Hello beautiful friends! In today’s video, I share with you special memories of warm and beautiful days we spent in Paris last year. I was so grateful to be back in this magical city with Alexa and our moms! Alex found the most amazing Air BnB, literally facing the garden where Eiffel Tower is, so we woke up every morning to the best view of charming Paris. I will always be inspired by this eternally stylish city. Hence already planning our next trip there...
Much Love,
xx
Mimi
Hello my beautiful friends! As you know Alex and I were really surprised by how much we enjoyed Miami when last visited in 2015, so I was super excited to be visiting again for a longer period of time. I’m so glad we returned, as I found myself falling in love with Miami more and more with every day that passed!
The vibe in Miami is amazing with beautiful palm tree-lined beaches, incredible sunrises and sunsets, and glorious warm weather. It was a big change to the snow we left behind in Toronto!
Here is a guide for your trip that consists of places we've discovered on our two visits to Miami. It will help you make the most of your time in Miami.
WHERE TO EAT
The food scene in Miami is really buzzing and thanks to Alex, he made sure that we visited all the best ‘foodie’ places in town! Make sure to book all the below restaurants well in advance as they are very popular.
Byblos is actually originally from our hometown Toronto. It was one of our favourites in Toronto so it was amazing to see it here. It serves great modern Middle Eastern food in a vibrant space.
We loved the original Le Sirenuse in one of our favourite destinations in the world - Positano, Italy (see my Positano travel guide here) - so we were very excited to try its Miami outpost! We enjoyed breakfast here which was delicious. It’s also a truly lovely setting in the beautiful Four Season Hotel.
Alex and I don’t watch TV, however we make an exception for one show: Chef’s Table on Netflix! The best episode focuses on Argentine chef Francis Mallman (see it here) so his Miami restaurant Los Fuegos in the Faena Hotel was a must visit for us. We loved this restaurant and all the amazing flavours. Be sure to not skip the desserts! ;)
We really enjoyed our experience at the new Miami Beach hotspot, Stubborn Seed. The chef, Jeremy Ford, who was actually the winner of the Top Chef TV show a couple of years ago, focuses on fresh ingredients and turning them into stunning works of culinary art. We had an amazing dinner here! The food was really high quality with very unique flavours.
The exciting South Florida outpost of chef Justin Smillie’s smash-hit New York City restaurant, Upland introduces Smillie’s California-inspired culinary philosophy to South Beach. The restaurant had a great vibe, with really delicious modern American cuisine. We can’t wait to try the New York site when we’re next in the Big Apple!
Latin influences can be found throughout Miami, and at Matador Room, Jean- Georges Vongerichten offers his modern, distinctive interpretation of Spanish, Caribbean and South American flavours. It’s set within the beautiful EDITION hotel and also offers great outdoor seating for breakfast, lunch or dinner, with beachfront views. We found the selection of food on offer to be fantastic, so we would highly recommend visiting if you’re in town.
And finally, if you’re venturing out of South Beach and into Wynwood, then I would highly recommend visiting Kyu. We loved this Asian-fusion restaurant and shared delicious small plates from its wood-fired grill.
WHERE TO STAY
We loved our stay at 1 Hotel South Beach on this latest visit. We were familiar with the hotel brand as we stayed at 1 Hotel Central Park in New York a few years ago and we’re big supporters of their concept. Inspired by nature, 1 Hotels blends the best of eco-conscious design and sustainable architecture, together with luxury and amazing service. The whole place smells incredible and I even bought their candle to bring a bit of the 1 Hotel back home to London!
Their healthy cafe PLNTHOUSE was great for healthy food, juices and smoothies.
The main pool is on an elevated plaza which puts the ocean at mesmerising eye level and there’s even a small rooftop pool - great for sunset views! It has its own beach area which is very kid-friendly, with even an area to build sandcastles!
Another great place to stay on Miami Beach is Soho Beach House, where our new assistant Emma stayed on a recent visit. It’s the Miami outpost of the London creative members’ club Soho House. Housed in a restored Art Deco building, it gives you the feeling of ‘old Miami’ but with all the amenities of a contemporary hotel. Many areas are open only to club members and hotel guests, which gives a feeling of exclusivity. During the day, hang out at the private beach club and by night, dine at the onsite restaurant Cecconi’s, which serves delicious modern Venetian style food and in a beautifully lit courtyard.
