Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Kismet, St. John

I had the opportunity to coordinate a wedding last month at Kismet on St. John. To say I was blown away by its beauty is a complete understatement. It was Ahhh-Maaazzing (channeling my inner Oprah).

My bride actually lucked into this villa. She had a different villa reserved for the wedding but unfortunately, there had been a fire a few months prior to the wedding and the owners of the villa did not think it would be ready in time for her event. I could tell she was disappointed but at the same time, the owners of her originally villa reached out to Kismet and they were able to secure this villa for her at the same price. I feel bad saying this, but that fire was the best thing that could happen to her! Not that her original villa wasn't great, but Kismet is just the most amazing venue, completely set up perfectly for a wedding. Check out the pictures!






It had this awesome look out tower (seen in picture above) that you could climb out of and walk around on the roof. This is their photographer out there grabbing some bird's eye photos.



If you're interested in having your wedding at Kismet, let me know! I have some insider information on how to grab a great deal on it (and no! it does NOT involve setting other villas on fire!).

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Hola!

Yes, I am back from Mexico! I've been home for almost two weeks now. I'm always very slow to start blogging again after a vacation. It's a reminder that the vacation is over! Another delay was caused because the little diorama's that I purchased to share with you broke on the way home. My wonderful husband fixed them for me last night so I could finally blog them!

I'm a huge fan of Mexican art & culture. The little town we stayed in had THE MOST AMAZING GIFT SHOP EVER. I know I've told you all about my tendency to hoard things. But I'm not a trash hoarder, I'm a shopping hoarder. If I could buy everything in this store, I would have (and probably would have been served divorce papers upon my return home...shortly after covering my house with shelves to display everything). I'm not kidding, this shop was so cool, I even took a picture of it:

Doesn't it make you want to go inside??



And here are some of the things I just had to bring home to share with you. Love them!




The entire family gathered one night on the beach so we got a family photo of everyone together. Five "original" kids, five spouses and eight grandchildren, two very happy grandparents:



And there just so happened to be a wedding taking place at the end of the beach! After the ceremony, the couple took a walk with their wedding guests, serenaded by a mariachi band, that went right past us on the beach (I had actually bought my diorama's a few days earlier - who knew the exact same scenario would play out on the beach a few days later!):



And before you ask, no...we don't have mariachi bands in the Virgin Islands! I wish we did though!

It was pretty amazing that everywhere I looked, I could hardly get away from work. The stores with their brides & grooms...the wedding taking place on the beach...and get this, on a visit to the Maya Ruins with our girls, I turned around and saw THIS:



That's right, he's proposing!! I already had my camera out so I started snapping photos right away and then asked my husband if I had a business card on me. He laughed and called me an ambulance chaser but NO, that's not why I wanted a card. I told them to email me so I could send them the photos but sadly, they haven't yet. I didn't have a card on me and maybe they forgot my business name...so if you know anyone that recently got engaged in Mexico - let them know I have their photos for them!!

And one last photo because it's so darn cute...my girls, Marley and Maya, in front of the Mayan Ruins (and yes, we did partially name Maya after the Riviera Maya!).

Saturday, July 2, 2011

We go to Mexico now!

My father-in-law is celebrating his 70th birthday this year and has invited all the family down to their condo in Akumal. I have never been but have been dying to go, ever since my first date with my husband when he told me his parents had a condo in Mexico! Finally, about 8.5 years after that first date, I finally get to go!



I bought my daughter Maya this dress from The Gap once we bought our tickets. I thought it was a perfect Mexico dress. I tried it on her when it came in the mail and she insisted on wearing it even though I begged and pleaded with her to take it off, as I wanted to keep it nice for Mexico. Of course, she won the battle and it has been a popular choice in her weekly wear. She has never forgotten my pleas though and every time I take it out of the closet to put her in it, she says, "we go to Mexico now??" - all excited to hop on that plane and go right now!

We'll be gone until the evening of the 10th but I will have my laptop with me. I just don't know how great the internet connection will be in Akumal. Please excuse any delays while I'm away! Enjoy your Fourth of July weekend and well....Adios!