“Francophile in New York”

The French bakery, Maison Kayser the Fifth Avenue location on West 40th street

I walked past this place a couple of days ago, in New York, I was right by Bryant Park  beautiful park, something always happening there, one of my many favorite parks aside from Central Park, which is about 50 blocks long, and absolutely gorgeous, and well maintained, The Conservatory does such a great job to maintain it by the way. Giving them a nice plug, cause I have visited so many times,

Now my Honey Brown Sugar instincts kicked in because it hit me I need to start writing more about the things I love, and of course this city. I can’t deny how much I love food and New York (I told you I was born here) So yes you will hear more about my experiences as well in the city. Yes I love to eat, but I try to eat a lot more healthier now within my twenties. I do discriminate meat sorry I am not a vegetarian I have to have a good steak and lobster sometimes!

I have always had a really good regimen of food, I learned early though to maintain eating healthy but it’s all right to indulge. I also learned at a very early age maybe five probably about all different types of food, cultures, and embracing all backgrounds. One of those cultures I learned early was French actually.  I was about ten years old and I saw this movie called “The Josephine Baker Story”. Now I actually saw the movie when I was very little, but I saw it when I was older and was engulfed by this woman, this exotic African American woman who has such a beautiful, unique, powerful story.

            I was given a choice in my fifth grade class to discuss one of my heroes, this was perfect timing, I chose Freda Josephine McDougal aka Josephine Baker. I had gained this powerful obsession, and love for France! I am glad I did because I really do love Europe, traveling all different cultures, and learning about all backgrounds actually. It used to make me just dream one day I would go. My mother went, four of my very close friends have gone, any many others. I became so in love with this powerful, beautiful city, and I still am. I have been to Europe, but I visited Geneva, Switzerland briefly to travel on the train to Milan, then stayed in Florence, Italy for a month and two weeks,  visited Pisa, Lucca, and lastly Rome. I so badly wanted to go to France. I still long for it and believe I am getting closer to my dream. I think it’s going to happen very soon and I will be able to go possibly with either my close friends,  maybe my mom, the man I care for and love as well which would be even sweeter.  I would want to stay for at least a month. I have so many places to visit, foods to try, things to see. It would really be a complete dream come true. I believe it will happen, everything is timing truly, but it’s a matter of one knowing where to go, getting there, having the funds, and being 100 percent ready. I think being an adult and having the means to get out there would be the best of having everything ready so my dream would come true. This trip will mean so much to me more than just 1 reason.  Just to be able to  be there and to travel. To know I followed my dream and I didn’t give up would be perfect.

            So let this Francophile tell you the restaurant I saw the other day was a French bakery called Maison Kayser they have several locations one in lower Manhattan, midtown Manhattan, and uptown as well on upper East Side. It made me realize when I walked in there yes I found a bakery I am going to love. I heard Billie Holiday singing on the speakers playing, I saw the cold salads, sandwiches being chilled everything looked delicious, from the pasta, the sandwiches, the pastries, all beautifully prepared. I will be back for sure. I decided to really indulge in my passions, so I bought a vanilla éclair, I have been craving them for some reason I haven’t had one in so long. I also bought a Pavlova dessert it’s gorgeous, decadent, and delicious trust me. You feel like you’re in fruit and crème paradise completely.  I cannot wait I am excited to try, indulge, and taste more of these beautiful, delicious treats provided by Eric Kayser the creator of this beautiful restaurant, and the chef who prepared these delicious treats as well. A true artist, and I know I will enjoy this completely. I am going to have a ball visiting the restaurant, and many others. I also found a place called Éclair Bakery located in midtown Manhattan I will visit as well. I am excited because it’s so important for me to keep on finding more before I get to visit the “City of Lights”. I am extremely excited and know it will happen very soon. Stay tuned my readers love you thanks for continuing to rock with me. More to discuss always =) Visit http://www.maison-kayser,com/m/en  for more information. 

           

           

A delicious vanilla eclair and the beautifully strawberry and raspberry decorated dessert is a Pavlova yum!

