First Big Adventure: Royal Caribbean Yucatan Cruise

I've kicked off the New Adventures this year with a 5 day cruise on Royal Caribbean Empress of the Seas to Cozumel and Costa Maya with the Hubby! We had planned to leave Saturday to start our adventure but the ATL had a looming winter storm headed in so we changed our reservations with Spirit which they allowed with no fees! (Surprising) Booked a room on South Beach at the Princess Ann hotel via hotels.com and flew out Friday morning. We flew in to Fort Lauderdale and was excited to start vacation early but something unexpected made our vacation not just a pleasure trip but one of revelation.  When we landed all was well we claimed our baggage and caught the shuttle to the tri rail and headed to check in our hotel and walk on the beach.  But as we sat down on the train I got a text from my sister checking on us and a call from my friend asking where we were and if we were ok?!?! What we found out was there was an active shooter at the airport and that 13 people had been shot (later it was reported 5 dead and 8 injured)...talking about God's Grace my Hubby and I in that moment decided that we needed to Live and Love this vacation and Life! None of this is promised and all the worrying and trying to figure out when and how you can go on vacation shouldn't be an issue.  Sometimes you just have to say fuck it and go! We work hard and take care of everyone else we need to make sure to enjoy life!

Day 1 of Vacation 

Day 1 started off less eventful but with so much excitement cause we were on vacation! We toasted and ate the complimentary breakfast at the hotel which was alright, caught a lyft to the boat and boarded Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Sea.  Once on the boat we rush to get us a spot near the pool to catch some rays, and get acclomadated to the ship and a drink! First night we meet our fellow diners at our table in the dining room and find out more cruising secrets (like you can bring 2 bottles of wine aboard and a case of bottled water per stateroom) every cruise we find out something new! 

Day 2 

Day 2 wasn't a good day for the Hubby and many others on the cruise...it was a day at sea and the waters were real choppy and the rocking of the boat had him and others left with motion sickness. I on the other hand was not affected by so I did some activities solo and eventually the Hubby joined me on some.  The ship had a brunch with complimentary Mimosas and Bloody Mary's that I enjoyed! Then the Casino had $1.00 Mimosas and some gaming and we both participated in it I ended up winning on the Roulette table and at the Penny Slots!  So I pressed my luck and tried some Bingo later in the afternoon that didn't fair so well but I did have fun and sipped on a Bingo Smash that came with a keepsake glass! The rest of the day we just chilled and ate!

Day 3

Day 3 we docked in Cozumel and we couldn't wait to explore and be on land for a little while!

We booked a bike tour and snorkel excursion through Shore Excursions prior to sailing at a discount.  We left the pier and walked to Beach Bum Bike which was less than a 10 minute walk.  When we got there we were given detailed instructions on how to operate the electric bikes a brief overview of the tour by our guides Suri and Gabriel and then we were off....along our route to the snorkel site we visited a Mayan Sinkhole and roadside Museum of Mayan culture and Tequila history. (Also did some Tequila tasting! Yum) Once we reached Skyreef Snorkel, Restaraunt, and Bar we were given more instructions on our snorkel equipment and the rules of the water we suited up and took to the water.  It was an amazing experience to see the underwater sea life up close and to be able to swim and enjoy it!(being that last year I took swim lessons just so I could do these kinds of water activities, talking about new adventures! I even surprised my Hubby with my new skill) After snorkeling we ate lunch at Skyreef which was delicious and they served a great frozen margarita and the prices were reasonable.  After we dined we rode back on the electric bikes and said our good byes and did some souvenirs shopping.

Day 4
Day 4 we were supposed to dock in Costa Maya for the day but due to the surf and waves we couldn't.  Another rocky day aboard the boat made for some cabin fever! I made the most of the time by just relaxing by the pool and reading some inspirational books and the Hubby laid out too listening to music and napping.  We ate a lot on the cruise and had some stimulating and funny conversations with our fellow diners Nick and Tori from Indiana and John and Debbie from Jacksonville who were expert cruisers.  The stories and jokes we shared with these guys were legendary and somewhat inappropriate but above all fun! We talked about relationships, food, and shared colorful experiences about our pasts.  We might have been the loudest table in the dining room...I know we were the one having the most fun!  Nightly we count how many times they sang Happy Birthday to other guests and came up with the crazy idea we will make it Tori's Birthday to have them sing to her. (Against her wishes but she played along and took one for the team!) Our dining experience was truly the highlight of cruise!

