As Told By Nella

The Best Lessons I Learned About Failing

2015-12-27T10:07:00.005-08:00

As it gets closer to the end of the year, it becomes a time for reflection and examination. Looking back on the year that has passed and think about our goals, our plans, our successes, our failures and all the life changes that have occurred in 2015. For many of us, 2015 opened new doors and we are proud to say we accomplished most if not, all of our goals. But for the vast majority of resolution-makers, it became another year of failures, lost dreams, ruined plans and grave disappointments. Personally, 2015 was one of the most challenging and arduous years of my life. I failed many times over, was successful at a few and had many trials and tests of my persistence. However, in the end, there is one great gift that 2015 has given me and that was a great lesson in failure. And of all the lessons I've learned on failure, these are but the 3 I found to be the greatest help in my ability to push through and finish the year on a successful note.

1) Failure isn't permanent.

As a child growing up, one of my absolute greatest fears was that of failure. If I got anything less than 90% on a test I thought my world was coming to an end. It became so crippling that if there was even the hint or possibility of failure, I would quit before I even began. Now this is a problem that is not exclusive to me. As children, we are often taught to fear failure and avoid mistakes. Our society preaches perfection from our looks to our careers and as a result, many of us are so afraid of failing in life, failing at our jobs, failing our families that we refuse to even try and accomplish that major goal that's been weighted on our shoulders for years. We would rather play it safe, not take chances, not explore, not even stick our necks out to try. But what society never tells us is that you don't often get it on the first try and that it often takes repeated efforts to get to success. Failure isn't permanent. It's a setback and NOT a full stop. It is a chance for growth and a lesson in what doesn't work, so we can finally find the one thing that does. Failure is a means to an end, not the end itself.

2) Failure is a Lesson, Learn it.

There is a big misconception that all those wildly successful amongst us must have been born with an innate ability to succeed, or just exposed to the right people and the right opportunities that have made them successful. The idea that they have never failed in their lives and if you fail you are just not worthy of success. But this just isn't true. There is nothing wrong with failing. All the great innovations and all the great accomplishments involve failure. Most persons identify failure as the opposite of success, but it truly isn't. Failing is rather the path to success and merely a process in the journey. The true opposite of success is not trying. How can you expect to get ahead by sitting on your behind? How can you expect to succeed if you don't even try? As arguably the greatest basketball player of all time Michael Jordan says, "I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying." Remember, every failure is a lesson and an opportunity to return better, stronger, smarter and more prepared than ever before.

3) Failure is growth.

You can read a thousand motivational articles, listen to a hundred key note addresses and read as many books on success that you can find but nothing will improve you, or bring you closer to success than failure. Embrace your failures and grow from them. Use them as the propeller to keep moving forward towards all your goals. All successes are built on failure so focus on improving what has succeeded in the past and build on it. And if you aren't failing then you aren't trying hard enough, you aren't taking risks and you aren't growing. With each failure you grow, you become bigger, you learn new and important things and you get one step closer to reaching your goals. Failing sucks. But it happens to all of us. And how you react to the events in your life will be the biggest determinant of who you are.

I leave you with this quote from Winston Churchill, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."

Dreams, memories and hopes

2014-09-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

Do you remember when you were young?
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
Great wall of China length of dreams and hopes

Have you forgotten those times you smiled?
Those times excitement lit up you eyes
As you thought about the great adventures you would have once you’re older

‘I can’t wait to grow up’you said
‘When I’m older, I’ll do this and that and that’ you squealed
‘I will be married by this age’ you proudly proclaimed

What about when you were filled with hope?
That the best is yet to come
And with age comes endless possibilities

I remember it all
And I hope you do too
This is the inner drive to keep you going
The motion needed to keep pressing forward

Find your momentum
Keep your hopes alive
Take it one day at a time
And never forget that your younger self had big plans for you
Don’t let them down
It is not too late

Prince Charming or Charming Frog?

2014-05-09T21:04:00.001-07:00

This is just my little spin on fairy tales, fables, romantic comedies and reality. Who do we want a prince charming or a charming frog?

The prince charming saving the damselle in distress phenomenon has been going on for ages. We get in our heads that us females need to be saved and rescued in order to be happy and find the love of our life. And it’s hard to change an ideal that has been engraved in us since childhood.

