Sandals Whitehouse Experience

Sandals: More than Hype? 

(Psst: Catch my wedding post here!)

I've been watching Sandals commercials for years and had always heard of people going there but it hadn't struck me as something I really cared to do.

I thought the Caribbean wasn't "that great" and Sandals was more hype than anything else.

Well...I was wrong. And I'm so glad!

As we searched for an affordable place to go, I had ruled out nearly everything due to cost. It was so hard to find anything remotely within my cost range at this point.

Finally, my aunt recommended we look into Sandals. I had kind of checked it out but not in depthly. But this time, I really did my research.

I spent time reading over reviews of the various resorts, asking for opinions via social media, reading the website closely to see which would be best for us.

Of the five or so Sandals resorts on Jamaica, I decided that the Whitehouse location was best for us. It boasted lots of activities in a remote part of the island -- and a very leisurely atmosphere not full of the "club scene" you find on some resorts.

WeddingMoon

When I found out it only cost about $700 to have a wedding there, I was game. This would be our "WeddingMoon" -- wedding/honeymoon combined.

They gave me my own personal wedding planner who went over the details with me and took care of everything. All I had to do was send in our birth certificates and show up for the most part.

We arrived on Monday night and as soon as we walked in the door we were graced with pink champagne and man say, Mr. Sylvester and Ms. Andersen? They knew we were coming!

We got the rundown, found our room and even though it was 9:30pm, we hopped in our bathing suits to head for the pool. No one was in the pool so we swam, then headed to the bar, where we had the signature Red Stripe beer, hung out for a bit and then turned in.

Food and Sun

The next morning, we went to the breakfast buffet, full of bacon, eggs, biscuits, fruit, cheese, juices -- just about everything you can imagine.

Our first day it was funny because R just couldn't believe we didn't have to pay for anything! He brought money thinking surely...we'd have to pay for something! Nope...no paying and barely any tipping. It was SO nice!

Then we met with the wedding planner people to go over details -- where we chose a cake and I opted for white roses over magenta flowers (thank God, they look way better than magenta would have!)

Most of Tuesday was spent in the sun, where R acquired a wicked sunburn. He's got naturally pale skin and though we slathered on 30 SPF twice, it burned right through on his chest especially. Poor thing!

Being in the sun is actually exhausting but it was gorgeous! I mean, clear water, the beach right outside our room, several massive, beautiful pools, hot tubs and more. Cocktail stations were all over and there was plenty of chair space and umbrellas around as well. It was NOT crowded, and we loved that.

Sand & Surf

The water was warm and beautiful and we spent a lot of time just swimming around in it and chatting beneath the sun -- it was pretty glorious!

Of course the walk along the beach was also awesome and there were lots of sports and activities going on all over the place. We didn't do any extracirrucular stuff mostly because weren't there very long and wanted to just "do nothing."

There were like four nice restaurants to choose from for dinner -- no reservations needed and of course, it's all inclusive so you can get whatever you want!

The only thing I wasn't super impressed with was the food -- it wasn't the best -- but the atmosphere and experience was absolutely amazing.

Yeah Mon!

The staff are clearly trained on how to make guests feel like they are celebrities -- always super friendly and helpful. Someone was always asking if things were okay and saying "Yeah Mon." Apparently, Jamaicans really do say "Yeah Mon" to everything!

They seemed very laid back and generally very happy -- the island atmosphere was in full swing everywhere. And...the great thing was -- everyone was happy because we were all on vacation on this beautiful island! Oh boy do I need this every year!

If you got bored, they had a game room with pool tables, checkers, ping pong and a gigantic chess board. You could play shuffleboard, get a massage in the spa or sign up for surfing, party boats, kayacking, scuba diving or something else.

It rained everyday around 3:30 (to my dismay on wedding day!) but always stops shortly.

Evening By The Sea

Dinner was fun because we'd come in from the beach, regroup, shower and get dressed for a night out. There were couples of all ages and I loved the romantic feeling everywhere -- everyone holding hands, looking and feeling their best.

On our last day, I relished just sitting on the beach reading my book sipping a Blue Lagoon drink (I'm sure something with rum) and sitting under and umbrella. It was perfection! I actually read 2 books in five days (with all the travel time included.)

