Friday, April 16, 2010

Fun Find: Diner's Deck

I was recently introduced to the Diner's Deck and thought it was something worth sharing. Native New Yorkers and visitors alike can find value in this deck of cards. 52 cards, each offering a discount to an NYC restaurant, is a great way to tackle the endless dining options NY has to offer. There is also a Bar & Lounge Deck and a Brooklyn Deck.

If you play your cards right, I'll share some more fun finds. ;-)

Monday, April 12, 2010

My "Diary"

Please allow me this moment to share these candid thoughts:

Anyone who knows me personally knows how much I LOVE Alicia Keys. Those of you who have gotten to know me over the past few months through my blog may have gathered this as well. So imagine my surprise and extreme excitement when I found out about the Head Blogger position at her new site IAAS.com (I am a Superwoman). Knowing me so well, a few friends of mine told me about the position, knowing that not only this is the ideal position for me, but also that I am the Superwoman for the job!

Ever since the release of Superwoman, I've embraced my inner superwoman. I even had a friend of a friend draw this for me. I call her Miss Journey (my alter ego). That song has helped me get through some difficult moments: I used to listen to it on the way to my old job when I really did not want to go, but after listening to it on repeat all the way to work I'd walk in strapped with my S on my chest and get the job done! This song also inspired the last issue of What Women Everywhere Want newsletter and encouraged me through the transition to Her Journey. Keeping that song on repeat helped me through writer's block, discouragement, fear and uncertainty that tried to be obstacles along the way, and two years later that is still one of the first songs I go to when I need a boost.

Since submitting my application I have been so anxious, thinking about all the other women who may have applied. I've gone from excitement to fear to anxiety to the point when I sometimes have to distract myself from getting overwhelmed with emotion. My fears subsided yesterday when I had a revelation during church. While the guest preacher delivered a message about prayer, she mentioned something about allowing God to use you. When praying it is not about asking God for what you want, but asking Him to use you for His purpose. Even though I have been aware of this in some way before, the revelation hit me as if it were brand new. Applying it to this situation, it is not just about praying to get this position, it is about me opening up my heart to be used for a purpose greater than even I can imagine, and I honestly do believe that having this position is on my path to fulfilling my purpose. I also thought of one my favorite scriptures which refers to God as "He who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or even think" (Ephesians 3:20). Part of my anxiety is because I cannot imagine how this journey will unfold, but with a restored and strengthened faith I am comforted and even more excited to know that this can unfold in a way that I can't even imagine.

I believe that my work up until now will speak for itself so there is no need to stress over shoulda woulda coulda. I also believe in the quote that says that "success comes when opportunity meets preparation" (Author Unknown). So in my new enlightened state of mind, I've decided to occupy my time by further equipping myself with what I will need to best serve in this position, not only to the company but also to each and every woman that will be touched by this new movement.

Lastly, I believe in positive energy...So I'm sending it out there into the universe...pick me! I am the Superwoman for the job!

I Love Her Journey Contest!

An Ode to A New Season:

Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

I love Her Journey,

and I know you would too.


At Her Journey great things happen on the 8th! On April 8th, Her Journey started the I Love Her Journey Contest:


Someone said that we could not make it to 2000 Facebook fans by April 30th, and we took it as a personal challenge. Do we have something to prove? YES! That we can find AT LEAST 2000 people who love Her Journey!


We’re upping the ante! We invite you to join the I Love Her Journey Contest for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate to a restaurant in your city!

There are so many ways to rack up points:

  1. Be a Facebook fan of Her Journey: 5 points
  2. Invite your friends: 5 points for EACH friend that joins
  3. Follow Her Journey on Twitter: 5 points
  4. Tweet about @HerJourneyMag Contest: 10 points
  5. Follow the Her Journey Blog: 10 points
  6. Post a comment on the Her Journey Blog: 2 points for EVERY comment



We will keep a tally of all points for activities from NOW until 11:59 PM on April 30, 2010. We encourage you to keep a tally of your points and send your final score to herjourneyblog@gmail.com (just in case of situations where facebook name, twitter name and/or blogger name may differ).

Monday, April 5, 2010

Gotta Love NY: Brooklyn Bridge


As I mentioned in my post about my Summer To Do List, I am wasting no time in kicking off my summer activities. Today was way to beautiful to not seize the opportunity to start the summer fun. A solo journey into Manhattan proved to be a rewarding one.

In my short sleeve shirt, I leisurely walked several Manhattan blocks, simply taking in the warmth of the sun that my body has been craving and has been deprived of for so long. In the spirit of starting my summer, I accomplished one thing on my Summer To Do List: I bought an I (heart) NY t-shirt. I have lived in NY for most of my life (minus the four years I spent in Atlanta for school), and I have never owned one of these shirts. 1. Because they are primarily geared towards tourists, but if anyone loves NY, it's the natives. 2. They've always been huge t-shirts that you wear to sleep (maybe I did have one of those when I was younger). But now that they have cuter and more fashionable ones, I felt it only right that I have one of my own. I stuck with a classic white, but I may add a few more to my collection before the end of the summer. I don't have a picture of it to show off, but it will certainly show up in a number of my pictures throughout the summer.

Another one of my accomplishments involved some photo fun on the Brooklyn Bridge. After tackling the Brooklyn Bridge last summer, I can now walk across it with a feeling of triumph. What I love about the bridge is that it seems to bring together more than just two boroughs. Man, woman, child, biker, runner, nun, boy scout, cars driving by, helicopters flying over, and boats sailing under, all of this I witnessed while there. The bridge is a form exercise for some, a means of transport for others. It can be romantic, relaxing, educational, fun. All of that hidden in this huge structure that so many New Yorkers have yet to experience for themselves.

Even though the day was uneventful in some sense, it was exactly what I needed to kick off my summer. Stay tuned because I will be sharing my many adventures...and there will be many!

What do you have planned for the summer? Have you ever walked across the Brooklyn Bridge?

Photo courtesy of yours truly. I'm stepping up my photography game.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Summa Summa Summatime

Even though we just stepped into Spring, I’m so ready for some Summer fun. Specific titles are merely a minor detail. All I know is that the sun is shining and fun needs to be had. I created this Summer To Do List last summer, but unfortunately last summer just did not live up to my expectations. So I’m wasting no time, I’m getting a head start.


Here are 23 things on my Summer To Do List, which will continue to be updated. (I've added a few things since writing the original list)

1. “I Love NY” shirt DONE 4.5.10

2. A trip DONE 5.29.10-6.5.10

3. A roadtrip

4. Food challenge

5. Runamuck Festival

6. Yelo

7. Six Flags

8. Ride a motorcycle

9. Hamptons

10. Dance class

11. Atlantic City

12. Learn new recipes (10) Chicken Parmesan DONE 6.25.10

13. New hair DONE 5.24.10

14. Karaoke DONE 6.9.10

15. craft

16. Chip Shop

17. Eleni’s Bakery

18. Red velvet search

19. Cavo

20. Four

21. Broadway show: Fela DONE 6.24.10

22. MANGO 3 points

23. Hotel Grace

24. Learn to double dutch


25. Rock climbing


26. Skydiving


27. macbar DONE 5.27.10


28. Weekend Getaway: Fire Island DONE 6.25.10-6.27.10


The best part is that I will be sharing these experiences right here with you. Stay tuned!