Review: Finest Playa Mujeres

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Having visited dozens of resorts and hotels around the world, I have to say I’ve become a bit of a hotel snob. And while I haven’t quite made it yet to the level to which I aspire, there are few resorts that I would say WOW me at this point. But after visiting the Finest Playa Mujeres Resort in the greater Cancun region of Mexico, I must say they became an exception to the rule for me. I mean they had me at hola.

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One of the things I loved most about this property was how special you are made to feel as soon as you step foot on the resort. You are welcomed by at least a handful of people before two gigantic wooden doors open automatically for you and reveal one of the warmest, most inviting, open area lobby and reception areas I’ve experienced. It feels, as if for a moment, you are entering a modern castle. As you venture down the marble steps (be careful not to fall; that’s a tough way to begin your vacay!) you are greeted by a beautiful bronze bar that just screams please come visit me. Being coachable, I grabbed a drink before heading out to the beautifully landscaped terrace and walkways to check out the scenery and head to one of the outdoor restaurants while we awaited our room.

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The Golden Bar…yes the name is Golden 🙂

With each few steps it seemed everyone greeted us with a warm smile and cheerful hola! When we weren’t quite sure of which way to go, one of the Finest staff who was clearly on a mission to get to her next destination, still stopped to ask if we needed help. When we asked for directions, she kindly escorted us directly to where we needed to go instead of pointing us in the general direction. You just can’t find that type of service everywhere so I appreciate it when I receive it!

When making the arrangements for my stay, I opted for the swim out suite since that was something I had never experienced before. And boy am I glad that I did! It’s now tough to go back to any other type of room. In fact, it was so beautiful I literally stayed until the last possible second admiring the beauty and calm of the scene before departing. If you are unfamiliar, swim out suites are just as they sound. You literally have your own private pool right outside of your suite that you can swim out to, and beyond that was a shared hot tub among the other three adjoining suites. These particular suites also have indoor private jacuzzis in addition to a nice size terrace with a number of options for lounging. Did I also mention there was a hammock set strategically over top of the swim out pool? Absolutely gorgeous!

Considering that I aim to write balanced reviews, I will start here with a few criticisms. From the moment I saw the hammock over top of the pool, I had a vision of relaxing there and sipping one of the many delicious cocktails they served daily. However, once I dipped my toe in that water, I was presented with a challenge. The water was freezing! Even though our pool received a good amount of sunlight all day, that water temperature was not budging! After much deliberation and mindset training on myself, I eventually braved the waters to get to my vision, but I can’t say it was fun. I absolutely HATE the cold…especially cold water. But once I finally got in the hammock, which was a bit of an issue as well based on my height challenges and the positioning of the hammock, it was glorious. If anyone from the Finest happens to read this review, please invest in some warming mechanisms for the swim out pools!

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I must say, Finest fully redeemed themselves with the spa. It was magnificent! Though, I’m not a hydrotherapy type of girl (just give me the hot tub with the jets), they had a full hydrotherapy offering for those who like to torture themselves at the spa with an ice bath, ice water pool, sauna, steam room, etc. Not my deal but I know many who love it so you’ll be a happy camper here. For me, the massage itself was the highlight. I received the Thai bamboo massage treatment and it was just the amount of pressure, relaxation and stretching I needed. It was 80 minutes of goodness. And then they topped it off with a luxurious relaxation room complete with gigantic (swinging, if you wanted it to) lounge beds. I could have stayed in there all day!

As a foodie, you know I cannot complete this review without talking about the food. In a word, it was DELICIOUS. As I’ve mentioned before about all-inclusives not all being created equal (Having it All), I was happy to learn that this all-inclusive resort took palate pleasing seriously and my foodie appetite was thoroughly satisfied. Even the buffet options were up to par, which at times can be hit or miss at some of the nicer resorts as well. I of course especially loved the Japanese Hibachi, French and Steakhouse specialty restaurants. I only wish I had stayed a bit longer to experience some of the other dining experiences.

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I couldn’t have said it better myself.

As a bit of a disappointment, we went to the seafood restaurant for lunch when we first arrived to not find much seafood on menu offered at lunch time. In fact, the name of the restaurant is called Duke’s Lobster, yet there was no lobster, or any other shellfish for that matter, to be found on the lunch menu. Instead we found a lot of chicken, cheeseburger and pork options. As you would expect, we were expecting and had our mouths set for some actual seafood. I mean it’s “pretty standard really” at a seafood restaurant. (smile) If you didn’t get the Austin Powers reference, well you just didn’t get it lol.

