Winter Break: 2019

I can't say enough good things about my in-laws. Mom, dad, and Bradi, you're great too and I'll get to my brag post about you guys next, but for now...shout out to Rose, Yakov, and Amy! These superheroes hosted Asher over winter break, and Zahara was with my family, so Dan and I could actually have a proper vacation! So fun!  

After dropping Z off at the airport in the morning (more on that soon), the rest of the family flew to Florida. It was Chanukah, so we were able to have a lovely celebration with our extended family, Dan's aunt, uncle and cousin. We are always grateful to spend time with that fun-loving family.

Dan and I wanted to make the most of our vacation and give my in-laws the most one-on-one time with Asher, so we decided to stay in a hotel in South Beach starting the day after we arrived. We got the world's best send off via my in-laws' new boat! We all took a ride down the Intracoastal Canal from Fort Lauderdale to Miami. The boat (yacht, really) is insanely gorgeous and the weather was perfect. This was my first time on the boat, but I'm hoping for many more rides in the future.

Captain Yakov dropped us off pier-side in Miami and we took an Uber to our hotel. We spent the next five (!!) nights eating, drinking, laying by the pool or beach, working out, and eating more. It was heavenly! It wasn't the nicest weather so we didn't get a ton of beach time, but it was the perfect walking around weather. I can't complain at all.

We had some really great meals, most notably Jose Andres' The Bazaar, and Scarpetta. It was our first time at Bazaar, although we've been to several of Jose Andres' restaurants in DC. Though we hadn't been to Scarpetta in the famous Fontainebleau, we had been to the restaurant in Las Vegas. It's where we had my all-time favorite spaghetti dish! The dish I still dream about. I would normally NEVER pay nearly $30 for a bowl of spaghetti, but after seeing it on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Dan and I had to give it a try. Thank goodness the pasta was the same in Miami as it was in Vegas. Definitely lived up to expectations.

One night we even got to see Jim Gaffigan perform at the Adrienne Arsht Center. He was fantastic, as expected. I love his take on parenthood, and his general self-deprecating humor. His opening act was a real treat. I wish I could find his name. I'll keep looking and update here if I find it.

But, all good things must come to and end, and it was time for us to go back to reality. Luckily we had one more great night with the family where we celebrated the final night of Chanukah. Everyone had a great time, and my in-laws really tired Asher out. Wins all around!