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.

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!

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.

Ever loved something so much, that just the thought of it makes you happy? That's Tobago for me. I've been fortunate enough to make a few trips around the globe - and rather than have my list be topped with countries like Australia and Thailand, which do rank highly - Tobago sits proudly in my top 3.

Why you ask? It's simple. Tobago for me has always represented a strong sense of family. I've always gone with people close to me, and I have fond memories of locations within the isle.

For starters, I remember having huge family get-togethers on holiday weekends when my cousins, aunts, uncles and parents would all saddle up and head across to either rent a long row of rooms at a hotel, or a few adjacent houses on the plantations. The strong sense of family, the excitement of having everyone around, and endless activities still gives me the sweetest nostalgia today.

My reason for this particular post however, is to single out one location that's fairly new to my list of favourites on the island: The Villas at Stone Haven.

This time, I ventured across with a  group of my closest cousins (7 of us) for a week-long break with the main purpose of relaxing and renewing ourselves. Amongst us were two of my favourite little people of all time, my three and five year old cousin's children - the icing on the cake as I call them. Nothing adds to a vacation like child-like excitement over the simplest things.

These hidden luxury villas are tucked away in a little valley of their own, with a beauty words couldn't depict. Every moment there felt as though it belonged on the pages of a beloved novel. Perhaps the place itself carried a sense of magic, or maybe it was being in the company of people who light up my mood. Either way, this little getaway was one for the books, and is definitely on my list for something I MUST try again. I'm certain to carry the memories with me for years to come, and I'm hoping that my photos do the experience justice.

The next time you're looking for a little touch of magic, I'd reccoment this place. It's surely Tobago's best kept secret!

Our Villa was at the tippy top, to the left! 

It's the summer, and I'm on vacation! FINALLY!

My destination of choice? HAWAII!!!!

So, if you've known me... then you know one of my all time fave things to do is watch episodes of Lost (if you don't know what Lost is, we really can't be friends). IF you're a fan of Lost, then you'll also know that a lotttt of the scenes were filmed on location, in Hawaii. I've actually planned this trip to check a few things off my bucket-list, including a site visit to the filming locations!!! (Look out for that post next week!) It was certainly the motivation behind booking this trip.

Now, I've been to Hawaii twice before, as a little kid with my family, but this is my first time being here as an adult, and I have to say.... the beauty is bolder than I remember.

The entire island has a unique smell, an aroma... I can't quite describe it, but stepping off the plane, the most beautiful, light, crisp, floral scent immediately serenaded my senses.

Anyway, moving into some of the beauty... (I'll update you on more in another post, as it's only my 2nd day here, and I've got 10 more to go!)

This time, I'm staying on the main Hawaii island, the Big Island. (In case you didn't know, Hawaii is a US-State which actually comprises of 8 smaller islands... and I'll be heading to the second most popular, Maui, next week!). My hotel of choice, thanks to a membership with the Hilton Honours Club, is the wonderful, Hilton Waikoloa Village. The perfect spot for families, couples or really anyone with a taste for luxury.

Note: I'll be chronicling my journey over the next few days in diary-form, so that you get a taste of everything while I'm here!

Day 01 - Staying in...

When I landed, I was extremely jet-lagged, from a veryyy long flight, and having just pulled off an intense work-week. I literally felt so sore, that instead of rushing over to guest services to book myself tons of tours, I opted for a quiet day, in at the hotel. Luckily for me, this hotel was the perfect pick, and their spa accepted walk-ins! So... needless to say, I booked myself an 80 minute massage, mani, pedi and spent the day being pampered... rejuvenating my senses. After all, isn't that what vacation is all about?

Pre-polish... I hope you can tell how soft and smooth they are...

After that, I literally fell right asleep in my hotel room, after ordering room service... the perfect ending to a perfect first day.

Day 2

It's a glorious sunny day, and so far, I've woken up early just in time to catch a beauuutiful sunrise at the nearby hotel beach, but I forgot my camera, so consider that a photo I owe you in the next post. However, using my phone, I did manage to get a few shots of how incredible the sand looks here, and thanks to the self-timer function, I got a shot of myself heading out for a dip! I'll be sure to write much more in the coming days... and snap many more photos.

Until the next adventure,
Aimee.

PS - If there's anything in particular you think I should do while I'm here, or any requests for reviews, just let me know in the comments :)

Have you ever seen a more beautiful blue?!

How incredibly beautiful is this sand?