In closing, I will share that the grand purpose for our visit was for the nuptials of two of my dearest friends, who are also both fellow travel professionals. It was only fitting that they have a destination wedding in true travelpreneur style. If you are a couple or know a couple who is looking for a property to host your destination wedding, the Finest should be on your list. They absolutely did a wonderful job of catering to the bride and groom’s needs and it was a gorgeous setting for such a beautiful occasion. I would also recommend this resort to anyone who is looking to get away as a single, couple or a family. It had just about everything for everyone but still managed to maintain the charm and peacefulness of a small to midsize resort. While no property is perfect, I will admit, this was indeed one of the Finest.

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A Lesson in Joy

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Last week I returned from a wonderful 8 day retreat with my family in Miami Beach. Literally within a couple of hours of my return, BAM! Life happened. I found myself totally deflated on the side of the road waiting for the police to arrive after having gotten into a collision with another vehicle on the highway. I was determined to be at fault so that accident came with a $130 ticket. Moments before I had received a voicemail from a client who wanted to downgrade a service, which meant that I would now have to pay out $300 extra that I thought was contributing to my bottom line that week. To add insult to injury, the words “possibly totaled” were uttered and that almost sent me into a tailspin. You mean that car that I just invested hundreds of dollars in for a new tire, a new battery and a new registration within the last few months? That car?! This is not happening.

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Upon returning home that night, as I replayed the accident over and over again in my mind and what I could have done to prevent it, I tried to think about how grateful I was that I was physically OK, as were the passengers in the other vehicle involved in the accident. It could have been much worse I told myself. I tried to make those words console my spirit but I couldn’t. “Thank God you weren’t injured. Everything else will work out.” I read the words in my mom’s text message but they weren’t landing on me the way I desperately wanted and needed them to. I tried watching TV to get my mind off things and 10 minutes in, the power goes out. It’s completely black and quiet, except for the sound of raindrops outside. I’m left with these ridiculous thoughts consuming my brain. So I pray for the second time that night and at some point during that prayer I drift off to sleep.

I’d like to say that joy came in the morning and I felt better but sadly, I was just bitter. I questioned God and myself and the pity party continued. Yes, in the midst of my prayers and quiet time I still had a bad attitude. It was a bad scene getting worse. As if the car accident wasn’t bad enough, I started thinking about all the other things in my life that were not going the way I desired. It was an ugly snowball effect that seemed unstoppable. But something happened the next morning. I woke up and God led me to a scripture I’ve read probably a hundred times or more.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” James 1:2

Really Lord?

The scripture was embedded in a devotional I read from time to time in the mornings and this particular entry was entitled, “Don’t Let a Bad Attitude Rule Your Life”. Yep, it was clear God was talking directly to me. I needed an attitude adjustment…quickly. I read further…

“For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:3

At first I was resistant to the message because these last two years of my life have been nothing but test after test after test. I told God I was over all these tests. But I stuck with the scripture and I continued to meditate on it. The next day my attitude shifted completely in the midst of an “aha” moment. I realized that God was giving me an important lesson in something I thought I had already learned. It was a lesson in joy. And I felt a thousand times better once I learned it.

Most of us are experts in what I am now defining as circumstantial joy. Merriam Webster defines joy as 1) to experience great pleasure or delight 2) the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. Yep, that makes sense. When things are going exactly the way we want and plan or even better, we have joy. That’s how the world defines joy and that’s why we’re so good at it. But what happens when things don’t go our way and we experience trouble, which tends to happen to us as humans if we live for any period of time. Does that mean we can’t or won’t have joy? I then asked myself how God views joy, especially in light of that scripture in James.

I was led to another definition of joy offered by Theopedia (think Wikipedia for Biblical Christianity) that states joy is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is the settled state of contentment, confidence and hope. That sounds more like the joy James was talking about.

When I look back to those low moments last week, I had those moments not because I wasn’t genuinely grateful for all of the good things going on in my life. I was and I still am grateful. I now know that it is possible to be grateful without being joyful. I was not really experiencing joy because I needed a lesson on how to be “full” of joy in spite of my circumstances. I always wondered how some people are able to have such great attitudes (without faking it) in the midst of their hardship. I can admit that prior to now I was one of those who was “faking it until I make it.”

Had I not gone through what I went through I would not have learned this valuable lesson so for that, I am grateful. And I’m continuing to learn while I’m still going through it. I believe the most important lesson I’ve learned in this process is that joy is a choice. We can’t control a lot of things that happen to us in this life but it’s a blessing to know one thing we can control is our joy. It’s a choice we have to make every single day when we open our eyes. I share this humbling experience because I know I’m not the only one who needs to learn or be reminded of this lesson. We’re all going through things that trouble us big and small. My word of advice as you are going through it…choose joy.

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Review: Art Basel Miami

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

I’m really a novice when it comes to knowing and being a collector of visual art but I do appreciate and love the experience of witnessing it on display. So when one of my friends suggested we go to Art Basel (a wildly popular international art fair) for a girl’s trip, I was all in. I had heard of how amazing it was and that it was one of the most, if not the most, popular events in the Miami region so I knew I wanted to see for myself what all the hype was about.

