Enjoying the Florida Keys

Who doesn't love the Florida Keys?  You get that beautiful blue water without even leaving the country!  I love the laid-back lifestyle, tropical cottages, no frills restaurants, and of course, key lime pie.

David recently went SCUBA diving off of Key Largo. He condensed a week's worth of diving into a 30-minute video set to fun music, and we wanted to share it.  You will see sharks, eels, stingrays, and a variety of tropical fish.  The clarity of the video is amazing.  It may entice you to go diving yourself!  Or at least entertain your children for 30 minutes :)  Horizon Divers did an excellent job organizing the trip.  We hope you enjoy the video!

A couple of years ago when our daughters were one and five, we flew to Key West and drove up to Key Colony Beach.  We rented a condo through VRBO and enjoyed a week's worth of family activities. 

Here are just a few suggestions:

1. Dolphin encounter at the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key.  David and our oldest daughter really enjoyed swimming with the dolphins.  There is a nice splash pad there for younger kids to cool off as well. 

 

 

2. The Theater of the Sea on Islamorada.  We spent several hours there watching dolphin, tropical bird and sea lion shows. 

 

 

3. The Turtle Hospital on Marathon was a nice educational experience for the whole family.

 

 

4. The Crane Point nature walk on Marathon takes you through lush greenery where you will see the "oldest house in the Keys outside of Key West," the wild bird center, and spectacular shoreline views.  There are also guided kayak tours available.

 

We really enjoyed the neighborhood feel on Key Colony Beach.  Someday, I'd like to try out Hawks Cay on Duck Key.  The saltwater lagoon on their web site looks like the perfect place for the kids to swim safely while we relax in the sun.  Until next time!

 

 

7 Things to Enjoy in Turks and Caicos

For our wedding anniversary last year, my husband surprised me with a trip to the Turks and Caicos.  (And when I say "surprised," I mean I didn't even know we were flying anywhere and I didn't know the final destination until we boarded our second flight!)

Over the years, we have been to many Caribbean islands.  We are always in search of the PERFECT getaway... a place we would like to return and maybe (just MAYBE) own a piece of property someday.  So far, Turks and Caicos is at the top of our list.  It was beautiful, clean, safe, and not overly commercialized.  The people were friendly, the food was delicious, and there was plenty to do.

Here are at least seven things you can enjoy in Turks and Caicos:

1. Accommodations at the Villa del Mar on Providenciales ("Provo"). 

The suite-style hotel is located right across the street from Grace Bay Beach, one of the top ranked beaches in the world.

A short walk through the Grace Bay Club will lead you to the beach, where the Villa del Mar provides complimentary chair and towel service.  (Note, we traveled in March.  Our hotel cost about $300 a night, whereas the Grace Bay Club was at least double that or more. GBC was beach front and gorgeous, but if your budget is less than that, Villa del Mar should meet all of your needs.)

Villa del Mar had two pools, Jacuzzis, an outdoor bar and light breakfast.  Our room was nicely decorated and included a den, full kitchen, and large balcony overlooking the pool.

2. Fly over to Salt Cay and go whale watching! 

(Pet donkey behind a Salt Cay home)

We took a TINY plane over to Salt Cay and went whale watching with Crystal Seas Adventures.  Actually, we jumped in and swam by the whales!  Our captain determined they were being calm enough for us to try this.  This was way out of my comfort zone, but ultimately I made a game-time decision and did it.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, after all.  Meanwhile, David acted like he was "one with the whales" and just kept swimming along with them.  Ultimately, with everyone else back on the boat, we had to go pick him up!

(That's David to the left of the whale!)

On the flight back to Provo, David got to fulfill another dream... sitting in the co-pilot's seat.

