Belize Baecation


Last year when we visited Seattle for our anniversary, I remember sitting in a coffee shop drinking my 10th cup of coffee that day just trying to keep myself going. I was exhausted from intense sightseeing and miserable from eating too much - when we travel, we go hard. It's great to squeeze as much as possible into a trip, but it leaves you needing a vacation to recover from your vacation. I decided right then and there that for our two-year anniversary, we were taking a relaxing trip. And that's just what we did!

We flew into Belize City and took a tiny puddle jumper plane to the Placencia Peninsula (note: the plane was way less terrifying than I had anticipated). We chose this area because it was supposedly good for people who wanted a beach vacation with easy access to jungle-type activities. Many of Belize's beaches are on cayes, so in order to take a tour, you have to pay extra to get back to the main land via plane or boat. We ended up not doing any activities, but it was nice to have the option! 



Belize was a wonderful country to visit! Most everyone speaks English and accepts USD, so it was incredibly easy to get around. It felt much safer than Mexico and way cleaner than the Bahamas - we felt perfectly safe riding bikes down the main road or walking around town at night. Most of the peninsula is made up of boutique inns and vacation rentals, as opposed to giant resorts, which made it feel like a little beach town. People ride bikes and golf carts everywhere! 

Our hotel, Singing Sands Inn, was located on Maya Beach, about six miles north of the town of Placencia. It was the most private and relaxing place I've ever visited! It had more of a boutique hotel or bed and breakfast feel to it - there were only six cabanas and four garden rooms. The owners called us by name and were always out and about walking their dogs around the property. We basically had our own personal chef and bartender the whole trip because there were never more than four other people there. 



The property at Singing Sands was breathtaking - they take very good care of the grounds! The landscaping was immaculate and lush. The beach was nice, but there was quite a bit of seagrass washed up on shore. The water was perfectly clear, but the sand was dark and rocky, so it didn't put off that turquoise color. Because of that, it looked more like lake water which was semi-dissapointing.   The water, however, was very calm - in the mornings there were hardly even waves! Most of the property was eco-friendly, which gave it an authentic jungle vibe. 

Our cabana was to-die-for! It was sooooo cute and literally steps from the ocean. I loved to sit on our porch and watch the sunrise. We originally booked a garden suite, but were upgraded when we got there to the ocean front cabana. The only bad part was that the cabanas didn't have air conditioning (the garden suite did, but it wasn't nearly as neat as the cabana). At night, the ocean breeze was strong and we were comfortable enough to sleep, but during the day it was MUGGY. We were constantly sticky - sunscreen barely soaked in, makeup didn't stay on and my hair.....oh, my poor hair. It was a hot mess (literally). In hind site, we probably should have stayed with the air conditioned garden suite, but the cabana was such a fun experience that I'm glad we did it. 




The food was Singing Sands was delicious - our favorite meals of the trip were all eaten at their Bonefish Grille restaurant! There was a lot of authentic Belizean food on their menu (rice, beans, fry jacks - yum!) but also some Asian-inspired dishes which C loved. I had fish and/or shrimp at nearly every meal; the Belizean Pizza, sprinkled with pineapple and shrimp, was my absolute favorite. The drinks were also delicious and affordable. If you ever go to Belize, you have to try One Barrel rum - never have I ever tasted a more delicious rum in my life! We road bikes to several places close by for breakfast and lunch and took a cab into the main town of Placencia for dinner, drinks and dessert one night. 

Maya Beach Hotel & Bistro - very good food with a wonderful beach view and friendly wait staff
Mango's - meh
Rumfish y Vino - great drinks (Watermelon Mojito FTW), farm to table inspired food, cute patio/balcony atmosphere
Tutti Frutti Gelato - tasty enough gelato, and they had air conditioning!!!
Barefoot Bar - probably 1,000 different beach drinks on their menu! It was fun to sample their concoctions, some of which were locally inspired with fruits I had never heard of (soursop??). 




