honeymoon in Quisqueya la bella

As most of you guys know, my honeymoon will also take place in the Dominican Republic. Me and the fiancee have been searching for that perfect place and boy are there many! We are in between a few in Punta Cana or Cayo Levantado Samana. Among them there is one where the pool goes all around the resort which means that when you step out of your own balcony you can jump in the pool. How cool is that? This is a five star luxury adult-only resort which means its all about relaxation, tranquility and the best service, not to mention stunning views since it is located on one of the best islands in the Caribbean. I just can't wait to soak up all that tropical warmth with the mister in the comfort of my own hammock- Yeap, every suite balcony has one! The best thing? All these are completely affordable. Ahhh someone pinch me please!

I don't know if I should be more excited about the wedding or the honeymoon. I think its hard to choose, wouldn't you?

my bohemian style is loosing its roots...

Finding a dress is really not that hard at all, specially in New York City. But finding thee* dress is a completely different story. My first thought was to rent it. Yeah, I know it may sound strange. But in the island where I was born and where I will be getting married it is actually pretty common thing to do. Don't get me wrong, in this little island people will waste thousands and thousands of dollars at every single detail of the wedding yet the dress is the most inexpensive thing since it is most likely rented. It makes sense after all, its only a dress that you are going to wear once, and most probably by the time your daughter gets married she will want something new and in style. So this was not a big deal to me, I went to D.R expecting to rent a dress. However it was not that easy. I don't consider myself picky, if anything I just wanted a simple dress. But this was not the case. After browsing a few stores I found nothing. And the dress I did like, was pretty simple for the type of wedding we will be having. I liked it, and I would have been fine with it. It looks pretty much like the dress in the picture, except it is a bit teeny weeny more elegant. Its has more layers of the soft organza material making it more flowy. It feels like walking on clouds. And it also has many little details at the waist. However, my mother and my aunt where not pleased. I have noticed in Quisqueya, wedding dresses tend to be very elegant (yes even rented ones), so my dress compared to the wedding would look a bit too common. I know I'm the one who has to like the dress. However, I was not in love with the dress. It was just the best I can find, and when I saw my mother's face I knew it was not the one, even after she said "it is very pretty, beautiful actually however I'm not sure its the one." Now I am here back in New York City, the city of fashion, where yes there are countless of dresses, but finding one can be so much harder. I feel sometimes my wedding is taking a completely different style from what I originally wanted. My style is very bohomian with a bit of a chic-modern twist to it, however this wedding is becoming very elegant, chic and modern and I just hope I find ways to incorporate a bit of that boho-chic into it :/

Isn't this Los Angeles wedding picture just beautiful? The behemian style of the bride just made it so dreamy. View the rest of it at StyleMePretty

both images from the same wedding at StyleMePretty

Que sera, sera

How hard is it to find a pretty white simple dress?

So here's the short story: Theres a baptism in January and I'm the Godmother ^_^. And its all taking place in my beautiful Quisquella. It'll be warm, and even hot with all the kids, people, balloons, music, dancing and cake. Plus, the gathering will be taking place in the morning in a summer house's garden.

So whats the problem?

Well I'm in NYC now where its cold and its Christmas and it's becoming impossible to find a white dress (In Quisqueya it is accostumed that the family wears white while guests wear white or very pale pastel colors) This is all I got from the summer:

Its from Zara and its very simple and delicate. It might work adding the right accesorizes. It looks more simple in the picture because its not even ironed. Once its iron well, maybe add a belt and some gold or silver accesorizes I think I might work something out. Until now its all I got so I got to work with it. .  Unless I find something else. Any white dresses you know of online?

