Movie Review - Colombiana

I went to see the movie Colombiana yesterday because I've heard so many raving reviews about it that I had to go see it on the big screen. Anyone who knows me knows that I only watch Comedies and Romance movies but Zoe Saldana is one of my favourite actresses so I just had to see it.

Two thumbs up from the beginning until the end! Seeing a little girl escape so swiftly from killers in the beginning really caught my attention. Some scenes made me cry and others had me rolling! Need I say more???

GO SEE IT!!!!

Movie Review - Friends With Benefits

After a long and stressful day I decided to go to the movies to watch a movie which would supposedly make me laugh. That movie being Friends With Benefits starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis (from That 70's Show). It was amazing! One of my friends told me "don't waste your money" but it was well worth it!

I never thought Justin could be this funny and act good at being funny. I think Mila is absolutely beautiful and in the end they really did make a good couple. The audience at the cinema could not help but scream during some of the sex scenes which were out of this world!

10/10 for me. If you have not seen it as yet I definitely think you should.

Penicillin Thigh Injection

Today had to be one of the worst days of my life. I have never been scared of needles but after today I am not sure about that.

I had been suffering with a really bad sore throat since Sunday where it got to the point that talking was not an option for me neither was I able to eat or drink anything. I finally went to the doctor today because last night I had a really high fever and my entire body started aching.

After my check up I was told that my tonsils were extremely swollen hence my inability to speak, eat or drink. I was then sent to our central health centre for a penicillin injection which was supposed to relieve my pain. WRONG!

Just before the rude nurse was about to give me the injection she asked whether I had already eaten something for the day. I told her no due to my sore throat. She then asked me to go drink a malt or something as this injection is extremely painful so she cannot do it before I do so. I immediately held back some tears. It was bad enough I had not had a proper night's sleep or eaten in two days for me to endure an extremely painful injection. If I had not already paid for it I don't think I would have done it.

Anyway, I walked over to a nearby mini mart, bought a Piton Malta and drank it while walking back to the health centre. I called my boyfriend who tried his best to console me but I was already terrified. I then called my boss (who I am very close to) who tried her best to console me as well but that still didn't work. I sat for a few minutes waiting to be called in while I tried to put on a tough exterior.

I was then brought into an office where I had to put out my thigh and there it was! Felt like I had strained a muscle in my thigh and then it started to sting. I immediately felt weak and my thigh was on FIRE! I stood to cover up quickly as the centre has no privacy. I had to call a friend to pick me up as I was not able to walk to my bus stop. As soon as I got home I bust into tears. That was the most horrific experience of my life and I never ever want to experience this again.

I just read some comments online where persons who have already done this say it is painless and like a regular injection. So why didn't I experience that??? Many hours later the area has become extremely sore and I am unable to walk properly and I am supposed to go back to the doctor in the morning as well as go to get some blood tests done. I definitely don't think I will be able to leave my house tomorrow!!! Lord help me!

Have any of you had this injection before?

Happy Anniversary?

My boyfriend and my one year anniversary is soon approaching. I thought getting a last minute gift would not be that big of a deal, I was so wrong!

Clearly it is much easier to shop for women and very difficult to shop for men. There is a much wider variety of items which can be chosen for a woman, cannot say the same for men. I have searched and Googled websites to try and get something but I personally don't really like anything I have seen thus far because they do not look like him.

So now I'm thinking I should have searched in length a few weeks ago in order to have his gift in St. Lucia on time. I am so lost right now and have absolutely no idea what to do. Sigh. Help!

Movie Review - Charlie St. Cloud

I am extremely late on watching this movie since it came out in 2010 but I don't really like sad movies. Being bored on this beautiful Sunday afternoon I decided what the heck. I uploaded the movie, took a nap while it was loading and watched it as soon as I woke up.

I have always loved Zac Efron (minus his ex girlfriend, Vanessa Hudgens) but never realized how much of a great actor he is until I saw this movie. This is an extremely emotional movie and had me bust into tears sometimes. After losing his only brother he almost lost the only girl he ever loved.

I give this movie 10/10 and two thumbs up! I have always seen the ending of the movie on television but I am happy I finally got to watch it from the very beginning. I lost my mom just after my eighteenth birthday so this made me even more emotional.

If you still haven't seen this movie I suggest you do. Very touching.  

St. Lucia Featured On HGTV's House Hunters International

I was taking a break from watching episodes of the secret life of the American teenager and decided to check out my Facebook page. Only to see someone posted that St. Lucia was featured on HGTV's House Hunters International and it was playing right now. I immediately ran to put on my television and to quickly find the HGTV channel. I was so happy to see one of our popular places called Marigot Bay which is absolutely beautiful and the views are breathtaking.

