Happy Holidays!!!

Super cute tree I added in my room

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and Happy Holidays!!! I hope everyone is enjoying today in the manner which makes you feel loved. For about 3-4 years I’ve started my own tradition which includes going out to dinner at a nice restaurant. Its easy and stress-free, because drama doesn’t pair well with the Holidays. This year was a bit different because my chill mode was turned all the way up. I was totally ok with staying in my house. I wanted to do a crab boil at first, but remembered I’d never done one and didn’t want to mess up seafood.



Views from my couch...

I ended up making reservations at the last minute today. My dinner consisted of my favorite burgers and a few Happy Hour drinks.

Holiday Cutie

Pimento Cheese Burger with bacon Jam... My FAV

Afterwards, I went back home and had a night cap which included champagne. All in all, Christmas 2019 was pretty good. As for gifts, I did pretty good in that department gifting myself with a few items below:

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How did you all spend your day?

Shopping Party at Macy's Metro Center Story



You have approximately 5 days to finish your holiday shopping and I have just the place for you, Macy’s. Yes, you read correctly... Macy’s has pretty much everything and Story is your home for the holidays! I honestly had no idea what was in store for me when I received the invite to attend a holiday shopping party, but I hopped on it. Who could resist doing two of my favorite things: shopping and partying. I made sure that I left work 5 minutes early so that I could be one of the first 50 to receive a $25 gift card to shop with, and guess what, I made it on time.

What exactly is Story? Story is a small business which has changed over 40 times, it’s a living magazine and they bring a new theme to life every couple of months. Story combines shopping along with hosting classes curating their favorite products. Story has recently joined the Macy’s family and is currently located in 36 Macy’s stores across the country.

This event was super cute, Story and Macy’s really laid it all out for us. We were welcomed by staff that were knowledgeable about the product and in tune with the brand. Story has something for everyone, it is the ultimate gift guide for book lovers, foodies, or anyone that loves technology and so much more.

The shop is a lot to take in (in a good way). I was like a kid in a candy shop, I wanted to see and touch everything!!! I took a quick glance around and the foodie in me headed for the spread of treats. There was a huge spread that had something for everyone. I absolutely loved the different types of cheese and crackers #Cheesehead. Aside from that they had a lovely array of desserts, which included macaroons, but my FAV was the tiramisu. There was even a signature drink, a Vodka Celebration which added a little extra pep to my shopping.

Although Story arrived just in time for the holiday season, this is also the perfect place to pick up Birthday Gifts, etc. there is literally something for everyone. Have you visited Story this season? If not, what are you waiting for?

My Top 5 Black Christmas Movies of 2019

Every year, I wait, and I wait, and I wait for Christmas movies to start airing. It is honestly my guilty pleasure where I enjoy countless hours watching Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas movies where hardly anyone looks like me. Out of all the cities these people travel to, are stuck in and never a community of black folk. Oh, but this year was different. While I still enjoyed a Hallmark or Lifetime Christmas movie here and there, this was the year of the #StrongBlackLead (and Directors). Networks like BET, OWN, and TV One stepped it all the way up for the culture. I found myself tweeting my excitement a time or two as I watched. I even shared several calls between my co-workers, friends, cousins, and grandma reminding them to tune in and watch with me. Since this is the season to give, I’m sharing with you my top 5 Black Christmas movies of 2019. There are 10 days until Christmas, so trust me you have time to watch, record and share your excitement too.

 

#1 Christmas Belles- BET

 
This was my FAVORITE movie of the season. I think this movie resonated with me because the plot included 30-something BFF’s that were basically tired of being single and ready for Mr. Right. With a new, young, handsome, and single Pastor taking over their church; the games began to as they tried to rule the other out for his attention. This movie was absolutely hilarious, gave me The best part of this movie as the impromptu song from actress Raven Goodwin to actress Dominique Perry chiming “don’t be mad cause you’re cute, and you got the juice”. That song and that moment is something that I could see happening between my friends and me. It was also good to see the original Aunt Viv, Janet Hubert as well as James Evans (I am a HUGE Good Times fan) John Amos. This movie was also directed by Terri J. Vaughn AKA Lovita Alizay Jenkins-Robinson.

#2 ‘Twas the Chaos Before Christmas-BET

I absolutely LOVED this movie and was a little bit partial because it was set in DC, I saw a few monuments, the Blackstonian, and I believe I even heard a little go-go music in the background (your girl LOVES go-go music). The plot includes two families looking to rent a house in DC for a Christmas vacation. Turns out, the exact same house was booked on the same dates for two families and of course this is where the chaos begins when they opt to celebrate individually under one roof.

I enjoyed watching both Sherri Shepard and Affion Crockett bring their humor to the screen. This movie was also directed by Terri J. Vaughn, sis has been working all season!

