The aftermath from vacations is always the worst, per usual. Unfortunately, this trip I misplaced my SD card in an airport in Florida which delayed my blog post. Since then I have moved cross country and still attempting to get settled. I had the pleasure of taking a “Girls Trip” to Saint Lucia which is located in the West Indies of the Caribbean. Before leaving the US, numerous friends and family asked “Where is that?”, and I had the slightest clue myself. I agreed to the location because it sounded super exotic and of course I knew I was going to need another break by the time the year rolled around.

Upon arrival to Saint Lucia, we easily linked up with all the girls in the airport being that a few of flew in from different states. We scheduled our transportation to and from the airport prior to leaving the states through a travel agent which needs to be confirmed prior to leaving. We flew into Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) to save on the cost which ended up being about an hour and a half from the resort. 

On the ride to the resort, we stopped to a local eatery for a snack and of course drinks. The view was amazing and they handed out massive shots. We arrived at the St. James Morgan Bay Resort early afternoon to get checked in. A helpful tip that we learned would be to verify prior to check-in if there will be any authorization holds to your room. In the lobby, the resort featured some an amazing snack called fish cakes or fish balls. Nonetheless, when I tell you I had a bowl full, please believe me.  Once the check-in process was completed we caught a golf cart up to our rooms which was quite convenient being that I packed for a month. I know a lot of people are concerned about wifi when you go out of the country and it was only available in the lobby. Before leaving I would verify that your service can work in that specific country and price how much it would cost if you use your cellular device. We cleaned up and met at one of the restaurants on the resort for the Meet and Greet Dinner.

Being that this was more of a relaxation trip a lot of us decided to partake in different activities throughout our stay. Of course, we linked up for our photo ops and to devour food. The main goal was just to take in the beauty of St. Lucia our own way. The resort featured authentic Saint Lucian dishes daily near the poolside which was quite tasty. 

Get into this hair ok! So, I normally do not switch up my hairstyles on trips and would prefer and suggest braids. I was impressed with how this sleek pony came out since I’m natural. On Friday night we decided to attend a street party recommended by the locals which was so much fun. Normally, when I venture to different countries I’m always told to stay on the resort and not to go out during the night. However, we did things a little different this time and it was also recommended by the workers of the resort. They all informed us to be cautious of our surroundings as well as our belongings. We danced the night away to a lot of the Saint Lucian’s hits as well as some Meek Mill (they had to keep the Americans entertained).

We enjoyed our first excursion as a group which was the Catamaran Cruise. We sailed out to sea and enjoyed snorkeling, great music, and a lot of rum punch. The following day a few of us decided to embark on another excursion which included the Diamond Botanical Garden, Mud Bath, and Snorkeling again. Honestly, I was “snorkeled out”. Once i’ve done it a couple of times i’m super straight.

Being out to sea is oh so calming. I sunbathe for the first time and I won’t be doing that again lol. It was super chill to get a nice little nap on the boat but not for an hour. I looked like a melted Hershey bar when I rose to the occasion. Our final night we all gave a brief speech and I mentioned how I was not at all hype about the trip due to this being my first girl trip with mutual friends of friends, work life, and my big move. However, I was impressed with how everything turned out. Everyone was positive and nothing but good vibrations circulated. Until next time. -Elle

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 

After being out of the states for a full week I am ecstatic to be back. I enjoy traveling and experiencing different cultures but there is no place like home. First order of business will be a #1 Deluxe Meal with American Cheese, NO pickles, Sweet Tea, Mayo, Ketchup, and Chick Fil A sauce from the one and only Chick Fil A. Before I get settled back into my normal 9-5 it’s a must I share with you all my trip to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. While planning this trip to Puerto Plata, I was a little skeptical because it was not a familiar city that people I knew traveled to. I always heard of Punta Cana but never Puerto Plata, call me sheltered.

I flew into Puerto Plata on a Monday and arrived that afternoon. When you step off the airplane you’re greeted by the natives welcoming you with their music. Transportation to and from the resort was booked prior to departure to avoid different taxi companies hounding you at the airport. The resort booked was called the Cofresi which was amazing. We had access to the other resorts and their amenities that was apart of the Lifestyle Brand. Once the check-in portion was complete we freshened up to enjoy a bite to eat. We were able to enjoy Dominican Cuisine our first night on the resort which was amazing. By the third day, we were Dominican Cuisined OUT (If you know what I mean). Basically we were tired of the same food in rotation. On our way to the resort our driver instructed us to try a drink call “Mamajuana”. Of course thanks to the language barrier I thought he said Marijuana but he reassured me it was nothing of the sort. The Dominicans actually call it their viagra…so that in it’s self should provide a great idea of the taste.

