Miami Archives - My Inner Shakti

Wedding Weekend in Miami

Vishnu and I drove down to Miami this past weekend for our friends Adam and Khusbu’s wedding. We had so much fun celebrating the lovebirds!

I’ve known Khusbu since college, but we lost touch for a few years. When we moved to South Florida, the four of us started hanging out and got to know each other better. In fact, I still remember getting Khusbu’s “We’re engaged” text! It’s crazy to think their wedding is now in the past.

The wedding was obviously the main reason we were in Miami, but luckily we were able to squeeze in a few other things as well.

On Friday night, we stayed with my colleague Ivette. As soon as we got to her place, we freshened up and headed to The Rusty Pelican for dinner. Vishnu mentioned this restaurant several times during our last few months in Miami, but we never had the opportunity to eat there. It’s not the most vegetarian friendly restaurant, so I found it to be good but not great. However, Ivette and Vishnu loved their dishes!

We woke up bright and early on Saturday morning to get ready and head to the hotel. We made it to the hotel in time for the baarat (groom’s entrance), however everything leading up to that was a huge fail.

First, I had the hardest time putting on my sari. Two YouTube videos later, I just did my best and prayed that it wouldn’t fall apart on me. Then, we called an Uber to take us to the hotel. It just so happened that the Susan G. Komen race was happening that morning, so every single road in the area was blocked. What should’ve been a five minute drive, turned out to be a 35 minute drive. It was so bad that we asked our driver to just drop us off no where close to the hotel. And then we walked. Me in my messed up sari and heels and Vishnu in his suit. With two rolling suitcases. We were quite the spectacle I’m sure.

Anyways, after that things got better. The baraat was lots of fun, the wedding was absolutely beautiful, and the reception was full of energy. We were even able to squeeze in a walk around our old neighborhood in the afternoon.

Before heading back to St. Petersburg, we met up with Vishnu’s cousin Tara and our friend Hanisha for brunch. It was so good to see them and catch up over delicious food!

On our drive home, we talked a lot about our time in Miami and how much we miss the city. And since we’re not moving back anytime soon, we realized that the next best thing to do is make the most of our time in St. Pete. We have eight ish more months here, and we want to see and do as much as possible…we’re on a mission!

Well, I hope you have a great start to your week!

See You Later, Miami!

written by Parita 7 Comments

After two amazing years of Miami living, Vishnu and I are saying “see you later!” (I refuse to say goodbye because I know we’ll be back sooner than later.) And while we’re embarking on a fun new adventure, I’m really going to miss this city and all the memories it holds.

More specifically, I’m going to miss…

…all the wonderful friends we’ve made. It’s crazy how close and connected you can feel to people you haven’t known all that long. Although it’s been hard saying bye to everyone, I know our Miami peeps are lifelong friends, so it’s more like “see you soon.”
…our apartment. We really lucked out with our place here. It was the perfect size, in the perfect location, with the perfect view.
…Miami weather. More so the warmth and not the crazy humidity. And because we’ll still be in sunny Florida for a year, it probably won’t hit me until we move to Chicago.
…being able to walk EVERYWHERE – the grocery store, the post office, the nail salon, bars, restaurants, and most importantly, my office. For two years, I had the BEST commute in the world!
…my runs along Brickell Key. If you follow me on Instagram and have seen my beautiful sunrise pictures, then you’ve seen a part of Brickell Key. It’s a small key located directly behind our condo building, and the perimeter is lined with the most perfect path for running/walking.
…my hair stylist. For the past two years, I’ve gone to the same lady for my haircuts and most recently my color. She is amazing. And we all know how hard it is to find a hair person. Crossing my fingers that I can find someone like Jessica in both St. Pete and Chicago! For anyone living in the Miami area, check out Philip Francis Hair Salon and book with Jessica.
…Giardino’s salads. I know what you’re probably thinking but hear me out. This place makes the BEST salads in the world. They are loaded with fresh ingredients and topped with the tastiest dressings. Most everyone who’s visited us in Miami had tried Giardino’s and loved it!

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of the idea of living in Miami. In fact, when I first moved down here, I was already counting down the days until our move out of here. But now? Let’s just say I’m going to miss this wonderful, chaotic, magical city with all my heart.

See you later, Miami! And thank you for everything! We’re sure going to miss you, but we’ll be back soon!

Last Weekend in Miami

written by Parita 19 Comments

FRIDAY

When I got home from work on Friday, Vishnu was watching TV, so I decided to relax and read for a few minutes. More on my newest book to come soon!

Then came figuring out what to eat for dinner. Earlier in the day, I asked Vishnu if oatmeal was ok. He agreed and that was that…until I proposed pizza at 6:30 pm.

Oatmeal vs. Pizza. Pizza won!

We were able to get five meals out of this one pie. Not too bad!

The rest of our Friday included a little packing and some TV watching.

