The sun was fun while it lasted but I come back not only bearing a sweet tan ... but also my gym and food recommendations and reviews. Here's what I explored in Miami:
Food:
Boatyard (Fort Lauderdale Marina)
Hands down the BEST salmon of my life. I'm not going to lie, I tried to recreate this meal at home and I think where I went wrong was in the money I spent on my cut of salmon. I hate when a fish tastes too fishy (sounds dumb, I know) and if I had closed my eyes while eating this meal, I'm not sure I would've even known it was salmon. 10/10 from me. Added bonus, the service was swift as well!
Carrot Express (Miami)
I stumbled upon Carrot Express simply by searching "healthy food" in my Apple Maps. It was late in the day on Tuesday. I had spent the whole morning at a work conference and then spent my afternoon traveling from FL to MIA. I wasn't too hungry for a full dinner, I craved something nutritious and light. I opted to go with the simple overnight oats and I was not disappointed! Great spot for whole healthy foods in the area.
Gianni's at the Villa (Miami)
The crime junkie that I am, I couldn't stay in Miami and miss the opportunity to see the Versace Mansion so I booked a table for one and took myself out to dinner. The landscape was beautiful and so was the interior. I ordered the Ocean's 1116 drink and that did not disappoint. For dinner I ordered the homemade rigatoni with lamb and although I appreciated the consistency and texture of a homemade pasta, it was a little too salty for my liking. Great experience, so-so food.
Ceviches by Divino (Miami)
Okay... how did I go 23 years without ever tasting Peruvian food?! Holy crap was I amazed. The best way to describe it is a mix between Spanish and Japanese cuisines. Not only was the manager super nice, providing me a clean towel to dry off from the storm I came in from, but the food was SO GOOD. I also appreciated the portion sizes, I didn't feel suffocated with bloat after. I don't know what the heck they put in their sweet potato puree but it was a true gift to my taste buds.
Shepherds Artisan Coffee (Miami)
Believe it or not, I am not about to review a cup of coffee. Nope. Listen, I had every intention of getting myself a nice cup of local grown coffee but my eyes accidently met the smoothie section of the menu and in that moment, that hot and humid moment, I knew in my heart that a smoothie was what I needed. I got a mango smoothie and a nice bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit. I was able to sit outside, soak in the weather, and see some pups that came to sit around me. I left satisfied and glad that I had come. If I find myself in Miami again this will definitely be a stop on my voyage.
Gyms:
Gymage
Nice lighting and location inspired lighting, but all in all its better to look at than to touch. I'm not saying you can't get a good workout in here, you most definitely can, but for the $$$ I would say you could spend less at a Crunch Fitness with equivalent equipment. I paid $20 for a day pass and I don't think it was worth $20. I got a good workout in for sure... but for one squat rack and one deadlift platform I think $20 for a DAY is asking a bit much.
Elev8tion
Something about an all black, old school iron gym, makes me feel like a real happy gal. An atmosphere says so much about a gym. Elev8tion was stacked with equipment of all kinds - db's, bb's, kb's, machines, etc. I could definitely see myself being a regular here if I was a Miami Beach resident. My only complaint was the brand of the treadmills they used - I wish I had wrote it down. The elevation didn't match up with how most treadmills measure elevation and the screen was in neon yellow lettering which made it a little hard to read. Other than that, cool a$$ place!
Muscle Beach Miami
Workout on the beach? I think that's what I would describe my actual heaven to be like. Obviously, it's not ideal for everything since the sand makes it hard to keep a steady and even footing but man I was impressed! This outdoor space was STACKED with equipment! The coolest part to me is that it's part of the parks system so its free to the public. Anyone can better themselves in this space! And, I got to cap off my workout with a cool down walk along the ocean. This was a bucket list item for me and I'm so happy I got to go.
Time to shift gears to a more serious topic. Listen to this week's podcast episode for a full discussion on mental health awareness, education, and help. I mentioned a few of the books that have had an impact on my life and helped me through the lows of my depressive states and I want to share them with you so you can benefit from them as well. Here are my favorite self help books:
Girl Wash Your Face - Rachel Hollis
Girl Stop Apologizing - Rachel Hollis
Didn't See That Coming - Rachel Hollis
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** - Mark Manson
Everything is F***ed - Mark Manson
10 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do - Amy Morin
That's all for this week! Stay tuned for a new episode, next week!
Xoxo,
Liz
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