The simple blessing of being here

A personal note from Juli: A year and half later, I might finally be starting to be adjusting to a life here sometimes and in Colorado the rest of the time.   Colorado has offered all that we required when we moved and I am eternally grateful, but I have to say- St. John still feels like home.

As we prepared for the journey down here, I found myself getting frazzled by what has become the hassle of flying these days.  Inflated airfare prices, security checks- shoes off, shoes on, does that qualify as a child's liquid, overweight baggage, extras charges for everything, and seemingly smaller seats had me thinking I was never going to travel by air again.  Motion sickness in the taxi from the airport, missing the targeted ferry, traffic and noise!  But then....
                                                                 ...sigh....
you board that ferry, sit down and breathe in the sweet air of Caribbean breezes.  Suddenly it is worth every hardship.  Just to be here- for the holidays!  Away from the mass-produced commercialism that has become the holiday shopping season and away from the cold.   Colorado and the East Coast may have had a picture-perfect White Christmas, but we had the beach!

My favorite parts about being down here are the friendly faces.  Whether you have been to St. John twice or twenty times, chance are you will recognize some people from your last trip.  Those of us that live here are loyal to this little rock and we love to share it's beauty with travelers. 

Inspired by Dana's article on stand-up paddle boarding, I tried it.  What a wonderful way to spend a day!  This is an activity that one can do alone, with friends, or even with your small children.  If you haven't tried SUP yet, I encourage you to read our Winter newsletter for some tips and GET ON THE WATER!  If you are familiar with sup, then why are you sitting in front of your computer?  Get to the beach!

I wish you all a blessed and peaceful 2013.  May this year help us to move past some of the darker parts of 2012. 

Interested in the January promo?  Check the website for savings on gel nails.  New promos every month so make sure we have your email address!

Good Afternoon from the beautiful island of St. John, in the US Virgin Islands!  My name is Dana Neil and I am the new manager at Drift Away Day Spa, the premier day spa in the VI.  As I sit on my porch overlooking the south shore of our tiny Caribbean island I am reminded how lucky we are to have such beauty surrounding us.  SO, whether you live here on-island with us or you are a visitor to our little piece of paradise, or if you are just dreaming of the day you too can join us here on St. John, we at Drift Away wish you all a very warm Hello!! 

               As September settles around us, the island of 5,000 seems to be at its sleepiest.  Though we are in the heart of storm season, the weather could not be more peaceful and sultry.  The water is 80 degrees and clear, perfect for snorkeling or just floating in the sun.  I, myself, spent the day with friends at Cinnamon Bay this past weekend, soaking up the sun and feeling the soft white sand between my toes.  With all that sun, even with all the sunscreen I applied, I still managed to be just a touch too sun-kissed, but not to fear…Drift Away always has something just right to make my skin feel better!  Eminence has a line of products derived from the plant Stone Crop, which is all about hydrating the skin.  The Stone Crop Hydrating Gel soothes, heals and evens skin tone to help minimize skin pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles and the signs of old or even new blemishes.  Stone Crop also increases the hydration of skin and slows the signs of aging!  YES!  That sounds like it’s just what I (and every other woman I know) want. 

               As I sit back and listen to the waves run up onto the shoreline and see the kaleidoscope of intense island colors surrounding me I cannot help but be lulled into a peacefulness I sometimes forget about when I am going on about my busy day.  I have to remind myself to slow down and FEEL the beauty our island of St. John brings to us.  When I move too fast, I forget sometimes to listen to what my body needs, and in this sleepy time of late summer I am reminded to slow down and take care of myself…for it is the PERFECT time to totally lose myself in a massage treatment or a body scrub.  Allowing that peace to settle over me as my muscles and bones are convinced to relax and enjoy!  I mean, who wants to say no to that sentiment??  Certainly, not this girl J