Why the stars strut in his red bottom heels

“Red Bottom Heels” –Christian Louboutin Heels

The creator of the red bottom heel popular show, Christian Louboutin

These shoes really need no introduction at all they have made their grand appearance on many red carpets, on television shows, movies, and they have become a symbol of power, status, achievement when you get to wear them. They are incredibly beautiful, intricate in detail, creatively designed for every woman who has a chance to wear them.  Christian Louboutin was born in France he wasn’t big on school, he would attend as a child but didn’t believe he wanted to be there. So he chose to go to live with a family friend, travel to Egypt, and learn develop a fashion line of high quality shoes.  These beautiful red bottom heels have been seen at award shows, pretty much everywhere. They even have a song written about them by Jennifer Lopez called “Throwin’ on my Louboutins”. So these shoes are really here to stay. 

I passed by the Fifth Avenue location of Saks Fifth Avenue near 50th street  department store and the tourists and I were oogling and starting at the window display there were a pair of beautiful black patent leather and white patent leather shoes with their signature red bottom heels all moving on a spinning electronic ferris wheel spinning and looking beautiful like they were dancing high heels. The shoes have a way of extending the leg, they make the calves look more muscular, you feel a sense of power, achievement, and sophistication when you are wearing them as well.  So these red bottom heels can pretty much go anywhere from casual to dressy wear. You can wear your favorite jeans to your favorite evening dress.  Red bottom heels say yes I have got it all figured out now, I am powerful, stunning, and sophisticated. I remember vividly seeing reality television star, Nene Leakes receive a pair of Louboutins from a manager/friend of hers and I remember  realizing that’s when you know you have made it completely when you one receive a gift, but let alone a gift that is close to $9,000.00 dollars. The shoes have a real powerful way of making a woman feel like “Yes I own the street and the red carpet too”. So to Christian Louboutin this one is for you, keep on with these beautiful shoe designs. Young starlets, Veteran stars, Powerful women, Hardworking women, and us striving to buy these Louboutins all love your incredible designs as well.  Visit http://www.christianlouboutin.com for more information. 

Jada Pinkett-Smith looks stunning in these gold Lady Max heels. 

Would you wear a red bottom heel?

THE TRACK TITLE "LOUBOUTINS" BY JENNIFER LOPEZ (2009) 

Jlo wears them and loves them dressy or casual

Nicki wears them heels and boots

Selena Gomez wears her red lucite heels 

Nene Leakes wears her gold spiked Louboutins

They are glass slippers! wonder if I can find these one day, Lucite and Diamond encrusted heel

He's got the magic touch with his gorgeous, creative shoes 

 I took these =) They are spinning in the front window display at Saks Fifth Avenue 

Live spinning Louboutins on display at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York, N.Y. taken August 2014

At the top a spinning black ballet patent leather Christian Louboutin  heel 

“Fraud on the rise at banks this summer”

We need to be better at protecting our identities only you can protect you.

My summer of 2014 has really been interesting for me it’s brought up a lot of things, memories, old and new. It has brought new opportunities of some great things and it has brought some stress too. It’s reminded me of a lot of things that yes while often we can get caught up with having fun, enjoying our lives, and living. That sometimes there is also a price a pay when you are enjoying yourself.  You can be out whether at work, school, running errands, all the while someone is after your private checking account.

We need money and U.S. currency in order to survive in the country, to pay our bills, to pay for every single thing we need in order to have the “American dream” and to also achieve and pursue the motto: liberty, freedom, and happiness. Yet there is one thing that happens in a non -perfect world with people of diverse backgrounds, upbringings, and classes. You deal with reality every single day some strive hard for success and others take the easy way out choosing to settle for what they consider as a means to get by and have money. They instead choose to steal from others and commit fraud. This is what happened to me I am not ashamed to admit it I believe it should be discussed, it’s liberating, it makes you aware, and also you find a solution to the problem as well. All right here we go the first weekend of July 2014 I was running like a mad dog, I had to get prepared for my first weekend of doing marketing spirit promotions a new side hustle. I don’t do them often and this was my first major one I was doing 3 in one weekend.  I needed to earn some money to go to “The On the Run tour” concert and of course to take care of myself , traveling around the city, and bills too.

