Author: Anastacia

Thermal Pool Therapy at Refuge Spa – Carmel, CA

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*Featured photo courtesy of SFGATE I’ve been to many different spas in the last few years, but nothing quite like “The Refuge” in Carmel, CA. Tucked away in the beautiful mountains and lush greenery of Northern California is a therapeutic silent oasis. My husband and I were graciously given gift certificates as a wedding gift  to experience the healing powers of this unique spa. Here’s what you can expect when visiting “The Refuge”… To make the most out of your trip, arrive early and book a treatment. Our gift certificates included entry and a massage. When you first arrive, you’ll check-in at the front desk where the spa staff will greet you with your locker key, tip envelope (if you’re getting massage service) and a brochure on the spa. If it is your first time, you’ll be given the option to have an orientation of the spa and how the thermal cycles work best to maximize health benefits during your stay. Since the spa is “silent,” it’s encouraged to leave all of your electronics in your locker. This message was …

Santorini Travel Guide

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This post has been a long time coming and is the last part of our honeymoon. As always, I like to plan all of our trips with the best for last and of course in Greece, that means Santorini! It is one of the most beautiful and picturesque landscapes of the 70+  islands. About an hour flight from Athens and a 2-hour ferry ride from Mykonos, it’s a stop you simply can’t miss. My husband and I chose to take the ferry and were not disappointed. Our hotel (Sophia Luxury Suites), arranged transportation for us at the port upon arrival. It was a 20-minute drive up the rocky crescent shaped caldera through Fira (the capital) into Imerovigli, the highest village on the island. We debated whether we wanted to stay in Oia, another popular town for vacationers or Imerovigli, which is quieter and has more boutique hotels. We ultimately ended up choosing Imerovigli because it was central and gave us a fantastic 90% view of the unique crescent shaped island. It was also a peaceful area for honeymooners! …

Creating Your 2016 Vision Board

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I started the beginning of the year with a 21-day “Daniel Fast,” a spiritual fast based on scripture Daniel 10:13 (and Daniel 1:8). The goal and purpose of the fast is to seek a closer relationship with God by detoxing your physical body from self-gratifying food and drinks. No meat, dairy, white flour carbohydrates, alcohol, caffeine or unnatural sugar can be consumed during the fast. It’s a great way to begin the new year in prayer and strengthen your faith as you set focus for the year ahead. I am on Day 19 in this fast as I write this post and I’ve felt so much change in my heart and outlook toward 2016. I’ve gotten to a point where I feel like I can live in “my moments” instead of worrying about what’s ahead — which has always been something I’ve struggled with. Every year, I create a “Vision Board” for myself for the year ahead. I have practiced writing down my goals each year since high school. I have seen MANY of the goals that …

Mykonos Travel Guide

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Our second stop on our Greece honeymoon destination was Mykonos! It is known as the “party island” and “Greece’s answer to Ibiza.” Their high season is May – August, with July being the most popular month for partygoers. Clubs stay open until 7am and some even 10am. Since we came in early October, we avoided much of the touristy crowded streets and bars. However it was just enough to appreciate the liveliness and beauty of the island. Here are the details from our trip! MYKONOS, GREECE Airline: Aegean Airlines (30 minute flight from Athens) Transportation: Taxi to the hotel and our hotel provided transportation to the city each night (5 minute ride from our hotel). Hotel: Cavo Tagoo Mykonos (Gorgeous! I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend this hotel). The hotel is seasonal and only open May – October. Trip  length: 2 nights (but definitely stay 3 – at least!) SIGHTSEEING: Chora (Mykonos Town): Much of Mykonos sightseeing can be done in or close to the “Chora” which is Mykonos Town. It is where …