First, it can be a bit overwhelming if you don’t have somewhat of a general strategy in place in terms of what you want to see and how much time you want to devote to it because there is A LOT to see and experience. We spent several hours at the main exhibit in the Miami Beach convention Center and I think we only scratched the surface of all there was to see. There are exhibits all around the area, but the majority of them were in South Beach thankfully because that is where we were staying and the traffic was horrendous. Recommendation, if you want to see the bulk of the art, stay somewhere in South Beach, not downtown Miami or the outskirts. Otherwise, you will spend most of your time stuck in traffic trying to get from place to place.

One of the unexpected bright moments of the weekend was visiting the M.U.C.E. (Miami Urban Contemporary Experience) Now or Neverland Urban Uproar’s Exhibit in Little Haiti. My friend had commented about her disappointment with not seeing much black art and just like that, a couple hours later, we found ourselves in a sea of striking pieces from black artists due to a slight misreading of the GPS on our way to a party two buildings down. The event was not promoted with the rest of the main Art Basel festivities so we literally would have missed it had we not gotten “lost.” Another recommendation, in addition to the listing of activities you may see on the official web site or newspaper reviews, check out social media for some additional options by searching #artbasel or #artbaselmiami hashtags.

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This M.U.C.E. exhibit was by far the highlight for me of the weekend as far as the art was concerned. For me, it wasn’t just that the canvases had black faces on them, which many of them did. It was that the pieces here made more sense to me, even some of the more abstract pieces. Visual art is very subjective, as many art forms are, and I have to say many of the items on display in the main exhibit halls just didn’t make sense or seem like art to me. Many of the pieces quite frankly I felt I could have put together in 5 minutes and called it art myself. Again, I am no connoisseur and in an effort to not completely tear down other people’s work, I’ll just say that many of the pieces were not my cup of tea. Though we did have some fun with the pasta exhibit, which was absolutely crazy!

I honestly don’t know what this was.
Yes this is a brush in a microphone stand.
The pasta exhibit was among the craziest we experienced. When we sat down to snap a photo some thought we were a part of the exhibit lol.

Next to the M.U.C.E. exhibit, the event at the Aqua Hotel was my next favorite. Art Basel took over the entire Aqua Hotel and turned it into an art exhibit. Literally all of the rooms in the hotel were rented out by artists and art gallery owners and converted into galleries to display and sell their art. I found these pieces to be some of the most amazing, thought-provoking, visually appealing works of art I’ve ever seen. One highlight was an artist who created the faces of famous people using their own words in speeches, songs and literature. Another artist created an entire line of art using brown and red packing tape. Then there was a combo painting and sculpture called “Who Am I?” that I literally could not take my eyes off of for about 5 minutes.

Original, fictional images made from packing tape
Images of famous people using their own words
Who Am I?

What I also appreciated about Art Basel was that much of the nightlife scene incorporated art as well. If you are someone who likes to party and enjoys the Miami nightlife scene, this weekend is definitely for you. Many of the events even offered complimentary adult beverages and passed hors d’oeuvres, which is a nice change of pace from the typical high priced food and beverage scene in the Miami area. There were so many parties and events happening, we found ourselves hopping from venue to venue just to try to get a taste of it all. And at each one, there was something visually appealing to see while you got your party on as well.
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Overall, I give this weekend two thumbs up and I would definitely come back and bring others. If you are looking for something different to do in your travels, this can certainly be an option. Even if you aren’t a big art lover or connoisseur, I think the diversity of events offered provides a little something for everyone. If anything, you will definitely be entertained.

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Some of my other favorite pieces
These two pieces were made entirely from pencil
These two pieces were made entirely from pencil

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I’m Expecting!

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

It really is a beautiful thing to watch the miraculous process of new life growing inside of an expectant mother. In addition to the growing fetus, the mother sees herself gradually transform over several months as she prepares to give birth and while it is a bit of a scary time for her, especially if she is a first time mom, it’s also a very exciting time as well. I love to see the “village” of a growing family come together and celebrate the pending birth of a child. It is a joyous occasion no doubt and it should be celebrated.

There are some people, like myself, who haven’t had the pleasure yet of bearing a child into this world, but they are indeed expecting. Several months ago God sowed some ideas within me that are now starting to take form, as I’ve been quietly nurturing and cultivating them behind the scenes. Bringing these ideas to completion has been a very exciting, but also very scary process for me. While I have a desire and a picture in my mind of what the end results will be, I won’t really know what they will look like until I deliver the final product. Also it’s been difficult because it’s required growth on my part, and growth sometimes can be painful. Perhaps not any blood has been shed, but there’s definitely been some sweat and tears in this process and I’m very grateful to have trusted advisers, coaches and friends supporting me along the way.

