So you’ll fly into Cancun, Mexico. Now prepare yourself for a 2 Hour drive from to Tulum. I went through Expedia. All The hotels on the beach are pretty affordable ranging from as low as $80 - $400 a night.The more expensive hotels like Casa Malca, BE Tulum are closed to the public. Casa Malca ( Pablo Escobar‘s mansion) now charges a cover for $65 USD. Not worth it. But every other hotel is pretty much open to the public. You can use the pool, bar and restaurant as long as you grab something to eat or drink. You definitely will not have a problem finding and hotel it’s a matter of which one. I use hotels.com to book. Buy your own alcohol to because the drinks on the beach suck, you know how hotels are.
My favorite hotels to stay at so Coco Limited hotel or Coco Hotel. Tell Issac I said hey! Lol they’re sister properties, prices start at $80 and they have AC! Oh yeah I forgot to tell you, a lot of the hotels on the beach are eco-friendly, therefore might not have AC. This can be a problem depending on what time of year you’re going. If you’re going between June and August it’s too hot to have fun. You’re going to be very pissed off at night try to go to sleep in the heat. I’d like to also recommend checking out Airbnb‘s in the city. This is perfect for groups you can find villas for as low as $120 that have five bedrooms and a private pool, it’s ridiculous! You can really be out In Tulum living lavishly!
There’s dozens of little boutique restaurants on the Tulum strip to eat from as well. There’s definitely no shortage of food. Omg. the food there is amazing everything is so affordable and delicious and fresh! Oh my gosh it’s going to be so easy for you to eat healthy out there. The fish taste like they caught it from the sea that morning! Honestly, the best way to explore to the beach is just to get on the bike and just ride. Shop everywhere, eat everything. That’s what I love the most about Tulum. Being able to get on the bike and get everywhere. I felt like a big kid again! The strip is not that long so you definitely explore all of the little beach within three days.
“Let’s have a Keke”
The nightlife in Tulum City is pretty lit! If you want to hear reggaeton all night that’s where to go. The drinks are better and you get to party with the locals. I definitely felt safe there but be wary of the drug dealers trying to sell you cocaine and weed. They’re just gonna walk up to you and ask you straight up if you want drugs. But they’re not aggressive. But other than that it’s amazing and there’s some restaurants in that area too. Grab dinner and then end the night partying across the street. The clubs in the city don’t close until 4am. If you’re staying on the beach your cabdriver should know where to go because there’s only one area that has clubs.
Here’s some gems for things to do while on Tulum Beach. Tulum beach has certain nights that are popoin. Certain restaurants and hotels host parties and events. On Thursdays you can Salsa dance at Casa Jaguar. That different by the time you get there so you can check with them.
Clandestino, it’s a cenote bar. You could swim and drink and eat food but it’s barfood and honestly the food isn’t that great. I just go for the photo opp lol. They also turn in to a club at night no sure what days this Papaya Playa hotel that’s known for having really lit parties on Saturdays. They have a cover of $35.
Another cute cenote is Cenote Calavara
Dinner plans? You must to go to Gitano Fridays or Saturday night dinner, the food is amazing ! It’s one of those beautiful bougie elegant. It has a beautiful romantic ambience. After enjoying dinner dance the night away with a live band. They also just extended it with a bar, patio with a rooftop now! They have a location in New York now too! Rosa Negra is a lot another amazing restaurant that’s open for dinner.
I also wanted to share this place with you guys. It’s called Uh May. Its a breathtaking holistic center. Azklik Hotel opened it up last year. They’re expensive, located on the Tulum strip. I’m glad they open up this place so that other people can enjoy the architecture because their hotel start off at like $500 a night. I fell in love with the space. I hope you get a chance to see it in person yourself here’s the address. it’s actually an hour away from the beach. We rented a car on the last trip. It helped a lot because we were switching Airbnb‘s a lot. We saved money in cab fare and it’s surprisingly easy to use the GPS to get around to.
