Dominique

August 13, 2024August 12, 2025

My Vacation in Rome, Italy

My family and I went to Italy for about 2 weeks in the beginning of July. We stayed in an airbnb in Trastevere, Rome, for the whole trip.

While we were in Rome for the majority of our stay, we took day trips to Venice and Florence as well. This post will focus on ROME as there is so much to talk about.

Words to describe Rome: romantic, historical, spontaneous, magical, and ancient.

There are many cobblestone streets and sidewalks which give you an ancient feel. The buildings are very old-looking as well, but architecturally impressive. I felt like I was in a movie.

Throughout the city, there is running fresh and cool water from fountains or fire hydrants that is free to the public to drink, which is top tier.

I can’t speak for all of Rome, because Rome is so big, but I would say the morning/daytime in Trastevere seemed very slow. The work schedule in Italy is different than in America. I noticed a lot of businesses were closed even though it was around 10-11am, and streets weren’t fully crowded yet. It is also said that workers in Italy get to take nap breaks and then return to work.

I can overall say, there is a calm, slow vibe.

Trastevere may be slow in the daytime but the night-time is very lively, similar to NYC. Our airbnb was surrounded by hundreds of restaurants. We could just walk out and find a spot within minutes. There was also an outdoor movie area, park for kids, gelaterias, boutiques, and much more. There were plenty of people roaming the streets and dining out at different spots.

One thing about Rome: you gon’ be WALKING a lot. Our steps definitely averaged to 10,000 or more per day, but I guess that’s a good thing, so you could work off that gelato and pasta, which brings me to the topic of FOOD.

I can honestly say not a single restaurant disappointed ya girl. The food tastes more fresh than in the U.S. and the pasta is out of this world, like if you think you ever had the best pasta outside of Italy, you are highly mistaken. The gelato is rich and creamy: better than any ice cream I’ve ever had. The service was great, and the waiters/waitresses were very friendly and accommodating. The prices were very affordable. Enjoy these pictures/ videos of some of the dishes I enjoyed. I’ll include restaurant names for some, if I remembered to write it down.

Ravioli

Lasagna

Ragu at Ristorante Da Massi in Trastevere

A popular drink is called Aperol Spritz: made of aperol, soda water, and prosecco. It was so delicious.

What sites did I see in Rome?

Day 2: We took a walking tour around Rome with a tour guide who gave us a brief history of each area. We only went inside one church but the majority of this tour was outside. Sites include:the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Trevi fountain, Roman Forum, Colosseum, a church, and a few other sites I did not keep the names of. I definitely recommend going on tours with a guide so that you get history, meet other people from around the world, and you most likely will not get lost.

Trevi Fountain; go early to avoid crowds

Day 3: We went on the Colosseum and Roman Forum tour: this is an absolute MUST. It is so historical and is considered ancient Rome.

Gladiator games took place in the Colosseum with thousands of people.

The Roman Forum is home to many government buildings and is where law courts and public meetings were held. It was also a marketplace.

If you look at those buildings, you will be astonished. I could not help but think that many people in the bible days were where I was standing.

I recommend taking a tour instead of going on your own. With all of the crowds and chaos, it is easy to get lost and frustrated but with a guide, you will be accommodated well and get rich history.

Day 5: Spanish Steps and 3 floor Zara.

Spanish steps are 135 steps that lead to a beautiful view and French Church of Santa Trinita de Montei. It is Europe’s widest and longest staircase dedicated to the holy trinity. The three tiers represent: the father, the son, and the holy spirit.

Zara: will be honest. It was very impressive and the prices were affordable. Their clothes just seemed a bit more tight fitting than the USA. An XL was tight for me when in the USA, I usually go for M.

Going up the Spanish Steps

Day 6: Jewish Ghetto, Marcellus Theater, and Chiesa Di Santa Maria

The Jewish ghetto is where Jews were separated from the country. During Nazi Occupation during the Second World War, many of them were deported. It was built in 1555.

