Cartograph Pinot Noir and Timberland Knee High boots. Clean, with the appropriate jewelry, of course!
Don't hold back! Let me know what you think!!!
Cheers!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Daily Wine and Shoe Pairing! 7-26-10
Todays Wine and Shoe Pairing is a pretty great match!! The proper shoe choice is always vital when enjoying great wine!!
Cartograph Pinot Noir and Timberland Knee High boots. Clean, with the appropriate jewelry, of course!
Don't hold back! Let me know what you think!!!
Cheers!
Cartograph Pinot Noir and Timberland Knee High boots. Clean, with the appropriate jewelry, of course!
Don't hold back! Let me know what you think!!!
Cheers!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Daily Wine and Shoe Pairing!
Yes, my lovlies, most people are interested in Wine and FOOD pairings, but here at Wine.Love, we love it all. Including the all important image statement. Daily (mostly daily) I'll post a fabulous Wine and Shoe Pairing and trust me, if you're heading out to Wine Country, these combinations will never miss the mark!!
Check out the first one!
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Christian Louboutin 5 inch pumps! These may not be the most comfortable shoes you've ever worn in your life, but just take an aspirin and wear them anyway. You'll never feel more glamourous or special. And the WINE - Ohhh, the wine. Just wait until you try this buttery, perfectly layered beautiful work of art!!!
Go ahead, make yourself FABULOUS!
Check out the first one!
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Christian Louboutin 5 inch pumps! These may not be the most comfortable shoes you've ever worn in your life, but just take an aspirin and wear them anyway. You'll never feel more glamourous or special. And the WINE - Ohhh, the wine. Just wait until you try this buttery, perfectly layered beautiful work of art!!!
Go ahead, make yourself FABULOUS!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
STAY TUNED
Stay tuned for some MAJOR changes to my BLOG!!! I think you're gonna like it. Still fabulous! Still glamourous! Less Makeup!!
Stay on the look out for WINE.LOVE
xoxo
Stay on the look out for WINE.LOVE
xoxo
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
RETAIL-LAND
Yes, Retail-land is a universe all of its own. I work there. Sometimes I think I live there. Sometimes I call it "Crazyville."
Here's and example. I'll post more examples in the future.
Example 1. A woman was hired as a freelance makeup artist to help during busy times at a Dallas high-end retailer. She did a decent job and staffing is light at this store, so they kept her on. Honestly, I think she's a personal friend of the account executive for the line that brought her in. It pays to know people!
She worked in our store for several months - 5 or 6. Very often I would see the business manager of the line shaking her head or just walking away from the Diva Artist. Then one day when she was off, I asked the business manager how things were going with her new freelance help. She said this woman in fact WAS a friend of the account executive, which was how she got the job. Also, she announced on her first or second day that she couldn't help with the cleaning or the stocking of the counter - which is expected of absolutely everyone. Why?
Her word for word answer was this, "I have very long nails and I can't take a chance on breaking one because I go to a very expensive salon. AND I wear very expensive clothes. I will not get them dirty by cleaning up after anyone, including myself. Someone else can do that."
Wow. Her makeovers were not that good. She is a local woman with no more experience or credentials than anyone else in the makeup department. She just thinks very highly of herself. Needless to say, she's gone back to Crazyville, where she belongs.
Here's and example. I'll post more examples in the future.
Example 1. A woman was hired as a freelance makeup artist to help during busy times at a Dallas high-end retailer. She did a decent job and staffing is light at this store, so they kept her on. Honestly, I think she's a personal friend of the account executive for the line that brought her in. It pays to know people!
She worked in our store for several months - 5 or 6. Very often I would see the business manager of the line shaking her head or just walking away from the Diva Artist. Then one day when she was off, I asked the business manager how things were going with her new freelance help. She said this woman in fact WAS a friend of the account executive, which was how she got the job. Also, she announced on her first or second day that she couldn't help with the cleaning or the stocking of the counter - which is expected of absolutely everyone. Why?
