If you’re a South Florida native who loves sea creatures, you will enjoy Boca Raton’s Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. It’s free to visit and fun for all ages. We were looking for fun things to do on a sunny Sunday and were excited to see a place where we could see marine life. The center does much conservation work and offers different outdoor activities to enjoy around the preserve. Their volunteers are knowledgeable and more than happy to answer any questions you may have. It’s a wonderful and eye-opening experience.
We visited the marine life first. It was awesome to see these creatures up close from sea turtles, to eels, barracuda, parrot fish, and more. This is a fantastic organization to learn about and to get involved in conservation. I also loved seeing all the work FAU is doing at the center. We witnessed students working on sea turtle research which was pretty cool. To end our afternoon, we strolled through the Butterfly Garden. We thought we were in a whole other world as we came across the intercoastal. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon, and it was something my group had not done before here in Boca Raton. Learn more and plan your visit here.
Those “Mamma Mia Summer” TikToks caused some major daydreaming which lead us to planning our girl’s vacation to Greece. This was my first trip I planned and funded myself with two friends. It was a very exciting time for us. We had total control over where we wanted to go and which activities to partake in.
Athens was a must. We didn’t want to miss seeing The Acropolis and other ancient sights around the city. It was quite hot the day we toured and water is essential. It was worth it despite the heat. The Acropolis is just as astonishing at night as it is during the day. The Parthenon’s iconic exterior looks so well-established that it’s nearly inconceivable that the structure is over 2,000 years old. It was a humbling experience stepping around this ancient sight. We also got to view it from a roof top bar that evening which I highly recommend. It provides a whole other perspective of this ancient city.
I loved exploring the Panathenaic Stadium. Inside the stadium, you can view the torches of past games from around the world. It was especially exciting to explore since Paris 2024 was just around the corner. My friends and I loved checking it out since we are a group of former & current athletes ourselves.
We spent a day visiting the Archaeological Site of Delphi & having lunch in Arachova. This site has the most beautiful mountain views that pair extremely well with the ancient ruins. We also ran into the most adorable kittens who like to spend time outside of the museum. Everyone was excited to see them. We had a joke about what was the most exciting part of the visit, the cats or the ruins. All of the climbing also caused a thought in our heads, no wonder The Olympics originated in Greece, they have a long history of staying fit. Arachova treated us to a lovely lunch, and a peaceful spot to wind down while exploring its charming shops.
We moved onto Crete to let the “Mamma Mia” portion of the summer vacation begin. We stayed just outside of Heraklion. We arrived in the afternoon so we kept it lowkey by spending time at a local beach near our AirBnb and had dinner at a nearby restaurant. It had a “tapas” theme so we all got to enjoy a little of everything, and we were treated to dessert on the house. Of course, we jumped on the TikTok trend and filmed one.
You can’t visit a Greek island without doing a trip on a boat, or two. We chose two boating outings, one right at the beginning of our time in Crete and one the day before we left so we could go out on a bang. Our sailboat day trip was a blast. We visited two islands, swam, snorkeled, and had a lovely lunch on the boat. The water is so salty it keeps you afloat which makes swimming a lot less tiring. It was the perfect temperature, and we were warned not to step on any sea urchins. I couldn’t believe how large they were, some were no bigger than a baseball and some nearly the size of a soccerball. I was thankful that the water was so easy to float in.
Our sunset cruise involved a lot of swimming and jumping off the top of the catamaran. We also found a perfect spot to enjoy the sunset after the activities. Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” was played over the loudspeakers which caused us to fake “sing” along and giggle. It was the perfect way to end the day. Since we spent more time swimming instead of enjoying some appetizers, we were hungry enough for a late dinner. We ended up meeting two people from Suriname. There was a whole guessing game involved, and we all tried to guess where everyone was from. It was more difficult than anticipated. I’ve never met anyone from that part of the world before so it was a cool experience.
Exploring Heraklion at sunset post day boat tour.
I’d love to have this view everyday as I grab coffee and gas in the morning.
We drove out to Fallasarna Beach before dropping off my friend’s sister at Chania Airport. We got to experience how beautiful the mountains of Crete were and most of the roads were lined with flower bushes. The water at Fallasarna Beach was so clear and Mamma Mia blue. We loved taking a swim and exploring the rock formations. Turns out, we didn’t have to go very far to find pink sand which was a thrill. Chania is absolutely gorgeous with an old-town feel. We did not have a ton of time to explore, but it still charmed us greatly.
We did a little research and decided to check out a wine tasting not too far from where we were staying. Lyrarakis Winery gave us a lovely afternoon with refreshing wine and an assortment of cheeses & bread. The staff was knowledgeable and welcoming. We were right at home enjoying the outstanding view of the vineyard. We received a tour after we finished enjoying the wine which was insightful and fascinating. This place felt like “a slice of heaven” with its beauty. I highly recommend visiting them. You can learn more about the winery here.
If you’re looking for a vacation that includes outdoorsy activities, history, exploring, or relaxation with incredible food, Greece is the place to do it. The locals were welcoming and kind to us. The guides were enthusiastic and happy to answer any questions we had. I adore Greece and look forward to exploring it again soon, maybe some island hopping.
Art Basel was an extraordinary experience. I had never attended before, but thankfully, I went with an expert on the whole thing. My friend had worked Art Basel for a couple of years so she knew all of the ins and outs of the event. I enjoyed seeing all of the art especially the “The Great Elephant Migration” on Miami Beach. I love the storytelling of the pieces and how they can bring awareness to certain causes.
I felt like I was walking with the elephants, and we were transported from the beach to their journey onto the next destination. The exhibition was as immersive as it was beautiful. The coolest thing about it is how it’s been displayed in different parts of the world. I love the international, global feel that it has. This piece brings us together as a global community.
