Day 5: Granada: We spent this day relaxing on a private beach (think turquoise water and sand like s

As promised, I'm here to share a bit about the Southern Caribbean cruise I was on a week and a half ago. This is the 10th trip I have earned with Close To My Heart and let me tell you, they are ALWAYS great! I will never get tired of earning FREE trips around the world for a guest and me.
This year I decided to take my sweet sister-in-law, Cindy (Dan-the-Man's sister). map of hotels on las vegas strip She is like a sister to me and one of my very best friends. map of hotels on las vegas strip She and her husband did the NICEST thing ever for our family a few months map of hotels on las vegas strip ago and Dan and I were overwhelmed with gratitude. map of hotels on las vegas strip We felt a great way to say thank you was for me to take Cindy on this trip. We had a blast!
We started by flying from Salt Lake City to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We took the red eye. Cindy was able to sleep the whole way. Me...not so much. I considered taking a photo of Cindy sleeping the night away but realized if I did I might just hate her every time I looked at the photo, so I refrained. :)
Our week really was perfect. We spent every day doing relaxing and/or adventurous activities (we mixed it up pretty well) and the evenings dining in style and then watching a show or some karaoke. This is the life! Here's the trip day-by-day:
Day 2: St Croix: This was Sunday and Cindy and I thought it would be fun to attend church on the island. We found out 2 other couples from our group, who are also Mormon (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) were going and we all decided to go together. It was a day I will never forget. There were 2 sets of missionaries there and it was so much fun for me (a mother of 2 former missionaries and 1 who leaves in a few short months) to see them in action. They were awesome! From playing the piano at church, to speaking, map of hotels on las vegas strip to the baptism they performed (which we stayed map of hotels on las vegas strip to witness) it just filled my heart with joy to know that my boys had sacrificed 2 years of their lives to do this as well. It was also a treat to meet the local church map of hotels on las vegas strip members and hear about their conversion stories and love of the gospel.
Day 3: St. Kitts: We spent most of this day on a nature hike through the rain forest. Before heading out on the hike, we visited a beautiful place called Romney Manor. It was a beautiful mansion surrounded by amazing gardens. Our hike was led by the one and only "Al." Al was one of my favorite tour guides ever. He kept us entertained and laughing the whole time. He had that great accent (the one I call a Jamaican accent, but is probably just a Caribbean accent) and was full of life. He was one of the most laid back people I've ever met. Ah, to live on an island 24/7...maybe I'd be laid back too!
Day 4: Dominica: map of hotels on las vegas strip This was probably my favorite day of the cruise. I love adventure and this day was full of it. We spent the first half of the day tubing a river through the rain forest. Although the photos here are all in smooth water, there was quite a bit of white water. Of course, during map of hotels on las vegas strip the white water parts we were all too busy trying to stay upright to take photos. After the tubing adventure we hired a driver map of hotels on las vegas strip to take us to Trafalgar Falls. This is a place where there are 2 waterfalls, one hot and one cold. You could hike up to the falls and get in the hot springs or into the cold lagoon. Of course, map of hotels on las vegas strip Cindy and I chose the hot springs! We got back to the ship in time to shower and head to another wonderful dinner with CTMH friends.
Day 5: Granada: We spent this day relaxing map of hotels on las vegas strip on a private beach (think turquoise water and sand like sugar) where we got lots of sun and a nice chicken meal grilled for us on the beach by a local restaurant. Heaven! On the way back to the ship we stopped to buy spices. Granada is known as, " The Spice Island." It was so cool that were were in Granada during their Independence Day
Day 6: At Sea: What a relaxing day! We heard that there was going to be a big brunch buffet in one of the formal restaurants from 10 am - 1 pm. We hit the buffet (um....WOW!) at 10 am, stuffed ourselves silly, map of hotels on las vegas strip then spent 2 hours at the pool. We then headed BACK to the brunch buffet and got ever more full (how's that for maximizing our optimal buffet time?). After that we waddled back to our room, showered map of hotels on las vegas strip and headed to the Close To My Heart meeting. We enjoyed hearing about upcoming specials and information about the company and laughing as we had our own game show. Dinner this evening was a special one. CTMH had an exclusive dinner for Executive Directors, Senior Executive Directors and Presidential Directors map of hotels on las vegas strip and their guests. It was fancy schmantcy (and of course I was so busy stuffing myself that I forgot to take pictures)!
