tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39455539152851246132024-02-18T22:29:30.171-05:00Attorney living on a tropical island and Olympic dreamsIn June, 2015, I moved to a small island in the Caribbean in hopes that I could find a better quality of life, and I did! Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-21785932564409383582020-12-21T21:16:00.001-05:002020-12-21T21:16:38.380-05:00The shot of hope<p>My last post was about our magical life on St. Croix with our new baby who pooped a lot more than I thought was previously advertised about babies. Since then, 2020 happened, and just like the rest of the world, we have been shut down and dealing with the effects of Covid-19. But not even a week ago, there was a silver lining. My husband was one of the first individuals on the island and in the world to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. He's a behavioral health front line worker and last Wednesday when the territory received its first shipment of vaccines, he received his. </p><p>This year, I also had a year-long breast cancer scare that finally culminated in an excisional biopsy three weeks ago that thankfully resulted in a benign diagnosis. For being a small island with one hospital, my husband and I have really gotten a lot of use of all the doctors and medical facilities on island over the last five years, and this from two people that rarely needed medical care when living in the states. While the island is small, there are some exceptional physicians and nurses who have taken great care of us. This has allowed us to continue living here and rarely consider moving back to where we used to live.</p><p>Island life also makes social distancing a lot easier than in many other
places. The population is under 50,000 sprawled over about 84 square
miles. Masks are mandatory and tourism has significantly dropped off
since March. Although in the beginning, working from home with no
daycare was challenging. Now, we have settled in to eating at home and
spending most of our time with each other. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMydcLa6_ARlkKkUJCPa_FqhRbr4W4tFS_sjlHii9qA4eR8teQLz072_2OyO_Yvsrf4i7GF_bcCBVA_Bv2Rc13KcQbL9-RqcA5ecI2S_D8SNBjMvuTV9MWs2R3F5f0KBy_-w2g7NeFnRd/s2048/image0-1.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMydcLa6_ARlkKkUJCPa_FqhRbr4W4tFS_sjlHii9qA4eR8teQLz072_2OyO_Yvsrf4i7GF_bcCBVA_Bv2Rc13KcQbL9-RqcA5ecI2S_D8SNBjMvuTV9MWs2R3F5f0KBy_-w2g7NeFnRd/s320/image0-1.jpeg" /></a></div><p>Our baby has grown into a toddler and is now a very assertive and early-rising two-year old who loves to swim. She knows what she wants and along with her sidekick, our dog, knows exactly how to get it. They both share a love for cheese... one asks for it constantly with no intention of eating it and the other one eats it off her nightstand. Our baby also has the most unforgettable laugh. She laughs like the whole world is laughing with her, and she is completely ignorant of a global pandemic going on around her, which is the best part of this story. <br /></p><p>I hope for a 2021 that sees the vaccine free the world to being what we once knew as normal. I want a future for my daughter where zoom isn't the only way to see the people that she cares about. I want us to remember what it was like during this year and to use that knowledge to work harder to avoid this happening in the future. I wish for many more memories that makes my life on a tiny island in the Caribbean the best life that my family can have, especially during this time.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Marina Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06251964890828253147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-71540547572522732892019-03-10T18:32:00.002-04:002020-07-04T06:50:19.236-04:00A magical lifeBabies take a lot of time and it has been a major life change since our baby has come into our lives. My husband and I used to have tons of free time- going to the beach, exploring our island and just doing absolutely nothing a lot of time the time. Now, that has all changed. We do baby, baby and dishes. The amount of dishes that we do now has increased exponentially. Any free time we have goes to doing dishes and we live on an island so using paper plates seems wasteful.<br />
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The baby part of our busy lives now is magical. She's like a mini version of my husband and I put together. She smiles and laughs and eats and poops (a lot more poops than they tell you), and it's all exhausting but really great. Every day brings a new experience for our daughter like sitting, standing, waffles; and she experiences it all like she was put here to do so, and she was. Watching her experience new things in life makes all the mis-steps and decisions that brought us to this point of our lives worth it.</div>
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I've been thinking a lot lately about the last four years. Four years ago, I came to St. Croix for the first time. I had never even heard about this island before then. When I came here for my nine day pre-move visit, I realized that the possibilities here for me were endless. I had absolutely nothing to base this on but I can tell you from experience that this premonition was true. I got more from my move here than I could have ever imagined. </div>
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I also thought about the things that happened on this island while I've lived here that I probably wouldn't have wanted to experience when I planned my move. My husband broke his arm in an unfortunate incident, which canceled his last boat trip and our trip to Spain; we got burglarized; and we went through a major category five hurricane, living without power or internet for months. I thought about what life would have been like if none of these unfortunate events ever happened. But then I realized what most people probably realize when they think of such things; that the life that we have now would not be what it is without all of those life experiences. It has led us to where we are and who we are today.</div>
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We live on a beautiful island with the sweetest baby and the most magical views. I get to share my life with my best friend and our daughter and our dog. And while we may not agree on everything (especially when it comes to throwing stuff away- I'm trying to achieve a minimalist lifestyle while raising a baby which is impossible and my husband doesn’t love throwing things away), we do agree on our love for the life that we have and the experiences that have brought us here together.</div>
Marina Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06251964890828253147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-77636815193119055052018-09-19T15:46:00.000-04:002018-10-09T13:32:35.184-04:00Perfect little baby feet<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I always thought babies had the perfect
little baby feet. My daughter has perfect little baby feet. It has taken a
while to write this because everything becomes so much busier when a baby needs
absolutely every minute of your time and my baby is no exception. We had our
daughter back in June and she’s perfect with perfect little baby toes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When I first came to St. Croix, I joked
that I had retired from the law and I was now a beach bum, hence the name of
this blog. Since those first few months on the island, three years have passed,
I fell in love, I got married (to the person I fell in love with), I got back into law (licensed and all the fun stuff) and I became a mother (the father is that guy I fell in love with and married earlier in this story).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t plan for any of it and it all worked
out. We also moved into a bigger place after having the baby and that has been
a challenge. We’re finally unpacked and ready to enjoy our time together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGMsrGuKvJL6-_1htHMFpehr-dUKlq5TEhSW_wUCzqTPcsfqWGAnKnVOXrf2j20vX-zjUfW8e_iSQI7gTQh-Tc-fiv23KrpSK4nyn0l8ftCAJgTrUm_DDBzoIwlxXikEmXfnYgvXXOac/s1600/Baby+Feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGMsrGuKvJL6-_1htHMFpehr-dUKlq5TEhSW_wUCzqTPcsfqWGAnKnVOXrf2j20vX-zjUfW8e_iSQI7gTQh-Tc-fiv23KrpSK4nyn0l8ftCAJgTrUm_DDBzoIwlxXikEmXfnYgvXXOac/s320/Baby+Feet.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US">Pregnancy was not easy for me at all. I was
sick almost every day of it except the last two weeks. I also now know the
location of every store’s island bathroom. My daughter was a few days late and
she did not want to come out so I had her via c-section which was not the plan.
I should have remembered that everything that happened after I moved to St.
Croix was not really planned so why would that go according to my plan? </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As soon as I saw her, all the sick mornings
were worth it. She had the perfect everything. I wanted to exclusively
breastfeed her but that didn’t go according to plan either. So we are mostly
formula feeding now and I couldn’t have a happier baby. She smiles and makes
the cutest baby sounds. Our dog (she's adopted) is enamored with our daughter (her little
sister as we jokingly call her) and gently licks her and gives her the space
that a baby needs.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And in the midst of a pregnancy (that did
coincidently happen during a hurricane although it was definitely planned), I
became an attorney again. Being an attorney on an island is a little different
than being one in the states but there are a lot of similarities. There are
still deadlines but I get to meet them in flip flops on most days, and the
weather is always summer which I love. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My priorities have changed though. I prioritize my daughter and my family. They are the
most important to me. My work is also important but if my daughter needs
something or if it’s between watching her smile or reviewing a pleading on a
Friday night, I’m watching her smile instead. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We still have challenges on the island
(like no Starbucks or dunkin donuts) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>but everything is
just a little bit better and we smile just a little bit more because she’s in
this world. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-16399119128278593532018-02-11T20:22:00.000-05:002018-10-09T13:33:39.399-04:00It's a girl!!!I'm so happy to share that we are pregnant and we're going to have a baby girl in June of this year. We also have power and some more connectivity to the outside world, just in time to stream the winter Olympics! Ironically, I started this blog with a post about the would-be olympics in Chicago which never happened.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ppMMLDUbylJh9uUNPfV2N0QgvioKiOC2_M0l0Jr6AfzNIZ4H5hlHmAF6P2WsfPk5Kkm14BTaNmFh3lkMjP4TDVa_4e457vE3uBIsyhCd8ngiyYpdif83UP_IrcJZztAHath34nUuxkw/s1600/cd9f38ab17d043a7ffe08f4c1d67113a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ppMMLDUbylJh9uUNPfV2N0QgvioKiOC2_M0l0Jr6AfzNIZ4H5hlHmAF6P2WsfPk5Kkm14BTaNmFh3lkMjP4TDVa_4e457vE3uBIsyhCd8ngiyYpdif83UP_IrcJZztAHath34nUuxkw/s1600/cd9f38ab17d043a7ffe08f4c1d67113a.jpg" /></a>It's hard to believe that it was just under three years ago that I made the choice to move to an island in the Caribbean that I had never heard of. I met a boy with a dog and my life hasn't been the same since. Then we got married and two hurricanes, life without power or internet or phones for a few months, and now we're having a baby. I have never been happier.<br />
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I'm in my 30s and being pregnant is the biggest change that I have ever gone through. Either I wasn't very interested in finding out the specifics or I never had any really close friends become pregnant, but I was not prepared for all that pregnancy entails. I thought it would be some morning sickness and a big belly, but it has been a lot of morning sickness, a lot of tire,d and my belly isn't even that big yet!<br />
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I wouldn't change this experience for anything but if you're thinking of having a baby, read some books, ask some friends how it really is and prepare for some of the biggest changes to take over your body physically. Everyone is different but oh my, I was not prepared for how it was really going to be.<br />
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My husband is the best though and being married is still the best thing ever. He does absolutely everything for me now that I cannot or feel too sick to do, and while I want to tell everyone out there that you can still do everything and be pregnant at the same time, you can't and that's okay. It's nice to have people around you that are willing to accommodate you when you're most in need. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-52829273069165716142017-10-14T15:21:00.001-04:002017-10-14T15:21:15.489-04:00Life Post-Irma and MariaWe've had two category 5 hurricanes hit the Virgin Islands (only one them directly on St. Croix) and we're still here. We don't have power or internet at home but we do have hot water so it's a start! Here's a picture of the water cooler from government house where we have found new careers as reporters short-term. Things are definitely getting better day by day but it will take some time to get back to what it was and make it even better. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-51785270380353528582017-07-24T19:40:00.003-04:002017-07-24T19:44:03.375-04:00Married life on an island... is the best thing ever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The wedding was a huge success! Being married is amazing, much better than what you hear from friends or on TV. It's the first time since we've gotten engaged we can just enjoy being with each other with nothing to do or plan. They don't mention this in the magazines but when you get engaged, it's great and all, but then you realize that you have to plan a wedding and becoming your own wedding planner is less than amazing.<br />
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We planned to have to family and friends arrive a few days before the wedding and we scheduled boat trips and bingo discos to make sure everyone had a good time while they were with us getting to know everyone else. Our families and friends loved each other, which was a relief and also an affirmation that we go well together as our friends and family seemed to mesh well.<br />
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The wedding day was everything we could have hoped. So many people said such nice things about us at the wedding, we were very humbled. And it went so so fast.<br />
