Travel & Leisure

I recently took a trip to New York, The Empire State to celebrate a friends birthday! Its amazing how different things are on the east coast. I had a blast and enjoyed myself on the mini vaca for the most part. My travel buddies and I experienced a few bumps in the road with scheduling and getting lost in the city where dreams are made of.

As a result of limited time and other factors we were not able to participate in all the activities that were originally planned. This got me to thinking, how can you travel with others and appease everyone at the same time staying on schedule with a small amount of time. Or would it be better to roll solo?

I traveled to Cancun, Mexico a few years ago and had a ball! I had an itinerary of activities and really immersed myself in the culture. I suppose this can be done in a group which is better for travel especially in a foreign country. So ladies and gents, the next time you are planning a get away with friends I suggest you come up with an itinerary for activities that everyone can agree with and a strict schedule that must be kept!!!

Leave me a comment letting me know your thoughts on group travel when working with a limited amount of time.

The Bluest Eye

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and only goes skin deep. Nonetheless, different societies have different standards of beauty. For instance in Iran the perfect nose is an ideal one, in parts of Africa fat is considered pleasing to the eye. However for some beauty becomes an obsession! Americans obsess over being thin and "perfect" through having multiple plastic surgeries.

In Southeast Asia fair skin is associated with wealth, beauty and social status. This also appears to be true in many black communities as well. It reminds me of author Tony Morrison's book, The Bluest Eye. The novel highlights a young girls life in 1941 and her upbringing in a poor black family.

Pecola and the Breedloves see themselves as ugly because they have dark-skin and "nappy" hair. As a result of their low self image they are perceived as ugly by others. As the story progresses Pecola becomes intrigued by Maureen Peel a pretty "high-yellow girl" that everyone from teachers to the boys are smitten by. In the book, Pecola and others place a high emphasis and praise on having fair skin.     


Self image is a very strong factor in others perception of beauty. Although society places high standards on image/beauty its important to know who you are and to stay true to your self at all times.

Brown Skin... You know I Love Your Brown Skin...