Vacation Rentals

While hubby & I have never had great success with vacation rentals, many people do! I have friends who have found great Mission Beach vacation rentals, Providenciales vacation rentals, and even great vacation rentals in Paris & London. We somehow end up with scammers who string us along until we realize what's happening (at least we realize it before it's too late). Last year was the first time in a while that we had a fabulous vacation apartment in New York and I will use that company always.

No Coupons Here

Whenever any company gives away anything in Turks and Caicos, no matter how small, everyone gathers around crazily as if they were throwing out loose diamonds or cash. But realize that here there are no coupons, few sales, and very few giveaways or bonuses (or free gifts with purchases even), so anything you can get for free is highly exciting!

Seven Stars

Tony and I had 3 nights off from Parrot Cay and decided to spend those nights on Providenciales at the new Seven Stars Resort on Grace Bay. We had a 5th floor ocean facing suite with a full and well appointed little kitchen; huge bathroom with a giant 2 person soaker whirlpool tub, 2 sinks, and walk in shower; large king size comfy bed; TV, DVD player, iPod Dock/alarm clock, and a large terrace. Just beautiful and user-friendly!

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Diet Pills

While everyone is interested in losing weight and taking whatever the most popular diet pill or weight loss supplement is at the moment, I rarely hear people wondering about the safest diet pill or the most long term successful weight loss strategy. People want quick exciting fixes and often do not do the appropriate research to find out what they should be doing and why.

Teenage Skin Care

I can clearly remember the day my step son woke up with his first pimples. He was mortified but was too much of a messy adolescent boy to really want to focus and take care of his skin. We tried many products and I went to many websites and spoke with many skin care professionals regarding acne solutions. Luckily his skin never progressed into severe acne and he was fine with some basic drugstore brand washes.

Anne Samoilov Reviews My Pilates Ring & Roller mp3

In her Rainy Day Pilates with Lynda Lippin blog post, respected Pilates and Fitness teacher Anne Samoilov gives my Pilates With Ring & Roller MP3 workout a great review!

First, you will notice Lynda has a very commanding voice. You will thank her for this clarity later…because often audio workouts are really tough to follow! She will guide you through the exercises very clearly. And even if you are used to doing a pilates dvd or taking a pilates class, you should have no problem following Lynda.

The mp3 workout is very inexpensive and totally worth the purchase. I highly recommend this workout specifically for people who travel a lot, find themselves sitting a bit too much or anyone who has a very physical job. The foam roller provides so much muscle release and relaxation!

Supplements for Everything

It seems as if over the last 40 years there have been more and more supplements developed as our food becomes lower and lower in nutritional content. Instead of being able eat a truly balanced diet and get what we need from the foods we ingest, we instead have to buy pills and powders to supplement our food intake. Since supplements are not well-regulated by the FDA it is important to read reviews and ingredient lists from websites such as Consumer Reports and www.supplementreviews.org.

Muscle Building Tips

The internet is full of free information on health and fitness, including sites that focus on specific exercise methods such as Pilates, Kettlebells, Tabata training, CrossFit, Yoga, and body building. There are sites that are mostly ads, ones that have user forums and videos, and others that are set up as blogs where you can leave comments and ask questions, such as increasemusclemass.org.

Pilates Retreat - Pilates Props Weekend at Parrot Cay

World class Pilates teacher Lynda Lippin (that's me!) will be leading a weekend Pilates Retreat at COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot Cay. This unique private island in the Turks and Caicos is now considered among the world’s leading destinations for wellness.

Parrot Cay is well suited to clients wishing to address fundamental issues of health and balance. The environment is truly serene: a mile-long stretch of sand, a dedicated Pilates Studio aired by the trade winds, and private, spacious accommodation to help you take your mind off all thoughts except those of health and relaxation.

Daily group sessions on 12th and 13th March will focus on specific Pilates props that can add both resistance and assistance to the traditional Pilates mat exercises. The large exercise ball, small ball, foam roller, band, and the Pilates magic circle will each be highlighted over the weekend.

While sessions will include some minimal discussion, this retreat will be primarily about experiencing the flow and power of Pilates mat exercise with props.

Real Estate Investments

Many of our guests have been asking me lately about whether it is a good idea to invest in Turks and Caicos real estate, and my short answer right now is no. With the much needed British takeover of the islands and the former government leaders not yet prosecuted for corruption, the country is broke, in debt, and not as stable as it could be. Plus, many dvelopments have gone belly up in the past year, including Dellis Cay and Nikki Beach. You are probably safer looking into Outer banks foreclosures where you can rent the house to vacationers and make some money back.

Staying In Florida

It is funny to me, but Florida is a primary tourist and shopping destination for those of us who live in Turks and Caicos. There is so little decent retail and wholesale shopping here that even shop owners will go to Florida and stay in Miami or destin fl hotels, and bring home items from Costco and Walmart to sell here on island.