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One moment we were walking down the aisle and forgetting our vows, then we had the first dance, there was cake and then it's over! It literally goes that fast. There are pictures that were taken that I don't remember posing for. We even had wedding crashers and someone did end up in the pool :). It was a perfect island wedding party.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliM0DTky8wr-f0lBhyphenhyphen_Xcy6Bkk59FC1EQRV_uGUIou6zBk04wZoK5N75cPniIQmFzC1-ge-q23mfLOUp3Io0Zy1moNGo-EsqdN208YbGa-BUUemXf3ukO12fpqD6sSvvO0dXg1BYzSMI/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1030" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliM0DTky8wr-f0lBhyphenhyphen_Xcy6Bkk59FC1EQRV_uGUIou6zBk04wZoK5N75cPniIQmFzC1-ge-q23mfLOUp3Io0Zy1moNGo-EsqdN208YbGa-BUUemXf3ukO12fpqD6sSvvO0dXg1BYzSMI/s320/cake.jpg" width="206" /></a>Then came the honeymoon to a nearby island on a cruise which was pretty perfect and extremely relaxing. We can never go on a regular vacation again.<br />
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And then we came back to St. Croix and we got to be here for the first time as husband and wife. Now we had lived together for almost two years before we got married so we thought it would be all the same but it's not! Living together, being married and not having to plan a wedding is like the best thing ever. We come home and we can do whatever we want now! We spend lots and lots of time doing pretty much nothing and it feels really good. I think that's how you know that you married the right person.<br />
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<i>As a wrap up: </i><br />
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<ul>
<li>I recommend getting married (to the right person).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Cruise vacations are the best (get a cabin in the middle of the boat if you get seasick).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Have your dog be the ringbearer (it's extremely cute and we had backup rings just in case).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Get a cake that not only looks great but tastes great too (it was chocolate with pineapple filling and it was amazing).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Don't leave the dog in a room alone with your jewelry (she may or may not have eaten it).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Enjoy each and every day together (even if you don't live on an island). </li>
</ul>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-72192928566863708652017-06-06T18:25:00.004-04:002017-06-06T18:29:15.281-04:00Tears and Happy EndingsFirst, I have to tell you that this story has a happy ending (yep, that's where the title comes from). However, it's going to take us a little bit to get there so bear with me on this journey. Everyone knows I'm getting married and nothing takes a blushing bride to tears like someone telling her that "she cannot get married." Yep, in those exact words. And this phrase has no weight except when its spoken by the only people with the power to give you a wedding license. Yes, again.<br />
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So let's go back to a bright sunny day on June 1. I love the first day of the month. There is so much hope and promise that a new month brings with it. If you had a really bad month, it's so easy to put all your money on the greatness that the next month will have. It usually takes at least until the second day of the month to determine that things are still going downhill. Not in this case! Nope! June 1 was the day that my fiance and I decided we would go to to get our marriage license. There is a waiting period in the USVI before you get married so we left ourselves plenty of time.<br />
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I actually wanted to go later because we were coming up on my fiance's "birthday weekend," but we decided June 1 would be a great day to begin our journey of starting our lives together as husband and wife. My fiance has also apparently never heard of "birthday weekend" which was shocking to me so I made up "birthday month" as well and we had a really fun time making jokes about it. Well, "birthday weekend" actually entailed horseback riding and dinner and a boy scout camp open house so I really didn't want that ruined. I never thought anything bad could happen from a trip to get a marriage license. I've never heard of such a thing.<br />
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So we got to where we needed to be on the afternoon of June 1. It started raining a little bit and that may have been our first sign, but we live in the tropics and rain is usually a relief from the heat and rain does good things here. It took us about a half hour to get to where we were going and we had all our documents ready. My fiance even wore pants and real shoes (when it's this hot, shorts and flip flops are the usual uniform).<br />
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It took the office that grants marriage licenses no more than five minutes to proclaim that my fiance and I could not get married for at least two to three months. No kidding. Someone actually set us down in a very small space and told us point blank that we could not get married. Now, I know what you're thinking, you're an attorney (and I am still licensed to practice law in Illinois), couldn't you just say fancy attorney words and fix this? Yes, of course I tried, and I quickly realized that fancy attorney words would not work. In fact, even fancy things your favorite attorney actors on TV in these types of situations could do would not permit us to be legally married by our wedding date. So I tried the next best thing; I pleaded to have another option than just a solid no.<br />
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We went to eat plantains and chicken while we waited for the results of my pleading. I don't think anyone at that chicken place saw anyone more sad trying to eat a plantain. It was plantain de tears, a new menu item for them. I love plantains, I have never been so sad eating one in my life. Of all the things that I thought could possibly go wrong with the wedding (and up until now, my fiance and I just said we'd go along with anything that happened), I never thought someone would tell us we couldn't do the one thing we just spent a year planning.<br />
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So we got the call and the answer was "no but maybe if... and we won't know the answer until tomorrow morning." We drove back really dazed. We tried to do everything we could to take our mind off what was really happening even though we couldn't really wrap our heads around it (I will save everyone from the boring details). We hugged a lot of dogs that night. Then morning came and I told my fiance to have his pants and shoes ready in case we had to go back to get our license again. I was hopeful. I got the call pretty early that morning and it was a "no." I pleaded again. I was told again that "maybe."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZ4yAgRNxBZSKiT1HXAbx4GCGYbLoQDnI0J4gCeSq367DvdAJeUsAukbIkAXctiueWhW6laGvjQw5skIJ44boWXgAPIPhe14Rvk1zNFyR1nfjSqhxG9CzpBrfFR0C-tXLnBbj8ubIWNQ/s1600/IMG_0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZ4yAgRNxBZSKiT1HXAbx4GCGYbLoQDnI0J4gCeSq367DvdAJeUsAukbIkAXctiueWhW6laGvjQw5skIJ44boWXgAPIPhe14Rvk1zNFyR1nfjSqhxG9CzpBrfFR0C-tXLnBbj8ubIWNQ/s320/IMG_0676.JPG" width="240" /></a>We were really close to "birthday weekend" now. I spent the day without plantains or much of an appetite. Nobody gave me an answer either way and the day ended. I came home and I broke down. I was not a fan of anything that night. We came up with some plans, one of which was to go to Vegas where we knew we could get married without any problems (their license offices are open 365 days/year and until midnight and pretty much anyone can get married there, fyi). We both love Vegas so why not have a really expensive party in St. Croix, go on our honeymoon and then get married! This was an option.<br />
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Now that we had options, it was time for birthday weekend and we started with touring the boy scout camp. It was great. Then we went horseback riding in the ocean! Yep, you read that right, in the ocean! The horses took us up to our waist fully clothed and we went through the rainforest. It was amazing and for about two hours we focused on nothing but not falling off those horses. It was a "magical" experience as we call it here. Even my fiance thought it was "magical" and he has never been on a horse before. Then we had dinner and it was a nice day.<br />
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On Sunday, we mostly worked and finished some wedding things that we needed to do because were still having our really expensive party no matter what, we weren't going to ruin this for our family and friends who had non-refundable tickets and reservations. We also realized that going to Vegas may not be the right option for us but we live really close to Miami so we had a day trip planned as a plan B. We would get married before our wedding and then walk down aisle and renew our vows. It seemed like a better option. I researched tickets, we were set. I still held out hope that maybe Monday would come and this small little nightmare would be over somehow.<br />
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On Monday, I woke up super early. Even the dog didn't want to get up yet (but she laid out on a pillow in the cutest way possible so it became a great picture opportunity). I got dressed and it was still super early so I decided to go to work early. As I was driving into town, I got a call from the licensing office. They "found a way" to give us a license. Now granted, this "way" was one I suggested in the beginning but we weren't going to delve into the details, we were too tired. I rushed back, got my fiance up and into pants and we were off. Everyone was super nice to us and we got it done... or so we thought. I got back to work and everyone was hugs and smiles. Then I get a call again... we had to resign something. But that was okay because what's another hour and some more pants wearing time. So we went and we did whatever we were asked and we came back.<br />
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Monday night, we ate some soup and we went to sleep. We were emotionally done. Up until June 1, the hardest thing we had to still finish for the wedding was clean our rings. My fiance thought this would make for a great blog post. I thought otherwise but I was also really emotionally exhausted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OzRyzuSt9ey2aFcCAbaItl24OO3FkJ-CU32m57qI0z3_ryO3cwJXIE_bvksXgZ5zWqygUEl-dwEA0g2Be7rWgQ0m4uZI_0reGWTiPE9r0zpiwS66R3La3XJc-O1jko_7qH1BCy1zEJg/s1600/IMG_0748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OzRyzuSt9ey2aFcCAbaItl24OO3FkJ-CU32m57qI0z3_ryO3cwJXIE_bvksXgZ5zWqygUEl-dwEA0g2Be7rWgQ0m4uZI_0reGWTiPE9r0zpiwS66R3La3XJc-O1jko_7qH1BCy1zEJg/s320/IMG_0748.JPG" width="320" /></a>This whole twilight of an experience made me realize something... up until someone told us we could't do it, I didn't realize how important it was to us to be legally married on our wedding day. I know that people actually get legally married before or after all time for various reasons but we didn't have any of those reasons. We're older so we're way past the age where we think that we have to be married. At our age, we get married because we actually want to, because we found the person who makes everyday better and who doesn't annoy us to the point of craziness. It's amazing when you find this, it's like everything any fairy tale you've ever watched tried to show you it could be with a glimpse of what it's like two years down the road when everyone is still alive and well and still talking nicely to each other. And we really wanted to share that real "I do" moment with our family and friends and not tell them we were married when were not or vice versa (otherwise we'd avoid the really expensive party and just rent a boat for a few hour, which is actually my advice to anyone who doesn't want to do the whole party thing).<br />
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So when someone tells you can't do something that you think is a basic right that you have, especially if you comply with all the rules that are writing, it becomes a really sad tear-filled plantain experience when someone tells you that you cannot do that. It doesn't make any sense and it isn't fair. I didn't go into details because those aren't important here. What is important is that we're getting married on June 20 (we will not be married before or after that date for sure now) and we are so excited for everyone who is coming from the states to join us next week, and we're equally excited to have our friends here join us as well. See you soon :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-42054068924775860922017-05-03T21:43:00.002-04:002017-05-03T21:43:49.153-04:00Lying under the starsIn the midst of everyday life, there are those special moments that stay with you forever, and we had one of those this past weekend. Last Saturday, we went to Sandy Point (the beach featured at the end of Shawshank Redemption) on an organized tour to see leatherback turtles nest. I honestly did not think we would see any turtles (although it's one of the most popular beaches for leatherback turtle nesting). The beach is closed from now until September for turtle nesting so it was just our group and a few others who were researching the turtles.<br />
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While we were waiting, we laid out on the sand looking straight up at the sky. It was dusk and somewhat cloudy but one by one the stars started coming out. It felt a little like a movie where the main characters have this incredibly romantic and private moment. We were with a group but it felt like we were the only ones there. It was really magical. And then our group leader got the call that a turtle was coming up to nest.<br />
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We saw this pretty large turtle lay her eggs and now the whole sky was filled with the most magical looking stars. It was one of the most magical moments I have had on this island. Not only was seeing a gigantic turtle lay eggs amazing to witness, but being in that place at that moment was one of those times in life where you realize that life is really special and being in the moment and being able to really enjoy what is happening is a gift. It's times like Saturday that I realize how much I love living here.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-53954634952904793232017-04-09T21:46:00.002-04:002017-04-09T21:46:26.432-04:00Happy 100 years U.S. Virgin Islands!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovrxMXKagjgPONutl2CidKFstwrmJoLzfOjvmHG3hEHn4KlTrLh7JXBhMR3qh_qlpd9t7BbJg7fwhkNuxGASbn4zbX7BGyIKN88MORR0lHgkAxfKbCpQOfx2Ecs5ZVyjtSXklsuxAQiM/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovrxMXKagjgPONutl2CidKFstwrmJoLzfOjvmHG3hEHn4KlTrLh7JXBhMR3qh_qlpd9t7BbJg7fwhkNuxGASbn4zbX7BGyIKN88MORR0lHgkAxfKbCpQOfx2Ecs5ZVyjtSXklsuxAQiM/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a>Last week we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the United States purchasing the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark. The day was a territorial holiday and the Prime Minister of Denmark as well as the Secretary of Interior were on St. Croix to commemorate the event. We even had fireworks, and it's always an event here when fireworks are involved. Overall, it was a nice celebration with parades and lots of people filling the usual spots. It was nice to see everyone come together and celebrate. Not everyone was happy but you can't make everyone happy all the time and that's okay, especially here.<br />