As young girls we were always told stories about princesses being rescued by a wonderful prince charming who sweeps them off their feet and in the end they live happily ever after. They find the love of their lives and that’s where the story ends. My personal favourite has always been Cinderella; mainly because of our name similarities and also I’m a sucker for a rags to riches story. The thought of being in love and living happily ever after overrode my thoughts so much I even made up my own little song “someday soon my prince will come but until then I’m going to have some fun. I gotta kiss some frogs before I find the one.” Ha! Maybe even from then I realized that some were just frogs and not princes. But I digress.
Continuing on the original path. You would think that all this fairy tale propaganda and propagation would end in out childhood, but oh no that’s crazy talk, it definitely can’t stop there. We need romantic comedies and romance novels and movies for the older dolls. These invade our reality and we become so disillusioned about our romantic realities that we spend our waking moments planning and dreaming about our perfect match. Awww how sweet. We write lists and state all the desired qualities we think suitable for a mate. All in hopes of finding the illustrious prince charming who enters and enhances our lives.

But how do we tell the difference between prince charming and a charming frog in this misguided world? How do we find our person? And what happens to all the broken souls when who we thought was a prince, turns out to really be a frog? Instead of saving, he hurts. Instead of charming, he’s just an actor; the devil in disguise and a snake with blue eyes to quote Carrie Underwood’s Cowboy Cassanova lyrics. Well that just sucks, doesn’t it?

Are we wrong for filling our young people with these fables? For trying to give hope to the hopeless? Or should we still enjoy the glorious tales that magnified the innocence of our childhood but take it with a grain of salt? I think my little rhyme said it best. Have some fun, kiss some frogs and one day he may just show up. But not to save my dears, don’t think it’s to save or complete. His presence will be merely to complement to the already amazing person that you truly are. We may be a princess but never a damsel. Think about it.

*Images are subject to copyright

Getting back on the horse!!!!

2014-01-06T17:47:00.001-08:00

For years, I've struggled with my weight. I was a tumble tud in my childhood, a chubby teenager and now a plump adult. All these are simple ways to say I've been a slave to food and inactivity for so long that it started to show on my body. I admit my flaws but I'm also willing to work on changing what I can and accepting what I cannot change.

Many of you may be thinking oh yeah sure; there goes another one on the new year new you bandwagon. And it may be true the new year brings with it hope that I will improve but I'm very serious about this commitment and that is why I'm here. You my readers shall be my accountability partners. By sharing my experiences I can feel like I have a community of supporters plus I can even inspire some of you to do the same like some of my fitness role models have. I know it won't be easy but together, I know we can do great.

Oh and before I forget, today was a small victory for me. I went grocery shopping and picked up some healthy and might I say delicious treats for myself that I will be preparing for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I'm excited because the first step to success is to have a plan and stick to it and that is what a grocery list and healthy food is in a lifestyle change. You pre-plan meals and a menu and stick to it. Get rid of bad foods and replace it with new ones. All of this helps to remove temptation and prepare you for success.

Secondly, my double win was going for a walk around the neighbourhood with my little sister this evening. Exercising isn't only great for me but I got to do it with my sister and if I can be a positive fitness role model to her, then maybe she won't follow the fluffy path that she has already started on and I have trodded down for so long. She is so excited to exercise and is even looking forward to our workout tomorrow. This is just a reminder that if you teach good habits early, children will not only be excited to do them but they will more than likely keep them into the future. And man oh man does that make me proud. Yeehaw!!!!

Those are my small victories for the day and the rest of my day was pretty blah just busy with school. Hashtag :day in the life of a med student. But I'm excited to start putting my best foot forward.

Until next time fitbees.

Nella

LHC- Road to a healthy, happy Nella

2013-09-15T22:09:00.002-07:00

I once heard that when you're happy in a relationship that you tend to gain weight because you are so comfortable that you let yourself go. I don't know how true that is but when I look back at my heaviest moments, it usually involved times of sadness or unhappiness. These were the times I lacked the most confidence and had the most personal demons devouring my self-esteem.

For years I have struggled with my weight and trying to look fit and healthy. At first it was about looking hot and sexy like all the other girls but then it became a desire to be able to nurture my body and push it beyond what I always thought to be physically possible. And the older I get, the more the desire burns within me to accomplish this feat which just seems to evade me.

I've been on countless diets and exercise programs, yoyoing back and forth from happy, healthy and fit as a fiddle, not quite where I want to be but comfortable to unhealthy slob wasting away my beautiful temple. i've made changes but always seem to revert to my state of origins. So this time I thought i would make my journey more of a public one and not hide my flaws and my self-defined problem areas. I am not promising that this time I suddenly have the magic formula to support my desire to be how I want to be physically to reflect the amazing person I continue to grow to be internally but I will proclaim I have a burning desire to do so and it's with a desire that a spark is born to propel me on this journey.