The Marcellus Theater is where many performances took place (acting, singing, dancing) with as many as 11,000-12,000 spectators. It is called the Jewish Coliseum.

Chiesa Di Santa Maria is a beautiful church filled with paintings and architecture.

Day 7: Tour at the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica

You definitely NEED to take a tour for this. Our tour guide took us around the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel, giving us history and descriptions of the art.

The Vatican museum is where you will see sculptures, art, paintings and architecture of the building. The Sistine Chapel is where you will see the ceiling painted by Michelangelo. I don’t have any pictures from the Sistine Chapel because it is prohibited. You also have to cover your shoulders in the Sistine Chapel.

St. Peter’s Basilica is a beautiful church where the Pope resides and is located at St. Peter’s Square. St. Peter’s Square is where it is believed Peter was crucified upside down. It is also believed that Paul was killed in this area.

Where it is believed Peter was crucified upside down

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica

Lastly, one night me and sister decided to have a sister’s night. We went by a little bar and ordered a campari(red drink) and limoncello(yellow drink) spritz! Then we found a pasta spot. It was such a nice time filled with laughter and good conversation!

That is it for Rome! Stay tuned for my Florence and Venice post next!

Advice:

Plan ahead and book tours in advance. Tours are better than going on your own as you get history and a guide who will help you around.
Bring a portable fan as it gets very hot and wear sunscreen.
Bring a water bottle and use the fountains to get water.
Bring light clothes.
Wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking on cobblestones and long distances.
Bring tissues in case there is no toilet paper in bathrooms.
Google maps can be tricky so if you could map your steps ahead of time, that may ease some of the tension.
You can order a taxi on an app called Free Now. It was affordable(much cheaper than Uber) and we used it quite a few times to get around Rome.

August 8, 2024

Tribute to my Late Grandfather <3

My grandfather was born in Trinidad. His name is Stewart but we all either called him, “grandpa,” or “Stewarty Boy.” In Trinidad, it is super common to give people names other than their real name.

My earliest memories of him are around age 4, though my mother tells me we’ve been close since birth. When I was a baby and could not speak, I would communicate to my grandfather by pointing and using signals, and he understood.

I have memories of him in the U.S. and Trinidad.

My grandfather was one of a kind. He could be described as adventurous, generous, a little sneaky, funny, charismatic, and very organized(he drove us crazy with this one haha). He was always smiling, dancing, and happy. He never stayed upset for super long, so I have very few memories of him, angry. If I could show you the many pictures or videos of him, he was either smiling, talking, or dancing. He had such an appetite for life, even in his old age.

In Trinidad, he would take me and my cousins for rides. He was not someone who could stay at home for long and was always on his feet. While driving around certain areas, he would point to houses and say, “that’s all allyuh family,” while we try not to laugh.

He would tell us stories and sing different tunes. One of his specialties was making fried pork. We used to beg him to make it, and were never disappointed. My grandfather loved to play card games such as “All Fours, Rummy, Go to Pack, and much more. It is very rare that he ever lost a game and his cheating game was strong too, LOL. He also was always cleaning the yard, whether it be sweeping away water, dust, and leaves or picking up leaves from the ground. It would bother him too much to leave it as it was.

When I was younger, he was in the U.S. for some time. You have to remember, my grandfather is accustomed to small island life in Trinidad where everyone knows each other and it is community-centered, so when he came to the states, he would act very foreign, and it was hilarious. He would feed the birds, and once a bird really flew into the house. He would sometimes yell people’s names in public and talk to strangers about lord knows what. When he saw a deer, rabbit, or small animal, he wanted to hunt it to eat. Also, whenever I got a cut or bruise, he SWORE putting salt on it would cure it, and he would NEVER let me escape it.

Fun memory: My grandfather made us a cricket bat and bench out of wood in our backyard.

Funny story: my cousin’s rabbit died. What did my grandfather do?

He performed CPR, gave the rabbit a tablet with milk, and guess what? The rabbit was revived for a little but eventually died.

But this all goes to show you how my grandfather operated. He was truly one of a kind.

