Steal My Itinerary

The European Summer i’ve always dreamed of finally came true and i’m here to share all the details with you! lol I didn’t mean to make that rhyme but I truly want to share all the intimate details of my trip including food, transportation, accommodations and tips while you frolic around Italy. I had such a great time and I hope that my sharing inspired you to live the Italian dream too!

Although stunning and a dream, this trip was not one for the weak! The walking, bus, planes, and trains were a-lot, but so worth it in the end! You want to make sure your in Italy long enough to explore different cities and visit landmarks and hidden gems. I feel like our 6 day trip wasn’t enough time but i’ll cover that more later on!

Day 1 started in Rome after a 10 hour flight from Atlanta leaving on a Wednesday night and arriving Thursday morning around 11:35am. Getting through the airport took about an hour and thirty minutes and then we took the train from the airport to Rome city center. The first airbnb we checked into was called The Kosmo. The building is beautiful and filled with Italian charm which also comes with an original elevator in which we got stuck in on our first day! It took about 45 minutes for the fire truck to arrive and get us out but they were very nice and the airbnb host made sure to check on us the entire time (if you want to see this live in action, be sure to watch the vlog). By the time we were released from the elevator we didn’t have much time to explore. We did dinner at Tonnarello which was delicious and then we wondered around the Trastevere area which has many different restaurants and shops.

Day 2 was suppose to be a travel day but because we hadn’t explored much of Rome we decided to stay and do a tour of the colosseum and a cooking class. We booked the Colosseum tour through Headout bookings via Discover Rome Tours the night before and it was a super easy process. You check out online and show up in person and the rest is handled for you! After the tour we went to our cooking class also booked through Headout Bookings Via Cook and Eat Rome. It was a little difficult to find but once we got there our teacher Alfons was delightful! We made pasta and tiramisu and at the end of the class we were seated on the patio to indulge in the delicious meal we made. The experience is like no other and I highly recommend both activities.

Day 3 we took the 7am train to Milan which was very relaxing and peaceful! I Booked this train ticket the first day in Italy but if you know for a fact you’ll need to catch the train a certain day and time I would suggest getting the tickets early! Sometimes the coach seating is sold out and you have to buy a more expensive ticket or get whatever is available. When we arrived in Milan we took a 5 minute walk over to the hotel “Star Hotel Echo“. This hotel has a beautiful aesthetic and we enjoyed a delicious buffet style breakfast before leaving the next day. Milan was a hit the ground running city for us because we were only there for 1 day. Out first stop was to grab a quick bite to eat at Pizza Big. They have a-lot of different options and was just a couple blocks away from the hotel. The next stop was the Duomo and shops where we did some shopping and sight seeing. This area is usually crowded but was also a sight to see! We then met up with our friends who live in the area and they took us to an area about 40 minutes from Milan called Monza. It’s a quaint town with shops and restaurants and it gives a more intimate feel! We had dinner at Casa Caprese in a beautiful alley way with the light shining in. The food was delicious, honestly some of the best dishes we had while in Italy. Milan is beautiful but I felt a day was just enough to see the sights.

Day 4 was a travel day from Milan to Amalfi Coast. We took a flight from Milan to Naples via ITA Airways. Our flight was delayed an hour which caused us to miss our connecting shuttle in Naples. I pre booked the shuttle through Pin Tour Bus which is a very affordable method of getting to Amalfi coast. If you take a taxi you will be charged 10 times the price of the shuttle. Naples has a small airport but there is a couple of places to eat. We ate at the pizza spot while we waited a couple hours for the next shuttle to come.

***If your tight on time and have no room for error an easier way to get to Amalfi is taking the train from Milan to Salerno and taking a ferry from Salerno to Amalfi Coast.

After a hour and thirty minute bus ride we made it to Amalfi coast! So beautiful and lively! Our airbnb Antica Residenza Amalfitana was just up the stairs from the city center Piazza Duomo and the cathedral. There was 70 stairs to climb but it wasn’t too bad! We had a huge balcony with stunning views of the buildings and we could also see the ocean off to the side. The room was a comfortable sleep and there is plenty of restaurants and shops just footsteps out your door.

Day 5 was all about exploring the coast of Amalfi! We got a bite to eat at Bistrot F.lli Pansa just right in front of the Duomo Steps. We then rented a boat through Jackboats.it and we went out for 3 hours. The boat provided drinks on board and made stops along the way! The first stop was the Grotta dello Smeraldo which is a natural cave found by a fisherman in the 1930s. Entry was 10 euros per person and it’s such a neat experience. The next stop was lunch at La Gavitella beach club! Although a little pricey, the food was delicious and views are breathtaking. We then took some photos in front of the beautiful bridge and by the time we knew it, out 3 hours were up! If your going to swim I would advise you to book for 4 hours or more. After a much needed nap we went for pizza at Donna Stella under the lemon trees and fairy lights and everything was delicious!