Being that this was a week-long vacation we definitely had to carve out some time to enjoy the beaches. Tuesday was the perfect day to do so. While getting dressed we received a phone call from a guy named Alfredo. He did not ask, but instead, he told me he was coming to pick us up for breakfast. In my head I’m thinking who told them they can schedule when I eat, but of course, I concurred. Alfredo arrived at the scheduled time and we were still getting ready. He politely waited outside our room for us to finish up. You will realize everyone will be asking if it's your first day in DR. If you are interested in investing in their property you can say yes and they will take you to see their property and try to get you to buy in. However, if you're someone like me who is not ready for something of that nature, save yourself the time and let them know you're not interested ahead of time.

 We were granted access to the VIP beach, which we clearly weren't judging by our bracelets. My cousin mentioned it was because we were super cute  and that is why he allowed us to could come through. Whatever works, right? I must say this was my favorite day. We laid around without a care in the world. We had drinks and food coming to us left and right and it just felt so amazing. Fried Chicken and Fries with a Mixed Drink on the side! The LIFE! I ended up dozing off and was awaken by my chocolate melanin melting all over the bed ;) it was time to move around.

While booking our trip to the DR we made sure we included all of our excursions. We booked Zip Lining, Monkey Encounter, Catamaran Cruise, and Dolphin Encounter. That way we didn't have to worry about anything once we arrived but having a great time. On Friday we enjoyed the zip-lining along with a monkey encounter. The zip-lining crew was a real lively bunch. They migrated from all over the globe. From places such as Haiti and Africa and was damn near trilingual, which I thought was super dope. The crew all went by a famous persons name. We had Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, John Legend, and Akon are the ones I remember. When it was time for the monkey encounter, I was a tweed bit nervous because I did not know what to expect. Once they provided a briefing to the group and we entered the gates to their habitat. The little monkeys immediately started migrating to their normal place to eat. I thought it would be a little easier to take pictures but they were moving so fast to grab their snack and keep it moving. I really enjoyed these precious creatures they were very gentle. 

For our last hoorah with excursions, we enjoyed the Catamaran Cruise. I am all for party boats in the middle of the sea it's always a good time. However, heading out to sea was horrible! The waves were beyond massive and not a calm sailing day but I managed. The food provided on the boat was a little different from what I expected, but I suppose it's different everywhere you go. I expected authentic Dominican Cuisine, instead, we received cold cut sandwiches. Once we got to our destination we snorkeled a bit. This was the first time I actually got to see fishy, amazing experience. This is the one time I wish I invested in a GoPro. All in all Dominican Republic was outstanding. I enjoyed being able to speak the language with natives and they actually thought our spanish was pretty good. I will end on this note, to my Black American Princesses (I felt like I was in B.A.P.S)if you ever feel like your're less than or not beautiful enough spend one day in DR and that will change. If no one else appreciates the color of your skin or something weird, just know they love it. Maybe the people of our own country will see that as well. Feel free to comment and ask any questions you may have. Thanks for reading.  

Seaside, Fl | March 2018

Lately, I've been in the mood to explore my local surroundings. Everyone seems to think you have to spend thousands on trips instead of focusing on the beauty around you. This tucked off GEM is called Seaside, Florida. Being that I grew up on a street called seaside it made it a little more exciting for me. 

When I drove down to the area it was only to try out a grill cheese sandwich from The Meltdown. Nothing I saw that day was anything I expected to see when I arrived. I no longer felt as if I was in Florida but another country. The quaint area had a row of food trucks and restaurants that were jam-packed. Families flooded the beach, coffee shop, boutiques, and restaurants with the beautiful weather. Being that this trip was unexpected I didn't get to get the full experience of a staycation. I will most definitely be planning a trip back to Seaside with family to see what it's like to wake up in the area.

Miami, Fl | January 2018

Greetings and Happiest New Year to all of you! I pray that this year brings nothing but TRIPS, TRIPS, and more TRIPS. I am so blessed that I was able to start my year off with a trip to Miami, FL. We traveled down south to celebrate my little cousin's 21st Birthday and what better way to bring that in than in Florida. 

INSTAGRAM ALERT: We found this cute venue on IG called Taiyaki which is an Ice Cream shop. The venue in Miami is fairly new and I see it expanding very soon. We waited for a good while but it was well worth it. The cone is prepared freshly at the shop and it was very delightful.