Unfortunately, as my grandfather grew older, he had slight dementia. Because of this, we had to stop allowing him to drive, because he could get lost or be in a dangerous situation. He was confined to being home for about the last 10 years, and it was hard for him at first, as he was always on the go. At first, he would constantly beg to go on drives, (which people did take him on from time to time), and try to escape, but eventually, he settled.

He was still himself in that he would clean the yard, talk excessively, dance, and wander around, which was a good thing.

My last time seeing him was this past Christmas. I have to tell you, it was the quietest I’d ever seen him. He still talked, but very gently, and it was harder for him to move around compared to the past. He did seem a little sad, but once you talked to him and engaged him, he would smile and open up. He only ate a very little and lost a significant amount of weight.

I did not think it would be my last time seeing him but I did sense that his time was probably coming. I remember hugging him and taking a few selfies before heading to the airport. I was a wreck inside but kept it together.

With all of that being said, I am so thankful that God gave my grandfather 93 long years and even let us spend our last time with him for Christmas. He is the best grandfather a girl could have and I am so blessed to have had him in my life.

He is already missed so much but he is with Jesus and we will reunite.

August 4, 2024August 12, 2025

UnPlanned Trip to Trinidad

I have been enjoying my summer off (perks of being a teacher). After the school year, I recall feeling mentally exhausted and ready for a reset. It has been a relief to relax, rest and focus on me. I feel like I’ve barely been home as so much has been happening. In the beginning of July, my family and I spent about 2 weeks in Italy, which I will make a separate post about.

Two days before our trip was about to end, we received the news of my grandfather’s passing. My grandfather was 93 years old, and was said to not be eating, and sleeping excessively. Those are usually signs that death is near. As much as we did not want to believe that his time was coming, the inevitable cycle of life took its course. What did that mean?

We would have to book our flights to Trinidad to lay our dear grandfather to rest. There is so much to say about my grandfather, which is why I will dedicate a post to him. To keep it short and sweet, my grandfather was fiercely loved by his children and grandchildren. He was so unique and full of life. He was always who I looked forward to seeing when visiting Trinidad for vacation, so this trip was extremely emotional for me.

I had about three days at home after returning from Italy, and then we were off to Trinidad. Even though the occasion was sad, I was still happy to be going to Trinidad. Most of my cousins, aunts, and uncles would be flying into Trinidad as well, so it was such a delight to have us all together.

I remember my first day upon entering my grandmother’s house, I tried to hold it together, but eventually broke down. It was my first time coming to Trinidad WITHOUT my grandfather. I looked into his room and could not help but cry. The house just had an emptiness/ missing element, and it was not the same.

I felt better as more of my family members arrived. We would recall memories of our grandfather with laughter and joy.

In Trinidad, families hold wakes for their dead. A wake is a little gathering with family and friends to honor the deceased and provide support for the family of the deceased. A huge amount of people sent us food and goodies such as sweet bread, cheese paste sandwiches, cheese puffs, cakes, pholourie and so much more. We had 2 wakes for my grandfather.

The wakes were located in the backyard. We had a tent and chairs for people to sit. The service started with praise and worship, preaching, and then fellowship and food. While the service was going on, my mom, aunts and cousins were in the kitchen preparing the food. We eventually served food and fellowshipped with others. A nice treat on night #1 was my cousin brought her parang band, so sweet parang was playing in the backyard. It was such a beautiful touch.

Parang Band: this music is usually played around Christmas time but can be played for other occasions.

On the day of the funeral, I was a wreck. I cried a great deal as did my family. My mother did the heart-warming eulogy in which she practiced 1 million times because she wanted it to be perfect, as a beautiful slide-show of pictures of my grandfather was displayed on the over-head screen. I have to say the service was perfect down to the preaching, singing, eulogy, and care that was taken over my grandfather: he looked so good and at peace, which gave us peace. Also, knowing that he is with God and we will reunite brought peace too.

