It's back to regular scheduled program as I've returned from my overly anticipated trip Montego Bay, Jamaica. Before my trip I planned a small pre-birthday celebration at Pinstripes in Georgetown, DC where I really got to spend time with my family and friends as we enjoyed an evening of laughs, food and bowling of course. I brought in my actual birthday celebrating my dear friend's wedding and taking in much of God's natural beauty. I'm sun-kissed perfection and feeling extremely irie as the Jamaicans would say (Irie\I ' -ree: is the word in Jamaican Patois that means, "alright". The term can be used to mean 1: powerful and pleasing; 2: excellent, highest; n 3: the state of feeling great). If you know me then you know that I tend to spend my birthdays by the water, it's the Guyanese/Aquarius in me that has to be near a body of water to be fulfilled. There is always a sense of peace and tranquility that I feel when I can just stare in the ocean, traveling to different places fills my cup up especially when I get immersed into the culture. Anyway, here's a few pictures from my birthday last weekend (I'm still celebrating though lol).
Since it was the bowling alley (a fancy one might I add), I opted for comfortable chic. This is the first year I gave up my "team overdressed" requirement for my guests. I wore a cream jogger set by ZARA and my trusty Jimmy Choo "Lance" sandals with my favorite new choker.
I get serious when it comes to birthday cakes. I had a vision and voila it came to life. Simplicity is everything and I'm so happy that Buttercream Bakeshop did my drip cake! The best part is the funfetti cake inside!
I'm a lover of nature's beauty so I got to explore another wonder of the world, Jamaica's Blue Lagoon. I've been to Jamaica a few times before but I always make a promise to myself that no matter how many times I visit the same place my experience will be different so while planning this trip I stumbled across the blue lagoon (of course I went to the blue lagoon in Iceland) which blew my mind.
Our Captain Ray let me take over the raft for a few. It's harder than it looks!
I love birthdays and I'm so glad I got the chance to share it somewhere beautiful. I'm extremely blessed to live the life that I do and I can't stop thanking God for all my blessings. As hard as I work I try to celebrate all the milestones in my life and live a life I'm proud of. At 31 I can honestly say that I'm happy with who I am and who I'm becoming, this glow up of mine is bigger than me. I'm surrounded by great people that I admire and cherish, they teach me how to love; be selfless; remain humble; be compassionate; continue to give more than receive; be fearless and most importantly to always let God light my path. Thank you all for the beautiful birthday wishes, cards, gifts and love---I'm humbled by it all!
Happy September! I'm fresh off my trip from LA and I have to let you in on my little secret to travelling while glowing of course. Travelling can be a lot, especially when you're an over packer like myself so the HydroPeptide travel set is the perfect size to fit in your carry-on luggage. Their blend of scientists and beauty professionals delivers a unique perspective to challenge traditional beliefs and embrace a new approach to skin health. With access to the top minds in skin science and patented technologies, HydroPeptide will continue to revolutionize anti-aging skin care. This deluxe trial sizes of anti-aging regimen to restore your skin's protective barrier has been a lifesaver.
The travel set includes:
Exfoliating Cleanser: New Beauty Magazine winner "The Best Way to Take the Day Off" one of Katherine Heigl's favorite products!
Pre-Treatment Toner: Shecky's Beauty Award for "Best Toner"
Face Lift Moisturizer: Les Nouvelles Magazine winner "Best Antioxidant Product"
Eye Authority: Day Spa Magazine winner "Best Eye Cream"
Purifying Mask: New Beauty Magazine winner "A Mighty Mask That Can Multitask"
Happy Friday! With Summer just a few days away, what better time is it to plan those trips you've been longing for or that vacation you've been saving for. Ever since I was a kid my parents instilled the importance of travelling and accumulating those experiences. It has shaped me into the woman I am today, I loveeee to travel and go on adventures. I'm super grateful for my job but occasionally a girl needs to get away and experience life outside of the 9-5 norm, you feel me? Having a passport at the toddler has certainly prepared me for many of my travelling experiences. My ultimate goal is to hit every continent by the age of 35, so far I've travelled to 3 out of the 7 continents; there is so much to see. I cannot wait to go on my trips I have lined up for the rest of the year. Anyway, I'm always being asked my travel tips and how I can afford to go on these trips so today your in for a special treat. I'm going to tell you a few secrets that will make planning your trip/vacation very easy. But, first I want to show you another look from my photo-shoot I did last weekend since it's very obvious that a travelling has been on my mind (how perfect is that?).
