IberoStar Grand Rose Hall-Montego Bay, Jamaica

Hello Naturals!

So, I'm finally getting around to writing a post/review about our honeymoon...almost a year later... :-/ Oops! Better late than never,right? I wrote my original review on TripAdvisor, but I wanted to write a more in depth one on here.

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We stayed at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall Suites in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It was an all inclusive hotel and adults only on this side. (I should mention there are two other units that are designed for family vacations as well, in case you're planning on bring the little ones.) We stayed for 5 nights, 6 days in early October. Which really is a perfect time for traveling. The pool was not crowded so we did not have to compete with other guests for a spot, the weather was perfect, with the exception of the last full day we were there. 

(Our Room...please excuse our mess...we took pictures on our last day there)

 (The view from our balcony)

(The lobby piano bar)

(The grand stair cases leading to the pool area, as well as two of the many restaurants on site)

(Practically empty, it had finally stopped raining for a bit. It had rained so hard/much that while we were getting massages, the power went out and there was a little "flooding" at the base of that stair case)

(My husband's dinner. Lobster)

(I had these yummy flounder "rolls")

(The pool bar-usually pretty busy.)

(Us)

(Nightly entertainment by the "Star Friends"

(Bye-bye Iberostar! It was fun while it lasted, but we have more adventuring to do!) 

Pros: 

• With the exception of tipping the bell hops and your personal butler...yes, your own butler, you do not have to worry about paying for drinks at any of the bars or food at any of the restaurants. 
• You get your own butler..after my husband and I would finish with the evening activities, our evening butler had prepared a bubble bath with a bottle of champagne for us. (We're still trying to figure this one out because the water was still hot when we entered the room)
• Friendly staff...maybe too friendly....The Star Friends, their job is to make sure you have the drinks you need when lounging at the pool, tell you the daily activities and make sure you feel welcome during your stay.
• Excellent Service. Everyone was really friendly and really helpful and provided a list of activities for us to do away from the resort. (We did the Dunns River Tour, full day which included lunch, a history lesson provided by our excellent driver, snorkeling, climbing a waterfall and partying on the boat)
• Lots of activities to do. If you're the type of person who likes to stay active during your vacation, there are daily scheduled activities. We did yoga on our second day and my husband played boccie on the last day.
• Breakfast buffet that is out of the world. Fresh juices, fresh fruits, eggs made to order, different pastries, breads, milk, coffee, tea, pancakes...pretty much the works. 
• Lunch buffet that like above was out of this world. If you go, order the grouper it was amazing every time! This is located by the pool and they specialize in more fresh seafood dishes as well as some items that we might be more familiar with. Such as pizza, Chinese type food, red beans and rice...really a good mix of items to eat.
• Since we were there during the low season, not only was it cheaper, but we didn't have to compete to find a day bed or lounger, depending on what kind of mood we were in. 
• There are a few pools to pick from. The one furthest from the beach is the quietest. Perfect if you want to dip in the water occasionally and relax. The second pool is a little closer to the action and is a bit more crowded. The third pool features a volleyball net. And the fourth pool, closest to the beach, has the swim up bar and is certainly the party pool. (We mainly stayed at the first and second pools, we could still have drinks delivered to us)      
• They have an on site "grocery" store in case you forget or need any emergency items. They also have souvenir shops to pick up a gift or two for your loved ones, as well as any mementos you'd like to keep. They also have a boutique clothing shop, where I purchased a swim cover. 

Cons:

• Since we were there during their low season, there was a plethora of staff...so much so that while trying to relax by the pool 5 or more would come over, one after the other and try and get us to join in one of the daily activities. We didn't mind them saying "hi" and ask how we were doing, but that got old rather quickly.
• This is more weather related, but while my husband and I were getting our massages, it rained so hard that the power went out for several minutes. Afterwards, we went to the sauna and hot tubs. The sauna was nice, the hot tubs could've been, but they were all cold. (They're supposed to be at different temperatures, but they all felt the same)
• The room service food is just alright...after our spa visit, and since it was raining, we decided that we wanted to be a little lazy the rest of the day. So, we ordered room service. 

