A Private Paradise

While I'm not on vacation this week, I'm still dreaming about the Caribbean. And why not dream big, right? For at least one night of my life, I'd love to stay at the Jade Mountain in St. Lucia. I've been to the lush island before, but never visited this resort. It's tucked into a hillside overlooking the ocean and the green Piton mountains. Rooms are incredibly private, with infinity pools and only three walls so nothing keeps you away from the stunning views. I know a girl who spent a few nights of her honeymoon here. She said when she and her husband walked into the room, she started weeping because it was so beautiful. Let's have a peek:

Photos from here. 

Bon Voyage!

I'm off on a weeklong vacation in the Caribbean! This is one of my favorite places in the world, where my family has been going every year since I was eleven. It's our brief moment to escape winter. But more than that, it's a time to simply be together in an absolutely gorgeous setting. I can't wait for sunshine and blue skies, sand and the ocean. See you in a week!

Photo from here. 

Bon Voyage

We're off on our annual Caribbean beach vacation. My family has these trips down perfectly: We relax on the beach, swim in the ocean and drink delicious rum concoctions.

Here are some of the other things I look forward to on these vacations:

* Waking up rested and refreshed and running to the windows to rip back the curtains and see what a beautiful day it is.
* Nabbing the perfect spot on the beach and sinking into our lounge chairs.
* Settling into that perfect beach cycle: get hot in the sun, cool down in the ocean, get hot in the sun. Repeat, repeat, repeat!
* Grabbing a round of pina coladas for the group.
* Kissing my husband in the water. (And each year I make my husband do "the lift" with me, a la the lake scene in "Dirty Dancing.")
* Talking with my mom and sister. There's never enough time to cover it all!
* Enjoying an ideal, simple feeling of relaxation as the sun starts sinking toward the ocean.
* Taking a shower and washing off all the salt, sand and sunscreen. This feels amazing!
* Dressing in something special and joining the family for a fun dinner.
* Going back to the hotel room exhausted and happy and sinking into bed.
* And doing it all over again the next day!

I can't wait for this trip. I hope we have safe travels and enjoy our time together. And I'll try to bring some sunshine back with us!

Photo by me.

Wishing I Were Here

As mesmerizing as the soft white snow blanketing the world around me is, I am very much a lover of warm weather. And I can't help but think of tropical locales in the winter. Every year since I was eleven, my family has escaped to the Caribbean for a week. It's kind of our unsaid contract: yes, we'll live in a nothern city that gets slammed with snow and biting temps in the winter ... as long as we can get away to thaw once a year.

So I have to say I am utterly envious of designer Donna Karan's British West Indies retreat, as showcased in Architectural Digest. Take a look at the amazing photos. I promise they'll warm you up, at least a little.

Photos from here.