Another year is almost behind us which means it is that time again, my gift guide to yourself time! Before you start plotting and budgeting gifts for your love ones, stop to think, what have you done for yourself lately. Especially to all the mommas out there. We often put ourselves last while trying to care for our families. For example, I recently reviewed my amazon orders looking for some inspiration for this year’s guide and realized most of my orders this year were for my kid. So I had to go elsewhere to find some gift guide Inspo. Below are some great ideas to gift to yourself that are cost effective, convenient to use, easy to enjoy, and luxurious.

1. Scentbird: This is a fragrance subscription which you may gift to yourself or someone else. It is quite an easy set up. First, you pick your fragrances for the next few months or complete a questionnaire if you’re unsure of what you may like. Next, you will set up your subscription and receive your 8 ml, 30 day supply delivered to your door. Each package comes with a description card which explains the scent. I’ve gotten to try 3 new fragrances since the start of my subscription. So far my favorite new scent has been Veronique Gabai. This is great way to try a new fragrance from the comfort of your own home before investing in the bigger bottle. Nothing in your queue? No worries, like I mentioned you can complete a questionnaire and allow the experts to select your next fragrance for you. Also, you may pause or cancel your subscription at anytime. What fragrance have you been wanting to try?
2. Fine jewelry or clothing on consignment: This is the type of gift I like to call double good! It’s both economically and environmentally friendly. Purchasing on consignment expands the life of a product while reducing waste. Also, a lot of high end jewelry is very expensive to purchase new but you get a huge discount when purchasing these things on consignment. I recently purchased a timepiece on consignment and it was in good working condition. My only advice is to get your item independently appraised and verified. Check out the Real Real or another online consignment shop for your next pre loved luxury good.
3. Sugarwish: A sugar wish is my absolute favorite gift to give to others especially with friends and family all over the country. A sugar wish is appropriate for any occasion. I received my first sugarwish from my employer in 2020 and since then I have gifted it many times to others including gifting myself a sugar wish on my first Mother’s Day. You have the option to gift candy, sweets, dog treats, popcorn, and wine to yourself! They come in the cutest packaging and everything is paid for by the gifter including the shipping. 
4. Kindle reader: This was suggested many times by vloggers I follow especially for those of us who easily get distracted but would like to read more. My kindle reader does not have any bells or whistles, it just flips pages. There are no apps or colorful shiny things to distract me when it is open. Plus I can connect it to my Bose headphones which was on last year’s gift guide, to listen to an audio book. It’s a great way to put the phone away and get lost in a literature adventure.
5. Personal Financial Planner/Wealth Advisor: well this is just a shameless plug because I am indeed a personal financial planner but seriously, everyone could benefit from having a comprehensive review of their full financial picture. There are a few ways to find a planner but click on the link if you would like to find a Certified Financial Planner near you.
6. Cricut Maker Machine: This is the gift that keeps on giving! You can gift it to yourself to make gifts for others. I purchased this machine in 2020 and I have had some fun making cool arts and crafts projects. So far I have made aprons and sweatshirts. I will say the novelty wore off for me after a few uses but I do plan to make T-Shirts for my kid’s first birthday.

Nickels, how many of you like a good girl’s trip with some good girlfriends? I know I do but there are definitely rules of engagement to ensure the trip goes off without a hitch. I have been on quite a few girl’s trip. Some went really well and others not so much. Here are some tips from lessons learned to ensure your next girl’s trip is enjoyable.

Decide which destinations are best for a girl’s trip: There are places on my bucket list where I would like to travel to and not compromise on anything from the excursions to the budget. This is the type of trip that may be better left off my girl trip rotation. When I book a trip with others I know that compromising is a necessity not an option. I like to respect all parities involved because we are all spending our time and money.

Discuss budgets upfront: Conversations about money can be uncomfortable but it is important to agree on a budget and timeline for when the money is due before booking a trip with girlfriends. When I went to Jamaica for my friend’s birthday I was honest that I could not afford to make arrangements through her travel agent. I was able to find cheaper accommodations by booking with the hotel directly. Also, I elected to arrive a day later which also saved me some money. By having the conversation about my budget limitations upfront I did not hold up other members on the trip from moving forward with their plans and we were able to agree on activities that fit everyone’s budget.

