Life Lately…

Hello Friends,

Lately, I’ve been feeling this pull to change. To evolve. To reinvent. And from the conversations I’ve been having with others, it sounds like I’m not alone. A lot of us seem to be craving something new—peace, purpose, softness, elevation.

I’ve been spending a lot more time by myself and honestly… I’ve been loving it. No pressure to go out, no social battery drained—just me, at home, doing what I love AND taking care of my mental health. It’s been peaceful and surprisingly productive. I’ve tapped into my creativity, started making YouTube videos again, cooking and baking more, and even prepping my breakfasts and lunches for work like a true grown woman that’s trying to save money and be a little healthier 😏

And then came the itch—to rearrange, declutter, elevate everything. I’ve gone through my cupboards, reorganized, donated what no longer aligns. Sheets, towels, old clothes—gone. I’m talking about a complete energetic refresh. Even my wine glasses are about to be upgraded (because why not sip pretty, right 🍷🥂 lol?). CB2 here I come!

It’s not just about the stuff though—it’s a vibe shift. I feel different. Like something is quietly evolving inside me. I can’t fully explain it, but I welcome it. I’m stepping into a new version of myself.

Sooooo I did a thing. I ordered a dining table from Shein. LMFAO, I know I know—but hear me out 😩😂 this is a safe space where we listen and don’t judge! Lmao!!! My current place has an island, but no legroom to actually sit and eat comfortably, and eating on the couch every day? Not the vibe!! Plus it’s not comfortable for my guests. Anywho, I wanted a proper place to enjoy meals and just feel a bit more grounded. This felt like part of that glow-up energy. Since I live alone I went with a 2 seater something very small and inexpensive. I’m just “testing out” for now to see if a dining table actually flows well in my home before I commit to the table I REALLY want. The last time I had an actual dining table was in my first apartment many years ago. I’m really taking a chance ordering this table from SHEIN. We’ll see if it’s adult-sized or made for dolls—but either way, I’ll be sharing the reveal soon!

Follow me on IG and YouTube to see how this glow-up continues—because this is just the beginning.

Just some stuff I made from scratch 🧑🏻‍🍳 …banana bread, sandwich bread and lasagna soup 🤌🏼

Asia 2025

Hello Friieeends!!

Hope everyone is doing well! As for me, I’m doing great, though I’m still recovering from jet lag after a 2.5-week adventure across Asia. It was an unforgettable trip, and I wanted to share my thoughts on the places I visited. Spoiler: I saw some amazing things, and also encountered a few bumps along the way. Let’s dive in!

Singapore

Singapore was an absolute dream. Everything was so modern, luxurious, and yes, very expensive. But wow, it’s a place that lives up to the hype. The streets were spotless, and what caught my attention the most were the trees. Sounds random, right? But seriously, you could tell they were taken care of with love and care—our taxi driver even told us they trim them weekly! The attention to detail is unmatched. They’re called Rain Trees.

We stayed at Marina Bay Sands for a night (if you’ve seen the rooftop pool on Instagram, that’s the one!). Honestly, I can’t recommend it enough. The hotel was beyond what I imagined—luxury at its finest. The rooms were equipped with all sorts of fancy features (like the automatic toilet lid that warmed up, bidet settings, and even cleaned itself!). The view from the rooftop pool was stunning, and we ended up eating at Estiatorio Milos, a Greek fine dining spot. If you’ve ever seen a menu where they don’t list prices and you pick your food based on weight, that’s how you know it’s fancy (and pricey!). But hey, totally worth the experience. Changi airport is huge with so much to see and do!

Maldives

Let me just say this: If you’re ever thinking about the Maldives—go. It’s everything you see in pictures and more. The water? Clear as glass. The villas? Absolutely gorgeous. The marine life? Swimming right past you. Yes, including sharks (but don’t worry, they’re harmless). We stayed at Villa Nautica, which was just perfect, though the food and drinks at the resort were a bit of a letdown (mostly watered-down drinks unless you paid extra). Still, the location was worth it all.

Philippines

Alright, here’s where things got a little more... real. We visited Boracay and Palawan, and while they were stunning, they were also underdeveloped. In Boracay, we stayed at Fairways & Blue Waters Resort—a place I cannot recommend. The resort was outdated, and let’s just say our bathroom had bloodstains on the wall (yeah, not the greatest experience). In Palawan, the hotel was better, but still nothing to rave about.

