myretroperspective

No matter where I travel in the world, I represent the women who are thicker than super models, but just as beautiful. My butt is bigger than most unless you live in the ATL... where thicker girls with hour glass figures rule! And that’s alright with me. I would often hide my assets with clothes that conceal but one day a man who made my heart smile asked, “Why do you hide it under a dress?” So when this guy who is super haute, sexy and smart encouraged me to let my curves out ― I did! I figured if he was cosigning… I’m all over it! Southern girls with killer curves, ample thighs, full lips and hips that sway know that the secret to being a confident woman starts with the mind. We also know that for those who walk behind us… we inspire curiosity and acceptance. But for those who can’t get past our apple bottoms (two words) don’t hate!   As I travel the globe, I’m rocking my curves… whether in New York City, London, Paris or the Caribbean. I hope to represent girls like me who once ...

it was another gloomy day on geoje island which means rainy season is right around the corner. we decided to take a little drive to the south side of the island to a tourist attraction called windy hill. while getting dressed that morning, i made a horrible mistake. i thought to myself, what would be comfortable for a few hour road trip in the car? a flowy skirt of course. it seemed like a great idea up until the moment the wind hit me. The agima's (technically translated as married woman but known to people as the "old korean ladies") and their husbands almost got a view they didn't expect. lookout at windy hill. which is pretty much just a hill, a windmill, and a whole lot of wind.  

In the last month or so I feel like I've reached a new level of "settled". Granted this is the first time in 4 years that I haven't packed all my belongings to move and traveled halfway around the world with a suitcase- so my "settled" is a bit skewed. Still in the last 6 weeks R and I have done a number of things that signify making Atlanta our home. In no particular order: 1- We celebrated our first holiday at home as a married couple (see previous Easter post). 2- R purchased a Hops City Growler to bring home fresh brew 3- we joined a great small group with 3 other couples from our church and it feels like WE have friends now! 4- we planted gardenias and a few other flowering plants in our yard (anticipate a "secret garden post" soon) 5- Today I went to the library (was tempted to walk but the thunder/hail storms that are threatening prevented me) and got a library card! My first check out included: Don Quixote, Steve Martin's new novel,...

I’ve come to the conclusion that some relationships must end, particularly when you put your heart and soul into a story and your work is taken for granted. It seems like the week has been extremely long but when the truth comes out the best thing to do is face it. As such, I’ve decided that I can no longer work with a publisher who doesn’t value my contribution, my work or my time. Recently, I noticed that I had not been paid for an article that I wrote nearly six months ago even though it had been published. Under my contract agreement, my check was about 20 days late and no one in accounts payable with the magazine would return my emails, acknowledge receipt of my invoice or give me any idea of when to expect payment. As an independent consultant and writer, I can’t operate my business or life in limbo. So I took a tougher approach and sent a letter outlining my intentions on collection. Well, that got the attention of the publisher who decided to defend his breach of contract actio...

I've known this for a while and considered it before starting this blog but it doesn't seem like there's any getting around the catch 22 of blogging. See the thing about blogging is, no one wants to read about how you folded laundry or drove to the grocery or went to work. People would rather read interesting anecdotes about interesting incidents in far away places. I read blogs to catch up on other people's lives and learn their perspective on life, but when I write my posts I feel this sense of pressure that I should be describing the most exciting events and clever observations of the intricacies of life (maybe like this post?). yet when I actually have time to write a blog post it's usually when my world has stopped being interesting or clever or exciting in any way. I usually want to post when I am putting off doing other things. And this is the catch 22 of blogging: when you have time to write a post, there's nothing to write about; and when things ar...

A late night dinner party hosted by Atlanta Attorney Dan Meachum and Ludacris was held at the entertainer’s Midtown restaurant Straits. Several dozen Atlantans including the mayor and Congressman John Lewis turned out to recognize the contributions of civil rights heroes. The dinner menu consisted of six appetizers and starters including spare ribs, chicken lollipops, calamari and crispy wantons. When the main course came out it blew me away. Filet mignon, Origami sea bass and lobster tails along with lemon grass chicken were all amazing. By the time, the Georgia Peach and Empire State Cheese Cake came out… I had to get it to go! I couldn’t eat another thing so Ludacris’ mom Roberta made sure that I had my dessert box in hand as I walked out the door around 2 AM! Straits is a Singaporean Restaurant with a sophisticated look and feel. It’s become a local fave among select entertainers and local celebrities in the ATL. Do you have a favorite restaurant? Photo Credit: Paras Griffin's ...

on may 5th korea nationally recognizes and celebrates children's day. school is let out, work is canceled, and parents agree to do whatever the kids want to do that day. on that day, our friends mike and alissa invited us to go hang out with the kids at the orphanage. we couldn't resist.   this is the place where over 50 kids from ages of 1 year to 20 years call home. most of the kids here are either handicapped, or given up because of death or financial circumstances. for reasons unknown, people are not allowed to adopt the kids.  the kids all prayed together before each meal. this little guy's dad actually stopped by during the celebrations to spend time with him. we were told that he comes by every few weeks to take him for the weekend then drops him back off again. the only reason we could think of as to why he was in the orphanage in the first place is because the mom is no longer present. traditionally, mothers in korea quit work and stay home when the children are bo...

