September 2019: Ending my Summer in Fort Lauderdale!
- TianaAmazon
- Nov 16, 2019
- 11 min read
These are my end of summer adventures from Curvy Venture's End of Summer Mini Bash from 9/5-9/8/2019.
9/5/2019:
The party (for some of us early arrivers) started Thursday. My festivities started that afternoon when my friend Kim picked me up! You can now refer to our duo as "Biggie Talls and Biggie Smalls"! Our party started on the ride from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale! Had a blast bonding over music, girl talk, and snacks!
Before we knew it, we arrived in Fort Lauderdale. I do want to share my check-in experience because this will be helpful a little later on. So, a few days before arriving, the credit card I had used to reserve my room was compromised. Thankfully I had some money saved and was able to pay for my room with another card. Upon check-in the front desk clerk advised me I was pre-paid, but they would be holding an extra $50 for incidentals. I asked if I could use a different card, so as to not use my debit for additional charges. He said "Not a problem" and continued to check me in. He had me sign a receipt showing I paid, and initially for policies (no smoking, no pets, etc). I asked him if he needed my new card for the $50.. he silently motioned his head pointing at the manager behind him, and whispered "don't worry about it." Sweet! Thanks! Check in went smooth and we were on our way to our rooms. We had a little lay-low time before dinner.
Dawn and I were roomed together, but she will join me after dinner. I put up our room sign and headed to meet Kim so we could leave.
We met at a local restaurant called Pincho (Pincho Factory). I spent about $30 because I wanted to try everything, The food itself was good, it wasn't something "new" to me. I've had pinchos (skewers or kebabs) for as long as I can remember. It's a staple and common street food in the Puerto Rican community. This is a fancier take on pinchos, and the concept is nice. My review would have been better if the AC had been working when we went. Plus the open doors allowed mosquitos to come in. I have sweet blood. So I overpaid to eat and get bit. The highlight of the evening was hanging out with some fellow bashers. For that, it was worth it.
I departed early from dinner to head back and prepare for "Glamazon Game Night"!
We did end up starting around 10:30pm, and boy did we have fun! We had chips and salsa, and caramel popcorn. We played Orange Toss most of the night, then dabbled in Family Feud and finally Rotten Apples. We drank and did some shots too. It was so awesome to bond with everyone, create new memories and inside jokes. My favorite part was the laughter!
After all the laughing and fun times, a few of us decided a late night meal was in order and headed to Lester's.
After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and our prospective rooms. I had soooo much fun, and Dawn and I literally went to bed giggling! First night was a success!
9/6/2019:
Today Dawn and I didn't really have any set plans. There was a Tiki Boat Booze Cruise planned by Curvy Ventures that we didn't participate in. It sold out super fast, and had limited spaces. We chose to run some errands locally, have lunch, then head back for afternoon swimming.
Early in the morning I did receive an email stating that I had authorized a charge of like $69 and some odd cents from the hotel. The last message I had gotten similar to that was when I had pre-paid. Here's where my check-in experience comes to play.
Dawn and I are getting ready to leave the hotel, when she realizes she doesn't have her phone. I give her my key, and she's gone about 5 minutes, comes back and tells me she was locked out of the room. The key didn't work. As she trying and trying, these ladies are walking towards her, and one states "Hey, that is our room". Dawn, is puzzled but is at the right room. She quickly finds out that the front desk just checked in two other people to our room. The more verbal lady swipes her key, which opens the door, and Dawn shows her that it clearly our room, with our things inside. Dawn grabs her phone, and everyone agrees to meet at the front desk. Honest mistake, right?
She gets back to the car, lets me know what just happened. And drives me to the lobby. When I get in, I see the clerk who checked me, and say "Hey, you guys assigned someone to our room. Like they were trying to get in just now." Immediately the Verbal Lady barks "We weren't trying to break in your room!" I respond back, attempting to sound polite with "I'm not saying you were trying to break in our room, I'm stating that they checked you in to an occupied room". The original guy who had helped me, appears to be on the phone or helping someone else, so another clerk advises that she will be right with me. No problem.
The other clerks take care of checking in the Ladies into another room. And while they are investigating, I hear one clerk tell the other ,that my room shows a no-show. Then I remember the email I got for that odd amount. They somehow thought I had not showed up and had charged me for a one night's stay! Ahhh, but how could that be? I had pre-paid my entire stay. That was the paper I had signed showing my original charge for like $241. When I bring this up the the clerk that is helping me, she says "oh no, that extra charge is the $50 incidental charge". I respond by advising the charge is $69 not $50, plus the other guy waived that fee! Now, as you can imagine... I am upset! And I have every right to be. Not only was I overcharged, my room was given to someone else, and I being lied to about why this was done.
