lifestyle Archives

IT’S KICKOFF TIME!!!

Arianne SuggsUpdated on September 2, 2014September 1, 2014Leave a Comment

Written By Serena H

Yes! The regular football season kicks off this Thursday, September 4 and it’s about dang time. The first week is always exciting because every team is undefeated and filled with optimism. By next Monday, however, there will be some teams that we just know are going to be crappy the rest of the year (looking at you Buffalo Bills) and some teams that we know will be scary good (yes I’m talking about the New England Patriots). Whatever the case may be, 16 teams will be winners and 16 teams will have goose eggs in the L column.

There are plenty of intriguing match-ups to look forward to in week one. If the Atlanta Falcons can rebound from their dismal performance last year, I think their game versus the Saints should be a good one. The Saints defense improved greatly last year when they brought in Rob Ryan as the D coordinator. We’ll see if Matty Ice can sling it against a tough defense.

I’m pulling for Brian Hoyer to have a good game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, if for no other reason than I love rooting for the underdog. Since Pittsburgh’s overall performance has been underwhelming the past couple of seasons, Hoyer may just be able to pull off a win against their division foe. Even if he doesn’t get the W, but has a good showing, he may be able to keep Manziel off the field which is a plus as far as I’m concerned.

It’s probably going to be a terrible game but I am curious to see what happens in the tilt between the Redskins and the Texans. ESPN analyst Ron Jaworkski recently stated that quarterback Robert Griffin III’s mechanics have regressed, whereas the Texans don’t have a legitimate starting quarterback even though the job has been given to Ryan Fitzpatrick. I can’t help but to wonder if J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney will eat Griffin for lunch, or if Fitzpatrick will throw so many interceptions the Texans won’t be able to overcome them. Hmmm….we’ll have to wait and see.

Quite frankly I’m excited to see just about all of the games, because it feels like it’s been an eternity since the last echoes of the Super Bowl were heard. Will Eli and the Giants finally get comfortable in the “west coast offense”, will Peyton Manning lose to his old team, the Indianapolis Colts again this season, and will anyone bother watching the 2nd game of the ESPN Monday night double-header between the Chargers and Cardinals? We just don’t know yet, so tune in football fans to find out and welcome to week one of the regular season!

Lifestyle

Travel Monday’s: Spain

Alicia SuggsUpdated on August 25, 2014August 25, 2014Leave a Comment

Make you stay in Spain unforgettable admire the treasures and sights of Basilica del Pilar, Seville and Valencia. See the Great Mosque of Cordoba; enjoy the Gardens in Granada; and visit several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Alhambra Palace. Spain is a fascinating country that caters to great panoramic sightseeing. Enjoy the skyline at dusk, feel the warm sea breeze, and enjoy a glass of cava (Spanish sparkling wine) while sailing on the Mediterranean Sea.

What To See:

Basilica del Pilar
La Seo Cathedral
Aljaferia Palace
Great Mosque of Cordoba
La Sagrafa Familia
Port Olimpic

Currency: Euro

Hotels:

Travel Monday's- Spain — Basilica-del-Pilar

Lifestyle

Time to Trim the Fat

Arianne Suggs August 25, 2014August 25, 2014Leave a Comment

Coming up is a one of the saddest times of the year, cut down days. By August 26, NFL teams will have to cut their rosters down to 75 and then down to 53 by August 30. With that in mind, I wish I could cut Johnny Manziel, but since I’m not the General Manager of the Cleveland Browns that won’t be happening. But, I can tell you right now I’m sick of that kid already.

He scored a rushing touchdown and celebrated like he had just cured cancer. Dude, relax, not only is it preseason but there was nobody around you during your little seven yard jaunt. Plus, there happened to be 10 other guys on the field helping you score that touchdown. Take a very large dose of humble pie and study up on your playbook since, no doubt, your clueless fans will be clamoring for your presence on the field by week four of the regular season. You’ll want to be prepared for the debut of your, hopefully short and lack-luster career.

On a brighter note, Peyton Manning was called for a taunting penalty! Yes I know, how dare the refs call a penalty on the saint of the NFL. However, he did run 30 yards down the field just so he could talk dirty to one of the opposing players, and he didn’t care about getting a 15 yard penalty because there were only 5 seconds left in the half. So now we all know that Peyton Manning isn’t perfect (gasp)!

Speaking of quarterbacks, this was kind of a rough week for starting quarterbacks. Cam Newton ended up with fractured ribs and a contusion on his back while poor Sam Bradford tore his ACL and is going to miss the entire 2014 season. It’s injuries like this that make me wish we could bubble wrap our starting players to keep them safe. But this is football and every time a player steps on the field he knows there is the risk of injury and therefore, can’t allow the risks to prevent him from doing what he loves.

Maybe that’s why we love football so much, because we know when those players take the field they are going to leave everything they’ve got out there and the fans will get an exciting and action-packed game. The September 4 kickoff of the regular season can’t get here soon enough, bring on the glory of the gridiron!

Lifestyle

Travel Monday’s: Bermuda

Alicia Suggs August 18, 2014August 18, 2014Leave a Comment

Discover Bermuda’s natural beauty by going snorkeling or exploreing the caves of Walsingham Nature Reserve. Feel the sea breeze on your face as you stroll on Bermuda’s turquoise waters. Below is your guide to a perfect Bermuda getaway.

Clothing

During the Day Swimsuits, a raincoat or lightweight windbreaker

Evening casual elegant cottons, with ladies in a light dressy cocktail attire

Gentlemen in a suit or sports jacket and tie for evening festivities

Money

Bermuda and US currencies are accepted interchangeably.

