, skiing moose, the list goes on and on).
At the end of the day, I was sad to leave this little winter wonderland. Would you blame me? That said, we had more festivities, brunching, bellinis, and apres-skiing (my favorite part of skiing) to tend to. So off I went! To new, greater adventures. For more on our Salt Lake excursions see here.
Hello hello! It’s hard to believe that summer is nearly over (okay we still have a few weeks to go)... but that little man only has (gasp!) one more week of summer camp left!!!
So what this means... is that our little escapade to Cancun was literally seven weeks ago, and it is high-time that we talk all about that.
For starters, the location and resort was absolutely brilliant (yet another slam dunk by the Ritz Carlton and Ritz Kids), next — let’s talk about beach pool fun! It just got better and better from there. We did one night at the culinary center (adults only) where our little man went and hung out at the kids center with one-on-one attention from a well-appointed Ritz staff. When hubs went to pick him up later he didn’t want to leave! A true testament to the spell. Then there was pool-side ceramics ehrrr he might an awesome soccer ball ⚽️ — how very appropos for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Oh, and did I mention beach pool beach pool? The cabanas were excellent, the spa was off the chain, and those spicy tacos... dragons may not love spicy tacos but this Mamma sure does!!! Not to mention all of the flavors that comes with everything else at the Ritz. We’ve been long fans of Ritz Carltons all over (see posts here on Washington, San Francisco, and Naples), but this one truly takes the cake! We will definitely be back.
Little man really enjoyed himself too I have to say... what a way to kick-start his summer camp schedule! Oh, and don’t worry — those were virgin shots he had on the beach (and we drank them out of coconuts! 🌴🥥
TGIF everybody — thanks for visiting and more to come on our upcoming escapades to Shelter Island!!!!
Best Birthday Present EVER!!!! To think... this time last year he was still a wee little bean sprout growing inside of mamma's belly when we went to Kiawah
Vacations are for naps...#rockshicbaby2
A girlfriend of mine told me that she used to visit this resort when she was a little girl, and this resort used to have turtles crawling around EVERYWHERE!!! In fact, the first thing she asked me, when I told her about visiting Captiva, was "did you go to the South Seas Island Resort and were there turtles?"
He wanted to demonstrate his surfer dude moves to me... what better place than at the beach?
Watching the beautiful sunset from our balcony... and enjoying a glass of vino. What could be better?
Me and my little men... did I mention that I am one lucky girl?
The beautiful grounds of the Marina Villas
Say yes to YOLO moments!
A seriously scenic stroll!! We did quite a bit of this with the little men.
My sweet little man! Just five months old and loving the whole "fist in mouth" action #rockshicbaby2
Mornings on the dock, where we sang "Down By the Docks" by Thomas & Friends
Well well, this mamma bird basically blinks and yet another week has gone by. What’s more, today marks the last day of June! Yes it’s true, 2017 is officially half-way over (scary thought).
As I said in an earlier post, June has been so crazy for us, largely because we were all over the place – Oregon, Florida… New York!! There’s a part of me that still feels largely unsettled, but we are slowly but surely getting there. For starters, we’ve moved the whole family back to New York, and my little man officially started Summer Camp this year, complete with some ziplining action on his very first day. Yikes!
So – before we bid adieu to the first half of 2017, I wanted to share some significant highlights, starting with when mamma celebrated her birthday on Captiva Island at the fabulous South Seas Island Resort! This outing was particularly momentous for us, as it marked the first time that we traveled somewhere overnight as a family of four… which, not surprisingly, required far more maneuvering than a brunch outing in Tribeca.
Looking back, the entire experience on the gorgeous property of South Seas Island Resort was simply magical, though hubs and I were so sleep deprived at that stage it all felt like a bit of a blur. I realized too, by the sheer excitement of my older child, the original Nuke baby, just how long it’s been since he’s traveled anywhere (last time we took a long getaway trip with the little man was back in August of 2016, where we rented a lake house to ring in his 3rd birthday). Not surprisingly, this holiday was as much for his benefit as it was for mamma the birthday girl.
For starters, the resort is suuuuper kid-friendly. It encompasses a huge piece of land at the tail end of Captiva Island, complete with several restaurants, a kid center, and loads of well-maintained pools, water slides, beaches, and fun activities for the kiddos (trust me, there was certainly no shortage of "water time!"). It’s also nice that some of the accommodations come with its own standalone kitchens, a must for traveling families! From the minute we arrived, my little man plopped himself in one of the bedrooms and started to settle in as he loudly exclaimed, “we’re at new home!!!”
