Travel and Lifestyle Blog
It is safe to say that most of us have picked up a new hobby or two during this pandemic. My husband and I have dabbled into gardening. We have a fruit, herb, and vegetable garden in our backyard. We are also preparing to plant some perennials, a few annuals, and a pygmy palm tree… Continue reading Five Ways to Delve into a New Hobby
I have been fortunate to be able to travel to various parts of the world. Traveling awakens many dormant areas in our imagination. It is liberating. It aids in self discovery. It is necessary. To date, I have uncovered 11 countries. Some of them multiple times. I have been to Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Africa, The… Continue reading Highlights of a World Traveler
Have you ever wondered how it feels to love like God? I sure have. I think the closest I can come to experiencing that type of love is the love I have for my baby. One positive thing this pandemic has done is given us more time. We have more time to think. Time to… Continue reading Agape Love: The Greatest Type of Love
There is constant debate over whether intellectual quotient (IQ) is more important than emotional quotient (EQ). They serve different purposes. They can be seen as skills you either have or you don't. In truth, both categories of intelligence can be nurtured. Someone's intellectual quotient measures their ability to perform well on standardized tests according to… Continue reading Intellectual Quotient Versus Emotional Quotient
It is important that we become strong and whole individuals for various reasons. It is also paramount that we have a healthy grip on our sense of self-concept before we settle down with a mate. Doing so aids us in putting our best foot forward. Seven Things To Do Before Settling Down Travel Traveling is… Continue reading Seven Things To Do Before Settling Down
We can all agree that 2020 has been tumultuous so far. The coronavirus pandemic is impacting almost every area of our lives. The unemployment rate in the United States is at an all-time high. Black lives matter. We have a unique figure as Commander in Chief. Ultimately, we all need therapy. This year is a… Continue reading 2020: A Year of Cancelled Plans
Many recent high school graduates find themselves at a crossroad while deciding on their future academic journey. A gap year, also known as a sabbatical year, is one that is taken before or after college/university where students explore numerous developmental activities. Commonly, students travel nationally and/or internationally to heighten their intercultural knowledge. They learn several… Continue reading Benefits of Taking a Gap Year in a Pandemic
My dear friend makes a sacrificial decision to care for the ill each shift. Her grit, compassion, and passion for her vocation inspires me and others for sure. Not to mention, she beat breast cancer like a soldier. Kedly Desliens is a travel Intensive Care nurse currently contracted in San Jose, CA. I decided it… Continue reading Conversations with a Front Line Nurse
When most people recollect home economics class, they remember building a birdhouse or parenting a lifelike baby that cried and wet their diaper. Although home economics is no longer a widely offered course, it is an important field of study. Mainstream public school curriculum, especially in the western hemisphere, lack the inclusion of pertinent life… Continue reading The Seven Key Areas of Home Economics
It can be difficult to imagine that we can set goals during these tough times but it is possible. Our world is changing. Drastically. With all of the novel political and professional changes, restrictions, new routines, and procedures, we have to forecast that some of those changes will be permanent. Even after things restore, whenever… Continue reading Setting Goals During a Pandemic
Experiencing an epidemic as life-threatening as the coronavirus can give anyone severe anxiety. So much is unknown. How much longer will we have to deal with this? How many more deaths will there be? What will result from long periods of isolation/social distancing? Anxiety in these times is completely normal. There are many manners we… Continue reading Ways to Cope with the COVID-19 Epidemic
There are a few myths behind defining people with alpha personalities. One serious myth about having an alpha personality is that the person has to be outlandish. People with alpha personalities typically are congenial and down to earth. After all, they do not have to try to be alphas. They are simply made that way.… Continue reading Traits of an Alpha Male/Female
When it comes to organization, there is a saying that goes: Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. -A.A. Milne Personally, I am at my best when things and my life in general are organized. It helps me concentrate, plan and… Continue reading How to be More Organized
I love date night and my husband and I love going on double dates as well! One of our favorite couples is my husband's brother and our sister-in-love. We always have a great time together with lots of intense laughs. One recent double date was to Wild Animal Safari in Pine Mountain, GA. We found… Continue reading Date Ideas From A to Z
The Bay Area in California became our home post my husband receiving an employment offer from a reputable company. What a career-defining opportunity! In preparation for the move, I did some intensive research and browsed Pinterest to learn more about what I should expect from living in the most expensive area in the nation. I… Continue reading Minimalism in Silicon Valley
For a nation as powerful as the United States, it is absurd that there is no federal law that guarantees paid maternity leave. The United States leaves the option to offer parental leave in the hands of employers. The Family Medical Leave Act provides some assistance but it is a rather ungenerous law. The FMLA… Continue reading The Sad Truth About Maternity Leave in America
