C.C. Solomon's Blog, page 8

December Newsletter: Cartagena, Colombia Part One

Happy Holidays! This month’s newsletter is a
recap of my fabulous trip to Cartagena Colombia!I knew going in that this would be more of a cultural vacation
rather than a relaxing one so although I am exhausted as I type this it is well
worth it.

I have so much to say and so many pictures so
this will be a two part with an Out the Box on Christmas gift’s for travelers.

Feature:
Cartagena!

Stay

We stayed in a boutique hotel in the Getsimani
neighborhood, which is maybe a ten-minute walk to the walled city. It’s a cool
area with plenty of bars and restaurants. Take a walk and you’ll encounter some
great photo opportunities for the famous street art and bright buildings.

[image error]first floor of room

We were at the Armeria Real Hotel and stayed
in the deluxe room which looked like a former loft apartment in another life.
The first floor had a bedroom, TV, desk, fridge and half bath. The open second
floor had a bed TV, couch and full bath. There is also a rooftop pool, spa and
breakfast (which was just ok) was included. Everyone there was very nice and
helpful. Our concierge for the stay even gave my mom a present (where was mine?)

[image error]entrance 

Day
One:

We started with a Hop on Hop off bus which is a great intro to the city and my usual
thing to do on arrival.

That night we went to Resturante Internohttp://restauranteinterno.com/. Here you get an excellent and sophisticatedthree course meal prepared and served by women serving time at a minimumsecurity prison (think Orange is the New Black). They were friendly and gaveexcellent customer service. With this concept some can now take a new skill setwith them upon release.

[image error]Resturante Interno



[image error]seafood soup



[image error]fish



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Day Two:

You must do a tour with http://experiencerealcartagena.com/Alex Rocha, especially if you are a person of color. Alex isAfro-Colombian and gives a wonderful history of the area from the perspectiveof a black person. We went to visit the UNESCO protected Palenque, which is the only African village in the Americas.Settled by escaped slaves, the towns people hold on to African culture and stillspeak a version of Bantu. This is a town that could still use help financiallyand I was glad to get an opportunity to visit.  

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That night my friends and I did a party bus
via Alex but it was a contracted out trip so it’s the same party bus company
you see throughout the city.

Skip the party buses.

I thought it would be more of a bar crawl on a
bus type of thing. Nope, you’re on a bus, they play music, give you some cheap
drinks and end it at a club. I was with a good group which made it fun and we
did out own thing at the end.

Day Three:

We had to do the mud volcano. I didn’t care for it but I think that has more to do
with me and the day we went than anything else. We chose a Sunday and arrived
around eleven a.m. My suggestion is do a weekday, either very early or later.
It’s a bit treacherous to climb up the steps and down to get to the volcano so
this may not be for everyone.

Being inside was also weird. You have men
inside who can give you a massage for the equivalent of less than $2. I passed
because I wasn’t convinced they were professional (seemed more like strange men
feeling all over you). You also can’t feel the bottom (because…volcano) so it
was an odd feeling to just float in a pool of mud.

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Once I got down the steps, while saying prayer
the whole time, we went to a lagoon where women cleaned us off with water for
another $2. That part was fine.

At the end of the mud trip, our tour took us
to Manzanillo beach for lunch which
was nice. The beach wasn’t crowded but there were still a few vendors.

Day
Four:

We did a Cartagena half day tour which was
part walking and part air-conditioned bus. I really enjoyed this tour.  We got to walk around Getsimani and the Walled City. We also got to really
explore the San Felipe de Barajas Castle
which is a must and with a tour guide.

[image error][image error]

Next post: Nightlife and some tips for your
visit.

Out The Box:

Part one of Christmas gifts for the Traveler in your life.

Cute compression socks

Charger

Trtl travel pillow

Germ busting balm

November Newsletter: Dinner En Blanc

Happy November! This is a month of giving thanks. I’m thankful for so many things in spite of the state of our world today. I’m sending this newsletter out a little early to get the bug in your ear to vote this week! Let’s make sure we can continue to be Free 2 Live by using our voting power at the polls!

[image error]Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

This month I was lucky enough to have someone guest post for us on a topic I’ve been dying to know about Diner En Blanc.  This is a series of events that is held all over the world from Paris to D.C. to Tokyo and in this feature Johannesburg, South Africa. So what is it? Gorgeous in Grey does an excellent overview of the event. It’s a dinner event started 30 years ago in Paris. People dine outside, wearing head to toe white. You can bring your own food/drinks/settings or pay for the event’s. It’s a secret location that you get transported to that just makes it more of an exclusive event. We are going to get a recap of it in my bucket list country of South Africa. In the Beauty section I’ll highlight my new favorite powder.

Feature: Diner En Blanc by Daa’iyah Lang

In summary, the event was a great experience. It was also the first time I left the airport in South Africa since I started traveling internationally about 14 years ago. Highlights were the venue, dress code enforcement, food, DJ and band. The downsides were the weather (expected), dress code enforcement, transit time to the venue and the wait for the food for those of us who purchased “the Experience”.