That night, we had a special dinner at one of the restaurants -- a "wedding menu" we had selected and came as part of our wedding package. The staff made sure we felt really welcome and satisfied.

Photo Shoot

Of course I went around snapping photos like a mad woman-- trying to capture this place, these memories, this beauty -- to remember it later.

So...what do I have to say about our experience? Awesome! I would recommend Sandals to everyone and in fact told my parents they need to go there!

I do wonder if there is much difference between the various resorts but I knew there was a reason this was the one I went with. I'm so glad I did!

Despite all my traveling, I've never take a true blue vacation like this -- and neither had Rick. We were both overwhelmed with the luxury and particular care Sandals takes to make it "your" experience.

As I sat there looking over the blue water and tropical greenery on the beach, I thought to myself -- I'm not sure the South Pacific (my original dream plan) could really be much better than this. And THIS was much less money and just as awesome.

Thanks Sandals for making my "weddingmoon" wonderful.

The Wedding

I might have had the most wonderful wedding ever. And it was just the two of us -- plus a God-sent preacher, two terrific wedding planners and a rockin' photographer on a gorgeous beach at Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica.

**[My review of our stay at the resort is here!]

We arrived a few days before the wedding so we were looking forward to it for days! On wedding morning, we woke up and went to breakfast, then hung out on the beach for a few hours. All rooms at Sandals Whitehouse are oceanside so it was a quick hop, skip and jump to reach the beach.

I'll get more into the details of the resort in my next post. At 1:30, I was scheduled for hair and make up -- a decision I'm really glad I made even though it was extra. The lady who did my makeup was amazing and I had no idea what she was going to do! She definitely made my fake eyelashes look REAL (wish I could do that!)

For hair, I had a photo of someone else's wedding hair and said, this is what I want. We had no trial do so I figured if it wasn't perfect, I'd be okay with whatever happened. Beach wedding people!

Luckily, she got it pretty perfect (though you can see parts falling out in the photos but whatever!). So they provided pink champagne as I got my hair done. The whole time, I was looking out a window and it had started raining. I was NOT happy and was so afraid the rain wouln't stop for the ceremony! I imagined having to take all the photos indoors!

I said a serious prayer that God would make the rain stop and soon noticed it was nearly 3:30 -- just 30 minutes from the ceremony! I had to go back and slip my dress and shoes on so it would only take a few minutes.

Until that moment I put the dress on, I hadn't been 100% sure about it. But, in that moment -- with my hair and make up done, my white heels on, about to walk down the aisle (THE aisle!) -- it was perfect. I mean, it was perfect. Michelle found the perfect dress (BCBG, $300!) for me and I am so thankful to her!

My stomach was feeling pretty nervous on the way to the aisle -- which was actually a long deck leading to a little beach hut. Rick was turned around facing the ocean talking to the pastor, an old Jamaican man who apparently bestowed a huge amount of wisdom on Rick as they waited an hour for me to arrive.

It felt so surreal being there, ready to walk. The photographer snapped some shots as the music started. We chose Elvis Presley's "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" and it was perfect. I walked down on the second chorus. Couldn't tell you how fast, or what my face looked like but Rick turned around and was smiling at me. I could hardly believe this was the moment!

We joined hands and waited for the song to finish. We had no rehearsal so we weren't exactly sure the process of things! The wedding planner and the preacher did all the work for us though, really. Going with the flow was the theme :)

The preacher had a thick Jamaican accent so I couldn't understand everything he was saying -- ha ha -- but I got all the important stuff. We had a traditional, Christian ceremony, said our vows and he recited 1 Corinthians 13.

I really liked that we stopped to pray and commit our marriage to God. It was really meaningful to me. We had also prayed together that morning that God would go into this with us and I believe these prayers were both extremely important for us.

I loved that we were both smiling the whole time -- I couldn't stop! We exchanged rings and before we knew it, the preacher said "you can kiss your bride!" So we did!

Then, we signed all of our documents and had our little cake and champagne toast. We had gotten to taste cake samples the day before and chose vanilla on vanilla. Sadly, we couldn't take it home because it would have melted on the way to the airport :( But it was really good!