Tips:

• They do have a spa and salon facility, but that is extra money for those services. (However, the sauna, steam room and hot tubs are free to use)
• Room service is free 24 hours a day.
• The in room mini bar drinks are free and feature alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. 
• They require that you make dinner reservations on your first night there to ensure you have a seat. But really, there were extra tables and spaces.
• If you stay at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall Suites, you have access to all the other pools and dining facilities. If you you stay at the other two (family-in-mind resorts) you are limited to those grounds only. 

Overall, we loved our time there. By the end of it we felt it had gone too quickly. We met other couples who were staying for two weeks, but we felt that would have been too long at one resort. (If we decide to stay two weeks anywhere, we would move to a different resort/location to try something different) We would go back, but we also want to visit other islands in the Caribbean. I highly recommend this resort. 

Where are you headed? Pt. 2

Hello Naturals!

I'm back with the second part of my article about traveling. Last time I mentioned some important pre-travel steps and considerations. This is going to talk about the travel sites I use, as well as hair care tips while on vacation that I have used. (*Disclaimer. I am in no way affiliated with the companies that I mention in this post. They are my own opinions that I am sharing with you and my experience using those sites.)

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Now, everyone may have their favorite travel site that they use. From AAA.com, Hotwire.com, Priceline.com and the like. Like I mentioned in the first article, I more often than not see a destination I'm interested in on Pinterest. My first stpe is to do a quick internet search about the area (like a tourism board). Next, I like to check TripAdvisor.com. I rely on this site mainly because of the user reviews from things to do, places to stay and where to eat. It also gives me a chance to look at user posted pictures instead of just what management wants you to see. Some reviewers will even post tips about their stay that could be useful.

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Websites I use:
TripAdvisor.com: This is the first to second website that I like too look at when deciding on a place to stay. In each listing, they often have the contact information as well as the website of the property to look at any additional pictures or gather any additional information. (TIP: You don't need to sign up for this website to use and book, but it has given me a place to leave my reviews for others)
BedandBreakfast.com: I love this site. I used this to book our places where we stayed in Europe. Most of these are privately owned and DO include a meal and/or afternoon snack. This site features a search box, as well as an interactive map to find the destination of your choosing. This site also includes the property website as well as contact information. (TIP: You don't necessarily have to sign up to use this site. Often I booked directive with the personal website of the owner)
AirBnB.com: Works sort of like a "Craigslist" search in that you can type in a location of where you're heading and it will come up with a list of privately owned homes to stay in. What's ncie about this siteis that many list an option to rent just a room or the entire home. They also list the amenities included with your stay.  I will say that you have to look for specific ones that offer breakfast. More often than not, most listing do NOT include food. What's nice is that you can read reviews and tips AND get to read the profile of the person(s) you're staying with and determine if you would be a good fit. (TIP: You do have to sign up for this website in order to book your stay...it's free. If you do book, there is a "service fee")
Bookit.com: I used this site to book our honeymoon trip. This came by recommendation by a friend who used this site. I love this for any resort trip you may be planning. They have the option of just booking the hotel rooms or the package deal, which includes airfare. They often have promotional deals on their site, as well as trip giveaways on their Facebook page. Again, you can read traveler reviews about the hotel as well as tips. I think their strongest market is the Caribbean and Mexico (for all-inclusive stays). That's not to say they don't offer any other locations to stay, but those two areas have the type of accommodation that I'm looking for.  (TIP: You do not need to sign up to use this site in order to book. It gives you the option of paying by credit card/bank card and even PayPal)

(Source-She shares more in depth tips about swimming with natural hair) 

Hair care Tips:

When my husband and I went on our honeymoon, I had just done my big chop and though I had some length, I did not know what I was doing with my hair. I did make sure to wet my hair before going in the pool/ocean so as not to absorb too much chlorine and salt water. After each swim I would wash and condition my hair (with what the hotel provided...*head hung in shame*), but now I know better.

