Come Relax at Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto

Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto

*Special thanks to Villa del Palmar for hosting my stay. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.*

By Erin

Villa del Palmar

If you’re searching for a place of beauty that defines luxury and true relaxation, look no further than Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto. Filled with quiet beaches, scenic vistas, rich history and an astounding natural habitat that offers every modern amenity and a truly exceptional experience for every guest, making this a prime vacation spot to go to. Villa del Palmar is the perfect getaway for friends, couples, honeymooners, friends and families.

Off the Sea of Cortez lies a very magical place, one that hasn’t turned into an overpopulated tourist trap.  Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto  is just south of Loreto, Mexico along the eastern coastline of the Baja peninsula overlooking Danzante Island. It is the perfect escape from Los Angeles. Loreto is a quaint little fishing village with a small population with a large desire to preserve its astounding beauty. A very peaceful and quite town that you can relax in and take in all of the beauty surrounding you. Less than a two-hour flight from Los Angeles and featuring an abundance of activities for the mind, body and soul. Upon arrival you can have some welcome drinks. You will never want to leave this paradise!

Villa del Palmar drinks

The resort is set within Danzante Bay and the indigo waters of the Sea of Cortez once dubbed “The Aquarium of the World” by Jacques Cousteau. Featuring 4,447 acres of unspoiled beauty, both stunning ocean and mountain views, three outstanding restaurants, five swimming pools, a 39,000-square-foot luxury spa, beautiful beaches, tennis courts, miles of hiking trails, glass-bottomed kayaks, sport fishing, and a soon-to-open Rees Jones-designed golf course, Villa del Palmar has something for everyone to enjoy. Here’s some of my favorite things to enjoy during your stay that everyone must experience!

Whale & Dolphin Watching at Villa del Palmar

Villa del Palmar activities

The Sea of Cortez is swimming with sea life, I have never seen so many whales and dolphins all in one place! Whale watching in Loreto is a must, you will be entertained for hours and make memories to last a lifetime. Marine animals can be spotted here throughout the year including the humpback whale, the blue whale, the California gray whale, killer whale, along with different kinds of dolphins. Our small boat that we took from the hotel glided over the waves as we watched and followed the whales surface to the top.

Later we encountered dolphins by the thousands! We watched with glee as dolphins surrounded our boat in the middle of the sea, flying and jumping in all directions, around and under our boat, leaping and catching themselves a good dinner.

Villa del Palmar dolphins

Dining at Villa del Palmar

The dining options here offer many delicious sensations for your taste buds to enjoy. The cuisine completely compliments the splendor of the magnificent views that surround you. Dining options here are created with so much passion and everything is so fresh!

  • Danzante Restaurant: Fine dining steak house and seafood with Mexican fusion, offering a large wine selection and a variety of cigars.
  • The Market Restaurant: A brand new concept where you will be able to make your own dishes! Just imagine being home & prepare your own lunch or dinner with the help of our chef. Open for breakfast and dinner.

  • Casa Mia Restaurant: Authentic Italian food with fresh pasta and pizza. Open for lunch & dinner.
  • Room Service: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight menu featuring international cuisine & snacks. 24 hour service.

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Horsing Around with JORD Wood Watches #JordWatch @Woodwatches_com

Horsing Around with JORD Wood Watches

By Erin

*Disclosure: I received product in order to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.*

Jord-Watch-2015

Earlier this month as I was getting ready to leave for Disney World, Jord Watches approached me about trying out one of their wooden watches. A wooden watch? How interesting… so I checked it out. I was rather intrigued. Jord is Swedish for “earth, soil, and land.” Being that I am 1/2 Swedish, this caught my attention even more. Jord is sustainable, efficient, simple, and influenced by experiential living. Their timepieces were derived from the desire for a timepiece that was made of natural elements and modeled a modern design and lifestyle.  While browsing through their collection, I saw quite a few different watches that caught my eye and were something I’d choose for myself. I loved the modern and Earthy designs. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, I was happy to see that the company lives, works, and plays in the United States. In St. Louis, Missouri. Jord features beautifully crafted pieces that are as unique and distinctive as its owner. Each watch is custom fit to your wrist for the perfect fit. The beauty of the wood shines through each piece, each individual grain and sparkly jewel showing off the visible craftsmanship and unyielding utility. Some of their current series of watches feature bamboo, maple, sandalwood, blackwood, cherry, zebrawood, and koa.

Womens Wood Watches

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So which watch did I choose? I chose the Sidney Series, in Maple and Rose Gold. The Sidney series was designed in an effort to capture both the venturesome spirit and quintessential styling of a modern watch wearer. The chronograph functionality is lightened by the iridescent dial and fixed crystal bezel. The Sidney is bold and reaches beyond a typical lady’s sport timepiece. The watches come in a series of wood colors and styles, and there are several models to choose from; all at their own price point. There are men’s, women’s and unisex models to choose from. These luxury watches, range in price from $120 to $295. The Sidney Series one pictured in this post runs for $199.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE, how the watch arrives to you, in the gorgeous wooden box shown above on its own pillow. It makes for a great place to store your watch when you’re not wearing it.  Usually I’d just throw the case away, as most just come in an ugly plastic case that you wouldn’t even think of keeping. But, THIS! I love. The metal clasp makes it easy to put the watch on and off and the link pieces are surprisingly durable and sturdy. It does not pop off and doesn’t get too lose on me (due to the custom fit, and why they have you measure your wrist when placing your order I’m sure). In a nutshell these watches are beautiful, functional, and sustainable. So where have I gone with my watch? 

Jord-Watches-SeaWorld

The watch isn’t completely water safe, though you don’t need to worry about getting a splash on it. My watch spent the day near water, and was just fine. 😉 Do not submerge it in water (it’s untreated wood, so it expands when it gets really wet.) Wood watches by JORD are produced with all natural and untreated woods. This keeps them hypoallergenic and maintains the true finish of the wood and since wood is inherently porous, it is prone to dirt and oil. For best cleaning results, mix two tablespoons each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply with a soft cotton cloth. It is recommended that you apply a natural coating such as beeswax, butcher block oil, or walnut oil to help to protect it against damage and improve the durability of the wood while helping to maintain the moisture balance (prevent drying or cracking). I have not done this yet, but I probably should.

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Wordless Wednesday: Majestic Lusitano Stallions

Wordless Wednesday: Majestic Lusitano Stallions

By Erin

There are some pretty gorgeous Lusitano stallions at the barn where the horses are kept at. My friend Cat at the barn captured some amazing shots of these very animated guys! Take a look! 😉

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A little bit of history on this breed; the Lusitano is a Portuguese horse breed, closely related to the Spanish Andalusian horse. Often times called Iberian horses because the breeds were developed on the Iberian peninsula, until the 1960s they were considered one breed, under the Andalusian name. The Lusitano has been developed to be a horse that is useful for war, dressage and bull fighting. In 1966, Portuguese and Spanish stud books split, and the Portuguese strain of the Iberian horse was named the Lusitano. The guys pictured here are used as bull fighting horses.

What do you think? Some pretty handsome fellas aren’t they? 😉

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Working on the longe line with side reins.

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Beautiful!!

10960337_804216202988507_535444909861279648_o Say CHEESE!!!! 🙂