Very seldom do we get a night out to enjoy some time in the city that we love so when we do get an evening out I like to take in a great view and surround myself with design inspiration. We spent a night at The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel recently and the lobby was pure contemporary comfort design. The sofas were lush velvet or soft, supple leather. You wanted to spend all of your time there instead of your room.
The elegant yet comfy lobby at Manhattan at Times Square Hotel:
This cool aged mirror added depth and an antique feel to the space.
We went to a great dinner at a hotel about two blocks from The Manhattan. Our original option was McDonald’s but we realized we didn’t have the kid so we could splurge just a bit. We walked over to Novotel New York Times Square and had the most perfect meal and also enjoyed the most perfect view of Times Square (along with the ball that dropped about a week ago) at their hotel restaurant, Supernova. It’s a super small ball atop a few ads just in case you were wondering. The food at Novotel!!! Can I say delicious! We ordered a jambalaya and truffle Parmesan french fries and ended the meal with a smores ice-cream desert. We shared the meal because I ate before leaving Brooklyn. Hands down, this is one of the best meals I’ve had out in while.The hotel restaurant was chic and spacious but still had a boutique feel.
Meal and Views:
The huge painting is the main piece at the restaurant along with futuristic lighting fixtures.The truffle parm fries and a peek of the jambalaya in the back.Can you spy the ball above the “2017”?
The holidays are fast approaching which means a short break from school and presents to consider for our daughter. My husband is big on buying her loads of presents. He says that this mass amount of presents makes it feel like she will have a fantastic Christmas. In truth, our daughter is far from materialistic and does not use a lot of “stuff.” She likes her computer and spends a ton of time watching slime making videos on Youtube or watching old sitcoms on Netflix. So the nick nacks that he is considering we shop for to make her Christmas a blast would be better for another child, just not ours.
I thought for some time about experiences I would like for her to have over the holiday break and went to my favorite source for day trips close to NYC, you know our trusty friend, Google. I came across a refinery article that listed Princeton University as a cool day trip. I went to my other great source for trip advice, Tripadvisor, and read some great reviews regarding visiting the campus. Visitors wrote that you can get a guided college tour, whether you are applying to the school or not, or do your own self-guided tour. The campus welcomes visitors!! How amazing is that? I live in NYC and most schools are closed to visitors and there is not much of a welcoming feel at all when you try to “breath in” the college life and experience in and about the city. There are security measures that comes first and even though I understand it, it can feel disheartening.
I thought it a perfect present to take our daughter on a self-guided tour of one of the best colleges in the world. The day before our visit I had her look up things to do and see on campus on Tripadvisor. We came across some “Must See” sights like the Museum at Princeton, the school’s chapel, Nassau Street (the main shopping and dining drag) and Einstein’s home. The architecture was all very gothic and as a Harry Potter fan, she appreciated the buildings that seemed to have the power to transport her back to the movies and books she gets lost in.
Most importantly, I hope she feels as though attending a University like Princeton can be a choice of hers one day. This is attainable. I don’t want her to be intimidated by a name of a place that may seem too high of a reach. I want her to always know that she can reach as high as she chooses and that the opportunities are there for her to reach for. Princeton is open and willing to show her what they have to offer to help her be as well-rounded a human being possible and we are open and willing to show her that it is attainable.
The Princeton Campus
One of the very first buildings we saw on campus as we walked from the parking lot was Whitman College. The hilly lawn surrounding it was perfect.When Angelique sees a smooth grassy area she believes it’s always an appropriate time to practice her cartwheels.In between cartwheels we stop to enjoy the view.Loved the wooden doors and intricate details.Every building was this beautiful and majestic. Amazing attention to detail.These crests and academic type gargoyles definitely took Angelique back to Harry Potter. Can you believe that this is the entrance to the gym? Just amazing.We stopped in at the museum store just before entering and found “The Keys.”The Art Museum is adjacent to the McCormick Building. The museum is well curated and is reminiscent to the Met in NYC and the Brooklyn Museum.We took a short break to look through some art books under a skylight and infront of this amazing window view.This window with a view of the evergrren trees was like an additional art piece.
The Chapel. The ceilings are high and the stained glass windows create the most serene and peceful light to enter the sanctuary.A plaque honoring the late, great Dr. Martin Luther King placed perfectly under one of the stained glass windows.
We stayed til sunset and the light was amazing.Princeton has some famous residents and two were the Renaissance Man, Paul Robeson, and the biggest genius of our time, Einstein.
I urge you to take your child or a child that you help care for on a campus visit to Princeton or a college campus near you.