Azulik Uh May - Grulla 23 Francisco Uh May ZC 77796
PAY CABDRIVERS IN PESOS
There’s ATMs all up and down the strip so you’ll have no problem finding cash. A lot of the hotels and places take card Anyways. Just be prepared for that feee. Make sure you barter with the cab drivers because they will try you. PAY THEM IN PESOS. OK that’s all I can think of right now. If you have any questions feel free to DM me so that I can add it to the blog . Safe travels and many blessings to you on this journey I hope you fall in love with Tulum like I did.
]]>The motivation for starting my business was the thought of not having to “clock in” or asking someone permission to use the bathroom. Growing up I was taught two perspectives of life: either you tell or be told. My father was a hustler, refusing to work for “the man.” Happy but broke. My mom was practical; graduated from collage and continued on getting her Masters Degree. She’s worked a “9-5” job all her life to support 2 kids; making enough to pay rent, but not as happy. From young age, I was pressured to go to college and get a job (like the norms). But I decided to live life my way. I started CityRepublik while attending collage and working full time at a bank to pay the bills until the business took off. In 2016 I took a leap of faith and quit my job to focus on my passion of being self-employed and running my own fashion business. BOOM! Six years later, here I am, running my own business. Wow, has time has flown by! And it hasn’t been easy. I’ve put my heart and soul into my business; and there have been many times I’ve worked 60hrs a week - but I worked for myself! It’s been one of the best decision I’ve ever made.
Don’t get me wrong. Being your own boss is AAMMAZZZZING!!! But, it has many challenges. According to the Small Business Association (SBA), 30% of new businesses fail within the first two years of opening; 50% during the first five years; and 66% during the first 10 years. For the past 6 years I’ve been constantly creating new content to stay relevant. I think I’ve made it this far because I never compare myself to other brands. Everyday I’m learning new ways to grow customer retention while capturing new customers; I’ve learned about the hiring process and implementing effective management practices. Oh, and let’s not forget the accounting, handling taxes, expenses, brands and contract negotiations lol, well, you get the picture! These are skills that I’ve picked up over the years through lots of trail and errors. Everyday is different and I love it...I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I also believe I made it so far because of guys. My tribe! The biggest reward is seeing you, enjoy the items I bring to market; seeing you get excited, just like me, about that new outfit or new wig style that’s coming in! Everyday I all the positive reviews on our products motivates me to keep chasing my dreams. If I’d gave into the negativity a moment to shine CityRepublik.com wouldn’t of made it to 6 years!
It’s a blessing to see the impact and influence that we have on lives across the world. The everyday interactions I have with my tribe shows me that I’m on the right path. My path. I’m thankful for every single customer that has placed an order; and for every person that showed up to support an event. The fact that we’re still here thriving shows me that we are really serving a purpose. Which is to serve you. And to think.. I built all this with one product. Crazy. Wouldn’t He do it!!!
]]>Cuba was the first internatonal trip for the Republik Tour. I spent my time preparing for Cuba by reading what I could find out about the island and by talking to people who actually visited the country. I didn’t trust what I read in the media because I’m such a skeptic when it comes to the media. The feed-back I received from those that have actually visited the island recently was mainly positive - specifically about the culture, people and architecture; the reviews on the food were not so positive.
I’m writing this blog in hopes that my experience will give you some clarity between myth and fact; and help you understand that much of what you hear about Cuba is conjured-up by Trump Administration and government; and people that make really poor choices in restaurants. I hope reading this blog will help you decide to visit Cuba you’re contemplating visiting the island.
Obtaining your Cuban VISA
Obtaining a Cuban VISA is easy. There are a lot of different rules and regulations that are important and you should understand when you apply for your VISA. To read more about the U.S. restrictions & apply for a Cuban VISA, I recommend checking out the following link https://cubavisaservices.com. Cuban VISAs cost $50 on this site; you can either pick it up at the counter at the airport or you can have it shipped to you. When I received the VISA it was blank; you merely fill out your name, DOB and nationality, very similar to how you fill out a Customs form when entering a foreign country. I flew Southwest, which provides VISA services when you purchase your ticket. You will need to cite one of the 12 qualified categories allowing travel to Cuba (see link above) when you purchase your VISA. If you don’t order your VISA in advance, and if you’re flying Southwest, you can buy your VISA at the Southwest gate before boarding your flight. Based on our activity, we cited Journalistic Activity; others may cite Support of the Cuban People. But, please note, that each of the 12 categories is for a specific purpose and leisure travel is not allowed.
