In the Bahamas I have had some of the most amazing local food I could imagine. The freshness and quality of the seafood is unmatched as well as much of the local produce. Since it is a group of islands, things take time to get here (produce and meat not grown locally), but you can find some wonderful food right on the islands!
Having Endometriosis and a special diet because of it, I try to eat organic, hormone/pesticide free fresh food as much as I can. I also try to feed my daughter and family this way. I am in luck because there is a great deal available. One major difference here from the USA is my favorite (and my daughters’s) – avocados 🥑. They are incredibly good for you (rich in nutrients, and are known to be a superfood) and quite popular, especially lately. Locally in the Bahamas, they can be known as “Pears” instead.
Being from California, I was confused at first, but when I was told by friends what they were, I was excited to try them. The local “pears” are roughly three times the size of American or Mexican Hass avocados naturally (much easier to make guacamole with! 😜). They are beautiful and smooth with a buttery creamy texture inside. The flavor is a little more mild than Hass or Bacon but they can be used the same way (guacamole, on toast, with salad dressing, eaten alone, made into ice-cream or milkshakes, etc).
Buttery inside
It is a good lesson for us all to give something new a chance (what I try to teach my daughter) – even with a different name – because you never know just how good different things can be, especially while somewhere new!
When I first learned about “Organic” food I thought it was just a way for stores to make more money. When I got sick with Endometriosis, I learned more about nutrition & why it is so important. It is the single biggest personal change I have made since I found out about my health issues (fabric is something else I try to buy organic but I’ll save that for another time). Many of the below facts are taken from USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture and helpguide.org mixed with my own experience so please do your own research. I am not a doctor or nutritionist, I just know what works for me and what I have learned over the last 10+ years of dealing with medical issues relating to Endometriosis and previous misdiagnosis.
This will change your life, if you let it.
Organic crops must be grown without the use of synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, or bioengineered genes (GMOs). You would never realize those things are in the “regular” food you eat everyday, but it is. They can do irreparable damage to your body when consumed long term. Many illnesses and allergies are caused by this.
Organic livestock raised for meat, eggs, & dairy products must be raised in living conditions accommodating their natural behaviors (such as the ability to graze on pasture) & fed organic feed & forage. They may not be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal by-products. You would never know the beef, chicken, pork and fish you are eating have many of these things in them but they do. Chemicals called endocrine disruptors (often found in pesticides and hormones added to meat) can also affect the endocrine system. Endocrine disruptors cause a wide range of problems throughout the body by changing how hormones send messages.
Organic produce contains fewer pesticides. Chemicals such as synthetic fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides are widely used in conventional agriculture and residues remain on (and in) the food we eat. This is BAD. Organic food is often fresher because it doesn’t contain preservatives that make it last longer. Organic produce is sometimes produced on small and family farms nearer to where it is sold.
Try to purchase organic meat, eggs, milk and dairy if you can afford to. In the U.S., industrially-raised animals may be fed corn, grains, antibiotics, animal byproducts, growth hormones, pesticides, and sewage sludge. These practices can have health consequences for both the animals themselves and people consuming their meat, eggs, or milk.
Fruits and vegetables where the organic label matters most:
According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that analyzes the results of government pesticide testing in the U.S., the following fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticide levels, so are best to buy organic:
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Cucumbers
Celery
Potatoes
Grapes
Cherry Tomatoes
Kale/Collard Greens
Summer Squash
Nectarines (imported)
Peaches
Spinach
Strawberries
Hot Peppers
Fruits and vegetables you DON’T necessarily need to buy organic (although I follow the skin rule as well – if it’s not in a skin that you won’t eat, it needs to be an organic)
Known as the “Clean 15”, these conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables are generally low in pesticides:
Asparagus
Avocado
Mushrooms
Cabbage
Sweet Corn
Eggplant
Kiwi
Mango
Onion
Papaya
Pineapple
Peas (frozen)
Sweet Potatoes
Grapefruit
Cantaloupe
Most grocery stores from Whole Foods, Kroger, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Target, Aldi, Walmart and EVERYTHING in between, have organic foods. Many you can shop online for pickup or delivery and compare prices from home. Other good resources are Farmer’s Markets and small family type farms. They vary in price by store but it is worth it for you to do your research and find a reasonable way to add organic foods to your diet in any way possible. It’s nearly impossible to get everything in organic (especially restaurants, premade food, etc) but every change in this direction is a benefit for your health. I know it has changed mine.