Day 6 we took our talents to Positano for breakfast at Hotel Marincanto. We took a short 30 minute ferry over and the view as soon as we pulled up was just stunning! I wish I had stayed in Positano and visited Amalfi Coast. Positano was just that much more beautiful from the views, the beach front, and the buildings,I was blown away! After breakfast it was time to travel back to Rome. From Amalfi we took the ferry to Salerno, and from there we took the train to Rome. The train station was a short walk from the ferry port so no need to get an Uber.

Our hotel when arriving in Rome was called Cavour Luxury Rooms. This room features a beautiful walk out balcony with table and chairs. There’s are work on the ceiling and the place was decorated very nicely! This room caters to the Italian aesthetic for sure (check out the vlog for a room tour)! We spent out final moments eating in Rome and we woke up early on Day 7 to visit the Trevi fountain. Shortly after, we packed up and headed back to the airport on the train.

Italy was everything I expected it to be and more! The food was delicious, the sites were more gorgeous in person, and it such an experience. This was one of the best trips I’ve taken and I cannot wait to go back! Make sure you tune in to the vlog for more intimate moments from the trip!

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I think I should start off by saying, there is so much trauma rooted in relaxers and until black women can realize the growth of the community as a whole, people won’t be able to see it any different.

Relaxing 10 years ago looks much different than relaxing now. And in my opinion that change wouldn’t be possible without the evolution of black hair over the years. The appreciation of my natural hair makes it easier to stretch my relaxer which in turn allows me to relax 2-3 times a year. This is far less than I use to relax and just that change alone, has made my hair Journey much more pleasurable.

We now have a plethora of black hair products to choose from which caters to the needs of black hair in which we didn’t have before. 

The process in which I relax now gives me the freedom to apply the relaxer in a more efficient amount of time which prevents relaxer burns. I’ve been able to cut my total processing time down to 15 minutes in total. I love the texture left in my hair and the results are perfect every-time.

Salons back in the day had a goal of getting the hair straight. My personal goal now is to leave a kinky straight texture so that it’s easy for me to transition from straight styles to textured styles. 

No one gives black women enough credit. Going natural or relaxing is a choice. I’ve taken my hair Journey into my own hands and I’ve made it look how I want and that’s powerful. Black women are being more open with stylist on how they want their hair to look and we now have the products and knowledge to get our desired look no matter what.

So no, we aren’t stuck in the time zone 10-15 years ago still doing the same bad habits that were done back then. Just like a-lot of things in this world, the relaxer process has evolved. The process has changed, there’s more education, and the girls no longer conform to old relaxer standards.

If you like this discourse and want to dive a bit deeper, I’ll link the corresponding video below!

I hope you’ve enjoyed, until next time!

-Do what you love, love what you do.

Due to the crazy climate of the world, my last international trip was 2019, to Belize. I was due for a new experience and I couldn’t wait to embark on the journey to Bali, Indonesia! I can’t lie, I’ve never been on a flight more than 5 hours so I definitely had anxiety leading up to it but, experiencing Bali was so worth it and I’d do it again! So let’s get into the good stuff.

If your looking for flights to Bali and the price is alarming don’t worry, the flight is the most expensive piece of the trip. Once your there, things are very affordable and I actually survived 5 days in Bali off of $350! (Including food, excursions, and transportation.)

Our first Villa host (we had two airbnbs) was kind enough to pick us up from the Airport and be our driver the entire time while in Bali. Kadek (our driver) was such a pleasure and he helped us decided on excursions and the best things to do during our stay. We had floating breakfast our first morning which was delicious and a flower bath there waiting. The service in Bali is always top tier, everyone is so professional and they get the job done. We didn’t have to clean or lift a finger, it felt like a true vacation.

We booked our Second Villa to experience something more luxurious for one day during our time in Bali. It was a great choice and also a way to save money. We had a private chef at the second location for dinner and woke up to floating breakfast once again. This is a must in Bali because it super affordable and such a cute way to wake up and enjoy food. Even if you don’t want to venture outside of your normal eating Bali has a great selection of food, honestly anything you may want they have!

We did many excursions and activities including:

• Monkey Forest
• Coffee + Tea tasting at Uma Pakel
• Tegalalang Rice Terrace
• Cretya UBUD
• Body Works Spa, Seminyak Bali
• Atlas Beach Fest

Everything was so affordable with such a luxe experience I was blown away! Bali was the experience of a lifetime and I cannot wait to go back again! If you’d like to know more about the trip including prices and specifics just let me know! Ill make a followup blog post to this one! For me, this year has been about new experiences and living life to the fullest. I hope this inspires you to do the same. Thanks for reading!

