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Monday, December 15, 2014

Dry Land Tourist Chronicles: Living IRIE

When you live on an island Summer never really ends....the days just get shorter....

At the end of August, I went on an excursion with my Rotaract Club to Irie River in St. Ann. I was super excited for the trip & I was not disappointed a bit.

A little about the Irie River....

"Irie River, formerly known as Irie Beach, is a true Jamaican Paradise and is widely known as one of our best kept secrets. It is located on a scenic section of the White River, in Ocho Rios, just 15 minutes upstream from the ocean. People come from all around the world to swim in our cool, clear waters and to relax and be amazed by our enchanted gardens.

Irie River has the atmosphere of a plantation-era bathing hole, Caribbean style. The sandy bottomed river flows gently through the park, allowing for safe swimming and visitors can bask in the sun on the grassy banks or relax in the shade provided by the lush tropical rainforest overhead."



Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Rude Gyal Swag

On Saturday, May 24, 2014, my service club hosted a fundraising party called "EVOKE". This was the fourth staging of the event and the second staging under the name "EVOKE". This year's theme was the "Braids N Bumpa."


Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Celebrate International Reggae Day

Today, July 1, marks the celebration of all things Reggae. Let's celebrate this wonderful genre which has produced some conscious and uplifting music.


For more information on International Reggae Day log on to http://www.ireggaeday.com/

One Love,

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Dry Land Tourist Chronicles: Appleton Rum Tour

It has been awhile since I have made any treks across my beautiful island. Of course, the Dry Land Tourist was eager to add another chapter to the travel chronicles and luckily for me, I was able to visit an oldie but good.

On Saturday, May 17, 2014, myself and members of my Rotaract Club loaded up four vehicles and headed to the beautiful parish of St. Elizabeth for the Appleton Rum Tour. It was my second time on the tour and I felt like a Rum Tour virgin. I was in awe of the beauty of the Appleton Valley just like I was three years ago when I first visited with my Rotaract Club.

I tried vlogging the experience, however, Nix (my camera) decided to be a diva so that was a no go. We traveled via Highway 2000, which got us to Clarendon in literally no time. We made a pit stop at Juici Beef, Clarendon Park for bathroom breaks and food runs. We were thoroughly entertained by the vendors who saw it fit to complement us on the most random things...it was actually rather refreshing. The hustle and bustle of City life sometimes makes one forget the warmth of the Jamaican people. This encounter was a good reminder.

It took us approximately 3 1/2 hours to get to Appleton.

The Entrace to the Rum Tour

Sunday, May 11, 2014

COLORful Musings

In February, my good friend Nicole invited me to join her at Color Festival. I had seen ads floating around Facebook about it but I didn't really pay much attention until Nicole invited me. I immediately bought my ticket online and began planning for what I assumed would be a fabulous time! It was my first festival of this nature.

FABULOUS was a drastic understatement!

The event was held on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at Hope Gardens.

Lately I have found that I prefer Sunday parties to Saturday night for quite a few reasons:

1. I cannot stand Sunday vibes....it is a bit too slow for my hyperactive personality. I usually end up sleeping away the afternoon (except when I have an exam).

2. Sunday events start and end early

3. It totally makes me forget Monday Blues.

4. They are usually laidback and don't require much high maintenance.

I am getting a bit carried away and that is a whole other blog post!

Color Festival started at 4PM but my friends and I did not get there until 7 PM. My online ticket came with 5 bags of powders and a hassle free entrance line. Next Color Festival I am definitely buying my ticket online because it guarentees more party time. I anticipated the line up. Apart from the EDM DJ, I knew what to expect from the line up. Kurt Riley always gets me dancing no matter the genre he is playing; Richie D I always heard about but I finally saw him in action at UWI Carnival & I was instantly a fan, he really brought Miami sexy to Color Festival; & DJ Sanjay and soca were meant for each other...

DJ Kyle DeSouza did not disappoint. He kept the EDM hits coming nonstop! I felt like I was in Ibiza!

I danced until my feet hurt! I am an avid music lover and I don't limit myself to genres. The promo promised Soca, EDM & Pop and the DJ's delivered. Of course being in Jamaica, the dancehall had to find itself in the mix and it was well appreciated. The crowd was very energetic and I think the DJs fed off that vibe and vice versa.

My only issue with the event was the bar. The wait was too long. I hope the bar situation improves at the next staging of the event.

