Alexa Marsh: August 2018

The Blue Window, by Henri Matisse

Photos of Artwork From the Museum of Modern Art in NYC //

Dance, by Henri Matisse

Fresh Widow, by Rose Selavy

Charing Cross Bridge, by André Derain

Water Lilies, by Claude Monet

I and the Village, by Marc Chagall

Gold Marilyn Monroe, by Andy Warhol

Die, by Faith Ringgold

by Jackson Pollock

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eating //

As always, I have been eating tons of smoothie bowls! I was questioning whether or not to include this section because I have been eating smoothie bowls all summer long (and honestly for the past two years), but I thought that if I used the picture above as the "cover" of this post I would have to explain it at least a little bit. The smoothie bowls pictured above are from Jamba Juice, but I almost always make my own. I always get Jamba Juice's acai smoothie bowl ( pictured on the right), and my prefers to switch things up, so she tried their nutty almond butter bowl (on the left).

reading //

I am currently about half way through Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451, a required book for my English class at school. As someone who absolutely loved (and I mean really, really loved) both the Hunger Games and Divergent series, I have genuinely enjoyed reading Bradbury's similarly dystopian novel. Originally published in 1953, Fahrenheit 451 illustrates a future society in which the reading and ownership of books is forbidden. It feels as though I have not read a fantasy style novel in such a long time, so reading such a imaginative and fictitious story has really been pleasurable.

buying //

Since returning from Mexico at the very end of July, I automatically checked into "school-mode," and created several lists of all of the various tasks I needed to accomplish prior to the start of school as well as all of the supplies I needed to purchase. For those of you who didn't see my "packing list" post, you most likely would not know that I will be attending boarding school in the fall.

Obviously with living away from home in a dorm room comes a lot of back to school shopping, so my mom and I have made several visits to stores including Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, and Home Goods to pick up all (well, most - I still have a few more things on my list) of the dorm and school supplies I will need at boarding school. I also ordered a tapestry and a few super cool posters from Society 6.

Please let me know if you would like to see a dorm supplies haul and/or a school supplies haul sharing with you some of the items I purchased! Regarding the dorm haul, I'd plan to stick with only sharing the decor rather than the basic cleaning supplies and other necessities. While I am aware that most of you reading this post probably will not be attending a boarding school or college this school year, you can still use much of the decor for your own bedrooms!

traveling to //

I actually depart tomorrow for Ithaca, New York, to drop my sister off at college! Things have been a bit slow since my family returned from our trip to Mexico - besides a few trips to some stores to purchase school supplies and an occasional night out, the days have kind of passed by slowly without much excitement. With that being said, I am thrilled to be leaving for Ithaca! I can't wait to explore my sister's college campus (which I have heard is absolutely stunning) as well as the little town nearby.

After dropping my sister off at school, my mom, dad, and I are heading to New York City to reunite with some family. Though we are only staying for two nights, I am beyond excited just to have the chance to return to my favorite city.

other //

My foster dog Sammy was adopted! I of course was very sad to let him go, but was also excited for his new journey with his new owner. At thirteen years old, Sammy was a very old poodle. He was previously living on the streets, so when he arrived to us he was in terrible condition. He was nothing but skin and bones and had severely rotten teeth, all of which had to be removed. Knowing Sammy's story, it was very heartwarming to send him off to his new owner knowing that all of those years living on the streets have been left behind and his last few years will be spent well.

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Lululemon Leggings //

Lululemon leggings are quite the investment but are totally worth it (so I've heard). I have been thinking about purchasing a pair of leggings from Lululemon for several years now but have always put it off due to their priciness. I am hoping to finally get a pair before school starts this year! I am very particular about the leggings I choose to wear based on how they fit my body type, so purchasing a pair of great quality leggings that fit well, I feel confident in, and will be able to wear for a long time seems like a good reason to purchase them to me!

Black Nike Shorts //

Whether for working out or simply for lounging around, black Nike shorts are such a staple! They are so versatile and easy to pair with any workout top or t-shirt.

Patagonia Pullover //

I have wanted one of these fuzzy Patagonia pullovers for so long! I actually received a gift card to Patagonia for Christmas and have yet to use it, so before heading off to school I hope to finally use it to help pay for this pullover! I really like this dark grey color called "Prussian Blue," but if they happen to be sold out of this particular shade then I hope to buy this pullover in either a lighter grey color or a black.

Comfy & Oversized Sweater //

Recently I have been really into the loose and oversized styles of sweater as seen often in stores such as Free People. They are so comfortable and versatile, and perfect for layering with necklaces! I can totally seeing myself walking to class on a chilly fall day wearing one of these sweaters with a pair of lululemon leggings, bean boots, and a beaded necklace. The sweater pictured above is from Princess Polly, an online boutique based in Australia. While I’m not usually one to purchase pieces from online stores due to the fact that some items may not fit, Princess Polly’s sweaters look so cute and comfortable, and I have heard so many great reviews about their clothing!

Lilly Pulitzer Planner //

The Lilly Pulitzer planners are my absolute favorites! The system of organization used in these planners really works well with me, from the individual full-month calanders combined with the day-to-day plan to the fun, colorful prints and stickers that come with them! The jumbo planners are $35 making them a little bit pricy, but in my opinion they are totally worth the cost.

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Today I am going to be sharing with you my packing list for boarding school! Ranging from clothing pieces and dorm room essentials to a variety of must-have school supplies, I pretty much have everything covered on this list. For some of you, it may come as a surprise that I will be attending a boarding school this fall due to the fact that I really haven't talked about it on my blog. I am aware that this may not be helpful for most of you fellow high school readers, but I thought it may be helpful for incoming college students. While there are a few gaps in this list for college students such as kitchen supplies, I believe that just about everything else you may need is covered on this list. I hope that my packing list for boarding school can be of use to you whether you are attending school away from home or not!