My desire shall fuel my continuous journey to fitdom and having you here will help me to not forget that I have support from a community of persons whether I've never met you, had brief interactions or you're one of my closest friends. Just knowing that I have a community who supports me through and through is one of the things that keeps pushing me forward and that my friends is a beautiful thing. So today I embark on another journey but rather than prompting myself to make heavy changes for drastic results in a short period of time, I've decided to do small challenges and try to persevere one day at a time. Fingers crossed and prayer for my success

Much Love,

Nella

Existential Crisis

2013-08-21T11:42:00.004-07:00

Hello loves,

It's been quite a while since I've blogged about anything and really the honest truth is that I think I'm having an existential crisis. I'm currently brainstorming ways to bring my blog forth and possible transform it into the masterpiece I know it can be. So bear with me and prepare for my impending return.

Much Love,

Nella

The Move To Bloglovin

2013-06-29T20:00:00.001-07:00

So I'm a bit late on the train but from what I'm hearing Google Friend Connect is being closed down on July 1 and so to keep up with my blog follow my blog on Bloglovin please and thanks.

Much Love,

Nella

Cosmotopia: The Beauty Extraordinaire

2013-06-08T09:05:00.001-07:00

Hey guys,

About a month or so ago on April 27 (late I know!!!!), I ventured off into the beauty world and checked out the extraordinary setting that is Cosmotopia. Held at the Girls Guide Headquarters in Kingston, it promised to be a spectacular display of beauty and glorious discounts and they did not disappoint. Here I've just added a few pictures to show you what my adventure entailed.

Much Love,

Nella

Tamrind Indian Cuisine Photos

2013-06-08T08:45:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone,

If you remember, the other day I did a review on Tamrind Indian Cuisine. Well here are just a few more photos of my night out to complete the review.

Happy Days!!!!

Much Love,

Nella

I’ll Remember

2013-05-22T20:31:00.001-07:00

Today I’ll just lay my head on the pillows and remember you
Remember us as we were in the beginning
All bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
Excited for the prospect of a new us
A great union of prosper.

I will rest my head on the hearth and think of the middle
Riddled with sweet messages, love notes and special gifts
Times and moments of splendour
A life of promise and endearing hope urging us
Brought to us as a gift from God.

I’ll stare into the stars and follow our journey together
Follow our love as it blossomed in the season
Our sweet romance fading gently into the night
For it is the end my love
End of our dreams together
Our matrimonial walk down the proverbial aisle

Tonight is where we part my love
Separated not by a physical distance but by moments of lost time
Separated by words unspoken and memories forgotten
We part and depart from our simple selves
Urging forward our distinct ways
Lost in the fabric of time
As we move forward to our destinies

Restaurant Review- Tamrind Indian Cuisine

2013-05-18T17:21:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

I know I promised to do reviews every Wednesday in May but due to unforseen circumstances (RIP lappy) I wasn't able to keep up my end of the bargain. Fortunately, I have been able to get my hands on a temporary replacement laptop and so I can continue on with my little review session. This time I delve into the world of food to talk about my experience at Tamrind restaurant. It was another lovely night out with the girls and ever the foodies and hungry bellie you know we had to get dinner. We were tired of the same old mix and so decided to try out Indian cuisine and let me just tell you it was GREAT!!!!!

Location

Located upstairs Orchid Village Plaza, off Barbican Road, Tamrind is one of those places that is hard to miss when you are passing that side. This is relatively central in the Liguanea area (across the street from Burger King and in the same plaza as Pita Grill) and so finding the place isn't hard. There is a parking issue however. The plaza houses many other businesses including a few other restaurants and as a result trying to find is rather difficult, especially on a Friday night. But don't worry too much, the security guards try their best to park you somewhere.

Rating: 3.5/5

Ambiance

The restaurant is rather small which to some may be a bother but I think it adds to the intimate aesthetic of the place. The general ambiance is on of authenticity and sophistication with a beautifully decorated dining area and complementary furnishings and art appeal that illustrates a modern twist to traditionality. Outside the restaurant there are a few lights that reminded me of Divali, the festival of lights as it glistened into the night. I do however recommend that you make a reservation. As I mentioned before the place is small and so the wait may be a little long if you simply walk in. But overall the ambiance is superb!!!

Rating: 4/5

Service

I honestly found the staff to be rather friendly and attentive. They genuinely wore smiles and expressed interest in your experience at the restaurant. Being our first time at the restaurant, we asked the waitress to give us her meal recommendations and can I tell you she did not disappoint. Her selections were tantalizing and on point to what we wanted. But that's for a little later in the food section. But that's for a little later dolls. In totality the service was great. The chef even came and looked out to make sure that everyone was enjoying their meals

Rating: 4/5

Food

The Indians are known to play around with a myriad of spices and seasonings. I found the food to be exquisite. Every dish is served with a bowl of white rice which complements the meal just right. But my personal favourite was the naan. I tried both the garlic and butter naan which were absolutely delicious; the best and delightful supplements I found to the dishes. My taste buds were captivated and went wild to the rich burst of flavour and seasoning exploding in my mouth. All I can say is Ah-MA-ZING!!!! Just tastefully divine. Not to mention the portion sizes were great and quite filling. My friends and I thought we ordered too much at a dish a piece and could've opted to have 3 dishes instead of 5 but we don't regret all the different flavours we were exposed to. Sadly, due to my englishness I am unable to recall the names of the dishes we tried but you can always do what we did and ask your server for a suggestion. Plus the prices aren't bad either. You truly get value for money!!

