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:

The other day I attended this incredible event in Pasco county’s Dade City called The Lights Fest. My adventurous friend told me about it and made sure I saved the date on my calendar months ahead. I had no idea what it was about, but I’m always up for a good time and meeting new people. We drove there and pulled up to an open field where everyone was gathered around. Some brought portable chairs, and some had towels laid flat out on the floor almost like a picnic gathering with live entertainment and great ambiance.

The weather was nice and luckily we ate beforehand cause there was some overpriced food available that we didn’t too much care for. When the sun set at 6:45 PM, the crowd gathered closer towards the center of the field as it was only a matter of time until the event took place. The torches were lit and we all gathered our lightweight lanterns to get ready to launch them. When the time finally arrived, we lit the bottom of our lanterns while they played some heartwarming sentimental music and dedicated the evening to the tragic school shooting that occurred on Feb 14 in South Florida as well as to anyone who may have lost a loved one.  We all stood around and just simply marveled at all the lighted lanterns floating in the air.

It was such a magical moment and an experience I will cherish for a lifetime. I definitely recommend that anyone check when this incredible event will be coming to a town or city near you within driving distance. The Lights Fest moves throughout the year so almost anyone should have an opportunity to attend. I for one plan to attend this event again in the future in a different city as I’m sure a different setting be just as if not more magical than my experience this past weekend.

I was so excited to attend the Festival of Speed in Orlando last year in December for the first time. It was top notch event and did not disappoint in the least. I was unable to attend the Sunday showcase of the various cars at the beautiful Ritz Carlton property due to schedule conflict but nevertheless the Friday night event on Dec 3 gave me the high that I needed. The Friday night event took place at the Orlando Signature Flight Support and it highlighted an incredible display of exotic super cars, muscle, classics, and even some highly-tuned imports made an appearance. I met an incredible group of people, networked, and even discovered services that I did not know were in the area, such as a luxury concierge group that will get you anything your heart desires with a nominal fee of course! I saw some of my dream cars and was able to touch and feel how it would be like to own one.

The food, drinks, and entertainment was on point and everyone there was dressed to impress. This event is definitely worth checking out if it comes to a city near you. Next up, they will be at Amelia Island on March 10, 2018; followed by St. Petersburg, Florida. Go check it out; I know I will again!!!

During the summer, fashion can be fun and colorful. You can’t go wrong if you are rocking bright colors and a hairstyle to match. In my personal opinion, I feel that it’s too hot for me to be rocking any long hairstyles because it makes me hot and sweaty since I tend to work out and move around quite a bit. However, there are some people that can get away with it and look just as fly without any added inconvenience. It’s a personal preference, so I say go with what makes you feel good.

Summer is still going strong; I’ve been enjoying it while wearing beautiful designer styles that compliment my melanin skin tone. One of the highlights worth mentioning here is the hot yellow Fendi look I rocked going to a women empowerment networking brunch in Hollywood, Florida at the start of the summer. I had a nice Afro that complimented my look. I had a lot of fun at the event and networked with women that are movers and shakers in their community. The next Summer highlight is when I went to the 30^th anniversary Diner En Blanc celebration in Paris, France. I wore a tailor fitted Gucci suit with a pair of white Louboutin calfskin pumps and my Afro was still going strong at that event! There, I enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and the entertainment was to die for. I danced the night away with a great view of Eiffel Tower lighting up in the background. Oh what a magical night it was indeed!

Diner en Blanc 30th Anniversary in Paris!

Palace of Versailles

Fast forward to the later part of the Summer when I went to the French Riviera. I cruised the coastal areas with beautiful views in sight. I had delicious meals every day and an abundance of wine selections that satisfied my taste palette. I wore comfortable sun dresses along with a smile that was glued on my face effortlessly. I even hopped on a plane and headed to Venice since it was so close by and enjoyed a serene gondola ride with a hot Dolce & Gabbana animal print dress to spice up my look.

As the summer is almost drawing to a close, I realize that I had a fun filled time thus far and I am looking forward to close it out in style. I will do my best to keep my readers informed regularly. I was on the go so much so that I somewhat neglected my blog, but I’m back in action. Stay tuned!!!