After all that, we had our "first dance" (only dance in this case!), which was to "our song," Uncle Kracker's "You Make Me Smile." It was out the summer we first got together and has always stuck with us. It was only then that a few tears slid out of my eyes...it was a really sweet moment.

Luckily, our wedding planner taped it on my iphone. I think we felt a little self-conscience because random beachgoers were just hanging out watching.

Then we sat back down to enjoy more cake and listened to the playlist I had made, including Eric Clapton's "You Look Wonderful Tonight" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (island style).

We then did a long photo shoot full of poses and fun shots in the sunset and different angles. I have a new appreciation for models...it gets hard posing and smiling after an hour! But I'm glad we did it because we obviously got some great shots. I'm going to do another post with my favorite posed shots -- don't want to overwhelm you now!

After the photo shoot, we were escorted to our private candlelight dinner by the beach -- literally a few feet from the shore. They set up this gorgeous tent-like thing and make it absolutely beautiful. Plus, you have personalized menus!

Obviously champagne and wine were in order and it was maybe the most important and special I've ever felt in my life! It was a truly unique and wonderful experience.

We got a complimentary bottle of champagne to take back to the room with us as well! And look how they had the room set up when we got back:

It was seriously a perfect day and though some have thought it odd that we did not have guests, I wouldn't change it. It felt right the way it was -- right for us. I'm so glad we did it :)

Want to see more photos? I put together this nice montage with the Elvis song I walked down the aisle to -- take a look:

I'll have some more personal feelings and thoughts about my new husband in a coming post but I wanted to share with you the details of the wedding day as a whole first. Thanks for sharing in my special day with me -- especially those of you that sent messages via social media while I was away!

Working Out in the Fast Lane

*Thanks to my friend, Tracy, for providing today's guest post while I'm away!

2013 has been and continues to be an extremely challenging year for me in ALL aspects of my life. For example: 

• I’m trying to balance a long distance marriage (Jason is helicopter pilot in the USAF and is currently in training)
• My job is very deadline driven and fast pace (I’m a professional bean counter by trade (bad accounting joke))I’m preparing for an international move to the United Kingdom in early 2014 due to
• My husband’s (Jason) job (London, Baby!!! (FRIENDS reference for all you 90s kids)
• My little sister is getting married in September, making time to go home to the best state in the continental U.S. OHIO (duh!) to visit friends and family. 
• On top of that -- stay fit and accomplish my running/swimming/yoga/biking and eating healthy goals.

Even though this has been a crazy busy year I am in the best shape I have been since senior year of

college, which is about the same time JT brought Sexy Back (I’ll let you do the math). 

I think what has helped me achieve being in great shape is finding groups or individuals to work out with who challenge me and encourage me. Jason ran cross country and track in high school and college and knows the ups and downs of training and injuries. He keeps me in check and when he is in town or when I am visiting him,  we stay active by running, playing tennis, hiking or participating in outdoor activity that is available. 

Being part of an organization like Back on My Feet (BOMF) has also helped me achieve consistency and has helped me realize that it takes time and patience to be in shape again. The volunteers and resident members are truly inspirational. 

My friend Julie (my partner in crime when it comes to exercising) is amazing and awesome. She pushes me to try new and different exercise routines (by joining DC Roadrunners, and going to different exercise classes). She even convinced me to train for a sprint triathlon this June and the MS Bike ride.

The biggest thing that has helped me fit working out into my life is having a” back-up” work out plan for

each day. What I mean by that is I create a list of all the different options and times I have to work-out in a given day --  because if I tell myself “I HAVE TO WORK OUT AT THIS TIME, AND DO THIS WORKOUT!!!” it becomes a chore and it stops being fun for me. I am already an A type personality and adding this extra pressure only creates more stress for me.

Here is an example of my options on a “normal” Tuesday (granted if I don’t have any crazy work

deadlines and I’m in town).

• Yoga class at 6:00AM
• Swimming at 5:30AM or 6:00AM
• Running at 6:30AM
• Running at lunch with co-workers
• 30 minute walk with co-workers anytime during the day
• Spin class at 6:00PM
• Yoga class 6:00PM or 7:45PM
• Running after work at work or when I get home

If I list out all my options I become less stressed and more determined to work out that day sometimes

even twice that day. Also, it allows me to feel more in control. It’s just an option that allows for structure

without the added stress.