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We're happy when our electricity is working and when our internet is on; everything else is a huge bonus. There are days on this island where everything works out and everyone says yes and those days are amazing. Then there are those "no" days when nothing is possible and you have two flat tires all at once. Thankfully, the "no" days are far fewer than the amazing days, and all days include amazing views of the ocean and really good people always ready to help.<br />
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When I moved here, I lived alone and I handled most of my island issues alone as well. My days were filled with endless trips to the gas station to get air for my tires (I haven't met a pothole I didn't want to know on an intimate level yet). Then I met my fiance and life became so different and in such a great way. I was so used to doing everything on my own that I never really thought about how life changes when there is someone else in it to go through everyday challenges with me. We now go through every day together and it's nice not to have to get my air all by myself all the time. I know I still can but it's nice to know someone else wants to do it for me.<br />
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It's nice not to have to do everything by myself anymore. Especially living on an island, when there are certain challenges that go way above what I can handle sometimes, it's nice to know there is someone next to me that can do those things that I cannot, and that we can get through everything together. I do think that my overall island experience would be so much different if I was still on my own here. It doesn't mean that I wouldn't live here anymore but it would definitely be a lot more challenging and I would be full of a lot more frustrating tire stories. My fiance makes my life easier and more fun, and it's better than I ever thought being with someone forever would be. <br />
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Recently, I've been thinking about the things I miss since moving here. I really miss water slides. There aren't any here and we can't just drive to a water park or hotel that has them. We also don't have Starbucks or any coffee location that is open past 5 pm. I remember going to these places to decompress on a bad day with friends. Here, we have to find different ways of filling these voids. One of them is to go to our brand new movie theater or taking really long walks on the beach. I still miss the slides though...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-71762498626578213792017-03-12T23:51:00.002-04:002017-03-13T10:06:30.745-04:00Just like the states!This weekend was so busy. On Friday, I had my hair and makeup trial for the wedding and then we went to do our engagement pictures at the beach where we got engaged. I had a ton of make up and I don't think my fiance recognized me, but I felt like a Disney princess and the pictures that we took turned out great. We'll have to see what the actual professional pictures look like when they come, but hopefully they look even better than ours. For the first time, I looked older than a teenager and I really liked it.<br />
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After pictures, we went to dinner, which was a new experience for us on St. Croix because we got to cook our own dinner at a restaurant (more on that in the restaurant review below). And then we went to our brand new 8-screen movie theater! You probably take your movie theater for granted because you have a few others within driving distance and some are bigger and nicer than some others. On St. Croix, we had only one movie theater. It was very small and did not have stadium seating. Now, we have a gigantic movie theater with huge screens and stadium seating, and it still has that new car smell. We went on opening night and we were the first ones to sit in our seats. We got fancy popcorn and it was a really great experience. The best part about this theater is that while we have to pay outrageous prices for almost everything here, our movie tickets are only $8.50. This is about a $1 more than we used to pay for our not so great theater but it's definitely worth it.<br />
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On Saturday, I had my first island facial and I also met some very nice people from Wisconsin at the grocery store who were here on vacation (shout out to them, sorry I didn't get your names). Getting back to the facial, when you first move to an island, every time you go to the beach feels like getting a facial. After two years, the beach facial wears off and dry skin comes back in full swing. I got the facial at the Buccaneer Hotel Spa and it felt amazing. All in all, this weekend reminded me of being in the states. When I lived there, I went to huge movie theaters, got facials and went to all kinds of do it yourself restaurants. Living on an island is very different on a daily basis but doing things that remind you of the states is good sometimes. I'll take these fun parts of living there minus the traffic, sub-zero temperatures and massive crowds any day. That's what makes living in our island bubble so magical sometimes. We get the best of both worlds.<br />
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<i><b>Restaurant Review:</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Starlite Grille at Divi Carina Bay Resort</b></i><br />
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On Friday, after our engagement pictures, my fiance and I were really hungry. Divi Carina Bay Resort is a stone-throw from our house so we decided to go there for dinner. We figured this is an all inclusive resort so they would probably have some good dinner options. We went into the hotel, saw the Starlite Grille and decided we'd try it out. We saw some people having meals brought to them on a hot lava rock and we just figured that was some sizzling skillet dinner choice. We sat down and ordered (btw, we had the option of dining inside which is somewhat rare here) and then it hit us; We realized that all the food served in this restaurant was served on a hot lava rock where the guests get the privilege of cooking the food themselves! We had a laugh about sending the food back as it was way underdone, but when our raw food did come out, we cooked it, seasoned it and proceeded to eat it.<br />
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Now a little bit of back story before I proceed with the review. My fiance is a chef so he cooks while at work and also when we eat at home. I am not a chef and I think that hot pockets are perfectly suitable meals when out of time or ingredients with which to cook (apparently my chef fiance does not agree with my adoration of hot pockets but we agree to disagree on such important issues which is what makes our relationship amazing), so cooking my own food at a restaurant comes as a unique experience while out to dinner. To my fiance, this is just another opportunity for him to cook which apparently he doesn't necessarily enjoy if he's going out to eat.<br />
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Once we finished cooking our food and it took probably not more than 10-15 minutes, our food was pretty tasty. The ingredients were really fresh and plentiful (he had the lamb, I had the veggie dinner) and the mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and steamed vegetables did come out already done. I looked at Divi's web site after we came home and it says "this is stone age cooking with a modern flair." I think it's a unique experience and the food tastes good. I'm not sure if I would order the chicken and try to cook it myself on a lava rock but I would definitely come back here again, and I may invite visiting guests for a "different" island experience as all island experience are sometimes. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-45856009615675257502017-02-12T08:49:00.000-05:002017-02-12T08:49:04.096-05:00A new year on St. CroixIt's been a while since my last post and some people have emailed me and have asked if we still live on St. Croix. The good news is we are still here and we are still in love with a lot of our island experience. The less great news is the reason that I haven't posted in a while is that a few months ago we got robbed. It was hard to come back here and keep writing, not really knowing how to explain how I felt still being here after that experience. We were in our home unfortunately when it happened but we were asleep and we didn't see anything and nobody was hurt, which is most important.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjR39944kL9TJLxCLl3cmUgY1tzNBjNGW_o2-FKLMzmqQky_YMpBB4QNUf55VDN4f6Ms8BaGYuu_j8gsyc7VfSekx5oQ-1oGpHqRwu4gsPxDNiEd_mQ9nOZEegjg8MgO9k5X8KYxnte24/s1600/IMG_4387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjR39944kL9TJLxCLl3cmUgY1tzNBjNGW_o2-FKLMzmqQky_YMpBB4QNUf55VDN4f6Ms8BaGYuu_j8gsyc7VfSekx5oQ-1oGpHqRwu4gsPxDNiEd_mQ9nOZEegjg8MgO9k5X8KYxnte24/s320/IMG_4387.JPG" width="240" /></a><span id="goog_1523174014"></span><span id="goog_1523174015"></span>Since then, we have moved to a different part of the island and we have started over, renewing our relationship with a place we really do love. It has felt like a long journey but we are in a really good place now where we can start to see everything that is great here once again.<br />
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While we did consider moving off island, there are so many reasons we want to stay. We love the way of life, our friends, the beautiful views and of course, the perfect weather. I have spent the last several months repairing my relationship with this island and I'm in a really good place now. We have a new beautiful view and an amazing outlook on the future. I'm also really happy that our wedding planning is almost now complete and we still have about 4 months to spare.<br />
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Life is definitely a lot busier than it was when I first moved here, from repairing car tires to going to dentist and vet appointments, but it's a good busy because our lives have transitioned from just being on a temporary hiatus from our old lives to our new long-term lives on a small tropical island in the Caribbean. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-12693338228338114012016-08-25T17:12:00.001-04:002016-08-25T17:12:30.626-04:00Wedding Planning on St. CroixWho knew that this blog would go from losing the Olympic Games to moving to an island to Wedding Planning! If you're still reading this, I'm very lucky to have such loyal readers.<br />
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So if you've ever met me, you'd think I'd have binders and Pinterest boards full of planned ideas for any event, especially for a future wedding. But somehow I never really thought of any plans involving my own wedding. I've seen my friends get married, and I've been in their bridal parties, but I was so focused on them that I never really thought of anything that I would do for when the time came. I never knew how much really goes into planning your own wedding and how expensive it gets. It makes you want to elope... a lot of times during the course of any given day post-engagement and pre-wedding.<br />
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But we're making it work and we're doing traditional/island/modern and our guests are going to have an amazing time. When you live on a island, you start wanting to waste less paper, use less plastic bags and go as organic as possible. When that dream fades and reality sets in, you try to get at least a balance of these things in your life, moreso than when you lived stateside.<br />
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So when it comes to wedding planning, the island lacks in a lot of the things you would need for the "details" of the wedding. There aren't really many bridal stores (just one) or party favor stores (maybe two). So two weeks ago I went dress shopping in the only store that has wedding dresses here. And I found my dress! It's absolutely not the kind of dress I thought I would wear at my wedding (I did think about it a little bit before and I always envisioned this huge dress that doesn't really exist and is probably extremely impractical for a beach wedding). And I already have plans to shorten it after the wedding because I really want to be able to use everything I have here, including the dress that I am only supposed to wear once. My mother is horrified at this idea because after all, it's a wedding dress, but in my mind it's a really pretty dress that I will wear at my wedding that would look amazing when shortened so I can wear it again and again because I love this dress (especially the back).<br />
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This brings me to what I love about living here. There is a way that things are "supposed to be" when you live in the states or probably in most places. But here, it feels like I can make my own rules for how things are supposed to be, especially with something like this which back in the states we make such a big deal about but in reality, is just one big party with our family and friends. Would we still get married without this "party" that for some reason has to be perfect and white and without one hair out of place?" Of course we would, so instead of trying to please absolutely every tradition that has ever existed, we are going to plan our party our way and we're going to be happy regardless of whether it works out exactly as we planned or not or whether there are an equal number of bridesmaids and groomsman or whether it rains during the ceremony which is going to be very much outside on the beach in the sand with no real Plan B because we're on an island and it rains sometimes and that's okay (back in Chicago, there would be a tent ready and a plan C location in case of Apocalypse, and I would make sure that all the guests knew about both the tent and plan C<br />
).<br />
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So since we decided we can do whatever we want, we did want to add some tradition into this experience and that's a good thing, because being on an island and trying to gather your wedding necessities means you have to be creative. For the veil, when I didn't find exactly the one I wanted from the four I had available as my options here, I asked if anyone on the island had a veil that they loved. Someone answered and now I have my something borrowed and I love it! I would never have thought to do that stateside, but here, it feels wrong not to do this and it's all working out when I do.<br />
