Showing posts with label Healthy Living in Mexico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy Living in Mexico. Show all posts

Monday, March 23, 2026

Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico: ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฎ ๐— ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—จ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐——๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜† ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ ๐ŸŒŽ(Edited 3/28/26)

Unexpected Alternatives to Plastic Packaging

Almond Butter Packaged in Glass Jars

I’m always looking for new ways to reduce everyday plastic use. Recycling and reusing help—but I’ve come to believe that reducing is what really makes a difference. 

I had three more discoveries recently. Almond butter packaged in glass was a challenge, but I found it on Amazon. Buying the M de Manรญ Almendrina two-pack of the largest jar size is the most economical. Even better, this is made by a Mexican company, so there are no import costs.

Stur Lemon-Lime Electrolyte Packets
 
Finding ways to avoid purchasing electrolyte solutions and sports drinks in plastic bottles has been one of my biggest goals. It’s discouraging to see how many bottles of Electrolit rehydration drinks are consumed in Mexico, each one creating another piece of plastic waste. Discovering Stur electrolyte packets was a real win. I ordered it online from iHerb.

One packet mixed into a 16-ounce reusable water bottle provides effective hydration with a good balance of potassium and sodium. As I’ve mentioned before, Clamato is one of my favorite post-walk drinks after time in the heat—which is why I couldn’t resist sneaking it into the photo above.

I Switched to Nellie's Dishwasher Detergent in a Metal Tin

I cringe every time I reach for my dishwasher detergent and pick up that familiar plastic jug of Cascade Dishwasher Detergent. I try to make it last longer by only filling the dispenser about two-thirds full, but even then, I know I’ll eventually need to replace yet another plastic container.

So I was genuinely excited to discover Nellie’s Dishwasher Powder Tin—a dishwasher detergent that comes packaged in a reusable metal tin. Even better? It works just as well as what I was using before.

Nellie’s is made in Canada, so importation fees make it a bit more expensive here in Mexico. I purchased mine through iHerb. Another plastic-free option is Cascade Complete Powder Dishwasher Detergent, which comes in a cardboard box instead of plastic. However, it’s also imported into Mexico and tends to cost more than the standard Cascade Dishwasher Detergent in plastic packaging.

Please continue reading at:
Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico: ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฌ ๐— ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—น๐—ฎ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—จ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐——๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜† ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ   

Thank you so much for reading my blogs and books. If you find them helpful or enjoyable, I’d truly appreciate you sharing them with others. And if you have a moment to leave a review, it makes a big difference and helps other readers discover my work.

You can find all eight of my books on my Amazon Author Page—always free with a Kindle Unlimited membership.

Terry

Photo of Terry L Turrell for her Amazon Author Page
Terry L Turrell, Author

Monday, December 1, 2025

Happy Autumn from Puerto Vallarta ๐ŸŒป Reflections on Caring for Jon, Sophie, Max, and Myself

 My November Newsletter is Live!

Marigolds Planted for Dia de Los Muertos
By the Vallarta Garden Club on the Isla Cuale

๐—›๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐˜† ๐—”๐˜‚๐˜๐˜‚๐—บ๐—ป ๐—ณ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—บ ๐—ฃ๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฉ๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ฎ!
It’s been a busy three months caring for Jon, Max, and Sophie—while also reminding myself how important it is to care for my own well-being. November was National Family Caregiver Month, but I’ve decided to make self-care an everyday practice.

I'm Volunteering for Weeding and Planting In the Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone

Lately, that’s meant spending time gardening with the Vallarta Garden Club, enjoying Zumba with Efren on the Isla Cuale, getting a massage every two weeks, and taking long walks through the Romantic Zone. Part of my self-care also includes gently easing Jon into life here in Puerto Vallarta, which helps bring me a lot of peace of mind.

In late October, I helped Jon move the motorhome from Lo de Marcos to an RV park in Puerto Vallarta. Shortly after, I found him a perfect studio apartment in Colonia 5 de Diciembre and moved him in right away. We also sold the Minnie Winnie just a few days ago—what a relief for both of us! The new owners are already out enjoying road trips with her.

Jon Looks Rested After a Month in Puerto Vallarta

Continue reading at the newsletter link here: https://mailchi.mp/4b1188e313b0/november-2025-jon-moved.
I invite you to SIGN UP for my "Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico Newsletter," published monthly. To make sure you get my newsletters, please sign up and add my email address to your contacts or mark this email as ‘Not Spam’.✨

Thank you for reading my books and blog articles. If you enjoy my books, I would appreciate it if you could leave a review or rating on Amazon, even a brief one. You can access all eight of my books on my Amazon Author page.


