Slow Economy? Quick Fashion Fixes!

We read an article this week in a beading magazine that we just HAD to share with you all.  Since many of us are finding ourselves short on expendable cash these days, AND the holidays are coming up, I (Rachel) think more than a few of us are feeling a little overwhelmed with the prospect of 1) Gift Buying, and 2) Holiday Attire Shopping.  This article made an AWESOME observation.  It said the quickest and most inexpensive way to change the look of an outfit is by changing your accessories.  It can be as complicated as a schnazzy scarf or a sweet pair of boots, OR it could be as simple as a different pair of earrings or a new hairdo.  The more I thought about this, the more wisdom I think it holds.  I mean, a little black dress can be one outfit with a cute pair of Toms and some boho chic jewelry, and something COMPLETELY different with some sparkly earrings, an updo, and some sexy pumps.  But the most expensive part of the outfit (i.e.-that perfect little dress) does its job in both scenarios.  All YOU have to do in order to create an entirely different look is change your accessories.

Gift BUYING for other people can become a task also.  You want to make sure the people in your life feel loved and appreciated, but money is so tight sometimes.  How do you come up with a truly inexpensive gift option if you're not the "DIY" type?  And even if you are, sometimes that "DIY" gift is just not fitting for the "recipient" OR you just simply don't have the time to devote to it.  Because the same thing holds true for everyone, purchasing a fabulous accessory for someone as a gift is something like giving them a gift that keeps on giving!  They get something cute and fashionable that will ALSO expand their fashion options!  Quick fix, fab results!

So this holiday season when you hit the stores or those sales, remember that sometimes the simplest gift can be the most profound!

What's going on with ADKOF this fabulous Black Friday Weekend??  Here's the info:

Friday 12:00 AM-11:59 PM : FREE SHIPPING!

Saturday 12:00 AM through Sunday 11:59 PM : FREE SHIPPING and 15% Off Your Entire Purchase With Code SBSFLAIR

Monday 12:00 AM-11:59 PM : FREE SHIPPING and 20% Off Your Entire Purchase With Code CYBFLAIR

So make sure you go and take advantage of these awesome deals!  We've been posting new stuff like crazy in the last few days, so you'll definitely need to head over to THE SITE stake your claims.  We've got some super cute Christmas Party Accessories that you'll definitely want to get your hands on.  See for yourselves:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Your ADKOF Team!

The Last of the Bahama Problems

Though I am SURE there will be a list just as long of "Dominica Problems" here in a few weeks, I thought I would leave you all with a little insight and some humor.  Right now, Jonathan and I are probably sitting in an airport somewhere (I pre-scheduled this post for today since I knew I wouldn't be writing for a couple of days...).  Our minds are likely FAR from these Bahama Problems as we are most certainly looking forward to being home in the states.  That being said, enjoy a few tidbits from life in the Bahamas...

Bahama Problem #1) Have an appointment at 10:00 AM, call a cab to pick you up at 9:00 (factoring in 'island time' which means they will likely not be there until 9:50 anyway), taxi picks you up at 8:45 and you sit there waiting for your appointment for an hour...

Bahama Problem #2) Have an appointment at 10:00 AM, call a cab to pick you up at 9:45 (since they were so prompt last time), cab shows up at 11:00 AM, you miss your appointment by an hour...

Bahama Problem #3) You and 4 friends call a cab to pick you up at the port and take you home, cab shows up ON TIME (what a concept!), cab is a glorified VW Beetle, all 5 of you cram into the back seat (couldn't be closer if you were Siamese Quintuplets), cabby's son is in front seat with feet propped up (super comfy) while playing a video game...

Bahama Problem #4) Have a hankering for a panini sandwich from Solomon's, walk up to the sandwich counter and ask the girl what her best sandwich is, she goes into detail about what her favorite sandwich to make is and how delicious it is, you say "Mmmm...sounds great!  I'll have that!", to which she responds "Oh, no sandwiches today..."...

Bahama Problem #5) Go to Zorba's (most approachable restaurant in the port), ask for a chicken gyro, waitress says "No chicken gyros today", to which you respond "Ok, I'll just do the souvlaki then", to which she says "No...we are out of everything on the Greek menu", you sit there confused (in the GREEK restaurant) about how best to proceed...

Bahama Problem #6) Go to After Deck (another fairly approachable restaurant in the port), find nothing entirely appetizing and decide to order the chicken fingers from the kid's menu (even if they ARE $10.95), waitress says "No.  You can't have that..." and leaves your table to talk to her manager, comes back and says "Fine...you can have it, but you have to pay $13.95 for the 'adult portion'", to which you say "Fine...whatever...", and when they bring it out, the only thing adult about it is the piece of wilted lettuce they've placed under your 3 chicken fingers...