In comparison to the all-inclusive trips we've taken (Excellence, Beaches and Sandals), we were much happier this time around. The food and drinks were WAY better quality, the service was quicker, and grounds were quieter and less like a party atmosphere. We basically had a whole resort, beach and pool to ourselves. All things included, it was actually cheaper than those trips, too. The downside to it, though, was that we didn't always have wifi, we actually had to do some planning (where we were eating, how to get there, budgeting etc.), we didn't have multiple bars and restaurants at our fingertips, and the whole AC thing.... but those things forced us to relax harder and enjoy more.  I would definitely recommend Singing Sands Inn if you want to relax and feel like you're on a deserted island, and I would for sure go back to Belize any day! 

What other tropical locations should I add to my travel list? St. Lucia has always been at the top but let's be real here -- I'm happy on any beach! 


Edit: Be sure to bring bug spray with you! A week after returning and I'm still itching quarter sized mosquito bites. Pretty sure I have Zika virus now.......? 

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Beach Babe Attire

Hi world!! I hope you're enjoying a three-day-weekend to the fullest. I'm on day 10/10 of vacation; I should be relaxed out by now and itching to do something, but I am completely happy still being in my PJs and laying on the couch at 2 p.m. in the afternoon. Apologies for the late post, I've been "busy" ha! But in all seriousness, our weekend was jam-packed with friends, food and fun. I'm so glad to have an extra day to recoup and get ready to go back to work. 

Today, I am sharing a few of my swim suits and outfits from our trip to Belize! I'll be sharing a recap of our trip on Wednesday with details on where we stayed and ate and our overall thoughts, but I had to share a few outfit photos first!

Top c/o Mode | Shorts | Sandals

Bikini Top (on sale for $12!) here and here | Bikini Bottoms (old from VS) similar here and here | Similar Pom Pom Cover-Up here and here | Sunglasses

Bikini Top - get 20% off with code MEMDAY | Bikini Bottoms - get 20% off with code MEMDAY | Sunglasses

One-Piece Suit - get 20% off with code MEMDAY | Shorts | Sunglasses

Similar Dress | NecklaceC's Shirt

Bikini Top - exact one sold out, bandeau version here for $13, black version here for $13 | Bikini Bottoms - on sale for $10 | Similar Hat 50% off today only!

Thanks for reading, everyone! I hope you have a wonderful week,


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Friday Favorites

Celebrating our anniversary a week early in Belize - exact top sold out, similar here | bikini bottom

The first snow cone of the summer - bracelet linked under the "shop" tab

Getting our garage gym put together 

Checking Tim McGraw off my bucket list

Running a 5k for the first (and last) time in 3 years - running just ain't my thang! 

The cutest pup in the whole wide world who I can't wait to see tonight! 

We've had the best five days relaxing on the beach in Belize! I wish I could write every blog post from the front porch of a cabana while watching an ocean sunrise. I'll be sharing all the details about where we stayed, where we ate, what we did, what I wore etc. next week on the blog. We are headed home this afternoon -- I'm a little sad to leave paradise behind but I can't wait to sleep in my own bed, blow dry my hair without humidity and hug my puppies. Now it's time to initiate the countdown for our next vacation! There's only 100 days to go, if you're curious 😜

What are your plans for Memorial Day weekend? I'm so glad to have three more days off work once we get home to unpack, do laundry, meal prep and prepare to go back to work. And hit up some MDW sales, ya feel me?

Whatever your holiday weekend plans are, I hope you enjoy! 


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My Wedding Guest Dress Picks

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15

Am I the only one who spends months and months leading up to a wedding stressing out over what to wear?! Weddings are events that are highly photographed, so you always want to look your best! You want to dress the part - whether that be a casual outdoor wedding in the country, a beach wedding or a dressy evening event. You also don't want to outshine the bride or bridal part, but still stand out and be the best dressed guest there. And never wear white!!!

My cousin is getting hitched in June and I have been on the hunt for the perfect attire - so I thought I'd share some of my favorite finds! Nordstrom is always my go-to for things like this because their shipping is free (+ free returns) and they have a huge selection of all different styles. All of my picks are under $75 (some are even on sale) because let's be real.....you'll probably only wear that statement piece once and that's not worth dropping a cool hundo on!

