Tag: travel

How To Celebrate Mardi Gras At Home

Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) is an amazing celebration especially popular in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before Lent. I’ve spent some time there over the years and it is such a fun celebration you want to be a part of. If you’re lucky enough to be there during the parade it is a trip you won’t forget but you can also celebrate at home. With a little preparation, and a great list of items you can get yourself it can be a fun family tradition and way to celebrate NOLA traditions! Most of the things you can get on this list through Amazon. All of the food I’ve mentioned on the list are from Louisiana and very traditional.

You need to make a King Cake (also known as three kings cake or epiphany cake) of course. A great brand I’ve found to make yourself is Mam Papauls. It is not hard (My daughter and I made last year’s together) and includes the filling and baby. Next make some traditional beignets from the masters at Café Du Monde (established in 1862!) and their famous chicory coffee. It is a personal favorite as you can see below. Just remember to not wear black with your beignets (powdered sugar is a MESS!)!

Dinner is next with some wonderful Jambalaya Girl (also from New Orleans, very involved in Mardi Gras & a long line family in the NOLA food business) traditional Gumbo & Jambalaya for dinner. Simple and easy for anyone to do (you can add your own meat or seafood) with an amazing taste of New Orleans.

On the Amazon list I’ve put some masks (no not the kind we’ve all been used to lately!), doubloons (or coins) and beads (what they call Throws). You also need some table decorations which are also there.

Music can be found on a great Spotify playlist with some fantastic New Orleans Street Jazz. You also need some movies and tv shows about New Orleans, Mardi Gras and its history. My favorite for the whole family is Disney’s The Princess and The Frog. Tiana is a chef who makes all the above mentioned food and it takes place in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. These next movies and tv are more for the adults (rated PG-13 and above). Interview With The Vampire is a great film (and book!) that features late 1700’s New Orleans. The book was written by the great New Orleans author Anne Rice who passed away last year. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button takes place in New Orleans and features many time periods of the cities history. The tv show Treme is about the city after Hurricane Katrina and is a fantastic show (with 4 Seasons!) about this amazing city and its culture and strength.

If you can’t tell, I love New Orleans and all of their vibrant culture and art the city has. Mardi Gras is a wonderful time in the community but there are so many parts of it you can take around the world to celebrate on your own and have a little piece of NOLA with you.

xoxo

Jaimarie

0

A Horse Of Course

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 slideshow requires JavaScript.

xoxo

Jaimarie

0

Travel Under 2

When I was pregnant with my daughter a good friend told me to try to travel as much as we could when she was still a young baby. At the time of midnight feedings and a new baby we were just learning about, this sounded so overwhelming and staying at home seemed like the much easier option. Her reasoning for this was not only for the baby to become comfortable traveling while still young enough to adapt to it, but also because children under age two can fly on your lap (not as safe as purchasing their own seat with a car seat) for free. Once turning two they need their own purchased seat and are no longer a “lap riding infant”.

Since she was a newborn our family has been many amazing places and travel has become a very normal part of our lives with her.  She is now approaching two and we just bought her first airline ticket with her own seat. It’s more expensive now and she will still probably prefer to lay on us but the extra room for snacks and in flight entertainment will be a nice change.

1

Avocado or Pear

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!

❤️

Jaimarie

0

Miami Adventures

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.

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 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).

SistersSLS
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!

❤️

Jaimarie

2

Don’t forget to pack these!

I’ve traveled quite a bit over the years to many different places. Different weather, different culture, different customs. These are some of the things they have proved useful no matter where I have gone. They can all be found on Amazon and I made a Travel List that has all of these and more. There is something for everyone no matter where you’re going or who you’re traveling with.

Bon Voyage!

xoxo

Jaimarie

0

Travel Spotlight – Springs Preserve

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!

xoxo

Jaimarie

  • SpringsPreserve.org
  • Butterfly Habitat
  • Botanical Garden
  • Devine Cafe
  • Ice-cream Festival
  • Nevada State Museum
  • Springs Preserve
0

Have You Heard About Amazon Aware?

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!

xoxo

Jaimarie

Click Here to see my full list!
0

Tru Tru Bahamian Festival

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.

Our family recently went to the Tru Tru Bahamian Festival at the John Watlings Distillery  in Nassau.  It is an annual event put on by the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association in Partnership with the Ministry of Tourism.

Tru Tru
Tru Tru Bahamian Festival – Nassau Bahamas

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!

xoxo

Jaimarie

0

Adventures With Bob

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!

xoxo

Jaimarie

0

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Up ↑