If you’ve been following along, you may have noticed Shannon and I having a blast in St. Croix!  Despite our reputation for hearty appetites and an ability to fall into relaxation, we’re not just eating and laying out all day!  No, lucky for us, right on Rainbow beach is West End Water Sports, and they have a ton of awesome activities to get your heart pumpin’.  And lucky for you, this was the perfect time to test out our new underwater camera!

For starters, do you know what Flyboarding is?  No?  Neither did we (nor does my spellchecker), but we found out.  I can only imagine what the inventor’s first pitch sounded like: “I’m going to take a jet ski, and run a firehose from the engine to a pair of boots.  The boots will redirect the water from the jet ski down into the ocean.  I’ll wear the boots, and fly around like Ironman… So, who’s with me?!”  Well, we were sold, check it out…

For those who prefer to go under the water, rather than above it, the abundance of reefs and crystal clear water makes for some great snorkeling, too!  Even if it may take some convincing to get a certain someone to jump off the dock… with the magic of video editing, you’d never know…

And just for some middle ground, we did spend time right at water level too. You can’t go wrong with a little jet skiing or kayaking across the clear blue sea!

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The Caribbean is always a great place to get in the water and take a look around.  Many thanks to West End Water Sports for providing us with these activities. If you’re in St. Croix, now you know where to go!

As always, all opinions, text, and videos are my own.  See our ethics page for more information.

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When you live through a winter dubbed Snowmageddon (honestly, who comes up with these things?), the allure of sunshine, warmth, and the tropics is intoxicating. Pure temptation. One night, lusting after the thought of splashing in the Caribbean blue, I succumbed to my wanderlust. I booked a ticket to St. Croix! Well, we booked tickets – because that’s not somewhere you just jaunt off to for a few days without your better half. It’s the kind of place people to go get drunk on rum on love.

Even with regular doses of “travel for my everyday,” the raging travaholic wanted, nay, needed a hit of real, actual travel. Like magic, the opportunity to bundle two destinations in one presented itself. *Poof* I was already planning to attend the wedding of a dear, longtime friend in my hometown of Naples, FL. Naturally, I took that as a sign to visit the Virgin Islands. I mean… it’s so close. Right?

The wedding was amazing, by the way. The kind where people actually have a good time, talk to strangers, dance, drink, take pictures, laugh, recount stories of the bride and groom… the makings for a long and happy marriage. Pretty sure I embarrassed myself in the video when the “polka” came on for the Polish side of the family, but hey – it happens. And I’m cool with that.

Right, so back to the trip part. The Virgin Islands are preeeety close to Florida. But you still gotta take a few flights to get there. From Ft. Lauderdale we hopped over to Puerto Rico, then reluctantly boarded a teeny, tiny-ass plane (< just working on boosting SEO query results for sexy search terms) for the remaining leg. It only fit 9 people (there were 6 of us, including the pilot), and we were seated based on our weight for even distribution. Fun times!

The toy plane landed safely, my shadow kissed the ground, then we slipped into our standard attire for the remainder of the getaway: the tropical trifecta — swimsuits, sandals, and sunglasses! Think I should trademark that?

We did what every couple desperate for a vacation does: eat, drink, burn, apply sunscreen, swim, drink, repeat. We had our share of lazy time on the beach, but really got to explore the island, do some hiking, snorkeling, and try out a newfangled water sport.

Have I talked about the drinks yet? Cocktails. My favorite part (almost), only second in line to a view of the water. Fruity, cold, big, small, strong, and maker of many friends. We became fast regulars at the beach bar. “Oooh, get the BBC or the Lime in de Coconut!” ~ Ms. Tipsy here.

Our skin started to tan, I embraced my frizzies, and waking sans alarm to the early sunrise felt good. Before I knew it, one, two, five days… it was time to go home and leave the island. I’d grown accustomed to not checking the time. I had a tan line from my wedding ring, and I really wanted another fish taco.

It’s hard to say goodbye to good things. Badbye. Is that a thing? Then I thought about our pudgy dog Sumo. Traveling when you have a pet can be a little tough, but it sure does make the return home a lot sweeter.

I’m currently going through a little bit of island withdrawal, you guys [sigh]. My pineapple-coconut smoothie this morning didn’t quite do the trick, but I’m working my recovery one step at a time. Any words of inspiration and encouragement will surely help me through this tough time.

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A big thanks to We Travel Far and Forty Winks for sponsoring this post. Check out their online shops for travel gear and lingerie & swimwear.

As always, all opinions, text, and images are my own.  See our ethics page for more information. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make life a little better here at Camera & Carry On.

