Say cheeeeeeese...!

Mainly because I am not afraid of a challenge, because my blog has survived the "terrible two's" or perhaps because I just need another reason to take photos, I've decided to take on [yet] another photo challenge.

But this one is not going to be as long as my first one, the "famous" 100 day photo challenge I took on last year, but just a little tinie tiny 30 days one, which will involve the following;

Now, I am going to try to take every photo with my phone and with Instagram, but in certain cases it won't be possible because for example, you can't really take a long exposure photo with Instagram- not sure about the phone camera either (like on Day:16), but I am still going to try to do them all via this app.

It should be.... a piece of cake!

So, stay tuned!!!!

Have a great Thursday :)

Wisdom Wednesday

At times when we need help to remind us of what's important, what we need to be changed or just to hear the right answer to an unsolved situation. No matter the day or the time, we can always use some words of wisdom.

So today on my blog, I've decided to share some, hoping those will bring a little light into the dark places we sometimes keep inside our souls.

Hope you found some inspiration on the Wisdom I shared today and now you can go out into the world and spread the love and joy to others!

Happy Wisdom Wednesday!!!

3 Lucky Fishes

First things first. Today I would like to thank all my readers that left me a comment and signed up for the chance to win one of my "Lucky Fish Pouches".

But before I reveal the winners, I would like name the 3 things I myself, like about my blog:

1. This is a place where I can share parts of my life with everybody and anybody that is willing to give me a few minutes of their daily reading.

2. Through my blog I have met some amazing people from all the corners of the earth, with some of you, my daily interaction have gone beyond the writer/reader relationship and has developed into a wonderful friendship.

3. Having a place to share my love an passion for photography, animals and my crochet projects.

So, now off the winners.

The first "Lucky Fish- Pretty in Pink" goes to my dear friend Joan @ God's Little People. Hers is one of the very first blogs that I ever found and now after 3 years of following her amazing love and dedication to animals (specially cats), I am convinced that it was faith who brought us together into Blogger world.

Thanks Joan for always stopping by my blog, for your kind words and specially your friendship... Hope one day I will be able to meet you in person.

Joan's "Pretty in Pink" Lucky Fish

The second fish "True Blue" goes to Caren @ CAT CHAT. Caren and her cat Cody have a wonderful blog, all about Cats- can't go wrong with that being that I love animals and specially cats and dogs.

Thanks Caren for keeping up with my blog via email and for your comments, also thanks for the lovely giveaway my Kitties won on your blog a few months ago!

Caren's "True Blue" Lucky Fish

The Third Lucky Fish goes to Anna E, who has become a regular visitor of my blog and although we are miles away I feel as we have been friends for a long time, she is a great lady and I really enjoy reading her comments on my blog, so Thanks Anna E. for always coming by, hopefully you will get your blog going again soon, I miss reading it!

Anna's "EverGreen" Lucky Fish

As you have probably notice this giveaway was not a random generated one, I have chosen the winners according to the comments, so just as I chose the winners I have decided to add an extra winner.

The 4th Lucky Fish pouch goes to @the bench, a brand new reader and a fellow blogger, I really enjoy reading her blog so it's an honor for me to give an extra fish to a brand new follower/reader.

Because I don't have a 4th fish ready, in her case I am going to ask her to give me some ideas of colors she will like me to use on her fish... So please @thebench, email me here to get your address details as well as color preference!

Hope everybody is happy with the little gift, Caren and @the bench, please send your addresses via email so I can get your little package on the way!

Have a wonderful day : )

Insta-Monday

Today is yet another holiday here on the island (the Queen's Birthday!)... So, even though I had to work on Saturday I still have a full 2 day weekend and even managed to go out with Yanique to watch Madagascar 3 after work on Saturday!


So, in order to celebrate today's holiday I decided to share some of my latest Instagram photos.

First, here are some old , historic and cool places around George Town, which is the capital of our little island.

Cayman National Museum

GT Townhall

Very old tree by the Legislative Assembly building

George Town Library, built in 1939... empty now, new building shown behind it

And now off to some random shots...

