This is the perfect dress to wear if you get invited to a destination wedding or a resort New Year’s Eve party. Lovely design by our magnificent Puerto Rican designer, Stella Nolasco, from her “Politano di Mare” fashion show.
Dress: Stella Nolasco; Make-up & Hair: Alfredo Monterola; Photos: Raquel Pérez-Puig; Location: LL
Copyright © 2015 UVA Investment, Corp. All rights reserved.
From Stella Nolasco’s Spring/Summer Fashion Show. I love this particular dress because it does have a Spanish air to it. Sophisticated yet totally “décontracté”.
Dress: Stella Nolasco; Makeup & Hair: Alfredo Monterola; Photos: Raquel Pérez-Puig
Location: LL
Copyright © 2015 UVA Investment, Corp. All rights reserved.
Marie Tere et Moi wearing Resort Look by Mont Carpe Diem (787) 539-4848
Mont Carpe Diem is a charming paradise in absolute tranquility. Luxury & relaxed for nature lovers. A quiet oasis to renew your body and soul. Surrounded by nature in a peaceful and private atmosphere. Mont Carpe Diem is a farm resort located in the Puerto Rican tropical rainforest on the border ranges between Aguas Buenas, Bayamón, and Guaynabo, away from crowded areas yet not too far from the city. 30 minutes from Plaza Guaynabo.
Two charming luxury cabins in the woods overlooking nature, with large windows which give them a fresh air of captivating tranquility. With air conditioning and private bathrooms. The cabins are uniquely designed combining warm elements with French country style influences. Paintings by the owner enhance their walls. Both are near the pool bordered by nature.
The natural environment of the farm is a habitat for certain species of birds, coquis, peacocks and doves, our quotidian guests! It is a wonderful place to just relax in the cabin, by the pool, or in the Balinese house structure by our little pond listening to the perfect sounds of nature, spotting an occasional lizard or peacock or taking a relaxing massage.
We welcome our guests to our home to have the involvement of living as a member of our family, to have a real experience of local life. The main house is adorned with the owner’s painted art, charming objects and stunning views. It is provided with cable TV / Netflix, WI-FI internet. Large loft kitchen with ocean and forest view from our enormous open terrace.
You can dine finely in the open air of the Caribbean. A variety of refreshing drinks, as well as our “Quick Menu”, are available to our guest at any time with light and simple dishes. Also, delicious gourmet homemade dishes, made using traditional recipes and influences of some of the richest cuisines in the world such as the French, Italian, Spanish, Eastern, and Asian; of course, the Caribbean, are available with prior notice in the “Menu Gourmet”. The ingredients used to make our dishes are bought fresh every day. It is for this reason that we kindly request to our gently guest, inform us in advance what they want to eat from “menu Gourmet”
Our spices are fresh from our garden or directly brought from France and the Middle East. You can collect fresh eggs from our chickens to prepare your breakfast every morning.
Our farm-hotel is ideal and oriented for nature lovers, outdoors sports, young adults, Senior Citizens, corporate brainstorming, honeymooners, couples, friends, family reunion, wedding celebrations and anniversaries. If you choose Mont Carpe Diem it’s almost certainly because you are the type of traveler looking to get away from the heavy touristic zones and will love to have a more authentic, personal experience. We, the owners of Mont Carpe Diem, will be available to satisfy our customers with very personalized service. You can design your stay here, tailored exactly to your likings. We will fulfill your every desire.
As part of our amenities are the hiking, the aqua-aerobics exercises, stretching, and physical exercises out of water guided by a professional of physical culture and sports.
There isn’t anything within walking distance from Mont Carpe Diem but you can visit the local restaurants and bars to enjoy our famous cuisine and hospitality a few miles away by car.
Only 25 minutes from the city of Guaynabo, malls, restaurants and commerce’s, 40 minutes from Old San Juan, 30 minutes from Bacardi’s factory, 50 minutes from El Yunque rain forest and beautiful Luquillo beach with our famous local food “Kioskos”. 30 minutes approx. from Ocean Park beach and one hour from the natural reserve Cabezas de San Juan in Fajardo and the Bioluminescent bay as well as marinas and the ferry to Vieques and Culebra islands.
The property is completely private in a closed farm. Pool, walking paths, forest, a small lake with Balinese house structure, parking, etc., belongs to the property. Our guest can feel free to enjoy each of these spaces within our property. The neighborhood is safe and quiet.
You can find guides and information about places to visit, local cuisine restaurants, beaches, and adventure and navigation options. Books, maps, and pamphlets of places to visit are available for our guests. Main highways are just a 35 minute from Mont Carpe Diem. Exploring Puerto Rico requires a car rental.
