Miami Fashion Blogger | Shireen Sandoval Miami Fashion

The Bugged & The Beautiful

It was a scary and shocking sight: my mother walking around confused, sweaty and mumbling something inaudible. I thought she had been acting funny earlier that morning, but I chalked it up to my vivid imagination. As the afternoon faded into evening, though, my mother’s behavior grew more and more bizarre. It was impossible not to notice it. Even though my father instructed me to go to bed, I couldn’t sleep.

I tossed and turned, thinking about the day in detail; replaying it over and over in my head. The questions mounted: had she hit her head, was she losing her mind or perhaps, even worse, had she been abducted by aliens and now, was some strange creature in her body making her do weird things? I was completely and utterly perplexed. Mind you, I was also young and a little on the dramatic side.

The next morning, as things got worse, my father started to panic (for the record, I’d never seen him that way.) Left with what he explained as “no choice,” he gathered my mother together the best he could and carried her to the car. When he placed her in the front seat she writhed in pain. It was horrible to watch and I cried without letting her see me. Through my tears, though, I noticed something odd about the way she was sitting.

When my dad sprinted to the driver’s side and my mother was left alone in the car for a few brief seconds, she strangely favored her right side. It was if her left hip was injured. Then, as if his wife’s very life depended on it, my dad quickly drove out of sight. Later we would learn, her life did depend on it.

Read the rest of “The Bugged & The Beautiful” at www.wsvn.com or shop the look at www.HaleyHoleman.com & www.trend-rush.com.

Instagram: @Prada_marfa
Twitter: @Haley_Holeman
FB: Haley Holeman Jewelry

Wardrobe www.trend-rush.com
Instagram: @Trend_Rush
Twitter: @Trend_Truck
FB: Trend Rush Shopping

Twitter @ShireenSandoval
IG @ShireenSandoval
ssandoval@wsvn.com
www.shireensandoval.com

photography by tod p/t4twophotography
Twitter @todp_photo
IG @Tod_p
info@t4twophotography.com

Hair & Make-up by Odette Hernandez
Twitter @Odetthernandz
IG @Odett_Herndz

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
MattAuerbach@yahoo.com

Wednesday, January 28, 2015 Shireen's Favorite Things Haley Holeman Jewelry, Jewelry, Trend Rush

Shireen’s Spotlight: Essensia Restaurant & Lounge (inside The Palms Hotel & Spa)

Essensia Restaurant & Lounge (inside The Palms Hotel & Spa)

What: Essensia, 3025 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33140

Why: I love it when I can go out to eat and not be hungover the next day. I’m not talking about liquor, either; I’m talking about food. I don’t do food hangovers and that’s one of the main reasons I love the “Essensia Restaurant & Lounge,” inside the Palms Hotel. The cuisine is “healthy, creative and flavorful”.

Chef Julie Frans not only whips up some of the best “natural gourmet” in the Magic City, she looks pretty good while doing it, too. Julie has a terrific bright, clean energy and it translates into her food. My favorite items on the menu include the Signature Kale Caesar Salad, Grilled Octopus and Thai Lemongrass Soup.

The soup was actually so yummy (made with coconut milk, kaffir lime, tomato, mushroom, bok choy and thai herbs,) it knocked my socks off. That’s not the best kept secret, though: just behind the hotel’s Tiki Bar is Essensia’s Organic Chef’s Garden, maintained by Frans. It’s a green, sprawling delight of herbs and seasonal produce used daily for their delicious recipes. It doesn’t get any fresher than that. The bottom line: they care about what they feed you and how it makes you feel.

Where: The restaurant/bar is tucked away neatly on the first floor of The Palms Hotel & Spa on Miami Beach. I’ve always loved this property because of it’s ridiculously gorgeous grounds. What’s more, it’s a hotel that not only caters to tourists, it celebrates its homegrown crowd, too; with stay-cation and spa specials.

I really like the feel of the hotel, which has this unpretentious regalness to it; reminiscent of an old, well-maintained, tropical Southern mansion, if you will. Parking is a bit tricky, as it’s right on the ever-busy and bustling Collins Avenue. They do have valet, but as usual on the beach, it’s a pretty penny.