Her word for word answer was this, "I have very long nails and I can't take a chance on breaking one because I go to a very expensive salon. AND I wear very expensive clothes. I will not get them dirty by cleaning up after anyone, including myself. Someone else can do that."
Wow. Her makeovers were not that good. She is a local woman with no more experience or credentials than anyone else in the makeup department. She just thinks very highly of herself. Needless to say, she's gone back to Crazyville, where she belongs.
The Joy of Staying Organized.
Albert Einstein said that if you make a to-do list for yourself each night, you'll eliminate 50% of your daily stress. How would you fell about eliminating 50% of your stress? Pretty good? Read on...
Living and working in a society of achievers, as we do, we can all benefit from a little lesson in organization. Even if you're not the president of a major corporation and your main accomplishment is getting your children to soccer practice (...and shame on you if that's the case...) you'd do a better job of it if you were more organized as you move throughout your day.
Here's how I suggest starting out:
Step one: Take that ugly calendar that your insurance guy gave you for free for Christmas OFF THE FRIDGE. If you have your kid's pictures on it and you need it to keep track of where everyone is, fine, but if you really want to organize your life, you'll make note on it for your family to know your schedule, but you will NO LONGER rely on it as your primary calendar.
Step two: Go buy a date book. Get one that is pretty/attractive/fun - whatever it needs to be to make you want to use it. I use one that covers a three month period of time. It's completely blank. I have to fill in every date on every page. I get to DESIGN MY LIFE! If you want more info on this particular book, just ask me. Leave me a comment or email or something. There's nothing wrong with using your Blackberry/Iphone for staying organized AS LONG AS IT'S WORKING. Some people such as me, need the eye to hand coordination. We need to see it, write it down, check it off and feel that sense of completion. If your piece of technology is working for you then, yay for you! You're all set. But if you feel like you'd do better seeing it in writing, which makes us sit down and PLAN things, then....read on.
Step three: Understand that you'll have to carry that datebook around with you everywhere you go. Get over it. Put it in your purse/tote bag/brief care. It goes with you. You'll be writing notes to yourself about things you want to do. Make sure your planner has a place for notes, journal, future tasks, things to delegate. Here's something I learned from one of my mentors: If you're performing tasks that anyone else on earth can do, you're not designing your life. You're performing tasks. Any time you're doing something that someone else could do your reacting to what someone else expects of you rather than controlling your life plan. If you can hire someone to perform a task for you, DO IT. Hire a kid or a neighbor or someone who needs a little money. It's a WIN/WIN! You'll get to give because you're paying them and you'll get some tasks done and will have some time available to focus on your life.
What can you DELEGATE? Here are a few ideas:
Laundry
Gardening
Paperwork
Cleaning your house
Painting
Grocery shopping
...anything that isn't contributing to your GOALS is something that should be a delegated task.
Step four: Goals? What are they? There are many areas in our lives where we can set goals that we want to achieve. Here are a few of my favorites: Family, Career, Educational, Spiritual, Financial. Choose 2 or 3 and set some goals for yourself. Want to get out of debt? Make it a priority. Want to finish your education? Make it a priority. Want better relationships with your family? Make them a priority. Want to contribute more time to your church? Make it a priority.
Once we set goal in a few different areas of our lives and KNOW what those goals are and REMIND OURSELVES every day of them, we can begin to arrange our lives AROUND those goals. Ask your self this: What's REALLY, REALLY, REALLY important to me? Then, if you're spending time doing random, unexpected things during your day, KNOW that you are NOT heading towards your goal.
With every step you take during your average day, ask your self this: "Is what I'm about to do going to lead me towards my goal, or farther away from my goal?" Once you get clear on what your goals are and WHY they are important to you, you'll find yourself making a priority of those goals and will find yourself headed straight toward them!