I Hope you’ve enjoyed, until next time.

-Do what you love, love what you do.

It’s funny because I wasn’t even trying to pay my car off before the 72 month mark. In fact, when I first got my car I was nervous about having a car payment and I didn’t know how things would go. Fast forward to October 2022 I was able to pay off the remaining balance and officially have paid off my first personal car. This process was pretty seamless and I wanted to tell you all how I did it!

Before 2019, I never had a car payment before. My step dad gave me my first car and my mother gave me my second. Both were paid off and all I had to do was pay the car insurance which was pretty sweet. At the end of 2018 I decided I wanted to move to Atlanta and being that I would drive back and forth from Florida to Georgia I needed a reliable car. I ended up getting my 2017 Hyundai Santa fe in January 2019 and just days after my other car clucked out on me! I figured it could have only been God who put on my spirit to get a safe and reliable car. This also gave me peace of mind about paying the payments because at the time I was super scared about acquiring a new bill.

So How Did I Do It?

As I stated before, I had no intentions on paying my car off early but my mom put a bug in my ear to pay an extra $20 a month. I know this might sound small but it actually made a difference. After about 12 months my payment was $0 because I was ahead but I continued to pay as usual.

Next, I got excited seeing my balance decrease and it made me want to pay more. Shout out to Ally Financial for giving me my first car loan, Their website interface made seeing my progress so easy. It tells you the percentage of your payment progress and every little detail of your car loan is on the home page for you to see clearly. This includes your original balance, APR, loan term, remaining payments, contract start date, finance charges, and more. This display made it easy for me to understand my loan and also motivated me to pay more and knock out my loan. I went from paying $20 more to paying $100 more and in October 2022 I paid the remaining balance in full.

My Advice

-Never bite off more than you can chew, get a car note that you can afford comfortably so that you have the option to pay more if you want.

-Small extra payments can save you hundreds of dollars on interest and have you on the way to an early pay off date.

-Getting an extended warranty is helpful but if you sell your car before paying it off you can ask the company for the remaining funds you didn’t use since you don’t have the car anymore.

-Lastly, if you can’t make extra payments it’s okay. Most of us need our cars to get from point A to point B and that’s what’s most important. Having a car is a blessing and making you payments on time is whats most important.

I go into more detail in my youtube video. I give actual amounts, screen shots, and more spot on advice so if you want more on this topic subscribe and meet me over on Youtube! Thanks for reading.

I hope you’ve enjoyed, until next time.

-Do what you love, love what you do.

These days I love using Aloe as a pre-poo. Either Ill use the natural plant or when I’m feeling lazy I’ll use the African pride pre-poo. Many of you may be wondering what is a pre-poo? Would it benefit me? Why would I have to prep my hair before washing it? Well this post is going to give you all the answers and help you decide if pre-pooing is for you!

Detangle & Reduce Breakage

A Pre-poo is just that. A mixture put on your hair before washing it that conditions your strands before going into the shampoo process. Sometimes my hair is extremely dry before wash day. If Ive had a protective style in for a good length of time then it’s tangled too! Going in before hand with a Aloe mixture helps to melt those tangles away and moisturizes my strands before clarifying. Some shampoos can be stripping and dry your hair out. So just imagine, going in with dry hair to then shampoo and make it even worse? This is where the goodness of a pre-poo comes in to give your hair protection. You’re going into wash day with a head start. The aloe lubricates your strands which makes detangling much easier and moisturizes the strands which decreases the chance of breakage. This makes for a smooth transition into wash day.

Reduce Wash Time

Wash day can sometimes take 2 hours! I know most black women can relate to this because our hair definitely needs TLC with a lot of attention to detail! Just the initial wet down alone can take 10 minutes. Especially for my normal to low porosity tresses, the water takes more time than normal to penetrate the strands in preparation for wash day. Doing a pre-poo can cut down on time in the shower and your strands will already be expanded and ready to take in the goodness of washday.

Enhance Texture

Before I started pre-pooing I didn’t know how much texture my hair really had. A Aloe pre-poo will make your curls pop, your waves pop, or whatever texture you never knew you had will guarantee to POP when using it. This is especially great for women who love wash & go’s because using a pre-poo will condition and moisturize your texture and the results will be super defined. Your hair will be left soft and manageable and like me, you’ll never go a wash day without your pre-poo.

Adding a pre-poo to your hair journey regimen is really top tier. To me, this step is considered a luxury and I wish that all women of color allow their hair to experience the goodness of an Aloe pre-poo. I promise you’ll love it!