Everyone I know who has been, has fallen in love with the culture, the ambiance, the food, the romance of Paris. Someday, I dream of visiting and strolling hand in hand along Parisian streets with my husband. It isn’t my time – not just yet.

BUT – thanks to my friends at Black Atlas – it could be YOUR time!

This won’t be just any trip. It involves:

* Five nights’ accommodations at an historic hotel
* A private city tour
* A private walking tour of Paris including the literary Latin Quarter, artistic St.Germain-des-Pres, Champs-Elysees and vibrant Montmartre
* Dinner for two and a jazz concert

And this tour will be organized by Walking the Spirit Tours.

So how do you enter?? How do you win??

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Bellas! Fellas!

Remember I went to Hawaii in January? My articles and videos are finally up on Black Atlas. This is an exciting first for me, and the fulfillment of a New Year’s Resolution. I’ve faced my fear! And these are my first real on-camera YouTube videos.

I’m not loving myself on camera 100% yet, but this is a work in progress. It’s only going to get better from here, and any constructive feedback you may have would be very much appreciated.

Click here to read all my Hawaii posts, and I sincerely hope you like them as much as I liked making them. If you could be so kind as to leave a comment on Black Atlas to let them know your thoughts, that would make me the happiest bella ever!!

The best is yet to come!

I’m looking forward to this weekend for the dorkiest reason — finally I’m going to unpack my suitcases, put away my summer clothes, and take my makeup and hair products out of my travel bag. Until February, when I go on another trip!

With all the traveling I’ve been doing, I’ve had to learn the art of packing intelligently. In these days of rising luggage fees, I need to be economical. That means packing products that are multi-use and uber-effective. Allow me to share some of my latest finds — the items that got road tested in Hawaii!

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I meant to post on Friday before I left…but the sand in the hourglass ran out before I had a chance.

I spent the weekend in Hawaii, touring the island of Oahu for an upcoming feature for BlackAtlas.com. That’s me at the Diamond Head volcanic crater!

I am in LOVE with Hawaii right now. Words can’t describe how beautiful the landscape and culture of Hawaii are. And words also can’t describe how exhausted I am after that long flight! I’ll be back later on with Golden Globes beauty tips and more — and my photos and video from Honolulu will be posted on BlackAtlas soon!

Bellas, I’m in love with a cruise ship.

I’m writing to you on board the amazing, incredible, gorgeous Oasis of the Seas – the largest cruise ship at sea. It’s got seven different neighborhoods. The first ever park at sea. A bar that moves between three decks. A zip line. Two surfing simulators. Broadway plays and ice shows and the Aquatheatre and OMG, ridiculous I can’t even put it into words entertainment. And did I tell you about the SPA? Beyond, beyond, beyond.

I am here for a quick press trip, essentially a cruise to nowhere to just experience all the amenties the Oasis has to offer. So I promise to be back tomorrow (or Wednesday) with lots of photos and videos to share with you all!

Have you ever been on a cruise? And let me ask you one more question — would you wanna go on an Afrobella cruise? Cause this could be SO AWESOME! Let me know your thoughts!

I meant to post this diary all in one go, but in all honesty? I got NYFW’d OUT. The coverage on my blog and every other blog felt overwhelming and life came calling…so I took a break. But now I’m back to recap those last two whirlwind days of my first Fashion Week. Y’all ready? Let’s do this!

CVS Lounge

I knew my last two days of NYFW would wrap up fast, so I didn’t want to push myself. Already in my head, I was making plans for next Fashion Week. I don’t want to be caught not RSVP’d for such chic events ever again! Better to be safe than sorry I missed something amazing.

Sunday began with a fabulicious brunch with my friend Jenny and her boyfriend Shawn at Cowgirl — a Western themed brunch spot that is just BEYOND delicious. I am SO going there every time I’m in NYC! The cheese grits and poached eggs were so delicious I’m salivating even now, weeks after my meal there. If you live in NYC, make a trek to Cowgirl. Trust me!

After that, it was off to experience the CVS Reinventing Beauty Lounge. What’s that? Basically CVS hosted a gorgeous experience for writers, beauty bloggers, and other Fashion Week attendees at Robert Verdi’s amazing LuxeLaboratory. (photo courtesy of the fab Mischo Beauty).

OMG, you guys.
This place is gorge-ous. Lushly decorated, welcoming staff, delicious food (quinoa salad to die for! And let’s not even talk about the tower of cupcakes and other desserts), and delicious beverages courtesy of Blueprint Cleanse. Their juices are incredibly delicious. I could seriously go for one of their pineapple apple mint juices right now! AND I met Robert Verdi, and he was sweet as pie!

In the CVS Lounge, it was all about beauty. A manicurist was on hand, so you know I had to get my nails done. And I can tell you this — you’re going to hear a whole lot about Opulent Cloud, Tracy Reese’s exclusive shade for Sally Hansen HD. All Lacquered Up reviewed it earlier this year, but it’s about to make a big splash. Literally every blogger I met there was getting this gunmetal-grey-but-gold-in-the-light shade painted on their nails.

Sally Hansen HD Opulent Cloud by Tracy Reese

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