Did you know that there are 17 species of Hummingbirds in Trinidad and Tobago?
In fact, you can view 13 of the 17 recorded species all at one of Trinidad's best kept secret locations, nestled in the northern range, Yerette - Home of the Hummingbird.

Weddings! I can literally feel something inside me flutter at the thought of being invited to one, let alone having my own someday.

A major part of my excitement and awe also comes from having had beautiful experiences at weddings. Seeing two people who are meant to be, finally deciding to take the big leap into a lifetime of commitment is really something noteworthy in my books.

Finally, this Christmas - I have another wedding coming up! My favourite cousin (more of a brother) is finally getting married, and to mark the momentous occasion, our family has decided on one more trip before he heads out into married life. We've decided that the ideal spot would be London, where we're hoping to find the ideal suit for him, and outfit the bridal party with the most royal attire, to suit the lovely young lady he's marrying.

Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad was just a few weeks ago, so I thought why not pull as much inspiration as I could from my Indian heritage and give cooking the signature dish of Indian households everywhere, particularly, West Indian households a try.

If you’re a Trini, then you’ve probably heard of all the ‘places of interest’ that our twin-republic has to offer. I thought I knew it all and had seen it all having read all the magazines and seen all the Facebook posts. WRONG.

There are so many treasures throughout our islands that are yet to be experienced. When we think of vacations though, we often forget that our island is perfect for a staycation for those times when you can't quite leave the country!

Recently, I’ve been shackled to my desk thanks to work of varying sorts, but in an attempt to destress and remain sane, I decided to escape at least one day over the Carnival weekend and see the infamous “Caroni Bird Sanctuary” for myself. Sitting still with minimal need for movement seemed like a brilliant weekend idea for my tired mind.

I didn’t think much of what it might turn out to be… but boy was I wrong. I absolutely loved every second of the winding channels that lead to lush mangroves packed with these glorious scarlet creatures I barely paid attention to in primary school! They were breath-taking. (Truly deserving of being our National Bird).  Maybe I’ve been so preoccupied with the hustle and bustle of life that it amazed me more than the average Jane, but I had to at least get someone else to bask in its beauty. So-if you’ve seen it already, then hopefully you share my sense of awe, but if you haven’t then you really need to! I won’t share too many details, but if you’re one who appreciates the little things in life, then this is definitely for you.

                                                

You can find out more at the official website for the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, or take a look at the impromptu timelapse I tried to catch with my phone while I absorbed the hidden beauty that I never new existed about 20 minutes from home.

If you’ve got any local treasures you think are bucket-list-worthy, let me know in the comments! Next up, I’m thinking the Gasparee Caves!

It’s not everyday that you come across couples whose relationships have stood the test of time. I’ve seen social media swarming with new relationships and young love, and while there’s an adorable quality to all of it – I have always felt a sense of awe over couples that’ve grown up together and stayed true for years upon years. That’s where my true ‘awwwww’ moments are born.

Couples like my grandparents, who have honoured ’till death do us part’ and share generations of lessons, love, struggles and everything else that comes with a relationship have a different kind of structural integrity that I can’t help but admire. I only have a few couples in my life, and by few I mean like three… who have marriages and relationship stories that inspire me… and boy do I try to learn from them. It’s a rarity in this world, but social media often tells us that everyone has those amazing perfect relationships.

What social media doesn’t tell you is that it’s much more about getting through the rough than enjoying the #datenights. It’s about fighting for what you want, maintaining a firm grip on your beliefs, and striking a balance that mutually encourages, supports and strengthens both people involved. I believe the same goes for friendship. You have to choose friends who are willing to go through the tough times WITH you, knowing that the journey will be long, but will be worth it if you’re both heading towards well aligned goals.