There is nothing like New York City during the holidays. The brisk cold weather paired with elaborate store windows (Macy’s, Barneys, Bloomingdale’s). Along with the well done windows depicting your favorite holiday movies or plays along with the fashions are the fantastic lights. Saks Fifth Avenue’s store (located on 5th Avenue in NYC) has the greatest light display I’ve ever seen on a storefront. The light motif is illuminated on the front of the building and the light show changes along with the sounds of the most delightful Christmas Carols. The greatest thing about stopping into Saks is that you are across the street from Rockefeller Center where you can view the largest Christmas tree in NYC. What better way to spend the holiday?
Look at those lights!!! The front of Saks 5th Avenue as the lights danced on the front of the building.The windows were a mix of high fashion and the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker.Fendi Does Christmas.Fab fur but I adore the scarf covered coif. Lollipop inspired hair.We walked across the street to Rockefeller Plaza. There were toy soldiers, foil flags and angels made out of lights. Amazing.A quick stop in the bathroom at Saks just because the mirror is a good one.Go visit and see for yourself.
I haven’t worn a weave in a few years. I used to be a big fan of a sew in but, in truth, I just don’t feel like spending a small fortune on hair on a regular basis or even fuss with hair that does not grow out of my own scalp. My hair gives me enough of a hassle which leads me to wearing a low bun on a regular basis. I am not the norm. There are plenty of Brooklyn girls rocking their curly or TWA natural hair one day and then the next day wearing installs that flows way down to their bottoms. That’s it. That is the reason why I have always loved a proper weave. The versatility!
A weave can be good and quick. One of my very favorite “Quick” or “Pronto” weave video tutorials was done by Ming Lee a few years back before she became a hair weave sales goddess. She is currently winning in the weave game. I followed the steps in her video to achieve a weaved style that can be worn up or pulled back without the dreaded “track” showing.
Steps and Tools Used to Achieve the “Pronto” Weave:
Choose the hair of your liking. I like a curly hair that is low maintenance. This is an Italian Body Wave by Harlem 125 Hair. You don’t have to curl the hair daily and it refreshes with water and a little curl cream.You need a great hair bonding glue. This one is from Salon Pro and it is the medium sized bottle. You need needle and thread (for hair) in order to sew the wig cap onto the perimeter of your braided hair. Lastly, use two wig caps when doing this install. The doubling of the caps protects your hair from the hair bonding glue.Don’t forget about keeping your hair healthy throughout this install process. Wash, condition and apply a good leave in conditioner before braiding your hair for the install process.Look at that color! The pictured hair is a number 4 (light brown color). I blended a number 4 (light brown) and a number 2 (dark brown) for my install.Braid your hair and leave out your “edges” along with a small portion in the front of your hair in a “U” shape. Place the doubled wig cap over the braids and sew the caps onto the perimeter of your braids. Cut out the “U” shaped leave out hair portion and then begin bonding the hair onto the cap.Bond the hair from the base of your hair all the way to the very top. Cut the hair in order to layer over the cap in accordance to the width of your head. The top is a little tricky to get right. Good luck. Tip is to cut small strips of the hair and bond it in vertically instead of horizontally.All done. Hair can be styled several ways without your “track” showing. Wish me luck with blending my frizzy leave-out.
Which protective style(s) are you wearing this winter?
I’m 40-years old so that might be the reason for the great urgency that I currently have to really build wealth. I don’t mean getting a few coins, buying a few expensive pieces and then flaunting it. I mean really building a wealth that can be managed by generations after me. I mean having that kind of wealth. I don’t know anyone who is that wealthy and, as a result, my access to gaining that type of wealth is limited. Simply put, I do not have the information or access to information necessary to gain that type of wealth. That was my old way of thinking. In reality, we all have access to gaining wealth because it lies in our mindset and in our ability to take risks. It also lies in education. I have tons of education about many things but none in wealth building. I am educating myself on the plan, process and strategies necessary for building wealth. The first step is to use words that put wealth into my life. words are powerful and the mind is also a powerful thing. We can manifest the good or the bad so why not put wealthy words into my mind and thoughts? Words and thoughts are free and require very little of me.
I will keep you posted on my journey and keep you up to date because consistency and discipline matters.
You need a journal in order to keep a log of all of the information that you are acquiring. It’s great to take notes because you can refer back to “ah-hah” moments and pieces of information that you find useful and want to retain. Myleik, CEO of Curlbox, published a “Hustle” journal that is big enough to hold ALL of your thoughts plus what you have learned as well as a forward written by Myleik with some valuable advice on how to be entrepreneurial. Gets yours at www.mytaughtyou.com
My current read is “Guide to Investing” by Kiyosaki. It is a large book filled with some everyday terms and ideas that help to map your way to financial success. My short term plan is to read a chapter or tow and day and log the “nuggets” (my term for golden ideas that I’ve learned) on Twitter and definitely in my journal. I don’t know much about investing and making my money work for me so I am on the quest for knowledge and this book is a great place to start.
