throwback thursday: duck bill bikini.

since florida's spiny lobster season kicked off this week, it's only fitting that today's #tbt - or as we dubbed with last week's launch on facebook, #mff - is a blast from the past from one of my family's many weekend trips to the florida keys.

as you can see here, i was certainly a bronze beach baby. i practically grew up on my dad's boat, and in addition to being able to water ski, snorkel and fish better than i can now, i apparently also had better style.

first of all, i wore bikinis, which was a little edgy for kids back then...and yes, those are duck bills with faces on the top of this one. i remember it was a christmas gift from my mom's cousin. only in the palm beaches would that work! i kind of want the adult version of this now, except i think people may not be as amused by it as when i wore it as a child.

besides the swimsuit, i also apparently had super cool oversized reflective wayfarers (which were probably actually my dad's) and mini pink and navy thong sandals. ahhh those were the days.

beauty, brains + balance.

growing up, athletics did not come naturally to me. i'm super clumsy, often tripping over my own feet - or others' - and even getting a concussion at discovery zone (remember that place?!) by running into a tube when i was nine years old.

my incredibly bendy little sis, on the other hand, is so much more graceful and balanced than me. case in point? this pic:

she looks so carelessly cool in perfect pose on this floating yoga mat of sorts, looking like she was practically born that way without any fear she'll topple over into the water. 

and she even knows how to properly style an outfit for headstands on a yogaboard in the middle of the water too, so you know i'm proud. she's wearing her new favorite workout apparel - nike pro print compression shorts - which she wears to run, spin, yoga, trx or practically anything these days. i'm tempted to get a pair too, like this playful pattern sure to make a statement from dick's sporting goods:

while i'm still uncertain about trying yogaboarding, she claims that flexing and posing on a paddle board is not so difficult, thanks to the boga yoga stand-up paddle boards. 

want to try it yourself? if you missed it last night, blueline paddle surf, just across from the iconic lighthouse in sunny jupiter, offers a number of classes and rentals. this was taken during a yow class (yoga on water) tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. the cost is $10 per person or $5 if you byob...b for "board," not "beer," people. even cheaper than a regular yoga class...pretty good deal, if you ask me!

bandage bikini.

it's only halfway through the week and i'm already dreaming about the beach. i'd obviously rather be lounging in the sand near the ocean than sitting at a desk all day, but that's not the real reason i'm longing for the weekend. mostly, it's because i can't wait to wear my new bandage bikini again. 

i first spotted this beauty last summer on the website for h&m, but could sadly never find it in stores. lucky for me, i surprisingly spotted the sexy swimwear this year - in a much better mix of neutral with a pop of neon, might i add - during a trip to the store for printed pants. obviously i scooped it up.

it's not too skimpy but still looks stylish with the crossed and layered fabric. it reminds me of herve leger dresses, tricking me into thinking i'm wearing something more expensive than a $17.95 top.

so until this weekend when i can bring the swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses and towel back into my schedule, i'll be day-dreaming about scenes like this...

 

bacon bloody marys anyone?

fashion week: MIA for MI

i admit it, i'm a sucker for free stuff. but aren't we all? 

that being said, i've never been attracted to the kitschy logoed key chains, press-on acrylic nails, cheap faux eyelashes and over-the-counter brand shampoo samples that typically come in swag bags and just take up space in my garage until the latest green bag of outdated clothes can be taken to goodwill. if it's crap, i don't want it...free or not. which is why the mia tiki stand and "shoe check" at mercedes-benz fashion week on friday was all the more genius.

 
since i'm offering full disclosure already, i'll also admit that of the nearly 100 pairs that i own (yes, i said "nearly" - trying to scale back recently), i didn't own a pair of mia shoes yet. but after this weekend, i think it's safe to say that has changed and will continue to.

while hanging out by the pool in between fashion shows, our lovely guides from img told me about a way cool pr promotion via mia shoes. because it was difficult for those of us in heels - which was probably about 90 percent of guests - to walk in the sand-lined "oasis" show tent, the mia girls set up shop in a tiki hut outside to assist. complete with cute branded beach bags to hold the heels, they offered a complimentary pair of espadrilles in a range of colors and patterns to anyone who checked in with them and "liked" their facebook page, which of course my friends and i took advantage of.

i loved the promo not only for its marketing value (i'm blogging about it, so it worked for publicity, and the facebook "like" brought me see some stylishly hot wedges of theirs that i normally would have missed), but also because i have a new pair of summery khaki flats perfect for days by the beach...which i proudly wore to a seaside lunch after an ocean swim on saturday...

mia shoes espadrilles with an old abercrombie & fitch floral dress, 

a few bracelets and sunglasses from locals surf shop at juno beach.

sunset at sailfish.

as a palm beach county native, sailfish marina has always been one of my favorite places. i practically grew up on the boat there, later learning to fish, dock a boat and drink a beer with my dad all within the slips right there on singer island. the memories from the sunset celebration - a.k.a. sunset at sailfish - along the docks every thursday evening started even earlier, with my mom selling her handmade jewelry and fish and bubble-embellished children's clothing among the other artists and crafters back in the 80s.

it was those memories that swarmed back in tonight as the family and our friends headed back for a summer sunset after work. we started with grouper dogs and the art festival's classic "orange crush" cocktail before checking out the vendors. that's when two cute little kids walked up with this perfect sale pitch off the back of their dad's boat.

 

while i didn't want to look like a tourist wearing a haiwain lay hawaiian-style lei in florida, there was no way i could say no to these adorably determined faces, selling leis made from frangipanis, fishing line and hooks for only $1.50.

my sister and friend maria got the first two readymade floral necklaces, and the boys made sure to give me these bonus gifts while i waited as they made mine:

i proudly wore the final product all over that marina.

to go back earlier in the night, it wasn't all about the flowers. while waiting for my family and friends to arrive before hitting the art show, i took a stop in the the ship store i knew so well growing up.

although i'm not usually into the tropical clothes that are typical of beachy florida, i have to say, the sailfish shop has come a long way from all those tommy bahama clothes from 10 years ago...

"just for fun" by jams world, $80.

expensive for a sundress, but this is just one of the few prints and patterns that stuck out to me from this brand.

sealife medallion straw clutch, bag lady by mudpie, $35.

very palm beach-chic, lined in none other than hot pink and a gold sea shell.

i snapped a picture of these friendship bracelets too, because the buyers for the shop probably have no idea just how "on trend" they are right now by selling these, which are most likely meant for kids.

have you been to sunset at sailfish before? what are your favorite parts? i didn't get into the vendors tonight since many didn't show up due to rain earlier in the day, but we'd love to hear your thoughts about them in the comments below.