Yet at the same time as I am running around that weekend, luckily I was safe, I didn’t really use my card to purchase anything major, I was only buying what I needed for my promotion i.e. juice, ice, decorations for the fourth of July, to get around, travel, from each destination as well.  So after my long weekend a week later, I go to my company pick up my check and I could not make a deposit at the bank. My bank informs me that “There has been unusual activity” on my receipt. So I go to the nearest bank representative, Ashley, and she assists me. I call and step into a private office away from the lobby I am inside the Empire State building, I speak to the bank, and find out there was a young kid who was attempting to make purchases by using my card. Fraud has been heavy this summer, people desperately seeking ways for money.  This is one of those situations I did not want to stress about. I thought quickly, I didn’t react; I just knew what to do. God definitely assisted me that day and I handled it fast, quickly, and it was resolved in 2 hours. Yet at the same time how can we live in a world where people choose to scam and skim us?  Skim, no not like skim milk, Skimming is when a criminal uses a fake object where the ATM card entrance is and a criminal uses technology to capture, skim all of your checking card/ debit card/credit card account information: the card number, security code, and your name.  Now usually this occurs most of the time at ATM machines, and while making purchases using your credit card or debit card at the machines.

The criminal goes in and he, she, or them will make the purchases of taking your card and go out and have a ball while this happening. How do I know so much about this because it happened to me personally twice, it also happened to other people I know, and I have heard so many stories online, on 20/20, and Dateline about shows where criminals attempt to steal or take your money unbeknownst to you and are out having a ball. I even saw a couple at a gas station attempt to skim a card how sad and pathetic.

 Now “my criminal” I am being facetious who took my information offline and got everything he needed to attempt to take from me was caught in his tracks immediately. He was not allowed at all to make purchases of his Video stream games and Target movie purchases. Sorry kid, but no the bank and I are informed of who you are, you come after me again and we will have to take it up with the court, the law, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), and the bank again. 

How did I feel that afternoon, it had all ready been a pretty rough week for me, I didn’t want to be bothered honestly, I just wanted to be to myself, I thought about it and knew I better share this with you all, so you know too. You’re not going to believe what I found out next when I got home that day. I got home to my apartment and I get a phone call from one of my parents, now I am going to protect this person’s identity I am going to call him “Jake” will not say their name at all. Someone who I dated we went out last year one time only to the movies and a date.

“Jake” is currently being charged and was arrested out of state for committing the same exact crime; he was arrested for over 30 counts of committing fraud.  “Jake” was running around using and stealing people’s credit cards to find a way to earn money. “Jake” was all ready dealing with some other issues by the way in his personal life. He had a lot of baggage and drama going on all ready. This was not someone I needed in my life trust me.

That must explain how he found a way to get money so quickly. He and I didn’t date for long, it was quick, and we don’t speak. We probably never will again because he’s going to jail for a very long time possibly over 20 years. So “Jake” and I will never live happily ever after, no he will either have to serve some time, and  he will never see me ever again at all. That chapter of “Jake” and I ended fast.  

Just knowing that made me angry, how I could be so close, so intimate, or even want to know a person with a background like that broke my heart. This person wasn’t vindictive or mean to me, or tried to use me. No but apparently he needed to find a way out, he took the easy way out, the same way a lot of criminals do and its taught me, many valuable lessons, number one protect yourself in every possible way.  I have learned that quickly and I believe the same goes for you all too.

Here are some tips: ladies be careful with your handbags, purses, tote bags, wallets, I don’t care but if you have to sleep with your purse next to you. You may be better off, or hide your money in the safest place possible if you know you cannot trust the person you are living with or even friends with also.  Carry everything on you if you have to and remember where you placed it, make it easy on yourself.  Gentlemen, hide your money in your sock, shoes, if necessary.  You need to know the signs of when fraudulent activity is occurring not just at the bank, but it can happen right before you know it. These criminals are fast and they keep themselves updated on every single topic and form of banking and financial technology.

Protect your Benjamins whether within cash or plastic, and online too. 

Check your account by yourself at your bank, with your bank representative, make sure you can trust he or she, change your debit cards, and passwords frequently give yourself possibly 6-9 months or a year, for changing all personal information. It is necessary for you to keep yourself safe, protected, and from you getting money stolen from your pocket.  If you are making a withdrawal, deposit, go during the daytime hours, go during your lunch break

Only you can protect your  Washingtons, Jacksons, Lincolns, Hamiltons, and Benjamins !