CLOTHES:

underwear
bras
socks
nice shorts
athletic shorts
workout tops
spandex
leggings
loose pants
regular pants & jeans
short sleeve shirts (warm weather)
long sleeve shirts
sweaters
raincoat
sweatshirts
coat
school spirit outerwear
sweatpants
cardigans
fancy dresses
casual / everyday dresses
pajamas & t-shirts
sneakers & cleats
closed toed shoes & boots (hunter & l.l. bean)
sandals
shower shoes
flats
bathing suit
robe

ACCESSORIES:

hair ties
head bands
jewelry

CLEANING:

lysol
tissues
trash can
trash bags
laundry detergent
bounce
quarters
febreeze

BATHROOM:

face wash
moisturizer
shampoo & conditioner
hair brush & comb
hair straightener
toothbrush & paste
floss & mouthwash
retainer
towels & washcloths
shower caddy
razor & shaving cream
makeup & remover
face mask
perfume
lotion
nail clippers (& nail polish?)
feminine products
deodorant
body wash & scrubber
advil & band aids
daily B12 vitamins
q-tips

SCHOOL:

backpack
binders
notecards
pencil pouch
pencil sharpener
scissors
stapler
planner
calculator
tape
laminator & printer?
hole puncher?
glue
graph paper
highlighters
school books
folder
flags/sticky notes
ruler

DORM:

desk lamp
twinkle lights
laundry basket
full length mirror
shoe hanger
sheets
duvet
mattress pad
sleep & decor pillows
soft blanket
school flag
wall decor
bulletin board
thumb tacks
printed pictures
rug
under the bed storage
makeup mirror
hangers
lap desk
adhesive wall hooks

TECHNOLOGY:

phone & charger
extra box (part of charger)
computer & charger
extension cord
camera & charger
oil diffuser & essential oils
headphones
amazon echo / speaker

MISCELLANEOUS:

water bottle
umbrella
board game
snacks
adidas bag
shin guards, mouthguard, goggles
field hockey stick
cards & envelopes
duffle bag / suitcase
sleeping mask

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I think I can safely say that the Banyan Tree Resort and Spa in Mayakoba in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, is the nicest and most memorable resort I have ever visited. The stunning architecture, artwork, and design of Banyan Tree combined with the phenomenal service comprised of kind, hardworking people truly makes this resort one of a kind. From the lush and green, water-encompassed, lantern decorated tree that greets you as you enter the resort to the small, perfect pyramid of oil-infused hand towels in the lavatories, Banyan Tree has everything covered.

In today's post I am going to be sharing with you some of the many hundreds of photos I took during my stay at Banyan Tree, from pictures of the hotel itself to the food, the beach, and some of the wildlife we encountered while boating down the richly vegetated river.

Hotel //

It was so beautiful to see the lanterns light up at night and reflect off the water below.

Pictured above and below is the pool! My family and I probably spent at least a third of the day here everyday. Because Banyan Tree is such a large resort and is a ten or so minute bike ride from a beautiful beach club with another pool, the pool at the main hotel was often empty. Not only is the pool great because it is big, quiet, and surrounded by vegetation, but it also has a swim up bar where you can order drinks and appetizers!

This beautiful blue tiled pool pictured here was actually our private rooftop pool that came with our villa! It overlooked a beautiful view of the golf course as well as the river. Anytime that wasn't spent either soaking in the salt water of the beach or swimming in the main pool was spent in here.

Beach //

food //

The breakfast buffet at Banyan Tree was by far the best I have ever seen (and tasted) before. As someone who loves fruit, I was practically in heaven. There were bowls piled high with fresh fruits such as watermelon, pineapple, papaya, dragon fruit, and prickly pear, as well as an array of dried fruit and juices made fresh from these and other fruits and veggies. They had all sorts of breads and baked goods, from simple slices of sourdough and pumpernickel, rolls, and croissants to mini nutella muffins, banana bread, and macarons.

There was also a variety of meats and cheeses to choose from as well as pan upon pan of warm dishes ranging from the traditional scrambled eggs and hash browns to more unique Mexican plates. A taco bar stood in the center of the buffet where a chef was there to take your customized order which was later delivered to your table.

Pictured below is a bowl of Vegetarian Massaman Pak that I ordered while dining at the delicious Thai restaurant located on Banyan Tree's resort, called Saffron. For anyone planning on visiting Banyan Tree, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. The food as well as the service is spectacular, as is the atmosphere! Perched on a deck that hovers over the river, you truly feel in part with the natural beauty surrounding the resort.

nature //

My family and I decided to sign up for a complimentary nature tour offered by the resort. It was so nice to enjoy the beauty of the river and wildlife while being able to relax under the shade of the gondola.

While golf carting to a nearby hotel, our driver stopped at a nature trail (a long trail connecting all of the resorts of Mayakoba) and led us down these steep stone steps into this beautiful cavern. We had heard all about these caverns and knew that there were several hundred littered throughout this region of Mexico, but we had no idea that there was one located in Mayakoba. I have always been fascinated by caverns, and while I had seen them before, this one seemed especially beautiful because it was so natural and untouched, evident not only in the tree roots surrounding the stairwell entrance but also in the hundreds of tiny bats that could be seen flying by the stalactites and from their sleeping positions on the top of the cavern.

wildlife //

The two photos below are of a crocodile!

Below are two turtles sitting atop the same rock. While you can't really see the other turtle, they had their heads laying against one another other so that it looked as though they were kissing! The turtles are a little tricky to spot but I still wanted to include this photo anyway because of how sweet it is.

Below are photos of some iguanas!

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