8 Romantic Babymoon Stays for A Getaway Before the Family Grows

Hillsboro Beach Resort 

Beautifully nestled on an intimately peaceful peninsula known as “Millionaire’s Mile”, Hillsboro Beach Resort is excited to welcome expecting couples with a complimentary baby rattle and beach tote, as well as a “special cravings” menu for in-room deliveries to satisfy random cravings, including a pickle platter, french fries, ice cream, freshly made cookies, or even a romantic plate of chocolate-dipped strawberries. Future moms will enter the suite to discover a comfortable, breathable maternity beach cover-up from Cotton Natural (perfect for a baby bump photoshoot on the secluded shoreline), bottles of champagne and sparkling cider on ice, and the makings for a rose-scented bath–including soaking salts, a floral bubbling bath bomb, a Pink Himalayan salt scrub, and a whipped body butter–to rejuvenate after a day in the sunshine. Address: 1159 Hillsboro Mile, Hillsboro Beach, Florida 33062  

Hotel Effie

The glamorous Hotel Effie is home to several culinary concepts by acclaimed Chef Hugh Acheson, a luxurious on-site spa, and the only rooftop pool on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Grab a complimentary Grapefruit Lime Mockgarita with an immunity-boosting dose of vitamin C from the Ara Rooftop Bar and get the star treatment right in your hotel with a free Side-By-Side Massage for future parents at Spa Lilliana, and head to Ovide for a nutritious mommy-friendly, three-course meal of kale salad, free range chicken, and a decadent chocolate dessert (with a special to-go box of Effie’s signature biscuits and house-made potato chips for late-night snacking). Finally, the hotel partners with Coconut Kidz in the Baytowne Wharf so you can pick out a free onesie and toy for your future bundle of joy! Address: 1 Grand Sandestin Blvd, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 

The Gabriel South Beach 

The view of gentle waves from The Gabriel South Beach is a gorgeous backdrop for quality time before the baby comes. Expecting parents are welcomed by an in-suite bouquet of fresh flowers, balloons, and a plush toy for your future bundle of joy from Fleurs De La Mer. Get comfy with a plush prenatal body pillow and stay in for a baby-themed movie night. The hotel will stream Baby Mama, Nine Months, and What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Best of all, couples receive decadent ice cream carts à la Dalia delivered to their room with flavors like banana dragon fruit, coconut, and pistachio. The restaurant will include personalized favorite toppings upon request, from iron-rich dark chocolate and protein-packed peanut butter and other pregnancy cravings. Address: 640 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139 

The Balfour Hotel

The Balfour Hotel is a boutique stay on Ocean Drive steps away from some of South Beach’s best shopping, dining, and entertaining destinations. Along with complimentary beach chairs and plush beach towels, expecting couples receive a picnic basket with all of mom’s pregnancy cravings in tow - this includes, pickles, chocolate and salty potato chips. The culinary team at the hotel’s restaurant Mehzcla will work with the mom-to-be to include craveable foods specific to the mother’s needs.  This package also includes a copy of Growing You: Keepsake Pregnancy Journal and Memory Book for Mom and Baby, to document the journey into parenthood. Address: 350 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139 

The Gabriel Miami

At The Gabriel Miami, those who are expecting a child can focus on getting prepared for their new bundle of joy. The hotel, which is located in Downtown Miami among many of the city’s cultural attractions, partners with local children’s boutiques to bring the shopping experience directly to your hotel room. The hotel collaborates with local shops like Nini and Loli and Babycottons for parents to choose newborn essentials, including light onesies and sleepers that are made from Pima, Peruvian cotton. After the shopping session, couples can enjoy a private meal by a chef on their hotel balcony while enjoying the panoramic views of Biscayne Bay. Address: 1100 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132 

The Marker Key West Harbor Resort 

The Marker Key West is a postcard-perfect stay for future mommies seeking a peaceful resort that’s steps away from Key West’s best attractions. Waiting in the guest room is a maternity bikini by Pink Blush as the hotel has three crystal clear pools that are great for lounging and swimming a few laps for low-intensity exercise. To capture this special time the Marker provides mom-to-be with a private maternity portrait session on the Key West Harbor. This package also includes a curated collection of must-reads during pregnancy, including Bumpin', Expecting Better, Nurture, and What to Eat When You're Pregnant for poolside reading. Address: 200 William St, Key West, FL 33040 