As for my little guy… he was just five months at that stage, and still just settling in. At this stage, I can have a sense that his personality is quite different from his older brothers. Whereas my oldest was the man about town and loooooooved going out, my younger son is much more of an introvert, a “thinker,” if you will. He likes to quietly take it all in, and is not one to immediately jump into the crowd. Or perhaps I'm reading too much into things?
At any rate, it took our five months old a bit to settle into the new environment, but by the second day, he was certainly not complaining about his lap of luxury. Our suite was nicely nestled close to the docks and the ocean, so hubs took him on multiple strolls along the water, where he happily napped against the gentle breeze.
The best part of all? (Not counting mamma’s gorgeous key lime birthday cake). Witnessing the beautiful bonding moments between my children. It’s funny, but when during the day, because my oldest goes to his little Montessori school and has such a rigorous schedule between swimming and karate, he doesn’t actually get to see his baby brother all that much (and vice versa). So really, our getaway to Captiva marked the first time that we were truly able to enjoy our family of four under one roof, in a gorgeous setting, and basking in the sun. For that alone, I couldn’t have asked for anything more, and felt like the luckiest girl in the world!
Oh, and for the record, Captiva is an absolutely AMAZING island (reminded us a bit of Shelter Island and Montauk), and I really cannot wait to go back. We didn’t get much of a chance to explore this time around, but rest assured it’s been added to the list for future explorations!!!
Spot the manatee! On our last day, little man actually found one right at the dock.
Hanging at the beach shack with my boys. #MomLife
The Boys...#theLoveofMyLife
That view tho!
Dockside Dining = The Best Dining
Coconut days...
Packing and getting ready for Captiva!
Breakfast -- Island Style
My happy man -- stealing mummy's sugar... and yes, he is as naughty as he looks!
That face! So lovable... even when he is being a pain in the butt.
"To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of land remote, to travel is to live."
Of course... we never go anywhere without our Babyganics sunscreen and bug spray!
Oh, you know -- just lounging at one of the many pools at the property. Did I mention that they also pop by to bring you treats and help clean your sunnies for you? Talk about being pampered!
Quality time with my girly girls. Watch out for that cactus!
Margaritas all day long. I could get used to this!!! #PoolsideLounging
Early morning massage right after breakfast, truly getting spoiled!
Well appointed in-room decor. Check.
A fresh cocktail by the pool? Check check.
This is a perfect place to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset over the Sonoran desert.
The food and service at Proof, the hotel restaurant, was simply DIVINE.
Loving the desert-chic landscape
In my view, the photos actually don't do the natural landscape justice... it was just THAT breathtaking!
Getting ready to paint the town with my girly girls! #girlsnightout @fourseasons @fsscottsdale
I cannot believe that it’s been over two months since my amazing getaway to Arizona (and believe me, when you’re knee-deep in diapers and all-things-baby the way this mamma has been, a girls-trp/spacation to Scottsdale in March is just the ticket!!). See my prior post on the Omni Resort Montelucia and our lunch at the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa.
What can be more healing and luxurious than a girl-trip at the beautiful and well-appointed Four Seasons Resort Scottsale at Troon North? A spectacular resort in every sense of the word!
Breathtaking views? Check. Casita-chic décor? Check. Amazing service and top-of-the-linel amenities? Check check check. Really, I couldn’t have asked for more as far as pampering and outstanding experiences went. Everywhere I went, this little mamma bird was literally reaching for her camera. Truly, I just couldn't help myself!!! Everything was just so darn picturesque (compounded by the fact that I am absolutely OBSESSED with all things cactus at the moment).
Myself and my two travel buddies managed to do a little bit of everything while staying at the resort… a dip in the pool on our first day coupled with cabana service? You betcha! Hiking the beautiful trail tucked in the shadows of Pinnacle Peak? Yaaas. As a matter of fact, one of my fellow traveler/partner-in-crime basically turned our time at the Four Seasons resort into her own personal hiking trip (she climbed the Pinnacle Peak not once, but TWICE!!!). Of course, it wouldn’t have been a true spacation without some indulgent spa treatments, and we did that aplenty as well! We even lucked out on our first day as they were doing mini-treatments outside of the spa post breakfast. Now is that great timing or what?
