Vegas Baby! Highlights in Pics

I really didn’t expect to like Vegas as much as I did. Besides spending a gazillion dollars (not by way of gambling) I really could not complain about the time I spent, the sights I saw, the food I ate and the things I did. Next time I go, I need to definitely be employed. And rent a car. And see more than “The Strip.” Las Vegas is rightly the entertainment capital of the world, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to see some amazing things.

Tuesday, May 21st

Bridal party rehearsal and luncheon at Red Rock Casino and Resort.

Something I’ve come to learn about myself is I love buffets! Does that mean that my standard for taste is relatively basic? I’m not sure. I think I just like the variety.

Why not have macaroni and cheese with chicken and broccoli?

Pasta and grilled corn on the cob?

Send it my way!

The Red Rock Casino’s buffet was gaudy, humongous and although everything I had wasn’t delicious, the majority of it was enjoyable and I really couldn’t complain.

Click pic for credit

 

Wednesday, May 22nd

WEDDING DAY! Garden wedding @ The Grove

Enough Aaaah’s to last me the whole year.

    

Thursday, May 23rd 

My homegirl Dakota arrives from Los Angeles! *cue Rihanna’s Pour it Up*

Dining: Bahama Breeze takes the cake! During the week, they had a late-night happy hour from 9pm until closing and their Caribbean food was so amazing. During happy hour, the appetizers are half off as well! What more can you ask for?

One of everything, please?

 

Late night: TAO Restaurant and Bar. If you’re hardcore into just hip-hop and rap, you may want to go on the designated “black” night which I believe is Friday night.

Dakota’s cousin, Dakota, She

Friday, May 22nd

Day Pool Party at the Palms. Special Guest: Wiz Khalifa (Amber Rose in the cut supporting her baby faver)

Saturday, May 23rd

Return home. Plans to repeat in 2015. Occasion: 30th birthday!

Until next time,

Stay silly!

Mami and She

5 Things I Learned from #PassportDC

Passport DC is a FREE cultural event celebrating May which is International Cultural Awareness Month. The District of Columbia is home to more embassies than any other city in the world, and Passport DC honors the diversity of cultural influences in the District by providing tourists and residents alike to learn more about the international community. Along with the “Around the World Embassy Tour” there are Street Fairs, film screenings to round out the affair.

I participated this past Saturday on the Around the World Tour and traveled to: Haiti, Japan, Belize and Brazil. I visited a mosque as well.

Here’s what I learned from the embassy visits.

5.  Japan manufactures everything. Land (Toyota), air, or sea they got it all covered!

The MRJ, coming to an airport near you!

Security was tight outside of the Embassy

And if that wasn’t enough, they also make these:

4. Venezuela’s official name is The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This does not mean that it is ‘owned’ by Bolivia, which I originally assumed. Upon further research, the name was imposed by Hugo Chavez as part of his revolutionary project to change Venezuela’s constitution. Bolivarian refers to the figure and national hero Simon Bolivar, which Bolivia was also named after.

3. Bolivia’s official name is the Plurinational state of Bolivia. According to Wikipedia, this name acknowledges the multi-ethnic makeup of the country, and the “enhanced position of Bolivia’s indigenous people under the new constitution.”

2.  I may or many not be able to pass for an Arab woman.

1. Quinoa is a grain-like crop (plant) that is cultivated for its seeds. The crop is mostly grown in Andean regions. 2013 is the International Year of Quinoa, and on the tour Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela featured some aspect of the crop at their embassies. At the Venezuelan Embassy, I tried some Quinoa juice and bread pudding. The juice was very different, not sweet nor sour, but the pudding was alright!

Quinoa

All in all, the trip around the world was a good time.

I don’t see what other reasons I may have to visit an Embassy (unless I get excited to some uber exclusive party) so this was a nice way to be introduced to places I hope to see in real life soon!

5 Things I’m Thankful for Today! (+3 photos)

1. I went to Haiti and came back with 15 new family members! (the participants)

2. Haiti’s mountains will be forever sketched in my memory!

At Wahoo Bay Beach

3. The quiet before the storm! (April is the month of presentations, finals, and COMPS!)

4.  In a month from now, I will be done with the second semester of graduate school!!!!!!!!!!

5. Laughter, community and love.

Howard student is initiated into traditional Haitian recess game!

What are you thankful for today?

Do share!

She

To read about the first part of my trip to Haiti, go here!

Wednesday Motivation: What I Need

Experiencing Haiti two weeks ago was another reminder of the joy that is available in the simple things.

With no televisions, Wii’s, and very fickle Wi-fi the group quickly took to nightly card games, board games and friendly banter. And when the power went out because we were running too much voltage in the compound we went to the open-air lounge and continued talking (in hushed voices) through the night.

Although according to our American standards and luxuries, Haiti is a “third-world country” it is ironic how with our luxuries, freedoms, access to goods and services, and consumer-driven economy people are not happier in America. We enjoy being a “First world” country but what about quality of life? What about happiness? What about satisfaction? I didn’t feel a weighty, emotional toll when I visited Haiti because everyone I came in contact with had a bright-white smile on their face, the children possessed an eagerness to learn, and the young adults held on to hope that education would take them wherever they could dream– with the understanding that they will have to leave Haiti to “make it.”

I saw people going on about their business (no matter how big or small) in a country that is under-served and almost invisible to the rest of the Americas.

“Poor” is relative. Poor can be a physical state. Poor can also be a mental state. I don’t like using the terms first world and third world. I’d rather describe Haiti as underprivileged and underserved, but the people and indelible spirit of Haiti is undoubtedly: rich.

So as I independently learn more about Haiti and its sensitive history, I will not forget Haiti for what it has taught me; that the most important things in life, or what I really NEED cannot be purchased.

Growing,

She