Bahama Problem #7) Go to the grocery store with ground beef/turkey on your list (never know which one will ACTUALLY be there this week), find ground meats in the back meat bin, pick up a tray, read the label, which says "Center Cut Pork Chops", put the tray down cuz you're not sure you want to risk eating what type of animal might ACTUALLY be ground up on that tray...

Bahama Problem #8) Try to make a grocery list that is simple, include chicken breasts on it (easy peasy dinner option), go to back meat bin, find chicken wings, chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, chicken livers, chicken gizzards, chicken necks, and NO chicken breasts.  The entire chicken is there...except the part you actually want to eat...

Bahama Problem #9) Buy milk that is not due to expire until next week, have a craving for a nice tall glass of ice cold milk later that night, pour yourself that tall glass, sit on the couch and take a giant swig, realize AFTER you swallow that swig that your "fresh milk" tastes more like sour cream, proceed to bathroom to commence gagging...

Bahama Problem #10) FINALLY get rid of the tiny little ants that crawl around your kitchen countertops (no matter how clean they are), put box of cereal on top of the fridge (where you've NEVER seen ants), begin running out of groceries toward the end of your last week in Freeport and decide to snack on some multi grain cheerios, examine the sealed cereal bag thoroughly to rule out ants (SCORE!), begin eating 5 or 6 handfuls of cereal, realize THEN that there are ants crawling all over you...and inside the bag...proceed to bathroom to commence gagging...

Bahama Problem #11) Wake up after a fairly restful sleep to find your entire body stuck to the industrial plastic that your mattress is covered in, peel yourself off and head to the bathroom (cursing that stupid plastic all the way there), and think better of that cursing realizing what the alternative would be if you decided to sleep on the mattress WITHOUT the industrial plastic, decide either way that it sucks...

Bahama Problem #12) Run out of toilet paper at home, head to the store to buy some, find a package of 4 rolls for $12, decide that is OUTRAGEOUS, send husband to campus to steal some from the public bathroom, curse yourself for not thinking about this earlier in the semester...

Bahama Problem #13) Sweep entire house, open front door to sweep everything out, gecko drops from door frame and scurries into house, you run into your bedroom and shut the door to escape certain death...

Bahama Problem #14) Sit on futon after a long day in the Bahamas, decide that hubby is looking particularly delicious tonight, hop over to his side of the futon to get a little frisky, futon snaps in half, landlord doesn't replace it for 3 weeks...

Bahama Problem #15) Mosquito net in bedroom is hung, dog sleeps on bed, dog cannot see mosquito net, dog gets tangled and confused, mommy and daddy are trapped inside mosquito net, dog begins to panic, mommy and daddy are powerless to help...

That's all for now folks...

It's Been Real Freeport (#1)

Today is the last full day in Freeport.  Tomorrow, in the EARLY morning, we will be taking Michelle and Matt to the airport.  We'll see them off to Indiana, and then Jonathan and I will buzz back home, grab the pup and the suitcases, and head out.  We don't actually get to leave until 2:45, but since we have Matilda and it's an international flight, we will have to be there more than 2 hours early.  So we will plan to get to the airport around 12:00.  If leaving was as easy as coming here was, it really shouldn't take us long to get through customs and everything, but we can't take any chances!  So we'll hit Zorba's in the port one last time for a little late breakfast and then head to the airport to drop off our rent car and get checked in.  I can't believe it's almost here!  To quote the best Christmas movie ever (The Muppet Christmas Carol) "After all, there's only one more sleep til' OKC!". So to round out our countdown here, I'll treat you to #1!

What I Will Miss About Freeport #1-

The close-knit-ness of MERP.  This semester only "entertained" about 150 students.  So that, plus being on a tiny island has meant that we've grown to know and love so many people here like we've known them for years.  It really is like a pressure cooker situation as far as relationships go here.  You're forced to become each others' family because you're so far away from your own.  I have been so appreciative to Jonathan's fellow students and the MERP faculty for being so welcoming to me and also for being there for Jonathan.  For making us both feel like we belong here (even if we are old farts...), and for stepping up and being family for us.  We hope that we've done the same for some of you.  This little dysfunctional family has been a lot of fun to be a part of!  This little group will be split up and broken down before we actually get to Dominica (since some will head to St. Maarten), so I know the next 4 semesters won't be like this one has been.  But we are so grateful for the great relationships we've built here and for all the memories we will have of this experience.  This really has been a great place to start.  It's helped us "get our feet wet" in regards to island living, and has really solidified that this medical school thing IS for us.  Isn't that the point of MERP?  So going into Dominica we are solid and confident and ready.  And we couldn't have asked for a better class to matriculate with (no Matt, I did not say micturate...)....

What I'm Looking Forward to in the States #1-

Getting to meet Emma Henderson!  I probably can't express to you how excited I am about this.  I have to confess my intense jealousy of all the people who have already gotten to see her and hold her.  I just can't wait!  We are beside ourselves excited about spending time with Jared and Sara.  We've missed them so much!  And I thought for a while that it would be weird to come to Houston and see them with a baby, but as we get closer to that day, it doesn't seem weird at all.  Emma has just slipped right into the picture and now we are just so pumped to get to meet her.  We are bringing her a little Bahama love (in the form of a baby elephant and an 'island girl' dress)!  Excited doesn't really touch it honestly.  We are excited to spend time in Houston in general and getting to see all our Houston family members (I would list them all, but it would be a phone book y'all...).  We will be in Houston on the 25th (either morning or evening...we're not sure yet...) and we are pumped to see everyone and spend time with everyone.  But this little darling has been sucking my attention for the last week and a half.  So she's in the forefront of my mind.  As are her mommy and daddy...words don't do justice the excitement I feel when I think about me and Jonathan getting to wrap our arms around all 3 of them!

One Day More!!!

We're DONE With School, Just 2 Full Days Left

Well, the MERP end of our med school journey is over, and we could not be more thrilled.  Jonathan did well on his test and we have his hard work and all of your prayers and well wishes to thank for that!  He won't get his official scores for a few days, but he feels really good coming out of the test.  He has worked really hard this entire semester and it really paid off in the end because the final wasn't "live or die" for him.  He went in relaxed and confident which was a total 180 from how he felt going into Mini #2.  That made me feel so much better.  Today we will be errand running like crazy!  We have to take Matilda to the vet for her health clearance to fly home, we have to get some bubble wrap and tape to make sure our stuff gets home safely, and we have to vacuum seal the last of our clothes and linens so they'll fit into our suitcases.  Somehow we've managed to consolidate our packing MUCH better as we're coming home than when we left.  It's all a learning process, so hopefully we'll do better packing for Dominica than we did for here.  At any rate, tomorrow is our last full day here in Freeport.  It's getting real people!  But I do have to say that it's been a little strange for me the pack up this little apartment and get it ready for a move.  It doesn't feel like we're actually leaving!  I think part of that comes from the fact that we've only lived here 17 weeks.  But the other part is just my brain not processing how quickly this time has flown.  It gives me so much hope and peace about the future of this journey.  It's a long road, but God has blinded us to the time it's gonna take to walk it and has accelerated our perception of that time!  What a great God we serve.  He never asks us to do something He won't equip us to do.  Medical school at all might have sounded like an impossible feat in the beginning, but He called us to it and He'll get us through it.  Here's looking forward to the next 18 months which will be the LAST 18 months we'll spend in the Caribbean (at least as residents)!  Here's #2 in our countdown...

What I Will Miss About Freeport #2-
The many Sunset Lodge stories.  This is more of a memory than something that I will actually miss.  Even though we don't live at Sunset, a large majority of the students here do (including the Wellses).  So we find ourselves over there a couple of times a week, and we spent like 3 straight days there during the hurricane.  Sunset is sort of like "grown up dorms".  It is an actual apartment complex, but they only lease to students.  So you can imagine what kind of place it is when you cram a couple hundred med students all under one roof.  When they're hitting the books or in class, it's quite pleasant.  When the tests and quizzes are over, it's the party spot.  During the hurricane, I literally had flashbacks to my freshman year at OU roaming the dorm hallways doing stupid stuff.  Us old married farts get fed up with it a lot of times, but it does provide us with lots of laughs and plenty of stories.  Oh to be a 28/29 year old married couple interacting with 21/22 year old college students in a college setting again.  It makes me feel old and young all at the same time.  I imagine that Dominica will probably revisit some of these same feelings, but this semester specifically has been one big giant flashback.  We call it our "alternate universe" because it really is.  Some days I look around me and go "Wow, this is a pretty cool opportunity we've got here. We live in the Bahamas!", and some days I look around me and go, "Wow.  I'm surrounded by college kids.  Where the heck am I??".  Sunset Lodge has been a sort of time machine for me...