Which ones are your favorite? #4, 13 and 14 are mine. I also added a few others in the widget below like this walk through romper option. Currently wishing I had #4 packed in my suitcase to wear to a beach dinner tonight in Belize!

Thanks for stopping by!






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Patios & Pinstripes




Top (similar here and here, also love this one) | Shorts | Sandals (only $34!) | Necklace | $12 David Yurman Dupe Bracelet

Happy Monday, everyone! It's an especially happy Monday for me because I'm at the airport waiting to board a plane to Belize in celebration of our two-year-anniversary (a few weeks early)! It is a much needed break and I couldn't be more excited to share it with my favorite human being. You can follow along on snap (@abradey15) and IG (@amandamart15) and I'll be telling you all about it when we return!

We spent our Saturday - day one of vacation - sitting on patios around OKC. I snapped these pics on our way to The Yard for a Beermosa. It was the first sunny day we've had in a while and it was soooo nice to feel the sunshine on my shoulders! This J. Crew off the shoulder top was perfect for getting a little color while kicking back and relaxing with friends. I paired it with my favorite cut-off jean shorts for a more casual look, but it would be easy to dress up with distressed white denim and wedges.

Also, I am 100% obsessed with the necklace I'm wearing from The Styled Collection. I've been picking my outfits based off of it ever since it came in the mail. I'm dying to order more jewelry from their site - like this bracelet, maybe? I love all the rose gold options so much!

I hope your week is off to a great start! Thanks for stopping by,









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The Best Protein Pancakes

Puppies, Wine and I'm Fine Weekend T, tank version here (use code AMANDAMART for 10% off) | Similar Sweater 

It's no secret, breakfast is pretty much my love language and I la-la-love me some pancakes. Growing up, pancakes and waffles were my dad's specialty - he would always make them for dinner when my mom was out for the night (with a side of sparkling apple juice, of course). As I grew, he started letting me help make the pancakes. He taught me to watch for the bubbles in the batter and once the bubbles started popping, it was time to flip! We also always made a test-size pancake to make sure the pan was the right temperature. Now days, C does most of the cooking (I'm a lucky lady, eh?), but pancakes are my thing and I still always make that test pancake. 

I've tried nearly 732 recipes for "healthy" pancakes and they never turn out quite right. Paleo pancakes are too thin and runny, protein pancakes are flavorless, dry and chalky.....none of them ever compare to good ole buttermilk! That is, until I found About Time Protein Pancake Mix

These pancakes are:
1) Delicious
2) Fluffy
3) Hearty & Healthy

Is there a better combination? I think not! They are quick, easy and turn out absolutely perfect every.single.time. All you have to do is add water to the powdered mix, stir, and pour onto a 325 degree griddle (I've discovered the lower the temp, the better the pancakes). The same batter also makes perfect waffles, mug cakes, and more. About Time has lot of recipe inspo on their blog that I will be utilizing! 

Their nutrition facts are amazing (especially for something so yummy) and they are gluten free. Each serving has 27g of protein, 24g of carbs and 7g of fat. That leaves just enough room for some butter and maple syrup! C & I normally make a serving and a half to split and have an egg white omelet on the side for a healthy Saturday breakfast. It's so nice to start our weekends off on a healthy note but still feel like we are indulging! 





Pottery Barn 'Cambria' Plate | Pottery Barn 'Riley' Flatware

I buy my About Time mix from TRIAD in OKC. The staff is amazing, knowledgable, very helpful and never pushy. They often let you sample products before buying them (which is SO important when you're buying 30+ servings at a time). They actually introduced me to this mix by letting me take a sample ziplock bag home and I am eternally grateful. I haven't tried the other flavors because I loved the Maple Syrup so much, but I'm betting they are all equally as delicious. If you need sups, protein bars or pancake mix, definitely swing by TRIAD and tell them I sent you.

