All posts tagged: travel

Nature Wonderland

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  Over the holidays I enjoy a stroll through a Nature Wonderland, none other than the spectacular Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park here in the Cayman Islands.  A park with manicured gardens filled with exotic flora and fauna.  A real treat is walking along the grounds and coming across a Blue Iguana in their natural habitat. Old Time Cayman Memory Lane  Photo Credit:http://www.botanic-park.ky/photo-gallery/ One of my favorite spots in the Botanic Park is the traditional Cayman style house and garden.  The rooftop of the house is made out of Silver Thatch Palm.  Adjacent to the house is the caboose, which is the heart of the home- the kitchen.  A place where traditional and very yummy Cayman style food would be cooked.  In the backyard, is an old-time rope maker.  Back in the day, Silver Thatch was made into rope, and exported.  Silver Thatch also was used to make hats, bags and whompers- a type of shoe.         National Treasure The Cayman Islands Blue Iguana is both an icon and a national treasure.  As …

Spotted! The Ultimate Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Guide

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I am very excited to share with all of you ‘The Ultimate Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Guide’ – all items can be purchased from The Spotted Door. This online retail website houses an incredible treasure trove of eco-friendly items perfect for any occasion and use all year long. The Spotted Door is dedicated to supporting artisans who utilize recycled and reclaimed materials to create beautiful products. Every item is guaranteed to contain over 50% recycled material. Awesome! Meet Jason Utgaard! Jason is an inspiration to others. He shares his passion for helping protect the environment by encouraging others to think differently about trash. In his TEDx Talk, Jason discusses how trash can be both reclaimed and recycled- ultimately being transformed into amazing items for everyday use. The Inspiration Behind The Spotted Door Jason grew up working in retail at his father’s single sporting goods store. He worked at their massive distribution center and later at the corporate office. His experience allowed him to see first hand that there was a “significant one-way material flow” thus, “what …

This Holiday Season: Preserve Heritage

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  It’s that time of year! Writing Christmas cards always invokes a little nostalgia. I treasure the art of writing letters and cards. Emails might be the green way to send season greetings, but you can feel satisfied in knowing that by purchasing The Cayman Islands National Trust’s Christmas Greeting Cards, you have helped the environment. Proceeds benefit The National Trust, helping them with their environmental programs and campaigns. This year the design takes us back to Christmas Past, old Fort George in Christmas Lights. The 2014 card was designed by local 19 year old artist Raidez Perez. Her stunning artwork depicts peaceful times at the newly renovated Fort George. Signed, sealed and delivered. For more info about ordering these beautiful Christmas cards contact marketing@nationaltrust.org.ky  or visit them 11th December 6pm-9pm at the lighting of Fort George. Christmas Past Be sure to preserve a little heritage and culture this holiday season by visiting the Cayman Islands National Trust as they light Fort George, on 11th December at 6pm. A wonderful evening to spend with family …

Keepsakes: Letters, Postcards, Photos + Cards

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The art of writing letters seems almost to be a lost art.  I may be one of the few who still loves to write letters and send postcards.  I have to admit I have quite a little treasure trove of keepsakes such as letters, postcards, tickets from concerts, shows on Broadway to Ballets, metro cards from traveling around New York etc I keep all that stuff, I’m pretty sentimental that way.  It may seem silly, but I look at it as preserving memories and holding onto a moment.  With all the traveling I do, I can’t help but send postcards to my best of friends, and sister. I have found that one of the best ways to house all my keepsakes and the beautiful memories they are linked to, is by repurposing boxes, such as shoe boxes or even perfume gift set boxes (as in the case of my keepsake box). If you love to hold on to cards, letters, postcards, concert tickets and photos or whatever items you hold dear as a keepsake treasure …

What the tides brought back…

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Summer days  always seem to be filled with spontaneous fun.  For a couple of weekends now, I have spent some time roaming the hidden and tucked away beaches on a scavenger hunt for beach treasures.  Sauntering barefoot along the coast of the eastern side of the island, soaking in the summer warmth and salty sea breeze, with only the sound of the waves rushing up onto the shore and then racing back into the hands of the sea, is probably one of my favorite things about summer.  I remember as a child, I use to spend hours looking for sea-glass and seashells.  I have yet to discover a message in a bottle, its one of those random things on my bucket list, who knows if I will ever find one.  Sometimes, I really contemplate writing my own message in a bottle and seeing where it ends up.  I think what is most fascinating about the whole idea, is the journey of a message in a bottle, and the story that unfolds once you find one or …

Eco Art: Repurposing Cayman Logwood Into Exquisite Art Pieces

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For everyone who loves local artwork which showcases the essence of Caymanian Heritage then you need to check out Cayman Logwood Products! As some of you may remember way back in the olden days Cayman Logwood was once a prime export for dye from the Cayman Islands.  Today, Cayman Logwood has evolved into a source for  producing exquisite art pieces.  The beautiful logwood is crafted by local artists into exclusive pieces of art, which are symbolic of the roots of Caymanian Heritage.  Owning a  Cayman Logwood art piece allows you to hold onto a piece of Cayman’s History which  transcends into the modern art world.  It will make an exceptional conversational piece in your home decor. Cayman Logwood products are not only aesthetically captivating, they are also eco friendly.  Only fallen Logwood trees are harvested, and repurposed into the handcrafted artwork.  Thus, there is a renewable local wood supply available for the manufacturing of Cayman Logwood products. If you love art and the environment then please support Cayman Logwood Products. Each piece is as collectible …