Birthdays have ALWAYS been something I look forward to, year after year. Whether it’s my own or someone else’s- there’s a familiar excitement that surges through my veins. It’s similar to that ‘Christmas’ feeling you get when the trees are lit and the stockings are hung and there’s unhealthy amounts of over-sweetened sorrel in your fridge.

I know that for many, it’s ‘just another day’. For me though, I believe in making the most of every single day you’re given.. and birthdays just seem like a scheduled time to have a little extra fun. Why not take advantage of a designated day to make someone feel special, or to treat yourself?

Growing up, my mom made all my birthdays special. It was never about the presents or the cake, in fact I’m not a fan of cake at all, nor do I like ice-cream… but it was always about feeling like you were important. It was a day set aside to allow yourself to feel like anything was possible. To this day, there’s still a bit of birthday ‘magic’ that I always look forward to.

Birthdays remind me of where I’ve been and how much yet there is to accomplish. They’re a bit of a reality slap, and I suppose for the older folk, that’s why they’re probably a bit more daunting. It’s probably a chilling reality for some to not have accomplished what they wanted to by a certain age… like getting married or having their dream job by a certain time.

BUT. HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

No two people are the same, so why do we measure the success of our time on earth by someone else’s ideals?

Beautiful love stories are born in months for some, and others take years. You don’t need to be married because all of your friends are. You don’t need a relationship because “at your age you should at least have a boyfriend”. Write your own story, you hold the pen! Don’t be disillusioned into thinking otherwise. You don’t have to do anything until YOU truly feel ready. God has a perfect plan for you that includes HIS timing…

Whether you are where you want to be or not, I’m sure you’re a LONG way from where you used to be. I’m sure you’ve survived days where you wanted to throw yourself off of a cliff. I’m sure you’ve tasted unbearable pain and disappointment…  and… you survived! Didn’t you? Here you are! You made it without that person you didn’t think you could live without! You survived that horrible time when you felt alone… ANDDDD… you’re SOmuch better for having rallied through. So, congratulations! Pat yourself on the back. You deserve it. Spend your birthday, or better yet, any day you choose, celebrating yourself or celebrating the people who have helped you along. Life is too short not to have moments of self appreciation. Ignore whatever negativity surrounds you the best you can, and allow yourself to breathe knowing that breath by breath you’ll eventually get to where you’re meant to be. Keep fighting for your dreams, and worry less about your timeline.

In light of my mom’s 50th birthday in a few weeks, I just thought I’d share a bit on the subject.

She probably cringes at the number, but what an accomplishment it is to be FIFTY… and have the character and reputation that she does. Can someone say #goals?! Here are a few photos from a few recent birthday celebrations at Buzo Osteria Italiana in Port of Spain.

What are your thoughts on birthdays? Tell me!

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?

Making something from fresh ingredients is always a source of motivation for me. I especially enjoy making dishes that start off in my own little kitchen garden. In fact, that's how this recipe came to be.

A couple of months ago, I bought a few herbs and planted them in a trough at the side of my kitchen. I picked up a few random herbs, simply for the love of gardening, including, basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, mint, fennel and dill. 

After a few weeks of careful weeding and watering, my basil plant was the first to tower over all the others, which got me to googling recipes using fresh basil, as I had more than I needed. I really wanted to make sure that my precious basil plant was not grown in vain!

*Google search: What simple recipe can I make with a lot of basil?"*

Voila! BASIL PESTO!

Pesto would be the solution to not wasting any basil, and most of the other ingredients are usually always around my house, so it would be the perfect sauce to try out. My love of pesto itself however, is another story, for another post. Below, I've included the recipe for a simple pesto that's easy to throw together in a food processor, or even a nutri bullet if you have one! I personally prefer a food processor, as the wider opening allows me to put a lot in at once, and I tend to make larger batches for storing them up.

Usually, after making a fresh batch of pesto, I'll often whip up some simple fettuccine pasta, with an alfredo sauce... then add in a few dollops of pesto to take things up a notch, giving me the perfect combination of creamy and nutty. I suggest you give it a try!

If you'd like the recipe for my pesto-alfredo (I'll include a shot below for you), just let me know in the comments!

