2013....Make It Count

2013 is going to be a great year. I can feel it!
I've made a conscious decision to not waste yet another year like I did in 2012. I didn't accomplish anything and I don't want that to be the case again in 2013. I'm not getting any younger hear and I would hate to look back 12 months from now and see that I didn't do anything. Now, one of the scariest realizations that I made as the year came to a close is that I am bored of my career. I have been in the healthcare industry for almost 13 years and I am just over it. The industry has become heartless and greedier than usual. For this, I am going to do a little bit of soul searching to see what I enjoy doing. Now, I could go down the list of my resolutions, but we all know how those work out. I have a list, but I am still debating if I want to put ink to paper and make them official. I take resolutions pretty seriously each year and when I don't hit a least one, I feel like I have let myself down. So for now, they will still in my head until I think about them well and decide which ones I'll keep.

Bookstore on the Grove

Meet my new favorite spot, the Book Store on the Grove.  If you haven't stopped by you are missing out on a great place to come and hide, enjoy a great vibe and good food. From the flat screen TV posted up on the wall to the amazing fresh baked goods, and of course, the books, this place feels like a friend's cozy living room.

The Book Store on the Grove has comfortable seating areas and great coffee, combined with the FREE WI-FI, what else do you need? For less than $5.00 you can have a toasted bagel and a small coffee. They have all the books that those big chain bookstores carry but with out the price tag and if they don't have your book they will order it for you. The service is just amazing. When I come here, I don't just come a couple of minutes, no, I am here for a couple of hours, and guess what? you don't get dirty looks from the employees. They welcome you. They remember your name and the last book you bought. I feel like they should be charging me rent.

Photo Credit: The Bookstore in the Grove

 Photo Credit: The Bookstore in the Grove

Photo Credit: The Bookstore in the Grove

Art Basel or Bust

Even though I was invited to a couple of exhibits and events in Midtown and South Beach I couldn't make any of them due to strategically scheduled work emergencies (meetings, meetings and more meetings). I did, however, get to experience many amazing shows through Instagram and Facebook. Yes, I said, I experienced life through my cold inanimate cellular phone. How exciting was my weekend you ask? You don't want to know. One thing I do want to express is my disappointment in the lack of Art Basel events here in the Grove. I would have loved to support my town by attending a show here with friends but as much as I searched and searched, the Grove was not hosting any. Did I miss something? I know that we have the Arts Festival soon, but it would have been amazing to see this town transform for one weekend.

National Cake Day

Yes, after a week of complete and total glutony, today is National Cake Day. So in honor of this oh most important holiday I made my way to where my most favorite cake can be found, the Publix bakery. Yes, you heard me right. The Publix bakery.

So tonight's dinner menu will be as follows:

A nice hearty slice of Publix carrot cake
A tall glass of red wine

Don't judge me.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Today marks the first week of this blog. So this morning I've been doing a lot of thinking of where I want to take it. I didn't want to start a blog that was simply a copy cat of another (the scene from Knocked Up came to mind about Mr. Skins' website). I want mine to be different. There are many sides to the Grove, the Galleries, the restaurants, Peacock Park, its history, so many things to discover and experience. So I decided this is what my blog will be about. Experiencing my city's treasures. I hope you will join me on the journey. It's going to be fun.

Black Friday Grove Style

What part of Black Friday is it that people find attractive? Is it the hour long lines? Searching for what seems like an eternity for a parking space all to end up going to valet and paying $15.00 for someone else to park your car? Going through endless racks to find that size medium dress to then find it has a rip on the seem? I'm sorry, do I sound bitter? I really just hate the idea of wasting  spending a day going through all these hassles. So it was very refreshing to walk over to Commodore Plaza, Cocowalk and the Mayfair shops, and find that there was a plethora of parking spaces, the lines were short and painless and yes, they too had sales. But i'll say that my favorites were the antique market and Goldie's. What lovely finds.

Mayfair Antique Market Coconut Grove

What better Christmas gift to buy your BFF or your sister than a one of kind pair of antique gold earrings for only $55.00? Or buying your mom a lovely antique pure silver bowl with matching flatware for only $95.00? An extension of the Lincoln Road Antique & Collectible Market in Miami Beach, Mayfair Antique Market Coconut opened in 2009. It was like walking into a chest full of amazing goodies. For those of you that enjoy antique shopping, Mayfair Antique Market offers a great mix. From grandma's china to an amazing Louis Vuitton suitcase, here you will find it all. I will confess that I found antique shopping to be a bit intimidating. I thought it would be extremely expensive and not a hobby I could afford. But this place proved me wrong. So many amazing finds from all decades all for prizes that wouldn't break my bank account. There is something here for everyone. Check 'em out. They are located on 2900 Grand Avenue, between Virginia and Mary Street. 

Goldie in Coconut Grove

Walking into Goldie in Coconut Grove was like biting into a warm brownie topped with french vanilla ice cream drizzled with warm chocolate fudge. It felt so comforting and oh just so right. I felt like I belonged there. There wasn't a  shark, I mean stalker, sorry, a salesperson hounding me to see if I wanted to try that dress on in my size. I had just walked into my girlfriend's closet trying to find something to wear for our night out. Now, if you're expecting a warehouse full of sizes, a la Forever 21, you will not find it here at Goldie. But I guarantee you will find something (and by something, I mean everything) that will catch your eye. They have beautiful designer dresses, shoes and accessories. Here it is quality over quantity. This was my first time visiting Goldie but it will most definitely not be my last.  

Thanksgiving on the Grove

To some of us Thanksgiving is a day to enjoy the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a good NFL game, stuffing our faces with fantabulous food then going out for a night in the town with our friends and family. To others, its a day to stand in ridiculously long lines until tomorrow morning. Not happening. If I can't afford it on a regular day, I most definitely will not be making a long ol' line for a video game console, TV or whatever expensive items are trying to sneak their way into my Christmas list. But I digress. Lets get back on track here. There are many events taking place in Miami tonight, but being that this is blog about living, eating, shopping and partying on the Grove, I wanted to see what my town has to offer after I stuff my face.

So what could be any better than this, after spending all this money on food, an outfit, decorations and all things Thanksgiving, a night of free drinks is in order and much appreciated. The Goose in Coconut Grove is having their "Drinksgiving" post turkey bash. Ladies drink free until 1AM (that's all I need, I can't hang like I used to). There are $5 shots, $4 drafts and their Goose Juice for $10. Sounds like a plan!

 

But before enjoying these free spirits, a movie is a must. I'll be going to The Paragon Grove to check out a flick and sip on a nice hot chocolate. Oh how lovely. 

Right now though, preparations for tonight's dinner will be starting after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is over. Of course, I'll have to run to whatever supermarket is open today for last minute stuff forgotten during the planning process. This is, of course, another Thanksgiving tradition.