1. Save! Save! Save! (It's super important to save at least 3 months before a trip--especially if it's an international trip)
2. Do Your Research (Goggle and travel deal sites should be your bestfriend (bookmark it and get on their email list), find out all the important details about the location you plan on travelling to---Do they like Americans? lol. Do you need a visa? What season is the best for tourists, etc.)
3. Who are you travelling with? I find it easier to travel with 3-4 people max (everyone can fit in a taxi together; you can room together; making reservations for dinners/excursions are easy because someone has a partner, etc.)
4. Plan your excursions before arrival. (Do your research on the best things to do in that city and always read reviews)
5. Make a list of travel essentials. (Making a list and crossing things off is soooo necessary, if you forget things easily then this will make your life 10x easier. Writing things down or putting reminders in your phone to buy your travel essentials/etc. will reduce the time you spend on packing).
6. The "Right" Lodging. (I'm a super fan at staying in hotels that make me feel good, I like to look at the ratings and make sure the accommodations are appropriate. Again, it's important to read the latest reviews when staying at hotels in international locations...find out what people are saying about the noise level or cleanliness of the hotel. I do have friends who love sites like airbnb...do what works for you and your budget).
7. Shopping. (I loveee to shop & rent but I try to place myself on a limit because we all know when you get to your travel location you can also shop there. So, definitely shop looks for your trip but also leave space in your suitcase for snagging an item or two from destination. It's no better feeling than saying "Oh I got this from Paris", it's like your own special souvenir that no one else will have).
8. Packing. (The dreadful---lay out everything and organize everything before you leave. I have never met anyone who likes to pack, so to make this experience slightly enjoyable I suggest playing some music and sipping your favorite adult beverage to really get you in the mood. I'm horrible about packing in advance so making the travel essential list makes packing easier and faster).
9. Shhhhh...not everyone needs to know your going out the country for 2 weeks. (My parents always taught me to be humble when it comes to travelling and meek when telling people. Nowadays, social media breeds the announcements of when people are leaving and departing from every location (I'm super against people knowing my every location. You have to be very careful when revealing your Delta789 flight leaving from BWI airport and arriving at Heathrow Airport at 9am the next day information. Safety is so important, be very careful with that information).
10. Be A Tourist and A Native. (I'm a super fan of being a full blown tourist when I travel and a native at the same time lol. Explore the entire city and take time to indulge in the culture of the place you are in--that means, limited time on the phone and more soaking in the place you worked so hard to travel too. Eat the native food, appreciate the culture, learn the language (just a little) and make it an adventure. Travelling is a privilege, not everyone can do it so make sure you accumulating these experiences and taking time to realize how blessed you are to see a life outside of the one your living).
***
This post is super special to me because every summer my parents would take us on a family vacation---most of the time it was to Orlando, Florida where we stayed at our timeshare and spent a week going to all the theme parks and just soaking up the sunshine state. With all that has happened in Orlando this past week, my heart aches and I can't help to have a special connection there (#prayfororlando). As years have past, we still do our family trips to various places and my father always reminds us of the importance of travelling. He's a military vet and gave me the best gift I could as for as a kid, a passport! This weekend is Father's Day weekend so as I reflect on these precious travel memories, I have to say that I'm super grateful for a Dad that is always there for me and can truly say that he is the best man in life..I can't wait to celebrate him.
