WE MASH UP DE ROAD!

WHOOOY!!!!!! Or should I say the road mash we up! LOL. Man, what a time!

I know all of your newsfeeds have been littered with carnival pictures and stories. As promised from last week's blog here is...

MY JUNKANOO CARNIVAL EXPERIENCE

BY TIMELINE 

5:30 a.m.
Yes, 5:30 a.m.!! I woke up not only because my body is used to waking up that time but also I  woke up in anxious anticipation for road fever.  I messaged Tiffany, because I just knew she would be up. We go back and forth about the costumes and logistics of getting to the site.

7:00 A.M.
Showered, fed and packing my bag to head to Tiffany's house to get dressed.

7:30 A.M.
Arrived at Tiffany's house and ensued in lots of girlie things. Makeup, hair, accessorizing and of course girl talk. 

We didn't have our head pieces just yet and so I arrived to Tiffany's house with my hair fixed a certain way to suit the particular head piece we were shown by picture. Come to find out our head pieces became something else and hair had to be re-done! Arghhhh

9:00 A.M. 
Met up with our other junkanoo carnival going friends for pre-road fever pics and shots. Wait did I say shots? I guess I did. **shrugs shoulders** #JudgeYaMa

THE CALM BEFORE DA STORM

NO CLUE WHAT WE WERE SAYING TO EACH OTHER BUT I'M SURE IT WAS NOTHING APPROPRIATE! LOL

PRACTICING, BECAUSE WE LIKE SHENANIGANS! LOL

                 

I READY, LET'S GO!

DAMN! All of that and we haven't even started yet! LOL

10:00 A.M - 10:30 A.M.
We picked up our drawstring backpacks that contained our mug that we would need for dranks for the day. The bag came in handy for keeping my little knick knacks safe like my phone, lipstick, keys, etc. We were then dropped off to the sports centre only just to BEGIN our day for real for real.

We hydrated with water, lots of water because it was hella HOT and mainly because the bar on wheels wasn't open yet. **side eye**

I don't believe I shared which Junkanoo Carnival group my friends and I participated in, did I?  It was Enigma Bahamas! Shout outs to ya!

WAITING FOR THE MARCH TO START, BUT FIRST LET ME TAKE A SELFIE

12:00 P.M. and BEYOND!!!
On de road....more on de road...and on de road some more. 

I'll let the pictures do the talking...

THE BEGINNING

DA CROWD

MIDWAY THROUGH, LIPSTICK GONE AND HOT, BUT TIFF STILL LOOKS GREAT!

DANCING

NO LAW FOR US!

BECAUSE EVERYONE NEEDS TO A BOOTY SHOT, JUST TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

Two things I would change during the entire day was, ONE, the route was too long.  At a certain point I marched off the road because I was done! PAHTEE DONE and that was about 9:00pm! Sorry, no evening pictures here because at that point my phone had died. (Remember to pack a backup battery for next time). SECOND, too much stopping to judge. I know the groups have to be judged but it took away from the vibe because it wasn't free flowing. 

I enjoyed the coming together by all my fellow Bahamian people AND non-Bahamian people. There was nothing but love on da streets and really that's what it's all about! 

To the spectators and onlookers out there that may have felt some type of way about Junkanoo Carnival or didn't fully support the event, I hope to see you out there next year rather than be on the sidelines!

Signed, 
#I'sAJunkanooCarnivalist 
Candilaria

Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival 2016

We are in the second year of the recently created Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival and once again it is still met with lots of controversy. Controversy because a lot of people believe we are adopting another country's culture. At least that's the crux of it. As if the concept of "Carnival" is limited to only these countries. 

Well if we look at the definition of "Carnival" according to the Webster Dictionary it means...

: a festival held before Lent that includes music and dancing

:  a event where many people gather to celebrate something

So there we go, I think of Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival as a celebration of Bahamian culture. The food, music, clothing, and essentially the PEOPLE!

I know the focus seems to be on it not being "Junkanoo" enough but come on people, is that the ONLY thing we feel we have to offer?

Do we underestimate the value of our Bahamian people?  

Why does it matter HOW we bring people to experience our culture? Whether it is a festival, a carnival, a concert, an art show, etc. Aren't all of these events universal?

I will let you know this, this Bahamian Gal ga be on da road dis Satdee! Yes, this Married Working Mother. And I ain shame!

Costume from the group Enigma Bahamas, taken from their Facebook page.