The venue was Constitution Hill. It was decorated beautifully even before folks added their own decorations. There were three dinner package options: fully self-catered i.e. food, decorations, drinks and tableware; basket purchase with food and you’d only have to bring your decorations and tableware; and “the Experience” by a one-star Michelin chef, which was fully catered with nothing to bring but your beautifully dressed self. We chose the experience and I’m still over here giving honor to GOD who is the center of my life for that food. [image error]

There were three substantial courses. Personally, the last dessert course was beautiful but not my speed. But it didn’t matter, the first two courses were utterly and sinfully delicious. “The Experience” came with one bottle of white and one bottle of red wine per pair of people and a wine offering with each course. I’m not sure if the DJ and band were one or separate but they were each awesome. The chef was also quite accommodating for those who didn’t organize their dietary needs or restrictions ahead of time.

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The band sounded like a New Orleans jazz band who played in tandem with a DJ during dinner. After the first two courses, the DJ played solo with an awesome selection of hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s. I’m told the party was lit until past midnight. We left a little earlier, begrudgingly in the 10 o’clock hour. [image error]

Which brings me to the less than great aspects of the experience. Excuse me but it was fucking cold. However, we were happier with the cold than the expected rain, which never happened except a few drops literally just as we arrived at the venue. So we left early because it was simply too cold. [image error]

The journey to the venue was a wasteful beast. A few groups met at various locations by train and converged to a location with buses finally taking us to the venue. While the total travel time was only about a 20-minute journey, the process of waiting and traveling was more like over an hour standing and walking in heels and heavy baskets and bags. We could have met at the buses later and the location would have been just as secretive.

At the initial meeting location, the fashion police came through and only handed out event branded white bags to those whose bags violated the dress code. But they didn’t even have enough bags so quite a few people still had colored bags. I mentioned dress code enforcement as a plus and a minus. The reminders and guides about what to wear and what not to wear and the emphasis on EVERYTHING being white and only the accessories and shoes being silver, gold or tan stressed a few of us the hell out. We were looking for white or clear umbrellas and ponchos until the last minute only for folks to roll up with clear umbrellas trimmed in black and red and blue, turquoise bags, grey pants, yellow, red and green trimmed shoes!. But they weren’t turned away.

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Last but not least was the wait time for those of us who purchased “the Experience”. To keep it short, everyone around us was toasting and eating while we were waiting. And the servers and service was a bit disorganized. Still, we had a great experience and I’d do Jo’burg again or try another city.

Beauty

This month’s beauty product shout out is Black Radiance Soft Focus Powder. I am really loving this product so far. It helps blur my skin flaws, is cheap and matches my skin tone very well while keeping the shine away. [image error]

Thanks for reading. Next month we’ll talk a trip recap view to Cartagena, Colombia and Christmas gift ideas for the Cosmo Gal.

Be sure to check out my novel The Mission by CC Solomon, while you wait for my new series debut Mystic Bonds in 2019. Thanks for your support!

October Newsletter: Boston and Horror films from around the world

Happy Fall, readers! I love October! It’s not too hot, not too cold. It’s the month I was born and it has Halloween, my favorite holiday! In this month’s feature we talk 24 hours in Boston and my favorite international horror films in the Out the Box section.

Feature

How a Cosmo Girl Spends a Day in Boston

I was sent to Boston for work recently and although I didn’t get to enjoy the city as much as I’d like for the almost two days I was there because…work, I did get to get out in the evening to check out the city. If you are ever in Boston for a short period of time, here are some places to check out.

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Stay

I stayed at the historic Omni hotel. It’s a hotel steeped in history, hosting leaders for the past couple hundred years including JFK and Malcom X. Since the hotel is historic, it’s also old so if you want something state of the art this isn’t for you. However, if you like history, I’d recommend it. It’s also in a great location in the city near restaurants and bars and right on the Freedom Trail.

Do

If you can, do a hop-on hop-off bus or trolley tour of the city which is a quick and easy way to see the city. In the alternative, take a walk/jog along the Freedom trail which is a route you can take to see all the historic sites of the city like Paul Revere’s house. It’s about two and half miles long.

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If you are into shopping, Boston has a lot…but it’s not cheap. For boutique shopping check out the neighborhood of Back bay and Newbury street or Charles street in Beacon Hill. For more affordable shopping go to Downtown Crossing.

I didn’t get a chance to check out the museums but I’d recommend the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Eat

The one thing I did get to do here was eat…a lot. Boston has a lot of great places to dine. While you are there get yourself a warm lobster roll (to me even better than the already delish cold lobster rolls).  Check out Bostonia Public House. Note: I went there for happy hour only to discover that Boston does not allow for happy hour drink prices so be prepared for that. [image error]

Visiting the North End is a must. It’s the equivalent of Little Italy and there are so many affordable food options. If you have a sweet tooth then you have to visit Mike’s Pastry. I could have eaten everything in the store. I also had rather good pizza while in the area at BenCotto.

If you want good eats and in a trendy spot, check out Back Bay’s Buttermilk & Bourbon.  Good New Orleans inspired food (the.best.biscuits.eva) and tasty craft cocktails along with the décor give this place a fun vibe.

Overall, Boston is a cool, historic city that I’d recommend a quick stop in if you get a chance.

Out the Box

If you can’t tell from my novel snippet in last month’s newsletter, I’m big into horror. Especially quality horror films and I’ve found some foreign horror films of particular high quality. Here are some of my favorites.