Rating: 4.5/5

Overall Experience

My overall experience with the restaurant was a great one. The food and service was wonerful and I would definitely recommend it to everyone. Try it out and tell me what you think.

Overall Rating: 4/5

Tamarind Indian Cuisine
Orchid Village
18-22 Barbican Road, Kingston 6
Phone: 977-0695 or 702-3486
http://tamarindindiancuisine.com/

Hours of Operation:

Monday to Saturday: 11:30 am – 9:30 pm
Sunday: 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Take me back to yesteryear

2013-05-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies,

I hope today finds you in high spirits. So I dug up an old favourite of mine that I just felt I had to share. In this modern dating world things can get a little twisted really. So here goes.

When did life get so complicated? When did things seem so difficult? Does anyone remember a time when our only care in the world was waking up on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons or even just what new lunchkit we wanted to bring to school at the beginning of the school year? Oh yes those were the good old days and then age happens. We get older. Our bones start creaking, schoolwork becomes a hassle and to add to our family life, our religious quest, our academic journey, we have to add the brawta of relationships. Oh relationships what a doozey!!! Now no one can be blamed. We can’t help ourselves. I mean we are only human and as humans we are beings of yearning and desire. We yearn fulfillment. We yearn completeness. We yearn that companionship that makes life worth living. We yearn for a better day and a better life. So what is all this ranting leading up to? (Dun dun dun!!!!!)….Top Dating Mistakes. I have decided to make this a two-part thing in my series of romantic tips and advice. (Again I do not claim to be an expert but hey this beats studying!!!) In any case let’s hop to it people!

1. Game Playing. Now I’ve had this discussion with my friends many times. The basic theory in this is the person who likes the other more loses and the one who is not as invested wins in the battle of power. So we play games to protect our ego’s or just to get what you want. Here’s what I say play it STRAIGHT people. Relationships shouldn’t be a competition, it should be a compromise. It shouldn’t be a survival of the fittest competition, that’s what we went through before the relationship. When it comes to dating, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, fears rejection of some sort, so it only makes you human if you do. Conclusion: It’s FINE to put your best foot forward, and also be a bit cautious, but have the courage to show who you are. You want someone who wants you for who YOU are!

2. Talking about your exes. Based on the nature of you relationship, things like this would come up eventually. So don’t bring it up, especially not in the initial stages of the relationship. The point is your exes are in the past for a reason so leave them there(unless it is your ex you’re trying to restart something with, which is a very tricky thing because if you haven’t sorted out the issues you had the first time around, they will still be there the second time therein. Word to the wise: BE CAUTIOUS!!!). Carrying old baggage into a new relationship amounts to clutter. So just try to get to know the person and have a chance for a fresh start sans the baggage.

3. Ignoring red flags. We all have them. Those little annoying things that make us say ‘No! Something is wrong here!’ If someone doesn’t show up when you’re supposed to meet, that’s a red flag. If you call them and they are always too busy to take your call, bingo, red flag. Some signals may be a bit more subtle and we may be tempted to overlook them, but whatever it is the red flag is telling you to slow down and take it easy. ‘Go easy!’ Now I’m not saying that people won’t have their character flaws, no one is perfect right? Nor am I saying you should condemned anyone to the pits based on their first mistake or when the first problem arises (unless it’s a big one then roast ‘em, boil ‘em and scorch ‘em (eh Anna?). I mean pray for their souls may they see the error of their ways! (yes Sheree you are so right!)). What I am saying is to trust your instincts. An emerging pattern is not something to make excuses for or brush under the rug. Address these problems early, and don’t waste your time.

4. Interrogating your date. Imagine this, it’s your first date and the trending conversation topic is: “How many children do you want? What’s your credit rating? So I did a background check on you and I found out a few things that I would like to clear up before we get married”. These are NEVER (I repeat NEVER!) good opening sentences, especially not on the first date. You want to show interest by asking about their likes or dislikes, but not press someone for information. Let things evolve a bit, as you get to know someone. Patience and restraint are required here, even though you may feel pressed for time. Do your best to relax and have fun.

