2022 Resort Shopping Guide
📍St. Pete, Florida

Dress || Similar Sandals || Tote Bag || Straw Hat || Earrings || Bracelet

This is a sequel to one of my favorite blog posts from last year, a 2021 Resort Shopping Guide. Living in Florida, we’re pretty fortunate to have vacation-like weather for most of the year. It brings visitors from the northern states in the “harsh” winter months. Partnering with Cabana Life, one of my favorite women-owned companies seemed like the perfect opportunity to round up my favorite Resort Trends for the year 2022. Happy shopping!

Sun Protective Dresses

My love for Cabana Life is no secret! If you plan on jetting off to somewhere sunny this Spring Break, I highly recommend packing a dress or two from their collection. Each is embedded with UPF 50+ to help your skin be healthy and sunburn-free. Better still, they offer a rainbow of different patterns in almost countless styles. There’s a perfect piece for every member of your family.

Woven Straw Tote Bag

The first thing I grab to get ready for a beach vacation is my oversized rattan tote bag. It makes for a surprisingly great carry-on and holds whatever you need. About this time last year, I brought mine on our trip to Harbour Island. From wandering around the resort to scootering to another part of the island, it was incredibly practical. 

Raffia Earrings

Raffia earrings are here to stay! I loved them last year, and I still love them today. The biggest difference in 365 days is the size. Raffia earrings seem to be even bolder than their 2021 counterpart. Because the material is so naturally light, you can truly make a huge statement without sacrificing your ears. These earrings from St. Armands Designs are favorites that I wear as often as the occasion allows. 

Natural Inspired Sandals

It seems, each year I treat myself to a new pair of sandals. Since they are my number one shoe, I wear them almost every day, and they take a beating. The must-have pair for the year is this raffia pair from Carrie Forbes sandals. I get compliments each time I wear them, and they’ve been holding up so well! When finding a beach sandal, I recommend something that can be dressed up or down, just in case you opt for dinner afterward.

A Grand-Millennial Sun Hat

Do you want an additional piece of protection from the sun? How about an oversized straw hat! It’s incredible how much they help, even with the sunscreen and sunglasses. Last year, I splurged on this beautiful work of art from Sarah Bray Bermuda, and it was such a great investment! They are so many different styles to choose from. Plus, you can pick from a rainbow of ribbons (including vintager florals) to create a hat that perfectly fits your style! 

Retro Inspired Sunglasses

Just like skincare, your eye health isn’t something to be taken lightly. That’s why, when I go to the beach, I say the bigger, the better! These cat-eye J. Crew specs have been my most used pair of sunglasses for years. They give off an updated Jackie O vibe. I love them so much, I have them in both tortoise and black.

Personalized Beach Towels

And don’t leave home without it! Your beach towel will wear so many hats on your day out to the sand and surf: blanket, hair wrap, coverup, and the list goes on! Weezie makes the closest thing you’ll find to the perfect beach towel. It’s soft and plush but somehow isn’t a magnet for all the sand you could pick up along the way. As a great alternative that is so much easier to pack, I can’t wait to start carrying around my new Julia Amory Pareo for whenever the mood strikes! Please visit the blog later this week to see how I style the latest addition to my wardrobe. 

Vacation Worthy Reads

Although I’m typically partial to biographies on incredible women, I’m trying to sprinkle in more lighthearted novels. So far into 2022, I’ve been doing a pretty good job of that! I have a long list of beach reads to pack along inside my rattan tote bag for my next vacation. One that I’ve heard so many great things about is aptly named Beach Read. It’s the top recommendation, and I can’t wait to have it on my bookshelf. 

As the weather begins to warm up, be sure to treat yourself by filling your closet with new vacation-ready pieces. Find the joy in shopping for new destinations. Don’t forget to book an incredible trip along the way. Happy travels!

Love from Florida,
Katie

Thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Shop Small for Valentine’s Day
📍 St. Pete, Florida

Similar Dress || Wedges || Handbag || Earrings || Lip Color

Apart from Christmas, Valentine’s Day is one of the top gift-giving days of the year. It’s when you can extend a gift as a way to say I Love You. Instead of exchanging, David and I always opt for a dinner out and one of our favorite restaurants around St. Pete. If you’re shopping around this Valentine’s Day, I highly recommend shopping with small businesses. Recently, this has been a primary focus, and I plan to continue in 2022 and beyond. Here’s a quick roundup of some of my favorite small businesses and what they offer for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. 

Weezie Towels

The Weezie Beach Towel is the kind of Valentine’s Day gift that I would use so frequently! Your beach towel will wear so many hats on your day out to the sand and surf: blanket, hair wrap, coverup, and the list goes on! Weezie makes the closest thing you’ll find to the perfect beach towel. It’s soft and plush, but somehow isn’t a magnet for all the sand you could pick up along the way. Embroidery it with a sweet message that’s just right for the holiday.