I have always been a fan of House Hunters and House Hunters International and always wondered if St. Lucia would ever be featured some day as I have seen other Caribbean islands featured before. I am always reminded of St. Lucia's beauty on shows like this as well as The Bachelor which once featured St. Lucia on the show's finale.

You should definitely watch this episode. It's guaranteed to make you want to visit my beautiful island.

June 23rd St. Lucia Public Holiday

Yesterday was a public holiday in St. Lucia and I enjoyed it to the max! It was marked as Corpus Christi which obviously is a religious holiday. Thankfully my best friend and I do not work on holidays. Though I had to wake up pretty early I was determined to have fun with her. I usually stay at home, watch television and rest on public holidays and sometimes on the weekend as well.

We decided late on Wednesday evening that we would make it an early beach day since we both dislike crowds at the beach. I left home at approximately 9:15am and we were on our journey to find breakfast before heading to the beach. To our dismay, many places including supermarkets were not opened but our last resort was Rituals Coffee House which was opened. As a result of the coffee house being the only place opened at the time there was a long line but we were too hungry and impatient to go and search for another place.

After we got our breakfast which was about twenty minutes later we headed to Pigeon Island where we were not quite happy to see it was already crowded and fishermen were pulling in their nets with fish and even a turtle, which they had to place back at sea. We then decided to go the other end of the beach (which happens to be near my workplace) only to realize that there would soon be crowded as well. We were very adventurous so we went to another beach which was not to our liking as the beach was not looking inviting at all. We then went to one more beach which we found even more crowded than the others and were not happy at all. Our last resort was Vigie beach which is less than ten minutes away from our homes.

Vigie beach was less crowded so we decided to stay. The water was extremely cold but I enjoyed it anyway. Bare in mind that I am not a beach person and had not gone to the beach to bathe in what seems like forever. My best friend and I spent some quality time together for the first time in a long time due to our hectic schedules. We are looking forward to spend another public holiday on the beach again.

SHOUT OUT!

I would like to give a shout out to everyone who continues to read and follow this blog! I've seen the stats and quite a few of my American peeps as well as my St. Lucian peeps read the blog. It's a pity no one has commented on any of the articles but at least you still take time to check it out. Thank you so much everyone!

Hope you have a fabulous day and week!

Love,

Jay :-)

P.S. Gary S Coco, I see you! Hehe! Thanks for your support!

La Haut Plantation - St. Lucia

During summer 2010 there was a local promotion in St. Lucia which was called "Staycation", where locals would get incredible deals on rooms at our local resorts/hotels/motels etc. With all the stress I had going on with work especially, I decided that I needed a weekend away from it all. Three days, two nights away from family, friends, basically the whole world excluding my boo of course.

I then looked through the booklet which contained all the establishments who were offering the great discounts. After sending numerous emails and receiving numerous quotations we decided to go with La Haut Plantation as their price was unbeatable! Not only was it extremely cheap but it also included full breakfast on both days, taxes and a complimentary cocktail.

When we finally arrived (extremely late I might add) we were so tired from the long trip from Castries to Soufriere that we just settled in and went to bed. When the sun came up the next morning boy was I amazed! The room I thought we would receive was nowhere close to what we had gotten. It was absolutely SUPERB! The view was breathtaking as it was of our famous pitons as well as the Soufriere town below us.

There were a few rough patches, like the distance between our room and the restaurant and front desk and the rooms not having telephones made it even more difficult. We did not get to enjoy the pool or much of anything except the room but it was all I needed.

I'm definitely looking forward to going back again soon, but this time I hope to experience everything we didn't and more!

P.S. I'm hoping "Staycation" comes back again this summer! I will definitely take advantage if it is offered again this year.

Jay's Current Obsession - Twilight Books

I know I may be a little late but I recently picked up reading again as a hobby and my current read is the twilight saga novels. I already own the first three and hopefully by this weekend I should own the fourth one, Breaking Dawn, which I heard is the most interesting one of them all.

I never bothered to read them before because I have already seen all three movies but friends kept saying that the books are more detailed than the movie, and more interesting even. I am only on the first book and I am loving it! While reading my mind constantly drifts to some parts of the movie. I cannot wait to read all four of them.

P.S. My book covers are the latest with pictures of Bella, Edward and Jacob, than those above.

St. Lucia Carnival - Sedale's Dropawater

Orion and Sedale always used the hash tag #dropawater on Twitter so I began using it as well when tweeting them, as bare jokes. Never had I imagined that Sedale would make a song using the hash tag! Like I've indicated before, I am not a soca lover but I support my homies full hundred!

Good job Dale!

Mavericks Defeat Heat For First Title!

Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat

Series standings: Heat 2 - 4 Mavericks

Jun 12 @ Heat		Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4									TOTAL
	Mavericks	32	21	28	24									105
	Heat	27	24	21	23									95

Surprise Surprise!!!

Everyone who thought LeBron James was the best thing in basketball was surely proved wrong on June 12th, 2011 with the Mavericks defeating Heat by 10 points to win the 2011 NBA finals.

My opinion is that LeBron is overrated and time and time again it's proven that he just can't get it right! Maybe your head is too far up in the clouds LeBron! You have not even won a ring yet but you are so full of yourself! Get with the programme dude!

My team may not have made it to the finals this year but I will forever support my Lakers! Kobe may be full of it too but at least he has won championships!

That photo circulating of LeBron crying has to be the ugliest photo I have ever seen of him! Too funny!!! Maybe next season Heat....or maybe NOT!!!

CONGRATS MAVS!!!

Movie Review - X Men: First Class

All I have to say is 10/10 for me! Watched it this morning and could not get enough. Bare in mind that I only like comedy and romance movies. Definitely worth watching. Individuals who like action movies claim that it does not contain enough action but it was more than good enough for me!

What do you think?

Six Feet Under HBO Series

I got a website where I am able to see all the tv shows I have either missed episodes or just started watching them on tv but want to watch more!

For some reason, I decided to search for the passed HBO series Six Feet Under since I always liked the episodes I saw as a teenager (instead of studying for school) but I never really understood the whole thing. I wanted to see it from the beginning.

Luckily enough for me, all the episodes of the cancelled show popped up on my screen and I was elated! I began to upload them immediately.

It is a bit strange and some of the gay scenes are a bit too much for me but I still love it! I now understand a lot of things which went on later on. Thank you to that particular website. First Dawson's Creek then That 70's Show, The Big Bang Theory and Pretty Little Liars to name a few now another past favourite of mine! Oh what a happy day I had yesterday. Can't wait to return home for some more episodes.

Movie Review - Hangover 2

After seeing Hangover (the first movie) I never thought there could have been a part two. Everyone at work, on twitter, Facebook, everywhere kept talking about how enthusiastic they were about seeing part two. I recently heard that some who viewed it thought the first movie was way better. Being a human being I was going to listen to what they said and was not excited to watch the movie anymore.

Good thing I saw it anyway! I laughed my butt off! Awesome movie! I loved it! 10/10! Two thumbs up for me!

If you like comedy definitely see this movie!

Best Mini Vacation Ever!

I blogged recently about going on a mini vaca at Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort. Well it was a blast! My only real complaint is that it was way too short!

The room was wonderful! After all we did have a swim up room where our balcony was leading to the luxurious pool! We also received Concierge level service which was superb!

So all those out there looking for that special vacation, honeymoon, anniversary, any special occasion spot be sure to book your Concierge level lagoon swim up room!

We sure needed this relaxing getaway. Our dinner at Gordon's was out of this world! Words cannot explain that seafood platter, it was YUM!

Please take a look at the pictures above so you can get a little taste of what we experienced.

We hope to welcome you soon!!!

Kim Kardashian Engaged To Kris Humphries

Ugh! I could scream every time I see this chick in a magazine or on television. I don't think, I KNOW she is an attention whore!

I used to love Kim but now she's over the top and I blame the paparazzi and her "fans" for getting her so swell headed! Yes, she is beautiful but it is not 100% natural. Didn't she have cosmetic surgery done on those body parts you guys adore so much??? THANK YOU!

As for her recent engagement to basketball player Kris Humphries........ The jury's still out on that! I think she'd have a better chance with Reggie Bush! How long have they been dating? Like two seconds?

Celebrities these days are so upsetting! Why do 98% of them have to marry other celebs??? At some point in your life you were just a regular person so why can't you date one? I'm sure it has been realized that majority of those celebrity marriages don't last!

Stop with the publicity stunts! As for those of us who put these celebs on a pedestal.... Do these people even know you??? They're getting richer and richer at your expense, remember that!

P.S. I'm not hating on Kim but she needs to take a few steps back. Like why are you famous again???

Mini Vacation?

I am grateful to have the opportunity to spend 2 days, 1 night at my workplace which happens to be Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort!

I am keeping my fingers crossed that we (my significant other and myself) get a fabulous room, with a pool preferably of course! Being the Food & Beverage Secretary I was able to secure reservations at the best restaurant on the resort, named Gordon's after the CEO Gordon "Butch" Stewart.

Though it is only for one night I am still super excited and destined to have a wonderful time. My boo and I sure need it, being that we both work there and it can get stressful at times as with any job. Getting to experience what our guests do is a fabulous incentive and I applaud whoever came up with the bright idea.

