Travel Thursdays: Cotton Tree Lodge

I'll admit that the first image that pops into my head when I think vacation isn't quite as, um, jungle-ly as this little resort in the rainforest of Belize. But sometimes it's the out-of-the-way places, the ones that are a little less spa and a little more community, that give you the vacation you really need. Then again, there's still room for lying on the beach!

Cotton Tree Lodge

The two-level Family Cabana

The "Jungle Cabana" is a 1/4 mile hike from the main resort!

You can chat up your fellow intrepid guests at meals.

You can get a tour of the resort's organic garden and learn about the local food.

There are tons of activities, like learning how to make authentic tortillas...

...exploring Mayan ruins...

...or going on a caving expedition!

And that's just a little taste of what Cotton Tree Lodge has to offer. There is also chocolate making, jungle tours to learn about medicinal plants, snorkeling and scuba diving, visits to nearby villages where you can learn about harp making or traditional art, boat trips up the river to neighboring Guatemala, and volunteer opportunities. And after all that, you can book a massage back at the resort and watch the sunset from your hammock.

The pricing is much more reasonable than a fancy-pants beach front resort, and you can book a room-only or an all-inclusive package depending on your plans. Awesome.



All photos from Cotton Tree Lodge.
No one paid me to write this post, I'd just really like to be on vacation right now!

Vera scarves

During WWII Vera Neumann went looking for alternative materials to use in her textile business, found some parachute silk in an army surplus store, and started making silk-screened scarves with her signature on it. Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, and First Lady Truman later, and Vera was one famous lady.

Fortunately, many Vera scarves are easy to come by, and not very expensive. A set of three or four like-colored scarves would look fantastic framed and hung in a nursery, or you could sew two together and make pillows (probably low-use pillows though!). Of course, you could always skip the re-purposing and wear a Vera around your neck or tied to your handbag!


Not all Vera scarves are feminine--these red, white & blue scarves would be great in a boy's room.
Etsy Shop: Indulge Your Shelf 

The ladybug was only used between 1960 and 1976. Love the black & white graphic patterns!
Etsy Shop: MsRubysCloset  (A whole other post in itself--this is like the closet you wish your great-aunt had!)

Vera designed so many different scarves over her lifetime, and the breadth of her work is really amazing . Here are some floral patterns. I love the bright colors.

 ship + key

Marathon Sports 5 Miler

I'll tell you a secret--I really don't care for running. But for some reason, every summer and part of the other 11 months of the year in Boston, I enter 5K and 5-miler races with the expectation that I've improved and suddenly am good at running. And every year I'm wrong.

It's the competition of the race that I like, being part of a pack, the pressure of having people around to witness your failure if you give up and walk. But the running, itself, is miserable.
After a run, though? Awesome. On top of the world. So satisfying, really.
So I guess that's why I continue to run even though I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a runner.

Last week I ran the Marathon Sports 5-miler. The course is described as "moderately hilly", which I've come to discover is runner-speak for "hell". Boston was in the grips of a horrific heat wave, so that didn't help much. I was supposed to run with a friend, but that didn't work out. So the wonderful Mr. N very graciously agreed to meet me at the race after work to cheer me on. Thanks honey!

My pace for the first mile was under 10 minutes (that's good for me, in 100+ degree heat) but steadily declined from there. I wish I could say I ran the whole thing, but I can't. I do believe I did the best I could, under the circumstances, though. And that is the most important thing. Also, I didn't die. That's very important too.

love the team names!

Like summer camp...

I love bunk rooms. Wouldn't sleeping in one of these make you feel like a kid again?

source unknown

Fernau & Hartman via Remodelista

Miguel Flores-Vianna via Elle Decor

source unknown

via Remodelista

It's one of Mr. N and my greatest dreams to have a lake house/winter cabin up north somewhere. I can't wait to put a bunk room in the attic and fill it with happy kids over years of family reunions, school vacations, and summer holidays.



*Sorry, I don't know where some of these photos came from! They're from my personal inspiration stash, and I wasn't always so good about writing down credits. If anyone recognizes a photo, leave a comment!

coco+kelley: RUE ISSUE #6 SNEAK PEEK!

coco+kelley: RUE ISSUE #6 SNEAK PEEK!

Cassandra, one of the tremendously talented folks behind Rue, posted a sneak peak of the upcoming issue (hits our virtual newsstands on Monday, but you can go vote for one of two potential covers now!). It's the first travel issue--I'm dying in anticipation...

