Well, hello there!
I haven’t blogged in a week, but I wasn’t blogging for a very good reason.
Last week, Dane and I spent the week in the Caribbean. I completely unplugged, so I wasn’t blogging, but I’m back on track now to share details about our trip!
We stayed at Le Guanahani resort in St. Barths, which was such a dream! We spent the days snorkeling, swimming, kayaking and lounging on the beach. We enjoyed long three course lunches and dinners with fun, fruity cocktails and lots of French wine.
As you know, it’s important to me to show my clients and readers that you can have a healthy balance in life without restrictions or rules. So, I make it a point to highlight the health-related things I do, as well as the indulgent things I do because hey, life isn’t worth living if you’re trapped in a restricted cycle, right?
Here are some highlights from our vacation in paradise!
Food Highlights:
My breakfast each day was sliced turkey with grilled mushrooms, onions and tomatoes, a bowl of fresh fruit and a packet of JIF peanut butter that I packed along with other healthy snacks for traveling (I need to have my filling fats!)
Lunches usually included grilled veggies and either fish or chicken. Dinners were mostly the same, but we usually shared a few appetizers and I always had one of their delicious bread rolls. We had wine with lunch and dinner- the wine there was incredible!
We started most of our lunches with a giant crudité platter with a variety of dips:
Fresh fruit salad for desserts (along with coffee):
A mojito with marmalade, tea and cinnamon!
Bruschetta with avocado:
The “Hugo Spritz”, which was mint, champagne and St. Germain (amazing flavor combo!)
Baked Goat cheese salad with green beans, peanuts and watermelon! Dane and I usually shared starters with dinner like this one…
Baked chicken with grilled veggies:
Beautiful Scenery:
It was such a wonderful trip and I enjoyed every second of it! Now, it’s back to the grind, but I’m excited to get back into my normal routine. After an indulgent vacation, I know it’s tempting to feel like you need to go on a strict post-vacation diet, but that’s not the mindset I want you to have. When you find a healthy balance in your life, you can enjoy vacations without feeling like you have to go “all or nothing” on food and drinks. When I wanted something, I ate it (or drank it), but I didn’t force myself to always choose the most unhealthy option just because I was “on vacation”. I used to have this all or nothing mindset and I would end up eating and drinking junk even when I didn’t really want it.
As seen on Instagram!
Finding your balance is tough and it takes trial and error, but it will make your life much richer and enjoyable when you have a healthy balance. It allows me to go on vacations, truly enjoy them and come back without guilt!
Now you tell me…
What’s the last vacation you went on?
Snorkeling or kayaking? or both?
What’s your favorite fish?
What an amazing trip! I’m with you… I’ve learned you really can enjoy a nice vacation eating what you want without getting too off track!
I’m team snorkeling AND kayaking! Glad you guys had a good time.
Woo! Glad you’ve found that healthy balance too! Heh, can’t go wrong with both!
Finding balance does take a lot of practice! I definitely been on trips and been to restrictive, and been on trips where I was too indulgent. Now a days I find a little wiggle room in my daily life makes it easier to be more consistent at home and on vacation! Looks like you had a wonderful time!
Glad you found your wiggle room, too! The all or nothing mindset is dangerous!
This looks like paradise! So happy you were able to get away together. The food and cocktails look insanely delicious – especially that champagne one. Did you go on this trip for any particular reason or just to get away?
The last vacation I went on was to Texas in March with Chris. I think I pick snorkeling over kayaking most days.
They were all fabulous! I went for my company’s President’s Club trip!
Wow what a great vacation!! Glad you had some time away in the sun! I love all water sports but especially love kayaking–I also loved stand up paddle boarding which I tried when I was in Mexico last year!
Stand up paddle boarding is so much fun!! I definitely want to take a trip to Mexico!
LOVED seeing all the photos from your trip!!!! and congrats to you for really taking a vacation and unplugging – it’s so important to do from time to time, especially when looking up from your phone/computer means looking at those gorgeous views!
It really is!!! Definitely felt good to unplug and let my mind wander in the moment 🙂
I’m all about the healthy balance too! Love how you’re showing your balancing in action. Everything looked so good. What a beautiful vacation too! 🙂
Amen to healthy balance!!!
Oh my gosh, what an amazing trip!!!! Glad you had a blast. I used to have kind of an “I’m on vacation” mindset when traveling to, and would end up overindulging more than I wanted to. Now I try to focus more on balance and just enjoying the treats/drinks I really want.
Yes! Glad you found that balance too, Emily!
Looks like such a fun week! So glad you guys had fun!
xx katie // a touch of teal
Thanks, Katie! We sure did!
Ah the pictures look so dreamy! Couldn’t agree more about healthy NOT being all or nothing on vacation, it’s about balancing both the healthy decisions with the not-so healthy ones. But it’s just vacation, it’s not forever
Exactly, girl! Vacation is vacation for a reason, so not worth getting caught up in it!