#ThankYouMiami for Sustainable Living - Adrian Grenier Talks SHFT Studio

Miami is going through a development boom. Cranes are a familiar feature of our landscape and construction detours a common obstacle to our daily lives. But the spur in construction can have a positive impact on us, our communities, and our environment if we execute it consciously. Adrian Grenier, actor-filmmaker of Entourage fame, is stressing that message and has brought sustainable concepts and designs to Miami to help us get on board.

Earlier this week, Miami locals gathered at the Filling Station Lofts to celebrate their completion and to experience the loft consciously designed by Grenier's SHFT Studio, in collaboration with Hillary Littlejohn Scurtis Design. SHFT Studio is a company that provides sustainable design consulting services to residential buildings and hotels, including the creation of model showrooms like the one at the Filling Station. What better time for their arrival than in the pinnacle of our new construction era?

Société Perrier gave us the opportunity to interview Grenier at the event to learn more about SHFT Studio's vision, the future of their projects in Miami, and more. Click the photo below for the full feature.

What is your favorite celebrity-supported cause? What are your thoughts on the on-going development boom? How do you incorporate sustainability into your daily life? What did you think of Adrian Grenier's responses? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Direct Flights - MIA to MSY

Last week, the #ThankYouMiami team was throwing some serious white noise your way. Instead of blogging, we were devouring beignets and bourbon. Instead of fostering your friendship, we were fraternizing with phantoms. But we were thinking of you the whole time, we swear! To prove it, in the coming weeks, we will be sharing our travel diaries, fashion insight, and recommendations from our recent New Orleans trip - all of which we're curating especially for you.

While we sort through 300+ photos and figure out how we're going to lose the 10 pounds we gained during our stay, we invite you to revel in the fact that our local airport offers non-stop flights to 144 different destinations around the world. It's a figure worth celebrating considering most US airports offer non-stop flights to less than 100 domestic and/or cities. Best of all, one of these destinations is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), the gateway to one of our new favorite cities.

Here's a sneak peek some of our NOLA memories to wet your appetite. For more photos, make sure to follow @ThankYouMiami on Instagram.

A photo posted by ThankYouMiami (@thankyoumiami) on Oct 10, 2014 at 5:50am PDT

A photo posted by ThankYouMiami (@thankyoumiami) on Oct 10, 2014 at 12:40pm PDT

A photo posted by ThankYouMiami (@thankyoumiami) on Oct 10, 2014 at 6:43pm PDT

A photo posted by ThankYouMiami (@thankyoumiami) on Oct 10, 2014 at 10:33pm PDT

A photo posted by ThankYouMiami (@thankyoumiami) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:43pm PDT

A photo posted by ThankYouMiami (@thankyoumiami) on Oct 10, 2014 at 8:14pm PDT

Have you been to New Orleans? What were your favorite places to visit? What is your favorite travel destination? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Staycations - Melbourne Beach

Miami can be tough location for travel aficionados like us. We are cornered at the bottom of the Florida peninsula like a child in time-out, a seven-hour road trip away from our closest neighboring state. Unlike our friends in other parts of the country, a cross-state trip requires careful planning and consideration. And, while we continue to dream about frivolously crossing state borders, we have learned to find enjoyment in crossing Florida county lines.

Most recently, we ventured to the Space Coast, former home of the John F. Kennedy Space Center. There, nestled in the middle of Brevard County, is a coastal town of just over 3,000 residents called Melbourne Beach. Melbourne Beach offers everything we're looking for in a staycation: peace and quiet, anonymity, and fun places to explore. Best of all, it is only three hours north - a distance far enough to feel like a vacation, but close enough to make the ride home bearable after a lazy Sunday in the sun.

We first discovered the area on one of our many surf trips upcoast. It drew our attention because of its proximity to good surf breaks and great beaches. It kept our attention because we've continuously been able to snag last-minute oceanfront hotel room reservations for around $100 per night on Priceline. Plus, at the end of the weekend when we tally our expenses, they're often substantially less than if we'd spent the weekend at home. That's what happens when you live right smack in the middle of a world-class tourism destination.

#ThankYouMiami for Cultural Influences - A #MujerDove Mexican Halloween How-To

In Miami, we have learned to accept that the leaves will never change color and that the weather will remain in the 80s well into winter. One of the fall staples that makes it to us virtually unscathed despite our impermeable tropical vibes is Halloween. And yet, Halloween is our opportunity to choose, not be forced, to make a fall tradition "SO Miami".

This year we plan to stake Miami's claim on unique fall rituals by channeling the cultural melting pot that is our community with our costumes. Inspired by Mujer Dove, we plan to give a nod to our own Mexican heritage with a look that is un poquito Frida Khalo, un poquito Catrina. While the internet will suffice for make-up inspo, we were extremely grateful that the pros at Anton Acero Beauty Studio lent our hair styling-challenged selves a hand for the 'do.

Today we share with you their step-by-step instructions for subduing hair into a Mexican glam look.The best part about this hairdo is that it is a good look beyond Halloween. So, whether you will be joining us in celebrating Miami's cultural influences on October 31st or you're looking for a new style to compliment your Sunday brunch look, we've got you!

Step 1: Round up your favorite Dove haircare products, a handful of large and small bobby pins, a colorful silk scarf, and some fresh or artificial flowers.

Step 2: With a clean coiff and a face full of your internet-inspired Catrina make-up, find a comfortable spot in front of a mirror.

