Hope the weather holds up

As predicted by the weather gods and Weather Underground, we have been experiencing off and on rain for the past few days. The night before last, I got word via Facebook messenger from Aimee that our BRC-SP meteorologist Frank said “expect rain on Friday and Saturday and then skies will clear right before the parade on Sunday.”

It is shaping up to be a very busy weekend and I am hoping the rain does not put a kibosh on too many things. After Aimee’s relay of the weather message above, a few of us came to the agreement that tonight’s event, a private catamaran birthday party would go on rain or shine. The San Pedro Town Council also deemed Sunday morning’s rescheduled Independence day parade party will happen rain or shine on their colorful Facebook page invitation. Hopefully for the musicians and DJ’s, shine will be the case. As for the other events, I’m still waiting on an answer from Felix and I chatted with Molli last night. She said that she will be rescheduling the fashion show if weather is an issue.

Funky Fashions for Comfort and Beach

Ak’bol Yoga Retreat and Eco Resort is hosting a Saturday afternoon fashion show. Featuring Tiki designs and Mollikultra swimwear with Jewelry by Belizean Arts.

The event is from 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm and will have free appetizers and cheap drink specials in the early afternoon with show starting at 4:00 pm. Bean Restaurant will have entree specials for those that would like to enjoy dinner after the show.

About Tiki re-inspired wear

Kirsten Miglio (Tiki) owner of Ak’boL Yoga Retreat Center & Resort Belize for 7 years, yoga instructor for 19 years, Mom for 18 years. Her clothing line was inspired by her nickname Tiki that she has had since being a baby growing up in St. Lucia.

Kirsten has always had a little hippy dippy, edgy bohemian look to her designs and her past clientele spanned from Rock and Roll bands to Drag Queens and Club Kids.

18 years ago when daughter Sophia was a new born in the sling while she finished a Gothic wedding, Kirsten vowed that was her last order for the time being and plunged into Motherhood and Yoga, knowing she would one day create again. Once a designer always a designer at heart.

Last year Kirsten turned her forth bedroom into a designing studio and created an outlet for to express her creativity during slow season. Her new mantra only wear clothing that is comfortable enough to sleep in.

What’s up next for Tiki design wise? Yoga wear that’s fun to wear off the mat too.

Tiki and Mollikultra  fashin showshow

MOLLiKULTRA what’s in a name?

Molli (definition: “ecstatic”) K. Ultra ( definition: “extremism” ) Ecstatic Extremism for arts, travel and culture.
MOLLiKULTRA is a fashion and textiles label specializing in swim, resort, and active wear. Inspired by cultural arts, MOLLiKULTRA’s creative direction promotes the native customs and charms of various locations including the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and other coastal regions of the USA.

Mollikultra Swimwear

Full Moon Concert

San Pedro House of Culture  under the guidance of National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) always appreciates community support as it helps keep them going strong in providing us great events. This time it is a full moon concert at Sandbar beachfront hostel and restaurant. Live Belizean music and entertainment on the beach under a full moon is a great way to spend a Saturday night. Since Sandbar has a large covered area this event will likely still go on if it downpours.

Full Moon concert

Getting involved in another countries fundraising

I have been networking with Mel from the popular hostel Roatan Backpackers for a while now as she found my blog and asked if she could share my tacogirl flight coupon codes with their guests, many travel from Roatan to Belize.

When she wrote me the following message I was of course equally happy to help her find a couple of local businesses that I was pretty sure would be willing to help their cause.

Hi Laurie,

Every year, I help out with fundraising efforts of a non-profit healthcare clinic on the island, Clinica Esperanza. One of their main events is coming up, it’s a fundraising auction, so I’m trying to think of some good, new things that maybe could be donated. Do you think there would be any businesses there that might be interested in donating? If we could get the airline to donate a RT flight to Belize, and combine it with a hotel that would donate a couple night stay (as there’s a 90 day limit for tourist visas and many expats who live here don’t bother with residency, a place to go for a couple days would be of interest to many). If you think there might be anyone interested, and you have a contact with the airlines.

