That's right - B from the Sequin Notebook is here. B and her best gal, M, throw the best parties, have the best cocktail recipes and are always sparkling. She's also got me seriously considering adding another destination to my bucket list that I never thought of adding before.
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| M and B from The Sequin Notebook |
Hey Gals! I'm B (that's me in the gold top!), and I blog over at The Sequin Notebook with my best friend M. We hope you'll come over and visit us soon!
When Christina asked us to join in her summer vacation series, my mind immediately went to my upcoming trip to Punta Cana - I cannot wait to spend all day lounging on the beach with a frosty cocktail in hand! I'll be jetting off to Punta Cana with my boyfriend T but my first trip there was with M 10 (!) years ago, so I've been reminiscing about the good times we had there along with some of my other favorite trips...
Best Vacation
I've been lucky enough to travel all over the world, so it's really difficult to narrow down my best vacation! I've had amazing nights that turned into mornings in Vegas with M and some of my other best girlfriends, I rode a donkey in Greece, I spent a summer by the Irish shore, I over-ate my way through Italy, and I've soaked up the sun in Cancun. If I have to pick just one vacation to call my best, it would have to be...
JAPAN!
I spent two weeks with my family in Tokyo and Sendai several years ago when my little brother was spending a semester abroad there.
It's such a beautiful country with a very rich history, yet it's also on the cutting-edge of technology.
Japan was completely unlike anywhere else I've ever traveled in my life, and since we spent such a long time there, we were able to get pretty immersed in the local culture. Plus, it was great to have so much quality time with my family in these unfamiliar surroundings!
I've been lucky enough to travel all over the world, so it's really difficult to narrow down my best vacation! I've had amazing nights that turned into mornings in Vegas with M and some of my other best girlfriends, I rode a donkey in Greece, I spent a summer by the Irish shore, I over-ate my way through Italy, and I've soaked up the sun in Cancun. If I have to pick just one vacation to call my best, it would have to be...
JAPAN!
I spent two weeks with my family in Tokyo and Sendai several years ago when my little brother was spending a semester abroad there.
It's such a beautiful country with a very rich history, yet it's also on the cutting-edge of technology.
Japan was completely unlike anywhere else I've ever traveled in my life, and since we spent such a long time there, we were able to get pretty immersed in the local culture. Plus, it was great to have so much quality time with my family in these unfamiliar surroundings!
Dream Vacation Location
If I could snap my fingers and teleport anywhere in the world right now, I'd go to Spain! Not only could I brush up on my high school Spanish, but Spain provides my ideal vacation activity mix - plenty of beach time (look at that gorgeous Ibiza photo!) but also lots of cultural sightseeing. Has anyone ever been there before?
If I could snap my fingers and teleport anywhere in the world right now, I'd go to Spain! Not only could I brush up on my high school Spanish, but Spain provides my ideal vacation activity mix - plenty of beach time (look at that gorgeous Ibiza photo!) but also lots of cultural sightseeing. Has anyone ever been there before?
Favorite Vacation Activity
For me, vacation is the ultimate time for relaxation, which means that I'm happy as long as I've got the sun shining on my (sunscreen-protected) face and a refreshing beverage in my hand - no other activities necessary!
For me, vacation is the ultimate time for relaxation, which means that I'm happy as long as I've got the sun shining on my (sunscreen-protected) face and a refreshing beverage in my hand - no other activities necessary!
Packing Must Haves
What's the best side dish for a vacation cocktail? Some juicy reading material, of course! My suitcase is never completely packed until I load it up with some novels and trashy celebrity magazines. I usually borrow Kindle books from my local library but it's hard to read from that screen in the sunshine, so vacation is when I splurge on purchasing actual, physical books. I compiled a list of my ultimate summer beach reads last year and the year before that, so now I'm on the hunt for new books to bring with me to Punta Cana - any recommendations?
What's the best side dish for a vacation cocktail? Some juicy reading material, of course! My suitcase is never completely packed until I load it up with some novels and trashy celebrity magazines. I usually borrow Kindle books from my local library but it's hard to read from that screen in the sunshine, so vacation is when I splurge on purchasing actual, physical books. I compiled a list of my ultimate summer beach reads last year and the year before that, so now I'm on the hunt for new books to bring with me to Punta Cana - any recommendations?
A staycation/vacation in my hometown
Even when I'm not able to plan a big trip, I can still have an exciting vacation in my own backyard since I live in the best city in the world...New York City!