But despite the accommodations, the experience itself was humbling. I spent time reflecting on the resilience of the people in these areas. Despite living in very difficult conditions—some with little to no access to clean water or basic amenities—their kindness and warmth blew me away. It really put things into perspective for me. We, with all our comforts, take so much for granted. It’s always a humbling experience to travel and see different walks of life, and it reminds me just how blessed I am. Our last stop was Manila, and it definitely felt more modern and wealthier compared to Boracay and Palawan. There were tall buildings, designer stores—you name it. We stayed at the Hilton and, well, it was as expected: top-notch service and comfort.

Whew, that was a lot, huh? But if you made it this far, thank you for reading! Overall, this trip gave me so much to think about and be grateful for. It’s one thing to go on vacation and take in the sights, but when you really stop and think about the people and places you visit, you get a whole new perspective on life. I’m so grateful for the experiences I had and the memories I’ll carry with me.

Till next time, friends! Safe travels and remember to always appreciate what you have.

Also, please don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more pics and videos - @nyclifeandglam

2 Weeks Post-Op Update…

Hola! Hope you’re well!! If you’ve been following me then you know that I’ve been having complications with my fibroids. November 2 I had a procedure to try and remove some of them although mentally I think I feel great my body reminds me that I’m still recovering. I was back at work 2 days later which probably wasn’t smart of me but like I always say “pa lanté, the show must go on”. My 2 besties accompanied me, bless their souls. I’m beyond grateful and blessed to have them.

It is so infuriating that us women go through so much with our bodies. I’m remaining optimistic and I’m hoping this procedure helps me a bit. The next step is iron infusion to bring my levels up and hopefully after that I’ll start to feel like myself again *fingers crossed*. I have my post-op appt in a few days and I’m a little nervous yet I always remain positive. I’m still not feeling 100% but I won’t go into details - TMI lol. 

I know there are other women dealing with the same issues I’m dealing with and I want you to know it’ll be ok, you’re NOT alone. Please feel free to contact me if you need someone to talk to.

Greece 2024

As most of you know by now I went back to Greece. This trip was more laid back, we stood in Athens for a few days, we walked around a lot, ate a ton of delicious food and I got a tattoo that I’m NOT happy with (let’s not talk about it). We then flew to the island of Corfu for another couple of days. Such a beautiful place!!! Unfortunately, I was very sick in. 

Athens: It’s so busy so be prepare to encounter a ton of tourists especially in the city center area. We didn’t go to Acropolis because my sister in-law was happy seeing it from a distance. I personally do recommend seeing it up close and personal, research the history which is what I did the first time I went. The food is by far my favorite. Try the fried feta drizzled with honey – chef’s kiss. The feta cheese in Greece isn’t like the one in the states, ours is salty and theirs is perfection. I ate a lot of salad because it’s what they like to eat besides lamb/meat. Everything is so fresh, honestly everything outside the states is fresh. The girls had planned to get travel tattoo’s but I honestly didn’t want another one. After they got theirs we went to eat then I decided I wanted a blue heart, something very simple. It was nice at first but it didn’t heal very well so I have to get it touched up at some point. 

Corfu: It was my first time there and its gorgeous. Not much to do as far as party / nightlife but this wasn’t that type of trip. This is a very chill place, it’s good to lay out by the pool/beach, enjoy the resort and visit the town which we didn’t do. We were way up in the mountains and thought we were further away than what we actually were. I spent most of my days in my room sick and came out at night for dinners and nightlife which consisted of drinking wine (ya’ll know I love me some wine) and just hanging out with the girls. Things happen for a reason, I don’t feel like I missed out on anything I see it as my body needed to rest and so that’s what I did. The view from our room was beautiful so I enjoyed it, meditated, wrote in my journal, read my book and embraced my quiet time alone. So grateful to my girls for taking care of me, they would bring me honey with lemon which helped.

The flight back was rough for me since I wasn’t feeling well. I had aches, fever, an annoying cough, I became restless so I kept shifting in my seat, I couldn’t sleep. I could not wait for the moment that plane landed!! Overall, it was a great trip, I’m so happy my sister in-law came along and shared this experience with me.  

As for my next trip I have a big one in February, if you follow me on IG then you caught a glimpse of the locations on my stories. If you read this all the way to the end you’re the real MVP LOL and I appreciate you.