Somewhere Luxurious

Here’s How to Do the Essence Festival the Right Way

Claudine Williams — Sat, 24 Aug 2019 19:22:34 +0000

I made it to the Essence Festival 2019. Since I bought my ticket about nine months and made my plans before the festival, I thought that I was fully prepared. My trip to the airport gave me a real reality check. I was not prepared at all. Here’s how you can do the Essence Fest the right way.

Dress right for the Airport

I thought I looked cute at the airport on my way to the Essence Festival. I choose this of-the-shoulder blue blouse. I chose it mostly because it was light-weight and it didn’t need ironing! When I arrived at the airport, all was well with the top until I had to bend over to take my shoes off. I looked down and noticed that everyone could probably see my goodies in my strapless bra. I stood up quickly, aware that I had to be careful about bending over. Then while I was sitting cozy in my seat on the plane, I happened to look down again, and I noticed that my top was on backwards! I wouldn’t recommend wearing an off-the-shoulder top like this, because it’s just not very secure when you need to handle your luggage, bend over, etc. Of course it’s not cute if you wear it backwards.

Choose a Good Hotel

I stayed in Le Pavillon Hotel during my trip to New Orleans. It’s about a 15 minute walk from the Mercedes Benz Superdome (where the concerts were held). I literally had to walk straight down one road to get to the dome, which is great for a directionally challenged diva like myself. Le Pavillon is a high-end hotel, so it’s beautiful inside. My room was pretty basic, however. I choose Le Pavillon especially because it’s so close to the dome, but it was a little far from the other Essence Fest functions and activities. The Beauty Carnival, the Fashion Carnival, the E-Power event, the French Quarter were not walking distance. There was also a mix-up dealing with my room service order. They delivered my food to the wrong room, and had me waiting forever to eat.

Dress Comfortably for the Concerts

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome is huge! Most of the Essence Fest concert-goers wore shorts, jeans, pants, casual clothes with sandals or sneakers. People were dressed to dance, to walk long distances and to feel comfortable. A few people wore club dresses with heels, but I wouldn’t advise that. A lot of the festival goers walked back to their hotel after the concert, because it was hell trying to get an Uber at the end of the night.

Dress Comfortably but Appropriately for Everything Else

I brought all casual clothes for the fest, which would have been okay, if I hadn’t added a the E-Suite (a business event) at the last minute. So, I was at this event with key-note speakers, and I was wearing denim shorts. Bring at least one outfit that’s suitable for a casual business event. The E-Suite event was so worthwhile. It was great to get business advice from successful black women. I highly recommend it! Don’t forget to bring your business cards.

Expect to Wait for Uber Everywhere

I thought that I’d take Uber everywhere I wanted to go that was too far to walk. It took Uber forever to get anywhere. I had no choice but to call them and wait, because most of the events were not close to each other. Trust and believe that I was waiting in the hot sun with dozens of other people, trying to get an Uber or a Lyft or whatever. The traffic was terrible! Although the Ubers were usually within 10 to 15 minutes away, they couldn’t get to me, because they were stuck in traffic most of the time. I had no choice but to wait. One Uber driver let me out about five blocks away from my destination (I agreed under the circumstances).

Try to Attend All of the Nightly Concerts

If you buy your tickets early, you can get a good deal on a three-day concert pass. Buy it! One thing that I didn’t like about the fest is that you might not know the full concert line-up until at the last minute. Buy your tickets early, and try to get tickets for all three days. Plan to attend all of the days, too. Michelle Obama was added a couple of months before the festival, and I was shocked! If I had bought only one or two tickets, I might have not bought the night that she was going to be there. I didn’t go to the concert on the last day, and there were some performers that I wanted to see. Don’t think that the Essence Fest won’t have good performers on the last day!

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Here’s An Easy Beginner Bling Gel Nail Design

Claudine Williams — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 19:17:41 +0000

I wanted my first gel nail style to be easy to do, but be as sparkly as possible, so I got the idea with this rhinestone bling style. I’m using rhinestones that I bought on Amazon a while back, so I wanted to put them to use. Here’s how I achieved this look!

I prepared my nails by washing my hands, and removing the dead cuticle skin. I used this Sally Hansen product for that. Next, I filed my nails, both with an emery file and also with an electric file. I filed on top of my natural nails to remove the shine. This helps the gel products to stick on the nails better. I cleaned each nail with alcohol on a square swap (cotton-like material) and then I proceeded to attach the tips with nail glue. I decided to cut the tips fairly short since, I was traveling and going to the Essence Music Festival.