Exchanging Currency
Exchanging US Dollars for Cuban money was a little bit difficult. U.S. banks or exchange kiosks do not exchange US Dollars for Cuban dollars ( CUC or CUP), but you can exchange for Dollars for Euros while in the US. If you want to wait until you land in Cuba to exchange Dollars for CUCs or CUPs, you can exchange Dollars and Euros to Cuban currency at the airport or your hotel. That said, I wouldn’t recommend doing the exchange at the airport in Cuba because they take more than they should (and extra 10%). And here’s the most important tip: make sure you spend all your Cuban currency in Cuba! On our way back home it was a struggle to change our currency back to Euros (even after all the exchange venues said they would gladly exchange their currency back to Euros). Evidently, it’s a “well know secret” that they avoid converting their money back into Euros. So we ending up coming back to the US with Cuban currency in hoes that we could exchange it in the U.S. — and we couldn’t. That was extremely frustrating. **So, 😟if anyone is going to Cuba please DM me @PhyliciaAlvarez I have $160 in Cuban money to exchange dollar for dollar (in Cuba they give you only .85 cents (or less) on the Dollar).
Accommodations: where to stay?
My husband and I stayed at Hotel Saratoga, which is a beautifully restored hotel located in central Old Havana. It has an amazing rooftop pool with views of the Capitola and free Wi-Fi. Our friends stayed at nearby Airbnb‘s that were very hospitable and beautiful, as well. One of the Airbnb’s even provided a cell phone with Google translate and GPS map of Havana which was very useful for all of us. If you’re staying at Airbnb that is not updated with Wi-Fi, you can buy a Wi-Fi card on the street for a dollar or two dollars per hour, giving you a login code to connect to public hotspots located in public parks in and around the City. But, I recommend taking advantage of the rare opportunity of being able to “disconnect” from the world of texts, tweets and social media. Trust me, it will allow you to really enjoy Havanas’ architecture, culture and the people.
( the view from Lindsay’s Airbnb was amazing and the inside was just as beautiful)
The Food
Finding good food in Cuba was one of my biggest concerns, because everyone that I spoke with said that the food was bad. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case for us — except for the breakfast that was included at our hotel lol. Lunch and dinner, on both days, was amazing and so affordable! The first night, I had dinner at the hotel on the rooftop, which just was OK; however, the drinks were the best out of all the places we visited throughout Havana. Unlike most of the exclusive rooftop pools in the U.S., the rooftop at our hotel is open to the public, as long as you order something to eat or drink.
After a long morning of shooting at various spots in Old Havana, we had lunch at small joint called R. Orozco, which is in the square near the Havana Cathedral — and area with dozens of restaurants to choose from, which can be a bit overwhelming. At R. Orozco, ordered Ropa Vieja (yes, you’re correct, the Spanish translation means “old dirty clothes” LOL), which was melt-in-your mouth good! Every plate that our team ordered was absolutely delicious; and though you got 2 free drinks with the meal, the drinks were watered down, too tart or too sweet. My husband and I spent $24.00 total for both our lunch meals. But, wait, it gets better.
That night we had another amazing meal at Los Nardos, a very, very popular restaurant (both locals and tourist alike) just down the street from our hotel. The servings were huge and most dishes were under $10.00 — it was absolutely insane because the restaurant decor was so fancy and required a jacket (if you didn’t have one, they gave you one for dinner) if you walked in with a tank-top. Every time we passed that restaurant there was a long line out the door. I definitely recommend eating there. It’s two blocks from Hotel Saratoga.