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Another necessity of weddings... trinkets!!! It's really easy to go online and find all these trinket things that every wedding should have. And I am not against wedding trinkets (although I am somewhat against trinkets in general since I moved here). I think trinkets that make other people feel good are great and I've ordered some for our guests because I think they'll feel really special when I give it to them when they're here. But then there are things from the island that we really want to incorporate into this big party that we're throwing. We're having friends make our card box and signs from wood they find here on the beach and we're keeping those to pass on in the future, and I love the idea of that. I love finding the balance of blending the island with modern ideals and some stateside values. This lets us retain all the good that comes from stateside living and incorporate them into what makes us love living here as well.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiV-kWAg51WI4OJCePSZbwxYHIMm89c3yOxNN5ewsEIZfIQ7Zm-Xn64g8lDfT3dIiIMXnXqFmj53w7kjWM_PPBMLjwQfuBMQ6BeNXSoCtcJeRZjfbKuXFlsB2wEiLW2i5AsjGQg0SeJg/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiV-kWAg51WI4OJCePSZbwxYHIMm89c3yOxNN5ewsEIZfIQ7Zm-Xn64g8lDfT3dIiIMXnXqFmj53w7kjWM_PPBMLjwQfuBMQ6BeNXSoCtcJeRZjfbKuXFlsB2wEiLW2i5AsjGQg0SeJg/s320/image1.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
More party planning posts to come! It's funny because I used to have so many lovely island pictures on my phone that have now been replaced by engagement rings, wedding dresses, homemade pizzas and veils. I can't show these here (except for the homemade pizza my fiance made) because I do want my dress to be a surprise on the actual day of our big party to a certain person who always reads my blogs and is my biggest fan, but I will be sure to take some cool landscape pics for the next post!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-65690532854932552842016-08-07T22:42:00.000-04:002016-08-07T22:42:18.158-04:00My fairy tale and an islandI'm still on St. Croix but I haven't written in a while. A lot has been going on and the blog took a back seat. In the last three months, my then boyfriend broke his arm, we both went to see one of my best friend's get married in Chicago, and he asked me to marry him (thus the "then" boyfriend and now fiance)! That's a lot to digest, even here, and I honestly couldn't be happier.<br />
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Watching an adult break his arm and watching him go through everything that comes after was not fun at all. The good news is that St. Croix has all the facilities needed to treat broken bones and all the physical therapy facilities needed to slowly get those bones working again. It was honestly no different to go through that here than anywhere else stateside. The main difference was that we were able to go to the hospital, get medications, see a specialist and take the dog to the vet all before noon because everything is so close to everything else here. Did I mention that Bill Clinton was giving a speech and my aunt and uncle were coming to visit the day after this all happened? Well, all worked out and my aunt and uncle seemed to have a really nice time visiting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeM47q_3dH0uy0lv1sPEJIPHDj4zPNFVqdtcQQNMt1EZwzLlOpSQci8jjvBrObR_S7Ly4YdX4zLhdJ4MHig9z3X6aEmHM5Pymbrn3YQ32UeuMJspcjG3L3TLaPESdKP_hWtjdmonw3PI/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeM47q_3dH0uy0lv1sPEJIPHDj4zPNFVqdtcQQNMt1EZwzLlOpSQci8jjvBrObR_S7Ly4YdX4zLhdJ4MHig9z3X6aEmHM5Pymbrn3YQ32UeuMJspcjG3L3TLaPESdKP_hWtjdmonw3PI/s320/image2.JPG" width="240" /></a>And then after everything calmed down a bit, my fiance and I took a trip to my hometown of Chicago and we watched two really nice people get married. It was so sweet and nice, and Chicago was actually pretty nice from a visitors point of view. Then we came back to St. Croix and we went for a walk on the beach with our dog. And then my life changed forever.<br />
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It was really like a fairy tale. A lot of what I've seen and experienced on this island has been pretty magical (apart from seeing actual fairy dust in the bioilluminescence bay) but this was pretty much what every woman dreams of when thinking of someone asking to marry her. When I first came to St. Croix, I was so relieved to have less stress and to just be happy that I didn't really think about getting married any time soon. It was such a stressful thought back in Chicago that I was just happy to be happy and I accepted the fact that it may not really be in the cards for me. Then I met my boyfriend and it has been exactly like I dreamed it could be someday ever since. It was like once I didn't need it, I got exactly what I always wanted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89y46hf8AJ87Jr5MpJ7jmo6ZtdQV4KtSRmMIyWJz2nn90zaLCWSJKlovs2HsgZbPU-_mduEi9W0R_QmGD0cC9pVxGRr6Rm9sYbJDwcSns_b9u9jDhLIcmEPYd2B3Ehz5Va9itp0Y7WHg/s1600/image1-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89y46hf8AJ87Jr5MpJ7jmo6ZtdQV4KtSRmMIyWJz2nn90zaLCWSJKlovs2HsgZbPU-_mduEi9W0R_QmGD0cC9pVxGRr6Rm9sYbJDwcSns_b9u9jDhLIcmEPYd2B3Ehz5Va9itp0Y7WHg/s320/image1-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We went for a walk on the beach. The tide was high and there was a voyeur sea turtle nearby. Everyone loves sea turtles so it was a great day already. Then my boyfriend pointed out a piece of sea glass in the water and I went around it as I was almost certain tetanus would be imminent if I touched it. He told me to not to touch it so I obviously haaaaad to pick it up then. I saw that it said "Mar..." through the sand and I picked it up and it said "Marry me." I thought it was so sweet that someone had asked someone else to marry them in that same spot so I turned around to show my boyfriend and he was on his knee in the water with the ring and the sun setting behind us. I'm pretty sure that turtle was nearby watching everything as all voyeur sea turtles do. I was shocked and my hands were shaking and it was the best feeling I have ever had. It just felt right just like everything since I met him has felt right. You really do know when it's the right person because it feels so different with anyone else.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTkRmBQQK5IOKEwaXlhjRgBRKYAVqRurrq_YMifNO7IP7NNU5F3LPgr_CTysq5oxP5z8y5p01gY9GMvXzRqLBaL4OOSEPfLRvofjmq-h0R_XdLpK1Jr4anC2YMNtjmvfHNs5PzdVHxbU/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTkRmBQQK5IOKEwaXlhjRgBRKYAVqRurrq_YMifNO7IP7NNU5F3LPgr_CTysq5oxP5z8y5p01gY9GMvXzRqLBaL4OOSEPfLRvofjmq-h0R_XdLpK1Jr4anC2YMNtjmvfHNs5PzdVHxbU/s320/image3.JPG" width="240" /></a>So now we're in the midst of planning a wedding. They don't tell you this if you're not engaged yet, but after the engagement comes this not so fun part of actually planning every minute detail of your upcoming wedding. This is especially tricky on an island because while we have every facility necessary for a broken bone, we do not have ever store necessary for everything that goes into a wedding. Thus, we are now going to become very creative in order to make this work because like everything else since I've come here, it's definitely going to work and it's going to be amazing.<br />
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I gave up everything and I moved to an island, and I found the perfect person to spend the rest of eternity with. The best part of this is that this isn't just a story, it's my life and it's real and I couldn't be happier. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-4470946308396262292016-06-02T22:36:00.001-04:002016-06-02T22:36:44.193-04:001 year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyspDUQljLcygPs8uG5Ln8qvNq7V75rvGpGCvI9fmgr2Qxj_CZrBYZwUHfVg2L5rVDjKIj6JpdWkckqoR3jePq1MVJWcpC7-alSG_UFPn9pBdE70v2blhYdnztHj-sK8pbnkMXTO9IIj4/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyspDUQljLcygPs8uG5Ln8qvNq7V75rvGpGCvI9fmgr2Qxj_CZrBYZwUHfVg2L5rVDjKIj6JpdWkckqoR3jePq1MVJWcpC7-alSG_UFPn9pBdE70v2blhYdnztHj-sK8pbnkMXTO9IIj4/s320/image1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-24366129600432720122016-05-10T22:41:00.002-04:002016-05-11T14:08:43.741-04:00Two Roads, and I took the one less traveled by<table align="CENTER" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td><span style="font-size: small;">Two</span> roads diverged in a yellow wood,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="1"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>And sorry I could not travel both</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="2"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>And be one traveler, long I stood</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="3"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>And looked down one as far as I could</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="4"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>To where it bent in the undergrowth;</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="5"><i> </i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>Then took the other, as just as fair,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="6"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>And having perhaps the better claim,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="7"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Because it was grassy and wanted wear;</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="8"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Though as for that the passing there</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="9"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Had worn them really about the same,</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="10"><i> </i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td></td></tr>
<tr><td>And both that morning equally lay</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="11"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>In leaves no step had trodden black.</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="12"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Oh, I kept the first for another day!</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="13"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Yet knowing how way leads on to way,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="14"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>I doubted if I should ever come back.</td><td align="RIGHT" valign="TOP"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="15"><i> </i></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td>I shall be telling this with a sigh</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="16"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Somewhere ages and ages hence:</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="17"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="18"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>I took the one less traveled by,</td><td><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="19"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td>And that has made all the difference.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In 1995, my seventh grade teacher, Mr. Palmisano (who I had a huge crush on) handed out poems to our English class. One of these was written by a guy named Robert Frost. It was called <i>The Road Not Taken. </i>I never really enjoyed poetry very much but Mr. Palmisano had this effect of making me fall in love with this one. And as I was grew up, I firmly believed that by becoming an attorney, I actually had taken the road less traveled. This was a popular thought because by the time I was a licensed attorney, there were way too many attorneys available for the demand necessary in our society. Along with the invention of the smartphone, being an attorney became a 24/7 hijacking situation of which in 2015, I decided I no longer wanted to be a member.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMj9W2HEsM18sd6mYxp8QiR81uu5DB2zysI8q9CxiopYYEPKsOp5H7KBrCb0gwhuYhfghjMdiUHSG5yLGD_4EutO_UCzzVUc0cuaItFRtXA44XUV9henHfQFNjQLSW7SrYQh0D916YbB0/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMj9W2HEsM18sd6mYxp8QiR81uu5DB2zysI8q9CxiopYYEPKsOp5H7KBrCb0gwhuYhfghjMdiUHSG5yLGD_4EutO_UCzzVUc0cuaItFRtXA44XUV9henHfQFNjQLSW7SrYQh0D916YbB0/s320/IMG_2451.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
This road to St. Croix is definitely the road less traveled and many times, not taken (and I think my parents still wish I hadn't taken it although they love the beach at Hotel on the Cay so that's something :)). It's been almost a year since I set out on my big move that I dubbed "New Beginnings" and while I can't believe I actually did this, I'm so glad I did. In the last year, I learned that you know you live on St. Croix when you have no water when the electricity goes out, and when killing a 4 inch gigantic cockroach is no longer worthy of a Facebook post. In the last year, I found a job in management that I really wanted, I made many new friends and I found someone to have a relationship with who loves me even though "Ancient Aliens" is one of my favorite shows on TV.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8Db18gWoQXCQQrxXbJI3mZ1KFuwYg6gOPmeKcfMz70niidWI1ajBfWmDA2vPgUsrrKcGN-mtPFkXf6_ng25_HsTXbpG9i8ULhUkxmPNh4husHFwy0ZKtvD8Lfq1GP7efQIxfODvv2eQ/s1600/FullSizeRender1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8Db18gWoQXCQQrxXbJI3mZ1KFuwYg6gOPmeKcfMz70niidWI1ajBfWmDA2vPgUsrrKcGN-mtPFkXf6_ng25_HsTXbpG9i8ULhUkxmPNh4husHFwy0ZKtvD8Lfq1GP7efQIxfODvv2eQ/s320/FullSizeRender1.jpg" width="320" /></a>I started writing this blog because I wanted to keep in touch with my friends and family back home, but I have received so much more from all the people who ready it everyday. Last month we broke 10,000 page views and I have made friendships with many of my readers and I have even had the cool opportunity to meet some of you who will be moving to the island very soon! During this whole experience, I began to really appreciate the world around me. I can be driving down the road and see piggies on the side of the road and cows in the pasture, and I can go into a very indoor type of store and see wild birds going up and down the aisles looking for their favorite products. I can also see goats, horses and chickens everywhere. And my favorite part is that I am almost devoid of having advertisements shoved in my face. St. Croix isn't Little House on the Prairie and we still do very much live in the 21st Century with plenty of online advertisements (I live with someone who really had to have the new Samsung Galaxy s7 and I get woken up to a literal "Mooooooo" sound every time a new text message is received) but we select when we're exposed to them and it's nice to have that kind of control.