Athens Travel Guide

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I’m so excited to be blogging about my honeymoon adventure! Greece has been on my travel bucket list for a very long time. The beautiful pictures I saw online beforehand of the high cliffs and gorgeous sunsets were truly breathtaking and highly persuasive! When my fiancé and I first started planning our honeymoon, I was set on Bora Bora (French Polynesia). The over-water bungalows and white sands had been my dream for years! What prompted our decision to go to Greece was the amazing trip we took to Europe last year (France and Italy)!  I loved that we had the mixture of both adventure and relaxation. It was the exact adventure I was up for after marrying my best friend. Check out the trip recap from our honeymoon vacation in Athens below… ATHENS, GREECE Airline: Delta/Atalia My favorite airline booking website to compare airlines prices is Cheapoair.com. We’ve booked many international flights using this site. However, this time we booked through Delta (due to points) which tends to be a bit pricier. However, we had a …

Australian Travel Guide

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I recently had the wonderful opportunity to visit Sydney, Australia! It has been on my travel list for a long time. The city is rich and diverse in topography. I spent a total of 4 days in the country, but wish I could’ve stayed longer. Although it was Australia’s winter time (70 degrees Fahrenheiht with the sun out), it did not stop me from enjoying my time and exploring as much as I could. As a bonus, it was their annual light festival called “VIVID” in which prominent buildings around the city are lit up with colorful light show displays (including the famous Darling Harbor and Sydney Opera House). Some of the highlights of my trip included: City Center and Queen Victoria Building – We stayed at The Westin hotel in the center of downtown Sydney. It was a great location because it was walking distance to most of the main attractions in the city (The Harbor, Opera House, Capitol Theater, Queen Victoria Building and Hyde Park). On our first day there, I explored all of downtown. …

My “Big Hats and High Tea” Bridal Shower

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This past weekend, my friends and family threw the cutest AND classiest bridal shower for me. The theme was “Big Hats and High Tea.” It was so fun and perfect for my personality because I love dressing up and have always wanted to pull out my inner Kate Middleton and rock a fabulous fascinator hat! Also, most people who know me know that I LOVE tea! Take a look at the pictures from my shower below: A BIG THANK YOU to all my friends and family members who helped in putting this together and also for attending. I had a blast!!!   #AnaMarWedding  

GREENS (San Francisco)

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If you’re looking for a delicious healthy restaurant and great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, you MUST try… Greens Restaurant in San Francisco. Located in Fort Mason, is one of the best vegetarian/vegan restaurants I have ever tried! It’s best to come in around lunchtime on a clear day so you can get a beautiful clear view of the bay. There is a $15 minimum but it’s easy to spend that amount here between an entrée and appetizer. The menu is seasonal and can change from week to week, but between the 6 dishes we tried, everything was good…really, really good! Our main dishes were all made-to-order and were very fresh. Below are the items that we ordered on my recommendation list! Fresh Spring Rolls (w/ carrots, jicama, daikon, cabbage, jalepeños, Hodo Soy tofu, rice noodles, Thai basil and mint). It’s served with peanut sauce and grilled beech mushroom-radish salad – $12 Yellow Split Pea and Butternut Squash Soup w/ kale and Arbequina olive oil – $8 cup $9 bowl. SO GOOD, go for …

Protect Your Skin this Summer

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One thing I’ve always been adamant about since high school is protecting my skin! I started seeing a dermatologist pretty young and wearing sunblock  everyday was the best advice she gave me. Sunscreen simply and effectively helps block your skin from the sun’s UV radiation that will otherwise increase its risk for melanoma (skin cancer), cause pre-mature aging and other general damage like (wrinkles, sunspots, etc.). In switching my products to more natural ones, I was happy to discover COOLA, an organic suncare line. The product is sold conveninetly at Target and also on Amazon.com. I am a huge fan of ‘user reviews’ and before I purchase any product online (or even in stores), I always check reviews from real people. It’s also another reason why I started my blog to give honest feedback and of course inspiration. COOLA, had great reviews on many of their products on Amazon. I decided to try the COOLA Sun Care Sport SPF 45 for my body. This product is great because it’s protective, organic and safe for my …