Korea: I love so many things about Korea (food, skin care, TV dramas) so this was no surprise that I love K-horror as well. Check out these:

Train to Buscan– a tension filled zombie flick that will make you tear up,

Two Sisters– A great psychological family ghost story with tearful moments. Take a hard pass on the American remake, The Uninvited, and just watch this.

The Host- I swear much of my love for K-horror comes from the fact that they mix an emotional quality to it so it’s not just about killing off a bunch of random people. This is a monster horror flick about a man trying to save his daughter.

France: French horror films are not for the squeamish. They will make you uncomfortable.

High Tension- Very violent and suspense filled psychological horror about a family terrorized by intruders.

Matyrs- This one still stays with me. It started as one thing and became something else. The something else is what makes this movie so memorable to me. Again, two friends are terrorized by strangers.

Australia: Aussie horror is very similar to other Western horror only it has the Outback as a good setting.

Cargo– is another zombie flick but it includes aborigines and their culture which gave it a perspective I really enjoyed. This also has an emotional plot much like Train to Buscan.

The Babadook– Creepy ghost/supernatural horror story about a mother and child…and the boogyman.

UK: If you haven’t seen these, get to it:

The Descent– I hate caves. Monster horror story

28 Days Later– One of my all time favorite zombie movies.

Monsters- A post apocalyptic world filled with…you guessed it, monsters.

Spain: Love Spanish horror stories. They don’t go the typical western route and the creep factor is real.

The Orphanage– a beautiful ghost story that will make you cry

Rec: Another zombie-ish horror film but with found footage and very tension filled. I also enjoyed the American remake, Quarantine.

Japan: I can’t close out a horror list without mentioning J-horror. A ton of American horror films in the recent couple of decades have come from Japanese horror (The Ring, The Grudge, Dark Water, Oldboy, Pulse, One Missed Call).  See the original versions of these American remake horror films but also:

Audition– Psychological horror story

Three Extremes– Three disturbing tales

Itchi the Killer- More of an action than horror but the gore can make it quality.

Ok, I think this is enough to get you going for an at home October fright-fest. Happy Halloween!

September Newsletter: Snippet of my novel Mystic Bonds

September always feels like the unofficial start of the new year. We go back to school, the fiscal year ends, many of our TV shows start again and we say goodbye to Summer (sooner than we should, I’m looking at you Pumpkin Spice dishes who premiere September first).

The past year and a half I’ve been working on a new writing project. An apocalyptic  supernatural series that I hope to get published by the new year. In my mind it is The Walking Dead meets True Blood.

In the meantime, here is an excerpt from the novel and I’m always open to beta readers so message me if you are interested. Thanks to those who have edited, read and provided feedback to me already. Live your best life folks and if there is any accomplishment that you want highlighted in the newsletter, please contact me!

Free 2 Live…your creative dreams!

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Mystic Bonds

Five Page Excerpt…

Main Street, USA. Most towns had them. Located in the suburbs, it was a street with a mixture of quaint shops, offices, restaurants, and bars.

Charles turned down the street and parallel parked on the right side in the middle of the strip. The area looked desolate; a few storefront doors and windows were bashed in and broken. From what I could see behind the thick, dark-green plant overgrowth on the buildings, there were deep brownish red stains of varying sizes on a few of the store porches, streets, and sidewalks. Some of the building signs hung crooked or had long given up the fight and were now on the ground. The street in front of our car was cracked and broken up as if construction was breaking ground before everything went to hell, but no work trucks were in sight. The broken ground stopped right in front of where our car was parked but that wasn’t the disturbing part.

Charles opened the car door and frowned. “Phew, I’d ask what died out here but I can guess by the broken up skeleton parts.”

“Jesus,” I whispered, looking out the front car window.

I leaned towards the dashboard and squinted. In this world I’d seen this scene before. Pass the hole in the ground were skeletal parts covered in dirt, caked blood, and dried skin. There were torsos, unattached legs, arms, and skulls.

“Whatever jacked up the road, did a superman lift off, right there.” Charles got out of the truck and pointed to where the destruction to the pavement ended in front of us. “Because I don’t see the stores demolished beyond this broken up area. Whatever did that, if it were going into a building, it pretty much would have knocked it down. And same goes if it leaped on top of a building. So, it wasn’t a gargoyle.”

I got out of the truck, looking around. “This must have been done earlier on in the change for these bodies to be this decomposed. These poor people.” I let out a cough and covered my mouth and nose with a shirt I got from my backpack.

Charles nodded, surveying the area. “A place like this could have a lot of what we need, assuming no one else has wandered here.” He walked over to a clothing storefront that contained a bit of plant life around it and peered in. “I’m thinking the plant life was also a deterrent. It’s probably poisonous.”

Upon hearing that, I turned to Charles just in time to see a snake-like vine wrap around his ankle. “Don’t move, Charles,” I shouted. If he did, the vine would grow tighter. I’d seen plants strong enough to rip a limb out of a person’s socket.

Charles’ body stiffened. “There’s a man-eating plant around my ankle isn’t there?” he asked in a quiet voice.