What do you have going on this weekend? We are supposed to have friends over for a cookout but our power is still out from the crazy Oklahoma storms last night...fingers crossed it gets fixed soon! Other than that, we are running a 5k and packing to fly out Monday morning for our anniversary beach trip. And of course, we'll be eating our About Time pancakes for weekend breakfast.

Thanks for reading and happy breakfasting!



P.S. Sorry for the poor quality photos! We wake up in the 7o'clocks on Saturday mornings because we are old and boring and our kitchen wasn't quite light enough for pictures yet! But my tummy was rumbling and I couldn't wait, ha! 
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Gingham Style

Top (similar in red here, also love this one and this one that is on sale today only!) | Pants (favorite work pants - comes in multiple colors) | Tory Burch Miller Sandals | $12 David Yurman Dupe Bracelet | Similar $12 Sunnies | Necklace | Lips | Arrow Ring

It seems like gingham is all the rage lately! I always wear my J. Crew gingham button up in the fall with a fur vest, riding boots and a PSL making me the most basic of the basics, but this is my first time wearing gingham in the spring/summer. I'm kind of loving it!! I think it would be perfect for Memorial Day coming up or for the 4th of July if you add in some pops of red.

I wore this outfit on Sunday for Mother's Day brunch. We went to Stillwater and took my mother-in-law to the clubhouse at Karsten Creek. I normally just eat the brunch buffet, but this time I ordered a pancake and it completely hit the spot. What I love most about this top is that unlike most cold shoulder tops, you can wear a real bra with it due to the thicker straps! That also means I can wear it to work.....win! I hate spending money on tops that aren't work appropriate. This one is great because you can also dress it down with white shorts or cut-offs meaning you'll get twice as much use out of it.

Also....apologies for my messy, gross hair. The Oklahoma wind was in full force AND I ran out of dry shampoo. It was a terrible combination!






$12 David Yurman Dupe Bracelet | Sunnies (Prada) Similar HereSimilar $12 Sunnies | Arrow Ring


That bad news is that this specific top is almost sold out :( the good news is there are a bazillion other adorable gingham tops available right now! I linked my favorites in the widget below.

What are your thoughts on gingham style? Not to be confused with gangnam style, of course!


Shop The Post



Couldn't help but share this real life behind the scenes shot - no Mother's Day picture for me! 
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Made With Love



How cute is this casual T from Mode? I snagged it at their birthday bash and am head over heals in love with it. I'm such a sucker for the t-shirt & shorts combo...always have been, always will be. It's basically my weekend dress code. Mode is full of clothes that scream weekend road trip or patio weather...can I have one of everything?! If you're looking for something unique and fashion forward, check them out and tell them I sent you!

My favorite part about this t is the "Made With Love" print on the pocket. It gives it just enough sass to make it different from other t-shirts without being overwhelming. I was planning on wearing it with plain cut-off jean shorts, but this old pair from American Eagle matched the color of the roses so perfectly that I couldn't not wear them together! I love the boxy fit of the top...flattering yet still perfect for wearing after a big lunch.....because, lets be real, weekend calories and patio beers are not tracked.

Speaking of weekend calories....we went to see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in concert on Saturday! Talk about a bucket list item! I've been wanting to see that duo live since I was singing "The Way You Love Me" into my hair brush in 1997 and jamming out to "Real Good Man" on the way to horse shows with my Saddle Club friends in 2002 (please tell me I'm not the only girl who watched The Saddle Club.......). TBH, I was a little disappointed in Tim. He didn't play very many songs and the ones he did sing were not my favorites. Faith, however, was a rockstar. I will be researching her skin care routine....whatever it is, sign me up! She has never looked better!




Top c/o Mode, available in store (also love this one) | Shorts (old, similar here and here) | Sandals (old, similar here and here) | Necklace | Sunnies

This time next week I'll be on jet plane headed somewhere warm and sunny....I know it will make the work week extra tedious because my Monday is already dragging and it's not even 10 a.m.! My brain is clearly already on vacation mode -- can you blame me?! The good news is that when I come back, my legs will be waaaaay more tan than they are in these pictures, ha! 

Thanks for reading! It means so much.





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