Step five: When you're writing your TO DO list each night - remember, you're going to do that every night! - make sure the goals you've written are in front of you. ALWAYS keep those goals in mind when you're planning your day. Do everything you can do to incorporate your goals into your daily activities.
If you'd like to have more information on designing your life and achieving your goals, check in to my blog frequently...I'll be adding more soon.
In the meantime.....have a fabulously designed day!
Living and working in a society of achievers, as we do, we can all benefit from a little lesson in organization. Even if you're not the president of a major corporation and your main accomplishment is getting your children to soccer practice (...and shame on you if that's the case...) you'd do a better job of it if you were more organized as you move throughout your day.
Here's how I suggest starting out:
Step one: Take that ugly calendar that your insurance guy gave you for free for Christmas OFF THE FRIDGE. If you have your kid's pictures on it and you need it to keep track of where everyone is, fine, but if you really want to organize your life, you'll make note on it for your family to know your schedule, but you will NO LONGER rely on it as your primary calendar.
Step two: Go buy a date book. Get one that is pretty/attractive/fun - whatever it needs to be to make you want to use it. I use one that covers a three month period of time. It's completely blank. I have to fill in every date on every page. I get to DESIGN MY LIFE! If you want more info on this particular book, just ask me. Leave me a comment or email or something. There's nothing wrong with using your Blackberry/Iphone for staying organized AS LONG AS IT'S WORKING. Some people such as me, need the eye to hand coordination. We need to see it, write it down, check it off and feel that sense of completion. If your piece of technology is working for you then, yay for you! You're all set. But if you feel like you'd do better seeing it in writing, which makes us sit down and PLAN things, then....read on.
Step three: Understand that you'll have to carry that datebook around with you everywhere you go. Get over it. Put it in your purse/tote bag/brief care. It goes with you. You'll be writing notes to yourself about things you want to do. Make sure your planner has a place for notes, journal, future tasks, things to delegate. Here's something I learned from one of my mentors: If you're performing tasks that anyone else on earth can do, you're not designing your life. You're performing tasks. Any time you're doing something that someone else could do your reacting to what someone else expects of you rather than controlling your life plan. If you can hire someone to perform a task for you, DO IT. Hire a kid or a neighbor or someone who needs a little money. It's a WIN/WIN! You'll get to give because you're paying them and you'll get some tasks done and will have some time available to focus on your life.
What can you DELEGATE? Here are a few ideas:
Laundry
Gardening
Paperwork
Cleaning your house
Painting
Grocery shopping
...anything that isn't contributing to your GOALS is something that should be a delegated task.
Step four: Goals? What are they? There are many areas in our lives where we can set goals that we want to achieve. Here are a few of my favorites: Family, Career, Educational, Spiritual, Financial. Choose 2 or 3 and set some goals for yourself. Want to get out of debt? Make it a priority. Want to finish your education? Make it a priority. Want better relationships with your family? Make them a priority. Want to contribute more time to your church? Make it a priority.
Once we set goal in a few different areas of our lives and KNOW what those goals are and REMIND OURSELVES every day of them, we can begin to arrange our lives AROUND those goals. Ask your self this: What's REALLY, REALLY, REALLY important to me? Then, if you're spending time doing random, unexpected things during your day, KNOW that you are NOT heading towards your goal.
With every step you take during your average day, ask your self this: "Is what I'm about to do going to lead me towards my goal, or farther away from my goal?" Once you get clear on what your goals are and WHY they are important to you, you'll find yourself making a priority of those goals and will find yourself headed straight toward them!
Step five: When you're writing your TO DO list each night - remember, you're going to do that every night! - make sure the goals you've written are in front of you. ALWAYS keep those goals in mind when you're planning your day. Do everything you can do to incorporate your goals into your daily activities.
If you'd like to have more information on designing your life and achieving your goals, check in to my blog frequently...I'll be adding more soon.
