A Caribbean Journey

Hola, and welcome to Cabarete.  Thank you for joining me on my vacation.

Cabarete is a small beach town in the Dominican Republic and is full of Caribbean charm.  

The weather is hot and humid, but don't worry- the ocean breeze will cool us down. 

Cabarete is internationally known for its kite surfing due to its continuous winds.

How shall we spend our island time?

Perhaps we can enjoy a meal right on the sand. 

We can try some local cuisine that we would normally not eat at home, 

and have a festive drink or two, 

or maybe we'll just spend the day relaxing at the beach.

We may have to take refuge under a coconut tree at some point to protect ourselves from the strong Caribbean sun. 

Guard your heads from falling coconuts!

Perhaps we can take a day trip to the Blue Lagoon, a tropical treasure with the most aqua blue waters and lush vegetation.
 

We can explore the natural caves nearby that look like a scene straight out of "Pirates of the Caribbean".

We can stop by a plantation and observe the local crops. 

 cocoa tree

Did you know that a pineapple plant grows only one fruit at a time?

We will be sure to meet new friends along our journey, so we should practice our Spanish.

 ¿Cómo estás mi amigo? 

After a long day of sight-seeing, we will return to our beautiful condo.

On our beachfront porch, we can read a good book, rest our weary feet while listening to the waves crashing in the distance,

and simply take in the natural beauty of this place.  
 

~Jess~

Lovely Fairy

Remember the fairy that I bought that reminded me of Jess? Well, I found one that had Nel written all over her and wanted to show you. She looks like she came straight from the 20's, and Nel loves that era.

Her hair is swooped up with a sea shell clasp and looks so charming.

Nel loves the style and jewelry of the dazzling 20's and their lifestyle seemed to be so fun and carefree.

We find the 20's to be such a delightful time in history.  Do you have a favorite era that sparks your interest?

The fairies went from the world, dear,

Because men's hearts grew cold;

And only the eyes of children see

What is hidden from the old...

~Kathleen Foyle

~Sheri

Inside the Jewelry Box

Every once in a while I'll go shopping in the Fashion District Downtown. I spent yesterday morning browsing through the dozens of jewelry stands that line the sidewalk, admiring all the pretty little pieces.

Some girls love diamonds and pearls, but I've always been drawn to color and unique designs.

Here are a few of my favorite pieces I've collected over the years. I adore this antique looking stop watch necklace given to me by my Mom last Christmas. It's so much more fun to wear than a regular wrist watch.

I bought this lovely necklace on market day in Paris. Now every time I wear it I'm reminded of my and Jess' travels abroad.

These abalone shell and pearl earrings remind me of the sea. I love how dangley they are too! For me, it's always been the bigger the better with earrings.

This little guy is so cute! His head and tail are connected to his body by small clasps, so he looks like he's dancing when you wear him around your neck. As a teacher, owls have always had a special place in my heart too.

I love when my friends go on trips and bring me back jewelry as a souvenir. The pair on the left came from Spain and the pair on the right from Peru.

This gorgeous pendant was a gift from my dear Aunt Mona. It's even more lovely because it holds a picture of my grandmother when she was young. Isn't she a jewel herself?

These are two of my favorite rings. They look magical to me. The one on the right reminds me of the heavens.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour through my jewelry box, and I'd love to hear all about your own special pieces!

~ Nel ~  

Have Breakfast with Me

Good morning sweet friends.

It's a bit cloudy here by the coast, so to brighten the day I decided to treat myself to a donut and coffee.

Donuts always remind me of being young. When Jess and I were girls, our mom would take us to our favorite donut shop across the street from the train tracks. There, she would tell us funny stories from her childhood, while we enjoyed our warm pastries and watched the trains whiz by.

Now they're a rare treat for me, but donuts still make me happy. Maple, chocolate, glaze...there are so many delicious flavors to choose from! Today, though, I had to go with my favorite...

This crumb donut went perfectly with a cup of freshly ground coffee.

Have a bite? ( :

I hope you will indulge in something delightful today too. 

~ Nel ~