Our rental agreement must be signed in order to rent the cabins.
For additional information about pricing, services, and packages depending on the season, contact: reservations@montcarpediem.com or call us: (787) 539- 4848 / (787) 459- 5620
Here are some of my picks from my blog. Most made by local designers. Hope you enjoy them.
Interviewed by Enrique Kike Cruz at NotiUno 630
Wearing silk draped dress by Gustavo Arango. Ethnic Jewelry by Lido Jewelers; Stylist: Carlos Rubén Rodríguez; Hair & Makeup: Alfredo Monterola; Photos: Pablo Díaz
Cayleen is one of the most beautiful women I have seen. And I’m not only talking about physical beauty. She is an amazing human being. She is sweet, lovable, hard-working and professional.
She has a very clean and sophisticated look. Cayleen is a very well-known model. Although she works most of the time based from Miami and travels a lot for her modeling assignments, she spends half of her time in Puerto Rico. She is married to Puerto Rican and loves the island. She loves the beach, of course, and finds Puerto Rican women to be exceedingly elegant. She has directed many photo sessions in Puerto Rico for different campaigns.
She recently opened her blog: https://cayleendavies.wordpress.com and it’s been quite a success, so has her Instagram page and YouTube channel where she does tutorials to help other girls who are trying to become models.
Because of her blog, people on the island are beginning to recognize her even though we can see posters of her at stores in Plaza las Americas and has done campaigns for many international clients that we have seen in the local magazines and newspapers.
Besides modeling, she is the co-founder of a company called “24-7 Creative Group”, that works at creating and executing campaigns for different international clients and national brands. She also has a line of jewelry made of seeds from the Amazon that sell through the internet at: http://www.cayisa.com
Her style is best-appreciated in her ‘Street Style’. Very casual, modern, yet highly stylishly put together. And yes, at night she does look lovely.
Loving mother of a three-year-old. I’m sure very soon she will take over the island by storm.
Beyond Elegance for sure.
So proud to have her on my list.
Copyright © 2015 UVA Investment, Corp. All rights reserved.
Más Allá de la Elegancia: Cayleen Davies
Cayleen es una de las mujeres más bellas que he conocido. Y no estoy hablando solamente de belleza física. Es un ser humano muy especial, dulce, amorosa, y extremadamente trabajadora.
Tiene un look sofisticado e internacional. Es quizás la razón por la cual esta modelo, nacida en North Carolina es elegida para tantas campañas alrededor del mundo. Aunque trabaja desde Miami, Cayleen está casada con un puertorriqueño y pasa la mitad de su tiempo en la isla, a la cual adora. Por supuesto, le fascina la playa pero también considera a la mujer puertorriqueña sumamente elegante. Está muy bien impresionada con la moda y los diseñadores de Puerto Rico. Ha dirigido varias campañas para diferentes clientes en la isla y trabajado con modelos locales.
Recientemente abrió su blog: https://cayleendavies.wordpress.com para ayudar a chicas que quieran convertirse en modelos. También tiene Instagram y su canal de YouTube con tutoriales. Esto ha ayudado a que ya la reconozcan en Puerto Rico a pesar de que en tiendas de Plaza las Américas hay posters con su imagen, como también hemos visto anuncios con su imagen en las revistas y periódicos locales.
Además de modelo es co-fundadora de la empresa “24-7 Creative Group” empresa la cual se dedica a producir y ejecutar campañas para clientes internacionales y marcas nacionales. También tiene su línea de joyería hecha de semillas del Amazona la cual vende por internet en: http://www.cayisa.com
Su estilo es mejor apreciado en su “Street Style”. Muy casual pero a la misma vez sofisticado. Y sí, de noche luce regia.
Amante madre de un varoncito de tres años, estoy segura que va a convertirse en un éxito en la isla.
Definitivamente más allá de la elegancia.
Orgullosa de tenerla en mi listado.
Copyright © 2015 UVA Investment, Corp. Todos los derechos reservados.
Laura Font reminds me of me because she always has a new beginning. Always rises like a Phoenix. She is the “Unsinkable Molly Brown” (That’s what a good friend always calls me. If you’re a millennial, google this)
Graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities from the University of Puerto Rico, she now holds the position of marketing director at the very prestigious Saks Fifth Avenue Store at the Mall of San Juan. And they couldn’t have made a better choice. With her truly classical yet always modern look, she is the epitome of a Saks customer. Extremely polished, well-mannered, master in the social graces, Laura has always been a great representative of every important job she has held. When she talks in public you watch her in amazement because she has mastered this skill. You can tell she knows her subject exceedingly well and her speech comes out totally effortless. Laura comes up to people as a very strong woman. An Anna Wintour style, strong as a true Iron Lady.
