On Sunday January 10th, 2015, the best in film and television were honored.  So anytime there’s an award ceremony, you already know that Hollywood comes to impress with their best of the best and some not so much; but it does give the celebrities an opportunity to show off their designer gear.  The gents can’t really go wrong in that category since most are usually suited up or wear a tux.  However, when you’re a female, and you’re an A list celebrity, you already know that it’s any designer’s dream to see a celeb strut down the red carpet with their designs.  So without further ado, here are my favorite well dressed ladies from this past Sunday Golden Globes Award:

Brie Larson wearing Calvin Klein Collection

JLo wearing Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown

Laverne Cox wears a high-neck white Elizabeth Kennedy gown

Olivia Wilde wearing Michael Kors Collection gown

Also; here’s a recap of some of award show winners in each of the category respectively:

The Revenant had 3 wins in the Film category

The Martian and Steve Jobs film each had 2 wins

Mr. Robert and Mozart in the Jungle received multiple wins in the series category

Taraji P. Henson won Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama winner

Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon won Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama winner

Lady Gaga won Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film winner

As New York Fashion week comes to a close, there were many beautiful collections of all sorts that were on full effect on the runway.  One day it is my ultimate dream to attend one of these shows to see it firsthand and just be in the midst of it all.  Throughout the week there were many celebrities, sitting front and center of course, and not to mention some even partook in walking on the runway itself (Lady Gaga for Marc Jacobs).  There are too many talents to name but one thing they all have in common is creativity.  Fashion in itself is a form of art and a fashion designer is an artist drawing their art on a canvas each season to showcase to the world.  Here are some of my favorite looks from the runway this season:

Jason WU

Altuzarra

Diane Von Furstenberg

Givenchy

Jonathan Simkhai

Narciso Rodriguez

This year it seems that there’s a big buzz around Cuba, so big in fact that every so often something exciting is going on or someone is there visiting for the cultural experience. Hearing about this makes me so envious to hurry up and go there already. The last thing I would expect is a fashion show to be held there, and this is not just your typical fashion show, but it’s the House of Chanel hosting its Cruise 2016/17 collection. As a fashionista and a traveler myself, I love the combination and admire Chanel for organizing something so electrifying and grand. This is the country’s first international fashion show and for Chanel to be on the forefront of this is a big deal. I found out about this event scrolling through my Instagram page earlier during the week and saw glimpses of it from people who were fortunate enough to get an invite.

I must say looking at the various pictures of the event showcases Cuba in a romantic and glamorous viewpoint. The place is very aesthetic and photographs very well; each of those images definitely depicts that from what I can see. The country had its political uproar throughout the years and just recently, the US reopened its embassy there showing signs of future growth and business opportunities for companies to enter in on all of the action. Cuba has an exciting future ahead of itself, however most of the people there are poor and some bring in income of about $20/mth. With this in mind, Karl Lagerfeld was inspired and made the collection with the island vibe in mind amidst the fact that he has not been there prior to the fashion show. I do however, love the attention it is bringing to the country and fashion always connects people no matter what part of the world they reside in. Who knows? maybe there will a Chanel boutique to follow!

The Met Gala, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art  held on May 2, 2016 in New York City, was almost a week in the making but I am still smitten about some of the looks that closely matched this year’s theme: “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology”.  The Red Carpet Benefit Gala Arrivals wore costumes that were over the top and some wore your standard dress just for show; while others really inspired to look the part.  All the A listers were in attendance with one singer that was notably missing from all the action because of tour date conflict aka Rihanna.  This is one event the who’s who in the industry will not miss if they can help it; after all it is their fashion Prom night!  Check out some of the looks I thought were pleasing to the eye, but first let’s kick it off with the winner couple Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadidlook that dressed the part hands down.

I took notice when Lupita Nyong’o busted into the fashion scene when she won the academy of award as best supporting actress in the movie: 12 Years a Slave.  She is the epitome of class, and her beauty is not your typical lighter skin, straight hair ladies you often see in the media portrayals of black people.  She is a darker tone beauty and her hair is coiled in its natural stage without it being permed nor pressed.  Her skin tone is always glowing and looks flawless!  I’m happy to see someone of color getting so much praise and being glorified for not just outer beauty but for her inner beauty as well.  She speaks very eloquently and the words that come out of her mouth are inspirational.  To me, she is like a walking billboard that advocates for women everywhere that your dream is indeed valid and you don’t have to take no for an answer for what you desire in life.  I admire the fact that she’s also a cover girl that graces some of the world’s best known magazines and looks good doing it too.  Lupita is a role model for every girl (especially those of darker skin tone) who feels that they don’t fit the typical stereotypical beauty people are encouraged to follow.  I hope to see more beauties like her breaking barriers and leading the way for others who don’t fit a certain mode of what the standard of beauty should be.

