Our Japan Trip Is Finally Happening! 🇯🇵✈️

Hi, friend!

Well, my dream of going to Japan is finally happening! 🇯🇵

After our engagement, my fiancé announced, “Let’s go to Japan next year!” Japan is also one of his dream destinations, so of course, I was completely on board.

I’ve flown on planes before, but the only international flight I’ve taken was to visit my family in Panama. My fiancé had never flown on a plane until we went to San Diego, so this will be his first international flight. For me, it will be my first international flight that’s longer than five hours.

I’ve always wanted to travel ever since I was little. I’ve dreamed about meeting new people, making friends, learning languages, and experiencing different cultures. Japan was going to be one of my first big international trips before visiting other countries. Plus, I had heard that Japan is a pretty easy and safe place for beginner travelers, especially if I ever decided to travel there solo.

My fiancé has always wanted to travel too, and Japan is one of his biggest dream trips. He grew up with anime and manga, so being able to finally visit the country that was such a big part of his childhood is really exciting for him. Of course, he also wants to experience the culture, food, history, and everything else Japan has to offer.

I came across a quote about traveling that really stuck with me:

“Traveling changes a person by breaking daily routines, lowering stress hormones like cortisol, and forcing the brain to adapt to new environments. It builds confidence through problem-solving, deepens empathy by exposing individuals to different cultures, and expands personal perspective.”

That really describes one of the reasons I want to travel. I want to experience something completely different from my everyday life and come home with new memories, stories, and perspectives.

So, we started talking about the trip, and one of our friends wanted to come too. That’s when we decided to see how many people might want to join us.

Originally, we were hoping for a big group—maybe even up to 10 people! That would have been so much fun. However, we ended up with five of us total: my fiancé and me, our friend and his wife, and his brother.

Honestly, five people is perfect because it feels like a little family trip too.

They all wanted to travel because, well…why not? We’re at a point in our lives where we feel like if we don’t take at least one big trip now, we might never get the opportunity.

We’re also excited about the diversity of experiences we’ll get from visiting another country and learning about its history and culture. And since we’re going in October, we’re hoping to experience some of the Halloween season in Japan too!

It might not be quite the same as Halloween here in the U.S., but there are Halloween events, including Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Japan. There are also festivals and events based around Japanese folklore.

And, of course, there’s Resident Evil—which our friend loves! He’s also a huge food lover, so he’s incredibly excited to try all the food.

His brother loves history, and his wife has also dreamed of going to Japan. She especially loves Godzilla, so I’m sure she’s going to have a blast.

We’re all a little nerdy, and honestly, I love it. 😂

Our Japan Trip Plans

We’ve officially booked our flights, and we finally have both of our Airbnbs booked too!

We decided to have two home bases for our trip: Osaka and Tokyo.

We’ll be flying from Orlando to Canada and then to Tokyo, where we’ll arrive at Narita Airport.

We’re still debating whether we want to take the train from Narita to Osaka or fly domestically to Osaka. We’re going to see how everything goes and figure out which option makes the most sense for us.

We think Osaka will be a great first base because there are so many things to see and do there, including other places that are easy to visit as day trips. Plus, there’s Universal Studios Japan—if we can make it work with our schedule!

After Osaka, we’ll take a train to Tokyo and spend the rest of our trip there.

Our train station near the Airbnb in Tokyo is about an hour from the airport, and there’s even a post office around the corner, which is a nice little bonus!

When Are We Going?

We’ll be in Japan from October 7th–18th! 🇯🇵

October 7th will mostly be spent traveling, and we’ll arrive in Japan on the 8th.

Our current plan is:

🏯 Osaka: October 8th–13th

🗼 Tokyo: October 13th–18th

✈️ October 18th: Fly back home to Florida

So now, the biggest thing we’re doing in the meantime is saving more money—not only for the trip, but also to make sure we can cover all of our bills back home.

We’ll also be doing some shopping for new clothes and, of course, new shoes. I have a feeling we’re going to be doing A LOT of walking!

I seriously can’t wait for all of this to happen.

I’m also thinking about sharing the whole experience while we’re there and after we get back. I’m just trying to figure out how I want to do it—YouTube, TikTok, blog posts, or maybe all of the above!

I’ll definitely try to share more here too.

What Do You Think?

Have you ever been to Japan? If so, how was your experience?

If you haven’t been, would you ever like to go?

