Downtown Fort Myers

On Hannah's final day I took her to Bennett's for breakfast, followed by The Edison Ford Winter Estates, lunch at The Veranda, followed by shopping and then sadly dropping her off at the airport. Needless to say, this is the last Hannah post {see one, two, three, four, and our video}. I hope y'all have enjoyed seeing the photos but I will be honest, if you don't like selfies...don't read anymore of this post-xoxo darling, Hayden. 

 Chocolate Chip @ Bennett's Fresh Roast

 Touring the Edison & Ford Winter Estates

I mean #modelstatus.

Key Lime Pie @ The Veranda

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Articles I Am Reading

1. Interesting read...Senator fighting against smaller carry-on bag rules // Business Insider
2. Want to read so many of these...9 of the Best New Beach Reads for 2015 // Town & Country
3. Gorgeous...Beautiful Floral Landscapes // Town & Country
4. Delicious options...The best ice cream shop in every state // Business Insider
5. Love these...10 independent bookshops you should visit // The Guardian
6. Fascinating...El Al's Female Attendants Say No Way to High Heel Requirement // Skift

Sanibel + Fort Myers Beach

Sanibel is a very special place where I live. There are very few chains on the island and it seems like it is a constant vacation out there. Hannah and I grabbed breakfast at one of my favorite's Lighthouse Cafe, Hannah loved the Malted Pancakes & we both fell hard for the bacon. Then we headed to Lighthouse beach, Pinocchio's, Tarpon Bay Explorers, Island Cow, and then headed to Fort Myers Beach for the sunset-xoxo darling, Hayden. P.S. Don't forget to check out the video from the whole week Hannah was here.

 Lighthouse Beach

Our amazing beach umbrella purchased @ Big Lots {who would've known}!

 Kind of obsessed with this swim shirt from Lands' End.

Pinocchio's Original Italian Ice Cream -- I think it was Sanibel something...

Tarpon Bay Explorers Kayking

 Waiting for the sunset on Fort Myers Beach

 Just being our normal casual selves...

The sky looked like cotton candy.

Hannah loves this photo, I am just straight creepin.

Week Re-Cap // The Vinoy

So y'all know I love a good hotel {see here, here and here} however, the RAIN when I was at The Vinoy in St. Petersburg, FL was so bad {literally pouring everyday I was there} that I have very few photos and absolutely none of the gorgeous pink + green exterior {I am crying on the inside about it}. However, I did take a few photos and they are included in this post below. 

My stay was nice, the rooms could stand to be updated but the lobby is the perfect mix of historic and modern. When my parents were in college, on spring break, they were down in St. Pete and saw a 25 foot chain link fence around the historic hotel {that was only 20 years ago} so I am amazed with the restoration work. 

If you don't stay in the hotel I would suggest walking around in the lobby/mezzanine/pool area because it is seriously pretty. Have you ever been to St. Pete/The Vinoy? -xoxo darling, Hayden

 Dessert @ The Vinoy last week.

Hookin' 'em @ the Chihuly Collection

Dinner @ The Columbia

Spend a rainy afternoon @ The Dali Museum

 The Pool

The cool lights @ Fred's Cellar

Enjoyed dinner and dessert aboard Yacht StarShip on Friday night.

Key Lime Pie in a glass & bread pudding.

Donuts & pineapple centerpieces at brunch on Saturday. The Vinoy regrammed this photo!

The Chihuly in the grand ballroom.

Captiva

On Hannah's third day of visiting we grabbed some breakfast at First Watch and then proceeded out to Captiva {after a quick stop at Target for the essentials}. We went swimming/had lunch at the always amazing Tween Waters {nicknamed Tweenies}. Then we were on a wildlife cruise by Captiva Cruises; we saw tons of dolphins, fish, and a manatee. After that we had cake...for dinner at the Bubble Room. Then went back to Tweenies for the sunset and Crab Racing, which I neglected to take photos of but is in our video. Have any of y'all been to Captiva? -xoxo darling, Hayden P.S. Don't forget to check out the video from the whole week Hannah was here.

Tween Waters 

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Captiva Cruises

A MANATEE!

The Bubble Room {see my post here (The Food Diaires)}.

Island Hopping

When people come to Fort Myers I feel like they are drawn to Sanibel & Captiva, which are fabulous islands and you will be seeing them in upcoming posts with Hannah, but if you really want to see how people live and what real islands look like, the islands of Matlacha, Pine Island, St. James City, Pineland, and Bokeelia are a much better representation and they are forgotten a lot of the time. Hannah really enjoyed just driving around the islands and stopping in the always lovely Leoma Lovegrove's studio. We grabbed Bert's for dinner and it was fabulous. If you are ever in southwest FLA and would like recommendations email me-xoxo darling, Hayden. P.S. Don't forget to check out the video from the whole week Hannah was here.

Bokeelia 

St. James City

In Leoma's gallery

The Randell Research Center at Pineland showcases historic Calusa Indian mounds {pictured below}.

Getting up close and personal with a bird at Rotary Park.

Grabbing some dinner at the always fabulous Bert's {my post} on Matlacha.

Matlacha

*Excuse all of the selfies but this was the night we got our selfie sticks*

Reppin' our Longhorns

Reppin' Comm Council

The sunset in my neighborhood

I love our geo-tag on Snapchat.

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

As you know, Hannah visited last week. So our first stop when she got off the plane {aside from Fancy's} was the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. I hadn't been since elementary school {that was a really long time ago}. If you have never been to the area/are new to the area/have never seen a Cypress tree, I would highly suggest this. It is a super easy boardwalk walk and you get to see lots of different ecosystems at work {plus tons of turtles}-xoxo darling, Hayden. P.S. Don't forget to check out the video from the whole week Hannah was here.

Quotes of the Week

Articles I Am Reading

1. I have been to quite a few of these...10 of the world's best dinosaur museums // CNN
2. Ugh, so pretty...Jane Birkin feat. the South of France // Man Repeller
3. Oh wow...The Grand Hotel Villa Feltrinelli, Italy // This is Glamorous
4. I got The South...what a surprise...Can We Guess Where You Live Based On Your Taste In Books? // Buzz Feed
5. Oh my...Best Ice Cream Shops in New York City // Town & Country
6. Seems right...The World's Most Fashionable Beaches // Vogue

Saturday Inspiration

So flippin' cute!

That looks amazing!

Lana looks fabulous!

Flamingos are the best.

What a beautiful day.

Gorgeous.

Let's go on a drive!

Such a cute cottage!

Flora 

Paris!

Hannah's Visit Video

So as y'all know Hannah visited this past week. We filmed the entire time she was here and the result is the video below featuring Andy Grammer's "Back Home." We had such an amazing time and photos from the entire week will be up next week-xoxo darling, Hayden. 

P.S. Your regularly scheduled "Articles of the Week" will be publishing on Sunday at 7am! Make sure to check that out! 

Edison Estates