Protect these cards from the bad guys, cause they're real and they exist trust me.

Oh no he wants to steal "Johnny"s" debit card don't be next!

is the best time, try to avoid the after 5 o’clock crowd, banks are crowded always during rush hour. If you go to the bank at night, go in a highly lit, crowded area, try to go where people are still out, and there is a police officer/security guard/sheriff/sergeant near by whether you are in a busy city, suburban area, or rural/country setting.  Also keep in mind your purchases, track your receipts, remember what you bought, what you ate, what you needed to buy and why. It’s good for both your memory and pocket/purse too. Good luck, be safe my readers, and please keep track of what you buy on the streets and in public.  Only you can protect you, and you shouldn’t have to prove to your own bank who you are now, they should know it’s the real authentic you.  For more information on how you can protect your self, others, and more knowledge on identity theft please visit the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.ftc.gov . I also suggest for online purchases always double check for certain businesses too. Visit Better Business Bureau for more information as well, visit http://www.bbb.gov   Also my readers if you have family or friends in the law enforcement that does not hurt either. =) Protect you. 

"Don't call it a comeback she's been here for years" New book, new album, and new fragrance for J-Lo

"True Love" will be out this fall on  November 4,  2014

Jennifer Lopez has been in the music game for close to 15 years now and she has grown tremendously as an artist, opening herself to a wide range, crossing over not just to the pop genre, but with hip hop, dance, latin music fans, she has managed to find a way to regain and find herself expanding and growing with her fans as opposed to simply keeping up with times.  She knows how to connect with them, you see it displayed on “AKA” that she is reaching and growing now. The growth has shown since her debut album “On the 6” she had major hit songs that are still played in rotation on the radio today.

            Her music has a way of not only making us want to get up and go run to the dance floor, but she has a way of connecting to the human spirit, she discusses, love, heartache, but also shows you how to maintain a strong disposition, and grace as well. She finds a way to give fans and show the ladies you can bounce back after relationships, you can be treated with respect 100 percent, you deserve to have a man give you the best, and have great intentions. She does it all and also shows women to embrace their curves and accept who they are as well. 

            Incredibly multitalented with a fashion line, a new book called “True Love”, a new fragrance line, producing television shows, judging “American idol” along with Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban, she also started  a new Hispanic broadcasting entertainment television network “Nuvo TV” she is the Chief Creating Officer, and with her tenth studio album, “AKA”. She shows you yes I am still here, I can multitask, she is definitely the queen of multitasking, and can also keep it 100 percent real with her friends and family as well.  She is completely relatable to her fans and to herself but she forever remains humble as well.

             Lopez proves she knows how to connect with millennials completely and she is even working with them in the studio as well, she featured new up and coming Australian international model and now hip hop rapper, Iggy Azalea on her songs, Chris Brown helped assist and produced one of her hit records, “Booty” as well, and also Rick Ross, T.I., and another Aussie Sia helped produced Jennifer’s album creating a new unique, fresh sound for her fans.  Her hit song “First Love” has been popular on the dance radio stations playing along with “Luh Ya Papi” as well.  On her other tracks “Same Girl” she proves to fans no matter what she is still the same person she was growing up in the Bronx, New York. She still has maintained who she is and never forgets that person. She has grown as a singer, songwriter, and artist tremendously. She also has a book coming out this fall in October called "True Love" which is a memoir,  autobiographical, and also has a bit of self-help on love as well from her own personal experience from past to present.  There's no stopping her cannot wait to grab the book will be an early b'day present to myself lol when it comes out. 

Above "I Luh Ya Papi" video 

"Acting Like That" Jennifer Lopez ft. Iggy Azalea

Winning her 2014 Billboard Millennium Icon Award 

Love this photo of her, I had to use it, I was using for another project I am working on in the future.

You see she worked hard on “AKA”, you see that even with her judging American Idol, she learned how to connect with this generation of fans, give them exactly what they want out of her, and give them who she really is completely, a hardworking triple-threat who can multi-task, sell an album, and show them “I still got it” 100 percent. For more information on the multitalented superstar visit 

http://www.jenniferlopez.com  also visit http://www.nuvotv.com .