“Possibly. Relax.” I moved a little closer and saw the vine tighten. I looked up at the clothing store and saw the second level was covered in moving, wiggly, deep-green leaves and vines. I hadn’t noticed the vines moving earlier and perhaps it purposefully hadn’t. Did I forget to mention that in the new world plant life was smart? “Son of a bitch,” I whispered.

“Any day now, Mina,” Charles stated through clench teeth.

I could throw magic over anything natural and, like it or not, even the supernatural was part of that now. I recalled how I first controlled the ten-foot monster dog that disrupted my cousin’s wedding when the world first went to hell. I’d controlled other inhuman things since then. I usually did so to get them to leave us alone and not eat or kill us. The lesser the lifeform, the easier it was to control. And less painful for me.

I threw my hands up and then balled them into fists; forcing my energy into the plants and envisioning them drying out, breaking off and dying. I’m not sure if I really needed the hand work but it helped me focus on what I was aiming my magic to do.

Tiny points of pain pricked my skin all over. Soon after that, the plant life started to change from a bright green to burnt brown, then it crumbled and broke apart. The vine around Charles’ ankle fell away and shriveled.

I let out a deep sigh and my minor pain went away.

Charles turned around to face me, eyes wide. “Took you long enough. Thanks, sis.”

I rolled my eyes again. “You know better than to run off like that.”

“I was still in eye range, mom. Plus, the plants didn’t look like they were moving. Just poisonous.”

“Well, clearly they were playing games.”

“I’ve never seen plants do that before.”

I looked down the street to my left. It was after twelve in the afternoon. Since it was early summer we still had a good amount of sun left but we had to watch our time carefully so that we wouldn’t be caught out in the dark.

“I think we should know by now that the only certainty around here is that everything is uncertain. All right, let’s search this place but stay on your toes.”

We searched every establishment together. It took a while but we were finding a gold mine here. A gory gold mine but a gold mine all the same. We tied some scarfs from a clothing store around our faces to help block out the stench of decaying, dead flesh and spoilt food, and went through the work of gathering supplies.

I focused on practical items. Jackets and gloves for later seasons and undergarments from the clothing stores, a first aid kit from a bar, some non-perishable food, lighters and a few more toiletries we were in need of for our day to day. We had to build our base all over again. There would be no going back to our old complex, it had been raided and destroyed by David and his gang months ago.

 “I think we have enough time to hook up some lunch from one of those restaurants before the plants get to be dangerous and the sun goes down,” Charles surmised, eyeing a barbeque restaurant across the street.

I glared at him.

He shrugged. “What? I’m hungry. You can magically cook us up a meal and I can get this laptop working and search for a government town,” he stated, waving a silver laptop in the air.

While I tried to make a meal out of whatever I could gather in the kitchen of one of the restaurants, Charles made magic happen on the laptop and gained access to the very limited internet. Nowadays the internet was mostly a ghost town of sites that were abandoned. The only active sites were the informational ones, social media, and of course what was left of the government had an active site. The only way we even knew of the government’s resurgence was by searching the former White House website and Twitter page. From there, word spread from others who had the same idea.

“Okay, so there’s a government backed town in Hagerstown. A little under three hour’s drive. We go there first. See if they can help. If they can’t, we push on to Silver Spring,” Charles stated bringing his laptop over to me in the kitchen.

After lunch we were on our way back to the highway when we spotted trouble on the side of the road.

A man stood, pulling thin legs out of the ground in front of a tree-lined area off the main road. The legs the man held appeared to be female. The torso attached to the legs was halfway in the ground.

 “What. The. Hell!” Charles exclaimed, slowing the car down as we passed them.

“Stop the car,” I ordered, straining past Charles to get a better look.

“Why?”

“Clearly, we need to help them. The woman is stuck in some, I don’t know, quick sand-like dirt or something.”

“What if it’s a trap? I mean, that guy looks like he’d swat us like flies. I’m not up for a fight. We have to focus on saving our friends.”

I looked to the man. He did look imposing, with a wide and muscular frame. Still, something was telling me to help. “What if it’s not a trap? And we’re looking for people to help us get our friends. Maybe they’ll help us if we help them, so stop the car!”

“This is how we got caught last time.” Charles came to an immediate stop in front of an opening to a shopping plaza and I jumped out. “Don’t be stupid, sis!”

Out of habit, I looked both ways before crossing the vacant street. I didn’t bother wasting time asking the man what happened. The situation looked pretty clear.

I raised both hands and focused on the ground around the now thighs of the female. She was getting swallowed up quickly and I was sure she wasn’t able to breathe. If this was a trap, it was a dangerous one.

 

Thanks for your support! Next month: Boston quick trip and my favorite international Horror Films..

 

August Newsletter: Staycation ideas, Product of the month and a teaser

Although summer is the biggest vacation time of the year, staycations are good all year round. When most think about staycations, they tend to view it as a time for resting or catching up on things but it can be so much more. When used wisely it can be just as rewarding as traveling out of town. This month we will talk how to staycation like a vacation. In the Beauty Product of the month I’ll talk my new curl product obsession and in the Out the Box section I’ll give a snippet of my new novel.