Yet behind this powerful woman is a very lovable soul. She has been a volunteer for the past nine years to “Taste of the Islands”, a charitable culinary festival held yearly on the island of Vieques to raise funds for the “Reach for Success” organization, dedicated to providing scholarships to the young students in Vieques.
Truly an amazing friend. Loving mother of Daniela and Pia who have taken after her mother’s steps and they themselves have become amazing entrepreneurs.
Her hobbies include reading, watching movies, dancing. She enjoys good food and friends. Laura is very fond of animals, music, art, and a good conversation. Never misses a Rafael Nadal tennis game. Loves to travel. Fond of flowers, the sun and the sea.
When I ask her who her fashion icon is she answers: “I love fashion but It’s hard for me to choose only one designer. There is so much talent out there, so much beauty and history to choose from. I would not mind to be dressed daily by a Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta or Valentino. But I’m quite lucky because here in Puerto Rico, we have great fashion designers who create wonderful outfits and represent us magnificently abroad”.
“I like living in the Caribbean. I am proud to be Puerto Rican. I truly love my country”.
And yes, we’re so lucky to have her here.
Beyond Elegance for sure.
So proud to have her on my list.
Copyright © 2015 UVA Investment, Corp. All rights reserved.
Más Allá de la Elegancia: Laura Font
Laura Font me recuerda en muchas aspectos a mi misma. Siempre tiene un nuevo comienzo. Se levanta como el Ave Phoenix. Es una especie de “Unsinkable Molly Brown” (así me llama un buen amigo. Si eres un “millenial”, google it.)
Se graduó con un bachillerato en Humanidades de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, actualmente funge como directora de mercadeo de la prestigiosa tienda Saks Fifth Avenue del Mall de San Juan. Y no podían haber conseguido a alguien que los representara mejor porque Laura es la perfecta presonificación de la clienta de Saks. Siempre elegante, clásica pero a la vez moderna.
Laura siempre ha sido digna representante en cualquier trabajo se ha desempeñado. Cuando la escuchas hablar en público es fascinante porque domina esta habilidad. Te das cuenta de que conoce muy bien su tema y la escuchas maravillada. Laura tiene una imágen fuerte al estilo Anna Wintour o la Dama de Hierro, Margaret Tatcher.
Ahora detrás de esta imágen de mujer fuerte tiene una muy lindo aura. Hace 9 años que es voluntaria de “Taste of the Islands”, festival culinario benéfico que se celebra en la isla de Vieques cada año para recaudar fondos para la entidad “Reach for Success”, dedicada a proporcionar becas de estudio a jóvenes viequenses.
Tremenda amiga, dedicada madre de Daniela y Pía las cuales han terminado siendo tremendas profesionales a la altura de su mamá.
¿Sus hobbies? Leer, ir el cine, bailar, la buena mesa y los amigos. Tiene muchos intereses. Ama a los animales, la música, el arte, una buena conversación. No se pierde un juego de Rafael Nadal, le encanta viajar, adora las flores, el sol y el mar.
Cuando le pregunto quién es su ícono en la moda me contesta: “Me encanta la moda pero no podría escoger uno solo. Hay tanto talento, tanta belleza y tanta historia de donde escoger. No me molestaría ir vestida todo el día de Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta o Valentino. Pero soy afortunada porque en Puerto Rico cuento con grandes diseñadores que crean piezas maravillosas y nos representan estupendamente”.
Le encanta ser caribeña, isleña. Se siente orgullosa de ser puertorriqueña. Ama a su tierra.
¡Qué suerte que la tenemos aquí!
Definitivamente más allá de la elegancia. Orgullosa de tenerla en mi listado.
Copyright © 2015 UVA Investment, Corp. Todos los derechos reservados.
Happy, dynamic and loving. That’s the Elena I know.
When you see Elena at a social gathering you forget what she does for a living. She looks straight out of a fashion magazine besides the fact that she is a lot of fun and she’s always so happy. She wants to break the stereotypes. Her job doesn’t dictate her fashion. Truly believes that to succeed in a “man’s world” you don’t have to stop being a lady.
Elena doesn’t have a definite style of dressing. She likes to experiment with different styles and her fashion sense is highly intuitive.
Even though medicine is her passion, Elena loves to party and I believe that’s exactly what keeps her mentally healthy because dealing with patients and human pain all day long can take a heavy toll on anyone’s psyque.