SATURDAY

Saturday was a bit busier because we had some errands to run in the afternoon. We had a few things to return at the mall and a few things to buy at Target. We also had to buy paint (for the condo walls) from a very specific retailer. All of that took a few hours, and while it wasn’t super exciting, it was nice to drive around that area of Miami one last time.

Later in the evening we met up with a few friends for dinner. Vishnu really wanted to check out a restaurant called Mandolin after our friends Adam and Khusbu mentioned it last weekend. I told him I would take care of making a reservation and all that.

Welllll…I did make a reservation but for six because I wanted to surprise Vishnu with a fun graduation dinner with our friends! And even though I almost gave away the big surprise a few times, he totally didn’t catch on. In fact, as the host was walking us to our table, he said something like, “Right this way and two others from your party have just arrived.” To which Vishnu replied, “What? It’s only the two of us.” I just ignored him and kept walking. The look on his face when he saw everyone was priceless!

And I didn’t take any food pics, but everything was delicious (especially the Greek and Turkish dip samplers). This is definitely a must-try Miami restaurant!

We ended the meal with delicious celebratory mini cupcakes from LA Sweetz. My fav!

SUNDAY

We slept in a little on Sunday and savored every last minute of our last full weekend day in Miami. We also packed and cleaned some more…shocking!

Later in the evening we headed to our friend Rohit’s house for dinner and were joined by a few of other friends. His sweet mom was kind enough to make us dosas + all kinds of veggie curries on the side. Needless to say, I was STUFFED! It was fun eating and talking for a few hours. By the time we got home, I was ready to sleep.

All in all, our last weekend in Miami was a great one. We didn’t do anything new, but we spent it with the people who made our time in Miami so much fun. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way!

Happy Monday all, and thanks for reading!

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Biking Around Key Biscayne

written by Parita 4 Comments

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that Vishnu and I have only been to Key Biscayne twice. It’s literally in our backyard. I mean, I could run there if I wanted to.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with areas of Miami other than South Beach (no shame because that was me just a few years ago), Key Biscayne is an island town located south of Miami Beach and east of Miami. It’s connected to the mainland via the Rickenbacker Causeway, and let me tell you…the views of the Atlantic Ocean are breathtaking.

Anyway, our first trip to Key Biscayne was a beach trip. And I’m honestly not too sure why we never went back. The beach itself isn’t my favorite, but it’s a 15 minute drive from our place.

Well, we rectified the situation by exploring Key Biscayne last weekend with our friends Aman and Nazia. And this time we did it via bikes.

Side note – the last time I touched a bike was almost 10 years ago. But luckily, it all came back to me!

We met at Mangrove Cycles to pick up our bikes. The owner was super friendly and made sure to map out our entire path for us, including all the must see spots along the way.

And then we were off!

We followed the seven mile path which led us through gorgeous neighborhoods lined with bungalows, Bill Braggs Cape Florida State Park, the Cape Florida Lighthouse, and of course the oceanfront.

Here are a few pictures my photographer Vishnu took for me!

Like I said, this really is a must visit spot. It’s nothing like South Beach, which in my opinion is a great thing. It’s perfect for when you’ve had enough of the touristy stuff and just want to relax and enjoy the ocean and all the beauty that comes with it. The island is home to some supposedly wonderful restaurants, obviously some awesome views, and quite a few fun activities, making it family friendly as well.

We will definitely be back!

Have you ever been to Miami? If so, did you make it out to Key Biscayne?

The Everglades, a Catamaran Cruise, and NYE

written by Parita 4 Comments

My sister and Adarsh left this morning after a great week in Miami! To say they made the most of their time here would be an understatement. And Vishnu and I definitely benefited from their adventurous spirits.

Our first group activity was an airboat tour of the Everglades. Luckily, Coopertown Airboats had a great deal on Groupon we were able to take advantage of. Since this was everyone’s first time, we honestly had no clue what to expect. I think it’s safe to say that our overall experience was great. Not only did we go deep into the Everglades, we also got up close and personal with a number of different animals, including snakes, a skunk, turtles, etc. The only downside, in my opinion, was that we only saw one alligator in the wild…I was hoping for more! But I guess that’s the luck of the draw.

We went on a catamaran cruise excursion on NYE day. Unfortunately, it wasn’t 100% what we expected. The weather didn’t exactly cooperate (super overcast), and there weren’t as many water activities as we had hoped. But overall it was a fun way to spend a few hours. I mean, how many people can say they went on a boat in December.

Vishnu and Adarsh kayaking and bonding!

When we were planning things out for the week, I asked my sister what kind of NYE they wanted to experience. Thankfully, both her and Adarsh wanted to do something low-key. We ended up eating dinner at home and going to a friend’s place for dessert, drinks and the NYE countdown! So much fun!

Sister sister!

The hit of the party – my black bean brownies!

Other highlights:

Dinner at Andiamo, Nikko by Sunshine, and Yard House.
Binge watching How to Get Away with Murder (if you’re looking for a show to get hooked on, this is a good one!).
Two different nights of Cards Against Humanity
And my personal favorite – the simple moments spent hanging out, laughing, talking, etc.