Feature

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For the single or child-free couple, staycations may not seem as enticing but they can be a load of fun even without leaving your town. When using your staycation productively build in a day or two where you do nothing and a day where you are catching up on chores you need to get done. That way you get the rest you need without going overboard and wasting the time off and have a set time to get chores done without it nagging you during your entire staycation. Turn off your work phone/laptop and limit the news intake, otherwise it’s just telework. The rest of the time, plan productive things to do. Here are some ideas:

Cook meals you’ve been wanting to eat. Or get dinner delivered the whole time. Try top rated places in your area of all types of cuisines.
Go to restaurants you’ve eyed – treat yourself to someplace nice or go to an out of the way spot you normally wouldn’t be up for driving to.
Check out the touristy things in your area. It’s interesting seeing your town from the eyes of a tourist.
Do a day trip to some place near by or an overnighter.
Take a group exercise class you’ve never tried.
Get cultured: See a play or go to the museum[image error]
Do a spa day. Some places have discounts if you go during a weekday during the day.
Do an overnight at a hotel: Hotels aren’t just for travel lodging. Doing a night at a nice hotel can be a nice pampering getaway.
Volunteer. This maybe hard to fit in your regular schedule so now is the perfect time.
Visit a national park, beach or go hiking.
Check out the nearest brewery or winery for a tour.
Do fun activities you normally wouldn’t like dinner theater, an escape room or a local river/spirit cruise.
Go shopping at an outlet mall.

Most importantly, have fun and make the best of that down time!

Beauty Product of the Month

Crème of Nature Argan Oil Twirling Custard Curl Styling Gel- My 3c curls are loving this product for my wash and gos. It’s like a gel but won’t make your hair hard and crunchy and has enough oil in it to moisturize so it won’t dry your curls. Best of all, it’s cheap.

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Out the Box

As you may recall I have a new novel and hopeful series I’m planning to get out soon in the genre of urban fantasy. Next month’s newsletter will be a excerpt of the novel. Here is a very short taste….

Charles handed me his basket and pulled out his hand gun from his holster. We carefully walked towards the soldier, looking down the aisles on our left as we passed them. I looked to my right checking the front registers and photo area. I stopped. A dark figure suddenly appeared behind one of the cash registers. Then he or she disappeared in a blink.

“Charles, there was someone near the register,” I whispered, still staring at the front, willing the figure to reappear.

When I didn’t hear Charles walking over I turned my head but there was no one. Just the down soldier. I spun around, panic quickly taking hold of me. “Charles!” I shouted.

“He won’t hear you,” said a familiar male voice.

I gasped.

David.

I felt like my heart went into my throat. My legs went weak and I dropped the baskets. Painful goosebumps appeared on my arms. He was behind me. I could feel his presence. I didn’t want to turn. Didn’t want to face that nightmare just yet.

July Newsletter: Cabo San Lucas for the Grown and sometimes Sexy

For this month I’m just going to give a recap of my trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Spoiler alert: Cabo owes me nothing. I’ll be going back. If you are looking for a beach option that has a more mature crowd than Cancun but still is fun then I would recommend this area.

Arrival and Hotel and Transport

[image error]From my foot into the airport until my return, the people of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico were nothing but kind and hospitable. Getting through customs was surprisingly quick and uneventful. The only negative thing was all the people trying to sell you time shares. Sure, if you sit through a 90 minute breakfast you get rewarded with a bunch of free stuff and maybe next time I’d check it out.

My tip: Book your transport to your hotel ahead of time so you won’t be overwhelmed.

Another tip: Just use the ATM to get your money. MUCH cheaper than the exchange booth (I knew this and yet still did it wrong).

Yet another tip: Stop past a Walmart or store to get some munchies, bottled water, drinks. Nice to have it on hand in between meals or if you want to “pre-game” before going out. Alcohol is pretty cheap in Mexico so that was a plus.

Me Cabo Hotel

[image error]This hotel was beautiful. We arrived on a Saturday and that’s the most popular day as they have a pool party with a DJ (however, there is a Sunday DJ as well but it’s a fraction of the crowd).

It’s an adult’s only hotel and they offer you a drink upon arrival. Check in was fairly quick. We originally got a room without a balcony (one of only two that I could find) and requested a different room without any problems.

The hotel has a decent gym, lovely little spa, and two nice restaurants. We were rewarded with two coupons to use the spa and one of the restaurants. My spa experience was very nice. I had what I consider a host who showed me to my locker and gave me snacks and water (including charcoal water, which was tasty) (shout out to Ms. Rosie). I got a relaxing facial that made my skin glow (thanks Mary!). The spa also has two Jacuzzis, a sauna, and a steam room that will clear your sinuses for future years to come.

Note: My friend got a full body massage on the beach (near The Office) for about $30  and she said it was fabulous. I was also recommended this by a coworker if you are looking for a cheaper spa like option.

The location of the hotel was perfect. It was next door to the popular beach bars/restaurants and only a 10 to 15 minute walk to the downtown area. We took a car at night and that will run you around 10 USD (which seems a bit much for the short distance but…safety) . [image error]

Food/Drinks

I enjoyed most of the food that I ate during my trip. The two restaurants in ME Cabo both had delicious meals. My lobster taco was everything.

There were also a lot of good options for less money. Tony’s Tacos is a hole in the wall place in the main downtown area. I liked my shrimp quesadilla so much (which was nothing like the American versions) that I returned a second day for more.