The post Drunk on Love (and maybe a little Rum) appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

I didn’t anticipate cacti in the Virgin Islands, or a 5:45 am sunrise for that matter. I found both in Point Udall on St. Croix, holder of the title for easternmost point of US territories. Things aren’t often what we expect. Sometimes they’re much more. Eyes wide, I soaked in every sparkling, minute detail of the Caribbean blue at Isaac Bay. What is it about turquoise water that makes my heart go pitter-patter? Cliché as it is, views like this never get old. I’ve seen so many picturesque beaches, seascapes, and scenic hikes… but somehow it’s always like the first time. Big breaths, smiles, sunshine, a light breeze, laughter: such things make for a day filled with “happy.”

The post Photo On the Map: St. Croix, USVI appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

Warm weather, beaches, hiking, rum cocktails, driving in a jeep, afternoon showers: these are the things I considered when packing for a week in St. Croix. Part of the US Virgin Islands and sleepiest of the 3, St. Croix provided a much needed respite from the mighty Northeastern winter we’d “survived,” and more importantly a reset for our minds & spirit. I admit I put off packing til the last minute (nearly 11pm the night before our 9:30am trip, to be exact), but packing in a carry on comes pretty easy when the only item on the itinerary is soaking up vitamin D.

Packing for a Week in St. Croix, USVI

I kept it pretty simple with black and white as my base, but used a good amount of color, too! This is the Caribbean, after all, and bright pinks, blues, and yellows go so well with the sun, sea, and sand. If you want to shop these and similar items for your next trip, check out the links below!

Carry On • Sailor Stripe Weekender Bag | Suit Bag & Case • Wet Suit Bag & Multi Color Carrying Case | Swimsuit • Havana Soul Bikini | Tops • 4 Tees, 5 Tanks, 1 Striped Sweater, 1 Jersey Dress | Bottoms • 1 Chino Pant, 2 Shorts (Jean & Cotton), 1 Skirt | Hat

Not pictured • Shoes (1 Pair Sandals, 1 Pair Sneakers), Undergarments (2 Bras, 10 Underwear, Nightie, Socks), Accessories (Purse, Daypack, Earrings), Electronics (Nikon camera, Kindle, Laptop, Headphones, Cell Phone, Chargers), Toiletries (Sunscreen, Hair Product, Toothpaste/brushes, Comb, Mascara, Lip Gloss, Chapstick, Hair ties, Headband, Deodorant), Light Jacket

Shopping List: carry on | suit bag | case | swimsuit | plain tee | graphic tee | plain tank | racerback tank | sweater | dress | chino | jean short | cotton short | skirt | sandals | sneakers | hat |earrings| jacket

A Few Looks

In beachy destinations like the Virgin Islands, you don’t have to worry about getting too fussy even to go out for dinner at night. In St. Croix, casual clothes are good for most every occasion. Here are a few ideas for mixing and matching pieces for the beach, a night out, and travel days.

Needless to say, I had everything I needed for my warm weather getaway. I left room in my bag for souvenirs but as expected, didn’t spend much time shopping anyhow. Let’s just say I was preoccupied with coconut drinks and lounging in the sand. More on that here. And thanks to the wet suit bag, I was able to take a final splash in the ocean before heading off to the airport.

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A big thanks to We Travel Far and Forty Winks for sponsoring this post. Check out their online shops for travel gear and lingerie & swimwear.

As always, all opinions, text, and images are my own.  See our ethics page for more information. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make life a little better here at Camera & Carry On.

The post Packing for a Week in the US Virgin Islands appeared first on Camera & Carry On.

Farewell, Hello, Yippee!

Goodbye, Old Friends

With my dreamy trip to St. Croix and the summer season just around the corner, I knew it was time to evaluate my swimsuit situation. I opened my top dresser drawer to reveal some uninspired intimates (a challenge for another occasion, I assure you) and two worn, weathered bikinis, bundled tightly in the corner. Sad things. They had seen better days, but sun, sand, and salt water had done them in.

I laid them on the bed for better inspection: frays, loose seams, one cup missing a liner… for shame! Wondering how these survived as long as they did, I let out a weak sigh and faced the music. It was time to find a new swimsuit and say farewell to the oldies, like this one (pictured below) that has been with me for 5+ years!

Moving On

Oh, the dread. I’ve never met a woman that enjoys swimsuit shopping. Even the sveltest, fittest, most confident ladies know the challenge of finding the one, let alone an option that will work. But you gotta do what you gotta do, and a swimsuit will not find itself. Reluctantly, I put on my big girl pants and set out in search of the unicorn (aka the mythical “perfect swimsuit”).

I generally shop online (free shipping, baby!) because the whole routine of sorting through endless racks of clothes, waiting for 20 minutes to try them on, then ultimately leaving empty handed is not my favorite past time. This time though I didn’t feel like waiting a week to see/feel/try different styles and prints – I wanted to try them in person – and shopping local is always a plus.

