#ThankYouMiami Talks Hair Transformations

If it wasn’t for my mom, I would have no beauty routine to speak of. She was the one who introduced me to waxing, facials, and mani-pedis, subsidizing them throughout my teens until they became a permanent fixture in my budget. In middle school, she bought me my first make-up set comprised solely of Bobby Brown products, most of which lasted me past college and which I still buy today. (For the record, I recently discovered make up expires—that she forgot to tell me.)

A #ThankYouMiami Ode To Sunset Harbour

It's been almost three years since we've published a neighborhood feature so it was only right that I break the dry spell by writing an ode about one of my favorite Miami neighborhoods: Sunset Harbour. After all, the neighborhood is undergoing a renaissance. I know it's been up-and-coming for quite some time, but it seems like a thousand new and amazing places opened in the last few weeks or are expected to grace us this fall. Alas, there is no better time than now to revel in all of its glory.

#ThankYouMiami For New Food Finds – Panarea Mediterranean Sea Grill

I believe that within food you’ll find the soul of a culture. A single bite can contain the tastes of mounting generations. Although,  I’ll be the first to jump on a plane to experience this first hand— I’m also I glad to say I had the pleasure of going abroad without breaking the bank (once again). A few meals ago, I gastronomically visited the Greek island of Santorini. My visit to Panarea Mediterranean Sea Grill sparked a sense of déjà vu, and I’ll tell you why.

#ThankYouMiami for Fashion - Desert Dreamin'

I spent the past week in California with my sisters between San Francisco, L.A. and Joshua Tree. The occasion was a sister bonding trip with the 9-hour road trip from San Francisco to Hidden Valley as its corner stone. Now that the trip is over and that it went well, I can proudly take credit for picking Joshua Tree as our destination. (Pre-trip everyone was a bit skeptical of my idea to venture into the the desert in the middle of summer. I was too when I saw the forecast during our stay went as high as 109 degrees.)

#ThankYouMiami How-To: Bikini-Friendly Summer Cocktails

According to popular opinion alcohol calories don't count, but we're calling shenanigans. The minute we cut it from our diet we automatically lose five pounds. That said, it's summer and there's no better way to cool off at the beach than with an ice cold drink, meaning skinny cocktails are exactly what we need to stay in bikini shape all season. Even if you need a few days to get over the Fourth of July festivities, here are three must-try bikini-friendly summer cocktail recipes for your repertoire:

1. Pretty Girl Cocktail Recipe

This Ron Barceló cocktail is refreshing and light. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to support Miami-based artist Ruben Ubiero whose design graces the unique golden bottles of Ron Barceló Añejo Rum unveiled in Wynwood at the end of June.

1.5 oz. Barceló rum
1.5 oz. fresh watermelon juice
1/4 oz. fresh lime
1/4 oz. agave
2 basil leaves ripped

Shake ingredients and double strain over ice in a collins glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with a basil leaf and an edible flower.

2. Summer Mule Cocktail Recipe

If gin is more your speed, this summer mule cocktail recipe from Hendrick's Gin is fruity, floral and fizzy. Just make sure to limit the amount of ginger beer to keep it low in sugar and, therefore, low in calories.

2 oz. Hendrick's gin
2/3 oz. fresh lime juice
1/2 oz. elderflower cordial
8 mint leaves
1 in. thick cucumber slice
Ginger beer

Add cucumber slice to collins glass and break with muddler. Add other ingredients, build all together over crushed ice, and stir. Top with ginger beer and garnish with mint leaves.

3. Verde Margarita Cocktail Recipe

Last month Milagro Brand Ambassador, fellow Mexican, and all-around awesome dude Jaime Salas stopped by our local watering hole El Grito to teach us how to make some super delicious tequila cocktails. This update to a traditional Margarita was our favorite.

1 oz. Milagro tequila silver
1 oz. Ancho Verde
1 oz. fresh lime juice
1/4 oz. agave nectar

Shake ingredients and pour over ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with half kosher salt rim and a lime wheel (not a wedge).

#ThankYouMiami Goes To PanIQ Escape Room (And Doesn't Escape)

I consider myself a smart, intuitive person—after last Wednesday I'm no longer sure. You see, Amber and I decided to check out PanIQ Escape Room in Wynwood, an experience where you are trapped in a room and you escape by solving puzzles and using hidden clues. Despite our best efforts, we didn't make it out of the "My Spy" room within the 60 minute timeframe. It really took a toll on our ego.

We breezed through the first three clues in less than 10 minutes. Our first desperate cry for "HELP!" into the walkie-talkie—the operators give you clues as requested or, in our case, if they see you're in desperation—came after we spent 15 minutes working on the fourth clue. "We need to get in the computer," Amber kept repeating (à la Derek Zoolander). "No, it's a decoy," I would argue. "They know we're millennials. They know we'll get distracted by the computer."