( look at those portions sis! Each plate was less than $8.00)
The following morning we had breakfast at little, out-of-the-way spot called Di Next. Though a very cute little dinner, breakfast was not up to my standards. Sadly, I’m starting to think that Cubans don’t like a good breakfast or brunch. Oh well, their loss! 😁 Having finished breakfast so late, we skipped lunch and shot all day. For dinner that night, we walked to this amazing little restaurant called Donde Lis, which again, was amazing! The waiter knew the menu well and was thoroughly entertaining. And the drinks were bomb after we told the waiter our Mojitos tasted like Sprit LOL. I’m so thankful that we didn’t have the same poor dining experiences that everyone was talking about, because you guys know that I love to eat! 😂
( This was the fried pork that Josh ordered #foodenvy)
Getting around Havana
The only thing that I can say about Cuba that I didn’t like was the hustle. EVERYONE is on their hustle: restaurants, shops, Cuban folks dressed up like “Cuban folks” and especially the taxi drivers. And if you have a restored vintage car, they charge twice as much. Its a sad reality due to their economy and the relatively small tourist business. If you look like a tourist, to the Cuban locals, you’re a means of them getting/earning money. You’ll constantly be negotiating fares and fees and prices with everyone from cabdrivers to services that cater to tourists. TIP: If you’re staying in Old Havana, you shouldn’t more than 5 - 10 CUC to get anywhere. It was very stressful for me at one point watching my husband agrue — or “negotiate” as he called it lol OYÉ those Latinos — with the cab driver for ride that was supposedly five minutes away. They wanted to charge us extra just because they knew that we were tourists #everydaywehustling. It was so frustrating. After that experience, I just wanted to walk everywhere.
( the coco taxi the most affordable way to travel. But the diesel fumes are intoxicating)
The City
Surprisingly, for a City and Country that is so poor, we felt safe walking to restaurants and through the neighborhoods; at times we found ourselves 2 or 3 streets deep into the local neighborhoods, and well off the main tourist areas. When we did our photoshoots in those neighborhoods, as well as in the tourist areas, the Cuban locals were so friendly. And even walking to and from dinner at 10pm at night, families and kids and teens were out on their neighborhood streets play and socializing. My opinion is that if you decided to walk anywhere in the Old Havana area, you wouldn’t have a problem. Surprisingly, I actually felt safer walking around Old Havana than I do in America.
Old Havana is an amazing area of the City of Havana. Its a city that is vibrant and constantly active with neighbors socializing and gossiping and kids playing footból in the street, no matter what time of day or night. It actually reminded me of the neighborhood I grew up in when I lived in New York. By the end of our trip, I had fallen in love with Havana. It’s a country full of beautiful people and culture. I’m actually planning to go back again next year to explore more of the City, the beach and caves and the outer areas of the County. Surprisingly, Cuba has taken me back to my Trini roots. I’ve developed an appreciation for things that I have previously taken for granted; and I’ve realized that some things I though were ‘so important’ are not that important when considering the “bigger picture.”
One final tip: I recommend going to Cuban with people that you enjoy spending time with. It’s a country that forces you to harken back to a time when things moved slower; a time before texting or even cell phones, the internet and definitely social media. With the lack of technology conveniences, it requires you verbally communicate; to make plans like “I’ll meet you at this spot at 7pm, if you’re late just meet us at the restaurant.”😁 Not to mention the affinity you create when traveling with someone into a foreign county as beautiful and captivating and challenging as Cuba. Though we were in Cuba for only four days, we’ll be able to share stories about our experiences of doing photoshoots throughout Old Havana; and relish in being treated like celebrities because we were models doing photoshoots; and reminisce about walking back from dinner through the streets of Havana, trying to remember, “is this the way we came?” The excitement and nervousness of entering a country that has been off-limits to Americans for over 60 years is something we’ll always share. The bond that I was able to create with the people I choose to travel with has made our friendship stronger and has created a special affinity that is beyond words.
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For Women's Month we sat down with Hope Carter a Houstonian, LSU graduate, to talk about how her life has changed after getting a liver transplant.
Hope Carter is 29, and is from Houston,TX (third ward area)
SR:Tell us a bit about yourself.