In the meantime.....have a fabulously designed day!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Lighten Up Already! It's Summer
Wow, don't we get into a rut easily with our make up and beauty routines? So often when I'm at work I see women dressed in gorgeous sun dresses and light, strappy sandals - and then when you look up from the cute outfits to the makeup, Yikes! The amount of makeup these women are wearing! You'd think they were going to their husbands' company Christmas party! Layer upon layer of primer, concealer, foundation, powder, bronzer, blush, 4 or 5 eyeshadows, 25 coats of mascara, lipliner, lipstick, lipgloss...
...don't get me wrong. I'm the QUEEN of makeup! It's been my industry for 30 years (yes, I started when I was 8). I love every step of makeup application! And I REALLY, REALLY love those skin care lines that consist of 10 or 12 steps: Daytime cleanser, night time cleanser, daytime toner, night time toner, day cream, night cream, day eye cream, night eye cream, Day serum, night serum. Gott a love all the pretty bottles! It's almost like buying fine jewelry - at least it's almost as expensive!
Let's try to develop a new Summertime habit! Just for fun! Just to be fresh and bold and unconventional! Just to be different and rebellious! Let's try this.
FIrst of all, wash your face with a bar of soap! WHAAAAaa???? Soap? Yes. Dove for about $1.89. Amore Pacific for about $30. Sisley for about $50 - I'm estimating the prices, but I want to illustrate to you that there are BARS OF SOAP FOR EVERY LEVEL OF PRODUCT SNOB!! It's fresh and clean feeling! You'll love the simplicity of it!!!
Next, unless you're using a special toner that is targeted for break outs or some other specific skin concern, SKIP IT!
Then, assess how oily you are. Pretty darn oily? Check out a serum. Make it oil-free. If you're pretty darn oily, that serum might be all you need!! Trish McEvoy's Beauty Booster Serum costs $125 and will last you all Summer! Oily people like me will not need a moisturizer over it even though it feels as light as water!
If you are dry and need a little more moisture, keep it light weight! Use a little more of a light weight product, rather than going with something heavy. The humidity level this time of year will keep you reasonably well hydrated!
SUNSCREEN! Don't leave home without it! Lots of companies make Sunscreen that is mixed in with your moisturizer! Some companies, like Laura Mercier and Chanel and Khiel's make wonderful sunscreens that are not oily at all and feel like exactly NOTHING on your skin. INVEST! It's worth it.
Then check out one of those cool mineral powders like the original one that everyone tries to copy and can't: Bare Minerals. Yes, it's messy, yes, you need to buy a brush to use it, stop whining. Go get your color. They have TONS to choose from. You will get all the coverage you need and your face will feel naked! NAKED and FRESH in the Summer!! FABULOUS!! If you really can't stand the thought of a loose mineral powder, Trish McEvoy makes a nice pressed one. Not great coverage, but light and in great colors.
If powder doesn't do it for you, get a lightweight tinted moisturizer. Clarins is FABULOUS. Lancome has one, too. Chanel does also. Again, a product for every price point!
Then, BRONZER! Use it as eyeshadow! WHAT????? Yes! Use it as eyeshadow! Use it as BLUSH! Use it to fake a tan because of course, you're tanning your body and NOT your face. Use your bronzer to catch up!
Mascara! One or two coats! Get one of those Lash Growth products. NeuLash works like a dream, but can be a little stingy. Trish McEvoy works well, too. Latisse works great if you are willing to risk the side effects. Best price point: Trish at $125. for a 4 to 6 month supply. In a few weeks your lashes will grow and you can go with out mascara altogether!
And last but not least: SKIP THE LIPSTICK. Put it in the fridge till Fall! Break out the gloss. Sheer, shiny or full coverage it doesn't matter. Just stay away from the super crazy drying "all day" ones. Really......how long do you need it to stay on anyway??? It takes exactly 2 seconds to reapply your lip gloss!! And Gloss will fade much more gently that lipstick will. With lipstick you can end up with that pretty Lucille Ball over the lip line after you eat. Gloss will never let you down like that!
