TBT: Beach Life

Well, all this frigid Atlanta weather lately has me yearning for the days of my summer vaca. It has me reminiscing about the warm sun and sandy beaches of Panama City, Florida, where my family and I (along with my boyfriend, Brian) went to spend a lovely few days by the sea. Let's take it back to those oh-so fun times...

Upon arrival, the first thing we did was put on our bathing suits and head straight to the beach. I, as usual, tanned for a bit before heading into the water; there's nothing like cooling down in those ocean waves. Later that evening we drove to Pier Park for some yummy Italian ice, which is the perfect treat after a long day at the beach. To top it off, we took a relaxing ride on a vintage-style Ferris wheel, where we were able to see all of PCB! The next day we went to an undeveloped island owned by the Florida State Parks, Shell Island, to go snorkeling. If you haven't gone snorkeling, you should do so as soon as possible. I am so glad we did it! It was like diving into an aquarium, where we could watch and even touch the little schools of fishes. Maybe next time we will try to go scuba diving! We wrapped up the day by eating tons and tons of seafood, specifically platters of blackened shrimp. 

On Saturday, we once again hit the beach. I just love sitting on the soft sand while reading my magazines, soaking up sunshine, and listening to the crashing waves. It was such a relaxing day. That night we drove around town and took some pictures, like tourists tend to do. Afterwards, my dad took us to a fancy restaurant with a stunning beach-front view, all while the sun was setting. We, again, enjoyed our huge plates of delicious seafood. Let me tell you, I have never eaten so much seafood in my life from blackened shrimp to grilled fish. The last full day of our beach vacation had come to an end, though not before we all went out for a few awesome laps of go-kart riding! It featured two spiraled, wooded tower tacks that really added an old school feel to the experience! The final morning, right before the nasty storm came rolling in, Brian and I went to take some final picture; we even took time to have breakfast on the beach. I'm going to miss those waves and sands, but hopefully it won't be long until next time! Overall, I couldn't ask for a better vacation.

Wishful Wednesday: Airbrush System

       Happy Hump Day everyone! Welcome to a new segment on braforme; I introduce to you Wishful Wednesdays! This segment is basically things I want in the future, or things I happen to be randomly day-dreaming about. We've all had those moments where we are window-shopping, and that item we'd just die to own; maybe it's that new Prada bag or,like today's item, an airbrush machine. Every time I start to apply layers of makeup, I always say to myself that I wish I had an airbrush kit! How convenient and awesome would that be? This particular airbrush kit is by Belletto Studio. If you're interested in purchasing this beauty for yourself, it's actually on sale for $150 (I know it's still pricey, but it was originally valued at $380...Yikes). The great thing about it is that it's travel friendly too! What are some items your wishful for lately? 

Birthday Weekend

What a weekend! This girl is officially 25! My birthday weekend went by way too fast (ugh). I started my three day weekend with a little pampering myself and some shopping. Since it was my 25th birthday, I decided to splurge... So, I bought myself a gorgeous new handbag. I walked right into the Michael Kors store (like my own little slice of Heaven), and there it was: gold, sparkly, and made for me... The color of the purse goes perfectly with majority of my outfits; even some metallics can be used as a neutral tones. After shopping, I went home to keep up my yearly tradition of having a home spa treatment. As the day wore on, I got myself dolled-up for dinner with my boyfriend. We went to a wonderful Persian restaurant in Decatur, GA; the best part about the place was that it sort of mixed elements of the South with a Persian twist, just like me! Afterwards, we headed to the Sundial Lounge atop the massive Westin Hotel in downtown Atlanta. The glass elevator ride up more than 70 floors gave us the most breathtaking view of the night skyline. After taking some pictures from the observation decks, it was on to dessert and drinks. It was a wonderful date, and the perfect end to the first day of my birthday weekend. 

On the day of my birthday, my bestie, Lids, and I went to L'occitane (they're known nationally for having the best line of natural skin care products). I figured that, since I'm getting closer to my 30's, this would be the best time to invest in a great skin care line. So I did, and it was a great decision. Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice date with our former boss, Jentay, at True Foods Kitchen. This place is well known for their always-fresh selection of organic dishes. We ordered our drinks and started off the date by chit-chatting away. Later that day, Lids and I decided to get a blow out to spruce up our hair. Finally, the night my birthday had arrived, and the true celebration was set to begin! We all got dressed to the nines, and made way to one of Atlanta's hottest entertainment restaurants, Lips. Words can't even begin to describe how fun this place was!!! Lips was definitely the highlight of my B-day celebration. The following morning, the girls and I packed our things and went to Flying Biscuit for brunch (hello eggs Benedict, we meet again). The afternoon had arrived, and my momma totally surprised me by baking my favorite cake: cherry cheesecake. Ending my weekend with the fam was the icing on the cake (pun intended, haha). I really enjoyed my weekend, and all of the lovely birthday wishes I received. Love y'all, and hope you have a fabulous week planned!