Ritz-Carlton, Rose Hall Montego Bay

The Ritz-Carlton, Rose Hall in Montego Bay Jamaica is simply a beautiful resort. From the stylish and welcoming decor that greet you at the entrance.

to the vibrant art decor on the walls in the lobby.

The hotel has rich woodwork to keep things warm and inviting on this breezy tropical island.

Win your Dream Honeymoon to Westin St. Maarten

UPDATE: Extension of Deadline -
You have until October 7, 2010 11:59 PM EST to enter this contest!
Wanna win your dream honeymoon to Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa, St. Maarten?

I've been working with Starwoods about setting up this great amazing honeymoon stay at the Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa, St. Maarten for one lucky reader (and her/his fiance/fiancee)... I was super excited when I was approached to do this and I thought what better review than visiting the resort myself. I was lucky enough to have a guided tour and some seriously nice service at the resort - so i got a sneak peak into what the winner will be receiving (check out my reviews here) and all i can say is... Y'all better truly love me b/c I love the readers SO much... I am hooking this up...

So now you are thinking, "Girl, stop your babbling and tell me how to win this FREE HONEYMOON trip!!!"

It's easy... all you have to do is enter here!

White Glove & Red Carpet Service

One wouldn't expect anything less from a Ritz-Carlton hotel, but I am still in awe of the great service and treatment we received in the Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica location. From the minute we were so kindly dropped off by the JTB, we were greeted with smiles and a warm welcome... Well, not all of it was warm.

but i'm not one to complain when greeted in the lobby with a refreshing glass of champagne.

Up in the Air...

As i prepared for my trip to Jamaica, I had to take note that one of my bags could fly free! Really? I mean, unless under some special deal - most airlines charge for any checked baggage but i was flying JetBlue via Dulles International through JFK. If you are fortunate like me, JetBlue flies out of a city nearby and has direct routes to places I frequent (LAX) and quick 1-stop layovers for others... and the best part, they just added Turks & Caicos to their routes. Funny, I've been telling the hubby for YEARS i've wanted to go there... WHAT a coinkidink!

Typically, I don't like layovers - but I didn't mind this one b/c the JetBlue terminals are all equipped with FREE WiFi - which is perfect for someone who wants to stay connected like me and what I didn't realize was that the JFK terminal was UBER cool for JetBlue. Equipped with different levels of dining, on my return flight - i engaged in a spicy bloody mary AND Egg's Benedict for breakfast while surfing the internet on my phone... It was pretty much traveling at its peak. So i definitely didn't have a single complaint about flying JetBlue - and next year, I'm thinking of planning my September travels around their All You Can Jet (AYCJ) special and take advantage of trying to fly home and elsewhere (Maybe turks or other Caribbean islands? Ohhh, i've got some ideas a-brewin' now).

Ok, but enough about my great flights to and from Jamaica - Let's talk JAMAICA!!!

Just scratching the Surface

Recently, I was invited to explore Jamaica. If you follow me on twitter (follow me now on Relentless Bride or via my Weddzilla account), You will have seen a few tweets and photos from this trip. It was much too short of a trip and I only had time to explore a small portion of this gorgeous island - Montego Bay; but let me just tell you... I only scratched the surface.

I admit it, I fall easily into stereotypes and stereotyping. Many times I repeat or even think the common "stereotypes" for cultures, people, foods, states etc... I mean, I am a So-Cal girl to the core; a total coaster, so until I went to Indiana for school - I just knew Indiana was somewhere in the middle - I mean, would I really know anything but coasts? Other common misconceptions I've run with...the fact that I'm a coaster and that somehow validates being geographically challenged LOL; of course the typical Asian ones - I always have a camera on me (typically), I am good at math (i'm not), I take pictures of my food (I do); I flash the peace sign in my pictures (sometimes both hands, sometimes just one)... and of course we have the not-so PC stereotypes that I joke with friends about which I won't repeat, so i don't offend. HAHA. But i'm not easily offended if you know me, and I find I'm an equal opportunity stereotypists - i pretty much make fun of myself and everybody around me. Laughter is good, right?