It goes without saying, but Vishnu and I LOVED having my sister and Adarsh here. Our time together reminded me of how blessed we are…in so many ways. And if the past few days are any indication of how 2015 is going to turn out, I am one lucky girl.

How did you spend the last few days of 2014? NYE?

Weekend Recap – Family Fun

written by Parita 10 Comments

We had such a great time with Niel and Neelam (my BIL and his girlfriend) this weekend. I really wish we could go back in time and relive all the fun (and delicious food!).

After picking them up at the airport on Friday evening, we went to Nikko by Sunshine for dinner. Neelam and I weren’t in much of a sushi mood, so I ordered Pad Thai while Neelam ordered soup. Vishnu and Niel shared a couple of sushi rolls and my leftovers. I’ve been looking for a decent sushi restaurant, and according to Vishnu, we found it! We’ll definitely be back.

Just check out the presentation!

The next morning, we got up, ate breakfast, talked for a couple of hours, and slowly got ready for the day. Not surprisingly, this involved more food! Since Vishnu, Niel, and Neelam all love seafood, we drove to Joe’s Stone Crab in South Beach.

Thankfully, the salad I ordered was fresh and refreshing. The server even recommended I try Joe’s dressing, which is award-winning and delicious! The seafood eaters also enjoyed their meals. Vishnu and Neelam said their crab cakes were pillowy and delicious (as evident by their perfectly clean plates!), and Niel said his fried oysters tasted “great!” If you love seafood, this Miami institution is a must visit restaurant!

Since it looked like it was about to rain any minute, we headed home after lunch and decided to play Taboo. We started off with the boys teaming up against the girls. After the girls dominated and destroyed the boys, we changed things up. Vishnu and I coupled up against Niel and Neelam and walked away with a narrow victory. Note that the common denominator in both scenarios was ME! I’m pretty much a Taboo wizard!

Later that night, we met up with a few friends for dinner at Batch. Good food and good company!

Before heading home, we stopped at Area 31 to check out their rooftop bar. The bar was actually closed but the view was still amazing.

Sunday morning looked a lot like Saturday – woke up, talked, got ready, went out to eat. Only this time, instead of lunch, we went to Fado’s Irish Pub for brunch. The food was good, but the conversation was better! We talked about everything from football, soccer, religion, movies, etc. So much fun!

Brothers!

Niel and Vishnu were craving something sweet after our very savory meal, so we stopped at Amore for gelato. I wasn’t planning on getting anything because of my whole dairy-free thing, but when I heard someone say vegan gelato, my ears perked up! Apparently, gelato can be made with water and no eggs/milk. After sampling it, I made everyone else try it too! It was so creamy and chocolaty. Love it when I’m not left out!

No visit would be complete without a walk around mine and Vishnu’s favorite spot…Brickell Key.

I think we successfully convinced Niel and Neelam to retire in Miami with us one day!

And just like that the weekend was over. But because fun times were had by all, I think it’s safe to say that our visitors will be back sometime in early 2015!

I, for one, am really looking forward to the short work week and our trip to Houston next weekend. One more 2014 wedding to go!

From Miami to Chicago

written by Parita 8 Comments

If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m flying to Chicago today and seeing Vishnu, I would probably be super sad (and teary) right now. My parents left yesterday afternoon after a fun and relaxing week in Miami. Honestly, I’ve never seen them so chilled out and whatever about everything. Haha. I’m so glad they enjoyed themselves and were able to step out of their day-to-day grind. I’m hoping they make it back at least one more time before we have to move next year.

One of my mom’s requests for this trip was to go to the beach at least once. Well, her wish was my command because on Saturday afternoon we packed up our stuff and headed to the ocean!

This was our 10th attempt at a selfie!

It was nice to get out of the city and sit on the beach for a couple of hours!

On Saturday night I took my parents to Andiamo’s for pizza. I know what some of you are thinking…”find new restaurants!” But I would rather take visitors to places I love and more importantly know they will love. And I was right. My parents loved it. I’m sticking to my philosophy!

Dixya and my brother-in-law nominated me for the ALS ice bucket challenge, so I completed that on Saturday evening. Good stuff! And for anyone who thinks that this is a waste of water, do a little research and look at the numbers. This challenge has not only raised millions of dollars but also a tremendous amount of awareness.

After my parents left on Sunday I cleaned, went for a run, and caught up with friends/family on the phone. Oh and I packed…3 big bags! I texted Roshni to let her know that I’m pretty much bringing my entire closet. I know I’m going to regret it later but because the next month includes work, play, and London, I didn’t want to risk it!

Anyways, have a great Monday! I look forward to sharing my Chicago adventures. 🙂

Wedding Weekend in Miami

See You Later, Miami!

Last Weekend in Miami

Biking Around Key Biscayne

The Everglades, a Catamaran Cruise, and NYE

Weekend Recap – Family Fun

From Miami to Chicago

categories

Archives

Top Posts!

Follow me on Instagram!