Previous trips I would get braids in and even when I had relaxed hair, I would swim, wash, condition and style and not have any issues. (When we went to the Outer Banks this summer, I had Senegalese Twists put in and that was the easiest, low maintenance hair choice so far)

I think the best bet is to buy your own travel sized containers and fill it with the products you know work well for your hair and to plan accordingly to what styles you will do while there. Being in a different country, they may not have the products you need/want readily available.

(Source-I just subscribed to her blog) 

And the most important thing about all this work: have fun, relax and enjoy the view of wherever your destination takes you. It's important to recharge and what's nice is that you can spend as much or as little as you'd like and/or comfortable with. It could be a short drive from your hometown or to somewhere faraway.

Until next time!

Where are you headed? Pt.1

Hello Naturals!

Today's article post will talk about some of my travel experiences and tips that I've gathered from my many years of traveling. I'm by no means an "expert"and will say that everyone's traveling may differ from what I've done, what booking sites I've used.With that being said, I'll dive right in!

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My trips usually begin with a thought, a picture and with the invention of Pinterest my brain is on travel overload. (I send myself e-mails and store them in my travel folder so I can go back, if we are serious about a destination...anyhoo..) From there I start researching the place to see if it would even be a good fit, not only for our personalities, but more importantly our budget (sooooo important!)

So you've finally picked the place you want to vacation. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

• The amount of people going directly corresponds to the budget you have set. You can decide to go over or under that, but be aware of any travel emergencies, missed connections, taxi fares or any unforeseeable things that may pop up...and they do. (Anecdote: My husband and I missed our flight from London to Chicago, despite having left our hotel at what we thought was an early enough time. The underground took about an hour to get to Heathrow. We had no choice but to book the next available flight, which added an additional and unexpected cost to our travel plans.)
• Your final destination, whether it be a country, state, city; there are many different areas in which you can stay. It might be good to determine if you're going to want to stay in just one location or travel around. Another option would be a day trip and then go back to the place where you're staying.
• It is imperative to have the correct identification for each person that is traveling. (Especially if you're flying. If you're driving to your destination, you may not need to go through this) In other words, your passport and appropriate visas to be able to travel to that destination. Visas require you send your passport to the embassy of the country you would like to visit. It is important to allow for processing time. (Anecdote: We have family friends in Brasil and since I was staying in their home, they had to write a letter to the embassy, identifying who they were, how long I would be staying as well as the reason for my visit as I was not staying in a hotel.)
• Are you going to stay in a hotel, bed and breakfast, hostel, with relatives or friends? Each has their pros and cons and that is something that you have to determine is right for you. (Anecdote: For the Europe trip I planned in 2010, I used Bed and Breakfasts;  in Paris, we stayed in a place that was more like a hostel and in London, we stayed in a hotel (but the rate included breakfast). They were outside of the touristy areas and staying with locals allows you to see something you may have otherwise missed.)

(We were in the nearby town of Frisole looking down on Florence at night. Our wonderful host Carla Ulivieri  suggested we go up there on our last night in the city. I wish this picture did the place justice. It was so wonderful. 

That is my review that I posted)

You have your passport and other appropriate travel documentation.  You know the place you're heading to. Now what?