My biggest advice is keep trying different things and mix up your routines. I know that when you sign-

up for a race you think you can have to do “X”-miles on “X”- day. I’m not saying you shouldn’t follow a

routine but allow yourself the option to mix it up.

Do you have "back-up" workout plans? How strict are you with your work out schedule? 

How Paleo Became a Lifestyle For Me (Guest Post)

*Thanks to my guest blogger, Lindsey! Her paleo ways made me want to ask her how she did it! She's lost weight and looks amazing! Enjoy this post:

Back in August (so about 9 months ago), my sister and I decided to do a “30 day paleo test.” We told ourselves we’d try to make it 30 days, and see if there were any results at the end of a month. So with a goal in site, we started mapping out paleo options. We quickly learned that there are numerous websites dedicated to paleo. Sites like nomnompaleo, paleOMG, and the Civilized Caveman were incredibly helpful and inspirational.  

The first few weeks were difficult; weaning your body off most carbohydrates, sugar, legumes, and dairy isn’t easy, especially when your former diet was informed by Southern cooking, and always contained either gravy, biscuits, or batter of some sort. But on any given day now, my diet consists of: 

Proteins: Chicken, beef (if you’re strict, it’s grass-fed only), lamb, fish, seafood, and lots and lots of eggs. My husband (who doesn’t really do paleo, but as a result of living with me ends up eating that way more so than not), also introduced tuna tartare into our dinner options, which has been great.

Turkey Soup!

Veggies: Asparagus, zucchini, broccoli, spinach, and carrots are my go-to. Chopping-up some carrots to include in a cast-iron skillet when baking a whole chicken is delicious. And there is no amount of garlic that is too much to include with the asparagus. 

Paleo garlic chicken and broccoli

Fruit: I am not a huge fan of fruit, but I do eat apples and bananas (one of either every day). My sister also includes any variety of berries in her diet. 

Snacks: Kale chips (homemade) and nuts (excluding peanuts), are my go-to for snacking. For the kale chips, I buy the giant bag of kale at the grocery store, remove the stems, toss them in olive oil, cover in some cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt, spread on a baking sheet and bake for 10 – 15 

minutes. 

Paleo Tuna Tar Tare

Desserts: There are great paleo-friendly dessert recipes online. However, (and this is a non-starter for some very strict followers), I usually just grab a few squares of dark chocolate.

Alcohol: Most paleo sites will caution you to limit your alcohol intake. Clearly high-carbohydrate options like beer and the dark liquors are off the table. I try to stick with red wine (hey, it’s just fermented fruit, right?!)

Paleo roast chicken and carrots (that looks amazing!)

My sister and I made it successfully through our 30 day paleo test. I quickly discovered my favorite lunch option during the week is a salad with avocado, walnuts, pepper, and oil and vinegar. For dinner, we regularly alternate fish and chicken dishes. One of my favorite dinners is an “Italian” dish of meatballs over sautéed zucchini. And after that first 30 days, I noticed I was shedding pounds and feeling better in general. Nothing motivates you to stick with something like seeing results. So we continued…

Now, more than nine months in, it really has become a lifestyle – second nature in fact. The good news: I can fit into my clothes I had relegated to a box labeled “skinny clothes” that I thought I’d never be able to wear again. The bad news: I’m terrified to ever eat a piece of bread again. 

In January, I added-in a “cheat”: cheese. Some people argue that cheese is ok if it’s really high-quality and from grass-fed cows. I don’t know if that’s generally considered correct or not, but I have really enjoyed having that as an option again, and think I can keep doing paleo for the foreseeable future with cheese in my life again. My absolute favorite: Cowgirl Creamery’s Midnight Moon.  And finally, one of my favorite recipes, courtesy of my sister:

Carrot Ginger Soup

2 shallots, roughly diced

3 tablespoons shaved fresh ginger

2 ½ pounds of carrots, chopped

5 cups organic chicken broth

1 cup coconut milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the shallots and ginger on medium heat in olive oil for about 5 minutes, or until the shallots are transparent. Then add the carrots and the chicken stock. Boil for 30 – 45 minutes, or until carrots are soft. Blend with a hand mixer until smooth, and then add the coconut milk and salt and pepper. Blend again. Serve and enjoy!