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!
It’s here! The February Allure Beauty Box! If you didn’t see my last post about it I’m a big fan of subscription Beauty Boxes and have tried many. I love getting new products to try every month that I don’t know about previously. There’s no huge commitment to buying a big product you aren’t sure about yet. Other Beauty Boxes don’t have the quality or size of the Allure Boxes and for two months now I have been very impressed! There isn’t a ton of packaging and you get FULL SIZE products included in your box. This is my second month of my subscription to The Allure Beauty Box through Amazon. They Amazon have many types of subscription boxes on their site and Allure was my first to try.
When it arrived it was nicely packaged in the box it came in (with instructions for all of your products!) and items were wrapped in tissue paper. Not a lot of junk to throw away. As you can see from the photo 3 items are full size products (it seems you get 3 full size every month). I love that. No trial sizes here. Full size this month are Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion, Topicals Like Butter Hydrating Mask, and Mented Cosmetics Liquid Lips in Blood Orange. The shipping is free (unlike other beauty box companies) and the box is $23.00 and you can cancel at anytime. Since it’s Amazon it’s really easy, unlike some others. I’m excited to try these fun products and I think this would make a great gift for any beauty lovers in your life (or yourself!). Click the photo below to check it out for yourself. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
If you haven’t seen Sing 2 yet, you are in for a treat. Besides an all star cast, great music and fun dance numbers, the storyline is wonderful. With a small exception, the cast from the first one is back and a couple of new favorites are added to the lineup. It is in theaters but I am very happy to say (during the pandemic especially!) it is also available to rent on Amazon Prime now!
One of my favorite “hidden oasis” spots in Las Vegas, NV is the Springs Preserve. It is 180 preserved acres of museums, galleries, outdoor events, botanical gardens, the Devine Cafe and trail systems. It is beautiful and you would never know you were so close to the Las Vegas strip. You feel a million miles away. They are known for their festivals and events, and personally we have attended many (the ice-cream festival was a favorite). They are great for families and have many children’s activities and learning experiences. The Nevada State Museum is part of it as well so you can learn about the history as well. Next time you visit Las Vegas, make sure you check out the Springs Preserve for a great change of pace and something completely different then you would expect!
Recently Amazon started a new program called Amazon Aware. All of their Amazon Aware products are certified as carbon neutral and feature certifications that are part of the Climate Pledge Friendly Program. I am very excited to find Amazon Aware because finding products with these certifications all in one place is very hard. Many of the fabrics used are organic (free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals) and the processes used to make these are less harmful to the Earth and in the long term (and short term) us as well. They have a range of Women’s Clothing, Men’s Clothing, Household Essentials, Beauty Products, and Bed & Bath Products. There is really something for almost everyone (I’m hoping a children’s range is next!) and multiple color options for each in great Spring/Summer colors. There are some great pieces in each line (both Women’s and Men’s) that would make a fantastic capsule wardrobe and is perfect for travel!
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!
One thing that has been a constant since my daughter was born was her BOB Stroller. We have actually had a couple because of moves and have traveled with them to multiple countries. They hold everything and are perfect for all kinds of weather. They were originally a jogging stroller, but trust me, nothing is better for a long day at Disney or walking on cobblestone road. You feel secure that your child is safe. They are very stable. The tires are like bicycles and the amount of storage and accessories leaves your child riding in style and comfortable through kind of weather. The Revolution single jogging stroller has been our choice but there are duallie strollers (for two children) as well. Our favorite accessories have been the travel bag (especially if you intend to fly with it), handlebar console, and rain cover.
Here she is on one of our adventures. She chose her own outfit for our walk. 💕 Do your kids have any items they have to take with them when you travel or go out for the day? Let us know their favorites in the comments!
by Jaimarie 