If you’ve found that in a friendship, or relationship, I suggest you count your blessings and work at it to keep it going. Hold on to it tight, because it’s the stuff that so many only dream of. If you haven’t, there’s a time and season for everything – so take the time to improve yourself until you do. For Jodi & Regan, the sister and brother in law of my dear friend Kade – they seemed to have found the perfect recipe that works for them. They found it, and are holding on tight! Being the lover of weddings, engagements and all the mushy stuff that I am –  I thoroughly enjoyed tagging alongto grab a few shots of their journey towards the big day. It was clear to see how well they fit together, and super inspiring. Shout out to all the dreamers out there (myself included) – it’s possible!

This weekend I had the pleasure of shooting a  their engagement at The Pines - Knullebu (an estate in St. Ann's, Trinidad). Here are a few shots from their engagement shoot… Stayed tuned for shots of their destination wedding!

Until the next adventure,

Aimee.

One of the reasons I've always loved travel, has of course been because of the vast array of cuisines I've been ale to explore in countries all around the world. The flavours of food have always set my enthusiasm for travel ablaze. The first thing I do in a new country is try out unusual dishes and foods. After a while, though adventure is at the core of my being, I begin to crave familiar flavours and tastes to center me every now and again. Call it 'food-home-sickness'.

As a child, one of my most fond memories was spending Christmas with my family, particularly the ones we spent abroad. Christmas-time in Epcot, or at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida always signals a sense of sweet nostalgia for me, and it's not why you'd expect...

Yes, I love the attractions, the rides, the parades, the kiosks selling addictive branded merchandise, the fireworks at the end of each day... but there's something else I've only gotten there around Christmas...

Milk and cookies. That's right. There's a free milk and cookie station (or at least there used to be), near to the infamous 'Tomorrowland' section at the Magic Kingdom, where you could fill up on warm, freshly baked cookies (I think they're Nestlé Tollhouse) and 2% milk in a paper cup. There's usually have a little pop up center, just before the nightly firework show begins... and I think the memory of having something so simple, in a time when childhood innocence was all I knew, is what draws me to the exact same snack today. It could be that, or just a genuine love for the taste.

Warm cookies and milk are my go-to snack of choice, whenever I'm feeling a little out of sorts. It's my cure for a tough time or whenever I'm a little home-sick, so it's needless to say I also have a go-to recipe for curing myself.

Since a stand alone cookie sometimes isn't enough, I've conjured my own version of a mini deep-dish cookie which is just the perfect treat, especially with a dollop of all natural vanilla ice cream...

Recipe down below!

What are some of your favourite childhood snacks or dishes that remind you of home? Tell me in the comments!

Mini Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies. Makes 6 cookies, serves 6 to 12

Equipment: 6 small oven-safe ramekins (I use 6-ounce round ramekins)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (or 6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped)
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
• Vanilla ice cream (optional, for serving)

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
• In a stand mixer or a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the sugars and beat until fluffy and pale-colored, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and egg, and beat for 1 minute. Add half the flour mixture and mix on low speed just until dry ingredients are fully incorporated. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture. Using a wooden spoon, mix chocolate chips into batter.
• Divide batter evenly between six lightly greased ramekins. (To make this easier, you can use a small cookie scoop to measure about 4 rounded tablespoons of batter per ramekin.) Use a spatula or back of a spoon to push batter to the edges of the ramekins and smooth down evenly. Place ramekins on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, or until golden-brown on the edges and still a little golden and soft in the middle. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving, with or without a scoop of ice cream on top. (Ramekins will still be quite warm; serve on a folded napkin or plate to protect your table, or let cool for about 10 minutes, until just slightly warm, before serving.)

Tips:

• Make-Ahead Cookies: The ramekins of unbaked cookie dough can be covered and refrigerated up to 1 day ahead, or frozen for up to 3 months. You do not need to thaw before baking, but you may need to add an extra minute or two to the baking time.
• Cookies for a Crowd: For a more over-the-top party dessert, bake batter in a 9-inch square baking dish instead of ramekins and pass around spoons to your guests, so everyone can dig in to the communal dessert.
• If you wanted to, you could also drizzle with chocolate ganache when serving, for added decadence.