Once the funeral activities were over, my family members all left at different times to head back home, but my parents and I stayed for a little while longer. I still enjoyed my time in Trinidad, which my grandfather would have encouraged and wanted us to! He was always ready to go on an adventure, and could not stay still for the life of him. Here is some of what I did.

Doubles as soon as we arrived in Trinidad, right outside Piarco airport. It was so YUMMY.

Curried chickpeas with two fried flat breads: just amazing.

My cousins and I went to a place called Offside in San Fernando, Trinidad. Great music and the food was not bad. I had a rum punch with some wings. I had a great time dancing to Soca and other types of music with my cousins: it was such a VIBE.

Pool lime with my family. BBQ chicken, potato salad, and fried rice with a mimosa by the pool. I swam with my cousins, then we danced to music. It was such a beautiful night.

I took a beach trip to Clifton Hill Beach. If I am being honest, it is not my favorite beach, but it was still nice. I was with my dad and uncles. While in the water, it was raining, and what was so cool is when we were in the water, we saw it raining on other parts of the beach, but it did not reach us yet, so it was cool to see when the rain eventually made its way to us. There is a restaurant near this beach called D Neighborhood Grill and Bar, and the food is no lie, AMAZING. I had a burger with fries, while the men ordered Chinese food. It was nice and breezy, and calypso music was playing.

We took a hike on Lady Chancellor hills, where there are views of Port-of-Spain, the capital of Trinidad. The hike was not too bad. It lasted about an hour. The views made it very worth it. After hiking, we went by the Savannah, where vendors sell different types of food such as doubles, gyros, jerk and bbq chicken, corn soup, fruit juices, sweets, and so much more. I got BBQ chicken, macaroni salad, and salad.

I took a beach trip to Las Cuevas beach: my FAVE beach. On the drive to Las Cuevas, you will pass the Maracas Bay lookout. There is a beautiful view of the ocean and goodies for you to buy!

I have to say, this was the perfect beach day. The views are magnificent and one thing about trini’s: rain does not stop us from bathing in the ocean. While bathing in the ocean, it was raining on and off, and I watched people playing soccer and cricket on the sand. The water was so cool and clear. Probably my favorite day. Then we got some bake and shark by Maracas Bay. I have to be honest. I was a little disappointed as it was not as good as I anticipated or how I knew it to be in the past. Usually this is a must try when in Trinidad, but you just have to find the right spot. 😦

The rest of this trip was spent relaxing and spending time with family, in which I enjoyed.

Trinidad without my grandfather will never be the same but I still feel him very strongly, and have peace that he is in a much better place, and will not have to suffer anymore. I honor his legacy by LIVING and ENJOYING life, just the way he did. Though this trip has a sad purpose and it was intensely emotional, it also ended up being a refreshing, loving, and enjoyable time, which is what my grandfather always lived for and represented.

Stay tuned for my tribute post to my late grandfather. ❤

May 26, 2024May 27, 2024

Mother’s Day

This Mother’s Day, my siblings and cousins decided to throw a little brunch for our mothers.

Just a little about my mom and her sisters: they are strong Trinidadian women. Growing up, I used to think my mother was a mixture of caring and strict. While she cared deeply for me and my siblings, she also did not play! I did not get everything I wanted and my mother did not hesitate to let us know what we sometimes needed to hear. As an adult, I am so grateful. My aunts are very similar. There is no such thing as “spoiled” in my family. We got lix, pinches, and you name it. But I can happily say, I had an involved, loving, and prayerful mother in my life, and it has impacted me tremendously as an adult. I am eternally blessed.

As I look at me and my cousins in our adulthood, they did not do a bad job! We are all thriving and finding our ways, thanks to them!

My sister cooked fried rice, ribs, macaroni pie, and jerk pork. My dad made his popular potato salad and red beans. My cousins brought other dishes that included BBQ wings, baked chicken, and lasagna. I bought a cookies-and-cream cake from Whole Foods. My aunt bought a red velvet and carrot cake. My cousin made these delicious chocolate chip cookies. We also bought these yummy macaroons from Costco, so you can say I gained a pound or two, because WHO CAN RESIST THAT?