And if you know anyone that might be interested in bidding for something in Roatan, there will be an on-line part of the auction, I’ll send you a link when I know what it is (tons of businesses here donate stays, diving, meals etc, so if anyone from Belize is interested in planning a vacation here, they could get a good deal).

Mel

I wrote her back with a yes and a Tropic Air contact for her to ask about flights. They are always helpful to the Belize community when it comes to hot ticket fundraiser prizes so I was hopeful they would support Roatan too since they fly there. I also mentioned I would put my thinking cap on for finding a hotel to donate.

Hi Laurie,

More about Sundae by the Sea Roatan Fundraiser

Sundae by the Sea is an annual fundraising event that Clinica Esperanza hosts in West Bay Roatan. This year it will be on October 4th and will be held at Caribe Tesoro, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

This popular fundraiser has it all going on –  great food, live music, auctions of some fabulous donations such as hotel stays, fishing, boating, spa and restaurant discounts and more. If you are in the area go enjoy a fun family event in support of a great cause.

Clinica Esperanza has been offering quality medical care to all the island’s families for many years now. They are also expanding their community outreach services, their birthing center is reopening and the clinic is  getting ready to start their vaccination program. With this event they also hope to help children with special medical conditions. In the past months, they have provided special healthcare to patients with cardiology problems, spina bifida, and endocrine disorder.

If you want to support the Clinica Esperanza in any way here are a few options.

• Go to the event; there will be a live and a silent auction for you to participate.
• Go online to and bid on any of the many articles listed there.
• Donate something for us to use in one of our auctions. With this, you will get recognition on our website and in our newsletter which reaches thousands of recipients worldwide.
• Contact  Nurian Castro nurian@clinicaesperanza[dot]org or Peggy Stranges at peggy@clinicaesperanza[dot]org to make your offer.
• Please click through learn more of what Clinica Esperanza is all about.

On behalf of all the families they serve and the many volunteers and staff, Clinica Esperanza would thank everyone very much for their continued support.

So many fabulous raffle prizes

Many local Roatan and a couple of Belize businesses stepped up to help this worthy cause.