[image error]Mangos is the popular spot on the beach. It’s pretty much touristy food (but good) and drinks. They have silly contest that will offend your feminist sensibilities. If you want something slightly tamer check out The Office or The Sandbar next door.

Nightlife

I must admit, I was a bit underwhelmed with the nightlife. Not because there wasn’t anything to do but because I didn’t find the fancier lounges/bars that I was hoping for. It was very low key. I didn’t even wear heels.

Everyone likes Squid Roe, which is a hugely popular dance bar. A bit too crowded for me. I preferred Mandela, which is right next door. I liked the music and Sunday is ladies night (drinks free all night). It’s still pretty busy on the weekends.

In general, I would suggest just walking around the main street and doing a bit of bar hoping. Blue Cabo and Giggling Marlin are on my list for next time, as out door bars. For something nicer, perhaps look into hotel bars (ours was dead/closed at night) and restaurants.

Excursions/Shopping

There are plenty of things to do in Cabo besides lounging at the pool. Note: the beach isn’t the best for swimming and because Me Cabo hotel pool was so great, we never even laid on the beach.

You can go paddle boarding, parasailing, horseback riding, boating.

Many people did the jungle party boat, which we did not get to but it always looked packed and fun.

[image error]We did a boat and bus tour. Starting with the boat, I fought my way through sea sickness to see the popular Arches, sea lions, fish, and pelicans, along with Lovers Beach.

By bus, we went to a glass blowing factory and demonstration, a tequila tasting and visited nearby San Jose Cabo. This is a lovely area with art and flea markets, shops, and restaurants. It’s great for anyone looking for something more quiet but with no real nightlife. [image error]

If you are looking to shop, there is the Puerto Paraiso Mall. It has everything ranging from inexpensive to upscale.

In general, I’d go back and make this one of my repeat vacation spots.

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Next month- Staycation ideas and my new novel excerpt.

Thanks for your support and you can find my current book, The Mission, on Amazon!

June Newsletter: Summer Things to Do

It’s Summer, my favorite season and as I grind away on my new urban fantasy series (more to come on that) and plot out my next travel adventure (stay tuned for future posts), I’m also thinking of  fun things to do this summer.

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The summer is the time for festivals, conferences, and conventions. But there are so many. Well, here’s a guide to some that might strike your fancy, based on your interest.

If you’re a proud nerd:

Check out a fan con. There is one for every taste from like Comic Con (most major cites have one but the most famous one is San Diego).

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Blerdcon – You don’t have to be a black nerd to enjoy this conference. However, this is a conference that focuses on the type of things you’d see at comic con but with an eye on People of Color,  LGBTQ, and people with disabilities.

Otakon – If you love anime, mangas, cosplay, then this is the festival for you. 

If you’re into the arts:

Many major cites have some type of arts festival in the summer and it’s a great time to see local art and music or lesser known national and international artists. This is also a great time for books and movie festivals.

Afropunk – If you’re into music with a unique take on R&B, punk, rap, and rock, this is for you. It’s held in several major cities world wide.

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Artscape– This is the largest arts festivals in the country and well worth the trip to Baltimore if you’ve never been. They have every aspect of the arts that you can think of. Music, plays, dancing, art work, jewelry, fashion, street performances, DJing. It’s conveniently in the same area as Penn Station so you can take the train in with no problem.

If you like to party:

Any festival that has music is a good place to party but some summer events actually are a party. Also food festivals can’t be a wrong choice for a fun atmosphere (especially BBQ and food truck festivals).

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Caribana- There are Caribbean festivals all over, but if you can’t get to the Caribbean to celebrate, this one, located in Toronto, is pretty popular.

Tattoo conventions– I can’t say for sure these places are parties but I can’t imagine if you’re getting a tattoo you want it to be quiet (at least I don’t) and boring.

If you’re fancy: 

Check out a festival or event that takes you out of your comfort zone or gives you some culture. Maybe pick a festival abroad. There are some excellent ones outside of the states that will also give you a bit of culture.

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Dinner En Blanc – This takes place world wide at different times. You dress up (in white), dine outside, and just get your classy on. Most major cites across the globe have a version.

Wine festivals – Wine festivals aren’t necessarily fancy but they can be. In the summer you’ll find a pick of reggae, jazz, soul, rock wine festivals that are fun. Find a designated driver or go uber/lyft of course. Or, make your own wine fest and tour different wineries with a group of friends. Maybe rent bus and driver.

If you’re active:

How about checking out a race with a fun element like obstacle courses or wine and food! I hate running so I can get tricked into doing a 5k if it’s fun or has a theme. I’ve done a Color Run, Wine and Cheese Run, Crab Run, Night Glow Run, Rock n Roll Run … I still want to do the Zombie Run but that’s too real for me right now!

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Beauty Product of the Month:

This month I had to try out Maybelline Tattoo Studio Waterproof Eyebrow Gel[image error]. It goes on a little messy if you have thin brows so you’ll have to do some clean up but I must say it works. It held up after a high impact workout, the sauna, the shower, and sleeping! The only area it rubbed away a bit was the ends of my brows where I have less hair for it to tint. Worth the buy if you want defined brows that last overnight.

 

Out the Box

I’m spending a lot of my free time writing my next series, Mystic Bonds. A new venture for me into my beloved urban fantasy genre. Here’s a bit of what it’s about and if you are interested in becoming a beta reader please reach out to me!