I couldn't find the place its going to be exactly at, but its a cross between these two following "Casa de Campos" in Quisqueya. The place where we had Anabella's baptism was a bit smaller but had these gorgeous trees and flowers all around the backyard and frontyard- like this cozy little garden. This place will be larger so the kids can run around. My sister wants to rent one of those giant playtents with all the colorful balls inside for the kids to play in- What are those called? Anywhos, I google "Casa de Campo" in Quisqueya and these where some choices and I remember it looked something like this. Isn't my little island just precious? :)

Oh and these are some inspiration pictures I had saved up, since in my crazy imagination everyone will be wearing flowers in their hair, hey its a tropical island after all, and you always catch a few people with them:

I know I know, I'm just a bit too excited about going for Christmas to my tropical little island and of course baptizing my gorgeous nephew Rafael...

my apple

by Sabino

I remember exactly how I felt the first time I came to New York City. I remember looking out the cab's window up at the tall buildings, giant billboards, and of course the gleaming lights. I came in the nighttime, and like I tell everyone "the first time you are coming to NYC make sure you book a night flight." Because believe it or not, it makes a big difference. I've talked to and gather information from many people and I have noticed those that came in the nighttime have this sort of magical memory of the first time they got here. Its all probably due to all the colors of lights flashing in your eyes that to a kid makes it look like some sort of mystical place, where everything will be for the best. It is the words "new possibilities" that sticks in your head. I arrived here when I was turning eight-years-old and I thought it was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen. Yet every time I went back to my little Island of Quisqueya La Bella I was at my happiest. I don't know if it was the tropical fresh warm air running through my hair, or the sweet scent of the mango trees on the front lawns, or all the pretty little colorful houses as I arrived, but it was home. The thrill I felt as my uncle's car turned the corner to enter our neighborhood was beyond description. My heart would start pounding to the rhythms of my island's drums. I was home.

Whatever happened to those feelings? They are now a distant memory. I actually feel more excitement when I come back to NYC. I feel I have betrayed my own beautiful little island. The harder I try to recreate those emotions every time I visit Quisqueya the less I feel them. I do feel a sense of serenity and tenderness, but not that thrill beyond description I felt when I was younger. Maybe its due to the fact I am no longer a child. But one of my friends says she still feels it and the only reason I don't is because my uncle has moved, and it is no longer the place where I grew up. She says I should visit one day the old neighborhood where I grew up and it'll probably all come back. The thing she doesn't understand is I was too young when I came to NYC unlike her. I still lived a great part of my childhood here in NYC and further on till my teens and now twenties. When I arrive to NYC after a long vacation, when I step into our cold air, I feel this is where I belong. When I arrive to my uptown neighborhood and step on the hard cement floor where I step to every morning for almost 20 years now,  I just know this is now my home.  I know every corner, every place, here is where I never get lost.
Quisqueya may have my soul, but my heart is now in NYC

last day

My little long trip is over and now its time to head back to nyc. I absolutely hate packing. I have so much stuff that I had left behind before and a bunch of books and shoes I think is time for me to take back. We will see how much can actually fit inside my luggage. Agh, the day is hot and stuffy and I never even got to go to the beach :/

my little island

I will be going to my Quisquella La Bella this weekend for a month. It was planned last minute since the tickets were on sale and my mother wants me to accompany her to help her furnish the apartment she bought a few years ago. I wasn't too much into the trip since I had recently been there and because I had a whole summer planned here in NYC, from going to adventure/water parks, to revisiting a few museums, going boat riding, and having some picnics at the park. I feel last summer flew by and I didn't do many of the things I wanted to. But I have to see the bright side- I'm visiting such a beautiful tropical island, seriously what's wrong with me? And I still have July and August to do all the things I want to do here plus I get to visit my gorgeous little Quisqueya and our breath-taking clean beaches (something we do not have in NYC).

Here is my aunt Lila's adorable house which I will be visiting and taking some new pictures of. Just as cute as the entry is so is the inside. Everything is so antique and charming. Now I can't wait to sit in this warming house with the family having some sweet treats and cool lemonade. 

source for pictures besides my aunts house (which I took myself) you can find here