The Secret in Montego Bay, Jamaica is out—the new Secrets Resort is HAUTE! My most recent Jamaican getaway included a complimentary stay at this exciting new resort on behalf of the Jamaican Tourism Board. The moment that I stepped onto the property, I felt that this adults-only playground was exactly what I needed to relax and indulge. The resort is tucked away on a half mile stretch of private beach where powdery white sand glistens against sun-kissed skin. The turquoise waters of the warm Caribbean Sea offer a stunning backdrop to what turned out to be one of my best stays ever in Jamaica. My suite was on the Wild Orchid side (which is more contemporary compared with the more traditional St. James) with an ocean view. The minute that I walked into my room a full-size Jacuzzi tub with spa slippers and robe had my name written all over it. Once I figured how to man the controls without water flying all over the place it was heaven moving forward. The brand’s motto is “Unlimited-Luxury...

Last Week, I had the pleasure of attending The Bahamas in Atlanta event at Tyler Perry Studios (TPS). It was amazing! Officials from the Bahamas Tourism Board transformed TPS into a Bahamian retreat. More than 400 people turned out for the invitation-only affair to sample Bahamian cuisine and culture.   The Minister of Tourism and Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace spoke earlier in the day during a private media luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta… and then played host once again for the evening event along with U.S. Ambassador to The Islands of the Bahamas Nicole Avant who served as the keynote speaker. Vanderpool-Wallace makes a compelling story of why Atlantans should consider the islands of the Bahamas as their next vacation destination with more than 700 options… there is plenty to see and do in the tropical paradise. It’s absolutely one of my favorite places to visit in the world… because we all know that It’s Better in the Bahamas ! I would also venture to say that T...

The last week has been FULL. Starting with the devastating storms that ripped through the south. I was captivated by the coverage and heartbroken to hear that our new friends Justin and Alana Karl who serve with Campus Crusade in Tuscaloosa at the university of alabama lost nearly everything but their lives surviving the tornado. If you haven't seen their interview on fox news here's the link: http://video.foxnews.com/?playlist_id=86856#/v/4669130/tornado-survivors-speak/?playlist_id=86856 If the Lord puts it on your heart to give to meet their immediate needs here is a link that goes directly to an emergency fund for the Karls: https://give.ccci.org/give/2732127 Also Alana writes a blog so if you're interested in keeping up with the recovery progress Alana's is: http://justinandalanakarl.blogspot.com Friday I flew down to Destin for our first ever regional women's staff retreat. I did not know what to expect (other than that I'd be missing R intensely, bein...

Yesterday, I got a wonderful email from a Haute Travels follower who is wrestling with the notion of leaving the world that offers financial security to one that truly makes her happy. So she asked me… How I did it? When I first read the email, I wasn’t sure if I should give advice to someone that I didn’t know. But as a Pisces girl, I threw caution to the wind and told her my story. Here’s what I said… Hi! I really appreciate your support for Haute Travels... and I love feedback! Well, to answer your question I thought about leaving television years before but I didn't because I was in my comfort zone... perhaps fear of the unknown played a role. But after a series of things that took place I was able to leave the business and explore something new. There was a bigger plan at work for my life and every excuse to not do what made me happy disappeared when the job was no longer an issue. I wanted to write for magazines so I did some research and pitched a travel mag that targeted Af...

As a Haute Travels girl I’m not the type who spends a lot of time in the kitchen although I love good food. So it may be surprising to know that I spent today at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertainment Show in Atlanta. My mom came along because she loves cooking and picking up a great cookbook. But she also loves the Neelys… she watches their show Down Home with the Neelys on The Food Network and even picked up their cookbook. If you love good food and entertainment… this power couple puts on a great show while preparing an amazing meal. I have never watched a cooking show and laughed so much while being taught how to grill pork chops. Gina is a clown! She was so much fun to watch and the way that she and Pat engaged the audience was sheer comedy. But more importantly, I love the example that they set when it comes to African American couples who truly love and respect each other. I loved when one woman asked Gina how to prepare a meal to make a man “put a ring on it.” Gina told he...

A Haute new restaurant makes its musical debut in Atlanta… do officially opens this week! Last night, I had a blast with friends and Haute Travels followers at the pre-opening of do (pronounced dough) in Midtown. So many people turned out to congratulate owners Christian Ruffin and his wife Nacasha on their new venture... their dream coming to life was inspiring to just about everybody. Ruffin has used sound and theatrical lighting to integrate technology into restaurant design for an experience unlike any other in Atlanta. do marries science with substance… guests use Apple iPads to change the music, place orders without having to wait for a server and going paperless means going GREEN. You can even call for your car with the touch of the screen! Ruffin really gave a lot of thought to the atmosphere… iPads are everywhere, video on walls, good food and lots of fun flows throughout the two-story industrial building transformed into the new it-spot. The all-white furnishing and waterf...