Where To Stay

Blue Horizons

Warwick (West End)

Coral Beach & Tennis Club

Paget (Central)

Mazarine by the Sea

Pembroke (Central)

What To Do

Snorkel
Kayak
Paddleboard
Bermuda Rum Cruise
Golf
Spa
Music & Musical Events

Lifestyle

The Yellow Flags Are Flying!

Arianne Suggs August 12, 2014August 12, 2014Leave a Comment

We only watched parts of a couple of the preseason games this past week and it sure seemed like an overabundance of penalty flags were being thrown. A number of the penalties appeared to be called against the defensive backs for illegal contact or holding. Honestly, how in the world are the defensive players supposed to play defense?

It goes without saying that football is a contact sport so why can’t the defensive players touch the offensive players without getting a penalty? What is this flag football, powder puff football or (gasp) futbol? Seriously, if they are going to take defense out of football it is not going to be the same game we have all come to know and love.

Let’s just hope that the refs had itchy trigger fingers because they haven’t been able to penalize anyone for the past several months. Of course, the NFL did say that they were going to enforce the illegal contact rule even more this season. If the preseason, so far, is any indication of what we can expect in the regular season then we, the fans, are screwed. Games will be longer and a lot more boring. All we can do is hope the refs ease up as the season progresses and just lets the players play.

On a side note, we get the feeling that Tony Romo’s back injury may prevent him from having as productive a season as the Cowboys would like. We have no inside sources or anything concrete to back that up, it’s just a hunch. If he can’t play as well as he is capable of playing then the Cowboys won’t even make it to their mediocre 8-8 record they have had for the past few seasons. Oh well, there aren’t any Cowboy fans writing for this blog anyway…

Lifestyle

Travel Monday’s: St. Lucia

Alicia Suggs August 11, 2014August 11, 2014Leave a Comment

Saint Lucia is in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is Castries. Saint Lucia is so beautiful with its pristine beaches and crystal blue waters. This beautiful island caters not only the honeymooners but also those who like a bit of adventure. There are cultural adventures, dive adventures along with scenic helicopter excursions, mountain biking and so much more.

Now any trip is not complete without trying the local cuisines. St Lucia’s national dish is green banana and saltfish. The island’s cuisine is a unique blend of West African European. So you will be able to dine on dishes such as Macaroni pie, Stew chicken, rice and peas, hearty fish broths or fish. If you have a need for a little hot spice in your life try the very hot scotch bonnet peppers, these will definitely wake you up.

So for your next vacation why not try out Saint Lucia where you can, bike along the steep mountain trail, jog along the beach as did Usain Bolt, or dance under the Caribbean stars. Ahhhhh….. sounds fantastic. Happy Monday!!!!!!

St. Lucia travel mondays — St. Lucia Ladera Resort

Lifestyle

FOOTBALL SEASON IS BACK – SORT OF…

Arianne SuggsUpdated on August 4, 2014August 4, 2014Leave a Comment

The NFL Hall of Fame Induction took place this past Saturday and we would like to congratulate all the inductees, particularly, Derrick Brooks and Ray Guy. For Ray Guy, it’s about darn time since he was only the greatest punter ever; we have no idea why he was snubbed for so long. Derrick Brooks was simply a great defensive player who put his heart and soul into the game but still came across as one of the nicest guys off the field.

Regarding the Hall of Fame game played on Sunday between the New York Giants and the Buffalo Bills, it actually wasn’t too bad as far as preseason games go. There were long bombs, tough runs and hard hits. It’s too early to tell if either of these teams will be able to improve upon their less than stellar performances last season, but it certainly looked as if guys were trying hard to earn a coveted roster spot on their respective teams.

Lots of people poo-poo the preseason and refuse to watch the games; however, since we are die-hard NFL fans we will be tuning in each week to the preseason games and sharing any thoughts we might have about them. It may just be the preseason, but it’s still football and we’re glad to have it back. The NFL network will be airing the games starting on Thursday this week, so tune in and get yourself primed for the regular season. Even if you don’t find the games all that exciting, you could have some fun pretending to be the head coach and deciding who makes the roster and who doesn’t.

Whether you watch them or not, the preseason games let us know that the 2014 regular season is just around the corner and in the words of Bart Scott, we “can’t wait”!

Lifestyle

Travel Monday’s Hitachi Seaside Park, Japan

Alicia Suggs July 28, 2014July 28, 2014Leave a Comment

Colourful Hitachi Seaside Park, located in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, next to the Ajigaura Beach, is a flower park and a popular tourist destination. The park covers an area of 8.65 acres and the flowers are amazing all year round. Each season you will find a different variety of flower blossoming over the “Miharashi No Oka”, a hill commanding a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. During the Kochia Carnival visitors can immerse themselves in the park’s unique fall colors and walk amongst 36,000 red Kochia bushes and millions of cosmos flowers.

Lifestyle

25 Minutes a Day, Keeps Bad Skin at Bay

Arianne Suggs July 23, 2014July 23, 2014Leave a Comment

Fitness Quickie: The results are in, getting just 25 minutes of exercise a day can help make your heart stronger, increase your energy and help you sleep more soundly. Besides being able to get great beauty sleep exercise increases your blood circulation so that your skin is fed oxygen giving you a healthy glow and complexion. Take the challenge, workout out for 25 minutes daily and see the benefits!

Lifestyle

Travel Mondays: Eiffel Tower, Paris

Alicia Suggs July 7, 2014July 7, 2014Leave a Comment

Travel Mondays: Eiffel Tower, Paris
The Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. It was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower
Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Height: 1,063′ (324 m)
Construction started: January 28, 1887
Opened: March 31, 1889
Architect: Stephen Sauvestre
Engineers: Maurice Koechlin, Gustave Eiffel, Émile Nouguier