Unfortunately, some of my "conservative" people will be overly critical especially when they don't agree with it. Possibly, because they don't agree with dancing half naked in the middle of the street. I, personally don't have an issue with it. The thing is, many of you will dance half naked at Trinidad and Jamaica's carnival. Why? Because you don't want "people" to see you carryin' on bad and require full anonymity or you are just too afraid to throw on that 2 piece and whine up ya body. My body is never where I want it to be but it's not going to stop me from enjoying something. I will be right there jigglin' down the road.

I've always wanted to experience carnival, elsewhere, but for whatever reasons, going never panned out. But I sit here writing this post thinking how proud I am that the very first Carnival I will participate in will be my very own, Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival!!! Where I will celebrate with my beautiful Bahamian people. That's some pretty cool shit.

Because after all, it's about the PEOPLE! So tourists, HERE I COME, this is one Bahamian you will have a good time with :) GET READY!


Stay tuned for my follow up post next week documenting my experience!


Signed, 
#ReadyFaDaRoad, Candilaria 

 

How we have "Me Time" as Married Working Mothers

How?


Just do it!


1.  Get over the Guilt of wanting to have "me time"...

2.  Next, once you've convinced yourself that you absolutely deserve and NEED this time - PLAN.  This is one we can't escape.  Although I wish all of the planning would be done for me sometimes, the daily routine of life falls on us so it's imperative that we make the necessary steps to make "me time" happen. From deciding what to do and where to go to organising the children and husband.  So we Plan.

And that's it.  It's that simple.  In just two simple steps you could be on your way to enjoying "me time" by yourself or with your girlfriends.


Candilaria and Tiffany's "Me Time"...

Tiffany and I decided that we needed "me time".  We have no qualms about feeling that we deserve it. Nope.  None at all.

It's "Me O'clock"

We planned to become tourists in our own country and embarked on a journey to Blue Lagoon Island.  It had been years and years since either of us had visited the island and were super stoked.


At 8:30 a.m. on a beautiful day we boarded the Dolphin Encounter boat - with some challenges getting there of course but nonetheless we made it.

Top Left - Our view from the boat.;
Top Right - Our first "Usie" for the day
Bottom Left - Tiffany and I with our drinks and bartender, David;
Bottom Right - We rigged up a little morning drink. Nothing like a Mimosa to kick off the day!

Welcome to Blue Lagoon!  We picked an awesome spot to cop a squat.  We lounged, we explored, we talked, we laughed, we swam, we read, we slept.  It was a perfect day.

Our colourful cups that contained the right kind of drink we needed and allowed us to have those "sweet naps" throughout the day :) 

We were having such a great time, somehow we missed our boat back. Hmmmm...not sure how that happened.  So what did we do?  Nothing.  We hung out some more. We ended up hitching a ride on the boat that transports the employees back and forth!

We topped the day off by meeting up with another absolutely fabulous Married Working Mother and the day "me time" turned into night "me time".  When I arrived home, my children were tucked in bed and fast asleep and my husband was very thankful for the day I had (wink wink).  And so was I.

Before I end this post I must share a story.  

While swimming/floating in the crystal clear waters at Blue Lagoon the most terrifying thing that could ever happen to a married woman happened.  I lost my wedding band! I felt it slip from my finger as we were swimming back to shore.  The terror on my face signalled to Tiffany that something was wrong. I became paralysed. After my freak out session, bystanders made their way over to us to see if they could assist.  A gentleman with the use of a Lifeguard's goggles dove in search for Mr. Thompson's wife's ONE good ring. Like so many women who lost their rings to the ocean I was hoping that I was the exception.  That my ring would be found.  And....

He found it!!!!!!!  Eric (pictured below) found my ring.  All was right with the world once again and I resumed to my "me time".

"Me Time" has become our favourite topic because we know how much we need it.  How much women need it.  As we mentioned during our presentation at The Pretty Brown Girl Bahamas Conference in May, we consider ourselves experts on the subject matter and we are here to show you how you can do it too!  We are here to help you. :) :)


How important are you to yourself?!  

Where are you on your own priority list? 

Make the time for you. Everyone around you including YOU will thank you for it. 



Signed, 

I (Heart) "Me Time", Candilaria

       

HAPPY 40TH INDEPENDENCE MY BAHAMALAND!

We would like to wish all of our fellow Bahamians, on island and those living abroad a 

Happy 40th Independence!

