Go Green! or Black...

I haven't gone completely green yet, but I do love our planet and want to do what I can to help preserve it. I love to see things like this. Very similar to nationwide black out from a while back "The World is Going Dark for Earth Hour" and several international landmarks will be participating. So cool. I would still like to see Times Square participate and practice this on a more consistent basis because it has become a bit excessive over there BUT this is a step and I happy about that.

Thankful Thursday

This week I'm joining the Thankful Thursday movement that Tica Tattleteller started. Today I am thankful for a day off and beautiful weather. Days like this really allow me the time to reflect on how I've been blessed and how I want to continue to be a blessing to others. I thought this song was fitting:

Hamptons Restaurant Week

March 21-28, 2010
*Click on the image for more info.

Travel Tuesday: Tips and Tricks

Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun

Layovers can be annoying, but not if you use them to your advantage. On a flight to Edinburgh, Scotland, I was stuck with a 13-hour layover in Dublin, Ireland. Instead of sitting in an airport for a very long day, I bought a day pass and hopped on a double-decker bus for some exploring (looking like Dora with my backpack). Embracing this adventurous and independent side of myself set the tone for an AMAZING trip. Also, on a recent trip to Minneapolis I chose a flight with an extended layover in Atlanta and met up with my college roommate for dinner, which was a great BONUS to my trip.

You can go as far as planning an overnight layover for a quick night out with friends in that city. For the price of one flight, a layover can upgrade your trip into a multicity journey.

Safety First

I also wanted to share this e-mail I just received from a friend:

You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for all the charges for your room). You get to your room and settle in.

Someone calls the front desk and asked for (example) Room 620 (which happens to be your room). Your phone rings in your room. You answer and the person on the other end says the following, “This is the front desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read me your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits numbers at the reverse side of your charge card.”
Not thinking anything you might give this person your information, since the call seems to come from the front desk. But actually, it could be a scam of someone calling from outside the hotel/front desk. They ask for a random room number. Then, ask you for credit card information and address information. Sounding so professional that you do think you are talking to the front desk.

If you ever encounter this problem on your vacation, tell the caller that you will be down at the front desk to clear up any problems. Then, go to the front desk and ask if there was a problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone called to scam you of your credit card information acting like a front desk employee.

Photo source

Motivational Monday! Blog It Forward

I discovered this great Blog It Forward movement over at Fabulous Doodles (who might I add really does have some oh-so-fabulous doodles). Initiated and organized by sfgirlbybay, this brought bloggers together and allowed each to share personal inspirations. I definitely think that she deserves the Inspirational Blog Award for this major movement. Even though I’m not officially a part of this movement, I really wanted to take part and share it with you too.

God- One of my all time favorite quotes is “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) My life’s journey is definitely a testament to that. Not only have my prayers been answered, but my life has unfolded in a way that I could not have planned, and I have been blessed beyond my own imagination. Because of that I continue to be forever grateful and think it imperative to fully appreciate and savor every moment of life I’ve been granted.

People around me- Family, friends and even some great people I’ve only met in passing. From the support they extend to me to the example that they each live, the people around me continue to be a huge source of inspiration.

Passion- I love to witness moments when people exhibit the fullness of their passion: like when a singer sings her story in every note, a dancer who extends every move all the way through ever her fingernails, an athlete who performs with every fiber of her being, even someone who tells a story more through her eyes than her mouth. That energy is contagious, and just seeing it fuels my own passion.

Music- I love that music can match whatever mood you’re in and allow you to saturate in it. It can communicate messages filled with feelings and emotions. I recently discovered my true love for music and continue to use it as a muse.

Ms. Fabulous Doodles’ list was so in sync with things that I love, and her pictures are such a great touch. I hope she doesn’t mind if I consider her post an unofficial addendum to my own. (Insert 1-3 of Fabulous doodles’ list here)

What I love about this Blog It Forward movement is that it is spreading inspiration through the blogosphere. Please do share, what inspires you?

Miss Journey + Guts. Glam. Grace. Magazine

YAY for another Miss Journey appearance in Guts.Glam.Grace. Magazine. Check out my article on creating A Caribbean Staycation in New York City.

A Sexy Sale!

Groupon.com is currently offering a deal (HALF OFF!) on S. Factor classes here in New York. A friend and I checked out one of the classes recently and had a great time. Despite misconceptions that most people have about pole dancing, nothing about the class was offensive, inappropriate or raunchy. It was all about embracing your inner sexy, nothing wrong with that. AND it's a great workout!

The offer ends today, but the coupon is good until September. If you are in New York or plan to be soon, you should definitely take advantage of this. It could also be a great gift for a friend or a girls' night gathering.

The image used in this post is originally from S. Factor's site but was used in this article (just in case you need more convincing about the hype around the classes.