Of course, just the ability to sleep in, lounge by the pool, eat a leisurely brunch, and get some real adult time was the best gift of all – coupled with the beauty that is the Sonoran Desert… now it is time to say AHHHHH.
Happy Friday! Today feature comes from somewhere down a recent path of that good old Memory Lane… during our excursion to Milan and the lakes. It’s quite apropos, actually, given that we’re about to embark on our second excursion to Europe this Sunday (sans bubs), and well… given the other enormous elephant in the room that is Brexit.
At any rate, it would certainly mark an interesting moment to visit Europe, wouldn’t you say?
These photos come to you courtesy of our mini-excursion in Lugano, Switzerland, which is quite close to Lake Como, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino bordering Italy. In fact, Lake Como and Lake Lugano make the best day-trips from Milan, kind of like having the best of both worlds in one day!
Known as the “Monte Carlo of Switzerland,” Lugao is basically the third largest financial hub in Switzerland, but with the added benefit of being amazingly picturesque, whilst retaining the charm and cachet of a small-town vibe (with more than just a hint of bling bling!).
We stayed at the 5-star Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola, which was incredibly impressive and beyond luxurious. Convenient located within the city center, it has these stunning views of the lake (I mean, have you seen our balcony views?), in addition to fantastic amenities, along with its own Michelin restaurant. I mean, it just doesn’t get any better than this right?
The only thing that I was bummed about, was the fact that I was enormously under the weather (this was during a period of time towards the end of 2015 where I was just so stressed and my state of mind truly took over every physical aspect). That said, whenever you come out of something rough and tumultuous, you always land on your feet and become stronger and better. Plus, what better place to recover and rejuvenate than at a heavenly place like Villa Castagnola!
This mamma just landed from Miami (yes, it's been that kind of a week), where I had the most exquisite culinary and visual arts experience. I'll tell you all about it soon, I promise.
For now, I wanted to share with you some recent memories at the Nikko hotel. Really, I can't believe that it's been a mere week since we stayed there.... feels like a lifetime ago!
We came through the Nikko, via Wellington, New Zealand, via Auckland, New Zealand (where I also had a fabulous gourmet memory at Clooney, see here). At any rate, we were a bit travel weary at this stage, as you can imagine. Three hours domestic, followed by a transfer, and then an international ten-plus hours of flying. Oh the horror! Throw into this mix some bad weather, a bus delay or two, a tired babe, cranky parents, and (would you believe?)... even a lost car seat at baggage claim. Yes, it's fair to say that we were all in desperate need of rest and relaxation by the time we arrived in San Francisco.
Given all of the above-mentioned string of misfortunes, you can only imagine how absolutely relieved we were to step inside the zen-like surroundings of the Nikko Hotel in downtown San Francisco, truly a gem.
Hubby and I had first came here back in 2005 when we began dating (more than a decade ago!), we were charmed by its decor and also loved the location, along with the pool factor (did you know that indoor pools are extremely difficult to come by in San Francisco?! I still haven't quite figured out why).
This time around, of course, we had our little man with us, which made the experience all the more adventurous. Early check-in? Not a problem! Crib in room? Done. (We were also upgraded to a higher view and a bigger room -- much more spacious, in fact, than our first time here!! Where I basically had a spacial experience akin to "Lost in Translation"). Of course the little Nuke was super thrilled to explore and run around. Everything was brand new again!!! He kept pointing to different things throughout the hotel while asking "New Home? New Home??".
Adorable right.
Not so adorable though, when your two year old toddler decides to take out all of the vodka from the hotel mini-bar (particularly as it's motion-sensored). Such is the pleasure of traveling with a rambunctious munchkin!! Oh, but not to worry, the Nikko were kind enough to not charge us for all that liquor moved by those grubby little hands. Disaster averted!
This bathroom! Believe me when I say that it is a much welcomed site after at the end of along journey.
The little man is a huge fan of hotel tubs too #rockshicbaby #luckykid
Gorgeous outdoor seating at <a href="http://www.mirrorlakeinn.com/dining/cottage/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.mirrorlakeinn.com/dining/cottage/">the Cottage Cafe</a> (where pub fare is served from 11:30am - 10pm, followed by late-night cocktails!)
Well hello hello! It’s hard to believe that nearly two weeks has passed since my ultra rustic, luxe and glossy getaway to the Adirondacks with my favorite partner-in-crime Cutie Patroller.