Too bad it's only for one night! Off to pack I go! :-)

And I continue on management. Once again I think managers need to be reminded of the things perhaps they have forgotten along the way. The information below was received from eHow.com. Maybe you should have your manager take a look! Hahaha

Qualities of a Good Manager

By Vickie Ferguson, eHow Contributor

To be productive and successful as a manager, you not only need creativity, knowledge and a keen sense of the big picture, but also to realize the importance of observing a few procedures and following some basic common sense to promote a successful environment for co-workers and staff.

1. Individual Qualities

   • The ability to listen is an essential quality for a manager. Through positive communication, a manager can establish himself as approachable, open to new ideas and respectful of others' opinions.

   Co-Workers

   • Receiving criticism from co-workers requires tact. Managers should support the initiative of others and be able to accept and work with their suggestions and changes.

   Staff

   • A manager can be a role model and mentor. It is essential to observe an open-door policy, ensure that staff members have the proper tools, training and supervision, and be able to delegate tasks. It's also important to show appreciation for employees and treat them with respect.

   Interviews

   • Projecting a professional but friendly attitude will help put the interviewee at ease, allowing her to be more open and forthcoming in her responses.

   Effects

   • A manager should be involved with his team. Actively interacting with co-workers and employees, listening to ideas or concerns, and effectively communicating to implement changes or new procedures will keep the team focused and moving in a positive direction.

Effective Management Skills

In the world of work today, especially in the hospitality industry it honestly feels like slavery has not been abolished. I'm speaking from experience and not on something I heard. I would like all managers to read the information below that I received off eHow.com. Maybe some of you need to be reminded of what it is to be a manager.

About Effective Management Skills

By Robert Fears, eHow Contributor

About Effective Management Skills

Effective management skills are always essential in any business, regardless of the type or size. A required skill package includes the ability to work with people and to be a team player, an aptitude for finance, a knack for efficient time-management and a talent for solid planning.

1. Benefits

   • People Skills are Important

     Normally, people with effective management skills are successful whether they are in production, marketing, human resources, finance or other types of jobs. Success may be measured by progression up the corporate ladder, periodic salary increases, bonuses or a combination of these rewards. If a person owns the business, a reward for effective management can be bigger profits. The biggest reward for use of effective management skills is the satisfaction of doing a job successfully.

   People Management

   • Manage Time Efficiently

     In effective business management, good people skills are required for day-to-day interactions with peers, supervisors, employees and customers. It is important to create team spirit among peers so everyone works efficiently to achieve desired results. A supervisor must build good rapport with his employees so that they strive hard to accomplish goals as a team.

     Salesmanship is a people skill necessary for selling projects or ideas to management. A relationship with supervisors should exist where an employee is considered honest, capable and accurate. This same relationship needs to exist with customers. The consumer wants to deal with people he feels he can trust to deliver his needs in a timely manner.

     When dealing with other people, a person must be a good listener and show interest in what is being said.

   Time Management

   • Track Expenses & Income

     Efficient use of time is a primary part of effective management skills. Timely execution of small tasks make a successful day. Most paper, whether hard copy or electronic, should be moved across the desk one time. If a piece of mail does not require a response by the receiver, then It should either be tossed in the waste basket, filed for future use or passed on to the appropriate person for action.

     Effective business management entails using the most efficient method of communication for each situation, whether it be email, fax, telephone call or written material. Although it is sometimes necessary or appropriate, personal visits are the least efficient method of communication.

     Conducting meetings in a timely, efficient manner is a necessary management skill. In most cases, a meeting announcement should be delivered to expected attendees at least one week in advance. The announcement should include a request for an immediate confirmation of attendance, purpose of the meeting and the expectations. An agenda should be attached to the announcement clearly outlining discussion topics and who will lead each discussion. On the agenda, time needs to be allocated for each discussion point. During the meeting, the agenda needs to be strictly followed. The meeting chair must keep each discussion within the time limit and disallow any discussion that does not pertain to the agenda. Precise minutes need to be prepared which outline accomplishments of the meeting. These minutes should be distributed to all attendees and appropriate management.

   Financial Management

   • Planning is a Constant Process

     Regardless of the job, effective business management skills include an understanding of business finance. Business records must reflect an accurate accounting of expenses against the budget and must be used in making management decisions. These records serve as a measurement of efficiency.

   Planning

   • Last, but not least, is the planning portion of effective business management skills. Before a company is even started, a business plan needs to be prepared. This document should include marketing and financial plans and set direction for how the company will be operated. Completion of a business plan, before money is spent on organizing a company, will give indications of whether the venture can be expected to be profitable. After a company opens its doors for business, planning and execution of these plans must be continued to keep the business on course. It is also important for each team or department to maintain annual plans. These plans should include goals and objectives for the year and this plan should be followed in selection of tasks and responsibilities.