If the point hasn’t been made clear, let me set the record straight that I am not pregnant in the traditional sense. Before any rumors start, no I will NOT be having a baby any time soon lol! But I am expecting, and I pray that what I’m giving birth to will be just as exciting and create just as much cause for celebration as if I were having a baby. What I’m producing is important to me and my hope is that it will be of importance and significance to the lives it touches for generations to come as well.

I’m not taking anything away from expectant mothers because as I’ve shared before, it is a miraculous process that should be celebrated. I also think it should be celebrated with just as much enthusiasm when someone takes a teeny tiny idea and turns it into a tangible, living, breathing project that can benefit the lives of others. Sometimes our society tends to be one track minded when it comes to what we celebrate and support. Absolutely, show up when a loved one invites you to a baby shower or a wedding because those milestones are significant. It’s also important to show up for those grand openings and book launch parties as well. It means the world to that person who has worked really hard to bring something to fruition. Not everyone will get married or have a baby but everyone has the capability to produce something great and we should all show up for them too.

Some time in the near future, you’ll start to see signs of the projects I’m giving birth to and prayerfully within the first quarter of 2017 I will deliver. My hope is when that day comes I’ll have a whole village of people rooting for me and cheering me on as I bring new life into the world.

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Review: Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe Punta Cana

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

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The last week of September I visited the beautiful 5 star Barceló Bávaro Palace Deluxe in the Punta Cana region of the Dominican Republic (affectionately known as the DR) as part of my participation in a company retreat. So I guess you could call this a work trip but it certainly didn’t feel like it! Despite visiting during hurricane season, we were fortunate to have had perfect weather the entire 5 days we were there…just missing Hurricane Matthew, which sadly wrought havoc on the DR and even more so neighboring Haiti. My prayers and well wishes go out to all of those affected by this horrendous storm. If you are going to travel to Punta Cana or anywhere in the Caribbean for that matter, just note hurricane season is from June through November so you are always at risk of getting tricky weather during that time.

Nearly 2,000 of my partners from across the globe converged upon this expansive resort, which boasts 1600 rooms, 11 restaurants, and a luxury spa, which was my absolute favorite part of the resort. The resort also sits on a 1.2 mile long beach, one of the best in Punta Cana, which is on the top 10 list of the best beaches in the world. In addition to the water being the most beautiful shades of blue and green on Earth and the soft, white powdery sand feeling like a massage between your toes, the coral reef keeps the ocean calm and the sun keeps it warm, which makes for just about the perfect beach experience there is…well at least for a beach bum like me.

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The accommodations were one of my favorite parts about this resort. Even the standard rooms, which they call superior, are spacious and have Jacuzzi adorned balconies with views of the golf course. I opted for the Junior Suite Deluxe Premium Level Oceanfront View and I’m so glad I did! If you’re wondering if premium status makes that big of a difference, the answer is a resounding YES! Where it made the most difference for me was the restaurants, which I’ll talk about in just a moment, but you also have the best ocean views (see photo below), free access to the hydrotherapy area of the spa (simply amazing) and 10% off spa services, private check-in and check-out and exclusive use of the premium level lounge, and complimentary Wi-Fi. [Something to note, we received complimentary Wi-Fi as part of our group amenities but if I had been traveling on an individual trip, this would be something I would definitely want included.]

Jacuzzi on the balcony
Junior Suite
Beautiful pool & ocean view from the balcony

Now onto my favorite thing to talk about from my travel adventures…food. I have to say, it was hit or miss for me. But, this is also where the premium status came through for me. I was not impressed with the main dining options. I’m not going to down buffets because all are not created equal, not even on this property. The only buffet option that was consistently good for me was La Brisa, which was on the secluded adults-only section of the property. I get it though; it’s pretty hard to stay true to “gourmet” when you’ve got 3,000 humans to feed on one property. But if that’s what you’re expecting, in my opinion, you’re not going to get that in the main dining buffet halls. When you have premium status, you have first dibs to the reservations for the specialty restaurants, which go really fast, so you want to make sure you schedule your reservations when you first arrive, especially if the resort is near or at capacity. If you have premium level, you get to schedule those reservations with your concierge upon arrival. Winning! [Side note, I think this was a function of coming in as part of a big group, but they didn’t do a good job of explaining all of the benefits of what you get for being at premium status. Make sure you review the web site and your package carefully so you don’t miss out on any sweet amenities.]