Philadelphia, PA

Philly Fashion week has come again and as usual it didn’t disappoint. The latest designers showcased some of their best designs and at brand new location enabled them to really demonstrate what they had to offer.  The location was a lot bigger, a common complaint from past events, and had a lot more room to move about. Furthermore, parking was easier to come by in this new location.  I had the chance to attend the Runway II event on Saturday and had a great time which is a good thing. There are many events we attend throughout the year and events that are not enjoyable do not make the cut for the following year. I am happy to say that Philly Fashion Week is on the “must attend” list for 2017.  I think all the designers this year did an amazing job and their collections contain some pieces that I could even picture myself wearing.  Check it out:

Cuba is a place that I have always wanted to visit.  But living in the US, it almost seemed impossible to go since there were many restrictions.  This year however, since the a US President touched down on its land in decades and right afterwards, almost overnight it seems, just about all of the major airlines in the US started having daily flights there.  It seemed that my fantasy to go was becoming more of a reality and it was only a matter of time until I jetted off there. However, I wasn’t really proactively planning my trip to go though until I saw that Chanel had their Cruise 2016/17 fashion show there on May 3, 2016.  This immediately sparked my interest to go again; and since I love fashion I was so jealous I was not one of the few fortunate folks to have an invite.  I immediately went online and started eye gazing on all the attendees and the luxurious fashion forward looks that were on display and let’s not forget about the aesthetic colorful vibrant look of Havana itself.  Fast forwarding a couple of months down the line and my dearest travel partner found an amazing deal that was just too good to pass up, but I had a conflict with the travel date that was proposed so yet again, I had to put it in the back burner. I am very persistent and when it comes down to getting something that my heart so desires, the law of attraction quickly steps in and voila, this trip was made possible this December 2016 shortly after my Birthday.  Havana was everything I wanted and more!There is nothing like it, and unlike some other islands of the Caribbean it’s truly a gem that was sort of frozen in time. From the classic and colorful cars driving all over the streets of Havana, to the cathedral type architecture with balconies; it’s simply breathtakingly beautiful. We were hosted by locals that lived about 30 minutes from the city and occupied their 2 bedroom downstairs with patio and a view of the ocean that was just a short distance away. We had a housekeeper that cooked fantastic breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout our stay and not to mention we managed to get in a little bit of pampering while there as well.The highlight of the trip was the salsa lesson we got from one of the local dancers teaching us how to dance salsa; and that evening, we went to an actual club with live music and put those moves into practice.  I could go on and on about this wonderful short trip, but I feel it truly ends 2016 just right. I definitely plan on returning in the future to check out other cities on the island and see what they have to offer!

First, let me just kick off this post by saying that I’m super excited about this sought after luxury shoe designer. His shoes are well made with high quality and are comfortable to wear. Nowadays, it’s so rare to find comfort and quality combined with high-end designer shoes.

I was first introduced to this designer when my friend, who owned several pairs, began raving about how she admired his style. It wasn’t until one time I was at Neiman Marcus Last Call outlet and spotted one of his exotic skin design sandals on a clearance rack that I actually took notice. Although it was size 40 which seemed out of reach, since it wasn’t my size, this one was so slim and elegant that I just had to put it on. Lo and behold to my surprise it actually fit! From then on, I started my shoe relationship with Gianvito Rossi. My next pair was another exotic skin plexi pump that I found on an online retailer and ordered it in a size 39.5 thinking that since the 40 fit, this size should fit too… Needless to say I was wrong and it was a bit big unfortunately but it was the last pair and loved it so much, So I made it work and now wear them with inserts. Since then, I added a couple more other styles to my collection, in my actual size of course! I am a size 39 in most of his pumps (still a half size bigger than my normal 38.5 Italian size) and pushing towards a 40 when it comes to his sandals.

I was reading a bit more on this designer and found out he actually grew up in a household that was in the shoe making business. Shoes have been apart of his whole life since his dad is Sergio Rossi. So it’s no surprise that he learned throughout the year; he also incorporated it into his collections and the architecture of his very own line. He is now the fastest growing, sought after luxury designer brand; go figure, his shoes are comfortable so there’s no surprise there!