So to be honest, my misconceptions about Jamaica seem normal in my mind. When I think Jamaica (here is my word association flowing freely), I think "Rasta", Bob Marley, jerked meat, when working more than one job, someone asking "Are you Jamaican?", marijuana & Bongs, Sanka Coffee from the movie Cool Runnings, Cool Runnings, Dreads, People with dreads, Everybody will have dreads in Jamaica, Fugees and Lauryn Hill (AND i don't even think they are Jamaican), and the list goes on (and sadly, i'm starting to get embarrassed on how bad and simple minded I am...

Happily, I can report, two days in Jamaica and as the Jamaica Tourism Board (JTB) says "Once you go, you know"... and I truly know that I was completely underestimating this beautiful island, centered in the Caribbean Sea (the size of Connecticut), that is so vastly rich in culture the way it is rich in its greenery, its blue oceans, its star filled nights and its people... The JTB promotes Jamaica with another great slogan "Out of Many, One people" and this is just a short phrase to describe how diverse the island is.

Did you know that Jamaica comes from the Tainos word(American Indian people who dwelled there) "Xaymaca" which means "land of wood and water"? Or that Ocho Rios, was actually dubbed "Las Chorreras" which means waterfalls by the Spaniards but the English misunderstood it to mean Eight Rivers, and thus dubbed it Ocho Rios? How about the fact that the island, being colonized for its vast resources in sugar, is chock full of migrants not just from Africa, but from India and China and also Jewish Settlers and Arab traders from Palestine who flocked to Jamaica during the late 1800's? This would explain the Indian curry and Chinese mein influences on the Jamaican food we see today...

Impressed by the Jamaican peoples history of repression, rebellion, and then coming into its own culture - I realized quickly that this island is much much much more than just Rasta, Dreads and bob-sledding. Within minutes of being on the island, i realized that Montego Bay was more gorgeous than I imagined, the people of Jamaica so courteous, friendly and hard working, and that the food - chocked full of so many influences, delicious and so unique.

The JTB uses the slogans "Once you go, you know" and "Out of many, One people" and for very good reason. Because until you go, you really just don't know how rich of an island it is and how much it has to offer. (yes, I'm talking water sports, hiking, snorkeling, lounging, golf, museums, history, scenic views, zip-lining, zoos & animals/wildlife, dining, art, shopping, botanical gardens, biking, water parks and so much more. And what I also didn't realize was how great Jamaica is for Destination Weddings, honeymoons, celebratory travel (baby-moon? pre-wedding vacation? anniversary? proposal?) and even Family vacations. Jamaica is just full of various areas ideal for what any vacationer is looking for and especially for us wedding-obsessed folks - so MANY gorgeous venues and areas to choose from. And of course, I'm always scouting out places for romantic getaways or future family fun vacations. Ok, now I just sound like a PSA... but in complete honesty, i was really impressed with all that Jamaica has to offer so I can't wait to go into more detail with my trip there...So follow me and I'll share with you photos and my experience in Montego Bay, and you can see why I really just scratched the surface of exploring this beautiful island.

**read more about my Jamaica Press Trip**

Wish Upon a Wedding DC

Planning to be in the DC area this November? Please help us help others in need by coming to Wish Upon a Wedding DC’s Blissful Wishes Ball!

The Blissful Wishes Ball will benefit Wish Upon a Wedding, the new nonprofit organization that has touched hearts and changed lives across the nation by providing weddings and vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness or other serious life-altering circumstances.

Not local? There are balls taking place all across the country this fall, so RSVP today for the one closest to you. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy a fun and sophisticated evening while supporting a great cause!

(Graphic Credit: Wish Upon a Wedding)

**Post is written by Bi-Coastal Bride aka Heather**

I'm engaged, Now what?

Yesterday, a friend asked me if i could meet with her friend who recently got engaged. She said her friend was a bit stressed and just not sure where to start. I said of course, I love chatting about weddings - so i would love to talk to her - but since we aren't meeting until next week - here is a few tips i can give in the meantime...

so I thought i'd share with y'all and maybe you can give some input on your top 5 pieces of advice you'd give someone...

