Jamaica

I love islands. I used to wonder if I was more of a Mountain person or island person and never could decide. I love the mountains. They are so beautiful covered in snow. But then in the summer its rocky and/or green with grass and trees. Not a big fan of the grass part of it. But an island!!! Beautiful ocean view year-round, even if it's cold. Hot sun beating down on you in the warmth. Depending on the location, it may never get too cold. You get a deep dark glowing tan. What's not to like?

I'm an ISLAND girl. This year, in June I got to see another island. Jamaica. Of course it was beautiful. 

Me, my Aunt, my beautiful 18 year old cousin, and mom all went for Alivia's high school graduation trip. We were going non-stop from wheels down to wheels up. 

We listened to live bands at the hotel. Laid on the beach drinking island drinks. Watched life entertainment taste-testing random deliciousness of sweet drinks. I'm surprised my aunt had some alcohol and never once made s comment about Alivia drinking. 

For the first time, we did a canopy tour up the mountain, Jamaican bobsled through the mountain, then zip lines down the mountain. We took a catamaran boat out to snorkel. The climbed up Dunn's River Falls. The catamaran turned into an hour long party bus and then ended with lunch and more dancing and partying at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. We took a bus ride into the town to shop at the market. I got hit on by 3 Jamaicans, and mom thinks a girl hit on me at Margaritaville... Pretty sure she was just drunk trying to make s friend. 

Wow loved it! 

Here's my review on Ocho Rios, Jamaica:

The guides for the zip line were hilarious!!!! They cut jokes all the way down. They freaked us out and had a great sense of humor. Did you know in the zip line course one of them is a straight down vertical role?? Yes. Um.... Yea some of us freaked out. Not me of course. :/ I did tell our guide each time he would have to actually push me off. He had no problem. 

Catamaran was great. The workers made the party boat so entertaining. They got everyone involved and laughing and dancing and partying. 

The guides climbing up the river were great. They video taped and took pictures and had us get under waterfalls and go down a mini rock slide and leap backwards into a pool of water.

The market was awful. I would never suggest to anyone to venture off the resort for shopping. Unless you are really equipped to handle it. Really rough. 200+ little shops all selling the same thing and each person saying "Julie come here. Julie come look. Julie buy from me"! Yes Julie. I told one person my name and it traveled like wildfire. Me and Alivia had panic attacks. Alivia left. I couldn't get out of there. Omg. No no. Not again. 

HotelRiu Ocho Rios: beautiful. Wonderful. Every single staff was friendly. Even the one who offered to marry me and take my last name. He was cute too. Loved the Jamaican accent. The buffet was ok. The nice restaurants we had to make reservations for were not good. I hate French fries at least 3 times a day. That was about the only food me and Alivia really liked. We would have lost weight from not eating so much if it weren't for the fries. We found real coke and chocolate a couple days into the trip and that made things even better. 

But I'm glad I went. I would and will go back. Will stay at the same hotel. Wouldn't change anything- except I would avoid the market. Just shop at the hotel gift shop. It was just as cheap at the market and no pressure. 

some of my favorite pictures from the trip :)

Oren

Romaine

bobsledtime

Dunn's River

My bottoms were falling off

I liked them all

Dancing on the Party boat

How pretty

Note that was slipped under my room

<3  <3  <3

Dumpster Diving

In 2015, I am going to make this my new thing. :) I've gotten some really cool stuff.  I saw this random wooden furniture. Loaded it up, and now look at it in my kitchen?!!

Before:

After: (The coke on the top says Julie.  I've been looking since the named cokes came out and never once saw my name. I've seen Julia and Juliette, but no Julie.. until this month. whoo hoo. I'm not drinking that one!!)

I found a set of Washers, and a ton of Christmas decorations.  Wraps for the porch, and.... and I have a porch :)  Went through this, got a great plastic tub out of it too.  can't wait to hang this stuff up.  

I saw this black dresser, thought it would be great to modify for a bunny cage, but since I don't have the bunny anymore, I will just fix it up and use it, somewhere.. I'll put refurnished pictures up of it too whenever I do something to it. 

Beach chairs and lawn chairs!  SWEET!  Nothing wrong with them, just someone decided to throw them out.  

Picking up trash. :P  jk jk.  

Kitchen table my brother scored for me!! right after I moved into my new house.  I have a round table but wanted a square one for the window, and yay he saw it without even knowing I wanted it and brought it to me. 

7-11-15: saw a great shelf and corkboard; and then 10 min later my brother spotted two girl bikes he had me pick up. 

Alivia

Alivia graduated high school!! I'm so proud of her.  July 5, 2015 my WeeWee graduated college. Gosh I remember it like it was last week that she was born. I was holding her when she was only two days old. We always had this wonderful bond. I was 13 when she was born, SHE is the reason I wanted to have kids so quickly and wanted to many of them. I fell instantly in love with my cute Livi.