#3 Baking Christmas- OWN

This movie warmed my heart because it was all about family and passing down a family business. The premise was a mother that was ready to retire and travel but didn’t know what to do with the family’s bakery. An idea of a bake off came about after all three kids expressed interest in the business. This movie really showed what can happen when a family comes together. I was excited to see actress Khalilah Joi from Wendy & Julian, one of my favorite scripted series at Black and Sexy TV.

#4 Radio Christmas- Lifetime

This was the only movie that really reminded me of a classic Hallmark Christmas movie. The premise was a radio host forced to move to Bethlehem to begin broadcasting. Of course, girl meets boy and town is saved in some sort of way. There was a bit of a spin on this movie though. And the main character was played by none other than Keshia Knight Pulliam. Her love interest Michael Xavier was quite the eye candy.

#5 Merry Liddle Christmas-Lifetime

Two words... Kelly Rowland. That’s the MAIN reason why I checked this movie out. What I loved most was the soundtrack, which should totally be released because Kelly did an amazing job on the songs. This premise of this movie included a successful woman who decided to host Christmas for the first time at her dream home. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Aside from Kelly Rowland, I was happy to see actress Bresha Webb playing a totally different character from what she usually plays and killing it. Also, the main love interest Thomas Cadrot is the new Edris Elba for me; someone cue My Type by Saweetie.

Since this year was full of culture filled Christmas movies, below are my honorable mentions:

- Hip Hop Christmas- BET

-Dear Santa I Need A Date- TV One

-Holiday Rush- Netflix

Black Restaurant Week at Blue Waters Caribbean and Seafood Grill

I’ve wanted to participate in the DMV Black Restaurant Week since it started and a couple of weeks ago and I got my chance. I expressed that I wanted to attend on IG which led to my friend Devonae sending a DM and getting logistics together. I knew I could only try one place because my week was jam packed, so we decided to check out Blue Waters Caribbean and Seafood Grill.  This restaurant offered a pre-fixed three course menu for $30, what a steal!!!

Lucky for me the restaurant was super close to my house, sans rush hour. Upon arriving I realized that it was in a shopping center which meant free parking. You have to celebrate the small wins lol. The inside looked cozy (and crowded) and I thought that we wouldn’t be able to get seating, but we were seated right away. Since it was restaurant week my friend and I decided to take advantage of their 3 -course deal which included an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. As soon as we entered we were welcomed and greeted and given a menu of all their tasty items.

It must have been our lucky day because they started us out with complimentary beignets. Now these weren’t your typical New Orleans beignets; they had a twist that I picked up on which included a bit of cinnamon and bananas. I really hope they add these to the menu because I’d order them the next time I come.

Before choosing our meal we decided to live it up a bit and grab a libation. We went with a rum punch to set the tone and it was strong. The first course included a selection of soups and salads. We chose the seafood bisque which was full of shrimp and lump crabmeat, topped with fried leeks. The soup and the entrée arrived at the same time so before we could devour the soup we had to start on the entrée.  There were so many items offered and I had a hard time choosing, but whenever I see oxtails on the menu I find them super hard to resist, so that's what I chose for my second course. The oxtails were served with traditional rice & peas and cabbage as well as plantains, which were beyond flavorful. I can totally see myself ordering this again.  Fortunately, the serving size was enough for two people, so along with the seafood bisque I had leftovers for the next. By this point we were super full and decided to take our third course the Pineapple Upside Down cake to go.

Before leaving the owner came over to check on us and see if we enjoyed the experience. Of course, I let him know that I totally enjoyed my experience and asked what food category he would classify his restaurant as.  He mentioned that it’s a fusion of soul-food and Caribbean food and that all his seafood is flown in fresh and scaled in house. The owner also mentioned that he’s looking to expand the restaurant in the coming year. The restaurant truly has something for everyone so if you’re in PG County and looking to support a Black Owned restaurant, be sure to stop by.

The Sneaker Exhibit- Spring Edition







If you know me really well then you’ll know that I’m a retired sneaker head. While I love all of the trends/designs in sneakers; my 9-5 doesn’t allow me to justify purchases because I know I won’t get my money’s worth. I say all that as I’m impatiently awaiting a Sneaker raffle for the Sacai Waffles in forest green...I digress. Last year I had an opportunity to attend a very dope event in Baltimore hosted by Tashia of The Sneaker Exhibit. Tashia and I met a few years ago when I spoke on a panel about natural hair. Ever since then we’ve kept in contact through the internet, specifically Instagram. Tashia is super creative, fashionable and a mom that gets ish done properly. When I saw that she was throwing a sneaker related event, I knew I had to be in attendance. I will say that I’ve become very selective in the events that I pay for because some of them are just plain lacking... nonetheless, this event was NOTHING like that. All of the boxes were checked regarding planning and execution.

Adidas, Nike, Puma and many more...

Tashia's daughter providing creative direction.