#1. RELAX. Breathe. Enjoy the fact that you are engaged... Take a moment, a day, a week or a month... to just get used to the word "fiance/e", "engaged", "betrothed" and "wedding"... Take a moment to revel and look at your fiance/e. Be happy. Be still.
#2. Start brainstorming. Think about what you want for your wedding. big? small? outdoor? indoor? Dates? themes? etc.. Be as idealistic as you can. Reality will hard soon enough, so think long and hard about what you want. Ask your fiance/e to do this too. And try to do it separately before you come together.
#3. Discuss with open minds with each other about what the other is thinking or expecting (ideally). Also include what your family may expect - just b/c you may be able to happily include some things they want, and that'll be a great way to barter out the things you don't want. Also, traditions can come into play here... how much do you want to include?
#4. Think of a splurge area. For the hubby and I we wanted to splurge on our memories - so anything that helped remember the moment - photobooth, pictures, video, oil canvas. that was our splurge. For others its food or drink or etc., some people want it to be their dress, make up or music, or even venue... What is your splurge area?
#5. Start your guest list. until you know your numbers you wno't know what type of venue you want. So make a guest list (each of you) - use excel or something. most likely you will have to trim this list down, but you have to start somewhere. Also keep in mind, most likely your family will have a few guests to add. Think about whether you want adult-only, families, etc... A good way to narrow down this list is to think "will i be talking with this person in 5 years?" or "who would my wedding celebration not be the same without?" (especially if you want a more intimate setting). If venue is your splurge, you may be constrained and that can effect your guest list.
#6. Lastly, start thinking about funding... how will you pay for it? Who will/may help out? This can effect your budget.

Don't think hard about #6 b/c it brings on stress... Focus at first on #1-3. This will help you realize the importance of the day is centered around a celebration of your love and commitment for one another. Vocalizing expectations can help prevent disappointment. Once you get to #4, you can start prioritizing what things you can or can't include and in what order you feel they are important. If you and your fiance/e value certain areas differently, try to come to a compromise on your game plan!

But most of all. and most importantly - for the first days, weeks, months, if not the whole engagement period - make sure to ENJOY the moment... it won't come back again, so don't ruin it with stress... it all works itself out in the end, so deal with it one day at a time and really keep the focus on why you are having a wedding. It's easy to get distracted, but that will help keep you both grounded!

Our first official event....

We attended our first official event together as Husband and Wife ... at a friend's wedding in Omaha... Our escort cards state that we are with each other... I am A FRY!!!!


And since we got to do this event together as husband and wife, we made a statement by dressing like a couple. I wore the dress I had for our rehearsal / Welcome party and dressed him in something to match... I was impressed with my last minute find to make us look like a "couple".  Also, impressed he let me do this!

Product Review {Clarisonic MIA}

Better late than never, right? For me, that is what the Clarisonic system has become. I kick myself for not using it prior to my wedding ... even though I've heard rave reviews about the item. But here i am, post wedding... and I still have that post-wedding glow :-) Much of it is due to using the Clarisonic cleansing system... 

Now, I will admit the first week was rough. I don't have great skin to begin with and am a bit acne prone. So when I first started to use this system, i did have small little break outs... but in a good way. Basically, the system was really cleaning out my pores. Small little blackheads were popping out b/c the dirt was being lifted. I think my biggest issue is not overusing the system... i want to clean clean clean now and anything in excess isn't great. So i limit myself to 2-3 times a day for 2 minutes and make sure to moisturize and use a gentle cleanser. The cleansers that came with the system seem to work best with my skin type. 

I highly suggest it beyond just weddings, but especially for your wedding... and its an item that really helps minimize your nightly routine b/c you get your skin clean in a few easy steps. Now I sound like a commercial - but if i didn't love my Clarisonic, I wouldn't recommend it to y'all...

And now a few words from our product sponsor:

Painting Project

So, I won't lie... now that i'm a wife, I do think I'm nesting a bit more. Our condo is not just a condo, but our home (hopefully not for too much longer)... but i need to make our home as comfy and nice as possible - so that we want to spend our time together in it.