I really enjoyed the Spanish restaurant La Fuente, which makes sense because Barceló is a Spanish owned company. Even the house red wine there was superior to many of the wines we experienced at other bars and restaurants on the property. Sadly I did not get a chance to visit the French restaurant La Comedie, which is exclusive to premium level guests, but I heard from my partners it was delicious and the service was excellent. The Sante Fe Steakhouse was decent and I enjoyed my ribeye but where I found the most disappointment was in the seafood restaurant El Coral. I really wanted to love it because it is my favorite type of food but it was very inconsistent and I found myself warning my partners when they went there more about what they should NOT get than about what they should get. Stay away from the lobster bisque and clam chowder, oh and the lobster ravioli, oh and that shrimp dish, I found myself saying. I will say the crab legs were good…once we got our hands on them. They could not replenish them fast enough because they were on the seafood and salad bar and clearly everyone else thought it was the best thing in the restaurant as well. I also heard reports that the salmon was good. The grilled lobster was decent and once I had them make my own shrimp dish on the grill, it was delicious. But come on, if they qualify themselves as a gourmet restaurant, I shouldn’t have to tell them how to make a delicious dish. Yes I’m a foodie and I can be a little hard at times on restaurants but I’m just saying…

I will end on a positive note. Once I visited the spa on my fourth day there (how did that happen?), I did not want to leave so that’s where I spent the majority of the remainder of my stay. The massage itself, the relaxation room, the hydrotherapy rooms and pools…all 5 star! I would recommend spending a day there. The only critique I have is they should have a bar and a restaurant in the spa so you don’t ever have to leave!

Some great naps were had here by the spa’s infinity pool
My mother beginning her spa experience
This is the relaxation room of life!
Ahhh..refreshing!

I would have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Barceló Bávaro Palace and I would recommend it to my clients, especially those who are looking to do group functions like family reunions, company retreats and larger weddings. I know it’s hard to please everyone when you have a resort that accommodates more than 3,000 men, women and children, but in my opinion Barceló made one of the best attempts I’ve seen for a large scale all-inclusive property.

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Tip: Make sure you wake up early enough one morning to catch the sunrise…it was glorious!

Review: Grown Restaurant in Miami

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Ever since I heard about a fast, healthy and organic food concept coming to the Miami area I was psyched about the opportunity to go. I’ve always liked the “fast” part of fast food, but the fast food options that I actually really like are few and far between. While I’m not a vegan or vegetarian or even a pescatarian, I appreciate good food that doesn’t just taste good, but is good for me as well. Needless to say, when I walked through the door and saw Grown’s motto: “Real food, cooked slow for fast people” I knew I was in the right place.

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Grown restaurant is the brainchild of Shannon Allen, the wife of former NBA star Ray Allen. Frustrated with the fast options out there, like so many others including myself, they decided to do something about it, and I’m glad they did. They pride themselves on serving organic, locally grown and nutritious ingredients and in their own words “practicing sustainability beyond the kitchen”, which is unheard of in the fast food arena. [Read their cool story HERE.) Grown opened in March of this year and according to the numerous press articles they’ve scored since then, business is booming and there’s no slowdown in sight.

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They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and there are options for just about every type of eater there is from vegan and gluten free dieters to seafood lovers and carnivores like me. My mom, who resides in Miami Beach, had been once before soon after it opened and raved about it so she was eager to join me on my first experience. She let me pick everything for both of us so I could try a number of things at once. I opted for the free range rotisserie chicken with sides of sautéed broccoli and herb roasted red bliss potatoes and ordered the grilled shrimp with sides of green beans with carmelized onions and toasted almonds and long grain rice for my mom. You could choose a sauce with your meal so I chose the herb yogurt, which went perfectly with the chicken and potatoes and the cilantro lime sauce that went well with just about everything we ate.

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Let me start by saying just about everything was delicious and seasoned to perfection! And it only took about 5-10 minutes from the time we ordered our food until our order was ready. My absolute favorite item was the green beans and I loved pairing the sauces with the sides as well as the proteins. My one disappointment was the long grain rice. I was expecting some type of snazzy wild or different type of grain rice but it was just plain ole white rice and didn’t seem to have much seasoning on it. But that’s not stopping me from going back. There are so many other yummy treats left for me to try.

In addition to the full meal options like we had (which also can be ordered family style feeding up to four people), they have a generous assortment of wraps, salads, soups, sandwiches, gluten-free baked goods, cold-pressed juices and smoothies. You can opt to eat in like we did, inside the restaurant or at one of the communal tables on the outdoor patio, or you can take advantage of the take-out or drive-thru options. I also absolutely loved how they have an “almost grown” menu and a little play station for the kiddies complete with interactive tablets to keep them occupied while the adults try to eat in peace.

Last but not least, while Grown may be an alternative to your normal fast food options from a timing perspective, don’t expect it to compete with the fast food boys from a cost perspective. Considering all of Grown’s ingredients are USDA-certified organic and sourced mainly from organic farms in South Florida, it is not cheap. The meal prices range from $12 – $25 per person. With drinks, our order came up to $48 total for lunch. I believe it was worth every penny, but sadly I couldn’t afford to eat like that every day.

