Pirates of Caribbean!

Dominica has one claim to fame, can you guess what it is?! Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl was filmed here. The cast & crew stayed in Portsmouth (where we live) for part of the filming. According to rumor, they stayed in the Portsmouth Beach Cottages, and you can stay in a "Johnny Depp" or "Orlando bloom" cottage if you come to visit.

To celebrate my good friend Kristen's birthday this weekend, we decided to take a trip up the Indian River where a part of Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed. Somehow I had never gone on the river tour, even though I pass by it all the time! I even pulled out the good ole DSLR for the trip.

To satisfy your curiosity, I've put together a few comparison images for your enjoyment.

I love these silly girls. One of my biggest worries when we moved to Dominica was that I would be lonely. Just the opposite has happened! The med-school spouse community was so warm and welcoming. There is something about being stuck on an small island with similar daily annoyances that really brings people together. {Survivor was lying: there's no voting anyone off!}

Interested in seeing more? Clare has more pictures from our adventure on her blog, take a peek!

Blogger Pet Peeves

I've had Priceless Adventure for nearly two years now. {Read my first post!} In that time, I've transitioned from a purely personal blogger to branching out into the blogging community. Over the last few months I've been putting my heart & soul into blogging and interacting with other bloggers. In that time, I've come across a few things that just irk me. Let me share.

• Comment Moderation

Turn it off! You will not get spammed, promise! Nothing is worse than going to leave a comment and then having to guess at the word verification. Be kind to those of us who might be reading on our iPad or phone. Leaving a comment from my iPad is nearly impossible if comment moderation is turned on. At this point, if I don't get it the first try, I just don't comment. You don't want that! Turn the darn thing off.

Here is how (you didn't think I'd leave you hanging, did you?)

It doesn't matter if the word verification is on, so long as Comment Moderations is set at "Never." Please, for the love of the blogging community, turn the comment moderation off!

• Sponsor Integrity

I love sponsor swapping with like minded bloggers. I have met a few great people that way. My pet peeve is when someone asks you to swap but doesn't read your blog, or offers a teeny tiny spot in exchange for your large space, or says they are putting up your button, but never do. Have some integrity!

Please read (& enjoy) my blog if you are going to swap with me. I read every blog on my sponsor list, and I comment regularly because I'm genuinely interested in what you have to say and think others might like your blog too.

*p.s. I tidied up my sponsor section today, if you'd like to be considered for the rest of April please send me an email. For the sake of my own integrity, I'm only going to share buttons of like minded bloggers who are active followers of my blog. {check out Kate's awesome post on this topic!}

• Daily Link Ups

There is nothing wrong with a weekly feature or two, but when everyday is a link up it gets old quickly. Sunday Confessions, Wordless Wednesday, Thursday Thirteen, Friday Fancies.. The thing I love most about reading blogs is getting to know other people. It's sort of like reality TV. When I read the same things over and over, it bums me out. Be original! Tell me a story about your day or week. That's the reason I read, not to see some fantasy outfit that neither of us can afford.

• Display Fonts

Please, make the main text of your blog a readable, clear, reasonably large font. {do I need to say neutral color? or is it obvious?} No one wants to read your blog if it is written in a hot pink cursive font at size 10 (or 16 for that matter). There is a reason Verdana, Arial, and Georgia exist: they are readable. Please, have all the fun you want with your header & sidebar titles. Even your block quotes. But make your blog text plain & readable!

Journey Forward ∴ 8 - Relaxing in Dominica

Happy Easter! This week I have definitely been working on my one word, Relax. The assignment was to share pins of pictures that exemplify your word, but I haven't spent much time on Pinterest recently (crazy, huh?). Instead, I've been out running around the island with friends, enjoying the last few days of beautiful weather in Dominica.

What I love about Dominica is that there is always a new place to visit. In almost two years, I'm still finding new places to go & new adventures to have. Sadly, everyday the humidity has been increasing. By next month, there will be fewer & fewer days with a cool breeze. Over the next few months, I have a feeling that my relaxing time will be spent on more water-based activities.

I hope you had a wonderfully relaxing spring weekend! If you'd like to catch up on my Journey Forward, here are the links to my last posts. Next week I will be doing a quarter year review!

1  ∴  2  ∴  3 ∴  4 ∴  5 ∴ 6 ∴ 7

4th Semester Reflections

Every semester, the spouses hold a Farewell Banquet to say goodbye to those who are leaving. It's crazy to think I've spent almost two years living in Dominica. This small island has become my home. I am so glad that we decided to stay on for Chris's 5th semester here because I just don't think I'd be ready to leave in 2 weeks.

For all of my complaining about the lack of Starbucks & shopping, there are so many wonderful things about living here in Dominica. Take yesterday for example. The lovely ladies in that last picture & I hopped on a crowded local bus and went for lunch on the other side of the island. It was Thursday - and we just took off.

This semester was full of milestones for me, but most importantly, I finished my Masters Degree and started Priceless Design Studio. I know for sure that neither of these things would have happened for me back in the states.

Another highlight of the semester has been really getting involved with the blogging community. I treasure the budding friendships I've made with other bloggers around the world. In some ways, I think it has kept me both sane & grounded. Living in a small town on a small island you just don't get to have conversations with new people very often, and I need in my life. The encouraging words & comments from you guys have helped me to remember just how lucky I am to be here.

Happy Birthday Sissy-La-La!

Today is my little sister Julie's birthday. We are only 18 months apart, which put us two years apart in school. We looked a lot alike when we were younger. My mom says that people thought we were twins when we were really little.

Being that close in age, and having pretty different personalities, we had our share of fights & "hating" each other years weeks days. But I am so thankful to have had her by my side growing up. She was my partner in crime and constant friend. She knows me, the good & the bad, and loves me the same.

She is the kindest, most gentle hearted person I know. The things that might have bugged me growing up have turned into things I admire about her now: the ability to slow down and relax, how friendly and kind she is to everyone she meets, and her free spirit.

Julie, I am so glad that you are my sissy-la-la. 

You are a beautiful, strong, compassionate woman who I love & admire. 

Happy Birthday!