A "Carry on Cocktail"? Tell Me More! + Giveaway

Ashley Stevenson is taking the bar to new heights - literally. Her Carry on Cocktail Kits are innovative and have been specially crafted to help you get to your destination in good taste (both literally and figuratively). 

Below she shares with us a few details about herself and her brand, Honey & Soul. Read on!

Thank you so much for taking the time out for Coconut + Concrete! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I'm originally from Oklahoma and went to college at Southern University in Baton Rouge where I played soccer. That's where I fell in love with food. After almost 10 years there I moved back to Oklahoma. I love food, travel, exploring new cultures and just enjoying life. I own two businesses, work for an awesome airline, and currently reside in Austin, TX.

What gave you the idea for your Carry On Cocktail Kit? I love it!

The kit is actually a collaboration with another company. As I've gotten older, I don't drink to get drunk anymore but more for the appreciation of that particular cocktail. Since I travel a lot and love to start my party early I thought it would be great to have something that's chic and different in terms of how I approach my experience. I believe everything we do should be about the experience and the feeling we get while doing it. The Carry On Cocktail Kit just elevates your experience of travel and drinking.

What is a Foodie Foot Tour? Sounds yummy.

Foodie Foot Tours is actually my first baby. It's a walking food tour I own in Oklahoma City. I started it three years ago and still operate it even though I'm in Austin. Everything is on foot, all the restaurants we visit are locally owned, and we offer history of the areas we tour. When people know the history of a place and connect to it they're more likely to return.

I see a lot of folks becoming vegetarian or vegan these days. As a foodie, is that something you would consider? 

Never! I think anything can be enjoyed in moderation. One of the reasons I started my food tour was because most of the food is locally grown or from a local farm. I try to be cautious of what I eat and where it comes from so being vegan isn't something that is for me. 

I always say, if you love food you should be able to cook it too - Are you a good cook? 

I'd like to think so. My boyfriend might agree as well. I'm definitely not afraid to get in the kitchen and fail until I succeed. I will say that I make a bomb bacon wrapped meatloaf and a killer baked macaroni and cheese.

Well then can I come over for Sunday dinner?! Thanks again to Ashley for taking the time out of her busy schedule to chat with us. You can catch her on Instagram at @6footfoodie, @honeyandsoulco and @foodiefoottours.

Win your very own Carry on Cocktail Kit through our Instagram giveaway! For details and how to enter, check out our Instagram page. 

Vacation + Sexual Harassment

"Hey Sexy..."

"What's your name? Why're you eating by yourself?"

"Hey pretty - What that room number be?!"

All of the above are phrases I've heard on vacation. Just recently too. While in Mexico for the Parlour Magazine Travelfly Solo trip another group (which shall remain nameless) had overbooked at The Hard Rock and was using our resort, Unico 2087 as back up. This sort of tainted my experience because whenever I stepped out of my room I was putting myself at risk of being harassed. 

The first time it happened I was walking to the beach and I heard a man say "hey sexy" from one of the balconies overlooking the pool area. I can remember thinking, "I know that's not what I'm hearing", when he said it again. I ignored it and continued on my way.

The next day we experienced a torrential down pour which had most of us stuck inside of our rooms. When the rain stopped I walked over to the restaurant where the buffet lunch was served. Inside it sounded like a stadium; a group of men (black, older, fraternity - you get the picture) were taking shots. Now, I understand they were having fun. But this resort isn't for THAT kind of fun. Unico 2087 is a laid back, spa-based, relaxation resort. It's not the Hard Rock by any means. 

All I wanted to do was eat my food, go back to my room and get ready for my excursion. But no: While I'm eating, an older man (who looked like he could be my dad) felt the need to ask me my name, am I traveling alone and why was I eating by myself. I was really trying to be polite and short; hoping he'd get the point and leave me alone. I didn't want to talk and I sure didn't want his company. His friend that was with him got the message and they both ended up moving away. 

Let me stop here and say that at NO time should any woman ever feel obligated to speak to a "stranger". She should not fear being labeled "stuck up", "boujee", or "conceited" just because she didn't want to talk. It is her choice. 

I was on vacation. No, I did not want to be bothered. I did not want to be around the riff-raff. I didn't come to Mexico to "party". I don't know why this party group was sent to Unico. To be completely honest, I didn't even want the association. Other guests and staff saw us beautiful, brown, melanated women and automatically assumed we were all part of the same group. I really wanted to yell "WE'RE NOT ALL LIKE THAT!"

What actually put the nail in the coffin was when I returned from my excursion. It was about 8:30 pm and I was walking back to my room (on the resort grounds) and I passed a group of guys and heard "hey pretty - what that room number be?", I started to stop and give him a serious piece of my mind but instead I just kept walking. I was tired, my bag was heavy and I really just wanted to take a shower. I'd be meeting my friends for dinner at 9.

By this time I was now prepared and ready to go OFF if I had to encounter any other rude and sexually suggestive comments. I felt sorry for the guy who would feel my wrath. 

That never happened though, and as I always say - everything happens for a reason. I was leaving the next day and after my departure I heard things got a bit more raunchier. 

I'll end this by saying I absolutely LOVED Unico 2087, and would definitely revisit for a truer experience. What I didn't like or appreciate was The Hard Rock Hotel sending their savage leftovers. 

Have you ever experienced harassment on vacation? Tell me about it below.