Alana Reina

Recent Posts

  • Five Reasons to Move in Your 30s

     Five Reasons to Move in Your 30s

  • The Ultimate Solo Traveler’s Guide to Mexico City

     The Ultimate Solo Traveler’s Guide to Mexico City

  • The Best Matcha Spots in Mexico City

     The Best Matcha Spots in Mexico City

  • Six Tips for Solo Traveling (and Why You Should!)

     Six Tips for Solo Traveling (and Why You Should!)

March Book Review

March Book Review

Welcome to the first installment of my monthly book review! I will attempt to keep consistent, since I do read a good number of books per month, but don’t shoot me if I miss a month and have to lump a bunch together in one post! All of the books in this review are written by and about Black people, both Africans and Black Americans. This collection of books was quite fitting for Black History Month, although that is not why I chose them. I have been actively searching for books and novels in my library that are written from a different perspective, and I found these to be the most interesting. All book titles are linked to an Amazon listing. My Life, My Love, My Legacy by Coretta Scott King I am writing this review before I even finish the book, because I am already that moved by it!…

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Racially Ambiguous: A Memoir

Racially Ambiguous: A Memoir

“What are you?” The question seems innocuous enough, but hear it enough times and it starts to creep under your skin. What AM I? The older I get, the less sure I feel about my identity, and the more desperate I feel to know my identity so I can own it and assert it with pride. I know I am not the only one – the rise of mail-in gene testing services proves that there is demand for identity clarification! Growing up, it was simple enough. For most people, identity development doesn’t begin until early adolescence, and despite feeling like an outsider in most social situations for most of my life, the question of my identity didn’t begin until I moved away to college at the age of 18. For the first time, I was living away from the net of built-in identity markers that I took for granted while…

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March Spotify Playlist

March Spotify Playlist

It’s the first day of March, and you know what that means: Spring is almost here!!! After my first winter in six years, to say I’m excited for Spring would be a huge understatement. My soul is longing for sunshine and warm days, my skin is screaming for melanin, and my Spring clothes are itching to come out and play. But what I’m most excited for are the cherry blossoms! Every Spring, DC explodes into a burst of pink trees, including the one right outside my bedroom window. It’s been years since I was here during the Spring to see the Cherry Blossom Festival, so I am just all around super hype for this month and next! What is your favorite part of March and/or Spring? Let me know in the comments below! Anyway, regardless of what this month brings, here is a playlist to vibe out to. Enjoy! 💕 [spotifyplaybutton…

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San Diego City Guide

San Diego City Guide

Before moving back to the DC area last June, I lived about three blocks from the beach in San Diego for almost three years. Although I am very happy to be back home, I definitely left a piece of my heart there! While the beach lifestyle dominates most of San Diego, there is a ton of stuff to do that will make you feel miles away from the beach. Honestly, San Diego really has it all: beach, city, mountains, and desert (if you go far enough). Without further ado, here is my somewhat comprehensive guide to everything to do in San Diego, both the city and the larger San Diego county. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I made sure to add all my favorites and must-sees. If I missed anything that you have done in San Diego and loved, comment below! B E A C H…

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Movie Review: Black Panther

Movie Review: Black Panther

***SPOILER ALERT*** There is sooo much that can be said about this movie, but I will try to keep it short and sweet (famous last words). First off, I have never seen a movie get as much hype this early on as this one. People have been talking about it since LAST SUMMER! Needless to say, I was bursting with excitement once I got to the actual theater. The show started even before I got to my seat: people showed up and showed OUT! It was quite the event and I was glad to take part in a piece of history and culture. Cinematically, the movie was a masterpiece. It was visually stunning in every way: the landscape of Wakanda; the costumes, hair and makeup; the gorgeous and powerful women; and of course, the men – specifically Michael Bae Jordan – LAWD HELP ME! What a sexy villain. Like seriously,…

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