Are you on Pinterest? If not…you are seriously deprived…smile. Pinterest is such a fun social media app to get involved in, on so many levels. At The Caves Hotel where I worked, we’ve had Bride’s link their wedding boards for us to get their true vision. I have friends who are planning to renovate a home, and collecting pictures on Pinterest not only helps with their creative vision, but that of the Contractor’s too! Now Pinterest have just added “secret boards” and given each user three boards to test….I find this to be a fab idea as there are some things you may want to keep put of the public eye…a surprise party plan, a baby shower, and gift ideas for family and friends at Christmas time would make great secret boards. I’ve added some random pictures from my public Pinterest Boards below….I’m still trying to build Followers so follow me if you are on! The Pinterest button to follow me is just to the right of this post. If you are not on Pinterest yet….what are you waiting for?

Jamaica hotels pins:

View to one of the lovely cottages at Rockhouse Hotel in Negril, Jamaica. www.rockhousehotel.com

One of the beautiful, traditional beach front rooms at Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. www.jamaicainn.com

Sanwood villa at night, Geejam in Port Antonio, Jamaica. www.geejamhotel.com

The fabulous Goldeneye shaped pool at Goldeneye in St. Mary, Jamaica. www.goldeneye.com

Look at this phenomenal view from the amazing Strawberry Hill in St. Andrew, Jamaica. www.islandoutpost.com

Resort wear pins:

1. A fantastic maxi dress perfect for wearing to dinner at any of these fab hotels above! Dress by Rachel Pally, $238.00 on shopbop.com

2. Dress by Haute Hippie Summer Collection….www.hautehippie.com

3. Gold wedges are a must! These by Lilly Pulitzer.com…

My very favorite FAB space in any hotel right now…goes to The Ian Fleming Library at Goldeneye Resort In St. Mary, Jamaica:

Very shabby chic and one of my very FAVE AND FAB decorating ideas….a large mirror painted white and up against a wall…

As you can glean from the pics above I have quite the mixture of Boards and pins on Pinterest. Start pinning today and have fun with it!

Ciao,

Jeanine

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I love vintage! When we had a Bride ask us to do a vintage wedding at The Caves, I was super excited. It was a small, intimate wedding with 34 guests for dinner. We set up the tables in a way that everyone would face the ocean. The dinner settings were all vintage china, mis matched and looked beautiful when all the candles were lit. Vintage themed weddings are very much the “craze” right now. Here are a few snapshots of vintage china and the place settings used including ideas for vintage flower arrangements:

Simple mason jars were used as candleholders all throughout the location, and it created such a romantic vibe. Vintage really is a fab idea for a wedding theme, or a dinner for friends, even a children’s birthday party…Go vintage!

www.etsy.com is a great place to find vintage and shabby chic settings.

Flea markets are a good place to go to start your vintage collection.

I had dinner al fresco last week at Push Cart Restaurant in Negril, Rockhouse hotel’s Jamaican style more casual cafe. I had a lovely vegetarian meal called “Bushman’s stew” which is made up of a medley of lentil beans, black beans, mushrooms, callaloo and pumpkin rice, I must say quite delish. If you get to Push Cart at Sunset, this will be your view…http://www.rockhousehotel.com/eat.php

One of my very fave salads ever is a Salad Nicoise. At The Caves I introduced it as a lunch dish, and it has been very popular as I’ve asked the Chef to use fresh salmon only instead of tuna. It is served on a bed of organic greens with arugula, sliced boiled potatoes, black olives, green beans and tomatoes….drizzled with a lovely balsamic vinaigrette. Easy to make and just such a healthy, filling meal!

Our guests at The Caves love to dine al fresco….and this is one of our stone tables where breakfast and lunch is set up….divine isn’t it?

I will miss Moon Dance Hotel on the Cliffs when I leave Negril. This is the view from the pool area, so lovely. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and well appointed. The hotel is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

http://www.moondanceresorts.com/cliffs/

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Sunsets in Negril are just downright spectacular….what’s unique about them is that the colours and hues change from Season to Season. I would have to say my favourite time of year for sunset watching and picture taking of such are the Winter months - from late November to April. Here are my best shots in the last few years, some taken with a phone, some with the camera and even with the iPad:

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This was a fun project at The Caves. I decided to turn a simple storage room into a shabby chic gift shop, and the premise was to make it look like a sweet gingerbread house….

We brought the carpenter in, who is so talented…he’s the person we always call if we need anything built to match the current “look” of the hotel. The master painter was also given the vision, which was to use the same blue and green theme used in the facade of the rooms and front office area - the idea to keep the continuity.

Within three weeks we were done! It was a fun and very creative process. The pictures below are snapshots I took during the process, and a glimpse into the shelves and mirror we made up for the room.

www.islandoutpost.com

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Chris and I are moving back to Ocho Rios in September….it is so bittersweet, as on one hand, we are ready to get back to our cottage and friends, family and all the happening’s we have missed out on in the past four years - on another hand, it is just so sad to leave The Caves and Negril after being here for four years.

One of our most favourite things to do since we have been here, is to chill awhile at the seven mile beach, at Idle Awhile.  Located in the center of seven mile beach - it has a great vibe, location, and the staff are friendly and welcoming.  Sunday’s being the day I had “off” as a General Manager of a busy hotel, is the best time for me to leave the west end cliffs and head to the beach!

This boutique hotel on the beach is owned and designed by Jane Issa, who is married to Lee Issa of Couples Resorts.  She is creative and uses colors that match nature in her designs.  The Shell Bar is very unique, where handmade shell lanterns hang and shells are affixed to a sage green concrete bar - all very cool, very Jamaica with a touch of South Beach.

This is the start of a collection of our hipstamatic family prints….there are so many more that will be shared here!

Enjoy!

The beautiful walkway to the beach - lined with Palm Trees and Palms, very avant garde 

Enter to the white sand beach!

The pretty shell Bar that Jane Issa designed - love the sage green colors that she has used all throughout the property

Me, just chilling out after a very late breakfast, and ready to hit the beach!

My rather handsome husband if I must say!