3. Take a ferry to North and Middle Caicos.

For a small fee you can choose from a few different companies and take a ferry over to the much less developed North and Middle Caicos (average round trip $40 adults, $30 kids).  The ride takes about 30 minutes.  We booked the "Island Hopping Tour" through our travel agent (see below).  Upon arrival we met up with a driver who gave us a private tour of the islands.  We saw the Conch Bar Caves, Wade's Green Plantation, wild flamingos and one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen, Mudjin Harbour on Middle Caicos. 

It was time for lunch, and we asked our tour guide to take us where he would usually go.  So, we wound up at The Aquatic Restaurant.  We met a local policeman, our guide's preacher and a few of his relatives.  The meal was mouthwatering and the experience... perfectly authentic. 

4. EAT! 

The food on TCI is to die for.  Fresh fish, cracked conch, and ceviche are abundant.  There are so many restaurants to choose from, but these were a few of our favorites:

- Coco Bistro: reservations are hard to come by but we were able to slip in on a waiting list.  Here you will dine among palm trees and candlelight.

- Bay Bistro at the Sibonne Beach Hotel: we enjoyed our anniversary dinner here on the beach with the sand between our toes.

- Mango Reef at the Alexandra Resort

- Da Conch Shack and Rum Bar is about as laid back as you can get.  Enjoy your meal right on the beach at a picnic table.  Play a game of Bimini while you wait.  And don't forget to purchase a gigantic conch shell on your way out.

5. Get a massage at the Regent Palms Spa. 

The spa is in a separate building from the hotel.  We enjoyed relaxing in the outdoor lounge area overlooking cabanas, palm trees, and a reflection pool before our couples massage.

6. SCUBA Dive with Big Blue Unlimited.

7. Visit the "world's first and only" conch farm, Caicos Conch Farm.

Ready to go to TCI, but need some assistance?  Susan at Turks and Caicos Reservations was an invaluable resource in planning our trip.  Also, Caicos Wheels car rental was about $300 for the week and well worth it.

We spent our last day exploring other beaches, picking up a few souvenirs for our girls, and watching our final sunset on Grace Bay Beach.  Also, for kicks, we stopped by a realtor's office.  You just never know!

There are so many places to stay, dine and explore on TCI, we can't wait to return and discover what we missed!  We hope our recommendations might be helpful to our friends who travel there.  And we are counting on you to share your recommendations with us!

I Survived Two Home Birthday Parties: Frozen Spa Day and Little Mermaid Water Play

Do you enjoy having your children's birthday parties in your home?  This year, I hosted two... while pregnant.  Every time I say, "Next year we are going somewhere and just showing up for your party."  But for all of the trouble, the home birthday parties are really special. 

My girls absolutely love having friends come to their house, and they spend months discussing the theme and planning the activities.  (They get it honestly... I was the same way.)

My children have birthdays in December and May, which seem like the busiest months of the year!  Somehow we manage to cram in a party, and thankfully we have family and friends who are able to come!

This weekend, my youngest turned three!  She wanted an Ariel birthday party.  We kept it SIMPLE with cake, ice cream sundaes, goldfish, fruit, baby pools, slip-n-slide, bubbles, and other water toys.  It was a hit!

 

In December, we hosted a Frozen Spa Day! 

Our services included:

1. Warm hug from Olaf: great photo opportunity with stuffed Olaf
2. Sven's soft hands treatment: set out different delicious smelling hand lotions
3. Hans' Relaxation Room: provide eye mask, cucumbers and magazines
4. Elsa's Frozen Foot Spa and Facials: we used plastic bins for the foot bath and a choice of St. Ive's gentle facial masks, which were quickly wiped off with cotton balls.  One of my nieces assisted me with painting toenails.
5. Anna's Royal Hair Salon: I scored brushes for each guest with Elsa and Anna on them at the Dollar Store!  They got to take these home as well.  My other niece served as the royal hairdresser.

Spa snacks included fruit skewers, fancy trail mix, white cheese poofs, and warm dips.  Cucumber water, orange water, and pink lemonade were served. 