START NOW!! START FRESH!! LIGHTEN UP!! Pare down your makeup bag and remember this:
If you're afraid to let your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife see you with out makeup, you're wearing WAAAaaaay too much!!!
LIGHTEN UP, GLAM GIRL!!
...don't get me wrong. I'm the QUEEN of makeup! It's been my industry for 30 years (yes, I started when I was 8). I love every step of makeup application! And I REALLY, REALLY love those skin care lines that consist of 10 or 12 steps: Daytime cleanser, night time cleanser, daytime toner, night time toner, day cream, night cream, day eye cream, night eye cream, Day serum, night serum. Gott a love all the pretty bottles! It's almost like buying fine jewelry - at least it's almost as expensive!
Let's try to develop a new Summertime habit! Just for fun! Just to be fresh and bold and unconventional! Just to be different and rebellious! Let's try this.
FIrst of all, wash your face with a bar of soap! WHAAAAaa???? Soap? Yes. Dove for about $1.89. Amore Pacific for about $30. Sisley for about $50 - I'm estimating the prices, but I want to illustrate to you that there are BARS OF SOAP FOR EVERY LEVEL OF PRODUCT SNOB!! It's fresh and clean feeling! You'll love the simplicity of it!!!
Next, unless you're using a special toner that is targeted for break outs or some other specific skin concern, SKIP IT!
Then, assess how oily you are. Pretty darn oily? Check out a serum. Make it oil-free. If you're pretty darn oily, that serum might be all you need!! Trish McEvoy's Beauty Booster Serum costs $125 and will last you all Summer! Oily people like me will not need a moisturizer over it even though it feels as light as water!
If you are dry and need a little more moisture, keep it light weight! Use a little more of a light weight product, rather than going with something heavy. The humidity level this time of year will keep you reasonably well hydrated!
SUNSCREEN! Don't leave home without it! Lots of companies make Sunscreen that is mixed in with your moisturizer! Some companies, like Laura Mercier and Chanel and Khiel's make wonderful sunscreens that are not oily at all and feel like exactly NOTHING on your skin. INVEST! It's worth it.
Then check out one of those cool mineral powders like the original one that everyone tries to copy and can't: Bare Minerals. Yes, it's messy, yes, you need to buy a brush to use it, stop whining. Go get your color. They have TONS to choose from. You will get all the coverage you need and your face will feel naked! NAKED and FRESH in the Summer!! FABULOUS!! If you really can't stand the thought of a loose mineral powder, Trish McEvoy makes a nice pressed one. Not great coverage, but light and in great colors.
If powder doesn't do it for you, get a lightweight tinted moisturizer. Clarins is FABULOUS. Lancome has one, too. Chanel does also. Again, a product for every price point!
Then, BRONZER! Use it as eyeshadow! WHAT????? Yes! Use it as eyeshadow! Use it as BLUSH! Use it to fake a tan because of course, you're tanning your body and NOT your face. Use your bronzer to catch up!
Mascara! One or two coats! Get one of those Lash Growth products. NeuLash works like a dream, but can be a little stingy. Trish McEvoy works well, too. Latisse works great if you are willing to risk the side effects. Best price point: Trish at $125. for a 4 to 6 month supply. In a few weeks your lashes will grow and you can go with out mascara altogether!
And last but not least: SKIP THE LIPSTICK. Put it in the fridge till Fall! Break out the gloss. Sheer, shiny or full coverage it doesn't matter. Just stay away from the super crazy drying "all day" ones. Really......how long do you need it to stay on anyway??? It takes exactly 2 seconds to reapply your lip gloss!! And Gloss will fade much more gently that lipstick will. With lipstick you can end up with that pretty Lucille Ball over the lip line after you eat. Gloss will never let you down like that!
START NOW!! START FRESH!! LIGHTEN UP!! Pare down your makeup bag and remember this:
If you're afraid to let your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife see you with out makeup, you're wearing WAAAaaaay too much!!!
