Taking in the Creole influenced delicacies of the region has become a priority when I travel to New Orleans. This famous treat that is NOLA in dessert form — bananas, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, rum, banana liqueur and vanilla ice cream. While the liquor burns off quickly, the dish flares up creating a show that draws you into the enticing dessert that pays homage to the sweet legacy of New Orleans’ once-booming banana trade….
Read More
Fireworks as we cruise the Mississippi River
Going With The Flow In The Big Easy
What’s New Orleans without music? Pure NOLA, the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Cruise offered us the perfect opportunity to step back into the glamour and romance of the riverboat era. After a lavish Creole Buffet in the ship’s classically adorned dining room….
Read More
Making Waves At Palm Beach's Pinkest Brunch Destination
The shimmery Art Deco chandelier that greeted us in the lobby sparkled beautifully against the soft coral & seafoam accents. Wearing my vintage “cat eye” sunnies, I was channeling Dorothy Dandridge and Marilyn Monroe with each stride down the palm tree lined vintage hallway that leads to the restaurant. Stepping onto the terrace, I entered an oasis where the pool sparkled like a sapphire under the afternoon sun…….
Read More
Lima, Peru
The Point Of View From Peru
Lima’s gorgeous, cliffside Malecon was one of my favorite places to feast on Peruvian cuisine in the Garden City. The views of Lima’s Costa Verde (Green Coast) are absolutely stunning! Stretching for several kilometers high above the Pacific Ocean in Miraflores, the Malecon has several different parks. One of the highlights of strolling the esplanade along the waterfront was our visit to the Parque del Amor (Park of Love) where we encountered the huge sculpture called El Beso (The Kiss), depicting the artist smooching his wife…...
Read More
Walking through a vineyard with a friend
Connecting Peaks & Valleys In Oregon
I still haven’t made it to Seattle, but it turns out Oregon has made it to the top of my list as one of my favorite go-to spots for a girls’getaway! We quickly discovered that the walkable “city of roses” has some of the best places to play, eat, sip and shop. A mecca of urban gorgeousness and “droolworthy” cuisine, the Portland food scene is definitely winning……
Read More
U-shaped bar with red velvet chairs
The Chandelier Looming Over Motor City
Looming over the curved marble bar top, we were drawn to the Candy Bar’s stunning vintage Murano glass chandelier as soon as we pulled back the beaded trim velvet curtain. Composed of 670 individual glass pieces, the 880 lbs. statement piece was purchased in Paris…
Read More
Long-tail boat navigating the waterways of Bangkok
Hover As A Cloud In Bangkok
Dusk had crept up on us after a day of exploring the largest city in “the land of smiles” via candy pink tuk-tuks and cruising its famous canals. After a few days of exploring the gilded temples and palaces of the swarming metropolis, we were determined to spend our last evening in Bangkok checking out the city’s flickering lights from a glass bridge with the most stunning rooftop view from the 63rd floor….
Read More
Ana Caban teaching in Tokyo
When Your Inner Eye Beams Brightly Beyond Borders
Ana Caban is a shining example of how purpose is an incredible alarm clock. Currently based in Los Angeles; she has traveled to Mexico, Japan and throughout Europe as a celebrity Pilates instructor. Featured in Harper’s Bazaar Japan, People en Espanol, Fitness Magazine and Telemundo; Ana doesn’t sit down and wait for opportunities….
Read More
Any Home Is A Castle When Your Soul Is Royalty
Boldt Castle’s grand spires rise up like a cathedral and soar above the tranquil waters of the St. Lawrence River. As I walked into the foyer of this restored, but not fully renovated 120 room castle, my eyes were immediately drawn upwards towards the ornately adorned stained glass dome! I felt as though I was stepping back in time as I glided down the grand staircase towards the marble floor….
Read More
Pardon My French: Girls Trip Inspires Mom & Daughter To Build Global Brand
During our trip to France we visited two Champagne Houses as well as the Musee du Parfum. After witnessing these well-known, multi-generational brands we started thinking about our interests, what the market is missing as well as our legacy….
