Travel

HOTEL REVIEW: HARD ROCK HOTEL DAYTONA BEACH

October 16, 2018 · 2 Comments

Last weekend, I traveled to Daytona Beach Florida to attend my college’s homecoming at the Great Bethune Cookman University. This year, my friends and I just knew we had to make it back to our old stomping grounds to check out the city. If you ever watched the movie Drumline or Stomp The Yard then you would understand just how amazing attending an HBCU homecoming is. Homecoming was a great time of course but, It was my stay at The Hard Rock Hotel that made my 48 hours in Daytona a memorable experience as well. The hotel is located right on the beach side of Daytona right on the oceanfront. It was easily accessible to everything from the beach and nearby restaurants.

From the moment of arrival, I received total rock star royalty which stuck until departure. The valet staff was all so eager to meet guests needs, making my stay incredible. Back in the day, I remember the hotel’s current location being the Desert Inn which wasn’t the nicest looking hotel. The Hard Rock Hotel has totally stepped it up a notch and given Beachside a whole new upscale vibe.

Rooms

The hotel features 200 guest rooms and suites on site. All the guest rooms are named after a music album. I was super excited when I noticed my room was Beyonce’s Lemonade. ( I think that’s such a great touch, especially when I always forget my room number lol). I stayed in a Queen Ocean front view room which was very spacious and comfy. I love the fact upon check in they offer The Sound of Your Stay® program, which is an exclusive audio experience that puts the guests up close and personal with music. I got to select three genres of music which played in the background of my room (Who needs an iPod when you have a custom-made music list!). Having an ocean view room I was able to hear the ocean waves all day and night which was very relaxing. I also loved being able to see what was going on at the beach, pool, and restaurants from my balcony.

Amenities

The hotel features an endless list of amenities to guest such a renowned full-service Rock Spa® and Salon, A Rock Shop®, Body Rock® Fitness Center, Hard Rock Roxity Youth Club™ and 24/7 room service. The Hotel also includes the signature Sessions restaurant and bar, the open-air Wave Terrace bar and a beachfront pool with outdoor pool bar and grill. The pool area always had endless entertainment from a DJ spinning the latest tunes to a live band and singers at night. You seriously never need to leave the property with everything you need around you.

The Staff

The staff at Hard Rock all were extremely gracious. Everyone I spoke to had such a chill, down-to-earth spirit. From the manager on duty down to housekeeping, everyone was smiling and super pleasant. One woman at the front desk even helped me learn some new settings on my camera and taught me how to shoot better with my lens. The Hard Rock Hotel staff just made me feel really happy and at home during my stay.

Overall, My stay at The Hard Rock Hotel was very memorable and one I plan to do again. I love fun edgy hotels and this definitely lived up to my expectations. From the cool, fun staff to the amenities and location, The Hard Rock Hotel is worth it and surely will bring Daytona Beach tons of business.

Disclosure: Thanks so Much!!! to the staff at The Hard Rock Daytona Beach. I was guest at the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach,As always all opinions are my very own. To book a stay make sure to check them out https://www.hardrockhoteldaytonabeach.com/

Taking On Curvy Con With The Big Fig Recap

September 25, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Hey everyone I know I’m super late on my Curvy Con Recap but better late than never right. Two weeks ago I attended The Curvy Con in NY during NYFW. This year I got to team up with my Big Fig Family and hang around the booth. I wanted to give you a little recap of why I really loved attending this year.

This was my 2nd year attending Curvy Con thanks to Big Fig. Now If you aren’t aware of who The Big Fig is, I advise you to check out my previous post here. Any way Curvy Con is a three-day event created by Plus size Bloggers Chastity Garner of Garnerstyle and CeCe Olisa of Cece Olisa. The event brings plus size brands, fashionistas, bloggers and more into one space to chat, shop and embrace being curvy.

On Friday morning I arrived for the first day of Curvy Con ready for the festivities. We kick-started the day with well-known dancer Jessie Diaz and Beyonce …Yes, I said IT!!! Beyonce’s very own choreographers Amore and Jore Marshall. Jessie 1st lead us in a great early morning workout to wake us up and get our energy going. Then Amore and Jore taught us all the latest Beyonce moves. I was ready to go on tour with the queen herself after learning all her latest dance moves.

After the workout, we got to indulge in an infused water station and got free goodies from Target. Later in the afternoon, I threw on my outfit styled by Courtney Noelle and attended the fashion show sponsored by Loft. Loft showcased the latest styles for the new plus size collection currently available in stores. The styles on the runway were absolutely amazing, I can’t wait to buy a few items for myself. What I loved most about the fashion show was the diversity in the model’s used to represent the brand.