5. Fantasizing about the future. This is especially a problem for females. From a young age, we have been fantasing. Dreams of a fairytale ending and happily ever after. Mrs (so and so). This is cute when we are young and carefree, but it’s not cute after the third date. You need to remind yourself to slow down and enjoy the moment. Dating is to be a fun and enjoyable thing. Yes we have hopes that at the end of it we will start a relationship and end in full commitment, but until then we gots to live a little. As I always say (sing rather) ‘Someday soon my prince will come but until then I’m gonna have some fun. Gonna dance all night and frolic all day. Got to kiss some frogs before I find the one’. Well I don’t plan to kiss frogs, but you get the point. So until you have time to really get to know someone, and see him or her in a wide range of situations, it is helpful to not get ahead of yourself; don’t strongly attach to some illusion that you have created about the person. This can lead to pitfalls of setting up unrealistic expectations and subsequent disillusionment, or depression if the relationship doesn’t work out.

Well as usual I like to end my notes with a little inspirational quote so here goes…. 1 Corinthians 6 v 12 states, “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. If we are not sure that our actions are permissible by God then maybe we shouldn’t even bother with it!” So in layman’s terms we all have gut instincts that tell us when the person we are considering is not right for us. Listen to yourself and make the right and best decisions for you. Have a great day. If you’re alive you already are.

Toodles!!!

Comments, feedback and suggestions are welcomed.

Lonely Hearts Club!!!

LHC- Prisoner of Relationships Past

2013-05-15T21:16:00.001-07:00

Blessings my fair people,

When it comes to relationships, I've realized that there are 2 ways that we can be prisoners of our past relationships which can affect our present ones. The first is to have such an amazing relationship that no one can measure up to the invisible stick we keep dangled in front of our other suitors and the other is the opposite dynamic and having a shrew of bad relationships that makes you question your taste in men. I've had the fortune or misfortune of having both. I have remained a constant prisoner of my relationships past for many years.

A prisoner of my own mind and heart. Having experienced the best of both worlds, I know what it is I want but in my pursuit of happiness I tend to get hurt and overwhelmed by the lack of forthcoming gentlemen to fit the mold I've shaped out. What is it that I truly want in a man? Emotionally? Spiritually? Physically? Intellectually? Beyond? I could write an essay on each topic but the simple truth I want someone to love me everlastingly, grow with me spiritually, be my intellectual equal or smarter and impart knowledge on me (and being my equal doesnt me he has to be versed in the same things I do but rather just be able to hold a great conversation), being there supporting and caring for me. I want to feel that earth-shattering, life-changing love I've felt before and I don't think I will settle for less. And that's where I remain a prisoner of a great relationship because it's hard for me to picture other than what I've already experienced. This has also led me to my being a prisoner of other relationship experiences because since then I've been disappointed continuously by the others that have come.

My search for love complemented by my myriad of experiences seems to put me in these shackles and I can't seem to break free. I want to live beyond the barriers I've placed and experience what life has to offer but my fear erodes me and I remain enslaved. This was my thought process until about last night (and admittingly I still think like that sometimes) but I watched a short film of a couple getting married and it dawned on me that maybe I'm not where I'm supposed to be indefinitely at the moment but that's just fine because it's where I need to be. If I don't have bad experiences I can't appreciate the wonderful ones and if I didn't have the great experience I would never truly understand my capacity to love above myself and to be selfless in my efforts. So until my prince comes, I'll be enjoying what God has planned for me presently.

Much Love,

Nella

Happy Mothers Day

2013-05-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

To all the wonderful women in our lives (especially my mommy, grandmothers and aunts) who have been our rocks, our shoulders to cry on, our smiles, our laughter, our lifelong cheerleaders, and who never stop believing in how wonderful we are.

I just want to take the time out to wish you all a HAPPY AND WONDERFUL MOTHERS DAY to the most amazing women God has placed on this planet to impact our lives. You truly are appreciated!!!

Much Love,

Nella

Recipe of the Week

2013-05-10T17:40:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

If you follow me on Tumblr and/or on Twitter then you would know about my recent fitness craze that I've been promoting. It is Spring and Summer afterall so beach trips are a MUST and the hot body is coming.

Always on the look out for simple and delicious recipes, I came across a delicious Strawberry Green Tea Smoothie recipe while perusing the fitblr world that I just have to share with you.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup of green tea
6 oz of light/ non-fat/ fat free Greek yogurt

Place all the ingredients in a blender and you're good to go with a delicious smoothie tantalizing your tastebuds.

I modified the ingredients a bit. I used around 4 large frozen strawberries, I eyeballed the green tea and added yoplait light black forest cake yogurt. It was absolutely delicious. The flavour was tangy and tart with just the right amount of sweetness to feed your sweet tooth. Yummy Yummy!!!!!!!