• Are you planning on renting a car? Are you taking a cab? Are you driving to your destination? Flying? Are you taking a motor coach? Train? Subway system? (Anecdote: Since I was very young, 'til now my family and I have rented a car and driven to the Carolinas to visit family. Often times staying with relatives. Renting a car is a nice option to not put miles on your personal vehicle. While traveling in Europe, we used public transportation...with the exception of Paris on our last night. After he proposed to me under The Eiffel Tower, it was too late to take the subway back to our hostel, so we had to get a cab. We would spend the first day in a new place walking around and getting our bearings and studying the train/tram/metro lines.)
• If you're taking any form of public transportation, if it is outside your country of origin, it is important to make sure you have the correct currency for tips, tickets and/or fares. I like to check the exchange rate and/or currency converter of the place where I'm going to see where we would get a better deal. Most often we wait until we get to our final destination, if it's outside of the U.S., to exchange money.
• Some people in the past have recommending taking travelers checks. My only problem with that, is you cannot track how much you are spending and is often just easier to carry around your own currency to exchange as well as a credit card. 

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A big concern these days is luggage. With airlines charging for your first and/or second checked bag, it might be a good idea to consider ONLY carry-on. I find that is the easiest and most convenient thing. Depending on the destination, here's what I like to pack:

T-shirts (Black and one bright color)

Sweater (Not only for travel day, but if there's a cold evening)

Dress Shirt

Jeans

Yoga Pants (for travel day)

Dress Pants

Shorts (depending on the location and time of year)

Socks

Walking shoes

Dress Shoes

Underthings 

What's nice about having these pieces is that you can mix and match and depending on where you stay, you can wash your clothes. (Plus, the less you bring the more room you'll have for items that you would like to bring back from your destination. 

This is just the foundation of traveling. In the next article, I will be talking about what to do a month out from your trip to day of your trip, as well as what to expect at the airport. I will also include the travel sites that I use the most when booking our vacations. 

Until next time! 

Expect The Unexpected...

Hello Naturals!

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable Sunday. My post is a little off topic, but I wanted to talk about planning a head a little bit. Earlier this week I looked at my student loans statement. Since I decided to go back to graduate school, that meant new loans. Well, every so often I click on those new loans and it would read that nothing was due....yet....so, this week as I was making a payment on my smaller loan, when I just so happened to click on that other tab and came face to face with an incredibly large number due next month. I knew that loan would come up at some point, but it sure would have been nice to get some type of notification. (It completely caught me and my husband off guard). I don't know if I've stated this before, but it has been a real challenge to find school counseling work in the area where I live. There is high competition and no one wants to retire. A lot of the job descriptions state that you need 3+ more years of experience to even be considered. Needless to say that situation has become an even bigger concern. Since I couldn't go back in time and change my degree, I called the customer service department and spoke to a really wonderful and helpful woman about what I should do. She suggested that I lower the payments or defer. (I should mention that both options add much more to the loan in the long run, but I really didn't have a choice. I ended up applying for deferment while still paying the interest so that when the loan does become due, that is not added on. Well, I finally checked earlier this week and both of my loans have been deferred and I don't have to pay the interest!! (at least for another 6 months, at which time I hope to be working at a school or if not, then I'll see if I can apply for it again)

Another this is that we have a dog!

 Meet Darwin! He's a two and a half year old Bichon who is the cutest thing ever!

 The first day he was home, he was all out of sorts.

And extremely tired!

My husband and I talked about getting a dog, so this past Tuesday, I went to our local SPCA and must have spent a good two hours look at all the adoptable dogs. While there, I signed up for their "Pet Connect" program, where you pay 100 dollars, specify which type of dog you want and your case worker will call when they receive the type(s) you are looking for. So, I ended up leaving not really seeing anything and she had told me that it could take months to find. So, I'm in line at Panera when I receive a phone call and when I answered, she told me that one of the dogs I had listed has just come out of grooming. I could sense the urgency in her voice as she stated that many other people had noticed him and were asking about him. As another part of the program, they hold the dog in your name until you and all family members in your household visit with the dog. My husband ended up getting out of work early and next thing you know, we have a dog! (Was NOT expecting all of that to happen on one day). Thankfully we already have a fenced in yard for him to run around in, but it really has been an adjustment for us. I know it's a little different, but I can almost relate to what it's like to have a child in the home. He does something new everyday and we jump up and down at his accomplishments as he adjusts to his new home. 

