THROWBACK TUESDAYS!

Starting this week, every Tuesday you can watch all the videos that I have either produced or have taken part in.  This is an important time for me.  It took me until my 50’s to finally feel confident enough to share with the world all the hard work I have done in the last 25 years as Femme Chakra.  I have posted these videos numerous amounts of time throughout the years but repeatedly deleted them as I felt they just were not good enough; I was not good enough.  20 years ago, it was not like it is today, everyone posts, it is a daily routine.  For me, it was torture.  As much as I loved performing, the camera felt like it was never my friend.  I felt I was too fat, too ugly, not talented enough; it’s crazy what lack of self-esteem can do to a person.

My advice; do not be like me.  If you have talent, you work hard, keep going.  Do not let anyone and I mean anyone, not your family or friends, tell you will not be successful.  I may never make millions off my singing, but no one today can tell me I am not a professional singer and dancer.  And ladies, it is a lot harder for women.  The judgements we receive are considerably a lot harsher than men.  Don’t listen.  You are beautiful, talented and intelligent whether they consider you wearing the wrong outfit, the wrong color of hair, your teeth aren’t perfect or the many nasty things people will say about you.  Don’t care! Art is about you and how you share you with the world.  Don’t let them change you. 

I have been dancing since the age of 5 and singing since the age 10.  I have produced over 30 shows, wrote 2 albums and performed at too many events to count.  It is just unfortunate that it has taken me this long to see my own talent.  But I am here now! I hope you enjoy my blasts from the past and it will give you an insight about me.  All the amount of work, time and energy has led me to this moment, and I am going to enjoy it! I do hope you subscribe and like the videos, it is appreciated.  I do value support but this time, I am doing it for me.

To the wonderful and talented artists that I worked along side throughout my journey, thank you for taking part in my productions.  Many of my shows would not have happened if you had not been there.  I chose not to put any names on the videos to respect your privacy.  Although you all gave consent I believe it should be your choice whether you want to share.  Over the years I have lost touch with so many of you, but I have not forgot.  Again, thank you for being part of my journey.

Mexico – Allegro Playacar Hotel

I hope if there is anyone reading, you are having a great day!  I am relaxed and ready to go! Just got back from Mexico, we stayed at the Allegro Playacar, a 4-star rated hotel. I really enjoyed the place.  I appreciate small bungalows, 2 stories, no walking, everything is right beside you.  The food was good, the staff was pleasant, the beach was a beach, drinks were good and the shows were entertaining.  I love when a hotel has a bar! Got my jiggy on twice and got to sing! It’s very close to a small marketplace as well as being only 10 minutes from Playa Del Carmen so that was great. All in all, for the price, it was a really good time.  It’s a good deal especially if funds are limited and you want to spend your money on going out to visit.

I have already visited the Chichen Itza pyramids but as we did not go last time, I really wanted others to appreciate them.  I love Mexico for its ancient culture, architect as well as it’s history.  There is something surreal standing next to a monument that you know help shape civilizations.  It’s a profound feeling. 

We visited Playa del Carmen; it’s a nice city always full of stuff to do and see.  If you enjoy caves and water as much as I do, the Rio Secreto is a wonderful experience especially if you are a fish like me. It’s a naturel reserve in Playa Del Carmen where you can walk and swim in chambers. Not something you do everyday!

My favorite excursion was by far the submarine excursion.  I know it’s crazy but only 1% of the entire population will ever do what we did.  A once in a lifetime bucket list experience.  It will never look like what I saw but you can get a glimpse on the video on my YouTube Femme Chakra Travels. If you are ever in Cozumel, think about it. 

A great trip surrounded by awesome people, the sun shining and a lot of fun and Zen.  That’s why I love vacationing. 

Coming up! My Tube Femme Chakra will be going back in time every Tuesday! I hope you enjoy reliving my 20-year experience! Even if I thought I was not good enough then, I am proud of what I accomplished today.  To all the artists that participated in the many videos, thank you for being part of my journey.  At one time or another you believed in me and for that, I am grateful. 

20 years on You Tube!

In 2027, my YouTube Channel will be 20 years old! That’s crazy! 20 years I have been posting and watching on YouTube! For me, YouTube has been an essential means for me to express my creativity.  I have been the watcher as well as the one being watched.