You’ve probably already heard of the “Rich Dad/Poor Dad” but if you’ve never picked up one of Kiyosaki’s books then do so.
It’s taken close to a week for the results of our presidential race/vote to sink in enough for me to drop a note about it. Just like everyone I know, I am in shock, I am sad, I am in disbelief. I am numb to the fact that the majority of Americans voted a man who has played on the fears of other men/women and ran a racist campaign in order to garner votes.
Do I believe that Donald Trump is a racist? Yes, I do. You cannot say the things that he has said about immigrant groups without being grounded in the ideals of white superiority.
Do I believe that Donald Trump only judges people on race? No, I believe as a millionaire Trump knows that dollars trump race.
Do I believe that Trump has the best interests of those who voted for him and put him in office? No.
The Poor and working class people voted Trump into the highest office in the land and having lived through the Bloomberg residency as mayor in NYC has taught me that a rich obnoxious man does not have respect for poor people. In fact, a rich man may even despise a poor man just because of the poor man’s poverty. Rich men do not understand why poor people stay poor.
Money is the ultimate source of respect for a man like Trump, not race or creed.
Picture this…you get an invite in the mail that looks comparable to that of a fancy wedding for a party for your tween. Many of you may not know me but the only time we really get “dressed up” is for Easter and Christmas. We cannot really recycle dresses for major events with our 11 going on 12-year old because she grows like a weed. I’m convinced she grows by the hour. Thank goodness for early planning, because I was able to go out five days before the event, (yeah, five days is early for me, let’s make this space a judgment free zone. Lol), and picked up a dress and a shrug all in one spot! I drove down to Gateway center with my mother and daughter in tow on a Monday, after school, on a mission to find a dress at JC Penny. My sister swears by JC Penny. It’s almost the holidays, right, so they must have plenty of dresses stocked for all of the early shoppers, right? Wrong!! There wasn’t one dress for a formal event in the tweens or teens section. I resorted to the women’s petite section and found one dress that might be ok for an 11-year old but you guessed it…it was too long for her. The fit was just off.
What do we do next? Drive over to the next store. Burlington Coat Factory was my back up and they did not let me down. Thank goodness my daughter can still fit into a size 16 so to the row of girl’s dresses I ran. She still loves the poofy dresses that a girl can twirl in. Twirl on girl, twirl on. I think there is a twirl gene that I missed cause I don’t really twirl. And just like that, we found a magical gold and black brocade number that was a perfect fit and a velvet shrug that was a perfect match. (My daughter didn’t like the shrug and still complained about it on our way out the door to her event.) I thought the shrug was bomb. Even better was the fact that I bought all of these items for under…drumroll please…forty dollars!! Sold.
The Look:
How brilliant is this dress! I hope it can still fit around Christmas time because it’s perfect for Christ’s bornday.
So nice I had to post it thrice. The velvet shrug adds a depth and dimension to the dress. Class act.Can we talk about this cute little Christian Siriano purse that I picked up at Payless Shoes for about $15. She loves it. It’s her favorite outfit piece.
These are some of the methods that I use in order to live a low-stress lifestyle. I cannot use the term “stress-free” because stress is just another feeling that lets us know that we are living and breathing. It is there with love, hate, fear, anxiety… Stress can be a good thing but it should be used to put us on a path of problem-solving and it should not rule our lives or debilitate us. Check out what I do below:
Sing and hum tunes that you find delightful throughout the day. Many times we are not stationed at a desk or not able to play music throughout the day so take some time to make your own music. Music automatically puts you in a better mood and serves as a de-stressor.
Focus on at least one positive thing that happened in the day to help cancel out some of the negative.
Prepare the day or night before in order to alleviate some of the day’s load. For example, if getting out of the door on time is a stressor then prepare your outfit, lunch and get your gym/work bag packed the night before so that you have less guesswork in the morning. Get the kids to bed on time and have their projects, bag, shoes and coat at the door for an easier exit.
Eliminate some of your social media, phone use and office gossip. Many times we get preoccupied with other people’s stuff that we fail to get our “stuff” done. Set short-term goals for the day and get started first thing in the morning.
SMILE! No, for real, smile. You automatically radiate good vibes, healthy feelings and positivity to others when you smile. You also feel good so quit pursing your lips.