We are not sure what will come next, and ideally we liked to be prepared for all of life's changes, but I think the most important thing from this is being able to roll with the unexpected, assess the situation and take a course of action you believe is right for you and your family. 

"Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy".
Lao Tzu

Until next time!

Not as it appears to be...

Hello!

So, this post is going to be about travel. Not very in depth as I will be working on one that will be. This is more a post to an article that I just read.

I love to travel. I always have and I always will. And coming across this article on Bloomberg has me seriously rethinking how I book our vacations. It also makes me wonder if all the people who have booked through Expedia and Travelocity are entitled to some type of recompense. The most concerning thing is that I've booked a stay through Starwood, but I went directly to their site and called them, rather than using an "Expedia" type website. (Still not sure if I've been "duped" or not)

I have noticed that when you compare with other travel sites, there is little to no difference in price. I've seen a hotel stay for example 450 for 3 nights at one so called discount site, and viewing another so called discount site it might be 449 for that same hotel, for the same number of nights. I do have a list of travel sites that I browse for ratings and reviews. (I will list those in my next article) Even before this article has come out, I've been thinking about supporting more bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels in the hopes that all the money we spend is eventually returned to the customer. I've been sitting on writing a "How to Travel" article and I think I need to change my approach to include staying away from the booking sites previously mentioned and that your best best might be working directly with the establishment. I need to do more research on that though.

Until next time!

 

My Love Affair with Hair Products...

Hello Naturals!

*Clears Throat* My name is Jennifer and I love hair products....

 (If you're unfamiliar with the term "pjism" it means product junkie)I'm always on the hunt and I mean always looking for hair products. (The closer to natural the better) I love trying things out to see how Selene, my hair, responds. I'm constantly searching YouTube videos of naturals and how they use products and how their hair looks after they are done. So, while watching one youtuber's  channel (she is from the UK and is in the process of transitioning) she interviews another lovely natural about the products she uses to create an amazing puff hawk. She mentions Original Moxie....*video paused* I immediately to an internet search for their products and find that they have products, not only designed for natural hair, but seem to contain only natural ingredients. On a side note, I recently used Aphogee's protein treatment and that did not leave my hair in the best of shape. I also just read a post that protein treatments MUST be followed up with moisturizing treatment, preferably a deep conditioning. I conditioned, and that made my hair feel a little better, but I think I might need a table top dryer.(Thankfully that is almost gone. I will most likely not use the rest of that) I'm also still on the hunt for a sulfate free shampoo for the days that I do need to wash my hair. (I washed it today with a sulfate shampoo and Selene was NOT happy! It's another case of using what we have before buying more, but I am never ever using that shampoo again!)

Anyhoo. I noticed that they have sample sizes:

(Source 1oz for $5!/8 oz for $16/ 16 oz for $32)

(Source 1/2 oz for $5!/3 oz for 16/ 6 oz for $30)

(Source and unfortunately this does not come in the mini size....4oz for $26!)

Those prices are a bit more than I want to pay for a sample size. Maybe if the first and second products were 4 oz I would consider purchasing them, but those small sizes would only work on one small section of my hair. Selene is constantly thirsty! They do have gift sets, but not in the combination or price range that I would like them be. These items might have to be wish listed for the future and I will continue my hunt for natural products. Thankfully the prices of these products have put a hold on buying anything new. There are some things that I need to use up or give away(....hmmmm) before purchasing anything else. Have you heard of and/or tried Original Moxie? What's your take?

Until Next time!

Is Color Right for you?

Hello Naturals!

I hope everyone is having a great week. I wanted to talk about hair color. I'm currently battling my willpower   with this one. I love color. I especially love bright, bold and unique ways in which color can punch up your life or in this case, hair. (I have a feeling that after writing this, I'm going to want to color my hair....) Below are a few examples of the color I'm talking myself out of getting. lol! Under each photo lists the source as well as their story of making the color transition. 

