I’m baaaack! Well for a few days at least. I will be leaving again soon for a fun blogger meet-up in Phoenix.
Spending a full week on a beach without a care in the world was total bliss.
This wasn’t our first time in Cuba so we’d done most of the touristy activities and tours already. This time was all about scoring the best spot on the beach and then kicking back with my Kindle.
What I Packed For One Week All Inclusive Vacation
It was a week long trip. I knew that I had to pack snorkelling gear so carry on luggage was not an option.
For seven days I packed,
3 two piece bathing suits
2 beach cover-ups
2 hats (one for swimming, I always wear a hat in the sun)
1 pair of shorts
6 t-shirts
1 long velvet duster
1 rash guard
6 dresses
1 pair of water shoes
1 pair of sandals
1 pair of flip-flops
For the plane ride I wore
a long black maxi skirt with a top, black closed toe Clarks, my black scarf, a beret and my thin down jacket with a hood. Coming back on the plane I wore a t-shirt with the same outfit. Since we went from -5 C to 30 C I needed something warm enough to get to and from the airport. I wore socks with my shoes to keep my toes warm also so that I can kick my shoes off on the plane as my feet swell up like balloons. The lightweight down jacket folds up into a tiny ball and can be used as a pillow. On a windy evening the scarf came in handy as a shawl. The beret was great coming back with my beach hair.
I was happy with my packing overall.
Turns out that two of the bathing suits were unnecessary but that is because I have a pinched nerve and wasn’t able to get in the water and snorkel or swim as I would have liked. I will be heading to the chiropractor in hopes of a miracle cure. My pointer finger and thumb on my left arm have been numb for ten days now. They have a pins and needles sensation in them that can extend to the whole arm with severe pain when it gets really bad. I was hoping that a week on the beach would clear it up without any kind of medical intervention but that hasn’t worked. So that is the long story as to why I only ended up using the one bathing suit.
Every day for breakfast I wore shorts and a t-shirt.
Nothing fancy. I realize now that I could have only taken two t-shirts as I only wore them for breakfast and could have just alternated. Yes! I’m that boring relaxed when I’m on vacation.
Since I knew we’d spend every day at the beach only a cover-up, hat and bathing suit with flip-flops was necessary for daytime.
This is my favourite cover-up ever. I’ve had it for years and love it. You may recognize it from my last Cuba trip…
Or from my Jamaica trip…
This “new” cover-up is actually a dress I bought at ModCloth which I haven’t shown on the blog. It has a very unique handkerchief hem.
I styled it for winter with a sweater, tall boots and a belt but actually prefer it on the beach.
I think I might prefer everything on the beach.
We only took the camera out twice so I have a limited number of photos from this trip.
I made every effort to stay unconnected and totally in the moment.
It was wonderful, you should try it!
Lots of women I saw at this resort didn’t even bother with beach cover-ups.
It was an adults only resort and I was delighted with the number of women I saw of all ages and sizes wearing whatever kind of bathing suit they wanted and showing it all off.
Everyone was loving the skin they were in.
Maybe it was the joy and freedom that comes with being on vacation that allowed women to let go of any negative body issues and celebrate their bodies in such positive way.
No shame, just love.
Now to figure out how to carry that through to the rest of our lives…
I read this today and thought it touched on the subject perfectly,
“Society’s obsession with outer beauty. – As you grow older, what you look like on the outside becomes less and less of an issue, and who you are on the inside becomes the primary point of interest. You eventually realize that beauty has almost nothing to do with looks – it’s who you are as a person, how you make others feel about themselves, and most importantly, how you feel about yourself.” Marc and Angel
Next time I’ll share the dresses I chose for this vacation.
Linking up with Visible Monday, I Will Wear What I Like, Shoe and Tell, Turning Heads Tuesdays, Hat Attack
Oh Suzanne!!! You look like you are part of a lovely movie in those beach shots!! Your cover up dresses are just perfect. I especially like the patchwork one,so colorful, and the scarf hem makes it so fun!
