Rock Shic

#773 Paddle Boarding in Turks and Caicos

 

The couple that paddle boards together... stays together.  Happy birthday to me!  #oneyearwiser

Looking pretty serious there! This is me eight months into nursing and pumping.  See my complete "post partum" series here.

Flotsam, jetsam! This type of falling/wreckage happened quite frequently.  Of course, hubs was all too happy to photograph the evidence when it did occur.  #paddleboardfail

Can you believe that we went straight from doing this to our professional photoshoot with the fabulous Ileana Ravasio of ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY?!! Either we clean up real well or she is just that darn talented (I think more the latter!).  #ATTIMI #TurksandCaicosPhotography

Aloha!  As I was cleaning up my files today and found some good ones from our first couples-only post baby trip to Turks and Caicos, circa 2014.  See here for my complete series on the trip, including an unforgetable dining experience at Amanyara, our underwater snorkeling date, and the chronicles of our stay at the unforgettable Tuscany Resort.  

The trip was meant to be a birthday hurrah (my first one since becoming a mom!), and indeed I had flip-flopped back and forth so hard with regards to taking our 8 months that hubs eventually just gave up and ignored me everytime I made my last "exectuive decision."  It was almost comical when we at last turned up at the ticket counter (with no baby in tow) and the flight attendant looked us square in the face and exclaimed, “I believe you’re missing a passenger!”  

Ha... now THERE'S an understatement if I ever heard one.  

All that aside, it was actually quite a momentous and happy trip -- one which I would highly recommend to *all new parents.*  Not only did we get to reconnect in more ways that you can possibly imagine, but we also got to do things that simply weren’t feasible had munchkin been around, like paddle boarding!

Incidentally, today's post can also be filed along with my other "couples only" reflection series, right up there with cheetah petting in South Africa and horseback riding in New Zealand.  I'll admit, this is a series that need more of my time and devotion (telling, no?).  

The thing with paddle boarding, I’ve come to realize, is that it’s all about upper body strength, which I didn’t have a lot of at the time (still don't, but that's a whole separate story!).  We were certainly lucky with the aquamarine water being so calm, and now as I look back at the pics, I can’t help but feel a new sense of hope, inspiration, and rejuvenation.  Eight months post-partum, and I didn't look half bad!!!  Granted, this was also at the height of my nursing phase, and you burn a loooooot of calories breastfeeding (see feature here on nursing and pumping).  

So here is hope to returning to a bigger and badder version of my old-body, as I craddle my enormously expanding belly, which more or less prohibits me from doing anything at the moment, let alone paddle boarding.

Note to self: perhaps I’ll look into paddle boarding lessons when I head down to Naples during my maternity leave… it’s right up there with other fun things I’ve done on trips over the years, like abseiling in Costa Rica, swimming with turtles in Barbados, and ziplining in Mexico.  Perhaps not quite as intense as shark diving in South Africa, but then again... few things can parallel that particuarl experience, wouldn't you say?

 

Related:

A date underwater -- Turks and Caicos

Fitness adventures in Costa Rica

A Bajan Birthday Swim with Turtles in Barbados

 

Striking a pose! There are some tricks of the trade that I've learned over the years while posing in a bikini.  For a full length detail on my "how-to's," all documented from our Turks and Caicos trip, see here. 

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#564 Dinner at Amanyara, Turks and Caicos

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. 

Yes, it’s that kind of place.   

 

Check out

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#555 Val Kalliecharan - the discerning Vacation Curator from Grace Bay

#555 Val Kalliecharan – the discerning Vacation Curator from Grace Bay

This post has been high on my mind lately, not least of which is due to my #tbt throwback moment to Turks and Caicos and how I’m absolutely convinced that T+C is one of the loveliest places I’ve ever visited. 

You see, yours truly have been doing quite a bit of “vacation curating” lately.  What is that precisely, you ask?  It’s when discerning travelers (such as yourselves) strategize and put together the ideal itinerary for any given vacation – geared towards the condensed schedule and complicated demands of the respective traveler.

If you're like me, you aim to make the most out of everything (a friend’s words, not mine)… or if you’re like another girlfriend, you do very little apart from eating/drinking/sleeping/swimming.  (As a matter of fact, the latter option sounds particularly appealing right about now).