When: Essensia is open for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch & Dinner.

Breakfast: Daily 7am-11am
Lunch: Monday-Saturday 11am-3pm
Brunch: Sundays 11am-3pm
Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 6pm-10pm, Friday-Saturday 6pm -11pm

Make reservations on line www.essensiarestaurant.com or call 305-908-5458
IG: @ChefJulieFrans
Twitter: @ChefJulieFrans
FB: Essensia Restaurant & Lounge

Cuisine does not measure itself in terms of tradition or modernity. One must read in it the tenderness of the chef.Pierre Gagnaire

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
Photo: t4two photography
Producer: Jessie Rosario
Writer: Shireen Sandoval

Thursday, January 22, 2015 Shireen's Spotlight Essensia, Healthy, Miami Beach, Restaurant, The Palms Hotel, Wellness

The Wildly Wonderful Ramona LaRue

I didn’t want to snoop through my college roommate’s personal belongings, but her mother insisted. While I stayed at school to work through the summer, Marni had hightailed it home because of health issues. She didn’t tell me what was wrong, but it seemed serious. As she grew sicker, her mother grew more desperate to help her. Hence, the call that would change my life forever.

She instructed me to go inside Marni’s closet and find a shoebox on the top shelf behind her sweaters, where I would find an old prescription one of the doctors at the school health center had written her. Apparently, whatever it was worked and her mother needed to know the name of the medication. I did what I was asked.

Inside the box, I found Marni’s most treasured keepsakes: pictures, tokens, jewelry and letters. There were a lot of letters. I recognized the handwriting immediately. They were from my boyfriend. The two were close friends, so it didn’t surprise me. I skimmed past them and found the old prescription. I couldn’t pronounce the medication so I spelled it out for Marnie’s mom and we said our goodbyes.

That night, I laid awake in bed thinking about the letters that I had unwittingly discovered. The pull, desire and incessant need to read them was overwhelming. I was one of those people, though, who vehemently believed and respected other people’s privacy, so I held back on the temptation. My boyfriend, “Mark” (I changed his name, but if he reads this, you know who you are,) was home for the summer, too. I called him the next morning.

He seemed normal: loving, attentive, doting even. I adored him so much and knew we would be married someday. I hung up the phone, sighed my troubles away and headed for the student library. The thing is, I couldn’t read, hold a thought or concentrate. My entire focus was on that shoebox in Marni’s closet, behind her sweaters. I packed up my books and headed for my empty apartment.

Read the rest of “The Wildly Wonderful Ramona LaRue” at www.wsvn.com or shop the look at www.ramonalarue.com.

Styling: Arianne Brown LaRue
Website: www.ramonalarue.com
Twitter: @ramonalarue
Instagram: @ramonalarue
Facebook: Ramona LaRue by Arianne

photography by tod p/t4twophotography
Twitter @todp_photo
IG @Tod_p
info@t4twophotography.com

Hair & Make-up by Odette Hernandez
Twitter @Odetthernandz
IG @Odett_Herndz

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
MattAuerbach@yahoo.com

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Shireen's Favorite Things Ramona La Rue, Wild, Wonderful

Shireen’s Spotlight: Oak Tavern

What: Oak Tavern, 35 NE 40th Street, Miami, FL 33137

Why: There’s just something about the Oak Tavern that makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over. It’s intimate, yet spacious; hip, yet doesn’t try too hard. What’s more, it’s the kind of place that makes me wanna get together with my closest friends and eat, drink and laugh the night away. It’s named after the “majestic transplanted giant oak tree” snuggled into its splendid outdoor patio.

The bar is big and welcoming and home to a killer Happy Hour with drink and snack specials. Off to the side, there’s a huge communal table and a-just-the-right-kind-of-size dining room beyond that. Almost everything inside is reclaimed wood; I especially like their whimsical wooden lamps that appear to be trees with lamp shade tops.The food is “Modern American” and easy to share.