On Sunday we had the opportunity to visit The Ice Cream Museum of Miami. This was by far my favorite part of the trip because I was in PINK heaven in every room. The Birthday Girl decided that we will be color coordinated which worked out well in each an every room. I did have a wardrobe malfunction earlier that morning but it worked out in the end (proceeds to go to the gym). When walked in we were greeted by someone portraying to be a palm reader and I was a little sketched about doing that because it creeps me out. My first cousin's card said that she was the go-to person and great support to her friends and the other pulled a card stating that she will be doing a lot of traveling this year. When she got to my card she stated that I had been stressed out a lot lately and that's all I really remember. I began thinking to myself, this is supposed to be a happy place for ice cream, not about stress lol. Nonetheless, it was somewhat accurate.

If I had any stress prior to walking through the museum, I'm pretty sure it was all released. I tapped into my inner child and enjoyed every bit of it. The Sprinkle Pool is what is broadcasted all across social media and the best area for a photo-opt. Unfortunately, it was limited to about 4-5 mins and with everyone trying to do the same thing, it was hard to do. When I took my photos it was time to get out and I was a rebellious soul because I wanted pictures in the sprinkles *shrug*. 

Cancun, Mexico | October 2017 

I recently took a journey to Cancun, Mexico with a couple of my friends. I went out there with no idea how beautiful  Mexico really was. In the photograph above is the island Isla Mujeres which means Island of the women. The image was closer to what seemed to be a military base but nonetheless beautiful.

So I have to make a comment about my attire in the photo above. Initially we didn't really have an itinerary for our trip to Mexico, we were just going to wing it upon arrival. This was Day 1 when we set out to adventure and I was under the impression we were going swimming! Hence my sexy attire lol. Now don't get me wrong most of my wardrobe were picture ready attire but not for this specific adventure. We ended up exploring the island of Isla Mujeres and just relaxing.

I just couldn't wait to wear this two piece set from Nasty Gal and the kicker is I got it 50% off *begins to twerk*. Guys when I say the sale was amazing...IT WAS AMAZING.

Sigh, there's nothing like brunch with mimosas overlooking the beach. That is until the great natural lighting starts melting you away. We stayed at the Now Jade Rivera while in Mexico and it was nothing short of amazing. When you arrive to the resort you are greeted with a cold wash cloth. Now, it may not sound like much, but we were so fascinated by the aroma that came from the cloth we couldn't keep it off of us. The food was a way better selection than I expected, with numerous options. We had the options of Italian, American, Asian, along with a very quaint Cafe. They have dance clubs and live bands that they feature at the resort, so you never have to leave. I look forward to my next trip to Mexico, because I would definitely book through them.

Manhattan, New York | July 2017

Liberia, Costa Rica

During the month of May I was able to travel to Liberia, Costa Rica. This was my second time traveling out of the country but it would be my first stamp in my passport book, so I was ecstatic. When you arrive to the airport you are greeted by a ton of cab drivers. Could be a good and bad thing, but if you are a procrastinator like myself it may work in your favor. I waited until the rest of my travelers arrived and we split the fare to the our resort.

We stayed at the Occidental Grand Papagayo of Costa Rica and the views were nice. Upon arrival to the resort we were greeted with a fresh cocktail, and the resort was adults only which I loved even more. Once we got settled in our rooms we headed straight to the bar of our all inclusive temporary home and chilled around the pool all evening. Featured below is what happens when your sister arrives on the trip with her new iPhone 7 Plus. "Yo, Krys is the designated photographer lol!!"

Rota, Spain | April 2017

While on a scheduled to trip to England we unexpectedly made a stop in Rota, Spain. The weather was nice but hella windy. We departed the aircraft and headed to our lodging quarters for the night. Once we got there I had to do a double take. It was almost a mini resort and we were only staying for one night. I had a suite to myself with 3 beds and 1 amazing bathroom. A small balcony that also provided an amazing view of the original charm of Spain. 

Early morning I woke up just to walk around the small town to get some bomb photos. The architecture of Spain was just AMAZING! The colored stucco is always something that catches my eyes. With less than 24 hours in Spain I was also able to enjoy the nightlife as well as a small Hookah Bar. The natives were friendly and very welcoming. I now have dreams of living in Spain. 

Penn Center| 2017

Peace, be still! That is all that comes to mind when I think of this place that I call home, Saint Helena Island, SC. In honor of me launching my blog my cousins assisted me with a mini photoshoot of Penn Center grounds. Their company is called Faith Filled Frames (IG: @faithfilledframes) by Faith and Rashonda Holmes. They film in the Charolette area and travels to certain areas within commuting distance. They are so talented and passionated about what they do and I highly recommend them. Penn Center was the first school for former slaves in the south and is now used as a place to uphold the Gullah Geechee Community. I thought this was such a great location to shoot due it's rustic attributes and it's serves at the heart of Saint Helena Island.