Do you think you could do Paleo? What did you think of Lindsey's experience? 

Bachelorette's Night Out

Ariana, Tiffany, Me, Michelle, Maggie

Thanks to my awesome, beautiful girlfriends for taking me out last night! I didn't expect to get the whole crown/sash shebang but they they delivered and it was fun to the batchelorette!

We had dinner at a new place for me -- SEI -- which is Asian fusion I think. It was awesome! I had sushi and it was definitely some of the best I've ever had. It was perfect for a light meal. I also got a side of brussel sprouts and...wow! They were dripping in some kind of delicious sause and topped with peanuts -- so good. If you are in DC -- definitely try out SEI!

I knew I wanted a more intimate "party" with my closest friends in the area. Unfortunately, Heather couldn't make it down from NYC but she was definitely there in spirit.

Of course I had "nothing to wear" so two hours before going out, I went to the mall to my new go-to dress store, Arden B. I found that little number quickly and spent more than I wanted too. But...my friends said it looked great and was a perfect honeymoon dress as well so...I just let it be. I wouldn't normally get something like that but it felt good to do something a little different.

After a great dinner at SEI, Michelle (nearly 9 months pregnant!) called it a night and I don't blame her! The rest of us headed to Ceiba (I've heard their food is awesome too!) for a round of drinks.

We hung out there for a bit and then to The Hamilton -- kind of a fancy schmancy bar in downtown DC. It was pretty tame but...I definitely wasn't looking for anything crazy. We just chatted, drank some more and hung out -- calling it a night around 1am.

It was really perfect -- love hanging out with my good friends and that's all I wanted for my batchelorette party. They have all made me feel so special since I got engaged and it has meant so much to me!

And NOW....we are off to Jamaica to get married! I will have a few guest posts up throughout the week while I'm gone so please come back and see us here at The Sweet Life!

We are getting married on Wednesday at 4pm so you can be thinking of us then if you like :)

When I come back, I will be at Mrs.!

For My Mom :)

I promise you guys I'm going to get back to writing about what this blog is about -- working out, fitness and a healthy life but...there has been a lot going on lately and I hope you don't mind me sharing all of the "rest of my life" with you!

Today is Mother's Day and I want to honor my Mom. My mom has always taught me through her actions to help those in need and that's what I want to focus on today.

When I was a little girl, I didn't realize the magnitude of help my parents gave others. But looking back, it's such a beautiful way to teach your kids kindness.

Mom and Me!

Every other week, my Mom used to go to the grocery store and but an entire load of groceries for a family that didn't have any money. I remember going to their house like a delivery service. They had little kids and needed food - so we got them food. At this time, we didn't have a lot of money ourselves. We lived in a pretty crappy house and my parents were by no means "well off." But they were better off than that family -- so they gave.

The next day, my Mom would be spending her time volunteering at Backstreet Missions, a homeless shelter for people recovering from drugs and alcohol and whatever else. She spent countless hours helping there -- becoming close friends with the founders and the people.

She also used to spend every Sunday at the local nursing home. She was studying to be a nurse at the time and for whatever reason, she decided it was her duty to visit the old people in the nursing home. Everyone knew her there and she often took us along to hang out. Talk about a weird experience for a 7-year-old...being surrounded by the death and dying smells of a low income nursing home. But that was my Mom -- she just did.

Whenever there was an opportunity to give or serve or help people who needed help, Mom was always the first one to volunteer. She is kind of no-nonsense -- she's not sentimental or bleeding heart at all! She's very matter-of-fact and practical. Personally, I'm really sentimental and sometimes can't relate to her on an emotional level -- but I think our differences actually make us closer in a way.

I've learned a lot from my Mom. The thing is, she doesn't talk about all the good things she's done for others. She just does them. And as I've quoted before, "People won't always believe what you say, but they will always believe what you do."

I am so grateful to my Mom for teaching me to do the right thing, to be honest, to help others always and most importantly, to stop talking about it -- and just go do it.