That’s right! We hopped into our SUV (rental obvi) and high-tailed it to Lake Placid for a girls-exclusive getaway weekend (gotta love those).
Our destination this time was the Mirror Lake Resort and Spa, which was beyond fabulous. Think: beautiful majestic lake and mountain views, cozying up by a burning fire with a cup of Hot Totty in hand, loads and loads of antlers to spare (more than even Freeman’s!), pampering, steaming, and whirl-pooling it at the spa, topped off with farm-to-table deliciousness at the hotel’s restaurants (we enjoyed casual pub fare one night at the Taste Bistro & Bar and then upscale dining at the View the following evening).
Oh yeah – and did I mention… there was even bobsledding if you so fancied? We didn’t actually get around to that… but just the thought!
We stayed in Room 337, which was one of the recently renovated section of the 131 units of the property, featuring sliding French doors, floor-to-ceiling glass, and an enclosed porch sitting area which allows for marvelous views of the pristine Mirror Lake and the Adirondack High Peaks (yes well, where did you think the name Mirror Lake came from?).
Our favorite day-time activity was simply lounging around on the porch doing not very much (interspersed with frenetic shopping and picture taking of course), indulging in a glass of vino or two (yes there was a bit of that), and swapping classic tales of our favorite locales in the Lower East Side. I suppose that is one of the intrinsic upsides when you’re traveling with your next-door neighbor!
Happy girl enjoying a cocktail on the terrace #equus #castlehotel
Hanging with Kim of <a href="http://www.yumikim.com/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.yumikim.com/">Yumi Kim</a>, love her designs!
As a busy career woman, wifey, and mamma – it’s important for me to allow myself to slow down once in a while. That said, I had the privilege last month of doing a private tour to experience the exclusive top-to-bottom treatment at Thann Sanctuary Spa at Castle Hotel & Spa. As you might recall, yours truly went up there back in 2013 (and even celebrated our 5 year anniversary there!).
At the time – more than two years ago – our little Nuke baby was just six weeks old, so juggling him and getting some quality time at the spa was definitely a nonstarter. This go-around, however, mamma got to roll solo! Well… not exactly, I was accompanied by all of my favorite Asian media ladies – Cutie Patroller (who I’m sure you recognize by now!), Kim Phan (the talented designer behind the fashion line Yumi Kim), and Malini aka the Restaurant Fairy.
The entire experience was completely surreal, starting with exquisite cocktails on the terrace, followed by massage therapy (this mamma opted for the traditional Swedish massage, and let me tell you, I was so relaxed I actually fell asleep!). Both pre and post massage, we had the pleasure of indulging in the incredible lounge that Thann is traditionally known for (this is a prestigious Japanese company specializing in spa services back home and bringing their specialty-focused zen experience to the Hudson Valley, so you know they don’t play).
As if that wasn’t pampering enough – post massage, we were whisked away and treated to a specially catered multi-course meal designed to complement our individual spa treatments. Now THAT is luxe to the max!
All in all, I highly recommend heading to Thann for a weekend couples retreat (or just to the Castle hotel for some tranquility time). It’s really the most magical setting, and super close to the city – that one ought to experience at least once!
Oh… and just to top it all off, the spa even offers a weekend getaway package where you can arrive and enjoy a three-course meal with signature treatments, steam room, whirl pool, and the works.
The lobby (aka "Living Room") of the Ritz Carlton Georgetown, which pretty much sets the tone for the entire hotel #RCmoments
View taken from a whimsical little organic garden (hotel brick smokestack just over on the horizon!)
Morning reads! Good thing I've got my well-traveled glasses case in hand (last featured here)
Library of Congress, [Capital] by Sarah Morris -- one of a series of paintings on display throughout the hotel
During one of my recent business trips to our nation’s capital, I had the pleasure of staying at the Ritz Carlton Georgetown, one of two Ritz Carlton properties in DC. It was a pleasant deviation from my usual course of action, which is to stay right by the White House (The W Washington DC being my comfort go-to, last featured here).
When you’re on-the-go for business, it’s pretty easy to get sucked into the usual “business hotels.” Not that I have any real complaints about the W (more on this another time). I know that the usual gig is to just head home from work, order some room service, turn on the TV, and call it a day, and at times that’s exactly what I do in order to wake up for my 8am meeting the next day (cruelty at its best if you ask me).
