Florida Mermaid Musings

When I have a free day I love to jump in my tiny convertible, drive to Cassadaga, and just soak up the good energy, as well as scarf Italian food and load up on healing crystals. The community of Cassadaga lies nestled away in Volusia County, somewhere between DeLand and New Smyrna Beach. In 1875 George P. Colby, a medium from New York, was led by his Indian spirit guide "Seneca" to the wilds of Central Florida. There he established the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association, a sister spiritualist camp to the one in Cassadaga, New York. Known as the Psychic Capital of the World, the community sits on 57 acres and has approximately 55 residences, many that house mediums, spiritualists, and healers. Who knew the Psychic Capital of the World is right here in our back yard? The Cassadaga Hotel is a charming, 1920s style hotel. Sinatra's Ristorante has decent Italian fare and a full bar. There is also a gift shop and a coffee bar. The ambiance greatl...

I have a secret. My guilty pleasure is reading self-help books (shh...don't tell!). And why not? I always learn something, and I always feel better... until the words and lessons begin to fade and I move on to the next one. But there is one mind-blowing lesson that is a constant. Are you ready? It's all in your head. True story. Find the thought that feels good and stick with it. Live in the Now. Turn that frown upside-down by turning that thought around. If something is bothering you simply change your attitude toward that something. Don't argue with reality; what is, is. Your job is to be happy. You can do it. You are amazing! You are a badass! Self-help gurus are, well...gurus. They make big bucks for a reason. Have you ever heard of Tony Robbins? His net worth is $500 million. People looking for the secret of life pay buttloads of cash to cruise with Esther Hicks or "go to school" with Byron Katie. Heck, I would too if I won the lottery tomorrow. Why? ...

The two most important days in our lives are the day we are born and the day we die. Everything in between is checking boxes. Graduating from the right school, landing the perfect job, choosing a life partner, having the requisite number of kids, living in the biggest house, driving the newest car... There are two things that start us on the path of checking boxes: Guilt and Fear. Guilt is a completely useless emotion. Fear is what rules everything we do or don't do. Remove guilt and fear and the obstacles disappear. As children, we want to please our parents. As adults, we want to fit in. We want to check all the right boxes so we can tell ourselves we are normal and happy. We are afraid to offend or disappoint. We are afraid to discover who and what we really are. We keep checking boxes until we realize it's too late. Maybe college wasn't for you and your parents didn't take it so well. Or maybe they did. So what, if they are unhappy that's their problem...

The holidays are here! Are you ready? Is your tree up? Lights on the house? Are your cards and packages mailed? Have you finished your shopping? You didn't forget anyone, did you? Did you get a new dress for the holiday party or do you think you can get away with wearing last year's? Maybe if you change up your jewelry and shoes... Are the cookies baked? Do they look exactly like the ones on Pinterest? Is your house ready for guests? What about that one relative who is allergic to cats or that one friend who can only eat gluten-free? HAVE YOU THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING?! Stop. Just stop. Yes, the holidays are here. You don't have to fit the mold of a Publix commercial or Southern Living Magazine. Your house is fine. Last year's dress is perfect. Or if you'd really rather stay home and binge Netflix with your cats, do that instead. People gather together because they want to be with each other. They want to be with YOU. The best gift you can give your loved ones is yo...

Guest Post By TJ Fish, who knows more about Central Florida than us natives. If you love the water (like I do), if you love fishing, if you love boating, if you love exploring, this is a must read! Enjoy. As I sat at my dining room table in Jackson, Tennessee studying the atlas page of Florida, I had just endured an hour-long phone interview.   I was ready to leave the bucolic tranquility of the Volunteer State for the robust and shiny Sunshine State.   I had just talked with the bosses at city hall of a town with a name that sounded Southern but looked Portuguese.   They offered me a job.   As I stared at the map, I became fascinated.   Tavares was located on a land bridge. Geography gurus call it an isthmus.   I was fascinated with what a place that looked so cool on a map might look like in person.   I took that job.   That was 15 years ago.   What I discovered starting with my first day in Lake County is that Tavares is surr...

I have no intention of camping out Thanksgiving night to be the first one in to a big box, I prefer to sleep in after giving thanks and gorging myself. And I much prefer to shop local in Mount Dora! The quaint little town has a ton of amazing shops of all kinds - no chains! I wish I could mention all of them but you probably need to go baste a turkey or something. Here are eight of my favorites: CHECKERED MOON 237 W. 4th Ave., Suite 3 CheckeredMoonSouth on Facebook On your shopping journey in downtown Mount Dora you're going to see shoppers everywhere carrying the signature yellow bag from Checkered Moon. The sign on the door says "Color Makes People Happy." Checkered Moon is definitely a happy place full of eclectic gifts for everyone on your list. Adorable baby clothes, books and toys, wine-themed gifts, apparel, décor, hand-poured candles, and so much more! Their inventory is constantly ebbing and flowing so you're going to want to stop in here more than onc...

When you think "Florida kitsch," what is the first thing that comes to mind? As a native I think of the roadside attractions we used to visit on road trips when I was a kid. I remember a chicken that would play the piano for a nickel. Taxidermic "World's Largest" alligators. Little treasure boxes covered in seashells. Most of those magical and tacky places were eaten up by interstates but a few still remain to fuel our nostalgia. Like Weeki Wachee . About 45 miles north of Tampa, the City of Mermaids, whose photos graced thousands of postcards sent all over the world. This is real Florida, folks, this is the breathtaking miracle of nature with fearless girls in silicone tails thrown in. In 1946 Newt Perry, "The Human Fish," constructed an underwater theater in Weeki Wachee Springs. He recruited pretty girls and taught them how to perform underwater using air hoses filled with compressed air - a contraption Perry invented. Perry was also the pioneer...