Our dogs chillin' on a Sunday

Papperman's Coffee Shop in town

Ocean Front "al fresco" dinner at Morgan's Harbour

My hubby's new Bob Marley tank top

Camana Bay Island Dock

Yanique enjoying the Shell Wall Fountain at Camana Bay

Our kitty Al-bina greeting me when I get home

Yes, in case you were wondering, I do love instagram. It's just that it add up some pizzas to your photos and makes them so cool and different...

Hope u enjoy the photos and that the week is a wonderful one for you!

Thanks to all the reader that have left a comment on my giveaway 3rd blog-versary, there's still time to sign up and win, so good luck!

Happy Monday and week ahead!!!

3 time's a charm!

There are many things in life that come in three.

The Holy Trinity; Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

Birth, Life, Death.

Body, Mind, Soul. 


Past, Present, Future


Land, Sea, Sky.


Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere.


Our daily meals; Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.


Three primary colors.


In baseball; 3 strikes and you're out.

And who hasn't heard this?: "Okay ready? On three... 1, 2, 3"

But then also in books, there's the "Three Little Piggies", "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", "The Trilogy of Lord of the Rings",  "The Three Musketeers"... just to name a few.

When it comes to movies or TV, there's; "The Three Stooges", "Three's Company", "The Three Amigos". Also if you decide to call upon the "crazy ghost" of Beetlejuice all you need to do is call his name 3 times.

All in Three... Because three is the "magic number".

But today, 3 means a celebrating of my blog being around for 3 Years in a row!!!

Happy Birthday "Such Life in the Tropics"

It's been some interesting 3 years, some days are filled with inspiration, others not so much. Have met some wonderful people with amazing ideas and willing to share their lives with me, thanks to all those reading and commenting, and sharing my life and silliness via this little window!

So, in order to really celebrate this accomplishment of keeping up with the blog for this long, I am going to do a little giveaway. It's just like a "Three magic wishes" but without the Genie!

To enter you have to be a follower of Such Life in the Tropics.
Mandatory entries (you can leave one comment for each entry and have more chances to win). Must do at least 1 of these:

• Leave a comment telling 3 things you like about my blog.
• Blog about my giveaway on your blog.

Additional Entries:

• Grab my button and put it on your blog.
• Follow me on Pinterest or Instagram [user: caymansunshine]

Giveaway is open to anybody that meets the required entries, regardless of "geographical location" a.k.a. located anywhere in the world and open until Monday June 17th at 12am EST.

So, you might ask; What's in it for me? As always it will include something handmade by "yours truly" plus an extra something from the island where I live.

These 3 little guys will be part of the giveaway

But, but, but... then comes the best part is for this giveaway (I think), this time there's going to be 3 winners!!! [well, as long as I have at least that many people sign up, LOL!].

"Pretty in Pink", "Evergreen" & "True Blue"... 3 lucky fish!

Now, go on, comment and be a winner soon.

Happy Blog-birthday to me!!!

Aww-nimal Lover

The way I see it, there's a hole in life that can only be filled with animals!

Did you know the word "animal" comes from the Latin word animalis, meaning "having breath"?


But of course animals go way beyond "having breath". To me animals are all so different in their characteristics, but the same when it comes to being true to their instinct, heart and soul (contrary to humans) and they always live in the now.

photo source my pinterest board

Over the weekend we watched a movie called "We bought a Zoo", have you seen it already?

It is a great story of family love, moving forward and of course animals!

And although I don't 100% agree with the Zoo scenarios when it comes to animals being free, I do agree with the fact that in some cases some species are better off in a place where they are secure, feed, getting proper medical care and alive... And if you don't think so, just ask the Rhinos in Africa who are hunted down to extinction every day.

photo source my pinterest board

photo source my pinterest board

So, if you haven't watched "We bought a Zoo" and you love animals, please do yourself a favor and watch it, hopefully you won't be disappointed.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Paint job

Well, I am no Picasso but you know what they say "a little paint job could go a long way".

My recent project (which was started and completed in one day) was a very simple one.