Me with Dad in Orlando, FL and then at my Master's graduation. Same pose and always with the camera in his hand.
Happy Father's Day to all those amazing men out there, I see you and acknowledge your presence---you have no idea how much we appreciate you!
Happy Wednesday! It feels so good to be back in the USA, I went on a very necessary trip to London/Paris accompanied with my childhood girlfriends that made the trip all but of AMAZING. With only 5 days to soak up London and Paris in it's entirety, I'm so happy to say that we checked a few places/things off our bucketlist, ate all the calories we wanted (no diets on vacay! lol), sipped on champagne and enjoyed all the beauty that can be found in these historical cities day in and night. I've visited London and Paris a few years ago but it was during the time my Grandma was very ill so I didn't get the chance to fully enjoy my whole experience because so much of my mind was focused on what was happening back home. This time was completely different and although my grandma wasn't on my mind, I was dealing with a personal situation that occupied a lot of my mental space (If it's not one thing, it's another..right? I guess that is life) so planning a impromptu trip with only 2 months in between was just what I needed and prayed for.
(Throughout the trip I took video of a few moments that I didn't get to share on social media)
From moving to DC a month ago and removing myself from friendships/relationships that were not for good me on top of me figuring out where I want to take my career...I felt the need to go on this trip with a positive mind and focus on gaining a new perspective and outlook on my life. This included limiting my communication with the outside world and focus on totally immersing myself in the European culture (glad to say---it was a success). The week right before my trip I spent some time with my bestfriend and we drank wine and watched EAT PRAY LOVE starring my favorite actress Julia Roberts for the very first time (I LOVED IT) and then I read about Adrienne Bailon's #eatpraylove trip which inspired me so much, I decided to call this trip that for so many reasons. Although I didn't have an extreme amount of time to pray like I wanted to (or like Julia Roberts did in the movie) I found myself praying quietly and talking to God when I was in shower; laying in bed after a long day of sight seeing and on the train ride to London/Paris. I think sometimes we get so caught up our day to day activities/duties that we forget to thank God for our many blessings and life's infinite lessons that has molded us into the people we are today. So here's a very exclusive look into my EAT PRAY LOVE trip with my girlfriends.
Taxi cab line up at Victoria Station!
How did they know that champagne was my middle name?! Lol #BestWelcomeEver
My first meal at my hotel in London! After a long day of travel this was so necessary.
First day out in London!
Victoria Memorial :)
Before our hike to Harrods lol!
All gold everything!
Had to go to Harrods...it's a girls dream mall!
Somebody say Couture?
Oh heyyy Big Ben!
WHAT I WORE:Jean shirt by H&M/ Reversible jeans (old) from Target/ Metallic loafers (old) by ZARA/ Coat (gifted)/
Ended our day/night of sight seeing at the beautiful London Eye!
If you are ever in London, stay at the Plaza on the River (it's super beautiful). It's super close to the London Eye, Big Ben and major tourist attractions.
WHAT I WORE:Striped turtleneck by H&M/ Cigarette denim jeans from TopShop/ Nike 'Air Pegasus 83' from Nordstrom/ Wool coat (old) from H&M/ black clutch (gifted)/
I know when that hotline bling............
Missed the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace so I stopped by the House of Guards to hang out with this guy. I was so scared! Lol #MILES
It was our first time riding the Eurostar and boy was it an experience (a good one to say the least). Very organized and the trains were fairly new and clean.
The trickiest escalator ever lol....but we made it!
After a wardrobe malfunction, I remembered I packed this little sequins dress (very Balmain, don't you think?). Ladies, always remember to pack multiple outfits!
Our first night out in PARIS! Seriously, one of the best nights of the trip!
On our way to dinner and there it was....the EIFFEL TOWER!!! We flipped out when we saw it, doesn't matter how many times you see it...it's truly a beautiful sight to see.
