I've been considering writing a post about the recent tornado we had sweep through our state Sunday April 27th simply because this blog is supposed to be dedicated to travel however, I've come to the conclusion that of course I'm going to write it...

Sunday, April 27, 2014 is a day I will never forget. Communities less than 10 miles from my home were destroyed by nature. A Tornado 2 miles wide stayed on the ground for 90 minutes and was an F3. I was sitting in the comfort of my home watching the news and ready to jump in my closet at anytime. Luckily, my home and city were spared but our neighbors weren't as lucky. The death toll is at 16 in Arkansas with many more still missing and injured. Andrew and I both went out with separate groups yesterday to help where we could.

It's hard to look at the ruble and imagine that houses once stood in the place where there is nothing. While I was combing through pieces of people's homes I was overwhelmed with the sense of helplessness. I truly hope that the little amount we were able to do yesterday helped in some way. Our God is a mighty God and I can only pray those that are lost right now seek him in the aftermath of this disaster.

In this photo, I'm standing where a rock house once was. Unfortunately the resident of this home did not make it. This destruction made me pause and say prayers for all the things I'm thankful for. I am blessed to be a part of a community that helps others in a time of need.

May God bless the great state of Arkansas and all those affected.

Okay, you're probably thinking... really... Iguanas?! But let's think about this for one second. Where I live in the states (Arkansas) things like squirrels run around crazy style but in the Caribbean their "majority animal" is an iguana. For whatever reason, I'm actually pretty terrified of these things. They look like a dinosaur to me which quite frankly, aren't friendly creatures.

Let's take a closer look: Iguanas are a type of lizard; they are native to tropical areas of the Caribbean and Central/South America. Some of these suckers can grow to be over 4 feet long! What I've learned is the iguanas found in the U.S. Virgin Islands are Green Iguanas.  

Since they live on an island, can they swim?! Apparently, Green iguanas can swim but they aren't that great at it. Mainly, they live in the trees. Can you imagine taking a nice walk and hearing something scurry around in a tree to look up and find this 4 foot long  green dinosaur stalking you?! I... just... can't!

So, here's my main question and the most important... Are iguanas dangerous? We've got a nature reserve walking trail at our villa in St. Thomas (side note: I'm super excited about this trail). I exercise several days a week so I'm sure I will be putting the walking trail to good use but what about the dreaded run-in with the Green Iguana.... especially... if I have Louie! Luckily, I've found Green Iguanas aren't really dangerous in fact, they are more scared of you than you are of them. I'm thinking I can come up with a crazy dance so if I ever see said iguana on my nature walks I can scare it away!

One thing I won't be doing while there: wearing red toe nail polish! Iguanas feed off of leaves, fruits, and flowers and the red nail polish might make an iguana think my toes are small fruits or flowers! This has actually happened to people... um hello, scary?!

PS- If you ever go to a destination where iguanas are common don't feed them. If they get used to this they will become a nuisance and possibly dangerous.

I hope you've found this post informative. I think I'll rest easy knowing the iguana shouldn't attack me anytime soon.

XOXO

Let's say you were going to travel to the Caribbean for an extended stay, what would you bring? I've been trying to make a running list of things that might not be readily available to me while in St. Thomas like it is in the US.
Since almost everything is imported, I've heard if you see something you like or might need to use multiple times buy more than one... it might not be there when you go back!

My list seems small and petty so far so I need some help... check it out:
-Bath and Body works lotion and shower gel
-Medicine
-Straightener (maybe I won't need this since my hair will be a frizz ball)
-Make up (I doubt they have a State beauty supply)
-Social Security card, marriage certificate, driver's license, passport, and birth certificate

I'm clearly missing some things... add your input in the comments section.

PS- I will be taking clothes don't worry, this won't become an episode of "Naked and Afraid" but I figured clothes was a "duh" thing to list.

For my first post, I wanted to give you a little background as to how I decided I was going to start a blog. Andrew and I have done a lot of traveling and plan to do quite a bit more so, I thought... why not share with everyone?! This blog is going to be a place for all of our friends and family to keep up with our happenings. Here's what's going on in the next few months.
May 2014: We are going on a catamaran trip to the British Virgin Islands. We will spend an entire week on the boat sailing to each island and exploring. 
July 2014: This is our annual "Melton family vacation." Andrew and his family have been going to Hilton Head since he was 10 years old. This year will be my 4th trip to the island. We love this tradition.
Fall 2014: We are planning for a big trip, unsure where at this time.
I hope you all enjoy reading about our experiences. If you have any questions or want to hear about a topic just ask!
XOXO