This is a picture of our table spread. Flowers were bought from Lidl, and we went for a floral theme.

It was such a beautiful time of laughter, fellowship, and reminiscing of times past. I have the best family ever. Hope we can do more events like this in the future! See you next time!

May 25, 2024May 25, 2024

Weekend’n BK

My sister asked if I wanted to spend the weekend in Brooklyn and just have fun. I said BET!

Upon arriving in Brooklyn, I first had to stop by one of my favorite roti shops and get some doubles, which were wonderful. I also tried a goat aloo pie. Ugh, took me right back to Trinidad.

First activity: CONEY ISLAND

We had to get our Nathan hot dogs, fries, and tenders. It slapped as always. It was just very windy and cold by the beach, and I only had a light spring jacket. I was internally laughing at what I was seeing. Two men dancing with their speaker playing music: one of which came to me with a cup asking for money. People were wearing shorts, tank tops, sandals, and were very near/ in the ocean despite the cold. Titanic flute music was playing in the background. I said This is New York for yuh!

But I love Coney Island- the vibe is so unique. I wanted to go on a few rides but it was pretty windy/cold, and it probably wouldn’t have been as enjoyable. Hopefully next time!

We went back to my sister’s apartment to nap and get ready for the next stop:

The Golden Diner in NYC

This diner is known for their huge pancakes. We of course ordered one to share, along with chicken cutlets, french fries, and iced tea. When I tell you this pancake was magnificent: rich in flavor, thick, soft, buttery, and dreamy. We definitely could not even finish it, after eating a few bites. The cutlets were also very delicious. The waitresses were very super friendly, and I love that we got to sit outside. The only thing I did not like was how tight the space was. Other than that, I 10/10 recommend.

Next stop: Mr. Fong’s in NYC

It is a small bar. I didn’t care for the drinks.

We tried Orange wine, and White wine. Ewk.

Me and my sister were able to chat about life, which was great, though! The vibe was interesting, but not my particular taste.

Last stop for the day: The Roger’s Garden in Brooklyn

This was much better. The vibe was nice. Younger people, more modern music. The drink options were also very unique/ creative.

I ordered The Freedom Bay Rum Punch: very tropical. My sister ordered the Flatbush Mule: vodka and ginger beer.

The drinks were tasty, and I liked that it was not super crowded.

On the way home, I stopped at a store to purchase some tea, when I stumbled across many west-indian and other childhood snacks. When we were younger, and were always in NY for either church or to visit family, we would get sour pour candy straws from the corner stores. When my grandma used to work in Manhattan, she also used to bring us sour pour when visiting us for the weekend. The candy brought me right back to those years, #nostalgia.

Day 2: It was Sunday and my last day so I went to church with my sister, which was GREAT and then we went to this brunch spot called SHANE’s. I ordered a salmon burger with fries, and a strawberry lemonade. My sister ordered steak and fries with a strawberry lemonade as well.

The food took a little while to come out, but it was delicious. I’d definitely go back.

Overall, this little weekend trip was so fulfilling and a breath of fresh air. It is important to get out of the house, and EXPERIENCE!!! Life is soooo RICH. To many more adventures to come!

I’ll always be a home-body but man, I love to be outside too. They’re both great. Those who know, they know.

Thanks BK!

April 21, 2024

My 26th Birthday!

I decided to treat myself by getting a silk press and trim. Last time I straightened my hair was December of 2022, so my ends were not giving. I missed having my hair straight, as I used to get it done all throughout middle and high school, until I decided to stop putting heat in my hair. So this was a treat!

Later on, I went to a restaurant called House 157 with the family. The vibes were nice as afro beats were playing in the background and the lighting was blueish- purple. It was a more formal restaurant as people were dressed in their Sunday best. I ordered steak with mashed potatoes, greens, and a side of mac and cheese. For appetizers, we got empanadas, flat bread, and jerk wings. The food was 7/10.

We then bought the infamous Carvel ice cream cake, and sang birthday to me and my mom (her birthday is 3 days after mine so we sometimes celebrate together).

