I'm Back and Relaxed

I recently spent a week at my Bahamas house.  Just what I needed to relax and re-energize.

The weather was perfect.

The ocean delightful.

This huge "star" was baking on the sand so I returned him to the sea.  What a beauty!

Delicious fresh fish.  I like mine blackened.

A roadside market just down the street.

Mojitos and guacamole at 5pm.

The new Hummingbird Cottage Art Center in Hope Town

The art center has a beautiful ocean side venue for weddings and other special events.

And I love this idea for hanging an air plant, just thread it through a sea urchin shell and hang it up.     

Winter Wanderlust

February may be the shortest month of the year but when the weather is cold and gray it can seem like the longest month.  I was looking through vacation photos and dreaming of taking a trip.

Place de la Concorde, Paris

Ayers Rock, Australia

Melbourne, Australia

Elbow Cay, Bahamas

Big Sky, Montana

Puget Sound, Seattle

Lisbon, Portugal

Source: roomsofinspiration.blogspot.com via Deborah on Pinterest

Salutations de Paris

Bonjour!

Happy Weekend everyone.  I'm looking forward to an extraordinary weekend in Paris.  Hubby and I are joined here in the City of Lights with some of our family.

Enjoy the festivities of the season.  Enjoy family and friends.

See you on Christmas eve with a few photos of Paris decorated for Christmas.

Abaco Inn, Bahamas

This view of the Sea of Abaco makes the Abaco Inn a very special place to have a drink and view the sunset.

Tonight marked the reopening of the Abaco Inn under new management.  

I've been watching the progress of the remodeling of the Inn and its surrounding buildings.

A large group of Elbow Cay residents attended the opening of the bar on Wednesday evening.  Yes, it was very windy!

The motto of the Abaco Inn is: "Tan your toes in the Abacos"

Thursday, the restaurant opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Friday is the grand opening with a live band.  Daphne, the bartender, has promised to share with me (and of course I'll share with you) the recipe for key lime martinis.

Until then, enjoy your day!

Stila Makeup Palette

When I visited my friend, Pam, in Montana, she had a Stila makeup palette on the dresser as a welcome gift for me.  I thought it was a very thoughtful and practical gift and I wanted to pass along the idea.

The makeup palette contains 5 eye shadows and a guide for their use as well as a color for lips and cheeks.  She chose the "Sensational in Sydney" palette.  This collection is very neutral and worked well with my complexion.  

You may prefer one of the other palettes with a bit more color.  

I think these palettes are fantastic for travel, gym bag, or handbag.   All you need are a few brushes and some mascara and you are set.  What a great gift or stocking stuffer.  

Just $16 at beauty.com and  $16 at sephora.com

Hiking and Fishing in Montana

There is nothing like a few days in Montana to help a person re-connect with nature.

We hiked Cinnamon Mountain, elevation about 9,200 feet.  

Lunch was well deserved by the time we reached the top of the mountain

One day was spent floating down the Yellowstone River in a raft.

Hubby was busy fishing and I was just along for the ride.  

A pleasant hike along a stream in the Montana section of Yellowstone National Park.

I love the green and orange colors and texture next to the burned trunks of trees.

We were so fortunate to spend 5 days with our great friends who planned great outings and  were amazing hosts.

These photos were taken with my iPhone camera and the Camera + app and the panorama shots were done with the Photosynth app.

Seattle Great Wheel

I had a fantastic visit to Seattle last week.  I visited favorite spots and some venues new to me, one of which just opened the end of June, 2012.

The Seattle Great Wheel is a brand new attraction on the Seattle waterfront.  

175 feet high.  42 enclosed gondolas.  $13/ticket

Views from the wheel are breathtaking and the perfect photo ops.

Sleepy in Seattle

After three active days in Seattle, I'm exhausted.  BUT, my alarm is set for 3:45 am for a 6 AM flight and part two of my vacation.

This photo was taken in Volunteer Park, Seattle.  The placement of this sculpture makes it about impossible to pass up a photo with a view of the Seattle Space Needle in the center of the "wheel".

The weather put on quite a show this week with perfectly blue skies and warm temperatures.  Having lived here for 3 years (quite a while ago) I know that Seattleites treasure these days because they are rare.  

Swimming in Lake Washington at Madison Park.

I can't resist a stroll through the Pike Place Market...the oldest continuing public market in the country.  Opened in 1907, this farmers' market attracts 10 million visitors a year!  

I bought the best peach I've ever eaten at the market this week.  I had to eat it over the sink as it was so juicy. (and delicious!)

A rooftop herb and vegetable garden growing in downtown Seattle.

A view of Seattle from a Duck tour on Lake Union.

On to Montana for fishing and hiking.  

Have a fabulous weekend.

Hotel Hospitality

I love a hotel that reminds you what day it is when you enter the elevator,

and provides all the essentials to brew a French Press pot of coffee in your room!

Simple pleasures that mean a lot.

Travel Organization

Travel Totes by spiralstyle 

Beach tote bag / Tumi travel handbag / Longchamp travel handbag / Louis Vuitton tote

Yesterday I posted about Pinch Provisions, little kits of necessities so that if you are in a pinch, you are prepared.  This post is about being prepared while traveling.

I'm traveling to the west coast today.  I always take this leather Tumi tote with me on a plane.  I've had it for at least a decade.  I keep it "stocked" so it is always ready.

There is a big, zipped pocket inside where I keep these essentials.  

Pockets on the outside contain these items.  I have a hardshell case for the sunglasses and eye glasses.  Spare glasses are a must if you need eye glasses.  Having your eye glass or contact prescription with you is a good idea too.  Water!!!  Take a bottle on the plane with you!!  A folded fabric bag (I like Baggu) is so versatile, for shopping, dirty laundry, beach bag or gym bag.  An umbrella is vital.  Earphones are handy.  

Having a few healthy snacks with you is essential.  You may miss meals with a plane delay or if you are (horrors!) stuck on the tarmac waiting.  

What would your essentials be?  Do you have a bag ready and waiting for travel?