What is your fashion style?

I love colors, high heels (shoes) and also being a naturalista. So what is my fashion style? Below see all the pictures of me and decide what my fashion style is?

Visiting Paris, France

Growing up, I always imagined places that I would like to visit: Paris, London, Barcelona, Rome and what is amazing is, I have visited all these places.  I love to travel and if I had a way, I would travel every month – too bad I cannot afford it.

And one can visit Paris every day but I love to visit the city during the fall especially September or October.  There are so many reasons why I love this time of the year among them being it is less crowded, less expensive and it is beautiful (fall colors).

High season is over in the fall and experiencing the city at this time is more enjoyable. I remember even though I waited 1 ½  long hours to visit the Eiffel Tower, it was still better than waiting 3 hours at the Notre Dame.  The other good news is that you can visit the city as a local.

One of the reasons why I love Paris is because it is synonymous with finest things that culture has to offer – food, fashion, art, literature everything.  Maybe that’s why it is known as the city of light – the Louvre, Orsay, Notre-Dame etc.

Must-see sights

Gazing down on the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower is the ideal Paris baptism. You can never go to Paris and not be able to see this place. And then afterwards, go to the green lawns of the Parc du Champ de Mars and enjoy the walk. 

Notre Dame, who says you can’t see this place? And don’t forget to clamber up the cathedral’s tower to the rooftop to enjoy the beauty of Paris. 

Waiting for over 1 hour to see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre was totally worth it.  And for the art lovers, this place is like heaven on earth and you cannot see this place without visiting the very a must places, Musee d’Orsay, Musee Rodin, Musee du Quia Branly, Musee Picasso and iconic places such as Arc de Triomphe. 

Where to eat

Excellent French cuisine is part of Paris culture and it is all par excellence. You can try the local bistros in St. Germain or the ones by the Louvre and Montmatre. 

Where to stay

I have stayed in several places in Paris but one of the best places that I loved staying was Montparnasse. Finding the perfect place to stay depends on budget and location - Pinning down the perfect place to stay depends on budget and location – arrondissements (districts) have their own personality with ample choice when it comes to recommended hotels. So feel free to choose any place. The good thing is most of the districts have easy access to major sights, transport links, shops and drinking/dining options etc.  Another excellent option is Latin Quarters (5e). 

Getting around

Paris has an excellent public transport system and tickets are so inexpensive. You can buy a pass or yickets depending on how long you will be there.

Frequent trains and buses link Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports with the city center. The first time I landed in Paris, I took the train from Charles de Gaulle to my hotel in the center of Paris or even Montaparnesse. And strolling around Paris is a please between the must see sights. And if it is a must, just take the tour buses that stops you at every must see sight. 

A couple of things: 

• Avoid August as much as you can.  Everything is dead since anyone is going on vacation.

• Also, remember taxis are expensive especially at night. That is because the Metro shuts at 1 am so if you have to party, try to finish it by 1 am.

Super Soul Sunday - Quotes to Stay Positive

We all have bad days and when nothing seems to go right and you are having a bad day,  rest assured that the negativity will pass and you will have a good day. Below are some inspirational quotes that will help you stay positive and carry on even when it is worst of the worst.

Chuck Norris

"A lot of times people look at the negative side of what they feel they can't do. I always look on the positive side of what I can do.”

Elizabeth Edwards

"But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful.”

Nhat Hanh

"People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?”

Demi Lovato

"No matter what you're going through, there's a light at the end of the tunnel and it may seem hard to get to it but you can do it and just keep working towards it and you'll find the positive side of things.”

John Wooden

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

John Wooden

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

John Wooden

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

Michael Jordan

"Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation.”

Elvis Presley

'When things go wrong, don't go with them.”

Oprah Winfrey

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."

How do you Cope with Stress?

I should never say this but every time I am stressed or I having a lot of things going on in my life, I always turn to buying shoes as a way of coping. And lately, I have been buying more and more. Aldo Shoes and Jimmy Choo. I love me some Jimmies. They are comfortable and pricey but the best - Love it!

So how do you cope with stress? What do you do? And what are the best ways to manage stress?