Try it and tell me what you think. P.S. Sorry for the orientation and the quality of the picture I'm still trying to operate this thing and will fix the picture ASAP.

Much Love,

Nella

RIP Lappy or maybe you're just sleeping

2013-05-10T17:34:00.001-07:00

Sadness has recently swept over my life. My faithful and loving laptop has stopped working and kicked the bucket. Once a wonderful companion is now lifeless. So right now I stuck without a laptop and trying to keep in contact as best as possible via my cell phone and school computers. That's just a little update on what's going on right now. Look out for my weekly reviews on Wednesday. I missed this week but will definitely make it up to everyone.

Much Love,

Nella

Giveaway Winner

2013-05-02T15:52:00.002-07:00

My first ever blog giveaway ended yesterday and as promised, I have chosen a winner today! So without further ado.........

Afayah Prendergast

Please contact me to claim your prize.

Thanks again to all who entered and don't worry there will be more giveaways to come.

Product Review: Beauty Treats Flower Color Change Lipstick

2013-05-01T18:47:00.002-07:00

HAPPY MAY EVERYONE!!!

I'm happy to say that we've made it to the 5th month of the year so far. How's 2013 been treating you so far? Anyways I am always looking for new ways to spice up and add life to my blog. For example with my Friday Link Love that I've been a bum with but hopefully will come back with full force in May. Well this month, I want to introduce a new feature called Review Wednesdays where I give you my thoughts on product finds, restaurant experience and so on.

My first review will be on the Beauty Treats Flower Color Change Lipstick. So let me start by confessing that I am not and I repeat NOT a makeup junkie, guru or anything along the lines. I am only really getting into this make up thing so I can't give you any information about when this product was released, how long it has been on the market or any of those things. What I can tell you is my experience with the product and if I would ever use it again. Enough of my jabbering and on to the topic at hand.

So what caught my eye was the beautiful blue lipstick in the set. I'm always on the hunt for something bold,endearing but somehow has a classic twist and so I decided to take a chance and got it. The top 3 things for me that make a great lipstick is the application, colour and how long it lasts. No one wants a cracked up lipstick that has a horrible shade, dries your lips or you constantly having to reapply it. Not a good look. So those criteria will be the focus of my review.

Application: The application was smooth and the lipstick basically glided on as I applied it which was great. It's enriched with aloe vera and vitamin E so my lips felt soothed and soft. I give it an A for application.

Colour: As mentioned before I am not a makeup junkie so I wasn't aware of the little surprise I had waiting for me when I put it on. When I first applied the lipstick it basically had no colour. It looked more like a lip balm or chapstick so I was like what the hell?! And I kept on applying a little more wondering if I was too conservative with my application. Well a few moments later my sister pointed out how pink and luscious my lips looked and I was like Whoa!!! That's right folks, my lips became pink. Well after going through bouts of whoa this is so cool to omg is there something wrong I decided to do a little product research and found that all the lipsticks in the set change your lips into luscious hot pink. So now it's back to this is so cool again! ^_^

Does it Last? Ahh yes the age-old question of durability. Surprisingly, the lipstick last pretty long. Approximately 14 hours without having to reapply it. With the glass test, some does actually come off, however, the colour doesn't fade or fade too much when it does so.

Overall: My overall impression of this product is 4/5. I would recommend this to a friend and I think you all should totally try it out.

Much Love,

Nella

P.S. Don't forget to enter my giveaway. It ends tonight so go enter if you haven't already. Here The winner will be announced tomorrow!!!

Blogger Giveaways

2013-04-20T12:09:00.002-07:00

Hey guys,

I've finally got a chance to browse around and see what other bloggers have been up to and I came across the giveaway that Roxy at Foxy et al is hosting. If you're interested in entering or for more info please check it out HERE!!!! It ends April 26th!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway Here!!!! The giveaway ends MAY 1st!

Much Love,

Nella

Absolute Travel Addict Feature

2013-04-20T11:46:00.001-07:00

Hi there,

This has been a really busy week and my body is finally reclaiming what's rightfully its own. Due to my poor time management and mountain of work, I haven't really been able to maintain much of my regular blogging posts such as weekly inspiration or blogger link love. Lo siento mis amigos. I will try to do better.

In other news, as many of you know I am an avid traveller in my spare time. But if you're new here or simply missed my features, check them out Road Trip JA Road Trip JA 2 Road Trip JA 3. At the Jamaica blog awards I was introduced to the wonderful April from The Absolute Travel Addict who later approach me to be featured in her newest series called Featured Travel Addict. After an exchange of emails and a wonderful interview. Check out the end product Here and see what it's all about.