Being on any platform is hard work and dedicating all your time on it is a full-time job. Either you become a videographer or you are the one being filmed.  That’s what YouTube is about, it’s about videos. 

Let’s say you are watching the movie “The Last Wives Club” and you cut the movie into clips and disappear. All you will have are clips of a movie.  It will not tell a story but a fragment of the story.  That’s what I did on YouTube.  I posted and I deleted.   If you read a lot of my previous posts, you will get a sense that my lack of confidence has always been an issue for me, the videos were never good enough.  Posting videos on YouTube as a woman I think made it even harder.  The constant pressure to be slimmer, taller, skin to perfection, perfect teeth and so on, it was mental craziness.  Always thinking, should I say this, I shouldn’t do that, it really was exhausting.  In the end, I just stopped posting my music. 

After 20 years, I am ready to tell my story.  I do hope you join along on this new but old journey because this time, it will be the whole story about Femme Chakra. All you must do to do is subscribe.   

I do have a Femme Chakra Travels YouTube Channel.  I had created other videos of my vacations on Femme Chakra but officially opened it 2022.  I really do enjoy the peace that comes with vacationing.  The ability to let go for a week or two and enjoy the moment.  I believe these memories are worth re-living; you can read about it under Femme Chakra Travels.

I am also opening a new YouTube and Facebook soon! We have a few new projects that we have been working on that I would like to share.  They are works in progress but nevertheless they are who I am today and it’s time that I be happy with myself.  I work hard on every project I do just as much as I worked hard the last 20 years becoming Femme Chakra.       

I never got that many views, subscribers and I was not shared a lot, but I did have 15,000 views. That does not sound like a lot today, but I still appreciate everyone that took the time to listen to my music.  Thank you and see you soon!

 

Panama - Grand Decameron Hotel

For the first time in Panama, I was surprised to see how well modern and history can combine so well together.  I never imagined a large modern city could be surrounded by a paradise of lust forest, vegetation and exotic animals. If I had not visited Panama City, I would have assumed it was much like many all-inclusive resorts, but it was very different.

We stayed at the Grand Decameron Beach Resort which is conveniently only 15 minutes from the airport.  I would highly recommend it for families and 50+, it is a very quiet and relaxing place.  It has a beautiful ocean view, the beach is long, clean and sandy white. The weather was beautiful and the sun is always shining.  The food was great with a lot of variety, and the staff was courteous and helpful.  The Grand Decameron came highly recommended to us and to be honest, we were a little disappointed.  The Plus Side of the hotel was undergoing renovations, so I believe that we did not get to fully enjoy the experience at the resort.   It is reopening this week for those that are going and I would recommend enjoying all the privileges of the Plus Side.  All in all, it is a wonderful resort, and I will not complain as I had the opportunity to enjoy 35-degree weather for a week.  If you are fan of golf, my husband said it was absolutely worth the money and that it was a beautiful course.

I highly recommend visiting Panama City and the Canal with the Decameron Tours. Our guide was funny and informative.  Panama City is a wonder between the new and the old.  I loved the old Panama, the old buildings and design, the relaxed atmosphere and small shops.  We did not go into the new city but will go if ever we go back. The Imax Experience really gives you a full-length picture of the history of the canal, very interesting.  It was a great day!

Starting 2026 visiting a country as spectacular as Panama is a great start to the new year. You can watch the video on my You Tube channel Femme Chakra Travels - Thanks for watching and subscribing, I appreciate it.

Update 2026

I hope everyone reading this blog had wonderful holidays and that your new year is starting off in the direction you hoped. Wishing you health, happiness and fun in 2026!  I had wonderful holidays, celebrated with friends and family.  A relaxing end to a year that I am glad is over.  2025 will not been on my top ten list.  Staying positive, 2026 will be better. 

I really did enjoy performing with the band in December and thank you to the Paroisse St-Jean Baptiste in Roxton Falls for inviting me to sing some Christmas cheer!  I grew up listening to these songs and they always put me in a good mood.  You can check out the video on my YouTube channel.   Going to do this again next holiday season 2026!