Day 5
Day 5 was another onboard day and our final day spent cruising back to Miami...there was a brunch and complimentary Mimosas and Bloody Marys (just 1 this time). I napped and laid out on the deck finished up my books and went to the Casino and won a little money on the slots again and at the roulette table.  Our final night of dining with the Gang was bittersweet. So we all said our goodnights and goodbyes with the hopes to cross paths again.  We went back to our cabin and packed and tucked in and prepared to dock back in Miami the next morning.

Day 6
Day 6 back on land in Miami and ready to head home to ATL!  The vacation was just what we needed to recharge our spirits and to get us excited to try NEW ADVENTURES all year long!!

Love & Beauty ❤️💋

New Year! New Adventures!

So as i sit here and ponder what 2017 has in store for me I can't help but get excited!  I have made the conscious decision to seize this year and take me and my business to a new level! I'm using this blog as a way to take you along with me on this new adventure! I am also hoping to inspire you to create new adventures of your own and to share with me.  I want to provide you with information and inspiration in the worlds of beauty, fashion, food, home decor, entertaining and travel. (Travel is one of my new adventures in 2017) So as I set out on these new adventures I implore you to engage me with your questions, comments and reviews of any posts I publish so this can be a forum that keeps us all informed and motivated on our path to great adventures and endless possibilities in 2017! Please also follow me on Instagram, SnapChat, Facebook, and Pinterest (where I will actively be pinning on boards pertaining to all my posts, you will be able to find recipes, fashion, beauty buys and looks, home decor, entertaining, and travel). Happy New Year Socialites let's make 2017 the Best Year Yet!  Love & Beauty ❤️💋

Fighting off the Winter Blahs

I know I said my next post was gonna be about Red Carpet Fashion, but I had a moment of true "Winter Blahs" so I had to get in the kitchen and whip up some inspiration to get out of my funk.

In between watching E! Live from the Red Carpet at The Golden Globes I got up and made a pasta dish and a loaf of banana bread for the family and here's the recipe for:

Chicken Alfredo w/spinach and artichokes

Ingredients 

1lb chicken breast tenders

1 box of Penne Pasta

1 can of Artichoke heart halves 

1/2 bag of Baby Spinach 

2 jars of Alfredo Sauce

Italian Seasonings 

Garlic Salt

Pepper 

EVOO

Preheat oven to 400

Start by browning the chicken in the EVOO sprinkle with Italian seasonings, garlic salt, and pepper. Brown chicken till it's no longer pink, while doing this bring water to a boil for pasta (cook according to package).  Drain artichokes and rough chop, cut chicken up into pieces and put into a casserole dish with artichokes.  Drain pasta and rinse add to casserole dish then pour Alfredo sauce over all and add spinach mix together.  Add a little water cover the dish with aluminum foil and put in oven.

Let bake for 20 minutes 

I serve this with a French baguette drizzled w/EVOO, Kosher coarse salt, and Italian seasonings.  And a glass of wine!

Love & Beauty ❤️💋

 

Stay tuned still to come my Red Carpet style for your Red Carpet life events.

Surviving the Winter Blahs

Ladies, I hope I'm not alone in saying that during the winter months I go through what I have grown to call the "Winter Blahs".  You know where you just want to hibernate bundle up lock your door and not leave the bed until the spring?!?! This seems to happen to me right after the holidays because generally my work slows down and I have less motivation to leave the house unless it's to go to my "Happy"  place Target.  So this year I decided to kick the "Winter Blahs" and have just as much fun in the winter as I do the rest of the year.  My plan is simple:

Stay Active! Usually we all make the resolution to get in shape and shed those extra pounds we put on over the holidays and this is apparent from all the ads for gym membership and how packed the gym is for the month of January.  Why not get up and join the gym the small investment will give you a purpose to get out of the house and exercise stimulates your happy endorphins.

Spruce up your surroundings even though it may tempt you to stay in at least you will be surrounded by pretty things.  Buy some fresh flowers weekly this little detail will bring a certain burst of color and make your home warm and colorful.  I also make my bed very cozy and warm just for those lazy Sunday afternoons.  Layer your linens and add extra pillows, don't be afraid to mix fabrics and prints.  I love neutrals with a signature pop of color to keep it from being to sterile.  

My kitchen is another source of great inspiration to fight off "Winter Blahs" because in here I can create and experiment with new foods and this keeps my creative side fed.  I love to cook and bake but when I'm shooting a project the schedule is so unpredictable that it makes it hard for me to do this so the winter break is when I can be a sous and pastry chef.  Of course I'm cooking and baking healthy recipes for the most part. Lol nonetheless this does help me from a full winter shutdown.

