Yesterday we attended a horse show and fundraiser barbeque for The Rotary Club of New Providence here in The Bahamas. My daughter had never met a horse up close before so it was a great chance for her to see them and make new friends in the process! We are trying to experience new things here and this was definitely one.
We had a great lunch of bbq steak and all of the sides thanks for the Rotary Club and it was a beautiful day to get outside. We love to see how many amazing hidden gems are here in The Bahamas. Camperdown Stables is a not for profit location for riding and boarding horses. If you love riding horses and are visiting Nassau make sure to check it out!
This week my family took a quick trip to Miami. We stayed in the financial district in downtown known as Brickell at one of our favorite hotels – SLS Brickell. It is perfect for doing business (many international consulates, financial and corporate offices are there) shopping, dining at amazing restaurants and it’s just a quick trip to the beach. The Brickell area is just over 1.19 square miles so everything is quite close.
Waiting at the airport for our flight
Now that she is 2 she needs her own seat but is still getting used to it
Great day to fly!
The hotel is well situated and walking to the Brickell City Centre for some great shopping is easy (even with a child and a dog). The staff is amazing and so helpful.
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While we were visiting we found two wonderful restaurants fairly close by that have quickly become favorites. One of which is The Salad Box that is a perfect lunch spot (especially for the health conscious). You choose all of the ingredients you want to put into your salad (or wrap) and it’s incredibly fresh and healthy. They also serve soup (both daily specials were great) and smoothies. Perfect for a quick bite and even takeout or delivery.
Salad comes literally in a box!
Trying soup, lemonade and salad
Exterior of Perricone’s
Our other amazing find was Perricone’s Marketplace & Cafe. They have a huge selection of gourmet Italian delicacies as well as a beautiful restaurant with a wonderful outdoor patio (with a wishing well Gianna was obsessed with). They serve fresh bread and a fantastic bruschetta and even have organic options available. We ordered the Penne Pomodoro (which they switched to angel hair for us because they are amazing!), “Gigi’s Eggplant Parmigiana”, and the daily special of Ravioli Stuffed with Mushrooms and a Marsala sauce which was fantastic as well! The atmosphere is wonderful and a nice oasis in the middle of the city.
We did some shopping in the Brickell City Centre which has a great variety of shops and something for everyone. My favorite is Diptyque for candles and fragrance (their new Rose Delight for Valentine’s Day was a must for me – see my previous post about my love of Rose smell & a less expensive rose candle!) and a customary trip to Victoria’s Secret for their after holiday sale. Even as a Mom, sometimes we need something just for us! There is a Zara that has stylish clothes for kids (and adults alike).
Deciding what to order from room service on our patio at SLS Brickell
I have never seen such a dog friendly city. There were so many furry friends of every shape and size. Multiple Starbucks, grocery stores and pharmacies (Publix, CVS, Walgreens, etc) are located within walking distance and between that and the numerous restaurant options a car really isn’t necessary. Between walking, Lyft, Uber and the automated MetroMover (the hotel also offers a house car for close trips for guests) everything is incredibly accessible.
If you are in the Miami area make sure to check out Brickell for a whole new kind of family travel adventure!
Since moving to the Bahamas we have been trying to see more than the normal tourist things you might see on a day in Nassau from a cruise stop. It has been really fun because it’s forced me to think outside of what Trip Advisor (although great) offers and find other events and places you may only hear about from locals.
It was a great event with something for the whole family! Food, music, crafts, games for kids, information about local events and museums and even a “History of the Bahamas Runway Show” featuring some of the local pirates who once lived here. We purchased both conch and cod fritters, local Bahamian Limeade and candied nuts from The Nutty Bavarian (they were really wonderful!).
It is an annual event so if you are lucky enough to be visiting Nassau when it is going on make sure to check it out and learn about real Bahamian culture and local fun!
When my daughter was just over one year old she shot her first product packaging and print job as a model for the company Lulyboo. She had a great time doing it and enjoyed her first day in front of the camera at a professional photo studio.
Waiting for her next shot
Getting to know the Lulyboo products
I have worked as a model since I was a teenager and it was amazing to see her so comfortable on her first photo shoot (I know I wasn’t!). The whole team was so wonderful and knew just how to work with a baby and make her feel at ease. We shot at a studio in San Diego, California and she had a great day.
During the shoot with Lulyboo
Gianna on set with the wonderful women behind Lulyboo
Here is her ad for their Shopping Cart & Highchair cover. It is perfect for travel, has a zippered pocket and even has a place for a tablet or phone to keep kids busy while you shop or dine if you choose to. You can purchase it on the Lulyboo website, at Amazon, ToysRus, Target, Walmart, BuyBuyBaby, Bed Bath and Beyond and many more retailers.
The advertisement for Lulyboo’s Shopping Cart & Highchair Cover from their website
The advertisement for Lulyboo’s Shopping Cart & Highchair Cover from their website
Since then she has done more shoots and enjoys playing to the cameras (and all of the attention) but this was her first professional modeling job and we will never forget it and the wonderful crew she worked with at Lulyboo.
Yesterday we attended a horse show and fundraiser barbeque for The Rotary Club of New Providence here in The Bahamas. Gianna had never met a horse up close before so it was a great chance for her to see them and make new friends in the process! We are trying to experience new things here and this was definitely one.