I’m so sorry to hear about your pinched nerve! You are such a trooper to deal with it while on vacation .(damn!!)
I am SO looking forward to meeting you soon!
I’m getting pumped too Marilee! It’s going to be a blast : P
Says it all: “Every day for breakfast I wore shorts and a t-shirt.” What a wonderful getaway and rest. Unplugging is one of the most peaceful activities ever. Sorry about your arm – hope it’s quickly fixable. xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Cannot wait to see you again Ms. Therapist Whisperer. Do you know what you’re wearing???
Sounds like a wonderful vacation! Disconnecting from everything once in a while is so important…
I love your two cover ups. And I always find that I get by with very, very few clothes, especially on a beach vacation! Your travel outfit was very well though-out!
Have a fabulous time in Phoenix! I’m sad that I’m not able to make it…
I’m disappointed too you won’t be there. Hopefully next time.
P.S.: I hope your pain will go away soon – that part doesn’t sound wonderful at all…
Glad you had a great getaway in spite of the pain you’ve been dealing with! Hope that will get resolved soon, that does not sound fun! Everything IS more awesome on a great beach. Ever since I learned about sun damage for skin, I am ALL about rashguards and/or cover ups on the beach. We joked that we were like “vampires” while snorkeling at the beach in Thailand in December, in our long sleeves and with all of our sunscreen reapplications, haha!
People don’t think they can burn when snorkelling but I learned my lesson years ago in Mexico. Now I’m like you, a vampire at the beach.
Lovely beach pics…hope you’ve bottled some of that sun and warmth to take back home to winter. xx
Sadly it is snow and cold here : ( That’s okay, I leave in 2 days for sunny Arizona.
HAVE FUN 🙂
Beautiful. Such beautifl photos, and I love both the dresses. It’s good to just escape and not do anything.x
http://www.vanityandmestyle.com
I agree. It refreshes the soul.
It sounds blissful! Looking forward to seeing your dresses. Hope you get that trapped nerve sorted xx
I have a chiropractic appointment today and my fingers are crossed…well the two on my right hand anyhow.
ohhh, it looks like a fabulous vacation, disconnected, relaxed, and wearing just a cover-up almost all the time! everything is just amazing! and your pictures have put a smile on my face!. I’m looking forward to see more!
Great advice on what to wear when flying from -5C to 30C, that’s really difficult to manage!
besos
Yes it is always an issue getting back and forth from the airport without freezing to death when travelling to sunny spots in the dead of our winter.
First of all, I do hope your pinched nerve gets sorted soon. Not much fun being in pain, and having to adapt your holiday a bit, although being in the moment (I wish I could do that) and on that fabulous beach was bliss. Love both of your cover ups and your beach photos make me want to go there. Now! xxx
We can’t control these kinds of things but there is never a good time to be sick. I still managed to enjoy myself but I’m hoping this gets a bit better in two days.
Yay! Your obviously-refreshed mood is compensation for the pain you caused us by leaving. 🙂 We missed you so terribly! Glad you un-connected from the world; that’s important to do. And nice to hear that other women are relaxing about their bodies, which goes to show that most misery is created by culture, not nature.
Yes, I think that in a culture of over connectivity it is so important to simply drop out every once in a while. Even though I missed you too!
In Australia, the Aboriginals call it going on “walkabout.” I like the notion and use that word often as a metaphor for unplugging.
So good that you are back, dear Suzanne, and that you relaxed and was unplugged! That is really important! I loved your first cover-up and the new one too, a dress. Really two great pieces and you looked fantastic, as usual! And the fact that women went to the beach without cover-ups, really accepting who they are, and embracing it, is fantastic! I really agree with the last paragraph – the more we grow up and get older, the more we see that kindness is the key, bringing smiles to people, and what if we have “excess weight” – if it’s about health, OK, but not because of the society’s pressure for youth and looks. Excess weight is what we carry – our guilt luggage, sorrows, etc… that we can and should get rid of. The body gets healthier that way as well! Loved your post! Hope you have a nice week! Bisous!