LIGHTEN UP, GLAM GIRL!!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Let's Discuss Belize....
Belize is a former British Colony located in Central America. It's a wonderful place, rich in culture and activity - where the native language is English! I think there's more English spoken in Belize than there is here in Texas. (Sad)
Belize was listed as one of Islands Magazine's 10 best Islands to call home! They call it an "affordable paradise in the Caribbean." I like that. Paradise and Affordable, all in the same sentence!. Here are a few other things I love about Belize:
Ambergris Caye has a population of about 15,000. 12% are Expatriates. It's easy to get around - by golf cart! It's easy to buy a home. It's easy to get there - a 2 hour flight from Dallas or a 2 hour flight from Miami, then a 15 minute plane ride or 1.5 hour boat ride from Belize City to Ambergris Caye!
My husband and I read about Belize in Islands Magazine at just about the time we decided we wanted to purchase a home outside of the country. The original plan was to find a place for vacations and possibly to retire to. Once we traveled to Belize, we just fell in love with the people. The native Belizians as well as the other Expats, and we knew that this would be where we want to retire. But not at age 65. We want to retire NOW.
We found a beautiful little resort called Reef Villages and stayed there the first couple of times we were there. We soon found out that the developer of Reef Villages was also putting together a second development called "South Beach Belize." This was to be modeled after South Beach, Miami, Florida - another one of our favorite places. One of the first things we did was put a down payment on South Beach Belize.
We continued staying at Reef Villages, since South Beach wasn't started yet - "Hey! I got some swamp land to sell ya!" But when we realized that South Beach, although definitely in the works, was not going to be ready to live in for YEARS, we bought a beautiful little villa at Reef Villages. Not nearly as fabulous as the story of South Beach Belize, but IT EXISTS! It's BUILT and people actually live there. Very cool people live there. I thought originally that this would be a temporary place for us until South Beach is built, then we could sell our Villa and relocate to South Beach Belize. But now I'm not so sure! I fell in love with our little 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house. I had them paint it white, it has a thatched roof over the front porch with runs the entire front of the house and is on the lagoon. I mean really on the lagoon - as in, water under the front porch! I LOVE IT! I think my husband Robert still envisions us living a glamorous life in South Beach Belize, but I'm perfectly content on the North end of the island. Maybe some day we'll make that move, but if it never happens, I'm happy with that.
We are a short golf cart ride from downtown San Pedro - wonderful restaurants, bars, night life and shopping. Well, I'll admit, the shopping isn't that great. In fact, unless you want to take home a T-Shirt or shot glass, you'll be hard pressed to find any souveniers to take back with you. But the more time I spend there, the more niceness I find! For example, there's a wonderful Wine store that has beautiful bottles of wine - most that you've heard of! There's another place where the owner of the shop will custom sew covers and cushions for your patio furniture. And another place where a local family makes and paints outdoor furniture with bright, tropical colors that will look just perfect in and around a little white villa!
We've owned our Villa for just over a year now and have been there several times. Robert has been there more often that I have since he's furloughed and has a lot of time on his hands. I am still trying to string 3 or 4 days off in a row so that I can get there, relax a bit and not feel completely rushed during a short vacation. If I could afford to quit my job and move there permanently, believe me, I'd do it TODAY.
Robert and I have a solid 5 year plan in place, but everything I do, every day is to try to push that plan up! I'm even getting a Massage Therapy license so I can move to Belize, put up a little Cabana and do pool-side massages for the tourists. THAT sounds like heaven to me. How about you? We've started taking things to Belize with us when we go - little things we can live without in Texas, like extra clothes, our Bose Radio, CDs DVDs, small decorative things. We purchased this house fully furnished, so I haven't put much effort into decorating it in my own style. I want to save that for when I'm actually living there. We do rent it out occasionally and allow our friends/relatives to stay, so I want to hold off on changing anything until WE'RE the primary residents!
