#ThankYouMiami for Fashion - Miami Swim Week 2015

Happy Miami Swim Week! We are buzzing with energy as we prepare to cover the hottest in trends, events, and other "So Miami" fashion news at the end of this week. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Periscope (we're @ThankYouMiami everywhere) so you don't miss a single second of the action. We'll also be posting daily on "#ThankYouMiami for Fashion" once the madness kicks off on Thursday. Read the excerpt below and click on the photo to see how you can join in on the fun. And, don't forget to enter the raffle at the bottom of this post for your chance to win VIP tickets for you and a guest to this year's Escape Miami Style Lounge and Pool Party (#EscapeMiami3)!

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What are you most excited to do at the Escape Miami Style Lounge and Pool Party? What other events do you look forward to attending? What do you love most about Miami Swim Week? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for A Packed Social Calendar - You're Invited!

Every month we humble brag about how packed our social calendar is because...Miami, bro. But July has broken the record with so many events that this is our second post on the subject in a one-week period. Remember the post from last week on July in Miami? If you missed it, we recommend taking a peek.

To avoid redundancy, this post will not repeat the events we have already mentioned, rather it will build upon the list we've already created by providing you information about 7 newly-announced events that are coming up this month. Whether you're a foodie, a party animal, fitness fanatic, or a fashionista, as always there's a little something for everyone. And guess what? You're invited! P.S. If you don't see any Miami Swim Week info, don't worry - we are preparing a special post on next week's most anticipated events that we will be releasing soon!

#ThankYouMiami How-To: Planning Your Miami Wedding, Part 2

July 7 is a very special day at Thank You Miami HQ because it is the anniversary of our "SO Miami" wedding. Exactly three years ago we (read, our moms) tapped our local know-how to put together a party worthy of our Miami love story that included everything from a key lime pie cake by the Queen of Miami cakes to the mariachi band from Sábado Gigante. When we first started our blog, we took you step-by-step on how to plan your Miami wedding with the vendors we used and loved. Today, in honor of our three year anniversary we are building on that foundation by bringing you three new tips that we picked up from Wedding Salon's recent bridal show in Miami. A huge thanks to Carrie Rodman Wedding Photography for letting us use her amazing photos from the event!

1. Nothing is more Miami than a waterfront wedding. Wedding Salon gets us. We know because they picked The EPIC Hotel in Downtown, with its stunning views of Biscayne Bay, for their high-end bridal event. The boutique hotel (below) was the perfect setting for showcasing the show's numerous and varied wedding displays, proving its worth as the backdrop for your wedding. Plus, nothing beats the fact that it is situated on the water...

2. There is no need to stress about hair and make-up. Whether it's for you, your bridesmaids or your mom, hair and make-up are covered by express beauty service providers like Glam & Go and on-demand beauty services like GLAMSQUAD (below). They are perfect for everyone from busy moms to wedding parties because you can book a hair and/or make-up appointment with as little as two hours notice. And, time and time these services have proved they hire only the best beauty professionals. P.S. Did you know you can get a $20 credit at GLAMSQUAD just for signing up to their mailing list today. #winning!

3. Colorful flower arrangements help you bring Miami's vibrancy indoors. We're obsessed with white everything so, for our wedding, we chose white flower arrangements as part of our décor. During Wedding Salon's event, the displays by Precious Moments Social Events (below) and local flower vendor Rio Roses showed us how beautiful it can be to bring some of Miami's colorful aesthetic to your decorations. Their bright flower arrangements livened up the setting and made us reconsider our preference for white-on-white-on-white.

As you prepare for (or daydream about) your Miami wedding, we hope that these tips have been helpful. For more tips, inspiration, and vendors, make sure to keep an eye on Wedding Salon's calendar for the dates and locations of upcoming shows. Most importantly, remember to enjoy every moment - the wedding planning process really does go by so fast! Over here, we're still in awe that we're going on Year 4 of wedded bliss...