When I was little I had IBS, which scarred my bile ducts. Nothing happened except that my eyes started to turn yellow. When I went to the doctor for a check up and asked why it was so hard to lose weight on the top part of my stomach she told me it was my liver. Bile had backed up in my liver. She told me I needed a liver transplant although I don’t recall the exact moment I was told because it was so traumatic. I waited seven years to get a liver transplant. I was finishing my masters at LSU. March 8th 2013 when I woke up I was freezing. I was supposed to have lunch with a friend and when she heard my voice over the phone she said “You need to go to the hospital, you sound terrible.” My dad made key copies to my apartment, so I called my mom who worked around the corner. I spent that whole week in the ICU, everyone died, but me. All of the doctors that had ever worked with me were there.
“On March 14th, the first doctor I ever went to and said we have a liver it’s yours if you wanted.
5am on March 15th I went into surgery for my liver transplant. “ I was in recovery for 5 days and in the hospital for 2 weeks.
SR: After being in recovery for so long, how did you feel?
Hope: I felt heavy, I spent some time at my parents house. I was in and out of sleep a lot. And the first time I saw myself after the surgery I passed out.
SR: How did having a normal functioning liver again affect you?
Hope: It was terrible because I was used to eating whatever I wanted to. Because you have to watch your fat intake. I was suffering from low blood sugar while in recovery, I had a picc line in my arm for six weeks, which was uncomfortable. But anything can be done for a little while.Of course I’ll be on medication for the rest of my life, and they want to hospitalize me for every cold. But now I get to do cool stuff all the time,I’ve been to like 5 different countries. I’ve also started my organization Big Livers. My favorite thing I did was I had things not to say to a person with a chronic illness like “Drink water” It’s focused on people like me.
“But now I get to do cool stuff all the time,I’ve been to like 5 different countries. I’ve also started my organization Big Livers.”
SR: Do you feel like going through this process changed you for the better?
Hope: It made me more and less compassionate. More compassionate because now I know everyone has something they’re going through. And less for people who complain unnecessarily for things that are minor inconveniences. Saying that life is so hard, because there are just so many trivial things to complain about.
SR: What would you say to someone who is going through the same thing you went through or is in the process of recovering?
Hope: I’d acknowledge that it sucks, it’s the worst. Don't let anybody take that away, feel what you need to feel completely so it doesn’t affect you in the future. You’re allowed to have bad days. Live as big as you can with what you’ve got.
SR: It’s National Women's Month pick five women who inspire you, and pick a favorite and elaborate on why she inspires you.
Hope: *Laughs* That’s hard. I would say my mother, my sister, my mentor De’dra. The 105 year old lady who lives down the street from my mom, and my pastors mom. My mom would be the person who inspires me, because she had a hard time raising her first kids and two kids with chronic illnesses. She could have gone crazy several times and she says it. She’s dealt with so much and considers it cowardly to try and commit suicide and things like that. I feel like I’ve seen how strong she is with what she’s let me know and what I’ve seen her go through. So she’s definitely an inspiration.
SR: Do you belive it takes hardship to make a strong woman, or do you think our strength is there we just have to harness it?
Hope: I think that it’s there. I’m a total believer in first world problems, if you can't get the new Mercedes Benz because all you can get is the range rover that’s your problem. Hardship is relative, I think as women we are so compassionate we take everything harder. One image can impact you and you'll remember it so much that it makes you stronger. It’s in you but it will always be your choice, do you want to be strong or give up. That’s all up to you.
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There’s no WiFi in the city unless you’re at a hotel or in a restaurant. Having limited WiFi was extremely cathartic; it allowed me to submerge myself into the environment with no distractions from the media and the outside world.
We stayed a very eco-friendly resort powered solely by renewable wind-generated electricity. My husband and I checked into our Bungalow on the beach, where the Mayan Wind God never stopped blowing. The hotel we stayed at was Nuevea De Vida de Romero. The bungalows had no AC; and as a measure to preserve electricity, there was only one outlet to charge our devices. The beds were hard and uncomfortable; and we had to use bottled water to brush her teeth. It was definitely a “glamping” experience lol.