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrVTooWqK2_b7oEKcCiSUL3X1bNzx1QwXFEzettku-Jw9G2c0IeFlLoekVUPvmotVZrMYybMad0lwTno5tZZX-jEGQD09OeSnywB2b_JW0BqTvm4wSk47Cc8OMR9rXqxWlejCFEdg8kE/s1600/IMG_2506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrVTooWqK2_b7oEKcCiSUL3X1bNzx1QwXFEzettku-Jw9G2c0IeFlLoekVUPvmotVZrMYybMad0lwTno5tZZX-jEGQD09OeSnywB2b_JW0BqTvm4wSk47Cc8OMR9rXqxWlejCFEdg8kE/s320/IMG_2506.JPG" width="240" /></a>After a year, I'm not really sure what the future holds but I know that there is a really happy future ahead. When I made this move I read a lot of blogs about attorneys who gave up very successful careers because they wanted a better quality of life. I needed the support of others like me to be able to know that taking this leap didn't make me completely crazy. It made me think back to that first year after law school when I quit my job and became a magazine editor. I went back to a law firm after the relationship I was in lead me into that direction again. The irony about my current move professionally and location-wise is that I would have stayed in the law profession for a relationship again but my life didn't have that plan for me and I'm so glad I didn't stay because I found exactly what I needed here. Every day is a new adventure here and I can't wait to get to know my new friends better and to make amazing memories because I took the road less traveled by and that has made all the difference.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mXf-0SCFhCdiBUgWFjD2oHBxnrHWJBfQsBNkuSI0ycBx1iB3OchqM-RizTv85stqS7awf9xYe_QO_YccY2L-rAbi9Ww0TWKEwJK8K6xNDX-FuO-Qe1uxqOwvi-mFZjYwHr7fB5mr-Fw/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mXf-0SCFhCdiBUgWFjD2oHBxnrHWJBfQsBNkuSI0ycBx1iB3OchqM-RizTv85stqS7awf9xYe_QO_YccY2L-rAbi9Ww0TWKEwJK8K6xNDX-FuO-Qe1uxqOwvi-mFZjYwHr7fB5mr-Fw/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="273" /></a>And for all of you who have been asking for a picture of our dog, here she is. She's the sweetest and the first thing I see in the morning (literally, as she pushes her wet nose into my face to wake me up for a walk) and the giver of endless hugs and licks. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-12182650907471750282016-04-10T22:09:00.004-04:002016-04-10T22:09:52.889-04:00My perfect island Sunday...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPnRYVMBOtvSzPfW4LWQ6m2A5ylW9e6rw9fr6EW4H6v9xWEViXCe8g7y5oqLUWJMBUB7Q2vgVqBYgydu-rZvGoqpIcuyQY9Y1G2IJyc-bc-srw-GTITVxYOhww0hQ30T6SA-1sPZa0AM/s1600/IMG_2179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPnRYVMBOtvSzPfW4LWQ6m2A5ylW9e6rw9fr6EW4H6v9xWEViXCe8g7y5oqLUWJMBUB7Q2vgVqBYgydu-rZvGoqpIcuyQY9Y1G2IJyc-bc-srw-GTITVxYOhww0hQ30T6SA-1sPZa0AM/s320/IMG_2179.JPG" width="240" /></a>Sunday is one of my favorite days. The weather is usually perfect and there's nothing to do all day but to relax. And you'd think we'd be at the beach all the time but we haven't gone in weeks, and being at the beach today and smelling the salt in the air was so relaxing and perfect. We are so lucky to be here and to to be able to do all these things that most people have to go on vacation to experience, but life and work are a reality when you live in paradise so sometimes things just get busy. Even if you're not working 40 traditional hour work weeks or traveling an hour to and from work, somehow things get busy and the beach and other island outings seem like something that can be done anytime and thus, not very often.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rRsyLgnOsgINcJ-l5vJAIOSafXcGyBfLy0tOGcJS0zTfCfyRT5QCQWcpRJKopQTVD4-JOIhP0iJvAf0xuicrWx9M0gutlMIFdhhgS6QfxXDpH7Psk4d7Yux-Ev4GriBPr-ecuCv4hkM/s1600/IMG_2180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rRsyLgnOsgINcJ-l5vJAIOSafXcGyBfLy0tOGcJS0zTfCfyRT5QCQWcpRJKopQTVD4-JOIhP0iJvAf0xuicrWx9M0gutlMIFdhhgS6QfxXDpH7Psk4d7Yux-Ev4GriBPr-ecuCv4hkM/s320/IMG_2180.JPG" width="240" /></a>But I remember why I moved here and it wasn't necessarily because I loved the beach. I wanted to have less stress and I wanted to relax more. But there is something about the saltwater and the sand and just sitting and smelling the beach air that is very relaxing. I can come home and eat twinkies on the couch while watching Dateline on TV any day but that isn't necessarily the same relaxation that I moved here to experience. I can have that type of relaxation anywhere. I moved here to take pictures of pretty ocean water and to to be able to take in the outdoors and to share my outdoor space with chickens and all kinds of animals. I moved here to talk to people on the street who know who I am. And most of all, I moved here to have a better quality of life on a daily basis than I had before.<br />
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The people I met here have given me the ability to have a better quality of life. My life is better every day and I still have to do my part by going out and experiencing everything that this island has to offer. So I am going to be make it my goal to go to the beach more often, to talk to more people on the street and I will be more patient as I embrace "island time." There are so many people that wish that they could have this type of life that I can't waste it by trying to rush through it. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-7425224298570424692016-03-27T20:58:00.003-04:002016-04-07T04:44:53.195-04:00Happy Easter!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgve4AloBCVgBozV3CbeB5XWbtbc1hJxz8ZGywXJPrL2KzLqWew6zrWf4UQOUXfABiouh0DEMbMCva95lHdjFau3ue4OinmLxF1ruTKsa0PJMgmIuwiAq9c3Nv600THkHTypsOG0ZBDi1U/s1600/IMG_2097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgve4AloBCVgBozV3CbeB5XWbtbc1hJxz8ZGywXJPrL2KzLqWew6zrWf4UQOUXfABiouh0DEMbMCva95lHdjFau3ue4OinmLxF1ruTKsa0PJMgmIuwiAq9c3Nv600THkHTypsOG0ZBDi1U/s320/IMG_2097.JPG" width="240" /></a>Happy Easter from St. Croix! Yes, we still have chocolate bunnies and peeps and egg hunting contests, but we don't have any commercials for any of these things! Actually, St. Croix has very few advertisements on the whole island, even for things that tourists would probably like to do. And this is one of the reasons that everyone who lives here loves this island versus maybe some other islands that are very commercial. I remember being in the Bahamas one summer and there was a man going up and down the beach advertising his "booze cruise" and there were women walking up and down the beach selling trinkets. There are few people on the beaches in St. Croix much less anyone walking up and down advertising anything.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFA7dPJ6kyHpdvWzel1mtKeIhipo_mMHefqF_dWnnKXW4GnAXSwP3oJIntskhKncit-zQpqto5p-mYW_hKVlad2jXeHzqky_cJ2OIx7MY6t2fQ3eyapuOTRXp6IIwJYt6tsyVVS-EQso/s1600/IMG_2110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFA7dPJ6kyHpdvWzel1mtKeIhipo_mMHefqF_dWnnKXW4GnAXSwP3oJIntskhKncit-zQpqto5p-mYW_hKVlad2jXeHzqky_cJ2OIx7MY6t2fQ3eyapuOTRXp6IIwJYt6tsyVVS-EQso/s320/IMG_2110.JPG" width="240" /></a>There are cruises here and trinket stores as well but they get advertised online or by word of mouth. Even television commercials don't advertise local events and the things that are advertised are not available here. It almost feels like the way life used to be 30 years ago. When we go to the store here, we buy things based on what we need and not what we saw on television 30 minutes earlier. It's refreshing to be less commercial here and maybe that's why we don't buy a lot of stuff here period. Young kids here spend their Friday and Saturday nights outside on the beach rather than in front of a television or a computer and they spend their days outside with animals and with other kids their age. This type of life isn't for everyone but I liked the way things were 30 years and I like the way things are here now.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-52787150544242737282016-03-13T19:09:00.003-04:002016-03-13T22:51:22.042-04:00Back on schedule and living in the moment...I spent my whole life planning for the future but being here has allowed me to live in the moment and enjoy the now rather than always thinking about how I can enjoy what's to come. I think everyone needs to plan to a certain point or you never really get to achieve what you set out to do but you also have to learn how to enjoy what you have planned. There is a fountain outside my window and I can hear the water streaming and I can hear crickets, but otherwise it is silent and that sound is magical. It's dusk right now and I am just able to sit here and write and not think about anything else that has been done or that I still need to do. I get to be here now and I have spent years trying to figure out how to do this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxbdkLHZOc37mw6jFqdTYkyLAx6HhgRvetvdLTU6cZUG7M4sWMSs5i9PzDsbFLtt4SYGOXDfDRZtPQqPCPiqiAuNdg2IHeaxFkTVY9gcg2WetzzpDq-JUpoGFCCpRODTw-DZXEJJH2DE/s1600/IMG_1978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxbdkLHZOc37mw6jFqdTYkyLAx6HhgRvetvdLTU6cZUG7M4sWMSs5i9PzDsbFLtt4SYGOXDfDRZtPQqPCPiqiAuNdg2IHeaxFkTVY9gcg2WetzzpDq-JUpoGFCCpRODTw-DZXEJJH2DE/s320/IMG_1978.JPG" width="320" /></a>I'm not sure what it is about this island that gives me the opportunity to live in the present but the absolute beauty and perfection of the nature around here definitely helps. We have stores and movie theaters (just one) and all those places and things that we become so accustomed to but here all those places are superseded by the natural surroundings of the beautiful sea water and the hills and "what is" and not what will be in the future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9OxcBmrzW3OXC5MhBch_gn07b-GT3HI0rUOi_HWVulQFpZfdXIbxQlbmH-ksvnNN7F1E7I6o-H78UzEnStOxBv3cr-SXajgUxTy9p_XAiqWSV9Ld7Uv3zrS_8T6H-cnU14JArfGWkxg/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9OxcBmrzW3OXC5MhBch_gn07b-GT3HI0rUOi_HWVulQFpZfdXIbxQlbmH-ksvnNN7F1E7I6o-H78UzEnStOxBv3cr-SXajgUxTy9p_XAiqWSV9Ld7Uv3zrS_8T6H-cnU14JArfGWkxg/s320/IMG_1960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I was playing miniature golf today and at first it started out just like any other activity that you would do on a Sunday afternoon, but then I looked out and I saw the background of where I was and I couldn't believe how lucky I was to just be there. I began to think about all the people who come to visit and never leave or those who have been visiting for years and I was wondering what makes them stay. This isn't the most glamorous island with the most activities and it may not even be the prettiest (although there are some very beautiful parts that are probably prettier than most other places), but I think it has a combination of all those things that people have a very hard time finding anywhere else. Somehow everything comes together here and makes it the perfect island to just be on in the present.<br />
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<b>Activity Review:</b><br />
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<i><b>Divi Carina Bay Resort Miniature Golf</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tLxQrr5Pyhl6BxEOFHgh1KG-E_l0fiz_v77L7Y7vskVrA22h1EQS0OboDIQlZWo9yT8jEDFqLV6UfBkPhSNB0sJJtxt6dOBdAMiFQpIcxS8Ha5zHpXGFGxatGfW9LImlWGTBLZZuScs/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tLxQrr5Pyhl6BxEOFHgh1KG-E_l0fiz_v77L7Y7vskVrA22h1EQS0OboDIQlZWo9yT8jEDFqLV6UfBkPhSNB0sJJtxt6dOBdAMiFQpIcxS8Ha5zHpXGFGxatGfW9LImlWGTBLZZuScs/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a>I don't have any great pics for this activity but it is the only miniature golf on the island and it's very easy to find. It's located across from Divi Carina Bay Resort right across from East End Pizza. They are open seven days a week from 2 pm to 9 pm and cost is only $8 for adults. The course is a bit challenging if you are a beginner with some elevated greens at some of the holes but overall, it's fun and you get a great view of the Caribbean Sea if you go during daytime hours.<br />
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There is also a driving range here and air hockey tables and party rooms for those who want a little more to do than just miniature golf. This activity is fun for the whole family or for those who just want to get away from their families or surroundings for a few hours!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-22894718997133487782016-03-01T19:22:00.003-05:002016-03-01T19:22:48.945-05:00On island time!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SeIZPd4rifBiuzLP_TVB8Y_7WJr4c-pViW365BPoMw9jbc8XGUSs-3yJL0QmQ4bR6Qod7Rn8JwiKc8Ab78jbrg_ik5mKelF86bTalRj35BbDUnGo_qi_37fsGfc7ZWHeONtLRrqVzxA/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SeIZPd4rifBiuzLP_TVB8Y_7WJr4c-pViW365BPoMw9jbc8XGUSs-3yJL0QmQ4bR6Qod7Rn8JwiKc8Ab78jbrg_ik5mKelF86bTalRj35BbDUnGo_qi_37fsGfc7ZWHeONtLRrqVzxA/s320/IMG_1936.JPG" width="240" /></a>Yes, I'm late, about two days late, even though I have tried unsuccessfully to make this a three-week blog (thanks to all of your emails and it's been great to get them!!!). There is also a puppy adorably burrowing herself into my keyboard and trying to do everything possible to keep me from typing anything every time I try. Sometimes being here feels like being anywhere else, just with perfect weather. Some days I go to work and I go to the store and do the everyday stuff I used to do before I moved here and I forget where I am.<br />
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But then I go inside the grocery store and I can't find half the stuff I wanted to get and I remember that I'm in St. Croix. And then I go outside and my car is literally 50 shades of Dirty and I remember exactly where I am. Ironically, my car is also 50 shades of grey because it happens to be a grey colored car and extremely dirty right now. And then when I can't just go to a drive-thru car wash, I remember that I live on this amazing island where things are far from perfect but where I can't imagine not being because unlike some people, I do have a choice and I choose to be here.<br />
