Vlog | Black Women Dating While Living Abroad: Will Italian Men Feed You Pasta?

DatingAfter four years of living in Rome, I’ve learned a bit about dating, especially as a Black woman. In this video, I offer up my thoughts on possible dating experiences that Black women may meet while living abroad, the (ir)relevance of beauty standards, and reasons for travelling abroad, including cultural expectations.

Hope you enjoy it! If you do, please “like” (thumbs up) the video. Thanks!

 

Vlog |Travel with Me to Il Mercatino Giapponese (Japanese Market) in Rome

Video accompaniment to the recent Mercatino Giapponese post.  Hope you enjoy watching it! 😉

Travelling While Black | In Rome, You Might Be A Prostitute, Plus Fire Dancing & Vegan Valentine’s

Vegamisu, Universo Vegano. Click to visit their website. Image by D. Blake.

Vegamisu, Universo Vegano. Click to visit their website. Image by D. Blake.

So, I took myself out for Valentine’s Day. Watch what happens. 🙂

 

4c Natural Hair: Bantu Knot-Out with KeraCare Products (Rome Off the Beaten Path)

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So, I finally put together my first natural hair video. 🙂 Product line featured: KeraCare.

Specifically, I used the KeraCare Leave In Conditioner, Essential Oils and Twist & Define Cream to do single strand twist Bantu knots.  The result was soft curls, and even softer hair.

I’ll be upfront and you’ll see in the video, the only product that I bought was the Leave In Conditioner, which I consider to be expensive (I tend to be really frugal)–but I decided that I really needed a leave-in.

The total cost of the Leave In Conditioner was 18.90€.  The rest of the products were samples that I received from the store–Lucky!! 🙂

I tend not to buy commercial styling products. Hair cleansing products, such as shampoo and conditioner, I go with Garnier Fructis line (price range: 2-3€).

Otherwise, I buy my oils (price range: 3-6€): extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, argan oil  (tends to be expensive); and create a little mix with that.

Also, I tend to leave my hair alone, i.e. I don’t style it often to manipulate the natural curls I have.  As the title states, I have 4c hair, which is delicate and is best not to over manipulate. So, generally, I keep it in a protective style and call it a day. 😉

KeraCare in Rome:

Astri Beauty Shop & Salon,Via Giovanni Giolitti 93/95

KeraCare Online:

Avlon Products: KeraCare

 

 

Vlog| Travel & Fibromyalgia in Italy: What I Learned Moving to Rome.

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Travel and fibromyalgia–from everything I heard and knew before I moved to Italy, travelling was something that I probably wouldn’t be doing a lot of because of the potential negative impact it could have on my body.

Still, I decided to do it. 😉

In these videos, I talk about my decision to move to Italy, how I prepared and what I have experienced while living in Rome and dealing with my fibromyalgia symptoms.

Thank you for watching! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! 🙂

Until Tomorrow?

D.

Part 1: Why I did it | How I did it.

Part 2: What I Learned | What I suggest.

Vlog | Let’s Go Vegan (Universo Vegano in Rome, Locations Throughout Italy)

Join my friend Gabrielle Di Bari and I as we check out Universo Vegano, located near Campo de’ Fiori in Rome for the first time. 🙂

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Travel | JCU Students Speak About Study Abroad Experience: Black in Rome!

Alexandria Maloney, JCU graduate and Founder of the Women’s Leadership Initiative. (Image from LinkedIn. Click to visit her profile.

Really wonderful video put together by Alexandria Maloney to address the issues that young Black students may encounter when studying overseas, particularly in Italy.  Please, take time out to watch & share. 🙂

Until Tomorrow,D.

 

Vlog | Black? Female? Where to shop for hair products & makeup in Rome

Staff at Astri s.r.l. Click image to visit their website

Staff at Astri s.r.l. Click image to visit their website.

When I first began living in Rome, I had brought with me enough supplies to last me for one whole year–that’s right. I stocked up! The thing was that…I didn’t return to the US until two years later. So, I had to figure out where to get hair and makeup products…and at a reasonable cost (a.k.a. cheap). 😉

I have to give a massive hug to my friend Alexandria Maloney for telling me where to go when I was desperately searching for products! 🙂

Vlog & FMS | Funny ‘Ish’ People Say If You Have Fibromyalgia (“You Don’t Look Ill”)

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Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of interesting comments about fibromyalgia, whether directed at me or at others. Just for fun, I decided to put together a little video sketch about these experiences.

If you have fibromyalgia, then I hope you will connect with this video and have little laugh about our shared experiences.

If you don’t have fibromyalgia…then one of these character might be you. 😉

Enjoy!

Travel | Garbatella (Rome)…Even Gandhi Had to Visit!

New Cover Art for  YouTube. Click to Visit Vlog: Rome Off the Beaten Path.

New Cover Art for YouTube. Click to Visit Vlog: Rome Off the Beaten Path.

I have a newfound respect for vloggers…actually, for anyone who films and edits anything.  Yes, indeedy, I do.  Windows Movie Maker and YouTube Video Manager have occupied my soul for the past 72 hours.  Although filming is fun, to be frank, it takes a whole lot of balls to pick up a camera, head outside and record yourself. 😉

Below is a playlist of videos on Garbatella, a neighbourhood that was developed just before the rise of Fascism and was later taken over by the Fascists who relocated people (many communists) they evicted from the historic center.

I welcome you to watch, and hope you will like them.  Feel free to  offer suggestions.  Places you’d like to see, subjects you’d like discussed, etc.

Also…

Thank You So Very Much For Being There Even When I am Not Here!