Wine motif? Tropical Blue theme? I really can't decide, and it's good that I really don't have to decide right now. For now, I just love every second of what's in Belize just the way it is. We fly in, taking pictures from the Tropic Air flight like tourists. We walk across the street from the airport and get a Belikin Beer from the Lime Bar the minute we land - that's become our tradition. We rent a golf cart as soon as we get there and that's our transportation for the time we're there. When we move there, we'll buy one. The drive through town to get to our place is always fun and it always looks different, each time I go. New little shops opening and others closing depending upon the season. I couldn't love it more.
As soon as we get to our villa, I put a fresh bowl of water out on our steps for the Reef Village Dog, who's name is Spot. Just in case he wonders by and needs a little refreshment. Throughout the day, I'll add some ice cubes to keep his water fresh. Last time we were there, I bought a dog water bowl to put in the main area of the resort for Spot and the visiting dogs. It never ceases to amaze me when I see people bringing their dogs on vacation and not being coherent enough to make sure they have water when it's 90 degrees outside. I have a little deal with the bar manager to make sure that bowl stays full.
I always look forward to the first morning that we wake up in Belize. It's a very slow process. We get up, make coffee, sit on the front porch for a while, waving to the neighbors on either side of us as well as the early birds who are sitting at the bar across the lagoon! Then that's where I go. As soon as I'm awake. The Reef Bar makes the best Bloody Mary you'll ever drink! That's my breakfast of champions!!
Then we start our day. Riding around on the golf cart, visiting people, visiting shops. Riding over to see our friend Linda who owns Coco Loco's bar, right on the beach! You never know who you'll run into there. She has many stories of celebrities walking in. I've never seen one, but I'm sure someday I will. Riding down to the south end of the island to check on the progress of South Beach Belize - I love the plans of the developers, but I don't expect that place to happen until I'm too old to live there!
So for now, that's where I'll leave you.....90 degree weather, riding around, wearing sunscreen, stopping for Belikin Beer or a morning Bloody Mary... later I'll tell you about the water taxi and some of the other resorts on our little Paradise Island!
Belize was listed as one of Islands Magazine's 10 best Islands to call home! They call it an "affordable paradise in the Caribbean." I like that. Paradise and Affordable, all in the same sentence!. Here are a few other things I love about Belize:
Ambergris Caye has a population of about 15,000. 12% are Expatriates. It's easy to get around - by golf cart! It's easy to buy a home. It's easy to get there - a 2 hour flight from Dallas or a 2 hour flight from Miami, then a 15 minute plane ride or 1.5 hour boat ride from Belize City to Ambergris Caye!
My husband and I read about Belize in Islands Magazine at just about the time we decided we wanted to purchase a home outside of the country. The original plan was to find a place for vacations and possibly to retire to. Once we traveled to Belize, we just fell in love with the people. The native Belizians as well as the other Expats, and we knew that this would be where we want to retire. But not at age 65. We want to retire NOW.
We found a beautiful little resort called Reef Villages and stayed there the first couple of times we were there. We soon found out that the developer of Reef Villages was also putting together a second development called "South Beach Belize." This was to be modeled after South Beach, Miami, Florida - another one of our favorite places. One of the first things we did was put a down payment on South Beach Belize.
We continued staying at Reef Villages, since South Beach wasn't started yet - "Hey! I got some swamp land to sell ya!" But when we realized that South Beach, although definitely in the works, was not going to be ready to live in for YEARS, we bought a beautiful little villa at Reef Villages. Not nearly as fabulous as the story of South Beach Belize, but IT EXISTS! It's BUILT and people actually live there. Very cool people live there. I thought originally that this would be a temporary place for us until South Beach is built, then we could sell our Villa and relocate to South Beach Belize. But now I'm not so sure! I fell in love with our little 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house. I had them paint it white, it has a thatched roof over the front porch with runs the entire front of the house and is on the lagoon. I mean really on the lagoon - as in, water under the front porch! I LOVE IT! I think my husband Robert still envisions us living a glamorous life in South Beach Belize, but I'm perfectly content on the North end of the island. Maybe some day we'll make that move, but if it never happens, I'm happy with that.
