Relaxing Easter in Barbados!

Looking for a quick, affordable getaway? Enjoy the best Barbados has to offer, for less. Check out the below local Staycation Specials for this upcoming Easter weekend!

Hotels

Under $200 BDS
Worthing Court – Starting at $65 US
All Season’s Resort Europa – $75 US per night, valid through April.
Time Out Hotel –  $90 US per night, based on double occupancy. Breakfast included
South Gap Hotel – Starting at $99 US per night.
Ocean 15 -$99 US per night, based on double occupancy. Breakfast included.

Under $500 BDS
Radisson Aquatica Hotel – $175 US per night, based on double occupancy. Breakfast included.
Pirates Inn Hotel – $349 BDS with breakfast or $300 BDS without breakfast, for 2 nights.
Rostrevor Hotel – Starting at $218 US for 2 nights based on

#ChasingSuccess

 

Success — we all want it, right?

We all know of success as it relates to wealth and fame. And we have all heard the counter argument that money doesn’t buy happiness, and success without happiness is worthless. Likewise, we have heard the counter-counter argument that if money can buy shoes and shoes make you happy, then…

But what about those who want it all… the money and the happiness? We are often shown but two options — the single, successful yet sexually and emotionally frustrated executive with her Prada shoes and Mercedes (Mary-Jane, Olivia Pope, I see you), and the ever popular domesticated wife donning sweats and surrounded by high spirited children in her small single family home.

So what of the woman who reached the top of her career before 50 without have to sacrifice a loving, well-nurtured family and can afford to outfit her entire family with the latest Spring fashions? And no, her husband is not a homemaker. And no, they do not sell drugs, nor did she sleep her way to the top. Is it possible to have it all? I believe that it is. How does one achieve it? By

The wig that fooled everyone

Who doesn’t love protective styling? And if a style can double as protective and cute then it’s a win-win, no? This will be my third time trying out Sensationnel’s Bump Hair and I love it!

3 weeks post installation

A few days post installation

Installation & styling

I bought two packs and had it installed as a U-Part wig. My hairdresser used the ‘bra-strap’ wig cap which was the best part of it all because

Hydration Nation: ‘New’ hair products?

Thirsty Hair Fix #1

I cannot begin to explain my struggle with finding a good moisturising deep conditioner. At the beginning of my HHJ, I used and fell in love with Elasta QP DPR-11 until one day my hair just stopped responding to it. It was like the kid who found out she was allergic to chocolate.  I tried so many deep conditioners since then, including Queen Helene’s Cholesterol Deep Conditioner and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner, both of which left me nursing disastrously dry hair. I was at my wit’s end searching the most popular hair blogs and websites. I had pretty much tried most things on this list that were available locally before I decided that my hair was just temperamental and nothing these HHJ gurus recommended would work. I even tried baggying and co-washing but nothing would give.

Then last Saturday, I was in Beauty Exchange in St. Peter shopping for shampoo when I discovered

News Flash: Local Restaurant Specials

If you’re like me, you’ve realized that outside of Crop Over season there’s very little to do in Barbados apart from going to the movies or dinner. And perhaps, like me, you’ve forced yourself to have an appreciation for restaurant exploration–  not that it’s that hard to do. Of course, dining here is not as cheap as America or most European countries, so when I find a deal I’m happy to share.

This summer two popular local restaurants are having specials

10 R&B Songs to Make You Believe Again

Whatever became of good ol’ R&B? I miss the days of Boys II Men, Brian McKnight and Shania Twain. And who can deny the sheer intelligence and effortless beauty of Maxwell’s ‘This Woman’s Work’ or K-Ci & Jo Jo’s ‘All my Life’? Those songs just did something to me and even now when I hear them on the radio there are feelings of nostalgia entwined with illicit dreams of raw, fiery passion sizzling on a bed of rose petals, drunk with guilt… Ecstasy.

I can’t help but wonder what I’ll play at my wedding. Today only two artistes consistently give me those wistful cold bumps,

Big Screen Bajan Storytelling: PAYDAY

PAYDAY had that lazy, mischievous humour of Ice Cube’s ‘Friday’ trilogy, mixed with raw, often avoided truths, served on a platter of cou-cou and flying fish.

When I first heard Shakirah Bourne read I suspected she was born to be a storyteller. After seeing PAYDAY, my suspicions were confirmed. As a writer, seeing an idea come to fruition and landing on the big screen, I stand in awe and full respect of her and am happy to see local storytelling shift from the stage to the screen.

Not being able to make it to the premiere (which a birdie told me was sold out) I finally got my chance to see it this weekend. I don’t think I have ever seen that many people in Olympus on Sunday. I stood in the line holding my bills, nervous as I heard people in front of me asking for two and three tickets to PAYDAY. I was praying that it wasn’t sold out. Successful in obtaining a ticket, I took a seat in the packed cinema, next to who I didn’t know at the time would have an old Pearly laugh that would proliferate the hilarity of the movie. That is the epitome of Bajan storytelling.

Revolving around the ‘lime’, Shakirah told the story everyone knows but few tell–

DIY: Happy Birthday Sash

I have a friend who loves birthdays. It’s the one time of year I see her excited about anything. Since I missed so many of her birthdays being overseas at college (especially the big 2-1) I decided to do something special, get her a sash! But of course I searched and couldn’t find any in Barbados. They only had for milestone birthdays, and not even a generic ‘Happy Birthday’. Determined, I decided to make my own and it was actually a lot easier than I anticipated.

You’ll need:
1 yard of fabric for the sash (I chose satin)

Gettin’ my face on

When I was younger I hardly used to take care of my face. But somewhere around 20-something I had a quarter life crisis and decided to develop a skin care routine out of fear that I’d wake up one day, 45 and wishing I had paid more attention to my pores when I had the chance. After doing some research online and a little trial and error, I found a routine that works for me. In the morning I cleanse and moisturize and before bed at night I cleanse, tone and moisturize. If I wear make-up that day, which is hardly ever, I use make-up remover prior to the cleansing.

Cleanser:
Either Neutrogena

What’s up with your face?

Do you remember 16? Wide eyes and bushy tails, slim waists, boy crushes and….. pimples! Uggh! Do you remember how they always used to pop up in the most obvious places at the most inopportune times like a belligerent, drunk uncle at Christmas dinner? Yes, those pimples. Somewhere in our teen years we were told that they were signs of puberty and either I imagined this or it was a lie, but weren’t we always told that they would end by the time we reach our twenties?! Maybe that’s just what I wanted to hear.

They tricked us all, lady.

For the most part I do not suffer from acne on a regular basis and my pimples only appear to let me know that my period is around the corner. However I do have friends who are constantly fighting with jack-in-the-box, or as Traci Steele (LHHATL) would say, ‘popcorn pimples’.