However, there is something nice to be said about being in the mix of things, which is precisely what staying in Georgetown felt like. Traditionally, this wouldn’t be a popular choice for corporate folks, you see, since there are no metro stations nearby (though that’s what Uber is for, am I right?). I rather come home from a long day of work to a vibrant neighborhood than a “shut-as-a-shut-thing-from-shut-degree-university” dead zone (to quote hubs) that is the area surrounding the White House.
The facilities of the Ritz Carlton Georgetown are, of course, both lovely and familiar – rendering a sense of zen and comfort right upon my arrival. That’s the great thing about being at a Ritz Carlton, you always know what you’ll be getting in terms of amenities, service, and facilities. I think the last Ritz property I stayed at was in Naples, Florida (featured here), which comes equally well-recommended by yours truly.
One of the nice new twists about this particular Ritz Carlton is that it feels a bit more modern and fun, being that it’s inside of an old converted factory building, with lots of reclaimed materials, exposed red brick, and avant-garde modern art. Unexpected? Yes… but an absolute delight nonetheless. My one regret was that I couldn’t stay longer, as mamma had to hop on a jet back to New York, only to hop on another plane straight to Switzerland. Ah well, something to look forward to the next time I visit DC!
Structure of Thought #5 by Doug & Mike Starn prominently displayed at lobby area #beautiful #RCmoments
Well hello there! The last few days have been INSANE and I’ve literally let more than a week slide by without posting anything (sad face).
Somehow… between everything that’s been going on, I feel like there’s not enough time to sleep, let alone write!
Hopefully, things will take a slightly different turn soon. As I said, much of July and early August had been nutty – as mamma had to go straight from a business trip in Washington to a week in Switzerland, and then direct to a weekend getaway in Shelter Island. Eeks.
Speaking of which, so let’s talk Shelter Island for a bit, shall we? You know that I’m a big proponent for that rustic neck of the woods. Not only is it accessible solely by ferry (which lends a nice quiet air to the surroundings), but it’s also captivated my heart, ever since we celebrated the little man’s birthday here a year ago. Next year, we're thinking of doing a house share!
This time around, we stayed at Sunset Beach, run by the ubiquitous hotelier André Balazs (known for building luxury hotels like the Standard, which you might have heard of, and… well, for being Uma Thurman’s baby daddy, among other things). It’s quite easily the most chic and glamorous hotel on the island (and possibly the entire Hamptons), so of course, the allure was bar none. The boutique property only offers twenty rooms (each with its private sundeck overlooking the ocean). So you’re best served to book quickly, because these reservations don’t last very long!
We stayed on the second floor (room 15 to be exact), and loved loved loved the serene vistas as well as the distance from the hubbub of the waterfront bistro and bar. I seriously could not get enough of the posh ambience of the fashion-set there, and on top of everything our room was also nice and spacious. In the evenings, hubs and I even had the luxury of indulging a cocktail or two by the sea while our little man slept soundly while we had the baby monitor on (#momlife).
There’s something quite impeccable about this place, as I marveled to hubs – I mean where did all the beautiful people come from? Do they all just happen to descend off the ferry and know instinctively that they had to don their shabby-chic best and head straight to Sunset Beach? Seriously, I felt like I had been transported straight to the French Riviera. Saint-Tropez style.
The hotel is handily situated straight across from the beach (Sunset beach, get it?), and it’s certainly a picturesque little beach. We spent the bulk of our time by the water, as our little man simply LOVED it. He’s much more interactive now, and is absolutely OBSESSED with all things ocean and sand. There were lots of rock throwing action in the ocean, castle-building, making waves & splashes, and eating watermelons under the sun… all aspects of summer I find truly delightful.
My one complaint… (and I’m so finicky) is that the beaches are not private, not even the section directly across the hotel. Must have been some licensing issue with the township. I Know I Know, that’s so bourgeois of me, but when you’re paying top dollar for a hotel (I try not to look at the bill when we checked out), you kind of want to make sure that your beach time is not, shall we say, mixed. It’s a small gripe of mine, but it does make a difference! Yes, I sound spoiled don’t I? Ah well, and so it goes. However, all of the other bits and pieces of bliss and sunshine more than made up for the hotel’s shortcomings… and we couldn’t have been happier with our quality time together as a family.
Oh, and did I mention? This weekend we’re embarking on a week-long holiday in Montauk. I can’t wait!!!
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.