I often wonder how interesting it is to see animals breed, co-exist, and die as they were created to experience. It is also inspiring to see how, from their genetic makeup, they are completely equipped to survive in their natural habitat and withstand certain weather conditions. It is intriguing how even their coat protects them… Continue reading Five Ways to Tap into Your Toolbox
I completed my undergraduate studies online at Ashford University. I thank God for guiding me through that rewarding journey. I majored in English and also majored in Political Science and Government. The most memorable aspect of my asynchronous learning experience was being able to make the world my classroom. During those four years, I completed… Continue reading Highlights of My Academic Journey
Feng shui, a minimalistic decorating technique, is a Chinese geomancy. Essentially, it exercises architecture as it relates to harmonious ties between humanity, the earth, and the firmament. Feng shui is also known as qi, pronounced chi. Implementing Feng shui in any space involves being intentional of item placement, their symbolism, and associated color patterns. Feng means… Continue reading The Art of Feng Shui and Minimalism
Motivational messages enlighten, teach, and help one create new affirmations. I enjoy listening to motivational messages. I create various playlists on Youtube and I download podcasts of inspirational thoughts. I consider myself to be pretty self-motivated but I welcome and can always use a pick me up. We all can. Photo by Ylanite Koppens on… Continue reading The Power of Motivational Messages
There are plenty of ways to make extra money these days. This social-media-centric world presents ample opportunity for people to boost their income with minimal physical labor. Whether you want to make extra money to pay off debt, save for future purchases, or just to beef up your bank account, there are opportunities galore. Traditional… Continue reading Ten Creative Ways to Make Extra Money
Indulging in products from various parts of the globe is what I enjoy most about shopping at the farmer's market. My go-to items include plantains, whole pineapples, fresh buffalo wings, whole red snapper, and mangoes. In metro-Atlanta, the Dekalb Farmer's Market doubles as a tourist attraction and one of the largest indoor farmer's markets in Georgia.… Continue reading Ten Benefits of Shopping at a Farmer’s Market
My husband and I ventured out to Houston, Texas for a few days to explore the Lone Star state. We booked our trip only two days in advance because we considered a few other destinations as well. I analyzed CheapTickets to compare prices among airlines and saw that Spirit Airlines had the most competitive pricing… Continue reading Howdy, Houston!
Friends and family may think they have your best interest at heart when they share their opinions but at times, they may not and can give dogmatic, unsolicited advice. It is wise to make decisions based on your own research, values, and belief system than to simply follow someone else's advice. After all, you are… Continue reading Unsolicited Advice
Does it bother you when someone has the hiccups but the person does nothing about it? It drives me insane. What about slurping sounds? Loud chewing? I must say I have a mild case of misophonia. Misophonia is denoted as a dislike of certain sounds. Misophonia is typically associated with sounds such as the bodily noises… Continue reading Misophonia
What's a better way to conquer one's fear of heights than to go tandem skydiving? I made that commitment a few summers ago and it was an exhilarating feat! Juston and I purchased a Groupon for a two-person tandem skydiving experience at the Chattanooga Skydiving Company in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The deal even included a video. Tandem skydiving… Continue reading Tandem Skydiving in Chattanooga, TN
Decluttering Your Space, Declutters Your Soul - Love The adage, '"Less is more" is a declaration that the minimalistic approach is effective. There are numerous manners to exercise minimalism and other techniques of living through the principles of harmony and energy flow. I find when my environment is free of jumble, I am able to… Continue reading Decluttering Your Space, Declutters Your Soul
Miami, Florida is one of the most unique tourist destinations in the world! Its tropical weather, stupendous beaches, picturesque night scene, and international ambiance add to its pristine character. My friend, Anica, is getting married so I decided to make a weekend getaway out of going to celebrate her upcoming nuptials. Anica's other girlfriends and… Continue reading MIA in MIA
I have been privileged to work alongside my infectious friend, Ankhet Amber Williams, Founder of The Art of Esteem. Her non-profit organization was created to bridge a gap between the standardized western school curriculum and essential life skill development. The Art of Esteem educates students on building their self-esteem, self-worth, and overall emotional IQ through… Continue reading The Art of Esteem
A canon represents works of fiction among a franchise's fictional world which are categorized as things that "actually occurred" within the fictional world they are a part of. Kate Chopin’s, "The Story of an Hour" explains how a work of literature becomes part of the canon by its fit in the Realism literary period. “The Story… Continue reading The Making of a Canon
Some pre-planning before traveling can make your trip go seamlessly. When planning for a trip, several weeks before, make a list of what you will need to travel with. Government Documentation/ID Ensure your personal documents (passport, visa, driver's license, etc) are in order. It is ideal to make photocopies of your passport, visa, personal ID, and… Continue reading How to Prepare for a Trip
My husband and I embarked on a week-long exploration in Morocco, Africa. We purchased a steal, all-inclusive, Groupon deal. I typically schedule a few tours or excursions for our trips but this one was exceptional. It included a comprehensive itinerary for the entire trip which allowed us to uncover the beautiful country succinctly. DAY 1… Continue reading Majestic Morocco