Princesses were announced as they came down the grand staircase to the Royal dining room. (Forgive me for getting carried away.  It was just too easy!)  We served cake, cookies, gumballs, peppermint sticks, gummies, and sixlets.  All blue, of course. 

Goodie bags were filled with nail polish and pedicure kits.  Of course, Frozen was playing upstairs and downstairs.  After opening presents, the girls ran (and jumped) off the sugar in the backyard, which was perhaps the most fun of all.

The verse below made me reflect on entertaining in my home.  I strive to be blessed, not stressed and to offer hospitality without grumbling.  Now, I wonder what we should do for the next birthday party...

1 Peter 4:9-11 (NIV)

 

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.  Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.  If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."

My Happy Place: Little Mountain Unlimited Antique Mall & Cafe

Welcome to my "happy place."  When I need a quick escape, there is nothing better than wandering around an antique store looking for a new treasure.  Little Mountain Unlimited Antique Mall & Café (1528 Main Street, Little Mountain, SC) has a lot to offer. 

While I also love dusty, road side "junktique" shops, this place has music, well displayed booths, and AIR CONDITIONING!  You need at least an hour to even walk around the entire store.  I will warn you... your first visit may be overwhelming.  Sometimes I just wander around and see what jumps out at me.  Other days I have to zero in on one category.

Even if you don't live in the Chapin or Columbia area, it's the perfect rest stop for my friends traveling down I-26 from Charleston to Greenville, and vice versa.  You can stretch your legs while you shop... and have lunch.  Better yet, give me a call and I will meet you there!

One day I may just work there... or have my own booth there.  Until then, I will just shop!  Here are 5 things I can't resist:

1. Art: I have found some lovely pieces of art for our home while piddling around antique shops. 

(I also like the inexpensive paintings I have found leaning on the floor that would look fabulous in a new frame.) 

2. Books: Summer reads by Southern authors, children's books, and endless amounts of coffee table books.  I really must stop buying coffee table books, but they just call out to me!

 3. Anything blue and white: I can't get enough of it.

4. End tables, desks and other unique pieces of furniture really make a home look inviting.

5. Serving pieces: for entertaining, decorating, or even holding jewelry.

With summer approaching, I hope I will find opportunities to get by Little Mountain Unlimited, preferably without my precious children :)  Where is your favorite antique store?  I'd love to check it out!

I am in love with HGTV's Fixer Upper!

Proverbs 24:3-4 (NIV)

 

³ By wisdom a house is built,
    and through understanding it is established;
⁴ through knowledge its rooms are filled
    with rare and beautiful treasures.

When I have time to watch TV, it's usually HGTV.  My favorite show is HGTV's Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines.  Based in Waco, Texas, this husband and wife duo help clients choose the worst house in the best neighborhood... the more dilapidated, the better. 

Joanna's style is beautifully rustic, and Chip's antics will keep your husband entertained.  Together they have incredible vision for fixing up these fixer uppers.  The photos on the show's web site may just inspire your next renovation project.

Recently, a friend shared Joanna's testimony on her faith posted by The Gathering, which made me like her even more! 

If you haven't seen Fixer Upper already, check it out!  You will be hooked.

 

Dining Room Re-do

(After photo)

 

It all started with this coffee table book I bought (on clearance) with this beautiful bird on the front. 

"Natural Histories Extraordinary Birds" by Paul Sweet includes 45 ready-to-frame bird prints!  I am a bit obsessed with birds in decorating.  I decided I wanted a wall of birds in my dining room.

 

Then, I grew to loathe my dining room curtains.  They are the only window treatments in my home that I did not sew myself, and I disliked them from the day they were hung.  1) For starters, they were too short so I had to hang them right on the window frame.  2) The air vents are right below them so they blew up like tubes when the air came on.  3) The sun faded the trim from blue to white.  This was the last straw.  I lived with them for 6 years, and it was time for a change.

 

To make matters worse, the sun had faded my rug as well.  Instead of a back background, it had turned to strange shade of purple.