#ThankYouMiami for Fashionable Fall Staples - Miami Fashion Blogger How-To

The past couple of weeks we've been busy sharing our writing skills with Société Perrier. Most recently, we interviewed 5 of our Miami fashion blogger friends to learn how they're fashionably transitioning into fall. We chose them because of their fashion gravitas, their varied styles, their ridiculously good looks, and their infectious personalities. And no - they did not pay us to say that. Find out what Afroza of Chic Stylista, Annie of The Fashion Poet, Jana of OJ and Cigs, Lynnette of Lynnette Joselly, and Veronica of Fiercely Thriftin' think are the must-haves for surviving the upcoming "chilly" season in Miami. Click on the photo below for the full feature.

What is your must-have piece for fall? What is your secret to surviving Miami's temperamental weather? What is the one piece in your closet you cannot live without? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Stellar Parties - #AbsolutNights Miami

Miami is known for its fantastic parties but, every once in a while, there is a fête that is a cut above the rest. Last week's #AbsolutNights Miami event at Cafeina Wynwood was one for the books - thanks to the free-flowing Absolut and the contagious Miami vibes of Otto Von Schirach's set. And, if you were one of the hundreds that was defeated by the velvet rope, nightlife staple Société Perrier's got you with a short and sweet recap and some photos. Click on the photo below for the full feature. Enjoy!

Were you at the Absolut Nights Miami event? What was your favorite part? Who was your favorite act? What has been your favorite Miami event this year? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for One-Of-A-Kind Weekends - October 2014

This week at #ThankYouMiami HQ we are suffering from a major case of preemptive FOMO. Per Miami standards, the coming weekend is packed with a billion events that we are dying to attend. Per #ThankYouMiami standards, we are going to be out of town. Because we love you and because we trust you to enjoy yourselves twice as much on our behalf, here are two events you should not miss this weekend:

You've got #ClicquotMail!

Friday, October 10

5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

LVL 25 at the Conrad Miami

1395 Brickell Ave, Miami FL 33131

If you're a chronic bon vivant like we are, you're going to love this event. Our favorite purveyor of bubbles, Veuve Cliquot, is bringing their branded mail truck to our sunny shores in celebration of the Conrad Miami's tenth anniversary. Celebrate this incredible milestone in Conrad history with music, complimentary bites, and discounted champagne. Please RSVP to the email provided in the flyer above.

Paint the Mall Pink

Saturday, October 11

1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Center Court at The Falls Miami

8888 SW 136 Street, Miami FL 33176

Parties are so much better when they serve a higher purpose and this party's cause is breast cancer awareness. Miami shopping staple The Falls hosts Paint the Mall Pink, a community-based grassroots program, for an afternoon of educational displays and retailer offerings that promote women's health. The event will also feature a "Pink Royal Throne" photo booth and other special activities where you can show your support for the fight against breast cancer. RSVP is not required.

What does your social calendar look like this weekend? Will you attending either of these events? Which? Did we miss an event that you would have liked to see featured? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Fashion - Displaying Miami Elegance Abroad

Miami has situational definitions of elegance, not unlike our M.O. for traveling in style. How formal you will dress is highly dependent on your travel destination, a variable you should take into consideration when packing for any trip. However, you must also take into account that unexpected formal moments do arise abroad and that you must represent Miami properly by not being under-dressed.

Check out the new #ThankYouMiami for Fashion post where we showcase how elected to display Miami elegance during our summer visit to Nicaragua365's Fort Walker rental home. Read the excerpt below and click on the photo to read the full post.

What are your elegant fashion travel essentials? How do you achieve the perfect formal look abroad? What are your secrets to packing formal wear? What are your go-to accessories for travel? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

The #ThankYouMiami Stress-Free October Challenge & Giveaway

We are the poster child for stress. We like to think Miami made us this way, but we know better. To be fair, Miami life does not make it easy for Type A people like us. Our stress levels are through the roof mostly due to our OCD tendencies, but Miami's horrible drivers and poor customer service only push us farther and farther away from zen.

This month we are choosing to change our reality. Inspired by positive and eco-friendly Miami brand Pure of Heart, we are challenging ourselves to live happy and stress-free - at least for one month. On October 1, we armed ourselves with Pure of Heart's Peacock High Low Shirt, our Lululemon yoga mat, and headed outdoors for a little yoga. During our practice we set aside our worries and focused instead on our breathing and on channeling the wise affirmation on our shirt. We can't say this one session melted away all of our stress, but it did set the foundation for a fantastic month.

We are taking our mission day-by-day, but a challenge like this will be easier with friends. Today we invite you to join us in finding your zen. Don't worry, we're here to help! In order to get you started we are giving away one pink Lululemon "The Mat" yoga mat like ours to a lucky Miami reader. Check out the photos from our October 1 practice below, then enter for your chance to win this amazing, slip-free yoga mat.

#ThankYouMiami for Must-Stop Spots - Localeur

Miami is an amazing city. But, with everything it offers, it can be an overwhelming city for visitors who are unfamiliar with the area. Enter Localeur, an Austin-based company, whose mission is to help travelers get the inside scoop of where to eat, drink, and play on their website and app. Earlier this summer Localeur tapped #ThankYouMiami to share our local expertise with their audience. In our latest recommendation, we share our four must-stop spots in our favorite Miami neighborhood, South of Fifth or "SoFi". Click on the image below to discover our neighborhood and make sure to keep an eye on the #ThankYouMiami Localeur page for future recommendations!

Have you visited these awesome spots? What are your go-to spots in SoFi? What is your favorite Miami neighborhood? What other recommendations would you like to see from the Miami Localeurs? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!