BBQ lunch
A Zebra is a “horse’s cousin”
Petting Coco
We had a great lunch of bbq steak and all of the sides thanks for the Rotary Club and it was a beautiful day to get outside. We love to see how many amazing hidden gems are here in The Bahamas. Camperdown Stables is a not for profit location for riding and boarding horses. If you love riding horses and are visiting Nassau make sure to check it out!
While in the Bahamas we have been trying to see more than the normal tourist things you might see on a day in Nassau from a cruise stop. Doing this has been really fun because it’s forced me to think outside of what Trip Advisor (although great) offers and find other events and places you may only hear about from locals.
It was a great event with something for the whole family! Food, music, crafts, games for kids, information about local events and museums and even a “History of the Bahamas Runway Show” featuring some of the local pirates who once lived here. We purchased both conch and cod fritters, local Bahamian Limeade and candied nuts from The Nutty Bavarian (they were really wonderful!).
It is an annual event so if you are lucky enough to be visiting Nassau when it is going on make sure to check it out and learn about real Bahamian culture and local fun!
When Gianna was just over one year old (exactly a year ago actually) she shot her first product packaging and print job as a model for the company Lulyboo. She had a great time doing it and enjoyed her first day in front of the camera at a professional photo studio.
Waiting for her next shot
Getting to know the Lulyboo products
I have worked as a model since I was a teenager and it was amazing to see her so comfortable on her first photo shoot (I know I wasn’t!). The whole team was so wonderful and knew just how to work with a baby and make her feel at ease. We shot in San Diego, California and she had a great day.
During the shoot with Lulyboo
Gianna on set with the wonderful women behind Lulyboo
Here is her ad for their Shopping Cart & Highchair cover. It is perfect for travel and even has a place for a tablet or phone to keep kids busy while you shop or dine if you choose to. You can purchase it on the Lulyboo website, at Amazon, ToysRus, Walmart, BuyBuyBaby, Bed Bath and Beyond and many more retailers.
The advertisement for Lulyboo’s Shopping Cart & Highchair Cover from their website
The advertisement for Lulyboo’s Shopping Cart & Highchair Cover from their website
Since then she has done more shoots and enjoys playing to the cameras (and all of the attention) but this was her first professional modeling job and we will never forget it and the wonderful crew she worked with at Lulyboo.
This week my family took a quick trip to Miami. We stayed in the financial district in downtown known as Brickell at one of our favorite hotels – SLS Brickell. It is perfect for doing business (many international consulates, financial and corporate offices are there) shopping, dining at amazing restaurants and it’s just a quick trip to the beach. The Brickell area is just over 1.19 square miles so everything is quite close.
Waiting at the airport for our flight
Now that she is 2 she needs her own seat but is still getting used to it
Great day to fly!
The hotel is well situated and walking to the Brickell City Centre for some great shopping is easy (even with a two year old and a dog). The staff is amazing and so helpful.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
While we were visiting we found two wonderful restaurants fairly close by that have quickly become favorites. One of which is The Salad Box that is a perfect lunch spot (especially for the health conscious). You choose all of the ingredients you want to put into your salad (or wrap) and it’s incredibly fresh and healthy. They also serve soup (both daily specials were great) and smoothies. Perfect for a quick bite and even takeout or delivery.
Salad comes literally in a box!
Trying soup, lemonade and salad
Exterior of Perricone’s
Our other amazing find was Perricone’s Marketplace & Cafe. They have a huge selection of gourmet Italian delicacies as well as a beautiful restaurant with a wonderful outdoor patio (with a wishing well Gianna was obsessed with). They serve fresh bread and a fantastic bruschetta and even have organic options available. We ordered the Penne Pomodoro (which they switched to angel hair for us because they are amazing!), “Gigi’s Eggplant Parmigiana” (and Gigi thought it was named for her), and the daily special of Ravioli Stuffed with Mushrooms and a Marsala sauce which was fantastic as well! The atmosphere is wonderful and a nice oasis in the middle of the city.
We did some shopping in the Brickell City Centre which has a great variety of shops and something for everyone. My favorite is Diptyque for candles and fragrance (their new Rose Delight for Valentine’s Day was a must for me – see my previous post about my love of Rose smell & a less expensive rose candle!) and a customary trip to Victoria’s Secret for their after holiday sale. Even as a Mom, sometimes we need something just for us! There is a Zara that has stylish clothes for kids (and adults alike).
Deciding what to order from room service on our patio at SLS Brickell
I have never seen such a dog friendly city. There were so many furry friends of every shape and size. Multiple Starbucks, grocery stores and pharmacies (Publix, CVS, Walgreens, etc) are located within walking distance and between that and the numerous restaurant options a car really isn’t necessary. Between walking, Lyft, Uber and the automated MetroMover (the hotel also offers a house car for close trips for guests) everything is incredibly accessible.
If you are in the Miami area make sure to check out Brickell for a whole new kind of family travel adventure!
Some of the hottest toys for Christmas this last year were the Fingerling Monkeys. They are small little toy animals that make sounds and reactions based on your actions. They giggle, blow kisses, coo, and even fart and burp. Kids obsess over them and parents and other adults do too! Fingerlings are small so they are portable (great for travel) and have an on/off switch in addition to going to sleep after 5 minutes of not being played with.
When I saw these toys I set out to get one for my daughter for Christmas. I thought they were pretty fun, but I had NO IDEA how much she would love them! They truly are the toy of the year! Check out our new friends Bella & Finn!
Finn & Bella
You can get your own here and see how many fun actions and noises they will do!
by Jaimarie 