Saturday, November 29, 2025

๐——๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐Ÿฒ๐Ÿญ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ต ๐Ÿณ๐Ÿฌ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ (๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜ ๐Ÿณ) ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’™#๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€๐—ข๐—ณ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ in Puerto Vallarta

๐——๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐Ÿฒ๐Ÿญ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ต ๐Ÿณ๐Ÿฌ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ in Puerto Vallarta 
(๐—ฃ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜ ๐Ÿณ of 100 Days of Blue)

Day 61: Puerto Vallarta View From Barcelona Tapas
My Birthday Dinner in July, Early Rainy Season
It’s hard to believe I’m already sharing Part 7 of my #100DaysOfBlue journey. What better place to experience Days 61 through 70 than in beautiful Puerto Vallarta?

Blue๐Ÿ’™ Blue Water๐ŸŒŠ Blue Mind๐Ÿค—Calm, Tranquility, Positive State of Mind๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฝ

Day 62: A Memory of July 11, 2024, Over a Year Ago

"Today is a good day. This week has been a rollercoaster. Watching the sunset over the ocean is so calming. Viewing the deep blue color of the sea during a two-hour seafood dinner with my best friend promotes a blue mind condition. Life is good.๐Ÿ’™"

This photo holds more than just a view. It holds a memory, a feeling, and a breath of peace during a chaotic time. Over a year ago, I shared these words without realizing how often I’d come back to them. The blue water became more than a visual comfort. It was a space where I could let go, even for a moment, of the stress and emotional weight of caregiving.

My husband’s early Parkinson’s dementia was beginning to change our lives in ways that were hard to explain. The ocean felt steady when nothing else did. It was deep, calming, and quietly powerful.

This journey through #100DaysOfBlue isn’t just about beauty. It’s about reflection, healing, and honoring both the peaceful and the difficult moments. ๐Ÿ’™

Day 63: Puerto Vallarta's Playa Los Muertos

It was supposed to storm again that afternoon, so I took the dogs for a walk down the Malecรณn earlier in the day. Brunch instead of dinner felt like the right call.

Most of the restaurants were either too busy or hadn’t opened yet. We circled back to Daiquiri Dick’s, and I’m glad we did. Huevos rancheros and fresh orange juice with a view of the ocean were exactly what I needed. ๐Ÿ’™

Daiquiri Dick’s Huevos Rancheros are Delicious!

Day 64: Dancing on the Beach Video
Watching the Fun Next to the Ocean Waves

I was sitting at a beachside restaurant bar with Max and Sophie, taking in the ocean view. A glass of Cabernet Sauvignon deepened my Blue Mind calm. When a group started dancing on the sand beside the rolling waves, it brought an easy smile to my face.

Day 65: Pool Day Video
Blue Pool Jet on My Feet was Relaxing

Blue Mind at the Beautiful Residences Sky Bar

Day 67 of Blue Water: Santorini Puzzle Time

Working on My Santorini Puzzle was Relaxing—
Especially with a Blue Water Video on the Screen

You may remember that on Day 43 of my 100 Days of Blue Water, I was in Santorini, Greece. (See more in Days 41–50 of 100 Days of Blue Water, Part 5: The Mediterranean to the Gulf of Mexico ๐Ÿ’ฆ). The deep blue sea view from the Santorini cable car was unforgettable. The only souvenir I brought home from that Virgin Voyage was a Santorini jigsaw puzzle—a perfect reminder of the many Blue Water days I experienced on that trip.

Day 68 of Blue in the Marina Vallarta

Lunch and View at El Faro Marina Vallarta Restaurant

After a gathering at the Living Room Bookstore on August 1, I had lunch at El Faro in Marina Vallarta, a high-end international restaurant located inside a lighthouse. From the panoramic 360-degree views, I could see all at once what makes Puerto Vallarta so stunning—this is truly the place where the sea meets the mountains.

Gorgeous Blue Water View of the Bay of Banderas

Day 70 of Blue Water

A Quiet Day on Los Muertos Beach, Puerto Vallarta

I walked with the dogs along the beach and stopped for fish and chips for dinner at the Sea Monkey on the Puerto Vallarta Malecรณn. I forgot to take a photo! Let's just say, there were no leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Our First Day on the Beach—
Since Max's eye surgery 2 Months Before 

That day was Max’s first time on the beach since his eye surgery before I adopted him. I didn’t want him getting sand in the healing eye, so until then, we’d enjoyed the ocean views from a distance. His eye actually looked pretty good at the time. But four months—and a lot of treatment and love later, he was blind in that eye. The inflammation kept worsening, and his vet eventually recommended removing it. He’s now healing well. The stitches are out, he’s no longer uncomfortable, and once his shaved eyebrow grows back, he’ll be as handsome as ever.