Elena Alvarez Westwood graduated from Science at the “Universidad Pontífica de Ponce.” Afterward, she was accepted at the Ponce School of Medicine were she completed her studies in medicine. She then moved to Connecticut to continue her studies in Norwalk Hospital/ Yale University. Here she did her residence in radiology. She then moved to Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami to complete her residence in diagnostic radiology. Completed a fellowship on “Breast Imaging” at the University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial where she was also Assistant Professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine.
For the past nine years, she has worked at Pavía Breast Imaging Center in Santurce as a radiologist and has dedicated herself to the early detection of breast cancer.
Elena recently joined the campaign “Man and Woman of the Year” of the “Sociedad contra la Leucemia y Linfoma” to be able to help people in the investigation education and support to patients dealing with blood cancer.
All her studies, academic preparations, work, and engagements have not been a deterrent from her enjoying her family and her friends. Mother of three boys, Elena still has time to enjoy her children, go to parties and to the beach on weekends.
Her fashion icon is Princess Diana of Wales. And she quotes a meme that is doing the rounds at the moment: “In a world of Kardashians, be a Diana.”
She wakes up every morning for her kids but she looks forward to arriving to work every morning to help women stay healthy, happy and fulfilled.
Beyond Elegance for sure.
So proud to have her on my list.
Copyright © 2015 UVA Investment, Corp. All rights reserved.
Más Allá de la Elegancia: Elena Alvarez Westwood
Alegre, divertida y dinámica. Así defino a la Elena que conozco.
Cuando ves a Elena en un evento social te olvidas de cuál es su profesión. Parece salida de una revista de modas además de siempre ser tan simpática y estar siempre tan alegre. Ella quiere romper con los estereotipos. Su profesión no dicta su vestimenta. Considera que para triunfar en un “mundo de hombres” no se tiene que dejar de ser mujer.
No tiene un estilo definido al vestir, le gusta experimentar y su gusto es básicamente intuitivo.
A pesar de que la medicina es su pasión, a Elena le fascina fiestar y creo eso es sumamente saludable pues lidiar con pacientes y con el dolor humano día tras día es fuerte para la psiquis de cualquier médico. Le fascina el caos en el cual vive.
“Elena Alvarez Westwood completó un bachillerato en Ciencias de la Pontífica Universidad Católica de Ponce. Posteriormente , es aceptada en la Ponce School of Medicine donde completó sus estudios en medicina. Se muda a Connecticut para continuar con su preparación en Norwalk Hospital/Yale University donde completa el año como requisito para la residencia en radiología. Luego se traslada a Mount Sinai Medical Center en Miami para completar su residencia en radiología diagnóstica. Completó un fellowship en “Breast Imaging” en “University Of Miami / Jackson Memorial” donde también fungió como Assistant Professor de la Universidad de Miami School of Medicine.
Durante los pasados nueve años se ha desempeñado como radióloga en Pavía “Breast Imaging Center”, donde se ha dedicado al diagnóstico temprano de cáncer de seno.
Elena se unió recientmente a la campaña “Man and Woman of the Year” de la Sociedad contra la Leucemia y Linfoma para beneficiar a muchas personas a través de la investigación, educación y el apoyo a pacientes de cáncer de sangre.
Todos estos estudios, preparaciones académicas, trabajos y compromisos comunitarios, no han sido óbice (me encanta esta palabra “de domingo” la cual mi marido utilizaba constantemente) para que Elena disfrute de la vida, de sus tres hijos, de las salidas nocturnas y de la playa en los fines de semana. .
Su ícono en la moda, Princess Diana of Wales. Me citó esa frase que está corriendo por las redes en estos días: “En un mundo de Kardashians, se una Diana.”
Se levanta todos los días por sus hijos. Pero llega a su trabajo feliz diariamente para ayudar a las mujeres a manterse sanas, felices y realizadas.
Definitivamente más allá de la elegancia.
Orgullosa de tenerla en mi listado.
Copyright © 2015 UVA Investment, Corp. Todos los derechos reservados.
What I like the most about our local designer Gustavo Arango, are the fabrics he uses for his dresses. They are absolutely sublime and extremely fine. This silk dress with or without the top is truly simple yet amazing. Very, very feminine. Pair it with necklaces from Lido Jewelers and you have a winner.
Behind the Scenes with Alfredo Monterola make-up artist and Carlos Rubén Rodríguez model/stylist.
Behind the Scenes with Iche Demel from Lido Jewelers, Carlos Rubén Rodríguez and Alfredo Monterola.
Annette Vaillant 