THesis Hotel Miami

THesis Hotel Miami, located in the heart of Coral Gables, is a refined tropical escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Expectant mothers will receive  a private prenatal yoga class with calming meditation and breathwork in collaboration with Wellness @ THesis, and self-care kit by The Honest Company, which includes soaking salts, glow-on body oil, Sweet Curves body lotion and a skin-reviving face mask. To ensure that mom-to-be stays healthy, the team at Orno and Mamey will create a vitamin-rich menu which will boost immunity, milk production and overall wellness. With fresh produce sourced from Niven Patel’s Rancho Patel, moms to be will dine on the ultimate prenatal dinner that is meant to nourish and enjoy. Address: 1350 S Dixie Hwy, Coral Gables, FL 33146 

Gale South Beach 

Gale South Beach is perfect for future moms seeking a fun day out-and-about in sunny Miami. The hotel partners with Jack and Jill Yoga for a prenatal yoga class included with your stay. Return from a day of scenic South Beach photo-ops and baby shopping to a guest room catered to mom’s comfort with special amenities in-room, including The Snoogle pregnancy pillow, which was designed by a Registered Nurse and Mom to follow the natural contour and shape of your body from head to toe. Use to make sleeping and relaxing more cozy without the extra body heat. Address: 1690 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 

Say I Love You With Gourmet Gift Baskets This Valentine's Day

It's February which means Valentine's Day is nearing. Sometimes it's hard to know what to give the people you love. One thing that I know for sure is that you cannot go wrong with food-related gifts. I know I love getting tasty treats delivered! Gourmet Gift Baskets has a wide variety of food gifts to please every person's taste. They offer everything from chocolate, cookies, fruit, wine, beer, cheese, crackers, snacks, and more. 

We received the prettiest Valentine's Day Chocolate and Cookies Gift Basket. It came packaged so well, complete with a Valentines-themed greeting card. This lovely basket is filled with sweet, chocolatey yumminess.  

The contents of the Valentine's Day Chocolate and Cookies Gift Basket are: 

Vanilla & Chocolate Sweet Heart Cookies by Rustic Bakery, Chocolate Fudge Slab by Annalie's Chocolates, Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Kettle Corn by GourmetGiftBaskets.com 

Single Box - Magnetic Closure, Chocolate Cubetti by Fusion Gourmet, Vanilla Cubetti by Fusion Gourmet, Chocolate Covered Cherries by Marich, and Red Velvet Cookies by Mississippi Cheese Straw Factory. 

The sweet heart cookies are our favorite. So buttery with a crunchy, yet light texture. They go nicely with a hot cup of tea. The red velvet cookies are simply divine. I really like the little keepsake box with magnetic closure. It's perfect for random little knickknacks, hair ties, costume jewelry and more. 

Let me tell you about that fudge-- it is insanely delicious! It's creamy, rich, not overly sweet. and oh so chocolatey. It's a chocoholic's dream! The one item I refuse to share is the dreamy chocolate covered cherries. It's the perfect treat, and also my favorite brand. This was our first time trying the cinnamon and brown sugar kettle corn, and we really liked it. It has a nice balance of sweetness and flavor. 

All of the goodies in this gift basket are top notch quality, and is a wonderful way to tell someone you love them. In just a few clicks, you can have a gift sent out to everyone on your list. Be sure to check out GourmetGiftBaskets.com for your Valentine's Day gifting. Also, keep them in mind for other occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and even just because. You can even personalize a greeting card to go with it. Trust me, the recipient will love it! 

We want to thank GourmetGiftBaskets.com for sending us this delicious gift to review. All opinions are 100% our own. Thank you for stopping by today! 

Five Qualities You Need to Be a Successful Woman

Many women are becoming successful business owners and entrepreneurs. You can be successful as your own boss, too. However, you will need to have a certain set of qualities that will make your adventure easier. If you do not own these qualities, you will have to build them. The good news is that it's possible. These are five qualities you'll need to be a successful female business owner or entrepreneur:

Thick Skin

Thick skin is something you will definitely need to have if you want to exist in the current world of business. As a female, you may face challenges that other individuals do not face. You may have to deal with gender biases and stereotypes on top of the general problems people experience as they try to grow their businesses. Thick skin is the ability to separate certain things and let them fly over your head instead of allowing them to stop your growth. You can develop thick skin through coaching, reading, or regular growth experiences. 