Amina Langston thought surviving the supernatural apocalypse, which killed fifty percent of humankind, and becoming a life mage nine years ago were the biggest challenges in her life. That is, until she and her brother, a technology mage, go on the run from non-gifted humans who want to steal their magical blood. Now she’s in search of a handsome stranger who keeps appearing in her dreams and a secret paranormal city for help freeing those still held in captivity for their blood.

During her journey, Amina befriends several other magical beings also searching for the town, including a sexy were-jackal who distracts her from locating the man of her proverbial dreams. However, when the group finds the mysterious town, it’s filled with dangerous magic, a barbaric were-pack, and a seer who foresaw their role in a world-ending event. Facing these new troubles, will Amina save the other paranormals she left behind or end up in greater peril?

Next month- Los Cabos, Mexico recap and more!

Thanks for your support and you can find my current book, The Mission, on Amazon!

May Newsletter: Vacations for Your Mood and more

May is what I deem the unofficial start to summer vacations and if you aren’t already planning something maybe this will help. We also talk about the favorite beauty product of the month and my read of the month.

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Looking for some travel ideas for the summer? Here’s a short list of some good places to check out depending on your mood.

If you want:

Culture

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France– I can only speak for Paris but I wouldn’t limit your exploration of this country just to this city. However, if you want to soak yourself in every aspect of culture and arts, Paris is where it’s at. You could spend a whole trip just checking out the many museums. And then there is the shopping at various price points. If you love live music, especially jazz, then this city is for you as well. And let’s not forget the food and wine. And if you get a chance to leave the city and check out the Palace of Versailles, South of France, and Brussels, do it! Check my recap here.

If you can’t leave the country, check out Washington D.C. There are so many museums and you’re close to other areas rich with culture and history like Baltimore and Williamsburg. D.C. also had a great foodie scene, good shopping at various price points, and a diverse nightlife.

Relaxation

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Jamaica– This is a no brainer. I feel like everyone has to visit Jamaica at some point in life. If you want a vacation all about relaxation this is for you. Sure there are things to do like visit the natural waterfalls and plenty of water activities but if you do none of that you’ll still have an awesome time. However, if you are looking for a place to go to just catch up on some rest, maybe get a massage, this is the perfect getaway. Add in great live music, awesome food, and just overall friendliness of the people, and this is the place for you. Here’s a recap.

If you can’t get out of the country, check out Phoenix Arizona. Go to a hotel with a spa and get pampered, chill at the pool, and get some shopping or golfing in.

Foodie

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Thailand- I really enjoyed eating in Bangkok. I love the various spices and curries of Thai food. But don’t stop there, there are so many foods to try of various cultures. And Thailand takes food seriously. You can go to a mall and the food courts are overwhelming with the many options. They aren’t just fast food stands. You can get some serious dining in.  Here’s a recap.

If you can’t go far, check out New York City. They have any and everything you could crave. I’m glad I don’t live there. I’d never cook and would gain all of the weight. Here’s a recap.

Adventure

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Costa Rica– If you want a trip to keep you on the move, check out Costa Rica. There are so many areas to visit that you’ll limit yourself if you do just one town. I’d say skip around, do some research about the areas you want to visit. There is zip lining, hiking, water sports, going into the jungle, going to hot springs, seeing volcanos, going to the Caribbean side. Take a day to relax but if you are an active person, Costa Rica is for you. Here’s a recap.

Still searching for the best adventure town in the States. However, my money would go to Denver, Colorado for the their winter activities.

Beauty

Feel Restored Warming Clay Mask [image error]

I love a good facial but can never get the full professional feeling at home. As soon as I put on this mask it heated it up. I don’t know the science behind how it works but it definitely gives that spa like feel while pulling out toxins and cleaning the skin. A must try.

Out the Box

Currently I’ve been diving into paranormal romance books. Although she’s been around for a while, I am now only learning about the works of Jeaniene Frost.  She has a knack for drawing you in with not-so-perfect female leads and male leads with a whole lot of swag. If you like novels with vampires, check out her Night huntress and Night Prince series. Sure the romantic moments can be a bit cheesy but isn’t that what makes it all great sometimes?

See you next month for things to do during the summer special.

If you are interested in becoming a beta reader for my urban fantasy series, message me!

Finally if you haven’t checked out my ebook The Mission, it’s on sale on Amazon!

Thanks again for your support and please spread the word!

April Newsletter: Ladies in Paris

This month is a special edition focusing on my trip to Paris! If you are outgoing and a bit cosmo then keep reading!

Prologue: The Journey There

I must start with the journey there. On the first day of spring mother nature was like “Let’s give them a snow storm”.  We were set to fly out the next day and were very concerned so we decided to leave right then! The snow caused delays, naturally, and we missed our connecting flight to Paris in Atlanta. So we had to stay over in Atlanta…on our dime. The customer service for this particular airline left much to be desired and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone after how they treated not only me but other patrons. They weren’t prepared for how to handle this situation and they were very unsympathetic to the customers stuck in this situation.

I’ve had missed flights due to delays or lost luggage and the other airlines I used were very helpful and lowered the stress in an otherwise stressful situation. In the end we got a flight via Air France (which was nice and I’d fly them again) and arrived in Paris on the day we initially planned a few hours earlier.