Are you planning your Miami wedding? Congratulations! What locations do you have on your radar? Why do you like those venues? How many guests are you planning to invite? What color scheme are you considering? What other tips would be helpful as you start and/or continue your wedding planning? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami for Killer Views, Delicious Food and Great Company - Atrio at Conrad Miami

Photo courtesy of Conrad Miami

Memorable dining experiences rely on three main ingredients. Killer views are a good place to start because they provide a background suitable for making magical memories. You also need delicious food - after all, we're talking about dining experiences. Finally, you need great company to make you comfortable and indulge you in enjoyable conversation. Think back to your most memorable dining experience. What did you eat? What was the view like? And the company?

As bon vivants, we have had our fair share of memorable dining experiences. The most recent one took place last week on the 25th Floor of Conrad Miami when we joined the Conrad Miami team and fellow writers to sample Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room's new dinner menu. If you've ever been to the Conrad Miami, you know that their claim to killer views is indisputable. No matter where you are in the hotel you're surrounded by Miami's breathtaking beauty. During our visit, we confirmed they also offer delicious food and great company for the whole package.

#ThankYouMiami Talks This Month In Miami - July 2015

Welcome to July, the busiest month of the year for Miami locals. In addition to higher temps and more manageable tourist crowds, this month brings a ton in fashion, food, and events you can't miss. Per usual, we have sorted through the subpar stuff (ain't nobody got time for that!) to bring the best of the best in July news. We'll hop to it because there's A LOT.

If you're staying in town for the holiday weekend, you have a suite of Fourth of July festivities at your disposal. For a South Beach-style soiree, there's no one better than Nikki Beach who will be hosting its 11th Annual IndepenDANCE Beach Party with DJs, private fireworks and a decadent BBQ with a foie gras burger and a burger served on a glazed donut. More of a grilling at home type? Midtown Oyster Bar is simplifying your meal prep with ready to grill burger kits. You have until tomorrow to e-mail your order of either four raw 10 oz. patties ($26) or an upgraded kit that also includes buns, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and homemade ketchup ($32) to info [at] midtownoysterbar.com. In line with our perfect beach day plans, we'll be in Miami Beach hosting a potluck with friends.

This month also sees the revival of local bloggers, many of whom have been dormant during the months of scant content. On July 11, we'll all be flocking to Dadeland Mall for fashion, beauty, DIY, and music at the second Style Festival. The free event, which is a collaboration between Simon Malls and Refinery 29, is a great opportunity for you to come shop, mingle, and learn about current beauty and style trends with us. The following week Miami Swim Week makes its highly anticipated return and completely takes over our social calendar from July 16 through July 19 with runway shows and parties. Last but not least, South Florida Bloggers will host a free blogger meet up on July 25 for novice to experienced bloggers at Vixi Gelateria. If you've ever wanted to blog, this is a great opportunity to come meet the local blogging community and ask questions.

In the land of bon vivants, July also doubles as Miami Spa Month - with so much going on, we definitely need the break! We'll be doing a full round up of our favorite Miami spas soon. In the interim, may we suggest you begin with The Spa at Conrad Miami? The services are heavenly and are made all the better by the hotel's amazing views of Miami.

While we're on the subject, Conrad Miami's Atrio Restaurant and Wine Room recently launched a new dinner menu that is mouthwatering (stay tuned for full details in this Friday's post). In fact, the local food scene is the bearer of amazing news this month. Here's a few exciting buzz worthy restaurants that have opened or will soon open their doors: La Moderna, MesaMar Seafood, and Sugarloaf Gastrobar. Also, did you know that Juan Valdez Cafe opened an outpost at Miami International Mall and that Bourbon, Beer and 'Cue returns to The Dutch every Wednesday in July starting today? Aaaand, thanks to Munchkin Fun's Munchkin Eats restaurant promotion, all month long kids 12 and under can eat free at 30+ South Florida restaurants with a paid adult entrée.

We know this is a ton to process so we'll leave you to read, re-read and absorb what resonates most with you. Make sure to let us know in the comments or on Twitter which types of news you would like to see more in future monthly news round-ups and to share any events, news, or other fun facts for July that we may have missed. P.S. Don't miss our #OdeToMiami2015 for the month of June on our Instagram page!