That’s the thing, wherever you might fall on the spectrum, my friend and colleague Val Kalliecharan, is the man for you!  He and his company, Turks and Caicos Reservations, have been putting together fabulous and tailored holiday itineraries for clients for years, whether that’s finding the perfect hotel with the most favorable rates, or the best travel experiences around (think diving/snorkeling, horseback riding, paddle-boarding, and the like). 

It’s safe to say that he’s your man when it comes to all things Providenciales (or “Provo”) related.

After all – isn’t that what we all need?  I certainly think so, after logging dozens of hours over the past few days trying to piece together something for our family this weekend in the Hamptons, and more importantly, next weekend in the Mayan Riviera of Mexico.  Believe me when I say, it can truly be an all-consuming job! 

... all the more reason to outsource to the experts I say!!

Val and I, (post our scuba day-trip), hanging out in front of the Tuscany

Photo of Val and family -- wife Susan and their two boys, Naryan (11) and Vijay (9).  It was also a great perk to hear from Val the ins-and-outs of what's best for island kiddos!!!

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#553 Beachfront dining at Bugaloo’s, Turks and Caicos

 

Sunglasses: Dior | Dress: <a href="http://www.splendid.com/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.splendid.com/">Splendid</a>, last worn <a href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2012/06/91-a-conversation-on-color-style-with-david-zyla.html" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2012/06/91-a-conversation-on-color-style-with-david-zyla.html">here</a> during my interview with Emmy Award-winning Stylist <a href="http://www.davidzyla.com/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.davidzyla.com/">David Zyla</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;Necklace: Ziggurat Fashion Emporium (Wellington), during my travels 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>&nbsp;|&nbsp;Belt: <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/index.jsp">Anthropologie</a>, last featured <a href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2012/04/candy-colored-feat.html" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2012/04/candy-colored-feat.html">here</a> in <a href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/washington-dc/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/washington-dc/">Washington, D.C.</a>

I’ve been having T+C beach flashbacks lately – not least of which is due to my upcoming trip to the Riviera May of Mexico (time to throw some bikinis in a bag!!).  Seems like lately, both hubs and I know a gaggle of people who’s all keen to jet to T+C for some R&R right about now… and really, who could blame them?

These photos were taken at Bugaloo’s during our stay at the Tuscany, where we dined beachfront and had an up close and personal experience with some conch.  In truth it wasn’t our first rendezvous with conch (they were rampant in the Caymans, and pretty much most of the Caribbean’s, as far as I’m concerned), but conch was certainly being dished out aplenty at T+C – in the most delicious way I might add.

Fresh and yummy seafood aside, you’re really just coming to this charming beach café for its ramshackle-glam charm, its live music (if you come at the right time, apparently they do a fantastic boozy-reggae-conch crawl, which sounds brilliant but sadly we missed), and the ability to see some live conch being shelled out right in front of you.  (Hey, since you’re on holiday, why not let your hair down and have a little fun in the sand?).  Yours truly got to hold these slimy little creatures in the palm of her hand… which was an experience in itself!

My advice to readers, as is my advice for most holiday destinations – is that you really want to have a rental car at your disposal when you’re in T&C, so that you can wander around and explore at your leisure.  I believe hotels organize day-trips to Bugaloo… but isn’t it so much sexier when you can do things according to your own timings?

Rockshic thinks so.  Happy weekend everybody!

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Well hello there internet!!!!  I must admit I’ve been terribly remiss lately – a combo of feeling under the weather, a non-stop work schedule, compounded by my poor little Nuke being not so well himself.

The good news is… things are on the upswing!  I’m feeling much better, and so is the Nuke.  Huzzah.

So without further ado, I wanted to share with you some recent photographs taken by the lovely and talented Ileana Ravasio, founder of ATTIMI photography.  She does some awesome shoots!! Hubs and I had the privilege of sitting down with her when we were in TCI (on my birthday no less!) and did a totally free-style, impromptu photo-shoot at the Tuscany Resort, where we stayed.

Looking back, I can’t help but smile.  We cleaned up pretty well, considering we’d just gotten back from our 2 hour paddle-boarding session!

The whole experience reminded me of our engagement shoot – except this time, hubby took it all in like a total pro!!

 

 

Post shoot with the fabulous <a href="http://www.attimiphotography.com/about-2/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.attimiphotography.com/about-2/">Ileana Ravasio</a> -- Italian passion with a Carribean Flair!

 

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#534 Opus – Date night by the Sea

 

Who could resist an ocean-to-table food experience in Provo?