The second day was when the fun really happened. It was a day full of panels and celebrity guest speaking on different topics and workshops. Since I was working with my Big Fig Family I spent the day at the Big Fig Booth. I loved the fact I had a chance to meet and greet some of my fav influencers, celebs, and bloggers and share how amazing the Big Fig brand is. So many people loved just lounging on the huge king size bed and were shocked to find out just how comfy it really is. I always tell folks sleeping is a key factor in life. So having a good supportive mattress is key to getting good rest.

Also the day of the event there was a huge shopping area for attendees to shop different brands. Many brands had discounts exclusively for attendees and offered items only being sold at the event.

Last but not least they ended the event by giving all those who purchased platinum or glitter tickets a cute giant swag bag full of goodies. Hunny let me tell you the number of goodies given was BOMB. My bag was full of stuff such as pants, panties, gift cards, portable chargers, and coupons. Also throughout the event, there was plenty of raffles and tons of free items. I literally had no room to put all my stuff going back home lol. The night ended with the Curvy Con after party which was full of laughs, memories, and lots of dancing.

I had such a great weekend attending this event. I’m also happy I got to spend it with my Big Fig family and share just how amazing the brand is with all those who attended. I literally can’t wait to attend next year’s Curvy Con. If you missed this year make sure to buy tickets for next years event because they SELL OUT FAST. Thanks to Courtney Noelle for dressing me and Big Fig for bringing me to this awesome event. Hope you all enjoyed and Owl talk to ya soon.
Love

Ps. Make sure you check out the Big Fig mattress if you’re in the market for a new bed, I promise you won’t be disappointed and make sure to use code VANABLACK for a big discount !!!

Stavana

Curvy Con Recap

September 11, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Hey everyone this past weekend I attended Curvy Con in NY and wanted to give you a little recap of why I loved the two-day event. Life has been a little hectic on my end so this break was exactly what I needed.

This was my first Year attending Curvy Con on behalf of the wonderful people at Society+. Now I know some of you guys are reading like what the heck is a Curvy Con. Curvy Con is a two-day event created by Plus size Bloggers Chastity Garner of Garnerstyle and CeCe Olisa of Cece Olisa. The two-day event brings plus size brands, fashionistas, bloggers and more into one space to chat, shop and embrace being curvy.

On Friday morning I arrived for the first day of Curvy Con. We kick started the day with well-known trainer and Instagram fitness star Massy Arais. Massy lead us in a great early morning workout while dropping gems of knowledge. After the morning workout, we got to indulge in a fresh fruit juice bar and rest up for the activities the night had in store. Later in the afternoon, I threw on my outfit styled by Society+ and attended the fashion show sponsored by Dia & Co showing off the latest styles to be released . The styles on the runway were absolutely amazing, I can’t wait to buy a few items. What I loved most about the fashion show was the diversity in the models used to represent the brand.

The second day was when the fun really happened. It was a day full of panels and celebrity guest speaking on different topics. One of my favs was the “Girl Boss” panel. For me it’s so inspiring hearing how other women took an idea, and made it into something great. I truly believe everyone should go after goals they want to achive. I loved the fact I had a chance to meet and greet some of my fav designers and store exces all under one roof. After hearing the panels it was time to hit up the shopping mall to mix, mingle network and shop. Many brands had discounts exclusively for attendees and offered items only being sold at the event. I told myself no shopping but Ashley Stewart and Romans had some pretty great deals, I just couldn’t pass up a bargain.

Last but not least they ended the event by giving all those who purchased platinum or teal tickets a cute giant swag bag full of goodies. Hunny let me tell you the amount of goodies given was BOMB.com. My bag was full of stuff such as as jeans, t-shirts, gift cards,portable charge and coupons. Also through out the event there was plenty of raffles and tons of free items. I literally had no room to put all my stuff going back home lol. The night ended with the Curvy Con after party which was full of laughs, memories, and lots of dancing.

I had such a a great weekend attending this event . I literally can’t wait to attend next year’s Curvy Con. If you missed this year make sure to buy tickets for next years event because they SELL OUT FAST. Thanks to Society+ for dressing me and sending me to this awesome event. Hope you all enjoyed and Owl talk to ya soon.
Love

Stavana

Untied Kingdom Vacation Recap

June 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment

As you all may have perviously read I just came back from a trip to London on a deal that was too good to pass up. If you haven’t read my pervious post on 10 things to know before visiting London well go check it out here. Lets jump into the details of the trip. I booked my trip totally out of just wanting to be away for my Bday and celebrate elsewhere other than home. I always loved London since I was younger. I grew up loving The Spice Girls, SClub7, Cleopatra oh and lets not forget Austin Powers who all made London look cool (90’s babies know what i’m talking about). I traveled to London for about 8 days and loved every minute of it. My Friend Alex and I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the country. Heres what I did on my adventure.