And what other places would you love to travel to?

Feel free to follow me here and check out my other links if you want to keep up with our journey.

I’m trying my best to keep up with everything and share updates along the way! ❤️

Thanks for coming along on this adventure with us!

                                *Photo was used from Unsplash.com

Back again, Did you miss me?

Hi, friends!

Where and how should I even start this blog post? So much has happened since the last time I posted here. I looked back and realized my last post was from 2019. Wow!

I’ve had so much going on since then, and I really wish I could have kept up with blogging. I’ll try to make this as easy as possible to catch up on everything that has happened over the years.

2019–2020: A Lot Happened!

Of course, 2020 was a wild year. Pretty much everyone reading this knows what happened: the COVID-19 pandemic.

But even before that, life was already changing.

My Best Friend

2019: My best friend, who had recently gotten married, ended up getting divorced. Her husband cheated on her and was caught.

Current update: She’s still working in corrections and has one more semester left in her Radiation Therapy program. I’m so proud of her!

She recently told me that she and her new boyfriend are doing well and are planning to move in together. Don’t worry—I’ve met him, and I really like him for her. He is way, way, way better for her. Honestly, I feel like he was a Godsend compared to her exes and ex-husband.

I’m so happy for her! ❤️

Career Changes

2019: I was thinking about going to graduate school after finishing my BFA in Art, or possibly joining the Air Force as an officer.

Current update: Well… no grad school and no Air Force officer career!

I currently work in the parts department of a dealership. I started there during the pandemic because the bookstore I was working at was struggling, and I knew I probably wasn’t going to have much of a future there anyway.

I actually really like my job. I originally started as a porter, thanks to a friend/technician who helped me get the job. Later, with some moral support, I worked up the courage to ask to apply for an open position in the parts department. Here I am, almost five years later, and I’m at the top of my parts team!

I had been thinking about leaving because I wanted to do something different and make more money. I make decent money now—enough to be stable—but most of it goes toward loans and debt, so I’m still trying to get ahead.

I’ve been thinking about possibly going into one of two different fields: healthcare or coding. We’ll see what happens because there are some changes happening at work right now.

If things become too much for me to handle, I may have to make a change. My job can be stressful because I work on commission, and my pay depends on other people finishing their work. It can be frustrating compared to having a steady hourly wage.

My Art

2019: I wanted to continue pursuing art, possibly even going to graduate school for something like Art in Medicine. I wanted to perfect my art because, looking back, getting through my art degree was kind of a loophole for me as well as a stressful form of relief.

Does that make sense?

Current update: I still miss doing art!

If I were to get back into art now, I think it would be more of a stress-relief activity or hobby rather than something I want to pursue as a career.

I’ve actually learned a lot more about art by watching TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, too. There are so many talented artists and tutorials online now!

Re-Educating Myself

2019: I wanted to re-educate myself.

I felt like I was getting rusty because I had been out of school for a while and was forgetting a lot of things I had learned. My math, grammar, and other school subjects were slowly fading from my memory. I wanted to use YouTube and old-school textbooks to refresh my knowledge and keep my mind educated.

I know there are plenty of people out there who are grammar Nazis, while others struggle with grammar. As someone with a learning disability, I’ve always felt like I wasn’t challenged or educated as well as I could have been in school, which made college a struggle for me. That’s why I wanted to re-educate myself—not necessarily to become some genius, but just to feel more mentally mature, knowledgeable, and confident.

Current update: Still haven’t really tried. LOL.

I’m doing somewhat better just by dealing with everyday work and life and trying to learn and comprehend things better. I even bought a book to read, but I never made it past the first chapter. 😂

Recently, I downloaded the Kindle app on my phone and started using Audible so I can read and listen at the same time. I really wanted an actual Kindle, but I told myself I’m not allowed to buy one until I’ve read 10 books total. I might even write summaries and share them with my besties because they love reading!

YouTube and Vlogging

2019: I wanted to start vlogging on YouTube because I thought I would have more time once I was just working and living life.

Current update: LOL. WRONG.

I probably could have vlogged, but there was just way too much going on—even during the pandemic. 

I wanted to have a fun life, but instead, I was still struggling with a lot of mental and financial issues. I was supposed to vlog our trip to San Diego Comic-Con, but that was a complete fail. That trip deserves its own post because there is a lot more to that story. Hopefully, I’ll actually write it!