Read More
Me posing in my Jill Kelly Swimwear right before my mom spotted a Manta Ray that led to me making a quick exit out of the water. Modeled on traditional fishing structures, the overwater bungalow was invented in French Polynesia in the 1960’s on the island of Moorea.
Hip Hip Hooray The Tahitian Way
As one of the most powerful forms of storytelling around the globe, dance is so much more than entertainment. It makes you think in a way that provokes something in you. Full of passion and vitality; Tahitian dance is the most authentic reflection of Polynesian culture which has traditionally connected all aspects of Polynesian life (including celebration, prayer and storytelling). ….
Read More
Fiji Baecation: When Your Travel Styles Clash
Ah, the South Pacific…The name alone conjures up lavish images of palm trees whispering above finely powdered beaches and cerulean lagoons. It would have been nice to say that I spent a few nights sleeping in a “fale” (a simple open-air beach hut) to get the full South Pacific experience; but my trip to Fiji almost played out like an episode of Gilligan’s Island with me feeling stranded on a resort instead of a desert island….
Read More
One of my favorite dishes on the While We Were Young menu in the Fried Chicken & Kale Waffle.
The Pink List: When You Brunch Harder Than You Party
A tiny NYC restaurant that has strategically placed shades of pink in all the right places; I LOVE the vibes that While We Were Young sends out from the time you step through the door…it’s not the size of the space, but what you do with the space that tells the story . Because this is EXACTLY how I live my life, the space immediately caught my attention. Nestled in the city’s West Village, While We Were Young served our “pinktastic” squad a contemporary American brunch that was almost too pretty to chow down on…….
Read More
Bet On Yourself: You Are The Grand Prix
Built in 1863, the Casino de Monte-Carlo was at the top of my “must-see” list when I touched down in the miniscule country that is still ruled by the same royal family who took over in 1297. Surrounded by clusters of crystal chandeliers, illuminated frescoes and vintage gold painted ceilings; stepping through the casino’s doors felt like I was exiting a time machine….
Read More
Dhymond with classmate abroad
Peru Renew: Becoming A Global Citizen
Researching new ways to apply my basic knowledge of Spanish, I was immediately intrigued with how this exchange program (aka SHAEP) applied classroom teachings to the real world. After months of exchanging WhatsApp messages, it was excited to travel to Peru with 3 other exchange students…..
Read More
Tokyo Drive With A Side Of Harajuku
Tokyo is a far cry from being a cheap city, but when a last minute opportunity popped up earlier this year to visit the “land of the rising sun,” I knew I needed to jumped at the chance to finally have my time to bask in the sun while strolling beneath the world’s most coveted cherry blossoms……
Read More
Beach Babe or City Chick: Jersey Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Summer festivals are a great way to enjoy your own city, especially after a long week. When torn between hopping on a plane to escape your ordinary routine or staying local, having easy access to both New York City and the Jersey Shore definitely has it perks. While some people view the festival experience as being all about embracing the grimy/roughing out weekend elements, this Jersey girl found 4 glammed out summer events to explore…..
Read More
Lavish desserts at our decadent Dubai Brunch
Dubai Brunch: One Meal To Rule Them All
If you haven’t brunched in Dubai, you haven’t REALLY brunched! Sorry not sorry, but the brunch experience in Dubai is in a whole other opulent category…..
Read More
Taking the main transport on Hydra
It's All Greek To Me
We felt a physical and spiritual awakening as we explored the island’s 18th century port cutely arranged with family owned restaurants, streets that stepped back in time and cubist-like homes adorned with flowers. Choosing this tucked away destination allowed us to see Greece as locals do while creating special memories that bonded us in a way that may not have been possible in the more glammed destinations of Mykonos and Santorini…
Read More
Me on a banana farm in Martinique
Sink Or Swim: Gyal Not All Treasure Is Silver or Gold
Martinique is an enchanting little island that sits in the Caribbean Sea. An overseas department of France, the culture on this “Isle of Flowers” offers the perfect blend of French and West Indian influences. There is something nostalgic about being surrounded by water on calm and romantic oasis that is known for its breathtaking white-sand beaches…..
Read More