Even with the elevated price point for fast food options, I believe Grown is well worth a visit. It really is in a class all by itself because most of their food options are still cheaper than many of the sit down restaurant options you’ll find in the Miami area, and I’ve been to many of them. When you visit, be sure to drop me a line to let me know what you thought of it…that is, if you don’t see me at the counter next to you!

As a lover of quotes, I adore the quotes they have strategically placed around the restaurant.

 

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The Insect and Butterfly Garden

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

Anyone who knows me well knows I have a serious fear of insects. When I say fear, I don’t just mean that I don’t like them, which is definitely the case as well. Truth be told, I have a serious phobia, which is an intense irrational fear, and I’m not ashamed to say I actually went to counseling because of it.

A few years ago, an insect native to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States called cicadas were set to reemerge after a 13-year hibernation underground and I thought I was going to lose my mind. Even worse, I feared I would inadvertently kill myself behind the wheel of a car if one of them got into the car with me, which they’ve been known to do – fly into cars with people, not kill them (smile). I considered looking into ways I could take a leave of absence from my job and just live somewhere else during their visit. Sounds crazy right? Well, I opted for therapy instead and I’m glad I did. That 8 week counseling period did not just get me through that time unscathed; by the end of my last session I was picking up (dead) cicadas with my bare hands. Yuck! So unfortunately it was a temporary solution; I was cured only for a season. I’m sad to say I still have a serious bug phobia. [Insert deep sigh here.]

A couple of months ago I decided to add some variety to my morning workout routine by taking a walk in my neighborhood. One morning I had an idea to visit the Franciscan Monastery, a longstanding beloved fixture in my quaint neighborhood of Northeast D.C. called Brookland. Interestingly enough, my mom grew up in the same neighborhood and I later learned that my grandmother used to take my mom with her on walks to this very same monastery about 60 years ago! I don’t think it was a coincidence that I was being led there. As I explored the monastery like a tourist visiting for the first time, I discovered a beautiful pond with a small waterfall flowing into it and a dozen or so beautifully colored fish swimming there. A few benches surround the pond so I decided to take a breather there for a minute and take in the serenity of the environment. It was amazing! So much so, I named it my new quiet place and started visiting at least once a week for quiet time, reflection and prayer.

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You may be asking, OK what does this have to do with your fear of insects. Well, it wasn’t until after my second or third visit I looked around and discovered a sign that made me realize the place where I had found so much peace and serenity over the past few weeks was actually a home to the thing that causes me more angst and fear than just about anything in the world. That place is called The Insect and Butterfly Garden. I had to laugh at myself and the irony of the situation. At first I became disappointed, and not soon after discovering this revelation of course I started to notice all of the annoying flying insects buzzing around me. But instead of letting that new information taint my new quiet place, I just decided to include it in my experience. What that did for me was more enlightening than any therapy session.

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I couldn’t ignore the lesson. Before I knew what the place was called, it was considered a safe haven for me. In an instant, upon discovering what it “really was”, my perspective was threatened. I say threatened and not changed because I chose to have an empowering context for this place instead of defining it by the false, limiting thoughts that tend to creep into my mind. I’m trying not to get too deep here but I really want to express the power of perspective. It is so powerful and we may not think we have control over it but we absolutely do. I could have made the choice to throw up my hands and turn my quiet place over to the insects; after all, it is their home, right? Instead, I chose to refocus my attention on the wonderful attributes that lead me to the garden in the first place, and I reclaimed my peace. Once I chose that perspective, I realized the insects didn’t care about me being there anyway. In fact, they didn’t bother me at all. In the end, I found some very good advice in that old adage: when you can’t beat them, join them.

 

The Power of Testimony

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

I had the honor of participating in and in some cases, producing some pretty incredible events over the past two weeks. Unfortunately, the exhaustion that consumed this human body of mine after taking part in these amazing events tried to keep me from being great…nevertheless, Golden Life Musings has returned!

Let’s start with the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia. Being transparent, I’ve never really liked politics and I’ve shied away as much as possible from political conversations. And while I’m a registered Democrat who has voted in every election in which I’ve been qualified to vote since the age of 18, my views on many of the issues being debated by the major parties tend to fall more neatly into that of the independent camp. Being even more honest, going into the convention I was very underwhelmed by Hillary Clinton but just the thoughts of the alternative make me shiver, so I figured I would at least investigate to see what all the hype is about.

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Apologies for the ham session here…I’m rarely able to resist photo booths!

20160811_140112The convention was awesome for a few reasons. One, it was inspiring to see such a genuinely diverse group of people there on one accord. [Side Note: As an African American female, I also took pride in the fact that several African American women had leading roles in making the DNC a success, including the DNC Committee CEO Rev. Leah Daughtry, who did a phenomenal job at leading the planning and execution of the convention.] This seems like something obvious that would take place at a convention for a major political party, but from what I understand more often than not, the opposite is true. Just take a look at the highlights from the Republican National Convention (RNC) this year. Even though there were some die-hard Bernie fans in the building sporting their yellow shirts that stuck out like sore thumbs among the sea of red, white and blue, they even conceded it was best for them to take one for the team, have a seat and get on board.