Agree on activities and excursions: We all like to have little fun when we go on a trip and excursions may be just the way to do that. Discuss the activities you want to do while on vacation a head of time. Use a mental or physical venn diagram to find overlap in everyone’s interests. If there is not overlap discuss comfort levels of engaging in solo activities or simply begin the compromise phase before booking the trip. Conflict about an itinerary can be circumvented to maximize everyone’s experience by having open and honest communication with your girl group a head of time.

Decide on room accommodations: Obviously rooming with a friend is the most cost effective way to travel. This allows you to save money in one area while maximizing your funds in more meaningful areas like food or excursions. However, for me, there are very few people I can share a room with and not go nuts. This is because we are not accustomed to spending 24 hours over a several day period with our friends. In theater there is a termed called the fourth wall which is an imagined wall that keeps performers from recognizing their audience. The performers proceed as if they are not being watched. The gist is there are proverbial fourth walls in every friendship that are broken when we are forced to spend a significant amount of time together such as the time spent on a girl’s trip. Personality compatibility is a huge consideration when selecting a roommate because ours friends during normal hangout hours may be different on a trip. Below are a list of considerations to know about yourself to better understand your preferences and if they are a match for your roommate.

• Are you a tidy or messy person?
• Do you like to fall asleep in silence?
• Are you a late sleeper or early riser?
• Do hotel location and amenities matter and if so, what details are important to make you comfortable?
• Are you okay with sleeping on a pullout couch or cot?

Once you know the answers to the above questions you can match yourself with the proper roommate for a trip.

Comment below to let me know what lessons were learned from girl’s trip you have been on.

My dear Nickels, it’s been a while! I have so much to share but first let’s start with my trip with Barbados! Where do I begin? After 17 months of travel restrictions I finally decided I was comfortable enough to book a flight Internationally. The pandemic really grounded me and if you’ve learned anything about me through this blog you’ve learned I am a jet setter. I am pretty sure I was on a plane at least 25 times or more in 2019. However, the pandemic really invoked some serious fear. Needless to say, when I finally felt up to traveling again I decided to visit Barbados. One of the vlogger families I follow on YouTube had vlogged about their vacation there a few weeks prior and thought, hmm, why not? That was my first mistake, I picked a destination that was not very complimentary for solo travelers. I will get into in a second but first let’s tackle some of the household items.

Departing Flight: I embarked on trip with JetBlue; it was my first time flying with them. The flight was quite comfortable and I would definitely use their services again. I left from the JFK airport in New York because there were no direct flights to Barbados from where I reside. I decided to drive to the airport and park in long term parking. I got a pretty good deal for long term parking too; a much better deal than what you find in my city! My drive to NY was pretty uneventful. I arrived at the airport exactly 3 hours before departure time which is recommended for international flights. 
Airport Shenanigans: I’ve only flown out of JFK once before in 2008 when I studied abroad in college. I was not sure what to expect in a post pandemic world but I was quickly acclimated. The airport was crowded, like really crowded! People were shoulder to shoulder and the security lines were obnoxiously long. My bag was flagged at security by an overzealous TSA worker. He pulled out my silk head scarf, my jewelry bag which only had necklaces and 1 bracelet, and my underwear. I am not sure how those items posed a security threat but I had to wait over 30 minutes at TSA for my stuff to be scanned…again. I made it to my gate just in time for boarding. 
Barbados Covid requirements: Before booking a trip I was sure to scrutinize the covid rules. I was required to complete an online customs form and provide a negative PCR covid test no more than 3 days prior to my arrival. Additionally, if vaccinated I had to provide proof with a vaccination card. Lastly, all visitors are encouraged to take an approved method of transportation to and from the airport as well as stay at the country’s approved hotels. 
Upon arriving at that airport I presented my records. I was asked if my test was self administered or administered by a healthcare professional. I explained it was self administered in front of a healthcare professional at CVS pharmacy. Little did I know that information would deem my test results invalid. I was immediately sent to another line where an orange wrist band was placed on my wrist. Next, I had to complete a covid information form and another covid PCR test. After which I was sent to customs to complete the rest of the process. The entire airport check-in process took about 1.5 hours which was ridiculous!
Hotel: I stayed at the Hilton Barbados Resort. I had read mixed reviews online about the staff and the cleanliness of the hotel but I had a good experience. Immediately upon checking in I was informed my orange wristband meant I would need to quarantine until my second covid test results came back negative. I was restricted to my room and limited to room service. The room service was great but the food was subpar. The room was clean and certified with a lysol sticker as confirmation. I still sanitized all surfaces with my own alcohol wipes. I even brought my own sheets, blanket, shower shoes, and house shoes. I was not taking in chances with covid.
Tour: Finally, the next morning my covid results came back negative. I decided to scour the internet for tours. I managed to find one but by the time I entered my credit card information the tour was sold out. My grandma helped me find an alternative tour but the tour guide called moments later to say that tour was sold out too. That tour guide was gracious enough to suggest another tour company on the island with a similar route, Williamson tours. The tour included a stop at the animal flower cave, a local restaurant, a church, and many different vantage views of the ocean around the island. The tour was pretty anticlimactic but there weren’t many tour options available. Due to covid, most of the more popular attractions had limited capacity or were closed all together. This meant there was not much do while in Barbados. I was unable to schedule a second tour or even book a spa day.
Returning: The taxi ride to the airport was pleasant. It was a much cleaner vehicle than the taxi that picked me up. Once at the airport I made it to my gate with no issues. I flew back with Caribbean airline and let me tell you, that plane was nothing like JetBlue’s plane. The Caribbean airline plane had purple cloth seats and the staff wore medical gowns like we were in a hospital, it was all very weird. The snack or beverage service was suspended though we all were given a bottle of water upon boarding. Needless to say, the 4.5 hour flight was uncomfortable and I would never fly with them again. I eventually made it back to JFK where it took me 4 hours to return to home vs the 2 it took me to arrive at JFK days before. The traffic returning home was horrible!