In his own words, here’s what Mr. Rossi had to say:

“If I’m going too fast, it’s dangerous. We’ve had constant growth, but my focus is always on quality first. For me, it’s the most important thing.”

“You need to stay close to the product and verify every single step of the process. The way you design is also important. You have to think about what you’re doing in a physical way,” he explained. “You can design something that’s strong or eye-catching, but if a woman wears it once and doesn’t want to wear it a second or third time, that’s not high quality. I want to produce something that has originality, modernity and a timeless feeling.”

I truly hope that he continues to make fabulous, practical, and high quality shoes that are comfortable because he just scored a loyal fan for life. I really admire him for what his core beliefs and values are when it comes to shoe making.

It’s almost that time of the year where Spring is right around the corner and with that comes warmer weather.  If you’re someone out there who is in college, or know someone who is, or even have kids then you know about spring break.  As someone who resides in Florida, I always know when it’s Spring Break because of the influx of people that suddenly travel here.  Most of them are young but I can’t help but notice the difference.  Living in Florida, I think most folks take things for granted since we have so much. Other people actually appreciate these things when they come here to visit.  Obviously it depends on what part of the state you actually live in because depending on where live there are big differences.  I think Miami Beach is super popular for various reasons.  We have the gulf coast (Clearwater Beach and St Pete Beach), the Panhandle (Pensacola, Panama City Beach, etc), central Florida (i.e, Orlando), and the West Coast (Naples and Sarasota). I normally don’t have any major plans around Spring Break time frame but this year I am exploring couple of options. Stay tuned!

The makeup show in Orlando was a great success yet again. One thing I noticed this year that was a bit disappointing was the fact that there weren’t as many vendors as last year. In fact, even last year was not as big as previous years. I’m not sure of the reason behind the decrease, but nevertheless the participants that were present had plenty of interaction with the audience and kept them engaged. I enjoy learning about new trends and admire the creative aspect of how far makeup has come.

I’m always amazed at the various products that are introduced and the simplicity of them. This year’s goody bag contained various mascaras (one by Kevyn Aucoin), which I’m looking forward to trying, makeup remover that looks like a water bottle—I’ll keep you posted on how well this works. There was some lipstick, concealer, liquid eyeliner, blush application, skin care items, and couple of other goodies.

I learned new tricks to make application seamless and flawless. This year’s trend is all about the skin!!! In fact on the runway this season, many of the models strut their stuff looking quite bare with a hint of blush action on the cheek, pouted lip, and glowing skin. Some looks had dramatic effect on the eyes, while others went for bold lip color for an intense look. Nevertheless, the consistent thing throughout was the natural look with the skin. I’m not saying contouring is gone for good by any means however, it’s good to know that natural skin is in style and rightfully so!

I had a wonderful opportunity to visit one of my dream destinations this past May.  The destination i got to visit this time was the Great Pyramids of Giza. It was a larger than life experience when I saw those pyramids up close and personal. I was super excited because it seems so surreal to be in the presence of such magnificent architecture that’s over a thousand years old. Upon arriving in Cairo, the evening prior, I had a guide that was waiting for me accompany me through customs and chauffeured me to the hotel. And behold, once I arrived I was astonished to see how lovely my room was which was suitable for a goddess. That’s when I knew that I belonged and my short dream journey was actually real. Each minute of the trip there simply seemed so unbelievable.

The weather was hot and dry but that didn’t bother me one bit because the scenic view was enough to offset the sensation. The next day my tour guide picked me up to go on our pyramid journey, we quickly made a pit stop at the Nile River where I was in pure amazement. In my head, I’m thinking: “Wow I remember reading pages in the history books about this” and realizing that I’m finally here was the icing on the cake!!!

I had a wonderful opportunity to travel to the beautiful and highly sought after Greek island of Santorini back in May, and it was a fabulous trip! Santorini is somewhere I’ve always dreamed about going but I never fathomed that it would be dropping in my lap so soon. This all became possible when a friend told me she was going to a floral master class and invited me to come along with her and a few other ladies. I did not hesitate and said yes since I knew this would be a trip that I could not miss; as when an opportunity like this comes, I knew I had to make it happen. After several months of planning the day arrived and we were on the beautiful Island of Santorini! The first night we stayed in an apartment size home with a big Jacuzzi in the backyard. After the long 12 hour flight, we popped a wine bottle open, unwound, and relaxed the rest of the evening having had dinner at a wonderful restaurant in the hours preceding. The next day, our driver came and took us to our next spot which was a luxury villa with open ocean view scenery. That view was one of the best I have seen in awhile and it was simply breathtaking. The water was sapphire blue, and the air felt fresh.                                                                                                                                                