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Me and Uncle Joe!

I was most mesmerized by the speakers of the convention. And I’m not just referring to the big name speakers such as FLOTUS and POTUS and the VP aka Uncle Joe (who I got a chance to meet by the way, and was super cool!); rather, it was the unsuspecting average everyday people, non-politicians, that spoke to the heart of the issues that are plaguing this country and why their support is behind someone they believe can make a difference. I will say, by the time Hillary took the stage on the last night of the convention, my ambivalence had transitioned to a sense of pride in the candidate to whom I was giving my vote, simply from the personal testimonials that were shared. It was pretty amazing!

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the entertainment. You can’t have a convention without some partying, right? Each night, an after party following the main events (which ended around 11 pm) chock full of delectable treats and adult beverages lasted into the wee hours of the morning. And the eye candy of the who’s who of Hollywood was enough to keep you up all night waiting for a chance to catch a glimpse, or even better, snap a picture. Or was that just me who was waiting for Lenny Kravitz, who among other celebs and myself, was staying at the convention’s host hotel? There are not too many celebrities I would stalk, but he certainly makes the short list lol. Alas, I had to settle for seeing him from the stands. Deep sigh…

Lenny Kravitz doing his thing on the DNC stage
Super creative adult beverages
One of my favorite actresses Angela Bassett
My mom and her friends titled this photo with actress Lynn Whitfield For Colored Girls lol

From there, I traveled down to Atlanta to participate in the second annual SheSpeaks Global conference, a women’s empowerment movement founded by my friend and business partner, Chinaza Duson. Chinaza has had an incredible journey in her 40 years of life and she’s using her voice as an instrument to inspire and impact the lives of women around the world who believe they’ve lost their own voice. I’ve had the pleasure of serving as the publicist for this amazing movement since its inception last year and I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to literally have a hand in lives being transformed for the better right before your eyes. Many of the women who attended last year came back with some powerful testimonials about how last year’s conference helped them to find their voice to do something extraordinary. One moment that stuck out to me the most was the testimony of Christina Serrano, who last year came as an attendee, full of tears at the conclusion, and came back as a powerful speaker on the main stage!

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L. Christina first sharing her story with Chinaza R. Christina sharing her story from the stage a year later

These two events got me thinking about the power of a testimony. There’s a saying that rings true, “You can’t have a testimony without first being tested.” I think it is one of the things that makes us all human, to be tested at some point in our lives. If you haven’t been tested, you just simply haven’t lived long enough right? I know this blog post has taken a shift but I promise I’m going somewhere with this. There is something about someone sharing a story of triumph over tragedy, faith over fear, progress over pain that inspires us to move. We all have a story to tell and the unfortunate thing is too many people are being quiet. Some of you reading this have a story to tell that will inspire someone to take a positive action in some way. You never know how your words might fall on someone else. It could mean the difference in something seemingly as insignificant as someone choosing a better health regimen or make the difference in who becomes the next President of the United States. Regardless of what you have to share, there’s power in your testimony and there’s someone waiting on you to speak up.

Where is the Love?

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

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I fought writing this. I’ve been silent because I really felt for a moment that there were no words to say. I’ve been in silent prayer for days trying to come up with something that could help express my feelings of hurt, shame, disgust, disappointment, sadness, and outrage with the recent and not so recent killings that are plaguing our society. And I had nothing…until today.

Yesterday, I was listening to one of my very few favorite radio programs – The Willie Moore Jr. Show, which broadcasts locally here in the DMV on the contemporary gospel station Praise 104.1, and something Willie said stuck with me. He said we need to take a minute to respond and not react to situations like this. A big reason why many of our problems persist is because we are too busy being reactionary, which is based off of unreliable and momentary feelings, rather than being thoughtful and prayerful, which can lead to a more helpful and productive response to a tragedy.

Let me be clear. What is happening right now is a tragedy, and it’s not necessarily a new one. Senseless killings have been happening since the original fall of man. What’s happening right now is there is more widespread attention focused on it and it’s breaking people’s hearts, literally. We can’t help but to pay attention to it now. But I believe it’s having an adverse effect. Instead of us doing something about it, it appears to be getting worse because people are reacting rather than responding and it’s continuing a vicious cycle.

One of my close friends Sharnikya, who I might add is a brilliant life coach and blogger herself [See Life Abundantly], wrote a post the other day worth sharing below that I think gets to the heart of the solution. And before some people take offense to what she said about the hashtags, no one is saying don’t express feelings about what’s happening, – there’s therapy in that – but what else are we going to do?

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I know one place we can start is with love. I already heard it before this was posted. Someone just said REALLY? [Insert eye roll here.] But stay with me, I’m almost done. It seems so simple but yet society has romanticized it so much, I believe no one really knows what it means any more. Jesus said it was the greatest commandment of them all but it seems people, unfortunately mostly Christians, have forgotten what it means to really love others. I get it. Some may argue that I’m really simplifying a solution to a very complex issue, but what if we just tried it? Because honestly, the more I look at what’s happening, the less I see love on any side of the war.

This is a war, in case you didn’t know. It’s been a never ending war that keeps getting worse because we honestly don’t even know we’re in a war. And those who’ve realized there is a war, don’t even know who the opponent is or how to fight it. Times like these, when I don’t know what to say or do, I go to the only place I can find comfort – the word. Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

You may ask, well what does that look like? For one example, read That is Love. I think love also looks like your answers to the questions Sharnikya asks. If we all took time to answer some of those questions for ourselves I think we’d begin to find the love we so desperately need.

 

 

 

 

 

Pleasant Surprise in Palm Springs

Posted on by goldenlifemusings

As a top travel producer for my parent company, I had the privilege of attending the biannual conference of one of the world’s largest travel consortiums in Palm Desert, California this past weekend. I intended to learn a lot about my industry and some of the amazing vendors that service it (which I did), but I was not prepared for the fun and excitement I would have exploring new destinations in Southern California.

It started with the airport. Yes, the airport, you read that right. I’ve been to and through a lot of airports in my life but I can’t say that any have charmed me, that is until I stepped foot off the plane at the Palm Springs airport. It is a tiny airport with only two runways and about 15 gates, but what was most charming was the open-air concept with palm trees and other beautifully landscaped desert foliage lining the walkway as you travel from the gates to baggage claim. I have to admit, in the selfie-crazed society in which we live, I just couldn’t help but to snap a pic, which happened to be the best airport selfie pic of mine to date! The airport also had a playground where the little ones can play as their families await their flights. How cute is that?!

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Palm Springs Airport

The travel conference was being held at the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs, which is a beautiful 4 star luxury resort that is just as ideal for a bachelor/bachelorette destination as it is for a conference or a family getaway. That type of diversity within one property is hard to come by but this resort manages to nail it. Between the massive lobby and sushi bar, 5 pools, spa and golf facilities, nightclub, multiple dining options and even a gondola ride that takes you on a tour of the exterior of the property and pool areas, you really don’t have to leave the resort for anything. But of course, as travel professionals wanting to see what else the Palm Springs area had to offer, my partners and I ventured off the beaten path and we were pleasantly surprised by the options there as well.

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J.W. Marriott Desert Springs

Being the foodie I am, I was delighted to know that the travel conference fell right in the middle of the Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week. Winning! I don’t normally eat at a chain restaurant when traveling out of town, especially if it’s a chain that exists in my home town, but the first night we just couldn’t resist the $38 three course restaurant week menu at Ruth’s Chris. I mean come on, it’s Ruth’s Chris! Lol. The second night, we did get to sample a local gem called Kaiser Grille (Palm Desert) and we were pleased not just with the delightful three course $38 pre-fixe menu, but the excellent service as well. Definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the Palm Springs area!

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Dijon and panko crusted half rack of lamb with grilled asparagus at Kaiser Grille

I’m not your adventurous type but thankfully my partners with whom I attended the travel conference are and they convinced me that the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world, was a must experience excursion. While it was a little rough getting up to the 8,500 ft. elevation (2.5 miles above the desert floor) for a girl who has a slight issue with heights, the majestic views were worth it. Words can’t really express the beauty and peace we experienced up there. If all I had was one word, it would be enchanting.

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Before leaving the area, we had to visit the gorgeous La Quinta Resort, known for its quaint, home away from home feel and being the host of many world-famous golf tournaments. The brunch at their Twenty6 restaurant was amazing! I recommend the crab benedict for you crustacean lovers out there. When I return to the area, I’m definitely staying at this property and doing a thorough “site-inspection” of the spa. I could hear it calling my name when we left…if only there were more time!

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La Quinta Resort & Club

By the way, I could not write a blog about my experience without mentioning my very first California earthquake! My first night there, I was awakened at 1:00 AM (which was still 4:00 AM EST for me at this point) by a 5.1 magnitude earthquake! It only lasted for 30 seconds, 15 seconds of which I was still sleep and trying to figure out what was happening, but how’s that for a first impression of Palm Springs? I can’t say this made up the “pleasant” part of my experience but it’s certainly a good story to tell!

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Overall, I was most awestruck by the natural beauty of this area. I’ve seen many different landscapes around the world but the contrast of palm trees and mountain views are up there in the most remarkable category. I must say, this was definitely a “sleeper” destination for me but now having visited, I definitely see myself not just returning but offering this destination as an alternative to my clients seeking getaways right here in the United States. I’m confident they will be just as pleasantly surprised as I was.