KATIE KENNEDY

Spa Day at the Don Cesar

Spa Day at the Don Cesar

Pajama Set

Let’s pause for a second and have everyone take a deep breath! No matter who you are, this week is a pretty tense one and emotions are running high. Obviously, I’m talking about the election. While we won’t know the final results for at least a few days, it’s important to take some moments for self-care. This can be achieved in a long list of ways and it’s important to pick what works best for you. Since my company was gracious enough to give Election Day off, and I had already voted, I opted for a spa day at the Don Cesar Hotel.

This icon is known as the Pink Palace and it is such a sight to see! Built in 1928, it has hosted so many big names including Franklin Roosevelt, Al Capone, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Even with all of its current and modern amenities, you still feel the glamour from the Roaring 20s. The shades of pink and green only add to its tropical opulence. I’m so happy I live close by and get to visit often!

  • Spa Day, Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach

This particular trip was purely dedicated to relaxation at the Spa Oceana. It had been a while since I visited a spa and I loved looking through their services and offerings. Ultimately I decided to keep it simple with a Swedish Massage and Facial. It’s exactly what I needed! I was able to keep my mind off of current events and left my appointment feeling so at peace. Relaxing on the rooftop terrace overlooking the Gulf of Mexico currently didn’t hurt either!

  • Spa Day, Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach

I then spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the resort. I ordered a quick lunch at The Rowe Bar, had a caffeine pick-me-up from Andy’s, and sat in the courtyard. The weather in Florida has been, in a word, perfect! 70 degrees and sunny is the forecast that we wait all summer long for. The Don Cesar has a lot of new projects in the work and it was fun to see their progress. I can’t wait to visit again soon!

  • Spa Day, Don Cesar, St. Pete Beach

No matter where you live, be sure to take care of yourself over the next couple of days. As a nation, we have been through so much in 2020. Listen to what your body is telling you and invest in time moments of self-care. It may be the best decision you make!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Date Night at Wild Child

Date Night at Wild Child

Dress (similar) || Wedges || Clutch

Whenever a new restaurant opens up in St. Pete, I try to get there ASAP. Obviously, that mentality has slowed down a little bit with COVID. Better late than never! Back in August, one of the newest bistros and bars opened up. Wild Child is an instant hit and is a welcome new addition to the Grand Central District. David and I had an opportunity for a little date night last weekend. I’m already planning on a return trip!

  • St. Pete, Date Night, Wild Child, cocktail bar
The Setting

Anytime I find a spot that is painted in shades of pink and coral, I know it’s going to be a favorite! Between the Vinoy and Don Cesar hotels, I want to declare pink to be the unofficial color of St. Pete. Like an old school tiki bar brought into the 21st century, you can expect a relaxed atmosphere. The inside dining room is intimate, while the outdoor patio is where you can take advantage of the beautiful Florida weather. On this particular night, they were able to open up the windows and it was, in a word, heavenly.

  • St. Pete, Date Night, Wild Child, cocktail
    Left: Queens Park Swizzle || Right: Lone Palm
  • Left: Saturn || Right: Naked and Famous
The Cocktails

When you head to a cocktail bar, of course, you want to sip something amazing! The drink list was long and a little something for everyone. Since David and I were there for a meal, we took the opportunity to have a few of their cocktails. I will always have a love for tiki-inspired drinks. They are so flavor-forward while making you feel like you’re on vacation. My favorite of the night was absolutely the Queens Park Swizzle. It’s a beautiful concoction of rum, lime, mint, and bitters. I feel like this drink was made just for me! No matter what you order, you’re in store from such a treat!

  • St. Pete, Date Night, Wild Child, cocktail bar
    Whipped Ricotta
  • Jerk Octopus
The Food

The hardest decision of the evening was to decide what to order! We had gone in just wanting to order a few small plates to share, but everything tasted so good! Ultimately, we followed our stomach and ordered what I think are the two standout dishes on the menu. And how different they are from each other! To start, we shared the whipped ricotta. I had heard through the grapevine that this was a must eat. Drizzled with herbs and honey, it makes for a great little snack.

Our second dish was the Jerk Octopus. A little known fact about me… I tend to put jerk sauce or seasoning on everything! There’s something about the flavors that send my tastebuds on overdrive. Wild Child did not disappoint. The combination of Meyer lemon, jerk seasoning, and Thai basil was incredible. It was tempting to wipe the plate clean. Oh, how I wish I could recreate this at home!

If you’re looking for a new spot for date night or cocktails with friends, I highly recommend Wild Child! I can’t wait to try more of their ever-changing menu. Opened Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 5 o’clock, you may very well just see me there. Cheers!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Fall Days in St. Pete

Fall Days in St. Pete

Fall, St. Pete, Pier, Holiday

Dress || Heels || Clutch || Bracelet

October is just whizzing by and before you know it, the Winter Holiday season will be here. Whether I’m in New York or Florida, the fall is such a special season and should be celebrated accordingly. While in the city, we visited Cold Spring, museum hopped and witnessed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. But what about St. Pete? While the list is shorter, there is so much to do in the Sunshine City when the temperature begins to cool. Here are some of my favorite options!

Visit the St. Pete Pier Pumpkin Patch

Florida typically isn’t known for trips to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard. So, the city of St. Pete has brought that country feel to you. At the newly revamped and extremely popular St. Pete Pier, they have debuted the first annual pumpkin patch. Now, until October 25th, get a healthy dose of fall, while taking in the newest attraction in town. The skyline on a crisp “Florida fall” day is always a sight to see.

Sip Seasonal Cocktails

St. Pete has its share of unique cocktail bars. While you can find tropical drinks year-round, some add more of a seasonal twist in the fall months. I always look for some staple flavors like apple, chai, and (of course) pumpkin. At least once a week you can find me at either Intermezzo, Trophy Fish, or Mandarin Hide for cocktails. Nearly all of our breweries get in on the fun too. Be sure to visit either Cage Brewing or St. Pete Brewing Company.

Fall, St. Pete, Pier, Holiday
Be One With Nature

The dip in temperatures is a perfect opportunity for Floridians to get outside. For the water inclined, it’s an excuse to grab a kayak or paddleboard and get on Tampa Bay. If that’s not quite your thing, I highly recommend taking long walks in one of St. Pete’s nature preserves. I personally love Weedon Island, but can’t wait to explore Boyd Hill.

Give Back

As we begin to enter the holiday season, I know that seems a ways away, it’s important to give back to your community. Whatever city you live in, find a charity or organization that you strongly believe in. From there, start volunteering in whatever ways fit your schedule. If time is tight, and you’re able, a financial donation also does wonders!

Fall, St. Pete, Pier, Holiday

Welcome to fall St. Pete! I hope this cooler weather is here to stay. However long it lasts, I’ll be taking advantage of it for as long as I can!

Love from Florida,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.