My Outfit was simple...A white crop top, a pair of white cut off shorts, boots and a head band made by my talented friend Trudy. My only accessory was my pair of silver hoop earrings.

Me & Nicole

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

OOTD: Family Funday

My outfit for the Rotary Club of St. Andrew North's Family Funday was simple & I think elegant. I paired an oversize shirt with a comfortable pair of shorts with my most trusted D'NexStep Sling Baby and a cute shoulder bag I got as a birthday gift from a friend. 


Top: Maxie's Department Store, Portmore
Shorts: Bought from a family friend
Sandals: D'NexStep 
Bag: Gift




Watch: Geneva, Kim's, York Plaza (A gift)
Arm Candy: Brit Bran, Bargain Mall, Clock Tower Plaza
Sandals: D'NexStep Sling Baby


Thanks for Stopping By!


Sunday, March 16, 2014

Shanny's Weekend Musings: March 7-9, 2014

My weekends are usually filled with alot of adventures so I decided to blog about my musings. Here is a recap of my weekend trods:

Friday: Bacchanal Opening night at Mas Camp. 
I am a socaphile...I ADMIT IT. I love the gyrating and wukking up my body, so it was a no brainer that last weekend I would venture to Mas Camp for the start of the Bacchanal season.
DJ Smoke, DJ Sanjay & DJ Richie Ras played all my favourite soca tunes which kept me feteing all night long. 




$900 JMD well spent! Appleton Genesis & Pure Country Orange Juice had me feeling nice!

My band says I am LEGAL!!!
Saturday: Emancipation Park & Cafe Delight
Some down time with friends is always a necessary part of anyones life & I am no different. My Saturday evening began with a one hour walking around Emancipation Park with a dear friend of mine. Emancipation Park is a 7-Acres park in New Kingston. More information can be found on it at http://www.emancipationpark.org.jm/about-us/index.php. It was refreshing to sit in the park and watch the wedding parties and families having picnics. Living in the city can sometimes feel rushed, so places like Emancipation Park gives a rather serene break from it all.

http://www.emancipationpark.org.jm/about-us/history-of-emancipation-park.php

In the night, I met some Rotaract friends for a lyme at Cafe Delite on Haining Road. It was a nice chill vibe  & much needed chance to share laughs with some great people.

My Rotaract Family

Sunday: Kingston City Run & Rotary Club of St. Andrew North Family Funday

Myself, My Mom & some members of my New Kingston Rotaract Family participated in the Kingston City Run. Our participation kickstarted out Celebration of World Rotaract Week (March 9-15). This year the run's charity focus was on providing sustainable support to the Homeless in Kingston & Jamaica, Event though I walked most of the race, I am proud I finished and supported the cause. Here is my time:

Place: 1013   Bin #: 1657 Shana Reid   Gun Time: 55:35   Class Place: SF18-29  150/188   Gender Place: 483 Pace/Km 9:56   Chip Time: 54:15 


The Team

Thank God I can stand...lol
I am a winner not matter what!

In the afternoon, I went to Hayfield in Ewarton, St. Catherine for the Rotary Club of St. Andrew North Family Funday. It was a refreshing experience and I can't wait for next year. Food, rides, fun activities & liquor galore! It was a big family picnic with games, rides & lots of food.

I haven't been in a bouce about for ages!

Me & Viv on the train



I love swings!
That was my weekend and I enjoyed every second of it!

           
Thanks for reading!


Thursday, March 13, 2014

Happy World Rotaract Day!!!!

If you know me you know Rotaract is the love my life! Today commemorates 46 years of the greatness that is Rotaract!!! So for a special day like today, I had to dedicate a blog post to Rotaract & my NKRC family.

A Rotaract club is a Rotary club-sponsored organization of young adults ages 18 to 30, whose 
purpose is to provide opportunity for them to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist 
them in personal development, to address the physical and social needs of their communities, 
and to promote better relations between all people worldwide through a framework of 
friendship and service, and whose goals are:

a) To develop professional and leadership skills;

b) To emphasize respect for the rights of others, and to promote ethical standards and the 
dignity of all useful occupations;

c) To provide opportunities for young people to address the needs and concerns of the 
community and our world;

d) To provide opportunities for working in cooperation with sponsor Rotary clubs;

e) To motivate young people for eventual membership in Rotary.