When the ladies were in their floral master class, I had the opportunity to visit a local winery, walk around town, and take amazing photos of all the beauty that surrounded me. On the final night in Santorini, the ladies had an all white celebration soiree where they showcased all their efforts with their floral work. We were served a delicious meal, great drinks, and the music that was playing set the mood just right. Again, a great trip with great company and lasting memories. Go check out my friend Victoria’s site for all things wedding related. I’m so proud of her for making an investment in her business to take it to the next level! I know without her invitation to come aboard this journey, Santorini would have just been a dream waiting to be fulfilled.

In this day and age, we have so much influence around us in regards to social media. We are bombarded with images of people that are well to do but is this really their reality or are they living an illusion just to portray such life? Some of their photos can either inspire us, make us depressed, or make us just straight up jealous! I’ll admit, I have some celebs and regular folks that I consider to be influencers that I follow on social media; when I see their photos I’m usually inspired, informed, or brought up to date on fashion trends. People have to be mindful that what they see is not always the reality of the people showing it. Even celebs have flaws, and as much luxury they showcase to the world some of them might not be financially well off and may be drowning in debt while trying to keep up with the Joneses. Yes, even celebs fall into that trap so it’s not just you or me!

I always tell people “it’s okay to have nice things, but don’t be defined by those things.”  Also, it’s better to wait on getting certain material things until you can afford it instead of going into debt for it. I didn’t always have that mindset and it took a lot of trial and error to get to where I am today and I’m still learning. But one mistake I won’t make is to fall victim to an illusion that is not my reality. I have responsibilities, a family to provide for, and most importantly, I am working towards financial freedom for a better life. The bomb life is to live a life design just for you. It’s about working hard and generating multiple streams of income to get the results you want to in order to live life at its full potential. For me, this means travel on a regular basis, owning assets, being an avid investor, and buying things I can afford that won’t put me upside down with the rest of my finances. The bomb life does not mean instant gratification which comes by buying things on credit that can put you on a downward spiral. In fact, this is how people get in circumstances they can’t get out of and become slaves to their 9-5 jobs which leaves no room for outside creativity to generate other passive income.

The bomb life is not something that drops in your lap, unless of course you’re a blessed individual that inherits large some of money and are set for life—those are rare cases. I’m talking about the day to day folks who are making a regular living and imagine a bomb life through the lens of celebrities and their peers. Wake up! Most of what you are seeing are illusions and your reality is to invest in yourself and your family. It’s not about keeping up with the Joneses just to show the next person what you have or to get that instant self gratification you acquired by debt. In the end, it’s going to leave you busted, broke, and desperate with no way out and that in itself is a total bust.

A few months ago I attended the makeup show in Orlando and found several goodies.  I shared some of them with my friend Amelia and she wanted to share her feedback on the lipstick she’s been rocking, here’s her testimony:

The name of this lipstick is “Wait A Minute”, 16F1 matte lipstick by bdellium tools. When I wear this particular lipstick, I receive many looks that say, “Wait a Minute”, but I feel empowered. I would dub this shade as Power. It has a beautiful deep bold red and it has staying power through drinking liquids all day with little to no reapplication needed after a meal. I even purposefully slept in the lipstick and when I woke up the next morning it was still as bold and beautiful as if I just applied it. The lipstick packaging is durable and has a magnetic close.

It’s safe to say this lipstick is a must for the on the go busy woman, especially if you are jet setting across the globe and don’t have or want to be constantly checking yourself. This is a win win; so I’ll say go ahead to your nearest beauty depot and check out “Wait A Minute!”

I know by now most folks have seen the Girl’s Trip movie.  It was hilarious and funny to say the least; what captured my attention is the fashion for one of the leading ladies Regina Hall’s character Ryan. I love love her style as I can personally relate to it and I too strive to portray such look as well. In the film, she’s a successful business woman and has money, so her wardrobe reflects that. I admire that she’s not perfect and doesn’t have it all, which she later admits in the movie, and empowering ourselves when things don’t go as plan. I don’t want to give away too much of what the movie is about so please go check it out if you haven’t done so already. Now back to Ryan’s wardrobe; in every scene in the movie her image portrays power that’s fierce, strong, bold, sexy but classy. I wish I could post all the looks she portrays but unfortunately, I couldn’t find them all online. However, below are a few looks to get a feel for what I just mentioned about her. Also, I was reading an article about her style in the movie and it mentioned that the designers of the wardrobe she wore also portray that look. For example, some of the designers were Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham, the Misha Collection, Roland Mouret and Zhivago, who made the blush-colored dress she wore as shown below.