Finding the Unicorn

Forty Winks was just the ticket! A hop, skip and a jump away, I was at the lingerie boutique lickety-split, eager to find my new swimsuit. I did a little pre shopping online and loved what I saw on the website, so I had a feeling what I’d find in their brick & mortar. Warmly welcomed by co-owner Rachel, she took me under her wing and made me feel at ease immediately. Then, we set to work!

After browsing the styles, a few changes in the dressing room, and honest feedback (so crucial!) from the Forty Winks gals, my decision was easy. In my mind I had already made my selection, but their synchronized nods made it official. I left there with a gorgeous swimsuit, pep in my step, and feel-good vibes. I had found my unicorn and an attitude I’d be taking with me to the Caribbean.

How to Find the Perfect Swimsuit

If you’re in same boat, fret not my dear, bikini-needy friends. Intimates expert Rachel, was happy to divulge her tried and true tips, advice, and words of inspiration when it comes to shopping for swimwear. Whether you’re surfing the web or visiting your local swim shop, use this guide to help you on your quest to find the right one for you.

Before You Go

Know your budget, size (roughly), best colors, and what you feel comfortable in. Ask yourself a few key questions, and be honest with your answers. Having clear expectations about what you want and can manage will make the whole process a LOT easier. Why go into a store with $300 swimsuits if your max is $50? And having a good sense of your body, what you feel happy wearing (maybe bikinis are too much skin for you), your focus will narrow and make the selection process simpler.

What size, how are you going to be wearing it, what colors do you think looks good on your skin tone, and what cuts you’re comfortable (or not comfortable) with. ~ Rachel

Where Will You Wear It?

Consider the function of your swimsuit. Are you going to be hanging ten off the Costa Rican coast, or sipping Mojitos poolside in Miami? If you’re the active girl, you’ll want a suit that stays put like a one piece, monokini, or a suit with structure. A tiny triangle top and Brazilian cut bottom may not be the way to go. Similarly, if you’re looking to work on your tan and don’t want funky/splotchy tan lines, look at where the fabric is covering and decide if you want less of it between you and the sun.

A tight bandeau top with detachable strings offers security while you’re swimming while the detachable strings can be easily removed for tanning purposes. ~ Rachel

Show It Off or Play It Down

There are tons of style choices, but no one-style-fits-all for everybody. With so many cuts, colors, and prints out there, the sky is the limit! Plus it means you can emphasize your favorite bits and camouflage your lesser ones. Ruffles, texture, and details create a focal point, so use those in areas you wish to bring attention to. Darker colors generally make shapes look smaller. But don’t make the mistake of assuming more coverage = slimming, especially for the derriere, ladies.

Try lots [of styles] and don’t assume that more coverage is more flattering. Sometimes a lower cut or cheeky bottom works better than a full coverage style. ~ Rachel

Classic or Trendy?

Why not have it both ways? Depending on your piggy bank, you might be able to swing one from each category. Consider your purchasing history, how often you’ll wear the suit, and if you see it as an investment. Some suits when properly cared for can last years and years. If you’re in the market for a season-filler, think big brands at discount prices.

If you don’t want to buy them a lot or spend a lot on them, buy something classic that you’ll wear a ton and that you can mix and match with cheaper separates. ~ Rachel

Be Supportive

You want it to work with you, not against you. Well endowed ladies will want reliable support when it comes to picking a top. Some bandeau styles have removable straps for life and easily convert to tan friendly (best of both worlds!). Halters are also a good bet. Gals with less to manage have a little more freedom to explore.

Just like bras, I think everyone needs a little something different. Some people can wear anything, but most of us need something that flatters OUR particular body. ~ Rachel

But Most of All…

A swimsuit should reflect your personality, and make you feel comfortable in your skin. Have confidence when you put on that new swimsuit. Sexy is such a personal thing, but I think we all want to have a little extra oomph when we take off the layers and parade around in our near-birthday attire. Are you loving all things retro? Try a high waisted bottom. Surfer girl at heart? Try bright, tropical colors. But whatever you choose, make sure you feel good in it.

When you’re baring skin you want to feel confident and a well fitting suit gives you that extra moxie on the beach. Don’t hate your body – period. And avoid fluorescent lighting. ~ Rachel

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A big thanks to Forty Winks for sponsoring this post. Visit their boutique in Cambridge, MA or their online shop here.

As always, all opinions, text, and images are my own.  See our ethics page for more information. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make life a little better here at Camera & Carry On.

The post My Unicorn: In Search of the Perfect Swimsuit appeared first on Camera & Carry On.