It's My Birthday...

...and I'll cry if I want to... {just kidding!}

Celebrating my birthday from the islands as I have for the last several years...

So happy birthday to me!!

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Photo by me!

Island Time = Bain of my Existence

St. Thomas is technically part of the United States, but when it comes down to things like mail, it might as well be a 3rd world country in the middle of nowhere.  I thought I was being so smooth ordering a bunch of toiletries from Drugstore.com on Dec. 10th in anticipation of my Dec. 19th arrival, thinking they would be here ahead of my arrival, shipped 2 day shipping via FedEx...

Well...it's now December 24th, and my lovely package of toothpaste, face wash, etc. still has not arrived.  In fact, it's now in Puerto Rico {arrived on Dec. 22nd}, and it's estimated delivery date is January 9th. TWO DAYS AFTER I LEAVE, AND 31 DAYS AFTER I PLACED MY ORDER.

SERIOUSLY?!?!?

What's the point?

St. Thomas for the Holidays!

I've been relaxing the last few days in sunny St. Thomas...the vacation started with an amazing facial at Esthetica care of Linda, who gives the most amazing facials I've ever had.  I highly recommend her if anyone is planning a trip to St. Thomas.

The last few days I've been trying to relax, get some reading for pleasure done before my winter semester started for school, which was today.  But that's off to a good start - I got all the required reading done, and completed today's assignment, which was pretty doable.  We have a little respite though New Years when the course takes off, full swing.  But until then, I have a few days to relax!

Enjoying the day at Magen's Bay...what a pristine day!

The view from my parent's house.

Hitchcock enjoying the fabulous view!

On Vacation: Turks & Caicos

I haven't posted in a few days.  I'm definitely behind on my goal to blog things every day, but alas...there's not really much going on when you're on a beach retreat in the Caribbean; Turks and Caicos to be exact!

As I mentioned right when I started this blog, I've been trying to take a healthier approach to life, including both my job prospectus and how I care for my body, both what I put in my mouth, and my exercise program.

This "face lift" included trying to eat "clean."  I've been reading Tosca Reno's books, and I've been learning a lot, but as anyone who has tried to amend their eating habits knows, that it's not only difficult in the beginning, but it's SUPER difficult in the beginning when you're on vacation.

I've been doing my best; I've been ordering fish "dry" in restaurants, I brought a lot of my own foods, particularly breakfast ones, so I can start my day off right (that way I'm more likely to stick to my Clean plan), and I've been working out.  Hopefully when I get back and see my trainer, he won't be too disappointed in my, maybe he'll even be proud of me...who knows!

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Photo by Style Blueprint