Casi Jaye

Backyard Sessions: Phoenix/Flagstaff/Sedona/Grand Canyon, Arizona

Hi, my name is Courtney! I’m a 27-year-old millennial and recent MBA grad from Emory University. I currently work in the structured world of Corporate America and have a nightmare of student loans biting at my heels. This is my life and travel partner, Josh, a 30 year-year-old entrepreneur who is just as committed to traveling as I am. Although we both love adventure and discovery, traveling as a…

Just like iPhones every six months, the wanderlust travel app list has been upgraded! I realized that out of the three travel apps that I wrote about in the original wanderlust article, I really only used one app: Skiplagged. To be honest, just like my dad’s tired bedroom slippers, I would’ve ridden the “skiplagged wave” until Jesus’ return AND STILL would’ve opened up that app to find cheap…

I consider myself a pretty liberal Instagram follower. I would follow Elaina, the quirky digital nomad peddling beginner’s tips to start a blog; Princess, the budding entrepreneur selling Brazilian body wave by the bundle; even Karen, the mother of 4, who somehow manages to work full-time, cook daily, and post her weekend DIY projects. In looking at my eclectic collection of followers, I’ve…

I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and that’s the furthest out west that I’ve been. Looking at a map of the United States, I realized that ain’t that far west.  

Backyard Sessions: Los Angeles and all things fetch…

About five years ago, in the summer of 2012, I made my first international trip to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I had so many daydreams about what it would be like to be smack dab in the middle of South America. The beautiful summer weather, the salsa dancing, and the gourmet meals were just a few of the things I was looking forward to experiencing. Of course, I was sorely mistaken…

Imagine walking outside dressed in skin containing higher levels of melanin than is considered normal. As you walk down the street, you receive blatant stares of intrigue. Every now and then, a disembodied hand launches from the growing crowd of spectators to brush against your freshly bantu knotted hair. No you’re not anywhere in the continental United States, surprisingly. (more…)

Is it just me, or did 2017 have an influx of proposals, weddings, and pregnancies? Everyday I log onto Facebook or Instagram, I’m bombarded with a timeline full of “She said yes!” photos, or videos of girls hysterically crying as their boyfriend drops to one knee, or a series of pictures full of engagement rings calling for a cloudy forecast. Too far? Digressing. This year alone, I attended five…

Pond Travels: Kingston, Jamaica

Remember that episode of The Office where Michael took Jan to Sandals, Jamaica for Christmas? That episode is the sole reason why I want to visit Jamaica at some point in my life. Unlike my “Jamaican bruddas” however, I don’t often get to bask in the “no worries” mantra that permeates the Caribbean. Indentured servants to Sallie Mae don’t have that luxury. (more…)

It’s not all politics in Washington, D.C. – A Local’s Guide

Growing up, I didn’t appreciate the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C. as I do now. It’s a large city with lots of politics, lots of tourists, and lots of museums. The city is thick with bumper-to-bumper traffic, fast paced professionals with suits and tall heels, and home to many “city transplants” and international folk. While most think that Washington, D.C. is all politics ALL the time,…

Pond Travels: Costa Rica

Last month, as I was partaking in a routine Facebook Scroll Fest (scrolling aimlessly down the Facebook timeline), my eyes caught sight of a horrifying status. As most of the country has been made aware, Hurricane Jose has ravaged through Puerto Rico and left many without electricity and daily necessities even several weeks after the fact. On this particular evening that I was online, a female…

Pond Travels: Barcelona, Spain

I have had a long distance love affair with Spain for some years now. The Spanish language in general is fascinating to me and Spain specifically has been a premier country on my travel bucket list since its inception. This next installment of Pond Travels will feature an introduction to the true Spanish. Yes, I said the true Spanish. No, not that “spanish” gal you met last night in the club…

When I was just a wee child, I used to confuse the Hayti community in Durham, North Carolina with the entire country of Haiti. Actually, I wasn’t such as wee child… To be more clear, I wasn’t a child at all. I was an 18 year old college freshman at thee North Carolina Central University (shameless shoutout to my alma mater). Needless to say, I was at the age were I was most definitely old enough…

Pond Travels: Lisbon, Portugal

Imagine yourself on a white sand beach in Europe. The ocean breeze washes over you, caressing your tanned skin as the waitress refreshes your glass of Pepsi courtesy of Kendall Jenner. Before departing, the waitress asks, “Posso te trazer mais alguma coisa, senhor?” You give her the kindest smile you can muster because you don’t understand Portuguese and therefore don’t know what she said. Where…

Backyard Sessions: Durham, North Carolina

Durham, North Carolina: the unassuming and often forgotten step-sister that completes the Triangle Area trinity. Home to a plethora of one-of-a-kind small businesses, Durham, or the Bull City, is smack dab in the middle of an urban renewal transformation that has taken this budding city by storm. Downtown Durham alone plays host to a number of nationally renowned festivals, award-winning…

Budget EveryDollar: There’s An App For That

I hate budgets. Why you ask? Because budgets look a lot like boundaries and we all know how Millennials hate boundaries. As much as I loathe budgeting, however, it’s a necessary part of my financial wellbeing as an adult. With no budgeting there’s no traveling and I refuse to give up my frequent flyer miles for anyone! (more…)

Basic Spanish for a Weekend in Cuba

So you wanna go to Cuba, eh? You’ve packed up your suitcase, your sunscreen, and your selfie stick. What else could you possibly be forgetting? How about the Spanish language. In Cuba, Spanish is on every street and at every corner. Obviously, I’m stating the apparent. It is a Spanish-speaking country after all. But what I mean to say is that English is not as common as one might think in such a…

Tackling Cuba In A Weekend: El Fin

When we initially set out to conquer Cuba in a weekend, a lot of researching, blog stalking and Facebook DM’ing went into planning this 3-day trip. Logistically and financially speaking, we had to fit in as much culture and as many photo ops and good eats as our time and, most importantly, budget would allow. So far, we’ve discussed Cuban housing accommodations and attractions. Now we’ll move on…