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Life has gotten busier on the island. Apparently I love to work. I started out taking it easy with no job and bumming it on weekdays on the beach, and then working about 10-20 hours a week, and now I come in early and I leave late and put in actual stateside timed work weeks. I don't really mind that much though because my job allows me to stay here and I love it here. I also found that I love to clean. I have lived in many different apartments in my life and I have never loved cleaning any of them. I did, however, love having other people clean my apartments for me. In the past, I have also always lived alone and in a way, wherever I lived never really felt like home but it does now, and I love keeping our home clean.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GoMXa0OsZFSmLH_UCkG6Z6TIsQm5qwtsk0jtPiwqcIkD08p8hLzqJImGkPviAao3wt_huT3FT30Ym6Kk8b3AmAA9NyweLrs1bzoJgP6yHKDvRxchRj5vbX2GCuEpU-idAficxbN2710/s1600/IMG_1946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GoMXa0OsZFSmLH_UCkG6Z6TIsQm5qwtsk0jtPiwqcIkD08p8hLzqJImGkPviAao3wt_huT3FT30Ym6Kk8b3AmAA9NyweLrs1bzoJgP6yHKDvRxchRj5vbX2GCuEpU-idAficxbN2710/s320/IMG_1946.JPG" width="240" /></a>Our floors are stone tiled and I really like having clean floors. Back in Chicago, I would never dream of not having carpet because it was really cold but here carpet is not a good idea with lots of bug-like creatures trying to cohabitate with you and a puppy who hasn't yet learned to wipe her paws before entering. I never understood why my mom never wanted to have anyone clean our house but now I kind of get it. We'll see how long it lasts though because the more time I spend cleaning, the less blog posts so I'm guessing my newfound enthusiasm for floor mopping may wear off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj983kgZYa-5emaRcCN-lzoBDrCWrzhQ-Q1xZg0LUOv8aIon9pWSMg5GI4-iGY7TJBdwWHecxBBmg7cnntSdSOcmFg5uR-Bapm0WNq9bhXakTeg0mQIlc3PuBuV8gqOm8k83eE_lTY4Pl0/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj983kgZYa-5emaRcCN-lzoBDrCWrzhQ-Q1xZg0LUOv8aIon9pWSMg5GI4-iGY7TJBdwWHecxBBmg7cnntSdSOcmFg5uR-Bapm0WNq9bhXakTeg0mQIlc3PuBuV8gqOm8k83eE_lTY4Pl0/s320/IMG_1919.JPG" width="320" /></a>The last few months, the weather has also changed a lot here. I used to spend everyday in the summertime and in the fall here being drenched in sweat and I haven't sweated outside in months!!! It's an amazing feeling once you know the difference and here, everyone knows the difference! It's still beautiful, I'm still having a great time and it's starting to feel more and more like home every single day.<br />
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<b>Restaurant Review:</b><br />
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<b><i>Toast</i></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ46ixR1OV99tMn_snk90PjeGH0PM6y-kJu0gaWaIP0_t5SQL774Sjr5IavFxr-h8fVQ6add_kU0T7yOsNa9_gLRe7L7eLcbxzJf9RhoTfw6ixsV_msgQYCZBY5C-ikL1XR_5VcHHsik4/s1600/IMG_1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ46ixR1OV99tMn_snk90PjeGH0PM6y-kJu0gaWaIP0_t5SQL774Sjr5IavFxr-h8fVQ6add_kU0T7yOsNa9_gLRe7L7eLcbxzJf9RhoTfw6ixsV_msgQYCZBY5C-ikL1XR_5VcHHsik4/s320/IMG_1914.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbApghzbHsz6niiXjpq1mqDEmbrHFswNo9OmPuyR8mRu3Lu8uUxQVFmKeY43akkWakn6PNh7F_mfBJFYLtJkf6KERR_8my_kpjCjLDJabuFtenmWnMgPXjyUcwDnbMNqcEZD8lFY5vhac/s1600/IMG_1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbApghzbHsz6niiXjpq1mqDEmbrHFswNo9OmPuyR8mRu3Lu8uUxQVFmKeY43akkWakn6PNh7F_mfBJFYLtJkf6KERR_8my_kpjCjLDJabuFtenmWnMgPXjyUcwDnbMNqcEZD8lFY5vhac/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" width="320" /></a>Toast is one of my new favorite breakfast and lunch places. It's very quaint and cute inside, and we spent the morning eating and playing tourist after coming here. The food choices, while not many, are different than many other breakfast places on St. Croix. With choices of grits and arepas, you get a different breakfast experience than just eggs and bacon (and I love both!). The waffle fry nachos are also amazing and the whole meal is topped off with iced coffee which makes for a perfect morning in St. Croix any day.<br />
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Toast is located behind Purple Papaya among all the tourist shops. So, after lunch, it's always fun to explore even if you've lived here for a long while or if you're just visiting for the very first time. This place is also a stone's throw away from the boardwalk so it's convenient regardless of where you start off. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-69780659429027011402016-02-15T05:00:00.000-05:002016-02-16T22:01:43.810-05:00Agricultural Fair, Jump Up and taking it easy in the VI<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwNP80zpAI1nglDV88bPHey8532jvtsNk_gJ56Q_aRzQ2ZecbVuKTudZr74eD_n96RFOxl7FfSf8J6MIkO_Aci77u9I7XKuLmH2aoc_xdl6ZAs5TrXeL64WdV7TV8QrMS78TifhYbmS0/s1600/IMG_1854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwNP80zpAI1nglDV88bPHey8532jvtsNk_gJ56Q_aRzQ2ZecbVuKTudZr74eD_n96RFOxl7FfSf8J6MIkO_Aci77u9I7XKuLmH2aoc_xdl6ZAs5TrXeL64WdV7TV8QrMS78TifhYbmS0/s320/IMG_1854.JPG" width="240" /></a>It's 5 am and I'm up, and I think there are some pretty annoying roosters up with me as well. I've been talking to my family back in Chicago and it's snowing and cold and I remember this time last year, complete with boots and semi-wet and cold socks, along with gloves and my Columbia jacket and layers and layers of clothing that had to be removed before I could get really comfortable after coming home from work. I'm laying on the couch right now and all of my windows are open and there's a nice cool breeze coming in and it's perfect. I went to the beach yesterday and the water was really warm, and I realized that I really do live in paradise. There's still a lot of Chicago left in me, there are still days that I try to instill the big city mentality into many of the things that I do here, but sometimes I come home and I just relax and it's such a nice change. Things that need to be done here can wait because sometimes it's okay to experience life a little bit in the midst of trying to constantly accomplish some goal that we have set for ourselves. My biggest challenge here is to learn to enjoy what's around me rather than strive for what I want to have in my life. Somehow, by doing that, slowly I've been able to have what I really want. "Slowly" is the key word here because I'm not used to or comfortable with slow anything but island life is all about "slow" and it's kind of growing on me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjKbtpuG6K8qvmZJBW1Eiv1GbG84nec3M1XMKV4S1A58SIKLIBCxtKHHnpsZRHM3hkhwR_rWxpKm6-ctOhgjoNkPesYdukhshBalRUohcO6gEwKOiueACJ1KKFTjg58rdbedxiJAbNew/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjKbtpuG6K8qvmZJBW1Eiv1GbG84nec3M1XMKV4S1A58SIKLIBCxtKHHnpsZRHM3hkhwR_rWxpKm6-ctOhgjoNkPesYdukhshBalRUohcO6gEwKOiueACJ1KKFTjg58rdbedxiJAbNew/s320/IMG_1880.JPG" width="240" /></a>Contrary to my new adornment of the "slow" lifestyle, this weekend has been anything but slow. Friday started up with Shabbat services at Jump Up which is our local quarterly island festival. I love that Shabbat services can happen anywhere here and that type of flexibility is really unique to a congregation that is able to survive on a small island. I've been to Jump Up three times now and I realize that it's mostly the same vendors and the same performers every time but people still go because it's nice to see people that you know out and about on a Friday night in beautiful weather and enjoying life. I think St. Croix takes every opportunity it can get to have any type of gathering because as small as it is, people love being with other people here. It's hard not to run into many people you know in such a small place and it always puts a smile on your face when you do.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHRx_5rDt1aDy6rMT8_Rc7XMYRXxE9YgW5e7LG60wOGzOYw74sZA1I2drND4u-iXYOpiZdpmvc8HuZzAIzhtLUnJlBh7vjEGUBxK3-V7EMmcsFR9onsX2W051WphArNRCcTlKGflP5Y0/s1600/IMG_1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHRx_5rDt1aDy6rMT8_Rc7XMYRXxE9YgW5e7LG60wOGzOYw74sZA1I2drND4u-iXYOpiZdpmvc8HuZzAIzhtLUnJlBh7vjEGUBxK3-V7EMmcsFR9onsX2W051WphArNRCcTlKGflP5Y0/s320/IMG_1884.JPG" width="240" /></a>Jump Up was followed by the Agricultural Fair which is an annual county fair here, complete with animals, food and vendors. And unlike it's stateside counterpart, the fair here was pretty relaxed and the weather was perfect for being outside for a prolonged period of time. It's also the perfect place to get things you can't buy anywhere else like Carambola preserves and key lime fruit plants. I also went to a musical on Saturday, my first theater experience here, and it was great! Once again, I saw a bunch of people I knew and it was really nice to realize that I've been able to make the connections that I have after the 8 months that I've been here. The musical was performed really well and I can't wait to go back for the next one.<br />
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Sunday, of course, was Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day here, like most other holidays, was very quiet and relaxed. The weather was perfect and my boyfriend and I had brunch at the same place where we had our first date. It created a perfect flow to everything else that I've experienced here since I arrived and made me smile knowing that the stress that I had this time last year just doesn't exist here. It's a pretty perfect place and perfect time for me right now...<br />
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<b>Activity Review:</b><br />
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<b>Caribbean Community Theatre</b><br />
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I lived next to this place for 7 months and I never went, and then I moved and went here for the first time for a live musical, 9 to 5, a few days ago. I've seen many productions in Chicago and in New York and this on par with many of the local productions that I have seen. I think if some of the performers were to live in a bigger city, they would probably be successful in bigger productions as well. I love musicals more than plays and they have one at least each season, along with comedies and other events that take place at the theatre. The actual location is next to Business World behind Pueblo East and it's a good size theater with an inside courtyard that I really want to rent out for my next party.<br />
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Tickets were $25 and can be purchased online (cct.vi). I think this is the perfect activity for locals that love theater or want something different to do on the island, or for tourists who are here for a prolonged period of time. This island really does have everything, you just have to be here long enough to find it!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-38922031035033180992016-01-24T19:05:00.001-05:002016-01-24T21:42:29.837-05:00FAQs about St. CroixI write this blog so that my family can keep up with my island adventure and so that people who are considering doing what I did get a glimpse of what island life is really like. From time to time, I get emails from my amazing readers who are actually considering the move and have additional questions for me that the blog may not answer. I wanted to put some of those questions into this post for those of you who may be wondering the same thing...<br />
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<b>How hard is it to find an apartment? What are average apartment prices?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt52SXgds1u0uqH1FLsG__tOXNDtZGclnTDG_i2C9S3FlH51fjE3GqtwBZvgbK-apYrD20KPEdxwt_89SxjO_TdlBnm6LhS20gLOi5qN6rZNpRhTml8ipY5Oh97Wj5A62HJqeRc4ZQ7s/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqt52SXgds1u0uqH1FLsG__tOXNDtZGclnTDG_i2C9S3FlH51fjE3GqtwBZvgbK-apYrD20KPEdxwt_89SxjO_TdlBnm6LhS20gLOi5qN6rZNpRhTml8ipY5Oh97Wj5A62HJqeRc4ZQ7s/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="121" /></a>My apartment story is a little comical. I actually ended up meeting my boyfriend when I looked at an apartment that I wanted to rent but ended up not getting. Three weeks before I was set to move to St. Croix, I had to go online and look at postings to make sure that I had a place to live once I got here. I found a place and sent my deposit and first month rent in the mail and I had a place as soon as I arrived to St. Croix. It was a really nice apartment so everything worked out. I'm moving in with my boyfriend next week, ironically into the same complex where I originally wanted to live, but I really loved my first apartment here even though I never saw the apartment before I moved in. So that said, it's not hard to find an apartment, it just depends on where the apartment is located and how much you want to pay.<br />
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I would strongly suggest doing a pre-move visit so that you can at least see where things are and have an idea of where you'd like to live. We have the East End, the West End, North Shore and Christiansted. All locations have their pros and cons but moving from one apartment to another is pretty easy as most apartments are fully furnished and leases usually don't extend past six months at most. Apartment prices varie but a one-bedroom apartment averages about $750.00. Before I came here, I always used air conditioning in the summers but after living here for a little while, I barely used my air conditioner. Electricity prices are really high and the breeze is usually pretty good, especially when you live higher up, so living air conditioner-less becomes part of the island life experience. <br />
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<b>What is the job market like?</b><br />
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Jobs are hard to get in the Virgin Islands, especially when it's slow season which is in the summer months. Jobs in the service industry are easier to find than more specialized and professional jobs. I found my job through people that I had met who introduced me to my current employer and I consider myself very lucky because of that. Average pay here is also lower than pay for the same job stateside. The cost of living isn't necessarily lower but we need less "stuff" here so we end up spending less on average and housing costs are pretty low as well. So spending a little more on food isn't that much of an issue when you don't have to buy new snow boots every year and get your car battery replaced because it's so cold. My best advice for job hunting here is to network, this island is all about networking the old fashioned way so being nice and personable goes extra far here.<br />
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<b>Can you make friends easily on the island?</b><br />
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Yes yes yes. Everyone here is very friendly because most people moved here for the same reason so you already have something in common before you even meet. Most people you will meet here also probably left their family and friends back home so they are also eager to make new friends. This fact, along with the attitude of people who generally find the idea of living on an island in the Caribbean Sea appealing, makes people pretty relaxed and open to new people and experiences. Those who aren't as relaxed usually end up going home shortly after they arrive here so this leaves most people that you will meet here pretty happy and easy going. But friends don't usually magically appear so make sure to say hello to people and introduce yourself and make plans for coffee or dinner, and you'll know the whole island in no time!<br />
