Where Few Divas Dare To Tread

By Josie Villa-Singleton , aka Travelista I recently saw the film Eat, Pray, Love and was struck by the simplicity and practicality of the outfits Julia Roberts wore when traveling. Many elements definitely embodied the Travelista aesthetic. Her wardrobe consisted of chic, simple, and practical pieces that you can use as inspiration next time it comes to packing for a trip. In this post I’ll focus on the clothing she wore for her travels in Rome. This is one of my favorite looks and one that you can easily cop. The lightweight denim shirtdress could work for Spring and Fall travel and maybe into the Summer as well. The gladiator sandals are a practical yet trend conscious choice for wandering cobblestoned streets. The details are what make the outfit stand out: the simple brown belt, the adorable and sun protecting bucket hat, the sunglasses, and the large tote. Once again this proves accessories are your friend when packing, they can take something as simple as a shirt dress and make it memorable. Stash a scarf and a cardigan in your large tote and ...

I'm not sure about the rest of my divas, but there was a time when I was NOT the most popular girl in school...  and that time was junior high.  With acne, a heavy Cuban accent added on to my limited English vocabulary, hand-me-down clothes and an afro.. (yes, an afro) I ran to the school bus every afternoon wen that bell rang, only to be confronted with more laughter and snickering... But if Nia Vardalos made it through, so can the rest of us. Take a look at the video message from this fabulous artist to all of you who are still going through it.  Good luck and hang in there!  It gets better.. really, it does. It Gets Better: Nia Vardalos and Rob Riggle “Growing up is hard. None of us ever really feel like we fit in. Most of us are scared. But no one is more scared than the kid who gets picked on every day. Bullies are scared too. That’s why they pick on the kids they think won’t fight back. Let’s talk about it and make schools a safer place for everyone.” -Nia Inspired by Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" Project, Nia Vardalos and Rob ...

By Josie Villa-Singleton a.k.a Travelista Mama Shelter’s unique name corresponds to its equally new concept.  Normally staying in a boutique hotel designed by  Phillipe Starck does not come cheaply, especially in a major city.  Mama Shelter changes all that.  The rates at Mama Shelter start at 79 Euros.  Anyone who’s stayed in a fine but functional Parisian budget hotel knows this rate can’t be beat. The first photo shows a typical Paris budget hotel room at a cost of around 100 Euros, the second shows the rooms at Mama Shelter. Mama Shelter showcases Phillipe Starck’s whimsical eye with graffiti grazing the ceilings and a unique mix of materials that include concrete, glass, and wood.  The eating areas combine old-school or shall I say Old World long wooden tables and benches.  The tech addicted can dine and surf at tables equipped with built in computer screens.  I-Macs, free Wi-Fi, Kiehl’s toiletries and five star bedding await you in your room.  All I can say is “bonjour, baby” and bye-bye to stiff, scratchy sheets.  You’ll find live indie rock and electronica music across the street at La Fleche D’or. So here’s the ...

By Josie Villa-Singleton a.k.a Travelista Rail Europe recently began promoting The Eurostar high speed train that runs from London to Paris. November 14 marked the start of the new service provided by Eurostar which decreases travel time by 20 minutes (at speeds of up to 186 mph), making the journey from London to Paris 2 hours and 15 minutes. Tickets for the journey vary in price ranging from $97 to $400 depending on when the ticket is booked and what class seat is selected. The cheeky “get a little Paris with your London” Rail Europe campaign touts that “…you’ll be drinking wine in Paris while the lager foam from London is still on your lips”. The accompanying website provides a cute game where you can create “mashups” of London and Parisian animated icons. You can even enter your own mashup version of London and Parisian symbols or icons for a chance to win a trip to London that includes a stay in Paris via the Eurostar of course. Trains leave from the refurbished and central (near Oxford Circus and Covent Garden) St. Pancras station in London and arrive in the Gare du Nord station in Paris (near Montmarte, Sacre Coeur). Otherwise known as ...

By Yeni Alvarez Last Valentine’s Day, I had a tour de force culinary experience.  It started with an invitation to a popular restaurant I had heard of, but was afraid to try.  I’m speaking of Dining in the Dark at OPAQUE. Opaque’s mission is to engage all the senses in a pitch-black dining room, while eager guests are taken from one course to the next, softly guided by their respective blind or visually impaired servers. Let me start from the beginning.  We first walked in to the lounge area and were greeted by friendly staff, who reacted as if they knew something we didn’t when we announced it was our first time.  They knew we were in for a treat. We picked our meal in the dimly lit romantic lounge and waited for our server to guide us to our table.  Behind closed curtains we entered.  Hands on my guide’s shoulder we went, slowly making our way between pockets of fading conversations in a sea of darkness. The maze ended up in a comfortable corner near the entrance to the kitchen. At this point, our ears were still getting adjusted to the mumbling, as we picked up on various voices at the same time, being ...