I used to have my wedding portrait on this wall with some pretty plates around it.  The portrait has moved to an upstairs hallway (where there are pictures of other people) and we hung the plates above the buffet.

If you need to have 12 prints framed and matted, it could cost a fortune.  Enter Hobby Lobby and their 50% off frames.  I bought 12 frames at $15 each (50% off of $29.99).  I purchased 12 ready-made mats for $3.99 each.

God bless my husband and his laser level...

 

I love the finished product!  Next, I sewed new panels and we hung them right up to the ceiling.  Much better!

 

 

 

Clearly, a new rug was in order.  I found this 8x10 sea grass rug on Overstock.com.

 

 

And that is my new and improved dining room!  I am thrilled with the results.  But I do think the table or chairs might look good in a distressed white... and the chairs could use some new fabric... but that's a project for another day. 

Interested in a cruise?

David and I recently went on a Royal Caribbean cruise to celebrate our birthdays, wedding anniversary, and it might as well have been a "baby moon" since baby #3 is on the way!  We were looking for a last minute, easy trip.  I wouldn't say that cruising is our most favorite way to travel (we usually like to go places for a whole week), but the RC "buy one get one 1/2 off" deal can't be beat.  Cruising is definitely a fun way to travel and you get to visit several tropical locations to see where you might want to return.

We flew to Puerto Rico and cruised from there.  We did this years ago on another trek that included St. Lucia, St. Thomas, Antigua, and Barbados.  This trip included St. Thomas, St. Kitt's, Aruba, and Curacao.  We sailed on the Adventure of the Seas, which is a very nice ship though not as large as the new Quantum Class fleet of boats.  Still, it has everything you need... pools, spa, rock wall, even ice skating.  If you are a real foodie, you might not be satisfied with cruise food in general.  But this pregnant girl had plenty to choose from, and I think RC has some of the best.  There are several options each night at dinner, including the lobster tails I devoured one night.

Some of the new Quantum Class ships boast Broadway shows like "Chicago" and "Mama Mia."  Adventure of the Seas doesn't have that, but we enjoyed comedy, variety, music or ice skating performances each night. 

We definitely talked about what our girls would enjoy on the ship... kids club activities, water slide, Caribbean music and dancing, etc. and we plan to bring them along one day.  But as I told my husband, it wouldn't have been nearly as relaxing if they had been with us, and I never would have finished my book :)  Plus, it's wonderful to have time alone with your spouse!  God bless our parents and sisters for babysitting! 

Ok, enough commentary.  More tips can be found below.  Onto the port cities...

1. Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

This was the only island on the trip we had been to before.  We love an island tour and chose Godfrey Tours. We hopped on an open air, safari bus and they took us to the main shopping area for an hour, then to the highest point on the island for gorgeous views and a "world famous" banana daiquiri.  Next, we went to a beautiful botanical garden. 

Then, we had a choice of being dropped off at one of two beaches: Megan's Bay or Coki Beach.  Megan's Bay is a little bigger, but Coki beach has more water sports.  We went to Coki last time and chose it again.  David was able to go SCUBA diving from the shore right when we walked up without a reservation!  He didn't even have his dive certification card with him, and they were able to look it up. 

I got a chair, ordered a grilled fish sandwich, enjoyed the sunshine and read my book.  So, we were both in paradise.  Coral World is adjacent to the property and has aquariums, sea animal encounters, and SNUBA, which looks hilarious :)

2. Basseterre, St. Kitts

On St. Kitts, David with Poinciana Tours took us to the gardens of Wingfield Estate where we saw this amazing 400 year old tree overlooking the ocean. 