Funny story: my sister unknowingly bought the prank candles, so when blowing out the candles, the fire kept lighting back up. It went on for a good 1-2 minutes, so me and my mom were blowing candles like crazy to the point where my brother was like “I’m not eating that,” LOL!!

Very blessed to have made it to 26. 25 was a year of extreme pruning and growth which I will share at a later time. But I will say, 26 feels good. I feel renewed, refined, and ready for whatever God has in store. Praying that this year brings clarity, vision, growth, rich experiences, and abundant blessings. To God be the glory.

April 20, 2024April 20, 2024

Day Trip to NYC

Recently, I was on spring break. One thing I really wanted to do was go on a day trip to NYC by myself. I wanted a day full of exploring and adventure, and by MYSELF. I could move at my own pace, and do what I want, without the interjections of anyone else. So where did I decide to go??? Let’s get into it.

I decided to visit the Museum of Modern Art, and then meet my sister for dinner, since she works in the city.

On my way to the museum, I bought a hot dog from an outside cart to munch on just cause! It was alright, but highly desired at the moment.

While strolling through the city, I was taking in the views, lights, chatter, and excitement while also listening to music. It’s been a minute since I was in NYC so it felt very refreshing to just walk and not feel the need to rush or get distracted by anyone else. I could just be.

Once I arrived at the MOMA, I got my QR code scanned and went up to the second floor which was the Latin American floor. There were cool furniture designs and neat paintings. I was taking my time to read the descriptions of the art pieces( something I rarely do lol but decided to do better)

I think my favorite floor was floor 3: Kathe Kollwitz. Just a brief description of her work from the MOMA website: “Focusing on themes of motherhood, grief, and resistance, she brought visibility to the working class and asserted the female point of view as a necessary and powerful agent for change.” As a woman, in a time where many more odds were against us, Kathe Kollwitz really made a name for herself through her paintings, and her paintings were very powerful.

On this same floor, there was work by African-Americans, and a whole room dedicated to depicting art from Apartheid in South Africa. The paintings/ art pieces on this floor were very vibrant. I was amazed by what I was seeing.

The last floor I went on was the 4th floor: I do not recall the name but this floor was the most crowded. There were paintings from Picasso, Starry night by Van Gogh was displayed, (which everyone was crowded around) and many other well-known artists, some of which I remember learning about in college. I walked around to see everything as fast as I could, because with the crowd, it was hard to really stay in one place too long. After this floor, I was exhausted. Remember after some time, your eyes get strained from reading all of those descriptions. And with all of the walking, you get physically tired. I decided I would leave after this floor.

Since I still had some time left before meeting my sister, I went to a plaza near Rockefeller center where there are restrooms, places to buy food, and places to sit. I got a small bite to eat at The Tipsy Baker by cafe D’avignon. I got a sandwich, and chocolate olive oil bread. It was very fresh and delicious. I then sat and read for a little to kill time.

Once the time came to meet my sister, we had a meeting spot, and walked to a restaurant called The Jin. It is a Korean restaurant. My sister was raving about how great it was so we ordered spicy ramen. She got hers with grilled chicken and I got mine with pork. We also ordered Korean fried chicken wings, which were very heavenly.

The food was delicious, and very SPiCY. Not gonna lie, I was sipping on my iced tea quite a bit, but it felt like the ramen was cleansing everything inside of me(LOL). We shared some laughter and quality time and then prepared to leave.

This trip was very refreshing. It reminded me that there is so much out there to see and experience. I plan on getting out more in the future, and explore the many more wonders this life has to offer.

Enjoy my TikTok recap of my day😀😀😀

Thanks for reading! See you soon.

