Let’s Be Tourists: The Frederiksted Pier

Recently, a viewer posed the question, “Do you do the touristy things?”  Well, yes, we have to.  But they are not touristy to me, only you.  They are our “regular things”, but our “regular things” on a tropical island are what travel brochures are made of.  But, we tend to kick it up a notch.

Like what?  Well, going to the Frederiksted Pier:

The FSted Pier is where the cruise ships dock.  Thanks to the massive $4million waterfront renovations, cruise ship lines think St. Croix is cool again.  Actually, the same ol’ destinations are getting boring for their sandal & sock wearing passengers, so they decided to look the other way on all the things they said was wrong with St. Croix in the past, and return to port.  Am I digressing?  I have a tendency to do that.

When there are no ships, The Pier is a great place to go for the evening.  We usually walk (or ride bikes) along the waterfront and then down the pier itself.  As locals, we have a contest to see who can spot the first rat.  SC knows their hiding spots:

This night was a treat; JUMPERS:

The Pier holds fishermen, walkers, vagrants, what have you.  People just doing the same thing we are:  Getting out of The House.  With the kids, we walk right over to Napoleon’s Pizza for a slice (try the chicken curry) and then head to Polly’s for a little ice cream, ice coffee or any of their delish desserts.  This type of evening happens on a regular basis, not just when we have guests in town.

If you are a diver, try a night dive with a local shop.  Under the pier is home to really cool saltwater life that you don’t see in the open water that much - starfish, sea horses, boogity boogities. (just seeing if you are paying attention).

Frederiksted in general holds a plethora of activities for our family and you’s.  The BEST beaches, local restaurants, no crowds, SUP, and Kmart West.   Going “out west” is like packing and going from Austin to San Antonio for the day.  You don’t need to stay the night, but you want to make sure you have plenty of snacks on hand for the drive.

Stay tuned for more Let’s Be Tourists.

What’s Your Lifestyle?

You pretty much know mine, but just to be sure, my über cool friend Ginger (her real name) came over recently on one of the hottest, sweatiest days to take our photos.  Of us just doing nothing but our regular day at home. Our “lifestyle”.   Of course, we had to schedule the shoot; and it took everything in me NOT to stage my kids or my house.

BACKGROUND:  Ginger, her husband and two adorable boys moved to STX about a year ago.  We met at a random yoga  – happy hour.  I immediately noticed the “not from around here” yoga attire.  “Um, are you the Barefootmom?  I read all your blogs….” is how our friendship started.  We don’t get to hang as much as we’d like, but when we do, we have a blast.  Sometimes…tooo MUCH fun (is that possible?)

Ginger is another “barefoot” SAHM who needed an outlet to save her from the day-to-dayness of two energy-time sucking offspring and a DH who works too much for living in Paradise (but don’t they all?).  She turned to her camera and one bad ass PhotoShop Program.  Don’t ask me the name, I have no clue.  She started taking photos and people started noticing the beauty and uniqueness of her images.  I’ve always said “anyone can take photos, but it takes a different kind of person to have a relationship with their subjects”.  I’ve worked with several photographers on this island, and some just make you feel comfortable, you just want to take your clothes off and open a bottle of champagne (right, Schoyer?) And Ginger is one of them.  Here is why:

There is no fussiness with Ginger.  She loves what she’s doing.  She makes you feel comfortable, your kids don’t even know she is around busy snapping from different angles, capturing moments other than smiling faces.  And the Lifestyle?  She LOVES that because its YOU, your FAMILY in their natural surroundings, doing what you do, feeling comfortable.  Not some fussy I’ve-Planned All Their Outfits and Lets Sit Here and Pose Photos.  Don’t get me wrong, she does those  too, if you want (I’ve planned out outfits for the next idea session).  Enough with what I think, here is what she captured of our day:

Baking:

Wasting water in the sprinkler:

Oh!  Can’t forget – chores still have to get done!

Some assistance from my little helpers:

Quiet time:

Snacking:

This is us in all our paradise glory of St. Croix.  We didn’t even go to the beach this day!  And we still look pretty happy!   Oh how I wish all my blog photos could be this dreamy…THAT would be paradise!

I have always been a huge fan of hiring a photographer to take family photographs while on vacation, even more so now that I have my own little family.  Vacation or your normal, boring life in Paradise, it’s worth it for Ginger to capture those unique moments for memories to last a lifetime.  The possibilities are ENDLESS!  Building a sand castle at YOUR favorite beach, kayaking, hiking through the rainforest, strolling on the Christiansted boardwalk, playing at the Fort, riding bikes on the Frederiksted waterfront, planting in your garden, doing crafts with your kids, putting together a puzzle…any ol’ day at home will do!  Hell, she’ll even make doing the dishes and laundry look heavenly!  

If this style of photography interests you, I encourage you to contact Ginger and discuss your options.  She is FULL of ideas, loves fun props (think bubbles, tricycles, dump trucks, your baby’s favorite blankie…) and is soooooo open to your ideas.  Hop over to her blog, PhotoBloomGL, to see more of her work and to get her contact information.

**** You’ll also notice a new header image and other dreamy images sprinkled throughout the pages on my Barefoot Blog.  Those are Ginger’s too!

Challenge Update: 33% Complete

Remember My Challenge? Well,  the folks at WordPress are doing a great job keeping me motivated and on track with my post-a-week-blog challenge.  I feel like EVERYTHING I do, I should blog, or I think of it in terms of a blog post.  For your sake, be glad I don’t post EVERYTHING (“hey mom, watcha’ doin’? Oh, just trying to go to the bathroom.  Oh, that’s cool, you think you can get the glitter out?  I want to do a glitter project.  NOW.”)

Ever since I started the post-a-week-challenge, I have successfully posted at least once in a seven-day period and usually more often than that.  I have a slew, a SLEW of drafts waiting for images for your viewing pleasure.  I enjoy so much letting you know what it is really like for us in Paradise: BEACHES, FISHING, and FRESH FISH EVERYDAY.  Money falls from the sky so we can put gas in our boat to fish and go to the beach.

A nice bonus to posting more often is that my site statistics rise.  Prior to the challenge, I would receive 50-75 visits a day.  Now, my goal daily is 100 and the REALLY good days run into the 250′s.  I just have to find interesting things to keep you coming back for more. (Tell me, like what?)

Upcoming topics for posts about my paradistic-life include: Water, Water Everywhere, The Post Office, Night Time Noises, and You Do What You Gotta Do.  There are many fun local events that take place over the summer that I plan to highlight.  Mango Melee is a mango festival that takes place in July where I want to kick butt with a Mango recipe.  Any suggestions??? And do you even know what MELEE is me-son?

Thanks to all of you for the support; thanks to the random people who recognize my kids then realize I’m The Barefoot Mom and then thank me for being honest; and thanks to all the folks who support what I have to say by linking my barefoot blog to their own site!  You’re the best!

I am ALWAYS open for post topic suggestions. Currently, they consists of day-dreamers who want to pack it up and move away from reality.  I am here to tell you that reality lives here in Paradise, it’s just more expensive.

What’s on your mind?  Leave a comment with an idea you feel I have not touched on that you’d like know more about.  I’m not scared! Yet….

x to the o-

bfm