St. Armands Designs

Jewelry always makes for such a fantastic gift. That’s especially true when you find a woman-owned small business with so much coastal flare. St. Armands Designs offer so many incredible earrings that make a statement. For Valentine’s Day, I always wear my pink beaded earrings. I know that’s not everyone’s choice, so be sure to look at her beautiful pearl pieces as well. 

The Tiny Tassel

The Tiny Tassel is a Charleston-based company from owner Mimi Striplin. She is such a ray of sunshine on my Instagram feed. While she’s started with darling tassel earrings, she’s expanded to an entire collection of gifts, accessories, and even handmade garments. For a sweet little Valentine’s Day gift, take a look at their holiday shop, especially these fun Charlotte Earrings.

Kiel James Patrick

I couldn’t help but include several Kiel James Patrick pieces in my shopping guide. As I was exploring, each item was more precious than the last. I’m itching to get this Mother of Pearl ring for myself! My favorite, though, is this beautifully embroidered sweater. It comes in this pristine shade of ivory, as well as a more versatile navy. 

Sarah Bray Bermuda

When you live in the Florida sun, it’s important to have an army of sun hats on hand. Writer Sarah Bray-West recently moved to Bermuda, one of my favorite destinations, and launched a sustainable collection of sunhats to match. Each hat comes with a set of grosgrain ribbons so you can feel like you have a completely different look every time. The Hibiscus Red ribbon will be a spot-on match for any outdoor Valentine’s Day activity. 

Lake Pajamas

Lake Pajamas are the softest things around and perfect for Valentine’s Day! The 100% Pima Cotton feels softer than a cloud and is great for lounging, or more accurately. I have a few pairs, and it’s actually an effort not to wear them 24/7. I can already see my loved ones, or even myself in this Long-Short Set. If that’s not your own mom’s style, be sure to take a look at everything they offer. 

Pamela Munson

If I was magically turned into a handbag, I would probably look like a Pamela Munson handbag. Each season, when she unveils a new collection, I fall in love with each and every piece. Inspired by childhood trips to Florida and the Bahamas, each bag looks specially made for a tropical getaway! More importantly, the materials used are ethically and sustainably sourced.

Sunshine Style

My friend on the East Coast of Florida, Katie, has created the sweetest little Etsy shop called Sunshine Style. I’m so happy to see it grow! She makes a cute collection of coordinating masks and scrunchies. With so many pastel pinks in stripes and ginghams, it’s hard to pick one headband to add to your rotation.

Breck and Grier

You all probably know my penchant for straw bags. I think they are the perfect summertime accessory and make for an even better gift. Breck and Grier was created to bring Moroccan straw bags to the masses. They can be personalized to match the style of your mom, grandma, or any woman in your life. Recently, they launched a Valentine’s Day collection that is perfect to wear year-round!

Sarah Flint

What can I say about Sarah Flint that hasn’t already been said? This thoughtful, woman-owned company offers some of the most amazing shoes on the market today. Everything about them was designed with a busy, modern woman in mind. The quality, the support, and the style are individually reason enough to invest. This particular pair of Perfect Emma heels would be perfect to wear for Valentine’s Day date night. 

Hellenic Aesthetic

I went to high school with the owner of Hellenic Aesthetic, Marianthi. She beautifully showcases her Greek heritage by showcasing Greece-based designers. One of her latest collections is Valentine’s t-shirts that you could wear all year round. A red tee says “I Love You” in Greek (σ’αγαπώ), while the white tee says “My Love” (αγάπη μου). Both are amazingly comfortable and a great way to sprinkle the Greek Isles into your everyday life. 

Estelle Colored Glass

Stephanie, founder and owner, is inspired by her grandma, who loved antiquing through South Carolina. From stemware to cake stands, her glass pieces are absolutely stunning and come in a rainbow of colors. It seems like a loving nod to dinner parties from years ago when the tablescape was everything. I can’t decide between the wine glasses or the champagne coupes, which pales in comparison to actually picking a color. For Valentine’s Day, this rose-colored flute glass set would be just what you need for an evening for two. 

While our own Valentine’s Day plans have yet to be made, I feel incredibly thankful to have David in my life. If you’re single, be sure to take the day to celebrate the most important person in your life… Yourself! Self care, especially this year, should be maintained and nurtured. If that includes a little self-gifting, by all means, shop away!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Monogrammed Towel || Pink Statement Earrings || Fuchsia Dangle Earrings || Embroidered Sweater || Straw Sunhat || Pajama Set || Embroidered Clutch || Striped Headband || Custom Straw Handbag || Floral Heels || Greek T-Shirt || Champagne Flute Set