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<b>What is the crime on the island really like?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bExUX12bBAnBBIXLWtTwFVbuT5JjwqOV2y0xuhZWMqeIJvfe129Qicn9mgqHlfY7UAE-rkK58EP4MfEo_kHEmjBPFJQhDdkB8Idg3aLm7zDXCMnhuL84Pa5kVlwsZDp7xtj8elzZ_vw/s1600/FullSizeRender1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bExUX12bBAnBBIXLWtTwFVbuT5JjwqOV2y0xuhZWMqeIJvfe129Qicn9mgqHlfY7UAE-rkK58EP4MfEo_kHEmjBPFJQhDdkB8Idg3aLm7zDXCMnhuL84Pa5kVlwsZDp7xtj8elzZ_vw/s320/FullSizeRender1.jpg" width="170" /></a>It's hard for people who don't live here to gauge the crime because sometimes what you read in the newspapers seems like we all live with double bolted doors and bullet proof vests here. That's not true here or probably on any island. The facts is that because there are so few people here as a whole, when there is some kind of crime, it does make front page news and it is talked about. However, just like living anywhere, as long as you're street smart, the crime that does exist here shouldn't reach out to you living here.<br />
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Most crime is drug related between local gangs. Some of the other crime occurs when people are walking alone at night in deserted areas. A good rule of thumb for anyone who is coming to live here, especially if you are single and female, is that if you wouldn't do it back home, don't do it here. I probably wouldn't walk down an ally by myself back home in the middle of the night and I am sure not going to do that here either. All in all, it's pretty safe because all our crime is literally reported in the paper so we all know exactly what's going on every single day. In comparison to the crime in Chicago, this really isn't a problem and I do feel much safer here on a daily basis than I did when I lived in a big city.<br />
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If you have any questions or are just curious about living in St. Croix, send me an email at the link on the right. I'll try to answer it as best I can with what I learned so far. And if you want to try living in St. Croix, do it! The only thing you'll miss is what I hear is supposed to be a pretty big storm heading everywhere but here :)<br />
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<b>Restaurant Review:</b><br />
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<b><i>No Bones Cafe</i></b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8rFVQLxr18dcLopDuKFI7Kz20BpFFmiaHCoGlsB-RRxB0wEDW3lnviDv1LVA33prhm-5cOfe0q7iAK7nTA4WLo8lJ9WbzJDoxdpfyjhaOC01ba0SmvYogIy-9y4rxH98RZyldfcaz78/s1600/Nobones5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8rFVQLxr18dcLopDuKFI7Kz20BpFFmiaHCoGlsB-RRxB0wEDW3lnviDv1LVA33prhm-5cOfe0q7iAK7nTA4WLo8lJ9WbzJDoxdpfyjhaOC01ba0SmvYogIy-9y4rxH98RZyldfcaz78/s320/Nobones5.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLPh9sIEQONyLnS4EIaQtxgeIHIpQyVdj7W2QkTHD4QRBGNSzhgOlsZWpVclkOQyf4ZDY-aQa2t4JVF8-o3jm3g5G4Wf87qdYjguPAJtTXJFjC5mm_IWzYGXmImurDuZC47nzkh74ZOA/s1600/Nobones13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLPh9sIEQONyLnS4EIaQtxgeIHIpQyVdj7W2QkTHD4QRBGNSzhgOlsZWpVclkOQyf4ZDY-aQa2t4JVF8-o3jm3g5G4Wf87qdYjguPAJtTXJFjC5mm_IWzYGXmImurDuZC47nzkh74ZOA/s320/Nobones13.JPG" width="320" /></a><i> </i><br />
No Bones is one of my favorite restaurants on this island and this restaurant has the least island feel. Located at the dock side of the Gallow's Bay shopping area, this restaurant is completely inside and it has a very cool relaxed chain restaurant feel inside. The lighting is very dark and there are futuristic screens at every table showing the daily specials. One of my favorite things to eat here is the meatloaf and it's amazing!<br />
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Whether it's lunch or dinner, there is something for everyone here, and the bar is it's own conversation piece. I try to make it out here at least once a month and you should too if you're vising or especially if you live here.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-48135768802149592652016-01-10T19:31:00.000-05:002016-01-10T21:00:59.809-05:00New Beginnings and 2016Happy New Year!!!<br />
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We all made it to 2016 and it's been so busy already! New Year's in the Virgin Islands means a Christmas themed carnival and parades that go on forever. It also means a new apartment and getting your electricity inadvertently shut off. It's only been ten days and it's been exhausting. I can't wait to relax for the rest of 2016!<br />
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New Year's Eve started off with apartment hunting at 8 am. This was probably not the most convenient scheduling but a lot of times, island time, while slow, is not necessarily convenient. The day proceeded with finding an apartment and finalizing the terms. I was so tired by 7 pm that a nap was urgently needed to avoid passing out before the long-awaited New Year's mark. I've spent many New Year's at restaurants, at shows and also at people's houses over the years. And it has always been a tradition to turn on Time Square's ball drop when I was in Chicago because it always happened an hour before the actual New Year and it was a great way to guage the time. In St. Croix, we're in Atlantic Standard Time which means that we are one hour ahead of New York so our new year's eve was spent without any television accompaniment (although in customary local fashion, the local station did try to loop the same carnival clip over and over again in hopes nobody would catch on). Overall, New Year's Eve's night was very relaxing and spent with good friends. We were all ready for the new year and all the great experiences it would bring.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZxBTgJT8x7bZup0yE0izmYkvliZUhFP7SFSNnu8xtD43pvSm4zzFYKOS4AaR8V_cTJFEiMWJfuP0Zs0x2X5CgGkLGlQQh2bXANriS4DltNnZ-6hhjacyfL339Mphtq0PcNsdIKEpOoA/s1600/FullSizeRender3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZxBTgJT8x7bZup0yE0izmYkvliZUhFP7SFSNnu8xtD43pvSm4zzFYKOS4AaR8V_cTJFEiMWJfuP0Zs0x2X5CgGkLGlQQh2bXANriS4DltNnZ-6hhjacyfL339Mphtq0PcNsdIKEpOoA/s320/FullSizeRender3.jpg" width="187" /></a>The main attraction of the New Year's celebration in St. Croix is the Carnivale Adult Parade. This parade was held on January 2 in Frederiksted and was very late to start. When it did start, the costumes were amazing and the bands made up of school children sounded really great. However, after about an hour or so, there was a two hour break!!! We almost left because we though the parade was over but then it started up again and went on for a while longer. The parade is something everyone who lives here or is visiting should see at least once but with it going on for almost the whole day, you need to have a lot of endurance to come see the parade in consecutive years. <br />
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And as I am now moving, I decided that I would inform my utilities to turn off the electricity on my move-out date. This is something that I always did back in Chicago when I moved and I'm sure most people do this. I should have known better and it did seem a little too easy as I emailed the power authority in St. Croix to notify them of my move and asked them to turn off my electricity on January 31. So of course, on January 8, my power was completely shut off. January 8 was a Friday and at 9:30 pm, I was almost in tears trying to get the one person who was still at the electric company at that time to turn my power back on. The islands are known for the kindness of the people who live here, so while the power should not have been shut off, the power authority did send someone out at 10:30 pm and my power was restored. I live on an island now and while I love to think that I can do without many of the conveniences that I was used to in the states, it's really dis-empowering to think how debilitating not having power can still be. Somehow I'm okay not having power when we have storms or potential hurricanes, but when everyone else has power, I still want it as well!<br />
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So that is my feel good story for the beginning of my island adventures of 2016. As the months pass by here very slowly, I'm reminded of the goodness of people in general. I'm also reminded of how great it is to have really good friends who visit you, who remember you and who are there for you. This year, I"m going to strive for creating a positive environment for those around me as I am beginning to understand that for me, the meaning of life doesn't revolve around just creating a positive energy for myself but for also making sure that others have the opportunity to have positivity in their lives as well. After all, my experience here has been so good and positive because of all the opportunities and experiences that others have created and that I took a chance at accepting not too long ago, and that has truly made all the difference.<br />
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<b>Activity Review:</b><br />
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<b><i>Point Udall Sunrise</i></b><br />
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One of the best days I have had here so far and one of best presents I have ever received was being surprised and taken to Point Udall, the Eastern-most point of the United States, for the sunrise on Christmas Day. Ever since I got here back in June, I wanted to go but getting before the literal crack of dawn is so hard to do! So on Christmas Day, my wonderful boyfriend woke me up and surprised me at 5 am and told me we were going to see the sunrise. I was as happy as anyone who gets their long awaited present on Christmas morning, except mine was in the form of a memory that I will get to keep forever.<br />
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Point Udall is magical when the sun rises. It is better than any picture I can post or any description I can write. Being at Point Udall with people you really care about makes it even better. I wouldn't recommend going here by yourself or anywhere at the crack of dawn in St. Croix, but going with friends or the special people in your life creates a really unforgettable experience. I know that many people come here to see the first sunrise of the year on New Year's day but every day here creates a new and unique sunrise that will never be repeated. And best of all, this activity is completely free except that it does take a good 20 minutes to get to Point Udall from Christiansted. For most of my stateside friends, that's a short trip, but here on the islands that's as far as most people are willing to go, but it's definitely worth it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-83850994616479156882015-12-27T19:58:00.003-05:002015-12-27T21:02:20.850-05:00Goodbye 2015!As part of the last post of 2015, I wanted to let you know how thankful I am that people actually read this blog. Originally, this was meant to be a way to keep in touch with my family and friends back home while I set out on my island adventure. I wasn't sure if I would even continue writing this or if I would be back in the states by now, but thankfully, I am still in St. Croix and I have received so many very gracious email and comments from all of you, that I will definitely keep writing until I have nothing to write about, which I think is very unlikely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCvLPTY6ceOw8ht4k_1NeVrv0f0YVK_Piqb-m9qeItLptQRnR8dEcZP-yv6cDY0PSEwZR8_hlgzFCSZx9F6_SrYHm06cDIZzUR7Av9CouoYuBkILMZT0K4XEP5gmqyXhDCqCAeNtq1m0/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCvLPTY6ceOw8ht4k_1NeVrv0f0YVK_Piqb-m9qeItLptQRnR8dEcZP-yv6cDY0PSEwZR8_hlgzFCSZx9F6_SrYHm06cDIZzUR7Av9CouoYuBkILMZT0K4XEP5gmqyXhDCqCAeNtq1m0/s320/IMG_0885.JPG" width="240" /></a>2015 started out on a very stressful note. I was extremely tired and stressed and I just wanted a change. I thought about moving to an island because it's what everyone always says but never really does and I couldn't find a reason not to, and every reason to try. I planned this move starting in January of this year, I visited in March and I moved in June. It's December and I'm still here and I can honestly say that I made the right decision for me. On paper, my life in Chicago was perfect. In reality, my stress level averaged a 12 on a 10-point scale. Now, my stress level is probably a 0 or a 1 or 2 daily and maybe a 3 or 4 when I'm at work. I used to check my email and phone at least every 5 to 10 minutes during dinners with friends and family. Now, I sometimes don't turn on or forget my phone or sometimes my phone doesn't even work in certain places and here and I don't really stress out about that. I used to shop just to shop back in the states; here we buy things we need to live and that's been a great change. It's not that we don't just buy things sometimes as well here because I did just that about two hours ago because it was "super cute," but for the most part, our houses are not trinket central and shop therapy doesn't play a huge role here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhYXW_t3yglK2t2vJ_avOIEaPLA2T7psR63C8uyc4hyphenhyphenU_WGKwjZtHjp_RzZTaZTdiuQZz-GhWtHYorX-HKWTbe54aC7L7od-niPTO2dzk6DpjRooK5pA3dOOFRv5yuK-mdcVAKP9VoHU/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhYXW_t3yglK2t2vJ_avOIEaPLA2T7psR63C8uyc4hyphenhyphenU_WGKwjZtHjp_RzZTaZTdiuQZz-GhWtHYorX-HKWTbe54aC7L7od-niPTO2dzk6DpjRooK5pA3dOOFRv5yuK-mdcVAKP9VoHU/s320/IMG_1043.JPG" width="320" /></a>For the first time in my life, back in September, I was really happy just being me by myself. I didn't necessarily need anyone in my life to make me happy, I figured out how to change my environment and surroundings to create the happiness I was meant to have. And then about a week after that happened, I did meet someone who made my life really special. The most important part of this whole experience is that it's amazing to meet someone who is on the same wavelength as you and who makes everyday even easier than it was before, but who isn't the foundation of your happiness. I learned that it's important to be content with your life before someone comes into it because a relationship is not an anchor for happiness, it should be more like a sail that can be raised as needed when flowing through life. It almost feels like I was meant to come here and figure out things about myself that I couldn't figure out back in Chicago (Like that I get super seasick while sailing in the open sea during a rainstorm. Sorry fishies and thank you to my boyfriend for holding my hair back; You must really like me because that wasn't one of my best moments.) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7guIsIslYuSWyPKSSGCMKnpyaXpmr_XKmJfIAezOviu_qRwXleY00zHmzrlZRtPBKZ42ffH7jN4NNgoK2MV1o71Egffw1we82THNcFq2E-qZjqpA7ojvXVZVpjj_Uu1Or4mJQSmqg6k/s1600/IMG_1232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7guIsIslYuSWyPKSSGCMKnpyaXpmr_XKmJfIAezOviu_qRwXleY00zHmzrlZRtPBKZ42ffH7jN4NNgoK2MV1o71Egffw1we82THNcFq2E-qZjqpA7ojvXVZVpjj_Uu1Or4mJQSmqg6k/s320/IMG_1232.JPG" width="320" /></a>When I first came here, I made a huge deal about the temperature difference between St. Croix and Chicago, and while it's nice to be able to wear flip-flops everyday and have extremely warm temperatures year-round, the temperature and location isn't really important. Many people are extremely happy all around the world and not everyone lives on a tropical island. What I really like about St. Croix is the attitude people have towards life. I love the small community and the value people put on each other. I just had one of the warmest and most genuine holiday celebrations. It started really early on Christmas morning with the most beautiful sunrises made even more special by someone I really love, and the weekend continued with people who genuinely cared about each other and wanted to see each other happy. We did give presents but that wasn't the focus, although the aloe socks I'm wearing right now feel amazing, especially since we almost never wear socks here! And to my boyfriend's mom who gave them to me, thank you! And thank you to my wonderful parents who sent me my favorite banana chocolates, iced coffee, dried fruit and a mini new year's tree (it took two trips to the post office and some pleading and puppy eyes but it was well worth it). <br />