Someone once told me that you should do a couple of things if you want to be happy because  if you are happy, you won't have a lot of stress. But that still does not mean that you won't have stress. I go  through periods when I am stressed and not happy. I try to workout as a way to cope with stress also besides buying shoes which is really a bad habit.

So when life seems to bring you down and you can't seem to find a way out, remember a couple of things:

1.  Focus on what makes you happy!
2.  Go out there and get your happiness by all means
3. Stop chasing dreams that don’t work
4. Stop working on Goals that don’t work and focus on things that make you happy
5. Trust in God always

Adventures of An African Dutchess and Dating

I never thought I would ever write this but I think after last week, I am bound to say something. I currently enjoy and live working in the bay area but dating in this part of the world is horrible. I am almost giving up but my friend Amanda keeps reminding me that I should always give people a chance. Ohh well my chances are running thing and I don't have the patience for it. 

Anyway, what prompted me to write this is that last Friday, I decided to accept an invite from this guy who asked me out. I should have asked a couple of questions but I said why not. And let's not forget this is the second time this is happening. Heck am not even going to allow a third time. 

It's customary in my opinion that when a guy asks you out, he should pay for the dinner or drink but well am living a world where the guys have been meeting lately don't want to do any of those. You ask me out, pay for the damn dinner/drink and if you cannot afford it, lets go walk along the park or rather, spend $3 on a starbucks. I am not happy spending over $60 and even more shameful is you ask me to split the bill --ARRRGGGG. What happened to men being men and treating women nicely on the first date especially if you ask me out. I would have spent my time, reading my books and binge watching Scandal or Empire without worrying about nothing and losing money on my account.

Anyway, so a couple of things. Moving forward, I will not split any check with a guy who asks me out. Secondly, before I go any date, I am going to ask the guy if we are going out as friends or you are taking me on a date because if it is a date, then you better pay for it and if it is friends, then lets go take a walk in the park, I will carry my water and not spend any cent. 

Well that's my Monday Morning Banter. What are your dating disasters?

Super Soul Sunday - Johari Window

For today, I wanted to share with everyone something that I really love and go back to everytime things get a little complicated in my life - 'The Johari window'.

The Johari Window was created by two American psychologists, Joseph Luft (1916–2014) and Harrington Ingham (1914–1995) in 1955 and is a technique used to help people better understand their relationship with themselves as well as others. It is used primarily in self-help groups and corporate settings as a heuristic exercise.

I first learned about this when I watched BET’s Being Mary Jane on an episode and decided to take time and learn about myself.  It helps you describe yourself from a fixed list of adjectives, then asking your friends and colleagues to help describe you from the same list and at the end of it, you will have a Johari Window.

This model is simple and it helps in improving self-awareness, and mutual understanding between individuals within a group. So here are the 4 quadrants in the Johari Window:

1. Open - Known to All
2. Blind - Known to Others
3. Hidden - Known to only Myself
4. Unknown - Known to No One

If you want to try this - please go to to take a test and see where you stand and ask friends to help you. 

Here is an example of a Johari Window.

Coping with Stress

The best way to manage your stress is to learn healthy coping strategies.

They always say that the best ways to manage stress is by focusing on relaxing your mind and your body. This can be done through:

• Writing and journaling. It may help to write about things that are bothering you. Write for 10 to 15 minutes a day about stressful events and how they made you feel. Or think about tracking your stress. This helps you find out what is causing your stress and how much stress you feel. After you know, you can find better ways to cope.
•  Let your feelings out. Talk, laugh, cry, and express anger when you need to. Talking with friends, family, a counselor, or a member of the clergy about your feelings is a healthy way to relieve stress.
• Focus on the present. Meditation really helps your mind to relax and focus.
• Do something you enjoy. You may feel that you're too busy to do these things. But making time to do something you enjoy can help you relax. It might also help you get more done in other areas of your life. Try:

1. A hobby, such as gardening.
2. Buying shoes (thats me)
3. Working out - After a long day, I always go to the gym
4. Try taking a walk to see nature
5. A creative activity, such as writing, crafts, or art.
6. Playing with and caring for pets.
7. Volunteer work.
   
   

   

   Image Source https://www.pinterest.com/pin/208150814001004135/