I love the dancing scene, the cabaret, the costumes and all the productions that I have created and who knows, maybe one day they will intertwine. For now, I am content to see where things will go. 

I have not written in a while. When something unpredictable happens, you must deal with it.   Although I was motivated to write, there is only so much time in a week and when you are dealing with other priorities, time becomes an issue.  I hope I get to spend more time in 2026 writing; it clears my head.

Heading to Panama tomorrow! Looking forward to visiting with my husband, family and friends a new country and a new culture.  Zen, water & sunshine with a mix of music, dancing and fun.   Bringing my camera along, looking forward to the next memory on Femme Chakra Travels. 

That’s my update!  I wish you all a great end of January and hope to see you soon.  My motto this year: Be better, wiser, have fun and don’t overthink, be you!

Riu Yucatan Hotel - Riviera Maya, Mexico

 

Riviera de Maya in Mexico was the first plane trip I ever took 20 years ago.  I decided that I wanted to learn about a different culture.  I specifically chose Mexico for its monuments and history.  I was fascinated by their pyramids and went to Chichen Itza and Tulum. They are a must see if you go. I jeep rode in the jungle, zip-lined across rivers, swan in cenotes, tanned, ate well, partied, drank and danced.   It will forever be one of the most memorable vacations of my life. I do have a soft spot for Mexico. 

We stayed at the Riu Yucatan in Riviera Maya. I have really nothing negative to say about this hotel.  We ate like a king and queen; the food was delicious and the a la carte restaurants were unlimited and amazing.  The hotel is very clean, the lobby and cleaning staff were attentive, polite, accommodating and very helpful.  I have not seen such great entertainment talent since going to Santiago in Cuba.  The nightly shows were awesome and the weekly Riu party is a must go as it’s incredible.  What a night!  The extra bonus is that if you love animals, they have a monkey refuge, and you get to see how they coexist without bothering anybody.

I once rated a video of mine on my YouTube channel and still feel bad about it today.  When you stay at a hotel or resort, you must know what you like before you go to the place. Some people enjoy the sun, the beach, the food, the amenities, the pool, the excursions, the entertainment, the shows, the disco, each person has their preferences.  My experience may never be your experience and vice versa, so why criticize anything.  My only negative and it is not Mexico’s fault; the temperature was a constant 40 to 45 degrees all week as it was the month of August, so it was a little less pleasant to do the excursions. Even hot, the Xcaret Park is an amazing place to visit.

If you like great food, sun and heat, water and great entertainment, you should visit the Riu Yucatan. I would not hesitate to recommend it. 

You can view the video on my Femme Chara Travels YouTube Channel

Femme Chakra Travels

I believe it is a privilege to be able to visit a different country.  I have only visited 5 countries, some numerous times, and every time I do, I think how lucky I am that I get to have those memories.    For me, those memories are worth more than a new car, a better wardrobe, new furniture and anything else that people work hard to make a priority. You must have a passion for traveling if you really want to experience it, 

For me, voyaging is the ability to live in the present moment.  No phones, no texts, no e-mails, nothing.  Well maybe a little but in general I can relax and enjoy myself.  I understand that some people fall in love with a country and want to go back all the time.  I love experiencing new places.  Although I have been to same countries numerous amounts of times, I try to never stay in the same city and never at the same hotel.  The thrill of living something new, adventurous, educational, emotional, it’s for me, a once in lifetime experience. 

I have been making videos for over 20 years.  I still have some on VHS.  I enjoy filming and it has been a useful tool for me throughout my artistic & professional life.  Editing is never fun, but the end project always gives me a high.  When I bring my camera on vacation, I want to remember everything I did, saw or experience as I will not live it again.  These are my memories that I want to recall when I am old and gray.  It’s great taking photos and videos but if you don’t do anything with them, they will just be photos and videos in a phone. 

I tried to be as exact as to what I saw, I hope you enjoy some of them.  Don’t hesitate to let me know what you think and if you have been to any of the places, please feel free to let me know.  We just got back from Riviera Maya in Mexico, looking forward to sharing our vacation with you.  Thanks for subscribing and sharing.

Visit Femme Chakra Travels: Femme Chakra's Travel - YouTube