Much Love,

Nella

Friday Link Love

2013-04-12T20:33:00.002-07:00

Happy Friday everyone!!!! Hope it's been a great day.Well dolls and dudes it's time for another week link love!!! Woot Woot!!! If you're new to the blog it's where I keep you updated on all that our loverly Jamaican bloggers have been up to for the past week. I unfortunately missed last week's link love but I'll try my best not to miss again. So let's begin my darlings!

Shannon @ Exotic You talks about 5 Days of School
Debbie @ Exotic You talks about Removing Acrylic Nails At Home (2 ways)

Roxy @ Foxy Et Al talks about Ready fo De Road- Bacchanal Chunky Glitter Nail

Roxy @ Foxy Et Al talks about The Best Finishing Powder

DMarcus @ Cogito Ergo Sum talks about The Victim is The Villain

Afayah @ Beauty Jamaica talks about Party Style: Daydreams Easter Weekend (Pic Heavy)
Afayah @ Beauty Jamaica talks about Massive Collective Haul | Forever 21, Payless, Collectibles Etc.

Cinni @ Candid Cinni talks about Spring on over to Youtube
Cinni @ Candid Cinni talks about Product Alert!!!

Carey-Lee @ For Eat Explore Live talks about Our Island People - Travel and Lifestyle with Anita Chin

Carey-Lee @ For Eat Explore Live talks about Taste of St.Kitts

Carey-Lee @ For Eat Explore Live talks about 5 Caribbean Swimwear Lines You Should Be Shopping Now

Carey-Lee @ ExclusiveUmpf talks about Voice of the Caribbean Through Styling

Carey-Lee @ ExclusiveUmpf talks about Backpacks - The New Cool for the Fashionable?

Carey-Lee @ ExclusiveUmpf talks about Accessories They Wore + Accessories-Styling We Love: Appleton Big Wall

Carey-Lee @ For Women to Women talks about Just Got Hitched Now What - Lecia-Gaye Taylor Shares The Myths, the Reality and the Greatest Things about Marriage
Carey-Lee @ For Women to Women talks about On Women Surviving Out There
Carey-Lee @ For Women to Women talks about Getting Bikini Fit & Fabulous
Carey-Lee @ For Women to Women talks about Beautiful Inside Out: Paulina Mo of Lil Bits of Chic

Lorrane @ Haute People talks about This Vs That : Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Vs Maybelline Super Stay Make-up

Lorrane @ Haute People talks about This Vs That : Santee Beach Blue vs Kleancolor Beach Blue Nail Polish

Lorrane @ Haute People talks about First Impression : Montagne Jeunesse Gel Cream Masque
Lorrane @ Haute People talks about There is Something about Jeneil

Kim-Issa @ In Between A Million Thoughts talks about Get Organised: there's an app for that
Kim-Issa @ In Between A Million Thoughts talks about Attitude of gratitude

Alwayne @ Introvert Mind talks about Sorry, Not Sorry

Marsha Rose @ Jamaican Beauty Blog talks about Using Oregano Medicinally - Off The Grid News

Lindsworth @ My thoughts on Technology and Jamaica talks about Digicel to launch the DL600 Smartphone by Mid-May 2013 starting below US$100 - Alcatel One Touch running Firefox OS marketed like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

Lindsworth @ My thoughts on Technology and Jamaica talks about UC Berkeley School of Information research Passthoughts as Passwords - The Matrix Frees you Mind with Johnny Mnemonic unhackable password

Natalia @ Natalia Oh! talks about DIY: Distressed Boyfriend Jeans
Natalia @ Natalia Oh! talks about Spring Swing
Natalia @ Natalia Oh! talks about Flowers, Bamboo and Flats

Vanessa @ Naturally Beautiful Going natural often leads to more positive changes
Vanessa @ Naturally Beautiful First Impressions: Shea Moisture's Organic Raw Shea Butter Masque and Conditioner

Jane @ The Jane Way talks about Review: Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

Ashleigh @ The Pink Socialite talks about Weekend Style : Crop Me In !
Ashleigh @ The Pink Socialite talks about Recent Purchase: Kenneth Cole Reaction Wallet

Check out their blogs, like it and follow along on their journey.

Much Love,

Nella

Weekly Inspiration- Refocus

2013-04-10T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

It has been a busy week so far. I mean oy vey!!! Today is literally the first time in a few days that I actually left the hospital and there is sunlight. My inspiration for this week is REFOCUS. When we transition into new periods in our lives or have been on our current path for extended periods, we often forget why we started in the first place. This the time we need to sit down and revive ourselves. Renew our focus and bein again.

Much Love,

Nella

Time for a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2013-04-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

Greetings beautiful people!