J. Crew: new arrivals for fall

It seems like everyone loves J. Crew. Even when they don't hit it out of the park (overalls??? denim jumpsuits??? for hundreds of dollars, really?), they have some serious buzz.

People say they are buying these items now despite the current temps. But I want to buy everything because it's so darn hot out! Don't you love a good reminder that the leaves will eventually fall and your cable knits and plaids will be perfect while cuddling in front of the fire at your chalet in Aspen?

Some faves from the "looks we love" section:

I might have a crush on those wool capris. And those mint heels that I sort of cut off because I'm not real good with photo editing. And did you notice J. Crew is having a bit of a thing with maize and blue this season? I think that only bodes well for Michigan. Go Blue! (Yes, I did just make a connection between Michigan football and J.Crew's fall styling. So what?)

We haven't seen enough of J.Crew yet in this post. Here's some more.

Fashion Must-Haves

Refinery29 assembled a list of affordable "investment pieces"--I don't know if I'd call them investment pieces but they are pretty awesome.

This necklace is fantastic. So good with a white tee--even better with your boyfriend's white tee.
Right!!??

Modcloth Brilliant A-Ray Necklace $59.99

This slinky one-shoulder dress is not for me, since I am not built like a toothpick with a face. But if you are built like that, you should buy this dress. It's on sale!!

ASOS Pearl One Shoulder Maxi Dress $55.16

I have a difficult relationship with jewelry. I just usually don't like it. But this bracelet is casual while still being blingy. I love when something is just a little out of whack, like the big clasp. It gets me every time. This would be a great gift! For me!

Reiss Frith Leather Weave Bracelet $50.00

Finally, this skirt is a no-brainer for your next girls night out. Or boys night out, if you roll that way. It's just so shiny! Who could resist?

Warehouse Labyrinth Square Sequin Skirt $98.00

The Great Green Lamp Search

This weekend marked the start of the Great Green Lamps Search (or GGLS, for short. which looks kind of like "giggles". Which I might do if I could find the GGL I'm searching for).

Here's what I had in mind*:

1st Dibs
Single Gorgeous Beautiful Lamp, Cost: my entire year's salary

1st Dibs
Like waking up to a green giraffe that has a light up head, Cost: my firstborn

SPOILER: Unfortunately, no dice on the lamps.

On Saturday, Mr. N. and I went to my favorite event of the summer, Brimfield! I don't know why I love Brimfield. It goes against many of my "rules"--no crowds, no dirt, no clutter--but for some reason, I'll break all those rules for Brimfield. Maybe it's the egg sandwiches...mmmmm....

A few key hints for enjoying Brimfield:

1. Get there early. Not super early, because no one will be open yet, just earlier than anyone with a good brain would want to wake up on a Saturday. We are always there before 9am.

2. First things first, get yourself an egg sandwich. chat with the guy making your sandwich. Marvel at how good it feels to be friendly. Don't go overboard though, it's still early & too much joy all at once can have adverse effects.

3. Don't wander, be organized. Go in rows. What if you miss something? END OF THE WORLD.

4. Don't take things so seriously. So you want a pair of green lamps for next to nothing, and suddenly it's like the people who make free green lamps took a holiday. Whatever. Get over it so you don't miss out on something great. Like this silver-plated lotus vase with frog that I scored for $15.

Ooooh, shiny!

The next Brimfield show is September 6-11. Will you be going?




*Yes, I know 1st Dibs is the most ridiculous place for anyone, other than Martyn Lawrence Bullard (delicious darling!), to start looking for lamps. I've looked elsewhere too, but now I'm sort of obsessing over that pair of murano lamps.

but it's navy!

It's really hard to write an introductory blog post. What to say? My first impulse is "test". That would be a definite success--I'll have one follower. My mom. Hi Mom! *Waves*

I know this blog looks awful. I'm not known for my patience, so it will stay this way for a while until I learn how to make it look less awful.

But...

It's navy! You totally love it now right?

Navy has this weird power to make everything look better.
My husband, who in the spirit of Blogland will now be known as "Mr. Navy" or maybe "Mr. N" when I get lazy, just designed a BMW X5 for me online. He proudly showed it to me...and...I HATED IT. So he made it navy. LOVE!!! True story, I swear. And a fascinating one, too.

Hang on at least one more day though. Tomorrow will be awesome, promise.

PS, when I told Mr. N about the name of this blog, he thought I said "Naked Amy". I don't think we know anyone named Amy, but maybe I should check up on that...
PS2, Mr. N says Naked Amy would be a more successful blog than Make It Navy. I'd be offended but he's definitely right.