Day 1

We were kind of tired from the 6hr flight but we sucked it up and took the train to Picadilly Circus to check out the scene and go search for some food. We had lunch at a local place near by called Garfunkel’s which kind of reminded me of our Fridays. Alex had the Fish and Chips while I had the Scampi Basket. After exploring the city we were pretty tired so we headed back to our Airbnb flat to get some rest before our train ride to Paris.

Day 2-3

We spent the next two days in the wonderful city of Paris. We took the Eurostar which is a 2 hr train ride from London to Paris. Being in Paris was simply breathtaking, from the architecture to the way the ambience set the mood for the whole city. Since we wanted to explore the the city we took a ‘Hop-On-Hop-Off’ tour bus that offered a river cruise down the Seine River. Paris truly is so full of history and style. It was great listening to everyone speak French and be so full of life. The food was everything I expected and more. I fell in love with Pizza all over again at a little spot we found next to the Eiffel Tower. I would love to go back. Simply because a day in a half just wasn’t enough! But you know what? I’m so happy I can say I have been and enjoyed every moment of it.

Day 4-6

The next few days was simply enjoyable, and to be honest is when the real fun began. We took a ride on the famous Coca Cola London Eye, which many think is a giant Ferris wheel but it’s actually a cantilevered observation wheel. The London eye has 32 capsules to ride in and on a good clear day you can see about 40 km (25 miles) from the top of the London Eye. The day we went was gorgeous out so I was able to get some beautiful shots of the city. After the loop around on the London Eye it was time for another River Cruise on the Thames River. It was a bit chilly on the water but it was great getting some history on the city of London while cruising the open water, waving at everyone on the bridges and sidewalks. As if the London Eye and cruise wasn’t enough I then checked out the Sea Life London Aquarium which was really cool. I loved seeing all the various aquatic creatures and being able to interact with the penguins (one of them was totally ‘hamming it up’ for the cameras lol).

After all the fun and adventure in both cities, the last thing I had to do before leaving London was AFTERNOON TEA. Now anyone who knows me knows I’m a lover of tea mostly ice tea but I drink literally any kind of tea. Just make sure you hold the sugar please and definitely any form of cream. I decided to indulge at Patisserie Valerie for my Afternoon Tea fix( it’s kind of like Starbucks but BETTER). It was such a cute set up from the way they organized the savory treats on the bottom and desserts the on top. I really enjoyed the quiche and finger sandwiches. The best part though was the SCONES which I smothered with black currant jam and clotted cream, SO YUMMMMMMY!

Going to Europe and exploring a completely different country will surely go down in the books. I’m happy I can say I got to see a new place and experience life in such a unique way than what I’m use to. I hope you all enjoyed the pics, Also make sure to stop by Alex’s page he took tons of amazing shots. I think everyone should get up and explore the world. Until my next travel adventure! Owls see ya later

Love

Stavana

10 Things To Know Before Visiting London

May 31, 2017 · 1 Comment

I just got back from taking my first real trip I planned on a whim. Back in February I noticed a deal for flights in May going to London that were $250 round-trip. I told myself, I can’t pass up such a deal. I was going to London for my Birthday. I texted my friend Alex and asked if he wanted to join me since we both are May babies. He’s a photographer so it would be great to explore another country with him as a my travel buddy. Therefore with me planning a spontaneous trip to the other side of the world, today I’m sharing 10 things you should know before visiting London. Also be on the lookout for my recap on things I did while in the UK.
I tried to keep this simple and short, but any questions you may think of feel free to ask I’m more than happy to answer.

1. It’s Not Cheap

Lets just get that out there first before anything. If you’re on a very tight budget than visiting London isn’t exactly the cheapest when it comes to taking a vacation, but it most certainly is obtainable. The British use a currency called the Pound and it is very strong when you put it against the US Dollar. Basically US money is poop against British currency. Though right now is the best time to go because the pound is at its lowest. For every 1 US dollar the conversion is $ 1.29 GP. Which means when budgeting just double what you have to be on the safe side. There’s always tons of deals that can make it cheaper.