(Just thought I share a little glimpse of my world with you.  Where am I??)

What I'm Looking Forward to in the States #2-

Shopping!!!!!!  I don't have a lot of money, therefore I will most likely not be doing much buying, however I am so excited to actually get to walk around a mall and hit a Target.  Goodness, that makes me happy!  Things won't be outrageously overpriced (for example-a t-shirt here in the "straw market" will run you about $20 and will not last you more than like 3 washes).  I'm even looking forward to grocery shopping!  For whatever reason, everything in Freeport is crazy expensive.  I'm hoping and praying for at least a little break from that in Dominica, but I'm not holding my breath.  I do think that the upside to having to pay so much for things here is that we've become quite stingy with our money.  Hopefully that will translate to the states when we officially move back there in 18 months.  At any rate, I just can't wait to do some shopping at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, Macy's, Target, you name it.  And if any of you are in the Houston or OKC area and need a shopping buddy, call me!  I will DEFINITELY join you.  Just don't make fun of me if tears of joy stream down my face when the sliding glass doors open...

Tomorrow is our LAST (full) DAY IN FREEPORT!!

#3--It's Almost THE Weekend!

Right now, Jonathan is taking his final here in Freeport.  He has studied really well this week and I'm actually not nervous for him at all.  I'm just ready for him to be done and have something to show for all his hard work this semester.  Pray for him, though.  This test is 4 grueling hours long.  Parts of it are over new material and parts of it are comprehensive.  Thanks to all of you who sent prayers or sweet notes his way this week.  They are SO very appreciated!  Today, I myself am literally sitting around waiting for him to be done.  The bags are packed, the kitchen is cleaned and empty, the floors are mopped and swept, the travel documents are organized, and we are ready to go!  I am really excited for him to get home because it means our 6 week vacation will have officially begun!  But for now, here's #3 in our little countdown:

What I Will Miss About Freeport #3-
Vedant!  Vedant has become a part of our little close knit group here in Freeport.  I started hearing his name towards the beginning of this whole Freeport experience when he became a part of Jonathan and Matt's little study group.  He quickly evolved from study buddy to true friend and we are so grateful to have met him!  Vedant is part of the group here in Freeport that will be going to St. Maarten in December instead of Dominica (he is an American University in the Caribbean student).  We will miss him dearly, and wish him all the best in St. Maarten and in his future endeavors.  He will actually be leaving on Saturday (lucky dog), so Jonathan and I and Matt and Michelle will be seeing him off at the airport.  It'll probably be a really long time before we get to see him again.  We are so happy that Mara and Fatema and Matt and Conrad (and many others) will be accompanying us to Dominica, but it truly will be strange to not have Vedant around when we get there!  Vedant...we love you man!

What I'm Looking Forward to in the States #3-

I was gonna save this one for #1, but I just can't stand it anymore.  I simply MUST write about it.  I am more excited than I can probably express to get to spend time with our families.  I can't wait to see Bernice (who, by the way, is more than halfway done with chemo AND will be completely done with it BEFORE we head down to Dominica!).  I can't wait to put my arms around her and see her face!  I can't wait to see my mom and hug her and talk to her and catch her up on everything.  I can't wait for a big bear hug from my daddy.  Can't wait to spend time with Charlie and for him to see how different Jonathan is after his first semester in med school.  I know he's gonna be so proud!  I can't wait to see Patrick and Nicole!!  Skyped with them Tuesday night and it made me miss them more (if that's possible).  I hear that Granddaddy is doing REALLY well right now too, so I'm looking forward to seeing him and Helen for sure.  And again, I can't wait for him to get to see Jonathan.  I would REALLY like to find a way to get to Alabama to see my Mimol and Pa and Gammy, but I'm not sure we're gonna be able to sway it.  However, just being in the states means I'll get to talk to them more easily which is a SUPER perk in my book.  So in short, I'm just ready to be surrounded by family during the BEST time of the year.  The holidays are built for spending time with family, so I'm so blessed to be coming home during that time.  Jonathan and I will both be soaking it up as much as we can since this time next year will most likely be spent in Dominica (we might get lucky and be able to come home for a week or 2 during Christmas if we can afford it...).  For now, though, we will just be thankful that we get this time this year.  So excited to be HOME!  Even though we are literally nomads right now, HOME is wherever the people you love are!

Can you believe that we will be home in less than 80 hours?!  Ok...mind officially blown...