There is something for every kind of traveler in NYC. You can do the classic tourist things like visiting the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, you can plan a suburban city day by packing a picnic and throwing a Frisbee around Central Park, you can take a relaxing subway ride around the island, see a Broadway show, eat at world-class restaurants...the possibilities are seriously endless! I'm so lucky to be right in the midst of a major vacation destination - I just wish I had more time to take advantage of all this city has to offer!
Even when I'm not able to plan a big trip, I can still have an exciting vacation in my own backyard since I live in the best city in the world...New York City!
There is something for every kind of traveler in NYC. You can do the classic tourist things like visiting the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, you can plan a suburban city day by packing a picnic and throwing a Frisbee around Central Park, you can take a relaxing subway ride around the island, see a Broadway show, eat at world-class restaurants...the possibilities are seriously endless! I'm so lucky to be right in the midst of a major vacation destination - I just wish I had more time to take advantage of all this city has to offer!
And now for a little travel pop quiz...
Carry on OR check your bags? Up until my recent trip to Atlanta, I would have selected "checking bags" but there was something very liberating about carrying on!
International OR domestic? International!
Sightseeing OR beach lounging? Beach lounging ALL THE WAY!
Overpacking – Yes OR No? I say YES - it's always good to have options!
Your bag gets lost – what are the first three things you wish you put in the carry on?
1) Mascara
2) Sunscreen
3) A bikini!
1) Mascara
2) Sunscreen
3) A bikini!
Thanks for Christina for inviting us to indulge in some travel wanderlust today! Hope to see you over at The Sequin Notebook soon - you can check us out on any of our social media channels:
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WOW! You've really been to some amazing places!! So awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love to travel and explore new places :)
DeleteWhat Alice Forgot is the best book I've read this summer so far, hands down! I also love anything by Mary Kay Andrews :) Your Japan trip looks amazing, B!!
ReplyDeleteGood to know, I will check them out! Thanks for the recs!
DeleteTotally agree that I am happy on the beach with drink in hand… no need for me to do a ton of activities on vacation!! I am coming to NYC in November, might get in touch soon for restaurant recommendations! Xoxo
ReplyDeletePlease do, I'm always happy to share some NYC love! And if you have a free minute to grab a cocktail, I'd love to meet up :)
DeleteMy husband went to Japan earlier this year for work and he loved it! He kept on commenting on how clean the cities were and how wonderful all the food was! And I would love to live in NYC because like you said there's just so much to see and do and eat!
ReplyDeleteYes, the cities are totally immaculate - no litter or graffiti!
DeleteJapan definitely seems like it would be an awesome trip, but I would take Spain over Japan in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you...on the beach, drink in hand, soaking up the rays. Yes!
My Punta Cana countdown is now officially in single digits, so I'll be on that beach soon enough...can't wait!!!
DeleteHoly cow, so many amazing places! I have never thought about going to Japan, but after reading how much you enjoyed it after seeing so many other places, it is defintely on the radar!
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful country - I probably wouldn't have thought to go there either if I wasn't going to visit my brother, but I'm so glad he gave me an excuse to go!
DeleteI love this post!! Also I always forget you're a shorty like me until I see a full length pic!
ReplyDeleteHaha yes, we are both in the same (tiny!) boat!
DeleteI would love to visit Spain, but I'd also love to see NYC. Maybe someday! :)
ReplyDeleteIf you're ever out this way, I'm always happy to provide NYC recommendations!
DeleteJapan sounds so cool and Punta Cana sounds amazing as well! I haven't been to NYC since 8th grade but I would love to go back sometime!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to go back to Japan someday...it's just so hard to make a return trip when there are still so many other wonderful places out there to explore!
DeleteGreat post! Spain is next on my list too :)
ReplyDeleteYES! We must make it happen!
DeleteAwesome tips B!! And loving your pics from Japan, definitely somewhere I hope to get to in the coming years! And YAY for international travel! Have an amazing time in Punta Cana <3
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kate! I'm beyond excited for Punta Cana, it can't get here soon enough!
DeleteJapan sounds amazing!!
ReplyDeleteIt definitely exceeded all of my expectations...I had the best time!
DeleteYou have been some fabulous places, lady! I'd be curious about the food in Japan, as well. How fun! And cheers to your musts of a cocktail and sun on any vacay;)
ReplyDeleteThe food was delicious! I am not a seafood person so unfortunately there were many local dishes I was unable to try, but everything I did have was very tasty!
DeleteYou've gone on some amazing trips! Japan sounds like an awesome place to explore with family! Jealous of your upcoming Punta Cana trip! I think that was my favorite vacation spot to date. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteIt was really great to be with family in Japan because we were able to help each other out in finding our way, and at least my brother was able to read/speak the language since I was clueless!
Delete