Thank you to everybody that commented yesterday, unfortunately this wasn't a very artists project, but one that need to be done to get better usage of an area while decorating it a bit differently.

The main focus of my little project was our tiny bathroom, which needed a little character plus more storage area, so when I found the piece of the puzzle that was missing, I knew it was time to proceed with some changes.

This is how our bathroom looked like before the "makeover".

And now, this is how it looks after some much needed "TLC" and of course, paint!

Pretty nice, eh?

That one "piece of the puzzle" is the new cabinet on top of the toilet, big enough to hold everything that didn't have an area before... I simply love it and it was so easy to accomplish, all in one day off!

Happy Tuesday!!!

Caution Wet Paint

It's Monday but today I am home as I trying to make up for extra days I am going to be working as my boss leaves for 3 weeks on vacation very soon.

So, today I am home and working on a little paint project that I have been contemplating for a while, and no, it's not the kitchen cabinets (yet!).

photo via pinterest

Weekend was good although it looks like my match relationship with Yanique (my men-tee little sister) hast taken a bad turn, I won't really go into details right now, but perhaps I might be getting a different little assigned very soon- not sure how I feel about that entirely!

Anyway, more on my little project tomorrow, with photos for before and after!

Oh, almost forgot, today I am also linking up with Meg and her Mingle Monday, so if you would like to find some new amazing blogs, make sure to visit her... Just click here!

Have a great Monday and beginning of the week!

World's Ocean Day

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.

Jacques Cousteau

In the words of famous explorer Jacques Cousteau, today I want to pay tribute to my favorite place our planet earth, the Oceans.

Today is World Oceans Day, a day in which we need to honor and celebrate this wonderful body of water that links us all, for what it provides and what it represents.

But why are Oceans important (you might ask)?

The Oceans cover about 2/3 of the Earth's surface which helps create the atmosphere in which we live. 

These great body of waters impact our daily weather and climate. But most importantly the Oceans are home to thousands of marine species and invertebrates, creating amazing habitats that we can only imagine.

So, what can we do to honor and help such an amazing and important part of our planet?



Perhaps we think that one individual cannot make a difference, but that is not true.Every day tons of plastic and garbage gets thrown into the sea, making it hard for sea animals to swim and in some cases they even get killed when confusing food with garbage.

But we can make a difference, with simple changes:


Stop using single-use plastic water bottles.  In nearly all cases, the water out of your tap is just as safe – if not safer – than the water distributed in single-use plastic bottles.   Instead, buy and use a reusable bottle and fill it with water.


Stop using plastic grocery bags.  Each year over one trillion plastic bags are used worldwide.  Because these bags are so light and thin, they are easily carried by the wind out into the environment.  Instead, use reusable bags to get your groceries and other purchases home.


Buy a reusable travel mug.  Use a reusable travel mug or to-go cup for your coffee, tea and other beverage purchases.  Think of all the lids (as well as the waxed paper cups) you’ll save.


Always look for alternative packaging. Many items such as soft drinks, detergent, cat litter, etc. come in alternate packaging (such as aluminum or cardboard) that can be more easily recycled than plastic.


Buy and sell secondhand before tossing it.  Clothing, toys, baby gear, furniture, household supplies, sporting goods and many other consumer items can often be found through secondhand sources, thereby reducing the amount of new plastic entering the waste stream.


If each one of us makes a pledge to at least change one of our ways with plastic and garbage, I know that  together can make a difference from this...

To this...

Being that I live on a piece of land surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Ocean is a HUGE part of my daily life, I am an avid swimmer and diver, considering it almost like my natural habitat, so I myself pledge to protect it and make a difference today and every day for future generations... Are you with me?




Here's to many more centuries of cleaner oceans, for me and you and future generations!!!

Happy World's Ocean Day and happy weekend : )

in transit

As Venus was in transit by the face of the Sun (yesterday), I am glad to say so we are, weather is been beautiful the past few days, making up for those torrential rains a few weeks ago!

