When You Allow Your Passions to Lead

“Creative Ajay’s Kitchen” is my happy place. It is my therapeutic space – it is that space where I can be free and be an unadulterated version of myself. And, Creative Ajay’s Kitchen has stolen my heart once more. We have rekindled our connection and I have been prepping and whipping up some scrumptious…

New York City vs. Philly: The Grass Isn’t Always Greener

In 2023, I pushed fear aside and made a momentous move from New York City to Philadelphia. After living in Philly for the past 9 months, I think that I am qualified to make a comparison of the two metropolises. After all, they are two major cities in the North East so they can’t…

Learning to Trust Again

Just a week ago, I moved into my new home in Philly. This is my second move in a year; the first was earlier this year when I relocated from New York City. That move was completely DIY. We hired movers from Task Rabbit and used a U-Haul truck to transport my belongings. Strategically…

Despite the Circumstances, Give Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving 2023

It is Thursday, November 23, 2023. It is also Thanksgiving Day! As I shared in my most recent TikTok post, there’s just so much to be thankful for. But let’s backtrack a bit. The last time I posted was earlier this year; I was still living in New York City at the time…

Saying Goodbye, Again: This time to New York City

For the past two decades, I have called New York City home. And what a journey it has been! When I moved to NYC, I had no idea how long I would stay, and I did not make an initial plan of when my exit would be. As time progressed, I knew deep down that…

My first “Goodbye” of 2023

It all happened in January when I received a message from our volunteer coordinator to give him a call. I knew this was not good news. Anything that could not be emailed, or was not sprinkled with fervent enthusiasm in a voicemail likely meant the passing of one of our hospice patients.  I started serving…

Ringing in the New Year….with Covid-19

Never thought this would happen to me but it certainly did. Just in time for the New Year. That’s right; I ushered in the New Year recovering from Covid-19. Nearly three years ago when New York City was the epicenter of Covid-19, I was among the many unlucky thousands to experience this…

Let’s talk about the greatness that is Sheryl Lee Ralph.

At the age of 65, this icon won her first Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. Significantly, she also gave one of the greatest acceptance speeches that I have ever seen, reminding others to never give up on themselves. This is poignant and really affirms my path over the past few years…

Beet Juice Recipe

We have been juicing here in Creative Ajay’s kitchen. To kick things off this year, I created a beet juice recipe so that I can take advantage of the numerous benefits of this superfood. Beets are rich in antioxidants, and they also have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. They also help to enhance athletic performance…

Well, Hello There 2022

Well, hello there 2022…..good to see ya! It’s so surreal that you’re here. After procrastinating for some time, today I finally made my vision board because I have faith in a few big-ticket hopes and plans of fulfillment in my life. Normally, I would just internalize my visions, but…

Flatbush and Church Avenue Intersection Street Sign Design – A Symbol that Represents the Soul of the Caribbean Community in Brooklyn, New York

Our newest design (the intersection of Flatbush and Church Avenue street sign) pays homage to the Caribbean community in Brooklyn, New York. This intersection unapologetically embodies life, action, and the Caribbean zest to the fullest. My Caribbean massives in Brooklyn will understand exactly what I mean. Items with this design are available on our Redbubble…

Shop our New Items – Perfect Gifts for the Entire Family

Our new store on Redbubble offers lots of interesting and exciting gifts for the entire family. Our debut items embody the Jamaican spirit to the core. Below are some of our featured items: Jamaican-themed T-shirt. This premium tee is available here. 2. Jamaican-themed clock. This clock is available here for purchase. 3…

Rest Up, Antwain

Last week, we learned of the devastating news of the passing of Antwain Fowler, a beloved social media icon, at the tender age of 6. Antwain’s rise to fame is due in part to his “Where we bout to eat at?” video that went viral. Over the past few years, I…

“Thought” or “Taught” – Confused Much?

Alright lovely people, it has been a while since my last post. Anyways, I feel moved to do a post after been constantly annoyed with some messages I’ve been reading. It all goes back to what seems so hard for most people these days: homophones. What are homophones? Homophones are words that have the…

Aladdin on Broadway – A Well-Needed Escape to a Magical World

Aladdin on Broadway was quite a hit, and a promising sign that things are indeed getting back to normal. It felt good to be out and about again. Despite the chilly weather, my trek to the New Amsterdam theater in Times Square was well worth it. Every aspect of the show was a stunner: the…

Pineapple-Mango Sorbet with Ginger

The summer heat is on! This is a time when we search for ways to combat what can be an unbearable heat at times. As a self-proclaimed foodie, I like the thought of turning to my kitchen for at least some of the answers.  Mangoes, pineapples, and ginger are recurring items on my…

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Who said that NYC was forever dead?