The service wasn’t that all that great either. Dispite all, I have to admit, I enjoied watching the sun rise over the Caribbean in the mornings. Another benefit of staying at a hotel with limited service lol, it kept us out of the hotel and eager to explore other hotels and the local area of Tulum. Staying at an eco-friendly bungalow was a new experience for us. It brought me back to my roots; it felt like I was back home in Trinidad.
What I love the most about Tulum is the fact that we can get on our bikes (most hotels provide bike rentals) and tour the city. We rode our bikes up and down Tulum; and when we were hungry, we parked our bikes and walked into a variety of restaurants up and down the street! There are so many restaurants to choose from we ate at six different restaurants for lunch and dinner. You will have absolutely no problem finding something to eat because everything taste good there!
We saw this place on the way to Casa Malca and I ended up having the best vegan ice cream ever!
If your looking to find a rooftop to relax, drink, eat good food and listen to jams try The Jungle Rooftop. It was so good we ate there twice! Lol
My husband ending up liking Tulum more than he expected. It was the perfect way for us to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. He actually feels like Tulum is safe enough for me to come back here with my friends. So, Sis, if your man is worried about your safety, just implement a normal measure a caution as you should whentravelling in a third-world county, and you’ll have no worries in Tulum. It’s a fun and safe place for a girls trip.
Tulum has a variety of hotels, from 5 Star/$1700 per night to 2 Star/$100 a night. It’s your choice; and each will give you a unique experience. The exchange rate is for every US dollars is about 18 pesos. There were multiple money exchange stores in the city.
Quick math! Who much would this be in U.S dollars?? Comment below!
I loved visiting Tulum so much; I can’t wait to go back and experience it with my friends and family! Feel free to comment below! Thank you so much for reading.
P.S: All the outfits I wore on this trip can be found in our Resort Collection.
I was inspired when make-up maven and YouTube influencer @JackieAina aka AUNTY JACKIE, supported CityGirlCurlz by purchasing a number of our most popular style, the Raven Curlz. I was truly honored and humbled by her generosity and promotion of our brand. She’s been a loyal customer since.
Seeing how she supported my business, it was put my heart to "pay-it-forward." So I came up with the idea to give free promotional reviews on 30 products owned or manufactured by small, black-owned businesses. The response has been amazing: over 200 business submitted products for consideration. Not only have I reviewed great products, but I was surprised by how many female are entrepreneurs running their own businesses. Hear their stories of how they started their business has motivated me to continue to collaborate with more black-owned business across multiple industries.
THE EVENT PLANNER
The first business that I had the pleasure of working with was an event planner in New York City for my birthday! @ninefifteen.Eventplanning made my 26th so special. They we were so detailed and they made sure that my vision to life. I felt so comfortable leaving everything up to them. The cake was absolute perfection and she customized everything from the menu down to the candle and rose petals. I couldn’t thought of a better way to start this endeavor.
THE OFFICE MASSAGE ROOM
When I came back from my New York trip I was greeted with a home visit from @infinitymassage. I had so much fun turning my office space into a massage room. The massage was the perfect way to wine down for the bday maddness
THE PRODUCT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
This was the most amazing skin moisturizer I’ve ever used in my life. Keeps my skin moist throughout the whole entire day and it makes my skin look so luminous. Also,my husband can’t get a enough of the amazing smell! I love this product so much that just I bought 3 bottles myself so I wouldn’t run out. I highly recommend trying out this product I use it daily. If you want to try them out Apply my code (Sunflower) for 15% off. The scent I use is Taire Blossom
FACE & LIP SCRUB
This face and lips scrub become part of my weekly skin care routines. During this experience I got to work with over 15 natural organic skincare companies. This company also turned out to be one of my favorites!
MICRO BLADING & LASHES
Would you ever try micro blading? Never In my life did I think I would! This experience made the impossible possible. It took 2 hrs and it’s sooooo painful in the beginning before the numbing cream kicked in. It felt like I was getting tattoo on my face. But @divinebeautybarhtx look really good care of me. She was so patient and she made sure to explain everything to me. To be the brows this the most important part of your face, so Of course I was afraid to make such a permanent decision. They came out looking so natural and I love waking up in the morning and seeing my brow on fleek! Now I have perfect brows for a whole year! If you’re in Houston you should definitely hit her up she's mobile!