Overall, I would rank my trip to Barbados a 4 out of 10. It was a beautiful destination but a boring place to travel during the pandemic. There are few direct flights from most northeast cities which means expect a long layover or be willing to drive to another airport location. I would not recommend traveling there until covid is under control and they have better airplane routes. Also, I noticed at the time of my visit the island was flooded with couples. I surmise Barbados is a prime bae-cation destination and here it is I thought the state of Virginia was for lovers lol. I was the only single traveler in sight which is unusual. I was glad I decided to experiment with a fake wedding band during this trip. It certainly kept the creeps away. I was only approached by one creep and I was sure to flash my fake ring.

So tell me, where have you traveled during or since the pandemic? Also, let me know in the comments if you are solo traveler and how you feel about traveling with a fake wedding band.

California dreaming is an understatement, in 2018 I moved to one of the most beautiful cities in the US, San Diego, CA. During my time there I made sure to take advantage of the beautiful weather, beaches, and proximity to other cool destinations. I had so many great experiences which has allowed me to curate a list of my top 10 things to do or see while visiting San Diego. 

Nic #1: Visit the San Diego Zoo

Nic#2: Take the ferry from the city to Coronado Island. Be sure to grab a picture of the city’s skyline on your way back

Nic #3: Cross the Mexican boarder which is only 20 minutes away or hop on a plane to Hawaii. Beware of the 3 hour time difference in Hawaii. Also, drive up the coast to Malibu to check out Malibu’s Wine Safari or book a train ride to LA for a studio tour (idk if that is still happening post covid) or hike up Runyon canyon.

Nic #4: Drive to La Jolla Cove to see the seals and dine at some swanky restaurants 

Nic #5: Hike up or drive up to Mt. Solidade. You will be greeted by a cool breeze, fantastic pacific ocean view, and a WWII memorial 

Nic#6: Visit Balboa Park where there are tons of Museums and outdoor recreational fun. Also, check out the USS Midway Museum, a retired Navy ship.

Nic#7: Catch a Padres baseball game at Petco stadium. 

Nic#8: You’re in California, go to a weed dispensary and grab some edibles. It’s totally legal 🙂

Nic #9: Visit a brewery, you will have your pick. There are tons of breweries to choose from. 

Nic #10: Go to Liberty Public, it is the Reading terminal of San Diego with plenty of bakeries, restaurants, and recreational activities including a fancy movie theater. 

Drop a comment below to let me know where you live or have lived and some fun things to see or do in your town!