I had no idea what to expect when I heard we would be traveling to the Dominican Republic. I had never been anywhere tropical, nowhere south of San Diego, and had never been to a completely all-inclusive resort. To say that I was in for a treat is a severe understatement.

Our trip to Punta Cana was a working holiday (as John was on the clock) but having just that slice of Caribbean heaven for 4 days and 3 nights was enough to make me want to return, and constantly pine for that white sand between my toes. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

The following guest post was contributed by Amanda Coolidge.

This summer the heat is on (literally!) in the arts world of Vancouver and to add to the ever-growing repertoire of fabulous artistic events in the city, are The Miss Guides – a Vancouver-based artist collective.

April Smith & Peter Davies of AHA MEDIA on behalf of W2 Community Media Arts

Featuring Natalie Doonan, Katherine Somody, and Sean George, The Miss Guides lead performative urban walks, uniquely blending historical tour with performance art. Their current hour-long walk, Walking the Ruins: Fragments of Vancouver, is “rooted in the idea of Ruins as ‘fragmentary remains,’ and attempts to piece together conflicting visions of the city by making unexpected connections between four diverse and surprising sites of past- and present-day ruin. From breath-taking attractions, such as Harbour Centre’s The Lookout, to contentious projects like the new Canada Line, The Miss Guides turn their lens on a city gearing up for international pageantry.”

April Smith & Peter Davies of AHA MEDIA on behalf of W2 Community Media Arts

This alternative sightseeing experience is not to be missed by both locals and tourists, and provides an opportunity to rediscover the city through a creative approach to urban space.

April Smith & Peter Davies of AHA MEDIA on behalf of W2 Community Media Arts

Although all performances/walks are sold out, The Miss Guides are offering private walks for the same price. Gather 6 – 8 friends for $20 each (includes the $13 admission to Harbour Centre) and enjoy an evening of walking through the city through narrative and performance art. You never know what you may discover in the Vancouver urban space!

For more information you can visit themissguides.com, follow them on Twitter @TheMissGuides, or join their Facebook group.

Amanda Coolidge is an Educational Technologist at BCIT and freelance writer/photographer based in Vancouver.

The following guest post was contributed by Naomi and Ryan of to be, inspired.

I’ve been going to the Cloverdale Flea Market for the past 10 years. It’s located right next to the Cloverdale Horse Track and costs a dollar to get in – totally worth it. If you like to people watch, this is the place for you.

Photo credit: Naomi & Ryan on Flickr

There’s a fantastic mix of all sorts of sellers trying to unload their wares – I’ve seen everything from old motorcycles to antique sewing machines, although the selection has shrunk a bit since I started going. In the Spring and early Summer months you’ll find a ton of bedding plants, hanging basket plants and any type of bushes and tree roses for almost half off regular retail prices. You’ll also find that the flea market is split into two sections. The outdoor section consists of anybody and everybody that buys a table and brings whatever they can haul in their cars. I’ve been lucky in the past – you just need to have a sharp eye. Some of the things I’ve managed to snag are:

The second half of the flea market is inside two buildings. Here you’ll find more of the “regular” sellers who sell a carefully edited selection of trinkets like glassware, watches, cellphone things (yawn) and other more fragile products.

Don’t forget to bring cash! If you do, there is a bank machine next to the concession stand. Don’t forget to haggle – that’s the best part, and as the flea market season progresses, I’m trying to hone my skills. The only piece of advice I have is to respect the seller’s item and don’t low ball an offensive price. If the seller really wants to sell you the item, you can make an offer and if he doesn’t accept it, just walk away slowly. I’ve had sellers run after me and say FINE FINE I’ll accept your offer.

Flea markets can be hit or miss. You can spend hours scouring the tables, rummaging through bins of trinkets and still come up empty handed. The Cloverdale Flea Market is no exception, however this summer I seem to be having a lot of luck finding fun and unique items. There’s nothing more satisfying than coming across that gem.

Cloverdale Flea Market
Cloverdale Fairgrounds
60 Avenue & 176 Street
Every Sunday (except special events and holidays)

Naomi and Ryan share a passion for all things old and the inspirations you can draw from them. Through their blog, to be, inspired, they explore (with a vintage twist): design, style, decorating, refinishing and other cool stuff both locally and globally.

After so many sunsets with John on the West coast, we enjoyed our first Carribean sunrise together this morning (and I’m not referring to the drink). We went on a mini photowalk down to the beach to capture this breathtaking sight and we’ll be back again later today to enjoy some of that sun, surf, and sand.

The resort is absolutely wonderful, even though we’ve only seen about 20% of the entire property so far. I’ll be exploring later today and look forward to trying out more of their cuisine (and perhaps a drink from the swim-up bar in the pool).

Since I couldn’t decide which sunrise photos to post (of the 9 I have uploaded) you can view the rest of my photos on Flickr and John has a set up as well.

This afternoon John and I landed in the Dominican Republic for a quick (albeit work-related) trip.

It’s my first time ever in any place considered tropical so it’s completely captivated me. The sights, the aromas, the sounds, and the instant humidity fogging up my camera lens. We’re in very good hands at the resort so I’ll have a full write-up upon our return but for now, check my Flickr stream for photos. I’ll have most of my trip updates in the form of photos over the next while — and boy I can’t wait to walk over and see that beach.

I would like to say a big Thank You to all those providing guest posts this week, there’s more interesting and unique content to come over the next few days.