Having great credit can be synonymous with having power. It is essential to maintain good credit to seize lucrative opportunities that may not be available otherwise. If your credit is poor, it is never too late to begin the journey to credit repair. Several years ago, my credit was below standard. It was primarily due… Continue reading Credit Repair 101
Emily Dickinson was a prolific and reserved writer. Her style of writing left the reader responsible to dissect the underlying meanings within her writing as her word choices included ambiguity, symbolism, and art. In "Through the Dark Sod" the reader learns of the historical background hidden in the work as the title alone leaves the… Continue reading Historical Criticism on “Through the Dark Sod” by Emily Dickinson
I speak three languages fluently. I learned to speak Haitian-Creole, English, and French, in that order. I am developing my grasp of Spanish.My most rewarding volunteer experience was cooking with my husband and sister in law at the Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta, Georgia.I have been skydiving. It was an exhilarating feat! The most interesting… Continue reading 25 Fun Facts About Me
She knew the power of her mind so she programmed it for success! -Carrie Green I first learned about the law of attraction when I read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne over a decade ago. The book reveals manners to attract what one desires. The law of attraction highlights that things are experienced because they are… Continue reading The Law of Attraction and Money
Dear Couples, My advice to you for a healthy relationship is to practice communicating effectively, to self-disclose often, develop strategies for listening to each other, place God in the center of your relationship, manage interpersonal conflicts, among other things in order to maintain a great understanding of each other. Effective interpersonal interaction is a rewarding… Continue reading Letter of Advice
Here, I critique one of my favorite movies, The Notebook. The film The Notebook was directed by Nick Cassavetes in 2004. It is based on a novel with the same title by Nicholas Sparks. The Notebook is a romantic drama film. It is about the love story of a couple who come from polarized backgrounds. Movies… Continue reading Movie Critique: The Notebook
Intelligence is defined as the capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and like forms of mental activity. Howard Gardner’s theory on intelligence focuses on the multiple separate sources within the human brain to support learning. He believes that learning is rooted in biological sources and cultural sources. The significance of Gardner’s multiple intelligences is that it… Continue reading Multiple Intelligences
What is a Spiritual Retreat? A spiritual retreat is what one makes of it but it is designed to be an intentional time one spends connecting with God. A spiritual retreat can be executed near or far. Even in one’s home. Why Go on a Spiritual Retreat? God is omnipresent, right? Yes. God is. Going… Continue reading My Hawaiian Spiritual Retreat
Haiti has an undeserving reputation of being a destitute and unwelcoming country. The Haitian culture is rich. Rich of natural resources such as coffee and sugar. Rich of sculpted mountain ranges. Rich of beautiful and resilient people. To be rich is not just about its financial connotation. Richness is abundance. I am a Haitian-born immigrant. I was… Continue reading Haiti: The Unknown
Inspiration comes from many sources. Music. Film. People. Religion. Spirituality. Travel. Food. Inspiration leads to inventions, self-development, creation, and even meditation. My favorite quotes, poem excerpts, and biblical scriptures inspire me to live my best life while vibrating at the highest frequency. They also put things in perspective and serve as a reference mechanism for… Continue reading Quotes that Galvanize my Spirit
My outlook on life has changed forever! Literally! I got Lasik to correct my nearsightedness! What a remarkable experience! I have been contemplating the procedure for some time. I decided to undergo the operation to be independent of contacts and eyeglasses. Lasik eye surgery is the technology for improving the eyesight of qualified individuals for… Continue reading My Lasik Procedure
Thrifting has become a norm among millennials, baby boomers, and everyone in between. "Finding treasure" is colloquially used to describe finding great articles in thrift stores. As a minimalist and fashion-lover, I find thrifting fun and adventurous. I often leave the store thrilled and inspired. I explored Park Avenue Thrift Store recently. They are known to have… Continue reading How to Treasure Hunt
My girlfriend Fonda and I were having brunch in Atlanta, GA late December 2015 when she suggested we do something exciting before the new year. I suggested we go skydiving but it was obviously too cold for such an excursion. I told her that I have always wanted to take a ballroom, salsa, or African… Continue reading How I Met My Husband
What Is Narcissism? A narcissist is someone who is deeply self-absorbed. Think of Narcissus in Greek mythology. When a mother is narcissistic, she is unable to nurture her child(ren). She is incapable of being empathetic, show compassion, care, and love. She has unreasonable expectations of receiving special treatment. She automatically expects requests she makes to… Continue reading Healed: Daughter of a Narcissistic Mother
Traveling in the new epoch is no longer considered a luxury. There are many ways to travel for cheap or even free. I have been fortunate enough to travel domestically and to various parts of the world. Traveling is a necessity. It broadens our horizon while exposing the mind, body, and spirit to novel adventures.… Continue reading How to Travel on a Budget