The first step of my nesting was to clean up my walls. No work has been done on the walls since we moved into this building and since day 1 - scuff marks were all over the place. So I took the time alone on labor day weekend to see what I could do. I had the left over paint from when we moved in provided by the contractors and some time. I am thinking of redoing the kitchen and living room walls, so before i took on such a big project - i had to see if i could handle a smaller one...

Here is my before:

Honeymoon Recap: Sunset Cruise

The honeymoon sunset cruise was so much fun...we gathered early to enjoy some rum punch while the captain/chef prepared our foods.

He BBQ'd on this...

Honeymoon Recap: Phillipsburg St. Maarten

The hubby and I took a day trip and rented the car to drive the island. We ended up at Phillipsburg which is the capital of the Dutch side. It's a small quaint area with tons of shopping. I mean tons... When people talk about the shopping in St. Maarten, it's because its tax-free and the abundance of name brand items, jewelry, liquor, cigarettes, electronic goods... you name it, they have it and they have a ton of stuff - All Tax Free.

The colorful shops line the streets, store after store selling high quality or name brand items... a shopper's paradise.

Fort Amsterdam

So, the hubby got a little sunburnt mid-way through the trip, so we stayed in - enjoyed the luxurious tub and then took a quick walk up the hill on our resort to Fort Amsterdam... it wasn't a very far walk... although it was hot... and most of my photos came out cloudy b/c my lenses were steamed from the humidity... but I thought i'd share....

Here was the view on the walk up...

Invitations: Baby Shower

I have the honor of planning not one, but two baby showers this fall. I am so honored and of course so excited ... and the very first step of planning a baby shower is to pick out invitations. I had in my mind the very place I wanted to order them after doing a "walk through" of the new site last year and the giveaway on my site... Storkie Invitations. It was while going through all the cute bridal shower invitations and wedding invitations that I realized, I needed to use Storkie for a future party... and this was the perfect moment!

So the first thing I did was of course peruse the Baby Shower Invitation section of the Storkie website.  Along with the help of the other co-host, we found THEE perfect invitation... This is what it looked like.

Our friend loves to cook and especially bake, so how appropriate is this invitation, right? But of course since, Storkie lets you FULLY customize the invitation, we changed a few things and ended up with this.

Note the Bling... yup, the invitations ARE blinged out! :)

Six Month Anniversary: Melting Pot DC

SIX MONTHS?! Can you believe it? After spending our last monthly anniversary at the gorgeous Westin St. Maarten Resort  (BTW, have you entered the giveaway to win your very own FREE trip to the Westin St. Maarten?) Hubby and I spent our 1/2 year (six month) anniversary right here in town, in our nation's capital on this GORGEOUS labor day weekend.

The hubby and I had a wonderful day of breakfast, errands, relaxing and a delicious dinner at the Melting Pot DC. Now, this was our first visit to this restaurant and I have always heard great things. But I was still skeptical. You know when you hear great things, places get hyped up... so I had my expectations in check and was excited to try this new restaurant, but I'll be honest - my expectations weren't very high.

This is a rare occasion where I can honestly say, the hype is real. It was delicious. Every aspect of the meal was great and our server (Charlie) was super duper awesome. The minute we sat down, he was thorough in covering the menu, advising us how best to consume particular items and while spending quite a bit of time at the table - since they stir everything right into your fondue pot right there, his presence was not offensive. He made sure we had everything we needed, checked in frequently - but he wasn't intrusive in any way. Even the manager stopped by to check in.

So, i did take some photos to share our anniversary dinner with y'all as well as share the highlights of our meal.

The fondue pot... empty, waiting for some delicious cheese

Six months ago today

We said "i do"... today we are enjoying a relaxing day together starting with some ihop, errands and a nice dinner at The Melting Pot & a movie.

a nice reminder to be grateful for all i have...my boys posing for a photo

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Honeymoon Recap: Sint Martin/St. Maarten

Our 2nd day in St. Maarten, the husband and I rented this little guy

and drove around the island.

The dual nation island is not very big by any means, so it didn't take all day - but we had a blast. Granted I got carsick b/c the roads were quite bumpy... but here's a few photos of what we say along the way: