linne -- You can see some STJ ornaments here:
http://www.pinkpapaya.com/chor.html

I love seeing the pictures of your decorations and how you celebrate Christmas! We had an advent calendar when I was little too. My mom sewed it by hand. It was a wall hanging shaped like a Christmas tree and at the bottom there were 25 "ornaments" which my brothers and I took turns hangin...

Your pics are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

My favorite salad to serve at this (or any) time of year -- toss the following: 1 package of fresh baby spinach leaves 1 very small, thinly sliced red onion (or less) 1 small Granny Smith apple julienned/bite-sized slices 1/4 cup currants (or raisins or chopped dried cherries) shaved manchego cheese...

My all time favorite is "River" -- the original Joni Mitchell version of course, but I also like James Taylor's and almost any other version. Second favorite is the entire Vince Guaraldi Trio's "Charlie Brown Christmas" -- in continuous rotation on our CD player right now. I neve...

Luminaria says they only allow children over age 6.

My husband and I did a zipline tour in the Daintree Rainforest near Cape Tribulation in Australia earlier this year. It was a blast. Even my husband enjoyed it and he is afraid of heights. They definitely have them in Costa Rica too. They strap you in so many ways that there is no danger at all, plu...

I think Mango Bay looks nice:
http://www.caribbeandays.com/stjohn/4be ... obay.shtml

It generally boils down to either Nikon or Canon. If you already have any Nikon-compatible lenses then go with Nikon; if you have Canon-compatible lenses then go with Canon. My husband and I are big Canon fans but both are good.

It is definitely OK. I did not even know to ask for a discount and assumed since it is high season that discounts would be out of the question and we would have to stay at a less expensive place instead of our first choice, but the agent offered us one because we were staying for 10 nights instead o...

Hi Jim, I think Blue Caribe lacks A/C (don't know if you'll need it; everyone is different that way), and Time Out is on the south shore. Luna Vista is shared w/ owners. Check out the Honeymoon Cottage at http://www.stjohnusvivillas.com/honeymooncottage.htm. I have not stayed there yet (DH & I w...

Good article...but it says Skinny Legs serves fries. ?

Does anyone know which one is Honeymoon Cottage? I zoomed in on the area where I know it is, and there are only a few I can see there, but I don't know which one it is.

Lisa, Thanks! I did some quick checking and I think you're right. It'll probably be cheaper to just get a new camera designed for underwater use. I love that the price of digital cameras has gotten to the point where you can pick up a new one for something like this and not have to break the bank! ...

Suggestion for you -- for the cost of that underwater housing you could get a great little underwater camera. My husband and I both have Canon digital SLRs (me the 30D, him the 5D) but for snorkeling it's nicer to have a tiny, light, digital point-and-shoot that is waterproof and has a wrist strap. ...