April 6, 2024April 6, 2024

Easter/ Resurrection Sunday

I have been volunteering in the children’s ministry of my church for about 5 years. For the past 3 Easters, I volunteered to help with the festivities for the kiddos. My church goes all out for Easter: activities include a bouncy house station, blow up basketball games station, an ice cream/video station, bible trivia station, and lastly, the group games and tattoos station, which I was in charge of this year. In the group games/ tattoo station, there was a huge box outlined in tape and divided in two, filled with colorful plastic balls. The kids were to be divided in two teams, hence why the box was divided in two, and the object of the game was for the kids to throw as many balls to the other side as they could, and the side with the least amount of balls would win the game. They had about a minute to do it. I had to facilitate this game and make sure everything ran smoothly. It was a little chaotic at times as kids were already starting to throw and kick balls before I even gave instructions, but overall it went well. The first graders followed instructions the best (LOL). As a first year teacher, I’ll be the first to tell you, managing a group of kids is no easy task haha but thank God for the teacher helpers and volunteers who helped keep the kids on task. After the game, the kids went to the tables and chairs in the back. The tables were filled with different tattoos, and the kids got to choose one, and put it on.

Full Circle Moment: While facilitating the games, my station helper handed me a microphone, being that the room was pretty big and there would be a great amount of children. It helped significantly with running the games and projecting my voice to reach everyone. When I finished facilitating the games, I had a full circle moment. These games took place in the church’s chapel. Years back, during my teenage years, I suffered with severe social anxiety, and I remember being in this same chapel, during youth service events, very anxious. During praise and worship, I was too scared to sing out loud or even lift my hands. I was always concerned about who may be looking at me. It was terrible, and I sometimes felt like God did not care, because I was not seeing results as quickly as I wanted to. But here I was, many years later, on the MICROPHONE, leading games, to a large number of kids, very boldly and very confidently. I told my mom in the car, “God got me on the microphone.” And only He could get the credit for that. What better day than RESURRECTION SUNDAY, to fully be in awe of the resurrection power that is available to all of us, and is in work in all of us, giving us the strength and power to do things we could never do on our own. You may be in a situation that seems very impossible and difficult, and may wonder where God is. He’s there with you, and can already see you totally delivered and free from what is binding you, though you may not be able to at the moment. With God, your situation will always end in VICTORY, so as my pastor always says, “If it’s negative, GOD’s not done. And if God is not done, you’re not done!”

I also wanted to share my Easter meal. My family has been requesting some roti and curry duck for so long, haha. My mom made some bussup-shut roti, curry duck, channa, and curried potatoes. It was sooooooooo yummy. Enjoy this picture.

Thanks for reading. He is Risen!!!!

January 14, 2024January 15, 2024

My First Trini Christmas

I had the great pleasure of celebrating Christmas in Trinidad! My family had planned this for about a year, so as we got closer to Christmas time, excitement rose. This would be my first time being in a warmer climate for Christmas as I am so used to celebrating in cold New Jersey.

This trip was also a little more emotional for me than usual. A week before me and my siblings left for Trinidad, our grandmother(my dad’s mother) passed away. What made this sad is it was totally unexpected, but also, we would not get to celebrate with her. I remember tears started to roll down my face as soon as the plane landed in Trinidad, knowing that this trip would be a little different from what we have grown so used to.

My grandma’s service was the same day as our flight, so as soon as we landed, my uncle picked us up and rushed us to her service. We made it right before the end, were able to say our goodbyes, and then went to the cemetery. I remember feeling mixed emotions as the men dug up dirt, placed her coffin in the hole, and started to fill it up. The sky was getting darker, people were singing hymns, and I couldn’t help but wish I could have a final conversation with her. In spite of that, I was so happy that my grandma lived a very long, fulfilling life (94 years), and while I wish she could be with us a little longer, I know she also was growing older, and with that comes the aging process. I had a peace that we got to spend so much of our lives with her. Not seeing her in her house will be weird, emotional, and an adjustment, but her legacy lives through all of us.

Let’s talk about some of the highlights of this little trip.

On Christmas Eve, me, my dad, and brother went to Moruga Beach! I told my dad “This totally beats being in New Jersey.” He agreed. Moruga is not my favorite beach, but I still like it. We have been going there since childhood. The water is very warm, and the views are beautiful. On this same day, I consumed THREE doubles (don’t judge me) but I was living my best life (LOL).

