Happy Holidays from Brussels...

I'm back in Brussels again. I got here to the hotel not too long ago. Just the day before I was in Amsterdam. I think I need a break from international. Don't get me wrong, I love doing international, but I think the constant trips from summer until now has got my kids a lil' on edge... moreso my baby boy. When I'm home, he calls my name, "Mommy, Mommy..." like 50 times as if he's making sure I'm there with himin the house. I think he'll be feeling a lil' more reassured if he saw me in the mornings and at night.

Yesterday was such an emotional and moody day for me. I really miss my family... and have been feeling stressed lately. Must get rest now... voice is hoarse.

Happy Holidays!

Hello from Athens, Greece!

Hey all!

I've arrived on my inaugural trip to Athens. I was the "A." It is currently 11:40am as I blog to you from the street. (NY is 7 hours behind.) As oppsed to my usual routine of power napping then going out, I felt wide awake and decided to start the day by going out straight away... Not to mention it looks a tad bleak and I have no umbrella. I am not one to tempt mother nature.

As I walk down the street headed to Monastiraki,a shopping area, I am approached by several street beggars. While I don't speak Greek,some body gestures and signs are universally the same. I don't think a shabbily dressed person holding an empty cup before you means that they'd like coffee. What disturbs me more are two little girls sitting about three feet apart from each other. They appear to be no more than 3-4 years old. Positioned on their knees with cups before them, they are begging. Where is their mother? I want to find her and give her "two lash in her tail!" How come these kids aren't in school? Why must they perpetuate this legacy of begging rather than going to school and making something of themselves? Anyhow, I've arrived at my destination. I'm just a lil' peeved that I went to church this weekend and left my camera in Papa's baby bag. Sounds like Athens has not heard the last of me yet!

Bonjour, Toute le monde!

Diva's back in Paris. This time I was very good. I awoke much, much earlier from my "nap" than I did the last time. As you may or may not recall, I was in Paris last I believe on the 28th or 29th of last month. It was cold and rainy and I think I told you "mi come in like puss.. mi fraid wata..." in reality, it's the wearing of wet clothes while it's cold that I don't like. This go 'round, I awoke at 4pm local time and ventured out. I decided to go to Azzedine Alaia's spot that sells his stuff at 50% off. This is the placed that I had always dreamed of going back in the day before I had any kids... you know the deal, flat abs no flab... now after two kids, his designs ain't gonna have no love for my body. LOL! I went nonetheless as everything can't possibly be figure conscious and he does shoes as well. Got there before the shop closed, but I wasn't looking to spend the kind of money that they were asking for. I ventured on to an area that sold wholesale goods. I picked up a few vintagey looking handbags to give as Christmas gifts. The next stop was the department store BHV. While I've passed it before, I never actually went in. They had a nice assortment of goods. I was a good girl and bought nothing. I hopped on the metro again and headed to the Champs-Elysees. The Champs-Elysees was soooo beautiful. It had lots of holiday light going right down... soooo festive. It gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling inside. I popped into Promod to see what sort of goods they offered. After a quick once around, I left and headed to Sephora. Now, I had vowed not to buy anything any more from this Sephora as the dollar is so weak to the euro that it doesn't make sense. Why would I buy Christian Dior Diorshow mascara for 23 euro when I can purchase it for $23 US. Make sense? The euro is almost 1.5 times the US dollar. Makeup addict that I am, I did walk around. I had the nerve to have on my video recorder taping randomly. I'll upload it when I return to the States. What I did end up getting, as I do have one of those Sephora VIP cards issued to me from this Paris branch of Sephora, was a gift set of French perfume. I once upon a time wanted "Eau de Soir" and was going to purchase it in NY. I found it to be expensive and very heavy. I've also read that fragrances in France are made differently than their American counterparts... then again, this is a fragrance made in France. I took the tester and sprayed myself, then for whatever the reason, instantly felt french. Then the Sisley manager made a deal I couldn't refuse. They were selling the sets for maybe a euro more than the single fragrance. My set included a 1oz spray and shower gel. She threw in 3 mini bottles as I love collecting mini bottles (that alone had me sold as I've seen those selling for at least $15-$20 US) and tons of skincare samples. OK. It was a deal. I had my Sephora card on me and it also had an offer for a free eye contour lifting sample. OK, cool, but then the girl put is soooo much "swag" in my bag! I've been toying with Prada's new fragrance Infusion d'Iris Eau de Parfum but once again, wasn't ready to put out the money as I've been spendingt money on high end fragrances and need to slow it down. Sephora gave me at least 3 of those samples and a plethora of other items that I need to look at again as the goodies are in my hotel room and I'm in the crew lounge. I felt that my purchase was more than compensated. From here, I headed to Monoprix. I usually shop the one by my hotel, but I feared at the rate I was going, it would be closed by time I got back. I bought some soaps by Le Petit Marseillais. This is the one that I have in my rollerboard. It's supposed to be hydrating and doesn't leave me feeling dry. I also have this one. This is a HUMONGOUS bar and I have yet to get a soap dish to fit it. In addition to that, I needed to replenish my sunblock. This brown girl swears by sunblock. Skin protection helps keeps the skin youthful! I got La Roche-Posay's Anthelios W SPF 40 Sunblock gel. I figured I'd get this so I can use it here and in hotter climates like Jamaica and Ghana.... yeah, planning ahead! LOL! I've noticed that my branch of Duane Reade near my house is carrying a couple of these cosmeceutical skincares lines and I'm happy to say it was cheaper here than what I'm seeing online. I got mine for 17 euros and change. Here is the entire Anthelios line. I might try the Anthelios XL next. That' s what I originally went for, but decided to try the Antelios W. OK, off to my room I go... will post videos and pics later. I know several entries are missing pics.

Bags, Bags, Bags...

I've never been one totally infatuated with bags, although I love me some shoes. I'm getting into bags though. I came across a sample sale for a company called Hayden-Harnett. I went to the physical sale today and did score two bags. One was the Hudson Hobo in Vachetta, which is a light tan and the other was Thalia Drawstring Bucket in Chalk which is white. This sale continues over the weekend!

Here are my pics!

Hudson Hobo in Vachetta

Thalia Drawstring Bucket in Chalk

Pray for me, ya'll! I live in NYC and this is my first white bag!

The Hudson Hobo is a BIG and BOLD bag. Not for the timid!

Bucharest...hmm...

Well, I had a 49 hour layover in Bucharest. Let's just say that this isn't one of my favorite European countries. I am on the crew bus headed to the airport to return home. I'm the "A" FA and will be the entire month. What I will say is that this is the layover to come if you need complete rest. However, I found myself having a harf time falling asleep the 1st night we were there. Ambien and all, I fell asleep sometime after 6am local time. They are 7 hours ahead of EST. Then again, I didn't mention that once we landed, I hung out in a FA's room with the Cpt until about 1pm local time.By the time I got back to my room and slept, it was after 1pm which reulted in me waking up at 8pm or so local time. YIKES! I called my "B" and asked if she was awake. She was like "yeah! Come on over." I got dresses and went to her room and there were the 3 pilots and 4 other FAs. Mind you, this is a crew of 8 FAs and 3 pilots. They already came from eating dinner, so I ordered room service. Figured they couldn't go wrong w/lasagna al forno.Let's just say I didn't enjoy it. Anyhow, I'll continue later as I'm at the airport.