I work in Customer Service, and while my tone was stern, I never raised my voice nor disrespected any staff member. I say this because while I'm trying to argue my case, I feel this tap on my arm... and it's the Verbal Lady. She looks up at me, and has the nerve to say "Calm down". I couldn't believe it. I respond to her with a now very upset tone "When in the history of telling someone to calm down, have they actually calmed down! You are making this worse. You need to leave me alone". Like seriously lady.. mind your f*cking business! She backs away but stays there. One of the clerks making copies lets out a giggle at our side conversation. I focus back on getting my charges squared away, by begging the original guy to please tell them he never authorized any additional charge.
I can feel eyes on me from the side. I look over and here is Permit Patty aka Verbal Lady, staring me down! I look at her and say "Why are you still here? Go away". She barks back that she is part of the Curvy Ventures group and I sarcastically remind her that so am I! She then proceeds to make a couple of phone calls while staring at me. Not sure if it's to the police, or maybe Maria or Juan (the owners of CV). Whoever she's tried to call isn't answering and she glares at me and says "You'll see". I cry when I get frustrated. so now I'm crying. After I yell back at her to mind her business, I turn to the clerks in front of me, and let them know that she is going to try and get me kicked out of the group, solely because I disagree with their charges. The charges they accidentally did but won't admit to them.
I apologize to the staff if my tone was off-putting, but I remind them that I wasn't being disrespectful or even rude. The original guy who helped me comes over and I replay our conversation about how he whispered for me not to worry with regards to the incidental fee. He turns to the other clerks and says "She's right. There weren't any other fees". Finally! They apologize to me, and say the charge is pending and will fall off automatically. Embarrassed (for crying), I accept the apology, along with 2 free drink coupons, a phone number for corporate (to see if they can removed the pending charge faster) and I am on my way out. With tears still running down my face, I get back in the Dawn's car.
The whole time I was inside I wished she was with me. Right away, she asked me what happened. I told her the spiel.. she responded with two things that made me feel better right away. The first, that Patty should have minded her f*cking business. And reminded me I did nothing wrong.
Curvy Ventures is not only about size acceptance, but exudes positivity and promotes inclusion. I later advised an admin of the group, about what transpired, because the last I wanted was to be removed for no reason. The admin's response was that I did nothing wrong, that hotel staff hadn't mentioned any "problems or concerns" about me or even mentioned me at all, and that the other person should have minded their business. I feel like she even seemed upset that the person made the statement about how they were part of "the group" and I wasn't. She told me I had nothing to worry about, and reiterated that this group was for everyone, and to paraphrase, said if this other person didn't play nice, they could see their way out the group. I was relieved. And I moved on.
We continued our day and made our way back to the hotel in the late afternoon. Finally got a chance to dip in the pool. The water felt so nice in the heat. Got to meet some fellow bashers, and even Patty was at the pool. No more drama, no side eye, no awkwardness, all good! Dawn and I had a couple drinks and soon were leaving to get ready for dinner. Another outing planned was at Bokampers on the Water at 8pm.
Now thinking I'm a little upset I didn't get a picture of my outfit. I wore a high-waisted jean skirt and a crop top that read "All you need is Love and the Beach". I was very happy and proud of myself for wearing an outfit that showed a little of my stomach, especially for a venue that was open to the public.
Bokamper's was awesome. Great drinks, great food, awesome location. They have a variety of food on the menu, fatty friendly armless chairs, music and an amazing vibe. I had some peel and eat shrimp that was also amazing! Dawn and I rode over with another friend that came down from Chicago. We left together too.
Next up on the agenda was a late night swim! While I don't have pictures from the rest of the night. I did have an amazing time. I got to know and spend time with some great people. I bonded with an amazing guy too. He is sweet, and funny, and kind. After some floating and long talks about everything and anything. At some point we were the only two in the pool. At some point Dawn finds me, and we make our way to bed! Night two also a success!
9/7/2019:
Officially the Mini Bash has begun! The attention to detail is amazing! The CV team goes that extra mile to make sure you have a blast! The party started with Music, Mimosas and Cupcakes!