On Christmas day, we had Christmas dinner at my grandma’s house. Then we went house hopping to two other relatives’ houses. In Trinidad, it is common for people to go from house to house, eat, bring gifts and sweets, chat for a little, and then move on to the next house. It is called paranging. We did the same on boxing day. When I tell you, I probably gained like 10 pounds from the delicious food I consumed. It was a time. Food from both days consists of fried rice, macaroni pie, duck, , lamb, gouti, bussup-shut roti, bbq chicken, ham, black cake, pone, sweet bread, poncho de crème(drink) and LOTS of my mama’s famous sponge cake (I TORE THAT UP😛)

Something cool that also happened on this day was that a loud truck was blasting Parang music, and stopped at different locations to hand out presents to children. At one point, it stopped in front of my grandma’s house. There were two men dressed up like the Grinch and other people dressed up in their holiday colors. It was beautiful seeing that. I went outside and started dancing to the parang and totally soaked in the moment.

We took a beach day to Macqueripe bay on the Wednesday after Christmas, and had lunch at U-Pick Farm, not too far from the beach. The food was great. I had a burger with fries and watermelon and mint juice.

The water at Macqueripe Bay was so refreshing and beautiful. I could totally get used to going to warmer countries for Christmas!

This wasn’t a long trip as my flight was on Friday, so for the remainder of the trip, I just hung out with family and took it easy. I enjoyed spending time with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. It was nice seeing everyone and I could not help but reminisce of all the beautiful memories we share. I love how God knows how to bring us all together.

Unfortunately, I got sick the day before I left. Not sure where it came from, but I had a migraine, stuffy nose, and a cough.

It went away after about two days but boy did it take me down, HAHA. Anyways, this was my first Trini Christmas, but for sure not my last. I look forward to the many trips to come. Love you my sweet Trinidad.

Thanks for reading!

August 7, 2023August 7, 2023

weekend tings

This weekend, I went hiking with the fam. I went to Watchung Reservation trails in NJ. There are multiple trails: some easier than others. We got lost and ended up hiking on more than one trail and I was able to see the differences between the trails. The harder trails involved twists, turns, going up steps/climbing, and were more narrow whereas the easier trails were wide and flat-surfaced for the most part.

Either way, I really enjoyed being in nature, despite having to shove away a few flying insects (haha). We were surrounded by tall trees, calm breezes, sounds of different creatures, creeks, and what we really wanted to see was the lake. The lake was large and greenish in color. Some people were fishing there, or just taking in the views. It was truly peaceful.

What I like about hiking is it is number one, a great form of exercise, but it also forces you to connect with yourself and others. It is a great way to relieve worries, stress, and focus on the present. There is something about being in nature that is healing to the soul.

I will admit, I am someone who exercises regularly, whether it be through the treadmill or home cardio/weights workouts: that helped tremendously during this hike, because hiking requires a lot of endurance. Even with that, I did not necessarily feel tired, but I was ready to go after about an hour LOL. Thankfully, there are different trails, and you can find one that works for you. Also, you have to start somewhere, so do not feel discouraged if you are ready to go early on LOL, that is just part of the process. I believe it is something you have to do regularly in order to gain endurance, but it is possible. Just throwing that out here for those that think hiking is all cute(LOL). It is a commitment: you may want to leave or find a shortcut( I thought about it) but you have to see it through. I hope to find more time to go hiking regularly in the future.

I also wanted to share my Trini Sunday lunch. For as long as I can remember, on Sundays, my mother cooked rice, red beans, chow mein, callaloo, stewed chicken, plantain, and sometimes macaroni pie. We alter it sometimes, but that is mainly the meal that is cooked. This particular Sunday, I requested pigeon peas, which my mother made with stewed chicken and fried rice. I made the macaroni pie: isn’t it pretty???? (hands down my fave dish )My sister made sorrel sangria, which was honestly a sweet way to end the weekend.

Thank you!!!!