Love you Marmee (she hates it when I call her that)!! :)

Congo Time: Let's Do This

Last year at this time, I was gearing up for a big trip the Democratic Republic of Congo. If you were reading then, you probably learned more about Congo than you anticipated. Me too.

The Background

From the time I was a young teenager, I felt drawn to Africa -- and I never really knew why. When I got the chance to go to Mozambique at the age of 19, my love for the continent was sealed forever.

After traveling as well to Ethiopia and Kenya, the opportunity to go to Congo with my church arose. They told the story of a miracle that happened right with our church walls.

Miracles

The sermon that day was on miracles. A woman who's mission organization our church supported was visiting that day from out of town. She knew she needed $15,000 to start the orphanage desperately needed in Uvira, Congo. There were 60 kids who needed a place to live and they had run out of options. 

She was never one to "go to the alter" when prayer time was called. She didn't intend on any sort of special treatment. But it was a day of miracles so she went forward and confessed to our pastor that she needed that $15,000 and didn't know where she would get it so she was praying for a miracle.

Our pastor felt at that moment God told him to take up an offering. And so, he did. Spur of the moment offerings are also not something he does. It was extremely rare -- a "God thing" if you will.

After the offering was taken, the woman had more than enough money to fund her orphanage. You can see the result in the building behind us last year:

The girls are all wearing handmade dresses from some wonderful women at Ashleigh's church back home! Thankfully, the women made another round of dresses for 2013!

And our pastor felt a stirring in his heart out of nowhere. He had never wanted to go to Africa. He had never thought about the Congo. But on that day, the Congo for Christ Orphanage was made and the trip there was set in motion.

I Was Going

They told the story a few weeks later -- and as soon as they said, "We might even plan a trip there next year" -- my heart said YES. I knew I was going. That was it.

Long story short, I made it to the DRC in 2012 and you can read all about that life changing experience here and here. 

Me,  Ashleigh, Mandy

Now -- my team is heading back to DRC -- though I am not going with them. My spirit, however, IS and I'm here to support them all the way. They've got two months until go time. My heart is sad that I won't be there. I'm still on all the emails because I want to know what they are up to but each time I get an update, it's kind of hard.

Either way, prayer matters most -- and our prayer team leader Ashleigh had a great idea that I wanted to share with you. First, though, MEET our kids :) below:

58 Day Prayer Challenge

There are 58 orphans that need our prayers and we want to circle each child in prayer. For 58 days we will be praying specifically for a different child each day until all the kids have been covered in prayer. This prayer challenge will start exactly 58 days before departure for Congo.

We've got this super easy chart you can use to pray for the kids each day. If you are the praying type, I'm just gonna ask that you pray for these kids. I truly believe that God has BIG plans for each and every one of them.

   Congo Orphans

They are also still in need of about $3,000 for the team -- for medical supplies, construction equipment, education tools and other things for the children. If you'd like to donate, just click here.

Not only do they need multi-vitamins and basic medicine, but we want to provide them with plain old "kid stuff" too. Last year, they got a kick out of this:

I wrote this as a testimony that will be featured on an upcoming website supporting these kids and Congo as a whole (started by my friend, Sarah, who is going back for her 3rd trip this year):

Congo is special to me because it has been so forgotten. The country -- the children of the country -- need a voice in the world. Congo does not have oil, one reason it hasn't received the attention in deserves in the first world. But it has so much potential, so many resources, so much possibility. 

It's amazing how large a country it is and how little most people know about it. Because I was lucky enough to be able to visit CCC last summer and come to know and love the children of Congo, I am committed to prayer and financial support to those country for a lifetime. 

I currently sponsor a girl from CCC each month as well as a woman -- a mother of two -- through Women for Women, International. Meeting the girl I sponsor, Esperence, was an amazing experience -- she is so sweet and innocent, beautiful and in need of love. As I held her hand, sang with her and communicated through a language barrier, I felt like a mother. It broke my heart knowing how many of these kids don't have parents. 

Congo is with me and will be with me for the rest of my life. We can never do enough and I hope more people will come to see the beauty, opportunity and possibility in this country. 

Pray for them, support them, love them. I miss them.