Tashia getting it right

The location was off of the beaten path, however, it was very eclectic and gave New York City vibes in Baltimore. Check in was very prompt and Tashia provided merchandise branding the event and letting us know that this wouldn’t just be one and done. The vibes were literally on 100... Great music, ample food, fashionable people and an open bar. Yes you read that right, an open bar. There were artist in the building sketching attendees outfits and there was a dope backdrop that allowed us to get the perfect picture or selfie. This was definitely the event to be at and I looked forward to attending the next event. Lucky for you all Tashia will be throwing another dope event next month and I am really annoyed that I want be able to attend. However,  I enjoyed the last event sooo much and would like to support Tashia’s event I’m giving away a ticket on my Instagram page. Be sure to follow me @whynotkristin and check out a bit of the last event below.

Sooo fitting for the occasion.

This skirt though.

Puma dad shoes.

Think pink.

I love this dress with the sneakers sis!!!

You can never have too much color!!!

Even the homie brought her shoe game!!!

Finally in front of the lens and not behind.

Classic and trendy sneakers were in the building.

Sooo much fashion!!!

Dope event and dope people!!!

The winner of the Instagram give away is *drum roll please* @vivaciouslyshe please inbox me on IG to get the ticket!!!

Weekend Vacation... Durham North Carolina

Unfortunately, a proper vacation may not be in my future this year. However, that doesn’t mean that I won’t make the most and do the most during my weekends. A few weekends ago I road tripped to Durham, North Carolina to attend Black August in The Park. I learned about this event last year after it took place and made it my mission to attend this year. I rounded up a few of my friends, gassed and packed Sexual Chocolate (my car), then we hit the road. I haven’t gone to North Carolina in forever and this was my first time ever visiting Durham. Let’s just say I felt right at home as Durham reminded me of my Southern roots. My friends and I set an unofficial rule to find our husbands and have a great trip.

If you know anything about me, it’s that I love a good meal and a good boutique hotel. Since I proposed the trip, I also chose the cutest hotel ever. Initially, I went back and forth between   21 C Museum hotel which is a luxury hotel in Durham and Unscripted which is a boutique hotel. I won’t lie it was a hard choice but the reviews and the pool at the Unscripted hotel won me over. Overall, I felt like the Unscripted hotel would provide the fun that I was looking to have with my friends and 21 C Museum would have been more of a romantic choice. As soon as we got out of the car we had to have an impromptu photo shoot in the cute wicker chairs outside. Upon checking into the hotel, we were greeted by a super friendly Jordan who welcomed us with a glass of red wine and that’s where the fun began. The staff gave us sooo much information about what was going on at the hotel and their professionalism and friendliness carried over with every staff member we encountered. You can tell that the really enjoy their job and the environment that they work in. Our room was super cute and located on the third floor right beside the pool (can you say winning). We took a quick look around and refreshed ourselves before heading out to the festivities. Another win, unbeknown to me was that the hotel was in walking distance to the park. Now I’d like to call myself a planner, but I totally omitted getting the distance from the hotel to the park. 

By the time we arrived at the park (which was all a 7-minute walk), we could already tell that we were further South… because the heat was kicking. The festival was a little on the smaller size compared to other festivals that support and celebrate black people. The event was very chill, and I wish that we’d arrived early to take advantage of the other activities at the festival such as the parade which included a second line. We walked around roughly for an hour and the heat took a toll on us. Collectively we decided that we’d find food and enjoy the rest of our time at the hotel. Listen the hotel had all the vibes. We returned to our room which was adjacent to the pool and got dressed for the pool party. After snacking and frolicking in the water we changed clothes and headed out to dinner.  

 

We chose sushi for dinner which was fine by me because I’d been craving sushi for some time now. This restaurant came as a recommendation from an Instagram follower, had 4 ½ stars and was directly across the street from the hotel. I went with the miso soup as well as the twisted mango roll. The edamame was also really good, but the standout was the Sea Bass that my friend ordered, I’d return for that alone. After dinner was over we headed back to the hotel because we’d been told earlier that the lobby turns into a party at night. And let’s just say we arrived right in time. The DJ was cranking we got free drinks, can you say winning!!! I literally partied until about 1:00, now that may not be late for some but keep in mind this was essentially a day trip that moved at a rapid pace.

Determined to make the most of my weekend vacation, I got up grabbed breakfast and headed out to the drag show that was held at the pool. The show was extremely good and all things black. There were moments when the host said things that made me cringe. However, as a black woman I walk on eggshells daily in society; it was very refreshing to hear someone be unapologetically black at an event where we were still the minority. Not wanting to waste a minute and take advantage of the late check-out, I changed into my swimsuit and hopped back in the pool. I only got to enjoy about 45 minutes of the water before having to check out, but it was totally worth it. 

By booking this hotel we got our money’s worth and more. I didn’t get to see a lot of Durham, but please believe I’ll be back.