THINGS TO DO
GROCERIES
Now that we have Alexa, a great grocery store is an essential for us on any trip!
Whole Foods on South Beach was great - and be sure to stock up on Hu Chocolate bars! :)
Hello my beautiful friends! In this video I share with you our recent trip to Toronto. Even though it was April, we definitely left spring in London and returned to winter with all the snow in Toronto!
It was wonderful to spend lots of time with family. Alexa loved playing with her cousins! We also visited the Luxy Hair team at their new beautiful offices in Downtown. Enjoy the tour!
If you would like to join the wonderful Luxy Hair team, we have lots of new exciting positions available here.
Hello my beautiful friends! You will have noticed that I’ve been MIA from the blog for almost two years now. Splitting my time between Mommy duties and managing our business has been challenging, as I barely get time to produce fun and creative videos and blog posts. However, I’m committed to managing my time better, and we also have a new addition to our team - “Hi Emma!“- who will be helping me to keep this blog more active.
Following the launch of our new Love Hair coconut oil this month, I would like to share with you my top 10 beauty uses of coconut oil. It’s such a versatile product which can be used from head to toe!
1. FACE MOISTURIZER/FACE MASK
For days when you don’t have to leave the house straightaway and when you don’t need to wear makeup, you can use all-natural coconut oil as a face moisturizer. Surprisingly it doesn't leave you feeling greasy or shiny like you'd think it would. Apply it all over your face and neck and it will instantly absorb into your skin, leaving it glowing, soft and smooth.
Bonus: you smell like tropical coconuts!
2. HAIR MASK
Coconut oil used as a hair mask or deep conditioner is super effective because it's so rich in fatty acids that soften your hair, and trap moisture inside, resulting in soft, silky, shiny, frizz-free hair. As you probably know from my videos, I’ve been using coconut oil on my hair for years! It does wonders for my dry and frizzy hair.
The best way to apply it is to rub a small amount between your hands, then apply it to your hair from roots to ends. The longer you can leave it in the better! Wrap your hair in a bun for 30 minutes to an hour. Then wash with a gentle shampoo, and you’ll be left with incredibly silky, shiny and smooth hair.
3. SHAVING CREAM
Ever since I’ve started using coconut oil, I don’t buy any shaving creams! Take a warm shower to soften your hair and open up the hair follicles. Smooth over a thin layer of coconut oil onto your legs before shaving to trap that moisture in and leave your legs feeling soft and smooth for hours later.
4. BODY BUTTER
Coconut oil absorbs fast into the skin, soothing any dryness, flakiness, or redness. When you hop out of the shower, ditch the chemical filled body lotion for a thin layer of coconut oil to lock the moisture in.
5. HIGHLIGHTER
Natural, dewy skin is in, and nothing brightens up a tired face like the right highlighter. Many makeup brands use coconut oil as a base ingredient, because of its ability to give the skin that beautiful, natural glow. Once you are done applying your makeup, dab a little coconut oil on your finger and lightly apply to your cheekbones for a lovely glow.
6. LIP BALM
If you notice that your lips are getting dry and dehydrated during the day, apply a little coconut oil to them for instant hydration.
7. HAND CREAM
After washing your hands, apply coconut oil instead of your usual hand cream. If you use it daily, your hands will remain soft and supple.
8. MAKEUP REMOVER
Coconut oil plays a large part in my nighttime routine. It’s a great way to break down any waterproof mascara or heavy eye makeup. Use a cosmetic cotton pad and rub some coconut oil into it. Then continue to use it as a makeup remover, getting at any waterproof eyeliner or mascara. After you’ve softened everything up with the oil, wash your face with a gentle face wash to get the remainders of the oil out.
Bonus: Coconut oil acts as a lash growth serum so you can apply a tiny bit after washing your face to the base of your lashes for thicker lashes.
9. UNDEREYE CREAM
Once you’ve removed your makeup, apply the coconut oil to your under eye area. It acts as a wonderfully hydrating under eye cream.
10. FOOT CREAM
Last thing before I go to sleep, I like to apply coconut oil as a foot cream. Apply the coconut oil all over, including the soles of the feet. It leaves your feet feeling baby soft!