Courage

You will need to have courage as a woman in the business world. That means you'll need to be a risk-taker like Sarah Cone on Twitter. Risk-takers are people who understand the massive loss they could experience but also understand how much of a gain they could get from taking such a risk. They are gamblers who are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone and take chances. You will have to be this type of person to succeed in many aspects of life, particularly business. 

Positivity 

Positivity is an absolute must to be a business owner and a leader. In fact, it's necessary to be positive if you want to achieve anything. A pessimistic outlook is not a good one to have if you want to grow your business or entrepreneurship. You'll need to have an "I can" attitude instead of thinking about all the things that could go wrong for you. You've probably heard that you can do anything you set your mind to. That's 100 percent true, but you have to set your mind to it instead of psyching yourself out of your own achievements. 

Big-Thinking

Big thinking is a part of positive thinking. It's the aspect of positive thinking that allows you to look at the big picture and see success in your future. You need to be able to envision yourself owning an enterprise even if you don't have two nickels to rub together at this time. You have to believe that you can succeed and you can achieve much more than what might be in your immediate box. Always think outside the box and think bigger than what the norm is. That way, you can stretch your abilities, skills, and talents and make something amazing happen. 

Resilience

Finally, you will need to have the resilience to survive. You'll need to be able to bounce back after a fall, let-down, or disappointment. Not all business ideas flourish, but there might be something even better for you. Be willing to walk through another door if one door closes on you. Be willing to adapt to a new set of circumstances if something causes your old ones to disappear. You may have to fight for many years before you get to a level of success you feel comfortable with. Do not give up because your day to thrive will come eventually. 

Look over the list of attributes to find qualities that you may need to hone. Do whatever is necessary to build up your strength and skill so that you can succeed in any field as a leader. 

How To Experience VIVA: The Fastest, Freshest Chicken in Greenville!

VIVA Chicken joined the Greenville scene last August and has since received dazzling reviews for its lively environment, fun and friendly staff, and crave-worthy charcoal-fired chicken. With over a hundred people sharing their testimonials of how VIVA Chicken has increased the flavor game in Greenville through the hottest, freshest chicken around, VIVA wants to teach you How To VIVA!

Download The App

VIVA Chicken offers a VIVA App to access their loyalty program, VIVA Points. Earning points via VIVA Points allows users to receive free VIVA and be the first to know about special marketing promotions. Joining the app will earn you a special 10% off during your second visit in addition to easy ordering to pick up from your favorite location either in-store or curbside. Curbside pickup is as easy as selecting “I’m here” within the app and receiving delicious food at your convenience! 

Order What VIVA Insiders Love

VIVA Insiders love VIVA and we don’t blame them! The top menu items VIVA Insiders love are: 

• VIVA’s staple: Pollo a la Brasa (Peruvian rotisserie chicken) which is imported from Peru, marinated in Chef Bruno's family recipe, and cooked in charcoal-fired ovens which gives the chicken a special and unique flavor. 
• Tacu Bowl - Dynamic and delicious flavors join together in this bowl with cilantro rice, pulled rotisserie chicken, canary beans, salsa Criolla (lime-marinated onions and tomatoes), avocado and topped green onions.
• Arroz Chaufa - Peruvian cuisine has a lot of Chinese influence, starting with Arroz Chaufa! This dish is Peruvian fried rice that includes veggies sauteed in soy sauce and ginger. 
  

Bring the Whole Family 

On Thursdays, it’s all about the family on Chef Bruno’s Big Chicken Day, where you can feed the whole fam for $19.95! Forget the stress of cooking tonight, VIVA Chicken provides an option that is fast, fresh, and a great deal for the family to enjoy. This meal includes a whole chicken and 3 large sides with quick and easy pick up to suit the needs of your busy lifestyle.

Get Lost in the Sauce 

VIVA has got the sauce, all of which are inspired by the best flavors of Peru. Each sauce served at VIVA Chicken has a unique flavor and adds value to any meal. VIVA’s sauces are made in-house daily and have gained quite the fanbase for their delicious taste, so it’s up to you to discover your favorite! They’re all delicious, ranging from:

• Aji Amarillo — Mild, yellow, and made with garlic aji pepper
• Huacatay — Medium, green, and made with cilantro, jalapeno, and black Peruvian mint
• Rocoto — Red, hot, fiery, smoky, and made with rocoto pepper

8 Things to Prepare For When Choosing a Surrogate

Deciding to start a family is not a decision that one makes overnight. If you are not able to conceive a child naturally, some other avenues are well worth exploring. Adoption and surrogacy are two ideal alternatives to falling pregnant naturally and are often just as fulfilling as having a baby more traditionally.

