With 2011 ending so abruptly for me, I suddenly realized that I hadn’t taken a moment to reflect, congratulate our winners or properly chart our course for 2012. But  as the old saying goes in the Bahamas, later is better than never. So without further ado, here is my reflection on the 5 moments that made me say ahh in 2011 and some great things to expect from 2012.

(p.s you can click on any of the bolded passages below, to redirect to each link)

Blogs we love

1) The most important thing I learned in 2011, is that with no matter how many commitments we have to attend to, tasks, tending to the kiddos, and the day to day meanderings, its pivotal that we  still find time to hang out and take a moment to relax. So first of all I would like to give a shout out to some of the great blogs out there that kept me motivated and my spirits high in 2011.

• Petershallard.com, the shrink for entrepreneurs, for helping me regain my sanity and for allowing me to realize I’m not crazy because of my thoughts.

• Rumshopryan.com for giving me a good reason to love rum, and all the many different varieties, islands and cozy bars that I can saddle up to and partake in a glass of liquid enjoyment.

• Beachcoaststyle.com for blessing my day with a splash of color, when I lacked the creativity to jump start my own day.

• 365give.ca for proving to me that charity can begin with the simplest gesture and every day is a day you can make a difference.

• Chrisbrogan.com for providing insight about social media that has helped me in my career and my job.

• Thepioneerwoman.com for reminding me how much I love food and how to use a camera.

• Uncommoncaribbean.com for showing me there’s more to an island, than just a pretty beach.

2) I found my zen in Long Island : I’ve always heard about people connecting with their zen and finding their purpose in life. But until  I unplugged from everything, I didn’t know it was possible. There’s nothing better than unplugging from the world, when you’re stressed out  and reclaiming your inner peace.

3) Finding the best fishing spot in the world Bimini. Maybe I’m a little biased, but hey I’m a Bahama boy. When I realized that fishing wasn’t just reserved for enthusiasts, professionals and people who could thread a rod in their sleep; an entirely new world opened up to me. Which allowed me to connect with nature, my surroundings and the beauty that exists in life.

4) Unleashing James bond in the Bahamas, and dreaming about living like him for a week. Growing up watching spy movies all day and dreaming about jostling with bad guys and making out with the hot lady. I never imagined that some of the most exciting scenes from some of my favorite movies even existed. Much less were available for viewing and nominal rental fees. I kid about nominal fees, as I’m still saving up to stay at that Ocean Club villa James bond made popular in Casino Royale.

5) Finding out that if you mix good friends, with good times and the Islands you’ve found the surefire remedy for good memories.

Me and the Xtreme Trips Team preparing for Electric Island

The Future:

Whats in store for 2012: Well its hard to predict for certain, but here is my crystal ball view of how It’ll be going down here in the Bahamas and at the Sandyslipper.

1) Nassau will be getting its very own rum distillery, crafting pure unbridled savory goodness. This news wafted to my ears in the fourth quarter of last year and it still has me salivating. This little tidbit had me grinning for days, and as things unravel you can stay  tuned here at the Sandyslipper for updates on the construction, brewing and sampling process.

2) Nassau has begun the arduous task of rebuilding the island. Starting with the relocation of the shipping ports out of downtown, a new straw market that just re-opened and a brilliant plan for returning Nassau to its pre-1980′s glory. I’m buckled in for the ride and will keep all of you guys updated.

3)Several islands will be getting major facelifts including Rum cay, Andros and Chub cay. Which means there will be more beautiful escapes to visit, that will be tucked neatly away from the overly cushy mega – resorts located in nearby Nassau.

5) And last but not least, The Sandy Slipper will be delivering more hard hitting, fact finding, fun filled, rum guzzling, relaxing and island life stories than ever before.

And in good fun, we didn’t hit out goal of 500 fans on Facebook but in the spirit of good cheer, I’ll be making two lucky fans of the Sandy Slipper honoree winners and drum roll please. The lucky winners are Susie Hoover for being the very last fan to sign up for our page and Jill Faulkner for liking nearly all of my stories, even the horrible ones and being our most active fan on our page.

Hey guys email me at fabian@sandyslipper.com, so I can mail you your copy of Willest and the Illest.

Thank you all for supporting me through 2011 and here’s an awesome pic to  give you guys a small taste of whats about to come in 2012.

The Best Winter Escape - The Bahamas

Happy New Year,

Fabian Christopher!!