So, yesterday after work I got home and my husband was watching the whole spectacle that Venus was putting for us to enjoy, he even took some amazing photos of the whole thing, so if you were not as lucky to have such view yesterday, just visit his blog here and see the pics!

Monday was a holiday so we went visit my Brother and SIL, had a great time with them and it was so awesome to see them again, on our drive back while my hubby did the driving I took some pictures (with Instagram- of course!)...

Coconuts & Casuarinas

Old Caymanian Porch

Boddentown Bike Ride

For those readers that are on Instagram and feel like following me (promise to follow back!), my user name is Caymansunshine.

Have a great Wednesday!!!

Now, that's a yard!

Over the weekend we hired some gardeners to come and do some very much needed landscaping in our yard that was over grown and massively high in some areas after the rain we had a few weeks ago.

So we went from this...

To this now...

And from this...

To this...

Of course it now looks all brown, but I am sure it would get pretty green once we get the next shower.

I am so happy I decided to do this because our yard needed a bit of form and such a thing can only really be accomplished by actual gardeners (well I could probably do it but it would be a hell of a huge job!)...

Now, if only we could get those annoying chickens to stop digging on every plant, then we can really have a nice yard!

Have a wonderful week!

Monday OFF

There's nothing like starting the week with a day off.... Makes you really appreciate the other 4 business days, right? Well maybe not, but it's still very nice!

Today we are home but going to visit my Brothers and SIL in the afternoon, haven't seem my brother in more than a month as he was away in Saudi Arabia on business, glad he is back!

Many years ago I read a wonderful book  "Como Agua Para Chocolate" or in English "Like Water for Chocolate" by Mexican author Laura Esquivel.

It is a great love story that tells the life of Tita, the youngest of 3 sisters that was pretty much born and raised in the kitchen and mainly because she was the youngest, her Mother decided that it is her faith to never marry so in the future she will take care of her in old age.

Tita grows to be a wonderful cook and with her delicious and in her almost magical recipes she literally puts all her emotions in every dish which she passes along to all those that eat them... The she falls in love with the wrong person, her love is corresponded but because of her faith she is unable to fulfill it...

There's much more of the story that I don't quite remember right now...

Then, years later (after I read the book) the movie came out and like most books that are turned into movies, it was not as good as the written version, but it was a good movie over all.

Why am I now after all these years thinking about such a story?

Well, on Saturday I tried a new recipe for flour less chocolate cookies and while trying to melt some chocolate, then it dawned on me a possibility of why such a story has that name...

I have to say it wasn't the first time I've ever melted chocolate, in fact I've done it many times before very successfully, but on Saturday I learn the hard way, what not to do.

I guess I was in a hurry to get it done so by mistake I set the water on the double burned too high and by the time it started boiling, the water splashed on the chocolate and that did it, I was never able to melt it.

So after about 1/2 hour trying to melt it, I gave up and went to do some research online. Well almost every articles on the subject says that once water touches the chocolate it will become dry and hard, making it impossible to melt...

Well, perhaps now after years of reading the story by Mrs. Esquivel, I finally think this could be the reason why she decided on such a name for her book... Or maybe not!

Anyway, I started all over again, and the second time on the melting process was a success and so was the recipe for the cookies....

If you ever have the chance to read the book and specially if you like to cook, I am sure you'll enjoy it. It's available via Amazon here in both Kindle and Paperback edition, I know I am reading it again on my Kindle.

Also on Saturday before my melting "ordeal" I went out to lunch with my hubby and we stopped by a local kitchen ware store that I absolutely love and that I had a gift certificate I won last year at some event... Well, it was time for me to find something to add to my kitchen and I am very, very pleased with my purchase.

I got some very stylish and useful Joseph Joseph Nest Utensils, I love them!

Are those cool or what?!?!? This store has so many amazing kitchen utensils and gadgets that I want to buy it all...

This past weekend I downloaded the very much acclaimed "Game of Thrones" Season 1, can't wait to watch it to see what's all about and why so many people are raving about it... Have you watched and like it or not?

Have a wonderful Monday and and eve better week!