1. Bananarama Resort: Sushi at Captain’s Corner.
2. Bananarama Resort: Sunday brunch for 2 people  at Vintage Pearl with 2+ 1-hour paddle board rental.
3. Bananarama Resort: 2 nights stay for 2 people in a Queen Garden Cabana. Includes breakfast, kayaks, beach chairs, welcome drinks & beach towels. Not valid for X’mas, New Year´s or Semana Santa.
4. Beach Grill at Blue Bahia Resort: Beach grill dinner.
5. Bite on the Beach: $30 worth of food and drink.
6. Bite on the Beach: $30 Worth of food and drink .
7. Boho Beach Club: Food and drink.
8. C Level Cafe & Bar: Food and drink up to $25.
9. Canin Investments: 3 nights at Infinity Bay Spa & Beach Resort, blackout dates apply. 19% sales tax not included.
10. Celeste: 3 hour special at Serenity Day Spa.
11. Celeste: a 6 course lobster dinner for 2 included a bottle of champagne.
12. Clearwater Adventures: 2 discover scuba diving courses.
13. Cocolobo: 1 night stay for 2 people including breakfast.
14. Coconut Tree Divers: Sunset booze cruise for 10 people.
15. Coconut Tree Restaurant: Dinner for two.
16. Comedor Aminta: Two lunches.
17. Creole’s Rotisserie: Half dozen cinnamon rolls.
18. Dr. Dennis Clements, MD: 1 week stay at Coral Vista#3.
19. Ecodivers: 3 single tank dives.
20. Frangipani Restaurant: Dinner certificate for $50.
21. Hangover Hut: Hangover cures.
22. Infinity Bay Resort: 3 nights  & breakfast in a 2 bedroom villa.
23. Infinity Bay Resort: Romantic dinner for two on the beach.
24. Island Diving Center: Open water certification.
25. Island Diving Center: 5 Dive Package.
26. Kismet Private Romantic Dinner for 2 on the beach w/land+sea, appetizer, desert and a bottle of wine or champagne.
27. Kismet: $30 worth of food & drink.
28. Kismet: $30 worth of food & drink.
29. Lala Gallery & Café: Food, drink or merchandise.
30. Long Island Tours: Half day land tour for 3 people.
31. Lonnie Miller: 2 hours of deep-sea fishing.
32. Murphy’s Roatan Tours: East end tour for 4 persons.
33. Neptune’s Restorant/Grill: Lunch for 2.
34. Paul Witherow: 1 week stay at the Mayan Villa @ Turtle Beach, West Bay (Beach Front).
35. Reef Gliders Dive Center: 1 five dive package for 1 person.
36. Roatan Divers: 5 Dive package.
37. Roatan Tec Center: 1 sidemount specialty course.
38. Scuba Roatan 2 dives+2 t-shirts.
39. Sea Quest Roatan: 1 two tank dive.
40. So Tropic: $25 gift certificate.
41. Sun Divers Roatan: 2x introduction “Discover Scuba Divers”.
42. Sundowner’s Charters: Half day fishing for 4 people.
43. The Landing Bar & Restaurant: $30 certificate.
44. The Lily Pond House: Food/drink.
45. The Meridian: 3 nights stay for up to 6 people in secondary villa w/roof top deck & pool.
46. The Meridian: 3 nights stay for up to 6 people in secondary villa w/roof top deck & pool.
47. The Meridian: 3 nights stay for up to 6 people in villa.
48. The Meridian: 3 nights stay for up to 6 people in villa.
49. The Roatan Hostel @ Sandy Bay: 1 week stay.
50. Tranquility Spa: Massage/manicure/pedicure.
51. Upachaya: 1 hour of paddleboarding.
52. Upachaya: 1 hour of paddleboarding.
53. Verde Management/David and Susan O´Neil: 1 week  at Casa Ladera; Subject to availability – Not Semana Santa or Christmas Week.
54. Victoria´s Restaurant: Lunch for two.
55. Kathy Pride: 4 days and 3 nights in SeaView condo at Blue Bahía; Subject to availability – Not Semana Santa,  or Christmas Week or New Year’s.
56. Three Sisters: Half day fishing or snorkel.
57. Roatan Life Vacation Rentals: $400 gift certificate toward any vacation rental.
58. Konah Isle Corp.: 1 week stay 1 bedroom condo at Infinity Bay.
59. Sophiestication Beauty Salon: gift certificate.
60. Star Copy: $20 gift certificate.
61. Minelly’s Beauty Salon: Cut and blow dry.
62. Victoria’s Sports Pub: Breakfast for 2.
63. Barefoot Cay Resort: Charter snorkel trip for up to 6 people to Pigeon Cay, $600 value, and a dinner for 2 with bottle of house wine, $75 value.
64. MixMax Cardio: 2 month gym membership.
65. Tropic Air: Round Trip Roatan-Belize space available*
    *Reservation may not be made unless you are willing to pay full fare if space becomes unavailable. If you are willing to pay for the seat, you may make a reservation with the notation that you have a gift certificate. This means that you will pay for the seat the same as a paying passenger except that if a seat becomes available you will not be charged. Travel is restricted during the periods November 15th thru November 28th, December 20th thru January 10th, and Easter week. Not valid to use on dates of any sales or specials. The ticket is non-transferable and not redeemable for cash. Fees and Departure taxes, if applicable, are payable by the passenger. Expires one year after date of issue.
66. Caribbean Villas Hotel: 2 nights stay including continental breakfast at Amber Beach Bar and Grill. Some date restrictions apply.

To  bid on this amazing prize list and help a great cause even if you are not in West Bay Roatan, visit the 9th Annual Sundae by the Sea Online Auction page.

Kids playing outside the Roatan Clinic

Clinica Esperanza helping those that need it most

Many families are helped by Clinica Esperanza

Clinica Esperanza recognizing the importance of healthy eyes

Kids getting much needed routine medical attention

The clinic has a strong pediatric department

The free clinic has a good pharmacy to help those who cannot afford it get their medication