It’s hard to believe that only eleven days ago we were unwinding on the beaches of Turks and Caicos (feels like so much more time has passed!).  Time for another vacation perhaps?

Just kidding. 

In the meantime, allow me to indulge and reminisce fondly about our last meal on the island, at the elegant and beautifully landscaped patio of Opus (totally puts a whole new spin to the experience of “dining under the stars”). 

It was really the perfect evening.  The restaurant was literally right around the corner from our hotel, The Tuscany Resort, so that hubby and I could walk hand-in-hand on the easy, breezy beach to our destination (we popped by at the Cabana Bar and Grille on our way over for an aperitif in the sand.  One word – perfection!).   Just hearing the ocean waves nearby as we walked barefoot to dinner was a treat in itself (made me realize how completely removed we were from our everyday frenetic Manhattan rhythm).  It was also a true delight to know that, yes, while we love our baby boy back home, we also treasured these special moments shared intimately between the two of us.

The food at Opus was absolutely divine.  My yellow fin tuna spring rolls were quite possibly one of the yummiest things I had in Provo, and hubby loved his Caicos Red Conch chowder.  The locally caught snappers were as fresh as can be, and we figured – when in Provo, why not indulge in the best the island had to offer?  Last but not least, creamy key lime for dessert (and you know that key lime is simply one of my favorite sweets). 

Opus is also a wine bar, so you know a great selection was in store.  We were actually quite impressed with their tremendous selection, which includes wines from Craggy Range, of Havelock North, in New Zealand (where we just were this February!). 

All in all – your girl walked away utterly sated, with my heart happily full.   What a way to spend our last evening in Turks and Caicos! 

Rest assured, we’ll be back.

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#532 Top 5 Bikini-Posing Tips by Rockshic

Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, we are officially in full-swing summer mode!  That means… beach, bikini, and bronze, stat.

Yours truly got a bit of a head start in Turks and Caicos, so that should theoretically tie me over through the rest of summer.  That said, it still means a whole lot of pressure to eat well, exercise, and look your best in that teeny weeny bikini you’ve been meaning to pull out of your dresser (you know, the one that’s stuffed all the way in the back).

Having had a baby nearly nine months ago, I can definitely say that I am not in the best bikini shape (though I’m slowly getting closer).  That said, just because your body is still a work in progress (like mine) doesn’t mean you can’t take a slamming photo in a bathing suit.  Like anything else in life – it’s all about practice, practice, practice (and knowing your best angles).

Without further ado, below are some tricks of the trade I’ve picked up from my time gallivanting on beaches over the years – read on and I hope they help!  Consider this a swimsuit "cheat-sheet." 

1)      Perk your little bum up (facing the camera), turn, and smile.  This always works because you’re effectively forcing your body to do a gazelle-like tilt.  It’s slimming not only because it’s a sideways gaze, but also because you’re not presenting your stomach directly to the camera.  The added benefit is that your arms will look thin as well.

2)  Lie down flat on your back, and then gently lift your head as though you’re doing a stretch.  This should be a no-brainer, your stomach always looks flatter when you’re on your back, and leaning up slightly (but still stretching your core) will make for a flattering photo.  Where possible, also stretch one leg out and tilt the other so as to create further dimension.

3)  Where possible, take some “action” bikini shots.  It’s just a fact of life; some folks are not comfortable in front of the camera.  Period.  The more you ask them to pose, the tenser they become and the further you get from a nice bikini shot (or a good photo of any kind).  Self-awareness, or rather, a lack thereof, is really your bff when it comes to swimsuit-shoots.  Trust me, most of my favorite photos stem from movement shots.

4)  Relax your shoulders, drop your arms, and turn sideways.  Yes we all know that holding your arms to your waist creates the illusion of thinner arms, but what I’ve discovered is that if you just relax your shoulders, and turn away from the camera ever so slightly, you can make an equally flattering impact (without coming across as too affected).  This strategy is very similar to rule #1, but in this case what you’re really showcasing is your lean side-ways torso, as opposed to your booty.

5)  When all else fails -- lie on your tummy, lift your head up, and again, perk up that bottom!  I’m not bootylicious like Beyoncé, so I could use all the help possible in this case.  That said, I do love this pose – it’s freeing, easy, and comes across very nicely in photos.  I first discovered it while posing on a boat in Cartagena and when given the opportunity, well – you know I just can't resist reprising that role!