The Sea Turns Gray on August Afternoons
As It Reflects the Gathering Clouds

The fishermen, white egret, and pelicans were sure the fish were in close. The pelicans were the only ones I saw catch anything.

What a mellow scene.

If you would like to view the first fifty days of Blue Water photos, including many memories of past adventures with Jon, here are the links:

Part 1: Days 1 through 10 of Blue ๐Ÿ’ฆ 100 Days of Blue Begins: Where I Find My Blue Mind. Memories of Happy Times with Jon.

Part 2: ๐Ÿญ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ ๐——๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ: ๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—œ ๐—™๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐— ๐˜† ๐—•๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ ๐— ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒŠ (Days 11 to 20) More Happy Memories with Jon

Part 3: Days 21 through 30 ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ ๐Ÿ๐ŸŽ๐ŸŽ๐ƒ๐š๐ฒ๐ฌ๐จ๐Ÿ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ž๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ๐Ÿ’ฆ Happy Memories with Jon Continue

Part 4: Days 31 through 40 ๐ŸŒŠ New Memories of Traveling Alone: Puerto Vallarta to Athens to Turkey

Part 5: Days 41–50 of 100 Days of Blue Water, Part 5: The Mediterranean to the Gulf of Mexico ๐Ÿ’ฆ

Part 6: Days 51 through 60 of Blue Water (Part 6)๐ŸŒŠ๐ŸŒŠHappy to be Home in Puerto Vallarta

Blue Mind is the mildly meditative state people fall into when they are near, in, under, or on water. It is peace. It is the feeling of calmness and relaxation that comes from being in or near the water, and it has a positive impact on our mental health.

100 Days of Blue is a campaign inspired by marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, encouraging people to spend time near, in, on, or under water for its positive impact on well-being. To carry on his legacy, many people are posting one blue water photo or video a day for 100 days, often with the hashtag #100daysofblue.

Thank you for reading my blog articles and following along on my journey! ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿ“š

I’ve written eight books about my life and travels in Mexico, and you can view or download them on Amazon by clicking the book covers to the right and above. ๐Ÿ“˜๐Ÿ“™๐Ÿ“—

Friday, August 15, 2025

Our Life With Parkinson's has Changed๐ŸŒทand a FREE eBook

Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico Newsletter 

My Birthday Dinner Alone in Puerto Vallarta

Greetings from Terry, Sophie, and Max,

My life has undergone significant changes in the past few months. I’ve thought about this newsletter for months, trying to decide the best way to explain the unexpected fracture in my relationship with Jon.

Jon moved to Lo de Marcos, Nayarit. He started a new life, proving that a 75-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease and bipolar type II disorder can live alone in a motorhome. Jon says working with his tools and creating things makes him happy. Moving was one of Jon’s impulsive decisions—a poor one, in my opinion. He wants to get out from under my “control” and take care of himself. Jon has new friends who look out for him. Read more HERE.

๐ŸŒทFree eBook for Parkinson's Awareness๐ŸŒท

Don't Miss This Heartfelt Novel!

๐Ÿ“˜Pickle Jar Test๐Ÿ“˜

In Sickness and In Health - Book 2 of 3

A powerful story of love, courage, and the challenges of living with Parkinson's disease. 

๐Ÿ’œDownload FREE today HERE for a limited time

Don't Miss My Healthy Living in Mexico Series!

Saturday, July 26, 2025

My New Floor Standing Water Dispenser ✨A Birthday Gift to Myself!

 No More Manual Pumping from a Ciel Garafon!

Slide the Water Bottle into the Floor Standing Dispenser

My manual garrafรณn (5-gallon water bottle) pump broke the first time I tried to use it after vacation. It must have dried out inside, and when I pulled the knob to suck up water, the whole pump came apart into two pieces! Jon no longer lives with me, so I had to figure out how to fix it... No, that wasn't going to happen. I threw that pump away! I had to find a place to buy a new one.

The Manual Water Pump in a Garafon of Ciel Water
I Have a Sensitive Stomach, So I Only Drink Ciel Water

When I searched online for a new water bottle pump, El Tรญo Sam’s came up as a potential source. I have one of their stores in our neighborhood, so I walked over to see what kind of pump they had. Since they didn’t stock any manual pumps, the kind saleswoman showed me two models of floor-standing water dispensers. The floor models were marked down significantly for clearance. I didn’t need a fancy one with an ice maker, but the Mabe that dispensed hot, cold, and room-temperature water caught my attention.