I'm also rocking my favorite Princess lashes from @narassicticlashes
Accessories
These flower earrings was beautiful birthday gift from @itsbanafrit
I loved them so much that I planned the whole concept around it.
HAIR OIL
This oil definitely came in handy on those days when I didn’t feel like doing my hair and I was constantly wearing wigs. All I had to do was spray this on my scalp and put my wig cap on. You got to make sure to always take care of your natural hair especially when it’s under a wig.
MAKE-UP
This palette was so pigmented and I absolutely love the colors on my skin
ACTIVEWEAR
When I tell you that I have never felt material that felt as smooth and soft as my skin! The quality of this fitness apparel is amazing and I literally want to wear it every single day. This number made me fall in love with the color pink!
I didn’t want to bore you by posting all 30 businesses so those were my top 10 favorite businesses. I’ll post the rest on my instagram.
I enjoy doing this so much that I decided to keep this going on a monthly basis. Every month I’ll be picking 3 Small black businesses to promote for free!
If you’re interested in doing promotion with me please email sales@cityrepublik.com
I you guys enjoyed! Love you guys! Feel free to comment below
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Yeah, It sucked at first.
So the next day I cut out meat, cold turkey! The next day I was on a plant-based diet. My body immediately went into cleansing mode for 4- 5 days. It was horrible! I'm not trying to gross anyone out that but my 💩 wasn't normal density. For 2 weeks it was very running and to stop that I had to eat lots of wheat and rice. I was determined to see the benefits of a vegan diet. I noticed around breakfast time that vegan diet wasn't for me when I realized that I couldn't eat eggs. By the second week second I developed sweet tooth I guess to substitute the meat. Ugh, I was going through withdrawals bad yo. I was constantly nauseous ( I believe from lack of iron). So I implemented Fish Oil Vitamins and vitamin B complex (which I didn't take daily) like I should of.
A New Good Habit
(My new love for acai bowls )
I also develop a deep love for avocados and fresh fruit. I tired my best to find healthy snacks thanks to Pinterest. It was actually fun scouting out cute vegan spots. My new favorite snack is smoothies. I got tired of smoothie king taking all my money so I started to make them at home!.
( That cute vegan place I was taking about )
After trying this vegan challenge of decided that I'm going to be a Pescatarian. I realize that going cold turkey wasn't the method for me. I grew up in the Caribbean household where oxtails and curry chicken was a normal occurrence. Every time we eat pork we love the fattiest parts. Yum! Anyways, I am currently substituting meat with fish while balancing being a part time vegetarian. I'm so glad I challenge myself because this was definitely a huge wake up call. Enough for me to want to change. If you decide to try the vegan life, do it for yourself. Not because it's now a relevant trend. Do it because you truly seek change!
Yummmmmm. Avocado Toast 🔥🔥🔥
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On top of that. The promoters had a bunch of filipino girls on the truck, dancing WITH HEELS 👠 on, the whole time! ( OK Beyoncé). I understand that you got to have your publicity, but why not pick public figures that represent the Caribbean people. There was only 1 dark skin Trini model up there. But she being a real trini, was on the ground dancing with everyone ( which is the REAL experience). It was so disappointing to see my culture become a traveling circus show here in America. Carnival has now become so sensationalize and commercialize like everything else in the media.
What are your thoughts on that? Please feel free to politely and respectfully find some home training and comment below 🙏🏾
Anywho!! My cousin and I went for the experience, and THAT we did have! We have the pictures to show because they don't lie! Lol Enjoy
We smiled from from start to finish!
Ooooo the lil chucky poo poo mass baby 👶🏽 ( having baby fever over here lol)
The women representing the dark skin queens!
I just loved this costume and her body is yes!
Can you guess what song we're "ducking" to?!! Lol 😝
I was on my worst behavior 😏😂😂
Someone who made their costume
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