Day 7: St. Thomas: Cindy and I decided to take it easy and just mosey around town on the last day of the cruise. We found a tram that took us up above the city to a little lookout with fun gift shops. We bought a few gifts and walked around enjoying the view. One of my favorite things about St. Thomas was that almost all of the buildings were white with either red or blue roofs. So pretty. Almost all the other islands had brightly colored buildings (which was also beautiful) but St. Thomas had a little bit different feel. After we came back down from the tram ride we found a little local grocery store. We had so much fun walking around seeing what the locals eat and buy. We spent at least 30 minutes on the spice and sauce aisle and both ended up purchasing some locally map of hotels on las vegas strip made spice blends and sauces to bring home. Yum! We then headed back to the ship for a few hours in the sun by the pool, a delicious dinner and the good bye reception with Close To My Heart.
What a wonderful whirlwind of deliciousness map of hotels on las vegas strip this trip was. Thank you, Cindy for being such a fun traveling companion! Would you like to join me on next year's CTMH trip to an all inclusive resort in Costa Rica? You can become map of hotels on las vegas strip a CTMH Consultant for as little as $49 and start working toward earning it TODAY. Click here for more information about joining my team.
Great recap of a fabulous trip! It was wonderful to meet Cindy...so nice of her to do that sweet gesture for your family...and for you to offer her this getaway with you. Loved being able to visit with you a few times...not nearly enough though! Maybe Costa Rica!!!
wow what a great company to work for if those are a few of the perks. map of hotels on las vegas strip Its so beautiful there. I love the little table food decorations and st. thomas is on my BUCKET list maybe one day I will get to go there. Glad you had the time of your life.
I love my life! I am wife to Dan the Man, mother to four amazing kids (Kori, Easton, Tannon and Dawson), mother-in-law to two (Rick, Daysha) and grandmother to three (Daci, Livvi and Street). In addition to this I am also a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and enjoy having my own Close To My Heart scrapbooking business. I am grateful for the full life I lead and the fulfillment I feel as I fill each of these roles.
This is just one of the three 2-page 12" x 12" layouts we are making in my March Play Group classes. You can participate in person or long-distance. Click on the layout for more details and to see the other two layouts.
To watch any of the videos on my blog without having to listen to my Music Play List at the same time, just scroll all the way to the bottom of my blog and click the pause button on the Play List , then scroll back to the video you want to see and watch away! This way you'll only hear the soundtrack for the video. Easy, Peasy, Lemon Squeasy!
I am so excited about my monthly scrapbook classes. I call them Play Groups. Each month we use one of the 'to die for' Level 2 paper packs as well as other accessories to create three two page 12" x 12" layouts. Trust me! You'll love it! Scroll down after the details about how to attend to see some of the pages we have created and will create. There are two ways to attend: 1. You can watch my monthly emails (please email me at pedermom@aol.com to be added to this list) or posts on my blog about Play Group to see what we are doing the next month and to call and order your kit and sign up for a specific date and time. There are always at least 4 dates and times to choose from each month. 2. You can join Play Group for a 10 month commitment. map of hotels on las vegas strip You still get at least 4 dates and times to choose from each month. The difference is that when you join you will get a FREE CLOSE TO MY HEART SHOPPING SPREE in one of your 10 months. This month will be assigned to you when you join. Most shopping sprees average between $40-$100 in free product. Either way you choose to attend, the following information is pertinent: *You are required to purchase the Basic Kit, but are welcome to upgrade to the Better or Best Kits, or just to pick and choose things from them to add to your Basic Kit. Basic Kits are usually approximately $30 (before shipping and tax). You purchase the month before for the following month and then your kits are here waiting for you when you come. For instance, you would buy your November kit in October. *You are always welcome map of hotels on las vegas strip to purchase additional items from the Idea Book, but are not obligated to in any way. *If you sign up and for some reason can't attend, you will still get your packet and cutting guide and there will be pictures on my website that you can look at to complete your layout on your own. A few Benefits to joining Play Group: *You will have the option to host your own gathering with your friends during your Shopping Spree month if you would like to. This will help you get an even bigger free shopping spree. *You will get each new Idea Book one month before everyone else. *If you are a member during December, you will get a special Holiday gift from me. *You will never miss out on hearing about a Close To My Heart special. map of hotels on las vegas strip *You will have the opportunity and excuse to have at least one evening or morning out per month with your girlfriends. Feel free to contact me for more information: Karen Pedersen 801.360.9896 pedermom@aol.com Facebook: Karen Overstreet map of hotels on las vegas strip Pedersen
This is just one of the