In October 2026, we’re planning to go to Japan, and hopefully I’ll have my vlogging and photography stuff ready for the trip.

The Pandemic and My Mom

During the pandemic, my mom was very lucky because she was able to have her breast cancer surgery right before COVID really started affecting everything.

I took about two weeks of FMLA to help take care of her. Then I went back to work, only to find out about three weeks later that we were being furloughed because of the COVID pandemic.

That’s how I ended up taking the job as a porter.

It honestly wasn’t too bad, and I made way more money than I expected. Sadly, it was also my first full-time job at 29 years old.

Eventually, I left the bookstore, and it ended up being a really big change for me.

My mom is doing much better, thankfully. They caught her cancer before it progressed to a later stage, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

Love, Engagement, and Everything In Between ❤️

Well… your girl is no longer single!

After all these years of boys being boys, I finally met someone who genuinely wants me in his life.

We started dating in late spring of 2021, and then, in July 2025, we got engaged in San Diego!!!

Definitely God's timing. ❤️

Of course, life hasn’t been all happy moments.

We also lost both of our grandmothers around the same period, between 2024 and 2025. 

Their deaths also happened around the time of our San Diego trip, which is one of the reasons that trip didn’t go as planned.

There’s a lot more to that story, so I’ll probably have to make another post about it.

Health, Accidents, and More Changes

I also went through three car accidents in one year.

Thankfully, I’m okay. I’ve dealt with neck pain since then, and I’ve recently started seeing a chiropractor because I’m trying to get back to focusing on my health.

I also gained about 60 pounds since the car accident in 2021.

Now I’m trying to lose that weight—and hopefully a little more—for our Japan trip and our wedding in 2026/2027.

A Lot of Loss

Between my family and my fiancé’s family, we’ve experienced four deaths in the family.

We also lost a neighbor who was very kind to my fiancé and had become almost like a friend to him. He died by suicide, and my fiancé struggled with feeling like he could have somehow prevented it.

On top of all that, we’ve dealt with losing jobs, trying to find a place to live, financial struggles, and many other problems.

We’ve been through a LOT.

And honestly, we’re still battling some of those problems today.

So… What’s Next?

I could keep going, but I think I might have to save the rest for another post. 😂

Hopefully, I can actually keep up with blogging this time!

I’m sorry it took me so long to post here. Life really got away from me, but I’m hoping to change that.

I might also be getting into some online streaming soon! I finally got into D&D with my besties, so there will hopefully be plenty of nerdy content coming your way.

Stay tuned for more nerdy stuff! 🎲✨

And don’t forget to follow me on my other social media! The links are available on the “Follow Me” tab. ☺️

Thanks for sticking around and catching up with me!

Until next time! ❤️

New Me, New Year!

Hello everyone, :)

I'm back so here's a quick update:

• I passed my two Art classes: Intro to Printmaking and 3D design class
• Got a seasonal job at Forever 21
• Also turned 25 years old
  All Hail the Capricorns!!!! 

I hope everyone had a great Holiday!!!!!!!

So I had a busy month already as well coming up, going to back to work at the Bookstore and classes are about to start soon. I got to make sure I give my self a little bit of time for myself as well to do art assignments. I'm going to be taking Lithography, Color Theory, and African Arts: Form,Perf,Affect. I'm so excited to start classes and see what this new year as or me.

speaking of the new me, the fact I turned 25, I wanted to treat myself with free stuff well I went to Sephora and got my skincare product that I tried and loved as well bought a set for a value deal from a sample I was given during my first visit. I got my cleanser: 

• boscia (Detoxifying Black Cleanser) 

I ended up getting a Free Birthday Gift:

•  tarte BIRTHDAY GIFT Tarte Lip and Cheek Set

Came back for this product the next day:

• a value kit for $25 it was a travel size of:
• Origins GinZing™ Energy-Boosting Moisturizer
• Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins™ Mineral-Enriched Renewal Cream

So That's all I wanted to Share to everyone what been updated before the New Year of 2017.

How was your Holiday?
What special gift did you end up getting for yourself?
Are you a Capricorn?

Don't forget to follow me here and other social media (its all on the side bar)
Stay in touch for more post (I'm trying to keep my blog posted as much I can)

Eat Around the World in own Local City!