I use a couple of products to help my gel nails last a long time. First, I apply YN Pro Bond. I read great reviews on how well it works and so far, it’s been working well for me. I can keep my tips on for about three weeks (as long as the nail tips themselves do not crack). My nails usually do not lift. I also use Gellish Foundation on my nails. I cure my nails for about 30 seconds between each coat, using my UV/LED Light.

Next, I add IBD builder Gel. It’s a hard gel, so you are going to need to file this stuff off when you are ready to change styles. I cure my nails again for about 30 seconds and add the soft gel, also by IBD. One by one, I placed the rhinestone on my nails on the still tacky soft gel. I tried using tweezers for that, but I realized quickly that it’s much better for me to use a wax applicator (purchased from Amazon).

The style will last at least two weeks. I still have these nails on, and I attended the festival that I created this look for about two weeks ago. I lost three nails because the actual nails split. So, I attribute my broken gel nails to having poor quality tips. If you are buying online, pay attention to the reviews. I paid attention, but I liked the idea of having short tips, so I took the chance to buy them anyway.

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Best Things to Do in London

Claudine Williams — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 19:46:42 +0000

The reality TV show, Love and Hop Hop Hollywood had tons of drama as usual, but one of the highlights for me in this season was to see the cast in London. There’s so much beauty in London. I have a special love for castles, kings, and queens, so I love to visit anything that has to do with royalty. There’s so much to see! As you plan your trip, you might feel overwhelmed by all of the attractions, so here are some of the best things to do in London.

The Tower Bridge of London

Tower of London by David Stanley

The Tower Bridge is one of London’s most visited attractions. Go inside this iconic bridge for a glorious view of the city. Peruse the bridge don’t forget to bring your camera for amazing photographs of the view.

Tower of London

My visit to the Tower of London was one that I’d never forget. The buildings are immense, but it was the demonstrations around the castle that I remember most. We saw very entertainers, like jugglers and there were plenty of actors and actresses demonstrating various famous moments in time.

Crown Jewels

Best Things to Do in London: This is a replica of Queen Victoria’s crown

Visiting the crown jewels in the Tower of London was a highlight of my trip to London. It’s one of the best things to do in London. Now, I don’t know if the jewels on display were real or not. Some of the other tourists were muttering that the jewels were fake. Since I was there to see the jewels as a member of the press, I was given a behind the scenes view of some of the clothing being repaired. I have to admit that it seemed as though one of the dresses that we saw in the Tower of London was a replica, because I saw the same dress in another room that they had set-up to repair the precious items.

Big Ben

Big Ben photo by Taz Wake

Big Ben is more than a clock. It is a mechanical wonder. You can’t visit England without touring Big Ben.

The London Eye

It’s been such a long time since I’ve visited London that the London Eye was not even built yet. It opened in 1999, but when I get to London again, I’m definitely going to ride on the London Eye. Riding as a VIP would be an amazing experience.

Hampton Court Palace

My visit to Hampton Court Palace is more than a visit it was an actually stay. I stayed overnight in the castle, and it was an experience that I would never forget. From dramatic storytellers, I learned about history of some of the notorious residents of the palace. I ate scrumptious food, which I believe was cooked using traditional methods. Always will I remember the huge open fireplace in the dining area.

Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle has become even more popular since it’s been featured on the show, Downtown Abbey. It’s a picturesque castle that you’d love! Overnight stays are also available.

Buckingham Palace

A tour of Buckingham Palace is definitely a must, and it could possibly be the highlight of your trip. Plan to see the staterooms and the unforgettable grand staircase.

Hyde Park

If you are looking for some of the best things to do in London that are free, you should consider going to a park and the popular Hyde Park is a great choice.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is a miraculous mystery that is a must-see while in the country. You will have to travel a bit outside of England to Wiltshire to get there, but it’s definitely work it.

Westminster Abbey

St. James Park

St. James Park is yet another lovely option for something free to do in the London area. It’s less than 2 miles away from London.

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What To Carry In a Small Purse For Festivals, Concerts, and Other Events

Claudine Williams — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 21:49:50 +0000

I had my big all-purpose purse with me but I had a dilemma, I wanted to know what to carry in a small purse. I wanted to switch from my usual large and carry my smaller, lighter purse.