 

Another productive way to survive is to start reimagining this new chapter of life we've embarked on! Look at magazines, Pinterest, and of course to me for inspiration and encouragement.

My Fabulous 40s and beyond Ladies together we are going to kick the "Winter Blahs"!!

Love & Beauty ❤️💋

Stay tuned next post is how to wear Red Carpet Styles for your Red Carpet events in life.

The Basics for Building a Timeless Wardrobe (Fashionable Foundations) Step 1

To build a fabulous wardrobe one doesn't need millions of dollars (it would be nice 😛) but realistically you just need to invest in some standard and classic pieces.  And you definitely want to invest in your foundation, meaning your under garments bras, panties, and shape wear.  These staples can change the way your clothes look and fit and could be the deciding factor on what you wear.  In this blog I will give you tips on shopping for and purchasing some fashionable foundations it's the first step in building or expanding your wardrobe.

Ladies all women should and can wear shape wear even if they are in the best shape! Years ago it was a definite staple in a woman's wardrobe ie, the girdle, slip, stockings and the pointy bra lol. Fast forward to the present and it seems that somehow we left that important tradition of getting completely dressed behind. As a woman I know putting on all of that before getting dressed can be intimidating, but let me reassure you bras, panties and shape wear have come a long way since the girdle and the playtex cross your heart bra lol.😉

First when you are going to shop for these fashionable foundations choose a store or speciality boutique with sales associates that are certified in fit and sizing and in the products they're selling. I go to Nordstrom and Bloomingdales where I have a personal shopper who I'm comfortable with that has my measurements on file and has an understanding of what I want.  

Second get measured even if you think you know your size you'll be surprised how many of us are wearing the wrong size bra. They should measure you right under your breast at your rib cage to determine your band size and then around the fullest part of your breast to determine your cup size.  There is also an app which can help you do this yourself it's Natori App (it's free in your App Store)and it also has great tips on bras and links to purchase.  

Third after you get your size figure what type of fit you want (push up, lined, full coverage, Demi, back smoothing, racer back, strapless, convertible, t-shirt) it can be over whelming some let me give you a few suggestions.  Your bra wardrobe should consist of full coverage for every day, t-shirt bra, and a convertible for special occasions. 

Now that we got the bras we need the panties and shape wear.  So you can purchase panties that can double as shape wear or get shape wear pieces separate I own both.  For every day panties you should get some hipsters, bikini, and high cut briefs. Shape wear pieces to get are thigh slimming shorts which are great under dress pants and pantsuits and some jeans.  Slips both full and a half great for dresses and skirts, one of my favorites is a Spanx full slip that allows you to wear your own bra. Another great piece to complete your shape wear wardrobe is a smoothing tank that you can layer under body hugging tops and blouses.

The above is just my preferences but you can add and delete according to your own personal needs and lifestyle.  Below find links to some of my favorites and remember explore your options and find what works for you.

Love & Beauty ❤️💋

Spanx.com they offer free shipping and free shipping on returns and when you sign up for emails you receive 10%off your first order also note they have a less expensive brand in Target called Assets 

Nordstrom.com they have a wide variety of under garments and have some great discounts on nordstromrack.com

Bloomingdales.com they have a bra club where your 5th bra is 25% off and if you become a loyalist you get free shipping and special promo offers

Stay tuned my next entry is Surving The Winter Blahs 

LIVING A FABULOUS LIFE IN YOUR FORTYS AND BEYOND!!

Happy New Year!  Let me introduce myself, I'm The Makeup Socialite Syretta L. Bell a wife, mother, daughter, sister and your go to girlfriend for advice on beauty, fashion, home decor, cooking and entertaining! I absolutely love socializing about all things pretty and that enhance our lives.  So I wanted to create a blog where I could share info to the masses, now you can also follow my boards on Pinterest and follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, but this blog will allow me to be very concise and clear.

My credentials include being a professional working make up artist for the last 15 years, you can see my work as of lately on OWN Network on Tyler Perry's If Loving You is Wrong, The Haves and the Have Nots, For Better or Worse and Love Thy Neighbor. I graduated from Paul Mitchell The School Atlanta with honors and have taken courses in fashion and cooking. And most importantly I'm a woman happily in my 40's!  

This blog will be a celebration of living a Fabulous life in our Fortys and Beyond. So subscribe and definitely follow me on social media feel free to tag me, tweet and re-tweet me, and send me your pictures and questions.  

 Check out my board Fashionable Foundations on Pinterest the next blog will be about building or expanding a great wardrobe from the panties up! 😉 

Love & Beauty ❤️💋