(This is the color I am thinking about and I also want a touch of a lighter color in the front.)

(Something along those lines... of a lighter color)

(Looks like she has a mix of both of those colors combined)

First things first. It is important to research and consider what type of hair coloring process is right for you and the texture and most importantly, the health of your hair. I've been doing some reading and it makes sense that the lighter you go, the more damage you will incur and the more hair maintenance you will have to do in order to maintain your hair health.

(Wikipedia has a great breakdown of hair dyes. I'm going to list a few important facts of each) 

Permanent Hair Dyes:  

This is considered to be an oxidation type of process. In other words, hydrogen peroxide is used to lift the current hair color, to that of a lighter color. Ammonia is used also in the process to help "open" the hair and set the eventual dye color of your choosing. 

*This causes the most amount of hair damage because it alters the chemical makeup of hair. 

Semi-Permanent Hair Dyes:

Depending on the brand that is used, this type of hair dyeing process uses low to no (which, I'm not sure if I completely believe that) amounts of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. This process also allows for the color to eventually be washed out and is considered to be "safer" for hair that is highly susceptible to damage. It also states that this type of dyeing produces a more "natural" outcome and dye distribution, but that color varies from strand to strand.

*Still causes damage despite having lesser amounts of chemicals and it states that it does not actually lighten hair.

Demi-Permanent Hair Dyes:

Instead of using ammonia as the alkaline part of the hair dyeing equation, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is often used. The amount of hydrogen peroxide is lower than that of permanent hair color processes. This allows for an even more "natural" outcome and dyeing distribution because the process remains the closet to the original hair color. 

*Not quite as damaging, because of the sodium bicarbonate and lower amount of hydrogen peroxide, which does not fully lift the original hair color. Eventually washes out over time. (A longer period than Semi-Permanent hair color) 

Temporary Hair Color:

Considered to be the safest of the "chemical dyeing processes". Does not "bond" with the hair follicle and has a higher color saturation after application. Meaning the color is very bright and/or bold. Comes in many different forms and can usually be done at home and/or without the help of a colorist.

*If your hair is dry and/or damaged,the dye can actually stay in longer than desired as it can penetrate the hair follicle. Usually takes one wash to rinse out, but that is also dependent on the hair's porosity). 

Side Effects:

Skin irritation and allergies. Remember, most of these use harsh chemicals so it is important to do a strand test, patch test on your hair. (Especially if you're using a box kit). Can also cause skin discoloration. Again, the process used in the permanent and semi-permanent use chemicals that bleach the hair. There is a possibility that it will do that to your skin as well. Hair breakage. They suggest that if you want color done, to only do it once and then wait before having another coloring or chemical process done. 

Hair Dye Alternatives:

Many naturals use alternative ways to dye their hair, such as henna.

Henna (Lawsonia inermis):

A plant based natural dye that permanently bonds to the hair follicle. Heat activates the release of color and needs at least 4 hours to do its job. It does not lift color, but it does show color if you are trying to cover grays. 

Hair Chalking:

(Looks like she's using gloves and tissue so that is does not get every where)

This seems to be the newest hair color fad where one does not need to chemically lighten their hair in order to have color. If you have dark hair, it is recommended that you wet your hair first before applying the chalk. However, if you're hair is lighter, you don't necessarily need to wet your hair. You can use pastel chalk from your local craft store, or there's a product and video by Kevin Murphy where he demonstrates his hair chalking line. What I don't like is that he only has 3 colors and with the craft store pastels, you have a wider variety of color to choose from. (Also, might be a great way to test out a hair color before actually committing) Some of the cons is that hair can appear to look chalky and /or dry and that once the chalk is in, it can rub off on clothes. 

(Her results)

Whichever way you decide to color you hair, it is completely up to you. Personally, I may try the color chalking method before I go semi-permanent with my locks. Could be fun for a night out or photo shoot to change up the look without having to worry about hair damage. 

Until next time!