Grand Cayman

Because wednesday is in the middle of the work-week and most people are dreaming about getting away from their jobs, I have decided to use wednesday posts to discuss vacation destinations I have visited or would someday like to visit.

Robby & I visited Grand Cayman in 2007. This was by far Robby's favorite vacation destination and we have both said we would someday love to have a home in Grand Cayman (if we ever win the lottery!). The water is beautiful and the island is very safe. I actually felt safer walking downtown in Grand Cayman than I have ever felt while in Kentucky. There is virtually no crime or poverty and the island is extremely clean. The island also has wonderful restaurants and great WINE!

While in Grand Cayman, we stayed at the Westin Casuarina Resort on Seven Mile Beach. The resort was very nice and affordable.

The most memorable part of Grand Cayman, for me, was our encounter with the stingrays! We set sail on a large catamaran with several other couples to an area with no land in sight. Robby applied his snorkel gear and quickly jumped into the ocean to swim with the rather large stingrays. Prior to the trip, I assumed a stingray was probably 1 foot wide at largest size. However, the stingrays we encountered were more like 3-4 feet wide. I was terrified!!! Robby kept telling me to jump in, so reluctantly I did just that. As soon as I landed in the ocean, a huge stingray came directly over my head, shoving me into the catamaran. I could have killed Robby; so I crossed my arms over my heart and quickly swam to the ladder to climb back into the boat. We laugh over this experience every time we see a stingray.

This was one of the smaller stingrays (much smaller!!!)

I definitely recommend Grand Cayman to everyone, but I stongly advise against swimming with the stingrays!

Grateful for Monday

It's a girl! My brother and his wife are having a little girl. I am so grateful to learn that I will soon have a little niece to love--I love her already. Now, if they can just agree on a name......

Happy Mother's Day

Today has been a wonderful day. I decided to cook for both my mother & mother-in-law to show them how grateful I am for their love, guidance, and acceptance. We were also able to celebrate a new-mom-to-be, my sister-in-law Jennifer (http://southern-blonde.blogspot.com/). I am so excited because tomorrow we will learn if they are having a baby boy or girl. I cannot wait to be an Auntie and my husband is thrilled with the thought of being an uncle!

I was so nervous about making dinner for the family today. I am always afraid everything will taste awful, but everyone at least acted as though the food was edible so I am very grateful. I made lasagna & pea salad, and my sister-in-law brought lemon lush for dessert (one of my favorites). We had planned on eating outside, but the weather just didn't cooperate so we ate dinner in our formal dining room for the first time ever! I am ashamed to say this, but we have lived in this home for 4 years and had never used our dining room.

I am so extremely grateful for my mother. She has been a great role model and influence in my life. I am also grateful for a wonderful mother-in-law who has loved and accepted me as if I was her own daughter. Today has been a complete blessing. I hope all mothers have had a wonderful Mother's Day. I also pray for God's strength and comfort for all those who have lost their mothers. I know today can be a difficult day for so many.

The Recession

Remind me not to read Forbes magazine----it is just too depressing.

I had an appointment yesterday with my dermatologist. I am an aging sun worshipper and often have to have skin lesions checked. I ended up having 2 places biopsied yesterday and the PA is pretty sure that one of the lesions is Basal Cell Carcinoma. I am praying she is wrong.

While waiting in the lobby, I picked up Forbes magazine and came across an article, which focused on real people who had been affected by the economic recession. One story really caught my attention. A 34 year old man had lost his seven-figure salary when he lost his job one year ago. The man, his wife, and two children had left their home in New England to move to the Bahamas. They rented their home & also owned several other rental properties in the U.S. Their income from real estate more than likely tripled my annual salary. I found it difficult to have a great deal of sympathy for this couple. Perhaps this makes me a terrible person, but I am a little jealous of the life they are living now!

My Favorite Things

Today has been a difficult day at work. Therefore, instead of boring you with the endless details of my day, I have decided to show you some of the meaningless things I just can't live without.

Hypnose mascara by Lancome

I love this mascara! I never leave home without it!

Studio Fix foundation by Mac

I have very oily skin and this powder foundation is perfect. It covers well, but doesn't feel heavy.

Pureology Shampoo & Conditioner

My hair stylist introduced me to this line of hair products 1 year ago because my hair was starting to look damaged. These products perform miracles!

Reinventing the Heel by Origins

If you have dry, cracked heels, then you will love this product.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

This product can be found at any drug store & I use it everyday for almost everything. It is great for any type of dry skin, but I use this every night as a lip moisturizer.

Ann Taylor is my favorite store. They have beautiful clothes for young, professional women. The clothes are so well-made and last forever!

The Core Fusion workout DVDs are wonderful. I have a large library of exercise videos and none are more effective than Core Fusion.

If you have time to post a comment, then please let me know about some of the products you just can't live without.

Grateful for Monday

On most Mondays, my blog posts usually consist of several paragraphs depicting how much I despise the day. However, I have decided to try someting new in effort to curb my Monday pessimism. I will instead utilize my Monday blog posts as an outlet to discuss areas of life, which bring me great joy.

Today, I am grateful for Robby (please don't gag). After a very long day at work, I came home to a beautiful, sunny evening to find my husband outside waiting for me. He had already picked up dinner (Thank Goodness!)---I really hate to cook after coming home from work.  Then, we went for a 3 mile walk to get some much needed exercise.

Yesterday, Robby enjoyed spending the day with my little cousin Hunter. He loves children so much and I always feel overwhelmingly guilty because I cannot give him children of his own. This man has sacrificed so much to be my husband. How could I not be grateful to God for bringing someone into my life who is capable of loving me, despite my inability to give him one of life's greatest gifts?

Sweet Sixteen

My first cousin turned 16 today! Happy Birthday Andi Alex! We had a small birthday party for her at my aunt's house today. She looked so beautiful--I can't believe she is sixteen.

Andi Alex

Little Emily was the life of the party. This is my cousin Jessica's little girl. She ran around all day singing & dancing.

Emily Grace (she is too cute!)

Robby spent most of the day playing with Hunter in his tree house. Hunter is my cousin Jessica's son. He is five years old and full of energy.

Robby & Hunter

Hunter's Tree House

Best of Friends

Today has been a wonderful day.