I was a honored to be part of a smaller group that did some promo shots for CV, and when I got back I was ready to get in the pool!
As you can see, I am having a blast! Around 3pm I hosted a Scavenger Hunt to give away some tickets to Club Plush Tampa Bay's Halloween party. We had planned to have some pool side shots with other Plush Ladies, but some prior work engagements got in the way, and I proudly hosted on my own. On behalf of the club we gave away shots, and candy too!
I got a lot of positive feedback about the Scavenger Hunt! Participants had a lot of fun, and the crowd really helped them. One person even told me that had it not been for my game they would have not taken any pictures! This made me very happy. I love watching people have fun, and love hosting games too! So win-win!
I'm uploading pics from the Scavenger Hunt, I realize I don't have any pictures from Lunch! Let me tell, the Catered BBQ lunch from Grill Daddy's was amazing! I had ribs and chicken and mac and cheese and baked beans,and it was phenomenal. I was so happy when Juan came by and said there was extra! I made sure to grab more!
The pool party didn't stop after lunch either! There was also pool side shots and liquor soaked gummies too!
They really know how to throw a pool party!
My outfit for the night was chosen almost a month before the event. I wanted something that showed off my figure. I wanted to feel like a true Amazon. And Rebdolls came through with an amazing clay colored Double-Slit Maxi! My hair was giving me faux beach waves from being dried in the sun, and I was set. Makeup wise I wore eyeliner and mascara and lipgloss, that's all.
I felt absolutely amazing. Empowered. Fierce. Sexy. Beautiful. Confident. I mean in the end, it's just a dress right? But I'm telling you, when you feel amazing inside, it really reflects on the outside. I truly felt like a Queen, and walked in with my invisible crown!
The party was amazing! Music was on point, good seating options, drinks flowing. My first 2 drinks thanks to the hotel ;)
My friend Andy from The Nation, asked me to participate in a Twerking Contest they were hosting at the party. I stopped participating in these kinds of contests after a video went viral from a Halloween Bash in San Diego circa 2015.. it was made fun of more than appreciated. That and I hurt my knee since and can't drop it low how I used to lol. But I did agree to join the competition, for the fun. This weekend was about letting loose and so I did just that. I wouldn't call it twerking, but more of shaking what my momma gave me and holding my hair. All done with a smile!
All in all the event was a 10 out of 10! Maria and Juan, and all of the Curvy Ventures staff was amazing! The environment is chill, and truly makes you feel welcomed! I got to hang out with old friends, made new ones, and got to just be free!
I had so much fun, I bought my pass for the next bash before the night was over! The Summer bash is June 4th-7th, 2020. This Mini Bash was literally just a taste of the Big Bash, and it exceeded my expectations. The bash pass is only $169, includes all meals, and so much more! Word has definitely gone around because the bash has just under 50 tickets left! Out of 300! The host hotel is also officially sold out! They do have an overflow hotel that is just walking distance to the party! Trust me when I say head over to the website and grab your pass now! www.curvyventures.com While you're there check out the line up for the bash and the other events they have planned, like a Caribbean Cruise in October 2020!
I can't wait until my next Curvy Venture! And I hope to see you there!
Oh and for those of you following my blog, I thought you'd appreciate this update: Remember the lady that was mean to me at the Cocoa Bash? She was at this bash too. And, guess what? She was nice to me. Really nice to be. I never brought up Cocoa, and I'm glad she didn't either. In the end, she talked about how beautiful I was. And how she wished she was my height. And I reminded her how beautiful and amazing she was. And if I could, even if just for a day, I'd give her some of my height and then we'd both be average height, instead of "too short" and "too tall". I think we're perfect just the way we are though. I think back in May she was going through some things, and it was easier to pick on me, then to point out her own insecurities. And by the end of this bash.. just 4 months later, we were amicable, hugged, and even took pics together.
I had a great summer. I hope you did too.
xoxo,
Tiana
Next Adventure: New York City and the Thanksgiving Day Parade! I will be singing as part of the Macy's Singing Tree Choir! Make sure to tune in to NBC to watch the Parade and see me live on 11/28/2019! Check out my promo video:
Edited to add: Want to go to a Curvy Ventures event next month? Now is your chance! Head over to their website and get your ticket for the Holiday Gathering on December 14th! It's a pre-paid event for only $35! I have a cute Christmas cardigan, and a gift for White Elephant all lined up!
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