When I dined there last week I tried the following: Crab Toast, Grouper Ceviche, Charcuterie Plate, Octopus A La Plancha and Heirloom Tomato Salad (all pictured in the blog.) The tomato salad and octopus were my favorite. Matter of fact, I’m still dreaming about those big, beautiful, juicy tomatoes and may have to go back to the scene of the crime. I’m pretty sure I demolished the plate single-handedly. The highlight was washing it all down with “The Green Mile” (made with gin, cucumber puree, Serrano pepper, cilantro and lime.) I left happy and ready to head back for more.

Where: It’s located in one of my favorite places in Miami: the uber trendy and chic Design District. It’s a sweet little lay-out, too. You walk right under a beautiful brick archway to enter “The Tavern,” which leads into a sprawling garden/patio area that blends right into the restaurant itself.

When you walk in, the vibe immediately engulfs you with warm lighting, a lovely art mural and a kicked-back, hipster energy; you feel like you’ve found a hidden hot spot. There’s a valet in front of the restaurant, but I always manage to find street parking. I like to stretch my legs and walk a few blocks, so I can enjoy the booming business landscape and the always interesting art murals the district has to offer.

When: Oak Tavern is open for lunch, happy hour, brunch & dinner! My kind of place.

Lunch: Monday-Thursday 12pm-4pm
Happy Hour: Everyday 4pm-7pm
Brunch: Saturday 11am-3pm, Sunday 11am-4pm
Dinner: Monday-Thurs 6pm-10:30pm, Friday-Sat 6pm-12am, Sunday 6pm-9:30pm

Reservations: Make reservations on-line or call 786-391-1818.
www.oaktavernmiami.com
IG: @oaktavernmiami
Twitter: @OakTavernMiami
FB: Oak Tavern

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” Douglas Adams

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
Photo: t4two photography
Producer: Jessie Rosario
Writer: Shireen Sandoval

Friday, January 16, 2015 Shireen's Spotlight Design District, Happy Hour, Oak Tavern

Lovely Lexi

lexi-4

Lovely Lexi

I got divorced by myself on a hot February day in downtown Miami. My attorney was with me, but my husband didn’t show up. I couldn’t really blame him, though; I didn’t want to be there, either. Really, it was a sad state of affairs, as I sat in a bone-chillingly, over-air-conditioned courtroom, where broken promises and unfulfilled dreams permeated the air. It was depressing to say the least.

My soon-to-be ex-husband was in New York City working, while I waited for a judge to dissolve the vows we had both taken so lovingly together. I replayed them in my mind while I was killing time…”to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; until death do us part.”

My eyes welled with tears at the memory of the exchange. I didn’t want to torture myself, but I couldn’t help but reflect on the love I had felt on that day and the love I still had for my husband. It all seemed crazy, really. I mean, if I still loved the guy, why was I divorcing him? What’s more, why was he letting me? We had an amazing relationship, our love story was the stuff dreams were made of and we were the couple that everyone always said would actually “make it.” We didn’t.

After the judge granted our divorce, I thanked my attorney and hurried to my car, where I locked myself inside and cried…for hours. After pulling myself together, I did something totally out of character; I called American Airlines and booked a ten day trip to Mexico. Alone. I didn’t tell anyone (besides asking my boss for time off.) I didn’t think anyone would notice.

I was always on the road for work anyway; traveling was actually 75 percent of my job. Until that moment, though, I had never really thought about venturing out on my own (for lack of a better description) to go and find myself. Perhaps it was because I didn’t really know I needed to be found. I arrived in the Mayan Riviera in one piece, but a few days later, ensconced in the lush greenery of Tulum by the breathtaking, crystal blue-green sea , I unequivocally fell apart.

Read the rest of my blog featuring Lexi Jewelry at www.wsvn.com or shop the look at www.lexijewelry.com & www.nicdelmar.com.

Twitter: @lexijewelry
Instagram: @lexijewelry
Facebook: Lexi Jewelry
Pinterest: Lexi Jewelry

Thursday, January 15, 2015 Shireen's Favorite Things Lexi Jewelry, Mexico, Travel

Shireen's Favorite Things

The Bugged & The Beautiful

Shireen’s Spotlight: Essensia Restaurant & Lounge (inside The Palms Hotel & Spa)

The Wildly Wonderful Ramona LaRue

Shireen’s Spotlight: Oak Tavern

Lovely Lexi

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