2. Flying Into London

If you’re looking to keep airfare low then grab a low-cost flight to London. I flew in on Norwegian Air which is always running deals. Other airlines also run specials, just make sure to keep an eye out and see what airport the airline is flying into. Most of the low cost carriers land in airports outside of London such as London-Gatwick Airport which is 30 minutes from Central London and offers many transportation options into the city.

2. Airbnb

You should definitely opt for an Airbnb vs. Hotel when traveling; it’ll save you so much money. Just make sure to do your research and read the reviews. I found a cute little flat right outside Central London in Earlsfield (10 minutes from the attractions via tube) for $90 a night. The host of the Airbnb was wicked helpful on anything we needed in regard to where to visit and eat. The Airbnb was clean and comfy and made us feel at home. Staying at an Airbnb even saved us money on eating out. We were able to run to the local market to pick up food to cook our own meals. We stayed here

3. Getting Around

Getting around London is super easy. In my opinion I think its best to buy an Oyster Card. You save so much time and money by buying a card. The Oyster Card is good for the tube(train) and buses. You can order it before arriving or purchase it at any Station or store and pre-load a given amount onto the card. When using an Oyster Card, your journey is not only discounted but you’ll also have a maximum daily capped amount that you can spend in one day. This means that after doing 3 or 4 journeys, the rest of the day’s travel will be totally free around all of London. Most of the residents in London travels via the tube because parking is a bit crazy. If public transit isn’t really your thing, there is always Uber and the fancy black cabs which vary in price.

4. Buy A Convertor

The outlets in Europe produce a lot of power so plugging anything from the US into a outlet of there’s will not fit and could cause some major damage. You can buy a convertor at your local store or online prior to leaving. Just make sure to read the fine print because the convertor I had in London didn’t work in Paris so make sure it’s compatible. The British power plug is “Type G” and has 3 pins. Voltage is 220-240V.

5. Cars Drive On The Left In The UK

Remember, when crossing the road in London (and the rest of the UK) you need to look right. I don’t know how many times Alex had to pull me back on the sidewalk from looking right instead of left. This also goes for walking – always walk on the left side of the road and in tube stations other wise you will get some angry looks. LOL.

6. Know The Lingo

Yes they speak English, but all countries have their own slang and unique terms that they use and they appreciate you more when they see you making an effort to speak their language. Here’s a few just to get you started. Alex became quiet a expert saying cheers to everyone LOL.

Loo = bathroom (toilet is also acceptable)
Cheers = thanks
Lift = elevator
Queue = line
Bin = trash
Cashpoint = ATM
Trainers = tennis shoes
Zebra Crossing = Pedestrian Crossing
Biscuit = cookie
Chips = french fries
Crisps = chips
Ground floor = first floor

7. Food
Food in London was quiet interesting. One thing I will say is they offer all types of options when it comes to different places to eat. In my opinion British food kind of lacked flavor. I had heard that from many who had previously visited so I made sure to have some snacks on deck from home. I will say if anything, make sure to try the traditional Fish and Chips that was pretty good. Also make sure to try the Thai and Indian cuisine.

8. Tipping Is Not Mandatory

Tipping isn’t as big a deal as it is in the United States or other countries but that doesn’t mean it isn’t appreciated. Usually a small 10-15 percent tip is more than adequate at a restaurant. We actually ended over tipping because some places added the service charge already in the bill. Therefore make sure to read the bill. There’s also no need to tip when hailing a cab, though it often makes sense to round up the amount to the nearest pound. Overall anything you give is always appreciated .

9. Afternoon Tea

Yessss it’s really a thing. The British love everything tea and they offer it all over the place. Make sure to indulge in afternoon tea while visiting. It’s nice to sit and enjoy some little finger sandwiches and sweet treats over a cup of hot tea. I know some folks aren’t big on tea so have no fear they do offer coffee. However, tea is more likely the signature beverage. You’ll hear about my afternoon tea experience later.

10. Smile

Yes that’s right SMILE. I know as Americans we can sometimes be perceived as standoffish and unapproachable. London on the other hand is very welcoming for all cultures. Therefore leave the stuck up mentality back in the states. The vibe I had while in London was amazing, everyone was so friendly and welcoming with smiles on their faces willing to lend a hand if needed. The amount of multi racial couples was beautiful and really filled my heart with joy.

I hope you all enjoyed my ten things to know before going. I tried to provide you with things I wish I knew before going to make everyone’s travel smoother. Make sure to stay tuned to my next post tomorrow . I’ll be showing what I got into while visiting. Until next time Owl talk to y’all Later.

Love Stavana