We stayed at the Hotel National des Arts et Metiers, which was absolutely lovely. It has aexy, hip, and boutique style. There is also a restaurant and a lounge attached to the building with the same grown and sexy vibe that gets very busy on the weekends (so don’t expect a peaceful sleep on those nights before 2am).

Chapter One: Thursday: Sacre Coer Monmartre, Little Africa, Le Comptoir General

We decided to start our journey by going to Little Africa.

If you are into African culture there are a lot of shops around to find African print clothing, beauty products, food, and to get your hair done. A woman ran out of a shop offering to do my hair. Gave me a complex. My hair was in a ponytail but I didn’t think it looked that bad![image error]

We also checked out Sacre Coer. It’s a climb up a LOT of stairs but the view of the city is worth it. [image error]

That night we went to the club Le Comptoir General. It’s  cool, dark, with African inspired décor. They play a mix of house, R&B, and hip hop. There isn’t a sign on the outside so don’t miss it! [image error]

Chapter two: Friday: Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Macaroons, Eiffel Tower, Louve

The Champs-Elysees is the iconic shopping area (and if you were a Sex and the City fan you’ll know this area from the last two episodes of the series). Here we did some shopping and had brunch at Laduree. Laduree also houses the best macaroons eva. [image error]

We also saw the Eiffel Tower and went to the Louve. I’m not quite sure we got through a quarter of the Louve. My feet were on fire by then and everything hurt. I’d recommend not booking much else the day of your visit to the Louve. Not only is it huge but there is also shopping.

Chapter three: Saturday: Latin Quarters, Notre Dame, Crepes, Marais, Shopping, Bizz-Art

We started late today and went to the Latin Quarters for brunch, cheaper shopping, and checking out the Notre Dame.

Afterwards we went to the Marais area intending to shop and check out the Pablo Picasso museum. We didn’t make it to see Pablo’s museum but got some shopping in.

That night we went to the popular Bizz-Art for some live music and then a DJ. The crowd was super diverse in age range (20s through 60s) and ethnicity. It stays open until 5am. [image error]

Chapter four: Sunday: Open Markets

So we had all good intentions to get up early this day and check out one of the open air markets. We ended up leaving the hotel around 12 but luckily one of the markets, Marche Bastille, stays open until 3pm. You can find all sorts of food, produce, clothing, jewelry, and more. Definitely worth a stop!

Epilogue 

Tips:

We took the metro which really is the way to go. At night we did uber. If you are surviving on free internet access to help get around, you might want to plan out trips before you leave your apartment as internet is not always accessible, especially at night, in every place. Uber allows you to schedule trips ahead of time too.

Not everyone speaks English or a lot of it. So it would do you well to learn some before going or at the very least download google translate.

Thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned for May’s letter. In the meantime check out my current novel out on Amazon and keep an eye out for my next novel!

Thanks!

 

March Newsletter: Super Gals, Best Foundation Coverage and New Projects

It’s March and that means Spring and Women’s History Month. In this month’s Feature I’ll be combining my love of fiction and fantasy and list some of my favorite strong female characters. In my Beauty Section I’ll be spotlighting my favorite foundation. In the Out The Box section I’ll be announcing some news on an upcoming project.

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I can’t do a post in March without focusing on women. While there are a host of topics affecting women today, I decided to spotlight women of strength in fiction that I’d love to be like when I grow up!

I’ve praised this author (well married couple) before, but Ilona Andrews has created a real heroine in Kate Daniels. A magically talented mercenary living in an alternate world Atlanta, Georgia. She is fearless and saves the day every time. I knew this series was for me when she went to get some fried chicken (it was really a chicken box) but had to put it down to fight a monster. Eats fried food and defends the world? My Gal!

Michonne from The Walking Dead. She makes me want to learn to fence (or sword fight). She’s fearless and protective. If the zombie apocalypse comes, I’m following her. And in movies, Danai Gurira, is also super tough as the head of Black Panther’s, Wakanda Army.[image error]

Elisabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Just an overall great character especially when you consider the time period that Jane Austen wrote this. She wasn’t all about finding a man 24/7. Although she still wanted love, she had other goals and didn’t put up with crap. And if you are a fantasy/horror girl like me, read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (also a movie) to mix a little chick lit with horror.

Any female lead in the Alien movies but we will focus on Ripley. She stays, she fights, she doesn’t back down. If I were faced with any of these situations I’d run screaming. Sorry family and friends, if you get snatched by an Alien, I’ll tell your story but probably won’t come and find you. Fighting monsters is not my calling. [image error]

I don’t read science fiction much but when I do, it’s Octavia E. Butler. I’ve just about read all of her books and am super excited that Ana Duvernay is turning one of her books into a series. Mind of My Mind has to be my favorite book of hers. An underdog, telepathic girl from the ghetto rising up against the bad guys. I’m here for it. I’d recommend The Patternmaster series overall. Very sad that the literary world lost such a powerful black, female writer with an “out the box” mind.

Wonder Woman. I feel like this is self explanatory but I will say I loved the interpretation of her in the recent movie. She was strong, determined, protective, but yet still emotionally vulnerable (and not just over a guy). [image error] here!