Just came up with a game for everyone to play. It involves world, food, restaurants, map/gps, passport, camera, and a car not plane. 

I was commenting to my friend picture of a German restaurant that she's check out. I mention its reminds of going to Disney World Epcot where you go to eat to different countries and could eat there.

I thought this would be a fun thing to do:
Travel the world in (your city),(my local city is Jacksonville) where you go to different restaurants that are from different country and eat there  with someone/friend/family or even alone and make a passport for the manger to sign and take a picture and/or videos as if your travel to that country.
Even funnier go to these places again or for the first for a culture event like German restaurant for Beerfest, Irish pub for St Patrick, Mexican restaurant for Cinco de Mayo, etc...
try not to go to restaurants that are more culture then something chain-link like Taco bell, Cheesecake factory, La Nap, etc...

go to more local cultured restaurants, pub, even place that seem sketchy could have the best food in town.(There was a little Mexican restaurant next to a sketchy bodyshop but don't let the place gross you out it was well clean and the food was so good reminded me of homecook meal). you can go alittle out of your way to eat like for example I could fro Jacksonville to Beaches or to St. Augustine.  if you want to go extreme fun then go to like Orlando, Savannah, Ga., Miami, Tampa, etc...
Depends where you live you can go where ever.

Anyone can play this. Let me know if you/yall are gonna play this.
If so Share me some picture, video, or
tell me some local nonchain-link restaurants that are the best to eat.
Enjoy :)

❄ Vlogmas 1-7, 2012 ❄

Vlogmas 1

 

 

Vlogmas 2

 

Vlogmas 3

 

 

Vlogmas 5

 

Vlogmas 6

 

Vlogmas 7

Autumn is here!

Image got from Bing Images

       What a Beautiful Weather we are having this season, the season of Autumn. the nice warm air with crispy fresh breeze, its to cold nor to hot.

      Is anyone doing anything this Fall? like having a bonfire with friends, going for a stroll in the parks, camping, roasting marshmallows, in school, doing  any sports, or just doing the same stuff you do for every season?

 

Image got from Bing images

      This Fall is going to be different for now that I'm in college, and about turn 21. I'm trying to balance my social life with school. Plus I have to focus more cause I want t transfer to a university. No, I am not going back to Stetson, I had a great time there, but i want to go somewhere where I could be happy and nothing to ruin it for me. I am hoping to more fall season fun, with and/or without friends. For example, camping, having a bonfire and roast marshmallow to make S'mores, go on a tourist like walk around some areas here near where I live and take pictures/videos, and last is to watch Football games.

     Another thing I love about Autumn is the cozy weather that you  can

• wear your boots, hoodies/coats/jackets, beanies, tights/stocking. 
• snuggle up in with your blanket and have nice hot coco(w/cinnamon) or hot tea (apple cider/blackraseberry) or coffee(pumpkin spice).
• BLUEBERRY MUFFINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (which are my Favorite) :)
• light up candles scented (leaves, pumpkin harvest,blackrasberry pie, apple cinnamon).
• the colors (orange, black, yellowish gold, brown, red, burgundy) 
• cuddle up in bed with someone or just yourself under the layers of blankets.
• lip balm
• moisturizer/lotion for your face and body scented of course
• along the moisturizer/lotion fall scented perfumes ( floral and/or spice)

      So besides School, what are some of the things your planing to do this fall? and/or What is your favorite/s about fall?

let me know below and/or share in on facebook.

New Year, New Start, and New Me.

                After ALL I have been though in life it's crazy how I mange to not go crazy and check myself in a mental hosptial to get away from all the drama from friends, boys, family, school, and etc...

      I want to start fresh, so by the time I turn 21 years old this year '12 (Dec 23rd), I would feel better, and perhaps more mature.

Here are my changes that I started to improve on also starting on.