DenisesPlanet.com
What a great saying—that should be our mantra!!!
I’m sorry about your pinched nerve—what a bummer….but at least you still had a great time.
Have fun at the blogger meetup—I so wish I could be there!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
OOOOOOOOOOH, how I long to see and be on a warm Caribbean beach. Not sure if Cuba is part of the Caribbean, but it’s those TURQUOISE WATERS that call out to me. Sigh.
I will always be an Atlantic Ocean kinda gal, as my formative years were spent on the Eastern Coast.
Wish I could be there with you in AZ (so close! I could drive no problem! Only 6 hours!). Was hoping I wouldn’t have to teach on Saturdays, but it seems enough students enrolled, so I have no free weekends for escaping until Spring Break late March. Say “Hi” and hug everyone for me!
xxox
That sounds like a fantastic holiday! I actually like the dress with the boots! 🙂 Have a great time at the blogger event!
It’s good to hear from you again, Suzanne!
Are you sure it’s not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome you’re suffering from? It sounds very like it. I’ve had it in both hands/arms and have had both operated on – it’s a very minor op. It’s made a big difference.
The cover up looks great and what wonderful things they are on holiday. Mind you the chances of me needing one in chilly Ireland are very remote…
It sounds like you had a lovely time and that your holiday was just as it should be- unplugged and relaxed 🙂
-Nicole
The Artyologist
Wonderful photos! You make the beach sound fun (I’m definitely not the beach holiday type, my idea of hell…), and the outfits are fabulous. I hope your nerve problem gets better soon, that sounds very uncomfortable. Have fun in Phoenix!
Doing nothing at the beach is my idea of heaven. You looked absolutely lovely! Have so much fun in Phoenix – what a fun meet up!
I am so pleased your vacation was this lovely. Great. Of course you looked gooood in those dresses. Say Hi to Marilee for me when you see her at the bloggers meet-up. Have fun. Wish I could be there. I am counting on you in August in NY.
Greetje
You really know how to do vacation and beach. Love your cover-ups and your writings on positive body image. Important for every age! Welcome home!
The pinched nerve sounds very painful! Looks like you had a very nice vacation otherwise – the beach looks lovely! Glad you were able to get away from our Canadian winter for a while (even if this one has been relatively mild).
Well, I definitely have been out of the blogging loop since I didn’t know you were heading to a fun bloggers meet up.
Your vacation photos are breathtaking! But I’m so glad most of your time was spent enjoying the moments with that wonderful hubby of yours. I’ve been trying to be more unplugged in life and it’s really quite enjoyable. Although I do miss my friends like you and then feel like I need to play catch up, which I’m now doing.
And that dang pinched nerves, what the heck? So sorry to hear this and the poor timing.
I’m now looking forward to seeing all your fun posts on your bloggers meet up. I still think an extended layover in Salt Lake City should be on your itinerary ??
Beach holidays are so theraputic. Just seeing you wander along the shoreline makes me feel great! I love the minimalist packing that’s needed and your coverall is perfect. I’m sorry that you didn’t get to snorkel – what a drag. I’m sure you rested up though, which would have done you the world of good. Taking time out from social media seems to be the right thing when you’re on vacation – a holiday away from everything is what we all need/deserve. Well done x
I’ve been seeing the bloggers meet up on instagram and can’t wait to hear/see the full story about that in due course.
Take care
Anna x
You look so happy and ethereal on the beach. Yes, the dress looks so much better one, and as you move! How wonderful to have a true vacation o f the beach. I am happy for you.
Yes, at our age it is a love the skin your in, thing!
you packed perfectly, love the down jacket as pillow,!
xx, Elle
http://www.theellediaries.com/blog/
Not interested. You didn’t pack ME so I don’t care. LOL… seriously though I do love that last quote. For realz.