On Monday the 21^st of August, the solar eclipse that everyone heard and knew about took place approximately 2:34pm EST. For me, this was my first time experiencing this phenomenon and I didn’t want to miss out! With my eclipse glasses in hand, I decided to personally indulge in all the festivities by traveling out of state where I could experience 100% coverage known as totality. A friend and I flew to Atlanta the day before and drove approximately 2.5 hours to the nearest location (Tallulah Gorge) where we could experience the celestial event. As the sun cast a crescent-shaped shadow, it was only a matter of time until we experienced totality. We noticed the temperature started decreasing and it was much cooler than the hot and humid temperatures we experienced a few minutes prior. As the moon perfectly aligned with the sun, finally we experienced totality! It was beautiful and unlike anything I have seen in my lifetime. Pictures cannot justify how beautiful and breathtaking this was. This was a phenomenon one can only see and appreciate with their naked eyes where it is occurring. Everyone around us were cheering and clapping as the excitement built up. Check out the pics from photographer Karen M who graciously shared her pics from her camera which is much better quality than those of our smartphones.

Before I forget, we were able to use points on Southwest that allowed us to travel back home free from Atlanta. My friend found a fantastic deal on Frontier for about $40 going to Atlanta, while I used my Delta mileage points on the one way leg going there. So in essence, my round-trip flight only cost me about $10 (service fees). We stayed at the Marriott Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel for and rented a car from Enterprise for just about $100 for the 2 days. All in all, it was a budget friendly trip that did not put a dent in our pockets that enabled us to experience an once in a lifetime event.

As Floridians, we are not immune to hurricanes; however it’s been several years since we had a direct hit until Irma. I can recall seeing Irma on the news shortly after the devastation caused by Harvey that hit Texas, specifically the greater Houston area, couple of weeks prior. Not long after, there was talk about Irma not being a big threat since it was brewing on the coast of Africa heading towards the Caribbean. But once Irma crushed several Caribbean islands then that’s when some of us here in Florida began to panic as this storm might have a potential impact on the state. All of a sudden media coverage of the storm became rampant. So much so to the point that some cities in Florida already started to evacuate as several of the spaghetti models of the storm showed that it was coming for us directly. Fast forward to the night before the big impact to the state of Florida on September 9th.

My family decided to stay in a hotel instead to bypass the storm and that was the best decision for us as the home we have in Orlando was impacted and we lost power for 5 days. At the hotel, we were comfortable, ate, and never lost any power. In fact, I did not hear any noise or winds while inside. It was as if we were isolated from all of the madness that was going on outside. The hotel had limited housekeeping service but that was not an issue to us at all since our safety was priority. We ate good and were in the comforting presence of our family. Hurricanes are not something people should ignore when it’s heading your direction. I believe people should not take it lightly and should make sure that their family safety takes priority and make the right decision by going somewhere inland to avoid any major catastrophe if the area or home is deemed unsafe. Preparation is key and this goes for anything in life in order to avoid headaches in the long run. On a side note, it will definitely mess up a lot of travel plans for most, but be cautious about planning that wonderful Caribbean vacation around hurricane season because this is a gamble you may not win.

Lobby Area Hilton Lake Buena Vista

Oftentimes we work so hard and don’t get a chance to unwind and relax. Some of us are too complacent and just tend to go with the day to day norm and don’t try out new things. Have you ever thought about a quick weekend getaway? To some, this may sound expensive and not achievable; Little do people know that with proper planning, a quick getaway is within arm’s reach. Airlines have gotten really competitive and some of them offer last minute deals for as little as a week in advance. Long gone are the days where you have to plan months ahead of time to go somewhere. Now you can decide within a week’s time frame (sometimes shorter) on a getaway. Hotels have caught up with the rave too as some normally still have plenty of vacant rooms; so in order to attract last min travelers, they lower their rates. Recently after hurricane Irma occurred in Florida back in September, I decided to branch out and explore a new environment without all of the chaos around me. I found a fantastic deal on United and I quickly jumped on it. This was with just as little as 4 days planning beforehand, so yes you can definitely find something last minute. I found a fantastic hotel to match as well and off I went. Check out the pics below of my quick but very fun last minute trip away from the aftermath of Irma.    

