HEADING UP STREAM

Television Streaming

Who amongst us does not have a streaming service? I, for one, have but one and it is Disney+ because with my hectic lifestyle I just don’t have the time for any other ones. Netflix started the ball rolling with its vast library of shows and movies, and soon other media caught on. Gone are the days when you just Netflix and chill, now it’s Discovery+, AppleTv, Hulu, and others while you chill. Netflix committed the cardinal sin of raising pricing for password sharing and paid the ultimate price by thousands of paid subscribers jumping ship so as to speak and their stock took a huge nosedive. Now that the pandemic “lockdown” has been lifted people still find a reason to stay indoors to catch a good original series show, or movie, or just to catch up on the latest news. Whatever streaming service you have, enjoy your chill!

DISCOVERY ZONE

Exploration of Books, the Arts, and Relaxation

Every now and then I enjoy a good book, other times a day at the museum to take in the arts or treat myself to a day of relaxation.

HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS

OUTDOOR DINING WITH THE LADIES

Ok listen up, or in this case read up, summer is upon us, and you know what that means, right? Party time! 🎉I absolutely love a good party, from the décor to the food, and of course the drinks. So, here are my girls-get-together tips and drink recipes.

• Being indoors is such a bore nowadays, especially coming off a mandatory lockdown, so my recommendation is to have a nice backyard, park, or beach get-together. On a budget, my go-to is Michael’s Arts and Crafts or Dollar Tree for my decor. Create floral centerpieces, try not to use the good dinnerware, but instead opt for Chinet™ disposable plates, plastic tumblers or flutes, and Spritz™ cutlery. Set the mood as the sun sets if the party carries on in the evening, instead of using glass votives try using battery-operated candles instead.

• The food is what most people come for, so you definitely want to make finger foods until you are ready to serve the main course. I enjoy making mini club sandwich bites, just use ciabatta bread, seasonal dressing for the spread, pepperoni, or whatever meat you like, cubed avocado, and tomato sliced and cut into small pieces topped with an olive on a toothpick. Viola, the perfect finger food.

• I love a good drink, especially if it’s flavorful. So, here is my recipe for the perfect girl’s get-together.

Pink Flamingo

2 oz. Plume and Petal Lemon Drift

1 part raspberry liqueur

1 part lemon juice

Raspberries

Add all the ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass, and use a toothpick to pierce a couple of raspberries. Sip, and enjoy!

Here are my top 3 things that I enjoy on my “day of discovery”, and I hope you will discover your bliss in this list.

1. Getty Villa Museum: Pacific Palisades, CALIFORNIA

There are two Getty museums in Southern California, but by far my favorite is the Getty in Pacific Palisades. I love Italy, and since I can’t travel there often I head over to Getty Villa, this museum is all about Greek and Roman art and architecture, with its beautiful gardens, and a replica of the amphitheater of old. When you step into this museum it’s like being transported to ancient Greece or Italy, and I love that it’s just a stone’s throw away from the ocean. After my visit, I head over to Gladstone’s for a delicious dinner by the ocean. If you haven’t visited, then this is a must-see, for your next “day of discovery”. In order to visit, you must make a reservation, you can check the Getty Villa website for days and times of availability.

2. Finding Me: Actress Viola Davis' memoir

I am not big on reading fiction, or romantic fantasy novels, however, I do enjoy reading historical books, and memoir novels. On a sunny day, you can catch me in my backyard by the pool with my nose buried in a book, and if it’s a rainy day, in front of my fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate and a good novel. I highly recommend this book by actress Viola Davis, you know her as the firey Annalise Keating from the television show How To Get Away With Murder. This book is raw, eye-opening, touching, and moving. So, get your box of kleenex, a glass of wine, and a quiet spot to indulge in this wonderful book.

3. Ponte Inn: Temecula, CALIFORNIA

When I take a “me” day I usually go exploring, and when I find a good spot I don’t really share it with anyone else. Shh, but, I will share this lovely winery with my readers because it was shared with me by our Editor-in-Chief Nicole G. I am used to traveling to Northern California for a winery experience, so I was a bit skeptical of Southern California ones. I have to say this winery has beautiful garden settings, a tasting room, and a lush vineyard. I was blown away by the sheer tranquil beauty of this winery. Enjoy a meal outdoors, and take a stroll around the grounds. This winery also has a hotel and can host weddings and meetings too.

MASTER PLAN

CREATING A SCHEDULE, AND STICKING TO IT

Do you find it hard to plan your week, or do you find it harder to stick to your planned week once you’ve written it down? I was a non-planner, I just didn’t feel committed to writing my weekly responsibilities down, but that all changed when I saw this great social media post about calendar commitment. The speaker said, “all it takes is to make your bed” I thought how odd, I make my bed every day, how is this going to help me with writing out my week on my calendar? As he continued to speak, it all made sense, making your bed is like putting the responsibility on a calendar, it is something most of us do every day, we just don’t write it down, because it’s ingrained in our daily behavior.

Now, what if we wrote down from that starting point what our needs of the day will be, and the next day, and so on and so on? Those of us with office jobs, maintain a work calendar, we know what our responsibilities are from day to day, but we don’t think much about including our life responsibilities in a journal. The speaker teaches that “the key is to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but not schedule your priorities.” he continues with a quote from Benjamin Franklin “you may delay, but time will not”, so don’t let time slip away by missing our on things that you must or want to do.

”So, here is a tip to remind you that a schedule is a plan you make, and therefore, it should be something you value when it’s written down. Take time to think about all of the things that are important to you, a child’s recital or game, dinner with friends, or time with family, and put the journal in a place you frequent often, with a pen next to it, and write those days and times down. The final step, keep it open and don’t close it, doing this will keep it on your mind.

 CHASTAIN HOWARD

Lifestyle Editor

BIO

Overachiever, thrill-seeker, and creative force are just some of the adjectives I use when describing myself when asked who I am. I have submerged myself into everything life and style, from the places I have visited, to interior designing, I am all things life and do it with style. I have worked in media for the greater part of 26 years, with no plans of stopping any time soon, and I am a seeker of new and exciting opportunities. I enjoy spending time with my daughter Destiny, and my girls and traveling.

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