We had a bit of a spiral finding a restaurant that was open after 10pm but we found this gorgeous restaurant that served this amazing thai dish. It was delicious!!
Then, there was club Duplex which was a lot of fun. We met a lot of Parisians (Definitely need to work on my French) and got the chance to listen to our favorite music in a different city. Of course we gravitated to the hip-hop floor where we sung Rihanna's "BBHMM" at the top of our lungs. Good times with great people indeed!
WHAT I WORE:Multi-color sequin and mesh dress (old) from ASOS/ Jimmy Choo
When your night ends up at the Arc de Triomphe it was a good night!
Day TWO in Paris began with bunny ears and a red lip! #BrunchBound
....walking the streets of Paris!
My friend went to Paris over the summer and told me about a cool brunch spot that served REAL breakfast food, so you knowww I had to try it out!
For only 23 Euros we ate pretty good...this was called the "American breakfast", I think they got us Americans figured out lol!
After a great breakfast all we could do was smile :)
There are so many beautiful doors in Paris...
Right before we discovered the Love Lock Bridge!
Lock & key :)
.....the lock is secured to the bridge of LOVE!!
....tossed the key in the river of HOPE :)
Definitely a place I checked off my bucket list! #SchuntelAlexis
Our hearts are filled with some much love. Thank you God for this beautiful moment with my girlfriends! Keep our love locked down :)
Can you guess where?!
WHAT I WORE:White blouse by ZARA/ Leather moto jacket (old) by H&M/ Gold sequin pants 9old) from DASH Boutique/ Black & gold sneakers from ALDO/ Gold bunny ears (old) by BCBG/
We took our talents to the beautiful and popular Lourve Museum! Paris is just so beautiful, the pictures don't do this place justice.
Back to the place we were super obsessed with!! #EiffelTower
Get in my selfie Eiffel Tower :)
Selfies x 2
Last day in Paris and it deserved a ussie in front of the beautiful Eiffel. We were obsessed!! I think this picture was taken before we devoured the strawberry & nutella crepes!! Oui Oui, so good!
Dinner by the Eiffel Tower....how could I say no? :)
Had dinner at the amazing Les Ombres, the view was spectacular. Although the food wasn't so amazing, we had the best view so there was very little to complain about.
Dinner for three :)
WHAT I WORE:Sleeve-less turtleneck by H&M/ White skirt from MissGuided/
Girrrrl it's a photo-shoot ; )
Before we left Paris we stopped by my favorite place ( NO SERIOUSLY--if you know me, you know how much I loveeee McDonalds lol, it's a habit I'm trying to break).
After a train ride back to London I got the chance to see my family. First up on the menu was the classic English breakfast (baked beans, mushrooms, eggs, sausages, bacon, tomatoes, fried bread & mimosas complete with muffins and English tea).
After breakfast, we needed something sweet before we did more sight seeing so the local ice cream truck was in the perfect place at the perfect time :)
2 cones also known as "2 Flakes"
The entrance to Hampton Court! So exciting!
Following the sun with my beautiful cousin in the middle of the rose garden!
Such a beautiful palace :)
The royal wave...
Sitting by River Thame...so beautiful and serene!
My cousins :)
Lucky 17 :)
My last night in London required more sushi but this time I tried Sashimi salmon and it was AMAZING. I also enjoyed this beautiful duck salad among other great dishes!!
Always so hard to say good-bye to my family, they are truly beautiful people inside-out. Can't wait to spend more time with them!
In the words of Drake, "What an amazing time it is to be alive", I found myself saying "Thank you God" a lot during this trip during the most random times (for some reason I feel his presence more when I travel)! I wouldn't trade my life for nothing, all of the good/bad has got to me to this beautiful place of understanding and peace. Every time I travel I gain a new perspective and experience that I can't really describe. I'm truly blessed to have parents that instilled in me the importance of traveling and living a life that you love. I can't wait for my next adventure, in the mean time between time Happy Fall everybody!! xo