I tend to gravitate towards pieces that make you think. The written word is just as provoking as an image. Combine the two together and you’ve got the killer combination that humans have been using to sway opinions for decades. There are times when the two are separated and are just as powerful on their own.
These were a few of my favorites. I like how minimalist these pieces are, using only a few colors to convey the time of day, weather or attitude of scene. We can clearly see which paintings are representing winter and summer. Art Basel’24 was one to remember.
Summer & Autumn, two very different seasons, but gorgeous all the same. I love summertime because it always brings back youthful memories of childhood. It also brings the promise of new adventures to come. Autumn is a season I don’t get to experience since living in South Florida so I had to take advantage of the opportunity to experience it in Chicago. I have a soft spot for Chicago because of my family and friends who live there. It’s always wonderful to spend time with them while exploring a new city. Chicago Deep Dish Pizza is worth the hype. It’s cheesy goodness is so satisfying you don’t realize you’ve finished it. You’re left staring at the empty plate wondering what happened.
Summer (Highlights)
I love how the city has events for Chicagoans to enjoy during the summer season. It truly had a smaller community feel which is unique for a large city. We enjoyed a fabulous picnic while we watched Wonka at Millennium Park. The cities skyline captivated me as the sun went down and the city lights glowed. It was the perfect relaxing summer night.
Of course, I also had to explore Riverwalk, and Margie’s Candies. Our ice cream was unbelievably satisfying on that warm summer afternoon. Margie’s Candies is a must have, and it smells like ice cream heaven. My good friend showed me all around riverwalk and told me all about the architecture which he is really passionate about! I’d never had an interest in it until now and found all the buildings to be really inspiring.
Autumn (Highlights)
My Floridian self was way to excited to see the fall foliage and Halloween decorations. The cooler weather was very much welcomed, and we had the perfect Halloween day & night where it was cold enough for us to be outside during the festivities without having to bundle up. Kids were running all over the neighborhood collecting candy and even found a ghost haunting the park. Adults enjoyed a lovely spiked cider while handing out candy.
Downtown Chicago during the sunset is truly unforgettable. The “golden hour” always makes sure to
The “windy city” definitely got under my skin with its amazing food and awesome shopping. There are so many fun places to check out, and I will have to visit again soon just to get a fraction of them done on the list. I do have to recommend visiting Spilt Milk which creates “classic cocktails with a crafty twist” according to the business description. I am inclined to agree. My friends and I loved the atmosphere with their delicious bar food. Until next time Chicago!
Taylor Swift’s iconic Eras Tour is a phenomenon none of us will forget anytime soon despite the “concert amnesia” fans experienced. Friendships were formed and a heartwarming community grew with Swifties trading friendship bracelets with everyone including concert staff.
I was lucky enough to go twice with two amazing friend groups. Even though I experienced concert amnesia & felt like I’d been hit by a truck once the show was over, the two nights I got to attend are ingrained in my memory. We got to relive parts of our growing up years with Taylor as she performed her life’s work.
Special Moments: We screamed “Cruel Summer” as loud as we could which sent us from the awe of seeing Taylor live to pure concert joy. We started the “Taylor!” chant in our section during the “Champagne Problems” applause. Aaron Dessner unexpected performance with Taylor during “Mad Woman” blew me away. The “Folklore Duo” knows how hold your attention. During “Mean”, Taylor had us clap to the song during the final verse. All you could hear were our voices as we clapped along with Taylor. It was truly unforgettable. Taylor really does know how to make each show she does unique for each audience.
The experience of getting tickets for the show was to put it plainly, a nightmare. Thankfully, we had a few shows ahead, and we knew to prepare for long lines to get merch. My friend from graduate school went ahead and scouted out the place to get the “rare” blue crewneck. We got to the stadium early to secure our place in line and waited a few hours before the merch stand opened. It was hot and sunny. We were sunburned and had a great time bonding over the “Merch War” and “Ticketmaster War.”
Miami Night 2, October 19, 2024
Surprise Songs: “Our Song x I Did Something Bad” & “White Horse x loml”
The tickets were last minute and purchased just a few days before the show. I talked about going with a close friend for weeks. We did our best to “manifest” it, and it happened. Not only that, we were able to go with three other girls. The five of us had a blast. I bought a last minute resale ticket, and they were able to get tickets when Ticketmaster sold last minute tickets unexpectedly Wednesday night without announcement.
Taylor went on stage 13 minutes early. I’m still not sure why, but I’ve heard stories of fellow fans who had to bolt over to their seats when “Applause” came on. Before then, we traded bracelets, took tons of pictures and bonded with fellow Swifties before splitting up to catch Gracie Abrams. She sang beautifully and the “Free Now” bridge has been on repeat in my head. The “Debutation” mashup caused us all to “clown” over when she will release the rest of the re-recordings. TTPD live was ethereal. There’s no other way to put it.
It really is all about the people you go to The Eras Tour with, but the people you meet at The Eras Tour are just as important. I got to sit with some fabulous people. We traded bracelets and danced the whole time. The couple that sat to my left got engaged just few months after this show. I wish them all the happiness in the world. I loved sharing these experiences with all of the people from Tampa N3 & Miami N2. If Taylor wants to tour again, we will all make like “The Bolter” and run for tickets.
This a blog I’m creating to write about travels, lifestyle, adventures and more. I love to take a great deal of photos and videos of these events to “capture it, remember it.” The name of my blog is inspired by my name shortened and combined with the French word Vie (life) along with living it up. La vie en rose (I’m looking at the world through rose colored glasses) or c’est la vie (such is life).
Livvienitup 