I went to the Oktoberfest festival, I found that it was much too big and heavy to carry it around. I didn’t need all of the stuff that I had in my big purse. When you attend a festival, concert or any events that might require a lot of walking or stair-climbing you will want to carry a lighter purse. Here’s what I do lighten the load.

What to carry in a small purse? Photo by Claudine Williams

I keep the essentials, of course. I need money , my smart phone and my ID. After that, I like to have a compact with powder to help matte up my oily skin. My compact has a small mirror, which is great for checking my make-up. I keep lip gloss or lip balm, especially in the fall and winter. I’m still getting the hang of putting on lashes, so I usually bring some lash glue, just in case my eyelash begins starts to look like a spider dangling from my eye.

I have to keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in my bag just in case I want to eat some finger food or I end up using a public restroom. That reminds me, I also like to keep a couple of paper towels or moistened wipes with me. I like to eat barbecue at festivals or just about anytime I can get some good barbecue.

It’s better to be safe than sorry. Carry one of those miniature bottles of water with you, just in case you end up feeling parched or dehydrated. You might even think that it’s too hot outside or inside, but before you know it, you could start feeling too hot until you feel dizzy. I went to the Oktoberfest, and you’d think that it would be cool. I was very glad that I had a small bottle of water when I decided to walk several blocks to a restaurant that I like.

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Bigg Daddys Restaurant: They Aren’t Kidding!

Claudine Williams — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 00:40:14 +0000

When planning a trip to the Oktoberfest celebration in Helen, Georgia, I get excited about the food, especially the food at Bigg Daddys Restaurant. My mouth waters when I think about that place.

Luckily, I was able to combine a trip to the mountains with a stop over in Helen. I made it to Oktoberfest. After walking around the Oktoberfest festivities for a while, I was hungry. I was too hungry for a little snack. I needed some real food. I’d eaten at Bigg Daddys during a previous Oktoberfest, so I knew where I wanted to go, but I didn’t remember how to get there. I asked for directions, and then I asked the million dollar question. Can I walk or should I drive?

One of the people whom I spoke with told me that it was an easy walk to Bigg Daddys. The second person told me that it was a good four blocks away, and I had the impression that she wouldn’t recommend walking. It was humid, and I was already tired, but I decided to walk anyway.

Bigg Daddys is around the corner and down the street from a Wendy’s. It’s a short distance from the “festhalle” which is the Chamber of Commerce building. Once you find it, it’s easy to recognize Bigg Daddys, from its large triangular-shaped roof. There are also signs identifying the restaurant.

When I entered Bigg Daddys I was grateful for the cool air from the air conditioner. It was a sharp contrast from the muggy air outside. The place was pretty full and very loud. Many of the patrons had their eyes glued to the TVs, and they would erupt into screams from the plays made in the game they were watching. I assumed that it was a Falcon’s football game. I was seated in the back of the restaurant, because I wanted to eat inside, and there weren’t many seats left. There’s a large patio where many people were already munching on their food.

I wanted the coolest air from the air conditioner, and I wanted something freezing cold to drink. When the sever came over to take my order, I couldn’t wait to order a frozen drink, but there were no frozen drinks on the drink menu that the server directed me to. I could get something sweet on ice, so I decided to get some sweet tea.

I looked over the menu and couldn’t decide between the fish and the ribs. I had the fish last time, and it was great. That’s why I was back a second time… Should I have something different? I explained my dilemma to the server and she practically solved my problem when she said that I’d get a ton of food if I ordered the ribs.

The ribs came with the choice of two sides, so I ordered fries and macaroni. My server kept my glass of tea filled. A few minutes later, I was so full, that I could not eat another bite. I sat and people-watched for a while. I called my server to bring me the bill, but she was so busy that I had to ask another server to get her so I could pay.

When my server showed up, she had a to-go carton ready for me. I was a bit annoyed that I had to have someone get her, but I got over that when she arrived with that to-go box. I love intuitive restaurant servers.

I’m so glad that I found Bigg Daddy’s, and I chose to eat there again. I tore up the leftovers when I got home later that night. The barbecue had just the perfect flavor. I chose to have sauce instead of the dry rub. The sauce had a smokey flavor. I was glad that the pork was meaty, not fatty. I hate fatty barbecue. I really enjoyed the barbecue at Bigg Daddys, and the fish that I had on my previous trip was good, too. I can’t wait for my next visit there.

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