#4--The Day Before "The Test"

So today is Jonathan's last day of studying.  Tomorrow morning he will go in and take his final.  He is so ready, but I know he'll be nervous later tonight when he goes home.  He has deactivated his Facebook account for now (too distracting), but if you want to send him a quick "good luck" note, email him at jwomackou@gmail.com. He would LOVE to hear from you I'm sure! Today also marks the last full day without him here at the house with me.  So today is also a big day for me.  I'm cleaning out the fridge (we won't be eating here any more this weekend), deep cleaning the apartment (don't want to waste precious time with my hubby mopping floors), and organizing our travel documents.  Among other things...  But for now, here's #4 in our countdown!

What I Will Miss About Freeport #4-
Tyrone.  Though his prices leave my wallet empty (and me pretty irritated as well sometimes...), I will miss him.  We have developed a nice little friendship with him.  He's one of our favorite Bahamians and is definitely the one Bahamian we have spent the most time with.  I will miss his jokes and his coined phrases.  I'll also miss him raving about his wife Victoria (she lives in the states).  Tyrone is a pleasant person and we will miss having him around I think...

What I'm Looking Forward to in the States #5-
MOBILITY!  Although we will miss Tyrone, we WILL NOT miss not being able to get around here on the island without a taxi driver.  My Trailblazer is calling my name at home and I cannot wait to get behind the wheel.  Honestly, though, the best part about having a car is that we at least have the option of going somewhere, even if we stay at home.  If you've never truly experienced that feeling, there's really no describing it.  It's sort of a stranded feeling.  For instance, Jonathan has been gone from 7:00 AM and not coming home until 11:00 PM this week, and we are almost out of groceries (that was on purpose).  I am SO hungry, but can't go grab something.  Neither do I want some creepy pizza delivery person coming to my house in the dark while I'm here by myself.  It's a very restrictive feeling.  I know Dominica will have it's challenges in that department too, but I'm at least looking forward to the fact that most things are within walking distance there.  Here, everything other than Taino Beach is a minimum 30 minute walk one way.  When it's super hot or you're bringing something back with you (or just walking alone), it's basically not an option.  So Trailblazer, here we come!

We are oh-so-close y'all!  Say a prayer for Jonathan tomorrow!

#5 In the Countdown..My Happy Little Family...

Ok, so the ticker hit 5 this afternoon.  This time next week I'll be in the living room at my parents-in-loves' (thank you Micah Duckett for using this term...I hate calling my in-laws "in-laws"...this is SO much better!) shooting the breeze with Bernice.  Oh I can't wait!  But for now, in keeping with my theme this week, here's the #5's:

What I Will Miss About Freeport #5:
Spending lazy days with my puppy!  The decision has been made that we simply cannot bring Matilda to Dominica.  At least not right now.  We're planning to scope things out and see whether or not it would be an okay place for her this first semester and then decide whether we should bring her down in the summer time.  But I have so loved my morning puppy snuggle with her.  Before we came to the Bahamas, those were restricted to Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoon naps.  She's by my side all day long.  Usually she's sleeping, but every once in a while she'll walk over to me and just put her head on my lap.  It's like she's saying, "Mom, it's so cool that you're home with me during the day now!"  It hurts my heart to think about leaving her in the states while we're in Dominica, but I feel like that will be the best decision for her.  I would feel so much worse if we were to take her to Dominica and she were to get sick or something.  It will only be 18 months and I'll get to see her periodically during that time.  Including Skype dates!  I do so love my girl...she's the best puppy in the world and I'm luckiest puppy mommy in the world...

What I'm Looking Forward to in the States #5:
Uninterrupted time with Jonathan for more than 48 hours!  Jonathan has been so busy studying and going to class since we've been here in the Bahamas.  I'm so proud of him and the standards he has set for himself.  The downside of those perfectionist standards is that he has been literally buried in books and notes for 15 weeks here in Freeport.  He is SO ready for a break and I'm SO ready to get to spend some time with him!  As the wife of a future doctor, I know that there are many more years of having to go long stints of time without getting to spend the time with him that I'd really like to.  Med school isn't for sissies, y'all!  This is no surprise!  But I'm really excited to have 6 weeks where both of us will be together and he won't have school or studying to do.  It's gonna be great!

PS-Our jewelry business, A Different Kind of Flair, is doing a follower shuffle for the next 3 days, we need 7 more blog followers HERE and 25 more Facebook followers HERE (or you can click the links on the right!).  Help us out y'all!  If we meet these goals by Thursday we're offering a 50% off coupon code (just in time for holiday shopping!) and one lucky follower will win a FREE BRACELET of their choice from our shop!  Get to following!

Stay Tuned for #4 Tomorrow!