My Birthday Gift to Myself!

I told the salesperson that I can not lift a garrafรณn. She showed me how to simply open the door at floor level, slide the water bottle in, close the door, and push a button to dispense water straight into a glass. The price was a little over 5,000 MXN (about $300 US), a lot more than I had intended to spend. But it's almost my birthday, I rationalized. And I’m now a senior, living alone, with arthritis to boot, so I need a few helpful devices.

I asked how soon they could deliver it. When the associate said it would come to my home in just two days, I was sold! No more manual pumping from a Ciel garrafรณn!

The El Tio Sam delivery men were not allowed to help with how to use the water dispenser. And, the instruction manual was only in Spanish. Yes, I can read a little Spanish, but not enough to grasp the fine points of this contraption! 

Why Wouldn't It Pump Water?

ChatGPT to the rescue! Thank you to my daughter, Michelle, for telling me about ChatGPT. It walked me through every step. Except one—how to get water to come out when I pushed a button!

Then I remembered reading that many pumps won’t work on a screw-top bottle. That’s why we had always used Jon’s handy-dandy circular metal clamp ring with the manual pump—to create a seal! I installed the clamp around the plastic cap adapter, tightening the screw to seal the adapter to the neck of the garrafรณn.

The Circular Metal Camp Ring Tightened the Adapter

I pushed the water bottle back in, closed the door, and pushed the middle dispensing button. Out came room temperature water into my glass!

Video of My Success with Dispensing Water!

The cooling unit was working to provide cold water—I could hear it. But the hot water dispenser wasn’t working. ChatGPT described a child protection device for the hot water button on this Mabe model. I told ChatGPT that mine did not have that. It told me to send a photo of my unit! I uploaded an image, and it immediately explained how to use the two-button hot water dispensing feature. AI is amazing! My water dispenser is pretty cool, too!

My Other Birthday Treat—Dinner at Barcelona Tapas

Saturday, February 8, 2025

CHOOSING TO EXPATRIATE TO MEXICO (Reposted)

Is It Time to Make the Move?

This article, a summary of an interview with Expats.com (For Mexico), may be helpful to many who are considering a move to Mexico. Although I posted it years ago, the information remains relevant. It may also help even more people in 2025.

I recently received a request for an interview with www.Expat.com (For Mexico) about our decision to expatriate to Mexico, i.e., to change our place of primary residency from the United States to Mexico. Continue reading HERE. 

Terry L Turrell, Author, and Jonathan Turrell
On a Rainy, Warm Day in Sayulita

Friday, January 17, 2025

7 ๐‡๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ ๐‹๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ข๐ง ๐Œ๐ž๐ฑ๐ข๐œ๐จ Blog Articles with the Most Viewings in 2024

Retirement Before the Age of 59 Blog and
Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico Blog
7 Most Popular Healthy Living in Mexico Articles in 2024
As Listed by Google Blogger:

It’s always interesting to see which topics appeal to travelers and expats in Mexico. My intention with my blogs is to write about issues that will help others.

This year, I asked Google which of my articles were the seven most popular (blogger is a Google product, so they track viewings). See the top seven most viewed articles below.

Surprisingly, I wrote some of these articles before 2024, but many readers continue to view them. I’m not always sure why.

Please leave comments at the bottom of this article if you have thoughts on why these are popular. I also enjoy hearing reader's feedback on any other topics you would like me to write about.

#1 Most Viewed in 2024: TURNED BACK TO THE U.S. AT THE NOGALES BORDER CROSSING❗❗ ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿฝ‍♂️ Here's What We Did

#7 Most Viewed in 2024: Bringing Your Pet into Mexico: New 2017 Laws are Being Enforced! (Be sure to check with your vet for the additional new requirements this year. The CDC now requires microchips to return to the U.S.)

If you missed my last blog post, 6 Most Popular ๐‡๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ ๐‹๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐ข๐ง ๐Œ๐ž๐ฑ๐ข๐œ๐จ Books in 2024, you can view it HERE. Thank you for reading my blogs and books! If you enjoy them, please leave comments below and reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.


I invite you to SIGN UP for my Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico Newsletter, which is published monthly with stories about our latest adventures, my recent blog articles, and news about my books. Please follow me on Facebook at Healthy Living and Traveling in Mexico.

Terry and Jon in Rincรณn de Guayabitos

View All of My Books on My Amazon Author Page