Last year, my club created a Membership Video to promote Rotaract & my club The Rotaract Club of New Kingston:






Tuesday, March 11, 2014

“A night of Upliftment”: @ExodusPoetryJa & 13th Street Promotions Open Mic Series






PRESENTS

“A night of Upliftment”, Exodus Poetry’s very first show of our Open Mic series, featuring Harold Davis. Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Red Bones Blues Café, 1 Argyle Road, Kgn 10.
Come and enjoy the talent of young and upcoming poets and singers; there will also be a walk up open mic segment so come and share your poetry as well. Don’t be shy! 

Come unwind after a hectic work day! Bring a friend, have a drink, sit back and let you mind be taken away on the wings of the words our poets will spit.

Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and showtime is 8:00 p.m. Admission is ONLY $400
You will not be disappointed!
No dress code so come right after work or school. 

Follow @ExodusPoetryJa on Twitter and visit https://www.facebook.com/exoduspoetry.jamaica.9 or http://exoduspoetryjamaica.com/ for more information and regular updates.


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Rise Up Mighty Lioness

Yesterday I got some bad news.... I experienced a failure.

This is not my first failure but it was my first failure in this particular area of my life and I did not take it too well. The first emotion I felt was anger and resentment. After making so many sacrifices and asking so many persons to make sacrifices to accommodate my choice, I couldn't help but  feel angry at my self.  I was angry for not working hard enough . I then shifted my anger and I got angry at God for not being there for me....

After the anger subsided I felt like a loser....and this in turn led to me feeling sad. I decided in that moment to watch a movie on Netflix to cheer myself up because I did not want to go down Hysteria Lane. Netflix was kind enough to suggest Jane Eyre (It's quite creepy how smart Netflix can be sometimes). It is a book I enjoyed and seeing the words come to life, I guess, gave me the motivation I needed to brush my shoulders off and move on...

Failure is a natural part of life and it gives us an opportunity to go back to the drawing board and reflect. This situation has given me the motivation to hold my head even higher and continue my trod. I won't allow negative feelings or thoughts to drive me to give up because that in itself would be an even bigger failure.



"Just can't live that negative way...make way for the positive day!" — Bob Marley 


Thanks for Stopping By
XOXO

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Flower Child: DIY Flower Crown

I am a fan of  Lana Del Rey! Her music and her style is just awesome! One Sunday when I was enjoying my daily dose of Ms. Rey, I got the great idea of channeling my inner Lana by making a flower crown.

I used items I found in my house to make it and it came inreally  handy for Halloween (I went to my Rotaract Club's Halloween Lyme as Katy Perry in her "Roar" video).



I gathered an assortment of flowers from around my house

I used my tape measure to find the circumference of my head. I then took an elastic band (I found in my sewing kit) and cut the diameter + 5 inches extra to allow me to tie the crown


I aligned the flowers in the order I wanted
I used a needle & thread to secure the flowers on the elastic

Here is the finished flower crown!
I'm feeling Electric tonight...
Lana Del Rey is simply...AWESOME


“I used to wonder if it was God's plan that I should be alone for so much of my life. But I found peace. I found happiness within people and the world.” 
― Lana Del Rey


Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Let's See What You Have To Offer 2014!

I am here sipping a Red Stripe beer and reflecting on what turned out to be not such a bad year. I learned alot in 2013 and experienced alot while making a few mistakes. My 2013 victories and defeats, I hope, will be the foundation for a great year.

I am not a resolution kind of girl but I have decided to make a few needed changes in my life this year... so I guess that makes me a resolution kind of girl after all (LOL).


Here goes:

1. To trust myself a little more. 2013 taught me the power of believing in ME.
2. Never allow loneliness to be an excuse to stay in a not so happy relationship (FRIENDSHIPS INCLUDED)
3. Be financially responsible....ENOUGH SAID
4. Smile at least ONCE a day
5. Continue exploring
6. Conquering fears (started in 2013)
7. Master that which I am good at
8. Survive school!
9. Leave Jamaica (& the Jamaican Territory) for at least 5 Days again
10. Truly Love...even when it is the HARDEST thing to do.

I will work to achieve these goals and try to make my 2014 experience AWESOME!



“For a new year to bring you something new, make a move, like a butterfly tearing its cocoon! Make a move!” —Mehmet Murat Ildan

Happy New Year All!