So sit back, enjoy, and above all – embrace yourself!  If you don’t own your body and your smile, then nine times out of ten your photos will simply come across as awkward and lackluster (and who wants a photo-bomb?).  Really, you'd gone through all that trouble of planning a getaway and putting on a bathing suit, so why not look good in it?  

My general rule of thumb is – greet the camera the way you’d welcome a dear friend, or better yet, an enthusiastic lover!!

I hope these tips will help and serve you well throughout the summer and pllease don’t forget to send me some of your bikini shots.  

In the meantime... happy posing my prettykins!!!

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#531 The Tuscany – Where to Stay in Turks & Caicos Now

Over the past few days, hubby and I have been enjoying ourselves at the Tuscany Resort on Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos, with one of prettiest lap pools you’ll find in Providenciales (affectionately known as Provo). 

From the moment we arrived, we felt instantly calmed by the tranquility of the surroundings.  I was thoroughly impressed by the staff, and also fond of the fact that they were unobtrusive and never hovered (but were always there to help).  This is a very grown-up and upscale facility – where quietness and serenity reigns supreme. 

Our self-contained suite had pretty much everything we hearts could ever desire (even equipped with our own laundry room!!).  Oh, and did I mention that you get issued your own cell phone upon check-in so you can make calls anywhere on the island? Magic.

I kept exclaiming to hubby how our pad in TCI is remarkably bigger than our place back home, and how I wish we could have something like this back in Manhattan.  Alas, I guess that’s what vacations are for, a chance to dream big!

There were many features which made the Tuscany particularly special, but below are my absolute top three:

1)      Our balcony: sure we’ve enjoyed a balcony or two, from Bermuda to the Costa Brava of Spain to Barbados and even Naples, Florida (in fact, our own pad back in NYC has a balcony – albeit much more modest in size).  But this one at the Tuscany was something else! It had a wrap-around veranda feel about it, and was big enough to house two chaise lounge chairs, a dining room table, and then some.  The view from the balcony was, of course, bar none, as we stared onto one of the best views the Grace Bay has to offer… even our bedroom faced the balcony, which made dawn and dusk doubly special.

2)      The pool:  arguably the centerpiece of the entire resort, and why not?  If I had a pool this pretty I would want everything to revolve around it!  What struck me the most about the pool is just how remarkably calming and relaxing it was, even with little kiddos about – you never felt the frenetic energy that you typically do at most hotel pools!

3)      The beach:  I can go on and on about this… the ease of getting to the beach is simply fantastic.  Hubby and I can literally roll out of bed, and bury our feet in the sand within a heartbeat.  Apart from having backdoor access, this is as pretty much close as you’re going to get to direct beach access.  Believe me when I say, we greatly relished the mornings where we can just grab a towel (which they prep for you in your suite!!), a bottle of water (which is automatically replenished by the resort everyday), and boom – roll out onto the beach, feel the sun shimmering on our skin, and go straight into the lovely, turquoise water.  You also never feel the need to fight for a chair like you do at some places.  Plus – let’s be honest, the white-sand beach here, once accessible only to millionaires, is the primary reason for coming all the way out here, so why not make it a top priority?

Whether you’re traveling as a couple or with little kiddos, the Tuscany Resort has something to offer for everybody.  I’ve always wanted to go to Turks and Caicos, and I can honestly say that staying at the Tuscany was a dream. 

Now… the only question is, when do we go back? 

 

Sitting on the balcony of our Suite, wearing a resort-piece with Jousting print by <a href="http://bonvivat.com/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://bonvivat.com/">Bon Vivat.</a> &nbsp;I can't think of a more beautiful and inspiring setting!&nbsp;

Bikinis by Victoria Secret and bag by Jonathan Adler (featured here)

 

First day at t<a href="http://www.thetuscanyresort.com/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.thetuscanyresort.com/">he Tuscany</a>: ready to hit the beach after clearing through customs and picking up our island ride from <a href="http://www.gracebaycarrentals.com/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.gracebaycarrentals.com/">Grace Bay Car Rentals!</a>

 