This past weekend I attended Dîner en Blanc, an amazing outdoor all white dinner soiree filled with entertainment and fun! It’s a picnic dinner that took place outdoors and an event that happens all over the country and worldwide. The very first Dîner en Blanc took place in Paris nearly 30 years ago; In 1988, after spending a few years abroad, François Pasquier wanted to organize a picnic to reconnect with old friends. The concept was simple: “Bring a meal, and bring a new friend.” Seeing as his garden was too small to receive all the guests, he told them to convene at the Bois de Boulogne and to dress in white, so they could find each other. From there it has grown to cities all over the world! Each participant brings their own food, plates, napkins, silverware, table, chairs, and any keepsakes you want to decorate the table with based on your own personality. Before the day of the event, no one knows about the location as it is kept secret until that day of the actual event. All participants must wear white and even the chairs and table cloths have to be in white. It’s an invitation only event where a person can bring a friend if invited or join a waiting list to have a chance to participate. Some locations such as New York, Atlanta, and Paris are very popular and tend to sell out within minutes during the various phase of registration.

I heard about this exciting event last year from a friend who attended and even though I already knew about it, I appreciated the reminder. Unfortunately, it was too late for me to register and so I was on a mission this year to attend at least one. I wait-listed myself for a few different locations and was only able to attend the one in West Palm Beach, Fl due to my hectic schedule. I boarded a Southwest plane early Saturday morning ($40 airfare) and upon arrival at the airport, I got my rental car and off I went to get geared up for all of the preparations. Since I arrived at the Ft. Lauderdale airport, I got my hair done at a local beautician nearby, then rushed to Sawgrass Mills outlet to get some last min accessories. Once that was done, I picked up my friend from the airport and we took the 50 min drive to West Palm Beach. Upon arrival, I had a makeup appointment, and after that we picked up dinner from a nearby Brio restaurant to bring to the event.

Once we arrived at the hotel near the pickup area, we quickly got ourselves ready and went over to the pickup location which was less than 10 min from our hotel. A tip to any of you that plan to attend one of these is to get a hotel near the pickup point. You don’t want to have to drive far to get there or back when the evening ends! At the pickup location, the charter buses were lined up to get us to the secret location which was about 25 min away. The secret location this year in West Palm Beach was at the Rivera Marina which was amazing because you can see all the private yachts in the surrounding area, the waterfront, and palm trees. The decor was amazing, entertainment was lit, and not to mention we made some new friends nearby as we interacted with everyone. One of our table mates was even generous to let us borrow wine glasses because we forgot to pack ours……which was a life saver!

Since this was my first Dîner en Blanc, I didn’t know what to expect but with what I had in mind it definitely exceeded my expectations. I am definitely looking forward to another exciting Dîner en Blanc in another city soon in the future!

Diner en Blanc at Riviera Beach City Marina Saturday, November 4, 2017. (Bruce R. Bennett / The Palm Beach Post)

Happy Holidays everyone! Before this year was over one of the places that I’ve wanted to go was San Francisco.  This place was always on my to go visit list and finally I had a great opportunity to visit although it was very short. To start off, me and my travel guru found a fabulous one way deal on Frontier which was about $36 with tax included that we quickly jumped on. Then we started hunting down a reasonable rate at other airlines for the other leg of our trip. We ended up finding a fare on United for under $180. This was followed by the hotel which we kept eyeing like a hawks to see if the rates would somewhat go down which it did rather slightly. Once everything was booked and confirmed, we were ready for take off. Upon arrival, we quickly settled in and our adventure awaited. We booked a private city tour which was very informative. Our tour guide stopped in all the major San Francisco sites and we even roamed the Muir Woods which was incredibly energizing. I had a great time in there and I feel that it helped me refuel.  The Muir Woods are wonderful and I recommend them to anyone who enjoys the great outdoors and nature to visit and spend some time there. That same evening, we had a delicious meal at McCormick’s to continue my birthday celebration. The following day, we visited Alcatraz which was one of the best audio tour I’ve seen in awhile and had a great time. Overall, the short trip was great and well needed. Anyone could pull off a quick hit as I like to call it when it comes to travel. Planning and patience is key! As I mentioned in an earlier post, last min deals (one month ahead in this case) are not impossible and certainly can be pulled off. Check out some of the highlights in the pics below: