Hi there, it’s been awhile!  Today’s video explains why that is.

We’ve now been on our little rock for over 3 years.  After 3 moves and 2 category 5 hurricanes, we are still here and celebrating LIFE!  This weekend, we celebrated with a variety of live music, Mardi Croix, our new local brewery, and a hike to the Tidal Pools. Today’s video also features some of our favorite people + animals and I share some of my all time favorites like what I’m currently growing in my garden, my go-to beautifying and nurturing smoothie recipe, and hacks to being the best version of myself!

My Favorite Green Smoothie – Updated Recipe

 

Author: The Squishy Monster

Ingredients

• 2 cups coconut water
• 2 tablespoons baobab powder
• 1 tablespoon freshly ground flax, soaked chia and/or raw hemp seeds
• 1.5 cups frozen packed moringa leaves – or 2 cups frozen packed greens of choice
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated turmeric and ginger
• 2 frozen spotty brown bananas
• 2 cubes frozen passionfruit/lilikoi or fruit of choice

Instructions

1. Blend everything together.
2. For a smoother texture, blend the coconut water, baobab, flax/chia/hemp, greens and turmeric and ginger first. When creamy, add in the fruit and blend again. Add more liquid if you desire a thinner consistency.

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Here’s my superfood smoothie guide and a how to on homemade baobab powder.

A typical relaxing weekend day in the Caribbean hanging out at the beach where they filmed a scene from Shawshanks Redemption, collecting fresh tropical fruit and enjoying what St. Croix has to offer.

Most people think of crystal clear turquoise waters and white sand beaches when they think of the Caribbean and they’re not wrong.  For me, paradise is enhanced by the abundance of fresh local, tropical fruit and our ideal weekend involves both of these things {as you may have already read in my top 5 things I love about living in the Caribbean post}.  In today’s video, we spend time at Sandy Point and show you some of our fruit trees.  I’ve made a Sandy Point video already but it possesses such crystalline magic that I just had to feature it again.  Not to mention, with Hurricane Maria destroying the road to reach it and seasonally closing at the end of March, we didn’t have as much time there as we usually do, making the precious time we got to spend there extra sweet.

Today, the water was extra technicolor.  Anytime I’m enjoying the great outdoors on our little island, the beauty of it all never ceases to amaze me.  Call me lame but it’s often moved me to tears.  There’s a spiritual chord that this island just plays in me and it reaffirms my faith in the universe.

I’m excited to share that despite Maria’s best efforts, we are now seeing fruit slowly coming in!  This seriously makes me jump for joy.  A great lesson I took away from Maria is just how resilient nature is.  We have so many coconut trees that almost got knocked over but the operative word here is almost.  Almost all of them are now deeply slanted as you’ll see in the video, yet they still produce new coconuts, making me feel just so awestruck.  Nature is powerful and magical.

People often ask what compelled us to move to an island in the middle of the Caribbean, sight unseen, selling everything we own and only months after we got married.  The answer?  It was to live more freely, simply, and in touch with nature.  I was devastated when Hurricane Maria blew in with all her fury but it was one of the greatest feelings ever to return home.  I’ve never felt “home” anywhere else before.  It’s not just the warmth of the year round sun, but that of the community that ties it all together.  Here are just 5 reasons I love living in the Caribbean.

1.THE WEATHER.  I’ve always been susceptible to seasonal depression and though I still battle with bouts of it, it has severely lessened and lifted since living here.  It also helps that we live year round with all of the windows open {per typical Crucian living} and that fresh air flows in night and day.  When my husband and I aren’t working, you can find us hiking or at the beach.  Staying active also helps keep me healthy in plenty of ways.

2. The Community.  After Hurricane Irma destroyed our sister islands, we were still capable enough to help and the entire island flew in to action to ferry over much needed supplies.  We were actually in the middle of organizing a fundraiser for St. Thomas and St. John when Hurricane Maria came in to wreck havoc on us just days later.  It’s not just natural disasters that bring us together.  I suppose on an island as small as we are, it’s natural to create a closer-knit environment.  It’s what we affectionately refer to as “island family.”

3. Local culture and food.  Naturally {as my husband is a history buff}, we are drawn to the rich history steeped in our island.  There are plenty of museums or historical ruins to peruse through or cultural events to be a part of.  As for the food, there are a variety of cuisines that have come together to create the tapestry of Crucian food.  I had the privilege of working with the owners of Cast Iron Pot on a media project and was able to sample every dish on their menu and every bit was scrumptious.  Cruzan Rum is also a big deal here.

4. The relaxed atmosphere.  My friends and I joke that as relaxed as it is here, we seriously wonder if we could ever re-acclimate back to “normal” life.  I can say, after my short hiatus stateside, I couldn’t wait to be back.

5. Natural beauty.  The stars at night, the fresh tropical fruit {best mangoes of my LIFE}, the views at the top of a good hike, the world renowned diving {my husband’s favorite}, or natural wonders like the tide pools or the bioluminescent bay…there’s always something to experience!

If moving to the Caribbean is something that appeals to you, I wrote a 45 page e-book called Moving to Paradise which is all about how to make the move, what to do when you get here and how to make the transition as seamless as possible all while enjoying the bounty that the island has to offer.

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After being on island for over a year, I thought it was about time to compile a list of both the pros and cons of living on St. Croix.  We were recently invited out by a couple who are seriously considering moving here and they wanted to know the same things.  I’ve mentioned the good along with the bad here and there but it’s been scattered across so many blog posts and videos that I figured it would be helpful to place it all here.

The bad:

• Power outages and spotty cell coverage.  People also grumble about internet availability and speed but I’ve only really had a couple of issues and am able to upload my videos without a problem.  Though, Facebook video takes about a million years to upload.  Please let me know if you have any insight on this.
• Health care.  As I’m not ill or older, I haven’t had much experience with the hospitals here but I haven’t heard the best things.  A few people I spoke with say that there is quality care out there but another person told me their parents had to leave because there wasn’t a specific specialist that they needed on island while another one told me that when they visited the ER, it took a better part of a day to see anyone.
• The political climate.  Without going into too much detail, it’s not in the best state.
• The very many stray {and often abused} dogs…and cock fighting.
• It can be a more expensive lifestyle if you’re not careful.  Everything is generally more expensive.  You’re not likely to have central AC either.  I go into detail in my e-book about how we keep costs down.  We actually spend and live with less than we have in any other place we’ve lived.  It IS possible.
• High crime.  However, keep in mind that much of it is gang/personally related.  I do not personally feel unsafe in town.  As with any place in the world, you need to be mindful.
• As we don’t have children I can’t speak from first hand experience.  I’ve heard both sides of the story about the educational system.  The quality of our schools really depends on who you speak to.
• If you’re not resourceful, you will find island life to be difficult or impossible.  We’ve had several people leave island because it’s just not for everyone.
• Lack of modern conveniences.  You have to adapt.  It’s not unusual to go to several different grocery stores to find what you need…and sometimes, you still won’t find it.  Oh, I could lament about the loss of Trader Joe’s forever but it’s important to remember that what the island lacks, it more than compensates with its natural lush beauty.
• Potholes galore + corrosion = why we can’t have anything nice.  I kid.  Sort of.  We’re luck to have found our “island beater” Josie who has been our favorite truck ever.

The Good:

• After people see that you’re here for the long haul, your island family will welcome you with strong and steadfast arms.
• The tropical weather which yields sunshine all year round.
• Having a bad day?  The water will wash it all away.
• Nature and being surrounded by it.  There’s always a new beach to discover or another place to hike and explore.  I’m still working my way through my list!
• World class cuisine.  From a family that’s been churning local ice cream flavors for over 100 years to contemporary fine dining, there are even regular festivals {like Sunset Jazz or Jump Up} and events to celebrate the industry like Taste of St. Croix and St. Croix Food and Wine.  There’s even local beef and lots of fresh seafood.  Oh, don’t get me started on all the amazing seafood!
• The rum is free flowing, if you’re into that.
• The rich culture.  Crucians are a proud and beautiful people and this is exemplified by the blend of language, food and tradition.
• Tons of local farms and produce.  There’s always a fresh fruit rotating in season or new exotic one to try.  I’m a big fruit-fanatic and there are still ones I haven’t had the pleasure of tasting or discovering.
• Diving/snorkeling, horseback riding, reggae shows, sky diving, swimming, hiking/camping, touring, boating, excursions, island hopping, festivals…there’s always so much to do!  The celebration of LIFE is very apparent here.
• It’s a simpler way of life.  It’s not important that you shroud yourself in designer labels and pimp out your car.  That was probably one of the most exhausting things about the mainland.  I’ve never been one to care so much about material possessions and St. Croix gets that.  It organically aligns with my minimalist approach.  However, it is a bit of an adjustment when I’m stateside because island life is so casual.  This bit is comically striking to me.
• Lastly and probably most importantly of all for me, it helped manage my depression and anxiety like nothing else ever has.  I truly believe that the golden rays of sunshine and clear blue waters are the best medicine.

I’ve said it before but even paradise isn’t perfect.  I find that people either love it or hate it here.  It’s a place of perspective. We knew pretty immediately that this was home.  It’s not like that for everyone.  One of our friends left because they didn’t like how hot it was and what an effort day to day can be {depending on your outlook and circumstance}, I had another friend leave because it was “too expensive” but like I mentioned before, it all depends on how you lead your life and what your priorities are because we spend less now than ever before.  Another friend left because life was “too slow and boring.”  Yes, everything is on “island time.”  We lived on an island, stateside before moving here and thought that was really slow but it’s nothing compared to here.  You get used to it and adapt or you get frustrated, grumpy and leave.  As for the “boring” part, I imagine that if you’re not someone who enjoys warm weather, the beach or being active, it’s probably not a place that you’ll feel comfortable in.  If your daily shot of Starbucks, hunting down couture and keeping up with the Joneses is something that’s important to you, St. Croix probably isn’t the best place for those things but what it will gift you instead is an abundance of good vibes, peace, serenity, love and the ever hypnotizing sway of the palm fronds and eternal crash of the waves that may lend you as much comfort as it does me.

If you’re interested in more:

By popular request, I bring you today’s video on our minimalist morning routine.  I love the morning time, especially since our move to our little island where we naturally wake with the sun.  Light pours into all of our open windows so we can luxuriate in all that mother nature has to offer.  We try our best to stick to a natural rhythm and sleep cycle and begin most mornings with warm lemon water which I’ve found to be such a cleansing ritual that I actually look forward to the time when I can sit, sip, and plan the day.

As you can see in the video, we’re pretty obsessed with our little girl, Nala.  Most of our off time in general is dedicated to playing with her.  It’s really easy to when she’s such a well behaved puppy.  The vet places her at around 5 months old and in the first week she was with us, she learned how to sit and lay down.  Recently, she’s come around to “stay” and “drop it!”  She loves to cuddle and because this is the first dog I’ve ever had, I’m not sure if it’s normal, but she especially likes to be cuddled like a baby.  As in flipped on her back and cradled in the crook of your arm as she gazes oh so lovingly up at you.  Can’t.not.love.her.  Can you believe somebody dumped her in the rainforest to fend for herself?!

I digress.  To be honest, when you guys started asking for a morning routine video, it was so out of my element that I wasn’t quite sure where to start.  Shortly after filming the breakfast shot, I realized that I would just capture our normal, typical routine.  No frilly fuss or fancy this and that.  Just us.  I hope you enjoy.  I know that I was digging the opportunity to film something different and J actually found it interesting to play back our time spent together from a different angle.  It also made me appreciate our new home that much more.  There’s not a day I wake up that I don’t feel a gush of gratitude for our blessings.  Thanks for the requests.  Keep them coming!

Me and my husband got married on our 3 year anniversary.  One month later, we moved to our second island home in St. Croix.  When we first came together, we knew that we wanted to do life differently.  The prospect of the daily grind just to afford a tropical vacation at the end of the year seemed counterintuitive.  In the meantime, our peers seemed to be setting a precedent to amass as many material goods as possible.  When did you know when you had enough?  Weekends were filled with fancy brunches at new, never ending venues, adventures taking place in concrete jungles and a day to day life that was so far from nature that the smell of urban smog was as synonymous to us as fresh air.

Instead, we sought a more natural atmosphere to accompany our minimalist lifestyle.  The truth is, you really don’t need a lot to be happy and if the pursuit of “things” is where you derive it, it tends to be an empty pursuit like chasing a unicorn.  Our dreams involved growing our own roots as well as our plants on an island to ultimately homestead.

This was by no means, an easy feat.  We gave up everything to turn our dream into a reality.  My e-book, Moving to Paradise, begins with a quote from my husband where he says “if it was easy, everyone would do it.”  This sentiment applies to the idea that with enough steadfast energy and work, this lifestyle is both attainable and sustainable.  There were several steps that we implemented, beginning 2 years out from our eventual move.  In my e-book, I discuss all of these baby, medium and mega steps in detail. Curious about realistic expectations or how much daily expenses are? How to apply for a business license? What  to do when you arrive?  I answer this and so much more in my 30+ pages of pictures, testimonies, insight and resources that in hindsight, I wish I’d had that I’ve included for you.

We made our dream a reality, even while paying for our own wedding and maintaining a completely debt free home.  Aside from the logistics, I’ve also included fun places to explore that weren’t listed on any websites but were told to us by locals and since as you know, I’m very food-centric, I also went into great detail about markets and how to score cheap or free fruits and veggies and I even corralled a list of when restaurants offer half priced menus. I offer a realistic view of island living as everything isn’t always easy breezy perfection. Instead, I provide a wealth of information on how to carve out a healthy and positive life on an island. I even include random tidbits like my tried and true mosquito bite remedy, how to get affordable specialty items and a list of my personal favorite beaches. I hope you’ll check it out here. If you’re ready to lead an unconventional life, this is the book for you.

Practical tips and tricks to move to St. Croix.  Tropical, island living is within reach if you’re looking for a slower pace of life.

Me and my husband got married on our 3 year anniversary.  One month later, we moved to our second island home in St. Croix.  When we first came together, we knew that we wanted to do life differently.  The prospect of the daily grind just to afford a tropical vacation at the end of the year seemed counterintuitive.  In the meantime, our peers seemed to be setting a precedent to amass as many material goods as possible.  When did you know when you had enough?  Weekends were filled with fancy brunches at new, never ending venues, adventures taking place in concrete jungles and a day to day life that was so far from nature that the smell of urban smog was as synonymous to us as fresh air.

Instead, we sought a more natural atmosphere to accompany our minimalist lifestyle.  The truth is, you really don’t need a lot to be happy and if the pursuit of “things” is where you derive it, it tends to be an empty pursuit like chasing a unicorn.  Our dreams involved growing our own roots as well as our plants on an island to ultimately homestead.

This was by no means, an easy feat.  We gave up everything to turn our dream into a reality.  My e-book, Moving to Paradise, begins with a quote from my husband where he says “if it was easy, everyone would do it.”  This sentiment applies to the idea that with enough steadfast energy and work, this lifestyle is both attainable and sustainable.  There were several steps that we implemented, beginning 2 years out from our eventual move.  In my e-book, I discuss all of these baby, medium and mega steps in detail. Curious about realistic expectations or how much daily expenses are? How to apply for a business license? What  to do when you arrive?  I answer this and so much more in my 30+ pages of pictures, testimonies, insight and resources that in hindsight, I wish I’d had that I’ve included for you.

We made our dream a reality, even while paying for our own wedding and maintaining a completely debt free home.  Aside from the logistics, I’ve also included fun places to explore that weren’t listed on any websites but were told to us by locals and since as you know, I’m very food-centric, I also went into great detail about markets and how to score cheap or free fruits and veggies and I even corralled a list of when restaurants offer half priced menus. I offer a realistic approach to island living as everything isn’t always easy breezy perfection. They say that if you can make it a year here, you’ll be better equipped to make it long term.  I can’t tell you how many friends we’ve had that reluctantly made the return back stateside.  I want to help so you can not just make it here but thrive.  I provide a wealth of information on how to carve out a healthy and positive life on an island. I even include random tidbits like my tried and true mosquito bite remedy, how to get affordable specialty items and a list of my personal favorite beaches. I hope you’ll check it out here. If you’re ready to lead an unconventional life, this is the book for you.

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This is what a typical weekend looks like for us.  I wanted to take you along with us as we explore the deserted beaches of St. Croix, enjoy the locavore menu of tons of coconuts, mango and starfruit, all harvested from our yard and my blossoming obsession with snorkeling.  Some of the locals we talk to have admitted that despite living on the island for decades, there are still new treasures they will uncover.  We’ve found that just by visiting the same beach more than once, it’s rewarded us with a changed landscape that’s fun to explore all over again.  St. Croix is amazing like that.  She’s stunning and steady yet somehow manages to always be mysterious.  A lot of you expressed concern over us not having AC.  We’ve found that like most things, you can get used to it.  Just like dodging gigantic craters on our road to our cottage and living in a 2 room space with no door to our bathroom.  She’s worth all the fuss.

Over the weekend, we visited waters we had already snorkeled the weekend before but the underwater world looked completely different with varieties of fish I had never seen and an abundance of sea urchin that weren’t there before.  I never even knew there were so many different kinds.  Best of all, we witnessed the beauty of 4 sea turtles!  Like I said, she’s worth all the fuss.  I  hope to get a go pro to capture all this magic for you.

Which leads me to the future of my channel.  My goal is to double my upload schedule and produce more quality and diversified content.  To achieve this, I’ve created a Patreon page.  With your contributions, I hope to dedicate a full-time focus on my channel and video production.  I hope that over the years, you have found my video recipes to be helpful, my functional DIYS to save you money and lifestyle vlogs entertaining or inspiring.  Creating content, recipe testing and post production takes a lot of time and materials/equipment and ingredients can really get expensive however, it’s work that I am most passionate about.  I hope to continue on this journey with your help which will allow me to create a happy, helpful, delicious and inspiring space.  Becoming a patron comes with many different perks from personalized letters and videos from me, a copy of my e-book, personally curated and handcrafted care packages and lots more.  You can check out all the details here.

I have been loving all the questions you guys have been submitting via Instagram, Facebook and Youtube, particularly the random ones as you’ll see in the video.  Those are always fun to answer.  We’re getting nicely settled into our new home and still find the environment around us awe-inspiring.  There is just so much beauty everywhere we look!  We spent a great deal of time in our backyard over the weekend absorbing all of its surreal beauty.  Surreal is exactly what this feels like sometimes.  We took turns asking each other, “is this real?!”

This past weekend was also J’s 32nd birthday.  He had only one request and that was for a surf and turf supper comprised of all local goods.  You can see how gigantic his lobster was on my Instagram.  Each larger component of his supper was sourced from a speciality spot, just like it used to be back in the day.  His local Senepol ribeye was from Annaly Farms and his lobster from a local fisherman who had just come in with his boat.  What can be construed as an inconvenience is perceived by me as yet another charismatic feature of the island.

In today’s video, I’ll be addressing questions like what we eat on a daily basis, what inspired our move and more.  I really enjoy taking you guys along with me on a typical weekend for us on the island.  There’s just so much more to explore and discover and still, just starting at the palm fronds sway in our backyard has the ability to elicit a tranquil, content feeling.

As for the adventure part, the highlight of our weekend was celebrating J’s birthday with a hike to Annaly Bay to the Carambola tide pools.  Despite there being a “cheaters trail” behind the resort, we opted for the 2 hour round trip hike to the pools.  The beach alone, set against the lush mountain-scape full of smooth dark pebbles is a sight to see.  It makes the most delightful sound as the water filters through them.  However, it’s the ultimate destination that rewards you with its cool waters contained within a naturally carved pool.  It’s dramatic and peaceful all at once with colorful fish swimming right beside you.  We just received our masks so I’ll have to take you guys snorkeling with me!