A few Sundays ago, I went on a “long” 15 minute drive to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The best of the cherry blossoms was gone, but this oasis in the heart of Brooklyn still offered a much-needed reminder of the beauty and light of the outdoors and nature. A fair number of people also…

Walking for Hope….

I walked from Brooklyn to Manhattan, and back to Brooklyn for the first time. Ok, let’s be real…I walked across the Williamsburg bridge to Manhattan. It took about 30 minutes (each way). It was on a sunny yet cold Sunday, and the perfect escape from my home where I spend most of…

Foil-Roasted Salmon in CreativeAjay’s Kitchen

While 2020 has been just “blah” in many ways, it doesn’t mean that our palates should compromise, and that we should limit our indulgence in tasty delights. As true foodie at heart, the excitement in my kitchen never stops, especially when I try a new recipe. This new recipe is my…

Curried Crab legs and Dumplings

There’s no shame in my game when it comes on to food. As an unapologetic foodie, I love trying new recipes in my kitchen, my happy place, CreativeAjay’s Kitchen. This weekend, I yielded to my cravings and whipped up a seafood specialty. And I loved it. It was tasty and flavorful…

When You Serve as Your Own Reality Check

Someone texted me a pic of myself taken when I was 18. I examined it closely. Yes, that is me, and yes, I was lean AF. Peep the fashion though… If I remember clearly, at that age, the extent of my workouts was simply walking: no gym, no weights, no abdominal exercises. Yet, I had…

Boseman, Sleep On Bro…#Wakandaforever

The world has lost another great one: Chadwick Boseman, and I find it incredibly hard to process. Among the many roles he has played, one of the most memorable is when he brought King T’Challa to life as the Black Panther in the “Black Panther.” Oh how he moved so adroitly with such style…

When you have checked all the boxes but have not checked the RACE box

My days of tuning in to reality dating shows like the Bachelor or the Bachelorette are over. I really don’t have the time to devote hours to a show that cannot improve my life, or that had very little to offer. In general, my television screen time pales in comparison to that of my…

I Managed to Kill my Palm! – Confessions of a New Plant Mom

Some time ago I wrote about being mom to a few green kiddos – a plant mom that is. I wrote with all the enthusiasm that would be expected of a new mom. But, there is a huge life update:  I managed to kill my majesty palm, and one of my golden pothoses seem to…

When One of us Cannot Breathe, ALL of us Cannot Breathe: The Killing of George Floyd – Reigniting Racial Tensions and Police Brutality in the U.S.

Six years ago, the world watched as Eric Garner was stripped of his last breath for selling cigarettes without the proper authority in Staten Island, New York. “I can’t breathe” were the final words he managed to utter 12 times in an attempt to save his own life. However, that didn’t stir a…

What is Getting me Through the Quarantine: Diary of a New Plant Mom

I recently became a new mom…a new mom of 6…..of 6 plants that is, and I’m proud to announce that I’ve been keeping them alive. The oldest, my majesty palm, I’ve had for a month. To be honest, she was recently pruned, as one of her poor fronds showed little…

Smell the Roses While You Can: My Experience with COVID-19

The coronavirus is upon us: a virus that has proven to be beyond harmful and quite deadly to say the least. I have never experienced such panic, fear, and hysteria brought about by a single invader – a biological pathogen—a microorganism—something that we cannot even see.  People who are infected with the virus…

Upping the Dental Care Game in 2020: My experience with the Sonicare 6100 Toothbrush.

I tried a new toothbrush and it changed my life! Last week, I decided to bite the bullet and make my first $100 toothbrush purchase. For a toothbrush this price, it better make my coffee in the mornings, cook my dinner, do my laundry..…you get what I mean. I was never one that is…

Response to President Trump’s Comment on Healthcare for Undocumented immigrants: Why are we still leaving people behind?

In 2002, President Bush signed the “No Child Left Behind Act” into law, a landmark educational reform program, aimed at closing the achievement gap between disadvantaged (K –12) students and their more advantaged counterparts [1]. History shows that we were able to achieve this kind of inclusive educational reform. However, healthcare reform is still proving…

Doing “New York” Before Leaving New York

As I shared in a previous post, after two decades, my days in New York City are numbered. As time permits, I will use the opportunity to do as many “New York” things as possible; things that I have never done, or that I would like to redo.  For Memorial Day this…