We are a short golf cart ride from downtown San Pedro - wonderful restaurants, bars, night life and shopping. Well, I'll admit, the shopping isn't that great. In fact, unless you want to take home a T-Shirt or shot glass, you'll be hard pressed to find any souveniers to take back with you. But the more time I spend there, the more niceness I find! For example, there's a wonderful Wine store that has beautiful bottles of wine - most that you've heard of! There's another place where the owner of the shop will custom sew covers and cushions for your patio furniture. And another place where a local family makes and paints outdoor furniture with bright, tropical colors that will look just perfect in and around a little white villa!
We've owned our Villa for just over a year now and have been there several times. Robert has been there more often that I have since he's furloughed and has a lot of time on his hands. I am still trying to string 3 or 4 days off in a row so that I can get there, relax a bit and not feel completely rushed during a short vacation. If I could afford to quit my job and move there permanently, believe me, I'd do it TODAY.
Robert and I have a solid 5 year plan in place, but everything I do, every day is to try to push that plan up! I'm even getting a Massage Therapy license so I can move to Belize, put up a little Cabana and do pool-side massages for the tourists. THAT sounds like heaven to me. How about you? We've started taking things to Belize with us when we go - little things we can live without in Texas, like extra clothes, our Bose Radio, CDs DVDs, small decorative things. We purchased this house fully furnished, so I haven't put much effort into decorating it in my own style. I want to save that for when I'm actually living there. We do rent it out occasionally and allow our friends/relatives to stay, so I want to hold off on changing anything until WE'RE the primary residents!
Wine motif? Tropical Blue theme? I really can't decide, and it's good that I really don't have to decide right now. For now, I just love every second of what's in Belize just the way it is. We fly in, taking pictures from the Tropic Air flight like tourists. We walk across the street from the airport and get a Belikin Beer from the Lime Bar the minute we land - that's become our tradition. We rent a golf cart as soon as we get there and that's our transportation for the time we're there. When we move there, we'll buy one. The drive through town to get to our place is always fun and it always looks different, each time I go. New little shops opening and others closing depending upon the season. I couldn't love it more.
As soon as we get to our villa, I put a fresh bowl of water out on our steps for the Reef Village Dog, who's name is Spot. Just in case he wonders by and needs a little refreshment. Throughout the day, I'll add some ice cubes to keep his water fresh. Last time we were there, I bought a dog water bowl to put in the main area of the resort for Spot and the visiting dogs. It never ceases to amaze me when I see people bringing their dogs on vacation and not being coherent enough to make sure they have water when it's 90 degrees outside. I have a little deal with the bar manager to make sure that bowl stays full.
I always look forward to the first morning that we wake up in Belize. It's a very slow process. We get up, make coffee, sit on the front porch for a while, waving to the neighbors on either side of us as well as the early birds who are sitting at the bar across the lagoon! Then that's where I go. As soon as I'm awake. The Reef Bar makes the best Bloody Mary you'll ever drink! That's my breakfast of champions!!
Then we start our day. Riding around on the golf cart, visiting people, visiting shops. Riding over to see our friend Linda who owns Coco Loco's bar, right on the beach! You never know who you'll run into there. She has many stories of celebrities walking in. I've never seen one, but I'm sure someday I will. Riding down to the south end of the island to check on the progress of South Beach Belize - I love the plans of the developers, but I don't expect that place to happen until I'm too old to live there!
So for now, that's where I'll leave you.....90 degree weather, riding around, wearing sunscreen, stopping for Belikin Beer or a morning Bloody Mary... later I'll tell you about the water taxi and some of the other resorts on our little Paradise Island!
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