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2015 came with some of the best and some of the worst moments of my life. I am so thankful for both because I was able to figure out what really makes me happy and I was able to meet people who have the same outlook on life as I do now. I really miss my family and my friends who are still in Chicago and elsewhere, and if I could have one wish, I'd bring them all here to be with me. But right now, this is the place where I should be and while it may or may not be forever, it has been the best decision I ever made.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Restaurant Review:</b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Villa Morales</i></b><br />
<br />
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</i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBadBOpAtPFGpOMjex0jgOQiX7C2yCLeKUq1-DS_e9wDT6rf335W3MBGKzUsiF-IMEiK2n19fUH8eR404PqK-0R7bDqEB7ZQz1u-vs7UIRvQD7k0bOi7UOoxvkR64FcgKnqgAQHIqwLY/s1600/Villa+Morales9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBadBOpAtPFGpOMjex0jgOQiX7C2yCLeKUq1-DS_e9wDT6rf335W3MBGKzUsiF-IMEiK2n19fUH8eR404PqK-0R7bDqEB7ZQz1u-vs7UIRvQD7k0bOi7UOoxvkR64FcgKnqgAQHIqwLY/s320/Villa+Morales9.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDf2AV0SNGdmYMhg3NC59m1_q-T8c55G_evscbIf_alnwoOPPjJzkSc8x-vjinCxGUmAG26O8wUv1ZHAQBGwmCpVUjRn5YjNYHeL52UbM3XUIb91QZX254qOEVob0CoXAGY-Ty71AhOk/s1600/Villa+Morales5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDf2AV0SNGdmYMhg3NC59m1_q-T8c55G_evscbIf_alnwoOPPjJzkSc8x-vjinCxGUmAG26O8wUv1ZHAQBGwmCpVUjRn5YjNYHeL52UbM3XUIb91QZX254qOEVob0CoXAGY-Ty71AhOk/s320/Villa+Morales5.jpg" width="240" /></a>Ask any local where they go for great local food and Villa
Morales will be in their top three choices. Located right off of Queen
Mary Highway in Frederiksted on the west end of St. Croix, this one-of-a-kind
local favorite is only open on Thursday thru Saturday and this very quaint restaurant serves an extremely flavorful menu. The dishes are all local including beef stew, conch
and favorite fish dishes such as fried snapper. The appetizers include fresh
mussels which come right out of the shell with a burst of flavor and prepare you for an amazing dinner to follow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The conch is a local favorite and is made in a
butter batter that provides for a lot of flavor as it this your mouth. For dessert, the
flan is also a local favorite and makes for a perfect ending to a magical
island dinner. I would recommend eating here at least once during your trip or come here often if you live here!</div>
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<b><i>
</i> </b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-41707231302537716142015-12-13T21:37:00.000-05:002015-12-13T22:39:53.937-05:00The best of St. Croix...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHodF31TeCzXpbwYpBCF3LAbcSi9RV9MMUBZkpL2F4zCoyJP7sKhUIELmF3PkJOehIwErpIaWlH6DZpF3cOZiIZpU8NYpr7eJEs2IYuATiVrSG11T7W1L67RIhpkyFffBKejTL0MieGc/s1600/image4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHodF31TeCzXpbwYpBCF3LAbcSi9RV9MMUBZkpL2F4zCoyJP7sKhUIELmF3PkJOehIwErpIaWlH6DZpF3cOZiIZpU8NYpr7eJEs2IYuATiVrSG11T7W1L67RIhpkyFffBKejTL0MieGc/s320/image4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This week, I have my really good friends visiting from Chicago and my boyfriend's very sweet mom is in town for the month, and we've been having a blast. When I have visitors, it gives me the opportunity to do the things I forgot that I really enjoyed when I first arrived on this beautiful and magical island.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So here is a list of the best of St. Croix...<br />
<ul>
<li>Romantic nightly walks on the beach in warm ocean water </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Beautiful sunsets in Frederiksted, even on a cloudy night </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Breathtaking ocean views on East End drives </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Dark Chocolate chex and cheddar cheese pretzels </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Awww inspiring fire dancers on the beach or anywhere </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Meeting people I know and want to see everywhere you go </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Hanukkah parties at beautiful homes with very kind people</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Gifts that come in the form of experiences rather than things </li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Being cheerfully greeted by everyone everywhere, even if I don't know them </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>20 Watt indoor mosquito zappers that leave no survivors </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Holiday lights and decorations that resemble a Hollywood movie set </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A really cute boyfriend who makes me feel really good every single day </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Amazing friends that come to visit from over 2000 miles away </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Great friends who live right here and make me feel like I'm home </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9xRkZNlJgeJ1fiYoLwKsoLgl1ibsRL__khDLyw7enbmnFRXra8X_cVmx_mBUg1wlYx3bOoTCMlMt5viA5IFIGsmUwTxKyZP_yQ3_RRz8c-gpIGHDq9r7zYp9ggjhmyIlnqSKFt9aj64/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9xRkZNlJgeJ1fiYoLwKsoLgl1ibsRL__khDLyw7enbmnFRXra8X_cVmx_mBUg1wlYx3bOoTCMlMt5viA5IFIGsmUwTxKyZP_yQ3_RRz8c-gpIGHDq9r7zYp9ggjhmyIlnqSKFt9aj64/s320/image2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I get to experience all of these things almost every day and it feels like a dream. I really hope I never have to wake up.<br />
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<b>Activity Review:</b><br />
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<i><b>Frederiksted Sunsets</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXptJ9LFx3V1o39HklzNqGye_UZvKlcYpmHBe6sYIfpORTApC8ZY4JePJBL5x1u_CdZk6YE0YUHz5M0Oca_tpa7EHOANoUsWJ00hblxAPQpHJybBWWA5sSP6c_nfjLdtpGQQPxB0ntvzQ/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXptJ9LFx3V1o39HklzNqGye_UZvKlcYpmHBe6sYIfpORTApC8ZY4JePJBL5x1u_CdZk6YE0YUHz5M0Oca_tpa7EHOANoUsWJ00hblxAPQpHJybBWWA5sSP6c_nfjLdtpGQQPxB0ntvzQ/s320/image3.JPG" width="240" /></a>Watching a sunset is a really fun free activity to do while you're in St. Croix. The best sunsets are on the west side of the island because that's where the sun sets while the best sunrises are on the east side. The best place to watch the actual sunset is by the pier in Frederiksted. There are many different beachside areas and island bars that make watching the sunset a great way to spend a night with family and friends.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxhy1O3oenCOoTUdXPQWLZNkEJsm5jbH6hR1naTKevXfsge_DrUsDQRR998FG5HBZ56-yqqAgWl-qT5zstf2wjTGF738GJRMZM5i91wPk_e9qXtz7sPsd0CE7j4gdv5xyMBWByP5eyxM/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxhy1O3oenCOoTUdXPQWLZNkEJsm5jbH6hR1naTKevXfsge_DrUsDQRR998FG5HBZ56-yqqAgWl-qT5zstf2wjTGF738GJRMZM5i91wPk_e9qXtz7sPsd0CE7j4gdv5xyMBWByP5eyxM/s320/image1.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
Add some rum punch or frozen drinks to the mix and it's a perfect St. Croix night. Even when the clouds obstruct your view, the colors of the sky during a St. Croix sunset are breathtaking and worth the trip. But come early, the sun sets early in St. Croix, between 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm, depending on the time of year. And make sure to bring your camera because your pics will make everyone want to come visit you!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedsN-7EP3Bnt-kpx-DzItoX5hadlWsXTnHFnpqhoxbh82Wk4ad_c4-cpexBZEL8bsxvF_Md7l690DheaZOgsQQg6CvAAAVrYG2OVUwqTyGn8QkcBHuR3zhARc1OS-68Wy0xvQBFRVtVI/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBn7jRLvuwEECt-pylWYnRPq5QLMBPGDW9iAlE9aOqDMGrB64XxWXjm951JXrji9O2erSQeujFZXRS6JeD_aW_PniIJuUEPg6u9VZprPRfH-LHwPwJHvDUN5zO5ozwpBtXYvbSwqwq_mk/s1600/image5.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><i><b> </b></i><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945553915285124613.post-9424290857638911912015-11-29T17:13:00.000-05:002015-11-29T17:13:11.258-05:00Thanksgiving in the VII made it to Thanksgiving! This actually marks my six months of living in the Virgin Islands and was the amount of time I gave myself to figure out if I wanted to stay here or go back home. My apartment lease expires in a few days and this is also the amount of time that most people take to figure out that island life is not for them. If you've been following my blog, you know that island life right now is definitely for me so I am not going back just yet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc_3BlzDZnNs-Up5u4fJanNNAKyEdHrnmq4FZz5nw2QXRRmCx58MBeV7wIAhEOS2DG3UZzgW7L1_oOAe6Wiu0BIYaBgr8Fce5egiXiazxElsPbuibbhWAMJIM5WRLRI9Pd3Vol5KyA6M/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinc_3BlzDZnNs-Up5u4fJanNNAKyEdHrnmq4FZz5nw2QXRRmCx58MBeV7wIAhEOS2DG3UZzgW7L1_oOAe6Wiu0BIYaBgr8Fce5egiXiazxElsPbuibbhWAMJIM5WRLRI9Pd3Vol5KyA6M/s320/image1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It has been really strange to be in 80-90 F degree weather during the winter holidays but I love it! I've been wearing shorts and skirts and flip flops everyday and I can't imagine being in a winter jacket and boots right now. I also just had my first major holiday in the VI. I realized that while St. Croix is a small island that gears itself towards a close knit community, when it comes to family, most people don't have their actual family relatives here and you can't travel home all the time even though you may want to (or maybe not, if home has snow and subzero temperatures). Family on the islands is the family you create here and that makes for a new and fun time on St. Croix just like a lot of other experiences here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdgBklEVqDly6AJQ920Agtmvru58PCzudLC9vsHaRSYwPiyFm5ECD-JZB8AHWIjEJQzI0vOMtwnempu06cVp9yYE3mhBYFu-1z_Bh7LyyTc6QJlvUAP04qHkLJ-4kI6sa6CzYq4IBgDw/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdgBklEVqDly6AJQ920Agtmvru58PCzudLC9vsHaRSYwPiyFm5ECD-JZB8AHWIjEJQzI0vOMtwnempu06cVp9yYE3mhBYFu-1z_Bh7LyyTc6QJlvUAP04qHkLJ-4kI6sa6CzYq4IBgDw/s320/image2.JPG" width="240" /></a>I spent Thanksgiving weekend with my friends and with my boyfriend and his dog and I'm not going to lie, it was pretty laid back and perfect. It did make me realize that it rains a lot here during the fall but I'll take the rain over cold and snow and sleet any day. I also realized that I can't eat any more rice. I went to Ireland a few years ago and after about 10 days of eating potato morning, day and night, I couldn't look at another hash or mashed anything for about 6 months. St. Croix loves their rice. Rice is a staple and a ration and is in absolutely every dish you have here. While I love most things on St. Croix but right now, rice is not one of those things. Other than the rice though, everything is pretty good so far.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqE_FawuQv14B_hR5lCb-2do5-zp9EJQ8d9mcSjgqWKF7Rlc8Jtw1KJB6SBh0PMg6ledGAUkGsvQFJcj3hHmHeDs1V00cT1Bw_fWpHr12MWn6nrmQpwrGKJCmi3JvfxunOlV-vqClmM0/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqE_FawuQv14B_hR5lCb-2do5-zp9EJQ8d9mcSjgqWKF7Rlc8Jtw1KJB6SBh0PMg6ledGAUkGsvQFJcj3hHmHeDs1V00cT1Bw_fWpHr12MWn6nrmQpwrGKJCmi3JvfxunOlV-vqClmM0/s320/image3.JPG" width="240" /></a>So this year I am very thankful that my little island experiment/gamble/crazy idea hasn't made me commit to a psychiatric facility in a lovely suburb of Chicago just yet. I met a lot of cool people here and I've had so many great new experiences. I even met a somewhat larger dog that I really like. I've always been a really small toy dog kind of girl but my boyfriend has a dog and we've bonded and she's just a big baby with puppy dog eyes that makes you want to hug her, and I forget sometimes that she's actually almost my size. And even though she may chase chickens and try to eat them, at the end of the day, if someone ever tried to hurt her, I would protect her and I know she would protect me as well, and that pretty much sums up how most people in the VI feel about their island and each other.<br />
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This Thanksgiving has given me really high hopes for the rest of the year and for this whole experience. I hope that everyone who reads this blog is having a great holiday and I wish only the best for all of you and your families and friends.<br />
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<b>Restaurant Review:</b><br />
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<i><b>Acai Bowls</b></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AynmLRMSvMUxECiF9D3_swYv6ooiVufy9Oak-NV_kUOtU8uM5wbkthO0iHqULs08qcFemuv216xXAAL1G4ti6W7kkcdW3yyLko-gboY3y4eEGsfCSpjRZ8Sg0_08EhhMzdkeYl8HyNw/s1600/image4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AynmLRMSvMUxECiF9D3_swYv6ooiVufy9Oak-NV_kUOtU8uM5wbkthO0iHqULs08qcFemuv216xXAAL1G4ti6W7kkcdW3yyLko-gboY3y4eEGsfCSpjRZ8Sg0_08EhhMzdkeYl8HyNw/s320/image4.JPG" width="240" /></a>This week, I don't have a restaurant review but this is definitely a place you should visit so you can try an acai bowl. One of my new island friends introduced me to this place when I first arrived on island back in June and I just revisited and it was even better than the first time! The actual location is in the back of a video store next to Plaza East on St. Croix. In the back, they do spinning classes and what better way to cool down after a spin class, than an Acai Bowl?<br />
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Acai berry is a reddish purple fruit and here, they top it off with yogurt and chocolate and all kinds of fresh fruit to deliver an amazing flavor and yummy desert, even if you didn't just exercise. Price ranges from $6 to $9 and you can customize your bowl just how you like. It's one of my favorite island desserts. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3