On a typical day, I probably talk to my husband and daughter for more than an hour after work/school. The subject of my conversation is never about things that are bothering me at the job. My husband will often rant about the latest artist who is driving him crazy -although I must admit he is able to do this in a lighthearted way that isn’t very negative. That is a topic for another post, however 😉 Personally, I don’t engage in negatively in any way. Not even in a lighthearted way. Typically, I’m discussing my plans for the week or something interesting I came across online.
I don’t undertake projects that will result in more stress than satisfaction.
My end of the day routine is very relaxing. A glass of red wine and an episode of Scandal or Real Housewives brings most nights to a close.
Lately, I have been a bit obsessed with self-improvement and have really been trying to tap into a need to do “more”. Now when I say “more” I do not simply mean I want to be busy. Being busy does not make for a more fulfilled life. On the contrary, being busy can shave years off of your life and ebb away at your happiness. Many are so busy being “busy” that they are truly not living a good life. A “good” life can mean many different things to many people. A good life to me means taking care of myself, my family and my community. It means we are all comfortable and there are no great emotional or financial needs looming over anyone. What a utopic thought? Yup, I know but it is my desire.
This intangible”more” which I desire is now just a mere thought that I wake with and go to bed with at night. At 40, it is probably a more common occurrence amongst my peers than most would like to admit. My angst lies in what I should do with this desire and what my outlet should be in order to accomplish some of these desires or goals that I sleep with at night. These thoughts and desires have become my companion and consort. I no longer want the material things I used to desire. There aren’t many items in-store that can make me happy or fill a void anymore. My 40-year-old self, my mid-life self no longer finds comfort in a badass pair of shoes or a fly outfit. I want more.
However, in all of my thoughts, I do not forget that I am…
Two brands that we trust when it comes to quality came together and created a panel of women who spoke about the importance of “self-care”. We’ve all heard the term “self-care” before but how many of us really practice the routines and rituals that make self-care necessary. I’m guilty of not always caring for myself the best ways I should. I’ve had to learn the hard way that I have to really have to put on my oxygen mask first. If I don’t care for myself then I cannot care for the ones that I love. As women, there is so much that we are in charge of caring for. We are in charge of taking care of children, spouses, siblings, grandparents, parents, work, friends, you get the message… In all that we do it can be difficult to take the time to care for self but time and time again we learn that we must take the time to care for our mental, emotional and physical well-being.
The message that most resonated with me that evening came from the Chief Diversity Officer at Johnson & Johnson, Ms. Wanda Bryant Hope. She imparted that her most important self-care routine is to ask for help. As a mother and a woman in the workforce I rely on help from family and friends on a daily basis. It is how I keep my family and my life going. No man is an island and no woman is an island either. I had a difficult time asking for help after I had my daughter but learned quickly that this cannot be done solo (and by solo I mean just my husband and I. We are a unit). We have to rely on loved ones and others in our tribe who we trust in order to make our family and our lives work. I also find comfort in the thought that my daughter is surrounded by people who love her and she knows that she is a part of a community of care givers.
The knowledgeable group of women who presented on self-care.
The Path to Power event was held at the chic boutique hotel, The Redbury New York. As you entered the event space on the second floor you were greeted with champas, beautifully displayed Essence Magazines and leaflets on health and well-being.The weather in NYC was gorgeous. It was a perfect October evening and as a result, the event participants took advantage of the spacious terrace.So let us talk about this Power Punch. I felt like I was instantly transported to Jamaica, W.I. after I took a sip. The lime and cane syrup did the trick.
I had 2 glasses but who’s keeping count.All of the other options that the ladies also had on hand to try.As you walked into the actual event space there was a table where you were able to get a hand massage from women who’s hands were magical. The hand massage felt like a whole body massage.In the world of social media image is everything. How wonderful for Essence and J&J to have a photographer in-house to capture a professional headshot of you? Did I mention that all of this was for free? On the house.Eagerly awaiting the panel was a full room of women. The room was to capacity by the time the ladies came in to speak. There were many young women (I really appreciated that. If you learn self-care at a young age then you are far ahead of the game) in the crowd but women of all ages came out to support and hear some grains of wisdom. The energy of the crowd was supportive and loving.A lot of thought went into the decor. We all love to be surrounded by beautiful things.Here they are!! The women were brilliant, witty, open and just overall wonderful.How exciting! There were goodie bags at the end of the night. What’s inside?Tada! Goodies from Johnson and Johnson of course. I love that these are all essentials. I’ve been wanting to try the Neutrogena foundation ever since Kerry Washington began advertising for them. I’m stoked!I had a fantastic time and really enjoyed being in a room full of women who were open in mind and heart.
TamaraLoves 
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