• Workouting and start eating healther:
• eat more salad
• go to the gym
• go running (i hate it but if i suck it up it might become my favorite thing.
• swim laps. i miss the water
• bike miles i love riding my bike
• drink more water
• more water, powerade, gatorade, for some sweetness unsweet tea w/honey, tea, few coffee, and  no soda unless it Zevia.(im going to talk about this soda soon)
• eat less red meat
• no dessert unless its a party, or a date(ha like this is ever going to happen)js
• frozen yogurt ftw
•  goal: lose 35 lbs. i have too. ( im 175)fyi
• if i want to eat out i wont go to any fastfood, but only if it the only place to stop to eat or when if hanging with friends.
• New improve style:
• hair
• instead of a few hair style i want to know how more and practice how to do them myself.
• beauty routine
• still trying to find a makeup look that well make me look good.
• etc..
• find what colors work with my skin tone
• take time in style i like
• i tend to wear whatever but i like how i was when i was little i used to mix and match but never tacky(unless it looks good then its the new style) lol.
• more vintage it in the blood and hey we look good.
• get Tan like the golden goddess i was back in 10th grade.
• it hard from be to be very pale it make feel sick not bad but sick like in health.

Im going to post a blog when i reach my goal. its going to have before and after pictures. =)

• improve my school work:
• trying to make my handwriting not only easy but clear to read.
• try to learn and say new vocab in my sentinces.
• speack clear
• be better in grammer( well i more of a freewriter im a pro as you can see.)
• study strategies
• more study hours
• time mangement
• get ahead in my work
• have a great way of planning things in my planner
• be more oranized
• get and mantain a good GPA. =)
• i learned how to sign when i was very young but now i only know a few. so i really want to relearn and keep up.
• also practice more of my spanish plus writing
• french again
• italian
• potugese
• cheerokee
• and my favorite i wanted to learn for the longest time of my life is swahili
• body language. i was told its kinda fun and interesting.
• make time to hang with friends
• at the beach
• in the mall
• movies
• hanging at the house
• etc..
• change my bedroom
• want to be simple and a bit beachy
• music:
• i love all kind of music but i starting to get into my father love of the rock'n roll.
• rolling stones
• AC/DC
• Twisted Sisters
• The Beach Boys
• The Beatles
• etc...
• also more club,house, techno mix music are fun.
• Saving Money:
• My weakness but im improving
• i used to be that girl that spend all the money i get.no joke. its sad.
• on a new Camera
• a "adventure" proof camera
• new laptop
• for college again. lol it life right?
• some extra for when i on my own
• travel
• spring break
• theme park
• going to Miami to visit my best friend and his friends =)
• road trips
• visiting family
• visiting place
• going places to support (Im hoping i save enough to go to D.C. for the girlscout event.
• concerts warped tour ftw. but i really want to go to more concerts tours
• shopping well once in a while not like a shoppaholic lol
• etc..
• donate for charity. =)
• take time for myself
• go to the beach
• movies
• out and around town
• stay classy, ladylike, abut i still have that sense of humor
• also have that touch "badass" moments.
• try to keep the 'know it all' to myself. i tend to saythings and the reaction i get are "do i really need to know but now i know thanks" or " holy crap, i wonder how she know about that if she seems 'dumb'."
• keep my faith to god more then before

       Im not saying I going to be a new person but this are just thing i want to improve my self that i notice need more tweaking. having a learning disoder, dyslexia, and stress. that not goig to stop is it . NO. =)
So when you have your own time think about what you want to improve not anything major but just a tweak. hey if it make you happy then you know it you. if you not liking what you tweaked there nothing wrong to go back to the drawing board. also ask your family, freinds or others what you could tweak on or not change at all. I am still that Bonita that everyone knows =).

this was taken on our back from HHN '10
this is my freak face. goodtimes.

Its the season of being cozy with the breezy sun.

Its Fall!
Ihave all the season that mother nature have given us. Fall is probably my Favorite. where i live its all sunshine, breezy and where you could where a cute shorts with a quater sleeve shirt and still not complain how hot, humid, or how cold it is. its just perfect.

also its the season when everyone starts school, and watch NFL game.
this is also the type of weather that i like to call it the - the shy lovers season.
i call it shy lover season because this is the time where you and your crush or someone how like you just met you and you starting to get to know eachother. also the weather is perfect for dates on nice sunny fun day to a nice cozy aorund and watching a movie with a blanket at night.

there is more about this season i love.

my most favorite would be Camping. I never have time to go beacus eof school and stuff but i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go on a camping trip.

if any of yall know or nkow anyone thatwent one a camping trip with random groups. where i could sign up for a camping trip with a group of people around the age of 17 to 25.( cause im 19 going on 20 in Dec.) anywhere in FL, GA, SC, or even NC. and that is not too expensive, fun . please let me know. i would love to go and if i do end up i would hope i could film a vlog.

anyways love the season?
tell what you like about this season =)