Choosing the ideal surrogate is not a simple process, and the more control you have over the external variables, the better. There are some vital aspects that you need to consider when you start your journey to finding your perfect surrogate or carrier.

Make a list of what you ideally want in a surrogate - the below eight points will give you something to consider and spend time thinking about. Having a baby is a mammoth decision, and it is not one to be made on a whim.

1. Age

When choosing a surrogate, you must first look at her age. According to the experts, the ideal childbearing age is around 30 years old. The best time to get pregnant is between 20 and 35 years old.

While it is not impossible to fall pregnant when older, the passing years often make it more challenging. Women who fall pregnant past the age of 35 risk their health and the health of the baby.

When consulting a surrogacy agency, be sure to let them know what your exact requirements are in terms of what you are looking for in a surrogate. A gestational surrogate will not use eggs of her own, so age is more of just a general indication of overall health and wellness.

2. Health

Finding a willing carrier is only half of the battle. You must look at her health history; that way you can do your best to ensure that your baby is healthy and that the delivery process is free from any issues or complications.

Ideally, a surrogate should have given birth before and currently live a healthy and stable life. Your surrogate should be sober and a non-smoker, with no history of drug or substance abuse. Remember to check with your surrogate to ensure that she is not on any chronic medications or ensure that her condition can be safely managed throughout her pregnancy - without putting your baby at risk.

3. Family Health

To be well prepared, you should take your surrogate’s family's health into account. Certain diseases and conditions are hereditary. Just because your surrogate has given birth in the past without issues, does not guarantee that the pregnancy and delivery of your baby will be equally as uncomplicated.

Take a look at the delivery history of your surrogate’s mother and grandmother - this will give you the best indication of what you can expect during the birth of your baby.

4. Understand Willingness

Surrogacy should ideally be a cut and dry process. You want a baby, and then you find a carrier willing to have your baby. Sounds simple, right? As much as this is how things should happen, sometimes the hormones and parental instincts kick in, and, the surrogate, unfortunately, changes her mind.

By using a California surrogacy agency, they will do their best to ensure that your surrogate remains willing during the entire pregnancy. Make sure that you clear up any concerns before insemination. That way no one is left in the dark, and everyone knows what to expect as the pregnancy progresses.

Your surrogate or carrier needs to demonstrate complete willingness during the entire process. Be sure to discuss these matters in-depth beforehand so that no one is left disappointed or surprised. She needs to make concessions and commit to all the appointments and check-ups.

That is the only way to keep an eye on your baby’s development and health throughout the pregnancy.

5.  Pregnancy History

When choosing the perfect surrogate, you need to check their pregnancy history. Make sure that they haven’t had any issues during past pregnancies. The smaller, more expected, things are normal – such as heartburn or fatigue. Be on the lookout for bigger issues like gestational diabetes or hypertension.

Those can be red flags for future pregnancies, especially if the carrier is older now.

6. BMI

Having a high BMI can significantly reduce the chances of falling pregnant. Ensure that your surrogate’s BMI falls between the ideal range of 18.5 and 25, which is the healthiest range for having an uncomplicated pregnancy.

A higher BMI puts her at risk of developing problems during her pregnancy. Don’t let her start a diet while pregnant, is not recommended. If your surrogate wants to watch her weight during pregnancy, she needs to consult an experienced dietician.

The BMI cannot be too low either; a lower BMI increases the risk of delivery and post-delivery complications such as preterm delivery. 

7. Availability

When choosing a surrogate, be sure to check her and make sure that her schedule aligns with yours. If you want a winter baby, your surrogate needs to be available and willing to fall pregnant at the right time.

While you cannot guarantee that your surrogate will fall pregnant, you can increase her chances by ensuring that she lives in a calm and relaxing environment and takes her pregnancy supplements.

8. Involvement

Before going ahead with a pregnancy, make sure that both parties know what is expected of them, both during and after the pregnancy. Most surrogates are not involved in the baby’s life after the birth or breastfeeding, particularly ones who come from surrogacy agencies.

To End

Finding a surrogate should be an easy and fulfilling experience. Finding your perfect match is just like falling in love with someone – when it is the right person, you will know. For the duration of this journey with your surrogate, it is your responsibility to ensure that she has access to the best medical care available. If you’re ready to begin your journey to parenthood, contact a surrogacy agency today. Good luck on your journey; it will no doubt be an unforgettable one.