Wearing <a href="http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/diane-von-furstenberg-dress-diane-hanky-belted?ID=677964&amp;PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/diane-von-furstenberg-dress-diane-hanky-belted?ID=677964&amp;PseudoCat=se-xx-xx-xx.esn_results">one of my favorite DVF dresses</a> at <a href="http://www.thetuscanyresort.com/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.thetuscanyresort.com/">the Tuscany</a>. FYI -- this a great transition piece from <a href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2013/07/385-friday-night-baseball.html" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2013/07/385-friday-night-baseball.html">maternity</a> to <a href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2013/09/420-post-baby-chic-week-1.html" target="_blank" data-mce-href="http://www.rockshic.com/my-blog/2013/09/420-post-baby-chic-week-1.html">post-pregnancy</a>. &nbsp;Recently I've had the pleasure of seeing the real-life legend up Ms. Von Furstenberg herself up close and personal. &nbsp;For full feature see <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>.&nbsp;

Watch the video of my walk-through of Suite 502 of the Tuscany Resort on Grace Bay!

 

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Well hello there!  It’s been a while since we last spoke, and yours truly has certainly been keeping busy (check out @Rockshic on Instagram for updates).  In the meantime, I wanted to share with you some recent playful fun we’ve been having here in Turks and Caicos. I’m not one for idle chit-chat on talcum sand (it’s nice and all but I tend to get a bit restless).

So what better way to stay active than to go snorkeling (a popular island pastime) with the hubby?  It’s a lot more low-fuss than diving, and the visibility here is EXCELLENT!  We got a chance to hang out with Val Kalliecharan, the amazing entrepreneur behind Turks and Caicos Reservations – and got the chance to swim with fishes and dive off a boat, courtesy of Island Vibes Tours.  It was a blast, and quite a fun way to bond with hubs. 

The best part was, after all of that motion under water, there was still plenty of time to doze in a chaise lounge or two on the beach with a book in hand and a chilled glass by our side! 

What can I say… island living, it’s not a bad way to go!! 

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Happy weekend!! 

I must say – this week has been a long and taxing one for me (at least to start), but it looks like a happy ending is in store, as I sit here and write in my luxe and spacious beachfront suite at the Tuscany in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos (for full feature see here). 

We’ll be based in Provo for the next few days (I know I know… tough life!), and I can’t wait to share with you bits and pieces from our trip here.  I’ve always wanted to visit this enchantingly beautiful, aquamarine paradise, and now here I am!  (So stoked I can hardly sleep).

A few personal admissions:

1)      We decided to leave the little bambino home with my parents. 

I had vacillated back and forth about this issue multiple times over the past few weeks (hubby thinks that I must have changed my mind more than six times) – but ultimately we thought it was high-time to indulge in a one-on-one grown-up getaway.

Plus, the little Nuke getting his first fever ever pretty much sealed the deal. 

That said, I still feel somewhat conflicted about the whole thing.  Turks and Caicos is a hot family destination, so I’m seeing babies literally everywhere, which makes me miss him all the more.  So far, I’ve only been away from the little guy for one night in Naples, and that was a tough one for me!

2)      I’m still feeling ultra self-conscious about my post-baby bod, I guess being on the beach will do that to you (although I did find a few camera tricks for my best angles, see here).  Hubby and I had a real heart-to-heart chat tonight, and I think the bottom line is I need to work harder and eat healthier (easier said than done!).

3)      That said, I still believe we made the right decision in leaving our Nuke at home.  Ever since his birth, I feel like our sole focus has been on him and him alone (in many respects as it rightfully ought to be).  However, I’ll be the first to admit that my relationship with my husband has suffered or, at a minimum, been sidelined as a result of this new dynamic.  I likened us to two ships sailing at sea, crossing paths late into the evening but never quite touching. 

It’s about time we sat down and connected… just the two of us… and I have to tell you, so far it’s been wonderful!

Of course, as I'm still nursing and pumping religiously, I've brought all of my pumping gear with us, all in my trusty cooler bag.  For more thoughts on breastfeeding and pumping, see my story here.

So there you have it – with a reinvigorated sense of self and a renewed zest for adventure, I intend to embrace the next few days and embark on a whole new journey here on the island!  Being baby-free means that we can get a lot more done, and I'm hoping to share as much as possible!  For more travel updates you can find me on Instagram @Rockshic!!

Rockshic on the go! This is my typical travel look -- layers, hat, sunnies, scarf, go!  *Carry-on only* (see here for more travel and packing tips). Oh and I've got my trusty "pumping gear"/ cooler bag on my shoulders (you can find it here), as I was still nursing.  For more on this see my post on pumping and breastfeeding. 

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