Next, we went on a moderate hike through the rainforest and were lucky enough to see a monkey up in the trees.  Our tour guide knew every plant and tree by name and had a cure for every ailment by "making a tea."  I told him he should sell tea at the end of his tour!  His house is located at the entrance of the estate, so the rainforest was his childhood playground.  It was lush and quiet, except for the occasional zip liner zooming by overhead!  Afterwards he served a punch and homemade banana and raisin breads made by his wife.  Next, he dropped us off at a gorgeous beach on the Southeast peninsula, South Friars Bay.

St. Kitts is not commercially developed and you will not find all of the Sandals, Beaches, etc. that some islands have.  The Marriott looked nice and included a spa, casino and golf course.  You can see Nevis from St. Kitts, and they have a Four Seasons resort.  This might be worth a return trip...

3. Oranjestad, Aruba

We didn't have anything booked, but when we walked off of the ship there were these pink school busses all lined up ready to take people on island tours for $20.  Sounded good to us!  Aruba is a really dry island... there are cactuses everywhere and our guide said they have never had a hurricane.  Quite different from the lush greenery and rainforests on other tropical islands we have visited. 

We climbed to the top of the Casibari Rock Formation and could see a spectacular view of the island.  Next, we went to the lighthouse by La Trattoria Italian Restaurant.  Again, stunning views.  Several on the tour asked to be dropped off at Palm Beach by all of the hotels and restaurants.  This looked like a prime area for Spring Breakers.  We chose the more secluded Eagle Beach instead.  We grabbed a delicious lunch from a food truck right on the beach. 

Now, I will admit I thought about Natalie Holloway a lot on this excursion.  I mean, who doesn't hear Aruba and think about that tragedy?  But our tour guide mentioned that the crime rate on the island is very low, and when I thought about it that incident involved two tourists.  Something terrible like that could happen anywhere in the world.  I feel certain, though, that it has affected their tourism and people's general perception of the island.  But it didn't really look like they were still hurting from it judging by the commercial development everywhere.

4. Willemstad, Curacao

This was our favorite stop on the trip.  This island was not as secluded as St. Kitt's nor as commercialized as Aruba.  In addition to tourism, Curacao has a diverse economy including oil refining, financial services and international trade.  It boasts one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean.  Like Aruba, the island has low rainfall and is covered in rocks and cactus.  Still, the island was beautiful and we may consider a return trip.

David booked a SCUBA diving trip with SCUBACao.  Our guide was a young guy from Belgium, who was quite interesting.  He picked us up in his truck at the cruise terminal, along with another couple from Indiana. 

We went to Playa PortoMari beach, which was beautiful.  Shore dives are not David's favorite, but he said this was by far the best shore dive he has ever done.  And I, again, was able to get a chair ($3 - the cheapest so far!) and enjoy the beach and swimming area.  I could get used to this :)

 

Lunch was on a hilltop overlooking the countryside at Blenchi, a former plantation turned boutique hotel.  The meal was as delicious as the views.  Sadly, we stayed for so long that we had to cut our island tour short to return to the ship.

 

We had one more day at sea to enjoy all the ship had to offer then it was time to head home to our girls and our responsibilities.  Until next time!

Some tips:
- David never likes to book excursions through the ship.  He just researches online beforehand and refers to Trip Advisor for recommendations and reviews. 
- Bring an empty, large water bottle.  You can fill it up on the boat each morning before you depart on excursions.
- Bring your own hair dryer.  I left mine at home to save the luggage room and was dissatisfied with the one in the room... you can only access it through the drawer.  It has a short cord and you have to hold down the button the whole time to make it work.
- They have two "formal" nights at dinner.  I couldn't find this on the web site or our itinerary, so I figured they didn't do it anymore.  A sundress is fine if that's all you've got, but if you have a dazzling number in your closet you never get to wear, bring it.
- You don't need to pack beach towels.  They let you check them out as you exit the ship on port days.  You turn them back in at the same spot.  You are only charged if you don't bring them back.
- Every beach that we went to had restrooms, restaurants, and chairs to rent (some for a few dollars, one place for $20).

I hope you found this helpful!  Let me know what cruise tips and recommendations you have!