Today is a first for me. In my 3 plus years of blogging I have never hosted a giveaway on my blog. Shame on me!!! Well today is the day I correct my horrid mistake. So I have decided to do my very first giveaway! YAAAY!!!!

1 super fantastic lucky winner will receive this lovely chunky necklace with emerald green rhinestones and a sleek gold lining. Cute huh? I totally agree!!!

So how do you enter for a chance to win this necklace you ask?

Winning is super easy and very simple! All you have to do is carry out ALL the following instructions in order to win:

1. Follow me on Twitter.

2. Follow the blog via Google Friend Connect

3.Comment on this blog post saying "I entered".

4. Mention me on Twitter to say "I follow As Told By Nella".

Note: This giveaway is open to ONLY Jamaican residents! (Sorry International Readers :( :( :( )

See how simple it is to win?

This giveaway ends on May 1. So enter and tell your friends!

Road Trip Jamaica: Hidden Gem

2013-04-04T22:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

It seem like recently I've been neglecting my Road Trip JA posts. When I first started the series I was so excited and rejuvenated that I released posts weekly and then blah no more posts or features. Wa wa waaaaaaaaaa. I'm sorry that this has been the case and I promise to do my best to try t make it up to you. No posts won't be weekly like before but I hope to do monthly Road Trip JA posts to entertain and inform you all about the beautiful places located around the lovely island of Jamaica. Hopefully I can start doing little videos reflecting my trip too. Just wait big things are coming in my future.

This time my family and I ventured to the beautiful parish of St. Ann to locate a hidden gem by the name of Jewel Runaway Bay Hotel. It was a much needed holiday escape in the cooler months of December 2012 when my family and I made the 2 and a half hour journey to Runaway Bay. The best thing about spending time in a hotel is the ability to escape the mundane repetition of your daily life and indulge in those activities that you wouldn't dare to do on a regular basis and that's exactly what I did. A love of aquatic activities I participated in kayaking and sailing, both a first for me and both items completed from my bucket list. Check out my adventure below and see what I had to say about my overall experience.

Accommodations:

My family and I were treated to a dual bed suite which was almost beach front. It was nice little room which had 2 beds, a bathroom, television with cable and a small desk and chair. Despite the room being a tad bit small I never actually felt cramped or like I was tripping over my father and sisters in the room. The older of us each had our own room keys and so had a level of freedom to come and go as we please and still find time to enjoy each other's company. I have a little badmind for the people who got mini-pools attached to the front of their room section.

All in all I would give the accommodations a 3.5/5.

Surroundings:

The ground were vast, spacious and immaculate. It was safe and a great number of spots available for relaxing, entertaining and just enjoying the moment. With hammocks located at different spots across the property and golf cars available to carry extensive distances, although rarely needed. I was pretty impressed with the general surrounding and atmosphere of the hotel. It truly was beautiful!!!

Overall Impression: 4/5

Food:

The food was variable and palatable for all taste buds and preferences. From all you can eat buffet open at certain times during the day to grill stand. Not to mention Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean and of course Jamaican restaurants and bars located on the vast estate. In my opinion the best food was from the grill where I had my fill of grilled chicken sandwich, wraps, fries, burgers, hotdogs, basically a made to order playground. That being said the wait to actually get the food was ridiculous. There is only one stand with at most 3 chefs operating the grill and a lot of hungry people who end up waiting extended periods of time because no one ever seems to just order one plate at a time. Ah brother. Other than that the food was alright it wasn't as great as other hotels or restaurants I've visited but it was ok to eat.

My Overall Food Rating is: 3/5

Activities:

Activities ranged from a gym that was open 24 hours a day to water activities such as kayaking, scuba diving, sailing and so on. There were also golf, poolside fun, tennis, basketball, archery, horse and buggy and laser tag. There were countless things to do at Jewel Runaway Bay. Trust me!!! Not to mention this family-friendly resort had activities for just about every age group with parents being able to leave children at the kiddies play area, teens having a game arcade and adults free to do as they please. My only problem was that as with many hotels, many of the activities did not go as schedule and would often be late or not at all depending on what happens. See some pictures below of what I took part in.

Overall, I would rate activities as a 3.5/5.

Overall Experience:

My impression of Jewel Runaway Bay is one of fond memories, enjoyable moments, great activities and complete relaxation. I would definitely visit this place again and I totally recommend this to you.

Overall Grade: 3.5/ 5

Mi Familia

When did you take your last vacation? It's time to start living today and enjoying the little times of freedom that we have.

Much Love ,

Nella

Life Under Construction

2013-04-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

Lately I haven't been feeling too great and so it's time for some tough decisions to be made and hopefully it ends up for the best. Wish me luck my sweethearts!!!

Much Love,

Nella