Basil Pesto

Yield: 1 cup (I've made it simple for you to double up, or triple up as needed)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pine nuts (or walnuts if you can't find pine nuts)
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese (Parmesan also works, or you can mix them to taste)
• 1/4 cup fresh baby spinach leaves (optional)

Instructions:

• Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.
• If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.

Basil Pesto Fettucine Alfredo (Let me know if you'd like the recipe!)

Often, life becomes so overwhelming that we lose ourselves in the momentary struggles of each day. Ever felt like you were drowning in your problems? Sheesh! It’s so easy to feel overcome and defeated by our circumstances.

I, for one often feel like I have too many brain tabs open… But thankfully I’ve been developing ways of closing them off one by one and learning how to isolate myself in a way that healthily provides me with the grace to carry on.

Tobago is one of those little antidotes for me. I absolutely love it. We Trinidadians are so lucky to have such a beautiful sister isle just a stone’s throw away! Oh Tobago, you're the perfect getaway!

It is SO important to take a step back every now and then, and take a moment to literally listen to the sound of waves crashing and allow your problems to be drowned out. It’s important to set your phone aside, or switch off all your devices and change perspectives every now and then.

When you step away from whatever is challenging you, you immediately lessen its grip on you. Try it! It works. 

 Remember: all the water in the ocean could never sink a ship unless the water gets inside. Likewise, you need to learn how to survive without letting what you feel consume you from the inside out.

If you can’t physically remove yourself from an atmosphere or situations where you’re inclined to feel overwhelmed, at least take a mental break and switch gears every now and then to focusing on things that make you happy or inspired.

I can attest to the fact that this method has been like glue in holding me together.

Here are some photos from my little island hopping adventure over the long weekend!

----------------------------------------------Looking for a hotel?---------------------------------------------------

We stayed at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort, in Lowlands, Tobago... Pictured below!

How do you escape? I’d love to know! Tell me in the comments section below! 

If you're new around here, you may not know it, but I'm a self-diagnosed tea-a-holic. Allow me to define this for you:

1. tea·a·hol·ic

   te-aˈhôlik/

   noun

   1. 
a person with a great dependency on tea with a strong addiction to teas of varying sorts.


   Synonym: an Aimee


   
   

It all began when I was younger. My mom works everyday, Monday-Saturday, and she's worked this harsh schedule from even before I was born. On Sundays we have church, so naturally, the only time we've been able to have some 'us' time is on Saturday afternoons when she came home from work. 

Every Saturday, for as long as I can remember, we've been having mother-daughter dates, most often at a little cafe in the mall called Jardin (maybe I'll do a post on this some time if you'd like, let me know in the comments!).

I'm not sure if it's the taste or the fond memories I've had throughout the years while having tea with my mom, but tea for me has always been an escape in a cup.  I've always loved minty things, so it's no surprise that from very early on, I developed a love for all things mint, spearmint and peppermint. So too, do I feel about chai, cinnamon and honey... needless to say that they're all favorites of mine. Particularly the loose-leaf varieties. 

One of the places we used to go to when I was much younger on afternoons was the PAX Guest House which is just a few minutes from the very popular Mount St. Benedict. Mount St. Benedict is the home of the Benedictine monks who live and work in Trinidad and Tobago. They follow a way of life with roots that trace back to St. Benedict of Norcia, who was born in Italy in the year 480. In fact, the Mount has become an integral part of the country's spiritual tapestry. 

Beautifully nestled in the hills of Trindad's northern range, PAX and the famous church at Mount St. Benedict are approximately six hundred and sixty feet above sea level, with lush flora and fauna surrounding the most picturesque views. 

There's a wonderfully simple tea service on afternoons from 3:00pm - 6:00pm that my mom and I love having on weekends. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a very simple option, somewhere super serene and peaceful. Through the hustle and bustle of daily life, it had been a while since we visited, but last weekend we decided to carve out a little time to revisit a place with many fond memories.

Sitting in the same wooden chairs my feet would swing off years ago, now with them firmly planted on the floor, I realized how much time had passed and how precious memories like these are. The tea filled me up with nostalgia even the taste of the tea-cake reminded me of my childhood. What a priceless experience! Not to mention the always soothing views. I can't wait to someday bring my own little ones to tea here. 

If you're looking for a quiet escape, be sure to check them out!

Until our next adventure,

Aimee.