One minute after midnight On July 10th, 1973, 40 years ago a crowd of 50,000+ witnessed the black, aqua-marine, and gold flag of The Bahamas being raised instead of the Union Jack.  What a feeling that must have been! It was the end of over 300 years of British rule.

Below is a picture of the brave men that have governed The Bahamas for the past 40 years.

From left to right: The Right Honorable Perry G. Christie, the current Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, The Right Honorable Sir Lynden O. Pindling, Former Prime Minister (1967-1992), and The Right Honorable Hubert A. Ingraham, Former Prime Minister (1992-2002, 2007-2012)

Last evening Bahamians came together on the eve of our Independence on the historic grounds of Clifford Park (where the initial ceremony of Independence occurred) for an event to recognize 40 years of Independence.  As apart of the celebrations we enjoyed an event called the Tattoo.

At the Tattoo, the gentleman in the front is the Governor General, Sir Arthur Foulkes, courtesy of bahamasweekly.com

For those of you like me who have been wondering why it is called a Tattoo, here is the popular definition!

The term military tattoo, referring to a military drum performance, dates from the seventeenth century when the British Army were fighting in the Low Countries (Belgium and The Netherlands). Drummers from the garrison were sent out into the towns at 21:30 hrs (9:30PM) each evening to inform the soldiers that it was time to return to barracks. The process was known as Doe den tap toe and encouraged the inn keepers to "turn off the taps", stop serving beer and send the soldiers home for the night. The drummers continued to play until the curfew at 22:00 hrs (10:00PM).

Over the years, the process became more of a show and often included the playing of the first post at 21:30 hrs and the last post at 22:00. Bands and displays were included and shows were often conducted by floodlight or searchlight. Tattoos were commonplace in the late 1800s with most military and garrison towns putting on some kind of show, hence the name Tattoo came for the show.

Now we know!

The journey still continues to becoming a great nation!

Signed, 
MWMs Management

I AM A BAHAMIAN

courtesy of 

As we countdown the days to our Independence, I reflect on all things Bahamian.  What does The Bahamas mean to me? What makes us who we are?  

For me, it's the people.  

www.takegreatpictures.com 

I love how colourful we are.  By colourful, I mean our personalities, the way we talk, the way we walk, the way we dress, and just the way we interact with each other.  You will always hear a Bahamian say they can spot another Bahamian no matter where they are in the world.  We laugh and make jokes about how true that is!  Some days driving around town, the sights and people  you stumble upon make you either laugh or shake your head and say to yourself, "only in The Bahamas".












Here is my list of a few things of when you know "you is a" Bahamian:

A potcake, stray dog

1.  When fire engine is something you eat (corned beef and rice!)

2.  When "potcake" is a stray dog, burnt rice at the bottom of the pot, or a person mixed with different ethnicity's.  Oh and we can't forget the Potcake, the man with the shopping cart filled with car rims

3.  When 5 dogs laying in your yard and none of them are yours 

4.  Gives directions like this "You know the blue and white building on the   corner with the laundry mat and liquor store? Yea, Ok.  Don't turn through that corner, my house through da next corner" (hehe)

Make shift store, this time in the centre of a median

5.  When you put up a make-shift store on the side of the road selling the same merchandise for half the price than the big time (legitimate) store across the streets.

6.  When you trying to find the best "asue" to join

7.  When you can be heard saying "well muddasick" (an expression used to emphasize every kind of emotion)

8.  When you start or end a sentence with the word "Bey"

9.  When you say you "gern unda da dock".  No, not under the bridge...unda da dock!

10. When you going "unda da dock" for one conch snack and one cold Kalik

11. When you switch your accent to an American one when speaking to a tourist

12. You come back from Miami with three big suitcases (full) and claim you only spent $300 to the customs officer

13. When you use the plastic bag from the grocery store as a garbage bag.

14. When you go buy a $100 bathing suit only to go in the water with a T-Shirt over it.

15.  When you party all night on Christmas Day until it's time to go to Junkanoo at 1:00am on Boxing Day

Gotta love my people!


I will leave you with a video from one of my favourite local artists, Papa Smurf.   I love that you can hear his authentic Bahamian accent as he raps.

Here is one of his songs, "I am a Bahamian" featuring Da Element & Sherrol Rahming.  Enjoy!

Happy 40th Anniversary Bahamas!

Signed, 

A Bahamian Gal, Candilaria